Trying to write a piece about what black people think of the president is a daunting challenge and one that should, as much as possible, avoid lazy generalizations like, “To African-Americans, President Obama just gets it” or “To black supporters, that is more important than Obama’s inability to narrow racial inequalities during his four and a half years in office.”
The relationship between the president and the black community is vastly more complicated than that. But the one thing that seems to unite black opinion and support for the president is the disrespect he receives. Ironically, if the president enjoyed the same respect that other presidents have received, many more black critics would emerge to have their say about where Obama is falling short. And that would weaken him far more than he has been weakened by having to talk about his birth certificate.
It’s comforting to know that the president has a first-hand familiarity with racial profiling and what it’s like to be a black man in modern America, but that doesn’t mean “he gets it” and has a pass to do whatever he wants. If he has a pass, the bigots in the Republican Party gave it to him with their “You Lie” disrespect.
I try sooo hard not to listen to Tavis Smiley but he was on Democracy Now this morning and Amy let him tear away. His rhetoric is so self importance caustic that it never takes a breath to lay out anything proactive.
Obama’s Friday speech all the more courageous, necessary and helpful in light of the ‘angry makes me relevant’ crowd’s circular responses.
Did Amy Goodman ask him about his Wells Fargo “wealth building” seminars?
It was quite the gig for Tavis Smiley. He was paid 4 million by Wells Fargo to host these wealth building seminars in black neighborhoods and Wells Fargo was all too happy to sign up attendees for sub-prime mortgages.
To be honest, if Republicans were just a bit smarter, and didn’t constantly and relentlessly attack Democratic Presidents, there’s a lot more that I, and I’m sure other Democrats, could criticize both Clinton and Obama for.
Instead, we have to defend them, because they are under constant attack.
Neither one is a Liberal’s Liberal!
But then, this nation couldn’t elect one in the sorry state it’s in, even if that would be what might help fix it.
I hate to say this, but I’m surprised that President Obama is still alive, with the BS the Conservatives have been spreading.
They foment hatred.
And if, FSM forbid, something DOES happen, they’ll blame it on some lone nut, and say they had no culpability or responsibility for his/her actions.
Oh, they’re plenty smart enough. The puppets on stage to entertain and distract the masses while the power-elite work their magic for themselves in the back rooms. Odd that the masses have yet to see through the charade twenty years after it was rolled out.
"Divide and conquer," works.
For Blacks ‘ Empathy trumps the economy’?
Really?
for real?
How about Black folks know:
Gotta admit that the GOP got Blue Dog and New Democrat help in cutting public employment.
And I suspect that Blacks know why there is disproportionately more Black employment in the public sector and it has nothing at all to do with not liking the private sector. Guess how equal employment opportunity laws work. And guess how that situation has been perpetuated through EEOC appointments and judicial appointments.
As a Postal employee I can attest to this. I was 59 years old, unemployed for two years in my profession, unemployable with my gray hair. I took the Postal exam (actually two of them), passed, was put on the register in score order (number 2) and duly hired without any age discrimination. Number 1 was a Filipino and he was hired at the same time, because his score was higher (Veteran’s preference points) he got first pick of the jobs available. All according to Hoyle.
I could fill several pages with what’s wrong with the Postal Service, but discrimination wouldn’t be there. The most serious charge you can lay against a supervisor is racial, gender, or age discrimination. It is taken very seriously.
Rev. Sharpton speaks out loud what has been my opinion for years: