Why we [Blacks] shouldn't over criticize Obama

[sundiata]

Just saw this lady give a lecture on my college TV station. Remarkable speaker and extremely intelligent sister here exposing the potential fall out of subtle racism among white liberals. I think she makes some excellent points. Basically, those Blacks who over criticize/nit pick Obama only contribute to this newer, more dangerous (because it's harder to identify and therefore, fight) form of racism.

Black President, Double Standard: Why White Liberals Are Abandoning Obama

Electoral racism in its most naked, egregious and aggressive form is the unwillingness of white Americans to vote for a black candidate regardless of the candidate’s qualifications, ideology or party. This form of racism was a standard feature of American politics for much of the twentieth century. So far, Barack Obama has been involved in two elections that suggest that such racism is no longer operative. His re-election bid, however, may indicate that a more insidious form of racism has come to replace it.

The 2004 Illinois Senate race between Obama and Alan Keyes, two African-Americans, was a unique test of the persistence of old-fashioned electoral racism. For a truly committed electoral racist, neither Obama nor Keyes would have been acceptable—regardless of policy positions, biography or qualification—because both were black.

One way to determine how many people felt this way is to measure the “roll-off.” In presidential election years, a small percentage vote for the president, but then “roll off” by not casting ballots for state and local offices. A substantial increase in roll-off—larger than usual numbers of voters who picked John Kerry or George Bush but declined to choose between Obama and Keyes—would have been a measure of the unwillingness of some to vote for any black candidate. I tested this in 2004 and found no increase, statistical or substantive, in roll-off in Illinois. Faced with two black candidates, white voters were willing to choose one of them.

The 2008 general election was another referendum on old-fashioned electoral racism—this time among Democratic voters. The long primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Obama had the important effect of registering hundreds of thousands of Democrats. By October 2008, it was clear that Obama could lose the general election only if a substantial portion of registered Democrats in key states failed to turn out or chose to cross party lines. For Democrats to abandon their nominee after eight years of Bush could be interpreted only as an act of electoral racism.

Not only did white Democratic voters prove willing to support a black candidate; they overperformed in their repudiation of naked electoral racism, electing Obama with a higher percentage of white votes than either Kerry or Gore earned. No amount of birther backlash can diminish the importance of these two election results. We have not landed on the shores of postracial utopia, but we have solid empirical evidence of a profound and important shift in America’s electoral politics.

Still, electoral racism cannot be reduced solely to its most egregious, explicit form. It has proved more enduring and baffling than these results can capture. The 2012 election may be a test of another form of electoral racism: the tendency of white liberals to hold African-American leaders to a higher standard than their white counterparts. If old-fashioned electoral racism is the absolute unwillingness to vote for a black candidate, then liberal electoral racism is the willingness to abandon a black candidate when he is just as competent as his white predecessors.

The relevant comparison here is with the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton. Today many progressives complain that Obama’s healthcare reform was inadequate because it did not include a public option; but Clinton failed to pass any kind of meaningful healthcare reform whatsoever. Others argue that Obama has been slow to push for equal rights for gay Americans; but it was Clinton who established the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy Obama helped repeal. Still others are angry about appalling unemployment rates for black Americans; but while overall unemployment was lower under Clinton, black unemployment was double that of whites during his term, as it is now. And, of course, Clinton supported and signed welfare “reform,” cutting off America’s neediest despite the nation’s economic growth.

Today, America’s continuing entanglements in Iraq and Afghanistan provoke anger, but while Clinton reduced defense spending, covert military operations were standard practice during his administration. In terms of criminal justice, Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, which decreased judicial disparities in punishment; by contrast, federal incarceration grew exponentially under Clinton. Many argue that Obama is an ineffective leader, but the legislative record for his first two years outpaces Clinton’s first two years. Both men came into power with a Democratically controlled Congress, but both saw a sharp decline in their ability to pass their own legislative agendas once GOP majorities took over one or both chambers.

These comparisons are neither an attack on the Clinton administration nor an apology for the Obama administration. They are comparisons of two centrist Democratic presidents who faced hostile Republican majorities in the second half of their first terms, forcing a number of political compromises. One president is white. The other is black.

In 1996 President Clinton was re-elected with a coalition more robust and a general election result more favorable than his first win. His vote share among women increased from 46 to 53 percent, among blacks from 83 to 84 percent, among independents from 38 to 42 percent, and among whites from 39 to 43 percent.

President Obama has experienced a swift and steep decline in support among white Americans—from 61 percent in 2009 to 33 percent now. I believe much of that decline can be attributed to their disappointment that choosing a black man for president did not prove to be salvific for them or the nation. His record is, at the very least, comparable to that of President Clinton, who was enthusiastically re-elected. The 2012 election is a test of whether Obama will be held to standards never before imposed on an incumbent. If he is, it may be possible to read that result as the triumph of a more subtle form of racism.

www.thenation.com/article/163544/black-president-double-standard-why-white-liberals-are-abandoning-obama

^BTW, she has a book out as well. Look her up.

[anansi]

We have been patient,we bit our lips,we grumbled silently and murmured under our breath,we watched in horror as he let

Acorn got de-funded based on a lie.
we bit our lips.

He let his Urban development Czar Van Jones go because of the likes of fat waiting for a heart attack Rush Limbaugh and again Glenn Beck spoke ill of him
We bit our lips
His administration threw Shirley Sherrod under the bus even before a hearing because F.O.X news lied and they were afraid of freeking Glenn Beck.
We bit our lips
For those of us who cared about the rule of law and civil liberties Gitmo remains open the Patriot act was not scrapped as promised but improved upon by signing NDAA
We bit our lips

The fall of the economy is not his fault and he did improved it but did nothing about the Bankers who busted it in the first place.
We bit our lips

Bush and company got every thing they wanted including an un-necessary war with Iraq tax cuts for their super rich buddies because they fought for it tooth and nail with almost no support from John Q public.

Obama and his administration came in to power with both House and Senate,an approval rating that was through the roof and ending up watering down every thing he promised most times without a fight.

I look at what folks like Cornel West had to do just to get him and his Administration to pay attention
www.c-span.org/Events/Tavis-Smile....ca/10737427045/
originally posted by Nesben

Yes he is better than anything out there right now so h'll reluctantly get my vote, for the alternative is too horrifying to contemplate but that's it we can't go on biting our lips fore ever it's beginning to bleed.

[sundiata]

^Indeed, lesser of two evils. But in my opinion that means we shouldn't be trying got destroy him with "nagging". Besides, the litany of complaints you've listed have no adverse effect on the Black community so I don't think it's anything to mull over really. As Melissa says (author of the article), not even King was perfect. We should hold him accountable but also stand behind him when subtle racism rears its ugly head and not nit pick everything he does that we don't agree with. Another thing Melissa points out is that Obama doesn't HAVE to be Black, he chose to be by marking it on the census, marrying a Black woman, and doing most of his early work in South Side Chicago. He actually "means" something to us (again, not my words but words from Melissa that I agree with).

[africurious]

Man, plz, that article is ridiculous. I want to know what the author means by:

President Obama has experienced a swift and steep decline in support among white Americans—from 61 percent in 2009 to 33 percent now.

What are those #s based on and how did she arrive at them?

Obama is a politician--nothing more, nothing less. His achievement is remarkable and laudable but that's it. He's in no way in the same relm of a MLK, Medgar Evers or Malcolm X as those were leaders of a struggle, not politicians who say nice things to get elected. If the ppl feel he's messing up then why the heck should they be quiet? Since he's black, blacks should give him a break? Heeelllll no! He should be criticized the same way as any other prez is. The economy stinks and the recovery is slow so people have become impatient (their expectations for eco recovery aren't realistic but that's how they feel). Also, Obama promised a whooole bunch of liberal feel-good ish on the campaign trail that he knew wasn't realistic for him to achieve and many ppl were let down (a bit foolishly) when he couldn't deliver on the promises. So, then why is it a big surpise he's less popular now? Those are the real reasons instead of talking about racism. Those racists were there during the democratic primaries and could've easily voted for a popular hilary clinton instead of Obama (apparently there weren't enough liberal racists to derail his nomination). The flack Obama is getting now would've been given to him even if he were white.

[sundiata]

^I wasn't comparing him to King, i was just making the point that not EVEN King was perfect. If you don't like politicians, that's one thing. The symbolism is another. The fact that you have a Black man holding the highest office and you don't have any reaction when some white guy in the congressional audience calls him a "liar" or a subordinate governor points her finger in his face is something to think about. It shows Blacks are no longer indignant about that type of stuff, which is a shame. I've stated over and over again that I don't care for politics, this is about a broader issue. Indeed, I never even understood why some people complain about politicians if they already know what politics is about. Again, you miss the point of my posting the article as it isn't about "liberal feel good ish", it's about standing up for Blacks in solidarity. Sam Jackson just admitted to voting for Obama because he's Black. Now that's honesty right there! He damn sure didn't vote because he was swayed by his politics. And it ain't like we'd vote for any Black, just competent ones. Obama is not incompetent. The fact that many people were "let down" just shows how naive "many people" are.

As far as where she got her numbers, she's a political scientist who conducts her own empirical research so ask her.

[africurious]

Yea, i don't like politicians as a group because they are full of ish. However, they are what we have to deal with in the political system we've worked out. That said, I don't dislike Obama but I'll always speak up on his typical politician fakery. If you weren't comparing him to King, then why did you mention King as an individual with imperfections? You could've easily said everyone has imperfections. People of the civil rights era are often mentioned with Obama and that irks me b/c what they did is waaaay more significant and required facing more adversity (they paid with their lives even) than this slick talking dude who knows how to tell ppl what they wanna hear (note: he's not necessarily more insincere than any politician, he's just good at being a politician image-wise).

That guy shouting "liar" didn't bother me so much b/c I feel even a prez should be called so if someone feels it. Heck, I would've been glad if someone shouted that at Bush. Obama knows the deal and I'm sure he let that ish slide off like the calm cat he is because that idiot who shouted is small fries. Pointing a finger in the face of the prez shouldn't be done though. I saw a pic of it and she didn't even point it in his face. Her finger didn't go higher than shoulder level in the pic (unless she had it higher at some other time) but the gesture was still a bit too much.

Those 2 ppl aren't relevant to our convo though as they both weren't liberals. We were talking about white liberals supporting Obama less. Those 2 were conservative so their dislike for him and over the top actions aren't so surprising. The racism among conservatives is also obvious.

Yup, I agree many of the ppl being let down by obama were naive. I knew they'd be disappointed if he were elected and the reality of the office set in. This happens with all prez candidates who get elected. However, Obama was a particularly inspirational candidate so higher hopes = greater disappointment when hopes not met. This is independent of any racism that white liberal may have.

My question on her #s was rhetorical so I didn't expect you to answer it.

[jari]

This article is full of holes. I can't speak on the mindset of the ave. "White Liberal" but from what I gather they support Obama over the republicans(rather than advocating a 3rd party), so this whole talke about "White Liberals" seems like a distraction and a strawman argument to me.

This...

The relevant comparison here is with the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton.

This argument is already lost before it even hits the ground. She is trying to compare Obama to Clinton, when Obama and Clinton took office in two extreemly different times, this is just semantics.

Today many progressives complain that Obama’s healthcare reform was inadequate because it did not include a public option; but Clinton failed to pass any kind of meaningful healthcare reform whatsoever.

First off Obama ran his whole campaign on Healthcare reform with a public option not Clinton(That I can remember), and second Obama and the Democrats controlled The House, Senate and the White House. There is no excuse this woman can provide on why Obama caved to corporate interests and republicans on healthcare, so she tries to switch it up by bringing Clinton into the discussion. How absurd.

Others argue that Obama has been slow to push for equal rights for gay Americans; but it was Clinton who established the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy Obama helped repeal.

Really?? Who the Hell is arguing Obama is slow to push gay rights, Obama has been pushing for gay rights for awhile, it was DODT that people were probably complaining about but it got passed, again no one(at least not progressives) are not complaining about Obama and Gay rights.

Still others are angry about appalling unemployment rates for black Americans; but while overall unemployment was lower under Clinton, black unemployment was double that of whites during his term,

Again why is she using Clinton as a scapegoat?? Is she implying that no one was complaining about black unemployment during Clinton?? The people who are complaining are not even directing their complaints only at Obama but Congress and the House as well, so what gives??

as it is now. And, of course, Clinton supported and signed welfare “reform,” cutting off America’s neediest despite the nation’s economic growth.

Really,.. Welfare?? How is this even relevant. Oh I guess she forgot to mention that Obama offered to cut S.Security when the Republicans never asked for him to do that, so yeah.

Today, America’s continuing entanglements in Iraq and Afghanistan provoke anger, but while Clinton reduced defense spending, covert military operations were standard practice during his administration.

Ok. So He cut Military Spending, Obama has not. Argument lost.

In terms of criminal justice, Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, which decreased judicial disparities in punishment; by contrast, federal incarceration grew exponentially under Clinton.

Really, She is really gonna go to C.J. What about Obama continuing Wireless wire tapping est. by Pres. Bush, Cont. the Patriot Act. How about Obama detaining American Citizens like Bradly Manning, How about Obama killing American citizens without a trial like Anwar Awlaki and his son, again without a trial. HOW ABOUT OBAMA ERODING HABIUS CORPUS WITH THE NDAA?? How About that...Where in the Hell did Clinton pull that?? So why compare Obama to Clinton, why not compare him to President Bush?? After all he is continuing Bush's policies.

Many argue that Obama is an ineffective leader,

What the hell "White Liberal" is arguing that Obama is ineffective. Jesus Christ what a lie. Conservatives white and black are arguing this not Liberals.

Im sorry but this knee jerk defense of Obama and this scape goating of "White Liberals" is just a bunch of hogwash. I mean how do she even know the decline in whites who support Obama are not Conservative and Independants and not "Liberals". No where do she take shot at the real white who are disrespecting Obama because of his race, the Conservatives. White Liberals, at least the ones I know are as defensive, and supportive of Obama as she is, all the White Liberals I know, All of them are Obama supporters.

[sundiata]

africurious:

^I mentioned King because everyone holds him to the highest of standards yet if he wasn't perfect, it automatically follows based on that reasoning that no one is. Why in the hell would I COMPARE the two, c'mon now. Your personal pet peeve has nothing to do with the point I made.

The fact that Obama was called a liar SHOULD bother you because it would not have happened were he not seen as Black instead of our president. The presidency is something to be respected. People can disagree without spewing vitriol or interrupting the man in the middle of an address. It is simply proper etiquette to be respectful, something you learn as a child in this society. Of course OBAMA let it slide. Doesn't mean we should. As far as the governor pointing her finger in his face, I don't know what you're talking about but the fact that she RAISED her finger is universal body language indicating disrespect. Indeed, Obama was appalled enough to walk away from her in mid-conversation so the same "cool cat" obviously saw it as an issue as well. Your lack of indignation is part of the problem. turning a blind eye and acting like it's nothing.

That they aren't liberals matters none. There is still the same subtlety here that I'm addressing. I wouldn't call conservatives blatant racists either. That form of racism is kind of rare, at least in its public expression. At the end of the day, those naive people would have been even more disappointed had they voted for McCain. Like I said, hold the man accountable but don't demonize him. The CONSTANT criticism I hear from liberals is getting annoying.

These same liberals, like the occupy losers, do absolutely nothing to help young Blacks within the community on a grass roots level but have nerve to complain. Those who are out in the field helping the children complain less because they know they have more power than government policy does over the lives of people. Like I said, if all we're going on, for example, are the list of complaints shown in Brada's post, then we are nit picking.

[jari]

Heres the thing, none of those people, NONE OF THEM were "White Liberals" yet this woman's article is some meely mouth bashing of white Liberals. Not one White Liberal has disrepected Obama, its been the Conservatives. Also what about people like Alan West and Cain??

So are white conservatives racially disrespecting Obama, not yes but Hell Yes, but don't come here(Not you but the Woman who wrote that article) pulling Progressives and "White Liberals" the people who defend Obama againt GOP racism into the same category like our complaints against Obama are not legit and are only based on him being black.(I consider myself Progressive, Im not a white Liberal). No where has Progressives or White Liberals disrespected Obama nor critisized him out side his constant compromising and pushing blue-dog democrat policies to please republicans.

Feb 13, 2012 12:29:31 GMT -5 sundiata said:

^I wasn't comparing him to King, i was just making the point that not EVEN King was perfect. If you don't like politicians, that's one thing. The symbolism is another. The fact that you have a Black man holding the highest office and you don't have any reaction when some white guy in the congressional audience calls him a "liar" or a subordinate governor points her finger in his face is something to think about. It shows Blacks are no longer indignant about that type of stuff, which is a shame. I've stated over and over again that I don't care for politics, this is about a broader issue. Indeed, I never even understood why some people complain about politicians if they already know what politics is about. Again, you miss the point of my posting the article as it isn't about "liberal feel good ish", it's about standing up for Blacks in solidarity. Sam Jackson just admitted to voting for Obama because he's Black. Now that's honesty right there! He damn sure didn't vote because he was swayed by his politics. And it ain't like we'd vote for any Black, just competent ones. Obama is not incompetent. The fact that many people were "let down" just shows how naive "many people" are.

As far as where she got her numbers, she's a political scientist who conducts her own empirical research so ask her.

[sundiata]

Jari, Clinton is used as a comparison because he never received this kind of criticism from white liberals. Again, the things that you are complaining about does't even effect US [the Black community]. You find ways to undermine the comparison in one instance but turn around and affirm the comparison in another when it benefits Clinton (like on military spending). Your argument seems inconsistent and biased. In other instances you simply deny that liberals are complaining and try to scrutinize her statistics by suggesting a dip from 61-33% doesn't involve liberals, as if most of those whites were conservative to begin with. Obviously the dip is due to dipping support among independents and liberals. At the end of the day, and I don't mean to sound insensitive, but no one cares about Gitmo and Wiretaps, or one Bradley Manning. That's ish that many people in the Black and Latin community don't care about. It's one of those luxury issues that people complain about once they stop worrying about education, health care, and their next meal (i.e., the bread and butter).

[sundiata]

Feb 13, 2012 14:01:02 GMT -5 jari said:

Heres the thing, none of those people, NONE OF THEM were "White Liberals" yet this woman's article is some meely mouth bashing of white Liberals. Not one White Liberal has disrepected Obama, its been the Conservatives. Also what about people like Alan West and Cain??

So are white conservatives racially disrespecting Obama, not yes but Hell Yes, but don't come here(Not you but the Woman who wrote that article) pulling Progressives and "White Liberals" the people who defend Obama againt GOP racism into the same category like our complaints against Obama are not legit and are only based on him being black.(I consider myself Progressive, Im not a white Liberal). No where has Progressives or White Liberals disrespected Obama nor critisized him out side his constant compromising and pushing blue-dog democrat policies to please republicans.

Feb 13, 2012 12:29:31 GMT -5 sundiata said:

^I wasn't comparing him to King, i was just making the point that not EVEN King was perfect. If you don't like politicians, that's one thing. The symbolism is another. The fact that you have a Black man holding the highest office and you don't have any reaction when some white guy in the congressional audience calls him a "liar" or a subordinate governor points her finger in his face is something to think about. It shows Blacks are no longer indignant about that type of stuff, which is a shame. I've stated over and over again that I don't care for politics, this is about a broader issue. Indeed, I never even understood why some people complain about politicians if they already know what politics is about. Again, you miss the point of my posting the article as it isn't about "liberal feel good ish", it's about standing up for Blacks in solidarity. Sam Jackson just admitted to voting for Obama because he's Black. Now that's honesty right there! He damn sure didn't vote because he was swayed by his politics. And it ain't like we'd vote for any Black, just competent ones. Obama is not incompetent. The fact that many people were "let down" just shows how naive "many people" are.

As far as where she got her numbers, she's a political scientist who conducts her own empirical research so ask her.

I hate to use anecdotes but what lead me to her article was a lecture/discussion of hers where she was addressing white liberals directly from the audience, some of who'm were even trying to justify that their complaints were not rooted in racism. She listened to them and responded accordingly, explaining that her argument is about the subtleties of holding Obama to a higher standard. I've noticed it here in California's Bay Area (the most liberal place on earth). Yes, people are bitching a lot out here and it's annoying. As intimated, I don't see any of these losers in the Black community unless they are marching through North and West Oakland to join to senseless occupy Oakland protests downtown.

As far as compromising, name one president besides Bush who didn't compromise. In a majority republican congress, what exactly do you propose? That NOTHING gets done? Who voted these republicans in office? Americans obviously like an ineffective government.

P.S., your complaints ARE legit. I just notice that we as Blacks are acting just like these white liberals (even though OUR issues are not the same as theirs) and leaving the man out in the cold. It's messed up.

[africurious]

Feb 13, 2012 13:49:07 GMT -5 sundiata said:

africurious:

^I mentioned King because everyone holds him to the highest of standards yet if he wasn't perfect, it automatically follows based on that reasoning that no one is. Why in the hell would I COMPARE the two, c'mon now.

OK, that makes sense. Idk you that well so I wasn't sure because I've seen a lot of blacks act like Obama is in the King category.

The fact that Obama was called a liar SHOULD bother you because it would not have happened were he not seen as Black instead of our president. The presidency is something to be respected. People can disagree without spewing vitriol or interrupting the man in the middle of an address. It is simply proper etiquette to be respectful, something you learn as a child in this society. Of course OBAMA let it slide. Doesn't mean we should. As far as the governor pointing her finger in his face, I don't know what you're talking about but the fact that she RAISED her finger is universal body language indicating disrespect. Indeed, Obama was appalled enough to walk away from her in mid-conversation so the same "cool cat" obviously saw it as an issue as well. Your lack of indignation is part of the problem. turning a blind eye and acting like it's nothing. That they aren't liberals matters none. There is still the same subtlety here that I'm addressing.

Well, the governor's actions were just over the top and a political gimmick to score points. He rightfully didn't tolerate her foolishness.
The guy's shouting that Obama was a liar I'm not sure was related to his race. Many have said or wondered this but I can't see how it's apparent from the actions. I wouldn't be surprised it were racial in part though because that's common on the far right.
It's fairly obvious to all but the blind and those in denial that there is racism among conservatives in their opposition to obama, however, the article and I were talking about white liberals. These people voted for Obama and supported him. Their enthusiasm for him has waned considerably and the article is saying it's cuz of his race and i'm saying it's not. I don't care if racism comes from liberals or conservatives but we were talking about liberals only. A lot of the nasty stuff from the conservatives upset me but I haven't gotten into it because it was unrelated to this topic.

I wouldn't call conservatives blatant racists either. That form of racism is kind of rare, at least in its public expression. At the end of the day, those naive people would have been even more disappointed had they voted for McCain. Like I said, hold the man accountable but don't demonize him. The CONSTANT criticism I hear from liberals is getting annoying.

Liberals wouldn't have voted for McCain. Centrist who lean democratic would've though. And, liberals aren't the ones demonizing Obama. It's the conservatives. Liberals, especially far left ones, do criticize him a whole lot though.

These same liberals, like the occupy losers, do absolutely nothing to help young Blacks within the community on a grass roots level but have nerve to complain. Those who are out in the field helping the children complain less because they know they have more power than government policy does over the lives of people. Like I said, if all we're going on, for example, are the list of complaints shown in Brada's post, then we are nit picking.

The things in Brada's post aren't important to you but most of them are important to many people who voted for obama. That's why it's not just nit picking.

[africurious]

Im sorry but this knee jerk defense of Obama and this scape goating of "White Liberals" is just a bunch of hogwash. I mean how do she even know the decline in whites who support Obama are not Conservative and Independants and not "Liberals". No where do she take shot at the real white who are disrespecting Obama because of his race, the Conservatives. White Liberals, at least the ones I know are as defensive, and supportive of Obama as she is, all the White Liberals I know, All of them are Obama supporters.

Jari, I think you're wondering the same thing I am. It's not clear from the excerpt of the article if she's referring to "white liberals" only or just to any white who supported Obama in the election (which would be incorrect because not all whites who voted for Obama were liberal as many were centrists). However, there has indeed been a severe drop in support for Obama and this is from liberals and centrists (conservatives didn't vote for Obama). But the polls that show a drop in support for Obama is an indication of a drop in enthusiasm, not whether or not ppl will vote for Obama. Liberals, if they don't abstain, will still vote for Obama as the other choice revolts them. Centrists who voted for Obama previously, though, may jump ship to the republican candidate.

I don't like when ppl just automatically shout racism when there isn't much of any indication that that is involved and many other obvious explanations are there. Obama couldn't in a few yrs have launched from a jr senator to defeating a popular democratic candidate for the nomination if racism were prevalent among "white liberals".

[africurious]

Feb 13, 2012 14:06:27 GMT -5 sundiata said:

At the end of the day, and I don't mean to sound insensitive, but no one cares about Gitmo and Wiretaps, or one Bradley Manning. That's ish that many people in the Black and Latin community don't care about. It's one of those luxury issues that people complain about once they stop worrying about education, health care, and their next meal (i.e., the bread and butter).

Urrr... I know a bunch of black ppl who care about gitmo, wire taps and bradley manning. Especially those blacks who know about the cointelpro program and other insidious deeds of the gov't. Yes, most blacks and lats (and whites too) focus only on bread and butter issues. And, there's much in the bread & butter issues that liberals have complained about; for example, the health care bill being watered down too much, the banks being bailed out without punishment, and the economy not recovering much. Whether or not you agree with the substance of their complaints, these are bread & butter issues that they're upset about so it's not trivial.

[zarahan]

The article says:
I believe much of that decline can be attributed to their disappointment that choosing a black man for president did not prove to be salvific for them or the nation. His record is, at the very least, comparable to that of President Clinton, who was enthusiastically re-elected. The 2012 election is a test of whether Obama will be held to standards never before imposed on an incumbent. If he is, it may be possible to read that result as the triumph of a more subtle form of racism.

^Overstated. They are disappointed in Obama for a number of reasons besides race.
He is not carrying out a leftist agenda fast enough for example- whether it be in military commitments, health care reform, gay rights, or whatever. This is nothing unusual. Conservatives expected big "roll back" policies when Reagan was elected too, but he
failed to deliver on school prayer, sweeping restrictions on abortion, sweeping cutbacks
on affirmative action and so on.

And there is one big difference in the comparison with Clinton. Clinton did not face an economic meltdown. There were problems, but Clinton generally had moderate economic growth to work with, including the Internet boom, AND a budget surplus. But Obama operates in a tougher environment. He is gonna draw more flak in such an arena, even if he was white.

A final item is just that liberals themselves may have over-hyped the "hope and change" thing,
swept up in the sheer giddiness of having "the first black president." How historic! They hyped a god, and find out he has to govern amid the clay-pits. Now the glow is off, and they are disappointed. Nothing unusual there in politics either. Politics 101...

Does race play a part with SOME liberals who may be expecting over-hyped miracles then when the black guy does not deliver is overly critical? Yeah, with some. But does it play a SIGNIFICANT part at all? The jury is still way out..

brada says:
Acorn got de-funded based on a lie.
we bit our lips.

He let his Urban development Czar Van Jones go because of the likes of fat waiting for a heart attack Rush Limbaugh and again Glenn Beck spoke ill of him
We bit our lips
His administration threw Shirley Sherrod under the bus even before a hearing because F.O.X news lied and they were afraid of freeking Glenn Beck.
We bit our lips
For those of us who cared about the rule of law and civil liberties Gitmo remains open the Patriot act was not scrapped as promised but improved upon by signing NDAA
We bit our lips

The fall of the economy is not his fault and he did improved it but did nothing about the Bankers who busted it in the first place.
We bit our lips

Bush and company got every thing they wanted including an un-necessary war with Iraq tax cuts for their super rich buddies because they fought for it tooth and nail with almost no support from John Q public.

Obama and his administration came in to power with both House and Senate,an approval rating that was through the roof and ending up watering down every thing he promised most times without a fight.

I look at what folks like Cornel West had to do just to get him and his Administration to pay attention
www.c-span.org/Events/Tavis-Smile....ca/10737427045/
originally posted by Nesben


See this is what I mean. "Racism" is not merely the problem. Some in the black community question why Obama is not doing more to help the desperate conditions in many places. It is not just white liberals or conservatives who are disappointed or attack. Frankly, I don't think the election of Obama "as black" - will do much for blacks beyond the psychic satisfaction of having a black president. None of that will move the needle on dire unemployment conditions for black men for example. Just in NYC 25% of the brothas are unemployed. Exactly what a black face in the White House gonna do for them? The white bankstas who got their bailouts are doing fine. White women are doing fine- indeed fairly well in the econ downturn compared to males. But the brothas are in trouble. SO there is a clear strand of black criticism out there.

This is a another lesson on black folk putting their hopes in political "messiahs" and panaceas. No messiah will get the job done at street level- only hard, grinding effort, individually and by local communities will. Some people think "voting" is the answer. But after all the voting, where is the needle on those key indicators? What has all the voting got ya? Some express disappointment and resentment at "the politicians." And yet, they will go back time and time again, and vote in the same parties and politicians. Such is the "political kingdom."

I passed by a Cambodian nail shop the other day - Asian cats were in there, men and women, working hard. Cats did not even speak good English. Most of their customers were white. I sez to myself, these people are moving ahead, acquiring skills, capital and property. For them, it doesn't make a dime's worth of difference who's in the White House. Under any possible regime, they would still be moving ahead- raising the old question again, how relevant is the political kingdom?

And are "alternatives to Obama" really that horrible? To hear tell by SOME black TV pundits, anyone that ain't Obama, is Lucifer himself, who will usher in a veritable apocalypse and armageddon, and "turn back" the clock to Jim crow, circa 1899. Chicken Little bullshiit... Let's stop treating Obama as a sacred cow and look long and hard at his policies and their results. I think Cornel West is right to take a "tough love" view. We need more "tough love"..


The above are general comments Brada, not a criticism or anything like that of your post.