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by Yvette Carnell
First the LGBT lobby extracted an about face from Obama on marriage equality, moving him to declare his support for same s*x 
marriage. Then today, Obama responded to the needs of the Latino community by allowing students in the U.S. who are already in deportation proceedings, or those who qualify for the DREAM Act, to remain in America without threat of deportation.
This means that President Obama just instated the Dream Act, at the behest of the Latino community, all by himself.
If you’re black and you don’t feel stupid, then you haven’t been paying attention. And many pundits, commentators, and activists obviously hadn’t been paying attention, at least not until recently.
In a series of tweets, CNN’s Roland S. Martin finally came around to the view I’ve held for months, and noted the following:
No s**t Sherlock. Problem is, it’s too little too late. It’s hard, d**n near impossible, to renegotiate a win in the ninth inning. The time to make the accountability argument would’ve been around early 2010, which just happens to have been around the time I began lighting a fire under of black people to wholeheartedly engage Obama on a black agenda. But when I made the case, all I heard was a bunch of nonsense about how I was a “hater” and how Obama was gonna hook black people up – eventually. Suckers.
Roland Martin had, in his role as CNN commentator (not to be confused with unbiased journalist), a lot of flexibility to ebb that flow of messianic nonsense. He didn’t. He was an apologist for the administration. And so wasVan Jones, who also, as of late, has been ratcheting up his criticisms of Obama.
As Obama continues to hang black people out to dry, a lot of people are going to jump on the *accountability* bandwagon. All I want is for you to remember who was sounding the alarm when it mattered – and who wasn’t.
Yvette Carnell is a former Capitol Hill and campaign staffer turned writer. She is currently an editor and contributor to Yourblackworld.
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EBD
June 20, 2012 at 12:03 am
I am sick and tired of some people in our community criticizing the President for not addressing black issues or not pursuing a “black agenda”. If the President was able to get a jobs bill through the Congress, given the Republican resentment of any of his proposals, the result would be an improvement in the job situation of those AMERICANS (black, white, latino, Asians, etc) who have the education and skills to perform the work. What these people ( I mean those who parrot the thinking of Yvette Carmel, Roland Martin, Smiley, West and others)would nlike to see is for the President to present a jobs bill that seeks to provide employment to ONLY blacks. This would be totally unacceptable to any right- thinking American. The Health Care Act, the rescue of the auto industry or the endorsement of same marriage, all benefited blacks as it did for other ethnic groups. That is what we should expect from the President (BLACK OR WHITE) not some “black agenda” that would most certainly further tear apart this country. Do not ignore that fact that we have a “Tea Party” ( including Congressman Alan West–a black man) who wants to “take back the country.” They will certainly get it if you don’t vote for the President. Otherwise, vote for Romney and the Republican Party who do not give a d**n about you or your people.
My advice to these critics is as follows:
(1) Promote education in our community so that our people can be as competitive as anyone else and
(2) Make it your obligation to enlighten yourself politically so those you understand the political dynamics in this country and not allow yourself to vote against your own interests and what is in the interest of your people.
Cynthia Williams
June 19, 2012 at 6:38 pm
For all the Good He has done…The 2 MAJOR Decision he made First LEGAL GENOCIDE…that means the lives of your children. Yes, he chose and appointed the Monsanto Money to be the Head of the FDA. The people leading the Genocide with GMO’s. That’s why people are sick and dying, kidneys failing. Then, Second GAY MARRIAGE, Get real. When you go there there is no hope for our future because Gay can’t procreate they can only adopt and manufacture. THIS IS NOT SODOM AND GOMORRAH BUT WE SURE ACTING LIKE IT AND HE’S AT THE HEAD OF THE CLASS.
Beatrice Fleming
June 18, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Byron, I love reading your comments. I can rap with you . You understand exactly what is going on. It freaks me out to hear those fast talking journalists knocking down the president. “WHAT THE h**l DO YOU WANT FROM HIM EXACTLY.?” He want us to have a fair playing fiels also what about 9/11 and all it caused us as a nation. HOW QUICKLY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FORGET WHAT THEY NEED TO ALWAYS REMEMBER.
Beatrice Fleming
June 18, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Roland, you of all people should know what the President came in and met in the Whit House. What did you expect him to do; reinvent the Black Panther Party. I feel President Obama is doing a great job looking at Congress and the BS also the one sided journalists that expect miracles; not being realastict or understanding anymore because we have elected a black president; (he will be able to change america right away)I never heard the President promis nothing to Black People. It should not be black & white although that is how America is right now. IF YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT DID NOTHING FOR BLACK PEOPLE;LISTEN TO ROMNEY AND I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT HE IS OFFERING TO MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS: NOTHING
Marne1
June 18, 2012 at 7:57 pm
This action from me was inevitable. Please unsubscribe me from this site. What appeared to be an informative site with room for civil discourse has degenerated into a forum for bloggers to exploit and use to support their very biased veiws.( Cantrell deliberately misrepresented what the Presiden’t signing of the Executive Order means.) Like others she did so to spark discussion that help her make a case that she is way ahead of everyone else in calling out the President. Well done Ms. Cantrell.
ICDATRUTH
June 18, 2012 at 7:31 pm
I’m sorry Roland still looks like a ewok from Star Wars!
I was distracted by that thought
s'ann
June 18, 2012 at 3:04 pm
I know we, as a people, have come a long way, but the truth of the matter is that we have not yet arrived. As I stood in the freezing cold weather at President Obama’s Inauguration among the thousands that were in attendance, I said, then, to a family that allowed me to join them in witnessing the historical moment, that I hope, we, as a people, do not expect President Obama to be our savior, because He is not Jesus, and that remains to be true today.
Sirley
June 17, 2012 at 10:29 pm
If Black on this blog think that President Obama has done anything for them maybe she should read what Mitt Romney has in store for you and you kids.
Romney says he is not worry about the poor because they have safety net. what? Cheese and power milk.
Gop Paul Ryans Budget is to cut Medicaid, Social Secrity and Medicare, so if you retirement Check doesn’t show up ond day, don’t be suprise, just think the Republicans Budget.
We are in an economy crisis because of “Money, power and Wall Street”, staring from 2002-2008, don’t take my work for it read about it on PSB.ORG
Frongline Money, Power and Wall Street.
The reason White Americans are screeming so loud because they are just as poor or pooer as Black Americans’ because of too unpaid War’s, Medicare Fraud, and Money power, and Wall Street, plus 3000 lobbyists who paid off Senator’s to look the other way.
That PSB.ORG show were 4 hr long and i watch the entire 4 hrs.
you can read Romney Plan at mittromney.com
Blackvoter2012
June 17, 2012 at 8:35 am
Oh and by the way the President comfortably is worth about 10 million dollars. That’s great for him and his family. No hate from me.
How many black Americans have seen a semblance of that kind of increase in their wages over a six year span?
I guess we should not expect anything in return for our supports and votes. If we continue to be the fools. As always the case we have waited to late to demand anything from the Obama administration.
What we will get is more of the same “the tide will rise in the next four years.” The Obama administration will laughing at black folks all the way to victory in 2012.
Gerald Jenkins
June 17, 2012 at 8:16 am
I SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT AND BY OUR I MEAN AS A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. When I voted for the president I did not sign a waiver or was promised anything for my vote. FOR ALL OF YOU SO CALLED EDUCATED AFRICAN AMERICANS (I AM A BLACK AMERICAN) YOU MUST NOT KNOW THE LIMITS AND CONSTRAINTS PLACED ON ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL. They are limited to the legislation in place at the time and to get new legislation enacted it takes more than just your will to get it done. I APPLAUD THE PRESIDENT FOR WHAT HE HAS ACCOMPPLISHED SO FAR GIVING THE TERRIBLE STATE OF AFFAIRS THE COUNTRY WAS IN WHEN HE FIRST TOOK OFFICE. To all the so called experts, scholars and political pundits who think they have all of the answers try to get in a position to help instead of criticizing and expose the real reason you don’t like the president other than the fact that you DIDN’T get a position at the White House. Stop blowing hot air and start making a real difference. DON’T BE THE PROBLEM BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU.
Blackvoter2012
June 17, 2012 at 8:06 am
I say the devoted black slaves to President Obama should revolt.
They should demand more. What did we get? One dam disrespectful commercial last week for our 4 years of unconditional love and loyalty. The President as shown a whole lot of disrespect for the black votes he received in 2012. He’s paying back the favors but has fail to deposit one dam dime into our bank account.
Blackallaround365
June 17, 2012 at 7:41 am
I have long been on the heels of President Obama. What happen to all that change he promised. As I see it nothing has changed for black folks. He has not addressed one issue facing black Americans. If anything we are worst off than before 2008. The economy is still in the tank. We have the highest unemployment rate in the country.
He just might play himself in 2012. He got the black vote in 2008. He better hope our love and attention spans last. Because as I see it. If the black folks don’t show up to vote. He will be packing his bags and leaving 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. “He said the tide will rise.”
He has shown his true colors. Where is his loyalty to the black people that voted for him? He’s missed numerous opportunities to help the black citizenry of this unjust and ungodly country.
If we don’t leverage our our votes. What do expect him to do? Do you think he is losing sleep worrying about black folks agenda. He’s not looking out for our interest. We need to flood Obama’s administration with our demands.
It’s about accountability. We are not holding him accountable. We black folks should be playing the game too. We only have ourselves to blame. It’s on us.
ICsre2
June 17, 2012 at 6:21 am
Young folk wake up! You complain about what the President is not doing for you, as an African American, I have read so good post here and so that make me ashame to have worked my whole life to change, and you are still complaining about the same old c**p, but you, yourself , haven’t done a d**n thing to changes! Have you tried to make a different yourself? Do you run for public office, to changes thing for your people? Who did you teach something to today? Did you go to school got an education , and returned to your community that you grew up in? One man, you blame all this mess and your problems on one man! One man who wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth or to parents who had billions so he could just go to college without, worrying about having to pay tuition? I just don’t understand the hate and anger I sense and feel in some of your post! It’s like the, President is the return of Jesus Christ! But you don’t see that to make a different you need to CHANGE, the way you see things read more learn more, this man did not make your problems, so he don’t have to do anything to CHANGE or FIX them. ,However, he is trying to make help the best he can with the hands he is give! Now I have read so great ideals here, ideals that can make a differents in the black community, we need to stop complaining about what we as Blacks don’t have , but do nothing about changing things. Get out run for a political office, get in on the inside and work with the people in those communities , the only people that makes a differents in our black community is usually the drug dealers, the gangs, our children grow up in these areas and never leave, the they don’t know that things can ever change for them! I grew up in Detroit, in my high school no one talked about going to college because they just knew that they would just get a job at Ford or GM a make good money! What do you need college for, h**l I can get me a real job working in the plant! Well that exactly what the did, until the plant started closing and laying people off, then they had no skills to fall back on or in some cases no education either. President Obama wasn’t responsible for this, he wasn’t responsible for babies having babies either. He didn’t cause the state of this economy, he didnot start two wars or tax breaks for the rich or big companies. When he ran for offices he didn’t promise us we did because we did not do our part as the people to change things! Stop listening to the so called ,Black Leader, like Smiley or Martin,or preachers, or commentators….etc. because they are only making money off of You, and they don’t give a d**n about you or your ideals!
Deloris
June 17, 2012 at 6:00 am
Most of these people who think they are the black leader’s should ask themselves did we vote for them to try and represent them. I am my own leader, I think for myself I don’t need leaders speaking for me. I know what I want and work to get it. Why do we need to run around talking about what President Obama is doing or not doing. We should be asking ourselves what have we done for ourselves and our community.
Did we do any volunteer work in the black community? Did we try to do something for the older people living in the community? Or are they obsolete now. When will men be men in our community. The only way that a neighborhood becomes unliviable is because it was neglected by US. Others come in paint homes, cut grass, and do a few other things in our community and the next thing you know there are no longer any black people living there. They have taken the money and ran. We need to start taking care of our neighborhoods and stop giving everything away.
Miguel
June 17, 2012 at 4:48 am
Yvette Carnell is so right, as well as the number of posters who continue to criticize the president.
Since when does a group of people who voted 95% percent to put President Obama in office, wait and take a backseat to everyone and everything else? That truly IS asinine.
Ninety-five percent represents as close to a unanimous vote as anyone is ever going to get in a national election. It is certainly clear that he is willing to risk losing a few percentage points of that unanimous vote, just to satisfy other interests.
Waiting for his second term is no option to me, and please spare me the “do you want Mitt Romney in the White House” remarks.
That to me is the problem. People are willing to settle right now for what the President is doing, with no threat of consequences. Just as you have to be willing to lose everything in some cases to get what you want sometimes, we now have to be willing to risk the bugaboo of a Romney Presidency, to kick Obama into gear.
He can continue to dangle that proverbial carrot of progress and change before our eyes, saying things like “we’re almost there,” and there’s been some movement though not enough. But where is this thing going? I’m thankful someone is willing to speak out against some of the things that our president is doing wrong.
If President Obama can unilaterally move the way he has with gays and illegals, he can certainly do the same with Blacks, can’t he? Or, does he have to approve that with someone else before he does? Huh? What?
Lastly, stay tuned to this Dream Act move because it’s far from over. Remember, Obama stated that the measure is a temporary “stopgap” move, not immunity or steps to citizenship.
In other words, if this move with the Latinos is what some believe it is, it simply means that the President will resume his record breaking ICE Raids against illegals in due time upon reelection.
James
June 17, 2012 at 3:09 am
Roland Martin, Boyce Watkins, Cornel West and the Tavis Smiley’s of the black race are nothing more than nickel and dime pundits who make their living b******g, moaning, complaining and criticizing. None of them have done anything positive to change any of the things they complain about and criticize. They’re talkers, not doers.
Which one has started a business and employed black people?
Which one has gone into the Black Community and started a program to help or enhance it?
Which one has brought Black athletes, entertainers and such together to spend some of their money by giving back to communities that they came from? Which one will leave a legacy of doing anything positive to enhance the loves of Black people?
We have a Black man who has accomplished the unimaginable in this country(regardless of how he got there)and all these fools can do is criticize and put him down because he isn’t out there stomping to get us “3 acres and a mule, and reparations. And we wonder why Blacks are the least respected people on earth. The very reason we are at the bottom and will stay at the bottom is because of people like these clowns.
Byron K. Butler Sr.
June 17, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Excellent comment James. I would love to see any of the FOOLS who have posted here (or Yvette “Fox News” Carnell herself) challenge any of what you have said here.
DR Graham
June 17, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Byron Bulter, your “Amen Corner” is reflective of a person that is absolutely mindless… Apparently the VOC’s from the shoe polish you use when shining the shoes of white folks have destroyed the neurons in your brain and that defect coupled with your Post Traumatic Slave Disorder (PTSD) has left you mentally incapacitated, unable to intellectually engage in discourse where you understand a single issue being discussed.
freeze
June 17, 2012 at 1:51 am
Why are so many people here trying to down our Presidnt just he’s doing something that others before him didn’t have the b***s to do. Just treat people the way you would want to be treated. How many hold Regan, Bushes, Clenton and the list goes on and on accountable. Standing with our President shows our kids that they can grow up and be what ever their heart desire. The President have kept more campain promises than any that came before him. This country was mess up before he got elected and he’s doing what best for this country. The rich don’t pay their fair share of taxes nor do they care about you making more than $13.68 per hour. Don’t be a fool all of your life.
Byron K. Butler Sr.
June 17, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Excellent comment freeze! But as far as the FOOLS you refer to are concerned, it’s too late! They are already dumb, deaf & blind of reality.
Sandy
June 16, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Since when should we vote for a president because how he’s going to give special attention to our minority group and “hook us up”??? Do you think gay voters were like, “vote for Obama, man, he’s totally going to hook us up with gay marriage”?? It’s stupid.
How about: Vote for the candidate who doesn’t want to lower taxes for the wealthy and cut social programs like welfare, social security, medicare and medicaid. DON’T VOTE FOR ROMNEY!!!!
Byron K. Butler Sr.
June 17, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Thank you for that excellent comment Sandy. OBVIOUSLY a lot of people who have left comments here are no different than Yvette Carnell herself & need to wake the h**l up! Especially if they think Mitt Romney or ANY other Republican is going to do anything for Black people.
George Boykin
June 16, 2012 at 9:23 pm
Obama at a private $1 million a plate fundraiser at Sarah Jessica Parker’s attended exclusively by his white Marxist nomenklatura handlers and Hollywood elites who bankrolled his rise to power:
“I’ll gladly pay you today with fabulous White House parties, fake no-bid crony capitalist contracts for all federal projects, czarships of your choice where you call the shots, ambassadorships in exotic countries of your choice, prestigious and influential jobs in my administration, and unimaginable wealth from loot I plunder from the national treasury; just for your continued support to keep me in power after Tuesday.” [November 6, 2012]
Obama to clueless “African Americans” in Cleveland who consistently vote against their best interests and whose votes he needs to stay in power (after rousing introductions by Reverend Hymietown, Reverend Shakedown, Van Jones and Malik Zulu Shabazz):
“My brothers and sisters, we’re making magnificent progress with my Great Leap Forward into your future. Soon, I’ll give you high-paying jobs building windmills and growing algae to power my cities. I’m expanding public sector employment to move you from government dependency as beggars to government dependency as employees. I want you to have those high-paying union jobs rebuilding my highways. However, I’ve heard some of you griping about the 99 year training program I’m paying the unions to get you qualified as union ditch diggers. Be patient my brothers and sisters! Stay the course. Complete the 99 year union ditch digging training program. As we speak, I’ve already invented the cure for death.
Because of all the sacrifices I’m making for you in my sagacious wisdom, the best I can offer you today is another whopping dish of Hope and Change…and, at incredible personal sacrifice by me…and, only because I feel your pain…you can now get food stamps direct from my private Obama Stash along with an 8 by 10 autographed glossy photo of MEEE that’s perfect for framing; just for your vote on Tuesday. [November 6, 2012] Keep Hope and Change Alive!!!”
George Boykin
June 16, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Black Americans throughout the country have silently observed in shocked disbelief as Obama repeatedly lights one of his famous exploding cigars in rapid succession one after another in affirming that Obama is the most racist president against black Americans in recent history; that he pimps his half blackness solely to advance the cause of Obama; that he enlists the support the Congressional Black Caucus, Negro operatives of the DNC and mainstream media to play the race card purely to promote the cause of Barack Hussein Obama. Isn’t it ironic that the nation’s first black president has the most Lilly-white administration and campaign organization, which has not been seen since the racist Democrat Woodrow Wilson was president 100 years ago? This, of course, excludes the thuggish and thoroughly disgraced Eric Holder. These are facts Negro Elites know all too well, but zip their lips. The facts don’t fit the narrative. Finding a credible black person in a position of authority in Obama’s administration is only a tad less challenging than finding a chicken with lips. Finding a chicken with lips is only a tad less challenging than finding a black person in a responsible position in the Obama Campaign apparatus headed by the racist, David Axelrod. Obama and Axelrod both have a visceral disdain for black Americans that rivals the notorious, well-credentialed bigot Mr. Global Warming himself, Al Gore. If Obama was president of a private company, the EEOC would be over him like a cheap suit for his racist hiring practices. Stepping away from Obama’s racist administration and his racist Campaign, in reviewing the impact on black Americans of having the nation’s first black president, it can be unequivocally stated that the low-rent grifter in the Oval Office has caused more harm, caused more misery, destroyed more wealth, left more people jobless, killed more unborns, and dumbed-down more children in the black community in 3 years than a Eugene “Bull” Connor could do in 100 lifetimes. Black Americans are finally awakening to the reality that they hitched their wagon to the Lester Maddox of the 21st century—a genuine bigoted fraud. In this regard, Obama is the best thing that’s happened to black Americans since the Emancipation Proclamation. Going forward, Obama will certainly serve as a constant reminder that the Democrat party is a criminally racist cartel; a wolf wearing a sheep pelt spewing collectivist, platitudinous, soporific mumbo-jumbo of social justice and “spreading the money around”, while their only intent is to put us all in bondage as slaves to the state. We did not survive 246 years of slavery to be bamboozled back into slavery by a racist, affirmative action idiot and Sodomite who knows nothing of and cares less about the black experience, and his Marxist handlers. The Negro grifters in the DNC, the Congressional Black Caucus and in the racist mainstream media will be remembered in footnotes to history as traitors to America and traitors to black Americans. They sold their souls to Satan on the cheap for 5 pieces of silver. They are an ignoble, odious blight upon our representative democracy. They represent nobody but their Marxist paymasters—certainly not the clueless African Americans who put them in positions of authority over our lives [anybody up for challenging this assertion need only follow the money]. I’m sure African American readers are deeply offended by this post. This is precisely why they call themselves “African Americans”—a term which is an oxymoron. One cannot be African and American simultaneously despite the hateful multicultural gibberish the high-paid and tenured Negro Marxist “professors” teach in Black Studies. Choose to be “African”, or choose to be “American”. Happily, stunningly growing numbers of blacks are abandoning the racist rant of our self-proclaimed leaders and opting to be Americans. For all other blacks suffering from an identity crisis and sharing the same sentiments as Barack Hussein Obama, the DNC, the CBC, the NAACP, Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, Reverend Hymietown [the inventor of the term, African American], Reverend Shakedown, Van Jones, Farrakhan, and Malik Zulu Shabazz…,…: take your African American derrieres back to Africa. Robert Mugabe will be happy to arrange a “Welcome Home” reception. We emphatically reject the Satanic third-world Kleptocracy in America, which Obama, his nomenklatura in Hollywood, the Negro Elites, organized labor, mainstream media, and New World Order globalists have promised as our future. Ever wonder why “African Americans” are the only people on planet Earth with so-called leaders whom the media contacts when curious about what the Negroes want? And, to coin an old cliché I’ve been waiting to use for a long time; “I happen to be black.”
I'mDone
June 16, 2012 at 8:39 pm
It’s amazing to see all these people who are in support of Obama, for what. He has completly ignored black people, that’s a fact, and they don’t realize it. They don’t know the value of their vote. Without the black community vote, Obama would not be President. Nobody has to produce a black agenda for you idoits with your heads stuff up your a*s. Answer this…have is it that Obama gave out almost 2trilion in stimulus money and the black comminities did’nt see any of it. His election has been a failure…swallow that you idiots and keep waiting.
Byron K. Butler Sr.
June 17, 2012 at 12:40 pm
We don’t need you anyway Mr. No Name! So be STUPID & either don’t vote (keep your mouth shut in the future if you don’t) or go vote for Romney & see how much HE does for you!
onmyway2012
June 16, 2012 at 8:12 pm
Good column Yvette. I noticed the president’s avoidance of the black agenda back in 2009. It troubled me then, and now watching the president push legistlation for gays, jews, latinos (many can’t vote for him if they fall under the Dream Act) and mohammedans, I’m more p****d off than ever. Luckily I changed my party affiliation from being a Democrat to an Independent back in 2008.
This time, I will not support or vote for President Obama again. And pfft @ Martin for NOW voicing his criticism. Too late. Back in early 2010, I wrote about this on another message board about how disaapointed I was in the the presidents’ blatant disregard for the black community politically, and a few other posters agreed with me, and we were flamed because we needed to stop complaining and give him chance to make it through his first term because he had a big mess to clean up from the Bush era.
So we waited. And waited. And waited for the president to show the same support and fervor he’s shown other non black groups. We watched his administration throw Van Jones and Sherry Sherrod under the bus.
And no, I will NOT wait until the second term for the president to start taking on the black agenda. My bills will not wait for that and it’s unrealistic and delusional for Obama supporters to make such a ridiculous suggestion. As a voter, I can’t afford to WAIT on the president to take 90% of the black vote serious. Many latinos can’t vote for the president anyways because they’re illegal citizens and under the Dream Act. It’s ASSININE!!
From here on out, I vote third party. This is business, not getting caught up in the allure of having a black president and his beautiful family. None of that will help me financially, professional, and academically. His disregard of blacks who voted for him overwhelming over latinos is a real slap in the face to many African Americans and African immigrants struggling for citizenship. When blacks start demanding political payback for our LOYAL SUPPORT, we’re disregarded, marginalized, and insulted by other Democrats because he’s not the president of black america, but all america. Oh really? Did ANYONE say this when the president enthusiawe dare demand our votes and support to be respected.
And no I’m not voting for Mittens the empty suit for many reasons.
I’m disappointed in the black leadership, journalists, and media altogether because they’ve DROWNED OUT THOSE OF US WHO WERE CRITICAL TWO YEARS AGO because we’re told to wait for him to get to us. Um, no. I expected a Republican president to disregard blacks, but for a BLACK/BIRACIAL SITTING PRESIDENT WHO RECEIVED 90% OF THE BLACK VOTE TO TELL US TO STOP FEEDING OUR KIDS FRIED CHICKEN, TO STOP COMPLAINING AND TAKE OFF OUR SLIPPERS, IS THE BIGGEST INSULT I’VE EVER WITNESS IN THE MOST PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE WAY. I’d rather have a Republican in the white house than one I’ve voted for who IGNORES AND FLEES FROM THE BLACK AGENDA BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT TO OFFEND HIS SENSITIVE WHITE VOTERS. What kind of unmittigated garbage is that?
I’m done with him and the Democratic party for using blacks for votes, then ignoring them when we used our political power to elect certain individuals to represent us and push forward on our issues. Bump that oh it’s America. I don’t expect much from Republicans either. Are jews, gays, latinos, mohammedanas told to step aside and WAIT? h**l no. I thank the Democratic party for showing me how glad I changed party affiliation from Democrat to Independent.
isaidsobra
June 16, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Lets be real people. We have been holding or at least saying that we have been holding our President ACCOUNTABLE since he’s been in office. This man may have taken more scrutiny from us than the republicans. At least he knew to expect it from them. I believe that’s we gave them the confidence to disagree with everything that he does. I guess they say if his own won’t support him then why should or would we support him. Man, Yall so smart till YA DUMB!!!
Byron K. Butler Sr.
June 17, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Some people just can’t help being stupid Isaidsobra.
Aries
June 16, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Can someone please send me link of the “Black Agenda”? What is it? Are all of our agendas the same as being black people? What are WE asking for? Hispanics want to become legal, Gays want to be married and we blacks want our 40 acres and mule??? All this talk from these pundits the black agenda I see daily that needs to be addressed is the crime rate, poor education systems, poor conditions of housing, etc in our communities and that can’t start with Obama BUT the people who live in the community. Let’s not get on these “black leaders” that shuck and jive to rub elbows with “entertainers and faux celebs” that further destroy the fragile minds of youth. I like Al Sharpton sharp brother but this fool is caught in a drug money case along with famous rappers and did I mention he is a reverend.. Then Jessie Jackson off top HATING(yea HATING THIS REVEREND BOY) even before Obama won when he didnt know he was being recorded on Fox all the while crying like a lil b****h when Obama did win and didn’t the guy have a baby on his wife ( still green eyed from not winning in the 80′s ) he’ll and we supported him then , man I don’t want to get on a whole heap of pastors because while we are supposed to hold the president accountable for the black agenda the CHURCH was always supposed to hold the black agenda in high regard BUT wtf have they been doing. Then you have BLACK business leaders corrupting the black agenda i.e. Fannie Mae. While DO NOT support every d**n thing Obama nor his wife Michelle says or does cuz I consider myself a revolutionist but I will be supporting them come next election and if it were up to me I would be pulling the cards of every d**n person that “claimed” to be for the black agenda and that would be take a life time. Nor am I a bandwagon heathen that goes for what is popular. On my ballots I don’t vote straight democrat because some of their stances are bullshit. But what am going to do is go pound for pound and take a look the TWO candidates running and there AIN’T NOTHING intellectual, factual, sensitive or for the “BLACK AGENDA??” in Romney’s campaigning. Despite voting for a face to stand in office we still have a level of responsibility that we must take care of for ourselves. I just back from Havana, Cuba and some guy down there was blasting Obama 6 letters and 2 syllables short of calling Obama a n****r. It kept everything in my right mind to tell this Douche Bag if it WAS NOT for the “n***a” you speak your frail insecure bitter a*s would NOT be in Cuba. People kill me is it reall a Black Agenda or should it be MY AGENDA … just curious…**sorry typing on phone can’t see full screen forgive my typos in advance**
Tracey
June 17, 2012 at 2:24 am
These post have just made me ill. The “crab in a bucket” mentality is in full effect here. Again, NO ONE has said what the “black agenda” is. What exactly is he supposed to do for black people exclusively, that republicans will allow him to do? People like Roland and Yvette are leading this LYNCHING of our President and in return, many disenfranchised black people are not going to a) vote for him, or b) vote at all. What is this going to give us? MITT ROMNEY, whom you know don’t give a d**n about blacks. How many campaigns have he had in a black community? Zero. Rallies? Zero Schools have he visited? Zero. He isn’t going to either because he has a white agenda and he let’s you know it. h**l, he doesn’t even believe that there needs to be more teachers and police! What neighborhood needs these people more than the black community??? It seems to me that Roland and Yvette haven’t looked at the big picture, that if Romney is elected, we will be getting a full boot to the face. Big money Roland could care less though. And next year while you people are being beat even further into the ground if Romney is elected, call Roland or Yvette and see if they will bring your family a loaf of bread! See how long that takes!
Byron K. Butler Sr.
June 17, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Nice comment! It’s nice to see that there are still SOME people out here THINKING & using COMMON SENSE!
Dannyboy
June 16, 2012 at 6:56 pm
What is wrong with “Black intellectualS” these days? All of a sudden, in an election year with the future of our first Black President at stake, they have come out of the woodwork!!
Now, according to all the naysayers like Boyce Watkins, Yvette Carnell, Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, etc., President Obame is supposed to be the saviour of the entire Black community!! And now comes Roland Martin. Roland, contrary to what you think, YOU DO NOT speak for the entire Black community!! Neither do all the other naysayers whose beef with the President seems to be steeped in petty jealousy!! Where were all of you when Blacks were getting our butts kicked by white Presidents? There was never a peep out of any of you!!
For once, why not stick together as Black folks and let the man do his job as PRESIDENT OF THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES!! As much as whites hated Bill Clinton, they never publicly ridiculed him! As much as they hated some of W’s decisions, they never publicly ridiculdeD him!
But here we are again, publicly ridiculing a Black President who inherited the worst mess that had confronted any President BEFORE HIM, and what do you so-called intellectuals do? You publicly ridicule the man!!
WHAT WILL YOU DO IF MITT ROMNEY WINS THE PRESIDENCY AND REALLY KICKS OUR a***s!! I SUPPOSE YOU’LL HAVE YOUR HEADS STUCK UP HIS b**t!!
D
June 17, 2012 at 7:45 am
If you are a capitalist, Romney is your man.
Byron K. Butler Sr.
June 17, 2012 at 12:45 pm
D, YOU ARE CORRECT!
Byron K. Butler Sr.
June 17, 2012 at 12:47 pm
AMEN DANNY BOY!! AMEN!!!
Makheru Bradley
June 16, 2012 at 6:52 pm
I think Barack Obama would tell Afrikan Americans to shut the h**l up. While he gave the Zionists a cyber-attack on Iran (a virtual declaration of yet another war); the homosexuals got support for same-s*x marriage, and the Latino’s got deportation relief and work permits, Afrikan Americans got a radio commercial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1hQmOM2M6M
What are we complaining about?
Casting my sarcasm aside for a moment, the Congressional Black Caucus (for whatever it’s worth) did attempt to meet with Obama to discuss critical issues facing Afrikan Americans and he refused to meet with them for two years, until his reelection campaign approached. Obama obviously believes that the Afrikan American body politic is thoroughly seduced by spiritual wickedness in high places. This man allows the CIA to attack people attending the funerals of people he has killed.
Nevertheless, his polling numbers will eventually force him to toss a bone to the hood. I just hope that bone ain’t a drone.
Art
June 16, 2012 at 6:28 pm
I just hope all the Obama bashers will make sure if
if a new president is elected they will demand from him and get…what they are demanding of this president.
The Republicans have been focused on “making President Obama a one term president”. I did not think that in their equation they would have figured that black Americans would be in their corner.
I’m sure Michell and company are just laughing there heads off.
What fools we are making of ourselves, playing into their racist hands.
Deloris McGee
June 16, 2012 at 6:21 pm
We talk about what the president has done for black people. What have black people done for themselves. We talk about unemployment, how many jobs have we created ourselves? Why don’t we stop begging, looking for handouts, and create for ourselves. I see why old people have given up on the young folks. They see that nothing change for us regardless of how much education we get. We are now educated beggers.
It is strange that people use to create business in our community without the bank giving us loans. Because they will not give loans then. But people did create and do for themselves. How many business have we created in our community cutting grass, house cleaning business, home health care for our people, house painting, home repairs, and child care. These are small businesses which do not exist in our communities. What kind of people do not have a set of self sustaining business in their community. US
moplus
June 16, 2012 at 6:14 pm
Not surprise: After listening to nearly all of his campaign speeches when he was running for the office, I like many other fell for the okie dokie, and casted my vote in his favor. After watching his acceptance speech I realized that we had been had and this dude was a fraud. A neocon for the past three years and now, in an effort to win votes for the next election, he courting gays and latinos. He is taking black votes for granted. I will sit this one out.
DR Graham
June 16, 2012 at 5:47 pm
There seems to be a lack of grasping Black America’s 400 year old reailty under the oppressive diguise and declaration of “Equality”… Equality of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness… For those of us under the illusion of having attained “Middle Class Status”, please explain to me how that is possible when Black folks regardless of their educational attainment, personal/profession accomplishments and/or marketable skills make on average 68 cents per hour for every dollar per hour made by white folks and possess 8 cents of net wealth for every 1 dollar of wealth possessed by white folks.
The common denominator specific to every socio-economic category of issues Black folks face as stated in your posted commentary is “MONEY”. Hence, Black Folks remain socially, politically, institutionally and economically disadvantaged, because we are Structurely and Systematically… Economically Deprived, Period. To which, you should examine the Billions of Taxpayer’s dollars, at zero interest, in the form of Bailout Loans the Obama administration floated not only to the Banks and the Auto Industry, but to Mega-Corporations like General Electic and Boeing; Mega-Corprations that moved thousands of jobs overseas, paying little or no taxes on income derived from labor exploitation. These Mega-Corporations that if and when they hire Black Folks… their black employees may move in, but find it almost impossible to move up their corporate ladders, so they opt out onto the next plantation, Public Sector Jobs in the hopes of doing better. These are the same Mega-Corporations that unlike ecomonically deprived, “Middle Class” Black folks, they are able to pump millions of dollars into President Obama’s campaign coffers.
Yes, President Obama under the power of Executive Orders could have and should have done much more for Black America. Whether its a White Agenda or Black Agenda, you don’t need degrees from Yale of Harvard to know and understand the Common Denominatiors of Economic Empowerment versus Economic Deprivation. If President Obama and his administration would have given “Equal” attention and action to the Jim Crow Agenda of Black Economic Deprivation as he gives to the White Agenda of Economic Empowerment then he would have created that “rising tide” for all boats and not just for the Luxury Liners of the One Percent.
Thank you and my respects.
DR Graham
June 16, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Mr. Roger Madison, your post is an excellent articulation, but you seem not to possess a fundamental grasp of Black America’s 400 year old reailty under the oppressive diguise and declaration of “Equality”… Equality of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness… For those of us under the illusion of having attained “Middle Class Status”, please explain to me how that is possible when Black folks regardless of their educational attainment, personal/profession accomplishments and/or marketable skills make on average 68 cents per hour for every dollar per hour made by white folks and possess 8 cents of net wealth for every 1 dollar of wealth possessed by white folks.
The common denominator specific to every socio-economic category of issues Black folks face as stated in your posted commentary is “MONEY”. Hence, Black Folks remain socially, politically, institutionally and economically disadvantaged, because we are Structurely and Systematically… Economically Deprived, Period. To which, you should examine the Billions of Taxpayer’s dollars, at zero interest, in the form of Bailout Loans the Obama administration floated not only to the Banks and the Auto Industry, but to Mega-Corporations like General Electic and Boeing; Mega-Corprations that moved thousands of jobs overseas, paying little or no taxes on income derived from labor exploitation. These Mega-Corporations that if and when they hire Black Folks… their black employees may move in, but find it almost impossible to move up their corporate ladders, so they opt out onto the next plantation, Public Sector Jobs in the hopes of doing better. These are the same Mega-Corporations that unlike ecomonically deprived, “Middle Class” Black folks, they are able to pump millions of dollars into President Obama’s campaign coffers.
Yes, President Obama under the power of Executive Orders could have and should have done much more for Black America. Whether its a White Agenda or Black Agenda, you don’t need degrees from Yale of Harvard to know and understand the Common Denominatiors of Economic Empowerment versus Economic Deprivation. If President Obama and his administration would have given “Equal” attention and action to the Jim Crow Agenda of Black Economic Deprivation as he gives to the White Agenda of Economic Empowerment then he would have created that “rising tide” for all boats and not just for the Luxury Liners of the One Percent.
Thank you and my respects.
N. Durant
June 16, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Roland, though late, expressed so eloquently my feelings exactly! When, oh when, will we learn that the continuing shoveling of dirt to keep us in the ditch is just as damaging no matter who, or what color, is doing the shoveling. Why should the color of your skin earn the right to a “pass”. All of us should be held accountable for our actions. Right on brother, continue to tell the truth, no matter how much it hurts.
moonhead
June 16, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Just think of this Black people, illegal immigrants, now have more clout, and power in the White House, than we do. Obama, tells us to wait, while catering to people, that can’t even vote for him. The illegals, didn’t have to wait. The Gays, didn’t have to wait. The Jews, don’t wait. If Obama, doesn’t give us what we need and want, don’t vote for him. He may be an American, but he acts like a immigrant. I was one of his staunches supporters, but not any more. Just wait, he will show up at one of those NAACP meetings, and talk about Rosa Parks, or some other Black hero, and have everybody shouting “Amen”, then he’ll go to a Jewish meeting, and tell those people exactly what he’ll do to remedy their problem, even bomb another country.
moonhead
June 16, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I was a strong supporter of this President, until yesterday’s announcement that he will let illegal immigrants, remain in this country, and will give them work permits. This is a disgrace to the millions of unemployed Americans, particularly in the African American community, where the unemployment rate is ridiculously high.
This traitor, seems to care more about illegal immigrants, who can’t vote, than the millions of Black people that flew to the polls, to help elect him. He seems to be able to issue executive orders, for everything, and every group except for the African Americans. If the NAACP, or any other Black organization endorse this b*m, without first receiving anything in return, they should be disbanded. The Jews, the Gays, the Hispanics, and everybody else, held this b*m’s feet to the fire, and got what they wanted, and so should we. It means nothing, to just allow this b*m, to take our vote for granted. Unless he can produce jobs, and more housing, education, and opportunities for our community, this year, not next, then we should not support his re-election. We in the African American community, need to start looking at third parties, or maybe starting our own party. Let’s face it, this president is using us, without any gain to our community. If you think the unemployment rate is high in our communities now, just wait until this new immigration policy takes effect. Every third world illegal immigrant, will be working, while you sit at home, and bemoan the situation.
truthbtold
June 16, 2012 at 4:26 pm
It’s so ironic, in regards to this subject. I blogged about this upcoming Mexican amnesty on this same site aprox 2 months ago and was met with all sorts of distasteful responses from my fellow brothers & sisters due to stating the facts about our Black President who don’t give a d**n about our black a***s, bcs he’s a rich politician and the only thing black about him is Michelle.
Here’s what I previously stated:
USA CENSUS (POPULATION) 2010:
WHITE 69%
LATINO 14%
BLACK 12.5%
OTHER 5%
Latinos have trumped the african american political prowess amongst Dems & Repubs over the years, due to the high murder rates, AIDS, incarcerated felony charges in the black community and the influx of Mexicans (Native Ameriicans) who crossed (still crossing) the borders over the years. They have something we as blscks folks have lost= FAMILY AND BUSINESS UNITY!!! bcs we think we are really free here in america. Everything about this country is politically motivated. The only option we have at this point is to merge with our Latino brother and sisters; it’s inevitable we learn each other histories, language and cultures asap or we reach out to our african families and build a social, economical and love bridge. We’re (blacks) the new Mexicans, wether we like it or not here in America.
Roger Madison
June 16, 2012 at 3:55 pm
I find the criticisms of President Obama by those claiming to represent the “Black Agenda” to be misdirected. The first question is “what is the Black Agenda?” I assume it topped by jobs, housing, unemployment benefits, healthcare. To be sure, Black people are disproportionately impacted by all of these. But let’s look at the President’s actions.
Public Sector Jobs — saved by the Stimulus Bill. Haven’t Black people been disproportionately benefited by Public Sector jobs? So, saving those jobs should also benefit Black people disproportionately.
Healthcare Bill. This bill extends healthcare benefits to 30 million uninsured. Aren’t Black people disproportionately impacted by lack of health care? So, they should be disproportionately benefited by this legislation.
LGBT Issues — Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and Gay Marriage. Aren’t Black people gay too? Just because vocal Black preachers are in denial about their actions versus their rhetoric, that doesn’t mean Black LBGTs are not benefited.
Unemployment Benefits. When unemployment benefits are extended to 99 weeks, are not the most chronically unemployed benefited? That means Black people.
Mortgage Crisis. This is the weakest effort with the least impact by the Obama administration. But once again, Black middle class homeowners were most negatively impacted. I agree that there should be folks prosecuted and jailed in the Financial Services industry. But short of forgiving loans altogether, and allowing folks to stay in their homes with no income to pay the mortgage, I am not sure what more could be done.
Education. One of the most overlooked efforts are those to direct more funding to improve education — including increased aid to HBCUs and direct loans to college students.
As it relates to the Latino issues. The one issue that the President has addressed is immigration. This issue does not disproportionately impact Black people. Latinos also rank similarly to Blacks on all other issues, and are doing better themselves without help from the President. Except for migrant worker jobs, he is not doing anything special for unemployed Latino youth, or Latino homeowners, or LGBT Latinos
At every segment of our society, Black people are benefiting as well as suffering. On the one hand, we demand that we not be viewed as a monolithic group, and on the other hand we demand that the President focus on the most chronically impacted among us. Many Blacks are in the middle class where the President focuses most of his attention. But we complain as if the overwhelming majority of Blacks are in the underclass. People like Roland Martin, Cornell West, and Tavis Smiley complain from their positions that are paid for by mainstream institutions and corporate sponsors, while Tom Joyner is doing something within the Black community to help solve our problems.
Teenage Black boys are chronically unemployed, but they also lead the nation in dropouts from high school — and they don’t vote. In an increasingly information-based society, how can the President provide jobs for dropouts? Under-educated means under-employed in the 21st century.
The Black people who can do the most to help other Black people are in the middle class, and the President is focused on shoring up the middle class. Any other strategy will hasten his exit from office, and unleash policies that will roll back all the gains of the last 50 years.
Black voters, leaders, and workers should demand a greater share of the benefits of our society as loudly as they can. But President Obama is not our enemy. I believe he is doing as much as he can and still have a chance of re-election. what we should stay awake at night fretting about is….
IT’S THE ALTERNATIVE, STUPID!!!
And you won’t like it.
elrancho2
June 16, 2012 at 4:12 pm
That was a wonderfully eloquent post and I totally agree with everything you said.
jimmydeanbakker
June 16, 2012 at 5:24 pm
At the end of the day, the majority of us will support Obama; and through our intellectual debates on his policies, we’ll see his ideas in a better light. We aren’t a monolithic people. We don’t all believe in Obama’s views on homosexual marriage nor do we all believe they shouldn’t be allowed to marry. But the issues facing the black community haven’t been answered, and as far as I can tell, won’t be answered, because if he does answer them, he won’t be reelected.
I’m writing on a Galaxy Note, so forgive me if I typed something crazy by mistake.
Essence73T
June 16, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Thank you R. Madison. I cannot understand “why” Black people are so influenced by dominant culture talk. Sometimes I cannot tell the diffference between black and white criticism of President Obama. Here we are complaining about what President Obama hasn’t done for our community, when we can witness the rethuglicans fighting him on every piece of legislation that he’s tried to implement. Yes we are hurting…whenever whites are hurting financially, we have always been the “more so” people. So my question is, are you planning to sit out on this election? If you think you’re hurting now, let “I like to fire people Mitt” win, and write about his “black agenda” Ms. Yvette.
Playrighter
June 17, 2012 at 2:37 am
Essence73T:
Romney is far from perfect, but his quote should not be repeatedly taken out of context, as it has been. He said he likes to be able to fire people who don’t perform the service they were hired to do. That’s only fair, and it’s a standard all of us likely have.
The Democrats who are trying to oust Republicans from Congress to put in more Democrats are saying exactly the same thing: they want to fire people who they don’t think are providing their service properly. If you hire a contractor who doesn’t do the job, you’re going to want the ability to fire them.
If you remove people’s ability to fire those who don’t properly provide services they were hired to do (it’s called incompetence), then you give up the power to determine how your own money is spent.
Edward Cooper
June 16, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Well stated, my brother–and never once did you said look at me everyone, Roland Martin agreed with me– And neither did you say: “All I want is for you to remember who was sounding the alarm when it mattered–and who wan’t.” People who really care about the.well being of others don’t look for accolades, unless they are run for political office–
Some Blacks are expecting the president to clean up the communities– That’s a job for mayors and citizens of those communities, with finance help from regional and national government–
These self– appointed so-called spoke persons for Blacks should be turning their eyes to what is destroying low income neighborhoods,’some’ Black parents who don’t care about their children, and these children go about destroying those children of parents who do care about their children by forcing them to join gangs, drug pushers who sell death to the.communities– Then are things that community leaders should work on and bring to the attention of the police, mayors, governors and other government workers, then the governor can bring the people concern to the President.
It is well pass the time for blaming others for those who are responsible for the destruction of many Black communities, the people who are cause all the bad things that take place in low income communities usually are (but not always) living within those communities,
Makheru Bradley
June 16, 2012 at 6:25 pm
“The Black people who can do the most to help other Black people are in the middle class, and the President is focused on shoring up the middle class.”
Obviously you are referring to the Black middle class on another planet. I dare you to refute these facts: (1) under Obama the loss of Afrikan American wealth has accelerated; (2) under Obama the Afrikan American median family income gap has increased; (3) under Obama Afrikan American unemployment has increased; (4) under Obama the percentage of Afrikan Americans living in poverty has increased.
Obama’s supporters are still blaming George W. Bush for these critical problems. Never mind that the Bush recession which started in December 2007 officially ended in June 2009 and Barack Obama took credit for ending that recession.
When the blame Bush game falls flat they blame the Republicans in Congress, but Congress passed Obama’s flawed $787 billion stimulus package and health insurance reform. Afrikan American unemployment skyrocketed after the stimulus package was passed from 12.4 percent to a high of 16.7 percent, per the virtually worthless “official unemployment rate.”
In reality the blame game is more about Obama’s misguided focus. He was like a man with a headache and cancer, who chose to cure his headache (healthcare) while ignoring his cancer (the economy). Impressive academic credentials are not necessarily a panacea for wise decisions.
As an independent my position is that until the Afrikan American body politic breaks the monopoly which the two-party system has on our minds our liberation from the tyranny of the oligarchic psychopathocracy is not only unachievable, it’s unthinkable. More than another political party, we need a mass-based movement for justice. This election only offers a choice between injustice and immorality.
I can't take it
June 16, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Thank you. I agree with alot of your comments but not all. And thats ok because that show how diverse the thoughts of the African American community is. (And let me use African American because there are some of our race who hates to be referred to Black because Black is ugly to them. Sarcasm. Sad but true) And that is the crux of this whole convoluted convo. What is the ‘Black Agenda’? Is there even one? Because that answer is going to be vastly different depending on who you ask. I think one of our biggest problems is that we don’t fight for Civil Rights anymore. We only want to fight for Black Rights only. And America is not just Black and White. Civil Rights includes Black Rights but not vice versa. Also we have the power to clean up some of the mess ourselves. We definitely help from Federal and State on some issues but we need to start at home. Back in the day, the church was good starting point. It can be again now with all the financial power these mega churches have compared to the past. But of sadly as we are finding out they have become big business and don’t care about people or politics. As a people we need to wake and realize that there is definitely an Agenda that doesn’t cater to Us and wants to get rid of Us. But we need to also realize we are not alone and that we need to work together with other groups . We need to get our heads out of the sand and see America has permutated into something more horrible. As a people if we don’t think more universally we are going to be left in a decaying dust. Before we hold accountable Obama, we need to first hold ourselves accountable and then our civic leaders and state leaders who for some have been living off the fat of the land long before Obama showed up. Obama is not a Black Messiah but our American president. Almighty God has given us dominion over this earth, let us start acting like it. (please excuse any errors)
G. D.
June 16, 2012 at 3:47 pm
I have tried to convince friends , forever that advocating for Black folks is not attacking Obama, finally Mr.Martin comes around,better late, than never.
jimmydeanbakker
June 16, 2012 at 3:38 pm
So, a lot of us truly believed he would do something for us? What a painful truth to learn, when reality weighed in on our hearts. Obama’s presidency has only given us a false sense of security, and nothing more. I expect my educated brothers to have studied beyond some department’s syllabus or read beyond some university’s textbooks on the matter of our history. We were slaves. This means more than somebody ordering us around all day. A good slavemaster studied his slaves. A good slavemaster learned to manipulate his slaves. A good slavemaster could make his slaves see sunshine on a rainy day, and that’s exactly what happened when Obama took office. Our heads are still under the slavermaster’s feet, and we have lost the will to struggle free, because a black man sits in the big house.
Is Yvette..Ms. Cleo?
June 16, 2012 at 3:16 pm
correction: i meant to say i will reserve my criticism of obama until the start of his second term.
we will then know if he is a real brother..re-election cannot be used as an excuse for ignoring black issues.
Cil Mann
June 16, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Sigh.
Here we go again.
I don’t know why I even bother. But this is really making me crazy.
President Obama is the President of the UNITED STATES. His focus is on every American. The policies he has in place, or is trying to implement, will impact positively on ALL OF US, including African-Americans.
These days, unlike some other specific constituencies who have more limited issues on their agendas, African Americans are a part of the entire fabric of American life. We are not marginalized, so to speak, in that regard. And here me, because I know some of you will take that statement and run with it. I’m speaking very specifically about not being marginalized in a very unique sense.
We don’t have issues that ONLY impact us. Unemployment is an American issue – yes, I will concede that the unemployment numbers for African-Americans are disproportionately higher. But if the economy continues to turn around overall, that will have a positive impact on the Black community overall.
Access to Health Care is an American issue. The President’s policies have, and will, if the law is not struck down, continue to be good for African-Americans.
Marriage equality for ALL is an American issue. There are a whole lotta black gay men and women, y’all. It both amuses and saddens me that some have tried to make that issue into a racial divide. Grow up.
Equal pay for women is an American issue. I’m a black woman. I work. I want equal pay. That impacts Black folks. That’s not a white issue.
As someone else above commented, immigration policies do not just impact the Latino community. There are immigrants from African nations and West Indian countries that will also share in the benefits that the policy change announced yesterday.
I could go on and on and on.
We need to be more politically sophisticated and understand more fully how the system works. We need to understand how the President’s hands are often tied because of an intransigent Congress who HATES this President, and will be damned if they allow him to move things forward in any way. We do not have a dictatorship in this country. The United States is a republic, with a representative democracy, framed by 3 branches of government and a balance of powers.
What do you want that you feel is so specifically a “Black” issue that the President isn’t trying to address? I would argue that there really isn’t anything.
I respect Roland Martin a lot more than some other voices I hear in this space, but he’s DEAD WRONG on this, in my opinion.
We need to grow up and get serious. This election has very serious consequences. The choice is stark and clear. Wake up people, or you’re going to find yourselves reading about President Romney the day after the election. And believe me, you think Romney gives a d**n about black folks? You think your lives will be better with a President Romney?
Are you kidding me with this c**p? WAKE UP, people. We have a President who understands the challenges, and who is trying to move the country forward as best he can. He cannot do it alone. He cannot do it with a bunch of whining crybabies who act like he didn’t invite them to the prom. We have a President who is intelligent and nuanced and sees the big picture.
Yvette doesn’t. Boyd Watkins doesn’t. Many of you don’t.
That’s to your peril.
Jalen
June 19, 2012 at 4:50 pm
I guess the LGBT coalition, Hispanics and illegal immigrants and all of the corporations that benefited from the bailouts obviously didn’t get that omnipresent memo stating that President Obama is the president “for all people” not just (you fill in the blank) people.
I guess black people were the only ones to receive this legendary memo and must tacitly agree to follow its mandates. Seriously, what voter or constituent of any race or ethnicity would rationally vote for a candidate and expect their chosen candidate NOT to address those issues that impact his/her quality of life?
Why should we be any different. If massive double-digit unemployment, predatory and discrimimatory lending, crumbling urban schools and infrastructure, police brutality, racism and other socioeconomic ills too numerous to articulate in one missive is not enough for the President to, at least marginally address, then, perhaps, as we all start to die off slowly, he will get the message.
I don’t blame Mr. Obama for all of the black community’s problems because we must be accountable for how we live our lives and the choices that we make. But, as the leader of our country and the benefactor of our voting block, he is responsible for developing and promulgating real policy solutions that make a difference in our lives just as he has seemed to find for other voting bloc groups like the illegal immigrant and LGBT communities.
Individuals can only do so much to progress in a republic. You can be the most intelligent, educated and creative person and, if there are not programs and jobs in place to utilize these attributes, then, well – you’ll just be like millions of black folks and others in this country, well-qualified without your proverbial “pot to urinate in!” We need all of our elected officials on every level to do their jobs!!!
If politicians are not accountable for my vote and don’t have to address my needs or the needs specific to my group, then why should I give them my vote if I expect nothing directly from them?
I just don’t get the ubiquitous argument that the President is “the president of the United States not just for African Americans” argument. That is absolutely incredulous to me that a significant number of black people suscribe to this specious ideology. Do we care so little for ourselves that we expect even less in return for our sacrifice and support?
So, that being said, if Romney is elected and any future nonblack presidential candidate, should we expect or require nothing from them as well?!!!
Because, afterall, he/she will be the “President for all people” NOT JUST FOR BLACKS!!!”
Is Yvette..Ms. Cleo?
June 16, 2012 at 3:08 pm
yvette, you say:
“But when I made the case, all I heard was a bunch of nonsense about how I was a “hater” and how Obama was gonna hook black people up – eventually. Suckers.”
how can you call black people suckers?
do you think the first, most disrespected, racially hated-black president could put out a black agenda to white america and get re-elected for a second term?
a black agenda in his first term would be political suicide…not to mention maybe death by assassination. they talk about killing him so much now that we have become immune to it and don’t take it serious!
with a black agenda, white people will not re-elect him for a second term with rush, hannity etc. telling white people to get their guns to take back their country from blacks.
we are not the suckers, the suckers are the racist white people who voted for a black man to become the first black president of the u.s.
to give himself a chance to win a second term, he had to distance himself from being perceived as a black president with a black agenda to counter the attacks from the racist who were trying to use black fear to make him a one term president.
we cannot fully judge obama until after the end of his presidency. to call black people suckers without knowing what his policies will be in the second term is delusional at best..unless you’re now ms. cleo!
unlike you yvette, i will reserve my criticism of obama until after the end of his presidency…hopefully at the end of his second term.
Playrighter
June 16, 2012 at 8:24 pm
I Y..M C:
Just a bit of trivia from someone who’s unaware of either Rush or Hannity urging people to get guns:
“Take back our country” didn’t start with the Tea Party. Saul Alinsky used the term back in the 70′s, Democratic Chairman Howard Dean used it years ago, and Barack Obama used it in 2006 and 2007, when he was keynote speaker at the “Take Back America” conference, dedicated to attacking George W. Bush.
william mabon
June 18, 2012 at 12:24 am
Playrighter First lets stop with the excuses for Obama. His record is plain and clear so lets examine it. He said if elected he would keep the dialogue open about race in short we would have a real and continuous conversation about race. Trayvon Martin might have benefitted from such a continued American narrative in the public domain. Why did’nt Obama send out his surrogates to promote this dialogue? Next Obama talked about ending wars and he was given the Nobel Peace prize because he stood against the wars we are in but the last time I checked he started a war in Lybia. There was a jobs bill allocation in the Stimulus package but it went to the White side of his family as far as jobs creation you see Obama sent the money to the Governors which meant no or very little money for the cities which is where 80% of Black people live. Need we look at Obama’s gift to rich people with extention of the Bush tax cut. h**l I don’t know why the Gop would even think about running anyone against Obama he has been the best thing for the GOP since Ronald I hate Black people Regan
Sho'Nuff
June 16, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Please vote republican and see how far you’ll get with ‘black issues’ from those good ol’ boys.
This should be good…
vickie
June 16, 2012 at 2:48 pm
I’M SICK OF HEARING BLACKS SAY WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT GOING TO DO FOR BLACKS. IF SOMEONE COULD TELL ME WHAT DO YOU WANT HIM TO DO FOR YOU. PLEASE TELL ME
Rosa Butler
June 16, 2012 at 2:46 pm
I have to be accountable for myself. The president or no one else is. It’s me I have to make the best life I can and I have. No one owe me anything. Why do everyone feel the president owe blacks anything
we didn’t hold the other presidents accountable for anything. Now we have a black president and want him too make everything good for blacks. Haven’t anyone learned that you have too do it yourself. And some feel that if they get a republican back in things are going too change. Wake Up People! When opportunities come take hold of them! I know it’s politics but this president is doing what he has too do. Just Saying!
David W. Johnson Jr.
June 16, 2012 at 2:36 pm
I Am Sick And Tired Of Worthless Trash Trying To Destroy President Obama But I Am Even Angrier When They Call Themselves African Americans But Are Nothing But “n*****s.” President Obama Is A Great MAN, FATHER, HUSBAND & PRESIDENT. African Americans Need More MEN Like President Obama And Not These Fake, Mouth Running Pieces Of Trash. They Are Out Here Raping Their Own Daughters, Granddaughters, Neighbors Children, Etc. Phony Pastors And Priest Raping & Molesting Children At Their Own Churches. These “n****r” Males Need To Become REAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN And Save Our Women, Children & Race.
Steven Quick
June 16, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Who the h**l are you calling n****r when you are the biggest n****r. Black men should want to be like Barack Obama because he is a good husband and father, are you retarted I am a good person because I choose to be not because some half black and white man who cant stand up to no one and who did not come from a community like mines who didnt live the life that I and most black men have lived. Then you go to say stop raping and molesting our women man you are a fool.
Makheru Bradley
June 16, 2012 at 5:40 pm
President Obama Is A Great MAN, FATHER, HUSBAND & PRESIDENT. You conveniently forgot—Assassin.
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/05/the-kill-list/257890/
Innocent American citizens will pay in blood for the crimes of Bush, Cheney, Powell, Rice, Obama, Clinton, etc. Al-Qaida now has thousands of surface-to-air missiles courtesy of Obama’s facilitation of the overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi. When the chickens come home to roost drop us a line and tell us what a great president Obama was.
moonhead
June 16, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Your momma is the real trash, for giving birth to a piece of excrement like you. There is nothing great about this b*m, accept for his greatness to bamboozle idiots like you. This thing that you call great, is so great that he can issue executive orders for everything, and every group except the Black unemployed. Did he tell the Gays, that they will have to wait? Did he tell the illegal immigrants, that they will have to wait? If you worship this piece of a President, so much, then after he is thrown out of office in November, he can stay at your house. Also, why do some of you idiots, keep mentioning the Black and Latino coalition. I never hear the Latinos, mentioning Black people, as part of their coalition?
H. Curry
June 16, 2012 at 6:25 pm
Thank you so much moonhead for your comment. There are so many black grand parents and parents agree with everything you wrote.Obama is a total fake,denounced our HEAVENLY CREATOR and he kicked his faith aside for a vote.We are not voting for Obama. God Bless!!!
kieta
June 18, 2012 at 10:40 pm
Let me just start out saying that our African Americans need to wake up. We need to come together by building business and building our community first. There is so many black people that will not buy from one another and we do not stick together. We are not getting jobs due to the republican . Let’s build our own job market and stop waiting for other people . The people who bash President Obama are sick because if you do not vote you and your family will feel the pain . You acturally think you are going to get a better deal from the Romney ? People stop talking stupid we must go for what is right. The blacks and people like Roland Martin and the rest of the haters who call themself for our black community are not. They are fake people and the Sambos will be seen . So if the house n*****s and the racist white people wants to continue to play with talking crazy and do not want to vote. I hope you and your family will be able to eat with your crazy choices for the Republican crew. I will make sure that I will tell you I told you so…
Twinkie
June 19, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Sorry to burst your delusional Idol
Worship of Obama, but Obama is no more
than an Oreo House Negro bought and sold
by Wall Street and is following the same
blue*print agenda just like Prez Bush
did. It’s not that he doesn’t want to
help Black Americans, people he can’t!
Because the minute he steps out of line,
and begins to implement social reform
programs to aid black americans; he will
end up dead just like Kennedy! This Nov,
I will not be voting for a man who is
controlled like a puppet by the Illuminati,
Isreal and his Jewish Wall Street advisors.
Renee
June 16, 2012 at 2:27 pm
LOL @ “No s**t Sherlock.” Love the article. I support President Obama and will vote for him. However, I too have strong criticisms regarding some policies under his administration and seemingly blatant disregard for the many issues affecting the black community. This is not to suggest the administration hasn’t done anything for black Americans because that is false. I appauld many efforts the administration has made and acheived on behalf of this country and black Americans. Some of the articles written by Carnell and Watkins can be 100% spot on and knock it right out of the ballpark. This is when you are actually discussing the issues and its relation to African Americans and America as a whole. This is when you guys dissect the topic and provide a detail and informative perspective of how such issues may or already has harmed black Americans. This is when you show the blatant hyprocisy and ugly side of politics where blacks are sometimes made to feel like the “mistress” and told to wait it out and be patient. Or as President Obama stated last year at the CBC Convention, “stop whining, stop complaining, and put on our marching shoes.” And then you guys have other commentary on issues pertaining to President Obama that is petty, not even news worthy, and just a waste of space on a blog site. I too remember the comments lambasting you as a “hater” always attacking our President. I would only agree when the commentary was on something so insignificant and not pertaining to politics at all. Well, one can only hope things will be far more different and more aggressive in President Obama’s second term. Lets not forget, the President has been dealing with a highly partisan, hateful, and combative GOP who are fighting like h**l to get this “black boy” out of the White House.
Playrighter
June 16, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Renee: While you make some valid points, it would be educational to have you demonstrate how the GOP is any more “partisan, hateful and combative” than the Democrats (either now or during Bush’s term), along with evidence that the GOP called Obama a “black boy”.
Renee
June 16, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Oh great. Here we go with the educational angle and NOT to spread more knowlege, but to patronize or perhaps display my hidden hypocrisy and blindness to what the Democrats have done over the past 4 years or perhaps since their inception. I betcha must think I’m one of those die hard, I looooove Democrats black folks huh? As for the “black boy” remark, it’s call sarcasm. However, we can discuss the tar baby references from 2 GOP politicans, or a federal judge making insulting references about the President’s late mother in an email, or other GOP politicans sending emails of watermelons in the White House backyard to outright blatant attacks on the First Lady Get Move program as a socialist agenda to tell Americans what to eat (roll eyes). How about Tea Party leaders and followers jokes about blacks on welfare to comparing the President to a monkey or wanting to bring about “white slavery,” or outright assassination of the President and his family? How about the GOP politicans calling the President a liar during a session in Congress or dumb and stupid on twitter about a piece of legislation, and the list goes on and on. Do I need to bring up the socialism and birther bullshit that has plague this President since he won the Democratic nomination in 2008. I can’t remember this type of outright racially coded hostility towards a President and you can forget about bringing up Bill Clinton. He was only subjected to harsh treatment by the GOP and press after it was known he lied about his s****l involvement with an intern. I can understand someone disagreeing with the President’s politics, but what the h**l is up with these racially tinge remarks? I know your type. You love to rely on your biased educational information to somehow delegitimize a person’s perspective without being fully aware of the difference between fact and opinion in my previous post. Yes, I too know the history and ugliness surrounding the Democratic Party and we can have a whole discussion on that too if I wanted to waste my time playing the “I can prove you are more ignorant on politics” game, with a snide laughter from behind my computer screen. And if you want to play some right wing or left wing game, please find someone on MSNBC, FOX News, CNN, or some well known liberal or conservative pundit for you to trade barbs with. I stated an opinion, mix with sarcasm in some sentences. And I am done.
Playrighter
June 16, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Renee:
No. You do not know my type. You appear, based on your extensive answer, to be someone who makes lots of assumptions without basis, the opposite of what I attempted to do. What do you have against “education”?
I asked a question. I got attacked and labeled. Why is that? The agenda here is yours, not mine.
D. WATKINS
June 16, 2012 at 2:13 pm
WHEN WILL WE demand THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA PAY HIS POLITICAL DEBT TO bLACK AMERICA? WHEN WILL WE REALIZE THAT OUR PEOPLE MUST BEGIN TO OPERATE FROM A POSITION OF POWER NOT PRIVILEGE FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION ?
James
June 17, 2012 at 2:21 am
Just what is his political debt to Blacks? Did we ask Clinton, Bush, Reagan and the rest that we voted for to pay a political debt? I’m totally amazed at what some Black people expect of this President.
Confused
June 16, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Whats the Black agenda? How is he suppose to things done when congress is being a obstuction. He is a president how happens to be black not a black leader that deal can with a black agenda
Confused
June 16, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Question? What is the black agenda? What is he supposed to do with a congress of no support.
j wilson
June 16, 2012 at 2:01 pm
So what I’m gathering here is that only Mexicans are illegals here? What about Europeans and Asians? There are Blacks here illegally too. And like one of my friends on FB reminded me, the Mexicans are simply returning ‘home’!
coast cooker
June 16, 2012 at 1:43 pm
People stop b******g, you got who you voted for, I know I did…
David2001
June 16, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Far too many black Americans were simply satisfied seeing a black face in the White House. The same policy of take black voters for granted that got President Obama elected is the same one he used to govern for three years.
With double digit unemployment we also need to open our eyes and see that granting illegals the right to stay in this country is not beneficial to us as black people.
carol
June 16, 2012 at 1:11 am
This article is right on point. Our president is trying to get re-elected obviously not by Black people. Wonder if he feels as though he has us in the bag.Maybe he might give the Blacks and White some mortgage relief.
Lorenzo
June 16, 2012 at 12:53 am
Great article. I agree with your position.
Sirley
June 17, 2012 at 10:17 pm
First of all i don’t think Black People know what President Obama has done for Black Americans, because Black’s are not engage,they just complain.
1. Saving the auto Industry, its not only white that work for GM
2. The private sector has created nearly 3 million jobs, its not just White folks in private sector.
3. made College education accessible to hundreds of thousands more students by ending billions of dollar in subsidies to banks and using savings to double funding for pell grants.
4. Ending Insurance Company Abuse.
5. Expanding Access to care 32 millions more Americans.
If black people were engage they would know that what President Obama has done is for all American’s people.
Rolin Martin, what have you done for Black People lately?.
william mabon
June 17, 2012 at 11:33 pm
To: Shirley
First I did not give Obama my vote I offered it to him as an investment for me and my Black brothers and sisters. Now your points are what Obama has done for Black people are well taken but may I offer you another perspective as to each of your points.
Pt.1— you note saving the auto industry. Question if we didn’t have an auto industry could we build Humvee’s,tanks, or any other defense weapon vehicle? Answer No the auto industry is a major part of our defense manufactoring base
Pt.2 —- Private sector job creation. Question where are most of these jobs located? Answer: They are in mostly in predominately White communities i.e. stimulus spending
Pt.3 — Gave out more student loans. Question are loans gifts or are they investments? Answer: They are investments and the gov gets a strong return on the investment sort of like predatory lending
Pt.4—Ending insruance abuse. Question: Is expaning coverage to include additional millions of customers an end to abuse or is it a profiteering exploitation of people to mask and elevate cost? In short because it’s mandated I can charge for services not rendered if the policy allow me to. Oh yes by the way most insurance policies allow for none coverage cost to be charged in premiums as a service fee
BARBBF
December 2, 2012 at 11:42 am
WHAT OBAMA HAS DONE FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN AFRICA:
Obama is complicit in the deaths of more Africans than any U. S. President in recent history….and the so-called “African-Americans” in the U. S. don’t care that thanks to Obama’s support of NATO’s illegal invasion of Libya..ethnic cleansing was instigated, resulting in the slaughter of thousands of Black Libyans and African immigrants.
http://blackagendareport.com/print/content/butchering-gaddafi-america%E2%80%99s-crime
The Butchering of Gaddafi Is America’s Crime
by BAR executive editor Glen Ford
“Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton appeared like ghoulish despots at a Roman Coliseum, reveling in their Libyan gladiators’ butchery.”
Last week the whole world saw, and every decent soul recoiled, at the true face of NATO’s answer to the Arab Spring. An elderly, helpless prisoner struggled to maintain his dignity in a screaming swirl of savages, one of whom thrusts a knife [4] up his r****m. These are Europe and America’s jihadis in the flesh. In a few minutes of joyously recorded b********y, the rabid pack undid every carefully packaged image of NATO’s “humanitarian” project in North Africa – a horror and revelation indelibly imprinted on the global consciousness by the brutes’ own cell phones.
Nearly eight months of incessant bombing by the air forces of nations that account for 70 percent of the world’s weapons spending, all culminating in the gang-bang slaughter of Moammar Gaddafi, his son Mutassim and his military chief of staff, outside Sirte. The NATO-armed bands then displayed the battered corpses for days in Misurata – the city that had earlier made good on its vow to “purge Black skin” through the massacre and dispersal of 30,000 darker residents of nearby Tawurgha – before disposing of the bodies in an unknown location.