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Ask Black America: Why Do You Think Obama and Romney Refused to Debate in Front of a Black Audience?
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
A group of African American media outlets recently approached both President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney to ask if they would debate black issues in front of an African American audience. The request was reasonable, since both candidates had recently agreed to do the same thing for the Latino community. A group of black media outlets had gotten NBC news host Lester Holt to agree to moderate the debate, and we’re sure he could have done a much better job than Jim Lehrer of PBS, who was considered by many to be a failure.
But both candidates refused to appear, citing scheduling conflicts, and other random excuses that are used when something is not at the top of your priority list. My argument is that the candidates chose not to appear for two fundamental reasons: Obama takes the black vote for granted and Romney doesn’t think the black vote is worth fighting for.
I asked the question to readers on my Facebook page in order to get their opinions. The responses are listed below:
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and creator of the Building Outstanding Men and Boys Family Empowerment Series. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
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Kristi Goines Good question! Maybe Romney believes African Americans have already decided they won’t hear him. And Pres Obama may be taking advantage of the fact that we’ll vote for him because he’s our black president. -
Marlon Germaine Brown ’Cause one stabs you with a smile and the other wants you to see the “progress” in the removal of the knife, never mind it’s still in your back. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad warned us of this. -
Sheila Louise Brown Romney thinks that black people don’t know nothing about the issues they discuss. And Obama don’t want it to seem like he is the President of black people only. -
Bon Leadaprenuer Coz black pple re inferior to them & y’all can’t do s**t even if they bring back slavery. -
Jeremy Kenneth Romney probably thinks we’re the 47%, and Obama knows he has the black vote regardless -
Larry Artist nobody wants to talk about real conditions.that affect the black community -
Kerry Oandasan I personally think because Obama doesn’t want to limit his votes to only black voters and Romney doesn’t want to seen as an uncle Tom. Say the least political! -
Gilbert Dillard Romney knows no one will listen to him after the 47% comment. Both of them will be put on the spot for discussing how their political agendas will affect the Black and Brown communities! -
Darrell L. Alston Romney has nothing to gain and Obama has everything to lose. -
Vonterrious Smith West Because the spanish vote is the majority now. -
Sharon Sanders Brooks no, the Hispanic Vote is NOT larger than the African American Vote yet. However, it is a vote that the President needs plus ours and the right thinking whites in order to win in November. -
Monique L. Holsome I think that Romney just doesnt see the value in black folk period and Obama shys away from pulling the race card (or anything that might associate him with it). -
Ave Marlita Myers i dont know why unless they didnt want to answer the Hard questions ? or they probably just dont have time ? can someone tell pres obama that if he does not attend we will buy billboards telling people to stay home.
50 Responses to Ask Black America: Why Do You Think Obama and Romney Refused to Debate in Front of a Black Audience?
Leave a Reply
LaVerne Hardin
October 16, 2012 at 2:02 am
As black people we are taken for granted. I will vote for Obama, he is intelligent, smart and knows what he is doing. However, I would vote for Hillary Clinton, who knows she is white and knows what to say, and will say what she wants. I would vote again for Bill Clinton, he just has it and does not fear. Black man taking care of white man’s business is not that interesting. I do believe that some of me is voting for President Obama because he is black. However, I do not see his reaching out to black America like other white presidents have. He appears to be afraid to be called the black people’s president. I know we could not put him in office just with the black vote, however, he needs and should pay us more respect. It is not enough, yet I donate and will vote, American presidents are powerless.
John Glover
October 8, 2012 at 4:12 pm
As much as folks may not want to admit it Ann Coulter was telling the truth when she said the Democrats were dropping blacks in favor of Hispanics.
makheru bradley
October 8, 2012 at 12:01 am
Why should either of them bother to address the problems of a group of people who line up every four years and give 90 percent of their votes to the Democratic candidate? John F. Kennedy was the last Democratic candidate who had to actually contend for the Black vote. The results of this asinine political strategy speak for themselves.
Obama knows that he has 95-97 percent of the Black vote on lock, and Romney knows he has 1-2 percent. They don’t have to address the problems facing Afrikan Americans. They’re focused on Hispanics, independents, and the white middle class—groups whose votes cannot be taken for granted.
Audrey Reid
October 7, 2012 at 1:01 pm
I’m echoing many of the comments, but I believe Romney thinks we’re the 47% and won’t vote for him regardless, and Obama knows he has the black vote regardless of what he does -pandering to the gays, the latins and female votes.
Bahati Sobukwe
October 7, 2012 at 9:14 am
I personally think we are on dangerous grounds when we come on these web sites infiltrated by ‘others’ which makes- them contaminated.
No matter what we think the President, has or hasn’t done for us, their are black minds that do not have all of the facts on these sites. We are festering in this particular argument because, the President didn’t give a shout-out, that these things that he has doing benefited blacks as well as other Americans.
The simple mindlessness in this argument is that the President could not get many of the things he wanted to do -done for anybody. Congress will have to sign many of the Bills he wants. At this current time our responsibility is to have his back and get out and vote to put him back in Office and all of the Democrats who are running, so that he will have someone in Congress that is not his avowed enemy.
On the night of President Obama’s inauguration, January20, 2008, twelve (12) Republicans met for four hours. Jim Demint’s comment is instructive, ” Our goal is a complete gridlock for the next 2 years. There is no place for bi-partisanship, compromise, only acceptable outcome is total victory and any politicians that disagrees will be treated as a traitor”. Mitch McConnell comment on the floor is even more instructive, “The single most important thing we want to achieve if for President Obama to be a one term President. This was said on the floor on television. It’s a brave new world for Republicans bigotry.
Now, what part of this did blacks not understand. In that environment what chance did the President have of “hollering out this is for black people”. He would have been a fool and placed himself in more danger than he is in now. Now, he has a chance to do something ‘just” for blacks and we are too busy being crabs in a barrel.
You’re given white presidents since slavery every opportunity to “do” something for you. Why couldn’t you have waited to make your complaints in his second term. I’m just saying.
Ana
October 7, 2012 at 9:08 am
Debates should be open to the public at large and not limited to any one group. Sometime Black folks have to stop expecting something extra and insist on being a part of the larger group. We have to stop treating ourselves as and stop thinking of our selves as a ‘sub group”.
Cynthia Hogan
October 7, 2012 at 8:58 am
I think to say that the President doesn’t care about the black community issues, is really pathetic. I think he cares about all communities. When anyone takes office it’s for the people, not just for one group of people. \So why do we as blacks try and put this kind of pressure on the President? Who was President before Obama? Did the black media try and get the President before Obama to meet with them for a debate, the answer I would suspect was no! Come on people let’s stop trying to down grade our President ,m he gets enough of that from the other side. I may not agree with everything that he does, but nobody is perfect and I would think that being President is not an easy job, especially when you have a congress that votes no on everything you put before them. IJS
Dr Margaret
October 6, 2012 at 10:54 pm
What is the problem with the NAACP? Given, that our President is Black, and we are all aware of the
problems he is having getting re-elected which we also know that racism is the root of the problem, why would the NAACP add fuel to the fire. We do not need to give them a reason not to vote for him by creating a situation that the republicans can use to their advantage in creating doubt. Of course, Mitt Romney is not going to participate in such a debate,he has already insulted the NAACP and Blacks when after speaking before the NAACP, he left and attended a fundraiser in Montana and brought up the booing, and told donors “if they (Obamacare supporters) want more stuff from government tell them to go vote for the other guy – more free stuff. But don’t forget nothing is really free.” The headline in one paper read, “Romney On NAACP Booing: If They Want More Free Stuff From The Government Vote Obama”
by Tommy Christopher | 11:44 pm, July 11th, 2012. NAACP, STOP IT! STOP IT! SUPPORT OR REMAIN SILENT.
James A
October 6, 2012 at 10:52 pm
When Black people start caring about themselves, then maybe someone else will. The fact that Janet Jackson is about to spend 20 million on a wedding and giving all her guest Rolex watches should give you a clue. Nobody takes us seriously and it’s our own fault; so don’t blame the President or anyone else. If you want to blame somebody after yourself; start with the Black Church.
Bahati Sobukwe
October 7, 2012 at 9:23 am
@JAMES, AMEN,BROTHER.
Greg
October 7, 2012 at 1:42 pm
I totally agree with you. We act as though we treat each other right. We don’t. For the most part, we treat each other like c**p. We are in no position to complain about other or the president. We need to treat ourselves as we want other to treat us first. That is why people that know this dismiss us as black savages.
Patrick
October 6, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Obama grew up going to elite schools etc. He has no idea what being black really is.
Bahati Sobukwe
October 7, 2012 at 9:20 am
@Patrick, If you were black, you never would have made that statement. It’s not a black person living or dead that do not know what being black is–why they bury black people in separate graves from whites. So, how could he escape racist American racism. I’m sure some of those elite white students were glad to let him know that he was black-if he foolishly thought that it was some chance of him being white.
Go away, Patrick!
Patrick
October 6, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Both sides feel like the black vote is a sure bet for Obama no matter what. Until we change that perception, we will be taken for granted. Become independent and let them all work for the votes. It seems the Hispanics have learned this from watching how the black vote is assumed.
Greg
October 7, 2012 at 1:28 pm
We won’t become independents. We can’t become independents. We are not independent as a group of people. That option is not on the table. If we could become independent, we would not be having this subject of conversation in the first place. We are stuck in a lousy position. Because we can not operate out of it right now. That is the reality of our situation. The Hispanics are in another situation.
Phillip Richardson
October 6, 2012 at 5:49 pm
They both are in a bitterly contested race for the Presidency and as one of the comments stated, where were our Black Media over the last 5 yrs or so since before Obama became President in order to get his agenda on issues of concern in the African American community? In my opinion, our organizations that represent the community should have a complete agenda on Black issues already together no matter who the President is or whoever is running. There should be a collection of our leaders who have the support of our community out there pushing our agenda always regardless of party affiliation , just like the Jewish community and if those running for office don’t take us seriously we need to hold back our support for them. Unfortunately President Obama has his hands already tied by a partisan Congress and Senate….”Toughest Job in America” Being a BLACK MAN in the WHITE HOUSE!!!!! ROMNEY just doesn’t give a d**n about the African American vote ( we’re a majority of that 47%) in his and Most Republicans eyes.
AMAZINGGRACE
October 6, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Wish some of you bloggers would write English, instead of abbreviated-twitting. The reason why African Americans don’t have a lobby in Washington, DC.? We aren’t smart enough to pool our resources together and become Unified….MONEY MATTERS! Stop spending our money in their neighborhoods and start spending it in OUR OWN STORES and Venues. Collect small amounts at first, then collectively bring the small amounts together….Then both parties would be kissing OUR PROVERBIAL ASSESSES. No pun intended. We have to learn to pool our wealth, its never too late to start. We just need to begin.
Derrick
October 7, 2012 at 9:56 am
@Amazinggrace:
RIGHT ON! I’ve been teaching this for years, but the more you tell negroids to support their own kind, the more they run to these foreigners!
I think negroids want to go back into slavery because they seem to LOVE supporting these asians, mexicans, arabs, and now the people from india, more than their OWN kind!
Remember, duringn our forced enslavement the slave maker would beat and kill our people, today they are still beating and killing us, while negroids continue to run to massa’s house (businesses).
I HAVE GIVEN UP ON NEGROIDS; IT’S TIME TO GET BACK TO BLACK!
AMAZINGGRACE
October 6, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Wish some of you bloggers would write English, instead of abbreviated-twitting. The reason why African Americans don’t have a lobby in Washington, DC.? We aren’t smart enough to pool our resources together and become Unified….MONEY MATTERS! Stop spending our money in their neighborhoods and start spending it in OUR OWN STORES and Venues. Collect small amounts at first, then collectively bring the small amounts together….Then both parties would be kissing OUR PROVERBIAL ASSESSES. No pun intended. We have to learn to pool our wealth, its never too late to start. We just need to begin.
TRUTHSERUM
October 6, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Dr. Boyce,
In my opinion….if I didn’t know any better…it appears that you obviously don’t particularly care for President Obama based on current, past & previous commentary. You use your influence through this platform to persuade others to have your same sentiments. Why not become a DR. OF UNITY, vs. Impregnating the hearts and minds of your own people with doubt, division, fear, and the poison of discrediting our PRESIDENT. SINCE WHEN DID YOU BECOME PERFECT? Remember death & life is in the power of the tongue. Treat people the way you want to be treated. What goes around…comes around…& PLEASE BRING YOUR PEOPLE MORE POSITIVE NEWS…
TX U
Bahati Sobukwe
October 7, 2012 at 8:42 am
Truthserum@ You a re correct.
PB Short
October 6, 2012 at 11:23 am
The answer to this question is obvious…
Both men are not interested in meeting with Black America or Debating in front of Black America for any reason…
The Presidents feels that he can win by getting the latino vote and white vote, along with the white-washed/brain-washed Black American…
The president do not want to be seen with us, or to appear that he is concerned about our issues in front of white America…his goal is to make sure he is taken care of for the rest of his life as he gets 10% or more of all deals he makes such as the bail-out…
Romney does not care at all…he knows he has nothing good to say to us that will benefit us…imagine Romney saying something like, “No more prison sentences, and job for all Black American’s, along with guaranteed loans from financial institutions”…it is not going to happen…
As for Obama, what can he say? anything and everything he say to us will be a lie…he had a chance to help us with the bail-out by putting into law that if these companies accept the bail-out money, they must hire Black Americans equally in all positions…instead, he gave them a blank check with no stipulation, thus causing all Black Americans to be out of work…
He could have made it easier for Black millionaires in this country to open up businesses to employ Blacks and other races…
When Clinton was president, Master P wanted to open up a new business that would have employed a lot of Black Engineers and Scientist, along with entry level employees…he wanted to do two things: 1) launch a satellite company 2) start a telecom company…but the FCC denied him a license, mainly because of the color of his skin, and the probability of him employing Blacks…thus leaving him to go into other non-job creating businesses…
Therefore, the President is looking towards poor white and latinos to vote for him…the example is given with states like Ohio & Michigan…
Both men understand that with the rate of incarceration that it is probably useless to go after the Black vote…
The only way to get Black power in this country is to make sure congress, both the house and the senate, is at least 90% Black…and this will never happen “AGAIN” because of the laws that are in place since the first time it happened…
As a Black person in this country, try to open a business in this country that will employ Blacks…try to open a business in a Black neighborhood…
By business, I mean open a car plant, a telecom, or some other type of manufacturing plant; you will be stopped in your tracks, especially if it will benefit Black Americans…
This government wants you, Black people to live off of government assistance as the only place to spend your money is with white businesses…have you notice that you can buy all types of food with food-stamps now, including cooked foods?
We, as a race must revert back to the 1950′s boycott, but that will never happen because the white man has us equally divided…
Derrick
October 7, 2012 at 10:05 am
@PB Short: Excellent commentary
This is the sermon of the day!!!
NOTHING, BUT TRUTH!!!
Negroids are sick, and will NEVER go back to the ’60′s when we had our OWN and supported our OWN and LOVED our OWN.
Back in the day, we KNEW the owners of the businesses we supported. We called them Mr. & Mrs., not using first names. We showed them respect. Today, these foreigners don’t even SPEAK when you enter their nasty establishments, while their NEW cars are outside of their businesses, we are paying for.
I SAY BOYCOTT, TOO, BUT NEGROID LEADERS DON’T EVEN MENTION THIS WORD!!!
Peace & Truth
Messejproduction
October 7, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Can you same ANY issue that NOW affects ONLY BLACK PPL and no other race of people? The jobs bill is not intended for only black PPL. Poverty affects everyone NOT JUST BLACK PEOPLE…EVEN RACISM NOW DAYS AFFECTS MANY RACES AND NOT JUST BLACK PPL.
Messejproduction
October 7, 2012 at 1:53 pm
The jobs bill is not intended for only black PPL. Poverty affects everyone…NOT JUST BLACK PEOPLE…and retardicans still blocked it. EVEN RACISM NOW DAYS AFFECTS MANY RACES AND NOT JUST BLACK PPL.
GCOLE
October 6, 2012 at 10:47 am
We all know scheduling is done way in advance of events, and with elections in November, when did they try to schedule.
Don’t be so vague, we want to know the black organizations that were turned down!
Imhotep
October 6, 2012 at 8:40 am
Lastly, my bytch Mitt caters to his base, and y’all know who they are!! Who is Obama’s base? Answer that question for me please. It’s like Dubois stated with his “two-ness” hypothesis concerning black people in this wretched society, but Obama has forgotten to keep alive one side of his “two-ness.” Unless its being seen with Jigga and Beyonce. Oh yeah, that shows he is still “down with his peeps” cause hes hanging with them. lolololol…Hotep
Derrick
October 7, 2012 at 10:10 am
@Imhotep:
You know the deal about that sell-out DuBois! This cracker; willard, got these slave negroids in a spell just like O’Drama got these negroids in a spell.
Poli(tricks) is like poli-TICKS; a TICK will suck the blood out of you, and these two TRICKSTERS, are sucking the blood out of these negroids!!!
CHECK!
Imhotep
October 6, 2012 at 8:11 am
Also don’t let me forget re-instating DON’T ASK DON’T TELL!! Who did that benefit? Did U miss Sumthin Deb…Ptah Ra
Imhotep
October 6, 2012 at 8:08 am
@Deborah…Obama didn’t keep his promise to Latinos? Where were you when he signed and executive order on a “backdoor” dream act, the same one my bytch Mitt stated on Unavision that he would not repeal? Did U miss sumthing? Or the Jews getting those new missiles and bunker busters from Obama( Bush 2 in 2006 denied Israel those weapons and stated he thought that Palestine should have its own state!!!)And didn’t the prez take on the Catholic Church( he soon backed down) for white women when it pertained to birth control and the Lilly Ledbetter Act? Did U miss sumthin? Hotep
Deborah
October 6, 2012 at 8:00 am
Watkins, this is not a fact, this is an assumption. And maybe they did have conflicting schedules. Anyway, how do you know that there weren’t black people in the audience of the actual debates? I still think one of them should have gone, but this is not a major problem. We all know politicians don’t necessarily keep their promises to demographics or anyone, to be honest, so that debate would have been futile. Blacks need to sort out their own problems.
Greg
October 5, 2012 at 8:52 pm
We are last on the totem pole. We have no Real Power. So why would they care about a bunch of black losers?
Renee
October 5, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Very good comment Greg. Perhaps you can take that to The Daily Caller, News Max, or a Romney Campaign Headquarter and they just might hire you with such bullshit logic. You’re on the wrong site dude if you want to make snide a*s (and tired) remarks in reference to blacks. GTFOH.
Greg
October 6, 2012 at 1:09 pm
You changed the question from above. It did not ask why Mitch Romney would not come to us for a discussion. It asked Pres. Obama too. I gave a blunt answer to the question. I don’t sugarcoat it for black folks. I don’t need to pretend to be relevant when I know we are not. That is for you. Romney and his handlers know he is waasting his time with us. And Obama knows he stands more to lose than gain by coming to us. We are going to vote for him anyway. So why bother? They are both right. We do not have the power to change this right now. It does not matter what the other political organizations think about us. The truth only matters.