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Has Obama Set Back Race Relations?
Dear Larry: I voted for the president, Barack Obama. I must confess I am very disappointed. I am disappointed with his policies and what is happening to race relations in America. The latter is what I want to talk about.
I am 23 years old and white, and I will be getting my master's in economics. I was very active in trying to get my fellow students to get out and vote. We had a lot of fun, and everyone, regardless of race, was so excited when he was elected.
We celebrated till the wee hours of the night and convinced one another there was going to be a new day in America. We all wanted to be part of electing the first black president. We knew this was going to be a symbol to the world that America is not a racist country.
Larry, I am sorry to say that people are now disappointed with the mood of the nation. Many of my friends are regretting their votes. Many of them are ashamed with the things that are happening.
Many of my white friends think the president is anti-white and especially anti-Jewish. I do not know whether they are accurate, but I feel uneasy. I will admit the president does not treat Jews as other presidents have.
My black friends make me feel uncomfortable because we cannot discuss any policy issue without their calling me a racist. I am not a racist; I voted for him. I have problems with some of his fiscal policies, and when I try to state my concerns, my black friends get really uptight and refuse to even listen. I do not like their menacing looks and their vile accusations of racism.
Larry, my white friends think race relations have been set back 25 years. Many of them have said they never will vote for a black again because they cannot trust blacks to keep their promises.
Do you think race relations have taken a backward step? I would really like your opinion. It would mean a lot to our group of students. Oh, please don't use my name; I can't afford to let anyone know how I really feel. — Anonymous
Dear Anonymous: There are a lot of people who are not happy with the policies and actions of our president. This unhappiness happens to every president, regardless of color and ethnicity.
Much of this unhappiness is a reaction to promises that were made during his campaign. He was thought to be a "new kind of president," but he turned out to be a typical politician, who does not necessarily keep promises regarding the issues he ran on.
I pray race relations have not been set back. Currently, it is too easy to stereotype all blacks as being aligned politically with the president. This is true because most blacks are Democrats and their presidential support has been unwavering. As long as that is the case, blacks will be painted with the Obama brush; to distrust Obama is to distrust blacks.
There are a growing number of black conservatives, and as this group steps forward, more people will use a different brush and not stereotype.
To find out more about Larry G. Meeks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM
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Comments
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19 Comments | Post Comment
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I suggest getting your facts straight before accepting the Republican talking points about Obama and his alleged "broken promises". While I can understand why people believe such claptrap when every news outlet is repeating it 24/7, it doesn't make it true.
PolitiFact.com, a Pulitizer Prize winning non-partisan organization, compiled 504 promises that Barack Obama made during the campaign and is tracking their progress online. I suggest you Google it to read through the details of each Obama "promise" and what's happening with it now.
But, in short.....Obama has acted on ALL BUT THREE of his promises in a little over a year. Of those 501 promises, only 19 have been broken. It's worth reading why on PolitiFact, too.
MORE DETAILS of the Politfact "Obameter":
Promises: Obama Scorecard
• Promise Kept 110
• Stalled 82
• In the Works 256
• Compromise 34
• Promise Broken 19
• Not yet rated 3
Comment: #1
Posted by: Johanna
Sat May 15, 2010 12:47 AM
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Obama is a racist and a fraud. He's not fit to be dogcatcher, let alone president of this country. I no longer trust black Americans and will NEVER vote for a black again.
Comment: #2
Posted by: Lisa McCue
Sat May 15, 2010 9:45 AM
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Hey Lisa? Pot, meet kettle.
You dislike Obama, so you're blaming all the black people? Why? Because they're all the same? Gee, that's not racist. Oh-wait, yes it is!
Comment: #3
Posted by: Johanna
Sat May 15, 2010 11:18 AM
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http://www.factcheck.org/ is another place that checks claims by both sides of a political issue.
Comment: #4
Posted by: BB
Sat May 15, 2010 11:58 AM
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"Larry, my white friends think race relations have been set back 25 years. Many of them have said they never will vote for a black again because they cannot trust blacks to keep their promises." This remark simply exposes the racism of this guy's white friends, since a distrust of "blacks" could only be generated from Obama's presidency if all that is important to the friends is Obama's race. (Note it's not "cannot trust Democrats" or "cannot trust Harvard graduates", either of which would be equally valid.) I'll bet that if the letter is real (it looks fake to me), his black "friends" are probably well aware that he hangs out with white racists and treating him accordingly. But the letter IS probably fake; the guy probably never supported Obama. It has all the hallmarks of a planted letter intended to create publicity for the myth that Obama didn't "keep his promises." The best indication of the letter's falsity is that it brings up the canard that Obama is "anti-Jewish", clear keyword for the "he's really a muslim" story of the radical right. Meeks, of course, misses this and swallows the whole thing because it gives him the opportunity to launch into his "blacks should be more conservative" routine.
Comment: #5
Posted by: Geoffrey James
Sat May 15, 2010 12:23 PM
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Wow, this column sure brought the Obama-philes out today, didn't it? What a bunch of racist bull from both Geoff and Johanna. None of it even deserves a thoughtful commentary, it's so lame.It's amazing that even after the man has looted nearly $2 trillion from the American taxpayer, nearly doubled the unemployment rate, and appointed numerous crooks, tax-cheats, race-baiters, and outright Communists to high office...we still have a third or more of the American electorate stubbornly clinging to the man. If only people had this kind of faith in God. The column is titled "Has Obama Set Back Race Relations?" The short answer would be a resounding "yes." I actually feel kind of sorry for black people; the first "black president" has been a colossal failure as a leader. Such a shame that a historic opportunity was wasted. If anything, this episode proves that the amount of melanin in someone's skin doesn't make him wise or bestow good judgment. The only encouraging sign is the way so many Democrats are now having buyers' remorse. If only they hadn't bought into all the media lies about the "Bush economy" back in 2008, we wouldn't be in this mess to start with.
Comment: #6
Posted by: Matt
Sun May 16, 2010 11:35 AM
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His presidency set back race relations because many people took the attitude of "great! we elected a black president so we are officially no longer racist". And they are upset that people are still noting that, the election notwithstanding, racism is alive and rampant. They don't want to hear about it because "but we elected a black president".
As far as relations with Israel, what he's done is try to remind Israel that they too have broken promises and it takes two to tango. In the past 8 years they've basically been held blameless. Oh sure, lip service was paid to the West Bank issue but nobody slapped their hands about it. President Obama has the audacity to ask them to be true to their promises, oh the horror!
A good reminder for those who are now going to take the Christian bend toward pro-Israel, who do you think protected the holy Christian sites for the last millenia? Hint - it wasn't Israel, it was the PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS. Remember that on your next anti-Palestian rant.
Comment: #7
Posted by: Mich
Mon May 17, 2010 10:42 AM
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As an economist, I don't like Obama either. However, I will have to agree with Geoff, those saying that "they never will vote for a black again because they cannot trust blacks to keep their promises" are racist pure and simple. Way to paint every individual of a particular skin color with a broad brush. Really what politician hasn't broken promises? Get real. Racism will only go away when we start looking at each other as human beings and individuals, rather than a skin tone. The whole thing is downright ridiculous. It is the same as if I said, "I will never vote for a guy with brown eyes again because Bush has brown eyes and he broke promises."
Comment: #8
Posted by: SarahM
Mon May 17, 2010 11:04 PM
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Please don't confuse who said what here. I NEVER said "I'd never vote for a black person again..." that was Lisa McCue. My first comment is on top, and it's 100% about Obama's alleged "broken promises" and my next comment is calling Lisa out about this exact racist comment. Don't lump me in with her! If you care to contest the facts about Obama's campaign promises, please feel free. The facts are the facts, however, and simply accusing him of breaking "all" his promises doesn't make it true.
Comment: #9
Posted by: Johanna
Wed May 19, 2010 9:50 PM
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It's pretty funny that Matt wants to call the Obama presidency a failure when Obama has succeeded in getting virtually his entire program enacted through Congress. You may disagree with the wisdom of healthcare reform, the stimulus package, bank reform, etc., etc., and the American public will decide at the polls whether or not they like the plan, but there's no question that Obama is one of the most effective presidents of modern times. What's even funnier, though, is that Matt doesn't realize that conflating Obama and "black people" is just another form of racism. People who focus on Obama's race and use it as an excuse to draw conclusions about "black people" are racists. That would be you, Matt.
Comment: #10
Posted by: Geoffrey James
Fri May 21, 2010 9:47 AM
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Re: Geoffrey James. LOL. So tell me, how's that "hope and change" working out for you? Have we gotten the economy out of the doldrums, made Russia and China and the Taliban love us, or healed all the political and racial divisions yet? Obama promised us that the sea level would fall and everything was going to be strawberry rainbow puppy kisses and lollipops again. You left-wingers are going to get your butts handed to you in November, and in 2012, your Holy Man is going to be ejected from power. Enjoy his reign of terror while you can.
Comment: #11
Posted by: Matt
Fri May 21, 2010 10:31 PM
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Oh, and knock off the crap about me focusing on Obama's race, Geoff. Don't project your garbage onto me. You want to see a racist? Go look in the mirror. You're the one who keeps bringing it up. I went on about his lack of accomplishment and didn't even mention color. Gah, you make me sick.
Comment: #12
Posted by: Matt
Fri May 21, 2010 10:32 PM
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And one more question, Geoff. In your opinion, is it possible to criticize President Obama WITHOUT being called racist for doing so? If so, what would that look like? Can a person oppose him without race being brought into the discussion at all? Do tell me, because I'm getting pretty sick of hearing the r-word lately. It's gotten so overused that everyone is going to start reflexively dismissing Obama's defenders. It's impossible to have a civilized discussion with someone who insists that the mere holding of some political view must mean you're prejudiced against an entire race. You really need to pull your head out of your ass and realize that people might have legitimate gripes against the man that have nothing to do with color, especially considering that some of us don't consider nationalizing big hunks of the US economy, racking up trillions of dollars in debt, sullying our international reputation, or marginalizing the domestic opposition to be "accomplishments." I don't support the healthcare bill or anything else he's tried to push through Congress, so as far as I'm concerned he hasn't "accomplished" jack squat.
Comment: #13
Posted by: Matt
Fri May 21, 2010 10:47 PM
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Angry Matt! Angry Matt! Grr!!! Grr!!! Grrr!!!
Comment: #14
Posted by: Brock O. Lee
Sat May 22, 2010 8:04 AM
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Barrack Obama was blindly elected by "the first black president" kool-aid drinkers at a time of opportunity when conservatives had already worn out their place (liberals had already retrieved the majorities two years before) in Washington, D.C. People (all races) were so eager to elect "the first black president" that they also eagerly ignored any red flags about his credibility as a person and a leader. He has run the country with the same trustworthiness as his FRIENDS Jerimiah Wright and William Ayers possess. "Fact-check" all you want. OUR president has only unprioritized America in the world and in America. He uses out tax dollars to travel the world and badmouth the very country that made him the president: wrong answer. He allows another country's leader to step foot on OUR soil to badmouth OUR country, and happily watches his fellow liberal "leaders" stand and cheer while this happens. He has brought in tax cheats and racists to help him "run" the country. He has created unvetted czar positions (for what?) much in the same manner that he was basically unvetted. He has not accept the role of a leader, but rather an excuse maker and blame thrower (it's Bush's fault). He has only focused on discrediting HIS country and has worked towards confiscating more money from citizens and companies in a liberal attempt to "spread the wealth" and limit freedoms so that the government is the entity that is free... to control.
Comment: #15
Posted by: Clyde
Sun May 23, 2010 3:44 AM
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It's so hilarious reading screeds against Obama, because they always come around to the "black" thing, when that's a completely unimportant part of his presidency. It even wasn't all that big a part of his electoral victory. Sure, he got the "black vote", but that also would have been true of any Democratic candidate (especially Hillary). The turnout was perhaps a bit higher in black cantons, but there was probably a counterbalancing effect of white racism. The McCain campaign was a disaster; any half-acceptable Democrat probably would have won the election. So let it go, folks. If you want to understand Obama, think of him as a Harvard-educated lawyer/professor with a background in Chicago Democratic politics. Those are the relevant portions of his curriculum vitae; the black stuff is just window dressing. Now, (and here's the important concept for people like Matt and Clyde who have trouble thinking logically) REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK OF OBAMA'S AGENDA, he has been successful in enacting it. He's won virtually every legislative battle that's he fought and gotten his programs enacted. So it's stupid (as Matt does) to call Obama "ineffective." Misguided, perhaps, but not "ineffective." He's EXTREMELY effective, which is (of course) exactly why he sends teabaggers like Matt and Clyde totally around the twist. They simple can't get over the fact that a black guy can be so much smarter than they are.
Comment: #16
Posted by: Geoffrey James
Sun May 23, 2010 8:49 AM
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Please note that when I say Obama is smarter, I'm referring to the fact that he's more intelligent and more educated. Whether Obama's judgment about what's best for the country is "smarter" than that of Matt and the rest of the Teabaggers is a matter of opinion. However, there's no question that if you put Obama, Palin and Matt on the Jeopardy stage, the score would probably be 25,000, -10,000, and 0, respectively.
Comment: #17
Posted by: Geoffrey James
Sun May 23, 2010 8:53 AM
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Too many of us need to loose the high school sports team mentality. Rah-Rah, get-em, kill-em, knock-em dead. We are one people, think about that. Obama has done well, especially in the area of promoting clean energy. He went right to work and works hard. What more do citizens want? He inherited a huge mess. Grow up. He is the president of all the people, not just blacks and democrats. Furthermore, presidents don't have as much power as the public thinks. They are in a huge juggling act and too many in Washington are acting like spoiled children in refusing to cooperate for the good of the people, as if they're playing some little personal game. It's shameful what he has to work with and I hope that he continues to treat others in the civil way that he has. He's a great example.
Furthermore, what can a 23 year old know about all of this? The top people in every field know very little about what is really going on. We have no idea and I'll bet that no one knows, so dark and hidden are the ways that big business has woven into the fabric of our policy over many years. It will take years to unwind the mess. It does us no good to emotionally debate what we don't really know that much about. An emotional debate such as this writer described is just a mock up of what they're doing in D.C. We all must roll up our selves and just do our best to make sure that we don't do as they do, in any way, shape or form.
Comment: #18
Posted by: Marsha Cunningham
Mon May 24, 2010 3:17 PM
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One more thing from me, as far as this government takeover stuff is talked about. You're repeating mindless chatter from the G OP. Big business and deregulation has completely messed up our country. Big Business is and has been the terrorist within and now someone has stepped up up to protect the common people from them. If our government doesn't do it we're sunk because they don't care a bit about us, they only want to make money. I never believed this, thought I'd heard it for years, but now that I'm retired and have watched CNN all day for two years, as well as some local news, I finally believe it. Most people only watch an hour or so of the local news per day, but when you hear more you can better figure out what's really going on.
Comment: #19
Posted by: Marsha Cunningham
Mon May 24, 2010 3:31 PM
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