Op-ed submission by Project 21
With poverty at an all-time high, daunting black unemployment levels and Obamacare threatening black babies, black support for Barack Obama remains surprisingly strong. Why?
Blacks are not uniformly as radical as Obama. So why do 91 percent of blacks still support him when only 79 percent of his Democrat constituency does? It’s a black thang. Again, why?
Some say Obama’s support comes from “black solidarity” — that birds of a feather flock together. That is racist in itself. After all, imagine if white voters similarly lined up in “racial solidarity.” This is compounded by the facts.
Under George W. Bush, black unemployment was actually lower than during the Clinton years and much lower than the 16.3 percent it is today. Under Obama, black unemployment rose from 12.6 percent to 16.3 percent as of August 1, 2010.
Despite promoting black upward mobility, Bush only enjoyed a black approval rating in the low 30s at a similar time in his presidency. Bush also made historic cabinet-level appointments of blacks and dramatically increased funding to fight AIDS in Africa. Much to Kanye West’s chagrin, President Bush did care about black people.
Furthermore, after nearly two years of Obama’s reckless spending, 43.6 million Americans (one in seven) live in poverty — a 51-year high. Blacks, who account for only 13 percent of the population, make up 22.6 percent of those now receiving food stamp benefits. And, after a promise there would be no federal abortion funding in Obamacare, tax dollars for abortions may be provided through high-risk insurance programs in Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Maryland.
Polling shows blacks are overwhelmingly pro-life. We undoubtedly want jobs and freedom from poverty. So why the blind loyalty to someone who hasn’t delivered? When a constituency clearly provides loyal support, as blacks are to progressives, it begs to be taken for granted. So is it any wonder that, after 50 years of conceding support to liberals and letting Uncle Sam be their “baby daddy,” we are mired in an anti-empowerment culture of dependency?
Liberals can argue racism causes black stagnation, but is a 70 percent illegitimacy rate among blacks (90 percent in some inner cities) due to racism or a lack of accountability and personal responsibility? It’s also a painful truth that blacks kill more blacks (by gun, unhealthy lifestyle and abortion) than racists could ever accomplish. So-called “civil rights leaders,” pseudo-intellectuals and liberal lawmakers must know this, yet they insist on pretending racism is more responsible for sluggish black advancement than behavior they foster.
It’s time for a frank discussion about the folly of black Americans’ monolithic support of liberalism. When 91 percent of any racial group votes one way, it’s either out of racism or blind groupthink. Neither is good for America.
Jerome Hudson is a member of the national advisory council of the black leadership network Project 21.
afrospear.wordpress.com 
“What does a Black conservative have to conserve?” – Amos Wilson
I hope this young man reaches true Afrikan consciousness soon in his life.
I would have more respect for these folks over at Project 21 if they were promoting the creation of a new independent political party. I am all for new ideas, not just hitching on to some same ole party.
What I find hilarious about some black conservatives is the belief that if all of a suden black people turn around and just vote or become Republicans things will be fine.
Frankly, I do not see any difference between both poltical parties because I am interested more in the candidates’ views than in the political party they belong to.
Instead of doing this, black conservatives are running in the wind like fools with people who have no respect for them and foaming at the mouth because other blacks would not join them.
Strengthen yourselves within the party first and maybe others would follow.
The Democrats take black people for granted and the Republicans totally ignore blacks for the same reasons.
I will never forget how members of Republican Party used Colin Powell, a so called respectable man in the international community to fabricate a plan to make war against Saddam Hussain.
G. W. Bush had no crediblity at the United Nations ,so they had to use C. Powell, a black conservative, who ended up taking the blame for the Iraq fiasco.
What I will like to see take place is the strenghtening of black members and positions within both parties.
Instead of having members just vote within both parties and just falling into statistics, the black block could be called the Black Hand or the Black Spear within these parties with their own agendas or platforms.
I have a problem with blacks who criticize President Obama for not doing anything when so many of them are not even organized.
President Obama in his Inaugural Speech asked for volunteers and I really thought that members of the black community were going to organize themselves and become visible with Obama in the White House.
In NY City, many young whites took heed to Obama’s call and got involved in volunteer organizations.
Sitting down whining , complaining and criticizing is very easy but it will not solve anything.
“Instead of having members just vote within both parties and just falling into statistics, the black block could be called the Black Hand or the Black Spear within these parties with their own agendas or platforms.”
Exactly! They could even call themselves: Afro-Spear! lol!
“I have a problem with blacks who criticize President Obama for not doing anything when so many of them are not even organized.”
I also have a problem with blacks who criticize the Tea party for what they are doing, when so many of them are not organized nor doing anything for themselves. I sometimes wonder how much further ahead Black people in America would be if instead of wasting their time and effort focusing on and criticizing the Tea Party or Barack Obama for that matter, they would do like the Tea Party members and organize among themselves and challenge the status quo within both political parties, push for their own agendas and field and support their own candidates. Instead the black republicans and black democrats want to impress their masters by attacking each other and prove they are loyal slaves by doing what they are told… or programmed to do without question.
Sad really.
@Asa—you said:
“I also have a problem with blacks who criticize the Tea party for what they are doing, when so many of them are not organized nor doing anything for themselves”
Personally, I have a problem with you focusing on what the Project 21 folks are saying. These people are aligned with our enemies. We know that they aren’t interested in our upliftment. It’s not that they feel that black Americans just need a little push toward being better people. It’s that they build themselves on our backs and our degradation is the foundation that they rest on.
We know that. These people are aligned with the talking heads–the becks, limbaughs, imuses, and whatnot, so we know it’s not our best interests that they are struggling for.
If black people aren’t organized, shouldn’t we be showing them the way? Shouldn’t we with this blog that has 300 to 500 plus readers everyday be putting forth information that can be disseminated by these 300 to 500 plus readers?
What good does it do to simplistically say, It’s sad, really that black republicans and black democrats want to impress their masters?
Personally I’m insulted by it, and it’s not because it pertains to me personally. It’s because it’s a waste of time, Asa. It’s beneath you to wallow in this kind of unproductive name calling, and it’s foolish to continue waiting in vain for the political process as it stands today to be our salvation as black people.
Maybe we black folks should rethink political correctness. And fairness in reporting. IMO if you don’t agree with Project 21, then what’s the point of giving them space on the Afrospear? They have their own blog and are doing well Thank you very much! I can go there if I want their brand black powerlessness, and twisted statistics. Or I can turn on Fox or MSNBC.
But the AFROSPEAR ought to be about upliftment of black people! It’s slavish to want to impress the people at Project 21 by constantly reposting their agenda here!
Yes I said it! And I know this is YOUR blog!!
This is what I read on your “About” page:
“The vision was that it would focus on discussing issues, exchanging ideas and creating strategies, with the objective of developing concrete and viable solutions to tackle the concerns relating to those of African descent worldwide.”
So how does telling me about what “groupthink” slaves are arguing back and forth at Project 21 got to do with the above quoted vision of Afrospear?
When I continued reading the “About” page this is what I saw:
“So we are currently and forever will be a work in progress. Standing still is not an option! When one stands still, you actually start moving backwards, you get left behind as others move forward. We don’t claim to have all the answers but we are searching. We want to be a part of, connected to and add our collective voice to the variety of other Afrocentric/Black individuals, cells, conglomerations and collectives out in the AfroSphere. To the best and the brightest for the progress of our people.”
TO THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST FOR THE PROGRESS OF OUR PEOPLE!!
Why then, waste time talking about what is despicable to you, and useless to we black people who are readers of the Spear, looking for food for thought and inspiration for mobilization?
@ Anna Reene
One of the main challenges with Christianity and other religions in general, is that individuals will quote parts of their theology/philosophy out of context, for example The Bible. Undoubtedly, they only quote the parts that conform to their own personal way of thinking, and then go on use it as a basis to justify their own agendas. You are trying to do this by quoting parts of our “About” page. However you need to look at it’s original intent, as well as all that we said there, to get our “whole” perspective, and not just the parts you want to manipulate for your own purposes.
First, the “About” section is an introduction of the original 6 who created this blog. Even within this, what and who do we mean when we state that as a collective: “We want to be a part of, connected to and add our collective voice to the variety of other Afrocentric/Black individuals, cells, conglomerations and collectives out in the AfroSphere.” This who includes the members of Project 21. Each one of us has the potential to be among the “best and brightest”, and have something of value to offer “for the progress of our people”, regardless of political, religious and/or philosophical affiliations. You obviously don’t believe this, however I am not you.
Second, it’s within our Mission Statement that we layout how we wish to interact with others. Read this. The whole thing. I won’t pick, choose and quote parts like you did in an effort to prove any single point, but you will notice that we have a simple, possibly naive theme throughout: to promote unity, regardless of political affiliations, religious beliefs or personal philosophy. As Ensayn so wisely stated in a previous discussion: unity doesn’t mean uniformity. That is what we ultimately envisioned this space to be, an exchange of ideas, discussion and debates among different perspectives, especially those we don’t agree with.
Right from the beginning this caused certain problems with other black people because they didn’t like our vision of unity. Read some of our initial discussions. There were even those who had a problem with some of the blogs in our blogroll. I remember a specific complaint that someone didn’t want to be on the same blogroll as “WhatAboutOurDaughters”, because similar to your opinion of P21, they felt that the owner of that blog was “aligned with our enemies” and therefore “aren’t interested in our upliftment.” Their ultimatum was either we remove the WAOD blog from our blogroll, or remove their blog. I removed their blog.
This has continued periodically here. As I stated in a previous discussion, there were those over the years, even recently, who have had a problem with positions brotherpeacemaker, thefreeslave, Nkawzi, you and I have taken with regards to certain issues and no longer participate here. Some have left and returned (not because of me, but regardless of me I am sure…lol!).
From the beginning of this endeavour, I was hoping that a so-called “black conservative” would join our collective or participate with us. As our Mission Statement clearly implies, we have no enemies among those of African descent (or others for that matter) based solely on their political or religious beliefs. Nevertheless, none came along until P21’s David Almasi. One day he started sending us articles for submission. I don’t know how he heard of us or why he decided to send us submissions. I have never had a conversation with him about this, personally or via email. It really doesn’t matter. At first I just deleted them, but then I asked myself, is our Mission Statement only rhetoric, or do we practice what we preach… or are we just hypocrits? So I decided to post some of the articles I found interesting, whether I agree with the opinion or not (as an aside I agree with about 90% of this article), and whoever wants to can discuss or debate the P21 opinions (or not)… respectfully without demonizing the author.
Now you are not the only person who has had a problem with my giving P21 access to this space. Interestingly, none of the original 6 ever has expressed to me that they have a problem with it. I believe this is because we were of one mind at the beginning that unity involves work, especially work with those who don’t share your own perspectives and beliefs… which described the 6 of us. Furthermore we understand that there is no way we as a people can progress, develop strategies and solutions for empowerment, when all we do is fight with each other, ultimately for the benefit of others. They say even a wrong clock is right twice a day, and we believe that unity begins with building upon those 2 moments. This blog is a culmination of that belief.
Also, you are not the only person who has been insulted by my defining behaviours that perpetuate disunity among those of African descent, as being based on a slave mentality. As I have stated before, to you and others: “if you can’t stand the heat, stay out of our kitchen”. It’s always easier speaking the “truth” about others, than hearing the “truth” about ourselves… me included.
So where to from here. Let me repeat what I have said numerous times: “at this blog we are not all things for all people.” If you or any of the 300-500 plus people who daily visit this blog aren’t down with what we are about here, if you all don’t share our vision or our view of unity, if you feel there is nothing of value here for you, or if you’re all insulted by our collective or individual perspectives and opinions, then there are thousands of other blogs where you may feel more comfortable spending your time and efforts. This is not a popularity contest. If only 1-2 people end up returning here, then so be it. Maybe the 300-500 plus people who daily visit this blog will head over to your blog to be empowered and enlightened.
Furthermore, let me also personally extend to you what I shared with KIT (Keep it Trill) who decided to no longer participate with us because I post P21 submissions here: “thank you for your contributions… no hard feelings, go with love… you are always welcome to return and participate.” I take none of this personally. At it’s basic level, this is just a space to exchange, discuss and debate ideas.
Finally let me share with you some words of wisdom:
“Also remember, that in order to have UNITY, we black people have to have TOLERANCE for those with opposing viewpoints. That is the more precise way that we Afrikans have to do things in order to survive, as we see.
I hope you continue to return to this powerful THINK TANK of African Liberation. We all are thinking, I see that plainly. We black people have to come to the understanding that we all DONT think alike, as we have differing world views. The oppressors would like us to believe that we are all alike, simple minded and ignorant.
So again, my fellow in the fight for liberation, Brother Precision Afrikan, just bypass my posts, because this is a think tank. I’m talking to whoever can use what I’m saying, whoever can be blessed by my words. I dont feel that I should deny my piece of the liberation puzzle to those who can use it just to please you. Take the parts that you can work with from the Afrospear and continue to fight for black liberation.
A luta continua…” This is a response from Anna Renee to The Precision Afrikan at the post: “Is Satan Speaking and Are You Listening?”
We would be so much further ahead as a people if we all would just simply practice what we preach.
Sad really.
It’s good to put forth others’ perspective, but like you said before not everybody who is black is my brother/sister. We have to be able to discern who it is that is for the cause, but have a different opinion of how to arrive, and those who are NOT for the cause at all!!!
Now Im not saying that Project 21 are sellouts, but I am saying that we know all their opinions are not for the cause of black liberation. They tend to see things as blacks simply being broken and simple-minded and in need of a patron in the form of the Republican Party. They want us to believe that our “pathology” is inbred. They don’t talk about the fact that this North America is LITERALLY built on the backs of black people—from slavery, to chain gangs, to share cropping, to the Mammy’s who had no choice but to work for Miss Ann and breast feed her white children.
Project 21 doesn’t talk about the Jim Crow laws, the Black Codes laws, the Ku Klux Klan, the lynchings
—-all of this to curtail black achievement and maintain black degradation. What they do talk about are the many, many statistics of black pathology and they want us to believe it’s just that we are simple-minded and broken. They aren’t willing to tell the WHOLE truth—to say WHY we are broken if indeed we are.
Now I haven’t even started with all the negative propaganda in the form of black caricatures that black people have endured for decades in North America. This insidious psychological assault on our essential beings, the blackface, big lipped, coon, Aunt Jemima, watermelon eating, fried chicken eating, black monkey, gorilla, baboon, rapist, thief, monster….all of these caricatures and stereotypes that shape the way a person sees him/herself. The perpetuation of this constant attack–This Stockholm Syndrome that went undiagnosed!!
Who’s talking about that? So if we blacks in America appear to be simple minded, then why? We know that America manipulates what her children will know about the world. And America doesn’t want her black children to know anything at all. So if we are these simplistic creatures as Project 21 shows us with all of their statistics, then all we need is re-education.
THUS THE AFROSPEAR.
I remember that you told me: There are damned lies, then there are statistics! Word!
As we speak, prison complexes are being built. Arnold Schwarzenegger is working to fix up San Quentin’s Death Row and is willing to spend the millions to do it.
Brother Heber Brown III at Faith in Action blog is protesting the building of another prison complex in his town of Baltimore. Because he understands what the bottom line is. He’s organized in his space fighting the powers that be! And I bet my life that many other black folks IN AMERICA are organized and working in their places for LIBERATION, if only for their constituents in their places.
We know that many people will benefit by imprisoning young black and brown males. Economies are built on these prison enterprises. On the backs of our black and brown youth. This is status quo. Now Project 21 may not understand or care about this, and that’s fine. But I care about it and I think the readers at the Spear care about this kind of oppression going on–whether in North America or anywhere in the world that we black folks are.
I remember once upon a time they said that not enough black people vote. Black people in North America were disinterested in the political process. Now they are saying that a full 91 percent of black people are voting and voting democratic against all common sense. Of course it makes no sense to them because they feel that blacks should be voting 91 percent Republican! Now that makes sense to them.
WHATEVER, DUDES.
So again, I personally have no problem with differing opinions. As for the Precision Afrikan, as I told you, he’s a true black brother, down completely for the cause. He just doesn’t believe that Christianity is the way. I respect that. I’ve read his blog and I know he has a heart for black people’s liberation!!! He wants the boot off our black backs! So do I!! I have no problem “tolerating” his opinions, and I agree with many of them.
Look at this portion of my quote to Brother Precision Afrikan. I said:
“I dont feel that I should deny my piece of the liberation puzzle to those who can use it just to please you. ”
LIBERATION being the operative word. I don’t deny his piece of the LIBERATION puzzle either. His piece is necessary.
But if the piece you’re adding is not about black liberation, then what’s the point? If the piece you’re adding is to just perpetuate black degradation, if the piece you add is just to complain about black folks doing nothing, if the piece you add is just to point out one black nationality’s (African American) supposed inferiorities, then what is the point? Where is the unity in that?
“Now Im not saying that Project 21 are sellouts…”
Really!? You had me fooled!
“… but I am saying that we know all their opinions are not for the cause of black liberation.”
True… for your version of what black liberation should be, which is relevant for you and your followers.
“They tend to see things as blacks simply being broken and simple-minded and in need of a patron in the form of the Republican Party. They want us to believe that our “pathology” is inbred. They don’t talk about the fact that this North America is LITERALLY built on the backs of black people—from slavery, to chain gangs, to share cropping, to the Mammy’s who had no choice but to work for Miss Ann and breast feed her white children.”
This is your perception… which holds true for you. I read a number of their articles before I started posting their submissions here. I found that like us here at AfroSpear, they do have common beliefs, but individually they hold varying points of view on a variety of issues. They all don’t agree on every issue.
So all that you have claimed in your diatribe above, however intellectually eloquent and passionate that it may appear on the surface, is still substantially misleading. They have discussed most, if not all of the issues you listed, from their differing perspectives. Automatically claiming that someone who belongs to any group or organization must have the same belief or opinion on all things perpetuates ignorance and prejudice.
Anywayzzz… I’m not here to argue with you about what the members of Project 21 believes (or what you claim they believe) as a collective or individually, since I can’t speak for anyone but myself (I don’t even claim to speak for the AfroSpear collective as a whole, of which I am a part)… and unlike you, I don’t claim to know what they all believe on every subject. Plus it’s a waste of my time and effort. However I do find it very telling that your focus seems to be always on demonizing them, while attacking me because I am trying to promote unity, than in debating the content of their submissions.
The bottom line is that the submissions of Project 21 that I find of interest will be posted here. You can ignore them, discuss/debate them on their merits or go with love. The choice is yours.
You’ve put a lot of words in my mouth Asa!
I dont see it as me and my followers or you and your followers. I see it as all of us! Those of us who want our liberation and have our ideas of how to arrive at it coming together in unity and courage to talk it out!!
Attacking you? Or calling you out? I have no reason to attack you, brother. But I have every reason to call you out when you repeat misleading statistics about black people in America and repeat the misleading conclusions that blacks in America are doing nothing. You’ve read alot of what Project 21 says, and that’s certainly your right and privilege. But I’m saying that there are other opinions, brother. And there is also the truth. There are bloggers who have expertise and can break down black America’s “issues” and come to better conclusions that give us hope and encouragement.
So rather than demonizing black people in America, it would be a better more unifying thing to understand the deeper meaning. Which of course is your prerogative. You can do it or not bother to do it. But as an African American, I can point out what I see as surface reporting and lack of substance on the part of Project 21’s take on the issues that blacks in America face, and the reasons we face them. I can point out that using statistics to explain anything is shaky at best. Because we know that statistics are very close to damned lies!
Now I’m sure that there are many contributors to Project 21 that have other points of view that gell with you and your followers at your Afrospear. That’s good. But I have issues with those articles that are NOT gelling with your Afrospear and your followers, and with me. When I read the comments, they are complaining about what these folks are saying. So it must not be gelling. So I have the right to call it out, as I see it!
I dont have to “claim” what they believe, I can see what they believe at Project 21 based on what they write about! And as long as they are demonizing me as a black person, I will point out where (I believe) they are wrong and if that’s demonizing them, then so be it.
Now if you think this little misunderstanding is going to make me “go with love” you misjudge me, brother!
I’m going by what you told me in the beginning, which was this:
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AfroSpear to me
show details Apr 25
Greetings Sis. Anna,
Hope all is well! I am glad that you are enjoying your experience so far at the ‘Spear. I am the one who should be thanking you for your contributions. I look forward to what you bring. It’s fresh and dynamic for our forum.
“So I hope you don’t have a problem with controversy, because if so, let me know. I probably should have asked you before posting today’s piece.”
This made me laugh. “Controversy” is my middle name. Consider yourself my partner in crime! You never have to ask or get permission from me before doing a post. You have the freedom to post whatever you want from whatever perspective that moves you. I really liked your post on Wangari Maathai, especially from the view of a “warrior”.
***********************
Every David needs his Nathan. Partner.
You may not believe it, but I have the utmost respect for you and what you and the original members created here with this forum. Otherwise, I would “go in love”.
There is no “little misunderstanding” between us whatsoever as far as I am concerned. I have been clear with my position. Neither is it just a matter of a difference of opinion between us.
This issue with Project 21 has become a learning moment for me. I see that there is fundamentally no difference between you and Project 21. Although you may have polarizing views on certain issues, you both claim that your way is the only one to liberate Black people, you both demonize each other, you both would rather engage in personal attacks than debate or discuss opposing opinions, you both feel you are above criticism, you both talk about unity while you perpetuate disharmony and you both take your orders from those who benefit from the status quo. You both are “pawns” of the white man in their plan to keep us fighting among ourselves. You and Project 21 are just different sides of the same coin.
In the spirit of unity in which I had invited you to join us and “have the freedom to post whatever you want from whatever perspective that moves you”, in that same spirit of unity I provide Project 21 the same opport-unity. However that was then, this is now. So now in the spirit of love in which I say to those who have a problem with sharing this space with those who don’t conform to their way of thinking and want to bring a spirit of disharmony here, in that same spirit of love I say to you, the AfroSpear is not the forum for you, because that’s not what we’re about here. We’re about bringing people of African descent together, regardless of their affiliations or beliefs. So consider going in love somewhere else where you won’t have this problem or feel insulted. Also I already have enough Jonathans here who watch my back. Thanks for the offer but I don’t need one more.
See… no “little misunderstanding” here.
I’m done.
Ok.
I don’t like doing this, but I am going to push just one lever during this election, the Democratic one. The mean spiritness from the Republicans who think those unemployed are malingerers, while companies were leaving and closing down in this state after the first wave of unemployment of the recession hit. They’re being the Party of NO; do nothing, no ideas( evident in the above post) and obstructionist. They lie about Medicare or maybe people at Project 21 don’t really know how it works or say why Social Security is going broke. I’d like to ask just “what have you done for me lately.”
I am sticking to the Democrats like white on rice, because my biggest fear is that this new crop of Tea Party and some Republicans can not think there way out of a paper bag, Christine O’Donnell from my neighboring state is one big example. Will they know what a budget is when they see it.
Cut spending, the Republicans always cut minuscule public programs, they do not how to trim the fat out of programs or refuse those no bid defense contracts. I see these types red penciling indiscriminately to the point some offices can’t turn on the lights. And speaking of stupid, how can you compare the reasons for unemployment rate after the biggest financial crisis since 1929 to the reason it was not before, when there was a certain amount of financial stability.
The second example is that overt racism has become chic. Racism is allowed a “rational” voice, “baby mama” has replaced “welfare queen.” These tired old statistics, are now being used as new fodder in the southern strategy, although it is being use all over the US. I don’t want these group of people in power, who can get a Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh to gather the lynch mobs when they so choose. This is scary to me. It seems like only the old folks remember, younger Blacks want to criticized the NAACP for focusing too much on the Tea Party. This a worthy mission as I see it.
Black support for Democrats racist, then tell me why Black support for Republicans is not. It seems every acceptable Black conservative has to be more virulent racist than their white counterpart. The Blacks Republicans who understand what being Black in this country means or who are quietly doing something to help the Black community are ignored by the party. Obama a Democratic president gave our first Black Senator since Reconstruction, Edward Brooke the Congressional Gold Metal.
The Tea Party movement is a throwback to the Moral Majority movement. It seems like voters have a way of swinging back and forth like the pendulum in a hypnotist office, preparing themselves to fall asleep on the huge red sofa.
This movement started with scary slogans like “Let’s take back our country” and” Let us bring honor back to our country”. As someone who see things in a timeline fashion, I want to know what period they want to take America back to, and I need a good explanation about the honor thing.
The Tea Party folks similar to the Moral Majority tend to sprinkle a little bit of Christian thought as they go along to confuse the easily confused , like Glenn Beck’s sanctimonious posturing in his “March on Washington.”
Selfless nuns like Mother Theresa they are not. This is a predominantly white movement consisting of many who are simply upset because President Obama is black and the son of an African Muslim.
They may get their country back but I doubt they will be able to do much in changing anything. Hopefully New Yorkers are sane and don’t vote for the racist Tea Bag candidate for Governor, Carl Paladino.
And if Sarah Palin, the Queen of the Tea Bag movement gets elected president of this country for the 2012 elections,I give this country twenty five years more as a great nation. There are other nations with exemplary leadership waiting in line to take America’s place. Mark my words.
This is a thought provoking article. However, the premise of the article is absurd. It underestimates the intelligence of African Americans. Many black people support President Obama because of his progressive policies, proven track record, personal charisma, intelligence and communication skills.
Most of black people do not support candidates simply because of the pigment of their skin. If black people did support candidates solely based on their race, they would have provided Obama level support to other black candidates and appointees such as Alan Keyes, Rev. Al Sharpton, Michael Steele, Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, etc. As a collective, African Americans did not support those candidates and appointees.
Moreover, the author conveniently forgets that this economic disaster started under the Bush Administration. Today’s high unemployment rate is a product of the failed policies of Bush. It is unrealistic for anyone to expect Obama to miraculously and dramatically reduce unemployment and poverty within 2 years. Without the stimulus package, the situation would have been much worst.
Unlike the author, I support so-called “Obamacare”. Without health reform, the number of uninsured would continue to climb. If it was not for Obama, the insurance companies would continue to jack up rates and deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
Project 21 is just a bunch of professional playa haters. Where is Project 21’s plan to end unemployment and poverty? Where is their alternative health care plan? What have they ever done to improve the plight of black people?
Unfortunately, this article completely ignores the impact of slavery, Jim Crow and ongoing structural racism. Like many conservatives, the author just blames the victim for their condition.