Obama tells NAACP blacks must take responsibility
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Obama tells NAACP blacks must take responsibility
By GLEN JOHNSON and DAN SEWELL, Associated Press Writers
Democrat Barack Obama insisted Monday that blacks must show greater responsibility for their actions. In remarks prepared for delivery at the annual NAACP convention, the man who could become the first black president said Washington must provide greater education and economic assistance, but that blacks must demand more of themselves.
"If we're serious about reclaiming that dream, we have to do more in our own lives, our own families and our own communities," Obama said. "That starts with providing the guidance our children need, turning off the TV and putting away the video games; attending those parent-teacher conferences, helping our children with their homework and setting a good example."
He added: "I know some say I've been too tough on folks about this responsibility stuff. But I'm not going to stop talking about it. Because I believe that in the end, it doesn't matter how much money we invest in our communities, or how many 10-point plans we propose, or how many government programs we launch — none of it will make any difference if we don't seize more responsibility in our own lives."
Obama, who grew up without his father, has spoken and written at length about issues of parental responsibility and fathers participating in their children's lives. Yet a similar speech by the Illinois senator on Father's Day prompted an awkward rebuke from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Democratic presidential contender in 1984 and 1988, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a fellow Chicago political activist.
Jackson apologized last week after being caught saying on an open microphone that he wanted to castrate Obama for speaking down to blacks.
Republican candidate John McCain is scheduled to address the 99th meeting of the nation's largest civil rights organization on Wednesday.
Obama spokeswoman Linda Douglass denied the candidate was trying to boost support among white voters with his own "Sister Souljah" moment. Addressing a black audience in 1992, Democrat presidential candidate Bill Clinton accused the hip-hop artist of inciting violence against whites. Some black leaders, including Jackson, criticized Clinton, but it helped reinforce his image as a politician who refused to pander.
"It's not just a speech aimed at black audiences. It's aimed at all parents," Douglass said. Noting Obama also called for more corporate and government responsibility, she added: "This is a larger theme of responsibility."
While Jackson complained about such Obama speechmaking, other civil rights activists from the NAACP disagreed. They think Obama is doing a good job balancing his role as a black candidate with the need to speak to all races.
"He can't be totally focused on the black community," said Kelvin Shaw, of Shreveport, La., Shaw said he is most interested in what Obama plans on nationwide economic issues like rising oil prices, household costs and jobs. "We need to be talking about not one race, but what affects all people."
Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, the city's first directly elected black mayor, disputed Jackson's argument that Obama is ignoring other important issues for blacks such as unemployment, mortgage foreclosures and the number of blacks in prison.
"I think he absolutely has," Mallory said. Besides his messages about responsibility, Mallory said, Obama has talked about jobs, health care, education, and other "areas where black people are disproportionately affected."
Civil rights veteran Julian Bond, the NACCP board chairman, drew loud applause in a speech Sunday night when he described Obama's candidacy as a milestone.
"The country seems proud, and I know all of us here are, that a candidate campaigning in cities where he could not have stayed in a hotel 40 years ago has won his party's nomination for the nation's highest office," Bond said.
Ronald Walters, a University of Maryland political scientist who was an aide on Jackson's presidential bids, said blacks understand Obama is trying to be elected president in a majority-white nation. But he said there has been frustration for those who want Obama to lay out a specific agenda for the black community beyond speeches from the pulpit about responsibility.
McCain plans to talk about education, including expanded merit-pay programs for teachers who improve their students' academic performance.
Walters, the political scientist, said the Arizona Republican's visit is a way to say he wants to represent all groups.
"It strikes a good tone," Walters said. "If (McCain) is elected president, he can say, 'I was there, I have an open door.'"
In his remarks, Obama also criticized his rival. "Sen. McCain is going to be coming here in a couple of days and talking about education, and I'm glad to hear it. But the fact is, what he's offering amounts to little more than the same tired rhetoric about vouchers."
By GLEN JOHNSON and DAN SEWELL, Associated Press Writers
Democrat Barack Obama insisted Monday that blacks must show greater responsibility for their actions. In remarks prepared for delivery at the annual NAACP convention, the man who could become the first black president said Washington must provide greater education and economic assistance, but that blacks must demand more of themselves.
"If we're serious about reclaiming that dream, we have to do more in our own lives, our own families and our own communities," Obama said. "That starts with providing the guidance our children need, turning off the TV and putting away the video games; attending those parent-teacher conferences, helping our children with their homework and setting a good example."
He added: "I know some say I've been too tough on folks about this responsibility stuff. But I'm not going to stop talking about it. Because I believe that in the end, it doesn't matter how much money we invest in our communities, or how many 10-point plans we propose, or how many government programs we launch — none of it will make any difference if we don't seize more responsibility in our own lives."
Obama, who grew up without his father, has spoken and written at length about issues of parental responsibility and fathers participating in their children's lives. Yet a similar speech by the Illinois senator on Father's Day prompted an awkward rebuke from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Democratic presidential contender in 1984 and 1988, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and a fellow Chicago political activist.
Jackson apologized last week after being caught saying on an open microphone that he wanted to castrate Obama for speaking down to blacks.
Republican candidate John McCain is scheduled to address the 99th meeting of the nation's largest civil rights organization on Wednesday.
Obama spokeswoman Linda Douglass denied the candidate was trying to boost support among white voters with his own "Sister Souljah" moment. Addressing a black audience in 1992, Democrat presidential candidate Bill Clinton accused the hip-hop artist of inciting violence against whites. Some black leaders, including Jackson, criticized Clinton, but it helped reinforce his image as a politician who refused to pander.
"It's not just a speech aimed at black audiences. It's aimed at all parents," Douglass said. Noting Obama also called for more corporate and government responsibility, she added: "This is a larger theme of responsibility."
While Jackson complained about such Obama speechmaking, other civil rights activists from the NAACP disagreed. They think Obama is doing a good job balancing his role as a black candidate with the need to speak to all races.
"He can't be totally focused on the black community," said Kelvin Shaw, of Shreveport, La., Shaw said he is most interested in what Obama plans on nationwide economic issues like rising oil prices, household costs and jobs. "We need to be talking about not one race, but what affects all people."
Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory, the city's first directly elected black mayor, disputed Jackson's argument that Obama is ignoring other important issues for blacks such as unemployment, mortgage foreclosures and the number of blacks in prison.
"I think he absolutely has," Mallory said. Besides his messages about responsibility, Mallory said, Obama has talked about jobs, health care, education, and other "areas where black people are disproportionately affected."
Civil rights veteran Julian Bond, the NACCP board chairman, drew loud applause in a speech Sunday night when he described Obama's candidacy as a milestone.
"The country seems proud, and I know all of us here are, that a candidate campaigning in cities where he could not have stayed in a hotel 40 years ago has won his party's nomination for the nation's highest office," Bond said.
Ronald Walters, a University of Maryland political scientist who was an aide on Jackson's presidential bids, said blacks understand Obama is trying to be elected president in a majority-white nation. But he said there has been frustration for those who want Obama to lay out a specific agenda for the black community beyond speeches from the pulpit about responsibility.
McCain plans to talk about education, including expanded merit-pay programs for teachers who improve their students' academic performance.
Walters, the political scientist, said the Arizona Republican's visit is a way to say he wants to represent all groups.
"It strikes a good tone," Walters said. "If (McCain) is elected president, he can say, 'I was there, I have an open door.'"
In his remarks, Obama also criticized his rival. "Sen. McCain is going to be coming here in a couple of days and talking about education, and I'm glad to hear it. But the fact is, what he's offering amounts to little more than the same tired rhetoric about vouchers."
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Amen Senator Obama, say it again!
well said...and it applies to every American.
I think that's a bit extreme to think that ALL he's saying is that we can ONLY move forward as a nation when blacks take responsibility.
For one, I don't think he's talking only about moving forward as a nation, but more particularly towards blacks moving forward, socially. This is clearly indirectly a response to Nader calling him out for him avoiding this issue, and I'm happy to see Obama decide to tackle it, but I REALLY hope this doesn't mean that he's going to blame black people for being irresponsible and not necessarily give them the help they need... And this isn't just for black people, but for poverty all over America... If 60-75% of Obama's plan revolves around people "taking responsibility" THEN he plans on giving them the help they need, then that just sounds like he's saying anything so he can delay the issue even more...
But he has been bullshiting his ass off all along.
maybe it is just me?
- Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me."
- Alice Roosevelt Longworth (1884-1980)
Exactly! Why bother reading more of his posturing and pandering to get votes? It has been the only time he has seemed to worried about these problems.
I'm sick of hearing his words on this and that then next month it will be something completely different. I'm interested in what he has actually done...show me some actions. He has lost all credibility.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Don't get me wrong, I wanted to like Obama and I really had hope he would be the man to stand up, make the right changes, challenge and severe corporate interests/control in our government and lead theis country back to being what it should be.
But the guy's voting record and his gloriously phony, vomit-inducing campaign image and flip-flopping; is so dispicable.
This hasn't been a campaign, it's been a highly-scripted, fictional American Idol contest ....for all of them. With Obama leading the way in glossy-phonyness.
It's a sad day when you out-bullshit the Clintons and a large portion of Americans take the bait and swallow it....hook, line and sinker.
because if Obama really did those things because that's what he believes in, or if those are the policies he's going to have, then I really think this country should just put his stupid fucking speeches on mute for a minute and take a look at what he's ACTUALLY been doing...
Besides campaign financing, what issues has he come 180 degrees on during this campaign?
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
That's the thing. The Anti Obama people find various quotes from various campaign stops and use it as proof that he's flip flopping. Nevermind that there's been no change to his campaign agenda from the start. They are doing Fox News work for them.
My favorite is that he's pro war against Iran because he won't take war off of the table. He has clearly said he intends for diplomacy first and has never wavered but that doesn't seem to matter much to the Anti-Obmanites.
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10/6/2009 LA III (***** Cornell!!!)
And I don't think he's pro war against Iran, but how can you preach diplomacy one day then push for tougher sanctions? That's not EXACTLY flip-flopping, but sanctions are an act of war...
And when he said he wouldn't take war off the table, that means that if Iran refuses to stop their LEGAL nuclear enrichment at all costs, then we're "forced" to go to war?
You may think you know what it means but no one will know until he opens up diplomatic talks with Iran and we see how those talks play out.
You could be right and this could be a big horse and pony show and that he fully intends to take us to war, but he has said and done nothing that would support that theory. And I don't thing issuing sanctions is a sign of going to war.
Iran and the US have been butting heads since 1977 so this is hardly a new problem. We have issued sanctions against them before and most likely will do it again but we have never been this close to war with Iran until Bush opened his mouth about the Axis of Evil.
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10/6/2009 LA III (***** Cornell!!!)
"The truth is that my foreign policy is actually a return to the traditional bipartisan realistic policy of George Bush's father, of John F. Kennedy, of, in some ways, Ronald Reagan, and it is George Bush that's been naive and it's people like John McCain and, unfortunately, some Democrats that have facilitated him acting in these naive ways that have caused us so much damage in our reputation around the world," he said.
You think it proves your point but this is what I like to hear from him. True bipartisan leadership. If he likes what a former president did he will use that policy republican or democrat. And the phrase in some ways hardly means hes going to turn into a Junior Reagan like Alex P. Keaton.
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none, propaganda works
great question...
The whole FISA issue. First he was against, then voted for, I believe.
I can't really explain it nor justify it with the whole move to the centre tack to appeal to middle America and win the election, like his other moves to the centre/right, unfortunately.
I haven't liked him from the start for his hawkish ways. But he has said he is against the patriot act yet voted for it, against building the wall at the border yet voted for it, is against predatory lenders yet they make up a larger portion of his contributor's industries, against the war yet votes to fund it, against going to war with Iran but won't take it off the table yet he calls them a grave threat to us and is willing to preemptively strike them.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
It certainly does!
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
His policies aren't terrible.
No president should ever say war is off the table!
Remember he opposed the war with Iraq. He's took heat from repugs for saying he wanted to communicate with Iran....the nerve..wanting to actually talk to your enemies.
Obama's the best man for the job period. Realize this makes lots of people uncomfortable for various reasons but he's the best we have and I believe he will make the world a nicer place.
Feel free to call me an Obama apologist but the main reason he voted for FISA was that they took a lot of his compromises from a previous bill he introduced. It would make sense for Obama to vote yes on the bill since many of his compromises from the previous bill made it onto this one. If they took his compromises and then he still voted against it, they would not take his compromises in the future. It's the give and take of congress in full effect.
This quote from Obama explains it pretty well:
"That is why last year I opposed the so-called Protect America Act, which expanded the surveillance powers of the government without sufficient independent oversight to protect the privacy and civil liberties of innocent Americans. I have also opposed the granting of retroactive immunity to those who were allegedly complicit in acts of illegal spying in the past.
"After months of negotiation, the House today passed a compromise that, while far from perfect, is a marked improvement over last year's Protect America Act.
"It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives - and the liberty - of the American people."
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10/6/2009 LA III (***** Cornell!!!)
The only way he has shown he opposed this war was to say so. His actions say different. And he wouldn't even sign a letter to Bush from the Congress asking him to get authorization through Congress first before attacking Iran!
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Exactly. If you say war is off the table then why in the hell would Iran compromise with us during the diplomatic meetings.
6/7/2003 (***1/2)
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Well look at us! What have we done? We are told Iran is a grave threat and what have we done? Justify building up our military even larger! How big does it need to be! Jeezus! We could already destroy 100 Irans! But somehow threatening Iran will cause the opposite to happen?!
So you're gonna sit here and tell me that us threatening them is going to cause them to cease their 'whatever it is they are doing that is a threat to us'? But when we feel threatened we need to do the EXACT SAME THING that we have a problem with them doing?
Perpetual cycle of fear. See how this isn't working out guys? Oh wait, it IS working out for the defense contractors and war profiteers!
You promote peace through good will and practicing what you preach....period
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
That doesn't mean he's for the war. If you read his follow up quote he says that a letter will not stop this administration, that it will take legislative action.
From his advisor:
"Senator Obama admires Senator Webb and his sincere and tireless efforts on this issue. But it will take more than a letter to prevent this administration from using the language contained within the Kyl-Lieberman resolution to justify military action in Iran. This requires a legislative answer and Senator Obama intends to propose one."
I give Obama credit for not blindly siding with the Democrats on every issue. If he thinks a letter to Bush is just for show and won't accomplish anything then he won't sign it. Good for him for having his own opinions and sticking to them. The thing you guys criticize most about him.
6/7/2003 (***1/2)
7/9/2006 (****1/2)
7/13/2006 (**** )
4/10/2008 EV Solo (****1/2)
6/25/2008 MSG II (*****)
10/1/2009 LA II (****)
10/6/2009 LA III (***** Cornell!!!)
So signing the letter would be a bad thing how? He couldn't do both things? That makes absolutely no sense. Obama has always been a Lieberman supporter. This just more of Obama saying some action taken by others is useless but then remaining useless himself and not even trying. If you disagree with Bush attacking Iran without approval then signing the letter couldn't cause any harm and would at the very lest show your solidarity. What a cop out!
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Thanks for posting his explanation for his vote and change of mind. However, I still don't agree with this position, including the compromises introduced. This is indeed the issue that I find hard to explain as strategically worthwhile for winning the election. The point remains that the law has been changed to make it easier to infringe on the privacy of citizens and retroactive immunity has been granded. What if he's not elected president? The law still remains, so his guarantees are moot.