Black lawmakers grow impatient with White House

[The Northerner]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Black lawmakers who have held their tongues during most of President Barack Obama's first year in office are stepping up their demands that the nation's first black president do more for minority communities hit hardest by the recession.

While still careful about criticizing Obama publicly, they appear to be losing their patience after a year of watching him dedicate trillions of dollars to prop up banks and corporations and fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, while double-digit unemployment among blacks crept even higher.

"Obama has tried desperately to stay away from race, and all of us understand what he's doing," said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo. "But when you have such a disproportionate number of African-Americans unemployed, it would be irresponsible not to direct attention and resources to the people who are receiving the greatest level of pain."

Dating back to Obama's campaign, many black leaders have pressed him to take more of a stand on the challenges facing minorities. Most voiced criticisms privately for fear of jeopardizing his candidacy or undercutting his popularity after his election. They also have tread lightly so as not to be at odds with their own majority-black constituencies, who strongly support Obama.

But frustration has been building.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hykw-0WnjyYue0jIC0ZurYNXr40gD9CGAVK80

[Techn0Girl]

1. People are starting to wake up to what's really happenning...

So far the biggest change I've seen has been all the Change flowing into Wall Street's pockets.

[chandler2]

3. Very well said - and right on de monet! nt

[emilyg]

7. +1

[chandler2]

2. Understandable

No other large voting bloc was as supportive of Obama and he's really let them down.

[jhill3rd]

11. No He Hasn't .

[Kingofalldems]

16. Isn't that what Rush said yesterday?

[marshall]

17. Rush reads the tea leaves

Then he says something he knows will hit the fan in a day or two, and then he ends up acting like he predicted it.

[Purveyor]

4. Thanks for posting! K&R eom

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

5. Obama doesn't write the laws.

Perhaps some people need a refresher course in American Government. Even if Obama is cheerleading congress he still has no real control over writing legislation. Not to mention legislation that targets specific minorities would cost alot of politcal capital... capital he needs to pass HCR first and foremost.

AFAIC, this is just more "Where's my pony?" rhetoric.

[Techn0Girl]

8. George Bush didn't write the laws either ....

So it wasn't really his fault then.... right ?
Is that what you really want to say?

[ManiacJoe]

26. Part his fault, part congress' fault.

Before Bush could sign the bad legislation, congress had to pass the bad bills. And congress often did so without reading the bills first.

I will let others argue over the percentages of blame to be assigned.

[No Elephants]

9. Implying that the Congressional Black Caucus needs a course in how things get done in D.C.

is downright hilarious. Some of them have been engaged in the lawmaking process for decades, under many Republican and many Democratic Presidents.

Got hubris?

[ManiacJoe]

25. Great. So their long experience

should have already told them that they need to help Obama help them by getting the passed legislation to the president's desk. There is only so much the pres can do from the sidelines while waiting for the legislature to pass the bills.

[noamnety]

13. FYI: This type of comment is against DU rules.

From the mods: "Where is my pony?" comments are inflammatory and considered group attacks on DU"

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

15. Hmmph, I didn't realize that.

I guess I've been seeing the comment so much lately, it's worked it's way into my lexicon.

[dixiegrrrrl]

22. Pres. Obama DOES RE-appoint the people who have robbed us blind, tho.

He just RE-appointed Bernanke. He continues to support Geithner and the rest of the Goldman Sachs guys he appointed.
I am seeing very little ACTION to assure the voters we have a working democracy, war crimes are punishable..

[JDPriestly]

24. Obama leads the country in terms of setting priorities.

Check out the Max Keiser report posted on DU in the videos. Listen to the end. An excellent economist explains why Obama is not getting the result that Obama and all of us hoped for.

[LisaM]

6. But I think they also have to press their constituencies to stay involved

Part of this is that governing is a long trudge, not a short-term thing. They need to stress to minority voters that they must continue to come out to elections and provide Obama with the tools and majorities he needs to govern. The drop in turnout among minority voters after the 2008 election was dramatic. It's not a one and done process. Yes, everyone was excited about the Obama candidacy, but President Obama needs their help, too.

[jhill3rd]

10. Agreed.

[No Elephants]

12. No constituency is guaranteed anymore to anyone.

[LisaM]

14. But that's not the point

They must give Obama the tools he needs if they want him to be effective. Not showing up to elections to bolster the existing Democratic majorities is hanging him out to dry, in my opinion. Fixing the Bush mess cannot be done in ten months.

[classysassy]

19. It seems

to me that the president is adding to bush's mess,ie,the increase in military warfare.

[JVS]

21. You have it backwards. He must demonstrate intention and ability to address issues that matter...

to constituents in order to get the tools he needs to continue.

[Toots]

27. Fixing the Bush mess cannot be done in ten months.

Especially if one doesn't even try. "Beginning on Day One"..."One Brigade a Month"

[LisaM]

28. I think Obama is trying and does mean well

and I say this as someone who didn't even vote for him in the primaries (or, in my state, the weighted caucus).

But his majority is tenuous. It was up to the voters to come out this November (I voted - did you?) and re-affirm his majority. Sadly, many didn't. Everyone in Congress seems to be afraid of losing their seat in 2010 and are afraid to govern. We must continue to do our part, and come out to the polls.

Was Obama my first choice? No. Do I agree with everything he's done? No, again. Do I believe that as a citizen and voter I need to make sure he has the confidence to govern from a progressive stance? YES, a million times yes.

[maglatinavi]

18. discontent

treading softly is "uncle Tom ....":think: :think: :think: :think: thank you Mr. Potus, for nothing!!!

[stiplic]

20. Probably because he's a fucking FAILURE!!!

[cutlassmama]

23. No he's not. He's done more things during his Presidency than Bush

ever thought about doing. Give him time.

[pfitz59]

29. hasn't impressed me so far

fully supporting the two biggest taxpayer money pits - wall street and perpetual war!