Obama's comments on black men and fatherhood:

[Occam Bandage]

[napi21]

1. I don't really care what it does for his standing in the community, I just

hope it helps a FEW men in all communities to THINK!

[KittyWampus]

2. He did NOT address his comments to BLACK men. That is a media fabrication.

[Hieronymus]

3. He did.

[hokies4ever]

4. No, he didn't

He referred to fathers in general and then pointed out that this situation was particularly hurtful in the black community. People in the black community won't see this as someone talking down to them like the media is portraying. It's a nuance that Bill Cosby didn't pick up.

[Hieronymus]

7. I'm glad that you did hear him say it was especially among black fathers. No

where did I hear anyone suggest he was talking down to blacks. Those blacks behind him agreed with what he said.

[hokies4ever]

14. I didn't say you suggested he was talking down to blacks

but I think that's how the other poster was interpreting your comments. :patriot:

[hokies4ever]

5. The 90-10 split will stay at 90-10

Obama is no less of a leader because of his comments today than he was 2 days ago.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Yeah...Like African Americans will now vote for John McCain

or stay home.

Don't think so! :eyes:

[butterfly77]

8. This is nothing new in the black communtity...

it has been discussed and mentioned by others in the churches,community centers and other places in the black community for years. I can't get over how happy and surprise some are because Obama has said it, he has been saying it for years...Rick Sanchez on CNN acted like he was shitting his pants as though something exciting was about to happen and I would like to know why this was so surprising to him.

When Cosby began saying it people got all excited as though this was something new that was happening. It seemed as though the public saw Cosby as the perfect black person and that things would change overnight because he said it. Yes, he will change some hearts and minds because he is taking it across the country but this is nothing new. There have been other entertainers and community leaders who have been saying this for years.

[Schema Thing]

9. As I said in a post that got disappeared...

....white people eat this shit up. And that's why I get excited about it, because it smells like electoral victory, and frankly, Obama's leadership on the issue WILL benefit the Black community. It's just cool that finally, there is a politician who has so skillfully carved his niche, that with a little help from a unique set of circumstances (or maybe a lot of help), he can speak the truth and not pay a penalty for having done so. He can make the truth work in his favor.

As to WHY white people eat this shit up... I think that in general, white people would truly love to see the black community fare better, but they don't want to take ANY responsibility for the past history of abuse and it's legacy. Obama tells a black man "our community needs to do better at X, Y, and Z..", a white man listens to Obama and hears him say (thru his giant ego filter) "our community needs to do X,Y, and Z-just like that white guy over there". Truth be known, said white guy is probably far from anyone's role model.

[Lilith Velkor]

10. S'Truth.

:thumbsup:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Why white (racist) people got excited about Cosby...

It wasn't because he brought up lack of nuclear families among the black community.

It's because he blamed black people for all of their problems, and absolved white society of all their racism.

He blamed black people for the way they dress, the way they talk, giving themselves names like Shaniqua and Mohammed...

Real white supremacist shit.

[cyndensco]

13. You're right, what Cosby said was nothing new.

Some of us were uncomfortable with his comments, though, because we perceived him as airing our dirty laundry. I, like you I imagine, have heard others discuss similar issues but it was usually "between us." And unfortunately, most often the messengers like Cosby are just preaching to the choir.

Obama's audience is larger and he has broad appeal. Perhaps his words will encourage some men, black and white, to embrace fatherhood. With the sorry state of the family, though, I don't think much if anything will change.

And, no, I do not think Obama will lose any support from the black community. Many of us appreciate it.

[TheDonkey]

12. Likely to increase his standings. He understands and is willing to say what need to be said

in a practical and graceful manner. He isn't being preachy, he is being real.

[Thrill]

15. It won't hurt. Thats for sure. Black women will really eat that shit up