The Congressional Black Caucus started doing a little shoving on their end in regards to President Obama
this month. To kick of December they started in on demanding to know what the President was going to do about economy and how it has decimated a sizable chunk of the black middle class (and further impoverished blacks who were already struggling).
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Tension between the 42-member black caucus and Obama has been building for months. Some members of the group who complained about what they consider years of neglect and indifference by the George W. Bush administration now say they’re growing increasingly frustrated with the Obama administration, too.
Last week, 10 members of the black caucus boycotted a House committee meeting until some of their demands were included in banking reform legislation that Obama wants passed.
And earlier this week, after Obama gave a speech on jobs, black caucus chairwoman U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said the president needs to do more to help jobless minorities.
“While we agree with the president that support for small businesses, infrastructure investment and green jobs is essential, we also believe that much more needs to be done, particularly for those Americans who are hurting most,” Lee said in a statement.
While the unemployment rate for all Americans is about 10 percent, it’s 15.6 percent for African-Americans, Labor Department figures show. African-American workers remain unemployed an average of five weeks longer than the rest of America, according to the black caucus.
“The president is without question the president for everybody — it’s important that we all respect and understand that,” said U.S. Rep. David Scott, an Atlanta Democrat and a member of the black caucus. “However, when you have a segment of the population that is overwhelmingly, disproportionately impacted … then we must pay attention to that.”
The response from the White House was strong, essentially telling the CBC to take a step back and realize that the President can’t be seen as proritizing one group’s economic woes over another.
From USA Today:
President Obama said today it would be wrong for him to narrowly focus on the troubles blacks face in the recession, rejecting criticism from the Congressional Black Caucus that the government was ignoring the economic plight of minorities.
“I will tell you that I think the most important thing I can do for the African-American community is the same thing I can do for the American community, period, and that is get the economy going again and get people hiring again,” the president told Richard Wolf of USA TODAY and Justin Hyde of the Detroit Free Press in an exclusive joint interview.
Which brings us to the “question.” Naturally, everyone, including blacks, would benefit from an improved economy. No one is arguing against that. But unemployment in the black community has been bad for years, not just recently, but years, lingering in the double-digits. The recession hit us sooner and harder and while everyone is suffering, shouldn’t some attention be paid to this huge discrepancy? As in … WHY is it so huge? And WHY has it lasted so long? And while I get what members of the CBC are doing, black unemployment was horrific under the previous administration as well. Was there any push back then? Or was it just ignored (which wouldn’t shock me either)? After all, black-on-black political fight is a much more “sexy” headline than “CBC complains to Bush –Again.”
Where do you stand on this debate? Is the president doing enough? Are you with the CBC? Or do you have some questions for them as well?
Article by Danielle Belton
WHO IS “THE SNOB?" She is your very best, better than most since 1977 friend, self-described “nerd girl/hobohemian,” writer and journalist, Danielle C. Belton.Born and raised St. Louis, Mo. on a healthy diet of news programming, pop culture, black history and “snark,” Belton is best known as the woman behind THE BLACK SNOB. A pop culture-meets-politics blog, THE BLACK SNOB takes a look at irreverent side of life, finding the funny, freaky center of every issue. http://blacksnob.com.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
why can’t he favor one group over another if it brings that group into parity with the national average?
The only time he addresses us is when he is saying something negative. Black men aint ish, Black family aint ish, but now he has an issue that is within his sphere of influence and he is quiet as a church mouse.
When have black people ever “okay” financially as a people? The CBC arguement is ridiculous especially at a time like this. Obama is focusing on a horrible economy, Iraq, Afganistan, global warming, healthcare and the list goes on. A multitude of problems that have built up over time and are bubbling over. Give him an effin’ break!!! If the CBC cares so much then why don’t they do more to take care of black people themselves? I’ve rarely heard their name on anything that closely works with poor black people. The government doesn’t care about the plight of black folk. Saying that isn’t racist, because the government isn’t worried about the plight of any other minority group. Our issues as a people can ONLY be solved by us and no one else. Not even Obama.
The CBC needs to understand, which I think they do but ignore, that President Obama is the President of The United States of America, not the President of NAACP, not SNCC, not the CBC, he’s the President of the entire country…The CBC wouldn’t dare make a push like that at a White President, so why boycott meetings during Obama’s term??? He never said he was going to be the 1st Black President to serve Black People only, he has a job that requires him to tend to the war, the economy as a whole, health care, a GOP who purposely won’t side with him on anything that means signifacant change…this reminds me of black people who go into a store and see a black person working the register at your favorite fast food joint. You see a black face and think that you’re suppose to get a deal, some free fries, extra nuggets, more pop…but when you see the white person at the register its order the food you want, pay for it, and keep it moving. That “the brother suppose to hook me up and pay me attention” mentality has to go. If you gone pressure who’s in office, do it to every President, not just the 1st African-American President