Obama was right: He came too early

[DonViejo]

By Dana Milbank
Columnist
June 1 at 7:02 PM

Former Obama White House official Ben Rhodes, in his forthcoming memoir, tells of a moment of doubt the first African American president had after the election of Donald Trump on a campaign dominated by white grievance.

“Sometimes I wonder whether I was 10 or 20 years too early,” President Barack Obama said in the passage, first reported this week by Peter Baker in the New York Times.

I hate to say it, but I think the former president was correct.

Ten or 20 years from now, America will be much closer to the majority-minority nation it is forecast to become in 2045. A racist backlash to a black president wouldn’t matter as much.

But what was naively proclaimed in 2008 as post-racial America was instead kindling for white insecurity, and Trump cunningly exploited and stoked racial grievance with his subtle and overt nods to white nationalism. He is now leading the backlash to the Obama years and is seeking to extend white dominion as long as possible, with attempts to stem immigration, to suppress minority voting and to deter minority census participation.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-brings-on-the-death-throes-of-white-hegemony/2018/06/01/0cf2d636-65c7-11e8-a69c-b944de66d9e7_story.html

[Funtatlaguy]

1. Imagine 8 years of Hillary followed by

8 years of Obama.
My, how different the world might look.

[Tavarious Jackson]

2. I'm not sure I agree.

In my opinion these are death throes of white men losing power and would have happened now or 20 years from now.... As we see even young people buying into racism. I think the sooner they get past these death throes the better.

[blake2012]

11. Agreed

[hlthe2b]

3. yup... very painful truth...

At this point, our only hope is that Trump brings us so close (but hopefully not over) the brink that some of the morons who supported him, but might still have at least one functioning synapse, will wake up to the need for competence, integrity, honesty... before it is too late

[milestogo]

5. But the backlash against Trump is going to be even greater than the

one against Obama.

[sunonmars]

6. I hope so, I'm not convinced we are able to stop this train flying of the tracks for good.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. "Sometimes I wonder whether I was 10 or 20 years too early,"

Absolutely not.

To hell with the racist scum. The Obama family's presence on the U.S. stage for 8 years helped to "stoke" all sorts of possibilities in a group whose ancestors were dragged kicking and screaming to this country and who helped to build the foundation of its prosperity. It was the highest office that needed to be breached.

Historically, during Reconstruction, that opportunity had opened for blacks to actually serve in Congress post-Civil War, the first elected in 1870 from SC. It eventually lead to the backlash of Jim Crow (white "fragility" ). More struggle lead to a couple Civil Rights Acts ('50s & '60s) that brought the first black mayors, and eventually the first black (directly elected) Senators, governors, and finally President.

So we build on this despite others who want to tear it down.

[Cartoonist]

8. I am glad he was President

I might not live another 10 or 20 years. He was cool.

[SWBTATTReg]

9. I think Obama came just at the right time...

we were exposed to the brilliance and thoughtfulness of a black man, his wife, and family who care deeply about this country like the rest of us do.

On the other hand, we're seeing w/ a clear light the many instances of corruption, the endless lying, the ensuing chaos of an inability to govern, the spending of money like it has no end, and the inhuman actions of a relative few ignorant people on the other side, and it isn't pretty.

A pretty good campaign ad, if I say so...

[northremembers]

12. Someone had to be first

It didn't matter when we got our first black president the backlash would have been the same. It should also be noted that the Republicans hated both Clintons just as much even to the point of impeaching President Clinton. That's just who they are. It didn't matter when we got the first black president anymore than when we got our first Catholic president. People who would have voted against Kennedy just because he was Catholic now watch Hannity every night. Someone has to open the door and take the hit. The next black president can just be an American.

Thank you, Obama.

[heaven05]

10. seems so

but at least he will live on in many. And by the time mentioned, 10-20 years and if we survive as an intact nation of laws and administration, racism, sexism, all negative isms will be a passe' thing. And as a nation, nationally and internationally, we truly become egalitarian toward all citizens and grow.