African American Liberals Know how to Love their President

[Number23]

'African-American Liberals Know How to Love Their President'
By Keith Humphreys
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-miles-square/2011/12/africanamerican_liberals_know033985.php#

"Jonathan Chait’s much-discussed essay in New York magazine indicted the left for being perennially, loudly and unrealistically disappointed in Democratic Presidents. In Chait’s view, much of the left ignores the constraints on Presidential power (e.g., Congress, of which Drew Westen et al seem to be in ignorance) and doesn’t have the stomach or attention span for the slow, daily grind of governance. He also charges the left with crippling their own leaders with faithlessness and then blaming them when they are thereby forced to compromise with the other side. Chait sees these patterns as almost entirely independent of Obama, being instead a style, outlook and set of norms among liberals that goes back for decades."

"...I cringe at the white, alleged liberals who call on Obama to acknowledge that his is a failed presidency. They want the first Black President in history to, effectively, announce that he is a bumbling affirmative action baby, apologize for being so uppity as to have ever assumed otherwise and resign in disgrace so that Hillary Clinton or some other qualified (i.e. white) person can lead the party. Would that such white “progressives” were required to focus group their proposal in a locked room with a random sample of 20 African-American women. Fortunately, the President has ignored their call to set back race relations a generation and crush the optimism he has generated among people of color nationally. These attacks on the President, like others, generally go nowhere with African-Americans; indeed they may even strengthen their commitment to him.

But all that said, my own question of why Blacks so love Obama elides the broader reality evidenced by their very high approval ratings of a white Democratic President, Bill Clinton. Blacks have a special place in the hearts for Barack Obama, but fundamentally, if you are a Democratic President, Black people in this country have your back."

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

1. Yes we do, and this was my very first post at DU3!!!

[Number23]

4. So glad you're here!

(If I could find the bouncing smiley, I'd be using it here!)

[SemperEadem]

2. I completely agree with this article

I can see that Obama has to keep his eyes focused on keeping the ship of state from running into icebergs, and not run full bore into them just to score fleeting snark points. He was handed an economy that was sinking when he took his oath of office. ANYONE who took office on 1/20/2009 would have been handed this debacle.

The previous administration did their best to tank the economy and steal the treasury before they left. The rethugs in congress then loudly proclaimed that their mandate was to obstruct and frustrate the president any way they could, as their goal was to make him a one term president. One may want to go in an get a little nip/tuck done, but if, upon opening one up they find cancer, then the cancer has to be addressed first. That's pretty much what went down with Obama.

I'm more than willing to cut slack where it deserves to be cut. I am also quite willing to snatch up slack where it doesn't deserve to be, evidenced by my very vocal disgust here on DU re; that buffoon, herman cain. I am not ready to abandon Obama. I will be voting to re-elect Obama as what I see going on is him laying the ground work for a second term where he will more than likely crack some heads in congress.

[Number23]

5. Oh God... Herman Cain

Buffoon is much too kind a word for that idiot. I am literally mortified that shucking and jiving moron got as far as he did. When he did his "as the descendant of slaves, I can more relate to black people" bit it was all I could do not to puke every time he came on.

I too will be voting to reelect President Obama. And I do it happily and proudly. I was fairly impressed with him after his first term. The legislation he has gotten passed has been phenomenal. But I do think he's had some fairly prominent missteps. But like you I think he'll really start kicking ass in his second term.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Love that line

Would that such white “progressives” were required to focus group their proposal in a locked room with a random sample of 20 African-American women.

They might find we don't agree with a LOT of what they are saying. An awful lot.

[Number23]

6. Girl... nobody

And I mean NOBODY will tell it to ya like a sista.

They might find we don't agree with a LOT of what they are saying. An awful lot.

TRUTH.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. So, true! I'm a black woman and political scientist by trade. For those who continuously and

consistently question and insult our intelligence, black women tend to be the most politically active of any race, class or social group. The history of our activism dates back to the black church because we were always behind the scenes registering voters, and other forms of social and political activism. I wish that people would stop questioning our intelligence!!!

[JustAnotherGen]

8. And let's not forget

Ida Tarbell . . . The woman who had to march at the back of the suffragist parade so as to not offend white Southern women who wanted to vote.

She didn't lock step and goose step - and told some hard truths that this country's progressives did not like. I'll listen to her 'spirit' before I'll listen to some old battle axe like Jane Hamsher.

[onpatrol98]

9. Is this the Ida Tarbell?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_M._Tarbell

[onpatrol98]

10. Never mind...

I think you're talking about Ida B Wells.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_B._Wells

Awesome!!!

[JustAnotherGen]

11. Yes

Ida B. Wells - I'm foggy with a gnarly upper respiratory infection - I'm confusing my old time progressives today!

[Number23]

12. You got the name wrong but got everything else right

The woman who had to march at the back of the suffragist parade so as to not offend white Southern women who wanted to vote.

One of the reasons that many black women wanted to start their own ERA was because of the racism of white women who wanted our numbers but not our input and/or experiences.

I am reminded of that every time I see some PUMA a la Jane Hamsher or remember Harriet Christian, the white woman furious that Obama had won the primary over Hillary and screamed for him to "wait his turn."

But yeah, lots of "progressives" don't want to hear about stuff like this. They have wrapped themselves far too tightly in their blankets of denial as they convince themselves that racism only comes from Conservatives.

[Cigar11]

13. Although I’m extremely happy Obama is the 1st Black President,

more importantly he’s the Smartest President in Years.

And he’s doing it largely with little help.

[Number23]

14. Agree, agree and agree some more

Excellent post. And I simply love your sig line.

[Kind of Blue]

15. Isn't that the godawful truth! n/t

[Number23]

16. OMG!!

You're here!!!! ((waving madly))

Would you like to be a Host for this group? You'd be great!

[Kind of Blue]

17. I'm sorry for the late response, Number23!

Bowing down in apology!!!!! Still trying to figure my way around here and vowed not to come back until I was comfortable with the new look - ugh!

Anyway, I don't see why I shouldn't try being a host. I love this group. I'll figure out how to sign up and duties as soon as I finish work today. Thanks for asking!

[Number23]

18. KoB, I don't know

After spending a bit of time here, I don't even recognize this place. And considering how we all felt about DU2 (which was not good at all, to put it nicely) somehow this iteration is even worse.

I think you'd be great as a host. But I'm starting to think this place needs holy water and not mere hosts.

[nofurylike]

19. YES! AND show up to vote!!

thank you so much for posting this outstanding piece, Number23!

i am sorry it took me so long to comment here. i am still reading my way through this excellent forum.