(CBC Chairman Rep) Cleaver (D-Mo): If Obama wasn't president, we would be ‘marching on the WH'

[kpete]

Source: The Hill

Cleaver: If Obama wasn't president, we would be ‘marching on the White House’
By Alicia M. Cohn - 09/18/11 03:48 PM ET
Unhappy members of the Congressional Black Caucus “probably would be marching on the White House” if Obama were not president, according to CBC Chairman Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.).

"If former President Bill Clinton had been in the White House and had failed to address this problem, we probably would be marching on the White House," Cleaver told “The Miami Herald” in comments published Sunday. "There is a less-volatile reaction in the CBC because nobody wants to do anything that would empower the people who hate the president."



CBC members have expressed concern in recent months as the unemployment rate has continued to rise amongst African-Americans, pushing for Obama to do more to address the needs of vulnerable communities.

"We’re supportive of the president, but we getting tired, y’all,” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said in August. “We want to give Obama every opportunity, but our people are hurting. The unemployment is unconscionable. We don’t know what the strategy is."

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/182209-cbc-chairman-if-obama-wasnt-in-office-we-would-be-marching-on-white-house

[jannyk]

1. K&R!

[Mr Deltoid]

2. "We don’t know what the strategy is"

nt

[InkAddict]

7. Here's the plan:

2 Timothy 2:10-12

"Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him, He also will deny us."
============================================================

Now: Re-translated by Timothy Geitner III, the POTUS's constant gardener of mammon for the God-fearing RW MIC, bringing forth deathly power from the sky, and the Holier Rollers, the Rice-bowl protection team TeabRaggers

(enter Federal Register citation here)as upheld by Supreme Court ruling (citation here):

PRAISE JEBUS AND PASS THE PLATE, yay even among the sinfully poor, the moreso, and even among those who would make bad choices through mistaken faith in the elect and their office slugs, even moreso, so it will go well with the elite - Collect all the bread (that the elect not suffer); yea even the widow's mite because the TBTF need forgiveness for their sins; that it may be returned to the elect and elite from which it processed downward at the beginning. Never fear, our persecution is righteous to the end that the Communists in China and the Golden Calf worshippers in India will be encompassed and infiltrated with our Western religon of righteousness and freedom of democracy, er...I meant our dollar. To that perfect end of "Free Trade" the poor can create junk we'll all be able to buy very cheaply (except those from whom we've stolen it all). Recall that only death and taxes are certain; the rest, meh, not so much but sex is the funnest for the fittest, who bring forth into sin victims and taxpayers!

:sarcasm:

[monmouth]

3. Wait a minute. Are white people unemployed? This makes no sense

to me.

[yardwork]

9. Unemployment among black is much higher than the national average, highest in 27 years

Nobody is saying that anybody's unemployment is not a serious issue. The CBC is pointing out that unemployment in the black communities is incredibly high.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/62574.html

[joeglow3]

11. Not a black issue.

I would guess it is MUCH more of an education issue. Sadly, none of our politicans ever want to address the root cause of issues.

[yardwork]

14. Whatever. It's perfectly appropriate for the Congressional Black Caucus to be concerned.

[TBF]

27. An Education issue? How so? How is unemployment an "education issue"? nt

[joeglow3]

29. Take a look at stats and facts and THEN come back and post

Unemployment has not shot up too much amongst those with college degrees. It has hit those with little college, no college and high school drop outs BIG time. Blacks are also extremely over-represented in those categories being hit the hardest. However, when even people who take the iniative to post here won't take the time to understand the issues, we know we are screwed.

[TBF]

30. I didn't write the OP - I was asking a question.

so sorry to bother your honor.

[wordpix]

80. take it from me---I teach in inner city public schools---if the kids can't read, write or do math

they will not find jobs.

I work with kids who are way behind academically. These are adolescents and young adults (some around 20 y.o.) who are reading, writing and doing math on the elementary or even kindergarten level. They are not finding success in school without serious interventions, and many of those teacher jobs are being cut. They typically drop out if they don't get the help they need. Then they become drug dealers or turn to other crime to pay their bills. And THIS they might be successful at.

How many business owners want to employ dropouts or high school grads who can't read, write or do math? I would say virtually no one except maybe a moving company.

[TBF]

88. There have to be jobs to be found first -

but I absolutely agree with you re education. That is why I'm so disturbed that they are hell-bent on replacing the public schools with the corporate schools (complete with temp workers as teachers.

I'd like to see the public school system ramped up, with funding from the federal level (yes, taxes) to assist those districts that don't have high tax bases.

[girl gone mad]

Maybe you should take some of your own advice.

The unemployment rate for blacks with college degrees is twice as high as that of whites with degrees.

A college education is not the shield against unemployment that you seem to think it is.

[joeglow3]

58. I agree there needs to be further analysis

Frankly, I would like to see a breakdown, by race, by type of degree. I have 8 friends (and myself) who graduated college with the following majors. Three of us are currently unemployed:

Physical Therapy
English
Accounting
Nursing
Perfusionism
Construction Management
History
Food Science
Spanish

Can you guess which three are unemployed. Again, I want to see some real analysis so that the root issue can be addressed. Sadly, most people want to deal SOLELY with the effect and ignore the cause.

[Dutchmaster]

76. "Sadly, most people want to deal SOLELY with the effect and ignore the cause."

Sounds like you just pulled that out of your ass. Let me guess, you're a straight white male.

[joeglow3]

82. What can I do to convince you?

"You pulled that our of your ass" is a nice cop-out. If you refuse to believe what I say, then no honest conversation can be had.

However, if you care:

Physical Therapy - Friend of mine since I was 3. He works at a skilled rehab clinic and has no employment concerns.
English - Friend I met in high school. She has never found a job for her field and bounces between jobs.
Accounting - Myself. I have been employed for 12 years and have little fear of unemployment
Nursing - My wife. She is in the same spot as me.
Perfusionism - Sister-in-law. She is actually getting job offers to try and hire her away.
Construction Management - Friend of my wife. He works in LA and has been employed for 12 years.
History - Friend I met in college. He currently works for the state pen.
Food Science - PT's (above) wife. Has had no problem working in 10+ years since college.
Spanish - Twin brother of PT above. He is currently back in school at Thunderbird for international business, after 5 years of unsuccessful work.

The reality is that we are an education based society and need to educate people on where the jobs are. I agree one HUGE thing we need to do is invest more in our infastructure. However, people need to recognize they are best tailoring themselves to where the jobs are rather than hoping the jobs will be tailored to fit their skill set.

[salinen]

84. What's Perfusionism?

never heard of it.

[joeglow3]

110. Think of open heart surgery

She runs the equipment that keeps the blood and oxygen flowing through the heart & lungs when they are put in arrest.

[bread_and_roses]

72. I understand the issue quite well and unemployment is NOT about education

Remember Clinton telling the production workers (may have been auto but I can't remember and am too lazy to look it up - doesn't matter anyway) that they'd be "retrained" for new jobs? ROFL.

Unemployment is about no jobs out there. This whole notion that we'll re-educate everyone for the "new" economy is smoke and mirrors. Not everyone wants a college degree. Not everyone wants to work in the "high-tech" sector. You don't need an advanced degree to work on the roads, and it is our infrastructure that's crumbling.

We need people doing the work that needs to be done, and much of it does not require an advanced degree. We need roads repaired and bridges and water pipes, we need classroom aides and personal care aides in nursing homes and before and after school care programs - yes, with some advanced degree staff, along with advanced degree health care workers, etc., but certainly not all. We sure as hell don't need more hedge fund managers.

We need jobs. And the spending that creates them. We also need to make up for 30+ years of depressed wages in those jobs.

And until the unconscionable rise in higher education costs is addressed telling people to "go to college" is simply telling them to put their lives in hock to the banksters.

[fasttense]

73. Education does not solve the unemployment problem.

"The jobless rate for Americans with at least a bachelor's degree rose to 5.1%, the highest since 1970 when records were first kept, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics."

Unemployment for people with bachelor's degrees is the highest on record and there is No indication it will get better. And when the BLS counts the employed, they include underemployed people too. This is a very severe recession. If not for the FDIC, Social Security and food stamps, we would see people starving to death in the streets.

I would think before someone insults a DUer for not knowing unemployment figures for every demographic group, they would make sure that their theory (education will get you a job) were actually true.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

77. Are you're saying it's black people's own fault that they're unemployed?

If so, I guess you have nothing but contempt for the people who built your car, built your house, serve your food, etc.

[joeglow3]

83. Not at all

Many people I have spoke with have said it is primarily a discrimination issue as to why the disparities in unemployment are huge. While I readily admit that it plays into it, the biggest issue if lack of marketable skills. There are only so many jobs making cars, building houses and serving food. As more and more people choose not to go to college (4 year or vocational) or are priced out of it, expect this problem to get worse.

Our president has the right idea when he emphasizes the need for people to vocational training.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

87. There were plenty of jobs before they were farmed out

to other countries. Five conservative presidents in a row has brought this country to its knees.

[rhett o rick]

96. You imply that there are job openings for vocationally trained people.

Do you have any statistics to back that up?

[joeglow3]

104. Look at unmployment numbers broken down by education/sector

[rhett o rick]

107. You are drawing the wrong conclusion. If more of the uneducated got education

there would be no jobs for them. The conclusion to draw is that the unskilled jobs went first. That doesnt mean there are skilled jobs open.

We must invoke tariffs and protect our jobs like all other countries do.

[joeglow3]

108. A lot of skilled positions are fully employed even now

I am a CPA and there are a plenty of job postings right now (same thing for my wife, who is an RN).

[rhett o rick]

95. You imply that only you know the facts. But you are merely interpreting "facts and stats".

I dont agree with your interpretation. You imply that we wouldnt have the high unemployment if we had more educated public. I disagree. The problem is that jobs are being shipped overseas. Most of those jobs are unskilled jobs that can be done well in uneducated parts of the world. Those holding jobs requiring higher education are relatively safe until China gets more people educated. If we had more educated people in this country, the unemployment level would be the same, except the educated would be fighting for the jobs they have secured now.

If you are here to enjoy a decent discussion then I recommend you drop the bullying language. "...when even people who take the iniative to post here won't take the time to understand the issues,..." Just because someone doesnt agree with you, doesnt mean you understand the issue better than them.

[rhett o rick]

98. "Like everyone our age, we're overeducated and unemployed,"

Not everyone agrees with you that we are undereducated.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1962313

One of my college educated daughters is unemployed and the other is underemployed.

[joeglow3]

111. Again, look at the degrees.

What are their degrees in?

[rhett o rick]

112. I still dont think you are in tune with reality. I know many people that are educated and employed

but are in low paying jobs, mostly contract work for Boeing or microsoft. Few benefits and can be let go at the drop of the hat. I guess they are luckier than those unemployed but not much. Newly hired Boeing machinist, like the auto workers are working for barely more than minimum wage. This problem has nothing to do with their education. It is that we are moving our manufacturing jobs to China. Those responsible should be hanged for treason.

[joeglow3]

115. What are their degrees in?

[rhett o rick]

116. If you have a statement, make it. nm

[joeglow3]

117. I had a question, which you ignored

If you want to just make speeches, start a topic for your speech.

You cited your daughters as evidence, I asked what their degrees were in, as my position is that we need to be cognizant of what fields we acquire skills in. If I brought in people who excelled at leeches for medical treatment and making horse-shoes and cited them as evidence that acquisition of skills was worthless due to their unemployment, you would rightfully call BS. I have seen too many people get degrees in history, english, communications, classics, etc. and then be shocked when they can't find a job. This was in the 1990's, when employment was GREAT. The DU thread cited in this thread contained an article that was almost entirely people with degrees providing little employment opportunities (in good economy or bad).

Thus, if you will cite your daughters as evidence that the current economic downturn is hitting college graduates hard, I ask that you discuss this with intellectual honesty and tell me what their degrees are in.

[rhett o rick]

119. You imply that there are job openings. But you will not back that up. People are fighting for jobs.

Besides, unemployment isnt the only problem. Underemployment is a problem, even with those with skills and degrees.

[joeglow3]

120. I imply that college degrees in demand 5 yrs ago are today and...

many degrees not in demand were not in demand 5 years ago.

However, it begs the question, what degrees do your daughters have? Are they degrees with real marketable skills (accounting, engineering, medicine, etc.) or not (English, Communications, History)?

As you can see, those with college degrees are essentially in a "fully employed" economy:

http://tinyurl.com/3s47jjb

[rhett o rick]

121. So please tell me again what your point is. nm

[joeglow3]

122. Please answer my question.

Your refusal to answer tells me you know exactly what my point is and that I am correct.

[rhett o rick]

123. Good grief. Never mind. nm

[readmoreoften]

63. So what exactly is the CBC supposed to be interested if not things affecting black people?

It has to be something that only effects black people? So what that leaves them with segregation? Even affirmative action deals with white women and latinos...

[chill_wind]

36. 16.7 %. Well above the national rate.

And actually probably quite a bit higher than that, because we know the official national numbers aren't the real numbers, either.

[chill_wind]

42. delete- wrong place

[wordpix]

81. even the national rate is a national disgrace at 9%

[Demeter]

4. Why Should That Stop Anyone?

If it weren't for the paranoia of the TSA security trolls, I'd gladly march on the White House in protest of the policies foisted upon a population that voted for something else entirely.

As it is, I can't take the risk that some over-zealous, under-trained, fascist cop wouldn't inflict grievous bodily harm on me.

[Recovered Repug]

32. Obama is very popular in the African-American community.

Rep. Waters stated out about a month ago (paraphrasing) - If the CBC goes after Obama too hard, the voters may go after the CBC.

http://www.thegrio.com/politics/frustration-boils-over-at-black-caucus-detroit-town-hall.php

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. That's very true.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

114. I obviously don't speak for ALL black Americans, but the majority of the ones I know

in my own family, friends, and outsiders, have this president's back. That doesn't mean that we won't chastise him. It doesn't mean that we won't criticize him or disagree with him. It means that we love him toughly and want him to do better. We want him to win. And when all the others have abandoned this president, black American voters will remain strong supporters, just as we have with all other Democratic presidents in the modern era. We stood behind Clinton after Monica when others in his so-called "base" abandoned him. Why would we abandon Obama for lesser human frailties?

[24601]

38. TSA and the White House? You mean the Secret Service don't you?

The TSA might have a say if you marched on the airports.

And you can take the risk - you just choose not to.

[Demeter]

59. No, I cannot take the risk

I have dependents who will be left vulnerable, and I have no one who would support me in such "foolishness".

And I don't care what any branch of fascism that would be beating on me is called, it's all "Homeland Security".

[24601]

99. Why do you call those willing to take a bullet for President

Obama facists? It it a grudge you hold against Obama?

[BeyondGeography]

5. March

White households are now worth 20X more than the average black household. What's the message here? No matter how shitty things are we won't say a word if the President happens to be black...

[tblue]

6. Obama gets a pass.

Sounds to me they are in as much agony as a lot of us but don't feel they can speak freely. I wish they would though. Obama is only encouraged to stay on the same track by their silence. It is NOT the best thing for the black community, or any high-unemployment community. Obama does catch a lot of nasty, ugly flak being the first black president. But he gets a lot of unconditional support from some people too, who would never hold back if he was someone else.

[SoapBox]

8. K & R

[tcaudilllg]

10. The strategy: get momentum behind the protests, and culminate with a march to the WH.

[BenzoDia]

12. Two things. .

#1. We're Americans first, in some areas,the unemployment rates of white people are high as well. Let's not divide ourselves along racial boundaries.

#2. So, Mr. West is black after all. Interesting.

[emilyg]

13. Please march.

[ProSense]

15. Well

"If former President Bill Clinton had been in the White House and had failed to address this problem, we probably would be marching on the White House," Cleaver told “The Miami Herald” in comments published Sunday. "There is a less-volatile reaction in the CBC because nobody wants to do anything that would empower the people who hate the president."

...that's certainly a racially charged statement. Is he implying that people aren't marching on the WH because the President is black? Or is he saying that blacks, who would have been marching on the WH during the Clinton era, aren't marching on the WH now because they don't want to fan the hatred?

I mean, is Cleaver saying that people aren't marching on the WH to protest various issues?

Here's a NYT article from 2006

<...>

These were among the recent findings:

¶The share of young black men without jobs has climbed relentlessly, with only a slight pause during the economic peak of the late 1990's. In 2000, 65 percent of black male high school dropouts in their 20's were jobless — that is, unable to find work, not seeking it or incarcerated. By 2004, the share had grown to 72 percent, compared with 34 percent of white and 19 percent of Hispanic dropouts. Even when high school graduates were included, half of black men in their 20's were jobless in 2004, up from 46 percent in 2000.

¶Incarceration rates climbed in the 1990's and reached historic highs in the past few years. In 1995, 16 percent of black men in their 20's who did not attend college were in jail or prison; by 2004, 21 percent were incarcerated. By their mid-30's, 6 in 10 black men who had dropped out of school had spent time in prison.

<...>

Remember all the marches on the WH during the Clinton and Bush eras?

The fact is that unemployment and the other issues that plagued the black community are not new. They are as atrocious now as they have ever been, compounded by the recession.

The President needs to do whatever he can to stimulate job creation, and until jobs return everyone is being affected. That's not to say the plight of black Americans is secondary, but if there are no jobs being created, there is no chance that the unemployment rate in the black community will go down.

Having said that, the factors impacting blacks require a complete different set of solutions from simply creating jobs. Obviously, even in times of low national unemployment the problems don't go away, and there are always pockets across the country, like NYC, where unemployment rivals, if not exceeds, the numbers among blacks nationally during the current recession.

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. The people who hate the president are republicans

Cleaver is saying the CBC doesn't want to do anything to empower them.

I talked to him about this very issue on Labor Day. He's very concerned. It's a tough situation for the CBC.

[These Eyes]

91. Thank you, ProSense...

I keep seeing these posts about the unemployment rate in the African American community as though this is something new. But whats really happening here is that there are people who want to use this as an indictment against the president, as if somehow this all began with him. And the first thing that struck me was Cleaver's comment that they don't want to empower those that hate the president (and he's not just talking about Republicans). In other words,there are those who will say that here's a black president who doesn't care about black people (which clearly isn't true) in an attempt to turn the black community against him -- after all, this really is about suppressing the black vote. If African American voters can be convinced that this president doesn't care about them (which won't happen) then African Americans will stay home, rather than vote. While some folks will accuse black folks of being blindly loyal to Obama, black folks are not unaware of the games being played.

[Number23]

105. Excellent post and points

Thanks for that! :hi:

[certainot]

16. so how many marched on bush? the left plays politics without a front line, by ignoring

the right's best weapon- 1000 coordinated radio stations- and then screams at the quarterback for getting sacked all day.

they're getting a free speech free ride- march on those radio stations instead.

[Number23]

23. Exactly

I'm not sure that I can co-sign on your march on the radio stations bit, but I agree with your point that the question of where were these folks when Bush was in office needs to be asked, as well as the total lack of coordination (and purpose imo) from those on the "left."

[Arkana]

101. I couldn't have said it better.

The far left is like the offensive line that doesn't bother to block the defensive ends and linebackers, then bitches that the quarterback gets sacked too much.

[defendandprotect]

17. Agree ---

[1StrongBlackMan]

18. I can't quite think of the words ...

Oh Bullshit! Yeah those are the words.

The CBC didn't march throughout the entire bush administration; but we are to believe that, but for PRESIDENT OBAMA being in the WH, they would suddenly be ready to march?

BULLSHIT! Sign brother Cleaver up as yet another democrat chasing media attention at PRESIDENT OBAMA's expense.
I can understand concern for the Black Unemployment rate; but why exactly would they be marching on the WH? Isn't it their job to draft and pass legislation that affect unemployment rates?

And please spare me the, "He needs to fight harder" meme; no one has yet been able to demonstrate how PRESIDENT OBAMA "fighting" will cause grown men and women to do what they have demonstrated no interest in doing. PRESIDENT OBAMA cannot strong-arm Democratic legislators, nor should we want him to,

[Number23]

21. Oh my GOD See my post right after yours!!

Great minds and all. This is some seriously stupid shit.

but why exactly would they be marching on the WH? Isn't it their job to draft and pass legislation that affect unemployment rates?

THANK YOU!!!

[EFerrari]

24. I can think of the words: Oh, bullshit.

The CBC did more than anyone else to try to stop the resident Bush, including investigating his stolen election in Ohio.

Obama doesn't need to fight harder, he needs to fight ONCE.

[ProSense]

26. What

"The CBC did more than anyone else to try to stop the resident Bush, including investigating his stolen election in Ohio.

Obama doesn't need to fight harder, he needs to fight ONCE."

...the hell does that have to do with marching on the WH to protect high unemployment in the black community?

[me b zola]

28. Sept 24 2004 I marched on Washington with Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney

Did you?

[Number23]

31. 2004 or 2005?

And was that march in any way related to black unemployment as per Cleaver's comment?

[me b zola]

60. "The CBC didn't march throughout the entire bush administration"

This is what the poster wrote that I responded to. Congresswoman McKinney was most certainly a member of the CBC. At the time the issue most pressing besides the war, blatant disregard for civil liberties and the rule of law was the hideous response to Katrina that killed more black folks (heck, people of all color, but poor African Americans took the brunt of what the bush* administrated perpetrated against Americans) than the storm did.

But you are correct about one thing, it was 2005, not '04.

And if you point out that my writing is very poor you would be correct about that too.

[Number23]

103. I take your point

But it's obvious (at least to me) that the poster meant the CBC hadn't marched once during the Bush admin in support of black issues/community.

[1StrongBlackMan]

109. And Congressperson McKinney ...

is the CBC?

And was the march on "Washington" or on the Whitehouse?

[treestar]

34. Yep, they need to get the legislation written and passed

President Obama would sign it, not veto it! That would be the only scenario for this strange Congressional march on the WH!

[proud2BlibKansan]

51. The CBC was the most vocal group in Congress during the Bush adminnistration

This is not bullshit at all.

[rpannier]

53. PRESIDENT OBAMA cannot strong-arm Democratic legislators, nor should we want him to

Why not?
Truman and LBJ did.
They strong armed Democratic Senators and got the stuff passed the way they wanted it passed -- Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights, etc

Pray tell, why shouldn't he strong arm them?

[ProSense]

54. So

"Why not?
Truman and LBJ did.
They strong armed Democratic Senators and got the stuff passed the way they wanted it passed -- Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights, etc

Pray tell, why shouldn't he strong arm them?"

...which Democratic legislators are planning on voting against the jobs bill, and why?

Is Cleaver?

Is everyone who thinks marching on the WH will ensure that Congress passes the bill also planning on contacting their elected representatives to help put pressure on Congress?

[rpannier]

55. I don't know who plans on voting against... if any

My response is to his general statement we shouldn't expect him to
Presidents always strong arm those Senators and Congressmen from their party that waver -- that's how you get things passed

[These Eyes]

92. I couldn't have said it better...

:applause:

[Number23]

19. This is the dumbest thing I've seen all goddamn month

1) Play into the hands of the clueless on the left and right who say that blacks only support this president "because he's black" by saying shit like "if Obama wasn't the president, but Bill Cllinton was, we'd be marching on the White House."

2) Jump from one Dem president to the other (choosing to march against Obama or Clinton) as if Repub presidents have not ruled the roost for the last few decades. I guess black folks were living large when The Bushes ran the show, huh?

3) COMPLETELY ignore your own role as members of Congress to research, create and pass your own damn legislation to reduce black unemployment.

This is some weird shit.

[democracy1st]

40. Whats crazy is Obama and his Wall St advisors

[bhikkhu]

46. What's crazy is demanding Obama pass legislation that congress is blocking

you miss the point. If jobs are the issue, the president is trying to get a jobs stimulus passed, and its being blocked by repugs. You might also note that it includes many things that he had tried to get passed in the last stimulus, but that were stripped out by congress. If jobs are the issue, congress is the problem.

[No Elephants]

67. Good thing DU gets how things work in D.C. better than the Congressional Black Caucus.

Many members of the CBC have actually been there and participated in the process for decades. But, DUers know better.

[bhikkhu]

86. High school civics - nothing to do with DU

Its a bit like chewing out the water company about your gas bill.

[Number23]

57. Is this supposed to mean anything or have anything to do with the OP or my post?

[Hotler]

20. So. March anyway. n/t

[eringer]

22. Under Obama we have a 91 percent employment rate

If he loses re-election, that number will drop and never return to the 90s in our lifetime. Think about that those of you who have children. Better treat them well as they are going to be with you for a long, long time. You may be able to avoid that scenario if you put an Obama 2012 sticker on your car right now. I did.

[mod mom]

41. That rate hides a lot....

In my husband's field of architecture, for example, 30+% of architects are unemployed but of those some are scrapping together odd jobs (retail,bar tending) justbto stay afloat.

[No Elephants]

68. If the unemployment figures were calculated the same way they were in 1930, your view might differ.

"If he loses re-election, that number will drop and never return to the 90s in our lifetime."

You know this how? Crystal ball?

[eringer]

78. In fact, I did consult a fortune-teller

BTW, she was also concerned about her work as she operated in a middle-class neighborhood and was losing her clientele.
I gave her an Obama bumper sticker.

[No Elephants]

69. Self delete. Dupe.

[rury]

25. Please march on Congress and yell at the Rethugs and Teabaggers

THEY are the ones who are holding up progress in addressing unemployment...NOT President Obama.
Tell the Rethugs and Teabaggers to pass the American Jobs Act...RIGHT AWAY!!!!!!!!

[ProSense]

33. What

"Tell the Rethugs and Teabaggers to pass the American Jobs Act...RIGHT AWAY!!!!!!!!"

...and distract from pondering why blacks aren't marching on the WH?

Actually, the call should include Democrats, as some of them are already making excuses.

[Doctor_J]

35. Ponies!

these people don't understand how government works! They never liked him to begin with! PUMA!

[ProSense]

37. You

"They never liked him to begin with! PUMA!"

...may have a point!!!

Strange days!

[democracy1st]

39. K & R

[chill_wind]

43. Waters: "Tea Party can go straight to hell."

Rather than targeting Obama’s leadership, many CBC members aimed their fire at the Tea Party movement over the summer’s congressional recess. Waters said in a public meeting in her district that the Tea Party "can go straight to hell." Another member, Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), called the Tea Party “the real enemy” seeking to hold Congress “hostage.”

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), the only Republican member of the CBC and also a member of the Tea Party Caucus, objected to hostile language used by members targeting the Tea Party movement and threatened to leave the caucus unless Cleaver condemned remarks made by other members. West singled out comments from Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.), the CBC’s whip, who said that Tea Party-affiliated members of Congress see African-Americans as "second-class citizens" and would be happy to see them "hanging from a tree."

So many are in fact appropriately directing fire at the Tea-baggers, too.

[Beartracks]

45. They already hold a one-way ticket.

Why aren't they gone already?

==========================

[bhikkhu]

44. Why the White House? Why not Congress?

Who won't pass a decent jobs bill, and who cut all the jobs-stimulus out of the last stimulus package?

[closeupready]

47. And that's precisely why TPTB love him.

Bush said, 'we need to reform social security!', and we said HELL NO!

Obama says, 'we need to reform social security, and we listen politely.

[Dragonfli]

65. That is the dirty secret we are not supposed to talk about, a Republican can cause so much more

damage by running as a Democrat, and the marks continue to buy into it because of the sporting team comparison of jerseys that has taken the place of comparison of policies.

[No Elephants]

70. +1

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. I love Cleaver!

He's a great rep!

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProSense]

56. WTF? n/t

[Iliyah]

61. I see corporate media aka

phew. Ya hear any Mitt about jobs? Like vultures.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Dragonfli]

64. I wonder if thy like his the idea of raising the age for medicare to 67 when black men statistically

die much younger than those rich white folks he likes so much.

What is the average life expectation for black males something like 71?

[Enthusiast]

66. K&R!

If we were united in demanding the President represent us, maybe he would do a better job.
You know, rather than accepting wrong headed Obama policy decisions, as his 'died in the wool' die hard supporters insist we do.

[No Elephants]

71. How readily DU throws the CBC under the bus.

[RZM]

74. 96 recs isn't exacty under the bus

Seems that a lot of people agree with Cleaver's sentiment. I imagine many of the holdouts are wondering that if the CBC would be marching against anyone else, why the hell aren't they doing it now? And some others probably don't think marching on the WH is the best course of action. That's not under the bus either, it's just not agreeing with Cleaver's argument. Nobody's under any obligation to think that he's right.

[Arkana]

102. No one threw them under any bus.

We're just wondering what kept them from marching on the Bush White House. Black unemployment has been high for much longer than Obama's term in office.

[shotten99]

75. Keep piling on him for the Republicans. Nice work.

This just enables the GOP to balk even more.
Great job by the CBC. Rove would be proud.

[Myrina]

79. But 84% of liberals polled LURVE President Obama!

Maxine and Emanuel must be WRONG! They don't read the POLLS! They're obviously LYING! The DU Stat Police say so!!

:sarcasm:

[dennis4868]

85. why dont they march on congress...

and the ones who are obstructing any progress being made...what does the WH have to do with the obstruction?

[NOLALady]

89. Interesting.

I must have missed it when they marched on the WH when GWB was President.

[Freddie Stubbs]

90. So, he is saying that the CBC hasn't as hard for jobs as it should have because there is a black man

in the White House.

[hulka38]

93. Shouldn't the perception of a successful first black president

trump his actual failures if you're a good Democrat?

[Major Hogwash]

94. Bullshit, when did Cleaver ever "march on the White House" while Bush was in office?

Fucking bullshit!!

[rhett o rick]

97. Hogwash!

Good point Major.

[Arkana]

100. Unemployment should not be a black or white issue.

[Mz Pip]

106. March on Boehner's office

The House is what is obstructing getting anything done.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

113. Does Congress have any role at all? Oh, that's right. They took a fucking 5-week vacation.

PAID FOR BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS!!! :puke:

Could I, as a federal employee, get away with this? Hell no!

Could you?

Could anyone?

HELL NO!!

What the fuck do they expect Obama to do when the Rethugs in Congress holds things up in committee?

Why are THEY going after the Republicans in Congress?

So, when you hear Obama blaming CONGRESS, that's why! He has the CBC going after him. The Hispanic Caucus going after him. Everyone from all sides?!?!?

What the fuck, man? Does ANYONE have a role besides the president??!?!?!?

[The Stranger]

118. WTF not doing something against the Republicans in Congress?

WTF is this piece of shit, and others like Maxine Walters, turning on our own?

[ProSense]

124. Chairman Cleaver Addresses Dated Quotes in Recent McClatchy Article

Chairman Cleaver Addresses Dated Quotes in Recent McClatchy Article

Washington, DC – Today Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II released the following statement on quotes in a recent article McClatchy article:

“A recent McClatchy article entitled “Black Caucus Chairman Treads Line between Criticizing, Supporting Obama” was comprised of dated quotes which were taken out of context. I, along with the Democratic Members of the Congressional Black Caucus remain strong supporters of President Obama’s American Jobs Act and we are all working diligently to see the bill considered and passed.”

Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II

Good old MSM!

[hughee99]

125. If a repuke were president

the ridiculous unemployment rates in the AA community would be cited as proof that the president doesn't care about black people.