I am sick and tired of the President being called on to lead on issues of race

[Empowerer]

This is a country of 300 million people, yet too many people act completely helpless and clueless when it comes to race and expect the President to show tell them what to do, what to say and how to handle it.

It's not that complicated. Go talk to somebody who looks different than you. In most instances, you'll probably find they're willing - in fact, eager - to talk about it. Listen to what they have to say. Tell them what you're thinking. Share with them your own experiences. If they have a criticism about something you've done or said, rather than feeling attacked, consider it carefully, examine yourself and try to determine whether there may be some truth in it. You might learn something about yourself and others in the process. If after honest consideration, you believe that there's nothing to it, so be it. At least you've likely earned some respect for being open-minded.

But this notion that Americans can't address the issue of race in this country unless and until the President shows us how is ridiculous. It's also insulting and a continuation of the long-standing notion that race and racism are the exclusive concerns of minorities and that white folks have nothing to do with it. I never heard anyone insist that George Bush lead on the issue of race. No one is demanding that Nancy Pelosi take this issue on as a major priority. This conversation and the leadership necessary to have it is not the sole responsibility of black people.

We all can start this conversation, each one of us, right now.

Now go talk amongst yourselves . . .

[MadMaddie]

1. I agree with you it's basic common sense!

Americans also have to stop looking for direction from the MSM. The MSM has been wrong for so many years attempting to impact the way Americans think.

[Political Tiger]

2. Excellent! K&R!

:fistbump:

[bluestateguy]

3. Remember Bill Clinton's "Race Initiative" in 1997?

Don't worry, nobody else remembers it either.

[Exilednight]

4. So you don't want a leader to lead? Intersting.

I don't care about Obama's race, but it's his job as President, and head of the Democratic party, to help lead this nation on such issues.

Not to mention, he does have plenty of help. Southern Poverty Law Center, NAACP, The Civil Liberties Union, just to name a few.

Yes, god-forbid that we actually ask our leader to lead on issues that are of importance to our party.

[JuniperLea]

7. Fertilizer

We are an adult nation. This is a common sense issue. It's insulting and racist to think he needs to interject. We aren't all TeaBaggers.

[Spazito]

10. Huh, interesting...

So, is it your perspective leadership should be top down, ala bush, as opposed to grassroots up? I am quite sure I have heard you argue the opposite position to the one posted above.

Heaven forfend citizens show leadership themselves on this issue, it smacks of....gasp...participatory democracy.

[Exilednight]

13. It goes both ways .......

grassroots is what allowed Obama to become a leader. He was elected to lead our agenda. True he needs an army to help him, but on the other hand it is ridiculous to conclude that Obama should not be a leader on race relations.

[Empowerer]

15. I don't agree with you at all

He was elected to run this country. He was not elected to be the nation's race relations leader. And I sincerely doubt that, all other things being equal, had a white Democrat been elected President in 2008 on the exact same platform, anyone would demand that he be the national race relations leader.

[Exilednight]

17. That's kind of sad ............

You should demand this from all those that are elected to lead. I know I do.

[Empowerer]

25. We have found common ground

:fistbump:

[Spazito]

18. So, from your perspective, nothing can be done by the grassroots...

unless led by the President? Wow!

[Exilednight]

22. That's not what I said, so don't put words in my mouth ......

To put it simply, why elect a leader and then not call on him or expect him to lead?

If getting things done in government didn't require a President to push initiatives, then there would be no reason to elect a president.

[Spazito]

26. The President HAS led by pushing initiatives, many of them...

He has led on the issue of racism, making a powerful speech about that very topic during his campaign and then speaking again about it during the Gates arrest aftermath. That doesn't seem to be enough for some but I have to ask: When does the grassroots do their part, show some initiative and follow his leadership on this issue?

[Exilednight]

31. Yay, he gave some speeches. When is he going to do more?

And as far as grassroots organizations go, many of them are working hard, but they are out funded by corporate groups who feel that they should not be required to hire minorities, unless they work for less than other workers.

The purpose of grassroots is to push their leaders to enact laws that will get to where we need to be. Sadly, our leaders only respond to big donations.

[Spazito]

33. Ahhh, I see, one of those 'he gives pretty speeches' kind of response...

What laws, exactly, do you want him to "enact"? I know you know, of course, it is not the President but Congress, through legislation that is responsible for such 'laws' but that seems to be too often left by the wayside by some.

[Exilednight]

36. How about a fairness in employement law that would actually fine ...........

companies that do not pay out equal wages to minorities? Laws exist that keeps employers from discriminating when hiring, but not for actual pay. Obama pushed one for equal pay for women, and I applaud him on that, but he's failed to do the same for any other minority group.

And yes, I understand that Congress passes legislation, but the President, as you know, can have a huge hand in shaping that legislation and making it a priority.

[Spazito]

39. And your part in making this come about is?

We are back to: When does the grassroots step up to the plate?

Talking to others about this need, writing letters to the editor, speaking to one's Congressional representatives? Can one not do that without the President having to say, in a 'speech' or otherwise, this is what I need you to do?

I think your response brings us right back to the central issue in the OP, grassroots action, talking to neighbors, writing letters, etc, on issues of inequity, race.

[Exilednight]

41. Grassroots may be the body, but the President as leader is the ................

backbone.

To be honest, I do my part. But I don't feel that the party I stand with is standing with me. I helped get Obama elected, and if he seriously took on this issue then I would support him 100%, but he won't because people tell him not to.

It's still a give and take. Leaders should feed of their grassroots, but Democratic grassroot organizations do not have the money to get the attention like tea-bagger astoturfers do.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

49. So your job was over on election night, right?

Is that what you're saying?

[Exilednight]

58. Nope. I supported my President until he decided not to

support me.

Now I see it as my job to push him to keep his promises.

[Empowerer]

12. You've totally missed my point

Of course, I think a leader should lead. But I find it interesting that Barack Obama is the first president in history to have so many people demand that he lead on issues of race - because I know that this is based on the notion that black people have a special responsibility to teach everyone else about race as if we're the only people who have a race. White presidents and other white leaders have just as much stake in this issue as black leaders do, yet they are never called on to lead the rest of us to the promised land.

And it's interesting that you mentioned only civil rights groups. Why can't or shouldn't the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, the League of Women Voters, and other groups that aren't traditionally black or civil rights focused have just as much responsibility in this regard?

[Exilednight]

16. He's not the first President to have so many people demand that he lead ............

on the issue of race. JFK, LBJ, Bill Clinton were all asked to be leader. LBJ rose to the occasion like no leader in our history.

"And it's interesting that you mentioned only civil rights groups. Why can't or shouldn't the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, the League of Women Voters, and other groups that aren't traditionally black or civil rights focused have just as much responsibility in this regard?"

Each organization has a mandate and charter on which issues are the most important to them. AFL-CIO is about unions, League of Women Voters is about women's right and issues, and the US Chamber of Commerce is primarily a conservative group whose interest lies in advancing a pro-business stance.

[Empowerer]

21. You're twisting history

None of those presidents were under consistent pressure to lead on race. JFK was pressure by African Americans who put so much faith in him, not to lead on civil rights, but to do the right thing - like stop appointing racist Southern judges (which he continued to do, by the way), to support a civil rights bill, and direct his Justice Department to protect the basic civil rights of black Americans. That is VERY different than what is expected from Obama.

LBJ, too, was asked by African Americans to do the right thing, which he did. But there was no huge demand from white Americans that he take the lead on race. In fact, a substantial majority of them wanted him to lead LESS.

Bill Clinton, to his great credit, took it upon himself to try to push a national conversation. But this was always considered by folks outside of the civil rights mainstream to be an extra job he took on himself, not part of his everyday mission.

No, Barack Obama is being held to an entirely different standard, regardless how you spin it. Part of this is, as I've said, part of a continuing pattern of the "Magic Negro" phenomenon. Another part of it is, I believe, a way to push off personal responsibility for the issue. After all, how can any of us individuals be expected to deal with this issue unless and until the first black president tells us how?

And regarding your argument about the groups, you are making my point for me. Race and race relations is not some separate and distinct issue that only affects blacks and people in the civil rights community. It affects labor and jobs and voting and business - and thus are smack dab in the middle of the missions and mandates of these groups. Your insistence that these groups are somehow separate from and not responsible for racial issues helps to highlight the very problem I'm addressing.

[Exilednight]

24. You're twisting history ......

While it is true that LBJ was pushed primarily by African-Americans, there were white people who helped.

My father was a civil-rights attorney who helped the movement in Chicago. He took on cases that only a white man could represent. In the late 60s and early 70s, there weren't many African-American attorneys to represent them. I remember him holding meetings in the house, and it was a good mix along racial lines. I remember the Hispanic community organizers, the leaders of the African-American community, and white people.

My intention is not to undermine the work that people like MLK did, it was the most important part of the movement, but it's wrong to think they did all alone.

Claim everything you want, but the truth is much different than YOUR history.

[Empowerer]

27. You're right - I should not have made it seem like only African Americans pushed him

But my point stands. There was not any groundswell for LBJ to lead on race. Barack Obama is being treated far differently than any other president - big surprise - and is being expected to do much, much more on race than anyone before him or any other leader in the country, solely because he is black.

[vaberella]

29. It is NOT his job to open the dialogue. WE CAN DO THAT ON OUR OWN.

I don't see how the fuck the President is supposed to lead us on this when we can do it our selves. You've got to be shitting me.

[Exilednight]

32. The dialogue has been opened, the question is what direction is it going to go in .............

right now it's tea-bagger leaders who are doing all the talking while our side stays pretty quiet.

Obama does need to come up with an agenda in regards to race. Holder is somewhat helping him with trying to strike down the Arizona law, but the administration has no clear mandate when it comes to race relations.

It is true that tea-baggers are pushing their congressmen and we aren't, but on the other hand their astro-turf leadership is shaping the argument and we're just reacting.

[Empowerer]

37. What kind of "Agenda" do you have in mind? Care to write a draft of it?

I tend to think that may be difficult since and "agenda on race" would be about as complex as an "agenda on politics" or an "agenda on religion."

I think you're being way to simplistic. Race is entirely too complicated an issue to be addressed with an "agenda" and Americans don't need and certainly shouldn't expect to wait for the President to tell us what to do about it. That's a cop-out. It's also a no-win rabbit hole the President is being told to jump down.

We don't need the President to tell us what to do. He can and should occasionally speak out when warranted, but he leads much more effectively by example - and often that example is most effective when he's saying or doing nothing rather than rising to the bait and beating his chest - but I don't want my President wasting all of his time doing the job that is really the responsibility of me and my neighbors. The President has an enormous job to do just trying to run this country. Demanding that he take on a whole nother job as Racial Reconciliator in Chief is beyond the pale.

[rury]

34. It is NOT the president's job to lead a discussion on race

especially when the conversation is almost inevitably going to be about HIM.
The NAACP, the Urban League, the Southern Poverty Law Center the ACLU, members of academia, et al, are the organizations that leadership of such a discussion should fall too.

[Empowerer]

38. I agree with you but would add that many more organizations need to be leading this conversation

not just black and civil rights groups and academicians. As I said in an earlier post, numerous other organizations and institutions in this country also have just as much responsibility for this.

[rury]

67. You are certainly right

the entire society has a stake in this and several groups of both races who have a genuine interest in racial justice ought to be participating.

[Number23]

46. "it's his job as President to help lead this nation on such issues

Since f*cking WHEN is the job of the President of the United States to lead the nation on racial issues?? Love how we have the first black President, and now Racial Healer in Chief is a part of the job all of a sudden.

[Exilednight]

64. It's been part of the job since the JFK administration. All Democratic presidents ..........

should help lead this discussion. Clinton did it without being pushed.

[Uzybone]

5. Eric Holder was 100% right

[JuniperLea]

8. Can you finish that thought?

What was he right about? I must have missed something.

[AspenRose]

51. That people in this country are cowards when it comes to talking about race.

And he was right.

[Jennicut]

43. Yup, many people are cowards and stick to their own kind.

Do we really need to wait for a President to tell us to mingle with each other?
Heck, we are conversing on race together right now! It is not that hard.

[Beacool]

45. I don't think that most people are cowards.

I think that most are hypocrite.

;)

[Karenina]

48. Indeed he was.

[JuniperLea]

6. It is insulting... and racist!

We should already know... Jeez.

[Warren Stupidity]

9. I seem to recall that Obama called on himself to lead on race.

March 2008 Philadelphia. How could he not, given the long and bitter history of racism in this country and the fact of his historic presidency?

For him not to do so would be absurd.

[Empowerer]

14. Why should his historic election make HIM solely responsible for leading us to the racial promised

land? Yes, he was elected in a historic election, but Americans elected him in that historic election. We ALL have a role to play, not just him. And, in fact, given the tenuous tightrope that poor man has to walk every single day, I think it is enormously unfair and extremely lazy to also expect him to have to carry all of our water while he does it.

We need to give the brother a hand with this . . .

[Warren Stupidity]

23. hmmm.. I don't seem to recall making that argument.

I responded instead to an op that appears to clam that Obama shouldn't lead on race with the fact that Obama, March 2008, made an excellent speech where he clearly positioned himself as a leader on the issue of race in this country.

Did you want to defend your original argument or instead move on to this new and less interesting assertion?

[Empowerer]

28. I didn't say he shouldn't lead on race. My point is that he should not be solely responsible for

leading on the issue, while everyone else sits back and waits for him to do all the work.

[Warren Stupidity]

56. "I am sick and tired of the President being called on to lead on issues of race"

The headline of your OP. Obviously you must not really have meant that. However you most certainly did write it.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

65. Your memory is more than just faulty...

What you said, about 90 minutes ago, was that "he clearly positioned himself as a leader on the issue of race in this country." I'm pointing out that he said no such thing.

[POAS]

53. March 18, 2008, Philadelphia

"This is where we are right now. It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy - particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.

But I have asserted a firm conviction - a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people - that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice is we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union."

Barack Obama

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

54. You have a faulty memory....

"Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy - particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own." Barack Obama, March 2008

Here's a link to the transcript to refresh your memory

[Warren Stupidity]

55. I did not claim that Obama said he was going to fix everything in one term.

I claimed that he put himself out there as a leader on racial issues and did so explicitly in his March 2008 speech, a speech that I thought then and still think now, was a pretty damn good speech.

The OP, at least in the OP's headline, appears to claim that Obama should not lead on racial issues, and that is just silly.

[POAS]

60. Can you post that quote from March 18, 2008

that proves your point?

[Empowerer]

62. Where/when did he explicitly promise to be "a leader on racial issues?"

I don't remember him ever doing so and it certainly isn't in the quote you presented. Do you have a another quote that supports your claim?

[Spazito]

11. Excellent OP!

To have those conversation is an essential component of participatory democracy.

Recommended.

[VMI Dem]

19. His views on civil rights is piss poor.

I'm glad he makes no attempt to lead on issues of race.

[rury]

35. What a dumbass comment

He was a civil rights attorney in Chicago.

[VMI Dem]

44. Yet he opposes civil rights for gays.

What a waste of an education.

[rury]

66. He wants to repeal DADT, opposes DOMA

and has extended hospital visitation rights and other benefits to same-sex partners.
I don't see where he opposes civil rights for gays.
What a waste of a post!

[Balbus]

20. I wish he'd lead on something, though...

[vaberella]

30. So many people like you...I've never heard so much shit in my life. n/t

[JuniperLea]

52. Fertilizer

:thumbsdown:

That shit grows pretty flowers, but it's bogus in conversation.

[Empowerer]

40. The fact that this discussion has largely devolved into a debate about whether the President is

doing enough perfectly illustrates my point!

I laid out a blueprint for individuals to take responsibility for moving forward with racial reconciliation and what happens? We end up with a plethora of arguments about what Obama is not doing enough of.

It's so easy to avoid any responsibility by pushing it all back on him, isn't it?

This issue is too big and too important for us to expect not to have to all pull our weight. Why doesn't everybody stop demanding that President Obama do this for us?

[Jennicut]

42. Yeah, I started having those conversations at the age of 18 in college.

And I made some great friends that were of a different race then me. Then, when I worked in an office, I did it again.
Why are people so afraid to talk to each other??? Maybe because I come off as non intimidating and quiet in general people are not afraid to approach me? I don't have the answer but I have never seemed to have a problem making friends with people much different then me. I suppose it depends on your attitude and willingness to listen to the other person.

[Empowerer]

47. "Listen" being the operative word . . .

Your story is exactly what I'm trying to get people to understand!

Shirley Sherrod didn't need a president or the NAACP or any leader to telll her how to do it. She just listened and learned and reached out and made a tremendous difference. We can all learn from stories such as yours and Ms. Sherrod's. A president can set a tone - which I think President Obama has done over and over again. But it takes individuals to do the work. Relying on the President to get it started before we bother to do anything is a lazy cop-out.

[POAS]

59. Each of us can be and should be

leaders in the fight to end racism in whatever form we find it.

Lead your children.
Lead your friends.
Lead your church.
Lead wherever you find yourself by setting an example that some, perhaps many, will follow. Even if only one stops and thinks about race in a different light because of your example then that is an improvement over yesterday.

[AspenRose]

50. Oh my. Well THIS is going to piss off a few here:

"It's also insulting and a continuation of the long-standing notion that race and racism are the exclusive concerns of minorities and that white folks have nothing to do with it."

"This conversation and the leadership necessary to have it is not the sole responsibility of black people."

:applause:

May I also add that racism is usually couched in terms of black and white. There are people of other ethnicities in this country who ALSO experience racism on a regular basis.

[POAS]

57. That won't anger this poster

you are absolutely correct. Racism comes in many forms.

[David Zephyr]

61. Thank you for saying this, Empowerer

!

[Cha]

63. Thank you Empower..President Obama is an inspiration

in his own life..he leads by example.

Such a loving person.