As joblessness continues, Obama faces tough challenge in reengaging black voters

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

When President Obama takes the stage Saturday for his annual address to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, it is certain to be a warm and festive affair, but probably a little less festive and lot more more urgent than on previous occasions.

In the audience will be Rep. Maxine Waters (D), the California congresswoman who has been a lead critic of the president and his administration for not being sufficiently focused on the stubborn problem of black unemployment. Waters says she expects more from Obama on Saturday.

“African Americans are very proud that there is an African American man who is the most powerful man in the world, and they hold on to that with everything they possibly can, but it’s starting to slip because of the pain of the African American community,” she said.

The speech, which the White House says will focus in part on the American Jobs Act, comes as Obama has faced a softening of support among African American voters and a chorus of criticism from black politicians who now feel free to break what had become the eleventh commandment among black elected officials: Thou shall not speak ill of the first black president.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-faces-growing-discontent-among-black-voters/2011/09/23/gIQA3vYurK_singlePage.html

[midnight]

1. K&R for those living with unemployment....

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Okay ...

I'm having trouble keeping up!

President Obama has lost the GLBT crowd; then, President Obama has lost the Blacks; then, President Obama has lost the Jews; now, President Obama has lost the Blacks again. Don't the GLBT crowd get another shot at being lost?

[tblue]

3. So many people are incredibly loyal to President Obama.

They have cut him a lot of slack for various reasons. The loyalty is deep and widespread. However, I am not sure it's reciprocated. I kinda think not, but that's me.

I care about the welfare of the black community, more than I care about any particular politician. I am revolted by what down in Georgia this week. Something has got to be done so that it doesn't happen again. I know this was NOT our president's jurisdiction in this particular case. I'd like to see action on that issue from somebody among our politicians, not just Al Sharpton, Amnesty Int'l and the NAACP. I don't ever want to see another needless execution like that again.

I find it not surprising that he shows up now that it's election season trying to mend fences, and I will be interested to hear what he has to say.


(For the record, I am 1/2 black like Obama, not that it matters.)

[msongs]

4. 2 years of appeasement are hard to counter nt