Obama to Black America: Quit whining, grumbling and get to work

 As of late President Obama's re-election strategy has become increasingly clear.  Tack left to his base and run against an "obstructionist" Republican Congress that favors the rich at the expense of the middle class, (or so goes the argument).

 While such a tactic is of questionable effectiveness in the best of circumstances, (because frankly, after blaming George W. Bush for 3 years most people, including us here at the ACLP, would rather hear about what President Obama is going to do instead of simply finding a new scapegoat to blame), and completely ignores the lack of the President's leadership in creating jobs and the failed keynesian "stimulus" plan he championed, at least President Obama knows how to play to his base. Or maybe not?!

 In a mystifying jab at black America, one of Obama's last and strongest remaining bastions of support in the American electorate amidst a torturous slide in popularity among all groups which presages potentially ominous chances for his re-election, the President brazenly admonished-- replete with semi-black-preaching style cadence and mock southern accent-- a gathering of African-American activists at the annual awards dinner of the Congressional Black Caucus by stating:

"Take off your bedroom slippers... Stop complaining... Stop grumbling, stop crying... We have work to do."  - President Obama, Congressional Black Caucus dinner, Sept 24, 2011.

  Unfortunately for the President, rather than rally his supporters, (the speech's ostensible intended effect), it's patronizing and somewhat condescending tone had the same effect as Governor Rick Perry's recent gaff at the Republican primary debate in Orlando when he bluntly told conservatives they "had no heart" if they didn't support in-state university tuition for illegal immigrants in response to fellow Republican critics.   The reaction of influential black caucus members was swift.

  Maxine Waters, (D-CA.), was particularly keen in her response to the President's chastisements, stating, "I don't know who he was talking to because we're certainly not complaining." 


  Continuing her criticism of the President's remarks, the California Congresswoman said:

"I found that language a bit curious because the president spoke to the Hispanic Caucus, and certainly they're pushing him on immigration... he certainly didn't tell them to stop complaining... And he would never say that to the gay and lesbian community, who really pushed him on Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Click here for full story and video links at CBS news. 

  Now we are not genuises here at the ACLP, but it doesn't take a genius to know that when you've ticked off your base and the best you can come up with generally is blaming everyone and everything else for your problems as the leader of the most powerful nation in the free world-- including your normally strongest supporters-- you are in serious trouble.

 Of course, as any reader of this blog can tell you, we are not fans of the Obama Administration's policies. But neither are we extreme partisans who want a U.S. President, any President, to fail simply for failing's sake.  Rather, our concerns are rooted in very real philosophical differences and a deep belief that this Administration, in the very least, is utterly inept to solve the great problems facing our country at this critical time.  In short, it is the failed and corrupt policies of the Obama Administration that we object to, not the man himself.

  What the dustup with the Congressional Black Caucus reveals is that, in addition to failing to be the "great uniter" of America that President Obama promised in 2008, he can barely unite his most natural base of political support.

  And that, to us, by any measure bodes very poorly for this President going into the 2012 election season.  jp