Obama’s agenda serves blacks and whites






A wrenching economic downturn has brought into stark relief the financial realities of many black households: Prosperity is tenuous, security is elusive and footholds on the economic ladder are slippery. Of course, millions of working-class whites would no doubt argue that their economic fortunes have been similarly tenuous.


U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., and chairman of the CBC, says the group deserves some of the credit for putting the issue of “unemployment on the front burner in the American dialogue” when much of political Washington was consumed by the debt debate. “Many of the proposals in the jobs bill are things we have been pushing,” he said. (Cleaver, by the way, has sometimes clashed with the president over policy, but says he was “not offended” by the speech.)






Email Cynthia Tucker at cynthia@cynthiatucker.com.


waltspecht 3 years, 2 months ago

Racial Prejudice, or just poor parenting? The work ethic of the last and the current generation has a lot to do with who is unemployed, and who isn't. Schooling, by that I mean actual accumulated knowledge, has a lot to do with it. No desire to do manual labor when you get equivilant or superior pay by working the system. Training in how to work the system, instead of training for a marketable skill is also at fault. Then there is the apparent fear of getting one's hands dirty. Everyone can't be a Boss. Respect is earned, it's not freely given. Too many young people have a problem differentiating between a work assignment and someone Dissin them. Sorry, but the junior employee usually gets to work their way up from the bottom.


TrixibelleBento 3 years, 2 months ago

I'm sorry, but I still believe that everyone has the same ability to work hard and prosper. With the economy right now, it's hard for EVERYONE to prosper. I'm a woman that has a pretty good job, but my retirement fund lost 14% last quarter. We're all struggling. I think we've all heard about how blacks have struggled in the past with slavery and civil rights, but there's no more slavery and we have a black president now. It CAN happen, but you can't call yourselves disadvantaged just because you don't get a $40K management job straight out of college. My first job out of college I made mid-20's with a Master's degree! It was a start though and I had to pay my dues.

I'm still from the camp that chooses persons based on their abilities rather than their skin color, gender, name, etc. If you are the most qualified, no matter who you are, then I will hire you. However, I will not hire you if you're expecting a handout or just a check for showing up. I reward those who work hard and accomplish the mission for my company. If you can't even get a high school diploma and blame everyone else for your lot in life, then you will not be hired.

Unfortunately, I think that Obama was hired by a lot of blacks so that their agenda would get more attention. Anyone remember those sickening YouTube videos where people applauded Obama's election because now they wouldn't have to pay their mortgage and would get a free ride? Obama was elected to help Americans, not just African-Americans. The sooner that they identify with being Americans first and African-Americans second, then we might get somewhere. I don't label myself as a Japanese-American. I'm American FIRST.

I didn't vote for Obama and don't really like most of the policies that he supports; however, I respect the office of the President and what he's up against. He's hired to support the AMERICAN agenda, not the agenda of a particular race.


gotanyfacts 3 years, 2 months ago

Cynthia Tucker is always an interesting read. There is always something to chuckle about, until you realize she is trying to be serious.


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