President Obama addressed the annual Congressional Black Caucus Convention tonight in Washington, D.C. and he didn't mince words in calling on black people to rally behind him:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a fiery summons to an important voting bloc, President Barack Obama told blacks on Saturday to quit crying and complaining and "put on your marching shoes" to follow him into battle for jobs and opportunity.
[snip]
"I need your help," Obama said.
[snip]
"Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes," he said, his voice rising as applause and cheers mounted. "Shake it off. Stop complainin'. Stop grumblin'. Stop cryin'. We are going to press on. We have work to do."
http://hosted.ap.org/...
All that I can say to Mr. Obama in response is, "Really?" After two and half years where our concerns have basically been ignored, where trillions of dollars have been shoveled toward the very banks that are foreclosing on our homes, with the official black unemployment rate holding steady at nearly 17%, and the unofficial rate far worse, after the steely silence towards the plight of Troy Davis, now you want us to "stop complainin'" and get to work on your reelection campaign?
Really?
Yes, as Democrats and as black people, most of us will be voting for President Obama in November 2012, but it won't be because of anything that he's done for black people. But how far does Party and racial loyalty go?
The President's remarks seem cynical and ill-timed, IMHO. A classic case of ignoring the base when it counts on policy, and then coming back to them for votes when it's needed. Maybe in the second term we'll see the real Barack Obama, someone who's willing to fight for us not only with speeches and campaign rhetoric, but at the negotiating table as well.