The Nation: Black President, Double Standard: Why White Liberals Are Abandoning Obama

[FrenchieCat]

Melissa Harris-Perry
September 21, 2011

<>
The 2012 election may be a test of another form of electoral racism: the tendency of white liberals to hold African-American leaders to a higher standard than their white counterparts. If old-fashioned electoral racism is the absolute unwillingness to vote for a black candidate, then liberal electoral racism is the willingness to abandon a black candidate when he is just as competent as his white predecessors.

The relevant comparison here is with the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton. Today many progressives complain that Obama’s healthcare reform was inadequate because it did not include a public option; but Clinton failed to pass any kind of meaningful healthcare reform whatsoever. Others argue that Obama has been slow to push for equal rights for gay Americans; but it was Clinton who established the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy Obama helped repeal. Still others are angry about appalling unemployment rates for black Americans; but while overall unemployment was lower under Clinton, black unemployment was double that of whites during his term, as it is now. And, of course, Clinton supported and signed welfare “reform,” cutting off America’s neediest despite the nation’s economic growth.

Today, America’s continuing entanglements in Iraq and Afghanistan provoke anger, but while Clinton reduced defense spending, covert military operations were standard practice during his administration. In terms of criminal justice, Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act, which decreased judicial disparities in punishment; by contrast, federal incarceration grew exponentially under Clinton. Many argue that Obama is an ineffective leader, but the legislative record for his first two years outpaces Clinton’s first two years. Both men came into power with a Democratically controlled Congress, but both saw a sharp decline in their ability to pass their own legislative agendas once GOP majorities took over one or both chambers.

Read more.... http://www.thenation.com/article/163544/black-president-double-standard-why-white-liberals-are-abandoning-obama

[Number23]

1. Perry has been a GD darling for a whole month or so now

Wonder if it will continue after folks get a look at this? :rofl:

[FrenchieCat]

2. You know...I read something written by Poster Peacetrain Elsewhere,

and it goes like this...

As women, we have said time and time again, and it is true.. we have to do everything better than men do, do it backwards and in heels..

Gays in the service have had to be bolder in combat, because no matter how strong they are.. the prejudices creep back in.

And Prof Perry, is absolutely right.. President Obama has to do it better and on steroids.

Why.. because prejudice is in EVERYONE.. and those who refuse to acknowledge that they have to fight against that..are the ones you need to keep an eye out for.. Anyone can be prejudiced.. anyone.

More is asked of this President.. he is put to a much higher standard. It is the mantle the "firsts" in any thing always have to bear.

His accomplishments will be diminished by his peers, because there is no way he can be that perfect person they expected in their fantasies.

History will be kind to President Obama.. But those of us who live through this with him, will take it to the grave. Just as those who lived through nameless African Americans who risked their lives to take a drink at a water fountain, are now lost to memory or sometimes even denigrated because they did not stand up as someone could today. But those of us who lived through that bravery of the man who took the drink at the fountain..know who is brave and who stands on that mans bravery to sell his pizza and not acknowledge who got him there.

Those who stood by as women were force fed in prisons at the turn of the last century because they marched for the vote.. they are forgotten by us, but not by those who lived it with them.. They were the brave, we are the lucky women who stand on their shoulders.

I could go on and on, from Native Americans to Shanty Irish to every group that had to claw its way.

The liberals that Prof. Perry speaks of, will deny deny deny yet know in their hearts, what Prof. Perry speaks of is true. They are liberals for a reason. But that does not make them perfect people.

The cock will crow three times.. and even Peter will deny. We are all too human.

[SemperEadem]

4. and they are turning themselves inside out on that thread

omg... you'd think someone called their mamas whores or something. Everyone is howling over there.

Prof. Perry is right on target in that article. I'm glad you posted it--the guilty make the most noise.

[Number23]

6. You know it.

the guilty make the most noise.

I swear. My grandfather had a saying "a hit dog will holler." It means that folks' guilty consciences get in their way even when they don't want it to and they just can't help themselves from letting the world know that they are doing wrong. Usually as they are in the process of screaming their innocence.

That thread is exhibit Alpha in Hit Dogs Hollering.

[tammywammy]

10. "a hit dog will holler"

Yes! Perfect analogy!

[tammywammy]

9. Interesting post

And I think spot-on.

I'm glad I stepped into AAIG to check the reaction here of the on going flamefest that is in GD and GD:P. :)

[Brewman_Jax]

3. For too many white people

and not just liberals, diversity is a nice idea, as long as it doesn't move into the neighborhood or come to dinner, i.e. as long as nothing in their nice white world changes. A POTUS that is black changes EVERYTHING.

[SemperEadem]

5. exactly

I doubt they would be this undone if Hilary Clinton was president.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. +1,000,000,000!!!! It simply confirms what many of us black liberals

have known for a long time, but manifested especially during the 2008 primaries: White liberals can be just as racist as White conservatives.

Black women, especially, tend to reject the concept of feminism--instead opting for "womanism"--precisely due to the mistrust of white women, especially white women who call themselves liberals and/or feminists.

Of course, there are great, sincere, genuine White sisters who are on our side; it's not fair to broad-brush, but the history is also important. When people deny that it's there, it doesn't move the conversation forward; we go backwards.

[Number23]

8. It continues

Part II - http://www.thenation.com/blog/163629/epistemology-race-talk

The wailing and thrashing over this piece is definitely something. Something sad. Something pitiful. Something expected.

[FrenchieCat]

11. I've stop commenting on it, as the verocifous pushback speaks for itself

in proving Melissa's point. The Pile-on of defensiveness is quite the illustration!

Folks just so badly want to feel justified in hitting hard against this President,
even as we have an election to win....and I believe that their passion may just be this nation's downfall, as they may get what they are working so hard to achieve, while dragging down with them, all of those they claim to care so much about (Those they "use" to justify their personal deep immovable passion). How ironic is that, to allow personal vindication to trump any and all principle one claims to possess?

When one's emotions take over one's priorities, one will feel one's fall mightily, and finger pointing away from one's self will not fix what will come thereafter.

"I will show us and then you will see".....should be made into a bumper sticker for those who will, without conscience, refuse to lift us and choose instead to watch us all fall. It is a choice that is hard and heartless, and it is saddest still because too many will choose this road without a second thought. That is not the portrait of a Liberal, but of a Liberal poseur.

In the meantime, here's inspiration for those of us
whose priorities are still about the ones we claim to care about-
Our truth will one day be realized, but it will obviously be
a longer road than could have been.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xfG-dJFbxc