Obama: Would be 'personal insult' to legacy if black voters don't back Clinton

[DonViejo]

Source: CNN

By MJ Lee, Dan Merica and Jeff Zeleny, CNN
Updated 11:02 PM ET, Sat September 17, 2016

Washington (CNN)President Barack Obama delivered an impassioned plea to the African-American community Saturday night to help stop Donald Trump, saying he would consider it a "personal insult" to his legacy if black voters didn't turn out for Hillary Clinton.

Addressing the Congressional Black Caucus gala for the last time as president, Obama warned that while his name would not be on the ballot in November, all of the progress that the country has made over the last eight years was on the line.

"If I hear anybody saying their vote does not matter, that it doesn't matter who we elect -- read up on your history. It matters. We've got to get people to vote," Obama said. "I will consider it a personal insult -- an insult to my legacy -- if this community lets down its guard and fails to activate itself in this election. You want to give me a good sendoff? Go vote."

Obama's speech -- coming less than two months away from Election Day -- marked some of his harshest words yet about Trump, as well as his most forceful call on the black community to get behind Clinton.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/17/politics/obama-black-congressional-caucus/

[aikoaiko]

1. Strange headline from CNN. That's not really what he said.

As DonViego quoted:
"If I hear anybody saying their vote does not matter, that it doesn't matter who we elect -- read up on your history. It matters. We've got to get people to vote," Obama said. "I will consider it a personal insult -- an insult to my legacy -- if this community lets down its guard and fails to activate itself in this election. You want to give me a good sendoff? Go vote."

[George II]

7. I was just going to say that - Obama did NOT say that!

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Why do you think he'd make a distinction between the black community "activating itself ...

... in this election" and voting for Hillary? He preceded it making clear he was talking about the presidential vote:

And there is one candidate who will advance those things. And there’s another candidate whose defining principle, the central theme of his candidacy is opposition to all that we've done.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/09/18/remarks-president-congressional-black-caucus-foundation-46th-annual

[aikoaiko]

25. In his speech he allows the listener to make the connection.

The headline struck me as something he wouldn't say because I don't think he would link a personal insult to him by not voting for a particular person. And as it turns out he didn't say it.

Yes, HRC is the only candidate who will defend his presidential legacy and yes he wants people to vote for Hillary for that reason and more. That's all very clear.

[Igel]

27. So implications aren't part of intent?

When did that happen, because pretty much everybody everywhere thinks otherwise.

Or is it for this particular incident, just to defend our own? Now we focus on meaning, now we focus on what words usually mean, now we focus on what they just might possibly mean, now we focus on what we need them to mean. All are facts and clearly and absolutely indicate intent, depending on who's the Judge and who's the obvious criminal awaiting the sentence we always knew, based on political affiliation, ethnicity, skin color, bank account, etc.

Must defend one's herd and minimize anything that a herd member said. (Then we complain about other forms of herdism, variously named patriotism, jingoism, chauvinism, classism, religious discrimination, racism, ethnicism, ...)

[aikoaiko]

44. Maybe. Maybe not.

[Lokilooney]

53. Possibly maybe

I think what he is getting at is kind of like if you say to someone "I'm not calling you an asshole but..." you kind of actually are calling them as much.

[malthaussen]

2. Interesting slant on the headline.

Although frankly, I think what he said is bad enough. Voting is not about Barack Obama's "legacy."

-- Mal

[CTyankee]

3. Oh, I don't agree! Trump is determined to blow up Obama's legacy and HRC is determined to save it.

That could not be made clearer to those who worked so hard to see a black man become their president.

[malthaussen]

4. I have no argument there...

... but as quoted, the implication is that Mr Obama is making voting all about him, which is as bloody narcissistic as the other guy. The issues at stake lie far beyond the "legacy" of one man.

-- Mal

[retrowire]

6. i feel the same. nt

[CTyankee]

9. I have a different view. I think this is a concerted effort to make sure people understand the

stakes in this election. That they can't sit it out because Obama is not on the ticket or because HRC has been such a point of contention in the past and we have all been aware of it. This is about going forward with our shared values. See?

[George II]

11. Just saw the quote again, he said "my name may not be on the ballot, but PROGRESS is on the ballot"

He wasn't making it about himself, he was making it about where we are today compared to where we were 8 years ago.

I don't understand why CNN or anyone else thinks that it was about him.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. When asked, blacks have voted 93% for the Democratic nominee

We are the most dedicated demographic for the party. My community will stand in fucking lines for hours and hours in the heat in some states and despite onerous Voter ID laws designed to keep us out of the voting booth, just to make sure Democrats get elected. His exhortation is to fire up that turnout machine. We react to "the words" differently than other communities. It is OUR "dog whistle".

Where are the white voters?

[CTyankee]

18. We're right here and many of us "get it."

[BumRushDaShow]

29. :-)

[justiceischeap]

28. As a white voter I've always known just how important your vote is to our democracy

We get it (some of us with functioning brain stems anyway).

[BumRushDaShow]

30. :-)

[ColemanMaskell]

51. Yes, and thank you for that !!! We're all in this together even if some don't realize it

BumRushDaShow, Thank you for pointing that out. Being white myself, and never having had occasion to hang around with black people very much, I did not realize how astonishingly sophisticated about politics they are as a group, until I got a job in Detroit about ten years ago. Naturally I talked to people around me about the importance of getting out to vote, do they need a ride, etc, and when it turned to a discussion of the issues, the black cleaning ladies had more information than I did, understood the important points and not just the details, and held heartfelt convictions. I was deeply impressed by their enthusiasm and in depth comprehension. Some of the white people did have comprehension and dedication, but most did not. Most whites (and other ethnicities) didn't "get it" in the way that almost every black person there got it. So, yes, the black voters are to some extent carrying the rest of us, especially in close elections.

[BumRushDaShow]

56. :-)

[NWCorona]

24. I love Obama but that last sentence is the Truth!

[George II]

8. After all he did to get voting access to more people, voting IS part of Obama's legacy.

[ColemanMaskell]

49. Malthausen: Obama is trying to swing his supporters to get out and back Hillary. Too subtle?

Obama has a big following, just as Bernie has a big following. These two guys are out there trying to convince their followers to get fired up and realize that it is important that we all get out and vote for Hillary.

Some of Bernie's ideas have been woven into Hillary's campaign, and Hillary also supports most of Obama's ideas. But some of their followers were interested more in the men than in continuing to make progress. Obama doesn't want any of his supporters to act like spoiled children who just stay home and don't play anymore. He's telling them that whatever personal fervor they have felt for him should be redirected to supporting the candidate who is going to continue on the same path he walked.

Bernie and Obama are celebrities and as such are trying to energize their fans. It's just misguided to accuse either of them of wanting personal glory. Both have demonstrated themselves to be issues-driven men.

Be as enthusiastic about getting Hillary elected as you were about getting Obama (or Bernie) elected. That's the message.

I for one am ecstatically happy to see Obama turn his considerable ability and charisma towards this task. I wish both him and Bernie the best of luck on it.

[Rocknrule]

5. America is Idiocracy, Obama is Not Sure,

and the GOP has been trying to "rehabilitate" him for the past 8 years

[Dustlawyer]

10. If he is worried about his legacy then he shouldn't sign off on the TPP during the lame

duck session!

[BumRushDaShow]

13. His "legacy" is not just "TPP".

For most of us in the black community, the world does not revolve around "TPP".

[UMTerp01]

35. Thank you. I don't like TPP but in the grand scheme of things its low on the list for me.

I'm a Black/Latino gay man. In the grand scheme of it all TPP is not even close to being a pressing issue for me and not for the Black community either.

[Helen Borg]

14. I don't get this argument...

Regardless of the campaign, why would voters care if how they vote personally offends the current President? Seems like a weak argument. There are so much better arguments to use.

[jcgoldie]

20. I don't think its that hard to figure out

Obama's popularity is higher than its been in years and he's almost universally liked among African Americans. He's trying to argue that a vote for Hillary is a vote for his own legacy. The race for president is a cult of personality and his is an asset. No reason not to milk that for what its worth.

[Helen Borg]

21. Will not go down well with Independents...

[jcgoldie]

22. Why's that?

Obama approval is like 58%. Why would he not appeal to independents?

[Helen Borg]

26. Because Independents

Are not into cult of personality. That is why they are independent.

[BumRushDaShow]

31. This was a speech to the annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

and it was targeting a specific community that votes 90+% for the Democratic Party. It is a clarion call to POC to make sure to vote and not sit it out because we made a difference in the last 2 Presidential elections... and because of the changing demographics in the U.S., can continue to make a difference.

Independent whites will ALWAYS have less to lose, no matter who gets into office, when compared to the black community, because blacks are considered the bottom of the totem pole in this country.

[These Eyes]

34. Thank you for your explanation...

I guess what seems obvious really isn't for some!

[jcgoldie]

36. That's bullshit anyway

To argue that "independents" are somehow less likely to vote for superficial reasons. I would argue exactly the opposite is true. If they call themselves independents in a race like this then ideology isn't so important to them because if the issues were of primary importance then they really couldn't justify being independent could they? The choice is clear if you are an issues based voter. So how are they making their choices if it isn't based on superficial shit like which candidate is more likeable?

[Helen Borg]

37. We'll have an actual test in November

We'll see who is right then.

[jcgoldie]

38. Oh

I understand who you are now. Good day.

[Helen Borg]

39. Glad you understand I'm right. Good day.

[jcgoldie]

40. At some point

You really just need to let the bitterness go if you give a shit about anything Bernie stands for.

[Helen Borg]

42. There is no bitterness. Just polls.

[BumRushDaShow]

43. Polls like this?

http://www.gallup.com/poll/158519/romney-obama-gallup-final-election-survey.aspx

[vdogg]

48. ...

Thread over. Checkmate!

[Coolest Ranger]

16. It troubles me that so many

people are even entertaining the idea of not voting for Hillary. We can't allow Trump to win, period. The Supreme court is at stake people.

[Oneironaut]

19. They forget about Pence.

He's the Trojan horse of a Trump presidency. His views would be best represented by the Price Is Right yodeling guy falling off the edge of the political spectrum. He's an arch-Conservative wacko.

He may be even worse than Trump.
- Anti-education
- Uses his political power and the state government to go after his opponents
- Anti-government (unless, like said above, it's something he agrees with - then, be as authoritarian as possible)
- Heavily anti-LGBT
- Is a shill for the coal industry - uses his political power to block renewable energy
- Anti-legislation against rape. He made it harder for rape victims to get justice.
- Thinks of the environment like an ant and he has the magnifying glass
- Legalized shooting deer who were domesticated on farms - canned hunting for micropenis douchebags. Seriously - this is grotesque. How can anyone who isn't a monster enjoy this? There are wild deer everywhere in the wild.
- Anti-abortion to the extreme
- Tried to create his own propaganda outfit that would spread canned news stories
- Heavy proponent of anti-LGBT bigotry laws. Is a member of the bathroom Gestapo.

Pence is a political abomination. Everyone is focused on Trump, but he's only part of the package. There's a reason Pence hasn't said a word.

[ColemanMaskell]

50. Maybe Pence is Trump's insurance policy -- or not

Maybe Trump and his advisors were thinking that having Pence in place as VP might dissuade progressives from wanting anything that might disable Trump from serving. Impeachment is a real possibility because of Trump's "businesses". Maybe his advisors think we would not press for an impeachment that would cause Pence to inherit the chair.

On the other hand, Pence as VP might have the opposite effect on right-wingers, so maybe not the best insurance policy, since right-wingers have more of a history of setting politics aside in favor of violent direct action; in this case impeachment would probably be the easiest course though so they'd probably go that route.

Pence is nothing special. Most of the Republicans under consideration this time out were a pretty far right wing lot. Cruz is arguably worse than Trump on the issues. Rubio ditto. Rubio said that a pregnant woman with Zika should not be allowed an abortion. How much further anti-abortion does it get than that?

When the Republican candidates make the Libertarian candidate look middle of the road by comparison, things have gone pretty wonky.

But I disagree that Pence would make a worse president than Trump. Bad as he is, he appears to be sane. I would not have the same fear of him starting a nuclear war because someone hurt his feelings.

Trump seems to think he is running for Emperor, but in fact the president is not an emperor and he cannot pass laws without Congress. The president is, however, commander in chief of the military, and having someone with Trump's temperament in that position frightens me considerably.

[heaven05]

17. it's those few trump supporters

in the clips that have me shaking my head. But there are AA republicans, tried and true, because I know some and they truly have convinced themselves that the trumpenfuhrer will make "amerikkka great again". The birther stuff, his families past discriminatory renting policies, all black people out of sight when he visited his money machines(casinos), his quote of "not wanting black people to touch his money", 'the wall', muslim ban, This buffoon hates all 'others', yet they cannot allow themselves to see their emporer has no clothes. I shake my head in shame that they are even showing their faces in that clip. I am angered also. Hey don't get me wrong, it's their american right to support and vote for whom they please, I just end up shaking my head at their stupidity and obvious duplicity. Period. Sorry if this offensive to anyone.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. I think some AA GOP are disillusioned

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/20/us/politics/black-republicans-convention.html?_r=0

It would not surprise me that although many are still appearing to hang in there to support him "in public", "in private" (and in the voting booth) it ain't happening. His campaign has been completely tone deaf to many AA GOPers efforts for outreach and since they have often been so vocal as GOP supporters, they are left in the lurch with little way to save face.

Interesting election demographic analysis from the WaPO this past Friday (9/16/16) -

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/politics/2016-election/the-demographic-groups-fueling-the-election/

Edit to add -When I found the WaPo demo thing, my search results had this that I decided to click on -

https://twitter.com/blacksfortrump

OMG! These people have lost their minds. There is a basket for them -

[heaven05]

54. thank you

for this info. More ammo for the streets, metaphorically speaking, of course

[BumRushDaShow]

55. As an another more recent example

Here is commentary from one of our (Philly's) black newspapers written by a black Republican regarding Trump's trumped-up "meeting" with so-called "Black Leaders" here (who were generally Republicans) -

[font size="4"]GOP not fielding right team to court Blacks[/font]

Raynard Jackson Sep 2, 2016

Imagine the Chicago Bulls of the NBA during the early Michael Jordan years. He was their top draft pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. Jordan’s early years were filled with many lows before he experienced the joys of winning six NBA championships. During the Bulls’ down years, can you imagine Jordan’s first two coaches, Kevin Loughery or Stan Albeck, reaching out to student basketball players from the University of Illinois to ask them how to correct the Bulls’ problems on the court? Do you think the Bulls would have gathered together five guys who played basketball at the local recreation center to get their thoughts on what the Bulls needed to do? The guys at the rec center always dreamed of playing professionally, but for whatever reasons, never got close to fulfilling their childhood dreams.

<....>

As improbable as this scenario is for most people to believe, this happens all the time within the Republican Party when it comes to the rare engagement with the Black community.

One need look no further than Trump’s meeting last week with a few unknown Black Republicans. The meeting was with members of the Black and Latino communities. I am focusing only on the Blacks in attendance, simply because I have more first-hand knowledge about the Black community. There was not one Black who attended the meeting that had any presidential campaign experience. Not one attendee had any real campaign experience. Not one attendee displayed any institutional knowledge of or experience with seasoned Black Republicans.

In essence, those Black Republicans in attendance were like the basketball players from the rec center mentioned above. They may have fantasies of playing in the big leagues, but they have no real experience to play on that level. Yet, they are being asked to advise a presidential candidate. Really? I mean, really?

<...>

Raynard Jackson is founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future, which aims to get more Blacks involved in the Republican Party.

http://www.phillytrib.com/commentary/gop-not-fielding-right-team-to-court-blacks/article_8260d6f9-493e-540f-b403-2646c0031b94.html

[Sunlei]

23. "Congressional Black Caucus Foundation" Entire Obama speech video here, he was awesome! :)

[BumRushDaShow]

33. Thanks for posting!

[Helen Borg]

41. TPP is a personal insult to me...

And to so many informed citizens. And yet, it'll get passed before the end of the year, and the White House will go along and push for it. Guess personal insults are OK in the other direction.

[jcgoldie]

45. personal insult?

Are you for real? You are so narrow minded as to criticize the support of Barrack Obama for HRC and to cheer for polls showing that a fascist bigot is competitive in a race for the presidency of the United States because TPP is a "personal insult"? No bitterness? Well bitterness was being generous because if that's not your motivation then the alternative does not look good for you.

[Helen Borg]

46. Not criticizing Barack Obama for supporting HRC.

And last time I checked Obama's first name is "Barack", not "Barrack".

[jcgoldie]

47. well you got me there

Good show.

[Turin_C3PO]

52. For the black community,

tpp is most definitely not what's at the top of the list. Sorry.