Wonder if Obama Feels Extra Pressure Because He's Black?

[DemocracyInaction]

He has the most ungodly weight of the world on his shoulders----I don't honestly know how he or anyone can breathe under the burden of knowing that the world is on the verge of economic collapse and even the "experts" are just guessing what will work!!! But I would think that deep down inside the man has another pressure.

I would think he has the weight of all minorities and women on his mind and feels he has to succeed and save this nation so that the racists and the good old boys (white)cannot say, "see what happens when it's not a white male in charge"! I think maybe that's where his strength comes from and what keeps him very much in control and forceful. I don't think being an "okay" president is good enough for him...I think he doesn't want to settle for anything less than "great". My prayers go with this young man every day. So much more than economics is riding on his shoulders. Can you imagine what he could really achieve if Bush and the criminal Repukes had not handed him this utter disaster?

[stray cat]

1. I actually think he has so much on his plate that its the least of his concerns

[BlooInBloo]

2. Rule of thumb: It takes 10 "atta boys" to make up for 1 "aw shit"....

As it was put to me a long time ago back in MS.

EDIT: But that pressure is certainly not *new* to him. He's been dealing with it all of his life.

[DemocracyInaction]

3. Bloo--that's why I think...

...it's there and it's a source of strength. He's "been there and done that" and I think there is a determination in him to be more than just elected "twice" around. That always seemed to be the goal of other presidents. But he's very much put it on the line and said "if things don't work then I will not be re-elected". I think he's stood up many times before in his life when others would have given up. He knows how to solve problems instead of being beaten down by them.

[Bobbieo]

4. I think the man is a genius and has the ability to overcome any obstacle!

[treestar]

5. I don't think he lets anything get to him

He is self actualized, with good self esteem. He believes in his own abilities.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

9. Yes. Think about the pressure of the last 2 years. Not to mention a lot of his adult life.

He doesn't let it get to him, hence the "no drama Obama" nickname.

Obama is a unique individual with some unique qualities, and we're really lucky to have him as President.

[damonm]

6. As to your last sentence, DIA...

This "utter disaster" has merely set the stage for the Greatness that our President will show the world.
History, of course, will be the final judge, but already Obama has shown signs of greatness to come; I will be VERY surprised if Obama does not rank among at least the near-greats 10 years from now.

[JSK]

7. I don't think he could care less

n/t

[kwenu]

8. Yes. He does. Every successful Black person in a position of responsibility takes that on.

However, he is well prepared to take on that challenge and it is hardly a new issue for him.

[demokatgurrl]

10. There used to be a feminist saying

"Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men. Fortunately, that's not difficult".

I think the first part of that statement could easily be rewritten to apply to African Americans.

And even Obama's daughter told him that, as the first African American President, he'd better be good! Even SHE knows.

[ellacott]

16. That is the same thing said in black communities

You have to work twice as hard to get half of the recognition.

[Number23]

24. Yep...

"Work twice as hard to get HALF as far." Pretty damn depressing, isn't it???

[Robeson]

11. After following Bush, anyone would have the weight of the world on them....

...regardless of color.

[RIFF RAFF]

12. Well...

Women and minorites do have to prove themselves more, than rich, European, Christian, heterosexual males, like George W. Bush. If Barack Obama fails, Rush Limbaugh, and all the other bigots will say "I told you so!" And they will make sure that they rub it in that is race was the reason why he failed. Some people don't think he's smart enough for the job, because of his race. There was a video when a woman was really scared, and upset, and she said something like, "The democrats just chose an inadequate black man!" Or, something like that. It's the same thing with Sarah Palin. A lot of women were against her because she made women look bad. They were afraid she would set women back years. She would have made it look like a woman could not do "a man's job." Sarah Palin would have been a terrible president, or even vice-president.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

21. That's exactly what I said earlier. Couldn't have put it better...

[yurbud]

13. that shouldn't be a factor as long as he's AT LEAST average, and he has two things going for him...

he's doing great so far, and he's following the worst president in our history. And the fact that he beat someone who was fighting ugly without going ugly himself tells me he's too smart to screw up enough to rank him outside of the top ten of all time--I'd say he's already elbowing into that company.

[genna]

14. He has had to get up twice as early and go to bed twice as late

to get the number of things done he's accomplished so far.

IF he hopes to make sure he's not the last biracial president to be elected like Kennedy (he is the first and only Catholic president thus far right?), he must be twice as smart to be considered half as good too.

The truth of your statement is real. I hope he doesn't spend too much time thinking about all our hopes and dreams. I hope he just does the damn thing and let his supporters & detractors worry about what's left undone.

I recognize this extraneous thought has nothing to do with Obama.
Just like I hope Howard Dean success in steering the Democratic party to the left will multiply his efforts in pushing for a more leftward agenda that has yet to get done considering the current restraints on government. It would be great if his legacy includes uses those red states as incubators for local jurisdictional change for health and wellness. If he can drop back and reformulate the things he wanted to get done on a national level, he can look international and local to reformulate his goals.

Who knows what our future holds if he stays encouraged?

[mshasta]

15. yes!

:grr:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

17. People are putting more pressure on him precisely BECAUSE he is black!

It's something we black people have called "the black tax," which basically means that one has to work twice as hard as whites if you're black, triple that if you're black and a woman, to be considered acceptable. Futher, the standards are raised two- and three-fold, such that they are nearly insurmountable to meet. Consider the blubbering Bush. Imagine if Barack mangled the English language as much as he did. According to polls and surveys, many whites are more likely to point to lack of individual effort as a cause for failure rather than race or racism. They are more likely to say that one must "lift oneself up from one's bootstraps." And yet, Barack and Michelle did everything right. They both came from meager means, faced some challenges, and overcame. And still, it's not good enough. Both are often chastised and accused of being "elitists" because they attended Ivy League schools and such.

Obama cannot win for losing. Everything has been thrust on him. D.L. Hugley said it best the other day: they got the black man to clean up all the messes that the rich, white man created. If he fails, HE will be blamed, not George Bush!

[EraOfResponsibility]

23. *standing ovation*

[Orsino]

18. Only on days ending in "y"... n/t

[Fire1]

19. You mean, literally, 'the weight of the world?" lol.

When I made the dreaded mistake of using this euphemism a while back. I got debased by several. But I guess, it depends on who you are, sometimes.

[spanone]

20. i think he's used to being black

[Top Cat]

22. We always have to under promise and over deliver.

Obama is the right man for the shit that we are in.

1. level heade
2. smart
3. has a smart woman
4. has the American people on his side and wants him to win
5. use to the hate monger