By Roger Caldwell
WASHINGTON, DC – According to an article in the Washington Post, it was stated that, “New cracks have begun to show in President Obama’s support amongst African Americans, who have been his strongest supporters.” More African Americans are starting to blame the president for the terrible unemployment numbers of over 16% in the black community. They feel the president needs to focus and develop a plan for the problems impacting our community.
Many African Americans think the president takes our support for granted. Everyone is aware that the president is juggling support from many different constituents and communities, but he has done a poor job with building a strong relationship with the black community. He very rarely comments on specifically what he has done for the black community, and some think the president has done nothing.
“Five months ago, 83% of African Americans held strongly favorable views of Obama, but in a new Washington Post-ABC news poll that number has dropped to 58%. That drop is similar to slipping support for Obama among all groups,” says Ms LeBon.
It is clear that the newest political strategy is to turn the African American community against President Obama. The idea is to get the African American leadership to talk about what the president is not doing in our community. If enough of the leaders are in the news and in the papers, our community will get frustrated and refuse to vote in 2012.
In the Washington Post article it also says, “In July, only 54% of blacks said they thought Obama’s policies were making the economy better compared with 77% the previous year. Similarly, the White House has been sharply criticized in recent months by black political leaders who argue that he has not done enough to help blacks.
The unemployment rate for African Americans hit 16% this summer, the highest rate since 1984, and the members of the Congressional Black Caucus launched a job tour focused on the problem.”
The African American leadership is justified when they criticize the president, because he has failed to show concern for the problems in our community. But they must do a balancing act, because it is important that we show our support for him in the 2012 campaign and election.
The well paid Republicans campaign professionals are placing the entire blame on President Obama’s policies, and he has not done anything to improve the economy. They make it appear that when President Obama took over office, everything was great, and he messed up the economy. But when President Obama took over office, the economy was getting ready to crash, and our position all over the world had diminished.
In 2 ½ years the economy, stock market, the auto industry and credit industry has improved. He has reformed the health care system, improved military pay, increased Pell grants, and is drawing down troops in Iraq. In no way am I saying that President Obama has done everything right, but he needs four more years to develop what he has started.
African Americans are the biggest and staunches’ supporters of President Obama, and that should not change. In the Washington Post article Ms LeBon says, “Overall African Americans still hold a generally favorable view of the president with 86% saying they view him at least somewhat favorably.”
Even though there are cracks in African American support for President Obama, we need to seal up the holes. The African American Media must take the leadership role to inform our community with the truth, and why it is important to support the president in 2012. It also will be essential for the president to reach out and develop a better relationship with the African American community.
