Anderson@Large

Race Relations in the Age of Obama

Two new polls show race still matters.

A Zogby Interactive poll found that 45 percent of likely voters say race relations “have worsened over the two years that Barack Obama has been president.” Thirty-seven percent say there is “no difference”; a mere 13 percent believe race relations have improved.

Similarly, a Washington Post poll found that 35 percent think race relations have improved in the Age of Obama, down from 58 percent in January 2009. Fifty-one percent of black Americans say Obama has helped race relations, down from 75 percent on Inauguration Day.

There is a racial gap in whether African Americans overall have moved on up. The Post reports:

Almost half of whites say that blacks have achieved racial parity, up significantly since Obama's inauguration two years ago. By contrast, views among African Americans have barely budged since Obama took office: Just 19 percent of blacks now see a level playing field. Then, as now, about half say racial equality either won't be achieved in their lifetimes or never will be.

[…]

In January 2009, most whites also anticipated Obama's bringing about a thaw in race relations; fewer than one in three now sees such progress. Among whites, 47 percent say racial equality has been achieved, up nine points over the two years.

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Remembering Dr. Dorothy I. Height

Civil rights icon Dr. Dorothy Irene Height will be funeralized today at 10 a.m. ET. 

President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama will attend Dr. Height’s funeral at the Washington National Cathedral. The President will deliver the eulogy.

By Presidential Proclamation, flags will be flown at half-staff at the White House and other public buildings:

As a mark of respect for the memory of Dorothy Height, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that, on the day of her interment, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day. I further direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

The National Cathedral is located about five miles from the headquarters of Dr. Height’s beloved National Council of Negro Women.

I spent Election Day 2008 at NCNW, where the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation monitored voter turnout and problems at the polls.

Dr. Height joined us to watch the election returns. When the election was called for Barack Obama, she shared her thoughts:

Many people lost their lives working to get the vote. For a while we received the vote but we weren’t using the vote. We learned how to use that vote and you see the results tonight.

In many instances we are the swing vote. Just because we are a minority doesn’t mean that we can’t make a difference. We all should be proud that we have a man like Barack Obama. He prepared himself and he carried himself throughout this with dignity and strength. Whether they voted for him or not, they have to acknowledge that he has been presidential all the way.

As to the meaning of a President Obama:

It means that what I’ve worked for has not been in vain. I see in Barack Obama a sense of the future and realize the strength that’s in our people. A young man who’s so devoted, so sincere, and so able to do what he wants to do.

The jockeying has begun to claim the civil rights mantle, but no one can fill her Ferragamo pumps. When the good Lord made Dr. Height, he broke the mold.

Let’s count our blessings that we had her for 98 years. Dr. Height was a drum major for justice who has earned her place in American history and in our hearts.

A Black Agenda? Yes, We Can!

I viewed a live stream of the latest iteration of Tavis Smiley’s talkfest, “We Count! The Black Agenda is the American Agenda.”

Given the givens, I expected little more than infotainment. So, I was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful critique of President Barack Obama and the proposed solutions to the jobless crisis in the African American community.

It’s a reflection of black folks’ confusion in the Age of Obama that African American scholars, thought leaders and political influentials have to defend answering the question: Is there a need for a black agenda?

By contrast, Latino leaders and illegal immigrant advocates show no such confusion. They criticize Obama without apology. And they have the audacity to march on Washington and demand that Obama focus on their agenda ahora.

 
Though I oppose comprehensive immigration reform amnesty, I agree with the open borders crowd: Change takes courage.

Chicago alderman Dorothy Tillman, an early supporter of then-candidate Barack Obama, observed:

We have a responsibility to bring the question to the President of the United States. When you look at black people today, I’ve never seen black folks so fearful and scared. Black folks are in pain. And this is the first time since we’ve been in this country that we’ve been in pain and scared to do something about it.

[…]

When Obama says a rising tide lifts all boats, he means it. But the descendants of enslaved Africans have a different experience . . . When it comes to blacks, they tell us to shut up.

Georgetown Prof. Michael Eric Dyson refuses to shut up. Dyson reminded Obama that he’s an American, too:

You are the president of everybody. That includes me. I’m from Detroit. I don’t have to be white to be part of America.

Dyson added:

Latinos asked for something, and they got something. Gays and lesbians said: “Don’t ask, don’t tell, change it.” Our Jewish brothers and sisters said, “Deal with Israel,” you deal with them.

Why is it when it comes to Negroes . . . when it comes to black folks, we are suddenly persona non grata? I tell you that every president before you has had to deal with the black agenda. How are you going to be any different?

The panelists’ criticism was cloaked “in love.” But what’s love got to do with it.

The issue is whether African Americans will remain silent and hope “a rising economic tide for all will lift African-American boats.”

Obama’s FY 2011 budget, meanwhile, provides funds to “expand opportunities” for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The bottom line: Constituency groups, including women, Asian and Pacific Islanders and Native Americans, are not waiting. They are demanding that Obama focus on their agenda. Right now.

Let’s Remind Obama

President Barack Obama was scheduled to meet with Senators Charles Schumer and Lindsey Graham on Monday.

During a press gaggle aboard Air Force One, Bill Burton, the deputy White House press secretary, said the purpose of the meeting was to get an “update”:

It’s as simple as getting an update from them on efforts to create bipartisan immigration legislation.

The now-canceled meeting would have come on the heels of congressional visits by Latino leaders and activists.

Immigration reform is a top priority for Latino leaders who unfailingly remind Obama he received 67 percent of their vote.

Latinos are looking for more than an update. Clarissa Martínez De Castro, director of Immigration and National Campaigns at the National Council of La Raza, writes:

But let’s be clear. If the meeting is just to “hear more,” it’s not going to cut it. ...

With the Congressional legislative runway getting crowded and time running out before the November elections, it is time to land this plane. Monday’s meeting must be followed by a clear, bipartisan proposal and a firm timeline for Senate action. Anything less will be regarded as more stalling by the tens of thousands coming to DC to march in two weeks.

Latinos’ model for civic engagement and accountability should be replicated by African American leaders and activists. It bears remembering that Obama received 95 percent of the black vote.

Black leaders must remind him that he promised minority entrepreneurs that “help is on the way”:

Don’t wait. People have to continue to innovate, look for new customers, try to find creative ways to turn crisis into opportunity, retool for the future. But I want them to know that help is on the way.

Most states, if not all the states, have provisions in place to ensure minority, women and small businesses participation. We expect states to abide by their local rules. Obviously, federal rules are going to pertain as well when it comes to, for example, making federal buildings more energy efficient. Should that be part of the package, we’re going to be very clear about making sure that goals are set that ensure participation of every type of business imaginable.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports:

Hispanic and black businesses are receiving a disproportionately small number of federal stimulus contracts, creating a rising chorus of demands for the Obama administration to be more inclusive and more closely track who receives government-financed work.

Latinos and blacks have faced obstacles to winning government contracts long before the stimulus. They own 6.8 and 5.2 percent of all businesses, respectively, according to census figures. Yet Latino-owned business have received only 1.7 percent of $46 billion in federal stimulus contracts recorded in U.S. government data, and black-owned businesses have received just 1.1 percent.

Imagine that.

Mr. President, It’s Cold on Main Street

President Barack Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address tonight. Obama will propose a three-year freeze on “non-security” discretionary spending to rein in the federal deficit.

Never mind that candidate Obama said “the problem with a spending freeze is you’re using a hatchet where you need a scalpel.”

Bottom line: Obama was against a spending freeze before he was for it.

A proposed spending freeze leaves former Labor Secretary Robert Reich cold:

The bigger news is Obama is planning a three-year budget freeze on a big chunk of discretionary spending. Wall Street is delighted. But it means Main Street is in worse trouble than ever.

A pending freeze will make it even harder to get jobs back because government is the last spender around. Consumers have pulled back, investors won't do much until they know consumers are out there, and exports are miniscule.

[…]

His three-year freeze on a large portion of discretionary spending will make it impossible for him to do much of anything for the middle class that’s important. Chalk up another win for Wall Street, another loss for Main.

During a recent economic recovery workshop Ryan Sweet, a senior economist with Moody’s Economy.com made a similar warning about the risk of cutting back on government spending:

A self-sustaining expansion will only happen if stimulus spending is not withdrawn too quickly.

Young, Gifted and Black and Crossing Over

In a book set to hit the stores today, “Game Change,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unwittingly revealed his views on race:

He was wowed by Obama’s oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama -- a “light-skinned” African American “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,” as he said privately. Reid was convinced, in fact, that Obama’s race would help him more than hurt him in a bid for the Democratic nomination.

Reid has since apologized for his “poor choice of words” Kinsley gaffe.

President Barack Obama was quick to issue a statement accepting Reid’s apology:

Harry Reid called me today and apologized for an unfortunate comment reported today. I accepted Harry’s apology without question because I’ve known him for years, I’ve seen the passionate leadership he’s shown on issues of social justice and I know what’s in his heart. As far as I am concerned, the book is closed.

While Obama has closed the book, Reid’s racially offensive comments open a new chapter in racial politics. I will have more on Reid in the coming days. But I’m not going to let him steal my joy.

Tonight, PBS’ “American Masters” presents “Sam Cooke: Crossing Over.” Interestingly, Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” was the soundtrack to Election Night celebrations in 2008.

The one-hour documentary is narrated by Danny Glover. Parenthetically, Obama recently brushed off Glover’s criticism about his trickle-down approach to issues of importance to African Americans.

Cooke’s story features interviews with other music legends, including James Brown, Smokey Robinson and Billy Preston. To check your local listing, go here.

Clinton Pollster Got $6 Million from Stimulus

The Obama administration is the most transparent in history. As Recovery.gov data are reviewed, some stimulus-funded projects are stimulating outrage.

Recovery.gov reports that Burson-Marsteller, a global public relations and communications firm, received $5,966,260 in stimulus funds to “educate and advertise the congressionally mandated switch to digital television.” The PR campaign targeted “difficult to reach communities.”

Mark Penn, the, um, brains behind Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, is CEO of Burson-Marsteller. With nearly $6 million in hand, Penn awarded a $2,797,377 subcontract to his “sister company,” Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates.

Burson-Marsteller claims Penn’s firm only received $142,000.00. Hey, tell it to Recovery.gov, which lists two subrecipients.

By the way, the number of jobs created: Zero:

This project preserved 3 full-time jobs (on an annualized basis) at Burson-Marsteller that would have been eliminated without the benefit of this assignment and the revenue earned from it.

Perhaps one of the jobs Penn preserved was his own.

In further Recovery news, ProPublica found that 2,500 recipients have not filed the required report. The missing reports account for at least $2 billion in stimulus funds.

Folks, if you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.