Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States of America. Not a single president has served this country without having some of his policies, efforts and decisions debated by American citizens.
In 2011, every American can disagree with one or more presidential decisions, with one exception: African Americans.
I am fed up with blacks turning on each other and criticizing each other all because some blacks can make up their own minds about presidential decisions and other black people believe that “a black president” can do anything or say anything he wants to in America and in the world without scrutiny.
First of all, I should explain to power-worshipers that Barack Obama is not a “black president.” Obama is the president of the United States who is, or happens to be, black. There is a difference.
I don’t expect the 44th president to say or do everything that some black citizens want him to say or do. I hope and pray that the 44th president will do, to the best he can, what is fair and what is right for all Americans.
The most vocal critics and praisers of the 44th president appear to me to be the people who know the least about presidential politics and about politics in general.
Presidents are just like everybody else in America; they are not perfect. Most presidents do some good things and they also make some mistakes in judgment, policies and in actions.
Most presidents, especially those seeking re-election, will more likely do what their campaign contributors want them to do and are less likely to do what their voters or constituents want them to do.
Most presidents sincerely desire to perpetuate the existing system of governing than to make many drastic or necessary changes.
Most presidents will promise or say anything to get elected or re-elected even though they are fully aware that they alone can do far less than they suggest or less than the voters think they can do.
I can see it, but perhaps you can’t, that there is a new generation of black voters who are “disses” and are oftentimes dis-something.
They are disadvantaged, dissatisfied, disillusioned, disrespected, distraught, disinterested, disposed, displeased, disenfranchised, disengaged, disgusted,dishonored, disinclined, disingenuous, disorderly, dispelled, dispersed, dispensed, disgruntled, displaced, disinherited, dislodged, disfavored, disgraced, disturbed — and I could go on and on and on.
Now, don’t get it twisted. Any American, regardless of color or creed, can criticize or praise the 44th president as much as they desire in a country that has freedom of speech.
My issue is with blacks who support blacks with “titles” but hate to vigorously support other blacks who have accomplished or contributed.
As an editorial columnist, I am attacked when I rubber-stamp things the president does and also when I criticize actions taken by the president.
I will never support the dismantling of programs like Medicare and Social Security to finance tax cuts for the richest Americans. Nor will I support the financing of unnecessary bombings and wars when war money could be used to put people back to work. I voted for the 44th president in the last election and I probably will vote for him in 2012 but I am also going to tell the truth about the 44th president, whether his boot-licking, neocolonialist, Uncle Tom, politically ignorant lackeys want me to tell the truth about him and American politics or not.
Lucius Gantt is a consultant based in Tallahassee and author of the book Beast Too: Dead Man Writing. He may be reached at www.allworldconsultants.net.
Photo: Lucius Gantt
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