Last
week President Obama delivered his final keynote address to the Congressional
Black Caucus Foundation, habitually
not the kind to wear his heart on his sleeve, the President surprised many with
his uncharacteristically animated demeanor and his thunderous tone. The highlight
of the speech was when he said he would consider it a
‘personal insult’ if the African American community failed to turn out for the
presidential election in November and vote for Hillary Clinton.
It was almost as if the President was ordering the African American community to
vote the way he felt suitable the only objective being to maintain his legacy. In
Obama‘s mind he was perfectly within his right to make demands from his
community. But the principle remains that in order earn the right to dictate you
first fulfill all your duties. Has Barack Obama performed his all his duties towards
the African American community?
Let’s look at
the situation of African Americans under President Obama.
The poverty rate for African Americans is
now 25.8% with
one in three black children lives in poverty. Under President Obama, the number
of African American surviving on food-stamps has escalated from 7.3 million to 11
million, which is a staggering increase by 58.2 percent. Despite the $275
billion in housing-market bailouts from the Obama administration, house ownership among African
Americans has reduced from 46.1% in 2009 to 43.3% in 2016.
Less than half of young African American men
are employed with full-time job. The African American workforce reduced,
from 58.6% in 2007 to 52.8% in 2012. The median income for an African
American family is now almost fifth lower than it was when Obama took office
with a net worth of just $18,100.
After there were police
shootings of African Americans, more than often President Obama was quick blame
law enforcement even before the facts were in. It has to be remembered that
Obama lambasted a police officer for arresting Harvard University professor
Henry Louis Gates, saying the cop "acted stupidly." When Michael Brown was shot in Fergusson,
Obama claimed that his death "stains the heart of black children."
Upon Freddie Grey's death in police custody in Baltimore, Obama said that
"this is not new, and we shouldn't pretend it's new." This is certainly
not the sort of measured words expected from the man who is the leader of the African
American community. It only enables the creation of a volatile atmosphere and cements
a victim complex. Criminal elements feel
that no matter what they do, they can hide behind the excuse that the police is
racist and out to get them. While impressionable African American youth begin
to believe that they will be discriminated no matter what. It has to be noted contrary to the narrative
being perpetuated that 494 Caucasians were killed by police this year, compared to 258 African
Americans and 172 Hispanics. In fact if the recent Charlotte shooting the officer who shot African American Keith Lamont Scott was African American himself. To sum it up there most certainly will be racists in the police force but there is no evidence to suggest that the cops are out to get African Americans. President Obama should have led the argument from the front but alas nothing of that sort happened
President Obama’s
inability to bridge the racial divide gave rise to hate groups such as ‘Black
Lives Matter’ that actively calls for murder of law enforcement officers and blames
all violence against African Americans on Caucasians. It has to be noted that
members of this group received patronage at the White house. It is also interesting
to note that Black Lives Matter and Obama never speak or protest against the rampant
gun violence menace in Chicago where both the perpetrator and victim are
African Americans.
To sum it up, we see
a complete contrast from the sentiments of hope that were felt when President
Obama was elected and what actually occurred during his tenure. He could have
been a positive role model for the African American community citing his own
example that education is the only way to achieve success. He could have lead
initiatives that helped the African American community tackle problems related
to crime, drugs and the collapse of the family structure. It is quite clear
that on every front, the African American have suffered and the policies of
Obama and the Democrats have failed them. Hillary Clinton is likely to continue
where Obama left in pandering and adding to the victimhood complex while doing
very little for the empowerment of African Americans. But most troubling is Clinton
herself has displayed questionable opinions towards the African American community, despite
what she may say in public.
There is no doubt that Africa Americans have not benefitted
under Obama and the Democrats, despite voting
for Obama at a rate of 95 per cent both in 2008 and 93 per cent in 2012. We
must trust Obama when he said Hillary will carry forward his legacy. But where
does that lead the Africa American community? The principle is rather simple,
if the current way of doing things is not working, you just have to try an
alternative. So why not look at the only viable alternative
is Donald Trump? Let’s try and ignore the vicious falsehoods perpetrated by the
media and the Democrats and focus on facts to examine various issues that
matter and Trump’s position on them.
One of the major
reasons for wage reduction and unemployment is illegal immigration. Employers often
hire illegals instead of, particularly for entry level jobs to save on wages. Illegal
immigration is also linked with crime and drugs. Donald Trump is the only
candidate has pledged to attempt to aggressively counter the illegal
immigration problem. He has promised to strengthen the borders and initiate deportation
of illegals beginning with criminal illegal immigrants.
The world is
currently grappling under the menace of Islamic terrorism. The US has witnessed
several incidents of terrorism committed over the year. In almost every
situation President Obama and the Democrats are more concerned about being
politically correct, refusing to pronounce the cause of the attacks and using
it as an excuse for gun control. It has to be noted that words ‘Islamic
Terrorism’ is rarely uttered by the President. Obama and Hillary have already
pledged to take in thousands of Syrian refugees whose background is largely
unknown and who could wreak havoc in the US just like they are in Europe. When
terror strikes it is irrespective of race, color or creed. The only man who has
pledged to take on the terrorists is Donald J Trump. He has also stated that he
will strengthen the vetting process and have a temporary ban on nationals from
countries that support terrorism.
Trump has promised
to lower income taxes for everyone, making raising a family more affordable for
working families, simplify the income tax from 7 brackets to 3 brackets,
exclude childcare expenses from taxation. This would benefit everyone
particularly working class individuals.
Trump has promised
to renegotiate trades deals such as TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) and NAFTA
(North American Free Trade Agreement). Economist Joseph Stiglitz had said that TPP served the interests of the
wealthiest. TPP is regarded is regarded by many as a job killer in the US. On
the NAFTA front, according economist Robert Scott the agreement has caused
682,900 jobs in the US to be "lost or displaced". With Hillary these
deals will continue and only the very rich will be served. The only candidate
who has promised to re-negotiated or withdraw from both NAFTA and TPP is Donald
Trump. This will clearly benefit the working class and regular folks.
It must be
remembered that Hillary Clinton voted for the war in Iraq that cost US
trillions of dollars, and above all an irreparable loss of life. The power
vacuum caused by the invasion gave rise to the terror group ISIS that has inspired
and caused attacks in the US and Europe. Not to learn from her mistakes Hillary
led the intervention in Libya that also caused a great loss of life and money.
Both Libya and Iraq are still used by terror groups are a cause for
recruitment. Trump is the only candidate that has promised a stop to foreign
intervention and a total focus on rebuilding the US on every front that seems
to be crumbling under the current administration.
One of the main
reason that African Americans are unable to rise up socially is the lack of education.
The rising costs associated with College education make it beyond reach of the
average individual. Trump has has promised to enhance education options for
students through school choice and charters, and respect homeschoolers in their
quest for educational alternatives. He also promised affordable college so
students aren’t buried in debt.
Albert Einstein said that the definition of insanity is
to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.
For almost five decades a majority of African Americans have voted Democrat but
they still find their situation has not improved. It could be said that the
Democrats have probably taken the African American vote for granted. Also, with
the help of a media and politicians themselves a perception had been created
that the GOP is racist leaving most African Americans with the impression that
they have no choice. A look at Trump’s positions make it clear that he want to
keep every Americans safe by fighting terrorism, he want to bring back jobs by
re-negotiating trade deals and combatting illegal immigration, he wants to make
life easier for the working class by reforming tax and he wants to make
education affordable for the regular folks. All this will benefit everybody
that includes African Americans.
To
sum it up Trump stands for empowerment while Hillary stands for appeasement. It
is time for the African Americans to take their future back and not keep
supporting for those who have taken them for granted. It is time to take
charge, time to vote for Trump.
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