R.U. Ready? Tough Road Ahead
I don’t want to be the bearer of bad tidings, but it is my opinion that we (Americans) are in for a tough road ahead. Looking briefly at the economic situation, the recent multi-billion dollar bailout of Wall Street is an incredibly expensive package that will take months (if ever) to trickle down to us on so-called Main Street. It is unbelievable that our would-be leaders, who originally voted against the $700 billion bailout plan, turned around and added an extra $150 billion in pork projects on Friday, October 3 and passed the damn thing. This $150 billion in earmarks includes dollars for rum imports and the NASCAR and movie industries to name a few beneficiaries. Now, did you approve or ask for these appropriations? I know I didn’t. This is politics as usual where our leaders claim to be representing the interests of their constituents during the campaign season, and go to Washington and do what they want. Aside: Both Senators Obama and McCain voted for the bill.
On to the election. We’re just under a month away from the election and although Barack Obama is currently enjoying a slight lead in the polls over John McCain, he still has his work cut out for him. Looking at recent TV ads, I’d say that the gloves are off and there are no holds barred. Let me state here that I am unequivocally a Barack Obama supporter, but I am increasingly frustrated by the fact that he and the political pundits seemingly take the black vote for granted. I scan the news channels, the net and my local papers on a regular basis and never do I hear or read any talk about the black vote and how it will (or will not) affect the outcome of the 2008 Presidential election. You hear the pundits talk about the women’s vote, the married women’s vote, the single women’s vote, the Latino vote, the blue collar vote and this, that, one thing or another. I have yet to hear any significant discussion on either side of the aisle – Democrat or Republican – about the black vote. I am well aware that when Obama becomes president, he’ll be the president for all the nation, not the black president for us. By the same token, he should acknowledge the fact that his people – black people – (and he is black even though he had a hard time saying so on 60 Minutes early on in his campaign) are the ones who are going to take him over the top. The secret weapon, so to speak. Bill Clinton acknowledged as much when U.S. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown was killed in that fateful plane crash in 1996. Ron Brown was responsible for rallying the black community to support President Clinton and Bill acknowledged that he did an excellent job. Does Barack Obama have such a point person? I don’t know of one.
Any way, I’ll end here by saying what we all know we have to do -- get out there and show them that we count. I’d love to get your feedback. Hit me back.
Peace & Blessings….cb
On to the election. We’re just under a month away from the election and although Barack Obama is currently enjoying a slight lead in the polls over John McCain, he still has his work cut out for him. Looking at recent TV ads, I’d say that the gloves are off and there are no holds barred. Let me state here that I am unequivocally a Barack Obama supporter, but I am increasingly frustrated by the fact that he and the political pundits seemingly take the black vote for granted. I scan the news channels, the net and my local papers on a regular basis and never do I hear or read any talk about the black vote and how it will (or will not) affect the outcome of the 2008 Presidential election. You hear the pundits talk about the women’s vote, the married women’s vote, the single women’s vote, the Latino vote, the blue collar vote and this, that, one thing or another. I have yet to hear any significant discussion on either side of the aisle – Democrat or Republican – about the black vote. I am well aware that when Obama becomes president, he’ll be the president for all the nation, not the black president for us. By the same token, he should acknowledge the fact that his people – black people – (and he is black even though he had a hard time saying so on 60 Minutes early on in his campaign) are the ones who are going to take him over the top. The secret weapon, so to speak. Bill Clinton acknowledged as much when U.S. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown was killed in that fateful plane crash in 1996. Ron Brown was responsible for rallying the black community to support President Clinton and Bill acknowledged that he did an excellent job. Does Barack Obama have such a point person? I don’t know of one.
Any way, I’ll end here by saying what we all know we have to do -- get out there and show them that we count. I’d love to get your feedback. Hit me back.
Peace & Blessings….cb
Do you think Clinton had anything to do with Ron Brown's death? You are spot on in your piece, I was just curious about what you think. And I want to know what people think is going to happen next with the economy and what they're prepared to do to make it through. Are we going to stop flossing, finally?