The only black man to have President Obama’s ear during his tenure now says he’s disappointed that Obama hasn’t spoken more on race. Rev. Al Sharpton, who has had more access to Obama than most people in the African-American community, is beginning to mildly criticize Obama now that the president is a lame duck.
During a 60 Minutes interview during Obama’s first term, Sharpton revealed that he’d taken a vow of silence where President Obama was concerned–hear no evil, see no evil, and certainly speak no evil–at least during Obama’s first term. Even though Sharpton has proclaimed himself an advocate for black people, he has declined the opportunity to amplify the voices of blacks during the Obama administration, preferring instead to remain mute.
Back when Sharpton could’ve used the black vote as leverage to hold Obama accountable, he chose not to criticize Obama… on anything. But now that Obama is a lame duck who hasn’t signed anything of significance during his second term, Sharpton’s putting his pinky toe in the water.
“I think he wrongly is blamed for using the race card, but I think many of us are frustrated he hasn’t brought up race as it relates to him more than he has,” said Shartpon during an appearance on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ this week.
The truth is that there are Americans who hate having a black president and everyone knows it, but protecting Obama from racists is not nearly as important as Obama protecting his black constituents from systemic racism, much of which stems from legislation.
Here’s the rub: Rev. Sharpton is still going on mainstream news to defend one black man, Obama, as opposed to doing the bidding of the millions of black Americans in this country who don’t have Secret Service or a communications arm.
Once Obama leaves the White House, he’ll be fine. The same can’t be said of African-Americans who’ve watched as the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act and struggled to keep their head above water during the Great Recession.
Once Obama bids us farewell in 2016, I hope Rev. Al Sharpton won’t be too far behind.
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Thursday, January 23rd 2014 at 1:04PM
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