STEELE: The problem that we have with this president is that we don't know [Obama]. He was not vetted, folks. ... He was not vetted, because the press fell in love with the black man running for the office. "Oh gee, wouldn't it be neat to do that? Gee, wouldn't it make all of our liberal guilt just go away? We can continue to ride around in our limousines and feel so lucky to live in an America with a black president." Okay that's wonderful, great scenario, nice backdrop. But what does he stand for? What does he believe? ... So we don't know. We just don't know.
The point aside, I still know a few Clinton advisers who would, in their heart of hearts, agree with this.
The real point is, and you can forget Steele for a moment. Where's the evidence that Obama The President is pursuing more liberal policies than Obama The Campaigner proposed? (There's evidence to the contrary in some circles...)
Just wow.
To me, the irony (ok, one of the many ironies) is that I know so much more about Obama than I have known about any President in our history. The man's written two fairly detailed books about his background and his perspective. He's connected his policies to his ideals to his background in a beautifully rational way in almost every speech I've seen him deliver. The press has been (to put it politely) *stalking* him from the day he beat Clinton in the Iowa primary, dissecting every element of his life from his bowling score to his dietary habits. Gallup has, as far as I can tell, polled on his popularity with unprecedented frequency. He's been ridiculed by the right for being a "celebrity" who they just can't get away from--in bookstores, in shopping malls, on television. One can only assume that the true origin of the right's objection to Obama here is that he has demonstrated himself to be a nuanced, sophisticated, complex human being rather than one of the cartoon characters (ahem, Michael Steele) they typically trot out for public consumption.
And obviously, I haven't seen any more liberal policies from President Obama than I saw from Campaigner Obama. The only real surprise with President Obama is that he's actually doing some (not all) of the things that he discussed during the campaign. A fact which does, indeed, require some adjustment for many of us. Just not the kind of adjustment Michael Steele would like to see.
Of course you do--this is why Hillary will never become President because we(blacks) KNOW how they really feel about us.
I would appreciate it if a serious party would emerge so that the dems didn't have a monopoly on black folks for the main reason that there are still a good chunk of white dems who will use us and talk about us behind our backs.
I think the reason why there's no genuine outrage over this (there's fake outrage, of course, funded by Mr. Soros) is because it's basically correct. Obama has many gifts as an individual, but it's his pigmentation that made him President. (And Obama was not above using his race strategically, by maligning those who oppose him as racist: "They’re [Republicans] going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?")
1) In the primaries, blacks overwhelmingly voted for Obama over Clinton.
2) In the general, Independents provided the margin of victory, and a crucial number of those were motivated to vote for Obama because electing a black President would make such voters a part of history, and expiate America's greatest past sin.
I am an independent. I think it's fair to say that Barack Obama was elected president because he displayed character, thoughtfullness, and vision among others. I was impressed with Obama's logic and mannerism in answering questions, the way he faced adversity head-on (Race speech and recently in Notre Dame), his top notch educational background, and the foresight he displayed when he voted no re the Iraq war. Obama might have run as a liberal but from what I can see he's not quite so as president (National security speech). Being black was an added advantage, but this certainly wasn't the reason for why he was elected president! And on that note, what chances does Mr. Steele have to be nominated for president?
Total number of black governors: 1
Total number of black senators: 1
But of course Obama won the presidency solely because of his race.
We really have a long way to go.