Obama has also come under criticism for not dealing with the issue of race in America. The Congressional Black Caucus feels that President Obama has not done enough to create programs specifically tailored to help African Americans.
Obama has responded to the criticism: “I can’t pass laws that say I’m just helping black folks. I’m the president of the United States. What I can do is make sure that I am passing laws that help all people, particularly those who are most vulnerable and most in need. That in turn is going to help lift up the African-American community.”
What is President Obama’s obligation to the black community? I realize that this is a highly controversial subject, so I’ll address it with honesty. In my opinion, his obligation is to serve the entire nation to the best of his ability. If this recession has taught the black community anything, it’s the importance of becoming more competitive in a tough economic climate. Blacks could use this recession as a teachable moment. It is because of this recession, that blacks have become more aware of the government’s limitations. To expect Obama to create policies tailored toward helping the black community exclusively puts blacks in an even more vulnerable position. From there, will African Americans always need a black president in office to advance as a people? We’re better than that.
