Did President Obama and the Democrats take the Black Community for granted?

By. Itim C

It’s election time and Republicans and Democrats are eagerly taking their message to the people. It’s campaign time and each party is trying to energize their base and gain favor by pandering to their key demographics. This year is a fierce match and all cards will be played in order to argue that one man is better for America then the other. In the bid to gain support among many group of people such as the LGBT community, Latinos, Women and Religious voters yet one group is getting shunned almost entirely - The Black Community. Republicans believe that investing money to persuade Black voters is pointless as we overwhelming vote Democrat and even more so for Barrack Obama, who is regarded as the second largest Black Leader since Martin Luther King Jr. despite avoiding Black issues instead of tackling them head-on like conventional “Black Leaders”. Is Republicans Right? I believe they are simply because there is no real competition for black voters other than on religious issues where conservatism is King. Why should any Republican nominee worry about the plight of an minority group that gets democrat tattooed on them from birth despite having their issues and challenges being underscored routinely by the same political party they are so loyal too. Once upon a time Republicans had a special interest in the Black vote due to the fact Black Republicans actively engaging the party and led their policies to be inclusive to the interest of Black Americans. Republican isn’t a dirty word that translates into “Evil Whitey who claim personal accountability as answer to any claim of inequality within Society” that’s not what the party stands for. It may be the current face of the party but is that a result of other minority groups withdrawing support and creating a tight ideology vacuum that allows the very people we despise to have the voice they do. I firmly believe there is a need for more Black Republicans…. Maybe not right now as the Republican party is everything the Black Community should be voting against and let’s be honest Mitt Romney just doesn’t get Black people. Did President Obama and the Democrats take for granted the Black Community? According to the White House Press and many African-Americans around the Country the answer is a laughable no and to try to make the case otherwise is instant proof that one is “Not down with the cause” or “A uncle Tom who sucks up to white people” and my favorite, “Obama can not risk alienating non-blacks by being perceived as fixated on race”. I agree slightly with the last statement about not being focus on any one race and their problems but when there is a concentrated move to disenfranchise Black voters, call me crazy but I kind of want a president that gets on National television and announce his disgust and vow his commitment to stopping it whether then letting it happen and then telling Black voters to walk on eggshells to meet the requirements of State voting laws that should have been called out for what it was, a republican attack on the civil rights of a group of people least likely to defend themselves. Another source of contention is Obama failure to address Black Unemployment. The Black community suffers the highest unemployment rate and you would think that there would be a concentrated plan to address this. However Obama and democrats often fail to prioritize the “Black Agenda”. The President has recently taken a stance on a important LGBT/Civil Rights issue. I agree with his position and yet I feel sadden. He risk losing the election because he was pressured by a community to make a high risk move at a politically suicidal time. A completely unnecessary move that proves nothing seeing how the LGBT community already had ample proof of the president commitment to their cause, I mean the man already ended Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and gave the wink and the nod that he was “Evolving“. If Obama will go so far to energize this group and further their agenda then why is he very hesitate to personally address the concerns of the Black Community. Barrack Obama broadly supports the middle-lower class but in his blanketed approach I feel the Blacks aren’t getting enough to cover themselves instead they take security in the fact that the man inside of the white house is a biracial individual of Kenyan descent but identify as African-American and has married a partner that ties him further to them. The Black Community is addicted to the Obama Image and why wouldn’t it be when you consider he is the first president that isn’t completely White. At the end of the day I wonder is it a lack of a better alternative or a cultural fear of critically analyzing the President. Although I am far from the first one to notice Barrack Obama treatment of his strongest supporters. Frankly the Black community need to recreate an urgency to seriously address black issues and hopefully after the 2012 elections. More Black people will work within both parties to make sure that political leaders have to work for our votes. There can be no more Obamas, a Black President can not be above Black criticism least their cries for change will go unheard. In addition to rebuilding the Republican party there is a need for greater community activism and social consciousness. Blacks over reliance on one party is not a strength it’s a weakness