Obama Vows To Keep Talking About Absent Black Fathers

Washington Post:

Sen. Barack Obama said he would continue to chastise absentee black fathers and deliver tough love speeches to the black community, even if the Rev. Jesse Jackson doesn't like it.

Interviewed on his campaign plane last night on the way to San Diego for a speech to a Latino group, the Illinois senator said Jackson had raised his concerns in a private conversation the two had, even before the civil rights leader's caustic comments became public last week. Jackson was caught on video angrily saying that Obama was "talking down to black people."

"We had actually discussed some of the concerns that he had raised about my Father's Day speech," Obama said. "I told him that I absolutely believe we have structural inequalities in this country that have to be dealt with, which is why I have proposed making sure that health care is accessible for every American.... But my argument is simply that's it's not an either/or proposition but a both/and proposition.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[mom2sons]

As I stated before, we know what's going on in our communities. Talk is fine, but where are the jobs, training opportunities, and other pieces that have to be instituted to help the black community. He needs to talk about ALL fathers and mothers being responsible. Talk about handouts. It's OK when we give billions in corporate welfare and subsidies to these big corporations, but direct any money to inner cities for economic development and it's a big brouhaha. We are asking for no favors, but for an equitable distribution of our MF'ing tax dollars too. We are holding onto the belief that everybody will benefit from his election. We are tired of being pooped on too.

Like someone else stated, these last years under Clinton but beginning with Reagan was the conspiracy to put black men in jail and he must do more than just acknowledge this. These policies have been devastating to the community overall. I'm not saying that if you have committed a crime, then you need to do the time, but we all know that this justice system is not for black and other minorities. If we are going to have honest discussion, then we need to call a spade a spade and that's what Jesse was talking about. Just don't talk about this to make black men look bad, because we have some strong and supportive black men in our communities too!

[Dave01]

As a white male, I really wish he wouldn't just direct these comments to absent black fathers, he really needs to address ALL absent fathers.

[robXdion]

And there's the rub. It's convenient to demonize and ridicule ONLY black men. He's trying to score points in doing this. There's nothing wrong with what he said. But he's running for president of ALL Americans, not NAACP Chairman. He could have said this at the Tavis Smiley function he skipped out on. And he's afraid to step on white toes because he wouldn't survive the political fallout.

[heal57]

I am a white woman and assume all men and all women who are irresponsible are included within Obama's message. White males abandon their babies and women too.
Also, women are at fault having too many children they can't afford [all races]. Education; education, education!!

Independent for Obama '08

[ggmome]

Now, I understand Jesse Jackson's remark about Obama 'talking down to Black People'. It is his anger at Obama for rising above Jesse's level of condescending the non supporting fathers of black children, because Jackson is one of them. It was recently exposed, that he was one of those fathers when a paternatity suit was filed against him...

I stopped listening to Jesse Jackson, years ago, when it became apparent that his rhetoric and pseudo intellectual vocabulary was 'affected' to corelate with the principles of Black Ministers on the pulpit. Talking trash fit for the dumpster, without saying anything, it called dazzling you with their footwork, for cause and effect. Which also brings to mind the long history of the 'crab effect'. Those of us who know, will understand­...

[robXdion]

The REAL problem with Obama's speech is that he's not running for NAACP Chairman, so their is no need to single out black men. He gave that speech on Father's Day and skipped mention of white and other non-AA bad fathers. And we all know what will happen if he gives "tough love" to non-AA's, don't we? As president, his purview is ALL bad fathers, not just the black ones. Obama is grandstanding because he knows black males have no political power as a group and they are the "whipping boys" of American society.

No one has quite addressed it this way yet. THAT's the real problem with Obama's selective criticism.

[iswideopen]

Thank you, Senator Obama. It is a conversation that needs to be had and heard. No one should be offended. No, the government can not fix all of these problems, nor should it, but to be bold enough to start somewhere is what I commend you for, as a man. These young men can look at you and say to themselves, I am somebody. All it takes is the planting of the "right" type of seed in their minds. And no, Jessie, it is not talking down to Black people; it's called telling the unbiased truth. I can speak on this matter because I am an African American woman. And your stature as a Black man has been so diminished by your unacceptable behavior. Note to the old guard: Please move and let the new generation thru. We would hate to loose respect for you and all of the contributions you have made. You will never turn us against Obama, so stop trying. We are tired of the hate. You should be more than ashamed of yourself.

[joeyp404]

I thought Dr. Huxtable withdrew from the race. Oh right. Huckabee.

[wutzhappn]

What about absent senators who fail to hold a single meeting of their NATO subcommittee on Afghanistan? What about absent legislators who vote present 130 times on crucial bills including those involving abortion rights? What about an absent nominee who pledged he would fillabuster against FISA but turned around and voted for it? What about an absent candidate for president who claims to be pro-women but pays his female staffers on average $10,000 less a year than their male counterparts? I could go on and on about this failed public servant whose absence has spawned slums in his own Southside Chicago district where his buddies received federal funds for public housing developments that are now unlivable? Talk to me about absent father figures, Barack. You are one of them.

[research]

Obama, Why not talk about ALL absent fathers?

[ofbbg]

Great!! But will he DO anything about them. Let's face it, he'll and his Democrat colleagues will continue the same failed "War on Poverty" programs that encouraged, probably more than any other thing, the destruction of the black family ethic. 70% of black children are born out of wedlock. A disproportionately large percentage of black men are in prison. The drop out rate from high school for inner city black children is a disgrace, and should be an embarrassment to the community as a whole. Talk accomplishes little or nothing! DO something!!

[GravitonX]

Apparently, Obama doesn't think there are absentee white fathers. You tell'em, Barack. Need those white votes.

[4wehttam]

What the heck is going on today? Where are all my posts????!!!! Everywhere I've posted comments today are not showing up........­....why is it worse today? Something changing at Huffpo we don't know about????

[uheardme]

Great.

I hope he also talks about how teachers should be teaching their students, not having sex with them as many caucasians seem to be doing. In San Diego today, a highschool has had to dismiss four teachers (men and women) for having sexual relationships with students.

I hope he talks to women about not having children out-of-wedlock with guys who are not interested in marriage. Dang it, birth control is cheap, children are not. Most rational people know this.

[robXdion]

No he can't do that. It's much more profitable to call black men "boys" and single them out as the ONLY bad fathers on Father's Day. Don't you know?

[harriscrl3]

I'm an AA woman who has no children and I say DO IT. I've seen it in my family my friends and my neighbors this is a discussion we SHOULD be having.

If I were a politician and I was going to provide jobs and close the achievement gap I would make sure I get the biggest bang for my investment and that bang can only come if both parents are taking a role in that child's life. They are chldren who come from single parent families who succeed but they are the ecxeption. It really does take a villiage a child and imo today's children NEED the villiage even more heck I think they need the whole city.

Keep Talking Obama!! Thats what I love about him he doesnt shy away from these controversial things and whats more he is speaking from EXPERIENCE of being raised in a single parent household without a father in his life for much of his life.

Carol

[Sarahjan]

If only Obama stood his grounds on the FISA bill, then all these finger pointing at poor black men may have worked in his favor.

[TrueIndy08]

Thak you Obama... as a blk woman who had an absent father... its purely DISGUSTING to watch these men walk out on their responsibilities without looking back! I'm not going for the victim role either...

Society has nothing to do with you walking out on your child... if you are big enough to lay down and make a baby, you should be big enough to stand up and take care of that baby! NO EXCUSES!

I'm so thankful my husband is such a hands on father who loves his responsibi­lities.... Its people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton who always give blk people a reason to play victim instead of holding them accountable for their disastrous actions...

ITS NO ONE'S FAULT BUT YOUR OWN.... GROW UP!

[Sarahjan]

hjo4

do they teach in America colleg courses in "historical materialism", that" choices" do not structure material reality; it is the other way around : it the the material reality that determine the choices we make. Hence, one day Obama can talk down to poor black men on moral responsibility and fatherhood and then showcase his little girls in Access Hollywood to show that his family is embodiment of the American dream!