• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Has obama brought the races together[W:225]

has obama brought races together

  • no. obama made race relations worse

    Votes: 39 67.2%
  • yes, obama has united races as never before

    Votes: 2 3.4%
  • obama has had no effect on race relations

    Votes: 17 29.3%

  • Total voters
    58

sawyerloggingon

Banned
DP Veteran
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
14,697
Reaction score
5,704
Location
Where they have FOX on in bars and restaurants
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Independent
In another thread someone tried to tell me Obama has united the races. His sole argument for this was that whites voted for him. IMO Obama has made race relations even worse and has squandered a golden opportunity to bring this country together with his divisive statements and the way he has inserted himself into various race related issues in a Sharpton, Jackson like fashion. I'm curious what others think and why.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

In another thread someone tried to tell me Obama has united the races. His sole argument for this was that whites voted for him. IMO Obama has made race relations even worse and has squandered a golden opportunity to bring this country together with his divisive statements and the way he has inserted himself into various race related issues in a Sharpton, Jackson like fashion. I'm curious what others think and why.
In a country where people still hate and fear blacks, especially black men, how exactly was he supposed to bring us together? Even before he was elected the overt racists here were screaming for his head. What he eventually has to do, in high profile race cases, is make some sort of statement. That's not inserting himself, and I'm quite sure that's the last thing he wants to have to do.

We are still a racist country. Obama can't fix that and frankly, that's not his job either.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

It sounds awfully desperate when people compare Obama to Al Sharpton.

You might as well compare Mitt Romney to Fred Phelps.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

Obama make everything worse!
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

Obama's effect on race relations is more complex than "did he bring races closer or pusher them farther apart?" His mere presence and his actual behavior have had several, sometimes conflicting effects on people of various races.

1. His mere election to the office of the President has been inspiring to many, especially black Americans.

2. His mere election to the presidency also caused people to overstate the progress we've made with racism in this country. Because of those overstatements, many people, particularly black and other non-white, Americans became frustrated with the mostly white people downplaying racism.

3. His mere election was taken poorly by many white racists who attacked his race directly or indirectly by invoking stereotypes in their political criticisms and by speaking to him and about him as whites have historically talked down to black people.

4. His comments about race and events like the killing of Trayvon Martin have been welcomed by many, especially black and other non-white, Americans. Indeed, those speeches have made many of them feel that they finally have a voice in such a high office. Such comments have also rubbed many people, especially white conservatives, the wrong way because they feel that Obama is attacking white people.

In other words, he - as an individual - hasn't really brought races closer or pushed them farther apart. His presence and his actions have had many effects.

The important thing, however, to remember is that many of the reactions people have had to Obama and his behavior in terms of race are more indicative of their attitudes towards race than indicative of anything Obama did. That's why attempts to hold Obama responsible for negative feelings many white people feel towards his comments about race are inappropriate. For instance, when Obama made his recent speech on racism after the Zimmerman trial, many white conservatives claimed that Obama caused racial discord. However, it's not that he was causing racial discord. It's that many racist, delusional white conservatives were uncomfortable with what Obama said.

In sum, what I'm saying is that one should be careful not to make the mistake of holding Obama responsible for people's responses to him.
 
Last edited:
Re: Has obama brought the races together

In a country where people still hate and fear blacks, especially black men, how exactly was he supposed to bring us together? Even before he was elected the overt racists here were screaming for his head. What he eventually has to do, in high profile race cases, is make some sort of statement. That's not inserting himself, and I'm quite sure that's the last thing he wants to have to do.

We are still a racist country. Obama can't fix that and frankly, that's not his job either.

What high profile case has he had to make a statement on? He has made statements on cases that are not racially charged and then creates a racial charge..... :roll:
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

Obama's effect on race relations is more complex than "did he bring races closer or pusher them farther apart?" His mere presence and his actual behavior have had several, sometimes conflicting effects on people of various races.

(Snip)

In sum, what I'm saying is that one should be careful not to make the mistake of holding Obama responsible for people's responses to him.

Well said! Obama himself has done very little to affect race relations. But his presence has made the racists shout a whole lot louder and better illuminated already existing race problems.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

In my view, Obama hasn't done all that much to repair or worsen race relations.

The same can't be said for his supporters and minions. Why, even here on this forum, it seems that no matter what the topic liberals will very frequently inject race into the thread...for no other purpose, it seems, than to stifle discussion of the topic of the thread. The same is done by the media, activists and Obama administration members. I see it as a tactic to stifle anyone opposed to whatever topic that particular liberal doesn't want to deal with.

The bad thing about Obama is that he doesn't do what he can to reduce this sort of thing...even though he is in a unique position to do so.

Oh...and before y'all get all excited, no...I don't think Obama should say anything directly about our forum members who use this tactic. He could, however, make general statements about those who play the race card at any opportunity, be it in the media, online or in general conversation.

All he has to do is take a stand and lead...but we all know how hard it is for him to do that.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

While he has interjected himself into a couple issues that he should have left alone, primarily for the dignity of the office, I feel that he has actually been pretty restrained and overall pretty reasonable. I don't think he has done anything to make things either worse or better.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

What high profile case has he had to make a statement on? He has made statements on cases that are not racially charged and then creates a racial charge..... :roll:

I don't think its fair to accuse Obama of giving Martin/Zimmerman its racial overtones, that was there straight from the start and its left-wing punditry we have to thank for that.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

In another thread someone tried to tell me Obama has united the races. His sole argument for this was that whites voted for him. IMO Obama has made race relations even worse and has squandered a golden opportunity to bring this country together with his divisive statements and the way he has inserted himself into various race related issues in a Sharpton, Jackson like fashion. I'm curious what others think and why.

Although I think Obama would have hoped to bring the races together more, he's faced some unique complications in that regard. As the first black President of the United States, he's had to be careful NOT to be seen as "the BLACK President" as opposed to the President of all of America. Secondly, there have been those in his political opposition who understand that challenge and use it against him by consistently not only highlighting his race but doing so in way to amplify and magnify racial animosity. For example, today of the Drudge Report there are two headlines that in my opinion were worded to maximize racial divisiveness and animosity. The first is the headline linking to the tragedy involving the WWII Vet who was senselessly murdered. The Drudge Report was careful to include the race of the suspect in the headline. The second was about the senseless murder of the college baseball player in Oklahoma that read something to the effect that interracial violent crime was overwhelmingly blacks victimizing whites featuring the mugshots of the two black teens arrested in the case but omitting the white teen. I recall the after school bus fight involving two kids of different races where not only the Drudge Report but several high profile conservative leaning media outlets gave the story significant coverage, made it look like blacks were on a mission to harm whites and then linked in the election of President Obama. I think of Shirley Sherrod, who's testimony of faith and forgives was edited to make it look like the Obama administration discriminates against white farmers. Many of these media outlets practically celebrate urban violence especially if it occurs in Chicago as well as losing the US Olympic host award. Its a disturbing state of affairs in but President Obama faces some unfortunately challenges in trying to bring about greater racial harmony, much of which is coming from the political group that at one time was known for its commitment to the Juedo-Christian ethic and family values.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

Well said! Obama himself has done very little to affect race relations. But his presence has made the racists shout a whole lot louder and better illuminated already existing race problems.


So injecting himself into issues that he and his followers gave racial overtones (Martin/Zimmerman, the 'professor', along with most issues his hit man Holder has been involved in, voting laws, gun running, not going after obvious voter intimidation, etc) has no effect?
Let's be honest here.

Lets not forget the Justice brothers, Al and Jessie.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

In another thread someone tried to tell me Obama has united the races. His sole argument for this was that whites voted for him. IMO Obama has made race relations even worse and has squandered a golden opportunity to bring this country together with his divisive statements and the way he has inserted himself into various race related issues in a Sharpton, Jackson like fashion. I'm curious what others think and why.
No, Obama has not brought the races together. But neither has he pursued any kind of racially divisive policy. I think he's made like two or three comments over the course of being constantly in the public eye for six years that were unintentionally divisive, but they pale in comparison to those of anti-Obama commentators here and elsewhere.

So if race relations are worse than they were six years ago, I think it's primarily because it serves the interests of critics, not because Obama has been promoting any kind of divisive agenda.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

It is not now, nor has it ever been, Obama's job to "bring the races together," whatever the **** THAT means.

Even if it was, it's an impossible job for one man.

Seriously, move on.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

This poll and entire line of discussion is dishonest and manipulative.

Obama did nothing particularly good or bad for race relations. Although he did touch on racism a little.
His existence however, has had a tremendous effect.

African Americans in America do not have a worsened view of whites. They have a worsened view of Republicans but that is due to how Obama has been treated since he took office, by Republicans. Not so much a race issue for them.

Whites however, are very split. A percentage of Republican whites are not bothered by a black man in office and do not dislike Obama any more than they did Clinton.
Unfortunately a larger percentage of Republican whites, especially white males from the South, are particularly bothered by having a man of color in America's highest office. For these people, Obama has worsened race relations by his very existence. And they are unable to even see it because they are already blinded by their own racism to begin with. Going through life actually believing that they are not racists at all.

The proof for this is everywhere.
Obama has made far less speeches about racism than anyone would have expected. The few speeches he has made have been spot on, good, and rather enlightening. So he has done nothing in particular other than exist, as it pertains to race relations.
However, the constant attacks have been completely ridiculous. So much fiction has been made up about the man that even those creating it have become confused.
Some good examples of just how far his opposition will go are the "lazy" comments and complaints each time he takes a vacation, EVEN THOUGH he has taken less than 1/4th as much time off as Bush and only half as much as Reagan. The fact of the matter is that many whites just can not stand to see a black man taking a lavish vacation on their dime.
Another example is that even though Obama nominates many moderates and even some Republicans, the total nominees he has had filibustered in the Senate is greater than the total number of nominees filibustered by all previous Presidents combined , throughout all history.

It is very clear that Obama has had a negative effect on race relations for white Republicans.
But it is also clear that it is Obama's existence that has had this effect, and not his actions.

(I wish to point out that I am a White Male from the South)
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

He has weighed in a handful of times on race and I think he's been clearly wrong each time but I wouldn't say he's a significant factor in the divide though. I put a lot of the blame on his party though. Democrats have fostered an atmosphere of dependence and resentment for too long.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

Democrats have fostered an atmosphere of dependence and resentment for too long.
A simple ignorant comment like this breeds more resentment than anything Democrats have done to advance the interests of their own constituents.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

I don't think its fair to accuse Obama of giving Martin/Zimmerman its racial overtones, that was there straight from the start and its left-wing punditry we have to thank for that.

He certainly didn't do anything to detract from that either though.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

In my view, Obama hasn't done all that much to repair or worsen race relations.

The same can't be said for his supporters and minions. Why, even here on this forum, it seems that no matter what the topic liberals will very frequently inject race into the thread...for no other purpose, it seems, than to stifle discussion of the topic of the thread. The same is done by the media, activists and Obama administration members. I see it as a tactic to stifle anyone opposed to whatever topic that particular liberal doesn't want to deal with.

The bad thing about Obama is that he doesn't do what he can to reduce this sort of thing...even though he is in a unique position to do so.

Oh...and before y'all get all excited, no...I don't think Obama should say anything directly about our forum members who use this tactic. He could, however, make general statements about those who play the race card at any opportunity, be it in the media, online or in general conversation.

All he has to do is take a stand and lead...but we all know how hard it is for him to do that.

You may want to consider the fact....fact..that here, in this forum...it is utterly useless to try to have a civil discussion about race. There are so many conservatives that jump in and just start name calling, reading the post etc. that it basically equates to volunteering to stand before a firing squad. You want to have a civilized discussion....I'm all in.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

Although I think Obama would have hoped to bring the races together more, he's faced some unique complications in that regard. As the first black President of the United States, he's had to be careful NOT to be seen as "the BLACK President" as opposed to the President of all of America. Secondly, there have been those in his political opposition who understand that challenge and use it against him by consistently not only highlighting his race but doing so in way to amplify and magnify racial animosity. For example, today of the Drudge Report there are two headlines that in my opinion were worded to maximize racial divisiveness and animosity. The first is the headline linking to the tragedy involving the WWII Vet who was senselessly murdered. The Drudge Report was careful to include the race of the suspect in the headline. The second was about the senseless murder of the college baseball player in Oklahoma that read something to the effect that interracial violent crime was overwhelmingly blacks victimizing whites featuring the mugshots of the two black teens arrested in the case but omitting the white teen. I recall the after school bus fight involving two kids of different races where not only the Drudge Report but several high profile conservative leaning media outlets gave the story significant coverage, made it look like blacks were on a mission to harm whites and then linked in the election of President Obama. I think of Shirley Sherrod, who's testimony of faith and forgives was edited to make it look like the Obama administration discriminates against white farmers. Many of these media outlets practically celebrate urban violence especially if it occurs in Chicago as well as losing the US Olympic host award. Its a disturbing state of affairs in but President Obama faces some unfortunately challenges in trying to bring about greater racial harmony, much of which is coming from the political group that at one time was known for its commitment to the Juedo-Christian ethic and family values.

I would like your thoughts on this. I believe I see the GOP use fear often to control and manipulate their members. This seems a little like to me like just another opportunity to do such a thing. Do you see any truth to either of those statements?
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

In another thread someone tried to tell me Obama has united the races. His sole argument for this was that whites voted for him. IMO Obama has made race relations even worse and has squandered a golden opportunity to bring this country together with his divisive statements and the way he has inserted himself into various race related issues in a Sharpton, Jackson like fashion. I'm curious what others think and why.

May I ask you a question Sawyer? Your OP indirectly acknowledges that there was a racial division in this county before Obama took office. So that's awesome. I was curious why you thought it existed to begin with. Sincere question.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

You may want to consider the fact....fact..that here, in this forum...it is utterly useless to try to have a civil discussion about race. There are so many conservatives that jump in and just start name calling, reading the post etc. that it basically equates to volunteering to stand before a firing squad. You want to have a civilized discussion....I'm all in.

Is is impossible to have an open and honest discussion regarding race. Too many are too emotionally invested. I doubt you recognize it, but you just did the same thing you accuse conservatives of when you placed all the blame on them. I wouldn't attempt a civilized discussion on race with you because you have already demonstrated through your actions that you are as incapable of having one as those on the extreme of the other side. You don't want a civilized discussion, you want your discussion.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

Is is impossible to have an open and honest discussion regarding race. Too many are too emotionally invested. I doubt you recognize it, but you just did the same thing you accuse conservatives of when you placed all the blame on them. I wouldn't attempt a civilized discussion on race with you because you have already demonstrated through your actions that you are as incapable of having one as those on the extreme of the other side. You don't want a civilized discussion, you want your discussion.

First of all I didn't place all the blame on them and it is annoying as hell that I have to add disclaimers for every possible thing you guys might read into my posts so that you don't accuse me of saying something I didn't say.

Here is the difference. I recognize that I am emotionally invested, everyone here is. But there are people who can rein that in and discuss things objectively and people who can't . I have encountered a few who can do it but very few. What I have seen is many conservatives who are not capable. Many is not every.

I think you are the one who is standing in the way of a civilized discussion because you read in,make assumptions followed by accusations and dismiss someone without even trying. Thank you for proving my point.
 
Re: Has obama brought the races together

So injecting himself into issues that he and his followers gave racial overtones (Martin/Zimmerman, the 'professor', along with most issues his hit man Holder has been involved in, voting laws, gun running, not going after obvious voter intimidation, etc) has no effect?
Let's be honest here.

Lets not forget the Justice brothers, Al and Jessie.

I offer this as an example of the conservative solution to racial problems. If it benefits white people, just pretend the problem doesn't exist. It's all fine until the black president "inserts" himself into the issue. There's no race problem until then. Of course not.

As I said, the president has served to illuminate existing problems, no matter how badly conservatives want to keep them buried.
 
Back
Top Bottom