Like most family members, they have have had some squabbles and exchanged some angry words, but when a real threat is on the horizon, they kiss and make up, put the feuding to the side and take on all comers.
That's what President Barack Obama and members of the Congressional Black Caucus did this past weekend.
As a black-tie audience cheered Obama on, the president raised the specter of a Republican-led Congress. if blacks don't turn out in droves to support Democratic candidates in the November election.
Obama urged lawmakers and party officials to return to their home districts and rally voters in their churches, barbershops and beauty shops (you know, the places where you can always find black folks) and mobilize the vote.
Obama is clearly trying to revive the enthusiasm generated in the black community by his campaign for the presidency in 2008, and it looks like the effort is sorely needed. A recent Gallup poll found that 25 percent of blacks gave either some or a lot of thought to the upcoming congressional election compared to 41 percent of whites.
Funny how the threat of having to work with a Republican House of Representatives has gotten Obama and CBC members to put their differences to the side for now.
Obama and CBC members most recently exchanged jabs with the handling of the Shirley Sherrod firing and the president's support (or lack thereof) of Kendrick Meek in his successful primary battle against billionaire Jeff Greene.
And don't forget that Obama and several CBC members have had long-standing differences over Obama's efforts to target aid toward the black community, with CBC members reasoning that there is nothing unusual for key constituent groups (especially those who were key to victory) to get some special spoils after the election.
Obama countered that as president his measures to improve the economy must help all Americans and that the targeting of aid packages won't happen on his watch.
But all of these arguments will look like mere skirmishes if Obama has to fight with a hostile majority in Congress for his final two years in office. That's why it makes all the sense in the world for the president and the members of Congress to circle the wagons.
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Comments: (20)
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By: rightorwrong on 9/20/2010 12:48PM
The truth be know the CBC was and is only useful to Obama when he is was running for the presidency, his view is of a one world government,that is why he keeps saying or those around him keep saying he is president of all the people, year right? but it's us he turns around to to because he thinks that we are some fools who will vote for him regardless because we have no choice or because he is black!
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By: Jamall Robinson on 9/20/2010 7:40PM
Preach on!
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By: slick on 9/20/2010 1:50PM
"He thinks that we are some fools who will vote for him regardless because we have no choice or because he is black!"
-Gotta tell ya, The President may be correct. It is a well known and documented fact that for 18 months, he has all but ignored the CBC.
-Now that he needs to rally the troops, The CBC gets his attention.
-Note the differences in his approach to two ethnic groups. Recently he gave two separate speeches to different caucuses. The Latinos were lukewarm to the President and received assurances of “Immigration reform”, which is on the table now. The CBC was enthusiastic and received nothing, and were happy to get!
He has told the CBC and A/Americans he will not target us a group for aid, yet he can target Latinos. Technically reform is not aid; however it clearly targets a “specific group”. Yet docile Negroes refuse to hold him accountable for helping one and not the other. Some are just happy as pie to have him there, although they gain no particular advantage.
Yes there should be "SOME" advantage to have a Black President even if he is only 1/3 black. hell we have been complaining for years of what advantage.
Why does he use the argument that “he is the president of all the people” on black folk only? Why didn’t he tell the Latinos that, or the gays? No, he can tell that crap to black folk, because we accept it, and just go running to the polls like little robots. Completely uninformed and just as ignorant as they the day we got here
For example, Immigration reform will put millions upon millions of illegal immigrants in and around black communities see Los Angeles, and other shrinking Black communities. Millions of illegal’s vying for limited resources right along with Black Folks (and low income whites). ER’s, schools, limited employment opportunities, communities all completely overwhelmed. Not to mention your beloved democratic plantation. And you folks support this?!
No one but American Negros are stupid enough to support polices to their own detriment. That’s like giving the mugger a gun and the bullets to shot you! if you are that stupid, you deserve what you get!
For all that he has done for Black Folk, you might as well have Bush, hell the results are the same if not worse (see census data), yet some negroes can’t find the gumption to stand up.
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By: rightorwrong on 9/20/2010 2:26PM
step and fetch, step and fetch is it fanny may who said i am so sick and tired of being sick and tired, well i so sick and tired of both parties and their lying, dr boyce was right in his open letter to the president we are the default systems for this economy, sorry to say this but we always have been always will because we are that dense!!!we do all the hard work and others step over us, laughing and thumbing their noises in the process!!!
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By: Michael on 9/20/2010 3:33PM
GREAT COMMENT SLICK!
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By: slick on 9/20/2010 3:35PM
"well i so sick and tired of both parties and their lying"
Absolutely no argument from me.
-I’m on no mans plantation, independent voter here. Some fools really think one party is better than the other, and hide behind the lesser of two evils cop out. When In fact the easiest thing to do to voice dissatisfaction is to register independent.
-When party numbers shrink, they get the message quicker than with a letter. But far too many on both sides are ideological robots and tow the party line even though it will have a detrimental effect on them, i.e. immigration reform.
-Sometimes your party is wrong, Democrats or Republicans are not right on every issue. And when an issue arises that will adversely affect you, then one has to stand up and say so. The only problem is it requires one to stand up.
“but we always have been always will because we are that dense!!!we do all the hard work and others step over us, laughing and thumbing their noses in the process!!!”
-Again We agree, and I don’t blame Latinos at all, they are getting it done. By sheer numbers, they are slowly taking over municipalities, and eventually elect their own, and they can laugh at us, because we are actually helping then to bypass us.
You have to admit, it’s a sad kind of funny, because very few or as “politically dense or foolish” as black folk.
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By: Michael on 9/20/2010 3:42PM
SLICK - only thing I'll add is as black people and black men in particular, we must never voice this fatalistic, defeatist crap i.e. "it's all over" because number 1, that's just incorrect and number 2, it's shows you've been worn down emotionally and a districted, emotionally/psychic-ly worn out person, can't react appropriately. You gotta be Zen and Zen lives in the moment and ready for anything - including an outbreak of violence. You save that very useful and necesary energy and learn to release it only when it should be - never when it shouldn't be. And all this psychic worrying and being stumped - burns alot of useful energy.
Always leave a suggestion or idea about a solution, just don't come out and leave the sadomasochistic quips without then saying hey, I'm just venting frustration and we can do this better.
Zen
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By: slick on 9/20/2010 8:58PM
@ rightorwrong
man i wish such a party did excist. The only reason i even bother to vote is folks gave their lives.
Honestly i cant stand either party, so the best i can do and keep my personal intergrity is be independent.
Good tossing it around with you and mike. Time for the zealots to take control of this blog.
Peace
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By: slick on 9/20/2010 4:06PM
@ Mike
yes brother, yes yes yes. Im just saying what we have been doing for 18 mons is not working. In fact what we have been doing for over 40 yrs has not been working. So as u say I offer a simple solutuion, becuase ur right its not over.
So instead of just venting and complaining. I say register independent, its an idea. is it fool proof, no. but it will send shock waves thru the party, ie the Tea Party.
What ever their politics, they have shaken the GOP to its very core, and Im saying "DAMN", check that out. Thats what you want to do.
Black folks can do the same, but with out fan fare, conventions, expense and rallies. Just resgister independent.
We can not continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. Im not suggesting vote republican, but Im suggesting letting the party know, "you will not be taken for granted" No one should no in advance how Black folks will vote, NO ONE!
Hell thats playing poker and your the only one showing your cards.
Mike, people are politically evolving and adapting to a new diverse environment. But not the CBC or Black Folk, this isnt the 1960s.
As a Black man i refuse to sit in the corner, like a red headed step child, to scared to open my mouth. hell I'll say it, on immigration reform and same sex marriage the democratric part is wrong!!!!
Will any one else stand up with me.
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By: rightorwrong on 9/20/2010 4:31PM
I will stand with you on the later. I am against this too, if their was a independent christian party i would vote for that to with strong christain values, do you know of any?
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