My reaction on reading Obama's words to the Congressional Black Caucus,
""Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes," " "Shake it off. Stop complainin'. Stop grumblin'. Stop cryin'. We have work to do."
at their 41st Awards Dinner on September 24th was a jaw dropping one.
First of all, Obama's words are a clear chastisement to the very Leaders in that Congressional Black Caucus like Maxine Waters among others, and other Black Leaders in other places, who have recently voiced their concerns over those Obama's policies that have given so much to the rich and wealthy, to the banksters and the insurance companies " to the Republicans' Garden-of -Greed in general, but have done so little to help the poor, the jobless, the disenfranchised, the homeless, and the communities hardest hit, where jobs have evaporated, where crime, homelessness, and poverty in are on the increase.
By prefacing his words with, "Take Off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes"" and by ending his perfidious call for, once again, action on his behalf, with, "we have work to do." " Obama flips his intended chastisement of these beloved and illustrious leaders, who indeed work for democracy, the disenfranchised, the poor, and the hard hit neighborhoods, making it sound instead like he is issuing forth the Clarion Call, the invitation, of a man who has rolled up his sleeves, put on his work shoes, hit the pavement hard breaking sweat on behalf of those he issued promises to two years ago, rather than, like the call it really is.
Obama's call, or invitation, to the Congressional Black Caucus and Black Leaders everywhere is nothing more than a smoke and mirror call of the pragmatists who breaks no sweat, does not take off his bedroom slippers or his silk jacket.
It is the call of one who lets others do his work for him, cozies up to the Republicans with beer and invitations to watch televised football games from the White House as Maxine Waters so truthfully pointed out.
It is the call of someone who is seen by many, these days, as a diehard Republican in his soul. It is the call of someone who is not only channeling Ronald Reagan, but who is also channeling George W. Bush and beyond.
It is the call of someone who is actually seen as the beyond of George W. Bush and beyond.
Despite al of this, what is jaw dropping to me also, is that Obama's words were received with, "rising applause and mounting cheers."
Did the people in that Black Caucus Room really hear the essence of his message, "You don't tell Me what to do. I tell You what to do!" Aren't those words reminiscent of the days of the slave master when cracking his whip, he'd tell the slaves, "You work for Me. I don't work for you."
How Audacious of Obama!
Isn't the president supposed to work for the people who elected him? Isn't he supposed to listen to the people? Isn't he supposed to listen to their needs, to their concerns? Isn't he supposed to adjust his policies to the people and their needs? Isn't that how politicians get elected, by telling people, I know your pain. I hear your voice. I will work for you to make your life better and on to infinitum.
Aren't people's needs and their concerns supposed to be a compass to guide a president who was elected by the people on a promise of hopeful change?
"Hope You Can Believe In."
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