President Obama On Trayvon Martin And Racism

Political Realities ^ | 07/20/13 | LD Jackson

[LD Jackson]

I hesitated to even write about the President's surprise news conference yesterday. The news channels undoubtedly went crazy with the news of his remarks and several of the big blogs were already having discussions. I wasn't sure if I had anything constructive to add to the conversation that immediately started taking place. The more I read what the President said (I refuse to watch a video of it because his condescending attitude comes across much worse in his voice than in a transcript), the more I wanted to comment.

Let us first read some of what Mr. Obama had to say. Since the full transcript is quite long, I'll not quote everything, but I am supplying a link to his entire remarks. The last thing I want to be accused of is taking the President out of context. That would be using his playbook and that isn't something I am fond of doing.

Quartz - The second thing I want to say is to reiterate what I said on Sunday, which is there's going to be a lot of arguments about the legal issues in the case — I'll let all the legal analysts and talking heads address those issues. The judge conducted the trial in a professional manner. The prosecution and the defense made their arguments. The juries were properly instructed that in a case such as this reasonable doubt was relevant, and they rendered a verdict. And once the jury has spoken, that's how our system works. But I did want to just talk a little bit about context and how people have responded to it and how people are feeling.

You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago. And when you think about why, in the African American community at least, there's a lot of pain around what happened here, I think it's important to recognize that the African American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn't go away.

There are very few African American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me. There are very few African American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me — at least before I was a senator. There are very few African Americans who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. That happens often.

And I don't want to exaggerate this, but those sets of experiences inform how the African American community interprets what happened one night in Florida. And it's inescapable for people to bring those experiences to bear. The African American community is also knowledgeable that there is a history of racial disparities in the application of our criminal laws — everything from the death penalty to enforcement of our drug laws. And that ends up having an impact in terms of how people interpret the case.

Now, this isn't to say that the African American community is naive about the fact that African American young men are disproportionately involved in the criminal justice system; that they're disproportionately both victims and perpetrators of violence. It's not to make excuses for that fact — although black folks do interpret the reasons for that in a historical context. They understand that some of the violence that takes place in poor black neighborhoods around the country is born out of a very violent past in this country, and that the poverty and dysfunction that we see in those communities can be traced to a very difficult history.

And so the fact that sometimes that's unacknowledged adds to the frustration. And the fact that a lot of African American boys are painted with a broad brush and the excuse is given, well, there are these statistics out there that show that African American boys are more violent — using that as an excuse to then see sons treated differently causes pain.

I think the African American community is also not naive in understanding that, statistically, somebody like Trayvon Martin was statistically more likely to be shot by a peer than he was by somebody else. So folks understand the challenges that exist for African American boys. But they get frustrated, I think, if they feel that there's no context for it and that context is being denied. And that all contributes I think to a sense that if a white male teen was involved in the same kind of scenario, that, from top to bottom, both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different.

Now, the question for me at least, and I think for a lot of folks, is where do we take this? How do we learn some lessons from this and move in a positive direction? I think it's understandable that there have been demonstrations and vigils and protests, and some of that stuff is just going to have to work its way through, as long as it remains nonviolent. If I see any violence, then I will remind folks that that dishonors what happened to Trayvon Martin and his family. But beyond protests or vigils, the question is, are there some concrete things that we might be able to do.

Along the same lines, I think it would be useful for us to examine some state and local laws to see if it — if they are designed in such a way that they may encourage the kinds of altercations and confrontations and tragedies that we saw in the Florida case, rather than diffuse potential altercations.

I know that there's been commentary about the fact that the "stand your ground" laws in Florida were not used as a defense in the case. On the other hand, if we're sending a message as a society in our communities that someone who is armed potentially has the right to use those firearms even if there's a way for them to exit from a situation, is that really going to be contributing to the kind of peace and security and order that we'd like to see?

And for those who resist that idea that we should think about something like these "stand your ground" laws, I'd just ask people to consider, if Trayvon Martin was of age and armed, could he have stood his ground on that sidewalk? And do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting Mr. Zimmerman who had followed him in a car because he felt threatened? And if the answer to that question is at least ambiguous, then it seems to me that we might want to examine those kinds of laws.

Number three — and this is a long-term project — we need to spend some time in thinking about how do we bolster and reinforce our African American boys. And this is something that Michelle and I talk a lot about. There are a lot of kids out there who need help who are getting a lot of negative reinforcement. And is there more that we can do to give them the sense that their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them?

I had the occasion to listen to some of the discussion following the President's remarks on NPR and I finally switched stations to the local Southern Gospel channel. That's how disgusted I was with how they were marveling at what he had to say. They were almost groveling at his feet. So much so that I was nearly sick to my stomach.

After reading his remarks and the different blogs and comments I have browsed, a few things have jumped out at me.

Even though he says the system worked, that the case was tried and the jurors have spoken, he alluded to the theory that race played an important role in the entire case. From the actual incident to the trial and verdict, he tried to make the case that had Trayvon Martin been white, the outcome would have been different.

Even though he listed some of the reasons why black men are such a great part of the criminal element in America, he went out of his way to make excuses for them. He brought in the historical factor, saying blacks looked at the violence of their communities in a different context. He mentioned the poverty and dysfunction of those communities, but failed to draw attention to the fact that it has been the policies of the liberals in power that have brought much of that poverty and dysfunction upon the people who live in those places. If he is looking for someone to blame, he needs look no further than Liberalville.

If there is one thing President Obama is a master at, it is turning a particular issue into something that it isn't. He has certain narratives he wants to push and he is excellent at doing so. Thus it is with the group of laws that are commonly called "Stand Your Ground" laws.

In the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman affair, the Florida stand your ground law was not argued. It was not part of this case and had no bearing on the outcome. President Obama makes a statement to that affect and then proceeds to bring it into the discussion. Make no mistake, he wants these laws reviewed. Eric Holder said as much earlier in the week, saying victims have a duty to retreat, instead of standing their ground.

Going back to the discussion I heard on NPR, they were portraying the President as speaking to all sides of the issue. They lauded the fact that because he was the first black President, he had personal experience with racism and had a unique ability to speak about it with great context. They completely missed the fact that he was twisting the affair to be about his own narrative. How are we supposed to believe a word Obama says about his personal experiences. His autobiography has already been proven to be full of half-truths and full-blown lies and we are expected to take him at his word?

What the President was doing is simple and it is clear. He is making this tragedy about race. He lists some of the facts, yet makes excuses for them because of history. More than anything, he is stoking the fires of hate and discontent between blacks and whites.

[Ray76]

Obama is a despicable demon.

His hatred of humanity, the United States, and himself, is more apparent every day. “If we would only do things his way” - typical tyrant.

[alexander_busek]

President Obama makes a statement to that affect effect and then proceeds [...]

Otherwise, all very valid points. If anything, the author is too lenient with Obama.

Regards,

[poinq]

OK, what the president is referring to, is not racism. Its fear. White people are afraid of young black men. This is not because white people feel superior to young black men. Its because white people read the paper. Young black men commit a huge amount of the crime in America. And white people are scared. This is not racism. It does not go back to the civil war. And it has little to do with black or white either. You can get all the same experiences if you are a 6’ 5” young unattractive white male who dresses like a street person. Or a large Hispanic man riddled with tattoos and dressing like a gang member.

And I can solve this problem. Its really easy. And nobody will clutch their purse or lock their doors or follow black people around anymore. The solution is to stop black crime.

[livius]

Obama only gets ahead by stoking the fires of hatred and mistrust. Everything is all about him. We’re being forced to be unwilling participants in his personal psychodrama as he builds himself what he seems so desperately to long for: identity. He’s decided that this, the black underclass, will be his identity and he’s trying to create it, even if it means leaving the country in ruins.

For Obama to say any of these things is about as plausible as Steve Martin, beginning one of his movies reminiscing, “I was born a poor black boy...” And then you see his fantasy poor black family trying to figure out who he is and how he ended up there. Then reality kicks in... It’s funny in the movies, but not in real life.

Obama was brought up a child of a well off white family, he looks exactly like his white grandfather with a bit of a tan, he went to private schools and nobody ever clutched their purses closer when they saw him, and in fact he spent much of his childhood outside of the US where he was most certainly considered an American child of privilege. Gimme a break.

But aside from that, he’s lying. I don’t hold my purse tighter when I see a black college student or a businessman get into an elevator; I do hold it tighter (in fact, I get out of the elevator) when I see a shaven-headed white guy covered with tats get in. It has nothing to do with race but with a whole set of things that are indicators of danger.

Obama is trying desperately to stir things up. I think it’s partly because this will give him even more control, but I think it’s also because the guy has a sick, sociopathic personality and this is somehow part of his madness. He’s enjoying it, trying to build his identity with it, and he doesn’t give a darn what goes on outside his tiny head.

[jdoors100]

Obama adds fuel to the fire in the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case http://youtu.be/_oHZlFdqrlc

[kenmcg]

Bam complains that black men get followed, that little old ladies grasp their pocketbook when nearing a black man, that door locks close etc.
Well Mr. President, why not ask why? Is it because blacks are involved in the vast majority of crime against white folks? Who mug and beat little old ladies? Who do most of the home invasions? Who are responsible for many, many rapes against white women. Get a grip Mr. President, instead of fanning the flames of racism start addressing the problem. Trayvon Martin was a pot smoking wannabe gangsta and I imagine 35 years ago you yearned to be one too.

[newfreep]

THE Racist-in-Chief (obamatollah) has officially joined the other leftwing race-baiters - Sharpton, Jackson , NYT, NBC/MSNBC, CNN, etc.....

[newfreep]

MUST WATCH - Bill Whittle’s 10-minute expose on the REAL facts of the case and the media lynching of George Zimmerman.

Epic...and one of Bill’s best!

http://therightscoop.com/must-watch-bill-whittle-the-wretched-lynching-of-george-zimmerman/

[Vinnie]

I actually watched a small part of the speech. Until I started feeling faint.
You left out 5,421 ‘ ERR’s and UH’s .

When he’s not reading the TOTUS , you just can’t listen to him, regardless of the logic. Disconnected thoughts connected by ‘errr’ and/or ‘uh uh’.
Or sometimes the trifecta, ‘uh uh uh ‘.

Oh, and all the while the heavy thinking process expression on his face.

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


President Obama ... please read my Free Republic tagline ...


You are a despicable, lawless, racist, socialist Chicago thug ...


.

[hal ogen]

nobama, the communist, community-agitator and general loser, is a race-baiting, Free-America-hating degenerate. It is unfortunate that his mother didn’t practice what he preaches on abortion.

[KeyLargo]

Eric Holder: ‘People who feel threatened have a duty to retreat’
July 16, 2013 By Lennie Jarrat

http://www.championnews.net/blog/2013/07/16/eric-holder-people-who-feel-threatened-have-a-duty-to-retreat/

[elcid1970]

I’m going to attempt a different perspective about black liberals who complain about fearful (and therefore racist) white people.

Obama is in my opinion expressing envy and chagrin that he is not and never has been perceived as a threat to white people. There are lots of black guys who are as harmless-looking as Truman Capote and who may not even care about presenting a menacing appearance. That doesn’t bother them, but it bothers Obama.

It bothers Obama that he probably never saw a white woman clutch her purse closer, or a white man cross to the opposite sidewalk, when he was the only apparent black man on the scene. In other words, Obama is not and never was a “bad street dude”. And that just isn’t fair!

Another illustration: liberal columnist Clarence Page is a black guy whom nobody would regard as dangerous. And yet he wrote an entire column complaining about all those white people who saw him as black Frankenstein, grabbing their kids and running away fearful of his mere approach.

Like fun they did!

In my opinion, Obama & Clarence Page are both suffering from a bad case of dude envy. They wish, they truly wish, that white folks would fear them. And if white folks don’t, then that’s racism too.

[butterdezillion]

Wow. That title itself - “People who feel threatened have a duty to retreat” - concisely states everything the communist-Islamist coup in the US has been aiming for. They have been using all available covert and overt means - lawful, supposedly lawful, and downright criminal - to destroy our Constitution and demoralize our people. And when we recognize that we are being squeezed to death by the boa, it is our “duty” to just give up and die.

When do we wake up from our sleep and prove with our lives that there really are some things worth rising up to defend? When we feel threatened by an IRS out to get us, will we retreat and let it go on? When the media is literally threatened, snooped on, and possibly (in the cases of Andrew Breitbart and Michael Hastings) KILLED for being willing to expose the regime’s lawlessness, will we just retreat and let the truth become too dangerous to ever be spoken?

We are so there. Holder wants us to retreat. He will never prosecute the people chasing us because it is him and his buddies.

[Veto!]

Stop calling us “folks,” Obarry. Condescending in the extreme coming from you. But then, so is every other word spewing from your face.

[Vaduz]

Obama has never said anything of worth in his entire life.