The Abject Failure Of The Obama Presidency – Part 4

  “Classism and greed are making insignificant all the other kinds of isms.” Ruby Dee, Actress

Continuing in our series of 10 tenets defining democracy and how to perpetuate it (by William J. H. Boetcker), today we take a look at number 4:

Tenet #4: You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

Before continuing, however, a word about the above quote. I intentionally chose the quote by Ruby Dee.  For those of you not familiar with her, a little background on her from Wikipedia:

Dee and [Ossie] Davis were well-known civil rights activists. Among others, Dee is a member of Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the NAACP, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Dee and Davis were personal friends of both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, with Davis giving the eulogy at Malcom’s funeral in 1965.

On numerous occasions, I have stated that I am not a Republican, I am a conservative who is registered as an Independent. This, in all probability, will put me on the outs with the likes of Sean  Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Mark Levin. If so, then so be it.  I still respect their visions and have great respect for the work they have done, just as I do with Glenn Beck. But here and now is where I prove my  stand in life and establish my credibility. And it isn’t done by following any ism. But it is also where I will establish that barking moonbats like Bill Mahr and Janeane Garafalo don’t have a clue as to who the people are that oppose President Obama.  Regarding Obama, ironically, it is not the color of his skin, but the content of his character that I challenge… just as Martin Luther King espoused we should ALL do. And he was 100% right.

While I agree with most of Ms. Dee’s quote (above), I wish to expand on it. Because one “ism” that is still playing a large role in today’s society is racism or, more to the point, implied racism. And that continues to separate people more than classism, although both are prevalent. Let me explain. 

I applaud the efforts of Ms. Dee in her early years and working – struggling – to establish equity and opportunity for people of color.  As a society, we needed to hear the perspective of people like her and other civil rights leaders like Reverend King. And as a young liberal white boy back then, I’ve carried that message of equality in my heart ever since. And that is why, today. I am able to see people like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Jerimiah Wright–and Barack Obama–for the racial oppotunists they are.  I can focus on the others at another time. Today’s focus is on how Barack Obama uses both classism and racism to “divide and conquer,” rather than to serve America.

From the very inception of his presidential run, Barack Obama made sure race was an issue. Although only half black, he decided early on to cling to his minority status as his trump card. And he has played that card with fervor.  Early on in the campaign he lit the powderkeg when he projected racism into the Republican camp with his comment in Jacksonville, Florida (and then repeated numerous times throughout the campaign:

“We know what kind of campaign they’re going to run. They’re going to try to make you afraid.  They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?”

He  also said he expected Republicans to say “he’s got a feisty wife,” attacking wife Michelle.

“We know the strategy because they’ve already shown their cards. Ultimately I think the American people recognize that old stuff hasn’t moved us forward. That old stuff just divides us.”

Yes, and notice that it was Obama who used that very tactic to divide us further while dumping the blame on the Republicans who hadn’t uttered word ONE about race.

Having used projected racism (to coin a term) in order to help win the election, since becoming President Obama’s policies have done nothing–nothing–to avoid the distinct creation of class hatred. Make no mistake: there is a distinct disdain between haves and have-nots in any society. And let’s not confuse hatred for envy.  But Obama quickly established his position that America is a land of rich and poor.  And he hammered home how the rich use loopholes to get out of paying taxes while that burden is unqually dumped to the poor and middle class. He has played class against class to build his power base with the poor and middle-income workers and to push his pro-union agenda.

But the truth is that America has always been a place where those who want to achieve can do so by applying effort, focus, dedication, and concentration.

All one has to do is look at the achievements of people in all walks of life from technology to sports, from medicine to the entertainment world, from classical music to rap. Those who have excelled are those who applied themselves and sacrificed, where necessary, to achieve.

Bill Cosby

Consider comedian Dr. Bill Cosby who grew up in a poor family in Philadelphia, and went from a high-school drop-out to one of the most beloved entertainers in the country… and one of the most successful. Returning to complete his education, he eventually earned his doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts. 

Other examples of rags-to-riches stories abound. What they all have in common is an indominatable spirit of “Yes I Can” that took these individuals to the top of their profession from the depths of poverty in a way seldom done in other societies. Since we’re a nation that responds to celebrity so deeply, let me provide a few examples of those who have managed to rise from poverty to wealth – regardless of their race or gender:

• Oprah Winfrey – Producer, talk show host, media mogul and philanthopist. Born into abject poverty in rural Mississippi, Winfrey went from being a young girl clothed in potato sacks  to become the richest and most powerful female media mogul in the world. Net worth as of 2009: $2.9 billion.
• David Geffin – Producer, art collector and philanthropist. Geffen signed Crosby, Stills and Nash, Bob Dylan and Nirvana, started Geffen Records and was a founding member of Dreamworks studio. Today, Geffen is worth an estimated $4.6 billion, a far cry from the 1 bedroom apartment he grew up in with his family in Brooklyn, having to sleep on the couch.
• Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter – Rap artist to businessman/entrepreneur.  Carter grew up in Brooklyn’s Marcy Housing Projects, raised by his mother. He began as a rapper, expanding into  everything from nightclubs and clothing to being a part owner of the New Jersey Nets. Net worth as of 2009: over $150 million according to Forbes.

In the socialist world Obama sees, this kind of accomplishment will likely not occur. Why? See tenet #5, which I will cover in my next installment.

Gerry Ashley