The Clock's Ticking, Obama – Don’t Disappoint Us

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Date: Monday, December 07, 2009, 6:35 am
By: Deborah Mathis, BlackAmericaWeb.com

President Barack Obama (center) walks out of the Senate Democratic caucus on Capitol Hill Sunday. (AP)

Brother, we are trying.

Trying to give you the space you need to do all of the heavy lifting required for the job you so vigorously sought and so decisively won, against a world of odds and a long and discouraging history. A job fraught with pressure and danger and the highest of stakes.

Trying to be patient while you work at salvaging something from the mess your predecessor cooked up and fed to the future – those sour concoctions that have left us all sick and drained and frightful. The abandoned war front. The contrived war. The crumbling economy. The them-that’s-got ethic. Such sickening pots he left simmering on the stove.

We are trying, too, to stay cheerful and hopeful – the way we were a year ago, when it seemed too good to be true and we walked around in happy shock. Girl, can you believe it? Man, I never thought I’d live to see the day!

Trying, with the giddiness worn off, to still believe that the great expectations that propelled us to the voting booths – many for the first time or the first in a long time – are still justified and viable and that any day now, a change will come.

Trying not to wince when some earnest young adults, the bread and butter of your base, concede to an old hand that they aren’t the most astute political observers, so, “have we missed something?” It doesn’t seem like you’re doing much of anything new or different, they say.

“If he doesn’t change something, I might change something,” said one. “My mind.”

Zounds!

It is a relief to point to the way you liberated science, and stem cell research in particular. That was bold and decisive, we are happy to report. And the way you’ve rescued the country’s image and esteem is a welcome new day.

But, after that, the mind pretty much runs dry. Health care reform is an utter mess, perhaps because you sat back and let the partisan hacks have at it with your input either being too little or too late.

The Iraq imbroglio continues. You’ve just announced a surge of new troops to Afghanistan. You have not whipped big banking or big insurance or big anything into line. The stimulus plan proceeds are probably doing a lot more good than they will ever get credit for, but it’s hard to think brightly when there are so many ominous clouds still hovering over the economy.

Quietly, maybe even secretly, certainly reluctantly and a little bit shamefully, we nurse our disappointment. Call us naïve, foolish, overzealous, impatient, whatever. But, we were hoping you would use history’s voucher to kick in some doors and kick some you-know-what. We knew there would be plenty of infuriated folks, but, frankly, we thought you might give them something to be furious about. As it turns out, they’re just predestined haters because you haven’t shaken up anything enough to truly be controversial.

It is a comfort to remember that we are less than one year into your term. There is a learning curve, even at your high station, and we must make allowances for it. Too, we generally like your deliberative nature, which is a refreshing departure from that lucky Texan’s unreflective, my-way-or-the-highway style.

But, the clock is running and, like all participants in a revolution – and your election was revolutionary, sir – we want to see the fruit of our gamble as soon as possible.

We had your back last year. We are trying to stay faithful and to not let you down.

Please return the favor.

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Comments On this Article

It does not appear your trying to do anything but cast negative light on Mr.Obama.His election was not a revoltion it was an election.The system was not overthrown,it was up-graded.Black folk like youself,create division not unity.I don't remeber seeing or hearing about you when the right wing anglo's were power.Check yourself do you mean to hurt or just stand out.

by
James Sample
December 31, 2009, 7:18 am
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Mr Obama is the President of the United States not just Black America. You should be ashamed of yourself for even writing such an ignorant commentary. You would be wise to realize that the actions of the current President will not be felt for years to come. Sit back, show some support and let the American President work. He must serve all people not just black. He was elected not just by blacks- dont think YOU put him in office. Otherwise clowns like Jesse Jackson or that other leech Al Sharpton would be President! Ugghh!!!!!!

by
MacBen
December 31, 2009, 12:21 am
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This commentary is secretly asking Mr. President, "don't forget about Black folks." She's trying to be subliminal by talking around that topic. If you woke up one morning and discovered that your family left you 1 million dollars in debt and you are under pressure to eradicate that debt NOW, would you have the instant competence to get the job done? I doubt it. As mentioned President Obama is not a savior; he is the President. We have not demanded that much of his White predecessors...have we.

by
Ebnyeyz
December 18, 2009, 7:13 am
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10% unemployment.
Afghan war escalation.
Iraq.
GITMO.
$800 BILLION chinese debt.
$12 TRILLION deficit.
Crumbling economy.
Healthcare reform.

Of all the above, a prosperous economy is what will get obama reelected.

He's got THREE years to turn it all around.

by
Cnw95
December 16, 2009, 10:30 am
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The last time I checked the President has 4 years to effect change in our social fabric and that's during the "good" times!! Be realistic the mess this country is/was in could never be repaired in just 1 year. Pres Obama had so much stacked against him; every issue he's working on is in full view of the public we know he's not sitting back twiddling his thumbs! He's not a super human and its not just him that impacts decisions so you can't just single him out congress and the other government officials have to step up to the plate to help bring about change!!

by
Souldiva54
December 12, 2009, 8:40 pm
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