Always amazed by how important my posts and opinions are here. And by how being pragmatic & open is perceived as "vague" by both ends.
Okay, since this is so critical for you, I have a few minutes:.
Actually
Mac1958 , you're really not that important. You just happen to be one of the few sensible people on here, so you'll get engagement from me.
We have never had a President nearly as equipped as Obama to address the race issue. Why? I'm stunned that I actually have to say this, but it's because he's an intelligent, articulate, pragmatic man who knows first hand that racism still exists in this country. And I don't know if you noticed, but he's a "black guy", too..
The fact that you included this, informs me that, to you, that was an important and determining factor why Obama was so well equipped to discuss race. So do you believe that blacks are the best qualified to discuss race in America in general?
You act as if it's totally obvious to note that he was equipped due to his intelligence, but yet you seem oblivious to realize that, Obama felt hamstrung to address race as well, for the obvious reason of politics. The Republicans would, and did, take every thing he said and turned it into something evil. Like everything, and he knew that going in. Your underlying point was that he should have dealt with it more carefully. Well, he actually did, it was the Republicans that took and and lit fire to that gas. For no other reason than politics. And you know this. After all, you witnessed it. Prime example...when Obama said "Trayvon Martin could have been my son." An absolutely non-racist statement, and factual statement, as Trayvon actually looks like what a son of Obama could look like, and yet they made it the most racist thing since "Birth of A Nation." Obama KNEW they would do this, hence he was reluctant to address race. To his detriment. Blacks aren't too pleased with him that he didn't do more on this matter either, but we understand why he didn't. He only addressed it when he was forced to. Again...you know this. Or, at least SHOULD know this.
And gee, yes, there was a problem with race in this country before he became President. There is still significant racism, regardless of how well-trained right wingers are to deny it. They see racism nowhere, and the Regressive Left sees it EVERYWHERE. He had the capacity to do far more than he did to address it head on, and he chose not to, no doubt for political expediency. So not only was it a terribly wasted opportunity, but he oversaw further decay as a result..
Your use of the term "regressive" kinda gives you away, but anyway, it is what it is. No, people on the left don't see it EVERYWHERE. It's just that it's THAT prevalent. Which as a white person, experiencing white privileged, you're pretty much blind to that fact. The rest of your statement, I covered already in my previous paragraph.
Obama's presidency to me is pretty much a wash. He was handed an absolute disaster of an economy and did the right thing by standing back and letting the Fed pour $4.5 trillion into markets to stabilize the disaster. He did what he could with Dubya's disasters in the Middle East. Health care was a disappointment, as I would have much preferred opening the already-existing Medicare / Medicare Advantage / Medicare Supplement system to all. And then there was his abdication on the race issue. Overall, meh. A helluva lot better than Dubya, but meh..
Well, this thread isn't about Obama's Presidency, but it's good to note.
There you go. I hope that helps. I don't require your opinion - we appear to have a very asymmetrical little relationship here - but do what you will. You're welcome.
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I think you're being a drama queen with all the "ah gee", "shouldn't it be obvious?", "asymmetrical relationship" and "always amazed by how important my posts and opinions are here" talk, just relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy the forum. We're all here to engage w/one another and share and debate our opinions. That you're complaining when this is actually occurring, is mind-boggling to put it mildly.