The Obama Paradox: Blacks suffered more under Obama than any other modern president

[Armoured]

The Financial Times offers an interesting perspective on its editorial page: The riddle of black America’s rising woes under Obama - Those who have fared worst under this president are the ones who love him the most | Financial Times

A paradox haunts America’s first black president. African-American wealth has fallen further under Barack Obama than under any president since the Depression. Yet they are the only group that still gives him high ratings. So meagre is Mr Obama’s national approval rating that embattled Democrats have made him unwelcome in states that twice swept him to power. Those who have fared worst under Mr Obama are the ones who love him the most. You would be hard-pressed to find a better example of perception-driven politics. As the Reverend Kevin Johnson asked in 2013: “Why are we so loyal to a president who isn’t loyal to us?”​

In typical convoluted Orwellian doublespeak fashion though, the editorial concludes that the problem lies with Republicans rather than Obama.

Go figure ...

Playing the race card, are we? Chip on your shoulder?

 

[AceHero]

They voted for him in overwhelming numbers. It seems they have reaped the consequences of their votes.

See, you have swallowed the unrelenting anti-Obama propaganda hook, line and sinker. So the black people should be reponsible for themselves instead of depending on the government and at the same time Obama is reponsible, somehow, for blacks being worse off.

This doesn't compute but you go ahead and believe both things simultaneously.

Such unrelenting fake concern from the conservatives...whose ilk has referred to Obama as the "food stamp president."

 

[Savior2006]

The conservative position is that blacks are worse off.

That's your position. Which I have no issue with.

That may or may not Obama's fault. It would be his failure though, for he certainly did not run his campaign on the promise to "Vote for me, and I will promise you that you will be worse off than you were before I came into office".

Unless you can show that he's directly responsible, then it is not his fault, which means it's also not his failure.

Conservatives generally do not doubt the good intentions of Obama.

Thirty minutes of staring at the same screen and I'm still at a loss as to how to respond to this sentence. So I'm moving on.

The conservative position is that people who take responsibility for their own lives, rather than looking to government to do it, are living realistically.

I've talked to liberals my entire life and I've never gotten an impression from them that they absolutely want me dependent on government, period.

For people to be better off, the government needs to follow policies that enhance wealth being generated.

Can you elaborate? What kinds of policies would you support?

 

[doubtingmerle]

Sorta puts to rest the myth that the Obama administration has bankrupted the United States by giving out free things to his black friends, yes?

 

[Nithavela]

Sorta puts to rest the myth that the Obama administration has bankrupted the United States by giving out free things to his black friends, yes?

I'm sure that the way conservatives spin it, he managed to do both, defying all logic.

 

[NightHawkeye]

Sorta puts to rest the myth that the Obama administration has bankrupted the United States by giving out free things to his black friends, yes?

Nope.

 

[ChristsSoldier115]

Poverty levels in america have remained unchanged between 1959-2003 in spite of grossly increased GDP. I do not think people remaining poor has anything to do with who sits in office.






Source: Hoynes, H. W., Page, M. E., & Stevens, A. H. (2006). Poverty in america: Trends and explanations. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 20(1), 47-68. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/089533006776526102

 

[cow451]

Pretty sure they won't re-elect him.

In overwhelming numbers, African Americans will not vote for him in 2016. Take that, Obama!

 

[Sistrin]

The falling poll numbers for Obama in the American public are bought and paid for. The relentless propaganda campaign against him that has never let up is very expensive - whole networks have to be staffed with people dedicated to the task - but it has paid off for those who are buying that product.

Programmed knee-jerk response number 5, blame FOX News.

Well, that didn't take long to shoot down.

A bit of self-righteous word salad did nothing to shoot down anything.

 

[dysert]

Put yet another way, cutting off your nose to spite your face never turns out well. At least no one can say there weren't plenty of voices explaining clearly beforehand what would transpire under Obama's transformation.

Unfortunately, the memory of the American people is too short.

 

[Sistrin]

I notice you still haven't explained why this is Obama's fault.

Obama has been President since January 2009

Obamaphone is a misnomer, as he had nothing to do with them at all.

And this is and always has been an obfuscation. I know you guys tried to blame that whole program on Bush, just as you did and continue to do with everything else that has ever or will ever go wrong during the Obama administration. However if you go back and watch that video, the woman wasn't shouting "Bushphone! Bushphone!" She was shouting "Obamaphone!"

That was, is, and always will be all that mattered, the visual of this woman shouting Obamaphone. To the low information voter the optics involved in this case were all that mattered. Obama loves me and Republicans are racist.

The conservative position is that blacks are worse off.

No, the truth is that blacks, along with everyone else, are worse off.

Playing the race card, are we? Chip on your shoulder?

Define irony.

Such unrelenting fake concern from the conservatives...whose ilk has referred to Obama as the "food stamp president."

Truth hurts, I suppose, so when the truth gets in your way just scream racism. However, from CNN Money, quote:

"It's true that the food stamp rolls have swelled more under Obama's tenure than under his recent predecessors. Also, his 2009 Recovery Act allowed even more people to sign up.

The number of people in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has soared to an average 44.7 million in fiscal 2011, up 33% from fiscal 2009. Obama's stimulus act made it easier for childless, jobless adults to qualify for the program and increased the monthly benefit by about 15% through 2013."

Here, from a source you guys will simply love, the World Socialist Web Site:

US food stamp use swells to a record 47.8 million

A record number of Americans are using food stamps, known today as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Despite official proclamations that the recession has ended and an economic recovery is underway, families are turning to SNAP benefits in huge numbers. The working poor comprise a growing number of food stamp recipients, and about half of those receiving benefits are children.

Enrollment in the food stamp program has increased by 70 percent since 2008, to 47.8 million people as of December 2012, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The biggest factor driving the increase is the stagnating job market and a rising poverty rate. This means that a staggering 15 percent of the US population receives food stamp benefits, nearly double the rate of 1975.

The number of people using food stamps roughly corresponds to the number of Americans living in poverty, which rose to just below 50 million people in 2011. Utilizing the Supplementary Poverty Measure (SPM), which factors in expenses for food, clothing, shelter, health care and other essentials, the US Census Bureau estimates that nearly one in six people in the US is living in poverty.

Earlier this week, President Obama signed a bill making permanent $85 billion in sequester cuts, which will slash billions of dollars from programs benefiting the poor, including Head Start, special education, housing and many other programs.

Source: US food stamp use swells to a record 47.8 million - World Socialist Web Site

Note that last, which states President Obama signed the bill cutting funds from programs which benefit the poor.

But I know, Bush's fault.

 

[Savior2006]

]
Earlier this week, President Obama signed a bill making permanent $85 billion in sequester cuts, which will slash billions of dollars from programs benefiting the poor, including Head Start, special education, housing and many other programs.

Source: US food stamp use swells to a record 47.8 million - World Socialist Web Site

There was that so difficult? Something specific that Obama did himself. And that only took four pages.

Although the article is somewhat dated.

 

[elliott95]

No, the truth is that blacks, along with everyone else, are worse off.

You will get no argument from me on that point.

It is possible that the rich are better off though. They are the ones in a position to take advantage and adjust accordingly.

 

[Belk]

The conservative position is that blacks are worse off.

That may or may not Obama's fault. It would be his failure though, for he certainly did not run his campaign on the promise to "Vote for me, and I will promise you that you will be worse off than you were before I came into office".

Conservatives generally do not doubt the good intentions of Obama. The conservative position is that people who take responsibility for their own lives, rather than looking to government to do it, are living realistically. Anyone who relies on the government to improve their financial situation is in for disappointments.

For people to be better off, the government needs to follow policies that enhance wealth being generated. Even a redistributionist model of society requires wealth to be generated in order that there exist something to redistribute.

Wealth is being generated at a rate unprecedented through out history. The people are not better off. Now what?

 

[elliott95]

Now two more years of the same under Obama's type of leadership.

 

[dysert]

You will get no argument from me on that point.

It is possible that the rich are better off though. They are the ones in a position to take advantage and adjust accordingly.

In fact, I'd venture to say that the rich are the ones who made it so that they would be better off. The old "golden rule".

 

[elliott95]

In fact, I'd venture to say that the rich are the ones who made it so that they would be better off. The old "golden rule".

The rich and the elites are very happy with Obama.

 

[Veritas]

Rand Paul, Obama & Black Unemployment

A case can be made that Republican intransigence has created more problems for African Americans.

The African-American Labor Force in the Recovery
With the recession, unemployment went up and the Republican party used the recession as an opportunity to attack government and fought tooth and nail to shrink government (i.e., fire people working at the state, local and federal level). The reason why black people work for the government at a higher has a lot to do with racism; while the government is not perfect, it is less likely to toss your resume in the trash simply for having a "black-sounding" name. On top of attacking government workers, they also worked to prevent people from receiving unemployment benefits, pensions, food assistance, etc., all which affect African Americans more. If African Americans are faring worst under Obama, point the finger squarely at a Congress that works against the people.

Very misleading graph.

Here's the total picture from the bls website on black unemployment from Carter through the present:

Notice: Data not available: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Reagan inherited a horrible economy with high inflation and unemployment. His policies actually reduced black unemployment from a high of 21% to about 12% by end of his presidency. However, the biggest improvement in black unemployment was under Bush II. Throughout the 8 years of his presidency, 5 of 8 years it was in single digits.

I think the real issue is that Obama was suppose to help his fellow blacks and that was the expectation they had The reality has been far from it. Even the NAACP is criticising Obama for his dismal efforts on job creation.

 

[NightHawkeye]

I think the real issue is that Obama was suppose to help his fellow blacks and that was the expectation they had The reality has been far from it. Even the NAACP is criticising Obama for his dismal efforts on job creation.

Let me be the first ... Shame on the NAACP.

Obama

 

[Veritas]

Let me be the first ... Shame on the NAACP.

Obama

Are we still allowed to do this?