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About This Page: This is a discussion on Politics within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obama tells black fathers to step up
Candidate celebrates Father’s Day by speaking to a congregation in Chicago
The Associated Press
updated 1:17 p.m. PT, Sun., June. 15, 2008
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Obama tells black fathers to step up
Candidate celebrates Father’s Day by speaking to a congregation in Chicago
The Associated Press
updated 1:17 p.m. PT, Sun., June. 15, 2008
CHICAGO - Barack Obama celebrated Father's Day by calling on black fathers, who he said are "missing from too many lives and too many homes," to become active in raising their children.
"They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it," the Democratic presidential candidate said Sunday at a largely black church in his hometown.
Reminding the congregation of his firsthand experience growing up without a father, Obama said he was lucky to have loving grandparents who helped his mother. He got support, second chances and scholarships that helped him get an education. Obama's father left when he was 2.
"A lot of children don't get those chances. There is no margin for error in their lives," said Obama, an Illinois senator.
"I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle — that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my girls," added Obama, whose daughters, Sasha and Malia, and his wife, Michelle, watched from the audience.
The importance of involved fathers
Obama's appearance at the Apostolic Church of God was his first address to a church since he ended his membership at Trinity United Church of Christ, where he had worshipped for 20 years, following inflammatory remarks there by his former longtime pastor and others.
Obama frequently emphasized the importance of God in his life and ended the speech by asking the congregation to "Pray for me. Pray for Michelle."
Obama often speaks about the importance of parental involvement. In Washington, he sponsored legislation to get more child support money to children by offering a tax credit for fathers who pay support, more efficient collection and penalties for fathers who don't meet their obligations.
The issue adds to his family values credentials and lets voters see him delivering a stern message to black voters.
"We can't simply write these problems off to past injustices," Obama said Sunday. "Those injustices are real. There's a reason our families are in disrepair ... but we can't keep using that as an excuse."
Obama urged black parents to demand the best from themselves and their children.
He compared it to his own presidential campaign and early comments from black voters who said they liked him but didn't think a black man could ever be elected president. He said they were admitting defeat before the competition had even begun.
"That was when I wasn't black enough. Now I'm too black," he said in a joking aside.
He said parents who proudly tell him their child gets great grades, all B's, should encourage them even more.
"All B's? Is that the highest grade?" Obama said. "It's great that you can get a B, but you can get a better grade. It's great that you've got a job, but you can get a better job."
__________________
"For if once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think little of robbing; and from robbing he comes next to drinking and Sabbath-breaking, and from that to incivility and procrastination." Thomas DeQuincey, 1700's
Will Obama be equally chastised by the African American Community for saying essentially the same thing?
Notice how Leo frequently misses the point when it doesn't fit into his agenda? But yeah, he is the most thoughtful and honest poster in this forum, well at least to those with the same agenda.
__________________ Hockey's original bad boy. The "Cowboy" Howie Young
Notice how Leo frequently misses the point when it doesn't fit into his agenda? But yeah, he is the most thoughtful and honest poster in this forum, well at least to those with the same agenda.
Will Obama be equally chastised by the African American Community for saying essentially the same thing?
So the point for you guys is always going to be "Obama's getting a free pass!" or something like that?
Here's the point: He said it, it needs to be said and discussed and acted on, if more people of influence in the black community say it it gains more power and doesn't disappear from the debate.
It would be more meaningful if some of you righty types could locate some area of substance on which to comment on this statement.
So the point for you guys is always going to be "Obama's getting a free pass!" or something like that?
Here's the point: He said it, it needs to be said and discussed and acted on, if more people of influence in the black community say it it gains more power and doesn't disappear from the debate.
It would be more meaningful if some of you righty types could locate some area of substance on which to comment on this statement.
He doesn't need a "free pass" on this, because what he said regarding the MIA status of too many fathers is 100% correct. If he wants to score more points he should point out the hypocrisy of the reaction to Cosby's comments vs. the reaction to his comments. I do get the feeling that his answer to this problem is more government programs to help men learn how to become good fathers or assist single mothers. Well, that is if mom is around and grandma isn't raising the kid.
Talk about your failed policies of the past. More government assistance never solved this problem and it never will. This whole Obama thing is looking like a bad re-run of 1977-1981.
__________________ Hockey's original bad boy. The "Cowboy" Howie Young
Come on guys, we all know Dems get a free pass with the mass media. Take a look at the coverage of the flooding in the midwest. Where's the outrage, wheres Geraldo going out there and getting things done? Oh wait, the midwest is white and repub. They'll just wait for another non-white Dem-majority city to get hit by mother nature before they go on the attack again.
I still say Bush blew up the levies and redirected the hurricane to hit New Orleans. Bush hates black people.
__________________ "The day the masses figure out that they can vote to give themselves money is the day Democracy dies"
So the point for you guys is always going to be "Obama's getting a free pass!" or something like that?
Here's the point: He said it, it needs to be said and discussed and acted on, if more people of influence in the black community say it it gains more power and doesn't disappear from the debate.
It would be more meaningful if some of you righty types could locate some area of substance on which to comment on this statement.
I'm a big fan of Bill Cosby for saying what he has said. I respect Obama for saying what he said. I think it is a very necessary statement with massive potential blowback from the black community. I don't see the outrage of the black community when a black student in baltimore beats up a black teacher and it gets recorded on a cell phone. where is sharpton? where is jackson?
Come on guys, we all know Dems get a free pass with the mass media. Take a look at the coverage of the flooding in the midwest. Where's the outrage, wheres Geraldo going out there and getting things done? Oh wait, the midwest is white and repub. They'll just wait for another non-white Dem-majority city to get hit by mother nature before they go on the attack again.
I still say Bush blew up the levies and redirected the hurricane to hit New Orleans. Bush hates black people.
Are you aware that 1,800 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina? Keep on being a dick though.
__________________ "If I could lead you into the Promised Land, I would not do it, because someone else would come along and lead you out."
Bill Cosby has received a plethora of Honorary Degrees from Universities. Barak Obama is a learned man with actual degrees from important institutions. Bill Cosby is best known for making funny faces and saying "pudding pops." Barak Obama is well known for being a critical thinker.
The three parts to an argument are ethos, logos, and pathos. Logos is the logic surrounding the argument. Pathos is the emotions generated by the argument. Ethos is the credibility of the argument, specifically the credentials from where the argument is based.
Bill Cosby's ethos surrounding the topic is that he played Dr. Huxtable on NBC. Barak Obama's ethos is that he is a product of said topic.
The analogy would be listening to Jeff Foxworthy's insight about renewable energy. Git'R'DONE!!!!
Sf, I think you are being too hard on the Cos. No he didn't go to Harvard Law but he has a BA, MA and Ed.D. He is an activist as well as a comedian.
I think the real difference in the reaction is circumstantial. Cosby was receiving an award at a ceremony celebrating Brown v. Board of Education. A lot of people find it inappropriate to make unexpected controversial comments in such situations. And while he was criticized then, many have since acknowledged there is problem and it is not nearly as controversial now. I agree that Obama has certain credibility on the need for fathers to step up, being a product of a broken family. Cosby was talking about the need for education in the black community and as person with doctorate in education I think he had some credibility as well.
Last edited by DeaderFan; June 17th, 2008 at 09:00 PM.
Obama's Father's Day Message 
KINGS17
