Obama Example Tough to Match for African-American Politicians Steele and Waters
Three African American politicians in Washington were in the news this week. The most prominent, of course, was President Obama. The other two, GOP national chairman Michael Steele and Rep. Maxine Waters, Democrat of California, would have preferred to be out of the newspapers, cable TV and the ever-present blogosphere.
Even with the carping of critics and second guessers, the president seems to be finding his way after only two months in office. The Republicans in Congress, and even some uneasy Democrats, are perplexed about the mammoth spending to help the sick economy. He claims it is necessary to restore jobs and confidence of consumers.
Obama's personal popularity in the polls remains high. If it continues he can overcome that anguish of fellow Democrats and the "no" creed of Republicans, especially in the House of Representatives.
Michael Steele, the first African-American to head his party's national committee, apparently wants to steer the GOP to a more moderate course after being shellacked in the last two elections. But he's already had to back down on two attempts.
First, Steele had to genuflect in front of Rush Limbaugh for going public with criticism of the GOP potentate. He could have stood his ground but looked weak with his quick apology. Then he got tangled up in words over his stand on abortion. He separated himself from the no abortions, no way crowd in the party and had to revise his words twice.
There is no way the GOP would want to remove the first African-American from his post as party chair. But the former lieutenant governor of Maryland is going to have follow a steadier script from the last few months.
Ms. Waters, who seems perpetually angry when she appears on TV or in the House, was caught up a conflict of interest story over her family's holdings in a California bank. The New York Times reported that Ms. Waters sought the help of then Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson to secure bail out money for the bank. The bank received some $12 million.
To no one's real surprise, Ms. Waters lashed out at the story and critics, explaining that she was always in the forefront of helping minorities in her Los Angeles district. Of course, she avoided addressing the appearance of conflict of interest. That can be almost as damaging to a member of Congress as a blatant conflict in today's hot house environment on ethics.
The president has been responsible for a renewed interest in electing African-Americans at all levels of government. He's done it with clarity and dignity. Steele and Ms. Waters will have to pick up their game to measure up to his level.
- Read more by John W. Mashek.
- Read more about Michael Steele.
- Read more about Barack Obama.
Reader Comments
A SAVIOR?
Much as we could use a savior after 8 years of 'lil Bush et al,
and many more years than that of Republican tyranny, corruption and deregulation in Congress, there'll be no savior. Obama is just a man; he won't be walking on water or doing any other Biblical-type miracles. If it seems that he is hailed as a savior,it is just Americans' collective sigh of relief after decades of destruction by the GOP which has brought us to where we are now-in a helluva mess. Yes,some Dems have had their hand in the till, too. But it's by far the GOP's close ties to Wall St.,corporations,lobbyists, donors, etc. on whose behalf they did so much deregulation, contract outsourcing, and banned effective oversight, accountability and ethics investigations,
that has ruined this economy and left the U.S. and too many of its citizens bankrupt.
People hope that a constitutional lawyer will respect our laws and restore basic civil rights-a sharp contrast to the past 8+ years. Most still have little idea how totally Cheney etal abused those rights and ruined some Americans' lives for no valid reason, all under the guise of a war they created with their own lies-a war that has taken thousands of US lives, cost billions every week (much unaccounted for), and enraged, killed and mobilized millions against us. Meanwhile, they still have not caught the original 9/11 mastermind, Afghanistan has reverted to the Taliban, Pakistan is a cesspool, veterans are neglected, the military is overextended and ill-equipped, and the drug cartels have infiltrated our cities and their violence is headed north into the U.S.,while Bush ignored it all and his Justice Dept. jailed the good guys on the border patrol who tried to keep the drug runners out!
For the first time in years Americans sense some opportunity to get our country back and on the right track with what we hope is a well intentioned, capable, law abiding, well educated and very intelligent man. Not a savior, just a man. Honest, well-intentioned Americans want and need such a man to succeed. Those clinging to the old partisan smear tactics and double speak epitomized by the likes of Rove and intended only to divide the country, demonize the opposition, pander to their base and enable free rein and control by Bush/Cheney and allies do not have the best interests of our country at heart. Compare the disasters of the Bush years(which have left us in quicksand)to its lasting successes-that should wake you up! I can think of not one lasting success of any substance. We are definitely more at risk of attack by terrorists than ever-Bush etal created so many more enemies for us-brilliant!! And,what a quagmire in Iraq;that giant sucking sound you hear is your tax dollars going to the Mideast.
Trying to damn someone by calling them a "liberal" tells us nothing-it's just the old blame game-laughable. And it's obvious that Rush is your leader and has been for years;so why would thoughtful people take the GOP seriously?
Obama
I am really tired of hearing about how Obama is our blessed savior! Let's be real until the man cures the economy, restores faith in the markets, and walks on water, I;m sorry, I am not convinced by any stretch of the imagination! What I do see from Team Obama compares to the guys with painted faces that act like a bunch of fools. We can start with tax cheat Geittner, how is he even going to be able look another tax cheat in the eye and tell him he's got to pay his taxes when he didn't even do it? How many other candidates of Team Obama are on the hook for back taxes? At least five other folks that I can think of off the top of my head. It seems to me that unless you are a double-talking criminal mastermind with an MBA, you won't get into office with Team Obama!
Mr. Steele needs to do what his name implies and get some steel in his spine if his planning on leading anything much less the republican party. There is a reason why republicans are in such a disarray at the moment. They have no clear and effective leadership!!
As for Maxine Waters, well let's just say this is another example of liberal corruption at it's best. Mad Max should be removed from office and sent to federal prison for having a hand in this nonsense called a bailout.
It is real funny that in times of economic crisis the only people that seem to get rich quick are the liberals. They sit there and bail their best buds out who in return line their pockets.
To stay out of the limelight they will demonize anyone and anything just to keep from answering any questions. Frank Raines literally ran Fannie Mae into the ground and collected ninety million dollars for doing a bad job. No one is talking about taxing his bonus money. Yet we will do it to someone else. Christopher Dodd got a sweetheart home mortgage from Countrywide. Yet Chris Dodd is still representing his constituents in public office. I think that it's high time the democrats put up or shut up!
It's a new day
President Obama is a rare and gifted individual. Few could be his equal no matter what their skin tone may be. I hope he is brilliant in every way and blessed with the endurance of 20 men. So much on his shoulders, such dire complicated issues and so many at one time-all critical to America's well-being.
I can't imagine having to head up the GOP at this time. Their ship is so full of termites, it may both disintegrate and sink
at the same time. So, there's a new sheriff in town...and he's Black! Yikes! The red necks can't be happy-Gawd, they might get dragged into the 21st century after all..and they're so content stuck in 1860-! No, they don't see the need to change - it's everyone else that's wrong ya see. Why they were doin' fine before that ol' Civil War - damn Yankees! Those attitudes run as deep as deep can get. Good luck to anyone brave enough to take them on.
Hopefully, the day is near when Americans again care that its elected officials are honest, ethical, law-abiding and have that one quality that has been missing for so long...INTEGRITY, yeah, sing it Aretha!! INTEGRITY!! Enough already with all the favoritism for friends, family, corporate donors and lobbyists. We are waking up to the depth and breadth of all that and how it has nearly (and still could) brought us to a worldwide economic collapse of great duration. Don't want it anymore. Greed is no longer good; sorry Gekko. Waste and abuse of our taxes has been rampant. We want value and transparency and accountability for our money. Therefore, that excludes politicians who make those sweetheart deals for their own benefit and think they are entitled to all manner of perks. Goodbye: K St., earmarks, corruption, kickbacks, Enron-style accounting, etc. and don't come back again!
Truth, trust and ethics matter. Skin color does not. A new day is dawning. At last! It's long overdue.
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