Dr. Boyce: How to Know If You’re In Love with President Obama and Why This is a Bad Idea
by Dr. Boyce Watkins
The era of Barack Obama is highly intriguing to me for at least a couple of reasons: First, at no point in American history has any group of people supported a candidate so readily and received so little in return. The Obama Administration has pardoned almost no black men, even among those who are in prison for laws that have been taken off the books. Also, black unemployment has rarely enters any meaningful White House discussion (note how Bob Johnson says the White House misled him about following up after agreeing to support his plan to fix black unemployment by supporting black-owned businesses – I’m sure they’re rather just keep meeting with Al Sharpton). Finally, racism is apparently no longer worth fighting against, at least at the highest levels – we would demand no such thing from such an “important and busy” man.
The second reason I find the age of Obama to be intriguing is that I’ve never seen a time when voting for someone is not enough; people instead expect you to love the president as if he were a relative. Someone asked me why I don’t support President Obama. I simply replied: “I endorsed him before you did, that’s all that any politician should ever get from any of us. Therefore, I’ve supported Barack Obama more than any president in American history. And that makes me a hater?” For some reason, questioning the policies of the administration is defined to be traitorous, which is a problematic violation of our most fundamental American liberties.
I’ve stopped discussing the policies of the Obama Administration with people who’ve decided before the fact that they either love Obama or hate him. In my view, these two groups balance each other out, like the Hatfields and the McCoys, fighting for territory without spending much time worrying about what’s right for the country. Many of us hang out on either MSNBC or Fox News, not looking for truth, but instead, seeking out whatever information serves to confirm our chosen obsession.
Instead of speaking with cheerleaders or attack dogs, I gain insights from those who can speak highly of the president one week and bash him the next. This is the kind of analysis we need in order to ensure that a) the politicians we support actually get into office, and b) they do their jobs once they get there. Love and hate are powerful emotions, almost like addictions. One thing I know is that the irrational addict never has power over the pusher, which is why a politician who has convinced his constituents to value style over substance has little incentive to do anything for the citizens who back him the most.
Here are a few ways to know if someone is in love with President Obama:
1) When a person critiques any of the administration’s policies, they are automatically defined to be a “hater” or jealous of the president: I’ve been accused of being jealous on many occasions when I point out problems with the administration’s policies, even though I’d never want to live in the White House. When someone accuses me of being jealous, I then ask the attacker if they are criticizing me because they are jealous of me (since the logic appears to imply that any critique must be rooted in jealousy). Reducing every critic to a hater is an easy way to keep the subject from addressing the nature of the critique, which might be part of the plan in the first place: If I can convince the world that Cornel West is an idiot who simply hates Barack Obama for no good reason, then I never have to defend the president’s questionable record on poverty eradication.
2) When someone asks you about any of the president’s policy positions or whether he has fulfilled campaign promises, you have very evidence to support your point of view: If you can’t explain exactly why you support a candidate, then you probably shouldn’t be supporting him.
3) If you watched the State of the Union Address and spent most of your time noticing how cute Sasha and Malia were in the audience, or marveling over the colors of the first lady’s dress: The kids are adorable and Michelle is beautiful, but when evaluating the commander-in-chief of the most powerful nation on earth, we might want to actually pay attention to how he’s doing the job. The president might have as much “swag” as Denzel Washington, but black people have never progressed historically by relying on swag.
4) When someone mentions drones being dropped on little babies in third world countries or the indefinite detention of American citizens, you change the subject or don’t want to hear it: If you cried for the little babies at Sandy Hook but have no tears for the babies in Palestine, Yemen or the south side of Chicago, then your sympathies are biased, elitist and effectively misguided. All of God’s children matter, even if we don’t think they do.
5) If you regularly use phrases like “I love my president,” or join facebook fan pages with titles like “I love waking up in the morning knowing that Barack Obama is my president:” Obama’s election is a wonderful thing, but it’s not Juneteenth all over again. His/her ability to gain the approval of white America may not be the best way to evaluate the achievements of any black man or woman. Runaway slaves rarely met with white approval, yet they were the bravest among us; the same can be said about hated men like Malcolm X, who fought for self-sufficiency and the ability to speak freely and stand tall in the face of oppressive opposition. As much as we might love President Barack Obama, most of us would agree that his team has decided that speaking freely and honestly in favor of black Americans is a burden they are not strong enough to bear.
6) If you have a picture of Obama right next to Martin Luther King and Jesus: Barack Obama’s picture should be placed next to John F. Kennedy and perhaps Thurgood Marshall, but not Martin Luther King. King paved the way for Obama, but I doubt that Obama would pave the way for the next Martin Luther King; in fact, Valerie Jarrett would probably be seeking to destroy his reputation, since King said many of the same things that Cornel West is saying today. King spoke about racism and poverty, two topics that Obama has almost never chosen to address; that, my friends, is a fact.
7) If you’re getting angry while reading this list: One way to cure yourself of incurable political love is to stop getting angry at me for creating this list. If you’re upset with me right now, it’s because deep in your soul, you know that I might be right. Your other option is to write me off as either being jealous or a hater, which fits into the first item on this list. Instead, I suggest that you become familiar with the president’s policies so that you can defend him the next time someone criticizes him. You might also determine that perhaps it’s possible to support a political leader while still pushing him to do his best on your behalf. Political support should not be a one way street.
8) If you respected Cornel West and Jesse Jackson in 2007 and hate their guts today: One huge price to be paid by black America for the Obama presidency it is that authentic black advocacy is being murdered in exchange for an administration that will barely mention black people in public. Rather than realizing that we can respect both Barack Obama and Jesse Jackson at the same time, people are replacing one for the other. Let’s be clear: there are things that Jesse Jackson will say on our behalf that Barack Obama would NEVER say. While President Obama is fighting for gay marriage, Jesse Jackson is speaking up on black unemployment, mass incarceration and urban violence, topics that the president won’t ever make time to address.
When Barack Obama leaves office, he’s going to retire with all the other former presidents, only joining up with causes that are bigger and more “important” than those in the black community. On the other hand, Cornel West is still going to be fighting the next president on behalf of black people. Replacing Cornel West with Barack Obama is like a woman getting rid of her brother because she has a new boyfriend: One guy has been with you for life and the other could be gone in the blink of an eye. It’s a very risky and unnecessary exchange to say the least.
The point here is not to attack those who support President Obama. For the most part, I probably agree with you. Instead, it is to simply say that the political game is a negotiating process, not unlike buying a new car. Politicians, like used car salesmen, are manipulators by trade, and the minute they realize you’re in love with the product, they are trained to jack up the price. Don’t let politicians manipulate you, even black ones; instead, demand that they do their jobs.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a professor at Syracuse University and author of the book, “Commercialized Hip-Hop: The Gospel of Self Destruction.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
128 Responses to Dr. Boyce: How to Know If You’re In Love with President Obama and Why This is a Bad Idea
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Love should be unconditional……..Do you love God more than you love your wife, sister, brother, mother and father….??? Do you get every thing you ask God for????…
WOW another fool who should NOT be allowed to vote! LOL LOL LOL
Dr. Boyce this is the most insightful intriguing article you have ever written.
Dr. Boyce the only other group that is more intriguing than black fools are white fools who cannot tell you why they hate the clintons. LOL They look at you with open mouths and dumb faces when you ask LOL LOL
Uncle Toms voted for obama because he is one of them.
Old blacks voted for obama to get even with whitey.
Black women voted for Obama because he is the powerful black man of their fantasy. He plays into that by always delibertly looking googoo eyed at michelle, eventhough she admitted that on the first date he admitted that he wanted a political match/not a love match. That’s why she is the only black girl he ever dated. He knew she’d go for it because being so tall her options were few, being average looking limited her options and expecting to get a black man equally yolked with her ambitions were slim to none.
And the poor young people were tricked out of their vote with false promises.
There you have it.
This is the most ignorant comment yet.. How do you know what her options were… What are your options, slim to none, because I doubt if you will find someone as stupid as you… The people couldnt have just voted for him because they felt he was the best candidate for them??? We lost. Get over it. Dont make republicans and independents sound so ignorant.
I read her book. She barely got a prom date, and the person was a neighbor, not a boyfriend.
I have been with my man 13 beautiful years.
The only black people who benefited from his election is drug dealers and criminals. He allows them to run rampant.
@Christine, I pray you are not a black citizen.
Racist republicans have said the same thing you just wrote about yourself.
If you are not a black citizen, I have nothing more to say to you because I expect ignorance from Christine and I pray for your children who had to put up with someone so low on the evolutionary latter.
Good Day !
@Christine, I pray you are not a black citizen.
Racist republicans have said the same thing you just wrote about yourself.
If you are not a black citizen, I have nothing more to say to you because I expect ignorance from Christine and I pray for your children who had to put up with someone so low on the evolutionary latter.
Good Day !
It is true that there are some people who LOVE this president and exhibit the symptoms in your list. But so what? He is a popular President. There was a time when people loved J F KENNEDY like that too…
But there are also some that HATE this President more than they should and blame him for every problem under the sun. But if folks are choosing to HATE OBAMA more than they find the TEA PARTY and their buddies to be DISGUSTING are the real problems in this situation.
The Tea Party has been electing officials and representatives who then seek to bust unions, defund schools, cut off Medicare, food stamps, and Pell Grants, etc. — and then smear our President. They have fought against the AMERICAN JOBS ACT and nearly anything that would help working folks.
So…I think the folks who hate Obama but never say a mumbling word against the rightwing nuts who are going to take us back into a RECESSION…they have the real mental illness.
So you are saying that presidents in past years had the power to affect SOCIAL change but the Tea party has the power to render this black president powerless?????
Nancy Reagen did “Just say no to drugs?”
Mrs. Kennedy did a fitness campaign, appropriate for that time in history.
Michelle Obama chose a fitness campaign instead of the most serious issue of our time – VIOLENCE. Are you saying she chose fitness because the Tea party didn’t care about violence and made her do it??? LOL LOL Are you saying the Tea Party made her tell black parents to force their children outside to play right in the midst of the drug wars that got many of them murdered right in her hometown of Chicago???
Are you saying that the Tea Party made Obama make homosexual rights/marriage a priority of his administration???
Are you saying that the Tea Party made Obama give the Dream Act to hispanics, guaranteeing illegal aliens the rights to work and prosper, while Black Americans sink further into poverty???
Are you saying that the Tea Party made Obama give them the Washington Mall for their march, and forced Al Sharpton into the ghetto for his march on MLK Birthday a couple of years ago???
Are you saying that the Tea Party forced Obama to stay out of the Teacher’s Strike in Chicago last year???
Ms. Fool you know nothing of the admirable qualities of the Tea Party. All you know is those lies Democrats fed you to get you to vote for Obama. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT THE TEA PARTY WAS ABOUT ALL OF AMERICA’S RIGHTS TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY FROM FALLING FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO A LAND OF LAWLESS, DRUG ADDICTED, CHRONICIALLY UNEMPLOYED GODLESS FOOLS,
AND I ALSO GUARANTEE YOU THAT BLACK AMERICA WOULD HAVE BEEN CLEANED UP OF THE VIOLENCE AND CORRUPTION WHICH IS BLACK AMERICA TODAY UNDER THIS PRESIDENT.
Let’s assume that you are right. Then the question would be – Why would you be fool enough to vote for a powerless president then??? One who cant serve you, but only there for his personal gain.
Right on Jesse, some people have political blinders and refuse to look at the total issues at hand.
Jessie I have read your writings, and some of what you say is true. No one can force your hand. Is the President controlled? Yes. To a certain extent, because he needs permission from the white wing to pass a bill. Other than that he would pass bills without anyone’s say so. Would you agree? The President has power, but not as much as what we all have been thinking. If I don’t like something, or how things are running, I first try to change it. If it does not work, then I would resign or step down. I refuse to be used. But that is where the Serenity Prayer comes in. That change has to come from us as a people. We all (and I mean all races) need to step up and fight for a change. For the black race, we have to take a stand ourselves and put a stop to the black on black crime, the drugs in our neighborhoods, the killing of our children and innocent bystanders over senseless issues. We have to stop putting the blame where it does not belong. Is this what the Tea Party want? Well yes and no. They like controlling us, and really do not care how many died by our own hands. Like they say, its not their problem we can’t get along. If we are not celebrities, we are considered invisible. However, if everyone that sits around feeling sorry for themselves take control of their lives and that of their children, we just may gain more respect in society. There is a stigma on blacks, and part of it is true. We did a lot for this country. Yet it is never acknowledged like it would take away someone else’s spotlight. We are a strong race, but yet allow the smallest things to kick us back and almost destroy us. I am not talking about everybody, because some of us are doing well. We are so quick to judge, and can not manage to disagree without hate coming forth. There are senseless crimes and killings of our own. This you need strong community leaders for. You also need strong parents, because it does start in the home and how children are raised. Children get as far as your desire to push them. The Tea Party is not stopping us from being all we can be, and they are not forcing us into crime. But they are blocking bills necessary of making things better. That is something a lot of us do not know about because we are not supposed to know this. We have rich black Americans as well. None of this is talked about much. Guess why. We have inventors, business owners, entrepreneurs we can look up to and learn from, but some of us want to sit back and blame a group for our misfortunes. I hear it all the time when young black singers, artists or sports player get rich, everyone think there is something owed to them. Not true! It is entirely up to them how they spend their money. Yes, a lot of mothers and fathers are breaking their backs and need better paying jobs to care for their families properly. That is not a lot to ask for. Their are some who think a job or college is going to fall in their laps, and they sit back and wait for it to happen. Education is important, but can you get a fair education if your parents are not wealthy, and there are not enough grants? Obesity is another issue that effects our children, where most of them have health problems before they become teenager. Those teenagers grow up having kids that do the same thing. It is about educating, exercising and being careful with what you eat and drink. The foods are not like they use to be anymore, and some parents need to be educated about daily exercise and diet. Why? Because children are our future, even after we are gone. You don’t see these weight problems in European countries. We as a people have to take a stand, and make changes ourselves.
The Obama administration, granted waivers to some states from some of the existing rules.
The waivers gave “those states flexibility in how they manage their welfare rolls as long as it produced 20% increases in the number of people getting work. He actually bolstered states ability to tighten the initiative to get job training. Essentially he is making it tougher for recipients in states that feel it should be harder. since Obama did what the Republican’s requested and is giving the states more self determination, he is not reducing workfare but letting the states strengthen it in their own manner.
@Jesse CLOWN… Apparently you need a remedial reading class. I am not saying any more in my post than what is there. And you don’t know what I know…about the Tea Party or much else…other than what I post.
You just went on rambling like a nut about Sharpton, homosexuals, immigrants, etc. — that I never mentioned.
An old African Proverb describes you:
“A fool looks for dung where
the cow never walked.”
I like our President. I don’t like some of his policies. I think the Keystone pipeline should be approved from Canada to the Gulf. I think the uranium deposits near the Grand Canyon should be developed, rather than leaving the radioactive materials to seep into the Colorado river. I don’t like some of his Supreme Court appointees. There’s a fourth thing that I can’t remember right now, but when I get an e-mail from POTUS, I rush to read it! And when FLOTUS sends me a Christmas card or e, I really do feel as if I’m falling in love. She is SO SWEET!!!! Dr., I think you really are a hatin, jealous old man, because Michelle favors me over you.
Fast and furious is the fourth big problem I have, and his treatment of the AG in this debacle, shades of Nixon. But Michelle still sends me postcards and not you Dr.
And you have the power to vote????? Something needs to be done about you. Blacks like you are going to get all of our rights to vote taken away.
YOU DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENCY TO MAKE OR BREAK THIS COUNTRY. YOU DONT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE EFFECT HE CAN HAVE ON YOUR HOME, COMMUNITY, CITY AND COUNTRY.
Professor Watkins:
I also have some major concerns with President Barack Obama on substance and style. I agree with your assertion that Obama has done a poor job of advocating effectively for poor Blacks and others who are suffering mightly in this weak economy. I have a problem with Obama’s refusal to return Oprah Winfrey’s phone calls. Is the kid nuts?!! Ditto Obama’s diss of Professor Cornel West after winning election in 2008. The novice president refused to invite West to the inauguration in 2009. I have a problem with Obama’s political skills on a number of levels – especially his routine habit of caving in to ALL Republican demands! The novice president is willing to give up Social Security benefits earned by workers over decades to appease the Republicans on the national debt. Ditto for Medicare benefits.
In essence this novice president is willing to roll back many of gains [SS and Medicare & Medicaid] earned under FDR and LBJ going back more than 75 years ago. Obama said in his 2008 campaign those institutions would be protected if he was elected president. Obama lied! I no longer trust any promises President Obama makes. The novice president is willing to sign into law policies that only Republicans favor in order to get a DEAL done. I strongly disagree with Obama on this issue.
I now question if President Obama has any core values that he is williing to fight hard for. He threw Van Jones, Shirley Sherrod, and recently Susan Rice under the bus because FoxNews & John McCain distorted her record. I am outraged by Obama’s weakness as a political leader!
Now that you are so out rage and you don’t trust Mr.Obama why don’t you sit down and personally write him a letter and let him know exactly how you about his political views and him throwing Van Jones,Shirley Sherrod, and more rececntly Susan Rice under the bus you might be surprise he just may write you he’s known for his letter writting.
He’s also known for increasing the use of killer predatory drones by the hundreds in Africa and the Middle East..causing the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians. He is also known for his support of the rebels who assisted NATO in the overthrow of the Libyan government, which then went on to practice ethnic cleansing of Black Libyans and African immigrants. See Glen Ford’s article at blackagendareport.com. He is now known for his plan to change the way the COLA is calculated for Social Security..which will lead to less income for recipients..including those who depend on Social Security as their only source of income.
Moeblues, he has used exective proviledges for almost 4 years, how can you really say he has caved in to the Rebublicians on issues he has the political power to do as he desires look at the policies on gay rites, abortion that have killed over fifty million babies mostly babies of color because 76% of the Planned parenthood are in the black and hispanic communities,look at the issues in the Hispanic communities he rescued them for their vote what did we get for our vote? lets face it he has not addressed the core interest of the black community, don’t make excuses for his short comings, lets hold those in office accountable to their promises
Your point is well taken but you must remember that he is in a position that he must represent all his supporters and our needs must be apart of all his supporters. This term is the time to apply pressure on the President to address our needs.
Roeback – I supported Barack Obama in his US Senate bid in 2004, and in both presidential bids. Like millions of other progressive Americans, I bought into Obama’s transformative rhetoric. As it turns out being an effective speaker and getting elected president is totally different from being an effective politician. After watching President Obama closely over the last four years, I have concluded that the guy is a selfish and user type politician who does the bidding of the Republican Party. In that context Obama has isolated himself from the Black Caucus and the Democratic leadership regarding developing a political strategy. I don’t believe Obama is responsive to pressure from his base, he only responds to Republicans & FoxNews demands.
Note: I did use the phrase “poor Blacks and others” in my weak economy comment in the prior post. I believe the comment is inclusive and applies to all ethnicities facing poverty. And for what it’s worth – President Obama never use the word POOR in his statements. I wonder why?
The election has been over now for almost two months my questions is why did you support his last re-election if you concluded that he is selfish, a user, and do bidding for the Republicans and did you just come to this decision within the last six too eight weeks? It seems to me you would drawn those conclusions at the end of his first Presidency not right after this last election he is not sworn in yet SMH.
So true Rosemary. So true.
OOO OOOh I can answer that… People supported his re-election because we are trapped in a 2 party system that is constantly moving further and further right (thanks to the president).
You have to vote for the lesser of 2 evils… The devil you know versus the devil you dont.
First of all the republicans are flat out crazy and they are currently in the midst of a meltdown of epic proportions.. They cannot be trusted at all period… They are a totally unacceptable alternative
So what are left with? Obama. The only positive I see in Obama is that he is pragmatic (or selfish) enough to actually listen to the public if we can put enough pressure on him.. That isnt the case with the GOP. We need to MAKE him do what we need done…
obama is constantly trying to play good cop to the GOP bad cop, but the republicans are getting wise to this game and it will get ugly soon.. But always remember that good cop/bad cop is ultimately a game played against the prisoner. The good cop and bad cop agree on everything that truly matters… Your fate is the same no matter gets their way, the good cop just might let you have a cigarette or a phone call or a visit before your fate…
not a real difference and we need to break this paradigm and rebuild so we can have a future, and our children can have a future.
Martha Washington, Dolly Madison, Michelle Obama, Mame Eisenhour These are our Fourmost Fist Ladies. I think we have space in the Black Hills for them.
I agree wholeheartedly with your analysis of President Obama. I voted for him both times without any reservations or expectations ! Obama was the logical choice in the last presidential election. In his first campaign for president, Black folk chose symbolism over substance in voting for Obama. Needless to say, Obama banked on the African-American community voting in record numbers for him without receiving NOTHING in return for our political support. Every other group (Jews, Gay/Lesbians, Hispanics, and White Liberals) received political paybacks but US ! Now why is that you ask ? Well for starters, you must remember that Obama has never had close ties to the African American community. Personally, I have not lost anything by his being elected twice to the presidency… but I cannot say the same for my less fortunate brothers and sisters. If we fail to DEMAND that this president pay his political debt to Black folk in his second term as president, we will continue to suffer for another four years while we talk about how cute his children are, how beautiful and well dressed Michelle is, etc. My people need to chose substance over symbolism this go around.
If you didn’t want him as your President you had the choice to not partiscipate in the election but you did so because you thought he was the most logical choice you would have made a statement had you not voted so it seems to me that you were willingly too choose as you put it substances over symbolism by voting for him in the first place and further more he does not owe black people anything sure he ask for their vote but like you they had a choice of voting or not voting
Bish u crazy. My taxes pay for that negro to WORK for me. I’m his boss.
How about working for yourself and please show respect I am sure you don’t refer to your Mom as being a b***h It’s ignorance and a lack of self respect and education on your part that you can’t have a decent conversation without name calling
@Dr Boyce ..my dad scolded me yesterday about not ” bringing a black man down”. I told him if he read the Federalist papers from Adams and Jefferson her would know that a dissenting voice is essential for a representative democracy. Some believe we shouldn’t say or ask for nuthin, do for self. I’m koo with that but what about my tax dollars? They fed contractors don’t just do for self, they get paid well from uncle Sam. Ask the defense contractors! ! We act like sheep, baaaaaa, and its really pitiful. I had four political science classes in route to my degree and Obama’s behavior along with the rest of Congress reads off the scrip…..Maat…
I Sure am glad there are negroes who look at their paycheck and know WHY 40% of it goes to some big whigs in local and federal govt, who owe them good performance as civil SERVANTS. THEY ARE OUR SERVANTS.
You have a part to play, but GOVT controls every aspect of your life –
you cant drive or own a business unless they license you
you cant marry without their license/permission
you cant buy a home without going through the govt system and paperwork
the govt can take your child if they deem you unfit,
on and on
THEY OWE YOU. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS SO THAT YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO SURVIVE. SURVIVAL IN AMERICA IS A DUAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVT AND THE CITIZEN. laws passed against or for you are the difference between life and death
Correction – he
You must understand something about Boyce Watkins. Several years ago, Mr. Watkins was someone for which I had the utmost respect. However, he is in the process of trying to re-create himself on an international level. I suppose he is trying to become the Black Rush Limbaugh.
His ratings as a professor from his students are terrible; so as for his stability as a professor is concerned, he probably sees the handwriting on the wall. He takes every opportunity to criticize the President, and I’m not convinced that it’s because he actually believes what he says; but his negatively written opinion on President Obama causes controversy, and he’s been in the media long enough to know that controversy creates popularity. Good or bad, he just wants the words “Boyce Watkins” on the lips of a large audience.
So the bottom line is that at this point in his life, he would rather have fame than favor with his readers and former supporters. Maybe he will succeed at being the Black Rush Limbaugh of the day. If so, I’ll give him credit for reaching what seems to be his ultimate goal. Evidently, fame is much more important to him at this point than respect. Personally, I’d take the respect.
you are a complete fool.
blog owners with personal motives like satanrose, medianottakeout have clear agendas to promote entertainers with caribbean/african ancestry and to try to destroy the reputations of black american entertainers, and try to hate them off the stage.
dr. boyce is a taxpayer, a citizen with full rights of freedom of speech to speak against his PUBLIC SERVANTS. it is his job as a professor to keep abreast of current issues, and to critique.
as far as some silly college student, who may or may not be easily influenced by haters and their opinions – THEY DONT COUNT.
no college administration takes foolish criticism seriously. i worked in college administration. most good professors dont get great ratings because the students are too young, unwise, and foolish to know subject matter well enough to give an intelligent critique.
Safe to assume you would have drank the Kool Aid if you were in the Jim Jones camp. I suggest you do a little research on Boyce-Bill OReily and why he was denied tenure at Syracuse University before you call someone else a fool.
so u are some jealous negro getting all in dr. boyce PERSONAL business
“The Black Rush Limbaugh”? Are you serious?
I continue to be baffled at the amount of time, energy, and postings that are spent to put down, criticize, nitpick and slam Pres. Obama — but we see little comment…hardly any…against the awful actions of the TEA PARTY…Limbaugh, Beck, FOX NEWS and that bunch of scoundrels.
Some folks that do all of these postings claim to be “so Black or Afro-centric” — but they simply do not criticize the very people who have been blocking JOBS BILLS, and other benefits proposed by Pres. Obama that would help Black folks. It’s pathetic.
” Intellectuals ought to study the past— not for the pleasure they find in so doing…. but to derive lessons from it.” …
~ Quote from Cheikh Anta Diop (historian)
I totally agree with you Super Sis. Our president needs our help![do not criticize the very people who have been blocking JOBS BILLS, and other benefits proposed by Pres. Obama that would help Black folks.] Its downright RUDE the way the GOP opposes everything he has tried to do. Even some of our white brethren understand the racism that’s happening with the GOP! Why aren’t we raising h**l? In the sixties we would marched on Washington by now! Obama is asking for help from the people! Yet we do nothing!
@Sylvia — yes, those rightwing nuts in Congress…like Boehner, Cantor, McConnell, Bachmann and others have done nothing but BLOCK almost every bill that the Dems and Pres. Obama presented — THE AMER. JOBS BILL, and some for hiring Vets, extending unemployment…and others.
Right now…they are s******g the “Fiscal Cliff” deal…and many will suffer from that…by the fact that MILK prices will go up, the Sandy storm victims will get no funds (at least not soon) and others will suffer from losing benefits, unemployment, etc.
THOSE BLACK POWER ADVOCATES WHO KEEP POSTING THE FOUL STUFF ABOUT OBAMA… and saying we should “go back to Africa and get away from White folks”…. are not telling you about the major threat — which has hit Africa …and other countries already hard and now we are being effected by the wild weather.
Bishop Tutu is fighting against it…check out this video:
http://youtu.be/Tbo5oh2JMD0
BUT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS who cannot say a foul word about those rightwing Tea-Publican scoundrels. Many of them are also hooked up with Neo-Nazis, Birchers, the Koch Brothers, or even some “white power” groups.
In addition, the rightwingers have tried to DUPE us into not realizing that a lot of ” Govt welfare money” goes to BIG OIL…and other rich companies. BIG OIL and COAL companies are the main culprits in GLOBAL WARMING disaster that threatens to wreck this planet. Africa has already been hit very hard by the droughts and wild weather. WHERE ARE THE COMMENTS AGAINST THE REPUBLICANS???
Word up!!!!
WE DIDN’T VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS.
REPUBLICANS DIDNT EVEN ACTIVELY BEG FOR OUR VOTES.
OBAMA BEGGED FOR OUR VOTES.
OBAMA ASKED US TO OVERLOOK HIS FIRST 4 YEARS OF POOR PERFORMANCE, NOT THE REPUBLICANS BISH.
You imbecilic “bish”, take your medications and stop being a nuisance.
Dr. Boyce, I couldn’t agree with you more. I voted for this president the first time, however not the second based on his policies and the way he handled certain issues. I have one SAVIOR and his name it’s GREATER THAN ALL NAMES: Yeshua HaMashaich. There are many great black leaders, and President Obama isn’t one of them.
And to the few posters accusing this president of leading us into World War III, my suggestion is to look up prophetic biblical verses regarding the last war in Daniel, and also into Albert Pike. Every single president is on an agenda. Yes, it’s a conspiracy.
And you are still complaining
Here goes Boyce Watkins again he can’t help himself he has a lot of negative energy and is always yaking about the president he has too much time on his hands asking stupid questions always like his croonies Tavis Smily and Cornel West,Maria LLyod and sad to say they even have Steve Perry a man who at one time too me seem to be doing positive things but now he is a part of these divisive men who talk about what (WE) need to do when it comes to Jobs,Gang Violence,black men in prison the homeless etc but yet they themselves do nothing because they spend too much time writting dumb articles and making dumb videos yakk,yakk yakk but they have all the time in the world too bash the president I think it is pure jealousy on their part and they can’t get pass the fact that we have a black president and majority of blacks do love him wheather you like it or not Mr.Watkins I often wander when his term is up who will he then go after maybe Al Sharpton because Jessie Jackson has lost his mojo food for thought.
@ Rose Davis. .Do u own a home, pay taxes, pay property taxes, SS taxes, ,income taxes, gas taxes, Medicare taxes, and a host of other deductions before you see ur check? If not then you are right you can’t expect anything but I and many others pay all that and then some and we have been hollering for years for representation for our taxation. Read Federalist paper #51,58,65 etc. We expected a serious change from white male dominated hegemony with voting for the Prez and we want an end to this same old song. But if u think we will ever have this chance to squash this cracker again, I got some land in tansania to sell u …Truth to truth and power …Maat
Have you ever heard the statement forty acres and a mule you didn’t get it then and you want get it now so truth too truth as you say or better yet the facts are that black people will only get so far in this country or any where else and no matter how you rant and rave it want change the situation and you will continue to holler for years too come and pay your fare share in taxes and things will still remain just as they are now
We obviously have some very angry people on this board. I wish they would temper their anger with cold showers, medicine or exercise before they stink it up with their veracity.
@ Super sis …Point is well taken and as a student of knowledge, wisdom and understanding and two degrees, I know that the Republicans are obstructionist and demons of the most low. But we have no one else to turn to for us taxpayer. Your bible says” to whom more is given, more is expected”!. I have cops for family memebers and they admit they knew the job was thankless when they took it. Same for Obama. Do you know who his team of advisers are? Look it up. Then tell me if he is being his own man, ESP by even putting social security on the tablebor is he being directed by his ADVISERS? Cut the head off of the snake and the body dies, he wanted the job, so he gotta take what Nixon, Johnson, Carter, Clinton, Bush and many others had to take. Or be the figurehead for the corporations and shut the h**l up. Mind u I have worked since 16, now 45 and never got a dime of aid. Don’t Fvck with my social security …Maat. ..
To be or not to be..You make some valid points but its interesting to me why one would create a questionnaire of sorts as to what are the signs of love or hate for this President. I love the fact that he did it twice! Perhaps I’m not holding his feet to the fire as much I could or should BUT as an Asiatic woman I’ve elected to rely on myself. I am wondering still what Asiatic people thought they were supposed to get when racism/white supremacy is so pervasive-I can see the cure for AIDS and all cancers before we’re rid of racism. In any event your view is your view and it gets the same shrug my view gets from you.
you are a little off the mark——but so are most so-called intellectuals, this is why stagnation persist today——once the problems are solved a lotta folks gonna lose their JOBS and we can’t have that—- so folks keep playing the game—- it’s always gonna be that way. things only end to begin again and on and on and on……. MR.PREZ seems to love a to play a great game of MONOPLY and never take it serious…….he’s just that kinda guy. PEACE!!!!
so the death and dieing of our black babies is just a game for obama, one that he doesn’t even take seriously? i can believe that. pathetic!
Blacks voted for the President because of his skin color, most had no idea of his political background.
He said hope and change and now forward, you have your marching orders!
Under this administration the government now controls your
Marriage (who can marry whom), s****l relations (and birth control), health care (what type and how much you can receive), finances (check out your 1st pay in 2013)plus(cost of staples up 35% gasoline up 50%, food intake (hasn’t Mrs. Obama been telling you what to eat), personal weapons (will be taken away while blaming the Newtown shooting) . The control is not blatant, but its there. Before he is out of office you will regret having placed him in the position. Has any one seen the Millions of new jobs created in the last 4 years. What happened to the 800 BILLION in stimulous spending? Ever wonder why he stoped the pipeline from Canada?
Oh
The unavoidable taxes coming in 2013 are going to hurt! His economic literacy is terrible! We will all pay dearly for being so uninformed, for voting with our hearts and for acting like lemmings! Do your own research, your friends won’t like it because once you have the facts you can’t follow the party line, you will start thinking on your own, you’ll know the truth!
Wow, what a discussion! All the comments are so interesting.
As an Oboma lover, I can honestly say that I’m not offended when you criticize the President Dr. Boyce. I do think, however, that those White haters in Congress block everything he tries to do, especially if it might help Black people.
Well unfortunately, those white haters in congress did not block his using $9 million US taxpayers’ dollars a day for three + months to overthrow a legitimate government..which has been replaced by one which has declared sharia law.
I still love Jesse Jackson. I no longer care for Cornel West. We have a black man who is occupying the highest land in office, yet you tear him down any chance you get…that is more damaging to the black community than shawty lo’s. ‘All my babys mamas’. It makes the next possible black leader think twice about stepping up. (In my opinion)
Boyce Watkins is vying for attention and the only place he’s getting it is in the ridiculous forum for his essays. He is disgusted and busted that President Obama won’t give him the time of day.
President Obama increased the pell grant.That works for me, I have 2 kids incollege,2more on the way. He will give more money to HBCUs. Great because my kids attend these schools. No President will do 100% of what you want so you pick the one that satisfies some of your needs. College concerns were my number one priority, for this he got my vote. Quick question…is Jessie white? he writes like he is trying to sound black but sometimes he talks out both sides of his mouth. Some of his posts sounds peculiar
WHAT IS AN EDUCATION WITH A JOB????
WHAT IS AN EDUCATION WITH A JOB????
Latrice,
In case you have not noticed, blacks are not monolithic – there is no “quintessential black way.” We are as diverse as any other race and that is the way it is and should be. Why do we all have to “sound black” and promote “black thought ideology” particularly when it comes to President Obama and the Democratic party?
God (NOT OBAMA) has given us a brain to be able to think for ourselves and draw conclusions for what best represents our world view and the way we want to live and thrive in this country. For many of us, Obama is not the answer and will never be the answer and that does not make us haters, jealous or “peculiar”, but simply Americans who do not support him or his policies.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is absolutely correct in this article. I had the “displeasure” of being attacked by relatives over this holiday season because they essentially saw me as “mentally warped” and possibly traitorous because I did not vote for their “Messiah” this go round. My own mom even made this asinine and incredulous statement: “we still love and support you even though you did not vote for the president!!”
I could not believe my ears. I have supported my mom and dad throughout my entire life and she has “the audacity” to place conditions or questions around my love and support simply because I exercised my right to NOT VOTE for this president?!!!!!
This Obama idolatry is both absurd and insane!!! Was it Obama or any other politician supporting her and my father over his many health problems over the many years? Or was it her loving children and family willingly giving time, love and financial support?
The answer is obvious but many like my mother has the “Obama Way or the Highway” brain disorder that obfuscates their thinking so much that they are willing to alienate the people who have loved and supported them when Obama was not even a blip on the screen and was certainly not in the “black lexicon” of thought.
We have some serious problems in this country and if we don’t continuously question our leaders and advocate for the things that will benefit our people, then, who will?
Obama is a power hungry, arrogant politician that also speaks with a fork tongued and will say and do anything to win votes, seize power and maintain his liberal, progressive agenda that will not benefit most of us in the long run but will make us impotent and permanently attached to the “government’s teats” for our security, instead of independent, creative and capable citizens willing to work hard and take advantage of opportunities that the government should be promulgating through sound policies and partnerships that will strengthen the free market so that we can get this country back to work and moving in the right direction.
Symbolism is nothing without substance and action. It is a lesson that many blacks and others have refused to learn at their own peril. But, we have four more years of the fly, suave president with the cool swag and the prerequisites: the politically pedigreed black spouse and 2.0 children – the perfect cover for feigned “traditional values” and that all important and successful political career.
Hopefully, he will amount to much more that that!!!!
Latrice – I agree with President Obama’s support of education and innovation, but I no longer believe he has the character to facedown any Republican opposition in Congress. I offer as evidence Obama’s caving in once again to Republican demands in the so-called financial cliff deal. Obama’s performance as a political dealmaker is so bad, he should be required to hire a team of professional negotiators to represent his office and the Democratic Leadership when facing the wily Republican opposition.
I am afraid that President Obama’s failures as an negotiator will be problematic throughout his next term. Expect Obama to sign into law next term legislation written by Republicans in order to avoid government shutdowns.
Sad to say – the Republicans have punked Barack Obama.
Jalen, I sense you lean toward the Republican ideology. Isn’t it true that President Obama promotes Democratic legislation that the Republicans object to, and the Executive capitulates to the opposition party? You should be pleased with Obama leading from behind. The Republican Party is dictating policy by forcing Obama to accept their economic vision. As a Democrat, I am disappointed with President Obama’s lack of resolve and political toughness.
Despite your family issues, I found your post interesting.
If u think you can make a better leader, just run and let us decide whether you are good for the country or not
Policies over Pride people!! Because these will be around long after Obama is gone! Stop falling for the okey-doke!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This right here.
Hopefully we never have another oreo/so called black president ever cause obambots will always side step tthe real issues…..i rather the white man be in office who i know don’t care about me than the oreo who act as if he care but really don’t…..
Still “hating” on President Obama Dr. Boyce?
Dr Boyce hates any person associated with president Obama including those of us who voted for him.
Oops! said it all didn’t I?
I respect Dr Boyce, he is not all bad, but he allows his hatred for some black folk to get in the way of his better person and some of us can read right through that hatred.
Good Day Elizabeth !
Why be surprised by President Obama’s color blind politics. His mother was a white woman from Kansas; his Grandma and Grandpa where white people from El Dorado, Ks. I grew us in Wichita, Ks and know that there are no black people in El Dorado. He was raised in Honolulu and went to a private school. His only problem was that he didn’t loo like the other students, but they didn’t kick his a*s just because he was black. So President Obama is a black looking president that thinks and feels like a white looking president. His major adviser is Valerie Jarrette who come from an upper class black background and feel that they are white but it is just an accident that they look black.
His priorities are immigration, taxes on the rich, now gun control (because a white man killed a bunch school kids). Where is gun control in NE Wichita, South Chicago, all of Newark, Watts,(pick your favorite town/city).So at least he will help us by cutting down on the number and type of guns. You notice that not one banker has been jailed for the 2007 financial meltdown. In fact they got rewarded with over a trillion dollars in loans. That we can’t get to buy a house or start a business.At the end of his presidency I predict he will become the President of Harvard.
Dr. Boyce: Why don’t you write an article, or better yet, a BOOK on “How to Know When You are a HATER” since this is a subject you know sooooooo much more about. You lying, jealous, Uncle Tom-ish, hateful excuse for a human being.
Her you go again, you Obama hater!! oyce, you and Cornel West and other Black intellectuals who hate President Obama make me sick!! Would you shut up if I called you Mr. President? If so, I’ll start a petition to do TODAY!! Just shut up and let the man do his job!!
Only idiots do not want Obama to be held accountable to the majority of Afrikans in the US because he sure is accountable to the homosexuals,Israeli Zionists,Hispanics and the rest of the Anglo-Saxon and other European ethnic groups in the US.The relatives of the children and adults he has killed in his drone attacks sure hold him accountable.
Well said!
Some people have been blaming the white man for their own failures. Now that the president is black, it’s blame the black man for their failures. Why not look in the mirror and blame who is really responsible. Barack Obama is not a superhero or deity, he is a man, a man that took responsibility for himself and took advantage of his opportunities. There is not one person who is reading this that has more or less opportunities than Barack Obama has had. No, it’s not easy, but it is your choice.