Obama Tells Blacks to Stop Whining and Complaining and Start Fighting

1:13 PM EDT

9/25/2011 by Terry Shropshire

The first couple at the CBC's Phoenix Awards gala in Washington, D.C.

President Obama admonished blacks against constantly “complaining” and “whining” and implored the 3,000 in attendance at the Congressional Black Caucus convention to begin fighting with him in his war on unemployment and political discontent.

At the Phoenix Awards black tie gala on Saturday night, the climax of the CBC’s Annual Legislative Conference, Obama answered the growing tide of black critics who believe this administration is compromising too much political capital to the Republican Party.

“Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes,” he said as his voice escalated amid growing cheers. “Shake it off. Stop complaining. Stop grumbling. Stop crying. We are going to press on. We have work to do.”

Obama was the keynote speaker at the coveted soiree for the fourth consecutive year —one as an Illinois senator and presidential candidate and three as the Commander-in Chief — and he focused on the record setting unemployment rate among African Americans. The 16.7 jobless rate is double the national average, according to government statistics.

There has been talk that Obama is not doing enough to reverse this negative trend and that makes him particularly vulnerable as he seeks reelection.

“It gets folks discouraged. I know. I listen to some of y’all,” Obama said inside the Washington convention center. “So many people are still hurting. So many people are barely hanging on,” he said. “And so many people in this city are fighting us every step of the way.”

Obama greets the throng of CBC conventioneers following his keynote address

But he asked for the CBC’s and blacks’ help if he is to win the jobs bill fight and other badly needed concessions. “I need your help,” Obama said.

This was avery important speech because, after the historic turnout in 2008 to help put Obama in the White House, the black community seemed to retreat into a slumber from which they have yet to awaken. Obama and the Democratic Party were on the wrong side of a Republican/Tea Party led bloodshed that saw Democrats lose a record number of seats in Congress during the 2010 mid-term elections. Mere trickles of the black electorate bothered to turn out last year.

Nevertheless, Obama said the package of payroll tax cuts, business tax breaks and infrastructure spending will benefit 100,000 black-owned businesses and 20 million African American workers.

Obama will ride the momentum of his caucus speech out to Washington state and California in his continued push for the jobs bill and raise funds for his reelection aspirations. He has fundraising receptions in Seattle, San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego planned within the next couple of days. –terry shropshire

Tags: alc, annual legislative conference, barack and michelle at cbc, black unemployment, cbc, congressional black caucus, jobs bill, obama reelection, phoenix awards

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JAYNE DOH!

STOP WHINING AND COMPLANING

Obama you should have said this from the begining.
2 little 2 late.
- Tiffevans01
  
  Oh Shut. Up! He is still. The man. What do u think the next man will do in office…..America will suffer either way….he has said from the beginning its going to be alot of hard work…this man is fighting so hard. Just to get a bill passed. He still needs us to believe in him. And will no matter what… A president who doesn’t fight for what he believes is needed and is right for the American people is not a president at all GO OBAMA
  - USArmy
    
    Are you kidding me? What is your answer for the first two years when he had an overwhelming majority and could have passed anything he wanted? In fact he got everything he wanted passed but he did nothing for the black communities and he won’t. Despite this blacks will vote lock step for Obama.
    - Rileon1
      
      The “problem” USArmy, with the first two years was that Obama was hoping (in vain) that Republicans would be reasonable and meet him half-way. He was being nice and tried everything he could! Many of us more seasoned knew those opponents were intractable and should not have been given the time of day. Blacks WILL vote lock step in ’12. Who else even has us on their radar? We’ve always been relegated to the lesser of two evils anyway. And, you – I assume you’re white – your choices have always been from whom can I get the best deal – You know all deals were in your favor anyway.
      - Vandellish
        
        Obama may be the lesser of two evils…but he is definitely the more effective evil.
        If the elite class knew that all they needed was a Bush in a brother’s clothing to get all the war profits they wanted, expand on all of their policies including the Patriot Act and the Global (yes Global) Tax, pardoning (and rewarding with cabinet positions) the architects of the economic collapse AND the previous admin’s war criminals, all while quieting the formerly progressive (black) community to collectively shut their traps, they’d have gotten a White House N!gga in that office a long time ago.
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Vandellish

So lemme get this straight Barack…You kowtow to the Jewish
community, kiss the rings of AIPAC’s honchos as well as the banking cartels,
Wall Street, Big Pharm and Big Oil. Then you come around to the black community,
who you claim to be a proud member of and tell us to ‘stop complaining’ and ‘take
off our bedroom slippers (implication of laziness)’???

Well ok Mr. Prez. We’ll just continue to ‘bootstrap’ our
community with the plethora of manufacturing opportunities available around
this country these days. Surely we’ll be able to physically sustain ourselves
with that robust health care plan that your administration implemented last
year (Single Payer? Public Option??? Yeah, right!) while you begin to torpedo
social security, privatize education and outsource jobs overseas because we
sooo love that NAFTA agreement you continue to support. Oh yeah we’ll gloss
over the fact that YOU’VE BEEN COMPLAINING about the lack of financial
resources available but have never even considered cutting that whopper war
budget for the 4 wars (count em: Iraq [training troops my azz], Afghanistan,
Pakistan [covert] and Libya [covert]) that you and your cronies excuse under
the umbrella of ‘national security.’ We’ll pay no mind to the fact that the
troops and mercenaries are REALLY only over there for geopolitical reasons
(encircling China/Russia) as well as securing the unmentionable TAPI pipelines
your Big Oil underbosses are having built. We don’t mind that your political
buddies are making millions off their defense investments too much either.

Oh yeah, we’ll also excuse your BS claims of closing Gitmo,
real financial regulations (including this country’s fraudulent practice of
fractional reserve lending) and your masterful foot shuffling when it comes to
prosecuting the previous admin’s war crimes. That’s got to be what/who you mean
when you said ‘stop complaining’ right?

Hey no complaints from me Mr. Resident, er
President. I’ll just shutup and prepare to get out of this country ASAP thank
you. I say this as a Chicago resident and American citizen…for now.
- Queen9302
  
  You said it! He is blaming the victim to an extent. He barked and yelled at the caucus and they caved in as if he had a right to condemn their actions. This is our caucus. All he had to do was yell at them and say they weren’t doing anything to shut them up. Obama truly revealed where he stands concerning black folks. He does not even speak to us with respect.
  - Jtshrop
    
    Queen9302, Obama did not bark and yell at the CBC. Since you were not there, and I’m there every year for the CBC, I can provide context. Obama said those words in the middle of a speech where he was trying to inspire and motivate, not scold or demean. He was saying that he doesn’t have time to feel sorry for himself and neither do the millions of blacks and others feeling the heat from this economic doldrums.
    - Vandellish
      
      Actually Jtshrop being there does mean something so good for you. Still, there’s no denying that Obama’s expanded on just about ALL of Bush’s policies outside of the weak Wall Street regulations and Health Care bill that he’s implemented…much more is needed including beginning the conversation on repealing NAFTA and getting true monetary reform in the U.S.
      No one’s feeling sorry for themselves, no one’s in their slippers (I’ve been involved in several anti-war protests as well as at the Federal Reserve and G20 summit) and HELL NO I won’t stop complaining about his refusal of dialing down the Military Industrial Complex’s tightening grip on this economy. What he calls complaining, I call spreading the word about what these politicians are actually up to.
      It seems that Obama’s fellowship of unquestioning supporters refuse to defend his presidency with actual issues but with vague pep rally styled talk (let’s all support him, he needs more time, he’s cleaning up Republican’s mess, blah blah etc.). Most Obamites seem to project their own personal values and politics onto him even though he continues to talk tough (down?) to the black community at every turn. If that’s how he wants to present himself then fine. But don’t turn around and kiss the Latina community and AIPAC’s azz at all of their gatherings…and furthermore why doesn’t he bring that same toughness to the military and bankster brass? I’ll tell you why…because he’s already been bought and punked by them.
      The majority of the black community’s support of Obama has absolutely nothing to do with his policies (respect to those who know and support his policies even though I may disagree with them). Most of the black community’s support of him is rooted in his race and the fact that he’s a member of the democratic party.
      Go Cynthia McKinney!!!! The REAL black progressive candidate from 2008.
      That is all.
Eervin44

Okay:) Mr.Obama Telling Blacks To Stop Whining & Complaining,..Not Feeling the Title, White Folks Already Says All Black Folks Do Is Whin & Complain, I Never Like That, (Oh Boy Whites See This Title They Will Agree With Him” Not All Blacks Whin & Complain, I Rather Continue To Focus On The Lord, That’s Where My Help Comes From, It Comes From The Lord, Obama Stated That It’s Going To Be A While Meaning Some Years, Before The Economy Picks Back Up, That’s True Bush did some damage, I’m Sorry I Keep Hearing Whites Complain More Than Black Folks Do, I Don’t Agree With Obama On This One,..
Tonifs

Keeping it real – we ,as a people have to get off our butts and do our part. No one can do it all alone.
Homer

How about this? Stop taxing buisinesses so much so they can afford to keep employees instead of outsourcing and downsizing? Figure out a way to bring gas prices down so products aren’t as expensive to ship. Stop destroying the morals of this country and get back to the reasons this country became the best in the world to start with. Honest work and honest pay that will let the employees keep their pay so they have something to spend. This whole idea of “The economy is suffering! It’s all BUSH’S FAULT! We need more money! TAX THEM SOME MORE!” really needs to stop. Being elected into office should not be thought of as taxpayers signing a blank check. And the “hope and change” was spent looong ago…
Homer

How about this? Stop taxing buisinesses so much so they can afford to keep employees instead of outsourcing and downsizing? Figure out a way to bring gas prices down so products aren’t as expensive to ship. Stop destroying the morals of this country and get back to the reasons this country became the best in the world to start with. Honest work and honest pay that will let the employees keep their pay so they have something to spend. This whole idea of “The economy is suffering! It’s all BUSH’S FAULT! We need more money! TAX THEM SOME MORE!” really needs to stop. Being elected into office should not be thought of as taxpayers signing a blank check. And the “hope and change” was spent looong ago…
Floyd Webb

A lot of trolls on this site. I will make up my own mind about h and vote my conscience. Meanwhile, the collective community need to take Astana and let these damn politicians know in a concrete manner how we feel.

Time fome some strategic action. Time for a updated 10 point Program with case studies for immediate action on each point. They don’t know how? We can tell them how to do it. But this is hard work. I can imagine the replies to this suggestion already. Will the Black Congressional Caucus stand with us? Not bloody likely. Per usual we are on our own! Few people remember the end of Slavery was not initiated by Lincoln, but by black people of thier own initiative. Escaping to Northern forts and creating a legal issue around their return. No one can do for us what we will not do for ourselves.
Floyd Webb

When the Titanic was sinking Shine knew better than to expect any help. He got into the the water and swam to shore. Shine shine Dave poor me…and Shine swam on

As he approached the horizon you could hear a faint voice above the waves,
“Git yo ass in the water and swim like me!”
Fatty

WHo the heck put a black man in the White House? GET HIM OUT NOW
Dmjmae55

The President is so right!! Why spend time whining, complaining and energy on the negative. We whined because there wasn’t a black President and whining because ther is. Just what’s the problem????? Just want to have something to cry, moan, complain and pull yourself down with. Seems like the ancsetors of those were the ones, tellin’ masa we were planning to escape…
Thop777

He didnt say specifically blacks, the media just tryin to drum up a story, just because he was speaking to people who should have his back, anybody thats doin those things he describe, he is talkin to you, whether you’re black, white, brown, yellow. but if you throw a rock in a pack of dogs, the one that hollers, is the one that got hit. I agree with him 100%
Mary3227565

isnt it just like another blackman putting another one down, Havent yall ever heard of Willie Lynch? He put the blacks against each other so he could keep order,Slavery still exsists as long as we do this, until we can learn to be accountable for oneself. when black folks come together we can get so much accomplished, like our rights for freedom, millionman marches,but as long as they keep us against each other the white folks are still winning BLACK PEOPLE BE STRONG AND LETS STOP THIS TEARING EACH OTHER DOWN. AND BUILDING EACH OTHER UP
- Remoten
  
  I firmly agree with you! Black people act too much like crabs in a bucket. Every time one gets near the top, another reaches up and pull him back down to the bottom.
http://twitter.com/remoten Richard

The President is right about the whining and complaining! Very few if any posting here are thinking outside the box. I personally feel from I’ve read that the majority of those who call themselves speaking out, are just blowing smoke. For the most part none of them know how to defeat the enemy from within because their too busy talking and not about to do no walking. Just as in the past (concerning issues of importance) Blacks are still too busy trying to degrade their own instead of pulling together as one and breaking down the barriers that keep us apart.

You don’t look at the cover of a book and decide if its a good one! You read at least 4 chapters to find out where the story is headed first. Then get an idea of “who the real villian is!” That means “before you choose sides remember that you can’t win the game if you don’t know the rules of play!” Politics is a constant game of who can outwit who. And from what I’ve seen so far; this man has to bow to compromise because very few Blacks will make the effort to back his play when he goes on the battlefield. Everybody’s willing to talk big, but just how many are willing to step out on the frontline and do battle?

Change can’t take affect if once you elect the man to do the job, “everybody backs away to see if he can handle the responsibility by himself!” People; “it takes the same enthusiasm and hard work that got him in the office to get the neccessary changes made for a brighter tomorrow. In all other cultures throughout the world its called “WORKING TOGETHER!” But that’s right; I almost forgot “Black people (even as children) are taught that working together is out of the question. Common sense goes out the window and looking for handouts replaces better judgement and dignity.

During the days of de-segregation black and white people sacrificed their lives to ensure the freedom of all people. Their hopes were to replace “JIM CROW” with responsible positive thinking generations. This included black people advancing in all areas including the office of ”PRESIDENT of THE UNITED STATES!” Yet when their dreams and sacrificial acts come to life 50 years later; once again we’re faced with nay sayers, yasah boss, head down, stooped over, walking slow, subdued, not willing to fight for the right to hold your head high attitude.

No my friend; we can’t put the blame on one man! He’s already on the firing line trying to do the job we all should be doing. He’s facing the enemy 24 hours a day while we as a culture sit back ridiculing and trying to justify why we shouldn’t be in the fight along side of him.

If you really want to see why we can’t get what’s needed for the people; take a good long look in the mirror! If you don’t like what you see; then its time to stand up and be counted. “MAKE THAT CHANGE!” FREEDOM AIN’T FREE! YA GOT TA EARN IT! Stop talkin’ about it and “BE ABOUT IT!”
- Uncle Chuck
  
  We Blacks are always “long on talk, short on action”. We can bitch and moan with the best of them but until we start DOING something it’ll always be “business as usual”, waiting for someone to rescue us.
  - Vandellish
    
    Yeah, yeah…let’s stop COMPLAINING about what we don’t do and just come out and organize and support. Richard and Uncle Chuck although we may disagree on this President’s agenda here is a cause we can all agree on:
    
    http://occupytogether.org/
    
    Mr. Shropshire please send us an email address where we can post pix and send in personal reports. If we are truly serious about taking action let’s take friggin action. I am a protest veteran myself and hope that some of you will make the same commitment.
Rileon1

Anti-Obamists, mostly those idiotic talking heads on Fox and, God help us, the Christian right, took Obama’s words to mean he’s tired of black folks in some way, shape or form. On the contrary, that was a rally cry in the tradition of MLK and the like and that audience, far from being incensed (as those pundits would want you to believe), was pumped, incredibly pumped! The fight is on!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=695895519 Charlesia L. Heard

President Obama did not say anything wrong when he made a statement our people need to stop whinning and complaining. Because,he never said,he could fight the fight by himself. So,we as a people need to band to together to help fight this battle that is before us. Not only blacks,but especially blacks because this is our (brother) family’s life which is at stake. Please people how much more has to be taken away before you wake up! We as a result people did not get out and vote Nov. 2010. Thats why the Republicans have controlle of the House. And,as a result now they are playing with President Obama and the American people lives. We have to come together,and let them know we have power. Because,right now the Republicans are laughing at us and you are giving them what they want when you don’t stand up and fight towards the enemy,who is looking to cut you off at all cost. Its time to protest,write in,make phones,and rally behind our President Obama. Who did not create this mess that we are enduring,but who was willing to help or assistance us to some kind of safety, But it can’t be done if he has both sides fighting him. I pray this message sparks a light in the people. Amen!