//that would be fun.

///honestly, I don’t want to see that- even if it needs to be said, i’d rather see Obama elected.

No, he didn’t. Point out to me where he specifically spoke about black men and black men only.

Pt, I think you’re taking this too personally, man. It was a national address, the press was there, and he was talking g to EVERY body.

It does not take courage to be a father. It takes time and commitment.

Sometimes that time and commitment requires courage, regardless of color. That’s all I’m saying.

You said,
If Obama felt that absentee fathers are a problem then he should have talked about it as being an American, not a Black American problem.

I said “But he didn’t do that.”

What I meant was he didn’t address it as a Black American problem. Sorry for the confusion.

BTW, Friday afternoon I’m attending a 60th anniversary commemoration of the fight to integrate the tennis courts in Druid Hill Park, Baltimore. Two of the major activists involved were progressives Howard B. Silverberg and his then-wife, Regina. Howard’s second wife (and widow) Jeanne Dresser is a dear friend of mine who continues the fight for those same causes.

If Obama said this, he lifted it from ‘Boyz In The Hood’ where the character of Furious says, “Any fool with a dick can make a baby. It takes a real man to be a father.”

And Quaker, you’re a troublemaker!

Hey that rhymes.

It does not take courage to be a father. It takes time and commitment. Superman is not needed in these cases, just various versions of Clark Kent.

“Where in that is he talking down to black folks?”

Obama’s appearance at that particular church was designed as a national address. If it had been intended solely for the consumption of the church’s congregation then the press would have been barred. Many of us who are black fathers would have greatly preferred to hear something else from him on that day than the usual litany of failures.

“Black men who are taking responsibility do not need nickel-ninety-eight politicians standing up in the pulpits of churches on Sunday morning preaching to us about what we need to do.

“Then he wasn’t talking to them.”

Then, pray tell, who I-T-F was he talking to that morning? My black male friends and I certainly didn’t need this brother to tell us what our responsibilities toward our families are. My male cousins and their friends who are his age did not need to be told what their parental obligations entailed.

“And the black men who need to step up and act responsibly were not listening to Obama’s sermon that morning.

“Then they should.”

What they should do and what they will do and are doing are three very distinct things. What we do know is that they are not attending any churches to listen to scolding ministers and politicians chastise them for their failures. I find it difficult to believe that Obama was not aware of this fact. So who was he talking to that morning and for whose benefit?

“I’m assuming your admonitions carry to white fathers as well, yes?”

I have no idea what this question means in the context of this discussion. Fathers should do what they can to take care of their children. Married, unmarried, separated or divorced.

“If Obama felt that absentee fathers are a problem then he should have talked about it as being an American, not a Black American problem.

“But he didn’t do that.”

Yes, you are right. He talked about the issue solely as a problem for black men.

One ought to take an innocent-until-proven-guilty approach with both. Either speech would require some qualifier (all, every, a majority, almost without exception, etc.) explicity suggesting that they were making a blanket statement. Even Kerry suggesting that it was policy is not good enough – different units and divisions can have their own de facto policies quite distinct from the military at large. Witness the difference in tactics between Odierno and Patreaus from (if memory serves) late ’03-’05.

When I walk into church and count fifteen unmarried pregnant
black girls under the age of nineteen — I say every damned body should get over ANYBODY lecturing.
If you are a good father–I feel you, hell he isn’t even talking about you!
If you suck–
Jesse needs to go on a vacation for about 4 1/2 months.
The man even managed to humiliate his own son with his big mouth–on FOX no less . . . .

Obama speaking about black fatherhood: indicting all black men.
Kerry speaking about wartime atrocities: NOT indicting all service members.

Discuss. Be nice. Have fun.

Where in that is he talking down to black folks?

Black men who are taking responsibility do not need nickel-ninety-eight politicians standing up in the pulpits of churches on Sunday morning preaching to us about what we need to do.

Then he wasn’t talking to them.

And the black men who need to step up and act responsibly were not listening to Obama’s sermon that morning.

Then they should.

I’m assuming your admonitions carry to white fathers as well, yes?

If Obama felt that absentee fathers are a problem then he should have talked about it as being an American, not a Black American problem.

But he didn’t do that.

Oliver, I have been black far longer than you have which means nothing more than I am older than you. I cannot ever remember a time when what you describe as black leadership at the most micro and the macro level have not urged black men, in a general sense, to assume more responsibility in their homes and communities. I come from many generations of black men – paternal and maternal – who took their responsibilities as caregivers and providers quite seriously.

Black men who are taking responsibility do not need nickel-ninety-eight politicians standing up in the pulpits of churches on Sunday morning preaching to us about what we need to do. And the black men who need to step up and act responsibly were not listening to Obama’s sermon that morning.

Obama is running for the presidency of the United States. He is not running for the presidency of Black America. Absent and irresponsible fathers are not just a problem among black folks. They are a problem too among white folks in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia and in regions like Appalachia and the Sun Belt. If Obama felt that absentee fathers are a problem then he should have talked about it as being an American, not a Black American problem.

and two, there is absolutely no proof that Obama has balls.

I have not bitten my tongue even once in expressing my extreme displeasure with Obama’s preachifying that day. I am not looking for access to him or his administration. I attended a fundraiser for him this evening and had a great time. I will continue to support his candidacy but I’m not taking low like Jackson when I have a legitimate beef with Obama. That’s why I don’t have fantasize about cutting off his balls and other such rot. Jackson needed to step up on Fathers Day, not yesterday.

I didn’t know that Jesse Jackson helped to change the rules to proportional representation. That is awesome. A much better system.

Two: Do you know anything? Had Jesse not run and changed the rules to proportional representation as opposed to the old winner take all rules Obama probably wouldn’t have won the nomination.

Three: what kinds of things can’t we stand to hear that also aren’t thrown around by the Jesse Helms of this world? Shouldn’t we mind when black dems use republican talking points? Shouldn’t that be just a little offensive?