Obama says no excuses

[Jiggyfly]

Obama unveils 'My Brother's Keeper,' opens up about his dad, drugs and race
Posted by
CNN's Dana Ford
(CNN) – The President has a message for young minority men who grew up like he did.

"No excuses. Government, and private sector, and philanthropy, and all the faith communities, we all have a responsibility to help provide you the tools you need. We've got to help you knock down some of the barriers that you experience," he said.




"But you've got responsibilities too. And I know you can meet the challenge, many of you already are, if you make the effort."

President Barack Obama spoke Thursday at the White House, where he announced "My Brother's Keeper" - a new initiative to help young men and boys of color succeed.

He described the program as one that "goes to the very heart of why I ran for President" and dove into his own life to explain why such an initiative is needed, speaking candidly about his father, drugs and race.

A White House official said Obama improvised a good portion of his remarks and was more emotional than many planners of the event had anticipated.



"I didn't have a dad in the house, and I was angry about it, even though I didn't necessarily realize it at the time. I made bad choices. I got high without always thinking about the harm that it could do. I didn't always take school as seriously as I should have. I made excuses. Sometimes I sold myself short," the President said.

He compared himself to young men now who are growing up like he did.

"The only difference is that I grew up in an environment that was a little bit more forgiving. So when I made a mistake, the consequences were not as severe," the President said.

"I had people who encouraged me, not just my mom and grandparents, but wonderful teachers and community leaders. And they pushed me to work hard, and study hard, and make the most of myself. And if I didn't listen, they said it again. And if I didn't listen, they said it a third time - and they would give me second chances and third chances.

"They never gave up on me, and so I didn't give up on myself."

'Moral issue'

The new initiative will look at what's already being done to assist young men of color across the country and build on best practices.

It's brought together foundations and businesses to pledge at least $200 million over the next five years, on top of the $150 million they have already invested.

Every child deserves the same chances he had, Obama said.

"This is an issue of national importance. It's as important as any issue that I work on. It's an issue that goes to the very heart of why I ran for President, because if America stands for anything, it stands for the idea of opportunity for everybody.

"The notion that no matter who you are, or where you came from, or the circumstances into which you are born, if you work hard, if you take responsibility, then you can make it in this country," the President said.

Helping young minority men have the opportunity to get ahead, he said, is an economic as well as a "moral issue."

"It doesn't take that much, but it takes more than we're doing now," Obama said.

'Numb to statistics'

The President cited alarming statistics to drive home his point.

"By almost every measure, the group that is facing some of the most severe challenges in the 21st century, in this country, are boys and young men of color," he said.

Obama noted that if you're African-American, there's about a one in two chance you grew up without a father in the house. If you're Latino, you have about a one in four chance.

As a black student, you're less likely that a white student to read proficiently by the fourth grade and far more likely to be suspended or expelled by the time you reach high school, he said.

You're also more likely to wind up in the criminal justice system and as a victim as a violent crime.

"The worst part is we've become numb to these statistics. We're not surprised by them. We take them as the norm. We just assume this is an inevitable part of American life, instead of the outrage that it is," the President said.

"But these statistics should break our hearts, and they should compel us to act."

 

[Jiggyfly]

 

[midswat]

Not going to be fixed because too many black kids are born to unwed mothers, are raised without a father figure, and worships a culture that perpetuates crime, banging hoes, and basically acting a fool at all times.

 

[midswat]

 

[boozeman]

Obama says no exscuses

Nice thread title, Jiggy.

 

[fortsbest]

So given all those things that he talks about in the last paragraph, shouldn't it be as important to talk about and try and fix the problem of kids without Dad's in the home, unwed mothers and birth control that isn't abortion? I understand wanting help black children he has absolutely no point of reference with (other than being black), but he mentions the heart of the problem and wants to treat symptoms, not the root causes, so it is just like every other government program. Just like every other lib program, they would rather treat symptoms, because if they could ever abate the true causes they would run out of victims.

 

[Plan9Misfit]

So given all those things that he talks about in the last paragraph, shouldn't it be as important to talk about and try and fix the problem of kids without Dad's in the home, unwed mothers and birth control that isn't abortion? I understand wanting help black children he has absolutely no point of reference with (other than being black), but he mentions the heart of the problem and wants to treat symptoms, not the root causes, so it is just like every other government program. Just like every other lib program, they would rather treat symptoms, because if they could ever abate the true causes they would run out of victims.

This. 1000% this.

 

[Jiggyfly]

So given all those things that he talks about in the last paragraph, shouldn't it be as important to talk about and try and fix the problem of kids without Dad's in the home, unwed mothers and birth control that isn't abortion? I understand wanting help black children he has absolutely no point of reference with (other than being black), but he mentions the heart of the problem and wants to treat symptoms, not the root causes, so it is just like every other government program. Just like every other lib program, they would rather treat symptoms, because if they could ever abate the true causes they would run out of victims.

This is trying to treat the problem by breaking the cycle so the next generation will take responsibility and not have so many unwed mothers and incarcerated fathers.

Is that not the problem?

And how the hell does he not have any point of reference with this population he was in the same position as many of the kids he is trying to help, raised by a single mother who struggled to make ends meet.

Please explain why you think the only reference he has is being black or do you not know the story of his upbringing?

 

[L.T. Fan]

This is trying to treat the problem by breaking the cycle so the next generation will take responsibility and not have so many unwed mothers and incarcerated fathers.

Is that not the problem?

And how the hell does he not have any point of reference with this population he was in the same position as many of the kids he is trying to help, raised by a single mother who struggled to make ends meet.

Please explain why you think the only reference he has is being black or do you not know the story of his upbringing?

It isn't accurate to depict Obama as being black. He is half white.

 

[2233boys]

Wow

 

[fortsbest]

This. 1000% this.

This is trying to treat the problem by breaking the cycle so the next generation will take responsibility and not have so many unwed mothers and incarcerated fathers.

Is that not the problem?

And how the hell does he not have any point of reference with this population he was in the same position as many of the kids he is trying to help, raised by a single mother who struggled to make ends meet.

Please explain why you think the only reference he has is being black or do you not know the story of his upbringing?

I forgot, he was raised by a single mother, and grand parents. His mother was by all accounts a hard worker and either that or his grand parents put him in and through some pretty exclusive schools and then he somehow managed to get Occidental, Columbia and then Havard. At some point he came to the attention of someone or a group that helped into political life after time as a community organizer. I stand corrected that he has some point of reference, but this program will again do just what I said. treat symptoms not causes. It's part of a good program, but what about the women, what about a My Sister's keeper, or school education that actually advocates celebacy until marriage instead of passing out condoms or saying just try to be safe. You can't teach kids abortion is ok, but not lead them away from the cause until it's appropriate (married and can raise a family). You can't espouse honesty, hard work, loyalty, (which are things a mentor should do) and tell lies or be dishonest about other things. And lastly, I certainly understand that the lack of a father in the black community is a large problem, but because of the countries changes in the last 20 years, it's getting to the point it isn't just a black problem. Whites are being just as dumb and getting girls pregnant out of weddlock and being just as irresponsible as black kids too. so why limit this to just people of color. It is Obama's predecessors and their beliefs that helped make a lot of this ok by the tearing down of families, previous policies that did nothing to help those they claimed to want to help (just like now) and taking God out of everything they possibly could.

It isn't accurate to depict Obama as being black. He is half white.

Oh yeah, I forgot. But at this point its pretty much mute. he would never claim it unless he needed to. I'm so sick of his politics and him in general I can hardly stand it. THe next 3 years are going to be miserable and then to believe you have more idiots that will vote for more of the same if Hillary runs. Stupid, Stupid and Stupid.

 

[fortsbest]

Plan, I think we've had 2 things in a row we were in agreement on. Kinda scary huh?

 

[Plan9Misfit]

Plan, I think we've had 2 things in a row we were in agreement on. Kinda scary huh?

You took a very reasonable, middle of the road position on that issue, which is something I'll traditionally side with. And you specifically pointed out the most important aspect of problem solving: fix the root cause of the problem and not continually treat the symptoms of the problem. That's what no one on any side of the political spectrum wants to discuss when dealing with minority related issues. Rather, they'd rather pander to them than educate them and work to get them to change their behavior in order to raise a better future generation.

 

[Jiggyfly]

You took a very reasonable, middle of the road position on that issue, which is something I'll traditionally side with. And you specifically pointed out the most important aspect of problem solving: fix the root cause of the problem and not continually treat the symptoms of the problem. That's what no one on any side of the political spectrum wants to discuss when dealing with minority related issues. Rather, they'd rather pander to them than educate them and work to get them to change their behavior in order to raise a better future generation.

This is exactly what this programs goals are.

 

[Jiggyfly]

I forgot, he was raised by a single mother, and grand parents. His mother was by all accounts a hard worker and either that or his grand parents put him in and through some pretty exclusive schools and then he somehow managed to get Occidental, Columbia and then Havard. At some point he came to the attention of someone or a group that helped into political life after time as a community organizer. I stand corrected that he has some point of reference, but this program will again do just what I said. treat symptoms not causes. It's part of a good program, but what about the women, what about a My Sister's keeper, or school education that actually advocates celebacy until marriage instead of passing out condoms or saying just try to be safe. You can't teach kids abortion is ok, but not lead them away from the cause until it's appropriate (married and can raise a family). You can't espouse honesty, hard work, loyalty, (which are things a mentor should do) and tell lies or be dishonest about other things. And lastly, I certainly understand that the lack of a father in the black community is a large problem, but because of the countries changes in the last 20 years, it's getting to the point it isn't just a black problem. Whites are being just as dumb and getting girls pregnant out of weddlock and being just as irresponsible as black kids too. so why limit this to just people of color. It is Obama's predecessors and their beliefs that helped make a lot of this ok by the tearing down of families, previous policies that did nothing to help those they claimed to want to help (just like now) and taking God out of everything they possibly could.


Oh yeah, I forgot. But at this point its pretty much mute. he would never claim it unless he needed to. I'm so sick of his politics and him in general I can hardly stand it. THe next 3 years are going to be miserable and then to believe you have more idiots that will vote for more of the same if Hillary runs. Stupid, Stupid and Stupid.

I get it because Obama is attached it can't possibly do any good or you just like shitting on anything with a whiff of liberalism attached.

I have no idea if this works, but I do know its an admirable start and its not couched in victimhood which I thought everyone could get on board with, silly me.

 

[fortsbest]

I'm not doing what you said because of a liberal attachment, and I am happy that this seems to be a privately funded attempt at something. And maybe I'm not even so much mad at the president as much as mad at the media I've heard touting that it's about time Obama started doing something for his people as if this were his idea and it was the first time it had ever been done. Its worship-like and that's what sickens me. I voted for Bush and yet I can disagree with certain policies of his because I fundamentally believe they were wrong. With many, maybe not you (although I have rarely seen you argue against anything the president has done) you can't disagree with this president without there being some other motivation than pure disagreement of policy or decision-making. If he tells untruths and you call him on it, you don't really believe he lied, you're a racist etc...
Tell me, would you feel the same about this program had it been Dr. Ben Carson that was a key supporter and speaker rather than the president? He has as much or more in common with these boys. We all let our political biases effect how we feel about something, but in this case, when I get past my Obama dislike and look at the program, I still see it as barely scratching a surface and not focusing on THE problems. It seems to be the Big Brother program with adjustments. It's been tried and while that program helps individual kids (an admirable start and great for those kids) it again as this does fails to address the larger problems I mentioned before. Individuals that are raised are great, but volume is where we need to work and that mean schools and churches and other organizations working to teach kids things what I mentioned before and you won't get liberals interested in that because they have their agendas being pushed in schools now and look where it has gotten all the races in this country. They have taken or attempted to take God and religion out of everything they can so you know they don't want to go there. So their intent is still to have victims because their whole ideology is based on government support of victims. Tell me, if everyone were successful, why would they need the services Obama and his ilk want to give them?

 

[Plan9Misfit]

This is exactly what this programs goals are.

I think that's the intent, but I'm not confident that it will render that result. Politicians in general do a tremendously shitty job at addressing the root causes of any problem and much prefer to address the symptoms because the solutions are faster, albeit less effective.

 

[dmo069]

It isn't accurate to depict Obama as being black. He is half white.

He doesn't know who his real daddy is...