Anyone ever see a reporter yell at a President as he was delivering remarks? “Im’ma let you finish…” he said to the President who he’d interrupted as he was still speaking. How considerate of him.
Surprise: This “reporter” had no tape recorder and took no notes. Even ABC’s Sam Donaldson commented saying, “I never interrupted any president while he was making a formal presentation of any sort. You don’t do that, do you?”
Somehow with this President, things that are typically not done are.
“I am particularly sensitive to the fact that only this president, only this president, only this one, has received these kind attacks and disagreements… Only this one… Read between the lines,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) last summer of 2011 during the debt ceiling debate.
“What is different about this president that should put him in a position that he should not receive the same kind of respectful treatment of when it is necessary to raise the debt limit in order to pay our bills — something required by both statute and the 14th amendment?” the Congresswoman wondered.
Needless to say, she was called a race baiter by the right for daring to suggest that the first Black President of the United States is at times treated in ways no President in the modern era has. Problem is: The facts are on Jackson Lee’s side as incidents continue to pile up.
Whether it’s being “greeted” by a Governor pointing a finger in his face or standing in the Rose Garden being yelled at by a “reporter,” the series of slights towards the first Black President of the United States continues. The so-called reporter “broke convention” says The New York Times. That would be an understatement.
At the end of the press conference, the same “reporter” yelled a political statement at the President. “What about American workers who are unemployed while you’re importing foreigners,” he said.
Paul Brandus, who publishes The West Wing Report, wrote that it was “an extraordinary exchange.” Imagine the react on the right if American Urban Radio Networks correspondent April Ryan interrupted George Bush the way President was interrupted in the Rose Garden.
That disrespect is outside the normal game of politics, which as everyone knows, is a game of hardball. But there’s a difference between hard hitting political attacks on the President like the ones by Gov. Mitt Romney and people in need to act as if they’re the President’s boss. Did we see any of this when President’s Reagan, Bush, Clinton or George W. were in office? It would seem we suddenly are witnesses to the never before seen.
In September 2009, as the President spoke to a joint session, a member of Congress, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), yelled out “you lie” at President Obama. No one could remember a similar incident happening before.
In September 2011, yet another unprecedented moment happened. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) refused the White House’s request of a date to speak to a joint session Congress. Again, no one could recall that happening previously.
In January 2012, Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer put her finger in the President’s face like an adult might do to a teenager. Suddenly simply greeting the President in a routine manner turned confrontational.
On the House floor in July 2011, Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH) was instructed by the House Parliamentarian to remind members of Congress that “disparaging remarks directed at the President of United States are inappropriate.” The very fact the members had to be instructed spoke volumes.
It’s a free country, no one has to be in love with the 44th President of the United States. But was it really necessary to announce in a public speech that, “Our top political priority over the next two years should be to deny President Obama a second term,” as Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell did in December 2010? Typically that type of statement is made in a private political strategy session. Suddenly with this President the rules are out the window and past standards of respect are gone.
At least some in politics have other ideas. Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA) supports civility as part of a push to fix Congress.
“For me to tell my grandson it’s “President Obama” …. this is the glue that holds us together as Americans. When we start peeling that back and not valuing that — the fabric of our larger community is at risk with serious implications,” Rigell said last month on the question of respect and the presidency. Rigell says House members should always refer to the President with his title in front of his name on the House floor and that the respect should carry over regardless who is in office. Often members refer to the President as “Obama.” Will any others catch on?
Hello Lauren:
Yes, I agree that civility is important, that people in leadership positions, those in congress and senate should be respectful of each other and the president — rules and standards are Necessary in order to have a functional society.
Now lets be real, This is the United States of America, and Black People have never been respected in this country and never will be!
ergo disrespectful incidents towards this president.
But Let me also be real about this: If I had been anywhere in the same vicinity with This President – Obama Today – I probably would have done the same thing as the person above who yelled out and confronted him about awarding illegal immigrants.
I for one am outraged when This President – Obama gives priority to Latinos/Hispanics and their issues and totally ignore Black people and their concerns. Unemployment is a REAL problem in the Black Community, these are 800,000 JOBS American Citizens Need NOW!
This President has pandered to the Hispanic Community since DAY ONE of his presidency. A position on the Supreme Court was given to a Hispanic for their votes. This president got about 95% of the Black Vote — we stood in lines for hours (4-5) to vote for him. We gave him our vote in good faith, we did not ask for a bribe. And by the way he only got about 65% of Hispanic votes.
Now this president, made it a point for 4 years to keep Blacks at a distant, and refused to give any consideration to their issues – namely Unemployment. Keep in mind he has pandered to every other people in this country (Hispanics/Latinos, Jews, Gays, Businesses, etc). So yes, when he awards and encourages illegal immigration – which is the main reason Unemployment is so high in Black Community I am absolutely livid.
If he is so compassionate – let him show it by doing something for the millions of children and young people in this country (Who are American citizens ) who live in hopelessness everyday, who inherited poverty, substandard schools, drug infested violent neighborhoods, unemployment.
He can start right in Chicago, the place he calls home. There is one Charter School in Chicago for young Black Males – with a 100% graduation rate and 100% college bound. This school can only accept a very small number of young Black males and help them realize their dream and find a way out of their dire circumstances. Why haven’t this President and his secretary of education (Duncan) used this as a model and duplicated this success across Chicago. WHY? Don’t these young Black males deserve a chance, an opportunity. Because It Is The Right Thing To DO! Target some Help here.
Too many Americans are hurting, and I for one don’t care to hear about petty mess (how someone disrespected this Black President). If he can’t handle the criticism and verbal attacks that come with this job – let him get the hell out!
Thank You,
Ms Joy Haddocks James
While the commenter above has made SOME valid points, let us remember that this article is not about the president’s policies but rather the disrespect that has continually been shown to him. Let me also say that the president is not complaining about this gross treatment; it is simply an observation made by others. That being said, I think OUR president CAN stand the heat. As the author stated, one can disagree woth President Obama’s policies wtithout being disrespectful to him or the title that he holds. There is certainly a different set of rules being enacted because of who this president is…because of his race and I don’t rhink it’s petty or trivial to point that out.
Thank You
Joy Haddocks James above is on the money.
I was so glad that someone asked him that question — and it was worded so well.
The issue is exactly as stated: “What about American workers who are unemployed while you’re importing foreigners,”
Why are we still bringing in the brothers, sisters, parents of prior immigrants. Nothing wrong with as such. But we do not have the room. You can’t take in over a million people like we do every year, hand them green cards and then, further down the road, let them bring in not just spouse and minor kids but a whole bunch of their other relatives too.
We should be cutting down immigration drastically, if we are going to legalize the ones already here.
We should be doing more for our own suffering citizens, if we have the resources to take on tens of millions of immigrants who should not even be here.
It seems to me that overall black people are doing worse now than they were before Obama got elected.
I am not saying McCain would have been better or that Romney would be the right choice this time, too.
But that due to the economy, blacks have suffered. Due to resources going to others which could have gone to them, blacks have suffered.
We don’t have the money to fool around anymore. We can’t spend as much as we do on the military; we have to find a way to spend less on healthcare and get the same or even better results like they do overseas.
We have to put ourselves first. If we listen to the lobbies who want us to keep sacrificing ourselves for others, every American citizen who isn’t one of the .1% will continue to see their money wasted as it gets harder to earn and harder to keep.