What is your position on affirmative action and did Obama benefit from it?

We got a LOT of weight on this American balloon of ALL kinds.

Paul,

Both Obama and I both benefited from Affirmative Action, but we would not have gotten our feet in the door of our respective careers had we not met the same standards as everyone else.

In fact, we usually ended up working harder than our counterparts to prove a point.

I think AA is still necessary, but it should be based on economics, not race. Someone from a coal mine town of WV needs just as much assistance as someone from the inner city.

People like me and my children will have the resources to do just fine.

AA seems to be the new perjorative of my party when referencing non-asian ethnic minorities and that’s sad. While AA worked for me in the early 90s, I believe there was a point about 10yrs ago when it ceased to be as beneficial for ethnic minorities as originally intended; a middle-class economic status afforded ethnic minorities most of the same opportunities as their non-ethnic minority counterparts. In that sense, Abdul is right that economics rather than ethnic status should be the primary criteria for determining who benefits from AA. With a household income well in excess of $150k that is rapidly increasing as my wife and I move up the career ladder, there is no reason my child should benefit from AA.

Thanks for that Abdul. Truer words were never spoken. Being a landlord I run across all sorts of societal vermin. They cross all sorts of demographics but I was tickled earlier in the year when I threw out a Black couple where the boyfriend started a rampant and very obvious drug selling business in one of my homes. I told the renters they were out and got into a verbal sparring match with the lady. According to her I was a “whitey lover.” I explained if being a whitey lover meant respecting my neighbors and the area and not being a contributing element to crime then so be it and to “…get the #$!@ out”
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These tenants were on the hills of a white couple that moved out and left the place in total shambles. It took all but $7.00 of the security deposit to fix the place up. Those tenants had the nerve to a) Ask for their deposit back, b) Ask if I had other rentals available to them, c) Put me down as a reference at another rental.
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Over the years it’s become my conclusion that vermin will be vermin regardless of race, gender, etc. It takes all types to make the world go ’round and we all serve a purpose in life.

Thanks for the response, Abdul. I hope AA based on race becomes an antique. In 2040, whites will be in a minority. To switch from racial AA to economic AA makes sense on one hand, but still leaves me wondering which AA based version would be next after that and so on. It sort of throws merit out the window. Tough juggling act to be sure.

You said “…my status in life which I had no control over”… On the contrary, I believe we do have control over our status… If we are born into a well-to-do family, we can throw it away with drugs, poor character and/or laziness, for e.g. If we are born into a poor family, we can ascend through building a reputation based on hard work and good character… I understand the family in which we are born is very instrumental on the status we have, but in time we have ultimate control over our status through day-to-day decisions.

Flash forward 13 years to where you support the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate to be our president. You’ve come a long way, Abdul.
Liberal policies are the primary cause for the plight of the black American. And libs like Obama have sold the black community down the river offering hope, but no real solutions. Hope floats….until you flush it!

Incidentally, I wonder what the mood of democrats (particularly black democrats) and the media would be if our first black president were to be a Republican. Never
mind, I think I know.

Oh, Rico…go take a nap.

Abdul, your column of 13 years ago is perfect today. Your career plight sounds exactly like that faced by Obama as he decided t run for president. Just a few short months ago, most of the established black political class, thought he wasn’t black enough. Remembe,r Jesse was recorded saying he wanted to cut his n— off.

Their gravy train is over. Obama demands we all work hard, and he promises to do likewise. I won’t agree with many of his programs, but I do not doubt his sincerity or the fact that he worked hard to get where he is.

The same as you.

Maybe a step up from entitlements based on race or religion, but is AA based on economics some of “dead weight” to be jettisoned in recognition of “personal responsibility”? It will be interesting to see where the line’s to be drawn. I think ignorance is more expensive than education, but I wager a single mom and a check is the most expensive of all. Child protection as an entitlement, not childbirth.

Obama only demands that some of us work hard so others won’t have to. And the only thing Obama has really worked hard on is running for office. Your idol-worshipping of this guy is so childlike, and would be cute if it weren’t so pathetic. Have another drink, TA. Better yet, just spike your Koolaid. Two birds, one stone.

In tribute to MLK, I’d like to remind everyone that Dr. King was a champion of many things, but most importantly, he was a champion of humanity and the dignity of life. He loved America and the American people but he hated injustices that were supported or promoted by US government policy. He was a believer in the philosphy that without justice, there can be no peace. I have no doubt that he signed his death warrant when he publicly turned his attention from racial justice to human justice in light of US foreign policy.
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With that in mind, I’d love to see the teleprompter go down during the inauguration ceremony. :)
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Obama would have no choice but to be himself, and the true Obama would come out:
“…b-b-b-b-but-but, ahhhhh, hmmm, b-b-b-b, just one sec…. hmmmm, I-I-I-I’ll have stop for a second…”
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If America can see on day one that they voted for another corporate mouthpiece who can’t form a logical, cohesive thought, maybe there’ll be a chance for some real change before this trojan horse continues where Bush left off.

Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America — and What We Can Do About It.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5618023

Bill Cosby – Address at the NAACP’ on the 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/billcosbypoundcakespeech.htm

Rico and Shorebreak, I have questions regarding just how effective our new President will be. However, I do want to provide him the opportunity to make the kinds of mistakes you reference before condeming him. His history suggests you are right. But he has never been in this seat before. I get the feeling that he has “played the puppet” to get to where he is. It might merely have been a price he was willing to pay, to play. Now we will see. Lets hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst.

Greg – I admire your spirit. That was my attitude when Clinton was elected. And when Bush was elected. I guess you could say that after seeing the same players controlling things behind the scenes then and now, I’ve become somewhat jaded.

“I personally am shocked at stories I hear of people voting against their own interests (particularly economic) for the benefit of someone else, especially when the end result is counter-productive.”

This applies to the parents who actively solicit their neighbors and vote to increase property taxes for school projects.

Throwing money at schools does not equal good education, especially when the money is spent on extra-curricular activities when classroom needs are not being met.

Rico. You are absolutely right when you state the plight of Blacks are largely due to left minded policies. I’ve always said one of the most dangerous things to a Black man is a White liberal. :^) However, I didn’t vote for obama but I will “support” him as our president. That support doesn’t mean I agree with his policies or why he’s doing it (e.g. Prior to the election articles came out regarding his energy policies and running up the price of producing electricity. I think he’s dead wrong on that.) Hell…I think he’s dead wrong on a lot of stuff. Even if my support amounts to the fact I recognize him as the president then he’ll at least get that.
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I’m assuming that’s what Abdul means. Or Abdul may be under the misguided hopes or beliefs that Obama governs from the center. He blogged so much a few weeks back.
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>Obama only demands that some of us work hard so others won’t have to.
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LOL…that’s funny. Very saddening, true, but funny!

SB- You could well give Confucius a pause to ponder. But, if you’re somewhat jaded, I must be somewhat gray.

Amen, Amen and Amen! Adbul I applaud your comments and we in the white neighborhood ask for more like you. What troubles me most is the amount of black on black crime that is rampant and standing on all our collective doorsteps. I am not supportive of young white females who go and have babies simply because the father was cute to them or whatever the reason either. Three years ago when my financial world took a turn I applied for and received food stamps for six months while i got my own house in order. I was appalled at the number of very healthy looking people (whites included) that receive public assistance. What we need is for the entire nation to stand back and see what our own individual responsibilities are and learn to fullfil them. Good luck at spreading your message. Change parties and I might also vote for you for president.