Dr. Ada M. Fisher
- In my October 18, 2008 column the problem was addressed that if Obama doesn’t win then what? That changed after the November 2008 election noting the deal is done and Obama has not stemmed the reservations of American citizens, now what? Though Republicans may have been perceived as less than sterling advocates of nonpartisanship, the Obama Administration is piling on fear and warnings about its opposition rather than face the flaws of its own policies, appointments and in your face attitude for those with whom it disagrees.
The tragedy of this is the blind obedience and persistent unearned loyalty that too many blacks are giving the Obama administration with no quid pro quo as others required for their support.
The Congressional Black Caucus was slow to criticize the failed economic stimulus plan’s TARP initiated under Bush which left much for Obama to deal with, saw few of those dollars go into the black community or stem the tide of predatory lending at the hands of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which wiped out too many homeowners of color. Criticizing G. W. Bush belied an effort on his part to reign in these organization and use targeted tax incentives to put money directly in the hands of tax payers.
The Historically Black Colleges and Universities received more money under G. W. Bush than any president including Clinton and Obama; yet, Bush is slammed with little appreciation that present monies being allocated came in large measure from unspent Title I funds which Bush had identified for these institutions now which was held up by Obama until it was seemingly politically expedient to do such.
As China, Korea and Russia among several nations continue exploitative forays of assistance on the continent of Africa particularly where raw materials and oil are evident, democratic nations which fought the oppression of colonialism stand to be enslaved in cloaked new repressive hand cuffs to capture its riches. Only President George W. Bush had an Africa policy which put food, HIV care, loan forgiveness and other aid on the front burner. What is the Obama policy?
With an opportunity to place another Justice on the bench, it would have been nice to see an African American woman such as Judge Alison Duncan of North Carolina make it for we have earned a place on the bench in so many ways. Black women, have borne the brunt of so much abuse and yet stood so firmly behind our G-d and this nation particularly given the number of our children sacrificed on the battlefields for this nation’s freedom. When will we get a seat?
The Gay Agenda of obliterating don’t ask, don’t tell and supporting Gay Marriage are two Obama supported moves which the black community has not supported in California yet his most loyal voters are ignored.
Extending Unemployment Benefits which can’t be funded does nothing for inner cities with high unemployment where many never had a job to receive these monies in the first place. How about redirecting stimulus monies to repair federal bridges, revamp the concept of enterprise zones, pump up Public Health Departments so that people have some access to care, etc. rather than parcel out the monies until election time so it looks like more is being done than actuality reveals? And get off businesses case so that they can use the more than 1 trillion they are sitting on to invest in jobs.
The black vote went overwhelmingly for Obama by about 95%, but there were some who held out and many who now stand in line for TEA appreciating that this nation under Obama moves further away from some fundamental constitutional concepts of representative government which should allow people an opportunity to read and discuss legislation before it comes up for a vote, not mandate health reforms which the IRS can enforce by private intrusions into your financial and personal records at all levels, take over large segments of the business world such as banks and automobiles wiping out the retirement stock of those so invested or focusing on college as the educational goal when over 30% of students aren’t even making it out of high school and states 10th Amendment Constitution responsibility on this are usurped with unfunded mandates.
As a life member of the NAACP, I stand opposed to the ill conceived resolution depicting the TEA party people as racist. Many of us are at heart constitutionalist. Some of us would like to see a birth certificate, college transcripts and other records of citizenship as defined by Article II, section 1 of the US Constitution–“No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States,” .. who is also 35 years of age may be President of the United States of America. If Mr. Obama has sealed his birth, educational and other records used to verify such maybe the birthers and conspiracy theory fans have a point. If he is as brilliant as folks allow, why not allow his birth certificate, thesis, transcripts, etc. to be seen particularly given his nemesis in G. W. Bush and John McCain whose stuff was widely distributed. Makes you want to go Hmmm . . .
The NAACP should do itself and the rest of us a favor. Get over criticism from those who disagree which is the political price to be endured and concentrate on developing solutions which don’t tax us to death, take away our freedoms or penalize us for our entrepreneur initiative. It is time to be proactive instead of reactive. Become a think tank for new ideas for all peoples of color.
Dr. Ada M. Fisher is The NC Republican National Committeewoman; a physician; previous school board member; and licensed primary and secondary educator. Contact her at P. O. Box 777; Salisbury, NC 28145; telephone (704) 637-6134; DrFisher@Fishernchousedistrict77.com.
