# "The President \[doesn't care about\] black people." (ed. title) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 7, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534 "2005-09-07T16:13:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/21 "2005-09-07T17:11:01Z")
I said in another thread that the President is too political. He doesn’t seem to realize that once he took the oath of office, he became a leader for all Americans not just those who voted for him. But he has continued to act as if the only people he needs to be concerned about are his own political base and someone else will take care of everybody else. So I’m one of those who agrees that Bush is indifferent to blacks rather than hostile. In fact, one of the few things I admire about George Bush is that he seems personally to have no racism. As long as you agree with him politically he doesn’t care what your race or gender is. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/22 "2005-09-07T17:13:42Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > What exactly would the black community like Bush to do, or become more aware of, when it comes to them? Bush has refused to meet with the Congressional Black Caucus. He refused an invitation to speak at the NAACP annual convention dinner. Most of his top black appointments are obviosly conservatives whos political beliefs don’t jibe with black Americans. Colin Powell has distanced himself from this second term, his pick for Education Secretary Rod Paige pissed off plenty of teachers when he likened them to terrorists for criticizing “No Child Left Behind,” and Condoleeza hasn’t had much credibility as she’s seen shoring up an intellectually deficient president who’s some bizarre surrogate husband. He’s not much of a uniter and is indifferent to the divisiveness his slow actions in NO has caused, which might have been a watershed but instead turned to a huge missed opportunity. Why should black America care for him? He’s seen as very reluctant doing anything for us. **xtisme.** Obviously we disagree. No need to try and change each other’s mind on that point, then. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/23 "2005-09-07T17:14:53Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > What exactly would the black community like Bush to do, or become more aware of, when it comes to them? That’s a good question. Perhaps you can start a thread about that. I’d be glad to participate. The questions I’d like to discuss here in this thread have already been asked-- more than once. But I’ll reiterate: > [@](#): > > How can the president change this perception in the black community? Does the president even want to change it? Convince me that I’m being silly and the president really does care about me and mine. So far I’ve gotten a lot of what _blacks_ can do to stop hating the president but not much on what the president can do to show he gives a rat’s ass about 12% his citizenry. Is this because people believe he doesn’t want to? Or that it is impossible? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/24 "2005-09-07T17:22:56Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > So far I’ve gotten a lot of what _blacks_ can do to stop hating the president but not much on what the president can do to show he gives a rat’s ass about 12% his citizenry. Is this because people believe he doesn’t want to? Or that it is impossible? > [@Biggirl](#): > > So, everyone is going to get defensive and not answer the questions asked? The perception among blacks is that Bush hates them, how can this be fixed. These really are two different questions. ---
**Author:** ![DirkGntly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/25 "2005-09-07T17:39:55Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > If New Orleans had been Bush country, somebody in federal authority would have been IN New Orleans talking to people, making public personal explanations what the problem is, that help was on the way and doing a better job securing the Superdome. Of this I have no question in my mind. Does it not occur to you that this would be the case, not because Bush would be there more quickly to take care of them, but rather that _the people who live in “Bush country” may have some fundamentally different sets of principles, which would cause someone there, either a citizen or elected official, to rise to the need??_ ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/26 "2005-09-07T17:52:46Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Obviously we disagree. No need to try and change each other’s mind on that point, then. It would probably be a waste of electrons, and it would certainly be a hijack of this thread unless you want to attempt to make the case that relief efforts were slow because NO is predominently black. DO you want to make that arguement? > [@Biggirl](#): > > So far I’ve gotten a lot of what blacks can do to stop hating the president but not much on what the president can do to show he gives a rat’s ass about 12% his citizenry. Is this because people believe he doesn’t want to? Or that it is impossible? He could become a Democrat I suppose. Other than that, I don’t see how your question is answerable…unless we assume, as you have, that Bush actively hates or is indifferent too blacks, because they are black. I asked you to list out your reasons for thinking he doesn’t ‘care’ about blacks, but you have thus far been hostile in requests for you to actually provide additional information that would make this a debate…instead of a rant. As far as what you’ve given us to work with thus far, I think your question has been realistically answered…there is nothing Bush could do (that he WOULD do) to change the perception of the black community. -XT ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/27 "2005-09-07T17:55:59Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > So far I’ve gotten a lot of what _blacks_ can do to stop hating the president but not much on what the president can do to show he gives a rat’s ass about 12% his citizenry. Is this because people believe he doesn’t want to? Or that it is impossible? Well, if this is the question now, ISTM you should know better than us whiteys. What do you think he should do? I’m with **xtisme**. I don’t think there’s anything he can do. He’s a rich white politician from Texas, which plays into many stereotypes – which are just as prevalent among black Americans as white. What’s he supposed to do? Go to NBA games? Make a show of eating neck bones? Invite Snoop Dogg to the White House? Start campaigning in black churches? It would obviously be phony, and he’d be criticized for it. I suspect the only thing he could do would be to start supporting a bunch of programs that have the support of black Americans … even if he honestly doesn’t think they’re the best thing for the country in general, or even for blacks themselves. Is that sort of pandering what you want? I think it is very unlikely that any president that has both 1) a personal and cultural background very different from the majority of blacks and 2) a very different set of political positions than the black political establishment will ever be seen as “caring.” Black politicians are not exactly known for taking a “well, my opponent opposes Affirmative Action, but that doesn’t make him a racist” kind of tone. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/28 "2005-09-07T17:58:44Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#): > > _the people who live in “Bush country” may have some fundamentally different sets of principles, which would cause someone there, either a citizen or elected official, to rise to the need??_ That makes no sense whatsoever, unless you seriously mean that Democrats/liberals/whateverthehellyoumean have less of a sense of responsibility toward each other and themselves than ones from “Bush Country”? That the federal officials who’ve been so callous toward their fellow Americans despite being products of “Bush Country” themselves are not to be held responsible for it? Start explaining. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/29 "2005-09-07T18:04:47Z")
> [@furt](#): > > He’s a rich white politician from Texas, which plays into many stereotypes :Shrug: Aren’t they the same stereotypes that apply to rich white politicians from Arkansas? > [@](#): > > I suspect the only thing he could do would be to start supporting a bunch of programs that have the support of black Americans Now you’re getting warmer. Add in that such programs, if thoughtfully and respectfully designed, would have the support of a hell of a lot of white/Hispanic/Asian/everyone else voters as well and reconsider. > [@](#): > > Is that sort of pandering what you want? It’s the sort of _service to his employers_ (namely us, if it isn’t clear) that I want. It’s clear that Bush doesn’t see his responsibilities as being to the entire country. Do you also think that a President is answerable only to his own voters? > [@](#): > > I think it is very unlikely that any president that has both 1) a personal and cultural background very different from the majority of blacks and 2) a very different set of political positions than the black political establishment will ever be seen as “caring.” Black politicians are not exactly known for taking a “well, my opponent opposes Affirmative Action, but that doesn’t make him a racist” kind of tone. Quiz time: Who was “America’s first black President”? ---
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/30 "2005-09-07T18:06:15Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > So far I’ve gotten a lot of what blacks can do to stop hating the president but not much on what the president can do to show he gives a rat’s ass about 12% his citizenry. Is this because people believe he doesn’t want to? Or that it is impossible? > [@Biggirl](#): > > So, everyone is going to get defensive and not answer the questions asked? The perception among blacks is that Bush hates them, how can this be fixed. Not only are these two different questions, but they aren’t really arguments. The first is clearly IMHO. The second is a strawman, really, arguing a basis that has little objective basis in reality, dealing, unrealistcally, with other people’s preception of the man. Seriously, start posting evidence of racism, and then maybe we can have a debate. Hell, why not start a thread claiming stuff to be racism, and we’ll debate that. At best, you’re putting the cart before the horse. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/31 "2005-09-07T18:08:28Z")
I don’t think Bush hates black people. He hates poor people, and sees their poverty as a character flaw which should be punished. Poverty is synonymous with laziness to people in his circle, and any aid to them is seen as encouraging laziness. In their minds, if laziness is rewarded, it sends the wrong message, and more people will choose to be lazy and poor so they can get free food, water and shelter. So, making the lives of the poor as miserable as possible is really for their own good, so they will choose to be industrious and productive, not slothful parasites suckling the public tit at the expense of upstanding citizens who work hard for their money, and are entitled to keep it. All of it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/32 "2005-09-07T18:09:48Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > How can the president change this perception in the black community? Does the president even want to change it? Convince me that I’m being silly and the president really does care about me and mine. > [@Bigggirl](#): > > Whether or not it is true that if the face of the NO disaster had been white the federal response would have been better, quicker or more urgent is not what I’m asking. Regan and Bush I were also conservative and I never got the feeling that blacks felt hatred coming from them. IIRC, Bush II got a higher percentage of the Black vote in 2004 than either Bush I or Reagan-- or at least the percent was about the same. Why does that translate into the perception of Bush by the Black community (if that can even be determined) is worse than it was for Bush I or Reagan? How does one quantify the hatred felt by a group of people? Might it be that you are projecting your own feelings (Bush II hates me but Reagan didn’t) on the larger community? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/33 "2005-09-07T18:10:11Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > I think it is more a class issue than a race issue. This is the way I see it. Bush isn’t indifferent to blacks so much as he’s indifferent to the poor. It’s just politically inconvenient that there’s a lot of overlap, coincidental or not, between the two. His base is the wealthy, regardless of what color they are, and that’s who he sees himself as serving as President. And he himself is wealthy, of course, which is why his administration has been so _self_-serving. But disregarding blacks because they’re black? I don’t see it. It’s about the money. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/34 "2005-09-07T18:16:24Z")
He can’t fix it, barring any miracles. His whole administration–Condi included–is contaminated as far as I’m concerned. Black people are not alone in perceiving the involvement of racism. I’ve seen many white people also suggest that race along with class was at play. Whether the perception is accurate or not is a subject of debate, but I think its pretty clear that in terms of public relations Bush has taken a mighty blow from Katrina. The hot potato blame game the administration is currently playing only serves to worsen their image in the eyes of the public, but especially black people. I think the President cares about his image, and that’s about it. I’m sure he doesn’t want to go down in history as the president who watched NOLA implode upon itself and did nothing. But as far as the people? Not so much, as much as it pains me to say it. Why do I say this? His absence of emotions is quite noticeable to me. I find it hard to believe that most people when confronted with that level of devastation and despair can turn to a camera and deliver some soundbites without at least choking up a little. The country has just experienced one of its worst disasters ever, but Bush doesn’t seem to be reacting in a way that suggests he understands that. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/35 "2005-09-07T18:19:06Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > :Shrug: Aren’t they the same stereotypes that apply to rich white politicians from Arkansas? Bill Clinton was not born rich. He also spent a lot of time as a young person around black people and black culture. Bush grew up in west Texas, not exactly known for it’s thriving african-american communituies. It is known for a hispanic influence – and whaddya know, he seems to get along with them OK. > [@](#): > > Now you’re getting warmer. Add in that such programs, if thoughtfully and respectfully designed, would have the support of a hell of a lot of white/Hispanic/Asian/everyone else voters as well and reconsider. IOW, support programs he – and presumably the 51% of Americans that elected him – honestly thinks are bad for the country and bad for minorities, just because those are the programs that minorities want and it will make him more popular. That’s pandering. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/36 "2005-09-07T18:26:44Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > This is the way I see it. Bush isn’t indifferent to blacks so much as he’s indifferent to the poor. It’s just politically inconvenient that there’s a lot of overlap, coincidental or not, between the two. Of course this implies that someone who support different policies than you is “indifferent”. A common error made by partisans. > [@](#): > > His base is the wealthy… No. As you can [see](http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html), Bush still got 44% of the under $50k/year vote. Someone making $50k/year is not “wealthy”. And although Bush did get a high % of the over $200k/year vote, there aren’t enough of those out there to make up a “base”. Bush’s “base” is conservatives, especially religious (evangelical) conservates, of whatever income. Many democrats just can’t seem to understand that there are LOTS of conservative folks who are not in any way shape or form “wealthy”. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/37 "2005-09-07T18:29:02Z")
> [@furt](#): > > Bill Clinton was not born rich. He also spent a lot of time as a young person around black people and black culture. Bush grew up in west Texas, not exactly known for it’s thriving african-american communituies. It is known for a hispanic influence – and whaddya know, he seems to get along with them OK. You decried _stereotyping_ just one post ago. Now you’re acknowledging that the negative image of Bush among the black community is probably grounded in fact? > [@](#): > > IOW, support programs he – and presumably the 51% of Americans that elected him – honestly thinks are bad for the country and bad for minorities, just because those are the programs that minorities want and it will make him more popular. > > That’s pandering. Only if you’re laboring under the belief that voting for a candidate means supporting everything he says he’ll do and everything he does do, and opposes everything the other candidate says and does. Reality just ain’t that simple. People vote for the candidate who best meets the preponderance of whatever range of criteria that apply. You cannot say that 51% of Americans want Social Security gutted just because Bush does, or that 49% of Americans want to internationalize and disengage from Iraq just because Kerry does. But that’s your reasoning here. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/38 "2005-09-07T18:43:14Z")
I’d just like to point out, in the interest of accuracy, that what Kanye West actually said in that Mike Meyers clip was: “George Bush doesn’t care about black people…” The title of the thread says “hate.” (Maybe he’s said “George Bush hates black people” at another event…I have no idea, but I figured I’d point this out anyway). ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/39 "2005-09-07T19:08:10Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > If New Orleans had unevacuated poor whites who voted Red, aid would have been there within the first ten hours. TOPS. Post proof of that statement, please. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534/40 "2005-09-07T19:12:13Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Post proof of that statement, please. It was a ridiculously silly statement. N.O. unquestionably has some unevacuated Whites who voted for Bush\*. \*I assume that voted red = voted for Bush. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-doesnt-care-about-black-people-ed-title/320534.md?page=3)