Obama finds Bush's pitch 'offensive'

[ailsagirl]

March 11, 2005
BY LYNN SWEET Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief Advertisement

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said Thursday that President Bush's argument for African Americans to support his Social Security plan is "offensive."

Bush is courting African Americans with the pitch that the Social Security system is unfair to black men because of their shorter life expectancy.

Obama said the notion that Bush would tailor his Social Security appeal to blacks by talking about their shorter lifespans -- without linking it to the causes of the death rate -- was "stunning'' and "puzzling.''

Obama said he would prefer the president not frame his Social Security argument "in racial terms.'' Obama's strong words may have special significance since he is the only African-American senator.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-obama11.html

[Melodybe]

1. The jury is still out on Obama but I'm glad for his vote on the

Bankruptcy bill and this also makes me think more highly of him.

[ailsagirl]

2. Same here. I hope he continues in this vein!!

Those repukes will stoop to any low to ram through their piratization plan...I'm glad Obama is recognizing this.

[iamjoy]

3. Faulty Analogy?

Said Obama, "This is as if the president is arguing for privatization of fire protection because our houses aren't worth as much as houses in rich neighborhoods. Or maybe we could privatize police protection because if we get robbed, our stuff is not as nice. It defies logic.''


Aren't fire and police protection largely paid for by property taxes which are based on the value of the home?

Besides, according to an NPR report several weeks ago, statistically African Americans have a shorter life expectancy because of high infant and youth death. Once African Americans become senior citizens, their life expectancy is only a couple of years shorter than Caucasian.

Anyway, this isn't really PC, but African Americans are less likely to have sufficient education to understand investment principles.

Added on Edit:
I agree with Obama's principles though, it is callous and low for the Repubs to use the race card on this.

[w13rd0]

4. The ability to "understand investment principles"

is closely correlated with how much wealth one has to invest. The gap there can play a pretty large part too. LOTS of white folk don't understand investment principles either. Hell, they don't even understand the issues involved when they vote for someone like Bush.

[iamjoy]

6. That's Another Point

Having money to invest doesn't necessarily mean one understands how to invest, but I see your point.

African Americans also tend to earn less, now, don't they?

[madison2000]

5. When I first read "Obama" I thought "Osama" instead

well, he probably finds Bush offensive too :shrug:

[EST]

7. Teehee

I've done that, too.
I listened to several of Obama's speeches here in Illinois was highly impressed, voting for him at the appropriate time.
It is indeed gratifying to see him draw a little fire. I was a little concerned about his opening moves as a freshman, fearing that the fascistas might start to assume that he was of malleable quality. Only time will inform whether or not his installation represents an infusion of backbone into our version of "wobblycrats."