The unrealistic cost of being the first ‘black president’

An overwhelming number of American blacks have pinned the hopes of an entire race
on President Obama, a set of expectations that no other American president has ever
faced.

In the real world, however, such misplaced hopes actually work against Obama and
the black community in general. If he were to give in to their suggestions to consult
a special “black Cabinet” or implement explicitly race-based policies, he’d quickly
lose the rest of America and the White House in short order.

Instead, disillusioned blacks have signaled that they would rather not vote than
heed Obama’s recent pleas for enthusiasm to prevent a GOP takeover and the end of
his agenda. “What do we care? Obama’s agenda isn’t helping us,” was the refrain.
 
Perhaps more damaging than the average black citizen’s disappointment is the fact
that powerful factions within the black leadership are sitting on their hands out
of jealousy because Obama skipped to the head of the leadership line. This is surely
a defeatist position if there ever was one.

Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.