Focus on high black unemployment, income inequality on black leaders’ post-election wish list
WASHINGTON (AP) — When black voters gave President Barack Obama 93 percent support on Election Day in defiance of predictions that they might sit it out this year, black leaders breathed a collective sigh of relief.
That encouraged those leaders to try to leverage more attention from both Obama and Congress. Although they waver over how much to demand from the president — particularly in light of defeated GOP challenger Mitt Romney’s assertion that Obama gave “gifts” to minorities in exchange for their votes — they are delivering postelection wish lists to the president anyway.
“I think the president heard us loud and clear. The collective message was, ‘Let’s build on where we already are,”’ the Rev. Al Sharpton told reporters after a White House meeting last week with a collection of advocates representing largely Democratic constituencies.
Specifically, Sharpton said, that means keeping the brunt of the looming “fiscal cliff” of tax increases and spending cuts off the backs of the middle and working class.
NAACP President Benjamin Jealous aimed that same message at Congress, especially on where tax relief is extended.
Comments
Lets ALL pay higher taxes ---that is the fair thing to do.
Maybe the obamanator can give them some fake government jobs, Yo9u know, ghost jobs, I think that is probably what the Rev Al has in mind. That way it does not look like a government handout.
So we have to give them a phone and a job?
"Specifically, Sharpton said, that means keeping the brunt of the looming “fiscal cliff” of tax increases and spending cuts off the backs of the middle and working class."
Just for "blacks" or does he mean everyone?
If they would focus on black educational attainment then employment and income would follow. That is how it works in the white world, maybe it would work in the black community also. Do you think?
silence
""That is how it works in the white world, maybe it would work in the black community also. Do you think?""
Nah, because they think they "deserve" a job even if they don't qualify.Because of the color of their skin, they are entitled to any job and if they don't get it, they use racial discrimination. It's a losing cause.