Obama: Trayvon Martin 'could have been me'

[IDemo]

Source: NBC News

President Barack Obama emerged Friday to give voice to African Americans' reaction to last weekend's verdict in the George Zimmerman case, saying that Trayvon Martin "could have been me 35 years ago."

He also suggested that the outcome of the case could have been different if Martin were white.

"If a white male teen would have been involved in this scenario," he said, "both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different."

The nation's first black president, Obama said that it is impossible for the African-American community to not view the Martin case without filtering it through a long history of racial discrimination.



Read more: http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/19/19563211-obama-trayvon-martin-could-have-been-me?lite

[reflection]

1. Breaking news: RWers heads explode in outrage

Even though that is a perfectly reasonable statement from the President.

[Boomerproud]

6. The AM radio yakkers will be on this for weeks.

They can't hate him any more than they already do, so take the gloves off Mr. President.

[skydive forever]

8. Read the comments even at CNN.com

and you would think that Obama came out as Satan himself. Unbelievable.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

35. What they heard was Obama took to the mics and gave his negro army the 'go' order to kill whitey.

[NewJeffCT]

65. Sadly

you're right.

[yurbud]

70. "Obama rubs people's noses in his blackness"

"Obama plays victim"

yada yada

The right wing talking points practically write themselves.

[Kingofalldems]

2. He's right.

NRA gunners not liking this one.

[John2]

50. Who really cares

what the NRA thinks.

[RKP5637]

51. Exactly, fuck the NRA, I'm so fed up with those assholes! n/t

[truthisfreedom]

3. There goes the re-election!

8^D

I'm so proud of our President for speaking the truth so directly.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. The way he's treated

there is no difference between he and Trayvon and every other black man in America. Whether barely hanging on in high school or head of the Harvard Law Review, America sees only the black face and all the stereotypes that have been assigned to it over the centuries.

[lastlib]

23. That's the heart of the matter right there!!

[Fringe]

33. So true after all these years.

[all american girl]

40. +1

[handmade34]

5. Thank You President Obama

[Nine]

14. +1

I really needed him to speak out on this.

[Rockyj]

28. Me too

Totally unexpected! WOW this will be the next news cycle for weeks! But WE needed this conversation so much!

[jenmito]

7. It was historic. For all those who complained before today that, "If Bill Clinton had been in

office, HE would've spoken out on the Zimmerman case, but our first Black president stays silent?" they don't realize that it's SO much harder for a BLACK POTUS to speak out on a racial issue than for a WHITE president to do so, since Obama has the burden of speaking on the issue while Black. HE will be criticized for "taking sides" or "sticking up for 'his own kind'" or something similar. Watch. K&R&T.

[sheshe2]

17. Thank you jenmito.

That was very well stated.

[jenmito]

55. Thanks for that, sheshe. n/t

[John2]

49. I didn't get to see the

speech, but if what you people are saying is true, then it is about time President Obama addressed race. I dare the Supreme Court say we don't have issues. I don't know what President Carter was trying to say, but apparently President Obama didn't mince words. Let the right get angry all they want. What are they going to do about it, impeach him. He did nothing less than John F. Kennedy did. They reacted the same way.

[jenmito]

56. Here it is:

I agree with the rest of your post.

[orleans]

69. thanks for posting this. n/t

[GreedIsGood]

73. Thanks for the vid... n/t

[John2]

52. He doesn't have

run for re-election. He can set his legacy now by taking the gloves off. He doesn't have to answer to them. And this country's demographics is changing. He is the President of the United States now.

[jenmito]

57. Yup.

And his place in history is already cemented.

[Empowerer]

58. Thank you for saying this

You're dead on

[jenmito]

61. Thanks, Empowerer.

[Myrina]

9. I made the mistake of looking at comments on an article on E!Online's site ...

.... Overwhelmingly, ridiculously believe that Martin was a "dope smoking Gangsta with a criminal record" (imagine ODB or Lil Jon) and several accused the star in question (Kelly Ripa, who was speaking as a mother of how her heart is breaking for the Martin family) of being an 'extremist' and trying to 'rile up the public'.

One even posted insisted that E! take down the 'normal' picture of Trayvon and put up his 'arrest photos' instead.


I was so confused and disgusted, I just SMH and left the page.

[uppityperson]

34. What "arrest photos" are there of Trayvon? It is mind boggling.

[trublu992]

10. I've been upset and bewildered by some of his decisions I've often felt

turned off by the whole political process. I've also forgotten how hard it is to be the first black anything

I do understand he has way more detractors than support within the internal political culture. Today he was really brave and only he

could of done it. No matter what he has or will do his presidency will always give credence to the humanity of people of African descent

and other "minority" people of color and those left out of the white male power (poor,middle class, women etc) structure and that is

huge. The fact he was twice elected in a still racist though decreasingly so country shows we are sooo much better than we used to be

and will be even better in the future, even though its hard as hell to create change.

[MissDeeds]

11. That was an absolutely phenomenal speech

I have had some issues with Pres. Obama in the past, and probably will again, but his statements this afternoon were nothing short of amazing. He addressed the Trayvon Martin case head on and personalized the challenges young Black men deal with on a daily basis. It was one of his greatest moments as president and I am so glad I got to hear it as it happened. His statements are historic and will be remembered and discussed for years. Well done.

[jenmito]

13. And he was just speaking from experience, from his heart. There were no notes, no teleprompter,

nothing, yet this IS historic and was a perfectly-stated commentary.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. An incredible moment of COURAGE and truth.

[Coyotl]

15. Missed it. Any call for a new Civil Rights Act, voting restoration, voter equality, voting rights

About to watch now:

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/event/221869

[Empowerer]

60. This was not the place for that

He was speaking very personally about a broader issue.

[glowing]

16. I'm a 34 yr old white woman in FL, and I can tell you it was racial profiling and if Trayvon had

been a white teen wearing a sweatshirt and pants on the way home @ 7pm, the white kid would have been completely ignored. AND that is a fact.

AND I'm sorry, but white people burlarize too. That community has issues in general and its in one of those tea party pockets that promotes those stand your ground bs types of laws... Also, this is extremely political because of ALEC and the gun nutters (who I'm so much more afraid of than a black man walking down the st in pants and a sweatshirt).

[SunSeeker]

75. Yes, burglaries are by white boys too. The only two burglaries in my neighborhood were.

Both of the only two burglaries I am aware of were acquaintances/friends of the other boys living there. They saw something they wanted when they visited and came back to get it when they knew the family was out.

[Marthe48]

77. Trial defended "Stand Your Ground"

more than seeking justice for a murdered boy, determining the facts. It wasn't Zimmerman on the stand, it was that law, and by extension, gun ownership. We mustn't let the truth stand in the way of a popular, but insanely bad law! RIP Trayvon. I'm white and I hate it that you died so young and your killer wasn't punished.

[Blandocyte]

78. Stand Yer Ground defense wasn't used

That was one of the first surprises of the trial. Please be aware of the facts.

[Marthe48]

79. What I'm saying is

Metaphorically, this trial was more about Florida gun ownership rights and use than about the people involved in the crime, sad as that sounds. Stand your ground might not have been in the trial, but it was all over the rest of the place, like msm and social networks and no one could help thinking of that law and this trial. I have been agonizing all week how this trial could end this way. I had an insight today that the trial represented gun ownership and use vs. innocents.

[glowing]

86. Actually, it was written in the jury instructions as part of self defense.

Self defense was used, but the jury had an instruction that if the defendant felt that he was in fear and had to stand his ground, then not guilt blah, blah, blah...

Also, the jury was pooled from that area (completely a huge surprise to me knowing that no one in the area couldn't have missed the many people who came into the community to protest and ask for investigation and charges).

Lastly, Angela Corey, brought up charges that would have been much harder to prove knowing that one person was dead and another was alive and there were no actual witnesses to the occurrence that evening. On the other hand, she charged the young lady who was trying to protect herself and also left no one dead with a charge that would be harder to ignore... and she has 20yrs.

Too many politics playing in this case - even a juror seemed to have a money angle.

[sheshe2]

18. Thanks for posting that IDemo.

I missed it.

K&R
for our President.

[azurnoir]

19. Thank you Mr President

[onehandle]

20. A gun nut's ultimate fantasy. Not just hunting a human, but a human named Obama.

You scoff?

Sharpton And Guests Take On ‘Stunning, Offensive’ ‘Zombie’ Obama Target From NRA Convention

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/sharpton-and-guests-take-on-stunning-offensive-zombie-obama-target-from-nra-convention

[Spazito]

21. Moving and powerful...

"If a white male teen would have been involved in this scenario," he said, "both the outcome and the aftermath might have been different."

One has only to read the comments from readers on the various news sites to see the obscene racism proves the stark truth of what the President said in his historic comments.

[LiberalLovinLug]

27. Exactly

You nailed it.

[mstinamotorcity2]

22. Talking heads are exploding as we speak.

Turn on your TV's they are losing their minds!!!!!!!!!!

[DeSwiss]

24. He is you.

- Omnia sint unum.

K&R

[Ash_F]

25. Wow he can show some guts sometimes. /nt

[Skittles]

26. I commend Obama for saying that

because it is true

[BeyondGeography]

29. Uniquely powerful

Only in America, for better or worse.

[Purveyor]

30. Is this from the same Obama that thinks Ray 'Stop and Frisk, Racial Profiling' Kelly would be

'well qualified' as the new Department of Homeland Security.?

“Mr. Kelly might be very happy where he is,” said Obama. “But if he’s not I’d want to know about it. ‘Cause, you know, obvioiusly he’d be very well qualified for the job.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023295236

[geek tragedy]

39. You busted him. He doesn't care about black people.

[Purveyor]

41. Well if you don't see the 'disconnect', nothing I can do for you. eom

[geek tragedy]

42. Did Obama appoint him or merely observe that he's 'qualified' after being

directly asked about Kelly by a reporter?

[Purveyor]

43. “But if he’s not I’d want to know about it. ‘Cause, you know, obvioiusly he’d be very well qualified

for the job.”

Not quite yet but the fact that he can even breathe these words gives this one pause...

[geek tragedy]

44. Obama: Hillary would be on anyone's short list for VP

Obama camp never vetted Clinton for vice president spot

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/obama-camp-vetted-hillary-clinton-vice-president-spot-article-1.315512

How could Obama breathe those words? He's a politician.

[geek tragedy]

45. Feds Oppose NYPD Over Stop and Frisk

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2013/06/12/feds-back-plaintiffs-suing-nypd-over-stop-and-frisk.html

[Purveyor]

46. And there lies the 'disconnect' of even giving him consideration. eom

[geek tragedy]

47. See the Hillary video.

Clinton was never considered for VP.

[Beacool]

62. That's true, he was just being a politician.

Although, to be fair, it was more about Bill than Hillary. His advisers were worried about Bill "going off the reservation". Fears that were unfounded, as demonstrated by the four years that Hillary was SOS. A position that she didn't initially want, BTW.

[geek tragedy]

63. Her being VP was always a bad idea for everyone.

It would have taken away all of her autonomy and it would have prevented him from establishing his own identity.

I think people sometimes forget that Obama is a politician.

[Beacool]

64. I have never forgotten.

[ZombieHorde]

31. Speech (17:34)

[Fringe]

32. Thank you Obama!!

I am glad he had the courage to say this. I know that it could have been my son.

My son is in college, but he use to go running in the rain all the time. He would always grab his blue hoody from old navy because it is light weight and has a hood.

My son is very friendly and i would always worry about creepy people following him who mean to do harm.

Now, I worry about someone murdering him just because he is black knowing they will get away with it.

[dipsydoodle]

36. Would that be before or after he got his law degree at Harvard.

.

[geek tragedy]

38. yes nt

[shockedcanadian]

37. One thing people cannot refute about Obama

Is that he speaks many times without a teleprompter. He has a heartfelt way of expressing his opinions and normalizing the human experience. I give him credit even when I disagree with his opinions because at least he has conviction to say them without needing his advisers by his side and his heart is in the right place.

As someone who grew up in a tough part of the city, I can tell you that I could also have easily had gone down the wrong path, and I am sure people judged me without even speaking to me and knowing that I wasn't all that bad of a kid, I was fairly smart and respectful but withdrawn. Many years later I have my degree, was in my MBA program, I have done a tonne of volunteer work for numerous causes and contributed as best I can under my own trying circumstances (I have a very long post about this on this site).

Anyways, I cannot debate the law or if the court decision was correct or not, but I do know this much, George could have easily have avoided the confrontation. No unarmed 17 year old should be gunned down while not posing a threat to a well armed 29 year old...if the law needs to be more specific it might help, but allowing this death to go unpunished or affecting change I imagine is going to open up a Pandora's Box for future confrontations and different scenarios.

[John2]

48. Well, I got

news for the media. Trayvon Martin could have been me also. Racism needs to be address, whether the Supreme Court, Congress, State legislature or Media like it or not! The Racial Justice Act was repealed in North Carolina. Guess who repealed it!

[dkf]

53. He did a good job of tamping down the emotions and reminding us that we need to keep things calm.

He shows he emphasizes but can be thoughtful and measured in response.

Good for him and good for us.

[admonish]

54. haven't watched the speech, yet, but...

frankly, those who hate Obama strictly for his blackness, i.e. the tea party, red state hillbillies, etc. will only use this speech against him and have dreams of taking Mr. Obama out with a bullet where they get off on standing their ground....Unfortunately, Mr. Obama is hated because he's black, and the fact he's an articulate, intelligent, classy gentleman means nuttin'!

[PuffedMica]

59. I like the way President Obama is keeping the focus on the murder of Treyvon

Our President is doing an excellent job of keeping national attention on the events in Florida. The news media has been forced to report again and again on how Zimmerman is proceeding to get away with murder. All the while the networks and cable channels are trying their best to change the subject to the Royal baby or the financial situation in Detroit.

Good Job Mr. President.

[marshall]

67. Hawaii is horribly racist

I grew up in Georgia and I thought I had seen all that racism had to offer. Then as an adult I moved to Hawaii and I got a whole new education on racial animus.

[blkmusclmachine]

68. Sorry. Don't think so.

[yurbud]

71. This is smart politics--it might drive blacks and others outraged by the trial to the polls in 2014

I wondered if the Democrats would have the guts to make this play, but it is the right thing to do as well as the strategic thing.

[admonish]

74. agreed

he couldn't be "uppity" in the first term.. Luckily for all of us, they didn't "carter" him out of office.. they sho did try... I guess 2010 was a great move by the right and has crippled Obama, but it may be starting to backfire.. but just remember... get out and vote.. everytime!

I suppose between the brown votes & the educated.. as long as you show up everytime, those hillbilly Jesus freaks are out voted... But only when you all show up

[tavalon]

72. Actually, looking at his children,

had one of them been male, he would likely have been a doppelganger of Trayvon. I can't listen to the speech tonight because my son and my dog are both snoring just behind me (we three are staying on the houseboat tonight) but I have little doubt it was a barn burner. I look forward to listening to it. And I continue to hope that it will be followed by a civil suit brought by the AG.

[clangsnwhoops]

76. From the heart

The President spoke from the heart and as a human being,not just a President. It could happen to any African-American today. When will we stop the racism?

[Blandocyte]

81. It could have been any of us

But it wasn't. Why is that?

[SammyWinstonJack]

82. Obama. all those busted for pot, could have been me..

oops.

[Sunlei]

83. President O will be on a Sunday am news show. same topic. be there!

[madmax]

84. How can anyone not see

that if one reversed the color of the victim and the killer, Trayvon would be found guilty. I'm disgusted, disillusioned and angry that I was blind for so long. I thought we'd overcome racial discrimination to a certain degree. Especially, in the courts. What kind of fool am I. Lulled into thinking we'd made progress.

We're still fighting for Roe v. Wade, equal pay, and all the rest that we fought for in the 60's. Nothing has changed, in fact it's gotten worse. I'm ashamed that I didn't stay involved.

Thanks to the USSC decision in Bush v. Gore I woke up.

[heaven05]

85. damn!!!!!!

almost had a heart attack behind this one. I am truly surprised and bravo Mr. President on speaking the truth on this case.