Cornel West: Obama punts on the first down

[Playinghardball]

Source: RawReplay
By Eric W. Dolan

Princeton professor and black intellectual Cornel West criticized President Barack Obama during an interview with Democracy Now on Tuesday, claiming the president was far too willing to compromise with his opponents.

“A large number of black people want to protect President Obama against the vicious right-wing attacks, the Fox News-like attacks, the lies about him being socialist, Muslim, and so forth,” he said. “On the other hand, the suffering intensifies. It is very clear that President Obama caves in over and over again. He punts on first down. If you’re in a foxhole with him, you’re in trouble because he wants to compromise. He doesn’t have the kind of backbone he ought to have.”

West also said that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was “indifferent” to the suffering of the poor.

“We hope he gets a progressive economic team, even though, as you know, many of us are exploring other kinds of possibilities in the coming election given his lukewarmness.”

Watch video, courtesy of Democracy Now, below

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/cornel-west-obama-punts-on-the-first-down/

[CakeGrrl]

1. What the hell is a "black intellectual"?

And why does it need to be pointed out?

:rofl:

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. Because you know that blacks can't be "intellectual," so it must certainly be qualified

that he's a "black intellectual."


*sighing at the insanity*

[razorman]

15. Much like the fact that there are "black leaders", but no "white leaders".

Because of course black people can't think for themselves, so they must have their own leaders. What a crock.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. Of course! You know we must keep our places. And, we can't write, so

Donald Trump, Pat Buchanan, and Rush Limbaugh asserting that Obama didn't write his books is a "hint-hint," blacks can't write, can't think, aren't intelligent.

I've never heard of a "white intellectual." It's just assumed.

*sighing again*

[lillypaddle]

2. So?

Who the fuck is he???? I'm really impressed.:sarcasm:

[eleny]

7. Professor at Princeton among other things

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornel_West

[lillypaddle]

13. yeah, yeah

I know. But who the fuck is he????

[dennis4868]

3. does the black intellectual Cornel West

understand that according to the constitution congress has to pass laws before Obama can enforce them? A president is not a king and therefore has to work with congress, even if the opposition party are a bunch of assholes!

[Tesha]

10. What new laws would have needed to be passed to have had the Justice Department...

...investigate and prosecute various crimes by the prior administration?

Are they investigating the on-going shenanigans regarding voter
suppression efforts in Wisconsin or elsewhere?

Tesha

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Cornel and Tavis are hustlers trying to sell books. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

6. Princeton Professor Cornel West and Corporate Sponsored Tavis Smiley

were greeted by Obama supporters; about 200 mainly African Americans who would like
for these two to live in the real world and take a couple of civics classes to learn
who writes bills, bring them to the floor and votes on them, so they can figure out
who to take their ire on......and who should be encouraged to vote, and for whom!

Here's a video: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/detroit/tavis-smiley-and-cornel-west-bring-their-poverty-tour-to-detroit#TFY

[Bill McBlueState]

8. Cornel West sort of got me hooked on liberalism

when I was a 17-year-old kid from rural Ohio and heard him speak at my college. His is among the great American minds of the last few decades.

It's amazing the crap he's getting here for making fairly obvious remarks about the president.

[eleny]

9. +1

[BumRushDaShow]

12. The problem

is that his record over the years has been inconsistent at best. In this case, like so many of the posters on DU, he has made his critiques personal.

[Number23]

18. You win the thread

In this case, like so many of the posters on DU, he has made his critiques personal.

Absofuckinglutely.

And not only personal, but Cornel is often accused of not listening to black people. Of being so invested in pontificating that he misses the boat, the bus and everything else.

It's interesting that so many of the criticisms he lobs at the president are often lobbed at him first.

[Ikonoklast]

19. Dr. West is a brilliant man.

He got his feelings hurt by not getting an invite to the Inauguration, and has been anti-Obama ever since.

Even smart people can get themselves in a snit if they are full of themselves.

It actually says a lot about the man.

[Solomon]

11. I knew somebody was going to start with the Smiley West

thing again because they are currently doing a poverty tour. Once again. Perfect timing these two.

Like Heckle and Jeckle. Hey. What can you say. Everybody's got a role to play.

[SidDithers]

14. Cornell West is still in Pop Warner...

Oops, not supposed to use sports metaphors at DU anymore.

Sid

[Dad Infinitum]

17. But GOP Lucy pulls the ball away anyway