Obama: These Eric Garner protests are necessary
posted at 11:21 am on December 9, 2014 by Allahpundit
Via the Free Beacon, a snippet from his damage-control session last night with BET, obviously designed to rebuild some of the goodwill he’s lost with black voters over the last few months. Noah has a post coming on race relations in the Obama era but here’s an appetizer from Pew. Note the recent decline among blacks:
What’s driving that 16-point drop? Probably not any single explanation, but at least part of it is the perception that Obama seems too disengaged on this subject (e.g., declining to visit Ferguson) than some people would like. That’s what makes his line here about how “power concedes nothing without a fight” so inadvertently funny: Here’s the most powerful man in the world, who could talk about race and police practices through an unmatched media megaphone every day if he wanted to, suddenly reverting to community-organizer-speak to portray himself as somehow on the other side of the establishment he leads. One flawed but obvious question that must have occurred to some voters watching him admit that the protests are “necessary” was why they’re still necessary six years into a presidency that promised to transform America, particularly in matters of race.
In reality, despite endless pleading from media sycophants, talking about race is something that Obama (wisely) does only very sparingly, and almost always when he’s in some sort of political trouble that only a bit of pandering will solve. That habit goes back to his first campaign, when he stayed away from speaking at length about the subject until the Jeremiah Wright thing blew up and he needed a way to defuse it. The result was his speech on race. He gave statements after the George Zimmerman verdict and the grand jury’s non-indictment in Ferguson but that was unavoidable given the public attention to those cases. If he declined to speak, it would have been treated by lefties as a total abdication of his office as designated SJW-in-chief. They were trips to the dentist that he couldn’t avoid. He learned early, certainly by the time of the “police acted stupidly” episode involving Henry Louis Gates, that him wading publicly into racial morasses only added an extra partisan bitterness to an already bitter stew. Headaches for him and for everyone else involved. Why not just lie low? So that’s what he does. Usually.
Not last night, though. Partly, as noted, that’s because he’s in a spot right now with his base and probably worries that if he lies too low while people are protesting across the country, his legacy as the first black president will suffer for it. But there’s another reason: After the Eric Garner non-indictment, it’s safer than usual for him to tackle this topic. Another data point from Pew:
Garner’s different than most racial clusterfarks in that black and white opinion lines up to a greater extent than usual. Which makes me wonder: If the Staten Island grand jury had indicted the NYPD officer in the Garner case, leaving the Michael Brown shooting as the protesters’ sole casus belli, would Obama still have given this interview? Especially with Democrats hemorrhaging white voters, including the white millennials who helped hand the White House to them twice in the past six years? Hmmm.
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Which is why we need to always fight for lower taxes and to stop governments from adding debt. Lower taxes forces government to become smaller. Borrowing allows government to sidestep the tax revenue constraint altogether.
ConstantineXI on December 9, 2014 at 11:25 AM
Obama now owns everything these violent, dangerous “protests” produce.
portlandon on December 9, 2014 at 11:26 AM
Says the man passing out M-4s and mine resistant vehicles to small police departments as if they were candy.
WryTrvllr on December 9, 2014 at 11:28 AM
Funny, I hear the 99% of people who chose not to protest. I guess the struggle all depends on whom you choose to listen.
BKeyser on December 9, 2014 at 11:30 AM
The Pied Piper of Pyromania.
cbenoistd on December 9, 2014 at 11:30 AM
The Race Baiter-in-Chief doing what he does.
Meople on December 9, 2014 at 11:35 AM
What does obama and Sharkton think about this?
Why is this not reported in the main media?
Who is the stabber? What religion? What color? Faux reported it but only talked about the student.
Schadenfreude on December 9, 2014 at 11:35 AM
Burning and looting in cities across America are necessary?
Obama said he stood with the Occupy Wall Street thugs, now he stands with the looting and burning thugs.
Can’t wait until we get a Black President elected so this racism will end once and for all.
How do you say “Götterdämmerung” in Ebonics?
coldwarrior on December 9, 2014 at 11:35 AM
How about the other half of the question – TO WHAT END ?
What the hell does the bumbler in chief think these orchestrated, traffic snarling, minor protests can accomplish ? There is no national will whatsoever to reform ANYTHING. They don’t have any suggestions, that I’ve heard.
The only thing anyone seems to have that is semi constructive is to make the police force look like the community. That is obviously foolish, but even granting them that, one the police force looks like teh community and nothing changes… then what ?
deadrody on December 9, 2014 at 11:36 AM
Funny how this racist never talked about the gangs of blacks going after whites and Jews in the knockout game.
Funny how he didn’t mention the Bosnian man beat to death with hammers by black teens.
Funny how he didn’t mention all the attacks on whites by blacks.
By the time this racist ass leaves office America will be in shambles … which I suppose is the plan.
darwin on December 9, 2014 at 11:36 AM
CNN got it
Schadenfreude on December 9, 2014 at 11:36 AM
Citizens die during arrests for nonviolent crime pretty often. But we only hear about it if it advances the media’s leftist narrative.
Exhibit A: a map of botched police raids.
Nephew Sam on December 9, 2014 at 11:39 AM
Obama couldn’t care less about Garner or Brown.
These protests serve two purposes for the Democratic party, divert attention from amnesty and further solidify the black communities allegiance to the democrat party.
FlyNavy on December 9, 2014 at 11:39 AM
NULLIFICATION NOW.
gryphon202 on December 9, 2014 at 11:39 AM
The constitution allows for peaceful assembly. Once it turns violent the second admendment comes into play. The idiot in the white hut seem to not understand this widely known fact.
stephana on December 9, 2014 at 11:39 AM
Obola is a sick, demented, mentally fraud who will say or do anything.
Strictly a loose cannon…doesn’t care who or what he harms as long as it’s not himself.
He’s little different than Hitler, other than access to modern day pharmaceuticals.
Pelosi Schmelosi on December 9, 2014 at 11:40 AM
If only we had a congress that was aware of this statement and capable of replying “Then you’d better buckle up, Mr. President. You’ve been taking up abusing power that’s not lawfully yours.”
thatsafactjack on December 9, 2014 at 11:40 AM
So, Obama speaks out as he hears and acknowledges the anger of a small minority that is rioting the grand jury decisions. Meanwhile, another so-called minority (of voters) kicked his azz and the azz of his party on November 4th, yet he shrugs it off.
Ah, don’t you just love egotistical race-hustlers?
Aizen on December 9, 2014 at 11:40 AM
As Brit Hume said on FoxNews Sunday, there’s no balance in Obama’s remarks on race. Am I naive to believe that’s part of the reason he’s losing ground with blacks and Democrats on racial issues? Even a child can see how one-sided Obama is in blaming the system and the police, and putting zero responsibility on black criminals, or on how blacks act when confronted by a policeman. For all I know from what Obama and Holder say, Michael Brown was walking along, minding his own business, and some racist white cop shot him dead for fun, just to watch him die.
LashRambo on December 9, 2014 at 11:40 AM
I am assuming he missed the irony of his statement…
right2bright on December 9, 2014 at 11:41 AM
Right on. Whether or not justice was served by either jury is unimportant to Obama’s group. As long as they can obfuscate the facts with the help of the media, they can deepen animosity whites, and guarantee that Democrats don’t lose the minority vote.
Nephew Sam on December 9, 2014 at 11:41 AM
Divide and conquer much?
Marxism is for dummies on December 9, 2014 at 11:41 AM
mentally (ill) fraud
Pelosi Schmelosi on December 9, 2014 at 11:41 AM
The wanna’ be dictator king and the irony of his statement.
albill on December 9, 2014 at 11:41 AM
So, you’re saying logic has nothing to do with Obama’s attitudes, his thinking, what he does? He’s already decided his positions, then he makes up reasons after the fact to support them? That’s called “rationalization” on Obama’s part. That’s a nice word for a “lie”.
LashRambo on December 9, 2014 at 11:43 AM
Obama: These Eric Garner protests are necessary
NO!! If you want to stop this from happening:
Place the blame where it belongs:
A) Issue fewer regulations not thousands more (as Obama and his cohorts have done). It was Bliimberg’s huge cigareete tax increase that created a profitable bootleg industry and boosted a misdemeanor into a crime.
B) When people are arrested by police and they resist such arrest they have commited the crime of ASSAULT.
C) As a result of A) + B) the assaulting perpetrator was wrestled to the ground where he expired as a result of a HEART ATTACK -NOT because of a choke hold.
D) Obama, by siding with the perpetrator is FANNING RACIAL ANIMOSITY and dissing law enforcement..
MaiDee on December 9, 2014 at 11:44 AM
We are beginning to see just how bad the last 2 years of obama’s administration will be. It will get only worse from here.
I have a hard time processing the fact that we have a president and his henchmen in high government places acting intentionally to destroy our country. Others must feel the same way. I doubt this will work out well.
GaltBlvnAtty on December 9, 2014 at 11:45 AM
Gruber “deosn’t recall” what the testified under oath.
Fraudsters, from obama on down, each and every one of them…but looting ahead of X-mas time.
Schadenfreude on December 9, 2014 at 11:47 AM
You are partially mistaken.
The FDA, under Obama, prohibits the sale of “loosies”
Pelosi Schmelosi on December 9, 2014 at 11:47 AM
LOL! Listen for the ball bearings rattling around in his hand. Ask him about the ice cream. Ask him.
onomo on December 9, 2014 at 11:48 AM
True, dat.
Time to get the Tea Party fired up again!
DRayRaven on December 9, 2014 at 11:48 AM
Pelosi Schmelosi on December 9, 2014 at 11:49 AM
Pretty much. Obama’s “I’m listening to the two thirds that didn’t vote” comment was one of the stupidest and most frightening things that I’ve ever heard come out of the mouth of any POTUS. He basically said that elections mean shit to him and that it doesn’t matter whether or not you voted, because he’s still only listening to the people that support him.
Divide and conquer, baby. One of the hallmarks of the Obama presidency.
Aizen on December 9, 2014 at 11:51 AM
Feinstein is a traitorous wench.
She’s DELIBERATELY causing the deaths of Americans today.
Leftists betray our Country.
Pelosi Schmelosi on December 9, 2014 at 11:51 AM
DO NOT go for any of this, except at your risk.
The real traitors of the US taxpayers and legal citizens
Schadenfreude on December 9, 2014 at 11:52 AM
Having lost the healthcare initiative, foreign policy and the economy, Obama has re-trenched to the only issue he is comfortable exploiting: race.
Interestingly, only Sharpton is excited by that – and he’s not even an office-holder. The rest of the Democrats are just making supportive noises, which is where Obama now is with his grumbling about “policing matters”. Most Democrats know this is not going anywhere for them.
As for “inconvenience”, Obama should explain that exquisite socio-political point to those who lost their businesses to his rioters.
virgo on December 9, 2014 at 11:53 AM
What, exactly, is ‘power’ being asked to ‘concede’ by the protests?
Does anyone know?
Most of the time, when a person utters a phrase which becomes a part of the lexicon there is a purpose, or context, which gives it meaning.
“I have not yet begun to fight”
“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself”
“Never have so many owed so much to so few”
Each of these statements means something.
“Power concedes nothing without a fight”
Sorry. I don’t get it. Makes a great Prius bumper-sticker, though.
BobMbx on December 9, 2014 at 11:53 AM
It will be the Bundy ranch deal X 1,000,000.
VegasRick on December 9, 2014 at 11:53 AM
Blacks, go riot in DC. They hate you, from both sides.
Schadenfreude on December 9, 2014 at 11:53 AM
Where’s the Gruber grilling Open Thread anyway?
Star Bird on December 9, 2014 at 11:55 AM
Diane Feinstein and her husband s/b in prison, for defrauding the taxpayers, repeatedly. She/they have no shame. It’s why she released the report…because the GWB admin went after her husband’s illegitimate company, which defrauded the gov’t at the tune of 500 million. She/him, for a time during GWB were quiet, laying low, in shame…then he opened a company with a new name, and went at it again. They defraud Medicare by the millions.
Schadenfreude on December 9, 2014 at 11:56 AM
NYPD cops warned militant group Black Guerilla Family ‘preparing to shoot on-duty police officers’
EXCLUSIVE: An NYPD confidential informant learned of the threat on Friday evening — three days after a Staten Island grand jury decided not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo for the chokehold death of Eric Garner. Cop union confirmed the threat late Saturday and were ordering all police officers, on duty and off, to take extra precautions.
Akzed on December 9, 2014 at 11:57 AM
Only partially covered on Faux, and NO where else. It’s just your dough. Work harder.
Schadenfreude on December 9, 2014 at 11:57 AM
Not only are the Garner protests not necessary, they’re destructive Obama you POS.
otlset on December 9, 2014 at 11:57 AM
…plus the $3,000 per employee subsidy given to employers who register ILLEGALS in O-Care…
Pelosi Schmelosi on December 9, 2014 at 11:57 AM
Fues of obama, go to DC and riot. There you have a perfect cause.
Wake up already. The traitors in DC, from both sides, hate your guts and thing you’re stupid voting and political fodder only.
Schadenfreude on December 9, 2014 at 11:59 AM
Its really far more serious really. When dealing with a sociopath that’s in charge it always is though. Again the fair question to the touchy feely left. He starts murdering babies in the street in the name of social equality u at gonna pretend to notice?
Or better, remember when you questioned EVERYTHING your president did said? Nothing to see here. Well nothing new. Destroy it then federalize it. Then watch them worship me.
onomo on December 9, 2014 at 11:59 AM
and
thingthink you’re stupidSchadenfreude on December 9, 2014 at 12:00 PM
It’s just another one of those lofty, meaningless, Obama catchphrases.
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
^ Something like that.
Aizen on December 9, 2014 at 12:01 PM
EXACTLY AND THANK YOU..!
Pelosi Schmelosi on December 9, 2014 at 12:02 PM
A street agitator to the core…
mnjg on December 9, 2014 at 12:05 PM
I don’t wanna hear about a “true and just” society Diane you traitorous wench…American blood …on YOUR hands Feinstein…
Pelosi Schmelosi on December 9, 2014 at 12:06 PM
Cuz his people need their reparations and redistribution.
dentarthurdent on December 9, 2014 at 12:11 PM
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
~ Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) ; from An Address on West India Emancipation (3 August 1857)
RedPepper on December 9, 2014 at 12:16 PM
In considering the tag line of this thread “Power concedes nothing without a fight.” it occurred to me to apply this sentiment to the electoral process.
I asked ‘Why do the parties fight so desperately for power, and then to hang onto power, once either party is installed. Having control of one branch of government is never enough. Neither is control of both the Executive branch and the Legislative branch. Both parties also fight to control the Judicial branch as well, and then to cling to that amassed power?
I reasoned ‘It must be to advance the particular ideology and agenda of each party.’ which is the answer that seems most obvious. But something in me rebelled and suggested that if that were the case it would require an incredible selflessness and devotion of each member of that party to focus solely on those goals, sacrificing everything else in life to serve those noble ends.
As I brooded, there was another pressing question that demanded an answer. ‘If both political parties believe they are working for the interest of American citizens, the rule of law, and the constitution, if both parties are dedicated to serving the best interest of the nation and each individual in each party is dedicated to keeping their oath of office, why is it that the real losers when either party rises to such power seems to inevitably be the American citizens, the rule of law, and the constitution?
Then it occurred to me that it wasn’t really about power, ideology, or agenda. Those are just tools to advance a goal. It’s about money. Power, for our political class, comes down to the acquisition of wealth and status. Wielding power grants almost unlimited access to both wealth and status and automatic inclusion in elite circles. The opportunity to focus and direct the immense power and wealth of this nation toward any goal that party chooses.
The party that is in power has the ability to remake regulation, law, stack courts with like minded individuals, and see that wealth is distributed in such a way that their own membership profits enormously along with their donors and lobbyists. Donors pour cash into the party in power in torrents, as do lobbyists, and, relatively speaking, they starve the party that is out of power. New opportunities to take advantage of regulation and deregulation arise with the rise and fall of either party.
There are few politicians who impose term limits on their own participation in government. On the contrary, most will cling to office and their membership in the political class as long as they possibly can and for some there never arises a time when they think it’s time to retire. Why? After making millions being members of the political class, it seems logical that a person would wish to retire and enjoy being members of the private sector and their family and a life or relative ease. Yet, this is rarely the case.
Similarly, the selection of judges, appointed to the federal bench, seems almost like an obscure process, in that the people of the nation have no ability to determine who gets a seat on the bench and who doesn’t and the record and background of each appointee is only scrutinized in a seemingly cursory way by congress. Each party grudgingly allowing each appointment made by the party that happens to be in power, often as a matter of political expediency and as a prize to the judge appointed.
I found no solution. Only a wish to return the ‘power’ in our government to the American citizens.
So, to that end…
Perhaps it is time that the American people insisted on those term limits in all three branches. Perhaps it is time the American people insisted it’s time to end the opportunity for each party to stack the courts. Rather than appointees on the bench, elected judges might well serve the interest of American citizens more responsively and responsibly.
But as Obama has just warned us “Power concedes nothing without a fight.”
thatsafactjack on December 9, 2014 at 12:40 PM
Did he say, “Burn this b!tch down”…?
d1carter on December 9, 2014 at 12:42 PM
They are necessary to distract from Obama’s many epic failures.
Eddie Baby on December 9, 2014 at 12:43 PM
Okay.
Who’s organizing the figh/protest/riot at IRS headquarters,and when? Put me down for a trashcan through a window, and, maybe a windshield bashing of any cars in IRS reserved spaces.
Dexter_Alarius on December 9, 2014 at 12:44 PM
He’s not going to like it when the real fight begins….
d1carter on December 9, 2014 at 12:50 PM
We used to call them rabble rousers and arrested them. Now we call them community organzers and we make them president and wonder why chaos ensues.
jnelchef on December 9, 2014 at 1:11 PM
I have an even harder time processing the fact that, with the exception of a few stalwarts like Cruz, the Republicans are doing little to stop him.
Cleombrotus on December 9, 2014 at 1:23 PM
Yeah, the Eric Gardner protests are necessary but when we were demonstrating peacefully against the passage of the ACA, he had the Capital police out there with submachine guns.
I’ve never wanted three minutes in the ring with anyone like I want them with this guy.
Cleombrotus on December 9, 2014 at 1:26 PM
Obama: Garner Video Backs Up Claims Made By Blacks That Cops Are Racist…
Liar.
The Precinct Chief, who sent the team out to arrest Eric Garner, is an African-American male.
One of the patrolman involved in the arrest is an African-American male.
The sergeant, who supervised the entire arrest and aftermath, is an African-American female.
Resist We Much on December 9, 2014 at 1:37 PM
Of course he does. Obama’s a racist piece of excrement.
annoyinglittletwerp on December 9, 2014 at 1:37 PM
Yeah – more proof that Tamir Rice got what he deserved!
corona79 on December 9, 2014 at 1:52 PM
Tamir Rice didn’t get what he ‘deserved’. It was a tragedy and the cop should never have been employed by Cleveland, but there is no racism involved.
Have you seen a photograph of the gun he was holding?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/tamir-shot-dismal-gun-skills-previous-job-article-1.2033429
Have you seen the photographs of him holding the gun in the dark as the police approached?
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/26/2387FEDC00000578-2850234-Surveillance_footage_shows_12_year_old_Tamir_Rice_raising_and_po-64_1417029518605.jpg
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/tamir-shot-dismal-gun-skills-previous-job-article-1.2033429
Resist We Much on December 9, 2014 at 2:26 PM
One question, the tiny, tiny amount of people that are terrorizing the rest of us make it easier to declare martial law and suspend 2016 or not? Do the terrorists hurt or help America?
There the answer to what Obama will do it has done.
jukin3 on December 9, 2014 at 2:32 PM
http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article4701998.ece/alternates/s615/Tamir-Rice-with-gun.jpg
http://www.tampabay.com/resources/images/dti/rendered/2014/11/0434775802_14285240_8col.jpg
Now, riddle me this, Yoda. Why does everyone know the name of Tamir Rice, but not that of Cameron Tillman? Both were black. Both were ‘armed’ with toys. One was 12 and the other 14.
Do You Know Who Cameron Tillman Was? If He Had Been Shot And Killed By A White Cop, You Would…
C’mon, corona, tell us why no one knows who Cameron Tillman, who died in September, was.
Resist We Much on December 9, 2014 at 2:36 PM
Is he giving the rest of us permission to riot, burn and loot, or just a select privileged few.
Tinker on December 9, 2014 at 2:54 PM
And true to his word, Obama, who sits in the penultimate seat of power in this nation, will not concede that he has made race relations much worse during the tenure of his presidency… without a fight.
And that fight begins with Obama asserting that “…racism is deeply rooted in this country”.
Obama promised to be “The first post racial president.” Americans of every race turned out to try to make that promise come true and elected Obama, not once, but twice, and the majority of those voters were white Americans.
Instead race relations have been set back… fifty years. Not since the early 1960’s, the same time that Barack Obama was born, has this nation experienced the paroxysms of racism that it is experiencing today.
Suddenly, the president who had promised not to judge others based on their race, insists that “…racism is deeply rooted in this country.” and, though his recent statements regarding the death of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and before them, Trayvon Martin, makes it irrevocably clear that he lays the blame for that solely at the doorstep of white Americans. On no occasion has Obama every spoken out, particularly in an accusatory tone, about the death of a Caucasian American, an Asian American, a Native American, or any Hispanic American here in the Untied States.
This is an interesting tack for a president who has allowed black American unemployment levels to skyrocket under his six years as president. A president who has actively encouraged illegal immigration, which keeps wages artificially low and drives up crime in our communities and drains already scarce community resources. A president who has also actively encouraged the importation of cheap foreign labor on the ‘guest worker’ visa system to take jobs that would otherwise be held by American workers, thus denying gainful employment across the spectrum of race and ethnic background to American workers.
Obama is desperate. He has failed spectacularly both at home and abroad. Foreign policy is in a shambles. 94 million Americans aren’t in the workforce and the workforce participation rate is at historic lows. The national debt has reached over $18 Trillion. China has surpassed the United States as the worlds leading economy. Iran is actively pursuing nuclear weapons. These are realities. The state of the nation speaks for itself and there is no way to ‘spin’ reality.
Obama claims “Power concedes nothing without a fight.” and Obama’s fight for his ‘legacy’ begins with trying to shift the blame for his failings and his first attempt, and, ironically, his last resort, is to cry “racism” and point the finger at his fellow Americans.
thatsafactjack on December 9, 2014 at 3:20 PM
Garner’s wife said his case has nothing to do with race, yet Obama is STILL trying to push that false narrative. He is incapable of leading this Country.
That said, the remembering Pearl Harbor thread is………..?
Conservative4Ever on December 9, 2014 at 3:21 PM
BERKELEY PROTEST RULES: Let Blacks Beat Non-Blacks, Don’t Photograph Rioting Blacks #Ferguson
New Ferguson Mantra – It’s Time White America ‘Pays a Price’ for Privilege
No Justice, No Peace: Berkeley Protester Confronts Looter – Gets HEAD BEAT IN WITH HAMMER
Resist We Much on December 9, 2014 at 3:29 PM
IDIOTS>>> Berkeley #EricGarner Protesters Vandalize Martin Luther King Building
Pregnant Woman In Labor Stuck In Traffic After Berkeley Protesters Down Freeway…
College President Forced To Apologize For Saying “All Lives Matter” Instead Of “Black Lives Matter”…
Resist We Much on December 9, 2014 at 3:30 PM
Interesting.
Well alright, if you insist.
Midas on December 9, 2014 at 9:59 PM
Obama is quoting Frederick Douglass, except that he changes “without a demand” to “without a fight”, so he’s tending to a more violent position than Douglass.
Let’s not imagine Obama came up with this memorable line on his own teleprompter.
He’s regressing, back to his childhood. In a while we will hear about him walking around the Chicago South-side asking “the folks” to come to a meeting.
virgo on December 9, 2014 at 10:20 PM