Obama on The View: Racial Labels Don't Matter
ABC
President Obama is less interested in whether people perceive him as black or multi-racial, he said on ABC's "The View" today, and more interested in seeing people treat each other with respect.
When asked by Barbara Walters why he does not identify himself as biracial, Mr. Obama said that after going through an "identity crisis" as a teenager, he realized "if the world saw me as African American, then that was something I needn't run away from, that's something that I could go ahead and embrace."
He added, however, "I'm less interested in how we label ourselves, I'm more interested in how we treat each other. And if we're treating each other right, then I can be African American, I can be multi-racial, I can be you name it, what matter is, am I showing people respect, am I caring for other people."
The president acknowledged that the recent debacle over former Department of Agriculture employee Shirley Sherrod proved that racial tensions still exist in the nation.
"There are still inequalities out there. There's still discrimination out there," he said. "But we've made progress."
He said, however, that the firestorm over Sherrod was a "phony controversy" generated by the media. He acknowledged his administration overreacted by forcing Sherrod out of her position after a conservative website published an edited video misleadingly suggested she discriminated against a white farmer.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has since apologized and offered Sherrod a new job at the department.
The criticism the administration faced for its treatment of Sherrod was just one more burden on the White House in an already difficult month. When asked what the low point has been, Mr. Obama joked, "Where do I begin."
"Obviously the country has gone through a tough stretch. Since I took office when I was sworn in ... the last 20 months have been a nonstop effort to restart the economy, to stabilize the financial system, to make sure we are creating jobs and not losing them," Obama said. "As much as you've been saying it's tough for me, the truth is, it's not tough for me. You know, I've got pundits on the news who might say things, but what the American people have gone through -- losing jobs, seeing their home values go down, their 401ks declining -- those are the people that I draw inspiration from because I get letters every night from them and I read them."
The president said that while there was a sense of hopefulness in the country after his election, he thinks that people did not anticipate how bad the economy would be. Many of the steps his administration took in response to the economic decline, such as bailing out the auto industry, became controversial, he said.He added, however, "We live at a time when a lot of people are thinking about the next election instead of the next generation."
The high point for the month, Mr. Obama said, was a family vacation to Maine with his daughters Malia, 12, and Sasha, 9.
"The girls are getting old enough now where they're not quite teenagers yet, so they still like you," he said. "They are full of opinions and ideas and observations and it's just a great age."
The president received some criticism for appearing the talk show. He joked on the show that he decided to appear on "The View" since First Lady Michelle Obama enjoys it.
"I was trying to find a show that Michelle actually watched, and so I thought this is it, right here," he said.
More Coverage:
Shirley Sherrod Vows to Sue Andrew Breitbart
Obama: Shirley Sherrod Deserved Better
Shirley Sherrod's USDA Job Offer: Deputy Director of the Office of Advocacy and Outreach
Are Liberals Too Concerned with Being "Colorblind?"
Obama Strategy on the Shirley Sherrod Case: Silence is Golden
Andrew Breitbart: Sherrod "Sees Things Through a Racial Prism"
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And to those who wish to smite me: I love this country with all of my heart. Just because I may not agree with you on everything does not mean that I am a racist, lying, hateful scumbag. Can we not agree to disagree and still love this country?
He has not made any more jobs, my gosh, anyone that can read knows that. The only "jobs" was the onetime census takers. Further than that he has done nothing.
Everyone is soooo tired of his blaming President Bush, how he "inherited" a mess, NO NO NO, for one thing he wanted the job. But once in there, he doesn't know what he is doing. That is why he is the ONLY President that has had so many other people doing "HIS JOBS". He has put us in the position of us being a country that is about bankrupt. The ONLY THING Obama knows to do is talk, and spend money. He and his family takes more trips than anyother in his position. NO I don't consider him my President, because he is not one. He is just a man out still try to gather votes...
We need to be rid of Obama, who is not an American citizen, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden...
Wake up everyone, we are turning our WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY into a socialized country. Once they get it there, we will have a very hard time turning it back..
So you women that set on that show and talk all about YOUR openions, it is only out there because your on camera. What we need is to get another show going that women are from the Republican side. Wish Mrs. Bush could run that show.
Good luck to all of you and to Obama, because what he is doing to our country, you won't like, and our families have to live in the hell that he is making. I don't wish that on my grandchildren or great grandchildren...how about yours??
This is how we feel out here, and we know we are being poisoned, with all the bull **** that Obama is feeding people. He hasn't even checked on all his precious czars and see how the programs they are handling is going. He has not shown the American People what the stats are on each one. Think it might be time for news reporters check this out, don't you?????
Joyce
He really is out of touch!!
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Yeah! Let's get out the pitchforks and torches!!!!
That's quite a "change in course" coming from a guy that repeatedly maligns Conservatives, the Tea Party, and whites in general - and then ignores their outrage at his policies.
I expect Obama returned to his regular course the minute he left the set of the View.
What Obama is really trying to accomplish here is salvage his votes from the few minor splinter groups that still support him: blacks, illegal aliens, and Liberal women.
Americans do not trust government and have a visceral distain for it because of individuals like Barack Obama.
Are you serious??? A 10 month fight that could not have been more public including town hall meeting with congressmen/ and women across the nation and he snuke this past congress???? You are delusional.
Now that MR. BARACK OBAMA is OUR president more people can go to college and get the funding needed, people like me who can't afford health insurance will now be able to GO TO THE DOCTOR!!! also our senior citizens are getting a raise in their pay, in which they deserve!
Hmmm, My mother is one of those senior individuals (90 yo). Since I take care of her business now, I have to check her mail. She received a letter from the SSA that said that this year there would be no raise in the SSI since there is not cost of living increase needed. When are they supposed to get this raise?
How will you be abled to afford insurance? As far as I know the healthcare law only states that you can't be denied for existing conditions. It doesn't put a premium cap on the cost of the policy. Unless you are one who will be getting the government subsidies to help defray some of the cost, I dfon't see how someone can afford it.
I also don't have insurance. I don't care for it. it is a personal choice. If i get sick, I go to my doctor and pay cash. I do resent the fact that now I will be forced to purchase insurance or face a fine/tax for not having it. Is there a way to opt out? If one doesn't have insurance will they still be seen at the ER. The government requires that everybody must be seen if sick/injured/pregnant regardless of their ability to pay now. Will this be after all the provision of the healthcare law takes effect. If so, how can we stop those who abuse the system? If not, would this be a return to the days when someone could die before enough money was gained to allow entry?