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Locked in a tough re-election battle with Mitt Romney, President Barack Obama aimed to energize his core supporters – African American voters – by delivering a rousing speech and unveiling a new executive order at the Urban League’s annual convention in New Orleans Wednesday night.
The president told the largely African American crowd of roughly 3,700 people that the executive order will seek to improve educational achievement for African Americans at all levels “so every child has greater access to a complete and competitive education from the time they’re born to the time, all through the time they get a career” the president said to cheers.
An administration official tells NBC News the order will create a new White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African-Americans that will “work across Federal agencies and with partners and communities nationwide to produce a more effective continuum of education programs for African American students.”
President Obama addresses the National Urban League in New Orleans, La., on Wednesday. "If you still believe in me ... stand with me," he said.
The official added that the initiative would be housed in the Education Department, which will work with the Executive Office and other Cabinet agencies to identify practices that will improve African Americans’ achievement in schools and colleges. The administration official did not yet know how much funding the program would receive but said more information would be released Thursday when the president signs the executive order.
The president has previously received criticism from some black leaders for not doing enough to help the African American community as rates for school dropout and unemployment among African Americans continue to be higher than the national numbers.
For example, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the dropout rate for African American students ages 16 to 25 was 8 percent in 2010; by comparison, white students in that age range had a 5.1 percent dropout rate. Further, the unemployment rate for African Americans is 14.4 percent, significantly higher than the national average of 8.2 percent.
Last August, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) told a crowd of Congressional Black Caucus members in Detroit, “We want to give the president every opportunity to show what he can do and what he’s prepared to lead on. But our people are hurting and the unemployment rate is unconscionable.”
Obama has in the past responded to such criticism. In an interview on BET last September he answered a question about why he didn’t create more policies specifically targeted at African Americans: “That’s not how America works,” the president replied, “America works when all of us are pulling together and everybody is focused on making sure that every single person has opportunity.”
When asked if this latest executive order is timed to mobilize African American voters ahead of the election, one White House official said it is “one more step along a path that the president has been walking.” The official cited the fact that the president enacted the Race to the Top initiative and new flexibility on No Child Left Behind, actions aimed at improving educational opportunities for all students including minorities, according to the Official.
On Tuesday, the president admitted there was still a lot more work and asked the Urban League crowd for their continued support: “If we don’t keep fighting for better jobs and a better future, who will? That’s our challenge. We don’t quit.”
From the Romney camp, spokeswoman Tara Wall responded to the speech, saying, "As black Americans, we all take pride in Barack Obama's historic election - but unfortunately his performance as president has not matched that enthusiasm."
Exit polls show that 95 percent of African American voters supported president Obama in 2008. Analysts believe he will need them to turn out in similarly large numbers if he hopes to win key swing states such as Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina.
The president wrapped up his remarks with a familiar plea for voters to turnout in November; “I still believe in you and if you still believe in me I ask you stand with me. March with me. Fight with me and … I promise we will finish what we started, turn this economy around, seize our future and remind the world why the United States of America is the greatest nation on earth.”
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I believe this is reverse discrimination this should be open to ALL children not just black american children. You don't have to be black to be innercity or appalacian or poor. This is why I'm not voting for the President. Using his office AGAIN to get votes as he did by making 800,000 illegal mexicans legal so they would vote for him. This is dirty politics Mr President.
Time to roll out the taxpayer funded bribes.
Oh they're coming too! And the tax cut brides. Just wait!
How about focusing on the 3 R's.
Another Julia project!!! How about an education program for the UNIITED states and stop with the division of this country.....
I guess all the other races have no issues with their education, and can all afford to go on for further education. Just shows how out of touch he is if he can't realize that struggling is an equal opportunity state of being, these days.
Let a White President focus on White Americans and all hell would break loose.
Vote for me and I will make you smart...." A mind is a terrible thing to waste".....here we go again...more pandering.
thebeachbum66===Desperation is something that always shows it's head. Obama is getting very desperate. I think he made a big mistake today. Please keep him out of New Orleans.
It's OK to offer educational programs for African Americans but how many special programs are out there for Caucasion Americans....if that was even mentioned there would be rioting in the streets of New Orleans not cheering. I am so sick of preferential treatment of "minorities". I live in a large, predominantly hispanic, city and therefore I am the "minority". It is as NBC says just another ploy to get more votes.
Being white in New Orleans is close to being the minority. You have to go to the suburbs to see a difference and that is changing by the day. Treating everyone equal will do just fine. Obama is trying to get the votes he already has. He is not as smart as people think. I believe he made a lot of people turn the other way with this speech.
We have add all kinds of education programs from vouchers to magnet schools to no child left behind to head start and it always comes back to you have to go to school to learn.
The Obama camp must be getting concerned about the campaign progress for him to toss out a bone like this to his core constituents. He seems to have thought that the dems already had the black vote bought and paid for with all of the something-for-nothing social programs that they've created since the days of the Great Society. The problem with this initiative is that it's an area where far too many blacks have little interest. What he needs to do is start a federal program aimed at convincing inner city black kids that studying, learning, and getting good grades aren't just white things and kids that study, learn, and get good grades aren't oreos.
He is a bigot. Every kid should get the same opportunities as the other kid. Not Black or White or Spanish Or Chinese. EVERY KID. If he wins the election this country is over. If its not too late already. King Obama STINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
he is only isolating more and more voters.
I mean WOW!!! This has a little color in it. The President has taken another step in the wrong direction. Eric Holder in out town yesterday taking over the NOPD and today Obama taking over the education system. I have no idea why he is doing this he will get all of the black voters to begin with. They can see only one color at a time.
Can you imagine if a white pres did the same thing for whites? Obumbles is, and always has been a racist. All you idiots voted for him.
More focus on what doesn't matter. Obumer came into office with a 10.2 trillion debt. It now stands at 15,912,181,396,407 and climbing. Focus on that..........
If you are a black gay union working woman....Obama has been talking to you for 3 years...he's your man.
I came to this thread and found what I expected to find: a bunch of disgruntled Faux News Klanners whining about poor whitey.
Why does Obama talk about education when he is front of a black crowd....why not talk about jobs.....probably because he took an 8% unemployment rate for blacks and doubled that....he was doing the education thing in chicago for blacks and he failed at that...now he want a redo.....community disorganizer.
No.. you came to this thread to show everyone what a Ignorant buffoon you are... well played peaches. Well played Indeed.
Once again we see the greatness of the Federal government stepping into a field they need to leave behind. People complain about equal rights for all, yet continually we take rights and opportunities away from others to focus on specific groups. As an educator what is wrong with our schooling system is the parents and communities. Our culture uses our schools as daycare for children and young adults. We don't hold standards on students because the parents and community do not. Until we go back to where we have morals and standards by parents and the community our schools will always suffer.
We say by giving certain demographics more resources gives them better opportunities to succeed. In actuality, it is the role models they are put with (society) that proves their value. Give people a fair education with positive environments and they all can improve, stop playing the race card and allow us to teach Americans of all races equally. This includes the college applications, get of race and allow people to be accepted on talent and drive, not color requirements.
Well said!!
Obama was talking to a room of almost all black people, so it makes sense his message would be designed for black people. He is trying to get black voters excited about voting in November. The best way to do that is to make promises to help black people. This is just every day politics.
I voted for Obama, and I'm white. I plan on voting for him again (simply because the alternative is too lame to even mention). I also hope that the government puts more into our education system in general, not just for black people but for all people.
I personally hate race politics, but that is the sad reality of our world. The conservative hypocrites who comment on this thread about Obama being a racist are way off base. As a matter of fact, most white republicans hate Obama because he is black. They are to the point of being irrational and blatantly racist. It is so obvious. It's also very sad.
People need to wake up. Everyone I know is dating across racial lines. In another three generations racial identity in the USA will be useless because people will be so mixed.
If obama does get re-elected then you will most likely be standing in the unemployment line or setting on your front porch waiting on your EBT deposit.
So you must be one of a very few who are better off now than you were 3 1/2 years ago. Give my lame over incompetency any day.
Tom-961768===You don't have a clue to what has happened in this country do you? Just go away and go to bed it's past your bed time.
:et's see obama got 96 percent of the black vote last election. Guess he is trying to secure the other 4 percent.
Looks like only 4 percent were the smart ones.
Cause he knows he is guranteed votes by people of his own race. The fact is though why put yourself in a situation where your supporting more race over another especially with election coming up ? this right here has affected his reputation with the white race for sure.
Voodkokk===Amazing what desperation can do someone.
IF Obama is all about understanding both the white and black race and Supporting them. Then why is his focus on a program exclusively for african americans when he is supposed to be here for all of us ?
Johnnyx5===It all depends on what half of him is talking at any given day of the week.
Pat, you're correct. The Irish helped the Irish, the Italians helped the Italians, the Jews helped the Jews. Your next statement is very telling. Instead of saying the blacks helped the blacks, you said nobody helped the black community. Why should any body help them? They should help themselves just like every body else did. Spoken like a true gravy train rider. Don't give me that slavery crap, we're way past that broken record. Any time blacks don't succeed, they blame slavery. How about if the blacks look around and realize that they are killing each other in record numbers and spitting out babies by the thousands.
gunn62-3101544==It always amazes me when someone mentions slavery. If my history is even slightly correct the Europeans belonged to the Kings and Queens of those earlier days.
Remember...If you dont vote for Obuma you're a racist. True stoty bro.. everytime I say anything negitave about the messiah Im called a racist.
The funny thing Is.. those who won't vote for Romney don't consider themselves a racist. Now If that dosen't give you some Insight on the Ignorance of many of Oboma's supporters....nothing will Im afraid.
Not to worry Bary.....they will turn out to vote come this November.;)
Look i went to an inner city school and i thought the kids were smart but the state board of education has state mandated test that do not help our education system our problem is the state educators like the texas state board of education does not have a curriculum that teaches but a curriculum that tells u how to take a taks test.
stephen-3742861===So your saying that Obama will blame the States for this new executive order?
Looks like Obama is showing his true racist colors.
How many blacks know that their own ancestors sold their own people into slavery?
Yeah, and it was the lazy white settlers that created the market for slavery, and you pay for what you get.
Too bad there isn't any money for White, Hispanic or Asian children.
Right. White people have it so hard.
stephen-3742861==So you don't think they have it hard? That is more division. Is that what you really think we need right now? How about a job or two here in there? Then people can go back to doing what they do best make a living. To split things like this only makes maters worse. Do you think that is what Obama's intentions are? I think that is exactly what he wants to do.