Had Obama Not Played the Race Card, George Floyd Might Be Alive

By Larry Elder
George Floyd might be alive had former President Barack Obama not, for eight years, consistently play the anti-cop race card.
Despite receiving more white votes than 2004 Democratic candidate John Kerry, Obama said: "The legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, discrimination in almost every institution of our lives -- you know, that casts a long shadow, and that's still part of our DNA that's passed on. We're not cured of it. ... Racism -- we are not cured of it."
Obama's own presidential victory demonstrates that America is not "systemically racist." In 2007, Gallup found that fewer Americans (5%) said they would not vote for a Black person than said they would not vote for a woman (11%), referring to his nomination rival Hillary Clinton. The same Gallup poll found that 24% and 42% of Americans, respectively, would not vote for a Mormon, referring to Mitt Romney, or for a person who would be 72 years old when he became president, referring to Sen. John McCain.
Early in Obama's first term, an incident in Cambridge, Massachusetts, gave him a golden opportunity to defuse the lie that the police engage in "systemic racism" against Blacks. The Cambridge police briefly arrested Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, a Black friend of Obama, in his home. Gates, back from a trip, couldn't open his front door and reportedly asked his driver to help. A neighbor, observing two people she did not recognize trying to force open the front door of Gates' home, called 911. The cops arrived and politely asked Gates to exit the home so the police could determine ownership. Instead, Gates mouthed off and was briefly arrested.
Obama said, "The Cambridge police acted stupidly." But the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association and the Cambridge Police commissioner insisted the officer simply followed protocol. Obama's statement infuriated officers all across the country and set up a template for the Obama administration: Cops systemically engage in unlawful anti-Black racial profiling.
Suppose Obama had not insultingly denounced the Cambridge police. Suppose, instead, Obama had said: "I've just spoken to my friend, professor Gates. I reminded him that he is a role model and that his behavior with the Cambridge police officer, who was merely doing his job, was unacceptable. We need to understand as Americans that officers typically have a difficult job. Yes, there are bad cops, but for the most part, they're trying to do their best. And contrary to popular perception, the police, in recent years, have killed more unarmed whites than Blacks. It is a lie, not supported by the evidence, that cops are killing Blacks just because they're Black. This is not your grandfathers' America. It is our job as civilians to be respectful, polite and by all means comply. Comply; you won't die."
Suppose Obama encouraged Blacks to comply with the police and that if one feels mistreated, to get a name or badge number and sort it out later. Eric Garner died after an encounter where New York City cops arrested him for selling cigarettes. Had he not resisted, he would likely still be alive. Jacob Blake was shot several times by the Kenosha, Wisconsin, police when they suspected him of reaching for a knife. Had Blake complied, he would not be in a wheelchair today. Would that have encouraged Black suspects like George Floyd to respond differently to an encounter with the police?
Obama knows the statistics and studies. He knows there is no evidence of anti-Black "systemic racism" on the part of the police. But the political Obama knows that Black anger and resentment translate into Black votes. How many routine police encounters with Blacks escalate into something far more serious because young Blacks believe the "systemic racism" lie pushed by Black Lives Matter and their sympathizers?
Polls rate Barack Obama as one of the most admired people in America, particularly among Black Americans. Out of office, he maintains respect, power, stature and influence. As president, he could have saved lives by putting truth over politics. He chose not to. As a former president, he still can.
Mr. Obama, tell the truth. Save lives. It's not too late.
[Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host. His latest book, "The New Trump Standard," is available in paperback from Amazon.com and for Nook, Kindle, iBooks and GooglePlay. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an "Elderado," visit www.LarryElder.com. Follow Larry on Twitter @LarryElder. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2021 LAURENCE A. ELDER]
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
George Floyd might be alive had former President Barack Obama not, for eight years, consistently play the anti-cop race card.
Despite receiving more white votes than 2004 Democratic candidate John Kerry, Obama said: "The legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, discrimination in almost every institution of our lives -- you know, that casts a long shadow, and that's still part of our DNA that's passed on. We're not cured of it. ... Racism -- we are not cured of it."
Obama's own presidential victory demonstrates that America is not "systemically racist." In 2007, Gallup found that fewer Americans (5%) said they would not vote for a Black person than said they would not vote for a woman (11%), referring to his nomination rival Hillary Clinton. The same Gallup poll found that 24% and 42% of Americans, respectively, would not vote for a Mormon, referring to Mitt Romney, or for a person who would be 72 years old when he became president, referring to Sen. John McCain.
Early in Obama's first term, an incident in Cambridge, Massachusetts, gave him a golden opportunity to defuse the lie that the police engage in "systemic racism" against Blacks. The Cambridge police briefly arrested Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, a Black friend of Obama, in his home. Gates, back from a trip, couldn't open his front door and reportedly asked his driver to help. A neighbor, observing two people she did not recognize trying to force open the front door of Gates' home, called 911. The cops arrived and politely asked Gates to exit the home so the police could determine ownership. Instead, Gates mouthed off and was briefly arrested.
Obama said, "The Cambridge police acted stupidly." But the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association and the Cambridge Police commissioner insisted the officer simply followed protocol. Obama's statement infuriated officers all across the country and set up a template for the Obama administration: Cops systemically engage in unlawful anti-Black racial profiling.
Suppose Obama had not insultingly denounced the Cambridge police. Suppose, instead, Obama had said: "I've just spoken to my friend, professor Gates. I reminded him that he is a role model and that his behavior with the Cambridge police officer, who was merely doing his job, was unacceptable. We need to understand as Americans that officers typically have a difficult job. Yes, there are bad cops, but for the most part, they're trying to do their best. And contrary to popular perception, the police, in recent years, have killed more unarmed whites than Blacks. It is a lie, not supported by the evidence, that cops are killing Blacks just because they're Black. This is not your grandfathers' America. It is our job as civilians to be respectful, polite and by all means comply. Comply; you won't die."
Suppose Obama encouraged Blacks to comply with the police and that if one feels mistreated, to get a name or badge number and sort it out later. Eric Garner died after an encounter where New York City cops arrested him for selling cigarettes. Had he not resisted, he would likely still be alive. Jacob Blake was shot several times by the Kenosha, Wisconsin, police when they suspected him of reaching for a knife. Had Blake complied, he would not be in a wheelchair today. Would that have encouraged Black suspects like George Floyd to respond differently to an encounter with the police?
Obama knows the statistics and studies. He knows there is no evidence of anti-Black "systemic racism" on the part of the police. But the political Obama knows that Black anger and resentment translate into Black votes. How many routine police encounters with Blacks escalate into something far more serious because young Blacks believe the "systemic racism" lie pushed by Black Lives Matter and their sympathizers?
Polls rate Barack Obama as one of the most admired people in America, particularly among Black Americans. Out of office, he maintains respect, power, stature and influence. As president, he could have saved lives by putting truth over politics. He chose not to. As a former president, he still can.
Mr. Obama, tell the truth. Save lives. It's not too late.
[Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host. His latest book, "The New Trump Standard," is available in paperback from Amazon.com and for Nook, Kindle, iBooks and GooglePlay. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an "Elderado," visit www.LarryElder.com. Follow Larry on Twitter @LarryElder. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2021 LAURENCE A. ELDER]
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
Posted in Opinion
Tagged with President Obama, Race Card, George Floyd, Jim Crow, Legacy of Slavery, DNA, America, racism, police, Freedoms Journal Institute, Freedoms Journal Magazine
Tagged with President Obama, Race Card, George Floyd, Jim Crow, Legacy of Slavery, DNA, America, racism, police, Freedoms Journal Institute, Freedoms Journal Magazine
Related Posts
Recent
Archive
2021
January
Cartoon 01/01/2021Cartoon 01/02/2020Cartoon 01/05/2020Will the Real Racists in America Raise Their Hands?Right-Wing Conspiracy 'Insane' -- Left-Wing Conspiracy Theories, Not So MuchCartoon 01/06/2020Cartoon 01/07/2020Cartoon 01/08/2020Critical Race Theory Undermines Racial HarmonyCartoon 01/09/2021Cartoon 01/10/2021Cartoon 01/11/2021Cartoon 1/12/21President Trump's Masada MomentCartoon 01/13/21Twitter Permanently Bans Trump; Why Do Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Harry Reid Get a Pass?Cartoon 1/14/21What Happens to a King Deferred?Cartoon 1/15/21Cartoon 1/16/21Cartoon 1/18/21Cartoon 1/19/21Freedom of Speech Slipping AwayStanding Up to the MobCartoon 1/20/21'Uncle Tom' Blacklisted by HollywoodCartoon 1/21/21Get Ready for 4 Years of Media SycophancyCartoon 1/22/21Cartoon 1/24/22Cartoon 1/26/2021Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless WorldCartoon 1/25/21Rule-Breaking PoliticiansBiden's Anti-Unity AgendaOther Peoples’ Money and the Minimum WageCartoon 1/27/2021This Is Not NormalDemocrats Want a 'Return to Civility'; When Did They Practice It?Cartoon 1/28/2021Cartoon 01/29/2021Cartoon 01/30/2021
February
Cartoon 02/01/2021Cartoon 02/02/2021A New GOP Future -- Beyond President TrumpThe Inequality of 'Equity'Cartoon 02/03/2021Real SocialismDemocrats Want a 'Return to Civility'; When Did They Practice It? Part 2Cartoon 2/4/2021Cartoon 2/5/2021Cartoon 2/7/2021Cartoon 2/8/2021Big Lies MatterCartoon 2/9/2021Opt out of Social Security for Racial EquitySocialism Never WorksCartoon 2/10/2021When the Hateful Think They Are the VirtuousCartoon 2/11/2021If Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Is the Standard, What About Democrat 'Kingmaker' Rev. Al Sharpton?Cartoon 2/12/21Liberals and the Tenth CommandmentCartoon 2/13/21Black Inventors Are Often Overlooked In American HistoryInstruments of Our Own OppressionRevisionist Black history leaves things out
March
Why Aren't Conservative Women Recognized During Women's History Month?Everyday RacismSystemic Delusion – Part IProgressives against Civil RightsCartoon 3/30/21Destroying Public SafetyWoke CollegesNo, the Derek Chauvin Trial Isn''t a Referendum on American RacismCartoon 3/31/21Systemic Delusion - Part II
April
Fight Left-Wing Lies With ... FactsCartoon 4/01/214/02/21Cartoon 04/04/21Cartoon 04/05/21Cartoon 04/06/21Past Time to Fight BackBiden's California DreamCartoon 04/07/21Had Obama Not Played the Race Card, George Floyd Might Be AliveCartoon 04/08/21Claiming state voting reforms are racist is ridiculous.Cartoon 04/09/21Cartoon 04/11/21Cartoon 04/12/21Cartoon 04/13/21George Floyd as MetaphorCrowder Calls Out CensorshipCartoon 04/14/21The Fight Over IdentityBlack Lives Matter Co-Founder Cashes In on 'Systemic Racism'Cartoon 04/15/21Cartoon 04/16/21Cartoon 04/18/21
2020
December
Remembering Walter Williams, Friend and MentorCartoon 12/18/2020Cartoon 12/19/2020Cartoon 12/20/2020Cartoon 12/22/2020Raphael Warnock Will Take Georgia and America in Wrong Direction12/23/2020Offend me……. Please!Cartoon 12/29/2020Cartoon 12/30/2020Lessons Georgia Voters Can Learn From CaliforniaFree Mitch RutledgeCartoon 12/31/2020
No Comments