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Obama asks absent fathers to take responsibility

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"They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it," the Democratic presidential candidate said Sunday at a largely black church in his hometown.

Reminding the congregation of his firsthand experience growing up without a father, Obama said he was lucky to have loving grandparents who helped his mother. He got support, second chances and scholarships that helped him get an education. Obama's father left when he was 2.

"A lot of children don't get those chances. There is no margin for error in their lives," said Obama, an Illinois senator.

"I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle -- that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my girls," added Obama, whose daughters, Sasha and Malia, and his wife, Michelle, watched from the audience.
PoisonTheMonkey

45 responses // Obama asks absent fathers to take responsibility

  • I like the speech. 70% of black children right are growing up without a father in the house. So yes that speech was needed. I don't know what the problem is. Someone tell me please?
    leggie331
    3 responses to this
  • Obama speaking out to African Americans to take some responsibility in their own lives? Well, that's a good start, let's see if he gets the Bill Cosby treatment. I somehow doubt it.
    JohnA
    3 responses to this
  • He won't get the Bill Cosby treatment because of how he's coming off. For alot of blacks, Bill seemed like he was talking down to them, and airing out their dirty laundry to the outside world. (I say they, because I didn't see it like that.) If Obama didn't speak from a personal point of view, and to them directly, you'd probably here the same kind of back lash. Just like how the "they cling to their guns" comment didnt go over so well. You have to speak to, not talk about.
    Neghie
  • I know a lot more single dads than single moms. I wonder what his words are for that.
    clarity_kat
  • This is good. Someone needs to say it. Bill Cosby said it and took a lot of heat. Seems he wasn't black enough. Many successful black Americans who extol personal responsibility have been castigated as "Uncle Toms" or being not black enough. Now a half white guy says it and everything is hunky dorey. I guess Hussein is the anointed one.
    Paratus
    2 responses to this
  • would a qualifying single mom be ineligible for welfare if she receives any kind of child support ? i agree with Obama , but i gather having responsible fathers is a bit more complicated .
    malathion
  • How about the moms out there, of all races, who "do it with/get involved" with such clowns?!

    Sadly they get what they deserve, because they were blinded by "love".

    Such drones.
    Wessagusset_Oracle
    1 response to this
  • He was talking about all absent fathers. He did say there are more absent black fathers. I look around and I'm not so sure. I think they would take more responsibility if all states went after them aggressively like Oregon does. After twenty years they caught my grandson's dad with sixteen thousand in the bank and she got it.
    Marilynn_Murray
    2 responses to this
  • well done Barack! something that truly needs to be said. The problem with single parents in the black community is a huge one. So much so that often times I am surprised to find out when a black person i know actually knows their father. I hate to sound like a racist when i say that. but i am just being frank and honest about it
    diabolical44
  • After months of his shallow rhetoric, and messing up Clinton bipartisanship with Rev. Wright and Bittergate, this is the first thing he's said that I think is politically smart. Black folk won't object because they want him to win. Independents know this is a problem in the AA community, and this will play well with them. I just remember that the problem is partly caused by poverty in the AA community, and try not to be judgemental about it.
    http://a-civilife.blogspot.com
    WillBFair
    2 responses to this
  • I feel it was really mature of him.
    PoisonTheMonkey
  • If you look at rural, Appalachian people under extreme economic distress, there are many similar social problems as the urban poor. Skin color, population density, drug of choice, etc., are pretty superficial differences when you think about it. That's one reason I find the idea of an Obama-Webb ticket intriguing. Obama has a record of community organizing economically-depressed urban neighborhoods while Webb is an economic populist who champions the plight of rural Appalachians. Webb himself said that if urban blacks and poor, rural whites ever joined forces politically, it could remake American politics.
    Brendan_M
    2 responses to this
  • http://current.com/items/89025668_obama_sharply_assails_absent_black_fathers
    http://current.com/items/89027645_speak_out_against_cur...

    PoisonTheMonkey,
    You complain about Current Staff getting "Preferential Treatment". I am not on Current Staff. I posted this same story from NYTimes.com well before you did. The only person getting "Preferential Treatment" around here is you.
    mjsmith11
  • Hmmm... how about the absent mothers or mothers who shouldn't have custody of the child??

    Only speaking from experience.
    bornfreeid
  • Excellent.
    THESE are the kind of principles I want in my President.

    John McCain isn't even married to the mother of his children. He dumped her ass for a new barbie.
    recommended by  Marilynn_Murray
    chillwillNJ
  • Finally a political article that's positive for what he has to say then who he has to speak against.

    Finally one that doesn't need to pander to anyone for it speaks truth and has an ounce of care in it.

    Finally it's not the same old same old political junk people continue to think is newsworthy.

    Finally Obama says something that can truly be painful and yet oh so right. Maybe he'll be able to heal those wounds and help. Not as he should (sad mentality) but because he wants to and he has the means to do it.
    J_Jammer
  • This is a very good thing.
    shroomfairy
  • most people don't want to hear whats wrong with them, especially from a person of the same race. truth hurts, get over it. that goes for all absent fathers
    themachine09
  • He's just a politician talking, but he is speaking the truth.
    aaronklong
  • I'm behind anyone taking responsibility for the things they do. That's a good thing. But I think we need to be very careful to who we think this speech applies to. B.Ob is a Bro, so he's going to look at it from that perspective. Cool. While the marriage numbers support this sentiment, I believe there was a study by Morgan University a couple of years back showing that even though, their were not live in fathers in many cases, most were still a very strong and positive influence in their child's life. True, absentee fathers are a problem. I don't think anyone will deny that. But let's keep in mind, B.Ob is still a politician and two, it's usually a good idea to question any statement that seemingly applies to a large social group, especially when we are talking about the fictitious idea of race.
    AreOh
  • It may be factious in your mind but you have to question if it's such in others. For if it's not then that's why they behave as people state, then the statement is valid.

    The world isn't based on what you believe it should be, but what it is.
    J_Jammer
  • I'm not arguing the validity of the statement. As I did say, it is an issue that needs to be addressed. However, the issue is indeed factious. Not because of the validity of B.Ob's statement, but rather how people will interpret it. I've already seen erroneous statistics and opinions being thrown out there, and that is definitely not what we need. I actually agree with you. The world is what it is. What I believe is what I can see; what I can prove. And as you know, especially here, people are quick to throw out statements to support a claim, but the aren't entirely accurate. All I'm saying is get the facts and put some thought into it before we all post/speak/share a knee jerk response, my friend.
    AreOh
  • I read the speech and I don't remember that he addressed African American men in this regard. I think he addressed ALL fathers and spoke out for more support for ALL single mothers.

    If I am correct about that, consider how so many people just assumed that he was talking about AA men.
    Yes, he was addressing a largely AA church, but it is not an exclusively AA church and he certainly knows that evrything he says publicly is heard by many more than those physically present at the time.
    Again -- consider that when an AA public figure calls on all men to step up to their responsibilities, the assumptions are predictable. If John McCain had said the same thing addressing a white church (obviously he would not be capable or inclined to do so, but work with me here), would everyone assume he was talikng about the millions of white men who don't pay child support or provide horrible role models for their sons and daughters?
    Perhaps I missed a reference in the speech that would justify the assumption made by the media, but I truly believe that BA was seeking to inspire ALL Americans. I know that he always lifts my sights and hopes.
    preshrunk
  • I agree with Obama, but we all know parenting is a two way street.

    It takes two to tango and as women, regardless of one's ethnicity--on the maternal and/or paternal side--we need to start choosing the right man for the job.

    In addition, a lot of women need to take responsibilty for their own lives and not play the blame game on a broke-ass baby daddy.
    mariposablanca
  • This is great !!!

    In a different part of his speech Obama said that he will reward them financially with different benefits for paying child support etc....

    I think that Obama has moved 1% to the right.

    One day in the future, he may even promote abstinence.
    soleil10
    2 responses to this
  • I actually read the entire speech and the context was totally different from the few paragraphs you put down and i get where you are trying to convey however...Id like you to post the entire thing so the true message is shown.....HE MAD IT CLEAR that it doesnt matter who you are ...fathers need to be there for their kids period...I read a version of this posted by the daily news and it made it seem like he was pointing his finger getting tough with black fathers... again...context...which angered me b/c if the church had different occupants the message would be a general one....AGAIN the media taking anything obama says & somehow turning it racial...even when its clear that HE is tryin to bring us together..SMH***
    lulu81
  • Obama don't tell fathers to be responsible and undermine families by supporting gay marriage at the same time.

    It is totally contradictory.
    soleil10
    1 response to this

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