President Obama to NAACP: “No Excuses”
EmailThe President gave an impassioned address to the NAACP in New York City last night.
"We've got to say to our children," the president said, "'Yes, if you're African American, the odds of growing up amid crime and gangs are higher, yes, if you live in a poor neighborhood, you will face challenges that somebody in a wealthy suburb does not have to face. But that's not a reason to get bad grades, that's not a reason to cut class, that's not a reason to give up on your education and drop out of school. No one has written your destiny for you. Your destiny is in your hands — you cannot forget that.'
"That's what we have to teach all of our children," the president said to applause. "No excuses. No excuses."
At another point in the speech he said, "when I drive through Harlem or I drive through the South Side of Chicago and I see young men on the corners, I say, there but for the grace of God go I. They're no less gifted than me. They're no less talented than me. But I had some breaks."
You can read more about the speech HERE.
- jpt
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“No excuses”, said with a wink and a nudge, and a copy of Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” passed under the table.
Posted by: Mike R. | July 17, 2009, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Not in favor of discrimination one bit. But i do think that when we refer to ourselves other than americans, we discriminate. Job applications break us down, why is there just African Americans? is there a difference from, Irish American, or chinese A. How about American, American. If we leave off the nationality end of it, we would then all be americans, and after all aren’t we.
Posted by: thom | July 17, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am
“No Excuses”
Remember that phrase when Obama decides to blame Bush again about what he “inherited”.
I guess ABC won’t allow talk of Obama’s actual history. Very well.
Posted by: Poser | July 17, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
What a Inspiring President he is.And yes he did inherit a mess by Republicans and a Republican President!
Posted by: Angie in PA | July 17, 2009, 10:51 am 10:51 am
Angie, you are drooling. Obama ran for th highest office in the land. He won. His job is not to whine and complain. His job is to to protect the principles upon which the country was founded and the document in which those principles are enshrined:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
To preserve protect and defend the CONSTITUTION.
Posted by: Danilo | July 17, 2009, 11:19 am 11:19 am
yes, we are all Americans and yes we all have a story of where we come from that enriches our lives, and we can embrace them all. Obama is a little unique in speaking to the AA community. He is in a great position to speak from example, as an educator i see the extra lights in the eyes of the children. But in listening to the whole speech he was speaking to all Americans.
please, let all critiques start in the mirror.
Posted by: watching | July 17, 2009, 11:27 am 11:27 am
Two things: One – when Bill Cosby tries to make a similar point, he is chastised. Second. Two – while this is all well and good what he is saying (its true, and I have a friend who has more than beat the odds of an inner-city childhood due to hard work, and now he is rewarded for it) – it’d be more sincere from our President if he wasn’t, on the other hand, promoting policies that squash incentive for people to leave public assistance. In fact, he’s almost encouraging it by expanding (expanding is too kind a word, and quite the understatement) entitlement programs, and telling poor folks, “don’t worry, the rich people will pay for it). It’s great that you can talk the talk here Mr. President, but how about trying to do something to create more incentive for folks to better themselves, no matter what their situation, rather than creating policies that encourage them to stay put. Just Words, Just Speeches …
Posted by: Obama, the Second Coming | July 17, 2009, 11:29 am 11:29 am
yes, we are all Americans and yes we all have a story of where we come from that enriches our lives, and we can embrace them all. Obama is a little unique in speaking to the AA community. He is in a great position to speak from example, as an educator i see the extra lights in the eyes of the children. But in listening to the whole speech he was speaking to all Americans.
please, let all critiques start in the mirror.
Posted by: watching | Jul 17, 2009 11:27:38 AM
________________________________
You know, you are really right here. The President – and his wife – are great examples that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it and work hard. But – rather than use his own example as a real example, showing others that this is the way to do it, hard work, determination, not asking for help from others, his actions show that he has no real interest in helping people get out of their situations. His actions don’t match his words is what I mean. Words: you can beat the odds if you work hard enough. Actions: here’s free stuff that other people paid for, so you don’t have to worry about anything. The words inspire you to work hard and better yourself. The actions inspire you to stay put in your minimal existence. How ’bout putting forth some actions that match his words and then you might have something!
Posted by: Obama, the Second Coming | July 17, 2009, 11:33 am 11:33 am
Remember that phrase when Obama decides to blame Bush again about what he “inherited”. Posted by: Poser | Jul 17, 2009 10:26:38 AM
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And it appears they are taking credit for saving the financial market, even though it was Bush’s TARP plan.
“First, the most immediate priority was to rescue the economy by restoring confidence and breaking the vicious cycle of economic contraction and financial failure,” outlines Summers.”
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 17, 2009, 11:55 am 11:55 am
Wasn’t that Chicago project he worked on with Bill Ayers an abject failure? What was it called?
Posted by: Traffic Cop Timmy | July 17, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Abject executive failures for 100.
Chicago educational project Obama worked on with Bill Ayers that was covered up by a Chicago University library and most of the press.
Alex, that would be, what is The Chicago Annenberg Challenge?
The Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC) was a Chicago public school reform project from 1995 to 2001 that worked with half of Chicago’s public schools and was funded by a $49.2 million, 2-to-1 matching challenge grant over five years from the Annenberg Foundation. The grant was contingent on being matched by $49.2 million in private donations and $49.2 million in public money so it went from $49.2 – $140+.
University of Chicago’s findings:
“…the money had no impact at all: test scores in schools that received money from Annenberg went up, but at the same rate as all other schools in Chicago.” There was, in the words of the report, “no Annenberg effect.”
Posted by: WhereWasThePress? | July 17, 2009, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
“University of Chicago’s findings:
“…the money had no impact at all: test scores in schools that received money from Annenberg went up, but at the same rate as all other schools in Chicago.” There was, in the words of the report, “no Annenberg effect.”
Strange how that only appears on right wing blogs and not the report itself.
Wiki offers info directly from the report not thru the right wing filter which would be pleased as punch if public education disappeared and a large segment of populace became uneducated
“An August 2003 final technical report of the Chicago Annenberg Research Project by the Consortium on Chicago School Research said that while “student achievement improved across Annenberg Challenge schools as it did across the Chicago Public School system as a whole, results suggest that among the schools it supported, the Challenge had little impact on school improvement and student outcomes, with no statistically significant differences between Annenberg and non-Annenberg schools in rates of achievement gain, classroom behavior, student self-efficacy, and social competence.” “Breakthrough Schools,” which received special financial and professional support from the Challenge between 1999-2001, a time during which the Challenge began withdrawing funds from other schools, “began to develop in ways that distinguished them from other Annenberg schools and sustained or strengthened aspects of teacher professional community school leadership, and relational trust while other Annenberg schools did not.”
Posted by: Ryan C | July 17, 2009, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm
“results suggest that among the schools it supported, the Challenge had little impact on school improvement and student outcomes, with NO statistically significant differences between Annenberg and non-Annenberg schools in rates of achievement gain, classroom behavior, student self-efficacy, and social competence.”
Thank you for the additional information. Further proves the Annenberg Challenge did not do any better than the non-Annenberg schools. Good work.
It would appear The One We Have Been Waiting For did have any impact.
Posted by: tjp612 | July 17, 2009, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
“Further proves the Annenberg Challenge did not do any better than the non-Annenberg schools. Good work.”
Except for this part which you of course ignored.
“Breakthrough Schools,” which received special financial and professional support from the Challenge between 1999-2001, a time during which the Challenge began withdrawing funds from other schools, “began to develop in ways that distinguished them from other Annenberg schools and sustained or strengthened aspects of teacher professional community school leadership, and relational trust while other Annenberg schools did not.”
Posted by: Ryan C | July 17, 2009, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
Except for this part which you of course ignored.
“Breakthrough Schools,” which received special financial and professional support from the Challenge between 1999-2001, a time during which the Challenge began withdrawing funds from other schools, “began to develop in ways that distinguished them from other Annenberg schools and sustained or strengthened aspects of teacher professional community school leadership, and relational trust while other Annenberg schools did not.”
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Oh, I saw it and did not ignore it. I didn’t think it was relevant in that the praise received was subjective in nature (“sustained or strengthened aspects of teacher professional community school leadership relational trust”). Did these good feelings translate to higher test scores or increased graduation rates? I do not see any evidence from the information you have provided.
Posted by: tjp612 | July 17, 2009, 4:59 pm 4:59 pm
Mike R, I am with you. Who needs excuses when you can use caucus fraud, out-of-state voters, illegal foreign donations, bundlers who are tied to our enemies, and a fawning sycophantic press? And if all else fails, call ACORN.
Posted by: Former democrat | July 17, 2009, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
“Mike R, I am with you. Who needs excuses when you can use caucus fraud, out-of-state voters, illegal foreign donations, bundlers who are tied to our enemies, and a fawning sycophantic press? And if all else fails, call ACORN.” Posted by: Former democrat | Jul 17, 2009 5:31:09 PM
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Who needs facts when you can just hurl unsubstantiated accusations?
Posted by: danita | July 18, 2009, 4:30 am 4:30 am
At another point in the speech he said, “when I drive through Harlem or I drive through the South Side of Chicago and I see young men on the corners, I say, there but for the grace of God go I. They’re no less gifted than me. They’re no less talented than me. But I had some breaks.”
What a load of B.S. Raised in a middle class white family. Attended private school. Occidental, Columbia and Harvard colleges. Oh yeah, you had some breaks alright.
Posted by: jbrou | July 18, 2009, 9:40 am 9:40 am
I love how Obama adopts his MLK accent when talking to a black audience.
The man has no shame whatsoever.
Not only does he think we are stupid, and blindly in love with him, but tone deaf too.
Sorry but that only applies to those who voted for him.
Posted by: nick | July 18, 2009, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm