8/9/2010
By Charles Payne, CEO and Principal Analyst

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There was this great hope in the black community that the election of Barack Obama would lead to more jobs and opportunities, but in the world of politics that hasn't been the case at all.  Instead black politicians are under siege and many face ignoble ends to long careers.  The demise of these politicians is the result of charges of self-dealings and inappropriate behavior.  The thing that strikes me, however, is a lack of support from the President of the United States.  The president seems completely detached from this situation and that's a shame.  For years I've teased Maxine Waters for her bombastic style and crazy line of questioning during congressional hearings.  But, I've always known one thing about her; she absolutely loves her constituents.  She absolutely loves black people. 

So even though it was the wrong forum and even the wrong person, she desperately wanted Alan Greenspan to explain what happened to government initiatives including the free cheese programs  in her district.  I'm sure she knew people laughed at her and some whispered about how dumb she was/looked but it didn't matter because she felt her people were getting the short end of the stick and she demanded answers.  I think too much government ruined Maxine Waters' district and many others but I also know if I were in a foxhole with her she would fight to the bitter end.

A friend of mine stopped by the house for a couple games of pool this week and told me he saw Charles Rangel the day before.  The embattled congressman was walking out of a building and recognized my buddy because he used to hang out with his uncle 40 years ago.  Rangel stopped, paused then recalled my friend's name.  They spoke for a while, and he said he was being railroaded but would be "fine."   Well, it's not going to be fine, but it would be better if he got the kind of support from the White House that black people automatically afford Barack Obama. 

Sure, the administration is hiding behind the notion that it doesn't want to rankle non-black voters by supporting black politicians fighting a mountain of evidence, but that's a pure cop out.  Heck, this president kicked Governor Paterson to the curb. 

A press conference to say everyone in America, even elected officials, is innocent until proven guilty would go a long way and, in some respects, pay homage to those who blazed the trail.  The fact is that the president doesn't really care because he has much bigger fish to fry. He's not interested in being the leader of just the Democratic Party or the United States or getting his hands dirty with old-school black politicians.  The priority is much greater power.  Moreover, in his world order (emphasis on "world"), it is only intellectuals and scholars that should run the show.  In this world, it's fine to stand up for college professor Skip Gates, who was arrested for arguing with a policeman. 

As Obama stands on his balcony waving at his admirers and dreaming of ruling the world from Brussels, Maxine Waters and Charlie Rangel are down below being marched to the guillotine.  There is no doubt that they made huge mistakes. Yet there is also no doubt that they cared for their constituents.  They didn't see them as stepping stones to bigger and better things or greater power.  I disagree with just about every policy or political theory espoused by Waters and Rangel, and yet I respect the wars they've fought.  They have shown guts.  By turning his back on them, President Obama has shown anything but guts. 

Charles Payne

Charles Payne
Wall Street Strategies