Nov. 4, 2008, was an exciting day for our nation. Regardless of whom you voted for in the presidential race, it was historic. Many were filled with hope, having witnessed something they never thought they would see in their lifetime—a black man elected to the highest office in the land. Others felt anxiety as they realized the outcome and anticipated pending decisions based on a liberal philosophy that could dramatically affect their business and their lives.
While I did not vote for him, Sen. Barack Obama will soon become our president, and I wish him, his family and his administration the best—because we should all want our country to succeed and prosper.
There are several significant implications of Obama’s election that I think we should all recognize.
First, you don’t have George Bush to kick around anymore. He has taken a beating and been blamed for just about everything [including bad weather, hair loss and tooth decay]. If things aren’t going well in six months or a year—blame Obama. He is now your commander-in-chief calling the shots. And he has a Democrat-controlled Senate and House to help him. No excuses. No pointing fingers and looking back. As the sign on President Harry Truman’s desk said, “The buck stops here.” In 1953, in Truman’s farewell address to the American people, he said, “The President—whoever he is—has to decide. He can’t pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That’s his job.” And so it will be with President Obama—as it was with President Bush.
Secondly, Nov. 4 did change much for African-Americans—forever.
It was inspiring, gave hope, removed barriers and provided a new role model for minority children.
CNN reported that in 1993, surveys showed most Americans felt racial problems were “permanent.” But in a CNN poll taken after this Election Day, 51% of blacks thought the election of Obama represented a “new era” in race relations and 45% felt it signified “some improvement.” Among whites, 31% said “new era” and 44% “some improvement.”
The report indicates a new sense of hope among African-Americans, which may be explained by the fact that 86% felt discrimination against blacks is a problem—but 80% acknowledged that the election of Obama was a “dream come true.” The fact is, with only 11% of the country’s population being black, there is no way for him to have won without massive support from white voters—white voters who did not discriminate based on race. In the poll, only 29% of black voters said they had believed “they would see a black president elected in their lifetime.” The percentage was 59% among whites. Blacks were pessimistic about the possibility—but ecstatic with the results. It was a game-changer.
Why? The first reason is every minority parent can now tell their children to dream and say to them, “You could grow up to be president of the United States”—and mean it. It has been done. The sky is the limit.
But the second reason is that it’s going to be hard to make the “discrimination argument” against whites with President Obama in the Oval Office. How can Jesse Jackson keep going around extorting companies and white people for discrimination when we live in a country that just elected a person of color as the most powerful leader in the free world? Rings a bit hollow. And if there is a problem in America, it is happening on Obama’s watch, so shouldn’t Jackson be complaining to the president? The way I see it, Jackson is “out of business.” And so are many others who have used the “R” word as a club to get leverage or concessions—or as an excuse for failure or lack of even trying. The club has been removed and the game has forever changed. There is now proof that minorities have the same opportunity as everyone else to get an education, work hard, compete and go as far as their dreams will take them—even to the White House.
We are all free at last!
We blew it!
I know some of my friends disagreed with my endorsement of Mayor Kip Holden’s bond proposal, but you were wrong and we missed an opportunity to grow up as a city. This city has been held back by the status quo due to a lack of vision and willingness to take a risk. No risk, no reward.
It was a close vote, 51%-49%. But if 1,501 people had changed their minds, we would be moving forward and unleashing a new energy to create America’s next great city.
As I expected, the northern part of the parish, especially Central and Zachary, opposed the tax. They always do. Zachary Mayor Henry Martinez didn’t see enough in it for his town. Shame on him. Ironically, most of the drainage projects benefited Central, and they still voted against it.
For Zachary and Central to get their own school systems established, a majority of East Baton Rouge Parish voters had to approve it. A majority in EBR felt it was good for these communities and voted yes. Now, when the shoe was on the other foot, these two communities did what was in their best interest and told the rest of us to “take a hike.” I now see how it’s going to be.
If they are going to be parochial and oppose all bond proposals, holding Baton Rouge back, then what if we took out the drainage projects, bridges, fire stations and traffic lights in Central and Zachary? This will cut down the cost of the bond issue and tax to all the rest of us—and then we pass it. How’s that for playing hardball?
The real tragedy here is for me to hear young people and newcomers to our city who get discouraged and can’t understand why the community doesn’t want to improve itself and develop our riverfront to something spectacular we can all be proud of.
Anthony Nelson, a college student, said in a letter to The Advocate, “Until the residents of the city-parish decide that they are tired of complaining and are ready to advance the city, the constant migration of young college graduates to more affluent and advanced cities will occur. As of now, I will be one of those seeking to find a new city that will embrace my ideas and will be more willing to break the chains of the status quo!”
Those folks who opposed this proposal are looking at the future through a rearview mirror. They are the ones who say, “That’s not the way we used to do it.” Enough. We are living in the 21st century. Let’s act like it. And next time we get the chance [in 2009], we must seize the opportunity and move Baton Rouge forward.
Good news, bad news
The good news is that the historic election of Obama and all the attention our Gov. Bobby Jindal has received nationally as a potential candidate for president in 2012 has overshadowed the primary victory by indicted Rep. Bill Jefferson of New Orleans. The bad news: what an embarrassment to that city and our state. [Mayor Ray Nagin announced he would vote for Jefferson.]
And folks in New Orleans keep wondering why they can’t build momentum for their comeback. Answer: Just look at the leaders you keep electing.
Comments
Posted by pmccarron on November 18, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now that Obama is President... Can we end Affirmative Action?
9% sales tax today, what will it be 10 years from now? How much more do you need??? After young professionals get older and own their own business and property, they will be voting against higher taxes too. Mayor Holden had good intentions and this tax (or bond) plan had good merit. Nevertheless, higher taxes is not just a Central or Zachary Only issue. Nobody can afford to pay higher taxes (not right now, and not any more on top of what we already pay).
Jindal/Palin in 2012.
Posted by fourx5 on November 19, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"First, you don’t have George Bush to kick around anymore. He has taken a beating and been blamed for just about everything"
That's funny; I don't see anyone blaming him for anything. In fact, the media has been steadfastly ignoring everything he does and says for months now.
When you want to talk about what his administration's policies are _responsible for_, maybe it will signify that you've grown up enough to accept that not everything Republicans do is magical and perfect.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on November 20, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love it. Obama hasn't even been sworn in and already we're getting ready to play the blame game with him for our country's woes. Let's put the monkey on someone else's back, right? I, too, didn't vote for Obama, but he has no better cheerleader than me now that he will be president. Too much is at stake to continue the partisan sour grapes approach. This is way too serious - not a game. We can't hope for him to fail just to get our man (or woman) and party back in power in 4 years. If he does fail, then there might be nothing left to govern.
Posted by incredulous on November 20, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So let's see, Rolfe, George Bush was in office 8 years, never vetoed a SINGLE spending bill, launched us into a war under false pretenses that is costing us billions each month and Obama has six months to get us out of the ditch we are in? Spare us the insincere line about "wishing him well"....
Posted by jtoussaint2 on November 20, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rolfe,
I cringe at the subtle racism in your column, though I suspect you don't even know that it exists. Maybe, subconsiously, you just don't like black people.
Meanwhile, George Bush runs up the largest deficit in US history after starting with a surplus, starts an unnecessary war and lets our financial system come unwound, and you will blame Obama if the ship is not righted in six months. Hell, you don't even blame Bush now after eight years. Your party loyalty is dangerous and makes you appear slow.
Thanks, though, for taking on the bond opposition. Selfishiness among Zachary and Central reasidens will cost all of us in coming years.
Have a nice day
Posted by mike on November 20, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rolfe - it is so fortunate that intelligence and business success do not always equate at high levels. Your success in growing a business is impressive, your determination to tell all of us why you are always right is equally unimpressive. Yet again, your blind partisan views prove your chosen ignorance is only bested by your enormous ego.
Posted by jb7325 on November 20, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I voted against the mayors bond proposal and yes I live in Central. Most of Central and Zachary residents own their own homes. We are not going to increase our property taxes in order to pay for Riverfront hotels and entertainment. If the proposal was broken down, I would consider the different proposals but I am not going to increase my expenses to fund what some call a way to keep young kids around. I do not agree that an entertainment district will keep them around. I grew up here, graduated from LSU and stayed here because I like it here and found a good job. Who cares if we have entertainment downtown. I am raising two kids who will stay here if they find a good job. That is the important part of kids staying in the area. Good jobs not entertainment! And if you want to cut us out of the taxes and the benefits, go ahead.
Posted by fourx5 on November 20, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shorter Rolfe: "All you blacks should stop complaining; racism has ceased to exist now that Obama is in office."
Posted by RogueProeliator on November 20, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Your comments and reasoning behind your comments towards Central show your ignorance on the prevailing attitude in Central. For the most part the residents do not want any more taxes at this time - whether or not it helps them. I assume that you remember, but fail to mention, is that Central also voted against a tax increase for its own school system - which benefits ONLY its own residents. Your suggestion of vengence and retribution is very petty and hints at your lack of willingness to consider other opinions not matching your own. I am a resident of Central and was on the fence as to the issue -- and it had NOTHING to do with "what will I get out of it" and everything to do with "can I afford this and will I have a job to pay for it if the economy continues its slide".
Posted by ConcernedLady on November 20, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Rolfe is right. Stop blaming Bush. It is his party that is at fault for this fine mess. Winning at all costs may be a great political strategy, but it does not work as policy. Look what the Republicans did to George Bush Sr. when he realized that his political rhetoric of "no new taxes" had to be dumped for responsible fiscal policy. Like Incredulous said, we've had 8 years to prove the case. Ideologues can't govern. The current Republican Party is badly broken and I cannot imagine that anyone would think it can be fixed soon. So instead of waiting for Obama to clean up their mess in 6 months, let's see if the GOP can see the error of its ways and try to help.
Posted by jtoussaint2 on November 20, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's break up the city-parish system. Central and Zachary can go on its own way and crumble into oblivious while the rest of the world rises. Baton Rouge can pay for the stuff that is necessary to build the future.
Eventually, we would have to figure out how to keep Zachary and Central residents from moving into Baton Rouge as free riders on our higher quality of life.
Posted by etiger03 on November 20, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live in Zachary and voted for the proposal. I hate taxes like anyone else but I would have to say the hotels and the alive project or whatever its called should of not been apart of the proposition any infrastructure should of been put into another proposition by itself. Zachary has done alright by there selves we have voted for local taxes to build better schools that ebr parish would of never delivered for us. There were a lot of uninformed people that voted on this issue that shouldn't have in the whole parish.
Posted by fourx5 on November 20, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"let's see if the GOP can see the error of its ways and try to help."
Given the rhetoric still emanating from such luminaries as Kathryn "Editor who can't spell" Lopez, Jonah "Doughy Pantload" Goldberg, and Mark "The muslims are coming" Steyn, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Republicans to moderate (much less admit error) if I were you.
Posted by mdavis03 on November 20, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
George Bush had 8 years to get things as screwed up as they are, and you think Barack should be blamed if he can't fix them all in 6 months? What's better is that you STILL can't bring yourself to blame Dub-ya for our present situation.
You conservatives are dolts - it's no wonder you all love that idiot Sarah Palin so much.
Posted by jakefont on November 20, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Your directive to hold the next administration accountable if we don't see a recovery by the middle of next year would not be considered realistic by many economists. Shortly after the September stock meltdown and the credit crisis, Paul Krugman forecast the best case outcome as a three to five year ("long and deep") recession. The worst case forecasts ranged from a 10 year recession like Japan in the 1990s to a full-blown depression. These forecasts include and assume the effects of bailouts and stimulus packages.
Either you don't understand this, or are still playing the political blame game yourself. We have to "point fingers" and "look back" right now in order to figure out what might work to get us through this. But continuing to treat this as an opportunity to score points for a particular ideology is game we can't waste time playing.
Welcome to the new pragmatism, Rolfe. We aren't playing your game anymore.
Posted by fourx5 on November 20, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not a single critical article about Bush these past eight years, but Barack's not even president yet and "the buck stops with him".
You gotta love Rolfe's Republican Relativism.
Posted by Austin on November 20, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Let's break up the city-parish system. Central and Zachary can go on its own way and crumble into oblivious while the rest of the world rises. Baton Rouge can pay for the stuff that is necessary to build the future.
Eventually, we would have to figure out how to keep Zachary and Central residents from moving into Baton Rouge as free riders on our higher quality of life."
Well-said. I agree 100%. The whole city/parish system of government is outdated to begin with. It was created to benefit outlying areas like Zachary and Central and to keep them from drying up while the city-proper prospered, but it's come back to bite Baton Rouge in the butt. It's time to cut them lose and let them fend for themselves. There's no reason that Baton Rouge should let the rest of EBR parish hold it back any longer.
Posted by kobe05d on November 21, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, some of you people are way too critical. While I don't exactly agree with Rolfe's position of giving Obama 6 months, I'm certainly not going to call him a radical racist deep down inside. People that love to point out racism at every little chance they get are one of the BIGGEST reasons racism still exists. You feed off of the opportunity to find something to bicker about and point the finger. Wake up, you're only hurting yourself.
As for the bond issue, Rolfe is exactly right... We blew it! Raise your hand if you like taxes! I'm pretty sure that not a single person in America LIKES taxes, but what would this country be without taxes? Sure, you can complain all you want and say that taxes should be more efficiently spent, and I can't agree with that more. But, you must realize that some taxes are essential to the development of certain projects. The City-Parish can barely run on what it has, with certainly nothing left over for important infrastructure projects. Where do you think this money is going to come from? All of the huge corporations located in Baton Rouge?? No. Maybe that's because we don't have the proper infrastructure, schools, traffic, etc. to recruit well organized companies or retain our outstanding college graduates in the area. One of the most common arguments I heard about the bond issue was that Holden should be trying to obtain the money from private sources, not from taxes. Well, sorry, that's just not going to happen. I'm not going to sit here and blame Central and Zachary for the failure either because I know a lot of them want what is best for everyone as well. East Baton Rouge Parish should have come together on this instead of complaining about who gets what. It would have benefited everyone, whether they realize it or not. As a poor LSU student about to graduate in the spring, I can assure you I struggle to make ends meet. The AVERAGE home in Baton Rouge would have paid roughly $8 a month for this bond issue. Even I could have come up with $8 a month and I certainly don't own a home around the average market value in Baton Rouge. What's so ironic is that firms who have studied the effects of this issue have said repeatedly that the savings from traffic improvements would offset the cost of the taxes in the first place! And these are not local people, either. What a dumb mistake people have made. But, if you voted against it you can certainly keep living with the problems Baton Rouge faces now. I assure you they will only get worse. As much as I absolutely love this place, I won't be around to see it happen because I'll be working somewhere else where I don't have to spend half of my day driving my kids to crappy schools. I would only fall through a broken bridge and drown in the flooded canals anyway.
Kudos to Mayor Holden btw.
Posted by Being_Stupid on November 21, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I support Iraqi Freedom.
The United Nations supports Tyrants.
I Love Big Oil.
I support a united Baton Rouge including Zachary & Central.
I blame Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, Chuckie Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, & Harry Reid,
not Bush.
I blame the dropping stock market on Obama's Presidential Election.
Business Owners and Investors fear Socialism and the Democrat Party.
I support Mayor Kip Holden and his plan for Baton Rouge.
but no more taxes (even though I voted for more taxes)
(try again in 2009)
It's fun to blog!!!
Posted by fourx5 on November 21, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"While I don't exactly agree with Rolfe's position of giving Obama 6 months, I'm certainly not going to call him a radical racist deep down inside. "
Rolfe seems to be pointing out that there's no need for black leaders to complain anymore because we elected a black president; ergo, racism no longer exists. I'm simply pointing out that this is a ridiculous, specious argument. It's a popular canard these days that since the nation elected a black man president, institutionalized and blatant racism no longer exists - and that's just not true.
Added to the domestic and international policy disasters that have come out of the Bush administration, many of us who read Rolfe's occasional ramblings are standing with mouths agape, wondering which planet this man lives on to put the onus on a new president to fix everything in six months.
Do I think Rolfe is racist? No. Do I think he amplifies some racist attitudes that arose from Nixon's racist "southern strategy", which was designed to play off of the resentments of southern whites following the civil rights era? Yes, I do. Ronald Reagan played from the same book by kicking off his 1980 campaign in Philadephia, MS, and the tired refrain always seems to be "we gave blacks the vote, then we gave them the schools, we gave them social programs to help them get a leg up, what the hell do they want now?" It's especially revealing when poor whites in the south vote against their own economic interests to put a Republican in office, but when poor blacks vote their own economic interests, they're called 'racist' for voting and being proud of a black man.
Those of us who have left the south for other states have found that the attitudes outlined above do nothing to advance anyone's interest - the whole country fails when we ostracize a group of people for their color or culture. Pointing out racism and racist attitudes isn't racist; it's patriotic.
Posted by kobe05d on November 21, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I respect your argument, fourx5.
Posted by Black_Chamber on November 21, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rolfe,
We feel your comments on race and the election of our country's next President, Barack Obama, highlight several misconceptions that continue to divide our Baton Rouge community. As we work collectively to ensure that our region and our state are prepared to compete in an increasingly competitive global business environment, changing the image of our state and our region will undoubtedly require that we foster a more open and honest dialogue about race and how it continues to divide and distract us from the real challenges at hand.
You essentially characterize calling attention to the manner in which racism continues to conscribe opportunity for too many Americans as an illegitimate “excuse” no longer valid after the election. Furthermore, your characterization of the "discrimination argument" seems to trivialize real issues of inequality and disadvantage that are the result of our country's centuries-old struggle with race. To suggest that the election of Barack Obama invalidates any and all present and future claims of racial discrimination reflects a woefully over-simplified view of American history and a shockingly naïve assessment of the contemporary meaning of race.
Like so many, we are committed to the advancement of business in our region. That is why it is particularly disturbing that as people the world over are rejoicing over this historic moment and literally dancing in the streets, the news from Louisiana concerns spikes in gun sales and botched Klu Klux Klan initiations. Where is the outrage for that? When will our business leaders recognize that this image of racial hatred and ignorance not only undermines our ability to make credible appeals when recruiting new business and talent, but that it erodes the quality of life for those of us who call this community home? Perhaps those are the excuses we should be most concerned about - the ones that keep us from true racial reconciliation and unification to move our state forward.
As our community canvasses to Virginia and North Carolina, trying to uncover the secrets to their success, we should be mindful that on November 4th those states took considerable steps towards overcoming their racial past. While it would be wrong to characterize our state's election results as solely race-based, we must be bold and honest enough to question the extent to which race played a role and what we as a community are willing to do about it.
That type of progressive thought and action cannot happen when leaders in our community, from the editorial pages of our premier business publication, espouse views that Obama’s election is confirmation that racism (the "R" word) is nothing more than an irrelevant "excuse for failure or lack of even trying." That type of thinking will only stifle the message that Louisiana is open for business, exacerbate existing divides and confirm the biases of those who view our state and our region as hopelessly cemented in the past.
Posted by fourx5 on November 22, 2008 at 12:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kobe05d, Thanks. I understand your point of view as well, even if I don't agree; when I was younger I felt the same way.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on November 24, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The consensus of the leaders at the recent APEC summit in Peru is that a timetable of 18 months is more realistic for expecting global economic recovery. By that time we'll be heading into another presidential campaign season.
Posted by pmccarron on November 24, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When my mother and her family came to the United States from Cuba, didn't speak any English (only Spanish), didn't expect any hand outs, didn't have to call themselves "hispanic", and didn't need Affirmative Action to get a job. And that was back in 1961.
Anyone who thinks they can't make it without some hand out or Affirmative Action policy - will never make it.
Affirmative Action is an insult in 2008. I got my job because because I am some "Minority" American, not because I earned it.
Barrack Obama was elected President because he earned it. Not because he was black or white. He earned it.
End Affirmative Action Now.
Posted by pmccarron on November 25, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So in other words, Rolfe
What the Black_Chamber is trying to tell us is racism still exists and will never go away in United States.
Maybe these "progressive liberals" should take the word "progressive" out of their name. We the United States can never PROGRESS pass racism. We will always remain a racist country.
Posted by Being_Stupid on November 25, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with the Black Chamber Blog...
All these people buying guns and practicing their 2nd Amendment Right to bear arms are obviously racist folks.
And I also agree that the KKK Initiation Murder News Story should make for a bigger news story than the election of President Barrack Obama. The News should really Highlight just how racist and stupid the South really is.
We shouldn't be dancing in the street - we should all be outraged instead !!!!
(warning: don't take this blog seriously)
Posted by Papadeaux on November 25, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a middle age white male, I am (for some reason) thought by all the white "bubbas" out there as one of them. The crap I have heard since Obama was elected President would make some KKK members blush.
If you think for one minute that racism and bigotry is dead in this country, you are either living under a rock or only hear what you want to hear.
Wake up America… Demand that people be judged only by their character and not their ethnic origin.
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