Obama Decries Lack Of Black Fathers On Father's Day

The AP Reports: Barack Obama celebrated Father's Day by calling on black fathers, who he said are "missing from too many lives and too many homes," to become active in raising their children. "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..."We can't simply write these problems off to past injustices," Obama said Sunday. "Those injustices are real. There's a reason our families are in disrepair ... but we can't keep using that as an excuse."...He said parents who proudly tell him their child gets great grades, all B's, should encourage them even more. "All B's? Is that the highest grade?" Obama said. "It's great that you can get a B, but you can get a better grade. It's great that you've got a job, but you can get a better job."

Everyone on this site should know that I am not a Republican Kool Aid Drinker. I use common sense in a world where common sense is becoming more and more uncommon every day. I usually hold nothing back when pointing out why B. Obama should not be anywhere near the White House. But today I am giving credit where credit is due. The fact is that Obama deserves praise for delivering a necessary message on Father's day. His remarks as they appear in this video and as presented in the AP article are right on target. Because Black America has become completely enamored with Obama he can get away with saying it without being called an Uncle Tom or being castigated. Because he is Black himself he can be more frank with the Black community as well. All I am praising Obama for is speaking honestly to the African-American community. The only reason he deserves praise for giving another speech is that the sentiments in the speech are not said often enough. But the only reason it needs to be said at all is in the hopes that it will have some effect. I can only hope that there are people out there that take Obama's message about the necessity of fatherhood everywhere, and especially in the Black community, to heart.

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