President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, March 6, 2012.
*The tweet from the White House on the Trayvon Martin slaying was much briefer than even the brief number of words allowed by twitter and essentially said that there was nothing to say.
White House press secretary Jay Carney was even more emphatic when asked whether the President had any comment to make on the case and simply said, “I don’t have any conversations to report to you.”
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Barring any dramatic new compelling turn in the case, that will be exactly where matters will stand. The Martin case is no different than other controversial cases almost always involving racial issues that Obama has been pressed to speak out on. Obama won’t for equally compelling reasons.
Despite racism, collusion, incompetence, and plain bungling by a discredited Sanford, Florida police department, the hear no evil, see no evil stance of Seminole County prosecutors towards the self-admitted shooter, George Zimmerman, and a grotesque stand your ground state law that is in essence a license to kill, the Martin atrocity is a state matter. The best that the feds can and will do is what they have done and that’s order an FBI probe into possible civil rights violations in the slaying of Martin. But that is mostly perfunctory, and standard in controversial race cases. In the end, the FBI and Justice Department will defer to state prosecutors. A statement from Obama who has absolutely no legal power to intervene in the Martin case would have no effect on the case.
This adds to the misunderstanding of the law about Obama’s powers. But it doesn’t answer the question whether Obama has any moral obligation to speak out in the Martin killing. The painful answer to that is also no. As much as many would cheer the president if he breaks political protocol and weighs in on Martin, it won’t happen.
Obama, as all sitting presidents, doesn’t take positions on controversial state issues, and that’s the key. They are state issues, and to interfere is to step into a political minefield that would do far more harm than good. It would violate the rigid separation of federal and state powers. It would open the floodgate for any and every individual and group that has a legal wrong, grievance, or injustice to expect, even demand, that the president speak out on their cause. While tens of thousands nationally and globally are rallying behind the demand for arrest and prosecution of Zimmerman, there are millions more that quietly and openly demand that Florida officials resists any rush to judgment about the Martin killing.
Presidential statements on a controversial issue will polarize, and fuel political backlash. This would certainly be the case if Obama utters a word about Martin. In fact, the Martin slaying is a near textbook example of the fury and passion that racial leaden cases and issues always stir. Martin is African-American, and his self-admitted killer is non-black. Obama is African-American and there’s rarely been a moment during his tenure in the White House that he hasn’t been relentlessly reminded of that. The one time that he gingerly ventured into the minefield on a racially charged local issue was his mild rebuke of the white officer that cuffed Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates in 2009. The reaction was instant and rabid. Polls after his mild rebuke showed that a majority of whites condemned Obama for backing Gates and, even more ominously, expressed big doubts about his policies.
The president relearned a bitter lesson. If you speak out on an issue that involves race, police authority, and local law and local matters you will pay a heavy political price for it. While presidents have routinely spoken out on the deaths of police officers, political initiatives in states, and other local issues, there is no implication or inference of political partisanship or interference in a state matter. Speaking out on a controversial racial issue, as Martin is, would have a direct political inference, namely that the president is taking sides. In an election year, this would have be even more problematic. The GOP presidential contenders would be quick to pounce and would lambaste Obama as playing the race card and inflaming passions. Or, more charitably, that he was butting into an issue that he has no authority over, and that this is yet another example of the White House’s over reach on local matters.
The Martin atrocity did something that a statement from Obama couldn’t do. It cast another horrific glare on the gaping racial and legal disparities and flaws in the administration of the criminal justice system, and a deep soul search on how a law could be so badly perverted to claim the live of an innocent and defenseless young man. The one certainty is that while Obama will not speak out on Martin, there have been enough hints and signs from the white House that he will keep an eye on developments in the case. And this is a reasonable expectation of any one that sits in the White House.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on American Urban Radio Network. He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is host of the weekly Hutchinson Report Newsmaker Hour on KTYM Radio Los Angeles streamed on ktym.com podcast on blogtalkradio.com and internet TV broadcast on thehutchinsonreportnews.com. Follow Earl Ofari Hutchinson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/earlhutchinson
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I bet a thousand dollars he made a phone call to Eric Holder and heads and asses are gonna spin…
While Hutchinson makes excuses for this president, you delude yourself into thinking/hoping “he’s really doing something behind the scens.”
The Black community’s pitiful approach to Obama in a nutshell. He can do no wrong in most of their eyes. *sigh*
Right because Mitt Romney is going to do so much for us n..iggas isn’t he?
lol.
Umm…do mofo’s remember that famous…”beer summit”, that HAD to take place b/c the POTUS had the NERVE to call the OBVIOUS stupid actions of those police in “that” incident with that professor/HIS house STILL trying to arrest him etc….”stupid”!? Just sum MOE FKd up B.S. Obie had to endure. So…now?, WTH with this election coming up, would he make ANY statements, that WOULD be twisted up & held against “HIM”!? Muthafkahs are STILL blaming HIM for shyt Bush caused in …”2006′!! SO..WTF alllllways tryyyyyyy to blame/point the finger at…”him”!? R. DeNiero made a comment & STUpid as-s N. Gee’s WHORE/wife said/expected OBIE NEM to…”appologize”!!??? WTF!!?? These White racist muthafkahs are g’on MAKE a fkn “something outtah NUTHin/LIE/CHEAT & “try” to get him out of that W.H.! So…I think “ANY”one who is intelligent & a “true” supporter of this POTUS should give him a HELLA “pass” ‘on this one heeah! And BTW?…since WHEN did we/the American people EVER in he past, look for the POTUS to act like a..”Civil Rights Activist!?? He’s the POTUS!!! NOT..Malcolm,Martin,Megar etc…. What kind of “backwards bamma B.S.” is “this” shyt!?? 1st?, he wasn’t “Black enough”, & now all those idiots as well as a few NEW ones?, want him to JUST be the Black POTUS & “stay” in thurr!!?? IGnant muthafkahs I swear! Yo….who shouuuuuld get the “call” are all these “so-called Black Leaders”, who claaaaaaaim to be…”fuh dey people”! But just as in the Oscar Grant,Rodney King, Sherice Iverson,Devon Jackson, I could go onnnnnnn, & onnnnnnnn!?, dey?, ain’t g’on say or DO…..SHYT! So…back tha fk UP, trying to layi this at…… “Obie’s” feet! Chuuuuuuch/S.I.D.!
This article has got to be a joke right? I guess you missed the fact that Obama publicly and privately Sandra Fluke, the white woman called a slut. How about the Shirley Sherrod fiasco by his administration?
This is so disgusting coming from a black person. Before we even get into whether or not Obama can legally do anything about Trayvon Martin, just on a matter of common decency, can’t he say something in consolation to the family? There is no question that something is terribly wrong that a child can be killed like that and the killer is not even arrested. Everybody agrees to that. For this man to refuse to say anything regarding the case, only because the kid is black, is totally unacceptable. If it was any other person, white, gay, Jew, Obama would say something. He called a white woman just because she was called a slut. But by now, I’m not really upset with Obama. I don’t expect any better from him anymore. I’m just so disappointed with all these black people running around with their head up their ass making these damn excuses for this man’s behavior. I even saw a similar article over at the Grio. This woman making the argument that if Obama says anything it will prejudice the case. OK, so why the fuck did he say anything other cases involving white people? From Oscar Grant, Troy Davis, to Trayvon Martin, what more does this man not have to do, to show that he doesn’t give a fuck about black people? What will it take for blacks to get it?
Black Political Buzz:
Trayvon Martin’s Civil Rights vs Obama’s U.S. Dept of Justice: Why Can’t They Help?
The Federal Gov’t can do anything it wants to do in this Country.
Yet any time an incident has something to do with BLACK people & Racism, Pres. Obama usually punts the issue back to State Authorities.
If Trayvon Martin were a White, Gay Kid (Tyler Clementi) who was Murdered as a result of a Cyber Bullying Hate Crime, I’m sure Pres. Obama’s Administration would get involved,
or….
If Trayvon Martin were Amanda Knox stuck in an Italian Prison I’m sure his Administration would become involved,
Or…..
If Trayvon Martin were a Jewish Kid who was Shot I’m sure his Administration would become involved,
so why not help Trayvon’s family too?
Why won’t Pres. Obama publicly stand up for BLACK Americans?
He wants our Votes but he refuses to stand up for us.
That is not right.
Please Understand I’m NOT bashing Pres. Obama or his Administration.
Now this is the next part which I don’t get. Why would black people continue to vote for a man who can’t show any compassion or respect for them? Tell me that Obama have some grand scheme to help black people and showing any empathy to our myriad of issues would complicate that. I would even give him a pass on Trayvon then. But we all know that there is no place for black people in Obama’s present or future agenda. So why the fuck am I going to vote for him? Why shouldn’t I stay home on election day? Tell me how I’m going to be worse off as a black man with Mitt or even someone as despicable as Newt in the WH?
Look folks, Obama is not black. One of the characteristics of being black is compassion for other black people. Whether it’s the African Amadou Diallo, the Haitian Abner Louima, Sean Bell, Oscar Grant, Troy Davies, Trayvon Martin … if you black, it’s going to be upsetting. Obviously, Obama doesn’t share these traits. Remember what he said about Sean Bell?
The man was raised by whites and spent most of his formative years in a non black foreign country. He was never around blacks until he decided to fit in to enhance his political ambitions. Stop trying to make excuses for his obvious lack of compassion.
Awwwww mayn, YOU know how YO peeps are! They ONLY go ape shyt, when he does something for…”Us”,not….”yall”. And…he DID say something & all the fkn “links” you provide?, would change the factb that you?, are a racist loving hater, who is also a sore fkn loser looking for ANY fault Obie makes, to justify your…”agenda”. But hey…The sun don’t shine & it STILL won’t shine ‘on yall as-ses come this election. Oh btw….fk off! “colored person” Peeeeeeeeeace!
My cause is for my race, and I will NEVER compromise on that to support anyone’s selfish agenda. Not for some psycho babbler in the WH who can never be depended on when the shit hits the fan. And not for blacks who show undue reverence to such an individual. Those who are afraid to stand with us in our cause for justice and equality, because they believe it will hinder their own selfish political agenda, are of no concern to me and I will expose and embarrass them at every turn.
A Dark Pupil, Watching: On being black in the era of Obama
“He represents the death of the Civil Rights era and, to that end, he’s facing very little resistance. He’s accomplished something that no president (or anyone for that matter) has been able to do. He’s largely secured our unconditional surrender. To speak “critically” (read honestly) of him is tantamount to a death sentence in the white-controlled black media. The rules for black people are crystal clear: 1) we must be silent in our suffering with regard to him. 2) We must not be critical of the person who quotes the very best of us while continuing the policies of the very worst. 3) Individual success is far more important than aggregate success. His example shows us that the fate of every black man, woman and child pales in comparison to the opportunity of one African-American to become president.”
“Your” race?, is the CORE reason of WTF you post here! & exaaaaactly WTF I expect from yo racist bias as-s! YOUR the one with the “personal agenda”, as ALways! It’s one thing to be objective & critical of LIGETIMATE errors, but YO as-s/kind is ALLERGIC TO the truth! And?, you can post all the fkn “quotes & links of OTHERS words/P.O.V. and that shyt doesn’t hiiiiide nor excuse YO bias, racist “decisions TO post the shyt! So…..except “2″ things…YO as-s is once again exposed & YO peeps will be reMAIN, sore fkn losers AGAIN come this election! BTW?, have you postedONE fkn thing about the UNREASONABLE INcompetence of ALL the Repub. candidates!? HTF naaaaaaw! All you wanna do is tryyyyyyyyy to make Obie look/seem unqualified, when YALL’S as-ses are THE MOST UNworthy bunch since the fkn…Beverly Hillbillies. SO…sit in DAT shyt! It?, as all I’ve posted regarding you & Repubs?, IS the fkn…truth. And…..YCFWT!
Once again, you didn’t cease to amuse with your delusional rants.
Unlike you and other low self esteem house negroes, I’m not impressed by Obama’s half whiteness, and his blackness will not cloud my judgment of what he is.
He’s selfish and only cares about his political ambitions. He has shown on more than enough occasions that the plight of the black man is of no concern of him.
What the fuck has Obama ever done for blacks, given all the opportunity he has gotten to? Give me one example? One.
When the CBC said there needs to be targeted measures to address the disproportionately high rates of unemployment affecting blacks, what did Obama say?
He said “a rising tide lifts all boat” and the black lawmakers wanted him to do something illegal.
I know that you are aware that with the war on drugs, black males are arrested, charged and convicted at twelve times the rate of whites, even though all studies show blacks using drugs no more than whites. And what has Obama done to address that in his four years in office? There is a lot that Eric Holder, the black AG, would and could have done if Obama would allow him, but he won’t
But you still running around this mofo with your head up your ass talking about “Obie this …, Obie that..”
Man, get a fucking clue.
And btw….WTF was “wrong” with what I posted, i mean…”in your opinion”? Just/ONLY the Obie stuff, right!? NONE of the other “facts” of my post, riiiiight? ONLY the Obie (he should get a pass” etc…) stuff, huh!? As I suspected. You are STILL are soooooo fkn “transparent” with yo shyt! And…yo have the audacity, to mention MY ethicity!?, like YO as-s GAS about Blacks. GTFOH! And…Mofo?…WTF are…YOU!?? You STILL won’t answer that shyt, huh!? B/c…it would be soooo telling about yo weak,bias agenda. See?…what “I’m” about is…seeing/dealing with the FULL scope of the facrs/truth/game YO peeps are plaing against Obie! And if “those things” mean he had/has to “come in a lil late?, so fkn beit. It’s still etter than ANY fkn thang Rush or the rest of yo peeps do or say, on ANY given day! Simply put…the day Obie DOES cause/do something outright?, “I” will be THE 1st to calll him ‘on it! The prollum eeah?…HE hasn’t done SHYT, except try to manuver through all the B.S. YP peeps throw at him, whiiiiiiiile cleaning up YALL’S mess, in record time! And you hillbillies STILL think the shyt, happened ‘on “his watch. IGnant muthafkahs I swear.So…despite the B.S. yall try,he domino effect YALL caused?, will continue to be repaired by Obie & yall will have NO weapons to use to STOP him from doing so. So……get a goooood seat & sit IN that muthafkah for…4 MORE years! Peeeeeeeeace!
All I got to say is that if this was a young black girl shot in the same manner, Obama would have made a statement citing “fatherhood.”
Lawwd *Blank-Stare*
The MURDER of Trayvon Martin is a tragedy beyond comprehension, the police jsut botched this case up so many things were blatantly overlooked. As for Pres Obama not speaking out perhaps he will have more to say soon so I will give him the benefit of the doubtand we are not privy to whether or not he has spoken to Trayvon’s parents. The DOJ involvement is much appreciated which is what should of happened a montha go. I just want that murderer arrested and charged.
I am going to assume the President is going to wait until all the facts are checked before he offer any words to the press on the Trayvon tragedy. Remember, The President is a former lawyer himself and I am sure he’s going to make sure all of his” ducks are in a row” before releasing any statements on this horrible, despicable and senseless murder! As we have all witness, this tragedy is growing wide-spread. People are really upset and voicing their opinions and outrage on this. Did you all see the news last night and look at the turn-out of supporters for Trayvon? Massive!!! It’s really sad that it takes this – but, I am glad [black people and I saw a few white people as well] take a stand for something that was sooooo unjust! Anyone that’s a parent [hell, even if you aren't one] knows this was mishandled by local law enforcement and that [Zimmerman] should be incarcerated & beaten for this senseless death! Yes, he should be beaten because he had no right to take this young man’s life for NO APPARENT REASON OR JUST!!!
@ Reds….”yaaaaaaawnin ‘on yo bigot as-s”! Good niiiiiiight! Bling!