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WORD COUNT
521
JUNE 3, 2009
WATCHING
OBAMA FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LETDOWNS – by Marc H. Morial
Restore
confidence – check. Pass a stimulus bill – check. Reset American
leadership abroad – check. Take action to shore up the faltering banking
and auto industries – check. Get a new puppy – check. Ever since
Franklin Roosevelt passed a dizzying number of bills during the first
100 days of his presidency in 1933, commentators and others have used
that timeframe to grade a new president's early performance. Last week
it was Barack Obama's turn and by most accounts, he has made a
remarkable first impression. On a scale of 1-10, I would give him a
solid 9. There's always room for improvement. But, looking ahead to the
next 100 days and the massive challenges facing our nation, I don't see
the president's job getting any easier.
Presidential leadership cannot be fully measured against a checklist of
promises made and promises kept. We need also to look at the decisions
our commander-in-chief makes during a sudden crisis, as well as the
steps he takes to ensure that his policies benefit every citizen. The
president's swift action to protect Americans on the high seas against
Somali pirates and his mobilization of government resources to prevent
the spread of swine flu qualify as effective actions against unforeseen
enemies. But, much more must be done to ensure that the president's
economic and social policies are as inclusive as possible.
Let me
briefly touch on three areas of concern:
First,
while I applaud the president's aggressive tackling of the economic
crisis, including the passage of the $787 billion stimulus package, I
believe he needs to lead an interagency effort that also involves unions
and the construction industry to ensure that the Green Jobs seen as key
to the recovery do not bypass Black America.
Second,
this administration must do more to reinvigorate the nation's commitment
to civil rights, which has been eroded over the last eight years. Lately
we learned that Supreme Court Justice David Souter is retiring in June,
giving the president his first opportunity to place his stamp on the
high court. We trust he will pick a successor who shares his own
progressive views on civil rights, equal opportunity and color-blind
justice.
In
addition to a new Supreme Court justice, President Obama faces a tough
battle over his nomination of Maryland Labor Secretary Thomas Perez to
head the civil rights division of the Justice Department. Opposition is
already lining up to challenge the president's choice of Perez and the
administration's plans to more aggressively tackle employment
discrimination, hate crimes, voter suppression efforts, racial profiling
and a host of other civil rights issues.
Finally,
while we applaud the president's attention to racial and gender
diversity in filling White House and cabinet positions, we believe that
more must be done at the sub-cabinet and agency levels to ensure that
his administration "looks like America" from top to bottom.
With high
marks all around and a public approval rating of 68 percent, we
congratulate the president on an impressive first 100 days. In the next
100 and beyond, we urge him to stay focused on serving all the people in
pursuit of his progressive agenda for change.
--
Marc H.
Morial is president and CEO of The National Urban League. Mr. Morial
succeeds Hugh B. Price as the League’s eighth Chief Executive. Mr.
Morial served two distinguished four-year terms as Mayor of New Orleans
from 1994-2002. During that time, he also served as president of the
United States Conference of Mayors in 2001 and 2002. A photo of Marc
Morial is available CLICK HERE
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