Obama Threw Blacks Under the Bus

As a slap to black Americans who have thus far overwhelmingly and enthusiastically supported him, President Obama recently threw blacks under the bus with his newly announced support of gay marriage.

Obama appeared to place political expediency over the social values of the large numbers of blacks who believe in traditional marriage.

President Obama is seen on a White House monitor announcing his support for gay marriage on May 9. (AP Image)

Did Obama accidentally throw himself under the bus as well? Obama’s new position alienates black pastors — many of whom are now conflicted. Some even say they will no longer support the president.

Obama seemed to side with the gay lobby over black moral values. It’s not surprising. Just ask the president’s former pastor, Jeremiah Wright.

In the audio from a three-hour discussion with “The Amateur” author Ed Klein, Wright allegedly said: “Church is not their thing. It was never their thing.” As for Michelle Obama: “She was not the kind of black woman whose mamma made her go to church, made her go to Sunday school . . . so the church was not an integral part of their lives before they got married — after they got married.”

Wright purportedly said Klein was “correct” in his assumption that “the church was an integral part of [Obama’s] politics . . . because he needed that base.”

Obama’s decision to ignore moral values, however, might be his undoing.

For instance, Obama enjoyed the support of black North Carolinians in 2008. This year, many of these same blacks were among the 61 percent of the state’s voters who just voted that traditional marriage between a man and a woman should be the only legal form of marriage.

The timing of Obama’s same-sex flip-flop is also questionable.

Most Americans think Obama’s decision was politically-motivated. According to a New York Times/CBS News poll, 67 percent of those surveyed thought Obama’s newfound support for gay marriage was “mostly for political reasons.”

It cites that 38 percent of Americans support gay marriage, 24 percent support civil unions, and 33 percent are not in favor of any government endorsement of gay relationships.

It seems Obama has found the perfect way to alienate supporters who already must be pretty jaded.

All that stimulus spending in 2009 was supposed to keep unemployment at or below 8 percent. It didn’t. Although the national average is now 8.1 percent, black unemployment is an unacceptably high 13 percent and black teen unemployment is a staggering 38.2 percent.

Commenting last August on Obama’s jobs-related bus tour of the nation, Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) lamented: “We’re supportive of the president, but we’re getting tired . . . Our people are hurting . . . We don’t know why . . . he’s not in any black communities.”

Higher energy prices disproportionately impact poor and minority households, resulting in lower living standards. More Americans now rely on government assistance for everyday basic needs such as food, housing and utilities.

Obama’s behavior toward the black community could be characterized as AWOL or downright condescending.

Was gay marriage the last straw?

During Obama’s speech at the Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Dinner in September of 2011, he commanded the audience: “Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes.”

He added: “Shake it off. Stop complainin.’ Stop grumbling.' Stop cryin.’ We are going to press on. We have work to do.” At the time, even with the apparent one-sided nature of the relationship, Obama’s comments were met with applause and cheers.

But black clergy are now skeptical. The Right Reverend Council Nedd II, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Missionary Church (and a member of the Project 21 black leadership network), says: “America’s families, brought into being by traditional marriage, provide the very bedrock of America’s exceptional record of personal liberty and prosperity. President Obama’s actions . . . have only weakened that bedrock.”

Despite past blind support, Barack Obama’s poor track record to advocate for black America’s needs and values speaks volumes. Obama’s support of gay marriage might be the last insult that shatters the appeal of his “hope and change” promises.

Deneen Borelli is the author of "Blacklash: How Obama and the Left are Driving Americans to the Government Plantation," and is a Fellow with Project 21, a network of black conservatives. Read more reports from Deneen Borelli — Click Here Now.