President Barack Obama in an uncharacteristic move answered a racially charged question without tiptoeing the issue of race. During a news conference in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak, President Obama was asked for his thoughts on the comments made by the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. President Barack Obama did not skirt the question to give a politically correct answer. He point blank called the comments racist. This is a welcome departure from the presidents usual Kum by Yah stance on race in America. The President could have used more tact to describe the comments reportedly made by the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. The fact that he did not is a sign that he is getting more in touch with the real pulse of America. For the first time since his first term election run, the president seemed to have spoken for his self and not the political machine.
incredibly offensive racist statements ~United States President Barack Obama said of the comments made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling
Donald Sterling the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers was reported to say to his girlfriend who is of black and Mexican descent to not bring black people to games. Donald Sterling specifically mentions Magic Johnson on the recording. The recordings of Donald Sterling were posted on TMZ.
Donald Sterling video Audio
Don’t bring him (Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson) to my games, OK? ~Donald Sterling owner of the Los Angeles Clippers
Sterling’s comments come at a bad time for the NBA. This is playoff time. There are very games on. The focus of the sports world is right on the NBA. New NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has his work cut out for him. Like it or not the NBA is as much part of African American culture as hip hop. Both are embraced by all cultures but African Americans are clearly the face of them. It is because of this that this issue needs to be handled quickly, publicly and without a good old boy mentality. Obama is sure that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will handle the problem. Adam Silver for his part said the NBA needs to confirm authenticity of the tape. We are sure that there will be many interviews of both Donald Sterling and the woman in the recording. Adam Silver called the tape “disturbing and offensive” and promised to investigate quickly. Sterling was supposed to receive a lifetime achievement award in the coming week from the NAACP. However, that award will no longer be going to him.
The United States continues to wrestle with the legacy of race and slavery and segregation, that’s still there, the vestiges of discrimination. We’ve made enormous strides, but you’re going to continue to see this percolate up every so often. And I think that we just have to be clear and steady in denouncing it, teaching our children differently, but also remaining hopeful that part of why statements like this stand out some much is because there has been this shift in how we view ourselves. We constantly have to be on guard on racial attitudes that divide us rather than embracing our diversity as a strength. An awful lot of African American players, it’s steeped in African American culture. And I suspect that the NBA is going to be deeply concerned in resolving this. ~United States President Barack Obama said of the comments made by Clippers owner Donald Sterling