Obama needs to lead discussion on race

No one could address the issue of race in this country as well as our President. And yet, he remains largely silent.

The President was quick to respond to the Cambridge police officer controversy and even quicker to respond to the Trayvon Martin episode in Florida.

Given the advantage of time, we now know that both of those comments were ill-advised and did little to put into perspective the actual circumstances of both events.

But putting that aside, this President has a unique perspective to broach the subject of race in this nation and the massive racial divide that has tainted so many aspects of life.

Following on the heels of the Martin case verdict in Florida, two tragic deaths this past week fanned the flames of this racial divide even more.

The beating death of an elderly WWII veteran and the assassination of an Oklahoma baseball player were both thrown into the racial discussion though neither may have any connection with race.

Yet even though race may well not have been a factor in either instance, into this current climate the fact that both were black on white crimes is enough alone to move the divide once again.

Two leading civil rights activists weighed in on the two crimes this weekend and said the issue was one of culture and that education was the key to a solution.

I have to be honest - I do not understand how culture or education comes into the discussion of senseless murders.

We all know the great promise under which Barack Obama was first elected president. With little to no experience in a leadership role and with absolutely no experience or appreciation of the private sector in this nation, many believed that at the very least, his election would bridge the racial divide that has long been an issue in this country.

But unfortunately, this administration believes the sole solution to issues large and small is more government, more bureaucracy and more taxes to pay for an array of new programs.

Have we not learned from the War on Poverty, for example, that simply throwing money at a problem is far from a solution?

I remain highly skeptical that this President has the leadership skills to improve the economy, to remain strong in foreign affairs or to bring agreement on the many issues that divide us.

But I remain hopeful that this President will at long last promote a serious and honest discussion on race.

He could - above all others - point to the disappointments and shortcomings of governmental assistance and the personal failures that are at the core of the problem.

He could encourage and reward two-parent households. He could promote schools to provide programs for college-bound students and especially for those who have no interest in higher education.

But above all else, he could voice equal disdain that he quickly interjected into the Trayvon Martin case into the two senseless acts of violence that occurred this past week.

If this President is obsessed with his legacy - which I firmly believe to be the case - then history will be much kinder if that legacy is a discussion on race instead of a flawed health care overhaul.

Regardless, the ball is in the President's court.