Ronald Reagan and Obama

Ronald Reagan's son Michael argues in this FoxNews.com posting that his father was more of a friend to blacks than Obama. He cites lower unemployment, rising wages, an increasing middle class and the MLK holiday to prove his argument. He then contrasts that with Obama's record (16% black unemployment and rising).

His thoughts dovetail with this article in the Mercury News. According to Eugene Robinson Black America has splintered into four distinct groups. The groups are

1. The Mainstream - 9 to 5ers


2. The Abandoned - languishing in economic, cultural and mental poverty


3. The Transcendent - Obama, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Oprah


4. Emergent - also Obama, Colin Powell, Lenny Kravitz

How does this relate to the first black president? Obama as a Trancendent Emergent black would never sign an MLK bill or affirmative action legislation (both produced by republican presidents). He is (as noted in a previous post) sensitive to reverse discrimination.