Politics

Jason Riley: ‘Why Should Blacks Be Eager’ To ‘Keep The President’s Party In Power?’ [VIDEO]

Al Weaver Reporter
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After showing reports of audience members leaving President Obama’s event with Maryland gubernatorial candidate Anthony Brown, Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley criticized him for making “overt racial appeals” in an attempt to turn out the black vote during the midterm elections in two weeks.

According to Riley, who made the comments on “Special Report,” Obama has done no favors to the black community during his six years in office, asking the question, “Why should blacks be enthusiastic about getting out to the polls to keep the president’s party in power? What have they done for blacks?”

Riley goes on to note increases in black unemployment and poverty.

Jason Riley: It’s not just a red state Democrat problem, that’s what is so remarkable about the Maryland footage. That’s a deep blue state that Obama won by 26 points in 2012. It’s quite remarkable. But also remarkable to me is the reaction to this by the White House, which is to make overt racial appeals to get out the base. We have a president of the united states and an attorney general making overt racial appeals to voters. I find that very disturbing.

Bret Baier: How so?

Riley: The voter ID stuff they’ve been talking about constantly as if there’s some sort of Republican conspiracy out there to deny blacks the franchise. It’s just not true. Black voter turnout in 2012 was higher than white voter turnout in 2012.

On another level, why should blacks be eager to run to the polls to support the Senate Democrats and Harry Reid? What have they done for blacks? Black unemployment is higher. Black labor participation rates are the lowest they’ve been in 30 years. Black poverty is going up. Why should blacks be enthusiastic about getting out to the polls to keep the president’s party in power? But to have a president out there pushing this racial angle; we’ve had stories in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal to this effect. It’s very troubling.