Shelby Steele on President-Elect Obama

Shelby Steele says Barack Obama won the presidential election by successfully basing his candidacy on race. We know very little about the content of Barack Obama's character, although we will come to know it with every decision he makes as president. Obama represented an opportunity for white voters to dispel the stigma that this is a racist country. Black voters, by contrast, voted for Obama to dispel the idea that they are inferior. Either way, the November elections revealed how this country is obsessed by race.

[@johnlorican]

I've watched this video probably ten times over the last year. Shelby Steele is - without question - the brightest light with regards to issues of race in America today. His excellent book, 'White Guilt,' should be required reading for us all. It honestly saddens me that this video has been viewed only 3,320 times (as of 11/4/09). It reflects the illiteracy of our society today.

[@leoenrique4360]

Dr. Steele hits the nail on the head!!!!

[@michaelvo787]

I am humbled by such eloquence thoughts and foresight.

[@marthacmd]

obama attended a black nationalist church for 20 yrs..a church his white mother could never attend..unbelieveable! that is not what blacks, on a hold, would condone..Like Mr. Steele..the first thing I would have said to myself too is my mother cannot participate...so glad that I did not vote for obama the 2nd time..I found him out in his first term

[@TerrierToughGuy]

Time has truly proven Steele's assertions to be true about BO.

[@dianehill1811]

Shelby Steele, is an older version of my son Jason D. Hill..his views and polices

[@allysagilbreath]

Shelby Steele, I think you’re brilliant! And you were absolutely right about America being so obsessed with race instead of real policy issues. I wish you would run for President sir!! You’re a true American through and through.

[@jstrattonlobdell4175]

I wish I had seen this interview before Obama’s second election.

[@BaconNBeer]

You could have read Obama's book before the first election like I did and you would have seen he wasn't the man for the job.

[@BigBen866]

Cultural symbol, not a politician. That's a strong statement!!!!

[@ShamanMcLamie]

Oh boy are we paying for it.

[@lindat6910]

Pathos..exactly! Why didnt America see it? I saw it clearly!

[@nilla003]

"He stands for nothing." Amen.

[@noitall5707]

Smart dude!

[@michelletubbs402]

Amazing!!

[@johnlorican]

Why would viewing a video have anything to do with literacy? Because the overwhelming majority of the American populace is not familiar with the refreshing perspectives of Mr. Steele - and don't bother seeking it out....and, yes, I relate that to a cultural illiteracy.

[@ericlewis5147]

"First black man in the White House..." Peter I'd love to see a video of you and Shelby revisit some of these topics. I actually saw someone recently use the same words. Now that Trump is President and is talking of unwinding much of, if not all, of what Obama did the last 8 years it seems that "First black man in the White House" really will be the defining sentence for the 44th President.

[@jeromemilton]

This sounds like he is talkin bout Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali when talkin bout Armstrong and Davis.

[@NitajView]

As a not white person myself, I could not be more agree with Mr Steele than I could be with anyone else’s views on race.

[@zxb5998]

@11:15 Steele says that Obama chose to be black.... Enough said.

[@soapbxprod]

SHELBY STEELE ROCKS!

[@sooneatyOrchids]

He was right- Obama gave us Identity politics.

[@MrAngates]

@masalapaul no doubt about it.........

[@story_of_the_year_fan]

In the other video, he bullcraps at the end about Powell. Powell doesn't have loyalty.

[@blazayblazay8888]

lol @ "there's no doubt about that"

[@MrChopper0077]

After 7 mins in, I wondered why am I reading captions ? These guys are speaking perfectly, lol. Silly.

[@Vanidecb]

I disagree with his analysis of Barack Obama. I've read "Dreams from my Father" and it reveals a man who wants to provide the opportunities for all the impoverished. That said, in retrospect perhaps Obama is not as much of a fighter as this country needs. If the republican party wants to have a future, it should consider trying to recruit Shelby Steele to run for high office.

[@manoman0]

@pmack169 - Well, they voted the guy promising the most. Isn't that understandable?

[@Aphoresis]

@jollysincere Well...you could have added that Barack Obama has proven that you don't need to be senile to be incompetent.

[@craigthompson3739]

I voted for Obama because I was so sick of Bush and the Republicans. I voted against the Republicans. 2 wars and the economy is why Obama won.

[@JasonEA]

I too love and admire Steele...however, the invariable he's missing is that America was coping with eight years of utter, and near complete Republican incompetence. Did people need another reason to vote democrat?

[@StaffordChristensen]

"'Barak Obama: The first black man in the White House' - and that's it." Wow. Why couldn't Steele have been asked that earlier in the interview? I really wish he could have expanded on that thought a little bit more!

[@story_of_the_year_fan]

@charlene12341234 What have you been smoking?

[@fern10011]

Obama is not a bargainer as Steele defined it earlier, because he doesn't accept a role of inferiority. His willingness to relate to white people without prejudice is a good thing. I feel the discussion gets too complicated sometimes.

[@anng.4542]

fern10011: Wrong, Obama relates to white people as prey. "What can I get out of you? And how much?"

[@1879gym]

@HanStanwell Intellectual rubbish by a slick opportunist, who’s degreed and has an excellent authoritative disposition. Actually his intent is working even though he wrote a worthless book (which is a huge joke!), but he is making a hunger group of anger men within the popular culture feel better while profiting. At 13:20 he begins to tell you what’s in his heart and the struggle that has perverted his mind

[@charlene12341234]

this is an "uncle richard" if I've evr seen one. Obama is a Man of many perspectives-unlike what I can saY for most people. He dosen't have to prove one of "who he is" He's many! He's many on both sides! This is what makes him unique! He's not ONe Sided!

[@degrelleholt6314]

I'm a bit skeptical of his opinion.

[@danilopompey754]

This clown said Obama could not be President, but not only did Obama become president, he did two terms . . .

[@57colliegirl]

That's a lot of drivel. He has himself on a pedestal looking down on nearly everyone. What is the point of this discussion? Did I miss it?

[@MrAngates]

shelby you were wrong and therefore you have no credibilty!!!!!!!!