Quote of the Day

From President Barak Obama, responding to a question from Comedian David Letterman.

I was Black before the election.

The comment was in response to Mr Letterman's question about suggestions of racism in the US and in particular former President Jimmy Carter's comments.

Mr. Obama said the notion that racism is playing a role in the criticism, which has been voiced by former President Jimmy Carter and others, is countered in part by the fact that he was elected in the first place – which, he said, "tells you a lot about where the country's at."

"One of the things that you sign up for in politics is that folks yell at you," the president said, noting that "whenever a president tries to bring about significant changes, particularly during times of economic unease, there is a certain segment of the population that gets very riled up." He pointed to the experiences of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan as examples.

The President was accurate, insightful and funny, all at the same time.

Regards  —  Cliff