Very interesting post over at Newsworks by a man named Martin Jones about the black vote

[Renaissance Man]

28. A little insight ...

I'm a black male, and the amount of disrespect shown to President Obama, even in the face of the difficult scenario he faced in first being elected, is well-known by the black electorate.

We looked at the Tea Party emerge, and all of the racist, often misspelled signs carried by their astroturfers.

We looked at the outright lies that were told about the Affordable Care Act and the downright ugliness displayed to black members of Congress (being spat on).

We saw a Congressman yell, "You lie!" at the president during a State of the Union address.

We looked at the ugliness of the 2008 election and the downright filth of racism and bigotry that was released on the American electorate.

We looked at the signs depicting a watermelon patch on the front lawn, photos altered to make Michelle Obama look like a chimpanzee, and the attacks on the President's daughters.

We've observed every rightwing faux outrage at the First Family taking a vacation overseas and the fake pearl clutching that would never occur under a Republican President.

We've noticed the spike in hate groups emerging due to this President's first term as a result of this election.

We've seen a candidate in the Republican Primary (Newt Gingrich) call a sitting President the "Food Stamp" president.

We've seen another candidate in the Republican Primary (Rick Santorum) state that "blah" people only want money that is earned by other people.

We've seen people who are an absolute insult to the black political experience in this nation trotted out as "free thinkers," even though they are buffons (see Herman Cain and Allen West).

We've seen the President's citizenship questioned and his dead mother mocked and ridiculed as if though she was some harlot.

We've seen the Republican-held Congress obstruct any measure at an economic recovery that the President has attempted with the stalled Jobs Bill (even though the economy has improved, jobs have grown at over 5 million with 12 million slated for growth in the next few years and the unemployment rate down from its average high of 10.9% to 7.3%).

We've seen these rightwing asshole governors attempt to roll back public union rights, institute new voter ID measures and attempt to cut early voting, and institute these draconian measures on women's reproductive rights and health.

... but on the other hand ...

We've seen our nation bounce back from what likely would have been a second Great Depression had the president and Congress not intervened with spending.

We've seen the Affordable Care Act passed (and declared constitutional) and all of the humanity enshrined in the law (no denials for preexisting conditions, allowing young adults to stay on their parents' insurance plans until 26, the rebates, etc.).

We've seen the auto industry bounce back, as the Big 3 are now still the biggest auto manufacturers internationally (with their loan paid back with interest).

We've seen the weight of these United States placed on the shoulders of our current President, and him time and time again, hit the ball out of the park (see ordering Navy Seals to kill Somali Pirates, see the death of Osama bin Laden, etc.).

We've seen the President sign the Lilly Ledbetter Act (which of course affects African-American women just like any other).

We've seen the President show courage and take a Progressive stance on many issues (where many presidents, Democrats included, have failed).

We've seen the President bring a responsible end to the Iraq War and set a timetable for Afghanistan (in which many of our sons and daughters have fought and died).

We've seen the American financial sector bounce back, as well.

We see those beautiful daughters and that drop dead gorgeous wife handle all of the ugliness, vitriol, and hate that is thrown at them daily with only the grace that they would know how.

We've seen many more things, as well. I'm not sure if you'll se a 90% African-American voter turnout, but ...

You're damned right we're MAD.

You're damned right we're FIRED UP.

You're damned right we're READY TO GO (and VOTE).

FOUR MORE YEARS!