Obama: U.S. in ‘better place’ than when he graduated college
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick, left, adjusts the sash of President Barack Obama, center, as he is awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Howard University in Washington, Saturday, May 7, 2016, by Vernon Jordan, right. Obama says the country is “a better place today” than when he graduated from college more than 30 years ago, citing his historic election as “one indicator of how attitudes have changed.”
WASHINGTON >> President Barack Obama said Saturday that the country is “a better place today” than when he graduated from college more than 30 years ago, citing his historic election as “one indicator of how attitudes have changed.”
But gaps persist, he told Howard University’s Class of 2016, citing racism and inequality as examples.
In a commencement speech at one of the nation’s leading historically black schools, Obama said there were no black CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and few black judges when Columbia University awarded him a bachelor’s degree in 1983.
“A lot of folks didn’t even think blacks had the tools to be a quarterback,” Obama said. “When I was graduating, the main black hero on TV was Mr. T. Rap and hip-hop were counterculture, underground. Now Shonda Rhimes owns Thursday night and Beyonce runs the world.” Rhimes is the executive producer of television hits “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” which air on Thursdays.
Today, he said, “We’re no longer entertainers. We’re producers, studio executives. No longer small-business owners, we’re CEOs. We’re mayors, representatives” — and someone in the crowd shouted out, “President.”
“I’m not saying gaps do not persist. Obviously, they do,” Obama said. “Racism persists, inequality persists.”
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He called on the university’s 2,300 graduates to step up and take on the work of closing those gaps.
“America needs you to gladly, happily take up that work … so enjoy the party, because you’re going to be busy,” Obama said.
He cited income inequality, an issue in the presidential campaign to choose his successor in November, as well as disparities in unemployment, pay and criminal justice. He also listed disease and conflict worldwide, along with terrorism and climate change as other issues needing attention.
“So make no mistake, Class of 2016. You’ve got plenty of work to do,” said Obama, who was awarded an honorary doctor of science degree. “But as complicated and sometimes intractable as these challenges may seem, the truth is that your generation is better positioned than any before you to meet those challenges.”
“America is a better place today than it was when I graduated from college,” Obama said, adding “by almost every measure.” He said the country “also happens to be better off than when I took office, but that’s a longer story.”
The line drew cheers and applause. “That’s a different discussion for another speech,” Obama said.
Obama told the graduates to be confident and embrace being African-American and all that it entails, including “our particular awareness of injustice and unfairness and struggle. That means we cannot sleepwalk through life. We cannot be ignorant of history. We cannot meet the world with a sense of entitlement.”
He urged them to vote and not to fear opposing voices. Many in the audience of about 15,000 chanted “four more years” as Obama received the degree. He cited low voter turnout in general and among younger voters in particular for control of Congress switching from Democratic to Republican during his presidency.
“You don’t think that made a difference in terms of the Congress I’ve got to deal with,” Obama said. “And then people are wondering, well, how come Obama hasn’t gotten this done? Just vote. It’s math.”
Obama, 54, opened by telling the graduates that most of them were just starting high school when he was first elected in 2008.
“I used to joke about being old. Now I realize I’m old. It’s not a joke anymore,” he said.
The address was the first of three commencement speeches Obama has scheduled this spring, his final ones as president.
Obama is set to speak May 15 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and June 2 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
73 responses to “Obama: U.S. in ‘better place’ than when he graduated college”
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Not true, of course most graduating this year were not born back the and would not know. We who were still working and were not concerned with problems our nation is currently facing. ISIS for one, economic stagnation, diplomatic disengagement from global issues and militarily weakened.
What a tacky, self-serving, no-class, arrogant mutt.
I just hope he has not p o o p e d in the soup in a way that will damage the prospects all future Americans of African Heritage vying for this high office.
President Barack Obama has told Howard University’s Class of 2016 that the country is “a better place today” than it was when he graduated from Columbia University in 1983.
Isn’t it unusual that not a single remember of his graduating class recall him ?
Hmmmm !
Pfftt.
Please….
Probably not true. This statement about Columbia is outlandish. But he is right; the times have changed.
The country he is talking about must be Kenya.
Lol.
President Obama is no Muhammed Ali, he is not the Greatest!
Yawn.
No sense of humor!
How can he say that its just not true for so many reasons.
Because he’s deluded and surrounded by “yes” drones.
If you don’t agree with Barry then you must be a racist, nutcase and hater. The nightmare will soon be over. Trump 2016
Tell me how will he win?? Seriously, put on your thinking cap, and provide me with with a lucid and convent response as to how he could possibly win??! Take just the west coast the NE seaboard, and MI, PA, Minnesota, WI and WI, or about 20 states and you have almost 60 percent of the electoral college. The common thread, all these states are thoroughly Ds….so again I ask you effete pillock, how will he win?
boolakanaka asks:
Tell me how will he win?? Seriously, put on your thinking cap, and provide me with with a lucid and convent response as to how he could possibly win??!
One gathers you have not yet read a slim volume titled “Crippled America”, otherwise you would not have asked such a silly question.
On the other hand, probably best if you do NOT read it, given the fragility of your advocacy. The Truth would only upset you and, to quote the fictional Col. Nathan R. Jessup USMC, commander of ground forces Guantanamo, you have made it obvious: “You can’t HANDLE the truth.”
Must I repeat. “If you don’t agree with Barry then you must be a racist, nutcase and hater.” Or in b00la’s case an over educated and clueless name caller.
Thos, you make being an effete pillock simp a rather lofty goal….you are part of that perceived gang of white folks that somehow life has left you? Maybe you are just underachieving, uneducated and without wit? For me, tell me, why just following a basic SnP strategy, why has my net worth doubled???
The Tea Party has defeated itself. No compromise means self-defeat. The Republican Party has imploded.
Was that you backwards version of lucid and cogent??? It resembled a low IQ rant….
Because he’s an arrogant pos, and we have allowed it. Should have been impeached years ago. Were he white, or a republican , you can be sure he would have been.
REALLY?
By the way things are going in the elections so far this year, things are probably going to go downhill big time after Obama is out of office.
If Hillary gets in it will be a mine shaft.
Just goes to show that you can spend years at university and still be stupid.
Just goes to show that you can spend years at university and still be clueless
Just goes to show you you can be the POTUS for 8 long and agonizing years and still be clueless.
Whaddaya mean “still”?
If you spend years at university it is guaranteed you WILL be clue-less.
What were once institutions of higher learning have abandoned any dedication to truth and have embraced lowest common denominator mob rule. Now one goes to college to learn how to be stupid and incur life long student debt for the privilege.
Would not come as a surprise, given the tight job market, if before long applicants learn to avoid putting anything that would suggest a college degree on their resume, lest their application for a job be dismissed out of hand. Any evidence of time spent in college/university may soon be enough to constitute a prima facie case for being unqualified for ANY job. And why would budget conscious profit seekers in a highly competitive business world want to gum up their firms with that kind of trash?
BS
Things are definitely less shi++y under Obama than GWB. The trend is in the positive direction.
Life is not perfect, but way better under Obama.
Let Madam Clinton continue this positive trend.
We will see. Might be a lot of homeless democrats come January. To the victors so goes the spoils.
This is a historic moment. Voters will bring Clinton and reason into govt. And decades of prosperity to us all.
Yup yup.
Bipolar Disorder?
And you, uneducated with a history of racism and dull intellect in the family genes???
Must I repeat. “If you don’t agree with Barry then you must be a racist, nutcase and hater.” Or in b00la’s case an over educated and clueless name caller.
It shows the bubble the President lives in. He doesn’t know how hard it will be for those graduates to find a job after graduation, thanks to his job killing, over regulating policies of the last 7 years. The economy is starting to tank right now, and we really didn’t have much of a boom under Obama, in fact, most believe we have been in recession the whole time. 3rd term of Obama with Hilliary? I don’t think so.
Please, but most societal metrics, the US is better, from educational attainment to home ownership to morbidity to infant mortality to crime–speak in facts you simp, not platitudes.
“America’s dirty secret is out. We have a huge population of white people who blame African Americans, Latinos and women for their economic woes,” Dana from Santa Monica, Calif., wrote. “Mr. Trump panders to that ugliness rather than talk about real solutions.”
Are you bad mouthing the Clintons?
One can but hope you will again thrall us with your acumen in early November if it becomes necessary for one to speak of “President-elect Trump.”
You are far more amusing than a cast iron bull dog.
Please, by all means, DOOOOOOOOOOO carry on.
Home ownership? How many people can afford to buy a home at today’s prices? Lots of educated folks out there in the world wishing they didn’t have all that student debt dragging them down and keeping them from even purchasing a home. Cost of an education has risen five times what it was 30 years ago. There’s book smart and then there’s reality. Sometimes life doesn’t always go by the book.
boolakanaka, so what brah, us local people stay “simps” just cause we no see things like you. You really have to up your game boo, it’s really ugly out there for college grads, you may have been out for some time and not really looking, but I have a son who has been looking, and he is having a very hard time. So I guess I know a little bit for a “simp” right?
Hmmmn, my daughter graduated from Harvey Mudd just last year in computer engineering and had a starting salary just north of 90k, at age 23,and had multiple offers..so bruddha, maybe you do have a bit of simp.
Hey brada boo, must be nice being “connected” like you, not like us “simps” yeah? I am happy for you and your daughter.
I’m not connected…no private school, no ohana hookups, grew up in Halawa Housing.
Aiea or Radford HS? Classmates? Let’s see who remembers you.
Bull, my name rings out still….
If you cite things as factual, please make sure you are accurate lest it undermine your claim. Home ownership rate in the USA is nothing to brag about. In the 1st quarter of this year, it was 63.5% – the lowest in almost half a century since 1967. A greater percentage of the population attends college today but at what cost? College tuition has far exceeded the rate of inflation. I used to pay around $240 a semester to attend UH Manoa as a full time student. I worked a part-time job to pay for my college education. Do you think a student can work part-time today and cover his college tuition? The cost of health care and the insurance premiums to cover such care are skyrocketing. Since Obama took office, the Fed debt has more than doubled and food stamp recipients have increased 42% since Obama took office. Obama is either deluded or lies to cover up his poor track record.
Obama is speaking race relations and opportunity. Never been better.
wiliki i trust you are joking or expressing sarcasm, if not….
Barrack said that the job as POTUS is not easy. That’s very true if you don’t have a clue. Biggest mistake was making Hillary his Secretary of State. She said Do not disturb when the Benghazi massacre was going on. People died because of her. Countries got destroyed because of her bad judgement. Trump U pales to the Benghazi debacle.
And the sad part about it all is the amount of grubers that support her. Just goes to show you how bad this country really is when a lying, greedy dirtbag can fool that many people into thinking she is for the common people. If she doesn’t go to jail or pay a fine for mishandling classified, you might as well let Snowden come back into the country as well.
Ahoy EOD9!
What kind of fireworks should one expect when The Donald faces off against a former official who used to ride in a government aircraft the troops called “Broom Stick ONE”?
And is it possible someone may finally ask her what she had to do with the mysterious – – and still unexplained – – “suicide” of the 1996 CNO, Admiral Jeremy Boorda during the time she was First /forgive the expression/ Lady? That is but one of legions of mysteriously abrupt deaths of those who had anything to do with Slick Willie or his foul mouthed, malevolent Missus.
She’ll just keep denying everything. Standard operating procedure for any politician. See how well it worked for Willie with Monica. She learned from the best. Have a great weekend!
Actually, one of the most brilliant moves Obama ever made was making Hillary Clinton Secretary of State. This move really blocked Clinton from running against him in 2012! There is no love lost between the Obamas and Clintons. Remember the
Judging by the amount of homeless today compared to 50 years ago, we’re not any better off. Several states on the verge of going bankrupt and a government that can’t pass a budget without spending more than it takes in. What kind of dope is he smoking?
What’s your level of education? Here is a hint, try go back and finish intermediate….by a host of societal measures and metrics, the US is much better off.
You smoking the same thing?
Have some pity on the poor thing – – trying to do a Rumplestiltskin by turning the straw of obvious duplicity into golden truth.
Really one reads this mushy nonsense and can summon up a picture of Sisyphus sentenced endlessly to push a gigantic boulder up a steep hill only to have it roll back down and flatten him AGAIN&AGAIN&AGAIN…
Barry surely you jest! But Hey! That’s fine go right ahead brainwashing our innocent college students… this tactic is widely used by leftist college professors. These college students?They don’t know any better.They will bite whatever these college professors feed them….SAD
This word of “Brainwashing” could also be associated with another word,”but that’s a different discussion”lol
Yep! even with our failing government and the world over???This guy doesn’t know when to give up…..7 months and counting.
Howard University is a top notch school. Would not surprise me if quite a number of sharp students quietly harbored a great many reservations about the blithery blather being deposited on them, despite the cheers of many. Natch our so called “news” media folk would turn a blind eye to such keen eyed realists, denying even that they exist.
Howard is not a top notch college, where did you get that from….
A lot of black students graduate from Howard. Many will get good jobs. They are the cream of crop of black students,
It’s a top HBC (historic black college), that said, it’s not a top ranked university.
The headline writer should go back to college. “Graduated college,” although popular, is a grammatical error. Graduate is an intransitive verb and does not take an object. As written, the headline ungrammatically uses graduate as a transitive verb, suggesting that “graduate” is something that Obama did to his college. The first sentence of the article, correctly, says “he graduated from.”
I like…
There is a joke in this somewhere. Guess where? Better is a relevant metric. The better metric is what would economic growth been had the economy not been crippled by the enormous debt – a debt so large it cannot get itself past economic growth, which is so small as a result. Mr Trump says he is going to “write down” that enormous debt as the way to jump start economic growth back to normal. Dem econ growth looks good to Dems. It’s a lie that white people blame minority people for slow econ growth. That’s foolishness.
Sorry, many middle class and lower middle class whites blame people of color for their problems…and many polls prove that very point.Sweeping demographic change isn’t the only thing roiling the lives of many white Americans. According to a study recently released by Princeton University, in an era when mortality rates for nonwhites and young whites are decreasing, middle-aged whites are seeing their mortality rates rise. Much of that is due to suicide, drug addiction, the stress of financial uncertainty, and decreasing mental and physical health. And, just this month, Pew noted that the middle class is “losing ground.” While minorities remain on the wrong side of too many deeply entrenched racial disparities, white people face real challenges, too.
The problem now is that this significant slice of the American public believes Trump is the only leader who hears their understandable, if overwrought cries. He speaks directly to their fears about being left behind in a country they no longer recognize, and he (along with a smaller, uglier slice of the electorate that does really want to return to the time white people were favored) is convincing them that minorities are responsible for their troubles.
“The problem now is that this significant slice of the American public believes Trump is the only leader who hears their understandable, if overwrought cries. He speaks directly to their fears about being left behind in a country they no longer recognize.” Not a problem at all. Mr Trump has the solution. Trump 2016
WTH is he talking about?
1983 average people making middle income was able to buy a house in Hawaii…
now you either live with your parents or you leave the state or you live here in bare minimum without a house of your own….
POTUS has his head up his pompous….
Interest rate to buy a house tipped over 12%’ in 1983,- Compared to under 4% now– so what are you talking about?
Obama is a moron. how did the people of this country elect this clown twice?
So a 19 trillion dollar deficit is better than a 200 million dollar deficit? Education standards must have been really lax back when he graduated.