1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: Native Lamb Pod is a production of our Heart Radio 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: in partnership with Reason Choice Media. 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 2: Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome. 4 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 3: And welcome to our mini pod. Welcome home, y'all. This 5 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,639 Speaker 3: is always an amazing Native Land production here where we 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 3: get an opportunity to just sell the complimentary Yeah. No, 7 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 3: we get an opportunity to that was that was us 8 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 3: self complimented? Yes, And while we are grieving missing our 9 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 3: homegirl Tiffany Cross on this show, we do have for 10 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 3: the first time the three of us joining together for 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 3: this mini pod. And we got an interesting question that 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 3: was asked and I actually, uh, this was this was 13 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 3: my idea if y'all can't tell, but I want to 14 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 3: pose it to the larger group. Can we browe that 15 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 3: question real quick? And then I want to think about it. 16 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 3: I want to I want Andrew to start with this. 17 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: No, why why a G Because I talked too much? 18 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 4: I wait, No, I don't do that. 19 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 3: No, you just covered the whole pod, so rude. 20 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 5: Hello Native Land Pod. My name is Paula Chandler. I 21 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 5: am sixty two years old and a native of Washingtonian 22 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 5: and I have been with you guys from day one. 23 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 5: My question to the group is, and it's kind of 24 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 5: a hypothetical but maybe more of a discussion point for 25 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 5: maybe a mini pod. But there was a bio series 26 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 5: on Showtime a couple of years ago that featured three 27 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 5: First Ladies, Michelle Obama, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Betty Ford. And 28 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,200 Speaker 5: there was one scene where Michelle Obama, they and Barack 29 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 5: were transitioning out of the White House. Trump had been 30 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 5: voted in in twenty sixteen, and Michelle Obama played Viola 31 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 5: Davis asked the question do they hate us that much 32 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 5: to vote this kind of person into office? I'm pair 33 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 5: for raising, but that's what the gist of it was. 34 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 5: And my question to the group is what would this 35 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 5: country look like if Barack Obama was never president? 36 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 3: Miss Paula, thank you for your thank you for your question, 37 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: thank you for the death. 38 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:23,920 Speaker 1: Wait can I ask a question, Macaary, Is this the 39 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: same show? I never watched the show, but is this 40 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: the same show? Where Viola Davis looks at who is supposed. 41 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 4: To be Barack Obama said, because you are nic is 42 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 4: it that show? 43 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 3: I don't. 44 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: She made some very strange facial expressions throughout the. 45 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 4: We need can we run next? 46 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 6: No? 47 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 2: No, controversial, David. 48 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 4: She knows I love her, but. 49 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 2: She played that part hard. It was hard. 50 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 3: This is the this is y'all are miss see. This 51 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 3: is why I don't This why I'm not the lead. 52 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:03,919 Speaker 3: This is this is what I'm talking about. 53 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 4: You have the floor, yep. 54 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 3: So I thought the question. Paula. Shout out to you. 55 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 3: You look amazing to be fifty years young. Ain't no 56 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 3: way you sixty two. I know all that whispering you 57 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 3: doing at you at your desk right there. We love 58 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 3: it them frames. You've been drinking your water in minding 59 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 3: your business. It's a great question about what happens. Have 60 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 3: y'all ever thought about that if Barack Obama was an 61 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 3: elected president? 62 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: I have you well, let's hear it. I want to 63 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 2: you were supposed to. 64 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 3: Haven't know. 65 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: I haven't given a lot of consideration to us. 66 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 7: I like it. 67 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 3: H I mean, I may go ahead, Angela, so go 68 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 3: ahead tell me what you think. 69 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: I feel like I talked a lot in the last show, 70 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: So please have your floor. 71 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 3: You actually didn't. You didn't talk enough. 72 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 6: But you didn't. 73 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:47,680 Speaker 3: You didn't talk enough. 74 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 4: But like, but I'll have the floor. 75 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm gonna take it. But you but you definitely. 76 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 3: Your voice is definitely so controversial. 77 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: So you go, I'll be sandwiched between the two diplomats. 78 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 3: Well, I just think that they're too things that there 79 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 3: are two things that I would say about Barack Obama 80 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 3: if he was not elected president. The first is that 81 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 3: there is a picture that I remember from Jacob Philadelphia. 82 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 3: Y'all may or may not remember Jacob Philadelphia, but at 83 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 3: the time he was four years old, he was in 84 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 3: the White House, his parents had just gotten decommissioned, and 85 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 3: he got an opportunity to ask the president one question, 86 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 3: and he said, does your hair feel like mine? And 87 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 3: the shade God as we call him, Pete SUSA, captured 88 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 3: that image of Barack Obama leaning over and letting Jacob 89 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 3: Philadelphia shout out to Jacob. I think he just graduated 90 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 3: college or is in college now, which to make you 91 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 3: feel old. But I just think that Barack Obama's presidency 92 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,200 Speaker 3: meant so much to an entire generation of young black 93 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 3: and brown children that they could grow up and be 94 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 3: anything in the world. There was so much hope just 95 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 3: about we're not talking about his accomplishments, we're not talking 96 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 3: about the criticisms we have, We're not talking about him 97 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 3: using drones. We're not talking about you know, the Affordable 98 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,280 Speaker 3: Care Act, of successes, all of those things. But what 99 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 3: we are talking about is just what he meant in 100 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 3: terms of hope for black people, and I think that 101 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 3: they're there is a lot to say that a black 102 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,480 Speaker 3: man can be president. That's first. Second. I am really 103 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 3: really pleased at my father and all the work of 104 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 3: our parents, Eddie Rott, and just the heroes and heroines 105 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,160 Speaker 3: we know, who bled, who got shot, many of which 106 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 3: who died, who you know, paid the ultimate what Abraham 107 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 3: Lincoln called the last measure of devotion, so that we 108 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: could make you know, some similance of progress in this country. 109 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 3: I'm glad they got an opportunity to see, you know, 110 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 3: a black man get elected in this country. I'm glad 111 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 3: they got an opportunity to see that. So I think 112 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 3: the hope and the reward, although you know, you know, 113 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 3: we've taken multiple steps back, I think I think that 114 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 3: means a lot. So that's why those those are the 115 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 3: those are the kind of points I would make if 116 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 3: he didn't get elected. And I don't know what the 117 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 3: country looks like without him, but I do know that 118 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 3: he made a great deal of progress, not as much 119 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 3: as we would have wanted. And I just think think 120 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 3: about about going from George W. Bush to Donald Trump. 121 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I I go back and forth about this so much, 122 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: and not about whether or not he should have been president, 123 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 1: because I know how much it meant to me that 124 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: we had Barack Obama as our president. What I will 125 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 1: say is it felt divine. It felt like he was 126 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: called when all the odds were against him, there was 127 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: still a path created. I remember, you know, crying and 128 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: begging my congressional boss at the time to endorse him. 129 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: There was a split in the Congressional Black Caucus where 130 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: you know after it. I wasn't the CBC executive director yet, 131 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: but when I became the ED, I learned that Barack 132 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: Obama was hardly active and that a lot of them 133 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: felt like he wasn't very respectful and definitely wasn't deferential 134 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: to them, and that was hard. And then having sat 135 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 1: in meetings with him and the CBC, it was difficult 136 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 1: to watch his behavior, including him doodling the entire time 137 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: in a meeting. I walked over to make sure that's 138 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 1: what he was doing. I went to go look at 139 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: the notepad after he was doodling the entire time the 140 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: members of Congress were talking. And yet when you look 141 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 1: at who replaced him, you can't help but to understand 142 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: just how presidential he was, and just how much he 143 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: earned that position, and just how much he was overqualified 144 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: when you consider the competition. 145 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 4: I don't agree with every decision he made. 146 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: I don't agree with the advice that he currently gives 147 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: to people who may one day fill his shoes. I 148 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: don't like his posture on reparations. I don't think that 149 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: we did the right thing on healthcare. I don't think 150 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: we went far enough if we broke or deals with 151 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: insurance companies that are now stabbing the American people in 152 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: the back on healthcare so that they can still make 153 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: handover fist and premiums arising because the Republicans are deciding 154 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: that greed is far more important than the livelihood of 155 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: the American people, our ability to survive. So what I 156 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: think was shortsighted about that administration is just how greedy 157 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: people can be on a bipartisan and nonpartisan level. And 158 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: I think that there were places where progressivism was was 159 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: denied so that they could so that they could yeah 160 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: sidelined is a better word, so that they could be 161 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: deemed as acceptable. And still he wasn't accepted right. So 162 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: it's like, at what cost If you're going to have 163 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: this super majority and this opportunity to do something with 164 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: people who think like you, why not do it? And 165 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: then here's the thing that I also know, working on 166 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:49,719 Speaker 1: the hill at that time, he really didn't have everyone 167 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: because he had a majority in the House and in 168 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: the Senate. 169 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 4: He had that in word, but not indeed right. 170 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: And we saw that even with the healthcare fallout, members 171 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: of Congress who voted with him and then lost their seats. 172 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: Even if he had those members or people who were 173 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:11,079 Speaker 1: willing to risk it, all their constituents weren't. 174 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,079 Speaker 4: And I think that is also important to note. 175 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: And I think it didn't take long for us to 176 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: see just how much this country would turn. 177 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 4: I want you all to remember, this is my last point. 178 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 1: The Voting Rights Act since its inception, had always been 179 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 1: a bipartisan vote, an overwhelming bipartisan vote since nineteen sixty five. 180 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: The moment the tide changed on that is after Barack 181 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: Obama's election. So this country felt like it threw us 182 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: a bone, only to take it back and to do 183 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 1: it in such a way that it was damn near violent. 184 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:48,839 Speaker 1: And I think that is the piece that we also 185 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,959 Speaker 1: have to wrestle with. They thought they were giving us something, 186 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: not that they were receiving something from someone who was 187 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: one of ours. 188 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:58,679 Speaker 4: And I think that is so treacherous. 189 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: And when you look at how far we come, whether 190 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: we talk about the dismantling of affirmative action, of course, 191 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: voting rights, or elements of the Civil Rights Act or EEOC, 192 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: the Department of Education, all the things that were stood 193 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: up to ensure that we would be protected. They're even 194 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: taking ruby bridges off of a coin in the two 195 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 1: hundred and fiftieth anniversary of this damn country. Right, These 196 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: are the things that we have to wrestle with the why. 197 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: And I still think because of that reason, whether it 198 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: was just the symbolic election of Barack Obama, which again 199 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: I think it was much more than a symbol, I 200 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 1: think that would have been sufficient. 201 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 2: Andrew, I appreciate both your points. I do think he should. 202 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 4: She gonna selected Merrick Garland, though, Okay, keep. 203 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 7: Going, well, I would double downtap whatever that is, because 204 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 7: big mistake in my opinion. But that wasn't the only 205 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 7: big mistake. I think there were a lot of big mistakes. 206 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 7: I talked sometimes about negotiating against ourselves. I think there 207 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 7: was a lot of negotiating against what was possible for, 208 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 7: you know, sort of plausible options. But you know what 209 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 7: is we reflect on a lot of presidencies. I think 210 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 7: that can also be said. I don't want to single 211 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 7: the Obama presidency out for that. I do think it 212 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 7: was a sim certainly a symbolic presidency, but not transformational. 213 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:22,200 Speaker 3: And I disagree, but go ahead. 214 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 7: Symbolism of it was is not to be undermined. It's 215 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 7: not to be reduced the symbolism of it what it meant. 216 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 7: And I have to tell you this, and I don't 217 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 7: know if this is controversial or not, but I actually 218 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 7: appreciated the symbolism of Michelle Obama as first Lady more 219 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 7: than I probably appreciated the symbolism of Barack Obama as 220 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 7: as as president. I think Michelle Obama's presidence there unleashed 221 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 7: something I think far more lasting in black women in 222 00:11:53,600 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 7: our community and black boys, black men too. And again 223 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 7: we could we could probably debate the ins and outs 224 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:05,920 Speaker 7: of it. But but even today this moment, I feel 225 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 7: her presence more lasting as first as as first Lady, 226 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 7: and what she meant for the country despite all of 227 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 7: the bulletin arrows that she had to take and intercept 228 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 7: throughout the campaign and also through throughout the governing. When 229 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,560 Speaker 7: I think about the transformational part of it and what 230 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:32,720 Speaker 7: was possible the sixty one votes in the US Senate 231 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 7: and the and the overwhelming Democratic majorities in the House. Remember, 232 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 7: we didn't get healthcare in those numbers. We had healthcare 233 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 7: after we fell below that sixty and after we lost 234 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 7: some seats even in the House. It was the death 235 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:56,920 Speaker 7: of Kennedy that took us to fifty nine and all 236 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 7: the dramatics that happened around that because the President had 237 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 7: set up to this point that we would only pass 238 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 7: healthcare with a sixty plus and a bipartisan way, with 239 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 7: a sixty plus majority in the US Senate. And that's 240 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 7: when Nancy came in and said, you said sixty, I 241 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,559 Speaker 7: say fifty one, and then began all the negotiations and 242 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 7: antits that got us to the version of healthcare that 243 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 7: we ultimately got. But before we even got to a 244 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:27,199 Speaker 7: bill on paper, there were huge negotiations that didn't include 245 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:31,439 Speaker 7: the American people that took away all the possibilities before 246 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 7: we got to what was possible. And that's really one 247 00:13:34,320 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 7: of the things that really sticks in my crawl about 248 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 7: the transformational or the lack of the transformational at that time. 249 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 7: And it wasn't just that there were lots of policy pieces, 250 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 7: not to mention the appointments pieces. I still maintain that 251 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 7: had Barack Obama nominated a black woman to the Supreme 252 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 7: Court as his last last and that last final year, 253 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 7: that we would have had a we would have had 254 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 7: a black woman on the US Supreme Court. The fact 255 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 7: that Mayor Garland could not muster even the support of 256 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 7: white men moderates to be part of the base of 257 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 7: of his of his appointment, and nobody else in the 258 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 7: country happened to be excited about him. 259 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 2: There was no rallying cry for his appointment. 260 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 7: We would never have allowed, I think the Republicans, nor 261 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 7: do I believe they would have had the audacity to 262 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 7: steal a black woman seat on the Supreme Court quite 263 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 7: the way they did a white man, a moderate white man, with. 264 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 2: Very little support quite frankly from the country. 265 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 7: These are obviously, what do you call it, backseat quarterback 266 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 7: observations are making we couldn't. Nobody could have known these 267 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 7: things in the moment. Even though I felt very strongly 268 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 7: about a black woman appointment appointed and that last appointment, 269 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 7: I wouldn't change the election of Barack Obama. 270 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 2: I think its symbolism was important, but mostly the coupled 271 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 2: symbolism I think was important. But the transformation, the losing 272 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 2: of seven hundred plus legislative seats around the country that 273 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 2: threw us into a ridiculous redistricting process where we lost 274 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 2: a far more than what I think we could have 275 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 2: and should have gained. There are just a lot of 276 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 2: clawbacks that. 277 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 7: Came with that, that came with that moment of history 278 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 7: that I sometimes wonder if it was worth it from 279 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 7: a political policy standpoint, And I probably will come down 280 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 7: on the side that from political policy, probably not from 281 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 7: a symbolic perspective, probably, so I'm split on it. But 282 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 7: nonetheless I'm I'm very much so proud that that Barack 283 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 7: Obama was able to break that ceiling, and hopefully the 284 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 7: next opportunity that we have will take us, you know, 285 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 7: twice as far, you know as his. 286 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 6: You know. 287 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: The one thing that I hope we get from this 288 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: as a people, though, is that even when we elect 289 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: a leader who looks like us and things like us 290 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: in many ways, we still have an obligation to make demands, 291 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,920 Speaker 1: to have requirements, and to make our requests known. 292 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 4: We took such an approach. I mean, like. 293 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 1: Literally, I got half hate mail from racist at the 294 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: Congressional Black Caucus and half hate mail from black people. 295 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 4: Don't you say nothing about the president? The saving Sea 296 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 4: should not be challenging Barack Obama. Y'all had that conversation quietly. 297 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: It's like their role is actually to push policy that 298 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 1: isn't the best interests of their constituents. 299 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 7: And we have this on that show Angela early on, 300 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 7: and anytime we would have a critique, it was like, 301 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 7: we don't need to do that, but I think we 302 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 7: definitely need to do it. 303 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 3: Out Like, I think that the critique is fair. I 304 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 3: think the critique, though, as you said, is a lot 305 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 3: in hindsight, because I think that you I think that 306 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,240 Speaker 3: if you look at Barack Obama's presidency, like repealing Don't Ask, 307 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 3: Don't Tell, Lily led Better, Wall Street Reform, right, if 308 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 3: you look at the Affordable Care Act, I mean, the 309 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,199 Speaker 3: list kind of goes on and on and on with 310 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 3: some of the things. I mean, he saved he saved Michigan, 311 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 3: like he said, he saved the auto industry. Those things 312 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,879 Speaker 3: are real policy changes. Now the question is now, what 313 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 3: what what if you somebody, somebody's gonna be in the comments, 314 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 3: what did he do for black folk? Right? So, I 315 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 3: hear you, and I do think that Mary Garland was 316 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 3: a horrible choice. I don't think Mitch mcconnall was going 317 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 3: to give us a seat, but I do wish that 318 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 3: he would have gone out with a p y oh 319 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 3: to help Tillory tremendously. So, but I get all those things. 320 00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 3: I think that I think that we judge Barack Obama 321 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 3: through the lens of Donald Trump in two ways. The 322 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 3: first is Donald Trump. With this president, she has shown 323 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 3: you what is possible. He has shown you that there 324 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:56,239 Speaker 3: that anything the president wants to do, he can do it. 325 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:01,119 Speaker 3: Presidential presidential power largely goes unchecked. The president is willing 326 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 3: to break those things. That's first. And on the flip 327 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 3: side of it, I use Barack Obama as a symbol 328 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 3: all the time he was editor in chief of the 329 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 3: Law Review. He had to be, you know, the top 330 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,359 Speaker 3: tenth of one percent in order to be elected president 331 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 3: of the United States, And I wouldn't hire Donald Trump 332 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 3: to run a McDonald's right. And so I just think 333 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 3: that there are a few lenses that we look at 334 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 3: Barack Obama through, through the lens of Donald Trump. And 335 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 3: I also think that if Hillary Clinton would have gotten 336 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 3: elected like she should have gotten elected, then Barack Obama's 337 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,360 Speaker 3: legacy is probably shiny er because some of those things 338 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 3: that we're talking about would have been strengthened, preserved, et cetera. 339 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,679 Speaker 3: YadA YadA YadA. So life is funny, man, and politics 340 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:49,399 Speaker 3: is funny. But I am I'm proud of Barry. Barry 341 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 3: could have done more. I'm more proud of Celli. Oh 342 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 3: and those things. They raised an amazing family in the 343 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 3: White House under the glare of all those. 344 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 4: Things, with their mama. And here move moved her mama 345 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 4: right on. 346 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 3: In there, missus, miss Robinson, may may she rest in power. 347 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 7: Well, I wouldn't hire Donald Trump to run an errand. 348 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 7: But the truth is is Barack Obama probably you know, 349 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 7: he really did initiate the ex not initiate because the presidents, 350 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 7: all presidents try to expand power, but he expanded presidential 351 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 7: power while he was president. 352 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 3: I mean, you don't remember much of the ex Everyone, every. 353 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:31,879 Speaker 7: Every one of them has sought to expand the power 354 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 7: of the office. Those drone strikes that were very contentious 355 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 7: during the time, mostly on the left. 356 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 2: A lot of the folks on the. 357 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 6: Left were highly critical of of Quite frankly, while Donald 358 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 6: Trump may be doing it with soldiers, Barack was doing 359 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 6: it with you know, with flights and drones to. 360 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 7: Take out UH leaders. We also including Latin Well, not that. 361 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:01,640 Speaker 3: I was I want to mention that in my list 362 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 3: of accomplishments, I was going to say that he probably 363 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 3: had one of the greatest foreign foreign policy accomplishments with 364 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,280 Speaker 3: the killing of Osama bin Laden, that any president's had 365 00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 3: in recent history. 366 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 7: He also deported more people than any president in the 367 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 7: collection up to that point. I'm not citing that. I'm 368 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 7: not citing that as a negative or positive. I'm simply 369 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 7: saying at during his presidency heat well, it isn't. 370 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,040 Speaker 2: I just wasn't making the point for that reason. 371 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 7: I was making the point to say that he didn't 372 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 7: often wait on an invitation or license for certain things. 373 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 7: He also showed hubris in the offices as well, and 374 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 7: I think in some ways his lived experience probably not 375 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 7: being a black man from the traditional South unleashed his 376 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 7: license in ways that I think would have constrained a 377 00:20:52,680 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 7: traditional African American from the traditional geopolitical South serving an 378 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,119 Speaker 7: in office. I think his lived experience, how he now 379 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 7: that is. 380 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 3: Now that's a fact. I mean, you know, you know, 381 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 3: being yeah, no, no, no, no, no, that's a whole hearted fact. 382 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 3: Not going to an HBCU. Being raised in the way 383 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 3: that he was raised in Kansas, in Hawaii, not not 384 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,800 Speaker 3: the traditional South. You know, all of those things are true. 385 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:26,160 Speaker 3: I do think though he had more formidable foes and allies. 386 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 3: For the best example I can give you is that 387 00:21:28,880 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 3: I don't think anybody would say that Chuck Schumer is 388 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 3: nearly as formidable a foe as Mitch McConnell was when 389 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 3: he was absolutely not. 390 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 7: Is he a friend? 391 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 2: Does Harry Reid? 392 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 3: Nor is? And I'm going to say that you, I mean, 393 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,959 Speaker 3: the constraints that that that Barack Obama had were their 394 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 3: names were Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell. I mean, that's 395 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 3: just that, that is, and those were more formidable figures 396 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 3: than we have today. I'll wrap up my comments on 397 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 3: this just just this week Mike, I mean, Mark Kelly 398 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:03,119 Speaker 3: said that we no longer have three branches of government. 399 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 4: John Bayner too. 400 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 3: That's true, formidable, But but Mark Kelly said, we no 401 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 3: longer have three branches of government because the House of 402 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 3: Representatives and Republicans succeeded their power. Barack Obama at least 403 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 3: operated under three co equal branches of government, which can But. 404 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: The Supreme Court is also helping these three co equal 405 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: branches of government disappear. 406 00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 4: And that's the thing I was going to bring up. 407 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: We're talking about him utilizing or over utilizing presidential power. 408 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: He tried to make a recess appointment to the Labor 409 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,920 Speaker 1: Relations Board that the Supreme Court at the time said 410 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 1: he could not do constitutionally. This Supreme Court is telling 411 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: Donald Trump forget the constitution. You know. 412 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean, but but guess what we can trace 413 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:49,640 Speaker 7: back the makeup of the Supreme Court decisions made administration. 414 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,600 Speaker 3: Well they weren't they weren't his decision though, And this 415 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:57,400 Speaker 3: way the people get old. But no, no, no, no, no, 416 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 3: ruthber Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a problem. And people on 417 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:06,000 Speaker 3: the left do not like me to say that out loud. 418 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 4: No, I mean, everybody retired. 419 00:23:08,480 --> 00:23:09,400 Speaker 2: Anybody knows that. 420 00:23:09,480 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 4: And I got a picture with her. 421 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 2: Forms the pressure brought to bear. 422 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,320 Speaker 3: I gotta go, I gotta go get some ice cream. 423 00:23:17,359 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 2: You bought this up. 424 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 3: I brought it up because it was a good topic. 425 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:22,360 Speaker 3: I want you to It's still. 426 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,639 Speaker 4: A good topic. But we don't all agree. 427 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:29,000 Speaker 1: And it's nuanced, right, it's very nuanced. And and no. 428 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 3: We're not afraid to criticize a black man, which you 429 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 3: should be able to do. And you should be able 430 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 3: to hold people accountable who we vote for and challenge. 431 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 4: Yes, that's what love looks like. And how you're gonna 432 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:42,120 Speaker 4: get better if we don't do that. 433 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 3: Well, my kids have nut egg and shell fish allergy. 434 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 3: So I'm going to pick up Happy Happy Birthday, SAYI stokely. 435 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 3: I'm going to pick up a ice cream cake to 436 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:52,880 Speaker 3: celebrate their life. I would be nothing without them. Although 437 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 3: I love Angela and Andrew, Angela more than Andrew slightly. 438 00:23:57,880 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 3: Uh but but shout out to everyone. Thank you for 439 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 3: joining the Native Lamp Pod, thank you for joining U 440 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 3: Mini Pod, and Welcome. 441 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:06,760 Speaker 4: Home, Go Home, Welcome Home. 442 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: Native Lamp Pod is a production of iHeart Radio and 443 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: partnership with Resent Choice Media for more podcasts from iHeart Radio, 444 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen 445 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:30,919 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.