Over the past 8 years there have been significant shifts in the American political landscape. The election of Senator Barack Obama as America's 44th and first African American president signaled a giant leap forward in the American social, cultural, and political landscape. It has taken America 219 years to reach this point.

Based upon Senator Obama's campaign promises many people looked forward to a more transparent and inclusive government. Others saw this election as a signal of a new post-racial America, but America has always been a country in conflict. As many basked in the comfort of Obama's historic election, others feared its backlash. History tells us that white supremacy dies hard in America and its proponents would not take America's victory lying down.

The bigoted rants of the Tea Party and the ultra-right wing's obstructionist agenda have resulted in a political stalemate unlike any other in recent American history. These reactionary politics coupled with the Democratic Party and Obama Administration's inability to articulate an effective counter-narrative and employ effective countermeasures has left America in a political abyss.

Politics Another Perspective: Analysis of Race, War, Ethics and the American Political Landscape in the Age of Obama is a collection of Op Ed's written by Wilmer J. Leon, III, Ph.D. As a collection, these writings provide cutting edge analysis of the various issues that influenced the American geopolitical landscape since 2006 and insight into the direction that the country is headed.

"Wilmer Leon is one of the few Black prophetic voices in the age of Obama. This book confirms this status - courageous, visionary and consistent!"

--Dr. Cornel West

Dr. Wilmer Leon has assembled a collection that asks the right questions about race and democracy. In an era when too many are silenced for fear of rocking the boat of the status quo, Wilmer Leon has signaled his willingness to go out on a limb and speak truth to power. Bravo!

--Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Economist and Author Are We Better Off: Race, Obama and Public Policy.

Politics: Another Perspective

Commentary and Analysis on Race, War, Ethics and the American Political Landscape in the Age of Obama

AuthorHouse

Contents

Acknowledgements, xiii, 
Preface – Dr. Ronald Walters, xvii, 
Foreword – Dr. Clarence Lusane, xix, 
Introduction – Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, III, xxiii, 
I. Democracy, Political Values, Judgment, and Ethics or the Lack Thereof, 1, 
1. Post Katrina and 9/11, Insight into the Soul of America – September 20, 2006, 15, 
2. Foley's Folly: Ethics and Morality vs. Legality – October 7, 2006, 18, 
3. Presidents' Day 2007: Where Has the Integrity Gone? – February 19, 2007, 20, 
4. Mr. President, I Beg Your Pardon? – March 21, 2007, 24, 
5. Politics vs. Patronage: Which Do You Prefer? – May 4, 2007, 28, 
6. It's Not What You Say; It's How You Vote – July 3, 2007, 31, 
7. Now We Know How the Colonists Felt – July 16, 2007, 33, 
8. Unilateral Foreign Policy or Unitary Executive; Both Undermine Democracy – August 24 2007, 37, 
9. The Values of a Dysfunctional Family – November 7, 2007, 41, 
10. Ideology Makes for Bad Policy – February 17, 2008, 45, 
11. UN Racism Conference, Right Thing to Do; Wrong Time to Do It – April 27, 2009, 49, 
12. Supreme Court "Activism" is in the Eye of the Beholder – July 1, 2010, 53, 
13. A Sad Day in Harlem – August 2, 2010, 56, 
14. In 2008 it was "Hope" and "Change"; Now What? – May 2, 2012, 58, 
15. Common Sense Is Not All That Common – July 30, 2012, 61, 
16. Hubris, Arrogance and the Violation of Separation of Powers – February 10, 2015, 64, 
II. Mainstream American Media's Coverage of President Barack Obama, 67, 
17. The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright and the Audacity of Truth – March 22, 2008, 77, 
18. Sound-Bite Politics – Shallow Analysis and the Sinking of Senator Obama – May 13, 2008, 82, 
19. Is It Really About "You" the American People or Just About Hillary? – Thursday 05 June 2008, 86, 
20. Let He Who Is Without Sin Question the Election – July 14, 2008, 89, 
21. Satire at Its Worst – July 14, 2008, 94, 
22. Don't Lose Focus of the Real Issues – July 16, 2008, 95, 
23. Is Obama the End of Black Politics? A Ridiculous Question – August 19, 2008, 99, 
24. Senator McCain's Decision is Pandering with Palin – September 10, 2008, 103, 
25. Reality Is No Rehearsal – October 3, 2008., 107, 
26. Desperation Makes For Dangerous Politics – October 25, 2008, 111, 
27. President-Elect Obama – America's Struggle in Context – November 5, 2008, 115, 
28. President-Elect Barack Obama – When Wisdom, Honesty, and Judiciousness No Longer Seem to Matter – December 18, 2008, 119, 
29. The RNC and the "Magic Negro" – January 6, 2009, 123, 
30. Brian Williams – Just a Cog in The National Disinformation Machine – February 14, 2015, 127, 
III. The Failure of the Bush/Obama War Agenda, 131, 
31. We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us – March 6, 2007, 139, 
32. When Your Failed Policy Actually Fails – April 12, 2007, 144, 
33. "The New Way Forward in Iraq" Fails on All Fronts – September 25, 2007, 147, 
34. Torture: What's in a Name? – October 13, 2007, 151, 
35. Is Increased Security Making Us Safer? – January 28, 2008, 154, 
36. America's Serious Problems Require Real Solutions Not Rhetoric – February 6, 2008, 158, 
37. Afghanistan/Pakistan Where Empires Go to Die – May 14, 2009, 162, 
38. Afghanistan: Necessity Isn't Always Just – January 11, 2010, 165, 
39. Did President Obama Sell America on Libya? – March 30, 2011, 168, 
40. Lessons Learned from Osama bin Laden? – May 4, 2011, 171, 
41. Obama's Irresponsible Rhetoric Exacerbates Global Tensions – September 10, 2013, 173, 
42. You Have the Watches; They Have the Time – January 11, 2014, 177, 
43. Pax Americana vs. the Arc of the Moral Universe – July 15, 2014, 180, 
44. My Enemy's Enemy Is Not My Friend – September 22, 2014, 183, 
45. Jeb Bush the Echo Chamber and Revisionist History – May 18, 2015, 187, 
46. Netanyahu Doubles Down on Bush's Big Lie – March 6, 2015, 190, 
IV. Race and Democracy, 195, 
47. Focus on Their Color; Fail to See Their Humanity – November 30, 2006, 203, 
48. Impeachment Is Not a Partisan Issue; It's a Democracy Issue – December 8, 2006, 206, 
49. When Common Sense Is Not All That Common – May 29, 2007, 209, 
50. The Democrats' Problem with Democracy – March 10, 2008, 212, 
51. It's Not the Dream; It's Our Nightmare – April 4, 2008, 216, 
52. Senator Barack Obama and the Paradox of Dr. King – August 30, 2008, 218, 
53. A Moment to be Proud; an Invitation to be Great Again! – January 21, 2009, 222, 
54. RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Old Republican Wine in New Bottles? – February 6, 2009, 225, 
55. The Power of Imagery and Why It is Used – February 20, 2009, 231, 
56. President Obama's New Approach to a New World Order? – April 20, 2009, 235, 
57. Empathy vs. Ideology on the Court? – June 4, 2009, 239, 
58. Black Republicans in 2010, Symbolism vs. Practical Politics – June 22, 2010, 244, 
59. Black Farmers Ongoing Struggle for Justice – March 30, 2011, 247, 
60. AG Eric Holder, Wrong on the Law, the Politics, and on the Wrong Side of History – March 14, 2012, 249, 
61. Trayvon Martin's Moment Should Spark a Movement – April 4, 2012, 252, 
62. The 2013 March, the "Tranquilizing Drug of Gradualism" – September 3, 2013, 255, 
63. The Un-United States of America – September 30, 2013, 258, 
64. Dr. Ben Carson, Great Surgeon but a Bad Icon for the Political Collective – March 26, 2013, 261, 
65. Dr. Ben Carson "Jumps Jim Crow" – October 30, 2013, 264, 
66. The Day Santa Really Went Black – January 6, 2014, 269, 
67. Reparations – the 800 lb. Bale of Cotton in the Room – August 4, 2014, 272, 
68. Ferguson – Past is Prologue – August 27, 2014, 278, 
69. I'm an Angry African American Male and with Good Reason – October 4, 2014, 281, 
70. We Must Look Back in Order to Move Forward – December 7, 2014, 284, 
71. Rudy Giuliani and the Race to the Bottom – February 23, 2015, 288, 
72. President Obama-Selma-and the Meaning of America – March 11, 2015, 291, 
73. The West – Dyson Exchange; Less Personal Animus More Policy Analysis – April 22, 2015, 295, 
74. The Baltimore Rebellion and Newton's Third Law of Motion – April 28, 2015, 298, 
V. Epilogue, 301, 
75. President Obama,-Selma-and the Meaning of America – March 15, 2015, 310, 
76. It's Not the Symbol; It's The Sentiment – June 29, 2015, 314, 
77. Russian Roulette With Three In The Chamber – January 20, 2016, 317, 
78. Trump – The Republican Frankenstein – February 5, 2016, 322, 
79. Supreme Court Injustice – March 2, 2016, 325, 
80. History Did Not Begin Yesterday – March 30, 2016, 328,