I've been reading a lot recently about Barack Obama's "entitlement" to everything, including the job of president.

Now it appears that he thinks of himself as super-entitled to everything, compared to all of the "mediocre" white males who attend public colleges. This man isn't entitled to anything, particularly not my vote and support!

"I've been reading a lot recently about Barack Obama's "entitlement" to everything, including the job of president."

Please provide a reference or source. Preferably online.

Obama 08!

Did you read the article? He described himself as lucky. He wasn't "entitled." He was graduating toward the top of is Harvard class. He was the editor of the Harvard Law Review. In any given year, someone (regardless of race or gender) with those qualifications is going to be sought after. He wasn't entitled; he earned it by being one of the best in the country.

Is life easier for someone like Obama, than, say, some frat boy who scraped by with a 2.65 grade average from his state college? Yes. Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law totally beats the hell out of "got by at State." What he was talking about is the fact (and this fact has not changed in the nearly twenty years since the interview) that the white guy with the 2.65 grade average from his state college is going to enter the workforce at a much higher level than the black guy with the 2.65 grade average from his state college.

If there's any entitlement going on here, it's toward those mediocre white guys - you know, like our current president.

Dear Mabelle55;

I know this is hard for you given that you feel resentments toward either Obama personally or individuals generaly who speak out against discrimination. I don't know your motives or your heart.

But you have learned these attitudes either from a hard life or from a misguided mentor/parent or teacher. If you would simply trace back your thinking on this point, you may come to a new learning/turning point, especially if in your heart you believe in what is fair for everyone.

First, look at your response to this blog in terms of the particular article you are responding to. You believe the article reflects that a young Obama in his twenties believed himself as "super-entitled to everything." But the article quotes him as speaking up for other African-Americans who have been discriminated against, not himself. He clearly stated that for himself those barriers had been removed. He believed he was blessed and not entitled to his luck.

You also say that he accuses "white males" who attend public schools of being "mediocre." Re-read the article, or read it for the first time if you relied on the sensational headline before writing your comment. His only point was that discrimination should be addressed throughout the hiring system, not only among the highest achievers. He said that a black person with "mediocre" credentials should be treated the same as a white person with the same credentials. Surely, you believe this too. Otherwise you would be endorsing disparate treatment for one group or another -- and that view would indicate a belief that whites were "entitled" to better treatment. You don't believe that, do you?

I can tell by your passion that you are not an anti-black elitist who would favor discrimination. I'll bet you are like most Americans who believe in fair treatment but have somehow come to "react" to statements such as the young Obama's with a quick, critical judgment. In fact, in the core of your comment are the seeds of agreement with young Obama -- no one is entitled to unfair beneficial treatment in our country based on race.

Discrimination against anyone is wrong and America, like most nations, has struggled with it mightily. My experience in teaching civil rights has led me to believe that almost everyone believes in civil rights and equality of opportunity -- but we don't all share the same perspectives. But whoever you support for president, don't let your core goodness be derailed by hasty, angry judgments against people who have been oppressed or who speak on their behalf.

I wish you the best.

Hi John, Let me compliment you and say that this was a very courteous, thoughtful response to Mabelle55.

I hope she receives it in the warm spirit it was given.

- Scott T. Shier

No I am no a Racist, I am brown, some of my best friends are blacks, and I personally know many whites and yellow skinned who supported all other colors for the right causes.

I studied in SC and join NAACP as great cause of equality and standing up for the truth without any prejudice is everyone’s moral responsibility.

Regardless of the race, gender, faith or creed the personal arrogance and feeling that it is my right has taken over the intelligence of many before him and such is the case with Barack Obama. His high flying and “I am better and above all” attitude is the greatest enemy he has.

Before some of us decide whether he is responsible for his pastor’s comments, or he is so “spic and span” clean idol, look at some of the excerpts from his book; “Dreams of my Father:”

“I ceased to advertise my mother’s race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.”

“I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother’s race.”

“The emotion between the races could never be pure..... The other race (white) would always remain just that: Menacing, alien and apart.”

“Never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father’s image, the black man, the son of Africa, that I’d picked all the attributes I sought in myself.”

In the above excerpts the irony is that 12-13 years old, Obama was fully benefitting from his “white” grand mother and other relatives. All this nonsense and calculated anger is displayed in a book that he wrote at “maturity and success.” This is also to knowingly entice and incite divisiveness, polarize people, portray and be accepted as a leader. Surely the twenty years of sermons left deeper impression on the very soul or may I say “fueled the fire”, now the followers need to realize that before it is too late.

In July 2007, talking to the reporters Barack Hussain Obama said; “I would overcome Hillary’s lead in the polls because to know me is to love me.”

In January at a gathering he said that by the time he was done speaking "a light will shine down from somewhere. It will light upon you," he continued. "You will experience an epiphany. And you will say to yourself, I have to vote for Barack. I have to do it."

A few months later, he said, "Every place is Barack Obama country once Barack Obama's been there."

His wife, Michelle said: "Barack is one of the smartest people you will ever encounter who will deign to enter this messy thing called politics," his wife said a few weeks ago, adding that Americans will get only one chance to elect him.”

What a sense of entitlement or he still uses some of the “stuff” that he use to “puff on” but I guess he also “inhaled.”

The case in point, here we have someone (the pastor) who praises Farrakhan, said what he said that now everyone knows and happened to be pastor and spiritual leader of Barrack Hussain Obama who is looking at the highest office on earth, and will be paid by my dime.

Then we have the devoted follower Mr. Obama who replied that he was not aware or present in the congregation when the words were said. Come on, here is a campaign that watches every word anyone says against their man like a hawk or a vulture, call people racist for a single disagreement, Refuses to acknowledge or condemn until got totally cornered.

Same is the case with the Farrakhan’s endorsement of Obama, he didn't condemn him until got cornered.

Can anybody say that he does not know or not there when Michelle Obama uttered famous "first time really proud of America" sermon." There are no comments or condemnation because the media has not cornered him yet.

So it is not about the "pastor's words" it is about the pattern of deception. As students of law, both Obama and I know that there is a great difference between the "freedom of speech" and "hateful speech." It is the "blinded by the light, colors, and charisma" followers who need to see the difference.

Thank you all.

I see no sense of entitlement here on the part of Obama. Where is this coming from?

I have not seen something like that in a long time here on The Fray, well done.