YBW Question of the Day: Should President Obama have Intervened on the Troy Davis Case?

September 23, 2011 By Staff 25 Comments

President Obama has a history of speaking up on issues that are important to the White House. During his introduction of the health care reform package back in 2009, the president went out of his way to speak on behalf of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates after Gates was arrested by police on his front porch. Some argue that President Obama should have spoken up on behalf of the late Troy Davis.

White House spokesperson Jay Carney said that it’s “not appropriate” for the White House to intervene on specific cases and state prosecutions. But the president could have delayed the execution by ordering a federal investigation.

Do you think President Obama should have intervened in some way or was he right to remain silent?

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Filed Under: Featured, Politics, Your Black World Tagged With: barack obama, troy davis case

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4RFIL4BXBAVXQ4LKPNRBJRQBPM None of Your B

No.
That would require Barack Obama to commit the sin of standing with the Black community while White people are watching. When Troy Davis died with his arms outstretched pleading for mercy and justice, Barack Obama did absolutely nothing.

I’m a lawyer. Talk to me.
What “law” kept Barack Obama from picking up the telephone and talking to Troy Davis in the last hours of his life? What “law” kept Obama from taking the same Air Force One he uses to raise millions of dollars for himself and flying to Georgia to stand in that crowd and reassure Black folks that HE hears us? What “law” kept President Obama from writing an editorial, going on television and at least giving his side of the story?

ANSWER: The law of self-preservation.

We have a President who prostituted the Black community to get into the White House, and abandons the least of these even when life hangs in the balance.

The State of Georgia didn’t execute Troy Davis. Barack Obama’s cowardice did.
I am willing to bet my mortgage payment that if Dr. King were alive today, he wouldn’t vote for Obama in 2012. Let’s honor Dr. King and cast that vote against Obama for MLK and our race.

Donald Edmond, Esq.
Washington DC

David

hey mr. i’m a lawyer… lol

you seemed coherent when you stated ’cast that vote against obama for mlk and our race!” thinking the next sentence would offer a suggestion, you seemed to have experienced a mental breakdown in revealing the name of the candidate you advise black people to vote for in opposition of obama to honor mlk in the next election.

you seem to have a lot to say, therefore this should be rather easy for you…mr. i’m a lawyer!

Tony

for a second, i wondered what kind of lawyer would make a moronic statement like that…then it hit me….the guy must be a jail house lawyer!

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4RFIL4BXBAVXQ4LKPNRBJRQBPM None of Your B

Maybe the problem is your penchant for limiting your thought process to mere seconds?

So it’s “moronic” for Barack Obama…the “fierce urgency of now” Barack Obama (did I mention that was an MLK phrase) to open his mouth and take a stand for Troy Davis and the Black community because he’s SCARED of what White people might think?

If that’s true, its equally “moronic” for anyone in the Black community to vote for Obama in 2012.

Given the apparent fact that you’ve got the market cornered on
moron…could your familiarity with jail be a byproduct of actual time
served? No wait, don’t answer that…your lone brain cell might spring a
leak.

Tony

i googled your name mr. i’m a lawyer. no employment as an attorney in field of law..but i did find your name on every site bashing obama. maybe you specialize in the internet!
no doubt you’re a fake as attorney, internet troll on the payroll of the racist tea baggers to create acrimony within the black community for your candidate listed in another post, rick perry.
you’re exposed, the pillowcase bedsheet was pulled off of your head…mr. i’m a internet lawyer!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4RFIL4BXBAVXQ4LKPNRBJRQBPM None of Your B

Yeah because we’re all on Google.
No doubt that you’re a moron.
When you finally get to High School, “but it wasn’t on Google” isn’t going to help.

Anonymous

ROFLMBAO! I’m going to have to borrow that one if you don’t mind.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4RFIL4BXBAVXQ4LKPNRBJRQBPM None of Your B

Actually, I didn’t “reveal the name of the candidate” nor am I
“advising” anyone who they should vote for. Instead of conjuring up
imagined mental breakdowns, perhaps you need to see Dr. Phil or a mental
health professional for a routine checkup. Seeing things that aren’t
there can’t be a sign of sanity.

Did you actually mean to ASK me which candidate? Which person to vote
for as an alternative? Which candidate Dr. King would vote for in 2012?
If so, perhaps something beyond a 2nd grade education is in order for
you?

Have a great weekend. I’m sure Romper Room can’t wait to see you Monday.

Niyajward

You’re right. Im going to vote for Mitt Romney instead. Im sure Dr. King would be tickled about that.

No wait…I’ll just stay home and not vote at all. That way Republicans can win by default. Im sure they have Black Folks best interest at heart.

Look at their track record. Republicans love Black Folks.
Thanks None of Your B-You’re so smart!

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4RFIL4BXBAVXQ4LKPNRBJRQBPM None of Your B

Thanks for the idea. Let’s look at the track record.

1.8 million: That’s how many MORE African Americans were employed when George W. Bush was President of the United States than there are now during the Obama presidency.

51%: That’s the high water mark for unemployment among Black youth during the Obama presidency.

1930s: That’s the last decade when Black communities suffered MORE than they do today, during the Obama presidency.

ZERO: The number of times Barack Obama mentioned “Black” “poverty” or “jobs for Black youth” in public since taking office.

ZERO: The number of words spoken by President Obama to Troy Davis, his family or ANY of the supporters gathered to stand up for the Black community.

ALIVE: What Troy Davis was when George W. Bush was President.

But oh, I am “sure” Barack Obama has “Black folks best interest at heart”…which is odd, because Obama won’t even say “Black folks” if there are too many White people watching.

Go ahead. Vote for Barack Obama in 2012…it’s great to know that Obama isn’t the only Black person with no respect or regard for our race.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Iris-Boyd/611306703 Iris Boyd

Geez, some of you black folks on here have Obama Derangement Syndrome big time. You guys make accusations that has no basis in fact. You give comments that makes no sense at all. ANY issue that goes on, you find some way to blame President Obama for it. It is fucking ridiculous.

Perhaps President Obama was too busy seeing to the nation’s business.

Hell, I doubt that he is even aware of what was going on in Georgia given that he never watches the corporate media.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Iris-Boyd/611306703 Iris Boyd

He was right to remain silent. In Louis Gates case, a reporter asked the President a question about him getting arrested and Obama gave is opinion but he didn’t ORDER anyone to do anything.

Like I said in another piece on this site “People here commonly think that a president has limitless power, especially over domestic issues. He is, after all, considered “the
leader of the free world,” with the scope of presidential powers in mind.

But the powers of the office are not without limits, especially, in this country. In the Davis’ case, as tragic as the sentence was, it was a STATE case involving STATE charges, tried in STATE courts, appealed to STATE officials. The President doesn’t have the authority to stop the execution. If he tried to interfere, he would’ve overreached his authority and that would have been a big mistake.

However, although the case was sent to the US Supreme Court for review, they could’ve made a ruling to consider another appeal, and send it right back to the STATES. But they chose not to.

It’s unsatisfying. Unfortunately, under the rule of law, this buck doesn’t always stop in the Oval Office.”

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4RFIL4BXBAVXQ4LKPNRBJRQBPM None of Your B

Henry Louis Gates was an elite, powerful Ivy League figure, equally detached from the Black community, or in other words, one of Obama’s closest friends.

Explain to me, perhaps in all caps, which “LAW” prohibited Barack Obama from opening his mouth to speak out against this injustice? Obama is perfectly willing to risk public opinion to stand up for 11.3 illegal Mexican immigrants who broke FEDERAL laws entering this country…but a Black man facing the death penalty for a crime he did not commit is just too much for a so-called Black president to speak out against?

The nonsensical suggestion that I called for more than Obama to open his BIG mouth and say something violates any clause, phrase or letter of the Constitution of the United States or any state or federal statute is laughably in its abject ignorance.

The President had the “authority” to pick up the phone…talk to Troy Davis…speak to his young cousin, sister and surviving family members…President Obama had the authority to stand for a grieving Black community, angered by this injustice.

But poor Barack was scared because being seen with ordinary Black people would hurt his carefully coiffed image with White voters. Or worse, President Obama is indeed a White man who happened to have a Black father.

Unsatisfying? Didn’t Obama come to Washington to end politics as usual? Or was that just another LIE?

http://www.facebook.com/people/Iris-Boyd/611306703 Iris Boyd

Your rhetoric is based purely on your emotions, full of hyperbole and devoid of any rational or intelligent thought. You have Obama Derangement Syndrome and It is very hard to have a serious debate with someone like you, so this conversation is over.

Goodbye.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4RFIL4BXBAVXQ4LKPNRBJRQBPM None of Your B

If anything, the ignorant plantation negro who blindly follows Obama (example: YOU) suffers from the Obama derangement syndrome. I respect your refusal to confront facts, make excuses for the failed Obama presidency, run and hide, etc., that’s what President Obama did in the last hours of Troy Davis’ life.

Gee, a Black man executed in the South for a crime he didn’t commit and a Black president scared to open his mouth or even TALK to the family…emotional? Are you stupid?

Anonymous

You are the poster child for no child left behind. They teach basic government in grade school.

GunzNRoses

No offense, but the president is not omnipotent, omnipresent or omniscience, he can’t rescue every black situation or black issues that comes up just because he’s black (african-american) He’s not a savior. He being the president has to mutual to every race of people, he can’t show impartial behavior. That’s one of the mistakes we as African-American’s have is expecting him to be a savior for us only.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4RFIL4BXBAVXQ4LKPNRBJRQBPM None of Your B

No offense taken.
Barack Obama doesn’t have to be “omnipresent”…what he has to do is weigh in on the MOST controversial issues in Black America, not hide from them. By hiding from the Troy Davis case, Obama showed he wasn’t impartial…he hid from this issue to save face with White voters. Keep in mind, this is the same Obama who did put his neck on the line to grant amnesty to 11.3 million illegal Mexican immigrants.

Anonymous

FACT: AP just reported that President Obama has deported more illegal immigrants in 21/2 years than George Bush did in 8. AGAIN, THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR PROMOTING IGNORANCE ON BLACK BLOGS!

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4RFIL4BXBAVXQ4LKPNRBJRQBPM None of Your B

FACT: Obama granted amnesty to over 11.3 million illegal Mexican immigrants who were also facing deportation.

Obama deports 1 million illegal Mexicans, gives 11.3 million Mexicans a get out of jail free, stay in America card.

1/11 isn’t a passing grade.

Anonymous

This blog post is a clear example of why black oriented blogs get no respect. You are profiteers in misinformation. THE PRESIDENT HAD NO AUTHORITY TO LAUNCH A FEDERAL INVSTIGATION! THERE WERE NO FEDERAL ISSUES HERE. IF THERE WERE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL–NOT THE PRESIDENT–WOULD HAVE THAT AUTHORITY. It would have been UNPRECEDENTED for the President of the United States to speak out on a state death penalty case like this. And you better bet Republicans would have started the impeachment process. There is NO EXCUSE for the perpetuation of this ignorance!
Faithful56

By God”s Childposted on 25 September at 17:43

YES, THE PRESIDENT HAVE INTERVENED

People today are so… evil including over ¾ of public officials if they are ever honest with themselves. Everybody has done something wrong, yes including them, (THEY JUST, HAVE NOT BEEN CAUGHT YET!) They are as bad as anyone else. They play the perfect model role but, by no means as you can see, there are no model roles, not even for them. I assure you those who judge others has too… many skeleton’s in their own closet with no sound mind to make any decision. When did God appoint them God that they should trust themselves? They were appointed to have high standards with the One and True Almighty God as their Advisor. In this, I say…, Inside this world (Everything materialistic and evil came from ruler of darkness in this world). Not spiritually made by our Father God. He is Good. satan captive’s ( little people’s) minds seems to get smaller and weaker in making sound decisions each generation and the older generation are nothing but big spoiled babies playing grown- ups. I personally feel on man’s own judgment alone, is incompetent to make such decisions of taking a man’s life. God has means for that. Man is too… evil. satan is the head of such people. Wherever the head goes, the tail will follow. Where are the true believer’s? The (solid answer), not enough true praying believers’. If true and pure faith un-wavering is present, mountains such as this can and could have been moved. We have got to go old school seriously now, right now! Back waaay, .back; dig deep, really deep to know God. Many know of my Father which is in Heaven but, do you really know Him? To Know Him you (MUST), spend quality time with Him. To the Family of Mr. Troy Davis, Mr. Davis may be absent from our sight but He will never be forgotten. I just heard about it today and I felt a love cry burning deep in my spirit for the extremely unjust treatment. Mr. Davis journey may have ended. But you must remember we have a God that Sits High and Looks Low, from the top officials to the bottom officials and all false witnesses; anyone that makes haste to shed innocent blood, the Almighty GOD, I know and trust said; He will repay the perpetrators in this life and or on JUDGMENT DAY. HIS WILL…, BE DONE! Man may run but he can not hide. To the officials with no conscience and the false witnesses, Matthew 27:24 Pontius Pilate washed his hands too with Jesus. but the blood was still there. I KNOW INNOCENCE VERY WELL, this Christain Brother was innocent. God has some well over due work to be done with unjustly people. Spiritually, He will make the crooked straight. I can’t say sorry for your lost, because he is not lost, we know where He is, safe with His/Our Father God Almighty in Heaven. All will know He’s one of Father God’s own little lambs. Love to All. email: faithful56@gmail.com
Faithful56

CORRECRTION: THE PRESIDENT SHOULD INTERVENED (GOD’S CHILD)
Rwilliams2290

yes
Faithful56

THE DEVIL IS BUSY TRYING HARD FOR THIS MESSAGE NOT TO GET OUT, AS YOU CAN SEE., BUT YOU GET MY MEANING LOUD AND CLEAR.