a look at the politics of the obama administration and how race is playing a part. "race and politics," up next. captions made possible by the u.s. department of education and central city productions, inc. welcome to a new season of "our world with black enterprise." i'm ed gordon. our kickoff show will take an in-depth look how the issue of race has come to play in the obama administration. also take a look at hot-button issues like health care.

joining us today for our special edition reporters roundtable are pam gentry, political correspondent whose blog pam on politics can be found on that website. t.j. holmes, cnn anchor and ron claiborne, abc news anchor. "weekend gma." first, let's look back at the shot heard around the world that led to whispers and speculation about race. >> the reforms -- the reforms i'm prosing would not apply to those who are here illegally. >> you lie. >> not true. >> and that led to a former president saying this -- >> i think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity towards president barack obama is based on the fact that he is a black man. that he's african-american. >> interesting to hear jimmy carter say that, though we should know historically, jimmy carter has always been in the

fore of race and politics. talk to me about that statement and how true you see it. >> you talked about how the obama administration what role race plays in this. what they're trying to do is not deal with race. the reasons are fairly obvious. i would think that he wants to be seen as the president not the african-american president, and he does not want to be seen as complaining about the treatment he is getting, because he is black, because a lot of white people, a lot of white voters, will look at this and say, there those people go again, blaming their problems again on race. >> we knew pam gentry, he -- he beg barack obama, would always be in a precarious position to be the president of united states, but also deal with race in this country without being looked upon as, oh, you see, when they got in office they were going to do this. you cannot erase race from everything. >> no. i think this past weekend he

tried these large comments to say, look, i know there are people out there who look at me first and notice i'm a black man. i've got that. i'm moving on past it, because my role is to be president. but i think what the white house is doing now that strategically might help them out, they're not stepping out there on race but letting other people do it. i don't think that it's a coincidence that you hear from the majority whip, james clyburn, that he agrees this was a racial issue, and that others started stepping forward and writing and talking about it. he's saying, i'm here. i'm president. i don't have to address it. >> yet at some level, t.j., doesn't the white house have to bring ownership of some of the racial tension that remains high in this country? >> well, it appears that they don't want to. they're trying to stay away from that. we saw this happen throughout the campaign even with the president. you don't want to be seen as being the president for the black people. you've got to be the president for everybody. i think what got a lot of folks, what president carter said, was that the overwhelming majority of what we're seeing is because of race. now, i don't know how many people agree with that.

sure, some of that is out there. but there's no question, i've been surprised how little race has come up during his presidency. this man's got big problems that transcend race and all kinds of other things. this man's got bigger issues to deal with for everybody, and has to be everybody's president. >> can you stay away from it too much? can it be detrimental to the idea now that you've crossed this watershed, the hope is that this person will be able to deal with race in a different way? >> i think politically, as far as from the perspective of white vote. white americans, you cannot stay away from it. a lot of african-americans hear the president saying in effect, i don't think race played a big part in the reaction of the "you lie" accusation. it seems almost naive. i think african-americans, by and large, know better. >> harmful to this president to stay away from it in the way t.j. suggested in the sense that there will come a time a level of frustration from the black community, who's given a lot of rope in understanding what you have to be to be the first

african-american in that seat, to say to him, it's time to stand up now. >> i don't think that he's run the rick, because he doesn't completely avoid the issue. he strategically will say, said in his u.n. speech, i was raised an african-american, i would not be in this position today. he recognizes it. as long as he recognizes the fact that he's a minority and that he does placate the issue when he can, i think he'll be -- >> take the outburst from wilson, the idea if race indeed does play a part in this, will that subtle, benign, upset issues to correct this? >> he needs everybody's support and certainly i talked about this with members of the 100 black men, you're familiar with. they said we'll give him some time, but there are certain things at some point black people expect a black man to do for them. just like if john mccain was elected president.

veterans would have looked at him. we have one of ours we expect him to speak to our issues. black people at some point will say, this is our black president, we have every right to be proud of him but we're expecting something from him because he have one of ours in the presidency. when white people hear that, politics has always been quid pro quo. >> he delved into that in the gates' affair. a non-winner for the president. i think he's going to be skittish before going out in that area again. >> i think we're making the assumption we know what black america is going to be asking that president to do for them. because i, in my experience, thus far, i haven't seen any outcry. i haven't seen that. i thought he was going to do this or -- >> what are the whispers? >> two different things. a lot of african-american organizations that haven't put the cards on the table. >> has black america and other minorities, others who voted in solid blocks for this president, come to kind of fight the battle

against the right with him? in a way that might be able to minimize some of the outcry that we've seen with what -- >> i don't think -- not yet. i think part of that is the arguably, the mishandling of the issues strategically by the white house to concede control to members of congress. that's been a problem for the president with all americans including black americans so far. >> pam, you were there quite a bit. you know the people inside the white house. is there a sense of stumbling, of slipping, when you talk about his inner circle, say, obviously a couple of people in dealing with the race issue? >> they never describe it that way, no. in dealing with the race issue, because basically, every day, robert gibbs says this is not an issue in the sense that the president understands who he is, understands that the issues on his table are far larger -- >> you say that every time he comes to the table. that cannot be the case. >> that's what they say, but i think they had a great learning

experience with the gates situation. that comment that he made i think drove the conversation to them being so careful now. >> let me take a break. we'll continue our sdofrgs right after this. the president got asked a question on the spot and he reacted like a lot of black men in this country. well, of course, it was race. of course the police officer acted wrong. well, of course. of course, the president can't do that. parents magazine and edmunds.com called it "one of the best family cars of 2009." the insurance institute for highway safety calls it a "2010 top safety pick." consumers digest has called it a "best buy" two years in a row. and with a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty... we call it peace of mind. chevy malibu. during the spring event, qualified lessees, now get a 27-month, low mileage lease on this malibu ls for around $199 a month. call for details.

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backs with our reporters' roundtable before we move to health kags, "fortune," wanted to make a comment. >> talking about how the gates situation is something they can set up around the table and discuss a strategy for race. one time they didn't have that option, because the president got asked a question on the spot and he reacted like a lot of black men in this country and a lot of us in our conversation with family and friend have those conversations in the kitchens, talking about, of course it was race. well, of course the police officer was in the wrong. well, of course. well, of course, the president can't do that. he didn't have a choice at the tile. he reacted. >> if he does, you use his language, really take the learning lesson and teach it as a learning lesson, a teaching lesson for america. did they fumble that? >> the problem, african-americans the way that played out, as you're saying, t.j., the president remarked candidly when the question first asked and with 24 hours he's

inviting the cambridge police officer to the white house. i think a lot of african-americans say, what did that man do, if he did what was alleged, to earn an invitation to the white house? i think at this point, the president disappointed a lot of african-americans in the way he played that subsequent to that. >> a learning moment, i don't see -- >> banking on the idea goodwill for black folks, you'll understand? doing that too much? does he run the risk of doing it too much? >> runs the rick, but given more leeway on issues more sensitive to us, to african-americans because we all understand the predicament he's . >> move to one of those issues. that's health care reform. he is having a slippery slope right now in terms of the climb to try to move this forward. one of the things asked ron off camera, i put it to you t.j. on camera, we've seen the right mobilize and get in front of it, push the issue. democrats have had that problem for a long time. what about groups that solidly

his feats and souldedly we're behind his president 110%, i.e., minority, gays, et set virginia. should they not be out there doing counterfighting if will you? >> it's too difficult for anybody because they don't know what to get behind. everybody, this president still personally have popular, his popularity on the issues is slipping a bit, because -- especially health care. nobody knows exactly what, where he stands. he can come out and say it, but when he puts it up in everybody's hands up on the hill. so if the president comes out and, i'm advocating for this and that, this and that. a lot of people say he should go up with a big bill that says health care by barack obama. here you go. work it out. >> we saw what the failure of health care did to hillary clinton during the clinton years. it did not touch obviously him, and now that this president has taken ownership, do we run the risk of this being kind of that faltering notion of, you can't

do? >> there is that risk that he will not pull this off, but i believe that there will be some kind of health care reform. it may not about what he outlined or his goals were early in his term, but they will get something and i think that will resound his benefit. >> pam, is this president tough enough, particularly with his party, pelosi, reid and others saying, look, this is what i need to get put through, damit, do it? >> that's where she now. not where he was earlier. let's talk about 1994 and this particular -- this particular shot at it. the difference now is that he does have some allies. it might not be the citizens but he does have business on his side. he does have the pharmaceutical industry on his side, he has the american medical association on his side. the difference is, either they're mot making enough money or making so much they want to protect themselves, but businesses definitely need help on health care. and those are people who contribute to the campaign and they can't afford some of the coverage they're offering to

their employees. >> not morally, t.j., but politically, can he afford to go out and say, you know what? these folks who are stonewalling this have been here for 10, 15, 20 years. haven't been able to fix this problem. i'm trying to do it. here's your stonewall once again. can he do that? in a stronger way than he's done. he really has not done that. >> anybody can say he would do it in a stronger way, there's political risk. you would understand that. so many political risks and he'd trying to, it seem, at least, he wants a bipartisan bill. he could get it through just as a partisan bill but he doesn't want to do that. >> he's not going to get a bipartisan bill. >> okay, but -- >> at this point, name his opponents. call out the people who are -- >> they are looking at naming names. he said he was going to do that in his speech and basically calling them out is calling out who received the $260 million from lobbyists for this bill. >> he hasn't figured yet the

republicans as matter of political strategy will oppose whatever he's in favor of. at that point, do what roosevelt did in '36 and call him out. name names. say, these are the people who are obstructing me. >> let me ask you this and state this before i get a call from the white house. i am saying i have no knowledge of think, but i would think there's got to be internal struggle there with someone like rahm emanuel, who is used to going after naming names, cutting some throats. and not seeing it happen right now. >> yes. i'm sure there is, there are some differences, and they have said at senior meetings, senior staff meetings he listens to everyone's opinions but is the type of person who comes out at the end and really wants to make his own decisions but i can't imagine there isn't that bit of a turmoil, because rahm emanuel is very sophisticated, knows congress very well and that's why he was brought on as chief of staff. >> last break. back with more right after this. the president has a problem here, because there's going to it be high unemployment well into the mid-term elections, and

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one of the things, t.j., that's interesting, at the end of the day even if he gets health care through beyond the foreign policy and war issue, the domestic problem is going to be this economy and jobs, jobs, jobs. >> that is the one thing everybody can understand. no matter how big and complex an issue. talk about median income, homes at some level. everyone can understand if i have a job or don't. if unemployment is at 10% or 40 perce -- 4%. that's what everyone understand. >> bernanke says we're through the woods ishgsz think we're okay. go to detroit and tell people that. they don't want to hear it in cleveland and gary, indiana. how does they make sure that these people, and truly entire cities don't fall by the wayside? >> you know, i'm not sure to the extent to which the president or any president can change the job situation. the unemployment rate is going to reach 10%, 11% in the next year or so.

arguably, the president can come back or try to with another stimulus program, but largely, the job situation is out of the control of the president. he's just going to have to bear the consequences of a bad job situation into the mid-term elections. >> while we understand that technically, emotionally people don't understand that, pam. they want a president to find jobs. we've talked about roosevelt and looked back historically. the wpa and others that found jobs and ways to put people back to work. >> right. i think what the problem, too, here is that lots of these jobs, it's hurting states. it's not just hurting individuals anymore now. we know people talk about it, but when you see state layoffs, when you see money, there's no tax dollars, they stop coming in. where are people going to get this money? it's falling on -- look at states like california and michigan. they're trying to sit back and say, we know for the next two or three years we'll have no more taxable income. can't keep raising cigarettes

and liquor tax. how will we run our states? the pressure from governors will come on the white house and they're really going to have -- if they don't figure this out -- >> a sense of lack of faith in historically, again, there were times where when you were laid off you knew, if i just survive this short period of time, i'll be back on my feet. people now ashoop they're laid off and may not find jobs for literally years. >> jobs are going away and not coming back. they are disappearing. that is something that a lot of people just, this generation, are not used to seeing. you are used to being able to go back but businesses are going away, jobs are going away'sgoing overseas in some cases and, or just going away. >> how do you say that, when mccain said that, he was lambasted. >> the president has a problem here, because there's going to be high unemployment well into the mid-term elections and he and his party may bear the consequences of that. again, i'm not sure what he can

do. besides a public works project. >> the only stop gap he's put in, he's stopped some jobs from moving offshore. that's the only thing. if he can hold on to those jobs, that's the saving jobs. >> about a minute left. have democrats stumbled? they've been given the entire plate and there's criticism whether they've eaten anything off of it. >> is isn't there a saying, i'm not a member of an organized party? i'm a democrat. i think the diversity of that party just makes it almost impossible for them to walk in lock step. so whether it's a stumble or not, they can't walk a lock step. >> political survival, as wrong said, we're around the corner from mid-terms. it would seem to me, if you just want to stay in office you'd understand we've got to get moving. >> the issue, still, hey, democrats, or the people put us in charge. they put us in charge to do something, and if they're not getting results, then there's nobody else they can blame. they can't call -- they'll try to call republican obstruction, but democrat, in charge of both houses of congress and the white house. >> i think the white house sundaysing now they have a political problem. that's why you see the white

house involving itself in local races, trying to hang on to those majorities in congress, even though they don't have ideological majorities. democratic majorities, not ideological majorities. >> soon to be seen. great discussion, folks. thanks very much. we'll be right back. welcome to our mcdonald's. yours? really? it's been our dream since we were kids. uh, that long, huh? why not? mcdonald's really supports entrepreneurs. they spend over $5 billion dollars... with businesses in communities like ours. you two really know your stuff. we've done our homework! time for breakfast. mom! not in front of the customers. wake up! wake up! - i just had the most amazing dream! - me too! opportunities inspiring big dreams. mcdonald's.

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again, my thanks to pam

gentry, t.j. hom, ron claiborne for this discussion. we'll have you back soon. thank you for joining this edition of "our world with black enterprise." don't forget to visit our website. i'm ed gordon, and thanks for miking "our world" your world. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com i get to sleep faster, stay asleep and wake refreshed. melt to sleep fast. unisom sleep melts.