Obama riots

The Obama riots were a series of racially motivated conflagrations that erupted nationwide in the last half of President Barack Obama's second term. Initially elected as America's first "post-racial" president many African-Americans became increasingly disillusioned as Obama's presidency progressed. Critics charged Obama personally inflamed the rioters and lawless elements responsible for the destruction of property, businesses, and jobs in several American cities.

"Police acted stupidly"

President Obama attempted to mitigate the damage his off the cuff comments about the integrity of law enforcement in the performance of their duties by inviting his good personal friend and the arresting officer to a White Beer Summit..

After the "Gates flap." Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested on misdemeanor disturbance charges. Prof. Gates told the arresting officer, "Do you know who I am?" Gates was a personal friend of Obama. When asked about the incident at a press conference, Obama charged the arresting officer with "acting stupidly." Polls shortly after revealed Obama's personal popularity and approval ratings declined significantly across the board, on every major subject and among all demographic groups. Obama's approval rating is lower than that of his predecessor in 2001 despite liberals' demonization of George W. Bush.

The public perception of Obama's favoritism toward influential and powerful elites was revealed in polls, with the greatest declines among poor people, the very group Obama worked hard to court in 2008. The respected Pew Research Center noted "Some of the larger declines are among members of his own party."