I meant if the answer to race relations starts from the President, that was not the case with Obama.

People are not blameless, there is always the fear of the unknown and the other within us.  That said people are manipulated in every society through coercion tactics implemented by the greater culture.  What goes on in homes, schools, communities and is relayed in sub cultures plays a role in emboldening stances as normal.  Seeing how dramatically culture has shifted in the United states from 1917 to 2017 is a testament to our capacity for change. It also serves as a warning that we can change just as much in destructive ways.  

No, but a LEADER has a moral obligation in times like this to lead. Something president Spray Tan won't do and even people in his own party are not oblivious to his cowardice:

David Duke is on one. He tweeted this earlier and then quickly deleted it.

He proves the views that he is sympathetic to white supremasists/taking advantage of them with his behavior and very specific language. 

He is a cowardly piece of shit for trying to side step this issue when even many other Republicans have come out and spoken up. Here's another one, Ted Cruz:

History will remember Trump as a joke. 

He could have said anything in line with many other people said today. The Cruz statement above is one example. 

But he won't do that, because he feels he needs the support of this vile group of people and/or people loosely symphathic to their disgusting cause. 

In that way he is worse than a racist. A racist/bigot is generally someone is dumb enough to believe they should hate someone because they have a different skin pigment than their own. 

That's bad. 

Knowingly manipulating racists to your own gain is even worse in my book. 

Condemn white supremasists clearly. Disavow any ties to them. Shame them for their twisted beliefs ... and you shouldn't have to be pressured into doing so either. History will remember this. 

No I'm not, and just for the record he said basically exactly what I knew he was going to say. He was going to do the whole "all sides/both sides" thing and wasn't going to even whisper the word "white supremasist" or "terrorist" (even though he loves the T word when it's any other type of situation, can't say it enough in that case). And that's exactly what he did, right on cue. 

Completely and utterly predictable on his part. Right now he is hoping this blows over some what so he doesn't have to talk about it any more, if the heat keeps on him he'll be goaded into reluctantly speaking out more clearly, but for now he's hoping this whole thing can be swept under the rug and he can go back to acting all huff n' tough against little North Korea and taking credit for Obama's economy.