When Obama got elected, we knew he had his work cut out for him. Cleaning up a series of problems left over from the past eight years was the most immediate challenge.

We also knew that by being the first black president in the history of the United States, he’d upset a few folks.

But how much does race really play in the challenges he’s facing on Capital Hill? According to The Root’s Brian Palmer, race has everything to do with it. 

From The Root:

“They know we can’t prove it. We can deduce and infer from their actions, statements and policies. But we can’t confirm that congressional Republicans, a bloc of nearly unbroken whiteness, and their media hatchet people are stealthily deploying race — blackness — to obstruct President Barack Obama at every turn. But obstructionists seldom give us concrete, irrefutable proof of gutbucket prejudice. When we think we have them cold, they’ll use the I’m-rubber-you’re-glue strategy. You’re playing the race card, they’ll say. In fact,you’re the racists for bringing it up.” he writes.

Read more at The Root

While we have a long way to go before blacks truly reach equality, some people believe that the President’s policies have more to do with his struggles with congress than his skin color.

Do you agree with Brian? Is congress giving the president a hard time because he’s black?

Sound off below!