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John McCain is usually the candidate getting heckled and interrupted on the trail, a product of his open town halls but also the more controversial aspects of his foreign policy.

But on Friday it was Barack Obama who found himself being yelled at -- several times -- by African-American attendees who argued that he ignores "black" issues.

In an appearance in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Illinois Democrat's address was interrupted when several young black males stood up, hoisted a banner that read, "What about the black community, Obama?" and began peppering the Senator for not focusing on their concerns.

Obama told them they would have time to ask questions after the speech was over, and they did. They asked why he was not focusing on issues like the sub-prime mortgage crisis, Jena Six, Sean Bell and "the numerous attacks that are made against the African-American community." Obama responded twofold: telling the hecklers that he had, in fact, been focused on these issues and explaining that there would never be 100% continuity between his agenda and that of the voters.

"Listen, I was a civil rights lawyer," Obama said. "I passed the first racial profiling legislation in Illinois. I passed some of the toughest death penalty reform legislation in Illinois. That doesn't mean I am always going to satisfy the way you want these issues framed... which gives you the option of voting for somebody else, it gives you the option of running for office yourself, those are all options. But the one thing I think is important is, that we are respectful towards each other."

It is rare for Obama to be heckled in a political forum, but it's not terribly surprising that the protest came from a fellow African-American. Moments after he took the man's question, a nearby African-American woman yelled at Obama again. The Senator has trod a thin line on the racial components of this campaign. Witness the uproar over accusations -- made by John McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis -- that he played the race card. And his posture as a post-racial candidate has struck some as discourteous (see: Jesse Jackson). Still, the idea that Obama will get anything short of an overwhelming portion of the black vote seems far-fetched.

Below is the full question and answer exchange:

QUESTION: "In the face of the numerous attacks that are made against the African community or the black community, by the same U.S. government that you aspire to lead. We are talking about attacks like the sub-prime mortgage... that was a phenomenon that started in the African American and Latino community, attacks like the killing of Sean Bell... and the Jena Six... and on and on... in the face of all these attacks, why is it that you have not had the ability to speak to the interest and the behalf of the oppressed and exploited African-American community in this country?"


OBAMA: "I think you are misinformed ... Every issue you talk of I did speak out about. I have been talking about predatory lending for the last two years in the U.S. Senate and worked to pass legislation to prevent it when I was in the state legislature. I have repeatedly said that many of the predatory loans that were made in the mortgage system did target the African American and Latino communities.

"Jena Six, I was the first candidate to get out there and say this is wrong, that an injustice what had been done... When Sean Bell got shot I put out a statement saying immediately this is a problem...

"Don't start shouting back, I'm just answering your question. On each of these issues I have spoken out. I may not have spoken out the way you have wanted me to speak out. Which is fine. I understand. On each of these issues you have mentioned I have spoken out and I have spoken out forcefully. Listen, I was a civil rights lawyer. I passed the first racial profiling legislation in Illinois. I passed some of the toughest death penalty reform legislation in Illinois.

"That doesn't mean I am always going to satisfy the way you want these issues framed... which gives you the option of voting for somebody else, it gives you the option of running for office yourself, those are all options. But the one thing I think is important is, that we are respectful towards each other. And what is true is that the only way we are going to solve our problems in this country is if all of us come together, black white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, disabled, gay, straight... that has got to be our agenda."

quote:

"Listen, I was a civil rights lawyer," Obama said. "I passed the first racial profiling legislation in Illinois. I passed some of the toughest death penalty reform legislation in Illinois. That doesn't mean I am always going to satisfy the way you want these issues framed... which gives you the option of voting for somebody else, it gives you the option of running for office yourself, those are all options. But the one thing I think is important is, that we are respectful towards each other."

Did he just tell them the equivalent of "I did my part for blackness. what the hell else do you want? Do it your damn self or STFU"?


BamBam has ripped his drawz one might say

Those brothers weren't exactly informed but this is bs coming from Obama:

quote:

When Sean Bell got shot I put out a statement saying immediately this is a problem...

Obama knows the biggest problem was what he had to say after the verdict was delivered. He had a line in his speech at LULAC where he praised what he accomplished with Black and Brown people in Chicago getting people to stand up to their government when it wasn't standing up for them but that's the very thing that he worked against after the Bell verdict stereotyping Black people as prone to riot totally disrespect Rev. Al who was leading the non-violent protests where, as Al said, "not a single rock was thrown."

Obama went through the litany of things he had done or spoken on but he knows a lot of that stuff ain't nowhere close to being points of emphasis in his campaign even at Black stops.

Dudes a politician. He knows he has to constantly tell voters "who he is" and what he's done but when he got off into all that personal responsibility rhetoric, a lot of that stuff got lost.

I got the impression that Obama was a little scared of the brothers heckling him. ("Give the mike back..."). I never could make out anything they were saying when they were "disruptive." I do think Obama showed contempt for them and treated them in a way no one can convince he would treat someone who was White or any other race/ethnicity beside Black.

I don't think I've ever heard a politician tell someone to vote for somebody else. Instead of using that as an opportunity to appeal to them the same way he's gone out his way to appeal to racist Whites and Jews who believe he's a Muslim and all this other stuff... Obama basically told those brothers he didn't want their vote.

quote:

That doesn't mean I am always going to satisfy the way you want these issues framed... which gives you the option of voting for somebody else, it gives you the option of running for office yourself, those are all options. But the one thing I think is important is, that we are respectful towards each other."

The Negro wasn't saying that sh*t when White folks were on his ass about Rev. Wright.

And that's exactly the statement I was talking about. Nobody can tell me had he been heckled by a group of Hillary crusaders that he would have been so disrespectful (even if he felt disrespected or scared) and so dismissive completely giving them the signal to fuck off, here's your "options" so STFU when there really was no cause other than a "I'm might be Black but I'm not going to be that Black and "frame" the issues the way you like."

did you see the video?

quote:

did you see the video?

Yes. I saw what they have posted at JackandJillPolitics.com

here is the part where Obama answers the questions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Se6E4uZhs

Awww .. see now ... all y'all need to get off Brotha Bam Bam's back!

He's being as Black as he know how.

quote:

here is the part where Obama answers the questions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Se6E4uZhs

Listener? Do you have a comment about the video? My opinion was formed by what happened in the video. JJP had these two clips up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ul8gPo4zwo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sARnrGPlzDg


Oh and I missed the part where he said "sit down" like they were his kids. Not "if you would just take your seat"... No. "Sit down."

I have a problem with that.

quote:

Originally posted by listener:
here is the part where Obama answers the questions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Se6E4uZhs

i've never heard Obama stutter so much. maybe he's not use to "hecklers"?? he needs to be heckled a few more times to get back on message, i believe...

He stutters a lot (in interviews, debates; unplanned remarks) but I never heard him get stuck in a loop like that before.

That is a particular group called "Uhuru" out of Florida, that's what I heard.
But hey look, I would rather address those issues to President Obama than presumtive nominee Obama You know what I mean? Let's just back up off the brother and vote him into office THEN when he's in the position of authority and can make those decisions, then press him with the hard questions and issues.

We've done it for white folks who've never had our interests at heart.

Here's the website: http://www.uhurunews.com/


Given what's been posted before from this group, I almost take back everything I've said. I can see why Obama gave them "options" even though I still don't agree with him saying it.

quote:

Let's just back up off the brother and vote him into office THEN

That doesn't make sense. Plus Obama hasn't "backed off" trying to show "tough" love to Black folks.


Obama goes before every other group and never tries that stuff and there wouldn't be a perception of Obama not addressing Black issues if he emphasized the specific policies and commitments he plans on making to issues important to African Americans just those in his Black platform alone would do, IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by negrospiritual:

quote:

Originally posted by listener:
here is the part where Obama answers the questions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Se6E4uZhs

i've never heard Obama stutter so much. maybe he's not use to "hecklers"?? he needs to be heckled a few more times to get back on message, i believe...

I think having a Black-on-Black conversation, especially in public, was probably a little unnerving for him. I'm sure he wanted to (had to ) choose his words very carefully.

quote:

Originally posted by Nmaginate:

quote:

That doesn't mean I am always going to satisfy the way you want these issues framed... which gives you the option of voting for somebody else, it gives you the option of running for office yourself, those are all options. But the one thing I think is important is, that we are respectful towards each other."

The Negro wasn't saying that sh*t when White folks were on his ass about Rev. Wright.

And that's exactly the statement I was talking about. Nobody can tell me had he been heckled by a group of Hillary crusaders that he would have been so disrespectful (even if he felt disrespected or scared) and so dismissive completely giving them the signal to fuck off, here's your "options" so STFU when there really was no cause other than a "I'm might be Black but I'm not going to be that Black and "frame" the issues the way you like."

That was the part that I found most interesting in his response, that he said that you can vote for somebody else. He is not going to say that to white folks, he is not going to say that to Latinos, or Asian Americans. The NRA, the Christian Coalition, Jewish Defense League,... "vote for someone else or run for office yourself." I bet he would not even say that to a rep from the John Birch Society.

And no, BamBam does not get a pass. As I still live in TX, I am still almost certainly going to vote for him. But if BamBam does not get a walk.

ASIDE:
I would have loved to be in the green room or on the bus when Obama got off stage. Even better, imagine if he were miked and did not know it. I bet what came out of his mouth would have made Jesse's "faux pas" appear "school marmish."

I have the impression that he was overwhelmed by the white reaction to Rev. Wright. The way he reacted shows I think, that he wasn't prepared and that race will be much more an issue for white America that he seemed to believe?
Mainly since then he has turned 'Cosby'.
His 'you can vote for somebody else' is quite disrespectful, Black issues are American issues and police shootings and acquitted police is part of a corrupt justice system which affects entire America.
I also believe that he wouldn't react in that way with 'sit down' and 'give the mike back after your question' towards anybody non-Black.
But I found the reactions of the other people weird, mostly white? they signalized that they don't want to hear such questions and perhaps this made Obama quite nervous (I think he was)

quote:

Originally posted by Nmaginate:

quote:

Let's just back up off the brother and vote him into office THEN

That doesn't make sense. Plus Obama hasn't "backed off" trying to show "tough" love to Black folks.


Obama goes before every other group and never tries that stuff and there wouldn't be a perception of Obama not addressing Black issues if he emphasized the specific policies and commitments he plans on making to issues important to African Americans just those in his Black platform alone would do, IMO.

The entire statement was:
"Let's just back up off the brother and vote him into office THEN when he's in the position of authority and can make those decisions, then press him with the hard questions and issues."

Of course it won't make sense if you take it out of context.

I'm the type of woman, I'd rather build a brother up than to tear him down. So come November, even if I have to write him in, I'm voting for Barack Obama. We have a much better chance of getting at least some of what we want with him than with McCain. And the McCain strategy has been to try to discredit Obama in every venue where black america can see it. Which makes me want to vote for Obama even more.

He's being as Black as he know how.---EbonyRose

I think having a Black-on-Black conversation, especially in public, was probably a little unnerving for him. I'm sure he wanted to (had to 19) choose his words very carefully.---EbonyRose

Senator Obama needs to be challenged...heckled if necessary.

I think you are right on both points.

I would rather have the task of educating him than having to take on the task of educating...yet another...European American who claims to 'not know'.

At least a (President) Obama would offer the possibility of being educated.

That hesitation is like to think his his brain processing and relating the challenge to his personal experiences and acquired information.

I remain committed...and expectant.

PEACE

Jim Chester

You bunch of step-and-fetchit negroes are argueably the most pathetic creatures on this planet.

Basically anyone can say the following:

You dumb, ignorant, childish, black american negroes are the lowest forms of life on this planet. I'm glad that I'm not related to you sambo geeches in the least. That is why I do not treat you on an equal and respectible level that I do the Native Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and White Americans. You people are nothing to me and never will be. Now get your sorry black subhuman asses out on election day and vote for me.


And the typical american negro response to this is:


Yowsaaaaaaah Mister


You people are pathetic. Even the lowest form of non-human life has more self-respect for themselves than you fools.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MaynardJ,