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As part of an ongoing effort to energize his Democratic base ahead of the mid-term election on Nov. 2, President Obama spoke with the Rev. Al Sharpton on his radio show Tuesday afternoon, calling on his supporters to show up at the polls so that he can continue to carry out his agenda.
The roughly 10-minute conversation followed a similar discussion the president had with Eddie "Piolin" Sotero, host of Univision's popular, syndicated, Spanish-language radio show "Piolin por la Manana", which aired Monday.
"Anybody who is concerned about the direction of the country has to understand that this election is as important as 2008," Obama told Sharpton.
There are as many as 100 competitive races for seats in the House of Representatives this year and the vast majority of them are held by Democrats. Many analysts expect Republicans to gain dozens of seats in the House, enough to gain control of the chamber. Obama performed strongly among minority voters in the presidential election and with one week to go, he is stepping up efforts to get out the vote in the black and Hispanic communities.
The president himself voted today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters during the press briefing, casting his absentee ballot for Democratic candidate for the Senate, Alexi Giannoulias, and for governor, Pat Quinn.
In the radio interview, the president stressed the middle class tax cuts included in the stimulus package, billions of dollars in neighborhood stabilization funds that he said were helping people in struggling communities get back to work, programs to help people avoid foreclosure and help for small businesses as steps his administration has taken to help ordinary people.
"All these provisions that we've put in place over the last two years are making big difference in the community, but that doesn't excuse the fact that we've still got a long way to go," he said in response to a question from Sharpton about his message to voters discouraged by the state of the economy. "Digging ourselves out of this hole is gonna take some time and understandably people feel frustrated and impatient; I feel impatient about it. But the question is are we gonna make sure that we continue on the progress that we're on or that we go back to the policies that got us into this mess in the first place."
The president said the Republican Party was focused on things like tax cuts for the rich and cuts to education funding rather than helping middle class Americans and young people.
"If we don't have strong leaders in Congress who are supportive of this agenda, who are supportive of moving the country forward," the president said. "If instead we've got folks who want to move backwards to the same failed policies that got us into this mess in the first place, then it's going to be very difficult for me to keep making progress and do what folks want to see me do over the next two years."
Obama also encouraged people who live in areas where they can vote early to go out and do it, directing people to the website www.raiseyourvote.com for information on how to do so. (His wife also touted the site in this video.)
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The minority vote is very important to Democrats in 2010. I suspect many minorities felt the following in 2008:
Why bother voting. The whites will steal the election anyway just like they did in 2000 and 2004. They'll never allow a black man to be president. We've become Quatamala!
Please show up and vote. It is important. I am 100% behind this President and he is the best cure for our current problems. Lets not go backwards. Show up and vote.
Left-wing panic attack.
If he wants to be on radio and be heard he needs to go to popular programs like Limbaugh or Hannity or Levine.
What about it Mr President?
Hannity & Limbaugh?
LMAO! At least you didn't call them journalists.
Racist!!!!
old fat guy
If he wants to be on radio and be heard he needs to go to popular programs like Limbaugh or Hannity or Levine.
What about it Mr President?
++++++++++
I don't know about the President, but I wouldn't waste spit on Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, who have added not one positive thing to the dialogue about solutions for problems this country faces, only fostered hatred and division. And my opinion of those who can beguile themselves into "choosing" to believe in their unintelligent, immoral, and hateful bigotry also are a waste of time. They are entertainers who earn big bucks by pandering to the low information, Jerry Springer contestant types that can do nothing but scream, holler, lie, and try get their 5 minutes of fame. However, Jerry's guests at least are not trying to tear this country apart. Listen to them if you choose, believe what they say if you choose, that is your right. And I have the right to think you are no better than they.
Cathy,
You and your type are the problem. If you have listened to any of these shows you have not paid attention.
Any politician chasing votes by radio will do well by going to radio shows with an audience and nobody tops Rush. Mental midgets will not do well on his show however.
NOV 2, WE TAKE OUT THE TRASH!
I guess Palin was right again, obama does hang out with some mighty unsavory people.
Why would he go on a show with one of the biggest race baiters and trouble makers there is?........no drama obama.....give me a break.
Your known by the company you keep.........once again, obama, the gift that just keeps giving.
What, no opinion from Charlie Rangel?
He seems to be doing a very good job of getting the attention of the 2008 voters over the last few weeks. He got off to a slow start, but his "Obama everywhere!!" presence lately appears to be working.
It'll be interesting to see how much this pays off for the elections.
The Democrats completely lost the white independent vote that carried them to victory two years ago. All he can do is beat the bushes for every hispanic, black and gay.
He does not have one single accomplishment to the white middle class. Maybe a few got a crumb from the unemployment extension for the union workers. Even the teachers stimulus failed when he let them just sit on it all to save administrator jobs years from now.
I got an almost immediate tax break on my paychecks, a home buyers credit, a tax credit for buying energy efficient windows and a washer/dryer set as well as a year without a big round of layoffs at work, unlike the 2 years prior. And...my health insurance costs have not changed at all.
I'm about as pasty white and middle class as it gets. Registered independent. Leaning to the left because my right hand is flipping the bird.
He's done a lot. More than most presidents 2 years in. More to come too.
I am not saying the right has one thing to offer either. If you don't happen to accidentally fall into one of their lobby payback deals or vote buying scams you will not get anything from either party.
Both parties are literally owned by their lobbies. The lobbies set all the party agenda and the politicians just tap dance around trying to make things sound like they are for the people. Then they clean up the mess when the lame laws blow up in everyones face.
It is purely accidental if you get anything out of either part anymore.
Gee Adams101, it's so nice that you, along with all the pundits, have managed to split us up into little tribal units like the Hatfields and McCoys. The white vote, the white male vote, the white female vote, the black vote, the hispanic vote, blue collar white males......on and on and on. Makes me want to stick a fork in my ear, listening to you and the blathering pundits slice and dice us all up into nice little sections - all pitted against each other. Thanks for helping.
Bgrngrd............
You faired pretty well off taxpayers but forgot to pick up a foreign car on Cash for Clunkers.
And that increase in health care premiums, stay away from the mail box cause it is a coming!
Oh, CU Farley...... come out ,come out wherever you are........
I'm a Republican so I have to sit in the back seat.
Does that mean Obama is my chauffeur?
Richard,
Now thats funny............I don't care who ya are.
It mean you failed the driving test.
Just watch or whatever you do, you can even help, but we have a country to save that
the Bushes about ruined.
You disagree?
OK prove it with facts!
Oha God Now we are going to get really killed in Next week elections, President Obama spoke to Big Al sharpton. big mistake, mr President don't you know that talking to big AL is code word to whites people that the blacks are going to take over.
Mr president Big Mistake
LOL LOL LOL
Shrpton is a professional race baiter. If there is no racial tension, and MLK's dream comes true, he loses a job. Therefore, he must further it.
Jeff, you know me, but to remind others, I was raised to know the truth- that people have different colored skin for the same reason they have different colored hair and eyes. Oh, yeah- and it matters just about as much.
Al Sharton jas done a lot of damage. He took a little girl who made up a story to get out of trouble, and exploited her, when even Jesse Jackson told him that he should leave her alone. Was she wrong? Of course she was; but she was fourteen, and a fourteen year old cannot understand the ramifications of a lie that big. It would never have gotten ao out of control without the Reverand Al.
Okay. Got that off my chest.
I am more troubled with the exploitation of the gay and lesbian community, as well as the Latino community. He lied to them, Jeff. Now, you are free to agree or disagree with gay marriage, DADT, or immigration reform-that is not the point.
You and I have been on this board for a long time, Jeff, and I think I know you pretty well. You would NEVER exploit people. You would never promise them something, with no Intension of following through.
In short, Jeff, you are a better man than Obama. To say nothing of Al Sharpton.
"If instead we've got folks who want to move backwards to the same failed policies that got us into this mess in the first place, then it's going to be very difficult for me to keep making progress and do what folks want to see me do over the next two years."
Doesn't this kinda tell a good story? If the country votes for people with a different agenda, it will be difficult for Obama to continue to do what people dont want him to do. Here's my take on the National dialog with Obama:
Obama: This is what I believe
The People: We dont agree with those policies.
The media: Look at the racists!
Obama: Stop obstructing my agenda. Cant you see I know whats best?
The People: We dont agree with your agenda.
Obama: It must be a communication problem.
The Media: Look at the racists.
President Obama hasn't lost anything. He is doing what any President is suppose to do. He's campaigning for the right of his party. All this right wing , left wing garbage is just that. These blogs penetrate people that are haters of this President and use it as subliminal messages that people read and then form uneducated predictions and judgements.
I challenge each and everyone of you to get out and vote and let your voice be heard. Character assassination is very unpopular and it needs to stop. By blaming everything about the way this country is being handled isn't just a Presidential problem. However it's a people problem.
Learn how to pick yourself up and make the best of what you have. I'm willing to bet you that If the President say boo to loud somebody will say " Did you hear the way Obama said boo?"
So get off your high horses and exercise your constitutional right and vote. The same people will be hear mad again even if the President was a White man. It has nothing to do with Dem or Rep, but everything about restoring a country to it's greatness.
im hispanic and i don't see any of the promises of obama from 2008 but ican tell you that since 2008 he hasn't missed any of the finals for the nba or to much attention on tv shows and crap, and i just bet that his family is enjoying all the luxourious vacatons that the tax payers are paying for and as far as im concern i dont remember our last president (george bush!!!!!!!!! the best president in history) to have done such a joke on himself. obama is a mistake. im pretty sure that the 100% of people who voted for him in 2008 are not going to be there for him on november 2nd, i can put my house on it.
George Bush and his family owned part of a baseball team, his wife and daughters traveled to Africa, the Clintons also traveled, as well. No one took more time off "vacation - to the ranch in Texas" than George W. Bush Why just complain about the Obama family? This is based strictly on what you are hearing and believing from FOX Network and their biased reporting. It is very expensive to protect and move the president and/or family around whether it is here in the United States or abroad - it isn't the fault of this president - it is your opinion based upon biased news and hatred.
Compare 2 years of Bush's vacations with 2 years of Obama's.
Dang Obama needs a lot more vacations to catch up with Bush!
You're missing the point MG. Bush OWNED the team. He OWNED the ranch.
You must didn't watch the olympic that year when he was in the stand drunk looking at the behind of the volleyball player. By the way George Bush did take many vacations and so has any President that has ever set foot in that office. Then get ready to move because we will be there in 2012 to re-elect him. That you can take to the bank. The only thing that stops us is that the world ends in 2011.
Then you forget a lot of whites voted for him as well, so did the Latino's
What is intriging is that none of his comments on the radio show "Piolin por la Manana" were even posted on the MSNBC website here. If anyone gets a chance you should listen to the broadcast completely. His comments centered around the fact that the Spanish/Latino population should punish those that haven't supported their cause. What a choice of words by the great uniter................................... He will go down as the most devisive president I have ever heard in my fifty years. First president I have ever seen attack a news channel like fox or any channel for that matter. First President who has campaigned so vigoursly to save the mess for the Democratic Party he created. First President to want and rewrite our health care without truely understanding the painful consequences of his actions, nor those of his Democratic collegues. Seniors could "Keep their health care" he pointed out as just recently it was announced that Medicare Advantage was forced to being phased out. All the while he touted his laser focus approach to jobs and the economy..........what a joke! What a travesty our President has become!
The Klan has changed it's face. So much for moving foward.
As stated in #3.2 above, less taxes were taken from our pay checks, we, our children, two nieces and others have been able to get low home mortgage, or home equity loans and able to get savings on some badly needed appliances earlier this year. We have not yet seen added health care costs - although we do realize health care is very expensive, we have paid high premiums, deductibles, three tier prescription drug costs, and contribute (out of our own pocket) a huge amount into a HSA etc., it is nice to know that our elderly, less fortunate and children will be able to have health insurance and medical care. Having sent three children to college, it is nice to know President Obama is making an effort to make paying back college loans easier for students today. It would have been nice when our children were attending but we do not resent anyone getting a break on these high college loans. Regarding the health care - no one has forced this on us and no one is asking us to see "death panels", or whatever the scare tactic has been I agree, I think the President has done much under very difficult and critical times with no support from the Republican Party.
good for you....who is paying for all of this...those of us that work and pay more taxes....Go American Independant Party.
It really don't matter because in this country who ever is the President, they are destined to be ridiculed for something. I hate to use the race card but this is typical. It's a shame but most races really do believe that they are better than the black race.
I see it everyday, and they are not shame to let you know. Mr. President take another vacation you deserve it. Asians turn their noses at us, Latinos really don't like us, and whites hate us. All we want is the same as what the rest of you all have which is fair treatment.
Quit trying to put us back in the Jim Crow area. We go to school, we are smart, we get along with people, but we are continued to be treated by the rest of the world as second class.
So this President is an inspiration to us and he gives us incentive and motivation to be the best at what we do. We wasn't allowed to come into this country at our own free will, no-one open the borders for us. The government didn't give us anything except hard labor.
So yes we are very animate about him and yes we will put him back in office and no we want except anything less. I don't want to make this racial but the truth is the truth.
If I offend anyone then I apologize. We don't think he is the Messiah and has never said that. Main stream America said that.
How many of you actually have a voters registration card?
How many of you are you here illegally?
How many stereotype people based on warped views and opinions?
Did I bet all of you say you are Christians!!!!!!
Leave the President alone and let him try and do the job we elected him for. So what he takes vacations. Asked the Governors, Senators and Congressmen and Women how many vacations did they take. I bet you, you'll be surprised. Then I guess that's not taxpayers money.
If you are willing to help restore this country then shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that is why we need to get rid of them all....have them collect an unemployment check
You used a very broad brush when you painted that!
Some truth in it, much anger your anger comments will get you ignored.
Next time use facts, not "I saw" or" I was told" but numbers and leave the anger behind.
Sorry about the typos but this is really degrading to hear people put down a good man for trying. Then again they killed Jesus Christ too.
racist...hmmm
Who is they? Who are you even thinking about comparing to Jesus Christ? Trying is something you get credit for in grade school. I'm not interested in trying. Jimmy Carter tried. Ronald Reagan did. See the difference?
Yes, Ron, don't you love those trickle down economics, the Iran/Contra affair, lying in office, deregulation of banks. I sure don't. Tell me where trickle down and deregulation helped our country. All Reagan was was an actor with a pleasing personality.
I'm sure McCain also is one of your super heroes. His daughter has more brains in her 24 year old head than he ever has had. You do remember the S&L debacle. Of course, he crashed more planes, was practically a juvenile delinquent (still acts like one).
What has happened to any leadership on your side of the aisle? They are nothing but a bunch of nincompoops. They will destroy the Constitution, stir up civil unrest, will not take responsibility for anything they created in this "great depression" we are experiencing. They never take responsibility for anything, but will make devils out of anyone who does not do what they want, when they want it. They will call other Americans unpatriotic, want investigations of duly elected representatives as subversives, wear their little flag pins, use their "thought of the day" fed to them by Frank Luntz ad nauseum. They have little thought about what is best for this country and how to fix the problems except for tax cuts for the very rich and cutting spending neither of which make any sense. You can't have a super power by allowing our country to die the slow death that is happening to it. You cannot be the consumer capitalistic society they all so adore by shipping the jobs out of the country so that the consumer has no money to spend. You can destroy our manufacturing base to save a few pennies in profit and leave our country destitute with no solutions to what you have wrought. That, however, explains what a Republican is. They do not care....after all, this is a global and corporate society and they also want our government to be that.....what does it matter to them, they can afford to live in any country, when those in the middle class will not be able to put food on the table or have a place to live. But just keep supporting them...after all, they're your heroes!
If they hadn't killed him the message would never been.
obamas a bum plain and simple...i would'nt trust him to mow my lawn....the man has never worked an honest day in his life. He also plays the race card. Hes not a uniter hes a destroyer, and hes doing a fine job of it on the United States.
Dean I'm not racist, I'm just mad!!!!!!!!!
I wish people quit treating us as the scum of the earth. That's all.
Mr. Obama said this to Mr. Sharpton.
"If we don't have strong leaders in Congress who are supportive of this agenda, who are supportive of moving the country forward," the president said. "If instead we've got folks who want to move backwards to the same failed policies that got us into this mess in the first place, then it's going to be very difficult for me to keep making progress and do what folks want to see me do over the next two years."
Here's a flash. This election is about putting people in place to stop Mr. Obama from doing what he is doing. That would be the mojority of the "folks" he's speaking of. It's apparrant that he intends to continue his socialist agenda regardless of the outcome of the election. I believe he is he!! bent on getting impeached.
Ron Please don't go there! You know and understand exactly what I'm trying to say. I'm not comparing President Obama to Jesus Christ. Then if you really knew the scripture and when the letter J actually came into existance then you would know what his name (Christ) really is. For the record it's Yeshua.
But then you are probablly one of those Christain too. Show me in your ible where God or Christ ever called anyone a christain? Then tell me why so much hatred and killing was done by the so called christains in the name of christianity?
Waiting
I dont think you are scum....its those that refer to themselves as the so called leader of groups who want to keep that stigma alive. keep the racism alive....do not move forward...stay where you are at....for it is the MAN that is responsible for your misfortunes......The man that continues to spew lies is the scum. Your probably a hard working guy sick of the BS that we all have come across these days
Then Ron run for the office and let's see what you can do.
Yeah Dean you are right. But to put the blame on one man foir trying to make some tough decissions is not fair. It's the racist bigotry that I'm sick of. People hear have no substance or actual facts other that what is presented to them by the news media.
Then they sit around the water cooler and become a political analyst and have all the answers to the world prolems. That is what I'm sick of.
I'm white, but no matter what color you are it dosen't take a genius to figure out O'Bamma is a one timer. We can't benifit from his mistakes, even as a lesson learned. Let's concentrate on finding a leader who actually knows how to fix all the mistakes and move on.
Ok Allen what would you do if were President and had been elected right after George Bush? How would you handle the world prolems?
We have just elected you and made you the President. You have the same problems coming into office as this President.
trillion dollar stimulus that did nothing!!!Forcing health care down our throats that they exempted themselves from!!!Discriminating against white males!!Hiring more Gays than any other president! Mauling and defacing the the constitution! demoralizing the working class Americans!!! Demonizing American people to the rest of the world!!!and just plian stealing from the working class to give to the lazy!!!I can go on and on...But on Nov 2nd this whole nightmare will start to end...you fricken Dems got us into this mess...remember who took over in 2007?????that's right you idiots!!Ask yourself are you better off now than you were 4 years ogo???/I know ...it is Bush's fault... That is all you dems know how to say besides racist!!