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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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If Obama cared about the people as much as he cared about being president he would have listened to what the people wanted , their agenda, not his, then he wouldn't be sucking up to Rev. Al Sharpton for support, he would have never lost it in the first place!
The same question goes to you Walt? We just made you the President. You were elected after the last President George W. Bush.
Solve the problems that you inherited coming in.
First of all if you are going to give a trillion dollars away...wealth distribution...You filter the money back into economy through the working class people then it moves back into the Banks and car manufactures...how did bailing out the banks" that were forced to give bad loans to people by the dems" help the economy?If you would have filtered it through the working class people they would have paid there mortgages and bought cars and traveled...but instead he gave it directly to the banks and automobile company's so he could infiltrate the company's and start government take over's "first step to socialism"If he would have filtered it through the people he could not have started the government take over's..but it would have bailed millions of hard working people out which in return would have jump started the economy...
In the radio interview, the president stressed the middle class tax cuts included in the stimulus package, .......on average $12 a week ---how helpful was this to struggling families and not helpful at all to those no longer taking home paychecks...
...billions of dollars in neighborhood stabilization funds that he said were helping people in struggling communities get back to work......only 14 million still unemployed.....what's the unemployment rate in Detroit?
...., programs to help people avoid foreclosure..... over 60% that went through loan modification programs, prolonged their pain and lost their homes anyway......
....and help for small businesses as steps his administration has taken to help ordinary people......ordinary people? or does he mean "the peasants"?
Unbelievable.
Mark -. Don't be mad. No one thinks you're the scum of the earth. The only people telling you that are people like Al Sharpton, and that's unfortunate. He has the political position and power to do some good, but he chooses to keep and try to expand the divide. President Obama is losing support because of his policies. Many of us were thrilled when he was elected, had high hopes for him, thought he could inspire the country and bring us all together. He's done the opposite with his rhetoric and his policies. Very disappointing and very sad.
Candice I'm unemployed and I'm not mad at all. I just believe that this President wasn't dealt a fair hand coming into office. Blame the corporate maggots that created this mess with their greed. By the way he hasn't lost any support. He's actually gaining support. Most of us are sitting back letting you all think we are so distress and need the government to bail us out.
The fact is we don't want anything from the government. All we want is for the government to be a government again and stop catering to these foriegn countries. Dem or Rep. I wouldn't care if Sara Lee or Col Sanders was the President.
Al Sharpton don't make decissions for me. I respect him and Jesse Jackson and any other civil rights activist who stand up for the rights of our people. If we didn't have them then we would still be sitting on the back of the bus.
By the way I don't draw unemployement and I'm not on food stamps either. How do I live. I have a beautiful understanding woman who believes that things are going to get better. Do I need her to support me? No.
Do I want her to support me? No.
Would I let her support me. No.
Paying attention in school and and learning a trade goes a long way. Dad always said that a man without a trade is not a man at all.
Just like a Dem...LIVING OFF SOMEONE ELSE!
Question though. Who told you or anybody else to go and get a loan that you knew didn't sound right in the first place. Why buy a house for 300.000 aand you mak less than 50.000 a year. So the problem is really the people that bought into that mess.
I saw through it when it first came out. I refused it then. However I do feel sorry for those that was affected by it.
You need to thank Wall street for the financial meltdown. You need to thank Osama Bin Lauden for the two wars we are in. You need to thank an ignorant former President that pretended that he didn't know what was going on.
That is what put us in this mess.
You just don't get it do you? You can't see the forest because of all the tree's!
I got it a long time ago that's why I voted for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and President Obama.
Not True....You voted for Obama because he' is black and you are black..that is why you voted for Obama...You voted for Obama because you don't want to work and want to live off other peoples money...that is why you voted for Obama....If you are going to post on this Forum at least try not to lie on every thing you post!
And that happens to be the dumbest statement ever made because if you see a lot of trees then damnit your in the forest DUUUUUUUUUUUUH.
DUUUUUUUUH ...you wouldn't know the difference between the forest and just a bunch of woods!!
Shows you didn't pay attention at school because as I stated No one supports me read you big dummy I do what I have to do with the knowledge that I learn by working with my hands. it's called a TRADE. DUH What ever money I can make helps.
So you make money and pay no taxes on it?????or you are the only human being on the planet who needs no money to live!So you cheat the system" that everyone in your party seems to do" or you Commit tax fraud every year "with your trade" or you are super human ? which is it..
I voted for Bill Clinton and I was making 25 an hr then.
I voted for Al Gore and I was making still good money.
I voted for President Obama and I was still making good money. Then Corporate America decided they wanted to cut back.
I don't need a woman to support me and I don't want the government to support me either. I'm actually in the process of starting my own business and it's looking pretty good.
So before you you open your mouth and make false accusations. Read Read Read Read.
see post above about your tax fraud and your trade!!
Whatever your name is you have issues. The best thing for you to do my friend is to leave me alone. Take your anger out on someone else. You are out of you league.
It's not my fault that you hate blacks or even this President and I really don't care one way or the other. Ifyou don't like this President then why don't you run for the office.
I am out of my league????lets get real here ...who is the tax cheat here??????you....I don't hate blacks...but if 96% of the white population voted on Color as your race did than Obama would not be president...who is the Racist? And there is Know way in He!! that i could do any worse than this Idiot we have as president.Community organizer...LOL
again you don't know what you are talking about.
Please do not respond any more ....your ignorance is over flowing.....
If you cut yards and don't have a business do you pay taxes on that money?
Hell naw. If you fixed someone car for them do you pay taxes on that money hell naw. You act like I work a 40 hr work week and that is not the case. I do what I have to do to survive.
Now that my business proposal was approved and I will soon be opening my own business I don't have to hustle anymore. MR taxpayer. I probably have paid more taxes in one year than you have in your whole life buttwipe. Now back off. (smile)
Then I don't have to prove anything to you. Who the hell are you?
What do you do for a living, may I ask?
and your stupidity is in abundance Mr high and mighty.
You are Just another low life Democrat with your hand out....I am not going to lower myself to discus my personal finances with you on here with you....But my gardener pays more in taxes each year ...than you make.....and that sir is the absolute truth..You are way out of you league on this one....homeboy!
Some of us have real jobs...so off to bed I must go!
You must work on wall street
Eric cantor is your next door neighbor I bet.
You won't discuss your finances with me but you want me to discuss mine. Mr. Republican
I own a Industrial machine shop...and have over 100 employees that I am responsible for keeping food on there tables and clothes on there back...while Obama tries to drag me and my fellow business men through the mud!!I pay more in personal taxes than the whole city of baltimore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By the way the government haven't given me a damn thing. Nothing Mr rich man
By the way I did vote for him because he was black. Now I'm going to vote for him because he is just a damn good President. Have a nice night.
Yes, 2010 would be as important but how funny his presidency ends in just two years. President Carter at least had four to show his incompetence but Obama need only two.
Sorry to dissapoint you but it will be 8yrs. You just don't get we don't want you Republicans for nothing. You don't stand for anything. Never have and never will.
Mark-2519845,
Please see below and get back at me.
By the way, welldone with your sparring match with scrossusmc.
Let's get a few things straight.
First, in order to be a racist, you need three thing:
1. You need an overwhelming majority.
2. You need to be in a position of power.
3. The majority must be able to exert that power over the minority.
Last time I checked my math, Latinos and African Americans, even with their population numbers combined, is not enough to make a majority. At a rough guess, we are probably outnumbered 10,000:1. And please, don't think for one minute that just because this nation elected its first Black President that African Americans have an over abundance of power.
I also find a few more things funny. For instance:
1. It's not minority groups that are calling you racist, because we can't get that card out fast enough. Besides, there are other adjectives we are calling you, like sexist, homophobic, and the like, and those are just as detrimental to you. Everyday, it's more and more White Americans that are coming out of the racing blocks FASTER than anything that I have seen that are calling you "RACIST" because of the CHARACTER that the Tea Party exudes that has permiated everyday life from 2008 all the way up to now.
2. Look at the levels of intolerance that we've seen in such a short while; also, look at the measures Tea Party Republicans are using in this election from "Swift Boating" Latinos to breaking out the "Southern Strategy Playbook of 1964 and the Playbook the Republican Party used in the 2000 and 2004 Presidential Elections that they're using on African American RIGHT NOW!!!!
3. Look at the policies that they want to do away with and don't want re-pealed, also look at the social issues that they are ignorant and oblivious to, then look at their candidates and see what Amendments to the U.S Constitution they would love to see gone, from DADT to Civil and Women's Rights, to citizenship and immigration and religious freedom. They can't even name ONE SCOTUS Ruling that they support, find interesting, or have a problem with.
Most Tea Party Republicans state that African Americans voted for President Obama soley based on the color of his skin. Let me take the time to refute that right now.
Bill Clinton: 80-90% Black Vote.
Al Gore: 75-80% Black Vote; Would've been higher if not robbed in 2000.
John Kerry: 70-85% Black Vote.
And you say we won't vote for a White candidate.
Barack Obama: 95-98% Black Vote.
See a pattern here? Alright, let's deal with Republicans and the Black Vote.
-Insert ANY Republican Candidate here, to include Alan Keyes: 0-5% Black Vote.
In accordance to the "Southern Strategy Playbook", in order for the GOP to declare victory, they need to get atleast 10-20% of the Black Vote. From what we've witnessed by watching the Tea Party from their verbage, signage, effigies that have been displayed at their rallies, they are going to be SEVERELY hard pressed to even get a decent 2%, and even that number has to be taken with a grain of salt.
I keep saying this, day after day, that the Teap Party continues to do their 21st century re-creation of "Birth Of A Nation".
Ask yourself this question:Why is it that Democrats are getting a strong number of Black Voters, but not Republicans? Almost every time, inside of and outside of elections cycles, Democrats are trying hard to address issues regarding African Americans and Latinos, from disparities in the justice department, health care, education, employment and economic growth; the Republican Party REFUSES to, in fact, they won't even go near an inner city for 1 measly vote; to say nothing about going their to hold a Tea Party Rally their to prove that their message is innocent, and finally,they think that we don't understand the world around us, meaning that we are not politically savvy enough to understand the complexities of our government.
rac·ism
noun \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Definition of RACISM
1
: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2
: racial prejudice or discrimination
What in the he!! you are as incompetent as Mark...you get on here and talk circles that make no since.