Have one on me HF.
:beers:

Aw thanks UD.

I think I'd have to see the video to get a better read on how it went, but it sounds like these guys just wanted to cause a ruckus and Obama handled it well.

From what I've read about Obama, he has spoke about issues the effect every communtiy, not black or white ones in particular. He's talked about the morgage crisis, unemployment and education. Issues that if rectified, will effect all communities for the better.

As for the black community, Obama has spoken to them directly, much to Jesse Jackson's much publicized chagrin. He's told them how they need to start taking responsibility for their own lives. How they need to stop blaming the past and looking towards the future. He addressed black men and advised them to take care of their children. That's all pretty specific advice on ways the black community can better themselves. Looks to me like these hecklers were looking for him to say that when he is president, he will poor oodles of money into these communities exclusively. I think he is on the right track when he suggests that improvement comes from within.

Torgelson, the video is on the CNN web site. I was actually pretty impressed with how he handled it after viewing it!

I think yes and no and Sen. Obama alluded to my point here. I believe the young mans point is yes you may be talking to everyone but why haven't you been to South Central, East Oakland and other poor Urban neighborhoods and talked to us. The young man has a perfectly valid point. Sen. Obama may be looking out for them but he has to let them know he's looking out for them.

Good point Hypno. I don't see McCain making the trek into poorer black communities either. Maybe both canidates should plan a trip or two?

Now that's an idea, kastarte

Duh, if he speaks directly to black communities, he will be accused of using race to his advantage.

That being said, I do think that the political discourse in our country in general tends to favor the middle class on up. I think a lot of politicians don't speak to those in poor neighborhoods because they know voter turnout there is extremely low, so they figure there's no point because they won't be getting votes from those people anyway. It sounds cold, but it's the truth. It kind of perpetuates the cycle, though, because those people are not motivated to vote because they feel neither candidate addresses their issues, and the cycle continues.

When I was in college I was involved in a program called KidsVote. We went in and taught the kids about the political process, with different lessons that were tailored toward each grade. Then, the kids could vote on the president and few other issues that were on the actual ballot as well as on an issue that would affect them. The catch was that the kids had to vote at the polls on election day. So, not only did it foster a sense of democracy and desire to vote in the kids, it helped get more people to the polls because the kids would bug their parents to take them and the parents would vote because they were there. (I did this is low income neighborhoods; I'm not sure if it's exclusively in low income neighborhoods or not.)

I love town hall meetings. Now if only Obama would agree to do one with McCain - we might actually get real questions from real people posed to the two candidates at the same time. Not just moderated questions from talking newsheads with their own agendas.

I don't understand why Obama won't agree to it...

I think he has addressed "black issues" by discussing issues that affect a lot of black people in the country, but it would kind of be silly for him to say something like, "we should help poor black people" or "make sure black people get educated."

I watched the video. He looked composed, but the three false starts on "And when our..." were sort of awkward.

"Duh, if he speaks directly to black communities, he will be accused of using race to his advantage."

Exactly. He has to tread very lightly around race in this election. (As does McCain). I think canidates are doing their jobs as long as they address the issues that are important for the community.

I think those kids were honestly not informed. Obama has basically spent a huge part of his adult life working on behalf of the African American community. And he absolutely addressed many issues in his speech on race.

But if those kids think Obama is going to go out on stage and say that blacks are being exploited, well, they can think again.

Obama has said in the past that he is running to be the President of all of America, not just black america.

I agree lilkimbo that he may get pegged for playing the race card if he did make campaign stops in poor black urban areas however his perfect tool of defense would simply be common sense. He should say look if I want to become President I need to address all demographics not just the middle class.

So much to say - but it is friday and I am not about to get all excited about things that I cannot change.

Simply stated - Obama hasn't spoken directly on how important issues (personal responsibility aside) directly impact the Black community. .

All the personal responsibility in the world isn't going to end predatory lending, inadequate health care, substandard education, racial profiling, unfair sentencing practices, closing the digital divide etc; These are not issues from the past, these are very real things that are happening 'in the hood' RIGHT NOW!

To clarify: I'm not saying that these issues are specific to any race, but rather these issues impact each "sector" of the population differently. Unless you are a black person, you cannot accurately speak on how certain issues impact our community, just as a man cannot accurately speak on women's issues!

Have a fab weekend!

"Unless you are a black person, you cannot accurately speak on how certain issues impact our community, just as a man cannot accurately speak on women's issues!"

I completely disagree, and I get upset when my opinions are discounted because I'm not a member of a particular group.

@torgleson I am not discounting your opinion at all. You are totally and completely entitled to it! So not doing that - reread what I said.. I specifically said you cannot ACCURATELY speak on something outside of your community.

You can make some assumptions based on interaction, reading about it on the internet but until you actually live it - yours would not be totally accurate.

Can you tell me what it is like being a (for examples' sake) Japanese man living abroad in Italy?

Can you tell me what it is like to have a twin sister who has it all, while you struggle from day to day?

Can you tell me what it is like to be allergic to everything that grows but absolutely LOVE being in the outdoors?

Sorry hecklers! Who sent these guys...Jesse Jackson?

Obama was right and so was his response. I discussed this issue once before in another post....when someone asked why was I voting for Obama.
Obama was indeed there...in my back yard! And his work in the community is what made him a viable candidate.

Talkto, personal responsibility would help with all those problems you listed - sadly, the people either making money or benefitting from those issues can't be forced to take responsibility and behave in an ethical manner.

If your view is I "cannot ACCURATELY speak on something" and I'm making "some assumptions based on interaction, reading about it on the internet" then yeah, I'd say yes, you're discounting my opinion.

I can't tell you how it feels to be a single black mom with no healthcare facing foreclosure on a home without the skills to gain a better job while her children's father is in jail due to mandatory minimums. Do I really need to, though, to be able to speak "ACCURATELY" on the need to "end predatory lending, inadequate health care, substandard education, racial profiling, unfair sentencing practices, closing the digital divide etc;"? I can still accurately say these are problems and accurately know that they are problems affecting a disproportionate amount of black people and accurately say I'd like to vote for politicians who will do their best to address them.

I don't need the first-hand experience of losing my job to support unemployment, and I don't need to go through the emotional turmoil of an unplanned pregnancy to be pro-choice. I don't need to be murdered to have an informed opinion about the death penalty.

I agree with popgoestheworld that those kids were totally misinformed about what Obama has done. He's worked much of his entire life to address issues that impact minorities. Just b/c Obama doesn't speak out in the way those young men preferred doesn't mean that Obama hasn't been working on behalf of the black community. I watched a longer clip of the townhall meeting, and Obama gave the young man some great advice - if he doesn't like the way Obama is framing certain issues his options are to: one - vote for someone else and/or two - run for office yourself. I personally want to see more minorities get involved in the political process.

Oh, where is that video? I was hoping to see it. All I saw on CNN was the interruption of his speech.

@torgleson ...I disagree with the point that you made initially - that he has spoken on "black issues". My point is that unless you are _______ you cannot accurately speak on what the ________ issues are!!!!

I promise you my intent is not, was not to discount your opinion at all!! ( I apologize if my words made you feel that way!) I agree you do not need to have first hand experience to be for or against something.

All I am saying is being __________ gives more insight to the issues that directly affect ____________.

Being on the outside looking in gives only high level perspective.

I think the point is that they haven't seen Barack Obama - as the presumptive democratic nominee (that cracks me up!) - speak on those issues.

Hecklers Put Obama on the Spot in Florida:

http://cbs4.com/video/?id=59495@wfor.dayport.com

“those kids were totally misinformed about what Obama has done."

I agree. However, IMO the reason that they are misinformed is brings us right back to their charge. I believe their misinformed because Sen. Obama has not been speaking (to them) around them and over them yes, but not to them and this is the problem. The good thing is it’s a very correctable problem you simply address it and there you go their happy now.

I see. I think there's a big difference between saying being a member of a group gives you more insight and saying someone who is not a member of a group can't speak acccurately about the group's issues, but we're about to descend down a spiral of rhetoric when I suspect we only disagree a little on that matter.

That said, are there secret black issues I don't know about? Because I thought you were saying that these are some issues that affect black people: "predatory lending, inadequate health care, substandard education, racial profiling, unfair sentencing practices, closing the digital divide etc" And Obama has spoken about all of them.

What I hate is that there are Black people who assume that certain issues only affect the Black community and if not highlighted as such, the issue isn't being addressed.

Like I said in the previous post about Obama "playing the race card", no matter what he does he will be criticized. He is in a tough position, but I think he handled this one well.

@torgleson - I think you are right. we are like mccain and bush - saying the same thing, only different ! LMAO! LOL!

there are no "secret" black issues (at least to my knowledge) but there has definitely been a lack of publicized Obama speaking specifically to the black community about known issues.

But it is his "fault", his campaign's "fault" that these hecklers have a valid point.

again - I apologize for upsetting you with my initial comments...mmkay?

I was getting ready to post about customizing your message for specific segments and how there are ways to do so WITHOUT specifically labeling them as, this message is for blacks, this message is for whites, Asians, and so forth. I guess you have to do it in order for some people to hear it. But whatever . . .I'm tired of multi-tasking today Truth is we're going to have a new president in three months and both candidates better get on the ball!

what are you talking about talkto yes there are secret black issues

Just kidding!

Have a good weekend

Thanks for the link Krradford!

This Heckler is asking the wrong candidate....I hope he doesnt think that McCain is going to actually help Minorities!

These kids were misinformed and its not Obama's fault that they were. Yes, it would be great for him to travel to these areas and speak to people directly as I stated in an above post but he simply can't go to every community in the US in three months. Can't be done. If they wanted to know more about Obama's stance on issues, they really could have gone to their local library and read up on them. There, they could have accessed the interent to watch his speeches, check out his books, read magazine and newpaper articles and just enlighten themselves. Information doesn't have to be delivered to you. If you care, you can seek it out. (Sorry but I work in a public library so I know this imformation is availible even in inadaquately funded libraries. No excuse! )

I do think it is a good idea for him and Mac to plan visits, but at the end of the day, every citizen is responsible for how informed they are on the issues. Obama has been speaking about the aforementioned "black issues". Btw issues like "predatory lending, inadequate health care, substandard education, racial profiling, unfair sentencing practices, closing the digital divide" are issues that effect every color and race. He doesn't specify these issues are "black" issues because that effect everyone.

Obama is such a waste of time.

I thought Obama handled the situation well. He was respectful and gave the man his say; I found his answers to the questions spot-on.

The Heckler, Matamoros-

Well....according to that New Yorker cover, thats what they claim Obama will do! Atleast we'd have the courage and dignity to make a timely opology!

Matamoros,

Wow, really. Are you serious? I feel so sorry for you (and anyone else) if you believe what you just stated. I am at a complete and utter loss of words, but sadly not surprised.

Oh and the black community has many other things to accomplish during the day than worrying about enslaving white America by chaining up white people and forcing them to picking cotton.

For Show - Was it a typo here too?

Yep! My name is a typo! Fo Show!

Atleast I can make a timely Apology!

Didnt I already state that I invent my own words...

like when I said I was spreading Obamatism!

My points are still stronger than yours!

I thought I gave you the definition for Fo Show already!

Its For Sure!

Ya know....Undave. You are starting to sound like McCain, hiding from major facts...searching for typos!

Its art...theres logic behind what I do!

Not only did I already admit to making mistakes, typos and creating my own words in a previous post..but I also Apologized here.

But you had the Audacity to state this-

"...you come off as ignorant. Just trying to help you out. Try using the elnglish language instead of making up your words as you go along."

Out of all words...you happen to miss spell ENGLISH! And also state that you are trying to help me Out! Now it seems to me..that you are the one thats miss informed here! How stupid does that make you look?!!