Obama jeered, accused of not focusing on Black issues
For New Pittsburgh Courier From the St. Louis American
(NNPA) — According to the Huffington Post, Barack Obama was heckled by African-American attendees who argued that he ignores ''Black'' issues in an appearance in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Obama’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.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
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 percent 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 as evidenced by the uproar over accusations made by John McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis that he played the race card.
