Obama Congressional Black Caucus Dinner Speech: FULL VIDEO

President Obama gave a fiery speech at the 2009 dinner given by the Congressional Black Caucus.

Watch the full speech below.

Part 1

Part 2

Comments

[DessLoch]

So Fox airs an Obama speech. No hidden agenda here.

[hhayden]

Their fair and balanced approach is not hidden. They mention it all the time.

[huff-fan]

I am going to give him four years. I am not disappointed. He asks all of us to be more responsible not just black people. I trust he is a good man. I haven't given up on the public option. A StarTrib poll said that people are much more positive about the economy than they were at this time last year. People cited the improvement in their retirement accounts.
I do think there is a lot of blame to spread around. Individuals have overextended themselves, our government has failed to regulate financial institutions, greedy corporations have wielded too much power in Washington. Corporate greed and influence are nothing new, yet many Americans still defend profits and unfettered capitalism and fear socialism. Many do not want their taxes to be spent on the poor.
President Obama has an uphill battle to change the way things work in Washington.

[hhayden]

So, when will he begin? He seems to be in the same pockets. Who do you think will benefit by forcing everyone to buy insurence or else?

[Tanyars5]

I am tired of paying for other people's insurance. Make everyone pay.

[huff-fan]

Everyone should buy insurance, but only if there is a Public Option.

[Tanyars5]

Whenever PBO criticizes white people they scream and yell like crazy people. However PBO has no problem preaching to AA's. Yes, the issues in some AA communitiesare horrible but not all AA's are livng in that world. The people he was speaking were educated and wealthy. He needs to change up on his speeches to AA's.

[hhayden]

Then why does he do it?

[mypov123]

Thank you.

[mypov123]

I hate to break your spirit lol, but I honestly don't believe that President Obama has the guts to really "change the way things work" in Washington. I do agree with you, however, that generally he seems to be a good person.

[hhayden]

So did Bush outside politics.

[Tanyars5]

I think he has the guts but he can't do it by himself. The right wing is VERY powerful and WEALTHY. DEM PARTY is full of RIGHT WINGERS

[DCBarrister]

Making promises he can't deliver, playing the race card to cheat Hillary out of the nomination makes Barack Obama a creep, and nothing more than a politician, just like Rev. Wright said.

And Rev. Wright (who Obama imitates in his "black" speeches") knew Barack Obama when he was a political nobody.

Nothing good about Obama or his presidency. It's too Bush-like.

[Tanyars5]

I am 100% behind PBO. However, I don't like the preachy speeches to AA's. Preach on over to Holder's DOJ office and get him to start enforcing civil rights laws. Once that is done come back and preach all you want.

[hhayden]

Why is there a Black Cacus and no White Cacus?

[DCBarrister]

Congress was a white caucus for centuries.

[tnkeating]

Isn't that kind of racist? shouldn't it just be an American caucus

[Olaugh]

When African-Americans are treated equally, maybe it will be. And no, it isn't at all racist to form a caucus to defend the interests of a group that is victimized by racism.

[hhayden]

Racism directed at white people is racism just the same.

[Ken114]

I have to say that as much as I like President Obama I grow tired of him always lecturing to mostly Black audiences like children..­.ok we get it we need to be e more responsible I just wish he spoke to white audiences and to his Wall Street boys with the same rhetoric. There is a phrase "sweep around your own front door before you try to sweep around mine." Not all of us are ghetto trash Mr. President!

[DCBarrister]

Exactly.

[hhayden]

Your suit is still empty.

[huff-fan]

Hilary, Hilary, Hilary.

[FebM]

Its not fair to say he lectures to blacks only, I think it was the same kind of talk he was giving in IOWA and Nevada, and GA. He is talking healthcare, loans, schools and yes civil rights. there are simply too many issues to deal with,
Interesting most of the time he is accused of not dealing with AA issues when he says AA issues are American issues, which is true

[hhayden]

How about our civil right to be free of government control?

What do alcoholics have to do with it?

[DCBarrister]

You "think" it was the same kind of talk he was "going" to give?

Nonsense.

I'm going on what Barack Obama actually DOES.

And once again, if the job of POTUS is too much for poor Barack to handle, he shouldn't have run for the office.

Keep the change. Hillary was ready to lead from day one.

[hhayden]

Obama like to speak to African American audiences because he knows thay will adore him no matter what he says.

[huff-fan]

Want some gum gum dum dum?

[DCBarrister]

There are African American democrats who do not agree with or support Barack Obama.
In related news that hhayden didn't know, water is wet the sun is hot and the skyscrapers are tall buildings.

[mypov123]

"No excuses for mediocrity" - President Barack Obama

Is this what we should say to him when we have the final health reform bill without a public option or single payer insurance? After all, he said he "owns" the final health care reform bill no matter what.

[pammiethekid]

What are you afraid of? Do you imagine that part of the suffering of the black community has not come from the very despair he is working to dispel, or that ignoring or denying this has helped? He can best say these things because when it comes from a black man, that makes it a "we" conversation, honest self-criticism. And honest self-criticism is a beautiful thing.

[DCBarrister]

Nothing honest about Barack Obama.

President Obama gets bullied by the GOP right and he retreats to closed door sessions to give black America a stern talking to, while failing to show a backbone to the Republicans.

Keep the change.

Hillary 2012

[mypov123]

Are black folks the only ones who need to be self-critical, according to President Obama it seems that is the case. But the TRUTH, is that there are problems within EVERY ethnic group or community, not just the Black community, and the majority of African Americans are not dysfunctional and backwards. You wouldn't know that if you were only listening to President Obama for information about the Black community. I have yet to hear him speak on issues concerning the "white community" or Latino community, for example, in which he urges them to accept some of the blame for their current state and to be self-critical. THAT is the problem.

[hhayden]

Didn't he promise not to sign a bill without a strong public option?

[kannita]

And its not the full video. "YOU LIE!!"

[kid5rivers2]

Encored. It's two-part.

[mypov123]

So, this was basically a regurgitation of the NAACP speech lol.

[Dhammi]

Your point?

[mypov123]

My point and MY OPINION is that this was basically the same lame pseudo-Baptist church service speech he gave at the NAACP convention this year. Actually, I will give him credit for toning down the preacher accent.

[DJ23]

Regurgitated post as well. Your positivity is effervescent.

[mypov123]

Why thank you! lol

[kannita]

Surprised Fox News broadcasted this. Were they looking for him to say something against White folks?!!

[Dark Sphere]

More pandering to the radical fringe...I though he was going to bring us together, not divide us?

[obiejuan]

Did anybody see Michael Steele in the room?

[twopac]

I was waiting for him to jump up and say, "YOU LIE"

[jordan327]

Cnn and msnbc hate black people.

[schwortz08]

i'm sick of post like this - this group and that group hate black people..

well, let me let you in on a little secret...b­lack folks ain't too crazy about no other group either.

look around you, there are wealthy blacks (and no they all are not athletes or rappers), with nice cars, living in some of the nicest neighborhoods, giving back to other communities and countries in record numbers, in political positions at the local and federal levels, have good paying jobs because they have the education and/or own the companies in which they work, - i think you get my point.

so who cares who hates black people - that has no power! look around you.

[noudidnt]

No more lecturing the bl a ck community, Mr. President. It's tiresome and cowardly.

[JJThinking]

Cowardly?

[mypov123]

Yes, it's cowardly when he's too much of a coward to speak to other ethnic groups in the same tone.

[Rastaman1967]

When our community starts living up to our true potential, then your position will be taken seriously.­..but for now, the status quo seem to be ok...

Don't get upset about the truth

[MoeB]

Why?

Do you not think there are factions of the black community that need lecturing?

[johnnycmlately]

No more than any other group.

[schwortz08]

no, because most blacks hear this crap every sunday morning in church - you don't have, you won't have, you're not worthy, and so on.

i'm tired of this foolishness.

[thetruthbringer]

No it ain't. Block your ears if you're tired of hearing it. God knows I'm not.

[konybvg]

Why are you wingnuts so jelous of this man. He is the president whether you cry wee wee wee all the way home

[POLINUT]

As interested as I am in hearing the speech, I just can't bring myself to click "play" for anything associated with Faux News.

For those like me, this site is a goodsend:

News Hounds
We watch FOX so you don't have to.
http://www.newshounds.us/

[SeaShell226]

Ditto
.