Obama's Speech To CBC A Call To Arms, Not A Calling Out: White House Spokesman

Over the weekend, President Barack Obama's speech before a gathering of the Congressional Black Caucus, in which he called on supporters to "put on your marching shoes" and stop "grumbling," has ruffled a few feathers. Some called the president's blunt talk patronizing and condescending in the face of staggering unemployment rates, rising poverty and vanishing wealth among blacks.

Rep. Maxine Waters, perhaps the most vocal of the president's Democratic critics, said she found the address "a bit curious" in that he did not address Hispanics, gays or Jews in such a direct manner.

But a White House spokesman this afternoon told The Huffington Post's Black Voices that the president is too focused on job creation and moving the country forward to be "distracted by critics."

"I think at the end of the day, the president is familiar with criticism," said Kevin Lewis, a White House spokesman. "It is nothing new to him. And I think the president's remarks are being mischaracterized. I think what the president was saying was that he's fighting for a lot of the folks that were in that room and fighting for the American people and calling on not only the CBC but lawmakers and folks who are in the room and across the country to join him.”

The sound bites, Lewis said, that have been looped on cable news shows and quoted in news stories do not do the speech justice. To take only last couple of lines from a 25-minute speech and mistake their style for the speech's content is a missed opportunity to talk about the substance of the American Jobs Act and how it might affect the most vulnerable Americans, a vast majority of whom are undoubtedly black.

To that end, Lewis urged people not to rely on said sound bites and read (or watch on the White House's Youtube channel) the entire speech.

So, here you go. The full transcript of the president's speech, as provided by the White House, follows on the next page.

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Comments

[fixitfakeitcreateit]

08:53 PM on 10/03/2011

The speech was important and right on target. No time for second guessing the enemies of progressive values and the New Deal are advancing. We have to marshal our voices and our votes together to change America for the better.

[dbrett480]

01:47 PM on 10/02/2011

I don't see what the problem was with the speech. It simply seems that the President can't do right by anyone no matter how hard he tries.

[Mistinguette Grandison]

12:31 PM on 10/01/2011

Thank you. The speech was definitely take out of context. It was a good, energizing speech by the president.

[golfr415]

01:10 PM on 09/30/2011

Having read this speech, and watched parts of it, I thought Obama was very condescending and insulting towards black men people in general. The general tone of the speech made it sound as though he, being black, is entitled to their vote and their support. He also implied that the only way that "they" could move forward is with his "leadership." I'd be pretty insulted if he treated me in that manner.

[WeAlwaysKnewIt]

03:37 AM on 09/30/2011

I SENSE that this uproar is scathingly political. This bickering ignited by African American politicians and want-to-be activist leaders serves personal agendas seeking political gain and notoriety at the expense of Obama.

Shame on comments made by Maxine Waters, Cornell West and Tavis Smiley. Did they forget that this President bruised a few egos in Pennsylvania? I never heard one African American politician not supporting Hillary Clinton or one African American activist pile criticism on "Candidate Obama" at that time.

As "President", his recent remarks were made to the CBC. Has the CBC determined that the president's comments were appropriate or inappropriate? Has the CBC asked the president for clarification?

Time for everybody to eat peas! I wonder who said that on national television.
Perspective.

[marbiol]

11:14 PM on 09/29/2011

GREAT!! This was a "call to arms"?? Boy---so much for the elegant oratory after the Kathie Lee Giffords shooting!! So much for LEARNING FROM HISTORY!!

It was this type of martial rhetoric that almost got Kathie Lee KILLED!!! I thought our President was goingt o abandon the "get in your face", bring a gun, etc rhetoric once one ours was affected!!! This kind of rhetoric will lead to more violence!

[PoliSci2008]

07:55 PM on 09/29/2011

I read the entire speech. He’s talking about faith, the task ahead, and pressing on, but the President flipped towards the end; beginning with this line, “So I don't know about you, CBC, but the future rewards those who press on,” and ending with the second to the last paragraph of sterostypes!

No one knows that better than the CBC and its constituents, who have been persevering before he ever considered public office. Very condescending!

It’s as if his white, elitist views of black Americans (descendants of slaves) were exposed!
I’m not buying WH Spokesman’s “mischaracterized” explanation, and for Obama not to be “distracted by critics”, with a simple written apology to CBC and its constituents, is a flip of the finger.

No more wolf tickets for me…he ain’t black enuf!

[ShanaJuly]

06:52 AM on 09/30/2011

Oh puhleeze...

[jreed8]

04:28 PM on 09/29/2011

Yall are really gettin on my nerves takin what President Obama said out of context. First off, he wasn't talkin to black people in general. He was talkin to these so-called black politicians complainin about what he is and isn't doin for African Americans, when they been in office longer than him and hasen't done anything for their own black communities, and what do yall expect him to do to help create jobs for us, we as a people have to open our own buisnesses and hire our own, he can't make nobody hire you. He can't make you get up and go look for jobs and stay in school to gain the necessary skills for the jobs your applying for. Quit thinkin he's GOD. Everything he trys to do, the Republicans refuse to compromise in order to make him look bad. And as far as him using slang, It's just like me at work as a CSR, i use slang when i knw it's a blck person calling in, "to build rapport". I support Obama 100%. How about this, vote for a Republican and see where that get you, Genius. He said nothin wrong, you took it wrong as we always do. Get up, stop complainin and do what it takes to find a dam job. . I'm at work as we speak, because i applied myself. Do what you have to do to find a job no matter how hard , Don't stop lookin DAMN, IT'S SIMPLE.

[conucoheights]

09:36 AM on 09/29/2011

to latinos, LGBT, and jewish people he says to keep putting pressure on him

to african americans he dismisses their grievances.

[ShanaJuly]

06:53 AM on 09/30/2011

And you know this HOW? What do you give a flip about an African American? You probably don't so it is just an opportunity to bash the Pres again...

[conucoheights]

09:35 AM on 09/29/2011

Obama to gays: Keep the pressure on!
Obama to Latinos: Keep the pressure on!
OBama to Jews: Whatever you say!
Obama to african-am­ericans: Stop complaining, stop whining.

black mascot of the white oligarchy

[AdamWest1313]

02:02 PM on 09/29/2011

That isn't what he said, at all. Don't simple buy what the media says he said, actually watch the speech.

http://www.youtube.com/whitehouse#p/u/0/swlaZJ2RbBw

[DeeFromTheD]

12:04 AM on 09/30/2011

You're so twisted. On September 14, 2011 (10 days before the CBC speech) in Raliegh, NC:

"Now is the time to act. We are not people who just watch things happening. We make things happen. (Applause.) We’re Americans. We are tougher than the hand that we’ve been dealt. We’re bigger than the politics we’ve been putting up with. We’re patriots and pioneers and innovators and entrepreneurs. Through individual effort, but also through a commitment to one another, we have built an economy that is the engine and the envy of the world. We’re not going to stop now. The time for hand-wringing is over. The time for moping around -- we’ve got to kick off our bedroom slippers and put on our marching shoes. We’ve got to get to work." (Applause.)

http://pragmaticobotsunite.blogspot.com/2011/09/about-those-bedroom-slippers.html

"I suppose that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was “talkin’ down” to black folks as well, when he said this:”So listen to me, children: Put on your marching shoes; don’cha get weary; though the path ahead may be dark and dreary; we’re walking for freedom, children.”–1962

Get it together!

[DigESource]

12:34 AM on 09/29/2011

The President is right!

Every time in my life when I truly got off my butt to get a job, VIOLA! I got one!

I will go one further than he: We are a spoiled lazy nation of deadbeats throwing little brat tantrums about stupid news stories that are completely worthless when it comes down to solving problems and getting stuff done. Getting stuff done means you get off your butt and stop watching TV and make your life, and the lives around you better.

Frankly, I think the President was too gentle when pointing out this attitude of ours. Seem everyone likes a President (Bush) shoving "Kill our enemies or else" in their face, and we act like "Yes Sir!", but when the message is "Do something creative and constructive with your life, and contribute to others" then the President is a bad guy.

We are a real stupid bunch of people in this country. We have been thoroughly brainwash by the TV, and don't have 1 brain cell left to know it.

[dman27]

11:49 PM on 09/28/2011

Ok, let me get this straight....the president gave a speech where 98% of his speech was in the SAME tone, same fiery deliverance, and all the CBC was laughing, agreeing and applauding. He compliments THEM (CBC) and blacks as a whole in the struggle that we have had as Americans to better the lives of Blacks and America as whole and it is ignored??

1 minute of his speech now says basically... WE have work to do and lets follow the examples of past movements and black leaders such as Rev. Lowery ,John Lewis, and Dr. King. Stop complaining (it will get you nothing), stop crying (it doesn't change anything), stop grumbling (solves nothing). John louis, Rev. Lowery and Dr. King actually DID something....instead of complaining, crying, grumbling.....emulate them and use that useless energy to go to your Local congressman, local city, march if your out of work, work for a lower wage, Do whatever it takes.

Soooo.....now "the hit dog hollers" and certain CBC members take offense to the 1 minute stone throw and call to further action (as they have been doing).

I have never agreed more fully with the president, if you're not part of the solution...

You know what...stop complaining, grumbling, crying and get off your A$$ and put your hurt feelings in the right place and against the right people, who didn't want to give YOU ANYTHING!!!!!!

[DigESource]

12:18 AM on 09/29/2011

!!! EXACTLY !!!

[alex200901]

03:50 AM on 09/30/2011

Couldn't have said it better!

[TennesseeTruth]

11:38 PM on 09/28/2011

"Take off your bedroom slippers" "Stop Complaining". "Put on your marching shoes". All this said in the last 5 minutes of his 25 minute speech. Insult, Elitist, Disrespectful, and RACIST are adjectives to described these statements. Regardless of whose mouth it came out of. Headlines across the country the next day read "President Obama tells blacks to stop complaining, take off your bedroom slippers." If his father was white, Maxine Waters would have complained about these comments, however his father is black and Maxine Waters complained and called the President on his insensitive and racist comments. He meant what he said. He thinks black folk doesn't have a right to complain because they are in bed all day.

[PoliSci2008]

08:02 PM on 09/29/2011

I've worked in corporate america nearly all my adult life, and have heard the sterotypical views of whites about blacks, and I'm here to say the President's closing remarks were a typical sterotyping of blacks, and it's intolerable.

[TennesseeTruth]

11:29 PM on 09/28/2011

Mr. Obama has been on the national scene for all of 3 years. The CBC, West, Smiley, and thousands of others have been around 3 to 10 times longer. Yet we are ready and willing to throw these Soldiers over board for someone who has ONLY three years of national exposure. Without these soldiers the democratic nomination would have eluded him and the presidency would have been a mirage. Knowing the history of America, I am not so quick to throw out seasoned foot soldiers for a babe in the woods. A babe who stands of the shoulders of these giants. And yes, Giants. REad and research history.

[ApprxAm]

12:01 AM on 09/29/2011

But you made the opposite point! They've been around three times longer and that three years definitely isn't long enough time to make immediate improvements.

Though I do not revere the institutions and men you quoted as "soldiers", I do respect your belief in them. But I fear that their station is grossly misunderstood. It appears that these men, for whatever reason, are seen as "leaders", and I thoroughly reject the proposition for their claim, nor has the definition, as of yet been made clear, and they aren't agreed upon, there is none. I've no problem with Mr Smiley being a soldier, for instance, but he's no leader of mine; my wife has that claim.

There has been forty years of White backlash and Black policy mismanagement by Black "leaders". Well I say enough. First of all, what ails Blacks in Memphis or Jackson, differs greatly from those of Blacks in Miami, Brooklyn or Oakland, no organization or person can speak for every one of us. Mr. Obama is a Black "leader", he is the president. That said, we must lead ourselves, first, then help each other.

[MyNameIsJames]

11:38 AM on 09/29/2011

Obama doesn't offer anything approaching a successful methodology for Black Americans. I agree with the original commentator. It will be a cold day in hell when I allow Obama to be the litmus test for Blacks and authenticity. That very idea is a vile political joke. Most Blacks that I know ancestry comes from slavery and 400 years of struggle. Obama doesn't share the legacy. In my opinion Blacks should remember that when he is bowing before a Southern Led Tea Party and Conservative White Republican Party.

[TennesseeTruth]

11:16 PM on 09/28/2011

Another speech where he admonishes black folk. He sounds off for 20 minutes and at the last 5 minutes we find out why he is making the speech. He wants to give the CBC and their supporters(black folk) a tongue lashing about bad mouthing him.
"Take off your bedroom slippers," he says. "Put on your marching shoes," he says. "Stop complaining," he says.. If only Mr. Obama would tell APAC members to 'take off their bedroom slippers, and stop complaining, maybe, just maybe this 25 minute speech would have some credibility. This speech reeks of disrespect and pure elitism. Mr. President, you were wrong to tell people who wrote the book on MARCHING and Fighting to take off their slippers. What an elitist thing to say, to insinuate that black folks are sleeping all day, not working, just COMPLAINING. Now the media puts in bold print, " Mr. Obama tells the BLACK Caucus (black folk) to shut up and stop complaining."
Mr. Obama is suppose to be a master of words. So, does he believe as the MEDIA and white America that all black folks do is complain and sleep all day. And please don't tell me about metaphorical meanings of bedroom slippers and marching. He felt that he could say ANYTHING he wanted to say to a group of people he has NO respect for.
For further evidence of Mr. Obama's true feelings about 'black folks', check out the BET interview he did the following day. RESEARCH

[ApprxAm]

12:49 PM on 09/29/2011

"Another speech where he admonishes black folk. "

That's incorrect. He did, in fact, "tongue lash or bad mouthed" the CBC. As for their supporters being "Black folk", it appears you're too broad in your description of us supporting this group of out-of-touch elites. I fact you questions about "complaining" and "sleeping all day" is racist.

You are completely correct about one thing, luckily. He has absolute contempt for the CBC; respect is a two-way street.

[AdamWest1313]

02:02 PM on 09/29/2011

He "bad mouthed" the cbc for a very small portion of the speech. The vast majority of it was a rallying cry.

http://www.youtube.com/whitehouse#p/u/0/swlaZJ2RbBw

Go ahead, watch for yourself.

[PoliSci2008]

08:05 PM on 09/29/2011

You're exactly right! He's getting his last minute jab in at the closing before any knows of his true intentions.