Obama not afraid to 'shake the tree', speaks of 'Quiet Riot' Among Blacks

[NewYorkerfromMass]

Damn! I am not a big Obama fan but this is good stuff:

Obama Warns of 'Quiet Riot' Among Blacks

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 5, 2007
Filed at 4:51 p.m. ET

HAMPTON, Va. (AP) -- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a ''quiet riot'' among blacks that threatens to erupt just as riots in Los Angeles did 15 years ago.

The first-term Illinois senator said that with black people from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast still displaced 20 months after Hurricane Katrina, frustration and resentments are building explosively as they did before the 1992 riots.

''This administration was colorblind in its incompetence,'' Obama said at a conference of black clergy, ''but the poverty and the hopelessness was there long before the hurricane.

''All the hurricane did was to pull the curtain back for all the world to see,'' he said...

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Obama-Blacks.html?

[LSparkle]

1. Now THAT's the kind of plain talk I expect from Obama

Much better than his performance at the debate the other night.

[Colobo]

2. Dangerous... too dangerous...

This kind of rebellious talk makes me uneasy... too easy to spin against him.

[Adelante]

3. He should come out with a "quiet white riot" next

And he should be okay. I agree with you this talk is fine for the base, but not so good for general voters and perfect for the RW-boaters. But maybe there's some missing context.

[Ethelk2044]

17. That is not what he is saying

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070605006457&newsLang=en


He is talking about the poor and homeless. If you read his speech it is a good speech about uplifting the poor. Getting them the education they need to find jobs which will allow them to move to the middle class. Improving the schools to



SNIP
until we shout from the mountain top, “Our Father who art in heaven, we are going to take the bullets out. We believe in your will and your way.”

Right here in this room, we believe that God is big enough to overcome the smallness of our politics; that He is big enough to overcome our doubts and our cynicism and our worries; that He is big enough to love children of every color and creed and political label.

Ministers, it’s time to unite behind our faith and help all of God’s children around the world and here at home realize that we are all surgeons. Our faith, the word and his will are the instruments we need to take the bullets out.



SNIP
If we want to stop the cycle of poverty, then we need to start with our families.

We need to start supporting parents with young children. There is a pioneering Nurse-Family Partnership program right now that offers home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income mothers and mothers-to-be. They learn how to care for themselves before the baby is born and what to do after. It’s common sense to reach out to a young mother. Teach her about changing the baby. Help her understand what all that crying means, and when to get vaccines and check-ups.

This program saves money. It raises healthy babies and creates better parents. It reduced childhood injuries and unintended pregnancies, increased father involvement and women’s employment, reduced use of welfare and food stamps, and increased children’s school readiness. And it produced more than $28,000 in net savings for every high-risk family enrolled in the program.

This works and I will expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to provide at-home nurse visits for up to 570,000 first-time mothers each year. We can do this. Our God is big enough for that.

We need to give our young people some real choices out there so they move away from gangs and violence and connect them with growing job sectors. That is why I am also going to create a 5-E Youth Service Corps. The “E’s” stand for energy efficiency, environmental education and employment. This program would directly engage disconnected and disadvantaged young people in energy efficiency and environmental service opportunities to strengthen their communities while also providing them with practical skills and experience in important and growing career field. We can do this. When it comes to bringing hope and real job opportunities to our young people, we can take the bullet out. Our God is big enough for that.

We know what works. We know that supporting ex-offenders and their families keeps our men out of prison. That makes a difference in our families and can stop the cycle of poverty. That is why I will expand federal programs that help ex-offenders and sign the Second Chance Act into law.

As president, I will do more to strengthen support to state correctional systems so that ex-offenders can meet their parole requirements without worrying about losing their jobs. I will create a prison-to-work incentive program, modeled on the successful Welfare-to-Work program. It would create strong ties with employers, job training agencies and ex-offenders to improve job retention rates. And I will reach out to all the Reverends and engage faith-based organizations to provide support for ex-offenders and their families, both during incarceration and after. We can do that for our families. Our God is a forgiving God. He’s certainly big enough for that.

But we need to do a better job making sure that there are jobs in our communities. We need to provide economic opportunity in every corner of our country if we want to take the bullet out.

We know that we have to invest in transitional jobs too. When there are people who are homeless, veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from this war in Iraq, and thousands of children aging out of foster care, we can’t expect them to have all the skills they need for work. They may need help with basic skills-how to show up to work on time, wear the right clothes, and act appropriately in an office. We have to help them get there. That’s why I have called for $50 million to begin innovative new job training and workforce development programs.

But what good are these efforts if men and women can’t afford the bus fare or the subway fare or the car insurance to get to the training center or new job. That is why, as president, I will invest in transportation.

We know that three-quarters of welfare recipients live in areas that are poorly served by public transportation and low-income workers spend up to 36% of their incomes on transportation. That is why I will fight to ensure that the federal Jobs Access and Reverse Commute program provides grants to improve low-income access to transportation. And that additional federal public transportation dollars flow to the highest-need communities. No one should be denied work in this country because they can’t find public transportation in their neighborhood.

But we should do just as much if not more to invest in minority-owned businesses in our neighborhoods so people don’t need to travel miles away in the first place. Right now, less than one percent of the $250 billion in venture capital dollars that we invest nationwide each year has been directed to the country's 4.4 million minority business owners. And in recent years, there has been a significant decline in the share of the Small Business Investment Company financings that have gone to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. We are going to change that and strengthen the Small Business Administration to provide more capital minority-owned businesses. We can do that.

[Ethelk2044]

18. That is not what he is talking about

He is talking about uplifting the poor.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070605006457&newsLang=en

[sandnsea]

4. This is what he needs to do

He was sounding like a Hillary clone there for a while. People want honesty and this is honest. The only people who will be offended are people who will never vote for a Dem anyway.

[polichick]

5. I hope it's not just a political tactic...

Heard Zogby has black and Hispanic women still going strongly for Clinton.

[Colobo]

6. That hopefully will change soon.

[polichick]

7. Could be...

But I hope Obama's not just another politician who comes up with stuff like this in order to woo voters ~ I'd like to think there's more to this one.

[Colobo]

8. I know you like Hillary, but more of a "politician" than her you won't find.

[polichick]

9. I like all of them, for different things.

I admire Hillary's mind ~ but would agree that she is extremely political (that's why I just posted that her decision about the war probably had something to do with being a Senator from NY).

I admire Edwards' passion for the poor ~ America is only as strong as its weakest link.

I admire Richardson for his broad experience ~ and for making some impressive changes in NM.

I'm not sure who Obama is yet. So far I've admired him for what I perceive as a big vision ~ the thing that made America great. We'll see...


Politics is the ultimate game. Since I'm not working for a candidate this time, I'm enjoying just watching the moves and countermoves without coming to a conclusion. I'd be thrilled to see any of them in the WH!


Check out my GOTV boutique ~ we have designs for all of them and Kucinich, who is probably closest to me on most issues:

[Bullet1987]

11. You're exxagerating...

Most people say he NEEDS to start getting more blunt...he NEEDS to get this out there.

[nevergiveup]

10. I like Obama

very much and have sent him money but this was not a wise statement. The Republicans will take this out of context and spin the crap out of it in a general election. The media will also be all over this. He could have said the same thing using different words without sounding like an alarmist. Maybe I am wrong but I suspect this is Obama's first big political goof and it will likely come back to haunt him.

[Bullet1987]

12. FOX can say whatever they want...they always do...

The only pundits who will blow this out of proporation are maybe Tucker and Scarborough. Stop acting as if race can't be talked about...if we can talk about gay rights, religion, and other hot button issues...we should be able to talk about race.

[Alhena]

13. Another unforced error by Obama ... disappointing

The test for whether what he did was wise politically is whether Hillary was happy when she heard about it. I can guarantee you she was VERY happy with this statement. And politics is the name of the game- he needs to WIN the election to have the ability to do anything. And he won't win making statements like that.

Yes, the statement might help Obama with a certain number of voters, but it will hurt with a good bit more.

I strongly support Obama, but he's making too many unforced errors.

[Bullet1987]

14. Why? Because he said Bush is ignoring the Gulf Coast?

Are you debating that? Or are you just mad he brought up the fact that they're Black...which they are?

[Alhena]

16. People won't get that he's talking about the Gulf Coast ...

the way the soundbite has played on the nightly news- NBC ran a story on the speech - voters will think Obama's saying that black people in America are mistreated and getting ready to explode. Now, whether that's true or not (and I haven't seen any signs of 1968-style riots nationwide) it will not play well at all with voters nationally.

And at this stage, playing to voters is the name of the game. Hate to say it, but it's true. If he doesn't get elected, he can't change anything. I think he'd be a great president, but he has to play it smart to get there. With his name and race, he's playing from a disadvantage to begin with.

[polichick]

15. He's politically wet behind the ears...

Which is refreshing but could cost him.

[Ethelk2044]

25. He did not he was talking about uplifting the poor

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070605006457&newsLang=en


We can diminish poverty if we approach it in two ways: by taking mutual responsibility for each other as a society, and also by asking for some more individual responsibility to strengthen our families.

If we want to stop the cycle of poverty, then we need to start with our families.

We need to start supporting parents with young children. There is a pioneering Nurse-Family Partnership program right now that offers home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income mothers and mothers-to-be. They learn how to care for themselves before the baby is born and what to do after. It’s common sense to reach out to a young mother. Teach her about changing the baby. Help her understand what all that crying means, and when to get vaccines and check-ups.

This program saves money. It raises healthy babies and creates better parents. It reduced childhood injuries and unintended pregnancies, increased father involvement and women’s employment, reduced use of welfare and food stamps, and increased children’s school readiness. And it produced more than $28,000 in net savings for every high-risk family enrolled in the program.

This works and I will expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to provide at-home nurse visits for up to 570,000 first-time mothers each year. We can do this. Our God is big enough for that.

We need to give our young people some real choices out there so they move away from gangs and violence and connect them with growing job sectors. That is why I am also going to create a 5-E Youth Service Corps. The “E’s” stand for energy efficiency, environmental education and employment. This program would directly engage disconnected and disadvantaged young people in energy efficiency and environmental service opportunities to strengthen their communities while also providing them with practical skills and experience in important and growing career field. We can do this. When it comes to bringing hope and real job opportunities to our young people, we can take the bullet out. Our God is big enough for that.

We know what works. We know that supporting ex-offenders and their families keeps our men out of prison. That makes a difference in our families and can stop the cycle of poverty. That is why I will expand federal programs that help ex-offenders and sign the Second Chance Act into law.

As president, I will do more to strengthen support to state correctional systems so that ex-offenders can meet their parole requirements without worrying about losing their jobs. I will create a prison-to-work incentive program, modeled on the successful Welfare-to-Work program. It would create strong ties with employers, job training agencies and ex-offenders to improve job retention rates. And I will reach out to all the Reverends and engage faith-based organizations to provide support for ex-offenders and their families, both during incarceration and after. We can do that for our families. Our God is a forgiving God. He’s certainly big enough for that.

But we need to do a better job making sure that there are jobs in our communities. We need to provide economic opportunity in every corner of our country if we want to take the bullet out.

We know that we have to invest in transitional jobs too. When there are people who are homeless, veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from this war in Iraq, and thousands of children aging out of foster care, we can’t expect them to have all the skills they need for work. They may need help with basic skills-how to show up to work on time, wear the right clothes, and act appropriately in an office. We have to help them get there. That’s why I have called for $50 million to begin innovative new job training and workforce development programs.

But what good are these efforts if men and women can’t afford the bus fare or the subway fare or the car insurance to get to the training center or new job. That is why, as president, I will invest in transportation.

We know that three-quarters of welfare recipients live in areas that are poorly served by public transportation and low-income workers spend up to 36% of their incomes on transportation. That is why I will fight to ensure that the federal Jobs Access and Reverse Commute program provides grants to improve low-income access to transportation. And that additional federal public transportation dollars flow to the highest-need communities. No one should be denied work in this country because they can’t find public transportation in their neighborhood.

But we should do just as much if not more to invest in minority-owned businesses in our neighborhoods so people don’t need to travel miles away in the first place. Right now, less than one percent of the $250 billion in venture capital dollars that we invest nationwide each year has been directed to the country's 4.4 million minority business owners. And in recent years, there has been a significant decline in the share of the Small Business Investment Company financings that have gone to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. We are going to change that and strengthen the Small Business Administration to provide more capital minority-owned businesses. We can do that.

And here’s one final idea today that will help break the cycle of poverty - affordable health care for every American. Our God is big enough for that now.

The other day I met a couple who owns a small business in northern Iowa that hundreds of people in their community count on every day to get their internet access. But today they are on the verge of bankruptcy - and it’s all because of their health care costs.

Seventeen years ago the husband had cancer. He’s recovered now, but every year since then, his family’s premiums have gone up, and they can’t find anyone else who will insure them. They now pay forty percent of their income in health care premiums, they haven’t been able to save a dime for their kids’ college education, and they’re having trouble paying for things like clothes and gas.

When the loan officer first uttered the word “bankruptcy,” it was one of the worst days of their life. They said, “We have done everything right. We have done everything we were supposed to do. This is not who we are.” This is not who we are.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

19. Not smart

First of all, those who claim the ravages of globalization are about race are lying to you.

Second of all, it's clear he's just trying to boost his credibility among black voters.

EDIT: And Royal tried this in France. It failed and tilted the voters to the other side. The fact that Obama is speaking on behalf of members of his race makes it even more dangerous. It's like Joe Lieberman being too loudly pro-Israeli. It's politically stupid.

[illinoisprogressive]

20. You may not like Obama but, let me explain something:

he has spoken to alot of black audiences and he is black afterall.
The senator is also a person who thinks outside the box and not like most of the other politicians.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

21. If being a pro-globalization Democrat is thinking outside the box

Then I'd rather he get out of the box altogether and stop wasting our time. Enough with this Third Way politics. Democrats ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LEFT-WINGERS, the heirs of FDR.

I'm sure more people here agree with me here.

[Bullet1987]

22. Obama didn't say Black people would riot

Hence calling it a "quiet riot." It was a metaphor...

[Ethelk2044]

29. I agree

Everyone need to read the speech before commenting. It is a speech about uplifting the poor.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070605006457&newsLang=en


We can diminish poverty if we approach it in two ways: by taking mutual responsibility for each other as a society, and also by asking for some more individual responsibility to strengthen our families.

If we want to stop the cycle of poverty, then we need to start with our families.

We need to start supporting parents with young children. There is a pioneering Nurse-Family Partnership program right now that offers home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income mothers and mothers-to-be. They learn how to care for themselves before the baby is born and what to do after. It’s common sense to reach out to a young mother. Teach her about changing the baby. Help her understand what all that crying means, and when to get vaccines and check-ups.

This program saves money. It raises healthy babies and creates better parents. It reduced childhood injuries and unintended pregnancies, increased father involvement and women’s employment, reduced use of welfare and food stamps, and increased children’s school readiness. And it produced more than $28,000 in net savings for every high-risk family enrolled in the program.

This works and I will expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to provide at-home nurse visits for up to 570,000 first-time mothers each year. We can do this. Our God is big enough for that.

We need to give our young people some real choices out there so they move away from gangs and violence and connect them with growing job sectors. That is why I am also going to create a 5-E Youth Service Corps. The “E’s” stand for energy efficiency, environmental education and employment. This program would directly engage disconnected and disadvantaged young people in energy efficiency and environmental service opportunities to strengthen their communities while also providing them with practical skills and experience in important and growing career field. We can do this. When it comes to bringing hope and real job opportunities to our young people, we can take the bullet out. Our God is big enough for that.

We know what works. We know that supporting ex-offenders and their families keeps our men out of prison. That makes a difference in our families and can stop the cycle of poverty. That is why I will expand federal programs that help ex-offenders and sign the Second Chance Act into law.

As president, I will do more to strengthen support to state correctional systems so that ex-offenders can meet their parole requirements without worrying about losing their jobs. I will create a prison-to-work incentive program, modeled on the successful Welfare-to-Work program. It would create strong ties with employers, job training agencies and ex-offenders to improve job retention rates. And I will reach out to all the Reverends and engage faith-based organizations to provide support for ex-offenders and their families, both during incarceration and after. We can do that for our families. Our God is a forgiving God. He’s certainly big enough for that.

But we need to do a better job making sure that there are jobs in our communities. We need to provide economic opportunity in every corner of our country if we want to take the bullet out.

We know that we have to invest in transitional jobs too. When there are people who are homeless, veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from this war in Iraq, and thousands of children aging out of foster care, we can’t expect them to have all the skills they need for work. They may need help with basic skills-how to show up to work on time, wear the right clothes, and act appropriately in an office. We have to help them get there. That’s why I have called for $50 million to begin innovative new job training and workforce development programs.

But what good are these efforts if men and women can’t afford the bus fare or the subway fare or the car insurance to get to the training center or new job. That is why, as president, I will invest in transportation.

We know that three-quarters of welfare recipients live in areas that are poorly served by public transportation and low-income workers spend up to 36% of their incomes on transportation. That is why I will fight to ensure that the federal Jobs Access and Reverse Commute program provides grants to improve low-income access to transportation. And that additional federal public transportation dollars flow to the highest-need communities. No one should be denied work in this country because they can’t find public transportation in their neighborhood.

But we should do just as much if not more to invest in minority-owned businesses in our neighborhoods so people don’t need to travel miles away in the first place. Right now, less than one percent of the $250 billion in venture capital dollars that we invest nationwide each year has been directed to the country's 4.4 million minority business owners. And in recent years, there has been a significant decline in the share of the Small Business Investment Company financings that have gone to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. We are going to change that and strengthen the Small Business Administration to provide more capital minority-owned businesses. We can do that.

And here’s one final idea today that will help break the cycle of poverty - affordable health care for every American. Our God is big enough for that now.

The other day I met a couple who owns a small business in northern Iowa that hundreds of people in their community count on every day to get their internet access. But today they are on the verge of bankruptcy - and it’s all because of their health care costs.

Seventeen years ago the husband had cancer. He’s recovered now, but every year since then, his family’s premiums have gone up, and they can’t find anyone else who will insure them. They now pay forty percent of their income in health care premiums, they haven’t been able to save a dime for their kids’ college education, and they’re having trouble paying for things like clothes and gas.

When the loan officer first uttered the word “bankruptcy,” it was one of the worst days of their life. They said, “We have done everything right. We have done everything we were supposed to do. This is not who we are.” This is not who we are.

[ripple]

63. Globalization cannot be reversed.

If our trade debt were to be called for payment, it would literally collapse the world economy.

The genie is out of the bottle. The question now is: what in the hell do we do with it?

Obama didn't let the genie out, any more than Kucinich can put it back in.

What is your plan?

[Ethelk2044]

28. this is crazy he was talking about uplifting the poor and you are trying

to spin as if he was talking about race. Give me a break.

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070605006457&newsLang=en


We can diminish poverty if we approach it in two ways: by taking mutual responsibility for each other as a society, and also by asking for some more individual responsibility to strengthen our families.

If we want to stop the cycle of poverty, then we need to start with our families.

We need to start supporting parents with young children. There is a pioneering Nurse-Family Partnership program right now that offers home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income mothers and mothers-to-be. They learn how to care for themselves before the baby is born and what to do after. It’s common sense to reach out to a young mother. Teach her about changing the baby. Help her understand what all that crying means, and when to get vaccines and check-ups.

This program saves money. It raises healthy babies and creates better parents. It reduced childhood injuries and unintended pregnancies, increased father involvement and women’s employment, reduced use of welfare and food stamps, and increased children’s school readiness. And it produced more than $28,000 in net savings for every high-risk family enrolled in the program.

This works and I will expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to provide at-home nurse visits for up to 570,000 first-time mothers each year. We can do this. Our God is big enough for that.

We need to give our young people some real choices out there so they move away from gangs and violence and connect them with growing job sectors. That is why I am also going to create a 5-E Youth Service Corps. The “E’s” stand for energy efficiency, environmental education and employment. This program would directly engage disconnected and disadvantaged young people in energy efficiency and environmental service opportunities to strengthen their communities while also providing them with practical skills and experience in important and growing career field. We can do this. When it comes to bringing hope and real job opportunities to our young people, we can take the bullet out. Our God is big enough for that.

We know what works. We know that supporting ex-offenders and their families keeps our men out of prison. That makes a difference in our families and can stop the cycle of poverty. That is why I will expand federal programs that help ex-offenders and sign the Second Chance Act into law.

As president, I will do more to strengthen support to state correctional systems so that ex-offenders can meet their parole requirements without worrying about losing their jobs. I will create a prison-to-work incentive program, modeled on the successful Welfare-to-Work program. It would create strong ties with employers, job training agencies and ex-offenders to improve job retention rates. And I will reach out to all the Reverends and engage faith-based organizations to provide support for ex-offenders and their families, both during incarceration and after. We can do that for our families. Our God is a forgiving God. He’s certainly big enough for that.

But we need to do a better job making sure that there are jobs in our communities. We need to provide economic opportunity in every corner of our country if we want to take the bullet out.

We know that we have to invest in transitional jobs too. When there are people who are homeless, veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from this war in Iraq, and thousands of children aging out of foster care, we can’t expect them to have all the skills they need for work. They may need help with basic skills-how to show up to work on time, wear the right clothes, and act appropriately in an office. We have to help them get there. That’s why I have called for $50 million to begin innovative new job training and workforce development programs.

But what good are these efforts if men and women can’t afford the bus fare or the subway fare or the car insurance to get to the training center or new job. That is why, as president, I will invest in transportation.

We know that three-quarters of welfare recipients live in areas that are poorly served by public transportation and low-income workers spend up to 36% of their incomes on transportation. That is why I will fight to ensure that the federal Jobs Access and Reverse Commute program provides grants to improve low-income access to transportation. And that additional federal public transportation dollars flow to the highest-need communities. No one should be denied work in this country because they can’t find public transportation in their neighborhood.

But we should do just as much if not more to invest in minority-owned businesses in our neighborhoods so people don’t need to travel miles away in the first place. Right now, less than one percent of the $250 billion in venture capital dollars that we invest nationwide each year has been directed to the country's 4.4 million minority business owners. And in recent years, there has been a significant decline in the share of the Small Business Investment Company financings that have gone to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. We are going to change that and strengthen the Small Business Administration to provide more capital minority-owned businesses. We can do that.

And here’s one final idea today that will help break the cycle of poverty - affordable health care for every American. Our God is big enough for that now.

The other day I met a couple who owns a small business in northern Iowa that hundreds of people in their community count on every day to get their internet access. But today they are on the verge of bankruptcy - and it’s all because of their health care costs.

Seventeen years ago the husband had cancer. He’s recovered now, but every year since then, his family’s premiums have gone up, and they can’t find anyone else who will insure them. They now pay forty percent of their income in health care premiums, they haven’t been able to save a dime for their kids’ college education, and they’re having trouble paying for things like clothes and gas.

When the loan officer first uttered the word “bankruptcy,” it was one of the worst days of their life. They said, “We have done everything right. We have done everything we were supposed to do. This is not who we are.” This is not who we are.

[BeyondGeography]

35. Lame comparison

Royal said immigrants would riot if Sarkozy won; Obama's not making any implication of the sort here.

[Ethelk2044]

23. Obama did not say anything wrong Here is a part of his speech

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070605006457&newsLang=en



We need to start supporting parents with young children. There is a pioneering Nurse-Family Partnership program right now that offers home visits by trained registered nurses to low-income mothers and mothers-to-be. They learn how to care for themselves before the baby is born and what to do after. It’s common sense to reach out to a young mother. Teach her about changing the baby. Help her understand what all that crying means, and when to get vaccines and check-ups.

This program saves money. It raises healthy babies and creates better parents. It reduced childhood injuries and unintended pregnancies, increased father involvement and women’s employment, reduced use of welfare and food stamps, and increased children’s school readiness. And it produced more than $28,000 in net savings for every high-risk family enrolled in the program.

This works and I will expand the Nurse-Family Partnership to provide at-home nurse visits for up to 570,000 first-time mothers each year. We can do this. Our God is big enough for that.

We need to give our young people some real choices out there so they move away from gangs and violence and connect them with growing job sectors. That is why I am also going to create a 5-E Youth Service Corps. The “E’s” stand for energy efficiency, environmental education and employment. This program would directly engage disconnected and disadvantaged young people in energy efficiency and environmental service opportunities to strengthen their communities while also providing them with practical skills and experience in important and growing career field. We can do this. When it comes to bringing hope and real job opportunities to our young people, we can take the bullet out. Our God is big enough for that.

We know what works. We know that supporting ex-offenders and their families keeps our men out of prison. That makes a difference in our families and can stop the cycle of poverty. That is why I will expand federal programs that help ex-offenders and sign the Second Chance Act into law.

As president, I will do more to strengthen support to state correctional systems so that ex-offenders can meet their parole requirements without worrying about losing their jobs. I will create a prison-to-work incentive program, modeled on the successful Welfare-to-Work program. It would create strong ties with employers, job training agencies and ex-offenders to improve job retention rates. And I will reach out to all the Reverends and engage faith-based organizations to provide support for ex-offenders and their families, both during incarceration and after. We can do that for our families. Our God is a forgiving God. He’s certainly big enough for that.

But we need to do a better job making sure that there are jobs in our communities. We need to provide economic opportunity in every corner of our country if we want to take the bullet out.

We know that we have to invest in transitional jobs too. When there are people who are homeless, veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from this war in Iraq, and thousands of children aging out of foster care, we can’t expect them to have all the skills they need for work. They may need help with basic skills-how to show up to work on time, wear the right clothes, and act appropriately in an office. We have to help them get there. That’s why I have called for $50 million to begin innovative new job training and workforce development programs.

But what good are these efforts if men and women can’t afford the bus fare or the subway fare or the car insurance to get to the training center or new job. That is why, as president, I will invest in transportation.

We know that three-quarters of welfare recipients live in areas that are poorly served by public transportation and low-income workers spend up to 36% of their incomes on transportation. That is why I will fight to ensure that the federal Jobs Access and Reverse Commute program provides grants to improve low-income access to transportation. And that additional federal public transportation dollars flow to the highest-need communities. No one should be denied work in this country because they can’t find public transportation in their neighborhood.

But we should do just as much if not more to invest in minority-owned businesses in our neighborhoods so people don’t need to travel miles away in the first place. Right now, less than one percent of the $250 billion in venture capital dollars that we invest nationwide each year has been directed to the country's 4.4 million minority business owners. And in recent years, there has been a significant decline in the share of the Small Business Investment Company financings that have gone to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. We are going to change that and strengthen the Small Business Administration to provide more capital minority-owned businesses. We can do that.

And here’s one final idea today that will help break the cycle of poverty - affordable health care for every American. Our God is big enough for that now.

The other day I met a couple who owns a small business in northern Iowa that hundreds of people in their community count on every day to get their internet access. But today they are on the verge of bankruptcy - and it’s all because of their health care costs.

Seventeen years ago the husband had cancer. He’s recovered now, but every year since then, his family’s premiums have gone up, and they can’t find anyone else who will insure them. They now pay forty percent of their income in health care premiums, they haven’t been able to save a dime for their kids’ college education, and they’re having trouble paying for things like clothes and gas.

When the loan officer first uttered the word “bankruptcy,” it was one of the worst days of their life. They said, “We have done everything right. We have done everything we were supposed to do. This is not who we are.” This is not who we are.


I need to know what is so call bad about what he said in the above message

[Colobo]

24. What the news says is more important than what Obama really said.

[Bullet1987]

26. Obama shouldn't pander to the news...

IMHO, he should be more like Edwards...more populist. Edwards doesn't give a damn what the media has to say about him.

[Ethelk2044]

27. What news am I missing something?

[Bullet1987]

30. I think people are assuming the media is going to turn this

into a Obama=Sharpton type of thing. I can tell you right now, FOX WILL jump on this, but most people that watch FOX probably won't vote for Obama anyway. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time right-wingers attacked Obama.

[Ethelk2044]

31. Nor the last

[Colobo]

32. You got it; do a Yahoo News search on Barack Obama and check how the story has been presented!

[Bullet1987]

33. All of the articles are basically the same...

and if people can't get around the idea of a Presidential candidate using the word BLACK in any of their speeches, then I think we need to do a lot of soul searching. This happened to Clinton too when she said something along the same lines when she went to that church. She said something about Republicans.

[beaconess]

34. We complain when candidates package themselves too carefully

and then we beat them up when they talk honestly.

jeez.

[Colobo]

36. Obama is my candidate no matter what; I just had to voice my concerns.

[Bullet1987]

37. Everybody needs to WATCH the video itself below...

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_156171203.html">Here

[BeyondGeography]

41. Fantastic; thank you

[draft_mario_cuomo]

44. It is in the New York Times. It will be everywhere.

Raw Story is even presenting it the same way. Look at this, from a quick Google news search:

Obama Warns of 'Quiet Riot' Among Blacks
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 4 hours ago
AP Photo VASH103. By BOB LEWIS. AP Writer. HAMPTON, Va. (AP) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has ...
Obama warns of 'quiet riot' among blacks
Kansas City Star, MO - 4 hours ago
By BOB LEWIS. AP Writer. Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, D-Il., speaks before a meeting of the Hampton University Ministers' Conference at ...
Obama: Bush administration ignoring 'quiet riot' among blacks
Arizona Republic, AZ - 5 hours ago
By Bob Lewis. AP Writer. HAMPTON, Va. - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a ...
Obama: Bush Ignoring Blacks' "Quiet Riot"
CBS News, NY - 6 hours ago
(AP) Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among blacks that ...
Obama warns of 'quiet riot' among blacks
Boston Globe, MA - 7 hours ago
By Bob Lewis, AP Writer | June 5, 2007. HAMPTON, Va. --Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done ...
Obama Warns of 'Quiet Riot' Among Blacks
ABC News - 9 hours ago
Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, D-Il., speaks before a meeting of the Hampton University Ministers' Conference at the school in Hampton, ...
Obama Warns Of 'Quiet Riot' Among Blacks
Guardian Unlimited, UK - 9 hours ago
From AP. AP Photo VASH102, VASH101. By BOB LEWIS. AP Writer. HAMPTON, Va. (AP) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush ...
Presidential hopeful Obama says Bush administration ignoring ...
International Herald Tribune, France - 9 hours ago
AP. HAMPTON, Virginia: Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" ...
Obama Warns of 'Quiet Riot' Among Blacks
Forbes, NY - 9 hours ago
By BOB LEWIS 06.05.07, 1:39 PM ET. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a ...
Obama: Bush Administration Ignoring “Quiet Riot”
KWTX, TX - 5 hours ago
(June 5, 2007)--Barack Obama says the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse what he calls a "quiet riot" among blacks, one that he says threatens ...
Obama warns of 'quiet riots' among African Americans
Turkish Press, MI - 5 hours ago
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama warned on Tuesday a "quiet riot" was building among African-Americans, comparable to that which boiled over ...
Obama: Bush Administration Ignoring 'Quiet Riot' Among Blacks
Fox 28, IN - 6 hours ago
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama says the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among blacks that threatens to erupt just as riots ...
Obama: Bush administration ignoring 'quiet riot' among blacks
WVEC.com (subscription), VA - 6 hours ago
By BOB LEWIS / AP. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among ...
Obama: Bush administration ignoring 'quiet riot' among blacks
KPVI-TV, ID - 7 hours ago
AP - June 5, 2007 4:13 PM ET. HAMPTON, Va. (AP) - Barack Obama says the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse what he calls a "quiet riot" among ...
Presidential hopeful Obama says Bush administration ignoring ...
PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - 7 hours ago
© AP. HAMPTON, Virginia (AP) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the administration of President George W. Bush has done ...
Obama says Bush is ignoring 'quiet riot' among blacks
WJBC News, IL - 7 hours ago
HAMPTON, Va. (AP) -- Presidential hopeful Barack Obama says the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among blacks that threatens to ...
Obama Feels “the Noize”
State Journal, WV - 7 hours ago
Senator Obama, a notable left Winger, then said that Bush was a Ratt, whose failures in New Orleans caused Megadeath, and that unlike the LA Guns used in ...
Obama: Bush administration ignoring 'quiet riot' among blacks
ABC7Chicago.com, IL - 8 hours ago
June 5, 2007 (HAMPTON, Va.) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet ...
Obama warns of ‘quiet riot‘ among blacks
Howell Times and Transcript, UT - 9 hours ago
By BOB LEWIS, AP Writer 14 minutes ago. HAMPTON, Va. - Democr, , ) said Tuesday that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among ...
Obama: Bush administration ignoring 'quiet riot' among blacks
WAVY-TV, VA - 9 hours ago
HAMPTON, Va. (AP) -- Illinois Senator Barack Obama said in Virginia today that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse what he calls a "quiet ...
Obama Warns of Blacks' 'Quiet Riot'
TIME - 7 hours ago
The Democratic Senator's new proposal has many elements of her failed plan from the 1990s. Could it fly this time? (HAMPTON, Va. ...
Late-breaking letters: With an eye on Election 2008
OCRegister, CA - 4 hours ago
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama recently said poverty and hopelessness are fueling a "quiet riot" in the black community, the same situation that ...
In Hampton, Obama addresses war, poverty and black tensions
The Virginian-Pilot, VA - 4 hours ago
By STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS, The Virginian-Pilot. HAMPTON – US Sen. Barack Obama pledged a broad attack on poverty if elected president, and cited his ...
Obama warns of 'quiet riot' among blacks
Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX - 8 hours ago
By BOB LEWIS. AP Writer. AP Photo/Steve Helber. Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, D-Il., speaks before a meeting of the Hampton University ...
Obama Makes Stop In Hampton
WTKR Your NewsChannel 3, VA - 8 hours ago
Illinois Senator Barack Obama said at Hampton University today that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse what he calls a "quiet riot" among ...
Obama Speaks In Virginia
WCAV, VA - 9 hours ago
Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama spoke at Hampton University Tuesday, saying that the Bush administration has done nothing to defuse what he ...
Barack Obama: 'Quiet Riot' not just a bad eighties band
Monsters and Critics.com, UK - 9 hours ago
Democratic presidential candidate and Senator of Illinois Barack Obama speaks at the Sojourners/ CNN Candidates Forum on Faith, Values, and Poverty in ...
Obama: Bush administration ignoring 'quiet riot' among blacks
WDBJ7.com, VA - 9 hours ago
AP - June 5, 2007 1:35 PM ET. HAMPTON, Va. (AP) - Illinois Senator Barack Obama said in Virginia today that the Bush administration has done nothing to ...

[draft_mario_cuomo]

43. Exactly. This may prove to be the biggest "gaffe" thus far

Edwards has had his share of low moments, as have other candidates, notably Biden and Richardson, but none of their "mistakes" have the potential to cause long-term damage to their candidacies. This does. If Obama can be painted as a "black candidate", like Jesse Jackson, and not a candidate who happens to be black, that will greatly damage his chances of winning. The hurdle for a minority candidate for president has always been whether the candidate is perceived as a "minority candidate" or a candidate who just happens to be a minority. This is one reason, I believe, Obama has made "unity" the theme of his campaign. This helps defuse the racial angst among some non-black voters. He may have blown that strategy with this comment.

It is wrong but let's face it: a minority who is perceived as a minority first cannot win a presidential election. Let's hope the media, which has had a love affair with Obama thus far, doesn't knife him like they did Dean with this comment.

[Bullet1987]

45. Did you watch the video?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

48. Perception is reality

His actual statement was fine but let's face it, people will look at what the media tells them, not the substance of the statement. Remember the Kerry "I voted for it before I voted against it" meme? What Obama opened himself up to is the demolition of his carefully cultivated "unity" image and his cross-racial appeal. The consequences likely won't be drastic (i.e. him dropping from 29$ in the polls to 12%)but if the media promotes this, as it appears they plan to, he will suffer.

[Bullet1987]

49. All of the stories are the same...

They all copy from the same AP article which is nothing like what he said...

[Colobo]

50. THAT IS THE POINT!!! They are lying to make Obama look bad and it's all over the fucking place!

Even the NYT picked on it!!!

[Bullet1987]

54. Calm down Katz...lol

[draft_mario_cuomo]

55. You took the words out of my mouth, Katz nt

[BeyondGeography]

38. Folks, this is one powerhouse of a speech

Obama's whole life leads up to a speech like this. He ditched corporate America after college to go into community service to make a difference in a poor, black, urban community. Those first years in Chicago put him on the path to where he is today. Parts of this speech are almost literally lifted from "Dreams of my Father," a book which I encourage everyone with the time and inclination to read. Despair is an issue he has wrestled with as an individual and confronted as a professional. His message balances an unmatched sensitivity to abandoned communities and people with practical steps to alleviate pain and build hope.

You might not see another speech like it the entire campaign. This is oration of the highest order, and I don't give a fuck how the media spins it. Read the entire thing, realize that only this man from this party is capable of such vision, and don't worry about the MSM for one night.

[Bullet1987]

39. I agree, watch the speech for yourself please...

It's DAMN powerful...I don't see how the media can spin this bad at all. If they do, they're BS'ing HARD!!!

[draft_mario_cuomo]

46. Sadly, they are already spinning it. See post #44 nt

[Colobo]

47. My fellow Obamaniacs are refusing to understand what the media is doing with this

AMERICANS READ HEADLINES, DON'T WATCH OR READ SPEECHES OF POLITICAL CANDIDATES!!! CAN'T YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND IT???

[Bullet1987]

51. Somebody needs to put the damn thing on Youtube...so everybody can see it for themselves...

[Colobo]

53. Average Joe will go on You Tube to see if what the press is saying is true?

You are giving people too much credit.

[Bullet1987]

56. People STILL need to watch the video because this is why the guy is so damn popular

to begin with!!! Speeches like THAT!! Why doesn't he sound like fired up in the debates??

[Colobo]

58. I give up; hopefully I'm overreacting.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

57. Sadly, few people will bother to take the time to see the actual footage

We have to understand how most people think. People will see the headline, the few words on the CNN or Faux ticker, the 3 minute piece on the nightly news, and then return to talking about the NBA finals, Paris Hilton, or American Idol. Only a small slice of Americans are serious consumers of political news. This is a sad fact. Ask John Kerry, Al Gore, or Howard Dean.

[bling bling]

66. Your fake concern all over this thread is cracking me up.

Seriously, I think it's funny, in a cute way. I guess I have a strange sense of humor.

>
>


"Sadly...."
"This is a sad fact..."

Pffft. Yeah right. You're secretly jumping for joy and hoping it'll help out Edwards somehow in the end.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

52. Exactly. Remember what they did to Kerry on the $87 billion?

Kerry told the truth and he also explained his reasoning for voting differently on the two funding bills. Did the media EVER mention that? No. They savaged him for that. Let's also not forget what the "liberal media" did to Gore regarding his comment on the internet.

Jesse Jackson took the lead in the 1988 Democratic nomination battle. He even won substantial white support. However, once it became clear that he may actually win suddenly his white support plummeted. Why? Because he was perceived as a "black candidate." This matters, folks. :scared:

It would be a damn shame if Obama's candidacy was killed by the media like the Dean candidacy was.

[BeyondGeography]

59. There is always cause for concern with the media

Here's something besides the AP story for you to look at:

<The Rev. Melvin T. Blackwell of Little Zion Baptist Church in Smithfield was among spectators who praised Obama's message.

"It strongly resonated with me and others around me," said Blackwell, who called the speech almost sermon like. He called Obama's profession of faith "very impacting, to say the least.">

http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=126061&ran=3539&tref=po

Wait and see how this plays out, Katz. Even if you're right about the short-term media spin, Obama spoke the truth today, and that will generate more support for him come voting time, not less.

[Bullet1987]

60. The reason why I say it should be posted on Youtube is because

there is the possibility Obama could lose some internet support. When this hits Dailykos, it already hit Raw Story...the people who will trash him and not know what they're talking about (like what some were doing before I posted the video) can see it for themselves and see how powerful it really was.

The articles also mention that he got a standing ovation...

[Colobo]

61. People here know Obama is my candidate; I root for him every single time

I don't doubt his speech was fabulous. But do you understand what my concern is?

[Bullet1987]

62. Oh, I'm not doubting your support Katz...

and I understand where you're coming from. But did you watch the speech, if you didn't...you're missing out for REAL!!!

[bling bling]

67. I understand. I winced when I saw the headline.

That's because I know this media. I belong to DU because of this media.

This media is our biggest problem. There's no doubt about it.

I'm not worried about the Republicans using this against Obama. That actually, would be a good thing. Obama is GOOD at biting back and he's got a painful bite. What I'm worried about is the media giving the microphone to the Republicans so they can spin this and then not giving Obama the same opportunity to bite back.

[polichick]

68. Hopefully, a few people learned a lesson from Dean

The powers that be completely fabricated his demise and people bought it ~ how different this world would be if he'd been president! Maybe Americans will be smarter this time. (So, how did you like the "Obama Vision" t-shirt on my GOTV site?? And you thought I only liked Hill! ;-))

[Ethelk2044]

40. I read the speech and Now I am listening

This may be one of his best speeches. I love the way he leads up to poverty, education and transportation. He finally ends up talking about Health Care. All in one speech. He evens talks about some steps he would like to take once he is in office.

[Bullet1987]

42. Can someone post this is the political video's section?

[ariesgem]

64. I don't think it's on youtube yet but here's a link to the video

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_156171203.html

[Bullet1987]

65. Yea, I posted the vid...

[Bullet1987]

69. It doesn't seem like the pundits are following the story...

Of course there's always tomarrow, but the simple fact that they aren't talking about it the day after it happened says something. See Katz, I told you to calm down...lol. Of course, I don't know what FAUX is doing, and don't really care because they hate Dems period.

[Ethelk2044]

70. It was on CNN

[Ethelk2044]

71. It is on CNN now

[Bullet1987]

72. They just mentioned it...

and they put it in the proper context...which was poverty and courting the Black vote. The thing is they didn't spin it...