Obama Turns Heckling into a Discussion on Working for the Black Community

[ultraist]

Run time: 06:37 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E40ixwFXbZU   Posted on YouTube: August 01, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: August 01, 2008 By DU Member: ultraist Views on DU: 1730

 
At a Townhall in St. Pete, FL, Barack Obama turns heckling into a discussion on how he has worked for the African American community pointing out he was a civil rights attorney, fought predatory lending and discrimination within the penal system

[ultraist]

1. Now, THAT'S what democracy looks like!

:patriot:

[hopewell1985]

2. good

job

[ultraist]

3. Welcome to DU, hopewell1985!

Agree, Obama handled it very well. He respectfully responded to the heckler's concerns with facts, not just empty soundbites.

[raystorm7]

4. Everything that kid asked, Obama has touched on numerous times unless you live under a rock...

I especially like how the older black guy tears down his sign so he may STFU. Granted, I'm not one for physical confrontation but the kid wouldn't admit defeat when he tried to hurl up that stupid sign again.

[ultraist]

6. lol

I noticed that too. The guy in front of him grabbed his sign and seemingly told him to be respectful.

I bet that kid left there pretty satisfied. He got all of his concerns addressed.

All in all, it turned out to be a productive, good exchange.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

5. Courteous public discourse

has become such a rare thing in our society. It begins in school where kids disrupt and interrupt teachers and the habit carries over into adulthood. The way this guy presented himself, he was blaming Obama for all of the injustices he listed and then was not prepared to listen to responses. And, of course, we see overtalking and shouting among all the TV bobbleheads. I think Obama handled the situation very well and seemed to get support and validation from the vast majority of the audience. Remember McCain telling someone in a town hall meeting, "And thanks for the question, you little jerk." What a difference. :applause:

[Bonobo]

16. Most here on DU advocated tasering for less of an interruption in 2004 at a Kerry talk.

We have lost civil discourse because even liberals don't expect/demand it. Everyone is in too much of a rush.

[Postman]

7. Compare the way Obama handled this vis-a-vis Bush/Cheney/McCain

Obama answers the man directly after allowing him to speak his mind.

Bush/Cheney/McCain would have had you dragged out by the goon-squad.

Democracy vs. Totalitarianism/Authoritarianism

[Hope And Change]

8. K & R!

[TexasLady]

9. does anyone know when this took place?

just curious.

[ultraist]

13. It took place this morning in FL

St. Pete, FL around 11 am ET, I think.

[Rude Horner]

10. Isn't it great having a candidate who can answer unscripted

questions with intelligence?

Imagine McCain or Bush in this situation. The thugs would forcibly remove the disrupters, while McCain or Bush had that deer in the headlight look, and thinking "Uh oh...a question that I'm not prepared to answer. Aaaaaahhhh!" And then, of course, they would laugh it off, chuckle a few times very creepily, and then say something about how that's what makes us a democracy - people being able to protest, but never actually addressing the question.

[Rudyabdul]

11. What got on my nerves is

all the supporters in the meeting were more rude and louder than the hecklers. Obama could barely speak to the guy without someone in the audience interrupting him by clapping or speaking out of turn.

I'm glad that Senator Obama listened to the concerns of the hecklers and gave him an answer.

[vaberella]

25. I agree. Some Obama supporters can be a bit unnerving. But that's for any supporter.

Imagine a battle between 10 PUMA's and 10 Obama supporters. Who do you think would be loudest and would win...?!

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. Quite the contrast from "free speech zones", huh? n/t

[SemperEadem]

14. without even intending to do so

Obama has just raised the stakes on the old man.

And when the old man is speaking at one of his town hall meetings and hecklers get up, he will not have the self possessed confidence to be able to address any points in the moment. He will giggle, sigh and wait for security to remove them. Notice, no security came in and removed that kid--which means that Obama is not afraid of the American people. He is not afraid of people who don't agree with him.

And this is supposedly the environment which the old man thinks he thrives... hardly.

[ultraist]

17. Exactly

McCain's typical response to hecklers is to sneer, snicker, snort and wait for security to remove them.

Truly creepy.

[Bonobo]

15. In 2004, a college student was tasered for less of an interruption.

THIS, THIS, THIS is how a leader handles it. And please don't tell me Kerry didn't know about tasering. Even if he didn't, he gave up addressing that boy -that's how he lost touch with the situation.

Obama is a man IN touch.

Obama is a leader.

Great to see. Inspiring.

[beachmom]

19. Wow wrong on so many counts. It happened in 2007 AND Kerry DID answer his question.

Maybe you should listen to people who actually were THERE:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1031/p09s01-coop.html

Take the case of Andrew Meyer, the University of Florida student who had a Taser used against him by campus police at a speech by Sen. John Kerry (D) of Massachusetts last month. Videotapes of the incident made the evening television news and immediately found their way onto YouTube.

People around the world saw the incident replayed as thousands of newspapers and television stations picked up the story. The YouTube videos were viewed more than 3 million times.

As the story spread, many people formed a firmly held opinion. I also had an opinion on the event, but my perspective was unique. I was the moderator of Sen. Kerry's talk and the only other person on stage with him.

...

What was not on the YouTube videos was the fact that the student disrupted the speech twice. After Kerry had responded to numerous questions, I announced that one final one would be taken from the microphone on my right. The student then grabbed the microphone on the left and loudly demanded that he be allowed to ask a question. When a female police officer intervened and tried to escort him out, he broke away and continued shouting. At that point, Kerry said he would take the student's question, but would respond first to the questioner who was supposed to have been last. As he finished answering that question the famous videos began.

...

Because the student had already been disruptive once, there were police officers and officials of ACCENT, the student organization that brings speakers to campus, standing next to him. When he launched into a diatribe and used a vulgar expression, the mic was cut off and he was carried off to the applause of many in the audience, all the while resisting the police.

I am sorry, but you haven't a clue what happened (the videos distorted what happened because it was never from the perspective of the stage). And how the above incident is remotely like the video we just watched is ridiculous. The protesters were disruptive but the guy asked his question fairly intelligently instead of launching a rant. He did not use vulgar language. And there weren't cops standing next to him.

[beachmom]

18. Wow. That is impressive. That is one hell of a politician we got there.

Him saying "you can run for office" is an empowering statement, not condescending at all.

[cyndensco]

20. I liked that Obama suggested the kid run for office.

It was not at all condescending. In fact, I think Obama sincerely would like to see ALL voices addressed and recognizes holding public office allows those voices to be heard.

The protester has real concerns. I am glad he was heard. I hope he and other youth like him take on Senator Obama's challenge. Until then, the young man has to remember Obama will not be able to resolve centuries of injustice. Obama will be not only working for him, but for all of us.

[ultraist]

22. Agree

Obama was respectful to this young man. He opened up a civilized dialogue with him, listened to his concerns and then addressed them.

Could you imagine the headlines had Obama blew this guy off?

"Obama fails to answer to the Black community"

"Obama Losing Support from the Black Community"

The media (and the McCain camp) would have grilled him for turning his back on his "own community" had he not addressed this kid.

[Buck Power]

21. URGENT HELP needed against McCain Bury Brigade @ DIgg

Help us keep the McCain BURY BRIGADE over at Digg from burying yet another damning video!
We NEED you!

Here:
http://digg.com/political_opinion/John_McCain_s_Neverending_War_in_Iraq_2002_present/who

[SeattleGirl]

23. Excellent response by Obama!

He listened, and he responded!

Didn't have security hustle the kid out of there.

Didn't shuffle the kid off to a "Free Speech Zone".

He answered the concerns put forth by this guy!

I noticed that initially, the guy kept trying to talk over Obama (probably he was used to having to do that), but instead, he was treated to someone who WOULD and DID listen, and who ANSWERED him.

That is so cool, after what we've been subjected to for the past 7+ years!

[vaberella]

24. This is the problem. Sub-prime lending targeted ALL poor people who wanted the American dream.

All these issues affect a lot of people. Now the Sean Bell situation just gives light on the racist tactics implemented during the Guiliani regime in NYC. I should know since I'm from there. The man ran this place like a totalitarian government. And the blame is entirely on the Repubs for this one.