Obama stresses ‘responsibility’ to black audience
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 11:07 am Under World News Alerts 5 views
White House hopeful Barack Obama took aim at critics of his tough-love approach to African-American social issues, telling a mostly black audience that he is going to keep talking about “this responsibility stuff.”
In a speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the country’s leading black civil rights group, Obama yesterday rebuffed criticism from rights icon Jesse Jackson that he was “talking down to black people” in his bid to be the first African-American president.
“Now, I know some say I’ve been too tough on folks about this responsibility stuff. But I’m not going to stop talking about it.”
While it is right to assail Washington and Wall Street for some of the inequality in the country, “we also have to demand more from ourselves,” he said.
On Thursday Jackson sparked a controversy in the African-American community when he ranted unknowingly into a live television microphone that Obama was taking a different stance to the older generation of black leaders.
“I want to cut his nuts off,” Jackson said. But yesterday Obama reiterated his campaign stance that, even if they are disadvantaged, American blacks have to “do more in our own lives” rather than point the finger elsewhere.
“That starts with providing the guidance our children need, turning off the TV, and putting away the video games; attending those parent-teacher conferences, helping our children with their homework, and setting a good example.”
In his fight for the presidency, Obama, the son of a white mother from Kansas and a black Kenyan father, has consciously avoided billing himself as a ‘black’ candidate.
(Agencies)
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
|
Loading ...
World News Alerts top stories
-
Pak bans umbrella group of Taliban militants
- This Category's RSS Feed
Pakistan today (August 25) banned an umbrella group of Taliban militants blamed for a wave... Read more »
Democrats poised to open Obama’s conventionDemocrats will launch a star-studded party in Denver to rally around Barack Obama’s... Read more »
Iran launches submarine production lineIran launches a submarine production line which the defence Minister says will ensure its... Read more »
Sharif names ex-judge as Pres candidateFormer Pakistan Prime Minister and PML (N) leader Nawaz Sharif today (August 25) named former... Read more »
Ten dead in Guatemala air crashTen people died and four others were injured when a propeller aircraft crashed near El Puente,... Read more »
Something to say about this news story?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Headlines from World News Alerts
- Rizwanur case:police officers asked to appear in court
- Good news for UPA, inflation at 8.90%
- ATS gets transit custody of Chaturvedi
- Qadir named chief selector by PCB
- Suri Cruise tops list of Hollywood’s power kids
- Phoolan murder: Key witness fails to identify Rana
- Suri Cruise tops list of Hollywood power kids
- Pirates demand $25 mn for Saudi oil tanker
- Brad Pitt producing reporter’s fake-fed story
- India tame England in 3rd ODI
Featured Video News
Advertisement
Advertisement
Email Subscription
Advertisement
Latest News In Piture
SWAT: Eight people have been killed... More »
