In his town hall meeting at St. Petersburg’s historically black Gibbs High School, Sen. Barack Obama fielded questions ranging from the treatment of Iraqi war veterans and his assessment of “No Child Left Behind” to a national catastrophe fund and the sub-prime mortgage meltdown. Important stuff with broad appeal.
Unless, that is, you’re an activist with the International Peoples Democratic Uhuru Movement. Then what really matters can be summarized with the curt, direct-address banner unfurled by some of their members: “What about the black community, Obama?”
To his credit, Obama handled the grievance brigade adroitly. They were chastised for their boorish interruptions but given an opportunity – via a single member – to ask a question, essentially a rebuking restatement of the banner. Basically, it was an opportunity for a racial vent about oppression and an opportunity to more than imply that Obama was still not black enough.
Another day, another racial crucible — regardless of the predominant venue color. From the Irreverent Wright to primary code language to Jesse Jackson’s vulgar, marginalization fit to the audacity of mopes.
For the record, Obama said — OK, lectured — that he has, indeed, spoken out on matters of race, even if it wasn’t in Uhuru-approving fashion.
Even more telling — in front of a largely black gathering — was that none of Obama’s responses elicited louder, more enthusiastic applause than his pointed comments on education and the key, NON-governmental factors inherently involved.