Sep 26, 2011 11:30am

Waters: Obama’s Language to Congressional Black Caucus ‘A Bit Curious’

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said this morning that she found President Obama’s comments to the Congressional Black Caucus that they should “stop complaining” to be “a bit curious” and suggested that he would never use such language with other communities.

“I’m not sure exactly who the president was talking to,” the former chair of the CBC said on CBS’ Early Show.

Speaking at their annual gala on Saturday, the president told the CBC that he understands their frustration with high black unemployment, but he urged them not to lose hope. “Stop complaining. Stop grumbling. Stop crying. We are going to press on. We’ve got work to do,” said an impassioned Obama.

“I’m not sure who the president was addressing. I found that language a bit curious,” Waters said today. “The president spoke to the Hispanic Caucus… he certainly didn’t tell them to stop complaining and he never would say that to the gay and lesbian community who really pushed him on don’t ask don’t tell or even in a speech to APEC, he would never say to the Jewish community stop complaining about Israel.”

“So I don’t know who he was talking to because we’re certainly not complaining. We are working. We support him and we are protecting that base because we want people to be enthusiastic about him when that election rolls around,” Waters concluded.

 

User Comments

I see ABC is reading the DrudgeReport

We tired y’all…we tired….Maxine Waters

OBAMA________VS_______AMERICA

Posted by: Yep I said that | September 26, 2011, 11:54 am 11:54 am

GALLUP: Half think govt is ‘immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens’… NYPD chief: Police could take down plane if needed… Bloomberg calls Buffett Rule ‘theatrics’…

BLACK JOURNALIST CALLS OUT OBAMA…

This is a must read…this is a real journalist..exposing Obama for what he is.. a LIAR

OBAMA________VS________AMERICA

Posted by: Yep I said that | September 26, 2011, 11:56 am 11:56 am

If anyone else had said what Obama said, Waters AND MSM would be screaming racism. But, because Obama said it, it is “curious.”

Posted by: wheresmymoney | September 26, 2011, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

Quit complaining and march Maxine and listen to your leader…..

Posted by: J. HERRERA | September 26, 2011, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

Barack Obama has done more to hurt African-Americans then any White president ever. The unemployment rate for Africans-Americans is triple the unemployment rate for the entire country. That has never happened under any white president. So if you want to stay unemployed and watch your family starve and go homeless, by all means, re-elect Barack Obama.

Posted by: John | September 26, 2011, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm

Don’t worry Maxine, Here in Illinois, Obama Election Headquarters, he is completing
plans on Operation vote. He is on an all out assault to rein in all the minority vote
he can snag. Knowing that his base is shaky, he is forming another Acorn like
organization to grab votes.

Posted by: deadwrestler | September 26, 2011, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm

I found the whole “tone” of the speach to be rather “scripted”. Obama tried to sound like a cross between MLK and Hewy Newton. Even brain dead Maxine didn’t fall for it.

Posted by: newcountryman | September 26, 2011, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm

LOL come on John please tell me you don’t believe that. Jobs went overseas left and right under the last administartion and you mean to tell me that helped Black america.

Posted by: minds12 | September 26, 2011, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm

What Obama REALLY said:

“If asking a billionaire to pay the same tax rate as a Jew, uh, as a janitor makes me a warrior for the working class, I wear that with a badge of honor. I have no problem with that.”

This guy is showing his racism. Of course ABC is NOT reporting it.

Posted by: wheresmymoney | September 26, 2011, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm

Posted by: minds12 | September 26, 2011, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm

I don’t have to believe it. It’s a fact. Numbers do not lie. Look up the unemployment for African-Americans under Barack Obama. Worse than any white president in the history of America.

Posted by: John | September 26, 2011, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm

Chicago-based ‘Operation Vote’ to focus on minorities in re-elect campaign…

How much for your vote???? A new food stamp card?

OBAMA________VS________AMERICA

Posted by: Yep I said that | September 26, 2011, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm

I say our families will starve and will never get back to work if you continue to listen to the shady, shiesty members of Congress.They need to stop focusing 0n making Obama a one term president and work on a plan that doesn’t require spending and one that will benefit ALL American people.

Posted by: minds12 | September 26, 2011, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm

uh… why do we have a black congression caucus? Isn’t that the most obviously racist thing about this story?

Posted by: gary | September 26, 2011, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm

Minds12 you talk about congress, do you know who had majority in the “last administration” democrats, the party of the president. thanks to nancy peolosi, dodds, and barney frank, the african-american population now has the highest unermployment rate under and african-american, go ahead and re-elect do you really think Barack Obama is going to change anything? He has done nothing but make matters worse since he has been in office, period.

Posted by: John | September 26, 2011, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm

Note to Rep. Waters: Obama has no real concern for you (or anyone else), except himself.

Posted by: Bundlecash | September 26, 2011, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm

Breaking :

Democrat party named a “creditor” in Solyndra bankruptcy..Hmmmmmmmmm more scandal brewing.. where is this money? in democrat coffers????????

OBAMA_______VS_______AMERICA

Posted by: Yep I said that | September 26, 2011, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm

I’ve been told anyone who criticizes Obama is racist… so…

Posted by: Denbo | September 26, 2011, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm

Minds…….. You blame the last administration for jobs “leaving the country”… but you can’t acknowledge that the Obama administration has done NOTHING to help create jobs!! ——- Reagan jumped on solutions to the recession… and by this time in his admin he had turned things around… 275,000 jobs created in Aug…. Obama concentrates on Obamacare and Dodd-Frank insted of jobs… his Aug total…. ZERO jobs!! —- Economic failure as far as the eye can see!!!

Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | September 26, 2011, 12:58 pm 12:58 pm

Eric Holders explanation of ‘Fast and Furious” gunrunner scandal shot full of holes:
Not only did U.S. officials approve, allow and assist in the sale of more than 2,000 guns to the Sinaloa cartel — the federal government used taxpayer money to buy semi-automatic weapons, sold them to criminals and then watched as the guns disappeared.

When will Obama throw Holder under the bus? When the indictments start?

Posted by: Yep I said that | September 26, 2011, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm

“Not only did U.S. officials approve, allow and assist in the sale of more than 2,000 guns to the Sinaloa cartel — the federal government used taxpayer money to buy semi-automatic weapons, sold them to criminals and then watched as the guns disappeared.”

The only good thing about this scandal is that only semi-auto weapons were purchased (I hope). Fully automatic rifles are a waste of brass. However, I can accept the 3 round burst….

Posted by: EMAR | September 26, 2011, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm

Obama’s speech to the Black Caucus simply show us all the frayed state of mind he currently is …..haven’t heard a President in years talk about boots on the floor, and marching. …sort of racist, ain’t it? ..or scripted by whatzhername….Schultz….Deb something Sc;hultz…….has something to do with the National Demoncrat Party……. luv her pouts and other miscellaneous childish facial expressions while others are speaking……yep, the Dems are beginning to frazzle.

Posted by: justj joey | September 26, 2011, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

Black voters are mad at Obama and Obama is mad at them. How does Obama expect to motivate the whole country, made up of every race on the planet, if he can’t connect with his own?

Posted by: Larry | September 26, 2011, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm

Yeah and I know there are many people that beg to differ when it comes to what Reagomics did for them economically.

Posted by: minds12 | September 26, 2011, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

“Yeah and I know there are many people that beg to differ when it comes to what Reagomics did for them economically.”

You, me and Walter Mondale…

Posted by: Mikhail | September 26, 2011, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm

Obama felt that they could say that to HIS people. They had no problem criticizing him saying that we are only “pushing” him to the left. Well he has a right to “push” them as well.

Posted by: Sandy | September 26, 2011, 2:23 pm 2:23 pm

Yikes, I lived through the Carter years. Double digit inflation. Double digit mortgage interest rates. No jobs. It was tough times, my friends, no matter how the statistics can be twisted to show otherwise. Reagan brought much better times, when an 8% interest rate seemed like a wonderful improvement.

Posted by: Msknowitall | September 26, 2011, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm

“Obama felt that they could say that to HIS people.”

HIS people don’t go to public school…

Posted by: Anacostia | September 26, 2011, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm

I was curious about all the y’all talk. How disingenious, aka phony!! The trust factor is nearly done with President Obama. He is so divisive, so prickly and thin-skinned. That’s what’s curious.

Posted by: Msknowitall | September 26, 2011, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm

Barack Obama has done more to hurt African-Americans then any White president ever. The unemployment rate for Africans-Americans is triple the unemployment rate for the entire country.

Posted by: John | September 26, 2011, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm

Wrong. All of those jobs were lost during the Bush economic collapse which Obama had almost nothing to do with.

Posted by: Zal | September 26, 2011, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm

I thought that when Obama was elected some of the race baiting would subside. Boy was I wrong!! It is being used as a political tool to divide and diminish. It is sad, but it is working to some degree. Calling someone racist is one of the worst things you can say…when actually the problem is fiscal ideology. Considering all of the money thrown away in the Solyndra fiasco. Over $500 million in the trash when over 30 states got less for promised infrastructure. This administration is mismanaged to the nth degree. No budget since 2007, even with an uncontested super-majority. 4.1 billing in spending a day and the job creating stimulus resulted in few new jobs. Now they want more stimulus money to squander!! Pitiful!
Obama makes the spendthrift Bush look fiscally responsible. I didn’t think he would make it worse…but he managed and in such a short time. Who would-a-thought!!

Posted by: Mrs YD | September 26, 2011, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm

Considering all of the money thrown away in the Solyndra fiasco. Over $500 million in the trash when over 30 states got less for promised infrastructure.

Obama makes the spendthrift Bush look fiscally responsible.

Posted by: Mrs YD | September 26, 2011, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm

Solyndra is a drop in the bucket compared to the $2 billion Rumsfeld ‘misplaced’ in the Pentagon, and the $9 billion Bush, Cheney and Halliburton ‘lost’ in Iraq.

Posted by: Tara | September 26, 2011, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm

Okay, boss man, where are we marching to, what do we do when we get there, and what do we get out of the deal? Don’t be throwing any of that transparency and other Chicago bs at us…we are wise to that little game. Best be something at the end of this rainbow.

Posted by: Salty | September 26, 2011, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm

Yeah, Max. Waters will tell Tea Party members to go to hell, but to tell someone to “stop complaining”, well, that just crosses the line!!!!!!

Posted by: s | September 26, 2011, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm

Look at how the black population fared during Reagan’s two terms. Unemployment numbers improved and wages improved. Other than government workers, how has our nation’s black population fared with Obama (the Champion of Hope and Change)?

Posted by: s | September 26, 2011, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm

Seems like a lot $$$$$$$ are being lost in Afghanistan right now. Truly lost, not just wasted. The Afghan govt is totally corrupt. We should have stayed out after kicking the Taliban’s butt and handing it over to NATO to lose. When pointing fingers for monies lost to corruption in the Middle East, one must include Obama’s “curious” determination in getting us mired up in Afghanistan again. So, keep looking backwards as Obama continuously insists, while ignoring what’s happening now. We should all (Dems and Repubs) ask more from our parties’ leaders and stop defending cronyism, fraud, pay-offs, and duplicity. Stop making excuses for bad behaviour.

Posted by: Msknowitall | September 26, 2011, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm

Tara, how much has Obama and Gates “misplaced” in the Pentagon? Maybe we will find out some day.Did Halliburton do the work they were contracted to do in Iraq? If so, what is your beef?Could any other company do what they did for a comparable price? Evidently not, despite all of the smoke blown by Cheney haters.The real story about Solyndra has yet to be reported-did Barack Obama or any of his staff have personal financial interests in Solyndra?

Posted by: Nephron | September 26, 2011, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm

.Did Halliburton do the work they were contracted to do in Iraq?

Posted by: Nephron | September 26, 2011, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm

No, $9 BILLION was literally lost by the Bush administration in Iraq. Not ‘wasted’ – misplaced. Stolen. Not found. Lost!

Posted by: Tara | September 26, 2011, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm

That’s right – $9 BILLION DOLLARS. Misplaced! Lost or stolen! Nobody knows – well some people know.

Posted by: Tara | September 26, 2011, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm

“APEC”? is that some kind of hybrid of OPEC and AIPAC? and is that ABC’s mistake or the crazy congresscritter’s…?

Posted by: michiganruth | September 26, 2011, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm

Tara,you implied that Halliburton lost 9 billion in Iraq.If that is the case,why hasn’t the Obama Justice Department gone after them? Or maybe they were too busy arming the Mexican drug cartels so they could shoot down American law enforcement officials and innocent Mexican citizens.

Posted by: Nephron | September 26, 2011, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm

Tara,you implied that Halliburton lost 9 billion in Iraq.If that is the case,why hasn’t the Obama Justice Department gone after them?

Posted by: Nephron | September 26, 2011, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm

Perhaps it’s not so easy to identify how the funds went missing, or who exactly is responsible. $9 BILLION! It’s a stunning amount of money to go missing and unaccounted for and again it was money under the control of the Pentagon under Republican George Bush.

Posted by: Tara | September 26, 2011, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm

Tara,how much has the Obama Justice Department spent on the “Fast and Furious” program that has armed Mexican drug cartels and taken the lives of innocent Mexican citizens and at least one American law enforcement officer?I’m sure that it is a stunning amount of money to have gone missing-Taxpayer blood money on our border,not on the other side of the world.

Posted by: Nephron | September 26, 2011, 5:21 pm 5:21 pm

When is obama going to meet with the ‘WHITE’ caucus???

Posted by: nyork | September 26, 2011, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm

“Stop complaining. Stop grumbling. Stop crying.” said an impassioned Obama.
====

Sounds like a good self-criticism from lessons learned in the past three years, and we cats hope Prez 0bama listens to himself.

Posted by: cat1 | September 26, 2011, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm

Barack Obama has done more to hurt African-Americans then any White president ever. The unemployment rate for Africans-Americans is triple the unemployment rate for the entire country.

Posted by: John | September 26, 2011, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm

Wrong. All of those jobs were lost during the Bush economic collapse which Obama had almost nothing to do with.

Posted by: Zal | September 26, 2011, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm

====

Yup, our Smartest Prez. 0bama managed to create 0 jobs for blacks under 0′s leadership. According to Zal, 0bama lost 0 jobs, created 0 jobs, accomplished 0 for blacks. So, stop being a cry baby.

Posted by: tutu | September 26, 2011, 5:50 pm 5:50 pm

African Americans or Blacks or whatever you prefer,STOP VOTING!It doesn’t matter in a presidential election.It is a popularity contest for the massess.The electoral college are the ones who place people as president.Obama was a token because he was placed to show that america isn’t a racist nation anymore.When the fact is america is as racist as ever before.Whites are scared that their way of life in this country is disappearing.Latinos are taking over and I for one welcome them.Obama will not be re-elected and you will never see another “black’ president again.You will see a homosexual president before you see another black president.STOP VOTING and lets create a true “BLACK “NATION.

Posted by: Madscientist | September 26, 2011, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm

It was rude and insensitive. Those Congressional leaders have been civil rights soldiers long before he even could spell the words hope and change.

Posted by: Meret | September 27, 2011, 12:55 am 12:55 am

Madscientist no matter what you have no right to wish that on our president. Secret Service nay be visiting you shortly.

Posted by: Meret | September 27, 2011, 1:01 am 1:01 am

–Let us not lose sight of the facts:
 Having our first Black President is profound and all-impactful, like never before in history, for members of our demographic, and in this global community.
 Our support of him is an equally rare opportunity for legislators like Maxine Waters to be heard—at all.
 Mrs. Obama was, and is magnificent as the epitome of role-models for ego-battered Black women—especially in the dress she wore at the Congressional Black Caucus Dinner.
I am enjoying every thrilling moment of the Barack Obama Presidency.

Posted by: Julia Weathers | September 27, 2011, 8:42 am 8:42 am

My goodness, he’s even blaming his own now. Such superb leadership skills.

Posted by: newcountryman | September 27, 2011, 9:40 am 9:40 am

Where’s the National White Caucus when you need them?

Posted by: NC Rebel | September 27, 2011, 10:11 am 10:11 am

Doesn’t 0bama have a racist dis-appropriate support of the blacks? Hmm…. Either that or leveraging race for political power is acceptable. And what with Shiela Jackson Lee? She stated to the press that they should shut up and stop playing racial politics, but then seconds later says that 0bama’s “Buy American” should be “Buy African American”. Who’s the racist? Who’s using race for political leverage? If they are counting on using it that much, they are never going to let the notion of it die and continue to fan those flames to keep hate alive. I still don’t believe I can’t support a black simply because he’s conservative? Why is it said that if I’m a conservative I’m a racist? Or Tea Party? It’s not true but a well perpetrated lie and eventually those people’s lies will no longer be believe and I wait for that day. I’ve never seen an attempt to keep racism alive in my whole life as I do now and I never would it would be coming from those who claim they want it to end, but refuse to let it. A majority of citizens who voted, voted for 0bama. It wasn’t about race. Now it’s as if those people, who voted for him and are unhappy with his performance don’t want to vote for him again, have now become racist. I;m not buying that nonsense. It’s dishonest, manufactured propaganda.

Posted by: TexBork | September 27, 2011, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm

Clearly, President Obama was figuratively speaking and idealistically expressing himself. It seems he wants/needs company. That was an honest and humble request. I do not know Maxine Waters personally; now her comment showed a lack of positivism and imagination.Is she really a democrat?

Posted by: Moderate American | September 27, 2011, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm

I am a Black American and believe me Maxine Waters does not speak for me. She has been in Congress over twenty years, but yet the unemployment rate has always been high in the black community. So can I ask what were she doing those twenty years. I use to respect her, but not anymore. And where were Waters last Saturday night? She wasn’t at the CBC Awards. Why? If she had any concerns about the President speech, she could have talk to him face to face. But yet she choose to go running her loud mouth on these news shows.

Posted by: A. Darton | September 28, 2011, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

Yes our community need jobs, but so do the other communities. Are we saying that because President Obama is black he has to do something more for the black community than any other. He is the President of the United States, not just the black community. He and Congress has a job to make this economy stronger so those who want to work can work. But if Waters is going to blame this President for high unemployment in the black community, she don’t get off scott free. President can’t pass one bill himself, the President is not in charge of the money, Congress is. So Maxine Waters what have you been doing these twenty years? Do any black voter think they will be better under a President Perry or President Romney, or Bachmann, or Gingrinch, or Paul? 2012 we need to throw out that Congress with it’s 12% approval rating, and put some folks in there who will work with this President. Who will put country before party, and who will fight just as hard for the middle class and working poor as they fight for the millionaires and billionaires. If everyone had got out and voted in 2010 we wouldn’t have those radical tea Party running the House.

Posted by: A. Darton | September 28, 2011, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm

Maxime Walters needs go sit down somewhere for real! She has been in political far longer than the Prez yet still the black community has made little or no progress. She needs to look in the mirror instead of pointing fingers. As a black woman, I totally agree w/the Prez speech. i would have said the exact same thing. There was nothing disrepectful in the speech. It needed to be said as well as it being facts and truth. The Black Caucus has been quiet far too long. It high time for them to step up or shut up! Get behind the Prez and be a help instead of a hindrance, a blessing instead of a curse!

Posted by: Carmel | September 30, 2011, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm

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