Maxine Waters: Why isn't Obama in black communities?

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Democrats Rep. Maxine Waters of California, a central member of the Congressional Black Caucus, said Tuesday that "we don't know why" President Obama is not visiting black communities on his Midwestern bus tour, adding, "We're supportive of the president, but we're getting tired."

Waters, speaking at a freewheeling forum at Detroit's Wayne County Community College, suggested members of the CBC don't pressure Mr. Obama because their constituents are proud to have an African-American president, adding that "if we go after the president too hard, you're going after us."

"The Congressional Black Caucus loves the president, too," she went on to say. "We're supportive of the president, but we're getting tired. We're getting tired. And so, what we want to do is, we want to give the president every opportunity to show what he can do and what he's prepared to lead on. We want to give him every opportunity, but our people are hurting. The unemployment is unconscionable. We don't know what the strategy is. We don't know why on this trip that he's in the United States now, he's not in any black community. We don't know that."

The unemployment rate for African-Americans as of July was 15.9 percent, and it's significantly higher in Detroit. Waters told her audience Tuesday that when you "unleash us and you tell us you're ready to have this conversation, we're ready to have the conversation."

After Waters told the audience members of congress will act "when you tell us it's all right" to have a conversation with the president about these issues, an audience-member yelled, "it's all right!" After she said she wanted to give the president "every opportunity" to show what his plan is, someone yelled, "how long?"

"When you let us know it is time to let go, we'll let go," Waters added.

Watch the video:

[Marlena53]

Whatchu people think that Obama is you massa? You are not on the plantation any longer - the massa ain't going to give you no job. You gots to earn a degree or relevent job skill. If they ain't no jobs in your city then move dam it - move somewhere that has jobs and a choose skills that are needed. Lift yourselfs out of poverty don't sit back and wait for the goberment to give you a hand out or a job. That's what the liber tards want you to do - they wants to keep you down and dependent.

[lucilioness]

I saw Obama last year at our annual Laborfest Rally in downtown Milwaukee at the Summerfest grounds, where every race and ethnicity congregates yearly. For every Black, Asian or Hispanic attendee, there were at least one-hundred (100) Caucasians. He can't be every where, all the time Maxine. There are Black people in Iowa too. He represents the American people, period! Sometimes, you have to go where he is if you really want to see him! I did!

[Pibbles]

Why isn't Obama in black communities? He's too busy catering to ILLEGAL aliens, that's why! If you think that there aren't enough jobs available for African Americans now, what do you suppose is going to happen when he violates our laws and changes them to give illegal aliens the right to work in the US? The LEGAL American Citizens should be his priority, not ILLEGAL aliens!

[gep1955]

If Obama was the one to answer all the dreams of the black community then why is there still 50% unemployment in Detroit? Didn't we send $11 billion taxpayer dollars there to save the auto industy? Where did it all go? Why don't reporters ask him that?

[gep1955]

He's not going anywhere near a place where a couple thousand angry and unemployed former supporters will be screaming and yelling at him..."Where's the jobs, any jobs?" after 3 years of paying off his union buddies that got him elected. Chicago politics has come to Washington. God help us. Yeah, thats right, I said God!

[wolfmann4u-2009]

I thought we fired Maxine ? Oh I forgot that she is black.

[Lubricano]

This the same broken nose old bag that dissed the Asian population
for defending their store and properties during the Rodney King riots. The Asians (Koreans) took their rifles to the roof tops and
took care of business. Old broken nose had nothing but racist remarks about those brave people trying to protect their property
from those savages. Their are some great Black politicians in office, she is not one of them.

[ajvw]

I have no idea why he's not in the black communities, then again, I have no idea why anyone would listen to a word Maxine says.

[Harden_Tar]

He is obviously going where the money is. Unfortunately, the job of being the President of the United States does not lend itself to on the job training, which is what Mr. Obama is getting since he had little or no experience as an executive before being elected. He is also surrounded for the most part by pointy headed intellectuals who also have very little real world experience and are giving him terrible advice. I believe that state governors are elected to that office a lot recently because they do have executive experience. Clinton, Bush 2, Reagan, even Carter. Senators tend to be too isolated from the real world by wealth and I am glad that Dole, Kerry, etc, were defeated for that reason. (Dukakis doesn't count)

[xschat]

its cause all real minorities like blacks and hispanics have no money. thats why he went to the homosexuals and did as the Told him to, he saw Hollywood hmomsexual money and bent over backwards ( pun intended) to do anything they asked him.. they Own him with their money.