The 46th annual awards dinner, a black-tie gala hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, featured a line-up of elected officials who spoke in urgent terms about the election this fall just one day after the Republican nominee acknowledged Obama’s birthplace without an apology, and lying about his years-long involvement in fueling what’s known as the birther movement.
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Clinton was honored at the dinner for becoming the first woman to receive the presidential nomination of a major party.
Obama said his name may not be on the ballot, but issues of importance to the black community were, including justice, good schools and ending mass incarceration. “You want to give me a good send-off, go vote”.
And he realizes that a victory for Republican Donald Trump could undo much of what he has done.
The gala featuring almost four dozen black members of Congress, underscored Clinton’s need for a large turnout of black voters in November against Trump.
Obama’s tone, however, soon turned serious as he outlined what he said was at stake in the election. He said Republicans have actively added barriers to voting by closing polling places mostly in minority communities, cutting early voting and imposing more voter ID requirements. He said “This should be a national scandal”.
Referring to Trump’s remark that Obama was born in the United States after claiming otherwise, the US President said, “There’s an extra spring in my step tonight. I am inspired”, she said, urging the crowd to register to vote and actually cast ballots for Clinton.
On Trump’s quest to win over African-American voters, Obama quipped, “Well, we do have challenges, but we’re not stupid”. “We will educate him”.
The African-American members of Congress sought to use the turn of events to energize not only minority voters but moderates and independents who might be offended by Trump’s repeated questioning of Obama’s citizenship.
“It’s not about golf course promotions or birth certificates”.
“We need ideas not insults, real plans to help struggling Americans in communities that have been left out and left behind, not prejudice and paranoia”.
“Even when hateful nonsense is thrown their way, Barack, Michelle, their two attractive daughters have represented our country with class, grace and integrity”, said Clinton, who served as Obama’s secretary of state.
The gala featuring almost four dozen black members of Congress underscored Clinton’s need for a large turnout of black voters against Trump.
The dinner included warnings of a Trump presidency.
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Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called Trump a “two-bit racial arsonist” who has fanned the flames of bigotry and hatred.
