Tavis Smiley: Obama Won't Meet With Negroes Who Disagree With Him
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Tavis Smiley: Obama Won't Meet With Negroes Who Disagree With Him
Coalition of African American Pastors demanded on Monday that President Obama meet with the group to address his stance on same-sex marriage. So far, the White House has refused to acknowledge the group’s request but leaders say they plan to “turn up the heat” by asking black Christians to sit on the sidelines for the time being.
“We have requested a meeting with President Obama and until he meets with us, we are going to ask black Christians to withhold their support until he personally hears our concerns,” the group’s spokesperson, the Rev. Bill Owens, told The Christian Post on Tuesday after Monday’s press conference in Nashville.
“More than anything, this is an issue of biblical principles and President Obama is carrying our nation down a dangerous road. Many African Americans were once proud of our president but now many are ashamed of his actions.”
Owens said the group hasn’t received a response from the White House and they are growing frustrated with each passing day.
“We can’t compete with the Hollywood folks who are raising the big bucks for the president,” Owens said. “But it was black folks who rallied around him in 2008 and for him to ignore our request with a group of clergy who represents tens of thousands of black Christians of many denominations is an insult.”. . .
The press conference took place just miles from the convention site of the African Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference in Nashville where First Lady Michelle Obama told the group last week that their participation in this year’s election was critical for an Obama second term.
“So I want you to talk to your friends and your family, your neighbors,” the First Lady told the conference attendees. “Talk to them. Talk to folks in the beauty salons, the barber shops, the parking lot at church. Tell them what’s happening on the city council and out in Washington. Let them know. Find that nephew who has never voted — get him registered.”
And Owens agrees. But until President Obama agrees to meet with the pastors to hear their concerns, he is asking them to withhold their support.
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