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Would MLK really be 'devastated' by Pres. Obama?
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Rep. Allen West sounds off on president's handling of unemployment in the African-American community
- Duration 6:06
- Date Jan 17, 2012
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Rep. Allen West sounds off on president's handling of unemployment in the African-American community
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Former speaker that has -- Gingrich makes sharp accusations against President Obama.
Speaker Gingrich is accusing President Obama of -- failing to pay attention to the problem of African American.
Unemployment.
The point was made in your comments about it's better for black Americans to seek a job there is to seek food stamps and many people stepped forward to say.
-- and that simply true for all Americans who are desperately looking for jobs.
That's what they want.
Not just -- show for it.
It is true for all Americans.
That's true for native Americans as true for Asian American troops were Latino Americans true for white Americans -- -- -- black Americans original statement however.
Was in the context of saying I would love to be invited.
But -- NAACP.
To come to their convention.
Because the president has particularly failed.
To pay attention to the tremendous unemployment we've had 43%.
Black teenage unemployment that is a disaster.
-- it sets up his social pattern.
It's very hard for young people to go out and get to get jobs get -- job market.
It's -- Gingrich right or wrong congressman Allen west joins -- good evening -- good evening are you doing Greta there are always very touchy subject delegate to the issue of aberration a Scottish NB -- well I know what it is I mean because -- -- you know you -- -- make sure they asked direct question in the right way Bubba seven said that up.
Mr.
speaker Gingrich said that -- Obama failed to pay attention problems of black unemployment in this country is he ready is he wrong and should not be -- had divided along race lines so well.
Is absolutely right when you look at the statistics in the facts speak for themselves the national average of unemployment right now is eight point 5%.
In the black community is fifteen point 8% -- down from close to be a 70%.
For a black adult males is sixteen point 4% unemployment.
And for black teenagers sixteen to 19%.
-- sixteen to nineteen years of age is forty point 7%.
As a matter of fact the chairman of Congressional Black Caucus.
Once say that his anyone else was in the White House so that the President Obama we'd be marching on the White House so we do have a problem I think that.
We have a -- upon the United States America when we believe that only certain people can talk about certain issues this is a big issue for all of America.
How do you measure of the current unemployment for African Americans -- fifteen point 8% also as a frame of reference on January 09 when President Obama took office.
It was twelve point 6% since the rise of 3.2 percent at least according to the numbers.
I'm curious of what could he do what should -- be doing differently to address -- that particular high unemployment rate in the unemployment the African American community.
Well I think did -- need to look at what you could do differently for unemployment all costs now since America.
With the right type of tax policies that -- -- growth especially for small businesses and that will help in the inner city.
You have to look at also the regulatory policies that can help those this -- -- to be able to -- you look at Dodd-Frank.
And the fact a lot of our small community banks are not able to land the proper monies that to start up plus small businesses which is what I'm here -- down in my district.
And then there are several other things they need to look at.
How we can innocent -- -- You know other people to look at.
You know black businesses and with no lower capital gains taxes dividends returns so that you can once again -- -- -- -- those things -- happening but we're not.
You know I think it was pretty offensive when the president stood before the Congressional Black Caucus foundation.
And told them to take off their bedroom slippers can put on their marching boots and get out there work for him.
Well right now we're not seeing the president this working for that black community which think about 97%.
Voted forma 2008.
Is there any doubt though that 97% of -- vote for me and 2000 they would ever come out and vote for a speaker Gingrich sure governor Romney or -- senator Santorum.
Our governor Perry Mason and in EE if he does nothing he's going to get that -- -- -- democratic at all but I don't think that's true.
Not a -- would disagree because there was a poll that came out I believe -- Washington times or less -- post last September.
This -- fifty strongly approve number in the black community that was was 83%.
They've dropped down to 58%.
As a matter of fact next week Monday we're gonna have a black conservative form in the capital and I think -- now's -- time to start looking at.
The the difference.
Between who we are conservatives are what the liberal social welfare policies have done for the black community has failed.
You know who we as conservatives believe that every child in America or any person coming to America.
Gets the latter but what that latter -- can -- to -- heights of achievement.
But we also believe there should be a safety net because you're gonna slip off when you need to be able bounce back up.
But I think what we're seeing is a basis of dependency.
Instead -- safety -- you become -- PAU gonna.
-- yeah I didn't have poverty law for number of years down the floor in front of the TV and I guess that there are many people who had hoped the president -- big inspiration.
Two -- in the African American community who who really have been -- not a haven't had a shot or haven't had a chance -- you really need it because you know that everybody needs to do well.
Head has he been an inspiration I mean is it unfair to expect to meet inspiration to those number one and number two.
Has he provided that inspiration to -- I didn't mean we know -- do when he was running.
Well I think -- rhetoric is different from provide inspirational leadership and visionary leadership.
You know I've seen in my military career -- -- -- can come in and talk a good game but as we say in the military if you gonna talk to talk you got to be able to walk the walk.
So when you look at the fact -- you seen a 41% increase in food stamp recipients.
He's seen a 16% increase of Americans on the poverty rolls six point four million more Americans.
That's a failure and I think that that's something -- president has to sit back and look at his policies.
And I think that everyone has a right -- -- speaker Gingrich or yourself for anyone else.
To say that there's something wrong you look across so Washington DC has some of these inner city communities.
You know we shouldn't have these type of things happen within -- shot of the White House.
That's not -- see you welcome back to Washington as is there.
Thank you coming --