Obama urges black voters to rally for Hillary Clinton

At times raising his voice during an impassioned 25-minute speech, Obama sought to rally his most loyal supporters to elect Hillary Clinton as his successor.

“If I hear anybody saying their vote does not matter”, Obama told the crowd, “read up on your history”.

“I mean: ISIL, North Korea, poverty, climate change – none of those things weighed on my mind like the validity of my birth certificate”.

“We do have challenges, but we’re not stupid”, Obama said.

The dinner included warnings about a Trump presidency.

Obama’s remarks came a day after Trump acknowledged that the president was born in the U.S. without apologising, the Republican presidential nominee reversing himself after years of promoting a conspiracy theory that Obama was born in Kenya.

During his remarks, Obama emphasized what he believes is at stake in this election: progress.

“I will consider it a personal insult, an insult to my legacy if this community lets down its guard and fails to activate itself in this election”, Obama said with a stern look and booming passion. When the president says this at a formal gathering, you know that Democrats are anxious that their base is either going to sit out or vote third party, with the latter being the main source of the bleeding regarding Clinton’s voting strength. Regarding this year’s election, 72 percent black women polled said they fear the election’s outcome.

Wearing a strapless gold Naeem Khan ball gown with hand-painted gold leaf on black tulle, it was hard to take your eyes of the first lady – and even the president had to acknowledge his wife. “We know what it means for a generation of children, of all races, to see folks like us in the White House”, he said.

“And to think with just 124 days to go, under the wire, we got that thing resolved”, Obama said to laughter from the predominantly African American audience. “So he can tune in.?We will educate him”, Obama said amidst applause. Politicians need to work to earn our votes, Democrats feel like they’re entitled to them.

“Even when hateful nonsense is thrown their way, Barack, Michelle, their two attractive daughters have represented our country with class, grace and integrity”, said the Democratic Pary nominee, who served as Obama’s secretary of state”.

Clinton also spoke at the event, where she received the Trailblazer award for being the first female presidential candidate for a major USA political party. She did not mention Trump by name but showered the president with praise and said the upcoming election would be a pivotal choice for the country. For Mrs. Clinton to secure their vote, her campaign will have to push black voters to the polls – a task that could depend in part on the community’s loyalty to Mr. Obama, and the party’s ability to muster enthusiasm among voters.