Hecklers say Obama doesn't address race

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Hecklers at a Florida event Friday challenged Sen. Barack Obama about not talking enough about race after the Democrat was accused of playing the "race card."

At a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Fla., a group calling itself the "International African Revolution" interrupted the likely Democratic Party presidential nominee's opening remarks, shouting, "What about the black community," and unfurling a banner asking the same question. Others in the crowd countered with "Yes he can."

Obama, D-Ill., asked the hecklers to "just be courteous" because they would have a chance to ask questions later.

During the question-and-answer session, St. Petersburg resident Diop Olugbulu, one of the hecklers, asked why Obama hasn't "spoken to the issues or spoken on behalf of the African community?"

Obama said he has spoken about issue raised by the group, from questionable police actions and prosecutions to predatory lending practices targeting minority groups.

"That doesn't mean I'm always going to satisfy the way you guys want me to talk, which gives you the option of voting for someone else, which gives you the option of running for office yourself," Obama said. "But the one thing that is important is that we're respectful toward each other."

The set-to came a day after the campaign of presumptive Republican Party nominee Sen. John McCain accused Obama of having "played the race card" when Obama said detractors would bring up Obama's "funny name" and that he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills" to scare voters.