Morgan Freeman: Obama 'not America's first black president'

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Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, who has played God and has been called one of the most trusted celebrities, raised some eyebrows Friday.

In an interview with Tell Me More's Michel Martin on NPR, Freeman said he doesn't think President Barack Obama should be considered America's first black president.

"They [Obama's detractors] just conveniently forget that Barack had a mama, and she was white — very white American, Kansas, middle of America," Freeman said.

"There was no argument about who he is or what he is. America's first black president hasn't arisen yet. He's not America's first black president — he's America's first mixed-race president."

Ironically, Freeman didn't intend his words as a dig at the president, but rather at his political opponents, who Freeman said treat Obama unfairly because of his color.

"He is being purposely, purposely thwarted by the Republican Party, who started out at the beginning of his tenure by saying, 'We are going to do whatever is necessary to make sure that he's only going to serve one term,' " he said. "That means they will not cooperate with him on anything. So to say he's ineffective is a misappropriation of the facts."