President Obama Appeals to Black Voters With Health Care Benefits

July 26th, 2012 - By Tonya Garcia

Photo: Comstock

In addition to introducing the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, President Obama used the podium at the National Urban League to talk up the benefits to blacks and Hispanics of the Affordable Healthcare Act. During his speech, he emphasized the provision that would keep children of the insured on their policies until the age of 26, lower prescription drug prices for the elderly, the end of “discrimination against  sick people,” and health insurance for 30 million additional people.

And it’s not just the President that’s making this case to African-American voters. Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett talked about the various provisions at an African American Policy Forum meeting at Baltimore’s Morgan State University. Staff members have met with African American members of the media and with people across the country at various events.

“Given the health disparities, it will disproportionately benefit the African-American community,” Jarrett said at an event on July 13. She noted elsewhere, more generally, that the government plans to subsidize healthcare exchanges though some GOP lawmakers have said they won’t expand Medicaid.

Talk over the past couple of weeks has emphasized the need for black voters to come out for President Obama if he’s going to take certain key swing states (North Carolina, for instance). A National Urban League study shows that if even five percent fewer black voters show up in November, it could determine the outcomes in certain states.

More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN