PHOTOS The President & First Lady at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's dinner (Sept 26) [View All]

[Jackeens]

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner in Washington September 26, 2009.

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(Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Chairman Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Fla, and Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Barbara Lee, D-Calif)

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www.daylife.com & Yahoo Photos

President Barack Obama used a dinner-time address to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to make an impassioned plea for health care reform, placing it in the tradition of the civil rights struggle.

Obama, who last year addressed the group as one of its members, was hailed as "our great president" by caucus chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.). The crowd was jubilant as Obama came to the stage with first lady Michelle Obama, who Rep. Kendrick Meek introduced, saying she had "brought a new flavor to this country."

Delivering the keynote address at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Phoenix Awards to a group of about 3,000 people at a black tie dinner at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Obama gave a speech that at several points evoked his remarks at the NAACP convention in July.

The president opened with a fiery civil rights talk, ticking off racial disparities, calling for greater enforcement of civil rights laws and saying that the new White House Office of Urban affairs is working to address inequality.

More: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27613.html