First Obama Was Getting Criticized from the Left,

especially concerning health care reform, but now he is getting it from what used to be his most reliable constituency: African Americans:

But the president acknowledged there are limits to what a president can do for any class of people.

"The only thing I cannot do is, by law, I cannot pass laws that say 'I'm just helping black folks.'I'm the president of the entire United States," Obama said, giving his standard answer to questions about the economic and other disparities facing blacks.

"What I can do is make sure that I am passing laws that help all people, particularly those who are most vulnerable and most in need," he said. "That in turn is going to help lift up the African-American community."

Black members of Congress have begun pressing their demands that the first African-American president do more for minorities hard hit by the recession, noting the billions of dollars spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to prop up big banks and large corporations.

Nationally, unemployment stands at 10 per cent while 15.6 per cent of blacks are jobless.

When a key constituency is upset, Obama had better be worried.