Source: NewsCore
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) told his constituents that race was a key reason President Barack Obama was elected to the White House, saying he was "a historic figure" as the nation's "first African-American president."
Speaking Sunday at a town hall in Wheeling, Ill., Walsh said other factors, including the tanking economy, also helped boost Obama's campaign. But he indicated that Obama's "historic nature" was the deciding factor for his success.
"He was a historic figure. He's our first African-American president. The country voted for him because of that. It made us feel good about [our]self," Wash said.
"It helped that John McCain was about 142 years old. It helped that the economy was tanking. A lot of these things helped," Walsh added. "But he never would have gotten there without his historic nature."
Video of his remarks was published on YouTube by the liberal political blog ThinkProgress.
View Original Article: Republican congressman says race was key reason for Obama's election
