Harry Alford

Black Chamber of Commerce CEO on Obama: 'I had hopes because he was black, shame on me' National Black Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Harry C. Alford told The Daily Caller that he "ignored" President Obama's "spread the wealth" comment in 2008 and "had hopes" for him "because he was black." "I don't really support him too well and he knows it and that's a badge of honor. He's bad. He's bad and I supported him. I voted for him the first time around. I had hopes because he was black. Shame on me," Alford told TheDC at the National Press Club after an anti-gun control news conference. While running for president in 2008, Obama said, "I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." When reminded Obama's comment, Alford said, "I kind of ignored it. I said, 'well, maybe he's just talking.' He was serious. He was real serious and it is truly — if you read the Communist Manifesto — that's that philosophy. He is not Adam Smith. He does not believe in capitalism the way American, our Founding Fathers did. He is very social and it's getting borderline communist." The National Black Chamber of Commerce is "dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the United States."