President Barack Obama is coming out fighting against his Republican foes with strong words in a political speech to black lawmakers.

He's telling members of the Congressional Black Caucus to go back home and rally people to support Democrats in the November election. He's likening the task at hand to the grassroots efforts that helped drive the civil rights movement.

Obama doesn't use the word "Republican" in his remarks Saturday night. Instead he's talking about "the other side" and "a crowd that wants to do what's right politically, instead of what's right - period."

He also says the recession came down with "a particular vengeance" on African-American communities.