Def Jam and Phat Farm founder Russell Simmons has urged President Barack Obama to prioritize the country’s poor, in a new editorial piece entitled “Dear Mr. President, Forget The Poor, Lose Your Soul.” In his letter to the President, Simmons refers to Obama’s recent speech at Reverend Al Sharpton‘s National Action Network‘s 20th anniversary dinner, where the President addressed many issues but, according to Simmons, neglected to mention the issue of poverty in America. Simmons encouraged Obama to reverse the tax cuts on the rich that were made by former President George W. Bush and notes that the poverty rate is the highest that its been in 51 years. Click the image to enlarge.

Russell Simmons wants the president to focus on the poor