Barack Obama's Speech on Race...
By John Amato Monday Mar 17, 2008 12:08pm(37:39)
Barack Obama gave a major speech today that directly responds to the controversial comments made by his church’s longtime pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr, but also highlighted the incredible challenge of race relations in our country today. Obama's speech was very impressive.
This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should've been authorized and never should've been waged, and we want to talk about how we'll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.
I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.
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Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.
Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze - a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns - this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.
This is where we are right now. It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy - particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.
But I have asserted a firm conviction - a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people - that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice is we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.
We'll have the video posted soon. Do you think his speech today has helped put Reverend Wright's comments behind him---explain them, but more importantly---moved the ball forward on race relations between Americans and how we view race in our culture?
read the full text here.
That has been my experience at Trinity. Like other predominantly black churches across the country, Trinity embodies the black community in its entirety - the doctor and the welfare mom, the model student and the former gang-banger. Like other black churches, Trinity's services are full of raucous laughter and sometimes bawdy humor. They are full of dancing, clapping, screaming and shouting that may seem jarring to the untrained ear. The church contains in full the kindness and cruelty, the fierce intelligence and the shocking ignorance, the struggles and successes, the love and yes, the bitterness and bias that make up the black experience in America.
And this helps explain, perhaps, my relationship with Reverend Wright. As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children. Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect. He contains within him the contradictions - the good and the bad - of the community that he has served diligently for so many years.
But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America - to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality.
The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through - a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.
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Great speech, there are no doubts to Obama's caliber and he said so many things that are true, there is much on the subject of race that this country has not discussed, thus many divisions continue.
This speech was incredible! It'll go down in the history books.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23690567/
After Obama wins the presidency this speech will be referred to as his 'I Have a Dream' moment.
Here’s the Obama Insight We Really Wanted to Hear About Rev. Wright
Simply amazing. How anybody can view that speech and not believe that this man needs to be the next President is beyond me.
Now all you "conditional progressives" who wanted so desperately to throw Obama under the bus over this bullshit, can do what the Clinton's camp did.....STFU!!!!
I'm looking forward to the video on this.
Hillary may have the experience, Obama has the presidential poise.
America needs someone who's a level head. The experience will come, and he will make sure he has good people behind him.
Apologies to the Hil supporters, but if America's going to heal and we're going to see a Democrat in the White House its going to have to be Obama this time around.
J
I hope people listened. I believe he is our only hope. From a white woman, over 60---who supports Obama, the stat the pollsters can't seem to find.
Easily the best, most moving, and most honest speech I have ever seen from a politician. I don't think anyone since MLK has had the guts or the eloquence necessary to frame the issues of race in this country in such a succinct and profound way. Any doubt as to is getting my vote has been completely erased.
I was moved beyond words that he was able to be so truthful and insightful...I could see nothing wrong with the speech and could not imagine anyone finding fault with what the man had to say...then i went to CNN and read the comments. WOW to get nothing out of that speech but more hate is crazy but that is what the majority of the writers got...more hate
This man NEEDS to be the next president of our once great country. Anyone who took the time to actually listen to this man who could think otherwise needs to go live in another country.
This was the most moving speech I have ever heard. I know that the Hannity's and Orally's will slice and dice it tonight, they are scum and feed off the ignorant white trash support. I am white and was originally an Edwaeds supporter, but this man is special.
is there a link to the video of the speech...i wasn't able to see it live.
Site Monitor: It's coming...it's a big file and taking a long time to upload.
That speech was a defining moment. This guy has an uncanny ability to elevate himself above any petty fray that the media tries to whip up. That speech had me tearing up.
My only hope is that it makes the bobbleheads focus on what really matters. I believe Obama covered it all.
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/64224.html
It will be VERY interesting to see the Clinton and McCain response.
Oustanding speech
However, already, repubs said questions were left unanswered. On MSNBC, Pat B praised the speech, the man and his strength, then went from there to the repubs talking points. Questions left unanswered.
I think all questions were answered. IMO
Saw most of the speech. Amazing. Now let us prepare ourselves for the dissecting and parsing from our esteemed press. Remember, Rule 1, must spin everything you hear to suit your own needs. Rule 2, spend countless hours reporting on it and ignore everyting else. You know, the real downers. War, poverty, ect...
I am an Obama supporter...biased...but Senator Obama was extremely impressive today! Glad he spoke about race in America...also glad he stated that race will not go away due to or election...honest! Very good job today...but there will be backlash for this as well...we all know racism is out there!
I've never heard a more moving speech.
I thought it was an amazing speech.
Unfortunately, the Rush Limbaughs and Fox New commentators of the world will continue to ride the Rev Wright hobby horse, regardless of what Obama said.
On the other hand, those who were willing to listen got something to think about.
Watch the attacks roll in on the right and in the MSM. They are a tiny preview of what awaits us for the next 7 months. One he seals the deal in Denver, the FUX noise machine will be deafening.
I set my DVR to record it......but I heard it was AMAZING since I wasn't able to watch it yet.
I'm reading on some boards that people are still saying "Well it's too little too late because you associated with him for 20 years." LOL, these are people who wouldn't have voted for him anyway. Jesse Jackson associated with Martin Luther King for a number of years and that didn't get him elected. I don't see how Obama associating with someone who's views he don't share makes him less of a person. If anything, it makes him more because he's practicing what he preaches by reaching out to those who don't share his views and beliefs.
I hope this is just the beginning to putting this distraction away. I too believe this speech will be in the history books. Kudos to Barack for putting this in perspective. We have more important things to worry about then speeches given by a pastor that we don't agree with 100%.
The hate mongers are really scared now and they will really be spewing their hate filled garbage.
Incredible speech. Time will tell if it makes a difference. There are really stupid people in this country and an aristocratic class all too willing to lead them astray. I wouldn't be surprised if Fox News finds some way to take elements of this speech out of context to feed their constituency.
I still have hope for this country. If it can produce Barack Obama, there's hope.
So, the only persons allowed to speak about race are the bi-racial candidate, Senator Obama and his mentor of 20 years, Rev. Wright? It is OK for Senator Obama to claim that what Rev. Wright stated was correct in its historical context, but we are supposed to condemn anyone who points out the truths about race, in their political context?
It must be nice to live in such a world where the only people allowed to talk about race are the ones who condemn others for talking about race.
Must be nice.
amazing how different
the truth sounds when you hear it
When he spoke of his personal experience with his Grandma and even though she had her moments of prejudice, he still loved her and he couldn't abandon her, how could he abandon his friend and preacher? I was very emotional and I saw a man of great compassion and understanding. I hope that many Americans will put aside any of the gutter attacks from the right wing talk vermon and look at this mans character.
I look forward to hearing the speech and love what you've posted so far. thank you.
I hope this will help raise the level of discussion among talking heads. Enough already. We need someone like Obama to talk to us this way. With respect and dignity, above the pettiness and gutter talk.
Lois, I'm fiftiesh and white, too. so that's two of us in the invisible stat column!
I thought it was a good. I know people will find things wrong with it but most likely those are people who already have their minds made up. I am so over this pastor comment thing.
I just read the speech at HuffPo. God, he's so articulate, and to his credit, really finds a way to speak as the fabled Everyman. I remember reading a bit from Mother Theresa where she spoke the same way explaining her decision to become a nun. She identified herself in the sacred and the wretched. It's not a simple idea to convey, the paradox inside, without coming off as esoteric. Obama makes it seem effortless.
His speech was honest, touching on experiences, I suspect, are had universally.
He so beautifully expressed the anger not just of Blacks, but also of whites and then tied all of that anger together into a call for action to make schools better, to make work possible, to join us in a positive direction as a nation.
The sad thing is that Fox and its ilk make money on precisely the divisions Obama calls us to overcome. I hope that people begin to see how played by the corporate media they are, how utterly they are instigated to hate just so that someone else makes money and gains power from their hate. It's a tall order for a lot of people, but maybe just maybe some will see they've been played for fools. And maybe we as Dems can take a page from the speech and chill on the anti-Clinton rhetoric. I'm no fan, but the hate has got to go. Differ on policy, not on value of soul.
Phoenix Justice @ 26:
That is spinning so hard I'm getting dizzy reading it.
Maybe try actually watching the speech before you comment.
Simply brilliant. He spreaks Truth to Power. Don't know what will happen in Penn but I'm certain the Democratic nomination is his. And I'm a Clinton supporter who will be an Obama voter.
Phoenix Justice @ 26:
You aren't one of those people that actually believes he is only where he is because of his colour, are you? Because that in itself reeks of racism just as people saying Hillary is where she is because of being female reeks of discrimination. I did not know there was some unwritten law that said you couldn't run for Prez if you were a certain race or sex.
331 Deighved H Stern MD Says: abob @ 46:
Obama still left one crucial questions unanswered. How can we trust his judgment as President if he lacked the good judgment to distance himself from a racist preacher long before now?
No, there’s another question he hasn’t answered, and that is whether or not he’s stopped beating his wife!
Well there's also when he stopped battering his wife.
He prefers Shake and Bake and she Onion Dip.
there a some pretty lame people posting, the guy is a politician! what was he supposed to say, ugh..............i agree with the rev, obama can't carry the hispanic vote or the white woment vote he obviously will carry the black vote but will lose the white male vote convincingly to mccain, and obama will carry the young vote, at least the ones who bother to vote. sorry mccain in a landslide.
An articulate speaker does not make you a good president,
what has not been answered is -
how could you listen to the rhetoric of racism for 20 years and state "it isnt you"
somehow you ate at the trough but didnt like food? that somehow you have raised yourself above it? we need to take the off the "halo" effect of Kennedy, Martin Luther King (both articulate speakers) and look at the facts. what ever they might be. There is still his friend that is currently being investigated for corruption and money laundering ( or that doesnt count either)
Too many people jump at the threat of his being challenged with anything
hey, he is just like everyone else - lets treat him that way and let the chips fall where they may.
moving speaches - great rhetoric make good actors - not necessarily good presidents!
ingrid @ 350:
I think this "talking point" was written before the speech.
It's probably the easiest and most obvious. Let's see if O'Reilly, Ingraham, Malkin, Buchanan (P & B), Weiner, et al. all get this too.
White Guy-
Wait, I finally get it...
debate = hate
You expressed your opinion.
I expressed my opinion.
Therefore, I am a hate spewing fear mongering racist.
Thanks for showing me the way.
p.s. are the H A T and E keys getting worn out on your keyboard? Because your use of that word is not having the effect you desire...
Eloquent speech. He is by far the best at speeches of all candidates. But he still wants to spend my money for me, still wants me to pay for medical procedues for everyone, ( whether they choose to pay or not) still believes that it is white people's fault for everything bad that befalls black people, and he still has a very angry wife. I am still voting for LESS government. Voting for him will cost more than we can afford.
how long until the right go after ashley?
God dammit, Hillary and Obama supporters, stop attacking the Dem candidate you don't support. If your candidate winds up losing the nomination, you know you'll still vote for the other one, because either way is better than four more years of the Repug bullshit. You'll just feel like an idiot for having to clean up the crap you flung at the wrong person.
355 kenny Says: there a some pretty lame people posting, the guy is a politician! what was he supposed to say, ugh…………..i agree with the rev, obama can’t carry the hispanic vote or the white woment vote he obviously will carry the black vote but will lose the white male vote convincingly to mccain, and obama will carry the young vote, at least the ones who bother to vote. sorry mccain in a landslide.
Quote This Comment March 18th, 2008 at 11:41 AM - PDT
Finally,........ a Realist!!!!!!!!
It seems that to some on this blog that if you dare questions anything that has to do with either Sen. Obama's judgement, qualifications or even if you want to ask a constructive question you somehow are either stupid ...a liar ...ignorant of all the facts..... jeez people here's a reality check I don't believe everything I say is 100% correct and I don't believe other people's opinion is either but the discord among bloggers is a little to much...
I respect the tone and level headiness of the speech. but he still doesn't get it. The "races" do not exsist. There is only the human race and everything within it is merely God's way of keeping us from destroying ourselves. Go look at what God says whenhe confuses the languages at the Tower of Babel. "Is there anything that they cannot achieve". Yes we have to get over the differences to love one another. But we will never be past fear of the unknown. For each generation that is apart from the truth will develop its own truth. It is the natural state of man to be selfish. He must me taught to love. What is love, you ask? It patient, it is kind, it never seeks its own glory. If senator Obama is about love then good. It will show in his actions. Forget the stump speeches and apeasing the base. Speak only encouragement and that which will build up. Forget what Bush did, don't even mention it. Say what is you will do for your country and ask us what we should do as well. Being a Christian is more than speaking about love it is putting it into action. Not just for the left or right but for those fallen to the ground and needing not a government handup but a church, synagogue, mosque or even the neighbor you never talk to. May God be glorified and all you blessed.
Y'all remember when the only race we talked about was the space race?
Oh yeah, the Arms Race too?
PhX justice @111
I'm sorry to hear you are so obsessed with Wright's relationship with Obama instead of really relevant issues such as the economy, the war, etc. In that respect, you are hardly any better then the crazed wingnuts on Fox that repeat the issue over and over like a broken record as if it were something really important to the public. Get over it. Obama has publically repudiated Wright's remarks, but with you, nothing from Obama will convince you he is worthy because of your inflexible attitude.
And we'll be looking for those Clinton tax returns soon as proof they are willing to offer full disclosure, too.
How can anybody except the most virulent racists even think of voting for this lying racist piece of shit. He sits there in "church" clapping and cheering every disgusting racist comment that sack of shit pastor makes, and now, to "appear" as something other than what he is to gain votes he tries to distance himself from the racist crap that he loved until he was running for president. Obama will definitely unite the KKK and the old Black Panther Party in a coalition of racists. That must be his idea of change
I am a white mid age women republican,, I have never voted across party lines..
but after that speech,, I will vote for him. I just hope that the Clinton camp does not steel it away. because I will never ever vote for her.
Obgone @ 122:
NOW you say that. That should have been done 8 years ago and for some it was done to the point we knew Bush was at least mildly retarded. For the people who voted for him it did not matter. Back then, as well as now, bush was not capable of explaining any of his ideas but it did not matter. Now at least there is somebody who is capable of explaining how and why and make sense of the how and why. People on FOX and anywhere else will try to chip the speech apart for their own agenda but the words are there and make sense.
You can say the same about Hilary saying anything to get elected and he actions speak better than words.
I assure you I heard the entire speech.
It's purpose was to allay people's concerns about Obama's tie to wright and reassure them that he didn't buy into wright's message of hatred. I feel Obama did not accomplish this at all, so my comment separated out the parts that caused me to feel this way.
Yes, other parts of what Obama said was positive and elevated. And I certainly don't deny that he delivers a speech beautifully. But he did not resolve the issues that are causing people to be troubled by him.
In truth, I can't think of any way Obama could have done so. For almost 20 years he has umbilically tied himself to wright, calling him his "spiritual mentor" and even naming his book after a one of wright's sermons. There is just no plausible way he can now do an inspector Renault imitation and say he is shocked - SHOCKED - to find out that jeremiah wright says what he's been saying all these years.
But, I suspect, the single most damaging part of Obama's speech was his claim that, at least some of the time, everyone else's clergy does the same thing as wright.
It's one thing to try explaining away jeremiah wright's comments about Whites, about the USA, about Israel and his love and respect for the career racist/anti-Semite louis farrakhan. It's quite another to tell voters that this is comparable in any way to THEIR clergy. I can only wonder how many votes he irrevocably lost because of that comment.
Pepper@355 He's right, White Guy. Limbaugh gets big money to be a mindless, racist, career prick. You're like a hooker that offers her services for free.
White Guy @ 335:
Excuse me, but you seem lost. Are you looking for 1954?
Question:
How can you tell when OsamaObama is lying?
Answer:
His lips are moving.
======================================
Bottom line....A church is not a vacuum.
If a board of decons runs the church, the pastors council will mirror their beliefs. If the pastor dominates the church, the decons and membership will mirror his beliefs. Either way, the stuff this Wright character was launching out his sphincter was well recognized and understood by every member of this church.
To deny this is a lie.
It sure is nice to have so many trolling posters looking for a way to take a positive message from a politician and turn it into cynical hatred.
I almost thought humanity could be better than it is. Nothing like a cold dose of spin from the hate-mongers to remind us how difficult the road ahead of us is.
Obama is a liar. I didn't believe a word of his speech. He is just another politician wanting to get into the White House the old fashioned way - through lies and deceipt.
He NEVER witnessed the pastor say these things nor did he hear about these horrible things before? LIE
Govt didn't invent HIV to kill black people.
Govt didn't plan and execute 9/11.
Govt didn't buy drugs to kill black people and jail them.
God should BLESS America not DAMN it.
It is no wonder Michelle Obama hasn't been proud of America as she has sat there week after week listenting to and believing this same crap!
Wright is racist and divisive and after 20 years that makes Obama affected by this and he is lying to cover up that fact.
Nothing worse than a far left liberal that lies. If we find this out half way into the election year, what will we find out once he is president?
He will go down for this. Sorry folks no OBAMA for PREZ!
dance Obama, dance, you can't have it both ways. you're just playing the game now. i'd like to hear someone ask him if he thinks that O.J. killed Ron and Nicole. this guy is no colin powell, he's no condi rice, he's a radical, he's a muslim, he's a racist, he's disingenuous, he's a smooth talker. it's too bad the other candidates are so weak.
i know what alot of you think of hillary, BUT, she can carry the women vote, the hispanic vote, the young vote, and if there are any black still voting some of them, the white male vote will still go to mccain, clinton can win in a close one. remember women have been abused alot longer than blacks have, about 6 thousand years!
David @ 367:
Nothing for you here. Move along. Go ahead. Move on.
@332 Livia Jones:
She sought spiritual counsel from anti-semitic Billy Graham, and she prays regularly with a group of right-wing zealots on Capitol Hill, and no one has asked her to "denounce" those associations. Double standard, much?
http://themoderatevoice.com/religion/christianity/18400/much-ado-about-j...
So yeah -- Go Hillary! Right back to the Senate. You might be a good majority leader, who knows?
Candace Toft @ 179:
Amen.
It is difficult to be eloquent when trying to tell the voters what they want to hear while at the same time giving the back room power brokers the wink about what you really mean.
Why is everyone all ga-ga over this speech? It's a bunch of rhetoric, just like every other political speech given by every other politician. What is he supposed to say? "yeah, I hate white people". That would go over well. Of course he's going to denounce this Revs racist hate mongering, whether he believes it or not. Why does Obama get a free pass on this "like a family member" Revs comments, while Hillary got completely crucified for her husband making one NON-racist comment about Jesse Jackson? I would suspect there are more people out there who disagree with their spouse than disagree with their preacher. Just sayin'...
what is more racist, voting for someone because they are white? a woman? a black? if all the hispanics voted for a hispanic would they be racist? maybe we need a asian!
I, a 65 year-old white woman, am in tears. I admit, I have always been very liberal and progressive in my political thinking, but this speech left me weak. If JFK and RFK returned, they would be sucked into the spirit of this incredible human being. I believe we have just scratched the surface. Granted, he is just a man, but he has the potential to be the savior of the progressive cause....tempered with compassion, intellect and pragmatism. Sorry, Hillary, you blew it. I'm an Obama Mamma.
I'm just curious. . . . what did you folks expect to hear from OBAMA?? That he aligns with the thoughts and opinions of Rev Wright? (which he probably does or he wouldn't have stayed in his Church for 20 years !! This man is running for President, he is going to say what YOU want to hear and he's going to say it eloquently. . which he did.
Ask yourself if you, yourself, would have continued a 20 year membership in a church that preached things you didn't go along with! Rev Wright exposed Obama, now it's up to Obama to work his magic and make us all think he sat in that church for 20 years but was totally different from the rest of the members as far as beliefs.
If you believe this, I've got a bridge in San Francisco I want to sell you.
360
You can bet they are hunting her done right now. lol
Does anyone remember the 911 pilots? They were so smart, they were schooled to tell Americans what they wanted to hear. Wake up America..What a wounderful speech.lol
j gray @ 360:
You can bet they are hunting her done right now. lol
the only time anyone acussed bill clinton of being a racist was this campaign when a black when was running, he is not a racist.
robyn williams @ 170:
Ken Berwitz @ 370:
He answered this question as well as anybody could have answered it. It was not good enough for you or you did not hear it. Either listen again or more likely just do not vote for him. There is nothing he can do to make him believe you. That is fine. Ok. Nothing for you here.
BEAUTIFUL!
I thought it was interesting that MSNBC and CNN were analyzing the speech in detail afterwards, but when I switched over to FOX, they were covering other news of the day . . .
Whether this speech silences the wingnuts or not, it was an important statement for the American people.
Great speech. Instead of a one sentence rejection of Wright's statements, he gave us his whole thinking on race in America. He showed that a new generation approaches race differently. What's obvious about race to our generation is different than what was obvious to people who grew up in the 50s -- or the 30s, or the 19th century. He said some things I haven't heard said before. And, of course, you gotta admire the writing. Love to see this guy work.
Sorry not impressive to me
Barack Obama, in my opinion was all over the map of issues instead of focusing on the Faith and his relationship with Mr. Reverend Wright. This gave Obama tremendous opportunity to swing into ideals black/ white ideals that forged very core reasons to vote for him, Obama went into basic Constitutional propositions and mixed all the loaded hardships coupled with these black slave struggles to develop a huge, huge cultural empathy to vote for him, because he is black/ and white and knows best how to change. Well, this is were Obama needs a lot of show en tell. Because who knows who what in the hell he will do.
Here, what is constantly repulsive to me, is this a lie about slavery. There is ample proof that black slavery in that time involved tribal kings, where those Black Rulers sold their own flesh for a price to whom ever wanted buy those people. Not just Americans but Europeans done for hundreds of years too. Makes one wonder why all the fuss were America should have the first most powerful black leader, doesn’t one wonder why a Black leaders have not evolved from Europe ? They most certainly don’t have affirmative action programs like America does. Do they know something America needs to know?
What is agreeable for me totally was the story, at the end of the speech about an old Black man. The last comment about Ashley a white girl that an old Black man had a reason to be there at a gathering. When the Black man was asked why he was there, the old Black man said it was because of Ashley the white girl. Defiantly, or arrogantly a closing message to America, the Democratic Party, and Hillary.
The message here is clear and difficult for many to accept that it is not White Supremacy that always is an issue. Rather its White leadership that was and is the time long problem. It’s the Blacks, that generation after generation refuse to believe in the ideal it is a White culture that is what they are working in and developing in. However from both sides white and black there those are exploiting this progress. Obama almost did say it but he knew himself that would destroy his Black support. He certainly destroyed the Mainstream Media’s position how now to bring this out, hate radio, and the Reagan people have to be furious.
TRUTH!!!
A truly wonderful speech. He said what needed to be said...not for himself...but for the country.
He may not win the election, or even the nomination...but Barack has moved the ball forward and closer to the goal of realizing the dream of the Founders and the promise of America.
Unfortunately, nothing will be good enough for the rednecks where I'm from in Alabama. First and foremost, some of them will not vote for a black man. Second, they actually believed (and some still do) that he is a Muslim who doesn't love America. Third, when some of them found out that he wasn't a Muslim but actually was a Christian they attack his preacher and church. Fourth, did I mention that even after all of this hemming and hawing about these issues that they still won't vote for a black man? I post frequently on a board from my hometown of Gadsden, AL, and it amazes me that these people keep attacking Barack again and again on non-policy related issues when they weren't going to vote for him even if his name was Fred Smith and he was Pentecostal. I had a relative tell me that they damn sure weren't voting Republican, weren't going to vote for a woman, and weren't going to vote for a "n" word so they probably wouldn't vote for the president. There are still very many George Wallace Democrats down in Alabama, so Obama is spot on...we can't pretend that race is not an issue to make it go away. His only hope, oddly enough, is that enough people have been hurt economically through 8 years of Bush to make them finally vote with their wallet rather than with their perception of their bible or religion.
DailyKos has the transcript
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/18/105356/186/915/479103
Phoenix Justice @ 26:
Wow, did you get a fire permit to build such a monumental straw man.
RLG @ 16:
Questions left unanswered. Such a vague term. They can't help but sow seeds of doubt.
I too think all questions were answered.
Phoenix Justice @ 26:
a black candidate can represent and speak for non whites probably better than a white person can. Just as a woman can speak for the struggles of being a woman. If Geraldine Ferraro had stuck to what she knows, it would have been a more effective way to go. JMHO. It's a credibility thing.
I will be hornored to have this man for my President!
Obama still left one crucial questions unanswered. How can we trust his judgment as President if he lacked the good judgment to distance himself from a racist preacher long before now?
To louise @340..To give us a history lesson, you point out that "BOTH CHRISTIANS AND MUSILMS ARE DECENDANTS OF ABRAHAM"...What school, where did you get this information? The decendants of Abraham are Semitic, therefore Hebrew or Arabic. The goyim (nonjews = Gentiles) comprised the basis of the early church....first the Greeks and then the Romans...growing with more and more non jewish folk. And Indonesian Musilims have the highest numbers of Muslims....and did not inherit any DNA from Abraham. Did you take religious instruction or history lessons from the Rev Wright? The Christian faith in the very early church was infact anti-semitic and it grew more so. When in Florence, check out the statue of David. He has his foreskin...why....they hated Jewish people. And if you know your Old Testament, 1 Samuel.....David and later King David did not have his foreskin...HE WAS A JEW. this shit ain't hard to know. It amazes me how passionate some can be for Obama yet so angry and hateful on this blog. Well you have every right to your opinion....but good grief go call a pastor or sunday school teacher.
abob @ 46:
When it comes to Presidential Elections, I think from here on the benchmark will be how could we ever have trusted a former Coke-head and alcoholic, failed businessman, torturer of small animals, a person who would not willfully present his driver's license records, a gleeful executioner, a phoney Christian, etc. etc. etc.
Livia Jones @ 330:
Boy, that sounds fatuous.
You may not have cast your vote for "the right person" after all:
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/sally_quinn/2008/03/our_frien...
Nobody's burned her at the stake. Nobody's claiming she's antiSemitic because her spiritual advisors were. Nobody's accused her of being a Dominionist because she's in a prayer group with them.
Fattrucker@378 Obama's no Colin, Condi? Thanks fat ass for the tremendous compliment. No black person I know wants to be associated with those two social climbing house negroes. Hey fattrucker, since you're so in tuned with us black folk can I borrow your latest Nat King Cole record. Aaahahahahahaha!!!
What an eloquent speaker--and racist bullshitter--Obama is. He has failed to tell people exactly how he feels about the American blacks. Look at his record in the
Illinois senate. Look at what he hasn't done while in the U.S.senate. He wants to
send all our taxpayers' money to Africa. Why doesn't he talk about helping victims
of Katrina? He'll say anything for your vote, but his promises never get fulfilled. He is full of bull and people are blind to see his true colors. How can you be so dumb to accept his words alone. He is only proving that his thoughts on blacks are ignorance from day one. Amen! Halleluiah!
Barack Obama is a liar,,,
To all
Obama speech ,,,, Not sure if you caught Not only did Obama,,, Refuses to denounce him,, but even More,, He say in his own words,,,
Barack Obama was in church when Jeremiah Wright,, was spewing Anti-American, Racist ism ,,,, Those were his own words,,, barack was there
After going on keith Oberman ,Show obama said he would denounce that if he heard that language he would leave and not tolerate it , and denounce it
After he went on MSNBC,, he went on FOX CNN ABC< all the news station saying he was never there,,, in his church when he said these things,,
But Now today during his speech,,He states flat out Say's HE was there,,, Last week Barack Obama Lied,, went on all the news stations, and Lied,,
But your not reporting that,,,, You can rest assure,,, cnn ,,, Fox , ABC,,, Msnbc,, are getting more on this ,,, they will be reporting on this, and we will see
If you chose to report, Obama Lying on tv,,, If this was Hilary clinton lying and caught lying on all the new station,,, you can be sure,, you would talk about it every hour
people will be on your station debating this,,,, people analysing , if it is hilary clinton but it was not her it was Barack Obama, ,, it bad enought He lied, about being in church
With Jeremiah Write, when he said these anti american ,,,,,and still refuse to denounce him...all the news agency want to do is speak on how good his speech was,
Not that he lied,,, Last week on all the news agency ,, He was never there today in how own speech He say I was there,,,,should play all Obama videos from last week
stating he was not there,,, or heard any of the anti-american Jeremiah Write, said in his churc then play his speech today saying he was there and he did hear him in church and refuse to denounce Jeremiah Write,,,
I listened to the entire speech. I am a 60 year white woman who has lived in Harlem New York for two years. I have also lived in Republican Kansas City for 17 years. I have lived in affluent communities with no blacks but pro sportsmen and PHd's and in black communities like Harlem with a wide range of socio-economic levels.I think that this speech was excellent in content and delivery. I understand that we have race issues in this country both on the part of Blacks and whites. People will work on them one on one .His speech was correct as far as I know and understand the blacks feelings. You cannot, however, lump all Blacks together. Not all Blacks, even in Harlem attend Black Liberation churches.
I believe that in finding himself and marrying a black woman from the Southside of Chicago that Obama took the black condition very much to heart. As an individual, he is smart, analytical etc. etc. He made a choice to go to a specific church for20 years. Anyone who reads the work of the man who started Black Liberation philosophy will understand.I don't understand, if he wanted unity why join a fairly separatist church, live in Kenwood, a primarily black neighborhood.
If the change that he is looking for is racial understanding and change why not say so sincete beginning. That is really the only change difference between him and Clinton, because their policies are so similar.
The difference in the two candidates is race. The reason that Michelle Obama is so proud of her country is that they are considering electing a black man.
I am not voting or not votng for a candidate because he/she is black.
I will vote for the candidate that I feel will be best in the job.
It was certainly and excellent heart felt speech.
Carlton @ 384:
He answered this question as well as anybody could have answered it. It was not good enough for you or you did not hear it. Either listen again or more likely just do not vote for him. There is nothing he can do to make him believe you. That is fine. Ok. Nothing for you here.
Hello america,another great speech,magic was it,wake up,this is america,we are americans,those of you who are not americans go home ,we are at war and racist are trying to kill us all, that is the truth,obama is a racist,his rev.wright is a racist,we did not make this up,watch the tapes,that is the truth,20 years of watching hate,you become hate itself,those of you who loved this speech embrace that same hate and want it,hate is addictive,most of you are infected by this sickness,obama is a sick man,keep him away from the nukes, he is dangerous,and does not reflect sound judgement,he will divide this nation and those who will follow this evil,will take the same path as those who followed hitler,hitler also could explain away sound questions which were raised against himself, make no mistake about this ,obama has an agenda that does not serve our america,he is not fit to be president and should be impeached from the senate,and no doubt will be connected to the slum landlord who recently was indicted,and so it is obama must never be elected to anything,he just cannot be trusted. These things we pray,so help us god and keep us steadfast until this is done, a-men.
Bring on Mr. Smoke and Mirrors Obama. There is so much more to come out on him yet. He's never going to be President of the United States. To think of this drone in the office where President Reagan sat makes me sick (almost as much as Hillary and Bill being allowed back in the building).
It's obvious that the Kennedy Machine wrote that speech for him.
If a man goes to the neetings of the KKK for 20 years, and then wonders why people say that he is a member, the man has to be an idiot. This man went to the same thing in reverse, a Black Supremacy Cult meeting for 20 years. He must have agreed with the preachings, otherwise any sane person would have gone to one meeting learned what it was about and not returned.
What kind of forgiving fools are we, that we believe anything else. If I go and listen to someone speak, or if you go and listen to someone speak, and we don't agree with the mindset of the messages we don't go back. Wake up and smell the anti American attitude. Wake up and smell the anti Christian/Jewish attitude toward the believings of all men being equal.
If it looks like a pig and walks like a pig and talks like a pig, it is a pig. He didn't go to the church for 20 years to be tortured and have his entire family be brainwashed by people with that attitude. At the very least what kind of a husband and father is he to put his wife and children through that kind of hell.
Wake up people, before it's to late and this (monster) ends up governing us into a third world country.
[Deleted. Feel free to repost using the standard mix of lower case and capital letters. We don't allow ALL CAPS posting here. Thanks-Sitemonitor]
White Guy @ 298:
Hang out with more people than others who look like yourself and you'll see it...hangout = share your life k?
Thomas Joseph @ 399:
Nothing for yoiu here. Move along.
[Deleted. Feel free to repost using the standard mix of lower case and capital letters. We don't allow ALL CAPS posting here. Thanks-Sitemonitor]
Wouldna be great if a politician started a speech:
My fellow Americans, I cannot tell a lie...
And nothing but silence follows?
comment to 384.
I agree with you. I DO NOT believe obama stayed for 20 years in a Church that he didn't fully agree with as far as teachings. That's just too unreal to be believable. Actually putting Rev Wright aside, one can research his Church online and see that something is amiss. It appears to be extreme in it's teachings and method of worship. What pastor get into a pulpit and says "God DAMN America"???
If that isn't extreme and bizarre I don't know what is! I don't really like any of the candidates but Obama's bio (and background) scares me.
I also worry about having a President in office who refuses to salute the flag. Did this come from his Church teachings? After all Rev Wright did say something to the effect that "they want us to stand up and sing God Bless America. . . I say God Damn America" !!!!!
Amazed at the many posters that criticize Obama for being good at delivering a speech, as if that is a cause to mistrust a person, or feel contempt for them.
George W. Bush is terrible at delivering a speech. If you are enjoying all the wonderful things he's done so much, vote for McCain. I for one would rather see somebody that comes across as intelligent representing us as President.
Did I not hear Obama correctly when he threw his white grandmother " under the bus " in favor of the racist Rev. Wright ? Sure I did, and you did too.
robyn williams @ 296:
forgive me robyn williams- is this a response to my post requesting clarification from you? Because that's not a response to my point at all. Maybe you don't respond to it because I'm right and you're wrong and there's nothing for you to say. That's my guess!
His pastor is a bigot--he defended him by spinning away from what he said.."America deserved 9/11"--isn't that enough--when will you kids wake up to hussain--wake up before its too late
how come none of the candidates are asking for a new unbiased 9/11 investigation?
270 Uncle_Jack Says: Rich in San Bruno @ 45:
I will be hornored to have this man for my President!
Won’t it be a great day- to be able to say that, after 8 years of Bush?
=============================================================
I hope I live long enough to say it.
Captain Hussein Kangaroo @ 387:
I pray for Ashley's life, the right is horrible when it comes to these things.
All you people still harping on the "20 years" thing need to wrap your heads around the concept that rhetoric like that wasn't the centerpiece of the reverand's ministry.
Obama clearly explains that that IS NOT and HAS NOT been what the church has been about for him and for its many followers.
As excited as I was after hearing that incredibly poignant and honest speech, I'm equally saddened by the ramapant displays of idiocy by the people that have decided that this media-induced tripe actually matters and everything Obama actually said and stands for means nothing.
Right-wing noise at its worst.
Obama '08
jerry @ 410:
Yes, we've woke up and figured only stupid people believes Obama hates his white mother and white grand mother...
Please stop hating, k?
Thxx
I finally got to listen to the speech, instead of just reading excerpts.
First, it's a great speech. I'm sitting in my office and I actually wanted to cry, you compare the way Obama speaks to when George W. Bush gives a speech and you wonder if Bush was the best this country has to offer to itself and to the world.
Sure, detractors can say that Obama gives a good speech, but he can lead a country. I think that you can mark a person by the language that one chooses, the way he or she speaks, and the way they approach a crisis. Then again, Obama has proven again that he's more than capable to lead a country.
A brilliant man. He should be president. One hundred fifty years ago, another Republican president freed the black slaves without a plan. Forty acres and a mule. Unfortunately, most of them couldn't spell their own name because they had no education. Lincoln should have educated them too. He just didn't think ahead. The black community has been trying to play catch up ever since. Now we have another Republican president that gets us involved in a war with no end in sight. Good luck Barack or Hillary in trying to get us out of this one. And God forbid John McCain gets in there, hell, we'll be fighting for the next 100 years.
tonedef @ 409:
You can tell from all of these trolls pouring on this site that Obama's speech today was overwhelmingly successful. No one is attacking the very merit of his speech... the trolls can't fight his brilliant historical knowledge of this nation's dark racial past. The sorry trolls just call him grammar school names(liar, bullshitter, racist,) of course with NO facts to back up their sophomoric rants. I'm loving this! Aaahahahahaha!!!!!
I am in tears reading this....just as I was when Barack first spoke to this country at the last Dem. convention.
We have such an opportunity in front of us now in the form of Barack Obama.
Sentor Obama ...thank you for today.
Now the change is for the obamas to
ABOLISH racism. they are the ones that can do it since all this has finally fallen in their laps..They listened to Wright for 20 yrs. IT IS TIME for a CHANGE..
Obamas ABOLISH RACISM once & for all..THAT is wht u need to do ..not try running the white house.
Your call is erasing rasism from America so all of us can feel safe.
Marge @ 235:
Ok Marge. You are a Hillary supporter. Good enough for me. Now let me ask you, if and when Obama is nominated for the Democratic ticket, will you vote for him. Because if Obama should get nominated we, every Democrat who cares about this country, will need your help. If you cannot vote for Obama if he gets the nomination you will be helping this country slide into the abyss. I support Obama and do not much care for Hill but I will vote for her should she get the nomination so you can see that I am not being hypocritical here.
Now that obama has given his speech when will the MSM spotlight a Hagee speech not just once but lets say over the course of a whole week how do the two speechers compare well obama's preacher at least uses some facts when he talks about america and what is wrong with it unlike hagee who says NO was destroyed by katrina because it was god's wrath and talks about no peace in the mideast and wants a second coming.
Deflect. Avoid. Go around. Obfuscate. Cover. Dodge. A true politician employs these tactics as a survival tactic, once they have been found to be dishonest. Welcome to the "bought and sold" club of professional politicians, Mr. Obama. As the country's last remaining Democratic Hawk, I reject your campaign. It's ironic how many of your followers and posters spew hatred and venom at those they ANTICIPATE might not be as persuaded by your speech. Bewilder On, sir.
The MSM wasn't impressed, therefore most of dumb America will take that lead. What a sad-ass nation we are to throw away a great opportunity to have a healthy and realistic discussion about our identity and global image. All for the sake of obsessing about race and repudiation.
Liz @ 36:
Fox hadn't received their talking points yet, and it's just more affirmation that they don't really HAVE opinions over there (except for what they're told), and have no concept of how to report news.
I hope this puts the Wright 'controversy' on the back burner. It pisses me off that the press will go on and on about it, but let Coulter, Limpballs, Matlin and all the other right-wing shills a pass.
He's answered his "questions" and now it's time we start demanding that The Clintons answer theirs: her earmarks, their tax returns, her first lady papers, his WH papers including his pardons and library donors. I am going to change my voter status from un-affiliated to Democratic today so that I can vote for Obama in the Oregon primary and off-set at least one Republican Democrat-for-a-day-Clinton vote.
I've heard him speak many times. In a large arena, he becomes the great orator - almost Lincolnesque at moments - self deprecating - intellectual - connecting all the dots - inspirational. This speech was different. For those who listen to it carefully - and many will - we hear someone who understands at a very deep level the reasons we have such difficulty in this country when problems need to be solved. Resentment will keep us from solving anything. It was a great speech, an historic speech, but few will hear it. The delivery of this speech was almost professorial - certainly a moment meant to teach us a greater lesson. But, Hilary Clinton is incapable of such a speech. Such a speech simply does not lie within her at this point. Does this speech make him more likely to be president. Perhaps. Does it make her less likely to get the nomination - maybe. However, someone just laid out the problems we have used against one another for 250 years and showed us a path through them. I will listen to this speech again and again. I hope we deserve such a speech because it seems to indicate that we - as a people - are capable of understanding it. That's the part I'm not sure about.
Never in my 63 years have I encountered a Presidential candidate who absolutely is what America needs. This is the real thing. After all the crap we have had to endure, finally someone comes along who is right for America. Thank you, Lord.
46 abob
I was under the impression you were a Repub supporter, so what does it matter if you were never going to vote for him anyway?
Phoenix Justice @ 26:
Hey Zombie, what Obama said was exactly opposite of the shit you're trying to peddle. Obama clearly stated that this country NEEDS to discuss it's racial problems....all of us. The only thing worst than a troll is an ignorant lying troll.
I thought it was a great speech. He did the very best he can do to put it behind him. However, MSM will not let go of it ever. MSNBC has had Joe Scarborough on all morning long with Pat Buchanan spinning everything for the right wing. I don't see how we get these people to shut up and move on to something we care about.
abob @ 46:
Be careful. You're gonna corkscrew yourself into the ground.
A GREAT speech! Now all the habitual liars, cry babies and hate monguering Faux Noise Pimps and Whores can SUCK on that.
#46 abob says: "Obama still left one crucial questions unanswered. How can we trust his judgment as President if he lacked the good judgment to distance himself from a racist preacher long before now?"
Of course the question might be asked, How can we trust the good judgement of someone who voted for and supported Mr. Bush for the past seven years?
I think I will take Mr. Obama.
Liz @ 36:
They will leave that analyzing to Rush Limbaugh, and Bill Kristol, and maybe Mike Savage.
You know, the real voice of the Right.
What a great speach. Listening to him speak to us, as President, for the next eight years will be such a great change from the last eight year of Bush.
Hope v. Fear
Sassy you're right. Why doen't MSNBC put a banner across the Morning Joe that states,"In the morning were just a group of GOP flunkies!"
Liz @ 36:
It won't silence the haters, but Obama has risen far out of their grasp. And the grasp of Clinton and McCain as well. His vision and hope for America are universes away from theirs. I'm sure their campaigns are squirming now.
not the best but the first I have found Someone put their camera at the TV
nobody knows the trouble ive seen!
His message is simple...it's real people against the corporatists and their enablers.
It's time to take back the government.
All of you who still claim Obama should abandon his friend and pastor should - right this moment - call your friends and family members that are imperfect and have said controversial things deemed racist, and tell them you are abandoning them. This is what you want Obama to do, so you should do so also.
What, no takers? Methinks YOU are the hypocrite.
Fantastic speech. If it gets played more than once on the networks I will be amazed.
Negativity wins because it gets more airtime. I hope that I am wrong. I hope someone in the media can see the importance of these words and the strength behind them. If not, it will quickly be forgotten.
However, I do hope.
Amazing. I watched it as it streamed live... absolutely incredible.
Left&Left @ 6:
I agree. As for the progressives you're refering to: A progressive is a closet-liberal, or a liberal coward, if you will. A liberal who's been cowed by the neo-con propaganda people that twisted being a "liberal" into being unpatriotic, inferior, naive and something to be ashamed of. Well, it's neither.
Right, praising his radical kook spiritual adviser and comparing him to Ferraro is great.
Unfreaking believable.
I watched the speech with two real flatliner Republicans and they were quite moved by it. Who knows, maybe there is hope.
these comments however articulate, still do not explain how obama could participate in a black racist church for 20 yrs and not recognize its divisive nature. Blacks have had all we could give to attempt to make up for the wrongs they experienced. It is time for them to come into modern society and earn their way. All of the agencies and efforts to help blacks have not been available to other races, and yet they have flourished. Look at the Vietnamese who came here, got an education and excelled. It can be done, and it may even be time to stop programs specially targeted to blacks. Education is available, education is the way to a better life. Obama is too tightly tied to a group who hates whites, how can he lead the nation into coming together and healing? he is a segregationist.
Let me get this right. He's my confidant, minister/confessor, and the man that married me. He's my closest advisor the man I called my moral center. How was I to know he was a sick racist piece of filth? How was I to know that the people he was talking about were a different race?
How could this piece of human excrement record this ?!?
Oh, I roundly reject his remarks and have to say I never personally herd him expound them. I'm shocked and dismayed. I guess I should have listened to what this piece of garbage has been saying this past 20 years. Oh well my bad. Trust me and I will bring America together. Trust my judgement and America will flourish.
Ok, OK, good speech. Make you wanna cry? I don't think so. It's a politician. Come on trolls and regulars. Get your heads out of your butts. If a political speech "brings you to tears" you are a wingnut, pure and simple. Good speech? Yes. But that's it. He isn't the second coming of the Holy Ghost's Mother-In-Law or anything like that. He's a politician. He gave a political speech. That's it. Control yerselves. You sound childish.
Comment # 406
You know for well over a month now it has been said over and over and over that the plege was not....I repeat not being said...when Barack is shown with his hands at his side. The National Anthum was being played. What do you read...what do you listen to...goodness me
The media has taken 4 statements of Wrights and reduced his career to those. Give me a break!
I think he did a fine job of damage control. However, I do not for one second believe that he hasn't heard his pastor speak this way at all over 20 years. This pastor is part of the reason that the racial divide still exists in our country.
I cringed at hearing Wright use the Lord's name in vain from his pulpit!
The most frightening part of all of this to me is that Senator Obama is raising his children in a church where this pastor's statements are part of a church service!
Be afraid, be very afraid.
BETH @ 396 PLEASE ALL FAIR MINDED PEOPLE READ BETH@369.....she speaks well and honestly and does not bash Obama, but asks some tough questions. thanks
abob @ 46:
how come you haven't distanced yourself from your loved ones, especially the ones that have completely different views of the world and politics and philosophy? or your high school friends, or your pastor that baptised you, your college friends? not everybody is an anihilist xenophobe...
Also, that is nothing compared to the atrocious lines of thinking of most politician in power that has presided for the last 30 odd years. So please, quit repeating what you hear on TV and think for yourself. You have been warned.
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