Reflections On Obama's Speech

If you're watching this speech in the suburbs of Philadelphia and are an undecided voter... please let me know what you thought.

For a biracial candidate living at the cusp of a postmodern era, Barack Obama's identity has been remarkably coherent and well-contained. Rev. Jeremiah Wright's discordant rhetoric poses the first real existential threat to the "Barack Obama" who has captured the hearts and minds of so many Democratic voters -- and, perhaps more importantly, piqued the curious admiration of non-Democrats.

In his speech today, instead of casting Wright out, throwing him overboard, trying to write him off, Obama did the opposite: he incorporated Wright into Barack Obama, LLC. Wright's evolution becomes part of America's evolution, which is part of Obama's story.

In no uncertain terms did Obama renounce -- morally condemn -- the hateful, anti-Semitic, anti-American and just plain bizarre rants of his pastor -- "former pastor," as Obama now calls him. But he did not reject him. He refused to reject him. He is daring, in essence, his white liberal supporters to accept what Wright's anger represents -- a legacy of oppression -- and daring the rest of white supporters to take a leap of faith him... and asking them to expand their minds a bit and see that Wright is preaching in a tradition that has a context that is directly related to the material and spiritual conditions of all Americans.

The sell will be easier for white liberals, I think. The speech was magnificently written. It was internally consistent with Obama apparently believes.

How it plays will determine how it plays. If the media focuses more on the Wright defense-by-renouncements and then juxtaposes them with clips of Wright's comments, then I think the trouble remains. The seeds of doubt about who this guy really is may be nourished. I know that Obama believes that a discussion about race plays to his benefit, no matter what people think about white working class voters and their latent feelings. Perhaps this is the beginning of his opportunity to lift the veil and get everyone -- not just himself and the media -- to talk openly.

Problem is... so far, this is a one way conversation. It's ... well, the tiny media scrum debating Rev. Wright... and Obama preaching to the country. There's no give. There's go back and forth. A one way conversation is a lecture.

CW tells us that white voters tend to become nervous when Democrats and liberals lecture to them -- even when they lecture eloquently and respectfully -- about race. Will they, this time? What do you think?

Comments

I'm sorry, what were Wright's anti-semitic statements? Can you provide a link or a citation, Marc?

Posted by Alex F | March 18, 2008 11:35 AM

I think that if Obama really believed any of what he said he would never have launched the racial attacks against the Clintons and he would have fired Jesse Jackson Jr.

Obama is all talk. He is the most cynical manipulator of peoples hopes and desires that I have ever seen in my life.

Posted by ken | March 18, 2008 11:36 AM

I think that if Obama really believed any of what he said he would never have launched the racial attacks against the Clintons and he would have fired Jesse Jackson Jr.

Obama is all talk. He is the most cynical manipulator of peoples hopes and desires that I have ever seen in my life.

Posted by ken | March 18, 2008 11:36 AM

I think that Ken is a troll. What do you think?

Posted by Steve LaBonne | March 18, 2008 11:38 AM

Actually the suburbs are where the people with college degrees live; you need to ask what people living in Scranton or white ethnic enclaves of Philly proper thought.

Posted by Nicholas Beaudrot | March 18, 2008 11:38 AM

I for one believe that it was an excellent speech, well written and well delivered, and (as Marc here just said) entirely consistent with Obama's beliefs about race, religion, and this great nation.

As for the media, they have a choice here: will they continue to focus of sideshows and distractions, or will they take the opportunity provided by Obama to engage in a more profound discussion of race in this country? The choice is entirely theirs (and yours, Marc) to make.

Posted by DaveWoo | March 18, 2008 11:38 AM

Still not sure what this will do. Wright's comments are still out there - as well as the fact that Obama stood by his pastor for twenty years. The common voter won't be impacted by this.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by matt | March 18, 2008 11:39 AM

I'm all for staying above the fray but I dont think this does it.

This just creates an impasse.

Posted by Kim | March 18, 2008 11:40 AM

Interestingly enough, most people at the Corner who had gotten themselves in a frenzy over Wright seem to begrudgingly acknowledge it was a good speech.
For all it is worth ...
They certainly will keep on trying to make the details of the Wright connection stick but I think they will have more trouble arguing this says anything about Obama's views on race

Posted by Benjamin | March 18, 2008 11:40 AM

America's Original Sin of Slavery?

Obama is now toast. Bring out the Thomas English Muffins.

Posted by Robert | March 18, 2008 11:41 AM

What Nicholas said.

Posted by Kim | March 18, 2008 11:42 AM

DaveWoo:
The TradMed can start by focusing on McCain's idiocy as shown by Marc's fellow Atlantic blogger, Big Media Matt Yglesias. It can also focus on real issues. Iraq. The Economy. Stuff like that.

Posted by Joe Klein's conscience | March 18, 2008 11:43 AM

Let's look at this in historical context.

Republicans become very respectable people. Think of what His Majesty's government must have though of these secessionists who had the audacity to create their own country --- the United States.

Similarly, terrorists become very respectable too. Look at Menachim Begin --- who bombed the King David Hotel.

By not denying the history, OBammBamm gives us a perspective, and a better way to go beyond it.

Would you rather have the entire history suppressed? Discussions off limits?

Some places use that method. Try having a discussion about Japanese war crimes and guilt in Japan.

I am more comfortable that he has acknowledged the past, and reminded us that we have now moved beyond it.

Posted by D | March 18, 2008 11:43 AM

yeah, Obama is toast. slavery was awesome!!!

Posted by the bipolar bear | March 18, 2008 11:44 AM

It was the most honest assessment of race relations I've ever heard - and yes, Ken is a troll.

Posted by Brian | March 18, 2008 11:44 AM

Jeremiah Wright's anti-semitic remarks.

And the hits keep coming.

http://minx.cc/?post=257959

Posted by Mitch | March 18, 2008 11:44 AM

Perhaps one of the greatest speeches I have heard on any topic. Once again, Obama assumes that the American people are smart. Once again he calls us to act on principles. And once again, he is calm, compassionate, measured, and fair. He does not rise to fear. This is as good a leader as we have ever had or can hope to have. As for the two-way conversation on race, religion, etc., that's the one the American people have to have. Obama is not afraid of it.

P

Posted by PBurns | March 18, 2008 11:44 AM

That was the most amazing speech i have ever heard in my life!!!!

Posted by Ronald | March 18, 2008 11:45 AM

Steve: Yup.

I see the conundrum of lecturing on race but not a way out of it. People can juxtapose Obama's words with the rest of what they're hearing--the constant loops of Wright are their own lecturing on race, after all, from another direction. Hopefully (and I see signs of it) most people are tired of this by now and hope someone can produce a fix for the economy.

Posted by Deborah | March 18, 2008 11:47 AM

I think he hit it out of the park. He didn't just state that blacks have a right to be angry and try to pass it off like that, he mentioned how whites have a right to be upset with the state of race issues as well and he framed both sides of the issue. He truly understands this issue, more than probably any politician in America today. As far as how it affects the electorate? Only time can tell, but it surely didn't make matters any worse and I think it could help a great deal.

Posted by Steve | March 18, 2008 11:48 AM

Best part - Obama's acknowledgement of white resentment

So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they’re told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.

He's the only one who can do a Nixon-to-China on affirmative action. If it's successful - if he can convince blacks and white liberals that discrimination is discrimation, even if its in "reverse" - there's your next president.

Posted by John Q. Public | March 18, 2008 11:49 AM

This is the best speech on race that I have seen in my lifetime (27 years). It's daring, it asks us to go where most of us don't want to go--understanding why we might be, just a bit, racist and how we might be able to move, ever so slowly, towards something better. Unlike Mitt Romney who gave us platitudes about Mormonism (and only mentioned being Mormon once)--Senator Obama dealt with the race question, and that or Reverend Wright, head on. Like a real leader. The main question I still have is whether the whole of America is ready for such a leader. I know that I am.

Posted by Kishore | March 18, 2008 11:49 AM

What gives Barack Obama to lecture us on racism and hatred? Obama chose to join an Afro-Centric Church where his own mother would feel unwelcome.

And Obama put his blinders on and said nothing about Jeremiah Wright's evils until ABC News and Fox got their hands on the videotapes!

See No Evil should be Obama's new campaign slogan.

Posted by Mitch | March 18, 2008 11:50 AM

I agree vehemently and enthusiasitcally with Mr.LaBonne.

Posted by LBA | March 18, 2008 11:51 AM

I agree vehemently and enthusiasitcally with Mr.LaBonne.

Posted by LBA | March 18, 2008 11:51 AM

I think it fell flat. As the parade of African American pastors on the networks this morning have indicated, Wright's sermons lie outside the mainstream of many black churches around the country. Rather than trying to fit a discussion of Wright's comments into the context of "the African American Church," he would have been better to castigate Wright and take him on for the anti-American idealogy, which is the bigger issue here. The anti-American issue feeds directly into the Republican email campaign and the general anti-Democrat fear campaigns for the last 40 years. This speech did nothing to put that to rest, or answer the underlying questions about his candidacy that that feeds, and if he's the nominee, that issue will come back with a vengeance. I think it's likely that this issue will remain and will be a killer in the general election.

Posted by CharlieV | March 18, 2008 11:51 AM

Duh. We all know what the speech is going to be hailed as. "It's the turning point in the campaign." That's a self-fulfilling prophecy that the press has been collectively making for the past 24 hours.

It is, in fact, the best speech given by any politican this cycle, but even if it were just pretty good, it would have exceeded expectations. It's a speech by Barack Obama. he writes and delivers great speeches. What was he going to do, write and deliver a Hillary Clinton speech, or a John McCain speech? The media couldn't have possibly done Obama a bigger favor by hyping this speech up. Now, they get to tell us how they just KNEW it was going to be a great, important speech. They literally told Obama the kind of speech he had to give, and he gave it. And now they're pleased. This stuff isn't rocket science.

Jeez. You'd think the commenters here would be a little more savvy to the cycles of the press narrative by this point in the campaign.

Posted by Joe Drymala | March 18, 2008 11:53 AM

I think Obama was talking about political journalists as yourself who have an obsession with what divides us than the common challenges we face.

Marc, you sound a ton like Pat Buchanan on MSNBC right now...you have this grudging respect for the speech, but seem to hope that the country is too racist to take Obama's path.

The mistake of Rev. Wright and Marc Ambinder: that America is static.

Posted by RKA | March 18, 2008 11:54 AM

I think Obama is an exceptional candidate, but this "lecturing", reminding us of America's "sins" are not going to fly with Regan Democrats in OH, WV and PA.

If Democrats embrace him, McCain is our President, if they abandon him, blacks create a revolt. Welcome to Democratic Party Revolution!

I talked to some of the uncommitted Democrats in PA, living in Lehigh Valley and many of them fail to understand the continued affection of Wright from Obama; they are really turned off by that. Per my personal count, 5 Obama leaning supporters are now Clinton or McCain supporters now. 1 stuck with him (college student) and 3 were still lukewarm.

Posted by American | March 18, 2008 11:55 AM

I'm going to have to second Alex's comment: I haven't heard Rev. Wright say any anti-Semitic comments. The clip Mitch helpfully provides is controversial, admittedly, but anti-Jew? Hardly.

If Marc wants to follow the AIPAC line that any comment suggesting the Israel-Palestinian issue is in any way connected to 9/11 or any other extremist terrorism is anti-Semitic, that's fine. But he shouldn't make mischaracterizations about Wright's language or contribute to the false thinking that Blacks are anti-Semitic.

Posted by Steve W. | March 18, 2008 11:55 AM

The great irony regarding this Wright flap is that Obama makes so many of us proud to be Americans again. This speech is Exhibit A.

How will it play, you ask? The opposition architecture is already built, so in a way it's a silly question. It'll play along predictable lines (just watch your comments section). But that doesn't mean that the Obama campaign - win or lose - will not become part of the quest for racial harmony in the history books. Consequently, this speech was not only significant, it was historic.

Posted by nepat | March 18, 2008 11:55 AM

I've been the proverbial spook that sat by the door my entire career, watching those who didn't deserve it get the promotions because of their ethnicity, while I did the real work.. This speech may not win the election, but it is something I've been waiting my entire life to hear someone speak about.

You can spin it how you want, but the truth is hard to fight.

Preach on my brother, preach on!

Posted by Alvin | March 18, 2008 11:55 AM

I think Obama is an exceptional candidate, but this "lecturing", reminding us of America's "sins" are not going to fly with Regan Democrats in OH, WV and PA.

If Democrats embrace him, McCain is our President, if they abandon him, blacks create a revolt. Welcome to Democratic Party Revolution!

I talked to some of the uncommitted Democrats in PA, living in Lehigh Valley and many of them fail to understand the continued affection of Wright from Obama; they are really turned off by that. Per my personal count, 5 Obama leaning supporters are now Clinton or McCain supporters now. 1 stuck with him (college student) and 3 were still lukewarm.

Posted by American | March 18, 2008 11:55 AM

The problem for someone like me - white, independent, undecided, familiar with Wright's more bizarre comments - is that I don't see how this speech moves the ball forward. What is there in this speech that we didn't already know yesterday?

There also seems to be an admission that Obama was indeed in the audience when Wright made some incendiary remarks. If that is the case, why did Obama not state this on Friday? Instead he parsed his words very carefully.

This battle can't be won by claiming there is truth to what Wright has said - I think Marc is acknowledging that. White middle America is not going to vote for someone who attends a church founded by an influential black liberationist.

The new pastor has not rejected Wright's incendiary sermons, and Obama still goes to the church. That's really the problem - it's not a question of whether we can all 'transcend' race. White America would be more inclined to elect an atheist. Unfortunately.

Posted by sbj | March 18, 2008 11:55 AM

An excellent speech, as one would have expected. If one reads it rather than watches it, of course, the emotional impact is muted -- perhaps a reason why those of us who watch no television remain somewhat immune to Senator Obama. Interestingly, he now acknowledges that he heard some controversial statements from the pews of Trinity UCC, and that he knew Wright was a sometimes overly fierce critic of the U.S. The devil is in the details, Marc. He seems to be contradicting his prior statement on HuffPo -- or perhaps in that statement he was restricting himself, in a legalistic way, to the statements Wright made in the clips all over YouTube. Either way, he is not being entirely forthright, choosing instead to incorporate Wright into Barack Obama, LLC, as Marc puts it -- and indicting his white grandmother for racism at the same time. She must love that.

In the end, I tend to go with Shelby Steele's insightful analysis of Senator Obama and his success: "Mr. Obama's run at the presidency is based more on the manipulation of white guilt than on substance." Senator Obama is superbly able to play on emotion, among whites and blacks alike. Again there is some immunity, this time among Latinos and Asians who are left out of the black-white crucible. This speech does not convince me; as Marc says, it is Obama's core supporters who will be most convinced, and I'm sure they will continue to rise to his defense. The essential problems remain: judgment and "post-racial" unity are Obama's main selling points, and the long, intimate association with Wright challenges both. In the end, we are all better served -- particularly Andrew Sullivan, who seems to project onto Senator Obama in a remarkably transparent fashion -- by looking at how our own narcissistic needs are met when Obama shines his incredibly bright light upon us and makes us feel like the center of the universe (or at least like the center of a movement). Much is made of the Clintons' narcissism, but in a clinical sense only Bill Clinton is a narcissist. Senator Clinton is made of rather different stuff. But Senator Obama, on the other hand, is a classic narcissist. No one else can make you feel quite so special and important. This speech simply plays on that psychological truth in a masterful way.

Posted by ezr | March 18, 2008 11:56 AM

For me, hearing this speech is one of those moments I'll cherish to my grave. I sat in my car in a parking lot on the edge of Lake Michigan. The weather is foggy.

Marc, you essentially make the case that choristers like me don't need preaching to. Maybe, and I can't speak for the demographic you're curious about. But I disagree. There are those few who need to be the salt, the leaven. To use a militaristic analogy that's dissonant with Obama's rhetoric, to be the tip of the spear. The Wright affair had the possibility to take the fight out of us. Not this time.

Also, recall that this is shifting to a superdelegate fight. Polls be damned, Obama beats Clinton in pledged delegates. You can be sure that the party elders heard this speech, and see a man who can rise from a firestorm that would engulf any other candidate.

Posted by Tungsten | March 18, 2008 11:56 AM

Once again, Obama calls on us to acknowledge the better angels of our nature. Part of healing is speaking the truth -- and it is about time that American start to have a real dialogue about our past. And yes -- slavery was this nation's original sin - how can it not be? Even many of the founders felt this, but compromised on the issue for another 80 or so years to hold the union together.

America has a choice now - the same choice I think that the Obama campaign has called on us to make since the beginning. To rise to the challenge to embrace a more united, positive future, or to continue in the squabbling and divisive finger pointing that will only leave us with a trashed environment, a trashed geopolitical situation, a trashed economy. We cannot afford that given the real crises we face. For me, Obama's candidacy has never been about race (but then I'm a white female Gen Xer). It's been about possibility and healing the red/blue divide. But of course -- there is a much greater rift that divides us -- that everyone is afraid to talk about. And perhaps his candidacy will launch this dialogue. The media (bloggers included) can rise to the challenge and keep the discussion productive. It is their choice. And it is our choice in how we interact with those we encounter daily - our friends who support another candidate, or don't see eye to eye with us. Can we be courteous, positive, hear them out, acknowledge their viewpoint while speaking constructively of our own. In short, can we outgrow this collective national adolescence and act like true adults in a democracy?

Posted by EFWalsh | March 18, 2008 11:56 AM

Sorry for the length - got carried away.

Marc - you say: "Problem is... so far, this is a one way conversation. It's ... well, the tiny media scrum debating Rev. Wright... and Obama preaching to the country. There's no give. There's go back and forth. A one way conversation is a lecture."

"the tiny media scrum debating Rev. Wright"? Is that what the media is doing Marc? A debate, to me, implies rational thought, arguments and counterarguments, intellectual honesty even. What I see are edited clips, lacking nuance and any semblance of context. What I see are white pundits pontificating on the deeper meaning of race in America (obviously their strength), conservative pundits pontificating on the impact this will undoubtedly have on the voter (obviously their strength) and a surfeit of mainstream, sanitized Beltway pundits, offering cliches and soundbites.

Marc - you describe two roads running in parallel, going nowhere - Obama "lecturing" the voter and the media holding a "debate" about race. But I see a more complex back and forth with many layers that excludes the media. Conversations around dinner tables, at work and school. Debates between uncommitted voters and Hillary supporters and Barack supporters. It is dialogue between the candidates and their staff, and the power brokers. It happens on this blog, in the comments section, and in thousands of other blogs.

The media, opining endlessly and in uniformed circles, has been removed from this equation. It offers nothing that the voter cannot find more completely online, or amongst friends. As our mainstream media continues its slow swirl down the drain into oblivion, this is but one more example of its uselessness and unhelpfulness. It could add a welcome voice to this debate...but instead it chooses to edit clips, invite pundits and debate about whether or not this will sway superdelegates.

Barack tried the media way last week - going on all the shows, giving lengthy print interviews. His answers were thoughtful and cogent. The media ignored all of these efforts and continued the same tired one-way monologue. In this speech, Barack has chosen to try and cut the media out of the equation - and speak directly to the voter, knowing his speech will be posted on youtube and watched by millions. Punditry and editing excised.

Posted by Steve Jones | March 18, 2008 11:57 AM

Phenomenal speech -- home run. I hope we deserve this guy and I'll walk on nails to help get him elected.

Posted by cb | March 18, 2008 11:57 AM

Fundamentally, IMO we may at some point, even Nov 2008, elect an African American president, but we wont ever elect a Black president.

Posted by Kim | March 18, 2008 11:57 AM

Joe may have written the next Colbert report: Obama will give a Clinton speech, Clinton will give a McCain speech, and McCain will give an Obama speech. Among the demographic who follow political blogs, people would pay money to see this.

No PA readers in here?

Posted by Deborah | March 18, 2008 11:57 AM

Sorry for the length - got carried away.

Marc - you say: "Problem is... so far, this is a one way conversation. It's ... well, the tiny media scrum debating Rev. Wright... and Obama preaching to the country. There's no give. There's go back and forth. A one way conversation is a lecture."

"the tiny media scrum debating Rev. Wright"? Is that what the media is doing Marc? A debate, to me, implies rational thought, arguments and counterarguments, intellectual honesty even. What I see are edited clips, lacking nuance and any semblance of context. What I see are white pundits pontificating on the deeper meaning of race in America (obviously their strength), conservative pundits pontificating on the impact this will undoubtedly have on the voter (obviously their strength) and a surfeit of mainstream, sanitized Beltway pundits, offering cliches and soundbites.

Marc - you describe two roads running in parallel, going nowhere - Obama "lecturing" the voter and the media holding a "debate" about race. But I see a more complex back and forth with many layers that excludes the media. Conversations around dinner tables, at work and school. Debates between uncommitted voters and Hillary supporters and Barack supporters. It is dialogue between the candidates and their staff, and the power brokers. It happens on this blog, in the comments section, and in thousands of other blogs.

The media, opining endlessly and in uniformed circles, has been removed from this equation. It offers nothing that the voter cannot find more completely online, or amongst friends. As our mainstream media continues its slow swirl down the drain into oblivion, this is but one more example of its uselessness and unhelpfulness. It could add a welcome voice to this debate...but instead it chooses to edit clips, invite pundits and debate about whether or not this will sway superdelegates.

Barack tried the media way last week - going on all the shows, giving lengthy print interviews. His answers were thoughtful and cogent. The media ignored all of these efforts and continued the same tired one-way monologue. In this speech, Barack has chosen to try and cut the media out of the equation - and speak directly to the voter, knowing his speech will be posted on youtube and watched by millions. Punditry and editing excised.

Posted by Steve Jones | March 18, 2008 11:58 AM

Perfect. As I said before and as Obama said today, in order to be a Christain you have to act a Christain. You denounce the sin not the sinner. And I believe his words that he could not denounce the man Wright who is like a father to him any more than he could denounce his Grandmother who probably had some of Geraldine Ferarrors views on race. Obama is all pieces of America, he can not deny the white mother who bore him and the white community that raise him nor can he deny the color of his skin.

Posted by sonya | March 18, 2008 11:58 AM

It was a well-crafted and clever speech. It will play very well with Democratic primary voters and caucus-goers. It will probably persuade more than a few super-delegates. Howvever, it was an egghead speech, written and delivered by an egghead that will succeed wildly with other eggheads. That is the key weakness.

I don't think this will be enough to convince millions of working-class and rural whites. Part of Obama's problem is the contrast between his calm, elequent speech and the visceral anger of Wright's rantings. If people have only read Wright's sermons then this speech would probably be the end of the story. But to see and hear Wright is a different matter. His grandmother may have admitted her fear of black men but she did scream about black violence in front of thousands of other whites on a routine basis.

Also his line about people disagreeing with their pastor will not hit home with Catholics like it does with Protestants. Catholic priests do not 'take the stage' and preach for an hour at a time. They certainly do not scream and gesticulate as does Rev. Wright. Nor are they allowed to express such radical opinions. Most Catholics, unlike Mr. Obama, would not sit in the pews for 20 years. I suspect this controversy and this speech will only deepen his troubles with Catholic voters.

Overall, while this speech may pause the Wright scandal for the duration of the Democratic nominating contest and help assure Obama the nomination (ultimately), it will not be enough for the general election.

Posted by Thomas the Wraith | March 18, 2008 11:58 AM

Sure Obama can give a good speach. No one has ever doubted that.

Now, look at his campaign in relationship to the words he just spoke.

Does he live up to the them? NO

If he did he would have fired Jesse Jackson Jr. long ago.

Posted by ken | March 18, 2008 11:59 AM

Sure Obama can give a good speach. No one has ever doubted that.

Now, look at his campaign in relationship to the words he just spoke.

Does he live up to the them? NO

If he did he would have fired Jesse Jackson Jr. long ago.

Posted by ken | March 18, 2008 12:00 PM

Sure Obama can give a good speach. No one has ever doubted that.

Now, look at his campaign in relationship to the words he just spoke.

Does he live up to the them? NO

If he did he would have fired Jesse Jackson Jr. long ago.

Posted by ken | March 18, 2008 12:00 PM

Post it 3 more times, ken. People still aren't paying attention.

Posted by Joe Drymala | March 18, 2008 12:01 PM

Echoing Alex F, where did Wright make an anti-Semitic statement? Please substantiate this allegation (smear) or delete it.

Posted by Paleo | March 18, 2008 12:02 PM

I think Nicholas is wrong. Philly suburbs matter. These people are college educated, but are not your upscale urban liberals. Many of them vote Republican, particularly in parts of Delaware and Chester counties. This is swing country, and if Obama can't convince them, he loses the state big.

Posted by Naveen | March 18, 2008 12:03 PM

Also - dudes. Come on. The question of how it will play among voters is irrelevant. The target audience wasn't voters. The target audience was the press. The press ginned up these years-old comments and made them into a controversy, and only the press can change the subject.

The voters will follow whatever the press tells them is important. Twas ever thus.

Posted by Joe Drymala | March 18, 2008 12:05 PM

Thomas the Wraith doesn't think this will be enough to convince millions of working-class and rural whites.

Maybe so. That's where Obama's big gamble is - he's treating "working-class and rural whites" as thinking, feeling human beings. He's gambling that, not only is this approach intellectually honest but it's also politically smart. He says that Americans are fundamentally good and capable of change - and he's putting his money where his mouth is.

Posted by John Q. Public | March 18, 2008 12:10 PM

The speech was an excellent blend of themes and issues that orbit around the question of race in this country. Regardless of whether you are an Obama supporter, it would seem that at the very least one would have to give him immense credit for not dodging the bullet, but rather addressing it head on. Of course, in a campaign speech, not all nuances can be addressed and explored, but this speech effectively described the playing field, which, with a good deal of luck, could expand the level of racial discourse in this country.

That said, as many of the folks posting here demonstrate, the urge to dismiss the speech will be strong. The cynics and the mainstream media will engage in ad hominem attacks and cherry picking because it grabs attention.

The headline on CNN directly after the speech is a case in point. Basically, they picked the slavery "taint" on the Constitution comment. Infotainment continues to degrade the level of discourse in this country. Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes to this problem.

Posted by Scott Carlson | March 18, 2008 12:11 PM

The French have a saying: To understand all is to forgive all.

What's different about Obama is that he doesn't come from one side of an argument or represent just one group. No knee-jerk responses. He listens. He understands.

As a result, people don't get 'ginned up', but think. And then they talk. Calmly. With everyone. That's how we get solutions, and that's why we want Obama to be our leader. Because he already is.

Posted by Tom J | March 18, 2008 12:14 PM

quite honestly one of the weakest dishonest
speeches of all time

Posted by bob | March 18, 2008 12:16 PM

quite honestly one of the weakest dishonest
speeches of all time

Posted by bob | March 18, 2008 12:16 PM

SERMON
The Audacity to Hope
Jeremiah Wright
http://tinyurl.com/yp5xqm

READ IT

It's not hard to find audio and transcripts of entire sermons on of Rev Wright the web. I've read and listened to them. They aren't racist, anti-American at all. Sometimes Wright talks about oppression and pain, usually with reference to the history of racism in this country.

Don't base your whole assessment of his preaching on the 45 seconds of clips shown on TV, and some vague sense that there are "hours" more.
I'm telling you now, I'm not seeing those other hours, and I've looked pretty hard. Everything else I've seen or read has been pretty focused on Jesus, and applying the lessons of Jesus to daily life.

Posted by Fred | March 18, 2008 12:17 PM

Excellent speech! About time some one said it out loud! I am Black. I was raised by my grandmother, who was born in 1917. She was a cleaning woman and greatly prejudiced. I listened to her tales of white racism, something I didn't experience and I empathized, but did not endoctrinate her views into mine. I lived in a different time. I went to a predominately white school. I didn't judge people by color like she did! But I understood. A lot of people have adopted the ideology of their parent's time, and can't get passed it. Barack is saying, let's acknowledge people's pain and let's get past it. In another generation or at the most two, a person's color will not be an issue. My granddaughter may have an Asian/American female U.S President and that sure would be nice!

Posted by Shaaronie | March 18, 2008 12:17 PM

I am a 29 white woman who grew up in Idaho, incredibly naive about racial difference and the legacy of racism. After college, I spent 3 years in rural Mississippi teaching at an all black high school in one of the most impoverished parts of the nation.

I have lived and worked on both sides of the racial divide and have learned along the way how complicated issues of race, justice, & economic disparity intersect. I have seen fear, mistrust, and racism in the white community as well as fear, mistrust, & racism in the black community.

Obama presents some of the most honest & difficult truths I have ever heard from a politician with candor, humility, & grace.

He is not a perfect man — but he has enormous insight & wisdom. This was a courageous moment in American politics. I can’t conceive of voting for anyone else. Even if his campaign should somehow fail, I consider myself lucky to have heard this speech today & to be part of the generation that has witnessed & worked for his campaign.

Posted by Elena | March 18, 2008 12:18 PM

I am a 29 white woman who grew up in Idaho, incredibly naive about racial difference and the legacy of racism. After college, I spent 3 years in rural Mississippi teaching at an all black high school in one of the most impoverished parts of the nation.

I have lived and worked on both sides of the racial divide and have learned along the way how complicated issues of race, justice, & economic disparity intersect. I have seen fear, mistrust, and racism in the white community as well as fear, mistrust, & racism in the black community.

Obama presents some of the most honest & difficult truths I have ever heard from a politician with candor, humility, & grace.

He is not a perfect man — but he has enormous insight & wisdom. This was a courageous moment in American politics. I can’t conceive of voting for anyone else. Even if his campaign should somehow fail, I consider myself lucky to have heard this speech today & to be part of the generation that has witnessed & worked for his campaign.

Posted by Elena | March 18, 2008 12:18 PM

The fact is still that Wright is antiamerican. Obama lied yesterday saying he never heard wrights comments. Today he said he had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by jim t | March 18, 2008 12:20 PM

The flaw in Obama’s character and approach might be that, despite his immaculate political astuteness, he does not have the the experience, intellect or the emotional sincerity, and I mean inner core emotional sincerity (not public) needed for the job. His denunciation of Farrakhan and Wright was never real and all expedited in order for him to establish the bar “the firstness” if you will. Suffice to read the recent declarations of NY Lieutenant Governor, David Peterson, and his sincere, mind-boggling declaration of extramarital affairs (of both equally he and his wife) to observe in effect an outright sincere, uncompromising future president of the United States. Obama cannot start to fill Mr. Peterson’s shoes. There the stuff presidents are made of. Ultimately, here what I consider Mr. Obama irrevocable shortcoming. If he wanted to change this nation why he couldn’t change his pastor and church? Why he never confronted his pastor on this issue until it came up in youtube? If this was such an important issue why he did not schedule this speech until the hateful rhetoric of his mentor was exposed? Convenient indeed. Convenient since he now accepts he had witnessed Pastor’s Wright hateful rhetoric.

Posted by Kelvin Alejandro | March 18, 2008 12:20 PM

The fact is still that Wright is antiamerican. Obama lied yesterday saying he never heard wrights comments. Today he said he had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by jim t | March 18, 2008 12:20 PM

The fact is still that Wright is antiamerican. Obama lied yesterday saying he never heard wrights comments. Today he said he had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by jim t | March 18, 2008 12:20 PM

I haven't been able to hear the speech yet, but from your summary it sounds like Obama did everything I hoped and expected he would do. You are right that Obama has been remarkably consistent in his message and in his identity. As I'm already a supporter, this justs reaffirms my support for him. Maybe it won't sway folks who have already made their choice or made up their minds about the Wright affair, but among the undecideds and open-minded I think it will help. As for how the media will cover it, I have no idea, I've given up trying to predict their bipolar behavior. But I don't think the national media narrative has had much of an impact on the actual reality of the race on the ground yet, so I don't know how much I should care.

Posted by former deaniac | March 18, 2008 12:22 PM

As Obama delivered this speech I was struck by the fact that I have never before witnessed a speech of this caliber in my lifetime (I am 50). He has a gift, a gift of understanding, a gift of verbalizing his thoughts, and a gift of bringing people together. I am inspired by his tenacity, encouraged by his strength, and overwhelmed by his brilliance. He has a vision unlike any politician in my lifetime. I will be proud to call him: President.

Posted by LH Texas | March 18, 2008 12:24 PM

As Obama delivered this speech I was struck by the fact that I have never before witnessed a speech of this caliber in my lifetime (I am 50). He has a gift, a gift of understanding, a gift of verbalizing his thoughts, and a gift of bringing people together. I am inspired by his tenacity, encouraged by his strength, and overwhelmed by his brilliance. He has a vision unlike any politician in my lifetime. I will be proud to call him: President.

Posted by LH Texas | March 18, 2008 12:24 PM

This was a very amazing speech. I'm still in awe.
I felt that the entire subject was unapproachable and he showed that it is not.

Posted by Dub | March 18, 2008 12:24 PM

Obama's ability to view both sides of such a sensitive issue as race is what makes him such a transformative politician. His faith that Americans can do the same thing is what makes him such a great leader.

Posted by Roman | March 18, 2008 12:26 PM

Nice try, Barack. Great speech.
But I have started to read the reports of the media and they are already cherry picking parts of the speech out of context. Unfortunately, it will be hard to get the majority of people to read or watch the entire speech, and it will fail to gain it's full impact.

Posted by Bill | March 18, 2008 12:30 PM

When Senator Obama's preacher thundered about racism and injustice Obama suffered smear-by-association. But when Religious Right leader Francis Schaeffer -- denounced America and even called for the violent overthrow of the US government, he was invited to lunch with presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush, Sr.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/obamas-minister-committe_b_91774.html

Posted by Roberta Tracewell | March 18, 2008 12:31 PM

MR. OBAMA IS NOT THE RACIST, KEN THE TROLL IS. KEN LOVES REV. J. WRIGHT TOO, DEEP DOWN WANTS TO BE A MEMBER OF TRINITY

Posted by RICK | March 18, 2008 12:32 PM

MR. OBAMA IS NOT THE RACIST, KEN THE TROLL IS. KEN LOVES REV. J. WRIGHT TOO, DEEP DOWN WANTS TO BE A MEMBER OF TRINITY

Posted by RICK | March 18, 2008 12:33 PM

OBAMA did not make these comments. Rev. Wright did. I would't want to be held accountable for everything my friends and relatives said. I don't throw them away because I don't agree with them. Give the man a break. I'm a 73 year old white woman and Barack Obama is the hope of the future. Don't let your fears and kneejerk reactions blind you to that. I have no doubt that the world will be a better place with Barack Obama in the White House.

God be with you, Mr. Obama.

Posted by Joan | March 18, 2008 12:33 PM

MR. OBAMA IS NOT THE RACIST, KEN THE TROLL IS. KEN LOVES REV. J. WRIGHT TOO, DEEP DOWN WANTS TO BE A MEMBER OF TRINITY

Posted by RICK | March 18, 2008 12:33 PM

One of the best speeches I have ever heard. Gave me chills. This will be the speech that wins him the Presidency. I'm definitely voting for him as a 32 year old white American from Pittsburgh living in Manhattan at the moment.

Posted by wallstreet | March 18, 2008 12:33 PM

I don't think this is good news at all from Obama. The liberals naturally will embrace this because they want this controversy. He's on defense big time. If we think that this is going to help him, I really battle to see this.

Posted by Steve | March 18, 2008 12:35 PM

I am a white, formerly conservative female from the west. My views in general and political views in particular have been evolving over the years. I thought that Obama's speech was briliant and evocative and......true. Within each of us we have our shadow selves. We might think that we harbor no prejudices, but if we delve deep enough, can we honestly admit to ourselves that this is the case? Just like he said. This is not openly discussed in polite conversation. Prejudices have been subtlety simmering under the 'radar' for years, even centuries. I would stand and say that I am not prejudiced, yet, if I am honest, like his grandmother, I have felt fear upon crossing paths with a black man walking alone. My father's ancestors fled France upon persecution from the Catholics in the late 1600's. My grandfather was raised in South Carolina and instilled prejudices against blacks and Catholics in my father. I think that acknowledging that these prejudices exist and are a reality for Black America is a start. The problem has to be brought out into the open and discussed for it to begin to be solved. Like he said, for those who lived in the time of segregation, it is not so easy to forgive and forget. The hope is with the next generation. The elimination of prejudices will not happen overnight, but it has to start somewhere. For that reason, I would vote for Obama in November. I would not cast that same vote for Hillary Clinton.

Posted by Pam | March 18, 2008 12:36 PM

I am a white, formerly conservative female from the west. My views in general and political views in particular have been evolving over the years. I thought that Obama's speech was briliant and evocative and......true. Within each of us we have our shadow selves. We might think that we harbor no prejudices, but if we delve deep enough, can we honestly admit to ourselves that this is the case? Just like he said. This is not openly discussed in polite conversation. Prejudices have been subtlety simmering under the 'radar' for years, even centuries. I would stand and say that I am not prejudiced, yet, if I am honest, like his grandmother, I have felt fear upon crossing paths with a black man walking alone. My father's ancestors fled France upon persecution from the Catholics in the late 1600's. My grandfather was raised in South Carolina and instilled prejudices against blacks and Catholics in my father. I think that acknowledging that these prejudices exist and are a reality for Black America is a start. The problem has to be brought out into the open and discussed for it to begin to be solved. Like he said, for those who lived in the time of segregation, it is not so easy to forgive and forget. The hope is with the next generation. The elimination of prejudices will not happen overnight, but it has to start somewhere. For that reason, I would vote for Obama in November. I would not cast that same vote for Hillary Clinton.

Posted by Pam | March 18, 2008 12:37 PM

Racial prejudice is perpetuated by our politicians and press more so than general population.

Time is slowly healing past and current sins... however, the need to sell a story, or win the favor of a private interest group make this time longer than necessary.

For informational purposes ... slavery is NOT a sin unique to America... in fact it has been practiced throughout time.... it was unconcionable 3,000 years ago, as it was a few hundred years ago.

Posted by Peter Cholakis | March 18, 2008 12:37 PM

Racial prejudice is perpetuated by our politicians and press more so than general population.

Time is slowly healing past and current sins... however, the need to sell a story, or win the favor of a private interest group make this time longer than necessary.

For informational purposes ... slavery is NOT a sin unique to America... in fact it has been practiced throughout time.... it was unconcionable 3,000 years ago, as it was a few hundred years ago.

Posted by Peter Cholakis | March 18, 2008 12:37 PM

Racial prejudice is perpetuated by our politicians and press more so than general population.

Time is slowly healing past and current sins... however, the need to sell a story, or win the favor of a private interest group make this time longer than necessary.

For informational purposes ... slavery is NOT a sin unique to America... in fact it has been practiced throughout time.... it was unconcionable 3,000 years ago, as it was a few hundred years ago.

Posted by Peter Cholakis | March 18, 2008 12:37 PM

Why did Barack Obama have to give this speech about Jeremiah Wright? (No, it was not about racism. It was about saving his campaign).

Because he is a typical politician who realized that his less-than-truthful comments about Wright were threatening to derail his campaign.

Case in point. Last week, Obama steadfastly denied hearing inflammatory comments from Wright in the pews, yet in his speech today he said, "did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes."

Why did Obama wait until last week to dump Wright from his African American Religious Leadership Committee a mere three months after being tapped as a board member?

Because Obama is a typical politician who worried that Wright was damaging his campaign.

Why will Obama lose in November if he even gets the nomination?

Because Americans will not vote for a candidate who portrays himself as an idealistic unifier when - in fact - is just another typical politician.

Posted by john lannert | March 18, 2008 12:38 PM

I am white and 57. My father used the N word a lot. But, I never saw my father ever treat any person of color disrespectflully. I saw his actions speak louder than his words. I too struggle with the unfamiliar, I too struggle with the racism of the past being hammered into me. But I realize it is my struggle and not that any other person is less than me or as such deserves less respect than I want for myself. We are all in one country and need to be on one team to succeed as a nation. Obama is right and many of the rest of us are wrong. Whether he is elected or not, does not tarnish the truth of his message which is simple, "put past devisive issues aside and work for a better and more united future where opportunity is available to all."

Posted by Dean | March 18, 2008 12:39 PM

I am a white, formerly conservative female from the west. My views in general and political views in particular have been evolving over the years. I thought that Obama's speech was briliant and evocative and......true. Within each of us we have our shadow selves. We might think that we harbor no prejudices, but if we delve deep enough, can we honestly admit to ourselves that this is the case? Just like he said. This is not openly discussed in polite conversation. Prejudices have been subtlety simmering under the 'radar' for years, even centuries. I would stand and say that I am not prejudiced, yet, if I am honest, like his grandmother, I have felt fear upon crossing paths with a black man walking alone. My father's ancestors fled France upon persecution from the Catholics in the late 1600's. My grandfather was raised in South Carolina and instilled prejudices against blacks and Catholics in my father. I think that acknowledging that these prejudices exist and are a reality for Black America is a start. The problem has to be brought out into the open and discussed for it to begin to be solved. Like he said, for those who lived in the time of segregation, it is not so easy to forgive and forget. The hope is with the next generation. The elimination of prejudices will not happen overnight, but it has to start somewhere. For that reason, I would vote for Obama in November. I would not cast that same vote for Hillary Clinton.

Posted by Pam | March 18, 2008 12:40 PM

This is how one can use adversity to one's advantage. Brilliantly authentic!

Posted by bil | March 18, 2008 12:40 PM

I am a white, formerly conservative female from the west. My views in general and political views in particular have been evolving over the years. I thought that Obama's speech was briliant and evocative and......true. Within each of us we have our shadow selves. We might think that we harbor no prejudices, but if we delve deep enough, can we honestly admit to ourselves that this is the case? Just like he said. This is not openly discussed in polite conversation. Prejudices have been subtlety simmering under the 'radar' for years, even centuries. I would stand and say that I am not prejudiced, yet, if I am honest, like his grandmother, I have felt fear upon crossing paths with a black man walking alone. My father's ancestors fled France upon persecution from the Catholics in the late 1600's. My grandfather was raised in South Carolina and instilled prejudices against blacks and Catholics in my father. I think that acknowledging that these prejudices exist and are a reality for Black America is a start. The problem has to be brought out into the open and discussed for it to begin to be solved. Like he said, for those who lived in the time of segregation, it is not so easy to forgive and forget. The hope is with the next generation. The elimination of prejudices will not happen overnight, but it has to start somewhere. For that reason, I would vote for Obama in November. I would not cast that same vote for Hillary Clinton.

Posted by Pam | March 18, 2008 12:40 PM

ezr "In the end, I tend to go with Shelby Steele's insightful analysis of Senator Obama and his success: "Mr. Obama's run at the presidency is based more on the manipulation of white guilt than on substance."

That was Ferraro's analysis, too, but intellectuals don't like to claim her for some reason.

You realize how irritating this sentiment is to those who came to Obama's candidacy from opposition to the Iraq War? Who looked for someone with a foreign policy that focused back on Al Qaeda and Afghanistan, and stopped shifting the goal posts of victory in the war on terror all over Iraq? Who looked for someone with a domestic agenda we could get behind, and a record of accomplishing legistlative goals?

"Oh no," you smirk. "If he is black, and you are white, you must be supporting him because he has manipulated your white guilt." You sound exactly like the feminists who ask "Why are women voting for Obama? Can it be because they think he's the better candidate? Obviously not, since he's not the candidate I chose. No, those poor misguided women...."

Posted by Deborah | March 18, 2008 12:42 PM

No he didn't say that he had never heard the comments that were playing throughout the media. Today he said that he had heard other controversial comments. I too have heard comments made by my pastor and I didn't up and change churches because of it. I think the speech was one of the best speeches I have ever heard and it definitely addresses the feelings of black and white Americans. There are many older Blacks who feel the same way Rev Wright does mostly because of social injustices that they fought against and equal rights-that were promised to all in the Constitution but denied to Blacks. It happens today but we ignore it and hope that it will go away
OBAMA 2008

Posted by tashab | March 18, 2008 12:42 PM

As an independent, older, white, female...Obama's speech brought tears to my eyes. I was moved.
I hope our schools showed this speech in the class rooms, for our children to discuss. I hope the discussion is brought home to the kitchen table, the water cooler at the office. I hope this discussion continues within ourselves in front of our own mirrors.

Posted by lee from Treasure Island Fl | March 18, 2008 12:42 PM

I'm saddend by that fact that ultra-liberalizm is overwhelming our country.
Obama has the main stream media in the palm of his hand.
He frightens me.

Posted by Charles Tatje | March 18, 2008 12:43 PM

I'm saddend by the fact that ultra-liberalizm is overwhelming our country.
Obama has the main stream media in the palm of his hand.
He frightens me.

Posted by Charles Tatje | March 18, 2008 12:44 PM

Obama's speech on race was eloquent as well as manipulative.

Wright was his pastor for 20 yrs, like an uncle, his mentor, spiritual guide, and campaign adviser. Those have much to say about the degree of influence Wright must have on him and the extent that Obama must have assimilated Wright. 20 yrs is a long time of molding. This makes me recall and wonder on Michelle's candid statement "... the first time in my life I am proud of America."

It is convenient to be proud of America when your husband's candidacy is at stake. It is convenient to disown Wright's words and behavior when Obama's candidacy is threatened. For all we know, the speech was more tactical than genuine and even guided by Wright himself.

Everything in the speech was good for the hearing but it was suspect nonetheless because Obama went into the campaign knowing Wright full well - Wright's bitterness and hurt. Yet he took him in as guide and adviser in a campaign that was suppose to be about unity. Obama's words simply do not match his judgment and his behavior. Yet, how savy Obama can be about all the contradictions.

Posted by MG1220 | March 18, 2008 12:45 PM

Now I understand speech is more important than action.

Obama is really good at talking gold out of trash.

American people is so easy to be fooled.

Posted by Speechless | March 18, 2008 12:47 PM

I was born and raised in Philly. I am 27 years old and black. Obama is a manipulative speaker. America is falling for it. He is a good talker and that is it. I have NO CONFIDENCE in this man at all. My vote, in all honesty, is for Hillary, who clearly more qualified to lead our country. Just because Obama is great at giving inspirational speeches doesn't mean he'll make a good president.

Posted by Jamal | March 18, 2008 12:47 PM

This is the Whole Truth, delivered from the heart. We've never gotten this much Truth all at once from anyone since -- well, maybe since Lincoln (that's right, he's not Kennedyesque, he's Lincolnesque). I'm not altogether sure now that this country deserves Barack Obama.

Posted by Mick | March 18, 2008 12:52 PM

I fail to see how Obamas connection to hate preaching, racist pastors is a positive. As a white male I am deeply offended by not only the beliefs of Rev. Wright, Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al but that so many support Racist like them.
The above mentioned people do nothing but line there wallets at the expense of the emotions and lives of the people they claim to represent. If racial equality was really what they wanted they would condemn all acts of racism, not just White peoples acts of racism!
The fact that Obama associates himself with these types of hate mongerers makes me question his morals and integrity.
I could really care less "what" our next President is. Just give me someone who will fix the economy, reduce government, favor "individual" liberties, and get our foreign policy in check.

Posted by inPA | March 18, 2008 12:52 PM

In the end, it's up to us. Will we heed Obama's words and move the conversation forward or will we stay stuck in the downward spin cycle of cultural and religious mis-understanding?

For what it's worth, I am an Orthodox Jew and while I find offensive the notion that 9/11 was in some way caused by America's support for Israel I do not by any means consider it Antisemitic.

Lets not demonize anyone. Rev. Wright, while incendiary, mis-guided and at times perhaps irresponsible in his choice of words, is overall a good and admirable religious leader who has made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of people without stooping to Antisemitism, racial hatred or bigotry.

It isn't even a case of "Is the glass half empty or half full." It's a case of "Is the glass 1% empty or 99% full?" The question answers itself.

Barack Obama's acknowledgment of his former pastor's flaws and his explanation of their relationship is exactly what our country needs to rise above the "zero-sum debate" that generally characterizes the pundit commentary in this country.

Will we as a country rise to the occasion and embrace that dialog? Well, that's a choice each and every one of us will have to make; journalists, campaign directors, candidates and every-day Americans.

Change starts with you and me.

Posted by Gavriel Meir-Levi | March 18, 2008 12:53 PM

What a fascinating litmus test this speech is.

It seems that the more powerful an Obama speech is, the more likely it is that a certain type of person will think he's A Big Black Faker.

Posted by Joe Drymala | March 18, 2008 12:54 PM

Obama home run!

That was a great speech.

Cynical, self righteous America does not deserve such a leader. The hope Obama offers you, is a pearl before the Republican swine.

If it werent for the fact that what your country screws up, affects the rest of us on this planet, I'd wish the pox of a Clinton or McCain presidency on you.

PS - I live in the United Kingdom

PSPS Our universal health care system DOES work, just as it works in many other highly developed countries, nobody is turned away, and it isnt part of an 'evil anti american' socialist agenda.

You Americans shoot each other every week more than all who perished in 9/11, and then dont have the good sense to make sure you can all have free healthcare at a hospital (and the cheek of it is that you want to spread this 'democracy' to the rest of us 'ignorant' and less blessed non-americans).

One last dig at McCain aka Bush policy; If universal healthcare will bankrupt your already bankrupt (economically and morally) country, then what do you call "universal", government run Fire and ambulance service, government funded and run schools, and Police? All of these are 'universal', are they not? Are Fire/Police/schools 'ruining' your country?

Stop suing each other for everything. Put down that twinkie. Switch off that TV. Put away that gun and that porn. Stop exporting all that stuff to us too. And stop making the rest of the world pay for your oil greed.

Of coarse, I could go on. But you get the gist.
Ignorant, greedy and selfish Republicans think that the US will 'admit defeat' and lose all they hold dear, if they leave Iraq? Ever heard of a little episode called Vietnam?

May God save the rest of us from you.

Posted by D Stephen | March 18, 2008 12:58 PM

Your grandmother is a part of you. Your racist white-hating, anti-semitic, homophobic 'pastor' is not....! So glad that we now get to see Obama'a true colors [pun intended]. There is absolutely no way that we can seriously be expected to believe Obama's statement re the Wright affair… That he wasn't aware of the sick, incendiary and divisive views of his pastor. That is a slap in the face of every voter directly from Obama himself. Obama attended his church for 20 years; was married by him; children baptised; involved him in his campaign and so much more... Obama knew the views of this 'pastor' and denying this fact only makes it clear that Obama is NOT the person he wants you to believe he is. For a campaign being run on judgement and not on experience... Obama is clearly showing that he is NOT the right person to be the next President of these United States. OBAMA = WORLD CLASS LIAR; A VOTE FOR OBAMA = WORLD CLASS FOOL

Posted by Robert Barker | March 18, 2008 12:59 PM

John Lannert,

While I realize the bar is very low as far as politicians go. There is nothing typical about Obama. Did you even listen to the speach? Did you hear nothing of what he said.

Is he perfect? No. Does he struggle sometimes with what he should tell the press. Yes. Who wouldn't judging on how they cut and paste. He never said he wasn't there. He said in person he had not heard the particular sermons in question which continue to be spewed over and over and over and over and over again.

Ask yourself this question. "Am I so cyinical that I have no hope...for something better?" If you are looking for an angel to lead us then you will keep looking. If you are looking for a leader (and every good one is flawed) to lead us then don't give up. Is this not what you want to teach your children?

Hang in there.

Posted by David | March 18, 2008 1:00 PM

John Lannert,

While I realize the bar is very low as far as politicians go. There is nothing typical about Obama. Did you even listen to the speach? Did you hear nothing of what he said.

Is he perfect? No. Does he struggle sometimes with what he should tell the press. Yes. Who wouldn't judging on how they cut and paste. He never said he wasn't there. He said in person he had not heard the particular sermons in question which continue to be spewed over and over and over and over and over again.

Ask yourself this question. "Am I so cyinical that I have no hope...for something better?" If you are looking for an angel to lead us then you will keep looking. If you are looking for a leader (and every good one is flawed) to lead us then don't give up. Is this not what you want to teach your children?

Hang in there.

Posted by David | March 18, 2008 1:01 PM

I liked the fact that he seemed like he just said f it I am who I am, my friends are who they are and I'm not going to turn my back on someone that I have know for 20+ years because of statements they have made. He seemed genuine and was speaking from the heart. Brilliant we need someone like this that doesn't beat around the bush and addresses issues head on.

Posted by wallstreet | March 18, 2008 1:02 PM

Obama home run!

That was a great speech.

Cynical, self righteous America does not deserve such a leader. The hope Obama offers you, is a pearl before the Republican swine.

If it werent for the fact that what your country screws up, affects the rest of us on this planet, I'd wish the pox of a Clinton or McCain presidency on you.

PS - I live in the United Kingdom

PSPS Our universal health care system DOES work, just as it works in many other highly developed countries, nobody is turned away, and it isnt part of an 'evil anti american' socialist agenda.

You Americans shoot each other every week more than all who perished in 9/11, and then dont have the good sense to make sure you can all have free healthcare at a hospital (and the cheek of it is that you want to spread this 'democracy' to the rest of us 'ignorant' and less blessed non-americans).

One last dig at McCain aka Bush policy; If universal healthcare will bankrupt your already bankrupt (economically and morally) country, then what do you call "universal", government run Fire and ambulance service, government funded and run schools, and Police? All of these are 'universal', are they not? Are Fire/Police/schools 'ruining' your country?

Stop suing each other for everything. Put down that twinkie. Switch off that TV. Put away that gun and that porn. Stop exporting all that stuff to us too. And stop making the rest of the world pay for your oil greed.

Of coarse, I could go on. But you get the gist.
Ignorant, greedy and selfish Republicans think that the US will 'admit defeat' and lose all they hold dear, if they leave Iraq? Ever heard of a little episode called Vietnam?

By the way, racist, sexist America, the rest of us have had 'black' or 'female' presidents and prime ministers for ages. It is not the 'big risk' that some Americans would have you think.

And one last dig at you racists but dont even know it; When did black man + white woman = black baby? or white woman + black man = black baby?

May God save the rest of us from you and your ignorance / greed!

Posted by D Stephen | March 18, 2008 1:03 PM

This was Obama's "House Divided" speech, and it was brilliant.

Posted by ARA | March 18, 2008 1:03 PM

Firstly, I have to say that there is no other like Obama. Absolutely none.

To sum up Senator Obama's speech today,

What he is offerring is not for the naive, nor the fainted-hearted, its not for the uncourageous, nor the unchanging.
What he is offering is for the courageous, for those who have the heart to move beyond just dreams, and into realms never experienced in American history.
What he is offerring is beyond hope, hope is just a starting point, like the intimate binding of struggle between his example of the young white girl and the old black man.
What he is offerring is for those who look to the next generation, believing that perfection is not in the eyes of the beholder, but reality which we can't avoid
What he is offerring is a solution for opportunities for more solutions to tackle root issues that have paralyzed a nation fit for perfection
What he is offerring is the antisynthesis to an ideology of hate and a philosophy of inferiority
What he is offerring is an agreement between struggles and a covenant for perfection, in that nothing is impossible if one begins with hope and the assurance of faith
What he is offerring is a contract between the old and the young, black and white, citizens and immigrants, rich and poor, priviledged and the impoverished
What he is offerring is beyond what we think could happen, it is what will happen someday, though the opportunity is one that we can grasp
What he is offerring is enough to make a young man like myself, from distant shores, from a place unlike America, have hope for where I'm from, from righ here in America
What he is offerring cannot be exploited by no one, cannot be politically manipulated by any pundit, cannot be impoverished by any economic struggle, it prevails above all else

I am ready for what he is offering, though I also understand that this time, fate might not be ready, though if indeed our generation's destiny, if indeed this time when we speak of such taboo truths, is indeed the time we've so longed for, to move one step closer towards perfection, then I am ready for what he is offering.

That is all that matters, no matter what the political outcome is, he has tapped into a force greater than what we have ever faced, he speaks directly to our hearts, bypassing our conscience and connecting with the root of our psyche. So that even if we try to hold hard to that which continue to divide us, because of our fear, our ignorance, and our childish philosophies of unchanging solutions; his message transcends our reach.

So on behalf of Senator Obama's message, who is truly the epitome of a dream that can only be dreamt by the likes of Martin Luther King Jr., I am truly inspired that hope, change, and perfection are all means and ends which one day, we will achieve, within this nation and the world at-large.

So I hope you got the message, a very clear, simple yet complex, straightforward yet deep understanding of what we need to do to go to where we need to go.

If you feel inspired like I do, don't hide, express it and let it shine as the gem that it is, immune from our own worst enemies, each other.

God Bless.

Posted by Akindele | March 18, 2008 1:07 PM

As a college educated black woman in the Philly burbs, I have been disputing Obama's honesty on this issue for days now, within my own family. I grew up in a black church in Philly, and never heard a pastor speak that way. With several interracial marriages and cousins, I can not imagine that my family would have accepted those teachings. It is disappointing that Obama first denied knowledge of these sermons, then admits to being there for some. Everyone want to point out that there are people that they are close to who have views that they don't share. Well, I tend to openly express opposing views to anyone within earshot and I don't see Obama as being the shy type of guy who wouldn't want to speak against his pastor if he truly felt his views were wrong. We're all judged by the company we keep whether we like it or not. It's a fact of life. When you chose to surround yourself with controversial people, controversial business practices, or controversial issues of any nature, you assume the risk that others will will link any negative aspect directly to you and if you don't want to assume those risks, you distance yourself from it altogether. The only other way out is to openly oppose it from the begining. You can't change the tune mid-track and expect no one to notice.

Posted by ziv | March 18, 2008 1:07 PM

Btw... The whole anti-semitic issue that has cropped up here. Wright is anti-semitic. This is unquestionable by the fact that Wright gave an award to Louis Farrakhan last year. Actions speak louder than words. Which is why Obama's speech is just that... WORDS.

Posted by Robert Barker | March 18, 2008 1:12 PM

Does any of this really matter?

Senator Obama has a 133-delegate lead on Senator Clinton. He has a lead of 800,000 popular votes. He has won 30 states while Senator Clinton has won 14.

Whether you are Democrat, Independent, or Republican, math is math.

The race for the Democratic nomination is all but over. Even with a huge victory in the upcoming states of Pennsylvania, West Virgina and Kentucky, Senator Clinton has little to no chance of catching him because of the Democrats' proportional representation rules. Obama is going to be the nominee.

Posted by John Adams | March 18, 2008 1:12 PM

quote from previous post: 'The essential problems remain: judgment and "post-racial" unity are Obama's main selling points'.

I must disagree. I thought his main selling point was that he isn't a knee jerk ideologue, but a thoughtful, reasoned, educated man with experience of the world overseas, oh, and he's not George Bush.

Posted by PatricktheRogue | March 18, 2008 1:16 PM

If universal healthcare will bankrupt your already bankrupt (economically and morally) country, then what do you call universal, government run Fire and ambulance service, government funded and run schools, and Police?

All of these are 'universal', are they not? Are Fire/Police/schools 'ruining' your country?

Posted by D Stephen | March 18, 2008 1:17 PM

It was a stirring speech, but touches on too many off-limits issues and is too nuanced for the voters. Four years ago these same voters were convinced that Kerry changing his mind when the facts changed was “flip-flopping”. Nuance doesn’t compete in a world of sound bites and 30 second images.

Despite the damage of Rezko and Wright and the constant sniping of Clinton, Obama will eventually win the nomination and, come the fall, we will see Reverend Wright again and again, fatally wounding Obama far more profoundly then either Willie Horton or the swift boat ads, because this time there is some truth to the smear. Obama did engage with a black challenger (to use Shelby Steele’s descriptor), making us all feel uncomfortable. And Wright’s challenge was filled with vitriol, conspiracy theory and, yes, hate. And high flown words from an articulate academic can’t overcome the images.

grioghar

Posted by grioghar | March 18, 2008 1:17 PM

Clearly was a great speech. My problem is that he never explains why a "healer" would bring his two impressionable daughters to listen to Wright's racist rantings each Sunday. I think he is an opportunist. He will win the democratic nomination because the democratic party will feel guilty but he will lose to McCain.

Posted by Gary | March 18, 2008 1:18 PM

I'm saddend by that fact that ultra-liberalizm is overwhelming our country.
Obama has the main stream media in the palm of his hand.
He frightens me.

I suspect you are easily frightened. By bogiemen and muslims and bears, oh my.

Posted by Brautigan | March 18, 2008 1:20 PM

I see Obama grabbed my OJ Simpson jury analogy and brushed it into his speech today.

The parallels between Obama supporters and the OJ Simpson jury members is amazing. And, after his speech today, those with the rose colored glasses will try their darndest to "make it all okay." But, in their hearts and in their souls, they know it's not. A race on speech does, in no way, diminish the facts, or hide from the truth. Purely a diversion on his part, and comments to try to keep the black vote he so desperately needs from this point on.

Obama is so guilty of being just another politician. And, a really bad one at that.

Posted by anon2 | March 18, 2008 1:21 PM

There is a great difference between hearing and reading a speech.

No doubt Obama is a great orator, stirring the hearts & minds of the people.

However, listening to a well delivered speech can put you in someone's corner without realizing why you're there. Reading a speech, you can go thoroughly & deeply into it.

The one thing that sticks out in my mind and makes me shake my head & turn my back is Obama's statement that we have all heard priests, rabbis and ministers say things we don't like and agree with, but we still stay with the church. This is true; I don't agree with the Catholic church's stances on choice and birth control. HOWEVER, I have never heard any priest get up and say that 9/11 is God's retribution for America supporting choice. If they did I would not only have left that church immediately, but I most probably would have said in the middle of the congregation "And you call yourself a man of God?"

Obama refuses to do this, and this is where he loses me.

PeppermintPatty

Posted by Patrice Batyski | March 18, 2008 1:35 PM

I have been reading many of your comments.
The speech challenged the nation to unite, not divide.
Scripture states “a divided house can not stand”.
Where is America today?
What moral character do you possess?
"Proud Bigotry toward others" is part of the reason this nation is less than what it could be. Are you willing to openly denounce the bigots within your family, friends and acquaintances?
What good is the Constitution and Declaration of Independence if the people don’t embrace it fully?
What does the nation’s flag stand for; does it truly represent Freedom for its entire citizenry?

Posted by Nate | March 18, 2008 1:37 PM

I did not hear anyone asking Obama to disown his own grandmother, but everyone wants him to disown Wright. In fact, in all the discourse above there is no menton that his grandmother also said hateful and misguided things about African Americans.

What this nation needs is healing and Obama is the only candidate whose unique history can start to mend the great divide that all Americans try to ignore.

African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, Jews, Native-American, Whites, our time has come!

Posted by Dianne | March 18, 2008 1:40 PM

What happened? I fainted after the first line.

Posted by Fisher | March 18, 2008 1:41 PM

I am a lifelong Democrat and an attorney. Rev.
Wright is an America hater - plain and simple.
Barack Obama and his wife are arrogant, self-centered and totally ambitious. If the Obamas have been able to listen to these hate-filled sermons for many years, how could anyone think that they did not agree with Rev. Wright's point of view. Also, this white person does not now nor ever has, felt any guilt for slavery or its consequences. However, I will never be able to understand how any human could enslave another.

Posted by Susan | March 18, 2008 1:44 PM

Canadians are envious. Do you realize how fortunate you are to have the opportunity to elect this outstanding and remarkable man to your presidency? The world needs this leader to pave the way to a more compassionate and understanding place for our children and grandchildren. Don't let this good man get away.

Posted by Carol | March 18, 2008 1:46 PM

In fact, in all the discourse above there is no menton that his grandmother also said hateful and misguided things about African Americans.
??????

What hateful and misguided things did she say???except that she felt nervouse walking past them.

Big Deal.

Posted by wallstreet | March 18, 2008 1:46 PM

The blind have an advantage.
It is what is said and written that counts, not the color of the person.

Posted by Nate | March 18, 2008 1:48 PM

Was he an American hater when he was a Marine? Was he an American hater when he was serving President Johnson?

For an attorney, you should know that evidence can be framed to justify a position for the prosecution or the defense.

It is hard also to judge a congregant for the pastor's message. As an American citizen there are lots of things that President Bush has done and said that I do not agree with but it does not mean I am going to leave America or give up my citizenship.

Posted by Dianne | March 18, 2008 1:51 PM

Yours may be the correct interpretation of Obama's wonderful speech, but it isn't my interpretation. I don't think Obama is "daring" his white liberal supporters to accept what Wright's anger represents because Obama knows and acknowledges that the anger displayed by Wright is part of the problem with the race issue in America today.

I think what Obama did was to explain Wright's anger and why Wright's anger is a mistaken, inappropriate reaction to today's realities. Wright, like so many other black and white people who came of age in the sixties, is carrying those old grudges around with him even today. He'll carry them to his grave. He is unable to acknowledge the very obvious changes in race relations that have occurred in this country since the civil rights movement.

On the other side, neither is Obama's white grandmother able to get past her racial bias which became a part of the person that she is decades ago.

But neither Rev Wright nor Obama's white grandmother is to be despised. Their feelings and views, as hateful as they are to many of us, must be put into a context that makes them understandable and not totally alien. Obama did that today. He certainly doesn't condone their views, but he does understand the justification that they think they have for them. The problem for them is, that justification in large part no longer exists. America has grown past that stage.

This isn't to say that all the old problems about race have disappeared. We all know that they haven't. But to pretend that we are still living in the days of Jim Crowe is a fantasy. That is not America today. We still have a long way to go to get to where we want to go, but the hateful outbursts of Rev Wright and the racist remarks of Obama's grandmother, while understandable, are not helpful in getting us there.

Obama recognizes this and spoke to it very eloquently today.

Posted by Barry Peirson | March 18, 2008 1:51 PM

Nice to hear the historic story! but Obama is done!
I do not know how is his white volunteers still working for him? Aren't they ashamed of what his pastor think of them?
Sitting through "anti american" sermons and declaring his church as "not particularly contraversal" all these are
concious decisions that Obama made with his "Judgement".

More over he lied to american several times now. "He said meeting did not happen" on NAFTA, later after the memo was produced,
he said he was not aware of the meeting then!
he said he was not aware of Pastor's remarks, He said he was not present in church on the days these remarks were made.
Now he says he sat through the sermons... rediculous!

We cannot trust this guy any more!
Its laughable to see obama supporters portrait as intelligent on blogs jumping up and down throwing positive twists! but my friends, damage is done! You got to think once again!

Posted by Noah | March 18, 2008 1:51 PM

I am from Pennsylvania. I am white, ehtnic and colleged educated.
Frankly I find most of the comments on here as illuminating as the Corner's comments on Romney's "mormon" speech.
I get that those who already thought Obama was wonderful, think the speech was a moment in history.
I don't think the broader world will see it that way.

Personally, I found the speech a good speech but not his best-delivered one.

The "we all have racial issues but lets move beyond them" theme is not a new theme for him or for democratic politics and really not that groundbreaking.

What I found most telling was his basic admission that he was less than forthright about his knowledge of Wright's controversial statements.

That I find very disappointing. If he was truly speaking from the heart, why couldn't he have made the essence of this speech when the news hit.

Instead, what we get is a well-crafted and likely focus group tested speech that really in the end says very little. For by blaiming all, he blames no one including himself.

I don't think its the speech of a transformational candidate.

So Basically it leaves me still undecided but def. leaning towards Hillary.

Posted by Profilerm | March 18, 2008 1:52 PM

I'm from India and I wish we had a politician of this caliber in the Indian political scene. If America doesn't want Barack, we'll take him. India could do with someone like him as our Prime Minister. :) But apart from my envy, I mainly feel thankful to be alive at this moment. Barack Obama has raised the bar for what a politician should be and can be. I'm honored to be a witness to this moment in America. I've never heard a more nuanced, respectful, and ultimately hopeful explanation of race, racial tensions, and how one can achieve racial harmony. I think this story is not limited to America, it explains conflict among many different groups of people. As I said before, really, if American doesn't want him, we'll take him. :)

Posted by Dalhia | March 18, 2008 1:52 PM

Speechless you remind me of why Sullivan doesn't want comments on his blog.

Posted by baltogeek | March 18, 2008 1:58 PM

Obama condemned and rejected the statements by Rev.Wright that have been controversial. In this speech his says that these statements are generated and explained by Wright's upbringing and the resulting anger. Okay. But I would have liked Obama to address some specifics. For example I would have liked Obama to say, clearly and in no uncertain terms that he does NOT believe the government created HIV. I wonder when some intrepid reporter will have the spine to ask him about that.

Posted by Thomas the Wraith | March 18, 2008 1:58 PM

Jeremiah Wright's messages are before Obama's running for president. Also, I walked out my church because the pastor said something I did not like, I would never have a church home.

Posted by Nate | March 18, 2008 2:01 PM

Barack Obama - creating a divison between blacks and everyone else!

There's change for you!

Posted by Cee Bee | March 18, 2008 2:02 PM

Obama is going to be great for the U.S.A., a lot of whites don't won't to admit it but we all have friends or love ones who have at one time made a racist statement. I think it allows us to be true to ourselves. Race is a problem and the people who continue to try to make this a big story wants us to stay in those same old cycles. America is tired, we can only move forward if we think outside the box. Stop playing on people's fears.

I now see Obama in a whole new light he sees America from two different lenses. His white side and his black. We are ready for unity.

Posted by marsha | March 18, 2008 2:03 PM

Jeremiah Wright's messages are before Obama's running for president. Also, If I walked out my church because the pastor said something I did not like, I would never have a church home.

Posted by Nate | March 18, 2008 2:05 PM

The speech will rise and fall on whether people who did not already support Obama think that he understood their feelings about race.

Posted by 4jkb4ia | March 18, 2008 2:09 PM

Clinton plays on Americas fears.I am sick of that kind of politics.\

Obama is what America needs and the media and the rest of old politics are pulling out all stops to try to derail him.

I'm still praying.

Posted by becky | March 18, 2008 2:09 PM

The speech will rise and fall on whether people who did not already support Obama think that he understood their feelings about race. Obama said that racial injustice and resentment was real but at some point, we have to move past that injustice and resentment. Is the appeal of this message confined to people who already think we have transcended racism?

Posted by 4jkb4ia | March 18, 2008 2:13 PM

Clinton play on America’s fears is Bush's administration's tactic. No originality there!
I was for Clinton just to remove the Republicans, but she does not present the hope that Obama wants this nation to pursue.

Posted by Nate | March 18, 2008 2:18 PM

One of the things I don't get and have never seen addressed by Barack Obama or any of his supporters is this. Why is it not racist to CHOOSE to join an all-black African-centrist church in the first place? There are many churches in Chicago that would have a more racially balanced congregation that would have allowed Barack to nurture both sides of his racial heritage. Instead he made the choice to join a church focused solely on his black identity to the exclusion of his own family that raised him. Now he is raising his two daughters in that same all-black African-centrist church, thus passing on the idea that their identities should also be "black" rather than encouraging them to embrace their multi-racial identity by sharing their spiritual life with a multi-racial congregation. His choice has not been to transcend race by embracing both sides of his identity. His choice has been to embrace his black identity and instill that black identity in his daughters. I've never wanted to make Obama a "black" man, he wanted to make himself a "black" man and now he lectures me about "my" problems with race and my inability to transcend the issue and get past it. I'm left feeling like I did after the OJ verdict he mentioned. I'm deeply sad that black people seemed more vested in sticking it to white people than they were in convicting a murderer. Obama seems more vested in making all of us share his own racial exploration than in just condemning racist and anti-American rants because they were made by a black preacher he supports. I ask everyone one simple question. If Hillary Clinton had attended any church that had a pastor with similar views about black people or who had engaged in such anti-American vitriol, would there by a single one of you defending her in any way. After the way Geralince Ferraro was treated for the commment she made, I guarantee the answer is no.

Posted by rich | March 18, 2008 2:22 PM

There's a war on and the economy is in the tank. Obama, though, has managed to change the damn subject to RACE. All by his OWN self.

Sorry, Barack, I want to talk about the economy. I want to talk about the obscene expenditures in Iraq. I don't want to talk about race right now. It's an important issue, but it is one that has waited since 1865. It can wait until after the election.

The Senator came off as insincere. We know he wouldn't have made any of those points at all if his back wasn't against the wall. I perceive him as trying to use "race" to flip his own judgment problems.

Posted by Heywood | March 18, 2008 2:27 PM

There's a war on and the economy is in the tank. Obama, though, has managed to change the damn subject to RACE. All by his OWN self.

Sorry, Barack, I want to talk about the economy. I want to talk about the obscene expenditures in Iraq. I don't want to talk about race right now. It's an important issue, but it is one that has waited since 1865. It can wait until after the election.

The Senator came off as insincere. We know he wouldn't have made any of those points at all if his back wasn't against the wall. I perceive him as trying to use "race" to flip his own judgment problems.

Posted by Heywood | March 18, 2008 2:28 PM

Do you, Rich, belong to a all white church?
I attend a church 98% white; the leadership would love to have more of multi-racial church.
But race is a very big matter in churches.
Many whites will leave a church if to many minorities join.
This is a sad commentary for those who call themselves "Christians"

Posted by Nate | March 18, 2008 2:30 PM

I think the part of the speech where he mentions being in church and hearing Wright "...make remarks that could be considered controversial..." will be cut out and played as the sound bite of the day. I'm guessing that it was also the most calculated part of the speech by his campaign. I believe Obama when he says he wasn't in church on the days Wright made the comments circulating on video. However, that denial opened the door to countless people searching through Wright's sermons for other "controversial" statements he made when Obama was there. Obama had to admit there were times when he heard "controversial" comments.

The key is that if you read the speech carefully he doesn't say he was there when the video taped comments were made. He doesn't retract his earlier denial of being there. What he does is make a comment to diffuse any future "gotcha" clips that might come out of the woodwork.

Posted by Dave | March 18, 2008 2:39 PM

I think the part of the speech where he mentions being in church and hearing Wright "...make remarks that could be considered controversial..." will be cut out and played as the sound bite of the day. I'm guessing that it was also the most calculated part of the speech by his campaign. I believe Obama when he says he wasn't in church on the days Wright made the comments circulating on video. However, that denial opened the door to countless people searching through Wright's sermons for other "controversial" statements he made when Obama was there. Obama had to admit there were times when he heard "controversial" comments.

The key is that if you read the speech carefully he doesn't say he was there when the video taped comments were made. He doesn't retract his earlier denial of being there. What he does is make a comment to diffuse any future "gotcha" clips that might come out of the woodwork.

Posted by Dave | March 18, 2008 2:39 PM

This speech did nothing to change the Wright controversy. 20 years is 20 years. He associated with a hate monger and America doesn't want to support hate--from blacks or whites. We expect our next president to have exercised the judgment to shun this man and this church long before now as a white candidate would have been forced to do to be deemed credible on the issue of being able to lead us ALL. Instead he still hasn't left this church. He even admitted to sitting through controversial sermons. If I as a white person sat and listened to my priest talk of blacks that way, I would have been disgusted and gone straight to the top to denounce it and ask for the priest's removal. Obama did nothing. He sat back and did nothing. He is not qualified to lead us into the future away from our past. He has helped to support the racial divide by supporting this pastor and church with his money and his attendance. We must look to who he surrounds himself with to get an idea of the man, and Obama has failed that test of character. He was a coward and this speech doesn't now make him any less of one. AND I take great offense at him suggesting that Wright was justified in what he said. All black pastors who lived through the 60's don't feel the same...don't preach this hatred and distrust of America and whites. Let's be honest--Wright attacked America and America isn't going to take it.

Posted by Grace | March 18, 2008 2:41 PM

I believe that this speech shows Obama to be more than a presidential candidate. He has shown me that he is a global leader. Ignorant people make me too upset for me to see the other person's side like Obama did or for me to deliver a level headed speech that addresses the rights and wrongs of blacks and whites. When I left my office for lunch, I found myself smiling at white people and trying to make conversation. I actually felt..."hopeful". I've been called nigger and discriminated against and I really don't mind that some white people want to fly their confederate flag. I understand being proud of your history. Sometimes we, as blacks, take it as pride in what was done to us by racist slave owners. Sometimes whites take what we say as hatred towards them when in fact we're just frustrated. We're bitter. We still don't have a history that we can understand. We still get discriminated against. Our Christian values are what allow us to keep being positive even though it's hard to tell the difference between the racist white person and the regular white person.

Posted by I Love White People | March 18, 2008 2:44 PM

BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA HATE AMERICA AND WHITES AND TANS. IT'S OBVIOUS! Great speech but only words. Obama is a great speaker and the speeches written for him are awesome. Obama is a fraud and as his wife said it was the first time she was proud of America, as his pseudo uncle pastor Wright said so many hateful racist things, so goes our Barack Obama. I WAS EXCITED ONCE ABOUT THIS MAN BUT TODAY I KNOW HE IS A RACIST TOO, AND HE'S USING OUR PRESIDENTIAL FORUM FOR THE AGENDA OF WRIGHT. I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA NOW .. CLINTON IF SHE'S PICKED TO RUN WILL GET MY VOTE AND IF NOT, I'LL VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN.

Posted by val | March 18, 2008 2:48 PM

ice speech, passion and voice inflections done at the right time and places, even used some drawl here and there to make it kind of down home.

Alas, it is our actions and judgements that count, not what or how we say something.

This incident has done more to damage Race Relations than a single thing I can think of in the last decade. It exposed to White People what apparently goes on in Black Churces and what some of those Black church Leaders spew---a hatred for a Country and a hatred and mistrust of a People.

I feel taken, suckered, lied to and cheated. As a White Man and Employer who has done much to help Black Friends and Employees, I now feel as if this has all been a one way street.

His speech today did nothing to change that feeling, so from my limited view, the speech did nothing to change my mind since the revelation of Rev. Wright.

Posted by billy boy | March 18, 2008 2:49 PM

The trend I see if is you dare to think Obama is wrong in how he is handling this matter, then you are simply told you are not enlightened and are ignorant. I have a handle on this issue and don't think I'm ignorant for not agreeing with Obama. He looks less presidential every day. He is not electable in a general election and my guess is that the poll numbers will start to reflect that. This speech was no home run.

Posted by Aspen | March 18, 2008 2:50 PM

You go Barack. You are the Kennedy, The Roosevelt and The Reagan of this generation. Godspeed. And where was the anti-semitic comments?

Posted by ann | March 18, 2008 2:52 PM

You go Barack. You are the Kennedy, The Roosevelt and The Reagan of this generation. Godspeed. And where was the anti-semitic comments?

Posted by ann | March 18, 2008 2:52 PM

Wow, Grace. Did you even listen to or read the speech? Obama did NOT justify Wright's comments. He clearly stated they were wrong & a "profound mistake". Nor did he generalize about how all Black preachers from the 60s feel. Just based on those statements alone, I suspect you're suffering from what could best be described as willful ignorance. Based on the general response of pundits and the majority of posters on several blogs, "America" saw & heard something you obviously missed...a man of character, honesty & grace who is unafraid to address painful realities head on, without having to resort to blaming & casting aspersions. THAT is a true leader...and our next President, thank God.

Posted by Kara | March 18, 2008 2:53 PM

No, I don't attend an all white church. I haven't belonged to an all white church in my adult life. Instead I joined a church more than ten miles from where I live and drove downtown every week to attend a multi-racial church.
You missed the point of my question though. Even if I attended an all-white church, it would not be relevant. I am not selling myself as a person "transcending" race and wanting to lead this country. I have nothing against Barack Obama. I just see an inherent conflict between his speeches and his actions in this respect. Talking about transcending race and choosing to embrace his "black" identity at the expense of his multi-racial heritage seem to me to be at odds with each other..

Posted by rich | March 18, 2008 2:54 PM

His Harvard Law School training shows. In this speech he said that he heard some controversial statements in church. Last Friday on national TV and in the Huffington Post he said and wrote that he did not hear these particular statements while in church. Carefully crafted so that the statements do not contradict each other but it's close. Ironically, it's a very Clintonesque statement.

Posted by Thomas the Wraith | March 18, 2008 2:57 PM

Obama did the usual blurry speech trying to cover up the real issue: why was he supporting and being supported by an anti-American nut-case?

Posted by Jody | March 18, 2008 3:00 PM

Obama did the usual blurry speech trying to cover up the real issue: why was he supporting and being supported by an anti-American nut-case?

Posted by Jody | March 18, 2008 3:00 PM

Obama did the usual blurry speech trying to cover up the real issue: why was he supporting and being supported by an anti-American nut-case?

Posted by Jody | March 18, 2008 3:00 PM

It was a fantastic speech.

I hope this will end the swiftboating that people like CNN are doing by playing the Wright remarks 3 - 4 times an hour every day.

For those whining about Obama's association with Wright--have you agreed with everything your pastor said? If someone went through thousands of hours for a few minutes of horrible language, would you be shocked? How closely do you listen or are you a little robot who sits in the pew nodding in agreement?

Despite Obama's 25+ year history in public service nobody's able to find a single quote that reflects anything like those quotes from Wright. So it's guilt by association--again.

Do you agree with everything your parents say?

Or do you think for yourself?

It was courageous and intelligent speech that directly confronts our past and challenges us for the future. I believe the American public are smart enough to look beyond the trolls and talking heads who try to mischaracterize it and use it for more character assassination against Obama.

Posted by SChiu | March 18, 2008 3:02 PM

African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, Jews, Native-American, Whites, our time has come!

Posted by Dianne

Dianne: How are we to move past "racial" divisions when people still think in terms of hyphenated Americans?

We cannot be united if we hyphenate who we are.

Posted by Donna | March 18, 2008 3:09 PM

"This is why we want Barack as our leader. Because he already is."

Isn't there more than a shred of truth to this? Look at the organizating, the volunteering, the fundraising, and of course the crazy rallies that we haven't seen in decades for a POLITICIAN - and now this speech that will outlive all of us...

Then again, we voted for Bush twice. Maybe we deserve Grandpa War as our blogger from across the pond suggests.

Posted by Reginald Avery Wilkins, Ph.D. | March 18, 2008 3:18 PM

Aspen,

You are so right.

I have done quite a bit or research on Obama, read some of his policy papers, his blueprint for change and even watched a 49 minute video of an interview he gave to the Reno Gazette Journal (I don't even support him!).

Anyway, it left me with still with many many questions (process, funding, etc.). None of his supporters seem to be able to answer my questions. I just get told to go to his website (which of course I have visited many many times). Others with similar questions get told to do the same thing.

I don't know if they just don't know the answer themselves or if they realize that no answer exists and are simply trying to deflect the question.

But I do get tired of hearing, "racist", "ignorant", "shut up and go away" and the like. It makes me wonder if there really is room at Obama's table for those with questions, opposing viewpoints and the like.

Posted by Donna | March 18, 2008 3:18 PM

For the love of God people, look at your country and see what has become of it. Look at your real estate, your currency valuation, your college tuitions, your health care, your respect in the world. I don't give a flying crap what you think of Obama personally, his speeches, his suit; anything. We need to show the world we are not the willfully ingorant douchebags they have been forced to endure for who-knows-how-long and we need to renew our image of ourselves. If the choice for the presidency is paper or plasic, as many of the more cynical among you seem to feel, then we we would be well-advised to go with the best window dressing. That is Obama, hands down.

Jeeze, guys, I don't even have kids and I have more concern for YOUR kids futures than most of you!

Posted by steeves | March 18, 2008 3:21 PM

www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=27221
www.talkwisdom.blogspot.com/2008/03/obamas-preachers-hate-speech.html

Posted by Karen Osborne | March 18, 2008 3:24 PM

www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=27221
www.talkwisdom.blogspot.com/2008/03/obamas-preachers-hate-speech.html

Posted by Karen Osborne | March 18, 2008 3:25 PM

Barrak is a liar. He knows white America is going to find out that he is a racist. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing. If these dumb americans pick him to be our president then God help us. The true Obama will come out and we will have 4 years of Black hell. I for one am white and I have no white guilt. I was not here during slavery days and had nothing to do with it. My realitives fought in the war for slavery. Still I had nothing to do with it. Sometimes I think they had the right idea when you see men like Obama.

Posted by jennifer | March 18, 2008 3:27 PM

The problem with the Clintons is that they behave as if blacks OWE them their votes. Hillary brought the race issue into the race. Sen. Obama, although bi-racial, is being attacked by racist and religious conservatives to keep "race" in the election. These people seemingly have this agenda so to speak to vilify anyone who theratens the status quo.

Hillary does not apeak for me as woman. Sen. Obama cannot speak for me either as a man. But I think he is a BETTER choice.

On the other hand, the Clintons, the Bushes, ect, need to realize that the White House isn't a right of the white and the rich. Race never comes up when candidates are all white. And white politicians only pander to people of colow when it is time for an election. How many make appearances in black churches when election time is near.

Sen, Obama may have friends and mentors with whom he does not SHARE their beliefs. We all have people in our lives like that. However, if it is a contest wbout who has the most unsavory friends, you don't have to look very hard to find out LITERAL skeletons in the Clintons' closet (Whitewater fraud allegations; Jim and Susan McDougal; Vince Foster; Webster Hubbel; John Latham; David Hale; Eugene Fitzhugh; Robert W. Palmer; Chris Wade; Charles Matthews; Larry Kuca, Mickey Leland). Ask those friends and confidants about how they feel about the Clintons.. you can't because they are all dead or in prison (and most of those who went to prison where later pardoned by-- President Clinton). As for Texas Rep. Leland, he died under mysterions circumstances in a plane crash in Ethiopia with fifteen other people. Some say it was shot down... HUMMMMMMM.

Does a rational thinking person want more of the same? George Bush is the worst president in history, McCain panders to the conservative masses like a puppet and Hillary is making this election about race.

I'd like to know why people need to be spoon-fed common sense. We have short memories and HELLO where are the WMDs?

Why is the economy near recession? Willa rebate check make the dollar rise or is this another tactic to keep the ignorant and uninformed jsut that. If we continue along with the passing of the persidential "staff and crown" to the Clintons or the Bushes, then what freedom does America represent? A loose monacrchy. We need to take the country back!

If people continue to do believe what they are spoonfed and then they will be no better off than someone who can't think for themselves. We are socialist in so many ways in the U.S. under G.W. He has us questioning our neighbors patriotism because he is a dishoney and bad president and if anyone was ill equipped to deal with foreign policy, he was (just look at the classroom footage when 9/11 occurred while he was reading "My Pet Goat."

As thinking rational people, we need to think for ourselves...you need to be aware. How can you make an informed decision if you do not know what's really going on?

People, make informed decisions...

Posted by Lee | March 18, 2008 3:33 PM

The comments here are indeed illuminating. Those who found the speech illuminating or moving are often branded as cultists or sheep, apparently! It's kind of like those few contrarians who refused on principle to like the Beatles, just because everybody else did, back in the day. It makes them feel 'discerning' or something.

The question everybody should ask himself is this: are the ideas in the speech true? Are they useful to the country? This means actually listening to it, I hasten to add, sentence by sentence. And forget who's doing the talking, and what you think of that person! Just, is it true.

I believe that many listening today found that what Obama is saying is true, and after so many years of wall-to-wall lies, well, it is very refreshing. So I think the speech will gain in power and influence, rather than being diminished.

Because Obama's asking Americans to take part in their own government; trying to convince us that it's worth it, that we could actually do some good.

Posted by Maria | March 18, 2008 3:59 PM

For all those who contend that Obama should forcefully separate himself from this church, or is somehow culpable because he hasn't dramatically left the church, I ask:

Could you please point me to your condemnation of Falwell or Robertson for saying that the US brought 9/11 on itself through its sinful ways? And your condemnation of all who maintained their associations with them?

Could you please point me to your condemnation of all who said that Katrina was God's wrath on a wicked New Orleans? And your condemnation of all who maintained their associations with them?

Posted by Jay | March 18, 2008 4:42 PM

Jody -

This 'anti-American' nutcase served his country in the United States Marine Corps. He is apparently aware, unlike you, that speaking critically of the US government does not make one 'anti-American' and that the right to speak critically of the government is one of the fundamental rights our armed forces help preserve for us.

When and where did you do your service?

Posted by Jay | March 18, 2008 4:49 PM

When will Obama and any other's who speak for the "Minority" finally stop blaming others who have a different skin color for their problems, things will improve on both sides!

For example, SKIN COLOR is due to the bodies response to the sun. Human who were exposed more to sun have darker skin over time to protect their skin, while those who were less exposed (or lived in colder climates) had lighter skin so they could absorb UV light easier to produce Vit-D. This is EVOLUTION and has nothing to do with race. You have more DNA in your genes that deal with HEIGHT than with skin color!

Also for those say "white america" will always keep "our group" down, history shows America is one of the most forgiving and accepting countries on EARTH. We have leaders of every race, creed, and national origin!

In 1941 Japan attacked America, we locked some up in camps, and fought a WAR against them that killed over 1 million Americans. Yet within 10-20 years after the WAR they were seen not only as our friends, but Allies! Also, we dropped two Atomic Bombs on their country and they forgave us and needed some help to rebuild their country, but they are not blaming us 50 years later for their problems like Obama's pastor is!

Those in groups (white, black, brown, etc...) who blame another group (white, black, brown, etc...) should look in the mirror and see their OWN actions (or lack of action) are holding themselves back more than anything else!

I may vote for Obama, but not if he plays the "Victim" Card, which his own life has proved is not valid. If you work hard, stop blaming other, and realize skin color is (and should be!) meaniless, you will succeed in LIFE.

Case Closed!

Posted by John | March 18, 2008 5:00 PM

John - in your first sentence, you accuse Obama of blaming others who have a different skin color for his "problems" - please point to his statements where he does this.

Posted by Jay | March 18, 2008 5:10 PM

Marc:

I have read every comment which has come before mine and I have not noticed any reporting or any commentary on I believe has been missed in much of the MSM coverage of the Presidential Primaries in general and the Reverend Wright issue, in particular.

Are we becoming a “sound bite” society? Are our intellectual interest and our curiosity acceptably fulfilled by only a miniscule amount of facts?

How do “sound bites” impact our abilities to make sound judgments?

And, if “sound bites” are our “new” reality, does this “new” reality reflect a “dummying down” of our critical analyses of events and issues?

Let’s address the Reverend Wright issue.

Can anyone of any intellectual capacity accept or judge any individual based upon a few “sound bites” that does NOT in any way, reflect or encapsulate 30 years worth of sermons, WITHOUT surrendering their critical analysis?

If any one of us is SO perfect, that somewhere in the course of our own lives, we would not both inwardly and outwardly cringe at a 30 or 60 second “sound bite” played and replayed of some of our less than Sterling moments?

One of my personal largest gripes about news coverage these days is that it is more and more trending to tabloid fodder versus sound, investigative reporting and analysis.

This American does NOT appreciate the “dummying down” of information and reporting of the “news” and if it were not for the Internet where I can research & read to make my own analysis.

For this reader, “sound bites” are just that and do not constitute the news. MUCH LESS using sound bites to JUDGE another humanbeing.

I can reflect on my own life and realize that there have been moments I certainly wouldn't want to relive in 30 or 60 second sound bites. Each commenter would have to consider that for themselves.

For me, today I heard in total what was and will be the most definitive and perhaps historical speech on race relations that we have ever been offered. It was honest and from the heart.

Senator Obama was and is asking us to see the real grievances of race as a divisive issue which KEEPS us from improving our country's ecomony, jobs, education, position on the war and yes, look at our own prejudices that keep us from UNITING and OVERCOMING our divisions to become the BEST that we can be - like we came together after 911.

For me, it was TRULY inspiring!

How each of us chooses to view it, judge it, is entirely up to us.

Posted by Dari | March 18, 2008 5:25 PM

So, I watched the speech, and at least for me, I thought that at least here was someone who had a basic handle on the broad undercurrents of race issues in this country and had the chutzpah, multi-ethnic background and eloquence to actually talk about it, which is a good thing except for those who are quite comfortable being racist and not acknowledging it.

Since I don't watch the 24 hour news channels, I also looked up Jeremiah Wright's sermons on youtube, and, at least in my opinion, they weren't nearly as controversial as i would have been led to believe. In one, he talks about how the country is run by a bunch of rich white people. Hmm, last time I checked, that statement was....absolutely true. He says that Hillary never went through the challenges that a young black man might face...let's see, that also seems to be a somewhat obviously true statement. It also mentioned that the persistent and on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict is indirectly related to the 9/11 tragedy. I'd have to rate this...again, true. Almost all of the islamic fundamentalist groups in operation today grew out of either the israeli-palestinian conflict or the soviet-afghan conflict or the india-pakistan conflict.

A second video I found was more "inflammatory" in which he says "God damn america" while making some indirect but fairly obvious references to the Hurricane Katrina relief debacle. For me, I'd find it hard to be an american citizen (which I am) and not be completely embarassed, humiliated and disappointed by our government's response to that crisis. I might not use the phrase "God damn America" but I got the point.

Outside of a couple (inaccurate) conspiracy theories that Wright supported (i.e., HIV was created as a tool of black genocide), I didn't hear anything wackier than I've heard from my white grandfather or any of his friends or half my relatives, who have lots of ridiculous conspiracy theories on all topics, including how blacks and jews are secretly conspiring against "us".

So, what's the big deal? Oh yeah, I forgot we are still living in an era where any form of critique is "unpatriotic". Gimme a break, without freedom to critique, a democracy cannot survive, and there is plenty to critique in our society as we work to make it better for future generations. Only, it's funny how no one really makes a fuss about all the racist homophobic white televangelists that hang around the white house now. And for those who care, I'm a white upper-middle class 30something urban professional

Posted by Cristine | March 18, 2008 6:32 PM

I read Obama's speech today and am hoping to listen to it later today when I get home. I must say that I admire Obama's bravery as a politician, but I worry, though, that there are those who are not smart enough to understand his bravery or appreciate his brilliance.

I read the comments afterwards and it sounds like people see what they want to see and find the piece that backs up their position, rather than looking at the whole and weighing things carefully.

As a bi-racial candidate, Obama seems like the perfect person to address issues of our country's racially fractured history, but he is not the only one who could have tried. Mrs. Clinton could have tried. Mr. McCain could have tried. One has to wonder why they didn't feel it important enough a topic to deal wtih

Would Obama have been put under so much scrutiny in the media on the 'issue' of race had his skin colour been as white as his mother's or his grandmother's or Mrs. Clinton's or Mr. McCain's? I somehow think he would have been given far more lattitude not to have to jump through the same hoops to defend his candidacy... His supporter Mr. Write was not given the same lattitude that Geraldine Ferraro was given when she made comments that seemed to suggest that black people get more breaks in general. Yes, she was chastised, but the matter dropped like a rock out of public view a few days later.

I think some white Americans want to think we are beyond our history and pretend that wounds don't exist. It is the rare individual who is wise enough to look at the ugliness of people's anger over issues of racial discord (on either side of the equation) and say 'let's talk about it' rather than brush it far, far away from himself or herself under the metaphorical carpet.

It is interesting that Mrs. Clinton didn't chose to take a timeout to talk about race when Geraldine Ferraro's comments were being lambasted about. It was interesting that Mr. McCain didn't chose to make some sort of profound comment about the matter. But perhaps they didn't because they didn't have to.

As a 45+ educated white Jewish woman who used to be for Mrs. Clinton and am now for Barack Obama, I feel now, more than I did before, that he is the better candidate. Better than Mrs. Clinton. Better than Mr. McCain. Not because of his speech, but because of his courageousness and willingness to give it.

Posted by sharons | March 18, 2008 6:49 PM

This speech more than most of what's transpired in the campaign thus far sets up for the ultimate truth - We will get the leader we deserve. We, as an electorate, have made abysmal choices in 2000 and 2004. We may do so again, or we may have learned to transcend our pretty low threshold. A few months more and we will know.

One thing is for sure. We can't do worse than we did in 2000 and 2004!

Posted by Justforkix | March 18, 2008 8:33 PM

It was an incredible magnificent speech. In fact it was so incredible and magnificent that when I
heard it as I was driving along, I had to pull my car over to the side of the road and weep.

Posted by Mitt R | March 18, 2008 10:59 PM

Dear Senator Obama,

I read your entire speech. You definitely have a gift for saying the right things. However, I really question your sincerity.

At the beginning you mentioned solving the challenges of our time. How are we to believe you, when your political track record shows a different Obama? In 1999, you missed the vote on gun control legislation because you were on vacation in Hawaii. You voted present over 100+ times while serving in the Illinois legislature. Granted this is a common practice in your state. However, your record deserves scrutiny because you are running for President. Voting "present" is a convenient way to avoid controversy and not take a stand on difficult issues.

You talked about the two wars that we are involved in. If you were so concerned about making a difference, why didn't you have any oversight hearings about Afghanistan? If you are such a man of honor, why couldn't you stop campaigning to do the right thing?

During the Congressional battle over immigration, reports showed that you worked minimally on the bill. In other words, you wanted the credit, but none of the backlash that would taint you politically.

The NYT stated that you proposed a drawdown of troops in Iraq only after voters were in favor of it.

Race is an issue in this election, and Reverend Wright is only one part of it. What matters to me is, who is the real Barack Obama? From what I have read, your political ambition comes before the needs of the country. More importantly, it calls into question your judgment. At this time, the U.S. cannot take a chance with another "roll of the dice" candidate.

Posted by EWard | March 19, 2008 3:37 AM

Why does Obama even think it's about race?

Why do some of the American people, why do the media and the pundits think it's a race issue?

I think he desperately wants it to be and HE IS MAKING IT A RACE ISSUE to ignore the real horrendous truth: It's a hating America issue.

He managed to turn this around to try to manipulate us into being ashamed. Well, shame on you, Sir.

He pulled the race card once again. Then came the sympathy card: Look what you are doing to us now. He also tried to make this sound as a generational "distraction" from an old crusty "Uncle".
I sure didn't see too many elderly people in that congregation, did you?

Also, now he's the "underdog" once again. (Poor baby, just like for the last 350 years which he used as an explaination as to why the black community is so angry?)

The most brilliant thing he did, that the media and others are missing is that he turned it to race instead of what it really was about: Anti-Americanism.

Mr. Obama's speech, just as his run at the presidency is based more on the manipulation of white guilt. At least his speech did have substance. Was the motive to try to get that white guilt vote out of it?

Number one, he gave this speech because he knew someone would find evidence that he did indeed hear about, have knowledge of, condone and possibly participate in that hatred.

Another way to bring himself up to the country without reprecussion or to minimize and try to justify this acceptance is when he said, "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." We have no way of disproving this, do we? He didn't verbalize to him in private what he flagrantly displays in public as we've all been seeing through this fiasco.

However, again we need to greatly question Obama's character and judgement on this one as he has seen it in his rants and interactions they both participated in with Farakhan and that has obviously been displayed in public.

Although I felt it neccessary to mention my opinions above, let's bring it to what it WAS REALLY ABOUT.

Here's my take:

This is our Motherland. If my Mother or your Mother was getting insulted and beat up, should others just stand around, even if they don't condone it or should they defend her whether they were present or heard about it later?

He turned it to race instead of what it really was about: Anti-Americanism.

Why does Obama think it's all about a race issue?

To me the culture is theirs and they can do what they want regarding it and in their own church. He, as an individual, certainly has a right to BUT he wants to be my President, to be your President.

My issue, and I'm sure other's issue with this whole fiasco, all along has been Anti-Americanism. This idea that Obama has no responsibility and accountablility as it wasn't him that directly did this or was present when it occurred, is ridiculous. He is running for the most powerful position in the world. He wants to be President of OUR United States.

My President doesn't associate, nor promotes a church or persons who rants "God damn America" and still enjoy its privileges.

My President doesn't accept and justify someone (a Reverend, no less) disrespecting a past President by gyrating their private parts in front of the entire congregation when he's talking about him (a side note I MUST make: and in front of children??????).

My President doesn't stay in a church where their Reverend sings his own version of the National anthem putting in his own mocking words of racism, hatred and Anti-Americanism.

My President doesn't participate in an organization that fosters the belief that the white man is a racist in that the government created AIDS to eradicate a particular group of people. (Of which he is one of them) Or have the belief that we are distributing drugs to try to keep the black man down.

This is in their 12 point black value system (which coincidentally is no longer on the church's website):

“Those so identified as [sic] separated from the rest of the people by:

"Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another.

"Placing them in concentration camps, and/or structuring an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.

"Seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which while training them to earn more dollars, hypnotizes them into believing they are better than others and teaches them to think in terms of ‘we’ and ‘they’ instead of ‘us.’”

My President doesn't accuse the "the man" (whites) of holding them down and then expect hand outs to pick them back up from those same people. My President shouldn't have made a pledge to an organization which requires of him to put his race and promote them above all others. This is against the premise that "all men are created equal." My President should be the representative of all people.

My President doesn't participate in any way with someone calling our great country the US of KKKA.

My President, never, ever, under any circumstance tolerate someone saying 5 days after 9/11, when 3,000 of our citizens gave their lives, that we were responsible for it and brought it on ourselves.

Obama although not responsible for others is responsible for himself and did not, nor will he, according to his words so eloquently spoken, make the right choice.

This forever taints his character and judgement, therefore having no place in our White House.

Someone who wants to be the President of OUR United States, our home, doesn't tolerate and of this atrocious and unpatriotic behavior from anyone at any time, period..no ifs, ands or but he's like an old crusty Uncle.

Posted by Tricia of Charlotte, NC | March 19, 2008 9:06 AM

Dear Senator Obama,

I read your entire speech. You definitely have a gift for saying the right things. However, I really question your sincerity.

At the beginning you mentioned solving the challenges of our time. How are we to believe you, when your political track record shows a different Obama? In 1999, you missed the vote on gun control legislation because you were on vacation in Hawaii. You voted present over 100+ times while serving in the Illinois legislature. Granted this is a common practice in your state. However, your record deserves scrutiny because you are running for President. Voting "present" is a convenient way to avoid controversy and not take a stand on difficult issues.

You talked about the two wars that we are involved in. If you were so concerned about making a difference, why didn't you have any oversight hearings about Afghanistan? If you are such a man of honor, why couldn't you stop campaigning to do the right thing?

During the Congressional battle over immigration, reports showed that you worked minimally on the bill. In other words, you wanted the credit, but none of the backlash that would taint you politically.

The NYT stated that you proposed a drawdown of troops in Iraq only after voters were in favor of it.

Race is an issue in this election, and Reverend Wright is only one part of it. What matters to me is, who is the real Barack Obama? From what I have read, your political ambition comes before the needs of the country. More importantly, it calls into question your judgment. At this time, the U.S. cannot take a chance with another "roll of the dice" candidate.

Posted by Tricia of Charlotte, NC | March 19, 2008 9:46 AM

This is a re-post due to misspellings and mistakes I saw I had made within it. Sorry.

It's NOT about race.

Why does Obama even think it's about race?

Why do some of the American people, why do the media and the pundits think it's a race issue?

I think he desperately wants it to be and HE IS MAKING IT A RACE ISSUE to ignore the real horrendous truth: It's a hating America issue.

He managed to turn this around to try to manipulate us into being ashamed. Well, shame on you, Sir.

He pulled the race card once again. Then came the sympathy card: Look what you are doing to us now. He also tried to make this sound as a generational "distraction" from an old crusty "Uncle".
I sure didn't see too many elderly people in that congregation, did you?

Also, now he's the "underdog" once again. (Poor baby, just like for the last 350 years which he used as an explaination as to why the black community is so angry?)

The most brilliant thing he did, that the media and others are missing is that he turned it to race instead of what it really was about: Anti-Americanism.

Mr. Obama's speech, just as his run at the presidency is based more on the manipulation of white guilt. At least his speech did have substance. Was the motive to try to get that white guilt vote out of it?

Number one, he gave this speech because he knew someone would find evidence that he did indeed hear about, have knowledge of, condone and possibly participate in that hatred.

Another way to bring himself up to the country without reprecussion or to minimize and try to justify this acceptance is when he said, "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." We have no way of disproving this, do we? He didn't verbalize to him in private what he flagrantly displays in public as we've all been seeing through this fiasco?

However, again we need to greatly question Obama's character and judgement on this one as he has seen it in his rants and interactions they both participated in with Farakhan and that has obviously been displayed in public.

Although I felt it neccessary to mention my opinions above, let's bring it to what it WAS REALLY ABOUT.

Here's my take:

This is our Mother land. If my Mother or your Mother was getting insulted and beat up, should others just stand around, even if they don't condone it or should they defend her whether they were present or heard about it later?

He turned it to race instead of what it really was about: Anti-Americanism.

Why does Obama think it's all about a race issue?

To me the culture is theirs and they can do what they want regarding it and in their own church. He, as an individual, certainly has a right to BUT he wants to be my President, to be your President.

My issue, and I'm sure other's issue with this whole fiasco, all along has been Anti-Americanism. This idea that Obama has no responsibility and accountablility as it wasn't him that directly did this or was present when it occurred, is ridiculous. He is running for the most powerful position in the world. He wants to be President of OUR United States.

My President doesn't associate, nor promotes a church or persons who rants "God damn America" and still enjoy its privileges.

My President doesn't accept and justify someone (a Reverend, no less) disrespecting a past President by gyrating their private parts in front of the entire congregation when he's talking about him (a side note I MUST make: and in front of children??????).

My President doesn't stay in a church where their Reverend sings his own version of the National anthem putting in his own mocking words of racism, hatred and Anti-Americanism.

My President doesn't participate in an organization that fosters the belief that the white man is a racist in that the government created AIDS to eradicate a particular group of people. (Of which he is one of them) Or have the belief that we are distributing drugs to try to keep the black man down.

This is in their 12 point black value system (which coincidentally is no longer on the church's website):

“Those so identified as [sic] separated from the rest of the people by:

"Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another.

"Placing them in concentration camps, and/or structuring an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.

"Seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which while training them to earn more dollars, hypnotizes them into believing they are better than others and teaches them to think in terms of ‘we’ and ‘they’ instead of ‘us.’”

My President doesn't accuse the "the man" (whites) of holding them down and then expect hand outs to pick them back up from those same people. My President shouldn't have made a pledge to an organization which requires of him to put his race and promote them above all others. This is against the premise that "all men are created equal." My President should be the representative of all people.

My President doesn't participate in any way with someone calling our great country the US of KKKA.

My President, never, ever, under any circumstance tolerate someone saying 5 days after 9/11, when 3,000 of our citizens gave their lives, that we were responsible for it and brought it on ourselves.

Obama although not responsible for others is responsible for himself and did not, nor will he, according to his words so eloquently spoken, make the right choice.

This forever taints his character and judgement, therefore having no place in our White House as it also serves to diminish all that we have accomplished and sacrificed for throughout the world.

Someone who wants to be the President of OUR United States, our home, doesn't tolerate any of this atrocious, unpatriotic, Anti-American behavior from anyone, at any time, period..no ifs, ands or but he's like an old crusty Uncle.

Posted by Tricia of Charlotte, NC | March 19, 2008 9:58 AM

I'm a PA reader and an Obama volunteer and I think it was the best speech I've heard in my lifetime. I also agree with the people who say it won't help him much here in PA. I may just be cynical but after the things I've heard my fellow Democrats say over the last few weeks, I don't think there is anything he can say that will win those voters over to him.

Posted by Sarah | March 19, 2008 4:38 PM

Quick and on point analysis of this speech- no less Machiavellian and cynical than eloqouent and brilliantly written by his speechwriter.
In order to protect his candidacy, he has to "contextualize" Wright. He gets peoples' noses (you know who you are) in the tent by referring to the undeniable, slavery in the constitution (however misinterpreted) then dragging everybody through endless discussion of the jim crow racist past mid century - solely for the purpose of making it seem understandable that Wright was hurt. Bama then gains credibility by saying Wright is mistaken though, but there are a lot out there like him, a dangerous landscape folks - but (drum roll), "I am here to bridge the gap." Obama the saint again. awww. swoons. The guyturned it into a good cop/bad cop ploy (nevermind that he is in love with the bad cop for some mysterious reason).

Then perhaps more insidious. To paraphrase: "I can no more disown wright than disown the black community." What a insidious and devious ploy. Explicitly he is just standing by Wright, knowingly pissing off some, but also engratiating many blacks; but the subtle or not so subtle part is by defining Wright as the "black community" he can effectively silence criticisim of Wright, for that would be criticism of blacks. Making Wright the "W" word nobody can say (hence protecting his hiney).
And so many of you will walk around with a button that says duh, I fell for it.

Posted by NWILDER | March 21, 2008 1:33 AM

Quick and on point analysis of this speech- no less Machiavellian and cynical than eloqouent and brilliantly written by his speechwriter.
In order to protect his candidacy, he has to "contextualize" Wright. He gets peoples' noses (you know who you are) in the tent by referring to the undeniable, slavery in the constitution (however misinterpreted) then dragging everybody through endless discussion of the jim crow racist past mid century - solely for the purpose of making it seem understandable that Wright was hurt. Bama then gains credibility by saying Wright is mistaken though, but there are a lot out there like him, a dangerous landscape folks - but (drum roll), "I am here to bridge the gap." Obama the saint again. awww. swoons. The guyturned it into a good cop/bad cop ploy (nevermind that he is in love with the bad cop for some mysterious reason).

Then perhaps more insidious. To paraphrase: "I can no more disown wright than disown the black community." What a insidious and devious ploy. Explicitly he is just standing by Wright, knowingly pissing off some, but also engratiating many blacks; but the subtle or not so subtle part is by defining Wright as the "black community" he can effectively silence criticisim of Wright, for that would be criticism of blacks. Making Wright the "W" word nobody can say (hence protecting his hiney).
And so many of you will walk around with a button that says duh, I fell for it.

Posted by NWILDER | March 21, 2008 1:33 AM

Marc,
Not sure who you are or what your background is, but I'm not sure I care after reading this posting. You're a douche.
-Evan

Posted by appius | April 3, 2008 11:59 AM