Three Smart People Talk About Obama’s ‘Race’ Speech

Didn’t any of these people hear the part about actually hearing Wright’s controversial remarks in church?? This means he lied all over the networks on Friday about how much he knew and heard about Wright. That is what’s important here. He is not credible.

Obama himself has turned this campaign into a racial extravaganza; and I’m sick of it and sick of him!!!!! from day one his response to everything has been, pull the race card!!! OOOH What a President he would make!!!!

When was the last time Americans elected a President for a speech that criticizes the US Constitution and its very founding?
Are democrats who continue to support this man’s candidacy completely deluded?
He will be running against a war hero.

I think the truth is yet to be told. If Obama has been part of the church for more than 20years, it is a grand deception for him to try to disassociate himself from his pastor today. Americans, put on your reasoning caps before it is too late.

you can’t pick your family, you can pick your friends. Obama loves wright, and his ideals, even if he has to do it silently for political reasons. You, obama are a reflection of the people you associate with. that was again a warm and fuzzy speech, but your credibilty means nothing to me now, you have lied to us about wright, rezko, and so on.

Another speech?
Obama’s speech is happening because of one thing only – the truth about his pastor and his church, the truth that Obama has been trying to suppress since before the campaign started, has been exposed. Thankfully, some real reporting has started and his free pass days are over. His speech, just as his panicked rush of interviews last Friday, is a reaction to his attempt to keep the ugly racist and anti-American underbelly of people who he has been extremely close to for over 20 years (8,000 church members go a long way in a state senatorial district election) under wraps has failed.
It’s the result of
Obama’s own very poor judgment.
If the speech was so important, why did it take days of playing his pastor’s hateful rants on TV to get him to give it? It’s political desperation as he sees his image begin to crumble as he finds himself running against two strong candidates who never give up and are unwavering in their love for country and disdain for racism. His candidacy is based on transcending these race issues and on being different and transparent. Yet he has attempted to hide this from us and has (badly) attempted to brush it away as and then to talk his way out of it. He’s failed us and himself at every turn.
He’s just another highly ambitious politician who’s quite good at reading a scripted speech. No doubt, some adoring admirers will be bamboozled by yet another speech from the speech candidate.
Let’s see him answer questions.

I am a Clinton supporter but I don’t think Senator is a bad guy. But if Senator Obama is the nominee, I can see it, two weeks before the election a commercial by a 527 group. Rev. Wright’s greatest hits with Senator Obama in the audience.

I was impressed by the speech. People will use it to push thier own adgendas. Those against him will use it to stay against him, those for him will do the same.
But perhaps, for just a few very intelligent Americans, they will actually listen to what they man said. There was a lot of good stuff in that speech.
Jay

a wonderful, insightful and moving speech. Anyone who actually listens to or reads the speech has to admire Obama’s sincerity, thoughtfulness and vision. He is a remarkable leader and the US will be fortunate indeed to have him as our next President

Obama spoke words, that’s all. Just more pretty, calculated words to convince us to ignore the truth about him and vote for him based on the illusions he has crafted for us. Anyone who votes for him because he made a “great speech” is as gullible and irresponsible as the ones who voted Bush into office two times. His attempt to explain away his tacit support and probable active participation in twenty years of racial hate against most of this country’s population is both deplorable and insulting. I am not ashamed of being white and I do not feel the least bit guilty or responsible for any wrongs done to blacks. I can’t keep you from hating me simply because of who I am, but don’t expect me to go along with it. And don’t expect me to vote for you, ever.

Obama’s campaign has essentially asked the public to IGNORE the following facts BECAUSE he is a UNIFIER:
that he was ranked 99th in the senate, that he has little experience (each time he held office, he spent most of the time running for the next office he hoped to win), that he has friendships and ties to people who have bombed American targets (and show no remorse) and to political fixers and money-launderers (Rezko, Auchi and others), that he won his first bid at office in Illinois by bringing legal challenges so that ultimately all the opposing candidates were eliminated from the ballots, that he does not want to allow the voters of Michigan and Florida to have a re-vote, and the list goes on.
But then we find out that this “unifier” has been going to a church for the last 20 years in which entire groups of people are demonized and blamed for social problems, where the pastor uses hate speech against whites. And again, in Obama’s speech, we are told to IGNORE all this because he can unify and propel the country forward.
Part of getting beyond race and racism is abandoning the use of different sets of standards for different people, depending on the color of their skin. ONE set of standards for everyone. No rationalizing and justifying, because this can only be done by exploiting whatever views may be fashionable, and this ultimately leads to more entrenched racism.
It is clear that if another candidate ATTENDED A CHURCH for 20 years in which the pastor made racist statements about an ethnic group and in which the pastor’s general world view was one of hatred toward that group, that candidate would be forced to drop out of the race. Here, not only has Obama come out unscathed, he even received one hour of free air time on all the channels to give us his excuse.

Some people had fallen again for him because of his speech which he had perpared so many days and with some help also.
The truth is we don’t really know what is in his heart.
If he is that kind of person he would have abandoned that church long time ago
or confronted his pastor speech since he is like an uncle to him.

Obama defended Wright and threw his “White Grandma” under the bus

US VET, great post! Thanks for the info.

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!

How does Obama expect to change the minds of the entire country when he could not change the mind of his very close old uncle in 20 years.
Doesn’t it look like a failure in Obama’s part. Charity begins at home Mr. Obama. First try to rectify your own old uncle and your wife (who was never proud of US), then try to rectify the entire nation and the “STAINED CONSTITUTION.”

Obama is totally , 100% responsible for further dividing the Democratic Party. I’m sickened by every report that supports his candidacy. This is truly the fall out of inexperience (among other things).

Some of you make the argument that Senator Obama sends conflicting messages by his having sat in the congregation during Rev. Wright’s sermon’s, in which he, Rev. Wright, made comments that were derogatory towards those outside of the African American race.
To sit there and say that Senator Obama was wrong for sitting in the congregation while his Pastor made disparaging comments is nothing more than a reflection of America as a whole. Every American has sat in the presence of someone who has made disparaging comments regarding those of other ethnic groups – to say they have not is a complete un-truth. Racism starts in the home – period. It would be very naive of us as Americans to believe for one minute that there is someone out there who has not heard negative racial comments and has said nothing! The media needs to stop perpetuating the race issues that continue to divide our nation!
I am sure that you have heard someone in your family or inner circle make racial statements that have been less than becoming. Racism is America’s dirty little secret. The only way we are going to begin to heal our nations racial divide is to acknowledge that it exists and to deal with it head on, like Senator Obama did today.
Let’s get off of our high horse, stop looking at Senator Obama with your noses in the air and stop acting like you or someone close to you has not made racial slurs or comments where you did nothing.

We’ve been in the business of demanding people be thrown overboard this week, but we can’t throw our grandmothers overboard.
Most of us have had to make choices at some point about whether and how to keep friends who have said deeply offensive things. Some of us have said offensive things ourselves. And here’s the IMO
most impressive thing Obama said today:
“I can no more disown Jeremiah Wright than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.
These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love.”
If there’s only truly Christian politician today, it must be Obama. He embraces America as I haven’t seen any other powerful politician do before.

So the reverend was removed from the African American leadership position of the campaign. Do the other candidates have such a position or are they only concerned about the AMERICAN problems. Send Obama and anyone else that condones hatred of the USA back to Africa. We have enough problems of our own without these blacks living in the past and using racism to intimidate and blame others for their shortcomings.

Spin, Spin, Spin, however, the truth is
Obama displayed very poor judgment by following a racist pastor, who blames white Americans from everything from HIV to 9-11.
Obama displayed very poor judgment again by continuing to support Jeramiah Wright and his controversial Afrocentric church, which applauded the call to “God D_amn America, instead of blessing it.
Instead of a perfect diamond, Americans have discovered that Rookie U.S. Senator Obama is really just cracked glass.

If only Obama had made the same speech to Wright…..we wouldnt be in this situation…aint it Obama?
So he is about 20 yrs late on this speech and he should have spoken to Wright about acceptance of America…

I absolutley loved him until I heard his Pastor give his hate filled message. This made me rethink what Obama’s motives are. I thought he was a man that stood on change for all people. The message in that sermon was sickening. I thought Obama was different… I would never vote for him now.

as a black man i found senator obamas speech interesting not because of the controversy surrounding his pastor, but because it tackled race from the vantage point of a mixed race person. I think all of america would be well served to listen to his speech. black father /white mother ,lived with white grandparents who can imagine what thats like to think that he grew up to love everybody is truly remarkable

Obama is doing and saying anything to stay in this race and he will say and do whatever to win.

Commander Guy,
I think these are informed people from “inside the Beltway”, as it were. There is an analytical failure across the board, though. To a person, these really smart people fail to raise the JUDGEMENT failure, i.e., OBAMA put the incendiary REVEREND WRIGHT on OBAMA’s campaign. They are more concerned with his craft of spinning the message. Please note that OBAMA did not put OBAMA’s own rascist Grandmother on OBAMA’s campaign. Apparently OBAMA had good sense to not do that, it would have been an equal abysmal failure in judgement.

Obama’s speech just served to make me angry–I just wish that I had a crutch on which to place blame for ALL the injustices I have experienced in my life (and believe me, there have been too many to count). Talk about unfair! I was born to parents who started out with NOTHING, educated themselves in the midst of some pretty steep obstacles, and made something of themselves. They were certainly victims of tough childhoods and poverty. But they chose not to be victims–and built something together through hard, hard work and staying together. They never gave me too much, and I, too, had to work very hard–so I would eventually appreciate what I have. I’m a white woman, and some of my best and dearest friends are black, hispanic, native american and other ethnic groups. Even though the color of our skin and our cultural backgrounds are different, we share common principles, values–and we have all worked hard. We REFUSE to be victims of anything! Why can’t we just all get along instead of harboring ills from the past–and we ALL have ills from the past, no matter the color, race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, etc. Although I deeply regret the dark stain on this country’s history in connection with slavery and the heinous acts of bigoted people, the fact of the matter is, we live in a day and time that if one is determined to work hard and make it, it can be done!

Tina you are a mafioso, you are not an american. Missolina does not deserve a day in this free America. Slavery is a reality which cannot be denied, America has to pay for its history, it cannot run away from it. Obma has not taken one penny from you to go to Harvard and excel.

Hey 2009,
That neocon Newsmax article went belly up after all due to lack of adequate vetting. Bill Kristol himself got egg smeared on his face. It is what it is, though, and I doubt the neocons are going to be happy with that miss. I’m sure they are looking for an alternative bit of data, and this time its going to weigh at least a ton before they put it on the scale. Obama has two weeks of life if they have their way.

I think that it was Mr. Obama who said that words matter I think he forcefully reminded Hillary Clinton of that fact in Wisconsin. Now is prepared to make a major address which will have its central thesis that it is only words that put into proper context that really matter. This also goes to his theory that it is not experience that matters as mush as it is ones judgment that matters. So what does it say about his judgment when he aligns himself with someone like Rev. Wright for 20 yrs and just now is made aware of his racist and hateful views? He is going to say that one’s entire life should not be judge on one mistake but that one mistake should be put into context of what one does over the course of their entire life. Is this not what Hillary Clinton is saying, that her whole political judgment should not be based on one mistake, her vote for the Iraq War! That she should be judge on her entire political life. Even as Mr. Obama makes his case that Rev. Wrights words should be put into context he will also be making the case for Hillary Clinton. Yes Mr. Obama is now painfully aware of how words matter!

Obama lied Again!
He evade the main issue, “God Damn America”
He turned it into a race issue.
He two stepped and dance all around.
The Race issue he needs to tell the African Americans, that everyone in America are equal, Not to live in the past. Not to hold grudges for something that happened before 1863. This is today and now.

I particularly recognized my own feelings about Sen. Obama’s speech in Andrew Sullivan’s first reaction for The Atlantic. I’m not convinced, I must say, by the integrity of Shelby Steele’s response. But I guess I’m old-fashioned about the value of integrity, which may be a reason why I overcome with emotion halway Sen. Obama’s speech. I did not expect to see a man of his intellectual, spiritual and emotional quality rise in politics ever again during my lifetime.
Here is how the good Andrew Sullivan reacted, and I deeply agree with his words:
” I do want to say that this searing, nuanced, gut-wrenching, loyal, and deeply, deeply Christian speech is the most honest speech on race in America in my adult lifetime. It is a speech we have all been waiting for for a generation. Its ability to embrace both the legitimate fears and resentments of whites and the understandable anger and dashed hopes of many blacks was, in my view, unique in recent American history.
And it was a reflection of faith – deep, hopeful, transcending faith in the promises of the Gospels. And it was about America – its unique promise, its historic purpose, and our duty to take up the burden to perfect this union – today, in our time, in our way.
I have never felt more convinced that this man’s candidacy – not this man, his candidacy – and what he can bring us to achieve – is an historic opportunity. This was a testing; and he did not merely pass it by uttering safe bromides. He addressed the intimate, painful love he has for an imperfect and sometimes embittered man. And how that love enables him to see that man’s faults and pain as well as his promise. This is what my faith is about. It is what the Gospels are about. This is a candidate who does not merely speak as a Christian. He acts like a Christian.
Bill Clinton once said that everything bad in America can be rectified by what is good in America. He was right – and Obama takes that to a new level. And does it with the deepest darkest wound in this country’s history.
I love this country. I don’t remember loving it or hoping more from it than today.”

What is disturbing about Obama is that he remains the invisible man that says what others feel. The whites feel…the black man needs… etc. He is the consummate politician that says, “My friends are for this and some of my friends are against that. My fellow Americans I stand here today that I am for my friends!”. We know little of this fellow and when he won’t disown the hate spewing Wright because he means so much to him. We doubt what this man might do as president when it’s between him and the invisible principles of hope and change he speaks so much of. It’s beginning to become clear not by what Obama says as so much as what he has surrounded himself with. Like my white grandmother would say, “birds of a feather flock together.”

Bonny….of course he was in the audience, whenever he went to church.
The NewsMax story put him there at one of the firestorm sermons, on July 22, 2007. And then tried to call him a liar.
However, he was NOT in church that day, he was in Miami for a fundraiser. But they didn’t shout THAT story…not as they shouted the original lie.
Typical.

Obama’s race is not the issuein this Presidential campaign. The issue is his inexperience, naivety, junior tenure as a senator, and judgmen, specifically Rezko affiliation and comments from 2 of his inexperienced advisors (re: Canada, Hillary). Now his affiliation with such a controversial figure as Rev. Wright has surfaced. I have a lot of respect for Obama. He is an inspirational speaker. He needs however, 4 to 8 more years of political experience and savvy before assuming the highest position in this country. Obama would be far more effective as a Cabinet member, Ambassador, or further honing his skills and contributions as a Congressional leader. This is not the time for our country to elect a junior senator as President so he can cut his teeth and build his experience base. We need an individual who understands how to navigate the political waters and complicated issues that face us internally and internationally

Barack is a handsome, charismatic, charming, eloquent, deep thinking, inspirational, pathalogical lier. There is little that could be more disturbing than that.

I feel like he was hiding a big secret from me. I had no idea this is how he spends his Sunday mornings. No idea at all…..I am really glad to know this. It’s like he is a secret member of a secret clan of haters.

I absolutley love this: “Barack is a handsome, charismatic, charming, eloquent, deep thinking, inspirational, pathalogical lier. There is little that could be more disturbing than that.” SadStateofAffairs….tooo true.

Mara,
You talk about a family history that engenders great emotions. Can you understand the emotions of someone who hears a Reverend like Wright blast them because of the color of their skin? Do you understand the emotions of someone who sees this fiery hate speech embraced, by placing the speaker into a position of high trust on a Presidential campaign? The way to get past hate speech is to confront it at every corner. What happened before today was not what Dr. King talked about. White people have been trying to erase bad acts with words for many years, with bad actors such as Wallace and Thurmond. Bad acts cannot be erased with one speech. MR. OBAMA failed to use the necessary JUDGEMENT to not include a bad actor in his campaign? How much in funds flowed to REVEREND WRIGHT? They will give you a sense of the degree his statements were endorsed. The press really needs to explore this for what it is.

Tungsten,
As I recall OBAMA has been in the business of promoting his own book – THE AUDACITY of HOPE. We are beginning to get a little more insight on what he meant by AUDACITY.

Why can’t we all just be Americans…even on a blog some think they have to point out “their” groups poor pitiful me crap. Just be a runner for all people. You cannot be a runner for a chosen few that have different hate filled agendas. It will not work. He is OUT. I would have voted for him. He is a snake in the grass. He tricked me. Shame on him.

For the Obama faithful, like the Wright faithful, they believe, period. Obama could have sprouted nursery rhymes and the Obama faithful would have talked about his great speech. Twenty minutes will not erase TWENTY YEARS of Obama inaction. I said I was going to give up smoking but I haven’t yet. But I said I would.

This is not guilt by association that is the problem with Obama. He was involved for twenty years with Dr. Wright. Intimately involved in a church that gets more excited about politics than religion and whoops it up when mention is made of their victimization and identification of anger and hate. To deny that you are unaware of this and use the blind followers to your own advantage tells me that Obama either is naive or that he is lying. Given the set of circumstances and facts I choose the latter.

flyover: Great question, and amazingly enough a thougthful post on this board.
A lot has happened in that 40 years. Your question is clearly not going to be answered on that board, but it’s a good one. And it goes a long way towards explaining the harsher aspects of Wright’s rhetoric.
My wife is a resident at U of Chicago hospital, and it can be like a war zone. It’s really the front lines in a big rift of race and class in this country.

Califelephant-That’s typical Obama. Blame the other guy but when he has to stand up he did not. Who fires you, Obama?

Tungsten,
I haven’t had the opportunity to listen to OBAMA’s speech, plan to do so this evening. If it doesn’t include a recognition and an apology for a lapse in judgement about according a campaign position to a highly divisive personality then I doubt its worth much more than a can of soup. I’ve heard snippets and I’m struck by the fact that Obama talked about his own white Grandmother’s rascist stereotypes. Thank God he had sense enough to not put her on the campaign. Works both ways, my friend. I plan to vote for HILLARY CLINTON or write in the name of a trustworthy Democrat, otherwise. Maybe I’ll have to write in Tungsten.

I am sure that if I am not swayed by Obama’s speech into believing he is our new Messiah, I will be called a racist. But I am not gullible enough to be moved bya a presidential candidate who says he has never heard Rev. Wright utter a racist statement. Every sentence in Wright’s screaming diatribes says “WHITE”! Are white people not entitled to be an offended racial group? He now admits that Wrights opinions were out of justified anger from a racist past in which he was brought up. So, why did Obama make him an official on his campaign staff? He never touched that issue.
Obama then goes on to represent Wright as a patriotic Marine, virtually an American hero! No, Barack, I will remember your hero’s words, “God damn America” and, as a veteran myself, think what a pitifully lowlife Marine he must have been.
New political Messiah? We may need one but it surely is not Barack Obama. Nice try but no cigar! It is no surprise that you didn’t close your speech with “God bless America”. That might have meant something.
I pray that voters will not be taken in by this attempt to gloss over your lies and deceptions. I pray that Reverend Wright will denounce his American citizenship and move to his place of choice in Africa.

FOX –THANKS FOR THE NEWS ON MORTGAGE LENDING AND ECONOMY——THANKS LIZ
Racism started before the eighteen hundreds. Ok, let’s forget the eighteen hundreds.
Have Congress, Senators and this present Republican party put racism to rest?
We the Americans have to put race problems to rest!
Little girls was burned in a church yard in Alabama because of racism.
Several people have been harmed regardless of their skin color because of racism.
Who is the Republican American Senator, in the news that do not want a person to be elected for president because of a name?
Will the American Government separate and denounce this Republican Senator?
Racism is a Republican and Demarcated problem (not just an OBAMA problem). The situation opened a door for positive communication according to the people at CNN. Racism is an American problem. Can Americans put racism to rest? Can Rich of FOX NEWS help Americans put racism to rest ?
Can Rich teach America how to bring about an economic change? Can Rich help Americans understand people are not white or black according to color theory? Can Rich help America move forward? Rich what is a third culture thinker? Should Kristen and Rich have a talk show and call it ‘ “THE BRIDGE TO WALKING OUT OF RACISM .”
Fair and balance judgment. Racism is an American Problem not just an OBAMA problem!
If you see this election as history making for a woman or the word black. You are wrong! This is a United States of America so don’t try to separate the people.
ENOUGH ABOUT RACISM–MOVING ON
This is an election about:
Economic Change
A yes vote for this war has caused 145 thousand Americans to leave home. How many Americans have been killed fighting this war? How many more will die? AMERICA HAVE A LEADER FOR THE WAR COMMITTEE. NOW LET US ELECT A PRESIDENT WHO WILL CHANG THE OLD WAY OF DURING BUSINESS.
JOB PROSPERITY
TRADE TALKS
HOUSING (FORECLOSURE CAMPGROUND) –Dose McCain know about the foreclosure camp?
EDUCATION
WILL YOU HELP AMERICA CHANGE AND TO CREATE A BRIDGE TO WALK INTO A BETTER FUTURE?
IOWA VOTED FOR CHANGE
I SUPPORT CHANGE
LARRY KING, ANDERSON COOPR, LOU, WOLF, KIRSTEN, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS AND FOX LET US HEAR FROM YOU

HE LIED!!!
You can never explain that!!
What about Rezko? It was first 5 billing hours, then $$$$ amount of money donated now we are finding out this $$$$$$$$ is the new amount. Maybe Obama has early Alzheimers. Maybe that is why he needs the presidency…for the fabulous insurance????

In reading quite a few of the comments here, it’s always so interesting to read the devisive and incendiary comments from the many Clinton supporters that luck around here every day.
It was a speech from the heart, if you can’t agree with it, then, well, I have no idea where you’ve been or what you’ve seen in your lifetime – and yes, it’s up to the voters to decide where our country is going to go, but if the majority want to keep focusing on Rezko then our country has truly gone to hell and Barak might just as well head on down the road.

These three may be intelligent, but are they are non-biased to offer a “fair and balanced” critque?
Ms. Brazile has always been discreetly biased from many comments that I have heard from her. Shelby Steele is certainly biased. I do not know about Richard Norton.
We have to consider the context and background (events) of this speech. This is about the election and Mr. Obama’s candidacy. It appears he took the gamble of bringing the race issue, openly, I might add, for the first time, with a hope to win voters who may have become skeptical after the belated exposure of his church and its former pastor. Rather than address issues related to transparency and judgement, he chose to blur them with a speech on race. Smart strategy and it may have worked. But, questions remain unanswered. Well, I think these questions will be forgotten once he goes on the offensive after this speech.
The speech had some vey intellectual elements to it. We must commend him for that. To bring up the isssue of racial divide so openly is quite bold.
The speech also had some intellectually dishonest elements to it, such as comparing small, personal fears and streotyping of a private individual to a preacher, whose racially-divisive sermons reached hundreds if not thousands belonging to young and old generations. After listening and embibing such sermons for 20 odd years and expressing his utter gratification to the church and its former pastor repeatedly in his book, he claims to come forward to unite all stripes and colors as if it is destined by God Himself. What audacity and arrogance he must have!
I am not surprised that people in the right have increased the bashing on Mr. Obama, but what surprises me is the fact that liberal intellectuals keep putting him in the pedestal. Mr. Obama is just another politician who wants to acheive his dream at the expense of people. Nothing wrong about that, but that is what his candidacy is about.
Perhaps somebody can fill me in. In his tenure at the Illinois senate and US Senate what has he done to transcend race and build racial bridges?

cult classic

Mr. Tapper:
On April 11, 2007, you wrote an article about Don Imus where Senator Obama holds Mr. Imus to higher standards than you or the rest of associates do at ABC. Come the end of the day, Mr. Imus was a shock jock. When you dialed into his program, you certainly had an indication of what to expect on the dial. Senator Obama is “interviewing” (as is Senator Clinton) for the highest office in this country. Doesn’t it seem somewhat peculiar that we aren’t applying standards as strenuous to a presidential candidate as we do a disc jockey?

So, now what do we owe the black people, Obama? New homes? Come in each home and FORCE their children go to school? Is it money? What? I wasn’t there when Jim Crow did anything. Now what? My church is not preaching racism and bigotry. So how does my church heal yours? I did not operate slave ships. I did not sell blacks. Now what? Am I to blame? If so how?

jgaw…. AMEN!

Barack Obama’s speech didn’t impress me at all. He likes to place blame on everyone but himself. He lies and then only admits to it when the evidence is presented to the public. He addresses problems of race in his speech but doesn’t even want to attend the State of the Black Union event in New Orleans. You would think this would be an event he would want to attend. After all, nearly 90% of African American voters are supporting him. I know Hillary Clinton was there.
His speech also tried to play on people’s emotions. The “Ashley” story was obviously done for this purpose. Imagine an African American man voting for an African American president — and it was all because of Ashley. Right.

It was just reported on CNN that John Murtha is endorsing Hillary.
Hillary 2008

America can’t handle the TRUTH:
Obama told the Truth once again, with his relationship with Wright. The Press will fail to applaud him on that.
Ignorant Americans are more willing to accept the NEGATIVE of a minister (not Obama WORDS) and except the words of LIARS.
He stated the truth of the hurt and fears of both races. No other leader has ever stepped up to the plate and said let’s put the whole issue on the table, and why, even Wright’s HURT, FEARS and PAIN was express the way it was.
Hillary lied in msnbc last debate:
“I never support NAFTA from the beginning” was her statement.
Hillary lied in her support of the Iraq war, “I did not give the President the authorization to go-to-WAR”.
Can we as people have the wisdom to say shame on you, and still love one another in America. And make this the Nation it should be.

Shelby Steele says that Obama isn’t a “challenger”? That’s rich.
What was today’s audacious, ambitious speech if not a challenge… to ALL Americans?

This speech only proves again “Change in What?” What the hell is he talking about?
He is a good orator and nothing more. We don’t even know who this man is. Finally, we are starting to see or at least the MSM is starting to report his character.
He, according to what I got out of his speech, is for change yet has affilated with his raciest “Uncle” for the past 20 years listening too “Social Gospel” better known as racism, class warfare, dependancy, and self loeving. What did he do in Illinois to make such change? NOTHING!!!!!!!
We are just now learning who Obama is and I don’t like what I see or hear.
If this was a republican, white male, with a KKK “spiritual advisor” that candidate would be thrown under the bus by America and most certainly by the media. THIS SITUATUION IS NO DIFFERENT.
Race reverale in full force in a day of political correctness and certainly this is a double standard.

Obama did use the words to describe racism as “racial injustice”?
Then the rumor that has been going around that when he is president he will embrace a Racial Injustice Department? What will this Racial Injustice Department do – what is it’s platform? Who will be its members?
OK White US America – if this is true, then what comes next?
I just hope that it is a rumor and has no substance.

OBAMA – Speech on Race — Open Letter of Inquiry
Simply, the issue was evaded and obfuscated. In your usual fashion, you spoke in descriptive terms regaling us with the flaws of man while highlighting our problems. But what, may I be so bold as to ask, are your principles concerning hate speech. We know your words but your deeds leave me cold.
When John Mc Cain was faced with the ugliness of innuendo, distortion and enmity directed at you by one of his political lieutenents, poking fun at your middle name and linking you to Islam, McCain immediately took the stage and disavowed the man, his intent, and his rhetoric. Have you done the same with Rev. J. Wright?
The premise gist of your retort was that you could no more deny the minister than you could deny your grandmother or “Black” folks generally. I do not buy it. The analogy is neither principled nor contextually consistent. First, his race and blood are givens that he had no control over or ability to influence either from inception or as he aged. He will always be black and related by blood to the grandmother. Whereas, your relationship to the minister was voluntarily assumed and continued. The relationship of mentor/mentee and his role as your spiritual leader was not foisted upon you sans ability to repel it.
Consequently, when one examines your attachment to the church, its ministry, philosophy, and the orator the result is not acceptable to my sensibilities. The choice is yours Mr. Obama. One either stands with or against the devil. There will be no parsing of this issue and no fancy dancing on the head of the pin.
Are you all in or out?

Creamy goodness:
As I’ve said before, Steele is a complete pseudo-intellectual tool. The bargainer/challenger thing is his lame idea of a topic for a book.
Folks, read or listen to the speech yourselves, without all the babble by the chatterers. Win or lose, Obama has re-framed the way we talk about race in this country. This will be in the history books as one of the great American political speeches.

I say shame on Kennedy,Kerry, Dodd and the people who have used Obama I support Hillary but the evil that the losers in the democratic party are to blame

Obama mentioned OJ. Wright thinks he didn’t murder two innocent white people, does Obama? Someone please ask him.
Why does Obama suggest white men voting for McCain are racists?
The speech was a sickening piece of garbage.

The more you read his speech and try to understand it the more you would think he try to remind white people are racist.
He just spread some more hates on his speech.

dogsoldier
Imus said the words.
Obama didn’t.

and DCVoter
Donna Brazille is just trying to do the right thing
Have you see her have to take a breath a hundred times over in interviews and panels because she starts to show where she leans.
She asked the superdelegates (of whom she is one) to not overturn the delegates and she is trying to let the votes play out as they will.
Sheis cool i must say.

Joe is exactly right. Obama denied hearing anything like what goes on at Trinity Church in his interview last week but admits today that he did.
What’s up with that?

Tungsten: “one of the great American political speeches”. Consider yourself brainwashed.

Obama gave a very good speech today.
and to those of you who support him-have you been listening to him. Obama..YIKES’ has a right to say what he has said. and to the person who said something about the George Washington picture on the bus…have you been listening to obama’s speeches? What you wrote back was uncalled for. I wish since we are in an election season-we should stay on the issues before us.
to the people yet to vote: NC, Pa, WVa,
Indiana,-go and vote for Hillary. Try to get past the crazy stuff that is made up, cannot be proved, we do not know if it is true, and really has nothing to do with what we are facing in this country today.
Instead of trying to pin every shooting since Lincoln on Hillary Clinton-
Do you want better healthcare?
Do you want the college students to pay for their college education by doing service for the country eg-nursing,fireman,teachers or do you want them going and giving their lives in Mccains 50-100year war. And has anyone thought about the 50-100year war Mccain wants-he will not be around to finish.
I will not either-I’m 53.
Mccain has said he does not know much about the economy. so lets give Hillary a try. I promise you-your gossip life will be full-and your pocketbook will be too.

Obama’s grandmother lives in a shack and is on Medicaid, while he lives in a $1.6 million mansion.
Today, he threw her underneath the bus, accusing her of being a racist.

The children are not to blame for their education if what they hear from the likes of Dr. Wright and his hate messages deprives them of the heritage of what is good and right about America.
It is time educators quit apologizing for America and allow children to celebrate what is good. Guilty Whites patronizing children to their detriment is not helping anyone.
The message of hope is that people do not need a false messiah but would think for themselves with the information that doesn’t paint America as the villian.
Yes we can!
without Obama we can!
God Bless America!

I do not understand the commentators who call this a great speech or one that will be remembered throughout the ages. The speech was mundane at best and his delivery unappealing. If you went into the speech hoping for the next “I Have A Dream” moment, you will probably find something in this lecture to hang your hat on that it was “brilliant”, “effective” or “historic”. But you know deep in your heart it was the speech of a political survivalist. He did not want to make this speech – he had to in an attempt to stop the wheels from falling off his campaign. He wanted this “crazy uncle” to stay locked in the basement, but he did not and so his hand was forced – and like always he tried to thread the needle.
Those of us who listened to this speech looking for truthful answers from Obama about his affiliation with this specific church and this specific pastor found nothing more than further inconsistencies. Just last week Obama stated that he had never heard inflammatory comments about U.S. foreign or domestic policy from Reverend Wright. Today, we learned that Obama did in fact hear Wright make such remarks. I for one do not go to church to hear my spiritual leader expound on foreign or domestic policy and when they have, I actually have left such church (such denomination, in fact). Obama chose not to distance himself from Wright until it became a political necessity. What does that tell us? It tells us he believes more of what Wright says than not. And what Wright preaches is a racially-charged message. How can Obama claim to be the candidate that transcends race, and then brazenly ask US to look beyond race, when HE himself ascribes to such a race-based dialogue?
Obama’s speech listed some worthy aspirations concerning race relations in this country. But they are undigestable coming from him. He really is “audacious” in his hypocrisy.

Obama’s tortured logic regarding Geraldine Ferraro and his grandma can be summarized in his speech as:
Two wrongs = one Wright. Now he thinks he’s even with the American people.

Nicole: Thank you.

Oh, Nicole. That refreshing honesty is only going to get you lambasted by some folks here.
I agree that he gave a good speech. However, I think he fundamentally missed addressing the credibility problem that stemmed from this entire Wright issue. I don’t see Obama as a racist at all, but his handling of rev. Wright as a liability to his campaign was mismanaged from the start.
I truly feel had he made this type of speech at the beginning as a Thought Leader, he would have had this clinched by now. As an after thought to quell an uneasiness in many who question his credibility doesn’t do the speech justice.

Nicole,
Excellent post. May I quote you?

why are people on this board afraid of the truth?
there is not enough space available to correct all the falsehoods
to the person who falsely discusses his grandmother’s residence -
Obama has two grandmother’s
One who lives in Kenya – is the mother of his father. She chooses to live in her village where she has lived her entire life
The other grandmother lives in Hawaii – that is the grandmother he refers to in today’s speech is 84 years old and she is just fine
This is the mother of his mother.
Where are you getting your news – NewsMax?
Didn’t the fact the Bill Kristol had to retract his article from yesterdays NYT for inaccurate information from Newsmax teach you to trust your sources?
amazing drivel

Tomorrow morning Senator Clinton heads to Michigan to accuse Senator Obama of obstructing the re-vote in Michigan.
Go in for the kill Senator Clinton. Time to put Obama’s campaign out of it’s
humiliating misery.

Now, please do not try to blame Hillary for obamas woes. It is unfortunate enough-no not try to cancel out both of the democratic canidates-we need some one to face mccain in the general election. hillary had nothing to do with this and please do not try to drag her into this. Stay on the issues. Dean and his group are the cause of the Dems problem with michigan and fla, not the canidates.
stay on the issues. obamas woes are not hillary’ fault.

Nancy and All of the Fearful,
Is your nose so long that you can’t see past it?
A person’s character is judged by his words and his actions. Not by another mans words or action.
Here Obama has given a speech that would unit the nation by admitting the problem that we have as people in this nation.
But as you lose your job, as you lose your home, as you lose the food on your table, as you will have to walk to your children’s school PTA, as you loose your dignity… You would rather stay on course with the same old game of deceit of the press, which wants more polarization.

Barak Obama had the opportunity to confront the issue of the overwhelming hatred spewing from the very soul of Jeremiah Wright.
Instead, Obama chose to try to shift the focus and the blame of the controversy to the premise of racism in white America.
In addition, Obama had the opportunity to separate himself from the division of the hateful message of Jeremiah Wright.
Instead, Obama offered various excuses for the type of narrow minded and bigoted behavior for which there can be no excuse.
Today, Barak Obama had the opportunity to set the tone for the remainder of his campaign to get to the White House.
Instead, Obama chose to succumb to the racism, hatred, division, and defeat of the Wright House.

Okay, it was a good, maybe a great speech, but as others have pointed out you can’t run the country with speeches. I don’t think the biggest problem with the country right now is race or that should be the main focus. And if it was the focus, Obama should have been more universal in his comments. Black aren’t the only minorities in this country. Population wise there are just as many Hispanics, there are many Asians and so on. And what about the prejudice against gays, women, etc.? “Human rights” like Hillary has mentioned. It really bothered me how he tried to make a comparison with the comments of Ferraro and Wright.
I think Obama would be great for running a University or a business or following a lead like Gore with the environment. But I don’t trust him at this point to be president (face it, he’s lied about what he knows about Rezko and Wright, and is only giving a speech because of the pressures and necessity of the campaign). I’d like to see him do a lot more (say over the next 4 or 8 years), and provide some accomplishments to show that he is worthy to be president of the U.S.
In the end, as far as the election goes, sorry to say, but he doesn’t stand a chance, not even a small one if he makes it to the general election. Hillary ’08 or bust!

No, D.S., that is not a correct statement.
Barak Obama did not call anyone racist. Axelrod would have never allowed that.
What Barak Obama did was to try to shift the focus away from his association with the hatred and racism of his pastor and mentor of 20 years.
The electorate majority (and, now, the superdelegates) will not allow rejection of the statement and acceptance of the man.

Oh my gosh, I just read how Obama’s grandmother is still alive and the Obama campaign has prevented anyone from doing an interview. How could he talk about her like that? I assumed she had passed on the way he was talking. I wonder if she appreciates what he said. Guess we will never find out what she has to say about it. Anything to get elected I guess; he’s just as power hungry as Hillary and will do anything to get elected. They are both tearing up the democratic party to get elected, better to choose who has the best chance to get elected vs. McCain.
Hillary ’08 or bust!

Shelby Steele:
“I thought in the end he did not take responsibility for being in someone’s church for 20 years, being close to that person — I thought he evaded that.”
Shelby Steele is right on target. In fact first Obama claimed he had never heard the Reverend Wright’s hateful preaching until recently. Today he said he knew what Reverend Wright had preached and tried to explain it away. The media must stop applauding anything and everything Obama says regardless of the truth. The media is obligated to report what is true and not work on behalf of any candidate.

There is something that I have noticed on this board.
1)Most of the critics here HAVE NOT HEARD OR READ OBAMA’S SPEECH. They simply picked up just the sound bites and taking points.
2)They are not rational. They are not supporting barak, have no intention of supporting barak and will never support barack.
3)They are way too ignorant to understand the depth and message in BO’s presentation today.
But then the exit polls reflect the quality education of voters that does not usually vote for him. Only this makes me understand why one could have listened to the speech and did not understand the underlying challenge and the goodly, honest soul from which it came. This was far from a political speech.
Today I am proudy American and I would have voted a thousand times for the man name Barack Hussein Obama.

I think it’s weird that the Obama campaign claimed they were the elite educated ones and pulled off something so, I don’t know, dumb? To be so aggressive about pushing race, picking up on any cue as “racism”, making deliberate sexist remarks that never received the out cry we knew he was baiting us for and now after letting his pastor take the heat for Obama choosing to use him for political clout among the black community; he tops it off with mentioning his grandma is a racist. I don’t care what the minister has said in his church, I care what the guy who wants to be president says and does. His words and actions don’t match up and he let’s other people take the rap for his judgment! Then he acts like he cares about the minister by making the political move that all the media pundits said he should make a couple of days before the speech, making him look like such a great person by maintaining his relationship with the minister. Yeah, beautiful….but WHY DID YOU CHOOSE HIM twenty years ago huh? Because you injected race twenty years ago, when you BEGAN YOUR POLITICAL CAREER. A very fitting career for a POLITICIAN. Change, PALEEZE!

Shelby Steele: “Barack Obama is what I call a bargainer.” …..I think you are right there. Obama does not see things as “black and white,” the way most of his critics see them. He believes thas everyone has a point of view and needs to be heard. His persona is a statement of his life, his up bringing, and what he seeks to represent.

Okay since were agreeing with Obama to say there is a racial divide and Obama is obviously not denouncing or rejecting Wright. I will say Bill Cosby was right about the African American community. How’s that?

Is there anyone Senator Obama did not placate in this speech? So everyone should be really happy with it. Except, maybe, for Geraldine Ferraro who was dumped into the same pot as a ranting racist. But she doesn’t matter much. She’s an old woman. Another old woman who doesn’t matter much is Grandma. But she won’t complain. This speech was finely-crafted and well delivered. It did exactly what it was intended to do. It was a political masterpiece. Hello Mr. President.

Maxy Samy – I realize you are an Obama supporter and that is fine. But, you really do need to read his speech again. I don’t think trashing everyone who does not share your opinion is exactly what he had in mind. Name-calling and referring to non-Obama supporters as ignorant is just not what he is espousing. If Barack Obama were standing right in front of you, he would tell you that unity does not come from that kind of invective. If you want to support him, do him the honor of listening to his message.

Obamas good friend Oprah says when some one shows you who they are believe them. Obama has lied again, and yet those willing to sacrafice on the altar of Obama still won’t believe who he plainly is showing us who he is. A liar with poor judgment, and not at all who he says he is. How can a Pioneer of hope and change be listening to and have as a mentor someone so old school as Pastor Wright? With the same old lets blame everything on the white man speeches of racism and hatered. if Obama really was a Pioneer of hope and Change he would have changed his Pastor to some one with a message that promotes peace and unity and equality all the things that pastor Wright obviously does not. OR is it all just simply political positioning join this popular black church in Chicago where he needed the black votes to be Senator and then when your campainging for president and need the white votes sell your Pastor down the river and distance your self from him. Is it the same political positioning as the Ohio/Nafta/ tell Canadian officials he really doesn’t mean it? Or one of his advisors telling another government that he really doesn’t mean he’ll pull out of Iraq right away.Or when he didn’t really mean it when he agreed to piblic funding and has since changed his mind. Or how he really didn’t mean to do a dumb thing with his land deal and Rezco. PEOPLE he IS SHOWING YOU WHO HE REALLY IS YOU JUST DON’T WANT TO SEE IT.
P.S. I’m not republican,democrat or independant just neutral and observing this charade

Obama made another speech.
In his speech he told how his grandmother’s (that raised him and was white)racial and ethnical stereotyping made him cringe. Then why was it fine with him when his reverend made racial and ethnical ramarks about white people? And what true American would stay in a church that condemed and hated America, to the extent of saying “God D__ America? He went to that church for 20 nyears?. And this person waants to hold the highest office in the country he has been condoning hate towards.
WAKE UP AMERICA! We are a country of many colors and ethnic backgrounds. We are proud of that. I am American. It doesn’t matter the color or race. And to condone MY country being badmouthed is unexceptable.We have freedom of speech but I would walk away and not look back. I sure wouldn’t join in become part of and stay with it for 20 years. And then try to use a speech to cober up my true way of thinking. Given a choice even a republican is better than a man only interrested in one group, and worse must in some way agree with his reverend about America or he wouldn’t expose his children to the hate sprewing from that reverend.

It doesn’t matter what you would do if you were in his situation, it only matters what he did. Take it or leave it.

The term “anti-American” is usually used by the American establishment to discredit and, not falsely – but shall we say inaccurately – define its critics. Once someone is branded anti-American, the chances are that he or she will be judged before they are heard, and the argument will be lost in the welter of bruised national pride.
But what does the term “anti-American” mean? Does it mean you are anti-jazz? Or that you’re opposed to freedom of speech? That you don’t delight in Toni Morrison or John Updike? That you have a quarrel with giant sequoias? Does it mean that you don’t admire the hundreds of thousands of American citizens who marched against nuclear weapons, or the thousands of war resisters who forced their government to withdraw from Vietnam? Does it mean that you hate all Americans?
But there are many Americans who would be mortified to be associated with their government’s policies.

THE OBAMA TIMELINE OF LIES
posted by justme819: Mar. 19, 2008 – 4:17 AM EST
March 18, 2008–Obama stated:
“I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy. For some, nagging questions remain. Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely – just as I’m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed.”
”I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community.”
March 14th–Obama stated this:
“uh, none of these statements are ones that I had heard myself personally in the pews. uh, o-one of them I had heard about after I had started running for President & I put out a statement at that time condemning them.”
March !8:
Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes.
March 14:
uh, the other statements were ones that uh I just heard about while we were uh wh-when they started being run on fox and some of the other stations.
March 18:
Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes.
March 14:
uh, and so they weren’t things that I was familiar with. Once I saw them I had to be very clear about the fact that these are not statements that I am comfortable with. I reject them completely.
March 18:
Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes.
..
March 14:
Had I been sitting in the church at the time they were spoken, uh, I would have be-been absolutely clear to Rev. Wright that I didn’t find those acceptable uh… and if I had thought that was the tenor or tone on an ongoing basis uh of his sermons then uh yes I don’t think that it would’ve been reflective of my values or uh of my faith experience.
March 18:
Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes.
March 14:
There-there-there, no no no, uh, wai-wait there I-I-I didn’t know about all these statements. I knew about 1 or 2 statements that ha-had been made. And as a consequence, as I said, if it was just 1 or 2 statements then that’s not something that would lead me to distance myself from either my church or my pastor.
March 18:
Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes.
“I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community.”
then it can still validly, etc., be stated that one does not have a a mentor/spiritual advisor for over 20 yrs. without sharing the same views!…Obama`s refusal to ‘disown’ his Pastor strongly suggests that`s the case here!
but perhaps the larger issue here is that while Obama`s preaching togetherness, he goes to a church who`s Pastors preach racial, anti-American garbage…and who preach a separatist, ‘Black Only Value System”, which is as divisive as can be…even Obama`s mentor, etc., the Rev. Wright, stated that it`s a separate but = black theology!
and what`s this use of the word ‘disown’…doesn`t Obama know that`s RACIST…but against black people…
and why did Obama compare his white Grandmother to the Rev. Wright?!…i guess he`ll say/do anything to get votes!
just another dirty, lying, scheming, and hypocritical politician…i have one more word for Mr. Obama – BUSTED!!!
The timeleine shows Obama’s MO to lie to the American people. Totally unbecoming of a Presidential candidate. Obama can’t be trusted. His support is fractured and his numbers are dropping.
Obama is UNELECTABLE.

Obama has said he desires to bring the country together and change the things that have caused us to suffer economically. He has said he believes if we could work together to form a more unified nation of people and work together to bring about this change, it can be done. I believe he can help us do that as president as he has stated by providing proper medical insurance, improve the educational system, and end the war in Iraq..etc.
AS president …I believe that he can…
However I heard it said on a Cable TV news station just yesterday and read it on the blog this morning that if Obama wanted to do the right thing, to show his sincerity to the country regarding the Pastor Wright comments, he would change the Pastor Wrights heart, you know; I don’t think that he can do that. I really don’t agree with what was said, but and if that needed to be done, I know that Obama is not the one to do that. Obama is not Jesus… Nor God…only Jesus Christ changes the heart of man or did you not know that? This Easter holiday is a good time to take note of that IF YOU DON’T.

God Bless our Troops and let them fully complete their Victory in Iraq!!

When I was growing up I was taught that hate and discrimination, pigeonholing, stereotyping, being judgmental, had no place in society. I was taught that simply listening to a friend say such things and not speaking up and reminding my friend that such speech is not productive would be just as bad as having said the same words. I was taught to speak up against hatred, because if we are to remain silent then we accept it and we allow it to build up. That was a long time ago, in a different country.
Are American children not taught to speak up against hatred? Was Barack Obama not taught to speak up? Sometimes a child, innocent, not yet having learned wrongness, can teach his parents. Should we not speak up more to people who might listen to us? Don’t just cringe, speak up!

spock: The GD America speech you refer to happened 3+yrs ago. Obama didn’t get Secret Service protection until LAST YEAR!!! Please be factual when you post things to try to make a point. He wouldn’t have needed SS protection at the time Wright made the comments he made because he wasn’t running for POTUS as a black man at that time.

His speeches sure are pretty. Unfortunately, this country needs substance, not speeches. His speech was about diversion. Let’s talk about race. Let’s not talk about why I sat in a church for over 20 years, that promoted racisim and hatred. I am getting so tired of the double standard-call other people racist, but don’t address the racism in your own pastor. It shows (as well as other things have shown) a real lack of judgement. He really should step down, for the good of the party… the supposed uniter, has really divided this party.

I see that many understand Senator Obama’s position, but there are many that still don’t get it… and really are not trying to understand. Of those who have passed negative judgment on Rev. Wright due to the slant of the media, how many have heard one of his sermons in its entirety? Probably very few. Please seek full understanding of the whole man that Obama describes before you judge him. When you seek this, you will find frustration and anger… not hatred and racism. This man isn’t some angry preacher that has been sitting in a church on the south side of Chicago. He is well respected amongst Christian ministers WORLDWIDE. His ministry has reached all parts of the globe learning of social struggles in places you have never heard of much less been to. These Christians are of all colors. He not only learns their cultures, he speaks their languages, studies their histories, and bridges a connection with us here. Be fair to yourself, him, and Barack Obama. Listen to a whole sermon before you pass judgment.
I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ for many years before Obama’s candidacy brought it to the forefront. I can honestly say, like Barack, Rev. Wright married my wife and me and he baptized my child also. As a Black American who has worked hard as a professional to build a career and support my family, I have experienced much racism that has been nagging obstacles. I have not used racism as a crutch or gone out here looking for racism … racism has knocked on my door and threatened my American Dream that I have worked VERY hard for. Many White Americans couldn’t imagine what I have experienced. Most experiences are common for many Black Americans. It can be subtle micro-insults by Whites daily or larger occurrences such as a realtor attempting to steer you from a community where services and quality of life are the best because they don’t personally want you there. Even with all of this, we continue to pursue the American Dream with a Christian mindset and without hate. If you listen to Rev. Wrights sermons, you will find sometimes that he rants, like the news has shown over and over, but he offers a Christian solution for us coming together and working together. That is the part they conveniently left out. Many of us Black American men seen others leave the home leaving Black American women to raise our children alone. Not to say that it doesn’t happen in other homes, but it is like the plague in the Black community. One of Rev. Wright’s sermons that stays in my head and keeps me strong is describing the role of the father in the home. Many say he is the ‘head’ of the house like a ruler that everyone in the home should serve. Rev. Wright analyzes the Bible on this subject showing how God says that role is more like the ‘point man’ in an army… the one who goes into battle for the family. The one who is willing to face dangers to protect his family. I have shared this concept with many Black men and I can say it helps galvanize the Black family when so many external forces are working to tear it apart. This is one of the MANY teachings of Rev. Jeremiah Wright. This is what Obama speaks of… Different from the critics, I know FIRST HAND.
Lastly, the background on the United Church of Christ Christian denomination; it is primarily White. Trinity is one of the few Black churches within this denomination, and THE largest due to Rev. Wright’s ministries. I have seen many groups of White visitors to this church over the years. Not only White Christians from American churches, but from all over the world! Rev. Wright has traveled the world sharing his respected theology and openly learning the culture of others. If his teachings were as bad as the sound bites indicate, do you think he would have this much support by Whites? When considering Obama’s relationship with Rev. Wright, Americans, this time can we be smarter than the news media and use our intelligence for this important point in this nation’s history? I fully support Obama and his message that we can move beyond race relations that has been our albatross. Let’s move on to other discussions that are more productive and can help us ALL keep food on our tables.

It was one of the best speeches I have heard in a very long time! — Obama spoke to us as if we were adults (to borrow a phrase from both Gergen and Stewart) — I wondered why I felt a part of it until I heard that phrase. Being a 64 year old white woman, growing up during the JFK, RFK & MLK years, I too, heard racial slurs from within my own family and cringed when I heard them — in understanding himself; he has had to understand and love that which is of the white community as well as that which is of the black community If Obama had repudiated the man rather than the words, then he would have been the slimey politician he says he is not. If he had done what some pundits say it should have he would have been disloyal to himself. I am glad he took the high road, let the Clintons stay in the gutter!

to beachnan:

Responding to: “Let’s not talk about why I sat in a church for over 20 years, that promoted racisim and hatred.”

If you truly believe that any modern, sanctioned church of many believers “only promotes racism and hatred” you are much more ignorant than I thought people could be. Or, you are willfully ignorant, in the hopes that your PERSONAL hate can bring down the rest of us. I have NO DOUBT WHATSOEVER that the majority of the members of that church, and the sermons given by Mr Wright, were good and moral and Christian based. That you think 30 seconds of controversial comments define an entire congregation of God shows how truly sad and hateful you are. Were we all to be judged in such a manner, we should all go to hell.

It’s about Obama, his choices, his contradictions, his race baiting, his false messages, his ripped off speeches, his holier than thou behavior that he and a lot of his supporters share.

So I note you put the ultra conservative up first. The one that believes that racism and predjudice does not exist and that the issues facign the black community are the government’s fault.

In reading these comments, much like Trinity Church has as it’s members the best and worst of society. These remarks truly show just how completely ignorant some people are and just how brilliant others show themselves to be. And to be truthful, some of the brilliant remarks come from people with whom I don’t agree with in the least, but at least there’s intelligence in their response.
You cannot have a good opinion on things listening to 30-second soundbites of anything, and this doesn’t even take into consideration the media spin on which 30-seconds you see!
30-secs do not give you context. Summaries do not always reveal intent or implication. And when I see the Obama writes many of his own speeches and Hilary will pretty much let whatever will help her win spill from her mouth… the contradiction and hypocrisy is really disturbing … I think I’ll be4 more apt to have a greater respect for the man (or woman) who has proven themselves true.
Look, I’d love to see a woman president one day. But NOT THIS TIME. NOT THIS WOMAN.

I don’t understand why so many people want to use Obama’s association with Rev. Wright as an excuse to denigrate his candidacy, yet support McCain, who has aligned himself with (after once distancing himself from) white Christian conservatives like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, who blamed 9-11 on feminists, homosexuals and liberals. I don’t like what Rev. Wright said any more than I like Robertson, Falwell and their ilk; but I’m even more concerned that so many people can blithely condemn the former and embrace the latter (and, by extension, their political associates) without seeing the double standard.
I thought Obama’s speech was amazing, disproving those who call him all rhetoric, no substance. The rhetoric of this speech was off-kilter, in fact — his delivery was sometimes tepid, the cadences were not as rhythmic as we’re used to from him, the applause points were off the mark, and the whole thing was a little bit awkward. As it should be! Have you ever had a discussion about race (in mixed company) that WASN’T awkward, uncomfortable, and a little confused? Race is a tangled issue. My (white) father gives his time, money and respect to the local black church yet doesn’t hesitate to use the “n-word” and make racially charged jokes and comments. Do I applaud or condemn him? Both and neither. Race in America is difficult, complicated, messy, and sometimes contradictory. Obama knows that. He also knows that it must be talked about, not with overly simplified binary rhetoric, but with intelligence, empathy and knowledge of all the factors involved.
This is more than politics.

Barack Obama is the presidential candidate, not Wright. That is an important distinction to make.