Obama calls for racial unity
Barack Obama, whose presidential campaign has tried to transcend race, is taking on the issue head-on this morning, trying to quell a controversy over sermons by his former pastor.
In a closely-scrutinized speech in Philadelphia -- the biggest city in the next Democratic nomination battleground and a cradle of American democracy -- Obama started his address by quoting the Constitution: "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.”
"I chose to run for president at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together -- unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction -- towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren," Obama, framed by American flags, said on a stage at the National Constitution Center.
"This belief comes from my unyielding faith in the decency and generosity of the American people. But it also comes from my own story," he continued, citing his own life history, born of a white mother from Kansas and a black father from Kenya.
Obama said while he has brought together a multiracial coalition, race has been an issue in the campaign. "At various stages in the campaign, some commentators have deemed me either 'too black' or 'not black enough.' We saw racial tensions bubble to the surface during the week before the South Carolina primary. The press has scoured every single exit poll for the latest evidence of racial polarization, not just in terms of white and black, but black and brown as well," he said. "And yet, it has only been in the last couple of weeks that the discussion of race in this campaign has taken a particularly divisive turn."
Then discussing at length the remarks by the Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, Obama acknowledges that he was in the pews at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago to hear some controversial statements -- an admission that seems at odds with previous blanket denials.
"For some, nagging questions remain," Obama conceded. "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 the 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."
Obama then offered his most strongly worded condemnation of Wright's comments. "The remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren’t simply controversial. They weren’t simply a religious leader’s efforts to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country -- a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam.
"As such, Reverend Wright’s comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity; racially charged at a time when we need to come together to solve a set of monumental problems -- two wars, a terrorist threat, a falling economy, a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change; problems that are neither black or white or Latino or Asian, but rather problems that confront us all."
But Obama also explains why he remained a member of Wright's church, and says that Wright is far more than the remarks that have caused such a firestorm in the past week.
"As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me," Obama said. "....I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can disown 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."
Obama then goes on to explain anger in the black community, economic and social disparities, resentment among whites, the different views of race relations -- and the choice the country faces.
"This is where we are right now," he said. "It’s a racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidate -- particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own. But I have asserted a firm conviction -- a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people -- that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice -- we have no choice -- if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union."
Obama then calls for racial unity to tackle the economic, education, healthcare and other problems facing the country.
"We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism," he continued. "We can tackle race only as spectacle -- as we did in the OJ trial -- or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina -- or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
"We can do that. But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change."
Instead, he said, Americans can say, "Not this time," and move forward together to address shared needs.
"I would not be running for president if I didn’t believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country," he said. "This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation -- the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election."
THIS ALL CRAP...WAKE UP AND DON'T FALL FOR THIS SPEECH THAT WEAS MADE FOR HIM TO DELIVER.....
From the inception of Obama's campaign (when he did not blast the press for calling him a "black" candidate) through to (Dec 2007) naming his "African American Leadership Committee of 50 mostly pastors to asssist with political activities to today in his speech, HIS AFRO_AMERICAN AGENDA is what he is about!
I suspected racism was his hidden agenda, which was and IS NOT on the American agenda in this campaign!!! He has now successfuly forced us to an unnecessary diversion!
When his campaign started ending the Iraq occupation was front and center....at present it is the ECONOMY stupid!
I hope we can get into race at some time.....especially confronting those who LOVE to dominate (and get very rich) perpetuating the "legacy of defeat" in the black communities,,,,yes, the Jesssie Jacksons, Al Sharptons, Rev Wright, and now the latest Barack Obama. NO ONE OF THEM OFFRS SOLUTIONS OTHER THAN HATE OF AMERICA>>>>>
Obama NEVER OFFERED ONE PIECE OF PROACTIVE LEGISLATION for those suffering from the "legacy of defeatism", did he !!!!!!!!!! He is a Senator....go back to work there to make a difference. You will NOT be elected President for African American people....we are interviewing for a President of ALL AMERICAN PEOPLE!
"We the People.." is from the Constitution, not the Declaration.
A well balanced and constructive response. He has taken it on and dealt with the matter quite satisfactorily.
I cannot "buy" into these back-peddling statements. This man has continually tried to play the trump card re: Racial Bridges/Differences. The simple fact is, this man will not place his hand over his heart in a simple gesture of respect for the USA FLAG during the Pledge of Allegience. He has been involved in a religious church/organization since his young adulthood and has stood by the words and actions of that organization. He brought his own marriage to that organization. He baptised and CHOSE to raise and teach his children the followings and BELIEFS of that organization. He chose to honor African countries by doning their traditional Royalty dress....He did not represent America on those journeys.
THIS MAN HAD A MIND AND CHOSE TO REMAIN WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AFTER THE RANTINGS AGAINST AMERICA IN SEPTEMBER 2001 by his organization. A time when America desperately needed unity and support from all ethnic communities. Now, he attempts to win votes claiming to be the only individual in America that can "bridge" the gap between races. THIS CAMPAIGN IS NOT ABOUT RACE......It is about America....and, what is best for the citizens that love this country.....THIS MAN DOES NOT LOVE AMERICA.
sen obama is no different than other politicians who admit guilt in pieces and blame others for it. LAST WEEK HE STATED THAT HE NEVER HEARD CONTROVERCIAL RACIAL REMARKS FROM REV WRIGHT WHILE HE WAS IN THE PEWS BUT TODAY HE ADMITTED THAT HE HEARD THEM. MAY BE HE THINKS THE AMERICANS HAVE SHORT MEMORY AND HAVE ALREADY FORGOTTEN HIS LAST STATEMENT.
HE CONDEMNS RACE WHEN IT GOES AGAINST HIM ANS USE IT IN HIS FAVOUR. HIS STATEMENT THAT HECANNOT DISOWEN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS INDIRECT ASSERTION TO BLACKS THAT I AM ONE OF YOU AND YOU HAVE TO STICK WITH ME BECAUSE I AM BLACK.
OPRA CAMPAIGNING FOR HIM FARAKHAN SUPPORTING HIM WHAT OTHER PROOF OF RACISM YOU NEED.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CLAIM THAT BILL CLINTON WAS THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT. NOW HILLARY IS SUDDENLY WHITER THAN WHITE. A BLACK SENATOR SWITCHING HIS ENDORSEMENT TO OBAMA
.
COME CLEAM MR CLEAN MAN. YOU CAN NO LONGER INSULT INTELIGENCE OF AMERICAN VOTERS
bhagwan deol los angeles
Ok, this Wright stuff is disturbing. We have a need to know Senator Obama from every angle and what he believes when he talks of equality for America. To say that Clinton +/or Obama is at fault for the direction the Democratic campaign has headed, is ludicrous and short-sighted. America is a melting pot of races, genders, culture, etc. and we each have a personal interest in seeing "ourselves" in our President. With that connection comes passion and emotional investment. Human nature, yes. However, it also must be tempered with information about the candidates (good and bad, without negative "label" attached to said information) so that we can make informed choices, rather than only emotionally-driven ones. After much research, soul-searching and actually listening to what both candidates have to say and what their actual legislative records show, I decided to vote for Hillary. I had to take off the blinders of opinion polls, media spin, mud and excitement and remember what this race is really about: Hiring someone to do the toughest and,arguably, most important job on the planet. Being President of the US isn't about speeches, promises and what-if's - it is about who I believe will get up, everyday, and work their butt off for me and every other hardworking American, because they have a track record of that already. That person is Senator Clinton. She has been thru many tribulations, tests, and challenges in her life and like the Energizer Bunny, just keeps going and going. Where she gets the energy and conviction, I wish I knew. Think what each of us could do in our own lives and communities with just an ounce of her strength! She has worked hard and diligently for all Americans, and spent years building strong relationships because she has a passionate vision of what America can be, not just because she's running for President. Vetted, intelligent, tested and hardworking. Senator Clinton is the right choice for me in '08
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
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 the church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely -
If I recall, Obama said several days ago that he never heard Rev. Wright make inflammatory statements.
Amazing speech. As a white man married to a black woman, this is what we we need for my two daughters to live in this great country
There is nothing Obama can say. There are no carefully chosen words inimitable enough to reverse the damage Barrack Obama has done to the Democratic Party, to all Americans, and even to himself. Spin won’t efface the truth. Each time the media presents Jeremiah Wright’s racialist and divisive statements, the Obama camp says that viewers can’t make a judgment of Wright’s sermons based on only 30-second sound bites. I’ve actually subjected myself to several hours of this anti-American, racist tripe. It’s beyond horrible. Barrack Obama's judgment is appalling. Of course, anyone who questions Obama or his church is labeled a racist or clueless. This is just an inane, but predictable, tactic to quell legitimate concerns and shift the blame. The only person to blame for a twenty-year relationship with an unbridled bigot is Obama. Obama is absolutely responsible for being associated with, and condoning, Jeremiah Wright’s racist hate preaching. He could have disassociated himself from Trinity United Church long ago, but he chose not to do that. Nothing he can say tomorrow in a ten-minute speech will erase twenty years of hate, and profoundly bad judgment.
Obama calls for racial unity:
This is fantastic. The country needs to go beyond color. we need to go back to the roots of human dignity, human values and respect for life.
As a white, evangelical, Baptist pastor I find it refreshing to hear a politician thoughtfully speak what he sees as the truth about problems in our society. In many ways it echos the Biblical message of hope and redemption from the broken places in our lives and our world. I believe today Obama has shown our country leadership, integrity, and grace.
Awesome. I think he has what it takes. He addresses the doubt on your mind, and rather than playing the defensive card, he inspires you (us) to move forward.
People should really read the entire speech -- Wall Street Journal has it -- probably the most brilliant political speech I've ever read, where Obama literally becomes everyone.
Whether you want someone that brilliant as president is another question, but the speech itself is a classic.
The Obama campaign operates on two levels--they had no regard for Geraldine Ferraro, someone who has worked for civil rights all her life, when they spun as racist her comment to a little newspaper in California to the national media- playing the race card. And now they are spinning this weird relationship of Senator Obama's with this hateful Pastor to their advantage- again playing the race card. Very shrewd. And the national media is getting played big time, again.
The preamble to the Constitution of the United States begins, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union..."
No language such as this appears in the Declaration of Independence
Just words that brought tears to my eyes, joy to my heart and belief to my brain. Way to go Mr. President to be. Keep going for all of us.
Just words that brought tears to my eyes, joy to my heart and belief to my brain. Way to go Mr. President to be. Keep going for all of us.
AMAZING speech - Right on Obama - this is exactly what the country needed to hear.
What I heard was a class warfare speech masquerading as racial healing. He wants whites and blacks to come together and focus on the real enemy.
I am disappointed he doesn't get why Wright's comments are so upsetting.
This is not about race - this is about anti-American comments.
Why he lied about not knowing his pastor was controversial is beyond me. I am proud of my country and have always been proud.
How he can stand by a man who spews hatred for this country that I love is distressing.
Actually, he wrote this speech, and he makes a lot of very good points. I highly suggest the critics of Obama or of the democratic party give it a read; and not to change your views but rather to give you some perspective on how other people think. That way you can come up with arguments based on what he said rather then spewing fourth ignorant statements which show that you don't care enough to form a serious argument and that you don't know enough to back one up.
We need more politicians like this: politicians brave enough to talk about race honestly, openly, and constructively.
To the haters posting above, whose only purpose is to tear down someone they feel threatened by: shoo. You are not what America needs. Crawl back into your holes.
I wonder what would be said if Hillary Clinton or John McCain hung out at some KKK rallies because their spiritual advisor, and mentor also was the leader of that particular KKK group. I wonder if they would be condemed as being racist? Seems to me this is the same thing only coming from a black man instead of a white man/or woman.
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.
Hello Barack Hussein Obama. Please become the President of the African-Americans so us non-blacks can go one with our cracker lives.
To the person who said 'it's the economy, stupid' -- and everyone else who thinks Iraq is now less relevant -- don't you think 12$ billion a month in Iraq has something to do with the economy?
This was another MLK "I have a dream" speech moment. They don't get any better than Obama delivered today.
By the way, "We the People" is from the Preamble.
Obama writes all of his own speeches.
Sen. Obama is not a perfect candidate, not a perfect human being. Sometimes he contradicts himself, sometimes he must backtrack a nd clear up things he previously said, sometimes he is just...mistaken.
However, he is a perfect product of our country, the USA. Not white, or black, not just American or African, not merely a leftist but sometimes amazingly conservative, not young, but not old either, Sen. Obama is truly representative of the best that America can offer in the 21st century.
I believe he is an human being, a person of some political and moral vision.
vision who is attemt
How disappointing it was to read the "comments" from people who have read this article. I've been disappointed with Americans for 30 years, because we've just
accepted black/white, hate/love as abiding truths in our life. As a so called
Christian nation we have such anger when we let these distorted truths decide
our lives. The press has poisoned our reasoning ability by placing a valance
factor in news to get us to react to their stories. "Peace, let it be, love is all you
need" statements from our 70's are hollow now, but this is a time for us to be
weighing-not judgemental-but rationally thinking about what we want for our
next president. Peacemakers, people that want to unite us, or divisive people that want to play on our fears and prejudices. Peace be with you.
I use to support him, but after all the comments by his pastor, and his lies about not knowing about them is just to much. Then he stands up and give a speech defending what was said, give me a break. I starting to agree that he is all talk. I am also a black man, so race is not the issue.
I just feel he is more of a con man, than someone running for office.
It was just a speech, we do not know what he really thinks or feels!
Just what his speech writers wanted him to say. Think About It.
TO LATE For Obama, . Why hi didn't made that speech at the beginning of the campaign?? on those states , blacks were the majority? where hi was sure to win? That was not convenient to him? isn't? Now almost at the end , on those stated were the majority don't favor him!! is making a cry speech.. Very convenient!! for him!!
The most brilliant political speech I've ever read. Left me speechless, tear-filled. If this does not affect people, I dont know what will. God bless this brave man, god bless America.
It always amazes me when people think that speaking the truth about the history of white privilege in this country, and about how corporations and, yes, capitalism, have benefited the few at the expense of the many, is a sign of "hating America." Many of the comments above reflect fear-based ignorance, and the knee-jerk name-calling that springs from that is ugly, indeed. It is refreshing to have the truth spoken, the truth that in segregated circles, both black and white, there is still a lot of (justifiable) anger expressed -- AND that that anger should not be ignored or swept under the rug, but acknowledged as part of the complexity of the situation. So now, let's move forward towards solutions. I am a white, middle-aged woman who voted for Hillary in the primary, but Obama got it right this time.
Jerry, Bhagwan, DCD, Sean - your caps lock key seems to be stuck.
To those who object to Obama's perspective concerning race please read his speech. And after you have read it, ask yourself which vision of America do you see – a separate and unequal, foreclosed and laid-off vision or how good it is for brothers and sisters to dwell in Unity vision. Similarly, who do you feel/believe benefits from the present economic conditions? The average person or the wealthy few, who are busily working to undermine and destroy Obama's candidacy by any means necessary, why because the powers that be don't keep power by playing nice. When threaten they will use any ploy or distraction to divert the voting public from the worse economic disparity since the Great Depression. Yes my friends be not confused continue President Bush's/McCain war and policies of growing debt, foreclosure, layoffs and giveaways to elite and wealthy few or change from those destructive policies. You chose. Please choose wisely.
Peace and blessings,
Minister Jim Fripp
the speech left out the biggest challenges that blacks face- high out of wedlock birth rates, high crime rates, and the high drop out rates. in 2008, these three factors produce more poverty and promote more racism than anything else. every second black leaders like al sharpton wasted on don imus, michael richards, and defending rev. wright should have been spent working on these problems.
Obama is like the Prius, a hybrid. His heritage is from two sources, and thus it is reasonable for him to take a position that is neither solely one nor the other, but inclusive of both. At times in his life when he has asked to be the "bridge" person, he has pulled it off. We do better as a society if we are not tearing each other apart, something which I think he understands better than the other two viable candidates. Unfortunately, if he becomes president, he will have to work with the divisiveness that seems to characterize congress much of the time. I wish him luck; as a 69 year old centrist white male, he comes closer to my hopes and aspirations for the country than do the others.
MSNBC is now slobbering over him but CNN is worse! Every single person they have on as a guest is a avid Obama supporter. All we hear is most wonderful speech ever that will cure all ills and resolve all issues forever more.
What I heard was a good speech that was frank but filled with the right words for his voting base that he is losing ground in. Not much in there for people who are not already his supporters. In fact his closing part about vote for me or go down the wrong path was horrible.
The speech didn't address the real issues with Barack Obama on these stories that are coming to light and finally getting long over due coverage. The issue is not his growing list of associates that could cause one to pause and raise an eyebrow but rather it is his avoidance to address hard questions at all. Senator Obamas usual first response is always a charming ambiguous answer. We do not like the fact that we have to count on the media to ask the same set of question 2 or 3 times before we get a answer that is clear and straight forward and not some charming ambiguous response.
He has had a rumored reputation of avoid hard questions and issues and he is proving that to be true. He really was gone during the hard vote or voted present on them. That is of more concern to me then the growing list of associates that raise your eyebrow, although that does concern me also but more for electable reasons then anything else.
In no way was this speech as good as the I have a dream speech, even though the people on MSNBC & CNN think so. Here is why, it was a political repair speech. The first part was good and had substance but then he quickly went to pandering for his support base. By the middle of the speech he was so busy hitting us with the right words to reaffirm his voting base to make it anything more then a self serving political press release. The ending was incredible selfish and horrible. For him to have the gall to basically say Vote for me or you will be choosing to go down the wrong path was a total self pandering statement. The convention speech was a victory for all people with no agenda needed or added.
The much-anticipated address lived up to all expectations. Senator Obama presented a panaromic view of American history, replete with its tragedy of slavery and decades of Jim Crow (for our black citizens), while maintaining the promise of redemption into a society of justice and equality. While perfection has not been achieved, we are gloriously aware that we are perfectible. His direct remarks of rejection and condemnation for his pastor, Rev, Wright, leaves no doubt that the candidate shares not essence of those dark sentiments: Israel is not a dirty word, and the US Government does not poison African-Americans. Indeed, I would personally add, smiling, that G-d rather than damn America (as the reverend would have it) He Blesses America for he is, after all, "American:" in the sense that He has granted so much to one nation, to serve as the beacon, the source of light, for the rest of the world! Obama's words even made be weep for the hope that one so young, could share such insights, sentiments so noble!
Obama claims to be an African-American. How absurd-is he a Kenyan/American Mulatta or American? Because I am white do I consider myself a European-American or American, if either of my parents were a black european and the other parent a white european and I was raised in America, would I be considered a European Mulatta or just American...why not just American?
Obama will reap what he has sowed for the last 20 years in a radical right wing Church molded under Louis Ferrakhan's guiding principle-Hate.
As a person outside of America, but studying the election very closely, I think Barack Obama is someone very special, a leader who comes along only once in several generations. His speech today makes me more firm in this belief. If Americans allow race hate or prejudice or pure stupidity to end his candidacy, then, quite frankly, America will get what it deserves, and I will have no pity or sympathy for the suffering you people will all whine about in the years ahead.
Wow. I'm just shocked at the responses here. And profoundly saddened. A reader from the Washington Post's online newspaper said our response to his speech will say more about us than him. I see how true that is.
When Senator Obama won the Mississippi primary I though, my god what a wonderful thing to see, look how far we have come in this great country.
When I read and hear Rev Wright’s sermons and Senator Obamas’s speech I think my god we still have so far to go.
We all are capable of racism. We all are capable of stopping racism. Let’s start today, together.
To Amazed_1: The KKK actually killed people. They terrorized people solely because of their religion or color of their skin.
While Rev. Wright's words are divisive and inflammatory, he in no way suggests that black people should go around killing whites. Many of the injustices about which he is enraged are real. His response is wrong, but not murderous.
This speech was brilliant, and was indeed an "I have a dream" moment. I hope that everyone can move on and realize that no one's associations are perfect. Anyone who thinks that Obama is coming in with some sort of "Afro-agenda" is delusional and would have never voted for him to begin with. Obama offers dignity to the position of Commander-in-Chief, something that the other candidates, and our past two presidents, have not.
Words do keep getting in the way of messages. And feelings have a way of coloring our interpretations.
I believe Senator Obama can have heard some controversial comments by Jeremiah Wright without having heard the precise speeches that have aired repeatedly this week. I believe that he has not been inconsistent or dishonest.
I believe that he has not confused the Declaration of Independence with the Preamble to the Constitution, and that a careful reading of the words of his speech indicate no such confusion. How careless the people who would jump to conclude that a graduate of Princeton and former editor of the Law Review at Harvard Law School would make that glaring a mistake.
I believe that the message Senator Obama delivered today is a thoughtful, intelligent, and sincere affirmation of the inspiring message he has consistently delivered throughout his campaign.
Finally, although “integrity” is just a word, to me as a voter, it is a very important word. And I believe Senator Obama has it.
I'm curious where some of the commenters are getting the idea that this speech was intended exclusively for an African-American audience - as a WASPYSM [white anglo-saxon protestant yuppie straight male ;o)], I felt that a big piece of the message was directed to all Americans of any background. I didn't get a message that racial issues in the US are somehow my fault as a white American.
I would also point out that Wright's controversial remarks were first covered in a Rolling Stone article in February *2007*, at which time Sen. Obama responded with the quote about the Reverend being like an "old uncle". The main reason these old sermons are coming back now is because it makes a good news story that sells papers or gets us to view online ads.
The reporter for this story said that Obama quoted from the Constitution, so the reporter got it wrong. Not the Senator. Is it any wonder that we need better education in this country that people cannot distinguish quotation marks from a period and are not able to discern between what a reporter writes versus what he quotes?!
Obama & Wright are exposed as racists. Thiers’s is the gospel of hate, & the preaching of intolerance. Barak & Michelle understand his sermons as surely as the those Germans supported the holocaust & citizens in Hiroshima and Nagasaki who did nothing when Japan’s army raped Nanking resulting the death of 250,000 Chinese in 3 days. Michelle asks "What do I have to be proud of in America, other than Barak's becoming President". Well we should be ashamed of this hate spewed speech. Americans believe in the power of change. But this change is evil & racist. We should be working together to heal the nation and move forward. These words do neither.
Well, as I expected, judging from the absolute hate on this blog, America is really doomed for many of the same reasons that Obama is referring to. This guy is one of the greatest leaders to have come on the scene in a half generation. Most of the world can see that but you guys can't. That's really funny.
A MAGNIFICENT SPEECH BY A MAGNIFICENT MAN. I'LL BE PROUD TO CALL HIM PRESIDENT! -- posted by an old white lady
Obama's performance today makes it brilliantly clear why he is twice the candidate that either Hillary or John is. It was balanced, well-thought-out, and fair. There was no hatred in it (unlike the arm-waving frothing of some of the above commentators). It was insightful, firm, and beautifully delivered. I would suggest that those who are so deeply embroiled in rancor and upset about Mister Wright's orations step back and try to remember what it is you want for the nation, as a leader.
You will not find a better man than Barack Obama anywhere in the pool, and would be wise to look at that clearly and plainly. He's the best we have anywhere in the hustings. One reason? He refuses to jump around because the media has started some sort of firestorm about something. He is keeping his eye on our main chance for reversing the degradation of this nation suffered under the current administration and its anti-intellectual forebears. For the love of decency, and the repair of AMerican dignity, he should be elected without further ado.
Who would Jesus vote for?
He is Lincoln re-incarnated.
and like Lincoln he is a man of his time...risisng to the occasion when the country needs him.
go Obama go
America is not a "melting pot" as historians have pointed out, for this view incorrectly assumes that people of all ethnicities will reach a "boiling point" in the mix and distort their perceptions of their ethnicities to the status quo that everyone else expects. The corrected metaphor that our great nation is a "tossed salad" would be more accurate, for we want to see the achieved status of each and every child born or naturalized an American. The candidates of this election must focus upon the issues that effect our daily lives, such as the national medical insurance crisis, the need for price controls upon a rampant oil industry, the prolonged wars throughout the Middle East, and growing instability in markets. Let's watch to see which one will emerge the real builder within this nation, aimed squarely at solving problems rather than perpetuating the same old problems that have lingered, in my humble opinion, for far too long.
"just as I’m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed".
....Ummn... My preist doesn't spout hatred and racism. That would only happen once and I would never return to that church. You sat there for 20 Years!!! and your wife spouts anti-white rhetoric on her own. Obviously, you agree with his speech, otherwise you would have objected long ago.
You are more than a slogan Mr. Obama, and we are now seeing some of your true beliefs bubbling to the surface from underneath your great slogans.
I do not understand why a man has to continually deny everything that makes him a great choice. First he has no experience and that is a problem. Then he is not black enough. Then he is a dreamer because he doesn’t want to do business as usual in DC. Then he wants to pull the troops out to soon. Then he is a Muslim. Then he is conspiring with the Canadians. Then he is an affirmative action result. Now he is a Christian. America, America, America, why don’t you just say it. You have issues with Black candidates. Where are the people of Pennsylvania who feel that they would vote for the BEST candidate? Remember Bill Clinton, he was a white Barak Obama type candidate in his FIRST campaign. Swallow the bitter pill of race and deal with the reality of this equation Hillary = McCain and Obama = President.
Am I the only white man here who agrees with Wright? Why is anyone surprized about his comments? What urban black leader from the late 60's has not seen some INSANE level or racisim and has some anger about it? Christ. Im so tired of white people thinking the KKK is equal to black liberation in some way. Black cops didnt beat white people and send dogs after them for 70 years. Black people want equality , racist white people want to keep others down. There is a difference. It is not the same as if Mcain was in the KKK. If you think that you are probably a bush supporter and a pedophile.
I grew up on the streets of Boston during the 60's and 70's. I lived and survived through the busing years which almost destroyed our great city....
I grew up in a home where a black person was called all sorts of names including the N word as well as Nego, Coon, etc. I used the words myself as I threw rocks at black kids being bused into my neighborhood. I did not like or respect black people.....
A lot has changed in my 50 years...... incluidng my thoughts on life after serving my country. I honestly believe in my heart that Barrack Obama is an honest man and one that should lead our country. He deserves a chance!
John McCain and Hilliary Clinton are fine Americans but Barrack Obama can bring this country togther...
You can be cynical and write nasty words on these web sites nontheless, he reminds me of a young Jack and Bobby Kennedy, who was the future of this country but got gunned down in the prime of thier lives before they "could make a difference"....
Let's not let that happen again....
Those who would dismiss a presidential candidate based on what his former pastor has said in various sermons define ignorance. You, yes YOU, epitomize everything that is wrong with the country. You can't quote your nation's own founding documents correctly, you can't discern fact from fiction as you fall for the political lies that have been spread about this man (Islam, failure to pledge allegiance, etc.) and you are unable to construct a complete sentence using proper English.
American stupidity is no longer cliche - it is fact, as evidenced by the responses to this article, and those like it posted across the internet on various sites. Without a man like Obama who is committed to raising the collective intelligence of this nation through better education funding/programs we are going to continue to drown in our own ignorance while the rest of the world laughs as they pass us by. But YOU probably don't care anyway, because to YOU the America is 'the greatest country in the world' - too bad YOU are the only one who thinks so...
Those of you pointing out the "We the people..." not being part of the Declaration of Independence" are correct, but you need to go back and reread the beginning of the speech more carefully. He does not capitalize "declaration of independence" because he is referring to the fact that our ACTIONS, as to the writing of the Constitution, were finally and offficially declaring our independence. Grammatically, there is no way you can infer that he's actually talking about the document, The Declaration of Independence. He writes that they "finally made their real declaration of independence". WHether you agree or disagree with Obama, you cannot make the claim that he is applying a quote from one document to another.
All the people that voted twice for Bush will probably vote for Obama and they will again get what they deserve the country will suffer four more years of unqualified leadership. He preaches change...but change what? The American people are being fooled by a good speaker but with nothing behind him. What great things did he do as a senator? What changes did he make as a senator? Wake up America of the three candidates he is the least qualified. Truthfully I don't like any of them but Obama is not the one.
Can't you love your country and still recognize it has flaws? You can love a person and still know they're not perfect. Blind obedience is not the same as love.
BTW, I'm pretty sure Obama was referencing the Constitution, not the Declaration of Independence. It was also written in Philadelphia. Note that he said 1787, not 1776.
Couple of things:
First- PEOPLE WHO TYPE THEIR COMMENTS IN ALL CAPS imagine that they're shouting. I never read them, just as I never listen to noisy people who shout.
Second- Regardless of whom you support, we really have to get past this dirt digging. I don't care about anything that does not, or would not affect the job I elect a president to do.
Constitution, preamble, who cares? I got the point he was making: It is our DUTY (oh, Lord, there I am shouting now) to ourselves and our descendants to continually strive to perfect this imperfect union.
Somehow I still cannot believe that he would not disown his pastor. Disowning your pastor is different than disowning your grandmother. Your pastor is not your own flesh and blood and you have a choice as to who your pastor is. You don't have a choice about who is your grandmother.
Why compare him to your family if he is such an undesirable person? Barack Obama should have left that church and should not feel such loyalty to such a bigoted pastor.
I still feel disappointed and troubled by the whole situation.
I have never heard any real discussions on race by a politician like this before. This is a milestone in American Politics. People who are offended by Rev. Wright's comments could either go back to comfortable ignorance of racial relations in this country or step up and engage in an honest way to deal with the problem. Sen. Obama is impressive in his ability to confront issues in an open and honest way.
"Obama writes his own speeches"
#29 from Florida, how naive are you to really think that Obama writes his own speeches. He has a hired speech writer who travels with him all the time. The guy attended school in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the speech writer actually told a magazine columnist that he reads a lot of MlK and Robert F. Kennedy speeches. That said, after watching the Obama's speech, it has not changed my view of Obama's relationship for twenty years with Mr. Wright. Actually, Obama is on the fence because he cannot disown Wright because the black community will say that he threw Wright under the bus. Therefore the best case scenario is to disavow the hate speeches, which Obama attributes to past racial discriminations of whites towards blacks in the past, sixties era. Wright is static, in that he can't get past those years.
All this time, Obama did not want to be viewed as the black candidate, but today he has taken on the mantle. He might as well, because in Mississippi, S.C., Georgia and in upcoming Pennsylvania, he is getting 92% of the black vote. Yet he wants to be the candidate for all America. Maybe he should have addressed these constituents and reiterate that they should vote for the person because of his attributes and and his ability to be commander in chief instead of voting because "Our time has come."
Moreover, the Obama campaign surrogates should stop playing the race card for everytime people refer to his race. What they are trying to do is make white's feel guilty into giving him a chance. That is all over now thanks to Jeremiah Wright and his diatribes. Obama has been molded by this mentor for twenty years. He lied on television when he said he wasn't sitting in the pew when the diatribes were uttered. Today, he came clean and said he heard some.He had to because if someone was to dig deeper, it would be certain that he was sitting in the pews for some of these rantings. Will the real Obama please stand up?
Obama gives a great speech that was WRITTEN FOR HIM. You can't pick your parents, brothers or sisters.......but you do CHOOSE your PASTOR & friends. You are ultimately judged by the company you keep. Wright is a friightening extremist that Obama chooses not to distance himself from. No way I'm voting for somebody like that. I once had HOPE for OBAMA but now I've CHANGED and will not vote for him.
Why is he making this speech NOW. Did he have some sort of revelation? Or was it because he has his back against the wall. We do need to confront racism in this country; it is long overdue. But the forum is wrong and probably his agenda as well.
My two thoughts are...
I'm voting for Sen. Obama based upon his beliefs, policies and message... not Rev. Wright beliefs, policies and message
I'm disturbed at many of the previous comments on this blog. Have these people thoroughly researched Sen, Obama? Have they gone to his website or read his books? Have they followed his campaign? Open your minds (if possible) and dare to dream for a better America. An America based upon hope and not hate. I used to be a Fox news follower but I just got sick of the negativity. I'm a republican who votes for the best candidate and not just the party line. Look at the issues facing this country and vote for who solves them best.
As a Jewish American, all I can say is Obama is the only candidate that clearly has what it takes to transcend race, religion and gender and show our nation the leadership that we so badly need! I was for Hillary but no longer, not after that speech… Barack, you now have my heart my support and my vote!!!
His version of Racial Unity, and what I am reading here,surely indicates that we will never learn....We are creatures of division, and so we continue to DI.VIDE.
I must commend Obama for making such a speech in tough times for him, but the possibility is that TOUGH TIMES NEVER LAST
Obama could not have a better speech than he did today. It was from the heart.
Not stilted, and not at all typical of the way you hear from the other candidates. You know, like Al Gore inventing the Internet. Where they will just say ANYTHING all the time. It's up to any of us to to accept or reject the sum of the man. Today we all got to know him a little better. If what we do, is judge all of the candidates by their affiliations, it will be very difficult to select a president. There is certainly enough fodder on all of them to last past the November election. The American economy is at a critical state, the health and welfare of it's citizens in need, it's foreign policy in dire need of repair. We all have to decide who is the most forthright, honest, unflappable candidate to deal with solutions for these issues. Who has the best goals, and vision for Americas future? Who's judgment do you have confidence in? McCain has his cards on the table. Obama has his cards on the table. Clinton has a years and years of records yet to be released. Clinton says she has 35 years of experience. Do you believe that? Should THAT make a difference to voters? Only you are the judge of that.
I was deeply moved by Senator Obama’s speech in Philadelphia. It ranks high for me in both feeling and in content. His perspective of this nation as a work in progress toward “a more perfect union” is right for a simple reason: that divisiveness has overwhelmed this nation for too long (to say nothing of the world at large). The feeling of unity has been lacking for so long, that the thought of joining hands in reunion brings poetry out of the flowers of spring. Secondly, he calls for treating of human pain, not just for their symptoms, but rather by finding their roots in history and addressing their cause. Delving beneath the political veneer of a presidential campaign, Obama sited major social issues that cut across racial, gender and religious sectors, offering hope for those who must deal with it. If he were a quarterback, Obama just threw a touchdown pass. Now all who can must catch the ball and run with it.
The way Obama has handled the Wright brouhaha shows him to be a cut above most public officials. His speech was beautiful...to the point, candid, hopeful, and inspiring. I could live with either Hillary or McCain as President. Either would be a relief after the current administration. They're both major leaguers. But I think only Obama can make an over the shoulder catch like Willie Mays. And it will require this kind of grace to turn the country around. Our economic and environmental problems are profound. In many instances, solutions will require a leap of faith. And with experiment, failures. Obama's speech, re Dr. Wright, shows he has the truthfulness, eloquence, and vision to address difficulties head on. McCain and Clinton...maybe, but maybe not so much.
I thought Obama's speech was carefully crafted, but also very blunt where it needed to be. And as previously stated in some of the above comments the fact he admitted to hearing some of Wright's remarks just days after claiming ignorance to them will hurt him with voters and pundits and Clinton's campaign (if they're smart) That said, Obama projected a humility, regret and-to a certain degree-hope that could prove be the impetus for (God help me) Change. Whether or not you despise Wright's comments, Or Obama's response to the fallout surrounding them, I think Its important have an TRULY open and honest dialogue about the disparate racial views shared by many. NO STEROTYPES PLEASE!!
Nice spin speech. The man's not ready on Day 1 as he claims. Way too inexperienced. Definitely not the MLK equivalent as that was plagerized. Obama whisteled this up to try to stop the firestorm. He's just another poiticion. Wright was on his committee until last Friday even as the storm was taking off. Wright was left out of the Obama Presidential announcement in Feb 07 because they knew he was controversial (read "said nasty things ... and believes them). If ONE parishoner who heard the Rev's inflamatory remarks went out and did a black on white crime, Obama is Osama.
Politics is politics. He hangs with the guy so he loses with the guy.
Brilliant, honest and balanced; this was the best speech about race relations in America that I've heard during my lifetime. Senator Obama is clearly the best man for the job.
Brilliant, honest and balanced; this was the best speech about race relations in America that I've heard during my lifetime. Senator Obama is clearly the best man for the job.
I am not American, but I admire America, or at least I did until I saw you had the stupidity to re-elect George W. Bush fair and square in 2004. The whole world screamed at you not to re-elect this man, that he was a menace to your health and well-being, but you chose not to listen. Now, as a nation, you botched Katrina, you are bogged down in a war that you choose not to end, but are not really trying hard to win either, you are a nation that casually endorses torture, your economy is in a downward spiral, and your dollar is the butt of international jokes. And all I hear from you people is your whining about your pain. You people deserved this, and now seeing all this hate directed toward Barack Obama, the most gifted leader you have had in several generations, you people still deserve it. Stop whining and start thinking, or things will just get worse.
Mr. Obama's well crafted speech is too gimmicky and too late. Had Mr. Wright's sermons did not hit the 'net I believe Mr. Obama would not be apologizing for his "old uncle."
He isn't saying "we the people" is from the Declaration, he is saying that the Declaration of Independence was completed by the writing of the constitution - citing the preamble of the Constitution as the start of America.
Amazing speech. It makes me sad that people want to treat this and Wright as such a black and white issue, when as I think he effectively articulated today, race relations is still a very gray area in America....
Black people in America look at the rest of the world and thank their lucky stars they live here. But you'll never hear that. It's too precious an industry - race-hucksterism-hustlerism. It's quite lucrative, really. To think race relations in South America, Europe or Asia in regards to black people are better than in America shows a naive "un-cosmopolitan" person. Instead of speeches like Mr. Obama's - you know what whitey wants? Just once? A friggin' thank-you.
Hello for all of you who are implying Barak quoted form the wrong document, here is the text of the speech. This is on the Wall Street Journal's website.
March 18, 2008, 10:27 am
Text of Obama’s Speech: A More Perfect Union
Here, the full text of Sen. Barack Obama’s speech, “A More Perfect Union,” as prepared for delivery.
“We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.”
Two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America’s improbable experiment in democracy. Farmers and scholars; statesmen and patriots who had traveled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted through the spring of 1787.
The document they produced was eventually signed but ultimately unfinished. It was stained by this nation’s original sin of slavery, a question that divided the colonies and brought the convention to a stalemate until the founders chose to allow the slave trade to continue for at least twenty more years, and to leave any final resolution to future generations.
Of course, the answer to the slavery question was already embedded within our Constitution – a Constitution that had at is very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promised its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time.
Obama created this issue that wasn''t there 6 months ago. Obamas quest to solidify a monolithic African American vote in the South has come back to sting him and America. The man is dumber than Bush.
Now he wants to lecture the country about race so that he somehow looks presidential when in fact he created the issue during his campaign. Obama is worse than Bush. Shame!
I think the issue of race and gender has been too hard to ignore in this election. There is always some line, either spoken or written, in news strories about how we'll have the first black or first women nominee, etc.
I think it needed to be addressed. Hillary got all teary eyed in NH about her role as a women. As for Barak's pastor, I am a white male, catholic, mid-30's, from Massachusetts. You should have heard the stuff my priest was spouting about the sins of gay marriage and how I should vote against it, etc when Mass was trying to ban gay marriage. I did not agree with my priest, but I still went/go to the same church on Sunday and listen to him talk about more relevant issues from the Bible and religion. He married me and baptized all my kids. So point being is that you may not always agree with you religious role model, but you still can maintain a relationship...
Imagine having a President who writes his own speeches and brilliant ones, at that.! He is too good for all the knuckle heads who parrot what they hear and don't think for themselves. I'm an old, white, female who lives abroad. We who look at the USA from a distance can see the big picture. We voted for him by over 60 percent.
It is good to see that so many Clinton operatives read Boston.com. It looks to me that the Clinton campaign is trying to distract everyone from the most powerful, presdential speech any candidate has made in the past 20 years. I must commend the Clintons for mobilizing their people so quickly, but their comments here are absurd. Clinton wishes she were so profound and spiritual.
He can say whatever he wants. I'm not voting for him and frankly I don't know anyone personally that believes this load of crap he is shoveling on a daily basis.
Jen, I am with you. I was moved by the Senator's speech and surprised and disappointed by many of the responses I read here. I have not been an Obama supporter up to this point but I cannot help but think the ignorance demonstrated by some of the comments here; Jerry Wayne, Sean, Bhagwan, Austin, among others, may be exactly why we need a candidate like Senator Obama. I do not yet know if I will vote for him but I am glad he is in the race and I hope his message resonates with those who can see past their racial blinders.
As is typical for Obama, he delivered a good speech, but one thing particularly concerned me. He spent the weekend insisting he had never heard Wright make these types of statements yet today Obama admitted he had heard them; so he was aware of Wright's extreme racist attitude but continued to not only go to church there but also tout him as his mentor, etc. Today Obama attempted to explain away why he continued to go to church there and support Wright because "none us would quit attending just because we don't agree with what our pastor or rabbi said". Yes we would! I have, several times. When I attended a church that spoke against gays, even though I am not gay, I never went back. It is precisely how you find a church, you go and if you don't like their views or values you don't go back. You certainly do not join and you certainly do not treat the pastor as a mentor, have him baptize your children. Bottom line: Obama cannot have disagreed very strongly with Wright’s vile racist attitude or he would have stopped attending the church. I
Great speech. However, it is about 20 years too late and should have been said to the congregation of his church and to his pastor directly a long time ago. I can't imagine how it must have felt for him to sit through 20 years of white/America hating rhetoric from a pastor he does not agree with and, in fact, condemns for making such speeches. How horrible it must have been for him to be forced to bring his small children to this place of hatred against America. How awful for him to be forced to attend Sunday sermons for 20 years to sit and listen to such hate filled words against whites and the United States. I can't imagine bringing myself and my family to sit through an hour of such speeches - much less 20 years of it. I do however remember my asian parents tell me when I was younger, "You are who you hang around with." So I chose to hang around with people with like minds as mine - non-racist people of ALL colors.
Wow....nothing more amusing than watching a group of Obama "cultists" try to spin there way out from under this one – except for maybe watching a fraud of a candidate self-destruct!!
Some of you even say that "everything the preacher said is absolutely correct". Really? African Americans should sing "God Damn America"? Really?? "The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color." Really??? The Good Reverend also suggests that the United States should bare responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks!! Really????
Several of you kool-aid drinkers suggest that Hillary's or McCain's "spiritural advisors" should be "checked out". AGREED! Bring it on!! I want to hear from anyone that a candidate considers a "spiritural mentor"....we can learn alot about a candidate (or anyone for that matter) by who he "respects" or goes to for "spiritural guidance and direction".
Senator Obama spent two decades of Sundays, with his family, sitting in a pew in front of this tired old racist, allowing his wife and children to listen to his misguided vitriolic nonsense and had no problem with it. That says alot to me about his character.
Then, when confronted by audio of the Rev's racist rhetoric, he throws him immediately under the bus. This too is very telling.
All the time that the good Senator continued to ramble about "hope and unity" and told us “words matter” he was listening to the racially divisive rants of a looney Reverend!!
He now claims…”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.”
Well Senator, I can honestly say that if any “man of God” on the pulpit of my church started spouting racially charged horsesh!t that was diametrically opposed to my belief system, I’d be brave enough to give him a piece of my mind , THEN leave the church. Fundamental beliefs don’t take a 20-year vacation!!
Oh…and the way you called your grandmother a racist in a national speech was incredibly classy (anything for a win huh amigo? )!
Wake up Obamaites, put down the kool-aid, take off the rose-colored glasses and grow up. Your candidate is a fraud!
This is one of the finest American speeches I've ever heard or read - it is an important one - and an honest one.
I am a Republican who this morning, after reading and then hearing the speech, decided to vote for Obama.
If he'd been smart, Obama would not have made this speech. After the story broke regarding Wright's hate-filled, bigoted, anti-American and racist rants, it was left for Obama to show how he was above all of it. He failed to so in the speech because he anticipated the wrong questions to answer. He tried to explain Wright's twisted beliefs and, in doing so, further aligned himself with Wright. Now, there are Obama followers for whom this speech was unneccessary, they are committed to him. There are others, me being one, who would never vote for him because his policies are socialistic in nature. But, for the voter still wondering who they want to pull the lever for, it will now be based on race. Funny thing is, Rodney King delivered the same speech years ago with only a few words, "Can't we all just get along?" Obama is a tool, but he gives a charismatic speech. Maybe he should become a preacher, I hear there might be an opening at the Trinity Church in Chicago.
JUST ANOTHER SPEACH WITH ALL THE RIGHT WORDS.....
OBAMA calls for racial unity .... How about unity period... for all, I have a problem with the fact that someone who wants to be our next president will not put his hand over his heart and say the pledge of allegiance to the flag.... the flag he wants to represent. "WE THE PEOPLE" is from the constitution not the declaration. I have watched the debates and I have heard him say I agree with what Hilliary said, I have not heard one original idea of his in any of his speeches or debates. I don't think Mr Obama really knows were he stands.... I do know he is not the one we want to stand up and debate John McCain he does not have what it takes, no matter how eloquently he speaks. I also have a problem with his wife saying that she is now proud to be an American.... We have to many issues to face in the coming years, Health Care, The war in Iraq, the economy, and we need a person
(be it black, white, man, or women) that will have what it takes to take us forward. We will not get there if we elect Obama . I feel he needs to finish the job he started in the senate and add a few more years and original ideas to his resume before we know who he really is and what he truly believes in.
If nothing else, the people who support Obama on this board seem to be able to spell and punctuate correctly.
Why is it when America's past well-documented history is brought up by black people they are labeled as racists?
The sermon nor the man warranted the comparisions to David Duke that I heard on MSNBC.
If he'd been smart, Obama would not have made this speech. After the story broke regarding Wright's hate-filled, bigoted, anti-American and racist rants, it was left for Obama to show how he was above all of it. He failed to so in the speech because he anticipated the wrong questions to answer. He tried to explain Wright's twisted beliefs and, in doing so, further aligned himself with Wright. Now, there are Obama followers for whom this speech was unneccessary, they are committed to him. There are others, me being one, who would never vote for him because his policies are socialistic in nature. But, for the voter still wondering who they want to pull the lever for, it will now be based on race. Funny thing is, Rodney King delivered the same speech years ago with only a few words, "Can't we all just get along?" Obama is a tool, but he gives a charismatic speech. Maybe he should become a preacher, I hear there might be an opening at the Trinity Church in Chicago.
speeches are just words...Obama where is the legislation that backs this up? Where are the actions taken before it affects you as a candidate? After 20 years of being mentored by your pastor...sudddenly now you speak out?
You want to run on wisdom and judgement...show some.
Those who lump Obama in with Wright who are Catholics should pause and consider that, by the same standard, they are child molesters. It's wrong to judge a man solely on the basis of who's church he attends.
Look at it for what it is: Rev. Wright, another American seeking 15 minutes of fame.
What a great speech, Obama has seen both sides of the fence with a white mother and black father, plus growing up with a white grandmother, I felt he had to talk about the racism in our country, because since this race began it has been about race, when Bill make the first comment about it been a fairly tale, wake up American racism is still very much alive and someone needs to address it, Obama did not want to talk about it but was force into it, thank you Obama.
Why isn't the media talking about John McCain being endorsed by megachurch pastor John Hagee? This guy want to accelerate the RAPTURE! Lieberman praises this guy in Washington. They want nuclear war!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/rapture-ready-the-unauth_b_57826.html
How can your call for Racial Unity be taken seriously when you are a 20 year member of a divisive, racist church?
Obama's campaign is over.
This guy is a hateful doubletalker who hoodwinks people with slick speech.
He's done. He's the ruination of the Democratic party. If he takes the nomination, he'll certainly lose the general election, and he'll have lost the White House for the Dems.
Nothing in the speech gave me any assurance on one central question- does Obama share his mentor's hate for our nation ? Patriotism, love for and pride in our country is a pre-requisite for even being a citizen of the USA, let alone being President. I am a passionate Democrat but am a proud American first. I cannot in good conscience vote to give the keys of the WH to Sen.Obama if he should be the Dem nominee. Also, what else do we not know about him and his past ? I could dismiss off my concerns with his wife's tirade against our country but his mentor's venom put me over the top.
Definitely our next president.
wow... I always heard how racist and bigotted boston is and you posters here really do prove that.
you guys would be right at home with backwoods, inbred racists in the south
I am sorry, but I don't believe him. I am glad we are finding out who he is. We know Hillary... How come a week ago he said he wasn't in the pews when these things were ever said, and now he was? You know why? Because he quoted some of those statements in his book and he was going to be called on it.
Barack Obama is a modest and noble speaker. He will be one of our best presidetns.
The venom that's spewing forth is so profound that it's mind numbing. People using CAPS LOCKS to "shout" their opinions. His speech may not politically deliver him from narrow minded voters. Yet, he clearly is doing something that's been needed for some time.
Reading these blogs and many others shows how much hatred is still this country. There are those that hate the man. And clearly more others that hate those that fail to see Obama the same way.
Is this really the America our founding fathers wanted to see?
Some people still can't stop drinking the Kool-Aid, apparently. Obama has used race when it suited him. He joined that church to be "authentically black." He played the race card in SC, using terms like "bamboozled" and "hoodwinked" while speaking to mostly black crowds. Those are words out of the black nationalist playbook. What a hypocrite.
This half breed is a lying piece of garbage. You guilt ridden morons deserve what you get.
Louis Farrakhan for President!
To Donna #9--Senator Obama never said that he hadn't heard his pastor make any inflammatory statements. He stated that he did not hear him make a couple of specific statements.
The tenor of many of the responses here shows us that many of our fellow Americans are angry, frightened, disillusioned; and profoundly mistrusting and cynical. It is precisely because of this that we should celebrate our opportunity to elect a president who stands ready to face the challenges of moving our wounded country forward. Senator Obama has the life experience, the intelligence, the discernment, the wisdom, the courage, and a profound belief in the goodness of all his fellow Americans.
It's imperative that we follow Obama's example and start believing in each other again. For the good of our neighborhoods, our country, and our world, we must.
"COME CLEAM MR CLEAN MAN. YOU CAN NO LONGER INSULT INTELIGENCE OF AMERICAN VOTERS"
This, fellow voters, is probably the best sentence I've ever seen.
If the popular vote is comprised of millions of Americans who can't be bothered to check the quality of their spelling and grammar when posting something on the Internet with the intent to persuade others to see their point, then I'm wondering why we don't have a President Larry, his Vice-President Daryl, and his other Vice-President Daryl.
...never mind. I guess my point's already been made.
No matter about today speech:
1. The division of America into two groups black and white is the first step
2. The division of America into three groups black, white and Hispanic is
the second step.
3. When Omaba realize he has control of the government then is coming
the third step: To destroy democracy in America.
4. Create a communist America
I am not talking about the internal war and killing of people
DO NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA!!!!!!!
This seems to be an Obama cheerleading site.
Not gonna fly guys. Wright exposure is a deal breaker.
Wishing and pontificating won't erase it.
YOUR ALL A BUNCH OF SUBSERVIENT CLONES. FOR THE MOST PART. WHEN WILL YOU REALIZE THAT RACE, RELIGION, ETHNICITY, GENDER, OR PARTY WILL NOT HAVE ANY AFFECT ON A PRESIDENTS ACTIONS. SAME FACE DIFFERENT MASK. PUPPETS HAVE STRINGS AND THEY DONT PULL THEIR OWN....IF YOU GET THE PICTURE....NOW GO PUT A GERBIL ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST....BOOYAKASHA!!!!
Obama came to chicago from Harvard to do good. The people in his community and in the Chicago scene are what they are. Rezko and Wright are not creations of Obama. He has to live in the world as it is and sometimes the people we encounter are not what they should be, why does that change who Obama is. He is a good man who could be a great president and should not be held accountable for other peoples actions.
If this country cannot rise to its destiny and elect Mr. Obama, we are doomed. I am shocked by the racism displayed in some of the responses. Obama is right, we can't repudiate and deny, we must grapple with these problems. We can't hide them under political rhetoric any more. I feel his speech today was a beautiful expression of a fine mind. He is so bright, so honest, and he was Made in America. Yes, it gives me hope. What is wrong with hope? Or eloquence? I firmly believe that Barak Obama told us the truth today. He told us what he thinks and displayed presidential leadership qualities that are wonderful to behold.
I am a baby boomer white woman who is so tired of my generation messing things up. I look to the youth of this country to take its future seriously and insist on electing Obama.
In every speech, Obama blurs the line between religious hope in a higher power and a hope born out of individual inaction that seeks the hand out and a life supported by the government dole.
His slick and sultry delivery is hollow double speak designed to tell everyone exactly what they want to hear. The black populous blindly follow this 'Pied Piper' to the edge of an abiss they will not recover from for decades.