Obama criticizes Klan ad

.....only if the Klan was alive and well now. There will be a run on the White House if Obama is elected. Say good bye to America the Beautiful.

Wow, if the white challenger depicted the black challenger as a Black panther, people would be up in arms suggesting racist and demanding resignation

Barry O's campaign first reaction was to say we are staying out of it. Nice to print that.

Since Nathan Bedford Forest is burried in that park, why shouldn't it be named for him? Either pay all the costs to move him and his monument, sell the entire parcel to private interests or the National Park Service, or shut up and go away.

Good for Obama. Contrast this with the Republican approach which appears to be to work feverishly behind the scenes trying to figure out how to make the campaign about race, while vigorously denying that you have any interest in making the campaign about race. Starting with accusing Obama of playing the race card.

Gee. It seems to me we fought a war a while back because of dictates coming from Washington. Maybe Obama, Al, and Jesse should just keep out of Tennessee politics.

Just think of the monsterous fall out against John McCain if he said the same thing that Obama said. Obama was playing the race card but thinks he got away with it because he is half black. VERY SNEAKY OR SO HE THINKS

"Obama, seeking to become the nation's first black president, has been navigating racial politics throughout the campaign. He gave a speech about race and politics, and last week was accused by Republican John McCain of playing the 'race card.'"

That's pretty poorly reported. You make it sound as if Obama has instigated the racial flavor of this campaign. In fact, he has taken extreme care not to inject racism into this campaign, and has repeatedly been pushed into racial corners by both Hillary Clinton, and now by McCain.

Obama has responded (the speech you mention in yhour last sentence) thoughtfully, and has emplored the electorate not to make this (or any) campaign about race. Yet others, including journalists at the forefront, have continued to insist on having a racial contest, and have continued to point fingers at Barack Obama as if he brought this all up.

Quit being so disingenouos, and start treating this campaign honestly. Yes, it takes more work on your part, but it is what makes you a journalist and not just a hack.

Just another FIip-flop by obama what else is new . obama sounds just like jimmy carter back in the late 70" GOD help us all

Memphis will be forever trapped between white truculence and black resentment, and the politicians that play upon it. I was there for 3 years, and it might as well be America's Johannesburg circa 1999, without any of the charm.

U go Obama!!!!!!!!

Nathan Bedford Forrest was a man of his time. He lived in a world from which we should learn ugly lessons, but hardly celebrate.

President Obama will be a man for our new American future. This story is yet to be written.

I'm taking my kids to Barack Obama park!

As a Black American. I think Sen. Obama should remain neutral on such an issue like a Ad that will clearly distract his own message across America. Let the local junk "Stay Local". While he focuses on the National issue's which seem daily to be simmering down.

Racial issues have been with us a lifetime! But I believe will over-time become less cumbersome on our day-to-day American experiences, as more young people move in to take-over the reign's of Government, Business, and the Media outlets "Whereby race, becomes less of an issue, than making money".

"CAN WE ALL JUST GET-A-LONG"

thats just like a white man turning things around to benifit himself but look at it this way what if the shoe was on the other foot.

Why did he wait until the day of the primary, when Memphis voters won't hear about it until the evening news? Should he not have spoken out when it mattered?

Nathan Bedford Forrest was a man way ahead of his times imho. all this talk about the klan is stupid imho. do you understand that back in the 1920's more than 300,000 members of the klan marched peacefully in Washington DC the nations capital. most of us have family members that were in the klan at some point or another most were hard working, honest law biding people. Imho the trouble started when that rosa parks woman wouldnt take her seat in the back of the bus. since then the white people have had to pay hell for it. why didnt she just sit in the back of the bus & shut up?

This election has bought out those who have been hiding behind those white sheets to express how they really feel towards Black America.Understand this, most of the comments about Obama seems to have filtered down to the rest of us,letting us know what white america really think of Afro Americans.Even the ones who say"Well some of my best friends are black",yea right and how many of your black friend have you had over for dinner lately.Not only have you degraded some of our black people but you also attacked Islam,and this is the county you sing about"land of the free and home of the brave.But guess what "I ain't mad at ya,cause your doing no more then I expected."talking bout being bitter all black people if they choose have the right to be bitter.This is the same county we help you build and yet you say we good enough to clean your houses and work your fields but not good enough to live on the same block you live on,huh it even took a while before we could go to school with you,and check this we even got some of the same degrees you have and still you say we not good enough.Well its a good thing I don't concern myself with how you feel about me,cause it only matter how I feel about myself.Now whatever you get out of this post that I'm leaving I do hope you will use it to begin to change the way you look at blacks and come to terms with the fact we are here to stay like it or not.

I agree with ED. I am a white male and i think race is not the issue here. Its people like AL and Jesse that give black people bad names. If MR King could see how those two have acted he would roll over in his grave.
Martin Luthur King fought so hard and done the right thing for black people. I had the chance to meet him one day and shake his hand. I was pround to have done that. The other two All and Jesse i wouldn't shake their hand if my life depended on it.

WE HAVE A (ARMY OF ONE) LETS HAVE (AMERICA OF ONE)

the Klan is alive and well in Tennessee! and all over the world for that matter.

Talk is cheap, people! Do the right thing in November. Don't let color get in the way. Vote for the right person, period.

People open your eyes and look around you. This is a new day and a different way of doing things. Those who are stuck on "racism" are probably reminiscing about the good ole days when a certain group controlled everything. Those days are gone forever. It is inevitable that this country will be lead by someone who does not resemble the old, pale presidents of the past. There are many highly intelligent, competent individuals who can lead this country. The current president is not smarter than a fifth grader. It is time for a change. We need a president with intelligence and common sense unlike the current commander in chief. The thought of another idiot like him is unbelievable. We don't need someone who is too seasoned, out of touch with himself, doesn't know what's going on in the world nor remember what he says or what he's talking about. Only in America.

I was looking at the comments and asked why anyone cares so much. Obama was being cocky, so what? McCain can do the same deal. Once again, why bother with any of these people? Pick ones that might do something great for our country for a change. Despite what we see in the news, America does have more than two parties. Stop nagging about little things and start doing something productive.

I am amazed at the overt racism displayed here. Maybe I am naive but I thought that America had moved on and we are about to elect the first African-American President, but clearly with these attitudes Americans are still ignorant racist hillbillies.

It seems to me that Obama's african american heritage should be the least of our worries as Americans. And regardless of the differences of opinion on having an african american president are we should be more concerned with what his other origins (arab) and his carefully clothed religious beliefs (muslim) would mean to how he would run this nation. The end times are ever present here in America, and if we ignore them than history will repeat itself in ways we never dreamed. You think the Jews had it bad? Wait until the arab muslims get ahold of AMERICANS!!!! Think people, just think.....

Its amazing to me that so many of you are defending the KKK. It just goes to show, what White Racist America is really thinking!

IM 25 and its a shame to see people way older than me being racist or making racist remarks. Grow the f*&k up.

The "Race Card" ! Who constructed the deck? Obama's just playing the hand that 's being dealt. He just may well win at the game "THEY" created.
If not, there will be many more to follow..........the flood gates are OPEN!!!

As a matter of fact, the "FLOOD GATES" have been open for over 400 years.
We had a slow start, but catching up is very rewarding!

Why would they rename the park to begin with? It's almost as if people want to forget our history. God Forbid! If you forget your past, you are doomed to repeat it.

What's the problem with letting people know he's involved in the Klan? IF he is IN the Klan, he should not be in government. So I say bravo for the other politician telling!

I have never considered myself to be racist, but it seems to me being a white woman, that its ok for African Americans to be racist against white people. I see more racism from Aferican Americans then I ever have from White people. I really dont understand.

People can be so mean! All for what reason? Because you think you are better then someone else? Because of the color of there skin? People think that they are so entitled! It doesnt matter what group you are in, it is all the same argument! Some people think they are just better then others! Rich people think they are better than poor people..white or black! Republicans think they are better than democrats...white or black! Football teams..Baseball teams..it goes on, and on!! It is all about talking smack, and making others feel less important! I dont care how many people it took to get me my milk, black, white, hispanic, asian,etc. Cause if it werent for the cow, there would be no argument. Yet nobody talks about the cow, and the cow is black, and white! It does not matter, it is just a reason to talk, and argue to have something to talk about!
Slavery has been around for thousands of years! Americans didnt start it, they stopped it! Africans sold there own into slavery! The first lifetime awarded slave was to a black plantation owner, after he sued against a white plantation owner that was trying to help that black man gain his freedom as an indentured servant! Read your history! Cause that is what it should be! History!
If the people of this country would just come together, and stop trying to place each other in certain groups, we would all be able to concentrate on the important things in life! We would all be able to work towards goals that matter!
Rich people want to hang out with rich people! Black people want to hang out with black people! White people want to hang out with white people! Gay people want to hang out with gay people! That is just how our idiotic society is! Lets put all of the meantally retarded together! Lets put all of the handicap people together! It goes on, and on! It does not matter where you are! It is just our dumb way of stereotyping every group of people there is! Football fans hang out with football fans! Baseball fans hang out with baseball fanes! hockey fans hang out with hockey fans! they all argue that there sport is better! Who cares? The bottom line is...it clouds our thoughts about what the really important issues are! These issues have nothing to do with race, political parties, sports fanatics, etc. It is about people in general! All people in this country! I do not care what your color is, but what you think about! I care about how you spend your day, and how constructive you are! The people who spend there day trying to act like they are better then someone else do not matter to me!
Please people, i would like to think that we are more intelligent than this! We do not have to act this way...we choose how to act! If everyone out there ignored the idiot next to them, that was being racist, or mean, or ugly...then they would stop acting that way! They would realize that nobody was backing them up, and understand that they were among some really intelligent people that were not going to be there friend, much less put up with this immature behavior!
Let us all be responsible for what we say to each other, and how we act to one another..after all we have a choice!

In reading the above postings, race both black and white is very very clear. The opportunities are here take advantage of what this great country has to offer.
We need each other to make our country even greater! !!!

THIS IS FOR THE BIRDS. GOD MIGHT BE BLACK FOR ALL WE KNOW ???? THEY HAVE PANITED PICTURES OF HIM BEING WHITE BUT DO THEY REALLY KNOW?????? THE VIRGIN MARY IS BLACK SO WHAT DO WE KNOW NOTHING???? WHY CAN'T WE GET ALONG. WHAT IS WRONG WITH A BLACK PRESIDENT, HE KNOWS WHAT TO DO JUST LIKE THE WHITES DO. THE CORPORATE WHITES RUN THIS COUNTRY THAT'S WHY GAS IS SO HIGH AND BUSH AND CHANEY HAS MADE LOTS OF MONEY. WHAT HAVE WE MADE NOTHING. WE ARE IN A WORLD THAT GOD IS COMING SOON. WE DO NOT GET ALONG. WHATS ABOUT COLOR, THE WHITES SURE WANT TO BE BLACK. BOY THEY SURE WORK ON TANNING TO BE BLACK?????? GO OBAMA, YOU ARE NEEDED IN THIS COUNTRY. WHAT HAS THE REPUBLICANS DONE FOR
US????? THIS COUNTRY IS IN SO MUCH DEBTS. WHY DID 911 TAKE PLACE?????

If Obama is elected president then I firmly believe that you will see (1) a rise in everything including taxes. I further see an America that will loose all it's moral fiber. Obama will not be good for America neither here or overseas.

I find it amazeing that a lot of people do not see the real world for what it is.Some folks can not relate to change and always fall back on the so called RACE CARD but that is B.S and you know it. But thats all right just look around, there are a lot of little half black or white kids out here. And you in the closet racist are more than likely THE MOMMA OR THE DADDY OF A LOT OF THEM . AND GUESS WHAT YOU CAN NOT HIDE THEM .SO INSTEAD OF BEING AFRAID OF THE UNKNOWN BE AFRAID OF YOURSELF. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

you people are so blind to the fact that Obama is a fake that it's sicking. you can't know what we know about this man and his family and still want him to run this country. UNFREAKIN BELIEVABLE!

In this 21st century why are we debating 19th century ideas.It's time to move on and become united for the common good of all.

what in the name of the best pull a part pork is all the fuss about...let the locals lie...going forward is that catsup or ketsup...ie: kkk are as fresh as stale crackers

IF the under qualified Senator Obama wins the race for the White House, it will be because of the great white guilt, there is no way that this junior senator has the qualifications to run this country! By the way, I'm not convinced that Mcain is the man for the job either,but, he has far more experience than Obama has.

White America is always saying how Obama is playing the race card. He's not playing the race card he is using the hand that was dealt too him and I might say he is doing it very well. Ignorance have you people so blinded that you fail to forget that Obama is Bi-racial, I guess that goes back to old stupid thoughts of saying if someone has an ounce of Afro American in them or look like they maybe Afro American then that's what they are considered. It's funny how KKK hide themselves behind those sheets and Afro Americans are outspoken enough that the whole world pays attention when they speak. It's our time to shine now and we wil rise to the occassion and do the job exceedingly well. We no longer wash your floors and do your laundry and share crop on your land. We now have our own degrees, Companies, businesses and we own our land, Afro Americans have fought a long hard battle we never gave in, nor did we give up and here we are today standing and seating alongside whites in our offices and our fine cars,houses and we are in the White House, and Highly educated something yoiu tried to deny us of also , but again you didn't succeed. I say to you WIN OBAMA
WIN!!!!!!!!

Let's see we got Mc Cain and the other white meat Obama.... hhhmmm...... what a choice ..... they both suck !

he would be the second black president, don't forget bill clinton !!!!

Lets face it. Blacks will vote Oboma regardless of his beliefs just because he's half black. I dont like him or McCain simply because neither one is for stopping illegals or drilling for oil to set us free from the financial burden thats effecting us all not to mention world enconomy. {that is for those of us who work and pay taxes} Dont forget to inflate your tires to counter the price gas! Ha Ha

Why cant you call your self' americans instead of afro americans? Does aferica come first? are you americans or afericans?

JESUS IS THE ANSWER, No matter who wins the election, HE has the last word!!!

RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT--if you do the sme thing you've lwys done...you will get the same result. There are over three hundred million Americans in this country--are McCain and Obama REALLY the best we can do? The two-party system is not in the best interest of any American any longer. Why is no one questioning the entire structure of a system that has given us such "greats" as GW Bush not once but twice? Have any of you read Orwell's 1984? Cause what Orwell predicted is happening here...scary. While the working class ("proles") bicker over this kind of stupid, meaningless...for lack of a better word...shit (race, quotes, names of parks, and even Rosa Parks) the "inner party" is taking over our country, our money, our education system...EVERYTHING. Does anyone really care about THAT? Just wonderin'...

I guess Obama can't do anything right.....If he speaks up, he's being cocky. If he doesn't say anything, then he's ignoring the plight of African Americans. I think what scares people the most about Obama is that he doesn't seem to be under the thumb of corporate America. He actually forces people to THINK, and we all know how much Americans hate thinking. The change Barack Obama represents is individuality. Since the inception of this country, it has been All-for-one...Individuality frightens the powers that be, because if everyone is an individual, how can we control them?

I am ASHAMED to say AMERICA has become a racist state when an afroamerican can have aday dedicated to black pride yet white americans are called racist if they voice any pride , an with affirmative action and blaming white people as a whole who had nothing to do with slavery, who exactly is the racist.

In response to comment #24 by anonymous.....You see the writing on the wall...Muslim said they'd get us from the inside out.....Would the price of fuel and lobbying Obama into office have something to do with your comment? Or our weak borders?

27 censord & politicaly correct statements denying freedom of speech !!!!! Im married to a black woman ... Im not a racist, I do not hold with any form of racism!!!And I resent beaing grouped into a catigory as beaing a trouble maker . FACIST.

I am horrified by the post written by 'Jeff ' , in which he said Rosa Parks
should have "sat in the back of the bus and shut up", and that the Klan were
"honest, law abiding citizens". Hiding your identity behind a sheet is not
honest, it is cowardly. Burning crosses on lawns, beating, raping and
murdering people is not law abiding, it is criminal and the actions of morally
corrupt scum. Rosa Parks was a hero. The ' Jeffs ' of the world will never
have the integrity and courage of a person like her. His comments make me
embarrassed to be white, and he makes America look bad.

why does all of this have to be about black and white? I am an AMERICAN citizen and when i vote in Noveber I will vote for an AMERICAN president, I don't care if he is black white or RED as the first AMERICANS were and when you talk about the race card think about a little place in the eastern uninted states called the trail of tears. If you want to know about racism and descrimination and not getting your fair shake at the country you love and live in and you call it the land of the free well just ask an indian how he feels about how fairly his heratage has been treated.But aside from all of that lets vote on an American president and not pay attention to weather he is black or white or if they are affiliatted with the klan or islam or whatever.

GOD!!! White people will EXCUSE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.... then in order to LIKE a black man, the black man has to PROVE not only is he PRO white in his views, BUT ANTI BLACK as well. He cant just bee PRO PEOPLE. WHITES make sure Obama does ALl the things they need for him to do...Be ANTI affirmative action,. AND jessie jackson, ANTI civil rights for Blacks, ANTI Al Sharpton...and NOW the man has to Pass HIS views on EVERY THING that looks like blacks standing against racist whites? WHERE is mccain's views on this issue? Whereis all the Articles talking about MCCAINS views on the matter?

jjNAME the park after the man like he was GREAT!!!

OK HE STARTED

I'm from Memphis and a lot of people here inject 'race' into whatever is going on, whether it's politics, schools, traffic, crime - you name it and that label is used repeatedly. No - Memphis cannot progress - not with this type of mentality - and never will.

You people that say Obama has not played the race card astound me. HE said that THEY would make you fear me. THEY will tell you I'm black. THEY will tell you I don't look like those other presidents on the dollar bills. Who is they? He is. He is the only one the the (2) presidential candidates that has said anything about his race. Find a quote from McCain talking about Obama's race. I dare you. You can't find it. It doesn't exist. The only one talking about Obama's race is Obama. You can't accuse McCain of anything race related. Get over it. Obama will do whatever he has to do to get elected. Even make you vote for him because if you don't then you must be a racist. Give me a break!

A majority of the comments posted here are completely ignorant and outrageous. The ignorance that is running rampant in our country, the greatest country in the world, is going to solely contribute to the demise of this great nation. And for those who don't understand the word ignorant it is to lack knowlegde, education or being unable to comprehend something. The Klan, Skinheads, Black Panthers, and whoever else out there hates for superficial reasons, specifically ones skin color and or ethnicty are no better then the hatemongers that kill our soldiers and upstanding U.S. citizens and should also be labeled terriorists because there main objective is not to praise there race but to incite fear in people that don't look like them.

In this day and age of such natural disasters you all better be praying the Lord sees fit for us to see another day ,let alone another year.Everyone is hung up on the race issue and for what?"Thy Will Be Done on Earth ,as it is in Heaven."This economy is past screwed up.Vote for the one you believe can make a change for the better for ALL of us.The Klan will always be alive as long as there's a ignorant,uneducated,backwoods hillbilly able to breathe,spit and s**t out another one.That's ok because for everyone of them there's 10 bible-toting ,prayer-packing well-educated African Americans who' 2 steps ahead of them.We don't die, we multiply.Haven't you noticed?

In the first post John Adams said,Say good bye to America the Beautiful.
it has been a long time since there has been a America the Beautiful.the people of America need to give there heads a shake.
who cares if your next president is green black or white.pick the one who is going to push for free medical care,and who is not all about greed and oil.pick the one that does not start wars,but finishes them..pick the one that will help make America Beautiful again.the whole world is watching..make the rest of the world proud of you and pick the right man for the job.god knows you have failed many times picking the right president.time for change people!!!!!!!!!!

This is PROOF positive that BLACK voters are NOT sucked in by NEGATIVE Campaigning and advertising.Hats off,Cudo's for clearly demonstrating to America that you have "GOT" to come with the "ISSUES" in an election and NOT slop.The overwhelming MAJORITY of us is exactly that way.Miss Tinker SHOULD be ashamed of herself but She is NOT.She is typical of Corporate America and clearly demonstrates that She is FAR out of TOUCH with MAINSTREAM America.I don't give a shiney new DIME what Color She is.I am just as Black as the Black voters who essentially told her" Get Lost".And justifably so,This is among the very WORSE negative advertising In the 40 year history of the Republican Party doing this kind of "LOW LIFED" thing,NOT low ROAD,Low lifed.She is NO different than any other high class SNOB looking DOWN of Mainstream American's.Great Job Tennessee.This was absolutely and positively UNCALLED for.

Sounds like most of the comments are from people who neglected to even read the article. Just assume that the white person took a controversial stance on an issue, then naturely the black person[s] crying rascist, rascism, someones picking on me. If you'd read the story, you might just learn something. Allmost without exception, blacks that made a comment, including Barak Obama, defended the incumbent (the white man) while disapproving and unsympathetic of the challenger (the black women). Of course its understandable, assuming the worst, believing the stereotypes. Why just believe what that cable station keeps feeding you. Sometimes changing your mind is what smart people do, its not always flip-flopping, brainwashed men, like the guy in TN. is always flippin-out.