Barack Obama gave a major speech today that directly responds to the controversial comments made by his church’s longtime pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr, but also highlighted the incredible challenge of race relations in our country today. Obama’s speech was very impressive.
This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should’ve been authorized and never should’ve been waged, and we want to talk about how we’ll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.
I would not be running for President if I didn’t believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.
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Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.
Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze - a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns - this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.
This is where we are right now. It’s a racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy - particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.
But I have asserted a firm conviction - a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people - that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice is we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.
We’ll have the video posted soon. Do you think his speech today has helped put Reverend Wright’s comments behind him—explain them, but more importantly—moved the ball forward on race relations between Americans and how we view race in our culture?
read the full text here.
That has been my experience at Trinity. Like other predominantly black churches across the country, Trinity embodies the black community in its entirety - the doctor and the welfare mom, the model student and the former gang-banger. Like other black churches, Trinity’s services are full of raucous laughter and sometimes bawdy humor. They are full of dancing, clapping, screaming and shouting that may seem jarring to the untrained ear. The church contains in full the kindness and cruelty, the fierce intelligence and the shocking ignorance, the struggles and successes, the love and yes, the bitterness and bias that make up the black experience in America.
And this helps explain, perhaps, my relationship with Reverend Wright. As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children. Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect. He contains within him the contradictions - the good and the bad - of the community that he has served diligently for so many years.
But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America - to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality.
The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we’ve never really worked through - a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.
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Great speech, there are no doubts to Obama’s caliber and he said so many things that are true, there is much on the subject of race that this country has not discussed, thus many divisions continue.
This speech was incredible! It’ll go down in the history books.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23690567/
After Obama wins the presidency this speech will be referred to as his ‘I Have a Dream’ moment.
Here’s the Obama Insight We Really Wanted to Hear About Rev. Wright
Simply amazing. How anybody can view that speech and not believe that this man needs to be the next President is beyond me.
Now all you “conditional progressives” who wanted so desperately to throw Obama under the bus over this bullshit, can do what the Clinton’s camp did…..STFU!!!!
I’m looking forward to the video on this.
Hillary may have the experience, Obama has the presidential poise.
America needs someone who’s a level head. The experience will come, and he will make sure he has good people behind him.
Apologies to the Hil supporters, but if America’s going to heal and we’re going to see a Democrat in the White House its going to have to be Obama this time around.
J
I hope people listened. I believe he is our only hope. From a white woman, over 60—who supports Obama, the stat the pollsters can’t seem to find.
Easily the best, most moving, and most honest speech I have ever seen from a politician. I don’t think anyone since MLK has had the guts or the eloquence necessary to frame the issues of race in this country in such a succinct and profound way. Any doubt as to is getting my vote has been completely erased.
I was moved beyond words that he was able to be so truthful and insightful…I could see nothing wrong with the speech and could not imagine anyone finding fault with what the man had to say…then i went to CNN and read the comments. WOW to get nothing out of that speech but more hate is crazy but that is what the majority of the writers got…more hate
This man NEEDS to be the next president of our once great country. Anyone who took the time to actually listen to this man who could think otherwise needs to go live in another country.
This was the most moving speech I have ever heard. I know that the Hannity’s and Orally’s will slice and dice it tonight, they are scum and feed off the ignorant white trash support. I am white and was originally an Edwaeds supporter, but this man is special.
is there a link to the video of the speech…i wasn’t able to see it live.
Site Monitor: It’s coming…it’s a big file and taking a long time to upload.
That speech was a defining moment. This guy has an uncanny ability to elevate himself above any petty fray that the media tries to whip up. That speech had me tearing up.
My only hope is that it makes the bobbleheads focus on what really matters. I believe Obama covered it all.
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/64224.html
It will be VERY interesting to see the Clinton and McCain response.
Oustanding speech
However, already, repubs said questions were left unanswered. On MSNBC, Pat B praised the speech, the man and his strength, then went from there to the repubs talking points. Questions left unanswered.
I think all questions were answered. IMO
Saw most of the speech. Amazing. Now let us prepare ourselves for the dissecting and parsing from our esteemed press. Remember, Rule 1, must spin everything you hear to suit your own needs. Rule 2, spend countless hours reporting on it and ignore everyting else. You know, the real downers. War, poverty, ect…
I am an Obama supporter…biased…but Senator Obama was extremely impressive today! Glad he spoke about race in America…also glad he stated that race will not go away due to or election…honest! Very good job today…but there will be backlash for this as well…we all know racism is out there!
I’ve never heard a more moving speech.
I thought it was an amazing speech.
Unfortunately, the Rush Limbaughs and Fox New commentators of the world will continue to ride the Rev Wright hobby horse, regardless of what Obama said.
On the other hand, those who were willing to listen got something to think about.
Watch the attacks roll in on the right and in the MSM. They are a tiny preview of what awaits us for the next 7 months. One he seals the deal in Denver, the FUX noise machine will be deafening.
I set my DVR to record it……but I heard it was AMAZING since I wasn’t able to watch it yet.
I’m reading on some boards that people are still saying “Well it’s too little too late because you associated with him for 20 years.” LOL, these are people who wouldn’t have voted for him anyway. Jesse Jackson associated with Martin Luther King for a number of years and that didn’t get him elected. I don’t see how Obama associating with someone who’s views he don’t share makes him less of a person. If anything, it makes him more because he’s practicing what he preaches by reaching out to those who don’t share his views and beliefs.
I hope this is just the beginning to putting this distraction away. I too believe this speech will be in the history books. Kudos to Barack for putting this in perspective. We have more important things to worry about then speeches given by a pastor that we don’t agree with 100%.
The hate mongers are really scared now and they will really be spewing their hate filled garbage.
Incredible speech. Time will tell if it makes a difference. There are really stupid people in this country and an aristocratic class all too willing to lead them astray. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fox News finds some way to take elements of this speech out of context to feed their constituency.
I still have hope for this country. If it can produce Barack Obama, there’s hope.
So, the only persons allowed to speak about race are the bi-racial candidate, Senator Obama and his mentor of 20 years, Rev. Wright? It is OK for Senator Obama to claim that what Rev. Wright stated was correct in its historical context, but we are supposed to condemn anyone who points out the truths about race, in their political context?
It must be nice to live in such a world where the only people allowed to talk about race are the ones who condemn others for talking about race.
Must be nice.
amazing how different
the truth sounds when you hear it
When he spoke of his personal experience with his Grandma and even though she had her moments of prejudice, he still loved her and he couldn’t abandon her, how could he abandon his friend and preacher? I was very emotional and I saw a man of great compassion and understanding. I hope that many Americans will put aside any of the gutter attacks from the right wing talk vermon and look at this mans character.
I look forward to hearing the speech and love what you’ve posted so far. thank you.
I hope this will help raise the level of discussion among talking heads. Enough already. We need someone like Obama to talk to us this way. With respect and dignity, above the pettiness and gutter talk.
Lois, I’m fiftiesh and white, too. so that’s two of us in the invisible stat column!
I thought it was a good. I know people will find things wrong with it but most likely those are people who already have their minds made up. I am so over this pastor comment thing.
I just read the speech at HuffPo. God, he’s so articulate, and to his credit, really finds a way to speak as the fabled Everyman. I remember reading a bit from Mother Theresa where she spoke the same way explaining her decision to become a nun. She identified herself in the sacred and the wretched. It’s not a simple idea to convey, the paradox inside, without coming off as esoteric. Obama makes it seem effortless.
His speech was honest, touching on experiences, I suspect, are had universally.
He so beautifully expressed the anger not just of Blacks, but also of whites and then tied all of that anger together into a call for action to make schools better, to make work possible, to join us in a positive direction as a nation.
The sad thing is that Fox and its ilk make money on precisely the divisions Obama calls us to overcome. I hope that people begin to see how played by the corporate media they are, how utterly they are instigated to hate just so that someone else makes money and gains power from their hate. It’s a tall order for a lot of people, but maybe just maybe some will see they’ve been played for fools. And maybe we as Dems can take a page from the speech and chill on the anti-Clinton rhetoric. I’m no fan, but the hate has got to go. Differ on policy, not on value of soul.
Phoenix Justice @ 26:
That is spinning so hard I’m getting dizzy reading it.
Maybe try actually watching the speech before you comment.
Simply brilliant. He spreaks Truth to Power. Don’t know what will happen in Penn but I’m certain the Democratic nomination is his. And I’m a Clinton supporter who will be an Obama voter.
Phoenix Justice @ 26:
You aren’t one of those people that actually believes he is only where he is because of his colour, are you? Because that in itself reeks of racism just as people saying Hillary is where she is because of being female reeks of discrimination. I did not know there was some unwritten law that said you couldn’t run for Prez if you were a certain race or sex.
BEAUTIFUL!
I thought it was interesting that MSNBC and CNN were analyzing the speech in detail afterwards, but when I switched over to FOX, they were covering other news of the day . . .
Whether this speech silences the wingnuts or not, it was an important statement for the American people.
Great speech. Instead of a one sentence rejection of Wright’s statements, he gave us his whole thinking on race in America. He showed that a new generation approaches race differently. What’s obvious about race to our generation is different than what was obvious to people who grew up in the 50s — or the 30s, or the 19th century. He said some things I haven’t heard said before. And, of course, you gotta admire the writing. Love to see this guy work.
Sorry not impressive to me
Barack Obama, in my opinion was all over the map of issues instead of focusing on the Faith and his relationship with Mr. Reverend Wright. This gave Obama tremendous opportunity to swing into ideals black/ white ideals that forged very core reasons to vote for him, Obama went into basic Constitutional propositions and mixed all the loaded hardships coupled with these black slave struggles to develop a huge, huge cultural empathy to vote for him, because he is black/ and white and knows best how to change. Well, this is were Obama needs a lot of show en tell. Because who knows who what in the hell he will do.
Here, what is constantly repulsive to me, is this a lie about slavery. There is ample proof that black slavery in that time involved tribal kings, where those Black Rulers sold their own flesh for a price to whom ever wanted buy those people. Not just Americans but Europeans done for hundreds of years too. Makes one wonder why all the fuss were America should have the first most powerful black leader, doesn’t one wonder why a Black leaders have not evolved from Europe ? They most certainly don’t have affirmative action programs like America does. Do they know something America needs to know?
What is agreeable for me totally was the story, at the end of the speech about an old Black man. The last comment about Ashley a white girl that an old Black man had a reason to be there at a gathering. When the Black man was asked why he was there, the old Black man said it was because of Ashley the white girl. Defiantly, or arrogantly a closing message to America, the Democratic Party, and Hillary.
The message here is clear and difficult for many to accept that it is not White Supremacy that always is an issue. Rather its White leadership that was and is the time long problem. It’s the Blacks, that generation after generation refuse to believe in the ideal it is a White culture that is what they are working in and developing in. However from both sides white and black there those are exploiting this progress. Obama almost did say it but he knew himself that would destroy his Black support. He certainly destroyed the Mainstream Media’s position how now to bring this out, hate radio, and the Reagan people have to be furious.
TRUTH!!!
A truly wonderful speech. He said what needed to be said…not for himself…but for the country.
He may not win the election, or even the nomination…but Barack has moved the ball forward and closer to the goal of realizing the dream of the Founders and the promise of America.
Unfortunately, nothing will be good enough for the rednecks where I’m from in Alabama. First and foremost, some of them will not vote for a black man. Second, they actually believed (and some still do) that he is a Muslim who doesn’t love America. Third, when some of them found out that he wasn’t a Muslim but actually was a Christian they attack his preacher and church. Fourth, did I mention that even after all of this hemming and hawing about these issues that they still won’t vote for a black man? I post frequently on a board from my hometown of Gadsden, AL, and it amazes me that these people keep attacking Barack again and again on non-policy related issues when they weren’t going to vote for him even if his name was Fred Smith and he was Pentecostal. I had a relative tell me that they damn sure weren’t voting Republican, weren’t going to vote for a woman, and weren’t going to vote for a “n” word so they probably wouldn’t vote for the president. There are still very many George Wallace Democrats down in Alabama, so Obama is spot on…we can’t pretend that race is not an issue to make it go away. His only hope, oddly enough, is that enough people have been hurt economically through 8 years of Bush to make them finally vote with their wallet rather than with their perception of their bible or religion.
DailyKos has the transcript
http://www.dailykos.com/story/.....915/479103
Phoenix Justice @ 26:
Wow, did you get a fire permit to build such a monumental straw man.
RLG @ 16:
Questions left unanswered. Such a vague term. They can’t help but sow seeds of doubt.
I too think all questions were answered.
Phoenix Justice @ 26:
a black candidate can represent and speak for non whites probably better than a white person can. Just as a woman can speak for the struggles of being a woman. If Geraldine Ferraro had stuck to what she knows, it would have been a more effective way to go. JMHO. It’s a credibility thing.
I will be hornored to have this man for my President!
Obama still left one crucial questions unanswered. How can we trust his judg