Presidential candidate Barack Obama just completed his speech on race in America. We’re still digesting his remarks, we were particularly struck by this comment:
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.
Obama also made sure to criticize Reverend Jeremiah Wright, calling his statements a “mistake,” particularly because they present our nation as “static:” “As if no progress has been made; as if this country… is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past.” It doesn’t have to be, said Obama, for we can change America’s course, for such progress remains an integral part of the American experience: “…America can change. That is true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope – the audacity to hope – for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.”
Read all of Obama’s speech here.
PT
Brilliant and moving speech. We are very close to having a great president.
steve
absolutely amazing
one for history books
Jon
Amazing? Did you guys hear the whole thing? I found the whole thing rather racist. I think his rather racist attitude and his agenda was quite clear.
Also, I’m not sure why he felt the need to address the issue in such a dramatic over the top fashion. Couldn’t he just issue a statement of a few sentences? Or maybe this was the best way for him to shove his race in everyone’s face and basically say “If you don’t vote for me then you’re racist.”
porsha
Who paid for the Obama speech airtime? Was it the Obama campaign, or did CNN and MSNBC consider it a ‘news’ event? Will other candidates demand equal air time? I didn’t check Fox Noise as I don’t consider them legitimate. Just asking.
Porsha
kablamo
Racist? I don’t know what speech you were watching Jon. Its rare that I have heard someone sum up the history of racism in America in such a succinct way while still managing to turn it to a positive message going forward instead of a depressing recounting of past wrongs.
Inspiring to say the least.
leomoore
I haven’t been a big fan of Obama. Most of his speeches have struck me as pretty words with nothing behind them. This was a good speech with content that did impress me. At this point, I don’t care which one takes the Democratic nomination. I’ll vote for either one over 1000-year McCain.
Whoever is the next president will have the biggest mess to clean up since 1932 when Franklin Roosevelt had to deal with eight years of Republican mishandling of national policy. It will take someone with a lot more ability and flexibility than McCain has shown.
NightHawk
If this speech was intended to further endear Obama to his supporters, then mission accomplished. But it did nothing to help him with middle-of-the-road white voters that Obama needs to help put him in the White House. The only thing these voters were looking for in this rambling speech was whether or not Obama renounced his 20+ year relationship with Wright and announced that he was leaving his church all together. Anything less leaves Obama in exactly the same position he was in before this speech. If Obama gets the nomination this summer, he is still dead meat in the fall.
Jon
Kablamo, The very fact that he gave a speech on racism is racist. He is running for the office of President of the United States. He should not be giving a speech that favors one race over another. There was nothing inspiring about him bringing race into this Presidential campaign.
Also, this speech was supposed to be about explaining the comments of Rev Jeremiah. Instead he gave a history lesson which was somehow supposed to excuse the Rev’s racism. Obama basically said he doesn’t agree with what the Rev said, but he’s gonna stick by him because he’s family. What? Is that the kind of family you want influencing your President?
Rev Wrong
For twenty years, Wright was Obama’s spiritual “mentor.” In what way did Wright mentor Obama spiritually? Does Obama share Wright’s views that America created the AIDS virus for the purpose of killing off certain minority groups? Does he believe America deserved the attacks on 9/11? For twenty years, Senator and Mrs. Obama and their children sat in that church week after week as Wright preached, yet today Obama announced that he was unaware of Wright’s anti-American, conspiracy-filled sermons. No rational, intelligent American will buy that sorry excuse.
kevin57
I agree with Rev Wrong. If a white preacher had said equally outrageous things, the white congregant would be expected to find another house of worship and wash his hands completely of this vile rhetoric.
Watch the next round of primaries. Obama may lose by a greater percentage than he ever has.
hisurfer
It is not racist to acknowledge racism.
By that same twisted logic we are homophobic every time we confront phobia.
I’ve been as harsh on Obama as anyone on here, but that speech was amazing.
hisurfer
ETA – I almost never listen to speeches candidates give. There is always too much spin, too much contrivance behind all the words. They are, essentially, meaningless. They tell you more about the advisers than about the man or woman.
This is a rare exception. I was worried that Obama had sold his soul to become robo-Obama, just another Stepford candidate. This seemed true and from the heart, as well as a brilliant summation of where this country is at, white & black, & though it feels odd to say that one speech can restore your faith in a man, this one did.
kablamo
Jon, he didn’t bring race into this. The media back and forth, the Clinton innuendos, and the right wing commentators salivating over the Wright videos did. And how was this a speech favoring one race over another, did you even listen?
Jimy
Let’s compare a Clinton “innuendo” to a AIDS is a black man’s disease and donnie mcclurkin, and clinton never being called….A WORD I WILL NOT EVEN REPEAT……..
Obama heads have to admit that had this been a preacher at a Clinton church, you would have had her head on a platter.
kablamo
Does Clinton go to church? I’ve rarely heard her speak about faith.
steve
i think you missed the whole point of the speech jon
too bad
Jon
Kablamo and Steve,
Yes, I watched the speech and I read the transcript. Have you? The Rev Jeremiah issue could have been summed up by saying, “I don’t agree with his views” and left it at that. Instead Obama chose to go on about segregation, Jim Crow, religion, blah…blah…blah. He chose this press conference as an opportunity to clearly put race in the front of people’s minds during this election. Did he bring up the subject? We’ll never know, but he’s definately trying to use it to his advantage. If our country is so racially divided as he claims it to be then this is the time to smack down that notion and prove to the world that we can elect a President without race being an issue.
frankiedee
We need a reality check, as the Governor of PA said; the US is not ready and will NOT vote in a black President. Obama is a bunch of pretty words, wrapped up in a package people can present as evidence of their liberal credentials. This democrat will vote for McCain if he gets the leads the party’s ticket.
kablamo
Jon… race was already the elephant in the room and the recent tenor of the race made it important he speak about it. If you don’t think all that stuff that he spent the last half of the speech talking about, segregation, racism, Jim Crow, etc. aren’t what the Feraro and Wright flaps have been about then I think you might live in a different country than me.
Jon
Kablamo, There is no white elephant in the room. People can see he’s part black. There’s no need to bring it into any discussion related to the election. PERIOD.
kablamo
There was a reason. We don’t overcome racism by ignoring it and pretending that our silence is being “color-blind”. We overcome our racist history by facing it head on and discussing it openly, honestly, and fairly like Barack did in this speech. We’re not gonna see the end of racism tomorrow, but we can start the conversation today.
audiored
It is amazing how many f@ggots are complete f*cking racists. It is sickening.
David
Jon, respectful, I think you’re missing the point a bit. And I certainly don’t understand why you feel his speech was racist. It acknowledged some truths about our country, even if they’re ugly to face. We need MORE candor like this, not less.
Bob R
I read the entire text of the speech and think Obama did a damn fine job in explaining his stands and his motivations honestly and effectively. I think he addressed directly each criticism and concern and explained why blacks feel and react the way they do, and whites the way we do. I reminded me of truths I already knew, but chose to forget. His words were intelligent, logical and positively motivating. My only gripe is, Obama spoke of uniting and leading blacks, whites, Asians and Hispanics, etc in the common cause of equal job opportunities, health care, education, housing and equal rights. He confronted and intelligently repudiated racism in all segments of our society, black as well as white. I think his speech will be one for the history books and segments will be quoted as are some of MLK’s words. But, for me personally, conspicuously absent was any mention of the LGBT citizens. I suppose I should accept that I was included as a white man, but as a gay man it seems I remain excluded. I feel invisible in this current debate.
Now as for some of those who say that this kind of racism and prejudice isn’t heard in white churches, my response to you is bullshit. I have heard it. It still goes on in churches today. Falwell was a racist and a homophobe as are many other evangelists living and dead. I can remember attending a Christmas Eve mass not that many years ago at my partner’s Episcopal church when a black family entered to worship. There was quiet outrage and I heard an Episcopal priest who was actually serving the mass make a comment after the service questioning why “those niggers” came to his church when they had “a church of their own”.
Those who hate Obama probably will not be swayed by this speech. Those who worship him will probably praise him more. I was not an Obama supporter and I’m not sure that I am now. But I understand where he’s coming from more clearly than I did yesterday and I think what he has done was courageous and direct. I think he has shown more honesty and loyalty given the circumstances than Clinton or McCain. I feel better about him today than I did yesterday. If Obama gets the nomination, I will probably vote for him. I wouldn’t have said that yesterday. I’m just tired of the hatred and division in this country and want this Bush nightmare to end. I don’t know if Obama can unite us. Some of us just don’t want to be united, but I’m pretty sure Clinton can’t and I damn sure know McCain can’t and won’t.
Now, flame away.
Jon
Kab, I agree and disagree with you. Yes, the way we overcome racism is to be “color-blind”. So, I very much disagree with you there. But, I also agree that we must know history so that we don’t make the same mistakes again. The thing is, there is no place for that in a speech from a Presidential candidate. If he’s going to bring up the struggles of the black man then he should also address Native Americans, hispanics, women, gays. Every minority has been oppressed in our country, his singling blacks out shows where his priorities lie.
kablamo
Jon, that is exactly the place of a president, of our country’s leader. And you’re right that he should not only address black-white racism but all forms of oppression, but I think that this speech also comes from a specific context of the Feraro then Wright coverage in the media that made it the right time to talk about black-white racism candidly and publicly.
kablamo
And by invoking “color-blind” I didn’t mean to say that we can’t try to be that way, but that I think often it is used as an excuse to ignore the wrongs going on right in front of us. The systematic racism that still persists despite our laws and public policies being completely “color blind” in language but not in effect.
AJ
Talking about race — WHEN OTHER PEOPLE BRING IT UP — is not racist. It’s responsible.
It’s an issue that is out there and he had to address it. He did.
Jon: it seems you want to move on from the current dialogue on race. SO DOES OBAMA. That was the message of the speech. You think Obama wanted to make this speech? If he did he would’ve done it a long time ago, not right before the pivotal Pennsylvania primary. He had to make it.
If you think Obama’s trying to guilt you, that’s too bad, because he’s not. Perhaps the speech wasn’t for you, because his race clearly isn’t an issue for you, but for all the people who wanted to know where he stands.
PalePhoenix
NPR ran a story ( http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88404299&ft=1&f=1032 ) about a new book ‘Why Women Should Rule.’ Should Hillary have a speech about what it’s like to be a woman? Would this “Vagina Monologue” ever get carried on the news?
Wright’s comments were deliberately inflammatory and, from what I could tell about their relationship, they both knew that the time would come for them to separate for the “greater good” of running for President in a country where a minority is still a minority. Personally, I found nothing unusual about his (Wright’s) remarks, but that’s not to imply I thought them ‘pleasant’ or ‘correct.’
I think people were expecting “I Have a Dream, Take Two,” and it’s actually a good thing that Obama didn’t go that route. He’s not a civil rights activist, and it would almost be insulting–to a lot of different people, in a lot of different ways–if he pretended to be one.
To audiored, who said that ‘faggots’ were racist: If you’re going to do that, then don’t use that word. Not like I would dismiss the gross generalization, but it’s like one of those math/logic problems I hated, “Some blanks are blank; all blanks are…” etc. In point of fact, many gay men and women are a lot more sensitive to other minority issues for precisely the same intuitive reasons you’re as angry about SOME people being racist, despite being in a minority themselves. Don’t condemn everyone so casually. I won’t vote for Obama, but I can still admire and respect him.
fredo777
I think it was very appropriate for him to give that speech following recent events + he handled it very well.
There are some, however, who wouldn’t give the man a fair assessment if their lives depended on it. Still, I have to respect the way that he ultimately addressed these issues.
Bill Perdue
I can’t believe that any self respecting GLBT person would vote for a right-centrist Democrat like Obama or Clinton or a rightist Republican like McCain.
They jointly support the war. They jointly support NAFTA, union busting, deregulation and cuts in medical and financial aid for the growing numbers of poor people. They jointly stabbed us in the back with DOMA and DADT and by gutting ENDA and then scrapping it and the hate crimes bill. They join in the abuse of immigrant and imported labor or at best turn a cold shoulder to them. Both parties refuse to support laws to raise the minimum wage to trade union levels to even out the racist discrepancies in living standards. Etc.
But given that, we should do all we can to protest and reject race baiting by the Clintons. The election campaign has already produced an increase in anti-GLBT violence, including murders. If Obama wins the nomination the Republicans will pick up where Bill and Hillary left off. (They’ve already done polling to see what they can get away with.) That’ll most likely lead to racist violence as well.
Secondly, Wright seems to have a healthy contempt for racism and its extension into the Middle East which includes the oil piracy in Iraq and US support for the zionist apartheid state. He has a perfect right to his opinions. How could any one object to that?
Michael Bedwell
In his speech that got more attention than any in his life; that was broadcast live, in its entirety, on some cable networks, Barack Obama spoke of wanting to
“build a coalition of”
Whites – check
Blacks – check
Hispanics – check
Asians – check
Native Americans – check
Women – check
Young – check
Old – check
Rich – check
Poor – check
Veterans – check
LGBTs – ?
LGBTs – ?
Hello?
Barack Obama chose to “talk about”
Improving race relations – check
Health care – check
Education – check
Economy – check
Jobs – check
Iraq withdrawal – check
Veterans support – check
LGBT equality – ?
Escalating hate crimes – ?
Hello?
fredo777
I wasn’t so offended by Obama not addressing LGBT issues specifically in this speech, b/c, while it would have been great, the topic was moreso about race relations.
I feel that I was included, regardless, because addressing the different races of American citizens doesn’t exclude LGBT people of said races.
Mr C
LGBT People this was not about our community and it’s ills.
This speech was brought up because of the news media bringing his Pastor into the fray. So don’t get upset about that. This really wasn’t the time to speak about us.
The speech was brilliant.
But 3 people I need to comment on something you said
Rev Wrong & KEVIN 57:
Quoted saying 🙁 I agree with Rev Wrong. If a white preacher had said equally outrageous things, the white congregant would be expected to find another house of worship and wash his hands completely of this vile rhetoric)
OH REALLY? Read the following below
1. The Right Rev Billy Graham labeled as “America’s Preacher†says at that time with PRES NIXON comments about Jews He said Jews revealed a special kind of contempt. ”A lot of the Jews are great friends of mine,” he said. ”They swarm around me and are friendly to me because they know that I’m friendly with Israel. But they don’t know how I really feel about what they are doing to this country.”
2. The Pope Speaking in Germany, the Pope quoted a 14th Century Christian emperor who said the Prophet Muhammad had brought the world only “evil and inhuman” things. And the deceased one said because of HOMOSEXUALITY is why the priest was committed molestation acts on kids
3. The Rev Hagee called the Catholic Church ‘The Great Whore,’ an ‘apostate church,’ the ‘anti-Christ,’ and a ‘false cult system.'”
4. The Rev Rod Parsley says Islam is an “anti-Christ religion†based on “deception.†In a recent book, he also wrote that the prophet Mohammad “received revelations from demons and not from the true God,†adding that “Allah was a demon spirit.†And John McCain says knowing about to Pastor Parsley “I am much honored today to have one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide…thank you for your leadership and your guidance. I am very grateful you are here.†OH REALLY?
5. The Rev Pat Robertson says “Sharon was personally a very likable person, and I am sad to see him in this condition, but I think we need to look at the Bible and the Book of Joel. The prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who ‘divide my land,’ “Robertson said. Sharon “was dividing God’s land, and I would say: Woe unto any prime minister of Israel who takes a similar course” the 75-year-old said REALLY?
Need I say more decisive is just that decisive!
And by the way it’s no different then what some of your Parents said about Blacks and or White growing up! You won’t call your Father talking like that HATE FILLED…….Things that make you go HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
But Oh wait we forgive our WHITE pastors and most politicians (republicans) accept their endorsement without remorse.
And that is the same issue when it comes to accepting Clinton for her and her husbands shade against the gays with DADT, DOMA and other things.
But can’t forgive Obama for McClurkin gate why????? Because of each others RACE
It’s understandable that we all are partial to our own race. But there is a severe difference between PRIDE & PREJUDICE.
So just keep it real and not make it seem like you have another grudge when simply a lot of you just do not want to see a BLACK figure rule over America since WHITES have always ruled America. Look deep down within yourselves. All of us and ask Why do I feel this way?
We need to really embrace DIVERSITY
It starts with me, with you!
And by the way Michael Bedwell you said:
“build a coalition ofâ€
LGBTs – ?
LGBTs – ?
Hello?…….
Yeah HELLO is right! But wait!
Why don’t LGBT learn what it is to accept each other regardless, of color, and class?
You go to bars and they are either predominately WHITE, predominately BLACK, and or Hispanics & Asians and they are mostly in the WHITE populated bars WITH SHADE ALL AROUND US!
But we want equality from the heterosexuals and can’t even get it from each other…….PLEASE!
I know you don’t want to hear this but the
TRUTH HURTS US ALL!!!!
That is something that Clinton, nor Obama can do. That starts with us. And long as WHITE LGBT want to control the power of the community AT LARGE. None of these rights, and or bills we want passed will be passed because all other races who are LGBT will feel like why should I support something that will not benefit me?
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT EVERYONE ONCE AGAIN IT STARTS HERE WITH US REGRADLESS WHO IS PRESIDENT.
M Shane
Obama’s speach was not racist by any means. Indeed it showed a great degree of compassion, something in short supply these days. I t was substantial as well.
I agree absolutely with leomoor, that: “Whoever is the next president will have the biggest mess to clean up since 1932 when Franklin Roosevelt had to deal with eight years of Republican mishandling of national policy”. My hope is that our next president will have the gumption and sense to put us back on the track of Kenysian economics, and to resist the cronicity of free-economic policy and
all of the horrors brought to middle class and working Americans by Reagonomics, along with the fascist sensability that it has fostered which threatens gay people more than anything. Compassion in a nation tends to extend to all people.
BTW While many people may find it inflamatory when Write said about 9/11. “that the chickens have come home to roost”, he was not entirely wrong when you consider the past U.Ss’ 50 years history of cruel imperialism.
M Shane
Leomoore re;:“Whoever is the next president will have the biggest mess to clean up since 1932 when Franklin Roosevelt had to deal with eight years of Republican mishandling of national policy†Unless you have an even remotely knowledgable populace, it is always easier to destroy democratic structures than to build them.
amvanman
He did not address LGBT issues. None of these candidates, Democrat or Republican are going to do anything for us. Things usually do not change until the pain becomes unbearable. The country is in financial chaos, the war rages on and LGBTs continue to be discriminated against in American society, legally. As far as I am concerned let the Republicans continue on and drive it completely into the ground so something new can be built. The other candidates are just gonna make things a “tiny” bit better for “some” folks, and they won’t be us. The Democrats are hypocrites and I will not vote for one.