March 18, 2008
Obama Talks Race While Trying to Quell Controversy
Photograph of Obama in Philadelphia by Matt Rourke/AP
This morning, Senator Barack Obama delivered a 45-minute speech at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, attempting to put behind him the controversial remarks made by his mentor, pastor Jeremiah A. Wright. Though Obama quickly denounced the remarks last week, the story didn't go away. Today, he reiterated his condemnation of Wright’s more inflammatory beliefs about racism in America, but would not denounce him entirely, giving way to a broader discussion about race:
I suppose the politically safe thing would be to move on from this episode and just hope that it fades into the woodwork. We can dismiss Reverend Wright as a crank or a demagogue, just as some have dismissed Geraldine Ferraro, in the aftermath of her recent statements, as harboring some deep-seated racial bias… 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...Obama did remark the country is in a "racial stalemate" and said, "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."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.
Last night, his former adviser Samantha Power appeared on The Colbert Report, in a high-profile post-Clinton-is-a-monster appearance:
Obama will be in New York City on March 27th on a one-day fund raising mission. He’s expected to raise over a million dollars, with a luncheon at the Credit Suisse building, two $2,300/guest receptions at separate Park Avenue apartments, and a $2,300/guest dessert reception hosted by author and gay rights activist Kevin Jennings at his Flatiron apartment.
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this guy will be the Isiah Thomas of presidents. No matter how bad of a job he will do nobody will be able to criticize him because of his color for fear of being labeled racist.
except for you apparently
"God DAMN America!"
This seems to be the Howard Dean-like soundbyte of the moment for the media.
babyhitler, i find that hard to believe, but i think i get where you're coming from.
also, haven't people criticized isiah?
babyhitler, you've said some idiotic things on this blog, but this one takes the cake.
Nobody criticizes Isiah Thomas? Nobody? Really? Wow.
Black, white, yellow, green or purple, one thing all people not named Dolan can agree on is that Isiah Thomas sucks.
stuffwhitepeoplelike
woe is me.
Oh yes, because people have always found it difficult to criticize black men in our culture. *smacks forehead*
Can we just ignore babyhitler comments from now on. It's obvious he/she is just trying to antagonize people.
Gregoire, there's a difference and you know it. Or at least you should know it.
Am I the only loser that cried during this speech? I thought he just delivered one of the greatest political speeches in recent memory.
From what little I saw on CNN. I think he did a great job tackling this smear campaign.
If you cried during his speech you are an enormous f8ckin douchebag.
Congratulations! will.i.am videos have officially turned your brain to mush.
Oh, and, by the way, Obama talks more about God and religion than any Republican candidate other than Huckabee.
i am a loser and a douchebag, because i cried too!! f8ckin love obama. i hope he gets penn...
Yeah, no offense #1, but have you read a paper in the last year? It doesn't seem like anyone on the sports staff of the Daily News or anyone on WFAN seems worried about being called a racist, by your measure.
And bear in mind, this speech grew out of criticism of Obama, and his desire (and a courageous one at that) to address the issue of race head-on. Most others dance around it, use code words, or throw accusations of racism if not brought up very carefully.
Frankly, I'm not sure any politician has had the guts to deal with race and racism this directly since Bobby Kennedy spoke on the night of the King assassination (http://youtube.com/watch?v=OCg05pTYt0A). I give Obama a lot of credit. It will be interesting to see him follow up, and also how the polls respond.
Well, I felt moved for the better by the Obama speech. It felt inspiring to me. His direct, non-inflammatory take on race in the US was a breath of fresh air.
On the other hand, older civil rights advocates like me may just be easy marks for this sort of rhetoric. But easy mark or not I was impressed.
people, are we just now realizing that obama is black. his pastor only added to the obvious. obama's entire campaign has been meticulously strategized to hide the obvious. separating himself from the "black" community. his only big black endorser has been oprah... hellooooo....who's also alleged to attend the same church.
it's going to take more than a speech to wash this away.
and there is no rational connection with what geraldine ferraro said with what his Jeremiah Wright PREACHES.
I did not see/hear the speech, but I read the full text in the link above and I thought it was fantastic and yes, moving.
"and there is no rational connection with what geraldine ferraro said with what his Jeremiah Wright PREACHES."
oh she preached it too.
she made a statement. a dumb one, at that. but she doesn't run an institution on the matter. not unless she holds sunday mass running her mouth about how our country created AIDS to get rid of the black race.
see what i mean...matty?
Turn on WFAN and wait three minutes.
they only criticized isiah after 5 fucking years!!!!! at the tail end. if Isiah were white he'd be dumped 2 months into his tenure. He became GM of the knicks in 2003!
No. No one who knows basketball thought it was a good hire. The guy was a disaster with the Pacers. People were on him from the beginning.
There are two reasons he hasn't been fired: 1. The Dolans and 2. The lawsuit.
Not so, #21. He's been slammed since he got here, he was slammed when he hired Larry Brown, he was slammed when he fired him, he was slammed during his first year as the coach and he's been slammed this year. I think that spans the last five years.
But this is a distraction. I've just finished listening to the speech. I defy anyone to watch it and not be moved. He may not end up as President, but the service he is performing for this nation cannot be denied.
And I'm a Hillary supporter.
Also, the reason Isiah should be criticized is because he's a terrible administrator with a long losing streak who can't motivate anyone but his bosses. Is that the case with Obama? Or are you thinking their situations and careers are similar for some other reason that escapes me at the moment, which couldn't possibly have anything to do with skin color.
kinojesi, read his speech and see that Mr. Obama does not put them at the same level, but what she did was use her position as the first female VP candidate to distort a racial truth.
that being said, great speech; there were a number of things he said in there that I have dreamed of hearing politicians acknowledge. I was moved, and I only read it.
How well do you know Jeremiah Wright? Have you gone to the Trinity United Church of Christ? How many sermons have you seen of his.
...oh...well...you've seen a 30 second loop on YouTube? Well...you're an expert, then. One cannot judge the entire work of one man on a few seconds of tape that Sean Hannity thinks is pertinent.
I'm not necessarily defending Wright, but it seems to me that people are scared by black men who yell. It strikes me that much of the white population in the US is unfamiliar with the traditions of black churches and liberation theology.
I thought Obama's speech was absolutely moving. I thought his point about his grandma was particularly vivid: we all have those we care about who say things that make us cringe. Can you imagine how embarrassed BabyHitler's family must be?
You know, I always said during Bush's presidency (still) that at this point I'd settle just for a president who could express himself properly. This is a pretty good step right here. Good speech.
You can watch the full speech here:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBbKG
I thought it was heartfelt and much needed. I know it's hard for many people to believe, but this guy is for real.
Never could say he wasn't eloquent. Now you can't say he isn't brave.
What a transition from listening to Dubyewyah
struggle with See Dick Run...See Jane jump to hearing
Obama giving Lincoln a run for his money.
Pennsylvania won't be easy.
CSPAN booknotes is repeating a michelle malkin appearance at Oberlin College in 2006 to a packed house.
subsequent reality check
The only problem I neglected to mention is that it was too clean too smooth too slick.
Just another lying politician at the top of his game.
Hes gonna bring unity? and I'm going to build a flying car next Friday.
Wait till the McCain friends use Rev,Wrights speeches on
Republican party ad's over & over again.
Ah the Scary nineteen sixties are back, a war that
is costing us 12 billion dollars a month is just
nothing any more.
Senator Obama the slander has begun.
McCain is out of his melon He would spend a hundred years in Iraq if given the chance.
Barack has attended Wright's church, listened to his weekly sermons, entertained him in his home. Yet, says Barack, he never heard any racist rants at church, nor was he aware that Wright held so poisoned a view of his country.??? BS
Suuuuure.... Barack one eloquent speech ain't gonna cover up your real anger. I would also add
you have a right to that anger
Just don't Bullshit me but hey thats part of being a politican. No bad feelings.