Obama's Race Speech

[BroncoInferno]

Thoughts?

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[Rohirrim]

Good speech.

[The Lone Bolt]

Excellent speech. I found myself in agreement with everything he said. I appreciate that he saw both sides and also that he pointed out how race divisions and anger are obstacles to solving our problems.

Ross Perot said it best when he said, essentially, if you want to win in this competetive world you don't want to keep people on the sidelines. You want everybody out on the field. We undermine ourselves when we hold anyone back.

[TheDave]

Very good speach... It will be interesting to see how the right and hillary spin this.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Dude has been indoctrinated by an extremist hate-monger for 20 years.

He's been a devout member of the equivalent of Fred Phelps' monstrosity.

No thanks, I'll pass.

[Rohirrim]

Dude has been indoctrinated by an extremist hate-monger for 20 years.

He's been a devout member of the equivalent of Fred Phelps' monstrosity.

No thanks, I'll pass.

It's posts like this that earned you a reputation as a drama queen. It's so "over the top" as to be clownish.

[epicSocialism4tw]

It's posts like this that earned you a reputation as a drama queen. It's so "over the top" as to be clownish.

NO.

It is what it is, and your bipartisan devotion keeps your eyes wide shut and your engines full steam ahead despite the warning signs.

You cant rationalize voting a person indoctrinated by hate into the presidency. You cant rationalize it, you can only kid yourself, which you and the other devout liberals here seem willing to do at the slightest inkling of apologetic.

[TailgateNut]

The racists have a hook to hang their white cone shaped hats on.

[Bronco Jamus]

I liked parts of the speech, but he needs to leave the church and denounce its racist practices to get my vote. If the races were reversed, he would be unthinkable as a selection. I have heard various media say that the pastor lived in a time of extreme racism as if that is an excuse. As far as the Phelps comment: It the same from the perspective that God is being used to spread a message of hate, and totally adverse to the teachings of Christ.

[Traveler]

My thoughts are simple. If you like what he stands for, vote for him. If you don't, vote for someone else.

[Rohirrim]

NO.

It is what it is, and your bipartisan devotion keeps your eyes wide shut and your engines full steam ahead despite the warning signs.

You cant rationalize voting a person indoctrinated by hate into the presidency. You cant rationalize it, you can only kid yourself, which you and the other devout liberals here seem willing to do at the slightest inkling of apologetic.

Actually, I'm opposed to the candidacy of Obama, as I've said many times on this forum. So, once again your drama is wasted.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Barack Obama is one of the great political orators of our time. Couple this with the fact that he's one of the only black political leaders to EVER challenge his own people to understand the views of whites, and you have a recipe for leadership that I believe is unmatched by anyone else on the current political stage. He has both my vote and my efforts to see him elected.

[Rohirrim]

Barack Obama is one of the great political orators of our time. Couple this with the fact that he's one of the only black political leaders to EVER challenge his own people to understand the views of whites, and you have a recipe for leadership that I believe is unmatched by anyone else on the current political stage. He has both my vote and my efforts to see him elected.

Had the Pastor Wright controversy never arisen, I wonder if Obama ever gives this speech.

[Traveler]

Had the Pastor Wright controversy never arisen, I wonder if Obama ever gives this speech.

Things happen for a reason...

[TDmvp]

i always wondered what Obama ment by "change" cause he never tells anyone what it means or his plans , and after seeing Pastor Wright i could care less what obama's plans are ... If this is the kinda hate slinging racist who he sees as a good person i have some questions/douts ...

I'd love to see the worlds reaction if it was found out that Mccain or Clinton went to a church where they said crap like that ... and crap that aint even factual at that ... and he needs someone to teach him some WW2 history cause if we don't drop the bomb on Japan the death toll of us invading would have been 4 times the bombs ... and mostly japan civilians ...

After seeing Rev Wrong i mean Wright i have been pointed to many black preachers who are similar and it is a damn shame .... chaulk up another thing religion is hijacked for ... Rev. Wright is so lucky he lives in a counrty that defends his right to be a lying ,racist , snake oil salesman ... i wonder what he makes a year to teach hate ... i bet it is lucrative and untaxed ...

[Spider]

Dude has been indoctrinated by an extremist hate-monger for 20 years.

He's been a devout member of the equivalent of Fred Phelps' monstrosity.

No thanks, I'll pass.

If stupidity was a disease , you would be the poster child

[TheDave]

i always wondered what Obama ment by "change" cause he never tells anyone what it means or his plans , and after seeing Pastor Wright i could care less what obama's plans are ... If this is the kinda hate slinging racist who he sees as a good person i have some questions/douts ...

I'd love to see the worlds reaction if it was found out that Mccain or Clinton went to a church where they said crap like that ...

Considering the number of Politicians that have been connected to Gerry Falwell. I'm guessing people would simply ignore it.

[Rohirrim]

I didn't hear anything racist in Wright's sermons. Politically radical, yes. Racist, no. Anyway, the Dems might be in trouble with this if they decide to make Obama the candidate. The 527s will have a field day with the Reverend Wright. I'm afraid their attacks on Obama will make the Swift Boating of Kerry look tame by comparison. This is just the kind of innuendo the hard Right will rally around and drive to the polls with. They're already planning it.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/19/politics/politico/main3949349.shtml

Obama's speech offers a reasoned, and realistic way of looking at the Pastor's remarks. Unfortunately, politics is more like one of those reality shows where only the slimiest and the nastiest get to the finish line.

[TDmvp]

Considering the number of Politicians that have been connected to Gerry Falwell. I'm guessing people would simply ignore it.

good fair point Dave .... not a fan of him either ...

[TheDave]

good fair point Dave .... not a fan of him either ...


Don't get me wrong I'm not a fan of Wright's either... Just seems like a lot of "popular" religious leaders make a habit of saying stupid things.

[TDmvp]

I didn't hear anything racist in Wright's sermons. Politically radical, yes. Racist, no. Anyway, the Dems might be in trouble with this if they decide to make Obama the candidate. The 527s will have a field day with the Reverend Wright. I'm afraid their attacks on Obama will make the Swift Boating of Kerry look tame by comparison. This is just the kind of innuendo the hard Right will rally around and drive to the polls with. They're already planning it.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/19/politics/politico/main3949349.shtml

Obama's speech offers a reasoned, and realistic way of looking at the Pastor's remarks. Unfortunately, politics is more like one of those reality shows where only the slimiest and the nastiest get to the finish line.

dude he said whitey invited aids to kill the black man ... he said whitey in office gave the black man the drugs , built more jails and passes a 3 strike law ... like whitey don't live by same rules if i do crack and get pops 3 times for big crimes ill be in one of those jails just as fast as the black man ... he called it the United States of KKK America and that isn't even all he said thats just off the top of my head ... sounds racist just repeating it ...

[orangeatheist]

...seems like a lot of "popular" religious leaders make a habit of saying stupid things.

Not just the "popular" ones.

And not just the leaders, either.

[Rohirrim]

dude he said whitey invited aids to kill the black man ... he said whitey in office gave the black man the drugs , built more jails and passes a 3 strike law ... like whitey don't live by same rules if i do crack and get pops 3 times for big crimes ill be in one of those jails just as fast as the black man ... he called it the United States of KKK America and that isn't even all he said thats just off the top of my head ... sounds racist just repeating it ...

Sounds more to me like a condemnation of our nation, run by white men, as a racist nation. Like Obama, I disagree vehemently with his take, but it's not as if he doesn't have some evidence to get there. Not too long ago, there was some "strange fruit" hanging from trees all over the South. There was Emmitt Till and Medger Evers. Before that, there was slavery, then Jim Crow. There was the Tuskegee syphilis experiments. But, like Obama said, to continue the divisive dialogue is counter-productive to our evolution as one nation. We've all got to move beyond our bitterness and find a path toward reconciliation.

There was this great quote in Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men that went, "Well all the time ya spend trying to get back what's been took from ya, more is going out the door. After a while you just have to try to get a tourniquet on it."

[TDmvp]

Sounds more to me like a condemnation of our nation, run by white men, as a racist nation. Like Obama, I disagree vehemently with his take, but it's not as if he doesn't have some evidence to get there. Not too long ago, there was some "strange fruit" hanging from trees all over the South. There was Emmitt Till and Medger Evers. Before that, there was slavery, then Jim Crow. There was the Tuskegee syphilis experiments. But, like Obama said, to continue the divisive dialogue is counter-productive to our evolution as one nation. We've all got to move beyond our bitterness and find a path toward reconciliation.

There was this great quote in Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men that went, "Well all the time ya spend trying to get back what's been took from ya, more is going out the door. After a while you just have to try to get a tourniquet on it."

then he should of said that .... at least many the things you say are factual ... the Aids comment .. i agree with your move beyond it tho Ro ... takes a man to go there ...

[TheDave]

Not just the "popular" ones.

And not just the leaders, either.

True...

[footstepsfrom#27]

I don't think any clear thinking person can listen to the entire 37 minutes of this speech and conclude that Obama is a racist. If you can, then in all probability you didn't really listen at all. This was one of the most intelligent discussions I've ever heard on race, and by far the best I've heard from a candidate for political office on any level.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

I don't think any clear thinking person can listen to the entire 37 minutes of this speech and conclude that Obama is a racist. If you can, then in all probability you didn't really listen at all. This was one of the most intelligent discussions I've ever heard on race, and by far the best I've heard from a candidate for political office on any level.

Criteria like "clear thinking" would definitely exclude most of the half-wits who are doing the swift boating here.

These people know the only way they can win is to muddy the waters (and hope to God Americans have short memories where Bush and his record are concerned.) Clarity is the last thing they want.

[chickennob2]

Agreed. If you're going to come into a thread about a man's speech on racism, and then comment on the 30 second snippet you heard of his former minister in the news without listening to Obama's speech, that is absurd. If you want to believe Obama is a rascist, fine. But the information is right there at the top of this thread. You choose to ignore it. You choose to remain ignorant. You could easily spend 37 minutes of your life that you would otherwise spend browsing a football forum in march to actually educate yourself on an issue you obviously want to talk about. Just click play, and then say what you want. But listen to what he says, not to what you want to hear.

[chickennob2]

I absolutely loved this speech. Everything that the Rove elections have done to destroy my faith in the political system Obama has done his best to reverse. No ignoring the issues. No talke of "flip flopping" while ignoring the economy, healthcare, and the war. He had so many opportunities to follow the typical political path. He addressed those opportunities. And he outright rejected them. He confronted the issue in a very intelligent manner. For the first time a politician spoke about race and treated his audience like adults.

No polarization. No excuses. No sidestepping the issue. No catchy buzzwords. No marketable soundbites. Just an actual intellegent discussion of the issuel. Mr. Obama, I applaud you.

[footstepsfrom#27]

I absolutely loved this speech. Everything that the Rove elections have done to destroy my faith in the political system Obama has done his best to reverse. No ignoring the issues. No talke of "flip flopping" while ignoring the economy, healthcare, and the war. He had so many opportunities to follow the typical political path. He addressed those opportunities. And he outright rejected them. He confronted the issue in a very intelligent manner. For the first time a politician spoke about race and treated his audience like adults.

No polarization. No excuses. No sidestepping the issue. No catchy buzzwords. No marketable soundbites. Just an actual intellegent discussion of the issuel. Mr. Obama, I applaud you.
Rep.

[Spider]

I missed the speech .....I got bits and pieces of it .... people down here refuse to talk politics , and when they did , I got **** Bush ........I have stumbled onto a gold mine down here , looks like I might be moving down here to Savannah , or working 2 to 3 weeks down here heading to Casper for a week . I will tell you this though , some damn good people down here ........

[Dukes]

I missed the speech .....I got bits and pieces of it .... people down here refuse to talk politics , and when they did , I got **** Bush ........I have stumbled onto a gold mine down here , looks like I might be moving down here to Savannah , or working 2 to 3 weeks down here heading to Casper for a week . I will tell you this though , some damn good people down here ........

Spend anymore time around conservatives and you might end up in prison on assault charges Ha!

[baja]

I didn't hear anything racist in Wright's sermons. Politically radical, yes. Racist, no. Anyway, the Dems might be in trouble with this if they decide to make Obama the candidate. The 527s will have a field day with the Reverend Wright. I'm afraid their attacks on Obama will make the Swift Boating of Kerry look tame by comparison. This is just the kind of innuendo the hard Right will rally around and drive to the polls with. They're already planning it.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/19/politics/politico/main3949349.shtml

Obama's speech offers a reasoned, and realistic way of looking at the Pastor's remarks. Unfortunately, politics is more like one of those reality shows where only the slimiest and the nastiest get to the finish line.

John Mc Cain will be your next president and Condi Rice will be your VP, get used to it.

[BroncoInferno]

Dude has been indoctrinated by an extremist hate-monger for 20 years.

He's been a devout member of the equivalent of Fred Phelps' monstrosity.

No thanks, I'll pass.

Did you even listen to his speech? If you did, then I guess the nuance of race relations that Obama (correctly and eloquently) pointed out must go right over your head. Not surprising.

[BroncoInferno]

NO.

It is what it is, and your bipartisan devotion keeps your eyes wide shut and your engines full steam ahead despite the warning signs.

You cant rationalize voting a person indoctrinated by hate into the presidency. You cant rationalize it, you can only kid yourself, which you and the other devout liberals here seem willing to do at the slightest inkling of apologetic.

And what evidence from Obama's past deeds and words do you have that suggests any of those particular incendiary comments actually stuck?

[BroncoInferno]

Anyway, the Dems might be in trouble with this if they decide to make Obama the candidate. The 527s will have a field day with the Reverend Wright. I'm afraid their attacks on Obama will make the Swift Boating of Kerry look tame by comparison. This is just the kind of innuendo the hard Right will rally around and drive to the polls with. They're already planning it.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/19/politics/politico/main3949349.shtml

You know, after this speech, I am less concerned about such attacks. The mistake Kerry and Gore made is that when these ridiculous attacks were leveled against them, they chose to ignore them or make limp-wristed soundbytes hoping the issue would die off. Here, Obama took things head on. If that is his continued strategy, then I don't think the attacks will be as effective as they were against Kerry and Gore. Of course, you always have folks like angryllama who will conclude Obama is a racist Muslim regardless of how reasoned his responses to the assaults are, but those hands-in-the-ears types weren't voting for Obama anyway.

[Rohirrim]

John Mc Cain will be your next president and Condi Rice will be your VP, get used to it.

Unfortunately, you're right. Obama's candidacy just took a torpedo amidships and the Democratic Party doesn't even realize it. Neither do his fawning acolytes in the press. The GOP 527s are going to show the Pastor's "God damn America" and Michelle Obama's "Never been proud of this country..." over and over and over. The so-called Reagan democrats are gone, and they're not coming back. Either the Dems make Billary the candidate or they go down in flames in the general election. I'll call it right now. If Obama is the candidate we're looking at another Nixon/McGovern wipeout.

Edit: I don't think Rice will accept the VP slot. I'm still betting it's Thompson. Just look at him. He was born to be VP. He can just sit at a desk and sleep.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Unfortunately, you're right. Obama's candidacy just took a torpedo amidships and the Democratic Party doesn't even realize it. Neither do his fawning acolytes in the press. The GOP 527s are going to show the Pastor's "God damn America" and Michelle Obama's "Never been proud of this country..." over and over and over. The so-called Reagan democrats are gone, and they're not coming back. Either the Dems make Billary the candidate or they go down in flames in the general election. I'll call it right now. If Obama is the candidate we're looking at another Nixon/McGovern wipeout.
I disagree. Pitting the eloquence and grace of Obama against the cranky old McCain will pull young voters by the hoards. Don't forget McCain is dragging the ball and chain called Bush's 27% approval rating around with him. Why on earth this guy wanted GWB's endorsement is utterly mistifying to me. Obama has a much better shot against him than Hillary, and the polls consistently suggest he's the stronger of the two against McCain, so I don't think this issue will stick.

[Rohirrim]

You know, after this speech, I am less concerned about such attacks. The mistake Kerry and Gore made is that when these ridiculous attacks were leveled against them, they chose to ignore them or make limp-wristed soundbytes hoping the issue would die off. Here, Obama took things head on. If that is his continued strategy, then I don't think the attacks will be as effective as they were against Kerry and Gore. Of course, you always have folks like angryllama who will conclude Obama is a racist Muslim refardless of reasoned his responses to the assaults, but those hands-in-the-ears types weren't voting for Obama anyway.

As Kerry (and many candidates before him) have discovered, nuance doesn't exist in general elections. In fact, nuance becomes a subject of derision, as Kerry also found out. IMO, this Reverend Wright fiasco just sent Obama's ship to the bottom. The speech was nice. I thought it was an excellent speech. It made MSNBC, CNN and the NY Times happy too. But the so-called Reagan democrats heard Wright holler, "God damn America" and they just decided they will never pull the lever for Obama no matter what. Without that chunk of the electorate, a Dem can't win. Politics are numbers. The rest is verbal gas.

[Rohirrim]

I disagree. Pitting the eloquence and grace of Obama against the cranky old McCain will pull young voters by the hoards. Don't forget McCain is dragging the ball and chain called Bush's 27% approval rating around with him. Why on earth this guy wanted GWB's endorsement is utterly mistifying to me. Obama has a much better shot against him than Hillary, and the polls consistently suggest he's the stronger of the two against McCain, so I don't think this issue will stick.

In my lifetime, I have yet to see "young voters" carry an election. The way things stand now is not the way they will look next fall, especially if Osama keeps his word and pulls off a large scale attack in Europe, like he is threatening. IMHO, if the Dems don't figure a way to turn this thing over to the Clinton's, they're toast.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

Great speech, the issue of racism is never tackled head on in this country so its good to see this happen.

Regardless of the speech, this whole issue (the one regarding his pastor) is just yet another bright shiny object to deflect people from the gazillion issues we have in this country.

And if McCain is pres in 08, God help us all.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

In my lifetime, I have yet to see "young voters" carry an election. The way things stand now is not the way they will look next fall, especially if Osama keeps his word and pulls off a large scale attack in Europe, like he is threatening. IMHO, if the Dems don't figure a way to turn this thing over to the Clinton's, they're toast.

I'm not sure how old you are, but Obama's likability is similar to kennedy's (im not saying he'll be a fantastic president, kennedy wasnt either) but the young people are voting in the PRIMARIES...there's no reason to think they'll suddenly jump ship come the national elections. If you look at voting numbers in the primaries in general, Democrats have been coming out in record numbers.

The young generations have this desire for a post racial america and see Obama as the symbolic candidate. (people never vote on the issues in america anyway). Though, having said that, Dems usually do well when the economy is ****, which is obviously is, hopefully that bodes well. The press friggin fellates mccain on a daily basis, but hopefully people wll realize he's a **** candidate coem november

[Spider]

Spend anymore time around conservatives and you might end up in prison on assault charges Ha!

LOL . people down here are too polite ....... real nice .......Hard to be an asshole

[defenseman]

This thread is just hilarious. ROFL! The facts, and myths about Mr. Obama will come out soon enough. And the party will fall behind hillary...dman

[footstepsfrom#27]

John Mc Cain will be your next president and Condi Rice will be your VP, get used to it.
I don't think Condi Rice wants to be VP. Besides, putting her on the ticket would look way to shallow to voters who would perceive her as nothing more than the window dressing to balance the ticket against the democratic candidate's status as either black or female. It would also piss off some southern Reps who are already not thrilled with McCain's politics. More likely they'll play it safe with a generic VP candidate who doesn't detract attention from McCain himself.