Obama seizes the race issue with his speech
Photo by Nicholas_T
Here’s the youtube of his speech… I haven’t figured out how to properly embed videos so that it’ll show up good for both IE and Firefox, so here’s the link:
Summary:
He basically says that Rev. Wright’s statements (these are my thoughts on his statements) were divisive and were wrong and reflect a wrong way of thinking. He said he could not shut Rev. Wright because Rev. Wright is like a family member to him. Then he identified with both the whites and blacks by talking about their struggles and their way of thinking and then highlighting his own diverse background. He said that we need to talk about race and that blacks need to stop blaming others and focus on working hard and overcoming. Whites on the other hand need to acknowledge that the past has contributed and is still contributing to discrimination. Then we move on by fighting for justice wherever injustice may exist. Providing healthcare, jobs, better schools etc.
Reaction of the pundits:
Most of the mainstream media is basically saying it was an awesome speech. Perfectly delivered and hit on all the right points. He defended Rev. Wright while condemning his words. He identified with all of his constituencies and consolidated his forces while seizing a new issue in the campaign. If you want someone for racial reconciliation, Obama is the candidate.
The conservative blogs and radio basically are saying that Obama sidestepped the issue. He put the focus on race while the focus should be on Rev. Wright’s statements. It doesn’t matter how close he is to Rev. Wright, he cannot associate himself with a person like that as a public figure. They point out that Obama has written elsewhere that he basically agrees with the sentiment that blacks are still oppressed by whites and they disagree with that.
My reaction:
Obama’s speech was really good. I thought he seized a potentially devastating moment and made it into a positive. He really did make himself the candidate for racial reconciliation. Everything he said about race made sense. He seemed to really identify with both the whites and the blacks and therefore helped people understand each other. I basically disagree with the conservatives and agree with the mainstream media. The conservatives are not going to like anything he does or give him any credit.
I personally still will have a difficult time voting for Obama because his stance on other issues, but he is definitely a great candidate for the race issue. He is also definitely the coolest candidate… but perhaps the coolest candidate won’t always make the best president.
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6 Comments, Comment or Ping
brian
another criticism concervatives voiced was that obama had claimed to have never heard any of these “incendiary comments” that reverend wright had made in the 20 years of attending the trinity united church of christ. in the speech, obama instead says he disagrees with these comments, so it looks like obama initially lied. i haven’t really followed the stories surrounding reverend wright, so i’m not sure. i’ve only heard the speech, which i thought was very intelligent. i really liked what he had to say about reverend wright and his grandmother’s era. it’s something that is pretty foreign to a lot of the younger voters i think.
Mar 20th, 2008
randplaty
Yeah I noticed that lying thing too… I didn’t follow the beginning or catch when he first said he never heard of them, so I don’t know what to make of that either…
Absolutely foreign to a lot of young voters… diving into and understanding another culture is very difficult for myself and I would guess most people
Mar 20th, 2008
vangelicmonk
I do not think Obama’s speech was bad, but I don’t think he answered all the questions that linger with many people. Probably many Conservatives like me.
Essentially, what Conservatives want to know is how does Obama reconcile the statements, teachings, and Liberation Theology of his Church with his views of race, social justice and economics. Obama did not address this at all.
Just like Juan Williams (you can see the video on my blot) said of Obama. He is playing both sides of the race issue for his benefit.
Mar 20th, 2008
randplaty
Saw the video on your blog… interesting segment. Glad you highlighted it.
I really don’t see him as trying to play both sides to his benefit. Perhaps that’s because I’m naive and take him at his word, or perhaps it’s because he does have this magic wand charisma that makes everyone believe him, but these differences in his background are a product of his hybridity which he mentioned in his speech. His father was from Kenya, his mother white, born in Hawaii, grew up in indonesia… the guy is a mix of all sorts of cultures just like you and I.
We can speculate that he joined the church for his political benefit to mark his place within that community, but that’s not what he says. That’s just speculation. He doesn’t try to reconcile the beliefs of his church toward his own. He disagrees with his church, but understand’s where they’re coming from. That attitude is what is needed for racial reconciliation. We need to understand where they’re coming from even though we may disagree with their black nationalistic viewpoints.
Mar 20th, 2008
Corrie
Rather than intentionally lying, I could also see Obama hearing those comments in the past, filtering them them through a lens of “I hear his pain, while disagreeing with his diagnosis”…and then honestly forgetting about it until the videos started playing all over YouTube. (Personally, when I am verbally attacked, sometimes it takes me a little time to process and recall the facts clearly…even when I’m clearly in the right.)
I’m so tired of being jaded about political candidates. I’d love for McCain and Obama to run against each other. I would love to see a clean campaign with clear, intelligent, respectful dialogue.
Hillary Clinton is a brilliant lady, but Obama has an admirable consensus-building leadership style and exceptional communication skills. Either one of them would make a fine president, I believe. As would John McCain.
What an exciting time to be an American!
Mar 20th, 2008
randplaty
Wow, corrie that’s a positive attitude! :p Most people think that none of them would make a fine president and we have to choose the lesser of evils :p.
Mar 21st, 2008
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