Read the transcript here. Comments on Barack Obama's speech from the media:
From Political Wire: Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race this morning showed off exactly why he's become the Democratic front runner for the presidential nomination. He's absolutely willing to challenge the conventional way of how politicians approach controversy. In my opinion, it was the best speech so far in this campaign.
From the Dallas Morning News:
Obama's speech will go down in history as one of the best modern speeches about America's ongoing racial divide and the failure to address the roots of it.From Time:
An extraordinary speech — not because of any rhetorical flourishes, but because it was honest, frank, measured in tone, inclusive and hopeful… [Obama] clearly demonstrated today his capacity to lead public opinion and not simply be a slave to it. Indeed, I would say he appeared wise beyond his years and genuinely presidential.
11 comments:
What kind of person gives $27,000 to a pastor who says "God Damn America. It's in the Bible."?
What kind of person has his daughters baptized by a man who says we live in the "U.S. of KKK A."?
What kind of person says that his grandmother's private statement to her husband that she was afraid of an physically aggressive panhandler who happened to be black is equivalent to a videotaped racist rant in front of a church full of people?
Barack Obama.
Sorry. Some things are more important than opposition to the Trans-Texas Corridor.
Go McCain!
David, he's the kind of person that is not defined by the grievances and ideological habits of an earlier generation.
Ignorant hateful words, that didn't come from Obama's mouth (no matter how hard you wish), are no comparison to the majority of politicians who lie at every turn and steal everything that's not nailed down.
Anonymous.
Now that's the handle chosen by a brave man not defined by the grievances and ideological habits of an earlier generation.
Come on out of the bushes, child, and defend your racist messiah.
And while you're at it, answer this:
What kind of persons stays for twenty years in a church where the pastor describes 9-11-2001 as "chickens coming home to roost" and then stakes the presidency on defending that pastor?
And how do you defend these "ignorant hateful words" from Obama: "I can no more disown [Wright] than I can 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."
You don't choose your grandmother. You choose your pastor. Obama chose--and stayed for two decades with--a man as racist as Farrakhan or David Duke.
As for once confessing fear of black men who passed by on the street, I believe that Jesse Jackson once confessed the same fear. Is he now a racist, too?
And consider this: Obama gave as much money to Wright as most people earn in six months AFTER Wright said all the things we have seen and heard.
How is Obama "not defined" by who he gives his money to? (Matt. 6:21)
At the end of the day, I think it will be more important to vote accordingly for all the people under the president. Especially locally here in Texas and Travis County. Seems like no matter who becomes president not much will change regarding transportation within the next 4 years. We can at least help get the local scumbags out of office.
I'll suggest that anyone that has actually listened to the complete Obama speech, and really heard what was said, and is still offended, would most probably not be happy with ANYTHING Obama would have said or done.
The great David Gergen, who I have enormous respect for, said that Obama doesn't have a radical bone in his body.
I think he's 100% correct.
That's my opinion.
My friend David Rogers has a different opinion.
Sal:
I'll agree that Obama gives a great speech. I want to believe him. I want America to move past race.
But Obama didn't answer the critical questions. Why?
Twenty-seven grand for hate. If he had given that money to David Duke, you and I wouldn't have a second thought about dumping Obama.
If there is any evidence that the "Reverend" Wright is better than Farrakhan or Duke, I haven't seen it.
It's not "just words" that connect Obama to Wright. It's a twenty-year connection that Obama himself compares to his own family.
What kind of man adopts someone like that into his family?
David,
The historical speech was more than words.
The fact is, we are both white guys, and we'll never know how racial issues would have effected our families and our community if we came from a black background.
Obama, having a black father and white mother has the unique position of straddling both.
Unless you've walked in his shoes, I guess you'll never understand.
What I know is this:
1) I'd consider you a Republican, and you might be slanted against the likely Dem nominee.
2) Obama is not a radical.
3) Obama doesn't take lobbyist or PAC dollars.
4) Obama has come from the grass roots, and he's the most real candidate that we'd have to choose from in decades.
5) With relatives from every culture, he understands middle america.
Sal:
I agree with most of your points. And though I am a conservative, I didn't find much substantive difference between McCain and Obama on issues other than Iraq and abortion until last week. (both anti-lobbyist, both anti-earmark, both pro-transparency, though obviously with some marks against them--Rezko, Keating).
After Obama threw his (living) grandmother under the bus, and then today compounded that act by ascribing racist attitudes to her that he then described as "typical" for a white person, I now see clear differences between the two.
Beyond that, I am anti-Clinton, so it takes a lot for me to be against anything or anyone that takes her further from the presidency.
As for Obama not being a radical--I would have bought that two weeks ago. He doesn't sound like a radical. But he gave more than $27,000 (that we know of) to Jeremiah Wright. Wright is a radical.
What kind of man does that?
We agree that Clinton is no good. She can't open her mouth without lies falling out all over the floor.
I don't think the McCain and Obama difference on the war, at a cost of $10 Billion a month, should be glossed over.
McCain wants a 100 year war. Obama wants to pull out.
That $10 Billion tax dollars a month is part of the reason we get schemes like toll roads (instead of free roads), and with this economy on the skids, how can we afford to stay in a war that was based on lies for 100 years?
I could care less of if Obama gave Jeremiah Wright a million dollars.
I am much more interested in the river of money that flows in the other direction - the money special interest use to buy our politicians.
Obama has already denounced Wright's comments.
Black churches are something white folks will never understand.
How many back sermons have you seen David?
Black preachers vent, get carried away and say stupid shit, because they had a lifetime of getting kicked around. Some church goers tell preachers they don't agree with some of that radical stuff on the way out...It causes a dialog at the dinner table. Church becomes a show some folks might not want to miss next week.
David, your a very intelligent guy, and you are extremely white. Can't you see where there are layers of nuances, layers of anger from an older generation that you just could never understand.
I'm not black. I'm an italian american. When I was a kid I remember ignorant people asked me if my father was in the mafia - as they thought all italians were part of the underworld.
My dad worked hard all his life to put food on the table. I remember my parents talking about how it was very hard for them to pay the bills when I was about 8 years old. And, to do my part I would use as little milk as possible with my cereal, and eat less of everything. We had a tiny house with no air conditioning and no other frills many of us take for granted.
I'm the first in my family to get a college education. I live in a mansion compared to my mom and dads house. Everyone lives differently.
I've lived differently.
FYI: I'm not a D or an R, I'm an independent.
This is all about understanding David.
Obama has renounced Wrights words. Feel free to bash something you will never understand, but I really think your smarter than that.
Now, if Obama wants to select Jeremiah Wright as VP, I'm with you. Until then...unless you've been in those shoes...
Local pastors speak out on Obama pastor controversy
Ministers: Prophetic speech is not hate speech.
By Eileen E. Flynn
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, March 21, 2008
The provocative sermons of Sen. Barack Obama's pastor may be causing problems for the candidate, but a dozen black Central Texas ministers said Thursday they will not be cowed by the controversy and will continue to "speak truth to power" from the pulpit.
"We ... want to encourage preachers in our community to continue to be prophetic in their pulpits," said the Rev. Joseph C. Parker Jr., who led a news conference at his church, David Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. "We want to urge them to continue preaching to heal the hurt, pain and brokenness in our communities."
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., the recently retired pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, has been criticized for his fiery comments from the pulpit. Video clips of his sermons circulated on the Internet show Wright railing against racism and U.S. foreign policy. In one sermon, he yelled, "God damn America!"
The remarks have prompted debates on TV and radio talk shows and a response from Obama, who in a speech Tuesday condemned some of his pastor's statements and urged the country to engage in a frank dialogue about race.
The African American ministers gathered at David Chapel on Thursday said they were discouraged by the ongoing media coverage, which played a role in this week's decision by Texas Christian University to move a Brite Divinity School event honoring Wright off of its Fort Worth campus.
School officials said they were concerned about security.
The Central Texas ministers are part of the nonprofit group Texas Congregations United for Empowerment, which seeks to address the needs of African American communities.
The Rev. Walter R. Jasper, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, said people are using Wright's remarks to discredit Obama as a candidate.
"It's not about preaching," he said. "It's about politics."
Obama should be commended for not abandoning Wright even though he disagreed with some of the pastor's statements, said Parker, who added that he has asked his own congregation to do the same.
" 'It is very unlikely that there will not be at least one time that I will make you mad by what I say,' " he said he has told his flock.
That's part of the problem with looking at video snippets of Wright's sermons without understanding his greater ministry, said the Rev. Jacquelyn Donald-Mims, pastor of Imani Community Church.
Donald-Mims, who has heard Wright preach numerous times, said black pastors may love America but still feel compelled to jolt people awake to the country's problems.
Instead of preaching what she calls "sunshine theology," pastors use a "prophetic" voice that challenges their flock.
"The only way (America) can become more livable is if we confront what we want to fix," she said. "There's going to be ecstatic, excited speech that moves people to action."
Jesus, too, used harsh language at times, Donald-Mims said, but "prophetic speech is not hate speech."
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