It amazes me how there are still people who can't come to grips with the fact that this guy is an incredible public speaker. His political stances, some of which I profoundly disagree with, have never stopped me from appreciating his skills as an orator. His opponents often suggest he excites juvenile emotions in his audience; this, to me, seems particularly absurd. What does it say about their own maturity if they can't even admit what should be self evident by now, that Obama is extremely intelligent and a very gifted speaker?

As many have acknowledged it was a well thought out speech. Something that I doubt he came up with in just a weekend.

He has known that race and sex would be part of the Election Trail.

He has also know SINCE he decided to run that Wright could well be a stumbling block.

His campaign is very quick to complain about racism..(Nothing directly from Obama.)

He has made statements in his speeches then told or had told different versions to other parties. (Canada, Israel, lied about being present when Wright gave speeches.)

He hides behind being bi-racial. Only using his mother's heritage when it suits his purpose. Utilizes his father's hertiage to indicate that he knows both sides of the race issue.

This speech is going to go down in history as the second coming of MLK.. and JFK.. but
tells everyone that he is a unifier..

If Wright had been publicized prior to the beginning of the General Election in January.. AND the DNC and mainstream media had DONE THEIR JOB to investigate Barack Hussein Obama. It may have very well changed the election results as posted today. AMERICAN VOTERS ARE angry at the way the GOVERNMENT has been operating for the past seven years under GOD BUSH. They have been demoralized by how the GOP and Bush and his cronies have run the country into the ground.

Now the DNC thought they had the ideal candidate to galvanize the black american vote. AND they have the only problem is..

Do we want another president that has a different AGENDA than the presents in is speeches.

Obama is from the NOW GENERATION. He wants to be President of the United States, because he would be the FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT in the history of the UNITED STATES. And in CONTROL.

BEWARE THE LAMB IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.

The fact that Obama can give a speach when given some time to sit down with his coaches is well known. The fact that it would be "exactly what America needed to hear" is obvious. Come on! He' not an idiot! Don't you get a little suspicous of a guy who always manages to say "exactly what America need to hear"? I am flabbergasted at the amount apathy so many people have about this big con game he is pulling off. In some cases its not apathy, its passionat devotion, and that's disturbing! Don't vote or make political decisions based on what people say, base it on people's track record. That is the only thing that can't always manage to tell you, "exactly what you need to hear". Is this type of common sense really that gone due to this guy's smooth talk? The speech was great, unfortunately it came about 15 years too late! This speech should hav been given byObama to Pastor Wright 15 years ago. If people like Pastor Wright didn't exist, and people like Barack Obama didn't give him an audience, there would be no need for the speech that "America needed to hear". What we really needed to hear from Obama was some apologies and answers, not smooth talk saying, "Its alright folks, my hand really wasn't in the cookie jar, you all need to just get over your problem with the fact that I like cookies". Its pastor Wright who was doing the racist anti America bashing, so don't implicate the American people and act like they have something they need to apolgize for, Mr Obama!.

You're asking the wrong question -- again.

Obama turned the question away from "how does this affect the polls?" to questions that truly matter: "How can America overcome the divisions that continue to impede our progress as a people and as a nation?"

His speech challenges us to stop thinking about the presidential campaign as a game with a score, with winners and losers, with home runs and errors. Instead, we need to think about the campaign as a quadrennial evaluation of where we stand and where we want to go as a people.

Will this help him? Will this hurt Clinton? Will McCain be able to counter?

Irrelevant points. Stupid questions.

The campaign is about us as Americans, about what we believe and what we want. The campaign is about whether we are individuals wanting things for ourselves, or whether we are a people, a community, a society, a nation, wanting what is best for all of us.

You ask if this will help Obama. The real question should be whether this will raise the level of discourse of the campaign. We can only make that happen if we ask the right questions.

You missed.

Barack Obama is simply the most impressive person to run for president since Robert Kennedy. Senator Clinton's "kitchen sink" approach to her attacks have been relentless. I like Mrs. Clinton, and she deserves credit for her tenacity. However, Senator Obama has taken it all without losing his cool, and it it is just one more affirmation of his credentials. Governor Richardson sees it, and I hope this opens a floodgate of significant super delegate endorsements.

DT Fishkill NY

He Got an A. I think he will be the best president we have had in a long time, very much in the style of Teddy Roosevelt, without the expansionist bent.

The Clintons and their network have shown their true c o l o r s again. "Shame on you", Clintons and supporters! The resignation of Ferraro for her racist remarks was meaningless and definitely not an apology, just an overt act. As to Hillary's "apology", a farce, she really knows how to turn the tears on and off! When Powers resigned from the Obama campaign, her statement was a true apology, though unnecessary. Had Powers comment about Hellery included the word Rotten, excuse me, Rodham with monster, Powers' apology even then would not have been due.

What voters need to be reminded is that Hillary is the jilted wife of an adulterous liar who womanized women no less than Spits Sir (excuse me, Spitzer aka Spritzer, aka Puttin' on the spritz big time). C'mon Americans, these are the people who are governing this country's family values with core values like theirs? Personal lives do affect the values of people who govern. The mere thought of letting Silly Billy Boy get near the White House again to womanize more than before is and should be repugnant.

Isn't it ironic how convenient Slick Billy used LBJ over MLK (who has a National Holiday in his honor!) Lest we forget where Billy boy found it convenient to smoke pot (excuse me, inhale pot and save his own neck while protesting against LBJ) in England during LBJ's Vietnam War for which LBJ will never be honored.

The truth of White Water may never be known. However, because of the stakes involved in demanding a wholesome candidate for the highest office in the greatest country in the world, may the results of the investigation always be subject to question--her word against his(deceased).

Of course, Clintonville has tried in every which way to refute the aforementioned and to stoop to any level to get elected. (Getting Florida delegates, Hillary--sounds like another Bush ploy in the making.) However, be reminded of speakers for JFK, the true author of "LBJ's" civil rights, and Eugene McCarthy, the absolute is held by HIM and, too often than not, isn't it hard to accept the truth.

Had Barack Obama's judicious lead to a higher road in American Politics and his good judgment on international politics been followed, ALL of the people of the United States would be two trillion dollars richer with thousands of lives saved too! On the other hand, the Clintons were brainwashed into believing there were weapons of mass destruction. If Mrs. Clinton was so easily duped by her husband, imagine her sharpness in world politics--she didn't even know what was going on in her own bedroom!!!

If all of these politicians' feet were held to the fire by way of a polygraph test, the test would reveal Obama has a lot more class, integrity, American patriotism and family values than his critics possess combined. How about a polygraph for ol'Billary and Hillary on White Water? Ferraro's Family values??? include raising a son who was caught pushing/selling drugs at Middlebury College in Vermont!!!

The Clintons and their network have shown their true c o l o r s again. "Shame on you", Clintons and supporters! The resignation of Ferraro for her racist remarks was meaningless and definitely not an apology, just an overt act. As to Hillary's "apology", a farce, she really knows how to turn the tears on and off! When Powers resigned from the Obama campaign, her statement was a true apology, though unnecessary. Had Powers comment about Hellery included the word Rotten, excuse me, Rodham with monster, Powers' apology even then would not have been due.

What voters need to be reminded is that Hillary is the jilted wife of an adulterous liar who womanized women no less than Spits Sir (excuse me, Spitzer aka Spritzer, aka Puttin' on the spritz big time). C'mon Americans, these are the people who are governing this country's family values with core values like theirs? Personal lives do affect the values of people who govern. The mere thought of letting Silly Billy Boy get near the White House again to womanize more than before is and should be repugnant.

Isn't it ironic how convenient Slick Billy used LBJ over MLK (who has a National Holiday in his honor!) Lest we forget where Billy boy found it convenient to smoke pot (excuse me, inhale pot and save his own neck while protesting against LBJ) in England during LBJ's Vietnam War for which LBJ will never be honored.

The truth of White Water may never be known. However, because of the stakes involved in demanding a wholesome candidate for the highest office in the greatest country in the world, may the results of the investigation always be subject to question--her word against his(deceased).

Of course, Clintonville has tried in every which way to refute the aforementioned and to stoop to any level to get elected. (Getting Florida delegates, Hillary--sounds like another Bush ploy in the making.) However, be reminded of speakers for JFK, the true author of "LBJ's" civil rights, and Eugene McCarthy, the absolute is held by HIM and, too often than not, isn't it hard to accept the truth.

Had Barack Obama's judicious lead to a higher road in American Politics and his good judgment on international politics been followed, ALL of the people of the United States would be two trillion dollars richer with thousands of lives saved too! On the other hand, the Clintons were brainwashed into believing there were weapons of mass destruction. If Mrs. Clinton was so easily duped by her husband, imagine her sharpness in world politics--she didn't even know what was going on in her own bedroom!!!

If all of these politicians' feet were held to the fire by way of a polygraph test, the test would reveal Obama has a lot more class, integrity, American patriotism and family values than his critics possess combined. How about a polygraph for ol'Billary and Hillary on White Water? Ferraro's Family values??? include raising a son who was caught pushing/selling drugs at Middlebury College in Vermont!!!

The Clintons and their network have shown their true c o l o r s again. "Shame on you", Clintons and supporters! The resignation of Ferraro for her racist remarks was meaningless and definitely not an apology, just an overt act. As to Hillary's "apology", a farce, she really knows how to turn the tears on and off! When Powers resigned from the Obama campaign, her statement was a true apology, though unnecessary. Had Powers comment about Hellery included the word Rotten, excuse me, Rodham with monster, Powers' apology even then would not have been due.

What voters need to be reminded is that Hillary is the jilted wife of an adulterous liar who womanized women no less than Spits Sir (excuse me, Spitzer aka Spritzer, aka Puttin' on the spritz big time). C'mon Americans, these are the people who are governing this country's family values with core values like theirs? Personal lives do affect the values of people who govern. The mere thought of letting Silly Billy Boy get near the White House again to womanize more than before is and should be repugnant.

Isn't it ironic how convenient Slick Billy used LBJ over MLK (who has a National Holiday in his honor!) Lest we forget where Billy boy found it convenient to smoke pot (excuse me, inhale pot and save his own neck while protesting against LBJ) in England during LBJ's Vietnam War for which LBJ will never be honored.

The truth of White Water may never be known. However, because of the stakes involved in demanding a wholesome candidate for the highest office in the greatest country in the world, may the results of the investigation always be subject to question--her word against his(deceased).

Of course, Clintonville has tried in every which way to refute the aforementioned and to stoop to any level to get elected. (Getting Florida delegates, Hillary--sounds like another Bush ploy in the making.) However, be reminded of speakers for JFK, the true author of "LBJ's" civil rights, and Eugene McCarthy, the absolute is held by HIM and, too often than not, isn't it hard to accept the truth.

Had Barack Obama's judicious lead to a higher road in American Politics and his good judgment on international politics been followed, ALL of the people of the United States would be two trillion dollars richer with thousands of lives saved too! On the other hand, the Clintons were brainwashed into believing there were weapons of mass destruction. If Mrs. Clinton was so easily duped by her husband, imagine her sharpness in world politics--she didn't even know what was going on in her own bedroom!!!

If all of these politicians' feet were held to the fire by way of a polygraph test, the test would reveal Obama has a lot more class, integrity, American patriotism and family values than his critics possess combined. How about a polygraph for ol'Billary and Hillary on White Water? Ferraro's Family values??? include raising a son who was caught pushing/selling drugs at Middlebury College in Vermont!!!

The Clintons and their network have shown their true c o l o r s again. "Shame on you", Clintons and supporters! The resignation of Ferraro for her racist remarks was meaningless and definitely not an apology, just an overt act. As to Hillary's "apology", a farce, she really knows how to turn the tears on and off! When Powers resigned from the Obama campaign, her statement was a true apology, though unnecessary. Had Powers comment about Hellery included the word Rotten, excuse me, Rodham with monster, Powers' apology even then would not have been due.

What voters need to be reminded is that Hillary is the jilted wife of an adulterous liar who womanized women no less than Spits Sir (excuse me, Spitzer aka Spritzer, aka Puttin' on the spritz big time). C'mon Americans, these are the people who are governing this country's family values with core values like theirs? Personal lives do affect the values of people who govern. The mere thought of letting Silly Billy Boy get near the White House again to womanize more than before is and should be repugnant.

Isn't it ironic how convenient Slick Billy used LBJ over MLK (who has a National Holiday in his honor!) Lest we forget where Billy boy found it convenient to smoke pot (excuse me, inhale pot and save his own neck while protesting against LBJ) in England during LBJ's Vietnam War for which LBJ will never be honored.

The truth of White Water may never be known. However, because of the stakes involved in demanding a wholesome candidate for the highest office in the greatest country in the world, may the results of the investigation always be subject to question--her word against his(deceased).

Of course, Clintonville has tried in every which way to refute the aforementioned and to stoop to any level to get elected. (Getting Florida delegates, Hillary--sounds like another Bush ploy in the making.) However, be reminded of speakers for JFK, the true author of "LBJ's" civil rights, and Eugene McCarthy, the absolute is held by HIM and, too often than not, isn't it hard to accept the truth.

Had Barack Obama's judicious lead to a higher road in American Politics and his good judgment on international politics been followed, ALL of the people of the United States would be two trillion dollars richer with thousands of lives saved too! On the other hand, the Clintons were brainwashed into believing there were weapons of mass destruction. If Mrs. Clinton was so easily duped by her husband, imagine her sharpness in world politics--she didn't even know what was going on in her own bedroom!!!

If all of these politicians' feet were held to the fire by way of a polygraph test, the test would reveal Obama has a lot more class, integrity, American patriotism and family values than his critics possess combined. How about a polygraph for ol'Billary and Hillary on White Water? Ferraro's Family values??? include raising a son who was caught pushing/selling drugs at Middlebury College in Vermont!!!

ARE WE MORE THAN THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN?
IS THE WHOLE GREATER THAN THE SUM OF IT'S PARTS?
Obama's father was Kenyan, privileged, and a Muslim with black skin and most significant absent. His stepfather was Indonesian, privileged and a Muslim with brown skin. His Mother was American, privileged, a Kansan with white skin. His controversial mentor is American, Christian, a Marine Veteran, and unapologetically black. Other than his wife Michelle, the Rev Wright is the only real tie that Obama has to Black America. It's a double edged sword, but Obama needs Rev. Wright to retain the Black vote.

In a perverse way Geraldine Ferraro was right--Obama wouldn't be where he is if he wasn't black. Ironically, however, he really isn't black! Obama should stop apologizing and redefine himself as a citizen of the world, multicultural and all inclusive.

The reality is Obama has black skin but did not know what is was like to be a Black American. He grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia. He attended a prestigious preparatory high school and attended a predominantly white college.

With political aspirations in mind, he intentionally joined a black church to assimilate into Black American culture. Despite Rev. Wright's harsh rhetoric, Obama stayed with the church for 20 years as worked on his metamorphosis.

Hispana,

Shall I say welcome to you and your poor grammar? You moved from NYT here? Or, you just write wherever you could to advocate your marvelous opinions? May I also, besides improving your grammar, suggest that you use less "!!!"? They made you sound very angry. You know well that when Rev. Wright got angry, he made you feel uncomfortable and even threatened, right? You made us, your readers, uncomfortable, too.

A letter to Barack Obama:

I have been watching your candidacy over the past months comparing you with Hillary Clinton and my hope has been to be able to select a candidate that can bring forth sound leadership, experience, credibility, grit and judgement which are essential attributes on the leader that will take this nation on such a crucial time and bring forth CHANGE that will take us in the right direction.

As a candidate you bring your intellectual ability, education and capacity to speak and steer the crowds. I see that in experience you lack a sound resume with limited national experience and mostly local activist activities. From the beginning your theme is you are the CHANGE candidate and best qualified to UNITE this nation. The majority of the media and a significant group within the Democratic party see you as the individual who would take the party to win this election.

So, as your past begins to unravel, little by little and NO THANKS to the media who has been totally in a state of TRANCE from the beginning, we start to see that perhaps YOU ARE NOT the persona that YOU APPEAR TO BE!!!

From the beginning I wonder why is it that basically you are only able to win the smaller states, mainly due to CAUCASES and who is really voting for you. Every state that you win through Caucases presents a problem and we hear about a great majority of complaints on the process, activities of your surrogates on intimidation and coercion of voters. There is very little that can be done about this process, but the end result of your WINS would remain as highly questionnable.( So, ACTION note for the party to correct this discriminatory process immediately after the election because it is anti-democratic and selective.)

I wonder about your surrogates activities in New Hampshire on the night of Hillary Clinton's win questionning the nature of this win and injecting RACE as a factor. I also wonder about the total misconstruing of Bill Clinton's words in South Carolina and how underhandedly and swiftly the masses were moved to CRY RACE!!! At this point I realize that you have great experience in Activism and that Sharpton and Jackson must be great Counterparts.

The marvelous thing is how you have appeared to run a campaign above the fray, avoiding a racial connection and as the intellectual who has convinced the intellectuals and media.

Reality sets in and finally after many months the TRUTH begins to surface with the revealing of your church and Pastor's radical beliefs. To me it is NOT news because this was common knowledge in Chicago, where you had a shady reputation. I wonder at the total naivete of the media and your supporters of ignoring totally FACTS that surround your life.

Your speech has been a product that you had ready for many months because you knew that your past would catch up with you and be revealed. Again, you use your ability to speak to deliver a speech that frankly has confused our Media and elites. On the surface it is eloquent, but when we unravel the facts within I see that it just a major ploy, diversion and daring use of our sensitive racial past to bring about confusion. You move to try to bring about a racial discourse, but the psychology of your approach fails to understand the character and sensitivities of the american people:

1)The speeech is crafted to avoid and deflect any true discussion of the extremism of this individual who has supported hatred, anti-semitism and dislike for our nation. Deep down I realize that you would not sever your support of these beliefs and connections. So, you craftily tried to turn this into a discussion of race at a moment where it cannot result in any positive outcome. You are not the best qualified individual to do this. You also failed to realize that you are supporting a mentality of trying to preserve an ideology that is entrenched in the past, does not promote UNITY and feels that we all owe you major dues. The great majority of Americans are sensitive to this ugly period in our past, but we are bringing forth change in this nation and want to go ahead and put this behind us. It is about time!!! So, this is not the time!!!

2)Excerpts from this speech reveal a great deal about your values and identity: your public expose of the troubles that your grandmother had goes against all of our family values and let me advise you that indoing it you reveal that you are callous and an opportunist. We respect our elderly and DO NOT expose to the public their problems no matter how we differ. So, your only motive to do this was political. Also, your statement today of her comments being those of a "typical white person" can be construed as condescendent and racist.

3)Your support of this Black Liberation Theology is suspicious and lead us to think that perhaps you are not about Unity after all!!! Frankly, this is totally radical and Anti-American. To what extent is the black community going to dismiss such hatred and consider it as common practices in the black faith? Well, this certainly gives plenty of room for thought. In America, we do not support such ideology. Our nation has been founded on Christian values that promote love, tolerance and forgiveness so these beliefs are totally Anti-Christian and alien to our faith!! I DO NOT believe that you have supported this Pastor for 20 years and not know what he truly stands for. He could be responsible for some good deeds but overall this hatred and racism trumps any goodness. How could you expose your wife and children to such radical mentality for so many years? Was yours an opportunity where you sacrificed all of your family? A church is a community and all that happens is known sooner or later.

4)So, last I come to your qualifications. Your involvement with this Pastor and your response frankly pose a question about CREDIBILITY, JUDGEMENT and CREDIBILITY and at this crucial moment. You have used RACE as a subterfuge to divert the attention of the media and public. But, once we passed the sudden impact of your eloquent but hollow speech, reason takes over and we see that you are just another politician trying to score a point at any stake, but perhaps and unknowingly losing your values and identities.

Frankly, you have lost your opportunity to win this election with good deeds and wasted your abilities. You need to walk a path of true learning by your actions before you can aspire to this most important leadership position. Was it greed or lack of vision that was really your motivation?

No, you are NOT the proper candidate to lead this nation!!!

I am reading about Obama:
"I cannot say he will be a good leader"
"I can't say he will unite America"
"unfortunately, Obama already"
"I need to know more about a candidate"
"his voting records are little clear"
"how I'm sure he will not follow Wright's"
"how can I be sure he is not a madrassa"
and all that ridiculous bs!

Who the heck they think they are? Bunch of hotfart-bags! That is what they are. You don't need any excuse; stay clear of Obama and that's all. Nobody is begging you to play and vote honest.

How in hell you are going to DEMAND such things from a candidate?

The only thing that those childlike tantrums demonstrate, is that their author(s) are ready to bolt out of "likin/acceptin/believin/hopin'g" Barack Obama in a split second, and going to defenestrate him to death at his smallest burp if he's elected! What is RACISM!
The "impatience", the "need", the "qualities" they feel and expect from Obama, they dared not request'em from Bush, or from Reagan, or from Gingrich. In other words, minorities are always objects of racists' SCORN in any of its varieties!
Bunch of hypocrites! That is what they are! Republicons at heart, enough said.

Relative to the speech, to me sounded like any other speech of him. Well articulated and pronounced. Period.
What I think is going on, is that the establishment have realized that kicking Obama down, are empowering Clinton, which scares the marbles out of their peebrains.
And now, are backpedaling like crazy. At unison almost, all publications (after 24hrs), find speech "sublime".
Look at the first "comment" of this row, which tells "commentators" the line to follow: it's bending backwards on "how BRILLIANT Obama is" and even outlines HOW TO read Obama's thoughts. But, give me a break.

Mr. Obama should never have been blamed for his former minister's thoughtless comments. Mr. Obama's speech showed he has testicles. He demonstrated that he will be a great leader and not an evasive coward.

How is it that plenty of pro-choice politicians attend churches where they get married and their families are raised, and they never have to address the whole country because of the twisted things their church leaders do and say? "Twisted", as in setting up a display of jars containing what they claim are aborted fetuses and photos of "murdered children" in the 4H tent at the local county fair on Kid's Night? Why did Obama have to lead a discussion of race because of what his reverend said?

I am glad Obama gave the speech. We don't need the kind of snipes I've recently read about, though I'm sure those who made such comments -- we know who they are -- believed they were being clever. Sure. Maybe I don't understand. Hearing and reading, "Obama's black and he's running for president, so he should be made accountable," has become somewhat trite.

By stating that speeches of a close associate that alleged government-led genocide were merely manifestations of a lifetime of frustration taken too far, Obama legitimized an intellectual basis to which all aggrieved parties can subscribe: if you have been wronged by anyone at any time, any perspective you hold is a valid reaction to your grievance and needs to be understood through the lens that grievance. This is a dangerous step, as feelings --- and the distorted realities they create --- replace truth and fact as the basis for policy alternatives.

"A new and brilliant perspective on the state of race relations in America today."

I just don't see what is new or overly insightful here. If you have ever given the subject some thought with a bit of good will in your heart you already undertood everything covered here.

Unfortunately, fair and reasonable debate is not the state of politics today, nor was it ever in the history of civilization.

What most annoys me here is that for months Obama almost hid from the issue of race (and probably fudged the issue of what he heard when) and now that he has to deal with it he casts himself as the nations conscience on this issue.

Time after time he demonstrates that he considers himself above the basic (petty?) rules of politics. This may work when wowing the inexperienced, the intelligensia and the chattering classes, but this will not work when he is facing the assault of the Rove driven McCain campaign.

Can you say "four more years"?

"A new and brilliant perspective on the state of race relations in America today."

I just don't see what is new or overly insightful here. If you have ever given the subject some thought with a bit of good will in your heart you already undertood everything covered here.

Unfortunately, fair and reasonable debate is not the state of politics today, nor was it ever in the history of civilization.

What most annoys me here is that for months Obama almost hid from the issue of race (and probably fudged the issue of what he heard when) and now that he has to deal with it he casts himself as the nations conscience on this issue.

Time after time he demonstrates that he considers himself above the basic (petty?) rules of politics. This may work when wowing the inexperienced, the intelligensia and the chattering classes, but this will not work when he is facing the assault of the Rove driven McCain campaign.

Can you say "four more years"?

Obama's speech was a supberb lawyer's brief-on a par with the likes of David Boies. It was organized beautifully beginnig with a historical background, and each word was well chosen and eloquent. And Abamo made a great case for the defendant (himself), by changing the subject of the speech which was his alleged bad judgment in choosing a bigot for a mentor and inspiration, to a treatise on race relations. As a treatise on race relations I found it to be eloquent but not original and greatly ineffectual because it did not even hint at solutions. It was not original because almost everyone reognizes the long term effects of centuries of injustice to the blacks. It has been recognized in the Brown case and for better or worse in the legislation provided by many in support of Affirmative Action as a partial solution. It has been the subject of many films and TV series such as Dead of the Night, Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner, The Cosby show, and the Archie Bunker Show. It was ineffective because although he recognizes the bitterness of some blacks and the bitterness of whites who must bus their kids to school, he did not even hint at a solution. If he did he would develop enemies. In made no mention in his speech of confronting his pastor, or even discussing these matters with his pastor, nor did ne mention any effort to have Church groups discuss these things. It would appear he did nothing to influence the views of his pastor or his wife. Some would designate him a profile in courage. I totally disagree. I would give the designation to Bill Cosby who is trying to find a solution even if he suffers enemies while doing so. And I would not elect Aboma to be leader of the free world on the basis of his eloquence alone.

He Threw his grandmother under the bus in favor of his Pastor. He spent 20 years in that church, one day he never heard any of this hateful sermons, now he's changed his tune. I think he Truly Agrees with his Pastor and his Hateful & racists sermons. How could any Parent let there children listen to this? They will now believe being racist is fine and that the Government wants to give every one aides.
How sad , we will never Again Trust any thing Obama has to say. Now we understand his wife's remarks about not being Proud to be an American. We don't need Racists or Biggots in the White house, We can no longer support Obama Period

Sticking by Wright as a person, while rejecting his comments, was the action of a stand-up guy, and will be seen as such by the voters. I remember talking to my cousin in rural New York years after Clinton became president. He said he lost interest in Clinton when he abandoned his friend Lani Gaunier. This, again, was years after she was in the news.

The flip side of the personal loyalty character issue is the sensitivity to Obama's mention of his white grandmother. For voters who believe you stick with your friends and family no matter what, who may even have questioned whether the Unabomber's brother should have turned him in, did the speech come too close to criticizing a family member? I hope not.

Ironically, I believe what happened here is that he, as a good grandson, pulled his punches in referring to a painful moment that's described in more detail in his first book. In the book, the grandparents are fighting about his grandmother's reaction to a strange man on the street, the grandmother storms off, and the grandfather turns to Barack and says something like, she's just frightened of him because he's a black man. And then, horrified, he apologizes for telling his black grandson this, but it's too late.

So this was not some kind of expedient, vague new generalization, but a specific memory he wrote about before entering politics -- and I think it was a fair comment, in the context of the many positive things he also said about his grandmother in the speech.

Don't you see that Obama's speech was not just about Rev Wright? Just as Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was not just about the Battle of Gettysburg?

Obama's speech was about much more than Rev Wright's inane, insane comments. Obama spoke to a far broader topic: namely, we do not face our racism in this country. We pretend it does not exist. We are, nationally, in denial. And when some radio personality or sports figure or TV personality slips, and spouts a racist comment, we all act SO offended and SO surprised. C'mon! Obama has challenged us to "get real".

Almost all of us are politically correct and most of us are not racist, but racism DOES exist in bars, living rooms, taxi cabs, corporate boardrooms, and yes, churches. Obama did not deny that Wright's comments were racist and extreme. But, Obama did point out that they were real. Those comments actually DO represent the views of MANY (read, millions) Americans.

Obama was calling us out. To ADMIT we have a problem with racism and to CONFRONT IT and not remain in denial.

As Obama said, do we finally confront this difficult issue or do we -- once again -- get sidetracked and fight over the details of this one particular episode? He stated, correctly I believe, that if we allow this one to divert our attention, then there will be another diversion, and another, and another, and so on...

So, he challenged us. Face it now. Is it a difficult, complicated issue? Yes, absolutely. But... Obama has the high intelligence, the personal experience and the eloquence to lead the discussion.

Lincoln, in his Gettysburg Address, called us to a higher plane, he knew we could do better. He challenged us, do we REALLY believe that "all men are created equal"? Lincoln's speech was not just about the battle, it was not even just about the Civil War, it was about who we are and what we value.

Obama, too, has appealed to the "better angels of our nature", and his speech of 3-18-08 will be discussed in your children's history books. Obama knows, we Americans, can do better.

It's getting a little tiresome to read the double-standard from people who have no intention of ever voting for Obama or any Democrat.

Can you folks just go back to the Free Republic site and spew your garbage there? It's getting really, really old.

To these folks no Democrat will ever be perfect enough or right enough for them. Yet all a Republican has to do is have a pulse, breathe and don a blue suit and red tie. I mean, look at George W. Bush. That guy is a total moron...but a very well-connected one.

I guess George W. Bush would have been more eloquent on this matter, like he has been on so many others. The fact is we've become so accustomed to having a President with severe learning disabilities, that we don't know what to do with an individual like Barack who communicates so ringingly clear.

I am not naive. I know full well there is a chance that Obama may lose in a general election due to race.

But this guy is different. He thrives under pressure. He just gets better as the heat gets put on him.

So Hillary, please throw more kitchen sinks at his campaign and sharpen your nail file for that "knife fight" you and your supporters crave.

Because I think Obama can take it and win.

There are a lot of minorities that have suffered pain and still do. I am so sick of hearing about how obama was a poor black boy with one parent. Who had special privileges growing up. He went to a very expensive prep school, and then Harvard? Most people have not had the opportunities this man has had. I am sorry if this may offend anyone, but give it up, move on, take what happened to you and your ancesters and help another minority. In this country women are being held as sex slaves, who came here to have a better life, and unknowingly sold their souls to dishonest men who make money from them. They are snmuggled into this country and many die in transporting due to not having any in oxygen in the paneled trucks.
Jesse Jackson and King sent messages of hope and encouragement and positive words to make things happen, not wallow in the past pain. Obama,is not the person he portrays hisself to be and cannot be trusted.. dig deeper before you vote for this man to be our Commander and Chief. Also, as Bush has shown us, a President can have the last say, and can make our lives miserable.

Obama is right that he did not vote for the war in Iraq, and he could not as he wasn't in office until 2003/2004. Just another way he spins the truth.. Again look at his own website.. Do the numbers..That is how he claims he has the advantage over Hillary and McCain..Even though his record on voting on issues involving Irag are the same as Hillary's and then we have the 128 times he couldn't make up his mind to vote yes or no, but wanted everyone to know he was present.

There are a lot of minorities that have suffered pain and still do. I am so sick of hearing about how obama was a poor black boy with one parent. Who had special privileges growing up. He went to a very expensive prep school, and then Harvard? Most people have not had the opportunities this man has had. I am sorry if this may offend anyone, but give it up, move on, take what happened to you and your ancesters and help another minority. In this country women are being held as sex slaves, who came here to have a better life, and unknowingly sold their souls to dishonest men who make money from them. They are snmuggled into this country and many die in transporting due to not having any in oxygen in the paneled trucks.
Jesse Jackson and King sent messages of hope and encouragement and positive words to make things happen, not wallow in the past pain. Obama,is not the person he portrays hisself to be and cannot be trusted.. dig deeper before you vote for this man to be our Commander and Chief. Also, as Bush has shown us, a President can have the last say, and can make our lives miserable.

Obama is right that he did not vote for the war in Iraq, and he could not as he wasn't in office until 2003/2004. Just another way he spins the truth.. Again look at his own website.. Do the numbers..That is how he claims he has the advantage over Hillary and McCain..Even though his record on voting on issues involving Irag are the same as Hillary's and then we have the 128 times he couldn't make up his mind to vote yes or no, but wanted everyone to know he was present.

Billdamon is "right on." How easy it is to discount and forget with whom previous Presidents have "ministered" in the past. Ministers and pastors who voice similar outrageous stands on issues and have met weekly with Presidents. How easy it is to focus on this 30 second time bite and try to associate Obama's beliefs with Dr. Wright. How easy it is to try to make this one "stick." NOT THIS TIME, NOT THIS TIME. NOT THIS TIME!

I think Obama did a great job with his speech, and I think it went over well with the media and of course his core group. I find nothing has changed in my eyes. He supports a church and a minister, like an uncle, that talks of history and all that the country did wrong and how blacks were seriously abused under this system. I think it would be good to go once to hear this man speak but to go for twenty years, thats roughly 800 times. I think Obama has some serious issues with white americans, and he clearly could go to churches that are more progressive and that speak of hope and change, his favorite words..He could try to move forward, not backward. He has so many excuses...It amazes me as to how blind the country is to this double talk. Rezko another friend..Black Panthers..more associations..At this time I have watched his every speech and every debate, he takes what works from other people, and owns them like he invented the words. His first debates did not include all of Clintons agenda, but he continued to take more of her words and now what he says he will do, looks a lot like what she had outlined from the beginning. He keeps falling into the holes he has made in the past, and continues to dig out with elequence. We have had 7 plus years of lies, this Chicago Senator knows how to play-politics and he knows how to lie really well, elequently.. I am from the midwest, he has learned politics quite well out there, and how to play the game. He is dangerous because people get caught up in how well he presents himself. But he never really says anything. If he is the democratic elect, I will do whatever i can to get all the Hillary supporters to move to an Independent. Obama scares me even more than McCain and that is really scared..

He chose his words well, but the fact is he belongs to this Church that their own charter is racist at the very least. He sat and listened to this guy for 20 yrs gave the church lots of money and declared him his Mentor. Is probably the reason his wife wasn't proud of America for all her adult life. If he really had disagreed with the sermons he should have found another church, but like his Friend REZCO he chose to continue his relationship with him. That folks is bad judgment. What other surprises does he have for us? their is Farrakhan and one or two more. And in this speech that was supposed to smooth things over with everyone he managed to take a few jabs at Hillary about her vote on authorizing the war and Ferraro's remarks .
The fact that he wasn't in the Senate in 2002 when the vote actually took place and was not privy to the intelligence Bush was presenting ( we all know it was a bunch of lies now ) but had he been he might have voted the same way 75% of the US Senators did . and in 2004 he made a statement that he pretty much agreed with Bush on his handling of the war, And since he did become a United States Senator his voting record is exactly the same as Hillary's on the war.
I stress that he was not a US Senator when the vote actually took place and couldn't have voted YES or NO even if he had wanted to unlike his career in the ILL. State legislature where he voted PRESENT a good number of times. The remarks by Ferraro was of fact not racist and has been apologized for although I see no need to have done so, he is the one that keeps throwing out the Race Card.

I see leadership, crisis management, integerty, honesty, and courage.

Sorry Obama.

It IS okay to suffer fools quietly and yes, we all have that embarassing uncle.

It is NOT okay to choose that uncle as your spiritual mentor for 20 years. It is NOT okay for a leader who sees himself as a future President to sit quietly and listen to Racism.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Posted by: wreuvenspam | March 20, 2008 04:10 AM

--------------------------------

Excellent post, wreuvenspam. And proof that good things sometimes actually do happen at 4:10 in the morning!

since the speech was after Pastor Wright's disturbing remarks, I feel it was more political.

He denounces Pastor Wrights words because he know some Americans find it quite disturbing, yet he embraces Pastor Wright because he knows he could lose some followers if he didn't.

Unfortunately, right now I cannot say he will be a good leader, nor can I say he will unite America. What I can say is because of the timing of this speech, he is a good politician.

Posted by: ca67klein | March 20, 2008 03:37 AM

***

ca67klein,

The clips of Rev. Wright's previous sermons surfaced because of exactly BHO's presidential candidacy. What BHO tried to do with his speech was to show the American the context that had been missing in Fox News and YourTube and ABC GMA. With an understanding of the context, you might know that the anger in the black community you feel uncomfortable about exists rather commonly, and that Rev. Wright, of course unnecessarily, used a higher pitch to express the anger. By announcing that he can't disown Rev. Wright for his imperfections, BHO actually announced that he can't disown the entire imperfect black community. Please notice the bigger picture. Please tolerate the imperfections we all bear.

We should all consider the fact that the media has taken Rev. Wright's most shocking statements and condensed them into 30 second soundbites. Although we disagree with his statements he has in fact given hundreds of thousands of sermons. Maybe it would behoove all of us to look at some of his less inflamatory sermons in order to get a fuller picture of the man (for example the sermon that inspired Obama's, Audacity of Hope). It is up to us to consider how to judge him and Obama's connection to him--only after being fully informed. Should we accept the way the media has portrayed him in 30 seconds rather than 36 years? Are we big enough to be open to look at his other sermons before we fully judge him and Obama? Perhaps those 30 seconds were intentionally edited to inflame you and to be repeated over and over again to scare the daylights out of voters for other reasons. We owe it to ourselves to be fully informed, to look deeper into Wright's real work and other sermons even if we disagree and even if it forces us out of our comfort zone. We also should use this as an opportunity to understand where his rage comes from. In making an effort to understand something that is difficult, we can work to heal this nation. Are we up to the challenge? It is up to us.

"While I'm certain that millions of Dems are actually not paying any attention, that 'move,' if placed back into context, is nowhere near as crass as trying to seat the MI delegates when BHO's name didn't even appear on the ballot. That is the current "gold standard" of undemocratic posturing in this year's primary."

Good point from the Judge.

jac13 sounds like you are a boomer, sorry about my presumption about your age, no disrespect My pont was that Sen Obama's age does guarantee he is a about the future and vice versa.It is reasonable to conclude that there will be massive change with either, their rhetoric and ability to get bills through Congress will be the difference.
As for Lehey I recall he and Byrd showering Hillary with praise for her knowledge and persevearance in the US Senate, which frankly I have neve heard about Sen Obama. Lehey is from Vermont and likely has endersed Sen Obama, that nonetheless does not diminish his praise for the work of Hillary as a US Senaor.

All the obama supporters are defending him staying at the church, ALL the black ministers are defending Wrights preaching, that simply tells ALL Americans they also support his feelings of anti- America and white hatred that the church preaches. No one says Obama cant attend the church for 20 years, or raise his daughters to be racist like his wife, what we ARE SAYING is that HE CANNOT REPRESENT ALL OF AMERCIA AS U.S. PRESIDENT! Rev Wright was and most likely still is a paid advisor on Obamas campaign??? Obama and David Axelrod insisted that Obama be the black candidate early in SC when they tried to spin it on Bill Clinton, it worked for the biased tabloid media like CNN cronies, since then, we ALL have come to realize Obama has problems with the truth and we learned this week for sure where his faith and true beliefs are, its obvious THERES ABSOLUTLY NO CHANGE WITH OBAMA, HE WILL DRAG U.S. BACK TO THE 60'S RACIAL DIVIDE at a time our country needs to unite. He cannot do that, no matter how many black news casts tell you he can

OBAMA STANDS BEHIND SPIRITAL ADVISOR WRIGHT!
"Wright is like an uncle you love and respect" As imperfect as he may be, he has been family to me for so many years, I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community, said Obama. The man who believes and preaches the U.S. government formulated the HIV AIDS virus to commit genocide against blacks also preaches "We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye on 9/11. This is the same man Obama had as advisor on his Presidential staff until this week. Rather than break ties with his demagogic, anti-American pastor, Obama used a speech on the non-back race to excuse his behavior and sweep the controversy under the rug. Passing the buck. Obama supposedly condemning Wright's shocking verbal assaults against the U.S and White Americans, but April last year; Obama was the first and quickest to demand Imus' ouster for making a racially insensitive remarks. His opinions and issues change with the weather, he is too UNSTABLE and proven he cannot make a decision or stay with one. Next we have ALL corrupt campaign financers, business and personal friends as indicted Rezko, former Dallas Mayor Hill, Rep. Rick Renzi and Mr. Auchi, leading supplier of arms to Saddam's regime convicted for corruption in France, the same British-Iraqi billionaire lent millions and millions of dollars to Obama all coming out of the woodwork. ALL this from the half black ex-Muslim who touts change and claims to be a uniter of all people? Proof he is just another in-experienced Washington politician that the media has like CNN has given a free pass at the great risk of our great country! There will soon be allot more video of Rev Wright and Obama coming, all this has proven without doubt if he is the nominee the democrat voters he cannot win the general election, just the black vote will not do it. Its time for Obama to leave this race and take his not so proud of America racist wife, spiritual advisor and anti white church with him..

The Grandmother to Pastor comparison was disturbing, and underlines an apparent cycle of emotional abuse, that Obama perpetuates by going from one racially charged environment to another.

Sorry Obama.

It IS okay to suffer fools quietly and yes, we all have that embarassing uncle.

It is NOT okay to choose that uncle as your spiritual mentor for 20 years. It is NOT okay for a leader who sees himself as a future President to sit quietly and listen to Racism.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Barak Obama's speech was just that a speech. Given the seriousness of the situation that he had found himself in by associating with a Reverend or pastor that would jubilantly tell his congregation to condemn America "God damn America". It was self-serving to interject race, as this issue and scandal was about hate. I would think that no one could argue that Barack Obama knew this was the issue going in. But instead he interjected race in a self-serving attempt to hoodwink those concerned about his own judgment associating himself with such a man for 20 years. That he would sit still for that long journey and any such inspirational/controversial statements, and have his kids present to have there'll fragile little minds warped by such a man. And the notion that he could not refuse to further associate himself with this hatemonger of the United States is jawdropping. Barack Obama literally compared right to his grandmother. Like if his grandmother was shoveling this garbage on a consistent basis in front of him and children. He would not have the courage to give her some type of ultimatum. Either tell grandma to shape up and refrain from spewing such hate and agree never to do it again or there would be no further contact until she could show some restraint. Does anybody really have to spell this solution out for Barack Obama? Or is it that the ideals of Reverend Wright, his spiritual mentor of 20 years, are also so dear to his own heart that he could never separate himself from the man or the beliefs that maybe his as well. Someone needs to say it. Nobody in the media cares, and I guess that includes Chris becuase no one will even report what is really going on in Illinois. And what part Barack Obama is currently playing in ongoing racism at IDHR & EEOC it's a more devastating story than Wright.

I'm just saying do we really want to spend another 4-8 years wondering who is atttending to B.Clinton's needs while Hilary is busy doing running the country. They had their turn in the Oval office and it wasn't all business related activities. We need someone new, not old tired wineskins. FRESH IS ALWAYS BEST! OLD TURNS INTO MOLD! ESPECIALLY IF IT IS EXPIRED AN BROKE ALREADY

The young Senator Obama's speech was very good and insightful. I hope it will cause schools and communities to have open discussions about racism in America. I just wish he had done this speech earlier. It should have come after South Carolina or after the Ferraro mess. However, since the speech was after Pastor Wright's disturbing remarks, I feel it was more political.

He denounces Pastor Wrights words because he know some Americans find it quite disturbing, yet he embraces Pastor Wright because he knows he could lose some followers if he didn't.

Unfortunately, right now I cannot say he will be a good leader, nor can I say he will unite America. What I can say is because of the timing of this speech, he is a good politician.

Hey if you want the same thing we had in the 90s...scandal upon scandal in the white house then vote for Hillary...if you want a honest and open presidency then vote for Obama. Simple as that.

To USMC_Mike

Why can't you be more like Dave? He is not an Obama supporter but at least when he offers criticism; he does it in a way that is reasonable and non-offensive. You come off as a jealous, petty, a-hole. Is it a simple case of penis envy whthh you or are you really that big of a Jerk?

proudtobeGOP,

Your type of trivial scrutiny of a presidential candidate made me trembling. I am sure you have been proud of the results of your scrutiny of G. W. Bush who certainly does not have to be associated with Rev. Wright, not as a certain young BLACK soul used to when it was in searching a place to belong to spiritually and emotionally. By the way, the contempt you hold upon Rev. Wright also made me trembling. Rev. Wright might not be pleasant for you, but he has the constitutional right to being entitled to his own opinions. Your viewing him as a dog is telling, your pride is indeed terrifying.

leichtman,

"My generation?" I was born in 1948!

Thanks for the thoughtful and thorough response. We'll have to agree to disagree.

BTW, hasn't Sen. Leahy endorsed Obama?

Hi proud -

I had a conversation with an executive-who- happens-to-be-black in my office today. We got derailed from work and talked about Wright. I told him that I recalled an argument I had with a black minister I vaguely knew, outside City Council chambers, in the 70s, as follows.

I was before Council for a zoning variance for a builder. He was before Council for a zoning variance, I think for his church.

He ranted. In the hall later I said "how can you expect them to vote for you after you called them racists and compared them to slaveholders?" He told me he was just trying to light a spark. I said that striking matches on dry tinder was dangerous when you did not know the direction of the wind.

My client/friend said that Wright probably knows the direction of the wind in his congregation. He then pointed out that a leading white minister in Austin, a man we both knew well, recently deceased, had been comparing Israel to South Africa for years, and most of his Congregation vehemently disagreed, but they did not leave.

So while I really do understand and share the critical view of Wright as an ignorant fire-starter, and agree that the speech could not possibly "fix" that, I am going to allow for some time and distance as to "judging" BHO.

incremental healthcare, as you call it, actually rewards AntiSelection. What that means is that if healthcare is not required and is voluntary much like W wanted to make SS, young people and those who think they are medically invinsible and can game the system. Not obtain healthcare until they get sick. just like telling the guy that rearend you its OK if you don't have car insurance go out and get it now. We all pay when that happens and you can't tell me that a majority of those under 25 will likely do just that under the Obama plan which is one reason he is populawith that demographic. Sen Obama in the debates has never answered that gap
Th New York Times lead sun story 3 weeks ago stated that Sen Obama has little to show from his 3 years in the Senate, accordng to his own colleagues that were interviewed. As to his years in the Illnois Senate I was totally turned off by his missng critical votes on state gun laws and juvenile justice reform chronicled in the Audacity o Hope.

I trust the 25 generals who have stood by Hillary and believe that she has he correct plan to safely and expeditiously leave iraq. When Sen Obama's own foreign advisor said that his talk about removing troops was not genuine, that said a whole lot more to me then his speech in 2002.
I also trust Robert Byrd and Pat Lehey who have raved about Hillary's actual accomplishments in the US Seate with realbiptisan legislation lik rural healthcare and expnding tricare to the reserves. I just couldn't imagine taking my State Senator who might have a few years in the USSenate seriously to guide or economy out of the ditch. Hillary was writing legislation last summer to cap adjustable mtg rates before it became a crisis, and was integrally involved in the economic stimulus plan that Sen Obama simply ignored. My views about the superiority of Hillary's healthcare plan come from conversations with doctors and h.r. experts who believe that it will take comprehesive healthcare reform to keep premiums under control and for my generation looking at $1200-$1500/mo. in healthcare costs that is a big deal. I was also impressed that Hillary spoke at the national energy conference while Sen Obama was busy campaigning at UT and said it was just not that important. It was. Unlike many Obama supporters I don't dislike him, I just strongly feel that he is vastly unquaified to be presdent and that really conerns me and my family. And for that I am labeled as a hater. No just someone who after 7 years of having a totally unqualified Pres running our country intothe ground, prefers someone who has the skills, beyond rhetoric to actually get something accomplished like universal healthcare. Does that sound unreasonable?

Your last arguents are rather bothersome becaue it reminds me of the Abby Hoffman line don't trust anyone over 30, a generational war. Sen Obama is intelligent that is agreed, and I think his age likely speaks to your genration, but this country is not only for those under 30 which is the message I have received here and his age crtainly no guarantee that he is abot thefuture. Heck W was rather young when he assumed ofice and tooks back to the 19th century. the bottom ine is that in these uncertain economic times, someone who has beeninvolved in a succesful administration is not the worst thing in the world to bring a steady hand to rite the US ship. So ts inspiration vs a steady had that has actually been at the foreront of the excutive branch. That is my take on why Hillary wold make the more succeful President and their dfferences as I see it.

55anything writes "These pledges are anything but inclusive and preach the opposite of the ideas that Obama has campaigned on."

That is the real problem in this for Obama. He cannot sweep away a 20 year relationship with Rev Wright and his offensive, ugly, divisive rhetoric by making one speech.

The issue is not one of race, as Obama would like to have us discuss. The issue is about Rev Wright's indefensible comments over years and years and Obama's alignment with him and his church.

Obama elevated Rev Jeremiah Wright to a key position in his presidential campaign as a committee leader and advisor. To now try and pivot to a discussion about unhealed wounds in America is disingenuous and false.

It's about Wright, his rhetoric, and Obama's tacit acceptance of the divisive race-baiting from the pulpit that Wright engaged in for years, even though he now attempts to contextualize it. In the words of Rev Wright...No, No, No!

mnteng - On the Pacific Coast the college discrimination against Asian-Americans was so pronounced in 1987 that the current numbers in the UC System, perhaps with twice as many Asian-American students as then, are greatly more reflective of merit.

At that time, the "affirmative action" in the UC System fell disproportionately first against oriental Asian-Americans [and next, against Jews].

But I am sure that you have stated the matter correctly as to MIT and CalTech, even today.

wpost4112:

The genocide of Native Americans certainly is a stain on our nation's past. In our defense, it was initiated by the British (and the wonderful Lord Amherst who tried to give them smallpox), though we certainly continued it during our westward expansion. However, killing Native Americans was never codified in our Constitution, the most basic expression of our political and legal system.

mark_in_austin:

I appreciate your summary of the undergraduate admissions for Princeton.

On the flip side, I'd like to add that Asian-Americans have suffered from a "reverse" quota system. Strictly based on SAT, GPA, etc., schools like MIT and Caltech would have an even greater disproportionate representation in the undergraduate population. As it is, there is a much greater representation of Asian-Americans at MIT and Caltech than in the general population.

OK, leichtman, I'll bite.

I support Obama because I know him to be highly intelligent, thoughtful, and articulate. He has an even temperament and appears to have worked well with his colleagues during his 11 years of holding elective office. When he arrived in the Illinois senate he caught the eye of a senior senator named Emil Jones, Jr., who later became senate president. (Jones had known Obama years earlier as a community organizer.) Jones was impressed enough to make Obama his point man on ethics reform. And I'm sure you are aware of the story of Obama working to coordinate support for requiring recording of confessions in capital cases. (Read about this at www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/03/obama200803)

On the main issues:

I prefer his health-care plan because, unlike Hillary's, it is realistic and incremental. Universal care will never be passed. His slightly more modest plan, which begins by requiring children to be covered and addresses reducing costs by preventive care, has a better chance of passing and will be a good start towards universal coverage.

On foreign policy, he advocates an end to the foolish policy of not speaking to regimes we don't agree with, which has frozen peace efforts in the Middle East, among other things. (For this, he was called "naive" by Hillary.) He had the foresight to recognize in 2002 that the Iraq war was not only a mistake, but would result in our becoming bogged down in a long and costly conflict -- which has been proven to be prescient. I think he would bring a breath of fresh air to our relations with other nations and would go a long way towards restoring out standing in the world -- which I'm sure you would agree is in the sewer after 7 years of cowboy unilateralism.

I admire his leadership qualities and his ability to speak effectively to motivate people, and to talk candidly about issues that are off-limits to most politicians, as demonstrated by yesterday's speech.

Yes, he is young. Yes, his experience is limited (although I simply do not buy Hillary's exaggerated claims of superior experience). On the other hand, he has accomplished an impressive amount in his 46 years, all by his own hard work.

He has run an extremely good campaign: he chose able people to run the campaign and advise him; his message has been consistent; and he has done a very good job of articulating it.

He's not perfect, but I believe he would make a better candidate and president than Hillary. She comes into the campaign with built-in negatives of over 50%. There is a plausible argument that but for Hillary's mismanagement of health-care reform in the 90's, when the Democrats held the WH and solid majorities in both houses of Congress, we would be a lot closer to universal health care right now. Her nasty campaign tactics over the past month have harmed both her and Obama, and have harmed the party's chances of winning in November.

Bottom line: I think Obama has demonstrated the intellect, maturity, and leadership to be president. I think he represents the future. And I agree with him that Hillary represents the past and the old, business-as-usual way of doing things in Washington. I am realistic and know he will not get everything done that he's proposing. But I also know he will change the narrative of government and I would be proud to have him as my president.

Is there a website which clearly states the educational level of various talk show hosts (liberal or conservative) and organizations to which they belong?

Is there a website which clearly states the educational level of various talk show hosts (liberal or conservative) and organizations to which they belong?

Is there a website which clearly states the educational level of various talk show hosts (liberal or conservative) and organizations to which they belong?

Is there a website there clearly states the educational level of various talk show hosts (liberal or conservative) and organizations to which they belong?

leichtman, I do not like any federalized health care plan, but I prefer BHO's to HRC's exactly because by reason of being non-mandatory it is LESS federalized.

Before you were a poster here, many of us had a serious three day long discussion of health care. I do not want to revisit that now. I was just responding to your query.

It was a brilliant and honest speech. He is what we need in the White House - a GROWN UP!

Our current Vice-president only watches FOX, a hate-spewing network if ever there was one. But apparently, white conservative hate is okay. And here are the commentators at FOX today shocked SHOCKED that anyone in the Black community is spewing it out too. They shake their heads with all seriousness, "This is divisive." they say.

And I fell off the couch laughing.

strongman wrote:

"...under affirmative action, admission standards have been relaxed in order to fill up slots."

That has not been how Ivy League undergraduate affirmative action has worked.

I attended a detailed exposition on the subject by the then Dean of Admissions at Princeton in 1990 in Austin, with my then
17 year old daughter and about 30 others.

He asked: "How many of you scored above
xxxx [the 96th % at the time] on your SATs?"
All raised their hands.
"How many of you have A averages?"
All raised their hands.

"The good news is all of you can get into Princeton; the bad news is only about three of you will this year."

He went on to explain Princeton's changing "community" needs. The previous year "too many" people applied as English majors and "not enough" had applied in Math. Math applicants had a big edge the previous year.

If the Opera Society needed altos, his job was to find them. Another year they might need tenors.

All the sports teams needed fodder because there were no athletic scholarships. The women's field hockey team was national champs but none of them had ever played field hockey in high school. From the qualified pool he had picked girls who had competed in other sports in HS but who were not quite Div1 athl. scholarship material.

The engineering school wanted at least 45% women, but if within the qualified pool of applicants only 15% were women who wanted to be engineers, then their chances for acceptances tripled the norm.

Princeton wanted black, hispanic, and native American students [totalling under 14%, as I recall], and there were more than enough who qualified. But within the qualified pool, their chances were better of acceptance, in proportion to caucasian Americans.

He said that 10/11 of Princeton applicants were qualified; that only 1/11 were rejected out-of-hand. However, only 2/11 were accepted and half of them attended.

MIT and CalTech could concentrate on the highest scoring seniors, but an Ivy League school needs to pick for "community". Beyond grades /scores /class rank there were so many variables to consider, that his job was richly rewarding in its complexity.

When if ever will we ever hear from the Obama suporters here, that they believe he is the better candidate b/c of his stand on heatcare, the economy etc. I am ready for that debate rather than the nonsense that even his most loyal supporter has now debunked that he is not Jesus, Lincoln etc. Why has there been absolutely no discussion about which candidate is best prepared to fix our economy which is on life support rather than just hyperbole and I hate Hllary rants? Do those matters just not count here?

Its a real struggle to uderstand if Senator Obama is Jesus as his pastor has claimed,

-----------------

It's a real struggle to understand that anyone can take that literally.

can we spell hyperbole?
Its a real struggle to uderstand if Senator Obama is Jesus as his pastor has claimed, Lincoln, JFK or RFK? Somehow it is the continuation of these absolutely ridiculous discussions that makes me wonder, oh yes and throw in the ocassional I hate Hillary comment as a substitute for logic. I cannot recall the last time I have read a post here which says somethng like I prefer Senaor Obama because I prefer his healthcare plan. Why has that discussion simply disappeared,which is a rasonable argument? There is a good reason for that, because once the veneer that Sen Obama is Linclon/Jesus/RFK/JFK is pealed back, the rational for his candidacy disppears.

Pledge to Make the Fruits of All Developing and Acquired Skills Available to the Black Community
Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions.
Pledge Allegiance to all Black Leadership Who Espouse and Embrace The Black Value System.
Personal Commitment to Embracement of the Black Value System - to Measure the Worth and Validity of All Activity in Terms of Positive Contributions to the General Welfare of the Black Community and the Advancement of Black People towards Freedom.

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You could substitute "Irish" or "Catholic" or "Jewish"" or "Israeli" or "Gay" or really any group that wants to empower itself. There are plenty of groups/churches/schools that do the same every day in America.

You just hate blacks. Pretty simple really.

MSNBC,you mean the Obama News Network, 24/7. You have got to admit if you really want to say you are obectie that Keith has become a shill for Obama.
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LOL. You're the one with a crush on Todd... Just reporting his words. Don't matter whose show it is on. He still says Hill is two-faced on the MI primary. I'm just the messenger! LOL.

MSNBC,you mean the Obama News Network, 24/7. You have got to admit if you really want to say you are obectie that Keith has become a shill for Obama.

Interesting, Todd slammed Obama about Michigan last night as did every guest on hardball an hour ago, saying Hillary was taking the high road and that Senator Obama's position conlicts with his claim of being a uniter.

Barack Obama made a crucially important point when he said, "we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction - towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren," in his speech "A More Perfect Union."

The only problem is that for twenty years he has belonged to a church that has promoted the "Black Value System" since 1982. This value system promotes the idea that blacks and whites don't hold common hopes and dreams. This value system disavows the pursuit of "middleclassness," because this is one of the three ways in which "the captors" (i.e. whites) use to separate "the "talented tenth" of those subjugated, especially those who show promise of providing the kind of leadership that might threaten the captor's control" from the rest of the black community. The idea of Black middleclassness is a "psychological entrapment" used by whites on the most talented members of the black community, "seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which while training them to earn more dollars, hypnotizes them into believing they are better than others and teaches them to think in terms of 'we' and 'they' instead of 'us'." This is basically saying that the idea that we all have common hopes is a psychological trick played by whites on blacks.

Furthermore, no one could get the idea that this church believes that everyone can and should work together to better our lives after reading the pledges of the Black Value System (listed below).
Pledge to Make the Fruits of All Developing and Acquired Skills Available to the Black Community
Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions.
Pledge Allegiance to all Black Leadership Who Espouse and Embrace The Black Value System.
Personal Commitment to Embracement of the Black Value System - to Measure the Worth and Validity of All Activity in Terms of Positive Contributions to the General Welfare of the Black Community and the Advancement of Black People towards Freedom.

These pledges are anything but inclusive and preach the opposite of the ideas that Obama has campaigned on. Yet, this is the church in which he has chosen to raise his children.

Obama is on the verge of something truly great, in our time. No Kennedy ever had anything on him. Who else could have made that speech? Who better to help bridge the nations' racial divide than Obama? Who worse than Hillary, a race-baiting hack?

Chuck Todd who is another shill for Hillary according to YOU, has reported the exact same Obama strategy and called it the high wire chicken strategy.

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Actually Todd was just on Keith and agreed that Hillary was talking out both sides of her mouth concerning Michigan.

Seems in NewHampshire, her view of leaving her name on the ballot was quite craven.

Poor Hill...always carrying so many "truths" in her head.

A top Michigan Democrat

"who has not backed either presidential candidate"

reports that negotiators working to pass an 11th-hour plan for a re-vote in the state are increasingly frustrated with Barack Obama's failure to either embrace the plan currently being considered, or propose an alternative.

why don't you bother reading the entire statement before you make your offhanded remark that this was from Wolfson.
Chuck Todd who is another shill for Hillary according to YOU, has reported the exact same Obama strategy and called it the high wire chicken strategy. You would have to be living in never never land to believe that Senator Obama has any intention of allowing a revote. He knows that, his campaign knows it, but his supporters refuse to ackowledge the obvious, that Senaor Obama does not want votes to be counted in either Fla or Michigan. Sounds a lot lot Katherine Harris, Jeb Bush, and the Ted Olson strategy, redeux.

I watched the entire speech and was impressed by his courage to not walk away from a contraversy. So often politicians try to say just enough to dispell the contraversy. I decided I wanted Barack Obama to be President in 2007 because I knew he would not back away from controversy, and that it would be an opportunity to discuss racism in this country in a meaningful and constructive manner. I hope that other politicians would have the same courage that Barack Obama showed during that speech. We are going to need that courage to address currently impassible issues such as immigration, taxes, and medicare.

James Hauser
Greensboro, NC

See no one can be sure if he actually deserved his admission, because under affirmative action, admission standards have been relaxed in order to fill up slots.

So how is that equality? How is it that our Consititutional principles have been upheld ???

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hm.

huh?

someone's had too much sugar.

The speech did exactly what Obama needed it to do, but he did it without any hint of strategy or intention.

He spoke on race in America. He pinned it with some recent issues that have come up, but the essence of the speech was race in America from the point of view of a multi-racial adult who has seen a bit of every perspective in his life. It's a good place to speak from.

But what his speech ultimately is going to do is shore up support from educated Independents, the people who voted for him in Iowa through Super Tuesday but who are getting scraped off by the Wright controversy. Fortunately these are educated and intelligent people and for these people, there was only one way to hear the Obama speech.

Right-wing pundits and hacks will all hear whatever they want to hear from the speech. They'll nitpick it to death and always find something to whine about. But they were never going to vote for Obama in the first place...so who cares?

Obama reigned in the people he's been losing slowly for a few weeks and polls will soon show he's back on top across the board. Just wait and see.

If George W. Bush deserved to get into Harvard (and Yale), then Barack Obama certainly did...

There is a stain on Obama's Ivy League Degree.

See no one can be sure if he actually deserved his admission, because under affirmative action, admission standards have been relaxed in order to fill up slots.

So how is that equality? How is it that our Consititutional principles have been upheld ???

See - if those standards were never relaxed, no one could ever call into question whether Obama ever deserved it - including Obama himself. I believe he raises the question himself in one of his books.

There is a stain on Obama's degree - until we have a colorblind society - racial divisions will fill this country.

Sugar...........

I PREFACED MY POST WITH "TO WHOM THIS APPLIES", YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
I wrote:
To whom this applies, how ironic that if someone has a different opinion other.....

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doh!

Sorry. My mistake.

I PREFACED MY POST WITH "TO WHOM THIS APPLIES", YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?

I wrote:

To whom this applies, how ironic that if someone has a different opinion other than supporting Obama %100 the response is that we hate him and always have, instead of having a thoughtful back and forth discussion.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING, WHICH WAS IN THE SAME POST?

I appreciate the thoughtful discourse on either side of this issue.

Your reply is irrelevant to what I said.

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1. You assume, wrongly and against the evidence, that every Obama supporter demonizes anyone who criticizes him.

2. By doing so, you demonize all Obama supporters and are therefore guilty of your own accusation.

3. Credible and reasonable criticisms seem to be accepted or challenged reasonably.

4. Unsupported accusations, personal attacks, illogical conclusions, misrepresentations, and hyperbolic accusations like the one you just made are derided for the claptrap they are. As are their perpetrators, as they should be.

5. Speak reasonably, have proof, use logic, eschew personal malice and you'll get a fair hearing. Innocent humor helps.

6. Otherwise, all is fair.

Posted by: wpost4112 | March 19, 2008 02:24 PM

The Framer's were keenly aware that they were drafting an imperfect document, which is why they allowed for changes. Slavery, though that particular term doesn't appear in the document, was a concession to the Southern colonies in order to get enough votes for ratification. It was a stain on the Constitution that was necessary for the formation of the United States of America.

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Exactly.

But I would also agree with a post from yesterday that the original stain was the genocide of native Americans. Slavery increased and deepened the stain. Even native Americans had Black slaves.

strongman7777:

You clearly haven't read the Constitution. Slavery was permitted by the Constitution for a period of 20 years after ratification. Importation of slaves was prohibited by law in 1808, but the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery wasn't ratified until 1865. Furthermore, it took the 15th (1870) and 19th (1920) Amendments to take race and gender out of the equation for voting rights. And poll taxes were done away with in 1964 with the 24th Amendment.

The Framer's were keenly aware that they were drafting an imperfect document, which is why they allowed for changes. Slavery, though that particular term doesn't appear in the document, was a concession to the Southern colonies in order to get enough votes for ratification. It was a stain on the Constitution that was necessary for the formation of the United States of America.

Thank goodness for the foresight and intelligence of Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, and Madison.

wpost, lovely words

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which?

You're right, no white person can ever really know what the black experience is like, but neither can a black person say unequivocally (as I've heard many times) that they have to work twice as hard to get half as far. How does anyone really know the struggling of another?
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Pretty far. Do you have even one close black friend?

wpost, lovely words

'but neither can a black person say unequivocally (as I've heard many times) that they have to work twice as hard to get half as far. How does anyone really know the struggling of another?'

indeed. how does anyone? but yet you can say what it is a black person is allowed to say.

'As a society, there isn't enough we can ever do, it seems, to finally pay back for our previous generations mistakes.'

what a telling comment. your grudge is showing, dear. tell me, exactly what have we done to 'finally pay back' these 'mistakes'? they weren't 'mistakes' -- they were atrocities. how do you pay back that?

and when will you get over your resentment?

pinepine, It wasn't a private matter for Mitt Romney either. It is perfectly reasonable to look at a candidate's character based on whom they have asscoiated themselves with for decades of their lives. One is known by the company one keeps.

If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.

wpost: "You have expended no effort to walk in the shoes of Barack or his pastor."

Barack Obama is the consumate liberal politician, and I disagree with his politics. He and his Pastor are, indeed, free to believe and espouse whatever they wish. We're not electing Minister in Chief here.

You're right, no white person can ever really know wh