Monday, March 24, 2008

Obama race speech

Several conservative thinkers praised Obama's speech on race last week. Charles Murray, author of the The Bell Curve and an early advocate of wholesale wellfare reform, said this ....

I can’t vote for him. He is an honest-to-God lefty. He apparently has learned nothing from the 1960s. His Supreme Court nominees would be disasters. And maybe he is too green and has lived too much of his adult life in a politically correct bubble. But the other day he talked about race in ways that no other major politician has tried to do, with a level of honesty that no other major politician has dared, and with more insight than any other major politician possesses. Not bad."

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Even though he gave a speech on it, it seems empty to me. You can't have a mentor who is 'like family to me' that believes that radically and expect us not to worry about that. Just because Rev. Wright has only been outspoken a "few times" in church, how often outside of the church has he spoken this way to Obama or anyone? He gave Louis Farrakhan a Lifetime acheivement award and traveled to Libya with him. I have serious issues with this.

Anonymous said...

Well, while I don't agree with "O" on everything, I do agree with his honesty in his speech. It happens people. They are a lot of people who are adrmired, and yet they may have said some 'stupid' statements.
For example:
"I never inhaled",
"It depends on what 'is' is...etc
Can we agree... or the ever famous,
"I thought it was 'off the record'

Anonymous said...

I think those were more than just stupid statements. Has Rev. Wright apologized? Nope. Did you know Obama was among the first to call for Imus' firing? Interesting.

Anonymous said...

Did anyone see where they tried to interview Jesse Jackson on the Rev. Wright comments -- he wouldn't touch it. He wanted to focus more on the problems in the world, the war, starving children, etc. It's interesting how there is a double standard.

If you were really worried about racism -- wouldn't you worry about all of it??? Or just when it helps your cause or you can profit off a situation?? Just a thought.

Anonymous said...

Okay, have the others apologized? Talk about double standards... plz!

Not to mention "Hill's" Bosnia mistake. But then thats Hill. (and I'm sure that's okay for you)

Imus is a big boy. Rev. Wright should be held accountable for his own words. He's a big boy too.
As for all the babies out there... it is time to move on.
I don't really care, cause 'neither' democrat has my vote! ;)

Anonymous said...

No I'm not a 'Hill' supporter either - but this issue with Rev. Wright just really has me very upset.

Anonymous said...

Reactionary preachers are the black man's burden.

If you get into big city black churches, the Rev. Wright doesn't seem greatly out of place. I would imagine just about every preacher in the U.S would not say "G.D." in church and would not say it about America.

Every significant black politician has to deal with the Louis Farrakhans and the Quannel Xs and it is a fine line between alienating Farrakhan and people like him and extending it to the more mainstream, but nearly as reactionary Al Sharptons.

There is still universal but veiled racism in America and a lot of wounded sensitivity on both sides.

The question of this is just how much you blame Obama today for what his preacher said in 2003.

Just as Colin Powell was not considered really black by others in the African American community because of his Caribbean parents, Obama is not really considered a prima facie "descended from slaves" african american black because of his immigrant african father and his childhood outside the mainland U.S.

He appears to be pushing the authenticity issue a little and may be overplaying into the reactionary elements in this campaign.

Anonymous said...

I do question Obama's character when he has a man he claims is his mentor and spiritual leader who is a racist and anti-american. They are close and I wonder if he shares some of these beliefs, but knows better than to talk about them publicly or he wouldn't have a chance. He should be as offended as I am.

And Yes Rev. Wright should apologize - 'i never inhaled' doesn't exactly match up on the level that Rev. Wright's comments were on. Thank God for America or he wouldn't be up there able to say such ugly words!!!!

Hillary's Bosnia comment only proves what I already knew about the Clinton's and that is that they are LIARS!!

All this is just getting to be too much fun to watch! Go McCain!

Anonymous said...

How can Obama give a speech on race relations? May have been an excellent delivery, but...(lots of people can give a good speech. means nothing)

He say's, "I never heard that type of speech when I was in the church pews." Over 20+ years, you've heard all any preacher knows multiple times. He's not very truthful with this. Of all the people a person should be able to talk frankly with, it should be his preacher. Yes, sometimes even preachers are wrong.
I don't necessarily believe Obama is dishonest to the core, I believe he's an expert politician, maybe even opportunistic.

But, how can he possibly be tough enough to deal with the likes of Putin, Chavez, Kadaffi, etc., and not have the guts to even visit with his pastor in private?

To be clear, Rev. Wright said those things, not Obama.
My point is at some point, a real leader would have called him on it.

My goodness, Rev. Wright's statements were racist, hate-filled, and mean spirited.
Obama's leadership on this one is MIA.

Anonymous said...

Exactly! But the bottom line is: Rev. Wright said it, let him be held accountable.

Obama, however, did not. I have no problem with his statements. I know many people with whom I have been tied with that have said, what I considered to be 'horrible' things,
yet sometimes we look beyond the surface to see the real man. I'm not sure that I would consider the rantings of Rev. Wright re: 9/11 any more than those of high ranking positions in government at the same time period.

And having said all that, I'm not a democrat and will not vote for the nominated democratic candidate.
So, peace to both of them, and let them begin to address the issues of America's future, and not the negative issues of each others life.

Anonymous said...

Didn't Obama give a speech about "just words" and about how their not "just words"? I'm sorry, but I do have a problem with these statements and I do have some friends with which I don't always agree, but they don't believe radically -- I think there is a big difference.

And I certainly wouldn't call someone my MENTOR and SPIRITUAL LEADER who believed that way. It does speak to Obama's character whether he said it or not.

Anonymous said...

Well, that being said, there is no swaying you. haha

But, to be honest with you, I think the problem with most people is: in choosing a church, and in choosing a pastor you just cannot be so flip about it that you jump from place to place simply because you disagree. Sometimes you just have to pray and sit still. (Let God deal with that pastor)

To each his own!!!

Anonymous said...

He certainly wasn't flipping around sitting there for 20 years. I think personally I could get up and try another one -- but then again -- maybe he wasn't offended either until it became a public affair.

Anonymous said...

I just wonder how many folks who are in pubic seats of gov have left there church. We still have a lot of old people in all of our federal govermnet whohave been ther since it was against the law for blacks to go to white churces or have even sat at the table when grandma or grandpa said somethind very negative. The ghost of racism lives on on a lot of peoples mind and just because of the wodrs the preacher chose does not make him any more less an american than those who have not a pupit to talk from complaining about our goverment. And to what extent do they dam the goverment for not giving enough cheese out when they do not want to work!!!!?

Anonymous said...

I seen a poll in the news a few weeks ago about americans and how many still attend the church they were born into both physicaly and spiritaly. It seems to me it was over 65% stay regardless of weather they agree with things said or taught. Which is worse a flip flopper of churches or onr who decerns the word of God in his heart and mind by looking at Gods word. Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing, hide his word on your heart and look to Gods our savior for real guidence. Not trying to preach but we all know that a flip flopper is not dependable regardless of the cituation

Anonymous said...

Leaving a church that is racist and un American hardly makes you a flip flopper. I'd rather have someone with some kahunas to stand up when something is wrong.

Anonymous said...

Most of the churches in this town are so racist that if everyone was to leave their choice of church we would have no one driving to church's all week long!