I nominate this as the Star post of the day!
Posted on 03/19/2008 6:28:05 AM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
Last August, during an appearance before the National Association of Black Journalists, Barack Obama was asked whether he'd lead the nation in a "conversation about race" if he were elected president. He demurred, suggesting that Americans were more interested in having a president who would fight terrorism and economic decline than one who acted as therapist-in-chief.
It was a pragmatic response from the man trying to become the nation's first black president. He'd never win over substantial numbers of white or brown or even black voters if he seemed overly focused on America's racial divide.
But the issue of race has, of course, swirled around his campaign from the beginning. It has manifested itself oddly — in early questions about whether he was "black enough"; patronizingly — in Bill Clinton's attempt to ghettoize him after his South Carolina victory; and forthrightly — in frequent references to the "historic" nature of his candidacy. Given the reality of race-consciousness in America, how could it be otherwise?
So the day had to come, sooner or later, when the issue of race claimed center stage. And so it did, propelled by some of the more intemperate, scripturally challenged and offensive remarks of Obama's former minister, Jeremiah Wright.
Obama may have wished to avoid this moment, but when he found he could not, he handled it with courage and candor and grace. If this controversy was the first major test of Obama's leadership skills, then he passed easily, delivering a speech that was true to the essence of his claims about his candidacy.
He has built his campaign on the belief that American voters are sick of being manipulated by demagoguery, tired of being swift-boated. His speech in Philadelphia on Tuesday was for those voters, those discerning enough to embrace complexities, savvy enough to see past sound bites and wise enough to reward truth-telling.
"Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. ...The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through — a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat to our respective corners, we will never be able to come together to solve challenges like health care or education or the need to find good jobs for every American," he said.
Obama might easily have handled the moment differently. He might have simply used Wright for his "Sister Souljah" moment, as Bill Clinton used inflammatory remarks by the black rap artist to signal to whites his rejection of black extremism. Obama might have referred to his white grandmother only as a campaign-safe caricature — loving, kind and endlessly tolerant. He might have omitted any reference to the legitimacy of black anger, which frightens many whites.
But he refused to pander or offer safe, poll-tested bromides.
He repudiated Wright's remarks — "[Wright] used incendiary language to express views ... that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation" — but he didn't disown Wright. He noted that his white grandmother, who, he said, loves him dearly, sometimes uttered racial stereotypes that made him "cringe." And he acknowledged the legitimacy of both black anger and white resentment.
It's possible Obama placed the wrong bet. His sort of politics may be well-loved by editorial writers and civics teachers but ill-suited to winning presidential campaigns. Straight talk and tough truths may have no place on the stump. It may be that campaigns are still won by those willing to kneecap their opponents with vicious ads and ugly rumors. Voters may prefer focus-grouped slogans to uncomfortable facts.
But it certainly was encouraging to hear from a politician willing to take his chances with a pander-free hour at a difficult moment in his campaign. It doesn't happen often.
Obama just handed a pile of them to Jeremiah Wright.
Good one!
You can thank Jerry Wright for that, Ms. Tucker.
“Obama Warns Of ‘Quiet Riot’ Among Blacks”
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Obama.Blacks.Quiet.2.337535.html
Will the real Manchurian Candidate please stand up?
Please explain to me why I should entrust a man who’s wife and pastor hate America with the White House. Is this what we’re to expect from our leadership?
Why not vote for Hugo Chavez? At least he’s honest.
Actually, he ‘spoke it out loud’ at a meeting of black ministers -
“Obama Warns of “Quiet Riot’ Among Blacks”
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/Obama.Blacks.Quiet.2.337535.html
Why do the images of Red Square riots of the Bolshevik Revolution keep flitting across my mind?
The stealth weapon to keep us quiet has been “PC” while these Black Separatists have been planting the seeds of resentment and 'get Whitey - make Whitey pay'
“Cox communications was founded by a former Dem Prez nominee (’20)”
Yeah, but that Democrat was a segregationist. Something you won’t read in our “Democrats are wonderful” history books.
I nominate this as the Star post of the day!
“Where can I buy one of those “get out of trouble for free” cards?”
How many liberal friends do you have in the media?
I’m really getting tired of these people trying to manipulate me. If Obama’s closest people really feel this way about the United States, then I don’t want them in the White House.
Hmmmm......Grace is now defined by throwing your grandmother under the bus.
“knuckleheads might not understand Obama’s “high-minded” speech.”
Fineman’s right. He didn’t understand Obama’s speech.
Au contraire
He just hides his hate to achieve his goal - if he didn't also swallow the hate Whitey rhetoric, he wouldn't have continued his membership = he wouldn't continue to raise his children under this = his wife wouldn't be a echo of Rev. Bullfrog's hate-spewed, anti-America, anti-white agenda.
She regurgitates Rev. Bullfrog's words.
What utter garbage. It's like trying to tell me some white guy goes to KKK meetings for 20 years and is a close friend of the grand wizard, but doesn't believe the KKK message. Bull****!!!
Obama showed courage in talking openly about past and present race relations...including growing White resentment.
He disagreed with Rev. Wright in very strong terms...yet had the courage not to dismiss his other contributions, including his service as a US Marine.
Obama showed great courage, he showed the stuff of leadship.
If not for his proposed liberal policies (!!), I would vote for this man to be POTUS.
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