LIVE THREAD - Under Pressure, Obama Prepares for Race and Unity Speech

Fox News ^ | 18 March 2008

[SE Mom]

Barack Obama is preparing to deliver a major address Tuesday on race, politics and unifying the country after being hounded by questions about his relationship to a pastor whose sermons have been laced with anti-American invective.

In a speech whose religious significance could compare to one given in December by former GOP presidential hopeful and Mormon Mitt Romney, Obama may be forced to explain the philosophy of the 8,000-strong Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where the Democratic presidential candidate has been a congregant for 20 years.

In announcing the morning address, to be delivered in Philadelphia, Obama would not say specifically what he will discuss, but suggested he wants to cool down the atmosphere after incendiary remarks by his pastor, retired Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., blanketed the airwaves over the past week.

[wilco200]

“Hoping to identify and be one of the Boyz in the Hood”

I ain’t no African booty scratcher

[ninergold3]

I don’t disagree with anything my pastor says - he preaches the WORD OF GOD! We study the BIBLE.. We do not discuss race in our church. . .

[toddlintown]

My pastor never said that the local brewers caused alcoholism.

[kabar]

Wright has retired from the church.

[SpaceBar]

The only person in the room bringing up race is Obama himself. As proof, if Clarence Thomas ran for President, he’d be an overwhelming favorite of conservatives. Race wouldn’t even enter the discussion.

[RightField]

Found it. Flag Etiquette

Gold fringe discussed near the bottom of the page.

[Crawdad]

Is it me, or is the sound cutting out...

God is in the building.

[SE Mom]

I think you’re right..

[over3Owithabrain]

He still has questions to answer:

Why did you initially lie about not hearing Wright's controversial speeches when you now admit you heard some?

Why are you only addressing this now, but it was ok to let Ferraro twist in the racial wind when it benefitted you?

If Wright's words were so wrong and harmful, why not speak up at the time and save the congregation (children included) from the race-baiting? What kind of leadership is that?

You strongly disagree with Wright's "political" views, yet you called him a mentor and named your book after a sermon of his?

You castigate others for dismissing Wright, yet you recently trotted out the "crazy uncle" excuse?

[syriacus]

The strategy behind this speech: throw as many words against the wall as you can and hope a few will stick so the MSM can lick them off and regurgitate them for the next few days.

Good summary!

[Dinah Lord]

What does the yellow fringe mean on an indoor flag?

A gold fringe is sometimes added to silk or rayon flags when used indoors or carried in a parade. The flag can also be decorated with gold cords and tassels on its staff. The custom is derived from a military tradition but is neither required nor forbidden by law.

[Always Right]

Now admitting that he has heard the comments.

It's not a lie if no one every beleived him, is it?

[sam_paine]

Not once in my conversations with [Rev. Wright] have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect. ... I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me,... but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

IOW...Black Wright is not Racist. White Granny is Racist.

One of the primary points of Wright's screeds I've read is that "Black Racism" is not really possible. Seems like the student agrees.

[Sender]

No one can truly claim to be a former slave until they have worked in a call center.

[ari-freedom]

obama tries to equate wright with every other religious leader

[jackv]

I know one thing, I do not care for michelle at all.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

I hope not! It seems to me that she has learned Rev. Wright’s lessons well.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Waiting for lightning to strike.

[Canedawg]

“Seven”

thank you.

Plus, I am hearing “racism”, too.

[mware]

The words that stick, are “I did hear those comments during the sermons.”