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.

[USS Alaska]

“I remeber drinking a lot of ice tea and was in the bathroom when Wright made those statements”

Nope, he was outside smoking.

[imskylark]

“George Bush, it’s all his fault.”

I listened to Bill Clinton last night on Greta. Boy, is he slick. He blamed the entire Florida fiasco on the Republicans. I expected as much but then he said that there will be no re-vote because the Republicans refused to allow The Democrats to do it. It amazes me that no Democrat can take responsibility for themselves. Every one is a victim.

[sarasota]

Wow...so will Obama appear with Oprah soon to help resolve this issue? Oprah has to respond soon; perhaps they are strategizing?

[jackv]

I think lots of people believe taking on obama is easier than hillary because it’s not just hill, but bill and their entire stinking corrupt machine.
I think more than being a radical, obama is more of a wimp. He appeases rather than stands up to the controversy. He does whatever his wife tells him. He says no when it comes to facing real challenge and instead says, “can’t we all just get along???”
I doubt he shares all the views of this wild maniacal reverund wright, but he has no backbone to say its wrong either and goes along to get along.

IOW obama is no leader.

[Chuck54]

One good thing is that Obama should be done with the speech just in time for Rush to take it apart.

Yep, not too smart on his part.

He would have been better off to schedule for 3PM Eastern and give the drive-bys time to swoon and faint before Rush lowered the boom tomorrow.

[Canedawg]

Present.

[SoFloFreeper]

Please do not pay attention to what I do, only pay attention to what I SAY!

Yes, I attended the church for 20 years. Ignore that fact.

Yes, I drove a gas guzzling car until the press noticed. Now I drive something else and now I can attack people who drive gas guzzlers.

Yes, I have been able to earmark almost $100 million in the budget...but at least I can talk about how important it is to balance the budget.

Yes, I can shelter my income...but I can talk about how we must raise taxes on the "rich". And by rich I mean people making more than $30,000 a year.

I am Obama. Bow the knee.

[TNCMAXQ]

If Clinton is upset about FL Republicans he can pretty much blame himself for the Dems crashing in the south and FL in particular. It was on his watch that they lost the governorship, and state legislature I think. Now FL is considered pretty solidly Republican. As the saying goes, he who has the power gets the glory. Ha ha, Bill.

[sarasota]

It’s this “victimhood” that appeals to so many whose goal in life appears to be the blamegame.

[TornadoAlley3]

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/40/story_4080_1.html

Obama will copy this speech, substitute black and white in place of catholic and non-catholic.

[SE Mom]

Mornin’ Chuck:) The speech is scheduled to last 30 mins..and apparently there will be questions afterwards...

[DB]

The significance of those photos of Obama not putting his hand over his heart for the national anthem and refusing the wear an American flag just got multiplied a thousand fold in the minds of the general public.

[TNCMAXQ]

What’s Obama going to do, totally condemn this minister and sayhe wants nothing to do with him anymore? That is the only thing that might satisfy some people but it would ring entirely hollow after he has been in the congregation for 20 years!

Sadly Wright has a following his own self, and supposedly he speaks for a lot of people. God help us all. But if that is the case and Obama suddenly snubs him, is this going to cost Obama some support from more radical quarters? Hmmm....

[TornadoAlley3]

as he copies JFK speech he will substitute racial for religious.

[Bob from De]

My guess is that The Obomination will cite Martin Luther King a minimum of 12 times.
He will say his beliefs are the same as Dr. King’s and that he rejects Wright’s wrongs.
He can ramble on about the history of the black church until hell freezes over.
HATE SPEECH IS HATE SPEECH!

[ClearCase_guy]

As I recall, Romney made no apologies. He didn't feel that he needed to (and I quite agree). Romney made a sincere effort to transcend the issue. America is great because we can be different, but we can all be Americans. He took the potentially divisive issue of Mormonism and used it as a springboard to tell us why America is a special place and why we're all in this together. I thought it was well done.

Obama is different because:
1) He does need to apologize for his association with a purveyor of race hatred
2) He and his wife don't especially feel proud of this country
3) By using Alinksy ju-jitsu and turning the race issue back against whitey, he is not transcending racial politics but merely using it to his advantage -- and I don't think that will work in this situation.

[jveritas]

Obama cannot win the general elections but Hillary Clinton can and probably will. As I said, enjoy the butt kicking again by the Clintons. They shall be your masters and you shall be their slaves.

[Night Hides Not]

And Chrissie will get his tingle back,,,

You owe me (another) keyboard!

Obama tried an oft-used Clinton tactic...putting out bad news on a Friday evening. It didn't work, Barry.

[Robe]

"to explain the philosophy of the 8,000-strong Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago

I want him to explain to the country just what "Black Liberation Theology" really is !!!

Just what in He77 are they wanting to be liberated from???

The most Free country in the world??
Free education?
Affirmative Action???
Aid to Dependant Children??
Welfare??
Low Cost Housing ?
They don't need to be liberated.. they just need to get the He77 out.. Ungrateful ^&%&*%^

[SE Mom]

Agreed. I think he’s finished too- but am fascinated to watch the fallout and how it will change the American perceptions of race...