Obama's speech on race

[yellowdawg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQXCPCWsTg4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMtpFHqVJDo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnrMYSt8A6c

I have to say, he's a great orator.

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10874481

[wuwei]

Honestly, who the fuck cares? when Bear Stearns just went down over the weekend.

[jaehwan]

That was an absolutely brilliant speech. Not only is he an excellent orator, but he also manages crisis pretty well, especially given the fact how close it seems he was with his pastor. For those who are pressed for time, here are some excerpts:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5inhYJ0w_cKwfDt2YDZ5P-E5wE_OgD8VFVNAG2

[nskripchun]

Brilliant speech. A part that stuck out to me:

It requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams; that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper.

[Hater Depot]

http://action.credomobile.com/comics/Original%20Image030508.jpg

[nskripchun]

http://action.credomobile.com/comics/Original%20Image030508.jpg

Sadly... it's almost too close to the truth.

[ktkbs]

black and brown and white children

what about us!

Asians need help with healthcare and education too :p

[Dialectic]

Honestly, who the fuck cares? when Bear Stearns just went down over the weekend.

Well, "down" might be an overstatement considering no one will actually let them go down: http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10880718

But that's America for you: big swings up, big swings down, people paying attention can see the problems years ahead of time, but the risk/reward is irresistible.

Also, on Obama's speech, I agree it was awesome, but it was subtle, nuanced, and long, and it's already starting to be ripped apart by idiots.

[Senkeh]

what about us!

Asians need help with healthcare and education too :p

That stuck out to me too.

[xian]

Wait, there are people who actually care about Bear Stearns? I've never met someone who owns stocks and stuff.

[Candide]

Obama has an Asian stepdad and a lot of Asian or part-Asian relatives, yet all he mentioned was black & white.

[ZhuBaJie]

Obama has an Asian stepdad and a lot of Asian or part-Asian relatives, yet all he mentioned was black & white.

why should he care about Asian people in that speech? he was trying to do damage control with his white supporters.

[nskripchun]

Obama has an Asian stepdad and a lot of Asian or part-Asian relatives, yet all he mentioned was black & white.

From his speech:

I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.

Obvious reference to his life story of growing up in Asia, North America and visiting Africa.

[nskripchun]

Some good commentary by Michael Yaki, a lawyer of the US Commission on Civil Rights.

The Media Needs to Fess Up to Its Mess and Its Responsibility: Time for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to Take a Look

Yesterday's speech by Barack Obama was extraordinary. Yet there are those who believe it will cost Obama the presidency, if not the nomination. And if the media continues to have its way, I fear it will.

In my 20 years in political life I have never quite seen, much less read, a speech by a political figure less calculated to please or pander. It was a tour de force in passion, but passion from within not designed to evoke passion from without. It was somber, uplifting, scolding, challenging, and defiant, all at the same time.

As a member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, a federal agency whose mission in recent years has been largely forgotten (if news coverage of these issues is any measure), it was an eye-opening moment not only about the future of our politics, but about the need to sternly examine the role of the 4th estate in helping achieve "a more perfect union."

In its 50 year history the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has never questioned the role of the news media on the journalistic equivalent of the who, what, where, why, when, and how in terms of choosing to report on race. We have questioned, sometimes under subpoena, officials partaking in corrupt voter schemes; officials out of compliance with the mandates of Brown and federal civil rights laws. But never, in our 50 years, have we asked the media what they believe their role has been and continues to be in shaping the entire question of race in this country for their audience, the American people.

Make no mistake; race was always the elephant in the room in American politics. And in this election, it is a mega-elephant. Until Obama's candidacy became viable, it was easy to ignore, pretend that it wasn't there, a non-factor until he became a factor. Then slowly, inexorably, perhaps even spurred on by parodies on "SNL", the media began to rise up and chip away at him on issues or race. News media began worrying about the "racial divide," exit polls tracked black-brown-white voting patterns, and experts were brought in to analyze what it all meant.

Now how the media covers race is the 45-foot long raptor sitting next to the elephant in the room. Will the raptor simply slash away at the elephant for the political equivalent of a cage match? Will there be thoughtful discussion, or will You Tube tapes of Pastor Wright available to serve as "video wallpaper" simply be used to re-fuel the issue on slow news days?

It's quite a crowded and noisy room. And the today's media provides all the filters.

As we see in the few Commission hearings that the Bush administration wishes wouldn't happen, race is, and continues to be, an issue that will not go away. Any understanding of the plight of migrant field hands, sweatshop workers, and drop-out rates of inner-city kids, continuing efforts to suppress minority voting, and the growing racial and class divide between the boardrooms and the mailroom shows just how much our nation has failed in achieving a truly "equal" society. But don't just trust my word on this. A quick perusal of the blog comments made in reaction to Obama's speech is enough to validate the notion that racism is alive and well in our country.

But Obama is running for President, and the cardinal rule of Presidential politics is that victory is an additive, not subtractive process, and race is a four-letter word that loses votes. Yet, despite this maxim, his speech was not overtly calculated to stop white flight from his campaign. There were no pandering lines, such as "I am not, and never will be, a card-carrying Muslim" or "Pastor Wright is no longer a friend, I reject his support, and I hope that the devil carries him away." To the contrary, Obama stayed true to his message of inclusiveness. More importantly -- and perhaps most dangerously -- Obama challenged the American public about his candidacy, and essentially said, "I'm black, you can get over it and join me because many others have voted for me because I'm the best leader for America, or you can choose not to get over it and vote against me because I'm black. You can choose to listen to me and understand that who I am, what I am, is part of the black American experience, but it does not solely define what I stand for and what I want to accomplish for America . Or, because I'm black, you can tune me out. Now let me tell you what I want to do for America , and let your hand on the "mute" button determine whether you have an open or closed mind."

That is what made this speech an extraordinary profile in courage and relegates people like Pennsylvania Governor Rendell (who said that 5% of his victory over Lynn Swann was attributable to people "whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate") to, well, just a profile.

Ultimately the success of this speech will be measured by whether Obama wins or loses, whether he is able to move on and get his message out or whether he his opponents and the media succeed in miring him in the issue of race. As he said in his speech, "[w]e can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism . . . . Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, "Not this time."

As noted, I think it is time for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to hold a first hearing on the role of the media with respect to race relations, coverage of race, and, ultimately, its responsibility on the issue of race.

I ask this because the power of the press is still undeniably powerful. Publishers, editors, and advertisers decide how many minutes or column inches, whether it is buried on page A-25 or after the sports break. Polls show that white voters had more definite negative feelings about Obama immediately after the weekend Pastor Wright double features that ran all over the media. Katrina victims or the Jena 6 seem to get less coverage than OJ's latest Vegas adventures.

In the larger context of an African American presidential candidate, race becomes the chum for conflict to whip news desks into a frenzy. It makes one wonder whether if Governor Rendell were black, would his statement on white voters have gone as unnoticed as it has by the national media? Race, in this election more than any in my memory, seems to be the "gotcha" factor that creates news leads.

Perhaps the news media can realize that the quality of the candidate should be judged by his words, and his positions. Perhaps the news media can also say that on the issue of covering this Presidential election with a race angle - "not this time." Ultimately, the hearts of individual Americans will decide that issue. Does the media need to fan the flames with endless talking heads and extremists on all sides who don't represent the average American?

Dare I believe in the audacity of hope on this topic?

[ZhuBaJie]

In my 20 years in political life I have never quite seen, much less read, a speech by a political figure less calculated to please or pander. It was a tour de force in passion, but passion from within not designed to evoke passion from without. It was somber, uplifting, scolding, challenging, and defiant, all at the same time.

hah! kidding me, right? the speech was carefully crafted as to not offend anybody, and at the same time owe up to his association with Wright because he knows the media would call bullshit if he tried to insert distance between him and Wright. he places sympathy for the grudges of the white working class in order to do damage control for Wright's comments, and when he tried not to alienate his black supporters by discussing the problems in the African American community, he does so by blaming problems caused by pre-Civil Rights racism perpetuated by economics, so as not to distance himself from white supporters either.

please.

the most obvious point that's missing from his speech, which is basically Wright's point, despite his rhetoric, is current, post-Civil Rights racism, and how that damages African American communities.

as much as i consider myself a moderate and a centrist, this speech demonstrates the ingenuity of political campaigning in this day and age. opportunistic politicians are always trying to take a stand without offending anybody. but shit, we can't all take a stand without offending somebody out there.

[jaehwan]

but shit, we can't all take a stand without offending somebody out there.

Yes, but small steps are commendable too. MLK never used his speeches to say everything he knew and everything people needed all at once. Some people just wouldn't understand if the level were too high. Speeches are just an invitation to action. This speech went further than any modern day political speech has gone.

[nightshade]

Obama's position, above all, is to gain the Democratic nomination and get elected president. He's not coming from the tradition of a MLK--Obama is trying to position himself as the most powerful man in America, not the most powerful critic. Therefore, the rhetoric he uses is going to be different.

When I listened to the speech, I was impressed by how he could address such a difficult topic, and still tie it back to the message that he is a patriot, and that Americans have to work together to address injustices and inequalities. What he said was pretty genius in many ways. And sadly, it was a pretty brave speech to make considering how stupid people are when it comes to race, ethnicity and class in America.

[wuwei]

Wait, there are people who actually care about Bear Stearns? I've never met someone who owns stocks and stuff.


Five, ten years from now, people will still look back and talk about what happened to Bear Stearns and the Fed's response. I doubt anyone will talk about Obama.. unless he actually wins the presidency, which is not all that likely imo.

[topdawg]

I think that Obama's race is gona surface sooner or later. Better come out and make a stance now. And came out he did, with a bang. His speech is already seen by both conservatives and liberals as important if not monumental. I do understand the thin ice he treads on in presenting the issue of race to America. But I think he was pretty successful, like Nightshade said, in redirecting the speech from a reactionary statement about the Rev. Wright debacle to that of unity of America. It's all up to America to see how they can admit to the problems Obama (and to some extend, Wright) presented, and strive to solve the problems together.

[jaehwan]

By the way, Hillary is using the Reverend Wright as a political tool.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/clinton-wright-would-not-have-been-my-pastor/

She's just alienated a large part of the African American community, but I think she's desperate to get votes from anyone who will listen to her.

[yellowdawg]

Five, ten years from now, people will still look back and talk about what happened to Bear Stearns and the Fed's response. I doubt anyone will talk about Obama.. unless he actually wins the presidency, which is not all that likely imo.

If you're an employee or a shareholder or both, I feel for you. Other than that, I don't believe that this takeover will be remembered any more than Andersen or Enron's collapse.

[nightshade]

By the way, Hillary is using the Reverend Wright as a political tool.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/clinton-wright-would-not-have-been-my-pastor/

She's just alienated a large part of the African American community, but I think she's desperate to get votes from anyone who will listen to her.

She should have kept her mouth shut. Idiots like Elisabeth Hasselbeck were totes helping out the Clinton campaign by pretty much shouting: REVERSE RACISM! REVERSE RACISM! in reference to remarks Obama made after his speech.

http://jezebel.com/371568/whoopi-believes-elisabeth-hasselbeck-is-afraid-of-black-people

Oh, man. I love that the title of the piece from NYT is: "Clinton: Wright ‘Would Not Have Been My Pastor’"

Dude, we all know. He wouldn't have been your pastor because he's black.

[jaehwan]

She should have kept her mouth shut. Idiots like Elisabeth Hasselbeck were totes helping out the Clinton campaign by pretty much shouting: REVERSE RACISM! REVERSE RACISM! in reference to remarks Obama made after his speech.

http://jezebel.com/371568/whoopi-believes-elisabeth-hasselbeck-is-afraid-of-black-people

Oh, man. I love that the title of the piece from NYT is: "Clinton: Wright ‘Would Not Have Been My Pastor’"

Dude, we all know. He wouldn't have been your pastor because he's black.

The Clinton campaign is just spiraling out of control. It's been spiraling out of control from the beginning when Hillary thought she'd just ride in on Bill's coattails.

David Brooks has an awesome editorial (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/opinion/25brooks.html) in the NY Times.

For three more months, Clinton is likely to hurt Obama even more against McCain, without hurting him against herself. And all this is happening so she can preserve that 5 percent chance.

When you step back and think about it, she is amazing. She possesses the audacity of hopelessness.

You gotta love it.

[nightshade]

^She's holding on for dear life because she knows that there's no chance that she'll be on Obama's ticket as vice president.

[SamuraiJack]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/25/campaign.wrap/index.html?iref=newssearch#cnnSTCVideo

Hilarious.

[ZhuBaJie]

By the way, Hillary is using the Reverend Wright as a political tool.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/clinton-wright-would-not-have-been-my-pastor/

She's just alienated a large part of the African American community, but I think she's desperate to get votes from anyone who will listen to her.

black voters vote for Obama at a rate of about 80%+ anyway. the battleground for Clinton is really white voters. she has no hope of winning the black vote regardless of how she responds to the Wright debacle. but white votes? they're still up for grabs in Pennsylvania.

[SamuraiJack]

black voters vote for Obama at a rate of about 80%+ anyway. the battleground for Clinton is really white voters. she has no hope of winning the black vote regardless of how she responds to the Wright debacle. but white votes? they're still up for grabs in Pennsylvania.

That's not the point though... the goal is the general election. If, on the odd chance that she wins the nomination, less African Americans will vote for her. Instead, they'll just stay at home.



Here's another hilarious video: (McCain)

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2008/03/26/moos.teleprompter.trip.cnn

[ZhuBaJie]

That's not the point though... the goal is the general election. If, on the odd chance that she wins the nomination, less African Americans will vote for her. Instead, they'll just stay at home.

if she wins the nomination, that's going to happen anyway regardless of the Wright debacle, because the black candidate did not win. get real.

i actually think the Democratic party stands a chance of losing the Asian and Latino vote in the general election if Obama gets elected. these two demographics barely voted majority Democrat in the last few presidential elections. if they swing toward McCain, then it could cost the Democrats Florida or Texas. Democrats will probably retain NY and California, another two states with Asian and Latino concentrations, but you never know. on the other hand, the worse that'll happen if Clinton gets nominated is that African American voters do not turn up at the voting booth. there's practically no way black voters would swing toward the Republicans, unlike with Asian and Latino voters. remember, McCain actually has a "path-to-citizenship" view of illegal immigrants.