Mar 18 2008
Obama Fails, And Admits Indirectly To Not Being Honest
Obama’s speech is out at Drudge and reading it I find it lacking. Maybe in person it was not so bad, but most of us won’t be listening to it or seeing it. Most of will have to simply read it. The first problem is the history lesson on this great and imperfect nation. Obama comes of sounding like he is the only one on a journey to perfect the union, to move beyond the divisions and hate:
This was one of the tasks we set forth at the beginning of this campaign – to continue the long march of those who came before us, a march for a more just, more equal, more free, more caring and more prosperous America. I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together – unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction – towards a better future for of children and our grandchildren.
Sadly, this is not what we got from listening to Obama’s pastor, Rev Wright. Furthermore, we are all trying to do this – not just Obama. What is telling is Obama admits he was not truthful when he claimed not to know about Wright:
I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy. For some, nagging questions remain. Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely – just as I’m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed.
It is a little late to finally admit the truth – sort of. The fact is this should have been followed up with a statement about how Obama was wrong in trying to shove this mess under the rug through lies and denial. In fact, Obama tries to defend the dark side of Wright with some leftover good characteristics:
But the truth is, that isn’t all that I know of the man. The man I met more than twenty years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith, a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another; to care for the sick and lift up the poor. He is a man who served his country as a U.S. Marine; who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God’s work here on Earth – by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
You can read this and include George Bush, or Billy Graham, or many others. The difference is with these people there is no anti-American hate, no racial hate. Even Hamas is known to do good deeds. These acts cannot be traded for hate or crimes or divisiveness. Obama has a tin ear – we are done with the racists and the hyper-partisans. We don’t want them to be associated with us as Americans. You can be good in the beginning and turn bad in the end. There is no excuse – but Obama tries to say there are excuses and mitigating circumstances. As long as someone helps one person they are free to rail against others? Not likely.
Obama failed and now his campaign is going to limp through a terrible summer. And there will be anger from some small areas of the African-American community at his downfall. Obama tried to equate Wright as a symbol of the black community. I know a lot of blacks who would not agree.
My children live in a wonderfully colorblind world were friends are friends. I too don’t even notice the race or ethnic background of people I meet. I could care less how deep or shallow the tan is. Rev Wright is the kind of person who will destroy this wonderful world my kids and I live in because he injects hate and distrust and race. He is a relic of an America long since gone which should never come back. And Obama doesn’t get it. We won’t go back to Wright’s world. Which means we cannot follow Obama, because his baggage is too high a price to pay.
BTW, the answer was actually simple. Here is what Obama should have said: “Wright is wrong, dead wrong. I am still trying to convert him to the modern world. Unless he joins us in the modern world there is no place for his lingering hate. We have the seeds of a new world in the younger generations, they are moving away from racism and there is were we will find hope. I should not have tried to pretend I was unaware of his problems, that was wrong and I ask forgiveness of America. He is a friend I am still working on”. It is not all that complicated.
What this all shows is that it is going to be impossible, not hard, but impossible for Obama to bring that racial harmony, when he made no effort to bring it to his own church, his own community.
Just how is a President Obama going to take on those who’s intentions are genuinely evil, when he can’t confront the softer prejudice and misunderstanding in the church he has been attending for some 20 years ?
Harmony is a two way street, but unfortunately Obama, like so many politicians, see harmony and, it’s political ally, bi-partisanship in terms of the other side capitulating. Harmony, like charity, begins at home. His house, or at least his house of worship, needs to begin to understand that anytime somebody does something, anything, that there isn’t always racial motives attached.
He may be able as President to bring about change, but it’s change I find hard to believe in, and I don’t believe in him.
I had a better impression of the speech than you did – and of course I still don’t support him. But taken simply as a piece of political theatre, I thought this speech was easily the equivalent of any of Reagan’s great moments, and it will certainly please his supporters.
I find myself aggreeing with Dick Morris that, in spite of his electability problems, the Dem’s now *have* to give the nomination to Obama. Giving it to Hillary at this point would mean a race-based civil war inside the dem party this fall, one that could make the 1968 convention disaster look like a Sunday picnic.
Of course, some times the most irrational things of all happen to “the smartest guys in the room” – just look at Bear Stearns.
(yes, you may recognize that phrase from somewhere)
The Audacity of Obama…
The chickens came home to roost for Barack Obama today.
In a 45 minute speech he seems to have said everything … and yet said nothing.
Surprise – this is the continuing essence of the Obama campaign!
He seems to admit that the most import…
I find myself aggreeing with Dick Morris that, in spite of his electability problems, the Dem’s now *have* to give the nomination to Obama. Giving it to Hillary at this point would mean a race-based civil war inside the dem party this fall, one that could make the 1968 convention disaster look like a Sunday picnic
Does that mean that in every election from now on if a black as Michelle put it “deigns to run” we must give the nomination to him in order to avoid race riots? Do we realy want to be held hostage like that?
Liberal thought processes have always eluded me. Their twisted thinking is surreal. It would be amusing if it wasn’t sopathetic that they accuse us of the sins they commit. I have a real problem at people jumping on any bandwagon with looking at the facts and going with just feelings. Feelings can fool you into believing something you want to believe not reality based facts.
I have a real problem at people jumping on any bandwagon without looking at the facts and going with just feelings.
Barbara, “We” – no. Dems – yes! This is the price to be paid for focusing on decades of “identity politics”. Of COURSE they would end up with a battle between two aggrieved identity groups at the core of the modern dem party -feminist activists and black activists. And chanting “everybody wins!” doesn’t really work when you get down to the nitty gritty.
Given that the topic is racial identity, you reminded me of an oldy but goody when you said “we”: Tonto and the Lone Ranger are cut off from all chance of rescue, surrounded by hostile Indians, and out of ammunition so the Lone Ranger says “well, old friend, it looks like we’re not gonna make it.”
And Tonto looks back and says “what you mean “We”, White Man?”
Barack Obama Schucks and Jives His Way Through Racism Speech…
The last thing I needed this morning was to be preached at on the issue of race relations (full text of the speech here). Especially from a guy who has surrounded himself (and even married) some of the most hate-filled, separatist racists I’ve he…
Barack Obama Schucks and Jives His Way Through Racism Speech…
The last thing I needed this morning was to be preached at on the issue of race relations (full text of the speech here). Especially from a guy who has surrounded himself (and even married) some of the most hate-filled, separatist racists I’ve he…
If You Think This Isn’t About Racism, Think Again…
Just a few quick thoughts on all this Wright-Obama stuff.
If you think this isn’t about racism…
Popularity: unranked [?]……
Obama can say that Wright helped people with AIDS, but that does not change the fact that Wright said the US created the virus to kill black people. A lie, a paranoid lie designed to create hatred and fear. So much for reconciliation.
Wright puts forward the whole idea of what will have blacks forever consider themselves designated victims with no way out except by the graces of the Dem Party to give them hand me downs.
Jesse Jackson also wants to keep them straight so that he can continue with his race card shakedowns.
MLK was no where near any of these concepts. The Dems keep talking about empowerment of the minorities, but they have a terrible track record for delivery and only keep coming back with more of the same.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120579535818243439.html
Follow that link for excellent commentary on the issue by Shelby Smith at the WSJ.
He totally nails it in many ways.
Obama’s Hope For Changed Circumstances…
Rev. Wright’s statements are troubling indeed. Obama’s church website is a veritable treasure trove of anti-Semitism, racism, and hate-based faith. Throw in the fact that the Church is pulling its hate-based faith videos, and you’ve got yourself som…
Obama’s wounded soul renders him an unacceptable candidate for President.
SayAnyThingBlog has what has to be the screen cap of the day on this speech.
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/msnbc_advertises_oreos_during_obama_speech/
I had almost finished reading his speech when he came on to give it. I could not quite believe what he did to his grandmother. He also seemed to equate Geraldine Ferraro with Wright.
And then I listened to him. The Voice makes it seem so reasonable. He said NOTHING about Wrights hate speech. Nothing.
He is standing there in front of all those flags. Defending the most horrid anti-American, anti-white speech I have ever heard from a raving lunatic. You think he can sell this BS?
ABC has up that Obama was the first candidate to call for Imus to be fired. Said he did not want his daughters to be exposed.
Obama on what Imus said
Gee and what were his own kids being fed on a lot of Sundays during the year?
I haven’t been able to get this to link properly so if it doesn’t go to http://www.ace.mu.nu.com
Ace may be very outspoken and sometimes vulgar in his writings but this one about Obama’s speech hits the nail squarely on the head.
Did I Hear Comments That Might Be Considered Controversial? Yes.
—Ace
I think debating what Wright says is the wrong debate. There is hatred in this country, yes, racism, yes, Wright speaks to many, not all. The point is that Barak listened to this stuff for 20 years and was drawn to it for what ever reason. No person black or white or brown or what ever color, for what ever reason can be the President of the United States who has spent the last 20 years identifying with Wrights words. Barak has every right to go to what ever church or organization he wants. How ever if he is interested in being President his associations then can and will be judged.
AJ: Excellent Posts around here lately! You should research Obama’s fiscal policy. Did you know he wants a $1,000,000,000,000 (trillion) dollar tax increase over ten years?