So it was "patriotic, nationalist and PRO-America" to bring racism and past racial divides to everyones attention AGAIN ?

Good lord, did you actually READ his speech or are you just responding to some sort of partisan review?

Divisive? The entire POINT (which he re-iterated over and OVER) was about coming together, about not retreating into our "respective corners."

"He went after his racist grandmother"!?!?! What the heck is that about? He repeatedly expressed love and affection for his grandmother, refused to disown her and said she was part of who he was. He also said that she had made racist remarks, but heck, MY grandparents (on my father's side) are racists; I know it and so do most people who know them. Being honest about it doesn't mean I'm "going after" them, it just means I'm recognizing a true fact and that some of the people whom we respect and love have struggles when it comes to race.

"went after...Geraldine Ferraro"!?! Again, did you actually read this speech?

Obama gave an amazing speech yesterday, which was anything but divisive. And I say this as a registered Republican who intends to vote for McCain!

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To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt

It was very obviously divisive.

Absolutely correct.

So many media sources are so infatuated with Obama that even the most outrageous and absurd comments are allowed a free pass as they grovel in the dust. Left-wing self-hatred is never an attractive spectacle. This time, it is especially reprehensible and bizarre.

One can only start to imagine the response if a conservative candidate was mentored and advised by someone who made such insane statements - and refused to separate him or herself. There have been people on the KKK far right who have made comments comparable and have been vilified, as they should have been.

Yet Obama's advisor, mentor and guide - the single most important influence in his life - is allowed to say these terrible things at the top of his lungs and the media simply sits back and refuses to judge.

The hypcorisy is mind boggling.

Tuesday, Obama addressed race in a speech describing a history of injustice to blacks, acknowledging the resentments of whites, and ended with the hope that his campaign can help heal racial divisions.

Just six days ago, Obama suggested that overt discussions of race were a frustration and unwelcome diversion in his campaign. "We keep on thinking we've dispelled this," he said, speaking of the notion that he relies too heavily on black support.

Shouldn't bring up racial bullshit. Have we not gotten past and over that bullshit YET ? If SO, stop bringing it UP.

Thanks for the condescending nonsense, but of course I cannot accept your gift. I must give it back.

And he went on to talk about the grievances that have built up over the years while refusing to separate himself from his mentor and advisor, who blames the US for 9/11, AIDS, and Pearl Harbor.

Your comments sound like the breathless gush of a groupie.

You were impressed and, it seems, rather overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I had a very different response. I know Obama has a powerful emotional effect on his admirers. I am not generally impressed by emotions, but by content.

And yes, I saw the entire speech. He specifically made reference to the offensive remarks made by his grandmother that made him cringe. He specifically made an analogy between Ferraro and Wright. That was rather low - but all politicians pull that stunt, on all sides.

Consistent references to what divides people are not inspirational or moving to me. It is evident that we have different viewpoints on this.

Amazing? It seems to me that you are easily impressed.

Yes the double standard liberals think they can impose and the rest of us will miss it.

That they beleive we won't see it is what is astounding.

And there's nothing like revisiting slavery to bring the races together.

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Comments which he condemned (and I quote) "in unequivocal terms," and called "profoundly distorted" and "profoundly mistaken." I don't see how he could seperate himself much farther from Wright's remarks.
So long as he makes clear his sentiments on the issue, I don't see why he should have to bash the man personally. Must we personally seperate ourselves from anyone who holds wrong-headed views? Should I renounce my grandmother because she has racist sentiments? Why is it not enough to condemn the racism and love the person?

Why is it wrong to mention that his grandmother made him cringe with her racist remarks? Especially since the POINT was that he cared for, love, and accepted her anyway! How can you possibly call that divisive?

And, I believe if you look closely, you'll see he made an analogy to ways people responded to both Wright and Ferraro and went on to say that we shouldn't simply dismiss either of them (even if they're wrong) but come together (again, unity) and deal with the issues.

So it would seem.

And it seems to me that there was nothing he could have said that would have satisfied you. He thoroughly condemned the distorted views of his pastor, he admitted that people (of all walks of life) are divided and angry over racial issues, and he said that we needed to come together to deal with that. WHat more did you want from the man?

As an aside, I can't believe I'm defending a democratic candidate. If only Obama and I actually agreed on any policy issues...

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To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt

You'd recommend a speech about American race-relations that didn't bring up slavery? I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that disagreements over the affects of slavery might have something to do with racial divisiveness in this country.
Perhaps trying to deal with how people feel about it (regardless of how wrong-headed they might be) is a better plan than just pretending that there's no race-related divisions in the American population worth mentioning.

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To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt

Wake up son, Obama didn't write the speech by himself. He had his Hollywood and Madison Avenue speech writers there to hold his hands and help him along. Read the speech and one thing becomes clear - Obama views the entire world from the eyes of a victim. He even throws his own grandmother under the bus in this speech!

He does not disassociate himself from Jeremiah Wright's comments, instead he attempts to rationalize and explain them. Why? Because on some level he truly agrees with them. When Jeremiah Wright says "God Damn America" - Obama enthusiastically replies: "AMEN MY BROTHER!!!!". The man is his mentor, he loves Jeremiah Wright and everything he stands for. He thinks that when J Wright and Farahkan went to LIbya that they were right and the USA was wrong. That is what colors his world view, being a victim. One thing we know is this: victims do not make good leaders, they only make good victims. Obama's outlook is gloomy and bleak as are all victims. He says he will speak with our enemies? Well, how can he represent the USA when he agrees with them that we are the enemy?

You can kiss his candidacy goodbye. He'll never live this down. He is now "the black candidate", and nothing more.

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I think at this point there needs to be a focus on an immediate increase in spending and I think this is a time when deficit fear has to take a second seat . . . I believe later on there should be tax increases. Speaking personally, I think there are a lot of very rich people out there whom we can tax at a point down the road and recover some of the money."
-- Barney Frank, October 20, 2008

It's an undeniable part of American history. I thought Obama brought that up to exemplify the past from which we came, and are moving away from.... the same way his ideology moves away from Wright's.

Obama's speaking about a progression away from the divisive past and toward a more unified future. That can only happen with open and honest discussion.

It's strange how Obama's speech is perceived as playing the race card as opposed to what it really was.... a response to the race card being played.

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Congratulations President-Elect Obama

As a white man whos family didn't set foot on American soil until the 20th century, why the fuck would I want to talk about slavery?
As far as racial division, looking at the cultural issues would be a whole lot more legitamte than looking to America's history of slavery.
Want to talk history/slavery? Lets start with the black Africans that captured and sold other blacks into slavery. How'd they get a pass?

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By denouncing him and separating himself unequivocally from him. Those comments are not merely "distorted" and "mistaken". They are manifestations of rage, hated and paranoia.

That is not an option when the person involved is the advisor, spiritual leader and pastor, and obviously a person of enormous influence over decades; Obama dedicated his book to him, and took the title from a sermon by him.

Obama and his campaign failed here. It is their responsibility.


That seemed to me a low blow. He was obviously trying to move attention away from Wright - and moved it to a woman who cannot defend herself.

What conceivable reason can there be for you to view him with such sentimental, rose-colored glasses? Are you kidding?

Ferraro's remarks were crude and foolish, but she did not thunder forth, saying that God was damning America.

If he had denounced Wright, I might have been. But it may be too late. I did not like Obama's policy views, but I respected him. I made that point here before. That is no longer true.

Obama had more appeal to moderate conservatives than any Dem in memory. That is collapsing, even as the left salivates over his speeches. You seem to be a diehard supporter.

Now it's my turn to ask YOU a question. Have you seen those "sermons"? They are sheer lunacy. Why are you downplaying them? They are not just "distorted". Obama went to that church for many years. Once again:are you kidding?

You mean you don't agree with him on policy and you are defending him unquestioningly?

Why are you so dazzled? I would have assumed you were on the far left. You sound like his press agent.

I have voted for Dems before, and probably will again at some point. But Obama is off-the-charts left wing.