Bombshell Obama Pastor Video

[Charade]

Charade, I've read many of your posts and you don't come across as racist to me. You DO come across as incredibly insensitive and flip on an issue that has caused a lot of people a lot of pain.

Maybe so but I try not to. Perhaps my "insensitivity" comes from my lack of experience with those issues, struggles and legitimate injustices. I'm a middle aged white guy who grew up in a pretty much lower-middle class white environment. By choice? I don't think so. But I don't think living among people with a similar culture in necessarily a bad thing. My dfi is much more "worldly" when in that respect living in NYC. I don't hold anything against anyone because of their race. Just their character. An *** is still an *** even if they are purple. But I do have problems when they use their race as a wedge issue when there isn't even an issue (Ferraro comes to mind). IMO, the term "racist" is widely overused. It's wrongly applied at times as well.

Often times (and from some posters on this very board) when talking about issues such as illegal immigration, the phrase xenophobe and "be aware of the brown man...", "you're a racist." or "you're prejudiced" is thrown out there. How do you think that makes some people feel? Granted some people ARE racists, bigots and xenophobes. But it doesn't do the conversation any good with that as a starting point. I believe that treating some race differently is part of the problem. Giving a leg up to one OVER another is wrong. I don't believe that a disproportionate number of black men are in jail because they are black. I believe they are in there because of other issues. Mainly because they are guilty. But certainly not because of their race. I know there's been social and legal injustices perpetrated on the black population but *I* wasn't part of that. Neither is anyone I know. But this constant drum beat that seems to say that not much has changed in 200 years is wrong. The statements by the Rev. White are wrong. And he's leading a church of people who not only respect this man, (as shown by the response) agree with him. I would like to give Obama the benefit of the doubt and truly believe the words of his speech (which was very good btw) but some of us have never healing sores from being beat over the head that we (the white folks) are the root of *current* racial problems in this country. Some are. Most, however, are not. I don't deny there are some still out there but I don't believe it's as insidious as some (like Sharpton, Rev. Wright and their ilk) portray it to be. The bottom line is I don't hate black people just because they're black. But I do believe there are some black people that hate me just because I'm white. That crazy and dangerous ex-professor on the CSPAN (and the guy from the New Black Panthers party on the H&C interview defending him) video is one of them. These people do NOT make things easier. They need to go away.

 

[Patch'sD]

I thought it was a well written speach. Well delivered. Again No Solutions just words. Very Political. Brings up Ferraro's remarks prior to his pastors. If they did it, they are just as bad as us. The Media is showing snippets in an endless loop, blame the Media. My grandparents imigrated to this country in the early 1900's with nothing. They worked hard and my parents worked hard to get a part of the american dream. The american dream is available to all now more than ever before. I am not getting this wealth passed down to me, there is none. should I be mad and quit. No I work harder for it. I agree in the past it was not the same for everyone and the blacks suffered for it. I hope that today that the country is beyond that and we are moving forward. I believe in that ethnic groups should be helping themselves. I see no problem with Blacks helping blacks, Latino's helping Latino's. All helping all. But I can't see blame being placed on the sins of the past for today's problems. Obama has done just that. I would have liked to seen more on what he would do to help race relations, but he offered nothing. More blame to the media than anywhere else. What I would want from Obama is more substance and less words.

 

[LuvDuke]

Wrong, Republicans actually favored Obama over Hilary, though I am not so sure if that is the case anymore.

Well I will leave you to your unabashed adoration of Obama, if he is such a wonderful guy and he appears to be winning the nomination, then I am glad you are all happy.

Just be prepared for another Republican in office.

John McCain will not be president. All the kool-aid in the world isn't going to change the fact that the economy is failing, people are falling further behind, the war success is an illusion, etc. But, that's not what matters to this conversation.

Here's what you will never understand about Obama's speech. It didn't divide us. It didn't play on our resentments, real or imagined. It didn't encourage our hatreds or our differences or prejudices. It encouraged us to acknowledge them and move on together.

His message was we all have our "skeletons" that we don't reveal in polite company and that's not a good enough reason to continue on the path we're on. We can do better.

It was an uplifting speech and not more of the "southern strategy" or "anti-immigrant" or "anti-affirmative action", etc. It wasn't anti-anything accept stupidity and being stuck in our resentments. We can do better.

Maybe you don't understand it because for nearly 30 years, your party has played the race/economic/immigration/etc. card from the bottom of the deck. The Republican/conservative philosophy has failed. It has failed to bring a better education for our children, economic security for our families, real security against our real enemies and the sorry list of failures goes on and on.

We're sick and tired of being divided into ever smaller "focus groups" to eek out a 1 vote victory. We're sick and tired of being told "we can't". We can. This is America.

The speech was against everything those on your side of the aisle have been preaching for years. We can do better.

 

[WildernessBride]

Enough "love" to get more votes than whatever Dem survives the convention.

However, if you look at the record number of Democratic voters who have already been to the polls in the primary season, I would have to put the momentum on the side of the Democrats....who's lining up to vote in Republican primaries.....I mean even before McCain became the presumptive nominee? Dems are energized and voting!!!!!

 

[Chuck S]

BTW, I think referencing his Grandma was just awful. You choose your friends, you choose your church, you do NOT choose your parents or grandparents. And he threw his Grandma under the bus.

 

[WildernessBride]

BTW, I think referencing his Grandma was just awful. You choose your friends, you choose your church, you do NOT choose your parents or grandparents. And he threw his Grandma under the bus.

I must say, I don't think he "threw his grandmother under the bus" I took it as, even your own, blood family, can say rude and insensitive things and you still love them. It happens all of the time in families. I don't see him as hurting his grandmother at all.

 

[wvjules]

And another thing....

Why couldn't he just answer reporters questions about this? Why did he say "wait for the speech"? Can he not just answer a question without a speech? I guess his replies have to be planned out....

 

[lilyv]

BTW, I think referencing his Grandma was just awful. You choose your friends, you choose your church, you do NOT choose your parents or grandparents. And he threw his Grandma under the bus.

I think he was just discussing life, and his experience. I didn't see any elderly ladies under buses.

 

[chobie]

And another thing....

Why couldn't he just answer reporters questions about this? Why did he say "wait for the speech"? Can he not just answer a question without a speech? I guess his replies have to be planned out....

Why not just say everything you have to say at once? It's a good way to deal with these things and I hope Hillary if/when the next contrversy hits her campaign deals with it the same way.

 

[chris1gill]

John McCain will not be president. All the kool-aid in the world isn't going to change the fact that the economy is failing, people are falling further behind, the war success is an illusion, etc. But, that's not what matters to this conversation.

Here's what you will never understand about Obama's speech. It didn't divide us. It didn't play on our resentments, real or imagined. It didn't encourage our hatreds or our differences or prejudices. It encouraged us to acknowledge them and move on together.

His message was we all have our "skeletons" that we don't reveal in polite company and that's not a good enough reason to continue on the path we're on. We can do better.

It was an uplifting speech and not more of the "southern strategy" or "anti-immigrant" or "anti-affirmative action", etc. It wasn't anti-anything accept stupidity and being stuck in our resentments. We can do better.

Maybe you don't understand it because for nearly 30 years, your party has played the race/economic/immigration/etc. card from the bottom of the deck. The Republican/conservative philosophy has failed. It has failed to bring a better education for our children, economic security for our families, real security against our real enemies and the sorry list of failures goes on and on.

We're sick and tired of being divided into ever smaller "focus groups" to eek out a 1 vote victory. We're sick and tired of being told "we can't". We can. This is America.

The speech was against everything those on your side of the aisle have been preaching for years. We can do better.

LuvDuke, your words are well thought out and well spoken, I agree with every word.

 

[LuvDuke]

BTW, I think referencing his Grandma was just awful. You choose your friends, you choose your church, you do NOT choose your parents or grandparents. And he threw his Grandma under the bus.

He didn't throw his grandmother under the bus. He admitted that even the best of people have their bad moments. I can't tell you the number of times I've heard the "N" word in my family. Or derogatory words toward Jews, Hispanics, Asians, women, and on and on.

I heard them. It didn't make them bad people. They were a product of where they came from and from a time when that was acceptable. And it didn't mean just because I heard it meant I had to be part of it.

We, and our loved ones, have our bad moments. Obama's message was understand where resentments come from and don't let them limit you.

It's about time in American politics. Hope and inspiration: Whatta concept.

 

[wvjules]

Why not just say everything you have to say at once? It's a good way to deal with these things and I hope Hillary if/when the next contrversy hits her campaign deals with it the same way.

But it gives the appearance of not being able to answer a question without a pre-written/approved response.

 

[lilyv]

And another thing....

Why couldn't he just answer reporters questions about this? Why did he say "wait for the speech"? Can he not just answer a question without a speech? I guess his replies have to be planned out....

If it really bothers you, just support your preferred candidate. No problem.
He was able to accomplish far more with this speech than he would have been able to answering, oh, 100 reporters individually.

 

[chobie]

But it gives the appearance of not being able to answer a question without a pre-written/approved response.

See the post below.

 

[LuvDuke]

But it gives the appearance of not being able to answer a question without a pre-written/approved response.

This issue called for a well-thought out position of some substance and not a 30-second answer for the soundbite crowd.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Maybe so but I try not to. Perhaps my "insensitivity" comes from my lack of experience with those issues, struggles and legitimate injustices. I'm a middle aged white guy who grew up in a pretty much lower-middle class white environment. By choice? I don't think so. But I don't think living among people with a similar culture in necessarily a bad thing. My dfi is much more "worldly" when in that respect living in NYC. I don't hold anything against anyone because of their race. Just their character. An *** is still an *** even if they are purple. But I do have problems when they use their race as a wedge issue when there isn't even an issue (Ferraro comes to mind). IMO, the term "racist" is widely overused. It's wrongly applied at times as well.

Often times (and from some posters on this very board) when talking about issues such as illegal immigration, the phrase xenophobe and "be aware of the brown man...", "you're a racist." or "you're prejudiced" is thrown out there. How do you think that makes some people feel? Granted some people ARE racists, bigots and xenophobes. But it doesn't do the conversation any good with that as a starting point. I believe that treating some race differently is part of the problem. Giving a leg up to one OVER another is wrong. I don't believe that a disproportionate number of black men are in jail because they are black. I believe they are in there because of other issues. Mainly because they are guilty. But certainly not because of their race. I know there's been social and legal injustices perpetrated on the black population but *I* wasn't part of that. Neither is anyone I know. But this constant drum beat that seems to say that not much has changed in 200 years is wrong. The statements by the Rev. White are wrong. And he's leading a church of people who not only respect this man, (as shown by the response) agree with him. I would like to give Obama the benefit of the doubt and truly believe the words of his speech (which was very good btw) but some of us have never healing sores from being beat over the head that we (the white folks) are the root of *current* racial problems in this country. Some are. Most, however, are not. I don't deny there are some still out there but I don't believe it's as insidious as some (like Sharpton, Rev. Wright and their ilk) portray it to be. The bottom line is I don't hate black people just because they're black. But I do believe there are some black people that hate me just because I'm white. That crazy and dangerous ex-professor on the CSPAN (and the guy from the New Black Panthers party on the H&C interview defending him) video is one of them. These people do NOT make things easier. They need to go away.

I think that was a large part of his speech. No matter what segment of society we come from, there are pockets of anger.

In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don’t feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Their experience is the immigrant experience – as far as they’re concerned, no one’s handed them anything, they’ve built it from scratch. They’ve worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor. They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense. So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they’re told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.

I think what he's trying to do-and I do give him credit for this-is to say that while there is a justifiable reason in many communities in this country for anger and resentment-we can come together and force change that will help ALL communities.

 

[WildernessBride]

He didn't throw his grandmother under the bus. He admitted that even the best of people have their bad moments. I can't tell you the number of times I've heard the "N" word in my family. Or derogatory words toward Jews, Hispanics, Asians, women, and on and on.

I heard them. It didn't make them bad people. They were a product of where they came from and from a time when that was acceptable. And it didn't mean just because I heard it meant I had to be part of it.

We, and our loved ones, have our bad moments. Obama's message was understand where resentments come from and don't let them limit you.

It's about time in American politics. Hope and inspiration: Whatta concept.

I wish I said that!

 

[chris1gill]

I think he was just discussing life, and his experience. I didn't see any elderly ladies under buses.

Exactly, and that each race has not been kind to the other. He does not love his grandmother any less and he does not care for Reverend Wright any less. He does not agree with him, he strongly denounces those things that are at direct odds with his personal beliefs, but he sees from where he came. He see's that people can come together regardless of their history and work towards the better good of the country. Can the country do no better?

 

[themilesfamily]

Often times (and from some posters on this very board) when talking about issues such as illegal immigration, the phrase xenophobe and "be aware of the brown man...", "you're a racist." or "you're prejudiced" is thrown out there. How do you think that makes some people feel?

I get what you're saying. It's wrong to label someone just because they don't agree with your position on an issue -- accusing or insinuating just to shut off their point of view. *L* I know someone who EVERY time you disagree with him on any issue -- the economy, drug-use, taxes, whatever -- says, "You're just a hater. Stop being such a hater." That's so irritating!!!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

.

It's about time in American politics. Hope and inspiration: Whatta concept.

To some people. I am not feeling the hope and inspiration, sorry.