Obama's Speech

[DISUNC]

Why do you think Senator Obama is a racist?

I believe to various degrees We ALL have racist qualities. Obama is great at pointing out what the problems are in his speach....but he didnt mention that he had any of these qualities. And as always he tells us what the problems are in this country. I didnt learn anything I didnt already know. (except for his grandmother).

He has supported a racist (wright) spirtually, personally and finacially all these years! WHOM as of Friday HE DENIED that he ever heard any of this stuff until he started to run for President. Now today ...OH YEAH he knew.

As far as comparing seperating himself from Wright is the same as seperating from his grandmother.....To me that is sad. His grandmother raised him under great duress to herself, and her love knew no bounds. Yet he sees the two as the same.

All very sad.

 

[sassyat30]

Yes "God Damn America" makes me VERY uncomfortable.

I was referring to his remarks about race.

 

[DISUNC]

Have you read either of his books? She *was* a racist.

No I havent, nor do I want to. I had enough of Obama telling me how wonderful he is in his own words. I also heard enough from his political allies, with something to gain from him, telling me how wonderful he is.

I mentioned this on other threads...On Clintons website (and from my own personal life) there are stories from REAL people who tell you why they like Hillary, and what she has done for them.

I have heard from no one in Obamas past (with all his "experience") tell us how great he is. Where are the people he helped when he was a community organizer? Where are the people who lives are better because he was a State Senator. For a man who claims to be "for the people"...WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE??????

 

[dejr_8]

I don't agree with Obama on a single political issue but I see how his election could be very good for America.

Doesn't Obama's election to POTUS immediately disarm people like Rev Wright? How can people like him claim that the White Man controls American when a Black man gets elected President.

I realize that it is an oversimplified argument but isn't there some truth in it?

 

[Mamu]

Great speech. Truthful and honest.

While he denounced Rev.Wrights anti-American sermons. I still have questions.

How may men, women and children were in attendence and unlike Obama believe every word. I still feel Rev. Wright's semons were dangerous and anyone who sit though them has to believe some of what he's saying.

I know I would never sit and listen to these anti-American, Hate, Conspiracy sermons. God Forbid never would I want my Children or Grandchildren to hear such HATE.

Today he claimed he was in attendence at some of these sermons. Were his children also in attendence and if so how do you explain to you children some of the terrible things that GODS MINISTER has just said. I find so much of this very troubling.

I wonder what kind of a President Obama would be if for 20 years he said nothing sat back and listened. Yet now he speaks out about all the wrongs in politics.

 

[chris1gill]

She raised him and loved him and he just (figuratively) threw her under the bus for political considerations.

For the people who said he wrote the speech himself: I believe it. It is very well written and sounds exactly like him.

I disagree about using his grandmother as an example, and I will post it again. He did not say she was racist.... he said she made statements regarding race that made him cringe. For the record my FIL made terrible statements about many races that were not Irish Catholic, but I cared for him for 8 years right up until the moment he died.... was he racist? Umm, I wouldn't go so far as to say that, but he sure made many racial comments that made me very uncomfortable. I have no problem saying this to anyone that brings it up. Oh, and he went to church weekly, so go figure....

 

[DisneyDotty]

DISUNC--I totally agree that any form of racism is indeed sad. But I'm trying to get a handle on your viewpoint, as I think you provide an intelligent and informed voice for the "anti-Obama" side. I hope you don't think I'm picking on you.

I believe to various degrees We ALL have racist qualities. Obama is great at pointing out what the problems are in his speach....but he didnt mention that he had any of these qualities. And as always he tells us what the problems are in this country. I didnt learn anything I didnt already know. (except for his grandmother).

Do you want Senator Obama to admit that he's racist?

Do you agree that there is inequality and discrimination (racial, ethnic, gender, sexual preference etc.) in this country?
If so, which presidential candidate do you believe will best address these problems?

As far as comparing seperating himself from Wright is the same as seperating from his grandmother.....To me that is sad. His grandmother raised him under great duress to herself, and her love knew no bounds. Yet he sees the two as the same.

Wouldn't you agree that for a lot of people who are devoted to their faith/church, their Pastor is like a member of their family?

 

[mickman1962]

Say what you want... the fact that Obama chose this guy as his pastor evidences a lack of political savvy and forethought that is necessary to be president.

He had to know what this guy was talking about if he went to church as often as he says he did.

He probably went to this church in the effort to increase his appeal to the inner-city Chicago voting block. Now, that he has to cater to a wider range of people, the choice has backfired.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Say what you want... the fact that Obama chose this guy as his pastor evidences a lack of political savvy and forethought that is necessary to be president.

He had to know what this guy was talking about if he went to church as often as he says he did.

He probably went to this church in the effort to increase his appeal to the inner-city Chicago voting block. Now, that he has to cater to a wider range of people, the choice has backfired.

Interesting theory.
Do people chose pastors or churches?
And would you say that any potential politician attends a church for 20 or more years for purely political reasons?

 

[disneyfan67]

What I liked about the speech was that he didn't just talk about the African American experience. He also talked about how whites have their own reasons for anger and resentment that are just as valid.

What I got from it was that while every group has reasons to be angry, the problems we face are really the same. We all want decent healthcare without going broke, we all want our kids to have a good education, we all want to have jobs, we all want our pensions to support us when we retire. His point is that the only way we can all get those things is for all of us to work together.

I have been staying out of this for a while, due my disgust with the whole situation, but I did read the whole speech and it was a good one. I'll give him credit for it and I wanted to point that out before I go any further in my response to you.

Your whole post is excellent and the reason I highlighted the segment above because Obama did the right thing and admitted there's enough blame to go around and no one is innocent. For far too long the televised rants of Jackson & Sharpton, etc, would show the finger pointing only one way and it wasn't at them. All it did was to divide Americans even further and separate us into groups. That's not how you become united or a team. There's a lot of problems facing the black community and some of them are by their own design. America has a uneasy tension that's always close to surface when it comes to the issue of race. It's going to take a lot of work and the passing of time to fix this divide, but the majority of the load can't be placed all on the shoulders of white Americans. That's not how you build a team and go about fixing problems. Jackson and others like him are politics of the past and they need to stay there, where Obama and his movement represents a new future.

Obama did the right thing by not just pointing that finger and directing the blame one way. His popularity among a wide section of the American people show that and why he's in the position to capture the nomination. He made a big mistake of even having that preacher on his staff in the first place because he needs more than just Democrats to win the WH. He needs independents and disenfranchised, former Republican voters to win it all. I hope he has truly learned from this mistake because our country deserves and needs some better leadership than what it has now.

 

[mickman1962]

Interesting theory.
Do people chose pastors or churches?
And would you say that any potential politician attends a church for 20 or more years for purely political reasons?

A man that admits that he wanted to be president since he was a child. Yes I think most of his life choices have been politically motivated. The man is a powerful speaker, so was Mario Cuomo. I wouldn't want either as president.

 

[marybet]

Well, I guess it depends on what street in Mobile you live on. I'm sure residents in Prichard or Happy Hills can't say the same thing.

http://mobile.areaconnect.com/crime1.htm

All your link says is that there is crime in Mobile. Prichard is a city, not part of Mobile. Do you have comparisons on crime figures before there was a black mayor?

 

[Fitswimmer]

A man that admits that he wanted to be president since he was a child. Yes I think most of his life choices have been politically motivated. The man is a powerful speaker, so was Mario Cuomo. I wouldn't want either as president.

I think all politicians choices are politically motivated. With a 24 hour news cycle and the internet, I don't think anyone with even the mildest of political ambitions does anything without considering the political ramifications of it first.

Then again, I might be jaded from too many viewings of West Wing....

 

[mickman1962]

Hey folks,

I've been attending Ku Klux Klan rallies for 20 years now, but I just ignore that "hate" stuff. I'm there for the barbecue, I swear!!

Sure, I never speak up for my beliefs and allow them to spew hate, but hey, at least I'm being honest with YOU!!

Vote for me.

The rantings of an overzealous preacher DO NOT COMPARE to the speech and acts of hate and destruction that have been perpetrated by the KKK.

Yeah, because one group promotes hate and the other group promotes......oh wait

 

[DISUNC]

DISUNC--I totally agree that any form of racism is indeed sad. But I'm trying to get a handle on your viewpoint, as I think you provide an intelligent and informed voice for the "anti-Obama" side. I hope you don't think I'm picking on you.

I dont think that at all!

Do you want Senator Obama to admit that he's racist?

I dont expect him too, especially in this election cycle. He is a politian, nothing more, nothing less. However if he truly wants to be HONEST, he should tell us what he thinks about himself, and not so much about others in his life. I would have more respect for him if he did this.

Do you agree that there is inequality and discrimination (racial, ethnic, gender, sexual preference etc.) in this country??

I ABSOLUTELY DO!!!!!! Seen it with my own eyes, heard it with my own ears, and felt it in my own gut!

If so, which presidential candidate do you believe will best address these problems???

I dont think the President or any politian can EVER solve racism in this country. I dont think they could even make a dent. They have way too many political allies etc to keep an eye out on. Politics, by design is even dirtier than racism!

The ONLY viable thing politians can do is to ensure the laws we have stay intact, and possible set some new ones.

I know we will have a better chance with Hillary, especially with our current economy. If the economy gets worse, racisim will get worse. I know she has a much better grasp on the economy.

Racism will not be solved in our lifetime. But I do believe that Religious leaders, teachers and even so much Hollywood products (movies/tv) can enlighten us and relieve the racial tension. This is one of those "Time will heal all wounds" kind of thing!

Wouldn't you agree that for a lot of people who are devoted to their faith/church, their Pastor is like a member of their family?

Not for me! I grew up Catholic, 12 years of parochial school, former Altar boy etc....BUt since the Priest scandal a few years ago, I have not stepped foot inside a church for Mass. I have not even given the Church so much as a penny.

I do have aquaintences who are very devoted to their Religious leaders....But my thoughts on that are for another thread.

 

[chobie]

Hey folks,

I've been attending Ku Klux Klan rallies for 20 years now, but I just ignore that "hate" stuff. I'm there for the barbecue, I swear!!

Sure, I never speak up for my beliefs and allow them to spew hate, but hey, at least I'm being honest with YOU!!

Vote for me.

The rantings of an overzealous preacher DO NOT COMPARE to the speech and acts of hate and destruction that have been perpetrated by the KKK.

Yeah, because one group promotes hate and the other group promotes......oh wait

Because on group expresses anger about how blacks have been treated and the other group lynches, burns crosses, terrorizes. Tomatoe/tomato

 

[agentpleakley]

Which is something he's good at. Speeches.

No I havent, nor do I want to. I had enough of Obama telling me how wonderful he is in his own words. I also heard enough from his political allies, with something to gain from him, telling me how wonderful he is.

I mentioned this on other threads...On Clintons website (and from my own personal life) there are stories from REAL people who tell you why they like Hillary, and what she has done for them.

I have heard from no one in Obamas past (with all his "experience") tell us how great he is. Where are the people he helped when he was a community organizer? Where are the people who lives are better because he was a State Senator. For a man who claims to be "for the people"...WHERE ARE THE PEOPLE??????

I don't agree with Obama on a single political issue but I see how his election could be very good for America.

Doesn't Obama's election to POTUS immediately disarm people like Rev Wright? How can people like him claim that the White Man controls American when a Black man gets elected President.

I realize that it is an oversimplified argument but isn't there some truth in it?

Are you kidding -- if he gets elected and doesn't live up to Wright's expectations of what he should be .. I'm sure Wright will cast him to the curb and label him a sell out or "Uncle Tom" just like he has to Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell and Clarence Thomas.

 

[sassyat30]

I dont think that at all!


I dont expect him too, especially in this election cycle. He is a politian, nothing more, nothing less. However if he truly wants to be HONEST, he should tell us what he thinks about himself, and not so much about others in his life. I would have more respect for him if he did this.

He is very candid in his books about how he feels about himself.

Just sayin'.

 

[mickman1962]

Look, someone can attend KKK meetings for 20 years, and come away from that saying “Well, there are some nice folks there.” Maybe there are…I don’t think even the worst white supremacists are all bad. They have children and families…I’m sure they love them and do right by them on the whole. Maybe they even give to charity. Who knows?

My issue isn’t about whether or not people can be basically good people, and still do awful things. I already know that. My problem is that, IF Obama is really committed to the things he says, then he has an OBLIGATION to take a stand against things that fly in the face of his basic beliefs and moral standards. The fact that he either can’t or won’t…time and time again…is a BIG BIG problem for me personally.

Do I think he’s a vicious racist? No. Do I think he’s took a stand against hate speech, bigotry, racism? No. And if you can’t bring yourself to take ACTION to make a situation better, what gives you the right to make grand speeches about it?

That’s MY issue.

 

[chobie]

Look, someone can attend KKK meetings for 20 years, and come away from that saying “Well, there are some nice folks there.” Maybe there are…I don’t think even the worst white supremacists are all bad. They have children and families…I’m sure they love them and do right by them on the whole. Maybe they even give to charity. Who knows?

My issue isn’t about whether or not people can be basically good people, and still do awful things. I already know that. My problem is that, IF Obama is really committed to the things he says, then he has an OBLIGATION to take a stand against things that fly in the face of his basic beliefs and moral standards. The fact that he either can’t or won’t…time and time again…is a BIG BIG problem for me personally.

Do I think he’s a vicious racist? No. Do I think he’s took a stand against hate speech, bigotry, racism? No. And if you can’t bring yourself to take ACTION to make a situation better, what gives you the right to make grand speeches about it?

That’s MY issue.

So Wright's church has been involved in lynching white people have they? Burning crosses perhaps?

Please give us a side by side comparisons of the similar actions done by this church and by the KKK so that your comparison will work.