Obama's Speech

[kribit]

What was harsh? The reality of military equipment shortages? Latest predictions are that - hopefully - equipment levels will return to the minimum standard by 2013.

You know how many family support groups hold fundraisers so they can buy helmets and body armor for their troops? Or air portable air conditioners so they aren't quite as miserable in their quarters?

My husband is a motor pool sergeant. On his last deployment, if his unit was called for a mission, he'd have to visit two or three neighboring units in hopes of cobbling together enough working, armored vehicles. And if those units were also on a mission? Well they just did their best and said a lot of prayers.

But who cares about that? Not our government. They'd rather spend 42 million dollars to mail us all an announcement about the big rebate.

Yes, I am taking the money. And I'm quite positive that I'll do something a hell of a lot more worthwhile with it than George Bush would.

Like I said, I'm not pretending that I understand the position you are in. I don't, but I still think about the men in uniform every day and pray for their families. As far as the "bribe" comment, it wasn't aimed at you, but the poster that said it.

 

[ElizabethB]

All I know is I voted for Obama in the primary, but I don't support him now. The speech was excellent, but it doesn't make up for the fact that he has sat in a pew and listened to hate being spewed from the pulpit for some 20 years. I grew up in a religion that discriminated against blacks and I left it as soon as I was 18. So, I have no sympathy for anyone who stays with a religion even though they disagree with what is being said every Sunday.

 

[LoraJ]

All I know is I voted for Obama in the primary, but I don't support him now. The speech was excellent, but it doesn't make up for the fact that he has sat in a pew and listened to hate being spewed from the pulpit for some 20 years. I grew up in a religion that discriminated against blacks and I left it as soon as I was 18. So, I have no sympathy for anyone who stays with a religion even though they disagree with what is being said every Sunday.

But this is what so many fail to understand. What this preacher said was NOT BEING SAID EVERY SUNDAY! Why do so many fail to understand that?

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

Not in any of the churches I've attended. And we have a choice to sit and accept that or we can walk out and find a church that preaches our same values and beliefs. Obama made his choice, he stayed.

Well said!

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

But this is what so many fail to understand. What this preacher said was NOT BEING SAID EVERY SUNDAY! Why do so many fail to understand that?

Well, how many Sundays did he say it? And what was he saying other days?

 

[ElizabethB]

I don't care if it was being said every Sunday or only on one Sunday in 20 years. It is hateful. And to associate with a man who believes and preaches it is unforgiveable.

 

[luvmy3]

But this is what so many fail to understand. What this preacher said was NOT BEING SAID EVERY SUNDAY! Why do so many fail to understand that?

Oh Okay, then that makes what he said perfectly acceptable.

 

[EMom]

Another example of saying one thing and doing another. That is until he needs to put some spin control on it. Either that or whites are not an ethnic group in Obama's eyes

"I understand MSNBC has suspended Mr. Imus," Obama told ABC News, "but I would also say that there's nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group. And I would hope that NBC ends up having that same attitude."

full article here

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3031317

Pot, meet kettle. Notice I did not mention that the kettle is black. I did not want to be accused of invoking the race card.

Oh my God, I cannot believe what I am reading on this thread by the Obama supporters. The things Reverand Wright said are so despicable and devisive that I am appalled that he can call himself a man of God. The fact that Obama sat there and listened to that man for twenty years speaks volumes, and now I understand why Michelle Obama felt comfortable stating that she finally felt proud to be a citizen of the US for the FIRST time. I do not want this man or woman to be the President and First Ladyof the US. I don't trust a thing Obama says. He is a first class panderer to the black community, but veils it behind his rose-colored rhetoric.

For the first time in my life I'm looking at my black friends and acquaintances and listening to their friendly, polite talk with me and wondering if what they're really thinking is that I'm a "whitey, the man, someone to secretly hate". If this is how Obama was going to bring us all together he is sadly mistaken.

This is what DH and I were discussing last night. Just how widespread is this attitude that Rev. Wright displayed and his congregation cheered so loudly in response to? If it is truly widespread in the Black community, then I asked DH why we are even trying.....Why have we been trying since we were children and the schools integrated? It seems like it was for nothing if this is how people really feel about us. DH and I will no more ever know "the rich white men who control America" than the man in the moon, let alone be that person. Whomever is controlling jobs and money in the U.S. doesn't give a rat's hiney about us and will outsource DH's job in a second, just as soon as they figure out how.

To be the target of such anger and resentment is not only unjustified, it will definitely be counterproductive to "opening a dialogue." Before a dialogue is opened, it had best be made clear who bears any responsibility and who doesn't. Because the ones who are sitting around thinking, "Wait, I don't have a *&%$ thing to do with this!" are not going to be receptive to chatting when the opening line of the discussion involves assigning guilt/blame/responsibilty to a group that is tired of being unfairly saddled with that load. The only thing that will do is create even more resentment and tension.

I do not see this as a great opportunity for race relations as some do. Maybe if it hadn't started because of Wright's hate-filled comments, it could have been, but the spring is tainted now. Unfortunately, I am afraid things are going downhill from here. As for my feelings all being a cover for an unwillingness to vote for a Black man, that itself is a racist comment. It implies that if someone is questioning Obama's fitness for POTUS, they are racist....and that seems to imply his only qualification for POTUS is his race. Because if we're questioning something else (honesty, ability to surround himself with reliable advisors, being able to take a stand against the crowd) then that should be fair game for a candidate of any race. Maybe some of us are ready for a Black man, but it's just not THIS particular Black man. Do we have to "take" the first one who stands a good chance of getting the nomination just because he's Black, even if we have serious reservations about him? Isn't THAT racist? If you strongly support Obama instead of Hillary Clinton, then by your reasoning, you must certainly be sexist. You are just not ready for a female president. Go on, be honest.

Nooooo.....Sometimes it's just about the individual.

 

[jacksonsmom]

No matter what Obama says he'll never be able to please everyone. Those who don't believe him were never going to vote for him anyway right?
That said, I hope my sincerity won't offend anyone here because that's really not my intention at all. I believe if some are honest with themselves they would admit that they're not ready for a black man to be president which is what they really fear.

Wrong! I was going to vote for the guy. Heck, even as recent as Super Tuesday I said I would gladly vote for Obama if he became the nom. I thought he would make a good president. I was not head over heels over him like some are, but I did like him.

Over the last few weeks and especially the last few days my support for him has gone down to Zero. He has lost my support. He has shown me he is nothing but a politican yet he says he isn't. He will say and do anything to get elected. I do not trust him anymore. Is it because he is black? Nope, Obama just happens to be black. I could care less if he were white, Hmong or green --- he lost my vote, plain and simple.

His speech, while very good, told me nothing I did not already know. Yes, I have seen prejudice first hand. I grew up in the inner city, I went to an inner city high school. Don't tell me I don't know what prejudice is.
I have seen prejudice affect my family.
Yes, I may be white but I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I grew up in a single family home, we didn't have much. Yes, I sometimes went down the wrong path ---- but I never made excuses why I went down the wrong path. I made those choices. Every one, black, white, red, yellow and brown has a CHOICE to make about their life! There are some that use excuses why they can not success in life. It successing in life easy? No, for a lot of people it is a struggle, but you just keep on fighting to the top!

People like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Rev. Wright make excuses for the black community!
That is why I 100% admire Bill Cosby --- he tells it like it is.

The thing is I know what is in my heart, I am not a rasict. I like all people of every race.
But if the Obama supporters want to believe I will not vote for Obama now because I just realized he was black, so be it. It really doesn't matter to me.

I guess I will have to tell my black uncle the reason he isn't voting for Obama either is because Obama is black.

 

[LoraJ]

I give up. I really give up. I have no faith in my fellow Americans anymore. You want to see this country go to crap and I can't stop it. The closed-mindedness is just out of control. The lack of empathy and undertsanding is maddening.

You would think Rev. Wright wa running for President.

 

[okeydokey]

I don't care if it was being said every Sunday or only on one Sunday in 20 years. It is hateful. And to associate with a man who believes and preaches it is unforgiveable.

If my preacher said something hateful once in 20 years, I wouldn't abandon that church. There are many things I disagree with about my church but I choose to stay and try to work on those things instead of walking away.

 

[kribit]

I don't care if it was being said every Sunday or only on one Sunday in 20 years. It is hateful. And to associate with a man who believes and preaches it is unforgiveable.

This is what I don't get either. I belong to a church and they never discuss hate is negative terms, only that we shouldn't hate. Far be it from me to degrade anothers church, but I don't understand that. Shouldn't church be a place to go to pray and spread the word of some God.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Not in any of the churches I've attended. And we have a choice to sit and accept that or we can walk out and find a church that preaches our same values and beliefs. Obama made his choice, he stayed.

There would be a LOT of people at home on Sunday mornings if everyone walked out of churches whenever a comment was made that they didn't agree with regarding politics and social issues.

As for me-I will stay in my church as long as I can stand and confidently pray the Nicene Creed with the rest of the congregation. There is nothing in that creed that I disagree with.

 

[JoanneNC]

His willingness to sit and listen and SUPPORT the words that were spoken from Wright for over 20 years, his willingness to have him marry his wife, his willingness to have that man baptise his girls, added with his refusal to wear a flag pin and his "forgetfullness" to cover his heart, Michelle's NOW proud to be an American comment - all make more sense now.
He is mature and intelligent enough to sit through Wright's sermons and filter the crap and hatred that is coming out of his mouth - but those young girls aren't and if Barrack thought the words Wright spoke were appropriate for his girls then in my heart he believes and supports what he is saying.

I realize that our history will always reveal the problems in our society for the blacks and Indians, etc but come on - it's 2008 and if Wright wants to continue to encourage HIS Black community to be racist and blame the "KKK-DAMNED AMERICAN" for any and all of their problems - we might as well turn the calendar back 50+ years.
Wright doesn't want improvement in America - he wants racial division to continue - why else would he be encouraging the hate.

Barrack doesn't need to disown that man - the damage is done - we are sadly well on our way to voting in a very public racist supporting man. Oh wait - his grammie was white - that makes up for everything he heard in the last 20 years..silly me...

He is a hyperocrite

 

[mickman1962]

While I understand your sentiments, it really isn't the same. For decades we have been telling the black community that they need to get off the welfare and pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Several centuries of enslavement, followed by decades of segregation and crappy attempts at righting a wrong (through quotas etc). I sincerely cannot fault this church for trying to bring a community together that has systematically been beaten down. Do I think their efforts are perfect? No. Far from perfect ? Yes. Perhaps the church will change focus because of being under a miroscope, I don't know. I hope so.

It's been 140 years since slavery ended (in the south), 40+ years of affirmative action. How long are we going to blame "whitey" for all their problems? My wife teaches high school to "inner city kids". It's a joke, they have no ambition, no family support, no sense of trying to improve their lives. But Obama's preacher is right, it's "whitey" trying to keep the blacks down. As much as I abhor Bill Cosby for the Tawana Brawley mess (which happened in my backyard) I applaud his efforts to blame the blacks for the majority of the blacks problems. You've had ample time and extra opportunity to help yourselves. If millions of black people can make great things out of their lives, then the ones who don't should be blamed, not everyone else. I might have read it here or on another forum but Obama is like the 16 year old boy trying to get in to your 15 year old daughters pants. He tells you what you want to hear then when you get pregnant he runs away. He reminds me of the wizard in The Wizard of Oz. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." I can't believe that there are that many people buying into what he is saying. He says what you want to hear, nothing more, with no ability to actually do what he says he will do. Jim Jones did the same thing in Jamestown and we all know how that ended. I am truly scared that this man might actually be president.

 

[mickman1962]

But this is what so many fail to understand. What this preacher said was NOT BEING SAID EVERY SUNDAY! Why do so many fail to understand that?

It only has to be said ONCE why can't you understand that? The first time a pastor/priest/rabbi/whomever said it I would have (and have) walked out.

 

[disneyjunkie]

From Obama's Church, Trinity United Church Of Christ

The Black Value System

1. Commitment to God

2. Commitment to the Black Community

3. Commitment to the Black Family

4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education

5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence

7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect

8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness” ***?

9. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired skills available to the Black Community

10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions

11. Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System

12. Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System.

-----

If you substituted the word white for black this guy would be finished.

I'm 40 years old. I've heard numbers 1-7 and 9 &10 my whole life.
Why is it wrong for people to recognize that there are major issues in their community that needs to be addressed? Why is wrong for them to work toward solving the problems that exist?

People complain about the lazy welfare moms having baby after baby.
People complain about the number of black males in prison.
People complain about single parent homes.
People complain about the drop out rate.
People complain about teen pregnancy.
People complain if you look toward the government to solve these problems.

Now you have the nerve to complain because someone is saying solve the problem yourself.

How are these things any different from what Bill Cosby, Connell West, Michael Dyson, Travis Smiley... are all saying?

Why is it ok for Bill Cosby to say, but not someone else?

I don't agree with numbers 8, 11 or 12.

I also agree that the tapes of Wright’s speeches are awful.

 

[djm99]

All I know is I voted for Obama in the primary, but I don't support him now. The speech was excellent, but it doesn't make up for the fact that he has sat in a pew and listened to hate being spewed from the pulpit for some 20 years. I grew up in a religion that discriminated against blacks and I left it as soon as I was 18. So, I have no sympathy for anyone who stays with a religion even though they disagree with what is being said every Sunday.

It's sad that Barack has lost your support based off of 45 years of service given to Rev Wright's community, 15 years of which have been taped via audio or video and less than 1 minute worth of sound bites have changed your mind. All those years and 1 minute changed your mind. That's sad. I wonder if you were really a supporter from the jump? Did you know that whites attend that church? Where Wright's statements RACIST or politically incorrect? Since whites are members and attended regularly - calling that Church racist is simply not true. But when you hear it on Fox News enough, you start to believe it. And who is drinking kool aid?

Making an educated vote for or against someone takes hearing the whole sermon in context, have you? Are you so emotional that the first sign of trouble you just ship? Listen to the Audacity of Hope Sermon, then make an educated decision about Barack. See if Wright is racist. That sermon is available on you tube. It will not cost you a dime. Make up your own mind then, don’t allow news media with Sound bites make up your mind. Make an educated decision.

 

[va32h]

Like I said, I'm not pretending that I understand the position you are in. I don't, but I still think about the men in uniform every day and pray for their families. As far as the "bribe" comment, it wasn't aimed at you, but the poster that said it.

I am the poster that said it. I do think it's a bribe. Like a parent who gives their child candy so they won't notice the doctor about to administer a shot. "Here's some shiny money America! Don't pay any attention to what is going on behind you!"

And you can keep me out of your thoughts and prayers thank you very much. Thoughts and prayers don't really do a whole lot in the face of IEDs.

 

[lilyv]

I'm 40 years old. I've heard numbers 1-7 and 9 &10 my whole life.
Why is it wrong for people to recognize that there are major issues in their community that needs to be addressed? Why is wrong for them to work toward solving the problems that exist?

People complain about the lazy welfare moms having baby after baby.
People complain about the number of black males in prison.
People complain about single parent homes.
People complain about the drop out rate.
People complain about teen pregnancy.
People complain if you look toward the government to solve these problems.

Now you have the nerve to complain because someone is saying solve the problem yourself.

How are these things any different from what Bill Cosby, Connell West, Michael Dyson, Travis Smiley... are all saying?

Why is it ok for Bill Cosby to say, but not someone else?

I don't agree with numbers 8, 11 or 12.

I also agree that the tapes of Wright’s speeches are awful.

Thanks for your very thoughtful post. I think that those who truly want to understand, will.