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Hillary Addresses Obama's Race Speech

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 04:45:38 PM EST
Tags: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama (all tags)
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Via TPM and Oliver Willis, Hillary Clinton was just on CNN and provided this statement about Barack Obama's race speech.

"I did not have a chance to see or to read yet Sen. Obama's speech. But I'm very glad that he gave it. It's an important topic. Issues of race and gender in America have been complicated throughout our history, and they are complicated in this primary campaign.

"There have been detours and pitfalls along the way. But we should remember that this is an historic moment for the Democratic Party, and for our country. We will be nominating the first African-American or woman for the Presidency of the United States, and that is something that all Americans can and should celebrate."

Oliver, a staunch Obama supporter, says "Good on her." If you have more to say on the speech or Hillary's reaction, you can do so here.

Update: A reader writes in that Obama's speech today is similar to one given by Bill Clinton in 1995 commemorating the Million Man March.

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    Hillary Addresses Obama's Race Speech | 206 comments (206 topical)

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    Obama's minister losing Independents (5.00 / 2) (#79)
    by Cream City on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:53:42 PM EST
    and Republican moderates, according to CBS poll -- more than a third of Independents alone say they view Obama less favorably now, because of his minister.  These probably are the likely voters whose support has dropped so fast in the last few days, as seen in the Gallup tracking poll, too, that puts Clinton ahead again.  So does Rasmussen, I saw?  (But I put a lot more credence in Gallup's tracking.)

    Btw, interesting that Zogby on a local show in my state said that the Dems will nominate neither Obama nor Clinton but will find a compromise candidate.  Again, it's Zogby, even less credible than Rasmussen.  But that it is being talked about. . . .

    Frustrating (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by ColumbiaDuck on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:02:20 PM EST
    I ask again - why didn't this stuff come out last December?  It clearly was going to resonate with a large segment of the electorate, so why is it news NOW when Obama is the de facto nominee?  Why is he only getting vetted when it is almost too late to do anything about it?

    Why would I not be surprised to find out the RNC sat on these video tapes for months while laughing gleefully at folks tearing down Clinton?

    [ Parent ]

    Why Didn't The People Who Encouraged (5.00 / 2) (#122)
    by MO Blue on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:13:17 PM EST
    Obama to run a) vet him more carefully or b) not understand this could be a major problem or c.) at the very least suggest that Obama change churches before he became a candidate?

    [ Parent ]
    They did, MO Blue. (5.00 / 1) (#186)
    by oldpro on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:32:39 PM EST
    Both a and b.  As for c, who knows?

    The thing is, you and I do not know what the real bottom-line motives of the 'draft Obama committee' may be.

    We know they went looking for someone to take out the Clintons and came up with Obama...we now know who they are.

    What we don't know is just how cynical these old envious pols are...is it truly enough for them to take down the Clintons even if their candidate loses the White House?  In other words, did they REALLY expect to win with Obama in the general?  Somehow, I doubt it.

    [ Parent ]

    No wonder.... (none / 0) (#152)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:31:54 PM EST
    every candidate with a chance sucks...with all this vetting, disqualifying, and polishing.

    Am I the only one who would vote for an alcoholic atheist with a hunchback if they had great ideas, integrity, and were ready and able to rise to the occasion?

    [ Parent ]

    NYT story almost a year ago (5.00 / 1) (#198)
    by Cream City on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:08:53 PM EST
    on Obama's minister laid it all out.  Media bandwagon theory means the rest of the press always jumps on an NYT story.  Not this time.  That is so unusual that it tells me much was going on behind the scenes to kill stories that could hurt Obama -- but that never can go on forever.  So once past the planned date for cinching the nomination, Super Tuesday, the lid had to start coming off. . . .

    [ Parent ]
    Zogby (none / 0) (#101)
    by waldenpond on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:01:07 PM EST
    one was funny.  Let's see... Dean?  USAToday/Gallup 14-16 Obama up 7.  Gallup 15-17 Clinton up 3.  There was some data on the front page at MYDD.  Had the meter with the video.  The lines go down for Dems/Indies/Repubs.

    [ Parent ]
    Rasmussen (none / 0) (#131)
    by OxyCon on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:19:18 PM EST
    may be partisan, but their polls are tend to be reliable, especially compared to Zogby's.

    [ Parent ]
    It's a bird, it's a plane... (none / 0) (#140)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:24:25 PM EST
    It's...duh duh-duh duh...Super Gore!!!

    The Super Delegates have spoken!!:)

    I wonder what the polls would say if Obama dropped his friend to make his campaign run smoother...I know it would make me think you're pretty low.

    [ Parent ]

    Are you speaking of his minister, the one (5.00 / 2) (#151)
    by Cream City on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:31:15 PM EST
    Obama dropped from his campaign last Friday?  I'm sorry that it makes you think of Obama as pretty low (as I attempt to read your use of "you're").

    [ Parent ]
    That is pretty low.... (none / 0) (#158)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:35:24 PM EST
    I didn't know he dropped Wright from the campaign.

    Dropping him as a friend alltogether to please the "outraged" masses and become more "electable" would have been a lot lower.


    [ Parent ]

    Today was a good day for Democrats. (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by sweetthings on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:53:44 PM EST
    Obama gave a truly excellent speech without attacking Clinton, and Clinton gave a gracious response (and speech of her own) without attacking Obama.

    It's nice to see the circular firing squad cease, if only for a day.

    Disagree; raising Ferraro again was not good (5.00 / 4) (#93)
    by Cream City on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:57:09 PM EST
    with a lot of us with longer memories.  Unwise and unnecessary for him to do, as with the comment about his white grandmother.  Did anybody else get singled out again by him, other than older white women?

    [ Parent ]
    Without attacking Clinton? (5.00 / 3) (#107)
    by americanincanada on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:02:36 PM EST
    Not sure what speech you watched because he certainly took some not so subtle swipes at Clinton as well as Ferraro.

    [ Parent ]
    If That Is The Case, Then Didn't Obama (5.00 / 2) (#156)
    by MO Blue on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:34:26 PM EST
    depict his grandma as somewhat racist? Older white women (Hillary's key demo) linked to grandma and her attitudes?  

    Only if you think Jesse Jackson is racist (none / 0) (#202)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 07:20:13 AM EST
    "There is nothing more painful to me ... than to walk down the street and hear footsteps and start thinking about robbery, then look around and see somebody white and feel relieved." Jesse Jackson

    Obama seems to equate fear of black street crime with putting forth the notion that the US government deliberately used the AIDS virus to kill black people.  

    [ Parent ]

    This speech was not (5.00 / 7) (#167)
    by Dancing Bear on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:49:14 PM EST
    a celebration of racial unity.  It was a damage control staged event. Coincidentally right down the block from where Hillary was giving a speech. Anybody know who scheduled the space first?

    This was not done to further a cause (other than a nomination). It was done to quiet a restless public.

    I am apalled that he "could no more distance himself from his Pastor than he could from his white grandmother who raised him". WTF? I would toss my Pastor out of a twenty story building before I would defame the person who raised me and gave me my bright future in this world.

    I applaud the person who pointed out that he seems to single out older white women.  Grandma, Hillary, Geraldine Ferraro? If he wants to look at population statistics he will find that may be unwise given 51% of the population is female and since there are way more white women than black women his vote tally could be strongly affected in a GE.

    It does not matter why a person is a biggot.  If they are then they have no business being counsel to the potential next President of the United States. He better distance himself from this biggot.

    I happen to have very open discussions with people of color because both they and I want to have open relationships based on honest understanding of the people we have in our lives.  If he never has then he can speak for himself. It's not a dirty little secret to those of us who don't subscribe to racial bias.

    Hillary is a total class act and I am making another contribution to her campaign.  She is integrity. Not a crazy old white lady. Or any of the  other names she is called daily.

    I say (none / 0) (#183)
    by tek on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:15:46 PM EST
    BRAVO!

    [ Parent ]
    Why do we need to transcend race and gender? (5.00 / 4) (#177)
    by marirebel on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:05:22 PM EST
    I think we need to inhabit race and gender in order to deal with the very evident racism and misogyny in this Country.  I have never found the call to an overarching unity that seeks to recuperate difference compelling.  Instead, let's learn to live with difference, understanding that we are all interrelated.

    Rev. Wright exhibited extreme sexism in his remarks about Senator Hillary Clinton.  Senator Obama has never addressed these hate-filled remarks. His shout out to white women trying to break the glass ceiling in today's speech was just troubling.  He supposes white women are a priviledged group hunting down that last barrier, "the glass ceiling" to untold riches, fame and power.  He assumes women work in a neutral, hate-free environment.  Not so.  The misogyny exhibited during this campaign has been vile and vitriolic to the point of being scary.  Senator Clinton has been constantly and unfairly criticized, hounded and villified, and I see these behaviors as directed at every women who dares to step out of place in this Country.  Senator Obama also seems to be unaware of the feminization of poverty, and the fact that significant numbers of white women are nowhere close to the glass ceiling, but are instead single mothers, struggling at a minimum wage job, without benefits--about 37% of single mother families live below the poverty line, and about 47% of these families are white.      

    Senator Obama's speech may have been good in some respects, but I do not see that he understands the significance of misogyny.  A truly brave speech would have tackeled the interlocking problems of sexism and racism, but then Senator Obama wouldn't want to turn-off those men voting for him only because he is the alternative to a woman.  I guess, for him, some sexism is good.    

    Oh my. (5.00 / 2) (#188)
    by lentinel on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 08:48:05 PM EST
    OK.

    But why does Hillary have to keep saying how wonderful BO is?

    The best O can muster is that Hillary is "likable enough".

    She says how thrilled she is to be in his presence.

    I can hardly stand to look at him anymore.

    The fact remains (5.00 / 3) (#192)
    by ChrisO on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 09:04:15 PM EST
    that the only reason Obama gave this speech is because he was in full-out dmaage control. If the Wright thing hadn't blown up, he still wouldn't be talking about race.

    And he is the only one who could start the conversation. Can you imagine the reaction on Kos or TPM if, out of the blue, Hillary had said "I think it's time we had a discussion about race"? They'd be after her with sharpshooters.

    As for those who have been saying that Hillary needs to step up and meet Obama halfway on the subject, or show some support for the issues he raised, she tried to defend him against the Muslim rumors on 60 Minutes, and look where that got her. If she won't give them a big FU, I will.

    The thing that really bugs me is how so many Obama supporters equate oratory with greatness. Obama offered not a word about how he would address these issues. He said there's a lot of anger in the black community, some of it justified, and a lot of resentment in the white community, some of it justified. Raise your hand if you didn't already know this.

    Hillary, as usual, was classy. (4.80 / 5) (#1)
    by MarkL on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 04:48:01 PM EST


    I expect no less from her. (4.80 / 5) (#2)
    by dk on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 04:52:14 PM EST
    Throughout this whole campaign Hillary has been much more gracious to Obama than he has been to her.  

    Not To Mention (3.00 / 2) (#5)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 04:58:49 PM EST
    More gracious than her supporters.

    [ Parent ]
    Some Of Her Supporters (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:01:42 PM EST
    Sorry, obviously many of her supporters share her grace.

    [ Parent ]
    i agree with your take. (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by cy street on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:04:46 PM EST
    clinton's supporters are a gracious bunch.  i would add spunky, resolute and thoughtful.

    [ Parent ]
    is this some sort of cy ops? (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:09:21 PM EST
    forget it.  it wont work.
    we are surly and opinionated.  and dont you forget it.

    [ Parent ]
    I Said Some (none / 0) (#15)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:10:20 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    and dont you forget it (none / 0) (#17)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:11:28 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    You forgot cute (none / 0) (#10)
    by Marvin42 on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:06:16 PM EST
    Darn cute. :)

    [ Parent ]
    For their age. (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by oculus on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:09:18 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    ouch. (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by cy street on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:13:48 PM EST
    it is to soon to move on to age discrimination.  we need at least a week on race.

    to be continued.

    [ Parent ]

    Don't make me call your mom. (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by oldpro on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:56:59 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Say it out loud (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by litigatormom on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:06:17 PM EST
    I'm middle-aged and I'm proud!

    [ Parent ]
    Moxie (none / 0) (#83)
    by Stellaaa on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:54:37 PM EST
    I want to revive that word...we have moxie.  

    [ Parent ]
    agreed. (none / 0) (#11)
    by cy street on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:09:06 PM EST
    i live with a hot one.

    [ Parent ]
    Both candidates (5.00 / 3) (#30)
    by Molly Bloom on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:18:42 PM EST
    are more gracious than some of their supporters.

    [ Parent ]
    That's For Sure (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:26:35 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Robert Burns (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by Molly Bloom on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:54:55 PM EST
    O wad some Power the giftie gie us
    To see oursels as ithers see us!
    It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
    An' foolish notion:
    What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
    An' ev'n devotion!

    I'll be glad when the primary is over and we can get down to business of defeating the real enemy - the GOP.

    [ Parent ]

    anonymous (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:57:51 PM EST
    There once were two cats of Kilkenny/Each thought there was one cat too many/So they fought and they fit, and they scratched and they bit/Till excepting their nails and the tips of their tails/Instead of two cats there weren't any

    [ Parent ]
    Thanks For That (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:00:04 PM EST
    Although far from an being an expert, I always love reading, especially hearing,  Burns.

    [ Parent ]
    Hearing Burns works best for me. (none / 0) (#109)
    by Molly Bloom on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:03:27 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Good call Molly... (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:06:22 PM EST
    For those of us that don't believe that the Democrats are the antidote to our governmental ailments, there is no foreseeable end to this madness...

    Damn, that's kinda depressing.

    [ Parent ]

    And much, much more so than some of her (none / 0) (#14)
    by jpete on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:10:15 PM EST
    progressive opponents.  I keep seeing the following argument coming from them:  "She campaigning against Obama and so she's racist and ugly and covered in warts ... ."  

    It's getting beyond freakish.  

    [ Parent ]

    I read somewhere today that (5.00 / 1) (#123)
    by oculus on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:13:21 PM EST
    Clinton should have come to Wright's defense.  Amazing.

    [ Parent ]
    Hillary should not touch this (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:18:19 PM EST
    with a borrowed 10 foot pole.
    on the other hand, it would have been gracious.
    the fact is, there is a lot of truth in what the old coot says.  we may not like it but it doesnt change a thing. and he could have been defended in some respects.
    and I would just like to say again for the rolled eyes I perceived the first time I said it.
    use the google before you condemn the man for saying  the AIDS virus may not be naturally occuring.
    and dont give me personal offense.
    no one reading this has lost more people to AIDS than I have including two former partners.
    I can talk about this.


    [ Parent ]
    Yes, Hillary can't do anything (5.00 / 1) (#200)
    by jpete on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 11:05:40 PM EST
    right.  

    I'm pretty sad, in fact, about what's going on.  I didn't expect to see progessives get so splintered and I'm worried that it's going to make us all less credible.

    [ Parent ]

    She actually (4.75 / 4) (#3)
    by americanincanada on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 04:54:06 PM EST
    gave those comments this morning just after Obama's speech. CNN covered it live.

    The best part was after her speech/presser, when a reporter asked if Hillary thought Obama did enough to denounce Wright. She "that's a question that needs to be directed to him."

    The crowd and reporters applauded her.

    and they will be (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 04:57:59 PM EST
    after looking at the FOX NEWS website it looks about as likely they are going to let this story go as I am likely to pass by an unattended chocolate chip cookie.

    i.e.

    Williams, a FOX News analyst, questioned why Obama allowed himself to remain publicly associated with Wright. He said Obama did not address the "judgment and character" issues that he's running on.

    "I think he had to take responsibility ... and that's what he didn't do," Williams said.

    But CitizenJane.com Editor Patricia Murphy said it's too late for Obama to try to divorce himself completely from Wright.

    "There's no way he didn't know the nature of that church. He knows what goes on there, both good and bad. If he were to denounce this church and leave this church right now, it would look like nothing more than political gamesmanship, and for somebody who is selling himself as an honest broker and trying to paint Hillary Clinton as someone cold and calculating, that will be totally unproductive," Murphy said. "The horse has left the barn on that."

    [ Parent ]

    I listened to a segment on David Gregory's (5.00 / 1) (#134)
    by litigatormom on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:20:47 PM EST
    new show, "Road to the White House," in which Tweety (who called the speech "worthy of Lincoln") asked Rachel Maddow and Eugene Robinson (both of whom lean very strongly pro-Obama and anti-Clinton) whether the speech was enough to "put the issue" behind Obama.

    Rachel Maddow said yes. She thought the controversy about Wright was done. Robinson -- who has been not only critical, but caustic, towards Clinton -- was more skeptical.

    I think Robinson is being more clear-eyed here. But Clinton gave the exact right response -- she should not be opining about how successful Obama has or hasn't been on that score.  It's not for her to decide.  It's for the voters.

    [ Parent ]

    clinton's tone is refreshing. (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by cy street on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:01:10 PM EST
    the answer to the question is clear.  he opened an inter-generational dialogue about race in america long over due.  

    [ Parent ]
    I don't think so; too late for that (5.00 / 6) (#19)
    by Cream City on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:11:55 PM EST
    after the Obama campaign has made clear that whites attempting to discuss race, no matter how many years  they have worked to improve racial disparities, may be called a racist.

    I work in an environment in which discourse on racial issues has functioned well for years.  But not now.  The discourse has shut down -- and a wishy-washy speech today will not do anything to reassure anyone that it's safe to start again now.

    [ Parent ]

    Bingo (5.00 / 2) (#124)
    by lambert on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:13:24 PM EST
    Step 1: Smear the Clintons as being racist.

    Step 2: Call for an honest conversation on race.

    I don't think so.

    Of course, in the world of the Village, there is no Step 1. Then again, fewer and fewer people believe a word that they say.

    [ Parent ]

    just words (5.00 / 1) (#179)
    by popsnorkle on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:06:37 PM EST
    This is close to how I felt reading the speech.  I kept thinking that if he really wanted unity and to get beyond this divide he should have come out strongly against all the accusations of racism by his supporters and surrogates from the start.  Without that it seemed like just words to me.  

    [ Parent ]
    As far as it pertains (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Edgar08 on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:12:00 PM EST
    To getting him elected, I suppose he did.


    [ Parent ]
    What (none / 0) (#161)
    by tek on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:41:16 PM EST
    exactly does it mean an "intergenerational dialogue about race?"  Are the boomers racist?  I don't get it.

    [ Parent ]
    It could mean.... (none / 0) (#164)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:45:36 PM EST
    that there is a generational gap in how we view race and sex, racism and sexism.

    [ Parent ]
    but...is there? (none / 0) (#173)
    by lilburro on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:59:02 PM EST
    Obama is a boomer for God's sake.  As for the 18 to 35 crew, who knows?

    [ Parent ]
    That's me.... (5.00 / 1) (#181)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:10:54 PM EST
    18-35...I don't think we have the scars the older generation have, and the accompanying hang-ups.

    I'd bet the younger you are, the less statements like those made by Wright offend you.  The youth don't gasp and walk on eggshells as much I think.

    My opinion, could be way off.

    [ Parent ]

    I'm in that crew as well (none / 0) (#185)
    by lilburro on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:29:15 PM EST
    personally I don't think it helps that our generation has been fed incessant Beatles-soundtracked idealizations of the 60s...the 2nd Greatest Generation.

    I mean, c'mon.  Ziggy Stardust!  

    [ Parent ]

    I'm not gonna knock.... (none / 0) (#205)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 10:07:24 AM EST
    the golden age of music.  I think the problem is we haven't paid close enough attention to the lyrics of the Beatles and Kinks:)

    [ Parent ]
    Obama's not really a boomer ... (5.00 / 1) (#197)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 10:07:46 PM EST
    Douglas Coupland who popularized the term "Generation X" would place Obama squarely in that camp.  He claimed it was anyone born between 1958-66.  Obama was born in 1961.

    Others push the date further forward.

    It's interesting that when you look at exit Polls one of the groups he's struggled with most are people his own age.  He usually loses women his age.  And often barely gets men of this age.

    [ Parent ]

    My less than gracious reaction. (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Fabian on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:06:11 PM EST
    Well, now Obama will know what it feels like to have the media on his case.

    Elsewhere, people are crying out that the media has been obsessing over the Obama/Wright kerfuffle even though it isn't that significant.

    Maybe they thought the Clinton Rules only applied to the Clintons?  Guess again.  The media loves controversy - Clinton, Britney, Spitzer, and now....Wright.

    Who knows?  Maybe hordes of angry Obama supporters can get the media to change their ways.  What are the odds.

    [ Parent ]

    Since we're transcending race, maybe (none / 0) (#18)
    by jpete on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:11:41 PM EST
    the media can get transcendent too.

    [ Parent ]
    Maybe. (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Fabian on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:31:18 PM EST
    But the media has a lousy track record and the New Media/Blogosphere had me hoping there for a while, but I'm less optimistic than I used to be about blogs and bloggers in general.

    [ Parent ]
    I was in fact trying to be (5.00 / 1) (#201)
    by jpete on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 11:11:21 PM EST
    ironic.  I'm finding the coverage of the speech ominous in fact.  I watched Larry King, which had Wolf Blitzer as a substitute.  They have shows where they try a bit to get some  sort of real discussion going.  And then they have shows where people sit around and pretend to disagree but really support the same idea.

    I thought that for the speech they put on the latter sort, and it seemed condescending to me.

    Gosh, I hope I'm wrong about all this.

    [ Parent ]

    I was amazed (none / 0) (#99)
    by lilburro on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:00:48 PM EST
    just now, watching some coverage of the speech on NBC.  It was covered in a strangely obituary-esque way.  I'm not kidding!  I really liked the speech.  But it does take away from the power of his points to have it be the center of a news cycle, as it is right now, soundbited instead of listened to.  The media seems to be pushing through a "did it do enough re: Wright" meme ...and lingering on the question, instead of Obama's explanation, doesn't seem great for him.  There's a lot that needs to be said on race, and Obama did a great job saying a lot of it, but it is also being viewed as a political moment, of it being good or bad for his campaign.  To me he seemed like a leader, but the media has more of a 'cornered man' frame.

    [ Parent ]
    Really, I've found the coverage on (none / 0) (#144)
    by litigatormom on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:25:47 PM EST
    MSNBC to be highly laudatory -- as I noted above, Tweety said the speech was worthy of Lincoln.  Most of the commentators have been discussing it as a landmark speech that was honest and brave and personal, etc.  Even those who were skeptical of whether this one speech will "put the matter behind him" thought the speech was amazing. Tweety said that by emphasizing his mixed heritage, Obama showed that he is "one of all of us."

    I'm not getting a sense that anyone on MSNBC thinks Obama is going down. To the contrary, the MSNBCommentariat appears to be drafting the eulogy for Clinton's campaign in light of the failure of the MI and FLA re-vote proposals.


    [ Parent ]

    I thought the poetry of it (5.00 / 1) (#182)
    by Practically Lactating on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:14:11 PM EST
    was great, but I have always been more of a prose girl.  In that sense, I found it lacking.

    Outside of the obvious purpose of addressing the Wright issue, I didn't really understand the point. If I were to give a succinct interpretation, I would say this:

    "Race and racism have historically been and continue to be woven into the American psyche, and though this complicates our lives as Americans, we must move forward."

    There is nothing particularly novel about this theme as I see it. Considering the difficult spot Obama was in, I think he diffused the situation as much as can be expected, but no more than that.

    On a side note, I am more than a little annoyed at the implication that we need Barack Obama to start a national discussion about race. And I expect to be further annoyed in the coming days by self-congratulatory and superficial "dialogues" on race in the media.  

    [ Parent ]

    No - Kos and MSNBC (none / 0) (#39)
    by Josey on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:26:10 PM EST
    are already paving the way for Hillary's defeat.
    The media is letting her down slowly but the whole wide world knows she can't win. It's just a matter of time before Hillary sees the light.
    And on and on...


    [ Parent ]
    Yes, but once Hillary is gone (5.00 / 3) (#50)
    by Fabian on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:33:03 PM EST
    then what?

    The media rarely plays nice.

    [ Parent ]

    Can I mention Bill? (4.75 / 4) (#26)
    by zyx on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:16:12 PM EST
    There was a long interview with him on Greta van whozit's show last night on Fox.  The Obama/Wright flap came up briefly, and the "differences" between Obama and Hillary and whatever heat there was between the campaigns, and he was really at ease and very classy, I thought--very gracious.  No sniping at Obama.  Big man.

    I saw that too (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:17:40 PM EST
    it was good.  I only watched because he was on.
    but man, is Greta going after Obama or what.


    [ Parent ]
    How quickly we forget.... (5.00 / 8) (#60)
    by oldpro on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:39:53 PM EST
    check out Wiki's list of Clinton Initiatives in the 90s...one major initiative was: a national challenge to end the racial divide in America, the One America Initiative.  1997 or so...there were four reports re 'progress'.

    Clinton tried long before Barack Obama and the progressive ignorance about the Clintons' history re race is infuriating and dishonest.


    [ Parent ]

    That can't be possible. (5.00 / 6) (#82)
    by vicsan on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:54:15 PM EST
    Bill Clinton is a racist. Mr. Hope's campaign insinuated as much, so it must be true.

    Who is that racist guy who has raised millions of $$$$$ for AIDS relief in Africa? For AA people? Didn't that racist guy start the Clinton Global Initiative to fight AIDS in AFRICA and around the world? Now that same racist is helping AAs in NOLA with his organization?

    Hmmm.....something doesn't mesh here. :(

    [ Parent ]

    Check out this speech from President Clinton (5.00 / 3) (#128)
    by OxyCon on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:17:27 PM EST
    President Clinton gave a tremendous speech on race relations back in 1997, where he was marking the "Million Man March".
    It wasn't given as a way to salvage a campaign and it wasn't done out of convenience either.
    It was given because it came from the heart.
    Frankly, Obama's speech pales in comparison.

    H/T Taylor Marsh

    [ Parent ]

    My point (5.00 / 4) (#171)
    by tek on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:54:09 PM EST
    exactly.  IMO Obama is pushing the perception that no one has really tried to address the grievances of blacks, especially Bill Clinton, so that he can present himself as the only hope of unity.  Now I'll probably be scrubbed.

    [ Parent ]
    Yes, she is one classy lady! (4.50 / 2) (#16)
    by NJDem on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:10:46 PM EST
    Sorry, I missed most of the earlier threads on the speech--but I would like to note that I was disappointed he never (unless I missed something) discussed sexism.  And, him throwing his living grandma under the bus left a very bad taste in my mouth.

    Overall, good speech, but I don't think it will change many minds.  

    Oh, and is anyone (other than Fox) going to pick up on the contradictions in what he said Friday and today re: being present for some of those 'hateful' sermons?  

    grandma under the bus (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:12:28 PM EST
    BA haha
    I dont think that was his intention but it did sort of seem that way didnt it?

    [ Parent ]
    This Is Bound To Start A National Movement (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by MO Blue on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:24:52 PM EST
    of "Grandma's Against Being Thrown Under The Bus." I can picture them  marching on the Democratic convention in protest with appropriate signs. "Stop Throwing Grandma's Under The Bus to Protect Crazy Uncles NOW."

    [ Parent ]
    We need a "Million Grandas March" (none / 0) (#139)
    by vicsan on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:22:54 PM EST
    to the convention. ;)

    [ Parent ]
    since they are probably (none / 0) (#143)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:25:40 PM EST
    not that good at walking, they should come on Harleys.
    you want to throw ME under the bus?


    [ Parent ]
    Dressed in black leather (none / 0) (#148)
    by vicsan on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:29:12 PM EST
    with their big, burly Grandsons (who LOVE them and would never throw THEM under the bus) in tow. LOL!

    [ Parent ]
    Not All Grandmas Are Ancient (none / 0) (#178)
    by MO Blue on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:05:34 PM EST
    unless you consider 40 something as ancient.

    The Harley thing with black leather might be kinda cool though.

    [ Parent ]

    That should read: Million GRANDMAS March (none / 0) (#145)
    by vicsan on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:26:37 PM EST
    sigh sorry.

    [ Parent ]
    He already (5.00 / 4) (#66)
    by waldenpond on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:45:33 PM EST
    gave up on the old lady vote.

    [ Parent ]
    Throwing Grandmother under the bus (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by RalphB on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:32:20 PM EST
    was really creepy.  If you already adore Obama, it will I'm sure move you to rapturous tears.  For others, I don't see how it changes any minds.

    Didn't take Brit Hume long to zero in on the contradictions at all.


    [ Parent ]

    What A Characterization (1.00 / 1) (#54)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:35:10 PM EST
    Nasty if you ask me. Quite vile to even suggest that he intentionally killed his grandma.

    [ Parent ]
    It's a well known phrase (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by tree on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:01:58 PM EST
    and it doesn't mean "to kill someone". Do you really not know the mean of the phrase?

    [ Parent ]
    Really? (1.00 / 1) (#112)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:05:42 PM EST
    Didn't mean anything by it? BS... Your choice of words, and to not take responsibility for it is even worse.

    [ Parent ]
    choice of words? (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:11:48 PM EST
    what would be the gracious way to put that?

    [ Parent ]
    Didn't see you make an issue of this (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by Cream City on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:13:00 PM EST
    phrase when it was repeatedly used in earlier threads on this speech.  Why not?

    [ Parent ]
    I don't even knowwhat you are talking about now (5.00 / 1) (#146)
    by tree on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:26:43 PM EST
    I didn't say "didn't mean anything by it". I said it was a well known phrase and doesn't mean what you implied it meant. It wasn't my choice of words, it was RalphB's. If you want me to take responsibility for his words, fine.

    Here's a link to "throw under the bus".

    [ Parent ]

    heh (none / 0) (#91)
    by RalphB on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:56:55 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Tell me you're being sarcastic squeaky.... (none / 0) (#184)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:17:40 PM EST
    in a reference to people getting worked up over the "and the kitchen sink", another common figure of speech.  It's so hard to tell these days.

    If I say "rule of thumb", I'm not talking about beating my wife...I wanna make that clear right now in case I get pinched by the pc police:)

    [ Parent ]

    Poor Granny (none / 0) (#110)
    by OxyCon on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:03:54 PM EST
    Does it help Obama paint his Gandma in a bad light in order to soften Rev Wright?
    Isn't Obama saying that he's been surrounded by unsavory type people?
    Will that make a good campaign commercial?

    [ Parent ]
    A bad light? (none / 0) (#137)
    by ItsGreg on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:22:35 PM EST
    I listened to the speech as it was given, and I've read the text. I don't think he presented his grandmother in a bad light at all.

    He said: I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe. These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love.

    I think it's very brave of his grandmother to confess something shameful like that...and it says a lot about their relationship that she was able to say it to him.

    The sad fact is a LOT of good and decent white folks secretly harbor some racist thoughts or beliefs. The same is true of a LOT of good and decent black people. So long as we keep those thoughts and beliefs secret we'll never get beyond them.

    To acknowledge that his grandmother is flawed is hardly painting her in a bad light. Who amongst us isn't flawed? It's just acknowledging that she's human.

    [ Parent ]

    It is a far better thing we do (5.00 / 2) (#147)
    by Cream City on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:28:39 PM EST
    to let people admit their own imperfections.  

    It is good for Obama to admit that he is an imperfect man.  It is not good for him to start naming all the other imperfect people around us.  This could set a record for overly long speeches, even for him.

    It is especially not good to publicly call out as imperfect the person who raised him, after all.  Ask yourself what it really added to the speech?  I reread it, deleting that part, and it made no difference.  So the question always to be asked is:

    Who was that for?

    [ Parent ]

    Where did his grandmother (5.00 / 1) (#149)
    by SarahinCA on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:30:03 PM EST
    confess any such thing to 350 million Americans?

    [ Parent ]
    Yeah, bad light (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by OxyCon on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:32:45 PM EST
    I don't think it does Obama's Granny any good for him to tell the world she's afraid of Black men and she uses racial epithets.
    I think he maligned her reputation in order to soften the bigoted rhetoric of Rev Wright.
    Sorry if that offends your Obama sensibilities.

    [ Parent ]
    Well said greg... (none / 0) (#174)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:59:51 PM EST
    I fear we still can't talk about these things.  

    Everybodys too busy getting offended and ostracizing the offender, instead of attempting to understand.  Instead of asking why did you say "god damn america" or "he wouldn't still be in the race if he wasn't black" and getting a dialogue going, the response is "you said what!" "you're finished!" "you're evil!"

    Sad, sad, sad...

    [ Parent ]

    Read It Again (none / 0) (#22)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:12:33 PM EST
    He did mention sexism as one of the things we need to overcome.

    [ Parent ]
    He mentioned (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by americanincanada on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:14:52 PM EST
    sexism only as an aside in the speech. This was about race and only insofar as it gets him nominated.

    [ Parent ]
    In his defense (none / 0) (#29)
    by dianem on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:18:29 PM EST
    The purpose of this speech was to deal with racial questions, and he did it. The speech was too long as it is, and it would have been painfully longer if he had addressed sexism as well.

    [ Parent ]
    Well (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by ColumbiaDuck on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:39:28 PM EST
    I would say that the "theme" of the speech was about overcoming divisions in our society.  Considering that gender-based attacks have been at least as prevelant this silly season, it would have been appropriate to discuss it.  

    [ Parent ]
    I too (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:53:59 PM EST
    was looking for more.  Specifically, the National League, American League differences.  They need to be addressed.

    [ Parent ]
    Designated hitter, winner of All Star (none / 0) (#103)
    by oculus on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:01:36 PM EST
    gets home field advantage. Should there be instant replay in baseball?

    [ Parent ]
    imho (5.00 / 3) (#78)
    by inclusiveheart on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:53:25 PM EST
    The focus he chose was a mistake - speaking from a purely tactical political point of view.

    Look at the list of things that most voters feel are the most important issues of the day.  Race is not on that list.

    I know it was a pipedream to think that maybe Obama could be elected before he had to go this deep into this extremely complex (and yet simple) issue, but I had hoped from the outset that his campaign did not end up focusing solely on the ails of racial division in this country.  I had hoped that his ascendency would show people who judge others based on the color of their skin that their fears are unwarranted.  Wright blew that big time.  I had hoped that Clinton's ascendency would do the same for women.  I had hoped that we could transcend.

    Now the Clintons have been labeled wrongly as racists along with a whole host of other people who are not.  Now it seems that anyone who challenges Obama - no matter how legitimately - is immediately targeted as a racist.  Now it seems that anyone who would dare to consider Obama's opponent is a racist.  Now it seems like this primary contest is about nothing but race.  Healthcare, the War in Iraq, the Economy, and other important issues are on the back burner because we have to spend our time talking about race rather than doing anything about the poor conditions that breed and heighten racial tensions.  Its a damn shame too because all I ever wanted for the people of this country is a fair shake and a level playing field.  

    [ Parent ]

    Subject of Wright's comments (none / 0) (#115)
    by waldenpond on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:06:18 PM EST
    the subjects of his speeches covered several issues.  It wasn't just one of tone.  I was looking to see if he could address the issues.  I have read the speech twice, I didn't find the issues addressed.

    [ Parent ]
    I thought the purpose of the speech (none / 0) (#187)
    by ding7777 on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 07:47:13 PM EST
    was for him to explain why he still chose Rev Wright as a pastor/mentor after hearing Wright sermons.  

    I guess Wright's sermons didn't make him cringe as much as grandma's comments did.

    [ Parent ]

    That Comment (none / 0) (#36)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:24:52 PM EST
    Is silly. Obviously you have not read the speech. And if you have I feel sorry for you that you feel compelled to trivialize it whether or not you care about the guy. There has not been a speech like it, that I have heard, for a long time that addresses racism in America so directly.

    [ Parent ]
    Yes (none / 0) (#166)
    by tek on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:46:34 PM EST
    I just don't understand why we have to have Barack Obama lecturing DEMOCRATS on racism.  AS a person who's spent years studying labor history and the relationship to free institutions, I find it offensive that he seems to think there hasn't been a sincere dialogue about this for at least 50 years.  

    [ Parent ]
    OK (none / 0) (#194)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 09:24:37 PM EST
    I can see why you would be offended.

    [ Parent ]
    Quote? I listened for it, and now I looked (none / 0) (#31)
    by Cream City on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:19:57 PM EST
    through the transcript for it and don't see it.

    [ Parent ]
    I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by tree on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:27:15 PM EST
    but I think it boiled down to one phrase:

    "...the white woman struggling to break the glass ceiling...."

    Don't quite know why he had to limit to white women.

    [ Parent ]

    Maybe (none / 0) (#44)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:30:17 PM EST
    Because black women can't even see the ceiling from where they are standing.

    [ Parent ]
    If he thinks that then (none / 0) (#88)
    by tree on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 05:55:56 PM EST
    he has a very low opinion of his own wife.

    [ Parent ]
    What A Idiotic (none / 0) (#104)
    by squeaky on Tue Mar 18, 2008 at 06:01:49 PM EST
    Thing to say. Do you think t