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Obama on race

An eloquent statement, but heavily political, too

The Rocky

Published March 19, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated March 19, 2008 at 9:47 a.m.

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The revised standard manual of running for president says forcefully that when someone in or close to your campaign becomes an issue, you cut that person loose quickly and completely and head on down the road and never look back. The wisdom of this political brutality has been proven over and over, as candidates who clung too long to a toxic associate have learned to their dismay.

The problem with running as a new and different kind of candidate is that when trouble comes you can't resort to the well-thumbed playbook without looking like a same-old, same-old candidate.

Thus, it was instructive to see how Barack Obama handled the first real setback of his seemingly charmed campaign - the loopy and anti-American musings on 9/11 and other topics of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a man who performed his marriage and baptized his children.

Obama elected to address the issue in a lengthy speech in Philadelphia. It speaks to his unusual campaign that the candidate who, as he tells it, was first accused of not being black enough and now maybe too black felt compelled to address the question of race, which he did in cool, collected and eloquent fashion.

It's unusual - maybe even unique - to hear a candidate for president describe intelligently and sympathetically the resentments of both blacks and whites, and to say, in effect, that we all need to get over them or channel them into constructive pursuits.

It's rare for a candidate to lay out the roots of racial anger while condemning so beautifully any indulgence in racial bitterness - as well as its exploitation.

Wright's offense, Obama said, was his tendency to "simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality."

Obama's speech had a very practical purpose, of course: He was fighting to preserve the momentum and goodwill he had painstakingly developed during many months of campaigning. So his explanation for his long-term association with Trinity United Church of Christ was overly convenient at times, or an obvious exaggeration. He claimed, for example that "Trinity embodies the black community in its entirety" when it clearly does not. There are black Americans who wouldn't dream of attending a church in which the pastor spoke in such harsh terms about their fellow Americans and their nation.

Toward the end of his speech, moreover, Obama seemed to equate the goal of working through "the complexities of race in this country" with the need to support his policies and his candidacy. "For we have a choice in this country," he said. "We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. . . . Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, 'Not this time.' "

Not this time, he went on to suggest, means embracing his perspective on health care, education, the economy and the Iraq war.

Not so fast, senator.

Obama may have gone a fair distance Tuesday in putting the Rev. Wright behind him, but the American people still have more than seven months in which to decide whose policies - those of Republican John McCain or the eventual Democratic nomineee - would best help this nation rise to fulfill its promise.

Comments

  • March 19, 2008

    6:55 a.m.

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    TW writes:

    Sorry, Mr. Obama, an eloquent speech that glosses over your association with a stone cold racist is not good enough. Words count, remember? Words like Farrakhan is a great man, words like America started the AIDS epidemic, words like AmeriKKK, words like g--damn America.

    A crazy brother like Billy Carter or Donald Nixon can be tolerated. We don't get to choose our relatives. But there are a lot of churches out there, including predominantly African American churches, that don't subscribe to Mr. Wright's race baiting message. Pick any one of those, Mr. Obama.

    Mr. Obama's choice to associate with Wright for more than 20 years and ultimately refusing to cut the cord completely tells you all you need to know about a man, who other than great speeches, really hasn't done enough to deserve the Presidency of this great nation.

  • March 19, 2008

    7:22 a.m.

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    peachy0301 writes:

    Don't forget that his handling of Mr. Wright and his rhetoric has also highlighted Barack Obama's hypocrisy. He was very quick to condemn and call for the firing of Don Imus who made a one sentence statement using slang that is in heavy use in the black community. His only crime was being white and using black slang. Now with Mr. Wright, who has had 20 years or more to spout far worse racial comments, not mincing words, not using slang only using hate Barack Obama is very forgiving. Barack Obama has given him a free pass for his racial hatred.

  • March 19, 2008

    7:51 a.m.

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    cojab writes:

    Re: Obama's response... Too little, too late (by 20 years).
    Just like a lot of people, they're not sorry for what occurred or they did or didn't do, they are sorry they got caught.

    I don't care if Obama is black, or for matter of fact... green, white, blue or purple. He's a hypocrit.

  • March 19, 2008

    8:25 a.m.

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    T1anda writes:

    What really shows me Obama's true character is that he "outs" his white grandmother as a racist! She takes a very public hit for his relentless ambition! What a guy!!!

    Obama reminds me of the 80's commercial...he is nothing but talk soooo, "Where's the beef?????"

    What has Obama done in the political arena as a Senator?? What are his accomplishments other than writing a book or two and running for President???

    Obama offers....inexperience,Socialism,higher taxes, and a SOFT approach on terrorism, he is also one of the most far left liberals in the Democratic party!!

    What's to like about this guy??

  • March 19, 2008

    10:38 a.m.

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    Newenergycommie writes:

    Revote in Michigan and Florida? How about a revote here in Colorado. BHO may not be an empty suit. He could be much worse.

  • March 19, 2008

    10:52 a.m.

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    mytwosense writes:

    I seriously doubt Obama is toast. He's pretty much got the Democratic nomination locked up, and after the primaries are over, it's going to be between him and McCain.

    Of course, this issue will never be forgotten by the people who already detested him, never would have voted for him in the first place, and have been calling him B. Hussein Obama since he announced his candidacy. That goes without saying.

    But other Americans, and I honestly believe they make up the majority, have more on their minds. They're the ones who will count when it comes down to carefully evaluating and comparing the positions held by McCain and Obama on the complex issues facing this country.

    Maybe I'm dead wrong...but my gut instinct tells me this is how it's going to play out.

  • March 19, 2008

    11:05 a.m.

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    rickg19611 writes:

    Obama is sinking faster than a stone in water. Not only has he crashed against Hillary, but both Democrats are losing to McCain.

    Latest news this morning from Reuters.

    "Democrat Barack Obama's big national lead over Hillary Clinton has all but evaporated in the U.S. presidential race, and both Democrats trail Republican John McCain, according a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

    The poll showed Obama had only a statistically insignificant lead of 47 percent to 44 percent over Clinton, down sharply from a 14 point edge he held over her in February when he was riding the tide of 10 straight victories.

    Illinois Sen. Obama, who would be America's first black president, has been buffeted by attacks in recent weeks from New York Sen. Clinton over his fitness to serve as commander-in-chief and by a tempest over racially charged sermons given by his Chicago preacher.

    The poll showed Arizona Sen. McCain, who has clinched the Republican presidential nomination, is benefiting from the lengthy campaign battle between Obama and Clinton, who are now battling to win Pennsylvania on April 22.

    McCain leads 46 percent to 40 percent in a hypothetical matchup against Obama in the November presidential election, according to the poll.

    That is a sharp turnaround from the Reuters/Zogby poll from last month, which showed in a head-to-head matchup that Obama would beat McCain 47 percent to 40 percent.

    "The last couple of weeks have taken a toll on Obama and in a general election match-up, on both Democrats," said pollster John Zogby.

    Matched up against Clinton, McCain leads 48 percent to 40 percent, narrower than his 50 to 38 percent advantage over her in February.

    "It's not surprising to me that McCain's on top because there is disarray and confusion on the Democratic side," Zogby said."

  • March 19, 2008

    11:26 a.m.

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    mytwosense writes:

    I just read that article too, rickg.

    The way I see it, right now McCain isn't being covered hardly at all, since he's locked up the Republican nomination. All eyes appear to be on the Democratic candidate race, which is getting pretty messy and McCain is benefiting from that - for now.

    But once the race is down to two candidates, Mr. McCain will get his fair time back in the public glare, and there are lots of issues he's going to have answer to.

    Long story short, I wouldn't take what the polls are saying right now as a surefire indicator of who is going to win the Presidential election. It's a long way off until November...

  • March 19, 2008

    11:28 a.m.

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    dilligaf writes:

    rickg said: "It's not surprising to me that McCain's on top because there is disarray and confusion on the Democratic side," Zogby said."

    Well if this is true the republican strategy of making sure the race card is in every Americans face over the next 8 months is working for them. I wouldn't expect anything less from a racist republican party. But just like 4 & 8 years ago they will still be camped out at every election site challenging black voters trying to keep from letting them vote.

  • March 19, 2008

    12:48 p.m.

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    paperboy_80110 writes:

    You consevative racist sheep are really amusing. You pat yourselves on the back for all of the black/white racial progress of the past fifty years as if you haven't vehemently oppossed every inch of real success, and become offended (a conservative euphemism for frightened and confused) whenever anyone tries to talk intelligently about race, proclaiming it all to be yesterday's news in our new, idealized, colorblind (The United States of Convenient Wishful Thinking)conservative society.

    Any of you geniuses notice that the editors had to actually change the subject to find a criticism of Obama that wouldn't make them sound even more petty than they already do?

    Do you think that the News editors supported Martin Luther King before he was martyred, and then canonized by Republicans and Democrats? I haven't looked. I don't really have to. The News has a 150 year history of coming down on the wrong side of important social issues.

  • March 19, 2008

    1:17 p.m.

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    rg writes:

    From a white Woman from W. Va.:

    I listened to his speech in its entirety earlier this morning; Clare P. sent me a link to it. It was a great speech. I so hope he gets the nomination and is elected. (If Hillary really cared about this country she would withdraw and support Obama against McCain, because Obama is the only one of the three of them that is capable of pulling people together in a common goal and restoring our, and the world's, trust in our country/government.) http://my.barackobama.com/page/conten...

    Reiterating, I, Richard Grimes, deicide, would vote for Navy man McCain who crashed on my Aircraft Carrier and survived while 134 sailors died. All McCain has to say is: “I’ll bring home the troops from Iraq; I’ll put them on the border; I’ll build a fence, and I’ll round up all the criminal illegal in our prisons and gang-bangers and transport them to the furthest point in Mexico away from the United States: Attrition will solve the rest of the problem; anchor babies will become a thing of the past. I do embrace the White Woman's sentiment from W. Va.

  • March 19, 2008

    2:03 p.m.

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    peterpi writes:

    Way to go, paperboy! Your first paragraph is right on target.

  • March 19, 2008

    3:09 p.m.

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    Michael writes:

    What is glaringly apparent and no one has yet (to my knowledge) even touched in it is the fact that Rev. Wright NEVER made mention of the things that do the most and lasting damage to all American blacks: the rap/gangsta lifestyle and all emulating of it, 66% of all black kids are born to unwed mothers, an abysmal graduation rate for black kids from high school, the ones that do strive and try are called "acting white" and scorned and ridiculed by the gangstas, successful adult blacks that are consrvatives are also scorned and ridiculed (for the most part) - Thomas Sowell, Clarence Thomas, Condi, Colin Powell, Clarence Page - for straying off the liberal reservation, etc, etc, and etc. Bill Cosby has been all over this for years now and even he is being asked to shut up about airing black laundry in public. Throw in Jesse Jackson and Al Sjarpton and their race hustling cottage industry and all this combined keeps blacks stupid, ill-informed, uneducated, and with no future. Hey Rev. Wright......MAYBE you should focus on this stuff????? Look in the mirror.

  • March 19, 2008

    3:11 p.m.

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    walterm writes:

    Obama is now on the way to being the first U.S. black president. His courage to take a stance on the Rev is recognized by most and his presentation was remarkably intellegnet. He is a great american about to make a difference on how to do business in Washington.

  • March 19, 2008

    3:20 p.m.

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    DenverDan writes:

    Why cant the (R) people talk about there guy, or better yet pres Bush???? They will say or do anything for a vote. This thing sounds like swift boat crap. Maybe they should go after his second grade teacher. Cant get anything on him. QUIT sounding like rush r.
    How can we move foward if we sound like we are in the 40's. This cant be the way we get votes.

  • March 19, 2008

    7:39 p.m.

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    paperboy_80110 writes:

    You know folks, this means you too outrider, and especially you SASQUATCH, after reading your thoughtful postings I find myself questioning whether any of you over-opinionated and under-informed bozos even vote? I'm betting it's not many, if any at all.

    And you, outrider, what a wonderful wit are you! Woe to any who dare argue with you, sir, with your debating skill, opposition is futile and hopeless.

    Ignorant I am, indeed!

  • March 19, 2008

    8:42 p.m.

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    KrisO writes:

    I am appalled by the amount of out-and-out self-righteous hate being expressed here. If this country is going to move ahead to a better future, we are going to have to put aside our self-imposed stupidity and start talking about what really matters. We're going to have to look for solutions instead of ways to prove we're right, and we're going to have to face a lot of ugly, ugly truths about ourselves.

  • March 19, 2008

    9:01 p.m.

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    pklee527 writes:

    How can anyone be amember of a church for 20 years and not know the pastor?!? When something as serious and personal as Jeramiah Wright "bringing Barak to Christ" takes place, you must be in agreement to continue sitting in the pew for that many years. Barak has admitted that he does not agree with his pastor on past comments. It is very typical that the very party or people who talk about race and divisiveness are the very ones causing it. In addition, Has anyone noticed that if it's illegal or immoral, the Democrats are always for it?

  • March 20, 2008

    8:28 a.m.

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    JB999 writes:

    Wow. This is embarrassing. America is a forgiving country unless a black man commits the blunder. Is that what I'm seeing here? Hatred? Disdain? Unbelievable. John Mccain embraces religious fanatics from the right and nothing happens. Nobody cares. I suppose that is because we expect the GOP to be filled with bad guys, and we expect Hillary to be a bad person so jaded by politics that she actually believes that she and only she can do this job. But a candidate with pigmented skin steps forward and attempts to spread a message of hope, and he is held accountable for the words of another. This is sad.