Very nice post, very well put. It was a very moving speech, and many of his points are dead on. I hope that he does not just say these things to get elected. I hope if he does get elected he acts on all the promises hes made.
Is it habit or just stupidity?
Yes.
I read the whole thing,(thanks!)and what struck me was the content and tone. If I did not know who had made the speech and when, I think I could imagine it had come from one of the great social titans of the sixties. Powerful stuff, he said many things that needed to be said. Very brave to make a speech like that during a presidential campaign.
I hope if he does get elected he acts on all the promises hes made.
I didn't hear any promises in this speech, just a candid discussion of an issue we keep ignoring in this country--to our peril.
I like Obama, but I see the rug being pulled out from under him by the "men behind the curtin"
I have lost a lot of faith in our political system, and I think there are plenty of reasons for everyone to be leary of it.
We deserve a real president, not just a mouth piece for the powers that really be. We need a president has some GUTS.
Good luck!
A speech. That's all it takes? I guess so with you guys.
About all we know about this guy is that he speaks well. Never mind that he is a fraud.
For the men and women of Reverend Wright’s generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear...
This really caught my attention. When I younger, I worked in South Phoenix, which has a large black population. One day at lunch I went to a store that had a group of older black women out front registering people to vote. I needed to re-register so I walked over. (I'm white,dressed in nice jeans and a button down shirt.) As we were filling out the paperwork, one asked me what I did for a living. I told her I was in sales. With no animosity she replied "Oh, I thought you were a policeman." I sure did some thinking that day.
With no animosity she replied "Oh, I thought you were a policeman."
LOL.
Scratch that. I guess it's not really funny.
I was impressed by the speech. The media coined it as a "make or break" speech and it looks as if it was the "make" speech he needed. If Obama can pull out of a PR nightmare like this so strong, I think nothing can phase him in the future.
Obama writes really good books and makes really inspired speeches. He's a smart guy and I know I would enjoy having a beer or going fishing with him. But for one thing he looks to government to fix all problems; and more to today's issue, he didn't have the guts to get up and call out or at least walk out on a racist, anti-American demagogic pastor until he ran for president. And even then, Obama engaged Wright as an advisor until he caught flack about it.
Obama's speech validates a lot of what I feel about race relations in America, but it doesn't make me feel any better about Obama's candidacy. I think we need a better man--or woman--for the job. I'm not too sure that there's one out there, but at least there is one who will not cut and run in Iraq, creating a bigger chaos behind us than is imaginable.
No matter how long we stay in Iraq, we are only building a house of cards, no matter what condition we leave it in, it will adjust with continued civil war against what we have proped up.
At least they can focus on building their country up and pay for it with their own oil ..that would be much better than using our own declining dollar and resources and lives staying there to do the building. Their economy is theirs not ours to manage..
I say get out of there, now. But the power elites, corporate big wigs and profiteers are determined to stay and suck us dry here and abroad..
Obama is the only one who MIGHT pull us out of there but all the other are a sure bet that there will be more economic hits, wars as the stage is set for Iran next.
JG - I, through a mis-guided click on the RSS reader, came hear fresh from Arthur Silber(powerofnarrative.blogspot.com). He reminds us of the obvious:
"Obama is a politician. And he is not just any politician: he wants to hold the most powerful office in the history of the world. Anyone who wishes to hold the office of president of the United States -- anyone who actively wants to hold that kind of life and death power over many millions of people, not just in the United States but around the world -- is never going to tell you the full truth, or anything close to it. If you're looking for truth, I suggest you read more. You will need to choose what you read with considerable care. You will not find any approximation of the truth in the political sphere, especially in the corrupt and corrupting politics practiced today and for many decades past in this country."
A provocative discussion of historical context regarding the comments made by Obama's pastor and the unspoken truths of race in America were also included. -- I recommend reading the entire post for anyone who sees through the Hilbama horse race and desires a deeper analysis of these topics.
anyone who actively wants to hold that kind of life and death power over many millions of people, not just in the United States but around the world -- is never going to tell you the full truth, or anything close to it.
That's some cynical horse shit right there. I guess for people disillusioned by the Republican kool-aid it makes sense. I mean seriously, look at the GOP of the past 8 years. But liberals know that some people get into public office to actually try to change things for the better. I know, hard to imagine when one party has used their power to rig the system to ensure they stay in power, or to profit their wealthy friends and create a war without end.
But that's just how Republicans do government. It's not how liberals do government.
Good response, SB. Also, the fools who consider the US leaving Iraq to be "cut and runners" should consider the fact that we are currently mass-murdering oil thieves who invaded and occupied a sovereign nation who hadn't attacked or even threatened us. That puts us on a par with Nazi Germany, a place I never thought a US citizen could defend. The Republicans have trashed our very moral center, and Obama has shown a grasp of morality that has a chance of translating into doing the right thing, rather than ceding our principles to GE and other arms dealers.
Obama's speech validates a lot of what I feel about race relations in America, but it doesn't make me feel any better about Obama's candidacy. I think we need a better man--or woman--for the job. I'm not too sure that there's one out there, but at least there is one who will not cut and run in Iraq, creating a bigger chaos behind us than is imaginable."
So, John, your choice for President is someone whose policies are identical to the failed policies of the Bush Administration? The person who created the mess that is Iraq to begin with?
Neither Iraq nor America can survive another four years of Bush, not even from Bush-lite.
"he didn't have the guts to get up and call out or at least walk out on a racist, anti-American demagogic pastor until he ran for president"
I nodded off and woke up in the middle of the thread. Are we still talking about this guy? Cos McCain hasn't disowned him yet.
I didn't actually read the whole thing (hangs head in shame) but I did skim it for the highlights, and found Sen. Obama speaking to us as adults. Mature, responsible adults who can tolerate someone pointing out the past failings of our country.
If nothing else, if he's the nominee I will be proud to vote for someone like that come November.
Actually, It will be a dangerous task to remove troops from IRAQ or even stop the theater wars all over the world..not because of those "terrorist" but because the power behind our Economic, banking system who want their agenda to go on with out interruptions. These are very powerful, rich people from the Project for a New American Century, The committee of Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Trilateral Commission, who are organizations not affiliated with the US, but are a not-for-profit (who are they kidding?) private organizations who control Media, scholars, and our money supply..they have lobbied our white house to pass laws and use our military for this progressive takeover of other countries resources and occupation of them. Economic Hits have been happening since we lost control of our Banking system under Congress in 1913..Our elected officials are controlled with bribery, blackmail and worse..we see resistance falling like flies with the media reporting some moral wrong doing..Spitzer, has a lawsuit against the Banking system for sub-prime mortgages, tho' his downfall hotel fiasco and deed was truly immoral, it was wired and staged and used to get rid of him for his lawsuit. Politics are dirty. You'll find in these organizations listed above that Daddy Bush and Bill Clinton are members. Cheney was a chairman before he became VP. Notice how the push of NAFTA in 1993 has encouraged a HUGE change in our economy..jobs moving out of our country for cheap labor..Open boarders etc..
We are in deep trouble and I am not sure we can resolve our problems voting in another mouth piece for those powerful profiteers, war mongers!
What to do? What choices do we have? McCain is a hug-up to Bush and has no knowledge of the economy problems..he will depend on those who are like a run away train with Trade deals they call free trade (anything BUT)the power would have another 4 years to whoop it up, so he's out.
Bush, Clinton, Bush and now another Clinton wants in..they are so in your face obvious that they want to see the power agenda move forward (progressive)being members of the elite power behind the scenes..
Obama is all that's left to choose from in the media's eye, and he is new blood and a change.
BUT what worries me, is he is endorsed by Rockefeller who is on the boards of all those committees listed above and more. Could be a ploy to run us intheknows away from voting for him..BUT another bump is that Michele Obama is a member of the CFR but a local chapter of the organization. There are movie stars, media personnel, ex CIA and others who you would never would have dreamed as members of this elite progressive bunch! Some may be innocent without full discovery of what they are members of, I don’t know.
I swear, if Ron Paul had been allowed to be aired in the Media more, more exposure and less ridiculed as crack-pot or wrongly accused of being racist, attacked by those powers.. he didn't get a chance to get his message out.. I think
~contiuned~
we should have jumped on his campaign coat tails..He is the only one who has stood up to the banking system and stood against those managed trade deals for more than 30 years..he is pro-trade but not managed trade..Pro-peace and sound money, anti-income tax.
Hind sight is 20/20..He has not dropped out of the race tho'..his delegates are winning unbound delegates where there are county Republican conventions..
Google him and check him out if you have not already!
He's a doctor and a 11 term Congressman and an economist. A champion of the constitution and a man for the people, a man of prinicple. Not a Neocon republican. He IS a man of the Republic the very foundations of our country... A modern day Jefferson.
JG, Call Ron Paul HQ, there's a tinfoil hat with your name on it.
Ron Paul is a crackpot who wants to enslave women to their biology. No thank you. Forget all of his other far-from-mainstream political ideas, his anti-choice views alone were reason enough to turn me off. So he was right on the war -- big deal. A stopped clock is right two times a day.
You decry the lies and innuendo that sank Ron Paul's campaign, yet offer up the same thing in expressing your reservations about Obama. Interesting.
SB~ What do you mean?
Ron Paul would never tell anyone how to live their own life..his personal views are not what he would force on anyone, SB..The federal government should not set the bar for moral highground and in Ron's view, it's up to the People, and local or state level to pass such legislation..Your choice, not the government.
Ron Paul would never tell anyone how to live their own life..his personal views are not what he would force on anyone, SB..
That explains all the legislation he sponsored saying human life begins at conception.
What I said is true, all public record if you are intrested in truth, or prove me wrong..I will listen.
He also said, the constitution does not allow for such athority at federal level..that is is only opposition to that matter..as many other moral highground legislation..we the people are more in charge at a local level.
The federal government should not set the bar for moral highground and in Ron's view, it's up to the People, and local or state level to pass such legislation..Your choice, not the government.
How about The People and local and state governments keep their noses and laws out of my uterus, mmm'kay? What I decide to do is between me and my family and my doctor. Thanks, bye.
OK, how about not expecting people who do not appove of Abortions to pay our tax dollars to fund them for you
If citizens in a local level say it's ok by a majority, that's fine..then you all, locally can say yes, my tax dollars should support that issue..
Makes perfect sense to me..Federal government should not set a standard for All on morals..We ALL can not agree, but locally it's up to YOU and the voters.
Federal funds cannot be used for abortion directly; however, those funds can fund abortion indirectly by going to organizations that commit them. Groups that profit from abortion, after all, do not have a clear incentive to prevent pregnancies. It is estimated that about $50 million from Title X goes to agencies that perform abortions.
OK, how about not expecting people who do not appove of Abortions to pay our tax dollars to fund them for you
That's different from the system we currently have how ...? The government does not pay for abortion.
By groups that "profit" from abortion I assume you mean someone like Planned Parenthood? Which is more profitable: nine months of pre-natal care and obstetrics on a delivery, followed by years of pediatric care, or a one-time outpatient surgical procedure?
Don't talk to me about "profiting" from abortion, that's ridiculous. That's like saying dentists want tooth decay, or cardiologists want heart disease.
Inevitably when Rondroids discuss abortion, after the false "leave it to state and local governments" smoke is cleared away, they reveal their true selves: fundamental anti-choicers.
And yet you keep coming on to liberal blogs trying to tell us that Ron Paul is the bestest candidate EVAH because he's against the war.
Stupid.
Ron Paul says the same thing you said..keep the federal government out of our personal lives..why the slam on him?
Why not a personal relationship with your doctor instead of counting on bureocrats feds and profiteers taking our tax dollars.
Ron Paul doesn't want to tax us to death. He would like for us to keep our own hard earned money and pay for what we need for our own personal needs. What is wrong with that?
I'm not stupid. REALLY I'm not..lol
Ron Paul says the same thing you said..keep the federal government out of our personal lives..why the slam on him?
Then why did he push not one but THREE bills stating that life begins at conception and FOUR different bills stating that the inferior courts of the United States do not have jurisdiction to hear abortion-related cases?
His talk does not match his actions.
I have written two full posts listing my dislike for Ron Paul and libertarians in general. Google Southern Beale-Ron Paul why don't you.
I've said all I care to about him.
I am not purposely slamming Obama, either..
I happen to like him and prepared to vote for him, because he seems the best out of what is available to us or hand picked for us, rather.
I think many people feel a distrust after the past 16 years of deception by the Bush, Clinton mob.
I have only pointed out some concerns of my own. Educate me if I'm wrong.
I would be very pleased to have Obama, the man he portrays, to be president..I liked him from the fist time I heard him when he spoke at the convention for John Kerry..Never forgot his powerful presence there and his words..
I didn't mean to upset you. I am not a pro-life or anti-abortion. I am grateful I have never been in the position to have think about that subject at all.. I don't judge others because I’ve never walked in anothers shoes...I just want to keep my hard earned money for my own individual needs and want everyone else to do the same. I would like to choose a charity to contribute by myself and give what I can afford. We can not be taxed anymore than we are without good paying jobs, many people homeless and in debt, jobless..I just think we can not have it both ways, social services and low taxes. The neocons are worse. Just hide their tax under the guise, fees..
One LAST thing about Ron Paul. He is an OB/GYN. I can understand his passion in defense of the unborn.
I know he is a good man and an honest politician, the only one I find with such integrety a man of the Constitution, always. if he had the backing he would stop all federal funded social services except for what belongs to the people, social security, medicare and he said he could fund welfare to American citizens only by cutting spending over seas. With real free trade and a free economy we could start to grow again with no income tax to hender us...Farmers could start farming again, more factories and textiles could start up..we really need drastic change..but powers that be will not let Ron Paul happen..the mind set as you seem to have against him have taken root from those powers that really rule us. America was born of a Republic not a democracy.
"cynical horse shit"
Indeed it is and perhaps some cynicism is warranted:
"I know, hard to imagine when one party has used their power to rig the system to ensure they stay in power, or to profit their wealthy friends and create a war without end."
Just one party, SB? When is the last time the Democratic party or especially its leadership did anything meaningful to oppose the Iraq war crime? An awful lot of Dems have enabled/approved those war spending appropriations, too and many a Dem friend has profited. The military-industrial-congressional complex is not an exclusively Republican club.
I just fail to see the big distinction between elite/wealthy/corporatist/hegemonic/ruling-class Repubs and elite/wealthy/corporatist/hegemonic/ruling-class Dems that you seem to perceive. Republicans are certainly the extreme here, but they're all part of the same ultra-corrupt system that benefits the few at the expense of the many and they all actively work to ensure that the ruling class remains the ruling class.
To recap: Obama = elite/wealthy/corporatist/hegemonic/ruling-class
For me, at least, this simple, obvious fact is what generates so much cynicism towards the gush-fest going on in the progressive blogosphere about Obama being teh awesome. He's more of the same cleverly packaged as something else and lots of people are falling for it.
Meanwhile, our democracy is badly broken and the unimaginable horrors in Iraq continue.
Jeebus, what is with the Paulistas?!
If only he had begun his campaign like this, I'd be a full-fledged Obaman by now...
SoBeale, he only gave that speech because he was forced into it. Do you really not remember his first feeble attempts at defusing the controversy? They were just a few days ago! "I wasn't there, I didn't hear it, I denounce his remarks, my church wasn't controversial..." It was all bullshit, and quite obvious bullshit at that.
Be honest - you are a religious person. If you were running for President, wouldn't you pick a church that was more inclusive? Especially if you were a person of color? Imagine if Hillary's church was preaching KKK messages of hatred towards black people and towards the American government. Trust me, she would be roadkill - and rightly so.
It is only now, when all his lies about Pastor Wright have unraveled, that Obama starts talking about race in a somewhat realistic way. Where has this mature, thoughtful person been the whole time he was pretending to "transcend" racism, while smacking his opponents with it every time they turned around?
Too little, too late for me. He has zero credibility at this point.
And I am afraid that voters in the GE will see it exactly the same way.
What did Rev. Wright say that is so different from what comes out of the mouths of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and John Hagee? Only real difference I can see is the color of their skin.
If you were running for President, wouldn't you pick a church that was more inclusive? Especially if you were a person of color?
I wouldn't pick my church based on my poltiical aspirations, if that's what you're asking. I don't think Obama did, either. His relationship with the church goes back further than his career in politics, I believe.
Wow SB, you are kind of a big deal, huh?
I would love to respond to any Ron Paul follower, but it is beating a dead horse, so I won't.
I wouldn't pick my church based on my poltiical aspirations, if that's what you're asking. I don't think Obama did, either. His relationship with the church goes back further than his career in politics, I believe.
Southern Beale
I'm sure you're right, but you and I are not running for President. He admitted that knew his church was controversial, but stayed there anyway. This is not the move of a politically savvy person. It's the move of a man who doesn't see the forest for the trees.
I think he started his run too soon. He was not ready for the level of scrutiny he would endure. And sadly, no one prepared him for what the rightwing slime machine would find. (He should have asked Hillary - she could have filled him in!)
If Obama had waited another few years, (two terms in the Senate) he could have distanced himself from Wright and Reszko, while building up a distinguished record in the Senate. Any questions about his experience would have been moot at that point. He would have been an incredible candidate.
Today Obama said his grandma, whom he claimed made racial statements that made him "cringe" just two days ago, was not actually racist, but was a "typical white person."
This is very, very bad.
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