Best of the Fray

Re: Transcript: Obama's Magnificent Speech Today 3/18/2008

Artemesia — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:50:44 GMT

MP..

The cherry picking goes on in hopes that Obama's speech will bury his chances for nomination. I was happy to read today, 3/24, that he is now higher in the polls than Hillary..that indeed, his speech has been more of a force for good than the hate made out of it by many in the Hillary faction and the 'Roving' factions of the Right Wing. That speech in its entirety, transended Party politics and I think it broke through enough of the hate gauntlet to broach a new direction in this campaign for Obama.
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Re: Transcript: Obama's Magnificent Speech Today 3/18/2008

Artemesia — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:26:15 GMT

Thanks MP..Amazing how his speech is being cherry picked
as the closet racists try to make Obama a villain because he didn't tar and feather Pastor Wright..But good news roday. Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico is endorsing Senator Obama for President. ..Another delegate in his corner and..this is a big plus for hispanic voters to come to his side.
This play goes on. This is only act one, scene three.
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Re: Transcript: Obama's Magnificent Speech Today 3/18/2008

MaryPrankster — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:17:20 GMT

Artemesia -

It's great you gave an easy access link to Obama's already historic speech in its entirety, for exactly the reasons you gave in your intro.

It's been interesting reading how the people with a preference for Hillary Clinton or John McCain interpret pieces out of context. It makes me wonder if they read it all or heard him deliver it. Or are they just reacting on auto pilot?

It's mind-blowing reading how some people don't realize what he said. This was an extraordinary speech regardless of whether one is voting democrat or republican. What he said went beyond politics and has value for everyone.

Re: This is mostly BS

Artemesia — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:34:01 GMT

Horus..

Obama's speech was a milestone for the American consciousness and the best one given and written (by Obama) for at least the last 40 years. He has given a challenge to the knee jerk response mentality that alas, we see in response to issues of race, religion and economic differences..It is always dangerous and refreshing to wake up the status quo and many are now trying to make him pay a price for it..with, predictable distortions and cherry picking his words out of the contexts in which they were written.

There is a great fear of intelligence in this country..fed by all the stereotyping that passes for thinking and what has been fed as education..lower and higher. We see this come out in force by seeing how people think..in action and reaction to the history past and present of race in this country.

Obama spoke of 'race' on a thinking level that of course..would 'shock' the non thinking..reactive public mentality. He broke a taboo..He spoke to the American people, inviting them to listen on a level rarely offered to them by politicians or government as we have had it for decades.

That speech can't be taken away from him, the American people or every place of religious worship where dialogues on race will be taking place and have been planned. No doubt this speech has angered many..For some, because they only see Obama as a threat to Hillary and not as the great asset he is for the Democrats as a whole..and this could cost the Democrats the election.

But, no one can take his speech away from him and the far reaching impact it will have on America. He broke a great taboo..the one against active, broad intelligence that can think and see beyond the profit to be made by dividing to conquer by keeping prejudice alive. All too common in how we are fed our daily bread..of divisive politics, stereotypes and fear that giving more will diminish our own little bailiwicks of security..self image and recognition of others as equal and deserving of inclusion.. on all levels wherever the 'us' is.
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Re: This is mostly BS

alwill22 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:12:57 GMT

Horus...this is indeed what it boils down to. At the end of the day, I've come to the conclusion that blacks and whites in America simply view the world through a different lens. As an example, we as blacks are literally beside ourselves when we hear white people say things like "that was years ago"; or "I didn't enslave anyone"; or imply that 40 years or so of affirmative action levels the playing field that was 400 years in the making. We don't get how someone could actually say those words or think those thoughts. But white people (in my estimation) often do think those thoughts. And they don't get why blacks don't "get it". How can you even begin to have an honest dialogue when the two sides are working from such different points of view of the same history! I think it's going to take divine intervention. Maybe the time is now...maybe not! Only time will tell.

This is mostly BS

Horus — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:37:52 GMT

I just love it when white folk pretend that, since hundreds of years of slavery and racism are now over, racism against black Americans is too and that those who were the victims need to just shut up about it.

Racism is alive and well, and African-Americans resent it. If you think that makes their resentment the equivalent of the white racism that caused it in the first place, you're full of it.

If you want to say that Wright's wrong about some things, maybe very wrong, fine. But let's not pretend that he's a racist equivalent to a Klanner, or that that makes Obama a racist, too.

he told it the way it is

Daysman — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:38:21 GMT

that was his whole crime. And he will pay for it, politically.

I'm white. But I get it because asking jesus into my heart opened my eyes, so now I see past political bullshit. This man is our Senator. (I live in Illinois) He impresses me personally, but not the same way Ron Paul impressed me, we need a president like Ron Paul, we need to stand up to the Wall Street money monopoly while there is still a nation left to do that with. Of the three losers that are left in this race, Obama is the best choice going forward. But he won't bring the kind of change Ron Paul would have given us... the serious money changes that could still save this nation from the pit we are falling into.

If we have to fall into the pit, we might as well go there with a charismatic leader. Can you imagine a nation suffering from depression (over 50% of Americans suffer from depression) being guided by John McCain? Suicide rate would go crazy.

Well, there ya go.

BaldTony — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:19:33 GMT

I'm not black and I'm not a Christian so I can't and don't get it. You're black, so you get it. He should save his breath then and not waste it giving speeches to white people who won't get it because we're not black and not Christian.

I guess all those other folks who agree with you on this board are black also. They get it. I'm white so I don't.

Laurie Anne, tell me it isn't so!

ellen__ — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:14:41 GMT

Are you saying I'm an unstable, obsessed with Sen Obama, whacko, air head?
Although I'm now completely estranged from the Cllnton's campaign, I have never thought of her supporters to have gone loco or to be suffering from some strange, exotic mental illness.

When you so singularly go after Rev. Wright with such intense fervor and hatred, do you feel that same way about Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage and Jerry Falwell and John Hagee and Pat Robertson, (there's tons more) ranters, bigots and racists all, from the right?

I believe that black churches have traditionally served not only as places of worship, but as safe havens from the harsh realities of life, a place of their own to go to and join in fellowship without fear of discrimination.

I've been to a few small black churches in the South that I love. They are I'm glad to say lovingly preserved and stand as a brave testament to the genocidal holocaust that has been black folks lot only too often in America.
Reparations are due descendants of slavery, just as they are due to victims of the Holocaust. imho.

You don't get it.

Daysman — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:02:49 GMT

You aren't black and you are not Christian and you don't get it. He explained his quandary crystal clear; he is telling you that most black preachers stand up against the system... black preachers are very political... that's why he says he could no sooner disown his preacher than he could disown all black America. Here's a clue for you, BT; being black in America is not a pile of rose petals. If he had left this church, where would he have gone? You don't know, you have never been there, or done that, have you? But you sit there in your ignorance and flip off about nonsense that has no ground in the real world. "If he had been Trent Lott"? What does that mean? If he had been white? He's not white and neither is his world anything like Trent Lott's.

I've been a member of all black churches. the singing is terrible, you sit there and love it because it is all so bad. It doesn't matter because you aren't there for the singing... or the preaching (the preaching is awful also)... you are there because God has placed you in this family; we call it "God's family" in black or white or any other church that bears the name of jesus; and that's why we call each other brother and sister; it isn't a black thing, it comes from the scriptures - which you are ignorant of also.

you don't even come close to having a clue... if the subject was Mars, you are busy spouting off about Mercury. That's how far off the mark you are, on this one.

Re: Transcript: Obama's Magnificent Speech Today 3/18/2008

LaurieAnnM — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:48:41 GMT

Sarge the fray is merely a very small microcosm of the most insanely politically obsessed whackos on the planet, trying to find some sort of outlet for the insane meanderings of their addled minds.

That said, most Americans would ever condone Obama, nor do I believe for one second most people will condone or fall for Obama's slick excuses.

The majority sees him for the slick phony he is.

Just realize that and know the vast majority of common sensed and more stable folks in the majority reallize there is no excuse for Obama's 20 year support of a rabid hate monger and racist like Rev. Wright.

Obama takes his little girls to lsiten to those hate filled diatribes.

That's sick.

The vast majority recognize that.

Let the air heads rant about his silky voice and unjustifiable spin on why he goes to Trinity Church.

Most people see through Mr. Obama.

Re: Transcript: Obama's Magnificent Speech Today 3/18/2008

Sgt_ROCK — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:39:36 GMT

Boy, if only all these lefties could have found it in their heart to hold the same ammount of "understanding" and forgiveness for Senator George Allen. It was obvious that the man was not a racist and had no idea the "macaca" was a derogatory term. Which pretty much makes their understanding of the insane rants of Obama's pastor seem pretty much BS.

Re: Transcript: Obama's Magnificent Speech Today 3/18/2008

Galatea — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:07:45 GMT

ellen__:

As with his book "Audacity of Hope" he wrote this speech himself.'

Since he's from Chicago, I guess I could say he hit a homer out of the park, at Wrigley Field.

Might this be the best speech, so clean and spare, with no fluff (B.S.) we Americans might ever have the honor of hearing, I wonder. I''m still a bit giddy, I hope America realizes what a rare treasure he is.

***********
I agree ellen. And I just can't understand how anyone could or would not appreciate the things he said.

His speech was tremendous and a joy to listen to!

~ Galatea

*~*~*~*~ (((( Barack Obama 2008 )))) ~*~*~*~*

Re: Transcript: Obama's Magnificent Speech Today 3/18/2008

Galatea — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:55:57 GMT

Thanks for posting the link to the NYT for the entire speech, Artemesia. I read it earlier tonight and just finished viewing it. I had missed it this morning... I was very impressed. The man seems earnest and strong in his beliefs. I get a true sense he really cares about the people of America and has the ability to be a great president. The more I hear him speak the more I respect him.

~ Galatea

For those who missed the entire speech and want to watch and listen to it, here's the <link>

*~*~*~*~ (((( Barack Obama 2008 )))) ~*~*~*~*

Re: Transcript: Obama's Magnificent Speech Today 3/18/2008

Artemesia — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:17:43 GMT

ellen_..

Unlike the guys in this thread, I'm not that cynical about 'consequences' for Obama about Wright and his speech today. I don't think he is 'boxed in' and will be forced to run a gauntlet in the coming weeks. I think Hillary is the one who has been cornered and she will be creating (as usual) the face she thinks will work to make her look more human and unifying. If she just panders to 'feminists' and the demographics she thinks will work for her, she will be the loser. I think her curtain has been blown and her attack dog shtick will have the false teeth it always had. A few days ago I was thinking that the accumulated partisan negativity was like a pustule that had to be pricked for a cleansing. and that is what Obama's speech opened up..a stream to carry visible and hidden poison into the light of day..and away from the body politic. Of course there will be no mass healing..Obama is no saint. and if he was, his situation would have been much worse due to the general mud slinging and evident fear one sees on Hillary's face..that has become indelible. In an exchange with Demosthenes2 a few days ago I posted:
<link>

And my thoughts were answered by Obama's speech. He has sounded a new note, thrown a creative challenge into this political contest ..and America will be watching and listening. I don't think he boxed himself in. I think he cleaned out an Augean Stable by channeling waters of honesty and courage into the muck..Of course the stable mates will keep shitting..but their stockpile is gone. I look forward to all the new voters who are not like the Lunestas who only vote for their own image..in life or at the voting booth..and would vote Republican if their idol didn't win the nomination.
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