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# Posted 5:17 PM by Taylor Owen

OBAMA'S RACE SPEECH: I haven't read through all the commentary on Obama's race speech yet, but I did watch it, and believe that above all else, the style he exhibited goes to the core of his candidacy. He speaks about issues, controversial issues, with a political voice that hasn't been heard before. He transcends old ideological, ethnic, religious and historical divides. This voice is not just new to the US, but internationally. This is why so many people in Canada and Europe, for example, are watching him in a way they don't even look at their own leaders. I can't express the number of times I have been asked in Canada who will be "our Obama". Same in the UK.

It is also worth mentioning that the voice evident in the speech clearly shows the unique positionally that he is able to hold. Ferraro was right - Obama could not have given this speech if he were white. Nor could he if he were a boomer - white, black, or female. Neither of the Clinton's could have given this speech. This, however, does not in any way diminish the force of him giving it. As Andrew has said, it simply adds context to the historical moment/opportunity that surrounds his candidacy.

In any case, despite his religious exuberance and US patriotism (I am an atheist Canadian), I basically agree with Andrew's post on the speech, some of which is below:

I do want to say that this searing, nuanced, gut-wrenching, loyal, and deeply, deeply Christian speech is the most honest speech on race in America in my adult lifetime. It is a speech we have all been waiting for for a generation. Its ability to embrace both the legitimate fears and resentments of whites and the understandable anger and dashed hopes of many blacks was, in my view, unique in recent American history...

I have never felt more convinced that this man's candidacy - not this man, his candidacy - and what he can bring us to achieve - is an historic opportunity. This was a testing; and he did not merely pass it by uttering safe bromides. He addressed the intimate, painful love he has for an imperfect and sometimes embittered man. And how that love enables him to see that man's faults and pain as well as his promise...

Bill Clinton once said that everything bad in America can be rectified by what is good in America. He was right - and Obama takes that to a new level. And does it with the deepest darkest wound in this country's history.

Labels: Obama

(9) opinions -- Add your opinion

Comments:

He speaks about issues, controversial issues, with a political voice that hasn't been heard before.

Right, like the voice that says that thinking the FDR knew about Pearl Harbor and that AIDS and 9/11 were CIA plots not just the same as being concerned about affirmative action or fearful of young black men on the streets because of crime, or worried about crime in general, or worried about welfare (even though oddly in the same speech he seems to admit that welfare reform had a point as welfare did cause problems in the black community), but especially the same as being concerned that his candidacy in particular is "somehow an exercise in affirmation action". Nifty equivalence there; well done. He does it throughout the speech.

Then there was his suggestion that Americans shouldn't be concerned about immigrants taking their jobs, when the real threat is foreigners in other countries taking their jobs. I still don't entirely understand equating a grandmother with a pastor, either, but I think it worked well and will resonate will plenty of people who have racist or slightly racist grandparents. And also all the politicians who hang around Robertson, Falwell, and those of their ilk (or are even parishoners at their churches) have a eloquently made defense now.

He's a wonderfully gifted orator. But I don't understand at all the claims about him speaking "about issues, controversial issues." He makes eloquent statements about the importance of unity, but I'm not sure what that unity is for, aside from bringing us together to prevent foreigners overseas (as opposed to new immigrants, whom we should welcome) from taking our jobs. That's not really something I want to sign up for.

# posted by

John Thacker : 11:34 PM

JT,

What are you talking about? I can only speculate as to why you interpreted Obama’s speech as you did.

Obama spoke of contradictions within Rev. Wright, within his grandmother, within ‘the black community’, within ‘the white community’ and within American society. He explained that he recognized the good and condemned the bad. But he also said that he could not disown Rev. Wright, his grandmother or ‘the black community’.

Recognizing threads of similarity (ie, the contradictions within us all) is not the same as suggesting an equivalency. I’m afraid you did that in your comments above.

Why stretch Obama’s words this way? (*rhetorical*)

# posted by

Canadian Tar Heel : 12:16 PM

Obama is dissembling. His words are political only. Forget about Wrights's sermons, look at the theology of the church.

If you want to know why so many Blacks hate whites look to the likes of Obama's church.

# posted by

davod : 4:52 PM

Taylor,

Reverend Wright says that AIDS is a white man's conspiracy and things of that ilk.

A simple, categorical, non-nuanced rejection of that, uncluttered by changing the subject throughout, would have been better.

As it is, the magic is wearing off, I fear.

P

# posted by

Patrick Porter : 7:43 AM

The FACT is that Barack Obama has been practicing and supporting Black Liberation Theology for 20 years. If this was a church and pastor that he didn't listen to and cared little for, then why would he write them a check for $27,500 like he did?

These are just some of the Extremist views of Barack Obama and other Black Liberation Theologists.

- The task of Black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the Black Community …
- Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the White Enemy.
- What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of Black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal.
- Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love.

Regarding religion, Barack Obama is not a Muslim but his father is. This is a strong religion, it's impossible to believe that Barack Obama was not influence by his father's religion in any way...

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