Obama's speech II

Senator Barack Obama took to the podium yesterday in Philadelphia to make a major speech on race. This was clearly his attempt to divert attention he has received over the last few days because of rather unintelligent remarks made be his pastor of 20 years.

I didn’t see the speech live; I was only able to watch it online later that afternoon. I tried to avoid the commentary and blogs so I could watch the speech without prejudice.

First things first, from the outset of this campaign, I have not agreed with Obama’s politics or policies. What I have appreciated was his campaign style. I did see him as different and trying to remain above the fray of dirty politics. While I thought the campaign of hope and change was simply rhetoric and lacked content, I felt he truly believed what he was saying.

After viewing the speech however, I stand corrected. Barack Obama is just a typical politician who uses his gift of oratory to get his butt out of a sling. (See Bill Clinton). Back home in Missouri we call that a bull-sh#ter. At best, Senator Barack Obama is another snake-charmer that our nation’s Capitol seems to so ably attract.

Secondly, until yesterday, Obama had denied hearing any controversial statements made by Reverend Wright while he was in the pew. During the first 10 minutes of his speech, he admitted that he had indeed heard statements. From this point forward, I questioned just exactly what I should and should not believe.

At one point during this speech, I found myself shaking my head at disbelief in what Senator Obama was trying to sell. To use the Senator’s own works, he had to audacity to comment that his pastor, Jeremiah Wright’s; words were “potentially controversial.”

Now Senator, obviously you’ve seen the numerous clips on YouTube or we wouldn’t be having this speech, but do you really think that his remarks were “potentially controversial.” Really?

Senator, a controversy is the Patriots Spy Tape. A controversy is Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and the Mitchell Report. Wright’s comments are vile, unintelligent and despicable. Don’t insult the word controversial by tying them to Wright’s statements.

Do you really consider YOUR PASTOR’s remarks regarding 9/11 and that America was at fault and that the chickens had simply “come home to roost” as merely controversial or potentially controversial? Please explain that to the family members who never received any remains of their loved ones from Ground Zero. Tell that to the policemen, firemen and emergency responders who spent weeks and months at Ground Zero on twisted mounds of hot metal digging for signs of life. Tell that to the families of the hero’s of United 93 who fought back to die a terrible death in the very state you stood in yesterday.

I’m sorry Senator there was nothing potentially controversial about Wright’s remarks. If his hatred for America is that pure then HE needs to find a place to live that he doesn’t despise so much. To think, YOU, Senator, sat on your hands for 20 years listening to it. As the National Review pointed out, if he was so offended by Wright’s comments, then why did he continue to take his daughters to his church? That’s not the hope and change I want for my son.

After once again condemning Wright’s remarks, though, Obama tried to get us to understand that the memories of humiliation, doubt, fear and the bitterness that still exists in Wright because of what he experienced as a young man. Look, I don’t want to downplay what Wright experienced during the 60s and 70s, I’m sure it was terrible, but Senator, you are blaming us and the sins of our fathers for Wright’s hate speech.

At some point in our society, the curse of racism is going to have to be broken. I would think and hope that a man of the gospel would be preaching reconciliation and forgiveness, not preaching hate and divisiveness. That is certainly what the God I worship preaches.

My problems with Jeremiah Wright have NOTHING to do with the color of his skin; it has more to do with the color of his heart. My problem wasn’t his race-it was his apparent hatred-hatred of America.

While I agree with Obama’s statement that it’s time for America to face the racial issues that still divide us, I find it interesting that Obama NOW feels it is time to face this issue. For 20 years he has sat a listened to the hate coming from Reverend Wright’s mouth. For 20 years, he has said nothing. Now, that he’s running for president and Wright’s statements have been brought to light, he condemns them. How convenient.

Obama acknowledged that white American’s do have legitimate grievances over race issues. But as the Right Wing News points out, Obama did not pledge to do anything to address those grievances? Did he pledge to put an end to Affirmative Action, for example? No. In fact, he basically just told white people to get over it.

“When speaking of the legitimate racial grievances of black Americans though, he came up with a long, albeit relatively non-specific list of things that have to be done to address their grievances.

If Obama believes that both white and black Americans have legitimate grievances, I think I would suggest that we address both sets of grievances, not just one. That makes me question his true feelings and motives.”

Let’s be honest, the reason Obama gave this speech was because his pastor’s comments had put his campaign on the verge of imploding. Obama gave this speech to save his presidential campaign, not to unite white and black Americans.

Don't believe me, see HERE and HERE.

HT: Infidels Are Cool and Michelle Malkin

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Did anyone else find it disturbing that he threw his own white grandmother under the bus? Pretty disgraceful

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What was this doing on Obama's site from the very beginning. Guess when you put yourself out there on the race issue, you have to actually practice what you preach.

UPDATE:

CNN has a story on Obama's interview with Anderson Cooper that will appear tonight. Interesting quote from Obama.

"In some ways this, this controversy has actually shaken me up a little bit and gotten me back into remembering that the odds of me getting elected have always been lower than than some of the other conventional candidates," the Illinois senator told CNN's Anderson Cooper in an exclusive one-on-one interview.

Senator, if you want us to move beyond race, why do you keep pointing out that you aren't a traditional candidate? Could it be because your prescription for getting past racism would be electing you as president?

Asked why he didn't denounce the controversial comment when he first heard of them more than a year ago, Obama noted Wright was on the verge retirement.

"I told him that I profoundly disagreed with his positions. As I said before, he was on, at that stage, on the verge of retirement. And he — you make decisions about these issues. And my belief was that given that he was about to retire, that for me to make a political statement respecting my church at that time wasn't necessary."

So he get's a free pass because he retiring? Tell me Senator, if you are president, what happens when your Secretary of State makes an inflammatory comment regarding the Mideast Peace Process on the verge of he/she leaving your administration? Will they get a pass since they are getting ready to retire/resign/quit?

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The Weekly Standard: Reality Check

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"Words don't matter" Yes Senator, they do!

(HT: NHale Media)



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Now Hillary will have some explaining and apologizing to do.