March 20, 2008
Obama Deals With Race Issue (Bill Press)
I wouldn’t go so far overboard as Chris Matthews and declare it a speech worthy of Abraham Lincoln. But I was most impressed with Barack Obama’s powerful and important speech on race.
He reminded us how deep racial wounds still exist in this country — and how both whites and blacks must make an effort to better understand each other before we can put racism behind us.
He condemned the racist, divisive statements of his former pastor — and admitted he hadn’t quite told the truth when he denied, earlier, having been present for any of them. And he set forth, again, the goal of uniting this nation in common purpose — a goal that he, perhaps more than anyone else, could achieve.
Obama’s speech was near-perfect. Where I think he fell short was appearing to write off the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s hate speech as just something you expect to hear on Sunday mornings in black churches across America. That, I believe, is an insult to one of the most solid pillars of American Christianity.
And that’s certainly not what I discovered in my own spiritual journey. At Glide Methodist Church in San Francisco, and at First AME Church in Los Angeles, I never heard anybody say, “God damn America” from the pulpit. If I had, I would have walked out — as Barack Obama should have done a long time ago.
Visit Mr. Press's website at billpressshow.com.
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Let's see. He admits to lying about the true nature of his twenty year association with the hate-mongering pastor in a speech necessitated by the exposure the hate spewed by the pastor. For some reason within this speech, in a move that defies any logic other the logic of diversion, he talks about race as if it's a highly important problem.
He is a young and inexperienced candidate for President, and yet he is the front-runner of a major party and race has been a problem for him? He got the best education possible, a lot of it free to him, and yet race is a problem for him? Unlike the descendants of slaves, he is a product of a marriage of two people without any known slave ancestry and race is a problem for him?
He sought out the hateful pastor, purposefully and deliberately, and now he is like an uncle to him? Rev. Wright is no relative of his unlike the the Grandma he threw under the bus. What a despicable character! How long can the liberal media cover for this accomplished liar? How long can they urge us all to move on, move on, just like in years past when Bill was in trouble? And how long anyone other than true believers can keep pretending that he is a transcendent candidate ready to unite the country? Enough lies and media propaganda under the guise of honest news reporting!
Comment by Igor R. — March 20, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
You hear "Christian" ministers denounce other denominations from behind the pull pit, Hagee against Catholics etc.; Why not the country, government or any other organization perceived to be working against you as a race or personality?
Comment by Donaldd — March 20, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
Let's ask an honest question here, to which I do not expect an honest answer. How many Americans of any ethnicity are actually racist? I would say far less than 3%, perhaps 1%. So that leads to another question. What's the real problem? The problem is we have networks like MSNBC and CNN who gloss over serious deficiencies in candidates backgrounds and personalities and call a dubious speech which was merely an attempt to change the subject, brilliant. It was not. He threw his own grandmother out the window and had the audacity to compare what she may have told him in private, which by the way was a sentiment shared by Jesse Jackson and many others, to what Reverend Wright said in his official capacity. And guess what? Reverend Wright who is anti-white and anti-America and epitomizes values the great majority of Americans reject, is getting a lifetime achievement award. Forget the religious aspects. It isn't about religion. It's about a small little man who hates and he's Obama's minister. Obama had a close relationship with that minister for 20 years. That speech was an attempt to whitewash the issue, and change the subject. The majority of Americans are good hearted people and will most likely not hold it against Obama personally. But when it comes time to vote, Americans are not going to put an anti-white anti-American loving individual in the White House. You can bank on it.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — March 20, 2008 @ 1:33 pm
Bill,
the mere fact that inexperienced black politician lacking any accomplishments in legislative carrier, academic or business successes and with zero foreign policy expertize could be considered as major party's nominee for President is a testament that racism against blacks in this country has been "put behind us" as you say. This whole brouhaha would not happen if his own black church that he attended for 20 years would not keep a reverend with such anti-American and anti-white racist views. Barak being a pragmatic politician chose not to get up a leave during such hate speeches because he valued black support more than good name of our country being dragged through the mud. Now he'll pay for it in a general election.
Comment by Misha F — March 20, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
Very fair analysis. Kudos.
Comment by WM — March 20, 2008 @ 3:12 pm
Bill on one part of your post, you are wrong. Obama stated that he was there when Rev. Wright said the remarks that being played on Youtube and the networks. Look it up. In his speech he stated that he had been there when he said other things that might be offensive. After listening to Rev. Wrights sermon, I am trying to figure out what he said that you all find wrong. He said that the Govt. bring drugs into the neighborhood, make three strike laws, builds bigger prisons and we (the black Community) are suppose to sing God Bless America. Let's look at the facts. Do you not remember Iran-Contra, the little operation ran by Ollie North out of the White House that ran arms to Latin America? What did those planes bring back from Columbia - cocaine. Remember the bank that was used during that time that Bush had an account in - BCCI. The bank that John Kerry busted in his investigation that brought down some very prominent people, including Clark Clifford. Remember the cocaine Cowboys from the 80s, all under the law and order policies of Reagan/Bush? What you don't remember was the destruction of the black community during that time. Thousands of live were lost and families destryed by crack that just so happened to be introduced into our community. Lets look at the law that were enacted after that. Crack Cocaine sentences were 100 time those of Powdered Cocaine. That meant that 5 gram of crack was equal to 500 gram of powdered cocaine, but who used crack and who used powdered. Now level head are reducing those sentences because they were found to be racist but the damage was done. Those law left a lot of young men and women unable to compete in today's job market so the pain continues. Rev Wright speaks to those feeling and unless you were impacted by that, you cannot know the pain, anger and sorrow it caused.
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 20, 2008 @ 3:14 pm
Correction - I meant to say that Obama said he wasn't there.
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 20, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Mike, you should rent the move "Being There" and learn the story of Chauncey Gardner, it will clarify many things for you. Also this quote from the screenplay for "Casablanca" which is very analogous to the situation Mr. Obama finds himself in:
Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
[a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
Croupier: Your winnings, sir.
Captain Renault: [sotto voce] Oh, thank you very much.
[aloud]
Captain Renault: Everybody out at once!
Comment by Igor R. — March 20, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
Mike: Are you sure you're not Obama? I was there before I was not there.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — March 20, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
Mike, thank you for prompt and timely analysis of crack vs. powered cocaine and sentencing guidelines. Very informative stuff, obviously coming from an expert.
Comment by Goga Strekoz — March 20, 2008 @ 4:55 pm
Yes, Obama former pastor is mostly likely racist. However, why is everyone punishing Obama for his Pastor? I do think Obama is a moron for attending that church for so long. He mostly likely felt sorry for the man or something. Who knows are really cares?…I don't anymore.
Most of the anger against Obama about the Rev.Wright crap is coming from his own fellow Democratic Party. Republicans were never truly going to vote for Obama. But they will swift boat him about it. Just like they swift boated Kerry over his war recorded.
Comment by John — March 20, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
We had a caucusin Kansas, I was in Hillary's group. There were soo many for Obama. At first I didn't really care who got it, just so we got a Democrat as President. But, Now I have a funny feeling about Barack. This started before the Pastor thing. I really wish they would just name Hillary as the Candidate for Present. Obama's points are down, so it would be a good time to do it. I think we need to do something fast. Thank you. Joan
Comment by Joan Self — March 20, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
Mike, why do you liberals change the subject when the tide turns against you? We started with Barak lying about his relationship with a bigoted, racist reverend, then "moved on" to race relations, and now the vitally important issue of "5g crack vs. 500g powered cocaine". Are you suggesting we'd all be more sympathetic to Rev. Wright's ideas if we were busted for crack possession?
Comment by Misha F — March 21, 2008 @ 1:52 am
You uncritical supporters of Senator You-Know-Her need to learn to hold your self-righteous fire for at least a brief interval before jumping on virulent video clips purporting to associate Senator Obama (or anyone else) with unpleasant (even if truthful) things that other people (and not the particular candidate) say. A photo now circulating on the Internet shows President Bill Clinton welcoming Reverend Jeremiah Wright to the White House on the day that Bubba Bill needed the black preacher and others of his ilk to provide public cover for Bill's staged "repentence" over his reckless personal indiscretions with the White House intern Monica Lewinski. Recently released White House schedule logs show, as well, that You-Know-Her also attended that superficial salvation seance with the "angry" Reverend Wright. It seems the man had his uses when the Clinton Partners in Pathos needed him. So, I guess we'll hear soon from the desperate dysfunctional duo testifying to their appreciation for Reverend Wright as a true "friend in need"? Or perhaps, not?
Just as an afterthought for you self-described monotheists — by which I mean Single Spook Animists — those putative, disembodied "big invisible friends in the sky" don't exist, and so they can neither "bless" nor "damn" anybody at any time for any thing. So before you go too medieval on us modern secular persons, please try to get a grip on your solipsistic delusions and spare us your trumped-up traumas over tempests in tautological theological teapots. A little more science and a lot less superstition would do you, Senator Obama, the Bawl and Pillory Horror Picture Show, and Deputy "higher father" Dubya a world of rational good.
In any event, the Constitution says that our government can have absolutely nothing to do with tribal animism, so you really ought to stick with this real world we live in and not get too overwrought about voodoo "blessings" and/or "curses" that you only suppose emanate from some never-seen "thing" you imagine gives a fig what sacrifices you offer or ritual supplications you perform to salve your own guilty conscience.
Try taking a hint from Queen Victoria's prime minister Benjamin Disraeli who said he believed in "the religion of all wise men," and when asked "what religion is that?" replied: "wise men never say." Sometimes those parliamentary British know how to defend our Constitutional separation of church and state much better than barely literate, pre-scientific Americans do.
Comment by Michael Murry — March 21, 2008 @ 8:53 am
Misha F.;
How do you know that the Rev. Wright is racist. Did you know that Rev. Wright was a corpman that assisted in the surgery of LBJ. Do you know of the numeorus programs that his church ahs started to people in his community? No you don't but you, like RR, Igor, Simmons try to condemn a man that you don't know by a 15 second spot being aired over and over by Faux Noise. If you were a smart person who could reason for themself, I wouldn't have had to lay out why some of the anger come out in sermons. The one thing that gets me is that when a couple of your Whitew preachers say something like this:
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/2007/05/falwells_commen.html
But you have the nerve to criticize Rev. Wright for saying the same thing. How very "White" of you.
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 21, 2008 @ 10:59 am
Goga;
Not an expert but from someone that volunteers in a community that was hurt by it and listening to stories from some of those I help. You point is?
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 21, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Joan;
You must be one of those White folks that weren't going to vote for him anyway and just needed an excuse, well you have one.
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 21, 2008 @ 11:03 am
Igor;
Didn't you vote for George W. Bush twice? Your decision making abilities are already in question. I do not need to match wits with you as you are unarmed.
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 21, 2008 @ 11:04 am
Misha;
The one part of the sermon that you missed or failed to understand was this passage;
They bring drugs into our neighborhoods, build prisons, enacted 3 strike laws and expect us to sing God Bless America. Did you miss that part Misha or were you too ignorant to know how that affected the AA community. Next time you want to match wits Misha, play with Igor - you're evenly matched.
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 21, 2008 @ 11:07 am
Mike,
Why leave out the Godd??? America part?
Or the US of KKK?
Comment by Jon Pemberton — March 21, 2008 @ 11:50 am
We have a new standard in American. It's Ok to throw your grandmother under the bus, then claim she's "a typical white person," as you throw the bus in reverse and back over her, all the while refusing to disavow your relationship with a professional life long bigot who hates America. That's beautiful.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — March 21, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
Mike, how did you know I voted for Bush twice? I don't believe I ever mentioned this "fact" anywhere. And Mike, if you don't want to get hit by the 3 strikes law, why don't you limit yourself to only two criminal convictions?
And Obama giving a beautifully crafted speech on race when he did is like Spitzer giving a wonderful speech on the horrors of adultery and prostitution at his resignation press conference.
Comment by Igor R. — March 21, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
Igor,
Polite FYI
That would be felony convictions, misdameanors do not count in the 3 strikes law.
Comment by Jon Pemberton — March 21, 2008 @ 1:45 pm
Lets get the truth out…Wright was quoting Edward Peck former ambass…
Lets get the sermon out there it was a quote!!!!! Note the quote from Edward Peck…This was taken out of context…of the Rev Wright… All the vitriol and hatred and anger could have been avoided if Fox had played the whole clip and the MSM had not looped the edited piece ad nausam. It did serve to bring all the race baiters and racists into the open…Now we will know where and who they are and what they will use as an excuse to continue their divisivenous and fear mongering. But maybe- just maybe come to know that this man, OBAMA, is what he says he is and the questions before might be resolved together. http://www.youtube.c…...
But it is true that the clintons are pushing the Wright story and I see H. Ickes all over this story -especially because of the edit.
Comment by Docb — March 21, 2008 @ 1:52 pm
I am a "typical" white person and I have a dream, as do most of us "typical" white people. Unfortunately Obama doesn't share that dream - he wants to live in the past… He is in the vein of Sharpton, Jackson, and Farrahkan, not Dr. King. It is a shame. Correct that; he is a shame…
Comment by Rich — March 21, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
Mike Coleman,
sorry, didn't know Rev. Wright was a corpman during LBJ surgery, as his Presidential library purposely omitted that crucial fact. And Josef Mengele was a doctor and had a Ph.D. in Anthropology. And Bill Shockley was inventor of transistor and Nobel Prize recipient. Does possession of expertise in one's field give you immunity from spewing racism? So, now it's the anger that's spilling over to justify anti-American garbage in church? I don't expect your folks to sing "God Bless America" for enacting 3 strikes law, but some small token of appreciation for removing dangerous criminals from neighborhoods would be nice from a Rev. Corpman.
Comment by Misha F — March 21, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
I see Rev. Wright and Obama using white people to his advantage. When he is out in the general public he talks and acts nice but when he preaches in his black church on Sunday mornings he God Damns the U.S A. and teaches hate of white America.Obama must agree with him because he stays in this church for 20 years. Obama makes nice speeches about change but attends a church and has a close association with a pastor that teaches hate and also supports him financially for 20 years. I can't buy his logic that he is like a crazy old uncle. He sure knew how to throw his grandmother under the bus in his speech. A woman who sacrificed for him in taking care of him. Where were his black relatives in his young life?
Comment by LMR in Mo. — March 23, 2008 @ 4:40 am
Bill,
Thank you for posting my comment. I have tried to post similar comments on the NY Times and on Jack Caffery's blog but,alas I have never had one posted. When you watch Jack Cafferty's file he is so biased against Hillary that it isn't fair. He reads most blogs that are against her on his show. If you read his blogs there actually are a lot of people that are for Hillary. Again thank you for posting my blog.
Comment by LMR in Mo. — March 23, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Jon, thanks a lot. Life is even easier for Mike than I stated!
Comment by Igor R. — March 24, 2008 @ 1:58 am
RR;
Maybe you didn't get the whole statement and Chris Wallace of Fox News Sunday had harsh words for people like you would would edit what he said. If you didn't see it, here it is:
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/03/21/video-chris-wallace-bashes-fox-news/
If you think that Chris is a shill for Obama, then you must be smoking something illegal.
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 24, 2008 @ 11:49 am
Jon P.:
Are you so wimpy that you can't hear God D@mn America. How about when America condone torture? How about when America attacks a country that did nothing to us and sends young men and women to die over a lie. Are you going to sing God Bless America over that.
The KKK of A. - as a black man, I can agreed with that when unarmed black men are shot by police and an all white jury set them free. When the KKK decides that they are going to keep me from voting until the Voting Rights Act of 1964 and Southern Senator refused to reinstated it. Or how about pictures like this:
http://www.strangefruit.org/rubin_stacy.htm
or this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Fruit
That is why I can say God Damn America and it was the KKK of A.
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 24, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Mike, these pictures are a bit old. Maybe the good reverend wasn't specific enough if he was damning the America of 70 years ago or America of today. And maybe nothing will satisfy you until you get the reparations passed, and even then you'll still keep complaining.
Comment by Igor R. — March 24, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
Misha F;
You trying to compare HM3 Wright to a Nazi doctor is low, even for you. Rev Wright never experimented on anyone, wasn't hunted down for war crimes and he has helped many people overcome addiction homelessness and the like, something I doubt your friend and Herr Doktor would do. Again, you tried to match wits and came completely unarmed. What did I tell you about that! Next time play with Ship or Igor, then you'll be evenly matched.
Also here is a history for your friend Herr Doktor Mengele:
http://www.auschwitz.dk/Mengele.htm
Hope you have fun reading about your friend.
Comment by Mike Coleman — March 25, 2008 @ 10:11 am
This lie about Bosnia is big the Democrats constantly for nearly 8 years have called the President a liar correct?
Clinton lied on the stand to the American people before while President and Hillary tells all kinds of lies but that is ok right? No they constantly say Bush lies to the point of making people sick. They should clean up their own act. The Clintons do nothing but lie and expect to get a pass for it all the time. Not this time people. To elect liars is all you get from them.
Obahma falls in there also with his Pastor of hatred to America. He too should come clean. Just saying he doesn't think like that is not enough he needs to wear an American Flag. Say nice things about America not tell tales of lies about our wonderful country. I am proud to be living in America. Too bad they get up everyday finding something wrong with this country. They should both be ashamed.
Soozy
Comment by Soozy — March 25, 2008 @ 8:19 pm
As a Democrat do i want a president who allows his child
to learn hatred based on a persons skin color? In church of all places. i can not overlook it. By the way I voted
for Jesse Jackson.
Comment by david finnell — March 26, 2008 @ 7:05 pm
I guess nobody saw the clip of Ed Rendell praising farrakhan and the Nation of Islam for everything they do. Of course you didn't. then you would have to call Hillary a terrorist loving person. But I got news for you. Everyone already knows that she is. Anything to make her look like a saint. The media is behind her 100 percent and the rest of the country knows it that why she is losing. And will lose.
Comment by Yvonne — April 22, 2008 @ 9:03 am