Obama's speech was beautiful, brilliant & important. But I'm kind of pissed that he had to give it

Notwithstanding how remarkable Obama's speech was yesterday, the double standard that required him to give it is really troubling.

Obama is the first truly viable black presidential candidate, the first black candidate with a real shot of becoming president. But why is he also the first presidential candidate to ever have to give a defining speech on race? Why have no other candidates either given such a speech or been expected to?

Why have we never demanded that other candidates - or politicians - "explain" their views on race or their relationships with people whose views on race may offend some people?

Why haven't George W. Bush or John McCain been hauled before the cameras to make amends for their courting of Bob Jones University, Pat Robertson, and Jerry Falwell?

Why hasn't George W. Bush been forced to make amends for Katrina?

Why haven't George W. Bush or Dick Cheney been forced to explain why they allowed the votes of hundreds of thousands of black voters in Florida to be tossed aside.

Why hasn't Hillary Clinton been forced to explain HER views on race or to give a speech explaining why, knowing that Geraldine Ferraro had made questionable statements in the past, she nevertheless not only put her on her campaign, but allowed Ferraro to represent her as a surrogate?

Why wasn't John Edwards forced to explain why he had no African Americans in his inner circle?

Why haven't John McCain or Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney or Rudy Giuliani been forced to explain why they get almost 0% of the black vote?

And this isn't limited to politicians . . .

Why aren't Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira forced to explain why they keep putting Ann Coulter on the Today Show?

Why aren't Chris Matthews, Joe Scarborough and Dan Abrams forced to explain why they continue to give airtime to Pat Buchanan?

Why isn't Tim Russert forced to explain why he still allows Bill Bennett on Meet the Press?

Why weren't Chris Matthews, Tim Russert, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, and countless other politicians forced to explain why they didn't denounce and reject Don Imus, but instead continued to appear on his show despite his racist diatribes?

Why is it that Barack Obama was not only expected to explain his relationship with a controversial and divisive person, but none of the foregoing people have ever been expected to do the same and, in fact, continue with impunity to not only associate with such people but to highlight, embrace and advance their careers?

And why is it that it has fallen Barack Obama to try to address the huge and complex issue of race? Couldn't anyone else have stepped up to the plate before now?

Just wondering.

"One 18-year-old white girl from Alabama gets drunk on a graduation trip to Aruba, goes off and 'gives it up' while in a foreign country, and that stays in the news for months!".
<http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Obama_s_pastor_disses_Natalee_Holloway>

Imus called a group of black women "nappy-headed ho's." And not a single person who regularly appeared on his show for years even though he consistently made racist comments was forced to denounce, renounce and distance themselves from him - and when they didn't, there were absolutely no consequences for them. When Imus' comments came to light, they defended him, shrugged their shoulders and went on their merry way.

And less than a year later, he was back on the air with a brand new show.

Did you call upon any of those people to come forward and do a mea culpa? Or do you limit your "outrage" to certain people?

With Hillary's opponent's minion's, their false god can sin all he wants because someone else is supposedly worse. It's sickening to see the racial jujitsu use to justify the poor judgement of going to this sick church for 20 years.

Calling a group of living black women whores = SHRUG

I see where you're coming from. Exactly where you're coming from.

BTW, I've defended or liked Don Imus.

But I think it was also a tremendous opportunity for him. I don't know if anyone else on the scene could have done what he did. Barack has the ability, and it is an extraordinary gift that does not come along every day, of speaking straight to the American people. A friend emailed me today that he thought it was a sign of American politics finally growing up that a politician on the ropes of one of these personal controversies would or even could tell the public the hard truth.

I think it will actually work to his advantage in the longrun - but I'm still pissed that he had to do it.

In my experience, black folk often have to carry this extra burden - we have to do our jobs really well, but we also have to be the "black person," when needed. For example, throughout my career, I have had to perform twice as well as my white colleagues just to be assumed to be as competent as they are - and at the same time, I had to help my employer bring in black clients and mentor the black employees, be the one to explain to everyone "black things," and, on top of all of that, had to ensure that I NEVER got in trouble, NEVER stepped out of line, NEVER screwed up and never lost my cool when I was treated badly (like holding my tongue when a client who had never seen me told me over the phone, "I hope I don't end up with that nigger judge.") because I was not only concerned about my own career, but how I did in this position would determine the future prospects of countless other black people. If I did well, MAYBE other black people coming behind me would be given a chance. If I DIDN'T knock it out of the park, that might be an excuse to not let any more like me in ("We DID have a black person, but that just didn't work out and we don't want to go through THAT again . . ."). Meanwhile, my white colleagues only had to worry about doing their job, just THEIR job, well.

I see Obama in a similar, but extremely more difficult, situation. And my heart aches for him because I know how hard this must be for him and my heart bursts with pride for him because I see how masterfully he is handling it.

as everyone else.

And even then, for some, it will never be enough. We're not held to the same standard and until we are, this is the system that Obama and the rest of colored America is forced to operate under.

As far as I can tell, nothing is off limits around here.

Here's the latest "Spiritual Adviser"

This Illinois leader and preacher actually held a party in church

where the theme was to send homosexuals to hell

This was actually on TV news.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yM2M11BsA3g

And the clip you linked to says absolutely nothing about Obama. Certainly you must know that.

And if you don't, you are ignorantly repeating lies that are being fed to you. Not to mention, posting videos you haven't bothered to watch yourself.

Pitiful.

That's his problem. Someone needs to be pissed off at George W. Bush. Someone needs to dare to be pissed off at him for New Orleans, for the war, for the ruination of our once great country. But no, not Obama. He's Mr. Nice Guy. Excuse me while I get all choked up at what a "peaceable mongoose" he is.

Hillary looks like she seethes with anger at Bush. She is more than prepared to use the GE to turn Bush every which way but loose. She has already called Bush "pathetic" for begging the Saudis to increase oil production. She will tie McCain to Bush, Bush to an anchor, and toss the whole kit and kaboodle into the drink.

Not Obama. He wants to take the high road only. He wants the world to be the way he wants it to be. He's incredibly intelligent, but he doesn't seem to have gut one.

Thank GOD he's taking the high road. That's just where we need him.

An angry black man who is angry at the same thing as "me" isn't scary at all. He's a hero. If he is angry with "me," he scares me. That's what Wright has been painted as. But if that "angry black man" (or white man or woman or whoever) is angry along side me at the same people I am angry with, he/she/it is my buddy.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people here who are absolutely terrified and horrified at seeing an angry black man - even if he's angry at the same things they've been railing against themselves.

give it but I told him that Obama has helped our country out by stepping up to the challenge and we've all had an oportunity to learn from him and just a taste of what it will be like when he's our Prez.

for those other people you listed.

wanted to vote for and feel he is so needed. Because there's no incumbent (thankfully!), our country is so in need of leadership, and I think he is smart enough and cool-headed enough, young, diplomatic, and charismatic enough! I relish the thought!

And I bought both books today, thanks EffieBlack! :thumbsup: Your encouragement worked.

(Note to Sen. Obama - I sold two of your books today - can I have a cut of the royalties?)

But what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. ;)

You said:

"Why have we never demanded that other candidates - or politicians - "explain" their views on race or their relationships with people whose views on race may offend some people?"

My answer: I don't know, but it is time we started demanding that.

And Obama appears to be the right person, at the right time, to begin the discussion.

So far, however, it seems to be an expectation that's unique to him.

Otherwise, why in the aftermath of his speech, were neither Hillary Clinton nor John McCain asked for their views on the issue? Hillary was asked what she thought of the speech, but that's it. McCain, as far as I can tell, wasn't asked anything about the speech, the issue or anything else related to it.

Right now, this is ALL on Obama.

The media has managed to do what Obama has avoided all along - to label him as "the black guy."

these "news" shows where highly biased pundits are asked to assess the importance of Obama's speech. Of course they come up with drivel, but the drivel is treated as if it is important. Nauseating.

The bonus is that he took the opportunity to deliver another great, inspiring, memorable and much-admired campaign speech. It can only help in my view.

Rather than trying, for just a minute, to put aside partisanship or preference for a candidate - there are some who only hear the sound bites they peruse the speech for, looking for anything that can be taken as a fault or a gaffe. It's a sickness really. I mean, if they can't see the value of the speech itself because it was Obama speaking the words, they could at least take the MESSAGE to heart, even if it means forgetting who actually delivered the words.

This was such a necessary speech, and was so important. Still, some just don't get it.

- thanks for asking them i agree...

It really is time for America to wake the fuck up. Honestly, I'm tired of the diversion. People don't want to face up to the fact that Reverend Wright's statements, albeit somewhat unorthodox to the average white person, are not the issue. The issue is his tone and demeanor and oh yeah, the color of his skin. I won't lie, at first I was a little shocked to hear a pastor make such statements; they're angry and offensive and come from a man of religion. Where in my mind, I imagine religious types to be passive and all-nurturing. But then I reflected; I remembered how angry I was when I had to ship kids off to this bullshit war (I was in the Navy for 8 years), all the while screaming how unjust it was which only fell on deaf ears, oh and the asshat that got us in this mess was actually re-elected. I'll admit the things that would come out of my mouth in public and private were no less vicious and insulting. Things I would never say now but don't regret saying. And that was merely a moment in time.

I find it sad. The actual verbal content of all this objection and fuss I myself might have repeated to my liberal friends behind closed doors. Some words yes, some no, but to say Wright was completely off-base would be a lie. But y'know, I guess you're really aren't allowed to say something controversial in public if you look, act, and talk different than the people you see on TV. You know, the one's that ignore your problems which might attribute to alot of the frustration in the first place.

We preach progress but act on little. We go on with our lives saying to ourselves, I'm a good person so there's no problem - I'm no racist or sexist or homophobe. And then find ourselves shocked when there's a backlash to our ignorance. Sure we've come a long way. But how well have minorities been represented or progressed since the initial civil rights movements we all look back on and cherish? Not as well as we'd like to think. Minorities have every right to be angry. And to me, it should be no shock that such frustration and anger finds its way to the pulpit.

The fact I found it shocking is the problem and collectively our society has ignored this problem for too long. The problem is Obama is nearly white enough for us to forget he's black until America finds he's associated with a mentor who is obviously too black and too angry. And don't anyone kid yourself with the holier-than-thou 'I'd completely reject anyone who said such radical things in my own personal life'. I have friends who are radical left, radical right and everywhere in between. I've heard some horrendous things come from these people who are dearest to me and remain close because in my life they've done more good than evil.

These problems we ignore transcend this run for office which is why Obama's speech yesterday will transcend this race, as well. Unfortunately, we may lose this candidate (who'd make a fantastic president) to the machine. After watching the news and reading the internet(s), I'm reminded that the odds were never in Obama's favor to begin with. Maybe thinking he could actually win was the real kool aid all the naysayers speak of. I'm also not naive and realize parts of his speech were a political device to try and move beyond the discourse over Reverend Wright. This is after all, still a run for the White House. But it's more than that. He called us, everyone, on our ignorance, and said it's time to figure out how we're going to move on. Even if he loses, which I sincerely hope doesn't happen, we have much to gain from him putting all that he did on the line including, sadly, his presidential bid.

Sorry for the rant. Feel free to flame away on the new guy.

Nice rant!

Deserves a thread by itself.

Welcome to DU!

If anyone tries to flame you, I've got your back!

on race. He wasn't forced to do jack shit. Nobody said he had to say anything about race.

Listen very carefully- He chose this! He decided to go on with Gwen Iffel and announce this huge production.

Some on his staff disagreed with him, he wanted to do this.

He was the one who ok'd the record number of American flags surrounding him.

He could have just said nothing about this if he wanted to. Any story needs oxygen, he was the one that decided

to fan the flames.

good grief. over.

Media, Pundits, Certain DUers (you know who you are): He'd better say SOMETHING! Why isn't he saying SOMETHING! Say SOMETHING, Obama! He's ruined if he doesn't say SOMETHING! Say SOMETHING!!!! Say SOMETHING!!! Say SOMETHING!!!

Obama: SOMETHING BRILLIANT

Media, Pundits, Certain DUers (you know who you are): Obama was doing just fine and then he went and said SOMETHING! Now he's fair game for us to trash him for saying SOMETHING!

peoples reaction to the outrage of the day, he doesn't belong in the White House, period.

the guy is virtually untouchable; theyve got nothing else. they arent pulling any punches with obama because they know that the likelihood of anything sticking to him is slim to none. they lucked up with this wright deal, the media is eating it up like the shock whore it is. itll fade with time, though.

White people ain't comfor'ble with black churches.

I say this as a white person.

So you're right, it's BS that he had to give the speech. And all your other points are equally valid.

Still, you gotta love that he did give it. And maybe someone else could have stepped up before now, but they really didn't. "Tough job, but someone's gotta do it" is probably what he was thinking.

Nothing he said in that speech should have come as a surprise to anyone with a brain. But sometimes it's good just to be able to hear everything you've been thinking all brought together and organized and set out in a way that you can really see the whole picture. So that's what he did.

He's a very logical person. In a way he kinda reminds me of Mr. Spock

:D

but still the media was so eager to begin fellating him immediately again, and did so.