The news world is abuzz about Barack Obama's speech in Philadelphia a couple days ago. The speech was in response to the recent firestorm surrounding Obama's former spriritual adviser. Ever since Barack's run for the White House started, race has been an issue. With Geraldine Ferraro's criticisms and Obama's former spiritual adviser's comments, Barack felt the need to deliver this well thought out speech.
Since this speech has aired, praise and criticism has been heavy. People who praise Obama have said the speech was needed and are happy that he spoke out on the race issue and how it personally affects him.
Those who oppose Obama, mainly Republicans, have been hammering away at Obama. On my way home from work today, I listened to Michael Medved and he kept saying that Obama was "changing strategies" by playing up the race issue and asked, "how is he helping the race issue by constantly bringing it up?" Medved brought up former President Clinton's town forum style meetings on race, saying they were weak.
I don't care for criticism like that by Medved. I don't get how Medved can blast Obama for addressing the issue of race when it has been an ongoing issue in this campaign...but Medved doesn't say what Obama should have done instead. For the people who criticize Obama, I wish they would come up with an alternative as opposed to just saying, "he's playing the race card." How else should the race issue be handled? Is staying silent on the issue a better plan?
Furthermore, if President Clinton's town forums on race were weak or a joke, at least he did something about it...or at least attempted to. I noticed that nothing has been said about President Bush's efforts to address racism, which should have been addressed following Hurricane Katrina. Nothing was said about Bush's efforts to address racism because there haven't been any efforts to address racism.
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I don't think I can add anything to what you have said, Struke, as you speak with clear vision and understanding. I am glad Obama addressed the race issue, because it is the nightmare that keeps America from perfecting itself.
We are ONE human race --- that has many diverse cultures and skin color. Color is beautiful, and without it life would be so very boring. However, when we label individual uniqueness of a society of people as unacceptable because of skin color, religions, etc. … we hurt the HUMAN race ... and thus humanity growth is at a stalemate.
Obama did not just address the concerns of the “blacks”, he also addressed the concerns of the “whites” --- he was very candid and realist in his thoughts, which to me, shows wisdom in such a young man. I can only imagine how time will shape his growth; indeed, I believe he is for all the PEOPLE. I would not support him if he wasn’t …!
Race and Religion is a bitter pill to swallow. When you put the two together, with Politic, it’s almost impossible for a good man to become President – a man that will speak for EVERYONE, all the time, that is.
WE, America, play the hypocrite --- we pretend that Democracy is for all the Citizens of the United States, when indeed, it is not. When this election started, I was all for Hillary, because I was tired of how “white” men have run this country. But when I saw the games they were playing with race, and the sarcasm --- it was an insult --- and I immediately regretted that I voted for Bill. Indeed, I saw their racism, and yes, I was shocked. After all, we have often said that Bill was the closest thing we had to a "black" president. Now that the covers are off, I see Bill and Hillary with clear vision.
This is what my family and I have talked about --- and we are not alone. Hillary Clinton and McCain is the same to us, it doesn’t matter which one gets in the white house, we will still suffer and nothing will change. So, if Obama does not win, we will not be voting.
Believe me when I say, we are not the only one saying this. What we do know is that no Democratic Nominee can win the white house, without the so called “black” vote.
Thank you for allowing me to mouth off!
Amias...I was the exact same way in terms of preference for a candidate. I was for Hilary to begin with. I liked her experience. However, I have soured on her in the worst way. Hillary and her camp say one thing and then do another. Remember when the media made a big deal because Chelsea refused to do an interview with a student media reporter (who was really like a 10 year old kid or something)? Chelsea said something like she "doesn't do interviews." Look at how things have changed. Chelsea has been everywhere doing interviews and campaigning for her mom.
I was ticked when the photo of Barack in African clothing was going through the media. And then at the Cleveland debate, Hillary was questioned about it and she said that "no one in her party put out the photo that she knows of." "THAT SHE KNOWS OF?" That sounds very shaky. How about a response like, "I thoroughly questioned all of the people in my communications staff and I am confident in saying that the photo didn't come from my people."
One more note about the Michael Medved show...he was complaining that Obama was bringing race up and he (Medved) was sick of the candidates talking about it. But guess what? Medved was milking the race issue the entire time I was driving home. If you don't like hearing about it, don't discuss it on your show!
Do you think Elliot Spitzer was happy that Obama made the speech? I didn't hear one word about Spitzer today.
He He He ... Yes, Struke ... Elliot Spitzer was very happy that Obama made the speech, gets his wife off his butt for a minute.
You know the right amount of "racism" or claims of "reversed racism" makes lots of money for radio talk shows that need an audiences for advertisement purposes. More hatred one spews, the bigger the audiences, the more the radio station can charge for advertisement.
Life can get ugly, but it's all we got!
Amias...the interesting thing with this presidential race is that with the Republican nomination sewn up, all the conservative talk hosts can do is sit back and take target practice at the Democrats.
And Heaven knows, there's no skeletons in McCain's closet. ;)
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