Obama's Speech: Why I am switching my support.

[RetroLounge]

First off, I was an Edwards supporter and have then been a supporter of Senator Clinton, and I voted for her in the Wisconsin Primary. But I am floored. I just now got finished watching Obama's entire speech (on youtube in 4 parts) and I feel something I have not felt during this entire campaign. Hope. There, I said it. And I'll say it again. Hope. I am in tears after hearing Obama not try to weasel out of anything or excuse anyone's words or deeds, nor push uncomfortable issues aside and hope they'll go away, but rather tell the cold hard truth as he sees it. If Hillary had made this speech, well, she wouldn't, would she? I have researched both their positions on the issues, and frankly, I think they are pretty damn close on most of them. The IWR vote needs to be looked at in it's time and context, but was a wrong vote in hindsight. And although I've watched speeches by Hillary, none have moved me as this speech by Obama has moved me. It was a call for reconcilliation without shirking responsibility, and for progress and a move toward making changes now, but tempered with cold hard reality that it won't occur quickly. It won't occur this election cycle. It won't occur easily. But I believe him when he says it can occur if we don't run from racial issues and instead try open dialogue and needed action. There were no false promises, no weasel words, no bullshit. A politician has finally told the truth, took the risk of doing so, and stood firmly for what he believes, not what a poll tells him to believe. That, my friends, is integrity. I for one am grateful to have heard this.

As of this moment, I am supporting Barack Obama for President of the United States.

RL

[slinkerwink]

1. welcome aboard!

That's like the seventh time I've written this since the Obama speech yesterday.

[RetroLounge]

63. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[Johnny Battleground]

158. Don't get too Giddy; He just made things worse

Obama didn't answer the lingering questions, and is continuing to get hammered like a cheap steak.
It's not going to stop, and that speech, though nice in some ways, made things worse.
In fact he's screwed the party. The race war is in our back yard; just look at the polls today.
It's a long way to November, but this isn't like a DUI, or sex with a cabaret singer.
This has been the "struggle". Now we're eating it.
My question is why didn't somebody vet this info earlier.
He wouldn't have had a "hope". He shouldn't have, because 20 years with Wright is toxic.

For a guy that preached "change" and "hope", good things, when he had the opportunity to "change", to divest himself from his pastor... he didn't.
With it goes "hope".

Ferraro has just thrown him under the bus again, as he did to his grandmother yesterday.
Ain't cool.
Fool.

The only choice now is to find a brokered third candidate; Edwards perhaps.

[Serial Mom]

167. Can't agree with you on

For a guy that preached "change" and "hope", good things, when he had the opportunity to "change", to divest himself from his pastor... he didn't.
With it goes "hope".


He did condemn the words the man spoke; Wright was his personal pastor for 20 years, why should he divest himself from him? SO many people say he "heard those words for 20 years". Do you know that Wright said those type of things every single Sunday? Did you ever disagree with somebody you cared about?

You should be asking John W. McBush to divest himself of a bigot pastor parsely he wanted as his advisor (and that other pastor who endorsed him!). The "liberal" media hasn't said much about THAT!

And how in the hell did he throw his grandmother under the bus? He spoke the truth.

I was totally mixed on who to vote for in our primary, but as I got my ballot that morning, I decided on Obama. And since then he has showed himself to be capable of voicing his responses to attacks intelligently and thoughtfully AND trying to change the discourse of how elections are run. I am glad I voted for him.

HI RL! :hi:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

172. Aside from Edwards (who isn't running), which candidate did you like prior to this? nt

[TwilightGardener]

2. Yay! Good to have you!

[RetroLounge]

166. ...

:hi:

RL

[XemaSab]

3. Aww! I'm glad to see this post from you!

:toast::pals:

[JVS]

39. me too.

:toast:

[RetroLounge]

104. thanks

:hi:

RL

[panader0]

4. Welcome aboard!! Rec'd

[RetroLounge]

169. Thanks!

:hi:

RL

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. It was pretty impressive, wasn't it?

:woohoo:

[RetroLounge]

170. Very much so...

:hi:

RL

[TexasLady]

6. Armor up, and welcome aboard!

It's gonna be a bumpy ride...
:hi:

[featherman]

31. Armor up indeed... nobody said this was going to be easy.

[NJmaverick]

7. Your post also give hope

Hope for the Democratic party and the Country

[Cha]

23. Exactly! Welcome Retro Lounge..

[DerekJ]

26. I second that !!

[Adelante]

8. Wonderful nt

[housewolf]

9. RetroLounge, welcome

to the hope in your heart.


:toast:

[RetroLounge]

175. ...

:hi:

RL

[Liberal Veteran]

10. Welcome. Can I get you a drink or something to eat?

There always room for more at this table.

[Guava Jelly]

11. I cried too

..

[islandmkl]

27. nice quote to resurrect...

blind al was something in that movie, wasn't he?

[Guava Jelly]

30. Yes he was

I didn't even want to see the movie when it came out..But I did and was blown away

[4_Legs_Good]

12. Great post! and we're glad to have you

I felt the same way about the speech. It really touched me.

Anyway, welcome!

David

[BeatleBoot]

13. There's more to it than meets the eye.

[sellitman]

20. Pretty sick cartoon.

Did you pull it off Newsmax?

[BeatleBoot]

36. Actually, no.

I got it from another progressive sight.

[earthlover]

47. not exactly a progressive cartoon....it also knocked Bill Clinton at the same time or did you notice

[BeatleBoot]

54. Yeah, it knocked Bill, but

Bill's tough enough to take it and so is his wife.

They been through this before and beat the Nazi scum not once, but twice.

[boppers]

90. Sight?

Dude, NCLB doesn't seem to be working. Maybe it's that phonics silliness.

Site: Location.
Sight: Vision.
Cite: A reference.

[Chiyo-chichi]

145. nicely done.

:toast:

[ForeignSpectator]

99. from another "sight"? Are you sure? Oh boy n/t

[peace frog]

141. Kindly post a link

to this progressive "sight", please.

[madrchsod]

171. here ya go.... m e cohen

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/49711/
AAEC - Political Cartoon by M.e Cohen, Politicalcartoons.com - 02/29/2008

[peace frog]

173. Thanks, but

that can hardly be called a progressive "sight". Nice try, though.

[madrchsod]

174. that`s all i could find

i`ve seen this guys work but i have no idea what his political slant because i do not like his style.

[NC_Nurse]

14. I'm so glad! That's why I support him. He's really NOT more of the same.

Welcome. :)

[backscatter712]

15. YES, WE CAN!!! Welcome aboard! n/t

[Catherina]

16. Welcome aboard

:hi:

[SunsetDreams]

17. Welcome :)

Thank you RetroLounge, I totally agree with everything you said.

This country needs Barack Obama, it is high time we had a president to tell us the truth in reality, no matter how difficult that truth may be.

He is the one we've been waiting for, we are the ones we've been waiting for.

I chose Hope over Despair.

John Edwards has those qualities too, and I hope that Barack will put him in his Administration on some level.

[SusanaMontana41]

156. "I choose Hope over Despair"

Well said, Sunset. Me, too.

Now I'll agree with everything you just said, including about Edwards. He has so much good to give, and we have so much good work to do.

[Mooney]

18. "...hearing Obama not try to weasel out of anything..."

That's about the size of it.

The first thing they teach you in Average Politics 101 is to unhesitatingly distance yourself from any association that becomes inconvenient. Obama had every reason to distance himself from Wright. It was the politically advantageous thing to do. And he refused to do it. How anyone without a conflict of interest could fail to be impressed by that, I'll never understand.

[HockeyMom]

19. His Convention Speech Stunned Me too

I haven't heard anything like this since JFK when I was a kid.

[sellitman]

24. My wife said.....

Imagine chimpy trying a speech like that.

I almost hurled.

[earthlover]

50. Imagine hillary giving a speech like this....

of course she says Obama is "just one speech". That was before this one!

[sellitman]

66. She would need major speech writer help.

But she could pull it off.

Chimpy? No freaking way.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

110. Almost?

The mere sound of the smirk-faced sc#%b@g's voice will, for me, induce violent vomiting, diarrhea, profuse sweating, convulsions and contracted pupils.

Not really, but almost! How many more days?


THANK FU%&ING GOD!

[blm]

21. If you don't mind me saying, I always thought he was a better fit for you.

From all I've read from you over time.

[roseBudd]

22. That speech is what being a democrat is about, if we don't believe that & continue

to gnash our teeth & wail that Wright said mean & hateful things about all white people and he hurt our feelings when he said something bad about America, grow up. Those are freeper feelings.

If you don't stand for the principles this man so honestly spoke of you might be a

REPUBLICAN

[Bensthename]

25. Obama is the real deal for a better America

[Greyskye]

28. From your fingers...

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Bensthename]

44. Thanks, looks like a great place you all have here.

[Greyskye]

52. Trust me, it's a lot nicer when it's not primary season.

We're eating our own here lately. :eyes:

[Bensthename]

58. I imagine so. I just hope we all back the nominee at the end.

I usually post on the Craigslist forum with dems and republicans duking it out. Talk about a mad house.

[silverweb]

96. Amen.

Welcome to DU! :hi:


GObama! GObama!

[City Lights]

29. Good to have you on board, my friend!

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

34. Hey You!

Long time no talk.

How are you?

:hi:

RL

[City Lights]

43. Check your PM.

:D

[RetroLounge]

51. replied

:D

RL

[Shae]

32. I know how you feel ...

I love Dennis Kucinich and voted for him in 2004.
I would have voted for him this time, but he dropped out early on.

I switched my allegiance to Edwards, and would have voted for him, but he dropped out just days before my primary.
I'm not used to voting in a primary that means anything. Usually, by the time Maryland votes, the nominnee has all but been determined. But not this time.

I wasn't thrilled about Clinton's candidacy from the get go. I was still suffering from Clinton Scandal Fatigue from her husband's term in office. In what amounted to a flip-of-a-coin decision, I ended up voting for Obama because I thought he had a better chance in the G.E

Since then, I started paying more attention to Obama, and I have never regretted that vote. He has grown on me. A lot. Clinton supporters criticize Obama supporters who say it is "destiny," but destiny is what it feels like.
I'm not saying an Obama presidency is inevitable, I'm just saying that it is right, and it would really be a good thing.

[madfloridian]

33. I felt that hope in 2003, and now again.

I have a fear that it will be stripped again from our grasp.

[Mooney]

40. As a former Deaniac,

I say "Not this time."

Obama is Dean's vengeance upon the DLC. And this vengeance is being served COLD.

[boppers]

92. DEEEEAAAAAAANNNN

Yeaaaaahaaaa!

[greyghost]

35. Welcome, I haven't felt this hopeful in over a quarter of a century.

[BlueJac]

37. Welcome to the Obama train to a new America!

You get a rec from me!

[flpoljunkie]

38. Welcome, RetroLounge! Terrifically well written post!

[babylonsister]

41. You just made me smile ear to ear. That speech is awesome, and

so are you for 'getting' it, and him. :hug:

[ClassWarrior]

42. You ol' softie.

Puede.

NGU.

[RetroLounge]

45. NGU, right?

:hi:

RL

[ClassWarrior]

64. NNNGU.

:hi:

NGU.

[HughBeaumont]

46. Stuffed Animals for Everyone!

Ex-Edwards for Obama here too.

[RetroLounge]

55. Ah, the Bear was already supporting Obama...

:hi:

RL

[sudopod]

48. I herd u liek rec's. nt

[angie_love]

49. Welcome and yes its so refreshing to see a politician talk to us frankly and with honesty

and with his own real experiences on race in America. It was a speech that so obviously came from the heart, that his advisors did not want him to give but that he felt he had to give, to speak to Americans for himself. I think the speech will go in history books of our childrens children. It is a speech for future generations to look on as a turning point in american politics.

[FrenchieCat]

53. You've simply come home....and you are one of the ones

we had been waiting for! Welcome! :headbang:

[atal]

56. I too was an Edwards supporter

And that speech got me leaning toward Obama, but I'm still not over the fence.

[cameozalaznick]

82. Come on over...

from the dark side :D

[Laelth]

57. Your post rings true ... from the heart.

Kind of like ... well, you know.

Honesty is refreshing, isn't it? What's cool is that Obama can pull it off. Mondale told the truth about taxes and was slaughtered for it. Same with Dukakis. Democrats quickly learned that they could not tell the truth and win. Obama, on the other hand, can tell the truth in a way that other politicians can not, and that's what makes him so remarkable.

He can tell the truth and win!

-Laelth


Edit:Laelth--punctuation error.

[ORDem]

59. K/R n/t

:kick:

[usregimechange]

60. Welcome Aboard! Gobama!

[yardwork]

61. Welcome RL! I switched a few weeks ago.

It's.....kind of wonderful, isn't it?

:hi:

[abq e streeter]

62. Edwards supporter who's been supporting Obama by default...

( i.e. slightly less objectionable than HRC) but I now feel much more comfortable with him , not just as least of 3 ( HRC and McCain) evils, but as a man I now can envision as being a true leader.

[hisownpetard]

65. K&R. It's great to have you aboard!

[RetroLounge]

67. ...

:hug:

RL

[banjosareunderrated]

68. Hell Yes We Can!! K&R!

[RevCheesehead]

69. Oostburg!!

:woohoo:

:loveya::loveya::loveya:


:hug:

[sybylla]

101. Rev - you always crack me up!

Your worship of RetroLounge is as unending as your worship of KO.

[Infinite Hope]

70. K&R n/t

[DCofVA]

71. Isn't hope a wonderful thing?!

Like my signature says, "Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free."

[zulchzulu]

72. Here's a cannon. Let's take aim at the McCain Castle of Death

Thanks for joining in for what will be a fantastic ride to the White House!

K&R!

[casus belli]

73. Cheers!

One of the most important speeches ever delivered in my lifetime. It just sickens me that most won't hear it over all the parsing that will inevitably happen.

[goletian]

74. congratulations! you have made the right choice. - nt

[Ysabel]

75. i'm glad...

- welcome from another wisconsinite... :)

[Renaissance Man]

76. Supporter from Day One

Am I the only one who noticed how Senator Obama called the "conservative commentators" to the carpet for their hate radio and what they have done in only widening the divide with race relations?

Someone this courageous to pretty much call out the right wing hate mongers in their faces is someone worthy of our support. He won't go on Limbaugh and try to cozy up to the filth. He repudiates it outright.

[LukeSkywalker]

77. Hillary and Murdoch

Someone also needs to call Hillary Clinton to the carpet for when she teamed up with Right Wing punk Rupert Murdoch in that fundraiser they did together awhile back:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/09/politics/main1600694.shtml

Ask her to distance herself from that.

[Maxdee55]

78. Are You All Crazy?

First let me say that I am a lifelong liberal Democrat, I have never voted Republican nor will I ever, but I firmly believe that being to far to the left is just as bad as being to far to the right, extremism is extremism. One thing we all know is that Obama is a masterful speaker, he is a charismatic word smith who can command a room of 100 to 20,000 without breaking a sweat. No one doubts there is racism in America, but my liberal friends seem to think only white people are racist, and that black racism is not only justified but completely acceptable. The simple fact is that the Reverend Wright has been making racist and anti-American statements for years, and it has never seemed to bother Obama until it became common knowledge, not only did Obama attend this church he had a very close relationship with the Reverend Wright, and all of America is supposed to believe he knew nothing of the Reverend's beliefs. Just last year black America was calling Bill Clinton the "first black President" now they just call him racist, Hillary Clinton who has done much for minorities in our nation and all over the world has been deserted by the black voter to the tune of 95%, but that is not considered racism. Personally I will not vote for Obama because I do not believe him, only now since the Reverend Wright trouble has Obama even acknowledged his white relatives, I still do not know how Obama will react in the face of a terror attack on our nation, will he be an appeaser, or will he over react and take us to war unnecessarily. Obama has not been tested much but when he has he failed, he showed arrogance and anger when finally asked some tough questions by the press, just as he failed with his explanation over the Wright controversy, the old saying "actions speak louder than words" has never been more true than in this case. Obama has not even served one whole term in The U.S Senate and using his short time there keeping out of trouble, making contacts, and raising money for his Presidential run. I believe out of the 3 candidates left Hillary Clinton is the most qualified to guide this nation, I also believe Obama cannot win in November, there are people who will just not vote for Mr. Obama.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

80. Goody! Another addition to my Dungeon of Ignorage!

Buh-bye.

[EFerrari]

85. I think you'll feel right at home on my ignore list!

[biglefthander]

87. Qualified...

...is the entire reason you are voting for HRC?

The two most "qualified" Presidents in history are James Buchanan and Herbert Hoover. Buchanan (1856-60) was a do-nothing who sat in his office and stared at the wall for four years while the nation tore itself apart on the way to the Civil War. Hoover (1928-32) was a do-nothing right who failed in every attempt to relieve the nation during the Crash and the Great Depression.

On the other hand, Theodore Roosevelt had one year as Asst. Secy. of the Navy and one year as Governor of New York before being elected Vice-President less than a year before William McKinley was shot. Abraham Lincoln served one 2 yr. term in the US House before becoming President.

Leadership, values, ideas, character, intellect, authenticity. These are the values you should look for. I have already found them in Barack Obama.

[Pringles]

107. OK.

"Leadership, values, ideas, character, intellect, authenticity."

If Obama had LEAD and stated his VALUES and IDEAS on the biggest issue of our time and national original sin and made this speech before he was caught with a racist pastor in his back pocket, that would have spoken to his CHARACTER and AUTHENTICITY.

I'll give you that he has INTELLECT, but unfortunately it only comes across in his being a SLICK POLITICIAN just like the rest of them.

[biglefthander]

114. GOP operative?

I think you are on the wrong site pal. This one is for Democrats. You are clearly a Republican. Only a Republican would frame the issue in the terms that you have.

I'm white and I don't have a single problem with anything Rev. Wright said. I am enlightened. I read books. I know black people and we talk about important issues, even race. Because of this I know (as much as a white person can) where the rhetoric and emotion displayed by Wright is coming from. Wright doesnt scare me. Black people dont scare me. Try looking at things from a different perspective than your white instinct. Ignorance only seems to breed hostility.

[LukeSkywalker]

88. Wright didn't really say anything all that racist....

He just said things that make racists nervous.... Go to this site and read a few of the things he said:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03/18/raw-data-some-controversial-statements-by-rev-wright/

It's from Fox News. So assume they dug up some of the worst of it.

Here are a few of the quotes:

– December 2007: “Barack knows what it means living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich, white people. Hillary would never know that.”

– December 2007: “Hillary ain’t never been called a nigger. Hillary has never had a people defined as a non-person.”

– April 2003: “The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes three-strike laws and wants them to sing God Bless America. No! No No! God damn America … for killing innocent people. God damn America for threatening citizens as less than humans. God damn America as long as she tries to act like she is God and supreme.”

– September 2001: “The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. The government lied.”

– September 2001: “We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because of stuff we have done overseas is now brought back into our own backyard. America is chickens coming home to roost.”

See, there are some truths to what he is saying. And not much of it is racist... racism usually implies you hate people for being a certain color. I don't see hate in those words. I see more John the Baptist calling out some of the sins America has committed. I think John the Baptist did the same for ancient Jerusalem and Rome right? That is what preachers do right? Tell people to stop doing evil? But I guess some of you don't understand that concept.

America can run around the world killing "niggers" and "Chinks" and "Wetbacks" and "Ragheads" and the moment someone calls the USA on it then everyone freaks out, sticks their head back in the sand and tries to ignore all of the evils we are committing and instead smears the person who brings it to our attention.

See that's the problem with some of you. Other people are only out there in the world to be liquidated in the name of the American Empire Machine. Screw everyone else's freedom. Simply mention what Israel is doing to Palestinian people and all of the sudden you're smeared as anti-semitic. Sure Palestians brought some of it on themselves. But no one can deny some of the atrocities put on those people. Question how Aids started in Africa in black nations and you are a tinfoil hatter. Bring up old Tuskagee experiments that the USA did on blacks and oh, that is just old history. bring up how the FBI has repeatedly framed up people of color as terrorists(Miami 7?) and you still do nothing.

See, everyone in the world can suffer except you and yours. Everything about the USA is rigged this way. Gatekeepers everywhere paid to keep you from poking your nose into the business of institutional murderers, rapists and criminals. We all know there is something odd about 9/11 but we can't even openly discuss it without the Gatekeepers shutting it down.

See for some of you, the only person or group that matters is you and yours. Screw everyone else who is suffering, dying and bleeding so your Beautiful Minds don't have to worry about what is being done in your name.

I actually feel sorry for Obama. He has a tough fight ahead. Hard to win when the whole system is controlled by liars and war criminals who want an unlimited license to act like animals and murder and steal as they choose.

[Pringles]

106. Try again.

“Barack knows what it means living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich, white people. Hillary would never know that.”

Of course she does. If America is this country and she lives there, then how could she not know.

“Hillary ain’t never been called a nigger. Hillary has never had a people defined as a non-person.”

1. Prove it, and 2. Women were legally and still culturally also treated as property.


“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes three-strike laws and wants them to sing God Bless America. No! No No! God damn America … for killing innocent people. God damn America for threatening citizens as less than humans. God damn America as long as she tries to act like she is God and supreme.”

People choose to take the drugs. One strike is enough, you're right. Obama is pretty fired up about going into Pakistan to start putting more innocent people in the way in an attempt to smoke out more terrorists and "kill them" - would that be with trial and jury, or using arcane rules of war to justify the murders? Citizens - that would be including women and children of all colors, children being the last to suffer under the laws of being property and not protected by laws of assault.

“The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. The government lied.”

Oh brother. Pass the tin foil bong.

“We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because of stuff we have done overseas is now brought back into our own backyard. America is chickens coming home to roost.”

Well, we've supported terrorism against a lot of white cultures, too. Interesting that he's only mention "cultures of color" but I suppose we can guess who it's okay to to kill (whitey) in the Reverend's estimation.

Next.

[roscoeroscoe]

124. hi there, back to you from an iraq vet

pringles, calm down please. at ease. point by point:

“Barack knows what it means living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich, white people. Hillary would never know that.”
--Of course she does. If America is this country and she lives there, then how could she not know.
~there's a great difference in experience in america. you can be harassed for "driving while black" pretty much anywhere, still. need more examples? minorities were much more likely to be steered into subprime loans during the housing boom -even if they were exactly as qualified- making minority home buyers one of the lesser known victems of the housing bubble. and, they may fuss back and forth about affirmative action admissions to college, but they'll never take away legacy admissions -like the ones that got bush into the ivy leage schools he attended.

“Hillary ain’t never been called a nigger. Hillary has never had a people defined as a non-person.”
--1. Prove it, and 2. Women were legally and still culturally also treated as property.
~blacks started out being defined as what, 3/5 of a person with no rights of any kind, children ripped from their arms, etc. you can make a case for your second point here but it's kind of weak...

“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes three-strike laws and wants them to sing God Bless America. No! No No! God damn America … for killing innocent people. God damn America for threatening citizens as less than humans. God damn America as long as she tries to act like she is God and supreme.”
--People choose to take the drugs. One strike is enough, you're right. Obama is pretty fired up about going into Pakistan to start putting more innocent people in the way in an attempt to smoke out more terrorists and "kill them" - would that be with trial and jury, or using arcane rules of war to justify the murders? Citizens - that would be including women and children of all colors, children being the last to suffer under the laws of being property and not protected by laws of assault.
~you remember the Oakland Tribune series about the CIA funneling crack cocain into the black communities through the crips and bloods? never disproven. the CIA ran heroin out of southeast asia, also, right? the US does indeed have the highest rate of incarceration in the world. the three strikes laws and rockefeller laws have indeed put non-violent criminals in jail for long terms, manditory terms, leading to the release of violent criminals. argue all you want about the over top rant he goes on after that but the facts are there, you can put together a list of the attacks on the black community and come to the boiling point. perhaps that's why you changed the subject to pakistan on this one.

“The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. The government lied.”
--Oh brother. Pass the tin foil bong.
~are you familiar with the tuskegee study? google that and read about how black men with syphilis were given fake medicine and kept from treatment so the Public Health Service could study the full course of the disease, resulting in unbelieveable suffering for the 600 black men involved. i think the black community has proven grounds to be suspicious.

please remember that obama pretty strongly rejected these comments anyway. i'm discussing them here because there is a basis for doing so, but obama went for a higher level. why don't you read the whole speach and notice that he observed the pain on both sides; that he expressed his feelings for the reverend as basically 'hate the sin but love the sinner;' that he observed we can stay stuck in all these endless distractions or move past these divisions to focus on how all americans are being expoited by the corporate interests and we're all dealing with the same challenges.
read the speech. thank you~~ ssg mark armstrong, 140th chemical company, army national guard

[jonestonesusa]

149. Good post - we as Americans are over-sensitive to criticism

about our country, no matter how mild or how strong. I think both liberals and conservatives have too much blind faith in the American government. What about the conspiracies that have come to light in our lifetime - Watergate, the Pentagon Papers, J. Edgar Hoover's FBI wiretapping and COINTELPRO, BCCI, the Savings and Loan scandal, Iran-Contra? More recently, Gulf War Syndrome? All of these issues started out in secret, and it took investigative journalism and good critical thinking for all of them to come to light. People who have experienced oppression or have suffered from governmental deception are skeptical and resist the blind faith in government that leads us down all of these paths.

Thanks for your service - looking forward to your opinions and views.

[hippywife]

164. Great job, roscoe!

I haven't a single issue with anything I've heard so far attributed to Wright. Another truth teller being hung out to dry. American's simply can't be bothered to really look into the mirror!

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[Cha]

89. No, you're crazy and you don't know

about paragraphs.

[cali]

94. first of all, learn to use paragraphs

secondly, tough shit for you that hilly dear will not be the nominee. thankfully. thirdly, welcome to DU and welcome to my ignore list. You have nothing worthwhile to say and it's clear you have no understanding of racism or history.

[Pringles]

105. Why don't you try your SHIFT key once in a while?

It's nice to see that Obama has some support from the unwashed masses.

[LaurenG]

133. Right , um hum, right

:thumbsdown:

[delt664]

146. Ah Yes, railing against Racial Inequality makes you racist.

I forgot. Could you please resend me that memo. Kthnxbai

Edit : To the "Anti - American" comment - questioning the state of America and speaking out against something about which you feel strongly is the most American thing you can do.

[odelisk8]

147. how's this for experience

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/20/7798/

[AZBlue]

79. In order to bring about change, you must first have HOPE.

It's a beautiful thing!!

[Name removed]

81. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[slinkerwink]

83. you have no idea who RetroLounge is, do you?

[LeftyMom]

86. You've only been on DU six months- how would you know?

Retro's for real. He's posted a lot, both about politics and other things. Plenty of people here (sadly, not I) know him IRL. I have bought books from his store, and I've talked to him via PM. He is who he says he is, and he's well enough liked here that he doesn't need to lend anybody fake support for approval.

[RetroLounge]

102. What did I miss?

:shrug:

RL

[rug]

108. He said his books are late and he's pissed.

[Swamp Rat]

91. Who are you? I know RetroLounge, but not you.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[Tumbulu]

84. I felt hope as well

And I had not realized that it had been such a long since I felt it.

Thank you Barack Obama.

I was moved watching that incredible speech. And I am sincerely grateful.

[anonymous171]

93. Thank you! And welcome aboard!

:toast:

[AgadorSparticus]

95. That speech was extraordinary. It took my breath away.

[Rhiannon12866]

97. K&R. Me, too, my friend.

I was a Kucinich supporter and then supported Edwards, still do. I didn't see a lot of daylight between Clinton and Obama, though I liked him marginally better. But he never really spoke to me like Dennis and JRE did. But that speech thoroughly floored me. Wow. This man can take it and stand up to anything that he's confronted with, with eloquence and courage and just common sense. I'm on board... :patriot:

[SunsetDreams]

98. Hi everyone!

Obama will be our President!

[ForeignSpectator]

100. He must be...

EDIT to say hey! :hi:

[Earth Bound Misfit]

103. Very well said---I, like yourself

was an Edwards supporter and have then been a supporter of Senator Clinton, and I voted for her in the New Jersey Primary. After watching Sen. Obama's speech, my sentiments mirror those you described in your OP. I too, was impressed with the absence of the not only expected, but seemingly requisite "weasel wording" employed by the overwhelming majority of pols when faced by such make or break campaign speeches.

An added bonus is Sen Obama's equally impressive and eloquent wife, Michelle.

I'm on Board.

[hogwyld]

138. Welcome to the train

Can I get you a glass of KoolAid? :toast:

[Earth Bound Misfit]

148. Thanks, and welcome to

my ignore list.

[SnowCritter]

109. I'm with you

I, too, was an Edwards supporter. Since Mr. Edwards left the scene, I have been waiting for either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama to do or say something, anything, that resonated with me in some way, shape, or form. Senator Obama has finally made me a believer.

As a Democrat I knew I was going to vote for our Party's candidate, whomever it was. I will still do so, but now I'm firmly backing Senator Obama.

[Sean Stuart]

111. Welcome to the cult! JK, thanks for the post. You are among many, it's clear. nt.

[Coexist]

112. wonderful post.

thank you.

[Maxdee55]

113. Arrogant Obama Supporters Make Me Sick

Its sickening watching all these liberal minded Democrats attack anyone who supports Hillary Clinton as either ignorant or racist, and I as a lifelong Democrat who has never voted Republican am now being attacked for not supporting Obama. But I am now comforted in the knowledge that Obama will never win the general election, but saddened that people of my party can be so gullible and so easily manipulated by some slick speaking word smith. One thing is now certain, if a Democrat is to win the White House come November than Hillary Clinton must be the nominee.

[odelisk8]

116. uh huh

well, news flash, she WONT be the nominee...

[Guava Jelly]

118. Can you shit in another thread please?

:eyes:

[helderheid]

123. "But I am now comforted in the knowledge that Obama will never win the general election..."

:wtf:

[Earth Bound Misfit]

127. Welcome to DU!

And congrats, you are the first to be welcomed to my IGNORE list, Max!

[butch1227]

153. Omana Can't Win the General Election......

I, TOO, am both saddened and bewildered, but NOT surprised, that SO many Dems can be manipulated by a young, fresh, breath of air, no matter how much baggage he brings to the table. Obama's skills as an orator are without question.... He does elevate, in a philosophical sort of way, an election campaign. Sure.... we all feel good when we hear him talk... BUT............... the Reagan Democrats and most of the independents are NOT going to forgive or forget how, or more importantly WHY, he WOULD NOT distance himself from this loony pastor until he was called out on it.... So.......... let me get this straight........ He listened to this guy for 20 years..... Not 20 days, not 20 weeks, not 20 months........ but 20 YEARS..........But he NEVER heard any incendiary remarks from this guy.... YEAH... RIGHT......!!!!! If you think Obama can beat McCain this November, then you're definitely out to lunch..... Hannity and Limbaugh, et al, are going to have a field day with Obama..... The things that people criticize Hillary Clinton for, are actually her strengths... Not much more information on her is going to come out.... The Repugnacons really don't have any more ammunition to direct toward her.... Obama, on the other hand, is an UNKNOWN....!!! Obviously, Obama supporters are obsessed with him, to the point of going down to defeat in November. Smells just like 1972, and 2004, AGAIN....!!! HOPEFULLY, the SUPER-DELEGATES will have enough sense to pick Clinton. And she'll have enough sense to pick Obama as her V.P. nominee. If the Dems don't field a Clinton-Obama ticket this fall........ GET READY TO SAY "PRESIDENT MCCAIN....!!!!!"

[AllexxisF1]

115. Welcome to the team.

Day by day all many of us are melding together and soon we will take it to McCain with a vengeance.


WE CAN WIN.

[gayron]

117. You found hope

Hope in this guy comparing his grandmother to his pastor! Wow!

[Umbram]

119. Great! nt.

[redqueen]

120. Right on.

:hi:

[mod mom]

121. He spoke to the people on a difficult subject as adults-how refreshing! Welcome aboard!

[helderheid]

122. I needed this!

:hug:

[hogwyld]

139. I needed this too

Lately, I've been really depressed at the very real possibility of Hillary stealing the nomination. I know she can still game the system, but a post like this makes me stop to realize what an opportunity we have with Obama.

[Fox Mulder]

125. Way to go.

:)

[book_worm]

126. Thank you and Welcome!

[drmom]

128. I switched the other way...

I've been reluctantly with Obama since Edwards dropped out (because I REALLY wanted Edwards), but after hearing the speech, I started to see what some people here on DU have been saying. Without his "preacher" cadence, he was just a guy talking. It was easier to see through the façade he has been using. Now, this alone would be great, since the pretense always bothered me a bit…but what I saw behind it was an angry man. He mostly said the politically correct things, like we all need to put aside our differences and unite, blah, blah, blah. I really don’t mean to downplay good intentions, but for any of us who have been around for a while, we know that these same types of speeches have been made for decades, and there has been very little substantive change.

Perhaps ‘airing out the dirty laundry’ of race relations is a good idea…but not during a very divisive campaign. In my circles, it has just heightened the disparity between the races and the ‘water cooler talk’ is uglier than ever. As one co-worker said to summarize his speech, “yes, we all hate each other, but can’t we pretend to get along?”

[Life Long Dem]

162. That's bullshit. I've been with Obama since Edwards dropped out as well

and it wasn't the race speech that got me, it was many things before this. The most memorable event was the endorsement of JFK's daughter, Caroline Kennedy and Ted Kennedy. I'll never forget that.

[Mr Hedley Bowes]

129. Profound leadership

I also was moved to tears. I was pretty indifferent on Obama until the Washington State caucuses and the massive turnout for him at Key Arena. I've never seen this kind of momentum in my lifetime. Obama is demonstrating true leadership and that's something we desperately need as a nation.

[cseper]

130. What is it about the Clinton's years...

...that gave our country 8 great years, you people hate so much? BTW, what changes is Obama going to make and how is he going to do it, anyone know? Why did Obama gave the Gang of 14 the finger when they asked him to join them being about change? That was a bipartisan group therapy session....and isn't the Obama Gospel all about that?

[Al Cleveland]

131. Polar opposite

I started this primary campaign happy with all the candidates. I have seen the leading candidate deamonized by Obama. He didn't even treat her as well as the Republicans do. Now when confronted about his judgment of going twenty years to a racist minister he eloquently changes the subject to the the need for better race relations. At the same time he outs his poor grandma as a bigot all for political purposes. Face he is a well spoken, dirty, rotten politician they the rest of them.

[helderheid]

142. His grandma confessed an irrational fear that many in this nation have and despite her love

of her grandson. It was very brave of her to do. He didn't say she was a bigot. I am baffled by your statement.

[LaurenG]

132. Aww, that really touches my heart

You were one of the "friends" who supported Senator Clinton I always wanted to be nice for. I guess I can be mean now! :hide: ;)











Welcome aboard!

[Lucky 13]

134. Welcome to the revolution.

[cseper]

135. Problems:

Problems:

1. Number of foreclosures

2. Number without health insurance

3. Number of dead and casualties in the wars to protect our freedoms

4. Price of oil

5. Unemployment

6. Decline of the dollar

What is Obama going to do to solve these problems? Do you people know and shouldn't Obama tell us?

[madwivoter]

143. All you had to do was ask:

1. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy

2. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare

3. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreignpolicy and http://www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq

4. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/energy and http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology

5. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/poverty

6. see number 1

Read.

:popcorn:

Also: http://factcheck.barackobama.com

[YellowRubberDuckie]

136. I think I may be there too.

My in laws told us they heard him say some very scary racial things before, but I'm thinking they must have misheard him, after hearing this speech. I was very leery of him before, but I may be supporting Barack Obama myself for President now.
I never thought I would make a decision before, but I actually gained some respect for him. I'm not going to join the cult or drink the Kool-Aid, but he's a pretty cool dude for what he said.
Duckie

[lunatica]

137. The speech was the clincher for me too

Mostly because up to now when he spoke of voting for change I couldn't get a mental picture of anything. When he said a vote for Hillary is a vote for the past I definitely understood what he meant but there was just a blank, like a question mark with him. What change? In what way? How? Why?

With that speech a mental picture of a possible future is beginning to take shape for me. Racial dialog leading to mature resolutions surrounding one of our still gaping national wounds.

This means he'll have to wrest the subject of racism out of the wedge issue list that the Republicans keep using to great effect. It's no big surprise that race becomes a hot topic during elections. Remember Willie Horton? Remember the smear job on McCain in 2000 about his black daughter? Obama's speech is a good start. As President he must do something concrete about the issue, and it must be on a national level. Kind of like what Al Gore is doing for climate change. Create partnerships, coalitions, incentives, and goals. Bring the best minds to the table and get busy tackling the root causes of modern day racial inequality.

[mzmolly]

140. Welcome RetroLounge.

:hi: Another former Edwards supporter here.

[Hawkowl]

144. I switched to Obama a few weeks ago

What his speech did for me was make this former Chicagoan PROUD! He's stepped up to the plate and banished all my reservations. He pulled no punches and his presentation, his body language, his demeanor was just screaming brutal honesty. Honesty, determination, and hope.

Fucking A. I think we finally got the candidate we deserve. I had thought it just wasn't going to happen in my lifetime. He now has my unvarnished enthusiasm because he has inspired me where I thought inspiration had died many years ago.

[chalz]

151. The Candidate We Deserve

Yes, if we can keep him.

[Danger Mouse]

150. recommended...welcome aboard!

:hi:

[bicentennial_baby]

152. Goddamn!!

:bounce:

:hug:

You just made my day...better than the 99 I got on my midterm. :loveya:

[Wetzelbill]

154. how naive

You're just a dreamer Retro. You need the cold hard reality of a Clinton or a Bush or a Cheney telling us what is best for us all. A pox on you!

[RetroLounge]

163. You may say that I'm a dreamer...

but I'm not the only one...

:hi:

RL

[Name removed]

155. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

160. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

161. Actually, he did.

Do a search. He had posted as a Clinton supporter on a number of occasions until now.

And those are fightin' words. Retro is a good guy, a long-time DUer and no liar! You, however, are welcome to join the other jackasses on my Ignore list.

[sloppyjoe25s]

157. Excellent post

Deserves to be on top. Very nice to see that some people who may not already have supported Obama
were able to listen to his speech with an open heart and an open mind.

Obamanos!

[stevietheman]

159. What's really awesome is that Obama made this speech while he was ahead!

It's rare when a speech brings a tear to my eye, but this one definitely did it. I felt I was watching a real President of the United States, a true leader, and a humble man. If he is not elected in November, this nation is cuckoo.

[Owl]

165. K&R

[madrchsod]

168. it`s our kids and grand-kids future

"Then I go to my brother
And I say "brother, help me please"
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees
There been times that I thought I wouldn't last for long
Now think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, along time coming but I know
A change gon' come, oh yes it will"

sam cooke......

[DrFunkenstein]

176. KNR

n/t