Even as a Hillarite, I have to admit that Obama did well with his words yesterday...

[smalll]

I read his speech, wanting to find fault, but I couldn't really. And it seems he wrote it himself, kudos to him. In the tight spot he found himself, he couldn't really have done much better.

He spoke about race honestly, fairly and with insight. I think that the vast middle of contemporary America can be persuaded by his commentary on race relations. But I think there is a larger problem troubling the vast middle from Pastorgate that still sits there as an unexploded bomb:

Fair-minded, average Americans know that white people have treated black people wrong over the centuries in this country. Cogent expositions like Barack's can make them understand why certain black people might feel a certain way about this country as a whole. They might even admit, in fact, that yes, from the sins of our fathers, chickens may at times come home to roost. So they can give credit to Obama's argument. They could live with such a man as a professor to their children, as the latest hot rap artist or film director, or as Senator even. But this is about the Presidency -- this is about the leader of the nation (the man who picks up the phone at 3am) -- the Commander in Chief, who responds to the incidents and crises of events. And when it comes to the President, they want to be certain that even if any chickens of national karma head this way to come home to roost over the next four years, they want to be certain that that President's immediate and only instinct will be to reach for the shotgun, and that no hesitating fraction of him has a hankering to reach for the plastic orange pointers of airport tarmacs -- to wave those chickens in.

Barack spoke in front of rows of flags. He scattered the right utterances throughout that speech that asserted his patriotic inclinations towards the ideals, interests and security of this nation. (Yet another reason why I believe he gave a good speech.)--- He may have closed off the race issue. I have a high enough opionion of your average moderate/independent swing voter of the vast American middle to believe that they may be able to rise above the race issue, with Obama's help. The issues of patriotism and national security, those I don't think have yet been settled in Obama's favor. And there is something special about the Presidency: if there is even the glimmer of doubt that a candidate would be "true to his (national) school" he will never take the White House.

[slinkerwink]

1. thank you for a reasonable post

[smalll]

2. Thanks! /nt

[Forkboy]

3. Strap yourself in....

But I'm giving this a K&R. :P

[scheming daemons]

5. I think 90% of us Obama supporters would consider the OP to be a fine post....

....

[Forkboy]

8. It's a great post...

The Op will know why I said what I said. ;)

[scheming daemons]

4. That was a reasoned response.... thanks....

I think I can detect in your words the beginnings of you possibly, albeit lukewarmly, supporting Obama should he win the nomination.

[smalll]

6. Mais certainment!

(Of course, if Barack gets the nom and then loses in November, I'll so blame you guys for taking Hillary down!) :)

[FrenchieCat]

10. It was a speech that forced many to think.....some are still thinking

right now about the issues he raise, and how he raised them.

I believe that this man will be as eloquent and will make us think on a whole lot of issues other than race. That is his gift, and he is ours.

Robert Creamer: "Obama showed America what strong effective leadership is all about. In the face of a crisis that could have sunk his candidacy, he was cool, decisive and bold. Over the objections of some in his own high command he personally made the most critical decision of his campaign and executed it with skill and confidence.

Barack Obama showed America that he is the guy you want answering the red phone at 3AM.

But Obama's speech gave us insight into two other critical qualities as well.....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/why-obamas-speech-on-rac_b_92374.html

[Pirate Smile]

7. I have no doubt that Obama will give a speech regarding patriotism during the General Election

campaign.

I'm sure it will be as awesome as his speech on race was yesterday. Cheerleader patriotism vs. true patriotism.

He has a ton of awesome material to work with like "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."

He will take that cudgel out of their hand and hit them with it.

I can't wait.

Democrats have had that cudgel pummeling us for far too long. Going up against that is the kind of thing he thrives on.

[BenDavid]

9. Until yesterday, Obama said the only thing controversial

he knew about Rev. Wright was his stand on issues relating to Africa, abortion and gay marriage. …

His initial reaction to the initial ABC News broadcast of Rev. Wright’s sermons denouncing the U.S. was that he had never heard his pastor of 20 years make any comments that were anti-U.S. until the tape was played on air.

But yesterday, he told a different story. “Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes,” he said in his speech yesterday in Philadelphia.

this speech was not about race but was to be about the bigot and racist preacher wright....but obama lied and he got caught....

[shraby]

11. He didn't say yesterday that he heard

anything about anti-US comments. He said he heard controversial comments...which could be anything. He DIDN'T lie..you are twisting his words to make him appear to lie. I'm putting you on ignore from here on out. You make no sense.

[elleng]

12. THANK YOU.

I hope that others will do the same, when they hear similarly cogent remarks from Hillary.

We all need it.