Condoleezza Rice Gets Behind Obama Race Speech (She is Surprisingly Open!)

[DrFunkenstein]

"Black Americans were a founding population," (Rice) said. "Africans and Europeans came here and founded this country together — Europeans by choice and Africans in chains. That's not a very pretty reality of our founding."

As a result, Miss Rice told editors and reporters at The Washington Times, "descendants of slaves did not get much of a head start, and I think you continue to see some of the effects of that."

"That particular birth defect makes it hard for us to confront it, hard for us to talk about it, and hard for us to realize that it has continuing relevance for who we are today," she said.

...


Miss Rice declined to comment on the campaign, saying only that (Obama's speech) was "important" that Mr. Obama "gave it for a whole host of reasons."

But she spoke forcefully on the subject, citing personal and family experience to illustrate "a paradox and contradiction in this country," which "we still haven't resolved."

On the one hand, she said, race in the U.S. "continues to have effects" on public discussions and "the deepest thoughts that people hold." On the other, "enormous progress" has been made, which allowed her to become the nation's chief diplomat.

"America doesn't have an easy time dealing with race," Miss Rice said, adding that members of her family have "endured terrible humiliations."

"What I would like understood as a black American is that black Americans loved and had faith in this country even when this country didn't love and have faith in them — and that's our legacy," she said.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/FOREIGN/746301768/1001

There is a link on the page where you can listen to her speak (and compare her situation with Bush to the racial legacy of Thomas Jefferson). The video is unrelated.

[TTUBatfan2008]

1. "birth defect"?

I hope to God she doesn't view it that way and she's simply presenting what she feels is the typical thought process of racists...because that's a pretty racist phrase to use.

[DrFunkenstein]

5. Being Born The Descendent of a Slave

She was actually turning the phrase around from its typical racist use in this case.

[anigbrowl]

8. Not if you remember the full text of Obama's speech

He references slavery as a defect at the nation's establishment.

[gravity]

9. Can we stop this silly game

of analyzing every little phrase a politician says out of context

[gateley]

2. Wow - impressive.

And I'm NOT being snarky!

[galaxy21]

3. Wow, Condi keeps this up I might start thinking she has a soul after all

[gateley]

11. And a brain. nt

[Whisp]

16. impressive, yes. I'm kind of confused or something...

this is Condi?

[ck4829]

4. K&R - It enrages the Freepers

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3074195&mesg_id=3074195

[galaxy21]

6. I think a lot of republicans must quite admire Obama...

[TheDonkey]

7. damn was she under hypnosis? Condi actually not pandering to white republicans and speaking truth?

Wow, Obama must have REALLY hit a homerun with that speech.

[DrFunkenstein]

10. What's Next? Colin Powell?

Before you know it, Alan Keyes will be opening up!

[galaxy21]

12. The same woman who claimed after Katrina the US was 100% ahead of anywhere else in race relations

Cleary, Barack is a lot more talented than we thought.

[FrenchieCat]

13. Apparently........

[Middle finga]

14. Well there goes her VP chances on any GOP ticket

[DrFunkenstein]

15. Can You Imagine Mitt Romney Saying:

"Black Americans loved and had faith in this country even when this country didn't love and have faith in them."?