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Obama decries racial rhetoric »
Posted by: not2needy 1 year, 9 months agoObama suggested that more and more is being made of racial divisions as his contest with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton heats up.
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not2needy
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I am a Christian, Wife, Mother of one son, Liberal, and retired social worker. I enjoy my computer, gardening, reading, cooking and ...
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Comments: 317
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not2needy
March 16, 2008, 1:03 p.m.FTA:
"I noticed over the last several weeks that the forces of division have started to raise their ugly heads again. And I'm not here to cast blame or point fingers because everybody, you know, senses that there's been this shift," Obama said.
"It reminds me: We've got a tragic history when it comes to race in this country. We've got a lot of pent-up anger and bitterness and misunderstanding. ... This country wants to move beyond these kinds of things."
I would love to see this country move beyond racial barriers, but with the prejudices i have seen and heard, it's very disheartening. People i thought were open minded have shown their true colors, IMHO!
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rimbaud
March 16, 2008, 2 p.m.So far so good. So far, Obama is not using political doublespeak in dealing with the issue and has an open, relaxed posture when dicussing it. His appeal has so far been this honesty, and not trying to shield his past, as if he were trying to keep it a secret. It is his lack of defensiveness that has so far made him more appealing than Clinton.
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rdy2rckComment has been removed: Hard Banned
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crespi
March 16, 2008, 2:46 p.m."Ba-lack Obama."
We all knew this is what it would come down to once he threatened the Neocon choice, Hillary.
Corporate and CIA input (like how ALL the tabloids at the grocery store SUDDENLY had anti-Obama stories the day the mainstream media started up with "We have given Obama a free ride and now must attack him" BS) has mobilized racism the same way corporate atheists were able to harness Christians' anti-gay hatred (to the point of our "President" trying to push Hitler-like "laws" restricting gays) to de-stabilize our Democracy. (Everyone know its Bush they give the free ride to, anyway.)
Obama may take a while to fully corrupt, and we NEED someone not COMPLETEY enmeshed in that whole semi-secret "6,000 that meet at Davos and rule us against our will" bunch.
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anioklyComment has been removed: Spammer
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scott4261
March 16, 2008, 7:52 p.m.Obama's video response to this controversy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7piGy0u43c
This makes me respect him even more and further reinforces my support for him.
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purposeComment has been removed: Retracted by user
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1-2-Oscar
March 16, 2008, 8:36 p.m.Senator Clinton is making certain that race is a constant subject in this campaign. Every few weeks one of her supporters--Bill Shaheen, Bill Clinton, Howard Wolfson, Geraldine Ferraro--brings the topic up.
Clinton cannot beat Obama by any other means, so she will use racism as a weapon. She will have the nomination even if she has to destroy the traditional Democratic coalition that has existed since the administration of FDR.
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tanglang
March 16, 2008, 9:18 p.m."If all I knew were those statements I saw on television, I would be shocked," Obama said.
So with this he is saying that since he knows more than just the soundbites from wright, he is not shocked?
I'm sorry but there is no freaking way in hell that he was unaware of wrights bigotry. And, if he really feels that race should be a thing of the past upon being notified of wrights statements he should have left the church.
There should be no double standard when it comes to race.
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ifjt
March 16, 2008, 9:55 p.m.This is for nospindave: Get a grip. You can't possibly no what real racism is until you've been there. Yes poor Barack. How can Barack be racist himself when he had a white, not part white not some time white but white mother, and Indonesian Step-father with an indonesian sister. (if I spelled that correctly). If what you say is true, then should we not consider Hillary a racist for her association with Geraldine Ferraro and refusing to oust her from her campaign like Barack did with his minister?? Ferraro, walked and refused to apologize for her comments. And to think we voted for her when she was running !$#@$#$
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ifjt
March 16, 2008, 9:59 p.m.Absolutely 1-2-Oscar ! This is politics. Win anyway you can, and that's what she's doing.
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NVRob
March 16, 2008, 11:11 p.m.I'm sorry, the church and Rev. Wright seem awfully racist to me. Obama choosing to be a part of that, for twenty years, the church that gave the "Commitment to Excellence" award to Rev. Louis Farrakhan in 2006. This rhetoric in question, the award to Farrakhan - none of it was done in the dark. How can you be a part of this for twenty years and then tell everyone you are going to unite all peoples. It wasn't that Obama gave the award or the sermons, but he sure didn't speak out against it.
Until now.
Now that the media has put it out for all to see.
Now it is inflammatory.
Now he denounces it.
He sure gives great explanations and speeches though!
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NVRob
March 16, 2008, 11:21 p.m.You don't go to the same church for twenty years, call the Rev. a friend without agreeing with the message.
Now that it is out there for all to see.
It is inflammatory.
He denounces it.
Sounds really sincere to me.
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delliott64
March 16, 2008, 11:30 p.m.I hope Obama understands what he's in for, should the "powers that be" (s)elect him for the presidency. He'll become the most scrutinized "leader of the free world" in history, with every word and gesture interpreted by the vulture press corps. If I were him, I'd pass.
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ETproductions
March 16, 2008, 11:32 p.m.Certainly, if Obama manages to grasp the Democratic nomination, the Repug 527s will ramp up to an unprecedented crescendo of hate, and vomit out all the bile in their racist bowels. But then, if it is Hillary, they will do the same from a sexist viewpoint.
Thank God this nation has grown to the point where one of these two can be the contest. Pray that the nation can show it has grown past both.
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RNR52
March 17, 2008, 12:29 a.m.The question is what would people be saying about Hillary Clinton if she had a pastor who she considered a spiritual advisor of 20 years and her paster made similar comments in this vain? We cannot have it both ways. The history of racism in America and throughout the world is shameful, however we have to hold candidates to the same standards regardless of their race, sex or religion.
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NVRob
March 17, 2008, 12:43 a.m.obie
Think this message is a little bit stronger. It is one of division and racism and hatred. Surely if you had friends that spoke that way it wouldn't take you twenty years to stop associating with them.
It's not pro-life vs. pro-choice, tax cuts for the wealthy vs tax cuts for the middle class.
It's the opposite of everything Obama claims to be about - uniting all people.
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Ruger40
March 17, 2008, 1:29 a.m.It amazes me to see how short America's memory can be at times. I hear all the time that African-Americans need to get over slavery because it happened over 400 years ago, well the truth is it's not the slavery in the physical but the mental that we still feel the effects of. American slavery was based on Willy Lynch's proven method that would affect the slaves for at least 1,000 years, oh, and yes it's a fact that Willy Lynch's method was proven then and now and 1,000 years has not passed. The slaves were "freed" in the late 1800's only to live then under Jim Crow law, which was finally torn down by Dr. M.L.K. and the civil rights movement in which the leaders were either KILLED or had their characters assassinated.
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automan909
March 17, 2008, 1:29 a.m.What we would be paying the most for is the damn socialized health care program that the socialist Democrats want. Do you really think it will be free??? Think again. In England if you want the government provided healt hcare you have to pay an additional 6% taxes per person above the normal taxes.
As for Obama, He is the one who has a history of dividing the races by going to a racist church for the last 20 years and then have the nerve to go on tv and say how he never in 20 years heard a sermon that was anti white and anti America.
What a LIAR. And by some remote chance he is telling the truth then I wouldn't want a guy as my President that was so stupid that he couldn't tell in 20 years that his preacher and mentor was an anti American racist.
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schmirt
March 17, 2008, 1:32 a.m.The sermons seemed familiar to me. The same kind of speeches were in German about 70 years ago from a guy with a funny little mustache. Maybe the scapegoats named were different....but the message was aboutthe same.
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NVRob
March 17, 2008, 1:41 a.m.RNR
Exactly - you go to church to worship with those of like mind, it is about participation. The message matters.
If Hillary attended a church that was White, unashamedly White, with a non-negotiable commitment to our European roots, and even went as far as giving a commitment to excellence award to David Duke; this country would be outraged!
So why is this any different coming from Obama?
Why is anyone, (especially himself), making excuses for this conduct?
Didn't hear it.
Please, you've been active in it for the past twenty years.
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automan909
March 17, 2008, 1:34 a.m.I wouldn't want a guy as my President that was so stupid that he couldn't tell in 20 years that his preacher and mentor was an anti American racist.
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not2needy
March 16, 2008, 1:49 p.m.Well said mc, people who have the need to feel racially superior WILL be the ones to keep this in the forefront! Absolutely, and sadly, they will also be the ones who avow no racial prejudices.
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NoSpinDave
March 16, 2008, 9:29 p.m."Unfortunately, people who are bigoted and sexist"
Lol, more labeling for people who dont agree with us.
Pathetic
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foksipayne
March 17, 2008, 1:38 a.m.the biggest race and gender issues i've seen on the whole thing are the ones that the candidate themselves bring up!
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