Ringing the Bell: What Obama's Speech Says »
Posted By not2needy 1 year, 7 months ago in NewsRace, Thomas Jefferson said, is "a firebell in the night." You can't unring a bell, which is one of the reasons so many commentators thought Barack Obama was cooked in January when Hillary Clinton's surrogates introduced race into the campaign.
Read Full Story at newsweek.com »
284 Views Share Story 71 Comments Report
Submitted By:
not2needy
Hi And Welcome
I am a Christian, Wife, Mother of one son, Liberal, and retired social worker. I enjoy my computer, gardening, reading, cooking and ...
Other Related Articles:
Why not submit a story?
RSS Join the Discussion
+ Add CommentComments So Far: 504 (view all)
-
Neutral
not2needy1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
FTA:
Those analysts were wrong; Obama didn't become the "black candidate" then. And I hope they're wrong again when they say that as long as Obama is talking about race instead of the economy and health care, he's losing.
For the bravest thing Obama did in his historic speech at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia was to ring the bell louder. He chose to focus on an uncomfortable topic that most Americans would rather leave unspoken. He offered an honest and gutsy tour of the complexities of our wounded national psyche, even explaining that his own beloved white grandmother engaged in racial stereotypes. And he articulated a big part of what his supporters liked about him in the first place: the chance to take us into a better racial future.
It rather appears, that Hillary and the righties are attempting to keep Obama from addressing the issues by keeping him defending his race and religion. No wonder they all say he is saying nothing! What a real crock.
Reply-
Neutral
marshx1 year, 7 months ago
-
Shankari25Comment removed: Retracted by user25 Replies
-
Neutral
WillardF1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Is anyone out there really getting the feel for honesty from Obama? His speech was full of superficial statements that sounded good on the surface but carried nothing substantial. I also got the feeling he was defending Reverend Wright. He has a very long association with this "minister" and maybe he had become so accustomed to his brash form of "ministering" that he had become complacent to it's meaning. That man was preaching hatred and it couldn't be taken any other way than that. Decades of discrimination against the blacks has hardened many. Does anybody see the reverse discrimination that goes on? Many black students entering college are eligible for more financial breaks than the white students. They burn their own communities. All for the sake of what??? To continue the tirade that they are oppressed and downtrodden?? They have the same opportunities as anyone else in this country. That is what makes this country the greatest country in the world.
Reply
-
-
Neutral
ETproductions1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Are we really ready as a nation to deal with something more than a 30 second sound byte? Are we able to understand a nuanced message? I certainly hope we are. Because if we are not, we are not ready even yet to form that "more perfect union" the Preamble to the Constitution mentions.
It's not up to political parties. It's not up to any individual politician. If it is ever to happen, it is up to "We the people."
Reply-
Neutral
Beau78901 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
The good news is, Obama actually is and has been trying to get people to listen to nuanced views, and even this is not making him give up. If people are ever to understand more than a 30-second sound bite, it will be up to them (or us) as you say--but candidates have to refuse to pander to the media's instinctive search for the obvious and provocative statements, and inspire the people to pay attention to more than the most simplistic messages.
THIS is the true meaning of the change Obama's been talking about--a fundamental change in and elevation of the way people think about and discuss the real issues facing the country.
Great find, n2n!
Reply -
-
-
SwampFox-82ndComment removed: Retracted by user5 Replies
-
Neutral
scott42611 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Yesterday, I made the mistake of entering the lions den with the usual suspects here:
http://politics.propeller.com/story/2008/03/18/...
Barack Obama will be on ABC's GMA this morning...and YOU HAD BETTER BELIEVE the EXACT SAME PEOPLE would say that Obama has not explained himself enough...or he has not denounced Jeremiah Wright sufficiently...or whatever...
The truth is: these people had already MADE UP THEIR MINDS that they don't like Obama, anyway. If he were Jesus walking on water, the same people would not be satisfied.
And THAT is the truth!
Reply-
Neutral
cherev1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Obama:
"I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction - towards a better future for of children and our grandchildren. "
Scott:
"The truth is: these people had already MADE UP THEIR MINDS that they don't like Obama, anyway. If he were Jesus walking on water, the same people would not be satisfied.
And THAT is the truth!"
Obviously, Scott is a REAL Obama supporter since has has absorbed Obama's message so well.
ROTFLMAO
Reply -
Neutral
Will13131 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I was right there with you ... and I'm not even sure I'm an Obama supporter.....
but outright lies.. half truths.. smear.. I just can't stand from either side.....
again to reinterate something I said yesterday in the LIONS DEN...
I heard nothing when taken in the context of a black man speaking to black men and women .. that I found that was not true.. ..
If one is offended by the truth.. perhaps it hit too close to home..
Reply -
Neutral
not2needy1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Scott, you have to admit, when they have an article, whether it's true or not, they all jump in, vote, comment and make sure that story makes it to the front page.
There is only a few of us who do that from our side, which is why many good stories and articles are never brought to light and die before even getting one single comment.
When i see articles that i think needs to be shared, regardless of who submitted it, i always vote and make at least one comment on it, hoping to bring others on board, but there is a problem getting the support of our own the way they rally around and support theirs, regardless of the articles honesty or content.
Then we end up letting our own stories die, and get drawn into theirs, which is a lost cause, but only serves to help bring more attention to the things we don't agree with. We accomplish nothing but to help get their stories to the front page, but RARELY do they participate on any of ours,,, Only if it's already on the front page!
Reply -
-
mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned2 Replies
-
-
-
-
Neutral
AntiNeoCon1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I was wondering how Obama would deal with the Conservative attack machine, looks like he is undergoing baptism. It will be a good experience for him, hopefully he won't let it get to him that bad. Hillary will be better able to fend them off due to her years of being attacked by the right wing...her experience will count.
Reply -
-
-
-
Neutral
jumpmaster1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
If you have ever served on a jury, you know that the most important thing is to determine if you actually believe the witnesses. They can say whatever they want to say. Even though they may be under oath, you still have to make your own decision on whether or not you believe them.
This is the same thing. You have to listen to the evidence, the twenty year relationship with Rev. Wright, the 34 minute speech, etc. and determine whether or not you believe what Obama says is the truth or whether it is politics as usual.
Reply-
-
mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned14 Replies
-
-
Neutral
jumpmaster1 year, 7 months ago
-
-
Neutral
Bkumm1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Here we are again today with yet another thread that should be about the submission posted flailing away into pointlessness about whether or not you believe or disbelieve Senator Obama.
If you believe him, good for you. If you don't, I guess that's fine too.
However, I'll say this one more time before I go into the actual submission. Until someone can show me either written or oral evidence that Senator Obama supports and believes the political rhetoric of Rev. Wright, then this is simply guilt by association.
Now then, Senator Obama's speech was powerful and enlightening. We know now that Senator Obama can see both sides of the chasm that seperates Whites and Blacks. He understands that it is the past injustices AND the current lack of responsibility in the Black community that is to blame. He also recognizes that White resentment is real and that many Whites don't understand why they should pay for something which they did not do.
He sees a chance to change that.
Reply-
Neutral
joeblowe1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I have evidence that he agrees with Rev. Wright: He stayed in his church for 20 years. Prima Facia evidence of agreement - at least at some level. Otherwise why would he stay? If he DISAGREED with the "Wright Reverend" (sorry, couldn't resist...) in any basic way he could, and SHOULD, have gone elsewhere. Shouldn't he? Would YOU stay involved in an organization that preached as the Rev. Wright has done? Why? - if you didn't agree with it, or at least think it had sufficient merit to listen to. Trust me, there are PLENTY of other "black" churches in Chicago. Plenty.
Reply -
mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned4 Replies
-
-
mackiemesserComment removed: Retracted by user41 Replies
-
Neutral
Klarissa1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...
King drew a different lesson from the oppression he experienced: "I've seen too much hate to want to hate myself; hate is too great a burden to bear. I've seen it on the faces of too many sheriffs of the South. . . . Hate distorts the personality. . . . The man who hates can't think straight; the man who hates can't reason right; the man who hates can't see right; the man who hates can't walk right."
Barack Obama is not a man who hates -- but he chose to walk with a man who does.
Reply-
Neutral
icono11 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Politics does lend itself to contradictory alliances.
J Wright seems to be a Malcolm X follower ie. " ...the chickens have come home to roost...." while OBama seems, and I emphasize "seems" strongly, a MLK follower "..I have a dream..".
Reply -
Neutral
cushi1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Nice spin, Klarissa, but totally off the mark. He chose not to turn his back on a man who has meant and still means a lot to him, his family, his church and his community. It's called a sense of loyalty. He has acknowledged his disapproval of the statements in question, that's all he needs to do.
Reply
-
-
Neutral
drtjyen1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
It was a good speech, but I am too cynical to buy into the sincerity of it all. Its all about getting the votes. By the way, Obama ignores other ethnic minorities who subject to discrimination by both whites and blacks. As usual, blacks are singled out when we discuss race in this country. Why is that ? Because they are the ones who raise holy hell, as in the case of Rev. Wright. Why were Hispanics, Asians, American Indians not included in the speech ? Our votes count less than Blacks and Whites that's why. What a surprise that Rev. Wright gets away with the things he says.
Reply -
AlphaGnosisComment removed: Hard Banned1 Reply
-
Neutral
Wolfie20071 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Barak Hussein Obama's speech was supposed to address Rev Wrighs' hateful speech. It was supposed to explain why or how after a 20 year relationship with this man, who hates America, he could continue to call him a friend and continue to attend his church. What we got instead is Obama speech about racism. He even called his grandma a racist. Obama never answered the why and how he stayed with Wright, who hates and damns America, but called the the rest of us racists. So who's using the race card now?
Reply -
-
-
AlphaGnosisComment removed: Hard Banned
-
-
-
Neutral
amazed1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
HE DOESN'T!!!!!!!!
I was just at his site and there is no link to the Black Panthers. For crying out loud, get a grip! Is there even a Black Panthers organization left? Who's in it? Isn't Bobby Seale dead and Angela Davis a college professor?
There's plenty of legitimate issues without making crap up out of whole cloth.
This is as ridiculous as the "Bush is a moonie" crap that N2 is pushing.
Reply
-
-
Neutral
mamasan1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I guess it has been brought up that what the white "men of god"
have said and continue to say is far and away many times more hateful and racist than what he said.
Pat Robertson calls for the death of people.
He is happy when others are hit by misfortune.
He is best friends with Bush & co.
why is he still on the air?
Reply -
Neutral
automan9091 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
On Friday Obama said he never was in the pews during the hate sermons. Yesterday he said he WAS there when the hate sermons were going on. He is obviously a liar. Now I come to find out that he has a link to the BLACK PANTHER PARTY on his website.
I know for sure now that this liar is not who I want running America. Thank God that he is self destructing.
Reply-
-
Neutral
tchef1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I watched the entire speech. It was one of the best speeches I've heard. As the commentator in this article stated, he took the subject head on instead of retreating and hoping it would just go away. He presented the arguments from both sides very accurately. These are the reasons that I support Barack Obama for President. He is not afraid to confront the problems we are facing. He also looks at the problems from all sides. This is the type of leadership we need now. Not the same old same old that we are offered by the other two candidates.
Reply -
Neutral
ningyo1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
hussein obama's speech says that people will swallow anything hook line and sinker if it's said with enough window dressing and empty rhetoric--he says absoloutly nothing in his fiery speechs but says it with such conviction--he excuses this racist monster the rev wrong now but last week he was saying he knew nothing about any of it--which is it??who cares..he says big words so nicely and just look at that suit...empty..to see people blindly follow obama without knowing what he thinks about anything and excuse his anti-american race pimping is scary
Reply -
Neutral
Howtogo1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Obama's speech to divert attention from his association with his pastor was eloquent as are most of his speeches. He made some great observations and statements, however he did not disassociated him self from the pastor that believes in hating White America/America in general and is obviously a true racist. Until Obama can see what black racism is, I will not be able to vote for him or respect him.
Reply -
-
Neutral
Itachirumon1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Another day another con shows up on these boards. Wolfie and Saint make more rude comments that by all standards should violate TOU. I've made my view clear on this issue, Wright was screwed up for what he said but cons have no room to judge with the literal ****** they have for human beings on their side of the fence.
Reply -
Neutral
jc1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
the only bell obama was ringing in his speech was continued rhetoric of playing white when the moment counts and his true nature when he is among his church brethren.
people can say bravo of such a speech for the objective of change. can the people of this nation stand such a hypocrital nature of which this was presented? obama only wants the white vote for the purpose of his racist agenda.
some may scoff at this veiw, but let's take obama's actions in perspective. if obama lived in a crack house for 20 years, would it be safe to assume he was a crack head? people hang with people of like minds. i surely don't want to hang with crack heads for 20 years and i feel obama would sever that relationship also. BUT, WHY DIDN'T HE SEVER HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS RACIST PASTOR AND CHURCH FOR 20 YEARS? PERHAPS HE IS OF LIKE MIND WITH HIS PASTOR AND CHURCH?
Reply -
Neutral
amazed1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
After three (or is it four) days of all this BS about Obama and his church, I think it is really a tempest in a teapot (I think I said this a few days ago, also).
I think that Obama has used poor judgement in his choice of a church, but I have been convinced that perhaps he got other things from his church than just the pastor's ugly, ugly rhetoric.
Reply -
brothermichaelComment removed: Retracted by user
-
Neutral
cwebefree1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
"Blessed are those who Hunger and Thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the Peacemakers,for they shall be called Sons (and Daughters) of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven
Blessed areYou when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Pretty darn heretical.
Reply
-
-
Neutral
Will13131 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
During the course of the 2008 campaign, Wright's beliefs and past remarks have become closely scrutinized. Critics have accused Wright's Black liberation theology of promoting black separatism. [10] Wright has rejected this notion by saying that "The African-centered point of view does not assume superiority, nor does it assume separatism. It assumes Africans speaking for themselves as subjects in history, not objects in history."[11]
seems from the above.. that Rev Wright just wants to be equal.... it is after all what the country was founded on..
Reply-
Neutral
DeadXXXManXXXTalkin1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
you don't 'trust' him?
do you know him to trust him or distrust him?
good luck finding another candidate with a cleaner record.
and if he was really up to no good, whatever that is in your mind, wouldn't he be a tad bit more discreet than associating with wacky preachers? And having a supposed link to a controversial group out in the open for anyone to see?
I don't trust him because he's white and I don't trust the Man, but he's got a remarkably clean record for a rich honky
Reply -
-
Neutral
SonOfTheMask1 year, 7 months ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I disagree that it is as simple as you portray in your comment. If it were, ask yourself why Mr. Obama has been at pains to distance himself from Rev. Wright's controversial remarks? Remarks that include things such as suggesting that black-on-black violence is wrong because it is not addressing the "real enemy"...white people. And that the Federal Government intentionally propagated the HIV/AIDS virus into the "black community". And those are just a few comments that happened to have been caught on tape. Who knows what other comments have been made.
Reply -
-
-
-
-
-
doggammitComment removed: Retracted by user
More News
LA Times
A story of shock, chaos and bravery unfolds in Ft. Hood shooting
Healthcare bill clears parliamentary hurdle in House
Afghan government accuses U.N., foreign officials of interfering in internal affairs
Unemployment rate rises above 10% ; Obama signs jobless benefit extension
Jason Rodriguez : Shooting at downtown Orlando office building leaves 5 hurt, 1 dead
Add a Comment
Sign In With Your Propeller Account
Please keep your comments relevant to this story.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.