Hey Lib's,

I have been telling you since right after the speech, in other responses, that most white people wouldnt get away with staying in his church... For some reason, black people think just because of something that happened 100 yrs ago, the white man STILL has to pay... You need to start being angry about something that happened 2 yrs ago, not 100..

BIll..

the civil rights movements was only 50 years ago, bill nigh. so, at the very least, you've got a generation of blacks -- only the parents of the current generation -- that grew up in a profoundly racist and frequently hostile america. your "just get over it" attitude is a major part of the problem, not that i'm suggesting you would consider institutionalized racism a problem, because clearly you don't.

Bill Nigh,

It is still happening!!! And you don't have to pay for anything. Just cut it out. And acting as if nothing has happened just perpetuates the situation. All of your opinions and views concerning African Americans are so narrow minded, and totally unreal. You are simply unable to comprehend. You're like many of the right wing.

Bill Nigh,

I didn't want to say this at first but feel more than complelled. It's racists like you that Barak has aimed this current speach at. I wouldn't expect you to understand it's this kind of ignorance that started, perpetuated, and continues to seperate the races. hopefully as Barak said, "With time these things will change". And until America has outlived people of you design we will continue to be a nation of division.

The problem is, I think most people outside of the Midwest fail to understand the mindset of working class white folk within it. Clearly Obama understands as he alluded to the anger of the white working class, though judging from the speech and reaction to it, I'm not sure he knows how to speak to them. I loved the speech, but I can almost bet it will be a contentious topic of conversation when I head back to my small town in MI for easter.

Anyway, it saddens me to think that such a benign situation is going hand the White House to another Republican, but I fear it is. Should Hillary pull off the unlikely and win the nomination, she doesn't have a prayer in hell of attracting enough independent voters to win. And this is a huge thorn in Obama's side for next fall. What a wasted opportunity!

Brighledge,

You may not believe this, but many months ago, i was gonig to vote for Obama...:-) I have actually followed his rise, since he became the first black man to run the Harvard Law Review...But my mind first started to change when i heard his wife saying that she had never been proud of america in her life time, till now...? HUH.. after all the good we do in the world, and she dismises ALL of it..? But the final straw was when I realized, as millions of americans did a few days ago, that he had his kids being indoctronated by that Racists Preacher...FOR 20 YRS..!!! and NEver thought that maybe he should find a new church..
In the begining i kind of thought of Obama like the new Linclon, now i realize that he is just a politician/Lawyer..:-(

How sad..:-(

Billl

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/hillarys-prayer.html
Through all of her years in Washington, Clinton has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the Fellowship. Her collaborations with right-wingers such as Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) grow in part from that connection. "A lot of evangelicals would see that as just cynical exploitation," says the Reverend Rob Schenck, a former leader of the militant anti-abortion group Operation Rescue who now ministers to decision makers in Washington. "I don't....there is a real good that is infected in people when they are around Jesus talk, and open Bibles, and prayer."

The Politico's Carrie Budoff Brown wrote that Sen. Barack Obama "lost his common-man touch" during a roundtable with six New Hampshire voters facing financial hardship. In the article, which also characterized Obama as "aloof" and "detached," Brown reported that "amid the heart-wrenching stories that moved even members of the media, he [Obama] betrayed little emotion." But Brown did not quote any of the six voters at the roundtable or other observers supporting this characterization of Obama. In fact, the only person quoted by Brown commenting on the event -- 65 year-old Sandra Burt, who spoke at the roundtable about her difficulty affording medication -- said of Obama, "He is a very, very interesting man. ... He does take the time to listen to you."

(from media matters)

Again, you found the most objective source?

How is anybody ever going to trust what you write? You just offer crud from the most twisted source like your "assuming it's true" crud?

There hasn't even been a poll released after the 16th.

Maybe you are right and your source is bona fide - but do you ever bother to check if the author of the piece that dominates your post has an inclination or is that what qualifies them?

As a social researcher, I find it difficult to give these kinds of articles much weight. "More than a dozen" interviews that hardly in-depth cannot be used to generalize. This does not negate their views, but in the larger picture this story represents a grain of salt as far as I'm concerned. I know everyone is sick of polls, but until I see a larger sample size from people all over the state, I don't feel I know how the people of PA feel about the speech one way or the other.

"The media elites loved Barack Obama's "Black and More Than Black" speech."

As did millions upon millions of Americans.

Well, if the media elite are running the show I guess that is all that really does matter, eh?

What exactly do you expect Michelle Obama to do for the country that imported and tortured a workforce of her ancestors--and pioneered so many ways to degrade a human being that it hasn't been changed to this day--wave the flag, especially the white parts, with pride?

Sure, maybe, to some degree, but get real. I think any person who is a compassionate human being can only be selectively proud of America.

Hooray for kicking ass in WWII!!!!
Whoops! Did we deny asylum to hundreds of thousands of Jews??? Ooops!

Hooray for "All men are created equal!"
Two hundred years later, that is laughable joke. Institutionalized racism is VERY present in this country. And globally, well, if 800,000 Iraqi's had to die for a lie, well, shucks.

Bill Nigh's domestic policy: [deleted] you obey me! (And why do they hate me?)
Bill Nigh's foreign policy: Kick their ass and take their gas!

bill,

stop lying to us; you were never going to vote for obama.

if you had listened to the man's speech, you would have heard him say that he understands that for most white people, their family's experience was the immigrant experience, and he can understand white people's frustration at times. maybe you didn't hear that part, but i know you never heard michelle obama say she was never proud of america until now, since she never said that. she said she became really proud of the country, as in very, or exceedingly. you don't like that she was never really really proud of america until her husband started winning some primaries, that's up to you. you want to lie about what she said, it's up to you and your conscience.

just accept that we're going to call you on it. i'll leave to others to call out your concerns about the white man paying for the sins of other white men because the black man is angry.

I grew up in Fort Wayne Indiana and we use to play our sectional basketball tournament in Huntington In (Home of Mr. Quale). We had a couple of black players on our team. Every year, the Huntington North students (some of the dumbest, most ignorant scum on the planet) brought watermelons and buckets of KFC and booed every time our black players got the ball. That was 25 years ago. 7 years prior to that, they would make death threats.
My uncle regularly uses the words “nigger” and “spook”. In fact the only time I hear the word “nigger” is in Indiana. And it isn’t just there.
FACT - Racism isn’t dead. Blacks are not treated equally.
That being said, Affirmative Action is BS and you get dealt a bad hand, it is up to you to play your cards. There are no reveals and it is not the job of government to selectively level the playing field. Racism is racism and I reject it in every form.

Nothing Obama could do or say would have been enough. Tavis Smiley said a year ago " Obama is gonna really discover America" It would be so sad if racism took him out but not unexpected. How quickly sight of what this has been all about: the kind Of America we want a place of hope or fear? For now fear and some old school hated seems to have won. But some day we will have to reedeme and forgive each other and move on to the future. It will happen.

Bill Nigh,

I want to throw up. Yeah, Michelle Obama is supposed to be proud of the country that has all but decimated an entire race of people, except for the very few and priveledge i.e., Obama. She is supposed to be proud of a country that has lied not only to her race but everyone under the flag about this current war. Good in the world, always meddling and interfering in the affairs of other countries? Up to and including murder? Proud of a country that fosters corporate greed at the expense of the average citizen and the destruction of the eco-system. I could go on and on about the wrongs of America. I can also say thing for America. To each his own experience. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Anyone who listened to Barak Obama's speech in Philadelphia speech and were not touched are beyond hope. It was not a black and more than black speech. It was a time to heal speech. If we never address the elephant in the room it will never go away. Had Obama disowned his preacher for the sake of a few votes, he would have lost mine. If he is not strong enough to hear opposing viewpoints and know which are good and which are not, then I would not trust his judgment in any matter. That is what we have now. I also do not want a president that sways every time public opinion says something different. This was characteristic of the first Clinton presidency and would continue if the American people are too unaware of the lack of Clinton Ethics (pick one)to elect Hillary.

I have many friends whose opinions are very politically incorrect. And I am embarrassed to hear them say those things but it provides a check and balance system. My views help moderate their and their views keep me grounded. And their children are exposed to another point of view that they would not get. And that generation does not believe all the dogma of the previous one.

For the first time in my life, I have hope. For the first time, I am REALLY proud of the United States. For the first time, I think we can begin to heal and come together. For the first time, I believe we have a leader who can do that.

For those of you who were unmoved by Barak's speech on healing, Listen again. And this time do so not with preconceived ideas, not as a speech by a presidential candidate, but by someone who is not afraid to talk about the elephant in the room. And to take the elephant by the ears, and lead it out of the country, where it belongs.

Bill Nigh,

Do you even know enough of the oppression of many people by the hands of whites. The Chinese. India was subjected and colonized. The entire continent of Africa subjugated. The entire south American continent brought under European control through whatever means necessary. The Inuit Indians, as well as the entire North American indians utterly destroyed. The customs and religions of the Aboriginee of New Zealand and Australia utterly whiped out.
The entire carribean islands subjugated and destroyed. To many the white man has come to represent nothing but disease, pestilence, slavery, and death. And you act incredulous when you hear Reverend Wright say that america is controlled by rich white folk. by the way that was a true statement.

Michigan Lady,

I don't think we heard the same speech. Yes it was eloquent, and well written, but all he did was make excuses for 4 min, and then BLAME the white man for every problem that blacks deal with. When is the Black culture going to understand that it is not the fault of everyone else...? Stop acting like all the people around you were slave masters and have some debt to pay. We americans don't owe you anything, and what is NOW institutionalized is your advantage at being give special treatment and points off on admissions test. I know this to be true, i have just discusses admissions with CA colleges. If you are poor and black, your kids get free ride to college, if you are white and middle class you get NOTHING.>!!!

Bill

Bill Nigh,

And through all of this destruction that the white man has wrought I still maintane, although it amazes me how, the belief that there is good and bad in everything.
Go figure.

Either Bill didn't listen to the speech or it went way over his head. He sounds like half my relatives, and not in a good way.

Bill Nigh,

Do you even know enough of the oppression of many people by the hands of whites. The Chinese. India was subjected and colonized. The entire continent of Africa subjugated. The entire south American continent brought under European control through whatever means necessary. The Inuit Indians, as well as the entire North American indians utterly destroyed. The customs and religions of the Aboriginee of New Zealand and Australia utterly whiped out.
The entire carribean islands subjugated and destroyed. To many the white man has come to represent nothing but disease, pestilence, slavery, and death. And you act incredulous when you hear Reverend Wright say that America is controlled by rich white folk. Which, by the way, that was a true statement. And through all of this destruction that the white man has wrought I still maintaine, although it amazes me how, the belief that there is good and bad in everything. Maybe it's because my grandmother was white and my grand father black, my father native american and black.
Go figure.

Bill Nigh,

by the way. If you think blacks have it so easy, why don't you tattoo your skin dark brown and hang out in the hood for a year or two or 10 and then tell me what you think. You'd blow your brains out first.

Bill... if you don't think racism is institutionalized, you might want to do a little more research into the matter. I might suggest starting with the book "American Project: The Life and Death of a Modern Ghetto"...about South Side Chicago and the CHA.

Oh, and by the way Bill Nigh,

As if the peoples of the World weren't enough. They now have turned their attention to totally subjugating, and destroying the Earth.

Bill Nigh

The entire food chain has been compromised, and contaminated. No one works on cures for diseases anymore because it's not fiscally responsible. Only when they are able to implement a drug regimen is it termed a success. Wake up people.

Obama said, "The problems that African Americans face are the same problems that white America faces", Corporate America doesn't want us to see this though so they can continue their plots of division and maintain their global conquests.

Hey Brightledge,

Now you are beginging to sound like my son. I mean i can understand having socialist attitudes when you are 17, but i think you might be a bit older than that. Winston Churchhill once said,"If you are not a liberal in yoru 20's, you have no heart, but if you are not a conservative in your 30's & 40's, you have no BRAIN". By the time you grow up you are supposed to have a more thoughful view of the world and those around you. Stop blameing "The Man" for all the evils in the world, let the past GO..!!! move on, but for some reason you can't..WHY..? You sound rather angry and maybe a little jaded... Weren't you able to take advantage of all this wonderful county has to offer..?

Bill..

I am a 59 year old white business woman living in PA. I am going to vote for Barak Obama because he is an honorable man. He is not directly responsible for his pastor's thoughts or remarks. After all, we are not, each of us, responsible for what President Bush says or does in our names. (Shudder) I believe in Obama with all my heart and nothing the Clintons do or say (underhanded as they are) will change my opinion of the man. He is the only right choice for this country in the here and now. Obama is the only candidate who can give us back out government! "We the people" need to take a stand for our rights and our futures. I urge all people to support and vote for Barak Obama, the future, not the past, not more of the same. Take a stand! Don't be hood-winked by Hillary.

To Bill, and all you other white cronies,

It's not a matter of letting the past go. If white people could do that, then disproportionate numbers of people of color wouldn't be in prison. Disproportionate numbers of people of color wouldn't be kept in the prison of low-wage/skill jobs and inadequate housing. You've been dealt a hand since birth no matter whether you are infinitely rich, by being born white. Affirmative action is a good idea in a society who still penalizes one group while rewarding another with its fruits, i.e. the punishment of capital/the capital of punishment. Why do all white liberals/whites in general, (and the caveat that I have prefaced this with is general) fail to recognize that to end racism means giving up something, and that something is the property you have as being white. Of course Affirmative Action has its flaws, but it still addresses the fact that there are material advantages to not having melanin. You can't have a system without Affirmative Action until that society has rejected all impediments to a color-blind society. The real problems of Obama's speech were that it acted as if racism only affected blacks, (let's forget the systematic extermination of Indians or other non-white groups). It also acted like racism would be ended by just holding hands and singing Kumbaya. Racism isn't about the 'Man' or whatever else moronic term you use since you were in the left, (maybe) some forty years ago, Bill. Racism is embedded in the system.

Wow. A whole DOZEN interviews? It must be true.

Gosh darnit, Bill, if Winston Churchill said it, well shucks, we might as well set it in stone as good advice, and sound wisdom.

Like when he said, "I do not admit...that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America, or the black people of Australia...by the fact that a stronger race, a higher grade race...has come in and taken its place." (to the Palestine Royal Commission, 1937)

You simpleton. Grow a pair and stand up for what's right, not just whatever morals are most the most self-serving and convenient.

Thank you converse!

I knew the speech wouldn’t work before he gave it. I knew it wouldn’t work whatever its content may be. Broadly speaking, people didn’t listen to it, I didn’t listen to if, does that shock you?

And why should I listen to a speech, speeches are ALLWAY good, ALLWAYs, they are put together by teams of writer, focus groups and pollster to produce the desired effect on the electorate. Obama speech, from what I heard contained all the ingredients to be the least objectionable to the widest public possible.

In short, speech are like TV ads, only they last much longer, so you won’t reach a larger public with it, and frankly nor should you.

Now, if he had given a 30 min unscripted one –on-one interview, then that would have been different. I would have LOVED to get his natural response on some pertinent questions:
When did you hear about the “America got what it desearved on 911” comment?
What drove you to him?
Why did you stay, was it out of loyalty?
Etc…

The pundits acclaimed many speeches of president Bush, they thought that Mitt Romney’s speech was the greatest, I rest my case

IT'S CALLED FREEDOM OF SPEECH! When Falwell said homosexuals deserved to die and rightwing zealots killed them, there were no outraged media reports condemming him, neither Reagan,nor Bush 1 were hounded to disown him. When Robertson echoed the same sentiment he became more popular than ever. Why does anyone feel that Obama or any other politician has the right to censor the speech of another individual? This is a false controversy to take the spotlight off of the real issues affecting our country. Hate has gotten more than a few politicians elected in this country, and it is apparently working as sound bites play in an endless loop on the media. The World is turning against us in a major way and we are still debating race. And for the record, Affirmative Action benifitted white women more than any racial group, and it was a bit of legislation designed to include all races/sexes suffering discrimination not just blacks.

"they are put together by teams of writer, focus groups and pollster to produce the desired effect on the electorate. "

Barack wrote the speech himself, started it on Saturday and finished it 20 minutes before delivery.

Those pesky facts.

"Barack wrote the speech himself, started it on Saturday and finished it 20 minutes before delivery.

Those pesky facts."

Yes, and nobody helped him, there was no round table on the initial draft he claim he wrote. The polsters were muzzeled... That's a beautiful world you are living in...

I know why Obama stayed in the church. Rev. Wright's church is very important and well connected on the south side of Chicago in the Black community. It was a very important community for Obama's beginnings as a politician in Chicago.

Now of course it is biting him in the butt.

But this begs the question of the nature of Rev. Wright's views. As one who has worked through the years in Black communities these views do not surprise me. I work with people who actually believe these things. Imagine if you will.....what would inspire a person to have a view of reality that the universe and American society is so stacked against you that even AIDS is a plot against you. It is no accident that these more extreme views do not come out of Middle Class African American experience but out of inner city poverty. From a sociological perspective - every set of beliefs has natural "plausibility structures" that reinforce and make beliefs seem more "true". The American inner city black experience is the perfect plausibility structure for this type of paranoid belief. The inner city teaches its residents that the larger society is indeed against it. And large institutions are arrayed against them. Even in East Baltimore where I work - the residents of Middle East Baltimore believe that. So, I do not find it surprising.

But does revealing this side of the African American experience make it more or less likely that people will vote for Obama? Clearly, less likely. Race is the most difficult and most divisive conversation in America.

Obama's appeal was one of transcending race - and his campaign strategy was based on it - it was based on "we are all it this together" - "not a black America or a white America - not a red state America and a blue state America - but a united states of America". And the undercurrent message was "Obama is not a scary black man".

The power of the revelation about Rev. Wright are within the contradictions between Obama's message and Wright's. Is Obama sincere in his views? I believe he is. Does Obama believe in the necessity of a politics that transcends race? I believe he does. I know that he believes in that not just for philosophical or Christian reasons but because of the dynamics of political necessity. Obama's background and schooling in Community Organizing gave him this perspective. Organizers seek to find points of unity within the community that they are trying to organize. I believe it was Obama's organizer perspective that first led him to Trinity UCC and it was his organizer sense that led him away from their perspective as he broadened his sights. But Obama's political problem was that he was not enough of a politician. A real politician would have dumped Wright and Trinity UCC about 2 years ago. Right after Obama was elected to the Senate. But I think that Obama has a pesky sense of loyalty and family. And Rev. Wright and the folks at Trinity UCC had become part of his family. Evidently Obama was not ruthless enough. And now it will cost him.

I believe that the GOP will use these racial statements by Wright to sink Obama if he becomes the Democratic nominee. And I think that they will be successful. I take great sorrow in that.

Obama will finish this campaign as one of the most important leaders in America - perhaps a new ML King - but he will not be President - not now.

And with all of the poll numbers working against the Republicans on the economy and on Iraq and Bush's low poll numbers - the Democrats should be winning. Right now the only chance that the Democrats have is for Hillary Clinton to wrest the nomination from Obama. Obama would then be nominated Vice President on the ticket. A Clinton-Obama ticket can beat McCain. And of course the African American vote is 100% vital to the Dems. Blacks are 100% invested in Obama right now. There is no way at this point that the Dems can get away with not having him on the ticket - on the top - or on the bottom.

So, on April 22nd I am going to vote for Hillary Clinton for President.

Nathan Sooy