From The Road
March 18, 2008 3:31 PM

Clinton "Glad" Obama Gave Race Speech

(CBS)
From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:

PHILADELPHIA -- Hillary Clinton said she was pleased her opponent Barack Obama gave a speech on race today, but said she had not yet heard or read the speech.

“I wanted to start out by saying I did not have the chance to see or to read yet Senator Obama's speech,” said Clinton. “But I am very glad he gave it. It's an important topic.”

Clinton appeared alongside Philadelphia Mayor Joe Nutter, former ambassador Joe Wilson, and Wilson’s wife, outed CIA agent Valerie Plame.

“Issues of race and gender in America have been complicated throughout our history and they are complicated in this primary campaign,” continued Clinton. “There have been detours and pitfalls along the way.”

She went on to note the historic significance of either a woman or an African American becoming the first presidential nominee of a major political party.

On the issue of economy, Clinton said that this weekend’s purchase of Bear Stearns by J.P. Morgan was “not a bailout, it was a fire sale” and warned that the financial detriment in this country rested on the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

While Clinton focused most of her statements on the war in Iraq snd Wall Street’s financial woes, many of the questions continued to ask about Obama’s speech.

Clinton appeared to entertain the idea of making her own speech on these issues, but repeated that she would not agree to make a similar speech until she had viewed the one he made today, also in Philadelphia.

“I’ll take a look at it,” Clinton assured members of the press.

Tomorrow, the National Archives will release her White House schedules from when she was First Lady. Asked about releasing her tax records, a list of earmarks, and campaign donor information, Clinton said she is “the most transparent” when it comes to documentation of her personal and public matters, and that more would be released in the future.
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by starpost March 18, 2008 5:43 PM PDT
What makes Sen. Obama uniquely qualified to talk about race? Because mom was white, dad was black? My cousin has the same genes but he''s not yet a moral leader. You have to lead from the heart, not from your bloodlines. MLK was qualified. He connected heart to heart. His dream was/is for all of us. He spoke in a time of strife, a time when it took daring/faith from blacks/whites to accept his message. MLK never asked us to follow him. Yet people of all colors ended up marching alongside him. He was a man of substance, conviction, compassion. Like his spiritual mentor, Ghandi, MLK never confused himself with "the movement." But Sen. Obama insists he''s qualified to "unite" us. Eager to dazzle with words. His spiritual mentor is Pastor Wright. What a long strange trip from Ghandi to Pastor Wright. Apparently, there are many people eager to listen to/follow Sen. Obama. Today''s show isn''t about race in America, it''s about Sen. Obama. The words will be beautiful, even seductive. I''ve heard enough. The "gradual" distancing from Pastor Wright (to see how much was really needed in lieu of a clean break), "gradual" distancing from Tony Rezko (waiting long enough to close on the mansion and as late as last Friday, beginning to admit the Rezko contributions were a lot more than originally stated) ... "gradual," steady charges of "racism" directed at anyone who dares to challenge him. Enough.
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by debmood March 18, 2008 6:05 PM PDT
Hillary should be glad he made this fantastic speech. She and her campaign are behind all of the divisiveness that has gone on for months!
I don''t believe for one minute Hillary has not read or heard Senator Obama''s speech. She''s probably trying to find something more to distract her rowdy and ill-informed supporters on why she has not submitted her Earmarks, her tax returns, and her pending trial with Peter Paul. Not to mention the affirmation of her 35 years of experience that makes her the most qualified to be President. The Clintons will do well to drop out now and let us continue with the business of the United States.
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by nicksp2 March 18, 2008 6:20 PM PDT
Obama threw his grandmother - his own flesh and blood under the bus!! For a pastor he met 26 years ago - what kind of a person does that?? He''s just another politician, and a liar (no, I was never in church when Rev. Wright gave sermons like that).
He''s finished.
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by popstom1 March 18, 2008 6:52 PM PDT
I just look over all the DNC rules
this is going be they have to seat
50%+1 of all delgeats
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by gemstone1955 March 18, 2008 7:00 PM PDT
Hilary is the only one that we can trust. She is the only one those with experience trusts including the military from top to bottom! She is the only one who has a record of actually doing the right things and not just making speeches about what the right thing is. I can''t believe all the press coverage today on Obama''s self promo press release he did today and yet Hillary yesterday gave a very informative speech on Iraq, Afghanistan and Commander and Chief issues. Her command of the issues that was so awesome as are her solutions. Yet not hardly a peep about it, let alone a airing of it except on C-Span, Frickin media bias! I have been to a lot of planning sessions and board meetings and know when it has been a great productive one and when it has been a waste of time. I hear Hillary speak and I always come away saying that was great and highly productive. I so inspired and she can do it in a speech a debate or town hall meeting or my favorite conversation from the couch. I come away totally energized and ready to get to work. I am so ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work. Hurry Hillary and become President so we can get to work!
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by sherryd5 March 18, 2008 7:03 PM PDT
So, today was the highest one day gain by the Dow in 5 years, per Katie Couric, we have had anxiety and enthusiasm because of market conditions, not limited to the Bear Stearns situation; people are losing their homes, jobs, and savings, and

your lead story was the speech by Obama on race????????

what did you think he was going to say? that he is against holding hands and singing hymns together????

Please cover the most DAILY relevant stories without politicizing us DAILY!!!

Where is Dan (Rather) when you need him????

OK, I''ll tune to another network for news!
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by lomelino March 18, 2008 7:06 PM PDT
I am a conservative, caucasion 51 year old male who has never voted for anyone other than a Republican. Barack Obama had me. I was, and still am impressed with his careful responses, his brilliant thought processes, and his apparent integrity. However, I am DONE being fooled. he is a wolf in sheep''s clothing. As a Christian, and former pastor, I wonder how it would go over if white ministers displayed the same level of anger from the pulpit. Using offensive language and becrying out God D America because of the suffering we have experienced under the black communities'' violent activities??? Mr.Obama should have gotten up and walked out of the church never to look back. He made a very relevant speech today, but his personal investment in such a church makes him NOT the man I hoped he was. It is exciting that we could have a black person who has come as far as he has toward being president, but No We CAN''T have that kind of rhetoric in our White House.

DJN
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by emsupset March 18, 2008 7:33 PM PDT
Dear UCC Church Officers:
It is difficult to see how a Harvard Grad "didn''''''''t know"? !
But let''''''''s forget Obama''''''''s comments on whether or not he knew for a second. He is toast. Had my vote. Lost my vote.

For UCC to defend Pastor Wright''''''''s comments is outrageous as the racist comments the Pastor has made. Not once. Not twice%u2026who knows how many times%u2026so many examples on You Tube alone. The Pastor''''''''s comments are very offensive, divisive and sickening and undermine any of the good works he or his congregation have done.

Please explain to me how your church can support this Pastor and his congregation for giving a lifetime achievement award to Farrakhan and the Pastor''''''''s highly inflamatory racist remarks?
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by askone-2009 March 18, 2008 7:57 PM PDT
Okay! Good enough. It seems that even though every question was answered completely. You get the liars saying they "were" going to vote, or the guys who won''t comment on his answers - but comment on everything else-but. No regard to Hillary or Mc. No asking. No questions for all. The next time there is a CBS article asking why America is still racist you''ll know why. Why does Europe and the rest of the world laugh at us. There was an article in a Danish paper waiting for us to completely go off the deep end. There''s probably more that i can''t read. Ask yourself, then read yourself. As far as ''steady charges of racism''. What is it if you want one man judged, and not the other for the same thing. Hillary and Mc are going to say that the speech was pretty good. Hillary already said it needed to be done. She''s talking to you.
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by lordmi March 18, 2008 8:39 PM PDT
to askone : What did Your pasor said Third Sunday in November?
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by lordmi March 18, 2008 8:51 PM PDT
Why should he leave that church?
Wee have hard time now, so should we leave for Germany, where Euro is so strong?

He wants and will to deal with it.
If You prefer to close Your eyes and say %u2013 there is no any race problem, You have the right to do so (no matter what Your pastor said about that as well).
But problem is here. And he is going to work on it.
And he will.

What selfish Billary will %u2013 just play and flirt with all of You to get the power she wants the most for her most. Any possible way. If pastor would not work %u2013 she will create something else %u2013 that is her experience.

To trust her any word? If it comforts You %u2013 fine, trust.
But she has never said the truth, that is her famous feature.
By the way, what did she ever ever lead? Or, I forgot, she said %u2013 she led Bill to the White house.

Do not be surprise, when she will tell, that it was her leading Obama to Presidency. Like very old trusted friend.
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by hillsangels1 March 18, 2008 10:51 PM PDT
This speaks to Obama''s core values. When you expose your innocent children for years to these hate filled sermons, when you write a book inspired of this minister, when your wife accidently slips and says that she has never been proud of her country until now, then your actions speak louder than your words saying that you do not identify with your church. You do indeed identify with some element of that contempt that you would be able to sit through it for 20 years. That''s a long time to sit there and disagree.
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by shredbetty-2009 March 18, 2008 11:23 PM PDT
To address another commenters question about white pastors, so many have espoused hatred against certain races, they are too numerous to count; as recently as two weeks ago, McCain stood beside one of the most bigoted racists on the planet. Ferraro clearly showed her colors in front of the world. Candidates cannot control other people -- they can only control their own words. I was undecided until I saw this speech. It''s clear that Obama has the courage to tell the truth, even in the face of adversity.
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by agerb1 March 19, 2008 1:18 AM PDT
Ah, Ryan, you may want to proofread your article before publishing/posting it. Mayor Nutter must''ve changed his first name, or I must''ve campaigned for a different person.
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by siderchange March 19, 2008 6:33 AM PDT
It is true that that on CNN''s Anderson Cooper, Fox News, etc. Senator Obama stated that he was not in attendance during the more fiery sermons of Rev. Wright. David Berger stated to take the admission at face value, but as journalists one is permitted to search for the truth. Senator Obama made certain that this would NOT happen by quickly retracting his admission through his speech. Senator Obama''s speech was to, first, retract statements which he KNEW would come up later regarding not being present while the terse comments were being preached, provide his diverse background and story, mention his views regarding race, cite his published works regarding this, provide subtle jabs targeting the "divisive campaigns that do not promote unity", and most essentially, to promote his campaign of ''change'', ''hope'', and reconciliation of America to essentially follow him to the path of nomination and of the presidency. How coincidental%u2026.

Senator Obama is the only individual who could have addressed the topic of race. Hillary would be seen as one taking full advantage of the terse situation, and others would view McCain mentioning it as hypocrisy. There are professional concerns I have had with the senator. Here is an article:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-galesburg_obama_webfeb01,0,7138122,print.story

Another creditable article with many different sources can be reviewed here:

http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/PDFfiles/2008Election.pdf
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by siderchange March 19, 2008 6:42 AM PDT
It is true that that on CNN''s Anderson Cooper, Fox News, etc. Senator Obama stated that he was not in attendance during the more fiery sermons of Rev. Wright. David Berger stated to take the admission at face value, but as journalists one is permitted to search for the truth. Senator Obama made certain that this would NOT happen by quickly retracting his admission through his speech. Senator Obama''s speech was to, first, retract statements which he KNEW would come up later regarding not being present while the terse comments were being preached, provide his diverse background and story, mention his views regarding race, cite his published works regarding this, provide subtle jabs targeting the "divisive campaigns that do not promote unity", and most essentially, to promote his campaign of ''change'', ''hope'', and reconciliation of America to essentially follow him to the path of nomination and of the presidency. How coincidental%u2026.

Senator Obama is the only individual who could have addressed the topic of race. Hillary would be seen as one taking full advantage of the terse situation, and others would view McCain mentioning it as hypocrisy. There are professional concerns I have had with the senator. Here is an article:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-galesburg_obama_webfeb01,0,7138122,print.story

Another creditable article with many different sources can be reviewed here:

http://www.thecityedition.com/Pages/Archive/Winter08/PDFfiles/2008Election.pdf
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by ahepburn1 March 19, 2008 3:48 PM PDT
FINALLY, now we all have a reason not to vote for him! A black pastor uses less than eloquent language to address the plight of black americans. How dare he. How dare Obama, who in fact is a black man, listen to a pastor who expresses Christianity and at times over his 30 year career, speaks from a black perspective on racism. If you think this is hateful, welcome to reality. Welcome to a world where black male children must be instructed by their parents to fear police who are supposed to protect them. Welcome to this nations dark side. A side where you have never had to visit until they put Wright on YouTube to make sure we could never have a black president. Glad you all got your excuses early enough. I am so disappointed that racism has finally shot down this campaign. And in my favorite form, reverse racism against the man.
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