Obama's Speech Was Brilliant, But ...

New Republic: Speech On Race Struck The Right Tone But May Not Please All

(The New Republic)  This column was written by Michael Crowley

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Barack Obama gave a brilliant, inspiring, intellectually supple speech--but one that may have done little to solve his festering problem with working class white Americans.

It's important to distinguish between these two dimensions of this remarkable address. Those who actually heard or read Obama's entire speech will be reminded that he is a true intellectual--a talented writer and lyrical speaker. Is there another person in American politics capable of giving a speech so organic, so devoid of cant and cliche? Certainly not that pedestrian orator, Hillary Clinton. (The lone exception, ironically, might be Bill Clinton.)

What Obama said from the lectern in Pennsylvania sounded like what you'd expect him to say, in less polished form, in a frank scotch-on-the-rocks conversation. I especially admired his keen analysis of how the media treats "race only as spectacle--as we did in the OJ trial--or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina--or as fodder for the nightly news." That's one reason it's sure to be a hit with elite commentators, not to mention racially super-enlightened liberal Democratic primary voters.

But those weren't the people Obama needed to reach today. His target audience was working class white voters--Reagan Democrats with a historic tendency to let racial prejudice and fear override their other social and economic interests, and whose view of Obama the Jeremiah Wright controversy threaten to permanently warp. That's one reason Obama sounded a striking note of sympathy for racial resentment within white America:

"Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism."

"Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze--a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns--this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding."

It will be an epic triumph when American politics puts an end to those distractions. The question is whether a black man can accomplish this. One of Bill Clinton's greatest political assets (before this campaign) was his ability to be a Nixon-in-China when it came to race; his successful mid-90s defense of affirmative action is a perfect example.

For Obama, the task is far more complicated. Perhaps I'm too cynical, but I suspect the speech may fail to meet its goal of assuaging white America in two ways.

The first is the way the speech will be filtered through the media. Many headlines are already focusing on his condemnation of Reverend Jeremiah Wright's rhetoric. But Obama also refused to rhetorically dump Wright. Instead he argued that "I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community." This is a complex and nuanced point--one which, taken from the context of Obama's larger assessment of race in America, won't satisfy people horrified by a preacher who blamed 9/11 on U.S. policies. Other headlines are likely to focus on Obama's overall call for racial reconciliation and a more perfect union.

Obama said, quite rightly, that the recent flaps over Wright and Geraldine Ferraro "reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through--a part of our union that we have yet to perfect." But the question is whether working class voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania and West Virginia and elsewhere believe, particularly in a stalled economy, that racially perfecting the union really ought to be a central goal of the next president. I would like to believe so. I'm not convinced they do. (A related point: Obama's speech was almost entirely devoted to the black-white divide. As a strategic political matter, he may have inadvisably glossed over the role of Latinos, who foster as much resentment towards black America as do whites.)

The second way in which Obama's speech may have come up short was the scant attention it devoted to social failures within the black community. This, again, was a theme that Bill Clinton used masterfully to establish himself as both a student of black culture and someone unwilling to indulge its worst excesses. It's true that Obama did urge blacks to avoid "becoming victims of our past," and take "full responsibility for our own lives--by demanding more from our fathers, and spending more time with our children, and reading to them." But this was a small part of his speech and not at all its tonal emphasis. Yet it seems quite likely that millions of white voters still see black America as indulgent of criminality and insufficiently devoted to education and work.

Obama's fleeting lines about victimhood and reading to children do little to address that audience. As an alternative, Obama might have benefitted from invoking the example of Bill Cosby, who has morphed from comedian to one of black America's sharpest internal critics. "Your dirty laundry gets out of school at 2:30 every day, it's cursing and calling each other [the N-word] as they're walking up and down the street. They think they're hip. They can't read. They can't write. They're laughing and giggling, and they're going nowhere," Cosby told a group of black activists in 2004 (who, it should be noted, cheered him on). There was nothing like that here from Obama.

Finally, I can't help but think of the familiar complaint that Obama's rhetoric is wonderful--but the specifics of the change he promises are fuzzier. In an entire speech about race in America, Obama never so much as mentioned affirmative action. He laments the state of our disgraceful public school system--yet his own platform doesn't promise the kind of revolutionary (and expensive) overhaul that system requires. Making decisions about the allocation of resources is where things get really tricky, but Obama steered away from those questions.

The information era being what it is, I was already debating my thesis via email with an Obama aide as I wrote this reaction. He warned me against assuming that Reagan Democrats are defined by the same racial prejudices that defined them in the 1980s, back when crime and welfare were primary political issues, when one Willie Horton could turn an election. He may be right. I hope he is. Unfortunately, I fear that America hasn't come nearly as far as he hopes. But it is the answer to that question that will determine the fate of Barack Obama.

[dgal878]

OBAMA, Open mouth, insert foot. Now keep it there. Thanks

[smokey197771]

Did you catch this phrase?
This just in from the Barrack Obama speech on that idiot racist preacher... please note the last sentence.
But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren%u2019t simply controversial. They weren%u2019t simply a religious leader%u2019s effort to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country %u2013 a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam.

[dinslc]

I strongly urge anyone who didn''t see this speech in it''s entirety to go to www.barackobama.com. You can watch or read the whole speech there. Obama has shown courage, honesty, and true leadership.

[thatanial]

The only person who needs to apologize for Rev Wright is Rev Wright. I will judge Obama based on who the man is.

All i see is rhetoric, however. In his short time in public he has shown no movement toward chance. Chicago and ILL politics could use alot. Instead he gets hooked up with a slum lord who is now indicted and, oops, actually gave him twice as much as he admitted to, a guy who formed a terrorist group and tried to blow up the pentagon, and an out of control preacher.

Sounds like just another slick politician with a golden tongue to me.

[marthadavid]

Obama could not have a better speech than he did today. It was from the heart.
Not stilted, and not at all typical of the way you hear from the other candidates. You know, like Al Gore inventing the Internet. Where they will just say ANYTHING all the time. It''s up to any of us to to accept or reject the sum of the man. Today we all got to know him a little better. If what we do, is judge all of the candidates by their affiliations, it will be very difficult to select a president. There is certainly enough fodder on all of them to last past the November election. The American economy is at a critical state, the health and welfare of it''s citizens in need, it''s foreign policy in dire need of repair. We all have to decide who is the most forthright, honest, unflappable candidate to deal with solutions for these issues. Who has the best goals, and vision for Americas future? Who''s judgment do you have confidence in? McCain has his cards on the table. Obama has his cards on the table. Clinton has a years and years of records yet to be released. Clinton says she has 35 years of experience. Do you believe that? Should THAT make a difference to voters? Only you are the judge of that.

[jamiesmith8]

Brilliant speech but wrong topic and did not face the issue at hand. Where was the judgment

and moral courage to step in and say to his minister that he is wrong. Is this not the responsiblity of a Senator? How would he tell anyone else they are wrong or stand up to the rights and wrongs in the world? If he did have this conversation he never identified that. There was no leadership shown in this area.

[cyberus-2009]

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"New Republic: Speech On Race Struck The Right Tone But May Not Please All"
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That IMO is a good thing ... any speech that pleases everyone is semantically null and written to respond to something while saying nothing.

[vastr-wcon]

.
The true nature of hussein has finally been revealed. For nearly twenty years hussein has been the disciple and avid follower and supporter of the racist hate-monger jeremiah wright. hussein has publicly praised wright on numerous occasions. wright''s vile, bigoted harangues against America, in general, and white Americans, in particular, illustrate the true foundation of hussein and the "church" of which he is a devout member. The foundation of hussein is racial division and strife - not unity. If it were not for the thin veneer slapped on him by his handlers, I would expect him to adopt wright''s "God Da''mn America" as his theme song. hussein is clearly an outrageously unacceptable candidate for any elected office or position of responsibility in America.

Senator Clinton must immediately withdrawal her generous offer to allow hussein to serve as her vice president. He certainly isn''t qualified for that either.

/

[johnjones-mt]

As a white man, in a white state, who has lived by the work of his hands, I can tell you I am not frightened by Barack Obama. I was not frightened by him before his pastor made disgusting remarks, and I was not frightened after his pastor made disgusting remarks. I am unafraid of the man I will vote.

[johnnrail]

I haven''t been a supporter of Obama, but this speech almost convinced me to join his campaign. It was brilliant! How refreshing that we might actually have a President who can think, and who cares. Maybe a president like that could actually help address some of the real problems this country faces, like a sinking economy.

[snakesnaking]

"Making decisions about the allocation of resources is where things get really tricky, but Obama steered away from those questions."

Come on. Anyone who discusses the nuts and bolts of policy, who says the words "allocate 1.4% of the GNP into," is immediately labeled a "policy wonk" who "cannot connected to the common man."

He was giving a speech about race. This bit about the rhetoric was an intellectually weak criticism.

[johnnrail]

I haven''t been a supporter of Obama, but this speech almost convinced me to join his campaign. It was brilliant! How refreshing that we might actually have a President who can think, and who cares. Maybe a president like that could actually help address some of the real problems this country faces, like a sinking economy.

[johnnrail]

I haven''t been a supporter of Obama, but this speech almost convinced me to join his campaign. It was brilliant! How refreshing that we might actually have a President who can think, and who cares. Maybe a president like that could actually help address some of the real problems this country faces, like a sinking economy.

[zorlacskates]

right wing trolls, now is the time to start wrecking your underpants. obama isn''t afraid of the right-wing smear, nor is he going to back down from who is his, a man of conviction and integrity, a man that is probably too good and intelligent to be president of this country, truth be told. he isn''t going to fold like kerry did. as we''ve learned over the last eight years, conservatives are -- at heart -- cowards and hypocrites, and obama is going to give you a fight i don''t believe you can handle.

[watcher345]

Obama lied in his first interview that he never heard his preacher spoke derogatively. But today, he admited he did and only today sort of condemns it. If the news did not break, the American voters would have been so ignorant. Also Obama owes the Rev a lot that is why he won''t distance himself from him. He owes him his faith, support, life, beliefs and spiritual consciouness. How could he have the audacity to run for the Presidency with such "ideals"? Who knows about Obama other than what he says about himself? Is that why he really did not vote for the war because he feels and shares views with his Rev against White America? He needed to so apologize today in his speech. He needed to show he was willing to take responsibility and tell the American people the truth that he overlooked Rev. Wright over the years. Sometimes people become so desensitize to such philosophy. Obama is simply a passive man who could not stand up to the wrong when he needed to. He cannot stand up to his black community because it would mean betrayal. So the best thing to say was to divert his speech to all minorities facing similar issues. The speech today was about him and Rev. Wright not about race in America. His message is always about "We" even it is just about himself.

[niqueie]

Race only becomes a factor to me if I believe he will put his special intrestest above the good of all Americans. I believe that all people are created equal, but are not given equal opportunities. This being said many blacks are born into poverty and are surrounded with a dark culture of criminal behaviors and unsupportive families. I am a little worried that he will narrow his focus too much on these problems and with those problems in Africa, but not work to solve other problems in America - such as schools and cutting wasteful spending, dealing effectively to stop terrorism, and work with companies to create and accelerate growth here at home. Obama talks a great talk, but one person can only use their influence to change only so many things. If he has the smallest part of his attitude in line with that of his preachers, (that America will forever be damned because of slavery and unjustices to African-americans) then We simply can''t elect him. For he will put his interests in front of the good of the entire American nation.

[mainiac372]

I''m concerned that so much is focused on what his pastor said. He''s, over and over again, disagreed with the statements. What''s he gotta give, blood? Saying that his pastor drives his beliefs is like saying that Catholics are pedophiles....

[djboccio]

A great speech as usual from a very talented candidate. He answered the question about did he knew of the hate comments of his pastor and spiritual advisor. I cannot support anyone who does not distance himself from hate speech and the person who use the hate. I could not support a person who attends an Islamic school spewing hate and I can''t support a candidate who still attends a church that preaches hate within the message of God. A country of 300 million people should be able to find a candidate for President who does not attend a center of hate that teaches their children that our government created the HIV virus to suppress a race of people. We should elsewhere for our next President.

[lbee4]

THE INFO ON OBAMA''S RACIST PASTOR IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET, IT''S ODD IT''S JUST NOW ON THE NEWS. THE DATED COMMENTS FROM THE PASTOR IS 2001 AND 2003. TOOK A WHILE TO BE HEARD BY THE MEDIA. THE POT SMOKING, COCAINE SNORTING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, HAS NOW COMPARED A PAID RACIST CHURCH PASTOR TO HIS GRANDMOTHER,,,HIS GRANDMOTHER. AND AMERICA IS SUPPOSED TO BELIVE THIS. IF IT LOOKS LIKE ***, SMELLS LIKE ***, MUST BE ***. BIRDS OF A FEATHER, FLOCK TOGETHER..BARRY AND JERRY ONE IN THE SAME...

[frannie08-2009]

He probably didn''t even write the speech. It was written by his speech writer, Favreau.

[frannie08-2009]

Didn''t have the moral conviction or courage to tell Wright he was wrong.
Didn''t have the good judgment to leave that church, still doesn''t.
Should not be considered for office of President.
Goodbye, Barry, Goodbye

[elliott369]

Brilliant? Give me a break, it was cowardly.

[bud28dy]

I always read these comments and shake my head at the collective ADD that engulfs you guys. Comments here should be about the article above -- whether the speech will win back the white lunch-pail voters he and any other democrat needs to win the election. Instead the comments are just the same irrelevant drivel from the Obama haters and the Obama worshippers that has nothing to do with the question raised in the article. No wonder America is in such a sorry state.

[trinihog58]

I am a first generation immigrant to the USA, who served in the military as a green card holder and then became a citizen of this beautiful country. I love this country and I am proud to live, work and raise my children and grandchildren in this country. I am a voter but was never into politics before this election. I became interested in this election because of Barack Obama. I thought that he was a refreshing face and voice to politics. He stirred something inside of me that made me very interested in this presential race. I did not saw nor heard his speech, but I read the entire speech in it entirety. I have to say that Barack Obama''s speech was one of the most emotional piece of literature I have ever read. He did not take the safe route with this speech, but took the best route to address the present situation that is going on in his campaign and the country. After reading his speech, I am more convinced that Barack Obama is the best candidate for President.

[paris1969]

Brilliant? ... are you kidding. Only the far-left voters and liberal media would call it brilliant. I am not impressed with speeches, actions defy his words. And I don''t buy his saying that he is uniquely qualified to unite people .. I think sitting in that pew for 20 years uniquely disqualified him!

[gromit111]

Did you catch this phrase?

Read the last sentence again. He''s saying this is a distorted view of this country.

[elliott369]

"So what''s extraordinary about this is -- and you saw during that little montage you saw some of Barack Obama appearing on Hannity & Colmes right here on the Fox News Channel on Friday night. And one of the final questions Major Garrett asked Barack Obama was, "If you had heard any of those things would you have quit the church?" And he said, "Absolutely, I would have quit the church."

Barack Obama is a liar, obviously. All the empty speeches in the world will not change that FACT.

[tigertang1]

Obama invoked MLK, then he benefited from 85%-90% Blacks voting since SC. That is a FACT.
Now he is saying it shall not be racial. He IS not racial. It is someone ELSE is racial. Let unite together after HIM. He is using race for his Presidential DREAM only.
He said he has good judgment in Iraq war vote. Now he admited he had wrong JUDGMENT on Rekzo.
He said Rekzo only donate 150000, now he admited rekzo donated $250,000.
He used other people''s words for his dreams to allure naive YOUTH voters.
People, wake up before too late. If you not vote Hillary then vote for McCain.

[ioweign]

This really isn''t a new road for some of us...

I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party''s candidate for President, who happens also to be a Catholic.
John F. Kennedy


"I hope that no American ... will waste his franchise and throw away his vote by voting either for me or against me solely on account of my religious affiliation. It is not relevant." John Fitzgerald Kennedy

A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality.
John F. Kennedy

No one has been barred on account of his race from fighting or dying for America, there are no white or colored signs on the foxholes or graveyards of battle.
John F. Kennedy

For Bush and Cheney...

The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths, and to secret proceedings.
John F. Kennedy

[tigertang1]

Obama said MY INSTINCT WAS TO BELIEVE Rezko, I TRUSTED HIM. I always thought Obama was perfect to be right on Iraq War vote, which, with help from media, gave him the TREASURE to buy COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF title. Now it turned out his instinct was the same as these of usual politics. Now Obama said Rezko raised $250,000, which was far more than he previously acknowledged." Previously, Obama''s aides had estimated that Rezko raised $50,000 to $60,000 for the Democratic presidential contender''s campaigns over the years.

American voters are kidding. Media is kidding. Another Bush-like is on horizon.
Think again: Media-loved Bush won over Gore-Is-Bore Al Gore, who won Nobel now.
Think again: If we had Gore as president 8 years ago, what would we have ended up with?
Every voter (Republican/Democratic) shall WAKE UP before too late.

[ranger1948]

I can''t believe all the idiots that are buying into his speech. Look at his actions. He has belonged to a raxist church for 20 years, has a racist wife, has connections with people who advocate killing the white race and that think white America deserved 9/11. You people need to pull your heads out of the sand and wake up to reality. This has cost him any chance of becoming president.

[ranger1948]

mainiac372
He doesn''t have to give blood, we only don''t want people like him taking ours.

[ranger1948]

It is too late for Hillary to withdraw her offer. Once she had made it she lost any credibility she had with the voters. I don''t want McCain but will not vote for obama or hillary

[biznesschic]

Oh where do I began?

Obama''s speech did little to placate working class white voters? The last time I check, he was winning without them. And please, do not invoke the Bill Cosby lament of beating up on lower class black people without coming to terms with the affects of racism in this country. Mr. Cosby has been a serial adult-er who has not only paid a women who may have fathered his children out of wedlock, but also settled court cases in which he was accused of drugging women and molesting them. If you are going to pick a messiah for the black race, please pick one with a little moral character.

[biznesschic]

Oh where do I began?

Obama''s speech did little to placate working class white voters? The last time I check, he was winning without them. And please, do not invoke the Bill Cosby lament of beating up on lower class black people without coming to terms with the affects of racism in this country. Mr. Cosby has been a serial adult-er who has not only paid a women who may have fathered his children out of wedlock, but also settled court cases in which he was accused of drugging women and molesting them. If you are going to pick a messiah for the black race, please pick one with a little moral character.

[KYJurisDoctor]

"Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely - just as I''m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed. ...

In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world''s great religions demand - that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us be our brother''s keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister''s keeper."

That says it ALL, folks.

http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2008/03/heres-obamas-speech-on-race-religion.html#links

[ranger1948]

kyjurisdocto
When i was a christain i cannot recall hearing a preacher say anything like wight has said. Nor will i support a candidate that accepts by affiliation these remarks. You want racism to end, it has to happen on both sides of the coin.

[ranger1948]

Anyone who says we deserved 9/11 is a traitor to our country. No country deserves to have that happen to them, not even our enemies.

[harrydoghiny]

"ranger1948"

Obama scares the *** out of you Neocons, doesn''t he? That''s good enough for me.

[ranger1948]

harrydoghiny
I am not sure what your definition is of a neocon so do not know if you are trying to be insulting or not. I never trusted obama, my insticts have proven right. I was leaning towards hillary untill she ofered a joint ticket to obama. I didn''t want mcclain either but again like 8 years ago we are looking to see who is he least evil of the candidates. I don''t understnad why the parties can''t find candidates worthy to run for office.

[seanserendip]

I served in the first gulf war, flew black hawks. I love this country. WRight was a marine and has served this country. As far as I;m concerned the small clips that we see are only part of his entire life. he has done more for this country than many people I know.

Senator Obama''s understanding of race relations is brilliant and honest. I love my country. Which is why I am voting for the most patriotic politician out there, so patriotic that I dont even want to call him a politician but a statesman - Barack Obama

Oh, and I am white in case you were wondering

[nicerod77]

I knew he would''nt please everyone there are people with hearts so filled with hate, they will die old and angry and a racist. Stop looking for something to cover up why you wont vote for him it makes you feel better to say I wont vote for him because of what someone else did instead of saying I wont vote for him because he don''t look like me.
deep in your heart you want to be free from hate because in the end your no better than those terroist that Hate people because of there religion.
Barack Obama is a true example of what america is and to deny that is to deny your true motives in this election. Stop looking for reasons to hate him.
from the time he has started he has showed us nothing but love and compassion and for that he has my vote.

[ranger1948]

nicerrod77
Spoken like a true ostrich, or a sheep following. I don''t know whatt it will ake to get people like you to see the truth. We cannot hve a racist of any color in the oval office.

[ranger1948]

seanserendip
Those clips show his true colors. The fact that you are white is irrelevant. Where and when did wright serve ?

[nicerod77]

Posted by ranger1948 at 12:42 AM : Mar 19, 2008
We cannot hve a racist of any color in the oval office

if that is true
ranger1948 your dad has never been president
and you will never been president either

[coloradogrrl]

"the question is whether working class voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania and West Virginia.. believe, particularly in a stalled economy, that racially perfecting the union really ought to be a central goal of the next president."

You left out the very next lines of Obama''s speech:

"If we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like healthcare or education or the need to find good jobs for every American."

How does that not appeal to working class voters?

I truly believe that Barack Obama''s intention is to bring us hope at a time when this country faces numerous and seemingly insurmountable problems. Hope comes in the form of someone who is intelligent, kind and has kept his ties to the common people-- of all races, all economic groups and levels of education. He has the unique ability to inspire people to work toward a common goal for the future of our country. I''d rather rely on his ability to inspire a nation full of people to bring their talents to the table and help solve this mess than the other two candidates who seem to insist we should trust them and their cronies to handle the crises for us, behind closed doors.

And, lastly, Mr. Crowley: you do realize the historic value of this speech, don''t you? And yet you point at it and call it lacking? No one will remember your pessimistic interpretation of this important speech.

[ranger1948]

NICEROD77
And none of your family will ever be as well. Yes i have prejudices like everyone. Mine are against criminals of any color who commit crimes and against racists.

[PulSamsara]

I''m White. I Work.
I''m voting for Obama.

Barack Obama doesn''t have a problem with this working class American.

Go Barack !

[starpost]

I''m not a Reagan Democrat. I''m a Robert Kennedy Democrat and I wouldn''t give Obama the time of day after this racist fiasco created by his continuing allegiance to Pastor Wright. Obama''s speech today tried to pull a fast one by taking the focus off of him (he knew he had to do something after last Friday''s explanations did not work) and placing the focus on "the nation." I''m not buying this for a minute. Pastor Wright''s congregation is no place for a U.S. Senator to be, and certainly not a place for a future president. Sen. Obama better come to terms with this issue. I might consider him in 4 years or 8 years, depending on the outcome of the November election. But for 2008, he does not get my vote. Not after trying to make his own personal mess a "national mess."

[ranger1948]

colorado girl
You sound so naive. The historic value of his speeech, it is spew from a candidatwe trying to recover from the truth coming out. He is still affiliated wit a racist church and has a racist wife. How much experience do you have in real life ?