Barack Obama speech on race Feb. 18, 2008 -1 of 3

[Gutsyndicate]

u take keys out of the table and put it back! lol!

[sineaddeburca]

Where's the outrage over McCain's choice of "pastors" ? He has recently CHOSEN to align himself with nutjobs like John C. Hagee and Rod Parsley who say things like "9/11 was punishment for Gays in America" and "the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon"... And Hillary's choice to join the very controversial Right Wing Extremist Christian Group called "Fellowship" aka "The Family" ?

[Ekkthroi]

BTW, as a white person who lives deep in Brooklyn, NY, which has a large black population, I too have resentment against the payback attitude of a large amount of blacks (i.e. black people have been treated badly by whites for years, now it's blacks' turn to treat whites poorly). And I was troubled by the Wright revelations. But Obama's speech addressed my concerns. He's got my vote!

[Ekkthroi]

What puzzles me about all of this: Why is no one in the "liberal media" comparing this to John McCain's prolific use of the word "gook" in the 2000 campaign?

[mjv50]

everybody on earth will eventually fade away.

[y2knoproblem]

Like Romney, Obama will fade away.

[roomsixproductions]

I meant, ryebosco, not Obama, before you jump on me.

[roomsixproductions]

This guy doesn't know WTF he's talking about.

He is just another racist asshole in love with the scent of his own (bull)shit.

[mariopistol23]

Some people can't recognize greatness if it slapped them in the face. This speech was very comprehensive inspiring. He wrote this speech. Its from his heart. It isn't hard to conceive that if he is the President, and faced with adversity, that he can rise to the occassion. Can you imagine President Bush writing and giving this message? If he doesn't win the Presidential Election, America will be lost, because he is what this nation is looking for, be he black or white.

[TsunamiWombat]

He spoke to the people of the United State's in a way that...doesn't piss me off.

We need this man...in the Whitehouse... Right now.

[roomsixproductions]

Yes! When the hell has this country ever had a man stand in front of us and be so fucking honest about the problems we have?

The other politicians are so busying playing the race card to their advantage, they'd never openly discuss the problem. They wont even acknowledge that there is a race problem in this country. That's because they're PART OF THE DAMN PROBLEM!!!

[PP79000]

And yes, that was the best thing about it to me. How honest he was. He took such huge political risks. It made the whole thing transcend the election. That he not only chose not to disown his pastor, but to defend and embrace him publicly gives me chills. This man has honor and bravery and sincerity like I haven't ever seen in a public figure.

[PP79000]

Like Obama touched on, racial divisions are used to divide us so we can be conquered and controlled.  But we don't have to let it be that way.

[TsunamiWombat]

He says outright he denounces the comments of his Pastor.

[roomsixproductions]

I'm sorry, but WTF did white folks think went on in Black churches??? Oh, dear LORD, thank you SO MUCH for white folks!!! Thank you for slavery, lynchings, beatings, police brutality, institutionalized poverty, torture, oppression, genocide, racism, alienation, segregation, marginalization, and condescension! Thanks for flooding the ghettos with heroin and crack cocaine! Thanks for the back of the bus, and the crusts of bread! WE LOVE YOU, WHITEY!!! Thanks for the hate! It's been GREAT!

[PP79000]

Thank you. It's disgusting that white people (yes, I am white) think they have the right to get pissed at a black person for having outrage over the way they are treated. I think it's because we are terrified that if we allow the natural and fair emotional response we'll get what we have coming. Same reason it's illegal for more than a few native americans to gather together at once.

[roomsixproductions]

Thank you for understanding. I appreciate it. FYI, I don't BLINDLY hate ALL white people without cause or reason, but I honestly do get annoyed at certain white people sometimes like Bill O'Reilly and those Fox News assholes. They're just always up to NO GOOD. They never stop stirring up people's trouble. It's like they LIKE seeing everyone fighting all the time.

[PP79000]

I totally understand, Roomsix. I think there is a huge difference between white racism and black racism that is worth mentioning, too. I've known black people who thought they had a prejudice against white people. But they never seemed to have a problem with white people who had respect for them and acknowledged where they were coming from. The white racists I've known, though... different story. I'd like to argue that "black racism" is really usually just a reaction, not real racism.

[roomsixproductions]

THANK YOU, PP79000!

When I was a little kid, I was like Casper, the Friendly Ghost - I wanted to be friends with anybody and everybody, regardless of race. I didn't care about that crap. It's only after a LIFETIME of racist treatment by others that I have learned to have resentment and anger in regards to matters of race. I didn't create this situation - I was BORN INTO IT, and I've had to try to live with it every day. RACISM sucks!!!

[PP79000]

That's the deepest tragedy. What we do to the precious hearts of fucking CHILDREN. Little kids have to deal with this sick, soul crushing stuff. And yet, so many white Americans get filled with outrage over what some pastor said that never affected them because they interpreted his reaction to injustice as racist? Where is the outrage over a 6 year old child being called the most disgusting and vile word in the english language?

[roomsixproductions]

When I was 6, I went to work with my grandma, who had a part-time job working as a "gal Friday" for a retired silent film star/alchoholic. I'll NEVER forget the 1st day I went with her. I walked in the front door in my pretty dress, smiled, waved, and happily said HELLO to everyone in the lobby.

Next thing I know, the doorman grabbed my arm, growled in my ear that NIGGERS were supposed to use the service entrance, then he dragged me out of the lobby around to the side of the building. I was 6.

[PP79000]

Room6, I am so sorry. That's a horrible story. Can you imagine doing anything like that to a child? One of the deepest wounds this country has is what we have done to our black children. We've taught them that their open hearts, wide eyes and beautiful imaginations are little more than a cruel trick played on them by God. Though they dream as big as any other child, we teach them that those dreams are not for them. And why? The color of their skin. We teach

[PP79000]

them that there is something dark, shameful, ugly and inferior about them because of it. We start teaching them this as soon as they are born.

[PP79000]

And anyone who thinks that our society doesn't teach them this anymore is fooling themselves. My mother's best friend (who is black) has an 8 year old son who is at our house all the time. This last year he has started to say he wishes he was white... he'd just like himself better if he was. He is gorgeous, wicked smart, precocious, charming and as socialable and friendly as a kid can be, just like you were. But he thinks he would be better if he weren't black.

[PP79000]

There is so much healing that needs to be done in this country. And healing doesn't happen without real, deep, heartfelt acknowledgment. A lot of white people don't seem to think they should play a role in this healing because they didn't do anything wrong. For one, we have all played a role, albeit unwittingly sometimes, in racism. But even if those of us who are not racist are to consider ourselves innocent, this does not exclude us from the healing process.

[PP79000]

If your father murdered someone's child in cold blood and you were to meet this person for the first time, what would be your demeanor, your attitude? Sure, you didn't do it yourself, but you would surely greet them with great humility and heartfelt sympathy, compassion and regret over what your father had done. That is our role as white Americans now. No one is asking non-racist whites to feel shame, self hatred or guilt over acts they are not

[PP79000]

personally guilty of. But to feel and acknowledge the pain and horror our ancestors, as well as other living whites have caused with humility and compassion.. this is only human. It's not too much to ask.

[ryebosco]

hi room6! :)

Many blacks have gone through prejudism, so have many asians, latinos, muslims, women, men and yes even whites. All nationalities and races have been affronted in one way or another. But never have I observed more hatred and anger than the blacks. I don't like Obama not because of his race, it's because he is nowhere near Martin Luther King, nor Thurgood Marshall, nor Collin Powell...these are proven and accomplished leaders whom I will vote for president, NOT OBAMA (he's the shit)

[Ekkthroi]

I have treated black people with respect and had friends of many backgrounds all my life. I was born in 1972. So despite your probably justifiable rage, why does that give you the right to disrespect me? I am white, so is Rush Limbaugh: the similarities end there. YOU are the one keeping hate alive, not all black people, YOU the INDIVIDUAL. It's up to each of us-and as a resident of a black city, black on black oppression is as insidious as white, I see it every day.

[Ekkthroi]

this was a response to a reply on the following page-wtf?

[PP79000]

You rock, 2Slim4me. I have so much respect for people who are willing to break party (democrat or republican) because they believe in a candidate.

[cfotoole]

Who the hell marked this as spam?

[GratefulGroover]

what exactly has she done again? or any of these candidates for that matter. even mccain has less (being in a prison camp does not spell future president). The fact of the matter is, there is not one single solitary instance that unquestionably states a person would be a good president (except if you are running for a second term). We need to be voting for the person that best represents -you-, not the person themselves.

[afkamistan]

Why do some people suck at capturing footage?

[FullMetalMugen]

there is no way Obama won't win

[omodeleak]

@ryebosco

If u say he's impatient, then u probably have missed the whole reason for his running for president. It is what Martin Lurther King Jnr called the fierce urgency of now!!

If u understand of believe that there's a right timing for everything, then you'd know that this is his right time to run. Imagine that mass "political" awakening especially amongst the youths. Thats a good sign and a good call for us all to stand up and say no to the status quo cos the time for CHANGE has come.

[ryebosco]

hi omodeleak! :)

MLK, Jr's "fierce urgency of now" was about the civil rights of Americans, not Barack Hussein Obama's political and ambitious demagoguery. The mass political awakening u're talking about is nothing but a trendy emotion just like Jesse Jackson and Ross Perot. Tell u what, let's keep in touched with each other. If Obama becomes president, I will apologize and admit I've been callous about Obama. If he loses, then all I can say is that I was right all along...deal?

[omodeleak]

If you say he's impatient, then you probably have missed the whole reason for his running for president. It is what Martin Lurther King Jnr called the fierce urgency of now!!

If you understand of believe that there's a right timing for everything, then you'd know that this is his right time to run. Imagine that mass "political" awakening especially amongst the youths... Thats a good sign and a good call for us all to stand up and say no to the status quo cos the time for CHANGE has come.

[omodeleak]

If you say he's impatient, then you probably have missed the whole reason for his running for president. It is what Martin Lurther King Jnr called the fierce urgency of now!!

If you understand of believe that there's a right timing for everything, then you'd know that this is his right time to run. Imagine that mass "political" awakening especially amongst the youths... Thats a good sign and a good call for us all to stand up and say no to the status quo cos the time for CHANGE has come.

[DantheEngineer82]

He just won the presidency.

[icsclean]

type in obama gives speech of a lifetime on race and gender view the entire video in 3 parts

[Guffb]

Once you go Barack...you never go back!

[cathysfiddle]

I think highly of all the candidates. This speech puts Obama in a class of his own. Intellegent and compassionate ... and speaking of the unspoken. Thank you for posting.

And turn off that cell phone!! ;-)

[PP79000]

He's been in the senate for 11 years, Ryebosco.

Clinton will make any argument that she thinks will help her, regardless of whether or not it's based in any reason or fact. She depends on people being swayed, not by the facts, or lack thereof, but by her conviction in whatever she is claiming at the moment and then regurgitating her lies to others like fact.

[orchote]

he has not been in the senate for 11 years....not that it matters, but he hasn't.

[PP79000]

Yes, he has. He was in the IL Senate from 1997 - 2004 and in the US Senate from 2004 until now. That's 11 years. The math is pretty simple, dude.

[PP79000]

Yes, he has. he was in the IL Senate from 1997 - 2004 and the US Senate from 2004 until now. That's 11 years. The math is pretty simple, dude.

[orchote]

that's two different senates, jackass. plus "The Senate" to most people in the know, means the US senate, and that was certainly the Senate everyone else was referring to. It like saying a man who has lived 5 different places in life never left "his house", since they are all his house, but obviously different places..."dude".

[PP79000]

"To most people in the know.."? Lol. True, they two different senates. And he served in both of them. For 11 years total. I guess the intentionally exclusionary speech of "those in the know" doesn't make them ignorant, just intentionally deceitful and misleading.

[bdbarone]

Obama is the next President of this country, IMO.