"The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks 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."
Sure, progress has been made but there are racial disparities in access to traditional home mortgages, health care and quality education. The black unemployment rate is twice that of whites and one in nine black men between the ages of 20 and 34 is behind bars.
In an eloquent and wide-ranging speech, Obama used this teachable moment to contextualize the anger and resentments on both sides of the racial divide. "But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America - to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality."
And because race matters, "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 health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American."While Obama "condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright," he refused to "disown" him. That refusal, coupled with the "constant loop" of Wright's sermons, will make it hard to "get beyond our racial divisions."
Only time will tell whether voters will embrace Obama's candidacy to send the message: "Not this time." A CBS poll found that among voters who heard about the controversy, 30 percent "said it made them have a less favorable view" of Obama.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton is riding high. The latest Quinnipiac poll shows "momentum in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary battle has shifted back" to Clinton, who now leads Obama 53 percent to 41 percent among likely primary voters. Whites back Clinton 61 percent to 33 percent, and blacks favor Obama 76 percent to 18 percent.
Comments: (244)
Add a comment
By: Johnnie Newkirk Jr. on 3/19/2008 5:01PM
Obama. Who needs friends and supporters like these?
I have said it over and over again: We, as African-Americans, will do, and cause, more harm to each other than any other ethnic group could. And the Honorable Rev. Louis Farrakhan and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has, once again, proven my point. Both of these men are intelligent, and both are politically astute. Minister Farrakhan was well aware that any support, whether directly or indirectly, that he would give to Senator Barack Obama would create a negative backlash for the Senator. But rather than being silent, he decided to speak out. And Senator Obama was forced to publicly renounce, denounce and reject the Minister. Then you have the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Who Senator Obama refers to as his mentor, friend, and spiritual adviser- making inflammatory, derogatory and incendiary, and, in my opinion, blasphemous remarks(by using God's name in vain), that were not only divisive, but racial in tone and substance. Both of these men were concerned more about being in the spotlight themselves than what was best for Senator Obama and his campaign. Because both of them knew, well in advance, how their statements, and comments, would be viewed and received by the media, many in the general public, and those in the Jewish community. The Clinton campaign must be breathing a sigh of relief. And they have the Rev. Louis Farrakhan, and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright to thank for that. I pray that Senator Obama gets through this and distance himself from the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. This man has retired, and he wanted to go out with a bang. And he did just that. But at Senator Obama's expense. A true friend, minister and believer would never do anything like this. He did it at a time when he knew he would get the most mileage out of it.
This is all about the Rev. Wright, himself, and his own personal agenda. I am sure a book, and/or movie deal in the making. And for the record: God is a uniter, not a divider.
And God doesn't damn anyone. God may damn the sin, but never the sinner. Again, this is what happens when the Clergy preaches their "own" agenda, and not God's agenda. God bless the Rev. Louis Farrakhan, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the World, and- yes, the United States of America.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: lee lulue on 3/19/2008 1:31PM
i cant believe obama is not dropping out of the race. This is unbeliveable
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Carmen on 3/19/2008 6:59PM
I think that we have reached a point where non African American supporters of Obama have come to the realization that Obama is black. Up until this point, I believe his non African American supporters have looked at him as a capable candidate and they have told themselves that race is not an issue. I believe that there are many people in this world who have learned to live with us, tolorate us and even become friends with us. The problem with some of these people is that they think that rasicism does not exsist anymore because they have black friends. These same people are wondering why things such as affirmative action still exist. These are the same people who wonder why we are angry about something that didn't even happen to us, but to our grandparents or ancestors. These people are the reason for Obama's speech. You can't support a person that you don't understand. You can't accept only part of a person, but the whole person. Obama can not denounce who he is and where he came from. Anyone who has ever been a victom of racisim can understand the anger of Rev Wright, but someone has to rise above that.
Of all of the things that Martin Luther King went through during his fight for equal rights, he never ever gave a speech that could be compared to the likes of Rev Wrights sermons. When we are leaders we have teach, lead and bring about change. Our complaints and opinions don't bring change, our actions do.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Geneva Hill on 3/19/2008 1:44PM
Why drop out, he has offered an explanation and I accept it. How many times have other people said things and you have to answer for them.
He is the best candidate!
God Bless Obama
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: CeeJay on 3/19/2008 1:57PM
Why OBAMA did not leave this church is at the root of the problem. Why don't wives/husbands leave their cheating spouse? Why don't parents throw their no good kids out? Why don't bosses fire good for nothing employees? Perhaps because relationships are far more complicated than black and white. This is why OBAMA did not leave this church.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: tina on 3/19/2008 2:10PM
Why would Barack Obama drop out of the race? Did you not HEAR his message? When a watched him deliver his speech yesterday, I said to myself, "What a great man and we need him to be our next president." Barack Obama GETS IT!!! We can have the same conversations and never really get anything done or we can tackle the war, the economy, education, immigration, healthcare, and race together. It is time, America, to have an open and honest discussion about race relations in this country. It makes me sick that certain groups have been trying to get SOMETHING on Barack Obama. They couldn't find anything unethical so they go after his race and religion. How sick is that. I know from first hand experience that we all as Americans have said something or have heard something that would be considered racist or unpatriotic. We all have an uncle, friend, or someone in our lives that have said something that makes us cringe. I have supported Barack Obama since his 2004 speech because there was something unique and special about him and yesterday he proved it once again. I don't care what anyone says...BARACK OBAMA MAKES ME PROUD TO AN AMERICAN!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: icemanj on 3/19/2008 2:13PM
Obama has backbone and I'm glad that he made this speech to demonstrate that you do not "disown" or quite on somebody just because they have a strong opinion on a topic that you may disagree with or support!!! That's why you don't leave your church, your family, or your friends, especially your BLACK COMMUNITY when there are hard times and when something goes wrong and taken out of context! This is how our black families and communities are divided because its bad enough that there is some self-hatred in the black community, but worse when the hatred and ego driven outsiders such as Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Shawn Hannity, and Mark Levin (all white talk show hosts who resent Black America), as well as a few weak-minded brothers and sisters with no back-bone add further criticism without solution to problems that deal with RACE! Obama said it clearly that we need to work through these issues and not cut people off when certain mistakes are made!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Righty Whitey on 3/19/2008 2:36PM
This TURD should just go LYNCHE himself ! LAUDY, LAUDY !!! LOL !!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: richardm on 3/19/2008 2:32PM
I don't get you people. It was made a law that we don't discriminate against people based on their color, gender, etc. As a senator, he's not even upholding the Constitution by promoting the hatred this reverend preaches (in the collection basket). It’s the law that all people have to comply with no matter what color you are or background. He guaranteed he would do this as Senator. His reverend violates the law. Obama pays him to in the collection basket. No speech can remove 20 years of training people to hate, week after week after week. Remove him from his job as Senator. He's failing at it let alone an aspiration to be president!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: GHR on 3/19/2008 2:36PM
I WORKED WITH A CARD CARRYING MEMEBER OF THE KLU KLUX KLAN UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 1984. I RETIRED FROM THE SAME COMPANY TWENTY FOUR YEARS LATER. WHAT GOOD WOULD IT HAVE DONE TO QUIT BECAUSE OF HIS PAST,WHEN I HAD A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HIM HOW WRONG HIS ANCESTORS WERE RIGHT THEN AND THERE. OBAMA DID A MAGNIFICENT JOB OF STEMMING THE POISONIOUS FLOOD OF NEGATIVE REPORTING OPENED BY THE PRESS FROM REVEREND J. WRIGHT'S INCENDIARY COMMENTS.
I am mighty proud of his defense of something that he did not have to defend. Does anyone know where the Bushes go to church more less is spiritually influencing them?
Reply to this Comment | Report This