Obama's Philadelphia 'Unity' speech

[kevyn]

"Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now."
        -- Senator Barack Obama

Wow.

I just heard^* the speech Obama gave this morning in Philadelphia, and I have to say... I am really impressed.

He tackled race head on, in a way that I have heard no other politician do before: Black anger. White anger. Racism. Racism on all sides. The legacy of slavery and discrimination. The perils of affirmative action and political correctness. The sermons of Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The comments of Geraldine Ferraro. He even acknowledged white liberal guilt. It was incredibly refreshing to hear these issues talked about honestly and directly by a politician, without flinching or dancing around the issues... and in a way that stressed the unity of our country.

He took the high road all the way through, acknowledging all sides in our country's polarized racial makeup, but approaching all points of view with respect (though not always agreement).

And then he goes on to bring all the sides of the racial divides together, past cynicism, past old hurts, in common cause. To fight injustice, and help America become the "more perfect union" our forebears worked to bring about. A brilliant piece of speechcrafting.

I have to say it is clear to me that Obama, standing with one foot in the black world, and one foot in the white world, is uniquely placed to bridge that gap between black and white, to reach out to both Americas. This speech felt like a balm on an old wound.

He also took on the Iraq War, health care, outsourced jobs, and greedy corporations -- all issues aimed to appeal to the working and middle classes. Obama is clearly a gifted politico. The only part of the wide-ranging speech I disagreed with is his unequivocal and uncritical support Israel... but like the speech said, you don't have to agree with everything someone says to hold them in high regard.

This speech is truly a masterpiece. I had a sense of listening to history when I heard it.

He just raised the bar on political discourse in this campaign. Instead of spinning and equivocating and attacking, as other candidates have been known to do, he approached a difficult subject with poise and respect.

If he wins the nomination, he has my vote. I'll come home to the Democrats for him.

_{* I "heard" it courtesy of the International Herald Tribune's synthesized voice reader of the full text of the speech. Such an awesome free service IHT offers on its articles -- you should try it. I can't wait to hear the speech in Obama's own voice.}

Comments

[atldaddybear.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, there's a Hillbot on one of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution blogs who is using quotes from the palecon Drudge (well, there ain't nothing "neo" about 'em any more, is there?) to try to discredit Obama's speech.

The desperation of the Clinton camp and its supporters is disgusting to me. Their slash-n-burn, torched earth, go for 50% Plus One strategy is turning off more and more folks, and the Hillbots just can't - or, more likely, just won't - see the damage they're creating.

(BTW, if it wasn't obvious, I'm "GayGreyGeek" over on the AJC. All three descriptors just seem to "fit", for some reason. :-}}}} )

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

I certainly agree that some Clinton supporters have a sense of "entitlement" that they feel towards their candidate returning to the White House. I think they see Obama as a threat to what should be "rightfully Hillary's", and are engaging in some pretty nasty tactics. I've been bothered by that, myself.

But honestly, does calling someone a "Hillbot" elevate the discourse?

Just askin'. ;-)

[atldaddybear.livejournal.com]

Sorry - repeatedly typing out 'another person who thinks Hillary is the most Perfectly Perfectest Potential President Possible and who refuses to hear or consider anything that's not a Clinton Campaign Talking Point' makes my 46-year-old-fingers tired. :-PPPP

Having been repeatedly called an "Obamaniac" by both g_e_o_r_g_e and pauliebearsf - the latter of whom's LJ seems to be nothing but anti-Obama screed after anti-Obama screed after fucking anti-Obama screed - I really wonder if Clinton's supporters have forgotten that the real "enemy" (for lack of a better word) are the ultrafundamentalists in the Republican party who have essentially driven my hubby and me out of this country.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

NP - I just am trying to follow Mr. Obama's example on my LJ, and take the high road.

But I sure know what you mean about being driven out of the country!

[phreddd.livejournal.com]

Now I've gotta run to it... Thank you very much for the review.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. I've watched the video now, and I'm still convinced this is the most important speech on race we've had since the 1960s.

[gmjambear]

Prior to reading your post, I saved Obama's transcribed speech that is posted on barackobama.com.

In light of what has happened in the past few weeks, I believe too many people are looking for a perfectly clean and flawless candidate for U.S. President. Obama even acknowledged in his speech that the campaign run is far from perfect.

It was a strong, persuasive speech that might open some closed minds, if some are willing to take out their ear plugs.

[kevynjacobs.livejournal.com]

>I believe too many people are looking for a perfectly clean and flawless candidate for U.S. President.

Yup. It's that damned Puritan heritage. It's like when Bill Clinton got slammed for face-fucking Monica (pre-lying and impeachment). The rest of the world went "so what?" while the Moral Crusaders in this country went apeshit.

>It was a strong, persuasive speech that might open some closed minds, if some are willing to take out their ear plugs.

I have a gut feeling that this is a speech that will be remembered. And will change the world a little bit for the better.