Divides Obama Doesn't Bridge
by Froma Harrop
In distancing himself from the heated remarks of his pastor, Barack Obama did as well as anyone could do in his position. The problem is his position, which is having sat in the reverend's pews for 20 years without thinking to pick up and leave.
The discussion of race in the Democratic contest — as in American life — runs along different tracks. Certain people can say certain things. When the wrong person crosses to a track he or she doesn't have a license to be on, all hel ...
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Posted by: Celeste Johnson
Comment: #1
Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:23 AM
I, as a lifelong moderate Democrat, agree Obama gave a great speech. It is the reason for it that gives me pause. If he had done this years ago as part of the trans formative leadership he now promises to America then great. But as a speech to save his candidacy, I say this is manipulation and I resent it. The more I find out about Obama, the more I realize his life as been, in large part, a life of expediency. In almost every case, I see that his responses to the challenges before him have been weak, such as his response to Rev.Wright's off the wall statements.
I feel much as I did when we inched toward war 5 years ago and the media, swept away by the hype, fell down on the job. This time the post facto breast beating will not be good enough. Please read the two articles listed below and by all means provide more for us to read. We all need to learn much, much more about this man, good and bad. If he is to be our nominee, then for Pete's sake give us some reasons to vote for him in November Otherwise, many, like me, will just NOT vote for this man. I have not missed voting for President since Jimmy Carter and this is killing me.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/128633/
http://houstonpress.com/2008-02-28/news/barack-obama-screamed-at-me/
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Posted by: Merle Gilliland
Comment: #2
Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:13 AM
Froma: I greatly appreciate your column on "Both sides using race gambit". Race should not be an issue in the campaign. Senator Obama's support of a church that sends the messages of hatred towards America should be of concern of all registered voters.
I would think that the intensity of Rev. Wright's messages has instilled in the majority of his congregration, including the Obamas, a very strong feeling of hate towards America.
If the Obamas were to get into the whitehouse, what changes would they initiate such that they could overcome this hate?
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Posted by: beecee
Comment: #3
Sun Mar 23, 2008 4:49 PM
I wonder why an upscale black couple like the Obamas chose such a radical congregation? Could it be that once again Obama was proving his "blackness". Politics bound, he knew he would need a solid black electorate. Perhaps he felt safe in the bosom of his church to sympathize with some of his pastor's views.
Your remark on "class" rang a bell. I constantly hear of Obama's upscale voter base. They are smart, educated, well-emplyed. I've heard Obama supporters put down Clinton voters as, uneducated, uninformed, blue-collar, out-of-touch, last minute voters who pay little attention to current events, etc. I'ts pretty demeaning to almost 50% of the electorate.
The insistence of the rarified few would have us believe that they alone are qualified to pick our next leader reminds me of the early days of this country when the rich males felt the same way. Obama has risen to a social class far above many of his black voters. It may rub some of them the wrong way but in the end he is the answer to their prayers.
Yes, Obama has had it every which way. Part black, part white. Just folks. Part white intellectual and Senator from Illinois, coming from modest roots and a single-parent home to a million dollar plus home. Claiming lilly-whitness in campaign ethics yet accepting years of financial support from a Serbian money man.
Like most politicians the only change Obama can bring is a change of complexion.
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