Becuase Everything Else Sucks

Barack’s Flowery Speech on Race

By Manila Ryce
Published Tuesday, March 18th, 2008, 12:27 pm
Filed under: War, Society/Culture: Religion, Videos: Political, World: Asia, Terrorism, Society/Culture: Racism, Videos, Society/Culture, World Issues, US Politics

WPvideo 1.10

Barack is charismatic and delivers one hell of a speech, so I’m always pulling for him not to disappoint me. The problem is that he always does. After some inspiring language regarding equality, unity, and other American ideals that we all wish truly existed in more than just a speech, Barack just had to throw this line in there to denounce his pastor and embrace AIPAC at about the 8 minute mark:

“Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country – 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.”

Dammit Barack. If you don’t understand that military and economic oppression fuels radicalism by now then you not only haven’t been paying attention to Iraq over the past 5 years, but you also haven’t understood what’s been going on for over more than four decades in Palestine. Seriously, I think you lifted that line out of one of Traitor Joe’s speeches. If your goal is simply to convince Americans of what they already believe (that our shit doesn’t stink), rather than to get us to recognize the terrorist actions we commit every single day, then you’re more a mouthpiece than an orator. Eloquence aside, this is why your former pastor deserves more respect than you. Lincoln you are not.

I didn’t watch the rest of this video after that remark, but I’m sure there are more pandering lines which fucked up what could have been something truthful and real.

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7 Responses to “Barack’s Flowery Speech on Race”

  1. I didn’t watch the rest of this video after that remark

    As did I, like minds?

    He is Hillary Lite, which is Bush Lite. McInsane is Bush cubed.

    They are all just shades of difference.

    BuelahMan
    03/18/08 at 2:23 pm

  2. An honest discussion of race, class and gender politics must occur in this election cycle thanks to two Dem candidates.

    Obama met the task, albeit in typical politician style, on the one hand condemning Rev. Wright’s “most incendiary comments” (which I understood completely and agreed) and on the other hand pointing to issues of racism yet to be overcome. Then, showing understanding and compassion for a genderation of blacks still hurting from the not so distant past of Jim Crow and white supremacist terrorism and lynchings; but challenging us to do better.

    Overall, it was a good speech and, hopefully, a chance for (mostly white male) political pundits to change the dialogue from one of chastising candidates for support from marginalized voices, to one of a honest discussion of race, gender, CLASS issues that surely exist today.

    I want so much to believe in Barack Obama’s “hope” campaign, but nothing he has done since entering Congress has demonstrated that he has the moral courage to challenge the status quo. In the end, corporations will still rule the world. Until we have that discussion, nothing will change. My hope for change is in Obama if he’s elected.

    peace

    peacelf
    03/19/08 at 6:06 am

  3. John,
    Clearly, there is no neat cause and effect regarding the conflict in the middle east and I agree that Obama simplified to the point of irrelevance.

    read the rest…the fact you stopped reading/watching when you heard something you didnt agree with is an element in the more universal theme of this speech. You have to have a bigger picture and not paint things black and white literally, try to understand where he/the other person is coming from.

    elizabeth
    03/19/08 at 9:53 am

  4. I agree on his short comings but I saw a rare ability to move a conversation to a productive place without excluding anyone ! I am very impressed .

    Relax the truth will set u free
    03/19/08 at 9:56 am

  5. I’m not an Obamanaiac by any means, but I do think this speech deserves more credit than you’re giving it. It’s not easy to craft a speech on race that both old Southern whites and young urban blacks, and everyone in between, can identify with. I’m not sure it’s ever been done before. But that’s exactly what he accomplished in Philly yesterday.

    The 32 words you highlighted were, without a doubt, the most pandering, least genuine of the whole speech. But the whole thing was a 4,868 words. By my calculations, that’s about .66% bullshit, and almost 99.34% from the heart. Granted, the “Israel is right, Muslims are wrong” storyline is particularly dangerous bullshit, but this wasn’t a focus of the speech.

    I’d suggest reading the rest of it here. The words speak for themselves.

    evmonk
    03/19/08 at 11:11 am

  6. @Ev
    “By my calculations, that’s about .66% bullshit, and almost 99.34% from the heart.”

    Haha, yes the speech was about race in America, but our role in the world community is infinity more important a topic. I’ve since watched the rest of the speech, and while I agree that it was great overall, there are always those tiny, mathematically insignificant depth charges that allow you to see through his personality and into his policy. Every word in an Obama speech is carefully crafted, especially for an event like this. While those 32 words may have been easily overlooked by your average person, they sent a clear message to their intended target. Bush does the same for his evangelical base with small Bible references in his speeches.

    Manila Ryce
    03/19/08 at 11:24 am

  7. You can slay many sacred cows with a white mama and a black daddy, but the Star of David quickly can become a noose around your neck.

    Comrade Kevin
    03/19/08 at 11:35 am

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