wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

I condemn what Wright said in the few, short
inflammatory clips that I have seen. But in the context of America's Racial History, I understand why Wright made those comments. One
should not forget the Tuskeegee Syphilis Study.
Racism is an integal thread in the American Ex-
perience. It is probably instinctive to fear
"the non-self". But the beauty and honor of the Obama Campaign is that we can CHOOSE to be the better part of ourselves.
Barack could have expediently disengaged from
Wright; he probably knows not doing so will hurt his bid for the Presidency. Unlike Hillary
there are questionable things he won't do to be
president. For his honesty, loyalty, and talk-ing to the American People as ADULTS, he evokes
the Great President from the state of Illinois.
Barack has taken the Chinese Character for CRISIS, and dissected out the OPPORTUNITY part.
In his speech, Barack challenged us to honestly
look within ourselves and the problem of Racism
He was challenging us to be the better angel in
us. I hope America will pick up the gauntlet.
One final point, Racism is not just a black/
white issue; it is multicolor, multidirection-
al and multicultural.

Oh dear, if Obama and Rev. Wright were given the speech 40 years ago, I'd say 'right on.": But as a white female who marched for civil rights, who brought up my children to respect all people, and who, now see African-Americans leading productive lives, I wonder what the relevancy is. Many of these leaders have had opportunities I never had...going to Ivy League schools, jobs in government, etc., etc. Rev, Wright's rallying about the inustices of Katrina would hold a lot of weight if I had seen Obama - and many more of the black in New Orleans heping those poor souls on the roof. Instead I saw an ineffective mayor and millions of white folks doing the dirty work. I don't think race and discrimination can be a campaign issue, especially when the media is treading so lightly on this. I believe his speech was designed to move away from his lack of judgment and leadership, and once again preach for what we all have been trying to do.Live toghether. Did it ever occur to anyone that Obama himself injected the race card when he cried "race" on every word used. Is this a healer or a divider???

COURAGEOUS SPEECH???? PLEASE GIVE ME A BREAK. HIS BACK WAS AGAINST THE WALL AND HE WAS OUTED AS A HYPOCRITE. I AGREET HE IS A GREAT READER AND ORATOR (I WONDER WHO WROTE HIS SPEECH). I AM A NIGERIAN RAISED IN THIS COUNTRY. I SHOULD FEEL PROUD THAT SOMEONE LIKE ME HAS RISEN SO FAR, BUT I AM ASHAMED THAT PEOPLE ARE NO NAIVE. IT IS THE NAIVITY AND STUPIDY OF PEOPLE AND THE COWARDICE OF THE MEDIA THAT GAVE US GEORGE BUSH.

How dare Mr. Obama compare the reverend's anti-white, anti-american, anti-semitic, anti-woman remarks to those made made his grandmother or those made by Mrs. Ferraro. His grandmother was talking to an audience of one. The reverend was talking to thousands from the pulpit. Mrs. Ferraro is absolutely right when she says that a white woman, or any woman, with Mr. Obama's resume would not even be considered for class president. But I thank Mr. Obama for making my choice very clear. I am sending a copy of his apology to all my friends who had been undecided.

Mr. Obama is the new Jessie Jackson. He is a great orator, except he doesn't have the backbone to call his "friend" a racist, and instead of explaining why he listened to those sermons for 20+ years, he wants us to "understand" where they come from. We understand where HATE comes from, Mr. Obama. We don't understand WHERE YOU come from.

Re: Mr. Obama's apology for reverend Wright's remarks. Mr. Obama: they were not "controversial", they were inciendiary and racist. If those absolutely outreagous remarks had been made by a white person against blacks or other minorities, both the reverend and the candidates he was supporting would be justly condemned. Why are some in the media so afraid to call it what it is? RACIST AND HATE MONGERING remarks speaks volumes about those in the audience, especially one who has put himself on a pedestal and is running on the "purity" platform.

As a young, somewhat cynical, white female Obama supporter who grew up inside the beltway, I thought this speech was both the best political move Obama could have made in this serious crisis in his candidacy, as well as a good point on the nature of political coverage. I would like to see more discussion of issues and less theatrics in the coverage of this race. I applaud his rhetoric of "not this time". Stories about mentors with repugnant views are pure theatrics. Where have we seen it before? More issues. Less theater.

Black Americans have been waiting on the media to attack Barach and it has begun. Thank God the man is intelligent and focused! (Can you imagine Bush trying to give this same speech?) Let's face it people, it is time for the race issue to be addressed and then we must move ahead. Who better to do this than a President born to both worlds? Personally, I am finding Hilary to be just a "good ole boy" in sheeps clothing (a skirt). America needs a change from her type of politics! I'm sick and tired of the things that divide, democrat..republican..black...white...rich...poor..when do we begin to understand that we have bigger fish to fry right now? So to the media, I say, can we let Barack and Hilary talk about what they are going to do for this country and stop investigating their backgrounds (including what their pastors have to say)? In case you haven't noticed, the country is facing a reccession right now.

the political thing to do, and what most politician would have done, is to quickly throw the rev. under the bus. this speech was more nuanced than politics as usual. what america needs to understand is that black americans repeat rev. wright's comments everyday and twice on sundays. none of this is anti-america. our feelings are more nuanced. let's hope we all begin to deal with nuance and complexities. this will go a long way in reducing the occurence of the rev. wright type speeches.

A brilliant,impassioned,honest and courageous speech,Lincoln and Martin Luther King just passed on the baton.

Thanks to WNYC for carrying the speech live. I thought that his address was brilliant: I hung on to every word he said, and believe that every one was as sincere and honest as he could make it, regarding an incredibly difficult subject.

That being said, what worries me now are the media filters through which his words will inevitably be digested, as the majority of America had not, and most likely will not, hear his entire address. The reality is that the public relies on mass media to disclose the day's news in a matter of minutes and subsequent sound bites. But how on earth can racism be simplified into just a few words? The subject matter is too complex even for NPR to fully contextualize; I can't even imagine how Rupert Murdoch's media outlets will handle it.

As cliched as some people think the term has become, I sincerely HOPE that (1) the media will do Senator Obama justice and inform the masses that their coverage is incomplete as his speech (and the matters of racism, and even patriotism!) can not be summed up in just a few words, and that (2) the public does Senator Obama justice in taking it upon themselves to hear the entire speech, learn the entire situation surrounding his pastor's words, and make their own, informed judgement surrounding the matter.

I'm appalled with what the pastor said, but it certainly doesn't help the situation to simplify the story and classify one or several individuals based on a YouTube clip.

Let me see if I understand the crux: Reverend Wright vents pent-up frustration, the media pick up on it, and without defending the damnation ("damn nation"?), Senator Obama says he won't turn his back on Reverend Wright because, on the whole, Reverend Wright has been an instrumental positive influence the distinguished gentleman from Illinois.

Even if I got it wrong, it is unreasonable to hold one person accountable for the opinions (expressed or repressed) of another, no matter what the relationship between the two people is. Everyone has gotten mad as hell at least once, everyone has given others a piece of their mind at least once, and everyone is entitled to say "to Hell with this country".

That said, can someone explain why it took 40 minutes to say that in such a long-winded speech on race, immigration, religion, and the Senator's genealogy (with the words "hope" and "change" sprinkled in every other sentence)?

Get to the point, and move on.

The speech was absolutely brilliant. I wished for more passion in the delivery, but this man walks a tightrope, with a fire lit at his back and a bottomless pit below. Barack Obama crossed this chasm with deliberation and courage, showing his leadership style.

Too much passion at this moment would make the speech undigestible to the extreme wings. His presentation was like a balanced meal. It was thoughtful, with healthy information set down in small, consumable bites. Change is on the menu, whether you like it or not, and it is good for you.

Barack’s speech embodies the complexity that it is to be an intelligent, caring human being in this nation. At our best we are very noble and serve as a moral example to the world, but at our worst we can be despicable. Sometimes the duality is within a single individual. Why is that so hard to acknowledge? We could name all the great white people in our history who have shaped or espoused our highest ideals, but had some serious character flaw. White people usually manage to forgive them once they put them in context of the time or the situation. Why is it so hard to extend the same courtesy to Barack's choice of heroes? By laying it bare like this, and with Mandela-like grace, Barack reveals that he is not only a free black man, but a free American - certainly the first to run for president.

Simply brilliant. Can a man this smart, honorable, generous, and empathetic win an election in this country? Anything is possible.

I've just about had it with the complaints and critique that has come about with this latest controversy. The people that are focusing on this would probably not have voted for him in the first place. This is just a way to solidify their position(another words, they can easily say: if he hadn't been connected with Wright...blah blah blah).

It's amazing how Obama's validity is based on a comment said by someone else. Tell me that myth again...you know the one, where Jews have so little power or control in this country.. right?!

So, Eric, #165, the fact that you conflate her with her husband partially proves my point. Base on what in her record do you make the "corrupt" charge?

I thought Barack Obama did something very important in his speech today; he compelled people to remember that he is a candidate of substance, of nuanced analysis, of insight. Somehow, this fact has been lost over the course of the past several months. His candidacy, though given generally respectful treatment from the media, has been painted as a sound-byte candidacy. And Barack himself has contributed to that. But I fell under his spell precisely because he rejects oversimplification (see, for example, his explanation for his rejection of American flag lapel-pins). HIs speech today didn't tell us that much we couldn't have inferred from the snippets and statement we'd been hearing from him over the past few months. What it did do is show us that the sound-bytes are the result of a mountain of sound reasoning and compassionate thinking that has been filtered to reach the general public. It showed us how personal those truths are to Barack and gave us reason to believe that his commitment to them is in the very marrow of his bones.
When I heard him speak today, I said to myself that never have I wanted more for a particular person to be my president.

Brian,

Obama's speech is one of only two that moved me to tears. The other was Dr. King's in August '63, and I heard both of them only on the radio.
One of your callers called it "politically expedient." Yes, but truth, wisdom, and oratory can also be politically expedient.
A second caller said Obama should have disassociated himself from Rev. Wright. But the senator was wise not to, and to reject the negative expression of hate while embracing the speaker as a family member.
That is Obama's vision and its eloquence: that all of us can make this "a more perfect union" only if we understand hatred but focus on the good in each of us and work together as imperfect members of the same national family.

Pat Munroe

The guests chosen to speak before the speech were great. The speech was excellent. Wonderful job once again!

An absolutely brilliant speech, honest, at times painfully honest and hopefully even if this man is not elected to the White House perhaps this can begin an honest discussion on race in America.

Re: Katha Pollitt. We're not against Hillary because she's a woman. We're against her because she and her husband are corrupt frauds. GET IT?

This was a fine speech but it should have been given in defense of Hillary when she made her entirely respectful and true remark regarding Dr King working with LBJ in order to pass Civil Rights legislation. As it stands now, Barack was simply rationalizing and playing defense with a very elegant oration. He's quite slick but the Republicans will make mincemeat of him should the Democratic party be unwise enough to select him as the nominee.

His speech was extraordinary. His genuineness and honesty is to Hillary's epmty rhetoric and deceitful tactics like black is to white.I was going to vote for McCain. This speech has turned me his way.

He just threw Grandma under the train. Ouch!

From his pulpit the Reverend has the ability to influence the thoughts and actions of thousands. He is a leader, and is held to a different standard than Grandma, the average black church goer, or your average white middle class next door neighbor. The Senator should have said "I looked the Reverend in the eye and said, if this is what you believe, then we can not be friends. If this is what you believe, then you should reconsider being the spiritual leader to thousands of church goers. If this is not what you believe Rev., then you need to apologize."

That's all I wanted to hear from the Senator. That is all he can take responsibility for.

As a Black woman, I see myself as Black but can simultaneously recognize the amalgam of races which not only comprise my family but those of most Black Americans. In my life, this alone is a unique capacity among the many Black Americans that I know and have come in contact with.

On a very personal plane, I am (still) in love with (after 16 years) and married to a white man AND his family. Even after all of our years together and the fact that we've grown up together (we are both only 35) my love and life together (the degree to which we need to empathize with each other, recognize our differences, emphasize our similarities and negotiate irreconcilable unfairness) have become even more emotionally demanding and complicated since the birth of our child. Our blood lines are mixed now. We both have the strongest motivation now to learn how to embrace these messy realities that are rarely articulated for the sake of (hopefully and certainly imperfectly) helping him to accept a complex relationship to this nation, to his grandparents, uncles, aunts, teachers, community and ultimately himself.

I worry that while many of your callers have the capacity to embrace these complications, most Americans see themselves and their history more simplistically (or one-dimensionally) and don't experience much of what Barack was referring to with the same urgency that those of us who "live" this reality do.

in responce to Leonard's comment that Obama did not state why he joined Trinty—he did address why he joined the church and why he stayed there when he read the excerpt from his book "Dreams of My Father" expressing that during his first service he felt the bible stories merge with african-american stories and that they then merge with the stories of other cultures etc. moving to the hope message.

i thought Obama did a great job. covering many sides. he even mentioned native americans which i had been longing to hear in the list of "americans". i appreciated his mention of his grandma and the point-of- view of middle class whites not feeling favored and becoming resentful, etc. which helps me to be more
understanding of their community.
i believe he is sincere and trys very hard to be fair to everybody. his perspective can bridge many divides if people get themselves out of the way.

The fact that he is not willing to dump his friend and advisor under the bus as a means to win the nomination speaks more to me than had he spewed empty renunciations and rejections and denials.

And his community-based experience beats out Hillary's fabricated "married to the CIC" resume.

Caller James sounds like a phony white "liberal" to me -- and I'm white. What has he ever done about racism? Not much, I bet. And praising the Clintons in the same breath as Dr. King is monstrous. Listen to King's April 1967 speech on Vietnam and compare it to Bill's endless evasions.

Does James think blacks are paranoid to suspect the government of running drugs? Has he ever heard of Oliver North and the contras? Of the late Gary Webb's exposes of the CIA?

As for the last caller, the old Jewish lady -- sigh. Some people are impervious to reason.

Kudos for Obama for standing up to the media wolfpack and not disowning Wright altogether.

As always, I felt that Sen. Obama was eloquent and well spoken. He addressed exactly what needed to be addressed, no more, no less. If we as citizens truly believe that our elected officials have the potential to be representations of ourselves, why do we expect these officials not share the same moral, ethical, religious, and racial dilemmas? Sadly, I believe we Americans have the bad habit of fixing the blame, not the problem. How does the saying go, "...He without sin may cast the first stone..."

It was a privilege to hear Barack Obama give this beautiful, honest speech. He is like Lincoln. We need him now as America is falling into the worst economic and moral time it has ever had. He is our best hope--perhaps our only hope--for change.

In the spirit of healing and pulling a divided public together I would like to hear Senator Obama address the fact that many black ministers spoke out against gay marriage and gay rights in the 2004 election season. They refused to acknowledge that the gay rights movement mirrored their own struggle for equality. No one is free if any are oppressed........

i guess i'd sell out my racist grandmother too if it meant a chance at becoming the president

Obama brings a clarity of thought to the issue of division and race that can mobilize an entire generation to move forward for change. I am so proud of America today, that we can have this conversation and realize our common goal.

I am a white woman from Alabama and I have never in my entire life (I am 38) heard someone in the public sphere speak about race with such integrity as he did today. He was getting close to what anyone with any kind of education in American History knows has been the root of political power in this country--keeping the classes separated as adversaries with racism. If we could figure out what we all have in common as opposed to what separates us, many in the media and the govt would be out of job. Barack Obama will scare many of those in power--at this point I hardly even care if he is elected, because I am so deeply impressed by his bravery in speaking the truth--in "outing" the private prejudices and complaints of BOTH black and white Americans that fuel extremists (and tv and radio blowhards) who benefit from anger and ignorance, thereby providing a common stage and a common language for facing all of our concerns, TOGETHER.

the real straight talk express!

Mr. Obama apparently grasps the fact that genuine political change occurs over years, generations, and the essential focus of political effort is not so much to address issues as it is to build a community of believers which will endure.

For me, this speech was courageous and inspiring. I'm a white teacher who lives and works in the Bronx and is a member of a very diverse church in Queens. Recently I had a negative experience charged by race, a black boy spit at me on the train complaining that white people aren't supposed to live in the Bronx. I have two young children and have been struggling with the challenge I experience living here, raising children here, and the passion I feel to build a better community, and love my neighbors as God loves this world. I found Mr. Obama's words strengthened my hopes and exposed the bias I already allowed to enter my mind. I hope that others will allow the difficult truths he stated to do the same for them. I want a leader that will challenge all of us to be real, authentic, and hopeful. The black kids are worth it as are my son and daughter. Thank you Mr. Obama for inspiring me.

I am amazed at some of the written and phoned in commentary. It seems that so many can only view this through their pre conceived notions.

I think if you parse this speech, and take it on its own, it stands as one of the great tour de force in American rhetoric.

Even, you Brian, missed a part when you said he didn't fully explain why he joined the church or stayed with the pastor all these years. He certainly did explain why he came to the church and stayed in it with that wonderful passage about the cross and the spirit in that church.

In any case, I don't think he could have done more in this speech. He restored my confidence in his leadership. I am satisfied, and if this does not help turn the corner, then so be it. We will get what we deserve... and that may be just what we need... I don't mean to denigrate the alternatives... I simply am ready for a new way and I think he showed us there is a way.

I am a Hillary supporter believing her a more experienced politician. I am about to lose my home because of medical expenses. I am white 64 and have worked most of my life and, as a single mother, raised 3 children all the way through their college education.

I have lived and struggled in mixed race poor neighborhoods and had many of the same hardships suffered by black Americans. I and my children have been attacked and beaten because we just happened to be white but I have also been in a loving relationship with a black man. I have seen the suffering from all angles and know racism is alive and well in both communities, although the power still remains with white America. I also feel the hatred getting worse because of economics and Obama really touched on this in this lovely speech.

I have been moved before by Obama's speeches but was absolutely electrified by this speech. I was moved to tears by some of his words.

I didn’t think Obama could really dissociate himself from his minister (not practical in a country that stupidly demands a candidate have a religious affiliation). His partial reproval of the reverend was eloquent and completely satisfactory. The speech hit all the points that we Americans of every ethnicity and color so desperately need to hear. I haven't felt so moved since I listened in the 60's to Robert Kennedy.

What about George Bush and the Saudies,with whom he sleeps?The theory that the 911 event was set up to gain control Of oil is not a Rev. Wright idea alone.Were Jews a part of the slave trade or is this an irrevalent question in the larger picture of race relations in America?

The core question is what Obama did in reaction to hearing Rev. Wright's views for the past 20 years. He just gave a speech that I wanted to hear, but I'm afraid that the answer is that he sat in the pew silently, or claims he wasn't there. The message of bringing unity to the country apparently did not begin until he started his campaign.

I think that "anger" clip Brian continues to play and quote just feeds into the stereotype that all Black people are angry. I think there were plenty of other clips worthy of replay. Why did you choose that one?

Referring back to comment #84, I agree. I am a Hillary supporter, and I think he hit it out of the park with this speech. I particulary applaud him for not backing down or soft-pedaling the real anger that is out there. He did not take the easy way out. Bravo! Regarding Ferraro and others, and comment #84, Ferraro was very clumsily trying to express another anger that is out there. I hope that Barack Obama, if he becomes the nominee (and I think he will), addresses the real anger on the part of women who see many of the attacks on Hillary Clinton as being overly personal and mysogynistic. He will need her supporters in November and right now many of us are repelled by the "sulfurous emanations" to quote Katha Pollitt of The Nation, about Senator Clinton. Many of these emanations are coming from Obama supporters and I think they harm both of them.

This speech was historic. No other candidate--ever--has been forced to discuss race critically; it is the great and prickly American issue. By doing such, Mr. Obama was being more PRESIDENTIAL than any other candidate still in play. This is leadership.

By attempting to understand and create a real conversation amongst the contradictions and layered viewpoints of the American racial dialogue, he was taking a huge risk, knowing that most people only hear what they are listening for. This is diplomacy.

Additionally, he tied this dialogue to real issues that he's working to fix. He took chances and risk here. This is focus.

I applaud this speech. Mr. Obama stepped up, faced the challenge, and hit a home run.

Perhaps only someone like Obama could really start a conversation like this -- as a man of biracial heritage. I appreciate Obama's speech because it brings to light the nuanced, often contradictory, complicated situation of race in America. He ripped off the covers of political politeness and pointed out the good and the errors of both the white and black communities. I hope this conversation will only continue ... as an American of Korean descent, I hope to participate in writing/expanding this narrative.

On another note, I am reading some of the comments on this board, and I think the first thing we ALL have to do is first take a deep look into ourselves. I thought Obama took some real risks in admitting nobody's perfect, we are all good AND bad, including himself. To quote Avenue Q, "everyone's a little bit racist," and hateful, and hypocritical ... let's get real. But we can also choose to embrace the good and the GREAT.

Congratulations on your speech, absolutely superb, O'bama. Addressing race relations, is an issue that that is way overdue.

I fail to understand why Barack O'bama has to justify his relationship with Trinity and Rev. Wright. The sermons given by Rev. Wright are his beliefs, and not those of Barack. We all have family members, friends, and others in our lives who make comments that may not necessarily reflect our views and thoughts, but do we throw them to the wayside - we take what we can from their comments and then whatever doesn't apply we throw it away. What I can't understand is why we have yet to hear from Hillary Clinton team (specifically Geraldine Ferrara (spelling) justify the racial comments made regarding Barack O'bama and his timing of the presidential campaign. What we heard is her saying in front of media is that she didn't agree and it was wrong and America took her at her word. Well isn't that the same thing O'bama did, but yet he still had to have a speech and justify his relationship. Well, Hell (excuse) me I want to a speech and justification from Hillary, too.

O'bama just know that you have my vote in Pennsylvania. I am so proud of YOU. Hey Brian Lehrer I love your show.

Lo-

I can definitely see a rising gender issue now. Barack is the brave liberal, challenging social issues and perspectives, and McCain is the brave conservative, supporting an unpopular-war in the name of security. Men are expected and applauded for such acts of courage.

Is Hillary allowed to be brave and bold, or are only men? Is she even able to express herself in such terms? I think such a woman who is capable and has the opportunity to be "bold" on par with men is still a few years away.

Obama speaks of "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." How unfair that he equates pointing out the obvious- white racism IS endemic in America!- with employing a blanket condemnation of this entire country. Putting words in peoples' mouths like that is no better than Bush's "you're either with us or against us" attitude. I voted for Obama in the primary, but how disappointing to see all this ducking and pandering.

Oy!

If we are truly "post-racial" why are we talking about the poor education provided to African-American children in inner cities? There are children all over the United States receiving a poor education. African-American children who live in wealthy suburbs often receive an excellent education. The issues are ECONOMIC -- and people of all colors are losing their jobs and homes. Let us return to the issues more important to the whole electorate. A democracy cannot continue without equality education for ALL CITIZENS.

Obama's speech remarkably demonstrates not only that he does not see with blinders, but that he has a subtle, nuanced, and historical understanding of many perspectives.

But further, he acknowledges something that many people do not--that people are imperfect.

The only problem is that Obama has articulated something very complex. He has connected racial differences to constitutional issues to historical issues to family issues and more, and the problem is that the discussions that ensue, unless they are lengthy and have a copy of the full speech at hand, will most often deal only with issues in isolation.

Nearly all of us, myself included, will struggle terribly with holding all the pieces of the puzzle in our minds at the same time. This, unfortunately, does disservice to what has just been said, to human nature, and to our country. And most unfortunate is that most of us will also never admit that we do not have a thorough grasp of the complexity of these issues.

What is fortunate, however, is that the text of this will appear, hopefully in full, all over the internet and the world. Hopefully, people everywhere will read it and reread it and think about it before responding to one or two sections.

I am a Hillary supporter - and an Obama Admirer. And I have to say that today Mr. Obama moved himself very far forward - and upward - into Presidential Stature Territory.
I believe this speech was a major American speech - a great American speech - a speech that will be remembered for many years.
And I'm sure, sadly, there will be many, many people who "don't get it" - who disparage it - and who won't believe that Mr. Obama was speaking from the heart and from his evident and considerable wisdom. Unfortunately those people seem to ABOUND these days. They usually don't "get" ANYTHING that goes below skin deep - or has any degree of complexity as this speech had.
This was a DEEP and COMPLEX speech that dealt with very REAL ISSUES - in a very REAL way - from all the key perspectives. In short, it was BRILLIANT and MEMORABLE. I commend him and salute him - for his intelligence and his honesty, his brilliance and his profundity - and his COMPLEXITY - which I have NO DOUBT will sail over the heads of many, many Americans. And what a pity....
It was truly a great moment. Thank you for bringing it to me - live on the radio through the Internet!
Joan Rosenfelt
New York

Mixed reaction here...I appreciate some of what he said, how he acknowledged different sides of the issues he addressed, but a lot of it also sounded like standard political speechifying.

And to be frank, the longer he went on, the less I could think of anything besides how long he was going on! Did this speech really need to be that long?

I am a female white southerner who spent most of the 60s in NYC and returned south to live for more than a decade in the 70s and 80s, during which time I occasionally attended African American church services. Apart from the sheer elegance of Obama's speech today what struck me was the absolute authenticity of that church experience as he described it, from recognizing the justification behind the anger sometimes radiating from the pulpit to the sense that it also belonged to a past generation. I have never heard the race situation of this country so well laid out in all its nuance and complexity.

WHO ARE THESE CALLERS! How can there be disappointment. Finally someone is addressing us direclty about controversial issues and treating us like we have brains! Open your minds!

I too support Kucinich and have no intention of voting but this was a speech to respond to a specific situtaion with Obama and that's what he was replying to.

It may have been a great speech, although absolutely, absolutely nothing new to those of us who have been working in this vineyard for decades. It's old news. A great speech doesn't make a great leader. It may (perhaps) make a great prophet, but not necessarily a great doer. He's always been good at speech-making.

The speech was good: we do need more open discussion about these topics. What concerns me is the climate of censorship of free speech that pervades the discussion about Obama's pastor. Are pastor Wright's comments anymore "incendiary" than the kinds of language used to discuss immigration issues in this country (consider some of the things that Romney said)? Pastor Wright was using a specific kind of rhetoric to make valid points about what people call the "prison-industrial complex." And do we not trust his congregants, among them someone as educated as Obama, to make their own evaluations of the pastor's free speech? We have a climate in this country of self-censorship that has emerged since 9/11. As someone said on the Brian Lehrer show earlier this morning, true patriotism involves a rigorous critique of the nation.

It has always amazed me how this nation, "under God", has at times of crisis been able to bring forth leaders, men and women, that are able to define and redefine this experiment in democracy and by their words elevate our view to the larger picture of the dream versus the reality and point us toward fulfilling that dream. God bless him, or maybe he already has.

Wow, some of those early posts had me worried, but later ones made up for it. How is it possible not to have been moved by this speech? Never before has a presidential candidate spoken so honestly about race in our country. Why on earth would that make you mistrust him?

This is the speech that should elect Obama. It was a great speech, in the tradition of those Americans who have led this country to greatness. It was a call to the tenets of idealism and unity on which the nation was founded, a union which was admittedly flawed in the beginning, and which will always be flawed to a certain extent, but which we need at least to make an attempt to perfect. Obama made it is clear that perfection of the union is a process. And he indicated that it's inevitable - if it's not this time, then the next time or the time after - that the issues currently dividing this country will finally be addressed. These issues should not be addressed with cynicism but with hope.

Another great speech, but they were just WORDS, most likely written by someone else. JUST WORDS. He didn't explain his actions, the 20 years of association with this man, his "spiritual adviser" and whether he agrees with him that we Americans were responsible for all the evils in the world and we deserved to be bombed on Sept. 11. Mr. Obama WILL NEVER GET MY VOTE.

The Speech did answer some pressing questions about Obama that i found troubling. Almost as seminal a speech as King's i have a dream speech. History will judge as to whether it will surpass that or not.
In any case that speech has edged me a lot closer to a decision as to whom to vote for than i thought any speech could ever do.
His opponents have a lot of work to do, to overcome that kind if soul baring

Wow!! So, the qualifications for President are now limited to 'Best Orator'.

Might as well elect Tony Robbins then.

Who were some other recent 20th century orators we could elect?

this speech was honest, nuanced, intelligent, frank, and destined to become a classic.

every schoolkid in the nation should listen to it.

Obama gets to hear how whites talk among themselves, through his family, and how blacks talk among themselves, because of his skin. I have family members who treat blacks fine in public, but the talk when inside their own group (as Obama noted with respect to his grandmother) makes me cringe, also. Gee, maybe blacks do the same thing? Big deal. Don't want to hear black anger? Quit treating them badly.

I was so impressed with his ability to express the resentments of both sides, without disowning either. Also, his call to focus on dealing with the issues instead of letting the media run us around from trivia to trivia was wonderful, but probably won't work. Artificially blown-up controversies sell.

This was personal and intended to be so grandma in there was okay as he says the Rev was like family to him. I'm hearing expressions of our own "uptightedness," if I may, in these responses coming in.

I agree with Janet's comment. The speech was fantastic and totally comprehensive. For the caller who said for him to leave his "grandma" alone; that was one of the best points of the speech: we love and are close to family members, co-workers and neighbors who have conflicting views to our own. That's the human experience.

ok...another post.

i really think this guy is presidential material. he comes to a hurdle in the road and turns it into a spring-board...THAT is what america needs!

Obama delivered a moving and thought-provoking speech that didn't take the easy approach of simply condemning Wright, but instead attempted to offer insight into the outlooks of the races in America. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be enough to overcome the damage already done to his campaign. It's ironic and very sad that not only is Wright wrong, but that he turns out to be Obama's undoing.

Mr Obama's speech will go down in history as the most courageous political speeches of the last 50 years. He spoke bravely about race in this country and injustice in its history and present. These are complex issues that will only be addressed properly by mature, complex discussions. I understand that the simplification of arguments about the race issue has contributed to its perpetuation.

I've been a Clinton supporter since the '92 primaries but I have been convinced to vote for Mr. Obama.

Time to make the reality reflect the promise

Obama took the high road and didn't do just the politically right thing - of distancing himself from the reverend. IMO he has portrayed a true picture and tried to address larger than his own candidacy.

There you go, even the listeners are spinning. He didn't say Rush Limbaugh etc. Good, Brian, no names in his mouth is a good idea.

I'm a 40 something white male, and I had the beginnings of tears in my eyes at the speeches close (and I get misty eyed maybe twice a year).

The speech did it for me. For the critics, there is nothing he can say that will assuage them.

America, you decide. In the end, you get the president and candidate you deserve - just like the last 8 years.

Obama's speech wakes us up. Like FDR's "nothing to fear but fear itself" which pulled the scales from American eyes about how the run on the banks threatened the Depression economy, Obama's speech does the same for race and its interrelationship to the war, the economy, social needs in education and health insurance.

For either progressives or conservatives to cry foul that Obama hasn't distanced himself enough from REverend Wright completely misses the point the Senator was just trying to make. If he were do so, it would simply be more of the same. We need to directly acknowledge and address these feelings of anger and resentment felt on BOTH SIDES! Why do so many want to run from these discussions? Obama was incredibly courageous by being REAL, by being DIRECT and by being THOUGHTFUL.

I think that it's about time, and the right time, for a speech of this magnitude and importance to be delivered on a national and global scale by such a respectable individual. In the year of the Jena 6 civil rights protest and in the year of a noose being hung on a doorknob I have been wondering why the ISSUE of race and racism and the roots of racism in America has not been discussed. The importance of this speech is that for the first time in a long time the true nature of race in America was discussed at a podium.

Laura Dotolo: I agree with your statements of "who does he surround himself by? And how strong is his character? How influenced is he by others? And swayed by those around him?" I wonder the same of the other candidates, and the info out there about Hillary and McCain only make me hope Obama continues in winning the nomination.

And yes, let's discuss "sexism." Bring on that discussion. Lets talk how Hillary is manipulating her gender (albeit playing into the societal expectations) to an even larger extent than Obama uses "racism."

Barack's intelligence and ability to see the elephant in the room is has been expressed clearly and beautifully. He makes us take an honest look at racism, sexism, greed, politics, news media through the a truly human lens. I didn't vote for him, but I his speech made me think he might really be what our country needs.

I think it was pretty gutsy for Obama to bring up the issue of how we Americans talk in "mixed company" vs. how we talk with others more like ourselves. If he was going totally for political expediency, I don't think he'd be saying things that make every one of us squirm.

I must confess, as an Obama supporter, that I was wishing he would address sexism for a moment. Now THAT would have been the politically expedient thing to do! (I await a big speech from Hillary on this, next.)

Sen. Obama is a brilliant man. And if Americans continue to be so easily distracted from dealing with the issues that really matter, we can expect to get the same load of bull that politicians have been feeding us for decades. It's time that we make a change!

This is one of the first occasions that I have heard a politician confront controversy with an upfront recognition of complexity. He deserves to be nominated and has lifted the bar of electoral debate. Too many people ask for linear responses, clarity that just does not represent difference, diversity and contradictions not only within society or communities, but within the individual. Obama publicly confronted this approach and exemplified why his understanding provides leverage for change.

I sort of hoped he'd get a little dig at Clinton in there by saying something like, "The easy thing to do here would be to REJECT and DENOUNCE Rev. Wright...." But see, that's me, I'm sarcastic and catty. Obama is a class act.

I just change my vote from Hillary to Obama. I'm infuriated that we're still talking about race to this extent. I think main stream media in America for the most part are partial when it comes to race and the media unfortunately shapes public opinion. I think Obama made the right move by confronting the issue. Race is real in America

Bookie Shonuga
The African View

How refreshingly honest and clear.
I personally want a president who is aware of and exposed to the anger that truly exists in the real world of this country, politically, economically and racially.

I disagree with the caller who was disappointed that Obama did not completely dissociate himself from Reverend Wright. I think that just because you have a close relationship with someone does not mean that you agree with all that they espouse. I actually respect the fact that Obama did NOT reject his family friend completely - it shows that he has the integrity to stand with someone with whom he has had a longstanding relationship despite pressure to do otherwise, even if it means losing a few votes. I was very impressed with Mr. Obama in how he handled this situation - he has earned my vote.

The whole speech just underscored the fact that -- as one of your guests on a previous show said, Brian -- Barack Obama is an accommodationist. He has always done what is politically expedient, and thus what pleases the white majority -- that is why he not only repudiates his pastor when it becomes politically convenient, but also gives speeches in which he sympathizes with white resentment and elides over the continuing racism in majority white America, instead of truly and acknowledging the profound and continuing institutionalized and personal prejudices that black people in this country are *still* struggling against.

I suppose I should say (perhaps for credibility purposes in making this statement) that I'm neither white nor black, but I was very disappointed that when Obama finally addressed the race issue for the first time in his campaign, it was in a timid, accommodationist, opportunist way -- he knows that if he admitted that white people in America today are complicit in such profound racism, he would never garner the votes of the majority white electorate. I suppose he just feels that he's gotta do what he's gotta do to win.

regarding caller James's comment...

The American public would be appalled by Republican affliliation with right-wing religious organizations? Really? Well, the American public wasn't so much appalled when Reagan courted Falwell.

PS: regarding choosing pastors vs. family, please please please PLEASE read this very thoughtful blog from talkingpointsmemo:

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/why-did-barack-obama-stay-at-t.php

I would like to add, That in this world of division... between shia and suuni , in the Balkins, in the Punjab, in China, in Africa itself and elsewhere in the world .. Barak's speech is an example that could bring some enlightenment to many on the planet. Those that would try to play gotcha, those that fixate on Rev Wright as opposed to Barak's words infer in their partisan prejudices, or hold in their hypocritical indignations an internal contradiction that needs to be addressed. Their clinging to any sign of negativity is proof of an inability to release themselves from their ultimate fear, and a refusal to see the future Barak represents.

I was moved by Obama's speech and response to the controversy over Rev. Wright. I appreciated the depth and breadth of his response.

Brilliant as usual. He's this country's best chance to shake off the Bush torpor and it just floors me that people think he is naive and inexperienced and think he is nothing but empty words.

Jonathan Kirk did you listen to the entire speech? He did put Ferrarro's comments in context.

One had always hoped that someone who someday stood up and just quietly told the truth - who elaborated on the points that needed elboration, who kept simple the points that are simple, who never oversimplied complex human issues, who admitted imperfections in both himself and in society, who referenced the only fundamental value that the world needs - the so-called golden rule - would be valued by the best parts of the american character, and despite all threats to the
contrary in our sound-bite-driven, money-driven and trumped-up-controversy-driven society, might be valued and given the
trust of the people..

We are at a moment where this has a chance to happen.

I think he nailed it. He showed a sincerity that we have been programmed to dismiss as simple political posturing.

I have to preface my comments by saying that this is one of the first opportunities I have had to hear Obama speak outside of debate.

My opinion of the speech was positive. I think Obama used the opportunity as an attempt at coalition-building, which is what we as a country need in the post-W era. He talked about the eleven o'clock hour on Sundays being one of the most devisive, and explained/acknowledged "Black anger" to non-
Blacks and compared it to some of the anger that whites and others have felt, but keep under wraps in polite society.

Instead of doing this, he could have gone on the defensive, which is likely what most people would have done, ie Sen. Clinton's knee-jerk reaction in disassociating herself from Ferarro.

Good speech. I'm voting for him.

Hooray for Barack, for someone finally speaking to Americans as if we are grownups capable of understanding nuance and complexity, not schoolkids yelling names at each other! This was a great speech, one that will be historic, at least if he does eventually become president.

I do not know Reverend Wright. I have never been to his church, have never been in attendance at his sermons. I know this: one cannot have their entire life's work judged by the same four snippets one can find on FoxNews and YouTube. Race and politics aside for a second, this very notion speaks to our fast-food, soundbyte culture where Barack Obama is defined by three things an old friend said several years ago. God help me should my entire life be merited on things I have said in moments of passion.

I thought it was a great and powerful speech on so many levels. What will it mean? I am not sure anything! Those who watch Fox and listen to conservative radio will say he did not go far enough and condemn him.

Comparing his grandmother with the minister was very interesting and something we can all relate to.

If it makes us discuss the racial and economic divide in this country (ala Edwards) in serious way, it will be a useful speech.

Hillary should now come out with a speech dealing with gender/sex.

As an older white independent, I had virtually given up on hearing any substance in this campaign. NO MORE! I was blown away by the truth telling given with such grace. Bravo Obama!

I am a sociologist and think every teacher interested in provoking discussion about race should play this for her/his students, high school and university alike. I am not a die-hard Obama fan, but am extremely impressed at his ability to weave together broad socioeconomic issues and people's real stories. Bravo!

Ballsy speech.

I think he very appropriately addressed his relationship with Rev. Wright. However, this would have been an excellent platform to address Geraldine Ferarro's comments. He could have used this speech to put an objective perspective on her comments. He, and his campaign, escalated the comments to a similar level of furor as Rev. Wright's comments. What I find I find to be a contradiction is the way he softened the comments of Rev. Wright with 'historical perspective' in the country and the way he polarized the comments by Ferarro. It seems to be a double standard.

I went into this speech thinking there was no way he could defuse the situation, that he had been successfully transformed by the media storm into a Black candidate unacceptable to the majority, that the only reason for his success was that white America didn't have to deal with race in spite of his blackness. But having listened to the speech, I am in awe of his straightforward and brilliant presentation, his focus on moving away from the distracting minutia in favor of seeing the big picture, and his acknowledgement of the real issues behind the racial divide. If he wins the election, and I now believe this is still possible, this speech will be seen as the turning point in his campaign, if not in American history.

I don’t think anyone can say they were not stirred by the Obama speech. He is undoubtedly one of the best orators in the elite levels of politics. Other campaigns have criticized Obama for being all words, and short on action. Being able to get a message across with feeling and sincerity is very important to me. If you’re a good leader, the well equipped people you surround yourself with are the instruments of your actions. We’ve suffered through two terms of a president who is a pitiful speaker. Let’s have someone who can talk clearly and effectively to us.

This caller is a joke. The government fueled the entire crack cocaine epidemic.

Everyone can see themselves in this speech. We have heard things amongst our "own" group that make us shudder.
People who are getting hung up on
Rev. Wright are missing the point. I was happy to hear him say that Racial injustice does not end with his election. I think many whites (I myself am black) see his election as the end to all inequality. It is so much more complex than that and I think he Articulated that complexity.

ok. the old black man and young white girl story made my eyes well-up.

but, his ability to draw peoples emotions to the surface in his speeches is not just political, but human. His defense of the Rev. i thought was brilliant because rather than turn his back on him, he embraced him in public while complicating the racial issue for americans, something we all need to welcome.

There was also a moment when he was addressing the media, in a way, trying to reverse what reagan normalized with his mastery of sound bites, and encouraging the american appetite for oversimplification.

Obama has done it again, he answered the question of his association with Pastor Wright admirably and satisfactorily.He has demonstrated inteligence, good judgment and capacity to bring peolpe of different groups together.I hope this would shut up the mouth of those who made carrier from playing the race card to go get another job.

America needs competent leadership now more than ever. Being black or a woman is not a qualification. That said, Obama is a fantastic orator.

I posted this earlier but no-one is addressing his actions, his performance, etc...Does Obama think its proper to have some-one simulate sexual acts in front of children? I dont care If its lively in the church - this is inappropriate behavior!!!

One of the the news clips I saw about this preacher had him simulating "riding" Monica in the White House. Now is that ANY way for ANY clerygyman to act - at any time - especially from the pulpit - in front of children?

Its the first time in 7 years that I feel proud to be an American. Our image in the world would change dramatically for the better with this man as our leader, a true leader unafraid to take on the tough issues and make the bold steps to heal this house divided.

I'm now an Obama supporter. His speech was masterful, even brought me to tears in places. I'm of the Hillary demographic -- middle-aged white woman -- but in this speech Obama lived up to his image as a truly different kind of politician.

I'm not sure how anyone could listen to that speech and not think that it is one of the most outstanding that a politician of his caliber has made in recent memory. Cynical? He took the founding fathers to task for accepting slavery in direct contradiction with the founding principles of equality. His central theme, that we are not a perfect nation but one capable of and always striving for perfection, is an inspiring statement in view of the empty rhetoric extolling America for its greatest. He was asking Americans to look at ourselves in the context of our experiences, and everyone listening to that speech should extend that courtesy to Mr. Obama. He is a politician running for president, and he has to walk the finest of lines. That speech employed the balance of ballerina and he pulled it off with humility and force.

wow.
he voiced so many of my own thoughts and feelings. sure, he's a politician, but he's also speaking truth. i don't care if the motivation is "pure" or "political maneuvering." he's speaking truth and urging positive approaches to change.
thank you, mr. obama.
i was undecided.
you just earned my vote.

Finally, someone had the courage to put it all out there. I feel blessed to be alive during and involved in this historical period. Anyone who listens to this and finds fault, blame, whatever negative thing they can come up with, is living in denial and in their own bubble. How can we not elect this man who has the sincere desire and ability to unite this nation. Thank you Senator Obama.

So this caller thinks that having one black candidate for president means we've progressed past all the centuries and centuries of repression. ONLY 40 years ago MLK Jr was killed for dreaming of progression... Be real. There is a lot of work to be done, its obvious that some people are angry and bitter as the reverend is.

All I can say is that I want this man for my president. He is one of the few people in public office who is not afraid to have the courage of his convictions. He will make a great statesman.

Oh my God,

Honesty,finally. Everyone is ambivalent-even Barack's grandmother. He told the truth. The honest truth. If we can get past this, we'll really move forward. Blacks have mixed feeling about whites. Whites have mixed feeling about black. We all do. This is truth. It may be fatal to Obama but it is finally the truth.

This was brilliant!!!! I was on the fence as an Obama supporter and he has convinced me. I have not heard this kind of honesty from any politician ever.

As an African American, I totally agree with every word of the clips of Rev. Wright that I've heard. He spoke the truth. America needs to stop playing games around race and African Americans, especially Christians, need to let go of their, almost obsessive, concern with white peoples' comfort, often at the expense of our own progress.

Some of the worst racism that I ever experienced in my 58 years was suffered, during the Vietnam era, while I wore a U.S. Air Force uniform and had my butt on the line for this hypocritical, evil country. I will NEVER wear an American flag lapel pin or display the flag in any form.

I LOVE that he has risen above the rhetoric and is keeping his focus on the bigger issues that affect ALL Americans - poverty, racism, un-equal opportunities, etc.

People need to understand and embrace our culteral differences and experiences and learn to find a middle ground to make a true change in this country - I truly believe Barak Obama can bring us as Americans to that place.

Wonderful job Mr. Obama!

This was a great speech. I've never been a very enthusiastic supporter of Obama, but I think this was one of the most frank and hopeful speeches on race in the U.S. that has been made in such a mainstream context. Obama did an excellent job of repudiating Wright's offensive comments without devaluing the justified anger of black America.

Barack gave a beautiful speech, one that may help us to build a dialog between the disparate communities in this country.

The most important point is that we must not reject the good that people do because of the mistakes that they make. Like him, I had a beloved relative who was both a bigot and - in other respects - a wonderful person. I didn't love or value her good qualities less because of her bigotry, even though I disliked and condemned it.

We have to embrace good, whenever we encounter it, and deplore evil. We may see both in the same person, but we must love the sinner while hating the sin. That's not political expedience, that's true morality, and the basis of civil discourse.

A beautiful speech that defines his campaign and why I feel hope and (yes) pride in our party politics for the first time in so many, many years.

This is who he is; this is why he is running; and this is why I support him.

It was a good speech but I don't know if he went far enough in distancing himself from some extremely inflammatory speech.

Mr. Obama may be able to openly debate the 'race' issue which, in the USA, raises specters of discomfort and inarticulateness. Perhaps the diffusing of the emotional knee-jerk reaction by creating the space to discuss the uncomfortable yet too familiar might create the necessary distance for each of us to listen to the other but most importantly to hear the echoes of our own biases, conscious or unconscious depsite the 'best' intentions and the sincere willingness to bear witness. this externalization is healthy. Extirpating the thorn to cleanse the wounded spirit.

Fantastic. So much historical context and everything laid on the table - not in soudbyte phrases. You can't help but to see this man as an authentic human being.

One thing that stands out for me is that he didn't dumb down the speech, making it into catchy sound bites. He spoke with eloquence, and addressed the complexity of race and class.

I appreciate how he spoke the truth about how we harbor these feelings of hatred and fear within, rather than just speaking platitudes.

I support him.

um...americans want to vote a black man for president but don't want him to address issues of race. seems delightfully naive as usual.
this man is a fantastic orator and frankly the president is more or less the most powerful cheerleader in the world. the president's chief job is to get people on side in order to create legislation and policy. seems obama is more than capable of achieving this goal. but of course something totally incomprehensible like a pastor's comments will throw a spanner in the works and americans will elect yet another muppet to fiddle while rome burns.

sad really.

I think he totally answer the question and in fact he finally opened the dialog no one in America has never dare to do specially during an election which could be considered a suicidal moment.

I applaud Senator Obama for the courage and wisdom he displayed in addressing the complex and painful issue of racism in our nation. He made clear that he understands the frustration of the average Americans of all races and he offers the opportunity for us to face and overcome the most difficult issue of our society.

He hit the perfect note, and he addressed the issues directly. The comparison between Rev. Wright and his grandmother was moving. This speech restored my confidence in his abilities.

loved hearing barack refer to his white relatives. the country seems to be forgetting -- he's black AND white.

This speech was the most honest and frank discussion of race relations in the U.S. that I have ever seen in the public realm. As opposed to paying lip service to the issues, he admitted the prejudices of Rev. Wright, his grandmother, those which we all have. I can see above, of course, that people only hear what they wish to hear.

The subtlty of loving someone like family, but not agreeing with them is apparently not allowed in the political sphere. I know the cringe-worthy things my family have said at Thanksgiving, but I don't cut them out of my life.

Anyone who dismisses this speech wasn't listening.

Yay harry! well said. i feel like he is trying to stop blacks and whites from fighting and turn the war towards the religious vs. atheists. And I'm scared...

I am so glad to hear Sen. Obama finally address race and acknowledge the past; I've been waiting for him to talk about racism and the policies which established the wealth gap and the fight over affirmative action in a concrete way. I thought the weakness in his campaign was that he did not talk about why exactly his candidacy was exciting. This was a breath of fresh air and a complete break from his typical "unity and change" ambiguity of the campaign. Well done.

this business about the pastor's commentary is only the tip of the ice cube

just wait until obama gets the nomination and is running against the maniac and his black love child

we'll see how post-racial things are then

I think he absolutely nailed it. This is my idea of a President... Addressing an issue directly; giving a context; a history; an examination from multiple perspectives; his personal view; its relation to our American experience; and its import for our future. He's got my vote.

Sen. Barack Obama is a brilliant man. If the citizens of this country are too blind to see it, then we don't deserve him as president. We will deserve (and get) the same old rhetoric and BS that politicians have been feeding us for the past 20+ years.

This man DESERVES to be president!
Let's make this a reality.

Look, the man broke down for everyone, and i think that was one of the most thorough, coherent, eloquent speeches ever. Good for him...and frankly i think we have gone too long with a President that can't utter a single intelligent sentence. We NEED a smooth talker.

The magnificence of this speech is that it reflects a greatness of spirit, an understanding of the humanity we all share. Obama appeals to what another great speaker called "the better angels of our souls."

He had to of won a lot of people over with that. Definitely changed my mind. Good stuff.

Listening to him speak, I feel like this country has a chance.....great speech!

I was so moved by the speech. Incredibly spot-on analysis of both whites and blacks, and of our current situation with race. I worry, like the caller, that some of these nuances of argument will be lost on big groups of the population. I just hope people can listen to his speech and block out the constant repetitions of Reverend Wright's speeches out of context.

Obama's honesty has firmly knocked me off of the Clinton / Obama fence.

Although this speech was not exactly something I'd associate with someone running for president...the message is that change requires both government and you, and that for who-knows-how-long, responsibility has been absent from this country: the education of our children (can't just blame the system outright), our weight problem, our massive consumption, the list just goes on.

Much of the media spends too much time trying to find dirt about the candidates, entertaining their audience, when they should also be scolding them.

I'm a 34 year old white man who has been waiting twenty years for a politician to give the speech I just heard Senator Obama give. Such nuance on the topic of race is unheard of in American politic speech.

I was somewhat undecided between Clinton and Obama, but this speech floored me. To my surprise, while I was listening, I burst out in tears. I am very impressed. With all the ethic and religious conflicts going on around the world, it magnifies the importance of having a leader who can unite us rather than make the divisions even greater.

This speech is very good. Barak is NOT shying away from addressing those issues that we the people who are concerned and care about the future of nonwhites and whites in the USA are concerned with. Like my last post, Barak addresses and points out the anger, fear and hurt, that fires our rhetoric when we the people reflect on present and past evils commited in our collective name. No matter how "liberal' or conservative those that fein "dissapointment" may feel, They in doing so reveal in themselves an inability to face the new reality of the planet, the nation, the state and this city. Hundreds of years of accumulated pain are the baggage created and it must be accomadated for. Reacting against it and thinking that it should be dismissed as "passe' is ripe to be seen as an attempt to sidestep and avoid the real issues.

Obama has back-tracked. Did he not say just a day or two ago that he was NEVER present in church on any occasion when Rev. Wright made the comments at issue?

He has come across as just another politician doing or saying whatever needs to be said in order to be elected. Political expediency appears to be the order of the day. He won't get my vote. I hate hypocrisy.

Great speech!

Wow.

I just became a Barack Obama supporter.

Wow! Obama's speech today is the first whole one that I have heard. The man is awesome! His profound mind, his gravitas, his ability to communicate are astounding. He puts to shame every president of the last twenty-eight years and every other politician of national import today.

Perfect...can't wait for Hillary's response... I hope this conversation continues.

Let Mr. WRight have his say -- no problem with that. But Obama's continuing association with him cannot be explained away by comparing those comments with his Grandmother's racism. She was not a public leader. The saddest thing about this contretemps is that it allows people to avoid the real issues of race. And this is the first time in the campaign that Obama has confronted the question of race. He has been extremely disingenuous about it, and, yes, very very calculating throughout his political career.

How could anyone not vote for him after listening to this speech?

That is why he should be our president. Smart, balanced, honest, brave and ultimately about an intellectual, emotional bridging that this country needs to take an incredibly important step forward.

did we have to hear this whole speech?

when will the others running get equal time ?

I was not an Obama supporter and still am not. I believe he is too inexperienced and naive in the diplomatic arena (which is probably a president's greatest influence).

However, as I listen to his speech, I have certainly increased my respect for him. I respect that he denounced Wright's remarks but didn't drop an important person in his life even though that would be the politically expedient move. (Though I may be naive about that-- perhaps he'd lose some black support.) I respect that he speaks in a nuanced and honest manner, and addresses the issues directly.

Though I'm not voting for him and don't agree with all his views, I sure wouldn't mind listening to him speak for the next 4 years!

I am so glad that Obama is taking the opportunity to have a real discussion about the many complexities regarding perspective and race in America. Having a difficult discussion, and learning from the mistakes of oneself and others, is a sign of intelligence and humility. I would far rather have this quality in a president than someone who would repudiate then completely distance him or herself from someone who also did good.

He's a good writer, for sure... but what strikes me is how sad it is that we must still include religion in politics. Obama's credibility (in my eyes) declines as he tries to appeal to the majority through religion--he's starting to sound like a preacher.

I suppose I am living under a naive ideal that religion should have nothing to do with politics and that humanity must progress to transcend the need for organized religion.

This is Obama's equivalenty to Lincoln's Cooper Union Speech! THe one that changes everything and opens our eyes at last.

Barack is asking us to consider complexity--will the populace be up to the challenge? I like what he's saying--things aren't just black or white but varying shades of gray. We all know that, deep inside, but at the same time we also long for the simplicity of black and white.

Hey, Brian, I think that your website has been invaded by Rush Limbaugh supporters.

As a child in school, I was required to read the story "The Man Witout A country" in which Philip Nolan, the main character, says - "Damn the United States", words he comes to regret.

I wonder if Barack Obama read this story, but I don't think so.

And Barack, how about our sexual divisions. I just heard taht Shirley Chisolm said she had a harder time being a woman in congress than being a black woman there.

He's no different from other politicians - and may be fabulous some time in the future when he has more under his belt. Look what just happened to Eliot Spitzer, who had a major meltdown after climbing unimpeded to the governorship. He might have found perspective had he met with some public correction. We do need capable politicians.

"Look, Ma. I'm post-racial!"

What a stupid term.

Obama is giving a fine speech that addresses all of the issues raised by his critics and all of the "points" made above. Obama's views throughout his political career have been "moderate." He has never made a public statement or advocated a policy that reflects Rev. Wright's more extreme statements.

As a person whose background included more than one race, culture and religion, Obama has a wider frame of reference than most Americans. His commitment to Wright's church was an intellectual and political choice that recognized as authentic, but did not embrace, all of Wright's rhetoric. Wright is a Christian minister whose objective is to serve the poor, just as the Franciscan brothers in my former parish -- to which I still contribute even after having moved awway -- serves poor families in upper-Manhattan. I have chosen to commit to the values of that Church, even though I do not take its teaching literally and am pro-choice.

To characterize Obama as a "radical" is to misunderstand who he is and the choices that he's made. He is brilliant, thoughtful and thinks deeply about issues such as race.

Might seem like a minor issue, but I commend Brian Lehrer for using the term, in regard to Reverend Wight,
Obama's "long-time Pastor" rather the somewhat misleading "former Pastor" used by Obama in his speech and by Gwen Ifil in her interview last night. Obama did not leave Reverend Wright's church.

Citizen's need accurate reporting, not subtle spinning.

The larger context that the reveren was speaking from is the harsh reality that is the urban black experience in Chicago or any U.S. city--which the majority of Americans are not privy to. This reality is that 1/10 Black males are jailed. Over 50% of black male students are being supported enough to graduate from high school. The majority of soliders in Iraq are minorities. These realities are apocaliptic for the black community at large. We (African Americans) pay a high price and get very little in return. And some can view this a failure by the U.S. to reconcile it's past history of slavery. I believe that if the average american experienced this same reality they too perhaps would understand the rev. comments.
I have 4 brothers, none are in jail, all graduated, all present in their children's lives we are seen as an anomily in our community. That is not the U.S. of my dreams.

It is amazing how every candidate for president must first knell at the alter of Israel. As Obama just said the conflict in the middle east has nothing to do with the occupation of a people by a dominant and powerful European peoples for the last 50 years but instead the middle east conflict arises ONLY from radical Islam, which by the way is another word for Islam. No candidate can ever be critical of Israel if they are serious about wining. You can be critical of every other nation including European allies like the UK or France or Germany but not this one .

Mr. Obama is such a fraud and an opportunist.

Bravo Mr. Obama. Now let us all tell all. Let the hypocrisy end! Who do YOU know who spews (aside from me), huh? Should YOU be held responsible, liable for it?
Bravissimo Mr. Obama.

I Won't vote for Obama however he's the best orator in the last 50 years or ever.

He is smooth!

However if he doesn't distance himself from pastor Wright he will lose.

Nader :)

and Barack I am so disappointed in you.

Hey imitating "riding Monica" in the pulpit goes way too far for a church. I think you are an empty suit, Barack. I am not buying any of it.

I vacillate between a feeling that Obama is cowardly in not standing up for his pastor, a friend and counselor he's known for 20 years, and understanding that this is the politically expedient thing to do. I agree with erick that Rev. Wright's statements are all true. I also wish to emphasize that our freedoms (as GWB keeps reminding us we have) include freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

great speech

wow he's getting it all out there.

good for him.

I’m listening to Sen. Obama’s speech and thinking this was the politically expedient thing to do. He has addressed race and politics because he needed to regain public confidence in his rhetoric of “change.” In this light, the speech seems cynical and politically motivated. We are electing a candidate to be the president of the U.S., and I think Americans, like it or not, want someone that is associated with more moderate views. And if we think of gender and politics, I would also argue that I wouldn’t want Clinton to have Mary Daly (radical feminist and theologian) who coined the term “Gynocide" as her spiritual advisor even though I consider myself a feminist and have enjoyed some of Daly’s lectures. It wouldn’t sqaure with what I look for in politics and politicians: moderate views.

I think this current predicament of Barack Obama's is very foretelling of his character. People need to step back and look at the larger picture and ask, who does he surround himself by? And how strong is his character? How influenced is he by others? And swayed by those around him?

Then, let's examine sexism vs. racism and open up the next can of worms.

I personally don't see what the BFD is. From a "Christian" perspective what Obama's minister said is 100% correct. In regards to the Ten Commandments many US policies fly in the face of Christian morality. Violation of the Ten Commandments results in damnation... No?