Obama: A Perfect Speech, a Perfect Candidate

I am still reeling.

Is this man for real? Am I in some weird kind of dream?

And did he really, in this day and age, write that speech himself?!

Did I just see a black candidate for President of the United State just make clear, in perfect rhetorical form, what many Americans can barely even bring themselves to talk about, what few of us Americans feel comfortable discussing in mixed company?

Did I just see a political speech actually lay down historical anchors, with mention of the slave trade protection clause in the Constitution, deft presentation of sociologists Massey and Denton's analysis of how wealth production in the black community was prevented by discriminatory Federal Housing Adminisation, GI Bill, and exclusionary real estate practices? Then move right into the silent anger of the black community, followed by mention of how the black community has often been complicit in its own misery?

Did I also just see a black candidate for President of the United State channel sources of white frustration, talk about why many whites reject the criticism of "white privilege", and the understandable fears and prejudices that makes whites guilty of being nothing more than human, as opposed to "racist?"

Whoa. This is the most powerful and historically lucid speech I have seen in all my short 36 years of time spent on earth. This is a man who is not only a uniter, but eminently "presidential" and who truly transcends the petty politics of reductionist identity. It is worth watching in its entirety.

[Read the transcript.]

This speech is simply amazing, on several levels.

Firstly, it was a risk. He let people off the hook, put himself potentially on it -- he didn't make political potshots, and kept it classy.

It's honest and I respect Obama for not simply dumping a friend because it's politically convenient, especially when it would have been actually understandable -- nay, even expected -- that he do so.

He manages to rise above the mud-slinging fray and actually let Ferraro off the hook by equating her with Wright, and for suggesting that not only are her feeling expected, but even understandable.

He, for the first time since I have been politically self-aware as a political being, articulated the problems endemic to American society -- health care, housing, and education -- in terms of the need to rise up beyond the "not my problem" way of thinking when watching the "kids on the other side of the fence" go to failing schools, live in dilapidated and dangerous surroundings, or go without health care. Ever since Jonathan Kozol's book Savage Inequalities both angered me and cause me to well up with tears, I have never heard a politician make the central point that it's a crime for Americans to watch other Americans live like this, regardless of them being "other people's children."

[Source: The New York Times]

And this speech puts to bed that ridiculous but persistent notion that Obama is "all talk." After going toe-to-toe in several debates with the sharpest political animal imaginable, after showing that he is perfectly capable and deft when getting nitty-gritty on the "issues" but obviously has chosen to speak-to-inspire when on the campaign trail -- now, he has displayed a "third mode" for me.

The man knows how to integrate powerful political rhetoric with the hard facts of history, with an emotional suasion and clarity that speaks directly to the hearts of Americans of all backgrounds, who sit in their corners, too afraid to talk with one another, too timid to exchange anything other than polite pleasantries across the racial/ethnic divide, while the big, fat elephant continues to sit in the room, preventing us from solving any of the corollary issues that continues to keep our nation less than it should and could be.

This is a man who has just demonstrated that he is truly a class act, a level above anything Clinton or anyone like her could muster up, even on their best day.

This man is a true LEADER, and the most deserving of being elected President of the United States that I've seen in my lifetime. He's not the "not-Bush" John Kerry, or "Slick Willie" or even any of the men I've read about in history book for whom I might have voted (and hindsight helps): Carter, Johnson, Kennedy, FDR.

Is Obama as great as any of them? Quite possibly, but he ain't been president yet. But he's on the short list already, and I damn well wanna find out.

I'm voting for Obama WHEN he's chosen as the democratic nominee. I haven't this excited about politics in my life.

And back on earth, in the realm of petty politicking, I'm sure Hillary is hating that speech, because it was just so damn good, and she wishes she had made it. Well, if that were even possible.

Damn, Obama's good.

And that's the thing. He's not even trying to be. "Good," that is. He is just who he is.

And anyone watching that speech knows he just hit a fucking home run outta the park. Gone. Over the bleachers. Hit a skylight, too.

Gone!

Comments

[saminmd]

His speechwriter is a twentysomething "kid." But obviously he knows what his doing. I'm not saying that Obama didn't contribute to this speech. But let's not kid yourself, he had help. Obviously.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/84756

[Kreatian]

Let me say one thing: Can we have him if he loses?

[jandkshiday]

He didn't have to have help with the speech. The man did write two books before he even ran for president after all. Of "The Audacity of Hope," Michiko Kakutani of the Times posited "Barack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois and the Democratic Party’s new rock star, is that rare politician who can actually write — and write movingly and genuinely about himself." Let's not kid ourselves.

[lazybanana]

Actually, saminmd if you read the Newsweek article, you probably would have picked up on the fact that Obama's speechwriter pretty much serves in an editorial capacity. Not only did Obama write two books, he was Editor-in-Chief of Harvard Law Review. I don't know if you know anything about law school, but just being SELECTED for law review is a big deal - being EIC is a BFD.

Besides that, I was waiting for your (metropolitician's) post on Obama's speech. It was pretty damn amazing, wasn't it? I think my reaction was like yours and everyone else's in the entire world - silence for several minutes, followed by a "did that just happen????" When even Charles Murray, yes, THAT Charles Murray has to concede that a speech on race was "plain flat out brilliant," you know it's got to be incredible.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MjI3MWMyOGFkNmQ2MGFjNzRhYzYwMGVhZWJhMjcyOGM=

[Phoenixstorm]

Agreed, but when the general elections come this fall I hope he will have a strategy for the inevitable "swift boat" attack that now has a target even bigger than the one they used on Kerry.

They are the minions of the republican machinery who turned a war hero into a disgrace. I can only imagine what they will spin this into, especially after they scour that speech and cherry pick things to spin.

I hope his campaign and he is ready.

Go Obama!

[parker]

The youtube video is down. This one will probably stay up though.

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=64404

[eujin]

So is anybody organising for Obama here in Korea?

How many people are expected to vote from Korea? There must be a small town's worth of elligible voters here.

I'd like to do something to help but I wonder if it is worth it.

[mcnut]

actually bill cosby gave a better speech a couple of years ago regarding race in america and since he wasnt politically correct everyone attacked him but everything he said was true just not in the sense the black community wanted to hear it
i think the ALCU was all over the lawsuit!

and this speech was nothing more than "hey white guys calm down because you have to let us say things like this because well we are victims our entire lives so you just have to deal with our reverse racisim and hatred of you"

if we believe obama's theory of just because i go to to this church doesnt mean i agree with everything this guy says then hell there is no mosque in the world that we should worry about brainwashing young men into becoming suicide bombers because they just attend the mosque but do not agree with the teachings

BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

he was doing serious damage control his numbers are down now and any of those super delegates that were undecided probably are now decided but to clinton

you lefties for the past 8 years have been all over bush for using religion as a way to guide his decision making and it was even posted on here about mike huckabees religion being to much for you to handle
but no problem for obama to be part of such a radical and hateful church????

typical liberal BS
i call it!

[mcnut]

oh yeah one more thing
how come nothing on this original story when pastor wright was spewing his hate american and hate white people speeches a week ago???????????

[Richardx]

Its is of course true that the democrats are above reproach and have never nor would they ever stoop to the Rovian tactics to win an election. They are in fact and in truth, paragons of moral rectitude.
It is well known and should be accepted that Republicans are the spawn of Satan and should be treated as such.
No doubt the annointed one will lead us onto the path of righteousness and all will be well.
The world will love us again and our young men and women will no longer pay the price for Bushs Folly.
It will be a glorious day..a new dawn of hopefullness not hopelessness, a new path to racial harmony, paradise on earth.
Thank you Preident Obama!!!!

[Kreatian]

Uh... mcnut, can you post comments AFTER you've read the speech?
BTW, it IS possible, for some, to have different opinion from that of their religious leaders on some issues. I think we call it "thinking". And although I don't really know much about how it all works, but I think it involves using the brain in some unimaginable way.
What's wrong about Huckabee (and some others from the conservative right) is that he uses his religion to justify his actions, a lot of which involve denying other people THEIR rights. If you really believe religion is more of a personal matter and should be seperated from politics(if you don't I have nothing more to say to you), than don't you think you should come up with a better rationale before you start telling people what they can or cannot do?
I mean, how are you different from Islamic fundamentalists if you use religion as your sole argument to regulate other people's lives? Don't get me wrong, I respect christianity and christians. But ONLY when they are reasonable enough to NOT try to force their beliefs on other people. It seems like a cliche, but, consciously or not, that's exactly what Huckabee was doing.
Now Obama may be christian but his religion doesn't dominate his actions the way Huckabee's religion dominates his. For all I care, he could be a Muslim or even a frickin' Scientologist and I'd STILL vote for him. And don't even get me started on Bush. (Scowl)

And Richardx, are you suggesting that this speech was somehow inspiring "hope"? OMFG, WHAT A TERRIBLE THING? HOW DARE HE INSPIRE PEOPLE TO HAVE HOPE IN A TIME LIKE THIS??
I JUST DON'T FXXKING GET IT! What's wrong with having HOPE? The media already turned the word "liberal" into a derogative term, now it's "hope"?
Fine, you may not agree with that, but this speech wasn't JUST about hope. He talked about the REALITY of the racial issue in America. He didn't just give a "blind hope" speech. He addressed REAL concerns of black AND white americans and asked people to look PAST that division and "realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams; that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper."
Again, I will refer you to the actual speech, 'cuz I'm just completely ruining it...

[MigukNamja]

It's ironic, but his intelligence is not only his greatest strength, but also his greatest liability:

"It is possible that we will have a President who not only will speak in full, complete sentences, but who will do so in a manner that is eloquent, and who will also be articulate and eloquent in delivering words he is intelligent enough to know, understand, and use in a speech he is capable of writing himself."

Sadly, it seems a sizeable enough minority of people (also known as "the middle" that tend to decide U.S. Presidents) tend to vote for "people like them" rather than people who would truly be the best leader. They would prefer to vote for their buddy rather than their boss.

Righties vote right. Lefties vote left. Middles vote for their friends. Few people objectively vote for the best candidate. Stupid and short-sighted, yes, but that's politics.

Fortunately, McCain is not that friendly.

[pyroz]

Hey Mike,
Just wondering what your thoughts on Ron Paul are. I know a lot of people don't really know who this guy is, but he's been a Republican (in the truest sense) candidate since the beginning of the campaign. The mainstream media ignores him, people ignore his message, and he's simply brushed aside at all the debates.
He's the only candidate who speaks the truth and is not controlled by corporate interest groups. I highly recommend you check him out, if you haven't already.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/

I'm not an Obama hater, I just think that a lot of people are wowed by his charisma, not his message.

Join the Ron Paul R3VOLUTION!

[Korea Beat]

Hmm, I really thought I had left a comment here. Did it disappear?

[The Metropolitician]

Sometimes Typepad gets iffy, methinks. I hope you'll repost whatever you said.

[saminmd]

pyroz, Ron Paul is the real deal. But there is no way he will ever get elected until this country is on its knees, at least economically speaking. By then, his message will be blase as everyone will say "no duh Ron," as it will be too obvious, but too late to do anything about. Even if Ron Paul got elected today. It's too late. The Hindenburg has already been lit and the titanic is already taking on water. Countrywide, Bear Stearns, now Citi and probably Lehman. But most Americans don't see these companies as affecting them. They can't see past their noses. They have no clue or care about basic economics as long as Bernanke, Paulson, and Shrub keeps sending them free bribe/hush money. Just like the subprime mess, they'll look for someone to blame and ask the gov't for help. Well, damn, who'll do you think let all this mess happen. I used to tell other Ron Paul supporters that if hell froze over and he became a real threat to win the Republican nomination, he better not get on any small plane, a la Paul Wellstone.

[Korea Beat]

Darn that Typepad! I was just saying that this incident really shows how much there is one standard for blacks and another for whites. I mean for how many years, decades really, has the GOP been happy to benefit from the votes of its own religous whackos? People like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell who both blamed America's supposed moral degeneracy for 9/11, Katrina, AIDS, etc. You've got all kinds of nuts that McCain is happy to have on his side right now, like John Hagee and Rod Parsley. But if a black man says it then he is sho' nuff' crazee and needs to be disowned.

[Heart]

Eujin, on Obama's website there is a group called "South Korea for Barack." There are about 20 of us, so far. Most of the members are interested in getting together this summer, but there's nothing planned, yet. Why don't y'all join us? You too, McNut :)

[mcnut]

no thanks i am the "typical white person" i will stay with mcain and the republicans

however above that saminmd uses a very weak comparison because for the simple reason

its not a matter of what the person says (wright)
its a matter of obama being a part of his church for 20 years and not admitting he knew the man said things like he said considering he married his wife (another wacko) and baptized their daughters
oh wait he did admit a few days later and after having no other option except to deliver some half truths

the idiot wright can say whatever he wants that his freedom provided to him by having such a hard life here in america
and man who says he serves god with that much hate is a jackass!
and that goes for the right wingers as well so dont give me that BS!

this blog should thank me for creating a good thread discussion and getting conversation going. if not everyone would just agree with the original post and what fun is that???

[MigukNamja]

pyroz,

"The mainstream media ignores him, people ignore his message, and he's simply brushed aside at all the debates."

It took me about 10 seconds to find out why:

"Having pledged never to raise taxes, he has long advocated ending the federal income tax, scaling back government spending, abolishing most federal agencies, and removing military bases and troops from foreign soil; he favors hard money and opposes the Federal Reserve."

He also opposes gun control.

(source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Paul)

Yup. I can see why he's roundly ignored.

[Richardx]

I was willing to give Ron Paul a chance but then on Russert he was asked about earmarks. He's against them but puts his OWN earmarks in because thats the way the "game" is played. His district gets much more money then they give to the feds.
BUT I do like the idea of the governemnt becoming less and less like a Nanny State..it certainbly can get us into a mess but seems inept in getting us out.

Less than credit worthy people were given access to money that they knew, going in, that they would NEVER be able to pay. The "Fine Print" is no longer fine print..there is no excuse on the part of the lendee knowing full well what they would eventually have to pay.Greed, avarice stupidty..
"We have met the enemy and he is us"..Pogo

[saminmd]

MigukNamja said "It took me about 10 seconds to find out why." - This says it all.

You formed you're opinion after 10 seconds without delving into the issues? Wow! America is owes most of it's success to the founding father's, the architects for the framework for our government that's reflected in our Constitution. I speak of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Thomas Paine, et al. I suggest you read about their thoughts and ask yourself if they would support more taxes, government spending, foreign military deployment, fiat currency versus gold backed currency, and the illegal Federal Reserve (read about how the "Federal" Reserve became our "Central" Bank). Almost all Americans think the Federal Resererve is an agency of the Federal government. It's not. It's a private bank owned by many large banks including European banks. And just like any private enterprise, their primary interest (no pun intended) is to benefit their shareholders, not the American people. Their goal is to manipulate the interest rates to benefit them, not us. Any benefit to us is simply a byproduct . I won't go into the mechanics of how they manipulate the econmomy via setting of the short-term interest rate (fed funds rate) because I wouldn't want to bore you as you seem to have a short attention span. But unfortunately for them, this racket may be coming to an end as they may have let this game get out of hand as I alluded to in the above post. Subprime mortgages is just the tip of the iceberg. Derivatives is the ticking time bomb and the federal reserve has little control over it as it is a private bet between two entities. Just imagine hundreds of Katrina's hitting our shores in succession and only a hand full of insurance companies to cover the losses. They don't have the cash. Well, that's what we are starting to see. I like Obama, but he will be mincemeat to the special interest groups that leech off of America. Obama hasn't been tested. Look at the top 10 campaign contributors to Obama and compare it to other candidates. It looks no different. Wall Street companies, banks, insurance companies. Ron Paul has been tested for over 20 years and passed. Look at his contributors. No Wall Street firms, banks, insurance companies. They've given up on buying his vote. America doesn't need a feel good, heart grabbing, politician like an Obama. What America needs is a "grab by the collar, shake, slap across the face, "wake up" shout, a la Cher in Moonstruck" politician. Ron Paul was that man and America was "bored" by him. Enough said. Now go back to watching "American Idol."

To Richardx: Concerning earmarks, you're not a critical thinker. If you think about the bigger picture, you should see why that's not as hypocritical as your "knee-jerk" reaction would have you believe.

[GI]

I know Michael has blogged plenty before about racial stereotypes in Korea and the US such as Biden's comments about Obama being "bright & clean" or Bush calling Obama "articulate". I am curious about his opinion or anyone elses for that matter on the "typical white person" comment made by Obama.

[mcnut]

GI i called him out on it earlier but no response to any of the events regarding the pastor or days after
the only thing he blogged on was the speech which him and the mainstream media went cookoo for
not me but you can better your left testicle had a conservative said anything similar he would have been all over it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

below is obama's lies about the issue

"But the sermons I've always hear were no different than the sermons you hear in many African-American churches. I had not heard him make such, what I consider to be objectionable remarks from the pulpit. Had I heard them while I was in church, I would have objected. Had that been the tenor of the church generally, I probably wouldn't be a member of the church." - Senator Barack Obama, 3/15/08

"Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes." - Senator Barack Obama, 3/18/08

What a difference a few days can make huh???

[palebunny]

your blog is awesome.

i've been stalking it on and off for several months. i first saw it years ago though, actually. when i got my first ipod i was browsing around in itunes and found your Seoul Glow series. I loved it. I'm sorry you don't update that.

it's refreshing to hear the thoughts of an articulate, earnest, intelligent, open-minded, creative person amid blogs of trend, platitudes, and pretension.

but i've also been exceptionally amused by your anti-fans.

if i ever have a blog, the most earth-shattering flattery anyone could bestow to it would not be legions of fans spewing drivel, but the birth of a truly devoted anti-fan.

and you've got more than one, lol.

i like expatjane's blog too.

ps. i liked this speech too. it made me cry.