NYTimes Editorial Board: "Obama ... he raised the discussion to a higher plane."

[understandinglife]

There are moments — increasingly rare in risk-abhorrent modern campaigns — when politicians are called upon to bare their fundamental beliefs. In the best of these moments, the speaker does not just salve the current political wound, but also illuminates larger, troubling issues that the nation is wrestling with.

Inaugural addresses by Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt come to mind, as does John F. Kennedy’s 1960 speech on religion, with its enduring vision of the separation between church and state. Senator Barack Obama, who has not faced such tests of character this year, faced one on Tuesday. It is hard to imagine how he could have handled it better.

Mr. Obama had to address race and religion, the two most toxic subjects in politics. He was as powerful and frank as Mitt Romney was weak and calculating earlier this year in his attempt to persuade the religious right that his Mormonism is Christian enough for them.

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What is evident, though, is that he not only cleared the air over a particular controversy — he raised the discussion to a higher plane.

Senator Obama spoke the truth. We have no reason to think he will ever do otherwise.

Time for Obama to be President - can't happen soon enough.

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Now Maybe They'll Switch Their Endorsement

I seriously doubt it, but an unprecedented situation calls for unprecedented actions.

[ColbertWatcher]

3. I hope so, but...

...we've got a long way to go before Pennsylvania, not to mention the general election.

Can America stay clean for a summer? A hot, drought-filled summer? An October surprise?

And can we do it without having to resort to making religion an acceptable part of the conversation?

Oh, by "we" I mean republicans.

[burythehatchet]

5. that would be a very powerful thing to have happen.

in an honest world, perhaps.

[Patsy Stone]

2. Thanks for posting this.

:toast:

K&R!

Nice to see you, ul! :hi:

[understandinglife]

7. Of course, my friend. And - he wrote it; Obama wrote that speech.

:hi: Patsy!

Bob

[greyghost]

4. I've waited for another politician to stand before the American

people and speak the truth for over a quarter of a century.

Barack Obama should be POTUS.

[Demeter]

6. Agreed. Anyone Who Can Speak Like That Deserves The Title

Leader of the Free World!

[1800flowers]

8. The Times compared Obama's speech to LIncoln's and FDR's

Inaugural addresses by Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt come to mind, as does John F. Kennedy’s 1960 speech on religion, with its enduring vision of the separation between church and state. Senator Barack Obama, who has not faced such tests of character this year, faced one on Tuesday. It is hard to imagine how he could have handled it better.

[understandinglife]

9. In my life time, only two are comparable - JFKs and MLK Jrs - and, welcome to DU.

"It is hard to imagine how he could have handled it better."

I'd say, impossible.

[LuckyLib]

10. Lots of tears in this photo -- lots of proud people.

[understandinglife]

11. Yes. And, deservedly so. We the People ... can be as great as this man ...

... realizes we have the potential to be.

It is for each of us to bring that potential to its most abundantly generous and creative consequences.

Peace,
Bob