I think there is only one way out of this Wright issue for Obama when he makes his speech

[mtnsnake]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think he needs to criticize Wright for his anti-American remarks, on one hand...but follow up by praising Wright for his contributions to society, on the other hand...citing specific examples of Wright's contributions to society. I'm not sure which will come first in the speech...Obama's condemnation of Wright's remarks or his praise of Pastor Wright, but I think he has to do both so he doesn't alienate anyone (Black or White America) too much.

After that, I think he'll spend the rest of his speech talking in general about race and unity and tie that into his hope and change message. I think he will also address the "gray" area...that things aren't always just black or white, but that there are so many factors that enter into things, that sometimes you just can't draw a line, but you need to weigh the good with the bad. IOW, I think he's going to paint a picture of Pastor Wright that he is basically a good man (with some serious flaws) and point out that Wright makes mistakes just like anyone. If Obama is smart he's gonna say that he associated with Pastor Wright for 20 years because of the good parts about Wright, not for the flaws.

The surprise of Obama's speech, IMO, will be the "partial" support that he gives Pastor Wright for the good things he's done in his past, the parts that attracted Obama to him for so long.

[Fredda Weinberg]

1. I wish him well. I just don't know if he can do this. n/t

[democrattotheend]

5. It's a tough challenge. But if anyone can do it, it's Barack Obama.

I'm hoping and praying he can pull it off. And I think the OP's suggestions are dead on.

[Fredda Weinberg]

10. My hopes are with you. Unity is the right message and this would be

an opportune moment. I won't watch live - my real world is more interesting this morning, but I'm curious how this will resonate.

[EffieBlack]

11. LOL - I was JUST getting ready to type the same thing!

[GoldieAZ49]

2. doesn't matter, if he condemns the words but not the man

and again claims he didn't know Wright held those views after 20 years of a mentor/protege relationship, then he doesn't have the judgement needed for POTUS.

Think of Bush saying he looked into Putin's eyes and saw the mans soul...or some such bullshit....that turned out to be rather foolish.

The POTUS needs better judgement than that, and they don't have 20 years to figure that out.


on edit,

He cannot condemn the man it would diminish his credibility and be seen as politically motivated.

He has lost the public trust, I believe he is done.

[mtnsnake]

6. I'm not sticking up for Obama. I agree with you on the judgment part, but

I'm just saying that I think the only way out of this by finding a way to paint Wright as being essentially a good person for the most part, and that that's the part Obama associated with. He's going to have to do a lot of explaining, that's for sure.

[Tellurian]

24. No, his speech did nothing but reinforce fear in other ethnicities..

besides whites. I spoke to my Asian co-worker today and she was appalled at the presumptuousness of Obama using the presidency to advance the AA agenda. She was adamant and feared the Asian communities would suffer under the hand of an AA president becoming their whipping posts and worried their stake in America would be jeopardized.

[MethuenProgressive]

3. Obama will probably come down firmly on the fence today.

I expect a Present vote from this speech, little more.

[dionysus]

4. i know exactly what he needs to do...

sing Brewer and Shipley!

One toke over the line, sweet mtnsnake, one toke over the line...

Standing downtown at the DLC station one toke over the line....

:hi:

[mtnsnake]

8. Ya gotta come up with a new song. I'm starting to like that one now

and it doesn't get stuck in my head like it used to. "One toke over the line sweet Jesus..." Sounds good!

[dionysus]

13. ahem, to the tune of Georgy Girl

Hey there, hillary
Swingin' down the trail so fancy-free
Nobody you meet could ever see
The president there inside you

Hey there, hillary
Why do all the voters just pass you by?
Could it be the nasty lies
Or is it because of Penn?

Hey there, mtnsnake
There's another candidate you should try
Bring out all the Hope you hide and,
Oh, what a change there'd be
cause it won't be hillaryyyy, hey mtnsnake....

:hippie:

[mtnsnake]

16. Congratulations

You have successfully replaced a song that I was just starting to get used to with one that I don't think I could EVER handle, especially with those lyrics of yours! :mad:

[dionysus]

18. hey, it's the one that gets me, the one i told you you'd never guess...

i'm just being nice and sharing it!
:hi:

[BigDDem]

7. I predict no matter what he says

the flock will proclaim it to be "brilliant"

[mtnsnake]

9. I wouldn't be surprised at all. n/t

[GoldieAZ49]

12. Do you think he would possibly drop out of the race today?

seeing the division this has caused and not willing to throw his mentor under the bus?

Could he do that and attempt to unite the party with this speech?

It has been a thought I have had the past few days.

[shaniqua6392]

14. No way would he drop out over this.

This is just a bump in the road and we should not let it get out of hand. I just don't want to see him win the nomination and then have a bunch of voters against him so they cross over to McCain. If Obama see this happening, he may drop out at a later date. But not now.

[pocoloco]

15. What anti-American remarks do you speak??

Inquiring minds would like to know.

[mtnsnake]

17. The ones by Wright that the media has been calling anti-American for a week

Are you here to debate Wright's remarks or to discuss what Obama needs to say in his speech in order to put it all to rest? If it's the former, then you should start a new thread about it.

[elixir]

19. k

[Tarc]

20. The fact that he has to make this speech at all is what is bad news for Team Obama

This is like the Romney's "why I'm a Mormon and why we're not an evil cult" speech, and that pretty much blotted out the sun for awhile for the Mittster. he had to spend an inordinate amount of time talking about religion rather than issues, and he sunk like a stone.

[mtnsnake]

21. Well, was I right or was I wright?

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think he needs to criticize Wright for his anti-American remarks, on one hand...but follow up by praising Wright for his contributions to society, on the other hand...citing specific examples of Wright's contributions to society. I'm not sure which will come first in the speech...Obama's condemnation of Wright's remarks or his praise of Pastor Wright, but I think he has to do both so he doesn't alienate anyone (Black or White America) too much.

After that, I think he'll spend the rest of his speech talking in general about race and unity and tie that into his hope and change message. I think he will also address the "gray" area...

:smoke: :smoke:

[jackson_dem]

22. It was so obvious he was going to do that. This was hardly the new "I Have a Dream" speech

It was a good speech but the hype about it from Obama supporters is both amusing and frightening...

[robbedvoter]

23. Yup. Got him to a T.

[Schema Thing]

25. You posted this well after the text of his speech had been on the web

for some time.


just sayin' ;)