"The Speech" - By Andrew Sullivan

[Hope And Change]

The Speech


18 Mar 2008 11:32 am

Alas, I cannot give a more considered response right now as I have to get on the road. But I do want to say that this searing, nuanced, gut-wrenching, loyal, and deeply, deeply Christian speech is the most honest speech on race in America in my adult lifetime. It is a speech we have all been waiting for for a generation. Its ability to embrace both the legitimate fears and resentments of whites and the understandable anger and dashed hopes of many blacks was, in my view, unique in recent American history.

And it was a reflection of faith - deep, hopeful, transcending faith in the promises of the Gospels. And it was about America - its unique promise, its historic purpose, and our duty to take up the burden to perfect this union - today, in our time, in our way.

I have never felt more convinced that this man's candidacy - not this man, his candidacy - and what he can bring us to achieve - is an historic opportunity. This was a testing; and he did not merely pass it by uttering safe bromides. He addressed the intimate, painful love he has for an imperfect and sometimes embittered man. And how that love enables him to see that man's faults and pain as well as his promise. This is what my faith is about. It is what the Gospels are about. This is a candidate who does not merely speak as a Christian. He acts like a Christian.

Bill Clinton once said that everything bad in America can be rectified by what is good in America. He was right - and Obama takes that to a new level. And does it with the deepest darkest wound in this country's history.

I love this country. I don't remember loving it or hoping more from it than today.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/03/the-speech.html">Link

[Orsino]

1. I liked the speech a lot...

...but if Sully is enthusing over it, I'd better look more closely. B-)

[FrenchieCat]

5. Maybe that's the point....that as much as we may be divided in whatever divides us,

we can still understand an appreciate our similarities.

I stand in solidarity with all who recognize history when it is being made, and I feel for those who will miss it until that history is written.

[mod mom]

2. says a lot from a former Republican-Andrew Sullivan.

[mod mom]

6. I love this country. I don't remember loving it or hoping more from it than today"

[salinen]

8. Think he means

that he loved America less yesterday?

[DearAbby]

3. I have yet to read the transcripts

I want to hear it as well, I woke late :(
this article moved me to tears...I must read/hear this speech!

[bluestateguy]

4. What happened to Andrew Sullivan?

This guy was a Bush loving neo-con six years ago.

[americanstranger]

7. Yes, he was. But he seems to have one trait that the rest of them don't have.

He seems to be able to re-evaluate situations without his ideology leading him by the nose.

Sullivan has a certain amount of intellectual honesty that is absent in many pundits from the Right, and a lot of what Bush has done over the past 8 years seems to have truly horrified him.

- as

[anigbrowl]

15. Well, he grew up a bit

I often disagree with Sullivan's opinions, because he is a conservative after all, but I think he's very sincere in holding them and writes what he thinks rather than whatever he knows his listeners want to hear.

[K Gardner]

9. Crying again.. damn. K&R

[Tippy]

10. Andrew thanks for your comments they mirror mine perfectly.....n/t

[TwilightGardener]

11. Best part of the speech, for me, was Obama's refusal to disown

a long-time friend for being imperfect, and a political liability. He disagrees with Wright's angry statements, flinches at the man's words, but refuses to throw him under the bus, because he knows a better and more complicated person than the media portrays. That tells me what kind of man Obama is, what kind of heart and soul he has--truly an admirable person.

[sloppyjoe25s]

12. It was simply stunning...

honestly - i don't know why i ever doubted it would pull it off... i suppose i'm just a little fatigued after Texas,
but this gave me a whole new burst of energy.

I went to college in Philly, and I'm already emailing friends in PA to get their asses in gear!

[monmouth]

13. Wow Andrew, I can't imagine a more wonderful post if you weren't in a rush!

Many thanks for a wonderful statement..

[IsItJustMe]

14. K&R