Video: Obama's speech on race and Rev. Wright

I don't understand why anyone would listen to this speech or any other speech by any political candidate. It is crafted for a very specific purpose, and that is NOT to reveal the true man to anywone. It has ZERO to do with his real opinions, plans, and qualifications, and EVERYTHING to do with placating and maximizing votes in target demographics.

If you want to know who the man is, look at his voting record. Most liberal in the Senate. It just screams “Give me your money, middle-aged salarymen! I want to buy votes with it!”

Guys, this was not "thoughtful, honest and brilliant", yes, he threw a bone to white people by talking about affirmative action. But his ultimate solution is still "Hey, middle-aged salarymen, gimme your money so I can spend it on people who will vote for me.

Great speech, but it is an empty shell. As someone who is more conservative than most everyone I know, I found myself agreeing with everything he said. Yet, I was left at the alter though. I agreed with the why and waited for the how. Does he really think at this point in history that the problem is we do not spend enough on health care and schools? These problems are not economic in origin. They are rooted in human nature and must deal with in new and different ways. What does he suggest? Let me guess. He wants the government to take over and control everything like every good socialist.

i'll tell you this much - and it never had bearing on my decision to support obama until i heard this speech - should this country actually elect a president with black heritage it would be one helluva salve on the racial wounds in the country. considering that the man can honestly and openly speak with understanding about both sides of an issue that so many only whisper about with their closest friends means a lot. it's an honest discussion who's time has come. with this generation, it's time for blacks to overcome the resentment and bitterness; time for whites to get past the guilt, and to start accepting blacks as our brothers and sisters. it's time for both to get past the hate. i think now that no white president can achieve that.

What embezzlement? Do you deny that the people making profit off of this war are Bush cronies? The administration is very up front about it taking the treasure of this nation and handing it over to friends of the family. Halliburton, Kellog, Brown & Root, etc... do you deny that those companies (not to mention the whole of the Carlyle Group) are cronies of the Bush dynasty?

(And I'll kindly tell you where you can put your "shut up," good sir.)

"Do you deny that the people making profit off of this war are Bush cronies"

Absolutely I deny that. People have to be hired to do a job, and these people have the ability. You can't just go bidding every little thing every time you need it, or nothing would ever get done.

Education is a local responsibility. Please calculate the billions spent on education by local school boards, and the ZERO spent by them on the war on terror.

Education is a local responsibility

And a fine and bang-up job they've been doing.

See - here's the point: The way things are going are bad. Perhaps it's time to change the way we look at education since "locals" aren't, apparently, up to the "responsibility."

If conservatives had their way, we'd still have 8-year-olds in factories. Oh wait - we do. They're just not OUR kids anymore.

I know changing things from the way they've always been makes conservatives pee in their pants, so I'll give concede that you probably have no frame of reference from which to attempt (wait for it...) NEW approaches to old problems.

as opposed to conservatives who do it just because they like the smell.

;)

of course, i want you to explain your opinion to my liberal friends who are working 2 jobs to make ends meet. or maybe to my conservative cousin who is so lazy he claims workman's comp so he doesn't have to work, or my conservative brother-in-law who works for minimum wage because he's a high-school dropout. you have NO clue what you're talking about. you are so void of critical thought that you've bought into ridiculous stereotypes.

so what if obama is liberal? that's why liberals support him, big deal. he also appeals to us independents. and most of us won't be persuaded by your attempts to paint him as a racist radical. i wouldn't expect any conservatives to vote for obama anyway, unless they're interested in balancing the budget, having affordable health care, breaking our oil addiction, and fixing our economy.

but back to my earlier comment and your response...

"speak with understanding about both sides of an issue"

He cannot do that. He is a product of a rarefied liberal academic background. He's half White. He was raised by his white mother. He has never lived in the 'hood, he has probably never been called the n-word. His skin tone is just NOT enough qualification to be President.

that's exactly why he understands both sides of the black/white race issue. and, as you can't tell by just looking at him that he has any anglo heritage, i think that you'd be wrong about the racial slurs. i'd bet he's heard his share. besides, if racial slurs are aimed at your "group" you still resent it even if it's not directed at you personally.

i never said that his skin color was enough qualification to be president. but his experience with one foot in the "white" world and another in the "black" world is just an added bonus that no other candidate can claim! so, thanks for making that point.

And true to form - it always comes down to money with conservatives. Profits are more important than people.

But... God bless America, right?

Which America?

fortunately i'm not like you. i have no problem helping those in need, and my children enjoy helping too, by giving toys and clothes and food.

none of my friends are "shady" and they don't drive expensive cars and they don't live in mcmansions and they don't have big, fancy televisions either. but they are all good dads and good moms. all of my friends are well educated, nearly all have college degrees. four are war veterans. five others are business owners (one just closed his business due to the bad economy). some of them have suffered job losses. one's son died in iraq, another's died here in a car accident. all of them are suffering from the market. and i'd rather hang with this crowd than the likes of you.

on the other hand, the two family members that i mentioned are indeed lazy. they sound a lot like you, blaming socialism for their problems while happily and ignorantly reaping its fruits. oh well, you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family.

"meaning I pay more and you pay nothing" lie. i already pay for it.
"the president can't do anything about [the economy]" wrong.
"the president has nothing to do with [breaking oil addiction]" wrong again, dope.

"you're obviously a young, single guy"
i assume that your last comment was aimed at meh. well, i share most of his views posted here, and i'm neither young (unfortunately) nor single. i've been married for 15 years and have 2 children.