LIVE THREAD - Under Pressure, Obama Prepares for Race and Unity Speech

Fox News ^ | 18 March 2008

[SE Mom]

Barack Obama is preparing to deliver a major address Tuesday on race, politics and unifying the country after being hounded by questions about his relationship to a pastor whose sermons have been laced with anti-American invective.

In a speech whose religious significance could compare to one given in December by former GOP presidential hopeful and Mormon Mitt Romney, Obama may be forced to explain the philosophy of the 8,000-strong Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where the Democratic presidential candidate has been a congregant for 20 years.

In announcing the morning address, to be delivered in Philadelphia, Obama would not say specifically what he will discuss, but suggested he wants to cool down the atmosphere after incendiary remarks by his pastor, retired Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., blanketed the airwaves over the past week.

[Sender]

Al Sharpton was just up on FOX and he declared that the United Church of Christ is a "white denomination", so consider that.

I didn't know there were white and black denominations, unless one has the word "African" added to it.

[TomGuy]

Curious.

For someone who refuses to wear an American Flag pin on his lapel, he apparently intends to stand on a stage filled with flags to give this oration.

[CedarDave]

I have a link to that location, but I don’t know if it’s where he is going to speak. For a person who doesn’t hold his hand over his heart during the pledge or the national anthem, the setting reeks of hypocrisy.

http://foxnews-stream1.wm.llnwd.net/foxnews_stream1

[JayAr36]

You go to a Catholic Church because you are Catholic
You go to a Lutheran Church because you are Lutheran
You go to a Synagog because you are Jewish
You go to a Racist, Hate Mongering Church because you are a Racist, Hate Monger yourself.

[tcrlaf]

You’ll take notice that the Trinity Church website has been TOTALLY revamped over the weekend?

The “I hate White People” and the archived sermons are gone now.

[Halls]

So what do you think Obama is really going to say today? How can he explain his continuing to be at a church where they support such hate? Because he continued to go to that church he was saying he agreed with everything that was being said there.

What can he say? NOTHING!

[fatima]

Let's hear him say the Pledge of Allegiance before he begins.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

I read somewhere that Oprah left the church in 2005. The article didn’t say how long she was a member though.

[Timeout]

I sincerely hope Senator Obama recognizes that his challenge goes far beyond Reverend Wright. If he is, indeed, a post-racial messenger he’s going to have to take on all the grievance peddlers who preach black nationalism/separatism.

“Hope” and “Unity” cannot be achieved as long as blacks are being indoctrinated to believe “whitey” is his oppressor and responsible for all his ills. Reconciliation cannot be one sided.

If Obama is to remain credible, he’s going to have to universally renounce black separatism and address its corrosive effect on African American progress. He can tell us all day long that HE doesn’t subscribe to it. But as long as he tolerates it among others, he will be seen as ignoring a major obstacle to racial reconciliation.

He has a wonderful opportunity. This could be his “Nixon goes to China”....or “Sistah Souljah”. Rather than retreat to the role of a black man scolding whites and blaming whites for racial discord he would surprise everyone if he instead scolded blacks for failing to grasp the olive branch when it’s offered. Now THAT would be earth shattering...and admirable.

[sweetiepiezer]

Yes we can........
Yes we can..
Yes we can......

There is hope.....

Popcorn in your oatmeal gives it a little crunch.

[kellynla]

“Will he wear a flag pin?”

excellent question...
well we’ll soon find out

[fatima]

:)Maybeee.

[roses of sharon]

It was reported that suddenly yesterday he started to end his stump speeches with “God Bless America”.

LOL, what a shyster.

[MaestroLC]

Of course, he'll say “God Bless America” along with those flags behind him. So transparent that he is a con man. Black population and some white guilt liberals may buy this rot we are about to hear, but Obama is damaged goods, and this speech won't change that fact.

[JFC]

my mother really believes that Obama is the “anti christ”, but she thought that about Kissinger also and that didn’t pan out.

[spectre]

Good grief...Why doesn't he just wrap himself in those American flags..!!

sw

[SE Mom]

My response on another thread this week-

I can’t understand or know what it means to be a black American. I do understand the values my family taught me by example and by talking about race. During the marches in the 60’s a lot of folks in our town went with the minister of our church to march in the South with MLK and others. I remember it clearly- and the discussions we had in school, at church, around the table etc..My family taught me that all races are different- but all are equal. They used the example of ice cream- “ See how many flavors there are...but they’re ALL ICE CREAM”... It was normal for my friends (of different races) and me to think that way, and to behave that way.

I’ve tested those values out in the real world- they’ve never proven false or led me to a mistaken conclusion. My friends and acquaintances are from a variety of backgrounds and skin colors. That seems normal, because this is America and we’re all American. Aren’t we?

This Jeremiah Wright and his sermons has upset and shaken me more than I can express. For the first time in my entire life, I am suddenly looking at people’s skin color, first. I didn’t realize how little attention I’ve paid to skin color, until I suddenly started seeing it, if that makes sense. Now I look around, at the store, in my neighborhood, my church and wonder...do these black people I see around me think of me the way Jeremiah Wright does? Am I hated and reviled for being a white woman by black people? Or just a couple..or a dozen..or all of them?

I’ve lost my bearings.

[Crawdad]

So what do you think Obama is really going to say today?

"Some of my best friends are white."

[rock_lobsta]

No matter what he says, he will be canonized my the drive-by's (especially PMSNBC) as the second coming of MLK.

Here's a preview...

Hope & Change, Smile & Wave, blah blah blah...

_{I denounce Rev. Wright,} and all Republicans and Conservatives are racist thugs for the AUDACITY of his _{somewhat inappropriate} sermons.

Oh yeah, all you whitey supporters are still racist, but there's HOPE for you - as long as you don't CHANGE and still vote for me.

[Muleteam1]

My cartoon implies nothing as to racism or bigotry but I would most definately disagree that these two issues are not important in an election. As a black, white, yellow or red man and whether a person is a Catholic, Southern Baptist, or a Mormon, one has to be very concerned when a possible racist and/or bigot seeks the most powerful office in the world.

My cartoon simply implies that it is rediculous to think anyone could "sleep" through fire and brimstone sermons for twenty years. If they did, they do not to be in the Whitehouse.