The Story Behind the Obama Law School Speech Video (PBS Damage Control)

Frontline - PBS ^ | Wednesday, March 7, 2012 | Andrew Golis

[kristinn]

The web is abuzz today about video of a speech Barack Obama gave in 1990 (some reports have incorrectly identified the speech as occurring in 1991) at Harvard Law School defending the actions of Professor Derrick Bell. Bell, the law school’s first tenured black professor, had protested Harvard’s failure to offer tenure to women of color as law school professors. Online publisher Andrew Brietbart, who died last week, had said he possessed the speech and hinted that he would release it, arguing that it provided evidence that Obama has long held radical political beliefs.

Today, the website BuzzFeed published a clip of the speech along with an article explaining some past and current context for Obama’s remarks. The website claimed the clip was “not previously available online.” The editors at Brietbart.com responded that the video on Buzzfeed had been “selectively edited” and said that they would release the full footage tonight on Fox News.

But there’s nothing new about the clip or Obama’s role in the controversy at Harvard Law School. In 2008, as a part of our quadrennial election special The Choice 2008, FRONTLINE ran the same footage of the speech as a part of an exploration of Obama’s time at Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 1991. It’s been online at our site and on YouTube since then. You can see that part of the film below.

[Popman]

I'm watching this on Hannity right now and don't see what the big deal is....granted the Harvard professor is a radical.... But back then who at Harvard wasn't a radical ....?

So far not much to do about nothing....I certainly hope there is more meat here ....

[rawcatslyentist]

Wait till they fully bring Turdi out of the closet!

AP finally released the story 24 hrs after AB's passing.

[SharpRightTurn]

“I hope they are careful.”

Ditto, particularly on late night walks.

[funfan]

If that was george Bush or lets say Rommney, Gingrich, or Santorum would you still like them knowing he supported that man? Was everyone at Harvard in 1990 a radical

[omniscient]

What ice does this cut if the infinitely more damning Ayers/Wright influences were ignored by the MSM? The most intereting thing here is that weird hand in and out of pocket action by Zero.

[WMarshal]

PBS = Progressive BS

[catfish1957]

Was this the one from AB? Also is it the same that I just saw on Hannity? The one on Hannity shows nothing but him speaking up for a radical racist colleague, which all of us pretty well knew otherwise with Rev. Wright.

If this was the breaking event, I am terribly disappointed.

[Popman]

I guess what I am saying is this clip of Obama is not surprising.... I think most Americans understand Obama came from a radical background and this particular video clip is not going to surprise anyone.... and... yes if any GOP candidate supoorte such a radical professor, It would be very disconcerting I think this ( if this is all there is to it ) makes us look petty...and desperate Hopefully there is more than Obama being a radical or just being himself...

[GOPJ]

Has anyone ever seen PBS jump to ‘clarify’ an attack on a Republican? Just wondering...

[crusher]

Again. Obama was NOT the editor of HLR, he WAS president of the student organization HLR. He was a figurehead who had nothing to do with the HLR substantive content.

[Dajjal]

obumpa

[piasa]

I guess this proves Obama can give a speech without a teleprompter.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

Most likely true, those who are sold on the commie way of life won’t be swayed, BUT, those who are otherwise unconcerned about the cliff we are danging off of, just might get off their butts and get involved or at the very least, GET OUT TO VOTE THIS EVIL MISTAKE OUT OF OFFICE.