Obama's Speech: Was it Enough?

[GadFly]

I am a Conservative Republican and have never voted for a Democrat in the presidential election. This covers a time span of over 50 years. Over this time span I have personally every presidential candidate speak, including JFK, LBJ and Nixon. There have been many great speeches. Mos Democratic speeches I have found to be flawed.

Obama's speech today was, we thought, to clear up Pastor Wright's poorly thought out remarks, which has greatly affected Obama's image of a presidential candidate. His speech was without doubt on of the most patriotic speeches I have ever heard. Don't tell my friends in the Republican party that I was tempted to vote for Obama based on the content of that speech. For the time being Obama's speech was enough to save him or at least put his campaign back on track. What do you think?:clap

 

[GadFly]

I am a Conservative Republican and have never voted for a Democrat in a presidential election. This covers a time span of over 50 years. Over this time span I have personally heard every presidential candidate speak, including JFK, LBJ and Nixon. There have been many great speeches. Most Democratic speeches I have found to be flawed because I don't care Democratic positions generally.

Obama's speech today was, we thought, to clear up Pastor Wright's poorly thought out remarks, which has greatly affected Obama's image of a presidential candidate. His speech was without doubt one of the most patriotic speeches I have ever heard. Don't tell my friends in the Republican party that I was tempted to vote for Obama based on the content of that speech. For the time being Obama's speech was enough to save him or at least put his campaign back on track. What do you think?:clap

I reposted this thread to correct the spelling of the initial thread. I was in too much of a hurry.

 

[Starfish]

I'm copying this from a post I did in another thread. This is what really bothers me.

"The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign."
Posted by Obama, in blog 3/14/2008

"Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes."
Obama's speech 3/18/2008

 

[Wandered Off]

Looks to me as if the first quotation refers to specifically those comments that caused the current controversy in the first place. He didn't say he never heard any controversial comments. I don't see a conflict.

 

[Bishka]

I'm copying this from a post I did in another thread. This is what really bothers me.

"The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign."
Posted by Obama, in blog 3/14/2008

"Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes."
Obama's speech 3/18/2008

And?

The ones that have been under fire, Obama did not here, thought he said that he has heard things that could be considered controversial. What's your point Starfish?

 

[Starfish]

And?

The ones that have been under fire, Obama did not here, thought he said that he has heard things that could be considered controversial. What's your point Starfish?

My point: He implied that he wasn't aware of his reverend's comments. Yes, he said he wasn't there when those exact statements were made. But he made it sound like he didn't know. This is deceptive. He knew Wright's history and opinions. Yet he continued to support them through his attendance and the attendance of his family.

Now, when his feet are held to the fire, he aggressively denounces his pastor's words. It just doesn't come across as genuine. He's either willing to toss aside a long-time friend to be elected, or he didn't really object to the inflammatory statements like he now claims to.

 

[Bishka]

My point: He implied that he wasn't aware of his reverend's comments. Yes, he said he wasn't there when those exact statements were made. But he made it sound like he didn't know. This is deceptive. He knew Wright's history and opinions. Yet he continued to support them through his attendance and the attendance of his family.

Now, when his feet are held to the fire, he aggressively denounces his pastor's words. It just doesn't come across as genuine. He's either willing to toss aside a long-time friend to be elected, or he didn't really object to the inflammatory statements like he now claims to.

Refer to Wandered Off's comments:

Looks to me as if the first quotation refers to specifically those comments that caused the current controversy in the first place. He didn't say he never heard any controversial comments. I don't see a conflict.

It's really sad that you feel this way about him. Do you see me going around denouncing your candidate of choice and calling on his integrity and religious choices? No, I tend to focus more on the issues and what he has done for the country......

Try it some time, it's invigorating.

 

[Starfish]

Refer to Wandered Off's comments:



It's really sad that you feel this way about him. Do you see me going around denouncing your candidate of choice and calling on his integrity and religious choices? No, I tend to focus more on the issues and what he has done for the country......

Try it some time, it's invigorating.

I realize you really resent me for questioning Obama. I'm sorry you feel this way. Like I said earlier, I really had no opinion one way or the other about him until this. I was totally focused on the republican race and not the democrats.

When I saw Obama interviewed on Oprah, I liked him. I also once emailed Romney's campaign, suggesting he needs adopt some of Obama's qualities. (Specifically his talent for public speaking.)

But I have a real problem with this current situation. Should I just swallow it? He wants to be my president. Don't I have a right to delve into who he really is, before I cast my vote?

I will probably vote for McCain, but not with any enthusiasm. You never heard my objections to him because I don't think I was in RF back then. Believe me, I'm not crazy about ANY of the candidates. So I'm not just picking on Obama. I'm simply responding to the topic of the threads, which have mostly been about him.

 

[GadFly]

My point: He implied that he wasn't aware of his reverend's comments. Yes, he said he wasn't there when those exact statements were made. But he made it sound like he didn't know. This is deceptive. He knew Wright's history and opinions. Yet he continued to support them through his attendance and the attendance of his family.

Now, when his feet are held to the fire, he aggressively denounces his pastor's words. It just doesn't come across as genuine. He's either willing to toss aside a long-time friend to be elected, or he didn't really object to the inflammatory statements like he now claims to.

You may not have heard the speech today. He admitted that he was aware of previous remarks Rev. Wright had made at various times. You might say that Obama came clean with the American people. He also explained why he would not turn his back on the Rev. Wright in this situation. His explanation was praised by both CNN and Fox as being a great speech addressing race relations in the USA. I guarantee you there is not a stronger critic of Liberal Democrats than I on these threads. Yet, I was inspired by what Obama had to say. I would think, but I am not sure, C-Span should play the speech several times throughout the day. It would be well worth any body's time to watch it.

One more thing, Obama stressed several conservative ideas in his speech that missed the attention of the media. I would like to comment on these later in this thread.

 

[Starfish]

You may not have heard the speech today. He admitted that he was aware of previous remarks Rev. Wright had made at various times. You might say that Obama came clean with the American people. He also explained why he would not turn his back on the Rev. Wright in this situation. His explanation was praised by both CNN and Fox as being a great speech addressing race relations in the USA. I guarantee you there is not a stronger critic of Liberal Democrats than I on these threads. Yet, I was inspired by what Obama had to say. I would think, but I am not sure, C-Span should play the speech several times throughout the day. It would be well worth any body's time to watch it.

One more thing, Obama stressed several conservative ideas in his speech that missed the attention of the media. I would like to comment on these later in this thread.

Thanks. I read the transcript. I've always felt he was a gifted speaker.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Obama is forgiven in my book. He pulled the mask off political correctness and the black church. He got real. He made no apologies, but he made me understand why his Reverend says the things he says and why we all feel the way we feel. If you hate rich white men, there is a reason. If you hate bottom feeders, there is a reason. We all feel the way we do for a reason and we will vote our conscience on election day.

While I am still voting for John McCain, I wish Barrack Obama all the best. May the best man win the election. Either way the election ends up, I will be proud to be an American and support the President.

 

[Sunstone]

Yes, he said he wasn't there when those exact statements were made. But he made it sound like he didn't know. This is deceptive.

Just curious, but would you consider holding some political figure that you favor -- such as the President -- to the same standards for deception that you hold Obama?

 

[Reverend Rick]

Just curious, but would you consider holding some political figure that you favor -- such as the President -- to the same standards for deception that you hold Obama?

They are all liars everyone of them Phil.

 

[Sunstone]

They are all liars everyone of them Phil.

We are in agreement about that Rick.

 

[PureX]

But I have a real problem with this current situation. Should I just swallow it? He wants to be my president. Don't I have a right to delve into who he really is, before I cast my vote?

I will probably vote for McCain, but not with any enthusiasm. You never heard my objections to him because I don't think I was in RF back then. Believe me, I'm not crazy about ANY of the candidates. So I'm not just picking on Obama. I'm simply responding to the topic of the threads, which have mostly been about him.

I think you were looking for an excuse to dismiss Obama and now you've found it. Congratulations.

 

[GadFly]

Thanks. I read the transcript. I've always felt he was a gifted speaker.

I went to watch C-Span to see if Obama's speech was on there. What was on C-Span was a Democrat forum of some type. The forum was titled "take the country back." I missed the first two speakers but the third speaker was a black lady. Rep. Donna Edwards from Maryland. who really attracted my attention. She was a Progressive Democrat, which is another term for a Liberal. She said as soon as she left for home that she was meeting with fellow Democrats to set up their plans to bring the troops home from Iraq. Other plans were to set up a communist type government with the revision of health care, Social Security reform, and collecting more taxes from the wealthy.

The term communist was mine but that was what she was describing. It was like that duck thing. If it quacks and walks like a duct, it most likely is a duck. Bring the troops home was the first part of taking the country back and then the re-distribution of wealth was to follow. I am really not an authority on ducks but I used to raise chickens. This was a pure case of counting your eggs before they hatched.

As much as I was inspired by Obama's speech, I was extremely worried at what was being said about taking the country back. I am not prepared to throw the capitalist system away in favor of a communist system. That forum would have made Harry Truman and JFK turn over in their graves. I remember Harry Truman well. He stood up to the communist in Korea and would have pitched a fit if his Democrats had joined up with a bunch of socialist.

If there are any Democrats in this forum who plan to persuade Blue Dog Democrats and marginal Republicans to vote for Obama, Obama better explain to these conservative fringe groups what kind of government he will be president of. For me, any temptation to vote for a Democrat just flew the coup. Do most Democrats plan on turning their backs on the American capitalist system? Please include your answer in your reply to Obama's speech.:thud:

 

[Starfish]

I went to watch C-Span to see if Obama's speech was on there. What was on C-Span was a Democrat forum of some type. The forum was titled "take the country back." I missed the first two speakers but the third speaker was a black lady. Rep. Donna Edwards from Maryland. who really attracted my attention. She was a Progressive Democrat, which is another term for a Liberal. She said as soon as she left for home that she was meeting with fellow Democrats to set up their plans to bring the troops home from Iraq. Other plans were to set up a communist type government with the revision of health care, Social Security reform, and collecting more taxes from the wealthy.

The term communist was mine but that was what she was describing. It was like that duck thing. If it quacks and walks like a duct, it most likely is a duck. Bring the troops home was the first part of taking the country back and then the re-distribution of wealth was to follow. I am really not an authority on ducks but I used to raise chickens. This was a pure case of counting your eggs before they hatched.

As much as I was inspired by Obama's speech, I was extremely worried at what was being said about taking the country back. I am not prepared to throw the capitalist system away in favor of a communist system. That forum would have made Harry Truman and JFK turn over in their graves. I remember Harry Truman well. He stood up to the communist in Korea and would have pitched a fit if his Democrats had joined up with a bunch of socialist.

If there are any Democrats in this forum who plan to persuade Blue Dog Democrats and marginal Republicans to vote for Obama, Obama better explain to these conservative fringe groups what kind of government he will be president of. For me, any temptation to vote for a Democrat just flew the coup. Do most Democrats plan on turning their backs on the American capitalist system? Please include your answer in your reply to Obama's speech.:thud:

I'm with you. I said he was a gifted speaker, because his substance-lacking words really flow well.
I think pulling the troups out now is asking for bigger problems later. And redistribution of wealth kills incentive to achieve and excell.

 

[Starfish]

Approximately a week after Don Imus, the radio talk-show host, made his stupid comments on air that led to his firing, Obama said this:

“There’s nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group. And I would hope that NBC ends up having that same attitude,” Obama told ABC News in an April 11 interview.​

 

[Reverend Rick]

Approximately a week after Don Imus, the radio talk-show host, made his stupid comments on air that led to his firing, Obama said this:​

“There’s nobody on my staff who would still be working for me if they made a comment like that about anybody of any ethnic group. And I would hope that NBC ends up having that same attitude,” Obama told ABC News in an April 11 interview.​

Starfish, I sometimes think Obama is the Antichrist. He most definatly is a silver tongued devil.

 

[Napoleon]

It was a 35 minute lecture on why blacks find Mr. Wright's hate speech appealing and that the blame for the failures of the black community lies with ol' racist whitey with a few minutes set aside for "clarification" of his relationship with Mr. Right. It wasn't enough! Why? Because it just provided further evidence that Obama does not have the one thing above all else that he claims makes him the right choice; good judgment. Good judgment would have been if Obama had left the church because of the outrageous things Mr. Wright has said over the years. Bad judgment would have been if Obama chose to remain at the church for 20 years, contribute to the hate by donating tens of thousands of dollars, expose his children to it, and then make excuses for the hate speech; which is what Obama did.