March 19, 2008
Hotline After Dark -- The Reviews Are In
Naturally the focus of TV news last night was on Barack Obama's speech. Obama sat down with ABC's Moran after his address:
Asked if he always planned to give a speech like this, Obama: "I expected that at some stage we'd have to give it. Now, I'm not sure that we expected that it would come up in the way that it did."
Moran: "If I went to a church where white supremacy was preached, what would you think of me?"
Obama: "See, I disagree with you. ... That's not what's preached at Trinity. That's an easy equivalence that's not at all is taking place there. If you look at the sermons, even the most offensive ones at issue, he is condemning white racism as he defines it. But he's not condemning the white race. He is not suggesting that blacks are superior."
More Obama: "You remember during the O.J. trial there was a similar moment when the black and the white culture had the completely opposite reactions and nobody understood it. And by the way, I'm somebody who was pretty clear that O.J. was guilty. And I was ashamed for my own community to respond in that way. But I also understood what was taking place, which was that reaction had more to do with a sense that somehow the criminal justice system historically had been biassed so profoundly that a defeat of that justice system was somehow a victory."
Moran: "Obama understands the political risk, yet still today he would not for tactical political purposes distance himself from Wright. Though he condemned his comments."
Obama: "This is why during the course of this campaign there have been moments when people say I like Barack Obama, but not Al Sharpton. I like Colin Powell, but not Jesse, you know? I like Oprah, but -- you know, those of us who are African American don't have that luxury. So what I can do then is to say, here's what I believe."
Asked what he means by not having the luxury, Obama: "I don't have the luxury of separating myself out and being selective in terms of what it means to be African American in this society. It's a big complex thing. It's not monolithic."
More: "Michelle and most of my black friends I think were much more confident and calm about me giving this speech. My white friends and advisers were much more nervous."
Asked why the difference: "The African American community deals with this, grapples with this in ways that the white community just doesn't. This is a common experience. I think most African Americans will share it. If there's some horrendous crime out there, black people are always a little nervous until they see the picture, hoping that it's not a black person who committed it. A white person never thinks that way."
Moran: "Do you consider yourself a black man or an American first?"
Obama: "An American. Absolutely" ("Nightline," ABC, 3/18).
After the jump, pundits rate Obama's speech:
(EMILY GOODIN)
PUNDITS GIVE IT ...
FNC's Garrett: "The urgent political question, the one on which the fate of Obama's campaign may rest, did he say too little about Wright and too much about race?" ("Special Report," 3/18).
CNN's Crowley: "For Obama, who rarely talks about race, the speech was as sweeping as it was specific, as politically risky as it was personally revealing" ("AC 360," 3/18).
MSNBC's Matthews: "It's the first time I've heard a politician of either background, black or white, talk honestly about race in this country. It grabbed me. It was ripping the scab off in a good way" ("Hardball," 3/18).
The Nation's Corn: "It was daring and unique. I don't think in modern American politics have we ever heard a major political figure deliver such a speech" ("NewsHour," PBS, 3/18).
CNN's Borger: "Politically that question is how is that going to play with those white, working class male voters that he is trying to attract to both seal up the nomination, as well as win the presidency? And do I think we don't know the answer to that" ("Situation Room," 3/18).
FNC's Barnes: "Look, here's what he could have done, and I wished he had done it. He could have said, 'look, I made a mistake. I made a mistake. I should have gone and complained to Reverend Wright when he made these statements about 9/11 and these other things. I didn't do it. I regret it, and maybe I should have left the church, but I didn't because of family reasons and so on'" ("Special Report," 3/18).
Politico's Simon: "I think it was a good and courageous and useful speech. I think the speech had some problems. One big problem was that Senator Obama now admits he was in church and heard Reverend Wright say some controversial, if not, deplorable things. But Barack Obama never went to Reverend Wright and said, Reverend Wright, stop saying those things" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 3/18).
FNC's O'Reilly: "If Senator Obama wants to be friends with Reverend Wright, fine. He can do that in private. But a sitting U.S. Senator simply cannot lend his stature to hate speech by publicly attending Wright's forums. Barack Obama does not seem to understand that" ("O'Reilly Factor," 3/18).
CNN's Toobin: "I think the basic fairness of the American people are going to kick in and say wait a second, why should he defend everything that this pastor has ever said. And I just don't think this is going to last as a big story" ("Situation Room," 3/18).
Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "It was the best speech of this campaign by anybody, eloquently and thoughtfully addressing the issue of race, and also showing us a great deal about Barack Obama as a leader. Ironically, in my judgment, the last person who could give a speech about race that was this good was Bill Clinton" ("AC 360," CNN, 3/18).
Posted at 08:59 AM
Comments
"What would you think of me?" Good God, Moran sounds like the most disingenuous prat in the journalism business. Of course, his brother runs a site called "The Right Wing Nut House," and its purpose is not to deride reactionary lunacy, but rather promote it.
norbizness | 03.19.08 09:20 AM
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Here is what I think of all this.
1. Racism exists sometimes openly sometimes not.
2. Racism is there on all sides. There are those on all sides who excel despite its existence and there are those in all sides who fall behind.
3. Sen Obama has done his best. Noone has ever tried the way he did. So whoever thinks that Obama offer is not enough, let them offer a better one. Very simple. It is easy to analyze someone's else words and deeds. How about our own? Let Sen Clinton talk about race and even gender and politics. Let Sen McCain talk about the Right and Politics and let see.
Elix | 03.19.08 09:35 AM
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I'm actually glad Moran asked that question because so many white people don't understand what Wright is saying. He is condemning a power structure that undeniably has benefited whites over the centuries but is not condemning white people per se. And the difference between Wright and Obama is that Obama believes America has and will continue to change, wherein the power structure becomes less exclusively white. But Wright is stuck in a time warp of sorts where he cannot believe American can change.
Elrod | 03.19.08 10:55 AM
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They forgot that distinguished panel, The Castaways, who had this comment: "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire. Your nose is longer than a telephone wire."
flyover | 03.19.08 12:07 PM
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well to be honest I have not really followed the election speeches of either Obama or Clinton but I did see his pastor ranting and raving
actually all I thought was well I guess thats what most blacks think anyway so what's the news ? But now I think well he is being elected on racial lines regardless of politics this really is a "race" about race.
And it seems some of the biggest racists in this country are black..
rob | 03.19.08 01:53 PM
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rob, wow brother. that's some real powerful racial reconciliation. Jeezus...
Seth | 03.19.08 03:54 PM
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The # 1 issue the next president have to have -a
right judgement. It's not importent WHO will be
next in the office. Last few months show to all
of us that Obama has lack of judgement .I was
wandering about the real nature of Obama's( and
his wife's ) mistakes. Now I understand very
clear. Obama was a member of the church and a
FRIEND for Mr.Wright for 18-20 years .As a pastor
Mr. Wright has a siginificant influence to
everybody from his community . Ms . Obama sad
when her husband entered the race " For the first
time in my life I am proud to be an american' .
...How could she live in our country all her
life ???... She has great education, position,
job,money --- and still not happy ??...
I'd think Mr. Obama should resign from the
race to White House .
His view on many serious issues is unknown .
He was an enigma and still is . It is a very
dangerous game -- to play with his mind .
After his bright speech I know that I cannot
trust him anymore . I lost my trust !
tati | 03.19.08 11:38 PM
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Wow, tati, you must barely be able to read, then, because he has written two books and has a 64-page policy outline on his website if you're interested in his "enigmatic" positions on things.
I suppose tati would like it if we interviewed everyone she knew, went through every letter any of them ever wrote and made sure that none of their views could be taken out of context and broken into 5-second clips.
Judging people based on the company they keep is unamerican! We might as well be in Soviet Russia if people can't talk about Christ and faith with people they profoundly disagrees with politically. That's why separation of church and state is in the Constitution.
Bridget | 03.20.08 09:09 AM
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