I don't think it was. Although the speech was, indeed inspiring and quite excellent, it will not be enough to satisfy the questions raised by pictures of the rants made by his pastor of 20 some odd years.
He is the right man to make a speech about the problems of race still bubbling under the surface. He made that clear when he referenced the fact that he comes from a mixed race family. His reference to the problems and realities of both the white and black race, based on his own personal experiences, was a very smooth effort at keeping everyone happy and continuing the idea that he is the "man for everyone".
The problem for him, however, is just that. Those on the left, who support him, probably never had a problem with this scandal. Plenty of other democratic leaders have said just as many outragious anti american things as this pastor. They get away with it, because they are only concerned with their left base. Obama is running away with this race, because he is appealing to the middle more moderates, independants, and republicans that are just sick and tired of the politicians on the right. Those are the people who may still have a problem, in spite of a very inspiring speech.
Although, a great speech about racial problems in America today, it really was an attempt at diverting the problems of his 20 year association with a church and pastor who preaches hate. A lecture on the reason for the anger is not what he needed to do for his campaign. Most of us understand the reason for the anger, but to condone a preacher who fans the flames of that anger with an explanation of our history is just wrong. He did say, he didn't agree with his pastor, at times, but he did try to help us to understand it. I would liken that to the moderate muslims who claim to denounce suicide killings but yet go on to explain and understand it. That is quite insulting. It may be acceptable, to those on the left, but I think it is still problematic for his "man for everyone" image.
He also made comparisons in his speech to what Geraldine Ferraro and Bill Clinton have recently said. That is absurd. Although those comments may have had racial undertones. (I for one, do not have any problem with what Ferraro said) The comments made by his preacher are angry hateful rants that are above and beyond anything else we've heard in this election cycle. I would also call those comparisons, insulting.
I think Obama is a very inspiring speaker, but at the end of the day, he's a very liberal democrat and his problems with the more moderate voters have not been solved with this speech, and his problems in that area are just beginning. |
