Obama’s Speech: History in the Making?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania–
Today at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia, presidential nominee Barack Obama gave a speech in response to the controversy started by comments made by his pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright. It is the first time a nominee for the highest seat in our country has given a solid public stance on this issue, one that has been heavily ignored by previous candidates. Media outlets have had a positive response to the speech, some calling it history in the making:
I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton’s Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I’ve gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world’s poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slaveowners - an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.
We here at Youth Radio wonder what your opinion is. Here are a few questions to consider, leave a comment and let us know what you think:
- In your opinion was the Obama campaign in trouble this past week? Did he need to make this speech?
- Do you think Obama has taken definitive control of the Rev. Wright “controversy” with this speech? Did you care about the controversy in the first place?
- Did Obama do the right thing by making the speech or is he merely giving ground to his critics?
- Is this speech so good that Rev. Wright’s statements were a blessing in disguise for Obama?
- Most important: Has your opinion of Obama changed in the past couple of weeks? Your friends/parents? How?
Related Stories:
Full Text of Obama’s Speech [Huffington Post]
Video of Obama’s Speech [MSNBC]
Video Excerpt of Rev. Wright’s Controversial Sermon [YouTube]
Rev. Wright’s “Audacity of Hope” sermon from 1990, that inspired Obama. [The Atlantic]
Filed under: By Youth, For Youth, Politics | Tagged: historic, Obama, philadelphia, race, rev. wright, speech
1) yes Obama’s campaign was in trouble. No, he did not need to make a speech. A spontaneous answer and question session would have been better than a prepared speech.
2) I cared about the controversy. Pastor Wright’s message of hate, bigotry and separatism did not meld with Obama’s message of hope, change and unity. I don’t think his speech answered the questions about his relationship with that hate monger.
3. No, again, instead of a manufactured speech it would have been better if Obama had sat with the press giving spontenous answers.
4. NO. I felt manipulated instead of inspired by this speech. Maybe the touch about little Ashley as well as recalling the Constitution was a bit too much.
5. Yes, our feelings about Obama have taken a turn for the bad. Sorry.
Out of curiosity, Sammy, what state are you in?
I think you are asking the wrong questions. What if we looked at what Barack Obama is actually saying in this speech and pull that apart. not ask the horse-race questions…
[...] Obama’s Speech: More Reactions Posted on March 20, 2008 by noahjn This week we’ve been asking out contributors to offer up their response to Barack Obama’s big speech on race relations in America. You can see the original article and questions here. [...]