Obama's A More Perfect Union Speech

[Anonymous]

Questions re: Obam-icans and Obama-Agains (he is Born Again, right?) Do they really exist and will the speech/Obama's character convert more?

Just curious to see if anyone knows people who wouldn't normally vote for a Dem really are jumping ship to Obama.

It seems like there's one guy who keeps getting quoted in the media. A self-identified middle class, middle aged, white male from middle America who's always voted Republican now plans to vote for Obama for religious/"he shares my values" reasons.

Is this trend an urban myth? Or just something the press likes to point out on a slow news day...

What do you think?

[Anonymous]

My husband is an Obam-ican. We are a bi-partisan household.

[Anonymous]

I liked the Daily Show's Jon Stewart take on this 'tonight a leading politician decided to talk about race with the American public as if they were adults'.....guess many are not. Sad.

I found Obams's speech to be refreshingly sincere and an unexpected attempt to address a controversial issue rather than run or pander to it. I've been disappointed that Clinton will not get the nomination but feel much better about supporting Obama now. The speech show his willingness to step above the divisive issues that politicians do not directly deal with and it also show he is willing to take necessary risks.

[Anonymous]

What is IDU?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:What is IDU?

IV drug user.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is IDU?

Injecting drug user. Sorry. I'm so used to the shorthand that I forget! At least I didn't use "MSM" for "men who have sex with men." I see that abbreviation in the political blogs and giggle a little bit. In the blogs it seems to mean "mainstream media."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:pp, I posted the question about racism. I don't understand something. If an African American person is angry about REAL events from the past and expresses that anger in tone of voice and gesture, does that make him a racist?
We would love all people who have been abused to come out like Nelson Mandela, you know, love for all, forgive all. But that is not reality. Wright should have been more responsible, for a number of reasons, I admit. Why is anger racism?
Please respond.

anger is not racism, racism is racism and that preacher is one racisit guy. Anyone that belongs to a church understands the problem with Obama and his preacher. It is not hard to leave a church and find one that is most like your beliefs and values. Apparently Obama thought enough about his preacher to stay. Says a lot. I think it wouuld be a very scary place to be with a man with thoughts like Wright running this country. If it were up to me, I would deport that s.o.b. as fast as I could, back to where ever he thinks he can from, I am so sure it is a better place than were he is now. I am sure he would have lots of ignorant people pouring $ into his racist bank account. For those afican americans that do not think what the preacher said was wrong, I would deport you too.

Do you see yourself as a racist? If not, how do you know? Is Bush a racists, if not, how do you know?

No, I see myself as an American that is sick and damn tired of hearing about people that don't exist any more. Christians were slaves, Chiineese were slaves, I think pretty much every group of people were slaves at some point in human history. Get over it, you are not a slave and never have been. My mom is 1/2 Cherokee, I am not crying about how they were treated. I think pretty much any body that was related to a slave should be happy they were brought over, unless you think living where ever they came from would be better, in that case, leave. That is all I am saying, either shut the hell up and stop bitching, or get the hell out, Quite a simple solution I think. But you will consider me a racist Republican for stating this, and that is fine with me, really don't care what people think I am.

[Anonymous]

15:18, do you really believe that once slavery ended, everything was just hunky-dory for African Americans in the U.S.? That racism and discrimination are not still problems in our society?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:18, do you really believe that once slavery ended, everything was just hunky-dory for African Americans in the U.S.? That racism and discrimination are not still problems in our society?

I think there is plenty of racism from all races, not just against blacks. Wright is a great case in point. I could go into what I think about discrimination, but this is a very liberal board and most would not agree with me, it would only piss every one off. I do think black americans have the same opportunity has the white american, or any one else that decides to strive to reach a goal. I believe that life can suck sometimes, but if you really want something, this is the country to live in, because the only thing that can stop you is your belief that it can not be done. Who says like has to been hunky dory. Sometimes you actually have to work to get something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:18, do you really believe that once slavery ended, everything was just hunky-dory for African Americans in the U.S.? That racism and discrimination are not still problems in our society?

I think there is plenty of racism from all races, not just against blacks. Wright is a great case in point. I could go into what I think about discrimination, but this is a very liberal board and most would not agree with me, it would only piss every one off. I do think black americans have the same opportunity has the white american, or any one else that decides to strive to reach a goal. I believe that life can suck sometimes, but if you really want something, this is the country to live in, because the only thing that can stop you is your belief that it can not be done. Who says like has to been hunky dory. Sometimes you actually have to work to get something.

i don't think anyone disagrees that hard work is necessary. but why is it that some must work 100 times harder than others because of their skin color or because of their parents' income?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15:18, do you really believe that once slavery ended, everything was just hunky-dory for African Americans in the U.S.? That racism and discrimination are not still problems in our society?

I think there is plenty of racism from all races, not just against blacks. Wright is a great case in point. I could go into what I think about discrimination, but this is a very liberal board and most would not agree with me, it would only piss every one off. I do think black americans have the same opportunity has the white american, or any one else that decides to strive to reach a goal. I believe that life can suck sometimes, but if you really want something, this is the country to live in, because the only thing that can stop you is your belief that it can not be done. Who says like has to been hunky dory. Sometimes you actually have to work to get something.

i don't think anyone disagrees that hard work is necessary. but why is it that some must work 100 times harder than others because of their skin color or because of their parents' income?

Because of their parents income? What should we do, everyone gets the same no matter what? That sounds communist to me. And if you have to work harder just do it. Actually, I think that is a crock, I have many times said to my self, just check the black box, maybe you will get into a college, finacial aid, ect.. that isn't fair either. If we really want every thing fair, don't ask someones race or sex, and see them for what the are. Why are so many people against that, what are they afraid of? My parents were poor, so were my husbands, we both went to an Ivy league school after serving our country. We got in on our own. It was hard to get there but not impossible. My best friends husband had to quit high cschool to help is family survive, no welfare taken. He graduated from YALE, another Ivy league school. It was hard for him, but he did it. Poor does not hold you back in this country, you hold yourself back. If you come to a wall of racism, go around it.

[Anonymous]

I think the problem we have in this country is a group of people ..who are minorities be it whatever ethnicity ..who think wh.en something is tough ..or they can't get that job that they want that it is because of color. Why--because this is socialized that you have it tougher because of your race--doesn't help when you have people like Rev. Wright fueling the fire. What they don't realize if that getting ahead is tough in general no matter what your color--life is tough. Best jobs are competitive because that is why they are the best jobs..they weed out a lot of people based on talent. I also grew up with no easy road but had parents who instilled hard work and education--even with that...it took time and it was hard..there were many jobs I didn't get but I kept working it and finally got my break. Was I bitter? No never because I knew at some point I would get a break..and I did and I wasn't looking for some kind of governmental program to help me. I worked at several large companies before going out on my own and I hired many many people and I can tell you that no one was denied a chance or not promoted based on race---the only barrier area frankly was sex because I did see discrimination for way too many women because of the boys club mentality--and still I would hate anyone picking me for anything because they needed another woman due to a quota, I would and do only care that someone doesn't get a job because they are a woman..But that's another topic

[Anonymous]

I have been an extremely successful African American woman from professional standpoint. I owe most of my success to my education and choice of profession.
I work with many people of all races who are less educated who earn much less that I do.
That said, I have seen first hand what discrimination can do.
I have heard many complaints that minorities are quick to point out discrimination. The reality is that prejudice is everywhere, and it has something to do with how we've evolved. But what is important is that 99% of the time any one person (White, Black, Latino, Asian) is a victim of discrimination, he or she does not even recognize it. What's more important is that very RARELY, can anything be done about it from a procedural or legal perspective. Also, it is uncommon for someone of a different background to understand what that victim has experienced. The response is often one of denial, "oh, you're misinterpreting him, he's really a nice guy", and that can lead to a quick alienation of the victim.
That's where the huddle takes place. Historically, churches have often served as a haven for African Americans to find understanding and peace. The sermons can turn into valuable therapy sessions (as in all congregations). I am not in any way supporting Mr. Wright, but his behavior seems to reflect this alienation and pain in the Black community.
I will avoid specifics, to keep the peace, but I have attended services of other religious groups who were also minorities (non Black) whose clerics have made statements that were just as inflammatory as Mr. Wright's.
I don't think that the rhetoric in the churches will go away until we as a society are willing to discuss these issues head on or until racism disappears.

[Anonymous]

Actually you have a point--I do think people need to be more open and less afraid to discuss race from all sides. I come from a family that could be the united nations since we have it all but..I notice, when around family, that I don't feel like I have to dance around topics for fear it will be construed as me saying something politically incorrect but..I see sometimes people act unformtably when around some family because I can sense that they are worried they will say the wrong thing-it's almost a hyper sensitivity and that must makes everyone feel weird.