This was an astonishing speech. He didn't turn away from the issue - he spelled it out. He didn't gloss over the angry undercurrents between different American cultures. He identified and addressed racial issues as EVERYONE's problem and EVERYONE's responsiblity. I'm pretty sure that the other candidates would have made a perfunctory speech and taken fewer risks to admit there's a problem here.

Honestly, I'm almost afraid to believe that Obama believes what he says. It will be heartbreaking if this is a rhetorical exercise. Or if he gives in to political machinations once he's in office. Most of us have no real trust in politicians. I hope he's for real because I'm starting to believe in him...

Sent by BB | 12:41 PM ET | 03-18-2008

I finally heard a politician talk about the issues (the race issue in the case) as I talk about them with my friends. He was honest, and not afraid to mention phrases like black hatred or white resentment. He talked about what's really happening in this country when it comes to race, not just what's talked about in 'polite circles'.

I think it was a courageous speech, and hopefully the beginning of a new style of politics for this country.

Sent by G | 1:34 PM ET | 03-18-2008

Between this and his cards-on-the-table interviews with both Chicago papers about the full extent of his dealings with Tony Rezko, it seems like Obama has done something we're just not used to after 16 years of Clinton and Bush obfuscation and secrecy: he has put himself completely out there and said "These are my negatives. You want to try to attack me on them, bring it on, but I should warn you, you're not going to score any points by trying."

He's going to win the election regardless, simply because McCain is proving to be such a hapless candidate that he actually thinks running on the promise of Bush's third term is a GOOD idea, but the last few days have made it clear that more than anyone else, Obama actually deserves to win. I'm looking forward.

Sent by Stewart | 1:56 PM ET | 03-18-2008

I thought the speech addressed the questions that many people had about his connection to Rev. Wright. As a church-goer myself, I understand that while most of the time you agree with your preacher, they do not speak for you. I thought he made excellent points, especially the comment about Sunday morning being the most segregated hour in our nation. Until more multicultural/diverse churches get off the ground, this is the way it is. Anyway, I'm an Obama supporter, and this speech just reminded me why I believe he is so different and has the possibility to change our nation's politics for the better.

Sent by eliz. (@elizs) | 2:01 PM ET | 03-18-2008

I thought you did a disservice to your audience by bleeping "damn" in the audio from Jeremiah Wright's sermon on this morning show. To an individual who was not familiar with the quote it might sound like you were bleeping the f-word.

I know I had to google to confirm that this was not the case, and I had already read the quote in print.

Sent by Will G | 2:07 PM ET | 03-18-2008

i agree with the previous posts, but one question lingers. how are the divisive words of rev. wright contributing towards a better understanding between the many races that make up the american mosaic?

it's easy to point out the flaws in the system, but does he offer solutions? are we only hearing the inflammatory sound bites or does he also talk about staying in school, going to college and fighting to move forward in life, no matter who or what happens to you?

i'm not saying to forget the past, but what are the steps that we as americans--black, white, brown--take to , as Oprah says "acknowledge and move on?"

Sent by dave | 2:12 PM ET | 03-18-2008

"God eff America"? Seriously? That doesn't even make sense!

Sent by Stewart | 2:22 PM ET | 03-18-2008

I read the speech. It's a good speech. No question, the man can talk.

And while he did take on the issue of Rev. Wright's polemics on race, he started to lose credibility with me when he, like other politicians, started to wax scriptural with platitudes. When he said, "We are our brother's keeper....We are our sister's keeper," I couldn't help but think, "Gee, Senator, that's nice. But what about our pre-born brothers and sisters? What about our brothers and sisters born alive from botched abortions? Are they not worthy of being 'kept?'"

I guess, even for Sen. Obama, all people are equal, but some are more equal than others.

Sent by Matthew Scallon | 3:25 PM ET | 03-18-2008

Integrity and courage in at least one of our presidential candidates. Congratulations on standing for your beliefs.

Sent by Anna Winchell | 4:26 PM ET | 03-18-2008

... or maybe then it is just that my culture-corrupted brain no long thinks that "damn" is a swearword worthy of media censorship.

But lets face it, *bleep* can only mean a small handful of things these days, and among those things "damn" is near or at the bottom of the list.

Sent by Will G | 4:48 PM ET | 03-18-2008

To really think that Barack Hussein Obama after 20 years of listening to Rev. Wrights anti-american, anti-white, anti-government tripe and not by into some of it is naive. He let this man marry him and baptise both of his children. He obviously holds this man in high regard. No wonder Barack does not wear an American Flag pin on his label.

Sent by Mark M | 9:40 PM ET | 03-18-2008

I agree with Will G. Too often the BPP errs on the side of too much censorship of very mild profanity.

The speech? It was eloquent and wonderfully constructed. I can't imagine how difficult it was for Obama to compose this delicately balanced and nuanced appeal to our collective conscience. Like him or not, I *think* most would agree that Obama spoke deeply and intelligently.

Will much of the American public hear it? Only in the form of small clips served up by the media, I fear (In fairness, they can't play the entire speech all of the time).

Now what? Never a dull moment in my country...

Sent by Phillip | 10:02 PM ET | 03-18-2008

During an interview on BPP this morning I heard a commenter who claimed he used to work for the NYT say that Rev. Wright was essentially correct in his controversial statements. To the best of my knowlegde and experience, the US government did not start the AIDS epidemic as a way to kill people of color and is not remotely similar to Al Qaida. Yet the interviewer didn't question this statement. Am I to conclude that BPP is in agreement with these controversial remarks?

Sent by Tom | 8:27 AM ET | 03-19-2008

Mr. Obama went to church for 20 years. Since I believe that religion should take no part in the office of the President of the USA, I do not desire Mr. Obama as president. To me, it does not matter which church he went to. I want logic not belief. I want action not hope.

Mr. Obama's honesty in this speach in laudable. However, I remain unconvinced that he is qualified for the office of President of the United States.

Sent by Nathan in Holland | 10:06 AM ET | 03-19-2008

i did think it was a courageous and impressive speech and analysis...But, i remain uneasy as our political leaders continue to name drop g-d...i do not know him personally...perhaps they do, however, i still feel 99.9% sure it is not an essential experience in order to be a good and honest leader...so we should be minimizing any religious intervention into matters of state...i'm glad obama made such coherent comments and now let's "move on"!

Sent by jayn | 11:44 AM ET | 03-19-2008

I'm with you, Nathan in Holland, on keeping religion out of the presidency. But there aren't any candidates whose policy positions I agree with who don't adhere (or at least claim to adhere) to some religion or other.

The day an agnostic or atheist is the nominee of a major party, I'll be pleased. But the artifical human construct "hell" will sooner freeze over.

Sent by Maura | 11:48 AM ET | 03-19-2008

Dear Nathan in Holland,

I know you contribute to the blog frequently, but I sadly don't know your back-story. Are you a U.S. citizen abroad? If you are, aside from Pete Stark --mind you, as a Unitarian, he is technically part of a religion too-- who do you consider qualified to be president? If you aren't, what does it matter to you who the president of the U.S. might be? After all, I live within 10 miles from the Mexican border, but I did care one bit about who's the President of the United States of Mexico.

Sent by Matthew Scallon | 1:04 PM ET | 03-19-2008

I hope I am not alone in feeling that Obama's speech did not achieve much regarding addressing the real issues. To defend Rev. Wright who should be leading his congregation towards forgiveness and love as was the way of Jesus...with Easter approaching this becomes very clear to anyone that knows the story. He speech seemed to posture itself in the direction of "unforgiveness" and to rationalize the attitude of the "angry black man"...please. If he were the agent of change as he claims...the perfect opportunity to evoke change would have been in the midst of the congregation not on the campaign stump. It seems Obama's stategy is reflective of the "trend" of those in the spotlight today. Verbally acknowledge your sins as quickly as you can or when forced to and hope that you can come across as someone who desires to do better, though based on your behavior it's evident you'll be challenged as best. Obama has repeatedly sidestepped issues and deflected them onto his supporters...in my view it shows his inability to take on these issues directly and chooses instead to hide behind his supporters, hoping they will defend him...is this what a leader does? Lastly, these statements are not easy for me as I am also an African American, but I have to speak the truth as I see it.

Sent by ard | 2:36 PM ET | 03-19-2008

You don't say GD America in a Church. That is taking the lord's name in vain. I do not want Obama to be my President. I knew when his wife first said this was the first time was proud of America - knew something was wrong with her thinking. She had to have gotten that idea from her preacher.Our ancestors died & went to war to free the slaves in the civil war. Forgive, get over it & move forward. I am glad this was exposed had no idea some African churches were like that. It says everything hidden shall be revealed in the Bible this has truly been revealed. God help us if Obama gets President.

Sent by Beth Boggs | 2:57 PM ET | 03-19-2008

The credibility of Obama's speech on race was crippled by his refusal to repudiate Rev. Jeremiah Wright and by his belated admission that, indeed, he has listened to Wright's vitriol from the pew.

Sent by John Lannert | 2:58 PM ET | 03-19-2008

Obama's speech points out these things about his lack of character and judgment:

1. He, once again, refuses to answer the key questions about his character and his judgment and redirect our focus to another question that has nothing to do with the real questions. This is about Obama, it has nothing with race or the Blacks. If Obama's mentor of 20 years is of another color and said the same horrible things then we would have the same questions: why did he keep this relationship? why did he not do anything about it?

2. He is playing the race card and incites the Blacks against the rest of the country when he said "to denounce Wright is to denounce the Blacks".

3. He tells us to leave behind the 50s and 60s anger as he explains Wright's teaching and tells the new generation to move forward with a new attitude. Yet he enables Wright's teaching to perpetuate to the next generation, as demonstrated with Obama taking his children to Wright's church.

Please get back and focus on getting the real questions answered.

Sent by vote4thebest | 3:55 PM ET | 03-19-2008

Beth, perhaps Michelle Obama doesn't blindly follow what her pastor says *cough Beth Boggs cough*, but rather thinks that America's failed educational policies, economic policies, foreign relation policies, military policies, etc, don't really give her much reason to be proud. What has happened in the last 30 years that people are supposed to be proud of? Supplying the Taliban with weapons? Wasting trillions of dollars so we can rebuild a nation we destroyed for no reason? Destroying the future of a small island nation because we didn't like the dictator that overthrew a dictator we DID like? I mean seriously, what has this country accomplished recently that you ARE proud of? I can't think of anything.

Just because you aren't disenfranchised, watching Fox News all day whilst knitting doilies as you undoubtedly do, doesn't mean that millions of people don't feel the crushing weight of policies designed to determine what futures they may or may not be able to attain. Your homogenized, lily-white congregation has no need for passion or fire in its sermons. The only ills you need to speak of concern perceived moral decay in your own insular society. Go drink another martini from your hidden alcohol stash, ignore your children, take two phenobarbitols, and go back to bed, Beth. Leave politics to those who understand it.

Sent by Greg | 4:41 PM ET | 03-19-2008

Statistically, a lot of those criticizing Obama also voted for Bush when they had the chance to do otherwise. They didn't have a problem then with Falwell, Robertson, and others like them. They may not have been Bush's 'official' pastors, but they were frequent vistors to the White House and gave lot's of 'guidance'.

Sent by JP | 4:41 PM ET | 03-19-2008

Racism has been embedded in American culture and the fight against it has tried to quiet it but only forced it underground and mystify it, that is why we are even having this discussion. I feel people need to open their eyes and see how brilliant this moment is and not trivialize it with this faked out appalled reaction to a black man ranting about the shit we all have heard before. I believe racism is still very real in the hearts of many Americans. Today maybe we can try to look at the real picture and maybe Obama can be the initiator to draw out the poison of racism in America and stop ignoring the elephant in the room. And you can not be angry about something we all perpetuate if we don't work to relieve the anger.

Sent by lacrews10 | 4:58 PM ET | 03-19-2008

It is with profound regret that I listened to the special 7pm broadcast of Sen. Obama???s speech. You see as die-hard supporter of Mr. Obama I was until now overall happy with his views on politics and people. But I ran into a snag during his speech that I feel truly adversely effects my ability to vote for him ???The Race-Card???. You see, I can't blame race for my bad subprime mortgage nor can I blame race for the good job I once had that went to Mexico. I can't blame Race for the lack of value my education has here in America, or for the barley breaking above poverty level job it affords me. I can't blame race for any of my poor decisions or bad luck. I'm white??? I can't blame race for anything. During his campaign Sen. Obama, has been outstanding in being about the policies and issues of our nation and what he feels would improve them. Whether he was too black or not black enough was not an issue I cared about and he did an excellent job of keeping that at bay with his constant focus on what he???d like to accomplish for all of us. When the Rev. Jeremiah Write issue surfaced I expected Sen. Obama would denounce his actions and move on. I wasn't pulling toward total break-off of his association. We all have friends and family that are over the edge. I didn't expect Sen. Obama to fire up a defense toward Blacks in general or the black church and sighting black struggles is where I totally fell off the wagon. I just wanted to say to him you know, you???ve done an excellent job of not alienating those of us who are white and supporting you as a good candidate until now. Now I feel I???m in the group those who have been the oppressors of the black people even though I myself have no predigests. Right now I can???t swallow the poor me I???m black routine anymore than anyone could listen me say poor me I'm white. Its America, Sen Obama you have the Haves and Have-nots. I wish you would have kept the focus on helping the have-nots as a group not a race. Finally the Ashley story at the end didn???t seem to be viable as anything more than phony hey look I care about some white people and it did not undue Race-Card. Once that card is played there is no taking it back even if you keep your finger on it.

Sent by Craig | 5:24 PM ET | 03-19-2008

"You don't say GD America in a Church. That is taking the lord's name in vain."

Er...no. That is not at all correct. Saying "Where are my GD keys?" is taking the lord's name in vain. Calling on the lord to damn a nation for its sins...yeah, that's not taking the lord's name in vain, no matter how much you disagree with the sentiment.

Speaking of disagreeing, I keep waiting for SOMEONE to point out something very basic: Pastor John Hagee, John McCain's spiritual advisor, said that Hurricane Katrina was God's wrath on New Orleans for its libertine, gay-friendly ways. That's a direct summation of what he said, which is also on video. Why isn't THAT little soundbite being run on a 24-hour loop like Wright's tirades, hmm?

Oh, right. It's okay to say stuff like that if you're a white Republican. Silly me, I forgot.

Sent by Stewart | 5:31 PM ET | 03-19-2008

i really don't understand knee jerk rigidity...every person has an ambiguous and incongruous history...we jump to conclusions that suit our belief systems without actual thinking... and then we use cliche words and phrases to make our point...frankly, anyone of the three potential candidates would literally run cirlces around our present prez...however, i'm clearly hoping to give doz demz a chance to be prez!!!

Sent by jayn | 5:32 PM ET | 03-19-2008

I have heard many so-called religious radio stations jumping on this Rev. Wright's comments. The problem is not what he said openly, but that many Americans, in different positions, are saying the same thing behind closed doors. I did not hear this many strong reactions from the self-appointed moralists when the likes of John Hagee blamed hurricane Katrina on the sins of the residents of the Louisiana bayou.

As for the Obama speech' does it really change anything in our country? He will always be mired in race questions; either he is not black enough (from fellow blacks - I watched a black New York Rev. on Youtube calling him a pimp for whites), or he is unelectable because he is black (from whites). The media will always make race an issue in every national election, no matter how much the ordinary American wants to avoid it.

For the rest of us bystanders, let's wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Sent by Felix Oti | 5:43 PM ET | 03-19-2008

So will we now have to listen to admitted white racists give speeches too? Why does he have to apologize for something that another person said - whether it be his pastor, his friend, grandmother, etc?

We have heard other racially charged comments during this campaign and when called on what they said (Geraldine Ferraro for one) refused to even apologize. That's one of the things that makes African Americans angry - the blantant double standards we face on our jobs and in our schools.

Sent by caddycts | 6:57 PM ET | 03-19-2008

Craig-

Really? You felt he made it about how guilty whites should feel? Despite the end of his speech (which you heard as you mentioned the Ashley story) where he specifically states that whites feel a similar anger and resentment, though for different reasons, and that both sides should join to fight against the true inequities that are class based?

Also, anyone who says Obama is playing the race card, appealing to the blacks, are you by chance bi-racial? Do you understand that he is not denouncing either whites or blacks as races, because in doing so he would be denying himself? Nor is he blaming either side. Rather he is requesting that they come together to make a positive change. Not that it will be easy, or fast, as he also acknowledges in his speech, but the fact that he brought these things forward and was honest and upfront about his own beliefs and attitudes is refreshing.

The most reasonable criticism I have seen, a criticism that applies to all of the candidates, is Obama's constant references to god or God. I, for one, would love to vote for someone who said, "This is America. Believe whatever you want. Personally, I like to study economic packages on Sundays and work on legislation that protects citizens' rights and improves education across the boad."

But the world isn't perfect.

On another note, as a young professional who has decided to become a teacher (24 yrs old), this is the first time in MY life I have ever had the desire to actually believe in a candidate. Some of you out there had the luck to have JKF, Jr. I have had Reagon, Bush, Clinton, and W. Bush. These politicians were incapable of making me view the political process in a positive light. Obama has. I am still highly wary of putting all my hope into a politician. I don't agree with his policies on Iraq (nor Clinton or McCain's). Obama talks about withdrawal, but it is not total. I also don't agree with the highly religious angle all 3 of the candidates are approaching this election from. Yet, he does inspire me to believe that change can and will occur.

Allow me my hope. To be honest, the last few politicians/movers who have inspired hope in people have met with a fairly tragic end (MLK, Jr., JKF, Jr. Robert Kennedy). The extremely bitter part of me is waiting for that bit of news to hit the headlines. I hope not.

Sent by Tony | 12:12 AM ET | 03-20-2008

There are a substantial number of white people who attend Rev. Wright's church.

It would be very interesting to hear what some of those people say. Has anyone in the media taken time to interview them? If so, perhaps someone on this blog can post a link.

Sent by Phillip | 5:59 AM ET | 03-20-2008

Dear Stewart,

With all due respect, Jim Hagee is not John McCain's spiritual advisor. It is actually a little worse than that. McCain sought an endorsement from Jim Hagee in order to shore up support among Evangelicals. Of course, seeking Hagee's endorsement meant that he endangered his support among Catholics, among others. McCain did issue a statement disavowing Hagee's anti-Catholicism, but the damage may be done. After all, there are plenty of other Evangelical leaders who don't have the anti-Catholic baggage that Hagee has.

What it showed is that, when McCain tries to do the boiler-plate conservative things, he has the political equivalent of two left feet.

Sent by Matthew Scallon | 12:58 PM ET | 03-20-2008