Here is a repeat of my post from the DNC speech: I think people are grossly misjudging Obama. His political beliefs are being overlooked for the fact that 1) He is black 2) He is a good orator. I believe the substance of his speech should be debated. His economic views scare me the most, especially his incredibly outdated, 17th century Mercantilist take on the jobs market.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/27/p...htm?ex=1094875200&en=af4cd1bfacfb03ad&ei=5070 Published: July 27, 2004 The following is the text of Barack Obama’s keynote address to the Democratic National Convention, as recorded by The New York Times. BARACK OBAMA. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Dick Durbin. You make us all proud. On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, Land of Lincoln, let me express my deepest gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because — let’s face it — my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father — my grandfather — was a cook, a domestic servant to the British. But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place, America, that shone as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. While studying here, my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor my grandfather signed up for duty; joined Patton’s army, marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised their baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through F.H.A., and later moved west all the way to Hawaii in search of opportunity. And they, too, had big dreams for their daughter. A common dream, born of two continents. My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or ”blessed,” believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren’t rich, because in a generous America you don’t have to be rich to achieve your potential. They are both passed away now. And yet, I know that, on this night, they look down on me with great pride. I stand here today, grateful for the diversity of my heritage, aware that my parents’ dreams live on in my two precious daughters. I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible. Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation — not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy. Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over two hundred years ago: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’ That is the true genius of America — a faith in simple dreams,, an insistence on small miracles. That we can tuck in our children at night and know that they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted at least, most of the time. This year, in this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and our commitments, to hold them against a hard reality and see how we are measuring up, to the legacy of our forbearers, and the promise of future generations.
And I'm sure he wasn't saying whites slander blacks for "acting black". I'm sure he was referring to other blacks. But I know jorge is always on the hunt for blacks who try to keep the white man down.
pgabs, even your interpretation is offensive. He is race baiting with that line. He is demagoguing the issue -- stirring up emotions with the race issue. Actions like that are worthy of scorn.
Actually Jorge, this proves you are a Republican shill who really has no true beliefs of your own and would support anything to defeat a Democrat. In all your anti affirmative action rants, this is actually an idea you would support. Blacks supporting other blacks trying to make themselves better through education. Blacks not looking at education as something that isn't for them, something thats for whites. Blacks respecting the value of an education. But with your anti-democrat blinders, you totally missed the point. We've even disucssed this topic in this forum before, in the Bill Cosby thread.
pgabs -- Watch the insults or else. This is your last warning from me. My point is that there are better ways to phrase what Obama was saying with that line. Instead of promoting education in the inner city community, he instead chooses to frame the issue in terms of race. A poor choice.
A black man talking to black people about black people is not racebaiting. He wasn't talking about a phenomenon in the inner cities -- he was talking about a phenomenon among black people. Talking about race is not an offense -- quelling talk about it is.
TJ, you are the master of personal insults here. You are the master of calling people out. You have zero credibility on holding pgabs to anything, here. And you know that.
First of all, I believe we should critique the entire transcript and not merely one of the MANY flawed issues that Obama raises. Second, Batman, I could be wrong, but there may have been non-black people listening to the keynote address at the DNC. Just maybe. So the first strike against him is the wrong comment to the wrong audience. Next -- Obama was framing the education issue in terms of racial imagery. This is fact. This is also intended to play on the fact that he is black. What the heck does he know about "acting white"? Very poor choice of words. If he wants to talk about education reform or Bill Cosby's beef, then do it -- just leave race out of it. Obama was playing on racial stereotypes and racial self-perceptions in his speech. This is undeniable and equally unfortunate. My point stands.
No, do not mistake strong opinions on issues and political ideologies for personal insults. Huge difference. I rarely insult people personally. On the other hand, I am the recipient of DAILY personal attacks. Just look at this thread for an example.
As usual if your "point stands," it's because you insist it does regardless of any argument to the contrary. This is why it's pointless to discuss anything with you. You 'win' the debate with andymoon by saying you're a better debater and saying it makes it so. Like the flashback to baby Bart Simpson banging the pot on his head singing over and over, "I am so smart! I am so smart!" So according to your 'winning' argument, black people aren't allowed to talk about being black. Black people know nothing about "acting white." Even one who is only half black. And if a black man talks about being black -- especially in front of white people (gasp) -- he's racebaiting. Can't argue with a brick wall like that one. Nicely played, Jorge. You are so smart...
Batman, please watch your personal attacks. Let's keep this thread on topic. The topic here is discussing Barack Obama. THANK YOU
