Barack should thank his controversial preacher.
The fiery sermons of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, which were widely played and criticized this past week, set the very stage in Philadelphia today for Obama to make this very important, very moving, very intelligent speech, "A More Perfect Union." Race is officially out on the table.
By now we all know Obama is a fabulous speaker, but this is the first time Political Nanny has heard him speak like the big boy he's getting to be. For emotional family background highlights, skip ahead to minutes 3:20. Around minute 6:00, he gets to his pastor. Minute 10:00, he's describing the church. And by 13:11, we get how Obama can reconcile the contradictions he says the Rev. Wright embodies. Obama has lived with and been loved by the embodiment of these contradictions his whole life.
"I can no more disown him than I can disown my white grandmother ... a woman who sacrificed again and again for me ... a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by in the street. A woman who on more than one occasion uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe. These people are part of me and they are part of America, this country that I love."
He argues Wright was wrong. But that doesn't mean America has put the issues of race behind it. Obama shows he understands what's behind the Rev. Wright's words, and also that he has a deep understanding of the white/sanctimonious America's reaction to it. Neither are off the hook; he lists the consequences of both. Obama relates Wright's anger to the anger of lower and middle class Americans (including whites), who have been called on exclusively to sacrifice for all the injustice without their problems also being heard. He calls out the media for how it as exploited all of it.
The final four minutes tie up his message of unity in a pretty bow -- a demonstration of how we're all in it together, we've all got the same goals. Those goals don't include mustard and relish sandwiches. No, not in America, not for anybody.
Political speeches, especially 30+-minute ones, are often something only a political nanny could love. But not this time. This speech is brilliant -- universally brilliant.
And if you're going to accuse Political Nanny of playing favorites, please note: Charles Murray (yes, the very conservative "some folks are genetically inferior" The Bell Curve guy), thinks it's brilliant too.
What did you think? Does Obama get it? Do McCain or Clinton have enough credibility to deal with race issues? Do you think they get it?
Video: Obama08/YouTube
