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Gingrich Responds to Obama's Race Speech

March 29, 2008 2:02 PM

He didn't quite get the headlines and media attention that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., did, but former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., delivered an address this week called, "Answering the Obama Challenge: What Is the Right Change to Help All Americans Pursue Happiness and Create Prosperity?"

Saying that Obama gave the nation an opportunity to "reengage in a dialogue about poverty, race and the future of those Americans who are currently unable to pursue happiness," Gingrich quoted and responded to a number of observations from Obama's speech last week.

"As Sen. Obama notes, 'the legalized discrimination -- where blacks were prevented, often through violence, from owning property, or loans were not granted to African-American business owners, or black homeowners could not access FHA mortgages, or blacks were excluded from unions or the police force or fire departments -- meant that black families could not amass any meaningful wealth to bequeath to future generations."

Said Gingrich: "Anyone who thinks that there was not this destructive impact is simply not in touch with the reality of American history for African-Americans. Other groups have reasons for anger. Native Americans have a claim probably at least as great if not greater than African-Americans. Japanese-Americans went through a period of internment in World War II. Jewish Americans have a history which includes the Holocaust but extends back before the Holocaust to pogroms in Russia; anti-Semitism in Poland; expulsion from Spain; and, in the last 50 years, an unrelenting and virtually hysterical effort by their Arab neighbors to exterminate them in a way which no other group has experienced."

After outlining some horrible conditions in this country today, Gingrich then said he would make a case for boldness. "April 26 will be the 25th anniversary of 'A Nation at Risk', a report on education in the United States. Here’s what that report said: 'If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war. As it stands, we have allowed this to happen to ourselves. We have even squandered the gains in student achievement made in the wake of the Sputnik challenge. Moreover, we have dismantled essential support systems which helped make those gains possible. We have in effect been committing an act of unthinking unilateral educational disarmament.'
 
"And I would argue with every conservative: Education in the United States is a national security issue and the secretary of defense should give an education speech every year reminding us that we are not going to be the leading power in the world if we don’t have fundamental, deep rethinking of our education programs. ... The tragic truth is that the current system is not working because of two topics we don’t like to talk about -- bad culture and bad government."

He goes on from there. Read the whole speech HERE.

- jpt

March 29, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (77)

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Obama's election would be horrible as it would bring an untried and inexperienced President to lead an incompetent congress led by Pelosi and Reid and that will be the perfect storm, which sinks this nation. Furthermore, the terrorists will be cheering from day one, as they will now have unlimited access to anyone and everyone.

Posted by: icky1 | Oct 16, 2008 4:32:00 PM

Remember the millenia
Who could stop the bush mania?

That folksy guy, we identify.
Poor Gore, an educated bore.
Who cares if Bush swerved
While Gore served.

And now its Obama who
captures the drama.
Inspite of the wrong ilk of Wright,
It might be a bond of bilk and bite.

When disarmed by charm,
Or admiring the armed.
Mc Cain may bring more pain,
Hidden in Bush was fight
Bilk and bite.
If bite is in Obama,
We might repeat the trauma.

Posted by: cool | Apr 2, 2008 12:23:47 AM

I am interested in anyones opinion re Wright and/or Wrong. We leave the issue alone, uninvestigated to the fullest depths, at our own peril. Like a tumor, saying it is "benign" without a complete "biopsy" is ridiculous.

Google RNA Trinity Church Wright. Make your own decision as to how deep the Wright/Trinity "separatism" thing goes, and then ask why the press is not "Googling" more? If we can, they certainly can! The Rna aspect has never even been mentioned, to my knowledge

Wright does not come close to representing the views of the vast majority of African-Americans. But, he does apparently represent those of the Obama's, despite the denials. 20 years is full refutation to the denials. Separatists are just that. Dividers, any way you cut it. And are totally opposite to "uniters". Words do matter!

Posted by: MC | Mar 31, 2008 4:32:11 AM

Hey Mickey (lol) If you want to pretend to be a Democrat and Hillary supporter you should at least TRY to avoid using the terms left and liberal. It's a dead giveaway. (lol) The Republicans must really think Hillary supporters and pretty dim huh?

Posted by: Dems | Mar 31, 2008 3:14:45 AM

The only thing that Obama's speeches have caused me to do is wonder why he has chosen to be a phony with all the potential he has. I think he sat for 20 years listening to the anti-American sermons and anti-white, jews he has figured out he best make some really good speeches and take from anyone else anything to cover up his history. I just wish the Democratic big wigs would get it through their heads that people will not vote for Obama because they don't trust him not because he is half white. Why should we trust him when we haven't ever trusted anyone else who has shown such unpatriotic habits and bigot inclinations. I think the big wigs suffer from gender bias because I know if Hillary had the same history there would be no way they would have allowed her to run.

The news media and the far left liberals have just closed their mind and have decided Country be damn, so what if Obama has lied, and hedged about his association. He makes a good talk about race (but he lived a life full of bigotry and hate) for 20 years he didn't turn a finger to bring about change in his Church or his pastor.

COUNTRY FIRST!

Posted by: Mickey | Mar 31, 2008 12:57:11 AM

So I have a question. Obama's cousin in Kenya, a Muslim, ran for President and when he didn't win the massacre of the Christians started.

Since Obama thinks talking to those who have told us point blank that they intend to conquer us and dispose of our way of life...then maybe Obama can demonstrate how talking will work by calling his cousin.


Posted by: SuziQ | Mar 31, 2008 12:40:55 AM

solutions? our many politians have actually helped on the grassroot level? carter after his presidency did just that, bill clinton went after amassing wealth. hillary never did any grasroot work, she failed her first bar exams, (17yr old frank abagnale passed the louisiana bar exams, after studying for only a few weeks), she was employed at rose law firm after her husband became the governor or attorney general, his influence also got her on the walmart board,helped her get elected as a senator.
since she became senator, she voted for the war in iraq, voted on a resolution to use that could have given bush authorization to attack iran and start another war, because she thought it would make her more popular among jewish voters.
for the first time in american history obama has made race a topic that can be discussed constructively without scapegoating. instead the clintons have been trying to take advantage of racism for their own gains.

Posted by: noo york | Mar 30, 2008 12:15:50 PM

Dummies do as Dummies do.

All of the back beaters, lashing Obama as did the slave owners of past, Dummy is the only thing that come to mind.

It appears that those who would put McCain in office, must have the answer to:

What happen to 13 billion dollars in cash that was flew to Iraq, then disappeared.

They must have an answer to why 911 happen on the watch of a Republican President, Republican House, Republican Senate, Republican Judiciary.

They must have the answer to why more Americans lost their homes than any other Administration.

They must have the answer of why more Whites in this country have filed for bankruptcy than any other time since the Great depression.

If you can't put those pieces together and still put a Republican in office then you have not been beaten enough yet by the Republican Masters of the New World Order.

Obama offers Americans the chance to have a say so about it's future and the future of American's family. Not Gloom and Doom, but dummies do what dummies

Posted by: American9 | Mar 30, 2008 12:15:13 PM

I will never vote for Obama in the general. Never voted for the republican before, but there's always the first time i quess.

I can't stand his "eloquent" speaches and it's really pathetic to have a candidate who didn't win any of the big states except for his home state and on top of everything else, managed to block the vote in Florida and Michigan.

But if the dems want him, they can have him. Don't count for my vote though.

Posted by: Missmadeleine2002 | Mar 30, 2008 3:20:07 AM

tomdavie, completely agree with the decision to vote mccain over obama being because mccain would be better for the country, not just a spite vote as the obamaites would like to portray it. personally, i can't stand obama, so my vote for anyone but him is based on my view of him, not others.

i do feel a need for some spite - i very much want dean, pelosi, kennedy, kerry, mccaskill, richardson, and several other party ruining snakes to lose their jobs. but it's not just spite - they deserve it for the mess they've made. and it's the only way for the party to get back on track.

Posted by: so saddened | Mar 30, 2008 2:53:42 AM

@ June E. Porter

Do you still have the Bush-Cheney sticker on your car's bumper?

Posted by: Bobby | Mar 30, 2008 2:22:02 AM

Obama is just a smooth talker. However, we want a president is who is a "doer" not a "talker". We need action not just speech.

Hillary, you are the ONE!!

Posted by: Agnes | Mar 30, 2008 1:05:50 AM

The fact is apparent that Obama has so affectively opened the eyes, minds, and hearts of the American public that it would take either a deaf and blind, ignorant, or racist mind that would be unable to see through the smoke and mirrors. I would encourage those people who seemed to thrived and draw conclusions based on the use of the sound bites of Minister Wrights speech to examine the totality of this sermon after all it's is on line.

Posted by: June E. Porter | Mar 29, 2008 11:17:26 PM

Obama is a joke.

He says he can communicate not only with our allies, but with our enemies as well.

How does he plan to do that if he can't even talk to Florida and Michigan's government to start a revote?

He can do it, but why doesn't he want to? It won't benefit him.

He sounds more and more like President Bush each day.

Posted by: Bobby | Mar 29, 2008 9:28:26 PM

The issue about Wright has never been about race. It is about judgment. How could senator Obama associate himself with a person like Wright (whether black or white) for over 20 years, and involve him in major events of his life? If Obama didn't know Wright's controversial attitudes in 20 years, then that shows a lack of judgment too - the ability to judge people, which is critical in any leadership role.

Yes, we all know that that there is an under current of bias and prejudice in our society. But, by his speech, Obama cleverly disguised the true topic - judgment, or lack thereof.

Posted by: Steve Zachary | Mar 29, 2008 9:11:44 PM

Newt Gingrich is a great scholar. He's made his points on why it is worth considering being a conservative at this time of ours, in his (whole) speech. When the liberal's way does not work, a "consertive" way actually is a "liberal" direction to go. The wise do not get trapped in any ideologies. When it is dark, the wise direct you to the light. When it is too bright, the wise direct you to the shade.

Posted by: Vickie | Mar 29, 2008 8:58:06 PM

@ moe

that's exactly why obama didn't live Wright, because he was scared of being attacked like oprah was (by wright).

Posted by: Bobby | Mar 29, 2008 8:49:01 PM

Westie:

Here's your way to deal with the FL-MI debaucle.

Impeach both of the Governors, immediately.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | Mar 29, 2008 8:31:44 PM

Obama doesn't want to have a discourse/dialogue/conversation/insert your verb here....he wants just trying to save himself from going down in flames.

Posted by: Bobby | Mar 29, 2008 8:17:15 PM

It's not everyday I agree with Newt Gingrich! Outstanding speech!

As elegant as Barack Obama speech was, challenging American to look at race. Sen. Obama's speech missed the target on two points. It's open up a dialog to address the race concerns. Dramatic lacked in putting forth real solutions for change. Which it's directly representative of the senator's campaign. Sen. Obama is a excellent speaker, without question. But doesn't offer progressive realistic solutions or experience to produce the change he speaks about.

Secondly, for me, Rev. Wright's many radical, divisive, racial comments was more of a mind set about being anti - American than racist. Sen. Obama never addressed that issue during his speech. Yet again, questioning the judgement of Sen. Obama's and his associations are a plague for his campaign. Creating serious concerns in the minds of voter... is Barack Obama a formable candidate to match John McCain?!

Minus the pundit's spin, the media hysteria, personal interests and opinions aside, democrats must answer this question. For myself, as difficult as it was to admit, the answer is NO. I have already voted for Barack. Respectfully, I would/could not support or vote for Barack in a general election.

Posted by: Chase | Mar 29, 2008 8:16:31 PM

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