Political Punch

I think that McCain has done a credible job of explaining his position and how he feels about race now. I am sure that his position on immigration and his votes in the Senate will show a clear record of embracing all Americans.

He really is the only Republican that could get elected in 2008....His current position on Iraq might be the only thing that stops him.

As far as race baiting there has been a successful effort of Obamas campaign to paint people as racists. I do believe that like in any political campaign Bill Clinton was trying to minimize the opposing candidate but it was definitely not an attack based on race. The "fairytale" remarks were completely in context regarding Obama's war position.

And the Jesse Jackson comparison had been made in the media repeatedly prior to Clinton repeating it.

Obama's campaign was "accidently" leaking memos accusing Bill and Hillary of racism. This is not a wise campaign tactic because even if it works and it did.......Obama was reinforcing that he was the "black" candidate...and the whole time he was insisting that his camp was not accusing the Clinton's of racism.

Then when Obama got in trouble with Wright his campaign dug up some 2 weeks old comments from Ferraro and started "race baiting" again. The problem with those comments (which were widely taken out of comments to remove the "and woman" part) was that Obama had said the same thing in 2005.

I am a middle aged white woman with a bi-racial grandson. My vote will not tip an election either way....but the destruction rather than healing that has been created with Obama's campaign constant race attacks has left it's mark.

Wright's comments would have been unacceptable whether he was black or white...but now the media is on a strange road....trying to prove that personal vicious attacks of a political opponent and anti-White rhetoric and anti-American rhetoric and even the false teaching that AIDS is a government invention are all acceptable from a pulpit as long as the person making them is Black.

I want out of Iraq. We need a Democrat in the White House. But I am seriously considering McCain.

I do not agree with the media that only uneducated racists vote for Hillary. I do not believe I am either.

And I am not sure I can vote for a man that has orchestrated race attacks condoned political attacks from his spiritual mentors pulpit and stayed in this church for 20 years.

lou, so right.

re obama, he's a jerk, not a white jerk, not a black jerk, just a jerk.

will never vote for him.

maybe obama needs to give another speech on race. after all, hillary and mccain managed to find time to attend the 40 year mlk anniversary event, but obama said he was too busy and didn't go.

A speech on race will not help someone who just now feels the need to explain a vote against the legacy of MLK's holiday that happened 25 years ago when he was 47. And that after the state was losing tourism dollars from boycotts.

No, MCCain does not have to give any more speeches on race ...
Enough heard already ...

What MCCain need is to win the White House in November if Obama is the Democratic Nominee.

And to win the White House in November if Obama is the other nominee, he has to win Hillary's supporters .. And who else best to help MCCain win Hillary supporters - yes, Hillary herself.

MCCAIN/HILLARY ticket (if Obama is the Democratic nominee)

MCCain has the 28% Hillary supporters who will never vote Obama but he needs to grab more ...
Dont have to worry about the Black vote because Hillary is doing as well as she is right now WITHOUT the Black vote. Obama has 80-90% black votes as is.

MCCAIN wins the White House by keeping all the Republicans, getting the thinking Independents and Hillary's supporters.

Obama CANNOT win the presidency without Hillary's supporters ..

So MCCAIN, please consider Hillary as VP if she is not the Democratic nominee

All you Republicans need to give Hillary another look, like Scaife did ..

Hillary is intelligent, diligent, clear-headed, pragmatic, sensible, experienced, consensus-builder, knowledgeable, patriotic ...
She clearly has the credentials befitting that of the President of the United States ...

I will just re-direct everyone to Lou's comments. Well said, Lou! I totally agree.

A speech? McCain needs to start by doing a grade school level book report. Just add this to the growing list of "issues" McCain is disturbingly ignorant of.

Mr. King Jr. was killed in 1968 and McCain voted against that bill in 1983, and only after more than 15 years he started to realize the immense personality Mr. King Jr. had in this country. Where was McCain hiding during those years? Beneath a stone? Come on, McCain. That only goes to show you did not care at all about the Blacks' rights and now you are running for President and want to play Mr. Nice Guy? You are nothing more but a racist in the back of your mind!!!

I'm an African-American who is currently supporting Obama and I was very, very pleased with the class that John McCain showed today when giving his speech. He is representing the republican party who has not been very succesful in obtaining the African-American vote mainly due to, what I believe to be, a lack of trust that Republicans really care about them. He's speech today spoke to me. I've seen McCain as a classy guy sense he entered the race and what he said today just confirmed that. If Obama doesn't win, I'll be just fine calling "McCain Mr. President"

Gee Juan Williams...lol. Why is it, that when the time comes to have a seriois dialog about race the right-wingers roll this guy out like, he's black..see look at how much has changed. Please...what no Larry Elder quotes? I'm so sick of a black face with a white voice pandering to those who truely believe in America is the greatest melting pot of culture in world history. He's good enough to put these right wingers at ease. Trust me Juan Williams is such a reverse racism appologist it's sickening. If you choose to use appeasment as a solution to a real issue than you are just drinking the GOP kool-aide. Juan Williams is about as black as Robin Williams, just another GOP lackey. I don't trust anyone who would ignore history and the fact that institutional racism has existed since this country's inception. Apoligize and appease white folks for his personal status and gain. The funny thing is the GOP and the like have their heads so far up their (G.W.) Bush they don't see how phoney this guy really is.

Why should he? He is not a racist like Obama! and the libs!

Someone should ask Michelle Obama why she wasn't proud when MLK day was made a holiday.

McCain voted how his constituents wanted.

Democrats United:

I read the boston papers, I think they are the relaible source on this issue.

"I had not been involved in the issue"...

How could ANY American who truly cared about the rights and values in our society and about all the citizens of the USA say such a thing?

Juan Williams of all people has a good article about Obama's two-faced campaign. One for blacks and another for whites.

to the conscience and highest ideals of the nation. He no longer asks black people to let go of the grievance culture to transcend racial arguments and transform the world.

He has stopped all mention of government's inability to create strong black families, while the black community accepts a 70% out-of-wedlock birth rate. Half of black and Hispanic children drop out of high school, but he no longer touches on the need for parents to convey a love of learning to their children. There is no mention in his speeches of the history of expensive but ineffective government programs that encourage dependency. He fails to point out the failures of too many poverty programs, given the 25% poverty rate in black America.

And he chooses not to confront the poisonous "thug life" culture in rap music that glorifies drug use and crime.

Instead the senator, in a full political pander, is busy excusing Rev. Wright's racial attacks as the right of the Rev.-Wright generation of black Americans to define the nation's future by their past. He stretches compassion to the breaking point by equating his white grandmother's private concerns about black men on the street with Rev. Wright's public stirring of racial division.

And he wasted time in his Philadelphia speech on race by saying he can't "disown" Rev. Wright any more than he could "disown the black community." No one has asked him to disown Rev. Wright. Only in a later appearance on "The View" television show did he say that he would have left the church if Rev. Wright had not retired and not acknowledged his offensive language.

Ummm Countallthevotes,---------- No, that is NOT what P'ed off kennedy. Clinton's tone in her statement seemes to downplay the role that Dr. King played in getting the Civil Rights act Passed. Yeah, Johnson signed it into law, but Dr. king played a much bigger role than Clinton insuated. Now, I do believe Clinton misspoke. She was probably, no doubt, suffering from fatigue and sleep deprivation, just like Obama. I understood what she was trying to say, but the Press made such a big deal about it. The MEDIA created this firestorm about RACE. I WILL CONTINUE TO BLAME THEM FOR IT. What P'ed off Ted kennedy was Bill Clinton's actions. He put his foot in his own mouth and the Media had nothing to do with it. He let his ego and temper get the best of him. He tried to (once again) downplay the significance of Obama's S.C. victory, saying that Jesse Jackson won the states when he ran both times. Why Jesse Jackson? Bill Clinton, himself, also won the state, as have other democrats.

Kennedy did not like the fact that Clinton was race baiting (trying to paint Obama as the "Black candidate" in order to tear into his "white" support.) It's an ugly method - especially amongst democrats.

Joseph posted:

"Jesse Jackson just said that Dr. King endorsed Lyndon Johnson in 1964 because he needed an "ally" in the White House "to get the Voting Rights Act passed."

Wasn'that exactly what Hillary said months ago - and was accused of denigrating MLK in South Carolina by Obama supporters?"

Yes, that is precisely what Hillary Clinton said. Johnson got VRA passed, not Kennedy. Had JFK lived, he would not have had the success that Johnson did. JFK could never have pulled the Southern Democrats along. It simply never would have happened, though he wanted it.

This is what p***ed off Ted Kennedy and led to his endorsement of Obama. It was all over the Boston papers that Ted had a "melt down" about Hillary's crediting Pres. Johnson. Then came Ted Kennedy's endorsement.

Obama is going lose!

It is the "JOHN KERRY EFFECT"!

Ah yes the GOP talking race...It's such a warm fuzzy feeling for ALL Americans...right. When the subject comes up it's always Rev. Wright, blah, blah. The fact remains that McCain and the grand old party will continue to brush race under the rug because a meaningful conversation has no benefit to them, period. They all but given up an the black vote so screw em. They will continue to put blacks and other minorities on the back burner because like Arizona in the 80's blacks just don't matter enough in the big picture for them to give a hoot. Obama had the courage to face the country honestly, and with personal humility. It takes courage to face that 800 pound gorrilla in the room called race. It could have cost him the election. McCain and the rest of these ultra-careful Republicans wouldn't dare face reality, they would much rather squeeze their eye's tightly together and just wish, wish, wish it would all just go away. Real leadership there.

Jesse Jackson just said that Dr. King endorsed Lyndon Johnson in 1964 because he needed an "ally" in the White House "to get the Voting Rights Act passed."

Wasn'that exactly what Hillary said months ago - and was accused of denigrating MLK in South Carolina by Obama supporters?

I like John. He is a nice old man but President? No.

I am not surprised by McCain's discomfort. He is right he ran at a time where diversity was not the most popular sentiment. He is also coming from a generation where people's patriotism was tied to standing in lockstep with the government. He did his duty by serving his country.

The protest movement was not viewed as a wholly patriotic thing. His day: If you love your country, you do not make other people uncomfortable by protesting against this country's policies. We, the people, means we the go along to get along people.

I think "he began to learn" is right. He came out of the military mind. He interacted with more groups of people (not commander and subordinate, but constituents and other legislators) and he realized the country was not all one way and not the other. He is a man of his day and of his times.

He is not wrong to have evolved on race. Many people in that generation are much slower than he is. I think Obama put politicians on the whole in an untenable position just by showing up and saying what he thought about the pink elephant in the room. McCain and Clinton are going to look bad by contrast.

I don't think the country is necessarily ready to address protest movements, patriotism, or race in a direct manner. I do think the country is at the point where it believes we should get over the appearance of discomfort over race or denial that discomfort exists.

I think the measure of this presidential race will be how much race baiting we will tolerate and expose what our sensitivities are. Clinton has been politically attacked on the left for appealing to discomfort about race as a means to achieve the Democratic nomination. Her supporters say it is because we, Obama supporters, see racism in every criticism. I think it is because we are listening for those dog whistle signals (allegator mind impulses) which threaten us.

Obama is not free from the discomfort either. The Rev. Wright dustup has to do with fears that come from that dog whistle mind. I have read other posters express what those fears are. The real issue is will these pitfalls be able to stay underneath the surface or whether they will be exposed completely: not on blogs, not in newspapers, and not in private conversations.

McCain can't win on this issue. He can select Michael Steele in MD or go get the last OH Republican gubernatorial nominee. He still is going to have that ick thing happening if he talks about race.

I do think other people miss the point when they suggest black people aren't going to vote for McCain anyway. It is not the black voter McCain has to worry about. It is the appearance of discomfort that he gives the entire population of the U.S.

Why is it so necessary for McCain and Clinton the bow down to the stupid questions of the media, who are just looking to make a big issue of race, if these two candidate say something the media can label racist?
I've had just about enough of the media in this election who spin each interview with Clinton and McCain so it comes out looking bad for obama. I am thinking that most of the nation is coming to the same conclusion. I am sick and tired of the media taking on the job of "thinking" for the US citizens.
To the Media: Shut up already. Do you have to push and push so that a candidate will utter a word that you can grab and turn into a racial issue?
Shame on all of you. I sincerely hope that someone will turn the table on you and put you in the same position.
The media so blatantly favorable of obama that because of this, he will not get votes. Do you people of the media understand this? You are just pushing too much and too far.
Chris Matthews was just quoted as saying he would have to look up a comment made by obama in obama's "scriptures". What in the heck does this tell you people of the USA?
Think, please think before you are totally drawn into a media influenced presidential election.
Is this what the election process has come to? And do you see this as an act of freedom to the US individual?
Please think about this when you are voting.

Obama: "We appreciate his service to this country for over 50 yrs!" A lame attempt at humor!

Well Mr. Hussein - most REAL Americans in fact do appreciate his service .. what have you ever accomplished? Name one!!

IF John McCain needs to give a speech about race, now is NOT the time. He should not become involved in the Democratic fracas, which IS about race. Obama made race an issue a couple of months ago when he decided to become the "black candidate". McCain should stay OUT of this for now, and if Hillary happens to get nominated, McCain needs to say NOTHING about race. Even if BHO gets nominated, McCain might be wise to keep race out of his campaign.

I'm not a McCain supporter. I'll vote for the Democratic nominee in November. But I think McCain has answered questions on his vote against the King holiday as best he can. Virtually every politician (and person) I can think of has changed his/her opinion on many important issues over the last 25 years.

I think McCain should have to answer the question on why he changed his mind, but I believe that he has done that.

Well if Senator McCain were to make such a speach what better chance than today. Yet I doubt his words will be profound or uplifting but more of a back-track half hearted appology for his lack of knowledge on the subject. McCain plays the ignorant card too much. Plausable deniablity is his middle name.

A race speech is NOT in order from McCain. Arizona has always had a very small African American population. Today it is est. as 3.8% and in the 1980's it was far less than 3%, with Latinos at 13% and American Indians at 4% during the 1980's. Further, the black residents are dispersed throughout the state, not in particular districts as we see elsewhere.

Racism as we experienced in large metropolitan areas was foreign to most westerners. Example, Wyoming, perhaps the last state to adopt MLK Day. There, the black population was integrated for over 100 years and was tiny. Wyoming blacks had the right to vote from the 1860's!! There were members of the Wyoming legislature who were black in the 1860's as well.

Western states just did not have the uproar or rank racism that we have seen elsewhere. I do not know the history of Arizona specifically, but have no reason to believe it is any different than that of Wyoming.

The experience out West is and was entirely different than the rest of the country.

It is a bad mistake to write off McCain's early position as racist or even insensitive.

Hispanics will vote for McCain over Obama...just watch.

GS

It's called having people on your team with different points of view...

That article you link to brings up Obama's greatest strength...that his team is like Lincoln's (opposing points of view with the captain of the ship with final say) not George W.'s (fall in line or be trounced...hmm whose is this like)...

The Bush's and Clinton are of that same cloth... old school intimidate hard ball politics... Obama supporters are trying desparatley to field the shots while changing the game and the stadium.

McCain "began to learn"- and there's something wrong with that? Isn't that what Obama would hope would occur with many in this Country in his efforts to
"unite"? Y'know if the Democrats are going to start pushing McCain on the race issue and start implying he's a racist somewhere in the course of this race then they will without doubt lose this election. The race allegation has already been thrown out there towards Democrats such as Clinton and Ferraro who have long established records of
working on issues of race, gender, class and sexual orientation. The only one who the Obama camp seems to be defending on allegations of racism seems to be Pastor Wright. How old is Wright? How old is McCain? Obama's arguement is he comes from a different time and apparently he still not "learned" given that his sermons were fairly recent. So if someone wants to go after McCain for having learned it's going to flop back in their face.
Just the words of Wright don't represent the thoughts of Obama, the words of Bush aren't representative of McCain. I think public will real sick and real quick of this one standard applies to the Obama camp and another standard applies to everyone else in this Country. If your far left, predominantly White liberals in this Country are going to deem themselves judge and jury of who is and who is not racist then the Democrats might as well pack it in, because that type of elitist, hypocritical thinking (because we all know how well those well-intended liberal programs, in which of course the white liberals knew better than the people affected themselves did,
such as public housing worked out to the benefit of those it was meant to help. If this party decides to play the far left or the race card this Fall you will see the moderates and centrists and traditional Democrats exodus to the McCain real quick.

The people that vote will for McMore-war are the ones that think the last 7.5 years have been just fine. If you think this country can do better then you'll be voting for Obama. He's the one that can best repair the damage of the bush-league. Obama 2008!

Obama is speaking today from the location in Indiana where Bobby Kennedy informed the crowd of the death of MLK.

GS: Your words, "Let them earn their way". If any race has earn their way it's been the America's Black people. You need to go back and stick your head in the sand.

McCain can’t win anything; he's a relic of the past.

GS: Your words, "Let them earn their way". If any race has earn their way it's has been the America's Black people. You need to go back and stick your head in the sand.

McCain can’t win anything; he's a relic of the past.

NO he doesn't. Let all the racists vote for Obama as they will anyway.

Why do we even have to talk about RACE? All Americans are one weather you are Black, White, Brown ..etc. No more special treatment for the Blacks, let them earn their way up like everyone else.

Sure, why not. Let him insult more people, that'll go over well. John's understanding of race issues is about the same on foriegn policy, nil. He should keep talking all he wants, his positions will effectively end his campaign, without any help from the Democrats. Empty foreign policy, absolutely NO interest in domestic or especially financial policy in a weakening economy... Ooh, sounds like just the kinda guy we need to finish us ALL off. I see Bob Dole II coming to a town near you. Ugh!