Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race this morning showed off exactly why he's become the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination. He's absolutely willing to challenge the conventional way of how politicians approach controversy. In my opinion, it was the best speech so far in this campaign.
Andrew Sullivan: "I have never felt more convinced that this man's candidacy - not this
man, his candidacy - and what he can bring us to achieve - is an
historic opportunity. This was a testing; and he did not merely pass it by uttering safe
bromides. He addressed the intimate, painful love he has for an
imperfect and sometimes embittered man. And how that love enables him
to see that man's faults and pain as well as his promise. This is what
my faith is about. It is what the Gospels are about. This is a
candidate who does not merely speak as a Christian. He acts like a Christian."
Charles Murray: "Has any other major American politician ever made a speech on race that
comes even close to this one? As far as I'm concerned, it is just plain
flat out brilliant -- rhetorically, but also in capturing a lot of nuance
about race in America. It is so far above the standard we're used to
from our pols."
Ben Smith: "A smart colleague notes that this speech is the polar opposite of
this year's other big speech on faith, in which Mitt Romney went to
Texas to talk about Mormonism, but made just one reference to his
Mormon faith. Obama mentions Wright by name 14 times."
First Read: "His tone throughout was quiet and thoughtful. The same speech could
have been delivered in a fiery tone. But Obama chose one that was quiet
and thoughtful. It did little to lessen the impact and may have added
to the weight of his words."
Marc Ambinder: "How it plays will determine how it plays. If the media focuses more on
the Wright defense-by-renouncements and then juxtaposes them with clips
of Wright's comments, then I think the trouble remains. The seeds of
doubt about who this guy really is may be nourished. I know that Obama
believes that a discussion about race plays to his benefit, no matter
what people think about white working class voters and their latent
feelings. Perhaps this is the beginning of his opportunity to lift the
veil and get everyone -- not just himself and the media -- to talk
openly."
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