Was that one of the finest political speeches I've ever heard, or am simply too Obamafied to know?

It's gotten to the point where I can't understand how self-proclaimed "progressives" can support anyone but Obama. But reading the Salon letters clearly indicates that such is not the case. And I'm unsure if my overwhelmingly positive response is only because I'm in a biracial marriage, am very close to my wife's extended black family - which includes a number of other white folks who've married into it - and whether this dream of a truly multiracial/postracial society is somehow just a product of my own circumstances.

And I don't understand folks who don't understand the anger that came bristling out of Pastor Wright's speeches, anger at centuries of oppression. Folks who've witnessed the worst of our society committed by those who so often are the most privileged, and not thought to themselves or screamed out loud "god damn this country".

And who can shout that, even feel it to their bones, and yet still love this country. And it feels like it's time once again to take a giant step forward, the logical next step after the brave stands of the activists who forced integration, after the politicians who helped bring about the great society legislation, but one that's more personal, more individual, more about my relationship to my neighbors and my relatives who find themselves still on the other side of what I hope is a diminishing chasm between us all. You know what I mean - the realization of Dr. King's dream.

So, I hear someone speaking directly to me. But I also hear the vitriolic responses to this man from people who I've always thought were on my side of the political spectrum, dismissing him as an empty suit and his exhortations as mere rhetoric. Just another corrupt politician from Chicago. I just don't know that I'm able to step outside myself and into that realm of nonpassionate objectivity.

Clinton supporters, McCain supporters (Edwards supporters, et al.): does Obama speak to you? Do you dismiss it as mere rhetoric? Are these issues, let's call them "issues of reconciliation", are these simply less important if not quite unimportant to you?

Anyone who reads the text of that speech and thinks Obama is an empty suit has an empty head. The man is more than a resume, more than a motivational speaker. He is not tony freaking robbins, or whatever that shill's name is. I was an Edwards man at the beginning of this campaign, but this speech makes me think I was mistaken. We can make history. we can change history. Si se puedes. Mock all you want about words. Go to the Lincoln memorial and read the words inscribed on the walls, the Gettysburg Address (that bush thinks is a street number in Pennsylvania) and the second inaugural. Words. Powerful, meaningful, moving. Words.

That was one of the most eloquent, straight-forward, even-handed, and powerful discussions of race and racism in America I have ever read. I am bursting with pride to call myself an Obama supporter. Never, in 20 years of voting, have I felt this way about any politician.

I look forward to the great things we, as a nation, can accomplish under the leadership of President Obama.

I'm glad Obama was able to make you feel all warm and fuzzy with his pretty words.

Meanwhile the economy is on it's way to another great depression and violence levels in Iraq are back to their usual carnage levels.

But we have Obama's great words about race and religion to distract us.

I'm sure they will be of great comfort to everyone that lost their homes.

One of the crazy bigots that have his ear probably had him slip that line in there. Gotta reassure the Zionists that he doesn't hate them either, because conflating Judaism and Zionism is what all the respectable, cool kids do.

But don't count on it. Didn't 06 teach you anything? Obama is a CFR man, the propaganda won't stop under his watch. We will be Spreading Democracy and Changing Perceptions of America Abroad by bombing bad guys. You know, when Obama talked about fighting Smart Wars in his famous pseudo-antiwar speech. Maybe some bombs in Africa or Dictatoraid will do the trick?

Although there is the very slim possibility that it might happen, Obama addressing the Empire. Why do you think he is being attacked so viciously as a bigot and the right are "backing Hillary"? That's what happens to those that are perceived as being against the Empire, they are smeared as Bigoted America Haters. They are scared that he might really be serious in the brief glimpses where he seems to really say what he thinks and some of those brief glimpses are perceived as being anti-warmonger and against the complete dominance of all resources on the planet by the military industrial complex. Better to be safe than sorry and go with Warrior Princess Hillary Clinton or Million Years McCain.

He did okay. It would have meant a lot more if he had left out the campaign rhetoric and digs on Clinton, and it would have meant even more if it had been said for some other reason than to dig Obama out of the hole he dug for himself by not denouncing Wright's words long ago. It was a good speech, but it would have been better if Obama had simply given it as a human being seeking unity, rather than a candidate seeking power.

"Meanwhile the economy is on it's way to another great depression and violence levels in Iraq are back to their usual carnage levels."

That is exactly what the speech was about. Try reading the text at hand before commenting next time, kay? (Also, you wanted the possessive "its" rather than the contraction "it's.")

I've read the speech twice, and perhaps its my Obamafication clouding my perception - I don't know where the good stuff ends and the "campaign rhetoric" begins. And I don't hear the "digs at Clinton" that diminish it for you either (but certainly admit that I hear those digs coming at him from Clinton).

Could you perhaps block quote some of the portions that turned you off in this way?