Letters to the Editor
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@ RealityCounts
Why can't Obama's speech on race be something that he had to deliver to address the Rev. Wright controversy and put it in context, as well as be a wonderfully crafted and inspiring piece of oratory? You could argue that Lincoln had to give the Gettysburg Address, or that FDR had to give the "nothing to fear but fear itself" speech, because their political lives and legitimacy as leaders depended upon them. And you'd be correct. But that doesn't change the fact that they were bold speeches that placed uncomfortable truths next to inspiring calls to action.
I can only speak for myself, but the race speech had the stink of raw honesty about it. And I kind of like the idea of having a president who gets himself out of a jam by leveling with the American people and talking to us like we were adults.
If Hillary Clinton had given so raw and honest a speech about her regrets about her Iraq war vote, or anything else for that matter, I'd probably be supporting her right now (or at least I'd stay out of the fray). But I've never in my life heard something like what Obama delivered, and I don't think we're going to have too many more opportunities to do so.