Obama Decries "Forces Of Division" In Dem Race: "We Have To Come Together"

Following a week in which he faced a growing controversy regarding his relationship with his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Sen. Barack Obama spoke about the increasingly divisive nature of the Democratic race.

Sen. Barack Obama on Saturday decried "the forces of division" over race that he said are intruding into the Democratic presidential nomination contest.

"We have to come together," he told a town-hall meeting at a high school.[...]

Obama suggested that more and more is being made of racial divisions as his contest with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton heats up.

"I noticed over the last several weeks that the forces of division have started to raise their ugly heads again. And I'm not here to cast blame or point fingers because everybody, you know, senses that there's been this shift," Obama said.

"It reminds me: We've got a tragic history when it comes to race in this country. We've got a lot of pent-up anger and bitterness and misunderstanding. ... This country wants to move beyond these kinds of things."

But as the AP observes, getting beyond these divisions is proving to be far more difficult than it perhaps seemed when this historic race got under way.

Something happened to the feel-good, way-cool Democratic presidential contest in the months since a woman and a black man began their path-breaking race for the White House.

By the millions, black voters voted for the black candidate and women voted for the woman. White men seemed torn, by the millions.

Sen. Barack Obama has broken historic barriers, especially among the young, as the first black candidate with a serious chance at the presidency. Voters who might ordinarily balk at a female president have backed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in her pioneering effort.

Those gains have not been enough to erase divisions by race, a task perhaps beyond any mortal and any one election, nor lesser ones between the sexes.

And when the campaign moves beyond Democrats, the party of diversity, and into the general election, it's questionable how much room is left for such progress.[...]

Whether clumsy, coarse or calculating, remarks by party stalwarts or hangers-on have brought race repeatedly into the discomfort zone, which is easy to do, suggesting a post-racial political consciousness is for a more distant future.

Watch the video of his remarks in Plainfield, Ind.

Comments

[lesomers]

09:42 PM on 03/18/2008

What it must be like to be a politician and suddenly held responsible for every asinine irresponsible comment ever made by those who you have associated yourself with.

Don't worry Barack. I'm a white woman, well-educated, and you have my vote today, tomorrow, and any day after that. As long as the words didn't come from you, you don't owe apologies for them.

After all, you've done far more to discourage these comments than a certain other senator has done for comments made by friends of hers.

[apresdeluge]

01:51 PM on 03/17/2008

Obama should have given this speech to his mentor and pastor long before now. More empty rhetoric from a Chicago politician.

[PardonMyFrenchFries]

11:59 AM on 03/17/2008

They told me that Bill Clinton's words were racist. Now I am confused as it appears that Rev. Wrights words are considered motivational. Jesus...

[urfree2speak]

09:05 AM on 03/17/2008

I DONT CARE ABOUT SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.I DONT CARE ABOUT CNN...FOX.........NONE OF THEM.......unless they have a plan to stop the WAR...FIX THE ECONOMY......EDUCATION SYSTEM.....ROADS.BRIDGES.... There is nothing journalistic about second rate talent ......Panderson Cooper.....O LIEly........Pawn Williams.......Pox cable ..........I care about this country, none of these "journalist" have campainged for anything....the talk of "derailing Obamas nomination" iS at best ...........wishful thinking.......and a pathetic attempt to stoke "racist" feelings..........how about this headline.....IS THERE A OBAMA BACKLASH AGAINST FOX CABLE? CRISIS AT FOX! rumour has it that top brass are worried that the constant infomercials of a popular minister of Barack Obamas church..could hold the potential of a firestorm of a back lash.....rich Obama backer is compiling a short film on the fox cable "news" rants against Obama ..........this short film complete wiht actors and music will air on youtube and will be promoted by "full page ads" in major news papers! -source {me } This is what OBAMA supporters NEED TO DO! beat FOX at there own game! THEY CAN BE BEAT......Lampoon them..... turn the tables on THEM ...everyone knows that they are essentially the VOICE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY....WE HAVE TO SHOW CONTRAST......SHINE A BRIGHT LIGHT ......all you need are LARGE COFFEE MUGS........ SWEATEE BROWS,......BULGING EYES.....SCREAMING OVER THE TOP TACTICS ..........in sound bites ...........and you talk about looking like raving lunatics all..............We have to stop the maddness......FIGHT BACK!

[Tator]

08:40 AM on 03/17/2008

Pretty hard to "come together" when one of your branches is calling for the abortion of more black babies. Seem the Democrat Party is the party of racism and bigotry.

http://www.laadvocate.com/pp/

[Pjsandiego]

01:57 AM on 03/17/2008

If the candidacy of Barack Obama is run off track because of the political beliefs of his ex pastor it would the greatest political tragedy this country has seen in a hundred years.

Guilt by association has never been declared to be the American way, but if Obama is charged with some form of complicity or even bad judgment because his ex pastor and friend has views on some issues that are out of the maintstream or even “un-patriotic” whatever that actually means, then it will be a sad day for America and an even sadder day for the Democratic Party.

If anything, at this point every good Democrat should be standing up for the unfairness of tainting anyone because of the believes of another whose views have not been adopted or expressed on in any fashion approved.

It is particularly sad that this would occur in the context of a man’s desire to seek out his religion.

Since when do we investigate a person’s pastors views and since when do we judge our President on the views of friends and acquaintances— especially when those views are rejected.

Do we judge Hillary by the fact that her husband is a perjurer and an adulterer? Should we begin to investigate the views of all of our Presidential candidates ministers, priests and the like. On this score John McCain appears to be the better leader categorically declaring that this will not be an issue in his campaign. [Whether that ends of being true is questionable, but at least he’s trying. ]

As to the call for why Obama did not leave the church when he heard such things- assuming that he did- exactly where is it called for in any Christian practice or any substantive practice that political views of one’s church or pastor must be in line with all that is right and perceived to be American.

Finally, what is perhaps most sad about this whole issue is that in many ways the good Pastor is playing out the great debate of the 1960's characterized by the dueling bumper stickers of the time; “America Love it or Leave It!” versus “America Change it or Lose it”.

There are some very patriotic people in this country that while decrying the brutality and wickedness of 9/11 nonetheless understand that we as a country had been naive before 9/11 thinking that our battles and our conflicts would not come to our shores someday. While we do not like to hear it, many many people in the world do hate us for Hiroshima and do hate us for the manner in which we stand behind Israel.

And here in this country there are many many American’s who have been hurt by the mean aspects of this country, who are resentful and as much as they love the country, sometimes what to say “Damn America how can you do these things.”. That is not a hate for America, that is a love for the only country in the world where there is freedom of speech and there is suppose to be real freedom of association.

I for one do not want a President who only has the right friends, and who marshals his spiritual advisors as those that only say the right things.

This moment is crucial for the Democratic Party as well. Are we the real liberals and progressives who have an open tent for all views, or are we the party of “America Love it or Leave It.” I for one love this country and would like to see it change for the better- which frankly was what I always thought being an American was all about.

Let’s evaluate Mr. Obama on his own views not those of the hundreds of people around him who have given him perhaps just as much bad advice as good advice.

And keep something in mind, if we are going to judge Obama by an ex-pastors views which have been rejected by Obama- how should we judge other candidates who have adopted the views of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney.

The real test of a candidate are their own views and actions, not those of incidental friends and associates.

[GBecker]

01:14 AM on 03/17/2008

1st AMENDMENT, people!!!

[IndieGirl]

09:44 PM on 03/16/2008

How would MLK view Wright:

See for yourself:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bOOL3BYaIEQ

[mansky]

07:36 PM on 03/16/2008

I am an Obama supporter who plans to leave the democratic party. Whatever may happen i don 't see a way to stay in a party in which so many of the powerful and half the members want the Clintons in charge.

Haven't you had enough, folks? I will vote for Obama if he runs, but my days as a democrat are over.

[PT]

06:37 PM on 03/16/2008

Oh Christ! The Prince of all Prophets is begging for all to come together! Afterall, he belongs to congretionalists that band together with all that and attitude that permeates amongst the sectors nationwide, firsthand, starting with his anti-Hillary campaign that targeted eager ears/eyes through social networks online with the infamous sorry-ass slogan "anybody but Hillary! and that attitude must carry forth through the ills of the internet. He knew damn well how his well-rehearsed persuasive oratory and propaganda would appeal to youth. He targeted those ripe and eager toward becoming activists knowingly well that negativity works wonders with disenchanted university students that need to belong to some popular group or another for the "fit."

And... now he cries "divisiness?" He must be smokin... something realllllll good!

[RichLiberal]

05:43 PM on 03/16/2008

The reason that "race" keeps "coming up" is that Obama's camp is trolling everything anyone says and as soon as the word "race" or any related term such as "black", "color", "dark", "red phone", "Jesse Jackson", anyone but Obama who has the audacity to mention Martin Luther King, the list is endless, is mentioned they raise holy hell. It's got to the point where you can't even refer to this election as a "race" for fear of bringing on the wrath of Obama.

[cybersense]

02:09 PM on 03/16/2008

We have to wake up.

Republicans are being very clever. First, they use strageties against Hillary and Bill. Then, because of the hard play Obama has, they attempt (and succeed) in dividing us by saying "they support Hillary".
Because.......they thinks it is funny and because they think we will.

Then, they go after Obama. Guess what. If Obama wins the nomination, they will cream him. And quite honestly......we will forget all about why.

[buzz]

01:53 PM on 03/16/2008

What Obama supporters ignore is the meaning that Wright ascribes to facts. Of course, it is undeniable that America has done wrong. But Wright attributes that "wrongness" to being WHITE.
Wright says that Jesus was Black, and the victim of the rich white people. Literally. That is the spirtual guidance and message that brought Obama "to Jesus." That, alone, is a twisted, ignorant and hateful take on the story of Jesus (whether Jesus was white or black, he was a Jew, and the meaning of his life and death is NEVER attributed by true theologians to racism.)
Obama is a sham. His associations prove that he, just like Wright, thinks in almost solely "black-white" terms.
What about the genocide in Rwanda? Was that all WHITE PEOPLE? In Cambodia? In China? The human condition is full of examples; but "Rev." Wright blames it all on whites. What does that tell you? It tells me why Obama stirs up such hate in his adherents. It is his haughty, arrogant style, his winning speech making, his power organization tactics.
Hitler shared many of these skills. And Hitler blamed everything on the Jews. All the ills of the world.
No, Obama isn't Hitler. He probably would not be able to usher in the sort of genocide that Hitler did. But if Wright had power, what would Wright do to "heal" America? What kind of country would this be under the thumb of someone like "Rev. Wright"? (A raving, hateful, ignorant bigot.)

If I told you that a candidate was a student of Hitler, and that he praised Hitler, that he accepted Hitler as a "member of his family" -- but that didn't agree with Hitler's views about the Jews -- would you excuse the "association" of that candidate with Hitler?

Wake up, Democrats.

[PhxMike]

01:36 PM on 03/16/2008

A VERY SAD ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT ATTENTION FROM THE CARDS UP HIS SLEEVES


On last Monday, the Obama campaign probably knew this whole Wright deal was about to blow up in their faces because FOX NEWS had aired a special about it the night before complete with lots of inflammatory quotes from the reverend. No wonder they had to get the Ferraro story out in front of it and the only way they could do that was to hit it hard on every network and in every newspaper. Was all this just to create cover for the Wright story that had not yet been picked up by the majors?

Ask yourself these questions: One, If FOX aired the offensive Wright clips on Sunday night, why did it take until Wednesday for the rest of the media to pick them up --- Hmmm, could it have been them not wanting to dampen Obama's comeback in the Mississippi primaries on Tuesday?


Two, if ALL the network and cable channels were crying FOUL about the Ferraro comments (which by the way were taken completely out of context) why have they been so polite to Obama about the comments of someone who was not only his pastor and personal advisor for 20 years, but also on one of his important campaign committees?


Three, why was there almost NO COVERAGE about the Wright comments on the networks Friday nite news shows? Hmmm, could it be because of the delegate reapportioning in Iowa that took place on Saturday (the next day)?


And now Obama tries to tell us that the current stink in the air from the incredibly racist and anti-American rants of the 'man' who is his trusted pastor, promoter, personal adviser, and campaign committeeman, --- that the stink from all that is really just the smell of old race problems from the past. In other words, don't focus on now, focus on way back then, or at least focus as far back as Monday and Ferraro.


It's time that the man who benefits every time he (or his team) accuses someone else of playing the race card finally has to roll up his sleeves and show the cards HE has been hiding.

[HumeSkeptic]

08:40 PM on 03/16/2008

And now Obama tries to tell us that the current stink in the air from the incredibly racist and anti-American rants of the 'man' who is his trusted pastor-
--------
I find nothing racist or anti-American in that "rant". You must have very low self esteem and a very shallow sense of patriotism.

[psfurlong356]

08:46 PM on 03/16/2008

yes, once again it's a vast left wing conspiracy, Olberman is the Grand Vizier, Chris Matthews is Chairman of Indoctrination and Tim Russert is the point man in the "get Hillary" brigade...

[MAWWforObama]

12:47 PM on 03/16/2008

My husband is a 62-year-old white, country club Republican, MBA, good ole' boys club, etc., etc. who frequently tells people he "votes with his wallet." Last night at dinner, when pressed (he goes out of his way to avoid political conversations over dinner), he said that he was seriously considering voting for Barack Obama because of Obama's optimism and his attempt to elevate the political out of the morass it has been in since the early 90s. This even though Obama's liberal politics go completely against his grain.

Trust me, if Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, my husband will not be voting for her -- not because he's a misogynist and not because he's some besotted idiot who was looking for a Messiah. He won't vote for Hillary because he was a Republican during the Clinton years and still views both of them as dishonest politicians. Despite the war and despite the economy being in the tank, my husband will vote McCain.

I am a 58-year-old, white professional woman, who has won many national and international awards in my career and no, I have never been paid commensurate with my male counterparts. But that isn't enough reason to vote for Hillary. I left the Republican party the day we went into Iraq. Too bad Hillary Clinton wasn't on our personal e-mail list back then because even though we aren't in the political loop AT ALL and have never even campaigned for a politician, we were getting e-mails from all kinds of friends outlining in great detail the fallacies in logic and the untruths being floated in the run up to the war. Maybe Bush was able to pull the wool over Hillary's eyes but I had women in my garden club who were evidently better informed. My vote is for the anti-war candidate, Barack Obama. If he loses the Democratic nomination, I have no loyalty to your party and could care less whether you win or lose.

[cybersense]

02:06 PM on 03/16/2008

Of course you don't. That's the problem.

Did you get spinned too? Are you taking the road because Hillary showed her strengths and then someone yelled "oh, she's nasty because she did that" then, tried to use that card to play against her?

Then the Republicans use their media sources agains Obama, and say they will support Hillary.
Nice move on their part, and I have to say the DEMS fall for it. Now people are upset because they are going to smear Obama. Obama's compaign for presidency will be hurt by those, and they have already started.

I am really ashamed of our party. When Obama made the statement that he felt like his supporters were "delusional", I guess he was right, eh?

[SoulSistah]

12:08 AM on 03/17/2008

What???? Excuse me cybersense. Did you just do a "drive by" post?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stop the cycle . . . no more Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton

[rmetz74]

12:22 AM on 03/17/2008

Correction - Obama said that Hillary is making his supporters out to be delusional, not that he thinks so himself.

And the smear campaign against him started as soon as he announced his candidacy - Fox News was 'accidentally' referring to him as 'Osama' and 'Hussein' on the crawl, all the 'not black enough' (and simultaneously 'too black') garbage got batted around, the 'lack of experience' argument was on all the blogs - and he still became the frontrunner.

You don't have to like him, but revisionist history isn't a winning opposition strategy.

[mansky]

07:41 PM on 03/16/2008

I am a democrat who is not far behind you.