Kerry: Obama Can Bridge Divide With Islam "Because He's A Black Man"

MSNBC reports:

Speaking of the race speech from Tuesday, Obama supporter John Kerry gave an interview with a local N.H. paper, reports NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli. In it, Kerry said the color of Obama's skin makes him uniquely qualified for president and even reach out to the moderate Islam world. During an interview with the New Bedford Standard Times, portions of which were posted on YouTube, John Kerry says bluntly that Barack Obama has the potential to "bridge the divide in religious extremism" because he is black....

...The Massachusetts senator said Obama has an ability to perhaps even empower moderate Islam "to be able to stand up against the racial misinterpretation of a legitimate religion." Asked by a reporter what gave Obama the credibility to do so, Kerry said, "Because he's African American. Because he's a black man, who has come from a place of oppression and repression through the years in our own country. We only broke the back of civil rights, Jim Crow, in the 1960s here. Everybody in the world knows this is a recent journey for America too. And everybody still knows that issues of skin and discrimination still exist."

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Comments

[mix2007]

Stupid "gotcha" journalism at its best.

Anytime someone uses the word "black" or "white" you make it a headline and pretend it is racist.

HuffPo, grow up.

[CaliforniaDem]

I can't believe I once supported this jerk!

[dora rice]

what a racial comment from Kerry. Shows he doesn't know Islam. Islam does not give an inch because Obama is black. Obama is american. He has to uphold the constitution and spread and defend our believe, which is democracy and capitalism Whether he is equipped to follow that , we will see. To turn the other cheeck to Islam and terrorism will just embolden them. Clinton was trying to talk to them. It didn't bring us nothing. No offense to Clinton. He slapped them on the wrist. They became bolder and meaner. The only political solution is to make a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. I don't believe Obama will have the guts to do that. A lot less then the Clintons had. At least they tried. Without peace between Israel and the Arabs , it doesn't make any difference who will occupy the White House. We will never have peace. And our pocket book well leak a slow leak until we played in the hands of evil for good.

[minty]

I just think this is a riot. . Shirley Chisolm ran in 1972. She was a dynamic speaker who understood what it was like to be an African American and a woman. Ms. Chisolm also obtained 155 delegate votes with essentially no money and very limited campaigning. But that was then and this is now. Thirty years ago no one would have seriously considered an African American male or a white woman for the presidency. Ms. Chisolm ran to be heard so that the future would succeed

I think Americans are looking for something different,. Because of this, Obama and Clinton are uniquely positioned in this election cycle. This bring advantages and disadvantages for each of them. Now having said that, will it carry through along with the message to the general election?

Obama is uniquely qualified because he is African American and lived in Indonesia as a small child? He lived in Indonesia until he was 10 years old. This qualifies and foreign policy experience so the Arabs Muslims will listen to him? How does this explain native Arabs slaughtering native Africans in the Sudan?
Yes I did campaign and vote for Kerry....what a shallow view of the world.

[JoshMiami]

and you go further to legitimize or unlegitimize religion ???

do you listen to yourself ?

[JoshMiami]

and to think that i voted for you for the presidency.... do you know how the look down and discriminate against blacks in countries like egypt or other arab countries ??? at least when G.F came out with what she had to say it was anchored in truth ... how come the obama campaign is not calling you on your unsubstantiated, ignorant and prejudice coment ???

[mjc]

This is so much John Kerry at his worst thinking, seeing the trees and not the forest. Can't imagine how he can make such statements but then I never could imagine how he managed to lose an election that was his for the taking if he had any idea of how to reach voters.

[Warmglobe]

Yes, Americans are "concerned" about bridging the gap to moderate Muslims...all 3 of them

[hi5dud3n355]

oh how bigotive of you.

[jb578261]

Kerry is right. Everyone will whine and complain, but in the end he's 100% right here.

[HopeObama08]

Ok, let's open our eyes here and be honest.

Many of us heard about the Natalie Holloway story, but how many have heard about what happened to Megan Williams in Oct 2007 in WV???

[mrdontplay]

This is what a discussion on race topics looks like.

We have to be able to say what is on our minds right or wrong and then...

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION

That is the only way to accomplish anything.

We all as americans have friends family and neihbors of all races in most cases.

we all incorrectly pre-judge each other.

What we need to do is find a new better common denominator and remember that we are all Americans, and our differences are the only things that make our country unique.

[shengirl]

Note to Kerry: Please just shut up and go away. Thanks. Obama's doing just fine without your "help."

[HopeObama08]

Rachel Maddow: Obama thinks Americans are smart.
John Stewart: Obama thinks he is talking to Adults

Come on! If we could all stop lying to ourselves and be realistic for a change, it won't hurt. It would be a good restart after 8 years of Bush. At least Obama admits the good things about the Clinton administration and Bush senior administration. He 's far from being perfect and he acknoledged it on several occasions. He doesn't demonize people unfairly, but he will tell you what many people think without saying it loud. That is how you start a conversation that could lead to constructive criticism. People need to learn from their mistakes and move forward toward a good direction. I wish people could educate themselves instead of relying to what the media dictates them to think to make their own and sound juddgement. Check the facts in their full context, analyze them and THEN make your judgement.

[Gabrielle]

you are RIGHT ON

OBAMA 08

[rickyjimmy]

the oppressed empathise with the oppressed i think this is the idea but kerry like so many democrats is a utter muppet.

someone asked about MOSLEM i know they say two countries separated by a common language but if you check the Oxford Dictionary you'll discover your answer.

[sugarmoes]

add "in large part" to the front of it, kerry. you're welcome.