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

[NotThatKilpatrick]

Kerry is right. Obama is a great candidate. The bonus is that he is black. I am amazed that Kerry has risen to the status he has with his piss poor communication skills. Even when he's right he makes it sound wrong. Poor John.

As a black man Obama will be looked at differently by the world as President of the United States. Perhaps they willl see his presidency as a maturing of America. An America with a new and more sympathetic viewpoint. Certainly his Presidency can do quite a bit toward healing some of our own old wounds. I look forward to it.

[DaRight]

...


Let's have a big round of applause for the SWIFTBOAT VETERANS for TRUTH.....­..


.

[Ramirez]

Amen.

To think millions of people voted for this guy...

[nazgul]

Ramirez, your party talks about you over the dinner table, and I don't think you'd like what they have to say.

[Tsunami]

I am sooo sorry I gave Kerry a lot of $$$ and worked for him!! McCain '08!!

[nazgul]

SWIFTBOAT VETERANS for TRUTH

... the guys who completely reinvented "dirty politics."

[DaRight]

.......

Thank your SWIFTVETS.­....

.

[nazgul]

Troll

[mix2007]

for 4000 dead???

[Amomma]

So, let me see..... IS IT OK TO TALK ABOUT OBAMA BEING IN A UNIQUE SITUATION BECAUSE HE IS BLACK NOW? Because Obama singled out Geraldine Ferraro for doing just that in his speech on race. He inferred that Geraldine had commited a Rev. Wright gaff too. Is Kerry doing the same?

[transendentilist]

What Geraldine Ferraro said pales in comparison to what Wright said. And Obama did not really denounce the guy and even praised him toward the end. And he gets away with it????? Olberman jumps all over Hillary for not comming down on Ferraro sternly enough????? Yet Obama gets a pass??? And people say Obama has alot to complain about???? They say Hillary is getting a free ride??? Ha!
Obama has done very well for himself in racist America. He has an Ivy League education, he became a lawyer, a professor, and now presidential candidate. His wife has a college degree also. If race was as bad in America as his pastor would have us believe, Obama would NOT be where he is today. Even He said that MLK's dream has been realized. He said he was living proof of MLK's dream becomming a reality. Now, all of a sudden, the white devil is back to keep the poor black man down. Horse manure!!

[FrankBlackFrancis]

I think the short answer is yes. Like many racist statements, even if true, should not be spoken.

[trickbunny]

here's the difference (as if you didn't already know). it's a FACT that muslims are more likely to relate to Obama even though he's not a muslim. why? precisely because he is black- as are the GREAT MAJORITY of muslims- especially in this country. sometimes (but not always) people are more likely to relate to or listen to someone who "looks like them". FACT. meanwhile, ferarro's utterly ignorant comment has no basis in anything besides her distaste for the color of Obama's skin. at least a case can be made for kerry's comment reflecting reality- the old witch's inane statement has nothing to do with reality of any sort- just bitterness and a non-understanding of progressive attitudes.

get it now? sure you do. whether your blind loyalty allows you to admit that is probably a different story.

[WomanInOrangeSweater]

Why don't you give us some support for that FACT of yours about muslims being more likely to relate to Obama because he's black like the "majority of muslims."
We'll be waiting.

[Pquid]

Obviously, you're not getting the "meaning" of his statement. This will be delivered to us all in due time by Obama's supporters and various pundits. They're probably having a meeting at this very moment. Meanwhile, remember it's not what Wright. . er Kerry said, it's what they all decide he meant.

[mix2007]

Do you honestly not see the difference?

Ferraro was DISPARAGING Obama as nothing but an affirmative action candidate, probably to appeal to the Archie Bunker types in PA and WV.

Kerry is trying to say that Obama's minority status is an asset abroad. Which it is.

I doubt it will matter to the middle east, though, since they have as bad a history of slavery and racism there as we do. Currently, they are even supporting a genocide against black South Darfur by the Arab north. So, no, being black won't help I don't think.

Kerry,. as clumsy as he is verbally, would have been a far better president in 2004 that GWB. For one, we would probably have 3000 less dead America soldiers.

[mix2007]

Oh leave Kerry alone.

It is true that Obama is loved around the world, since he obviously is the polar opposite of Bush.

Obama = Good America

Bush = Evil Empire

That's a fact. Anyone who ventures overseas knows of what I speak.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Oh well...all my posts from this thread were scrubbed too. So, so sad.

[westview]

Sen. Kerry, it really is time for you to retire. The statements you are making are not helping at home or overseas. The thought of you taking this type of conversation worldwide in private diplomatic circles is simply outrageous. Perhaps you do not know this but there are muslim people of every race in every nation. The simple fact of birth that is Obama's race does not prepare him in any way to deal with the complexity of world religious differences or lessen world religious confrontations. His openly evangelical religious background may well be a hindrance in non moderate Islamic circles. Please try to remember that our country supports racial equity and separation of church and state and we support that at home and away.

[secondedition]

Senator Kerry's comments were thoughtful and correct. I see nothing wrong with suggesting that the eyes of the world may look kinder upon us because we have progressed in such a positive way that we can elect to the highest office of the land a man who is really uniquely qualified to bridge the gaps of misunderstanding and hatred.

Now, I want to know who is spinning this? Could it be a collusion of the Clinton's and the right wing media?

[mix2007]

Bingo!

I often wonder nowadays about some of these people -- HRC or GOP?

[FrankBlackFrancis]

Not in this case. It's just Kerry sticking his foot in his mouth again. There is truth too it, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't have been said. I support Obama, I saw this headline and cringed.

[ChrisS13]

So all that matters is the color of his skin? Maybe we should elect a true American. AN American Indian. That will show the world how far we came.

[622440]

Just the people that wonder who Obama really is. The person that attended a pastor Wright hate church, or is he the person who he says he is, or supposed to be, anyway!
Obama has yet to explain why he attended a church that preached hate for 20 years. That would answer some of the judgement questions that will be with him through the General election.

[Najam]

If Kerry is talking about African Muslims, it makes no difference there as being from the same tribe is more important than anything.

If he meant for the Arab Muslim world, I am disappointed as Kerry knows nothing about how Arab treat their own blacks.

His statements explains why he supports Obama disregarding the votes of his constituents. It is a match made in "Idiocity of Politics."

Thank you.

[marie3548]

He needs more supporters like John kerry talking just like this, I saw it posted on a website that Al Sharpton was endorsing Obama but it was supposed to be a secret right there in black and white he already had Jessie and with Rev Wright NO LUCK OBAMA. LOL

[AlwaysforHillary]

I agree with the person who said Kerry is an IDIOT!!!! Just for the fact he endorsed Obama makes me HATE him!!! Bill Clinton got out of bed after having HEART SURGERY to campaign for him, both Hillary and even Chelsea campaigned for HIM!!! And what did he do?? He threw Hillary under the bus that's what!!

When I voted for Kerry in 2004, I did so because he was the lesser of two evils. Now I am sorry I even voted for him!!! As bad as Bush is at least we didn't have to look at Kerry's ugly mug for 4 years!!!!

If Kerry had been smart, he would have endorsed Hillary Clinton!!! She WILL MAKE A GREAT PRESIDENT!!!!

[LittleSanityLeft]

Thanks AlwaysforHillary, for living up to the poll numbers showing that Obama gets the educated vote and Hillary, well...yea­h.

[Amomma]

LittleSanityLeft. I am college educated, wealthy, and a good looking women. I do know the hard way about Sexism. Did you know it is the same as racism only worse? Guess my race? Guess my religion? You only know half the stakes in this race. Guess who I support for the nomination?

[fairandfirm]

LittleSantyLeft. My husband and I both have Ph.D degrees in science; we are wealthy, and worldly. Guess what? We voted for Hillary. My sister-in-law has a JD from UC Berkeley and also voted for Hillary. Sure, many Hillary's supporters are working class people and have less education. BUT THEY ARE PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC CONSTITUENTS. BE RESPECTFUL TO YOUR FELLOW DEMOCRATS. We need a coalition to win the Whitehouse back in Nov.

[nick1936]

John Kerry first he said obama was white now he says obama is black just like I voted for it and then I voted against it PLEASE PLEASE spare our party from these losers like Kerry and Dean

[LittleSanityLeft]

Yeah, this is more then a little silly. Obamas race might play a roll but what that roll is or how extremists would receive him goes beyond the knowledge of Kerry and anyone else. It's certainly not a reason to consider voting for someone. What Obama's race does symbolize to the world at large is the physical manifestation of Americas decision to move away from the policies of George Bush, but that's about it.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

Yes, Kerry is right. Obama would be able to deal with Islam because the also black Colin Powell and Condi Rice have done such a good job of it.

[Gabrielle]

CHECKED THIS OUT YA'LL

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/democratic_presidential_nomination-191.html#charts

[coolkraft]

wow....int­eresting

[cblcar]

Out of date info already.

[hardsun]

I am an ardent supporter of Obama, but this is just silly!!

[SamSedaei - Huffpost Blogger]

He is right.