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

[unclebucky]

Kerry is an idiot.

Being black is not a reason that anyone can get along with anyone else.

HAVING WORKED WITH, TALKED WITH, AND BEEN WITH PEOPLE FROM A DIVERSE BACKGROUND may enable someone to bridge the differences, but being a reasonable person not driven by ideology or the myths of authoritarian racists (read: Republicans) is what gives you the traction of dealing with people from a very different background.

Who scripted Kerry?

Ugh.

--UB.

[BigLib]

To think that this fool ran for president...

but I do miss the crazy wife, though.

[cblcar]

LOL! Me, too. I just loved her. Way more balls than he ever had.

[dw314]

I LOVED HER!

[mutatio]

He was against it (Ferraro) before he was for it. ;-)

[joeyhegele]

beautifully said!

[preatorius]

Wrong, as usual.
Word on the street says that Nancy Pelosi will be Obama's running mate.
Pelosi has real experieince, not the imaginary kind that Clinton makes up!

Nancy Pelosi is currently the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Before becoming Speaker in the 110th Congress, she was the House Minority Leader from 2002 to 2007, holding the post during the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses.

Since 1987, she has represented the 8th Congressional District of California, which consists of four-fifths of the City and County of San Francisco.

[Marlyn]

I would like to see Obama choose Joe Biden for Vice President.

[unclebucky]

Marlyn, that would be fantastic. I second the nomination.

True, it has to be someone that balances Obama and gives him a "second" mouthpiece.

Ugh.

--UB.

[dw314]

Uh remember he called Biden a racist awhile back.

[dollphingurl]

i sincerely wish i could see OBAMA-PELOSI ticket.

although "Obama-Pelosi" sounds like a spell from harry potter or something LOL.

diggit.

[dw314]

Or something that only penicillin would cure.

[Marlyn]

Sen.Kerry said that leaders of Middle Eastern nations have expressed keen interest in the possibility that a black man could be elected president of the United States.

"Can you people really do this in America?" they asked.

[Kreskytim]

You are kidding yourself. Obama hardly needs to be tagged with "ultra liberal" Pelosi. He'll pick a heavyweight man with military credentials.

[westview]

Please let it be true then we can be rid of her. She is the worst house speaker we could have put up. Leadership is not her strong point. Friends and family outside of California are constantly asking how she could have let this administration off without even trying to force their crimes into the press. If you are the opposition it does not matter that you don't have the votes it matters that you air out the problems of your opponents. She has failed to do this on every count.

[mix2007]

Are you kidding?

Pelosi is wonderful.

She rocks!

And she'd be a great VP.

The Rightwing nuts label any true Dem a -- gasp -- "liberal"

[BeyondKen]

"who has come from a place of oppression and repression through the years in our own country."

Hawaii is 'a place of oppression and repression'?

[BigLib]

The Dole Pineapple tour bus left without Barry one day.

[OtayPanky]

John Kerry has this astounding tin ear.

"I was for the war, before I was against it" will be his epitaph - and a great contribution it is.

But this isn't bad, either.

Sheesh!

[teamsterwife]

So is he saying that Obama is lucky to be a black man running for president? OMG! So, now is he gonna resign from the campaign! Whose campaign is playing the race card?

Don't blame me, I voted for Edwards!

[ginnypoo]

How does him lying qualify him? He has lied for days......................he needs to quit the race now.......he lied to the camers with a straight face for days......he needs to quit the race now.

[greejambri]

The only one leaving the race will be Hillary, when she is dragged out kicking and screaming by the superdelegates. There IS NO WAY Clinton can win!!!

[transendentilist]

I guess you haven't been paying attention. She's gaining on Obama. Looks like his pastor put a huge dent in Obama's armor.

[BigLib]

John Kerry, reporting for dookie.

[klondiker]

As Jon Stewart might say, "YOU'RE NOT HELPING!!!"

[TxWonderWoman]

WOW . Not good.

[thefixisin]

Kerry go away, you already have cost us four more years of Jr. I voted for you,but it was hard to do. I not on Obama's side on this fight ,but it doesent matter you need to just go away for good!

[Ramirez]

John Kerry is talking just like a typical white person.

[Marlyn]

White People for Obama!

[transendentilist]

He is, isn't he. Too funny.

[MNDADDY]

I guess that makes Clinton uniquely qualified to to bridge the gap with Russia because she is white?

[TriniGirl]

Loved this Maureen Dowd article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/opinion/19dowd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Marlyn]

Hated it.

"he had his first rude introduction in his political career to ambivalence, ambiguity and complexity."

Not even funny.

[Cathi]

I don't agree that it's BECAUSE he is black. I believe Obama has a very unique ability to view ALL sides, and bring about talks of peace and compromise because of THAT ability. Even his surrogates don't seem to get it -- it's NOT his skin color that draws to him. It is his intellect and ability to phrase thoughts that draws people into conversation with and about him.