"The Speech"

For those of us who missed it, is there a version online?

I am a strong Obama supporter... I don't buy the hype about "The Speech" currently in the media.

I think he did the right thing... condemning the words while explaining why he couldn't condemn his friend or his community.

I also think he adequately explained why the Wright affair shouldn't sink his campaign.

I also think that expressing and validating the frustrations of white Americans toward busing and affirmative action was politically brilliant and highlighted his leadership ability (which is one of his strengths).

I also think he did a good job deepening his life story and showing his humanity.

Beyond that... I fail to see how this was a seminal speech on race in America.

He was speaking as a candidate, and the speech was appropriate as part of his campaign. Some parts, the Middle East reference for example, were clearly stuck in to address issues important to his campaign rather than race in the country.

Perhaps a candidate in a tight race is perhaps not in a position to give the seminal speech on race.

I am not one to swoon. This speech was enough to keep his successful candidacy moving forward.

This wasn't even his best speech.

It's in four parts. Here's the first part. I'm sure you can find the rest.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YzMFK_51NQc

I think the forthright discussion on a topic that is taboo is what sets the speech apart rather than the content. He handled it very well. I wonder if he wrote it himself. Not that many "great" speeches weren't written by speech writers, but I'd be more impressed if he wrote it himself.

engineer- I had heard that he did write it himself, in two days.

I heard he climbed a mountain and a burning bush transcribed it for him. :wink:

Apparently he did:


(From Marc Ambinder's blog at the Atlantic)

Here is the full thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU

Isn't Bush too busy.... still trying to sell a war, to transcribe a speech on race?

A red head transcribed it for him?