Barack Makes a Speech

And what an amazing speech it was. I haven't heard anything that good since the 60's when we had Jack and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. I often lament at how different the country might be today if we had 8 years of Jack then 8 more years of Bobby, but it wasn't to happen. Which makes me wonder if Obama is taking his security seriously, I sure hope so. This speech was brilliant, a frank discussion about race that was not condescending or scolding. In fact, I think he connected with everyone with his story of his grandmother. I am constantly amazed that, no matter what happens Obama remains cool and in charge, and when attacked does not stoop to the attackers level but raising himself to a higher level. One thing for sure he showed himself to be in an entirely different league than anyone else currently running, or anyone who has run since Bobby Kennedy. I've long wondered where the great leaders were today, they were simply absent, finally after decades we have one.

But this stuff about Rev. Wright really ticks me off. Certainly what he said would anger many people but none of it reaches the level of the church people supporting John McCain who spew outright hate and bigotry. Falwell said God had damned America and delivered 9/11 on us because we harbored gays and no Republican presidential candidate was required to denounce him. Here's a story on Mother Jones by David Corn that talks about McCain's spiritual adviser, Rod Parsley, whose endorsement he actively courted. Where is the outrage about this? Why isn't McCain being called on the carpet to denounce his association with Parsley? The double standard here just reeks:

Senator John McCain hailed as a spiritual adviser an Ohio megachurch pastor who has called upon Christians to wage a “war“ against the “false religion“ of Islam with the aim of destroying it.