March 18, 2008.
I have just finished listening to the entire (almost 40 minutes) speech by Barak Obama and I want to record my reactions and observations before I am influenced by the "talking heads" on television.
My first reaction is that Obama conned the entire television media on the promise of a discussion of his relationship to his church/pastor and really didn't deliver. Except for a few fleeting passages, his entire speech was a campaign speech which was provided free of charge by all networks and cable providers. Pretty smart when campaign money is getting tight and to attract people, such as myself, seeking answers to very disturbing comments by his close friend, mentor and for a time advisor; and subjecting us to a lengthy campaign speech. I was conned, but shame on me for being conned.
If I were running the Hillary Clinton canpaign, I would demand an equal amount of free time by every station that carried this speech.
My second reaction confirmed that Obama is a great orator. If one listens closely he never says anything once. He takes an idea and describes it in lofty terms, then restates the idea in loftier language and finally not to let it get away restates it a third time in language that soars. He is a very, very effective word merchant. This is not a complaint but an observation which must be considered when evaluating him and every politician.
Now, as to the proposed purpose of the whole event. He made his defense strictly on the basis of race which was really not the true focus of the comments which caused the furor to begin with. He did not address, and therefore couldn't reject, the pastor's claims that the US caused 9/11. He also didn't address and therefore couldn't reject the pastor's statements "damming" America and the unpatriotic implications of such statements.
This is just one viewers opinion. We must await those of some more qualified to judge than I.
An added comment. It is now a hour after the speech and every program is repeating the campaign aspects of the speech which confirms my original judgment.