The day Obama sold his own grandmother

Lots of people liked Barack Obama's race speech last week. Christopher Hitchens was not among them.

He is particularly contemptuous of this Obama passage:

I can no more disown him [Rev Jeremiah Wright] than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

Of which Hitchens says:

You often hear it said, of some political or other opportunist, that he would sell his own grandmother if it would suit his interests. But you seldom, if ever, see this notorious transaction actually being performed.

Comments

[Jo]

Who of us speaks to "the better angels of our nature"?

[Alan Black]

Why Hitchens is so surprised and apparently outraged is a mystery. Obama says pretty much the same thing in greater detail in "Dreams from my Father", which I assume Hitchens has read, given that there is an approving quote of his adorning the cover my copy of that book.

I'm more than tempted to speculate that this turnaround is based on his visceral hatred for all things religious and the fact that the bête noire in this tale is a preacher, and the fact that Obama defends him at all (I've noticed this theme elsewhere in Hitchens' writing). I doubt he would have much trouble if the Senator was drawing a comparison between the prejudices of a white woman to whom he was close and an ordinary black man to whom he was close.

[Martin, Chicago]

Amazing that Hitchens--and others in the media of supposed intelligence--continue to harp on Obama "throwing his grandmother under the bus." The example Obama gave of his grandmother was spot on. The point was that you don't necessarily disown your grandmother--or others you love--because of their prejudices, which may be based on fear or misunderstanding. I think it also was a reminder to many here in this country how many times they have remained silent when racist remarks are made by neighbors, friends and relatives.

[Leslie]

Obama will do anything, including sell his grandmother who raised him, to trick the public into voting for him. His ambition knows no bounds.

Fortunately for all of us, he's unelectable vs. John McCain.

This is a disservice to Hillary Clinton. Perhaps McCain will appoint her to the cabinet.

[Andrew M]

I just don't see the problem with what Obama said. He is saying how he cannot disown her, reject her. But Hitchens seems to think that he IS disowning her, rejecting her, and selling her. Is vocabulary the issue? Or is it just the fact that he is also saying the same things to Rev. Wright? Do you think he sold Rev. Right, too? Or do you want him to sell Rev. Right?

[Desmond Taylor]

I think it is significent that Obama mentioned neither his father, who run off when Obama was two, nor his mother who raised him I guess if it was not for Old Whitey he would have been in an orphanage.

[Nicola]

I heard Obama's comment about his grandmother and was immediately reminded of my mixed-race friend who I grew up with here in the UK. She used to tell me that her own mother who had met, married and had children with a black man used to use unprintable language to refer to ethnic minorities. Her mother felt she could make those comments in front of her because she was different, she was not talking about her, it was all the rest of them that she had a problem with. Obama's comment will ring true with a lot of people of dual heritage who experienced love and warmth from people who otherwise would not give people outside of their race the time of day.

[Jez W]

Andrew M,

Please try and focus on what he's said here;

"He cannot disown her...He cannot reject her...."

With an almost "No matter how much of a racist my Gran was- i cannot disown her, however much i hold her racism in contempt." from Obama.

Ok, now it's your turn to say;

"Hey, man- your speculating!"

-maybe.

What about this scenario;

If this was a white candidate and a deep south preacher had said such inflammatory things about crime, the prison population and problems with integration in the US being an underlying Black orientated problem, due to race and culture- then would you be so happy to fight this corner....

and on top of that the White Candidate hypothetically said;

"this guys a bigot but hey, he married my wife and me, christened the Kids and i tell you what, my Gran loved Blacks and listened to rap- but i cannot disown her or reject her for that!"

I'd say he were a racist opportunist, wouldn't you?

[Will Dit]

Whats Hitchens on about? My white mother (I'm a mulatto!)has also uttered racists comments at times. I tell her off and certainly still love her. Hitchens needs to get of his high horse. He isn't the most consensual of writers and he gets paid for his often-provocative remarks. Pot callin' kettle black?

[prudence eely bond mcguire]

I PRESUME, THAT, OBAMA'S MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER, WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST PART OF THE REASON, HE, IS IN THE POSITION, HE, IS IN, TODAY?
THERE IS NOTHING MORE DISGUSTING, THAN DISLOYALTY, WHEN, IT COMES TO FAMILY.
A PERSON WHO BREAKS THIS SACROSANCT BOND, IS, SOMEBODY WHO, CANNOT EVER, BE TRUSTED.
'HE THAT TROUBLES HIS OWN HOUSE, SHALL INHERIT THE WIND'.

[Joe]

Hitchens is becoming more ridiculous by the day. His book an God was pitiful compared to Dawkins and Dennett. His contemptable U Turn over the Iraq war even worse. His rubbish suggestion that the West should wage war on Muslims.......incredibly naive. This man is a rabble rouser who likes to get his name in the headlines. I think he suffers from the same condition as Fred Phelps.......he just enjoys annoying people and getting their backs up. Obama's comments were spot on.........his grandmother was a racist. That is fact. Hitchens should shut up....for once!

[Starr]

This whole race things is totally off-base. He is multi-racial and multi-cultured and was raised knowing a multitude of religious views. This man is multi-dementional - like so many in this country. He's like so many that are made up of not one - but many people.
I'm one of 14, all my siblings are half to me. Many are as well to one another. We are many different people who have our father in common. Yet I've a niece that's in her 20's, who speaks outright racial slurs against hispanic, black, asian and several other terms in regards to religion. These make me cringe and I ask her not to speak so around my own kids or in my home. I've also a nephew that is of two races, one being hispanic. He also speaks as she does with some differences on targets. Both are part of my extended family - both are only a small slice of the huge melting pot of races and cultures in my own family.
Yes, when I hear such talk, I ask for it not to be done. But Obama is right that we need to discover why there is this hatred and negativity still seeded within the younger generations.
Where it comes from may likely be at home - from their mother's family. But it's how america is, has been...Obama has begun the hard task - starting the dialogue. It's up to us to look hard at ourselves and see why we feel the way we do.
Let's start moving into the next chapter for our county.

[VeeCee]

Daniel Finkelstein should just sit down and shut up!

[James Dean]

Are the views of this man (Hitchens) actually taken seriously by anyone in your "Great Nation"? This man seems to have paid very little attention to the words of Sen. Obama, or the context in which they were uttered. He has instead jumped on what he must see as an opportunity to discredit and defame the Senator over a sensitive subject. This man seems to be deficient in the morals that he accuses his target of lacking...

[Stan Roberts]

If Hillary and her supporters thinks she has a chance at the white house,why is she constantly trying to shift the goal post.Her supporters are the same type that gave GW a second term.These FOLKS need to be educated and not by Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity.

[Randy]

He slammed his grandmother, calling her a typical white person, meaning she is racist and ignorant, in order to make a political point. In his auto biography however, he gives several examples of when that same grandmother, Toot, as he calls her, confronted other white people over racism. She did not quiver and give some sort of bs excuse for racism is her community by saying she could no more denounce white racism than she could the whole community. She saw ignorance in her own community and challenged it, in the case of a black janitor at bank she worked at, lost white friends over their refusal to call him Mr. Reed. He used her in his book to make a political point that she fought racism, and now when it suits him, he uses her as a political point that she is a racist. Obama has made racist comments about a very large portion of America, and for 23 years has belonged to a "church" whose main message is one of hate and ignorance, how this man can pretend to be a racial healer or represent unity is ridiculous. And to Stan Roberts, Clintons supporters are not the same type who elected GW, they voted for Kerry, just like you probably did if you live here.

[John Hynde]

To all US readers, this newspaper is owned by the same people who own f-o-x-n-e-w-s and both Finkelstein and Hitchens are n-e-o-c-o-n-s who have a vested interest in defaming Obama. There is no more no less behind this "story".

[Shawn]

While I'm not really an Obama supporter, I really enjoyed his masterful speech. Perhaps theres something that's being missed there across the pond. Here in the US there are tangible emotions surrounding this. When a little old lady exhibits even worse prejudices than the ones Obama mentioned, she isn't sneered at. Americans generally make the painful realization that she is suffering from the symptoms of her epoch. It's rarely even called ignorance because the problem was so pervasive in their time, and has its analogues in our own. His reverend's world view (in which the white man is out to get him) is a product of that time as well.
Bravo to Obama for exposing this soreness afflicting both sides. The same has been done everytime we've made progress. Remember the pain of watching "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"? The more airing it gets, the more swiftly it heals.

[Petee]

Mr. Obama has chosen to go to a church where "Mother Africa" is exalted and all things "white" are put down. He's chosen to raise his kids in a church where anti-American and racist anti-white rhetoric is common. Why wouldn't he put his white grandmother down?

[Rui Duarte]

The akwoledgement of a reality with different points of view is not a «transaction». Obama does not pretend there isn't a racial issue. There is a racial issue. Sometimes it's the whites that sterotype the blacks. That is a problem. Sometimes it's the blacks that fit like a glove in that sterotype. that is a problem too.

Obama does not «paint» his white grandmother any more «politically correct» than she would paint herself. Nor does he paint a black gang passing through his grandmothers' street any less «unpleasant» or «agressive» than many black youngsters would assume. Let's face it: Gangs are a reality that is potencially violent and old ladies fear them. They add a sense of insecurity to a neighborhood and they choose that immage: Being bad is part of their self-immage.

The point here is meeting both ends: The social space of an immense black minority who wasa dn still is severely opressed and the different levels of acceptable social behavior between white middle-class america and it's below middle-class population, white or black for that matter.

there are two main points of view. They are both valid. They should not be radicalized. Reasonable people will solve the problem reasonably.

I like that about Obama.

[Vinny]

What I find funny is that he claims he can reject his pastor nor could he reject his grandmother. Well heres the difference.... If my grandmother makes a remark I dont like we can argue about it and I'll still lover her (shes family). If I go to my local church and the priest is preaching hate, I GET UP AND LEAVE. Unless of course I beleive in what he's preaching and I stay. He's a fake and a racist. Don't compare your grandma to some rambling of a rev that you DONT HAVE TO LISTEN TO. You have choice Mr Obama, to use your god given brain and leave a place that preaches hate or stay and soak up all that hate because you like what you hear.

[Joe S.]

As far as I can see, Obama is saying that he can't repudiate his grandmother for things she says and he can't repudiate his preacher for things he (the preacher) says. He's being consistent and honest.

Like Limbaugh and oxycontin, so with Hitchens and hard liquor. We've got to consider that some of the big names in punditry are prone to silliness at times because they're drugged out of their minds, and that's why they say things like this that make the absolute opposite of sense.

What bothers me is that so many others in the Punditosphere still take them seriously. Are there any drug-free, sober pundits out there?

[p3orion]

And just why is it that he can no more disown Wright than his own grandmother? A family member (especially one who raised you after your father skipped town) is not something about which you have a choice, but last time I checked there were a LOT of churches out there, and most do not have ministers who scream out racist, anti-semitic, or anti-American filth.

Obama certainly could (and should) have disowned this nutjob decades ago, but apparently saw nothing wrong in exposing his children to years of racist demagoguery, or in personally funding it to the tune of over $20,000 a few years ago. His claims that he never knew Wright harbored such abhorrent views show him to be either a liar or a fool.

Obama is a great speaker, but also a n inexperienced lightweight with very questionable associations and judgement. Hillary is a proven liar and megalomaniac with 35 years of experience riding coattails, who will say or do anything to seize the power she sees as her manifest destiny. It's a shame that the only other choice is a doddery old Democrat-wannabe like John McCain. Can't the Republicans run somebody this year?

[pia]

Obama is for "Change"?!!

He cannot "change" a church he attends, where hateful things are being said, how will he change course for a whole country?!!

This proves the opposite: he is an opportunist.

[JT Osheah]

I never cease to be amazed at the negetive coverage Obama gets from your paper in particular and the British press in general. Shame on you!

[Twissee]

Hitchens is bitter because Obama did not out right bad mouth the reverend. Obama made an excellent speech regarding this matter.

How many times have whites hear racial slurs and said nothing? So do not act like you are the victims now.

[Larry]

Well. Thank you youtube for existing. Listen to the speach. This "spin" (if that is what it is) doesn't bear any relation to what I heard. The man has a WHITE mother. He has a BLACK father. What bus do you get on to back over the grandmother whom he obviously adores?

[velvinette]

What does this quote have to do with selling your grandmother? He said he could never "disown" her. Grandmother is not sold.

[volov]

Obama sounds like a loving and grateful grandson

I assume he has his grandmother's permission to bandy her thoughts and characteristics in public.

In any event, I doubt if there's an old lady on the planet who would object to her grandson citing her, if it helps him to become US President

[Frank]

You would never guess that The Times is owned by News International. To have "The day Obama sold his own grandmother" on the front page of the political section is pretty low.

[L. Willis]

Hitchens obviously has his own agenda here, and Obama stands in the way of it.
It was a great example of how people really are, and that no one is immune from having misconceptions and sterotypes in the way they see the world - even if some people are never going to admit them.
It is amazing to see how honest and open-ness have been rewarded with derision from certain quarters.
I think that says a lot more about those who seek to do Obama down than it does about the man himself.

[Naveed Akhtar]

When we have the opportunity to help bridge the fear of difference we must take it. What Barack said in his speech is 100% fair - I live in his world where all people are equal and colour does not matter, those I love have no colour definition. So its the responsibility of all to make more speeches to identify our experiences to educate us further - do not fear that which is different!

[A.T.]

There is nothing wrong with Obama's speech. In it, he clearly that his grandmother, who rightly loves him and who he doubtless also loves, at times expressed opinions (in this case, on the matter of race) with which he strongly disagreed.

The fact that, as some commentors have pointed out, Obama heaps praise on that same grandmother for expressing strong anti-racist views in the past, is not indicative of any flaw in Obama’s story, or any inconsistency in his views on his grandmother. People are complex and have complex and often contradictory feelings over issues such as race and racism.

Take for example my own father-in-law: whilst holidaying in Florida several years back (many years before we met), he became engaged in an argument with a local driver over the local man’s treatment of a black gas-station attendant. My wife recalls this story fondly. Yet, this is the same man who also expressed some rather inflammatory and less-than-positive opinions when he first found out about our relationship. Why? Because I am of mixed race: he didn't approve. (I’m glad to say that this is now all water under the bridge, we’ve moved on and get on very well indeed).

Like all things, this is a complex issue. People’s opinions on race are not a simple matter of ‘black and white’ (excuse the metaphor) and to suggest that this is the case is a ridiculous over-simplification of the matter.

In fact, the whole issue of race is also ridiculously simplified and polarised by vast swathes of the general public and the popular media. How often do we see Obama referred to in the media as ‘black’ (he’s not: he’s equally as ‘white’ as he is ‘black’)? While we’re at it… likewise Tiger Woods, Yannick Noah, Halle Berry.

Anyway, this is a different debate, but suffice it so say that, In a better world, and one that will hopefully become a reality in the future, the whole ‘issue’ of race will hopefully be treated as what it really is, or should be… a non-issue.

[Richard Gordon]

I, for one was very impressed with Obama's response to a very difficult situation. I fail to see how he threw his Grandmother under the train. For one thing his response showed intelligence. It showed that Obama was capable of discussing complex issues with the public in many different shades of grey. The current incumbent is only able to see the world in black and white (no pun intended). "You are either with us or against us". "You are either an evil-doer or your not." This is typical of the "Republican" mindset which cannot fathom anything except in a "religious dogmatic way". That said, I do like McCain. He is by far the most intelligent Republican around. I still think that Obama is the best choice of the three (Hillary, McCain, Obama) in these difficult times.

[Garrett]

yea, why did you even bother quoting hitchens? Is him not agreeing with someone not rolling over on a religious figure really news? No. But then again this story is over 2 weeks old. I think that it's hilarious when people who allegedly are "news people" can keep on a story that is this old, with zero developments since his speech. I guess it shows that there are no "news people" nowadays. I wonder how many people were raped, murdered, tortured while these alleged journalists picked apart the 2 week old words of Obama, but i forgot i suppose that in America, injustices are something we don't talk about. I think by mentioning his grandmother he was not throwing her under the bus, but relating his own situation, his own family to that of the rest of America who may hold these stereotypes, if he had done it another way, we would hear arguments that he is too "high and mighty" regarding race. Lets be honest, this is the media trying to look like it's more sensitive to race issues than a black presidential candidate, the fake journalists of today drool over than kind of oppurtunity.

[Jos Greenberg]

Hey Joe.
"This man is multi-dementional, like so many in this country."
Multi-dementional - great word!
I like it so much, I'm going to start using it all the time, if that's ok with you?
God bless America, and the 'Spell-checker OFF' facility.
I never switch mine on.

BTW, I heard that Obama is a distant cousin of the current president, so I don't think he needs to be unjewly worried about his granny.

[I-live-2-ride]

For people who aren't afraid to consider the possibility that Barack Obama is not what he appears to be, start researching the people we've heard are in his friends. While few will judge Obama by his pastor's actions, and that would not be fair, try to look at it from a different perspective.

The Bible wisely says that 'bad company corrupts good character.'

His racist pastor praised racist Muslim leader Louis Farrakhan. His church gave Farrakhan an award. Baracks pastor and mentor, traveled with Muslim Farrakhan to Libya to meet with Islamic terrorist Moammar Kadafi. His friend Tony Rezko who is under indictment, is a Syrian who may or may not be Muslim. His close friend William Ayers was an American terrorist who blew up several US govt. buildings and planned to assassinate Army Officers until a bomb his group was working on exploded prematurely. On Ayers web-site is a banner that reads ABU-SAYD, an Islamic reference that is not explained. On Baracks own web-site was an internet link to the radical 'New Black Panther Party' which is run by a Muslim named Malik Shabazz.

OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE - Something is afoot!

[Olga]

ok, can just laugh about it .......

[Jero Hamilton]

This person (C hitchens) is a simpleton and ought to be ignored. To think he calls himself an authority on anything is a joke.

A moral person doesn't always side with the grandmother sinply because they are family. What Obama said is clear enough for the intelligent.

[A Black Briton]

"I never cease to be amazed at the negative coverage Obama gets from your paper in particular and the British press in general. Shame on you!
- JT Osheah -

Of course Obam will get negative coverage from the British Press, how much positive coverage do ethnic minorities living in Britain get from the press. They do hope he never gets to win as it will show how racially backward the U.K. is.

It is a much more racist society than the U.S. perhaps. They are still amazed Obama has even come this close suddenly realising they would have to do business with him as a President of the U.S.

Dont be surprised JT.

[Jack Smyth]

IGNORANCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR CHANGE. FALSE ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS SPOKEN MONTHS LATER IS A WEAK CANDIDATES DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO WIN VOTES WHEN CREDIBILITY HAD ITS TIME AND PLACE. TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. THE WHITE WOMAN IS A FRAUD AND THE BLACK MAN IS NOT QUALIFIED SIMPLY BECAUSE HE GIVES A GOOD SPEECH.

[Theo]

Hitchens and all who agree with him represent those who have never experienced racism and or are ignorant of its many faces, causes and intentions.

As many people here have correctly said, - Obama says he would not disown his grandmother dispite her prejudices.

If this translates as him selling his grandmother then Hitchen's motive for writing what he wrote should be the focus here!!

I am mixed race and I have heard fear based prejudiced remarks from my best friend (who is white) and from family members both white and black. I would not disown any of them because I know it is FEAR and only FEAR that causes these remarks. Their fear is not them, just like the fear of Rev. Wright and of Barack's white grandmother is not them.

The focus should be on what causes people to have this fear and prejudices and say such racist remarks.

Cut out the cancer and you will not see the symptoms of the cancer. Cut out racism from society and neither Rev. Wright or Barack's grandmother would have said the things they said.

Hitchens - your intentions are very clear. Shame on you for trying to turn something good and helpful in understanding BOTH sides of the situation into something untrue and degrading. You should not be allowed to spread your "stuff"!

[Jose]

OBAMA IS UNELECTABLE IN GENERAL ELECTION. With each new utterance on the topic of Reverend Wright, Barack Obama seems to confirm his own moral obliviousness. Worse yet, he seems to have disdain for those who are troubled by his own unwillingness to break with Wright. But it gets worse. Obama insists Wright is “a brilliant man who was still stuck in a time warp.” So brilliant, apparently, that he has uncovered the plot by white America to kill African Americans and so insightful as to perceive the 9/11 attacks as caused by America’s own terrorism. Then there was his discerning observation that Israel is a “dirty” word. And after all this, still Wright, in Obama’s eyes, is brilliant. This, we are told by the legions of Obamaphiles, is not supposed to affect voters’ view of Obama’s judgment. perhaps they are just embarrassed to tell pollsters they are privately offended. But in a general election contest this is not going to go unnoticed, we will see Republicans and many independents are irked by this moral obtuseness. Do not believe what you see on CNN or Hardball. Easy to see already see Republican attack ads against Obama, especially since he just came out again yesterday defending Wrights hateful Racism and attacks on white America. Is he an idiot? First open with videos of racist wife, Michelle, saying she was proud of America "for the first time" because of her husband's presidential candidacy, next Obama explaining that he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin or hold his hands to his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance because it is a "substitute for true patriotism." Then flash a clip of Obama explaining that his Caucasian grandmother was a "typical white person" because she uttered racial epithets and was afraid of black people. Finally, the coup de grace, pictures of Obama's angry, arm-waving preacher blaming the United States for 9/11 and shouting "God Damn America" to the rafters of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ and preaching the U.S. government formulated the HIV AIDS virus to commit genocide against blacks. Even though Obama supposedly condemning Wright's shocking verbal assaults against the U.S and White Americans, even last year; Obama was the first to public ally demand Don Imus ouster for making a racially insensitive remark, and Obama continues to support Wrights racism and remains at the church for more than 20 years, he and Michelle obviously feels it’s a good environment to expose his young daughters too. His opinions and issues change with the weather, he is too UNSTABLE and proven he cannot make a decision or stay with one.

[Phill]

The level of political discourse in the US is just so low.

[Tom]

Would the Times officially declare that you are campaigning for Mrs Clinton, just to clear the dust.
There are mostly positive articles about Mrs Clinton while it is the opposite for Mr Obama in the Times.
Otherwise which is worse: to attend a Church where the pastor makes controversial remarks, or to actually "mispeak" about snipers firing at you when that never happened?
I feel what Mrs Clinton did is far worse. She is in control of what she says, where as Mr Obama has no control of what another competent adult says. Yet the Cliton blunder is no more reported, while you find ways to keep reminding us of how bad Mr Obama is to attend the church.

[Peter Barry]

Obama is unelectable and the PC fools in UK and their cousins across the pond need to get used to it.

[J Clarke]

I dont really care who wins this election in the US, but all the grand speeches and campaigning seem to me to be a total waste of time in your country as you sooner take notice of what the eternally biased media have to say about what was said rather than taking your time to figure out for yourselves what actually is being said.

When I read the majority of comments left on the campaign posts I just see mindless repetition of the same old things. No originality whatsoever.

It angers me to think that such an influential nation cannot be trusted to correctly heed the messages in its own election process. It is said and perceived that the Chinese are largely brainwashed by their nationalism. it would seem that you are similarly brainwashed by your media.

Sort it out.

[Daphne Kenward]

Do you or anyone knows Obama grandmother? if you don't butt out. And question the moron in the white house how he lied to the world is more to the point. Calling the rest of the world Terrorist and Axis of Evil. That Criminal who had disable Black people put to death while Govenor of Texas is who the American people needs to Question. And further more keep your brand of democracy to your selves, killing innocent disabled people because they are Black is crazy that condi Rice is an oppertunist, and a disgrace to her race.

[Daphne Kenward]

The unfortunate thing for many Americans, they claim to be christians, but do not know what Christian values are. Jesues was a great man, a man of honesty, if Obama came out saying he wanted nothing to do with Rev Wright, the News Headlines would he only wanted to win the election. Let me enlighten you people of Satan the Devil, Jesus said, many will come on the basis of my name. There are millions in the deep south who used crosses to burn a black man for simply being BLACK, Christ was killed for being an innocen Black man too, how many Devil worshipers know what christ said before he was killed by a bunch of Roman Criminals, he said before the COCK CROWS he would be denighed three times. Obama is not a trator he tell it as it is. How many white men and women who had racist family members, you do not speak of it openly, a man who speaks openly is an honest person. My father hated white people, I had friends who had parents who could not bring me home because their parents were white Racist, even though they were not racial them selves. So for these hipocritical white people who is trying to condem Obama, I will say one thing I love him, I love him and I don't know him, I love him for what he stands for. I have listened to every word, I have heard this man say nothing bad about any one, he is honest compassionate he cares about the down trodden, he does not worry about colour or race he is an honest man, and it is as simple as that. The Church he is a member of is not one who claims to be Christian yet having sex with peoples kids. Rev Wright I love him too, the reason is he too is honest. America want to pretend they are a Democracy now, what about when they murdered the Indians to steal their country. How many people do these criminal minded Genocidal people think White America Murdered? do they know, do they care?. Do they know how many Black people they murdered during slavery? no they don't nor do they care, do they care how many people they napalmed? Americans seem to think they are gods you are a race of murders. I would not say that if I was not pushed, but reading these comments, this complacency it like a god given right to Terrorise the world and have the cheek to Turn round and accuse the world of Terrorism, the Greatest Terrorist of all time Calling the rest of the world Terrorist. READ YOUR HISTORY>.

[Daniel Deagler]

Peter Barry: You are completely and absolutely wrong that Barack Obama cannot be elected.
There's nothing PC about hope and optimism. Even Ronald Reagan was about hope and optimism.
I'll bet you a pint of bitters or whatever that crap is that you Brits drink in your pubs while you watch fat guys shot darts that Obama not only wins the nomination but also the general election.
Thanks for the Beatles.

Dan Deagler
Philadelphia

[Daphne Kenward]

America don't deserve Obama, infact I think if America don't want him there are many who would like to adopt him. To me Obama is like the saviour, came to save man from himself. He is a great and wonderful person. I would be humbled to even shake his hand. I can not understand how America seem to be a place in the world with so much untapped tallent. I can not understand how a Country could vote for Bush and question an honest man. Mr Bush is the world most hated person on earth. Why is that? if what America did to Iraq, could not happen in America, the question is why is America in Iraq? Foreign oil is what lead America to Iraq, it Backfired on the American people, and now they are paying more than if they had left Iraq alone. All of the service men and women will end up with Cancer from the very Bomb they themselves dropped on the innocent civilians of Iraq.Ever heard of Depleated Uranium?. But Coming back with your life when you have lost your mind and it is only a matter of time before you lose your life from cancer is that what America calls a Victory. There is so much that people needs to ask their governments, that they are not asking. America is about the best, not a part of the establishment, but someone willing to tell the truth, The truth shall set you free.

[Ian]

I think it's interesting that the only way people can attack this speech is by misunderstanding it - either willfully or though lazy prejudice.

Although many posters here have pointed out what Obama (very clearly) said, the Bushies and Hillbillies have their hands over their ears an they're going LA LA LA.

[James]

I think Hitchens has a valid point - raising his grandmother's apparent racism isn't a nice thing to do, and avoids the crucial point that you do not choose your family - but you DO choose your church. Obama could be Adolf Hitler's grandson and not be able to do anything at all about it - but when he *chooses* to keep attending this guy's speeches, it does reflect on his nature.

If I went to a church where "God Damn America" featured like that, I'd never return: the fact Obama actively supported such a church for many years says a lot about him, none of it good. Tom has a point above, that Clinton's lies about Bosnia reflect badly on her, but it's far, far worse to choose to associate with someone like Wright.

[J Clarke]

I disagree, with your statement James.
In my opinion it would depend on how he chooses to educate himself by attending this church.
It could be assumed that he uses this Rev. Wright's negative ravings to remind himself just how good the US is. That anyone can say whatever they want no matter how outrageous. How he is blessed with the ability to think for himself and not follow someone else entirely without thought or any creative introspection.

If he was to sit in these sermons (and judging by the content I'm using the word sermon very losely) and think about what this preacher is saying for himself, just as I do when I go to my far less outrageous church sevices. The chances are he may come out a richer person for it, and he may choose to take his family there just so that they can learn to think about things for themselves and not be aimless sheep. It is also a lesson in diplomacy to be able to talk to someone who holds totally opposing views to yourself and yet maintain an amicable relationship.
The only problem with this association is that, as I said before, very few individuals seem to take the time to really think about what might be going on.

In this case, you are your own worst enemy.

[Daphne Kenward]

It's not about what REV WRIGHT said, he said God Dammed America, well, hello what do you think? who had the New Orleans floods. Who keeps getting flooded out, who are losing their homes look at your ecomomy. Look at the state your country is in. Americans Dammed them selves, no one force them at GUN point to elect G W BUSH. it was idiots, like the one's posting these statements got their Country in the mess it's in.