It was a beautifully written speech, especially given that it was written in the midst of a campaign. It was subtle and intelligent and nuanced. It was bold and risky in some ways - his refusal to disown Wright, his suggestion that it's simply difficult for white people to understand the black experience. In parts - like the story about Ashley, and the references to his own family - it was moving.
Although Obama disowned Wright's views convincingly, he didn't take them on directly (the suggestion that 9/11 was somehow justified, or that American created the AIDS virus). He probably could have done so more aggressively.
But a good speech. Will it make much difference to the campaign? Probably not. Obama faces a long and constant defensive conversation on this front, now that the Wright issue has surfaced so visibly. One speech doesn't have the same impact it might have forty years ago. Obama might decry the YouTube soundbite age, but he's living in it. In fact it's why we're talking about this in the first place.
(video of complete speech here)
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