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The XX Factor: Slate women blog about politics, etc...
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Obama and the Pastor
I've been more and more impressed with Obama's speeches—especially since I saw him at a rally in San Antonio. But I still wasn't entirely prepared for today's speech—inspired by the criticism of his pastor, Jeremiah Wright. In it, Obama tackled racism head on, and did so—amazingly—in a rather forgiving if rigorous way. He talked first about the anger certain African-Americans feel at finding themselves shut out of the American dream. Then he went on to acknowledge how easy it might be to feel a similar anger if you're a working-class white American who doesn't feel particularly enfranchised either—an immigrant, or someone who lost his or job as the economy globalized. He showed a kind of empathy (at least at first) for those folks in this position who might resent African-Americans for the opportunities afforded them by affirmative action. And he talked about this "unacknowledged resentment" like it was something less dirty that "racism," something not just to be bundled up and hid under the bed where no one could see it, but a fact of national life that deserved voicing. Of course, the last thrust of his speech was about why that resentment is ultimately divisive and needs to be overcome. But he didn't act censorious or threatened by this race resentment. On the contrary, he acted almost like a pastor—someone gently prodding and guiding a flock to acknowledge latent sins that seem too shameful to voice. I usually feel that Obama kinda stumbles when he gets anecdotal and folksy—it's a bad John Edwards or Bill Clinton imitation, I think—but the story about Ashley, a white girl who volunteers for his campaign, was incredibly moving. Maybe I'm just a sap.
I don't think so, though: The other thing that was powerful about the speech, because it's still unexpected, is how directly and uncagily he acknowledges his own role in these scandals. Sure, he said, he knew about Wright's inflammatory remarks. He doesn't try to shield himself from them; instead, he invites Americans into his thought process. This is a kind of political performance too. But it's one that's closer to what I've always thought our politicians should strive to do: appear as if they're speaking naturally to us, their constituents.
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