Good. Hopefully this tone will be a sign of the direction the campaign will take.

Hillary then proceeded to give a policy speech. She is a policy wonk not a leader who can inspire change. We need a leader who sets the direction of the country not someone who will be doing due diligence at 3AM deciding as she works out the minor details of some bill.

Sly girl, she is... First of all, of course she's read it and fully realizes that, while race is the platform from which it speaks, politics is the subject. She's trying, with subtlety, to spin it as though he's trying to justify his race in this context. "Yes, I'm glad he's black black black. He's the black black black candidate and it's good that he's a part of that race. I mean, this race. Haha."

Not to step on a classy moment - but her campaign isn't glad he gave it. It gave him control of the campaign narrative after 3 weeks on defense and makes Hillary seem irrelevant.

Safe

golf clap.

I think it was a gracious, yet safe comment. No complaints here.

To all of the really fired up Hillary supporters who were blasting Obama's speech this morning: What say you?

Just asking:)

Anyone have McCain's quote on the Wright issue?

Something along the lines of, "I know Senator Obama and I know he doesn't believe that."

Yea!

Smart response. She was gracious, but by saying that she hadn't read it she wasn't put in the position of saying anything specifically positive or negative about the speech. I hope she is asked again tomorrow.

Gracious comment. But my guess is privately she's furious that he knocked it out of the park. I mean...who even remembers the speech she gave yesterday?

Besides, if she criticizes it, it makes her look petty and small.

I wish people didn't comment on things they haven't seen or read. It's a really bad habit and leads to needlessly amplified stupidity. If you have the ability to access source material for your commentary, use it.

What was the context of Senator Clinton's comments. I doubt if she would have just brought it up. Was she responding to a question? Her remarks sound like she was.

She could hardly say no comment. It sounds to me like she was just being open and truthful by saying that she had not had a chance to hear or read the speech, but she was pleased that Senator Obama was addressing the issue.

Let us not nitpick every little thing that either side says.

I have no problem with what Senator Clinton said.

Cheers, Senator Clinton.

Hillary is gracious and generous enough not to note that in his speech Obama admitted that he lied to us about not personally hearing Wright's hate speech. That is the key ingredient in his otherwise vapid recount of and justification for his politics of racial grievance and division.
After 18 hours it will sink in that Obama has merely sought to justify his own ambition and mendacity and backtrack on his patent falsehoods.
At that point we get to ask just when it was he first started listening to Wright's hate speech and why he never objected and why he instead has continued to fund it.

Despite his contempt for them Obama may, most likely will, manage to guilt trip enough supers into signing on to his suicide pact.
If he does then come November we will see the ruin of his looney left wing of the Democratic party.
Obama truly will be the McGovern of the 21st century but without George's intelligence or class.

That was a good comment.

I hope this means things calm down among Democrats.

This is all Clinton needs to say. It is best she stays on the sideline watching Obama self-destruct on the hubris of his own racism and anti-American hate. Especially as Obama spent much of his speech laying blame upon America, even upon our Constitution and founding fathers. This is getting rediculous, blaming everyone but himself. He spent 20 years with this church, admits hearing the racism and anti-American hate, yet stayed with the church, kept his close friendship and mentor, even raises his children in this racist and hate filled environment. On top of this, he made Rev. Wright a member of his campaign. He just doesn't get it. He will be judged by the people he surrounds himself with, the views he accepts in his midst. He seriously fails in judgement. Again, Clinton and McCain can both stand by and simply watch. They have nothing comparable, no 20 year history of blatant racism and anti-American hatred to admit or apologize for.

Nothing wrong with Sen. Clinton's initial comment, and no one should read anything sinister into it.

It will be important for Sen. Clinton to make a substantive comment on the speech after she has had time to hear it. Similarly, all Democratic leaders should weigh in on the speech. The speech will be, I hope, a defining moment in American politics.

Greg starts the piece saying "Hillary, in a speech broadcast on CNN moments ago..."

So I gather it was a speech, not a response to a question.

Seems fine to me. I would assume that it's a true statement that she hadn't had a chance to check it out, but she certainly knew the overall content, so I see nothing wrong with her comment. Glad she addressed it.

Bless her heart.

This has been a sad episode in the campaign, but I'm glad these issues have been brought to the forefront. Many times I was amazed that a major speech was delivered on race relations during an election campaign. Almost like walking into another reality.

That said, Clinton's comment was gracious. I'm glad she didn't use it as a score-taking moment and added some emphasis to the overall point.

I still expect things to get silly again, but it's been a relatively nutritious morning.

A vacuous comment and a disclaimer about having read it. Typical Hillary.

As much as I dislike HRC, I have to agree that she doesn't really need to say more than this. Even though she didn't hear it or read it, I'm certain she knew or found out the gist of what it was about and made a nice, non-dramatic remark.

I'll give her credit there. Hopefully, it's a sign of things to come from her side. I"m not betting the farm on it, but I'm glad she said that.

I am sorry but Senator Clinton knows full well that Obama does not hold as his own beliefs what Wright has said. She should have the courage to call this "swiftboating for what it is." Right now she has done the equivalent of another democrat saying in 2004 about Kerry. Oh I am glad he is talking about the Vietnam war. That's important. Whoever wins this race will be a veteran".

An honorable person who is not interested in taking political advantage from something so fundamentally distorting as this guilt by association campaign could find these words easily.

Look what McCain said (it's up thread): (roughly) I know Senator Obama and he doesn't believe that stuff.

When a person is willing to put political advantage aside for common decency is as important a test for who is qualified to be president as any call at 3 am. maybe more so. Does Mrs. Clinton pass the test? Is Mr. McCain really a more decent human being than Mrs. Clinton?

Of course she's read it or heard it. She knew how big it was going to be by all of the hype. How could she not at least be curious?
She's just holding her finger in the wind, waiting to see how it was received, so she can react to it "appropriately."

That guy with the hedgehog on his head says funny things. Too bad he didn't bother to listen to the speech. He may have watched it, but it's clear he didn't listen. Semi-related: Which is worse, that Obama's pastor said some ugly things or that McCain made some comments today in Jordan that makes one wonder whether he actually understands the Middle East? Hey St. John, Iran and al Qaeda aren't exactly friends.

Just a thought: why all the anger? I mean unless it is revealed that Barack Obama is a child molester or something, Hillary Clinton will not be the nominee (no revote in neither FL or MI). It's over people. Perhaps that is why she was gracious. It's time to close shop and make a graceful exit.

An embarrassing percentage of Obama supporters claim clairvoyance again and again. They know Clintno read or heard the speech despite what she said. Just like the "know" so much else, but this knowledge doesn't come from facts about Clinton. It reveals more abouth them - and it taints Obama that he inspires such cultish ignorant followers.

Perhaps because he talks so much of inspiration and hope and so little about how to achieve any of his lofty goals, perhaps becuase his campaign is more about his temperment and character than about issues, he inspires supporters who a blind followers, shallow and inane.

There's an argument to be made for Obama and it is rooted in his temperment, but the danger of a peronality-centered campaign is that it attracts these weak-minded lemmings.

No problem with her initial comment. Now I wish that she, after reading/listening to his speech, would come out tomorrow and say "Yes, I agree this election has to turn back to the highway and Pastor Wright issue should not be an issue at all". That would really show she is classy amd may even help her get back some of her lost votes.

Oh, and one more thing regarding blaming the so-called 'founding fathers' (what a puerile and patriarchal way to describe them) and the Constitution: yes, America was built on genocide and slavery. It is called settler colonialism. Own up to it, Americans. And yes the constitution was negotiated as a way to prevent "democracy" (in its 18th century understanding). Just read the Federalist. It's all in there (you know, written by Jay, Hamilton and Madison, your founding fathers who feared and hated democracy aka "the rule of the mob" - their own words). This is a statement of fact. I don't hate America (that would be puerile too), but I don't believe in the myth that it is somehow exceptional.

A decent comment, and her speech today was good, too.

There are options for how the Clinton campaign proceeds, and the one that involves tearing down Obama is to be avoided, for the good of her own career.

She has the makings of a very good Senate Majority Leader.

What Mrs. Clinton did was give a generic response to a speech she did not watch nor read. It was the politically correct thing to do. It was not worthy of kudos. It was her only viable option since she can't afford to condemn a speech about bridging racial divisions nor can she endorse its specific content without sounding like an Obama supporter. She only had one thing she could do, and she did it with minimal praise.

unfortunately, Obama also admitted that he lied about his 'presence in the pew' and didn't apologize for making a big deal about Geraldine.
It took several wright moments to focus.

The only way that we can win now is for Hillary to drop out and stand behind a flawed candidate who was quite at ease of using tried and true phrases to 'lift' all boats.

I think he reversed the civil rights process, he first achieved equality for himself before fighting for others. And this is probably the only way to do it.

"She has the makings of a very good Senate Majority Leader."

Good insight. I was thinking HHS or HUD Secretary, but this would work, too.

You need inspiration AND persperation. It is a not knock on someone who knows the nuts and bolts. Just as it is not a knock on someone who knows whys and wherefores. These two need to team up, A and B or B and A. It doesn't matter.

Ghalmos that's untrue he said, "Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes."

He wasnt talking about the videos you saw. Please dont believe the right wing lies.. Take the man at his word. I am sorry you are so skeptical.

Obama will not and can not be elected president.
MidAmerica is not going to accept his lies and politics of racial grievance.
As he continues to nosedive among white voters the super delegates will have a clear cut choice:
suicide with the aggrieved black guy or take back the WH for another 8 years.
I'm guessing that Obama will suddenly find the need to spend more time at home.
He's toast.

JTHB,

Yes, Obama should opt to spend time with his family and work on deprogramming his children of the racism and anti-American hatred they've learned at their church. Maybe Michelle might also take a new look at America to either confirm or correct her lack of pride for our country.

Aside from the Anti-American and Racist Obama Cult that accepts anything spewed by Obama, the rest of the country won't. Maybe this will take a landslide vote this fall against Obama and the party that puts him up as a candidate. I sure hope that folks can see the light and fix this trainwreck before then.

Good for Hillary taking the high road, but let's wait and see what those around her say. If they are quiet and polite than Clinton will receive the benefit of Obama supporters seeing her in a positive light; but her people come out swinging or even can be perceived as stoking the flames she will be further lowering her standing in the eyes of the half of the Dem party that she would need in the fall if she were to somehow "win" the nomination.

That was nice of Hillary. I am sure she admires him more than her campaign allows her to admit.

I liked that Obama made the comment about not attacking Ferraro unjustly, too.

Barack Obama is an extraordinary man, and that was an extraordinary speech. It is all anyone around me can talk about. I hope it gets re-played in it's entirety this evening on TV for those who missed it.

So, stating that America has a deplorable record on race and that all sides have been screwed over by powers beyond their control and that they both have valid reasons to be angry and confused is anti-American hate speech? Stating that previous responses to this state of affairs (welfare, the Reagan coalition, radical politics, etc.) have failed in creating any true progress is unpatriotic? Saying that we've reachead a point in history where we have to acknowledge the past but build toward a different future is just typical, bomb-throwing rhetoric? And saying that you can have a close relationship with a relative or elder without adopting every single shred of his beliefs is beyond comprehension? I guess that explains why my dad and I have such identical political, religious, and social beliefs!)

Gotcha.

Matthew Weaver, are you a riot! Keep it up!!

You, too, JTHB!!! My sides hurt! WOW!!!!

Dance for us troll! Dance! Dance! Dance!

It appears to me that when Hillary haters are discussing anything Hillary does; to them Hillary is like the girl with the curl but with a different twist: "When Hillary is bad she is bad and when Hillary does good...she is still bad."

Oregon Activist said:

``An embarrassing percentage of Obama supporters claim clairvoyance again and again. They know Clintno read or heard the speech despite what she said.''

What percentage? Why is it embarrassing? How can you extrapolate from a handful of comments from people who may or may not be Obama supporters? I am on the fence, but leaning towards Clinton, but I still find it unlikely that she didn't at least get the gist of the speech summarized to her before her own comments.

dembillc, Obama didn't "throw his grandmother under the bus", as you claim.
That story about Obama's grandmother was an anecdote he had already written about in his 'Dreams From My Father' book many years ago -- which was all about Obama's own struggle coming to terms with being bi-racial as he grew up. That first book was written well before he ever entered politics.

As for Hillary's comments on Obama's wonderful, and yes, historic speech: they sounded rather nice to me at first. I was even going to say something complimentary, but then it occurred to me that it was her own husband, and then a member of her campaign (Ferraro) that first injected race into this primary -- and both did so in a very unfair manner on those two occasions. So, now "she's glad he made the speech"? I call bullshit. Obama's message was all about unity and all of us working together to create needed change, but after race was made into an issue by her campaign (even totally aside from Wright's comments), he was left with no other choice but to address the topic.

Of course, true to form, Obama took the big pile of sour lemons that Hillary has been lobbing at him during this whole primary, and his singularly intelligent and eloquent way, made refreshing lemonade with them in the crafting of this speech. Still, I'm not inclined to give Mrs. Clinton credit for that half a pinch of sugar she's now trying to sprinkle our way.

God Bless Obama - no one else can give a speech that thoughtful. The hate patrol is out there, and he continually rises above it. I don't know if it is sufficient to get elected - the dark forces are strong. But the force is with young Barack! Oh, how wonderful it would be to have a president that intelligent, articulate, and thoughtful.

Well, I finally saw the video on her comment and you could tell that she was overwhelmed with appreciation for obama's speech as she threw in the gender issue at the same time. She looked enthralled. Pathetic. Will somebody please shut the clintons down? It's getting embarassing for them.