McCain's Speech & Race: Am I Nit-Picking?

[Bonn1997]

In general, I thought it was a very gracious speech. However, it bugged me when he said he recognized that this was a special night for African Americans. I wish he'd added that whether you voted Dem or Rep, having a black President is actually a special night not just for African Americans but for all Americans and indeed even for the entire world. It seems that the Republican party still doesn't understand the idea that whites can actually take joy and pride out of racial progress and would prefer to divide people into competing categories like whites VERSUS blacks or whites VERSUS non-whites.

[ErinBerin84]

1. that weirded me out too

[kwolf68]

2. I actually agree

He did seem to over-emphasize the fact a black man was going to be President. I thought a cursory comment was needed, but to really drive it into the ground seemed to suggest a divisive tone despite the otherwise conciliatory nature of his speech.

I don't think you were nitpicking, because I got that same sense as well. Other than that, his speech was fine.

WE KNOW Obama is black...WE KNOW it was a wonderful day for NOT ONLY black AMericans but all Americans. No need to pound it into the ground...and I AM SORRY, we didn't win JUST because of the black vote. That seemed to be the implication

[vi5]

3. My wife thought the same thing....

I don't know. I mean I don't like the guy but I didn't see it that way. My wife did but I didn't really process his speech that way until she said it.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. Many people felt as you do. It wasn't about black Americans and a black American president

Last night was a victory for ALL of America and ALL of the world. What the racist Republicans don't seem to understand was that this momentous time transcends race. But even in the face of defeat, McSame and the Republicans still try to divide by race! :puke:

Other than that, good speech. He's still a coward!

[helderheid]

5. My mom and I noted that too. Great speech with the exception that he kept saying over and over again

that this was a great night for African Americans.

WTF?

[A Brand New World]

6. I didn't like that part either. Millions and millions of white people

voted for the best man for the job. And I agree with everything else you said.

[prolesunited]

7. At the rally in Grant Park

the multiracial crowd around us yelled, "All Americans."

[kath]

8. That bugged me, too. Very much.

But when I said so during the speech last night, my family said that no, it was okay.
I still think I'm right. It was unnecessarily divisive for him to say that and it really sounded clunky and backward.

[dogpatch]

9. I agree too

I think he thought he was being complimentary but the race part was really off-note, very patronizing and entirely missing the point -- which is why he lost so hugely.

[barack the house]

10. It really said a lot I was really wanting him to say this is a proud night for ALL americans.

[paparush]

11. I told my wife - "McCain just blamed his defeat on race. Nice and neat and simple."

Not a "REAL" defeat.

Ugh.

Yes, his tenor was pleasant. He said some nice things. NONE of which erased his campaign of lies, smears, and fears.

[road2000]

12. Yeah, it smacked of an old saying:

He's a credit to his race.

Otherwise, his speechwriters were cogent and sometimes graceful.

[Essene]

13. Here was the problem... he started out painting this as a "black thing"

It came off as very inappropriate, although I think his intentions were wonderful in the context of the rest of the speech.

He should have added that towards the middle.

[xochi]

14. No, you're not nit-picking; you're pointing out a fundamental problem

that the Republican party has regarding race. Republicans--especially white Christian fundamentalist Republicans--(and of course I'm generalizing) are by and large living in the past, in a white-dominated world that NO LONGER EXISTS. America has become increasingly multi-cultural, multi-racial, as was reflected in the crowds at Obama's rallies, in stark contrast to the rallies of McCain/Palin. The Republican Party has some catching up, or waking up, to do. It's not the 1940s or 1950s any more; those decades are long past. They are stuck in their fearful and divisive perceptions and need to evolve to embrace a more inclusive world view, as your insightful comments point out.

[uponit7771]

15. McKlan: "...the black folk did like me or my rallies dammit!!!...."

[wishlist]

16. Made me very uneasy as well especially since he tried to exploit racism against Obama

I changed channels to avoid having to watch his entire speech as it made me wince.

[gratefultobelib]

17. That annoyed the HELL out of me. At our victory party, which was full

of volunteers of all colors, I was actually uncomfortable for a minute. It was a special night for everyone of us, for crying out loud. I thought mcc was a douchebag sore loser for saying that.

[Raschel]

18. He is a loser, and it's not class just to admit you were beat. There's nothing classy about him. And

I seem to remember him saying something to the effect of there being no reason now not to be successful in America. I know it was an insult because his mob cheered.

[Delphinus]

19. Nope,

you're NOT nitpicking - I had the EXACT same reaction.

[xochi]

20. This is just one of the many promising things that will come out of having Obama as our President,

that we will start to have more honest conversations about race, and racism, and our racist history, and thus begin to come to terms with what has divided and hurt us. It's a healing that's long overdue in this country, and by being brave enough to deal with these issues, we will be setting a good example for the rest of the world. The strength of a nation means much more than its military might.

[ncgrits]

21. My husband and I had the same sort of reaction.

It smacked of "a credit to his race" a little bit to us.

[No Elephants]

22. It was a great night for America, but I have heard junk like that all along. Last night,

my TV station covered the announcement at a bar in a predominantly African American neighborhood. There were white people there, too, but no one mentioned them.

This morning, they were talking about who handed Obama the election. "First and foremost, 13% of the vote was African American and Obama got 90% of that." (Something along those lines, anyway. Not exact.) Really? So what about the other, much larger portion of Obama's votes? Why was it first and foremost? Don't about 90% of votes cast by African Americans always go to the Democratic candidate?

And so on. Racism is far from dead, but it's going to be getting 8 years of body blows.

[Shanti Mama]

23. I noticed but felt he did a great job under the circumstances.

Let's just let it go.