http://www.mediaite.com/tv/obamas-inspiring-speech-on-mlk-anniversary-repudiates-msnbcs-crass-racial-agitation/
The president spent most of the opening of his speech reverentially recalling the oppression and struggles overcome by the civil rights movement’s activist leaders and followers alike. He touched on the lives taken by the hands of the hateful in that tumultuous period, and the tirelessness of the civil rights leaders who surmounted that great injustice to change America and the world.
It was a broad speech. It was not overly political or myopically focused on the small issues which dominate political debates on cable news today. It was a historic speech, spanning generations and crossing arbitrary national boarders to appeal to a common humanity. It was very much a speech that King would have appreciated had he lived to see the nation’s first black president pay tribute to his legacy.Then Obama admonished and repudiated those who say that “little has changed” in the 50 years since MLK spoke on those steps. He said that to declare complete racial equality had been achieved would also dishonor the memories of those who died seeking to achieve it.“We’ll suffer the occasional setback, but we will win these fights,” Obama said. “This country has changed too much. People of goodwill regardless of party are too plentiful for those with ill-will to change history’s currents.”Yes, the president spoke to his base. He spoke of the growing wealth gap between blacks and whites, high unemployment among minorities, poor schools, overcrowded prisons, his embattled health care reform law and, of course, his political opponents who stand in the way of civic progress as he defines it.It is forgivable for the president to take such an anticipated opportunity to advance his own political agenda – nearly any competent politician would.In general, though, when the president took on the issue of race he was responsible, dignified, and optimistic. Obama advocated for overcoming bigotry and rejecting excuse for allowing families to fragment and children to go uneducated and unsupervised. He was a role model for the next generation in that moment on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.It was a soaring speech deserving of praise. But contrast the president’s address with the smallness of some of his most dedicated supporters on MSNBC – some of whom spoke at that podium just hours before the president took the stage.
i can see where he would want to back away from the critique of MSNBC personalities although in my opinion true, the right would just spin in their favor and try to paint him and MSNBC as far let extremist or something just as ridiculous.
The 2012 presidential campaign was an especially educational romp through the energetic imaginations of professional racial victims. Far too many examples of egregious exaggeration and inference occurred on that network over the course of that election cycle to cite here, but suffice it to say that Chris Matthews’ insistence that Mitt Romney’s very decision to challenge Obama for the office of the presidency carried racial implications is all you need to know.
Earlier this month, Matthews insisted that President Barack Obama’s decision to give MSNBC a wide berth was evidence for him that his network was not as biased as its reputation suggests. But Obama’s speech today suggests that the president does not want anything to do with the agitation practiced on that network.
i think it was the correct move by MSNBC sometime you have to fight fire with fire, and taking in consideration of the nasty racist vitriolic rhetoric coming from Fox and the campaign people, had they not called attention to the reality and the destructive results of the republican propaganda juggernaut we would have had a lot more people under informed.
again i understand Pres.'s position but i think he needs to find a way to lessen the sting of those who do support him on the air waves.
