I finally got around to listening to Barack Obama's speech on race in the United States. This was a great speech and truly articulated the complexities of America's "original sin" of slavery and why its ramifications will be felt (in my opinion) for at least another 100 years.
A great speech, indeed. But in the end just a speech.
Mario Cuomo gave great speeches; Jesse Jackson gave an unforgettable speech to the 1984 Democratic Convention which I watched live, mesmerized by his oratory.
Ronald Reagan gave fantastic speeches, and look at the hoodwinking he pulled over on the country.
Reagan taught me to distrust speechmakers. I can enjoy their performances, much as I enjoy watching Sean Penn act, but I will not base my decision to vote on the quality of someones speechmaking.
Barack Obama says that experience is not as important as judgment. I think he showed an unforgiveable lack of judgment by not disassociating himself from his radical pastor as soon as those offensive statements were made. Going even further, I think this shows a failure not just of judgment, but of character as well; an even more important flaw.
