It was striking alright…striking in as much as it smacked a whole bunch of black folks who are trying to make lemonade with lemons right in the mouth:
Too many fathers are M.I.A, too many fathers are AWOL, missing from too many lives and too many homes,” Mr. Obama said, to a chorus of approving murmurs from the audience. “They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it.
More here.
The term “striking” doesn’t come from me but from the New York Times. Thing is that others have delivered “striking” speeches like this. Bill Clinton comes immediately to mind. As does Bill Cosby. Listen closely to the Minister Louis Farrakhan and you hear the same thing. In fact, the pastor of my wife’s church delivered the same message. This is the “courageous speech” that among other things tells listeners–not the people in the audience but potential voters–that he isn’t black like that. That says he isn’t a knee jerk liberal willing to blame racism for the ailments of black men. He adds a canard or two about more job training–these speeches usually include SOMETHING. But that’s about it.
It makes me sick to my stomach every time I hear it. Every time I hear someone give it. Unfortunately, given today’s intellectual climate critics like me will only be “proven right” when the same economic crises hits everyone else…and dads go AWOL. But of course then it won’t be cultural.
These are the types of speeches that make me want to stay home come November.
Update. Racism Review has the best analysis of the speech I’ve read.
