My take on the Obama speech: tough, loyal and frank.

His message went beyond his specific words on race relations in America — which of course were thoughtful and refreshingly candid — were most significant at the macro-scale:

• Obama is a cool customer. He handle himself calmly in a crisis. He demonstrated that he is tough (not phony-tough like Bush) and that mano-a-mano he wouldn't be cowed by any world leader.

• Furthermore he is loyal to his friends and doesn't turn on them.

• He can talk frankly and straightforwardly but without being offensive.

An admirable man fitting to be President.

Shorter Obama: we all have friends who have some good ideas and some not-so-good ideas.

Comments

[Douglas Tooley]

Personally, I'm finding a Clinton/Obama campaign compelling - perhaps even better than any team McCain could conceivably put together - save perhaps Lieberman.

He is definitely a more inspiring leader than Clinton and this is a voice we NEED to hear more from. His comments about the generational perspective on his pastor, Jeremiah Wright were completely on target and 100% honest and constructive.

[Glen Raphael]

It's also worth noting that Jeremiah Wright's speech was taken severely out of context. Here's a link that gives more of the text and here's a video that gives even more - it turns out to be an excellent sermon.