Posted by
Deirdre on Saturday, March 15, 2008 1:40:50 PM
Last night I watched in astonishment as Sean Hannity of Fox’s Hannity and Colmes Show called for Senator Obama to drop out of the race for President and to resign his seat as Senator after Hannity played a tape of Obama’s pastor, who is a former United States Marine, making what some believe to be racist, anti-American remarks. Fox News, touts slogans like “We report, You Decide, and “Fair and Balanced,” but there was nothing fair or balanced in last nights commentary or Hannity’s call for Senator Obama to drop out of the race. Hannity, however, did establish one thing ... he brought clarity to Obama's platform and underscored the need for Americans to vote for Obama.
As Hannity pointed out there are people in America who are perceived as racists, whether it be Rev. Wright or call-in listeners on Hannity's own conservative talk show. The fact of the matter is racists exists in America and we need to get over it. During this race I have seen and heard White racists, Black racists, Latino racists and Asain racists. Obama's platform is important to all of these racists and to all Americans because he challenges us to come together to manifest a request one voiced by Rodney King several years ago "Can't we all just get along?"
I am amazed at the pettyness that I have seen displayed on Fox News and frankly other shows like MSNBC's Morning Joe which operate in poor taste and embody a production quality that rivals a Jerry Springer show or the cover of Enquirer Magazine. Is this really what American Politics has been reduced to? Are these really the type of people who influence our country? If anyone truly understands the power of the media, the thought of shows like Hannity's that is designed to manipulate the public is a lot more scary to me than any hatemongering, black or white.
Obama has a video on "youtube" called "Obama: One Voice." (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmUUYo9o9eg) I challenge America, the haters and supporters alike to listen to it . It is a call for Americans, all Americans, to heal the black/white divide. I have added the words to the tape below, but listening to it is much more powerful. It is easy to hate and easy to divide, but now is the time to start healing.
The words to the speech are below.
“Now even as we speak there are those who are preparing to divide us. The spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who emprace the politics of “anything goes.” Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America , and a conservative America, there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America, and a White America, and Latino America, an Asian America, there is the United States of America. The Pundits, the pundits like to slice and dice our Country into red States and blue States, Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats, but I’ve got news for them too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don’t like Federal Agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. We coach little league in the Blue states and yes, we got some gay friends in the red states. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people; all of us pledging alliegance to the stars and stripes. All of us defending the United States of America.
In the end …in the end …. in the end. that is what this election is all about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope?
Once voice can change a room, and if one voice can change a room, then it can change a city and if it can change a city, it can change a state and if it can change a state , it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation it can change the world.. YOUR VOICE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. Please write Fox News and let them know that we choose to participate in a politics of hope and that we will not tolerate divisive politics and we will not patronize divisive media.
Thank you.