For the critics of Obama's speech last week

[never cry wolf]

Many of you may recall the thread in LBN last weekend posted by sabra quoting from an article about a speech made by Barack Obama at Harvard:

Obama says Democrats must hold White House accountable

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - (KRT) - Sen. Barack Obama urged fellow Democrats on Saturday not to automatically view President Bush's proposed reconstruction of the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast with a cynical eye, but said: "It is absolutely imperative that we call him on his bluff."

"In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, I think it's important that we don't just assume that George Bush is lying when he says he's finally been awakened to the fact that there is poverty and racism in our midst," said Obama, D-Ill. "It's tempting to do so, especially when he decides to put Karl Rove in charge of reconstruction."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1788574

This created a lot of discussion slamming Obama for not just out and out calling shrubby a liar, which I disagreed with, I thought his statements were brilliant.

Well, he made another speech the other day which I believe more fully explains where he is coming from:

Obama said he chose not to be cynical about President Bush's speech from the storm-ravaged city last week, saying that his wife didn't want to hear the speech but he watched it.

"I understand why people would be cynical, when (Bush) makes the decision to give tax breaks to Paris Hilton instead of providing child care and education, but I listened," the senator said. "It was the first time in his presidency he acknowledged poverty in this country."

In a speech Saturday at a Harvard Law School event, Obama said the president should be held accountable for fixing the problems of poverty the hurricane brought to light. He said essentially the same thing Wednesday.

"I suggest we call George Bush on his bluff," he said. "If we dismiss him as not telling the truth, we let him off the hook. But we can't let ourselves off the hook. Some of the shame should be ours. For too long we have been silent and complacent."

more----> http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-0509220212sep22,0,1763797.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines

I realize that some of you don't trust him at all and others are reserving judgment until he has more of a track record but I happen to adore MY junior senator and I still believe these speeches were brilliant, using the classic "when did you stop beating your wife?" tactic to make implant the thought that it is normal to be cynical of * and think him a liar.

For anyone interested in more info the Tribune has been doing a series on his 1st year in DC which can be found here---> http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-obama-flash,1,5706269.flash?coll=chi-news-hed

Todays installment details Obama's tour of former USSR states to inspect weapons caches with Lugar: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0509230360sep23,1,1523152.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[Lilyhoney]

1. Thank you for the links. nt

[madrchsod]

2. i trust durbin is guiding the young man thru

the game of political life in washington dc. i am optimistic that obama won`t be savaged like braum was and that obama will live up to the faith that simon and durbin have in him. we will see if obama joins the elite club of great illinois senators from both parties

[never cry wolf]

3. I think you are correct

Durbin is mentioned quite a bit in the 1st two articles of the series, he seems to have taken Barack under his wing. I also believe he has all the potential to join that elite club, he's still taking baby steps but the day will come.