SPECIAL REPORT: Senator Obama Gives Major Speech in Wake of Campaign Crisis: 'A More Perfect Union'

"I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes"

LOS ANGELES (Catholic Online) - In a venue chosen for its symbolic value, the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Senator Barack Obama gave what is probably the most important speech of his career, certainly the most important of his Presidential campaign, entitled "A More Perfect Union."

Delivered in a measured, eloquent, and inspiring manner described by correspondents afterwards as "deft" and "graceful", he began with words taken from the preamble to the United States Constitution, "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union".

He gave the speech to address a growing public concern surrounding the reports of numerous racially charged and denigrating comments made by his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. He used it as an opportunity to present his vision for the healing of the racial divide in America and the progress of the Nation along a path of racial healing and unity. This is what he meant when he spoke throughout of the "perfection" of its Union.

Obama told a packed hall, and millions watching throughout the Nation: "I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction - towards a better future for of children and our grandchildren."

He referred to his "own American story", noting his multiethnic and multiracial background as the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. He also noted that he was raised by a white grandmother and his white grandfather, a World War II veteran.

He continued, "I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slave owners -- an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters," Obama said. "I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible."

Then he continued, "It's a story that hasn't made me the most conventional candidate. But it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts - that out of many, we are truly one."

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Obama presented a vision for an American future which reflects dynamic growth and change. He tried to distance himself from the racially charged and unpatriotic comments of Rev. Wright, which he attributed to a "static" view of an America which cannot change; and then he spoke of what is "right with America".

However, though he did repudiate the objectionable comments of his pastor, he would not "disown" him, saying that to do so would be to disown a part of the black experience in America. He certainly acknowledged that Wright's comments denigrated the "greatness and goodness of our nation" and admitted that they were offensive to whites and blacks. He then attempted to explain the background of Wrights' generation within the context of the black experience in America.

He noted: "I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Rev. Wright that have caused such controversy...For some, nagging questions remain. Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely -- just as I'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed."

Here is where the real questions still remain. Was this effort to somehow distance but not disown sufficient?

Senator Obama gave a sweeping presentation of the historical trajectory of the black American experience. He spoke of a racial stalemate which calls for a differing response for the future. He called African Americans along that path of healing and unity, "This is where we are right now. It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years.... But I have asserted a firm conviction - a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people - that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice is we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union. For the African-American community, that path means embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims of our past. It means continuing to insist on a full measure of justice in every aspect of American life."

He did not confine this call to the black community but spoke to all segments of the American community, Black, White, Latino and all Americans. He also addressed the common lived experience of all who have struggled. Following his explanation of the sources of anger within some within the black community, he noted the reality of white anger, saying: "In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Their experience is the immigrant experience - as far as they're concerned, no one's handed them anything, they've built it from scratch. They've worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor"

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Acknowledging his Christian convictions, the candidate called for solidarity, noting "In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world's great religions demand - that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us be our brother's keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister's keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well."

The concluding portions of this speech reflected the oratorical style so characteristic of the Senator from Illinois. However, he used a more subdued and serious delivery. He repeated a thematic phrase as a rallying cry, "Not this Time". He spoke of his intention to run a campaign which was different, inclusive of all Americans. He then used the last of his "This Time" preambles to introduce these words:

"This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should've been authorized and never should've been waged, and we want to talk about how we'll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election."

This important speech had been described by the Obama campaign as the candidate's effort to deal with the issues surrounding race. However, it was certainly much more. Senator Obama gave an overview of the African-American experience and attempted to place it within the context of the entire American experience and promise of liberty. He deftly described the common ground of struggle existing between black Americans, many working white Americans, indeed all Americans. He used populist language throughout his entire address and showed a keen sense of and appreciation of the American promise of liberty.

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However, at the end of the speech, the questions which have now been raised by the rhetoric of Rev. Wright may have caused a crisis in the Obama campaign and fueled serious reservations about this candidate in the minds of many Americans.

Only time will tell.

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