memeorandum: FIRST THOUGHTS: OBAMA'S BIG SPEECH (Mark Murray/MSNBC)

2:20 PM ET, March 18, 2008

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OBAMA SPEECH IN FULL: A MORE PERFECT UNION — “We the people, in order to form a more perfect union.” — Two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America's improbable experiment in democracy.

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Shelby Steele / Wall Street Journal:

The Obama Bargain — Geraldine Ferraro may have had sinister motives when she said that Barack Obama would not be “in his position” as a frontrunner but for his race. Possibly she was acting as Hillary Clinton's surrogate. Or maybe she was simply befuddled by this new reality …

Discussion: Hot Air, No More Mister Nice Blog, JustOneMinute, American Thinker, Debbie Schlussel, Dr. Sanity, Too Sense and Betsy's Page

Mark Murray / MSNBC:

FIRST THOUGHTS: OBAMA'S BIG SPEECH — From Chuck Todd and Mark Murray — *** Obama's big speech: The last time a top presidential candidate gave an important speech on a sensitive topic was last December, when Mitt Romney talked about American faith. His speech drew favorable reviews …

Discussion: Trailhead and MyDD

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:

Full Text Of Obama's Big Race Speech: A Big Break With Political Precedent — We have a full transcript of Obama's big race speech for you after the jump. He's set to deliver it in Philadelphia within moments. — Reading it, you can't escape the fact that in various ways it represents …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, American Street, Open Left, Democratic Strategist and MSNBC

Ben Smith / The Politico:

The speech — He hasn't started speaking yet here in Philly, but Drudge just busted the embargo, so I've posted the text after the jump. — It's quite a speech: autobiographical, embracing complexity, and answering questions about Wright — whose most offensive words, he says …

Discussion: Shakesville, Reason Magazine and The Confluence

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:

The Speech — Alas, I cannot give a more considered response right now as I have to get on the road. But I do want to say that this searing, nuanced, gut-wrenching, loyal, and deeply, deeply Christian speech is the most honest speech on race in America in my adult lifetime.

Discussion: Taegan Goddard's …, Ben Smith's Blogs, Marc Ambinder and MSNBC

CNN:

Obama: We can move beyond some of our racial wounds — PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama said Tuesday he chose to run for president because he believes “we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together.” — Speaking to supporters …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Wake up America, TPM Election Central and Donklephant

Michelle Malkin:

Newsflash: Obama says “God bless America;” Plus: The Philly speech-Can Obama get his glow back? Update: Obama on Wright, “I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community;” Hate-filled sermons were just “snippets;” Hey, let's point the finger at “talk show hosts and conservative commentators”

Discussion: The Corner, TownHall Blog, Hot Air, ABCNEWS, Gateway Pundit, Fox News and This ain't Hell …

Pete Abel / The Moderate Voice:

‘Not This Time’ — I watched most of Obama's speech live on CNN.com. Of all the words he spoke, those three — “not this time” — seemed the defining words of the moment; not just of the speech, but of his entire campaign. — Better than most, those words capture, I think …

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
The Testing Of Obama

Discussion: JustOneMinute, The New Republic, protein wisdom, The Politico, The Root, The Corner, Outside The Beltway, The Garlic and Jules Crittenden

Mark Hemingway / The Corner:
About Obama's Speech

Discussion: American Spectator

ABCNEWS:
The Note: Black & White Stall

Discussion: Blog P.I., The Swamp, MyDD and Washington Wire

Charlotte Hays / The Corner:
The Politics of Grievance — Obama is no longer a post-racial candidate.

Discussion: Matthew Yglesias

Ross Douthat:
Obama's Speech — Barack Obama's long association …

Discussion: Eunomia

Jill Miller Zimon / The Moderate Voice: Text of Barack Obama speech on race, 3/18/08

Associated Press:
Obama condemns his pastor's comments

Discussion: Press Association and FREEDOM EDEN

Washington Post:

A McCain Gaffe in Jordan — AMMAN, Jordan — Sen. John McCain, traveling in the Middle East to promote his foreign policy expertise, misidentified in remarks Tuesday which broad category of Iraqi extremists are allegedly receiving support from Iran. — He said several times that Iran …

Discussion: Think Progress, Marc Ambinder, The New Republic, Washington Monthly, Newsweek, Cliff Schecter, Townhall.com, The Newshoggers and The Page

Matthew Yglesias:
Doesn't Understand Economics, Either

Discussion: Eschaton

Marc Ambinder:

More On Imminent Death Of Michigan Primary.... This dispatch from the MIRS News Service in Michigan (no link)

Discussion: Daily Kos

WWJ:
Democratic Re-do Likely Won't Happen

Discussion: TalkLeft

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Michian re-do on the ropes

Discussion: MyDD

Frank Newport / Gallup:

McCain's 67% Favorable Rating His Highest in Eight Years — Obama has a 62% favorable rating, while Clinton's is 53% — PRINCETON, NJ — John McCain's 67% favorable rating is the highest of any of the three major candidates running for president, and ties for his highest in Gallup polling history.

Discussion: Marc Ambinder, Wake up America, Hot Air, Outside The Beltway and Hotline On Call

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Clinton widens leads over Obama in Pa., poll finds

Discussion: Associated Press and PoliGazette

Foon Rhee / Boston Globe: Poll gives McCain edge on defense, but not Democrats on economy

Charles Murray / The Corner:

Have I missed the competition? — I read the various posts here on “The Corner,” mostly pretty ho-hum or critical about Obama's speech. Then I figured I'd better read the text (I tried to find a video of it, but couldn't). I've just finished. Has any other major American politician ever …

Lyle Denniston / SCOTUSblog:

Analysis: Defining a right of self-defense — Analysis — The Supreme Court's historic argument Tuesday on the meaning of the Constitution's Second Amendment sent out one quite clear signal: individuals may well wind up with a genuine right to have a gun for self-defense in their home.

Discussion: Sentencing Law and Policy