memeorandum: The speech — He hasn't started speaking yet here in Philly … (Ben Smith/The Politico)

1:45 PM ET, March 18, 2008

Top Items:

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.

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: 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: MyDD

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, The Confluence and Reason Magazine

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 …, Marc Ambinder, Ben Smith's Blogs 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, Associated Press, Donklephant and TPM Election Central

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, Gateway Pundit, Fox News, ABCNEWS and This ain't Hell …

Mark Hemingway / The Corner:
About Obama's Speech

Discussion: American Spectator

Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
Full Text Of Obama's Big Race Speech: A Big Break With Political Precedent

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

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
The Testing Of Obama

Discussion: JustOneMinute, protein wisdom, The Corner, Outside The Beltway and The Garlic

ABCNEWS:
The Note: Black & White Stall

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

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

Discussion: Polimom Says

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

Discussion: Eunomia

The Politico:
Race uproar offers test for Obama

Discussion: The Swamp, MSNBC, The New Republic, The Root, Press Association, Lynn Sweet, Reuters, Spin Cycle, Ben Smith's Blogs, Pat Dollard, Scared Monkeys, Real Clear Politics, Classical Values, MyDD, Real Clear Politics and Jules Crittenden

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, Washington Monthly, The New Republic, Newsweek, Townhall.com and The Newshoggers

Matthew Yglesias:
Doesn't Understand Economics, Either

Discussion: Eschaton

NY Daily News:

Gov. Paterson admits to sex with other woman for years — The thunderous applause was still ringing in his ears when the state's new governor, David Paterson, told the Daily News that he and his wife had extramarital affairs. — In a stunning revelation, both Paterson, 53, and his wife …

Discussion: New York Post, Anne Schroeder's Blogs, Hot Air, Don Surber, Spin Cycle, Abovethelaw.com, Classical Values, Top of the Ticket, The Carpetbagger Report, Salon, On Deadline and Political Machine

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

Randy E. Barnett / Wall Street Journal:
Gun-Rights Showdown — Today, the Supreme Court will hear …

Discussion: New York Times, CNN, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, Convictions, Law Blog, SCOTUSblog and Betsy's Page

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, Hotline On Call and PoliGazette

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Clinton widens leads over Obama in Pa., poll finds — Sen. Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Sen. Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary battle, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. — Sen. Clinton now leads Sen. Obama …

Discussion: Associated Press

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

E. J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:

The Street on Welfare — Never do I want to hear again from my conservative friends about how brilliant capitalists are, how much they deserve their seven-figure salaries and how government should keep its hands off the private economy. — The Wall Street titans have turned into a bunch of welfare clients.