[fatso]

My apologies BBF for taking so long to respond to you.

It looks like we've all moved on from the President's speech so I won't belabour the point, particularly since others like Daradon and FlamingLonghorn basically share my view more eloquently than me.

I do not see how anyone can conclude from the President's speech that he "hates white people and loves black people". I don't believe many Americans think that and, in any event, any who do have serious issues about race they should probably confront.

Moreover, in addition to the passage quoted about "things getting better", I would also direct people to the passage where he asks Americans to emulate the dignity of Trayvon's parents in responding to this. Frankly, I think those who are suggesting the President was race-baiting in his speech are simply projecting their own racial anxieties on the situation.

Tellingly, it doesn't seem anyone is disagreeing with the substance of what he said, in particular the profiling he experienced or that race is an issue with this case (maybe not the trial itself, but certainly the discourse around it). Actually, I wouldn't have a problem with that position because people would have to back that up which, of course, they wouldn't be able to do.

However, I do take issue with this idea that the President should not say anything at all on this point. My sense is those who think he should not have said anything at all, either consciously or unconsciously, believe a black person talking about race is ultimately trying to be divisive. The notion that he should "shut up" or not say anything is garbage. He's the President responding to a question about a topic of national interest. This was absolutely an appropriate time for him to speak about race, and he could not have been more circumspect in doing so.