I just caught this synopsis of a surprise visit that Obama made to Union Missionary Baptist Church in Des Moines, IA this morning.
[Disclaimer: I swoon for Obama, so stop reading right now if you find that annoying. FWIW, I'm also a lapsed Catholic.]
Politico link here: Obama Casts Himself as Civil Rights Successor. If a transcript of the speech becomes available, I will post it.
I'm no longer a very religious person, but I was moved by Obama's use of the Moses narrative:
"I didn’t have to go to jail. I haven’t had my head beat in — haven’t had dogs and fire hoses set on me. So I’m benefiting from what the Moses generation did. . . . The question is whether the Joshuas among us are willing to stand up, are willing to be counted, are willing to vote, are willing to organize, are willing to mobilize, are willing to get going.”
Regarding the courage some may need to be willing to vote for him, he unapologetically urged the listeners to have faith in God:
“When I hear folks in our community say, ‘Yeah, I like Obama — he can talk good, but I don’t think folks are ready for him,’ I say: Be strong, and have courage, because God is walking with us,” Obama said amid rising cheers and applause.
Regarding concerns about his safety:
“When they’re saying, ‘I’m worried about Barack’s safety — I don’t know whether you’ll be all right,’ I say: First of all, I got Secret Service — they’re good. But I also say: Be strong, and have courage, because God is walking with us, every step of the way.”
This is the comprehensive argument that I have been waiting for Barack Obama to make to the faithful of the African-American community.