Separate But Equal

Discussion of Obama's race speech on tonight's NewsHour with Jim Lehrer:  Jody Woodruff (white) was joined in the studio by representatives from Mother Jones and the National Review (both white) and via satellite by author/political analyst Earl Hutchinson and a woman from the Chicago Sun-Times (both African-American).

(All were complimentary, of course, while noting how he needs to avoid - as he has, before now - making his candidacy a referendum on race.)

I (white, not in-studio) liked the speech.  It was smart.  And brave in that it went a lot of places it didn't have to, brave in that it was realistic and hopeful, not political (though its timing was obviously dictated by politics) or idealistically naïve.  If it didn't feel bold, it's because Obama talked for thirty-eight minutes and didn't throw any knockout lines (the most memorable one echoed Bill Clinton's best line, "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America" (and that had basically been a reworked Eisenhower joint)).  It's not a knockout issue, of course, but when your speech is longer than an entire local news broadcast, it's probably good to toss them a sound bite or two.  Lord knows Jeremiah Wright did.

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You know what's awesome about SXSW?  The PR e-mail all but stops.

You know what sucks about SX' being over?

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Whole ‘nother round of Beatle butchering on Idol - man, I can't wait for Goblin Cock week - and though there wasn't too much to hate, there wasn't much to like.  Amanda Overmyer's speech had more oomph than her performance (Do kids today even know what a ‘USSR' is?), Kristy Cook's dress was more interesting than the person wearing it.  The ringers - Smithson, Johns, Archuleta - were clean and yawnworthy.  I'd worry Mercado is going to turn into the contestant who trades cleavage for votes, but mostly I remember her being clean and yawnworthy.

Jason Castro likeably laughed while Frenching "Michelle," Brooke White likeably hippie-danced during a yellowed-out "Here Comes the Sun."  Yawn.

Which leaves, again, David Cook and Chikezie.  Cook did the Whitesnake version of "Day Tripper" - you know the one, right?  right? - and tried a talk-box solo in the middle; it didn't work, but at least he was trying something, and at least it wasn't obnoxious.  Chikezie, once again, gave the only performance I'd want to see a second time.  Though I'm not sure I'd go for a third.  The first half of his "I've Just Seen a Face" was, hey, clean and yawnworthy, totally suitable for that other kind of harp.  But when he busted out the harmonica and hoe-downed into it, it honked, it tonked.  The judges were too hard on him.  It wasn't classic, but I appreciate the surprise; I just don't need to be lulled into complacency before you break it out.

tags: obamarama  american idol  

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