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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Obama's Lies  —  Not so much lies as a sort of slippery sleight-of-mouth.  I'm starting to really dislike Obama. … Segregation was not “the law of the land” in the 1950s.  It was the law in a minority of states. … If, as Obama seems to be claiming, those are the sentiments …

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 …

CHECKING IN WITH THE OTHER SIDE....I thing we can safely assume that Barack Obama's supporters will all swoon over his speech today.  And why not?  It was, as usual for him, a helluva good address: intelligent, sane, sympathetic, and broadly appealing.  He didn't, however …

Barack's “Race” Speech  —  Drudge has an advance copy of Barack Obama's “race” speech online here.  —  I'll follow this live, as it happens.  —  10:15: He hasn't arrived.  —  10:25: Ditto.  —  10:30: While we wait, let's get to the “meat” of the advance copy posted on Drudge.