March 19.200«_________________________
I,|r $Iorthuib (Dhsmwr Womczi 's
Page A3
____________
Obama Confronts Racial Division
Urges nation to
break from past
(API - Barack Obama confronted the
nation's racial divide head-on Tuesday,
tackling both black grievance and white
resentment in a bold effort to quiet a cam­
paign uproar over race and his former
pastor's incendiary statements.
Obama urged the nation to break "a
racial stalemate we've been stuck in for
years.'"
"The anger is real," he said. "It is pow­
erful, and to simply wish it away, to con­
demn it without understanding its roots,
only serves to widen the chasm of misun­
derstanding that exists betw een the
races."
The speech, delivered in Philadelphia
near the building where the Declaration of
Independence was adopted, was by far
the most prominent airing of racial issues
in O bam a's 13-month campaign to be­
come the first black president.
He said he recognized his race has been
a major issue in a campaign that has taken
a "particularly divisive turn." Many people
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen.
Barack Obama D-lll., speaks about
race during a news conference
Tuesday in Philadelphia. (AP photo)
have been turning to the Internet to view
statements by his longtime pastor, the
Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who suggested in
one sermon that the United States brought
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on itself and
in another said blacks should damn
America for continuing to mistreat them.
Obama rejected Wright's divisive state­
ments but still embraced the man who
brought him to Christianity, officiated at
his wedding, baptized his two daughters
and inspired the title of his hook "The
Audacity of Hope."
"I can no more disown him than I can
disown the black community," Obama said.
"I can no more disown him than I can my
w hite grandmother— a woman who helped
raise me. a woman who sacrificed again
and again for me. a woman who loves me
as much as she loves anything in this
world, but a woman who once confessed
her fearof black men who passed by heron
the street, and who on more than one
occasion has uttered racial or ethnic ste­
reotypes that made me cringe."
Obama's father is a black man from
Kenya who left the family when he was 2.
He was raised by his w hile mother and her
parents in Hawaii.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama's chief
Democratic rival, said she was glad ( fbama
had given the speech.
"Issues of race and gender in America
have been complicated throughout our
history, and they are complicated in this
primary campaign,"said Clinton, alsocam-
paigning in Philadelphia. "There have been
detours and pitfalls along the way, but we
should remember that this is a historic
moment for the Democratic Party and for
our country. We will be nominating the
first African-American or woman for the
presidency of the United Stales, and that
is something that all Americans can and
should celebrate."
( fbama said he came to W right's church.
Trinity United Church of Christ in Chi­
cago, nearly 20 years ago because he was
inspired by the pastor's message of hope
and his inspiration to rebuild the black
community. He also said black anger per­
sists over injustice in America, and whites
shouldn't be surprised that it bursts out in
sermons.
"The fact that so many people are sur­
prised to hear that anger in some of Rev­
erend Wright’s sermons simply reminds
us of the old truism that the most segre­
gated hour in American life occurs on
Sunday morning." he said.
Obama said it's not just blacks who
are angry — some whites are, too, be­
cause they feel blacks are often given
an unfair advantage through affirm a­
tive action.
Police Issues Draw Fire in Debate
continued
from Front
ting control of unions.” Refer­
ring to A dam s’ com m ent he said,
"I'm not im pressed with the City
Council at all.” Repeating a recur­
rent theme, he said individuals
should be trained to defend their
rights and not expect government
to do it.
For the most part, the candidates
presented their own, sometimes
conflicting positions. At several
points the other challengers di­
rected criticism at Adams, who as
city commissioner is the only elected
official in the race.
For instance Dozono, owner of
Azumano Travel Agency and a
prominent member of several civic
organizations criticized Adams for
not using a $32 million tax surplus
to create a Rainy Day Fund in last
year's budget.
Rich, a self-employed entrepre­
neur in the advertising and enter­
tainment promotion fields, declared.
“The city has the money" to deal
with priorities if it w asn't diverted
to “pet projects and personal lega­
cies," such as the Oregon Health
and Sciences University’s $57 mil­
lion tram and new streetcar routes,
which Adams has personally ad­
vocated for.
Gier, a panel chip engineer,
made sim ilarcharges.
Adams replied that he too be­
lieved in a rainy day fund, but
that the city also had to “backfill”
loss of funds due to cuts in fed-
eral appropriations. The newest
streetcar additions are being paid
for by federal appropriations, ur­
ban renewal funds and local as­
sessm ents that co u ld n 't other­
wise be used for police, fire or
schools, he said.
One questioner asked what the
candidates would do to ensure
that the African American com ­
munity is included in the city ’s
vision.
Adams, who lives in Kenton,
responded, "I experience north
Portland as a member of the com ­
munity. This is an incredible com-
m u n ity , b u t i t 's in c re d ib ly
stressed .” He prom ised to sit
down with "leaders of the A fri­
can A merican com m unity, the
north-northeast com m unity, and
create a plan.”
Dozono said, “I have so many
friends in the audience," and men­
tioned James Posey, Roy Jay and
Lolenzo Poe. "These are people
I've worked with for 30 years. I've
been in your community; I've been
invited into your homes. You have
my commitment. Being a person of
color means a lot to me.”
S ev eral tim es D ozono r e ­
peated, “ I get it, and I’ll get it
done.” In his final rem ark, in an
obvious reference to the fact that
he was running for office for the
first time, he said, “I'm ready for
prim etim e."
M cNair said. "I want to close
the gap on this com m unity. White
folks d o n 't understand us, and
African Americans feel threat­
ened."
She said she would urge more
affluent neighborhoods to help
less w ell-off ones. “ I want things
to be equal and fair." she said. "I
want to shake up City Hall."
Rich said that he was fam iliar
with many rap artists from his
time in the music business, and
would work to eradicate Oregon
LiquorControl Commission laws
that restrict what they do. He said
he would em phasize personal re­
sponsibility for problem solving
with “a hand up, not a hand out.
Gier, noting that he was the
youngest candidate, said, ."In a
short time I've done a lot. I will be
the most honest person you’ve
ever elected. My door will be open
and my books will be open. Every­
one will know what I'm thinking."
In answer to a question about
changing to a city manager form of
government Dozono. who backed
two unsuccessful attempts to insti­
tute such a system, continued to
back the idea. He continued to de­
fend the concept, but added. "I
w on't run on a platform of charter
change."
Adams said the idea would con­
fer "near-dictatorial powers" upon
one person and said, “ I opposed
what Sho and Mayor Potter pro­
posed." The other three candidates
ag reed , alth o u g h Rich said,
"W hat's the difference between one
person who's a dictator and a group
of people who act like a dictator?"
Candidate to
Visit Portland
on Friday
(AP)--Democratic presidential hope­
ful Barack Obama will make a campaign
swing through Oregon this week.
Nick Shapiro, a spokesman for the
Obama campaign in Oregon, said the
Illinois senator w ill likely arrive on Fri­
day and leave on Saturday. A Portland
appearance on Friday morning is defi­
nite, Shapiro said.
Other sources close to the campaign
said Obama may also appear in Salem,
Corvallis. Eugene and Medford, but there
were no other details at press time Tues­
day.
Obama collected about $200,000
during a Portland fundraiser and rally
in September. His rival, New York Sen.
Hillary Clinton, hasn't yet been to
Oregon during her presidential cam ­
paign.
Ballots forthe mail-in primary goout
in six weeks. The results are tallied on
May 20.
■eiS|W
o make your dreams come true,
Take the Next Step at Clark College
( Harki x >llegc
The Next Step
Affirm ative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution
OREGON BUSINESS NETWORK AND
THE PORTLAND OBSERVER PRESENT
Bring Questions,
Get Answers
A SPECIAL FREE EVENT TO HELP CITIZENS
SHAPE THE STATE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES
Who feels that they ore best qualified to help run local government.'
Can they make the right choices to keep our cities safe, strong, build our local
economy. make us competitive in the national market? Meet the candidates
running for the office of City Council. Metro and Multnomah County.
Get your questions answered.
When Wednesday, March 2 6 ,2 0 0 8 16:30PM to 10PM
Where Ambridge Conference Center, 300 NE Multnomah - Portland
Caution: Business
\ opportunities ahead
Let’s build together. Help ug meet our goal to award
I ree Admission A Parking • Light Refreshments
First come, first served. Seating is limited
20% of our contracts to small businesses. Visit our
Web site to register for business opportunities.
www. portof Portland, com
© PORT OF PORTLAND
Possibility. Irfevery direction.