Here's how I see the media reacting:

They'll repeat the following over and over: "Amazing. But will it be enough in the age of the sound bite?"

And that will be the overwhelming coverage. This "meta" analysis of whether it will be enough. You'll hear that all day on CNN and MSNBC.

How about this: How about transcending the "age of the sound bite" or the "age of the analysis of the age of the sound bite" and doing some reporting. I'm sure I'll see that kind of analysis on TNR, but I doubt today's dim witted cable news anchors and pundits will be able to see past that.

I listened to some commentary on MSNBC. Most of the talking heads were calling the speech "historic", etc. I think they're right. I don't think there will be a problem regarding coverage.

It is about d--- time that someone talked to me about race like I'm an adult.  Senator Obama may not have done the "politcal" thing so much as  having done the RIGHT thing.  I applaud his efforts to discuss this deep American wound in such an honest way.

Why don't all politicans talk to us like this???

Senator Obama this morning didn't just give a brilliant speech, he gave a watershed speech.

I think that it will be seen in retrospect that Reverend Wright's misguided words, which posed such danger for Obama, turned out to provide him with a profound opportunity.

The issues that Obama was able to lay out on the table so eloquently today were discussed with more intelligence and nuance and insight than I have ever seen in a political speech on the subject.

This was very valuable.  An opportunity for our nation.  

I think you will see words from the Senator's speech of 18 March 2008 quoted for many years to come.

Wow, Chan!!!!

His entire narrative throughout the campaign steered clear of race. Now, race has hit him straight on. How naïve to think that he could stay clear of race for the very examples stated in his speech.  He’s either very naïve or a phony baloney.

Fantastic speech though!

It may be, ironically, that only by giving a speech that did not seem like the correct crass racial politics speech, that he may have politically succeeded.

ChanRobt, we've been at loggerheads before, but props for your review.  You've nailed it.

On the "sound bite" question, I do think the "grandmother" line makes for a good soundbite.

Nice comment Chan.

I don't know what to do with myself. A major American politician just gave a nuanced speech that was moving, sincere, educational, and tell-it-like-it-is direct. It's remarkable to me that people describe this man as superficial.

I think it safe to say Obama had been preparing to give this address - it was not just a speech - for a long time. I hope he accomplishes the goals he has set for himself and the nation, whether or not he is the nominee and becomes President. I was impressed that he remained grounded in his delivery. That allowed the oratory to become speech rather than the other way round. A mark of greatness, whether it is realized politically, or not.

Channy, by his willingness to acknowledge the efforts of someone with whom he has deep philosophical disagreements, adds to this blog's (our) cred (not the first time).

Meanwhile, I think we should start a pool where we pick the pundit and channel where said pundit first posits that this whole affair has been a scam, i.e., that Wright grooved Obama a nice hanging curve over the middle of the plate.

Hanson at the Corner?  Kristol at NYT? Novak on Meet the Press? Colonel Mustard in the Library with the Candlestick?

The speech had a Khomeiniist quality.

Nothing to do with sincerity and truth,

Plain propaganda.

We could have had a good candidate, and a sincere one. He was John Edwards.

The remaining Democratic candidates are a hypocritical liars.

Yard, your wit is put to much better use as skeptiic than kool-aid drinker.

s4200, I'd not go that far about the others, but they do make me nostalgic for Edwards.  In fact, given the choice between Hillary and Obama, I'll take Edwards or Biden or Dodd or even Richardson!

In fact, in the old days, when conventions actually meant something, even at this point these other guys would still be in the running as dark horses.  Who knows, if my dream comes true, and we get a convention instead of a coronation, John or one of the others may get resurrected.  How does Edwards-Biden sound?  Yeah, I know, considering the Obamamania going on, Dream on.

Channy - you've had a crush on Obama for awhile now.  We know our Channy.  You're busted.

Over the past two days and nights, ending sometime around 2 a.m., Barack Obama worked on today's speech addressing race in America. He supposedly authored most of "A More Perfect Union" alone, showing it only to a few top advisers....

Wandrey, I respect excellence wherever it is evidenced.  "Some of my best friends" and all.

If that constitutes a crush, so be it.

Ablogist, I'm certain that was his own writing.  It was evidenced by the commitment of the delivery.

Nuanced; honest; impressive; brilliant; precedent-making; these are just a few of the many adjectives...