Countering Criticism of Obama's Speech

Not even a day after fully digesting this plate of truth Barack Obama put on America's table to consume, the criticisms already begin to trickle in. I intend on addressing them as I come across them:

Why did he throw his Grandmother under the bus in his speech?

First, I disagree with the premise of this question.

I think he unravels, rather well, the complexity of the American racial dynamic by examining his own experiences and what better way to explore how deeply entrenched these issues are than by starting with his own family. By using his grandmother as a frame of reference he demonstrates how personal an issue this is for him and that people can hold very misguided opinions and falsehoods concerning others who don't necessarily look like them or act like them yet at their core still be good and decent people. He further illustrates the ability, that we all need in our reasoning, to be able to discern the troubling parts of people and look more to the inherent good in them if we wish to make progress in so many vital areas and aspects of American life. He points to our many gray areas as a nation, that we share in common, and begs that we resist the urge to rush in condemnation and use these times to set our stereotypes and prejudices on their head.

Does this show a lapse in the judgment he's touted as a virtue of his in his quest for president?

I don't believe it does. Just as it is so that you must take ownership of the words that come out of your own mouth, it's just as true you can't control everything that comes out of people's mouths around you and if you accept that then you also can't control or foresee the mistakes of the people you put your arms around in friendship before they happen. Acting as a friend it is incumbent upon you to do your best in showing your friend the error in his ways/thinking when the opportunities present themselves and direct him/her past that which is stifling their progress. You can't change the world by disowning yourself from it when it proves itself disappointing . An aspect of judgment is understanding this and allowing the opportunity to actively change minds. Just as the foreign policy mindset that Obama puts forth, you can't only talk to those that agree with us but you must also reach out to those who don't and be a compass and show them the way. I've been wrong before and I thank God for putting me in positions to learn from the backwards thinking I was prisoner to by surrounding me with good people to guide my way.