I had some fun with the US Presidential race earlier this week. But on a serious note, everyone should take the time to listen to or read this speech by Barack Obama, broken down by Joe Klein here.

I started the youtube video on Tuesday night and ended up watching all forty minutes of it. What’s remarkable about this speech isn’t so much the delivery or even the impact it will have on the US Presidential race. What’s remarkable is that it was an oh so rare moment when a politician took a minefield of an issue and, rather than run the standard damage control, plunged completely into it. For those who believe politics has become all about sound bytes, spin, and the avoidance of controversy at all cost, this will warm your heart. It was a brutally honest and direct speech that attacked a sensitive topic with the complexity it deserved.

Complexity is something that has completely disappeared from politics. Maybe because there are very few politicians who can actually deliver direct and candid analysis that can captivate an audience. And those who have tried have usually been laughed out of town.

Whether this helps him win the nomination, the presidency, or makes him a better president remains to be seen. But, for now, it’s simply worth just watching and enjoying it for what it is. And the fact that 1.6 million people have watched this video on youtube already shows that this isn’t a typical speech (or a typical candidacy for that mater).