Recently a commenter suggested a respect for McCain because he has been speaking truth to the public. The allegation was that Obama simply panders to the public for votes. I know that Obama has spoken uncomfortable truths to audience on multiple occasions. Two quick examples that come to mind:

1) He spoke at Pastor Rick Warren's (author: The Purpose Driven Life) evangelical church about the need for condoms in addition to pushing for abstinence and fidelity:
"I also believe that we cannot ignore that abstinence and fidelity may too often be the ideal and not the reality - that we are dealing with flesh and blood men and women and not abstractions - and that if condoms and potentially microbicides can prevent millions of deaths, they should be made more widely available. I know that there are those who, out of sincere religious conviction, oppose such measures. And with these folks, I must respectfully but unequivocally disagree.

2) He spoke at Martin Luther King Jr.'s Ebenezer Baptist Church. In this speech he called out the shortcomings of the black community to embrace other minorities.

"And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that none of our hands are entirely clean. If we're honest with ourselves, we'll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King's vision of a beloved community.
We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity."

You can watch the speech here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0x_TpDris

So, I argue that Obama has a history of not pandering. Moreover, anyone citing McCain's statement that jobs won't be coming back as an example of him speaking truth to the public is being disingenuous about McCain. Remember that McCain has recently voted against banning torture and that he has been courting the far right that he correctly recognized as agents of intolerance earlier this decade.

I know that Obama also spoke to auto workers about hybrid vehicles and alternative energy, but I don't have a link to that speech. I ask that if you have other examples of Obama (or Hillary or McCain) speaking hard truths to the audience, please post them below.