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A Defining Moment for Obama
Barack Obama tried to put his relationship with his problematic pastor behind him once and for all at a make or break press conference. But will it work?
For the second time in a little more than a month, Barack Obama was forced to publicly confront the racial demons released by his self-described spiritual mentor and friend, Jeremiah Wright.
The first time he confronted the beast he was in Philadelphia before a thousand supporters and a still compliant press corps willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. At that time, the candidate gave what most observers believed was a very good speech on race and his own personal spiritual journey that led him to Reverend Wright in the first place. Obama was praised for his honesty and bluntness in dealing with a man he obviously respected but whose words raised questions about Obama’s own core beliefs.
Obama made manifest those beliefs when he tried to explain his problematic preacher to the nation:
The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made; as if this country – a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old — is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past. But what we know — what we have seen – is that America can change. That is true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope – the audacity to hope – for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
Clearly, Obama wished to separate himself at that time from Wright’s words without having to throw his pastor off the bus — a delicate balancing act that he managed to pull off by including his grandmother in defending his position on why he was not denouncing Wright:
I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white 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 fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.
The mention of family raised a few eyebrows among Obama critics but otherwise was lost in the general praise for the candidate’s frankness in speaking about race.
That was then, this is now.
Jeremiah Wright’s speech on Monday at the National Press Club turned into a full blown media feeding frenzy after the pastor not only repeated his charges that the US is a terrorist state, that the country deserved 9/11, and that the US government created the AIDS virus to kill black people, but amplified his charges. Wright also intimated that Obama was forced to denounce his words because of political considerations but that at bottom, he agreed with him.
Despite the media firestorm that broke late yesterday morning and continued to build all afternoon, the Obama campaign was slow off the mark. Obama at first declined to make a statement to the press about the now raging controversy, keeping his distance from the media as he has for much of the last two weeks — ever since the debate and the questions about his other problem radical William Ayers, the former Weather Underground bomber.
But the press had changed its attitude toward Obama in the intervening weeks and had begun to raise serious questions about not only Reverend Wright but other Obama associates as well. At this point, it appeared the controversy would not blow over — not with the press in full-throated howl over Wright’s stupefying performance at the NPC.
By late afternoon in North Carolina, the campaign finally realized what was happening and trotted the candidate out before the traveling press at the airport in Wilmington:
“Some of the comments that Rev. Wright has made offend me, and I understand why they offend the American people. He does not speak for me. He does not speak for the campaign,” Obama said.
Many of the statements that he’s made, both that triggered this initial controversy and that he’s made over the last several days, are not statements that I have heard him make previously. They don’t represent my views,” the senator added.
Considering the incendiary nature of Reverend Wright’s performance earlier in the day, the candidate’s response seemed rather tepid. And most importantly, Obama failed to address Wright’s barely concealed charge that the candidate was a hypocrite because he agreed with Wright about most things but distanced himself from those sentiments now due to political necessity.
Whether it was a failure on Obama’s part to effectively lance the boil or the situation had gotten far beyond any help a mere statement on an airport tarmac could deliver, it really doesn’t matter. By mid morning on Tuesday, the Wright situation had gone viral with even many of the candidate’s supporters wondering how Obama could survive his toxic preacher’s words which were widely seen as racist and unpatriotic.
Perhaps a quick glance at some internal polls finally convinced the candidate to try and get control of the situation. Whatever the reason, a hurried call went out and a press conference was called specifically to deal with the issue of Reverend Wright.
There has been much speculation as to Wright’s motivations for raising his public profile the last few days. A rather sedate interview with Bill Moyers on Friday night was followed by a bombastic address to the NAACP in Detroit, which, probably due to the fact that it was on a weekend, did not garner the interest or headlines that Wright’s remarks at the National Press Club engendered on Monday.
Some of that speculation centers around the idea that Wright deliberately set out to hurt Obama for denouncing his remarks in March. Indeed, Wright at times seemed bitter and sarcastic in his allusions to Obama, almost taunting him by saying that he was playing politics with his relationship.
The candidate himself may have recognized this, which is why for nearly 45 minutes he skewered his former friend and all but said he was a shameless self promoter trying to cash in on his newfound notoriety:
“I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992, and have known Reverend Wright for 20 years,” Obama said. “The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago.”
Obama said he heard that Wright had given “a performance” and when he watched news accounts, he realized that it more than just a case of the former pastor defending himself.
“His comments were not only divisive and destructive, I believe they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate,” Obama said. “I’ll be honest with you, I hadn’t seen it” when reacting initially on Monday, he said.
He also referred to the National Press Club appearance by Wright as a “spectacle,” which along with his use of the word “performance” suggests that he believes Wright’s motivations to be less than honorable.
Beyond that, Obama firmly and unequivocally denounced his former pastor in unmistakable terms – something many observers believed he should have done last month:
Now, I’ve already denounced the comments that had appeared in these previous sermons. As I said I had not heard them before. And I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia, explaining that he has done enormous good in the church, he’s built a wonderful congregation, the people of Trinity are wonderful people, and what attracted me has always been their ministry’s reach beyond the church walls. But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS; when he suggests that Minister Farrakhan somehow represents one of the greatest voices of the 20th and 21st century; when he equates the United States’ wartime efforts with terrorism, then there are no excuses. They offend me, they rightly offend all Americans, and they should be denounced. And that’s what I’m doing very clearly and unequivocally here today.
Indeed, Obama said that reading Wright’s remarks from Monday, he thought it plain that Wright didn’t know him very well if he believed that Obama was simply engaged in “political posturing” when denouncing his pastor’s words. He added that he himself “may not know him as well as I thought either.”
Stressing his campaign themes of unity and reconciliation, Obama finally seemed to let go of his friend of 20 years by making it clear they have nothing in common:
What we saw yesterday out of Reverend Wright was a resurfacing and, I believe, an exploitation of those old divisions. Whatever his intentions, that was the result. It is antithetical to our campaign, it is antithetical to what I am about, it is not what I think America stands for, and I want to be very clear that moving forward Reverend Wright does not speak for me, he does not speak for our campaign. I cannot prevent him from continuing to make these outrageous remarks, but what I do want him to be very clear about, as well as all of you and the American people, is that when I say I find these comments appalling, I mean it. It contradicts everything that I’m about and who I am. And anybody who has worked with me, who knows my life, who has read my books, who has seen what this campaign’s about, I think will understand that it is completely opposed to what I stand for and where I want to take this country.
While on the surface it may appear that the candidate successfully treated a festering wound to his campaign, other uncomfortable questions surfaced immediately:
Q: Why the change in tone from yesterday when you spoke to us on the tarmac yesterday –
MR. OBAMA: I’ll be honest with you, because I hadn’t seen it yet.
Q: That was the difference?
MR. OBAMA: Yes.
This is silly. You would have to have been in a coma to have missed the frenzy over Wright’s “performance” as the candidate calls it. Indeed, it harkens to the candidate’s attitude toward the entire Wright affair: he has only addressed his pastor’s hateful remarks when they have become a political problem for him.
Lost in Obama’s statement was his reiteration of the idea that he had never heard the Reverend Wright utter such sentiments. Given what the public has seen of Wright over the last three days, that explanation beggars belief. In 20 years of listening to “Black Liberation Theology” — a “social gospel” Obama calls it — the candidate never heard his pastor go off on America, or whites, or Jews? He sits in a Church with a pastor who believes Louis Farrakhan is “one of the greatest men of the 20th and 21st centuries” and never heard that kind of praise uttered in his presence?
Obama has credibility issues with Wright as well as his other problem associates Ayers and indicted Chicago political fixer Tony Rezko. In each and every case, Obama has first downplayed his connections to these political hot potatoes. Wright was a “crazy uncle.” Ayers, a “neighbor.” Rezko, just “one of thousands of contributors” to his campaign. Only when these associations have reached a critical political mass has Obama tried to put out the fire.
It remains to be seen how successful he was today in dousing this conflagration.
Rick Moran is PJM Chicago editor; his own blog is Right Wing Nut House.
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67 Comments
1. Right Wing Nut House » A DEFINING MOMENT FOR OBAMA:[...] If he had said the same things last month, he would not have had to come before the press today. A sample: [...]
Apr 29, 2008 - 2:56 pm 2. Concerned Citizen:Why did it take this long for Sen. Obama to realize that Rev. Wright was not going to renounce his racism? He had to see the political disaster this has become unfold before his eyes as the world sees the kind of company he keeps. This is stuck to him like tar and feathers.
Apr 29, 2008 - 3:10 pm 3. jeff:those on the far left will be placated. the kids that support him won’t care. they knee jerk support him strictly on the basis of his color, and that he is closer in age to them than either of the other two candidates. what obama risks losing is the center. he risks inflaming the underlying bigot vote-which is a small part of the electorate. however, if not inflamed bigots might stay home. If enraged, they will turn out and small percentages in this election will mean a lot.
obama also finally had the stones to do what dick morris said was necessary to be president, “You have to eat your young.”. Obama tried to be loyal to friends, and could not cut them loose. to be the man, you have to cut them loose when they become a liability. Wright is more than a liability, he is an anchor. Clinton has momentum in this race now. Democrats are not risk takers by nature-Clinton is the safe pick. Any increase in perceived risk makes the undecideds break for Hillary. Wright increases the risk-Bill Ayers is next. Obama must cast him aside. he has underestimated the amount of digging the press does, and needs to come clean about how close their relationship was-and talk about how he ended it. Ayers is a terrorist that will be a huge liability come November.
Apr 29, 2008 - 3:21 pm 4. vicsmith:“MR. OBAMA: I’ll be honest with you, because I hadn’t seen it yet”
Big fat liar.
Apr 29, 2008 - 3:27 pm 5. Big Ben:Great analysis.
Apr 29, 2008 - 3:35 pm 6. william:There is one little tidbit that I have not seen anyone pick-up. At the NPC, Wright made repeated references to certain statements that Moyers had edited out of the televised program. These statements were the more provocative ones.
Frankly, I think that Wright wanted to sink Obama in the Moyers interview, but could not succeed because of “friendly” censorship.
Then at the NAACP, he ratcheted up the message, but still amaged to control himself in deference to this august body.
At the NPC, it was the questioning that drove him over the top, and he seemed to be truly annoyed(judging by his wild gestures and ad libs) by the white female reporter who presented the pool questions.
We don’t yet have the Wright side of this story, and may never get it, although I would wager that he will tell all, and soon.
Wright is politically savvy, and he knew that Obama would have to cut him loose if the exigencies of the political realities demanded it. This has been previouly acknowleged in print, in the New Republic article and elsewhere.
The sole question which remains is did Obama somehow breach an understanding he had with Wright that the Reverend would keep a reasonably low profile, and what specifically did Obama do or say that cut Wright loose.
I suspect we will be hearing a lot more from Wright as to the details.
Obama has had 20 years to distance himself from this guy. Obama is what he is! Nice try.
Apr 29, 2008 - 3:55 pm 7. Kirk:I am Catholic and have never attended a black church and therefore have no direct knowledge of Trinity. At the churches I have attended, although there is a pastor, there are multiple priests, occasional visitors, and even deacons. Although I attend church every week, I may only hear the pastor once a month or less. Perhaps at Trinity, Reverand Wright did the majority of services. Many people would be hard pressed to recall the content of many homilies. Again, I believe that the sermons are more central and more “theatrical” in black churches. Senator Obama undoubtedly travels a lot, especially since joining the Senate. I find it hard to believe that anyone should be held to the words spoken by their pastor. As Senator Obama said, he, and I believe most people go to church to reinforce their faith, their connection to God, and their connection to family and community. There doesn’t seem to be much disagreement that overall Trinity is a great congregation that has done tremendous good in its community. Let’s put this behind us!
If the press really believes that a candidate’s pastor is a defining reflection of the candidates’s character, why haven’t we hear about Clinton’s pastor or McCain’s. From Hillary’s response to a question about how often she attends church, deferring the question and then saying she went on Easter, it appears that she rarely goes to church. Should we be branding her as anti-religion? Come on. Move on!
Apr 29, 2008 - 4:31 pm 8. Morton Doodslag:What an eye opener the last few days have been!
I have no doubt whatsoever now that Obama was certainly exposed plenty of times to the “full monty” of Wright’s poisonousness over those 20 years. Within the bubble of his leftist echo chamber, surrounded by others of his ilk, it didn’t look nearly as bad as it does now when exposed to the world for the lunacy and hatred that it is. Surrounded by his sycophants, Wright was free to display his “style”, his “intellect”, and his “context” in situ, as if at any of hundreds or thousands of sermons on Sundays at that Chicago church.
It’s too much for Obama to claim now that he never saw the Wright which was so spectacularly on display for the world audience this weekend. The “context” claim holds no water any longer — we’ve seen it, and it stinks.
I also have no doubt that Obama always knew on some level that this kind of nastiness, if viewed from outside his comfortable leftist bubble, wouldn’t hold up to scrutiny — how amazing that this candidate for President so utterly overestimated his ability to have it both ways.
Obama is clearly from the fringe of the fringe — and his heretofore good job of concealing his true color is in tatters after this latest fiasco. Scary to think that the press gave him such a pass for so long. Scary to think that he still might make it to the nomination, and possibly even the office itself. The far left lunatic politics he shares with those that have captured the Democratic Party, have DESTROYED the Democratic Party. Obama is a catastrophe.
Apr 29, 2008 - 4:33 pm 9. Roark:Obama is a bold-faced liar. His presidential hopes are in BIG trouble.
Apr 29, 2008 - 4:37 pm 10. david p:A Phony Tactic, A Staged Separation, We’re NOT fooled…….we all know Barrack Obama believes in EVERYTHING Rev. Wright Sermonizes!!! John McCain will certainly be the next president. The democrats have ascribed themselves to a politically correct ideology born out of academia that’s inapplicable in the real world. If half your party sides with the enemy in a time of war, it’s time to re-examine your entire platform.
Apr 29, 2008 - 4:45 pm 11. Glenn:Liar, yes. Presidential hopes in trouble, be nice if it was true but he still has the MSM totally in the tank for him.
Apr 29, 2008 - 4:46 pm 12. Mojave Max:Obama wants us to believe that he did not know of the proclivities of his pastor. Hard to swallow.
Obama wants us to believe that the latest rants really set him off and caused him to disavow his pastor. Well these are the very same statements we heard on the famous Wright clips. Again, hard to accept that there is such a difference.
Obama wants us to believe that he came to this conclusion rather reluctantly. Hard to believe given the absolute need he had to take care of this matter if he is going to remain credible.
And so, I find Obama basically dishonest. And that, for me disqualifies him from the contest.
Apr 29, 2008 - 4:49 pm 13. mk:Kirk,
The problem is that you probably didn’t go for 20 years, well before Obama was running for Senator or President, to a church which advocates that white folks are the tools of Satan, that Jesus was black, that published a hate-filled screed by a member of Hamas.
Obama is acting all innocent and wounded by these questions, but he hasn’t yet adequately explained why he goes to a church where the current pastor likened tough questions about Rev. Wright to a lynching. Where Rev. Wright damned America and claimed that White People invented the AIDS virus. Where he called Israel a “dirty word” and claimed Israelis were state sponsored terrorists.
There are too many questions about this church which call in to question Obama’s decision making abilities, his true feelings about all people who aren’t black (not just white folks) and his allegiance to treating all people equally. Where one chooses to go to church is a reflection of one’s character and choices in life. Obama has chosen poorly and continues to choose poorly when it comes this church.
Apr 29, 2008 - 4:50 pm 14. jvon:Barack Obama is the best thing to happen to the Republican Party in ages. Who could ever have expected that the Democrats could come up with someone who’d make Hillary look electable?
Well done, folks, well done.
Apr 29, 2008 - 4:54 pm 15. XYZ:Kirk: it’s because Obama has repeatedly referred to Wright as his spiritual mentor in his books, and because Wright, as much as anyone, launched Obama’s political career in Chicago. Wright’s not just “Obama’s pastor”.
Apr 29, 2008 - 5:01 pm 16. Michelle Malkin » Obama’s “big press conference” on Wright: “I’m outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle;” Wright’s remarks “a bunch of rants that aren’t grounded in:[...] Rick Moran reflects on a “defining moment.” Posted in: Barack Obama Send to a Friend Printer [...]
Apr 29, 2008 - 5:03 pm 17. Misanthropicus:Defining Moment For Obama – yes, you are right, but it’s way damn’ late. It seems to me that Obama’s current(and probably future) moves have been reduced to a strictly reactive nature. He is at events’, Hillary’s and McCain’s mercy – soaring rhetoric notwithstanding, awful situation for someone who is afraid to debate Hillary again.
Apr 29, 2008 - 5:04 pm 18. efc:These being said, allow me to describe a few confidential snap-shots in my possession which depict this situation:
Today’s snap-shot(s): Obama hastily scooping water from his boat while yelling orders on the cell, providing someone with Wright’s address. Later, in Chicago, some menacing-looking MoveOn.Org guys are seen at A&W Medical Supplies buying a straitjacket, a very large syringe and a pint of calming serum, then driving to the address provided by Mr. Obama.
Tomorrow’s snap-shot: Obama $ media furiously scooping water from Obama’s boat.
Thursday’s snap-shot: Obama, media & libs furiously scooping water from Obama’s boat.
Friday’s snap-shot: Obama, media, libs & dems furiously scooping water from Obama’s boat.
Saturday’s snap-shot: CNN reports that Chicago PD has arrested a disheveled & armed Chris Matthews lurking behind reverend Wright’s garagen – reasons for mr. Matthews’s conduct TBE.
Saturday’s snap-shot: Arianna Huffington & Ted Kennedy call Robert Ballard to help locate & rescue Obama’s boat.
Sunday’s snap-shot: Bill Richardson, Rasputin-bearded, sun-glassed, died hair, etc. seen vanishing across the Mexican border (no forwarding address).
Etc., … etc…..
November 7th. snap-shot: McCain officially announced as the next US president.
Rev. Wright’s sudden appearance on the national/MSM stage was arranged by Hillary’s camp–specifically Barabara Reynolds of Md., an avid Clinton supporter.
Wright knows, once he gets on the MSM stage, he’s in a position to torpedo Barak. Surprisingly, we saw Wright launch all his hostile racist-tipped missles with Moyers, National Press Club and the NAACP. The whole three day performance was designed to make white lunch-bucket Catholics SUSPICIOUS of a BLACK presidential candidate. Purpose: to undercut Barak’s cadidacy.
This is the race card gone amok, courtesy of the Clintons. Like Willy Horton, Swift Boats, this performance is meant to throw Barak under the Bus. From a fellow DEMOCRAT!
From Rove, it would be understandable, if unforgivable. From the narcisitic Clinton’s, race-baiting is disgusting.
As a Christian minister, Wright could (SHOULD) have come onto the MSM stage to support his parishoner ( who he married, whose children he baptized, etc. etc.). I would expect no less of my pastor of 20 years. Instead, REVEREND WRIGHT CHOSE to come onto the national stage antagonistic to his parishoner, fangs showing, wanting to hurt, to sabotage . . . . ..
Some Christian Pastor is the Reverned Wright—harm and hurt your parishoners!
Check it out.
Barak Obama is not the problem–Rev. Wright’s puny self caving to the Clinton’s and his coarser narcisism is the problem.
And not worthy of our attention.
Obama is, once again, elegant when he stands up to this mendacity. I have no doubt he loves his pastor, but not the Clinton version. I have no doubt whatsoever he loves his country, all of it.
Vote for Obama! He’s the only decent AND smart guy in the race. He’ll make a great president. I look forward to it after years of warmongering, fearmongering, manipulative disengenuous hateful people in the white house.
Clinton’s are cut of the same cloth. And McCain is just another old fat corporate maggot.
Obama really is the HOPE.
Apr 29, 2008 - 5:10 pm 19. VICTOR:YOU KNOW WHAT IS REALY FUNNY CLINTON HAS OUT RIGHT LIED AND WHEN COUGHT IN A LIE SHE LIES AGAIN (I MISPOKE ) THAT THE FUNNEST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD AND TO MAKE IT EVEN WORST THEN THAT EVERY ONE SAYS OBAMA IS THIS AND THAT BUT HE IS NOT THE SAME OLD POLITICAL SCAM ARTIST AS H.R.CLINTON IS. SHE IS THE BEST AT DOING MAGIC BECAUSE SHE MAKES ALL OF U SEE HER LIES AS TRUTH SHE TALKS ABOUT HELPING MIDDLE CLASS SHE IS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE MIDDLE CLASS AND JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS FIRST LADY,THAT IS NOT EXPEREANCE. WE AS AMERICANS ARE GOING DOWN THE DRAIN NOT REACHING FOR THE STARS.
Apr 29, 2008 - 5:13 pm 20. Obama Denounces Wright: Video of Entire Press Conference - 4/29/08 - Shallow Nation:[...] A Defining Moment for Obama [...]
Apr 29, 2008 - 5:15 pm 21. BD57:Kirk:
You don’t recall homilies you’ve heard because, quite frankly, the overwhelming majority of them are not exceptional in any way, shape or form. If you were present when one of your priests or deacons said something that outraged you, you’d remember it.
Which is the point.
The stuff Wright says is outrageous; as the record becomes more & more developed, it becomes more & more obvious that ‘outrageous’ is territory he visits regularly.
“I didn’t know” isn’t plausible – Obama would’ve had to be in a coma to miss it.
Which leaves two explanations:
1) “I didn’t consider it outrageous before” – in which case Senator Obama has some pretty outrageous ideas himself; or
2) “It was politically advantageous for me to stay with Wright then; it’s politically advantageous for me to denounce Wright now” – in which case Obama’s “new politics” is a sham.
What Obama tried to do in Philadelphia is reassure the middle without angering that portion of his base which believes the crap Wright spews.
In short, he behaved like a politician.
Wright’s gone out of his way since Friday to make that straddle impossible.
And Obama’s still acting like a politician – “Why, I JUST DIDN’T KNOW until now …”
Yeah. Right.
Apr 29, 2008 - 5:32 pm 22. tgibson1962:Senator Obama has based his qualifications for POTUS on his superior judgement. Assuming for the moment, however unlikely it may be, that he in fact had not heard Wright make the statements which “angered and saddened” him today during the previous 20 years, he HAD heard them in the last 60 days. There was nothing new that came to light in the NPC performance that was not part and parcel of the Youtube clips. You’d think he might have asked “So do you REALLY, REALLY believe the government developed AIDS to kill off African-Americans?” So, why is Obama only angered now?
The POTUS does not have the luxury of 20 years, or at times even 60 days, to evaluate and respond to situations far more dangerous than political damage control. I don’t want to wake up one morning to see breaking news of Obama saying “The Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who authorized the detonation of a nuclear device in (fill in the blank) is not the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad I negotiated with.” While Obama may be “angered and saddened”, others will be dead.
Apr 29, 2008 - 5:47 pm 23. LogicalSC:I see an embarrassed Obama-bot has arrived in Kirk, pleading for everyone to just move on. Embarrassed Kirk that you were so gullible to be suckered into supporting a radical marxist and “black liberation theory” disciple? Still drinking the kool-aide and waiting for Obama to “cleanse your soul”?
I am less annoyed about the racism which Obama baptized his children into than the failed far-left marxist philosophy which the Democrats are once again trying to foist upon our nation. Not one of Obama advisors or inner circle would be mainstream anywhere outside of Havana and most have a visceral hatred of America and its people.
Why do the Leftist and Democrats hate this country and its guiding principles so much? How did we come to a point where 40% of the people want to make the best nation on earth another Soviet hellhole? What does it take to make you fools realize that marxism is a failure and has been everywhere it has been tried?
Apr 29, 2008 - 5:50 pm 24. dirigible:It’s an act of desperation, not one of sincerity. As one would expect, Obama will say anything to save the shreds of his campaign. That doesn’t mean that we have to believe him. The Philadelphia speech was the wrong speech – he needed something more like this a month ago. Or, better yet, twenty years ago.
After the smoke clears, we still don’t know – did all this happen because Obama is as vile a racist as his pastor, or did it happen because Obama is so conceited that he thought we wouldn’t notice who he consorts with, or did it happen because Obama is just plain dumb?
Much though I loathe Hillary, I don’t see how anybody can blame this particular meltdown on the Clintons. I’d say that Barak Obama is a self-made man – he made his own bed, and now he’ll be buried in it. I plan to “put this behind me” by voting for somebody else.
Apr 29, 2008 - 6:05 pm 25. Timothy Schrick:After watching Rev. Wright on Bill Moyer’s program Sunday, and having been able to put his comments in the their contextual position against the overall sermon, I came to have a much better understanding of, not only what he said, but what he meant. The bottom lines is, that Rev. Wright made a lot of valid points, especially about “the chickens coming home to roost”. We, as a country have been trying to ‘export’ democracy for the past 50 years. What “we”, as in the politicians, mainly this, and many other presidents don’t seem to realize is, that their are people in this world who a)don’t like or trust or motives, and b) could give a whit about democracy. At least with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, we got the plan unvarnished truth about his views on race, and what needs to be done. I grew up in the 60’s in white, conservative Kansas, and as far I can tell, we as a nation haven’t made near as much progress on the issue of race as most people would like to believe. What we have done, is not this controversial and thorny issue behind closed doors at home, in our places of worship, our clubs and bars, where we feel safe to discuss it among friends or people of like mindedness. Sen. Obama on the other hand, seems to see the world through rose tinted, or darest I say, the lens of a milk chocolate world that just doesn’t exist anywhere but in his mind. I found Rev. Wright’s comments disturbing yes, but frankly, I would rather have sentiment out in the open rather than veiled behind political double speak which is what Obama had to say today in his “indignant outrage” over Wright’s “performance” at the press club. It shows Obama for the first time for what I have felt all along, and that is, of a man that is all show and no substance. Well! I truly hope Hiliary Clinton gets the nomination, because if not, I really will have to vote Republican, which I never thought I would hear myself say.
Apr 29, 2008 - 6:32 pm 26. Kathie:Obama isn’t out denouncing Rev Wright for his
Apr 29, 2008 - 6:34 pm 27. val siman:biotry and racists remarks. In that regard he
is still his dear uncle like figure and spiratual advisor He is denouncing him because
he said at the press conference that Obama would
lie and say anything to get elected . Guess
what Obama you proved him right. You fell right
into the trap he set for you head first. Once
again you show everyone your poor judgment.
When Obama cannot avoid public outcry to Jeremeiah Write assertion in his sermon, Obama is a smart man (as Oprah said). Yes he is a real smart man. He said:“I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992, and have known Reverend Wright for 20 years,” Obama said. “The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago.”
Apr 29, 2008 - 6:40 pm 28. Fmark:Nice try. Obama compare Jeremiah Write 20 years ago and today. But how about the time between 20 years ago and today? He is really smart, slick, lier, etc. He associated with Jeremiah Write for 20 years long!!! Wow, wake up all people. Only people that no brain still agree with him in my view.
Everyone is missing the REAL STORY here. There is more to the Senator Obama verses Rev. Wright media situation that is currently being reported. Rev Wright created and made Barack Obama by getting him elected to local public office with the black vote Wright controls. Rev Wright owns Barry Obama.
This story unfolds as Rev Wright experiences a defiant Senator Obama who has become the beloved front runner for President. Senator Obama is loved by the MSM, which fails to scrutinize his character and political positions. What America is feed is “yes we can” and “change” from MSM not who is this man. Everyday America hears from the MSM; “WOW” this guy is great, he is the new Kennedy.
All is well in the Wright/Obama world until via Youtube the “Rev Wright” is exposed to everyday America without MSM filtering his words. What America hears is pure hate for white American from Senator Obama’s pastor of 20 years his so loves and admires.
Once Obama is exposed has to push back on his owner the honorable Rev Wright. Well, NO ONE PUSHES Rev Wright; he owns Barry Obama and will teach him a lesson in front of the world and his faithful church. He will take down Obama; force him out of office on the next election cycle for being too white. Once done Rev Wright will stand in with full justification in front of Trinity Church and shout to all his people that American is racist and he was right… America is evil and G.D Dam America. Epilog: Barry Obama is a bookmark in history now working is a soup kitchen in Chicago.
Apr 29, 2008 - 6:46 pm 29. jfm:Isn’t it time for equality in the treatment of presidential candidates?
If a white candidate was discovered to have attended a racist, white-separatist church for 20 years, their candidacy would be toast.
I think we should apply the same standards to Obama.
Apr 29, 2008 - 7:12 pm 30. Yellow Dog:The pandering press lulled Obama into believing that nothing could hurt him. He didn’t seem to be aware that the press was giving him a free pass. Now he is bewildered to be asked the tough questions that candidates are usually asked. Pretty words will not make Rev Wright disappear. He is here to stay. Only one question remains: Is it too late to save the Democratic Party from nominating a candidate who cannot win in November? Perhaps if the press will start doing its job and covering this race in an even-handed manner we can turn this disastrous situation around.
Apr 29, 2008 - 7:13 pm 31. Justin:@Kirk
Because unless the other candidates have pastors that sound like they just came back from a Klan rally there is no way that the other pastors can even remotely compare to Wright. And unless they stood with that pastor for 2 decades, made him a spiritual adviser during the campaign, and even when his racism was exposed was called a “good friend” by the candidate then none of the candidates can compare to Obama.
Apr 29, 2008 - 7:33 pm 32. Melanie:Here we go again…..it goes on and on and on. People, please stop with this nonsense and Obama the benefit of the doubt. Do not hold him accountable for Rev. Wright’s actions. Your bias is showing b/c noone on here is asking to see more media coverage of McCain’s affiliations or Hillary’s for that matter. This is a complete hatchet job from the right wing and they are laughing at all the suckers who truly believe this. This was their intent all along to try and do anything they could to demean his character and put it in question. Hillary’s character is flawed beyond belief and would make Obama’s look pretty unimportant, but you don’t see the media spinning the hell out of hers do you? You know why? B/c they want Hill to get the nomination b/c as it was stated by some repulican operatives they want her to be the nom b/c they know exactly how to attack her in which case Obama would be a harder candidate to derail. I’m surpised more people haven’t caught on to this yet.
Apr 29, 2008 - 8:06 pm 33. Justin:@Melanie
Your wrong. If Obama actually went to this guy’s church for 20 years and listened through all of these sermons than it inconceivable that he does not share these views. Why did he go otherwise, to enjoy the after service coffee? Wright is a Marxist/Racist. So, in all likelihood is his congregation, which includes Obama.
Apr 29, 2008 - 8:43 pm 34. Bob:Dear Mr. Moran,
This is my first time commenting on a post at your blog. I am a fan of your site and visit it often. Although I don’t always agree with your thesis, I admire your writing and your rhetorical style; thoughtful, as well as expressive, discourse is hard to come by when discussing the items you choose to write about.
We do agree on the potential for Rev. Wright to do harm to the progress made, regarding universal civil rights, in our country over the last forty years. Watching his address to the Detroit chapter of the NAACP was literally torturous. I was stupefied as his eugenic argument began to unfold; didn’t we put this fallacy to rest a long time ago?!?!
That an educated man like Jeremiah Wright could believe this bunko is truly astonishing. Sadly, there are other fallacious notions that he continues to profess as truths, in part to affirm his own worldview, for a variety of psychological reasons. We all have gotten a taste of these notions over the last few days. What is perhaps the most egregious though is that he had a regular bully pulpit to disseminate these prejudicial myths to folks who didn’t all enjoy the level of education that the Reverend did. And, by virtue of his clergy status, Rev. Wright also benefited from an implicit moral authority that automatically validated his twisted beliefs.
Reverend Wright is not the only, the first, nor even the most strident, self proclaimed man of God to promote division and rancor instead of love, oneness, forgiveness, and acceptance. If you believe the Bible then you know that there is a special place in hell for those who lead people astray in the name of God; he’ll spend eternity with the preacher Klansmen, famous inquisitors, and unrepentant child molesting priests.
Even if one takes a more secular view on life it must still be apparent that there is no room in modern society for ideological dinosaurs like Jeremiah Wright. As long as discourse is divided along black and white sentiments we will never get past old animosities and, as a previous commenter said, will leave no room in that discussion for any other groups that arise in our country. One of the fundamental pillars of our nation is that fact that all people are equal. As long as we tolerate suspicious, divisive, and racist attitudes-this time under the auspices of religion and the false notion of multiculturalism-we’ll never achieve the truly color blind society that Dr. King envisioned.
Our nation faces special challenges in the modern world that are political, moral, environmental, and economic. In this crucial time, much like during the Second World War, it will take all of us working together in order to retain all that we have worked so hard for over the past three centuries. The solutions for all of these problems lie in the kernel of our national character; American ingenuity and invention born of individuality and the divergent thought processes that true diversity fosters. I also have faith that this common purpose of confronting these issues will help restore our notions of the greatness of our nation, the opportunities it presents to us collectively, and the unique bond we share as a society.
All the Best,
Apr 29, 2008 - 8:48 pm 35. Robin Goodfellow:Keep up the good work…….
SHALL WE THIS FOND PAGEANT SEE?
Apr 29, 2008 - 9:03 pm 36. Tom W.:LORD, WHAT FOOLS THESE DEMOCRATS BE.
“Chickens coming home to roost”?
What, when we helped the Muslim Afghans (and bin Laden) defeat the Soviets? When we bombed the Serbs to save the Muslim Bosnians? When we sent billions to help Muslim Pakistanis, Iranians, and Indonesians after they were hit by earthquakes and tsunamis?
When we liberated Muslim Kuwait and protected Muslim Saudi Arabia from Saddam? (We did it to protect the oil, too, of course; otherwise Reverend Wright and the rest of us would be paying $10 a gallon for gas right about now.) When we protected Muslim Kurdistan with a no-fly zone?
The reality is that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the chickens coming home to roost on Muslims for the terrorism they’ve perpetrated against the west for decades.
Payback time. Deal with it.
Apr 29, 2008 - 9:13 pm 37. Andrew Garland:Is Obama Guilty by Association?
Guilt by Association is false evidence when convicting someone of a crime. A person is not guilty because his father, brother, friend, or employee is guilty. The association may be reason for more investigation, but it alone is not evidence against that person.
Politics for a voter is about understanding, ideas, and truth. What is a politician’s understanding and bias about the world? What are his ideas? Is he telling the truth about his thoughts and conclusions, or is he merely saying what we want to hear?
It is obvious that people of similar beliefs associate. “Birds of a feather flock together” is obviously true about personal belief, if ideas matter at all to a person.
Mr. Obama presents himself as a man of ideas and belief. Shall we understand that he cares nothing about the history, ideas, and beliefs of his close associates? I do not think that Mr. Obama, Rev. Wright, self proclaimed bomber Bill Ayers, and terrorist fund-raiser Dr. Hatem El-Hady form a personal debating society where Mr. Obama argues one position and they argue the other side.
Would Mr. Obama say in private, “I disagreed with Rev. Wright about all that horrible slander against white people and society, but I sat there because I needed to convince my political base that I was one of them”? Either he agrees with Rev. Wright, or he cares nothing about his personal belief in politics, and he would represent anything to anyone to be elected.
Does Mr. Obama have so few friends in Chicago, that Bill Ayers is the convenient person to share play dates with his children? Was it really just chit-chat with the former bomber and current idealogue Bill Ayers? Did Mr. Obama find it relaxing to have disagreements with Bill Ayers about politics and policy while the kids played? Agreement is more likely.
Association does not assign guilt to Mr. Obama. Politics is not about guilt; politics is all about ideas, belief, and association. What could the explanation be for Mr. Obama’s associations? Possibly, he agrees with his associates. Possibly, he disagrees, but has maintained these long-time associations to attract his political base, fooling them about what he believes.
Either Mr. Obama believes things that are horrifying to me, or he is as expedient a politician as I have ever seen, without any belief that matters to him in public. I don’t see a third possibility, and I don’t like either of the first two.
Referring to:
Apr 29, 2008 - 9:14 pm 38. rvastar:Don Surber: Wrong Crowd
This whole thing is an absolute sham: a coordinated media operation dreamed up by Team Obama/Wright.
Think about it…
1) Clips of Wright surface making statements that rightly offend huge segments of the American voting population.
2) In an effort to “move on”, Obama tries the typical Leftist tactics of moral equivalency and “yeah, but..”
3) The Rev “retires” and disappears from sight.
4) Weeks go by, the story still has legs, and polling shows that people aren’t simply going to let Obambi pass on this, no matter how much he tries to slide away from it (e.g. by throwing his own grandmother under the bus).
So, no one except leftist newspapers and leftist blogs felt the earth move when he gave his “race speech”. Average people saw it for it was…a politician trying to explain away why he sat in the pews of that church for 20 years, listening to a minister like Wright excoriate this nation. And they weren’t buying it. He had his chance to outright denounce Wright, but he blew it.
So what do we do now?
Hmmmmmmm…
I’ve got it! Let’s have Wright suddenly come out of hiding, embark on a media blitz where he really opens the crazy valves to “Full!”, then Obambi can come out and get the denunciation right this time!
This is the most shameful political ploy I’ve ever witnessed. That these people have the b@lls to stage it is utterly breathtaking.
Mark my words: by this weekend, you’re going to see the American public saturated with messages stating that “with his strong denunciation of Wright, Obama has laid this scandal to rest once and for all” and “it’s time for us all to move on to more pressing concerns” and “the only people who still care about this are right-wing nuts!”
Don’t fall for it people…this is nothing but political theatre of the most nauseating sort.
Apr 29, 2008 - 9:17 pm 39. Joy:I guess Obama did not use the right side of his brain ,was clinging to his guns, religion and antipathy for those who are not like him
Apr 29, 2008 - 9:20 pm 40. A colorblind American:All the while the good rev was spewing his racist venomn. Hear no evil see no evil speak no evil. Who me??? I didn’t know.
I understand that Obama is a newcomer … and the public needs to get to know him. But if you want to define him by his associates, near and distant, then you need to scrutinize the associates of all the candidates. Then see who has the least baggage.
I have never seen such mean “vetting” of a candidate. Obama is up against BOTH Clintons, McCain & the GOP, the screwball media, and ad hoc snipers. Tell me that doesn’t take some kind of vision & courage!
Apr 29, 2008 - 9:25 pm 41. Elroy Jetson:jvon @ 4:57 pm
Apr 29, 2008 - 10:04 pm 42. star:I know it’s late, but you are so right. This Obama character has made Hillary look tolerable, and she now seems to be the demos last, best hope for winning in November.
It has amazed me as I read all of these blogs that most of you are critizing Obama for being a liar, for being racist because of his association with his pastor. There’s soooo much hatred within the American society it makes me cringe when I hear others past judgement on one and not past the same judgment on themeselves or even the other canidates. No matter what his decision was regarding his pastor, it would have never been good enough for main stream media, nor would it have been good enough for those who has so much hatred within themselves. I’m sad for Americans because indeed there needs to be some type of change with or without Obama. It has to begin with each of you and by your written words I just don’t see it happening. I pray for you all because you all speak as if you have a hidden hatred within your hearts. Please don’t pass it on to your children.
Apr 29, 2008 - 10:33 pm 43. OmegaPaladin:star,
I appreciate your prayers, though I think you have really misread this comment thread. Most people here don’t hate Obama or people like him. They simply disapprove of him for president. After all, you clearly do not support Sen. McCain. Does that imply that you hate him?
I hate racial bigots and people who promote bogus theories of racial supremacy. I hate people who spread horrific conspiracy lies about AIDS. I hate terrorists.
I don’t hate Obama. I think he chooses horrible people to associate with like Wright and Ayers. This would be like McCain going to the racist World Church of the Creator for 20 years and visiting with Tim McVeigh in prison. This makes me question his judgment – his kind of change is not something I hope for. Remember, presidents choose their own cabinet, usually from among their friends and supporters.
Apr 30, 2008 - 12:46 am 44. mal:Obama’s pastor is not Obama.
Hillary, the republicans and the media have been attacking Obama’s character but no one questions Hillary’s. As the first viable woman candidate for president she is out promoting alchoholism, shooting , lying and phillandering. IF Barack did what she has been doing in broad day light the media and country would be up in alms. The double standard is rediculous.
Further, the same so called small town christians, if they werent racist hypocrites would notice that Hillary’s conduct does not fit with christian values.
By the way what ever happen to the release of pork barrel projects and Clinton library information? As far as I can tell, that should be more indicative of how a president would govern than what kind of sermons a old pastor preaches.
There are a lot of things in the bible I dont agree with I will never denounce my bible.
Apr 30, 2008 - 1:16 am 45. bob:rvastar (Apr 29, 2008 – 9:17 pm) has got it nailed.
Apr 30, 2008 - 1:17 am 46. Takekaze:If it takes him 20 years to realize this… then I don’t want to know how long it would take him to get his job done as POTUS.
Liar, liar, pants on fire. He can’t tell me that he was sitting in that church, listening to Wright’s hate speech for 20 years and didn’t realize it until it… started to damage his campaign.
Just a powerhungry, lying snob.
Apr 30, 2008 - 1:59 am 47. Kpata:It is good for Obama to distance himself from the pastor. The pastor does not speak for him(Obama) or for the campaign either. He speaks for himself. I think it is just good for the pastor to keep quiet not to creat problem for Obama and his campaign.
Apr 30, 2008 - 2:41 am 48. jo:It aint over til it’s over.
There will be a whole lot more scandalous videos coming to utube in the near future.
Hillary and McCain are quiet now but will be making their own speeches to save their necks real soon.
Apr 30, 2008 - 4:14 am 49. Melanie:Well, I guess if were going to attack someone’s character by associations, then Hillary is a closet racist. Her mentor, James Fullbright, opposed civil rights and the voting rights act. McCain hates the Catholics and everything they stand for since he supports and accepts the endorsement of his spiritual friend, pastor Hagee. Hillary served on a board in her earlier years that gave money to a terrorist org. and accepted a $50,000 contribution from them and initiated a program in 1996 to bring muslim leaders into the white house that were known to justify violence. Do some research people on your pure as the driven snow Hillary.
Apr 30, 2008 - 4:45 am 50. John Samford:BO showed well last night. So well that it started my wondering if the whole Rev. Wright thingie wasn’t a set up.
Apr 30, 2008 - 4:46 am 51. eunice:What better way to defuse and control a serious potential political problem?
The question now “Is BO machiavellian enough to run a play like this”? If so, that’s a good sign. BO is far left and it’s rare for an American Socialist to understand that the rules and customs of domestic politics are different from the Machiavellian politics used internationally.
It always takes a while for a new President to adjust to the differences. State is supposed to help, but State still hasn’t figured out that the politics used to deal with the despot running Mudholistan are different from those used to deal with the Mayor of Podunk, Iowa.
Most of the comments remind me of how Jesus Christ was portrayed “As a friend of Publicans and Sinners! Obama, you need to keep the faith and you will rise above all the hatefull remarks of all those who do not wish you well. You are still my choice for president. The other two could never walk in your shoes! Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid niether be dismayed, for the Lord our God is with you wherever you go.
Apr 30, 2008 - 5:33 am 52. Misanthropicus:efc: “[...] Rev. Wright’s sudden appearance on the national/MSM stage was arranged by Hillary’s camp–specifically Barabara Reynolds of Md., an avid Clinton supporter. [...] Purpose: to undercut Barak’s cadidacy. This is the race card gone amok, courtesy of the Clintons. Like Willy Horton, Swift Boats, this performance is meant to throw Barak under the Bus. From a fellow DEMOCRAT! From Rove, it would be understandable, if unforgivable. From the narcisitic Clinton’s, race-baiting is disgusting. [...] Obama is, once again, elegant when he stands up to this mendacity. [...] Vote for Obama! He’s the only decent AND smart guy in the race. He’ll make a great president. I look forward to it after years of warmongering, fearmongering, manipulative disengenuous hateful people in the white house. [...] Obama really is the HOPE. [...]”
Efc, efc! One of the funny sides of this scandal is how republican demons like Carl Rove have been replaced by democrat monsters like Hillary in liberals’ superstitious minds. Get a grip of this, stop fantasizing about tenebrous MSN/Hillary conspiracies! All this (well deserved) brouhaha over Wright’s rants is just the illustration of the company Obama thought that would help his political career in Illinois. Obama couldn’t care less about Bible @ Christianity, he simply joined Wright’s congregation when he appeared in Chicago for the political traction that congregation would provide him. The move worked well for Obama, Wright’s toxic eruptions along this 20 years partnership (yes, well known by mr. Ob) being of no danger in the local, controllable political context.
Apr 30, 2008 - 6:10 am 53. Cesar:Then, came the talented mister Obama’s national moment – and in this context Wright’s eruptions appear to have a different kind of reception.
Obama’s no hope – just a slick, possibly a bit naif politician who’s been overrun from behind by his erstwhile partners/forces he willingly/ opportunistically has joined.
Efc, the musical/visual illustration of Obama’s situation is Isidore Ducasse/Walt Disney-Mickey Mouse “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” – a destructive storm triggered by one’s negligence & incompetence.
Misanthropicus,
you quote ‘November 7th. snap-shot: McCain officially announced as the next US president’
MEANS THE NEXT DISASTER FOR THE UNITE3D STATES
Apr 30, 2008 - 6:34 am 54. colagirl:Melanie: That McCain accepted Hagee’s endorsement shows that he has a sleazy and opportunistic side to him, like all politicians. If McCain had sat in Hagee’s church for twenty years right up to the present day, had had the man marry him and his wife and baptize his children and had taken said children to Hagee’s church with him, had called Hagee his “spiritual mentor” and had written a book inspired by and titled with a phrase taken from one of his sermons, *that* might be a different story (although given that this electoral season I’m voting for “whoever is willing to be responsible when it comes to the GWOT,” maybe not).
I don’t hate Obama. I feel sorry for him a bit. The poor guy has obviously spent most of his life living in rarefied circles where these kind of associations (Ayers, Wright) don’t raise eyebrows and are pretty much accepted. He seems to have no feel at all for the rest of America and no clue how the attitudes of his circle look to everyone else (cf. his “bitterly clinging to guns and religion” remark about Pennsylvania), and he never should have thought about running for president before at least *trying* to get to know them.
I honestly don’t think this new Wright thing is a ploy–if it were, I think he would have responded to it a lot more aggressively and deftly. His initial tepid response sounds like a man hoping this whole thing will just go away, and his followup “The Wright I saw yesterday is not the man I knew twenty years ago” just rings thunderingly false (Why, he had no idea! He’s shocked, *shocked,* I tell you!) It’s not likely to hurt him much with the true believers but it also won’t help him much with anyone else.
It’s a shame because Obama is clearly an orator (possibly even an embryonic statesman) of tremendous natural talent and charisma, and he seems like a genuinely nice, if somewhat clueless, guy in person, although absolutely lacking in judgement. The thing is, though, he just doesn’t have the experience to run at this level, and it’s showing. (The phrase “smart but not wise” comes to mind.) He also has no idea how to manage the press, especially against the Clintons, who are campaigners par excellence. Maybe in another couple of electoral cycles, he would have been ready, but now it’s just way too soon and it’s killing him.
Apr 30, 2008 - 6:49 am 55. sculli:if this was obama at his angriest, i missed it…he looked like a stuttering fool who had just had someone play something on him… and he deserves this… he had the chance a few months ago to seperate from his “uncle” wright… and now for what reason he is angry because rev. wright is repeating in real time his soundbite snippets and elaborating on them… why hasn’t anyone asked rev. wright how long he has been preaching this black theology rhetoric?… probably because the biased press doesn’t want to relay the answer that’s he’s been preaching ‘hate whitey’ for 40 years! Obama is a liar and this is a vote he can forget!
Apr 30, 2008 - 7:25 am 56. susan:Rev. Wright is Barack Obama’s pastor not his father. People like Wright to me is starving for attention. Why did Wright wait so long to start doing all these speeches. Why now. I feel for Obama because the media, and people who are against him like so many I’ve seen on this bored ruined a personal friendship. I don’t think Obama thought anything bad about this man and I don’t think Rev. Wright had any beef with Obama. I think it all came from the media and that is a damn shame. This man didn’t even look himself yesterday. He looked vey sad. Men of God are not suppose to judge each other. Wright just took it far. This is more that just politics. It’s the end of a friendship. I know and believe that Barack Obama will get over this and move on to victory. The only way this will effect his campaign is people judging him through Wright. If your that stupid to let this Man Of God turn your thoughts away for voting for him then you weren’t for him from the start. Get over it people and move on.
Apr 30, 2008 - 7:32 am 57. Amanda:Oh why dont you all just stop with the Rev Wright nonsense?
Its not Rev Wright. Its you. Who will never vote for a black man. If he was the Pope himself. Because he’s a black man. Rev Wright is simply an excuse.
Be a man/woman. Say: “Im a racist. I will never vote for a black man.”
At least be honest with yourself.
Apr 30, 2008 - 8:30 am 58. ronbo:I think colagirl has it exactly right.
This must be killing Obama, because his only, um, hope was to run as a post-racial, post-partisan, post-modern politician. It’s a simply brilliant strategy, especially for a relatively untested legislator. (No experience? You’re missing the point! No programs? You’re asking the wrong questions!) It’s also a narrative that the media was poised to support: it’s novel, it’s courageous, it’s interesting. Actually, I think Obama’s substantive politics were the least of it. Left-wing positions didn’t help John Edwards, after all.
But it’s a risky strategy, because it sets the bar very high. Any evidence of feet of clay is more devastating to an Obama than to a conventional politician. Take Rezko. I mean, Obama was a state legislator from Checago – how could he *not* know crooked developers? Clinton knows lots of crooks. So does McCain. It isn’t admirable, but it’s hard to avoid and can’t really be disqualifying by itself. But if you hold yourself out as somehow beyond that, as better than that, look out.
So Obama looks quite conventional in his tardy decision to throw Wright under the bus. And conventional is the one thing he can’t afford.
And here’s a contrarian take on Wright’s motives: perhaps he saw that Obama wasn’t fully over the blowback from the earlier statements and was trying to help Obama by forcing the issue and providing a Sista Souljah opportunity. I think that is more plausible than inferring that he was peeved by Obama’s lack of support, let alone that he was a Clinton mole.
Apr 30, 2008 - 8:56 am 59. Misanthropicus:Cesar writes: “Misanthropicus, you quote ‘November 7th. snap-shot: McCain officially announced as the next US president’ MEANS THE NEXT DISASTER FOR THE UNITE3D STATES”.
Cesar, I sure appreciate being appointed the official Nostradamus of this matter and I thank you much.
Apr 30, 2008 - 8:57 am 60. colagirl:Now, all things considered:
1) the democrat party/official thinking crew simply is not up to this historical period’s challenges, and the two Dem candidates (which actually are entwinned on all issues) painfully show this.
2) the republican party/official thinking crew try to/are tackling this historical period’s challenges; despite current setbacks, blunders and some actions’ unintended consequences, America is BETTER NOW and is BETTER positioned for future.
3) as far as the future US president: no one would hire a plumber, transmission mechanic, dentist, banker, pilot, general etc. with a resume resembling Obama’s or Hillary’s competence and achievements – and you want them in the White House!
Cesar, a hard fact – John McCain’s resume recomends him for the White House job, while Glibama’s and Hillary’s rsumes DON’T.
Its not Rev Wright. Its you. Who will never vote for a black man. If he was the Pope himself. Because he’s a black man. Rev Wright is simply an excuse.
Amanda, if it makes you feel better to believe that, go right ahead. I understand it can hurt when a candidate you care about self-destructs. I will simply point out that stereotyping, insulting and dismissing people is not a particularly productive strategy for changing their minds. I saw the same behavior from the academics in my department when Kerry lost in 2004 (”He lost because of those redneck gun-totin’ bible-thumpin’ inbred hicks!”) and was so profoundly put off by it that it forced me to reconsider and reevaluate my own political beliefs (ironic because I had been a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat before that time).
Apr 30, 2008 - 10:49 am 61. newguy40:Hey, I am just a middle age, working stiff, married for almost 20 yrs and father of two teen age boys.
Here is what I think, fwiw…
1.) Affirmative Action? Okay… fine… if McCain made similar comment and statements for a close adviser who made similar in context comments about Blacks, who would be crucified by the media and the same Black activists and media “pundits” that are aplogizing for Wright!!! What’s good for the goose is sauce for the gander, folks…
2.) My Daddy told me that I would be judged by the company I keep. In other words, show me your friends and I’ll tell you what type of person you are.
It’s that simple for me. Obama has made poor choices in who his friends and associates are and have been for 20+ years. Unless he could have shown me by ACTION something else, I am afraid he has no chance with me.
Apr 30, 2008 - 11:16 am 62. ObamaPro:Barack showed that he could be angry at a situation, at the actions of a dear friend, but he did not condemn the man! His calm, restrained but deliberate actions show that he is more in control of his emotions than the other two running for this highest office. Obama is the ONLY one who is qualified to be making the decisions that affect our world. Hillary has suggested that we obliterate Iran–meaning an entire country wiped off the face of the earth–beginning WWIII. What good will health care or gas prices here be if we don’t have a world to live in?
Consider that Rev. Wright has ‘gone off the deep end’ in such an abrupt turnaround that Barack could not believe the soundbites when he heard them–if you have a friend for 20 years who suddenly ‘changes’ there is a period of disbelief and denial before you have to face the truth–and then you wonder where is all this coming from–could Rev Wright have been ‘gotten to’ in order to sabotage Obama’s chances? The good ol boys who have been in power for the last 600+ years here are not going to give up their power easily–and we have already seen that lying and deceptions are not beyond them when they want something.
Apr 30, 2008 - 11:45 am 63. arnita:I agree with efc. Wright was working with the Clintons to sabotage Obama! I wonder how much he got paid?
Apr 30, 2008 - 12:26 pm 64. Elizabeth:Bottom line: People will use this as an excuse not to vote for Obama. If not this, then Ayers. That’s the only scandal they have on the man. That should speak for itself. While the entire U.S. is faking to be soooo shocked that a black man who was raised under the oppressed time of segregation and jim crow would wade such conflicting views about a country he loved enough to risk his very life and have courage to assert his disdain for its pitfalls and past injustices. All has nothing to do with a man who is both black and white; raised by whites, educated in a diverse culture. No wonder he had the love and temperament to overlook this elderman’s hang ups about his own past. He learned to accept all people for who they were coming up by his white grandparents, white mother and Indian stepfather.
REMEMBER: MLK was branded a communist, radical and unpatriotic. Just as Obama is today. The media played into the lowest most reliable tool of racism and antipatriotic sinicism. Today, you cannot find any of these anti-MLK people. All in all, time will shine its just light on the hypocrisy and sham of an election.
LONG LIVE RACISM AND ANTIPATRIOTIC LOSERS… NOT. Thank goodness, humans are immortal and soon enough all the Dixie, segregationist, old school haters will die off and the generation of HOPE AND CHANGE will take over.
Si se puede.
Apr 30, 2008 - 12:30 pm 65. Sehli:OBAMA 2008!
The question should be can media close the door on wright? It’s the media who can’t let him go.
Apr 30, 2008 - 12:35 pm 66. Christine:Obama is desperate. At this point he will say anything he thinks people want to hear. Doesn’t make it true.
He obviously has his fools, who will believe anything that comes out of his mouth. Some of the early hangers on, have snapped out of it. For the truly enlightened in this world, those who have heard it all, never believed a word he said.
It’s too little too late Obama. Next go around, get a better script writer from day one.
Apr 30, 2008 - 7:58 pm 67. Rebecca:@ Amanda:
I am NOT a racist. My decision to NOT vote for Obama has NOTHING to do with the color of his skin. Anyone who votes for (or against) someone based on superficial things like race, looks, gender, speaking ability, etc., is a fool. One should focus instead on each candidate’s ideas, goals, past voting record on issues, and yes, on those he/she considers as their friends and mentors, because those we hold closest to us are the ones who have the greatest influence on us. That is why this association with Jeremiah Wright is so important. No way does one attend a place of worship and spiritual guidance and NOT know where the leader of said place stands, what he/she believes, or what the central teachings are. And no way can one sit under this level of vitriolic hatred and come out unscathed. Obama wants to take on what is arguably the most powerful position in the world. We need to know where he is coming from. This is not about race. It goes way, way deeper…into the very soul of the man. Open your eyes, Amanda. There is too much at stake.
May 2, 2008 - 9:21 pm