Did Obama’s speech turn the tide?
Once news outlets put snippets from Jeremiah Wright’s sermons in heavy rotation, Barack Obama had a political problem, and he saw his poll numbers slip fairly quickly. His speech in Philadelphia this week intended to allow the senator to explain his perspective in depth and detail, and ideally, explain to the country why this is not the political controversy the media made it out to be.
The speech, which I thought was both brilliant and poignant, was well received, and in some circles, joined the ranks of some of the most important campaign speeches delivered in the modern political era. But none of that would matter if Americans a) didn’t see the speech; or b) saw it and found it unpersuasive.
It’s still pretty new, and too soon to get a sense of the broader trends, but it appears that Obama was largely successful in his goals.
A national poll released Friday showed that voters who had heard or read about Senator Barack Obama’s speech this week on race relations and on his relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. broadly approved of it.
Seven in 10 said Mr. Obama, Democrat of Illinois, did a good job talking about race relations, and as many said he did a good job explaining his relationship with Mr. Wright, according to the CBS News poll.
More than 6 in 10 said they mostly agreed with what he said about race relations in the United States, including a broad majority of Democrats and independents. Fewer Republicans — 4 in 10 — agreed with the message.
Just as importantly, the same poll found that the entire flap was unlikely to change the broader campaign dynamics. The results showed that 70% of respondents said the controversy will make no difference in their vote. The remaining 30% were split evenly between those who said the flap makes them less likely to back Obama and those who said it makes them more likely to support him.
All of this is good news for the Obama campaign, but there were some warning signs, too.
This was the most discouraging result for the campaign:
When registered voters were asked if Obama would unite the country, however, 52 percent said yes - down from 67 percent last month.
It’s good that this number is still above 50% for Obama, but it shows that the Wright story has obviously taken a toll.
I’d just add that Obama still trails in the Gallup tracking poll, but the speech seems to have helped.
Hillary Clinton’s recent lead over Barack Obama in national Democratic nomination preferences has dwindled to the point that the two are now nearly tied, with Clinton at 47% and Obama at 45% in March 18-20 Gallup Poll Daily tracking.
Clinton moved 7 percentage points ahead of Obama in Gallup’s March 19 report and sustained a significant 5-point lead on March 20. Her gains were coincident with the controversy over Obama’s former pastor and “spiritual mentor,” Rev. Jeremiah Wright. However, the surge in Democrats’ preference for Clinton that Gallup detected earlier in the week has started to move out of the three-day rolling average, and the race is back to a near tie. It is possible that Obama’s aggressive efforts to diffuse the Wright story, including a major speech about race on March 18, have been effective.
I suspect Obama’s detractors had hoped the Wright controversy would derail the campaign altogether. That clearly hasn’t happened.
I’m still trying to figure out what part of Rev. Wright’s speech wasn’t the absolute truth.
Obama’s speech was an honest and truthful narrative of his American experience. For us common folk, Obama scored a homerun and the partisan media will have a hard sell trying to bring us back to the race baiting FOX hunts of the past. Even Chris Wallace knows idiocy when he sees it.
I bet Mike is proud of his boy at this moment. -Kevo
just give shillary some more time to SEARCH AND DESTROY - the clinton cabal will undermine the dems every chance they get and they are not done trying to use this to create a wedge between Obama and white voters.
It isn’t that it wasn’t truthful, it was that he said “Damn America”. Now, Robertson and others never said “Damn America”, they just said Americans are sinful and therefor God is punishing them. Slight difference.
This, of course, is exceptionalism gone beserk.
On March 22nd, 2008 at 10:23 am, PAUL S said:
“I’m still trying to figure out what part of Rev. Wright’s speech wasn’t the absolute truth.”
This is exactly the kind of speech that keeps the country divided. Even Obama himself has come out and condemned the hateful speech of Rev. Wright, but his supporters keep up the mantra that it was all very innocent. And this conduct follows a pattern that has been established: All hate speech on the part of blacks can be justified; all hate speech on the part of whites requires retribution.
If this had been reversed and a white minister had made those remarks about blacks he would have already been required to grovel on Al Sharpton’s TV. show and kiss the ring of Jesse Jackson.
The white race has allowed this political correctness to get out of control. We should all be held to the same standard.
[comment deleted]
Obama’s speech as usual was intended to promote race, and show his support of unity which is impossible to bring an honest government. It did nothing to help him, and his comments about his grandmother being a typical white person further alienated the people more
I am shocked that more of the media has not started distributed the full Wright video yet. CNN and Huffington Post have already posted it. I will give you all the links to watch the full 9/11 Wright video, before FOXNEWS corruptly cut out bits of the video and pasted them with other portions to suite their purposes:
Full Wright Speech 1
Full Wright Speech 2
Meet the white man that Wright was recited “chickens are coming home to roost.” It was not Wright’s words, but a white mans.
See how FOX tried to present more false Obama media, but Chris Wallace crushed it:
Chris Wallace setting FOX straight 1
Chris Wallace setting FOX straight 2
Let’s put Hillary’s gaggle of so-called “religious” people who are actually fascist dominionists into the public light and see how people like them. I’m speaking of The Family. Unlike Jeremiah Wright, these people have actually managed to infect policy, including hers. Turns out she’s not some “boring Methodist” like people expect.
You can go here: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080331/ehrenreich and find out all about it.
Senator Obama’s speech made matters worse in my eyes.
Not only did he not act discusted with Pastor Wright’s comments, he implied he was like family.
Pastor Wright is also supporting Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader.
Farrakhan had a meeting with 20,000 people in Chicago endorsing Obama.
You think Pastor Wright is scarey, read about Louis Farrkhan.
Pastor Wright supports him and has had him on the cover of magazines to promote him.
Wake up America. Obama is hanging around with hateful Americans.
I’m surprised anyone is suprised that Reverend Wright said “god damn America.” Any reading of the past 50 years answers both why he would say that and why he would have agreed with the American diplomat who said we brought 9/11 on ourselves (which we did).
God Damn The American Empire And Its Minions.
Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be surprised to find out the American government did invent AIDS. Again, just read the history of what this government has done and it would be “in character.”
@ get out obama (#6)
I was wondering how long I could be awake before reading an incoherent rant, and thanks to you I couldn’t even make it to my first cup of coffee. Kudos.
I fail to see how Rev. Wright’s comments represent “going back” to a huge racial divide. The racial divide never went away, the conservative movement just buried it in the American mindset and blamed “political corectness” to such an extent that healthy, honest discourse is no longer allowed. The idea that we can ever discuss race in America without admitting the historical and ongoing mistreatment of blacks by the still overwhelmingly white male establishment is ludicrous.
How can any well-informed person not laugh whenever wealthy, privileged whites try to play speech like Rev. Wright’s as hate speech?
Senator Obama was to separate Reverend Wright from his campaign. He’s still supporting him.
Reverend Wright supports the Nation of Islam’s radical leader Louis Farrakhan.
Just a few months ago, Louis Farrakhan gave a speech in Chicago to 20,000 people asking them to support Obama. It’s scarey.
Then Obama was asked about him in the debate. Obama denounced him, like he denounced Wright at first. Then Farrakhan had another rally. This time Farrakhan told his followers to ignore what Obama said during the debate and to continue to support Obama.
Wright supports Farrakhan
Wright is Obama’s minister, friend , mentor…like family.
Wright, Farrakhan and Obama are like family.
We need to ask if Obama would pleasee step down…NOW!
He is a disgrace to America.
There is also one thing we should remember when comparing Rev. Wright’s comments to those spouted by Falwell, Robertson, Hagee, and the like: how many people hear Rev. Wright’s speeches in any given week compared to the millions who watch right-wing evangelists in their megachurches and on television? How many ever hear Farrakhan speak, for that matter?
Honestly, I hafta say Paul S has my point of view right there. Exactly what is wrong with condemning our mistakes?
12. On March 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 am, Two Sheds said:
“How can any well-informed person not laugh whenever wealthy, privileged whites try to play speech like Rev. Wright’s as hate speech?”
There you go again. Since Obama has condemned the hateful speech, are you saying that he erred in doing so?
Hooray! The new trolls are here!
Each of us have a personal responsibility to ourselves to be intellegent enough to look for the complete truth, no matter how lazy we’d like to be; we should never be soley dependent upon any media outlet to inform us about what is going on around us, we should research as much, on our own, as we can to find the truth for ourselves.
Now, FOX loves to show their corrupt work on the inaccurate snippets of Wright’s sermons, but they don’t boast about their favorite black ministor that supports Clinton, and this particular black minister says thing to his own congregation that would make any decent member get up and walk out, yet these member sit and listen to this silly minister’s ranks and ravings about his own people.
Click on the video on the page to see him at his worst:
FOX’s self-hating black minister that calls Obama a mack daddy.
Fox has many of this man’s sermon’s on its site; these sermons can also be found on YOUTUBE. FOX loves for this fool to spew his venom about his own people, but no one says anything about this self-hating fool.
On March 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 am, truthteller said:
“Now, FOX loves to show their corrupt work on the inaccurate snippets of Wright’s sermons….”
The videos were sold on the church’s web site and were entitled ‘The Best of Jeremiah Wright’ (that might be paraphrased; they have since been taken off the web site and I can’t confirm it.) It is assumed that they were compiled and edited at the church’s direction and with the approval of Rev. Wright. Thus, I think they were made with pride and for the purpose of showing off the oratory skills of Wright. For this reason, I see red when Obama’s surrogates are all over TV saying that only snippets of full sermons are being shown and taken out of context.
“All the obama [sic] supporters are \defending [sic] him staying at the church [sic], ALL the black ministers are defending Wrights [sic] preaching, that [sic] simply tells ALL Americans they also support his feelings of anti- America [sic] and white hatred that the church preaches.”
All black ministers support feelings of white hatred? In your case, it’s hard to tell if this is prejudice, or another screaming grammatical error.
“THERES ABSOLUTLY NO CHANGE WITH OBAMA, HE WILL DRAG U.S. BACK TO THE 60′S RACIAL DIVIDE at a time our country needs to unite. He cannot do that, no matter how many black news casts tell you he can.”
Your arguments do not become more substantial by CONSTANTLY RESORTING TO CAPITAL LETTERS (the tags for formatting are kindly provided below in the comment box). Judging from your comments about what black people think, you are seriously unqualified to comment on bridging racial divides.
“Obama’s speech as usual was intended to promote race”
This doesn’t even make sense. Promote race? In what sense?
My, my,my. It’s becoming clearer by the day that there is a concerted trolling campaign going on on left-leaning blogs. Is it by Clinton supporters, republicans concerned Obama would win, or both?
What would Jesus do to Reverend Wright?
Being offended about someone being resistant to the United States government PUTS YOUR GOD and your beliefs in your religion SECOND TO YOUR PATRIOTISM.
JESUS WAS ALSO A PERSON WHOM SPOKE OUT AGAINST HIS GOVERNMENT.
Would you condemn him or his supporters?
On March 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 am, smiley said:
“My, my,my. It’s becoming clearer by the day that there is a concerted trolling campaign going on on left-leaning blogs. Is it by Clinton supporters, republicans concerned Obama would win, or both?”
Perhaps it is people who are repulsed and disgusted with the Rev. Mr. Wright.
“JESUS WAS ALSO A PERSON WHOM SPOKE OUT AGAINST HIS GOVERNMENT.
Would you condemn him or his supporters?”
It is really a stretch to compare Jeremiah Wright with Jesus.
Americans face a healthy decision time. Whatever decision they make, I hope that it moves them forward as an example of freedom and justice in the world.
This whole thing scares me. Apparently Obama has such strong emotional ties to this racist hate-mongering preacher that he is unable, or unwilling, to acknowledge that Wright’s influence is inappropriate and indeed harmful.
If the American Citizens elect Obama despite the knowledge of Wright’s influence over him, then it will be an acceptance and a tacit blessing of the union.
I think my moonbat California brother is pissed with me because I said I wasn’t going to ‘get over’ Reverend Wright. Tom’s right that there is nothing in what Wright said that you can’t understand arising from the history of race relations in this country.
Except, of course, the assnine assertion that Hillary doesn’t understand what it means to be a black American but Barack, who was raised by his white family, lived in Hawaii and Indonesia, went to Harvard and is HARDLY poor, does. Wright’s claim that Senator Obama doesn’t ‘fit the mold’ makes me laugh. The man owns a $1.65M home and is a U.S. Senator. Even Michele is a successful businesswoman. What exactly does Wright consider to be ‘rich’, Warren Buffet?
So Senator Obama has been called a racist epitath. Senator Clinton has been called a sexist one, and probably to her face.
Senator Obama’s speach doesn’t so much ’solve the Wright problem’ as try to open up the discussion on race. I can’t say if that is going to be better or worse for him. Some Americans may be ready to talk more about this, but others may be more comfortable with their prejudices. Reverend Wright certainly is.
Perhaps it is people who are repulsed and disgusted with the Rev. Mr. Wright.
You’re right. There is no way I’m going to vote for Rev. Wright for president now.
JanetP, what relevance do you think Wright’s sermons have for the general election?
And you don’t have to claim that Wright is Jesus-like to observe that yes, Jesus did criticise the ruling authorities of his day in very, very strong terms. The Roman version of FOX News would have had a field day if they paid the slightest attention to events in rural Judea.
What TR said.
Nathan said: “JESUS WAS ALSO A PERSON WHOM SPOKE OUT AGAINST HIS GOVERNMENT.”
Jesus lived in a time of Roman occupation of Isreal and Judah. His ‘Government’ was basically collaborators. And the Messiah the Jews were expecting was supposed to throw off that occupation.
Jesus kind of went in another direction. And most of his outrage was for the Jewish religious authorities, not for the Romans or even Herod.
He is the one who said “Render unto Ceaser what is Ceaser’s and render unto God what is God’s”. Which means ‘pay your taxes’. Hardly what I would call railing against Government.
Except, of course, the assnine assertion that Hillary doesn’t understand what it means to be a black American but Barack, who was raised by his white family, lived in Hawaii and Indonesia, went to Harvard and is HARDLY poor, does.
And I bet people he passes on the street know all of that instinctively and treat him that way. Cabbies certainly have an instinctive sense of who raised someone and where they went to college, so I bet they stopped for him all the time. Store owners probably never watched him closely because he had that “Raised by a White Woman” tattoo on his forehead. And redneck racists in bars? Shit, they can smell a Harvard Law Degree from a mile away.
So Senator Obama has been called a racist epitath.
The word you’re looking for is epithet.
An epitaph is text written to honor the deceased. Like “The Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign: R.I.P.”
“On March 22nd, 2008 at 11:12 am, Alex Higgins said:
JanetP, what relevance do you think Wright’s sermons have for the general election?”
I think it is relevant in that Barack Obama should get on the spine donor’s list for his failure to challenge the hateful speech of his mentor and spiritual advisor that now offends him so terribly.
It’s becoming clearer by the day that there is a concerted trolling campaign going on on left-leaning blogs.
You just noticed? I’d love for blogs like this, the Politico, etc., to check the IP addresses of these posters. How many of them are actually the same person and how many of them can be tracked to a 527 office, Clinton campaign office, etc.
Oh, and the reason I don’t plan to ‘get over’ Reverend Wright is because I want to use McCain’s embrace of Falwell, Robinson, Hagey and Palsey (sp) against him.
I actually think McCain is worse than Obama, as what he sought from these extremist pastors wasn’t a Christian salvation, but a political one.
Thanks for the spell checking TR.
As this election cycle moves along, I grow more and more pessimistic about where we are as a country and where we are in the Democratic Party. I decided early on to support Sen. Obama—not because of his race, but because of his vision for America. Although I felt qualified to analyze the situation as a person holding three degrees, including a degree in political science, and to make a decision based upon such analysis, I am disturbed by the constant insinuation that I am supporting him because I am African-American and so is he.
As a Black woman who grew up in a “White” evangelical congregation where our family was the only black family, a neighborhood where we were one of two black families, and in schools where I was often the only black person in my classes, and as a person who has dated every racial group and is currently dating a biracial man, I was looking for someone with the ability to connect people in a way that I personally never experienced. In each of those situations, race was always the elephant in the room. I was hoping that Sen. Obama would show us how to be Americans, instead of white Americans or black Americans. I have not given up on believing in his vision. I have, however, given up on this country’s ability to see his vision at this point in our history.
I have given up for several reasons:
First, I keep hearing that it would be wrong for the superdelegates to give the nomination to Sen. Clinton because the Black community (a trustworthy Democratic voting block) would be outraged. Why are people making this a race issue? I would hope that all Democrats would be upset regardless of whether the loser would be Barack Obama or not. If John Edwards had won the most states, the popular votes, and the pledged delegates, I would be outraged if the superdelegates still gave the nomination to Hillary Clinton. For the press and political pundits to suggest that this is only an issue because of Sen. Obama’s race tells me that people want to look at every issue through the lense of race even when race should not matter. Maybe to most Americans (at least to the media), race always matters.
Second, I keep hearing people say that Barack’s pastor made anti-white comments. When I ask people which comments were anti-white, no one can point me to a statement. Did we just assume that he was anti-white? Yes, he said “God damn America.” But, the last time I checked, America is not a white person. In fact, it is a melting pot with many races. If God damns America, he would be damning all of us. Additionally, I have heard in churches all my life that God will punish America for its sin. I have heard that in Black and white churches, and I have been to more white churches than black churches. Again, maybe we should truly analyze the things around us to see which ones are truly racial and which ones are not. Speaking out about the government is not speaking out against white people.
Third, I am so over this pattern of denouncing and disassociating ourselves with those who say things that we do not agree with. I have heard Black people say AIDS is a government conspiracy (many of them know about the Tuskegee Experiment – people seem to act like this is all in black people’s minds and that this never happened), I have heard White people say the government lied about landing on the moon, and I have heard white people say that George Bush lied about 911. So, people of all races distrust the government. To say so is not anti-white, even when Rev. Wright says it. I did not disavow the people who made the comments. Instead, we debated the issues and agreed to disagree. What happened to debate in this country? It appears that it is expected that now we have to disassociate ourselves from people who make comments that we do not agree with. That seems fundamentally un-American to me. We will never have growth if we only associate ourselves with people who share the same views as us and we will retreat farther into our respective corners. I have had friends on the far left and friends on the far right. Apparently, I should have denounced somebody. If this is where we are going in America, I am very pessimistic that we will ever come together.
My father was a racist and I loved him. H influenced me a great deal by serving as a counter example in that regard. If Rev. Wright is a racist hate monger as you say (do you know him?) maybe he serves as a similar counter example for Sen. Obama. Is that so impossible?
I’m a 62 year old white female born and raised in Mississippi that supports and will vote for Obama. I still have many “Bubba” relatives that live in the south that watch Fox and agree with everything that is said there. Problem is they have not read a book since they were forced to in school. They are racist and bigots but they work hard and love their families. I have not disowned them.
Some people will only focus on the Wright clips on TV and some will listen to or read the Obama speech and will take a honest look at themselves. Some people who have never openly talked about race to someone of the opposite race may find the courage to ask questions.
Some people will come to the conclusion that we have serious problems in this country and that the middle class is on the brink of being non existent. Some people will realize that race and religion are not the problem and will come together for survival, that most powerful emotion and will that exist in the human spirit. Some will continue to hold on to old opinions and beliefs.
We have a choice that is survival and to move forward to obtain what is better or to remain static.
Selective quoting of polls here. I’ve seen some polls described elsewhere that show that Obama’s speech only helped him with black voters and some so-called elite Democrats but that Obama’s crossover voters were unimpressed. Last night ABC news showed a segment where they interviewed male voters in PA. Most had not heard Obama’s speech but had heard Wright’s statements and were negatively affected by them. They could find no one supporting Obama to interview for their segment (in Allentown?).
Obama may be trying to put a good face on this, but I think the uproar has hurt him. I believe the past few day’s attacks on Clinton will backfire on him too because the ugliness of the past two days undermines his claim to be a different kind of candidate. Now that he is desperate he appears to be the same kind of candidate as everyone else.
You know, making fun of the grammar of people’s posts does nothing to win hearts and minds for Obama. I imagine the new folks posting here are the same ones who came to this blog a few days back when there was some cross-linking. You may not like what they are saying (I don’t either), but I think they too illustrate the impact of Obama’s speech on some of those he was perhaps hoping to persuade. Did it work on them?
“He is the one who said “Render unto Ceaser what is Ceaser’s and render unto God what is God’s”. Which means ‘pay your taxes’. Hardly what I would call railing against Government.” (Lance)
To get biblical, try Luke 11:42-54 instead. That is railing. Or Luke 13:32. Or Matthew 12:34
The quote about Caesar and taxes was an attempt to avoid being caught out into making an anti-Roman or collaborationist statement that would have guaranteed either an earlier execution or discredited him among his supporters.
“Rev. Wright is a racist hate monger as you say (do you know him?) maybe he serves as a similar counter example for Sen. Obama. Is that so impossible?”
That is not the way Sen. Obama described his relationship to Rev.Wright.
I’m also looking forward to learning more about the concerted troll blogging that we are seeing. Maybe 10-20% of the never-heard-of-before posters are real, but so many of the fly-by posts have a wrong tone to them. Unfortunately, we aren’t likely to learn any details until too late.
“Just a few months ago, Louis Farrakhan gave a speech in Chicago to 20,000 people asking them to support Obama. It’s scarey.” Yep, that many black people sure are scary. And the very nerve of Farrakhan to continue to support Obama. Gimme a break.
McCain’s support from crazy-Right fundamentalists troubles me much more than Farrakhan supporting Obama. Preacher and McCain supporter Rod Parsley is on record with “Americans must be ‘Christocrats’ — citizens of both their country and the Kingdom of God.” and he has called for a war against the “false religion” of Islam. MacCain partisan and preacher John Hagee has written, “Just before us is a nuclear countdown with Iran, followed by the final battle: the battle of Armageddon . . . . The end of the world as we know it is rapidly approaching. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. The best is yet to be.”
On March 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 am, K. Renee Dent said:
“As this election cycle moves along……”
This is canned text; I saw it on another web site last evening. Good work.
“You know, making fun of the grammar of people’s posts does nothing to win hearts and minds for Obama.”
I would normally let it slide, because everyone makes mistakes and it’s silly to get too anal about spelling and grammar. But the combination of racism and execrable writing in number 6 was very aggravating.
When Christ said “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s” it’s usually interpreted as a call to separate Church and State.
Kind of like Americans should, according to their Constitution.
“I think it is relevant in that Barack Obama should get on the spine donor’s list for his failure to challenge the hateful speech of his mentor and spiritual advisor that now offends him so terribly.”
But he had already had disagreements with Wright long before this ever turned into an election-cycle issue.
As for getting a spine - Barack Obama has already challenged people who have actual power - telecom companies and the pharmaceutical industry, and opposed the Iraq War in 2002 when it was not easy to do so. That requires some actual courage, unlike denouncing an obscure pastor in Chicago which requires none whatsoever and demonstrates no ability to address any issues of national or international importance.
BTW - credit to you at least for using an actual name to post disagreements here and not hiding behind some pretentious pseudonym like ‘Very Concerned American’ or ‘Get Out Obama’.
I wrote a sketch about the whole Farrakhan/Obama saga which was posted by the Editors at the Poor Man Institute here:
http://thepoorman.net/2008/03/08/debate-transcript/
Readers may, or may not, like to take a look.
At the beginning of the week it looked (to the TeeVee wing of the MSM) as though Obama were about to go under. At the end of the week biggies such as Bill Richardson were telling the Clintons that it’s time to fold their tents and go back where they came from. I’d say Obama’s speech turned the tide.
The problem with Obama’s “famous” speech on race this week is that it came after not before exposure of Wright’s sermons on the news. How convenient and politically correct of Senator Obama.
Whether he is or was right about the war in Iraq is now immaterial. The issue is that for 20 years he was comfortable in hearing the racist drivel of his spiritual leader and not once did he publicly condemn it.
What would Martin Luther King have done?
Yes, he turned the tide with his speech. An excellent speech and, in not disowning Reverend Wright, Senator Obama showed a lot of courage. It would have been far easier to sell Reverend Wright down the river and put the matter to bed. Obviously, I detest the volatile things the Reverend said but there have times in my life when I let anger and frustration (particularly when I felt I had been treated unfairly) overcome and I have said hateful things that I wished later I could take back. If the media continues to harp on the video clips and cite criticism of Senator Obama, I believe there will be a backlash, Few people like a pile-on particularly when the victim is viewed as someone that would do the same were the situation reversed. Senator Obama has,clearly in my mind, run the more positive campaign and has only gone negative in defense of the Clinton team’s tactics. In summary, I find Senator Obama, despite his initial fib on being present during divisive statements made by Reverend Wright, far more trustworthy and of much stronger character than Senator Clinton. To slightly alter and plagarize a line from a good movie “(He) makes me want to be a better man”.
Ed @#49;
I also think that most intelligent observers see this whole flap as what it is; an attempt by the Money Party to undermine and destroy the first non-Money Party approved candidate with a real shot at being elected President in a very long time. The Money Party wants their candidates, be they Billary or McBush.
Why nothing in the Money Party owned media about Billary’s ties to the Family, or McBush’s endorsements by theocrats Hagee & Parsley?
It’s so blatant it would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious.
What would Martin Luther King have done?
Agreed with Wright on the substance, if not the style, I suspect.
As for those pretending to be scared by an Obama presidency because of the Farrakhan or Wright episodes, what exactly are you afraid of?
That Obama is going to abolish the United States and turn it over to someone else? That he is going to punish white people? What exactly? It’s frankly hysterical - and that’s hysterical peculiar, not hytserical ha-ha.
How about some actual fears - ones that even an Obama presidency might not assuage.
Anyone scared that the next president might not take global warming seriously? That the US will be stuck in a collapsing occupation of Iraq for years into the future or drawn into conflict with Iran? That basic civil liberties will be lost for many years to come? That income inequality will continue to rise? That working people’s living standards will stagnate or drop further? That corporate corruption in Wall Street will exacerbate global recession? That low income Americans will still not be able to afford healthcare?
I mean, by all means, let’s replay the tape of Pastor Wright being angry and pretend that maybe Obama also wants to bring God’s wrath on the US.
52. On March 22nd, 2008 at 11:46 am, PeteCO said:
Ed @#49;
“I also think that most intelligent observers see this whole flap as what it is; an attempt by the Money Party to undermine and destroy the first non-Money Party approved candidate with a real shot at being elected President in a very long time….”
It was reported this morning that Obama has raised over 200 million dollars; Clinton has raised over 150 million; McCain wasn’t even in the race. So just WHO is the money party?
The problem with Obama’s “famous” speech on race this week is that it came after not before exposure of Wright’s sermons on the news. How convenient and politically correct of Senator Obama.
And if he’d made a big deal out of race *before* the controversy, then everyone would’ve dismissed him as another Jesse Jackson candidate who only wanted to talk about racial issues.
We get it, OK? There’s absolutely nothing he could do to make you happy, and there’s nothing we can say that will convince you otherwise. Have fun with the pettiness and pouting.
“I mean, by all means, let’s replay the tape of Pastor Wright being angry and pretend that maybe Obama also wants to bring God’s wrath on the US.”
I hope every channel continues to play it until the American People get it.
JanetP,
You should be more concerned with your own self-imposed ignorance, and your inability to comprehend logic. You are correct! You can’t prove any of the nonsense that you are spewing.
If more American’s are anything like you, and their self-imposed ignorance is as severe as yours, then I fear for our country.
Alex @ #54;
Thanks for that. Here is a piece Paul Krugman wrote for Rolling Stone some time ago, about the possible consequences of continuing this economic madness. Worth your time. The US as Argentina, anyone?
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/12699486/paul_krugman_on_the_great_wealth_transfer/print
We shouldn’t say God bless the blogosphere, but God damn the blogosphere!
I swear everyone here has lost their minds. I hardly know where to begin.
First, while fresh new trolls are a welcome respite from outdated stale trolls, we need to find a new vendor. Seems several of our trolls are saying that Obama never acted disgusted with Rev. Wright. Nothing like spouting off from a point of ignorance - clearly you have not read or watched the speech. Obama was quite hard on Wright’s views (the sin, if you will) while still accepting Wright as a human being (the sinner).
Second, Obama must have used his great fundraising to buy tin foil for his supporters, because the reflexive “the trolls probably have IP addresses to the Clinton campaign!” is just pathetic. That is CDS in an advanced stage; please, find a cure while there is still time.
Third, the idea that Wright said nothing wrong (an extreme subset of the Obama supporters) must have overlooked that horrendously anti-intellectual, on-par-with-crazy-creationists bit about HIV being created and released by the US government as a form of genocide against minorities. WTF? Those of us who claim to be in the Reality Based Community should be appalled just as we are at the idea that early pre-cowboys rode the backs of brontosauri.
Fourth, is there any worse phenomenon this election camapign than “my underrepresentation greivance is bigger than yours!” Really? When black civil rights supporters and feminists go after each other, the only people who win are (duh!) oppressive white men! woo hoo! Score one for Obama: cabbies know he’s black, but don’t think he’s from Harvard! Score one for Clinton: Obama’s never had a wingnut sell t-shirts about him with an acronym for the crassest of slurs, a humiliation she’s experienced! Lets just call it even and agree that all of the above are atrocious and have blacks and women working together to overthrow rich old white straight men.
It is clear that Obama’s speech didn’t really work: the discussion about race in America has hardly been “elevated” since then. (Worst of all from my perspective is that his major Iraq speech which was already scheduled for the next day got zero coverage because the news was still his race speech. I wanted to hear about the Iraq speech.) It also didn’t NOT work: the overall numbers on Obama seem about the same as pre-Wright. It did give the blogs a whole new jolt of energy, though. That must count for something.
In the time it took me to write this i trust more evidence of mind-losing has been posted. now i’ll hit submit so you can all get pedantic on my ass and correct my spelling and grammar (i happen to think my grammar is “typical”, but i hear such remarks get people in trouble).
“You should be more concerned with your own self-imposed ignorance”
SELF-IMPOSED IGNORANCE?? I readily understand how one can take steps to become educated, but you have just completely lost me with asserting that one can deliberately inflict IGNORANCE on themselves. I rather think ignorance would be defined as ‘lack of education.’
At any rate…….my education and i.q. are not relevant here, so I won’t offer a defense of either.
“And if he’d made a big deal out of race *before* the controversy, then everyone would’ve dismissed him as another Jesse Jackson candidate who only wanted to talk about racial issues.”
Now, you’ve gone and done it. It appears affirmatively that you have accused the exalted Jesse Jackson of being a racist.
…and not once did he publicly condemn it.
Yes he did.
So just WHO is the money party?
OK, that explains a lot. New to American politics.
What TR said @ 56:
Ditto.
It is only bigotry that would keep anybody from knowing Obama’s heart after listening to his Speech in the city of Brotherly Love.
Rush Limbaugh has given license to the majority to call any criticism of our society racist and any criticism of our government unpatriotic.
Rev. Wright spoke the truth.
Rev. Wright served with honor in the Marines. Did you? He has earned his right to the 1st amendment!
Obama will be the next President.
Richardson will be in the cabinet, if not the V.P. and Kucinich too. Edwards better wake up and smell the coffee.
Let’s talk about ISSUES and not get sidetracked by these laughable SwiftBoat, mealy mouth whining. Get a grip!
Do the Obama minions still get paid when they lose the debate?
“It was reported this morning that Obama has raised over 200 million dollars; Clinton has raised over 150 million; McCain wasn’t even in the race. So just WHO is the money party?”
The top 5% wealthiest. The people who own GE (NBC) GM, the pharmaceutical companies, the insurance companies, the telecom companies, Halliburton/KBR/Blackwater and all those others who have done so well out of BushCO’s war. The people for whom $200 million is chump change. Those who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.
The point is that despite all those wealthy companies Obama has had far more money than any other candidate. He SHOULD be winning this race. But for his mentor he probably would have pulled it off (and with my vote!)
To: Janet P
You sound exactly like the divisive people that Obama talks about in his speech.
He is brilliant, compassionate, and you Hill/Billy or Mc Cain supporters cannot stand it!!!!
GO GO GO OBAMA!!
JanetP says”(and with my vote!)”.
Clinton has a 10% chance of being the Democratic nominee. The only way she can pull it off is coup by superdelegate, which will split the party. Therefore it is (hopefully) reasonable to assume the supers will do the right thing, and back Obama. Your choice in November will be Obama or McCain. McCain has enthusiastically embraced the endorsement of Pastor John Hagee and Pastor Rick Parsley, both of whom have long, well-documented histories of anti-American statements in public settings.
Does this mean you will not vote, as neither candidate appears to meet your standards with regard to who they associate with?
Here are some links on the other candidate’s religious and/or political affiliations;
http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=john_hagees_controversial_gospel
http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=with_god_on_his_side
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-ehrenreich/hillarys-nasty-pastorate_b_92361.html?page=4
It’s about time Americans had a frank discussion of racial issues. Too bad it didn’t happen until after the election, but that’s the way the ball bounces.
And as far as the U.S. facing up to its own failings, I heard most of the same points raised by Rev. Wright in my own church on the Sunday following 9/11, and my church is nearly completely white. Our minister’s language wasn’t quite as colorful as Rev. Wright’s, but that’s just style rather than substance. The fact that my minister didn’t grow up under Jim Crow might also make a difference, no?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAYe7MT5BxM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNTGRL0OJWQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prhnc2fxAzg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-kD0QdRJk&feature=related
racist pastor RACIST OBAMA need i say more …. VOTE 4 HILARY!!!
To: Nancy from Canada
You obviously have no understanding whatsoever of the ‘Black experience. I have a very good understanding of it and I am White. It is all about ignorance on you and all the other ones who cannot or refuse not to understand.
Obama is as Bill Richardson said, a once in a lifetime candidate. Don’t be so critical as Janet P is. You are the one who is the Racist, not Obama or Wright!!!
racist pastor RACIST OBAMA need i say more …. VOTE 4 HILARY!!!
Clinton is done. Get over it.
Minion? Moonbat? Imma human being goddammit!
Have a great day everyone and remember one thing: It’s still just March!
Illegitimus non carborundum!
Si Se Puede! Viva Obama!
Great speech…!!
Was the speech enough.. IMHO, no.
Barack is bright and passionate about addressing important issues. However he lacks the experience to run the greatest nation on earth. Once he does gain the experience I do believe he has a bright future in politics..
I really wanted to post the following to the AndersonCopper360blog by Roland Martin… However, its now closed for comments..
Thank you, Mr. Roland Martin. It’s good to hear commentary from someone who actually listed to an entire sermon..
Please do the same for the sermon from which the clips have been played over and over and over.. It would really help put all this in proper perspective.
Even better, perhaps someone could persuade the Reverend Jeremiah Wright to hold a press conference to comment on a replay of the video.
For now, I only have the press commentary and the clips to draw from… What I conclude from both is we have a serious issue.
Should Barack become president we would have a hate mongering advisor to the President of the greatest nation on the world.
Under no situation could I see any need to convey any ideals in this manner..
One last thought for CNN management… I’m my humble opinion, Mr. Martin is very pro Barack for which CNN is providing a platform to do his bidding..
This is NOT something I would expect of CNN..
Obama is unexperienced? Really?
This is his record in the Senate. What about this is not experience?
Most of his legislative effort has been in the area of Energy Efficiency and Climate Change (25 bills), health care (21 bills) and public health (20 bills), consumer protection/labor (14 bills), the needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces (13 bills), Congressional Ethics and Accountability (12 bills), Foreign Policy (10 bills) Voting and Elections (9 bills), Education (7 bills), Hurricane Katrina Relief (6), the Environment (5 bills), Homeland Security (4 bills), and discrimination (4 bills).
Of the 15 bills Senator Obama sponsored or co-sponsored in 2005-7 that became law:
Two addressed foreign policy:
Promote relief, security and democracy in the Congo (2125)
Develop democratic institutions in areas under Palestinian control (2370).
Three addressed public health:
Improve mine safety (2803)
Increased breast cancer funding (597)
Reduce preterm delivery and complications, reduce infant mortality (707).
Two addressed openness and accountability in government:
Strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (2488)
Full disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds (2590)
Two addressed national security
Extend Terrorist Risk Insurance (467)
Amend the Patriot Act (2167)
One addressed the needs of the Armed Forces
Wave passport fees to visit graves, attend memorials/funerals of veterans abroad (1184).
Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:
25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change
Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115)
Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133)
Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768)
Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151)
Reduce green house gas emissions (1324)
Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389)
Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202)
Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269)
Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794)
Alternative diesel standards (3554)
Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623)
Renewable diesel standards (1920)
Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555)
Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025)
Alternative energy refueling system (2614)
Climate change education (1389)
Low income energy assistance (2405)
Oil savings targets (339)
Fuel economy reform (3694)
Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617)
Nuclear release notice (2348)
Passenger rail investment (294)
Energy relief for low income families (2405)
21 addressed Health Care
Drug re-importation (334)
Health information technology (1262, 1418)
Discount drug prices (2347)
Health care associated infections (2278)
Hospital quality report cards (692, 1824)
Medical error disclosure and compensation (1784)
Emergency medical care and response (1873)
Stem cell research (5)
Medical Malpractice insurance (1525)
Health centers renewal (901, 3771)
Children’s health insurance (401)
Home health care (2061)
Medicare independent living (2103)
Microbicides for HIV/AIDS (823)
Ovarian cancer biomarker research (2569)
Gynological cancers (1172)
Access to personalized medicine through use of human genome (976)
Paralysis research and care (1183)
20 addressed Public Health:
Violence against women (1197)
Biodefense and pandemic preparedness and response (1821, 1880)
Viral influenza control (969)
End homelessness (1518)
Reduce STDs/unintended pregnancy (1790)
Smoking prevention and tobacco control (625)
Minority health improvement and disparity elimination (4024)
Nutrition and physical education in schools (2066)
Health impact assessments (1067, 2506)
Healthy communities (1068)
Combat methamphetamines (2071)
Paid sick leave (910)
Prohibit mercury sales (833, 1818)
Prohibit sale of lead products (1306, 2132)
Lead exposure in children (1811, 2132)
14 address Consumer Protection/Labor
Stop unfair labor practices (842)
Fair minimum wage (2, 1062, 2725, 3829)
Internet freedom (2917)
Credit card safety (2411)
Media ownership (2332)
Protecting taxpayer privacy (2484)
Working family child assistance (218)
Habeus Corpus Restoration (185)
Bankruptcy protection for employees and retirees (2092)
FAA fair labor management dispute resolution (2201)
Working families flexibility (2419).
13 addressed the Needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces:
Improve Benefits (117)
Suicide prevention (479)
Needs of homeless veterans (1180)
Homes for veterans (1084)
GI Bill enhancement (43)
Military job protection
Dignity in care for wounded vets (713)
Housing assistance for low income veterans (1084)
Military children in public schools (2151)
Military eye injury research and care (1999)
Research physical/mental health needs from Iraq War (1271)
Proper administration of discharge for personality disorder (1817, 1885)
Security of personal data of veterans (3592)
12 addressed Congressional Ethics and Accountability
Lobbying and ethics reform (230)
Stop fraud (2280)
Legislative transparency and accountability (525)
Open government (2180, 2488)
Restoring fiscal discipline (10)
Transparency and integrity in earmarks (2261)
Accountability of conference committee deliberations and reports (2179)
Federal funding accountability and transparency (2590)
Accountability and oversight for private security functions under Federal
contract (674)
Accountability for contractors and personnel under federal contracts
(2147) Resctrictions awarding government contracts (2519)
10 addressed Foreign Policy:
Iraq war de-escalation (313)
US policy for Iraq (433),
Divestiture from Iran (1430)
Sudan divestment authorization (831)
Millennium Development Goals (2433)
Multilateral debt relief (1320)
Development bank reform (1129)
Nuclear nonproliferation (3131,977,2224).
9 address Voting/Elections
Prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (453)
Voter access to polls and services in Federal elections (737)
Voter intimidation and deceptive practices (1975)
Senate campaign disclosure parity (185)
Require reporting for bundled campaign contributions (2030)
Election jamming prevention (4102)
Campaign disclosure parity (223)
Presidential funding (2412)
Integrity of electronic voting systems (1487)
11 addressed Education
Increase access of low income African Americans to higher education (1513)
Establish teaching residency programs (1574)
Increase early intervention services (2111)
Middle school curriculum improvements (2227)
Public database of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid (2428)
Summer learning programs (116)
TANF financial education promotion (924)
Higher education (1642)
Build capacity at community colleges (379)
Campus law enforcement in emergencies (1228)
Support for teachers (2060).
6 addressed Hurrican Katrina
Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319)
Emergency relief (1637)
Bankruptcy relief and community protection (1647)
Working family tax relief (2257)
Fair wages for recovery workers (1749)
Gulf coast infrastructure redevelopment (1836)
5 addressed the Environment
Drinking water security (218, 1426)
Water resources development (728)
Waste water treatment (1995)
Combat illegal logging (1930)
Spent nuclear fuel tracking and Acountability (1194)
Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.726.IS ]
4 addressed Discrimination
Claims for civil class action based on discrimination (1989)
Domestic partnership benefits (2521)
Unresolved civil rights crimes (535)
Equality or two parent families (2286)
4 addressed Homeland Security
Judicial review of FISA orders (2369)
National emergency family locator (1630)
Amend US Patriot Act (2167)
Chemical security and safety (2486)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/21/164117/783?new=true
Oh, and I neglected to mention, I would be fascinated if one of the Clinton supporters would post Senator Clinton’s record. A compare and contrast would be lovely.
THE TRUTH ABOUT REV. JEREMIAH WRIGHT’S MESSAGES — Please listen to the entire video 10 minute message rather than the “edited” FOX video — you will be shocked (or maybe not) to see how the media distorted Rev. Wright’s message. The creators of the original video circling the globe should be sued for slander! Copy and paste these links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ThIdzzb0zc
Katie
To add to #79…Yes, by all means, DO watch that 10 minute clip. The relevant part starts 3.3 minutes into the video.
I hope every channel continues to play it until the American People get it.
Get what, Janet?
How do you think that Wright’s sermons affect an Obama presidency or anything else?
Again, the deliberate vagueness from those who consider a Chicago pastor’s worst remarks to have significance beyond his own locality is striking.
Unless you have the slightest basis for arguing that Obama’s policies will reflect absurd conspiracies about HIV or a desire to damn America, then what is the issue here?
Moving on from pastors, Clinton’s campaign strategist Mark Penn used to work as a lobbyist from the fascist regime in Argentina, the generals who became world famous for bereaving the country’s mothers. Now that is worth a YouTube video, Janet.
It would get airplay if cable networks cared about human rights in South America, which is to say that it won’t.
If Obama doesn’t get the nomination, to me he has change a whole lot about this country. We are actually having a dialogue about race in this country. It isn’t good enough that he has an Ivy League education with a wife whose equally intelligent, that he has taught constitutional law, that he was a community organizer, and that he is a senator with the perfect family. He has to denounce and ship everyone he disagrees with to Siberia. Every time he makes a step forward as his wife Michelle so diligently observes, “the bar shifts a bit higher.” Maybe I am being too cynical here but I don’t think we are ready for an American candidate who happens to be black. This candidate has to fit a certain criteria. According to our polls, we are. However, when we go to the polls, the truth prevails. Let’s continue to have a dialogue about race since that’s the only thing we want to focus on because apparently we are not ready to accept the fact that this man regardless of his skin color is ready to be cammander in chief. ( PS watch his speech on the war in Iraq)
I don’t understand why everyone has their panties in a knot over what the Reverend said; many people sit under a pastor and don’t agree with everything that they say. Obama is not taking this man into the White House with him he’s just attending his church. Don’t get me wrong I like Bill Clinton, but we must remember Hillary is taking Bill with her to the White House and how disrespectful can that be to take the man who did NOT show any respect for his country or the White House by the scandals that he had going on up in there. He may not have verbally communicated his disrespect, but it was disrespect just the same.
This has nothing to do with Jeremiah Wright and everything in the world to do with Barack Obama. If Obama didn’t have the moral courage to stand in the well of that church and declare to the 6000-strong congregation that the sermons of Wright were wrong, hateful, and divisive, how could he be trusted to face down world leaders who are trying to harm America?
And please don’t offer the lame response that Wright’s words were taken out of context. Obama himself has condemned the speech. He is just very late in doing so.
“Obama is not taking this man into the White House with him he’s just attending his church. ”
How do we know Obama is not taking Wright to the White House with him? He told the world he would not disown him. There was nothing in his speech that indicated there would be any changes in the relationship that he has with Wright.
Janet, your black fear white flight side is showing.
You’re scarier than anything Wright might put out there.
Too bad you didn’t, and won’t, listen to the entire ten minutes of Wright speaking. But that wouldn’t form to your world view.
This has everything to do with Wright, it’s his words that has everyone in an uproar. Are we suppose to disown everyone that says something that we don’t like or agree with it’s called an opinion. Get a little thicker skin, becasue if you don’t we will be disowning everyone, families look out, we all need to walk on egg shells or we may be disowned.
To people who pasted the link to the longer clip of the sermon, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ&feature=related , thank you very much.
I am very disappointed with myself, and I owe Reverend White an apology. I figured that Obama’s opponents were undoubtedly overplaying the pastor’s anger in an attempt to scare off white voters, but I also assumed that there was some truth to the complaints, that the people who originated the charge of Obama sitting there listening to angry and hateful sermons for years had some basis in truth for what they were saying, so I was evaluate the preacher and Obama on the basis that where there was smoke there was at least a little fire.
Fiery preaching, yes, but hate-filled, no.
Trinity Chicago has apparently posted a whole slew of clips from Wright’s sermons, and probably their selections are also biased, and I only skimmed a few, but nonetheless I am now outraged at what is looking like massive distortions in the media. Wright doesn’t need anyone making excuses for him, and I should have known better than to believe the crap being spewed against him. In the long clip, in context, he’s citing a white ambassador who was trying to wake up a nation that has at times wandered far off the proper path. Anyone who rips the micro-clip out of its context and presents it as indicative of a hate-filled preacher has an ugly and dishonest mind.
In the longer version, Rev. Wright ended by identifying three things we could have done after 9/11. The first was self-examination. There the clip ended. Anyone know what the other two were or where an even longer version can be found?
What is wrong with the american people?.. Can’t you folks see that clinton is nothing but a fake and a cold hearted woman? She well do anything for power. Barack Obama is a honest man. So he goes to that church. I have been to a church where I did not agree with the pastor but kept going out of friendship. The church does not make the man!!! Let the subject go already.. I am sick of hearing about Rev. Wright. Get on with the things we need to talk about instead of letting Obama bashers run the show. I loved what Obama had to say.. That alone proves that he is a good and truthful man.. He gets to the point. He makes me feel proud to be an american. I feel shame for our country every time Hillary opens her mouth. She makes me ashamed to be a woman. We need Obama.. OBAMA,08
N. Wells,
You’re welcome; however, as I stated in my earlier post closer to the top, and as you’ve just realized, “it is so very important that we educate ourselves on these issues, when the media or individuals (friend, family, or bloggers) attempt to tell us what someone else said or didn’t say.” We are no better than the LIARS (FOX and CNN, and MSNBC) if we don’t dig dig dig for the truth versus depending on the media or others to tell us the truth. We’ve all been taught that the only way to truly know the truth is to have witnessed or heard for ourselves what someone said or didn’t say.
How many times have the media distorted the truth in order for better ratings or for political interest? Many times.
They’ve ruined lives with their inaccurate portrayal of individuals, and they’ve refused to apologize, because they would be openly admitting that they are no better than TABLOID TRASH! They are not journalist by any means!
That Obama’s speech was so widely approved of is one of the most blatant lies the media has yet perpetrated. Not since they tried to convince the American voter that he/she was in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens has there been this degree of deception.
After visiting the various news stories and the comments that were offerred to them, the exact opposite is true. The media is the tail trying to wag the dog here… trying to invent public opinion by making us believe that it already exists!
In fact, Obama has a long way to go before becoming popular enough to win the presidency… or even explain his refusal to divorce himself from the racist preacher. The people are NOT buying the media storylines.
Snippets of Reverend Wright’s Sermons
Were We All Duped?
Was this a classic example of political chicanery dumbing down the American populace in the worst way?
On March 21, 2008, AC 360 produced a slightly expanded version of the two sermons that the Reverend Wright preached that has caused much controversy. The expanded versions lead me to ask three important questions:
Question 1: Did a segment of the media, FOX news, intentionally produced misleading snippets of Reverend Wright’s sermons? The piece in which “God Damn America” and the piece in which “The Chickens Have Come Home to Roost” are very distressing. But they appear to be nothing more than shrewd, slanderous politics for political gains.
The slightly extended versions suggest something very sinister –politically. Something so sinister that ministers of the highest regards would fall prey if their sermons are contextually slanted in this way.
The slightly extended versions suggest that the Reverend never damn America out of hatred or bitterness. Rather, the sermon was about governments who neglect their citizens to suffer needlessly from social conditions. Neglecting citizens in this way would certainly fall within the “What you do to the least of these, you also do unto me” gospel. Thus, God (will) Damn America is a social justice commentary - nothing more. Some of the best clergies and religious leaders of all faith routinely preach a social justice gospel.
Question 2: Did the rest of the media, CNN, MSNBC (others essentially avoided the fray) in-turn ran with FOX portrayal of Reverend Wright without hearing enough of the text to understand the snippets? If so, the media neglected their journalistic duty of balanced and/or contextual reporting. Thus has allowed what is tantamount to slander of the worst kind. Responsible journalism needs to examine this assertion.
If my theory is correct, the journalistic world needs to correct this defamation of character of Reverend Wright. And at the very least admit to a journalistic complacency if not an outright apology to the reverend and America for the harm this complacency may/could have caused.
Question 3: Did Barack Obama get swept up in a “rushing tide” of damnation causing him to make a bold speech repudiating something that was not deserving of repudiation? Could it be that Obama really did not know the full sermons accept for the snippets he saw in the media (like the rest of us)? Did the media’s consistent drum roll caused Obama to comment blindly but correctly in his speech? The snippets regarding “Chickens coming home to roost” appear to be a gross mischaracterization as well.
If my theory is correct, why did this occur? Are we indeed too quick to make judgment regarding certain ethnic groups? Could it be that the passionate delivery of the rhetoric, coupled with his race were seen as threatening thus it affirmed the nature of the condemnation to the point where further investigative reporting was not necessary?
If Reverend Wright was of a different race, would there still have been a drum roll to indict him - without first an in-depth look into the sermons?
I urged the best and brightest journalistic talents to investigate this theory. If my theory is true, it would be a powerful piece on where we are in race relations.
L. Smalls
Social Commentator
Fayetteville, North Carolina
why dont you stupid morons stop this race talk and worry about this country going to s#it because of this idiot in the white house, start talking about the problems that we have , if you really love this country stop it!!!
America should remember the days of Joseph McCarthy whose over-the-board hate, superficial patriotism and insanity caused so many good Americans to be defamed and banished. It was an era in which some of the best American creative minds were lost to other nations, such as Switzerland, France and England. It was an era when true American Democracy was secretly being destroyed by McCarthyism. Let us not bring ourselves back to that dark era of American history. It’s time decent Americans stop McCarthyism from mushrooming in this modern age!
So what, Obama sat in that Church for 20 years. He has turned out to be a fine young man that America is proud to have and for Americans to be proud to associate. At least, his Church is not one of those that turn out pedophiles, rapists, murderers or those who drop out of school. Let us not assume that America is a nation of gullible citizens who have little intelligence to see right or wrong and are so easily brainwashed by everything a pastor says… unless of course, those who believe so must, themselves, attend Churches whose congregations comprise of illiterates and naive folks, so easily brainwashed to believe everything their church leaders tell them.
JanetP - one indicator of your “self-imposed ignorance is the fact that you think that the clips of Rev. Wright you saw on Faux News are exactly the same as the videos you can buy from Trinity Church. If you don’t know, or refuse to believe that the bits you saw are snipped out of full sermons by people who want to make Wright/Obama look bad, then you are in the grip of self-imposed ignorance.
The fact that this editing was pointed out earlier in this thread, and that you continue to act on your first impressions, is as much evidence as anyone needs that you are only here to make noise, not to engage in discussion. So - now that I have made this response, I am going to commence skipping over any further comments with your name on them.
Is Hillary ready on day one? Lets see:
1) Hillary voted for the way the hybrid caucus/primary Texas system is setup, but after Obama was winning the caucus portion, she tried to sue to get the caucus system changed - a ready on day one candidate would have known to not vote for a system that they though was unconstitution, as she now calls it.
2) Hillary gave up on caucuses after her defeat in Iowa - as the former first lady and someone that knew this process, by way of her husband, she should have already known that you can’t leave anything to chance; she shouldn’t known that she should have competed fiercely for caucus and primary states, but I guess she wasn’t ready for day one primaries/caucuses.
3) As a ready on day one candidate, she should have already been use to the the requirments for running in a primary/caucus, yet she had the governor of PA extend her deadline twice in order to complete her delegate forms, which are required for collecting delegates, if you win their districts; however, the Democratic rules are set up to overlook this lack on her part, she will still collect the delegates if she wins them.
4) Ready on day one, yet March 23, 2008 was the deadline to submit your 500 minimum signature petitions, per county, within the state of Indiana to be certified to run in the state’s primary. Obama was the first successful Democratic candidate certified in the state of Indiana, Hillary, as usual, has dragged her feet on every single requirement for this year’s primary/caucus events, but she’s supposedly ready on day one.
5) Ready on day one, yet Bill and Monica fornicated in the White House, while she was home, and she expects to convience us that she is ready to run a country, when she didn’t even know what was happening right up under her own nose in her own White House.
I could go on and on, but I won’t. I’ll let each of the readers decide if she is really ready on day one? I certainly don’t believe that she is…
Wright is doing his job as good American…keeping her honest from the pulpit. We need someone to “think out of the box” once in while.This whole affair has made me think about “Why I SHOULD love America?”. As an AA it has brought me closer to the root of my patriotism.
Washington Post and Consortium News says, “Hillary has a problem with the truth, or she distorts the truth.” Read for yourself:
Consortium News
- MsJoanne
Yes, Barack has accomplished much in the time he has spent in government.
However, we’re in a time of major economic and foreign policy issues…
The recent issue with Canada is minor compared to what could happen with an inexperienced president. We elected one almost 8 years ago and I for one don’t like the results.
I would be more inclined to believe the experience is there if at least there was some progress with his responsibilities as the chairman of the Senate subcommittee on European Affairs regarding Afghanistan.
Barack knows at least some of the issues of Afghanistan.. Shouldn’t we see some progress on addressing these as the chairman?
As well, there are many people looking for economic policy change… Yes, I did hear his position on NAFTA.. But nothing in his resume shows any experience on how to deal with it..
Please don’t state he’s busy campaigning to focus on much more… A president has many issues and distractions..
Barack may be a once in a lifetime opportunity…
In my opinion many people are caught up in his charisma… Many are excited for the potential he speaks of.. Without experience he’ll have a hard time making the progress he speaks of..
He’s a very effective speaker… However the “uptalk” and condescending looks and short comments do portray the start of arrogance..
Joe, you discount him as if he would be the only person there? Obama, in my view, is smart enough and honest enough to get people in there that he trusts to do those things. He is not a god. He is a man. And I think he is an honest man - which I never thought I could type in relation to any politician.
When I think about hope, it’s not just hope that we can come together, it’s hope that a man who has accomplished as much as he has can get the job done FOR US and not for the corporations.
Rumsfeld had a ton of experience.
Cheney has a lot of experience.
Wolfowitz had a lot of experience.
It’s not experience it is getting the right people in there to do the right job.
And for that, I have ALOT of faith in Obama. More so than any of the others.
- MsJoanne
Agreed his is not the only person there… However, it will be him selecting the people that will be there if he is elected..
You’re very fortunate in having that conviction at this juncture…
As well, your right about the people you’ve outlined as having experience and yet we’re not effective in supporting what’s right for America..
I have clear conscience in knowing I didn’t support any of them either..
Another point on experience…
In the beginning Barack was above going negative.. Yes, it would be wonderful to leave behind the usual mudslinging and focus on real issues.
I’m starting to see he’s allowing others to go negative for him.. This is example of believing an ideal but not being able to see it though and having to resort to allowing others to do (dare I say it?) his dirty work.
Many people overlook it.. But its there and no one remembers because they’re all c