Round-Up of Blog Responses to Obama Presser (and buzz about a N.C. poll last night)
By SusanUnPC on April 29, 2008 at 4:05 PM in Barack Obama, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.
The good, the bad, the ugly, the utterly lame, and the completely stupid and/or delusional — along with some reports of polling done last night in North Carolina about Wright and Obama (hmmm):
Townhall.com (Mary Katharine Ham):
Someone Was Doing Wright-Polling in N.C.
Gee, I wonder why Obama, the anti-political posturer, disowned Wright today. My dad got a call last night that might explain. … It was a live call last night around 7 p.m., not a robocall. The woman on the phone identified herself as with a polling firm of some sort, but did not indicate that she was working at the behest of either campaign. … The call was 6 or 7 minutes long and started with “Are you a registered Democrat?”
[Then] the caller asked, “How closely have you been following the Rev. Wright story,” to which the voter could answer “Very closely,” “Somewhat Closely,” and “Not Closely at all.” … The next question was, “How has your view of Obama been affected by this story,” …
I’m watching MSNBC and Andrea Mitchell is asking NBC correspondent Athena Jones why Obama chose now to finally, unequivocally, part ways with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. In her reporting wisdom, Jones is talking about how Wright offended Obama with his remarks yesterday at the National Press Club. I don’t think so.
My guess is it had something to do with the poll call I got last night. All questions were about the Obama-Wright relationship and whether that made me think more unfavorably about Barack Obama [and if] I was more inclined now to vote for Hillary since this blew up. Due respect to Athena, but she should do a little more reporting and actually ask Obama why he did what he did a few minutes ago.
I would put money on the fact that Obama saw the results of that snap poll and said, “My God, I’ve got to ditch this guy.”
Andrew Sullivan’s Daily Dish (Atlantic):
That was a very impressive, clear and constructive re-framing of the core message of his candidacy; and a moment given to him by Wright. No one will ever be able to say that Obama threw his father-figure and pastor under the bus. We all know that the reverse happened. We also know that this clear repudiation of Wright’s toxic, indeed “ridiculous” views on AIDS, 9/11 and permanent immiseration of people of color could not have happened unless Wright had made it necessary.
More Sullivan:
Skeptics may wonder whether Wright actually deliberately did Obama a favor. I doubt it. But a favor it unintentionally is. [...]
[T]oday, we found that he can fight back, and take a stand, without calculation and in what is clearly a great amount of personal difficulty and political pain. It’s what anyone should want in a president. It makes me want to see him succeed more than ever. It’s why this country needs to see him succeed more than ever.
Obama: “I Seek Daily to Imitate His Faith” …Until Today [...]
Obama threw the Reverend under the bus today.
This probably doesn’t fit anymore either:
“I could no longer disown him as I could disown my white grandmother.”Rev. Wright joined his white grandmother today: …
Denouncement of Rev. Wright, Redux (Plus: Disowning the Black Community)
He’s going all-out this time. Really should have thrown him under the bus the first time, Barry.
If you’d Sister Souljah-ed him instead of your grandma, maybe you wouldn’t be here now. [...]
He brushes off the “black liberation theology” question, saying he’s “not a theologian.” That’s a cop out, if I’ve ever heard one. [...]
[Chris] Matthews, ludicrously, argues that this will be good for Obama because, after giving this speech, people will be reminded by Wright’s ravings that Obama is on their side, not Wright’s. Fat chance. If Wright doesn’t shut up but quick, Obama’s sunk, no matter how much he rejects and denounces Wright.
The parts that I’ve heard so far didn’t quite live up to the headlines; he was really grasping for words and sounded a bit too measured in response to questions from reporters. The talking heads seem to like it so far, though; Chris Matthews is comparing him to Richard II.
Ok. Let’s be clear then: It wasn’t the fact that Wright has been spewing this same recycled crap for years that finally got Obama mad. It was that he finally realized it was hurting his campaign. And he was personally miffed by Wright’s insults against him.
2) What does this say about your judgment to superdelegates? “The person I saw was not the person that I’d come to know over 20 years…Shocked me, surprised me.”
Bullcrap.
Anyone with eyes yesterday saw that Wright’s was a finely-honed, time-tested act. …
They should be denounced? There’s a lot of “they” in that statement. The antecedent is “his comments.” It’s a strong statement, but it does stop short of denouncing the man. He’s denounced his comments before.
It is a jarring juxtaposition to hear a candidate denounce his own pastor while simultaneously talking about the need for mutual understanding and to bridge the divides between people. Denunciatiing while promising unifying feels like a logical contradiction, or at least a rhetorical one.
Maybe it is because I am totally and unrepentantly in the tank for Obama, but I just can’t get worked up over what his pastor said.
Obama Live Press Conference on Wright: Throws Wright Under the Bus
In the blogosphere, he’s getting headlines like “Obama Cuts Wright Loose, and “Obama Denounces Wright,” and “Obama Repudiates Wright.”
That’s what he needs for TV tonight and headlines tomorrow. But then, he will need to explain what Wright said yesterday that was different than he had ever said before.
My stray thought - if Obama is denied the nomination because of his relationship with a black minister, however angry/kooky, there will be Hades to pay in the Dem Party. Far better that Obama blow up because of his relationship with the unrepentant and very pale terrorist Bill Ayers.
UHH… : "Blow up" is a common expression indicating sudden and dramatic failure, not a literal explosion; with Ayers involved, a clarification seems appropriate.
You know the Obama campaign is seeing some baaaaad numbers over the last few days for Obama to come out and flip-flop on Wright: (via Michelle Malkin who liveblogged Obama’s speech)
[...]
So now that his campaign is getting hurt he throws his mentor under the bus as he did his grandma. What other way can you see it other then that? There is no way, no how, Obama did NOT know what Wright was like. His speech yesterday was no different then the sermons he spewed from his racist mouth for decades. Additionally, he says he is no theologian when the Church pushed that black liberation theology hard for years also. Puhlease.
And why now? Why not when the videos first saw the light of day? Or how the 20 years he sat in the pews?
As Michelle said, its all bullcrap.
:::::::::::::
P.S. Hillary is up 8 in Indiana. (PDF file)
P.P.S. From a pal:
>
> Since January, Clinton had led among Carolina whites by 14, 19, 17,
> 22 and 23 points. But today, suddenly: 31. In the Research Triangle,
> Clinton is up 9 points, week-on-week; Obama is down 3; a net swing of
> 12 points to Clinton. Among unaffiliated voters, Clinton has
> overtaken Obama for the first time in 2008, though the difference is
> small and within the sub-group’s margin of sampling error. The two
> tie among Moderates. Obama leads slightly among Liberals. Clinton
> leads slightly among Conservatives. There is enough cross-current in
> the political waters that SurveyUSA’s final pre-Primary poll, next
> week, may show more movement — though in which direction it is
> impossible to know.
>
SUSA
:::::::::::::
P.P.P.S. From today’s New York Times, “Eyes on Blue-Collar Voters, Obama Shifts Style,” prior to the press conference:
Mr. Obama, in an appearance with Chris Wallace broadcast over the weekend on “Fox News Sunday,” played down his problems among blue-collar voters, saying that Mrs. Clinton had done better in part because “they are less familiar with me than they are with her, and so we probably have to work harder.”
“I’ve got to be more present,” he said. “I’ve got to be knocking on more doors. I’ve got to be hitting more events. We’ve got to work harder because although it’s flipped a little bit, we’ve always been the underdog in this race.”
In interviews with several associates and aides, Mr. Obama was described as bored with the campaign against Mrs. Clinton and eager to move into the general election against Senator John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican nominee.
So the Obama campaign is undertaking modifications in his approach intended to inject an air of freshness into his style.
Every day, Hillary seems more and more energized while Obama is fading and looks like hell. He thinks he’s won, but she keeps nipping at his heels. It must be driving him mad.
(small, medium and large sizes; for both dogs and cats)
+ 
Fantastic round-up of the blogs. I think Hillary should pound him with the bored quote. She’s not too bored to keep fighting for American families.
Yeah Gee Barry, sorry that all this presidential preparation work bores you. Let’s get somebody else to do it.
I think what bores Obama is all the different personas he has to have — its sooooooo hard to be a duplicious as he is.
It’s going to get funnier, you know. Do you REALLY think Reverend Jeremiah is going to keep quiet after Obama’s speech? I mean he called a megalomaniac “ridiculous”. Ohhhhhh this is going to get ugly! Isn’t it wonderful?
It is! Is it my birthday? Sure feels like it!
And Wright is booked for 3 more speaking gigs before the May 6 primary. I’m so happy, I could spit. I KNEW there was a pony under that pile of steaming horsesh*t!
The tour was organized by a Chicago-based public relations firm, tied to Sen. Obama’s presidential campaign director, David Axelrod.
In 1984, Axelrod quit the Tribune to manage Paul Simon’s senate race, followed later by jobs with Stevenson, Harold Washington, and others. Throughout, Axelrod has been identified with the movement for political “reforms” — such as privatization, budget cuts, etc. — representing the oligarchs at the University of Chicago and their financier sponsors. David Axelrod is the Obama campaign’s overall director; Axelrod’s partner (in the firm AKP Media), David Plouffe, is Obama’s official campaign manager; and Axelrod’s other partner, John Del Cecato, is a strategist for the campaign.
Christmas in April!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sLjnXxAses
here is a nice video to watch
pls post it everywhere
Jeremiah Wright = the gift that keeps on giving.
That Sullivan is delirious, an absolute idiot — goes to show you can twist and rationalize anything to your world view. But it is not over yet.
Sullivan’s hatred for Hillary is distrubing, I honestly wonder if there’s something wrong with him.
I wonder if his mother disowned him when he came out of the closet.
So now he hates middle aged white women? lol who knows but he’s way to “stuck on stupid” and stuck on himself for me!
That kind of thing is always a freudian problem. Poor guy can’t resolve his relationship with Mom.
Agree…BABY-O and his conflict with his INNER CRACKER is weighing on him now….
Sullivan is madly for/into Obama.
I don’t find Sullivan very smart at all. he seems quite mediocre to me. I really have no respect for that guy since he threw Newsome under a bus….(he question his truth-fullness re. the photo snub).
This was posted by bobbank at mydd.com:
That’s interesting.
So, to recap:
God Damn America - OK
Vote based on skin color - OK
Gov created AIDS to kill Blacks - OK
Supporting Hillary would be like allowing the Clintons to anally rape you - OK
Black people have different brains than White people - OK
All of this is OK.
But:
Barack Obama is just a politician - NOT OK
Yeah, I think I see the pattern there. Frankly, calling Barack out on his bullchips is probably one of the most rational and agreeable things I have ever heard the Reverend say.
That’s right it’s OK to offend everyone in the country. But call Barry a politician, them fighting words.
What’s nice is he followed the instructions all the MSM losers gave him last night and this morning. Good dog.
He doesn’t look so good, you’re right. His hair is going grey all of a sudden, or he’s too tired to use his Grecian Formula. She looks like a young girl every time she springs onto a stage to speak!
I have to laugh out loud at Chris Matthews…does he see how ridiculous he seems?
Oh dear God, my fingers are crossed! Go Hillary!
Frankly, I don’t know how she does it but she runs circles around him. The lady is making that young puppy verrrry tired.
Bravo….Well Done.
Sharpton has called Obama a grandstander for the White Man….
Wright says he is a politician who says what he needs to…
Obama denounces Wright….( MAKIN CRACKER HAPPY ? )
Kennedy, et.al. have got Dumpin in their diapers.
Hmmmm……….
By the way, where in the world are John Kerry,
Ted Kennedy and Maria Shriver in the midst of all this?
*sound of crickets chirping*
Hmmmm? Where is “He is the One” Oprah? Oh, that’s right, she’s trying to build her ratings back up after she endorsed “The One,” figuring that all those women would fall in line behind her. After all, she got them to buy all those books, tote bags and wheat crackers. Where’d they go? Omigosh, they’re all in line at the Ellen show? And who is Ellen supporting again? Hillary? Gee, that’s interesting….hmm.
Nevermind them. Where’s Oprah been? She must have seen how her ratings went down after she joined Barry on the trail. Under the bus for him!
What a great roundup! And may I just say: God, Andrew Sullivan is an idiot! There, I feel better.
Here are some insightful comments from cnn.com
April 29th, 2008 3:20 pm ET
Love him or hate him the fact is Rev Wright knows Obama better than any of us.
Obama subscribed to this man for 20+ years, has referred to him as being like an uncle, was his mentor, wrote about him in his book. Sounds like politics as usual. And yes it’s going to hurt him and it should.
less media more issues April 29th, 2008 3:20 pm ET
I can’t help but wonder if this is how the Senator will treat matters in the White House. Wait. And Wait. Naively, he didn’t respond quickly enough.
http://tinyurl.com/6rv2gu
I’m picturing a graphic with Obama wearing Chicago-style cement overshoes, stamped Wright, splashing around in Lake Michigan, with Rezko, Auchi, and Ayers sharks circling.
Uppity, I share your glee! When Odrama smeared the Clintons as racists, I stopped caring what would come out and bite him in the butt. I wouldn’t even care if LS started getting played on every news channel 24/7. Smearing someone falsely as a racist is as contemptible as smearing someone falsely as a child molester. Karma is truly a bitch!
I read a post on TM that said in his book Dreams.. Obama wrote that race baiting makes up for some of ones own limitations.
Yup it’s in his book.
Falsely smearing somebody as a racist is racist.
Agree….In working class lingo IT’S HITTIN BELOW THE BELT….
Is Kennedy drunk yet?
Is Kerry drowning in a bowl of Heinz beans yet?
Where is Michelle, she still PROUD of America today?
Is CNN bring back the new and improved REMCO spray on paint bald spot remover Informercial tonight, to replace everyones friend and pundent extrodinaire and everyones favorite loudmouth Roland Martin?
Ooooooooo, wouldn’t you LOVE to hear from Michelle right now? SHe could call us all ignorant and tell us we need Barack to heal our souls.
Only healing Obama does is flattening them under a big ole bus!
I did not see this spin coming…..Tweety and the gang are working hard to rehabilite Obama. Tamryn Hall (?) an AA MSNBC commentator is spinning hard to cover Obama’s butt. She says she was told when she moved to Chicago that Trinity UCC was the place to go to connect to the AA community, so she went for 10 years and NEVER heard any of this stuff. Then she said that Obama showed true emotion (could have fooled me) and that this may get women to be sympathetic the way they were to Hillary after her tears in NH. Next we got the spin that this really helps Obama because now the AA commmunity is angry at Wright.
There was some criticism, especially about his slow response - Andrea Mitchell says he was dismissing all of this at 11 last night so something happened last night.
And just to be shallow, what the heck is with Chuck Todd’s goatee and hair color. Do I need to adjust my TV??
She calls that “emotion”? It looks more like he was up all night, wracking his brain, thinking: “Throw Daddy under the bus? Throw campaign under the bus? Throw Daddy under the bus? Throw campaign under the bus? Throw…” etc. Methinks he just did both!
True emotion! HA! The only true emotion I’ve ever seen him display was his utter contempt and lack of patience with the press when they followed him to the island where he spent his three days off, “Just like every other American gets to do, fifty weeks out of the year.” Where do I sign up for THAT gig?
Don’t worry, like I said before, the Obamabots will forgive him anything at this point, even murdering a couple of people and leaving his hat, gloves and fingerprints behind (see O.J. Simpson 1994). We’ll see how the people in Indiana and N.C. respond…hopefully they’ll see the truth through the lies.
If Odrama skates while going for the Democratic Party nomination like OJ in the criminal trial, he will be later be held accountable (and will lose) in the general election, like OJ in the civil wrongful death trial. Responsible party elders need to wake up and to get the hook, and yank this buffoon off stage before he can really damage the entire nation.
Thanks for seeing the thought through to the inevitable conclusion. Hopefully, Hillary will win the nomination so we can have a Democrat in the White House.
Yep, polling is what happened last night.
True emotion! HA! The only true emotion I’ve ever seen him display was his utter contempt and lack of patience with the press when they followed him to the island where he spent his three days off, “Just like every other American gets to do, fifty weeks out of the year.” Where do I sign up for THAT gig?
Don’t worry, like I said before, the Obamabots will forgive him anything at this point, even murdering a couple of people and leaving his hat, gloves and fingerprints behind (see O.J. Simpson 1994). We’ll see how the people in Indiana and N.C. respond…hopefully they’ll see the truth through the lies.
p.s. You can’t use a haircolor that’s too brassy on TV…it reads too red. No need to adjust your set.
oops…apologies, everyone, how’d that happen?
Well panic IS an emotion…
Obama’s look today looked more like when you look in a rear view mirror to chack on the bany and the baby is having a real hard poop in Pampers!
Did anyone else find it insulting when BO said he made a bet on the American people with his candidacy? I think it was the last debate. Well, excuuuuuuuse me. Please honor us with your presence, Mr. Pony.
Well how do you feel when a few weeks ago it was everyone in America’s fault for their views of Rev Wright, demanding a Speech on Race and today, a big opps, it is me and my judgement on Wright that is off?
Sort of makes his only stump difference of having Superior judgement go down the toilet!
Wonder when Obama will come out and apoligize for all the Race baiting crap his surrogates did against the Clintons?
Anyone gone to buy one of Obama’s wonderful tapes of his Speech on Race today, aside from the ROBAMABOTS?
When do they start marking down the race speech dvd?
I heard her tell that story. Can you say CONFLICT OF INTEREST????? WTF is a “news reporter” doing vouching for Mr. Hope and his church??? MSNBC sucks so bad it isn’t even funny. I cannot wait until Hillary wins and that network is left with egg on their face. I do hope Hillary bans any and all MSNBC reporters from her WH press room/conferences. Chris Matthews is so out of control with his hatred for Hillary. He must be really, really pissed off that she won’t do his stupid college tour interview. He’s making her pay and she’s shakin’ in her boots, isn’t she? ~~~~rolling eyes~~~~
Isn’t it interesting how SHAME IS OFTEN EXPRESSED AS ANGER….Matthews is filled with shame and he expresses it in his unprofessional unstable behavior towards Clinton….
Fear is an emotion.
Disappointment is an emotion.
Resentment is an emotion.
Is “having a pouty tantrum” an emotion?
I like the Andrew Sullivan statement, “no one will ever be able to say that Obama threw his father-figure and pastor under the bus.”
Okay, now.. just a sec…. I gotta warm up….
here:
Obama just threw his father-figure and pastor under the bus.
So having just said that, I guess that makes Andrew Sullivan a liar.
That’s the problem with this whole fiasco, imho. Obama looks to be so political now AND
untruthful. But I suppose they felt they had to stop the hemorrhaging.
A bandaid won’t stop the hemorrhaging.
If he is just a politician what does he have to offer. The longer this goes on the more it plays to Hillary’s strength.
Sullivan’s brain is so thoroughly marinated most of the time, he doesn’t know what the hell he’s saying most of the time. I think he fancies himself one of those gin-soaked curmodgeonly writers that were so romantic-sounding in the 50s..
He reminds me of Ego the Critic in that movie, Ratatouille (without the character transformation at the end.)
To say he never heard such after 20 years in the “church” means BO’s either a liar or an idiot or both. My money’s on both.
Well could be he was outside having a smoke, or getting an earful during them from Michelle….lol
Or who knows what else! Seriously, though, I could not be within hearing distance of that “preacher.” He is extremely difficult to listen to, for me. Scary.
Maybe it was Ted Kennedy who read Obama the riot act last night after hearing Wrights lousy new england slang attempt when incorrectly quoting JFK that caused the outcome today
Did Obama wink-wink while “denouncing” Wright so the black community knew he wasn’t serious??
What a mess. The party should cut HIM loose…time for that MEETING WHERE ONLY ONE COMES OUT….he should quick due to some sudden illness or because of his kids needing him or somesuch…
Don’t know, but I do know this . . . Hillary CANNOT WIN without the same margin of Black votes that Kerry got. And her chances of getting that? About the same as Barack’s chances of being invited to join the Klan! Zero!
Hillary has a secret weapon Kerry didn’t… and they speak Spanish.
Is that Axelrod’s new message Robamabot?
But Barack can’t win without the same margin of White votes that Kerry got. And frankly, I don’t see how he’s going to do that.
Someone needs to peek in on the orange place, and see what’s goin’ on there. Should be totally hilarious. If any of you do, you must report back!
Make sure if you go not to bring back any trolls with you though.
I peeked into mydd and someone named candidblogger and it’s happened faster than I thought it would: the Obamabots are trying to blame Hillary for Reverend Wright’s speaking tour! God, I’d cry if I weren’t laughing so hard. Can you say “grasping for straws”?
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/4/29/83842/5873
http://candidblogger.blogspot.com/2008/04/is-clinton-behind-rev-wright-speaking.html
Poor Barry and the trolls are always the victims of their own handiwork.
Barry and the Trolls…weren’t they One Hit Wonders in the 60’s? Whatever happened to them?
They did too much acid?
LOL! Was there bad acid in the Kool-aid? Did no one announce it over the loudspeaker?
I don’t know but I think you got the band name wrong it may have been “Barry and the Jonestown Express.”
LMAO…which we’ve learned from Larry is actually Obama Acquired Memory Loss backwards.
Is that contagious? We need troll repellent spray! Quick!
Oh God… yeah, he and Hillary are TIGHT, man. If Rev. Wright won’t suck it up for Obama, he sure as hell wouldn’t do anything for Hillary. Remember.. she’s a “EURO-PEEEAN” enemy. Just ask Wright.
“Hillary ain’t never been called a nigger.”
When stuff like this happens, they usually start blogging about FISA - it’s a riot!
I also like this statement: “Chris Matthews is comparing him (Obama) to Richard II.”
Ha, Chris.
I think you mean Richard III.
“A horse, a horse.. My kingdom for a horse.”
He’s a cowardly conniver Chris. He’s Richard III.
As for what Chris Matthews is…? I don’t even think he ranks Falstaff. Oh, but I believe he’s in there somewhere…
EmilyR, excellent comeback to CM…and top marks for knowing Richard III…but I just can’t let this go: Shakespeare’s Richard III was not at all representative of the real King Richard III. Much like what has happened with Hillary’s reputation, certain historians in a later king’s court, re-wrote history books, defaming and defiling Richard III’s reputation and character (he didn’t kill his nephews, he wasn’t really a coward).
Absolutely! The history plays were all written from a Tudor apologist viewpoint…I wish someone had the wherewithal to tell Tweety!
The controversy surrounding the latter Plantagenants is a more appropriate
comparison to the Rev. Wright imbroglio.
Instead, we get Tweety’s Larry Olivier version of Henry V (which I loved!) painting Obama as national hero…
Forgive Tweety… he found a Reader’s Digest condensed version of history, in the bathroom after lunch. He wanted to sound learned.
A simple question:
When Obama wins NC, making it mathematically impossible for Hillary to lead in delegates or popular vote, THEN will you admit she is toast?
Hillary may win NC or hold him to single digits and she WILL win Indiana, KY, WV and PR. THEN will you admit Mr. Hope is toast?
That is a fallacy: maybe you could say improbable, but mathematically impossible is definitely a fallacy.
I man if you know what “mathematically possible” means.
Meant
“I mean..”
(have to change keyboards…).
Even if Obama wins NC, Hillary wins the nomination.
Chris Matthews compares him to Richard II?
How so, I wonder? There is no resemblance unless perhaps “usurpation” is in the works.
Richard II is more like Dubya. Phony snot and his sycophants referred to as “the caterpillars of the commonwealth.”
Trivia: Richard II and its prequel by another writer that covers the early incidents in his life have characters named Cheney and Bushy and are about a king who bankrupts his kingdom to enrich his hangers-on.
DON’T FEED THE TROLLS.
Like my mother used to say, stop paying attention when your brother says stupid things, it only encourages him.
Thank you for putting up the DON’T FEED THE TROLLS sign. The are boring like Barry things the campaign is.
things=thinks
You’re welcome, TDT…I appreciate your patrolling the area.
Anytime any place this drill thrall protects da space.
Sorry. I apologize. They just all sorta sad and afraid. I couldn’t help myself. My bad.
It’s okay, I kinda feel sorry for them too. Of course I wanted to win, but I wanted a fair fight. I mean, I’ll take Hillary’s nomination if we get it, but if we get it because Wright was a self-centered jerk, it kinda takes the fun out of it.
In my opinion, it’s not because of Wright, it’s because of BO. He stayed in an anti-American church. That’s not Wright’s fault. You can say any fool thing you want, and he does.
Oh, interesting!
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/04/michigan_dems_propose_delegate.php
The four want to allocate 69 pledged delegates to Hillary Clinton and 59 to Barack Obama. The approach splits the difference between the equal delegate proposal coming out of Chicago (g4 for each) and the 73-to-55 delegate split that the Clinton campaign would obtain from the results of the primary, with almost all of the uncommitted delegates being pledged to Obama. The four also write that they oppose the challenge by DNC member Joel Ferguson, which would give superdelegates a full vote and pledged delegates half of a vote.
THE PROPOSAL represents a climbdown of sorts for Michigan Democrats and is not likely to be well received at the Clinton campaign. DNC officials have said that, absent a deal between the two candidates, only the credentials committee can sanction a solution.
That’s call vote stealing by the Obama camp as Jeralyn Merritt well argued at TL. They would already be giving Obama a free gift by giving him all uncommitted (which included Edwards et al.). There is no reason why she should get a share of the voters that voted for HRC. But of course we can add thief to the list of Obama’s qualification.
Good try though. I say: let the credentials committee decide; that’s what they are for. That’s their job.
should read
That’s called vote stealing…
Another typo: (sorry I refered to Obama as a “she” I guess he oesn’t inspire much valor..)
I should have written:
There is no reason why he should get a share of the voters that voted for HRC.
I spilled coffee on my keyboard today; sorry for all the typos. I guess I ruined many of its keys…
I think you are drinking too much coffee dude. Spilling coffee, excessive typos and the jitters would be a sign.
Has it occurred to anyone this was planned? We all know Rev. Wright was the republican bomb that would sink many Dem in their bid for reelection, the NC Republican ad showed that pretty well. Obama had to throw Wright under the bus and still look like he wasn’t a hypocrite. The Reverend fell on his sward so Obama could do this and make a break that seemed real! He had to make a break on a personal level to seem real a break that would get as much news coverage as possible. I think this was all staged to give Obama and his super delegates cover.
YES !! It’s been argued here many timnes this is the rehabilitation of the Obama-Wright shameful imbroglio and the people’s desensitization of Wright.
Simple question for the conspiracy theorists:
Why now?
The Wright story was dying under its own weight. So why did they hatch this nefarious scheme BEFORE the North Carolina and Indiana primaries as opposed to AFTER they were done? Makes no sense!
Because of the NC polling and the stampede of people away from Obama and his incendiary bigot pastor.
OK . . . so he is “imploding” in NC (down to a 19 point lead in one poll) so he decides to tell Rev. Wright to go out, say the most incendiary things he could think of, . . . and, what? This is supposed to HELP Obama?
Another thing: he could have ALWAYS repudiated him three weeks ago, or even last week before any statements. Your “theory” therefore, is one that relies on maximizing risk in order to do something he could have done with no added risk . . . by simply repudiating Wright. Makes no sense . . .
Oh, now I see! I am listening to his speech in full right now (just heard snippets before). But now I get it! YOU GUYS ARE SCARED SHITLESS OF THIS SPEECH!
There is nothing about Obama that scares me shitless because I know he will never be president. He either goes now or he goes in November.
The only one scared shitless is BO…and rightly so.
Nope…it wasn’t.
I don’t think anybody hatched a thing. I think Wright is a megalo and saw an opportunity. Besides, a black president is not in his best interest. How on earth can a man blow the black separatist-victim whistle if that were to happen? The Rev has spent his life dedicated to black separatism. It’s kind of hard to believe that the Obama campaign would think turning that nutcase loose was a good idea.
I agree with you Uppity, Wright’s ego was too great, the upcoming book deal was probably too good, he’s self-centered and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about Obama and wanted to cash in on his 15 minutes of fame. He could have waited until after the nominations to do this tour. But I don’t think he cares if we have a black President or not. He even said that if Obama is the President, he’ll be coming after him, too. Wright can’t be a star if Barry’s not in the picture, so he had to do his speaking tour NOW. Wright plays the victim and because of that, he’ll just take and take and take because he feels he deserves some reparation for being chained to a ship and dragged here to be a slave…oh wait, he wasn’t dragged here, was he? And how much is the house the Unity Church is building for him?
I can’t see any connex between my thinking and ricksramblings above, but here’s my consp theory:
Obama being used to push only FDR-like candid for pres out, never intended to be pres. Intention was to destroy him after he got nomination to put true fascist in presidency (various scenarios possible).
Shit piled up too soon (Wright’s only small part). Hillary won PA too big. Other things re superdels happening I don’t pretend to know about. Scheme went flat. Problem became how to still get some mileage out of Obama. That’s what we see happening now. I find the rest unspeakable, though I said it in another thread here, I can’t bring myself to say it again. Suffice to say the conspiracy is to throw USA into chaos so Malthusian globalist ugliness can proceed. Hillary perceived as big impediment to that plan. They will stop at NOTHING in their imperialist plans. I could continue writing for hours about historical precedents, but I have pressing duties and I don’t think anyone is interested. I’ll just say that if something really really alarming happens, try to keep your wits about you. I know Bill and Hillary will and can. Sorry. You asked.
You Hill-bots have more conspiracy theories!
OK . . . so the Wright thing is petering out just a couple weeks before Obama can put the coup de grace to Hillary, and NOW
I’ll finish your sentence *for* you, B-Rob.
… “and NOW” Wright hits the air waves with a big pre-book tour round of interviews, proving everything he said in those soundbytes was true. Therefore the “petering out” about Obama’s relationship with a radical black preacher was about to be resurrected. Just before the last run of primaries.
Hillary, on the other hand, had everything to gain if Obama maintained his relationship with Wright. So did the GOP.
The only one to gain by severing any connection with Wright was Obama himself.
Nice one, PoliticaWaif!
Wasn’t Obama’s much-vaunted (but really not that impressive) speech in Philadelphia supposed to have shut-down all the talk and whispers about his ties to the rabid-race-baiter Pastor Wright?
Yes and after he gets the nomination, he and the Rev. will kiss and make up. Best Buds for life. He really does think we’re all as ignorant as his Kool-Aid sheeple are.
IF the Rev. doesn’t respond to this, we’ll know it was all an act OR he could be going for the sympathy vote and the Rev. will respond for effect….he’s being picked on by the Rev., so people will flock to him because of that. Whatever. It’s all an act.
The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
You Hill-bots are some truly angry, cynical people . . . sad . . . that’s bad for your health, you know!
Ohh… C’On R-Bob, are you turning bitter on us?
No, the misogynist Barack Obama as president would be bad for our health. That is why we are taking care of our health by making absolutely sure that he never becomes president.
And what has he EVER DONE that you consider misogynistic? C’mon, Uppity! Name ‘em!
Well Rob, you can blame your fellow sexist posters for my anger. And since I have posted my answer to your question on this board dozens of times, including in the last 24 hours, go look for it. You just don’t matter enough to me to do that work for you again. But one hint is over at my.barackobama, where just a few days ago someone suggested slitting Hillary’s throat and tossing her into the river. Then there was Governor WIlder on Teee Veee this week using every sexist stereotype he could think of. The rest is on another thread on this board. Find it or kiss my ass. You just aren’t worth the work.
Agreed. He is a troll not worth feeding any longer.
Drowning, yes. Feeding, no. But that might create a toxic-waste site.
I asked you what BARACK OBAMA had ever done that was misogynistic and you point me to anonymous posters? Do you expect he can control what people write about Hillary, one of the most polarizing people in Amnerica?
Wait! I forgot, this is Barack, he who singlehandedly controls the Michigan and Florida delegates, causes Black people, young whites and college educated people to join his cult, manipulates the caucus rules to his own benefit, scares old ladies in Texas, and pretty much typifies the eternal demon that is within every evil person. So from that world view, I guess he is responsible for what other people say . . . mind control being so effective nowadays.
Obama isn’t running his campaign. He’s being used. Evil people (the word sticks in my throat applied to them) DO try to polarize citizens–human beings–in many many nations throughout the world. Maybe wikipedia has something on geopolitics, or go try to figure out how WWI and WWII happened. Sure as hell isn’t taught in school these days. I am not your Hillary vs. Obama enemy.
His MyBO site is a cesspool of anti female rants. If he can’t cut someone loose from the campaign to moderate it — they do a really good job of annilating speech at Huffington Post and Daily Kos and I am sure that they would be HAPPY AS HELL to lend a couple of their gestapo moderators — then he has to expect to be held responsible for it. Not just the Randi Rhodes announcement but the other crap that gets put up there that is so radically hateful and counter productive to the Democratic party not to mention a democratic process. But maybe over there in GAZA you don’t get it?
The point is, B-Rob, Obama has never done anything that supports his promises.
He is not a uniter. Look at his campaign website under the “People” heading. Everyone is neatly categorized under headings of gender/race/class. They even each have their own special blog. Some “uniting” by an “I don’t divide” kinda guy.
He’s done nothing to cross the aisle in bi-partisan legislation. Indeed, he’s done nothing about Darfur or other causes. He’s don’t nothing about accountability. In fact, we’ lucky if the man shows up. He started his “Hope Fund” within months after getting into the US Senate. He’s an opportunist who set his eyes on the Oval Office the moment he got a fed seat.
So I have to say it isn’t what he’s “done”. It’s what he demonstratively has NOT done.
The point is, B-Rob, Obama has never done anything that supports his promises.
He is not a uniter. Look at his campaign website under the “People” heading. Everyone is neatly categorized under headings of gender/race/class. They even each have their own special blog. Some “uniting” by an “I don’t divide” kinda guy.
He’s done nothing to cross the aisle in bi-partisan legislation. Indeed, he’s done nothing about Darfur or other causes. He’s done nothing about accountability. In fact, we’ lucky if the man shows up. He started his “Hope Fund” within months after getting into the US Senate. He’s an opportunist who set his eyes on the Oval Office the moment he got a fed seat.
So I have to say it isn’t what he’s “done”. It’s what he demonstratively has NOT done.
oops.. so sorry for the duplicate post. Mea culpa
No. Drinking too much Obama Kool-Aid is bad for your health!
It’s funny: despite being a cynical and angry Hillary-for-President believer, I’m often complimented on my smile and happy demeanor. (You should see me now, I have a lovely big grin.)
Can anybody tell me Matthews exact words?
Richard II was unseated by Henry Bolingbroke (IV). That is the only possible resemblance that I can think of.
Something’s afoot. [???]
I gave up listening to Matthews after he got that “tingling” up his leg.
Uppity..
He’s probably Just Happy that He isn’t feeling that “Tingling” DOWN his leg for a Change..
Thats why He always wears Yellow Socks…
I just figured it was a side effect of mixing viagra with cialis … and not getting any.
Chris Matthews is comparing him to Richard II.
Yeah, well, Tweety also compared Dubya to Henry V at Agincourt, but in this case he may be a bit closer to the mark.
Richard II was deposed (by Henry Bolingbroke) and this speech from King Richard II, Act III, Scene III, seems particularly appropriate for BO these days:
Tweedy, Barack and the whole lot of them are more like Oedipus. It’s rough when you can’t resolve things with Mom.
Chris Matthews needs a lobotomy.
You mean that he hasn’t already had one?
I think she means a lobotomy on the other lobe.
I thought of another possible resemblance:
RII was very good at swanning around in majesty drag, but weak on policy — and bad at war. But again - that’s more like Dubya.
He did have his uncle offed.
I love that play. Needs the earlier material to be tragic, tho. Darling boy king grows old but not up. Hmmm. Could that be what Matthews meant? Nah. Not likely. I think the best bet is the usurpation business.
RII was very good at swanning around in majesty drag, but weak on policy — and bad at war. But again - that’s more like Dubya.
But BO and Dubya are twins (fraternal) separated at birth, hadn’t you heard?
Seriously, Barry has demonstrated he has far too many similarities to Georgie for my comfort. I’ve seen this flick before…
That does fit. Wonder if that was what he meant tho.
The comparison of Dubya to H5 was early on and based on their both seeming to be chronic fuck-ups - perhaps also to distract from the more obvious comparison to the Dauphin.
The comparison of Dubya to H5 was early on and based on their both seeming to be chronic fuck-ups -
Well, IIRC it was around the time of “Mission Accomplished,” or maybe even sooner, and Tweety was obviously trying to draw a parallel between two playboys who had morphed into warrior kings, or some damn thing.
He managed completely to ignore the fact that H5 led his forces personally, and was–you know–there on St. Crispin’s day.
In other words, about par for the course for a ponce like Tweets.
Ooops–should be “glistering” (as in glistening) not “gistering.”
Fantastic round up of blogs…that mostly lean anti-Obama, great reporting scoop. No wonder you people here can hardly find your asses from you elbows..lol By the way, you know you have a lame candidate when you cite Michelle Malkin as a source..
We’ll see how lame Hillary is after she hands Obama his ass in Indiana, KY, WV and PR. Egg meet face.
YAWN….
“A critic is a man who knows the way but can’t drive the car.”
– Kenneth Tynan
“An author feels about a critic the same way that a lamppost feels about a dog.” I forget who originally said this.
We’re having so much fun here…you really should come into the light.
Over 600 comments on their Wright/Obama post at the Big Orange Kool-Aid. Some truly hilarious comments. Here’s a small sampling.
Peacefully believe the Wright fiasco is Hillary’s fault:
We all know the only way she wins if she can get the SD to APPOINT her. She knows that which explains all the smear jobs on Obama!! Dirty him up! She is old school politics just like McSame. They would rather talk about crap! BO 08!
Varro invents quotes:
And Geraldine Ferraro…
…is the crazy aunt who talks about “the coloreds”. Where’s Hillary’s denunciation of her?
entlord1 thinks Hillary supporters want the 1950s back:
and the opposition prefers for Obama and Wright to be in the rear of the bus. It is hard to throw anyone under the bus from that position.
_____________________________
All I have to say is: thanks for the intelligent people here. I’m going home to shower now.
Wah wah its Hillary’s fault! Orange crybabies.
Too funny!
Ring ring.
Wright: Hello?
Hillary: Hey, Rev, how’s it hangin’?
Wright: Hill, so nice to hear from you! How’s Bill and Chelsea?
Hillary: They’re great, thanks for asking. Listen, Jer, I had a GREAT idea. What do you say to a speaking tour? I’ll book you and make all the plane reservations, all you have to do is bash Barry. What do you say?
Wright: Sure, Hill, I never liked him anyway.
Hillary: And I’ll call Bill’s publisher and get you a big fat juicy book deal.
Wright: Gee, thanks, Hill.
Hillary: Anytime, Jer. See ya later.
Is that how the Obamabots think it happened? To paraphrase our next President’s husband, I think it’s a big fairy-tale…
Racist!
And that’s conspiratorial. Must be from koolade-induced psychosis.
LMAO and OAML!
Poppies…poppies…I feel so funny…
OK, so I know this is all about how badly Obama sucks in every possible way, but not a single word about Hillary’s announcement that she would “obliterate” Iran? I mean, she has stated her willingness to commit genocide, and you Hillary fans don’t find that worthy of a small mention, maybe an apologia or two or three?
I, for one, find it horrifying, and frankly, while I don’t find Obama inspiring or exciting or terribly interesting, he hasn’t done anything quite so horrifying as threatening to send an entire country into oblivion.
Yawn.
OK I’ll bite. If Iran nukes Israel Hillary should go have tea with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? Your argument is moronic straw grasping and won’t distract from the fact Obama is having a very bad news day.
Now you know why I yawned.
Sure, totally ignore the context in which her remark was made, why don’t you?
Obama says he is “outraged” but he sure didn’t look it. He is a blank slate she is a clear view. I hope he goes down in flames in IN. So suddenly Obama notices Wright is a flaming militant racist? He must think we are all dumb as rocks. Come on HILLARY! Doesn’t she look great? It’s like the primary race fuels her and drains him. He can not take the pressure. Took him a day and a half to work up the courage to “denounce” Wright and when he did, he was dull and seemed disinterested. Hey, sorry to bore ya, Barry with all this presidential crap. Im sure you’d rather be eating arugula.
How do people like Chuck Tood and Chris Matthews get these jobs? I miss Walter Cronkite. These clowns are just that.
I think Obama has bigger worries than the Wright fiasco coming.
I agree, kick his ass, Hillary!
And I also agree…Where are the Walter Cronkites?
Isn’t it amazing that only yesterday when Wright basically said exactly (again) what he said the Sunday after 9/11 with regard to the bombs in Japan that it is now only objectionable to Obama?
It was either the Kennedy impersonation or the insult to Obama …. he doesn’t give a shit what the rest of us think!
Obama is bored with the primary race and wants to move on to the general? Does he really want to tell the people of North Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Oregon, Guam, P.R., Florida and Michigan that their votes don’t matter? Why has he behaved, from the start, like the nomination is his for the taking?
Because politicians like Daschle told him he could. Daschle will have a have a job after this fiasco is over … Obama? hhmmmmmmmmm he seems to have a knack for fiction.
I know what you mean but it was his for the taking and he went limp and couldn’t close the deal. Yes his arrogance has no bounds.
WARNING WARNING WARNING Bill and John Ayers, Mark Rudd and Bernadette Dohrn have gone underground, Terrorist level increased to Orange, please avoid any public places and this communique was just released signed by Dohrn:
We are completely displeased that our efforts for the last 25 years in grooming a candidate for POTUS is failing in ways that the Media has caused it to become, therefore we are undertaking to fulfill the workings of our friends in the middle east and our leader Osama bin Ladin to cause as much havoc and terror against the American Government! If you do not surrender the White House over to Barack Obama within the next 24 hours, we will unleash the Nuclear toys Bill Ayers father left him in his will!
You have been warned! Signed: The Weather Arthritis Underground!
Wow. Mel, I have learned so much reading your posts.
Now I find that geriatrics is to blame.
Old terrorist don’t die they just go off to…the retirement community on the Pak border with Afganistan.
What will the Reverend Wright have in store for Barry tomorrow ???
I think they both have dirt on each other …and payback is a BITCH.
And Bitch is the new Black
Naw . . . Black is the new president, b^tch!
..so many bitter hicks, women over 35, seniors, Jews, Italians, Catholics and Irish, Floridians, people from Michigan, gays,lesbians and adults disagree with you.
Barry has a better chance of seeing God than he has of being president.
Because adults don’t let children, radicals and college kids to pick presidents. If you knew anything about the past tries, you would understand that. But you will always have the African Americans to round out that 38%, just like McGovern. If he gets that far, I shall enjoy the roast. I did each and every time left off-the-cliff whackjobs tried to make a president, also known as making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
Did somebody call?
Yea, the NSA actually didn’t block the call…’cause Bush walked aroung the rose garden and said “let there be hypocracy” and there was. And he saw it was “good”, so he said let there be Obama…and there was, only the “better angels” could not believe that the humans would elevate Obama to a diety, as a golden calf.
So if you are politically perverted you can call.
1-800-God-damn
And the voice of Obama will be waiting to get you off.
(Message to admin; delete me if I’m out of line.)
Black will not be the new President . It will never ever happen …Dream on…Left wing nuts always go off and over the cliff . This time is no exception. I too have been around to watch them self destruct in the GE.It will happen again if barry is “THE One”
I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating for the political cretinous. My old cat has a better chance of becoming president than does Bwak Bwak.
Naughty, naughty!
Um, no.
Black is the new bitch, apparently.
Dear God, I just talked to my mother-in-law, who is from Chicago, and is for Obama. It’s just as many here have said: No matter what you say to an Obamabot, they will not change their mind. I probably shouldn’t even have brought up the subject, as it’s her birthday. But I respect her opinion, and thought she would be reasonable about BO, what with the latest media fiasco. Know who she was blaming? Wright. Oh, if that bad man would just leave Barry alone, everything would be fine.
Sheesh.
You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your relatives. Sigh. If it was me I would disown her anyway.
It’s just this one area that she is blind about. Usually her grasp of the issues is impressive - I love talking with her and my father-in-law about politics. Oh, well, it will all be over soon, and BO will just be a vague, bad memory. Actually, it will seem like a bad dream…
I could send a stray lightning bolt your mother-in-law’s way?
Hey God, that’s cool! I knew you were for Hillary.
Fucking’ A, I’m for Hill!
I live in the Chicago area and so does my father. EVERY day he wears his Obama button. I think I might sneak in his house one night and throw that dam thing away.
No don’t do that just put a “N” sticker on it in front of “Obama.” He might not notice and use it.
nice to see Americablog is already blaming Hillary for Wright.
unbelievable
That’s a great sign as it shows how utterly desperate they are!
Memo to trolls: anyone who uses the word “fairy-tale” no matter the context is now a “racist.” We must protect our great leader Tinkerbell Obama.
What is it about that phrase that makes them nuts?
My goodness, it hit a sore spot, they respond to it like a dog whistle…
There is a diary at MYDD referring to a psychic prediction. One psychic, Michelle Whitedove, predicts that Clinton/Edwards democratic ticket and McCain/Condolezza Rice Republican ticket.
Being a secular humanist, I do not believe in psychics, but as a Hillary/Edwards supporter, I wish that it comes true
http://www.michellewhitedove.com/Blog-HillaryClinton.php
That WOULD be a nice ticket. But anything that starts with Clinton/ would be a nice ticket.
McCain/Bloomberg
Gore/Bloomberg
I have no crystal ball, and hope those won’t happen, but I’m seeing an effort toward short-lived pres and fascist or Malthusian and fascist controller a la Cheney-Bush. There are other possibilities along the same line. Me? I want a bipartisan admin led by Hillary in the FDR tradition.
Throw Mama from the Train!
Sorry, Edwards got punked and if he’s in the General as a SECOND run second bananna it just looks kinda pathetic.
I believe that Wright’s outrageous comments and Obama’s response was a dog and pony show concocted by both. Obama had to finally distance himself from Wright who had cost him votes in PA and could continue to do so in the coming primaries. Why would Wright, who had been preported by many to be an intelligent and perceptive man regarding race relations and the US Gov’t recklessly endanger the nomination of a man he has professed to admire? I feel bamboozled!
You are a bamboozle … Wright has nothing to do with the US Government … is it raining where you are?
This smells like a Good cop/bad cop set-up.
It won’t matter. Obama can apologize or disown all he wants-the train has already left the station. People will not forget Wright’s words, nor the fact that Obama sat in that church for over 20 years. To put it bluntly-Obama’s toast.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTdmMmJmOWFlZDZkOGUyOTgwNTYyMjQ3YmRlNTAzZjE=
pretty interesting from March
Obama’s Pastor Plan [Amy Holmes]
I just figured out how Obama gets out of this. It’s devious. But it may be only way.
He leaves this thing alone for the time being and suffers through the next few primaries. He hangs onto his pledged delegate lead, makes the argument that pledged delegates are all that matter. So far, polling shows Democratic voters agree.
He prevails and wins the nomination. Then, he deploys The Pastor Plan. It goes like this. Pastor Wright arranges to give a speech. In it, the pastor makes such outlandish and slanderous claims, not unlike we’ve already heard, that Obama has no choice but to say, “Enough! Jeremiah has gone too far. I cannot abide his divisive, harmful, and inappropriate language. He does not speak for me or my family which is why we must, with heavy hearts, sever our relationship. He will always be a friend and welcome at my door. But I cannot continue to take his counsel, religious or otherwise.” It helps here if the pastor has used some swear words and invented new conspiracies.
Obama sends Pastor Wright a heartfelt letter, more in sorrow than in anger, which he posts on his website. He holds a press conference to inform the public that he has spoken with the pastor privately and explained his position. Obama vows to carry on the church’s work of charity and compassion. He stages some events showing him involved in a multicultural community service project, visits a West Virginia coal mine, stuff like that. And he exhorts his fellow Americans to join him in the journey toward racial reconciliation.
Timing is key. Sometime right after the inevitable 527 Pastor Wright ads start running. In fact, they can be the pretext of the pastor’s speech. The 527 ads provoke the Reverend’s fury. Obama reacts. Bam! It’s over. Pastor problem solved.
Think the Clintons wouldn’t do it?
03/18 11:28 PM
Question: What happened to Barry being able to brush things off so easily - roll the video tape
(what happened after fingergate).
PIOG PlS!
THIS IS HUGE NEWS… REVEREND WRIGHT FLASHED THE “FRAT BROTHER SIGN” INDICATING THAT HE IS DOING THIS AS A PLOY TO HELP OBAMA GET ELECTED!
From an African American journalist in Chicago … not good news for Barry:
On Tuesday, Obama responded to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s ill-timed defense by condemning his former pastor’s fresh comments as “ridiculous,” “outrageous” and “appalling.”
“When he states and then amplifies such ridiculous proposition as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS, when he suggests that Minister Farrakhan somehow represents one of the greatest voices in the 20th and 21st century, when he equates the United States wartime effort with terrorism, then there are no excuses,” Obama said during a press conference.
“They offend me. They rightfully offend all Americans and they should be denounced,” Obama said.
This is a sad day for Black America.
At a time when African Americans are on the cusp of watching a barrier come crashing down, up jumps a divisive issue that is being driven by those outside of the black community.
Obviously, Wright’s timing for a press conference about his sermons couldn’t have been worse.
Still, when Obama says he is “offended” by Wright’s latest comments — given in defense against an orchestrated assault on his character and on his ministry — he’s opening up a can of worms.
There is no institution in the black community more respected than the black church. And the notion that white pundits can dictate what constitutes unacceptable speech in the black church is repulsive to most black people.
Even so, after Wright’s fiery speeches surfaced on the Internet, most African Americans understood why Obama had to distance himself from Wright.
Obama’s cross-cultural appeal, which, by the way, made some blacks suspicious of him early in his campaign, is largely because of his ability to make white people feel comfortable with his blackness.
But Wright speaks to a different audience, and that audience has been supportive throughout his ordeal.
On Monday, for instance, when Wright spoke at the National Press Club, the predominantly black crowd cheered, clapped and punctuated Wright’s speech with shouts of “amen.”
So, when Obama says America was “offended” by Wright’s harsh language, he isn’t speaking for or to Black America. He is speaking to White America.
As much as I want to see Obama make history by becoming the first black man to be elected president, I don’t want to see a warrior like Wright denigrated to prove to white voters that Obama is not a radical.
When Obama denounced Wright’s angry words but refused to disown him, it signaled that he understood the sensitive tightrope he is being forced to walk.
His “outrage” over Wright’s latest remarks signals something quite different. With the gap narrowing, Obama advisers are obviously scrambling for every white vote.
But really, what more should blacks have to sacrifice? Their dignity?
Frankly, Obama and Wright risk becoming metaphors for the ongoing struggle of blacks to unite politically.
Obama shouldn’t have held a press conference to deal with Wright.
He should have been able to pick up the phone.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/923055,CST-NWS-mitch30.article
What? White men dictating what’s said in black churches? Uh, black men are dictating what said in white churches. It’s called being politically correct, or maybe just, civil.
Also, from the Chicago Sun-Times today in a column by the highly respected Carol Marin:
A 3 a.m. phone call that “went into voice mail”? Man, that’s gotta sting.
[...] Round-Up of Blog Responses to Obama Presser (and buzz about a N.C. poll last night) (by SusanUnPC at No Quarter) RightTriangle, N.C. blog: “I’m watching MSNBC and Andrea Mitchell is asking NBC correspondent Athena Jones why Obama chose now to finally, unequivocally, part ways with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. In her reporting wisdom, Jones is talking about how Wright offended Obama with his remarks yesterday at the National Press Club. I don’t think so. My guess is it had something to do with the poll call I got last night. All questions were about the Obama-Wright relationship and whether that made me think more unfavorably about Barack Obama [and if] I was more inclined now to vote for Hillary since this blew up. Due respect to Athena, but she should do a little more reporting and actually ask Obama why he did what he did a few minutes ago. I would put money on the fact that Obama saw the results of that snap poll and said, ‘My God, I’ve got to ditch this guy.’” Click through for more reactions. [...]
Here is an excerpt from a “Must Read” site savagepolitics.com
Nobody in the Mainstream Media pointed out that Obama’s “divorce” speech was riddled with selfish concern, by particularly emphasizing the idea that Wright was not “thinking of me nor my campaign”, terms that obviously underscore that his repudiation is being done out of political expediency and not out of honest “indignation”. I didn’t hear any point out that Obama had already responded to Wright’s media tour, the day before yesterday, in a ‘nonchalant’ manner, and that he simply decided to aggressively react to them ONLY when the polls showed that he was being hurt by them.
[...] Round-Up of Blog Responses to Obama Presser (and buzz about a N.C. poll last night) [...]