Are You Kidding Me?
Michael O'Brien
Posted: 04.29.2008 / 3:32 PM EDT
I have to disagree with Andrew’s take on Rev. Wright. The reappearance of Wright has put the campaign in, arguably, the worst position it’s been in since last summer.
“It seems that Wright speaking out can only be good for Obama,” Andrew wrote yesterday. “The more people see of Wright, the less they’ll care about this — if they ever did in the first place.”
Um, wrong. But don’t just take my word for it.
Bob Herbert of The New York Times (not exactly an Obama opponent) wrote, “The Rev. Jeremiah Wright went to Washington on Monday not to praise Barack Obama, but to bury him.”
Mike Allen of Politico called it Obama’s “pastor disaster.”
Dana Milbank of The Washington Post wrote, “That significantly complicates Obama’s job as he contemplates how to extinguish Wright’s latest incendiary device.”
Milbank’s colleague at the Post, Eugene Robinson, said he’s “had it” with Wright.
And this afternoon, Obama said he is “outraged” by Wright’s most recent comments.
And leave it to the Daily Show to sum things up well.
So far be it from me to suggest that the latest Wright escapade has been anything less than terrible fortune for the Obama campaign.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I agree that the reappearance of Rev. Wright is a huge problem for the Obama campagin. However, I don’t think it is necessarily as bad as the media portrays it. First off today he made a smart move by distancing himself from Wright,and second of all each of the candidates in this race have people close to them that represent a liability. Whether or not it to late to mend the damage before the North Carolina and Indiana primaries remains to be seen. While I am an Obama supporter I look foward to seeing how he handles this situation.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:04 am
I am truly amazed that anyone would imagine that Rev Wright’s comments reflect his typical ministry. I understand that Rev Wright is politically connected and respected in his home community. I also understand that the sermons widely quoted were from his early years, not contemporary with Obama’s membership.
It seems that he is enjoying behaving like an extremist and really taking advantage of the “shock value” of his words. Obama is not Rev Wright and it is doubtful that many of us blindly follow or agree with the leaders of our churches, if so there would be “little sin” in the world! As a mentor, we all know that those that are mentored sometimes outgrow their mentors and move on with there lives. In addition, we take what is useful in terms of our own growth.
That said, rather than outrage towards Rev Wright, I feel great sadness and regret that someone who has reportedly done so much for his community could be some bitter.
April 30th, 2008 at 11:27 am
“I don’t think it’s necessarily as bad as the media portrays it.”
“How the media portrays it” is what it becomes — the perception is the reality in our society. That’s how my party ended up with John McCain for a candidate, and I have yet to meet a Republican who wants to vote for him.
If Obama’s campaign is reported to be damaged, it’s damaged whether it’s changed the mind of a single voter. People in general don’t pay attention to the issues; they pay attention to what they’re told about the issues. The media is exerting enormous influence in this election cycle — many are even dropping the sacred pretense of objectivity (Time magazine admits it outright, NBC/MSNBC are practicing their cheer stunts for Obama every chance they get.) They’ve had it with “evil” Bush and are taking it upon themselves to elect their favorite candidates. Sadly, people are too dumbed down to realize their choices are being made for them.
It’s like matter and anti-matter colliding,
April 30th, 2008 at 11:47 am
True most people aren’t smart enough to look at the issues and go beyond the mainstream media. The mainstream media always changes on a dime. One minute they are only covering Hillary Clinton’s embelishments on sniper fire and the next moment they are covering Rev. Wright. All it will take is a gaff by one of the other candidates or their surrogates to change the topic and make voters forget about Rev. Wright for a couple of days. It may happen or it may not before the Indiana or North Carolina primaries, but the point is that things are not that bad b/c the media will find another “gottcha” issue to distract them.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Obama is getting a dose of “with friends like this who needs enemies” Wright is not the first “preacher/pastor/priest” who doesn’t fully “walk the walk” and he can’t seem to admit he went over the top in his sermons!! And he probably never had such media attention in his whole career!Who paid for his address and appearance at Nat’l Press Club?? Remember Jerry Falwell, and his group and there have been many others (white & black) over time?? The power of the pulpit/priesthood is to some, like “crack” …it is so intoxicating- ergo Televangelists who want to serve the world rather than just their own neighborhood or parish. In the admitted “excerpts, published, Wright’s words and message simply distort and mock the faith he purports to follow..PERIOD! He could have preached about “actions have consequences( US conduct) with out condoning “the end justifies the means” type response of terrorists or anyone, and claiming that to be Christian. “Has anyone asked Wright if he actually supports Obama? Why are we assuming this?? The one thing I know, Obama’s first hand life experience being a non-white(his Blackness)and his willingness to discuss it is more than Hillary is willing to face or examine “the her status as a white woman” in our society and in the world. She is no E. Roosevelt,M. Thatcher, I.Ghandi!
Of, course, I do also wonder why “Black on Black” frictions and disagreements get so much more publicity than they actually merit. It always appears that the non-Black community is constantly pushing to prove that all Black people think,act and believe the same and are shocked when facing evidence to the contrary. Frankly, as I see it, most Black people and other non-whites probably only agree on one issue–that they are not yet treated in this US, and some other societies the same way a similarly situated white or European is treated in almost any situation. Why can’t non-blacks recognize that most black stereotypes come with embedded value judgments which de-value the black stereotyped “trait or custom/behavior”. And those non-whites who think they are not prejudiced or “racist”, seem to fail the objective tests of their neutrality, especially when pushed (especially when intoxicated or angered! (`a la a few recent actors) Much research supports this as does most black american experience. Code phrases like “you don’t sound Black, or “I don’t see Black when I look at you , and the market research or criminal line-up and jury selection research). I know of no other ethnic/or national group that would consider “I don’t see your Italian-ness or Irishness or Polishness” to be a complement!! To make it worse, some black people think simple “reverse racism” is the only answer.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:36 am
I encourage everyone who has an interest in the controversy over Reverend Wright’s statements to spend an hour watching last week’s Bill Moyers’ Journal (which you can see on the internet for free at http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal).
This was one of the best interviews I have ever seen on television. Bill Moyers spent an hour talking to Reverend Wright about his ministry, his work, his beliefs and his relationship with Barack Obama. The conversation was enlightening, to say the least.
Reverend Wright is a person of conscience who has dedicated his life to community service, peace and the liberation of oppressed people. His words taken in context are well-reasoned and inspiring. I am glad to know that Barack Obama is acquainted with and takes guidance from such an interesting person.
I hope people take this opportunity to learn about the different interpretations of faith that exist in our communities, rather than condemning ideas they do not fully understand.
Thanks you!
May 1st, 2008 at 5:24 am
I agrea Andrea.
I saw the same interview and was inspired. I think the biggest problem is that most Americans are not willing to face up to the reality - that American is a political/economic colonizer of the modern world and that doesn’t come without consequences.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:26 am
Has it ever occurred to any white people that Rev. Wright may be at least partly “right”? Ok, the government developing AIDS is a bit loony, but, hello, the Tuskegee Experiment DID happen, folks. We whites try to forget it, but blacks don’t (can’t). And our government has engaged in a form of global terrorism via our policies toward certain nations (e.g., CIA backing of Pinochet’s overthrow of a legitimate government, followed by years of tyrrany. How about our backing of the Shah of Iran? Or the Saudi Emir? Hosni Mubarak? How about attacking a sovereign nation on bogus charges of WMD and support for terror?
The US is a remarkably wonderful country. We have done lots of good for the world. But we have remarkable flaws too. If you deny that fact, you are deluding yourself.
Yet we jump all over Obama — FOR TWO STRAIGHT MONTHS NOW! — for not condemning Rev. Wright to our satisfaction. P-leeeeze.
Charles Boyle
May 1st, 2008 at 9:09 am
The system will not let candidates discuss the issues. Where do the tax dollars go in the USA? They go to defense. My sister makes good coin, about 200 grand. She pays $60,000 in taxes and what does she get? A quarter of a howitzer, a box of grenades. We have a very corrupt federal government, that does little for its people and causes suffering around the world. Americans overrate our government and feel the need to call it a great country, when in fact it is very mediocre compared to what it should and could be with honest leaders and a much better public education system. Obama could be one of those honest leaders, but the system will probably bury him. McCain is not a leader of change, nor is Hilary Clinton. It’s laughable what the media and voters focus on. Someone’s religious background, how progressive.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I feel that Rev Wright showing up again, being so arrogant and belligerent, is a millstone around the neck of Obama. He has run on judgment, and his long-term association with Wright calls his judgment into question. Further, it will give endless footage for Swiftboat-like campaigns yet to come.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Seems to me that the Reverend Wright has become quite the enigma of the campaign. Frankly, I find him a lot more honest than Senator Obama, who seems to me to be disingenuous about his feelings towards his Pastor. You can always distance yourself from someone else’s rhetoric without alienating the friendship or gatitude for previous benefits. Certainly Wright is a talented speaker, someone I actually enjoy listening to, even though his orations appear to me more of a political platform than a spiriual pastorship–but he makes me try to think fairly and with understanding which, nowadays, is a grace to be prized. That Obama threw him to the wolves is what I find objectionable.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I am so sick of both candidates. I just wish Al Gore had run.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:15 am
[…] people as it is by a handful of hegemonic media conglomerates. Currently, as one commenter on a recent Patchwork Nation post put it, ??How the media portrays it? is what it becomes?the perception is […]