April 28, 2008
Disaster (John Feehery)
The National Press Club speech in Washington, D.C., and the NAACP speech in Detroit by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright were unmitigated disasters for Barack Obama’s campaign.
I initially thought that Wright’s efforts to redefine himself could only help Obama.
I was wrong.
Over the last four days, Wright seemed to go out of his way to offend just about every key voting bloc important for Obama if he is to do well in the general election.
Wright offended Catholic voters by making fun of Jack Kennedy for his Boston accent.
He offended independent voters by essentially spreading conspiracy theories such as the one that the CIA was somehow responsible for spreading AIDS in the black community.
He took on the media, blaming them for unfairly characterizing his ministry and his church as being radical. After listening to him speak, I think the media got it pretty much right.
He compared our troops in Iraq to the Roman soldiers who facilitated the crucifixion of Christ.
He said that the United States and al Qaeda use the same tactics.
Wright packed the National Press Club with strong supporters who egged him on to be more and more defiant. He didn’t need the encouragement.
The loud crowd of supporters only made the situation worse.
His performance was a complete disaster for Barack Obama. This story will never go away now.
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You can not choose your family, but you can choose your friends and your church. Jeremiah Wright is being openly embraced by the liberal media, who in fact endorse what Jeremiah Wright believes. Obama is just another closet racist whose church was openly racist and anti-American.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — April 28, 2008 @ 11:26 am
I am not about to become an apologist for the reverend Wright but this is not the first time I have heard the following comparison:
'He compared our troops in Iraq to the Roman soldiers who facilitated the crucifixion of Christ.'
Basically you have two imperialistic republics Rome believed it owned the world (and it pretty much did) and the USA who often acts as though it does. making one super power analogous to another is not illogical or even incorrect.
Its the 'crucifixion of Christ that is supposed to get the Christians all worked up. And if one believes the bible they would know the Jews were set up to do away with the Christ. For where else in the pagan world would a group of people have a problem with the trinity?
3 gods in one;must be pagan to the only monotheistic part of the roman empire. therefore the Jews rejected the concept and the Christ.
Comment by james d granata — April 28, 2008 @ 11:43 am
I don't think his comments hurt or helped obama. It gave him the floor to preach another sermon. People who are not going to vote for Obama because he is black are still not going to. I think the media is disappointed because because he spoke the truth about people thinking they are better than others and this needs to change. Different is not deficient, as we have been taught all these years. If people want to remain racist, that is their decision, but don't get mad when it's called out. They showed over and over again what Wright had to say about america, only to find out when the entire clip was showed that he was quoting someone else. All this to make sure a black man doesn't get votes. The world watches and sees ow this country does their own, yet they want to take over other countries and try to make them 'democratic'.
Comment by Yvonne — April 28, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
I think it will help Obama. Wright is making Obama the enemy too. He's acting angry and wants payback. This isn't something a true believer of god would do.
All Obama has to do is claim that his reverend views the attacks on HIM as an attack on the church. He can say he understands the hurt he must be feeling; but I said what I meant. I disown those comments I heard on those tapes.
Comment by Connie Manes — April 28, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
I don't agree with John. Wright words are like any annoying sound in the distance, they become less noticeable the longer they continue to drone.
Wright's sometimes correct, but never faltering egocentricity is quickly becoming, if it has not already become, political white noise. To some ears, he is a prophet. To most, he is primarily a caricature, at first drawn by the media, now self-made.
He was a problem for Obama. He now barely scores as a distraction.
Comment by Rowland — April 28, 2008 @ 12:32 pm
No, the press is killing Obama. Rev. Wright can say what ever the hell he wants. Remember Rev. Wright is not running for president. The press is trying to link everything Wright says to Obama.
The question should be why in the hell does the press care about Rev. Wright? Will, the press follow up on the same doctor, dentist & mechanic Obama has been visitng the past 10 years? Maybe they two have radical views…
This is a modern day Salem Witch hunt.
Comment by John — April 28, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
It is time for the Republican-controlled Media to give this Wright controversy some fairness and enquire of Hillary Clinton and her surrogates the following:
Is it true that, (1) Hillary surrogate, Congresswoman Shiela Jackson Lee, is also a devotee of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright; that he's been preaching at her home church, where she is actively involved, annually for the past 15 years and has an open invitation to return, and, that she sat in the pews for his visits and did not bat an eye?
Is it true that (2) Hillary surrogate, Rev. Marcia Dyson was not only a longtime member of Trinity United Church of Christ but also still considers Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright her pastor? That Rev. Marcia Dyson's seminary education, in part, was sponsored by Trinity UCC and encouraged by Rev. Wright? And was it not at Trinity were she first met her husband, Rev. Dr. Michael Dyson, who's been very vocal in his defense of Rev. Wright.?
And, lastly of Hillary Clinton, that if Rev. Wright would not have been her Pastor, then why did she and Bill when going through Impeachment, turn to Rev. Wright for Prayer and Support and invite him to the White House? These things should be asked and answered.
Republican controlled media and talking heads are building up Hillary now, tearing down Obama, while McCain courts African-Americans that Clintons have ailenated by "kitchen sink strategy, hoping all the while that she will become Democratic nominee, then unleash "arsenol" of weapons they have against her. Something they have been planning for years!
Comment by Angellight — April 28, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Robert Rosencrans… are you Inanse? I can't stand Rev. Wright also but for a different reason. But to say the guy is anti-american is just wrong. The man is a former marine and served his country unlike Cheney or Bush.
And he is free to believe how ever he wants about his country in my book. Damn, it I swear this country is turning into red China.
Comment by John — April 28, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
Thank you Rev. Wright for destroying the Presidential ambitions of Barack Obama. We don't have as good a footage of Bill Ayers' bombs exploding around real live people, but we do have the hate you expressed on tape. You gave a visual clue to where Barack Obama's heart is, and for that you're a hero Rev. Wright.
Comment by Igor R. — April 28, 2008 @ 2:55 pm
John: If you're on meds I could understand you calling someone insane for simply making an observation. If you're on meds let me know and I'll understand. In the meantime let me connect the dots for you. Lee Harvey Oswald was also in the Marines, do you feel he was patriotic? If someone goes in the service that doesn't give them a free pass from criticism and the law. When someone makes outrageous racist and anti-American statements, then other citizens can make that observation and comment on them. Now, that doesn't make a person insane. And that would include you John.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — April 28, 2008 @ 3:05 pm
Has anyone heard about the cable news blackout that is going on? You know, the story of how the Pentagon employed and commandeered the cable news outlets so as to twist the spin in the lead up to the Iraq invasion?
John keeps posting about Rev Wright. John, do you too support the news blackout, or are you promoting GOP talking points, or both?
Comment by Lester — April 28, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
Angellight: Have you been living with your head stuck in the sand for the past 20 years? The Liberal left has been in control of the media for decades. Ninety percent of all your publications are Liberal. If the Republicans controlled the media, Barrack Hussein Obama wouldn't have made it past teh Iowa caucuses.
Comment by Robert — April 28, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
Robert Rosencrans…This is America. And Obama is free to attended any church he wants for how long he wants. As well as befriend anyone he chooses no matter what others think.
On side note, I feel Obama, Clinton and McCain are all the same. I just find it sad that people like you pretend there different from each other. All three are crooks in my book.
Comment by John — April 28, 2008 @ 4:00 pm
Yes John, you can associate with whom you want. Just don't get upset when people judge you by the company you keep.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — April 28, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
Dems-
if you keep acting like the bigot Wright is a non-issue you're gonna get stomped in november.
oh yeah, calling people rascists is NOT a good way to woo them to the polls.
remember when obama was considered a uniter? now all he can do is divide.
get a clue, Libs…look beyond the san fransisco values. there's a big 'ol america out there not interested in marxism or atheism. the Dem establishment doesn't understand this, which is why they keep telling obama to "ignore it and it'll go away" are you people TRYING to lose in november?
Comment by j — April 28, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
to thehill: quit sensoring me!what are you afraid of?
remember when obama was considered a uniter? now all he does is divide.
dems are carzy if they think the Wright issue will go away.
this is a re-post…once again i've been censored on this site…
Comment by j — April 28, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
gee, it popped-up now. what a coincidence…
the fact that there are words (other than expletives) that are censored on this site is sad. obviously private property is under the discretion of the owner. but at least advertise that bloggers aren't allowed to use words like
"S0cial1st"
Comment by j — April 28, 2008 @ 6:12 pm
J–
We here at The Hill do not censor comments on the Pundits Blog boards, even those containing expletives, so long as they're substantive (i.e., not spam, and not just cursing for cursing's sake). The reason your posts might now show up immediately is that, given our system of comment-moderation, there is, inevitably, a lag time between when you submit and when the remark actually goes up on the site.
Anyway, hope that helps explain things. No need to spell "socialist" with numerals!
Thanks, and keep reading and commenting,
Mike Laws
Editor, The Hill's Pundits Blog
Comment by Mike Laws — April 28, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
mike-
thanks for the feedback. i do like the site…
the "lag time" answer can make sense BUT, how can a post with the word socialist be immediately denied, but once changed to marxist be immediatley accepted? this has happened to me over and over almost everytime i've tried to use the word EXCEPT when posting on Feehrey's blog (a right-winger).
today i posted #15 on here and it showed-up, no problem. but when i came back an hour later to respond to the screaming Libs, it was gone. what gives? this also has happened before.
most of the problems i've had have been on the Budowsky and Press blogs.
the main instance was the day of the Obama speech on Wright. i posted non-offensive opinion on the Budowsky and Davis blog. it appeared at first but was taken-down shortly after. MULTIPLE times. i would copy/paste my responses and finally they stopped being deleted (though not until after business hours)
do the pundits have control over the content of posts on their blog? is this why there are only ever 30 or so bloggers for each post on this site but on other sites there are hundreds per day?
Comment by j — April 28, 2008 @ 7:47 pm
mike-
thanks for the feedback. i do like the site…
the "lag time" answer can make sense BUT, how can a post with the word s0cial1st be immediately denied, but once changed to marxist be immediatley accepted? this has happened to me over and over almost everytime i've tried to use the word EXCEPT when posting on Feehrey's blog (a right-winger).
today i posted #15 on here and it showed-up, no problem. but when i came back an hour later to respond to the screaming Libs, it was gone. what gives? this also has happened before.
most of the problems i've had have been on the Budowsky and Press blogs.
the main instance was the day of the Obama speech on Wright. i posted non-offensive opinion on the Budowsky and Davis blog. it appeared at first but was taken-down shortly after. MULTIPLE times. i would copy/paste my responses and finally they stopped being deleted (though not until after business hours)
do the pundits have control over the content of posts on their blog? is this why there are only ever 30 or so bloggers for each post on this site but on other sites there are hundreds per day?
Comment by j — April 28, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
ps, i still had to use numerals for that particular word…
Comment by j — April 28, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
I see Reasonable Rosencrans is at it again. To say that calling Senator Obama a racist is merely an observation rather than the slander that it is makes you irrelevant to a discussion among reasonable people.
But then that has been your hate-based propensity for all the time you have been posting comments on this board.
Comment by smilinjack — April 28, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
My Dad always said "People judge you by the friends you keep".
Comment by OldSarg — April 28, 2008 @ 8:51 pm
This hurts Obama very much.
How could he take his small children to hear this stuff?
That will now be the question that people will continue to ask.
I would never allow my young daughter to hear this every Sunday. No one can justify that.
Comment by Howitz Dunn — April 28, 2008 @ 10:45 pm
"j" expresses the same neocon understanding of posting as he does political analysis. Take some deep breaths there "j", the terrorists are not after you.
Comment by Lester — April 28, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
Obama still can't bring himself to disavow, condemn, or break away from the not-so-good Liberation Theologist Jeremiah Wright, because in his heart of hearts, torn between his muslim roots and Christian upbringing, he knows not which way to turn on the issue of black or white racism, including what to do with Farrahkan. As a country, America is not ready for this experiment, even if the far left liberal wing wants to role the dice. No, those of us who study the odds know when to hold them and more importantly know when to fold them. What a catch 22 the Democrats now find themselves caught in. It just keeps getting better and better. Why even now, while I'm writing this, I hear myself listening to the pathetic Jimmy Carter being lobbed softballs by Larry King. He even muffs them. At least Hillary is no Jimmy Carter (or her husbands or JFK for that matter). Obama? Who knows? Keep dreaming you leftist kooks who don't know what I am saying. Incidentally, that is why you loose. I still can't believe the Democratic Party has blown is so bad. It was in their hands. But alas, America will live to see another day. God Bless America.
Comment by JEdgarSwoop — April 29, 2008 @ 12:15 am
Smilinjack: Was the Klu Klux Klan racist? Reverend Wright's observations that "black brains are different from white brains" makes him sound like a klansman. Do you agree with him? If so, join the people without much in the way of brain power because it isn't true, and it's also blatantly racist.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — April 29, 2008 @ 8:30 am
Do not panic..The Press club fiasco was a Clinton supporter set up and it is leaking out now…Rev. Wright is a perfect example of an arrogant preacher…Who wants his thoughts/opinions honored with the people. This could have been predicted–People who have had an audience for decades can not stand to give it up..LOOK AT BILL CLINTON! He has become a caricuture, again, to stay in the limelight.
Comment by Docb — April 29, 2008 @ 10:14 am
you're a sheep, les…
Comment by j — April 29, 2008 @ 11:41 am
the irony of this is, no matter what the clintons and the media try to do, Obama is still in the lead and she isn't. Doesn't look like she has the backing of as many voters as she thinks she does in her crazy mind. Maybe she's suffering from a hangover or she has come up with a new way of doing math that says she wins no matter what. That would work in a communist country, which she is trying to make the united states.
Comment by Yvonne — April 29, 2008 @ 2:11 pm
'Doesn't look like she has the backing of as many voters as she thinks she does in her crazy mind. '
MRS Clinton is not 'crazy' she has a personality disorder;she is sociopathic* and though mental illness can be treated there is no help for her condition. Notice grandiosity in the following description.
* A sociopath is defined as a person with a sense of entitlement who is unremorseful and apathetic to others, takes no personal responsibility and is manipulative and conning. They tend to be affectively cold and socially irresponsible, non-conforming to norms and are often grandiose.
Comment by james d granata — May 1, 2008 @ 5:05 am