Ed Koch: Why Obama's Speech Was Unconvincing

realclearpolitics.com ^ | March 25, 2008 | Ed Koch

[neverdem]

Barack Obama's speech last week addressing his 20-year relationship with his radical pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, was very well done, yet unconvincing.

Obama sought to explain that relationship and why he could not end this close association, despite the minister's hate-filled rhetoric. He said, "There will no doubt be those for whom my statements of condemnation are not enough. Why associate myself with Rev. Wright in the first place, they may ask? Why not join another church?"

Yes, those are the questions that people are asking.

Many of Rev. Wright's incendiary statements are on videos sold by his church. Minister Louis Farrakhan, a friend of Rev. Wright with whom he traveled to visit Muammar Khadaffi in Libya, also makes his sermons and those of others associated with the Nation of Islam available for sale. Their attacks on the U.S. and Israel often coincide with those of Rev. Wright.

Rev. Wright's sermons charge that the U.S. government gives African-Americans drugs, created AIDS and is deliberately infecting blacks with that disease. His sermons claim that the U.S. unjustifiably nuclear bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II, and that 9/11 and the deaths of 3,000 Americans were caused by U.S. foreign policy. He alleges Israeli state terrorism against the Palestinians; calling Israel a "dirty word" and "racist country." He blames Israel for 9/11 and supports the divestment campaign against it, denouncing "Zionism." His venomous thoughts are summed up in his most discussed sermon in which he says the U.S. government "wants us to sing God Bless America. No, no, not God Bless America. God damn America. God damn America for killing innocent people."

Senator Obama in his speech acknowledged that the rantings of his minister are "inexcusable," but stated, "I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community..."

[Anti-Bubba182]

Obama can't end his association with Wright because it would torpedo his Black support who would see that as giving into the "Man". It is easier for Obama, but still a tough sell, to convince White voters that Wright is good at heart and just lets his rhetoric get away from him occasionally (ahem, like Twenty Years Straight!).

Obama is banking on White people being so determined to prove they are not racist that they will buy his story, or at least vote accordingly. It may work. There is also the laziness factor that many will hear his speech, take it at face value and not look further. That angle is tough if people are watching TV where Wrights stuff is on all the time! Obama's explanation does not have the emotional impact of Wright's rants.

If Obama loses this thing it will be because of Wright. Wright will get to retire to his 10,000 square foot Mansion knowing the best chance to elect a Black man President of the United States in the history of this country was ruined by his big mouth. That would serve him right!

[lkco]

But Ed Koch is just a typical white guy.

[SkyDancer]

I’d like to ask Hussein Barack why he affiliates himself with a political party that kept his race in slavery and then segregation (the Dem’s ruled the South for over a hundred and fifty years) and also be part of a religion that sold his race into world slavery .......

[Free ThinkerNY]

Osama Obama is a dirty DemonRat for throwing his Grammie Cracker under a bus to save his own rotten racist neck.

[Alberta's Child]

Ed Koch is in the tank for a woman who has spent the better part of her life serving as an enabler for a sexual predator who also happened to be her "husband" -- often to the point of attacking the credibility and destroying the reputations of his victims.

It takes a special kind of depraved -- even diabolical -- person to do something like that.

The bowel movement I left in my toilet this morning had more integrity and credibility than any of these @ssholes.

[Brilliant]

Ed Koch: “Here is the reason... Because I am from NY.”

[weegee]

I’m no racist. I voted for Alan Keyes in the Texas primary.

But I do stand publicly opposed to that damned Marxist lying bigot with little experience and a Socialist propaganda mural campaign.

[weegee]

He doesn’t speak out against modern slavery in Sudan and elsewhere.

He was not born of the legacy American slavery. His claim to the “black experience” comes through his American wife and their 2 daughters.

He’s a race hustler who uses these issues to raise up emotions and support but he doesn’t take a stand on actually doing something about them where they are present in the world today.

[SkyDancer]

In other words - a liar .... still would like to ask any Black that question ....