Posted on 03/15/2008 8:22:02 PM PDT by neverdem
—The modified hang-out, and the modified modified hangout
Despite the serial profession of a new politics, there is something Nixonian about Obama's recent disclaimers over his racist pastor's diatribes. At first he tried to blame the messenger:
"Here is what happens when you just cherry-pick statements from a guy who had a 40-year career as a pastor.”
The problem is not cherries, Senator, but an entire orchard. The most egregious slurs are not from two decades past, but post 9/11 and especially in 2006. And Obama should have learned from Nixon that when there is something there, it is best to get out in front of it in a manner that anticipates more disturbing revelations. Yet the modified hangout then followed;
"It's a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS."
This is a de facto defense of, not a distancing from, Wright, and begs the question of why? And the AIDs evocation is especially damning since the reverend has made it clear that HIV was our own creation, apparently part and parcel of some US government conspiracy. Is Obama now suggesting that Wright did important civic work with AIDs even though he promulgated a belief that the virus was fabricated by our own government? And then comes the modified modified hangout:
"But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church."
That makes it even worse, because now Obama hints that he might have been in fact aware of the Wright rhetoric, but gave him a pass because he was “on the verge of retirement,” as if the albatross were about to disappear anyway, and with it the cause of prior embarrassment. And the evocation of his marriage and his children’s baptisms in such an extremist landscape should not be cited as reasons to stay in it, but rather should have been evoked as causes why he should get out—and not have his family further tainted by it. And it goes on and on:
“And while Rev. Wright's statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States.”
“Judgment” is the wrong word here, because the entire Wright liaison is proof positive of terrible judgment. And the problem is not judging Sen. Obama “on the basis of what someone else said”, but on the basis of his own generous subsidies to someone who spewed forth not mere speech, but hate speech.
And when Obama announces, “The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation,” he only will prompt investigative reporters to rush to substantiate whether the Senator was there when any of this calumny was preached, or has given a hint that he was aware of it in the past. No doubt every word he has written, interview he has given, and people he has talked with will be examined to see whether that astounding statement is in fact true. For some strange reason, Obama has now banked his entire campaign on his word and assurance that he did not hear on a single occasion any such screed.
I hope he is correct. But if one were to collate the reverend’s views on what his congregation should think of the United States, and, further, his writs against Americans as “selfish, self-centered egotists who are arrogant and ignorant” with Michelle Obama’s own astounding statements that hitherto she had no pride in the United States, and considered America “just downright mean," and Americans “guided by fear" and (in the words of the New Yorker profiler) who summed up her views as ‘we're a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents’ the echoes are eerie.
Without sounding dramatic, I think his campaign has seriously underestimated the effect of the Wright tapes on the average American voter (again, the problem is not just the transcript, but the delivery, most notably its fury and coarseness), and the senator’s own abject inability honestly and forthrightly to explain the close relationship of the Obamas to Reverend Wright, apologize for such a lapse of judgment, and move on. His advisors are culpable here, and apparently in their spin have no clue that they are making things worse rather than better.
Instead, we have heard first “cherry-picking” and then that the reverend does not represent his own views, but not a hint of contrition for an association with such a demagogue and hate-monger. I think this will not go away, and ultimately damage Obama beyond repair, for it strikes at the heart of his very candidacy—that he was a healer who has transcended racial divides, and was introducing a new credo of transparent and painfully forthright politics. The Wright scandal and his reaction thus far belie both. This was precisely why Hillary stayed in the race, and mirabile dictu, perhaps what she imagined would eventually transpire.
Whatever one’s views, this is both a travesty and a tragedy.
03/14 07:20 PM
And when Obama announces, “The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation,”
The Rev Wright was not just OOObammaaa’s pastor and his friend. He was also his MENTOR - my dictionary defintion >> “A wise and faithful adviser or tutor.” This advise/tutoring would have occurred in private meetings, not on Sunday am during church services.
This is what needs to be focused on - what did Wright advise him on as his MENTOR. OOObammaaa should have to take a lie detector test in conjuction with what he was “mentored” on.
If you read this, then put in a call to Rush/Hannity/Boortz/Levin/Savage, et al asking them to focus on this aspect of their relationship and to ask for lie detector tests be done on this miserable piece of liberal crap.
How do you like this Obama quote?
“During this holiday season and during this political season I’m continually reminded that the values that I learned at Trinity and as part of the UCC community are values that can’t just stay in church but have to be applied outside of church,” he said.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/699995,obamachurch121607.stng
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to be honest ....wasn’t Hanson telling us to be nice over Obama just a few weeks ago?
Hanson can be a bit PC.....
correct me if I’m wrong ND.
Maybe that was McCain? I don't remember. I hope I didn't post it! I read Hanson almost all of the time. Maybe my memory is going.
I think Reverend Wright is checkmate for the democratic party. After reading some of the forums on CNN it is clear that the Democrats are in panic. Not simply over this but over the whole war of words between Hillary and Obama. However, the write issue suddenly makes them realize that Obama may be unelectable, but they have already traveled too far down the Obama road. Obama has too many delegates for the party to switch to Hillary, and everyone is now blaming Hillary for bringing out all of this dirt. It is interesting to read comments by Rats which show incredible hatred toward the Clintons. They sound like Freepers during the 90s. They could go with Hillary now but half of them hate here. Many are saying they will vote for McCain. I don’t think the real damage has yet been done but the Rats are in a tailspin and it is hard to see how they get out of it. If they nominate Hillary all hell will break loose, but they are beginning to wonder if Obama is too controversial to win, and it is all Hillary’s fault.
Great observation. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Obama’s explanations thus far are so absurd as to be totally incredulous by anyone capable of thinking. I can’t wait to see how he worms his way out of this one. The cat is kind of out of the bag at this point. Can’t rebottle the genie on this one. What will be most interesting is to see how many of the Obamites continue drinking his kool-aid...
They are gonna say that this attack on the holy one came from the right wingnuts but I have the feeling that for independents and more moderate democrats, the effect of the kool-aid is wearing off. There must be panic at the DNC right about now. Hillary (tainted allready) and Barak (radioactive) and now a major rift in the Democratic Party because of the the Clintons introduction of identity politics into the campaign.
Most of Black America left the plantation for Obama’s camp in Hope for Real Change. The Democratic Party has for years exploited Black America with the promise of a better tomorrow constantly reinforcing the idea that the party has their best interest at heart while creating programs which make them more dependent and unable to reach their full potential. Constantly feeding their sense of victimhood, resentment, and entitlement and exploiting these feelings to keep them on the farm. Now maybe the chickens are returning to the roost.
As I understand it, Obama was a member since 91, so 16+ years is a long time to attend a church (semi-regularly) and never hear the Good Reverend Wright never go off on one of his rants. What are the odds? It may very well end up being a hot summer.
Hanson is beyond brilliant. He may see things a bit differently as new facts are revealed . Very logical of him actually. Oh how I wish a guy like VDH would run for office.
The MSM will let him slide. Most people are so dumb they will fall for whatever excuse he gives. I’m not as optimistic as many here on concerning Obama’s fate . We have had so many chances to discredit Dems in the past few years and have never once cashed in on it . What makes anyone think we;ll do it now?
I hope your observations are right.
This is even beyond the election.
It’s about chickens coming home to roost after over 3 decades now of the serious race baiting of whites by everyone....not just blacks and not just dems.
getting beyond this crap is only the first step in recovery for the black community and America
We let this crap Obama and his preacherman advocate continue to stand without consequence for the vile crap it is and we are lost.....and will deserve it.
Have to agree. Was just over reading forums on CNN and they are still drunk on the kool-aid.
Have to agree. Was just over reading forums on CNN and they are still drunk on the kool-aid.
I agree with your comments. The Dems have put themselves in a deep hole. Libs I work with were and maybe still are on the Obama train because even they are sick of the Clintons and can’t stand the thought of them back in the White House. The realization that Obama, his crazy wife and their nutjob Pastor actually come from the Farakhan school of Black separatism and racisim has rocked them!
The so-called dream team of Hillary and Obama will never happen either. I expect Hillary will find a way to grab the nomination but Obama has turned into too much of a liability to even think about having him on the ticket.
With Obama off the ticket, blacks and those suffering from Clinton fatigue will stay home. Hello President McCain! Politics is a crazy, crazy business.
I agree with your comments. The Dems have put themselves in a deep hole. Libs I work with were and maybe still are on the Obama train because even they are sick of the Clintons and can’t stand the thought of them back in the White House. The realization that Obama, his crazy wife and their nutjob Pastor actually come from the Farakhan school of Black separatism and racisim has rocked them!
The so-called dream team of Hillary and Obama will never happen either. I expect Hillary will find a way to grab the nomination but Obama has turned into too much of a liability to even think about having him on the ticket.
With Obama off the ticket, blacks and those suffering from Clinton fatigue will stay home. Hello President McCain! Politics is a crazy, crazy business.
This is such garbage. I have a close relationship to may pastor and ask him about his thoughts on all kinds of issues and topics. Obama SAYS that Wright is his spiritual mentor and greatest friend BUT he NEVER heard Wright say this stuff to him personally? Hogwash!!!!! They probably went out back behind the church with some Courvoisier and cigarettes and railed against America ever time they got together.
This is such garbage. I have a close relationship to may pastor and ask him about his thoughts on all kinds of issues and topics. Obama SAYS that Wright is his spiritual mentor and greatest friend BUT he NEVER heard Wright say this stuff to him personally? Hogwash!!!!! They probably went out back behind the church with some Courvoisier and cigarettes and railed against America ever time they got together.
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