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And, I read the transcript of Obama on Fox. Can anyone speak to the energy of the room?
i absolutely LOVED his answer to the question about whether God loves everyone. it was perfect. fight that, conservative judgmental fuckheads. it's God's word.
oh but of course they will fight it, just as they condemn gays because God says so, and ignore God's word on adultery as they frolic with their hookers and 2d and 3d wives.
He is somethin'. He really was trying to throw it in his critics face. They assasinated his character and he is talking back. They wanted him to remain silent but he is a prominent minister who has been speaking at events across the nation for years. He is not going to shut up now that they tell him too.
I hope that they got all their questions answered and they can just get off his tail and take his name out of their mouths. They have been obsessed since last year.
I found out some interesting information about the FBI and Wright and his church. According to my friend/roommate who is from Chicago, his church has been the site of undercover FBI investigations. She said that they were trying to meddle in the church to bring down black political figures. Interesting.
"And, I read the transcript of Obama on Fox. Can anyone speak to the energy of the room?"
I did not watch it but what do you mean by energy? I believe that it was just him and Wallace?
Wall to wall Wright for the next week will not help Obama. Especially after Obama declared him a 'legitimate political issue.'
If Barack Obama loses this race because of people twising Reverend Wright's words, then America shall "reap what is sows."
One side of me feels, "We've got to be more politically savvy in how we deal with the conservative forces in play," but the other side of me says, "F**K it, if these folks can not handle the truth, then SO BE IT. Let this country fall further and further behind economically, racially, and spiritually." The Roman Empire had to fall too.
My eyes were on Wright as I left the house watching MSNBC and my ears heard the Q&A; on V103 (local ATL radio). I'm cool with everything that Reverend Wright is doing. He should not be quiet and go away like the majority of the MSM wants him to do. That man has sacrificed so much for his community and THIS DAYUM COUNTRY...He's just telling the truth.
If America can't accept him (and by default association, not accept Barack Obama), then ___ them all.
It's going to take some special savvy to deal with these emotions and I'm confident that Barack can turn these events around in his favor...I don't know how, but I'm prayerful that Obama can do it!
Maybe I'm just too anxious to see clearly.
To hear that TUCC is under investigation by the FBI in order to bring down Black political leaders is interesting and believable.
Makes one wonder...
i'm guardedly optimistic that the american people will respond to that.
on my good days, i believe there are more people of good sense in this country than there are right wing zealots and lunatics. we shall see.
meanwhile, 1 million new democrats registered and obama launching a new voter registration campaign.
waking up this nation of sheep to recognize that it's no democracy if you don't participate, that we are losing this country and any hope of getting it right if we don't stand up and fight and we cannot afford another republican administration.
Anybody care to enlighten me?
He addressed this point in his Press Club speech. He let the sound bite controversy play but now he thinks it's time for his response to the slander.
He also is in DC for this conference on Black Church and this could highlight the conference and its work.
I agree with your post 100%
He can continue to remain quiet but I do not think that it will go away. Conservatives want to use him as bait along with vindicative Hillary supporters and the media. He is speaking for himself and people can judge him based on what he is presenting of himself that is not the caricature drawn up by soundbytes and pundits. He has alright to defend himself, the black church theology and his church which has been under attack.
He is a prominent minister and always has speaking engagements. He has been doing this thing since Obama was like 10/11 years old.
Now, I feel that he has presented his case effectively and needs to fade into the background now so that the attention can be back on the candidates.
The media has gotten obsessed with this side issue.
Wright is looking to boost himself into the spot light at Obama's expense.
Obama gave him legitimacy and credibility by not separating himself from Wright. Wright is taking full advantage of the platform Obama has handed him.
Now Wright says Obama is just a politician who is saying what he needs to say in order to get elected! OUCH.
The more Wright opens his mouth the more ammunition he gives to the media. He welcomes it.
IMO he feels he is above Obama.
He is a loose cannon who will dog Obama for the rest of the campaign.
Obama is trying to retool his campaign message with with blue-collar workers and seniors but how much of this will be drown out by Wright.
Does anyone know how the Obama campaign is reacting/responding?
They cannot be happy.
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy;love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;Does not behave rudely, does not seek it's own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth;Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
Why are we so ego driven? There are other groups who do their own thing and work on their own self-determination without a bunch of bruhaha or bombast or how yuh like me now?!? Wright can add his name to a long list of egotistical preachers. So sad.
THEY WERE at some point in the past. My friend was telling me that. You know how the FBI for the last few decades have been obbsessed with any black organization that helps the community as much as TUCC. They hate strong black leaders.
Anywayz, I think that the media feels stupid and is upset. I think that the American people will have a different outlook, unless they are the gulliable ones for media propaganda. They are going through it with a fine tooth comb which allows me to conclude that they dont have much. He definitely is coming off as more personable now which helps ease people's "fears" of him.
He spoke his mind, be stands by what he says and if others take issue with his opinions, it's slander?
Context or no context, his thoughts and opinions are controversial.
His words run contrary to Obama's central campaign themes of unity and hope.
Wright is making himself a issue in this campaign:
"While Obama remains in an embrace with Rev. Wright, top Obama adviser David Axelrod was on MSNBC this morning doing plenty of distancing from the reverend's tour. "We don't have any control over Rev. Wright," Axelrod said. "Rev. Wright speaks for Rev. Wright…He's out there doing his own thing…There's not a thing we can do about it. It's a free country and he's exercising his right to speak."
Asked whether Wright's tour hurts Obama, Axelrod said, "To the extent that people impute to Sen. Obama words that are not his, and sentiments that are not his, its obviously not helpful…I have great faith in the American people in their fairness and in their ability to think this thing through for what it is."
I did see Martin and Gergen's reactions. martin while I like him has said a lot of things recently that I do not agree with. He was telling Wright cancel with the NAACP and only talk to black media.
I know for a fact that Wright has a big personality so he isnt trying to put on any show. That is who he is. However I agree that he could have been more conservative at the Q&A; because some people obviously do not get his humor. As for the politican thing, he did say that if Obama got elected that he would come after him to as he does with any other politican. I think that Wright is not in love with politicans. I do not think that it is personal. However I think that he could have left it out. Nonetheless I dont think it will hurt the O-man.
:::Primary Fatigue::::Primary Fatigue::::
I'm white, and I think Rev. Wright is ALL ABOUT unity and hope. I'm not even religious, but I would attend his church just to hear his sermons. He's a deeply impressive man.
As for the political angle? Screw it. This country got where it is by way of too many people being afraid to stand up for what they believe in and what's right.
"Wright has always been and will always be critical of government and all politicans which would includes myself. I believe that it is in no way personal"
Moving on...
The more he shows angst and the more his campaign shows angst and avoidance, the more the media will flock because they are predators and they go where they smell blood.
While I respect Rev. Wright's freedom to speak and worship as he believes, I find very little in common with those opinions and beliefs. I have read his remarks, in and out of 'context' and I see very little distortion or misrepresentation.
I think the outrage on the part of his defenders is that they cannot understand why I do not see the 'truth' in what he says. They do not understand how I can take offense or disagree.
I can choose to make him relevant to my decision to vote for Obama or not. And as Obama had asked, I was willing to let it go and chalk up his divisive, angry words of those as a bitter, aging pastor from the 60s.
But he wants to turn the spotlight on himself at Obama's expense and it is making me ill.
Obama should have cut this man loose long ago. He will only cost Obama votes.
_____________________________________
Huh? Care to explain.
____________________________________
Jeremiah Wright May Have Just Sunk Obama's Campaign
The Obama campaign is off the rails.
The entire tone of the race changed the moment we saw the first fiery Wright sermon. The sight of those sermons triggered a question in a lot of voters' minds: How do you get the moderate-sounding, pleasant, agreeable student Barack Obama from an angry, divisive, radical, way-out-of-the-mainstream teacher like Jeremiah Wright? The sermons weren't quite a deal-breaker, but many Obama supporters, leaners, and undecideds were asking... how did Obama choose this man as a mentor? How could he possibly not know that his mentor had these attitudes? And does Obama agree with any of Wright's inflammatory statements?
In response, Obama gave a very eloquent speech about race relations in America. But it never quite answered the question, and in fact tried to blur the distinction between family we are born into and those we choose to turn to for guidance. Hillary jabbed at this in the debate, and Obama never quite had an appropriate response. He even said he disowned Wright, then backtracked and said he disowned his controversial statements.
And since then, it's gotten worse, even with a Bill Moyers interview that wasn't softball so much as it was Nerf Tee-Ball. We've heard Wright compare the Roman Legions who punished Jesus to the U.S. Marines, we've heard him argue that the U.S. and al-Qaeda are doing the same acts under different flags, etc.
Now we hear Wright analyzing the differences between white and black brains (!) and that the criticism of him for his comments was "an attack on the black church." He didn't retract his assertion that the U.S. government created the AIDS virus. He didn't retract his accusation that the United States had committed terrorism. He raved about Louis Farrakhan.
And again, we're left with that question... presuming Obama strongly disagrees with all of Wright's statements in these areas... how did he end up selecting this pastor? This church? (I know we get the story in Obama's autobiography. But did Obama once agree with all of the crazy conspiracy theories? Does he still agree, late at night, when the microphones and television cameras are far away?)
Obama is saying he should be president, instead of two much more experienced rivals, because of his superior judgment. But what kind of judgment is needed to select Wright as a surrogate father figure?
More reaction:
Jake Tapper: "He clearly was not doing Obama any favors, not only by reappearing before a ravenous media thus distracting from Obama's attempt to relate better to white working class voters in Indiana and North Carolina, but by implying Obama's condemnation of some of his sermons was not sincere."
David Brody: "Jeremiah Wright did Barack Obama no favors. Pastor Wright’s appearance at the National Press Club today started out as a great opportunity to explain the importance of the black Church experience. Instead it turned into a circus atmosphere and ensured that the Wright controversy is not going away and has the potential to single-handily take down Obama’s campaign."
http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i30/30b00101.htm
....
You don't think the tone of the race changed BEFORE the 'wright' controversy when Governor Rendell said that whites in PA will never vote for a black man for president? Or when Geraldine Ferraro said Barack was only where he was because he was black?? That played and there was no outrage from the white community... .
So why are their words less divisive and radical than Rev. Wrights.. and how is it that THEIR words don't have as much or MORE impact than Wrights?
"Now, I feel that he has presented his case effectively and needs to fade into the background now so that the attention can be back on the candidates."
That's just it - he CAN'T fade into the background. He never will. The media (and most of white america) have already made up their mind about Wright. Right or wrong, it is what it is. I listen to Fox News Talk in the AM, and that's ALL they've been talking about this morning. This is a problem - especially since Obama is not doing well with working class white voters.
Remember, all Hillary and McCain has to do at this point is plant the seeds of doubt into American voters by distracting them from the important issues. You know, things like "he's a radical... he's elitist... he's not like you or I... radical preacher - judgement.... black guy... don't trust him with your white babies...." it just goes on and on. And those seeds get watered and nurtured to the point everytime Wright makes an appearance or does it interview. Most important, it keeps Obama from setting the tone of the primary and gives the power to Hillary and McCain.
Wright really needs to do Obama a favor and go on 6 month sabatical. Him defending himself is doing Obama no favors right now and is hurting more than helping
Maybe to see if he/she can poison the well. So, he/she has motives, to either rattle Obama supporters or divide.
In that, anonymous is being very sincere.
Like it was pointed out upthread, we really need to learn how to be more savvy when it comes to fighting the Right Wing Media Monster.
Jesus H. Christ. Shut the phuk up already, man!!!!!
Wow. if they interpreted the speech like that last night then I do not know. I was not offended. They obviously do not understand certain concepts. Bunch of simpletons is who is in the media. These are the people who are getting out to the public. Whatever. May the chips fall where they may.
I think that Obama's campaign overall can be more pro-active than re-active. If they felt that he was going to say anything that can be used a "fodder" then they should have contacted him and spoken to him, if they haven't.
I can't help but think Wright is upset that Obama said he was stuck in a time warp. That he was wrongheaded and divisive.
He made a point of saying that he is descriptive, not divisive.
In essence, Obama critiqued him publicly and he doesn't appear to like it.
I hear you to a point. The Moyers interview was good, the speech at the NAACP was good, the speech today was good but the Q&A; was not good. If that part was left out then it would be fine. He has alright to defend the black church tradition, his church and himself. The media has created a certain caricature of him and his church. They are not going to change it. They will find anything to continue to paint him that way. Therefore, he should not have done the National Press Club because they were looking for 'soundbites' from his Q&A.; They probably did not even (they did not) pick up what he was saying in either of his two speeches.
Obama played it wrong. He was running away hoping that it didn't come up. He came to bite him...hard. When he disinvited his pastor, it began to make people whisper. You cannot act like you are hiding something or someone. He tried to avoid race and anything slightly racial but obviously it is the big elephant in the room. As I said, Obama and his campaign continue to be re-active rather than pro-active.
Does Obama or his campaign have any communication with Wright?
While I personally would prefer a world where an Obama could be as blunt as a Wright and still be successful, in the world we actually live in the additional distance between the two is hardly a negative for Obama. People need to get a bit clearer about what they're so worried about. You can't simultaneously hold that being "linked" to Wright hurts Obama AND that Wright's "attack" on Obama hurts Obama. Which is it?
::
Agreed.
I wonder if he has any plans on going after Hillary, Bill and McCain. It is unfair to go after Obama in this way. Why would Wright and others in the so-called black leadership hold Barack to impossible standards?
I recall something I saw one season of the American Idol auditions. There was a young black woman who came to the second round of auditions with several members of her family. Apparently the mother loved a particular song and wanted the daughter to sing it. It was clear that this young woman was not feeling that particular song, but felt pressured somehow to be obedient and 'represent' her family's wishes. I could see there was some fear in following her own instinct in case she would fail for being disobedient. Anyway, she sang the song and got poor reviews and was cut from the audition. Her mom came onto the stage and talked to the judges, but it was too late.
This makes me think of what's happening now with Barack and the black "leadership". Blacks have a very authoritarian upbringing informed by religion. We are taught to obey our elders without question.
I see Barack as struggling to sing his own song against the impossible pressure of the hopes and dreams of the entire black community. Many of us understand this instinctively and release him to do what he needs to do...but some in the black "leadership" seek to burden him with petty things.
The most insulting part of this is the assertion that they're doing it out of love. They say they're holding Barack "accountable"..doing him a favour. Then they say they're defending the black church. The truth is that people like Smiley and Wright and West are competing jealously. Not the green-eyed-monster kind of jealousy..but the stifling, possesive, authoritarian, "ownership" kind of jealousy.
Is this what will happen whenever any black person dares to win the office of President?
I hear you to a point-
What you however don't seem to understand is that this is not going away. People have only heard and seen how the media has painted him. The Republicans are getting ready to run ads, the media mentions it all of the time...its was not just going to go away.
It was good that he came out to defend the black church tradition, his church and himself. However we could have all done without the Q&A.;
Also I would like to remind you guys that he is a prominent minister who often has speaking engagements and he is always being awarded somewhere. What has happened now is that he has heightened media scrutiny and anything he says can potentially screw Obama. That is the problem. He has a life that does not include Obama and he has been well respected before Obama!!!!!!!!!
Where I believe he went wrong was in the Q&A.; He needs to not allow anymore cameras where he goes.
P.S.
Wright is very candid. That is his personality. My friend knows TUCC and she has already told me that. This doesn't work when you are dealing with a mainstream media who has bad intentions. He should not have done the National Press Club. However I do not think that he is trying to sabotage Obama.
P.S.S. A few New Yorkers aren't too happy with the O-man because he said that we have to "respect the verdict"..."we are a country of laws" (Sean Bell). I have tried to clarify with them what he was saying but they didnt want to hear it.
I do understand how hard it is for Obama.
I'm reading this thread and I think that people are missing understanding him.
I am an Obama supporter but this whole nobody dare look at Obama or we are all going to blow up mentality cannot work.
Truthseeker, I agree that Smiley was being a hater but please stop. This doesnt help anything.
The media loves to make everything a soap opera; well, if we let them do that, we get the type of govt that is a soap opera.
::
But this is precisely the problem. Wright said he is not a politician. Then why answer the questions from a press corps that crucified him?
It makes no sense on its face unless he's got something else in mind.
As you said, just giving speeches and educating listeners about the history of the Black Church and the tradition of the prophetic social gospel is perfectly fine.
But he also said he wasn't there to answer questions about the political process. Notice that the only answers he offered about politicians were answers asked about Obama. Questions about the Hillary Rodham Nixon and her husband's race-baiting tactics weren't justified with a response.
Now, I'll take it all the way there:
Lest we forget, Wright had enough of a relationship with President Clinton to accept his invite to the Whitehouse years ago.
No preacher is an angel. I've certainly never met one who is. Doesn't mean they aren't good people who do good things with their ministries. But preachers can be just as corrupted by power and money as politicians can.
So, the million dollar question: Is Wright being put up to this?
What is the point of him saying this? I think he went too far. I thought the speech was great and appropriate, as was the interview. The question and answer was a recipe for disaster full of vacuous questions from "stuck on stupids" for an obviously intelligent and proud man. So, if he is smarter, why did he subject himself to a trap? I think he just couldn't help himself. He is driven to compete and to be relevant. There is little humility to be seen there and he stumbled on the HIV conspiracy question.
I like him, and I don't like him.
damn, you really did go there! I don't know....the timing is so perfect for the other side.
Obama made an effort to downplay his blackness from the beginning of the campaign. He didn't want to be painted black or be made the black candidate. (That didn't stop him from expecting the black vote, but that's a another story).
He had white people believing that had nothing in common with the likes of Rev Al and Brother Jesse. He didn't attend the state of the black union.
He attempted to keep Rev Wright hidden, because he knew that there would be fall out.
The 20 year association could not be easily explained away. There is no easy way out. Any reasonable person would think, If he didn't agree with him, why stay in the church? why make him a mentor? Is this an example of his judgement?
As a black person I have additional questions. The way I see it, Obama pursued a relationship with Wright to gain street cred in Chicago. Now he doesn't need him anymore or the association is an embarrassment he is backing away-and will eventually disavow him in a effort to win the nomination and presidency. Will he do this if he makes it to the White House?
Why can't he just have his own opinions and act based on his own motivations?
Lest I say, here comes the "L" word...
how do you downplay your blackness really? I can only assume it's by not following the template of behaviour of previous black candidates. But, what if Barack really doesn't believe the way they do. Maybe he was really just being himself...singing his own song.
@ craig hickman
maybe the Clinton's are trying to regain the black vote...but that's just from one cynic to the other.
I am tired of people like Sharpton exploiting people like the Bell family for their own gain. How is it beneficial for them to march. Maybe I'm shortsighted, but I don't see the benefit. There is no remedy for this family other than to grieve, then quietly sue for every dime they can get. Then, if they want to change the law, they should testify before congress, form an advocacy group...but shutting down the city??? Who does that benefit?
You do not know my minister. He has said wonderful things about Obama. He even said last night that he supported him in saying "Yes We Can".
He answered the questions so that he can clarify what he was trying to say.
I was so hurt when my church came under attack. He and the congregation have alright to fight back at the media.
He repeated what he says a lot. The whole thing about Obama being a politican. Wright is a man who is critical about all politicans and government. I put my head down when he repeated it because I know that he is a very outspoken man but the media will use it. It sounded like it was not in Obama's favor.
I think people fail to undertstand that the man has a life outside of Barack. He is well-known. He has been invited to speak nationwide for years. He has a church of about 8,000. It took it from 80 to 8000. He has built ministries and helped the community. The media is digging and Barack supporters are jumping on anyone that passes close to Barack. Wow.
I support Barack 100% but he is not as progressive as he used to be before he hit the national stage.
P.S. RhondaCoca, you are right about the FBI. Who told you that? Our church has been outspoken when it comes to the government and world issues. Being a strong black church puts us in the spotlight like it has so many other black churches and organizations. It happened a while back. They for years have been successful in shuting people up.
I don't even consider myself a cynic. If so, I wouldn't support Obama and I wouldn't be paying any attention to this election at all.
After the Q&A; today, I just don't trust Wright's motives entirely.
I have doubt. That's all.
When did Wright make fun of Democratic presidents?
If people voting for Hillary truly understood what her theological leader and prayer groups believe in they might very well be more concerned about her as you will see in the following excerpt regarding Hillary’s religious affiliations. (please make note of the irony of the use of the word “elite.”
“The Family avoids the word Christian but worships Jesus, though not the Jesus who promised the earth to the “meek.” They believe that, in mass societies, it’s only the elites who matter, the political leaders who can build God’s “dominion” on earth. Insofar as The Family has a consistent philosophy, it’s all about power—cultivating it, building it and networking it together into ever-stronger units, or “cells.” We work with power where we can,” Doug Coe has said, and “build new power where we can’t”
The above is from an article from the Nation “Hillary’s Nasty Pastorate” by Barbara Ehrenreich (www.thenation.com).
Frankly, I find it odd that the msm keeps saying the public knows Hillary but they don’t Sen. Obama? They keep asking why did he sit in that church for 20 years, blah, blah, blah. Looks to me like the msm should be asking the same things of Hillary and looks to me like the public doesn't really know her either.
I must've missed something.
When did Wright make fun of Democratic presidents?
Mon Apr 28, 12:18:00 PM 2008
He didn't make fun of democratic presidents. He pointed out that when Jack Kennedy and LBJ pronounced words with their distinctly regional inflection, they weren't criticized as less than or stupid or too dumb to learn English.
All he was saying is that blacks have been treated unfairly in part because there is an expectation in this country that white and european is the standard of measure.
Different is not deficient, it's just different. Good lord, it would be a better world if we could beat that into every head in this country.
Truthseeker, I really think you captured some of the underlying psychology operating in this saga. I agree with you, and I continue to say again, LOVE should have prompted Wright to wait until a more opportune time to speak his truth to power. And as a professed representative of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who did not defend himself when being crucified, I think LOVE should have been the filter & the forethought, not the after thought.To me, love should have caused him to "cover" Obama, because when you love someone, that's what you do (love covers a multitide of sins).
Tree, I disagree with what you said about Obama trying to downplay his blackness. Obama didn't grow up in the hood. His lack of exposure to other Black people caused him to seek out a more Black experience. It caused him to embrace his African name and take a Black wife (unlike Tiger Woods). By the same token, the embracing of his Blackness hasn't stopped Wright from building a 10 mil. $ home in an all white gated community, but I digress. One might have to have the experience or know someone who had it, to understand. It is lonely and painful at times. He sought out upwardly mobile Black people like himself. He gave Wright the privilege of being the father that he never had, and showed his loyalty and seriousness by not dissavowing him when the media asked him to do so. He said, "I can no more dissavow him than I can dissavow the Black community." And Wright responds with, "I'm coming after him IF he becomes pres. because he will represent a gov. whose policies harm the poor." How about this option. Build yourself a 1 mill. $ home and give 9 (.2) million to the poor instead of threatening Obama. Put your $ where your mouth is or STFU. THE MAN'S EGO IS OUT OF CONTROL!!!!
How many Black people do you think are going to quit the Black church because of the Wright tape loop? The church needs no defense and is not on trial. He used it as an excuse to posture. My grandmother was a member of his church for 20 years as was my brother and some cousins. We had her Home Going celebration at his church. I own several of his study books and tapes, but honestly, if you speak truth to power and have not love, you don't sound like anything to me.
Rhonda, I understand your perspective, and agree a little.Maybe it would not have gone totally away, but I still don't agree with Wright giving them additional foder because of his ego tripping. Tu intiende?
Angela, you are right and the reason why the MSM isn't questioning Hillary Rodham Nixon about The Family is because it's a right wing cult full of right wing Republicans.
All that talk about obliterating Iran comes right out of The Family.
So when I say that Mrs. Nixon would be happy to be McCain's runningmate, I'm not talking outta my behind.
Don't forget Chris; where ever there's Adam Chandler, there's Stuart Chandler. Not sure what I mean by that, but it sounded good. :)
I disagree that it's game over. As you said, newsrooms are what they are. And this issue--like "Mission Accomplished"; like Katrina; like the Downing Street Minutes; like Abu Ghraib--has a shelf life.
On the other side:
Obama held it down in a NC town hall today.
And he also got another superdelegate from New Mexico.
I think we Obama supporters underestimate him and his team. They're shrewd political gamers. The whole thing about trying to bankrupt HRC as rikyrah mentioned earlier is part of the Game. Obama's team is looking at the Big Picture which is why they've got the 50-state voter reg campaign and donating money to the DNC. We gotta think long view. Barack will be fine.
http://essence.typepad.com/news/?xid=042808-EssenceNews-RolandReportHeadline
One nugget of "wisdom" from the rev: "Black brains" are wired differently and work differently than "white brains".
Un-f*cking-believable.
Sounds like something straight out of 19th century America or Nazi Germany.
"Taken out of context" (again) I suppose.
There's no way in hell this guy isn't on the RNC or HRC payroll.
I think this long, drawn out primary is getting the best of a lot of us. Just by reading the posts here and on some of the other blogs it seems like everyone's nerves are frayed down to nothing and emotions are running as high as I've ever seen them. That's not to say that there is no cause for concern, but taking a few deep breaths really wouldn't hurt at this point.
Ceedub, you are the voice of reason, fu sho! Sometimes the Obama campaign does seem dumb like a fox.They do seem to eek by and somehow come out ahead. They keep it on the DL. I'm down with that. Thanks.
I have it on good authority that radicals within the powerful rightwing Jewish Lobby including [AIPAC] American Israel Public Affairs Committee are vexed, frustrated and displeased with Barack Obama's refusal to accept special interest money and consequentially seek his crucifixion. The concern is that the Senator's policy prevents them from exerting influence or extracting favor from his administration should he become the next President in these United States of America. In an effort to allay their fears, Senator Obama has offered his assurance that if elected, an Obama administration would not be a foe- yet this does not seem to halt their resistance to his candidacy. Reportedly, Senator Clinton's campaign saw an opening to exploit the Jewish community's apprehension and began stoking the anti-Obama fire behind the scene.
In collaboration with the Clintons, they [the Jewish Lobby] dispatched a number of "candidacy assassinators" including former Clinton special counsel, Lanny Davis, Florida congress woman, Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, California congress man, Brad Sherman, CNN news anchor, Wolf Blitzer [vis-a-vis Lou Dobbs], Independent Senator, Joseph Lieberman, the far right crippled Washington Post Journalist, Charles Krauthammer and others to torpedo Obama's nomination bid. The above mentioned Jews were mandated to fan the flames of hateful passion against the Illinois Senator using demagoguery and nefarious spin of the Reverend Wright issue to toxify the American voters. Their mission is to convince the public that Obama would be unelectable in November due to his optics and alleged third party association to Rev. Farrakhan. This while simultaneously promoting Hillary as the only friend of Israel. It is also reliably reported that Democratic Jews are being counseled to vote for John McCain as a penultimate option should Senator Clinton not get the nomination.
The rest of it gets really into the mire.
Here's the thing: the Jewish lobby has and will continue to be one of the most powerful lobbies in US government.
If Obama refuses contributions from lobbyists...
A lot to ponder here. A lot to ponder.
She must feel believe that this time Obama is carrion for the picking.
HillBilly wants to do it with him on the back of a flatbed truck as she sings oblit oblit oblit--obliterate Iran....
Wright is right, this is an attack on the black church and also an attack on black people.
The corporate media can kiss my Ebony Donkey.
But he's also so very wrong.
By REBECCA CARR
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/28/08
That paper is in the North Carolina print media market.
Do you see what's going on, ms.martin?
I do and I've seen all along and I understood what SBO would be confronted with when it became clear that he could be America's president.
The MSM could not draw Obama out (in a reactionary manner)nor manage public opinion to his detriment by using Wright as a campaign issue so they drew out Wright who has every right to to defend himself;it's unfortunate for Obama that he went beyond defending himself to fighting back, but that's his right as well.
It is incumbent upon us to be able to separate things that really matter.
Chris Matthews is getting on my fing nerves. He thinks he smells blood so he's trying to be forceful and he looks stupid.
The noose story is far too obvious to be anything other than a plot point.
Obama's going to be in the news the next four days--and not for good reasons. He needs to scramble his PR firm to help him get over this mess. It would truly be ashame if he got this close and loses the nomination.
After everything we've been through this election season, I really don't think black voters will give it a second thought. The veil has been lifted and now we really see.
Pastor Wright is FULLY in Barack's
corner and not part of any conspiracy! Everyone's nerves really are frayed. We all knew what the MSM
would do. They need to keep the drama going in order to maintain ratings!
North Carolina could end up being what Virginia was supposed to be: a close race where Mrs. Nixon could squeak out a victory.
If you're so dayummed fatigued and annoyed, can you imagine how Barack Obama must feel after what is probably the longest "primary" campaign in modern american history...get over yourselves okay.
You'll hear me say a lot of things on here, but you're not ever gonna hear me doubting Barack. This is not the time to be discounting the brother's chances, this is the time WE SHOULD BE LIFTING HIM UP! I'm encouraging everyone to "check yourselves" and watch your emotions...don't be so drawn into the "bombast" of the MSM, KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE.
I'm not tired of Obama, I'm tired of the MSM and the way they're trying to shape public opinion.
I'm tired of this shit, I'm tired of being reminded that I'm black and that it it is supposed to be something negative.
I'm tired of all these racists who think I don't see them and the ones who don't care if I see them.
It's the stupid Media!
According to Cambell (Mrs. Jon Senor) Brown, Obama just can't connect with white working class voters. Obama nor Hillary can win without black voters. The so called white working class voters are bigots. They aren't going to vote for an uppity black man anyway.
The SCOTUS passed the Voter ID bill today, is the media talking about that?
John McCain is using his wifes company jet for the Straight Talk Express. Is the media talking about that?
50 shots, not guilty, is the media talking about that?
Gas is sky high is the media talkinb about that?
There is a looming food crisis, is the media talking about that?
4 more soldiers were killed in Iraq, is the media talking about that?
It's all Wright all the time, UNfair and UNbalanced.
We're all different. Different, not deficient.
Allow us our angst, our pessimism, our doubt.
I've been labeled one of the sunny ones around here, and I'm quite disappointed in what I saw from Rev. Wright today.
I know ego when I see it. Ego and competition. Men will be men. And we don't know what has gone on behind the scenes between Obama and Wright. I'm not saying my concerns are right, but they are what they are and no rhetoric in the world is going to change them at this time.
I agree with some of the people in here telling you guys to calm your nerves. If Obama's campaign wanst derailed after the soundbites then this will not hurt him at all...at all. As for NC, there is a large AA voting block so even if Hillary closes the gap, she cannot win the state, in my opinion. I think that he has a chance in Indiana. I realized the media plays a game. Polls are so different from each other. I find that they show the lower polling on days when candidates are having "bad days";)
I am in the middle of a boycott of the media. I refuse to watch. I will tune back in the day of the Indiana and NC primaries.
Soledad O'Brien was on Michael Baisden and she agreed that the media was acting extra hype. Nobody thinks that this will hurt him.
So get up and shake off!!
"I'm tired of all these racists who think I don't see them and the ones who don't care if I see them".
EXACTLY RIGHT!!
People I implore you to boycott MSM and Fox. Stop legitamizing and internalizing their garbage. If they don't want to tell the news, go to alternate sources. I don't need predominatly WHITE commentators and pundits criticizing a black pastor and his words on a daily basis anymore. Remember what they did to Michelle Obama?
Primary fatigue has set in. Thanks for letting me vent y'all. :-)
Only if WE cringe, instead of standing firm, when people like Jeremiah Wright speak truth to power.
And I'm glad he plans to keep on doing so after Obama is elected. EVERY politician needs grassroots pressure to keep him / her honest.
They are gonna give this thing to Clinton. A lot of events but now with dean saying the Dels should decided sometime in June and that they should choose the person who is most "electable" than that lets me know that Hill has this thing locked up and they're just letting everyone vote so her numbers look a little better when they coronate her.
Hey, if I'm wrong, I'll gladly be wrong.
So lack folk what's the plan if and when this "coronation" goes down? U prepare to wreak (civilized) havoc?
Or do we take this one sitting down?
~Sepia
If they GIVE this nomination to Clinton, I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HER - NEVER - I REPEAT - NEVER!
Something utterly Reaganesque like that. Could have ended it.
...Allow us our angst, our pessimism, our doubt.
As if I could tell you what to do...I can only encourage you to have some courage and stop underestimating the man who is carrying the ultimate burden of this campaign, Barack Obama.
My candidate remains the candidate of "Hope and Optimism" and not "pessimism and doubt."
I encourage you to be more than a "fairweather" supporter and consider adopting the philosophy of Obama's campaign: BE HOPEFUL.
There are going to be tougher days ahead and I've watched enough AA commentators today fall all over themselves to belittle Wright...it saddens me that their gut instincts led them to join the chorus rather than singing the key tune: BARACK OBAMA IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, JEREMIAH WRIGHT IS NOT. That message was not propagated at all.
The only way that Barack Obama's candidacy can be derailed by Jeremiah Wright is if people lose hope.
So many young people following Obama now...itching for REAL CHANGE.
I just heard a pundit on CNN saying that Obama needed to convince white America that he would be a president for all the people. WTF.
wright is an egomaniac who could not be dissuaded from going on this little publicity tour, which tour is solely for the purpose of developing more material and marketing his upcoming book.
more: obama is not that close to wright, never has been. it appears that wright is envious of obama nd his rise into the public eye and so he is subconsciously trying to sabotage obama's candidacy.
and now this is me: i agree with 99% of what wright says. i don't know what his motivation could be. i had just assumed that it was guided by the wish to set the record straight and had nothing to do with obama. if it is ego, if it is envy, or whatever, that's motivating this public display, shame on him.
that being said, everyone makes mistakes. and though i'd hate to see it played out this way, the idea that obama has been sabotaged by his "crazy preacher" could be helpful for obama's campaign.
i would like to see obama directly address wright's remarks that obama's doing what he's doing because he's a politician. those aren't the proper words, but the implication is that obama is not who he says he is, does not believe what he is saying, is only doing and saying what he is because he wants to win and after that, he'll change.
i don't believe that. it would be a good point for obama to confront in this whole wright thing. then put it to rest.
That would be pretty ugly. For party leadership to drag the primary through 50 states while Obama supporters do the heavy lifting of registration and phonebanking - let them build a strong grassroots framework for the party. At the same time, Hillary divides and tears down any goodwill between races. She skips states, saying they're not important. Doesn't focus on registering or building the party. Insults the activist base. To give the nomination to Hillary who then benefits from the hard work of The O campaign and it's supporters....that would be madness!
I think there would be a dramatic reversal within the Dem party.
I remember thinking long ago that maybe there was some jealously and anger about the disinvitation to the announcement of Obama's presidency, but then I was distracted by the attack on the truth and Trinity and I forgot about all of that and went into defense mode.
I feel really bad for SBO. He didn't won't to hurt Wright, but I'm afraid he has forced his hand.
There is nothing wrong with a Black liberation theology per se, depending on if it leads one to love or hate or....To me, all paths need to lead to love. Doruba bin Wahad used to say, "Power to the people. Black power to black people, white power to white people, red power to red people, brown power to brown people, yellow power to yellow people." I believe this with every cell in my body, and I think Obama thinks like I think. Thats why I really want him to be our president.I believe he is going to be President, and I'm going to keep hope alive!!!!
Andyfrombrooklyn, I also have a head cold, so I hope you get well soon.They are trying to destroy him, but I believe in his rightousness and I believe he will prevail. He might not want to, because I'm sure the state of the nation is faaaaaarrr worse than any of us can fanthom.Bush has raided the treasury and we probably can't afford anything.
McCain's wife is such a Stepford person. Lord, please don't let anymore crazy people win the presidency.
I'm watching Anderson Cooper, but I'm going to have to turn him off. I can tell.
I hope you're right. I don't want to think about how that would make me and millions feel.
Meanwhile I will continue both to agree with about 90% of what Wright says and to be glad he's saying it. It's way past time for progressives to stand up and stop being intimidated. When we allow ourselves to be silenced, we've become part of the problem.
The best thing Obama could do is stay on message about what the voters want to hear. Challenge the media to cover issues that really matter instead of these sideshows. Truth be told, people don't care about Wright-gate. When O has town hall meetings with voters, people ask him questions about the economy, not Wright!
~ Sepia
The Austin American-Statesman:
NOOSE ALLEGEDLY FOUND AT SECRET SERVICE TRAINING CENTER
By Rebecca Carr | Monday, April 28, 2008, 03:03 PM
The U.S. Secret Service has placed a white agent on leave after an African American employee reported finding a noose hanging at the service’s main training facility outside the nation’s capital.
The service has acknowledged “an allegation of misconduct” at its J.J. Rowley Training Center in Beltsville, Md., and that an employee last week was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. The employee is a veteran agent with the service, according to fellow agents.
The noose was found by an African American officer in the uniform division of the service during the week of April 14, according to those familiar with the alleged incident. That division protects the White House and surrounding grounds. He reported the incident to his supervisor and it was sent up the chain of command. He declined to comment for this story.
After learning about the alleged incident, Cox Newspapers asked the Secret Service whether a noose had been discovered at the training center.
“In response to your question, there has been an allegation of misconduct at our training center,” said Edwin M. Donovan, assistant special agent in charge of government and public affairs.
“The employee involved has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by our Office of Professional Responsibility, which serves as the agency’s internal affairs office,” Donovan wrote in an e-mail response. “At the conclusion of the investigation, additional information may be available.”
The alleged incident happened as U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson is expected to decide next month whether to sanction the service for failing to turn over evidence in a long-running lawsuit alleging that the service created a racially hostile atmosphere that tolerated discrimination.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Atlanta native Reginald G. Moore, alleges that the Secret Service routinely discriminates against black agents seeking promotion in favor of white agents who scored lower on promotional exams.
Nearly 60 black agents have submitted sworn statements to the court in support of the lawsuit’s allegations.
Robinson has already sanctioned the service three times since the discovery process of the lawsuit began 3 1/2 years ago.
The service denies the allegations and is now appealing all of the sanctions.
The Office of Professional Responsibility, previously called the inspection division, figured prominently during the discovery process of the lawsuit.
Carrie Hunnicutt, an inspector in charge of searching for documents sought in the lawsuit, testified in February that she destroyed original evidence sought by the plaintiffs by placing documents in a “burn bag” just two days before she was scheduled to testify in the case.
Justice Department lawyers defending the service have said that the destroyed documents should not be considered lost evidence because Hunnicutt transferred information from the documents to a computer database.
But lawyers at Hogan & Hartson and Relman & Dane, two Washington law firms representing the plaintiffs for free, contested that assertion, arguing that no one will ever know if the database is complete because the original evidence was destroyed by Hunnicutt.
The allegation that a noose was discovered supports the essence of the discrimination alleged in the lawsuit, said Jennifer Klar, a lawyer at Relman & Dane.
“We are appalled but unfortunately not surprised that a noose was prominently displayed recently in a secret service training center,” Klar said in an interview.
“This incident of racial hatred is troubling in an agency that has the important duty of protecting world leaders of all races, including our own leaders such as (presidential candidate) Barack Obama and (Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice,” Klar said.
“This racist incident is a reminder that long time discrimination in the secret service has created an atmosphere where such hateful acts occur all too regularly,” Klar said.
“It is time for the Secret Service to put a stop to acts of racism by addressing and healing the racially charged environment that has been created over the years,” Klar said.
The Secret Service has fought the lawsuit each step since it was filed eight years ago.
“The Secret Service is extremely proud of the accomplishments of our diverse work force and our record on diversity,” said Eric Zahren, a spokesman for the service in an e-mail document defending the service from the accusations in the lawsuit.
“The Secret Service has not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” Zahern said. “We are extremely proud of the contributions of our diverse work force and we will continue to promote the most qualified people.”
Moore, the lead plaintiff in the case who grew up in civil rights movement in Atlanta, was promoted after filing his lawsuit in 2000.
Moore is now in the service’s senior executive service. He has said that he will keep fighting until the service’s promotional system is permanently changed so that all agents of all colors have an equal chance at promotion.
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/washington/secrecy/entries/2008/04/28/noose_allegedly_found_at_secre.html#comments
Please elaborate - your thoughts on how this is a bigger problem?
I wrote passionately about why Obama couldn't disown Wright, when this first went down.
As my Mama said tonight, ' He clowned for them White people on purpose - to hurt Barack'. Indeed he did, Mama, which is why Obama needs to divorce himself from Wright IMMEDIATELY.
After Wright's performance today, Black folk shouldn't come down on Obama anymore. They would have when this first shook out because those were soundbite snippets.
Today was a full-on 'shock' performance of the highest order. And since we saw that he can do better (Moyers and the NAACP Dinner), what conclusion could one come to, other than this was done ON PURPOSE TO HURT OBAMA. He displayed Crab-in-a-barrell to the nth degree, and I am hurt as hell.
Unraveling.
Ugghhhhh...
Those are the words that come to mind.
Fear is that this gets worse before it gets (if it gets) better. I don't see anyone or anything stopping The Rev. Wright Tour Across America. It's all about him at this point. How many more national conferences on this or that is he going to be invited to speak at? He should be selling concert t-shirts.
Truthseeker, thank you for your astute and insightful analysis on why the DNC wouldn't just hand the nomination to Hillbilly. Your ideas are totally logical and infused with HOPE.
I know that was hard for you. I've been waiting to hear what you had to say all day.
Don't feel like the lone ranger. I've been fighting for Wright and thought he was doing okay until I heard the statements and saw the demeanor today.
He wanted to hurt Barack and what's really sad about it is that when white folks wanted him to turn on Wright he refused to it hurt him so he had to speak to the nation.
It was hard for me to admit to. I felt like he betrayed me too!
which CNN program were they on? I missed Campbell Brown, but I am recording Larry King and Anderson Cooper.
Faye Wattleton is a HHH - period.
Hell, even Carol Simpson said it was Crabs-in-a-barrell tonight in the little I saw of Larry King.
I couldn't believe Waddleton said that.
You have material to point out the hypocrisy of Hillary's bizarre prayer group which believes in praying for the "elites" of the world which she is considered one of (they believe they are more important than us everyday joe and janes). Talk about the ultimate irony of being an elitist!!!!!!!!!!! How sick is that and shouldn't Hillary's so called blue collar class voters know that she doesn't consider them as important as she is right from the get go...that they are only an instrument to her reaching her personal goals.
She will say or do anything!!
I truly believe, that complaining about the way the media treats the Rev.Wright issue doesn't accomplish anything.
A book about Hillary's chosen religious affiliation is supposed to come out in May. I hope it comes out in early May so alot of us can read it.
In the meantime...educate yourselves on what is available via the Nation article and a Mother Jones article of 2007.
Please, don't just complain, activate and communicate with msm that you are aware of Hillary's questionable religious affiliations.
I saw Roland, Faye, David & Ed on anderson Cooper, who at 1st fooled me into thinking he was liberated.
Ms. Martin, I don't know what an hhh is, but I'm going to surmise that it's unfavorable.
I'm looking at Larry King now. Lanny whatshisname sucks.
Roland kept talking about people who were close to Wright begging him not to do what he did, but Wright wouldn't listen. If I was his wife I'd be icing him like syberia. I like Eric M. Dyson, but sometimes you have to call a spade a spade. I don't get why his lovely wife, Marcia, supports Hillbilly. Weird. Good night.
I don't know what HHH means either, that's rikyrah's comment.
Roland and Eric looked really troubled; though, they still didn't want to throw away the Rev. they just looked really sad.
If indeed Wright's colleagues begged him not to go through with this to no avail; then Wright is on a search and destroy mission and cannot be reasoned with. It strikes me that Wright is not only angry at Obama but at the whole black community. He knows how much this nomination means to us.
There's a kind of mad dog quality to this that is similar to the Tavis episode. Tavis was on the radio ranting uncontrollably about Barack. These men can't seem to help themselves.
At first I was really angry, now I'm kinda sad.
1) He has a history with Obama. Baptized his kids. Married Barack and his wife. And Obama placed him on his spiritual committee.
2) For a pastor that seems to want to discuss race and the upwards mobility of black people, how is clowning around and popping up at different locations and, thus, hurting Barack's chances at the White House a positive for the upward mobility of black people?
3) While I have no doubt that his many members are committed to Jesus, I'd have to believe that many of his black followers are also Obama supporters (afterall, he does carry 90+ percent of the black vote.)
So again, even if Wright enjoys the spotlight and wants to promote his upcoming book, how does he figure this is GOOD for him, Barack, and the black race/church at large?
it wasn't the speech. it was the Q&A; afterwards.
::
webb, now you're making assumptions. If you think for a nanosecond that I wouldn't vote for Obama based upon what his pastor said and what the media is doing with the whole manufactured drama, then you are mistaken.