This too shall Pass

I wanted to post a quick diary in response to some of the rather panicked comments that I have seen in some of the diaries regarding Rev. Wright's interview with Bill Moyers. I know that Matthews and the folks on MSNBC are completely hyperventilating over this (I watched in abject horror for 30 minutes and then turned the TV off) but this is a really good example, much like Bittergate, of when the pundits truly don't get it.

When, tomorrow, asked about Wright's comment that he was doing what he has to do as a politician, Barack's response will be

Well, I don't think that's quite what he was saying but I disagree with that, just like I disagree with a lot of things he says. I understand that Rev. Wright feels he has been mischaracterized, that some of his controversial statements were played without their context and I understand that he is trying to clear his name. I respect that, and although he is no longer my pastor, he is the person who brought me to my faith and I will always be grateful to him for that.

That's it, and that's all he needs to say.

Look, Wright didn't choose his words as carefully as he should have. But the GIST of the interview, if you read the transcript is: 1) I have been grossly mischarcterized and 2) Barack and I don't discuss politics. That there would be an attempt to twist Wright's words to reflect badly on Obama was a foregone conclusion. They will do this EVERY day until November. But Barack can handle it. And so can we.

So please, calm down. We can't let our emotions be dictated by cable news hysteria. This too shall pass.

Fretting on the internet doesn't help, folks. I have been calling Indiana and they are FIRED UP. They are talking to their neighbors and their friends and their families about why they support Obama. There is so much energy and goodwill for him in the state. We have a real good shot at winning.

So let's do some work. Write letters to the editor of your local paper, phonebank, donate....and stop watching cable news.

•  Now what did Wright say? I missed it.

  by David Kroning on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:14:03 PM PDT

  •  Obama is a politician

    Wright said that Obama was doing what he needed to do/say as a politician, and that he (Wright) was doing was he needed to do/say as a pastor.  Matthews & co. got all aflutter about this, suggesting that Wright was implying that Obama really agreed with him but was saying something different in public.  It's a stupid claim, and jenontheshore is spot on in her analysis.

    by Sedi on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:17:41 PM PDT

  •  Nothing major

    There is a diary on the rec list with some of his interview with Bill Moyers. It's NOT a big deal at all, although the folks on cable news desperately want it to be so.

    by jenontheshore on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:18:19 PM PDT

    •  I just read it...we're doomed.

      by David Kroning on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:21:30 PM PDT

      •  Are you being sarcastic?

        I honestly can't tell.

        If you are serious, I will try to calm you down. If you are joking then, LOL.

        by jenontheshore on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:22:54 PM PDT

        •  I don't know which one I am...

          He didn't say anything wrong, but that doesn't make a difference.

          by David Kroning on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:25:09 PM PDT

•  Tip jar!

  by jenontheshore on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:15:14 PM PDT

  •  jenontheshore, your enthusiasm is to be rewarded.

    Tipped & Red'd.

    by Phil S 33 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:26:41 PM PDT

    •  Aw

      Thank you Phil! I hate to see folks feeling so glum over this. I think small men like Chris Matthews and David Gregory shouldn't have so much effect on us.

      by jenontheshore on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:29:08 PM PDT

  •  Thank you jenontheshore, very reasoned and

    logical.  I read the transcripts, and it appeared that Rev Wright was genuinely hurt by the media firestorm, as can only be imagined.  It definately was not a staged interview designed to smooth over things for Obama.  If anything it showed himself to be a bit peeved at Sen Obama referring to him answering as a politician would have to answer.  The reaction is Rovian and disappointing to me.  Fox-who cares, but the rest of the MSM fall in behind them to wag fingers and try to reignite the manure pile.  

    Hillary is probably already out on the stump making a tired speech about it now.

    It doesn't matter now, relax everything is fine.  

    Obama 08

    by realwischeese on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:30:00 PM PDT

•  Wow great response

  If you'd told me that's what Obama actually said I would have believed you!  Way to channel!  :)

  by oscarsmom on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:15:23 PM PDT

•  Yeah... and they'll continue to do it every day

  past November and after 1/20/08, when Obama begins his presidency.  Might as well get used to it, unfortunately...

  by gatorbot on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:18:58 PM PDT

  •  And the rain it raineth every day . . .

    by oscarsmom on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:20:33 PM PDT

•  Excellent diary

  Acknowledge the problem. Move on. It's a novel concept, but I like it.

  by dawnt on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:19:17 PM PDT

•  thanks jenontheshore

  I am sure that Bill Moyers is the best person to do this first interview.  They are members of the same church - UCC, Bill Moyer's is very informed about the Black Church and obviously Wright trusts him - or he wouldn't be doing the interview.  

  I am alarmed by the level of alarm here - reminds me of Chicken Little running around clucking "the sky is falling the sky is falling"

  Folks need to get a grip.  

  This is a good thing.  Rev. Wright is not going to go away.  Folks need to face it.  Since Greg only gave a snippet of the interview - I'm actually more curious about what he will say about his time as a Marine - hopefully Moyers - good journalist that he is explores Wrights upbringing.

  If not for Rev Wright we'd still be fighting the Obama is a Muslim theme.  

  All politicians - and Barack is a politician get stuff thrown at them. If they can't find enough stuff - they invent it.  

  As we move into NC - more attacks on Rev Wright will just convince  the black folks there and white folks who are real Christians,  to go out and vote - for Obama.

  The right wing haters aren't voting for him anyway.

  by Deoliver47 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:26:16 PM PDT

•  SHOCK!

  But the GIST of the interview, if you read the transcript is: 1) I have been grossly mischaracterized

  Seriously, the media will make hay out of every non-issue, and yes, this is a non-issue. Especially when one considers that in the same damn interview Rev. Wright states that they don't talk politics. Tweety is an idiot, let's not forget that. Also, the media needs money and there’s nothing like a manufactured controversy!

  by velvet blasphemy on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:29:50 PM PDT

  •  Tweety is a moron . Hardball-ha! Hardcrap! n/t

    by realwischeese on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:32:31 PM PDT

  •  this is exactly why they're pushing what they are

    They want to talk about anything else but how they mischaracterized Rev. Wright or the serious issues that Obama discussed in his Philadelphia speech.

    by lauramp on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:35:57 PM PDT

•  my personal view

  If this interview had been done before Pennsylvania, Obama probably would have lost by 20 points or more. Instead, it comes almost immediately after it, giving Obama more than a week and a half to recover from it before the next contests, one of which is North Carolina. If it had to be at any time, this is the least damaging. There is really no time more favorable than this.

  Maybe Obama felt that he owed Wright this, and Wright agreed to wait until Pennsylvania was over. Just speculation on my part, though.

  by lauramp on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:39:01 PM PDT

  •  Why?

    Can you explain this comment? Why would he have lost by 20 points or more? What do think are the ramifications for this comment?

    by jenontheshore on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:41:02 PM PDT

    •  I meant it more metaphorically than literally

      But Obama is most likely going to take at least a temporary hit from this, so better that it comes after Pennsylvania than before it. It gives him more time to recover from whatever damage he takes, and North Carolina is one of the friendliest of the remaining states for him (as opposed to, say, West Virginia and Kentucky).

      I hope that expresses it better than my first try.

      by lauramp on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:59:12 PM PDT

      •  Yes,

        you are probably right. Kosovo occurred before Penn too. Not likely to overcome his advantages in NC, and may not hurt that bad in Indiana, where he really is the home town boy. The case for Kansas and Penn was thin compared to this. Obama has been covered extensively in Chicago since being elected to state office, and important parts of Indiana are in the Chicago media market.

        Why was VT the only primary Howard won? And by 70%, I might add. They knew Howard in VT, so they didn't buy the scream narrative.

        There probably isn't a better time, because if he still does well the story will die.

        by PLS on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 05:45:10 PM PDT

        •  good points

          Isn't Gary, Indiana, more or less a suburb of Chicago?

          I hope that that I and most everybody else is way too pessimistic and that this will only be a minor blip, but we know how much the media love to talk about Wright and not the real issues and they will try to overwhelm him with this if they can. We should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. I don't think it will do him any lasting damage that hasn't already been done (so my "worst" is a lot better than what some people are fearing right now) but he may take a temporary hit and timing is crucial in getting over that.

          My other point is that I have seen some people suggesting that this was a set-up to allow Obama to denounce Wright more, but I don't think so. I think it is more giving Wright a chance to salvage himself. But like I said, this is pure speculation on my part.

          by lauramp on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 06:05:09 PM PDT

•  Obama's response to any "Politician" flack

  Will be that the facts are that Hillary Rodham Clinton, John Sidney McCain III and himself are all POLITICIANS. That's their job, it's how they are employed.

  Any attempt to suggest that being a politician is somehow a bad thing will reflect poorly on all of the Presidential candidates, not simply himself.

  Nothing to worry about hear folks, stop feeding the paranoia.

  Thanks to the diarist for trying to calm the waters.

  by griffon2k on Thu Apr 24, 2008 at 04:54:20 PM PDT

•  a late afterthought

  (not sure if you're still reading this, jenontheshore)

  I've been very pleasantly surprised by how this has come out. Given how badly the media is in the tank for the Republicans and Clinton, I was pretty pessimistic and I still do think they would have done more with it if it was right before Pennsylvania to damage Obama there. But it's starting to look like this story might have finally run its course, thank goodness.

  by lauramp on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 09:40:25 PM PDT