November Campaign Issue #1: Reverend Jeremiah Wright (Update with Poll)

Incredibly...and sadly...the Republicans will make this Issue #1 in November.

The Wright controversy is the only thing out there I can see that could cost Barack the Presidency. It's important for all of us to maintain a constant effort from now through the election to educate people and counter the raw racial impact of the Wright sound bites. Waiting until after the convention to mount a counter-attack just won’t cut it with the hordes of voters who haven’t really tuned in yet.

As Tripp Jones put it in the Boston Globe:

"Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Wright presents Republicans with a polarizing wedge issue to exploit with general election voters. This approach not only risks an Obama loss in November - denying us a fresh, capable leader - but it would set the country back in its racial reconciliation process.

Americain 2008 should be better than that.

As we have done at many key junctures in our nation's history, Democrats and other progressive-minded voters must lead the way. The current firestorm is an opportunity to move beyond the anger and resentment that have characterized our nation's dialogue on race. By throwing our enthusiastic support behind Obama now, voters of all political stripes can echo the candidate's refrain, "Not this time."

( http://www.boston.com/... )

So here’s a link to a great blog that provides lots of Wright-reversal  resources:

http://my.barackobama.com/...

Please spread this info far and wide, write letters to editors, and e-mail the TV and radio talking heads to demand they cover the whole story.

If we don’t fight back, Reverend Wright will be Obama’s Willie Horton. So let’s let those 3 simple words be our pledge:

                 NOT THIS TIME!!!

•  Great idea.

  This is very important, thanks for the heads-up.  We won't be able to get to the core haters who will vote because of a marginal issue like this, but it will be at the forefront in many swing votes.

  by Rian Fike on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:03:43 AM PDT

  •  If Rev. Wright is the best the Republicans

    Can do -- and it may well be -- then bring on the Obama landslide.

    The good Reverend will be so "vetted" come November he will the most marginal of "issues."

    by XOVER on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:22:19 AM PDT

    •  More shame

      She brazenly slammed our brave soldiers by making a joke about bullets, snipers, and guns...A lie she told to get sympathy..Shameless

      "Speeches are just words and do not put food on the table"!!!!It SURE PUT FOOD ON HER TABLE—$52 million if they are telling the truth–which in itself is a stretch.

      by docb on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:26:17 AM PDT

    •  plus, hagee and parsley

      will be all over the place too.  There's a reason McCain doesn't hammer Obama on Wright.

      by ksh01 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:32:43 AM PDT

      •  Karl Rove has even advised against

        using Reverend Wright as an issue.  Many Republicans has also stated they think it might be a big mistake to use religion as an issue for Obama.
        They'll also go after:
        his patriotism,
        Michelle's "really proud of my country" statement,
        lack of lapel wearing flag,
        Rezko "slumlord" fund raising and land deal  
        and some left wing '80's terrorist now reformed couple who contributed $200 to Obama's senatorial campaign.

        There's really not much they have on the guy, but they'll try something.

        The MSM is also saying they think Clinton is going to go all negative on Obama again.  Supposedly, the Clinton has something bad on Obama they were hoping not to use, but might have to in their fight for the nomination.  It will be interesting to see what else they have in their kitchen sink.

        by jalenth on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:11:36 AM PDT

        •  If they do that I will stay home in November

          plain and simple.  I can't vote for her if she blackmails Obama.

          by ksh01 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 11:15:21 AM PDT

•  John McCain has his own reverend issues

  If he's smart he'll keep his people from going there.

  Yes it's an issue, but I can't imagine that many will vote on this issue alone.

  How many people would like their entire lifes work to be judged only on the three worst things they've ever said?
  I know I wouldn't.

  by atlliberal on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:05:08 AM PDT

  •  But McCain's Reverend is white.

    White makes right.  That's why it won't resonate in the news.

    Few things more frightening and hateful to Joe Sixpack than an angry African-American.

    Hatemongering white ministers, not so much.  Hey, plenty of Joe Sixpacks agree with those ministers anyway.

    The whole Wright issue -- hell, the whole Obama issue (note that we all categorize him as an African-American, even though he's by ancestry just as white as he is black; Obama never had a real choice in the matter) -- all goes to show just how deeply ingrained our red-white-and-blue racism still is.

    by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:10:15 AM PDT

    •  I think even Joe sixpack

      Can understand that Obama does not share the world view with his minister. There simply is no evidence to say that he does.

      I think Joe Sixpack can understand that a man is more compplex than three 30 second soundbites.  

      I think Joe Sixpack can recognize that you don't build a church of a few dozen members up to a church of 8000 by preaching anger and hatred every week.

      by atlliberal on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:16:16 AM PDT

      •  And I fear you're wrong on all counts. n/t

        by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:18:12 AM PDT

        •  I hope I'm right!

          I'd rather hope than fear

          by atlliberal on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:18:53 AM PDT

          •  And I'd rather know than hope. :-) n/t

            by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:19:44 AM PDT

            •  nobody knows until the election

              All we can do is work to educate "Joe Sixpack" to the facts and do what we can to get obama elected.

              by atlliberal on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:21:08 AM PDT

              •  You can start with Democrats

                like oceanstar17, right in this thread.

                Good luck!

                by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:40:42 AM PDT

          •  I believe you're right.

            The sort of people who will hold Wright against him are the sort of people that would never vote for him anyway.

            by BoiseBlue on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:21:00 AM PDT

      •  My 68 year old racist brother-in-law

        is still voting for Obama.  We were shocked, after the Wright firestorm.  But he said that if everyone had to believe everything the priests said in church, there'd be no one in the pews.  

        He likes Obama.  Believes him.  Is enthusiastically voting for him.  And believe me, my brother-in-law is as bigoted as they come.  

        This is a different election, people.  

        by 57andFemale on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:38:33 AM PDT

        •  Exactly!!

          But he said that if everyone had to believe everything the priests said in church, there'd be no one in the pews.

          People that attend Church regularly know this.  

          by Char on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:52:28 AM PDT

•  Sullivan and Hitchens on MSNBC right now.

  This is sure to come up.

  by bugscuffle on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:06:36 AM PDT

  •  I'm sure neither of them

    would like their entire life's work to be judged on the three worst things they've ever said. It would be hard to pick only three for both of them.

    by atlliberal on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:08:43 AM PDT

    •  If only Sullivan and Hitchens

      weren't so proud of the three worst things they've ever said . . .

      by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:10:44 AM PDT

      •  They have both changed their minds on some

        pretty important issues

        by atlliberal on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:17:03 AM PDT

        •  Their weathervaning

          doesn't interest me.

          by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:19:12 AM PDT

  •  Russert made Wright the issue this morning.

    They will hammer and hammer it.  No matter what.  The polls show less and less interest; but leave it to Tim Russert to avoide anything substantive and go for the "gotcha".  

    Slime.

    by 57andFemale on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:40:18 AM PDT

    •  they are busy arguing about Wright

      They barely even mention Obama's name. If I didn't know any better I would think Rev. Wright was running for president.

      by batgirl71 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:57:43 AM PDT

•  when I saw yet another thread...

  with "Jeremiah Wright" in title I almost skipped it.  I'm glad I didn't.  This will be the main source of attempted smear the wingnuts use.  It already is.  Thanks for putting in the time and bringing these resources to our attention.  We can't rely on the media to tell the entire story that's for sure.

  rec'd.

  by dehydratedcracker on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:07:25 AM PDT

  •  If that is the worst

    they can do, then I'm happy for them to start a debate about the role of extremist preachers and their influence on the political sphere. We should welcome the chance to compare Rev. Wright--who has no substantial influence on Liberalism or the Democratic party as a whole--to the so-called "Christian Right" and it's 30+ years as the tail that wags the Rethug dog. Let's welcome the chance to do a quote-for-quote comparison of Rev. Wright vs. Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, Parsley, Hagee, and the rest of their hall of shame. Let's welcome the chance to compare how much influence Rev. Wright has vs. the power and influence wielded by the wingnut theocrats named above.

    The catch--and it's a mighty big one--is that we'll need to spread the message ourselves, virally. The corporate media will side with the Rethugs as always, and keep hammering on Wright while continuing to give the TheoFascists a pass.

    by drewfromct on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:55:43 AM PDT

•  My predition: Not Even in the Top 10

  The economy will be #1-5, Iraq Occupation 6-8, and then there is Heath Care and Infrastructure and....

  by ca democrat on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:08:08 AM PDT

  •  Agreed, there are reasons why it won't come up

    1. Huckabee's comments from the pulpit that completely support Wright's comments and justification for being angry (check it out if you haven't heard this; he's very supportive).

    2. A gentle reminder or two that Martin Luthar King said much the same thing in 1968, which is now virtually overlooked by those choosing to cast him as an acceptable (ie mild and white-like) reformer.

    3. McCain's supporters' and advisors' comments are far more over the top.

    by manumoka on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:43:06 AM PDT

•  They'll try - it won't work

  by NewDealer on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:10:36 AM PDT

  •  wish I had your confidence n/t

    by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:11:16 AM PDT

    •  If there was traction in that line

      of argument it would have knocked him down a few more points in the polls immediately after it was revealed.  
      He did go down a few but right back up after teh Philadelphia speech.  

      They would have to find some new material to make that work.  Trouble is, the Wright Videos are copywrighted material so they would have a hard time using those in commericials.

      There is no doubt they will try a racist line of attack, probably using a 527 to keep McCain's hands clean.  But if they carary it too far it could easily backfire.

      by NewDealer on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 01:49:18 PM PDT

•  If they do...

  Just sic George Carlin on them.

  Vyan

  by Vyan on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:11:40 AM PDT

•  I just don't believe that Obama didn't

  know about Wright's views, given that he attended that church for years. He is going to have to Sister Souljah him hard.

  by oceanstar17 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:12:00 AM PDT

  •  Yup. nt.

    by bugscuffle on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:12:28 AM PDT

  •  Who cares?

    I don't think that what Wright said (in context) was that bad.  

    Besides, if this becomes a huge issue during the national election, look for the UCC (an almost all-white denomination) to take some action on behalf of Rev. Wright's reputation.  AND look for it to be pointed out that by the standard applied to Obama and Wright, every Catholic in the United States must be pro-child-molesting.  @@

    by jenesq on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:15:36 AM PDT

    •  Yes it was that bad

      Most people don't want to hear rhetoric that either implies or directly states that "America sucks". And what Wright said did sound offensive to me.

      by oceanstar17 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:25:21 AM PDT

      •  I disagree

        In context it makes perfect sense, but if you want to parse the speech so that you can be offended...that is your prerogative.

        by Sychotic1 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:39:08 AM PDT

        •  Most people aren't like that

          They're just going to hear the soundbite.

          by oceanstar17 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:45:32 AM PDT

          •  But we are the hard core

            We actually take in all the evidence. Which is what I did.  I have shared what I have learned with all my friends and family that bring up the issue.

            by Sychotic1 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:04:43 AM PDT

      •  but Obama is a different person

        with his own views. Somewhere along the way we've seemed to have lost the idea that people can hear an idea they don't agree with and form their own independent opinion. I believe Obama is capable of hearing an idea and then evaluate it using his own judgment.

        And why would Obama stay in the church? Probably, because there were other opinions he heard that he did agree with. In fact, I'd wager that the good and positive and hopeful messages far outweighed the controversial ones. Hmm, let's see 2-3 minutes worth of controversial sound bites in a 30 year career. So maybe about 1% of his message was dubious and 99% was positive.

        If the MSM had a 30 year track record for 99% well-researched, substantive news stories and 1% sensationalistic blather, we'd be in pretty good shape in this country.

        by geejay on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:46:54 AM PDT

        •  thank you nt

          by batgirl71 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:00:00 AM PDT

      •  Bullsh*t

        Most people don't want to hear rhetoric that either implies or directly states that "America sucks".

        The Rethugs do it all the time! Look at how they're always going after what we love about America. They never stop bitching about whatever they think is wrong with the nation--so long as they can lay the blame at the feet of Liberals.Like it or not, there is a lot wrong with this country, and the Rethugs are making things not better, but far, far worse. What voters like is pols who fight back and win. The Rethugs and their corporate media stooges are going to attack anyway, so the smart thing to do is to fight back twice as hard. That's what people respect.

        You cannot win through surrender.

        by drewfromct on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:00:57 AM PDT

      •  You need to investigate.

        And what Wright said did sound offensive to me.

        That's because you didn't take the opportunity to listen to the whole sermon.

        by Char on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:12:28 AM PDT

      •  It really wasn't

        Perhaps you are overly sensitive

        by kobernik on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 11:28:19 AM PDT

  •  What an uninformed statement.

    nt

    by sheddhead on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:16:19 AM PDT

  •  He never said he didn't know his views

    But this hand-wringing over it is silly.

    by BoiseBlue on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:19:07 AM PDT

    •  Frankly I do question his judmgent

      in attending a church that had him as a pastor.

      by oceanstar17 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:25:44 AM PDT

      •  Okay

        Do you question the judgement of Catholics? I mean, all the pedophiles!  What the hell are those people thinking? How can they adhere to a faith system that has so many terrible people in it?

        The Wright issue only works for people who are very misinformed and narrow-minded.

        by BoiseBlue on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:29:58 AM PDT

        •  Different situattion

          Not all Catholic priests are pedophiles.

          by oceanstar17 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:33:40 AM PDT

          •  Nor are all UCC pastors

            Jeremiah Wright.

            by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:35:49 AM PDT

            •  But could Obama have picked a UCC

              church with a less anti-American pastor?

              by oceanstar17 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:37:34 AM PDT

              •  And exactly why do you think

                that Wright is anti-American?

                by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:39:00 AM PDT

              •  he's not anti-American

                criticism is not anti-American.

                by geejay on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:50:38 AM PDT

              •  What he said was not Anti-American!

                Just because you criticize your country does not mean you aren't patriotic.  I correct my kids when I think they've made a mistake.  Does that mean I don't love them?

                by Char on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:55:54 AM PDT

              •  There is more to a church

                than the pastor.

                Also, there is more to a pastor than a 30-second internet clip.

                by bawbie on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:09:59 AM PDT

              •  You are assuming he is anti American?

                He put his life on the line for 6 years to preserve our right to free speech. He has a right to say anything he wants to. You have a right to disagree, but you don't have a right to question his patriotism.
                Questioning American policies is not the same as being anti-American. Loving your country involves alot more than a "My country right or wrong " attitude. It means recognizing where we are wrong and working to change it. Rev. Wright may have used some shocking words, but perhaps you should look at the whole thing. He used shocking words on purpose to get the parishoner's attention. His whole point boiled down to : We as a country can do better than this.

                by atlliberal on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:20:04 AM PDT

          •  You miss the point

            And I assume you will continue to miss the point so I won't bother. I'll just leave you with this thought:

            I can question the judgement of everyone I know by what sort of church they attend. My mother goes to a church that has backwards views of homosexuality. I don't like it, but I don't question her judgement because of it.

            On the other hand, the Rev. Wright has worked long and hard to fight some very important battles. If you are able to boil his entire life down to a thirty second clip you saw on the news, it makes me wonder how any person in this world can ever live up to the standard you seem to have set.

            by BoiseBlue on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:39:09 AM PDT

            •  If you were able to....

              ...boil his life down to a thirty second clip, the controversial parts would pass by so quickly you'd never be able to see them.

              I mean, does anyone in the Republican party really want that kind of scrutiny? or could survive it?

              by sagesource on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:15:47 AM PDT

              •  And in context

                sure, we can replay that loop of him saying "Goddamn America," with a split screen of people drowning, dying, dehydrating, waiting for help in New Orleans.... While Bush and McCain ate some cake and celebrated a birthday.

                by BoiseBlue on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:19:07 AM PDT

          •  No, but the church itself

            took active steps to shield those predators from the law and enabled further abuse by moving them to other parishes where they were sure to(and did)rape more children.    

            by tosser on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:47:54 AM PDT

          •  I appreciate your post and factually

            it's a tiny percentage, I believe a fraction of 1%. Of course that small percentage did untold damage.

            And certainly they must be held liable.

            It pales in comparison to the brewing scandal of our public school system where teachers have been shuttled out of districts.

            A child is far more likely to be abused by a family member or a public school employee.

            by Belvedere Come Here Boy on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:56:42 AM PDT

        •  It has nothing to do with the "faith system"

          It has to do with priests who did not practice their faith and the accompanying rules, i.e., chastity.

          As far as "many", that's inaccurate. One is too "many" indeed, but the vast, vast majority of priests are fine, upstanding men who have been tarred with this brush. Those who have been found guilty, deserved it. To stereotype is to stereotype, period.

          by Belvedere Come Here Boy on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:59:13 AM PDT

      •  Have you taken the time...?

        to fully investigate the background and complete context of what Rev. Wright said? If not, you should, because you will better understand that he is not a "bad pastor" or "bad person."

        by ATLSandlapper on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 11:24:27 AM PDT

  •  So what if he did?

    He has to agree with every thing his pastor says? That would be virtually impossible, wouldn't it? Or are you saying everyone who doesn't just mouth "God bless America" shouldn't ever speak up?

    by manumoka on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:45:07 AM PDT

  •  Stupid and cowardly.

    This is what politicians do. Obama's appeal is that he is not a politician, in that sense (that is, not a hopeless whore who would sell anyone and anything for a bump in the polls).

    by sagesource on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:14:28 AM PDT

•  It will not be the #1 issue.

  They will try and use it and manipulate it. It can be fought, and we'll be prepared for it.

  by joan reports on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:12:37 AM PDT

•  Any your point is?

  Fear.  If America is not ready for Barack in 2008 then we never will.  Using Rev Wright as a wedge issue will have negative effect but it will be a minimal effect...A small percentages of Americans are racist and would never voted for a non-white candidate.  Look what fear got us...(Bush times 2) must I say more.

  by jamaicanblood on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:13:15 AM PDT

•  I'm not sure that you are right

  Incredibly...and sadly...the Republicans will make this Issue #1 in November.

  If so, then there will be a major blowout in November.  There is approximately zero chance that the comments of a candidate's former pastor will undermine an incredibly smart and gifted politician riding a wave of optimism and fueled by discontent with borderline-criminal mismanagement of the country during the past seven-plus years.  If Wright it the Republicans' main attack on Obama, then I look forward to hearing President Obama's inaugural address!

  by Sedi on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:13:17 AM PDT

  •  I'm inclined to agree with you!

    I haven't been watching much TV lately, maybe someone can tell me how much has the religious right said about Rev. Wright?  If they've commented, what has been said?

    by Char on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:21:17 AM PDT

•  Let them try!

  The so-called Wright issue is a non-issue.  If the GOP bring it up, we'll brand them as racist.  If they push we'll bring up McCain's connection to crazy ministers such as Hagee and Parsley.  Enough said.

  by noofsh on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:14:44 AM PDT

  •  Not so fast...

    Look at what we just learned from Hillary's kitchen sink: if you say that what they're doing is racist, they counter with "you say everything is racist and that means you are a racist!"

    But the bigger problem is that we won't be able to counter with words (even though they DO matter!) when these images are flashed on tv screens by 527s. We need to prepare people's minds and shape attitudes now so that these ads don't trigger the usual emotional response.

    by wayne204 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:30:29 AM PDT

    •  Our strongest defense is calm transcedence.

      That's what has gotten Obama and us so far so fast. Some will always be susceptible to bs,  but the rest of us (70%) are destined, ultimately, to see the truth and respond maturely.

      by kafkananda on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 02:49:10 PM PDT

•  There is quite a bit of

  evidence out there now of the character of Reverand Wright. Lawrence Korb wrote an Op-ed for the Chicago Tribune.com that talked to the man's patriotism...it contrasted him with 3 other men of similar age who ducked military service ,Cheney,Bush and Clinton. Wright had the same college deferrments that these guys had but dropped his to enlist in the marines after hearing JFK's ''Ask not'' speech. He had a distinguished career and even re-upped ,went to medical corp school, was the top student, and went on to help nurse LBJ back to health at Walter Reed after LBJ's bypass.

  Another Op-ed in the Tribune by a white member of Trinity talked of how Wright convinced his black finance' not to call off the marriage to this white man due to racial concerns. The man has been a member for over 25 years.

  Another story this week about how he greeted a German delegation that visited Trinity and he was very welcoming ,even giving some of his sermon in German.

  This week United Church of Christ national organization stepped up in support of Wright. News that the church had been threatened by violence surfaced. Wright himself has been threatened and cancelled appearances...

  I believe that when this is all fleshed out in the General election, the GOP will find that it is not going to fly and may hurt them. It will work with voters pre-disposed against dems and blacks to begin with and they were never going to vote for Obama anyway.. but that is about 25% of the electorate... if he can get 60% out of the total..all good.  When the specter of violence against a black church is raised, I think McCain will run the other direction as fast as he can. That is straight outta 1964 and americans are not looking back, they are looking forward.

  by Hawkjt on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:16:12 AM PDT

  •  When the specter of....

    ...his own nutjob preacher connections are raised (and these are REAL nutjobs), McCain will run in the other direction as fast as he can.

    by sagesource on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:12:19 AM PDT

•  They can bring this nonsense up

  and we'll talk about the war and the economy.  The people will see who's offering solution, and it'll be as simple as that.

  by SouthSideDem on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:18:33 AM PDT

•  I think Obama will need to

  speak more about this. The Willie Horton and swift boat fiascos demonstrate that it can't be ignored.

  Jeremiah Wright will not be on the ballot in November; Obama will.

  We need to shift the focus to Obama.

  Is there any evidence that Obama shares the views that so many find offensive? After all, he has been a state Senator and a U.S. Senator since 1996. If Obama was at all sympathetic to any of the controversial Wright statements, wouldn't that be reflected in his record? If people choose to completely ignore Obama's record, and instead focus on his membership in Wright's church, then I think it is fair to ask if those who do so are making assumptions based on skin color.

  by livosh1 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:21:34 AM PDT

•  Guilt by Association? It should not be an issue!

  by marsbardem on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:25:42 AM PDT

•  McCain's campaign will stay away from the issue

  I have no doubt that it will pop up in some 527 ads, probabaly with some unmistakably racist overtones.  The MSM will run a bunch of boneheaded "will these sleazy ads that we're giving free distribution to hurt Obama" segments.  When the polls don't move, the isue will die.

  by tosser on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:28:45 AM PDT

•  I go back and forth

  On the one hand, the media played these clips on loop for two weeks. It really saturated the public, to the point where almost everyone has seen them, without any kind of fair context whatsoever. And even AFTER this 84% of Democrats and 50% of Republicans have a high opinion of Barack.

  So what does that mean? Does it mean that people have decided that Reverend Wright doesn't reflect on Obama's own views? That seems, to me, to be the case. That Obama, the person, doesn't reconcile with the ideas of Rev. Wright. If that's the case, what can the Republicans really do? If they play the clips in ads, will it work? If people have already seen them, and decided that Barack is not like that, will they change their minds from seeing a bunch of ads?

  It's really hard to say. I have been surprised that this hasn't  hurt him more, but since it hasn't, maybe that it means that it won't in the future either.

  by jenontheshore on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:32:09 AM PDT

  •  Partial agreement here..

    My greater fear is that the Wright theme will morph into any number of race-related issues, many of which have been mentioned in the comments here: the judgment issue, why didn't he quit the church, how could he let his daughters hear this stuff, Farrakhan, anti-semitism, and on and on.

    I just think by getting all this flushed out and examined now, we pre-empt a lot of that stuff...including the forms that we haven't yet seen.

    Just like Hillary's goal was to create doubt about Barack's electibility, we need to at least create doubt about any of the race-baiting stuff being true. If we succeed, then people will certainly be open to and persuaded by Barack's message.

    by wayne204 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:37:24 AM PDT

    •  We still need to educate but...

      Most churches have we call children's church.  The children are not in the sanctuary with the adults.  I think most people that don't attend church are more upset than the people that attend church regularly. Preachers say a lot of things to drive home their points.

      The Pope and the head of the Methodist Church criticized the US when we attacked Iraq.  This whole instance with Rev. Wright has been blown out of proportion by the Media, who most likely aren't regular church goers.

      by Char on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:45:57 AM PDT

  •  part of the reason I think it doesnt

    hurt more is because it does involve religion. Very few people want to be put in a position to have to explain their pastor/priest/rabbi/etc to anyone.

    Also if they keep pushing it, I think it can be framed as an attack on religious speech. And I would be very interested in how the republican attack machine is going to pull off attacking Obama on his church will play to their own evangelical base.

    by geejay on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:00:11 AM PDT

    •  Some churches get more speech rights

      than others.

      by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:07:18 AM PDT

      •  certainly there is truth in that

        my argument is that religion still provides a certain amount of cover. Not the complete cover that a white "normal" church would, but more cover than I think some people realize.

        In a way, by having to "defend" his church, Obama is reclaiming faith from the monopoly of the right. And if the republicans try to attack him on rev Wright, the cede some of the high ground they once claimed as defenders of the faith against the godless liberals.

        by geejay on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:22:55 AM PDT

•  It will not cost him the Presidency

  It will cost him some votes, and yes -- believe it or not -- there are people out there who haven't heard about it yet.  The great advantage is how early all of this came out.  

  I will say what I've been saying for months:  it's about the new voters, stupid.  And they're not just kids.  Deficits in voters will be made up by the increase in the electorate.  

  EVERYONE is still using conventional models.  If it had all been about conventional models, Obama wouldn't be heading toward the nomination.  These are dedicated, committed and active voters.  And they will continue to be so through November.

  The people disturbed by Wright were never going to vote for Obama anyway.  Or Hillary in the GE.  That's what NEVER gets discussed:  these right-leaning voters are voting for McCain anyway.  

  Plenty of stuff to still come out about Hillary.  She has not been vetted the last 7 years.  Unfortunately, there's a knee-jerk, irrational hatred of Hillary on the right.  Obama is still polling way ahead on "American values".  He's likeable, and the poll numbers consistently show that.  

  Wright will NOT cost him the Presidency.  

  by 57andFemale on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:36:43 AM PDT

  •  ...I'm not so sure...

    I'm guessing that the people who have not yet heard about it are the ones who don't regularly tune in to politics and (let me apologize in advance for the following stereotype), might be less educated and more inclined to have a negative gut reaction to the tapes when they do see them.

    I don't want us to take these folks for granted.

    by wayne204 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:40:39 AM PDT

  •  There's plenty of racist democrats

    I'm sure you've encountered them.  They support HRC now that she's the only alternative, and cannot give a rational reason for choosing HRC over Obama, and the reasons they give don't even pass the laugh test.  They're just using excuses so they don't have to say in public, "I would never vote for a black man for president."

    by Subterranean on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 12:47:45 PM PDT

•  Rev. Wright is a proxy for race

  If he becomes a non-issue, then there will be some other excuse among a section of the electorate.  

  I happen to be in Western Penna. and the thing I'm hearing now from Dems is more or less that it will be payback time.  It's never quite stated exactly what blacks will do to whites once a black man is elected President -- but it sure isn't going to be good.

  (As a white male, I'm in a real bind, because if we end up getting a woman in there, who knows what the women will do to us menfolk.)

  Perhaps this view is a baby step forward -- nothing is sticking to Obama, so the last refuge of the racist isn't that Obama himself is objectionable, but the reaction of blacks is what is to be feared.

  The other thing I'm hoping is that this little corner of the world just isn't that representative of the whole country.  We are in a sort of Land That Time Forgot in small-town Western Penna.

  Nonetheless this attitude will remain to one extent or another through November.  (Though it very much mirrors the dark Anti-Catholic whisperings about JFK.)  We aren't going to change racism overnight (though once we do have a black President and the world does not end, I think there will be a big change in attitude -- sort of like Polish jokes ended when John Paul II became Pope).  We do need to make sure John McCain is not a palatable alternative for this block of anti-Bush, racist Dems I see around here.

  by Uncle Toby on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:38:39 AM PDT

•  a bit off topic, but important none the less

  I am sitting here with my jaw on my lap - Tim Russert has Christopher Hitchens (author and asshole) and Andrew Sullivan on his Tim Russert Show on MSNBC and Hitchens is rehashing it all over again and saying there is a link between Farakan and Wright... sorry, I'm so angry I have smoke coming out of my ears and Russert is just sitting there while Andrew Sullivan is trying to defend Wright and Obama....

  if you can, check your local listing and watch it - something that should be discussed???  Why is a butthead like Hitchens allowed to comment in such an ugly way on our politics?  He isn't even American is he?

  by marley619 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:45:28 AM PDT

  •  sorry - bit late, huh? Didn't realize it was

    already covered here in the comment section - next time I'll read the comments as well before sticking my big foot in it. :-(

    by marley619 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:51:27 AM PDT

  •  You forgot to mention

    that Andrew Sullivan is an author and asshole as well.  Even if he happens to be, by sheer coincidence, correct on this issue.

    And no, this isn't a swipe at his sexual orientation or HIV status.

    But to answer your last question, why is Sullivan on the program?  He isn't an American either.

    by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:54:06 AM PDT

    •  sorry, I plead ignorance - I know very

      little about Andrew Sullivan other than he blogs - and I do not make it a habit to comment on people I know nothing about - just a personal rule - I also do not consider a person an asshole (by your definition) unless they give me a reason to regard them in such a light - I've read and heard Hitchens on many an occasion and he hates the world....he talks smack about everyone and everything.

      If I offend your sensibilities - I'm sorry, but I do not casually throw stones unless I know why and what it's being directed at.

      by marley619 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:13:55 AM PDT

      •  Read up, my friend.

        Sullivan wasn't born yesterday.

        by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:15:55 AM PDT

        •  again, if you have issues with Sullivan

          you are entitled to them - don't direct me - I am not a child - and I do not need you to talk to me like you are an authority on Andrew Sullivan - your tone is very negative - WUSA - Breathe in, Breath out!

          Such hostility will only lead to heart disease and strokes - and you know what, I have a life away from here and politics - you have way too much anger issues if I can feel them through the internet.

          Judge not lest you be judged with the same measure....
          don't know Sullivan, don't have to know Sullivan - he doesn't pay my bills, he doesn't live in my world.
          I won't be electing him.  He is not significant in any sense of the word in my life - so thanks - you can be consumed by all the ugliness - I don't need it!

          I merely wanted to point out a tv show and I get this for it...SHEESH!

          by marley619 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:23:56 AM PDT

          •  Heh.

            At least I wasn't a loud supporter of the Iraq War, a gay enemy of gay civil rights, and a barebacker who claimed he got HIV from oral sex until he was found in the wrong chat rooms . . .

            So yeah, go ahead and judge me by the same measure. :-)

            by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 02:12:33 PM PDT

          •  p.s.

            Okay, you aren't my friend either. :-)

            by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 02:17:33 PM PDT

            •  no need to go that route - you are my friend

              if you want to be - I just don't care about Sullivan enough to have it give me an ulcer - hope you understand - I'm already getting one by being too emotionally invested in this damned primary (LOL!)

              by marley619 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 02:37:26 PM PDT

              •  umm, having read your comments to me,

                I think I'll pass.

                by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 02:39:53 PM PDT

                •  peace be with you

                  by marley619 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 05:40:06 PM PDT

  •  Christopher Hitchins Hates Everyone!

    He has to be a truly miserable person.  I haven't heard him say a kind word about anyone.

    by Char on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:38:17 AM PDT

•  527 Ads

  The 527 ads will use the basic formula, they will exploit the heated rhetoric of Pastor Wright "God Damn America" "Chickens come to roost" and juxtapose them to the traumatic images of 9/11 and then come back and show Obama and Wright standing together with sound bites of Obama defending his Pastor.  Honestly this can be lethal in an election.  I agree with this post that action is necessary to take the sting out of this now.  The best thing going for the Obama campaign is that this will not be a surprise.  I swear when looking at the timing of the when this story went viral it makes me wonder if the Obama campaign was responsible for breaking it.  Seven weeks before the PA Primary the longest break in the primary season and eight months for the GE.  Could you imagine this breaking in the last week of Oct.

  by bubbajohn43 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:46:44 AM PDT

  •  Wow

    That ad sounds truly terrifying. And you are absolutely right that they will do it.

    I only hope Barack can survive it.

    by jenontheshore on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:53:11 AM PDT

    •  Actually, I'm a bit surprised

      that HRC hasn't run that ad already.

      by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 09:55:14 AM PDT

      •  PA Primary

        I wouldn't be surprised to see something like this prior to the PA Primary.  I don't think the Clinton Camp COULD put this out, they are already in enough hot water with what they have done so far.  Put yourself in the shoes of the Clinton camp (by the way I am totally an Obama supporter), IF these types of 527 Ads could totally undermine the Obama campaign, then go ahead and run them before the upcoming primaries, use them as a litmus test, if the effect is minimal then Clinton case evaporates if they are to yield a Clinton victory with large double digit margins in PA and a victory in N C, then the Clinton Camp has a big stick with the SD's.  

        Like I said I am a huge Obama supporter, he's one of the best things we have seen in politics in generations and IMO a true solution to America's ills of the early 21rst century.  The pragmatic side of me needs to know....can he weather Wright?  Personally I think he can.

        by bubbajohn43 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:10:21 AM PDT

  •  The ad is already out there

    Something similar to this, including Michelle's comments on America, was circulating on YouTube 2-3 weeks ago.  I'm so incredibly YouTube-challenged that I probably couldn't find it if I spent the next 3 hours.

    It really is a horrific compilation - Rev. Wright, planes crashing into the WTC, Michelle, etc. . . .

    Just keep sending the truth.

    by HCKAD on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:09:49 AM PDT

    •  q.e.d. . . . n/t

      by corvo on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:12:54 AM PDT

•  If HRC ran that

  ad it truly would be the end of her campaign. It would not play in a democratic primary.

  yes, the GOP 527's will throw this at the wall.
  Honestly, with Bush at 28% approval, I think some voters will think back to the swiftboating of kerry and how that supposedly hurt him and they will say...
  '' got fooled once, won't get fooled again''

  Many,many voters who did vote for bush in 04 regret it now. I think they will be more skeptical at the 527 ads in this go-around. They got led astray by their buying the emotional war-time appeal of the GOP last time...not again.

  by Hawkjt on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:01:13 AM PDT

  •  All Obama has to do to counter

    those kinds of 527 attack ads, is to put the economy, war, health care at the bottom of the Republican feet and ask the public, how does the words of Reverend Wright solve these for them.

    If any of that will fix our problems, then go ahead and be distracted by them, or would they rather focus on real issues and work together.

    Most people are going to say the words of some preacher isn't going to fix the economy, health care crisis and bring the troops home.

    by jalenth on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:29:34 AM PDT

•  The issue isn't Reverend Wright

  The issue is race.

  It is the issue we must transcend.

  by Katman on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:07:35 AM PDT

•  Just finished watching

  Russert's show.  HItchens and Sullivan were on.  Talked a lot about Wright.  Hitchens, ofcourse, is very negative...but, he's very negative about all religion and uses Wright as yet another reason to rail against it.  That approach won't get much traction here, but, he and others like him are more than capable of twisting words and meanings around.  Sullivan's take was interesting...he saw Obama as a "moderating" religious force.  As someone who's willing to work hard to bring all along with him, even if that means including those outside what most would consider "the mainstream".  Doesn't mean he agrees...it means he sees the value of building the bigger coalitions.

  by tjb22 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:09:13 AM PDT

  •  Time is on our side

    Wright could still be a factor.  Not necessarily for Dems, but for swings.  Wright really needs to come out and explain himself-no he's no required to- but it would be helpful.

    by realwischeese on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:18:14 AM PDT

    •  I think at some point

      it could be helpful if he made a few appearances here and there...let people see that he is, after all, human and not a bogey man.

      I think it would also be helpful for other members of the congregation to speak up.  People need to see that this is a mainstream church...

      by tjb22 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:21:35 AM PDT

      •  The church has hired a public relations firm.

        I didn't see it but I read some church representatives and UCC people were on Anderson Cooper 360 Thursday.

        From what I understand Rev. Wright has been getting death threats so I don't know when we'll hear from him.  That is so sad.

        by Char on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:31:01 AM PDT

      •  I agree

        I read where Axelrod was involved in getting a PR firm for Trinity to help manage the media attention. Actually Trinity asked for help.  the Obama campaign needs to assist Trinity and Jeremiah Wright in shedding some light on who and what they actually are.  They need to counter the negative sound bites with the true body of work the church and pastor have accomplished.  It needs to be separate from the Obama Campaign but there needs to be a counter message to the inflammatory remarks of Wright.  They have time to put this together, it won't solve the problem but they can soften the blow.  I think this will be key in how they manage this.

        by bubbajohn43 on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:31:07 AM PDT

•  And that Hillary is an asshole

  would be the #1 talking point if she were the nominee. And I would have to agree with them.

  by terryhutchinson on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:25:19 AM PDT

•  More outrageous Rev. Wright comments

  "God didn't call America to engage in a senseless, unjust war. And we are criminals in that war. We've committed more war crimes almost than any nation in the world, and I'm going to continue to say it."

  Rev. Wright, right?

  Nope. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that.

  We will beat this smear campaign.

  by Erik W on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 10:40:20 AM PDT

•  The Failure of the Conservative Agenda

  offers nothing attractive to the majority of Americans.  After 8 years of conservatism, you would think that even Republicans are looking for a change.  Unfortunately, the Republicans can't win with their conservative agenda alone so they will have to try and smear Barack with the race issue.  

  I think most Americans are feed up with this kind of dirty politics.  It is exactly what Barack wants to eliminate.  But I agree that the Obama campaign needs to address the Pastor Wright issue and neutralize it.  There is work to be done.  They need to start now.  

  Also, the Republicans will wrap themselves in the flag and claim that they are more patriotic than the Democrats.  Of course, they will determine the litmus test for who is patriotic enough.  Imagine being lectured to by Republicans on patriotism.  This notion also needs to be challenged and neutralized. Questioning the patriotism of a presidential candidate with Barack's background who has taught the Constitution is hilarious.    

  BTW, it was rich seeing Clinton and McCain in Memphis yesterday considering they both will use the Pastor Wright issue against Barack.  

  by Ladyhawk on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 11:01:07 AM PDT

•  LOL, how many people listen to their pastors

  even when they make sense, nobody listens to pastors.

  If they did, we wouldn't need police, or armies, and we sure as hell would never have wars, especially wars of choice like the current one.  

  If people could forgive Bill Clinton for adultery, surely they can forgive Obama for not taking political advice from his pastor.  

  by Subterranean on Sat Apr 05, 2008 at 12:50:21 PM PDT