Rev Wright just....

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Rev Wright just....

Wright just sealed it for McCain. :huh:

I am not sure I agree, but I understand the sentiment.

If Obama gets the nod, it is a LONG time between now and election day. Wright will, to some degree, blow over by then.
Obama may lose to McCain, but I don't think it will be because his former pastor is a religious extremist. It will be because people have grown tired of Obama's secular preaching that masks his somewhat vacuous appreciation for real-world details (for example, his comments on how the capital gains tax works--YIKES! Were you asleep in Econ 101?). Obama speaks about his secular issues in the same way Wright speaks about his religious ones: dramatic speech that plays well to the choir but, beneath the poetry and emotion, offers little in the way of substance. It works to rev up the choir because it speaks to a commonality of sentiment that was already underlying. However, it doesn't do much to draw in new believers among the reticient or unconverted.

But, more than that, I am not 100% confident that Obama will get the nod. If HRC wins Indiana, loses by a small percentage than expected in NC, and continues to improve in the national polls, I think she's got a strong pitch to make at the DNC in June that she is the more electable candidate. Just today, her numbers indicate that she (unlike Obama) has an edge over McCain in the national election (if it were held today).

[locumtenenswife]

Re: Rev Wright just....

I just watched Rev. Wright's whole entire speech from the National Press Club and the question and answer session. I have a four observations:

1. Rev. Wright's orator style is as the gospel leader of a powerful church congregation. He was not delivering this speech as a polished politician or PR representative, he was speaking as a church leader and a pastor of an influential church base. Rev. Wright's message, his choice of words, and his delivery style all reflect this, and should be taken within this context.

2. If you listen closely to the way Rev. Wright answers the specific questions he is asked, he does not agree with any of the controversial ideologies he is being accused of.

3. His basic message of the speech was to educate the National Press Club audience (members of the national press, specifically) on the role of the black church in America.

4. In the question and answer session, Rev. Wright spoke and pandered directly to the audience in the style of a gospel preacher. There was no attempt by Rev. Wright to change his communication style to better suit the "conservative" national audience, thereby leaving him (and Obama by default) wide open for criticism.

When in the context of a national platform, Rev. Wright's speech to the National Press Club (specifically the question and answer session that followed) will come across as ugly and damaging to the Obama campaign, especially in the light of the conservative media. The question and answer session could have been "packaged" better to reduce the damaging sound-bytes. However, after hearing the whole speech including Rev. Wright's answers to the questions he was asked, the specific words he used and his message, I believe that what he said specifically at this event is all consistent with truth and shouldn't be confused with the politics of the campaign.

May the best candidate win.

Re: Rev Wright just....

But, more than that, I am not 100% confident that Obama will get the nod. If HRC wins Indiana, loses by a small percentage than expected in NC, and continues to improve in the national polls, I think she's got a strong pitch to make at the DNC in June that she is the more electable candidate. Just today, her numbers indicate that she (unlike Obama) has an edge over McCain in the national election (if it were held today).

What I meant was, Wright sealed it for McCain, by making it even less likely that Obama WILL get the nod. As I've said countless times before, in a Clinton v. McCain contest, I'm almost certian McCain will come out on top. He'll get the independents, which will be HUGE this cycle. By Wright scaring people off with his sterotypically "angry black man" rhetoric, it will give those with doubts their "reasonable" excuse for not supporting a black man.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: Rev Wright just....

Just to add another coal to the fire - according to some if FL and MI votes (not delegates) count Hillary has more popular votes. :huh:

Re: Rev Wright just....

she was the only one on the ballot in MI, so there is no way those votes could even be considered.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Rev Wright just....

2. If you listen closely to the way Rev. Wright answers the specific questions he is asked, he does not agree with any of the controversial ideologies he is being accused of.

HEY!! I'm glad someone else noticed this, too. I thought it was me, and that I was just misunderstanding his responses. When he was asked if he really believed that the US government was responsible for creating and spreading AIDS to kill black folks, he said--if you listen to his words closely you'll notice it--that he believed that the government was CAPABLE of that. Not that really believed it.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Rev Wright just....

But, more than that, I am not 100% confident that Obama will get the nod. If HRC wins Indiana, loses by a small percentage than expected in NC, and continues to improve in the national polls, I think she's got a strong pitch to make at the DNC in June that she is the more electable candidate. Just today, her numbers indicate that she (unlike Obama) has an edge over McCain in the national election (if it were held today).

What I meant was, Wright sealed it for McCain, by making it even less likely that Obama WILL get the nod. As I've said countless times before, in a Clinton v. McCain contest, I'm almost certian McCain will come out on top. He'll get the independents, which will be HUGE this cycle. By Wright scaring people off with his sterotypically "angry black man" rhetoric, it will give those with doubts their "reasonable" excuse for not supporting a black man.

Oh, I see what you're getting at. You were two steps in front of me on the logic pathway.

Re: Rev Wright just....

2. If you listen closely to the way Rev. Wright answers the specific questions he is asked, he does not agree with any of the controversial ideologies he is being accused of.

HEY!! I'm glad someone else noticed this, too. I thought it was me, and that I was just misunderstanding his responses. When he was asked if he really believed that the US government was responsible for creating and spreading AIDS to kill black folks, he said--if you listen to his words closely you'll notice it--that he believed that the government was CAPABLE of that. Not that really believed it.

I just (finally!) saw this clip of his speech and I agree. The video stopped right after that statement of the government being "capable of that" so I don't know what he said right after. He referenced Tuskegee shortly before that statement (to locumtenenswife point that you have to listen closely).

I also agree that his manner of speaking wasn't well suited to the setting.

I don't know...it really isn't fair to pin his comments on Obama. At the same time, he doesn't seem to be going away and I think it is going to be hard for Obama to distance himself from these sorts of statements that are very easily miscontrued.

[Sheherezade]

Re: Rev Wright just....

I just read the transcript for the NAACP speech here and it doesn't upset me at all. :huh:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/...f=rss_politics

I must be a nutcase, too. Different is not deficient. I don't buy his science about the right brain left brain studies....but I don't believe most of the "science" studies quoted by politicians or public figure (or scientists for that matter ). I'm assuming it is the press corp speech today that set off the alarm bells? I'll look for that transcript next. Anyone got the link?

I'm so done with reading little out of context clips on the news and on CNN. I'm just as pissed that McCain keeps dealing with the "100 years" comment about Iran when it was clearly taken out of context and twisted.

Re: Rev Wright just....

I don't know at which forum the HIV statement was made -- I think it was the one with the moderator (if that helps at all).

Re: Rev Wright just....

I just read the transcript for the NAACP speech here and it doesn't upset me at all. :huh:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/...f=rss_politics

I must be a nutcase, too. Different is not deficient. I don't buy his science about the right brain left brain studies....but I don't believe most of the "science" studies quoted by politicians or public figure (or scientists for that matter ). I'm assuming it is the press corp speech today that set off the alarm bells? I'll look for that transcript next. Anyone got the link?

Here's the problem - you are not typical. MOST people will hear his tone, and the clips, and assume he's a nutjob (honestly I'm leaning towards nutjob myself), and tie him to Obama in a negative light. If he wants Obama to be president, then he should realize that and stay out of the limelight until after the elections.

[Sheherezade]

Re: Rev Wright just....

Added afterthought: I also don't see that the comments of Wright reflect Obama's views. I can't imagine tagging a Catholic with "supports pedophiles" because of the actions of a few leaders in their church. I'm hoping the campaign makes no response beyond their previous statements that Wright does not represent the views of the candidate - but he is free to speak out like other American citizens. I think I'd be less a supporter if I heard they were trying to "manage" the crazy minister in order to protect the campaign. Clearly, they aren't cracking the whip to improve appearances and get elected. Somehow, I see that as a good thing. Win or lose, I'm still in agreement with their reactions to Wright during the campaign.

ETA for Jenn P: I don't think he wants Obama to be president. I think he is not a supporter and they had a falling out over the last dust up. Just my crack pot theory -- but ITA agree with your analysis of Wright's effect on the campaign. I think he intended it.

[Sheherezade]

Re: Rev Wright just....

Apparently, not just my crack pot theory after all! I guess it is obvious.....

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_ro...itics/war_room

Or a brilliantly planned and executed way to separate Wright from Obama before McCain digs in with all those Wright based attack ads. A huge, public falling out complete with an emotional denouncement of all things Wright.

*sigh* My cynicism lives.

Re: Rev Wright just....

Based on the time and date stamp on the article, you almost had it first.

Like sands through the hour glass...

Re: Rev Wright just....

Here's the text from the Press Corps thing today. I got a definite crackpot vibe from this one.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nati ... full.story

And Angie - I think you're right.