Rev. Wright and the controversy that ensued over this inflamatory comments has dented the very fabric of at least one culture in the United States. Bill Moyers conducts the first interview with Rev.Wright since the airing of his seemingly inflammatory ‘sound bites’. The interview sheds light on the entire context of the sound bites that we heard broadcast on national television ad infinitum. When you hear from his own mouth the context of who he is, what he has done, why he thinks the way he does…it opens a new framework for opinions of the man.
I’m not saying people will be all lovey-dovey with the guy, but in my opinion this interview which airs tonight on PBS will shed some light on who Rev. Wright is, and ultimately put some context into what Barack Obama has said regarding the subject.
Will this interview shed needed light on a subject that had dogged Obama? Or will this interview invite more hypocrisy on this subject?
In my opinion, I think the comments Rev.Wright made were taken as far out of context as they could have, and used as a politcal spear. My hope is that people will get a little light shed on a subject that only a few cultures in the US have any real knowledge of. My hope is that it will aid Obama’s stance - as distancing himslef from the comments but not the man.
My political instinct on this is that the Rev. should dig a deep hole and stay in it until after the election, or at best do a couple discreet photo ops being extra nice to babies and puppies.
But hopefully the interview will make him seem like a wonderful, concerned guy. :dubious:
"the comments Rev.Wright made were taken as far out of context as they could have, and used as a politcal spear. "
Of course they were, and it seems to me this is what politics is mainly about, discrediting the opposition. It seems there’s way more time spent in doing evil to each other than actually trying to govern effectively.
That’s why Obama is refreshing and exciting to millions of Americans. He has the courage to talk about it and a desire to do things differently. If he wins, he’s going to find it very hard, and this will be a terrible time to become President. Whoever wins is going to be in a very hot seat.
Nevertheless, we have to start somewhere and now is the time to begin the process. Electing an African American is huge for this country, if nothing else comes of his Presidency that alone is a big step forward. Race is a big issue in this election, I believe its probably the biggest factor in HRC’s staying alive up to this point.
I seriously doubt most people will bother to see it and any media coverage is as likely to take soundbites and bits out of context as they have in the past. This will only work on people already well disposed towards Obama and feel the Wright things was much ado about nothing. Those who latched on to this as proving the dastardly nature of Obama will not be convinced by anything anyway (they weren’t after Obama’s amazing speech on the subject).
I suppose it is useful for the historical record so when people look back on these times someday they may be able to cobble together the actual truth of it but mostly I agree he should go hide in a hole for Obama’s sake till November 4, 2008, passes us by.
Bill Moyers is a favorite villain of the right wing. Doing an interview might not be bad, but it shouldn’t be with Moyers. Still, it’s just PBS and I doubt many people will watch it.
Moyers provides what the right hates, real information. Fox loves its sound bites. PBS will actually provide him with time so you can get an understanding . Can’t nave that can we.?
It is always good to shed light. Brandeis said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. Bill Moyers has a fascination for the influence of religious leaders on politics. At least three Moyers shows have touched upon Rev. John Hagee’s Christians United For Isreal, and its lobbying in congress. After Rev. Wright is interviewed on tonight’s Moyers, it will be interesting to see how the liberal and conservative news media pick it up. What parts will we see in the NY Times? What parts will be shown by O’Reilly and Hannity? We’ll see.
I can tell you. On O’Reilly and Hannity, you’ll see clips that make it looks like 1) Wright is a loon and 2) Obama is lying about how close they are to each other. These clips will be no more than ten seconds long.
I say this without seeing any of the interview, and I am 100% confident.
I think Wright’s speaking up is a very good idea. If he was to stay hidden and unheard from, not only will the current efforts at vilification stand as the are, it will make it seem as if he really did do something wrong. Those efforts to use this as a smear will continue anyway but at least a broader presentation of the issue and the ideas will be on the record.
What was it that Wright did? He spoke some truths and appears to not toe some jingoistic party line, while indulging in a bit of hyperbole (black preaching traditon, anyone/), and distillied some bits of urban legends that speak to a distrustful mindset that middle America refused to get.
That parts of the show that I’ve seen and Reverend Wright himself seem reasonable and not at all monstrous. I watch Moyer’s show on a fairly regular basis and what he always seems to be trying to reveal is the simple truth.
The New Yorker did an article a couple of weeks ago that presented Wright and the whole history of the liberal theology in quite an evenhanded way. I was surprised because, with their clear Hillary bias, I thought they were going to take the opportunity to vilify the reverend, the church and the entire ideology in an effort to tear down Obama.
They didn’t do that and actually highlighted some interesting dynamics of the entire smear campaign regarding his sound-bited remarks, without spending the entire article talking about them.
