Anyone catch The Daily Show last night? Stewart did a whole piece on Wright’s recent public appearances, interviews, clowning.
That segment is truly hiscarilous. I can’t stop laughing, my eyes are watering.
If this was a movie, I would not believe it. This guy is absolutely awesome. I want to watch everything that he does. But he is very very bad for Obama.
Edit: Video Link
I think some people who were voting for Obama prior to Wright will feel that way. Others will not. I think the problem with some of this is that Obama claims he knew nothing about Pastor Wright’s “problem” - The AIDS stuff, the chickens home to roost stuff, this brain thing, etc. I’d imagine there are a lot of folks who don’t believe that. I know I don’t. Then the question becomes - Why is Obama even associating with this guy? I think some people are going to want to take another look at that.
Now we know why the stuff on the Fox News loops is so tightly edited. Once you start to get a sense of this guy’s real flavor, he just seems awesome and hilarious.
“He’s so bombastic. Isn’t he bombastic?”
Honestly, the unity speech he gave on March 18th is the only explanation I need. What more does he need to say on the matter? I trust him to act on these principles once in the oval office.
Why aren’t they asking the same questions about Reverend Hagee?
I understand it is not for me to decide what people should deem important when selecting a candidate. But I would be interested to know what are the real concerns this has about Obama? Is it a fear that Obama harbors the same views? (He doesn’t) Is it that Obama simply has bad judgement in associating with Reverend Wright? (Does it trump his good judgement in running an amazingly effective and modern campaing? his judgement in being against the Iraq war? His judgement in not falling for the stupidity of a gas tax holiday, as examples) If Obama becomes President what is it about Reverend Wright that worries you that would happen?
If Hagee is the pastor who said he supported McCain - I don’t recall the details -I’d imagine it’s because Hagee isn’t McCain’s pastor / mentor of twenty years.
I think the Wright association creates questions in the minds of some voters about Obama. In addition, I think the fact that Obama appears to some to be lying about what he knew about Wright prior to all of those creates questions and doubts in the minds of some voters. I think those new doubts concerning Obama, whether you feel they’re justified or not, will cost him some of the voter support that he had prior to all of this.
Maybe because there’s more to the guy than just a few radical, paranoid ideas that aren’t exactly rare among older black folk who 1) aren’t famous, 2) have lived through some shit, and 3) don’t have to worry about their ideas being videotaped and played on youtube because no one has ever cared about their opinions before. The only difference between Obama’s problem with Wright and anyone else closely associated with a politically incorrect personality is that Wright was caught on tape saying what he believes. How many of us have friends whom we love but are just stupid when it comes to certain things?
I’ve heard my mother say the same kind of things that Wright has, but if I were to become famous, you can bet that I will name her as a great influence and a role model. Guess before I make that decision, though, I should check to see if she’s ever been caught on tape saying something that will make me look bad through association. Whatever.
White Americans need to realize one thing: Expecting black politicians to disown anyone that distrusts the government and has a grudge against the ruling (and yes, mostly white) elite mean expecting these politicians to distance themselves from a huge chunk of black people. Wrong or right, this is reality. It’s one thing to hold Obama to a standard that others in the race wouldn’t be able to meet if the scrunity was on them (I’d like background checks on the friends of McCain and Clinton, pretty please), but to hold Obama to a standard that is nigh impossible to meet as a black person with ties to a community that historically has experienced some jacked up things…this just gets to me.
It would be mighty sad if the US–which has elected white men who have been in the KKK, let alone befriended, catered to, and wooed sympathizers–chose not to elect the first black person with a good shot at the White House because he’s friends with someone like Wright. I mean, it would be one thing if Wright was someone like Farakhan, who has power and has said some bonafide racist things that has the potential to do harm. But Wright’s rantings are as scary as my mom warning me to not to give blood to the Red Cross because “remember Tuskegee!” Which means not scary at all, just ignorant and crazy and sad mixed with funny.
If all of that is true than maybe Obama should say that rather than claim that bhe had no knowledge of Wright’s crazy rantings prior to it becoming public knowledge. Here’s the problem - Obama continuing to say that he knew nothing about Wright’s “beliefs” has the look and feel of a lie. I believe it’s a lie. I don’t believe I’m the only one. For the reasons already given - that creates a problem for Obama as I see this. Also, I don’t think Wright’s racial diatribes are funny. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that thinks that way either. Preaching before 10,000 that AIDS was created by a white government to kill minorities isn’t funny either. It causes problems. I think Obama needs to make a pretty clear choice on Wright since this problem isn’t going to go away.
Cite?
I don’t think Obama has said he knew nothing about those beliefs, only that he wasn’t present when Wright made those 2 or 3 clips playing nonstop in the media.
In terms of lying, if Obama did lied about not knowing the Revs beliefs, okay, well, shame on him for lying. But since he’s never said that his relationship with the guy would be any different with or without this knowledge, it really doesn’t change anything.
Obama never said he had no knowledge at all of Wright’s beliefs. He said he wasn’t present for the specific quotes being looped in the media.
Also, how about a cite for Wright engaging in “racial diatribes?” The AIDS thing was mistaken, but not racist, and not even all that irrational since the government HAS intentionally given black people diseases before.
Looking past the propaganda, I see an entertaining and hyperbolic preacher who’s done a a lot of good work being demonized beyond all reason in order to lynch, by proxy, the first black Presidential candidate with a legitimate shot to win.
It’s already in this thread. In fact, look at Obama’s statement from last night quoted here -
Obama quote from last night -
“Many of the statements that he’s made, both that triggered this initial controversy and that he’s made over the last several days, are not statements that I have heard him make previously.”
I know the Obama supporters don’t care about Rev. Wright and anything he says, but Barrack Obama is holding what looks like a major presss conference right now to “denounce” Wright’s “performance” over the past few days.
Denounce and preformance are Obama’s words.
I did look. Obama didn’t say he was never aware of Wright’s views. He said this last night:
He’s referring to specific statements. The right wing meme that Obama has denied all knowledge of Wright’s beliefs has no foundation in truth. It’s just more propaganda.
No it’s not funny. But every week preachers across America preach that millions of people are going to burn hell for not worshipping the right God and for having sex with the wrong people. And when they’re not doing that, then they are insisting that the unverse was created in 7 days and damn to anyone who doesn’t believe that. None of these ideas are funny, either. Politicians still attend these churches, though, and few people think to give them grief about it.
What other “beliefs” are you talking about? Anyway, I think it was clear I’m talking about the statements of Wright that have been all over the internet and other media. If it wasn’t then it should be now.
BTW – Obama seems to have just made his ‘clean break’ with Wright -
He has made a clear choice. What more do you want him to do? Wright is free to talk as much as he likes, but he doesn’t represent Obama. Obama removed him from his campaign, and I doubt he’ll ever been seen in public with him again. The news outlets may not let this go as long as Wright is out there speaking, but Obama can’t stop him from doing that.
You tell me what “beliefs,” You’re the one who said Obama continues to say, “he knew nothing of Wright’s beliefs.”