Do any Hillary supporters feel that this story has gotten A BIT out of control??

[Frank Booth]

Do all Hillary supporters really feel that Jeremiah Wright deserves this much coverage? Or the fact that Obama attended his church?

Is this really an important story?

I know it may effect the future of our country, but SHOULD it??

[joeybee12]

1. I don;t care what Wright says or does..I just wish the BOTS could admit

that there are gonna be people who will.

[movonne]

12. Just like Gerry speaking for hillary ...

[pajjr]

24. No not quite

What gerry said the "moderates" will agree with. This Preacher well what do you feel middle America with think? What do you think the effect of this will be on the G.E.?

[Rageneau]

28. I think the coverage is about right...

So long as it continues virtually non-stop for at least two weeks. That should even things out some, considering how much time and energy and ink and airtime has been spent talking about Hillary's supposed racism, or about supporters of her campaign who were quoted saying sumb things.

[Texas Hill Country]

47. Please stop saying Hillbot. It is offensive.

[mediaman007]

2. I think the story is over the top, but I think that a lot of Obama

supporters need to step back too. I believe that if no Hillary supporters were here, the Obama people would turn on themselves.

[Catherine Vincent]

3. Yes, I think it has.

But we know the media and how they harp on shit.

[Oleladylib]

4. yes

[BeatleBoot]

5. It's sad

But inevitable.

Wait until they get into the Louis Farrakhan link to Jeremiah Wright and their visit to Libya to meet Muumar Qaddafi.

His candidacy was over before it began.

[Joe the Revelator]

6. That has already been brought up, during a debate no less

Thanks again for your concern.

[Lucinda]

13. Link?

I just thought they talked about the award at the debate...

[Joe the Revelator]

25. I don't know where to find a transcript of the debate, but I watched it with my eyes

Timmy brought up Farrakan and the trip to see Qudafi.

[Lucinda]

30. Yup. You are correct. My brain is debate fried. :) Link, in case you want it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26text-debate.html?pagewanted=all

[Joe the Revelator]

33. Thanks for finding it.

I knew I had heard it, which is why the idea that this was going to be a big deal surprised me. This part, at the very least, has been "vetted".

[Frank Booth]

9. I don't even know why I bother.

"It's sad."

Then you go on to spew more irrelevant propaganda. For some reason, I get the impression that you don't think it's sad at all.

[BeatleBoot]

17. Irrelevant Propoganda? Those are FACTS,

Or, as they say:

"Homework Matters"

[Frank Booth]

39. Something does not become RELEVANT just by being a FACT.

How does this useless information relate in any conceivable way to the job that Obama would do as president?

[BeatleBoot]

46. I won't do someone else's homework for them

Never have never will.

I suggest you start reading up on Mr Farrakhan.

[CTyankee]

57. I don't think this would relate to the job that Obama would do; that isn't really the issue.

We have seen our good Dem candidates demolished in former presidential campaigns by lesser stuff than this. Wright is a disaster of major proportion to Obama's candidacy and the Democratic Party's bid to lead the country.

Someone once said about politics "If your playing defense, you're losing." He was right. I have lived thru many a presidential campaign in my long life and seen this happen too many times to be hopeful. I used to argue, as you do, that it is irrelevant (whatever was the non-issue), only to watch the Democratic contender be shredded day in and day out, not even able to defend himself. It was a dreadful scenario. I wish it would go away. I am afraid it won't...

[HughMoran]

7. Today, it's out of control

It will likely die down this weekend, so perhaps we can get back to bashing the fuck out of Hillary before long :D

[MichiganVote]

8. More media hype. This is what passes for "news" nowadays.

[jillan]

10. Yes, and I thought the Ferraro story got out of control as well.

And the Powers story...on and on.

[goldcanyonaz]

11. Well, it is taking precious DU time away from bashing Hillary.

[laugle]

14. I just glad that it came

out now, instead of during the GE! This is exactly what I feared would happen if Obama was not vetted. That some bombshell would come out, and we would actually lose the WH.

The public needs to know more, and not vote based on feel-good speeches!

[Double T]

15. Oh, YOU mean the story that bho supports CRAZY radical black ministers...........

that HATE white Caucasians? Yep, I think WE have bho's message VERY clearly.

[Frank Booth]

40. So, basically, you think Obama hates white people.

I guess there's no point in even debating this point with you.

[oasis]

16. "Attended his church" yup, that part passes. The "spiritual leader" part;

the, performed the wedding ceremony part; the baptised the kids, part; and the served on his presidential advisory committee part, could be problematic.

[JohnnyLib2]

18. Yup, OOC, out of control.

It seems to be the way politics is done these days.

[leftynyc]

19. We are talking about the same

press that wrote 1000 articles and aired hundreds of minutes of airtime on John Edwards' haircut, right?

[MojoMojoMojo]

20. Its a very important story to see who Obama admires and is friends with

and who will influence him now and in the White House.
Rezco Auchi Wright.
I actually like Obama more after the story.
But Obama just drove the bus over a cliff.

[pajjr]

21. This is what I feared all along

The republicans are beginning to swift boat him. It will only get worse they are just doing the groundwork.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

22. The stuff that Wright says doesn't bother me - but then I'm way to the left

I can imagine people to the right of me getting all bet out of shape about it, however.

[MojoMojoMojo]

23. Believe me everyone to the right of you cringes when they hear God Damn America

[theboss]

27. I'm probably one of the more conservative members here

I was brutal on Howard Dean in '04.

And I agree with pretty much everything Wright said.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

37. and about 97% of the US is to the right of me.....

n/t

[bicentennial_baby]

38. "God damn America for killing innocent people"

Well, the man has a point.

[Bluerthanblue]

56. people should cringe- but that doesn't absolve us from our

incidents of really BAD behaviour, or erase our history.

When you stop idolizing this country, you can be free to take a healthy role in helping to fix some of our glaring faults- People who refuse to see our flaws, are the people who condemn us to continue walking down this path to our demise.

People didn't like what Kanye West said after Katrina- that didn't change the fact that he spoke up when so many stood silent.

The truth hurts - but it is essential to positive change.


peace~

[Lucinda]

26. Obama has talked for weeks about his superior judgement.

Being affilliated with Wright, on such a close personal level, really calls his judgement into question. We're vetting the future leader of the free world, so yes, I think it's relevant, and it matters.

[Tom Rinaldo]

29. What should matter is what Obama believes

and whether he would make a good leader for America. Speaking personally, his association with Pastor Wright doesn't in any way tell me that Obama can't be a good or great President. I have seen great potential in Obama ever since I first found out about him in 2004.

I have radical associations throughout my own political history. Many fine but potentially controversial leftist friends who I am proud to call my friends. These are all people who gave much of their lives to working for good causes. However I understand that both they and I could and would likely be red baited by both the center and the right if I were running for a high political office.

When it comes to running for President it shouldn't matter if a person is gay. It shouldn't matter if a person is an aethiest, or if they did drugs in their youth, or if they are not married. But you can't become President without winning the election. Some people have a harder time getting elected than others because of who they are or what they did previously in their lives.

I am not pleased by this reality, but it does no good to be blind to it either because ultimately someone is going to win and someone is going to lose in 2008, and if they lose for the wrong reasons they still lose.

[tandem5]

31. of course its out of control, but what did you expect?

put your helmet on and get ready for the general election.

[robbedvoter]

32. As an atheist, the less talk of "spiritual advisors" the better

Unfortunately, Gravel was the only one who gave an answer I loved to the "prayer" question in the debate: "We need less prayer and more love and empowerment of the people"

[metalluk]

34. Too much coverage?

I am a Clinton supporter.

I am not interested in what Rev. Wright has said because I do not believe that a candidate for public office is responsible for every foolish statement uttered by a friend, associate, donor, or endorser. Wright, as I understand the relationship, was something of a mentor in encouraging a young man of talent to follow his dreams. There is no reason why Obama should have to directly challenge every statement made by Wright with which he does not agree. One has to sometimes overlook statements made by friends or family members that are stupid or bigoted; otherwise you come across as a self-righteous prick.

On the other hand, there is somewhat more of a problem with Obama belonging to a church with tenets that are blatantly racist and at odds with the commitment that a President must maintain to the nation and ALL of its people. Even here, I would be inclined to give Obama the benefit of the doubt, since many people really don't know the exact doctrine of the denomination to which they belong.

Now, however, he does know. If Obama wants to put this issue to rest, in the minds of reasonable voters (unreasonable voters will cling to the issue no matter what), he needs to dissociate himself from that church -- because it advocates an Africa-first doctrine and because it encourages its adherents to identify exclusively with other black individuals. Those are unacceptable tenets for a President of the United States to implicitly endorse by membership in the church that promotes those ideas.

Tonight, as I understand it (correct me if I'm wrong), Obama dissociated himself firmly from the most outrageous of Wright's statements. For me, however, Wright's statements were not the issue. It is Obama's membership in the church that is problematic. So, to answer your question as honestly as I can, the issue will become a non-issue as soon as Obama dissociates himself from that denomination.

[wiggs]

35. Huge opportunity for Hillary: Stand up and defend Obama from ridiculous

guilt by association fever. This is a chance for her to appear ready to discuss issues, to heal the party, to become a positive voice, and frankly to do what is right.

She stands to gain everything, lose nothing.

[BenDavid]

36. It is not about mr wright, it is about the lies by one barack obama

and many of us tried to tell ya that obama would do all he could to make this campaign about race. Tried to tell ya that obama had already played the race card and would play it again and damn if he didn't in South Carolina and then blamed Hillary.

Who is the only person that could change the campaign into Dems fight Dems? Obama and maybe a good question before preachergate would have been:

Barack, can I ask a question? Are you going to heal America the way you healed the Democratic party?

[Bluerthanblue]

55. your idea of healing is

for everyone to worship at the throne of your candidate.

Lies abound in this race- and in this forum. The truth doesn't matter squat to you. You have made that abundantly clear.
Gossip, slander, and exaggeration- Guess you could have told everyone that HIllary would make this campaign all about sexism too eh?

fie on you-

[McCamy Taylor]

41. I;m neutral and I think all these smears are way out of control, The RW is doing it.

Please read by new journal "The Right Wing Media v. Obama" They have been doing this stuff for a solid year!

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

42. Actually, I think it is both over-played and under-played

The pack journalism thing is always over-kill.

On the other hand, the relationship between Wright and Obama is more meaningful than it's being played off as.

I keep thinking I know Obama doesn't think like that. Then I remind myself that I have no idea what Obama thinks about anything. Every bit of awareness of the man I have is in the context of a campaign... playing a part.

I think I know what he thinks, but I don't really know what he thinks.

I don't know what Hillary thinks, and I've been watching her for 15 years!

Since we are talking about making someone the single most dangerous person on Earth with the power to destroy continents, I figure it's reasonable to try to figure out what they think. So in that sense, the general lack of examination of Obama is remarkable... not examination of fund-raising scandals or some meaningless shit like that, but examination of the man.

I think Obama is a good man. In 2000 I thought George Bush was a bad man. But about half the country thought he was a good man!

So I'm all for really looking at people. (And McCain especially)

[Frank Booth]

43. Good points.

Based on my perception of Obama he is an even-tempered, circumspect, decent, honest man. This Wright story does nothing to change those perceptions. And I also like the fact that Obmama has only repudiated the words and the ideas, not Wright himself -- that just reinforces my belief that Obama is a decent man.

But, I also thought that Obama was politically very savvy, and this story seems to undercut that. If he was as politically astute as I gave him credit for, he would have foreseen this issue a while ago.

[elixir]

44. I don't care what he said, he's nuts. But this is fodder for the repug cannons, and good fodder.

[Jamastiene]

45. What if a candidate attended Fred Phelps' church for 22 years?

"Should" that matter? I say yes in both cases and I can think of plenty more where it does matter.

[FrenchieCat]

48. It doesn't matter,

But since you are no progressive, you will not see why it doesn't.

[PM7nj]

49. Are you really comparing Phelps to Rev Wright?

Rev Wright is no Fred Phelps. From everything I have heard about Rev Wright, he is a good man who has said some things he shouldn't have. Fred Phelps is the most anti-christian and hateful person on earth.

[Bluerthanblue]

52. sadly truth and facts don't seem to matter to some people.

Rev.Wright has every 'right' to speak his peace.
He doesn't preach a gospel of hate- phelps does.

peace~

[Bluerthanblue]

51. if you can seriously say this-

you are an idiot.
There is NO comparison between Wright- and phelps.

You are more than a part of the problem. Attitudes like yours ARE the problem. Gossip, innuendo, and exaggeration.
Doesn't matter what you have to do or say, as long as your candidate can score some points eh?



fie-on that.

[Blue_In_AK]

50. I'm not a HIllary supporter or an Obama supporter

but I think that this whole matter is "much ado about nothing."

[sueragingroz]

53. Personally... it is not important to me

Obama has the right to attend whatever church he chooses. He can do whatever he likes.

However, this is about politics and electability. He's toast. It's not so much about what is reported but how and when.

This came out much earlier than most of us anticipated and it has a chance of swaying the primaries away from Obama.

Also it is video. Video doesn't go away. It gets played over and over and over... Just remember the Dean Scream. Seriously? A scream took down a populist candidate? And yet it did.

Also it goes to judgment - he exercised poor political judgement by continuing to go to the church and associating with him after it became known that his views were a bit "out there" to mainstream middle class america. It bolsters the idea, that started with the Rezko scandal that he has a habit of making "boneheaded mistakes".

Also, it serves to define his nebulous "Hope and Change" message. Now folks are starting to see a sinister undertone to this message. It now reeks of nasty identity Chicago politics and, I dare say it, Hate Speech. He ripped the "Audacity of Hope" idea from Wright.

If the powers that be didn't want the democratic party to self destruct over identity politics, this would have been all over the news prior to Iowa.

I want to go on record as saying that I bear no hatred or malice toward Obama or his family or his followers. I believe that a lot of the hoopla about Obama on this board is sincerely felt. (Not all, but most of it).

What I really hate is politics itself and how it is controlled by right wing interests. The Obama mystique was created by the media who is controlled by these very same right wing interests. And a whole lot of kind and well meaning people who are starving for change fell for it. Hillary isn't my favorite candidate. Clark was but he didn't run this year. BUT she knows how politics is played and in this dirty dirty world of american politics, she is a survivor. If the democrats need anyone right now to keep this together, it's a survivor...

I can only hope that if she manages to pull it out in November that she reverses that horrible media law that was passed under her husband's watch. I want to see the fairness doctrine and the ownership rules put back. She can't talk about it during the campaign because that would put her in league with Gravel and Kuchinich. But, once she is there, I think that she can do it because I firmly believe that she is the brains of the Clinton operation and she is capable of learning from her mistakes. And I firmly believe that she has the ability to reach across the aisle to get it done.

[BlackVelvet04]

54. No....

I don't think it's anyone near as bad as it will get if Obama wins the nomination. It's going to make what's happening now look like a friggin' tea party.