Cynical question: who thinks it's possible the Obama campaign is behind the Wright story?

[Spider Jerusalem]

This seems unlikely at first glance, given the controversy this has generated. However, I find it plausible, considering that Obama knew he'd have to distance himself from Wright at some point in the campaign, and this gives him the opportunity to do so at a point when the issue is in the spotlight; also, this serves to effectively defuse the ignorant 'but he's a Muslim! statements. This is going to die down within a week; in my estimation Obama has probably done an effective job of putting distance between himself and Wright's statements, and the takeaway from the incident for most people, the attention span of the American public being what it is, is going to be the association of 'Obama' and 'church'. (Which is more likely to help than hurt with people who think Islam = evil.)

I'm enough of a cynic to think that this could be what happened; it would be a brilliant and devious bit of political theatre, if so, and the long-term negatives from this are probably negligible, given his handling of the situation.

[TwilightGardener]

1. It certainly came to light at the right time--far away from any primaries.

But, since Fox dredged up the tapes, I doubt Obama's camp has much control over this.

[still_one]

2. I have no doubt it is ABC behind it. You remember their distortion of 9/11

when their mini-series effectively blamed the Clinton administration for 9/11?

This story was brought up a year ago, and Obama answered it then also

No, I believe ABC has a right-wing agenda to divide the Democratic party, and mccain would have an easy victory. It might work

[journalist3072]

3. I was just thinking that......it would help them counter the Muslim meme. eom

[patrice]

4. Cynical? Why would that be a bad thing?

If I've got some issue I need to discuss with my significant other(s), I'd be looking for an opportunity to do so, so we could have a talk about something that I think is important, so they can have their say about it and so I can have my say about it. It's called being mature and un-afraid.

Honesty is Good!

[dchill]

5. Anything's possible.

If it was perceived that it was going to come out anyway (and it was, of course), what better course of action for - someone with good judgment than - to decide WHEN it came out?

[adoraz]

6. it came at a PERFECT time

for Obama.

If it was the Republicans or Clintons behind it, I don't think they would have picked this time.

Surely if it was the Clintons, they would have dropped this a day before PA.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. "Cynical question: who thinks it's possible the Obama campaign is behind the Wright story?"

Really, really, stupid people.

Next question?

[Oilwellian]

8. I'm beginning to think it was

They had to know the tapes were available and would be used. Any thinking person (and Obama does that well) would know a strategy would have to be created to address it.

I have an idea what's coming next...educating America on the value of black churches. Even a quick look at Obama's church will show you they are a HUGE organization with tremendous outreach ministries. Helping the poor become self-sufficient and involved in their community. The right wing will LOVE it. :D

[w13rd0]

9. If you recall...

...when Bush first came into office, one of Rove et als primary goals was to "fracture the reliable AA democratic voting bloc" through their Compassionate Conservative Faith-Based Initiatives. It fell on its face because Bush and crew were just faking compassion, but even now we've got some of the more traditional right-wing Christian organizations getting behind broader scopes than the standard "gods, guns and gays" and becoming involved in conservation, social justice. I am not a believer, but in his country, that's a mighty small slice of the pie. If we are going to build a broad working majority, we need to peel off the people from the right wing that are passionate about faith, but realize that the GOP has been playing them for fools, and give them the opportunity to get involved in more ways.

[Laelth]

10. Entirely possible.

But, then, why did Fox fall for it? They've been hammering this issue for some time. Only recently did the video emerge, however, and that's what got mainstream coverage. The question is, where did the video come from?

If I were Obama, I would have leaked it. Knowing it was out there, I would want to control when it got made public. As far as timing goes, this is a pretty good time (nomination basically wrapped up, but way before both the convention and the GE).

So, yes, I think Obama may have done it himself. That's entirely possible.

-Laelth

[TheDoorbellRang]

11. All you have to do is look at the timing and ask cui bono?

I already suspect this is so, and have said this here and here.

The media likes its political sh*tstorms but one can also notice that the public has a rather limited attention span. Best to do these as close to election time as possible: eg., NAFTAgate, Swiftboaters.

For the Clinton camp, optimum release time would have been the week before PA primary.

For the McCain camp, optimum release time would be August -- assuming Obama would have sat on his hands and done nothing to diffuse.

For the Obama camp, optimum release time would be...right now! Right after a whole slew of primaries where he is already ahead, and with weeks to go in which to diffuse, or de-fuse, the stinkbomb. Notice the Rezco debunking by Obama was done the same day -- two stinkbombs in de-fuse mode at the same time.

IMO, Obama is one wily chessplayer.