Pastor Wright's PR blitz: "as selfish of a move as we've seen in some time"

[MethuenProgressive]

FIRST THOUGHTS.
*** You're So Vain, You Probably Think This Campaign Is About You: After addressing the NAACP yesterday in Detroit, Jeremiah Wright travels to the heart of the media beast -- the National Press Club in DC -- where he has been speaking this morning. At this point, no matter one's political inexperience, Wright has to know he's not helping his friend; his decision to go public and defend his reputation at this point in the campaign is doing nothing to help Obama, if anything, it's leading some to believe he's actually trying to sabotage him. He's hurting him and hurting him very badly. Frankly, it's as selfish of a move as we've seen in some time. Imagine, for example, if Norman Hsu or Vicki Iseman were doing publicity tours right now. Maybe, if there's a silver lining for Obama, he's giving Obama a very easy chance to simply walk away. Remember, Obama didn't toss Wright under the bus, but Wright appears to be doing that to Obama's candidacy. Still, if Wright Vol. 1, "bitter," and Pennsylvania didn't move superdelegates, what will? Nevertheless, Obama seems to be starting off this week in about as bad of shape as we've seen in him in some time.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/>MSNBC first read
That's MSNBC. CNN has a poll going:

Which is closer to your view of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright?
Descriptive 33% 18676
Divisive 67% 38678
Total Votes: 57354

Pastor Wright is handing the nomination to Hillary. And that's a good thing, because if Obama gets the nom, Pastor Wright would be handing the Whitehouse to McCain.

[LakeSamish706]

1. I really wish some of you would open your eyes... This whole thing has nothing to do with...

Barack Obama and Rev. Wright has every right to defend his church, religion, and himself.

[flpoljunkie]

6. I agree with Susan Rice that Rev. Wright is "more interested in redeeming his legacy."

She also spoke of the media "sideshow"--to which, I am afraid, the Rev. Wright has eagerly joined in, certainly in his performance today at the National Press Club. It was hot and defensive--the opposite of who Barack Obama is.

[LakeSamish706]

19. But he wasn't out there speaking for Barack Obama, he was speaking for ...

Rev. Wright and thats the difference. Yes the media has attached Obama to Rev. Wright, but that is not the Rev. fault.

[flpoljunkie]

28. Rev. Wright was indeed speaking for Rev. Wright.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

32. OP is wrong about one thing, this hurts the entire democratic party

and it won't help Hillary win the white house.

It will help McCain.

[flpoljunkie]

33. The man's ego is apparently as big as Bill Clinton's!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

45. did you hear his talk?

It was impressive, honest, forthright, and frankly, very convincing. Hillary's posturing looks absolutely infantile and petty compared to Wright's words.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

61. did you hear Dean scream? The media has it now.....

and thats it.

Its not about truth or reality - its about being selfish enough to give the
media fresh hash.

He's sabotaging Barack Obama's candidacy for his own selfish reasons.

[flpoljunkie]

63. Yes, both last night and his bombastic, self-serving "performance" at the National Press Club.

That Obama refused to throw him under the bus, shows how Obama is indeed a different kind of politician, even though Rev. Wright, sadly, sought to paint him as a typical politician today.

[chefgirl]

44. Yeah?

Well, although intellectually you and I happen to agree about that, its not you and I that Obama needs to worry about.

Try selling that argument to all those voters out there who WILL (fairly or unfairly) attach Obama to Rev.Wright and everything he says from here on.

The question is, and will remain, "If Obama disagrees with him, why did he stay in that church for 20 years?"

Reverend Wright will be seen as divisive, offensive, aggressive and arrogant , and therefore Obama will be painted with the same brush.

-chef-

[dchill]

88. It's the "arrogant" adjective that is doing...

the most harm. He is doing something that would be the right thing to do, if it wasn't completely the wrong time and for the wrong, self-serving reasons.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. tell that to the voters in my state, especially the party switchers

its going to drive Obama's numbers down. Last thing he needs is to have to
explain away more crap.

This pulls Obama off of his message.

[mattclearing]

13. Why should Obama have to apologize for his pastor?

Did you go apeshit about Bush not apologizing for Billy Graham, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell? Reverend Wright is a thousand times the man of God that any of those cretins were/are.

People who expect Obama to disown his pastor don't even realize the higher standard that they are holding him to.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

62. Rev. Jeremiah Wright's Media Blitz Forces Barack Obama to Face the Angry Black Man Test -- Again

Rev. Jeremiah Wright's Media Blitz Forces Barack Obama to Face the Angry Black Man Test -- Again

Eric Deggans Apr 28 08

For new school black politicians, it is an essential question: How do you recognize the righteous anger of those frustrated by racial inequality without looking like just another Angry Black Man?

Those of us who write often about black folks and politics knew there would come a moment when the first black man with a realistic shot at becoming president would have to face this challenge -- reconciling black anger and frustration with white fear and resentment.

Our mistake: We assumed that, for Obama, this issue would come flying from the direction of someone like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson -- a traditional civil rights leader who would insist Obama prove his fealty to black issues by showing the kind of aggressive advocacy which often turns off traditional white voters.

Who knew that the race-based bullet wounding Obama's campaign would come from friendly fire
-- his spiritual mentor Jeremiah Wright -- adding yet another unpredictable twist to the most unconventional electoral contest in history?

....But Wright's recent appearances will continue to hurt the candidate, because the reverend is the radical Obama never was, and he's close enough to give skeptical white voters an excuse. Right now, Wright is holding court before the world's TV cameras and an admiring audience at the Press Club. His dismissive attitude toward the moderator's questions -- which basically articulate the concerns many white voters have about Wright's public statements and positions -- are playing well in the room, but will likely stoke anger among the assembled press and probably among some white viewers.

...more at the link

[Texas Hill Country]

11. it is an issue because it gives insight into who Barack is... there are reasons he CHOSE wright...

and I sure as hell cant figure it out... seems to me what differentiates him from a ton of other preachers is the divisiveness, racism and faulty assumptions.

[Tellurian]

46. What about Wright's slip..He IS to be "Obama's Vice President"

So this is an issue to do with Obama. I don't want that nutcase in second place on the Dem ticket..if Obama is the nominee!

msnbc is replaying the clip where Wright slips and mentions, he will be Obama's VP!

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rainy]

12. Plus he did such a fine job. Sure he seemed a bit cocky etc.. but being a

pastor as popular as he is it goes with the territory that he would have a big ego. He was humorous and intelligent. I would join his church in a heart beat and I don't go to church.

[samsingh]

31. you're right

democrats should stop cowering.

repugs have pretty much destroyed this country. if the red state repugs don't see that soon, they'll all be getting outsourced work from China. Seriously.

we need to be proud of ourselves and get the truth out. destroy these stupid talking points the media uses. challenge them to show an iota of intelligence.

e.g.

stupid media person: "Many Americans are concerned you don't wear flagpins. What do you have to say about that?"

Obama or Hillary: "x amount of Americans lost their jobs last week. y amount of lost their jobs under bush. z have lost their lives under a war he created. That's what i'm concerned about. I want to reduce the death count bush's policies will produce into the future. i want to get people back to work so they can continue feeding their families.

... and did you know that the price of basic stuff like corn has doubled in the past year?"

[keep_it_real]

2. Maybe if more people heard him speak they would not think he is divisive

Just my opinion; can't say for sure.

[Metric System]

7. I'm not so sure about that. I didn't find him too bad last night, but I was turned off by him at the

national press club this morning.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

10. have you forgotten what the media did to DEAN?

it worked.

It was wrong but it worked.

[rainy]

16. It won't work this time. They have tried and tried but the American people are much more

aware, paying more. Every time they try to destroy Obama the people show up in even larger numbers for his speeches. Hillary, I think is staying in because she thinks at some point they will succeed in destroying Obama. We are not buying this time. NOT THIS TIME. They have destroyed all progressive leaders we have put forth but now they are failing.

[Cassandra]

18. I haven't forgotten but...

Dean was not well known to the general public at the time and had a small constituency willing to go to bat for him (and people understood less what was going on). Obama has a much bigger constituency and there are plenty of people in that group who understand what it is like to be marginalized and misinterpreted by the corporate media.

[hokies4ever]

21. I noticed that too

and turned to CNN. The Morning Joe show is in the tank for Hillary, presumably to counter the fact that Keith Olbermann is in the tank for Obama. Joe Scarborough has repeatedly said that he's rooting for Hillary. Then again, he was a GOP Rep, so an endorsement from him really doesn't carry much weight. Mika does a good job try to at least appear to be fair to Hillary and Obama, but you can tell that she does favor Hillary and is easily bullied into hushing when Scarborough attacks Obama.

[Webster Green]

4. Thanks for the load of fresh manure!

I'm getting my gardens ready. This is great!:smoke:

[durrrty libby]

5. Ol Rev Wright. The gift that keeps on giving. He has an immense ego

and just can't help himself. As Martha would say...It is a good thing:toast: :party:

[rodeodance]

34. Unfortuately--i think the Dem party will suffer as a whole. The gift is to the Repugs.

[grannylib]

9. Internet polling, as I'm sure you know, is hardly representative

And I'd be willing to bet that if people were paying attention and knew Rev. Wright's history and took his words in context and could look honestly at some of the issues facing our nation instead of sticking their heads in the sand and worrying about whether or not Obama can bowl, or does Hillary really shoot and drink shots/beers, they'd think he was descriptive too.
It's the media portraying him as divisive, because it suits their overall corporate whore agenda.

[MethuenProgressive]

15. Internet polling should favor Obama.

The wired are his base. Clinton's base is at work.

[Cassandra]

26. Some of Hillary's base are retired.

And much of the wired is at work. You clearly enjoy insulting more than half of the party.

[otohara]

70. Yep, Wright Is The Gift That Keeps On Giving

there's a Hillary poster that says this in this very thread.

[asjr]

14. I have been perplexed about this for

a long time. The reason it keeps coming up is the media are keeping it going. Obama should never have been forced to deny Mr Wright. It is none of anyone's business. And the media keep dragging up stuff to get at Hillary Clinton. Mr Obama is not perfect and doesn't claim to be. None of them are. The talking heads are not running for president of the U.S. They are running to see which of them gets more air time and can say the most stupid things. And they do a very good job at it. For themselves. I have stopped watching most "news" programs because when I see them I have to run to the bathroom and throw up. It is still not too late for them to take on GW Bush. There is a lifetime of stuff they could use. When the media become patriotic maybe I can watch again.

[MethuenProgressive]

17. "the media are keeping it going" No, no, no. The MSM dropped it - and Wright jumped back on stage.

Wright's bringing this down on Obama all by himself.

[rainy]

22. The MSM never dropped it. They ask him about Wright all the time.

I think it it great what Wright is doing. The right wish that he would not fight back to defend his church and his words. They like to bully and shut people up in fear. Speak on Mr. Wright! The more the people get to know you the more they will like you and the vail will be lifted.

[rainy]

23. Don't you talk about my Mama!

[Beacool]

20. As a Hillary supporter, the Rev. Wright is the gift that keeps on giving.

But, if I were an Obama supporter, I would wish that Wright stayed out of sight for a while.

[otohara]

68. The Man's Church Is Getting Death Threats

happy?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. The people calling for Wright's silence are the same kind who called for MLK's silence over Vietnam.

The same kind of "liberals" who fretted it would harm "The Party" in the upcoming elections of 1968.

Pathetic.

[Wind Dancer]

55. Exactly!

It's unbelievable to read the comments by the so-called liberals on this board. :mad:

Pathetic indeed!

[SeaLyons]

25. Wright is incredibly narcissistic

to do what he is doing. I don't support Obama, but as a democrat, it's pretty hard to believe Wright would go on the road this way.

[rateyes]

27. If Hillary gets the nomination at this point, and this is seen as the

reason for it, the Democrats can kiss the White House goodbye. She will lose almost everywhere. Take that to the bank.

[IowaGirl]

29. Part of me feels sorry for Obama, but.....

he did sit still for this guy for 20 years and those chickens are coming home to roost now. Rev. Wright does say some things that are true but in such an arrogant, twisted way. To ridicule JFK's most famous quote was really unnecessary. At least pick something else he said to illustrate his accent. Besides, having worked with children with reading problems, it is critical to help children learn to enunciate their letters to improve their reading skills. Thanks for this post. :kick:

[rodeodance]

35. thanks, you said that very nice--I agree.

[Kolesar]

30. You did not tell us who wrote this steaming heap of ungulate dung

do share

[MethuenProgressive]

36. See the OP.

And read it.

[Kolesar]

48. Pathetic. But that is what I have become accustomed to from Mr. Metheun

The name is not in the o/p http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5715832&mesg_id=5715832

[MethuenProgressive]

50. Link and citation right in the OP: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com MSNBC first read

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com />MSNBC first read
That's MSNBC.

Which brain half, as Pastor Wright puts it, are you using?

[kwassa]

52. Why aren't you reponsible enough to do it in the OP?

You clearly like to post without attribution.

This opinion piece is pretty unispired.

[MethuenProgressive]

54. It is in the OP. With a link to it, w/ "MSNBC first read" & "That's MSNBC" as citations.

Lordy, maybe Wright's right about that half brain thing...

[kwassa]

75. That is not attribution, that is a link. Attribution is who WROTE it,

not just the publication.

[MethuenProgressive]

81. Are you OK?

Should you call a friend?

[kwassa]

82. Avoid much?

Your reply completely avoided my point, of course.

[MethuenProgressive]

83. Dear, here on DU links are most commonly supplied without an author's name.

Welcome to DU!

[kwassa]

85. According to who?

and I am not your "dear".

Why should I care about any piece when I have no idea who wrote it?

Attribution is link, title of the piece, name of author, date of publication. Everything else is just irresponsible.

This lack of attribution is why so much right-wing crap gets anonymously posting here masquerading as material that should be taken seriously.

[MethuenProgressive]

91. Clam down, dear.

The OP has a link, says "MSNBC First Read", and "This is MSNBC".
Now look at post 89 in this thread, and go cry about "lack of attribution" to that poster for a while.
But you won't. Because that poster is an Obama follower, like you.
You bore me.

[Babel_17]

37. "First thoughts: You're so vain..."

First thoughts: You're so vain...
Posted: Monday, April 28, 2008 9:12 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts, 2008

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro

[oasis]

38. Wright probably believes this is his chance to become the Diogenes of the 21st century.

In his mind he's got "star quality".:crazy:

[redqueen]

39. You're comparing Wright to those criminals?

Telling.

[MyNameGoesHere]

40. Wright needs to be sequestered like Obama's grandmother.

Not about w<R>ight and his message. It is just not helping at this point. The people that this will help are the ones that already dislike Obama and w<R>ight.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bensthename]

42. Will they now poll people on Wright's electability? MSM acts like he is the candidate..

People are confused when voting and not seeing Wright as a voting option. MSM is so scared of Obama they would rather talk about Wright.. Makes since, since McCain is going to let the millionaire MSM people keep their Bush tax cuts..

[2rth2pwr]

57. Wright did say something about being Obama's VP. Who knows?

[Bensthename]

60. lol, yah he did..

That guy is smart and funny but should have waited till the campaigning was over before coming out to clear his name..

[book_worm]

43. No he isn't. I know you cling to that hope but Obama will be the nominee

and you know if Hillary is the nominee the GOP will do all they can to destroy her too and they have years of research at their disposal.

[Tellurian]

47. Rev Wright is to be Obama's Vice President..

He slips and says he is to be Obama's Vice President, IF he receives the nomination..

It's all over msnbc in their video clips..

Forgetaboutit!

[otohara]

49. MSNBC is DIVISIVE

the media is what's tearing us apart.

[MethuenProgressive]

51. Keith Obamamann is MSNBC's RockStar!

The media loves BO.
They hate Hillary, always have, always will.

[otohara]

64. Not Since PA

MSNBC has flipped to keep this a horse race till the end. Ratings are up and they are slapping each other on the back. Tweety can't sing enough praise about his hometown girl Hillary - even though she didn't grow up in PA.

[Tellurian]

53. Wright stating is to be Obama's VP

is from Wright's mouth to God's ears!

They are playing the clip over and over again. If you get msnbc you can hear it for yourself.

That not being divisive. That is "scoop" news reportage!

http://www.taylormarsh.com/images2/hillaryclinton_wideweb__470x308,02.jpg

Vote for Hillary Clinton as the Dem Nominee!

[otohara]

65. Posting That Poll Question

is divisive -

[MethuenProgressive]

66. The poll question is based on Wright's recent sermon "I'm Descriptive not Divisive"

Looks like the public is calling BS on that one.

[otohara]

67. Do You Honestly Think

57,000 people watched the speech? I haven't seen it, and I pay attention to this shit - no it's white vs black, hillary vs obama supporters, red vs blue.

[MethuenProgressive]

71. You've heard of reporting? Where news events are covered and then distributed to larger audiences?

You say you havn't watched "the" speech. What makes you think voters are basing their choice on his latest PR effort to reinvent himself?

[otohara]

72. Sound Bytes

they are reacting to sound bytes, not the speech. which is what you said in your post.

[MethuenProgressive]

76. So... you've heard every word in every speech Clinton and or Obama has given?

Tell us how.

[otohara]

78. Silly Question

but I will go listen to Wright's speech when I find it on the web.

[Tellurian]

69. That poll question is on their website..

if the polling was pro-Wright, you would be jumping up and down on the couch, like Tom Cruise!

[otohara]

74. I Didn't Vote

it's divisive - this country is so divided right now, I'm not going to feed into the media's bullshit, but I'm sure you voted in it.

[Tellurian]

79. I didn't either.. because I really didn't understand the question..

[Blomst]

98. Wright is not destroying Obama.

The media pundits with their constant rants about Wright destroying Obama are the ones attempting to destroy Obama with this carefully planted meme. Why are we so gullible as to buy into this cleverly created manipulation of our minds, in such huge numbers? Have we learned nothing during the last eight years?

[splat]

56. If he didn't say it, the media couldn't show the clip

"How dare they report what he said?" is a weak defense.

[Yossariant]

58. k and r

[Better Believe It]

73. Blame Hillary, Not Rev. Wright!

"Pastor Wright is handing the nomination to Hillary. And that's a good thing, because if Obama gets the nom, Pastor Wright would be handing the Whitehouse to McCain."

Sounds like the latest Hillary campaign talking point and spin!

[Tellurian]

80. Theres no comparison of the two camapigns..

Hillary's campaign is positive and always moving forward. Obama has so many teams doing oppo research, creating oppo spin, quick attack response teams, smear campaigns against Hillary...it's mind boggling..

[Yossariant]

86. Your post sounds like George Bush. Obama reminds me of Bush so it's no surprise, I suppose.

Wah! Blame Clinton.

[LulaMay]

77. It's like Butteh!

[MethuenProgressive]

84. Did I forget the buttah?

Lobstah!!

[QueenOfCalifornia]

87. PIRATES!

[ProSense]

89. Hillary and her strategists are now wishing Wright would go away.

Wonder why?

SENATOR CLINTON: I was asked a personal question, Charlie, and I gave a personal answer. Obviously, one's choice of church and pastor is rooted in what one believes is what you're seeking in church and what kind of, you know, fellowship you find in church. But I have to say that, you know, for Pastor Wright to have given his first sermon after 9/11 and to have blamed the United States for the attack, which happened in my city of New York, would have been intolerable for me. And therefore I would have not been able to stay in the church, and maybe it's, you know, just, again, a personal reflection that regardless of whatever good is going on -- and I have no reason to doubt that a lot of good things were happening in that church -- you get to choose your pastor. You don't choose your family, but you get to choose your pastor. And when asked a direct question, I said I would not have stayed in the church.

<...>

SENATOR CLINTON: Well, I think, in addition to the questions about Reverend Wright and what he said and when he said it, and for whatever reason he might have said these things, there were so many different variations on the explanations that we heard. And it is something that I think deserves further exploration, because clearly what we've got to figure out is how we're going to bring people together in a way that overcomes the anger, overcomes the divisiveness and whatever bitterness there may be out there.

It is clear that, as leaders, we have a choice who we associate with and who we apparently give some kind of seal of approval to. And I think that it wasn't only the specific remarks, but some of the relationships with Reverend Farrakhan, with giving the church bulletin over to the leader of Hamas to put a message in. You know, these are problems, and they raise questions in people's minds.

And so this is a legitimate area, as everything is when we run for office, for people to be exploring and trying to find answers.

link

Hillary Clinton is deeply, grievously, morally wrong

[MethuenProgressive]

92. Desperate for attention, you keep spamming threads with links to your own posts.

Take the hint. If no one but the o-mail loop cared about your thread the first time, why would anyone else care the third, or fourth, or fifth time you spammed links to it into other threads?

[tekisui]

90. It's not selfish. He is defending his name and is a respected man

he is invited to events and to speak.

Oh yeah, he's not running for anything or from anything.

And he doesn't speak for anyone but himself.

It speaks to Obama's confidence and character that he doesn't "shut him up".

[MethuenProgressive]

93. USA Today -- "Analysis: Wright puts Obama on defensive"

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-04-28-wright-analysis_N.htm

WASHINGTON — If the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. thought he was unfairly caught in sound-bite purgatory before, his appearance Monday at the National Press Club gave doubters and critics plenty to chew on in the coming days.
And in the process, he put his one-time congregant, Sen. Barack Obama, further on the political defensive.

Now, as Obama struggles to close out his party's nomination, his message of hope and reconciliation on race and politics has a competing framework, that of the far less conciliatory rhetoric of Wright.

Wright, for example, did not back down, for instance, from assertions that the United States government was responsible for introducing AIDS into the black community.

"Is he (Wright) working for the Hillary campaign?" asked conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, who blogged from the Press Club event. "Is he angry at Barack Obama? Because he has got to know this is killing his spiritual protigi's campaign."

Wright's re-emergence comes at a precipitous point for Obama.

Obama's campaign tried to pre-empt Wright's appearance, sending out surrogates like chief strategist David Axelrod, who complained about the amount of media attention on Wright.

[Maddy McCall]

94. Always appreciate your insight, MethuenProg!

You're a good DUer. :hug:

[jalynn]

95. Great post

You're one of my favorite posters here on DU, never notice you attacking others like some on here do. Others need to follow your lead. Keep up the great posting. K & R :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Fermezlabush]

96. Thanks! Your posts are always relevant and to the point.

You are one of my favorite posters on DU - always rational, never hostile or over the top. Keep it up!

[rodeodance]

97. Hey MP--even when HBO fans name call -you treat them with respect--and give

the facts or questions.

Thanks for he post