Obama needs to renounce & disown Wright NOW

[nyccitizen]

Local news in NYC just came on. They led by playing two clips of Wright from this morning: the one where he blames the gov't for AIDS and the one where he said America was responsible for 9/11. They didn't play any contextual clips, obviously. But the majority of Americans don't study the issues, they just hear the soundbites.

This could not come at a worse time. Obama could have put Hillary away next Tuesday by winning Indiana but if this steamrolls he could lose IN by nearly 10 points and be held to single digits in NC. That would be a disaster and would really give the SD second thoughts. Then this thing would definitely continue on to June 3rd, and Hillary has the overall advantage in the upcoming states. Even though she has an insurmountable delegate deficit, if this Wright thing snowballs it will give validity to her argument that she is better GE candidate AND will give SD an excuse to abandon Obama without it looking like they're negating the will of the voters -- after all, all those states in February didn't hear any of Wright's craziness before they voted. And if Obama doesn't keep these upcoming contests close he will lose the popular vote.

Now that it is clear Wright only cares about himself, and that he has no concern for Obama's campaign, Obama shouldn't hesitate to renounce & disown him entirely. He needs to do it strongly and put this behind him before it ruins him. Hillary doesn't even need to hammer it in, Wright is doing all the work for her.

Barack ignores this at his own peril. It could very easily become his Willie Horton. Turning off the cable news won't make it go away. It has hit the mainstream.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. He's already said Wright doesn't speak for him.

What is he supposed to do, strangle him live on Fox News?

[DJ13]

6. Well...........

.......can I have a moment to think about that?

[nyccitizen]

37. No, but he can say...

"In light of recent comments made by Reverend Wright is has become clear that we have increasingly differing and irreconcilable political beliefs, and although I stand by my Church, I cannot stand by these divisive statements made by someone who is not supposed to bring politics to the pulpit.

[msallied]

88. Wow! I think he pretty much said that!

[LakeSamish706]

3. If the fucking MSM would get off of this story there would not be a problem....

This has nothing to do with Barack Obama or Rev. Wright, its got to do what the fucked up MSM who choses to report on and in trying there damnedest to tear down both of these Black men.

[nyccitizen]

9. Yeah, but here's the problem -- they won't!

[LakeSamish706]

11. Well to fucking bad then, say hello to President John McCain... n/t

[sueragingroz]

27. I prefer President Hillary Clinton myself :)

[LakeSamish706]

41. Whatever..... Not much difference from where I sit. n/t

[DemVet]

78. Me too. Besides this Wright controversy is legitimate news.

I mean, how dare they for broadcasting an issue that affects the CHARACTER of one of our candidates, right?

[facepalm]

80. president mccain?

What, is Hillary chopped liver now? If Obama and friends are dead set on ruining his candidacy by August, it isn't like we have nothing to go on.

I thought we had a whole second election after the primary to elect the president. Or in Florida's case, a first election.

[tridim]

22. .. At THEIR own peril.

Fuck the media.

[BzaDem]

72. I'm sure they are so afraid of you.

[tridim]

85. They're terrified of the Internet.

[movonne]

44. This is again the media's Dean scream...we really are a corporate

owned country...this is so sad to me...I thought we might have a chance to change things in this country and that is exactly what the media wants...business as usual ...war, milking the country dry..hillary won't be much better than mc cain...this country is screwed...

[splat]

56. When Wright goes to the National PRESS Club, MSM has to report it

It's in their room.

[lligrd]

4. Renounce And Disown? I Thought He Was Supposed To

repudiate him. I didn't realize he owned Wright to begin with.

[nyccitizen]

5. I'm a supporter & a donator. I help fund his campaign. And I vote.

But that said, I am telling this board what I think he should do, not the candidate himself. It's not like he's trolling these boards.

[PseudoIntellect]

7. He can't do that with a straight face.

He can't do it honestly, and he can't do it with a crowd who knows for a fact that he went to that church for 20 years and described the former pastor Wright as his mentor in his book.

[rwheeler31]

8. It's poop

[jackson_dem]

10. Too little, too late

Besides, how do you truly repudiate what you endorsed for two decades? Even Wright himself is all but saying Obama is lying to protect his political prospects in his statements on Wright.

[nyccitizen]

12. Attending his church doesn't mean "endorsing" his views.

I've been going to the same temple since age 4 but that doesn't mean I "endorse" my rabbi's political beliefs.

[democrattotheend]

16. My former rabbi hired a hit man to kill his wife

And my parents still belong to that synagogue. Does that make us murderers?

[jackson_dem]

30. That won't fly with voters

Most voters would leave a house of worship where the leader made racist statements or said "God damn America" and said 9/11 was American's "chickens coming home to roost." Only on the netroots is this analogous to disagreeing with a priest on condom use.

[RC]

43. When Wright said that, he was quoting a white diplomat.

Those were the diplomat's words, not Rev. Wright's words. But they are true never the less. Pay attention. Or is reality a foreign concept for you?

[jackson_dem]

47. Typical ignorance. 99% of voters will never know that

Kerry told the truth when he said he voted for a bill before a voted against it, Gore never said he invented the internet, Dukakis wasn't unpatriotic, Edwards wasn't a phony, Dean never "screamed", etc. Few people knew the facts about these things. Obama supporters don't understand politics. No wonder they think Obama can win. :scared:

[nyccitizen]

50. Did you listen to the WHOLE quote...

He clarified that he was quoting a white diplomat, but then went on to further clarify that he AGREED with it!

[RC]

52. Yes. I listen to the whole thing. I agree also.

[nyccitizen]

55. Well, the majority of the country disagrees with you...

including Democrats.

[RC]

76. Which is why this country and the world is in this mess. Most people

in this country are clueless as to the reality of the situation.

[TexasObserver]

13. I have a better idea.

denounce, disown, and ignore you

so long, farewell, yada yada yada ...

[2rth2pwr]

14. I'm serious here, how does context help with those two issues?

[nyccitizen]

17. Wright's opinions are a lot less controversial when...

...not reduced to their most controversial soundbite. But that is what the American public is hearing and we ignore that fact at our own peril.

[libbygurl]

38. Funny thing is, Wright himself has been re-emphasising those controversial points

- in his current speaking tour, and he is wholly unapologetic about them, even arrogant about the rightness of his views. He's digging in his heels, and taking down BO with him. Not good at all for BO.

[scarletwoman]

15. I don't care what Obama does. But I certainly will NOT dissavow Wright EVER!

I think it's a damn shame that you think elections are more important than TRUTH.

sw

[nyccitizen]

21. Frankly, a lot of Wright's opinions are radical...

Not all of the ones that have been given airtime by the MSM, but stuff like the AIDS thing is utter nonsense.

And while there may be truth to the fact that American foreign policy helped foster militant Islam, saying that we "are to blame" for 9/11 is a gross oversimplification of the facts AND poison to Obama's campaign.

[newmajority]

42. "stuff like the AIDS thing is utter nonsense."

Do some research. You might be surprised what you find. And yeah, that goes for 9/11 too.

[nyccitizen]

48. Spare me.

I know the US gov't has been behind some bad medical experiments (Tuskegee, etc) but the history of HIV/AIDS is well established. Reagan may have ignored it in the 80's to deadly effect but the US didn't create it.

And we may have inflamed Islamofascism through our support for Israel but that's like saying that Pearl Harbor was our fault for threatening Japanese imperial interests.

The American people are good people. Saying the government is responsible for bad things is one thing, but when you say "America" and don't specify an administration, you aren't blaming the government you are blaming the citizens.

[newmajority]

70. Islamofascism?

You just outed yourself. Enjoy the pizza!.

[scarletwoman]

45. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Sorry. I TOTALLY agree with Wright. Unconditionally.

Of course, *I'm* a radical, too.

And I don't give a shit about Obama's campaign. My only interest in Obama comes from the fact that he's not that utterly odious DLCer, Clinton.

sw

[RC]

49. 9/11 is blow-back. We also trained and supplied Osama bin Laden.

Then abandoned him without so much as a thank you when Russia left Afghanistan.

[nyccitizen]

54. Oh, I get it.

If we had sent them a nice cake as a thank-you for repelling Russia, Osama bin Laden would be a flag-waiving, Israel-loving, democracy-promoting Patriot.

The mujahadeen accepted our help because we had a common enemy, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend. They had no love for the USA then either.

[RC]

77. You obviously know nothing of the history of the middle east

and America's role in it. It is not pretty.

[wmbrew0206]

84. Do some research and you'll find out how incorrect your statement is...

The US armed a lot of militia groups during the eighties, but UBL's wasn't one of them.

First off, they hated Westerner's and threatened to kill them when in encountered (see Peter Bergen's book, "The Bin Laden I knew).

Second, Bin Laden was more of a recruiter and supplier for most of the War. We worked for Azzam who's effort was to raise awareness, money and recruits for the war. (Bergen's The "Bin Laden I knew"; "The Looming Tower"; "Ghost Wars")

Third, by the time Bin Laden started to take an active role in combat, his forces were looked down on by the six to seven major Afghan War Lords, and they weren't giving him any support. The only way Bin Laden would have received US funds or training was from one of these Warlords. Bin Laden broke with Azzam over how to best employ Arabs coming to fight. The Afghans looked down at these recruits and didn't want them fighting with them because they were unpredictable and poorly trained. The Afghans really justed wanted the money from the Arabic states. Bin Laden wanted the Arabs to fight as their own unit. Bin Laden's force was insignificant compared to Massoud or Hekmetyer's forces, so there was no way they could have gotten US funding or training. (Ghost Wars, Looming Tower)

I spent a lot of time do research because initially I thought the same thing: The US had to have given Bin Laden money and training during the Afghan War. To this day, I cannot find one credible account where Bin Laden said that he or his troops received US funds or training. (He did later say that US money and arms helped win the war). The fact is that Bin Laden was a very, very minor figure back than when compared to Massoud or the other Warlords and the CIA wouldn't have wasted their money on him and his Arabs.

[geek tragedy]

79. The US government invented AIDS---that kind of truth?

FUCK Jeremiah Wright.

[scarletwoman]

86. Well, I'm sure you'll be thrilled to know that I have never entirely discounted that theory.

It's not like the U.S. government isn't capable of doing that kind of shit.

I have no problem with people who see that theory as plausible, since I see it as plausible as well.

I also have no problem with offending your delicate sensibilities.

sw

[DemGa]

18. Obama already threw Wright under the bus

Now he's suffering the pastor's revenge. How much more can Obama repudiate his mentor and still claim ignorance of his views? Believe it -- This will only get MUCH uglier.

"Had the reverend not retired and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I believe is the greatness of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn't have felt comfortable staying there at the church," the senator said."

[nyccitizen]

28. He also said...

He would not denounce the man. And the man pays him back by gleefully mugging for the cameras and repeating his most notorious soundbites the week before two crucial, and potentially game-changing primaries.

[ret5hd]

19. Your deep and sincere concern is duly noted.

I am sure your upper lip is quivering as you type.

I hope you don't succumb to "the vapors" or have a fit of apoplexy!

Please take time to be kind to yourself and use a kleenex to dab the tear from your eye and the beads of sweat from your forehead!

oh yeah, i almost forgot:

:rofl:

[nyccitizen]

24. Unsure from your e-mail who you support, but...

Some of us Obama supporters would prefer the last year not be wasted because our candidate failed to take seriously how negatively this is affecting his campaign.

[ret5hd]

29. what e-mail??? i've never e-mailed you!

[nyccitizen]

32. Sorry, I meant your post. Typing too fast! nt.

[DearAbby]

20. Maybe a severed horse head

in the bed?

[Binka]

36. Maybe a severed elephant head?

Isn't the CONCERN shown here very enlightening?

[DearAbby]

69. Very.......nt

[grassfed]

23. Wright is a sickening pompous asshole

Makes me, Obama supporter, wonder how Obama could stomach Wright's gross, asinine pontificating. Not the anti-Us stuff just his overall obnoxiousness. Huge turnoff.

[nyccitizen]

33. Yeah. His mugging for the camera was embarrassing...

Not just for Obama but for himself.

It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

[sueragingroz]

25. Obama has just been thrown under his own bus

He can't do a damned thing about it either.

Because Wright is saying over and over again that BO's repudiations are "just politics".

He's insinuating that no matter what Obama says, he really believes in Wright's teachings.

He's done.

Like dinner.

Put a Fork in him.

and all that.

[Bluzmann57]

26. Answer to your subject line

Bullshit. Obama certainly should not "renounce and disown" Reverend Wright. Mr. Wright is an American citizen and if he can't say what he wants, then who among us can?

[nyccitizen]

31. No one said anything about restricting his free speech

But Obama is as free to publicly disagree with Wright as Wright is to spout his nonsense.

[Bluzmann57]

51. But why should Obama "denounce" Wright?

Wright has said nothing wrong. Unless telling the truth is now wrong. Besides, Obama has already commented ad nauseum on the Wright "issue". It's time to manufacture another controversy, er, bring up another issue.

[nyccitizen]

60. Some of what he says is true, but the things that the MSM highlights....

...the things that the mainstream voters hear, are the crazy rants like "America deserved 9/11" and "America created AIDS".

[RC]

34. This is what happens when people speak the truth in America now a days.

Not you, The Reverend Wright.

Our government is a criminal fascist government. Mr. Wright had the courage to publicly state the truth, the obvious truth, about some of the things our government has done. For that he is being vilified.

[BklnDem75]

35. He doesn't need to do anything

Wright isn't going to go into hiding simply because the media wants to stick a camera in his face. Did Wright say anything over the weekend that is considered controversial? This is simply the msm on panic mode, throwing all types of crap against the wall and hoping any of it sticks. Problem is, this is old shit.

[nyccitizen]

40. Talk to me next Wednesday about whether it's old shit...

When it helps carry Indiana for Clinton, we'll see if it's old shit.

[BklnDem75]

68. If Obama loses Indiana...

it would have more to do with the msm trying their best to get their girl in. Did you actually hear Wright speak over the weekend?

[frickaline]

39. I agree - Wright has basically called Obama a liar, he can't let that go

Wright stated that Obama distanced himself only because 'as a politician he said what he had to say'. He pretty much denied that Obama's remarks about were based in truth but rather in political need. Obama needs to set the record straight and make it clear that the views of Wright aren't the views of Obama regardless of what Wright might say.

He also needs to denounce the sentiment of these soundbites. To think that working class white people are all going to seek out the full sermons of Wright is just ridiculous, and even if they did, there's still several extremely radical statements in those that need to be addressed.

[anigbrowl]

46. I thought it hit the mainstream several weeks ago...

With the oncoming digital TV revolution, I figure it's only a matter of time before there's a TV channel entirely devoted to playing flammatory clips of Wright all the time. It could be called the 'God Damn America' channel and you can just have it playing in the background, sort like the log fire or goldfish, sort of like a screen saver.

Just flip over to the channel any time you need to build up your emotional fires in advance of a stressful situation, like confronting your bank manager or calling your health insurance provider, assuming you have one. After a few minutes of watching the loop repeat, you'll feel righteously angry (whether you agree with him or not - it really doesn't matter) and ready to go kick some ass.

[zulchzulu]

53. Obama has already made it well known he doesn't agree with Wright on many of his statements

If people are SUCKERS for the MSM game where they are trying to tie Jeremiah Wright to Barack Obama by pure subjective inference, then they are stupid idiots.

The people that are making Wright an issue are those that are following him around and broadcasting his speeches. Did they broadcast the Pope as much when he was in town? No.

Is Reverend Wright supposed to shut up and not preach or attend conventions and speaking engagements? Should he not sell his book?

Barack Obama has stated consistently and very repeatedly that he doesn't agree with everything Wright says. Let me repeat that: Barack Obama has stated consistently and very repeatedly that he doesn't agree with everything Wright says.

If Hillary Clinton and John McCain want to continue to be ugly, shallow opportunists and make it an issue, I say let them. It will come back to haunt them. As for Obama having to "disown" Wright, that plays right into the bullshit.

As someone who has been out in the street doing Obama the last couple Saturdays with many people stopping by, this imaginary "trainwreck" of Reverend Wright is seen as utter nonsense. People aren't as stupid as the MSM thinks they are.

[nyccitizen]

57. You give people too much credit.

They hear the soundbites and make up their minds. But we'll revisit next Wednesday and see how much this is "utter nonsense".

[zulchzulu]

61. OK, you win. Obama should shoot Wright in the head in a town hall meeting

You happy now?

:crazy:

Seriously though, people who want to make it an issue are either desperate Hillary supporters, knuckleheaded McSame supporters or people too stupid to vote anyway. The whole matter that somehow what Wright says is somehow what Obama thinks is utter complete nonsense.

Someone who supports Obama is not being swayed by the provocations and intellectual dishonesty that mold and hold the Wright "issue" together.

If you know anything about how news cycles work, this "story" will become tiresome soon. For Obama to make some incendiary comment about Wright would only keep the story alive even longer.

[nyccitizen]

65. Actually, no one is better with words than Obama, so...

...using some of those should suffice.

[jody]

58. It's to late for BO to denounce Wright just as it is to late for BO to become pro-gun. He will be

judged by his past association and statements.

[stillcool]

63. let's hope so.

[stillcool]

59. Bullshit! ..

Barack Obama is Barack Obama. Period.

[nyccitizen]

62. Start being realistic. I support him. But this IS hurting him. nt

[stillcool]

71. I can't seem

to understand why so many people have a problem differentiating Senator Obama from Reverend Wright. Perhaps it is because I myself don't partake of the televised news, I miss all the manufactured 'outrage'. It seems DU is not only and echo chamber, but it's an echo chamber with loud speakers. My God. Is there no logic left in this world? Do people believe this stuff....from the people that lied us into war?

[high density]

81. It's only hurting Obama to idiots that think Wright and Obama are the same person

The "news" can play up their own outrage about Wright if they want, but that doesn't mean you and I have to be outraged about it as well.

I hope the press sticks on this so much that people turn their damn TV sets off. Gas prices are killing you? Oh well, here's reporting on some pastor from Chicago. Inflation eating up any wage increases? Here's more shit on that guy from Chicago. Can't pay the rent this month? Shut up and listen to this latest crazy thing that the pastor said!

[Texas Hill Country]

64. I fear its too late.... the blood has finally hit the water.

[Beregond2]

66. Oh for Christ's sake.

All this was dealt with weeks ago. Let it go.

[nyccitizen]

67. I'll let it go when it stops hurting his candidacy. nt

[Apollo11]

73. Strongly agree

This week is a crucial test for Obama.

He cannot continue to fudge his relationship with Wright and still expect to be on the Democratic ticket in the Fall.

And then there is the question of why Barack and Michelle exposed their children to this preacher on a weekly basis.

I think it is still possible for Obama to get past this, but only if he has the guts to disown Wright.

[Bluebear]

74. He can no more disown Wright than he can disown the black community.

That is what Obama said in his momentous race speech, so he can't "disown" Wright now without seeming disingenuous. He truly is caught between a rock and a hard place on this one.

[Tribetime]

83. Wright's latest statements give Obama to chance to respond

stronger, if he so chooses. Had Wright not went on this tour I would have agreed with you, but now the ball is back in Obama's court.

[shaniqua6392]

75. Obama tried to not make his candidacy about race

and it has become totally about race. This story is all over the cable media. This story is all over in our Detroit area local media. This is a disaster for Obama and it comes at a very bad time. The chance of an African American becoming the first U.S. President is about to be done in by one of his own.

[high density]

82. Very bad time... Late April??

This seems to be a good time to flush some of this rust out of the pipes. Obama has the nomination whether Clinton and the media notices it or not, and the general election is some six months away now. That is an eternity in political terms. Six months ago the Clinton inevitability train was still rolling down the tracks.

[LTR]

87. I thought he already did

What do want him to do? Buy you a pony?