Obama talks to Keith Olbermann about Rev. Wright

[Eric J in MN]

Run time: 07:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk3Rra3CgMA   Posted on YouTube: March 15, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: March 15, 2008 By DU Member: Eric J in MN Views on DU: 5595

 
March 14, 2008 "Countdown."

[Enrique]

1. i'm impressed

he's in a tough spot, but Obama's response makes me think he's going to be ok.

[Tellurian]

2. Yeah,Obama's almost as good as Ollie North!

I'm impressed.

[Texifornia]

4. It depends on what the meaning of is is n/t

[Dollface]

84. Great. This post has been taken over by News Max readers.

[stevenleser]

113. Yes, a lot of these comments belong on Free Republic, not here at DU

But, as I said, it helps me know who I should add to my ignore list.

[stevenleser]

112. Another one. Bye

[Voice for Peace]

5. LOL don't you mean Bill Clinton?

[Tellurian]

8. Bill Clinton, mean?

nah, who told you that?

[SleeplessinSoCal]

27. Looking at that picture... You can see the charade in front of you.

She'd better find a way to bow out soon. She could still be leader of the Senate. And she'd have the balls Harry's lost.

[Submariner]

46. It's too bad Hillary can't take care of herself and run on her own

she didn't divorce the pig who violated her trust and embarrassed her in front of the entire planet. No class.

Raised republican, and republican-lite now.

[susankh4]

48. What a sweet, sweet photo!

Thanks!

[mod mom]

62. AH the King & Queen of Triangulation & Parsing. What a picture perfect marriage

:sarcasm: on the marriage-IT'S ALL ABOUT POWER WITH THEM.

[blogslut]

26. Hillary 44 is still serving up corrupted code

When is the webmaster going to fix that?

[texshelters]

33. Ollie North

Where the heck did that come from. First he's the big bad black friend of Louis Farrakhan, then he's the Democratic Karl Rove, and now he's like Ollie North? Can you just decide who Obama really is for me so I can make up my mind!?

Thanks for the help and accuracy of your comparisons.

Tex Shelters

[TankLV]

81. the truth HURTS, doesn't it...

ALL the comparisons work just fine, thanks - and fit PERFECTLY...

HA!

you obamababies must be dizzy with all the spinning you're doing!

[texshelters]

92. Name calling and false comparisons are always used when someone doesn't have a real argument to make

That's why your comparison doesn't hurt at all. It's just BS pulled out of the air.

I could say Clinton is like Lizzie Borden or Ann Coulter. Does that make it true?

Tex Shelters

[stevenleser]

115. Another ignore....

Bye

[stevenleser]

114. I think a lot of people are showing their true colors as closeted Freepers...

The way a lot of these people attack Obama is unbelievable.

[ksquire]

41. EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR HILLARY!!!

[bowens43]

49. oh another newbie for hillary how cute!!!

how much does campaign pay you to come here and make ridculous posts?

[stevenleser]

116. Excellent News! For my ignore list!

Bye

[TankLV]

80. Almost as good as bush* and all the repukes at TRYING to spin away the TRUTH...

First with mcglurkin, then with rezko, and then with all the others and now with THIS...

yeah - he's attended and PERSONALLY been involved with this asshole HIS WHOLE ADULT LIFE by HIS CHOICE - and he "never knew" or heard any of this ASSHOLE PREACHER'S statements - yeah - and I've got a bridge to sell you on some swamp land...

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

86. Are you a Christian, and who would Jesus bomb?

since you are setting standards for preachers, what standards do you meet?

Preachers aren't campaign managers except in George Bush's case.

[greyghost]

97. The next step for the Repugs, catching him in a bold face lie.

Game, set, match.

[ihavenobias]

90. I've noticed your posts rarely have much content. They're comprised of short insults and jabs

Any way, carry on.

And don't forget, "pastorgate" is a non-issue: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5083427&mesg_id=5083427

[stevenleser]

111. The great thing about this thread is it helps me figure out who to add to my ignore list.

Bye

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Thank you

We need people on each side acknowledging the other candidate right now.

Thank you very much for coming forward with your expression of appreciation.

[Lena inRI]

24. I'm impressed with you, Enrique . . .

for hearing Obama with an unbiased mind as a Hillary supporter.

I heard him the same way as an Obama supporter.

Maybe this latest hissy spat will be the wake-up call for both feuding sides to surrender to higher ground re-established by Obama's candid response tonight.

I'm looking forward to reuniting with Hillary camp Democrats, the sooner the better.

Long to redirect all our hissy fits at the Republican machine.

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[Johnny Battleground]

43. This is far beyond hissy spat...

... This is a bomb.
It's out there beyond Obama's or Hillary's control now.

Obama spent 20-years with this guy and it doesn't look good.
How can it?
Americans won't vote for someone associated with this regardless of gender or race.
Obama's cited him in his books.
Called him his spiritual leader.
Hasn't condemned him, because doing so would be a condemnation of 20-years of following.
Oabama's church gave an award to Farrakhan.
Wright is not Martin Luther King.
Would you, if you are white, feel comfortable in that house of God?

Hillary is break dancing.

[Lena inRI]

44. Yep, Hillary by default!

Because she certainly couldn't win by her own record alone. . .

the big scandal "suddenly discovered" before PA primary after all these months.

Like where have you been all these months suddenly to post on DU?

Again, Enrique, not you Johnny Battleground, impresses me with his unbiased acceptance of Obama's position on Pastor Wright.

[stevenleser]

117. Nah, this time next week, most of the country doesnt even remember this...

... by the time Pennsylvania votes, less than one out of 300 people even remember it enough to have it affect their vote.

[Voice for Peace]

3. Very well done. nt

[Evergreen Emerald]

6. notice how the media has Obama on to try to minimize damage

And with Clinton they join in the attacks.

[Tellurian]

9. It becomes more obvious every single night..it's same ole BS cover-up

people have to be tuning out to the blatant displays of favoritism and wondering why the media s covering for Obama. Subconsciously asking themselves, "What else is Obama hiding, he doesn't want us to see?"...

[NickMorgan]

17. Obvious

Sure it's obvious, if you assume, without any evidence, that he IS hiding something or is a pathological liar. On the other hand, if your opinion is shaped by carefully reviewing Senator Obama's record and all the things he has said and stood for, then it's perfectly obvious that he is nothing like Wright, never supported such sentiments, will never bring them into the political conversation and certainly will never lead the country on such views. Rather, what becomes obvious is that the media's fascination with this Wright video is only based on vague suspicions and guilt-by-association innuendo, behind which there is nothing to taint Obama's integrity. If you want to take a look at what Obama, not Wright, thinks about his country and race, watch this speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0x_TpDris&eurl= Of course, you can always say he was being disingenuous or whatever, but I actually think that anyone who watches this remarkable speech will feel moved and realize that such insights and moral positions can only come from the heart. If you can just set aside your loyalties to Clinton and the many, many unfair things that have happened to her and watch this video, I think you'll at least agree that Obama is not an angry, divisive race-figure.

Hillary, on the other hand, had a clear chance to speak out against Ferraro and make her position clearer than just "I disagree" and "it's regrettable," but "now Obama is playing the race card." She could have gone on TV with all the networks to explain how Ferraro's views were totally opposite of hers and have absolutely no place in civic discourse. Why didn't she? Inquiring minds want to know. To be clear, her failure to do so does not prove that she agrees with Ferraro, but it does answer the charge that this is somehow the media's fault. She can get as much media as she wants -- she's a celebrity.

[Tellurian]

22. Ferraro is not Hillary's spiritual advisor..

And "Barack Obama doesn't make me proud" if he has the audacity to sit in front of a bigot for 20 yrs and deny on National tv what this man stands for... "Hating America" and imparting those words on his Congregation.

[ingac70]

23. Ah, the "hating Amurika" crap...

:puke:

[NickMorgan]

25. So you watched the first 10 seconds of the video.

Obama says Wright never once uttered anything America-hating or racist like that during any sermon Obama attended. You can knee-jerk call that a lie, but that's not an argument; if anything, such reaction is no more than generalized disposition against Obama. And sometimes I have to check myself when listening to Clinton, whom I think has an incredible honesty problem. But I don't call "liar" just because I don't like her. I don't call anyone liar without evidence.

So where's the evidence? Show me where else Wright has spoken like this to a congregation. Show me one speech or one passage in Obama's writings where this ugliness gets reflected. I mean, either Wright was like this before, or he boiled over the top in what was billed his "final sermon" on the eve of old age and retirement. This is one cherry-picked speech from a man who's been at the pulpit for decades. Yes, it's ugly, it's racially divisive, and it has no place in public discourse, as Obama has conceded. But you're apparently willing to spin this into something like "oh, Obama must agree with this stuff because he sat through it for 20 years" even though you can't even point to one single hour in which he sat through anything like this.

Considering your failure to point to any evidence whatsoever that Obama shares any of these viewpoints, or even that Obama ever HEARD these viewpoints from Wright, I can only assume that you are making up your mind without any evidence because you are against Obama and are willing to believe bad things about him, even if they are not true, because it conveniently suits your choice of candidate. But please correct me if I'm wrong. Especially if I'm wrong about Obama. I don't want a president who thinks about race and justice like Wright does. I don't want a president who spews anger and anti-American sentiment. So I'm listening carefully if you have any real, factual indications that Obama could be such a president. Evidence, like the 35 minutes of speech I pointed to that Obama gave on healing racial divides, embracing those we disagree with, and forgiving the past. Not fantasy speculation.

But I'm not about to jump on the latest innuendo and guilt-by-association band wagon just because it scores a point for my candidate. I'm above that nonsense, and so should you be.

[texshelters]

35. Thanks, I was just about to go there...

When I say that you had beat me too it.

I keep hearing about "twenty years in the congregation".

Maybe we should bring out the 32 years married to Bill Clinton who said "I didn't inhale", I did not have sex with that woman", "it depends on what the definition of is is", "Politics gives guys so much power that they tend to behave badly around women. And I hope I never get into that.", "I'm someone who had a deep emotional attachment to 'Starsky and Hutch.'". Then there's the bombing of the medicine factory in Sudan, the "welfare to work", the bombing of Iraq, the bombing of Syria, etc.

So, is Senator Clinton responsible for all the mistakes her husband made who she has been married to for 32 years?

I think not. So why is Obama being tied unfairly to Reverend Wright?

Tex Shelters

[Evergreen Emerald]

71. come on. He has sat as part of his lively audience--and likely part of the

"Amen" crowd, for 20 years. Actions speak louder than words. And I don't believe Obama. Common sense tells me the opposite. As does Michelle's statments.

[NickMorgan]

121. Perpective

You can decide not to believe him if you want, but let's keep this in perspective. It's not as if Wright was hurling violent slurs based on racial animus. He was expressing a rather understandable anger shared by many blacks of his generation who grew up in an America that treated African Americans like shit. That is a fact and, an it is likewise a fact that the United States has only very recently (the 60s, for goodness sakes, one hundred years after Emancipation) make significant civil rights progress. Does that mean Wright's views are acceptable? No, it doesn't. But it certainly gives them a context and makes them far less nasty than, say, a white congregation spewing anti-black sentiment.

So you can sanctimoniously fault Obama for refusing to break ties with this pastor, and claim that any right-minded person would refuse to attend a church with such occasional associations to this kind of black anger, but don't pretend it tells us anything about Obama's character besides the fact that he forgives people their shortcomings and doesn't let anger and divisiveness overwhelm his own love for the country that gave him so much hope, and whose history he reads not as a helpless history of oppression and racial injustice, but as a history of social movement toward justice and beyond the divides that have plagued us from the founding of this country.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

87. Ferraro is a "silent whistle" for the racist Klinton Kampaign

we all know that. Well, maybe not the Archie Bunkers.

[TankLV]

82. don't mention that he has CHOSEN this asshole for almost his WHOLE ADULT LIFE

for all his important days - like his MARRIAGE, BAPTISMS OF ALL HIS CHILDREN, ETC...

nice TRY - unsuccessfully - at spinning...

just like with mcglurkin - it didn't work THAT time, and it won't work NOW...

[CaliforniaDreaming]

31. Tax returns? Dead people contributing to Hillary?

Lying about her White House papers? Shipping jobs offshore? Campaign manager who is a union buster? Bill fundraising through the dicator of Kazakhstan?

And everyone is concerned about some incendiary monologue that Obama's freaking pastor said?

Give me a f*cking break!

[hifalutin]

15. Something tells me

this love affair is going to get Spritzed!

[CaliforniaDreaming]

29. Um, no. Nice try though.

[Dr Fate]

110. LOL! So you are saying no one on TV would interview Hillary if she made herself available?

Is she really claiming that she is being turned down as far as TV show interviews?

I'm sure Keith Olberman would be glad to interview her if she wanted to be interviewed. I have not heard her say otherwise.

[stlsaxman]

7. I'm okay with this. n/t

[Tellurian]

10. What would Biden say?

[stlsaxman]

47. what the fuck does that matter? I'M okay with this.

btw- i thought Hillary was older than 44... :shrug:

[Yes We Did]

93. Didn't you hear? They're using Dick's doctor to make her young again.

[madfloridian]

11. Very impressive, very classy, very well done.

He has a way of saying things that impresses me more all the time.

I am getting sickened here at DU at the Hillary people who come here and do nothing but post attacks.

Well-done, sir.

[liberal texan]

13. very fair.

I like Olbermann style

he brings up contraversial issues but is not confrontational about it.

i also like Obama's answer. And the idea to use the pastor's statement to reflect about the feelings of many who grew up in segregation was a very good one.

[Cant trust em]

39. Keith didn't exactly push him on any of the questions, though.

He asked fair questions and Obama answered them. This was clearly a forum for Obama to clear the air. Olbermann gave him plenty of room to explain his thoughts.

[NM Independent]

14. Outstanding!

Bravo, Barack. I have total faith you can handle yourself against the 527's. Bring it.

[hwmnbn]

16. Obama has been spot on....

Every charge, slur, innuendo has been addressed and rebutted quickly and forcefully. There will be a whole bunch of shit from McCain in the general election. He can kick it back even better then.

He'll survive all the Clinton attacks, and he'll destroy McCain.

[Guava Jelly]

18. Thank you.

..K&R

[mitchtv]

19. Keith's audition for Press Secretary?

It was ok

[Guava Jelly]

20. ...

ummm no...

[cooolandrew]

21. Excellent video I think itdebunks the nonsense very nicely, thank you.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

28. a real stretch of credulity.....he LIED and you folks don't even care that he duped you

[CaliforniaDreaming]

30. Lied about what?

[texshelters]

36. How dare you!

He lied because I said so. You sexist pig!

Tex Shelters

[Buzz Clik]

55. Eh. They're just upset because this load of ca-ca didn't stick to the wall.

[stevenleser]

119. And with that one sentence, you summed up the entire Hillbot aspect of this...

Keep throwing shit against the wall until either something sticks or until it is hard enough to disprove so that it has an effect.

They are now completely crestfalling that this is well on its way to being yesterdays news, well in time for people to completely forget it weeks ahead of Pennsylvania's vote.

[NickMorgan]

37. Evidence?

Lied about what? Or are you all about making blanket accusations without any evidence? Do you really just assume that someone is lying without any good reason, and then make such charges in a public forum like this?

I know the experience: some muck raking journalist turns up a connection that makes Hillary look really bad, and I eagerly check out the article, thinking, Hey, finally she gets busted, but then on closer inspection, I see there's really nothing more than speculation and innuendo, and the only reason it got media attention was because it looks sensational from a distance. Then, being a reasonable person who cares more about the truth than winning, I have to tell my friends who also don't prefer Hillary that no, there was nothing to that story even though it looks bad, so stop repeating it like it'ss a fact.

If all you got is a blank accusation, then shame on you for caring more about winning than about the truth. But if you got evidence of lying, then let's hear it.

[JTFrog]

45. Ah yes, another Opposite Day in HillaryWorld.

Shit hits the fan about Ireland and SCHIP because Hillary lied about her experience so that automatically means the powers that be must push an alternate reality that it is Obama that is "duping" people.


Can't make this shit up? Yes They Can.

[ima_sinnic]

54. talk about someone not caring if s/he's duped! When is Hill going to

open her tax returns????


HMMM?

or don't you care about those either, along with all of her other crap that you've obviously overlooked.

[stevenleser]

118. LOL, your blinding hatred knows no bounds. So I'm bounding it, with my ignore list...

Bye

[The_Casual_Observer]

32. Obama making excuses again? So what else is new?

[texshelters]

38. Excuses?

You mean like, "If I knew then what I know now" excuses?

He's not excusing anything. He's explaining what he feels about something. He's talking about a situation.

Discussing something is the not the same thing as excusing a persons words or behavior.

Tex Shelters

[doublethink]

34. Barack Obama just crossed the threshold of being able to .....

withstand anything the 'smear machines' of either Clinton or mccain can throw at him. It's over. Game Over.

[texshelters]

40. He seems pretty capable to me.

We'll see come November.

Tex Shelters

[ForeignSpectator]

42. He can handle himself really well in about any situation I've seen...

I think he is very able to "fight" as some people doubt he can come November. Just because he doesn't get all exercised and aggressive, doesn't mean he can't "fight".
He may seem too "friendly" but he just does it with class, THAT is the difference.

[sellitman]

50. It's good this is out now

Hillary's nasty mud throwing campaign has done us all a favor.

She has vetted the Democratic candidate.

It's all out there and McCain is going to have nothing left to work with but their stances on issues.

He will loose on issues.

Thanks Hillary!

[From The Left]

51. Much More Succinct than Hillary Addressing Geraldine Ferraro

[barack the house]

52. Barack is half white remember he is disavowing for himself jsut as much too.

[susankh4]

53. Yada, Yada, Yada

Sure, Barack.... Politics as usual. Wait til you're caught to denounce and reject.....

K.O. owes an apology to the Clintons and to Ms. Ferraro after this suck up job.

[Buzz Clik]

56. The differences in the Ferraro/Wright situations are not subtle.

1. Ferraro used inflammatory, racist language to attack a Democratic candidate for President. In contrast, Wright used strong language to attack this country -- language that is used by a dozen DUers daily expressing exactly the same sentiment.

2. Obama immediately stepped forward to cut off the rhetoric and condemn the words; Wright is gone from the Obama campaign as we knew he would be because Obama dismisses all of those who make these types of errors (keep in mind, Wright did not attack Hillary Clinton). Clinton stepped up to denounce the Ferraro words in roughly the same timeframe as Obama, making this the very first time that a Clinton staffer was dismissed for making outrageous comments about Obama; Clinton actually stood behind and endorsed the previous attacks. Ferraro went on every news program that would give her air time to declare that she had no remorse for her comments and was quitting the campaign to allow her to repeat them endlessly.

Olbermann owes nobody an apology. Ferraro continues to carry the conservative banner in her attacks against Obama. Apologies are owed, but Ferraro won't be giving them any time soon.

[susankh4]

57. Wright made these comments months, if not years, ago....

He was not immediately "removed" from the campaign. In fact he was actually placed on the campaign AFTER many of them were put forth.

A really sad day for Dems, I am afraid. I'm embarrassed for my party of 32 years.

[susankh4]

58. And as for K.O.

Anything for ratings. Just like the rest of 'em. Might as well watch FOX.

[Buzz Clik]

60. Really. Have you ever confronted the dozens (hundreds?) of DUers who've made the same comments?

Please -- give me one link for one instance in which you expressed your outrage about the daily spew of unpatriotic rhetoric by DUers.

Just one.

[susankh4]

64. What are you talking about?

K.O. is a public figure. He gets paid alot of $$$ to do what he does. He is supposed to be at least half-way objective in his reporting. That is the bare minimum standard for a serious journalist. Keith has gone over the line, IMO... he has proven he'll do anything for ratings. He now lies with bedfellows like Hannity and Buchanan as far as I am concerned.

The folks on DU aren't paid to say what they say. They don't represent CNN or any news organization. I seriously doubt many of them have journalism degrees... and even if they do, they aren't speaking as journalists when they are on DU.

Apples and oranges.

[Buzz Clik]

67. Slow down. My response was about Wright, not Olbermann.

This quote of yours specifically "A really sad day for Dems, I am afraid. I'm embarrassed for my party of 32 years."

[susankh4]

72. I am embarrassed of Kennedy and Kerry and the DNC

for not having vetted Mr. Obama adequately. This election should have been ours for the taking... instead it has become a national joke.

I've expressed my outrage many times here on DU, too. Here's a post I did about it:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4995227&mesg_id=5000246

And, if you want to scroll back through my journal you may find more. If you really get overzealous, you'll be able to find many, many instances where I responded to other OPs in this fashion.

Again, I don't hold a DU poster to the same standards I do the elders of our party. They are our elected representative. We pay them to make sure things like this do not happen.

[Buzz Clik]

74. Do you condemn Code Pink?

[susankh4]

76. If they are being paid to represent me

you're damn right I do.

Last I knew tho, they were a volunteer organization.

[Buzz Clik]

78. Excellent. Another "Democrat" has defined herself quite clearly.

That's all I need to know.

[susankh4]

79. You don't have to like it...

but there are all kinds of "Democrats." and most of us are not single issue voters.

[IowaGirl]

107. I'm with you--very disappointed in the powers that be for not vetting this new candidate properly

before encouraging the masses to support him. If they wanted somebody new, fine but investigate their background thoroughly. This election situation is so depressing.

[Gman]

66. Complete horseshit

Ferraro spoke the absolute truth and people didn't like it because the truth stung real hard. Obamabots said Ferraro's language was "inflammatory and racist" because they didn't want to hear it and they didn't want anyone else to hear it. The absolute, irrefutable facts are that Ferraro was not chosen as the VP nominee because she was the most qualified, and Obama would not be where he is now were he just another white freshman Senator. (Heaven forbid if any Obamabot were to calculate the impact of the overwhelming percentage of Black support of Obama as it equates to Black turnout and his number of delegates.) What happened with Ferraro is that the Obama cult attacked her back with the harshest rhetoric they could come up with and that is to scream racism. The Obama cult used racism rhetoric as a weapon to attack someone who's message just might get people to really think, which is what they don't want people to do. The Obamabots don't want people to think that this party is about to nominate an inexperienced, freshman Senator with tons of baggage solely for reasons of a personality cult.

As an aside, I happen to agree with everything Obama's pastor says in his publicized sermons. He's another person that speaks the truth and no one wants to hear it because, heaven forbid what he says just might be true. The good pastor spoke of exactly what it's like to be Black in America today.

[Buzz Clik]

68. Not horseshit, unless you're Pat Buchanan.

The classic defense for overtly racist comments is, "It's not racism if it's the truth."

Welcome to the club, Mr. Wizard. Or is that Grand Dragon? I can't keep track.

[Gman]

70. You don't like the truth either, do you

bury your head in the sand... Sorry, your tricks don't work.

I'll bet you don't like anything the pastor said, do you? Wouldn't you agree that Obama's pastor spoke the absolute truth, including god damn America? I agree with every word that man spoke. How about you? It's called being Black in America today and no one wants to hear about that truth because every one's supposed to be and act white. Right?

[Buzz Clik]

73. Sorry, but I don't believe in "God damn America." Nice try.

I'm also not a racist pig.

We are doing a lot of sorting during this campaign season. You have willingly put yourself in a very interesting category. Curious.

[Gman]

75. Interesting category: The truth

what a concept, huh?

[Buzz Clik]

77. As I said: saying Obama is an affirmative action candidate is The Truth for neocons, not liberals.

If you wish to embrace those words, then those words define you.

[Gman]

83. you define the Obamabots

the best defense is a good offense. That way the truth never really comes to light as it's obscured by the Obama rhetoric.

[connecticut yankee]

59. Wake up People!

Obama is not responsible for what someone else says.

Limbaugh, Hannity and Levin are flogging this to death.

They'll sling any mud they can at him. They want Hillary to run.

[plantwomyn]

61. Disappointed in KO

KO asked whether the Pastor left voluntarily or was asked to leave. Obama parsed and did not answer the question. KO -1
Ko asked when Obama found out about the sermon. Obama "recently found out" is not an answer. KO -2
And then the kicker. Obama has the AUDACITY to "HOPE that the American people will trust what I believe, my values, my ideals, what I've spoken about..." "that all those things override a GUILT BY ASSOCIATION"
Obama's whole campaign has been based on insisting that Clinton IS GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION to Corporations, Washington, McCain, Ferraro, Prayer Breakfasts, yada, yada.
Double Standard.

Olbermann let Obama give a speech.
If KO would have done a really hard hitting interview and Obama answered well and fully THEN I'd be impressed.

[The Wielding Truth]

89. plantwomyn, you know that we have to step back and view

all actions by all leaders. When the scales tip in favor of Hillary I will roll to her side but I
have been watching her longer and her actions show that she has been bushwhacked, convinced or has agreed with many legislative moves favorable to corporate needs and blind to ours.

I think KO is giving Obama enough lead to show himself, that's all. I feel that in a face to face interview is very difficult for any news person to disrespect a candidate by being augmentative unless they have contrary information.

[plantwomyn]

91. Just pointing out

that we should weigh both of the candidates with the same scale. I think your statement also shows that Obama's "lack" of experience or to make the mistakes he admits everyone makes.

[Name removed]

101. Deleted message

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

[casus belli]

103. I find that hard to believe...

Something tells me that, no matter what he answered or how, you wouldn't be impressed with the response and would be expecting more.

[plantwomyn]

126. I don't care if you believe me or not.

God forbid we hold too high of an expectation of a candidate for POTUS. I am much more disappointed in KO than Obama.

[Gman]

63. This is only the beginning

The RW and Republics are going to have Obama knee-jerking every other day before this is over. By the time the RW and Republics are through with Obama he will look like an inexperienced, incompetent but dangerous radical nutcase. This is exactly the reason why Obama will not win in November. And this is exactly the reason why candidate cult-mania obsession doesn't make for a good way to select a presidential nominee.

[Buzz Clik]

69. The beginning? No, it is the middle. Unless you're Clinton, and it's the beginning of the end.

You've become adept at spouting talking points. The unfortunate part of that is that the rebuttal for your rhetoric has been out there for a while:

Yes, the GOP will be playing filthy politics, but Hillary has been doing a lot of their heavy lifting. No doubt, the GOP will be playing all sorts of games with race during the run up to the GE, and we're ready for that. Our surprise and disappointment is that our fellow Dems would so easily and readily show their intolerant colors against one of their own.

No liberal -- no liberal -- would ever say the things that have been uttered by the Clinton camp under any circumstances.

[Gman]

108. You must be one of the paid Obama staffers that posts here

nice job. Post and attack Hillary supporters for a living. Nice.

[jettison]

98. Cult

If the cult becomes a majority then is it still just a "cult"? What a bizarre way to marginalize a candidate. If his supporters are very enthusiastic with his message then he's "cult like". So, by contrast, I suppose Hillary can't be a cult because her supporters are less enthusiastic?

cult: 2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.

I'm failing to see how this is has become a negative stereotype. Is it because Americans have been brainwashed by UFO fanaticals wearing the same nikes who drink cool-aide, then heard the word "cult" used, so everything that follows must be insane hysteria?

Obama is no more a cult then Kennedy was.

[casus belli]

104. They'll have to choose this or the "Muslim" angle...

they can't have both.

[Gman]

109. wanna bet?

Ever heard of Black Muslims? Mohammad Ali (a.k.a. Cassius Clay, his slave name) is a Black Muslim. Ali was vilified for his beliefs in non-violence as a Black Muslim.

[casus belli]

122. Why would you assume I was talking about his ethnicity?

I was referring to the fact that they have villified him for his association with a CHRISTIAN pastor. So how exactly, can they claim he's Muslim and run with a story accusing him of colluding with a militant Christian Reverend?

[mulsh]

65. I don't think Obama should distance himself from the truth.

I watched this segment last night with my wife. neither of us found anything the Rev said to be particularly inaccurate or inflammatory.
But then we're both middle aged white people who are life long residents of Oakland, Ca, go figure. I think Obama looks pretty good in the clinch considering this is a moronic manufactured "crisis". Now the opposition's batshit crazy white trash xtians that's something we should all be concerned about

[GoldenOldie]

88. Rev Wright and Ferraro both products of the '60's

The statement that O'Bama made regarding his relationship with Rev. Wright and his respect for the reverend was understanding that their individual views on race and politicians, etc., differed because of personal life experiences.

Much as Geraldine Ferraro had to endure the male/feminist movement, gender, spouses mafia association, attacks during her political career, I believe her statements regarding OBama, were not meant to truly hurt him, but came as a pent up release of her own life experiences.

As Obama stated that Rev Wright lived and fought both in the US military and the civil rights movement. He more-so than GW Bush, Dick Cheney, Revs. Falwell, Robertson, Hagee, Parsley or any of their ilk who are given free access to the MSM, has the right to speak out.......he earned that right.

With all the shrill protests posts of "Liar," not one of these posts can cite a lie from Rev Wright or OBama. This crap is no different than that used to swiftboat John Kerry. That is why Obama has drawn in the young ...... they know when they are being fed b...s..t and they ain't buying. It is only making them dig their heels in deeper.

As an old white women, who during my younger days a women's activist,
I would love to see a woman in the WH before I die. I will not vote for just any woman just to satisfy my own ego. The vote I entrust to a woman President, Commander-in-Chief, is also the vote I give to my granddaughters and grandsons who will have to live with my choice. Those that elected and support GW Bush and his BFEE, have not insured a safe, prosperous or healthy life for future generations, mine, yours or this nation. Thus it is vital that we truly know who is paying and playing behind the curtains (Cheney/Rove's).

[casus belli]

105. It's selective hearing...

people who want a reason to hate Obama or his minister take the "God damn America" comment and hear nothing else. Context doesn't matter. The rest of the sermon doesn't matter. The underlying message doesn't matter. I think the reverend made a really poor choice for his focus, but it's a hot topic with a very real emotional component. I don't really blame him for being angry. Poverty and institutionalized racism make me angry also.

[anonymous171]

85. Good test for Obama. If he can survive this, he can survive any RW attack in Nov.

[mitchtv]

96. except he won't always have fans like KO

asking the questions Oh yeah , I guess he will, that is until Hillary's out of the game

[MidwestPerspective]

94. Relevantly, Obama is a member of Generation Jones

Obama defended himself well, and Olbermann was fair. Helps us understand who Barack is as a person. He didn't handle it like a stereoptypic Baby Boomer. Relevantly, there is a growing consensus in the media, and among experts, that Obama is not a Boomer, nor an Xer, but instead is a member of Generation Jones (born 1954-1965, the heretofore lost generation between the Boomers and Xers).

Just in the last month or so, several top media outlets, including The New York Times, Newsweek Magazine, and NBC, have all made the argument that Obama is specifically part of Generation Jones. I also heard a panel of generations experts recently on a national radio show discussing this specific issue, and four of the five experts conlcuded that Obama is, in fact, a GenerationJoneser…that his bio and political worldview closely match the GenJones archetype.

[jettison]

95. I really don't understand this issue...

The association angle here is very troubling. It is quite racist, and here's why...

Racists have a negative image of another race based on their perceived association of that race with negative stereotypes. "Lazy, thieving, untrustworthy," what have you. So, a racist may look at a black man and then judge him based on his ideas of other black men that he's known or heard about. A racist certainly isn't judging the actual man because they don't know the man. They merely condemn him based on the color of his skin.

"If I walk among them, then I must be won of them."

Sexism works the same way. A guy goes his whole life as a nerd, can't get laid, never gets along with, and ends up the object of their ridicule quite often. So, any woman, and it doesn't matter which woman, will be held up as a person worthy of contempt and fear. It doesn't matter that he doesn't know the woman. She's a woman! Woman = fear = loathing.

In this case, this is a member of Obama's family. This is someone that he has known since his youth, someone who was part of his extended upbringin. And, let's be frank, he's like "the crazy old uncle". People love him and respect him but they know that he's a cook. However, he's family so you don't go out publicly lambasting him. "That's just him". It doesn't forgive the man's behavior, but it puts in context. I had an extremely racist uncle who used the N-word all time. I may be unelectable, but my association I had with this man wouldn't be a reason for that.

Are there really people on these boards who have extended families which are beyond reproach? How many of you out there have a relative in prison? How about a relative who molested someone? How many among you have a relative who is an obvious racist? A sexist? How many of you have been married to a guy who let his intern give him a blowjob in his office? And you still associate with him? You know people like that? And yet, they are still in your life? Why aren't you "strongly denouncing and rejecting them?" Oh, you did renounce and reject them? That doesn't matter. I can't trust you now because you grew up with these people.

What about all of the catholic priests that were caught molesting children... does this mean that all of the people who went to these sermons, all of the people from all of these congregations are guilty by association? "I don't trust that guy because he has been going to the same church for 30 years, the same church where the priest molests children!!! I can never trust him."

When we start judging people negatively based more on the actions of their extended families then on the actions of their personal selves, we're in a lot of trouble. Each of you at DU, every single one of you, live in a glass house quite similarly fashioned to the one in which Obama resides. When you cast your stones, you're only hurting yourself.

[LiberalLovinLug]

99. Pastor Wright's words

“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, God damn America, that’s in the Bible for killing innocent people,” he said in a 2003 sermon. “God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme.

After 9/11:

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye,” Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001."

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America’s chickens are coming home to roost,” he told his congregation."

In some fantasy future America I hope some politician running for office has the cohones to NOT distance him or herself from these words.

Yes he said God damn America, but with a caveat of "..as long as she acts like she is God.."

But you aren't allowed to point out the massive hypocrisy of American foreign policy in the last century - spouting democracy at home while violently circumventing it overseas for corporate profit.

And after 9/11, why is it "off the table" to even discuss any possible reasons for that attack? We're all supposed to just accept it was because "they hate our freedom"? If that's the case Bin Laden is winning that war. Our civil rights eroded while he's still king of his harem somewhere.

I'm sick of the Reich Wing loud-mouths defining what can be discussed and what is not to be whispered about. One can't admit the US has made ANY mistakes in the last century or pissed off any country with abusive entitled behavior to the point that it would foment a small minority into groups that have the balls to take on 'the great satan', as they, for good reason, see us.

No, we're supposed to believe that some devout Muslims in a cave in Afghanistan, sat around and fumed about how in America it was awful that people could move around freely, without military checkpoints, or burkas on their women, and for that matter how their mail wasn't read by the government or their phones tapped, or how they had that damned habeas corpus going for them, and they didnt have to take off their shoes to get on a plane, grrrrrr. Was that the straw the broke the camel back for them?

I was hoping that Barack Obama was the kind of person that would be able to raise issues of American past bad behavior (as well as present) and be able to broach that subject into discourse. Its the only way we will all be able to heal together with the Muslim world, and indeed many other third world countries. But it's sad that he has to unequivocally denounce these truths, ugly as they may be, coming from his pastor.

[casus belli]

106. The people making a big deal out of this..

in all likelihood agree that government is corrupt. Most people would agree that the government is really no longer a government "by the people" and "for the people". Yet, strangely, they don't want this minister pointing it out. If you really break it down, this isn't going to affect anyone who hasn't already made up their mind about Obama. All it does is give those who don't like him more fodder and talking points to continue trying to convince others to hate him as well.

[susankh4]

100. I am so proud of Hillary

for staying out of this Jeremiah Wright mess!

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/15/clinton-campaign-stays-mum-on-wright/

[stevenleser]

120. You forgot the sarcasm tag, as I am sure you know her surrogates were all over this...

right?

[casus belli]

123. Yeah, that's the problem..It's never her saying it

She does all her talking through staff, volunteers, etc who can easily be "let go" if the statements backfire. Then she can conveniently deny any involvement and portray herself as being above the drama.

[liberal1973]

102. Barack did the correct thing here

[Ahpook]

124. Think Obama can beat this one?

I don't know, this looks pretty grim.

I just can't see fuckwit America getting over it. I've seen it in my family already. It's not doing much good to talk them through it. It's funny the same people calling him racist are fucking racist.

And i happen to agree with the Pastor, fuck America as it is. This place is full of trash that needs disposed of. If he is racist (which i doubt, and probably should hold his tongue in a church) he is simply saying things about the wrong people. You can say to hell with blacks or native americans all day long, but say anything about a white and that's it.

I really hope Obama can recover from this:(

Edit: If he does still get the nom, we must not forget good old Diebold.

What a freaking sham this whole country is.

[WoodyM]

125. Obama for twenty years

has been a member of his church. The pastor married Obama and his wife, baptized his children, dedicated Obama’s house and has been his sounding board. Obama’s book “Audacity of Hope” is from a sermon of his pastor. His pastor was one of the first people Obama thanked after his election to the Senate in 2004. Obama consulted and prayed with him before announcing his candidacy for the presidency last year. There is an undeniable close relationship between the pastor and Obama.
The pastor called the US the number one killer, preached that we were responsible for AIDS, 9/11, Mandela’s imprisonment and apartheid, Palestinian plight and on and on. Not just one sermon or two, but many sermons over a long period.

Now Obama wants us to believe that he did not know what was being preached in his own church. I am sorry but I just cannot believe that.

[DutchLiberal]

127. It's not the reverend's comments which disturb me; it's Obama's constant raving about his religion.