Obama Addresses Wright Controversy Via YouTube
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, Religion, VideoTake a look.
First he gave a statement. Then Wright left the campaign. Then Obama went on numerous news stations and gave interviews where reporters asked tough questions. And now this.
If you think less of him because of his association with Wright, then so be it. I don’t.
This entry was posted on Saturday, March 15th, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Barack, Religion, Video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
March 15th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I’m with you on this one, Justin. I think Obama has handled himself perfectly on this, and no one should think less of him for his association with Wright. In fact, I don’t see any major problems Wright as far as that goes. Like most preachers, he is just an entertainer in my book, and a pretty good one. Like all good entertainers, he plays to his audience. But then, I didn’t see any big problem with anything that Ferraro said either. And that is where the real problem shows up… its not Obama it’s Obama supporters that are the problem.
Obama supporters were only too willing to pile on the Ferraro statements. The parallels between Wright and Ferraro are so clear, that if one does not apply the same standards to both situations, then one is either a hypocrite or sexist. No way around it.
You specifically (Justin) and me (mw), are clear. You thought both Wright and Ferraro were wrong, and you thought both candidates handled the situation properly by repudiating their statements and removing them from the campaign. You were fair and consistent. I really did not give a shit about either Wright or Ferraro’s statements. I was consistent. What I do care about, are the hypocrites and sexists who want to pretend there is a difference.
Obama’s problem, is that he has a lot of them in his camp. Olbermann is one of them.
March 16th, 2008 at 12:05 am
It’s not what his pastor have said bothers me. It’s that obama constantly saying that he was not aware his pastor’s speech before his presidential running. Give me break, he knew his pastor for over 20 years. Are you really so naive or so infatuated to believe this? I just hate to see people lying so blatantly.
March 16th, 2008 at 4:56 am
Wow! Barack Obama is a huge liar. He went on national tv saying he has never heard his pastors crazy rants but several news organizations have already caught him in this lie. Obama is a total liar. He is no different than any other politician. There’s no hope train coming to the rescue. Wake up Obama supporters. There’s nothing special here. Everyone has just been wasting their time supporting this lying loser. Of course Donklephant doesn’t care because Donklephant is obsessed with Barack Obama. Donklephant loves massive liars like Barack Obama.
March 16th, 2008 at 8:22 am
So vote, you were there and heard every sppech that Wright gave and can name the times that he has said something inflammatory that Obama heard?
So far the media has picked 3-4 sermons he’s given with inflammatory remakrks, you’re telling me that you have proof that he said dozens of others that Obama heard? Why aren’t those getting airtime?
This sounds like the Rezko stuff a lot of noise made by the media but no substance
March 16th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Unless someone can prove that Obama is lying about not having witnessed Wright’s inflammatory views, I’m totally satisfied with his response. It would be nice if someone took the time to speak to a bunch of parishoners and get a ballpark estimate of what percent of the time Wright engaged in such fringe wingnuttery. Was it close to a regular feature over the years or did he just go round the bend on a few occasions, showing rare form?
I too was not especially troubled by Ferraro’s comments. If you’re dispassionate, you acknowledge that that there’s some kernel of truth in them. But I do understand why many folks were angered. It had mostly to do with the condescending tone Ferraro was using when she practically sniffed that Obama was “very lucky.” It was a pretty intemperate way to get across what could have been a valid point.
I mean, sure, I think it’s Ok to point out that race has likely had something to do with Obama’s success along with a whole host of other factors. But it’s insultingly ignorant to tell someone they’re very lucky to be black.
If you come across the one doorway that’s only 5 feet high, do you tell the guy in the wheelchair he’s lucky because he doesn’t have to duck?
And ironically, in the wake of these comments Ferraro may well be lucky to be a woman and a democrat. Because if she’d said the same thing as white male republican, she’d surely be getting nailed to the cross even as we speak. She’s been excised from the campaign, but she’s also enjoyed substantial benefit of the doubt from many women and democrats on these remarks.