Obama Talks About His Wright Decision
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, History, Race
[BO] Well, during the course of this campaign probably our response to those Reverend Wright videos had to be a spot decision, because frankly it was unanticipated and I hadn’t seen those incendiary videos before. The decision to make it big as opposed to make it small.[Q] To make the [Philadelphia] speech.
[BO] To write a speech in two days and deliver it at a time when there was a singular focus on the topic I think is an example of having to make decision based on what in my gut would make sense.
[Q] What was your gut telling you?
[BO] My gut was telling me that this was a teachable moment and that if I tried to do the usual political damage control instead of talking to the American people like an adult—like they were adults and could understand the complexities of race that I would be not only doing damage to the campaign but missing an important opportunity for leadership.
Personally, I thought that was a defining moment for me as well. Obama responded with a seriousness and candor that you don’t often see from politicians and I think it did a lot to solidify his path to the nomination.
What did you think about the Wright episode?
UPDATE:
Here’s more from Joe Klein about Obama’s overall decision making…
More as it develops…
This entry was posted on Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Barack, History, Race. 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.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I thought what Wright had said was utterly disgusting (but at the basis of blowback theory, particularly correct). At the same time though, I always thought Obama had the mental filter to know better than to take what the guy said to any deeper level other than the spiritual message hidden beneath it.
I thought his speech was a knock out of the park. I think the continued pressure about Wright is water under the bridge. Pundits spew everyday about “20 years!!!’ without thinking that maybe, just maybe, he was a member, but not a dye-in-the-wool devotee every sunday. They assume spiritual mentor means “policy advisor” and “political teacher”.
The speech proved Obama could be direct and forthcoming about a supremely personal issue and I agree with your conclusion.
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I agree as well. I thought it was one of the most significant speeches I’ve heard from a politician in a long time. It rang sincere and also conveyed some of the complexity and nuance of race relations in this country. No small feat. There was no sense that he was doing damage control — rather that he was taking the moment as an opportunity to speak openly. I think this is one small example of a thoughtful man who doesn’t go into panic mode when things get tough.
One of the things I have not liked about the McCain campaign is the way McCain and Palin use the same patronizing manner that Bush so often uses — they explain things as if to a five-year-old. I appreciate that Obama does speak as though he’s speaking to intelligent adults. The speech on Wright and the race issue is a prime example.
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Anyone who attends church regularly because of their faith will tell you that to stay at one church for any length of time, your beliefs have to align with the beliefs in the pulpit.
Note that I say, “because of their faith.” If you attend a church for social or political reasons, then it really doesn’t matter what the preacher/rabbi/imam says because you’re not there as a matter of faith, you’re there to get ahead.
And so the whole Wright thing provides two insights. First, Obama is very comfortable around anti-American evangelists for socialism who center their world views around race and class. And Obama is every bit the cunning politician, climbing on the back of the black activist community in Chicago when it was politically advantageous to do so, then kicking it to the curb when his national ambitions demanded a larger group of supporters who would be turned off by the more radical elements of his Chicago support.
Obama’s speech on race, while eloquent (what prepared speech of his isn’t?), was simply a perfectly-crafted diversion away from any serious discussion of why he would provide tacit support to people like Wright for two decades. Don’t make the conversation about Obama, make it about race. Brilliantly played.