Imagine it is the General Election, and we're watching a McCain-Obama debate;

[Tarc]

Moderator: In 2003 Senator Obama's pastor, Jeremiah Wright said the following;

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. 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.

Do you agree with the Reverend Wright? "God Damn America" ? Senator McCain, your response.

McCain: Absolutely not. America is a great country and while we may have some problems here and there, there is no excuse for turning one of our cherished patriotic songs into a vehicle of divisiveness.

Moderator: Senator Obama?

Obama: _______________

What's his answer? Don't gripe about the unfairness of this obviously loaded question. Y'all know how politics works and know quite well that they'll spring this at the first opportunity.

[Occam Bandage]

1. "Of course not."

(Then standard "Politician disagrees strongly with position of ally" speech.)

[Alter Ego]

2. "No, I do not agree with that statement from Reverend Wright."

Next question.

[NYCGirl]

3. He'll say EXACTLY the same things he's said a number of times; that he does

not agree with those statements.

[Occam Bandage]

6. Which is the same thing McCain would say if asked whether Catholics are the Whore of Babylon.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

4. Seriously? You haven't seen the idiots McCain is campaigning with?

Obama has already repudiated Wrights remarks. McCain, on the other hand, is appearing on stage with the religious nuts who support him.

[Tarc]

8. Well, that is to be expected, since McCain's base IS the religious nuts

I think we'd get another "he's just like an old, funny uncle" response like he has done already, personally.

[stevenleser]

5. McCain is already on record saying that the Jeremiah Wright attacks on Obama are not right

Would you like a link?

[Armstead]

"Senator McCain will you repudiate your support from Pastor Hagee?"

That's a start.

[Kittycat]

7. Maybe you haven't heard McCain's pastors that he parades on stage & agrees with?

Hagee, Robertson, et al.

And I actually agree with most of what you quoted there. And good democrat would. :shrug:

[Omega3]

9. white European here, I didn't know I was responsible for all the heartache in the world

PS; America invented Aids and we never landed on the moon and Elvis is working at a 7/11 in Kalamazoo Mich

[Coexist]

10. "as I have said before, I profoundly disagree with Reverend Wright,

the love I have for this country is immense. Where else could a mixed-race child, raised by a single mother, have the chance to be standing on this stage in a debate for President? This is a great nation, and it is my pride in being an American that is pushing me to work so hard to improve the economy for everyone - black, white, asian, rural, suburban, urban... all of us."

[boobooday]

11. Answer with a question

About the McCain supporter who thinks America was created in order to crush Islam.

Then play back Obama's pastor again. Does he sound so radical?

[Avalux]

12. Will they quote Reverend Hagee in turn? Let's try this one:

"All hurricanes are acts of God, because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are — were recipients of the judgment of God for that. And I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans."

What's McCain's answer?

He's had his head so far up Hagee's ass and came here to speak in his 'church' a few weeks ago, begging for his endorsement. Hagee is a nutcase.

[faithfulcitizen]

13. I heard yesterday that Rod Parsley is McCain's spiritual adviser- WOW, talk about crazy!

He screams his sermons, wearing camouflage pants, knocking people down with his hand as they pass out on stage. I too am concerned about Obama's church (and have been called a freeper & worse for saying so), but after hearing THIS news, McCain's guy wins the crazy contest hands down, imo.

(I support Obama.)

[stevenleser]

14. See this link, McCain has twice said that Obama should not be responsible for Wright

It is sad when a Republican has to lecture Democrats on not using inappropriate politics of personal destruction:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/14/75418/1294

[Smarmie Doofus]

15. He's going to have to to better than any suggestions I've seen here.

His connection with Wright is a far more intimate connection than McCain's connections with his assortment of RW religious nuts.

Wright baptized his *children*.

The fact that Wright's analysis... such as it is... of American history is largely accurate is completely beside the point.

Folks: we're looking to nominate someone who has a *chance* of winning this time. Remember?

[stevenleser]

16. No, he isnt. McCain has already said that this is not an appropriate line of attack on Obama

care to try again?

[Smarmie Doofus]

18. OK. What if McCain says that in public and directs his staff...

... in *private* to exploit this painfully obvious area of weakness for Obama.

You actually take McCain's word on something like this?

Come on.

[stevenleser]

19. His staffers are going around echoing McCain's word, saying that this is not appropriate...

so far, your fears are unfounded.

[davepc]

20. why are you so willing to take a Republicans word at face value?

I don't care if McCain says he's the Queen of England. It doesn't make it so.

fact is, when it comes to the GE he's going to throw everything he has at Obama/Clinton. If not directly then via 'swiftboaters'.

[Smarmie Doofus]

21. So, no third party group... e.g. RW version of Move-On...

... is going to take the initiative here?

Really, really hard to believe.

I'm not looking to bash Obama. Voted for him in NY primary and prefer him to Clinton.

But: my 'fears' are almost NEVER unfounded when it comes to this sort of thing. Seen too many DEMS washed away on the basis of much *less* than what Obama is giving away here.

Paraphrase from All About Eve: " Think of how vicious they can get... and still be telling the truth."

[Tarc]

24. He and his staffers don't really need to do a thing

The right-wing hate machine will be more than willing to take this ball and run with it.

[Iceburg]

22. McCain: "You had 23 yrs to distance your self from the hate and vitriol

and only today you say you reject this man's words. Tell me why the American people should trust you? Your stood by your dear friend of 17 years Tony Rezko until he went to prison for extortion and fraud. Tell us -- What reason can you give the American people have to trust your judgment?"

[flor de jasmim]

17. Are you one of the people who earlier said Obama had "just words"?

This sounds a bit like the last-week-he-was-Muslim-but-this-week-he's-a-Christian play, except it's

Last-week-he-was-all-speeches-but-this-week-he-can't-talk-himself-out-of-a-paper-bag.

[peoli]

23. "Yes I agree completely. And since we're on the subject, Fuck Canada too!"