It all comes down to electability - Barack took a major hit today

[Ugnmoose]

Barack is doing what any savvy politician has to do when hit with a bombshell like the one that exploded on him today concerning the statements made by his pastor. He is going into major damage control mode by trying the best way possible to denounce the Rev's statements and going on all the major networks to reiterate the point. All well and good. This is how it should and must be. However, this is not a new story. Rev Wright is known to be a controversial figure and Obama's relationship with him over 20 years is well documented. Nothing new here. So what is the big deal? Here is the big deal - the press and major media has jumped all over it. Why I don't know. Perhaps it is just another way to create controversary and divide the Democratic Party.

In my opinion, and of course it is just that. This is not an issue that will necessarily go away within one newsday cycle. Should Obama make it to the GE he will be "swift-boated" by the Repukes and media on his relationship with Rev. Wright and Farrakahn, etc. etc. We are already beginning to see some of that. Like it or not, there is still enough racial prejudice in this country to make it difficult for a black man to get elected without having this hanging around him. While Obama may not have been mortally wounded today, I believe he took a major hit. Ultimately, I think it will have to be decided by the Super delegates as to how damaging this will be to his electability. I am of course making the broad assumption that neither he nor Hillary will get the necessary elected delegates to win the nomination outright. Because in the end what I want most and I am sure all of you do too, is the Democratic candidate who has the absolute best chance to win in November.

[KittyWampus]

1. You realise that Hillary "took a hit" by not having a Plan B, by touting McCain over Obama,

by not condemning Ferraro etc etc.

You realise that Super Delegates are almost CERTAIN not to flock to Hillary at the Convention?

You realise that Hillary has a lot of dirt that can be used against her?

Just wondering?

[uponit7771]

13. buh....buh.....rev Wright said the n word!!!! /sarcasm

[Ugnmoose]

16. The story of the super-delegates

I believe in the end the Supers will vote for whomever they believe most electable. They are inherently political animals and they know better than anyone the real strengths and weaknesses of the candidates much better than do we. I don't know who they will support nor does anyone on this board. I will trust their judgement.

[bigdarryl]

2. So if your mother or father said some racist things that means you are responsible for what they say

[Texas Hill Country]

9. You dont choose your parents... Obama chose Wright.. For 20 years

[uponit7771]

15. You CAN choose to distance yourself from them though

[BlackVelvet04]

32. Not unless you got to personally pick your parents. n/t

[C_U_L8R]

3. are you really so sure? let's see how it plays out.

I'd suggest that it might just land back in Hillary's lap.
With the exception of a handful of diehards here, everyone
I've been in contact with is thoroughly disgusted with Hillary.
Next week's polls should prove it out.. one way or the other.

[DJ13]

4. I guess we should just give up and let McCain win

Your worried about Wright being bad for Obama, saying in effect that Hillary should be the nominee.

But Hillary's negatives are over 15% higher than Obama's, and no one with a lick of sense can think Obama's skeletons are worse than Hillary's, so I guess for the good of all concerned we had better just concede now.

:eyes:

[Ugnmoose]

20. I did not say that

I am not saying that Hillary should be the nominee. I am merely stating my opinion that today's events will be potentially damaging to Barack. Not because I want them to be, but because "perception is reality". The unknown right now is how will the broad electorate react. Will it impact the fence-sitters to vote another way? I don't know, but I certainly care.

[stray cat]

5. This was all in the public arena over a year ago

and discussed at length in the media. I guess Bill's old and recent womanizing and travelgate and whitewater should all be rehashed adnauseum....

[uponit7771]

19. I just saw on FAUX that Obama addressed the issue a year ago,

[indimuse]

36. except his rev was at the pulpit last week attacking the Clinton's and

Campaigning fro Barack..as well as the normal hate stuff!

[MediaBabe]

38. "God Damn America" was in the news last year?

Now, how did we miss that?

[Texas Hill Country]

6. Bravo.

[anonymous171]

7. I totally called this.

I said his electability would be relentlessly attacked so SDs would not side with him.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

14. I hate to say it, but

this really is not all that prescient. It has happened to every political candidate in the country's elections.

[Coexist]

8. and you don't think the right will ask if we want a CIC that is a cuckold?

thrice over?

[LakeSamish706]

10. And I will say this, if Barack is the Democratic Presidential candidate and...

goes head to head with McCain in November and McCain wins, then the American people deserve what they get which will be a completely destroyed country instead of just half destroyed as it is now.

[uponit7771]

17. RIGHT!!! I believe this is a true test for Americas people.....

...because we KNOW McCaint wants more war or at the least doesn't mind "bomb...bomb....bombing...Iran"!!!!

I'd take that little tune he sung with a grain of salt if he hadn't convinced himself that Americans don't mind if we stay in Iraq for decades or if he didn't pander to Reich wingers who will never like him.

[uponit7771]

11. The people who saw this as an issue would've never voted for Obama in the first place, guilt by...

...association is what an opponent would use if they were desperate.

Hillary isn't being disparaged because she's married to an adulterer at all and FAUX news doesn't get disparaged because it has a news analyst who wants to burn young black men alive.

We all have people close to us who say stupid things, I can't relate making this an issue for McCaint...Hillary or Obama.

[LSparkle]

12. This has come out early enough for him to deal with it

Better to have him vetted during the primary than the G.E. If this controversy opens up
a dialogue (about how accountable candidates are for their surrogates, about Obama's faith --
at last people will know he's a CHRISTIAN!), then it's a good thing. Obama has already
copped to his past drug use, thus inoculating himself with his candor. If he can do the
same with this situation by confronting it head-on, going on ALL shows (including Fixed
Noize), then he'll likewise take this issue away from the Repugs during the general.

[Ugnmoose]

21. I hope you are right Sparkle

But it would be naive of us to think that it cannot be spun - much like the Swift Boating of Kerry in 2004. We are up against a vicious enemy who will exploit any measure of prejudice they can find.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. you are falling for the spin

[Gore1FL]

22. He took a major hit for a homerun

when faced with the same issues as Hilary,He has done the right things. She hems, haws, backtracks...

This discussion went from trival to Obama win.

[Swamp Rat]

23. "bombshell"

:rofl:

[texastoast]

24. Electability?

Are you kidding? Both candidates have electability issues.

And as for swiftboating, I think Barack is ready. Otherwise, he wouldn't be addressing this tonight in this manner.

Nah, not a major hit.

[JoFerret]

25. And for good reason.

I just watched one of those "sermons'.
That is sick ranting at its worst. Pompous bombastic hate mongering.
(Does the good "pastor" know that Obama's mother was WHITE.)

[Mags]

27. I agree, it is all over the mainstream news now and it won't go away. He will always be linked with

Obama.

[Radical Activist]

26. People say they want a progressive President

that means someone who consorts with known liberals and radicals.

Bombshell? Devastating? Please. Get some perspective. You're right that this is an old story. One that Obama knows how to deal with.

[jackson_dem]

28. At this point voting for Obama is voting for McCain. He has no chance in the general election

[azmouse]

31. You HOPE he has no chance but saying it doesn't make it so.

Obama will win.

[high density]

29. This has been burning for about 24 hours on cable news

and about 48 hours here on DU. I really doubt people are going to go to the polls next month or November and change their vote because of Wright.

If we're going to play the death by association game, I think both Clinton and McCain have plenty of these sorts of people tangentially attached to them as well. These issues can come randomly from anywhere. It's total BS.

[Still-ill]

30. Wow,

I'm so done with any thread concerning this crazy shit about his pastor. How can he be responcilble for comments made by some one else.

[KaptBunnyPants]

33. The media does not want this primary to end.

Watching commercial news has been incredibly frustrating this week. First, few of the major media outlets reported about Texas flipping to Obama after the caucus counting ended. Worse, I'm still seeing Texas labeled as a win for Hillary in articles. Nothing but consistent hype about Hillary's "comeback". No one in the media seems especially interested in informing the public that Hillary faces an insurmountable gap in pledged delegates. I have yet to hear any plausible scenario in which Hillary could win the nomination legitimately. But they want to keep milking this zombie primary for all the money it's worth, just like they try to keep presidential elections close.

[Thickasabrick]

34. This isn't half as damaging as McCain's close friend that thinks

America was created to destroy Islam. Or the guy's assistant who said if it came down to standing up for America or Israel, she would fucking pick Israel. And you think that's not damaging???? Give me a fucking break. There is a hell of a lot more shit to dig up on McCain - people have just been distracted because of the ongoing fight between Hillary and Obama. Everyone needs to relax and let this stupid shit pass. Britney's been pretty subdued lately - she'll be making a reappearance and all this will be forgotten.

[AtomicKitten]

35. And yet Obama polls 10 points higher than Ms. Flick in electability.

[DFW]

37. Democrats will take a lot of major hits before this is over

Whether it's Clinton or Obama won't make much difference. The Swiftboating
machine along with the programmers at National Hate Radio have contingency
plans for either case (if the convention is deadlocked and turns to Al Gore,
the radical right will probably petition the Supreme Court for a month's stay
for the election, as their hate propaganda will need some extra time to get set
up for such an unexpected situation).

But show this twice a day everywhere:


If this does not constitute a major hit against McCain, then there is something
very wrong with our country.