The Obama/Wright Connection Is Not About Race To Me

[RestoreGore]

However, it seems that some blacks want to turn this into it being about race just like the media does, so that they can call those who decry his words racist and use us to rail their own anger at and guilt us as if we didn't care about MLKJr's struggles when many of us supported him, marched with him, and lived it with him to fight for equality for all Americans. And frankly, I am tired as a white American of being beat over the head with that and guilted about the past when MLKJr. is actually one of my heroes. My family that was also poor cried just as hard when he was assassinated as they did when RFK and JFK were assassinated. His son endorsed John Edwards for president and I supported him too because it isn't race that should be the defining issue here, but POVERTY which touches many lives in this country today.

The point is that people of all colors have suffered on this planet from time in memoriam, and if we don't move beyond this to change that for the future we will never survive as a species. I personally don't care if Wright hates me because I am white... that's his problem. I don't hate him, I just disagree with his more damning words aimned at this country and have every right as he does to express that as well. Obama was wrong to continue to have association with a man who so obviously by his own words hates this country whether he does or not, especially if he intends to be president of this country. And please, just a general observation... no more RELIGION IN POLITICS. I am a spiritual person, but it has NO PLACE in politics, and that has no place in a church.

Jesus didn't turn the tables of the moneylenders over in the Temple because he believed that politics and religion mixed. That too is what bothered me about his political rantings. The fact that he had an honorable position in the Obama campaign (and only relinquished it when those videos hit the airwaves) also tells me that religion has a far more prominent place in Obama's campaign than should be. Eight years of that already was quite enough. So to me this incident is not about race. It is about character, judgement, hypocrisy, and truth.

[robbedvoter]

1. No more religion in politics I am so with you on that one!

[Fresh_Start]

12. I'll join you in that

religion and government/politics should be kept far away from each other

[chascarrillo]

13. That's right! Reject MLK, Jr.!

You'll go far with that one.

[saracat]

17. No one is "rejecting " MLK Jr. by reminding folks of the seperation of Church and State.

[RestoreGore]

29. True. See how people try to twist everything?

Unbelievable.

[chascarrillo]

85. MLK Jr: Preacher, Political advocate... so yeah, you're reejecting him.

I mean, come on. You can't separate King's religion and his politics.

[RestoreGore]

21. MLK never endorsed a candidate for an office from a pulpit to my knowledge

And never ran for office himself. And he was an honorable man who used his conviction to change the course of history, not wallow in hatred. He was also a Nobel Peace Prize winner who though knowing the history of our country did not use it to vent hatred against white people. He used his words to unify people. Quite a difference from what I saw on that video.

[buff2]

26. Politics and religion

Is this paster exempt from paying taxes? Maybe the Feds will check this out since it's been splattered all over the country. :shrug:

[RestoreGore]

32. I don't know. Tricky situation based on his words.

And I suppose the same could be said for McCain's spiritual advisors, although I don't know if they have ever endorsed him from a church.

[buff2]

35. OMG..........

Now that is a group to be scared of. I can't understand why something can't be done with that Rod Parsley,Pat Robertson,and all the rest of those kooks. They are far worse than anything I've ever seen. :scared:

[RestoreGore]

38. Yes, and John Hagee...

And again, no place for it in a political campaign.

[buff2]

49. Oh I forgot about him

I can't think of all of them,there are so many. The GOPreachers are far worse than Wright,I have to admit.

[RestoreGore]

70. I think they all need to keep politics out of their pulpits

and that includes the Pope.

[saltpoint]

2. Some good points, but how exactly do you know Jesus' motivation for

turning over the tables -- beyond what is written for us to consider?

"My Father's house should be a temple of prayer; you have made it a den of thieves."

Those are the words we're told Jesus said as he assaulted capitalism.

The Wright dust-up is already over and done with. Hillary flogged it as much as she could, but the bones are exposed and there's no pulp flying when she wields the whip.

Jesus abandoned both establishmentarian religion AND political systems. That's why they nailed his ass to a board.

[RestoreGore]

25. "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's... Render unto God what is God's

If only people listened to those words today.

[saltpoint]

30. If only people who were Judeo-Christian would understand that their

Bible isn't the only book on the shelf.

Jesus was interesting as a revolutionary. As a spiritual savior, he fell well short of the mark, IMO.

[RestoreGore]

36. And that is where you misinterpret me

I don't read the Bible, but I agree with Jesus's teachings. The Jefferson Bible is more my speed. And just because he fell short to you doesn't mean others do not revere him as a great spiritual advisor. I personally have a more Gnostic view of it all, and reject the Bible based on the Council of Nicea. However, I do believe that Jesus was one of the greatest spiritual leaders and philosophers of history.

[saltpoint]

44. But I didn't say "advisor." I said "savior."

I love the Jefferson Bible.

I love Jefferson, for that matter.

I'm a pro-Science Democrat!

[Recursion]

86. That reply was actually a clever trap

Jesus avoided breaking Jewish or Roman law by not giving a direct answer. The scribes were left with the choice of saying that the coins, simply for having Caesar's image on them, didn't still "belong to God", or withholding taxes.

[monmouth]

3. Next election....Atheists Need Only Apply!.....n/t

[RestoreGore]

39. I personally wouldn't mind that at all

It is policy that should take precedence in politics, not the pulpit.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

4. Sorry

You lost me at "some blacks seem to WANT to turn this into it being about race..."

Just because you're a "progressive", it doesn't make your faux persecution complex any more appealing than that of a Dittohead.

[RestoreGore]

53. Well, you thought I was "privileged " to be white, so your response is then no surprise

And you obviously then haven't been reading this forum regarding that beating over the head. And I don't have a persecution complex because I don't hate anyone based on their skin color as it appears some here do. I'm sure you then agreed with his screed based on your prior comments here, and that's your prerogative. However, I did nothing to you, so take your faux outrage and spew it elsewhere. And FYI, I am an American first, which is why his words and the words of other preachers who think they have the right to play with the political process which to me is really the topic here should be called on it. However, if you can't keep the tone of the conversation on that, I suppose we will then know who has the real complex.

[buff2]

5. This is the FIRST sensible post I've seen in here in MONTHS!

Those tapes will NOT go away.What I would like to know is how did all these TV stations get them in the first place? Must be a lot of digging going on out there.I've never seen a minister talk like that before in my life. He talks about whites like we are dogs...but from the looks of him his skin looks as white as mine in most of those tapes. What's up with that??? :eyes:

[saracat]

11. He sells those tapes of his sermons through his church. he is very proud of them.

All the major stations just bought copies.

[buff2]

16. Well they sure started a shit storm

They should never had been played.It just makes matters worse.

[bellasgrams]

37. I think they should all be played. They expose BO for what he

truly is and what he believes in. If the shoe was on the other foot. His supporters would be tearing Hillary to shreds (vocally), demanding she step aside and she out of respect for the country and embarrassment would. BO isn't embarrassed because that's how he truly feels, and as always he thinks he's right.

[buff2]

41. Too many people still have their blinders on

If Obama disagrees with that racist rhetoric,then why did he stay in that same church for TWENTY YEARS??? He will say and do anything to win. Even lie to is faithful supporters. I just hope enough people will wake up,because if he wins our nomination,he will never beat McCain and the repuke slime machine. Isn't Fox where all these tapes originated from?

[2rth2pwr]

6. Any criticism of Obama is racism

ipso facto

[buff2]

10. Boy,you said it!

Better keep your opinions to yourself in this free society. :evigrin:

[rucky]

7. The Civil Rights movement was organized in black churches.

I'm just saying there's some history here, and in some ways, Wright is a flashback to the times. Just something to consider as you draw your line.

[bettyellen]

18. dind't BO disparage the agitating baby booming hippies of the sixties as irrelevant at best?

well, since he tossed Wright under the bus too, I guess we can say he's being consistent, huh?

[rucky]

19. It's just old-school vs. new-school.

He obviously has alot of respect for Wright.

[bettyellen]

34. so some old school is divsive and irrelevant, and some old school deserves respect ?

but all of them- their stuggles and concerns too, can be tossed under the bus if it's politically expedient to do so. Oh I got it alright.
If someone is to inspre me they would have to stop throwing pricipled people under the bus and behave as if principles mattered.
This

[rucky]

50. I don't think he threw Wright under the bus.

I don't think Wright feels he was thrown under the bus. In fact, last April, it was Wright who suggested that they may have to distance themselves.

Everybody knows the reality is that society would have to make a huge jump to accept Wright's rhetoric.

[bettyellen]

69. he disavowed his mentor. it's not like a friend or crazy uncle. a mentor means more

and i have no clue as to who Obama actually is, because it's all been so calculated. even the spiritual stuff, which is not way impressive to me, is used as a device. everything seems to be for show.
and real meaning and substance are damned hard to find.

[rucky]

71. This isn't all on Obama.

He was painted into a corner. Yes, if he had nothing to lose, he should've said "damn right - that's my preacher!" And that would've been the end of the issue - and, sadly, Obama's campaign.

But there's a greater goal here. Black people don't need another martyr - they need a champion. Wright sees the value in Obama continuing his candidacy. And he knows the consequences - probably better than anybody - for doing what you suggest.

The situation sucks, and Obama's handling it as best that a public figure can.

[bettyellen]

83. i agree he's great at "handling" things. managing perceptions...

it's just that i can't catch the fever, feel the hope, blah blah blah with all the pandering that's gon on- all the mangaement of perceptions. Pandering to conservatives is an insult to everyone who's been fighting the good fight. It's A Machivellian tactic, so callong it hopeful is a bit of a crock from where I am sitting. And LOL- truth be told- I voted for him, and probably will again.

[rucky]

84. I live in one of the reddest red counties in the country

Boehner's my rep.

There's a huge difference between mainstream conservative voters and the nutjobs we see on the tee-vee and in the capitol building.

Many of them are just coming around to realize that maybe the GOP is not in their best interests. Not nearly enough of them - but enough to sway an election. At least they're starting to open up to new ideas.

Watch Obama's appearance on the 700 Club: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4L_M837Llcw&feature=related

The heart of his message is truly progressive, even though he's tuning his language to fit the audience. I know what you mean about keeping it real, but in the age of CNN where peace is a dirty word, the language we've been using is not being heard. He's turning the coded fundie language on its end. It's amazing, and that clip is what really sold me on him.

It is consistent with Obama's message of unity to try to reach these people (voters, not reps), and he's doing it in a way they understand - but it's a respectful and persuasive approach (and you can't persuade in a disrespectful tone).

We may consider that pandering, but voting blocs ask to be pandered to all the time - including the camp that's been "fighting the good fight" :thumbsup: . You're asking Obama to stand up for something that is both 100% honorable and right, but saying it would finish him. That's a form of pandering as well.

Yes the whole system disgusts me, because it discourages the sincerity we both want to see, but I'm HOPE-ing that he can change that in his own subtle, gentle style - because the direct approach has not been working out.

[bettyellen]

88. thank you.

for reminding me why i voted.
BO'd be much better off with a few of you than he is with the hundreds of A holes plugging away for him here.
they are making it hard, the nastiness, the sexism, the idiocy shown here is making it very hard,

[RestoreGore]

56. yes he did, which turned me off to him

[Bluenorthwest]

20. Yes but

Obama also uses the gay baiting wing of the Fundy movement, when in fact one of King's mentors and the man who taught him passive resistance and organized the Washington march to a huge extent was a gay man. That is part of why Coretta King was such a solid champion of gay equality you know.
So when it comes to calling gays cursed and also invoking Dr King...there's some history there too, and it is something that is never considered when McClurkin draws his line. Nor when Obama picks his surrogates, nor who gets an apology when his surrogates attack innocent bystanders to the campaign.
Just saying.

[rucky]

72. Obama has a connection to the black church...

and there's good and bad that come with that. all we're seeing is the bad.

Should he disavow it completely? Then what does that say about his history with the black church?

Damned if he do, damned if he don't. But all he's really done is associate with some well-meaning people with some whacked-out views (even Donnie). He's shown his judgement in what what he allows to influence and shape him in person and in policy. And there's NOTHING in Obama's policies, speeches, and achievements that suggest he's a homophobe or a black separatist.

Part of being the "unity" guy is sitting at the table with hard-headed people with opposing viewpoints, and mending fences in a way that doesn't denounce, demean or dehumanize (that's not peace). It's a slow process, and it's approached delicately. Obama has yet to prove he can pull this off, but doing what the opposition is asking him to do will improve nothing. It'll just make people more divided.

[flor de jasmim]

8. Listen to Obama talk about religion and politics (video link provided)

Obama makes it clear that government needs people of all religions, but speaks very clearly on the role religion should (and should not take). It's about 39 minutes long, but well worth watching.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5106891

[TwilightGardener]

9. I don't think Wright hates this country. I think he is angry, and criticizes it, and

thinks it's often unfair--but that's not hate. Anger is not hate, disappointment is not hate, criticism is not hate, railing against the powers-that-be and the way they run things is not hate, pointing out racial inequality where one sees it is not hate. Otherwise, I'm an America-hater too, by that definition. And I know how much I love this country, so that would be a totally false characterization.

[buff2]

14. I understand how he feels

But those tapes were offensive. It's not fair to blame us for what our ancesters did before us. WE had nothing to do with the cruel treatment against people of color. It makes me sick to see pictures like the ones Frencie posted. The thing that makes me angry is getting the blame for it. I wasn't there when that happened,it was way before my time.

[TwilightGardener]

24. Who cares if you're offended? Seriously. Unless you have walked

a mile in the shoes of the black pastor and his black congregants, unless you have lived their experiences, unless you know of which they speak, then who are you to say how they're wrong in their feelings? He obviously gives voice to the frustration and anger in his predominantly black flock--would you rather this frustration go unexpressed and boil over OUTSIDE the black church community? Would you rather the folks who belong to his church, and other black churches like it, NOT be allowed to vent in a safe place about what they perceive as unfairness in society? Is Wright hurting YOU if he complains about White America? Is there any evidence that his words are doing anything other than getting some knowing "amens" from the crowd--are they rioting in the streets after his sermons? Has Obama, after his association with Wright, EVER said anything racially derogatory about whites, Asians, Hispanics--does he write hate, legislate hate, speak hateful speech, treat his 99 white colleagues in the Senate, or his predominantly white electorate, with disrespect? This whole thing is so ridiculous, it blows my mind.

[buff2]

I know what you are saying

But why is it that everything we say,any opinion WE have we are not allowed to say it because we are accused of being "racist". Just like in one of my other posts I said "your boy" when talking about Obama and you would have thought I called him the N word. I never thought of it as a racial thing because a lot of people have referred to Hillary as "your girl". It's a double standard like I've never seen before.

[TwilightGardener]

42. It's a sensitive topic, and people overreact on both sides--the trick

is to not take it personally or use the interplay between supporters here to judge a campaign or a candidate. There are people who see race in everything, there are people who see sexism in everything, but to the vast non-blogging voting public, these "-isms" don't usually register unless it's extremely egregious or unfair. I've been called "sexist" many times in my criticisms of Hillary, but I know I'm not, and thus her supporters' opinions have no impact on my attitude towards her. And nothing we do or say here on DU ultimately matters in a macro sense anyway--water off a duck's back.

[buff2]

Too many take it personally

including me. My frustration over powers me I guess, like it does so many others. :hi:

[buff2]

33. I know what you are saying

But why is it that everything we say,any opinion WE have we are not allowed to say it because we are accused of being "racist". Just like in one of my other posts I said "your boy" when talking about Obama and you would have thought I called him the N word. I never thought of it as a racial thing because a lot of people have referred to Hillary as "your girl". It's a double standard like I've never seen before.

[Tribetime]

28. agreed

I can understand the anger and don't take it as be directed at me personaly. I know I've had it easier than others gaining employment etc., and to not acknowledge that would be lying to myself. If more people tried to understand why people feel the ways they do and acknowledge the differences and talk about them, will things ever change?

[LisaL]

51. And what did Natalee Holloway ever do to anyone?

[TwilightGardener]

57. Well, he was perhaps trying to make a larger point about that.

I didn't see that portion, but even I am fed up with the "missing white girl" phenomenon, frankly. It's just sensationalist cable air-filler. People die or suffer horribly or drop off the face of the earth every day, everywhere, but if they're white cheerleaders, stop the presses!!

[saracat]

15. Excellent argument and one that sees both beyone and beneath the

obvious argument int the Wright instance.

[Chef]

22. Race

I may agree with you but, it is the media and Obama's oponets that want to make him the "race candidate" al la Jackson/Sharpton. All one has to do is look at Southern Ohio to get the picture.

[Drachasor]

23. These are PARTS of two Sermons by Wright out of many hundreds

It is unfair to judge a man or his general preachings by such a small sample that was purposefully chosen for how radical it was.

I don't agree with what was said in those tapes either, but I would stop being friends with someone or stop valuing their opinion just because of a handful of statements.

[LisaL]

48. Yea. And it was it fair to judge Ferraro on a few things she said

about Obama?
Meanwhile Obama's pastor had a lot to say about Bill and Hillary, but it's not fair to judge him on that either, I suppose.

[Drachasor]

60. I've never said Ferraro was racist, nor have much. Her remark was at least racially insensitive

Her remark was also incredibly wrong and wrong-headed.

I agree with Obama's pastor being removed from any formal role in Obama's campaign, just like Ferraro was removed from her role in Clinton's campaign. Both Clinton and Obama have a responsibility to make sure their campaigns send out a clear and consistent message, and if people on the campaigns get in the way then they have to be handled in one way or another.

One of the big differences, however, is that Obama's former pastor hasn't come out on the news reiterating his controversial statements and saying he doesn't regret them or consider them wrong. Ferraro has done that regarding her statements.

IMHO, Obama also handled Wright's statements in a superior manner. He was in public and on the air; he didn't just release a statement.

[JTFrog]

27. Obama disagrees with Wright's inflammatory comments also. You intentionally ignore that to

continue the bullshit premise that he is somehow acting hypocritical or agrees with Wright about everything the man has ever said.

"The point is that people of all colors have suffered on this planet from time in memoriam, and if we don't move beyond this to change that for the future we will never survive as a species."

Glad to see that you do agree with Mr. Obama. He has repeated this over and over again, but apparently to his opponents, it's only sincere if it comes from someone else.

Obama didn't pull his religion into this, the media did. He responded to it the way a true leader would respond.

*edit spelling.

[LisaL]

45. True leader?

He seemed to be quite proud of his pastor before. Now he is rejecting what his pastor was saying? I am supposed to believe that in 20 some years Obama never knew what Dr. Wright's views are?
Even though he supposedly goes to church regularly?

[JTFrog]

58. No, I can tell by your tone that nothing will make you believe anything other than what you want

to believe. His pastor is more than just the few sound bites that the media has chosen to play to the rabid crowds. You don't know this because you don't know the man and you yourself haven't sat in his church for twenty years. Your comments come from a place of ignorance and intolerance. Like Obama said, if all he had ever known about Wright was the few minutes of the man's life that the media chose to show, he himself would have been shocked. But he never said that he isn't proud of his pastor overall nor that he rejected the man.

[Drachasor]

61. Believe it or not, you can choose to believe 95%+ of what someone says, and not believe the rest

[RestoreGore]

65. He disagreed with them after they surfaced

And actually, I don't see the words I wrote as sincere coming from ANY politician..Even Obama especially as I have no record to prove otherwise, and now knowing he knew of this man's words about America and still chose to be so close to him. And sorry, he responded as a politician caught in something he had to get out of. That is politics.

[JTFrog]

75. So he was supposed to disagree with something he wasn't there to witness?

Of course he disagreed after they surfaced. Everyday another stunning post comes along to convince me that people really do cross over from alternate universes.

And I've seen you consider at least one politician's words sincere before. Here you go whittling away at your credibility again.

[RestoreGore]

76. And why would he disagree publicly if he listened to it for twenty years?

Because NOW he is running for president... So don't sit there and try to make me believe he had absolutely no idea of this man's hatred and anger for America in the twenty years he attended that church. And that "politician" you elude to in regards to me was not a "politican" but a public servant to me, and is now a private citizen. There is a distinct difference in the two to me. Therefore, so much for your BS characterization of me as always as you always try to make it personal. You never disappoint with your bitter responses.

[JTFrog]

79. And you mischaracterize the man as having nothing but hatred and anger for America.

The man is passionate about his beliefs and about the injustices done to his race and most of what he says is dead on. Not easy to swallow, whether you were responsible for it or not. It's fact.

This rabid desire to latch onto something and twist and turn it into some imaginary bone to gnaw on is beyond ridiculous. It's disgusting and divisive in and of itself.

What do you know about this man and his service to the country? All you can do is spew hate and bile against something you have no first hand experience with.

[RestoreGore]

80. No, that would be the ones spouting hate

And those like you who need to take every post you read and twist it to suit your own bitterness. What do you have against someone giving their opinion here? You don't like it, go elsewhere. And as a matter of fact, if you agree that this country should be damned you then are one who has no perspective on separating the country as opposed to the govt that has done these things. It is not AMERICA that should be damned, it is those destroying it that should have our outrage, but God forbid anyone dare to point that out to people so rabidly wrapped up in their hatred that they cannot see that. Such a shame as well that he and I am sure many others are using that hate to spread it to the younger generation instead of working to mend the breech. But I will remember your defense the next time I read of a hateful RW preacher railing the same way when they are condemned by you simply becasue they aren't associated with your candidate. You can't have it both ways. Hate is hate no matter which side of the fence it comes from.

[JTFrog]

82. You already know what you can do with your holier than thou crap.

[stillcool]

31. "Blacks" want to turn this into race?

December 10, 2007
Third Clinton Volunteer Knew Of Smear E-Mail
A third volunteer for Hillary Clinton's campaign was aware of a propaganda e-mail alleging that Barack Obama is a Muslim who plans on "destroying the U.S. from the inside out."
"Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential Candidacy," the email reads. "Please forward to everyone you know. The Muslims have said they Plan on destroying the U.S. from the inside out, what better way to start than at The highest level."

Two Clinton volunteers, Linda Olson and Judy Rose, have already been asked to resign from the campaign for their roles in forwarding the e-mail. The AP reported yesterday that Olson, a volunteer coordinator in Iowa County, sent a version of the e-mail to 11 people, including Ben Young, a regional field director for Chris Dodd's campaign. Young passed it on to the AP.
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/12/third_clinton_v.html

Kerrey Apologizes to Obama Over Remark
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4031436
Kerrey's mention of Obama's middle name and his Muslim roots raised eyebrows because they are also used as part of a smear campaign on the Internet that falsely suggests Obama is a Muslim who wants to bring jihad to the United States. Obama is a Christian.

The Clinton campaign has already fired two volunteer county coordinators in Iowa for forwarding hoax e-mails with the debunked claim. Last week, a national Clinton campaign co-chairman resigned for raising questions about whether Obama's teenage drug use could be used against him, so Kerrey's comments raised questions about whether the Clinton campaign might be using another high-profile surrogate to smear Obama.

Hillary: Sorry for Any Offense Campaign (Bill) Has Caused
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB65wJ6Rcfs

Bill Clinton Asks for a Second Chance
By Liz Halloran
Posted February 11, 2008

The morning after his wife, Hillary, was routed in three state contests by Sen. Barack Obama in their dead-heat battle for the Democratic nomination, former President Bill Clinton made his case for her before a packed Sunday service at one of the largest black churches in Washington, D.C.
But first he offered an apology of sorts for racially tinged comments he made about Obama and his candidacy that have triggered a backlash in the black community and among many other Democrats.

Clinton invoked his "worship of a God of second chances" in pronouncing himself glad to be at the Temple of Praise, which claims nearly 15,000 members. His invocation of second chances echoed comments he made early last week at black churches in California, where he campaigned for his wife before that state's Super Tuesday primary, which she won.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/02/11/bill-clinton-asks-for-a-second-chance.html

Bill Clinton To Apologize At LA Black Churches
Once again, Bill Clinton is ready to repent.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/02/bill-clinton-to-apologize_n_84573.html
On Sunday the former president is scheduled to visit black churches in South Central Los Angeles, where he's expected to offer a mea culpa to those who "dearly loved him" when he was their president, Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) says.
Watson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who has endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), tells us she'll usher the former president to more than half a dozen churches in her district where she says he needs to "renew his relationship" with congregants who were turned off by his racially tinged
comments in the days leading up to and following the South Carolina primary. (Such as when Clinton compared Sen. Barack Obama's landslide victory to Jesse Jackson's wins in 1984 and 1988.)

http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=30629&cat=5
Clinton Camp Pushes O-Bomber Links: Ignores Her Own Radical Ties
By: Justin Rood

ABC News - The Hillary Clinton campaign pushed to reporters today stories about Barack Obama and his ties to former members of a radical domestic terrorist group -- but did not note that as president, Clinton's husband pardoned more than a dozen convicted violent radicals, including a member of the same group mentioned in the Obama stories.

"Wonder what the Republicans will do with this issue," mused Clinton spokesman Phil Singer in one e-mail to the media, containing a New York Sun article reporting a $200 contribution from William Ayers, a founding member of the 1970s group Weather Underground, to Obama in 2001.

In a separate e-mail, Singer forwarded an article from the Politico newspaper reporting on a 1995 event at a private home that brought Obama together with Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, another member of the radical group.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4330128&page=1

http://graphics.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20080112_nevada_lawsuit.pdf
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/a-feisty-bill-clinton-defends-nevada-lawsuit/
CLINTON ALLIES SUPPRESS THE VOTE IN NEVADA...
On Meet the Press on Sunday, Hillary Clinton said her campaign had nothing to do with a lawsuit--written about by Nation Editor Katrina vanden Heuvel--that threatens to prevent thousands of workers from voting in the Nevada caucus on Saturday.
Back in March, the Nevada Democratic Party agreed to set up caucus locations on the Vegas strip for low-income shift workers, many of them members of the state's influential Culinary Union, who commute long distances to work and wouldn't be able to get home in time to caucus. It was an uncontroversial idea until the Culinary Union endorsed Barack Obama and the Nevada State Education Association, whose top officials support Clinton, sued to shut down the caucus sites.
The Clinton camp played dumb until yesterday, when President Clinton came out in favor of the lawsuit.
Clinton's comments drew a heated response from D. Taylor, the head of Nevada's Culinary Union, on MSNBC's Hardball. "He is in support of disenfranchising thousands upon thousands of workers, not even just our members," Taylor said of Clinton. "The teachers union is just being used here. We understand that This is the Clinton campaign. They tried to disenfranchise students in Iowa. Now they're trying to
disenfranchise people here in Nevada, who are union members and people of color and women."
Rank-and-file members of Nevada's teachers union also come out against the lawsuit filed by their leadership. "We never thought our union and Senator Clinton would put politics ahead of what's right for our students, but that's exactly what they're doing," the letter stated. "As teachers, and proud Democrats, we hope they will drop this undemocratic lawsuit and help all Nevadans caucus, no matter which candidate they support."
The lawsuit's opponents make a persuasive point. Creating obstacles to voting is what the GOP does to Democrats, not what Democrats should be doing to other Democrats.

Clinton adviser steps down after drug use comments
Earlier Thursday, Clinton personally apologized to rival Obama for Shaheen's remarks.
Obama accepted her apology, according to David Axelrod, the top political strategist for the Obama campaign.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/13/clinton.obama/index.html

January 6, 2008, 5:18 pm
Edwards: No Conscience in Clinton Campaign
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/edwards-no-conscience-in-clinton-campaign/
By Julie Bosman
KEENE, N.H. – John Edwards angrily took on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at two news conferences in a row on Sunday, saying that her campaign “doesn’t seem to have a conscience.”

COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign tried to mend ties to black voters Thursday when a key supporter apologized to her chief rival, Barack Obama, for comments that hinted at Obama's drug use as a teenager. The candidate herself, meanwhile, praised the Rev. Martin Luther King and promised to assist with the rebirth of this troubled, largely black city.

Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, apologized for comments he made at a Clinton campaign rally in South Carolina on Sunday that hinted at Obama's use of drugs as a teenager.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-17-johnson-apology_N.htm?csp=34

Clinton Surrogate Compares Obama Ad to Nazi March
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080201/cm_thenation/45278988_1
Fri Feb 1, 2:23 PM ET
The Nation -- On a media conference call organized by the Hillary Clinton campaign today, Clinton surrogate Len Nichols compared an Obama health care ad to Nazis.
----------
Accusing political opponents of Nazism is an outrageous smear. Raising the specter of a Nazi march in response to a health care mailer that evokes the insurance industry is so absurd, it would be hard to take the attack seriously, were it not launched from a high profile national campaign conference call in this crucial stretch of the presidential race. And political observers know, of course, that the Clinton Campaign regularly arranges opportunities for surrogates to launch these kind of smears, which are later followed up with apologies. (See: Bob Johnson, Bill Shaheen, Bob Kerrey, and Francine Torge, to name the most recent offenders.) For his part, Nichols did not immediately return a call requesting further comment.
-------------------------
Len Nichols, Director of New America's Health Policy Program, stated, "For nearly 17 years I have worked tirelessly to reform our nation's struggling health system. Today my passion overwhelmed me. I chose an analogy that was wholly inappropriate. I am deeply sorry for any offense that my unfortunate comments may have caused.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk1k0nUWEQg

[bellasgrams]

52. Clinton did not make 1 racist remark. It has been intentionally

twisted and maligned to make Clinton appear to look racist and everyone knows of all the people in politics he nor Hillary would never do that. It would be like slapping their best friends in the face, and offending their most ardent supporters over the years. Nope, no way no how would the Clintons EVER, EVER use race as a weapon.

[GoldieAZ49]

40. character, judgment, and truth.

all lacking in Obama

He planned his campaign to be intentionally vague. Fortunately we have found out, but it may be to late.

“I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views,” Mr. Obama wrote in “The Audacity of Hope, his I’m-running-for-president book. “As such, I am bound to disappoint some, if not all, of them.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/us/politics/24obama.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1204250736-OyKeIHRcnJN5NQfgBvbzOw&oref=slogin


I am disappointed and Obama knew I would be. What exactly are Obama's views? We have heard what he doesn't agree with, can he not provide the church videos of what he does agree with? If not, his denouncement is just more political rhetoric.

No to the Pastor in Chief.

[buff2]

43. He might win this nomination

But he will NOT win the Presidency.There will be a whole lot of people who will sit this one out or vote for McLame.

[GoldieAZ49]

47. my mom and sister have already decided to vote for McCain

for my sister it will be the first time in her life to vote republican.

I have yet to decide. Living in Arizona it probably will not make a difference.

[buff2]

54. This is what I've been afraid of

We will probably be handing the WH to the repukes again if Obama is our nominee. My sister said she is staying home and most of the rest of my family are republicans anyway. It makes me sick,but what can we do? I hate the thought of that McCain winning. We are really screwed.

[bellasgrams]

59. I'm hearing the same. I think the powers that be are in hopes

this will blow over but I can tell you the people I've spoken to in the past few days have been scared off. If BO gets the nod, they will vote against him. Not a vote FOR McCain, but a vote against the worst of the two.

[buff2]

63. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop

You know they are digging up more tapes......but the next ones will be showing Obama and his family sitting there in the pews when he is going off on his rants. Won't THAT go over big with the voters?

[angie_love]

64. Yeah b/c a guy who says he hates "gooks" and calls chelsea clinton

"ugly" is somehow better than Obama. A guy who cheats on his first wife when she became crippled after a car accident and leaves her for his stepford wife. Yes thats surely the less "evil" of the two. I'm alarmed by the dumbness of some of you.

[Cameron27]

46. It's about issues of race, and politics, and feminism

all delivered from the pulpit. These are valid concerns that are leftover from 70's, and they deserve ernest discussion, but that's not Wright's intention. He doesn't want reconciliation, he's flamboyantly feeding off of old wounds, taunting and mocking & fanning the flames, while probably making a hefty income in process. He's preaching a philosophy and theology of divisiveness, but where do you go from there? How do you start to heal old wounds when someone continually pours salt in them?

[GoldieAZ49]

55. to young people that have never had the anger Wright does

he seems intent to pass it on to future generations so America in general and the democratic party cannot heal and present a united front.

Obama says he wants to do this, but clearly Michelle has Wright's attitude, and they have children in the church listening to this.

[angie_love]

62. Um how does Michelle have Wright's attitude?

Do you even care about substantive issues? To even consider voting for McCain wow, is this your first election? Somehow I'm not buying that you're a democrat.

[bellasgrams]

67. I've also mentioned the fact that the kids hear those remarks,

just like BO did as he was growing up. The feelings of hate will keep growing in the children. Why do people go to these so called churches? How can they leave there without a chip on their shoulder. I went to the Palm Sunday service and like always, you leave there spiritually uplifted. We never hear homilies of hate or anger. It's about love. Love of the Lord, love your neighbor, help the downtrodden and so forth. I've never heard a hateful message in church. To me it's just unbelievable anyone would attend a 'church' like this one. Does Oprah also attend this church?

[LaurenG]

74. It's the truth stated in an emotional manner

I understand exactly what he's saying. He's sick of the SAME things we all are and since he happens to be AA he used the term white men. Had I said it I may have said old white men. I'm white so is it OK if I say it but not him? He's talking about the "man" whatever color and had a group of AA's enslaved and oppressed him and his ancestors he would have used that term I'm sure.

My kids need to know how much damage we as a nation have done and they particularly need to know just how bad we once were and that we aren't enlightened yet.

I agree with Michelle as well, how can one be proud of their country right now? We are despised in many places around the world and it's this administrations fault. She's looking toward change as I am. I can't wait to get this gut wrenching 8 years behind us.

[The Wielding Truth]

66. Wright is disgusted with the way US has dealt with the middle east

in the past and how white US has misdealt with minority rights. His remarks were out of frustration and an obvious connection to 9/11. He ranted to his congregation out of the need for the truth as he and many see it.

Barack is not of the same frame of mind. He sees the racism in this country but he sees another way to deal with it . Unity and Hope is his proposal and we sure need another answer than what has been given to us by the Republican Sellout crowd.

It is about race and the reaction by those disenfranchised.

[KaptBunnyPants]

68. Racial slavery is a fact.

And the systematic campaigns to disenfranchise and otherwise suppress black people never really ended. Though I, for one, agree with campaigning about class issues, as they are the most uniting across gender, ethnic, and religious lines, to simply refuse to see racial perspectives does not mean that they don't exist. Then anger and resentment won't just go away, especially when much of the civil rights era advances have been steadily pushed back over the years. Just look at the breakdown of prison rates.

* White males: 736 per 100,000
* Latino males: 1,862 per 100,000
* Black males: 4,789 per 100,000

I'm mad and I'm not even black. Any honest accounting of America from the black perspective would lead one to believe it is a nightmare. To his credit, Barack has not tried to divide people on racial lines. But when he is attacked for having black friends, for going to a black church, because the people he knows don't love the America which has not been good to them, it is untrue to say that this is not a racist attack. Black people aren't happy with America. Increasingly, neither is anyone else. This is a good thing, because it allows us to change those things which are still wrong and getting worse.

[emilyg]

73. k/r

[cooolandrew]

77. Did America looked blessed in Katrina or in shock and awe or in the kkk or during selma , NAH

If you marched with MLK you seem to of not known the reason why. Race keeps coming up because one side is not listening not helping enough.

[RestoreGore]

78. I was a child then and I knew why

Don't tell me what I did and didn't know. As a child I looked up to him as a man fighting against great injustice, and had people in my family who did march for him and the cause of racial equality. Not all of us fall into the pidgeonholes people here make to make themselves look superior. And I firmly believe that for some race keeps coming up because they want it to.

[sandnsea]

81. The point is that it is not "time in memoriam", it's 2008

And this country is still racist and every mother fucking time somebody points it out, white Americans like you get all riled up and refuse to accept what is happening TODAY. So excuse me if I don't think a whole hell of a lot about your tears forty fucking years ago.

You either never gave a shit about racism or you've decided your adoration of Hillary is more important.

[IsItJustMe]

87. As a Rush Limbaugh Democrat, I fully support this OP.

:sarcasm:

[twelve roses]

89. I disagree. Blacks do not want to turn it into a race war

It is whites from DU who are pretending to be suffering and are magnifying comments making them seem racial in order to give Obama a boost.