Obama has a very serious problem, he needs to forcefully repudiate Wright....

[ShaneGR]

Listen, this guy is off his rocker. Anyone who watches the videos of Wright today knows 90% of what he says is correct. It's the 10% that he completely SCREWS up that get played FOREVER. And trust me, the 10% he screws up is so bad, it outweighs the 90% he gets right.

Is this presidential race about race? Because if it is, we'll lose. It has to be about everything.

[ProSense]

1. Sorry, that's just nonsense!

When Fox Noise jumped on the clips, some people were freaking out, saying "Obama has to address this now." The idea was to end the controversy. Obama gave his speech on race, satisfying those who were nervous, but the media created another scandal out of his speech.

Fast forward 10 weeks, the never-ending smear on Wright (including Hillary during the debate) continues.

Wright has every right to defend himself. I think Dick Durbin speaking out against Wright last night, not having seen the speech, was folly. They keep doing the very thing that feeds the media assholes.

Two things Obama has said:

"He doesn't speak for me."

"He has every right to speak his mind."

What else does he need to say?

I hope Wright becomes a thorn in the side of his critics.

[cliffordu]

3. I was going to say that first !!! get out of my mind!!!

:hi:

[ShaneGR]

5. You need to watch the National Press Club Wright video, in full

And tell me that Wright is a good thing.

[ProSense]

17. Wright is a good thing, and

he also has nothing to do with Obama's campaign.

Speaking as someone who thought Bill Clinton was nuts to defend Bush on Iraq in the middle of the 2004 campaign, the media's wright frenzy is irrelevant.

In fact, this is the media's third attempt to try to manufacture outrage over Wright.

[RaleighNCDUer]

22. Maybe you need to examine just WHY he makes YOU nervous.

Maybe it's not him, but you.

[anigbrowl]

36. I did, and he is. Although...

...I am not Christian, I was raised that way and I am pretty knowledgeable about the Bible and theological matters. I very much doubt anyone who's a churchgoer would find serious argument with Wright over his remarks.

[wisteria]

20. I have to gently disagree with you on this.

Yes, Wright has a right to defend himself. But why now? And, why with a speech and book tour? Much of what he says is true, but why did he not wait until his opinion would have been viewed more seriously, when Obama is President? As it is now, he is being portrayed as over the deep end, vain, selfish and jealous of Obama's fame. Lost in all of this is his defense of himself and of his life's work. He is a smart man, he surely had to know this was going to reflect upon Senator Obama. I hope though, it has all been brought out now and there is nothing more to say after a few days. it will die in the primaries and not gain any traction in the general election.

[ProSense]

23. Why now? Did you see the ambush at ABC?

That had nothing to do with the speech last night.

I'm glad Wright is out there now. Clear the air. The last thing Obama needs is to have the media continue to nurture this lingering smear and spring it on him in a similar ambush during the GE.

Wright should speak up, the more visible the better.


The media is determined to make Wright an issue, with or without his presence. If what they did to Kerry is any indication, hoping it will go away if he keeps a low profile is wishful thinking.

He was scheduled to give a speech in FL a couple of weeks ago, they found out and publicized it until it was canceled. This smear has resulted in death threats. This is a BS media assault on a man who does not deserve this treatment.

Screw them!

[wisteria]

32. I agree to a point.

However, this could have waited until after the two primary's coming up. And, while his speech was decent last night the Press Club appearance today was strange with Wright making some crazy claims.
If the media over play this and it appears they are, this will be the end of using Wright against Obama in the GE. However, perception is everything right now, and the media has been praising and promoting Clinton. Obama did not need any more negative or any other distractions going into the coming primaries.

[Swamp Rat]

2. Not falling for it.

[lligrd]

4. What Did He Say That Was So Bad?

And why would Obama need to repudiate him at all? I don't feel a need to repudiate you.

[americanstranger]

6. No, he doesn't.

In a few days, it'll be all gone.

Chill.

- as

[Upton]

7. I don't know

what he should do. I agree with KO though, it appears as if Rev. Wright has thrown Obama under the bus. He didn't need to making this publicity tour for his book right before some crucial primaries. What is Wright thinking?

[OmahaBlueDog]

8. I'm basically neutral in the Obama / Clinton argument..

so I think I'll get flamed from both sides.

Obama should do what he'd done. My wife doesn't always agree with her pastor; a stunning percentage of US Catholics regularly disagree with the Pope. Why should Obama not say, "he's my pastor, we disagree sometimes."

[scarletwoman]

9. Wow. I'm totally amazed that you think this kind of shit is going to fly. (nt)

[annie1]

10. i think that would be awful. i think he should go with the crazy uncle thing...

everyone has people in their life that are a little loo-loo. and even if wright isn't totally loo-loo, better to go that route than repudiate the man.

[wurzel]

11. If it wasn't Wright it would be something else.

The media will destroy the Democratic nominee no matter who it is. Just wait to see what they do with HRC if she wins. The media did exactly the same to Carter, Dukakis, Gore, and Kerry. And they will keep on doing it.

[2rth2pwr]

12. "I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community." - Barack Obama

[ShaneGR]

14. Reverend Wright represents the black community? Excuse me if I missed that part.....

Because what Reverend Wright said today during the National Press Club video did NOT represent the black community. It represented Reverend Wright.

[2rth2pwr]

24. I didn't say it, Obama did.

[anigbrowl]

37. That's the voice of integrity talking, and I like it.

I'll take that over a pile of back-pedaling BS any day of the week. That doesn't Obama or I endorse every last thing Wright has had to say; disagreement and respect are not mutually exclusive.

[anonymous171]

13. Sadly, I agree.

[jackson_dem]

15. Too little, too late. He blew his chance in his race speech

Besides, how do you truly repudiate what you endorsed for two decades? Even Wright himself is all but saying Obama is lying to protect his political prospects in his statements on Wright.

[Maddy McCall]

26. He's between a rock and a hard place.

There's no way he can gracefully repudiate Wright.

And if he does nothing, he looks like he's condoning Wright.

[hans]

16. You're so wrong

Senator Obama has already said he could no more repudiate Rev Wright than denounce the whole black race. Rev Wright is a national treasure.

I'll remind you that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were only 90% right too. That bit about owning slaves made them at least 10% wrong, don't you think. Great leaders are never perfect. Both Rev. Wright and Barack Obama are close enough to suit me. Hans

[Binka]

30. Welcome Hans We Have Some Black/ White Thinkers Here..... Literally

It is more than a bit disconcerting.

[BeyondGeography]

18. Here's what he and his campaign said late today; if that's not enough for you, whatever

“He does not speak for me,” Mr. Obama said. “He does not speak for the campaign. He may make statements in the future that don’t reflect my values or concerns.”

“I think certainly what the last three days indicate is that we’re not coordinating with him, right?” Mr. Obama said.

...“Obviously, it’s not ideal,” said David Axelrod, Mr. Obama’s senior strategist. “It’s pretty clear that Reverend Wright is not out there to help Obama — he’s out there to help himself. It’s a sideshow, and the media is consumed by it.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/us/politics/29wright.html?hp

[anonymous171]

25. He needs to go on all the shows and SAY EXACTLY THAT repeatedly

[anigbrowl]

35. No, you need to get over your reflexive response

You're concerned because you care, which is good, but nobody ever failed because they weren't jittery enough, whereas a lot of people have failed because they weren't confident enough. Take a deep breath, remember what makes you feel positive about America's future in an Obama presidency, and channel THAT.

[ClassWarrior]

19. Another Corporate Media enabler.

:puke:

NGU.

[ret5hd]

21. Your deep and sincere concern is duly noted.

I am sure your upper lip is quivering as you type.

I hope you don't succumb to "the vapors" or have a fit of apoplexy!

Please take time to be kind to yourself and use a kleenex to dab the tear from your eye and the beads of sweat from your forehead!

oh yeah, i almost forgot:

:rofl:

[Life Long Dem]

27. I take it your influenced by the media very easily?

What about the speech on the weekend?

[madrchsod]

28. ..there`s a crazy black guy on the tv!

he`s scaring me ..... make him go away!

[Life Long Dem]

29. So, next week we all will see this nutty white woman on tv!

And then this old white man will be shaking everyones hands and we all will be looking at each other saying "doh!"

[AlinPA]

31. His speech tonight in Chapel Hill blew that junk away. I am sure he will

repeat those words that he used tonight, re: about flag pins, patriotism, his pastor, etc. perhaps in a TV ad.

[anonymous171]

33. Yes. He must repeat them constantly on every show he can get on

[anigbrowl]

34. No, it isn't about race, so just chill out

Voters can't rise to the occasion unless they're given the opportunity to do so. This is like saying Obama can't get on a bicycle without a helmet, kneepads, accident insurance, training wheels, and covering teh whole street in cotton wool unless something goes wrong. Man up, quit panicking, and control your feelings instead of trying to control your environment, which can only lead to frustration and failure.

[ShaneGR]

38. Kicking this, just because I was right and you were all wrong...

He did what I said he needed to do.

[Tennessee Gal]

39. It is possible that "forceful" is not available to Obama.