Rev Wright video.... this HELPS obama... and here's why...

[Essene]

"US of KKK-A."

A desperate last minute attempt to make the election about race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_D3bZg7uWQ

Obama wont lose any votes & Mccain wont gain any. Nor is this going to help turn-out for Mccain.

All this seems to do is HIGHLIGHT RACISM in america... and show Wright speaking out against it. Wright was always a better bogeyman than a real scandal which is why the GOP waited to the last moment. I think even white americans who havent fully worked out racism in their minds will realize this is just a nasty ad and wrong on some level. Even BIGOTS will recognize this is an attack on an angry black man for speaking out about racism.

Here's my prediction.

Any Mccain supporter or bigoted undecided voter who is really disturbed by this ad is going to be less inclined to vote. All this ad does is increase their sense of paralysis and alienation. Think about it. This issue isn't new and all this ad does is throw Wright's "US of KKK-A" comment in their face... knowing that Obama is probably about to get elected. These are people who feel under siege by a liberal media, by minorities, by a liberal society, etc. They feel victimized. This won't motivate these people to vote. Just the opposite.

Sure... white America is VERY uncomfortable with angry black men. But as the pundits like to say, "Obama crossed the threshold" on character a while ago. Americans are tired of the political ads. They are burnt-out on politics. They are burnt-out on the negative stuff. The only thing this ad does is stir up emotions... both in terms of fear of "blacks" and in terms of frustration with the tone of the election.

If there is any impact, it will undermine Mccain's turn-out and help push some undecided voters towards OBAMA.

It also solidifies the determination of Obama voters.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. It also shuts up the assclowns who say he's Muslim...

...like that old loon at the McCain rally (although I doubt she's sane enough to know).

[Essene]

4. i think those "beliefs" are more about rationalization than real ignorance

...folks WANT to believe this non-sense. They dont really care about the truth.

The specifics don't matter. Muslim. Black christian church "radicals." Terrorist. They don't care about the specifics and how they work out.

The folks who spew and buy this stuff are just generally trying to rationalize their dislike for him.

It's all rooted in a core fear about what he represents.

I don't think it "shuts up" any of these people. Rather, i think it just makes many of them feel that much more ALIENATED and powerless. This is good in terms of the GOTV dynamics for today, but it also indicates a deeper problem we have in America which isnt going away.

[NC_Nurse]

2. I think it serves to remind folks of Obama's eloquent speech on race and

how he deals so well with hot-button issues. I was amazed at his cutting through the divisiveness to
reach out to everyone on both sides of the issue and talk about it in a way that gains cooperation and compassion
from folks who would honestly like to get past the hate.

That's what it brings to mind for me. Rev. Wright never struck me as scary anyway. I think that those who see him that way are already living in fear.
They think inclusiveness means that they lose. I don't believe that.

[Essene]

8. unfortunately, i dont think many are familiar with his race speech... but it doesn't matter now

His actions and dignity during the last month says volumes.

A lot of white america expects a black politician to be in their face, angry, reactionary, etc. They expected him to take the bait and may have even wanted to see him fail on some level (and i mean democrats too, to be frank).

He broke through all of that at some point in the last month. He's serious. He's not divisive.

Only a small portion of the GOP base is grasping onto this fear mongering, and I'm convinced that most of the people repeating that nonsense know it's bogus. They just repeat it with an evil wink in their eyes. Some of those people won't vote at this point.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. I tend to agree....

I must admit, I have remained part of the "ignorance is bliss" crowd about many aspects of this campaign, especially during the primaries when it started to get really nasty. While not proud of staying out of the fray, I can at least put myself in the position of the vast majority of Americans who are also not hyperaware of news and issues as we tend to be at DU.

The Palin mob exposed the racism which remains in this country (white on black...there are many forms). I didn't get into the whole Wright brouhaha earlier...just caught bits and pieces...but since it didn't seem to stick, I didn't try to understand it in its entirety. There were too many other issues to become educated about so I could then educate others.

Seeing the ads running now (in NC), I agree that they seem to confirm racism...not a denouncement of America in general. It's a denouncement of racism, not America.

I don't think it sways anyone to McCain's camp; just the opposite. And this is especially true in NC, given Dole's "godless" idiocracy.

[Essene]

13. "It's a denouncement of racism, not America. " - exactly

Let's not kid ourselves.

Some whites will hear "US of KKK-A" and insist that's anti-white if not simply anti-america. But obviously the majority of americans arent buying this, and i do not think the undecided voters buy into it (or they wouldnt be undecided).

[Gman]

5. I think it motivates the Black vote to turn out even more

or reminds them to be sure to go vote.

The intent of the video and the entire Wright issue has been nothing short of "if you elect Obama you'll get this n****r shit." Blacks know full well the real meaning of this video. It's also an old issue that Whites have resolved long before now. It won't change any White voter's vote. But I think it sure as hell is a reminder to Blacks why they need to go vote.

[Essene]

6. blacks, white, jews, latinos, asians, etc... and all those who reject this non-sense

I dont think this will solidify black turn-out any more than it already was solidified. :)

If anything, it just helps a handful of really busy working folks face long lines or whatever it takes.

[meow mix]

7. going down openly race-baiting.. stay classy GOP

:puke:

[NYC Liberal]

9. And it's not McCain's ad...but people will think it is and be turned off

We already went through this shit...and it didn't stick then and it won't now. People are sick of it.

[Essene]

10. Doesn't matter if it's the RNC, Mccain or a floating group

As you say, we've been through this.

[RCinBrooklyn]

11. Sadly, his grandmother's funeral will shut up the bigots too.

[Essene]

12. the fear and alienation driving those feelings...

isn't going away.

i think many folks will start to warm up to the idea of a future america that's diverse but the underlying alienation among a lot of pastoral-leaning america will persist for many years to come... post-obama presidency.