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Obama’s Sister Souljah Moment
Having watched Wright's performance in Washington on Monday, Obama said, "What became clear to me was it was more than just him defending himself. What became clear to me was he was presenting a world view that contradicts who I am and what I stand for. And what particularly angered me was his suggestion that somehow my previous denunciations of his remarks were political posturing. Anybody who knows me, and anybody who knows what I'm about, knows that I'm trying to bridge gaps and that I see the commonality in all people."
Obama made it clear that he felt disrespected by Wright, as well as shocked and outraged by Wright's comments. He even suggested that he was considering leaving Trinity, although he had not yet spoken to Wright's successor, the Rev. Otis Moss, about his position. "I'll be honest: this obviously has put strains on that relationship, not because of the members or because of Reverend Moss, but because this has become such a spectacle," Obama said. "And, you know, when I go to church, it's not for spectacle. It's to pray and to find a stronger sense of faith. It's not to posture politically. It's not to hear things that violate my core beliefs."
Obama's aides have long resigned themselves to their inability to influence Wright and his behavior. But what they could control was Obama's own response. When Wright's rants first emerged several weeks ago, Obama tried—in his own words—to "construct something positive" out of the controversy, in the form of his Philadelphia speech on race in America.
Now Obama was faced with the spectacle of his former pastor, whom he suggested was feeling angry about the media attacks and finding it difficult to retire from his church. "I understand he has gone through difficult times of late and he's leaving his ministry after many years," Obama said. "And that may account for the change. But the insensitivity and outrageousness of his statements and his performance in the question-and-answer period yesterday I think shocked me, and it surprised me."
Whatever happens to the Reverend Wright story now, one thing is clear: the long relationship between the pastor and the politician is forever changed. And Obama has had to spend yet another day trying to regain the narrative of his campaign.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: powin @ 05/12/2008 1:57:16 PM
Comment: Jack3213 WROTE: "WHO [EVER] FAVORS INTELLIGENCE, CREDIBILITY, AND EXPERIANCE? --THOSE WHO FAVOR MCCAIN.... FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE THINGS WILL "CHANGE" --DAY ONE-- IF A DEMOCRAT WERE ELECTED SHOULD KNOW THAT WITH A DEMOCRAT DAY ONE MIGHT CHANGE SOMETHING AND THAT SOMETHING IS: HIGHER TAXES, GREATER SECURITY RISK, UNACCEPTABLE HEALTH INSURANCE, AND A WEAKER ECONOMY"
Dear Jack3213,
It's obvious that Change in the economy, health care coverage, homeland security and the tax code will not happen on day one. That's indisputable. What is also indisputable is that Senator McCain is intelligent and experienced; he is, and so are his democratic opponents, Senators Clinton and Obama, alike. The credibility of anyone running for office, however, including John McCain, is speculative, at best. If a democrat is elected (and Senator McCain is not allowed to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor), your drawn conclusion that a weaker economy will follow is rash and reflects your own insecurity. No economist, Milton Friedman, included, can augur or foretell this from an election. That nearly 50 million Americans have no health care coverage is already unacceptable. Voters are not privy to Homeland Security, so your prediction, on that matter is weak and of little or no practical value. Any drawn conclusions, humble or immodest, are burdened by misanthropic musings and made obscured by character assassination.
Posted By: howiefineman @ 05/12/2008 5:33:06 AM
Comment: haha the biggest haters are the ones responsible for the republicans being in office in the first place: The NOBLE SPEAKING EVER RESPECTFUL BEVERAGE CHALLENGED TEDDY KENNEDY, THE RESPECTFUL AND EVER LOYAL LOST IN A LANDSLIDE TO TRICKY DICK OF ALL PEOPLE GEORGE MCGOVERN, HAMAS LOVING JIMMY CARTER, SWIFT BOATED JOHN KERRY, JUST NOW SLITHERING OUT FROM UNDER A ROCK JOHN EDWARDS, VENGEANCE IS MINE I WILL CAST THE DECIDING VOTE AL GORE, YEEEEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAW HOWARD DEAN, ZERO DELEGATE WINNING DODD, NEVER EVEN GOT OFF THE BENCH BILL BRADLEY, FIRST SENATE LEADER IN HALF A CENTURY TO BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE TOM DASCHEL AND WHO THE HELL CARES BILL RICHARDSON. haha if any of these gyne envy phallically challenged MEN? had done their job this country wouldnt be in this mess. THEY are the ones responsible for BUSH. THEY are the ones responsible for the mess the Democratic Party is in. THEY are the ones responsible for knocking out Senator Clinton because BANTAMWEIGHT BARRY couldnt. Clinton has had their t*ts in a ringer for 16 MONTHS and they still havent been able to do it. hahaha and theyve got the DNC and MSM and all the obamabots helping them out. GOD BLESS AMERICA. oops i mean NO, NO, NO, GOD DAMN AMERICA OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT BY OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN SPIRITUAL ADVISOR TO OBAMA CRAZY OLD UNCLE JEREMIAH WRIGHT. Hahaha
Posted By: Concerned Canadian @ 05/11/2008 1:48:15 AM
Comment: With all those Chicago underworld connections and rich , powerful Arab businessmen , oh, can't forget Oprah , financing the Obama machine it sure makes John McCain's wife with all that beer money look like good ol fashioned American apple pie.