Pastor Creates ‘Guilt by Association’ Problem for Obama
File: Barack Obama with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor emeritus of Obama's congregation, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. (AP Photo)
Surrogates for Barack Obama on Sunday downplayed the significance of Obama’s relationship to a controversial pastor and suggested the discussion is a diverson from bigger issues in the Democrat presidential race.
“The fact of the matter is people would like to move on to other things,” said Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, characterizing remarks by Obama pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright as “outrageous,” but saying they are not relevant to Obama’s candidacy.
“He’s rejected it. He said no– he doesn’t have any association with it. He finds these comments outrageous,” Dodd, an Obama supporter and former presidential candidate, told “FOX News Sunday.” He added that “guilt by association is not typically American.”
But some political analysts say that comments by Wright could pose a major obstacle for Obama because unlike average Americans, politicians suffer from “guilt by association.”
“This is a man who he chose to be associated with. It’s not a family member. He chose to be associated with Reverend Wright and saw advantage in it. And that’s why he exploited it up to a point when he realized, especially when he was announcing, that he couldn’t have Wright by his side for the announcement in Springfield and now seeks to somehow distance himself. But it speaks to his character, and it speaks to the judgment which is the basis on which Barack Obama has been running his campaign. So I think it could be a big problem,” said National Public Radio national correspondent and FOX News contributor Juan Williams.
It also could suggest an insincerity by Obama, said conservative syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer.
“This, I think, is a huge story because it contradicts the whole persona and appeal of Obama as a man who transcends race,” Krauthammer said. “I think it ought to be explored a lot more deeply.”
Out on the campaign trail on Saturday, Obama was dogged by questions about comments made by his spiritual leader of 20 years, whose quotes have been sprayed over the news in the last several days.
At a town-hall meeting in Indiana, Obama said he was not in the pews when Wright said, for example, the U.S. is run by “rich, white people” or that the U.S. created the AIDS virus to kill African Americans. The Illinois senator said he “completely rejects” the preacher’s controversial sermons, including one in which he said the United States was asking for the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks because it had supported “state-sponsored terrorism” against black South Africans and Palestinians.
“Although I knew him and know him as somebody in my church that talked to me about Jesus and family and friendships but clearly, if all I knew were those statements I saw on television, I would be shocked,” Obama said.
Obama who is new to disavowing himself from the remarks, told his audience that people should speak up forcefully against comments like Wright’s.
On Sunday, the United Church of Christ defended Wright’s character.
“The Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.’s character is being assassinated in the public sphere because he has preached a social gospel on behalf of oppressed women, children, and men in America and around the globe,” wrote Rev. John H. Thomas, the church’s General Minister President in a press release.
Meanwhile, Clinton supporters are refusing to jump on the opportunity to attack Obama for his slow response. “I mean, as you know, I prefer Senator Clinton for a whole lot of reasons, but I don’t cast aspersions on Senator Obama for what somebody else said,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Voters should “accept what Obama has said and move on,” said Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.
The Clinton campaign may be following a well-known operating principle of politics, which is when an opponent is shooting himself in the foot, stand back and let him. According to the results of a new, four-day Rasmussen tracking poll out Sunday morning, Obama’s national lead has narrowed to just 3 points over Clinton.
“The Clinton campaign won’t touch this with a 10-foot poll, but they don’t have to. … It will dribble, dribble out for at least a few more days and in this Internet era there’s no limit to what you can” dredge up, said Democratic strategist Susan Estrich.
Estrich said plenty of more information will come up in the weeks leading up to the Pennsylvania and North Carolina primaries.
“I don’t know, this guy didn’t give just two bad sermons, nobody … does the wrong thing just twice,” she said. “We all have to fill space for six weeks, this is how we’ll fill it.”
According to pollster, Scott Rasmussen, the recent controversy and prolonged fight between the Democrats is also turning out to be a gift for presumptive Republican presidential nominee and Arizona Sen. John McCain, whose numbers are up. That’s a fear Democrats are hoping won’t be realized as the discussion over race and sex issues distract from their overall message of defeating McCain.
“I think we have to lift ourselves out of all of that. Look, we’re talking about running for president of the United States. We’re talking about the leader of the free world. We’re talking about the hopes, the aspirations of the American people being placed — and not like any other job in the world, placed on this person. And I think people are much more interested on the ideas, the vision, the judgment, the plans that people have. And that’s why people are drawn to both of these candidates,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking on ABC’s “This Week.” Pelosi has not yet stated her preference for the top of the party ticket.
Sen. Obama cannot be held responsible for Rev. Wright’s comments. However he can and should be held to how he responds and reacts to those comments.
A man of integrity,principal and character would not sit under these highly offensive statements for 20 minutes let alone 20 years. I feel sure Sen. Obama, during 20 years of membership, has heard many many comments similar to those broadcast recently.
Suppose Sen. McCain had been a member of the KKK for the last 20 years. Would the Obama supporters and the mainstream media say “just because he belonged to the KKK doesn’t mean that he agrees with what they say and do”?
Kick Obama to the curb. He’s deceptive and he’s not who he claims to be.
In my experience people actively involved in their church have very close ties to their pastor. There is no question in my mind Barack Obama has always understood his pastor’s positions and has not disassociated himself with him. This creates a huge void with respect to Obama’s decision making ability, credibility, and intentions for our country. What really concerns me is that a politician with this background has come so close to becoming president.
Is anyone to actually believe that Obama, after attending this guy’s church for 28 years has not heard any of these sermons before? Are we talking about an individual’s judgement here or what? Why did he ask the pastor a year ago to “back off” if he did not know this was going to be a problem?
Maybe his wife goes to church without him? I can now understand why she has not been “proud” of America before.
Just in church today, the people of our church were very concerned over a candidate Obama attending such a church; especially denying that he was in church when these sermons alledgedly occured. By the way our pastor never mentions politics nor does he influence who one should support. What does this say for Obama’s character, judgement and truely his religion to teach such hate of America and the white race? What does this say about his beliefs? If you do not agree with a religion or its teachings you do not attend a church for twenty years plus expose and teach your children this type of hate. You can not tell me that this just happened some of the time but generally most of his sermons were like this. Obama is very slick tongued that speaks with a forked tongue. He talks one way and does another thing. Your actions always will speak louder than words. Just keep your eyes and ears open. This entire race has been played on race. He thinks because he is black he can do and say anything he wants and get by, he thinks he is just like teflon, but this I do not think will slide off as easy. If things aren’t going his way he plays the race card to get the sympathy votes on his side. People need to stand up now and always for what is right for this country and he is definitely not the one we need in power for he does not have the character he tries to portray, nor the judgement this country needs to solve all these critical pressing issues. Every person in this country needs to stand up against blasphanist people like Obama and his likes. It is the squeekist wheel that gets the most attention. The American people do not ever need to let him forget about this mistake; one of many lapses in judgement. He has not earned to priveledge to run for this high office, he just disqualified himself.
This controversy will be the undoing of Barack Obama. I watched a “Fox” broadcast of an interview with Obama. He claims to have never have heard this kind of material from his pastor of 20 years. Please!
Do you believe that?
I think Obama is attempting to spin this problem. Truly, you are where you are and what you are because of what goes into your mind. This caustic, reverse racism will destroy Barack Obama’s support with fair-minded moderates.
Oh well, all’s fair in love and war.
Peace be with you,
Thomas DeMarco
People upset with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright need to get a grip. As a gay man, I have heard and read the words of preachers, pastors, priests, bishops, and even the current pope in his prior role of cardinal. Regularly, their words damn or consign me, and others like me, to hell. Many of them want me dead. Some of them are supporting Sen. McCain. Where is your outrage and indignation about that?
What was that? You never heard such words in church or anywhere else? Incredible! But that must explain, then, why you never said or did anything about them.
This should be a major issue for Obama. And the media should keep it front and center. Obama has been associated with Wright for 20 years and contributes financially to this church. Wright is his mentor, advisor, friend and minister. There is no way, whatsoever, Obama was not aware of his minister’s views, values and preachings.
Why does Obama refuse to wear the American flag pin? Why will he not put his hand on his heart when saying the pledge of allegiance to the American flag? Maybe the same hatred for American that Wright possesses?
I believe Obama has been an angry black man for those 20 years in association with Wright. and that anger has been instilled by Reverend Wright. Even the title of his book (inspired by Reverend Wright!) “The Audacity of Hope” is an angry title (is not audacity an angry word?). Is his wife, Michelle, not angry too? Listen to the anger in her speeches, see the anger in her face, hear the anger in her voice. It’s all the Obama’s anger about America’s past slavery history and their continual promotion of America being a racist country.
For this man to be running for President of the United States of America is beyond me. I believe he is a dangerously arrogant, angry man, possessing strong Socialist/Marxist principles. These are dark times for the United States of America.
Dodd’s dismissal of the hateful doctrine of Obama’s spiritual mentor, says a lot about his own weak stature as an American. Whether, Dodd or Obama really have any Christian faith, they must denounce the outright anger-filled pep rallies held at such a social gathering.
Such provocative political incitement has no place in a church professing to be following JESUS CHRIST.
Dodd’s statement of Obama’s exploitation of wright at the start of his campaigning says a lot about his present intentions and political facade. One does not follow a mentor for 20 years and not know that mentor’s moral fiber. And , there’s no way that the mentor would hide or lie to his protege about his beliefs and attitudes and church teachings on social interactions and relations. These speeches were clearly strongly embedded in the makeup of this man.
Dodd has given a weak political explanation for his own fiber.
Well if its guilt by association we americans are all a disingenuous bunch. By going along with this administration lies, half-truths, withholding of info and such you can only imagine how the world looks at us.