Obama Seeks to Stop Wright Coverage ‘Loop’
Tuesday: Barack Obama delivers a speech in Philadelphia on race, politics and unifying the country. (AP Photo)
As Barack Obama wrapped up his ambitious speech on race, politics and the historical origin of his longtime pastor’s heated sermons Tuesday, advisers questioned whether he had achieved a simple and practical objective: halting the “loop.”
The “loop” is the barrage of anti-American invective from Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. that has saturated national television for the past week.
Obama has vigorously disavowed Wright’s inflammatory remarks, but in Tuesday’s speech refused to disavow the pastor himself or the 20-year relationship he’s had with him. Some political observers say the Illinois senator still has some more mending to do.
“I think it goes on,” National Public Radio national correspondent Juan Williams said of the controversy.
Williams, a FOX News analyst, questioned why Obama allowed himself to remain publicly associated with Wright. He said Obama did not address the “judgment and character” issues that he’s running on.
“I think he had to take responsibility … and that’s what he didn’t do,” Williams said.
But CitizenJane.com Editor Patricia Murphy said it’s too late for Obama to try to divorce himself completely from Wright.
“There’s no way he didn’t know the nature of that church. He knows what goes on there, both good and bad. If he were to denounce this church and leave this church right now, it would look like nothing more than political gamesmanship, and for somebody who is selling himself as an honest broker and trying to paint Hillary Clinton as someone cold and calculating, that will be totally unproductive,” Murphy said. “The horse has left the barn on that.”
GOP strategist Fred McClure praised the speech but said it’s no antidote for Obama’s pastor problems.
“The winds are going to keep swirling around Senator Obama as this campaign goes forward, even though he, I think, very strongly denounced the words of Reverend Wright,” he said.
For a solid week, Wright’s comments have been in heavy rotation, with sermon highlights showing Wright blaming the United States for HIV and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, rejecting the Clintons as anathema to the welfare of American blacks and portraying the country as institutionally racist.
Obama’s association with Wright, who officiated his wedding, baptized his children and served as his spiritual adviser, was developing as a potentially damaging credibility problem for his campaign of hope and change. The direct political effects of the relationship remain unclear, but some telling clues showed Obama had a pastor problem.
A Rasmussen survey taken from March 14-16 of 1,200 likely voters showed 56 percent of those interviewed were less likely to vote for Obama because of Wright’s comments.
Other national polls continue to show Obama and Hillary Clinton flirting with the lead in their ongoing fight to become the Democratic presidential candidate.
Seeking the quell the outcry, Obama condemned Wright’s statements on Friday, Saturday and again on Tuesday. But he walked a fine line, using his address to explain and give context to his pastor’s commentary.
“As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. … I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother,” Obama told an audience at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
He later added: “To simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.”
Crisis management consultant Mike Paul told FOX News that Obama needs to go a step further.
“Any time you are dealing with a crisis, you have to go to the root of the problem. The root here is the pastor. As those comments continue, the crisis will continue. Unfortunately, the rhetoric of the speech will not solve that,” he said.
Paul suggested Obama sit down with Wright and try to “melt his heart” and change his way of thinking. He said Obama needs to offer the public a “solution” to the controversy Wright has caused.
“That’s something that Barack Obama should be able to do as a potential president,” Paul said. “You’ve got to have a changed man come out.”
But Rev. Jesse Jackson told FOX News he thought the speech was effective.
“I thought he bared his soul today,” Jackson said, urging the candidates to return to the issues. “This campaign is ultimately about candidates, not surrogates and not about supporters.”
Obama is making a clear attempt to move back to issues, announcing what the campaign billed as back-to-back “major speeches” over the next two days on Iraq and the economy. He plans to speak on Wednesday in North Carolina and Thursday in West Virginia.
For her part, Clinton has not drawn attention to Wright’s sermons. On Tuesday, she said she didn’t hear Obama’s speech.
“I did not get a chance to see or read Senator Obama’s speech, but I’m very glad that he gave it,” she said in Philadelphia.
“It’s an important topic. Issues of race and gender in America have been complicated throughout our history,” Clinton said. “But we should remember that this is an historic moment for the Democratic Party and for our country. We will be nominating the first African-American or woman for the presidency of the United States, and that is something that all Americans can and should celebrate.”
Democratic strategist Tanya Acker, an Obama supporter, said she had no idea whether the speech would put the controversy to rest, but she downplayed the fact that Obama never explicitly disavowed Wright.
“What he tried to do is explain that some of those statements … he was really addressing a bitterness in the African-American community,” she said. “That may make other people feel uncomfortable, but it is truly there.”
FOX News’ Aaron Bruns and Major Garrett contributed to this report.
Maria stated:
As an Hispanic, I must say I am SOOOOO tired of all the whining! I have never LIKED Obama not because he is an African American, but because he is such a cry-baby!!!!!
Get over it! America is what YOU make of it! I come from a family of 10 children! My parents never ONCE took on food stamps! We were farm workers. I worked the fields when I was in 3rd grade! My parents knew, however, that our ticket out of there was a good education! Today, I am very proud to say that I have a Masters in Education. I paid my own pay through part-time jobs and scholarships!
There was plenty of “bad elements” while I was growing up, you name it it was there but we sacrificed and resisted the temptation of easy money. All of my brothers and sisters are working honest jobs and not one of us is on welfare! One of my brothers served this country in the military and is currently a border patrol. Three of my nieces and nephews are proudly severing in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea!
Obama does NOT represent me! I am a proud Independent! I vote the issues, and in MY opinion he is a LIAR and I can not believe how people still believe this man! He is a politician like the rest of them. I did not hear his speech and I don’t WANT to listen to it let alone READ it! He is NOT the authority on Race anymore than anyone else of ANY Race!
I have just as many stories as any other minority about being disenfranchised but you won’t find me whining about it! He needs to stop especially if he thinks he can represent ALL of America not just the Black community! and I am intelligent enough to know that not ALL people feel that way.
Alex wrote:
Good for you, Maria. Then I assume you’re intelligent enough to know that SOME people feel that way. Get over yourself. Also, could you provide evidence that Obama is a liar? I want evidence–not conclusory statements without any substantiation. Thank you.
I write:
Alex, are you living inside a box? A few days ago, Obama said that he has NEVER heard Rev. Wright speak like that during any sermon that he has attended. However, last night in his speech, he asked himself the question, did he sit in church and hear comments like the ones televised, and he answered YES. This means that he lied when a few days ago he said he never heard Rev. Wright talk like that when he attended church, but last night says he did hear him talk like that when he attended church. I would say that this is “national television” proof that Obama lied Alex
COMMENT BY ANGEL Thank You
Diane stated:
To AmandaM,
That is all Obama has done….talk!!! He is all talk and no substance!!!
You need to be talked to by an adult, then go listen to your parents.
I have to give you credit for at least having the common sense not to recommend talking to you if Amanda needs to talk to an adult. What kind of response is that? You want to discuss a statement with “no substance,” I would highly suggest reading your own post. LOL
AmandaM wrote:
Uh - did anyone at Fox News actually WATCH or READ the speech Sen. Obama made? It was one of the most complex, brilliantly honest, nuanced speeches ever given in modern American times. To try to reduce what he said to the Talking Points is, at this point, absurd. The man just engaged America is a serious, elevated discussion about race and you insist on playing in the sandbox.
This was an historic speech that will be discussed and studied for generations to come. If the speech has one deficiency it’s that it is impossible to reduce it to typical 6 second sound bites. It needs to be heard or read in its entirely. It deserves to be heard and read in its entirely.
We face very grown-up problems in America and the world today. Isn’t it time we had a leader who spoke to us like grown-ups?
Amanda, judging by the commentary from Hawk and others, I do not believe you’re going to get grown-up thoughts here. I agree with you. I am actually quite disappointed to see Fox actually choosing to post Hawk’s incredibly immature comments. I should have known than to expect more from Fox. Rock on, Amanda, and keep up the intelligent thoughts.
Comment by Aunt Sally
March 19th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Republicans are scared that if Obama wins the nominee they have no chance of winning. Fox can make this into a race war all they want, but America has spoken according to the numbers.
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I don’t think the Republicans are scared. They will use those tapes of Wright in there campaign ads agaist Obama.Also, Latinos will vote for McCain because he wanted to grant amnesty and because of the racial tensions between Blacks and Hispanics.
White conservatives and Lations will elect McCain as together they make up the majority of our population.
No Obama. Hillary or McCain for president!
This network is responsible for widening the split between white, black and brown in this country. Whenever you depend on Entertainers (Sean Hannity) to report opinion as fact it really goes to the credibility of FOX News.
It is not enough to split people into race, class and gender, but FOX continues to spew allegation as fact.
Fair and Balanced is a joke on this network. People come to this network to see how radicals put out propadanda as news.
The network that views OLLIE North (Iran-Contra scandal) as a viable analyst, it again goes to the credibility of this network.
I understand why Rush Limbaugh (Drug addict) calls his listeners “DITTO HEADS”, he knows they will act like sheep and believe what he tells them. Sean Hannity is a Limbaugh Wannabe.
I commend those that comment and challenge this network as the network of hate.
This is not American, it is the PROPAGAND NETWORK.
You know what’s funny about Barack being sworn in on the bible? If you look at his response to the question, he says he was sworn in on a “family” Bible. Based on his support of Mr. Wright’s racial sentiment, I’ve gotta wonder what kinda “Bible” the Obama family keeps in the house.
To blindly follow any man is a recipe for disaster. The issue here is much larger than just being in the audience of this church. For Obama, it was the place to be seen, the place to solidify his “base”, the place where the “high profile” people were. Now this “place” will haunt him for not being man enough to seperate himself, as Oprah did, from this place with it’s messenger and message of hate and division. Wright makes some good points that America has lost its moral compass, this is undeniable. But not to the exclusive expense of blacks as he suggests. A president must be, foremost, the president of all the country and all the people, not just his race, or creed, or religion or sex or sexual preference or political party or whatever diversity that makes them different or the same. The veil has been removed from what Obama holds close to his heart, and as the seperatist, racist of the Old South were, he is no different. The only “change” will be a new bunch of racist will be in charge.
Maria stated:
As an Hispanic, I must say I am SOOOOO tired of all the whining! I have never LIKED Obama not because he is an African American, but because he is such a cry-baby!!!!!
Get over it! America is what YOU make of it! I come from a family of 10 children! My parents never ONCE took on food stamps! We were farm workers. I worked the fields when I was in 3rd grade! My parents knew, however, that our ticket out of there was a good education! Today, I am very proud to say that I have a Masters in Education. I paid my own pay through part-time jobs and scholarships!
There was plenty of “bad elements” while I was growing up, you name it it was there but we sacrificed and resisted the temptation of easy money. All of my brothers and sisters are working honest jobs and not one of us is on welfare! One of my brothers served this country in the military and is currently a border patrol. Three of my nieces and nephews are proudly severing in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea!
Obama does NOT represent me! I am a proud Independent! I vote the issues, and in MY opinion he is a LIAR and I can not believe how people still believe this man! He is a politician like the rest of them. I did not hear his speech and I don’t WANT to listen to it let alone READ it! He is NOT the authority on Race anymore than anyone else of ANY Race!
I have just as many stories as any other minority about being disenfranchised but you won’t find me whining about it! He needs to stop especially if he thinks he can represent ALL of America not just the Black community! and I am intelligent enough to know that not ALL people feel that way.
Good for you, Maria. Then I assume you’re intelligent enough to know that SOME people feel that way. Get over yourself. Also, could you provide evidence that Obama is a liar? I want evidence–not conclusory statements without any substantiation. Thank you.
First of all, I am a Barack Obama supporter who has given him money via his website to help fund his campaign. However, the speech he gave yesterday did not relieve some of my doubts. Being the avid supporter that I am, I have to admit, I do not think he did enough, and actually, I feel I deserved more. Most of his points were valid; there is still very much hatred and racism in America. Racism and hatred is held within all of the diverse races and cultures that make up the melting pot, and these issues do need to be addressed and not dismissed.
I believe that Barack Obama’s relationship with Rev. Wright extends much farther than Sunday mass. I commend Barack for not disowning Rev. Wright. Yet, I do not know how he could logically disown the Reverend being that he had been attending his church for many years.
I do believe there are other reasons a person attends church outside of the teachings. A person may go to church to attain a sense of community and family in their lives, or they can use the time in church to reflect. A person can attend a church and not believe every statement made by the pastor, reverend, priest, and/or rabbi.
I believe Rev. Wright does have good qualities. I understand that Rev. Wright grew up in a time that racial discrimination and segregation were common practice. I understand how a person could carry the good and the hatred, and have problems with his own cognitive dissonance. However, for a person in power to make statements filled with such hatred, in front of thousands of people, knowing his speeches are being taped, it is hard for me to believe that these statements are not common practice among the church. It is also hard for me to believe that Barack Obama has not heard these hate-filled comments, and has allowed his children to be in the presence of this hatred.
I find Barack’s analogy comparing Rev. Wright’s comments and his grandmother’s comments a bit disparaging. A racial comment made by a grandmother to a few people in her family (in which she trusts and is comfortable with) is quite different than a person of power making such hateful racial comments to thousands of people.
Barack’s comment about Sunday being the most racially segregated day of the week due to the white people attending their churches and the black people attending theirs can be consider a discriminatory statement in itself. The segregation may be factual, but it is based on choice. The black people attend their churches just as the whites do because they choose to do so. It is not being mandated upon them by government or religion, but it is decision made out of personal choice.
Overall, I do believe Barack Obama is a decent man with the potential to make a great president. Yet, I now have concerns about his personal beliefs. The Reverend Wright’s comments, along with Michelle Obama’s Princeton paper and her comment about being proud of America for the first time do not ease the doubts I now have. Barack’s speech was eloquent and essential; however, I felt he needed to take Reverend Wright’s hateful comments and show how he disapproved and disagreed with them. Barack, tell me and show me what you believe and how those beliefs are different than the racially hateful comments spoken by Reverend Wright.