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.
Hmm, sounds like a giant Wright wing conspiracy
apinkn1 I didnt snope on of my charges and I am sorry for that but the rest STAND and are snoped! So still God Bless America and G.D. Obama!
Upon hearing Barack Obama latest revised explanation of his ties with Reverend Jeremiah Wright, I have been left with the singular thought that Obama is a gifted orator, who can talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk.
In his call for whites, blacks, hispanics, asians to rise above racial divides and come together as one, he makes glaringly obvious that if he truly believed in his own rhetoric he would not have remained a member of a church for the last 20 years led by such a hateful and bigotted reverend, let alone declare this reverend his spiritual leader and mentor. Reverend Wright and his ilk have justifiable, longstanding grievances, but also have short or selective memories. They seem to forget the countless whites who fought and died alongside of countless blacks in the great struggle against slavery and segregation. The enemy is not ‘whitey’. The enemy is bigotry and oppression in all colors, shape, or form.
While explaining why he cannot disown Rev Wright, Sen. Obama drags his white grandmother into this mess of ‘his’ doing. A white woman who loved him and did not abandon him. A woman whose point of view, however bigotted, was not preached from a pulpit to countless for so many years. A point of view that was expressed fairly privately to Barack Obama. This said, how does one even contemplate publicly sullying his loving grandmother’s name in order to save his political hide anyway? This is what Obama’s latest speech is all about let us not mince words. He is doing damage control because his proverbial ‘chickens have started coming home to roost’.
There are too many successful, educated blacks in the US to excuse a Harvard educated Obama for his actions. Why wouldn’t he find a pastor who preaches success as something you get from hard work, study and a lot of self help. I don’t know for sure but I am willing to bet that is what got Obama through Harvard. Instead he found a pastor that preached hate and oppression and that hate and oppression was caused by white folk. Where was the hate and oppression holding back the black man when went to Columbia and then onto Harvard. Did the white racist drop the ball and let a black Obama slip in the door.
Wallace needs to wake up and compare apples to apples.. When ANYONE stands in front of the American public and says he has the ideas, values, experience, and lack of inner conflict to become the great “uniter” and advocate of change that Obama has professed to be, then he/she is going to be examined.. It is not only the right but the responsibility of the voters to discover who really is behind the facade.. Obama has told the nation he is something that he is not.. He is squirming now trying to distance himself even further from the truth …
Hi Mr. Moderator!
I posted a perfectly fine comment; namely,
“If we don’t make this man President, we are all fools.”
It’s not unlawful, not inflammatory, threatening, libelous or obscene.
Why didn’t you post that one huh? Just read through the stuff, and you’ve done far more than just filter according to the guidelines given.
That’s not “Fair and Balanced” behavior, unless you think filtering these to paint a false picture of the commentary you receive is “fair” and that doing so will bring “balance”!
Two different things buddy.
You have a great day, knowing exactly why Obama does not entertain this organization.
Again history repeats itself.
All the Hoopla and Rigmaroles, about the “RACE” Card, is just that. It is Being Played for Political, and Party Politics, as well as Media Spin, for their Selected, and Endorsed Democratic candidate.
Geraldine Ferraro, not withstanding Imus, Both made statements that raised the “RACE” Card by the Democratic Campaigns and the Media Outlets. with Not-So-Subtle, Side Issues that destroy lives and livelihoods, for the American Public to Be roused from their Apathy?
Or FOR THE MEDIA TO EXPLOIT the “race” COMMENT and FUEL FOR THEIR AGENDA?
If the Shoe fits, “Wear It”. This whole Issue is Reprehensible. Mr. Wright and Mr. Obama can not realistically spin this out as a good thing for the community, nor for the Candidate whom he (Wright) supported, and Wrong thinking by the Candidate (Obama) to think it is all forgiven and forgotten, and will be just a blip on the political radar, and a ghost image wiped off the screen by the next mistake someone else, makes. Is Ludicrous, and Illogical at this Juncture.
Just like the South, gave the world a reason to rally round the flag, with the Civil War Stars and Bars. and the North Won with the Help and Support of Many Southern Gentlemen, and the Sacrifice of Thousands of “FAMILY” brothers fought Brothers, and Fathers Sons. They also gave us MLK. and the Civil Rights Movement, was NOT ALL Blacks. and Obama is “NOT” JFK. even if Teddy supports him. This mess was of his own doing, by Omission, and in Collusion with the Blak Radical Minister and his statements for his support of Mr. Wright, and Mr. Wrights statements for the Support of Obama.
You can’t have it Both Ways. ALL American’s, White, Black, Brown, Red and Yellow are Paying close Attention.
So are the Other Countries around the World, to see if the Anti War Candidate has a Meltdown, And Hillary Wins the Democratic Convention by Default with the Super Delegates as The Electable Candidate!
McCain can Stake his Campaign and Stand his ground around the “ISSUES” that will Affect this Country. And Face off over “JUST WHERE”, this country and the “WAR” on “TERROR” is going.
Surrender is “NOT” an Option!
END TRANS: MARV!
Obama speech sucked. Don’t be blaming the blacks racism on the whites. I never owned know blacks and niether did any of my family. I am a democrat that would never vote for Obama.
There will be a lot of white people that will not vote for Obama, he stayed with the Anti-American, Racist Pastor.
On another note, I went to work out today, white people are very angry over Obama speech. So take your poll from that, not 1 was voting for Obama.
If Obam is the nominee John McCain will have my vote and majority of white vote. So all you Obama supporters go chew on that for a while.
Would rather see 4 more years of BUSH. I don’t think white people want to see Wright and Farrakan at the WHITE HOUSE. WHAT A JOKE.
Comment by jman stated:
“Please also provide evidence that “most Americans are not satisfied by his response.””
Wow, apparently the person that left the comment above didn’t actually read the article on this page. It says:
“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.”
That’s pretty strong evidence that “most Americans are not satisfied by his response.” Obama drew criticism because for 20 years a hateful, racist man has been his mentor and “spiritual advisor”. His speech hasn’t done anything to change this. He drags his white grandmother into this hoping to draw some sort of equivalence here, but nobody knows what things his grandma said. And, she didn’t scream them from the pulpit. Nor did he title his book after his grandmother or claim her as his spiritual advisor… The media may or may not give him a pass on this topic, but the Rasmussen survey shows very well that the public will not.
I’m sorry, jman, but you cannot state that being asked whether you were less likely to vote for Obama because of Wright’s comments equates to being asked if you are not satisfied by Obama’s response. If you think they are the same, then I think the Pope now supports abortion. Bye bye
http://www.tucc.org/black_value_system.html
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Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System:
1.Commitment to God. “The God of our weary years” will give us the strength to give up prayerful passivism and become Black Christian Activists, soldiers for Black freedom and the dignity of all humankind.
7.Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness.” Classic methodology on control of captives teaches that captors must be able to identify the “talented tenth” of those subjugated, especially those who show promise of providing the kind of leadership that might threaten the captor’s control.
Those so identified are separated from the rest of the people by:
Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another.
Placing them in concentration camps, and/or structuring an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.
Seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which, while training them to earn more dollars, hypnotizes them into believing they are better than others and teaches them to think in terms of “we” and “they” instead of “us.”
So, while it is permissible to chase “middleclassness” with all our might, we must avoid the third separation method – the psychological entrapment of Black “middleclassness.” If we avoid this snare, we will also diminish our “voluntary” contributions to methods A and B. And more importantly, Black people no longer will be deprived of their birthright: the leadership, resourcefulness and example of their own talented persons.
9.Pledge to Make the Fruits of All Developing and Acquired Skills Available to the Black Community.
10.Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions.
11.Pledge Allegiance to All Black Leadership Who Espouse and Embrace the Black Value System.
12.Personal Commitment to Embracement of the Black Value System. To measure the worth and validity of all activity in terms of positive contributions to the general welfare of the Black Community and the Advancement of Black People towards freedom.