Passport Hubbub, Endorsement Offer Needed Relief for Obama
Barack Obama picks up the endorsement of Bill Richardson, right, at Portland's Memorial Coliseum in Oregon Friday. (AP Photo)
Good Friday was a very good Friday for Barack Obama, as news of passport breaches in the State Department and a much-sought endorsement from New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson shifted the focus away from the racial controversies that have dogged him for more than a week.
Obama tried to put to rest discussions of race on the campaign trail Tuesday, when he gave a speech addressing his relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, whose anti-U.S. sermons dominated campaign coverage for days.
The Wright controversy proved difficult to shake, however. Obama’s speech did not immediately stop the media replay of Wright’s most heated sermons, and polls indicated the Illinois senator was losing ground because of the focus on the issue.
But as reports of high-profile passport breaches developed between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon, the presidential candidates were handed a common target: the State Department. And the endorsement from Richardson, the nation’s only Hispanic governor, also helped Obama move on.
“This is a real good thing for the Obama campaign, GOP strategist Andrea Tantaros said of the endorsement from Richardson, who called Obama a “once-in-a-lifetime leader.”
“They change the subject … it also sends a message to other superdelegates that Obama still has strength, still has power to move ahead,” Tantaros said. “This is bad news for the Clinton campaign. It’s just another crack in her political dam.”
Democratic strategist Julia Piscatelli said the endorsement from Richardson, who was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under Bill Clinton, helps Obama with his foreign policy credentials.
And political analyst Keli Goff said the endorsement helps deflect reports that Obama is not popular among Hispanics, as well as shift focus away from Wright.
Speaking Friday at a town hall meeting in Salem, Ore., Obama referred to the Wright controversy as a “bunch of turbulence” for his campaign.
The passport flap — in which the files of Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Obama were improperly accessed — brings a new set of turbulence, and could offer at least a temporary sense of relief to Obama’s campaign, which until recently was basking in the glow of front-runner status.
Clinton is still trailing in delegates, and Politico reported Friday that un-named campaign aides were giving her no more than a 10 percent chance of winning the nomination.
A photo was also posted on The New York Times’ Web site Thursday night showing Bill Clinton and Wright shaking hands at a White House prayer breakfast 10 years ago.
The Times site said the Wright photo was provided by Obama’s campaign, and in a statement Friday morning the Clinton campaign accused Obama of straining to shift the tide.
“It’s no secret that the Obama campaign is in political hot water given the news stories of the last few weeks and is desperate to change the subject,” the memo said. It accused Obama of peddling the Wright-Clinton photo and blasted the campaign for suggesting they were involved with his passport breach.
Obama’s campaign released a statement Thursday suggesting political motives were behind the breach, but on Friday it was clear the violations were not limited to Obama himself.
But if Obama is consciously trying to steer the political discourse away from the race topic, it’s an effort he proved only partially committed to Friday, when he responded to more questions about Wright at a press conference in Portland, Ore.
Obama said again that he was not aware of the most offensive Wright statements until they were broadcast on the Internet and TV, and especially was not aware of Wright’s claims that the government was responsible for HIV.
Obama called that “completely out of line and off the wall.”
FOX News’ Bonney Kapp contributed to this report.
“Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System, written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by the late Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following 12 precepts and covenantal statements. These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:
1. Commitment to God
2. Commitment to the Black Community
3. Commitment to the Black Family
4. Dedication to the Pursuit of Education
5. Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence
7. Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect
8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”
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.”
Critics argue Wright has used his tax-exempt church to exercise a radical political agenda.
A longtime friend of Nation of Islam founder Louis Farrakhan, Wright has called for divestment from Israel and refers to Israel, as well as America, as a “racist” state.
“Theologically he believes that the true ‘Chosen People’ are the blacks,” said Caroline B. Glick, an editor for the Jerusalem Post. “Indeed he is a black supremacist.”
“He believes that black values are superior to middle-class American values,” she added, “and that blacks should isolate themselves from the wider American society.”
Wright currently is on “sabbatical” and unavailable for comment. Trinity did not immediately return phone calls seeking explanation regarding its revised webpage.
according to Obama’s church, Reverend and friends in the congregation, it’s the WHITES that are the racists.
The questioning by the media has been ridiculous.
They may as well have given him a piece of paper with Rezko, Iraq, Wright, etc. on it and let him give a speech to each one as no one asks him anything anyway. My God, people..He is applying for the most powerful position in the world and deserves in-depth scrutiny, just like every one else.
Every time something comes up to bite Obama, it disappears.
Where’s the mission statement, the inflammatory, racist 12 point value system or the 10 point vision plan on the church’s website?
GONE.
Where’s the Louis Farrakhan or the Reverend Wright’s endorsement on Obama’s campaign site?
GONE.
Where’s the endorsement from the New Black Panther Party on Obama’s site?
GONE.
Where’s Reverend Wright? GONE
That’s how Obama handles everything. Where’s all that Transparency he talked about?
GONE
I feel like I’m being conned by this man. Wise up America, wise up Superdelegates. He can never win against McCain. He’s given them way too much ammo.
IT’S ABOUT CHARACTER, JUDGEMENT, HONESTY and INTEGRITY.
After all this Anti-Americanism and racial hatred Obama and his close friends and wife are displaying, if Hillary doesn’t get the nomination, I will NEVER vote for Obama..my vote will move to McCain. At least he loves his country and will respect me even though I’m not a black person.
Signed,
A Typical White Person
Yeah lets all just compare Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler lets put them in the same bracket some of the comments posted here responding to my comment are off the wall but thank for at least acknowledging that it was true
It’s not a race issue, AT LEAST NOT ON OUR PART.
Let me repeat it..it’s not my race issue or America’s race issue.
It’s YOUR race issue. It’s YOUR church’s race issue. It’s YOUR wife’s race issue.
For us, It’s about anti-Americanism. It’s about the beliefs of a person who wants to be the President of the greatest country in the world.
IT’S ABOUT you, OBAMA having NO CHARACTER, JUDGEMENT, HONESTY or INTEGRITY.
It’s NOT about race. IT’S A HATING AMERICA ISSUE.
He managed to turn this around to try to manipulate us into being ashamed: white guilt. Well, shame on you, Sir.
The most brilliant thing he did is that he turned it to race instead of what it really is about: ANTI-AMERICANISM.
This idea that Obama has no responsibility and accountablility is ridiculous. He is running for the most powerful position in the world, my President.
My President doesn’t justify, nor promote persons who rant “God damn America” and still enjoy its privileges.
My President doesn’t accept disrespectfulness towards a past President by his Reverend gyrating their private parts for the entire congregation (in front of children?????).
My President doesn’t accept mocking of the National anthem with words of racism, hatred, and Anti-Americanism.
My President doesn’t participate in an organization that fosters beliefs that the government created AIDS to eradicate a particular ethnic group. Or that we distributed drugs to try to keep them down.
Their 12 point black value system (coincidentally no longer on the church’s website):
“Those so identified as [sic] 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.
My President doesn’t pledge to an organization which requires of him to put his race, and to promote them, above all others. This is against the premise that “all men are created equal.” My President is representative of all people.
My President doesn’t try to justify our great country being called the US of KKKA.
My President, never, ever, under any circumstance tolerates someone saying, 5 days after 9/11, when 3,000 of our citizens gave their lives, that we were responsible for it and brought it on ourselves.
This forever taints his character and judgement, having no place in our White House as it also serves to diminish all that we have accomplished and sacrificed for throughout the world.
I am very angry and sadly disheartened as he could have made history, but just like most catastrophes in history such as the 9/11 citizens lost that he dishonors, this is unexcuseable and will not be forgotten.
Someone who wants to be OUR President, doesn’t tolerate any of this atrocious, unpatriotic, ANTI-AMERICAN behavior from anyone, at any time, period..no ifs, ands or but he’s like a crusty, old Uncle.
Remember that famous quip: “It’s the Economy, Stupid.”?
IT’S THE ANTI-AMERICANISM, OBAMA!
RE: Frank Ross Comment
Being the most SINCERE person in this campaign is not the issue! Even so, he is probably no more sincere than either Hillary or McCain. To make my point…Hitler was SINCERE in his madness against the Jewish population. Just being SINCERE is somewhat empty when considering what is at stake in the November election. Obama would be a very poor choice at this time. HE HASN’T BEEN FULLY AND PROPERLY VETTED! Obama’s recent press coverage should not be lightly dismissed. And with Hillary, we all know what she represents…a very long track record of unethical/questionable conduct. McCain has my vote!
IT IS ALL CRAZY.
First I was for Clinton, then for Obama (a Change) now I will vote for McCain.
At least I know who he is, where he is comming from.
What the hell we know about Obama? Who is the real Obama?
I have a feeling that voters has been blinded by his charm. That is a dangerous in light of sitting in a church for 20 years preaching what it is preaching and his ties to others questionable groups.
Has everyone else noticed that whenever a news article or anyone in the press or politics, criticizes Barack Obama, he and his political machine come out swinging and heaping shame and criticism on whomever that source is. Obama claims in his campaign that he wants to be a uniter. However, every single day either Obama or his campaign attacks and destroys someone for speaking truth. Obama is much more of a divider than a uniter. Look at his record, look at his words, look at his campaigns words, destroy, destroy, destroy. Obama feels because he is the only black candidate that only he can speak of race. Anyone else utters a word and they are labeled a racist. Why? Because Obama spent 20 years at a church of hate, a church of anti-american hatred, racist hatred. Barack Obama is a lion in sheeps clothing. Trying to portray himself as a uniter, when in fact he is a vengeful person, full of hate and racism. If it were not for the media heaping praise and love on Obama he would not even be in this position. He has not been vetted, holds a press conference almost never, will not take questions from the press. Why is Obama acting like a dictator. Because he cannot have anyone uncover who he is. A traitor. How can anyone feel he would make a good president when he will not ever take questions from the press. Obama is a racist, anti-american hatefull person. He will be exposed.
Rev. Wright is no different from any other man of the cloth. Priests have their fire and brim cermons too. I have visited many different faith churches around the USA, and to my surpirise all sermons are penitrating. Take a look on TBN.com you will find that fire and brim in there too, also, on other tv networks. What Rev. Wright preached may have been come off as unpatriotic, but you must experience the whole pie before you critique a small bite. The churches are rebelling against this war. Even the POPE, wants this war to end NOW! Wake up America, do you want the same old people running for President giving us the same old worries, same old problems, same old rut, the same old lies continuing again and again, with a no hope future for our children and childrens, children?
The time has come for our generation to make that change. This we must do now. Listen, McCain, needs Bush, for support. Clinton needs her husband Bill and daughter Chealse, for support.
Obama, is an highly intelligent rock, standing tall, self confident, calm, steadfast, sincere, honest, an optomistic leader who loves his country and his fellowmen, a man who comes with CHANGE, the change we have been long awaiting for. The time is ripe and now. It is Barack Obama, who shall bring us into the light of a new age of peace, goodwill and love towards our fellowmen not just in america, but all over the world. In Obama we trust!
God Bless Barack Obama!
The questioning by the media has been ridiculous. They may as well have given him a piece of paper
with Rezko, Iraq, Wright, etc. on it and let him give a speech to each one as no one asks him anything
anyway. He is applying for the most powerful position in the world and deserves in-depth scrutiny,
just like every one else.
Every time something comes up to bite Obama, it disappears.
Where’s the mission statement, the inflammatory, racist 12 point value system or the 10 point vision
plan on the church’s website?
GONE. Where’s the Louis Farrakhan or the Reverend Wright’s endorsement on Obama’s campaign site?
GONE. Where’s the endorsement from the New Black Panther Party on Obama’s site?
GONE. Where’s Reverend Wright? GONE
That’s how Obama handles everything. Where’s all that Transparency he talked about? GONE
Regardless of whether Hillary gets the nomination, I will NEVER vote for Obama..my vote will move to
McCain. At least he loves his country.
Signed,
A Typical White Person