Senator Obama is seriously wounded by remarks of Rev Wright.

[kentuck]

How much? Enough to lose the election once it gets to the Convention unless he satisfactorily addresses the issue. It is not enough to say that he "disagrees" with some of his remarks. Unfortunately, this puts him in a real pickle. This is his first real test as Commander in Chief.

After all, this is his spiritual adviser. He married Barack and Michelle. He baptized their children. Barack got the title of his last book from a sermon by the good Reverend. And he is an adviser to his campaign.

And he has said some things that sound downright scary to a lot of voters. He has said things that would make Louis Farrakhan blush. He said "God damn America!" after 9/11. Put this together with the stories about Obama not saying the Pledge of Allegiance and refusal to wear the American flag pin and this is some powerful stuff for the illiterate masses in America.

Obama cannot brush this story aside in hopes that it will disappear. His Republican opponents will preach this 24/7 unless he gets it under control now. This is a serious challenge to his candidacy. If he does not handle it well, we may very well be looking at a President Hillary, or more likely, a President McCain.

How should he handle it? What should he say? He does need to give a thoughtful speech on the matter, in my opinion. He should point out that this is a very big church. The congregation of this church cannot accept blame for everything Rev Wright says anymore than the congregation of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs cannot accept blame for everything that Reverend Ted Haggard said and did.
Also, Christians cannot continue to call for the destruction of Islam as does the "spiritual adviser" of John McCain is quoted as calling for, and expect a double standard for their religious viewpoints. However, Reverend Wright can have no connection to the Obama campaign if Obama is going to continue running as a candidate to unite this country.

[Nitrogenica]

1. "Seriously wounded?" .. You're seriously stupid. Iggied.

[skooooo]

3. agree iggie

[jobycom]

12. Didn't you iggie me, too? You are so way cool, seriously.

I know, this is like waving at Stevie Wonder if you actually iggied me. But dude, your coolness at engaging in serious discussion is just so, so, well, way cool, you know?

[QC]

77. LOL! n/t

[DissentIsPatriotic]

16. what's an iggie? is that slang for agree?

[kentuck]

19. No, it's "ignore"...

When someone disagrees with what you say or they think it is stupid, they hit the ignore button. But who want's to have a conversation with high intellects anyway?

[Moochy]

38. Is that your problem?

"high" intellects can be subject to paranoia.

[Justyce]

39. No kidding. Love the new junior-high school mentality of the "New DU".

Gone are the days of actual intelligent discussions and disagreements.

[elixir]

156. Yeah, it's the IM, TM and facebook generation.

[Umbram]

163. That's nostalgia of things that never were. (nt)

[QC]

78. I think it has something to do with Iggy Pop.

I like Iggy Pop.

[shadowknows69]

21. Uh, Kentuck is about the farthest thing from stupid on this board

If he's worried I'm worried.

[jobycom]

105. Second that. nt

[musicblind]

43. I'm sure you'll "ignore me" as though my words reaching your ears served to highlight my day... but

ignoring people who disagree with you, in a NON FLAMMATORY WAY, is similar to the religious zealots who refuse to look at evidence for evolution. Ignore is a sister word of ignorant, and ignorance never helps the public discourse. This person you ignored did not bash Obama, or his supporters, did not call names, did not do anything negative. In fact, it would appear that this person is watching with rapt attention to see how Obama chooses to handle this situation in hopes that Obama will handle it well and it will not hurt us in the GE. Remember, ignorance may be bliss, but it comes at a dangerous cost.

[JoFerret]

173. Well said. This election is too important to blow off

We have great candidates.
We MUST win in November.

[musicblind]

175. Thank you,

I personally am supporting Clinton. Or at least voting for her, not supporting her on EVERYthing but she is my preferred candidate. However, I also like Obama and realize that it is becoming more and more likely he will be the nominee with each passing day. I really hope that he handles this well and shows the naysayers wrong tonight, for the better of the party. I am VERY glad he is appearing on all the news channels to set this straight asap. That is a good sign. Now we just need to wait, cross our fingers, and hear what he has to say.

[Teaser]

61. Kentuck is not stupid

I don't agree with everything K says here, but stupid he/she ain't.

[blm]

82. He's right - but it is up to US to bat this down along with Obama. kentuck is a fair poster

and you would do well to listen to his points instead of dismissing them off the cuff.

WE have to toughen up for the battles ahead if WE are to be of any use to Obama in the battles ahead.

[JoFerret]

94. Tune every voice out other than your own echo chamber

Please add me to your growing Ignore list.

[Bluebear]

159. Kentuck --- "stupid"??? LOL!!

Of all the people on which to hurl that charge!

[From The Left]

2. You're a Serious Moron

[CoffeeCat]

10. Someone released the flying monkeys...

...to do dirty work on the Internets.

Just when you thought you had to turn on right-wing-hate radio to hear these hilarious
ramblings--they're here and in such large numbers!

Ahhhhh...I love the smell of an absurd, concerted propaganda campaign in the morning!

Commence flying monkeys! "Operation ApocalBama" is now commencing!

Blog! Blog! Blog!

[Moochy]

36. Whats depressing is seeing posters you once respected

become flying monkeys.

[CoffeeCat]

Don't worry....the witch melts in the end...

...and those scary guards and the flying monkeys are all become nice.

[elixir]

157. So which one is Obama, the guy w/out the heart, w/out the courage or w/out the brain?

[Hepburn]

96. Ditto, Mooch....

...there are still nicks I see and I just to read what has been posted. Far and few between at this time, however.

:cry: DU is not like it used to be.....<sigh>

[Megahurtz]

51. It appears so! n/t

[KoKo]

127. lol's.....some might see it another way...though..

:D

[pnwmom]

154. Swift Boat, Swift Boat, Swift Boat . . .

just thought you needed to be reminded.

If John Kerry, a documented war hero, could be successfully smeared based on NOTHING, then none of our candidates is safe. Obama has to answer these issues NOW and FORCEFULLY so they won't come back to haunt him in the general election.

[rodeodance]

25. personal insults. try addressing the issues the OP raises.

[CoffeeCat]

54. It's really difficult to give a serious response to steamy crap...

You guys have been vomiting up nonsense, in concert, for weeks now.

A few weeks ago, it was Obama's name. Before, it was that Michelle
hated America. A while back it was Obama's lack of lapel pin.

Now, you're all singing from the same hilarious songbook.

It looks really desperate and bizarre.

Next week, when this issue has died, you'll be onto something
new--and you'll be soooo outraged and soooo upset and soooo insisting
that it's just all over for Obama.

Orchestrated. Manufactured. Crap.

Good luck with that!

[Bake]

110. I'm pretty sure kentuck is an Obama supporter.

I may have even called him an O-bot once (but I won't make that mistake again -- sorry, kentuck!).

He's not just one of "you guys," if by that term you mean us crazy Hillbots ...

Bake

[pnwmom]

152. ABC news and Fox started this, not the OP.

And Obama DOES have to deal with it, in an emphatic matter, or it will come back to haunt him in the general election.

[elixir]

158. Thanks for the well wishes. We're going to sit back and watch the

Obama/Rev. Wrong show..

:popcorn:

[Jersey Devil]

4. plonk

Plonk is a Usenet jargon term for adding a particular poster to one's kill file such that the poster's future postings are completely ignored. It was first used in 1989 and by 1994 was a commonly used term on Usenet regarding kill file additions.

The word is an example of onomatopoeia, intended to humorously represent the supposed sound<1> of the user hitting the kill file. It is also sometimes given as an acronym standing for Please Log Off, Net Kook, though this is likely a backronym. Other used expressions are "put lamer on killfile" <2> and Please Leave Our Newsgroup: Killfile!

[CoffeeCat]

5. I'm waiting to hear what controversial things...

...have come out of the mouths of:

--Obama's dog groomer
--Michelle's manicurist
--Obama's children's teachers
--The clerk that sold Obama a Big Gulp in 1974 (this will be BIG, because there's videotape!)
--Obama's mechanic
--Obama's third cousin's sister-in-law

These people will sink him and his Presidential bid!

Everyone knows that ANYTHING that has been said by ANYONE WITH ANY RELATIONSHIP TO THE CANDIDATE--means that
the candidate is responsible for those words and that the candidate AGREES WITH EACH AND EVERY WORD!

Why, just look at all of those Catholics sitting in their churches! They are responsible for the priests who
molested children and they MUST AGREE WITH IT! Why else would they be attending those churches!

Lesson One from the Hillary camp: When there is no dirt on a candidate, start going after the people they know!

Next up...Degrading comments about Holocaust denial from Obama's dry cleaner! Oh the horrors!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[BlackVelvet04]

28. That's so seriously sad....

Wright has been Obama's personal mentor for 20 years and Obama has supported the church for 20 years and it's going to bite him in the ass.

Hillary had nothing to do with this story.

Keep whistling through the graveyard.

[CoffeeCat]

40. You guys are so transparent...

...and desperate--typing away your drivel--and just hoping something sticks and
makes a dent in Obama's insurmountable leads.

Go ahead. Bang away on your keyboard. The stuff you tried to make stick last week,
and the week before that---didn't work either.

I'm enjoying this!

:popcorn: Junior mints, anyone?

[leftynyc]

73. He doesn't have an inurmountable lead

against McCain in the general. Some of us are looking past the irrelevant Hillary and thinking ahead. This is trouble and only those who are ignorant or who have their heads in the sand are ignoring it.

[backscatter712]

6. Your concern is noted.

*plonk*

[musicblind]

53. I am sure that you too will ignore me as though having your attention is a gift but ignoring

people who disagree with you, in a NON FLAMMATORY WAY, is similar to the religious zealots who refuse to look at evidence for evolution. Ignore is a sister word of ignorant, and ignorance never helps the public discourse. This person you ignored did not bash Obama, or his supporters, did not call names, did not do anything negative. In fact, it would appear that this person is watching with rapt attention to see how Obama chooses to handle this situation in hopes that Obama will handle it well and it will not hurt us in the GE. Remember, ignorance may be bliss, but it comes at a dangerous cost.

[easy_b94]

7. Your brain is seriously wounded

[book_worm]

8. No he isn't and this is nothing new, Carter had church problem on eve of '76 election

http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/tdgh-oct/oct31.htm

The deacons of his life time church in Plains voted not to allow a African-American preacher to attend the church or speak. Carter handled it well. Ford called on him to resign from his church but Carter didn't instead he worked to change things. This was two days before the national election. Obama can't control what his preacher says but he will handle it well.

And knock off all that rubbish about not saying the pledge or wearing a flag pin likes it's some kind of mandatory thing to prove that you are a true patriot. If Hillary wants to wear symbols to prove she is a true American she can. Obama doesn't have too and neither do most Americans I see in the streets.

[jobycom]

9. I don't agree. I'm not going to iggie you, and I know you aren't stupid, and I know you aren't paid

to campaign against Obama, and I'm not going to call you nasty names or anything else which would make me look as stupid as all those bullies who respond to a well-worded, well-thought-out post with ignorant little insults and one liners to try to gloss over the fact that they've got nothing really to say but feel like saying it anyway.

I'm just going to disagree, in part. I don't think it will hurt him at the convention or with Democrats, because I think Democrats understand that behind the fiery, inflammatory rhetoric of Pastor Wright, he was making points many of us agree with. African Americans have been treated wrongly by this nation. Our foreign policy has made terrorists hate us worse. Etc.

I do think that you are right about the Republicans in the general election, though. This will be part of the bigger plan to make Obama look like an angry black radical who hates America, and he needs to start planning for that now. He needs to wrap himself in the flag and shout the Pledge louder than anyone else and leap to his feet when the first bar of the National Anthem is played. Otherwise he will be hurt in the general election, and perhaps, probably, fatally. Obama supporters need to realize that and prepare for it, or they'll be sad in November.

[musicblind]

58. Thank GOODNESS someone has sanity enough not to ignore everyone they disagree with geesh

Thank you! I worry about the people who ignore well thoughtout posts that do not flame or call names. That reminds me of right wing religious zealots who ignore scientific facts such as "evolution". If the above posters read far enough down I hope they see your thread as an example of how to deal with someone you don't agree with in an intelligent fashion!

[jobycom]

71. Actually, I wish more of them would ignore me

It would cut down on ignorant responses! :rofl:

[leftynyc]

76. Finally some sanity

This board has become so fucking insane with people putting their heads in the sand. The same independents Sen Obama supporters have been convinced will line up and vote for him in November are going to be subject to non-stop 527 ads questioning Sen Obama's patriotism. This Wright issue (the man makes me want to barf and I'm a democrat) needs to be addressed and right now.

[kentuck]

81. I hate to think so many Obama supporters are naive...

They don't seem to even remember the Swift Boat attacks from the last election. I have a lot of confidence in Obama and I am hoping he will be able to address this properly and lessen its impact dramatically.

[hfojvt]

95. How effective were the swiftboat attacks?

It's not like Kerry lost in a landslide. One part of their effectiveness though is that the Vietnam war is still a touchy issue. I am not sure the race riots are remembered in the same way. MLK and Malcolm X are very much idolized by younger people and even by middle aged white people.

They hit Kerry at least as much with the flip-flops as they did with swiftboats, and he himself did not help his cause when he answered "Even if I knew then what I know now I still would have voted for the IWR". Given a perfect opportunity to hammer at the theme that "Bush lied to us" Kerry hammered at his own thumb instead. I could not believe it when he said that.

[jobycom]

121. They were the deciding factor.

Kerry didn't lose by turning liberals against him. He lost, or tied or barely won (depending on your beliefs), by not getting the middle, and they were swayed by the ads that made Kerry seem untrustworthy. It wasn't the material in the commercials, it was the unanswered aura of untrustworthiness that turned just enough moderates and "independents" (usually meaning someone dependent on the media's pronouncements rather than any understanding of the issues) to make the race close.

Without those attacks, or with a strong response to them, Kerry would have won easily. Bush was below 50% approval then, and the only way he made the race close, aside from some shifty voter suppression techniques, was to make people more afraid of Kerry. McCain can win, and certainly will attempt to win, in the same way, and Obama has to be ready for that.

[jobycom]

116. Just passion. If someone said Obama wore a size ten sneaker, it would be seen as a racist insult.

Kinda sucks being called nasty names for good posts, though, doesn't it? Especially when the posters probably didn't read past the thread title.

[kentuck]

120. I've seen 'em all.

:-) It would be encouraging if they would have read the entire post and would have seen that I have been an Obama supporter.

peace

[KoKo]

129. Agree with you joby...but is it a good idea for him to be forced to wrap self in flag

shout pledge louder? Isn't this how Dems are always forced to move ever more to the Right? Is this wise? What if being forced to do that messes with his mind? :shrug:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

11. sage wordsof advice from someone I know has been a staunch Obama supporter

Obama needs to do something fast and big ....soon

[goldcanyonaz]

13. How long till someone accuses you of being a Hillbot.

[IndianaJones]

29. or a racist. nt.

[1776Forever]

14. He all ready remarked over this & the new Pastor is much like him. Links..........

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3226572&mesg_id=3226572

Obama: I "Profoundly Disagree" With Pastor Over "God Damn America" Comments

And:

The new Pastor seems very much like Obama himself. Very warm and even keeled - The older Pastor seems to be a generational issue. His name is Rev. Moss:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY6qjeJ5mG8&eurl=http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/03/obamas-next-pas.html

[otohara]

15. Christopher Hitchens Just Said the Same Thing

a complete lunatic agrees with you.

[rodeodance]

17. and the RW will use it against BO if not addressed NOW.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

57. I'm afraid they will use it anyway andit will be a huge issue in the GE

[ElsewheresDaughter]

62. it will effect him big time in the GE

[RestoreGore]

18. His remarks were disgusting...

I don't believe the official story of 9.11, but I would never intimate that those killed on that day deserved to die. And especially say "God damn America." It isn't AMERICA, it is the criminals running it that should be the target of our outrage. I saw the video of his 'sermon' and he is definitely a white racist, maybe even a sexist. But remember, that only matters one way here. Personally, Obama should release him from his campaign and have nothing to do with him if he truly means what he stated about these words. If he doesn't dismiss him from any contact with his campaign, one can only then assume he hates America too, and that will be used to its fullest advantage by Republicans. It is almost as if Democrats are setting themselves up to lose in order to not have to deal with the crap Bush has left behind because they don't want to accept responsibility for not accomplishing the change they are promising. But I agree with you, how he handles this will speak volumes about who he really is. Also, sorry you are getting nothing else but idiotic replies here. Seems in this cesspool people don't have the capacity to actually discuss anything anymore. And actually, isn't there some law against political campaigning in a church? Separation of church and state?

[Dhalgren]

123. O.k., for starters, in none of the clips that I heard did he say that

the people who died on 9/11 "deserved to die". What he said was that America's behavior toward those dark-skinned peoples were among the reasons the US was attacked on 9/11. He used dramatic language and colorful phrasing, but then that is what a preacher does. He nowhere justifies the attacks on the US, he just explains that the behavior of the US toward these particular foreign peoples is, at least, part of the reason why the US was attacked.

I agree that right-wing ass-wipes are going to try to make a big deal out of this (I mean, they already are, aren't they?), but Obama can handle this. He just needs to do it right. He seems to already be managing it pretty well.

And for the record, I am not an Obama supporter nor a Clinton supporter...

[grasswire]

20. O supporters can't seem to understand American politics

It doesn't matter what you or I or any informed person thinks about various aspects of Obama family life.

What matters is what "THEY" in America think and what hate radio can too easily and readily persuade them to think. It has already begun. Radio will continue to whip up racialist fears. We will see a new race war before this is over.

Backroom Republican strategists are very happy this year. Both Barack and Hillary will bring out the GOP base in a big, big way.

[sorrybushisfromtexas]

22. Hasn't even been mentioned on Drudge

I find it mildly amusing, that we are discussing a right wing talking point on a Progressive Democratic Site. If it has not even made the rightwing's news source. My reaction is yawn.

[leftynyc]

84. Doesn't have to be when

it's the top political news story on every single station - alphabet and cable. But putting your head in the sand might work.

[BlackVelvet04]

23. "This is his first real test as Commander in Chief."

He's not the commander in chief.

[Ravy]

24. First of all, his campaign and supporters need to stop casting stones.

Which really goes for all campaigns.

But you can't have Keith Olbermann railing against Ferraro and McCain's religious supporter (Parsley) as he did the other night, and then claim Obama is not affected at all by a pastor he has had for years and years and donated large sums to his ministry.

KO said that Hillary's "rejecting and denouncing Ferraro's comments" was not enough. IMHO, it was.

Now he and other supporters have set the standard for his own candidate, and to a person who has much stronger and longer ties to Obama.

[Iceburg]

115. Keith's hypocrisy: Serving up rhetoric, hyperbole, nastiness and arrogance

to Hillary for Ferraro's remarks while silent on Rev Wright 20 years worth of unaldulterated venomous hate speech.

[Ravy]

124. I don't get KO's game at all. He is purposefully dividing the partie's supporters

with practically every broadcast.

I saw three times in what little I watched him this last week where he only told one side of the story, or flat out lied.

One was with the nobel prize winner saying Hillary had nothing to do with peace in Ireland, and ignored the other who said she was very helpful in the process. *EVERY* news report I saw listed them both together. Not his.

One was when he said that Powers resigned immediately, but it took Ferraro 15 days. That was just a lie.

And last night, on the day that everyone else was talking about Rev. Wright, he was talking about some guy named Parsley who supports McCain, and claimed how McCain couldn't run away from it because they appeared on a stage together and McCain put his arm around him.

He has become a different flavor of BillO.

Spitzer and KO. I tend to take it hard when heroes fall.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RestoreGore]

46. Then neither was Geraldine Ferraro...

But you are right, it is TRASH, and it has no place in a political campaign. That is why Obama needs to release this racist from any contact with his campaign. I will not vote for him if he gets the nomination if he continues to be associated with hatemongers like this. And if you think millions of other Americans won't feel the same way, you are totally brainwashed by your savior.

[Mags]

66. Kentuk is far and away from any freeper on this board.

He has been around for a very long time, probably longer then most here. I was disappointed in him being for Obama, but that is his right to choose. I have always respected his views and you Obama people would be very wise to hear him out and take what he says as wise advice.

[Ravy]

119. Yep. All the ppl saying they are ignoring kentuck are missing a voice of reason on their side. nt

[Ravy]

69. If we didn't have a search feature, you might be able to get by

with trying to ride a high horse here.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5025691#5025868

But we do.

[Mags]

83. self delete, sorry

[JackORoses]

130. Ferraro was a member of Hillary's finance committee

She has resigned.

Wright has no official position with the Obama campaign.
No position to resign from.

Should we start bringing up all the scumbags Hillary has associated with?
It has no bearing on the Candidates ability to be President.

[Ravy]

135. Wright *does* have an official position

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/Wrights_committee.html


"Should we start bringing up all the scumbags Hillary has associated with?"

Start bringing them up? Looks like you already have.

Take your medicine and quit bitching about it.

[JackORoses]

143. that is an honorary as opposed to active position

I refuse to accept poison as medicine.
Take it at your peril.

[Ravy]

149. Honorary?, You mean as in "Ferarro has quit her honorary finance post "????

"candidate and former New York Rep. Geraldine Ferarro has quit her honorary finance post with Hillary Clinton's campaign"

http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_8548667

"Geraldine Ferraro stepped down Wednesday from an honorary post in Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign amid a controversy regarding her comments that Barack Obama wouldn't be succeeding in the presidential race if he weren't black."


http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/13/america/NA-POL-US-Elections-Obama-Ferraro.php

[JackORoses]

161. Ferraro was actively raising money for Hillary.

What has Wright done for Obama? Nothing at all.

[Ravy]

169. Wright is promoting Obama and dissing Hillary to thousands of

his followers... Not to mention the millions he is reaching on You-Tube.


I imagine he has reached more people than Ferraro has.


Keep moving those goalposts. You will eventually see that it is the same poison with a different label affixed.

[leftynyc]

86. Did you express this kind of outrage

about the Ferraro issue? If not, you're nothing but a fucking hypocrit.

[Ravy]

114. I linked what he expressed in the post above. nt

[leftynyc]

125. Couldn't read it

I have the person who started that thread on ignore.

If you want to share, please PM me.

[JackORoses]

131. what are you outraged about?

Ferraro was a Campaign Surrogate.
Wright is not.

[leftynyc]

150. No, he's just his

spiritual advisor - someone who you would think would have a bigger influence on one's world's views than a fundraiser. I'm outraged at Wright, Hagee, Robertson, and any other religious freak out there who tries to get involved with politics.

[JackORoses]

155. how are his sermons an attempt to get involved in politics?

he just happens to be the pastor of a candidate. so he talks about it.
I think he is allowed to do so based on my understanding of the Bill of Rights.

[leftynyc]

167. He is not supposed to be

endorsing candidates from the pulpit - his church could lose tax exempt status for that. Do you think he has remained neutral in that area? He can mouth off about what the fuck he wants but not from the pulpit.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

112. Know What? You've Got A Big Fuckin Nasty Mouth Pal. How Dare You Call Kentuck A Freeper.

All you do is run around with your big fucking mouth and vitriolic attacks on everybody. You refuse to ever discuss anything openly and have your head in the sand as much as any fucking poster I've seen. Now, you're going to take a well thought out, logical, reasonable and important OP and call its poster a fucking freeper? You've got some fucking nerve pal. If anyone here is reminiscent of that which we see on freeperville it's you. Get a brain moran.

[JackORoses]

133. don't you have 3 posts on Wright to make? or have you already done that?

there's always more MindCrimes to commit.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

139. You're A One Trick Pony. Completely Incapable Of Thought.

You are a black mark on this board and a large part of the reason GDP has become useless. You have little of value to say and your small mind is only capable of your grade school attacks on people. You bring nothing to this board but thoughtless animosity. Say all you want. Attack all you want. Cast out whatever 3rd grader attacks that you want next. I stand here in every possible way as your better. Feel free to carry on now with your nasty stupidity. :hi:

[JackORoses]

144. make a few more racist posts. It will remind people why Hillary will never be President.

She depends on people like you to do her dirty work for her.
All the while, she complains about Obama playing the race card.

You have become a hollow, soulless shell of a Campaign.
No longer actually competing, just dead set on the destruction of Barack Obama.

You will fail, and will be remembered as the worst Democratic Campaign in the last century.

But don't dismay, President Obama forgives you.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

148. Please Show One Racist Post I've Ever Made During All This. If Ya Do, I'll Give You A Hundred Bucks.

That's a binding deal, as Skinner is my witness.

Let's see what you've got.

So empty. So predictable. So useless. :hi:

[Name removed]

165. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

168. So You've Got Nothing. With 100 Bucks On The Table, You Couldn't Come Up With A Thing.

Would be nice if you apologized for your lie, but I won't hold my breath.

And I'd be thrilled with Obama as president. For you to imply otherwise makes you quite the ignoramus.

What I want, is for the nominee to win. Obama needs to get his hands around this NOW, period.

Your post exposes you as being all sorts of ignorant, and like I said earlier you are one of the biggest reasons why GDP has become the cespool it is.

You are as ignorant as they come. Sorry if that's a personal attack, but it's the reality here. Your post above proves it.

[AlinPA]

174. Kentuck has been around a long time. His posts are thought out and

has respect on DU. At least kentuck should; he earned it.

[SoonerPride]

27. All Fear the Scary Black Radical

auuuuuuggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[Moochy]

30. Even old time Du'ers cant resist the Activation Signal

FLYING MONKEYS Fly!

[David Zephyr]

31. John McCain stood proudly with a man who says gays & lesbians caused Katrina to destroy New Orleans.

That's "God damn New Orleans". What's the difference? None.

Hillary has camped out with a real fundie nutcase for 15 years in Washington. Where's the outrage there?

When white preachers preach from their pulpits anti-semitism, homophobia tinged with racial coded language, no one says a word. Nothing.

The GLBT community has been scarred by these white motherfucking preachers for decades in our so-called "modern era" and the white politicians (Democrats and Republicans) stand and smile at their side, the very same creeps who financially underwrite anti-gay initiatives throughout the country.

This story goes two ways and Rev Wright's preaching has been for social justice and the other crowd has always been to suppress social justice.

[kentuck]

44. Very true David but...

Obama is going to have to educate the people about these double standards or they will remain in the dark. And when they get to the Convention, if this is still an issue, I doubt that the majority would vote for Obama? Just my opinion. Thanks for responding. ;-)

[RestoreGore]

79. yeah, and I'm not voting for him either.

[Drunken Irishman]

32. Sorry Kentuck, but this issue isn't that big.

It's already blowing over. It's not getting near the play Ferraro's comments were. Why borrow trouble and MAKE it an issue when he doesn't have to? Yeah it's getting SOME reporting, but not even as much today as it was yesterday and even then it was pretty lackluster stories on this issue.

[leftynyc]

92. Blowing over??

On what planet do you reside. It's been the top story on every political show on cable news today. Here's just a sampling of what's going on on-line


CNN-Politcs - #2 story

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/

MSNBC Politics - top story

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/

Fox News Politics - #1 story

http://www.foxnews.com/

ABC News Politics - top story

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/

[Drunken Irishman]

97. lol, I know you want this to be an issue, but it isn't.

I don't care if it is on their website, they haven't mentioned it at all in the last 45 minutes I've been watching CNN and MSNBC.

The only one talking about it is FOX. Well fuck FOX, I don't care what they say.

I know some people wish this had legs, but it isn't getting ANY play on the TV right now and we're going into the weekend! By Monday, this will have been dropped...as it should.

But keep hoping! This ain't bringing Obama down!

[leftynyc]

100. I don't know who you think I am but

I'm one of those who think both candidates suck but will vote for either over McCain. Because of that, I'm not buying into the whole messiah aspect of Obama support.

If you want to put your head in the sand and pretend like this issue isn't going to hurt with independents in swing states, knock yourself out. Some of us want a dem in the white house in November and don't like the way this looks. In fact, I think Rev Wright is a clown and an embarassment. You want to ignore it and throw a temper tantrum when someone points out this is going to hurt, go ahead and let the adults here have a discussion.

[Drunken Irishman]

103. My head isn't in the sand.

When I signed on yesterday and read the posts on this subject, I assumed it was dominating the media. I thought it would get the same play as Ferraro's comments based on what I was reading on the board. So I turn on my TV and nothing. People tell me to wait until tomorrow (Friday), because it'll dominate the news then. Give it time to get those legs, they said. So I did and I woke up this morning and saw a lot of posts on the subject and still nothing on the news. It may be on their political part of their website, but let's be honest, the average person is not hearing this story.

So don't make it out to be this HUGE issue when the media isn't even talking about it.

[leftynyc]

118. Let's see

I woke up at 5Am and turned on ABC local news - it was the top story (first time this week Spitzer - our former governor was not the top story). At 6 I turned on Morning Joe and had that on until I left 20 minutes later - it was all they talked about. Have no idea what went on last night, I was at the opera. I posted 4 links in some thread from CNN, MSNBC, Fox news and one other site and it was either the #1 or #2 story. That's what I'm seeing.

[Drunken Irishman]

134. Go turn on a TV right now.

And watch MSNBC and CNN and count how many times they mention the story in an hour. I've been watching these programs all day and only MSNBC mentioned it in passing ONCE and they tied it to a Clinton story involving Mark Penn shooting off his mouth.

You want to see a major media storm over something, check what was said after Ferraro's comment. That had more news coverage than this. A few stories in a 24 hour news cycle is not dominating the headlines like some here would suggest.

[leftynyc]

140. And you think this is it?

That a 527 group isn't going to use this clown against Sen Obama in the general? That they're not going to tie this in with the insinuation that he has questionable patriotism? Do you really beleive that?

[Drunken Irishman]

141. I have no doubt they'll use it.

But I don't believe it's going to ruin his campaign.

Just as I didn't think Clinton fucking around would ruin his in 1992.

[leftynyc]

142. 527 groups weren't around in 1992

Now they get to make an ad that doesn't have the fingerprints of the candidate on it. He can even denounce the ad (a la the chimp against the swiftboaters). Rev Wright is going to scare the shit out of the independents (makes me a bit nauseous and I'm a liberal). The Senator needs to get in front of this and slam it down quickly. Ignoring it wont work (just remember Kerry).

[Drunken Irishman]

145. He has come out three times now.

Once in January, once a few weeks ago and again today. Let them try to use it and I have no doubt Obama will then throw McCain's spiritual friends back in his face. McCain could lose the Catholic vote because of the man he associates with and I think that poses a far bigger risk to him than it does Wright does for Obama.

[leftynyc]

146. I hope you're right but

I don't think so. After this country selected then elected the chimp, I've lost faith in her intelligence. And Sen Obama has a much cozier relationship with Wright than mccain does with Hagee.

[Drunken Irishman]

151. McCain's spiritual adviser is worse.

He's called for the holocost of Islam.

[leftynyc]

166. You and I think that

is hateful and outrageous, however, we both also know that this country has a very weird vibe about Islam at the moment. It also has a very strong fear of the "angry black man" meme. If it comes advisor vs advisor, I think we lose. Of course he (Hagee) has also insulted Catholics to we may catch a break there. Can you even believe when in our founding legal document it says there should be no test for religion allowed in politics, it has come to this?

[Drunken Irishman]

170. Yes, but you throw up other McCain "friends" and you find a pattern.

In the end, I think Obama will do enough to distance himself from those comments. Obviously he's already doing that and I'm not about to say he's toast because of something his pastor said. Especially when people realize they have friends and family members who say stupid shit all the time. Luckily for Obama, there is no vide or not instance of him ever uttering these words. Will it change some people's view of him? Sure, but I have a feeling they probably wouldn't support Obama in the first place.

The good thing out of this, though, is that it shows Obama is at least Christian -- which could be a positive, I guess.

[leftynyc]

171. LOL - yeah, I suppose it's a positive

in a totally screwed up, roll my eyes kinda way. Like many on this board, I'd be much happier if everyone kept their religion to themselves and I could pretend they're all atheists.

[ProSense]

33. The Ferraro effect

[tishaLA]

34. To be self-referential...

here is what I posted in another thread about this:

We too readily accept the framing of the argument

Fact: Obama's pastor has said things that many--most--Americans find reprehensible.
Fact: This furthers the narrative that Obama and Michelle are anti-American and not sufficiently servile. In fact, his candidacy does this.
Fact: The videos create an image, heretofore successfully avoided, that Sen Obama is a Bad, Scary Negro.
Fact: Obama must issue a statement, or (preferably) give a JFK-like speech, distancing himself from Wright's more immoderate comments.

Frame: What attracted Sen Obama to the church, and to Rev Wright, was his commitment to American values. However incendiary Rev Wright's rhetoric might sometimes be, he has worked all his life to ensure the basic equality and human dignity of people who are too often forgotten: LGBT people, the poor, people with AIDS, etc. These people are integral to Rev. Wright's vision and these are the things Obama has internalized under his tutelage. Obama has to do this by weaving his personal narrative into this because this is how he is most effective: to make himself an embodiment of a kind of Jeffersonian liberalism.

[nels25]

50. Sadly

Fact to Joe and Jane citizen who do not pay close attention, it also feeds the stereo type that Democrats in some part hate this country, alla the blame america first crowd refereed to by Jean Kirkpatrick in the 1984 GOP convention.

Not fair but true.

:banghead:

[RiverStone]

35. Please provide evidence to your claim

Which polls are you referring to that suggest he is seriously wounded?

Obama has won 14 of the last 17 states with - the Muslim rumors, the drug rumors, the McCain is more qualified BS --- and 13.6 million voters still have him leading the popular vote and the delegate count.

None of that other bullshit stuck, what measurable data do you have that this has???

on edit: In no way do I defend some of the preacher's wacko statements, but they are very different from anything we have heard directly from Obama himself.

[nels25]

55. This is just getting up steam

if it is not knocked down damm fast it will affect the polls.

And not to Baracks benefit.

Just wait to polls next week or 10 days from now if this is still resonating.:shrug:

[nels25]

37. This is resonating

I got an ear full from my friends last night about this.

Most of my friends are GOP disposed and have been for years but in the last 3 - 5 years have had their fill of the Repubs. Most voted Dem in 06 for the first time in long time.

I was able to persuade several to vote for Barack in the Wisconsin Primary.

This is not going down well at all with them.

They revert back to thinking of us as a victim party, with numerous double standards.

One told me that I good and well that if this had been turned around with this being a close McCain white pastor, that we (the democrats would absolutely nuts).

And you know what?? He is right.

This is going to do serious damage to both Obama and tan gently the democratic party.

God we never seem to catch a clean break.:banghead:

[sorrybushisfromtexas]

48. still hasn't made drudge, the right wing's bible

Yawn, so many words wasted on so little.

[Fluffdaddy]

49. I'm happy to see one O supporter that understands how bad this looks....

[rucky]

60. Then tell them about McCain's white pastor. n/t

[Fluffdaddy]

64. This is not about McCain. This Pastor is going to hurt O bigtime

[rucky]

93. "...if this had been turned around...

with this being a close McCain white pastor, that we (the democrats would absolutely nuts)."

Well guess what, McCain has a pastor who wants to eradicate Islam. I guess the voters might be okay with that one.

And why not take a shot at McCain in the process. If O's hurt and McCain's hurt, who's left standing?

[nels25]

72. Not sure they will listen

but I guess it could not hurt.:shrug:

[wiggs]

41. Valid point...rude responses to OP not deserved. However, I have

confidence that Obama will take advantage of opportunity to address your caveat: "unless he gets it under control now." Otherwise he is heading down the swiftboat path and I'm sure he's seen the 2004 lesson there and won't follow.

He's been excellent at responding in a timely and sometimes devastating fashion. Shouldn't be too hard to separate himself...it's silly to think he shares some of the more extreme viewpoints of Rev Wright.

[Oilwellian]

42. It's important we look at both candidates religion, right?

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/hillary ...

Hillary's Prayer: Hillary Clinton's Religion and Politics
September 1, 2007

---snip---

Through all of her years in Washington, Clinton has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the Fellowship. Her collaborations with right-wingers such as Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) grow in part from that connection. "A lot of evangelicals would see that as just cynical exploitation," says the Reverend Rob Schenck, a former leader of the militant anti-abortion group Operation Rescue who now ministers to decision makers in Washington. "I don't....there is a real good that is infected in people when they are around Jesus talk, and open Bibles, and prayer."

***

When Clinton first came to Washington in 1993, one of her first steps was to join a Bible study group. For the next eight years, she regularly met with a Christian "cell" whose members included Susan Baker, wife of Bush consigliere James Baker; Joanne Kemp, wife of conservative icon Jack Kemp; Eileen Bakke, wife of Dennis Bakke, a leader in the anti-union Christian management movement; and Grace Nelson, the wife of Senator Bill Nelson, a conservative Florida Democrat.

Clinton's prayer group was part of the Fellowship (or "the Family"), a network of sex-segregated cells of political, business, and military leaders dedicated to "spiritual war" on behalf of Christ, many of them recruited at the Fellowship's only public event, the annual National Prayer Breakfast. (Aside from the breakfast, the group has "made a fetish of being invisible," former Republican Senator William Armstrong has said.) The Fellowship believes that the elite win power by the will of God, who uses them for his purposes. Its mission is to help the powerful understand their role in God's plan.

***

Coe's friends include former Attorney General John Ashcroft, Reaganite Edwin Meese III, and ultraconservative Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.). Under Coe's guidance, Meese has hosted weekly prayer breakfasts for politicians, businesspeople, and diplomats, and Pitts rose from obscurity to head the House Values Action Team, an off-the-record network of religious right groups and members of Congress created by Tom DeLay. The corresponding Senate Values Action Team is guided by another Coe protégé, Brownback, who also claims to have recruited King Abdullah of Jordan into a regular study of Jesus' teachings.

The Fellowship's long-term goal is "a leadership led by God—leaders of all levels of society who direct projects as they are led by the spirit." According to the Fellowship's archives, the spirit has in the past led its members in Congress to increase U.S. support for the Duvalier regime in Haiti and the Park dictatorship in South Korea. The Fellowship's God-led men have also included General Suharto of Indonesia; Honduran general and death squad organizer Gustavo Alvarez Martinez; a Deutsche Bank official disgraced by financial ties to Hitler; and dictator Siad Barre of Somalia, plus a list of other generals and dictators. Clinton, says Schenck, has become a regular visitor to Coe's Arlington, Virginia, headquarters, a former convent where Coe provides members of Congress with sex-segregated housing and spiritual guidance.

***

These days, Clinton has graduated from the political wives' group into what may be Coe's most elite cell, the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast. Though weighted Republican, the breakfast—regularly attended by about 40 members—is a bipartisan opportunity for politicians to burnish their reputations, giving Clinton the chance to profess her faith with men such as Brownback as well as the twin terrors of Oklahoma, James Inhofe and Tom Coburn, and, until recently, former Senator George Allen (R-Va.). Democrats in the group include Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor, who told us that the separation of church and state has gone too far; Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is also a regular.

Unlikely partnerships have become a Clinton trademark. Some are symbolic, such as her support for a ban on flag burning with Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) and funding for research on the dangers of video games with Brownback and Santorum. But Clinton has also joined the gop on legislation that redefines social justice issues in terms of conservative morality, such as an anti-human-trafficking law that withheld funding from groups working on the sex trade if they didn't condemn prostitution in the proper terms. With Santorum, Clinton co-sponsored the Workplace Religious Freedom Act; she didn't back off even after Republican senators such as Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter pulled their names from the bill citing concerns that the measure would protect those refusing to perform key aspects of their jobs—say, pharmacists who won't fill birth control prescriptions, or police officers who won't guard abortion clinics.

Clinton has championed federal funding of faith-based social services, which she embraced years before George W. Bush did; Marci Hamilton, author of God vs. the Gavel, says that the Clintons' approach to faith-based initiatives "set the stage for Bush." Clinton has also long supported the Defense of Marriage Act, a measure that has become a purity test for any candidate wishing to avoid war with the Christian right.

Liberal rabbi Michael Lerner, whose "politics of meaning" Clinton made famous in a speech early in her White House tenure, sees the senator's ambivalence as both more and less than calculated opportunism. He believes she has genuine sympathy for liberal causes—rights for women, gays, immigrants—but often will not follow through. "There is something in her that pushes her toward caring about others, as long as there's no price to pay. But in politics, there is a price to pay."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[woolldog]

45. I think it hurts

but it won't be devastating.

So far the media has been portraying him as just another nutty surrugate like Ferrarro and pointing out that Obama has already rejected his statements and distanced himself from Wright. I'd like to see Obama quietly let this guy go from the campaign committee he's on, so that when it comes up again in the Fall he can say that Wright hasn't been with the campaign for a while.

except for Fox News and Limbaugh/Hannity who are obviously giving it a lot of play. But Hannity has been plugging away at this "Obama hates America and hates white people" theme for some time now.

[AlinPA]

It is very important that Obama address this directly and forcefully. Also

McCain is getting free ride on his "spritual advisor's" preaching about Muslims and nutcase Robertson who said gays caused 9/11.

[Fluffdaddy]

59. very very important. This may be his most important response of the campaign

[rucky]

47. Does this tell us more about Obama, or about "the voters"?

it's academic at this point, but I'm curious as to how many people feel personally threated by Wright's statments, compared to how many people just think that other voters will feel threatened.

[sorrybushisfromtexas]

52. most posters think neither

They wonder what is going to happen to their candidate.

This will go away soon.

Double yawn

[AlinPA]

56. It is going to hurt hin in PA and other primaries. He must respond now-forcefully.

[VolcanoJen]

63. As one of the most outspoken Obama supporters on this message board...

... I wholeheartedly agree with kentuck.

It is, obviously, very personally painful to Obama that he has to consider distancing himself far, far away from a friend, an advisor, a spiritual mentor, the man who baptized him, performed his marriage, christened his children.

But kentuck is right, and even though I didn't feel this way a few days ago, I certainly do now.

This thing has 527 written all over it. Jeremiah Wright saying "God damn America" over and over, photos of Obama without his flag pin, photos of him without his hand over his heart, I mean, as stupid and disgusting as one can imagine this thing will get, take it a few steps further, because it really, really will be exactly that ugly in the fall campaign.

As a matter of fact, regardless of what Obama now does vis-a-vis his relationship with Pastor Wright, this attack on his patriotism is just getting ramped up. It will be disgusting, and problematic, and the best thing he could do at this point is to at least give a speech that addresses or somehow attacks the people impugning his love of country.

I'm a realist, and you know, in 2004 we didn't see that Swiftboat thing coming, but this? It's coming. It's just getting started.

I do not feel, not one iota, that Obama can't recover somehow, or insulate himself by coming out more strongly against the comments Pastor Wright has made. He can get through this. But he unfortunately needs to flick that Better Angel off his shoulder, and get on with some strong remarks. Sooner, not later.

[Fluffdaddy]

65. Thank You................... 2008 is ours to win. We can't F this up

[nels25]

74. But it sure looks like we are trying

Sigh!!

:mad:

[kentuck]

67. I have confidence that Obama can adequately address this issue...

But, it presents a problem because he does not want to be seen as somehow disavowing his religion or his church. However, I do believe he will find a way to handle it appropriately. At least, I hope so.

[VolcanoJen]

80. It's a test. We may not like it, we may wring our hands about it...

... we may even, to an extent, understand Pastor Wright's complaints. That's because we're liberals. We're smart, we're tuned in. We get it.

But this isn't about us, it's about the voters. I do think sometime we can be a little insulated from the rest of the political world here at DU, because we're a community that applauds ourselves on our progressive values. I can't even listen to wingnut radio for longer than five minutes without my blood pressure rising.

Now, it's important to remember that the kinds of people who are most susceptible to being outraged or worked-up about Pastor Wright likely wouldn't be voting for Clinton OR Obama in the fall. I think John Kerry might have thought that as well, in 2004 when the swiftboaters ramped up. But this kind of thing is a poison pill, and can certainly seep into the minds of the independents and swing voters we'll need in the fall.... especially (and Obama supporters, please try to visualize this) when an ad on television compares Obama and Pastor Wright's love of country with that of John McCain at the Hanoi Hilton.

I also feel, kentuck, that Obama can, and will, address this in short order. I do not believe his interview with the Post-Gazette is his last word on the subject. He has surely thought this out. His staff has surely war-gamed this topic already. I imagine that the way he does address it will be adequate, and maybe it will exceed expectations.

I'll say it again... I find these attacks on Obama-by-proxy insulting, and in a perfect world, irrelevant and quickly dismissed.

We don't live in that kind of political utopia.

[kentuck]

89. Wise words, VolcanoJen.

If it were just "us", it would be no problem. But, it is not just about "us". We are a very small minority. "They" are the majority that must be addressed.

[VolcanoJen]

102. And, we're in uncharted territory, here.

One of the reasons Obama has surprised at every turn in the campaign is that he has a unique ability to address issues of race, justice and equality in new, different, and compelling ways. He is the first viable African-American candidate for President this nation has ever seen. We have not dipped our collective toe in this water yet. I know for a fact that many Americans would be quite shocked at what they might hear in many African-American congregations, and that's evidenced by the reaction we're hearing now from our mostly-white and affluent media. They really have no clue.

Of course, it's disturbingly hypocritical that wingnut candidates have no trouble cuddling up with the likes of Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell when they have made equally offensive and outrageous comments on a myriad of issues in the America experience. But, they get different rules than we do, don't they? To not recognize this would be to not really "get" Politics 101.

My gut tells me Barack has in mind a plan to deal with the Wright issue, and that that he can handle it, and that we might come out of it inspired even more. It's my fervent hope that he gets on with it. Quickly.

And to any of my fellow Obama supporters who think this is a Fox/Limbaugh issue... between the time I woke up, took a shower, and sat down to have more coffee this morning before work, I saw the "Clinton has never been called a..." and "God damn America" videos three times, on "Morning Joe" and "The Today Show."

Please, everyone... don't ever forget that John McCain has nothing to run on, and no message. He can't run on this wretched war, this horrible economy, our disastrous foreign policy, or really, anything else. So... if he can run on the politics of race and religion, and get away with it, don't think he won't try to take the easy way out.

[kentuck]

108. We can bet on this.

"Please, everyone... don't ever forget that John McCain has nothing to run on, and no message. He can't run on this wretched war, this horrible economy, our disastrous foreign policy, or really, anything else. So... if he can run on the politics of race and religion, and get away with it, don't think he won't try to take the easy way out."
===============

And when John McCain's "spiritual advisor" says that Islam should be destroyed, he is not so subtly trying to plant the seed that Obama is a Muslim. McCain let's him do the dirty work. Just as the Swift Boaters were able to convince many voters that John Kerry was a "traitor" and George W Bush was the true "hero", they will use the same tactics.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

70. even if he comes out strong and renounces and rejects the Rev it will not matter the damage is done

[noiretextatique]

68. we will see...i agree with you

the republicans will make an issue of it, and some voters will get manipulated.
a lot of obama supporters seem to believe the country has really changed, or is so ready for changing that the usual suspects won't be manipulated, or won't give in to existing prejudice.
you, and many others including your truly, aren't so sure about that. it will be interesting to see how much really has changed come november.
hope and desperation seem to fuel the obama campaign because people really seem so desperate to believe things have changed enough that obama can get elected...or maybe that's hopeful :shrug:
again, i am not so sure if things have changed enough, but i hope they are correct.

[Exilednight]

75. Seriously wounded? Been watching Faux news, have you?

[Mags]

88. I have just now and they have been all over this story today.

Just now a 15 min. segement. Yes, I watch fox occasionally, no different then MSNBC now to me. And remember Fox is the leading new channel and more people watch then any other channel. I watch Fox so you don't have to.

[Exilednight]

90. I rest my case.

[leftynyc]

98. Your case was moronic

You may not like it but Fox news is the highest rated cable news channel and closing your eyes and ears and shouting inanities is not how grownups handle issues.

[Exilednight]

132. Just because the masses watch it, doesn't mean it's accurate, and it's not like their demographic...

is left leaning.

[leftynyc]

136. It doesn't have to be left leaning

And it doesn't have to be accurate - if anything has been shown to be true during this administration, it's certainly that. Pubs are going to vote for McCain and dems are going to vote for Sen Obama. It's been independents that have decided the last few elections and that will be true once again. We have to be thinking about how this clown is going to sound to them.

[Exilednight]

147. I don't know any independents who watch Faux news. Faux has a reputation of being.......

unfair and unbalanced to everyone except the far right. There several million viewers may sound like a lot, but as a percentage of the population, it's a drop in the bucket.

[sfam]

85. I expect Obama will resign this afternoon nt

[Cooley Hurd]

87. I don't think he's that badly wounded. The media is playing it up for the drama...

As long as Senator Obama gets in front of this NOW - like TODAY - he'll weather it. Fortunately, it's a busy news day so the media hasn't had much time to cover it.

[Hepburn]

91. What total bullshit....

...sorry there is no other phrase which is appropriate for this crap.

:eyes:

[paulk]

99. Obama's candidacy hinges on his response to this

this is serious and a real test for him.

[SoonerPride]

101. And what would be an acceptable reply?

He's already said he disavows the wacky statements.

What more do you?

for him to proclaim he's really a Muslim after all?

[Tarc]

107. No, he really didn't. Obama condemned and excused the in the same breath

Obviously, I disagree with that. Here is what happens when you just cherry-pick statements from a guy who had a 40-year career as a pastor. There are times when people say things that are just wrong. But I think it's important to judge me on what I've said in the past and what I believe.

i.e. I don't agree with what he said, but what he said was taken out of context. Which is, of course, bullshit.

[VolcanoJen]

117. Here's what Obama should do!!!!

He could give a speech about how wrong Pastor Wright's comments are about the history of US foreign policy and its relationship to 9/11, and instead should blame 9/11 on family planning clinics and gay people!

I'm totally kidding, of course. But isn't the hypocrisy astounding? Bush can say, "I don't agree with Robertson and Falwell." McCain can say, "I don't agree with Hagee." That's all good and well with the press, and the "controversy" just magically melts away.

But the rules are different for Democrats in general and Obama specifically, and we all know that. It will be interesting to see how he handles it going forward. My gut tells me he can get through this.

[paulk]

113. I don't know.

Just saying he disavows the statements isn't going to cut it, IMO. He has to explain - convincingly - why he kept going to hear this guy after he said these things. Why he considers this fellow his spiritual advisor and mentor in the face of his remarks. Calling them "wacky" statemnts is weak. I don't think "disavowing" is going to be enough. Trying to brush this under the rug isn't going to work, IMHO.

---------------

Why should I care if Obama is a Muslim?

[zulchzulu]

104. In your little Hillaryworld mind perhaps...

Hillary isn't going to be the nominee. Take your marbles and go home.

If McCain wants to make it an issue with Wright, we have Hagee to slam the shit in his face. He can do it if he wants to alienate Catholics, Jews, Blacks, Women and people with brains.

As for the Whiner and Her Cheating Husband, they can bring it up too. They are toast anyway and people will historically see their campaign as the WORST RUN campaign in modern history. This "issue" is just the latest installment in how fucked up they are.

[Justyce]

138. The OP is an Obama supporter....

[Alter Ego]

106. And he has already said publicly that he does not agree

with what Rev. Wright has said.

What would you like him to do? Prostrate himself before Hillary and kiss her feet and beg her forgiveness?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

109. You're 100% Right, And Thanks For Your Candor. It's A Shame You're Getting Attacked By The

tantrum throwing closed minded claws always out children, but it is obvious that YOU are in the right here, with the best interests of our party at heart.

This is as damaging of a story as any one I could've imagined for either candidate. It could have serious implications, and literally IS that powerful that it could sink his nomination or even sink him in the GE if he doesn't address it correctly. Any time something like that has THAT much gravity to it, we all should be taking it realllllllll seriously.

Thank you for your attention to this. We really do need to discuss it.

The problem I'm having is that I'm wracking my brain for what the proper response would be that could make all this go away, and I haven't come up with anything yet that is good enough. That's what's bothering me about this, because if there isn't a good enough response, then the only answer might be not giving him the nomination at all. That wouldn't be quite fair.

But while we still have that opportunity to pick one nominee over the other, we best damn well better make sure that we have a competent response to handcuff this attack in the GE, or we're gonna have all sorts of trouble on our hands...

[dcindian]

111. Lets see how well the attacking a very large Christian church works for McCain.

Get back to me after the Hillary campaign finally gets their wish as vice presidential running mate for Nader. Or you get a clue. Which ever comes first.

[knixphan]

122. Hagee?

[Little Star]

126. It is the humping air while on the pulpit I cannot get past! PIG!!!

Nice thing to do in front of children and young adults while preaching a sermon.

[kentuck]

128. Maybe it's more Michelle's church ??

:-) and Obama just goes along to maintain harmony in the family?

[AtomicKitten]

137. Pffft.

[elixir]

153. k&r

[haymakeragain]

160. Fuck that shit. Keep dreamin'

Obama will make this the defining moment of the campaign if you keep whining about it. It has home run written all over it. Force his hand on something his pastor said 5 years ago. Make him call a press conference or something where everyone is watching and see him knock it over the fence.

Here's a clue, he didn't say it and has never said anything near that. He said he didn't agree with it. You wanna give Obama a stage? go ahead.

[Bluebear]

162. "Fuck that shit" - how inspiring.

[haymakeragain]

164. Did I offend you? Sorry mate.

Not trying to inspire though. Trying to place it on a deserving level.

[kentuck]

172. OBAMA HAS RESPONDED !

And very well, I might add. There are links on this page that everyone should read - especially Obama supporters. I feel much much better after reading his response. I hope that H & C give him enough time to respond when he goes on their show this evening on FOX?

on edit, the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barack-obama/on-my-faith-and-my-church_b_91623.html

<snip>
Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.

The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.

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