Let the MSM go nuts over Reverend Wright. It's a good thing.

[Avalux]

I was initially upset about it, just like a lot of you. But after stepping back and thinking about what implications the media attention has for Obama, I am not upset anymore and here's why....

The Reverend Wright story was not going away. It would have been bubbling under the surface and carried into the general election. Because Wright has come out now and told all of us exactly what he's about, there will be little 'revelation' left for the GOP to throw at voters in the coming months. He has come out now - at the end of the Democratic nomination process, with Obama poised for the nomination. There is little from this story despite the MSM's gyrations that will damage Obama at this point; his poll numbers are showing little movement.

Obama will now win the nomination and move to the general election, leaving Wright behind. The GOP will continue to play soundbites from Wright and try to damage Obama with them, but it won't be anything new. The helium has been taken out of that balloon.

We have no way of knowing if Wright's decision to do the media circuit now was strategically planned (with the Obama campaign's consent), but it may have been. If so, it was a smart move.

[YOY]

1. Everytime they bring up Wright they point out to another imbecile that he really is not a "Muslim"

Not that it would matter if he was in the big picture...

[K Gardner]

40. Also, Hillary gets NO "free air time" at all. She's virtually invisible right now.

[2rth2pwr]

56. "Not that there is anything wrong with that"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WXabXHEpLI

[YOY]

57. There isn't.

Is there, oh great one?

[2rth2pwr]

58. The episode of Seifeld in the link made that cliche an instant classic.

[olkaz]

2. I've been thinking about this all along.

People are getting sick of Wright. This whole episode is essentially giving Obama some immunization for the general.

At this point, I hope the media keeps going. REALLY run it into the ground.

[zanne]

3. And if (when) they try to use Rev. Wright against Obama for the general...

We can use Rev. Hagee on McCain.

[CTyankee]

13. Hi, zanne!

I'd love to believe that Hagee would have the same effect on McSame that Wright is having on Obama, but McLame has listed the "differences" between the two and the MSM just nods and accepts it.

Also, it is my theory that the white MSM is obsessed with black people, and especially an angry black minister, to the point of irrationality. they deflect the white crazy minister as just a little weird.

Just one of those offshoots of the racism that permeates the MSM.

:hi:

[zanne]

28. We can always use Rev. Hagee in a DNC ad!

We wouldn't even have to write it; all we need is a little snippet of him preaching. You're right in that the MSM won't cover him extensively, but the DNC can!

[lisa58]

4. I agree...

...this story will be stale by the time the GOP (who have their own pastors to deal with) want to use it in the general.

[Indiana_Dem]

5. I agree. This post below is from me lastnight:

The tide will turn:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5728801&mesg_id=5728801

[Avalux]

27. Good post.

I agree the tide will turn, and Obama will be immunized. :hi:

[ginnyinWI]

6. I've been thinking this, too.

It's better if Wright gets out there so much that the media exhausts itself on him now. The more extreme he looks, the more calm and reasonable Obama looks and people will see that.

[DCofVA]

7. It really does make the MSM look foolish and petty.

[me b zola]

9. It really does.

In the end, it will boomerang, the way all of the other cheap attacks on Obama have done.

[kentuck]

8. Being an eternal optimist...

there may be an upside to this story. Just as you say, Obama is being immunized for attacks later, but only if he can survive now.

[cali]

10. no fucking way was it planned with the Obama camp

Axelrod was on Mattews last night and his disgust with Wright's decision to go full tilt boogie into the media limelight, couldn't have been clearer.

[Texas Hill Country]

11. no, actually its a really really bad thing for Obama

[uponit7771]

15. People still believe Obama is a Muslim!!

[MADem]

17. Those people probably think WRIGHT is one, too, based on his Afro-centric vestments.

You aren't going to get logical thought from those people.

[ClassWarrior]

42. So then why cater to them and censor ourselves based on what we think they'll think?

Why don't we just stand firmly behind our Progressive Values, the very best of American values?

NGU.

[MADem]

43. Because it's not just the "Obama is a muslim" crowd who find Wright and his two decade association

with Obama, to include "bringing him to his Christian faith" VERY problematic.

Don't shoot the messenger. Bob Herbert said it best in the NYT today. It's a good article, I urge you to read it from start to finish. I agree with EVERYTHING that he is saying: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/opinion/29herbert.html?ref=opinion

Really--it is a GOOD read. Worth your time.

[ClassWarrior]

44. The media is stampeding us again. You go sign up to be cattle. I won't be a party to it.

NGU.

[MADem]

46. READ the link I offered you. It's a good overview of the entire issue.

:hi:

[PurityOfEssence]

51. Great article

Just what IS Jeremiah Wright's motive here, beyond extremely self-centered vengeance against the media? Does he somewhat WANT the campaign to fail, seemingly due to race alone, just to justify the politics of self-pity?

Is it just an ego so voracious that nothing else matters? Is it some kind of theocratic threat that Obama'd better toe the line and do his bidding OR ELSE?

What a deplorable situation. I really do feel sorry for the many sincere hopefuls who have to see their dreams jeopardized so, and this is not any good for anybody.

Yeah, as he said, Jeremiah Wright's been "running for Jesus for many, many years", but someone needs to tell him that the PART'S BEEN FILLED.

[MADem]

55. I agree with Bob Herbert, I'm afraid. I think he's pissed off.

At Obama, at the media, at what he thinks is his "legacy."

It is an unfortunate situation, but I don't think the Reverend Doctor is going to shut up any time soon. And neither are any of his more vociferous "helpers." They'll only make it worse, but they don't seem to care...

[Avalux]

20. Your opinion means nothing; you have an agenda against Obama.

Just wondering what you will do when he is the nominee.....

[uponit7771]

12. I'm shocked at how racist the MsM is, Hagee & Parsley are kooks but dont have of the attention

[harun]

33. I think this whole debacle is showing a lot of people how out of

control the MSM is and it is a good thing. More people who know truth the better, regardless of the result.

[MADem]

45. McCain didn't sit in their pews for twenty years either. He and Cindy weren't married by those nuts

and they didn't baptize their kids. He didn't give them tens of thousands of dollars, either.

That's not the same. This isn't a dodgy ENDORSEMENT, this is the 'spiritual guide' of the candidate talking. That's the problem.

See Bob Herbert's discussion. It's good: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/opinion/29herbert.html?ref=opinion

[DCofVA]

14. And with Wright coming out, it is making it clear, he is NOT Obama!

[kentuck]

19. If he's not for Obama, then who is he for??

I did notice that he refused to criticize Bill Clinton when he was asked about his comments after the SC primary. Huh?

[Avalux]

23. He is for himself.

It seemed to me he is a bit po'd at Obama for NOT defending him when his comments first came out.

[MADem]

16. It's not a good thing for Obama. Even Axlerod is saying that. NT

[stillcool]

24. All through this Campaign Season...

the bad things turned out to be good things for Obama. Even though, people tried their best to trash and bash the Senator...there he is...still standing. I believe it is another case of "Watch What Happens". It is all kind of funny though.

[MADem]

29. Ok, I'm happy to "watch what happens." I think what will happen will be bad news in Indiana. NT

[stillcool]

49. I'm sure you do.

[Avalux]

25. LOL - things are not always as they appear, grasshopper. n/t

[MADem]

31. Laughing out Loud, eh?

I don't think the situation Obama is in is "funny" at all. I actually feel a bit sad for the guy.

I do think he was stupid not to move away from that pastor with ANY DAMNED EXCUSE early on, maybe move far away to the suburbs after he won the Senate and switch churches, or something, but I don't think this is a "laughing out loud" situation....unless it's that hysterical laughter that you hear in the ICU waiting room, when someone is told that a relative has died and they don't know how to react.

If you actually think Obama is going to 'snatch the pebble from my hand' well, I suppose you may as well just keep on digging away...because maybe there IS a pony in there somewhere!

[Avalux]

32. I'm laughing at you, not the situation.

You want this to be a bad thing for Obama.

[MADem]

36. Laughing at me, eh? Well, that's productive for your candidate--not.

I didn't characterize my commentary AT ALL, initially, and only after you did the LOL nonsense did I say I felt sorry for him.

But you think, somehow, it "helps" Obama to point and laugh at ME (while accusing me of wanting this to be a bad thing) because I simply dare to report that Obama's very own top guy said this wasn't good.

O....K.

[ClassWarrior]

41. It's a good thing for US. And that's what Obama's campaign...

...has always been about. Not the candidate.

So here we have an outspoken Progressive proudly sharing his values with the public. Yes, the Corporate Media will try to filter it. Spin it. Paint him as a lunatic. Does this surprise you? Nevertheless, given a choice between imperfect Progressives loudly and proudly voicing our values and silence, I'll take the former. What about you?

(By the way, I find it touching that you're so concerned about what's a good thing for Obama. How sweet...)

NGU.

[MADem]

53. US? Who's US? I don't think Obama's in that US camp. I think he'd

give Wright the elbow at the edge of the Grand Canyon if his moral filter didn't get in the way.


I think it's good for one person--Rev. Wright. He's pleased as punch. Clinton supporters aren't in tears, either, though I think it's unfortunate that adjustments are made in the support percentages based on Wright rather than based on one-on-one debate.

Wright is divisive, and he's a little kooky. No, a LOT kooky. Making fun of the accents of JFK and LBJ isn't the way you get your point across. Saying the government caused AIDS is off the beaten track. Calling Farrakhan the EF HUTTON for the entire black community is bullshit. Rolling his shoulders like an idiot is entertaining--in the way that Tiny Tim was entertaining. You laughed AT him, not WITH him.

He IS acting clownish, and he's hubris laden and a bit sketchy in the judgment department. I wonder if he has a prescription for ARICEPT, and if he remembers to take it?

[rucky]

18. Finally some sanity!

[pdxmom]

21. I'm wondering if the media fixation on this might take a lot of the issue off

the table. What I've heard today is how this is Wright throwing Obama under the bus, how Wright is all about Wright, how Wright's ego is the motivation to hurt Obama, blah, blah, blah. At some point, doesn't this then play into Obama being able to distance himself more easily, and people look at Wright as separate from, and not influential on, Obama?

[Avalux]

26. That's what I expect will happen.

This whole thing will distance Obama from Wright, which is exactly what needs to happen.

[EffieBlack]

48. Obama was right not to distance himself earlier

It would have been cruel, petty and disloyal to repudiate a man who'd meant so much to him purely because he disagreed with something he said. I respected Obama for not doing so.

Now, however, it's a different situation. Rev. Wright appears now to be actively attacking Obama and to be purposely trying to undermine his campaign. As such, it would be perfectly appropriate for him to push him back and put distance between them, not because it's the politically-expedient thing to do, but because it now may be the right thing to do

[DCofVA]

34. Exactly!

There does seem to be a wedge growing between Wright and Obama, which could only be a good thing.
Personally, I have never been concerned about Wright. He is not the candidate, and most people who will be voting Democratic realize this. I'm happy that this is all coming out now, now that Obama has pretty much gotten the nomination. It sure would have been an annoying diversion closer to the November election.

[elocs]

22. Until it is all over I don't think we will know if it is a good thing or a bad thing.

Better to have it come up now than in October. It is one thing to see Republicans who would never vote for Obama get all wound up about it. It is another thing to see other Democrats take such glee and delight in it. But I don't think that Wright is a robot who takes his marching orders, or any orders from the Obama campaign.

[jpertello]

30. well, that's certainly making lemonade out of lemons.

[ClassWarrior]

39. An outspoken Progressive proudly sharing his values with the media. Lemons??!

:shrug:

NGU.

[DCofVA]

50. Yum!

[Blue_Roses]

35. It also is looking a lot like Obama and Wright aren't so close after all...

It gives Obama--should he decide--the perfect opportunity to once and for all make a "disappointed statement" about Wright and how he is going about his propaganda/aka:book tour. Obama knows the right (no pun intended) words to diffuse this situation and if truth be told, I'm sure he IS VERY disappointed in how Wright is going about this.

I was watching KO last night and they were talking about this very issue. While Obama was just a sitting church member, not stirring the waters, Wright was fine, but now that Obama has come out against Wright's divisive manner, Wright is pissed off. I can now understand the nature of their relationship. Wright as the dominant figure and Obama the submissive (so Wright thought). I don't like Rev. Wright. I think he's full of shit.

[ClassWarrior]

37. You're right. It's not going away, and if it did, the RW freaks would find...

...some other feces to throw.

At least there's a chance that people will look up Rev. Wright's appearances and hear this charming, compelling man voicing Progressive values. Rather than hiding him away in an attic like a crazy uncle - which is what a typical campaign would have done - he's out there speaking the truth to the media.

How can that be bad?

NGU.

[Avalux]

38. Yes, the perception of "hiding Wright in the attic" would have been worse for Obama.

I think he's got a good messsage but I get the vibe he's a little irritated at Obama - that only serves to draw a clear difference between the two.

[barack the house]

47. Yes, Wright did exactly what needed to be done for himself and Obama. I was very pleased he did.

[backscatter712]

52. On the bright side, they always overplay their hands.

The media's spent that past couple news cycles furiously pastorbaiting, and the disgust level among viewers is skyrocketing. I turned the cable news off - every time I see them, my IQ drops another few points.

There will be a backlash, and hopefully, the backlash will arrive just in time for N. Carolina and Indiana. The MSM still operates under the faulty assumption that they control 99% of what people see and hear on current events. Thanks to the Internet and blogging, that's not true, and more and more often, they get challenged.

[CakeGrrl]

54. I agree. Let the M$M play it to death and make everyone sick of it

by the time the Repubs want to use it again, they may get more backlash than they anticipate and they may not want to play it up too much with their own pastor issues waiting to be brought up.