Three days after the Obama smackdown, WHY is Pastor Wright STILL SILENT? (I'm starting to worry.)

[smalll]

So lets review. Obama had been feeling the heat from the old Goddamn/Chickens-home-to-roost clips, so he gave the Philadelphia speech, which was a fine example of the Obama higher triangulation. It was a relatively "balanced" He's-OK-I'm-OK speech: Obama politely separated himself from Pastor Wright's more extreme views while at the same time he refused to "disown" his spiritual mentor.

But Pastor Wright took exception to it, and hit back: to Bill Moyers, he said that “I’m a pastor; he’s a politician” – essentially questioning Obama’s sincerity. Then he went to the NAACP and re-iterated his racist outlook (the black brains/white brains passage) and followed it up the next day by the NPC speech and question/answer session, where, amongst other things, he confirmed his belief in the government-created-AIDS theory.
So later that day (Tuesday) Obama followed with his stone-cold smackdown of Wright.

If Wright was upset before, he must be hopping mad at this point. But he, so far, has not responded. From the news I’ve read, it seems Pastor Wright is now holed up in his new million-dollar Chicago home. When Northwestern U. disinvited him to this year’s commencement ceremony, the report said, “a phone call to Wright’s home went unanswered.” We also have a report out of Chicago that a Catholic priest is attempting to play diplomat-by-telephone, calling both Wright and Obama to try to patch up their rift.

But with all we know now about Wright’s character, he must be itching to strike back? Why hasn’t he? I’m starting to worry that he won’t.

The thing of it is, Wrightgate has weakened Barack, and has shifted poll numbers. It has opened up a real possibility that Obama could lose the nomination to Hillary. I sincerely hope that this possibility becomes reality, because this would allow the Democrats to go forward into November with a candidate (Hillary) who can actually win, rather than have to go down in flames with the unelectable Obama.

For Wrightgate to make that possibility a heavy probability, Wright HAS to hit back. Because if he does, this is how it will go down: the most insulting thing Obama said about Wright in the Tuesday smackdown was the line about “The man I saw yesterday is not the man I’ve known now for 20 years.” That has to be the statement that Wright must take the most exception to. It essentially asserts that Wright has suddenly gone crazy or senile. So if Wright hits back, he will hit back directly on that point. He will tell us, “I haven’t changed, Barack: I’ve always been the same man. You’re the one who has changed.” And if he does that, it will completely confirm the strongest mainstream concern that people have about Obama vis-à-vis Wright right now: why did he sit in those pews for 20 years? Why didn’t he reject Wright a long time ago?

If Wright hits back, therefore, it really will be over for Obama. Hillary will win North Carolina as WELL as Indiana. The SuperDs will flood over to her. If Wright doesn’t hit back, honestly, I have to think that Obama will be able to limp to the nomination, dooming us to a McCain victory in November.

SO WHY HAS WRIGHT STAYED SO SILENT?

[TwilightGardener]

1. Let me get this straight--you're PRAYING for Wright to ruin Obama?

Nice to see a Hillary supporter be so honest, for once. Usually they're disingenuous.

[smalll]

6. Let's say I've been expecting Wright to ruin Obama since Tuedsay.

I'm a little confused as to why he hasn't yet.

[TwilightGardener]

11. Maybe because most people don't care what his goofy former preacher said, and

because Wright isn't a criminal, and because his church wasn't out of the mainstream, and because guilt by association only goes so far?

[DJ13]

2. He's staying quiet so he stops damaging Obama

That shouldnt be a surprise to anyone.

[Connie_Corleone]

3. You are truly sick. Hoping for Wright to bring Obama down.

Get a fucking life.

[burythehatchet]

14. What's truly sick is that a presumably grown person has nothing better to do

than to pastorbate all day.

[goldcanyonaz]

4. Book deal, that will hit the shelves prior to the November election.

I hope not, but fear that it is the case. I would love nothing more than to never hear from him again.

[cliffordu]

5. Wright is still silent because he doesn't give a shit what you want.

[taught_me_patience]

7. WTF... this is sick

you're hoping Wright brings Obama down?

[TwilightGardener]

12. All the Hillary supporters are. At least this one isn't trying to hide it.

[smalll]

17. I'm hoping someone brings Obama down. Wright has it in his power.

This was supposed to be the Democrats' year to take the White House. I know Hillary is electable. The state-by-state electoral college polling confirms that view, and that polling makes it clear that if Obama can somehow win, he will have to do it without Florida, without Ohio, maybe even without Pennsylvania, and we'll have to watch our backs in Michigan as well.

Look, there have been latte liberal primary candidates before: Dean in '04, Bradley in '00, even Jerry Brown in '92. These candidates have not had the strength to take the nomination before, and thank God, because they just cannot appeal to the general electorate. This year, Obama is really not that different from those previous latte liberal champions, EXCEPT for the fact that he is black, so he has been able to find a way to lead in the nomination race, on a latte-liberal/AA coalition. You can't win in November on that coalition.

[Brinee]

25. You're name says it all...

Smalll

You're fucking pathetic.

[JoFerret]

27. I agree with your last sentence

.

[beltanefauve]

29. Latte Liberal???

Isn't that a Right-Wing term? Oh, and thanks for your "concern".

[Wind Dancer]

30. Latte liberal?????

You must be kidding!

You might want to do some research on Hillary before making such an a$$ of yourself!

[graycem]

8. Uh, maybe

he is human and feels bad, and didn't intentionally try to hurt Obama? Of course that might be a stretch for some. By the way his numbers are doing just fine, he's going back up a little on Gallup. And funny how Hillary couldn't break 50 on Obama's WORST day. :)

[MarvelousMellifluous]

9. He is in hiding, in an undisclosed location

[leftofcool]

10. The book comes out in October. He is speaking/preaching

this weekend in Pittsburg, no doubt surrounded by cameras and reporters.

[smalll]

21. Pittsburg this weekend? Thans for the info: I hadn't heard that before. Question -

is he scheduled just to guest-pastor at a Pittsburg church? If so, I think it is unlikely that even Wright will highjack the pulpit to respond to Barack (and of course the press can't ask questions of him in church.) Or does he have other events scheduled as well?

[Oregone]

13. If he so much as opened his mouth to tell you if it was overcast...

He gets 24/7 coverage making fun of him. In any situation, would you continue? Nothing he can do or say (NOW) will redeem him in the public eye (who sees him through the corporate media). He probably just caught on to the fact that he's not getting himself anywhere (I should hope at least, because the coverage annoys the hell out of me).

[Aloha Spirit]

15. I still think he's more concerned about his own community than Obama. His media blitz wasn't a

response to Obama, so why would he respond to O now?
Like I said, my feeling bout it is, W said what he wanted to say to defend his community.

[2rth2pwr]

16. Wright has him by the balls, if he makes it to the Oval Office do we really want

Wright calling his own shots?

[SoxFan]

18. Living up to your name, I see

[jenmito]

19. You are truly a small person.

:eyes:

[Hoof Hearted]

20. His chickens came home to roost?

[global1]

22. Maybe Because No One From The Clinton Campaign Has Been Able To.....

arrange another appearance for him yet.

[rocktivity]

23. I have two words for you, Small:

Mission Accomplished.

Wright WANTED Obama to disown him, because that was the only way to put an end to the "scandal." And the only way to put an end to the scandal was for him say something that would FORCE Obama to disown him without jeapoardizing the black vote or the clergy. Now Wright not only out of the picture, Obama can't be blamed for anything says anymore. He's diffused himself as a weapon against Obama. I'm willing to wager they're still good friends.

:headbang:
rocknation

[tekisui]

24. You got it, I was scaning to see if anyone else called it.

Whether Obama and Wright were in communication is my only doubt. Wright went out there, winked and took a dive. Obama's no dummy. He took the opportunit, although he was clearly bothered by having to do so.

No onther candidate would EVER be forced to denounce their pastor. And, that is the worse they have on Obama-nothing. You have to be damn near perfect to make it as far as he has. R.W.B, Running WHile Black.

[JoFerret]

28. Two words then: Show. expedience

Or: hypocrisy betrayal

[JoFerret]

26. He's busy wrighting his book

and then he will wright the wrongs done to him by Obama. Or try to.

[kstewart33]

31. I'm hoping that the black members of his church jumped

all over him and told him to stop trying to destroy the best chance that the black community has ever had of electing a black man to the presidency.

[Raejeanowl]

32. Perhaps He's Reflecting On What He Did? Or What He's About To Do?

I mean, there are people like that, you know, who don't pop off instantly to the nearest reporter when a crisis hits them, even when that seems against character.

The answer to the question that I think SHOULD be troubling Obama supporters, that is, to why he sat there all those years, why he didn't reject Wright a long time ago, and WHY does he suggest that Wright just NOW (when it's terribly inconvenient to Obama's campaign image) became the monster he must disavow? Why did he (like B. Clinton and the blue dress) have to be forced in increments to admit the truth, only caving in when it became inescapable and the public knew that the goods were out there? Perhaps Wright is totally correct on the political expediency point?

The problem does not go away by virtue of Obama saying that the love affair is over and getting a verbal divorce. Like the Sesame Street magician: A-la peanut butter sandwiches! They were "married" for 20 years. And the presumption is the marriage was "consummated."

Obama stayed for the reason that he largely agreed with what Wright had to say. The secondary assumption is that his thinking has been influenced by his mentor...gee, isn't that what a mentor does, duh? Had it been so unacceptable to him, he would have found spiritual solace and counseling elsewhere. Denouncing Wright now DOES NOT NEGATE THE STAIN. And frankly, I don't care who brought this and other problems to the fore; I'm only grateful that they did, because it's not inconceivable that I could have chosen to vote for Obama.

If Wright "hits back," it will be to call Obama out on a major character lie that his supporters would just as soon go away. He's either regretting what he's said so far (I'll grant that possibility), or taking his time thinking about slamming Obama completely to the mat. As many DUers have said, Wright is a teller of truth and specifically black truths, right? (I mean, wasn't everyone LAUDING him as an inspirational force and tower of intelligence here just a week ago?) And yes, then it will be truly over.

The Obama people in DU can go on la-la-lahing with their fingers in their ears, and shout about the Clintonites and the Rovians and fear of angry black men all they want (after all, doesn't racism and fear explain everything about why people reject their choice?), but it's not selling outside of the asylum. That's why the poll numbers are beginning to soften. Obama did this to himself by LYING.

[smalll]

33. Thanks for your answer. The only thing is, you say -

"there are people like that, you know, who don't pop off instantly to the nearest reporter when a crisis hits them, even when that seems against character."

I think it WOULD very much be in character for Wright to pop off isntantly. I'm having trouble figuring out why he hasn't done so yet.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

34. Perhaps extended members of his Family have jerked him back to Earth

and Reality.


Tweety ~HA! to you.

[smalll]

35. He does have a wife and five grown children. You may be right --

Now as a charismatic builder of a virtual megachurch, Wright may have a family that merely cowers around the great man and strokes his own inclinations, BUT if that were the case, they would have been irate and militant for his sake, and would have goaded him back out in public already -- (how can you let him say that about you, about our church! You may want to turn the other cheek as the good Christian you are, but you owe it your flock to answer this! et. etc.)

Maybe his family is more the way Obama said Michelle is for him -- she keeps him grounded. Maybe they have talked him down.

[TheDudeAbides]

36. No worries; it was all canned

The whole thing was acting. Wright predicted this would happen months ago.

Would the real Obama please stand up?

[MADem]

37. If he were planning to be MEAN, he would speak out Sunday or Monday.

In order to influence the vote.

But does he want to be MEAN? That's the question.

[Forkboy]

38. You should do some soul searching. Maybe you'll find one.

[CatnHat]

39. This Wright thing

is not over--if Obama is the nominee--the republican's will use this over and over again. Just watch and hear what they are saying. If Obama and his supporters are turning a blind eye, the super delegates are not. If Obama is the nominee they will dig up new stuff about Wright. They can't wait.

[crimsonblue]

40. two words to you-- fuck you.

go ahead mods, take this post down. it was worth it.

[demwing]

41. Ouch!

[Frank Booth]

42. Please don't take it too hard.

I can see that for Hillary supporters this must be tremendously disappointing.

There's no point in Obama supporters kicking you while you're down.

[cali]

43. LOL.

I enjoyed your post. Most amusing to see your sentiments expressed.