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LIGHTNING ROUND: NOT CONTROLLED BY RICH WHITE MEN.
- So video has emerged of a speech from last Christmas given by Barack Obama's then-pastor Jeremiah Wright (who has since retired) and current member of an honorary advisory committee to the campaign. The speech is impassioned and very anti-Hillary but basically true though incomplete. Most positions of power in the United States are in fact held by rich white people. Of course, they're also mostly held by rich white men, a fact Wright overlooks. That's why this is just as frustrating as all the op-eds and speeches saying that Obama supporters don't know what it's like to be a woman.
- Hillary Clinton made an impressive and candid statement about race yesterday that hasn't gotten the attention it deserves.
- However controversial Wright's remarks are, they pale in comparison those made by McCain spiritual adviser Rod Parsley who I mentioned yesterday. See more of his remarks here -- they're are controversial to say the least. He's also just incredibly obnoxious to watch.
- The Hill looks into what down-ticket candidates are saying about Obama's coattails.
- Obama blasts McCain's shifting record on taxes. I think it'd be good for both Democrats to do more of this.
- A compromise proposal for Michigan and Florida is being floated by Michigan Democrats.
- Every four years we get stories about how this or that campaign is going to contest more states than usual and every four years it doesn't happen. This time it's McCain, and, while he does have a decent argument for why he'd do better in places like Oregon and Wisconsin than the average Republican, I think it's canceled out if Obama is the nominee.
- Obama releases his 2005 and 2006 earmarks (2007 is already public), Clinton may do the same.
- Mark Penn insults our intelligence again, this time by asserting that a loss in Pennsylvania means Obama will have trouble winning Pennsylvania despite polling that shows he's doing better there against McCain than Clinton.
--Sam Boyd
COMMENTS (12)
If McCain says he can contest Oregon and Wisconsin, that isn't exactly expanding the map.
Kerry won Wisconsin by 1%, and Oregon by 4%, in 2004. In 2000, Gore won the two states by less than 13,000 votes combined, though it wouldn't have been so close but for Nader.
Oregon and Wisconsin are states that the GOP is generally able to contest.
Posted by: low-tech cyclist | March 13, 2008 7:02 PM
It is unfortunate that since the race card was played by Hilliary Clinton that the press had to dig back in the past to find a remark that Obama's Pastor, Rev. Wright made to use as a weapon against Obama to taint his campaign. As a matter of fact as an African Amnerican, I don't think Rev. Wright said anything that was not true. American has been controlled by wealth white Americans. If you ask me the working class in PA should commend the Rev. for saying what they have been thinking all the time. How do you think the economy got to the point that mortgage companies are paying the CEO's millions of dollars in severance packages while the working class American are losing their homes. Maybe what the Rev. said wasn't so bad after all since it is the truth.
Posted by: Carol D. Durante-Spinner | March 13, 2008 10:22 PM
How can the media, and the American people, be so passive about the hateful mindset that has guided Obama? I read a statement in response to Jeremiah Wright's hateful speech, Obama wrote...he disagrees with some of his comments. It is a superficial way of addressing the matter but does not say anything about which comments he disagrees with, and more importantly which comments he agrees with. Obama makes it clear he does not want to make public divisive comments or campaigns, but that does not truly express what he really believes. It only means he is smart and strategic and knows he will not will the presidency that way.How can the media, and the American people, be so passive about the hateful mindset that has guided Obama? I read a statement in response to Jeremiah Wright's hateful speech, Obama wrote...he disagrees with some of his comments. It is a superficial way of addressing the matter but does not say anything about which comments he disagrees with, and more importantly which comments he agrees with. Obama makes it clear he does not want to make public divisive comments or campaigns, but that does not truly express what he really believes. It only means he is smart and strategic and knows he will not will the presidency that way.
Posted by: Jacqueline | March 13, 2008 10:30 PM
There's nothing wrong about Wright's comments, and there's absolutely nothing for Obama to apologize for or even distance himself from. In fact, he should invite Wright along on his campaign appearances, so he can spread his spiritual guidance to all of America. Obama is a true fighter for justice, and as president he'll be sure to put Wright's advice to good use running the country!
Posted by: TLB | March 13, 2008 10:31 PM
Positions of power are also mostly held by rich white jewish men so wright didnt get it right complete.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 13, 2008 10:56 PM
Do you honestly see nothing wrong with Wright bashing Hillary and praising Obama in a sermon delivered on Christmas? How is any of that related to Christianity and the birth of Christ?
And the association of Clinton as one of the rich white people (Romans) who killed Jesus isn't offensive?
Posted by: SSS | March 13, 2008 11:33 PM
"God damn America"
Posted by: Irving B. | March 14, 2008 1:20 AM
Is Wright actually likening Obama to Jesus in that? I'd thought that characterization was a joke by the anti-Obama people.
Posted by: Anonymous | March 14, 2008 4:24 AM
Any American politician who can listen to his friend and mentor preach "God damn America" in one way or another for twenty years is disqualified from the presidency as far as I'm concerned.
Obama is either anti-American, spineless or utterly cynical.
Posted by: huxley | March 14, 2008 7:08 AM
Part of me wants to worry about the threat of McCain trying to compete in California, while another part of me wants him to spend millions there because, deep down inside, I think he'll only get an extra point or two. Whatever the case is, I hope we set up shop in a bunch of these states as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the late summer like the Kerry campaign did.
Posted by: Brian | March 14, 2008 12:02 PM
For months I dismissed all the rhetoric about Obama's preacher and mentor as political garbage, however now after seeing and hearing this hateful nut recently on MSM I've learned my lesson about so easily dismissing these investigative articles. Hearing Rev. Wright was very concerning. He makes Hitler sound like a choir boy.
If Obama really deplores this hate, why has he stayed with this nut for 20 years? However I'm willing to hear Obama out before being hasty.
Posted by: Alan | March 14, 2008 6:15 PM
ONCE OBAMA GIVEs HIS SPEECH TODAY REGARDING RACE RELATIONS MAYBE WHITE PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND!!!! EVERYTHING REV WRIGHT SAID WAS true ABOUT AMERICA
ITS ALL TRUE!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | March 18, 2008 8:31 AM