Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels

I cracked up tonight watching CNN (the only cable news network to cover the speech live).  Rick Sanchez brought Durbin and some Clinton super delegate with the last name Schultz.  I really wanted to know how the campaigns were going to react to the speech.  Turns out that both representatives came across as evasive weasels - sorry.

Durbin was asked first to comment and he moves right into the canned statement the campaign has been giving about Wright for a month now.  Sanchez interrupted to ask him about tonight's speech, and it turns out that... Durbin didn't hear it, other than a few "edited" items.

My next question would have been "then why did you agree to come on here and speak about it Senator?"  But Sanchez was way too nice.  So Durbin basically came on to say nothing and got away with it.  I'm sorry, I like the man, but Durbin really disappointed me tonight.

So did Rep. Schultz seize the moment to tear into Durbin for his evasiveness?  No, actually she jumped right in to say that she didn't hear the speech either.  She went on to talk about "the questions" which will face Obama "throughout the campaign."

So, either they lied or CNN was incredibly incompetent in screening them ahead of time.

What's happening is that nobody knows how Wright's speech is going to be received.  If nothing else, he pulled the biggest mind-f--k on mainstream politicos tonight because nobody wants to criticize or praise the speech until they know how it plays out.

Even the Republican operative early on said the speech would hurt Obama, but mostly because it keeps Wright in the news.  Oh, and Wright's pedagogic outlook might "shock" some teachers.  

Let me know when somebody important actually says something of substance about the speech.  Personally, I think the "Wright factor" may have just died as a campaign issue.



Display:


Was the Clinton supporter (none / 0)

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz?  Because she is very spineless in her position on the Red to Blue committee.


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:45:50 PM EST

Re: Was the Clinton supporter (2.00 / 1)

Yeah she was the Clinton supporter.


Proudly joining the legions of people and states that don't matter on May 20th.
by Obama Independent on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:55:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Was the Clinton supporter (2.00 / 1)

She's whacked, seriously she's in charge of flipping districts (hence the comittee's name) but she wont do her job because she's friends with the GOP Rep's in some districts.


by Socraticsilence on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:10:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Was the Clinton supporter (none / 0)

I found it odd that the hype before they both appeared was that "these are two superdelegates!  these are the folks that are going to decide the election."

And then they bring out one from Michigan and one from Florida.  To paraphrase Terry MacAuliffe, it's possible that the closest they'll get to Denver is watching it on TV.


by Mostly on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:48:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Was the Clinton supporter (none / 0)

I didn't see CNN's report with Rick Sanchez, but, if Dick Durbin was one of the guests -
He's the senior Senator from IL, not MI.  

by susie on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:11:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Was the Clinton supporter (none / 0)

Ah.  Whoops.


by Mostly on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:24:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

First what point has our country reached when they carry a lecture, which was heavily on linguistics on national TV.

I was raised on Black Music, and feel a lot better about clapping on the 2 and the 4 and the 1,3,5, and 6. The lecture was brilliant.


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:47:26 PM EST

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

It was great.  But nobody knows how this is going to play to middle America.  It has the pros baffled.


by Drummond on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:49:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

as does this entire campaign


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:50:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

Amen.


Serious question- Is This Snark?
by ragekage on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:48:26 PM EST

I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (2.00 / 1)

and oh my goodness, that guy needs to stop talking. If i were a republican i would send a fruit basket to Rev. Wright with the following thank you note:   "To Rev. Wright: A thank you note from the bottom of the heart of every republican in the country. We thank you because you are the gift that keeps on giving."

That speech is a disaster...a political disaster


by likelihood zero on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:51:48 PM EST

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (2.00 / 2)

I guess we'll find out soon enough, but I believe you're mistaken.  Even the Republicans' responses tonight have been very muted.  Nobody associated with any campaign wants to praise or criticize the speech.  I've never seen anything like it.


by Drummond on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:53:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (none / 0)

Oh believe me there are several ways to spin that speech and turn it into a lethal political weapon. I hope they won't see those ways. I think that the McCain campaign will distance itself from any negative attack on Rev. Wright, but this is a wink-and-nod strategy because there will be a wave of 527 groups which will do just the opposite


by likelihood zero on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:59:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (2.00 / 2)

You do realize that Rev. Wright is not running for office, right?


by bawbie on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:09:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (2.00 / 1)

Does it matter? Since when it mattered in campaigns anyway? Dukakis also was not responsible for what Willy Horton did in 1988. The program was set up by the previous governor. Did the truth matter? NO...And you know how many times the Willy Horton ad ran in 1988? It ran for one day, just one day...i was there 1988, i worked in that campaign.


by likelihood zero on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:28:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (2.00 / 1)

With 10 thousand NAACP members cheering loudly, I think it would be a mistake.  Even for the Republicans.


by Drummond on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:17:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (none / 0)

Good point. And some of us have slept since 1988.


by spirowasright on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:32:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I think it could be the silence of (none / 0)

embarassment.  Like when someone cuts the cheese in an elevator ... kind of thing.


by miker2008 on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 02:01:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (2.00 / 1)

I have no idea how that speech was a disasters.  Was anything not true in it?  It is not the best thing for the Campaign to have Rev. Wright out and about.  I do think it is helpful for race conversations in this country.  It is becoming rather taboo to condemn Wright as he speaks more - I think we have seen this in the MSM.


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:54:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (2.00 / 1)

I agree, I thought it was a great speech. The people with a closed mind who were looking for any excuse to not vote Obama won't be convinced certainly but they would have found a reason not to support him in the end. But for people with honest questions about Obama and Wright and who had an open mind hopefully will have a better opinion of him after this.


Proudly joining the legions of people and states that don't matter on May 20th.
by Obama Independent on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:00:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (none / 0)

I think we need to understand something: electoral campaigns and truth are not synonymous. You just have to look back at all the campaigns for the last 50 years and you judge for yourself. Or, just look at 2004 or 2000 or 1988


by likelihood zero on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:03:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I watched the speech by Rev. Wright (2.00 / 1)

I disagree its not a political disaster because wright is not a politician  and I thought the speech was brilliant and Highly thoughtful and entertaining it might have went over your head


"How long have I been at this, like five weeks?" -Simple Sarah 08'
by wellinformed on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:58:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

I thought Sanchez's questioning of both of them was moronic. And the Republican they had on earlier with Roland and O'Brien was an idiot. It was particularly amusing to hear her tear down Wright as only being about making money for himself when she was talking up her credentials as a Republican political commentator who I'd never heard of before.


Proudly joining the legions of people and states that don't matter on May 20th.
by Obama Independent on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:58:49 PM EST

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

Agreed.


by Drummond on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:18:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

Does anybody know how many languages Dr. Wright speaks?

It is rather apparent he knows:
English
Spanish
Arabic
Greek
Latin
Hebrew
And some African Languages.


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 11:59:47 PM EST

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (1.50 / 2)

so?


TexasDarlin blog
by TexasDarlin on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:02:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

You're really pushing it with your negativity. Give it a rest.


_____________
changiness
by lizardbox on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:04:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

I think the entire livberal blogosphere is pushing it with their negativity.

BTW, kudos to Rev. Wright, Elizabeth Edwards and Se. Obama, regardless of the politicla outcome.

It's about time the MSM caught some Agnewesque flak from the Muskie side of the aisle.


by spirowasright on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:36:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

I like Dr. Wright.  I agree with most of his statements.  I am just curious.  He is very very intelligent.


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:04:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]

why would you even ask (2.00 / 1)

"so?"

Its an observational comment.


-- be excellent to each other
by kindthoughts on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:05:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)


 You missed profanity
Wisdom Is The Reward For Listening Over A Lifetime
by gunner on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:49:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 2)

I tried watching it but channel surfed instead.Thought it was kind of boring.I think thats why nobody has anything to say about it.Nobody watched it.


by grab6 on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:03:06 AM EST

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

Ummm.  I think a lot of folks watched it.  That is why they have reaired it.


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:05:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

Wow!  You really missed something.  Whatever you think of him, this speech will go down in history.


by Drummond on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:19:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

I watched the whole thing. This Reverend Wright is a  righteous man. If you are to equate this man's views to extremism and racism, then you are predisposed to a permanent "deficiency" that makes you an extremist in your views.


_____________
changiness
by lizardbox on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:03:16 AM EST

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 2)

The media is horrified.  The Reverend Wright is not the liability to Obama they tried to portray with their video loops.

Instead, it's clear to everyone that Wright is an asset.  Expect a lot of "quiet" from the media on the Reverend Wright thing for awhile!


by baghdadjoe on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:08:22 AM EST

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

The whole speech in its entirety would probably come across as pretty boring.

But that "left brain/right brain" segment is fertile for whacked out media spin.  


Lifelong Democrat, civil rights advocate, flirted with McCain for a bit but it just wasn't meant to be.
by BPK80 on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:14:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

Even when he started singing?  Or doing impressions of Kennedy and Johnson?

As I said, you really missed out!


by Drummond on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:19:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

He was referring to what someone else said - a researcher from 40 or so years ago. And it was in the context of culture, not race. But yes, perhaps those nuances would be lost on some people.


by myddfree on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 02:37:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

He was referring to Janice Hale's 1986 book Black Children: Their Roots, Culture, and Learning Styles. As near as I can tell Rev. Wright made up the 'Africans are right-brained' stuff himself,


by souvarine on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 02:47:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

A Big Ugly Pivot About To Smack Hillary (none / 0)

Because the moment America decides Wright is dull, silly, or maybe the real victim in all this, Hillary will look like a total rabid nutcase for having brought it up in the first place.


by bernardpliers on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:17:00 AM EST

The people who look (none / 0)

like rabid nutcases are the people who think Hillary brought up Wright.

PUHleaze.


by LatinoVoter on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:29:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Hillary didn't bring it up you f'ing idiot. (none / 0)


by miker2008 on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 02:04:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary didn't bring it up you f'ing idiot. (none / 0)

No, but she's certainly milked it for all it's worth.


by Drummond on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 02:16:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I Love The Smell of Flopsweat (none / 0)

And this morning Wrights at the press club. Clearly this is a media blitz. Hillary's drip drip drip keeps getting punched in the face.


by bernardpliers on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 08:20:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

Here is a reaction, with the basic point that the long version of Rev. Wright's sermons are more damning than the "out of context soundbites," and that Wright insists on defending what Obama calls his "controversial statements". Give the media a little time, it takes them a while to find someone to interpret a Moyers piece for them.


by souvarine on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:19:49 AM EST

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

What exactly was wrong with his speech?


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:28:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

My bad, that was to Rev. Wright's Moyers appearance. Wright just spoke to the NAACP dinner, it will take anyone a while to think through what he said.


by souvarine on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:45:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

A lot was wrong with his speech (2.00 / 3)

For starters, he made a whole lot of sense. Secondly, he seems to know many things. That's dangerous. Add to all of this the fact that this guy who the media already decided hates America has the audacity to tell us that we should look past our differences and not equate them with deficiencies. The nerve!


_____________
changiness
by lizardbox on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:45:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

His attempt to tie culturally different learning styles, languages and music to a racial (and presumably genetic) difference in brain structure is pseudo-science. There is more genetic variation within racial categories than across them, so you see pockets of left and right brained people in African and European populations, but across populations things average out. Rev. Wright's misunderstanding of this leads him to make a number of errors and assign various cultural attributes to a European versus African dichotomy, which undermines what I think is his central point about the African American faith tradition.

I do have a number of cultural quibbles. Rev. Wright is painting with his typical broad brush, Celtic musicians (and many other European musical traditions) would find the claim that their pentatonic variable beat music is diatonic (I think he meant heptatonic) pretty ignorant. "Hussein" is a specifically Muslim name (the second or third Imam, depending on your tradition) regardless of its Arabic origin, just as John, Joseph or Mary are specifically Christian and Jewish names regardless of their Hebrew origin. Barack Obama Sr. added "Hussein" to his name when he converted to Islam, he did not speak Arabic.

But the rest of his speech was more, as Rev. Wright said, descriptive. And different does not mean deficient.


by souvarine on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 02:20:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

I watched the speech and was horrified.  He made fun of both JFK and LBJ because of their accents!  He mocked both of them.  He made fun of people from New England, Europe and the American South.  Then he launched into how Black children can't learn the same as white kids because they are right brained!  Total crap.  Blacks can and do learn, with both sides of the brains!  I am so insulted by this buffoon.  I have NEVER heard such racist drivel in my life. How could Obama let his children hear such blatant racism?!  I wouldn't listen to that racist crap for 20 minutes, much less 20 years! No children, white or black, should be taught this Bell Curve garbage.  

The happiest woman in America tonight is Hillary Clinton!  You GO girl, PLEASE, save us from Obama.  No one in America will believe that Obama set in this church for 20 years and isn't a screaming racist.  There was NOTHING unifying in that speech, it was all about how Blacks are SOOOO different from whites.  How on earth is that helpful?   Who will believe that Obama and his wife don't agree with that?  They've given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Wright.  Heck, they gave this racist jerk $27,000, LAST YEAR.  

This was totally depressing AND, WORSE, we're going to have to hear it, on the news, and in political ads, for the next 6+ months, over and over and over, unless Hillary pulls out the nomination.  I pray that the Super Delegates saw this train wreck tonight and will do the right thing for  our party and for America.  PLEASE, save us from this horrible racism and racial divisiveness.  


by SueBee on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:28:14 AM EST

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 2)

So I'm guessing your not a fan of linguistic scholarship or educational research?

Black People do have a different history and cultural development than Whites.  Are you unaware of that?  How you are socialized affects your learning ability.  Forcing Black Students into an educational system written and administered by Whites Folks does create problems.


Bring Back MyDD - Just say No to Rec'ing Candidate Diaries.
by CardBoard on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:31:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 2)

At least your prayers are directed in the right place.  God knows actual voters aren't going to save Hillary Clinton.


by Mostly on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:52:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 2)

The happiest woman in America tonight is Hillary Clinton!

Your candidate is the happiest woman in America because some pastor gave a speech that you think is divisive and racially charged?

No one in America will believe that Obama set in this church for 20 years and isn't a screaming racist.

Damn it. Who do I support now? Gravel, come back!

There was NOTHING unifying in that speech

Yes there was, this is the speech that will unify Hillary's supporters with their Republican brethren.

it was all about how Blacks are SOOOO different from whites.

Yes. Blacks are no different from whites. If they were, they would've been enslaved for a couple hundred years. Oh, wait...

They've given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Wright.

Hundreds of thousands? Watch it there sparky, these are the Obamas, not the Clintons.. they don't have the money to roll like that  


_____________
changiness
by lizardbox on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:54:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 1)

Why reinvent the wheel?  From Billy Madison:

Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.


I'm as strong as a bull moose, and you can use me to the limit. - Teddy Roosevelt
by fogiv on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:07:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (none / 0)

You're horrified because you want to be horrified.  He wasn't mocking them.  He was pointing out that they were different and not deficient, just like black children.  

What horrifies you is that the issue is now off the table for Indiana.


by Drummond on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:11:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reverend Wright is bringing out the weasels (2.00 / 2)

The debate I would like to see is Wright v Hagee

It was clear for anyone who saw the speech or reads the transcript with an open mind why this man was an inspiration to Sen Obama and should be to all of us.

It is time to end the dumbing down of our Nation.
If people cannot understand the words, buy a "God Damn" Dictionary.

..and you know more than a few SD's did not channel surf..


"If you want to end war and stuff, you gotta sing loud"...Arlo Guthrie
by nogo war on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 12:58:14 AM EST

Reverend Wright (none / 0)

At this point, it doesn't really matter what Rev. Wright says.  All that matters is that he's in the news again.


99% perspiration
by DaveOinSF on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:33:23 AM EST

Re: Reverend Wright (none / 0)

I'd like for someone to show how Wright has actually hurt Obama. A lot of people are wishing for him to in the same way they would wish for a quarterback on the winning team to get injured, but what has happened since the story first broke to show that he has?

Voters are ferreting out what matters to them, and Wright and an off the wall remark about bitterness obviously don't.


Hillary: "Her dishonesty is actually honest." -- yellowdem1129
by Kobi on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 02:10:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Wright is right (none / 0)

I've just been watching Jeremiah Wright on CNN and must say he's compelling. I give short shrift to preachers, but this guy knows his stuff in more ways than just religion.

I don't see how it can but help Obama for Wright to be given a completely unedited format to demonstrate who he really is -- a highly educated person in many areas who thinks on many planes.


Hillary: "Her dishonesty is actually honest." -- yellowdem1129
by Kobi on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 01:53:42 AM EST

Re: Wright is right (none / 0)

Seriously. I knew Wright was one of the good guys, but I didn't know that he'd come to his own defense with such alacrity. In terms of Obama's campaign, I think the GOP's next Willie Horton just got exonerated of all charges.


"Tell me about your work ethic." "Well, I don't think ethnics do no work. I mean, that's they problem, really." "Overt racial prejudice. Impressive."
by vcalzone on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 08:41:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wright is right (none / 0)

Agreed.


Hillary: "Her dishonesty is actually honest." -- yellowdem1129
by Kobi on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 10:58:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Who would have expected (none / 0)

A Southern Republican using race as an issue? Especially one who accepted an award from the neo-Confederate CCC (as Greg Davis did)?


by RandyMI on Mon Apr 28, 2008 at 03:41:04 AM EST


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