Obama and the Benefit of the Doubt
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Wise Guys
There is, obviously, no exact precedent at the presidential level for the nightmare Barack Obama is now living thanks to his former minister’s all-too-eager embrace of the spotlight.
At a basic level, Mr. Obama’s opponents can and will note that the inflammatory rhetoric that has come to define the Rev. Jeremiah Wright—a caricature that the preacher rather willingly reinforced during his smugly defiant National Press Club appearance on Monday—raises questions about Mr. Obama’s judgment and values. Why would he spend 20 years in such a man’s church, presumably listening to variations of what the rest of America heard on Monday?
Far more corrosive, obviously, is the way this whole affair can be—and already is being—used to stoke racial fears and prejudices about Mr. Obama. His ties to Mr. Wright will serve as the main count in the right’s indictment of Mr. Obama’s “American-ness” in the fall. “He’s just not like you and me” will be the G.O.P.’s loudly unspoken message to the white masses, who figure to swing the November election. And the more they see and hear of Mr. Wright, it only seems logical, the more those voters will buy it.
After 40 years of honorably ministering to an impoverished community, Mr. Wright certainly deserved an opportunity to rebut his critics’ harshest attacks, but his press club theatrics were reckless and self-indulgent. He did himself no favors and ensured his famous parishioner weeks—if not months—of further distraction.
In responding, Mr. Obama’s options were limited. Simply repeating his previous, more limited criticism of Mr. Wright might have created new questions about whether Mr. Obama was making excuses for inexcusable behavior.
Instead, he opted to amend his race speech from last month, unequivocally denouncing Mr. Wright and saying he didn’t recognize the man who appeared at the press club this week. The risk of this approach is that it may give Mr. Obama’s foes ammunition to question, once again, his aptitude as a character judge.
And yet he had to do it. Since he is likely to be the first black presidential nominee from a major party, there is an extra sensitivity to the damage potential for Mr. Obama whenever there is some kind of flare-up, big or small, on the campaign trail.
He may, at least, take heart from what happened in Massachusetts just two years ago, when that state’s first-ever black gubernatorial candidate endured a media firestorm not unlike the one Mr. Obama is now facing—and lived to score a historic landslide.
Much like Mr. Obama now, conventional wisdom in the Bay State regarded Deval Patrick as a risky choice for Democrats in their gubernatorial primary in 2006. His campaign was driven by his optimistic and unifying rhetoric, with a life story to match it, but Republicans—who, don’t forget, hadn’t lost a gubernatorial race in the state since 1986—saw him as a dream come true.
As soon as he won the September primary—with a strategic assist from the G.O.P., which aired ads critical of his Democratic opponents—Republicans began an unrelenting campaign to play up Mr. Patrick’s ties to Benjamin LaGuer, a black Hispanic man who was convicted in 1983 of tying up and repeatedly raping his 59-year-old neighbor. Mr. Patrick had donated to Mr. LaGuer’s legal defense fund and, The Boston Globe reported in early October, pleaded Mr. LaGuer’s case to the State Parole Board in letters in 1998 and 2000. In one letter, Mr. Patrick referred to the convicted rapist as “thoughtful, insightful, eloquent [and] humane.”
Given Massachusetts’ dicey racial history—busing riots were barely 30 years old when the ’06 campaign rolled around, and socially conservative attitudes still prevail in many Boston neighborhoods and in the white working-class communities that surround the city—this represented a grave threat to Mr. Patrick. That he changed his story about the letters several times only made matters worse.
The G.O.P. launched a vicious ad showing a white woman walking alone in a parking garage while a narrator rehashed the grisly details of LaGuer’s crime. The media piled on, too.
“The bottom line is this,” Brian McGrory, a Globe columnist wrote. “If Deval Patrick had his way, a thug who bound a 59-year-old woman and repeatedly raped her over the course of eight hours would have been granted parole. There’s no other way to see it.”
But apparently there was. On Election Day, Mr. Patrick won by 20 points. The reason was simple: His story and his style had already connected with voters, and when he spoke directly into the camera in fall ads asking voters to believe the best about him, they wanted to and they did.
That’s Mr. Obama’s best hope for weathering the never-ending Wright storm, too.
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And just what has Mr Patrick accomplished since he has been in office...... not much. All rhetoric no substance! Obama stayed in the church to further his political career, now his chickens are coming home to roost.
There are a few things you overlook -- both Deval Patrick and Obama have campaigns based on the same themes of hope and change, both crafted by political strategist David Axelrod. Why did Massachusetts voters, who once elected Patrick, go for Hillary in the primary? We did it in spite of the endorsements of Patrick, Kennedy and Kerry. We did it because the campaign rhetoric of hope and change were worn out and long since proved, by Patrick himself, to be hollow.
It is one of the saddest things in the world to me that my enormous respect and support for Hillary Clinton may now somehow be cast in any way, shape, or form as racist.
NOW THE PEOPLE OF MASS WISH THEY HAD NOT VOTED FOR MR. PATRICK HE ALSO TURNED OUT TO BE A FRAUD. IN FACT I BELEIVE MCCAIN IS AHEAD OF OBAMA IN SOME POLLS IN MASS. THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT THE CREDIBILILTY OF YOUR ANALOGY!!!
Ridiculous...just because you raise questions of Obama's character, leadership, and judgement does not mean you are a racist or are afraid of the "angry black man", if anything, Obama was not angry or tough enough in regards to Wright. I know where Obama stands on the issues, if you don't by now, then you certainly must have been living in a cave. What, or should I say, who I don't know is Obama. He has an almost non-existant record so I do want to look at the man. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but that has certainly passed....I do not like what I see and do not think he, at this time, is the best candidate.......
Big difference...Thank God! America in its totality is NOT anywhere near as far left-wing as Massachusets!!
It is disheartening to see a bunch bigots, and dim witted people continue to not get beyond their HATRED for Senator Obama. Even if Senator Obama had not gone to Trinity United, some bigoted white folks would still have excuses not to vote 4 him.. So, I want those RACISTS white bastards to go to hell, and stay there. And, let those open minded folks who are willing to treat someone based on his OWN DEEDS, and not that of others, vote in this election cycle. TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WILL WANT TO BE TREATED.... Guilt by association is UnAmerican, and immoral...Ye who is without sin, cast the first stone, you racists pigs!!
Fred, why dont you goooo to helll!!!
Thanks Fred.
The media and voters wail on and on about one man in Obama's life as if they are siamese twins. Yet the Bushes, many members of Congress and presidential advisors have been (1) members of racist private clubs, (2) trafficked in blatantly racist stereotypes to get elected and (3) bashed other ethnic groups to keep the electorate divided. I hear no cries to the heavens for that ongoing and well-documented behavior, by dozens of high officials. In fact, one speaker of the House called for genocide against Palestinians on the floor of the House -- with not one person challenging him for such an odious statement.
You people are really pathetic. Any excuse will do for you, any justification to vote your real feelings. And before you say it - espc those people in MA - blacks aren't racist in voting for Obama. The have EVERY right to be proud and support someone who identifies with them. Jews support their co-religionists at every turn; Catholics went overwhelmingly for Kennedy for President and his family members over the past years. Asians ditto. It's hypocritical to be "outraged" that blacks do the same. When will the double standards end; probably never, which is why it's great that America's black community is ignoring these infantile arguments.
The real FACT is that many whites are voting against Obama, not for Hillary. That's what racism is. The media calls it a "cultural problem", blames Obama for not "connecting" with these voters, and states he has a "problem" with white ethnics. There's an elephant in the room, and it's taking a mighty big **** right about now.
Fortunately, Obama has every chance to win - against a misguided war hero, against the 20-25% of America that is decidedly racist, and against the politics of fear and division. If the racist vote prevails, then America - which voted for and deserved Bush - will get him again. That's proof of just how stupid and vile racism is.
Thanks Fred.
The media and voters wail on and on about one man in Obama's life as if they are siamese twins. Yet the Bushes, many members of Congress and presidential advisors have been (1) members of racist private clubs, (2) trafficked in blatantly racist stereotypes to get elected and (3) bashed other ethnic groups to keep the electorate divided. I hear no cries to the heavens for that ongoing and well-documented behavior, by dozens of high officials. In fact, one speaker of the House called for genocide against Palestinians on the floor of the House -- with not one person challenging him for such an odious statement.
You people are really pathetic. Any excuse will do for you, any justification to vote your real feelings. And before you say it - espc those people in MA - blacks aren't racist in voting for Obama. The have EVERY right to be proud and support someone who identifies with them. Jews support their co-religionists at every turn; Catholics went overwhelmingly for Kennedy for President and his family members over the past years. Asians ditto. It's hypocritical to be "outraged" that blacks do the same. When will the double standards end; probably never, which is why it's great that America's black community is ignoring these infantile arguments.
The real FACT is that many whites are voting against Obama, not for Hillary. That's what racism is. The media calls it a "cultural problem", blames Obama for not "connecting" with these voters, and states he has a "problem" with white ethnics. There's an elephant in the room, and it's taking a mighty big **** right about now.
Fortunately, Obama has every chance to win - against a misguided war hero, against the 20-25% of America that is decidedly racist, and against the politics of fear and division. If the racist vote prevails, then America - which voted for and deserved Bush - will get him again. That's proof of just how stupid and vile racism is.
Wow Fred! Not too often does one spout that kind of visceral, bigoted hatred and follow it with the "golden rule" in capital letters. Do you think there's some sort of offsetting mechanism in that?
People are jugding Sen. Obama by his deeds. He made the decision to join that church, wed and baptize his children there, and remain a member for 20 years. He called Rev. Wright his spiritual mentor and poached the title of one of his books from a Wright sermon. And the fact that the Sen. doesn't have much of a legislative record to display causes people to look at other issues as a measure of the candidate.
Like life, politics is a tough and often unfair business. Just ask the Clintons.
To that coward who refused to use his name, and told me to go hell, here is my response- I went and satan said you, and your lot were the ones he was waiting for, u KKK pig!!!!
Buck- U make a good point, and I can understand that line of reasoning. However, my point was simply that, all these people who are up in arms about this, were not going to vote 4 Senator Obama, and were looking for excuses, which they now have. Senator Obama's record are his books, his speeches, and his deeds, which are antithetical to anything Rev. Dr. Wright has espoused recently or before. And, why are we as a people not willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt, when he said that most of the sermons he heard during his 20yrs were not hateful, or anti-American, but rather those filled with everyday christian teachings??? Why are people willing to give a pass to mcCain, and his associations with hagee, parsley, graham, and others, but are NOT WILLING TO GRANT SENATOR OBAMA the same pass? We judge people on their OWN ACCORD. That is the bedrock of humanity. Should, one call McCain a racist because of his past associations with Jesse helms, or Strom Thurmond? And, also should we label anyone who is a member of the Republican party RACIST,HOMOPHOBIC, ETNOCENTRIC, etc.. because of some of the party's past policies pertaining to issues such as race, homsexuality, immigration, etc? Or, should we elect people who are friends with only people they agree with? And, the funny thing in all of this is that, despite the rantings of Rev. wright, Senator OBAMA has NEVER articulated those same VIEWS in public, or in his BOOKS, and in his works. Which illustrates that he is an INDEPENDENT THINKER, and that character is very essential in assuming the role of a president. After 8yrs of having a leader who was nothing but a follower, we need someone who has an INDEPENDENT STREAK IN THEM.. WAKE UP AMERICA, from your RACIST COMA!!!!
Values and friends matter. Obama has been given the benefit of the doubt again and again. Yet all that we see is a ever increasing list of radical friends. First their is Rezko, then Wright, then his wifes comments about not being proud of America, then Ayers. If you read his book or look at his voting record you have 2 choices. One, you can choose to believe that all these things have nothing to say about his character and values, or two, admit that this guy is radical and he's been hiding this part of himself because he knows we won't elect him.
I think the choice is easy, why don't you?
Racism is a learned behavior not an inate one. White people got comfortable with the seperation that existed in American that they stopped teaching their children that black were not as special as they were. That is why young people are going for Obama that is why change is going to come. Do you think the racist rants of Wright and the racist agenda of the right are going to stop what is right about America. Anyone who thinks Obama can not win because of Wright is very mistaken. The God I know tells us all the time that evil is at work to destroy good, even where we least expect it. Obama cast out the evil without passing judgment.
Fred - I've also found it a little strange that not more has been made of Sen. McCain's current associations with and endorsement by Rev. Hagee. He's a preety bad actor himself. Perhaps that comes later in the general election. The press is too busy savaging the two democrats right now.
And we certainly agree that a change of leadership in our country is long overdue. I'm in real fear for our long term viability as a superpower unless some dramatic steps are taken. Good and reasonable people can have different opinions on how best and with whom to move forward from here.
The controversy around Rev. Wright will fade away but in the meantime, we have to resist the urge to demonize those that disagree with us. There are more things that should bring us together than should separate us.
Fred,
Do you really think Billy Graham is analogous to Wright? Do you really think that McCain who probably hasn't been in a Church for 20 years is as responsible for Hagee's comments as Obama is for Wright? What kind of moral judgment are you using? Obama was led to "Jesus" by this guy, he was married by him, his kids were baptized by him. He was there at the campaign kick off and when Wright's comments came out in March Obama said this guy was "like family" to him. And, he said that we who were alarmed by this association were somehow fooled by "The Media" into believing wild caricatures of Wright. He claimed to really know Wright and assured us this wasn't who he was. Then, Wright showed us that this is exactly who he is.
How do you honestly think Billy Graham or even Hagee are somehow analogous in McCain's life? Please tell me, I want to understand.
Finally, if you actually read Obama's first book, he does articulate Wrights views. Read about his early basketball coach and what Wright said that attracted him to Wrights church. It was exactly that kind of rhetoric.
Wow?
How does this author explain all of us who voted or who were going to vote for Obama, then decided against it BEFORE the Wright controversy?
Stop it with the race crap.
I simply learned more and more about Obama and found him to be a fraud, in every sense of the word. Not a leader, not a unifier, not a visionary, not presidential material.
I, like many others, studied his non-effective and no-result safe voting record and non-bipartisan actions.
I, like many others, found him lying, cornered, then churning out the truth after being caught, or in advance to it being reported he would be caught lying.
There is absolutely nothing about this politician that shows me he is ready to be president, or able.
Not only is his record poor (the opposite of what he preaches), but also his judgment is that of a child, his associates are criminals (on a federal level), racists and hate-mongers, and he looks down at and chastises voters. Not to mention his hate-filled, angry and bitter wife, that we are supposed to accept as first lady?
And, what of his fear of confronting a contender from his same party? The fear he has for a revote of the very voters he pretends to support. He's spineless.
Good grief, it is all of his issues and character flaws that make this politician untrustworthy and weak. There is so much more that I could say, but what's the point?
Fred -
I am a liberal, white, well educated, young man. I DESPERATELY want us to have our first black president, (I also want us to have our first female president, btw).
I have two black nieces who are more beautiful, charming, intelligent and successful than my white nephew. (It has nothing to do with their race; it is just who each of them are - and who their parents are).
But while there are a few, (as a percentage), white people who will not vote for Obama because he is black, you should try to keep in mind that there are also a large percentage of black people who are now voting for Obama pretty much so only because he is black.
There are also some men who wont vote for a woman just as there are some women who are voting for Hillary just because she is a woman.
I would ask that you look deep within yourself at the anger you display to those of us who aren't voting for Obama and ask yourself if it isn't really Obama you are angry at for deceiving us all, for failing to live up to the promises he made to unite us all, for not having the experience and judgement, yet, to win the presidency?
I eagerly await the opportunity to vote for a black man who is qualified, honest and will represent us all but Obama has failed to live up to that promise.
True there are a small percentage of biggoted whites, blacks, men and women who are voting based on race or gender but your anger seemed to be directed only at whites who won't vote for Obama. Worse, it seems to lump in everyone voting against Senator Obama as deserving to go to hell because we must all be racists - which you have to admit is grossly unfair.
If you are going to condemn the white racists of this world - as I do - you have to condemn the black racists such as Rev. Wright (not the man, just his hatred of whites) as well. It is the only way we will ever get beyond this garbage - if every decent, honorable person condemns the biggotry that exists in other communities, but more importantly in their own communities whenever they are faced with it. The few times in my life that another white person has made some stupid, racist comment in my presense I have, without failure, stopped and challenged them on it. It was awkward, unpleasant and something I wish I didn't have to do but that is my responsibility as a decent person who wants all people to be treated equally.
I have never voted for any of the white jerks who belong to all white churches or all white country clubs and am offended and vocal when I hear about them being elected. I would hope that fair minded black people are just as outraged at the Rev. Wright for taking his justifiable anger at the legitimate failures in America to treat black people as humans in the past way too far and condemning all of white America today as he did in his infamous words.
I totally feel your frustration - at yet another disappointment. You have every right to be angry, but it's obvious that you are a thinking person and I hope you won't condemn us all for voting for someone we feel is more qualified, more experienced, and has consistently fought for the issues Obama speaks so eloquently about.
Bill Clinton placed more black judges on the bench than all other presidents combined before him. I genuinely feel that my vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote in support of racial equality in general and the black community specifically.
And then the first thibk Patrick did in office was to buy himself a brand new Caddy. Talk about stereotypes.
As a minister I know the people who attend the church I pastor are there because they agree with the theology they find there. Rev. Wright has made it VERY clear he has some associations with some very militant ideology -- for any who may have still been trying to deny that. He has made it VERY clear this ideology, at least sometimes, spills out into his congregation so it was no secret. I know (for a fact) there are VERY large, influential Black churches in Chicago's south side that DO NOT teach this ideology which Obama could have made his church -- I've attended them. If Rev. Wright was the only militant associate Obama has had ties, and perhaps admiration for, I MIGHT not feel so certain as I do that Obama ACTUALLY DOES adhere (to some degree) to a more militant ideology than I think MOST Americans (Black people included hopefully) are really ready to elect. THIS IS NOT ABOUT RACE -- this is about political stance. I think most White people are as turned off (or more) by Obama's being too close for comfort with Ayres and Dohrn -- WHITE violence-prone political activists in years gone by -- and, yes, unrepentent former activists. AMERICA IS NOT READY TO ELECT A MILITANCY PRONE OR MILITANCY ASSOCIATED PRESIDENT. Only a MODERATE can possibly win in November. Americans do not want a President so closely associated with violence or hate theology, period! McCain is a more moderate Republican than we have seen in recent years which makes it even more imperative we have a moderate Democratic candidate to win. The winning edge for Hillary in that contest is that Hillary is a PROGRESSIVE MODERATE (while McCain is not progressive) which America CERTAINLY needs to help move us all forward in the areas of civil and other human rights -- and I am advocating that this be with a Black VP -- perhaps Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia, or Andrew Young, or John Lewis or someone else of this stature. Unfortunately (and I sincerely mean that) I think Obama could now well be a serious liability on the ticket as VP
As a progessive moderate civil, women's, and other human rights white female advocate with higher education, I share your sentiments. I truly want to see a ticket with a Black VP so maybe we will get to vote for both at the same time! If Barack manages to get the nomination, I'm afraid we might not have that possibility again until 2016 -- if ever in our lifetime.
What exactly is "the audacity of hope" supposed to mean anyway? More platitudes and non-substance from this candidate/media darling and his beloved preacher. Please let the voters wake up and put a really oppressed minority in office: an amazingly capable woman.
I talk crazy talk. I am a liberal panty waste miscegenist.
The Democrats have spent the past 35 years trying to use the social movements of the 1960s as a means of portraying America as a country that is divided between all the kind hearted, enlightened, sophisticated people who embraced the these social movements, and all the mean spirited, bigoted, ignorant people who rejected these social movements.
Is it any wonder that those who fancy themselves as being part of the former group are seething with hatred towards conservatives? Is it any wonder that they hate and fear conservatives more than they hate brutal dictators and Islamic terrorists?
How sweet it is that Democratic voters themselves are now being subjected to the same scrutiny that conservatives have been subjected to for years. Look at the Democratic primary results? All those White voters that are flocking to Hillary are not "evil conservatives", they're part of the so-called enlightened half of America. So what's their excuse?
"Far more corrosive, obviously, is the way this whole affair can be—and already is being—used to stoke racial fears and prejudices about Mr. Obama. His ties to Mr. Wright will serve as the main count in the right’s indictment of Mr. Obama’s “American-ness” in the fall. “He’s just not like you and me” will be the G.O.P.’s loudly unspoken message to the white masses, who figure to swing the November election."
You are a complete jackass. Why are all you post-racial elitest pin-heads so hung up on race? Is there any possible way to point out that Wright is a hateful lunatic WITHOUT being racist?
And why would the GOP even bother resorting to racism when it's completely unnecessary?
If the "pastor" and Obama were white, would it be racist to point out how loony they were?
There you go again: double standards and soft bigotry.
Get a clue, and get out of the 60s.
And now Patrick's apporval ratings are dismal! The people of Massachusetts despise Deval Patrick. As for Barack Obama, are Americans really expected to believe that Barack Obama and his kids sat in pews for 20 YEARS and could not "get" what the public picked up after just 4 days....that Obama's "spiritutal mentor" a man who's "like my uncle" is a black racist full of hate for his country? C'mon. This guy is toast and is so arrogant that he frames his "outrage" not on Wright's hate speech toward the US, but because Wright "dissed" Obama by saying he's just another pol. And guess what? Obama is just another pol, without much experience or judgment. Barack Obama will NOT be president of the United States.
Did you just say that "white bastards" were racists? Read your own words a few times and think again.
Old politics vs New Politics???
Got to be kidding.
Political campaigning is by nature a vitriolic event. For Obama to think that this can be done without personal associations being questioned, examined and the opinions being offered then running through the shredder of public thought and disinformation is foolish. I do not believe he is so innocent in his understanding of such things. I think he is not so "in charge" of his campaign and this is now showing as he needs to be the spokesman for himself, not the vitriolic hordes of believers in the obama myth.
Hillary has her problems as does McCain. But In his mad dash for the crown of American politics Obama has allowed himself to become the problem. A problem that will not be solved by making him president of my country. The country I was born in. The country I love. Whose traditions I honor, such as sitting in any seat on the bus, drinking from any public water fountain, speaking freely about my issues, working!!!!! To advance myself without a political agenda concerning other peoples tax dollars!!!!!
Two months ago as I sat in wonder, not understanding the ground swell under OBama. I was truly at a loss for words as to describe how I felt watching this man being sainted by his followers and the media.... I became so frustrated I sent money to Hillary…. Of course I know it is only people looking for something to believe in.... And so many of them new to the political process....So many of them have come to the process claiming divine rights as to desired outcome…. Like I said, new to the process… There will be losers… There always are.
At that time I made a bet with my father, who is an Obama supporter, that Obama would be out of the primary or at best VP candidate before the convention. I Got 5 to 1 odds against a penny... Why did I make the bet.... Because someone alleged to be so strong a candidate, would be allowed to travel too far out on the ledge before the press shook the plank he stands on. That he did not quell the Wright issue is not the problem….Obama has allowed himself to become the problem…. America knows how to solve this problem…Perhaps the DNC does not…But America does…
Will I win my bet??? Yet to be seen
Such hate.......This is America where we proudly hail that all are created equal....that we live in a melting pot of different ethnicities and races. Let's judge each candidate on the issues not on their race or gender or or their pastor is.
Steve Kornacki couldn't be any more in the tank for Obama than if he was actively working for his campaign. Poor Rev Wright who misistered to the poor, but now is self indulgent. What a way to describer a hater. And poor Obama...he just sat and listened to the hater for 20 years, outed his own Grandmother as a racist to defend the honorable Rev. only to be bitterly repaid by the ingrate. What huey....Obama sat in that church listening to the hate for 20 years because he either agrees with it, or even worse it was political convenient for him. And why assume Rev right is upset with Obama. He didn't look hurt or upset. It looked like he was just saying exactly what he believes, and clearly what he believes is that he ha has Obama's full support, Obama is just distancing himself to get elected. We are now suppose to believe that Obama is outraged...Rev Wright didn't say anything we did see in those videos weeks ago or that he hasn't been saying as Obama sat in those church pews for 20 year. The only thing he said that upset Obama is the truth....Obama agrees with him and is only outraged to get elected. Obama is a 50 state loss in Nov...Hillary is our only chance!