I'm backing Hillary but I am bugged by this Obama attack

[DianeG5385]

Along with feeling that DU is being destroyed from within by interlopers (read repukes), this latest scrap on Obama's pastor is utterly ridiculous and is being played to the Max by the right wing crowd, seeking to knock him down pre-general election by tying him to Farrakan by implication. They are testing his reactions to see how strong he fights back. If he doesn't call them on their nonsense they'll take him apart using variations on this theme in the general, just like they swiftboated Kerry. He didn't look so strong tonight on the Fox interview which, of course is to be expected, but I think he needs to attack back.

It's not such a bad thing that Hillary and Barack are going toe to toe, they need to be battle tested and toughened up to defeat these jokers for whom no tactic is too low.

What would be good comeback lines for Obama to shut this nonsense down? How would you respond?

[democrattotheend]

Thanks for being fair and honest

I am an Obama supporter but I am panicking...the reaction to this scares me. I'd like to think we could all get together and stand up for either of our candidates against a right wing smear attack, and I appreciate your willingness to do so. If we can't stand together against attacks on our candidates' patriotism and religion, we'll never succeed.

[Voice for Peace]

9. I think Obama's going to be fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk3Rra3CgMA

I think the only people who will be holding on to this and obsessing about it over time are people who wouldn't vote for him in a million years anyway.

[Olney Blue]

12. I'm a Hillary supporter, and I stand strongly with you against this attack.

I am furious that they are trying to pin his preacher's sermons on him.

[papau]

27. Fox has folks getting Obama attendance records/Sunday location record to tear down his "I never

heard those comments before" defense.

By Sept this could be a series of unfair "swiftboat" ads -

but I think until the RW Fox and friends go after him in the fall, the rest of the media will take tonights "I denounce" as the end of the discussion - I don't think there will be much about this next week.

[roseBudd]

30. Attendance records? Sunday location records? What is this grade school?

[anonymeme]

37. Since When Is Exposing the Truth & Exercising Free Speech About the Truth an "Attack?!"

Since When Is Exposing the Truth & Exercising Free Speech About the Truth an "Attack?!"

I'll give you an example of an attack: Every time someone posts a Truth about Obama, the Obama supporters call the poster #1. Racist, #2. Republican, #3. a Troll, #4. a "freeper."

Those are attacks. They are what is called an "ad hominem" attack -- which for the unenlightened means towards or against the person -- or in other words instead of attacking the subject posted, the person who posted the message gets attacked.

It's also called: "Killing the Messenger."

[KittyWampus]

1. Response- Hagee, Falwell, Robertson and Hillary's pastor Doug Coe who is REALLY freaking scary

and makes the Wright story look like kiddy hour.

[JoFerret]

5. Doesn't help. Sorry.

.

[cbayer]

6. Doug Coe is not Clinton's pastor.

I know your really, really, really want this to have legs, but no one is biting.

And there was really no need to bring it here. Your pushing it is no better than those democrats who are pushing the Wright story. If it's wrong on one side, it's wrong on the other.

Sorry, I just had to say that.

[KittyWampus]

16. she has been part of the Prayer Cell for years. That is a FACT. And The Fellowship has a Mission

it's not just a bunch of Far Right politicians talking bible.

Don't candy coat what is reprehensible.

[papau]

28. ?? - the sponsors of the National prayer breakfast in DC are a "Cell"? with a mission ? - well OK

[rodeodance]

44. too bad---go start a thread about that topic and stop spaming this thread

[anonymeme]

40. Thank You, cbayer, I'm Glad You Cleared That Up! !:) [NT]

NT

[anonymeme]

38. Got Any Video of Doug Coe Engaging in Hate Speech the Way Obama's Rev. Jeremiah Wright Has? [NT]

NT

[Enrique]

2. I would respond the way Obama responded

dump Wright and respond on TV like Obama did with Keith:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x105574

[JoFerret]

3. I take zero pleasure in how this has and will play out. But....

I have no time for ranting pastors of any stripe and find this one hate-filled (from the small extracts of his life sermons I have seen.) How CAN Obama have been close with this man?


This all sucks.

[Oilwellian]

22. Perhaps a little study of black history in this country...

would help you understand Wright's deep-seeded anger. Study the way black WWII veterans were treated in this country after they put their life on the line defending this country. Perhaps then you'd understand the deep sense of betrayal Wright may have felt after being a Marine for 7 years. He realized it didn't matter..they still had to sit in the back of the bus, they were still called "boy" even though they were mature men; they were beaten and hung if they got a little too uppity in white man's land.

He's been a pastor for 40 years and has done far more good for his community than a few bad soundbites being pushed by the rightwing propaganda mill.

Obama is correct to bring up the fact that Reverend Wright is from a different generation and having experienced life as a black man during those days, well, the anger is understandable. In no way do I approve of the way he expresses that anger...but I understand why it's there. Even Ron Paul expressed anger about our foreign policies having consequences.

[JoFerret]

25. Don't try to patronize me . It makes you sound like

a twerpy little upstart.

I do not need your little lesson. Educate yourself first before you start lecturing your grandmother on egg-sucking. And then apply a dose of humility. There is so much more to learn from each other and from history. But it is not just one lesson. Our world is complex and diverse. Get used to it.

[roseBudd]

32. How? Emmet Till, pictures in Jet Magazine. How? 4 Little Girls

And if you want to go back further, Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Slavery.

Native Americans and The Trail of Tears.

Really? You don't understand how?

[slinkerwink]

4. I thought the Fox interview was good

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DemGa]

7. I don't think there's much he can do or say

He supported it, he funded it -- He gave the Wright message tacit approval for twenty years -- Stood by silent while America was defamed by his mentor.

This is some very, very rough stuff indeed. Not pretty.

[wileedog]

13. Honest question

Do we know that Wright has been preaching this for 20 years? Do we have another speech like this somewhere from him?

Or did he just get caught up in the Hillary fight and go off the reservation once?

[anonymeme]

39. Ck YouTube for Lots of Videos of Rev Wright & One Reviews Several Different Hate Whitey Sermons [NT]

[DearAbby]

35. And what was Wright's message all those 20 yrs?

there are 6,000 members to that church. It appears they are good law abiding citizens, they pay their taxes, help those in their community. They even reach out and help those not in their community.

What damage had been done by being exposed to 20yrs of Pastor Wright's sermons? You make it sound like that was all he preached about. Clearly it wasnt.

[Barack_America]

10. I actually really liked his response on Fox.

Much more than on Olbermann.

He can't really "attack" as you suggest. If he does so, he likens himself to Wright and the whole "angry black man" uproar (that's what this is really about, by the way).

He needed to respond calmly, pointing out that he does not approve of such statements and that he had not heard them before. He also got the "bonus" in their by pointing out his being "led to Christ".

[Cha]

17. Law of Unintended

Consequences. So much for the "Muslim Swiftboating" as a DUer wrote earlier.

[uponit7771]

11. I just saw Rod Parsley, Obama has nothing to be concerned about

[woolldog]

14. For me this has clarified who the real enemy is:

the Republicans.

Clinton doesn't look so bad anymore compared to those clowns.

[spooky3]

15. His staff should prepare a list of all the crap said by Rethug-supporting preachers

It's got to be a very long list.

[HughMoran]

18. I agree - this is a shitty way to get an advantage for those who have been attempting such

Even though I'd expect based on previous history here that Obama supporters would act 10x worse than the Hillary supporters have with this story, that doesn't justify bad behavior.

[question everything]

19. Hillary has been analyzed and dissected and every action of her career

has been magnified and researched.

None was done about Obama, there is nothing there.

So finally the media and, yes, us, are getting some real "beef" to bit into.

[Barack_America]

21. Except for her tax returns for the past 7 years...

And where their wealth (that has been used to fund the campaign) came from.

Completely vetted except for that, right?

[question everything]

29. Why "except? " Everyone is going after her for that

but nothing about Obama. As we recently learned, his lack of record is, apparently, an asset as there is nothing to question and to demand an explanation.

Except for his initial desire to vote for Reoberts to the Supreme Court.

And here I am trying to convince myself to vote for him because of the Supreme Court..

[roseBudd]

31. The fact that we already know her brother pocketed 200K for the sleazy Mark Rich pardon

doesn't mitigate what it says about Bill & Hill. I resent the Monica blowjobs. I resent the sleazy pardons. I resent "depends on the meaning of is". I resent "I did not have sexual relations with THAT woman"

I am a democrat & I resent it when democrats do things that damage our party and what it tries to accomplish.

None of the things mentioned above are simply something said by a third party. They are things the Clinton's did or said and Hillary is the Clintons like it or not.

[anonymeme]

43. Hillary Is NOT Her Brother, Any More Than Jimmy Carter Was His Brother Billy...

Hillary Is NOT Her Brother, Any More Than Jimmy Carter Was His Brother Billy... A Lot of Good People Might Be Sitting in Jail if Everyone Got the Blame for What Their Brothers Did!

:yoiks:

[bhikkhu]

41. Seeing her earmarks before the nomination would also reasure me.

Along with tax returns. These are two substantiative things Obama has released to scrutiny and Hillary hasn't.

[cooolandrew]

20. Hecould say his new advisor will be haggard someone less contoversial.

[KingFlorez]

23. I agree

I'm a Hillary supporter as well, but this whole thing about the pastor is absolutely ludicrous.

[Snarkturian Clone]

24. To tell you the truth

I've been embarrassed by both sides of this Obama/Wright argument. The hillarians who brought it to this level are guilty and some of my fellow obamites who took the bait and made it even worse with their vile attacks are also guilty of throwing this thing way out of proportion.

[DianeG5385]

26. It's so easy to blame Hillary but it's clear this came from the Pukes

I support Hillary but I think this pastor thing is extremely lame.

Hillariots?? Hillarious! You sound a little pukey to me though, it's hard to tell these days as we've been infiltrated. I guess our house is more fun than yours! I apologize in advance if you're not a puke.

[anonymous171]

34. This type of attack only serves to rally republicans.

So it most likely didn't come from the Clinton campaign. Although this does go with their new strategy of questioning his electability...

[tpsbmam]

33. Bravo to you and to the other HRC supporters who....

are willing to be fair & rational. I support Obama but I truly have tried to be fair to both candidates. All of this attacking on both sides makes me :puke:
Does anyone really think that endless attacks and nastiness on the part of supporters really helps their candidate? I sure as hell don't.

Here's what I'd say (haven't been able to listen to his statements about this yet, though I've read that he's condemned what Wright had to say on some occasions): We have a history in this country of throwing the baby out with the bath water. Rev. Wright is a respected minister with whom I don't always agree. But listen to what some of his teachings say -- repression of human beings isn't what the Bible teaches us; Christ taught us to embrace the poor, weak, and hungry and instead we've turned our backs on the poor, weak, and hungry. Too many Americans of all races have been disenfranchised by a government that cares more about the corporate bottom line than about the workers who are the heart and sou of those corporations. Christ taught us that there is value in each human and blind hatred of other people is sinful. Rev. Wright has been wrong to say some of the things he's said -- he has to live with those things and I repudiate those things. But he also teaches lessons all of us need to listen to -- I don't throw people out because I disagree with them. I work to understand their perspective and I make judgments about where I agree and where I disagree. We need someone in the White House who can work with all people, not just those with whom they always agree. George Bush and his Republican legislature has shown us what one gets when one is unable to find ways to work and socialize respectfully with people with whom we don't always agree. And blah, blah, blah -- you get my drift.

[Catherina]

36. Thank you Dianne!. Here's how I'd respond

Thank you. People like you redeem my faith that people really do get it.


I think Obama responded well but the best response I've seen so far is writes3003's

Here's what I think Obama could be/should be preparing to say:

"In the last few days, there have been a number of questions about my relationship with Jeremiah Wright. For many years, Mr. Wright served as my pastor at the Trinity United Church of Christ. And on a more personal level, Mr. Wright served as one of my spiritual advisers, specifically helping me nuture my strong faith and relationship with God.

Now, as I've stated many times before, there have been many times that I have strongly, strongly disagreed with Mr. Wright's political positions and statements. At those times, I have debated with him personally and spoken out publicly about how my views and positions differ. Let there be no doubt about my convictions on these issues, they are all on public record. But even though I have vehemently disagreed with Mr. Wright on those occasions, I never chose to leave the Trinity United Church of Christ. I would like to take a moment to explain why. My church, the Trinty Unity Church of Christ, is a church that serves the faith of thousands of Christians. It's a church that feeds the needy and helps clothe and provide shelter to the homeless. It's a church of good works and good deeds.

I have not left my church because I believe any true church of God is much, much greater than any one man - be it me or Jeremiah Wright. We are there to serve a higher purpose.

There is another reason why I haven't left the Trinity United Church of Christ. And this may be one of the most important qualities I would bring to the White House. As Americans, we must learn how to work with and win over those that disagree with us. Our country's future depends on this.

We are living in one of the most divisive times in history. Religious and ethnic wars are erupting all over the globe. Our television and radio airwaves are filled bloody images and angry rants. Our children are going to schools where guns and shootings seem more prevalent than ever. And Washington, DC is gridlocked because we have two parties, Democrats and Republicans, who only see eternal, sworn enemies in each other.

Our country's problems will NOT be solved by shutting people out. The only way we will change the direction of our future is by reaching out. As I say all the time, we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can take a position without leaving the room. The fate of our government and our country depends on our ability to say "I strongly disagree with you but I don't hate you." Our politics must work on the promise of "I will listen to you and you will listen to me." If we abandon and hate every person who disagrees with us, we will become a country of isolated, angry strangers. We are moving closer and closer to that everyday. Only through working our disagreements out, standing up for our principals while reaching out our hand, will we fulfill the promise of what this country could and should be.

So yes, even though I fundamentally disagree with Jeremiah Wright on a whole host of issues, even though we've debated and disagreed, I have remained in that church. I have reached out my hand to him. I have swayed him on occasion and on occasion, he's given me new things to consider.

We have had eight years of a President who closes the door to anyone who disagrees with him. We have eight years of divisiveness and rigid posturing in our politics.

As President of the United States, I will stand strong for the founding principals of this country and for the safety and well-being of our citizens. And I will work tirelessly to bring us all together.

[susankh4]

42. I am really proud of Hillary...

for staying out of this Jeremiah Wright mess!

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/15/clinton-campaign-stays-mum-on-wright/

[rodeodance]

45. yes, i am sure she told Penn to cool it. But he was asked 2x and do not say a peep.

[anonymeme]

46. I'm Proud of Her, Too...

I'm Proud of Her, Too... and tho' I haven't seen Penn cranking on the Wright thing -- which he may be, I just don't know -- I'm not so sure that everything he does is in Hillary's best overall interest.

I hated the 3:00 AM add and that was his baby, and it looks like he stole it from the Mondale campaign commercials years ago.

Sometimes a person needs a pit-bull to defend them, but sometimes they need to be pulled back a little... but to paraphrase an old joke:

Q. Where does a 300 lb Pit-Bull sleep?

A. Anywhere he wants to!