Obama supporters: spinning Wright (another way to look at it)

[npincus]

The Wright issue is a lemon, and we are stuck with it. It will be dragged out in the sunlight whenever the opposition (sadly, this includes fellow Democrats) finds it useful. So, I'd like to throw out the idea that perhaps there's a bit of lemonade to be made.

One thing that we can all say is, as a president, George B*sh was unable to LISTEN to leaders from parts of the world who openly criticized or disliked America. We can say with certainty, this lack of tolerance and ability to be in the same room with others who don't like our policies has certainly limited our ability to engage in the kind of diplomacy which is so sorely needed in the world.

President Obama will recognize that the world leaders may hold controversial or unpalatable views to Americans but that will not deter his commitment to negotiating on behalf of America with such men/women. He will not "walk out" from engaging with these divisive leaders, but will "work out" solutions. Because he is able to LISTEN, does not mean he is in agreement with the world leader, or for that matter, with a pastor. Listening and understanding are NOT the same as agreement, and as our ambassador in the world, Obama has shown that he can sit at the same table as anyone, no matter how controversial their views, and LISTEN. That is a STRENGTH, not a weakness. In the same way, Obama did not "walk out" of a church because of one man's controversial views, he did not hide from views which ran counter to his own, but stayed to divine the essence of this sermon, the worship of G-d and Jesus Christ. His performance on the world stage will be consistent; he will not be a leader to run, but a leader to meet controversy and challenge.

So, that's the idea- though I'm sure a professional could run with it and boil it down further, give it some zip and zing.

I sincerely believe that we can, we must try, to extract a positive for mass consumption from the Wright matter, because it's here. In order for the above to be convincing, a few snippets of a Wright sermon, featuring G-d and Jesus in a more traditional, uncontroversial way, getting some MSM attention, would go a long way.

What do you think?

[SoFlaJet]

1. we're stuck with this issue

because a certain segment of the democratic party (and their allies at Fox News) refuses to let it die

[ingac70]

2. Bingo. n/t

[cooolandrew]

3. K&r RESPECT to this post. This is who we are Democrats, righting injustice is our cause.

[npincus]

7. thanks- I really do belive there are larger implications to his

commitment to his church which highlight attributes the next president should have.

[cooolandrew]

13. kick

[Buzz Clik]

4. We nearly have 1500 threads at DU talking about Wright.

That's plenty.

[mmonk]

8. That's the whole reason for the "Wright" affair.

To keep it in the limelight to see if he can be destroyed personally. Nothing much changes in US politics. We have to deal with it the best we can.

[npincus]

9. respectfully, I haven't read one which suggested a tactical way

to deal with this, to suggest to the campaign another way to look at it highlighting an attribute of Obama's, when it does (an will) come up. Believe me, I want this to disappear, but we know it won't. Not sure if you have even read the post.

[BigDDem]

5. "extract a positive"

The govt invented HIV as a genecide to wipe out black people?

Please extract a positive out of that for me.

[npincus]

15. not what I was saying at all.

read it again. Re: the above Wright quote- I am white, that may strike me as paranoid- but have you heard of the Tuskagee experieent? 400 hundred blak men infected with syphilis were used a laboratory rats? Is it that hard to believe that black Americans who lived through that time might hold views that seem "paranoid" to others?

[BigDDem]

16. Yes, I'm familiar with the "Tuskagee experieent"

do you think the govt invented HIV to wipe out black people?

[npincus]

17. I am capable of disagreeing with other's points of view

and understanding what could prompt them at the same time. I believe Obama has expressed the same.

Are you?

And no, as far as I know, HIV a virus that mutated from monkeys to humans and was not "invented".

[K Gardner]

6. All people have to do is watch one sermon. One. I'd suggest yesterday's Easter Service. Then,

the conversation would be OVER.

[rocktivity]

10. It's Hillary's lemon, too

especially since she tried to use it as leverage against Obama with the superdelegates (like Bill Richardson?) without acknowledging that she has a tie to Wright of her own.

:headbang:
rocknation

[jonnyblitz]

11. just "let it sink" and it will go away.

use the strategy of some of your more enlightened and intelligent Obama supporters and just let it sink and POOOF it will magically just be gone. :crazy: :hi:

[TheDoorbellRang]

12. I think that's the right angle to take

not only because it works politically in reframing the issue, but also because it's precisely what IS an asset in Obama. He's got an ability to listen to opinions from many diverse sources before coming to decisions -- the polar opposite of this administration that's surrounded itself with yes men.

I also think people need to be wondering why, in the decades of sermons this pastor has given, there are just a few snippets that have been gathered up and played ad nauseam by all the networks. What context were they in? I've watched two videos of his expanded words here, and suddenly the snippets don't seem very outrageous. (I have to say, tho, that the snippets didn't seem that outrageous to me in the first place.)

Seems to me the outrage over Rev. Wright's snippets is less to do with what he said and more to do with some "white" people finding out that African Americans are still p*ssed off. Quelle surprise. It reminds me of some of the comments back when MLK was leading the civil rights movement. Part of the attitude back then was a sort of disapproving disgruntlement: "What are they complaining about and getting eveything stirred up for? Things were just fine until these troublemakers started up." IOW, certain white people hadn't noticed anything amiss, and now they were being made uncomfortable by MLK and others saying that, indeed, something was very much amiss.

[npincus]

14. Bingo- MSM has an obligation to fairly & honestly present/represent the decades of

sermons the pastor gave... the MSM has "educated" the public that this church is all about a ranting and raving angry man by playing 2 or 3 snippets ad nauseum. That helps them achieve the tighter race natrrative they want.... they're about manufacturing the news and not reporting it. Great job, they've done! Now a whole lot of white voters think that THIS is what the church is about.

So, Obama's campaign has to DEAL with this, and it's got awesomely destructive potential. So I am suggeting the above approach- turning lemons to lemonade. I don't know what choice we have.

[elixir]

18. Good luck with that.