"Elevator speech": How would you set someone right on Wright in 30 sec?

[Mister Ed]

I'd like to hear ideas for the most concise and effective collection of byte-sized statements that a person could use to put the Wright flap in perspective during brief conversations with friends and co-workers.

What would you say to counter the media spin if the topic came up while you riding in an elevator, and you had thirty seconds to change someone's mind?

[Dr Ron]

1. He's not Obama

I wouldn't try to defend Wright, especially in such a short time. I'd just point out that Wright and Obama are two different people. Obama is unique in having exposure to a wide variety of people with a wide variety of viewpoints. While Obama is attacked for his association with Wright, he's also come under attack because of the more conservative people he also receives advice from. Listening to a variety of viewpoints is one of Obama's strengths. The failure to do so is a weakness shared by both Bush and Clinton. Ultimately Obama should be judged on his own viewpoints, which have nothing to do with all the clips of Wright's most extreme comments.

[marlakay]

2. Diffuse it with all of the candidates are not

perfect and have met or have people in their lives that have said or done things. What is important to look at is what the candidate will DO for the country. Who do you believe will be able to change the country to get back on the right direction? I believe Obama can because he doesn't owe payback like the others do to lobbists.

thats what i would say.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

3. Ask them if they ever had a person express view points

they didn't agree with in an organization they belonged to? Ask them if staying in that organization meant they agreed with everything expressed within it? I am sure we have all been there a time or two...

[JimGinPA]

4. Most People That Will Use Wright As An Excuse Not To Vote For Obama...

Were really never going to vote for him. However, if someone has seen the Moyers interview or one of the speeches in the last couple of days and want to reconcile him seeming more logical than with their impression of him from the loops of those "controversial" snippets on the M$M, suggest they watch those snippets in their context on YouTube;


http://www.youtube.com/user/TRINITYCHGO

[Dr Ron]

5. Not sure about those who use Wright

Certainly those who are screaming the loudest about Wright are people who would never have voted for Obama. The question is whether people who hear about this, and don't know much else about the candidates other than the superficial stuff covered by the media or from right wing smear campaigns, are affected by this.

I fear that there are people who don't pay too much about politics who do get swayed by nonsense like this so it does make sense to have an elevator statement ready for a reply.

[ginnyinWI]

6. smile and say,

"Oh yeah. That guy is crazy, isn't he? Good thing Obama's nothing like that! Must be embarrassing for him!"