Carter is right. When you and I saw Wright's speech to the NAACP, we loved it. Wright is exciting, charismatic, funny, brilliant, incisive, etc.
He makes some outrageous, even wrong statements during his sermons, but they are all swallowed up and forgotten in the over-all context of his message, which is to do social justice, help the poor and oppressed, and not harm anyone. That is his message, which is very clear when you listen to him in context.
As Jimmy Carter and Mike Huckabee have both stated, many Southern preachers make outrageous comments in the course of their ministry. There is nothing new in that and, as Huckabee said, "You have to cut preachers some slack".
Of course, when these comments are taken out of context, and played by themselves, they can be used as a political weapon to frighten lots of people. That's what the right-wing is doing with these sound bites today, in an effort to destroy Obama's candidacy.
The Indiana and North Carolina primaries should give us some indication of whether Obama's candidacy has been hurt by Wright.
Either way, I'm happy to see Wright emerge as a powerful force in his own right, and as a voice who will certainly be heard loud and clear in this country from now on. Wright is gathering millions of supporters and is rapidly becoming the most popular minister in America.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Right-Wing Response to Reverend Wright's NAACP Speech
The Right-Wing is out to destroy Wright, no matter what he says or does, because that is their way of destroying Obama.
You and I saw Wright's speech at the NAACP and we both thought it was brilliant, and that Wright is a genius -- all of which is true. Any independent, fair-minded person would come to that conclusion, which is why Wright has now become a national Superstar.
Now, exactly which audience is this right-wing "pundit" talking about -- the NAACP, the National Press Club, or some other audience which he doesn't identify?
Notice the Big Lie inherent in the e-mail you sent me. The author says that the audience "included" -- and he mentions every black person whose name alone will instill fear into the hearts of whites. He doesn't mention any of the white leaders who were also in attendance. Whoever wrote this e-mail is obviously lying.
We saw the NAACP speech. In that speech, Wright did not say that "Zionism is racism" -- on the contrary, he spoke very favorably of the Jews and he spoke out forcibly against the Gospel teaching that "the Jews killed Christ". He clearly pointed out that a leader of the American Jewish Committee was in the audience at the NAACP dinner to support him.
He did not repeat his view that "the government created the AIDS virus" for use against racial minorities. On the contrary, he said something very, very different. He said that "in light of the Tuskeegee Syphilis experiments performed on black people, one can believe that this government is capable of anything". I took that to mean that he was retreating from his assertion about the AIDS virus, and resting his case on the Tuskeegee story, which is far more provable.
Today, all the Right-Wing Talking Heads are saying that Wright is "a nut". Notice that. It's a talking point. Listen to how many of them are calling Wright "a nut", and you will know that that word has been scripted for them. O'Reilly, Tucker Carlson, the same old wrecking crew -- they are all saying "he's a nut".
They are trying to create a new "Dean Scream" with Reverend Wright.
If Reverend Wright had not come out swinging, they would have destroyed him by simply re-showing that 90-second TV loop forever, as they have been doing.
Instead, he has come out fighting, very hard. The Right-Wing won't stop -- as your above e-mail to me clearly shows. However, Wright is rallying millions of supporters to his side and a huge counter-attack is mounting on his behalf.
Yes, Wright may very well destroy Obama's campaign. That would have happened whether or not Wright responded to the doctored video loop. At least this way, if Obama goes down, Wright himself is available to be drafted for the presidency. (He has already announced that he's available for the vice-presidency).
Speaking before an audience that included Marion Barry, Cornel West, Malik Zulu Shabazz of the New Black Panther Party and Nation of Islam official Jamil Muhammad, Wright praised Louis Farrakhan, defended the view that Zionism is racism, accused the United States of terrorism, repeated his view that the government created the AIDS virus to cause the genocide of racial minorities, stood by other past remarks ("God damn America") and held himself out as a spokesman for the black church in America.
In front of 30 television cameras, Wright's audience cheered him on as the minister mocked the media and, at one point, did a little victory dance on the podium. It seemed as if Wright, jokingly offering himself as Obama's vice president, was actually trying to doom Obama; a member of the head table, American Urban Radio's April Ryan, confirmed that Wright's security was provided by bodyguards from Farrakhan's Nation of Islam.
You and I saw Wright's speech at the NAACP and we both thought it was brilliant, and that Wright is a genius -- all of which is true. Any independent, fair-minded person would come to that conclusion, which is why Wright has now become a national Superstar.
Now, exactly which audience is this right-wing "pundit" talking about -- the NAACP, the National Press Club, or some other audience which he doesn't identify?
Notice the Big Lie inherent in the e-mail you sent me. The author says that the audience "included" -- and he mentions every black person whose name alone will instill fear into the hearts of whites. He doesn't mention any of the white leaders who were also in attendance. Whoever wrote this e-mail is obviously lying.
We saw the NAACP speech. In that speech, Wright did not say that "Zionism is racism" -- on the contrary, he spoke very favorably of the Jews and he spoke out forcibly against the Gospel teaching that "the Jews killed Christ". He clearly pointed out that a leader of the American Jewish Committee was in the audience at the NAACP dinner to support him.
He did not repeat his view that "the government created the AIDS virus" for use against racial minorities. On the contrary, he said something very, very different. He said that "in light of the Tuskeegee Syphilis experiments performed on black people, one can believe that this government is capable of anything". I took that to mean that he was retreating from his assertion about the AIDS virus, and resting his case on the Tuskeegee story, which is far more provable.
Today, all the Right-Wing Talking Heads are saying that Wright is "a nut". Notice that. It's a talking point. Listen to how many of them are calling Wright "a nut", and you will know that that word has been scripted for them. O'Reilly, Tucker Carlson, the same old wrecking crew -- they are all saying "he's a nut".
They are trying to create a new "Dean Scream" with Reverend Wright.
If Reverend Wright had not come out swinging, they would have destroyed him by simply re-showing that 90-second TV loop forever, as they have been doing.
Instead, he has come out fighting, very hard. The Right-Wing won't stop -- as your above e-mail to me clearly shows. However, Wright is rallying millions of supporters to his side and a huge counter-attack is mounting on his behalf.
Yes, Wright may very well destroy Obama's campaign. That would have happened whether or not Wright responded to the doctored video loop. At least this way, if Obama goes down, Wright himself is available to be drafted for the presidency. (He has already announced that he's available for the vice-presidency).
Speaking before an audience that included Marion Barry, Cornel West, Malik Zulu Shabazz of the New Black Panther Party and Nation of Islam official Jamil Muhammad, Wright praised Louis Farrakhan, defended the view that Zionism is racism, accused the United States of terrorism, repeated his view that the government created the AIDS virus to cause the genocide of racial minorities, stood by other past remarks ("God damn America") and held himself out as a spokesman for the black church in America.
In front of 30 television cameras, Wright's audience cheered him on as the minister mocked the media and, at one point, did a little victory dance on the podium. It seemed as if Wright, jokingly offering himself as Obama's vice president, was actually trying to doom Obama; a member of the head table, American Urban Radio's April Ryan, confirmed that Wright's security was provided by bodyguards from Farrakhan's Nation of Islam.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
A Good Internet Response
It's worth reading this Internet response to the Reverend Wright's TV interview with Bill Moyers, from a viewer in Illinois:
"I wonder if the people who are sitting here crying "RACIST,?RACIST"
even bothered to watch the interview?
Wright was finally given a chance to air his views and what was said
on those damning clips was brought into focus. Interesting that Fox
News did not air what was on the clips BEFORE the now infamous "God Damn America" segment. Did all of you hate mongerers know that Wright was quoting a white ambassador when he spoke those words? Fox very craftily edited his sermon so that it appeared the words were his. They also very craftily edited the sermon so that the name of their newscast was not mentioned.
People, HE WATCHED THE SECOND PLANE SLAM INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ON 911! He was as horrified as all of us were!
It is really scary how words can be manipulated and people don't take
the time to find out the truth. Everyone is in such a frenzy to find
something to condemn Obama that they will cling to ANYTHING to say
that he is not worthy to run for the presidency. It is also very scary
how a group of people can without shame edit phrases to serve their
own purpose and in the process destroy a good man and try to bring
down another. No wonder people don't want to talk to the media!
Journalists should be held accountable when they twist the truth for
their own means".
"I wonder if the people who are sitting here crying "RACIST,?RACIST"
even bothered to watch the interview?
Wright was finally given a chance to air his views and what was said
on those damning clips was brought into focus. Interesting that Fox
News did not air what was on the clips BEFORE the now infamous "God Damn America" segment. Did all of you hate mongerers know that Wright was quoting a white ambassador when he spoke those words? Fox very craftily edited his sermon so that it appeared the words were his. They also very craftily edited the sermon so that the name of their newscast was not mentioned.
People, HE WATCHED THE SECOND PLANE SLAM INTO THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ON 911! He was as horrified as all of us were!
It is really scary how words can be manipulated and people don't take
the time to find out the truth. Everyone is in such a frenzy to find
something to condemn Obama that they will cling to ANYTHING to say
that he is not worthy to run for the presidency. It is also very scary
how a group of people can without shame edit phrases to serve their
own purpose and in the process destroy a good man and try to bring
down another. No wonder people don't want to talk to the media!
Journalists should be held accountable when they twist the truth for
their own means".
A New American Superstar
Everyone who saw watched Reverend Wright's original full ten-minute sermon, or who saw the Bill Moyers' interview, or who are aware of Wright's 36 years of accomplishments, knows what the truth is.
That's why Wright's popularity is soaring now. People realize he has been wronged and slandered by some dishonest political splice-and-dicers.
Today, Wright is speaking at an NAACP function, and 10,000 people have paid $150 a plate to come and hear him. It's totally sold out because of him.
This is only the beginning for Wright. You ain't seen nothing yet.
Obama may or may not win the election. But Wright will emerge as an American superstar.
That's why Wright's popularity is soaring now. People realize he has been wronged and slandered by some dishonest political splice-and-dicers.
Today, Wright is speaking at an NAACP function, and 10,000 people have paid $150 a plate to come and hear him. It's totally sold out because of him.
This is only the beginning for Wright. You ain't seen nothing yet.
Obama may or may not win the election. But Wright will emerge as an American superstar.
Friday, April 25, 2008
LTo Lynn Sweet -- Chicago Sun-Times
Dear Lynn Sweet:
"When O'Reilly is right" will be the day that Hell freezes over. Bill O'Reilly has never been right on anything, and he sure ain't right on this one. What Reverend Wright needs is not a vacation, but an agent to field all the speaking offers that he is about to be flooded with. Wright's appearance on Bill Moyers has made him a national superstar. He is on the verge of becoming the most popular minister in America. Over 36 years, Wright built his Chicago congregation from 80 members to 8,000 members. As a result of his Bill Moyers' appearance, Wright will now have a congregation of millions.
Wright's successor, Reverend Moss, called Wright's 90-second sound-bite TV treatment a "public crucifixion" and predicted that -- after a crucifixion comes a resurrection. Good call, Reverend Moss.
Reverend Wright is about to capture the hearts of the American people in a way that no minister has ever done since the days of Billy Graham and Norman Vincent Peale.
"When O'Reilly is right" will be the day that Hell freezes over. Bill O'Reilly has never been right on anything, and he sure ain't right on this one. What Reverend Wright needs is not a vacation, but an agent to field all the speaking offers that he is about to be flooded with. Wright's appearance on Bill Moyers has made him a national superstar. He is on the verge of becoming the most popular minister in America. Over 36 years, Wright built his Chicago congregation from 80 members to 8,000 members. As a result of his Bill Moyers' appearance, Wright will now have a congregation of millions.
Wright's successor, Reverend Moss, called Wright's 90-second sound-bite TV treatment a "public crucifixion" and predicted that -- after a crucifixion comes a resurrection. Good call, Reverend Moss.
Reverend Wright is about to capture the hearts of the American people in a way that no minister has ever done since the days of Billy Graham and Norman Vincent Peale.
Dishonest Wright Reel
Anyone who watches Reverend Wright's entire ten-minute sermon following 9/11 (which now has been posted on You Tube by Trinity Church for the entire world to see), will come to the following conclusions:
A. Reverend Wright is a brilliant preacher who uses shock and awe rhetoric to grab his listeners' attention, focus his audience's minds, and lead them to very positive conclusions and constructive actions to improve their lives and better their community;
B. The persons who keep showing this 90 seconds of inflammatory excerpts on TV are totally dishonest, vile, foul, slithering reptiles who know exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it, and who know full well that these excerpts are a far cry from the real message that Reverend Wright was delivering to his congregation. There is a reason why these charlatans want people to see only this 90-second excerpt, and not the entire ten-minute sermon which places these controversial remarks in their context, as Reverend Wright actually delivered them.
C. That Abraham Lincoln, the Republicans' Founding Father, said: "You can't fool all of the people all of the time". Today, his Republican descendants are out to prove, with this 90-second spliced reel, that Honest Abe was wrong. Judging by most of the comments on this site, they have succeeded overwhelmingly.
D. If Americans want to keep letting themselves be fooled by this kind of dishonest Swift-Boating of Reverend Wright and Barack Obama, then, if anyone thinks Americans are "bitter" today, that's nothing compared to how "bitter' they will be four years from now if they choose four more years of Bush's failed policies -- through his surrogate, John McCain -- because they let themselves be fooled once again by phony Swift-Boaters.
A. Reverend Wright is a brilliant preacher who uses shock and awe rhetoric to grab his listeners' attention, focus his audience's minds, and lead them to very positive conclusions and constructive actions to improve their lives and better their community;
B. The persons who keep showing this 90 seconds of inflammatory excerpts on TV are totally dishonest, vile, foul, slithering reptiles who know exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it, and who know full well that these excerpts are a far cry from the real message that Reverend Wright was delivering to his congregation. There is a reason why these charlatans want people to see only this 90-second excerpt, and not the entire ten-minute sermon which places these controversial remarks in their context, as Reverend Wright actually delivered them.
C. That Abraham Lincoln, the Republicans' Founding Father, said: "You can't fool all of the people all of the time". Today, his Republican descendants are out to prove, with this 90-second spliced reel, that Honest Abe was wrong. Judging by most of the comments on this site, they have succeeded overwhelmingly.
D. If Americans want to keep letting themselves be fooled by this kind of dishonest Swift-Boating of Reverend Wright and Barack Obama, then, if anyone thinks Americans are "bitter" today, that's nothing compared to how "bitter' they will be four years from now if they choose four more years of Bush's failed policies -- through his surrogate, John McCain -- because they let themselves be fooled once again by phony Swift-Boaters.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
An Astute and Perceptive On-Line Posting
People who hate Obama were just looking for excuses to justify their hate. You know who you are and most importantly you know it does not matter if it was Wright, Michelle, his daughters or a simple word like bitter. You would never cast your vote for a black man. So stop pretending like Wright makes a difference.
Posted by: ymaxoneil | April 24, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Right On, Y. M. You got that right.
C.P
Posted by: ymaxoneil | April 24, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Right On, Y. M. You got that right.
C.P
Open Letter to Barack Obama re Reverend Jeremiah Wright
Dear Barack:
You must overcome this Reverend Wright smear.
The Right-Wing is Swift-Boating you with Reverend Wright. It could
cost you the election, the same as the 527 Swift Boaters did to John
Kerry.
Personally, I believe that Reverend Wright is one of America's truly
great ministers, with an extraordinary record of accomplishment.
He is a preacher in the tradition of Amos, Jeremiah, and other Old
Testament firebrand prophets, who gave their parishioners Hell, and
therefore were often hated in their day, but are venerated now and
hold high places of honor in the Bible.
You must find a way to turn it around and show the American people
that when Reverend Wright "gives 'em Hell", he is doing something very good and positive for this country.
Patriotism is not waving the flag, crushing dissent, and marching our
troops into endless, senseless wars. Patriotism is what Reverend
Wright does -- speaking truth to power and urging our nation to live
up to its highest ideals.
Yes, in the heat of his sermon, Reverend Wright said a few things that
were off the walls and some that were dead wrong. But most people in
attendance that day may not have heard most of those negative things
because they were drowned out in all the good things Reverend Wright
said, which were the true heart and soul of his sermon and his
ministry.
You must find a way to get the American people to understand that.
Reverend Wright should be a source of pride to you, not an albatross
around your neck.
You must overcome this Reverend Wright smear.
The Right-Wing is Swift-Boating you with Reverend Wright. It could
cost you the election, the same as the 527 Swift Boaters did to John
Kerry.
Personally, I believe that Reverend Wright is one of America's truly
great ministers, with an extraordinary record of accomplishment.
He is a preacher in the tradition of Amos, Jeremiah, and other Old
Testament firebrand prophets, who gave their parishioners Hell, and
therefore were often hated in their day, but are venerated now and
hold high places of honor in the Bible.
You must find a way to turn it around and show the American people
that when Reverend Wright "gives 'em Hell", he is doing something very good and positive for this country.
Patriotism is not waving the flag, crushing dissent, and marching our
troops into endless, senseless wars. Patriotism is what Reverend
Wright does -- speaking truth to power and urging our nation to live
up to its highest ideals.
Yes, in the heat of his sermon, Reverend Wright said a few things that
were off the walls and some that were dead wrong. But most people in
attendance that day may not have heard most of those negative things
because they were drowned out in all the good things Reverend Wright
said, which were the true heart and soul of his sermon and his
ministry.
You must find a way to get the American people to understand that.
Reverend Wright should be a source of pride to you, not an albatross
around your neck.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Ann Cunter and B. Hussein Obama
"B. Hussein Obama" is a name frequently used by the beloved political
pundit, Ann Cunter. Miss Cunter has a fondness for the unusual names
of political candidates, which is understandable for a Republican
whose party picks candidates with names like Dick, John and Bush.
Miss Cunter prefers to use Anglo-Saxon words in her political
punditry, such as "faggot" in the case of John Edwards. Since Ms. Cunter is so fluent in the Anglo-Saxon vernacular, I feel that, in deference to her linguistic preference, I should pronounce her name in the traditional Anglo-Saxon fashion -- Ann Cunter.
pundit, Ann Cunter. Miss Cunter has a fondness for the unusual names
of political candidates, which is understandable for a Republican
whose party picks candidates with names like Dick, John and Bush.
Miss Cunter prefers to use Anglo-Saxon words in her political
punditry, such as "faggot" in the case of John Edwards. Since Ms. Cunter is so fluent in the Anglo-Saxon vernacular, I feel that, in deference to her linguistic preference, I should pronounce her name in the traditional Anglo-Saxon fashion -- Ann Cunter.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Democratic Primary vs. General Election
I think the reason Obama is closing the gap so much is that all these smear attacks against him have been leveled in the midst of a Democratic primary.
Democratic voters are still reeling from the Swift-Boating of John
Kerry in 2004, and they are looking at the current smear attacks as
new attempts to Swift-Boat Obama. They also see Hillary as joining in
with these Republican attacks. They are reacting with revulsion to
Hillary, and are now flocking to support Obama against these smears.
However, when Obama runs against McCain, these slanders may work more effectively among Republicans and Independents.
Never Forget -- Obama is the only "Muslim" who ever attended for 20
years a "hate-filled" black Christian Church.
Democratic voters are still reeling from the Swift-Boating of John
Kerry in 2004, and they are looking at the current smear attacks as
new attempts to Swift-Boat Obama. They also see Hillary as joining in
with these Republican attacks. They are reacting with revulsion to
Hillary, and are now flocking to support Obama against these smears.
However, when Obama runs against McCain, these slanders may work more effectively among Republicans and Independents.
Never Forget -- Obama is the only "Muslim" who ever attended for 20
years a "hate-filled" black Christian Church.
Dump Trucks
Bill Clinton has said that, when he ran for re-election as Governor of Arkansas, the Republicans hurled so many vile and insane charges at him that Bill and his staff were confident no rational voters would believe any of this trash. So, Bill's campaign did not respond to any of the charges.
Clinton concludes: "And that's how I became the youngest Ex-Governor of Arkansas."
Barack Obama said many months ago that he knows "the Dump Trucks are coming." They arrived in full force during the first half of the ABC-TV Pennsylvania debate. Obama is responding, loud and clear. Unfortunately, these are the "Wedge Issues" that decide elections these days. Fortunately, Obama is responding to them and, hopefully, he will continue to do so.
After all, let's face it -- Obama is the only "Muslim" who ever spent 20 years atending a "hate-filled" Christian Church.
Clinton concludes: "And that's how I became the youngest Ex-Governor of Arkansas."
Barack Obama said many months ago that he knows "the Dump Trucks are coming." They arrived in full force during the first half of the ABC-TV Pennsylvania debate. Obama is responding, loud and clear. Unfortunately, these are the "Wedge Issues" that decide elections these days. Fortunately, Obama is responding to them and, hopefully, he will continue to do so.
After all, let's face it -- Obama is the only "Muslim" who ever spent 20 years atending a "hate-filled" Christian Church.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Newsmax Swift Boats Obama
Dear Newsmax Swift Boaters:
Before you start trying to Swift-Boat Obama with William Ayers and the Woods Fund (which is the latest Hannity Insanity):
(a) Please don't lie about who raised this point in the debate. It was not Hillary Clinton, but rather moderator George Stephanopholous (who had been spoon-fed the question by Crazy Sean); and
(b) Kindly take note of the following statement issued by Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley the day after the Pennsylvania debate, who said:
"There are a lot of reasons that Americans are angry about Washington politics. And one more example is the way Senator Obama's opponents are playing guilt-by-association, tarring him because he happens to know Bill Ayers.
I also know Bill Ayers. He worked with me in shaping our now nationally-renowned school reform program. He is a nationally-recognized distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois/Chicago and a valued member of the Chicago community.
I don't condone what he did 40 years ago but I remember that period well. It was a difficult time, but those days are long over. I believe we have too many challenges in Chicago and our country to keep re-fighting 40 year old battles."
So, Swift Boats Aweigh! The more you do it, the more Obama's numbers continue to rise. I hope Newsmax enjoys blowback as much as ABC does.
Before you start trying to Swift-Boat Obama with William Ayers and the Woods Fund (which is the latest Hannity Insanity):
(a) Please don't lie about who raised this point in the debate. It was not Hillary Clinton, but rather moderator George Stephanopholous (who had been spoon-fed the question by Crazy Sean); and
(b) Kindly take note of the following statement issued by Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley the day after the Pennsylvania debate, who said:
"There are a lot of reasons that Americans are angry about Washington politics. And one more example is the way Senator Obama's opponents are playing guilt-by-association, tarring him because he happens to know Bill Ayers.
I also know Bill Ayers. He worked with me in shaping our now nationally-renowned school reform program. He is a nationally-recognized distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois/Chicago and a valued member of the Chicago community.
I don't condone what he did 40 years ago but I remember that period well. It was a difficult time, but those days are long over. I believe we have too many challenges in Chicago and our country to keep re-fighting 40 year old battles."
So, Swift Boats Aweigh! The more you do it, the more Obama's numbers continue to rise. I hope Newsmax enjoys blowback as much as ABC does.
B. Hussein Obama
Ann Coulter and other Republican pundits have been making a big deal over Obama's middle name -- Hussein.
What's in a name?
It's hard to see how Republicans can go around ridiculing other candidates' names when their own top leaders are named Dick, John and Bush.
What's in a name?
It's hard to see how Republicans can go around ridiculing other candidates' names when their own top leaders are named Dick, John and Bush.
Some People
In reporting on the video of Barack Obama's speech on the day following the Pennsylvania Democratic Debate, MSNBC anchor Contessa Brewer said: "Some think it looks like a flip-off" -- (i. e., "some think" that Obama gave Hillary "the finger" during his post-debate comments about her debate performance).
The key words here are "some think" or "some say".
"Some" is the most important single word used by TV political commentators. Fox News uses "Some people" constantly when they want to slime or destroy a candidate. For example, a Fox pundit might opine "Some say Obama is too radical and too elitist", or "Some think Hillary Clinton killed Vince Foster", etc.
Fox can voice any kind of slime attack they want against any candidate by simply saying "some people say this or some people think that" -- and Fox has no responsibility for the statement since Fox itself is not saying it -- "some people" are. Fox can slime candidates with impunity by attributing their own low blows to "some people", and no one can lay a glove on them.
It's a technique that Obama should learn, in his own self-defense. He'll be better off for it. He should learn to say "some people" much more often.
For example, when talking about his white grandmother's apprehensiveness while passing a strange black man in her neighborhood, instead of calling his grandmother "a typical white woman", suppose he had said she was acting "like some white women". He would have de-fused many of the attacks on him for his "typical white woman" comment. No one can deny that "some" white women act like that.
Or, suppose Obama had said that "some people in Pennsylvania have become "bitter" and "cling" to guns and religion when economic times turn bad. How much less of a counter-attack he would have subjected himself to since he was only referring to "some people".
Obama has a tendency to speak in broad generalizations, which his opponents can easily call "stereotyping" -- as they have been doing. Obama can make his same exact points by referring to "some people" -- not "all people" or "typical people". It's a technique that Fox political pundits have been using with maximum effectiveness, and this is one lesson Obama can and should learn from Fox. America has no better slime machine than Fox News.
The key words here are "some think" or "some say".
"Some" is the most important single word used by TV political commentators. Fox News uses "Some people" constantly when they want to slime or destroy a candidate. For example, a Fox pundit might opine "Some say Obama is too radical and too elitist", or "Some think Hillary Clinton killed Vince Foster", etc.
Fox can voice any kind of slime attack they want against any candidate by simply saying "some people say this or some people think that" -- and Fox has no responsibility for the statement since Fox itself is not saying it -- "some people" are. Fox can slime candidates with impunity by attributing their own low blows to "some people", and no one can lay a glove on them.
It's a technique that Obama should learn, in his own self-defense. He'll be better off for it. He should learn to say "some people" much more often.
For example, when talking about his white grandmother's apprehensiveness while passing a strange black man in her neighborhood, instead of calling his grandmother "a typical white woman", suppose he had said she was acting "like some white women". He would have de-fused many of the attacks on him for his "typical white woman" comment. No one can deny that "some" white women act like that.
Or, suppose Obama had said that "some people in Pennsylvania have become "bitter" and "cling" to guns and religion when economic times turn bad. How much less of a counter-attack he would have subjected himself to since he was only referring to "some people".
Obama has a tendency to speak in broad generalizations, which his opponents can easily call "stereotyping" -- as they have been doing. Obama can make his same exact points by referring to "some people" -- not "all people" or "typical people". It's a technique that Fox political pundits have been using with maximum effectiveness, and this is one lesson Obama can and should learn from Fox. America has no better slime machine than Fox News.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Guns and Religion
If the workers of Pennsylvania, or any other state, cast their votes based on Guns and Religion, then they will be voting for four more years of the same destructive Republican economic policies which have brought America's workers to their current near-impossible conditions. If this country continues with four more years of the same dismal Bush economic policies, America's workers will truly have little else left to turn to except their Religion and their Guns.
Hannity Insanity and Bill Ayres
Sean Hannity has been characterized by Reverend Jeremiah Wright as "the new definition of 'Stupid'." How Wright you are, Reverend Wright.
Sean has declared that his newest personal crusade is to tie Barack Obama to William Ayres, former head of the radical, violent Weather Underground 40 years ago. Indeed, it was Sean Hannity who spoon-fed George Stephanopholous the question which George asked Obama during the Democratic Debate about his connection to William Ayres. Obama responded that Ayres committed his bad deeds 40 years ago, when Barack was eight years old.
However, an even more important comment came out the day after the debate, when Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago released the following statement:
"There are a lot of reasons that Americans are angry about Washington politics. And one more example is the way Senator Obama's opponents are playing guilt-by-association, tarring him because he happens to know Bill Ayers.
I also know Bill Ayers. He worked with me in shaping our now nationally-renowned school reform program. He is a nationally-recognized distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois/Chicago and a valued member of the Chicago community.
I don't condone what he did 40 years ago but I remember that period well. It was a difficult time, but those days are long over. I believe we have too many challenges in Chicago and our country to keep re-fighting 40 year old battles."
It is common knowledge that Sean Hannity is a moron. But, we must thank Sean for throwing his William Ayres bomb at Obama so early in the campaign (rather than on October 29th), thus giving time for statements like Mayor Daley's to emerge to set the record straight, and counter-act the typical Hannity Insanity.
Sean has declared that his newest personal crusade is to tie Barack Obama to William Ayres, former head of the radical, violent Weather Underground 40 years ago. Indeed, it was Sean Hannity who spoon-fed George Stephanopholous the question which George asked Obama during the Democratic Debate about his connection to William Ayres. Obama responded that Ayres committed his bad deeds 40 years ago, when Barack was eight years old.
However, an even more important comment came out the day after the debate, when Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago released the following statement:
"There are a lot of reasons that Americans are angry about Washington politics. And one more example is the way Senator Obama's opponents are playing guilt-by-association, tarring him because he happens to know Bill Ayers.
I also know Bill Ayers. He worked with me in shaping our now nationally-renowned school reform program. He is a nationally-recognized distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois/Chicago and a valued member of the Chicago community.
I don't condone what he did 40 years ago but I remember that period well. It was a difficult time, but those days are long over. I believe we have too many challenges in Chicago and our country to keep re-fighting 40 year old battles."
It is common knowledge that Sean Hannity is a moron. But, we must thank Sean for throwing his William Ayres bomb at Obama so early in the campaign (rather than on October 29th), thus giving time for statements like Mayor Daley's to emerge to set the record straight, and counter-act the typical Hannity Insanity.
Bill Ayers and Sean Hannity
Yesterday, Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago released the following statement:
"There are a lot of reasons that Americans are angry about Washington politics. And one more example is the way Senator Obama's opponents are playing guilt-by-association, tarring him because he happens to know Bill Ayers.
I also know Bill Ayers. He worked with me in shaping our now nationally-renowned school reform program. He is a nationally-recognized distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois/Chicago and a valued member of the Chicago community.
I don't condone what he did 40 years ago but I remember that period well. It was a difficult time, but those days are long over. I believe we have too many challenges in Chicago and our country to keep re-fighting 40 year old battles."
Once again -- The Reverend Jeremiah Wright says that Sean Hannity "gives new meaning to the word 'Stupid'." Wright On, Reverend Wright.
"There are a lot of reasons that Americans are angry about Washington politics. And one more example is the way Senator Obama's opponents are playing guilt-by-association, tarring him because he happens to know Bill Ayers.
I also know Bill Ayers. He worked with me in shaping our now nationally-renowned school reform program. He is a nationally-recognized distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois/Chicago and a valued member of the Chicago community.
I don't condone what he did 40 years ago but I remember that period well. It was a difficult time, but those days are long over. I believe we have too many challenges in Chicago and our country to keep re-fighting 40 year old battles."
Once again -- The Reverend Jeremiah Wright says that Sean Hannity "gives new meaning to the word 'Stupid'." Wright On, Reverend Wright.
Sean Hannity
At the Million Man March, Louis Farrakhan spoke out forcefully against White Supremacy. In Sean Hannity's latest telecast, he called those statements "shocking". I'm glad to see Sean out there on the Fox Idiot Box defending White Supremacy. White Supremacy is alive and well on the Sean Hannity show.
The Reverend Jeremiah Wright says that Sean Hannity "gives new meaning to the word 'Stupid'." Reverend Wright is sure Wright about that.
The Reverend Jeremiah Wright says that Sean Hannity "gives new meaning to the word 'Stupid'." Reverend Wright is sure Wright about that.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Pennsylvania Democratic Debate - April 16, 2008
I saw the Pennsylvania Democratic Debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama last night, and I thought it was the best Democratic debate yet.
Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopholous, the ABC-TV moderators, asked Obama lots of gotcha, politically charged questions -- which was absolutely the right thing to do. All those questions are being raised anyway. However, mostly they are being raised as Swift Boat attacks, or by right-wing talk show hosts, by You Tube postings, etc.
Here, the two ABC commentators asked these questions directly of the candidate, who had a chance to respond to these issues before the largest possible audience.
The reason the Swift Boat attacks were so effective against John Kerry is that he never dealt with them. Kerry let those smears hang out there, unchallenged.
Here, Obama answered each attack in turn, with excellent dead-on responses. But, most important, Obama was able to make the over-riding point that these
smear attacks distract voters from the important issues of the campaign, and cause them to vote against their own best economic interests.
In fact, in this debate, on these political issues, Obama came across far better than Hillary Clinton. He tried to give Hillary a pass on her Bosnia "sniper fire" statement by saying that both candidates misspeak at times. Hillary, by contrast, kept digging at Obama with these slime attacks, whether on Jeremiah Wright, the Weathermen, etc. Obama was doing the right thing in trying to get beyond these petty attacks, on behalf of both candidates, whereas Hillary sounded like she was just mouthing Right-Wing Talking Points against Obama. Obama may have won a lot of points against Hillary by his contrasting approach.
Finally, Hillary goaded Obama into firing back that, during his presidency, Bill Clinton had pardoned two prominent members of the Weathermen, thus giving the Right-Wing a new weapon to use against Hillary. Hillary was hoisted on her own petard.
The entire two-hour debate could have focused completely on policy matters -- where the differences between these two candidates is very slight. But, why dwell on policy matters when, regardless of their policy positions, these candidates' campaigns are being undermined by slime attacks, like those in previous years -- Swift Boats, Willie Horton, McCain's "illegitimate black baby", Al Gore's sighing during his debates with Bush, etc.
The two ABC moderators performed a valuable public service in placing these smear attacks front and center, and letting the two candidates knock these red herrings out of the ballpark. I believe Obama did that. These particular smear attacks will surely be around till the end of the campaign. It's much better to have a big forum to respond to them, loud and clear, than to ignore them -- as John Kerry learned to his regret.
Chuck Prentiss
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopholous, the ABC-TV moderators, asked Obama lots of gotcha, politically charged questions -- which was absolutely the right thing to do. All those questions are being raised anyway. However, mostly they are being raised as Swift Boat attacks, or by right-wing talk show hosts, by You Tube postings, etc.
Here, the two ABC commentators asked these questions directly of the candidate, who had a chance to respond to these issues before the largest possible audience.
The reason the Swift Boat attacks were so effective against John Kerry is that he never dealt with them. Kerry let those smears hang out there, unchallenged.
Here, Obama answered each attack in turn, with excellent dead-on responses. But, most important, Obama was able to make the over-riding point that these
smear attacks distract voters from the important issues of the campaign, and cause them to vote against their own best economic interests.
In fact, in this debate, on these political issues, Obama came across far better than Hillary Clinton. He tried to give Hillary a pass on her Bosnia "sniper fire" statement by saying that both candidates misspeak at times. Hillary, by contrast, kept digging at Obama with these slime attacks, whether on Jeremiah Wright, the Weathermen, etc. Obama was doing the right thing in trying to get beyond these petty attacks, on behalf of both candidates, whereas Hillary sounded like she was just mouthing Right-Wing Talking Points against Obama. Obama may have won a lot of points against Hillary by his contrasting approach.
Finally, Hillary goaded Obama into firing back that, during his presidency, Bill Clinton had pardoned two prominent members of the Weathermen, thus giving the Right-Wing a new weapon to use against Hillary. Hillary was hoisted on her own petard.
The entire two-hour debate could have focused completely on policy matters -- where the differences between these two candidates is very slight. But, why dwell on policy matters when, regardless of their policy positions, these candidates' campaigns are being undermined by slime attacks, like those in previous years -- Swift Boats, Willie Horton, McCain's "illegitimate black baby", Al Gore's sighing during his debates with Bush, etc.
The two ABC moderators performed a valuable public service in placing these smear attacks front and center, and letting the two candidates knock these red herrings out of the ballpark. I believe Obama did that. These particular smear attacks will surely be around till the end of the campaign. It's much better to have a big forum to respond to them, loud and clear, than to ignore them -- as John Kerry learned to his regret.
Chuck Prentiss
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Mayor Gray Got It Right
But J. Richard Gray, the mayor of Lancaster and an Obama supporter, said this was not what Mr. Obama meant. Mr. Obama was trying to say, Mr. Gray argued, that Republicans take emotional issues like guns and religion and try to use them to divide people.
“I don’t think he’s demeaning religion or guns,” Mr. Gray said. “He’s saying the use of those issues as wedge issues plays on the bitterness that people have and diverts attention from the real economic issues, like the disparity between the wage earner and the rich.”
Mr. Gray also said Mr. Obama was right that voters were bitter, although he said he would have used the word angry. He pointed to a recent poll that found 81 percent of voters believed the country was on the wrong track. He said Mrs. Clinton sounded like “a Pollyanna” in saying that workers were optimistic.
“I don’t think he’s demeaning religion or guns,” Mr. Gray said. “He’s saying the use of those issues as wedge issues plays on the bitterness that people have and diverts attention from the real economic issues, like the disparity between the wage earner and the rich.”
Mr. Gray also said Mr. Obama was right that voters were bitter, although he said he would have used the word angry. He pointed to a recent poll that found 81 percent of voters believed the country was on the wrong track. He said Mrs. Clinton sounded like “a Pollyanna” in saying that workers were optimistic.
Is Michelle Proud of America?
I am willing to believe that this is not really the first time that Michelle Obama has been proud of America.
I am also willing to believe that John McCain knows the difference between Sunni and Shiites in Iraq.
I am also willing to believe that Hillary Clinton did indeed travel to a dangerous war zone, which was not yet fully pacified, whether or not she actually came under sniper fire at the time.
That's the kind of guy I am.
I'm not very concerned about a bit of over-enthusiastic rhetoric or hyperbole by any of the candidates, or their wives, in the heat of such a hotly contested political campaign. I don't analyze every word that comes out of a politician's mouth with a microscope. In the course of making so many speeches, a few misstatements are bound to creep in. I wouldn't make a federal case about it.
Especially since, focusing on these occasional misstatements keeps distracting us from the real issue in this campaign.
What is the real issue?
Well, the main issue is the same as it was in 1980, when Ronald Reagan was campaigning for the presidency: "Are you better off than you were eight years ago? If not, then why would you vote for four more years of the same?"
I am also willing to believe that John McCain knows the difference between Sunni and Shiites in Iraq.
I am also willing to believe that Hillary Clinton did indeed travel to a dangerous war zone, which was not yet fully pacified, whether or not she actually came under sniper fire at the time.
That's the kind of guy I am.
I'm not very concerned about a bit of over-enthusiastic rhetoric or hyperbole by any of the candidates, or their wives, in the heat of such a hotly contested political campaign. I don't analyze every word that comes out of a politician's mouth with a microscope. In the course of making so many speeches, a few misstatements are bound to creep in. I wouldn't make a federal case about it.
Especially since, focusing on these occasional misstatements keeps distracting us from the real issue in this campaign.
What is the real issue?
Well, the main issue is the same as it was in 1980, when Ronald Reagan was campaigning for the presidency: "Are you better off than you were eight years ago? If not, then why would you vote for four more years of the same?"
Michelle Obama Bitter?
Is Michelle Obama bitter? Some right-wing media hacks have said that she is. But, with her husband about to be elected president of the United States, and she herself emerging as a potential candidate for the Senate from Illinois in 2016, how can she possibly be bitter? I wouldn't be bitter. Why should she be? Only in "Right-Wing La-La Land".
Bitter and Elitist
Is it Elitist to point out to the working people of Pennsylvania that the dishonest Right-Wing Media has duped them into voting against their own best interests by diverting peoples' attention onto irrelevant peripheral issues so they end up voting for candidates whose policies have made it far more difficult for working people to survive and earn a decent living in America?
Working Americans should be focused on which candidates' programs will create the most well-paying jobs, provide the best working conditions, provide medical benefits, avoid home foreclosures, eliminate our enormous national debt, etc.
Instead, our working people have been listening to Right-Wing talk shows which divert them with all sorts of inflammatory red herrings that have nothing at all to do with the real lives of America's workers.
If working people are not Bitter, they should be. They have been sold a sad bill of goods by the Right-Wing talk media which have brought workers to their current tough circumstances.
As Ronald Reagan famously said: "Are you better off than you were eight years ago?"
If not, then why would you want to continue with four more years of the same?
Working Americans should be focused on which candidates' programs will create the most well-paying jobs, provide the best working conditions, provide medical benefits, avoid home foreclosures, eliminate our enormous national debt, etc.
Instead, our working people have been listening to Right-Wing talk shows which divert them with all sorts of inflammatory red herrings that have nothing at all to do with the real lives of America's workers.
If working people are not Bitter, they should be. They have been sold a sad bill of goods by the Right-Wing talk media which have brought workers to their current tough circumstances.
As Ronald Reagan famously said: "Are you better off than you were eight years ago?"
If not, then why would you want to continue with four more years of the same?
ACLU
The United States has always done best when we have lived up to our highest ideals. As we look back on our history, we feel bad about our country when we see instances where America has not lived up to its highest principles.
We all know about slavery. segregation, Jim Crow laws, etc., so let's put that aside and deal with other things.
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln suspended the right of habeas corpus. And, during World War II, our government shipped thousands of Japanese-Americans from their homes on the West Coast to interment camps in the middle of the country, for the duration of the war. Now, we look back on those suspensions of individual rights with feelings of national embarrassment.
We know that we could have won both the Civil War and World War II without violating America's Bill of Rights.
In fact, the Attorney-General of California who supervised the expulsions of the Japenese-Americans from California during World War II was Earl Warren, who later became governor of the state. In 1954, President Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Warren soon became the most liberal Chief Justice in American history. Warren was totally repulsed by what he had to do as Attorney-General in expelling the Nisei, and he saw clearly that this country could do everything it had to do while still preserving to the fullest all the individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
So, the Warren Court issued decisions like Brown v. Board of Education, which ended segregation in America; and the Miranda Rule, which required that a police officer must read his rights to an arrested person, including the right to an attorney, etc. When the Miranda decision was announced, many law enforcement officials protested that they would not be able to get criminals off the streets if they had to read them their rights and make sure they had an attorney. (Judging by the current huge population of our jails, those fears have proved to be unwarranted).
The ACLU is now America's foremost organization in making sure that the United States adheres to its Bill of Rights, no matter how difficult or unpopular the circumstances may be.
You may remember that, about 30 years ago, the ACLU defended the right of American Nazis to march through Skokie, Illinois, which was the home of many Jewish Holocaust survivors. The ACLU took lots of flack for that decision. I personally would have preferred to take a machine gun and mow down those Nazis as they went marching by. But that only shows that I'm not as good an American as the ACLU is, and that I don't believe in basic American principles as much as they do.
Well, the ACLU prevailed. The Nazis had their march through Skokie. And, guess what? Everyone survived. In fact, that Nazi march probably aroused so much revulsion and antipathy towards American Nazis that I don't believe they've conducted a similar march anywhere in this country ever again.
So, now the ACLU wants to make sure that captured terrorists in Guantamo have lawyers, and they want to get rid of waterboarding as an interrogation device.
Well, you know what? We will win the War on Terror whether or not the Gitmo terrorists have lawyers, and whether or not we continue to use waterboarding. We have never used waterboarding in previous wars, and somehow we have always managed to get the information we needed. The ACLU believes we can win this war without violating American principles. We've always done so in the past. In those few instances where we have violated our principles, those violations of individual rights did not make any difference to the war effort.
What I can't understand is why so many of our right-wingers disliked Saddam Hussein. Now that Saddam is gone, they look to him as their example, their model. They want to run the United States the same way that Saddam Hussein ran Iraq (just ask Bill O'Reilly -- Bill knows now that Saddam knew exactly how to control all those uppity, recalcitrant Iraquis).
The ACLU wants the United States to be run according to American principles yet, in the doctrine of some right-wingers, that has become Un-American. Right-wingers want America to be run Saddam's way. Well, who can argue with them? Saddam's way was certainly more efficient.
We all know about slavery. segregation, Jim Crow laws, etc., so let's put that aside and deal with other things.
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln suspended the right of habeas corpus. And, during World War II, our government shipped thousands of Japanese-Americans from their homes on the West Coast to interment camps in the middle of the country, for the duration of the war. Now, we look back on those suspensions of individual rights with feelings of national embarrassment.
We know that we could have won both the Civil War and World War II without violating America's Bill of Rights.
In fact, the Attorney-General of California who supervised the expulsions of the Japenese-Americans from California during World War II was Earl Warren, who later became governor of the state. In 1954, President Eisenhower appointed Earl Warren as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Warren soon became the most liberal Chief Justice in American history. Warren was totally repulsed by what he had to do as Attorney-General in expelling the Nisei, and he saw clearly that this country could do everything it had to do while still preserving to the fullest all the individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
So, the Warren Court issued decisions like Brown v. Board of Education, which ended segregation in America; and the Miranda Rule, which required that a police officer must read his rights to an arrested person, including the right to an attorney, etc. When the Miranda decision was announced, many law enforcement officials protested that they would not be able to get criminals off the streets if they had to read them their rights and make sure they had an attorney. (Judging by the current huge population of our jails, those fears have proved to be unwarranted).
The ACLU is now America's foremost organization in making sure that the United States adheres to its Bill of Rights, no matter how difficult or unpopular the circumstances may be.
You may remember that, about 30 years ago, the ACLU defended the right of American Nazis to march through Skokie, Illinois, which was the home of many Jewish Holocaust survivors. The ACLU took lots of flack for that decision. I personally would have preferred to take a machine gun and mow down those Nazis as they went marching by. But that only shows that I'm not as good an American as the ACLU is, and that I don't believe in basic American principles as much as they do.
Well, the ACLU prevailed. The Nazis had their march through Skokie. And, guess what? Everyone survived. In fact, that Nazi march probably aroused so much revulsion and antipathy towards American Nazis that I don't believe they've conducted a similar march anywhere in this country ever again.
So, now the ACLU wants to make sure that captured terrorists in Guantamo have lawyers, and they want to get rid of waterboarding as an interrogation device.
Well, you know what? We will win the War on Terror whether or not the Gitmo terrorists have lawyers, and whether or not we continue to use waterboarding. We have never used waterboarding in previous wars, and somehow we have always managed to get the information we needed. The ACLU believes we can win this war without violating American principles. We've always done so in the past. In those few instances where we have violated our principles, those violations of individual rights did not make any difference to the war effort.
What I can't understand is why so many of our right-wingers disliked Saddam Hussein. Now that Saddam is gone, they look to him as their example, their model. They want to run the United States the same way that Saddam Hussein ran Iraq (just ask Bill O'Reilly -- Bill knows now that Saddam knew exactly how to control all those uppity, recalcitrant Iraquis).
The ACLU wants the United States to be run according to American principles yet, in the doctrine of some right-wingers, that has become Un-American. Right-wingers want America to be run Saddam's way. Well, who can argue with them? Saddam's way was certainly more efficient.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Michelle for the U. S. Senate
The only thing Michelle Obama's thesis shows is that she may have started running for the Senate as early as her college days at Princeton. Now, the furor about her thesis is positioning Michelle for an actual Senate run in 2016 (from Illinois).
And, her two little girls, now 8 and 5, will be campaigning with her -- just as Chelsea is campaigning with Hillary today.
And, her two little girls, now 8 and 5, will be campaigning with her -- just as Chelsea is campaigning with Hillary today.
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight
Why do all those on the right seem to forget that Al Quaida is mainly in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Why do you attack Obama for saying that he wants to pursue Al Quaida where they are? Is the right-wing really "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight"?
Swift-Boating Jeremiah Wright
The reason that the Swift Boat attacks were so effective against John Kerry is that he didn't respond to them -- although he could have wiped out those attacks very easily. Instead, Kerry wimped out, disgusted his supporters, and lost the election.
The right-wing was expecting the same thing to happen with regard to Jeremiah Wright and Obama. They made a huge mistake.
First of all, they picked the wrong target in Jeremiah Wright, since this minister is so esily defensible.
Second, the Obama camp is striking back ferociously. And, why shouldn't they? Now they have the people who've been circulating this 30-second video clip on the defensive. And, Jeremiah Wright, who has not been known to the general public for most of his 36-year ministry, is emerging as a new American hero.
This is only Chapter Two -- the beginning of the counter-attack. Watch what happens to Jeremiah Wright's reputation as time goes on. It will soar.
The right-wing was expecting the same thing to happen with regard to Jeremiah Wright and Obama. They made a huge mistake.
First of all, they picked the wrong target in Jeremiah Wright, since this minister is so esily defensible.
Second, the Obama camp is striking back ferociously. And, why shouldn't they? Now they have the people who've been circulating this 30-second video clip on the defensive. And, Jeremiah Wright, who has not been known to the general public for most of his 36-year ministry, is emerging as a new American hero.
This is only Chapter Two -- the beginning of the counter-attack. Watch what happens to Jeremiah Wright's reputation as time goes on. It will soar.
Michelle's Thesis
This new uproar about Michelle Obama's Princeton college thesis is apparently making Michelle into a star in her own right.
She is now drawing far larger crowds than she ever drew before.
Moreover, campaigning on her own for Obama in North Carolina, Michelle has helped open up his lead over Hillary in that state to blow-out proportions.
She is now drawing far larger crowds than she ever drew before.
Moreover, campaigning on her own for Obama in North Carolina, Michelle has helped open up his lead over Hillary in that state to blow-out proportions.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Obama's Pastor Problem -- Reverend Jeremiah Wright
When the Wright 30-second videotape first exploded all over TV, I thought it would destroy Obama's candidacy. Yet, even so, Obama's numbers keep rising. He is closing the gap with Hillary in Pennsylvania, and he has almost drawn even with her in super-delegates. The Wright "Pastor Problem" seems to be helping Obama, not hurting him. How do you explain this turn of events?
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama will surely be the most brilliant and inspiring First Lady since Hillary Clinton and, after Obama has finished serving his eight years in the White House, Michelle will probably run for the Senate in Illinois and be elected, just as Hillary did. All the current attacks on Michelle are helping to focus people's attention on what an extraordinarily brilliant lady she is.
Candidates' Wives
Have you noticed how Republicans always attack Democrats' wives? First, it was Bill Clinton's wife, Hillary; then -- Mrs. Theresa Heinz Kerry; and, now, Michelle Obama. They keep doing it. Is this a Karl Rove tactic?
Why is it that Republicans seem to marry hausfraus, while Democrats marry future senators?
Why is it that Republicans seem to marry hausfraus, while Democrats marry future senators?
Fox News
Watch Fox News -- Land of the Swift Boats and Home of the Jeremiah Wright Video Fraud. Fox disagrees with Abraham Lincoln. Fox believes that they can fool all of the people all of the time.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Lanny Davis -Wall Street Journal - April 8, '08
While I have the highest regard for Lanny Davis, I think he has been badly deceived by the 30-second video excerpt of Reverend Wright's remarks, a video which has also fooled so many other Americans. Trinity Church has now posted, on You Tube, Minister Wright's full ten-minute sermon, from which these 30 seconds were excerpted. Anyone who sees the full ten minute sermon cannot believe for a moment that Reverend Wright is anti-white, anti-American, or anti-anything except ignorance and injustice. Yes, in his sermon, Reverend Wright loudly vents many negative attitudes felt by some blacks about America, but, having voiced these grievances loud and clear -- as his sermon progresses, Reverend Wright guides this black anger into positive and constructive channels. Reverend Wright has built a great church over the past 36 years which has contributed mightily to the Chicago community, and he did not do it by spewing hate speech. He did it by re-directing black anger and frustration into superb accomplishments. It is extremely unfair to judge Reverend Wright on the basis of this totally misleading 30-second excerpt. Watch the entire 10 minute sermon on You Tube, and you will see the power and genius of Reverend Wright. He is not only pro-American -- he is a great American. Lanny, you are a great American, too, and an outstanding progressive. Don't be misled by this phony video sound-bite. Learn the full truth about Reverend Wright and you will see why Obama should absolutely not leave this church. On the contrary, I believe that the more people watch the full text of Reverend Wright's sermons which Trinity Church has now posted on You Tube, the more the membership of that church will soar.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Limousine Liberals
Limousine Liberals are better than Limousine Conservatives. At least, Limousine Liberals are thinking outside the Limousine.
Edward R. Murrow - 1954
In 1954, Edward R. Murrow did a TV broadcast that destroyed the career
of Senator Joe McCarthy, and today is still considered one of the
greatest political broadcasts of all-time.
Today, right now, some liberal TV commentator is in a position to
expose the fraudulence of this 30-second Jeremiah Wright videotape,
and destroy whoever it is that has been perpetrating this hoax on the
American people. I'm just waiting to see which TV broadcaster it's
going to be.
It took a huge amount of guts for Murrow to do what he did when he did
it. Let's see who has the guts to do it again today.
of Senator Joe McCarthy, and today is still considered one of the
greatest political broadcasts of all-time.
Today, right now, some liberal TV commentator is in a position to
expose the fraudulence of this 30-second Jeremiah Wright videotape,
and destroy whoever it is that has been perpetrating this hoax on the
American people. I'm just waiting to see which TV broadcaster it's
going to be.
It took a huge amount of guts for Murrow to do what he did when he did
it. Let's see who has the guts to do it again today.
Charlie Rose - PBS
Dear Charlie:
If you want to do a program that would have the overwhelming impact of what Edward R. Murrow did with regard to Senator Joe McCarthy's red-baiting career, you should do one now on the right-wing's dishonest sliming of Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
As you know, the right-wing has been circulating ad nauseum their dishonest 30-second videotape of Reverend Wright doing an "anti-American rant" during one of his sermons.
Now, Trinity Church has posted on You Tube the complete 10-minute sermon from which those 30 seconds were excerpted. Now, everyone can see the context within which Reverend Wright made those comments, and everyone can also see what Wright said immediately before and immediately after those comments. It is clear for all to see what a fraud and a hoax that 30-second videotape clip was.
Yet, the right-wing persists in re-running that fraudulent clip, and keeps asking why did Obama sit there and listen to that stuff for 20 years? The right-wing keeps asking dishonest questions like that even though they now know what Reverend Wright actually said in his sermon and the context in which he said it.
Trinity Church has also posted on You Tube a sermon about Reverend Wright's enormous positive accomplishments during his 36 year ministry and how much good he has led his church into doing for the community.
Not only is Reverend Wright not anti-American and not anti-white, but the truth is that he has probably done more than almost anyone else in America to increase black independence and self-reliance, and to improve relations between blacks and whites in his area.
The right-wing has foolishly chosen to smear and malign the wrong person -- Reverend Jeremiah Wright. All the evidence needed to destroy this calumny has been posted by Trinity Church on You Tube, and Trinity probably has even more material they have not released yet.
Some TV broadcaster is now in a position to blast the right-wing into smithereens for perpetrating this videotape fraud on the American people.
I hope you will be the one, Charlie.
If you want to do a program that would have the overwhelming impact of what Edward R. Murrow did with regard to Senator Joe McCarthy's red-baiting career, you should do one now on the right-wing's dishonest sliming of Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
As you know, the right-wing has been circulating ad nauseum their dishonest 30-second videotape of Reverend Wright doing an "anti-American rant" during one of his sermons.
Now, Trinity Church has posted on You Tube the complete 10-minute sermon from which those 30 seconds were excerpted. Now, everyone can see the context within which Reverend Wright made those comments, and everyone can also see what Wright said immediately before and immediately after those comments. It is clear for all to see what a fraud and a hoax that 30-second videotape clip was.
Yet, the right-wing persists in re-running that fraudulent clip, and keeps asking why did Obama sit there and listen to that stuff for 20 years? The right-wing keeps asking dishonest questions like that even though they now know what Reverend Wright actually said in his sermon and the context in which he said it.
Trinity Church has also posted on You Tube a sermon about Reverend Wright's enormous positive accomplishments during his 36 year ministry and how much good he has led his church into doing for the community.
Not only is Reverend Wright not anti-American and not anti-white, but the truth is that he has probably done more than almost anyone else in America to increase black independence and self-reliance, and to improve relations between blacks and whites in his area.
The right-wing has foolishly chosen to smear and malign the wrong person -- Reverend Jeremiah Wright. All the evidence needed to destroy this calumny has been posted by Trinity Church on You Tube, and Trinity probably has even more material they have not released yet.
Some TV broadcaster is now in a position to blast the right-wing into smithereens for perpetrating this videotape fraud on the American people.
I hope you will be the one, Charlie.
Pat Buchanan
The last time Pat Buchanan was this vocal was about 15 years ago, when he was defending Nazi prison guards and trying to prevent them from being deported from the US back to the countries from which they came. At that time, he was spouting his brand of Anti-Semitism full blast.
Today, Pat has put his Anti-Semitism on hold, now that it is open season on blacks. Obama has called for an open discussion on race. What a mistake on Barack's part. Now, every white racist in America is crawling out from under his rock to join in the discussion, led first and foremost by Pat Buchanan.
I can only hope that Buchanan runs for president again in 2008 so that all the white racists in America can cast a vote they truly believe in, rather than have no choice but be forced to vote for McCain.
Yes, Pat makes some good points. But, so what? They are buried in all his bad points. They are buried because he has no solutions for our current problems.
Instead, he continues the right-wing's slimy, dishonest attacks on Jeremiah Wright, who has probably done more good than almost anyone in America in guiding black people towards self-reliance and independence, and creating excellent relations between whites and blacks in his Chicago community.
The right-wing knows now what a phony, distorted, lying, dishonest videotape that was which they have been circulating of Reverend Wright, yet they persist in perpetuating their dishonesty. They have a bone in their mouth and they won't let it go. Well, this bone is turning into a bomb which will blow up in their faces.
Once the American people realize what a phony, dishonest hoax this 30-second videotape was, they will turn on the perpetrators with a vengeance.
As for Trinity Church, in 36 years, Wright raised its membership from 80 members to 8,000. Now, thanks to Wright's new visibility, its membership will probably more than double over the next two years.
Today, Pat has put his Anti-Semitism on hold, now that it is open season on blacks. Obama has called for an open discussion on race. What a mistake on Barack's part. Now, every white racist in America is crawling out from under his rock to join in the discussion, led first and foremost by Pat Buchanan.
I can only hope that Buchanan runs for president again in 2008 so that all the white racists in America can cast a vote they truly believe in, rather than have no choice but be forced to vote for McCain.
Yes, Pat makes some good points. But, so what? They are buried in all his bad points. They are buried because he has no solutions for our current problems.
Instead, he continues the right-wing's slimy, dishonest attacks on Jeremiah Wright, who has probably done more good than almost anyone in America in guiding black people towards self-reliance and independence, and creating excellent relations between whites and blacks in his Chicago community.
The right-wing knows now what a phony, distorted, lying, dishonest videotape that was which they have been circulating of Reverend Wright, yet they persist in perpetuating their dishonesty. They have a bone in their mouth and they won't let it go. Well, this bone is turning into a bomb which will blow up in their faces.
Once the American people realize what a phony, dishonest hoax this 30-second videotape was, they will turn on the perpetrators with a vengeance.
As for Trinity Church, in 36 years, Wright raised its membership from 80 members to 8,000. Now, thanks to Wright's new visibility, its membership will probably more than double over the next two years.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Fox News
Fox News -- Unfair and Unbalanced. Home of the Swiftboats and Land of the Jeremiah Wright Videotape Fraud. Network of Knee-Jerk Knee-o Cons.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Darwin's Theory Of Evolution Is Wrong
Conservatives are right about one thing. Darwin's Theory of Evolution is Wrong.
According to Darwin's theory, man has ascended from monkeys and apes. Apes were our ancestors, and the history of the world is a history of constant progress and evolution in the brainpower and abilities of man. In the theory of evolution, man is perpetually evolving, developing, progressing, improving.
Of course, Darwin was able to create such an optimistic theory because he was writing in the middle of the 19th century when it looked as though man were indeed progressing and moving forward intellectually.
Would he have been so confident about human progress today, had he lived following a century of Hitler, Stalin, Tojo, Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot and other mass murderers?
Take an even better example -- the United States. Eleven score and seven years ago, our nation was created by political thinkers such as Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Franklin, Hamilton, Paine, Hancock, Jay, etc.
Who are our political pundits today -- Limbaugh, Hannity, Scarborough, O'Reilly, Coulter, Savage, Chris Wallace, Brit Hume, etc., etc., ad infinitum and ad nauseum.
The very fact that these are America's current political commentators shows that Darwin's Theory of Evolution is working in reverse. What is actually occurring is Devolution, as our people regress to below the level of apes and monkeys, and we rapidly turn ourselves back into a pile of primordial slime.
If these are the people we listen to every day, then the very existence of all these conservative propagandists shows that, in Clarence Thomas's immortal phrase, "We ain't evolving". (That may be the only intelligent thing Justice Thomas ever said).
We are living through Evolution in Reverse -- and at very high speed.
According to Darwin's theory, man has ascended from monkeys and apes. Apes were our ancestors, and the history of the world is a history of constant progress and evolution in the brainpower and abilities of man. In the theory of evolution, man is perpetually evolving, developing, progressing, improving.
Of course, Darwin was able to create such an optimistic theory because he was writing in the middle of the 19th century when it looked as though man were indeed progressing and moving forward intellectually.
Would he have been so confident about human progress today, had he lived following a century of Hitler, Stalin, Tojo, Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot and other mass murderers?
Take an even better example -- the United States. Eleven score and seven years ago, our nation was created by political thinkers such as Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Franklin, Hamilton, Paine, Hancock, Jay, etc.
Who are our political pundits today -- Limbaugh, Hannity, Scarborough, O'Reilly, Coulter, Savage, Chris Wallace, Brit Hume, etc., etc., ad infinitum and ad nauseum.
The very fact that these are America's current political commentators shows that Darwin's Theory of Evolution is working in reverse. What is actually occurring is Devolution, as our people regress to below the level of apes and monkeys, and we rapidly turn ourselves back into a pile of primordial slime.
If these are the people we listen to every day, then the very existence of all these conservative propagandists shows that, in Clarence Thomas's immortal phrase, "We ain't evolving". (That may be the only intelligent thing Justice Thomas ever said).
We are living through Evolution in Reverse -- and at very high speed.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Obama's Pastor Problem -- Reverend Jeremiah Wright
Maybe Obama's real "Pastor Problem" is that Pastor Wright is being unfairly smeared by the right-wing media, which is trying to turn Wright into the Willie Horton of this election cycle -- as today's "scary black preacher".
Yesterday's prayer vigil on behalf of Reverend Wright by the members of his congregation certainly indicates that his listeners don't consider Wright to be out of the mainstream. They say that Wright was addressing "the sins of the nation" -- a legitimate topic for any preacher. He should not be judged by the media, using a few sound bites from his sermons taken completely out of context.
Wright has never attacked a minority group. He and his congregation have never been named as a hate group by either the Anti-Defamation League or the Southern Poverty Law Conference.
Wright has not been guilty of anti-Semitism. His criticisms of some Israeli policies towards the Palestinians are no greater than criticisms voices by many Israelis themselves. I don't agree with Reverend Wright's comments. But, right or wrong, his criticisms of Israeli government policy do not constitute anti-Semitism.
The award to Louis Farrakhan was given by Wright's daughter's magazine. Wright himself was not involved in it. The award was given in recognition of Farrakhan's work with the local black community of Chicago. It had nothing to do with Farrakhan's anti-Semitism. Chances are that the people at the church who gave Farrakhan the award were either oblivious to, or unaware of, Farrakhan's anti-Semitism. Aside from this award to Farrakhan, there is no indication that there was any kind of anti-Semitism at Wright's church during his 38 year ministry.
He may be wrong in criticizing the U.S. for dropping two atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II more quickly, but Martin Luther King said exactly the same thing. That didn't make King a demon.
Wright is certainly wrong in saying that the U.S. is now deliberately infecting blacks or gays with the AIDS virus. But Wright didn't even mention the Tuskeegee Syphilis experiments which the U. S. Health Department conducted from 1932 through 1972, deliberately withholding syphylis treatment and cure from the black men who were the subjects of the study, even though penicillin was known to be an effective cure by 1947. Most black people know about the Tuskeegee experiments and, therefore, many are willing to accept false statements that our government is doing the same kind of thing again today with the AIDS virus.
Most of Reverend Wright's ministry has been devoted to helping the underprivileged, achieving social justice, creating AIDS hospices and facilities for old and poor people, combating anti-gay bias in the black community, etc.
Wright is a highly respected and acclaimed minister, who has been unfairly maligned by the media. He is not anti-American. He wants America to do a better job of living up to its ideals.
If he says that "God will damn America" for the injustices it has committed, how is that different from many mainstream preachers telling their congregants that they will be damned for their sins if they don't change their ways? It's the sort of thing many ministers say to encourage their followers to live better lives. At least, unlike Ministers Falwell and Robertson, Wright never told his followers that 9/11 was God's punishment on America for its toleration of gays.
Yes, in his 38 years, Wright has made some statements that were strong, and some that were wrong. But, as the film clips show, these statements were made in an excess of enthusiasm as he tried to rouse the members of his congregation to live better, more just lives. He is doing what an activist religious minister is supposed to do.
There is no reason for Obama to leave Wright's church -- whether Wright is retiring or not. Obama would be hard-pressed to find a minister more dedicated than Wright to the pursuit of social justice.
Yesterday's prayer vigil on behalf of Reverend Wright by the members of his congregation certainly indicates that his listeners don't consider Wright to be out of the mainstream. They say that Wright was addressing "the sins of the nation" -- a legitimate topic for any preacher. He should not be judged by the media, using a few sound bites from his sermons taken completely out of context.
Wright has never attacked a minority group. He and his congregation have never been named as a hate group by either the Anti-Defamation League or the Southern Poverty Law Conference.
Wright has not been guilty of anti-Semitism. His criticisms of some Israeli policies towards the Palestinians are no greater than criticisms voices by many Israelis themselves. I don't agree with Reverend Wright's comments. But, right or wrong, his criticisms of Israeli government policy do not constitute anti-Semitism.
The award to Louis Farrakhan was given by Wright's daughter's magazine. Wright himself was not involved in it. The award was given in recognition of Farrakhan's work with the local black community of Chicago. It had nothing to do with Farrakhan's anti-Semitism. Chances are that the people at the church who gave Farrakhan the award were either oblivious to, or unaware of, Farrakhan's anti-Semitism. Aside from this award to Farrakhan, there is no indication that there was any kind of anti-Semitism at Wright's church during his 38 year ministry.
He may be wrong in criticizing the U.S. for dropping two atomic bombs on Japan to end World War II more quickly, but Martin Luther King said exactly the same thing. That didn't make King a demon.
Wright is certainly wrong in saying that the U.S. is now deliberately infecting blacks or gays with the AIDS virus. But Wright didn't even mention the Tuskeegee Syphilis experiments which the U. S. Health Department conducted from 1932 through 1972, deliberately withholding syphylis treatment and cure from the black men who were the subjects of the study, even though penicillin was known to be an effective cure by 1947. Most black people know about the Tuskeegee experiments and, therefore, many are willing to accept false statements that our government is doing the same kind of thing again today with the AIDS virus.
Most of Reverend Wright's ministry has been devoted to helping the underprivileged, achieving social justice, creating AIDS hospices and facilities for old and poor people, combating anti-gay bias in the black community, etc.
Wright is a highly respected and acclaimed minister, who has been unfairly maligned by the media. He is not anti-American. He wants America to do a better job of living up to its ideals.
If he says that "God will damn America" for the injustices it has committed, how is that different from many mainstream preachers telling their congregants that they will be damned for their sins if they don't change their ways? It's the sort of thing many ministers say to encourage their followers to live better lives. At least, unlike Ministers Falwell and Robertson, Wright never told his followers that 9/11 was God's punishment on America for its toleration of gays.
Yes, in his 38 years, Wright has made some statements that were strong, and some that were wrong. But, as the film clips show, these statements were made in an excess of enthusiasm as he tried to rouse the members of his congregation to live better, more just lives. He is doing what an activist religious minister is supposed to do.
There is no reason for Obama to leave Wright's church -- whether Wright is retiring or not. Obama would be hard-pressed to find a minister more dedicated than Wright to the pursuit of social justice.
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