March 19, 2008
GOP Sees Rev. Wright As Pathway To Victory
Politico: Strategists Think Controversy Over Obama's Pastor Will Motivate Conservative Base
-
Play CBS Video
Video
Religion, Race, Rhetoric
Rick Stengel, managing editor of Time magazine, and Debra Dickerson of Mother Jones discuss Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race in America with Russ Mitchell.
-
Video
Did Obama's Speech Work?
Jeff Greenfield and pollster Frank Luntz tell Maggie Rodriguez that while Sen. Barack Obama's speech was exemplary on the subject of race, it may not defuse the Rev. Wright controversy.
-
Video
Excerpts From Obama's Speech
Excerpts from Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race in the United States.
-
Photo Essay
Barack Obama
A look at the life and meteoric rise of the president-elect.
-
News Tools
Campaign Calendar
The latest list of primary and caucus dates as states continue jockeying for position.
For months, Republican party officials have watched with increasing trepidation as Barack Obama has shattered fundraising records, packed arena after arena with shrieking fans and pulled in significant Republican and independent votes.
Now, with the emergence of the notorious video portraying Rev. Jeremiah Wright damning the country, criticizing Israel, faulting U.S. policy for the attacks of Sept. 11 and generally lashing out against white America, GOP strategists believe they’ve finally found an antidote to Obamamania.
In their view, the inflammatory sermons by Obama’s pastor offer the party a pathway to victory if Obama emerges as the Democratic nominee. Not only will the video clips enable some elements of the party to define him as unpatriotic, they will also serve as a powerful motivating force for the conservative base.
In fact, the video trove has convinced some that, after months of praying for Hillary Clinton and the automatic enmity which she arouses, that they may actually have easier prey.
“For the first time, some Republicans are rethinking Hillary as their first choice,” said Alex Castellanos, a veteran media consultant who recently worked for Mitt Romney’s campaign.
Even Obama’s much-lauded Tuesday speech, which detailed his relationship with his church and focused on the issue of racial reconciliation, failed to shake the notion that Republicans had been given a rare political gift.
“It was a speech written to mau-mau the New York Times editorial board, the network production people and the media into submission. Beautifully calibrated but deeply dishonest,” said GOP media consultant Rick Wilson, who crafted the ad in 2002 tying then-Sen. Max Cleland to Osama bin Laden. “Not good enough.”
Until now, questions about Obama’s allegiance to country had been largely confined to the fever swamps of the Internet and e-mail chains. They took the form of dark whispers about the greater meaning of Obama’s failure to put his hand over his heart during one national anthem, his decision not to wear an American flag lapel pin and, at their most toxic, the outright lie that he’s a Muslim or some sort of Manchurian candidate.
With Michelle Obama’s comments last month that she was, thanks to her husband’s candidacy, for the first time “really proud of [her country],” the topic entered the more mainstream elements of the conservative conversation, ricocheting across talk radio, cable news and blogs.
“All the sudden you’ve got two dots and two dots make a line,” said Castellanos. “You start getting some sense of who he is and it’s not the Obama you thought - he’s not the Tiger Woods of politics.”
But if Michelle Obama’s gaffe caused some ripples in the right-wing pond, the Wright videos have detonated the equivalent of a daisy cutter on the conservative landscape, awakening an otherwise dispirited party base.
“I usually get three or four emails a week on Obama,” said Michigan Republican chairman Saul Anuzis Monday. “Today I received more than 10 - all of them on his minister.”
Among the e-mails Anuzis received was a link to a mash-up video splicing together Wright’s most extreme comments, Michelle Obama’s statement, footage of Obama not putting his hand over his heart during the anthem at a political event and images of Malcolm X and the two black Olympians in 1968 who raised their fists in the “black power” salute set to the iconic rap song by Public Enemy “Fight the Power.”
The video, titled “Is Obama Wright,” is described as being produced by something called “NHaleMedia,” apparently just a dummy Web site set up to produce anoymous and home-made videos.
In effect, the pastor has done what many on the right, quivering even with the anonymity afforded by the online era, had hesitated over until now-thrust highly delicate matters of patriotism and race into the political dialogue.
“It opens up an entire new vein,” said Republican consultant Paul Wilson.
Just as with John Kerry and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004, Republican strategists view the Wright flap as deeply damaging to Obama because it strikes at the message, or set of principles, at the heart of his candidacy.
In Obama’s case, the core of his appeal has been that he transcends race and is more inclined toward conciliation than combat.
“He wants the authentic black image but he also wants to keep all his safe, suburban Obamacans in line,” said Rick Wilson. “Well, you can’t have both - they’re mutually exclusive.”
“This is a guy who associates with some real haters,” he added.
Perhaps most damaging for Obama, his opponents now have the powerful video to make that case.
“It’s harder for people to say it’s taken out of context because these are Wright’s own words,” noted Chris LaCivita, the Republican strategist who helped craft the Swift Boat commercials against Kerry that employed the use of their target’s own language when he returned from Vietnam and returned his medals. “You let people draw their own conclusions.”
“You don’t have to say that he’s unpatriotic, you don’t question his patriotism,” he added. “Because I guaran-damn-tee you that with that footage you don’t have to say it.”
Asked if they would say it or even suggest it, a spokesman for John McCain indicated that the GOP candidate would not.
“There are profound differences on enormously important issues that will affect the future of the country,” said McCain adviser Steve Schmidt. “He’s said he intends to campaign on those issues.”
McCain’s hesitance to go anywhere near the Wright videos speaks to just how explosive they could be among voters - but also to his awareness of the potential for a backlash.
“He needs to stay away from it,” said Paul Wilson of McCain. “It’s poison.”
But thanks to the power of new media forces - talk radio, cable TV and blogs - to drive a storyline, McCain’s job could easily be done for him.
“The best thing the GOP can do is stay out of it,” suggested Jim Dyke, a former RNC communications chief who was a key figure in the behind-the-scenes takedown of Kerry in ’04. “Why risk getting shot by running into the middle of a circular firing squad?”
And to interfere may obscure the attack, added Castellanos. “Leave it alone - the last thing you want is to make it a partisan Republican attack. It’s much more credible on its own.”
Yet some conservatives aren’t content to let the video played out organically, spread via “did-you-see-this?” e-mails-especially if it’s revealed that Obama was in fact in the church when Wright delivered some of his more incendiary remarks. The temptation to craft an ad may be overwhelming.
“Obama knows that if somebody puts him in church on some day that Wright said some crazy [stuff] like white people injected blacks with AIDS he’s in a world of hurt,” said Rick Wilson. “I would eat this up like cake.”
By Jonathan Martin
Copyright 2008 POLITICO
|
We cover politics with enterprise, style, and impact. |
Video and Galleries from Politico
-
Video
McCain's Comeback Chances
-
Video
Cheney Condemns Russia
-
Video
Novel Based On Laura Bush?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- next
See all 200 CommentsSo, it''s clear folks. The MSM is all about protecting the GOP.
Modest, intelligent Americans will view their votes with
conviction. Did the majority of the GOP lie about
Iraq?
That is the only question needed to be raised.
Rick Wilson is a Neo-con, right wing hate monger that obviously elections are a business. You get paid
to spin the truth about the war. And this needs to end.
the taxi driver that picked up one of the candidates 10 YEARS AGO is a MOSLEM SYMPATHIZER!!!!
PLASTER IT ALL OVER THE SNEWZ!!!!
Then there was a 2nd cousin twice removed that WENT TO JAIL for drugs!!!!
Plaster THAT ALL OVER THE SNEWZ!!!
Then a GREAT-GREAT-GREAT GRANDMOTHER was a PROSTITUTE!!! HORRORS!!!
PLASTER THAT ALL OVER THE SNEWZ!!!
BUT, WHATEVER you do DO NOT discuss REAL ISSUES that AFFECT ALL of us like:
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY GOING DOWN THE SEWER
CORPORATE CORRUPTION CONTRIBUTING TO POLITICAL CORRUPTION
The LOSS OF OUR CONSTITUTION
The PRESIDENT calling the CONSTITUTION (the thing he SWORE to "protect and defend") "just a G@D D@MNED PIECE OF PAPER and WHY he might be so DISRESPECTFUL of it.
SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING STUPID!!!
George our "fearless leader" has WHOLE BOOKS of STUPID things He''s SAID!!
My favorites are:
"I know haw hard it is for you to put food on you family" Nashua, New Hampshire, Jan 2000
(and what is it that he''s always mentioning the word HARD??)
"I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to come and witness my hanging" - Austin Texas, Jan4,2002
(This one is self explanatory)
"I''ve been to war. I''''ve raised twins. If I had a choice, I''d rather go to war." Charleston, West Virginia, Jan 27,2002 (aside from LYING about the WAR ATTENDANCE part this DOES explain his REASON for IRAQ!!)
AND-It''s a generational thing.
I''ve been reading and listening to all kinds of coverage and no where did I find anyone saying this garbage about the GOP and this hate monger. No where. Sounds like more c*&p. Then again, the source of this non story says it all. You libs have got to stop pulling stories out of your collective arses.
Words matter & it''s a generational thing!! Words to live by, how profound.
May not play well in Pennsylvania!
The Neoconscum and KKK has always put a big target on uppity N-words, haven''t they, Lurleen?
Show me, idiot, where mccain was applauded, show me. You are out of your gord, back up your accusations.
Your guys preacher is a hate monger and very, very close to obama, show me the same for mccain.
Politico: Strategists Think Controversy Over Obama''s Pastor Will Motivate Conservative Base.
********************************************
LOL. Desparation is a beautiful thing. Dream on, Republicans. It is all over in November.
Modest, intelligent Americans will view their votes with
conviction. Did the majority of the GOP lie about
Iraq? Posted by LIberty4You
************************
Lied, and are still lying.
Of course George apparently can claim to be a "distant relative" of the Queen of England too.
NONE of this "mudslinging" though is going to FIX this nation''s ECONOMIC, SOCIAL or CORRUPTION problems.
Come on, get OFF the kiddie playground and BE ADULTS.
I want to see REAL SOLUTIONS to the very REAL PROBLEMS this nation is facing.
%u201Cblack liberation%u201D theologians James Cone and Dwight Hopkins pioneered the religion that Obama%u2019s church espouses, and which Rev. Wright both adheres to and preaches.
Some of the main points of this %u2018Cult Theology%u2019:
Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community %u2026 Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. In the black liberation theology taught by Wright, Cone and Hopkins, Jesus Christ is black, not for all men, but only for the oppressed against whites.
There are some serious issues to be addressed about WHY Obama chose to join this Black Power cult, and its main message of hatred. He%u2019s in it now, and has been immersed in this core doctrine for over 20 years. Black Panthers are part of Obama Campaign.
I love the smell of desperation in the morning.
Bye Bye GOP. No Swiftboat to save you this time. No one to roll over for your spittle flecked, insane ranting this time, no one for your tired nationalism. Kiss it.
John McCain isn''t very helpful, either.
HANNITY: He''s been -- but he''s been going to the church for 20 years. His pastor -- the church gave a lifetime achievement award to one of the biggest racists and anti-Semites in the country, Louis Farrakhan. Would you go to a church that -- where your pastor supported Louis Farrakhan?
MCCAIN: Obviously, that would not be my choice. But I do know Sen. Obama. He does not share those views.
Posted by Xlib at 05:42 PM : Mar 19, 2008"
Actually Rev. Wright is correct on pretty much everything he states. The only thing he said that is factually questionable is his HIV statement.
Posted by Realidad at 05:54 PM : Mar 19, 2008"
Your post is absurd and factually incorrect.
Posted by Realidad at 05:54 PM : Mar 19, 2008"
False, after Harvard Obama joined Miner, Barnhill & Galland, as an associate attorney representing community organizers, discrimination claims, and voting rights cases. He was a social activist. Your obvious racist overtones are disgusting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/27/mccain-warns-there-will_n_83459.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Realidad at 05:54 PM : Mar 19, 2008
+ report abuse
LOL Did the Klan approve your message? LMAO I''ve lived in Chicago for a long long time and you freaks are so far off base on this one... you''re going to get burned. But hey I guess it''s about all you fascist have isn''t it? I mean you''ve completely screwed everything else up so badly that this is what you are left with! ROFLMAO Yes it may do some damage but it''s a long time until Novemeber and there''s NOTHING out there for you freaks... NOTHING! Sieg Heil Bush
I couldn''t have said it any better.
The GOP is on the ropes.
WHY DOES GEORGE HATE AMERICA???
The media does not delve any further into Rev. Wrights character, accomplishments, or church, other than these snippets. Wake up people!
Do you really think that Rev. Wright could carry a congregation of 8,000 over 30 years, if he was only as the media has portrayed him?
Here is an opportunity for you to investigate for your selves. Just maybe you could gain some understanding of something out of your comfort zone. All you have to do is go to the Church web site. You could start a dialogue, and give THEM some insight out their comfort zone as well.
ABC news and Fox news are the WORST offenders.
This repeated rolling over of these sound bites is nothing short of brainwashing, and the media knows it. Controled by the media, America it seems , wishes to remain racist and bigoted to the bitter end. The world IS watching, and to use the words of Rev Wright " the chickens will come home to roost in Americas front yard".
It is unfair to use comments made by his pastor against him. These are not his words! There is a possible lost opportunity here that will guarantee continued distrust and continued dis-enfrantisement. For the first time blue colla blacks felt they might finally have hope that the discrimination of prior years might be disipating. A black man is finally being taken seriously as a presidential candidate. His race is not liability. Remove race from this equation and no young black will be able to say there is a glass celling
Instead, bigots are proving that a glass ceiling continues to exist. Clinton and McCain both have controval figures linked to them. But they are no made to stake their qualifications to the words of their extreme friends. Can we believe this is not bigotry? America please show the ethics and fairness this country aspires to, and judge this man solely on the issues. Do not subcumb to such low, immoral and unfair tactics.
Strange, you don''t hear too much about that, but Obama''s preacher is all over the place.
I guess hating Roman Catholics is OK but hating white people isn''t!
SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil (more of the same), McCain????
Huckabee is a real man......thanks Mike!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/19/huckabee-defends-rev-jer_n_92346.html
What, like there aren''t any???
On youtube there are probably plenty off tools up there posting all kinds of obfuscations about politicians.
See this story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2
008/03/19/huckabee-defends-rev-jer_n_923
46.html
Huckabee is a real man......thanks Mike!
keep re-assuring yourself Barack has everything under control.
?????????
What? I don''t even know what you are trying to say....?
Come on.....your bias is obvious....
So Huckabee didn''t defend Obama and his pastor?
Someone just made it up? OK......sure.....
There is a form of government known as an Oligarthy. In an Oligarthy the super rich control the country and the economy. Basically the system relies upon the ethics of the super rich to do the right thing and take acre of the poor. Under George Bush, America is acting like a "trickle down Oligarthy".
We need to elivate our minds and see beyond the racial overtones. The real issue is how to shift control back from the super rich to all american people. Regardless or color or gender. I am not concerned whether Hillary or Obama wins the nomination. I am concerned that the choose be made based upon issues, not color, gender or net worth!
How much money has he donated to them over the years... will anyone even bother to find out??
Too bad his speech did not denounce the pastor. Saying "I can no more disown him then disown black america"...what???
I wish someone would ask Obama if he believes "white america" put Aids in the black community!
I now believe Clinton is correct... Obama does think you can fix everything with a speech.
Now we can see why Obama''s wife calls Americans "sloths" and says we are all "mean".
He should never be President of a country they apparently have so much disdain for.
If he didn''t pick up something from his insipid preacher over 20 years of going to that church it is apparent his wife did.
To bad we had the media pushing their own agenda for so long and only now are we finding this out.
The democrats will never win the white house back now.
NOBAMA ''08
GO HILLARY!
you didn''t answer my question......I didn''t expect to get an answer either.......go figure......
THANK YOU - I agree.
Here''s a little PROOF:
By DAVID CAY JOHNSTON
Published: December 15, 2007
The increase in incomes of the top 1 percent of Americans from 2003 to 2005 exceeded the total income of the poorest 20 percent of Americans, data in a new report by the Congressional Budget Office shows.
The poorest fifth of households had total income of $383.4 billion in 2005, while just the increase in income for the top 1 percent came to $524.8 billion, a figure 37 percent higher.
The total income of the top 1.1 million households was $1.8 trillion, or 18.1 percent of the total income of all Americans, up from 14.3 percent of all income in 2003. The total 2005 income of the three million individual Americans at the top was roughly equal to that of the bottom 166 million Americans, analysis of the report showed.
Earlier reports, based on tax returns, showed that in 2005 the top 10 percent, top 1 percent and fractions of the top 1 percent enjoyed their greatest share of income since 1928 and 1929.
You are just a tool for the GOP/Republican party.
Hillary or Obama in 2008!!!
or both, I don''t care.
What is important is getting out of our government anyone who STILL thinks the "trickle down effect" works.
Way too many people look at you tube.
If he could shut down you tube and the bloggers he might have a chance.
Then, who will they blame?
Posted by old300d at 06:49 PM : Mar 19, 2008
YEP, GEORGE sure DIDN''T think HIS reference to the CONSTITUTION being "just a G@D DAMNED PIECE OF PAPER" would get out.
WHY does George HATE THE CONSTITUTION?
Rev. Wright''s chuch has videos on you tube praising L.F.
His own church needs to remove some of their videos from you tube if they really want to help him.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- next
See all 200 Comments