Applauding Barack Obama's March 18 speech, Time's Joe Klein (file photo at right) argued that most people will understand why the Illinois senator could not throw his pastor under the bus, even as Klein applauded the fact that Obama made his grandmother a speedbump on the bus ride to the Denver convention (emphasis mine):
The part about his grandmother is the real payoff, though: I'd say that most white people, over a certain age, have had grandmothers like that. (I had two such.) And I suspect most fair-minded white people who hear that section will understand: Obama can't toss aside the pastor--who, after all, was probably a powerful father figure for a man whose own father disappeared when he was two years old--any more than I could, or would want to, toss aside embarrassing old Grandma Rae, who almost always produced some dreadful jaw-dropper at Thanksgiving.
Now, perhaps Wright was a father figure in some ways to Obama. But doesn't that spiritual father-son relationship over decades require maturation with which the "son figure," Obama, would avail himself the opportunity to respectfully but sternly rebuke Wright and ultimately to leave the congregation if and when such concerns went resolved?
Doesn't it occur to Klein that there's a vast difference between the deference and respect a loving grandmother deserves from a grandson and the duty a husband and father bears to his family and church community to confront a pastor spewing hateful bile weekly from the pulpit?
Doesn't it occur to Klein that that lack of judgment in this personal sphere could and should speak volumes to voters pondering Obama's suitability of judgment and resolve needed for the occupant of the Oval Office?
Meh, who cares, Klein practically argued. After all, it was a pretty speech:
Most people will never hear the elegant complexity of Obama's speech in full...though they certainly should. As others have already said, it was the best speech about race I've ever heard delivered by an American politician.
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Anybody remember the way the
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 11:57 ET by MrSnugglesAnybody remember the way the media used Mel Gibsons dad to trash Mel right around the time The Passion came out? Nobody in the media settled for this "oh he is just a crazy old man, everybody has a crazy old person in their family!" nonsense.
Good point, MrSnuggles.
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:01 ET by Ken ShepherdGood point, MrSnuggles.
A while back, Jesse Jackson told this anecdote
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:09 ET by PamHe told an African-American audience that he had been walking down a street, heard footsteps behind him and felt relieved to see that the person following him was white.
Don't ya just love these pundits all gooing over THE SPEECH!
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 11:58 ET by PawpawNDon't ya just love these pundits all gooing over THE SPEECH! The speech had no substance other than throw RACE into the fray for the election. Now if BHO isn't nominated, the DIMS look like racists. That'll never happen! So if BHO loses general election, it's those darn racists Repubs that kept him from aspiring to greatness. BHO played the RACE CARD to the fullest yesterday!
That is exactly what I
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:12 ET by ApacheThat is exactly what I thought of it. The media is helping Obama spin it as a race issue and ignoring the anti-Americanism. I watched John Stewart for the first time in months. He played the whole thing off as a race issue and pretended Obama was acting like the adult in the room.
Apache, it was total play of RACE CARD!
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:15 ET by PawpawNNo doubt about it, THE SPEECH was nothing but a total play of the RACE CARD! Shame on America, shane on you and me, shame, shame, shame!
I think for Obama to
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:20 ET by balboaI think for Obama to explain his relationship with Wright, he had to talk about race, didn't he?
Why, bal-shouldn't talk been about words!
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:25 ET by PawpawNBal, shouldn't the talk been about the words spoken-remember BHO stated words mean something. Blacks and whites go to same churches where I live. We have unity, a belief in GOD. We do not have to have all white, or all black churches. Jesus talked to the Gentiles, not just Jews. If some other church said these same things, they should be in news also. It was about words and church, not about race. No one who says these things about AMERICA should go unchecked.
Balboa left the room
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 17:48 ET by PawpawNAppears Bal left the room since no comeback!
Heck no it doesn't occur to him
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:04 ET by PamI am sure if it had, he quickly changed his mind!
My grandmother never once
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:08 ET by ThisnThatMy grandmother never once said "God Damn America". She never stood in front of 100 people and told them that we need to hold aliegience to Europe week, after month, after year. She didn't teach me to tell others that our constitution was stained. And she didn't concoct some looney story about the Government inventing a virus to wipe us all out.
No matter how many times you say it Joe Klein, the truth is that NOPE -- I don't have a grandmother like Obama's grandmother or pastor.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Is it OK
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:11 ET by txcoSo now is it OK for everyone to embrace racists like they were their grandmothers?????
If all these little
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:09 ET by bigtimerIf all these little leftists seem to think it is okay to treat your grandmother or any family member this way publicly, it tells you all you need to know about these pathetic creatures than you will ever need to know.
Disgraceful!
Joe Klein and Charles Manson Separated at Birth
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:09 ET by pearlJoe Klein and Charles Manson Separated at Birth
see http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2008/03/18/5040966-ap.html
Klein is right
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:18 ET by c5thenBut only if you are still a little boy. If you have grown up into a man who understands about personal responsibility, then it's perfectly fine to rebuke and disavow your "father-figure" when he does something or says something that is offfensive. Apparently Obama is still a little boy.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Keep Talking, Joe
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 12:22 ET by rammingspeedKeep defending Obama's speech and his refusal to cut ties with Rev. Wright. The ditch is getting deeper. The people will decide what's right or wrong about this situation, and that's as it should be. Joe Klein and his ilk are just speeding up the process.
Hey Libs: You can't choose
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 13:14 ET by Red JeepHey Libs: You can't choose your grandparents. You can choose your pastor.
Character
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 13:57 ET by HypocriteHaterThe difference between someone with and someone without character is whether or not that person can do the right thing even when it's difficult to do.
Obama could have shown this character by taking his mentor/pastor aside and telling him why it's wrong to say the things he's saying, if Obama actually thinks it's wrong to spew racist garbage from the pulpit. This could have been a pupil surpassing the teacher moment, but Obama chose not to do that.
"Obama can't toss aside the
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 14:58 ET by chessplayer"Obama can't toss aside the pastor--who, after all, was probably a powerful father figure for a man whose own father disappeared when he was two years old--any more than I could, or would want to, toss aside embarrassing old Grandma Rae, who almost always produced some dreadful jaw-dropper at Thanksgiving." Why do libs seem to think it is their duty to go on national television and trash their relatives?
»→ Chessplayer
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 15:02 ET by Cool ArrowIt's OK for him to badmouth his momma and grnny, but not an unkind word about his absent daddy.
♣ a seal
I see that Klein is using
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 15:07 ET by stratmanI see that Klein is using his tie, the colors of the Israeli flag, to send a subtle message to fellow Jews to consider and heed his words of Obama's greatness.
I seriously doubt Klein choose this tie by accident. It's the little touches that help promote your message. And Obama has some serious craters to patch with Jews considering his mentor and spiritual advisor Pastor Wright made Louis Farrhankan Man Of The Year and then Obama himself disparaged all Rabbis and their congregations with his comment "...just as I’m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed."
BTW, why didn't he reference Imams in his example?
RRAM Tough!
stratman: In America you're
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 18:22 ET by QueenMumstratman: In America you're not allowed to disagree with the imams. That would be insensitive, intolerant, and xenophobic.
BTW, are imams considered exotic?
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Or maybe Imams are
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 19:07 ET by stratmanOr maybe Imams are infallible in Obama's world:
RRAM Tough!
Here's the thing. Klein is
Wed, 03/19/2008 - 18:19 ET by QueenMumHere's the thing. Klein is defending Obama's talking as if this is just about him and his relationship with Rev. Wrong. It's not. Obama is running for the highest office in the land. He's asking the American people to elect him as their leader. He can't just excuse his association with Rev. Wrong by talking about racial injustices and prejudices. Obama chose to continue attending this church even after he was elected to public office. Okay, we'll excuse the time he was in the Illinois Senate. But once he ascended to the office of U.S. Senator I think it would occur to him that the anti-American rantings of his pastor was disrespectful to the very body in which Obama serves. The members of the congregation were certainly influenced by Obama's presence. Did he ever speak to others in the church about his purported disagreements with Rev. Wrong?
Obama has already made statements during his campaigning which echo the feelings of his pastor, particularly regarding national defense and the nuclear arsenal. If Obama makes it to the White House, our enemies will be counting the days until we're left defenseless.
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