One set of facts, two diametrically different NYT op-eds addressing it this morning. The fact: that Barack Obama is backpedaling as fast as he can away from the hateful anti-American rhetoric of Jeremiah Wright. The op-eds: Bill Kristol's, offering a dose of sobering realism about Obama's feet that if not of clay, then are certainly those of a garden-variety politician.
And then there's Roger Cohen's, the Obama fan who, in a bit of breathtaking revisionism, would explain away Barack's moonwalk on the theory the candidate has simply "grown beyond" the problematic preacher. And Cohen's just fine with that.
Compare and contrast . . .
Obama seems to have seen, early in his career, the utility of joining a prominent church that would help him establish political roots in the community in which he lives. Now he sees the utility of distancing himself from that church. Obama’s behavior in dealing with Wright is consistent with that of a politician who often voted “present” in the Illinois State Legislature for the sake of his future political viability.
The more you learn about him, the more Obama seems to be a conventionally opportunistic politician, impressively smart and disciplined, who has put together a good political career and a terrific presidential campaign. But there’s not much audacity of hope there. There’s the calculation of ambition, and the construction of artifice, mixed in with a dash of deceit — all covered over with the great conceit that this campaign, and this candidate, are different.
He has built his identity in a shifting world; that resonates with a lot of Americans. His radical Chicago pastor contributed to that journey. Now Obama has grown beyond him. I have no problem with that. [Emphasis added]
Impressive equanimity on Cohen's part, but the columnist offers no evidence whatsoever that this is a case of "growing beyond" and not of simple political expediency. Upon consideration, Cohen actually condemns Obama in trying to defend him. Is Cohen saying Barack used to believe that God should damn America, but has now thought better of the idea?
Bonus Coverage - Mika Makes Nice
On today's Morning Joe, Barack backer Mika Brzezinski did her best to paper over Obama's woes.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: You can have people, you can surround yourself with people you don't completely agree with. You [guest Jonah Goldberg] say he has a big problem. All the emails I'm getting [from fellow Obama fans?] say that there's a reaction out there to this. The question is will it wind up becoming part of the conversation [pet peeve alert: "the conversation" instead of "the debate" or other more realistic term], because if you watched Tim Russert yesterday it doesn't seem like the Clinton people, it doesn't seem like anybody wants to go there because it will bring the party down.
Oh, people will want to go there, Mika. Not calculating Dem partisans, perhaps. But the American people at large will go there. They care about this. They are not going to elect someone president and commander-in-chief if there are any lingering doubts about his love of country. Bet on it.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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There’s the calculation
March 17, 2008 - 07:35 ET by motherbeltThere’s the calculation of ambition, and the construction of artifice,
mixed in with a dash of deceit — all covered over with the great
conceit that this campaign, and this candidate, are different.-Kristol
No, they're not.
Not only is he now denouncing the rhetoric of Pastor Wright, but has removed this man that he is so "proud" of from his website. I mean removed....completely. Little Green Footballs has the old page cached, along with the new one... gone is the Reverend. (scroll about half-way down the page).
So whatever Obama claims, Kristol is correct at the beginning of his description, that Obama seems to be a conventionally opportunistic politician,
Yes he is; he has feet of clay and is just as calculating and pragmatic as the rest of them.
No "new kind of politics" here.
As for Cohen's remark that
His radical Chicago pastor contributed to that journey. Now Obama has grown beyond him. I have no problem with that. [Emphasis added]
Isn't that kind of like the cliche of the guy who, when he becomes a doctor, dumps the wife who put him through med school?
Isn't Obama just tossing aside his "spiritual mentor" of 20 years because he's now a liability?
How classy is that? And Cohen "doesn't have a problem with that."
See, Motherbelt?
March 17, 2008 - 07:36 ET by sentforth5Removed completely
Again we see Light diffuse darkness! No matter what type of correcting this dead soul does, it is simply too late.
Two comments
March 17, 2008 - 09:24 ET by KC MulvilleObama isn't interested in
March 17, 2008 - 11:43 ET by motherbeltObama is interested in others "reaching out" to him and his ideas.
He is only willing to work with those who agree with him; that's not reaching out.
Obama the Movement
March 17, 2008 - 07:34 ET by allanfI thought Kristols comments were quite restrained and mild.
The reaction of Cohen is simple. Obama is a movement not a politician. His support is spiritual in nature. For the true Obama believers, nothing he does can change that - short of deprogramming.
Of course it's a
March 17, 2008 - 07:39 ET by motherbeltOf course it's a movement.
I'm in hurry this AM...don't have time to go back and find out who said it, but it was here the other day. I included it in a comment....someone who said people flock to Obama, not because of what he has done in the Senate, but because of what they hope he can become.
What they hope he can become.
that's okay
March 17, 2008 - 07:39 ET by seanrobinsThat's okay. . .WE'LL take care of it.
sean robins
www.seanrobins.com
The Spots don't change
March 17, 2008 - 08:35 ET by ThisnThatObama has a history of actions and the statements of close associates that really question his patriotism. His rejection of American flag lapel pins; the fact that he will not salute the flag; his wife's "can't be proud of America" comments; and his pastor's "We hold allegiance to Africa" comments all serve to undermine Obama's false front. Add to this his statements that he "will talk to our enemies, with no pre-conditions" and "bomb Pakistan", and you begin to have a true picture of the man and his beliefs.
And his beliefs are totally different than mine. For that reason, I don't believe he should be President -- or even Senator.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Unfortunate Fact
March 17, 2008 - 08:59 ET by cvgbuckeyeIt really makes no difference what Bill Kristol OR Cohen think. What makes the difference is what America thinks and I THINK I know what America thinks.
No one wants to breach this subject, so I will. There will be this SILENT EVACUATION of Obama's support from the white America that has been backing him, justified or not. The evacuation will not be readily visible from poll taking since these evacuees will mostly share the common affliction of "white America race guilt".
The sad fact is this: Pastor Wright has exposed the "Real Inconvenient Truth". That being that America's fear regarding "America Hate Speech" has been largely misplaced in that we regarded it as something wholly ocurring in the mosques around America as well as the world as a whole. America now discovers that this hate being taught, behind religious doors, is and has been for years, been mostly taking place in the black majority churches across America. This hate teaching is more of a threat to America than all of radical Islam combined.
The most recent revelation, brought about by recent TV interviews with African Americans, demonstrates that a lot of black Americans are shocked that white Americans are shocked by this spewing of hatred from the African American pulpits. This was readily visible from Bill Oreilly's interviews with two African American ladies last Friday night.
I believe that there may be some good that comes out of white America waking up to the fact that Pastor Wright's church may not be in the minority of churches, at all, that promote this type of teaching. Maybe recognition will lead to some kind of reconcilliation of this type of hate.
BUT for now, the EVACUATION of white voters from Obama's supporters will end any hopes that he and his core supporters have for his presidency and over the next several months, THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT IN A VERY UGLY WAY.
Preacher Man
March 17, 2008 - 09:03 ET by DanoRoger Cohen states,
"He has built his identity in a shifting world; that resonates with a lot of Americans. His radical Chicago pastor contributed to that journey. Now Obama has grown beyond him. I have no problem with that. "
Excuse me, but if 'Bama has in fact grown beyond him , why was preacher man Wright an advisor to his campaign recently ?
I think think mister smoooooth's real colors are leaking out !
Obama
March 17, 2008 - 10:00 ET by WR JonasBill Kristol hits it right on the nose. Conceit, deceit and calculation with a huge dash of white guilt thrown in.
Cvgbuckeye:
March 17, 2008 - 11:10 ET by iveseenitallYou've hit the nail on the head, cvg. And we can't leave out the wonderful "educational system" which has been preaching hatred of "White European" America since the 60's. As I say on another post this morning, Michelle and Barack are simply brainwashed into victimhood. As children in the 80's , how "bad" America has been, how "oppressed" its "minorities" ( including all females), was drummed into their heads. Michelle can't cover her hate too well so, if you've noticed, she hasn't been heard from much lately. But now, low and behold, here comes the "preacher" Wright. In the Obamas, we are seeing the results of four decades of indoctrination.They are not "proud" of this great nation. Well, I am proud of America. I am proud of our soldiers, past and present, who have suffered and died for my freedom. I'm proud of my "white" father and my wife's "white" father who served in the army and sacrificed for us until the day they died. I'm proud of my wounded brother and my friends who died in Vietnam. I'm proud of how far we've come as a nation. I'm proud of all the white (and black) heroes we've had. If you are not, go someplace else, you creeps. You can't handle the presidency, BO!
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
iveseenitall
March 17, 2008 - 11:17 ET by cvgbuckeyeI am a deacon and teacher in our church. We are also a large church (mega-church is the popular term I guess). We have a very racially diverse membership and I guarantee you a couple of things:
1. If any pastor (we have 10) OR teacher OR deacon OR elder of our church made ANY statement at all that had any racial tones, he would not even be allowed to finish his sermon and he would never preach or teach there again. He would be taken into counselling with the elders and helped through the reasons for his sinful opinions. if not quickly corrected, he would no longer be even a member of the congregation.
2. If ANYONE of our members were disparaged in a racial manner, EVERYONE that I know would immediately come to their defense and the offending party would be corrected severely.
3. God is very saddened and Satan is very jubilant that God's Church would be used for matters such as this.
4. EVERY Christian, regardless of race, should immediately take a strong position against hate speech such as this.
5. I would not have voted for Obama prior to these revelations because of his out-right socialists politics but just the same, America was taking a noble position that we had arrived at the point that race was no longer a preqequisite for The Presidency of the United States. That hope is over for the time being.
Cvg:
March 17, 2008 - 11:37 ET by iveseenitallRight again, cvg. Until blacks like the Obamas, Wright, Jackson, Sharpton, et.al. get over thinking they are "entitled" to something special in America, race relations will not improve. I owe blacks nothing more or less than I owe most whites. I want to see them treated the same way all Americans should be treated, with dignity under the Constitution. The past is the past. Even psychologists will tell us that dwelling on past "real" or "percieved" wrongs is sick. These last few weeks have made me even more certain that Barack Obama will not be a president for "all the people" in America. And yes, I too have come to the conclusion that McCain is the best choice among three horrible candidates. Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Why not ask?
March 17, 2008 - 10:56 ET by AgnosticIf we take Senator Obama at his word that he knows not what his friend, advisor, mentor, pastor and spiritual advisor preaches than why can't we ask him how he expects to reasonably deal with political leaders around the world. He wants to sit down and talk to our enemies but he can not even deduce the character of one of his closest friends even after listening to him preach for twenty years.
His wife feels hatred toward America.
His friend, advisor, mentor, pastor and spiritual advisor feels hatred toward America.
Doesn't believe in showing patriotism through symbolic gestures.
Doesn't believe in wearing his patriotism on his sleeve (or lapel as the case may be).
Any one of these I could dismiss as not being representative of the person but now there is a pattern. Not only is the pattern very apparent but we don't know enough about the things he is actually planning on doing to accomplish any of his lofty goals.
Compared to Senator Clinton he doesn't look too bad but in light of recent events I may have to vote for Senator McCain (was going to write in). I won't be doing this because I believe that Senator McCain is the least worst but because I now believe that he is by far and away so much better than the competition that his numerous faults still pale in comparison. Plus he is starting to say some of the right things eventhough I doubt I will ever trust him until he is out of office. A lot will ride on his choice of VP.
Lenin's Obama
March 17, 2008 - 12:25 ET by Tito of Custos FideiWhat was it that Lenin said of the liberals in America?
Oh yes, "useful idiots".
Charming.
»→ Condemn the man, Barack
March 18, 2008 - 02:43 ET by Cool ArrowHey Obambi!
You have sidled up to a snake, and all you can reject is its hiss? Why can't you be a man and reject the man who spoke the hatred you now run from?
♣ a seal
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March 18, 2008 - 08:01 ET by dahliatraversYou have sidled up to a snake, and all you can reject is its hiss?
That's very good. I may have to steal it.