As excuses go, it was right up there with "but oshifer, I was too drunk to see that stop sign." That's the league in which I'd put the defense of Barack Obama over the Rev. Wright mess that Mika Brzezinski offered this morning.
Responding to Chris Matthews' question on yesterday's Hardball as to why he never left Rev. Wright's church, Obama claimed "I never heard [Rev. Wright] say those things that were in those clips." On today's Morning Joe, two of the three panelists weren't buying. The genial Willie Geist came down off the fence where he often resides to frame the issue.
WILLIE GEIST: The fact remains, a lot of people, and these are people we've all talked to, say "if I went into a church with my children, and the pastor said 'God damn America' and the rest of these things, you just wouldn't go back to that church." There are other places to go.
That's when Brzezinski began her bad Johnnie Cochran impression.
View video here.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: I think he's claiming he didn't hear that.
Joe Scarborough drew on a personal experience to expose the flimsiness of Mika's argument.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: We'll get really personal here for a second. My daughter goes to an Episcopal school in Florida. In the Episcopal church, there is a visiting pastor, still is a visiting pastor there, who decided that the week before Easter, instead of talk about the miracle of Jesus' rebirth, to talk about how Jews massacre Palestinians, and how they are the terrorists, and that the United States of America supports state terrorism.Well guess what? Despite the fact I haven't been to that church in six months, despite the fact that I'm up in New York City instead of Pensacola, Florida, my phone rang off the hook from 20 different people from Christ Church in Pensacola, Florida, talking about how this pastor used his pulpit to make political statements against Israel and to blast United States foreign policy.
Now please. Had I been a member of that church for 20 years? The Sunday after September 11th the pastor goes on a winder like that one, a bender like that one? Please, Barack Obama, tell me many things, tell me that you haven't bowled in years and maybe I'll buy that. But don't tell me you didn't hear what your pastor said, because you and I both know that's just not the truth. Come up with a better excuse than that, and Americans will take it. But that one? That one doesn't wash.
That's when Mika offered up the season's lamest defense.
BRZEZINSKI: Well, I have an argument for it. I'm not sure you want me to go there. But the argument may be that in that church they did not necessarily, everything, everybody in that church knows the pastor, and they were not, so --SCARBOROUGH: They weren't shocked.
BRZEZINSKI: They weren't shocked.
Let's get this straight: Mika's defense consists of claiming that Rev. Wright had such a reputation for making outrageous statements, that his "chickens coming home . . . to roost!" wasn't anything out of the ordinary. Thus it's easily imaginable that no one bothered to bring it to Barack Obama's attention.
As defenses go, that's a hell of an indictment. Scarborough drove the point home.
SCARBOROUGH: If they weren't shocked by him saying God damn America, if they weren't shocked by the United States the US KKK A, if they weren't shocked by him saying we deserve what we get on September 11th, if they weren't shocked with anti-Semitic tirades in church bulletins, if they weren't shocked by anti-Italian tirades in church bulletins, then guess what: neither was Barack Obama. So why was he there?
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
→ Thank you Mika
April 3, 2008 - 07:36 ET by Cool ArrowThank you Mika for giving the ONLY plausible explanation for Obama's continued membership in the Church of Honky Haters. Of course her explanation makes sense. It completely reiterates our understanding of the situation with Rev. Wright.
♣ a seal
MIKA...
April 3, 2008 - 07:39 ET by danybhoyThis only goes to strengthen my believe that Mika is as dumb as a post. At least she looks good...
Kudos to Joe for calling it as it is.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
Mika, Mika, Mike.....Obama
April 3, 2008 - 09:09 ET by NKurucI guess the only thing that I can say is that it's Mika....being Mika. She doesn't make a lot of sense during that three hour joke of a show. The same sighs, "lets not go there", and inane utterances day in and day out. She constantly overtalks everyone, saying nothing. If you watch any of her one hour show afterward, she does the news "with an attitude". I guess that's what MSNBC wants. Apparently ratings mean nothing to this network.
If Obama is an empty suit....what in the hell is she????
she's not dumb - this is
April 3, 2008 - 14:11 ET by TruthMongershe's not dumb - this is what the MSM does - they are full time spinners - bullshitters in other words - nothing but GD defense attorneys for the DNC - it's drummed into them, becomes so reflexive - they don't even have to think about it - robots basically
I GET YOUR POINT...
April 4, 2008 - 00:42 ET by danybhoy...TruthMonger, she may not be dumb. But I'll tell you this, I have seen no depth at all from her. She offers nothing of substance, not that any of that matters at MSNBC, but there is not alot of there, there. I get the spin aspect you mentioned, & that's true, but I'm not impressed.
Mika is about who fathered her & she's good looking.
"Some of us are wise, some of us are otherwise" Mark Levin
What's disappointing is that
April 3, 2008 - 08:11 ET by midnight cowboyWhat's disappointing is that this Obama / Wright episode using a baseball metaphor is like a hanging curveball for the republicans. If they play their cards tactfully, they can belt this one out of the stadium and destroy Obama and portray him as the condescending America hater he is. Between the garbage that spews from his wifes mouth and pen, and his refusal to show simple gestures of American pride, only offering up lame excuses why he won't put his hand over his heart during the pledge of allegiance, he can be easily crushed. However, as usual the republicans won't have the testicular fortitude to run an aggresive campaign and will only play on defense.
So sad.
McCain weakness
April 3, 2008 - 08:31 ET by FaulknerFanIf McCain goes ballistic over someone else using Obama's middle name, what makes anyone believe that he'll use this or anything else that is even mildly critical of the Anointed One?
It has been interesting
April 3, 2008 - 08:46 ET by txcoFor years there have been a group of people(Sharpton-Jackson) that have made careers of destroying the lives of anyone that utters even one word that could be consider racially insensitive. Now I see those same people trying to alibi for what was said by Rev. Wright. By doing this they are admitting that all their hollier than thou indignation in the past was wrong. They're asking for compassion and understanding. They want us to look at the total work of Rev. Wright and not at just a few phrases he spoke in the past....what a contradiction!
I can't wait to see how they respond to the next public person that misspeaks and insults them. I wonder if they will exhibit this new found compassion or go back to their race card playing ways.
How well I remember what
April 3, 2008 - 12:58 ET by mjgHow well I remember what they did to Imus. Sharpton and Jackson's defending Reverend Wright is just wrong. Sharpton and Jackson only have compassion in one race.
WE're Shocked, not Obama
April 3, 2008 - 08:55 ET by JayTeeThe Voters are shocked that Obama still attends the GD Church, it doesn't matter if Obama is shocked, or not. It DOES matter that Obama has not parted ways with his Pastor . . .other than the pastor has himself departed and is retiring to a 10,000 Sq. Ft. house in a gated Community somewhere near the KKK of A.
The Answer is . . .Obama IS that Liberal, and his lifestyle of choice shows it. Good luck selling this one Obama, but don't expect more contributions from the GD Americans.
Sadly for entertainment/humor
April 3, 2008 - 09:13 ET by sarcasmoDon King hasn't replied to my emailed inquiry regarding a pay-per-view no holds barred screaming-match between Rev.s Hagee & Wright on religion & politics. LOTS of people I know featuring a wide variety of political opinions have said they'd pay good money to see it. In fact, nobody I've spoken to isn't interested in seeing the fight, at some price...Oh well.
JMR
A corruption-story the TV media will-not cover.
You prove you're not a
April 3, 2008 - 09:20 ET by Hunter12You prove you're not a racist by treating all people equally. People who say, "Oh, I don't notice skin color." are full of crap. It's how you react that is the divining guide. When you're hiring people, pick the best candidate. When you open doors, a lady is a lady. If you like the sound of a singer's voice, it's a good song. As a country, we don't have to throw our judgement of what makes a good president out the door to make up for historic events that are beyond our influence and removed from our control. If anything, we do the country a dissservice in instantiating someone to a single devastating term for a office that could be theirs in a walk after 8 to 12 years of experience and seasoning.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Of course they weren't shocked!
April 3, 2008 - 09:59 ET by LibraryLadyYou could see in the videos, they jumped up and cheered and slapped Wright on the back. They expected these hate-filled comments from him.
Obama HAD to know what went on there. If not, would we want someone this unobservant as President??
The most delicious aspect of this whole thing.....
April 3, 2008 - 10:16 ET by Missouri Conservative....(h/t Noel Sheppard), is that the Rev Wright has moved to an upper-class, gated golf community that is over 90% white.
"women and minorities hardest hit"
At least...
April 3, 2008 - 10:46 ET by Prester John...it wasn't a middle class neighborhood.
Prester John
April 3, 2008 - 11:49 ET by candanceYou really can't blame Wright for moving into that neighborhood...his only other option was moving to Pennsyltucky with a certain pet troll of ours.
Hey, that's where Leon lives
April 3, 2008 - 11:58 ET by vrwc13Hey, that's where Leon lives, what are you trying to say here?
v
You've (me) officially won the award for least value added to Newsbusters." - Leon
Riddle me this...
April 3, 2008 - 10:53 ET by jpatchSpeaking of so-called "teflon" candidates...
Why is it impossible for any person of color to be considered a racist? Like someone had said earlier, how is it that when a white person makes a slip, they are instantly branded as racists, while minorities who make the same mistake are instantly defended from every angle?
This has gotten to be SO OBVIOUS in all walks of life - Christianity is open to mockery and slander, so is "Whitey", so are "Corporations", so is the American Dream, and by extension, the very idea of The United States of America. Nothing is sacred anymore...to some people.
I have some "friends" that are 2nd and 3rd year law students at Ohio State, who have told me repeatedly, that they would "not fight for America". They are all voting for Obama.
I rest my case.
jpatch
April 3, 2008 - 11:52 ET by candanceI've said it before and I'll say it again - povery and oppression are the natural state of human beings. Democracy sprouts up here and there as a temporary exception.
So...
April 3, 2008 - 14:19 ET by jpatchIs democracy rare enough and important enough to defend?
Those same "friends" of mine that I was referring to also told me that "patriotism is a tool of the government, nothing more."
Obama is not a liberal
April 3, 2008 - 10:56 ET by Jonah JohansenMake two lists. One containing the positions taken by liberal politicains, intellectuals and publications and the other by Communist front groups like International Action, Code Pink, Pacifica/Amy Goodman, (www.frontpage.com has a pretty good list.
Compare Obama's positions with those on your two lists. I think you will find that Obama's public positions are more consistent with the Communist front groups than the liberals.
I listened to one of his campaign speeches all the way through and I did not hear a single promise or solution which involved people acting on their own or the private sector acting, his proposals were all some form of government action. When corporations were mentioned it was always in the context of government forcing them to to something.
It may sound extreme, paranoid or conspiratorial but I think that at his core, the real Obama is is a Communist.
"the real Obama is is a Communist" - JJ
April 3, 2008 - 11:07 ET by vrwc13...bingo!
Also...
I opposed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. It should be repealed and I will vote for its repeal on the Senate floor. I will also oppose any proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gays and lesbians from marrying. -
Barack Obama
And this...
It turns out that Obama's childhood mentor, Frank Marshall Davis, was a communist.
"In his books, Obama admits attending "socialist conferences" and coming into contact with Marxist literature. But he ridicules the charge of being a "hard-core academic Marxist," which was made by his colorful and outspoken 2004 U.S. Senate opponent, Republican Alan Keyes."
http://www.aim.org/a...
v
Ferraro is right. Without his black background, Obama would simply be a more glib Dennis Kucinich hovering around the 1% threshold. – Cooltom (NB)
Newsbusters did a blog on
April 3, 2008 - 11:38 ET by ahusserNewsbusters did a blog on the relationship between Obama and Bernadine Dohrn (ex?) weather underground 60's radical on February 23. Apparently she didn't do enough time for her crimes. Her spots probably haven't changed except to do her violence through legislation and mentoring others with her still communist views.
Right on
April 3, 2008 - 12:09 ET by iveseenitallRight on. Obama is a Communist-- flat out, no doubt. (Hillay also). It's time for America to revisit the Communist Manifesto. The guy's a traveller. Educate yourself (you won't get it in "schools"). Those millions new to the cult of communism will be shocked at what they see if they simply do a little research. For example, the commies use race and the "negro problem" as a weapon to foster their "change" in America. Ignorance about this can no longer remain as the bliss it currently is. Read WITNESS by Whittaker Chambers.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
there are many young Black and Hispanic members of the CPUSA
April 3, 2008 - 12:16 ET by vrwc13Current Era
In 1984, due to the popularity of Ronald Reagan's anti-Communist administration and decreased CPUSA membership, Gus Hall chose to end the CPUSA's nation-wide electoral campaigns.
During the 1990s, the party recruited heavily in impoverished minority neighborhoods in the US, particularly in Black neighbourhoods.
As a result, there are many young Black and Hispanic members of the CPUSA. The CPUSA still runs candidates for local office. In recent years, the party has strongly opposed the Republican Party in the US, who they term "ultra-right" and, at times, "fascist".
As part of a pragmatic stance, the CPUSA strongly supports the Democratic Party against the Republicans,[citation needed] as they see the Republican Party as a menace to be defeated.
The Communist Party still maintains that both parties are capitalist in nature, and only support the Democrats as a means to topple conservative domination in America. wikipedia
v
The Communist Party still
April 3, 2008 - 12:28 ET by Jack BauerOf course, if they truly believed their own Marxist-Leninist crap they would actually support REPUBLICANS.
Following their own idiotic thinking, supporting the strongest Capitalist party who are pursuing HEARTLESS anti-proletarian policies, which hit the working classes hardest...
Well this would inevitably produce a pre-revolutionary economic and political situation.
Then under the wise stewardship of the Communist Party vanguard, they would lead the working class into a revolutionary uprising that would hasten to the collapse of the capitalist system.
So essentially, not only are COMMUNISTS effortlessly stupid, they don't even follow the logic of their own stupidity.
THE WORKERS UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED...
Sure commie... Bah frackin' humbug.
Communism since 1963...ck to see how they compare to BHO
April 3, 2008 - 12:32 ET by vrwc13http://upssa.com/196...
...for full list see above link.
Thursday, January 10, 1963
Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.
***Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces.***
Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.
Do away with all loyalty oaths.
Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.
***Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.***
***Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.***
*********Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.********
***Gain control of all student newspapers. ***
Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.
***MSM***Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. ***MSM***
***Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.***
***Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."***Jesus in a jar of urine***
***Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.***
***porno***Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. ***porno***
***GAY RIGHTS***Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." ***GAY RIGHTS***
****Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."****
*******Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."*******
Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.
Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."
Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture.& Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.
Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.
Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.
Infiltrate and gain control of big business.
Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].
Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.
***"It Takes a Village"***Discredit the family as an institution.*********
***"It Takes a Village"***Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.*******
Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.
Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use ["]united force["] to solve economic, political or social problems.
Internationalize the Panama Canal.
Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction [over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction] over nations and individuals alike.
v
How would you...
April 3, 2008 - 12:48 ET by okiehawk44Can you imagine being Mika and those like her? They know! They know full well that what they thought B. Obama was, he is not. But they are now stuck. They know they will either vote for him in November or feign illness that day or ???? Just watch her. She knows he's wrong for her, her children, her friends, her future -- but she is in a corner now. This is personal torment. It's delicious!
morning joe
April 3, 2008 - 12:50 ET by joe3I wonder if joe scarborough pulled his daughter out of the episcopal school in fla. after hearing about the behavior and remarks by the priest affiliated with that school?
Joe3: I wondered about that
April 3, 2008 - 12:55 ET by Mark FinkelsteinJoe3: I wondered about that too, but surely he would have mentioned that if he had pulled his daughter out of the school. I can understand his decision, since the pastor was just visiting and could be on his way out.
Obama and his mentor
April 3, 2008 - 13:04 ET by LionKingThe real issue is that this is who Rev Wrong (aka Wright) is ... an America hater and racist.
He has been Barry O's mentor for 20 years. Mentoring is the act of shaping someone to be similar to yourself. BHO is a LIAR... he knows all about his spiritual advisor's beliefs. The fact that he stayed in that church makes it clear that BHO embraces those beliefs.
[ Hillary is right. Barry O is not electable. These issues will become more mainstream once it is necessary. ]
Boy, that one backfired badly, didn't it?
April 3, 2008 - 13:08 ET by R D HelmI wonder if she even now realizes how badly?
Theme for Election '08: I want my mommy!
For Obama
April 3, 2008 - 13:39 ET by oregon_jiimFor Obama, the Reverend Wright issue can mean one of 2 things:
A. He attended the church and was mentored by Jeramiah Wright for 20 years and therefore shares the same beliefs as his pastor. This makes him an unacceptable choice for President.
B. He attended the church for 20 years and still didn't know what the reverend's beliefs were. If this is the case, then he is not Presidential material because he is completely clueless as to what is going on right under his own nose.
20 years is a long time. Growing up at home and learning from your parents (18 years), High School (4 years), Undergrad (4 years), Law School (4 years). This indicates that Jeramiah Wright was a bigger influence on him than college, high school or possibly even his own parents.
"an endorsement of communism is an endorsement of slavery"
Damage control!
April 3, 2008 - 14:53 ET by Roger the ShrubberSpeaking of anti-Italian tirades, did you guys notice Obama visited an Italian deli in Philly over the weekend (or around that time)?
He was putting that image forward of "damn, I love Italian food!"
Pandering at its finest.
Mika Brzezinski - Different Day. Same Bias.
April 3, 2008 - 17:18 ET by SupermanMika, if you want to be taken seriously as a legitimate journalist, which you keep claiming that you are, then you need be more fair and objective.
Find out who the real Barry is
April 3, 2008 - 20:40 ET by Redrowan2000Seems Barry had another book out prior to or just after his collaboration with Wright .
I don't think he deserves the title Reverend
Read Ann Coulters piece on Baracks Mein Kampf.
Eye opener, but then again not really , any white candidate would have been long gone with this guys baggage.
"Don't let the bastards grind you down"
Red