It certainly could be the case that Obama personally didn’t hear Wright’s 2003 sermon when he proclaimed: “The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, not God bless America, God damn America, that’s in the Bible for killing innocent people. ... God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human.”
But Ronald Kessler, a journalist who has written about Wright’s ministry, claims that Obama was in fact in the pews at Trinity last July 22. That’s when Wright blamed the “arrogance” of the “United States of White America” for much of the world’s suffering, especially the oppression of blacks. In any case, given the apparent frequency of such statements in Wright’s preaching and their centrality to his worldview, the pretense that over all these years Obama had no idea that Wright was saying such things is hard to sustain.
And Bill Kristol has a few choice thoughts on "Generation Obama" as the next self-proclaimed greatest generation.
It's all a little hard to take, as the rest of the country is finding out. No We Won't.
UPDATE: WSJ Washington Wire: "Political Perceptions: Why Rev. Wright’s Comments Exploded". YouTube key. Roundup of MSM coverage. Also "Obama Under Fire As Personal Ties Stir Controversy":
"Being a voice of unity is a part of Obama's brand, and anything that injures that is a serious blow," says Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster who isn't affiliated with either candidate.
Sen. Obama has touted his ability to reach out to independents and Republicans and his prospects for delivering a state that has traditionally voted Republican, such as Virginia. The fallout could be most closely seen among these voters in the general election if he is the Democratic nominee.
And this bit on Rezko:
In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Sen. Obama gave an explanation for his new willingness to discuss Mr. Rezko: "We want to put the sense that we're not being forthcoming behind us as quickly as possible," he said.
Barack Obama--he was against being forthcoming before he was for it. Change we can believe in.
UPDATE: Hillary goes after Obama on his national security record. And a nightmare on Dem street? RCP Blog. Peter Wehner, NRO on Obama and Wright:
4. Senator Obama and some of his supporters have made the plea that he not be made “guilty by association.” What people are asking for is not guilt but responsibility by association — especially an association this long, this deep, this important.
And on the matter of “guilt by association,” here’s a thought experiment. Assume that the spiritual leader and pastor of the church George W. Bush or John McCain attended was, say, a white supremacist or an anti-gay bigot. Do you think that there would be any hesitancy among the press to push the “guilt by association” storyline? I rather doubt it.
I ask because on Thursday CNN’s Anderson Cooper and some of his commentators were visibly unhappy that they were forced to spend valuable time talking about the Wright issue rather than, say, health care or education policy. Anderson and the others clearly viewed it as distasteful and a distraction from a full airing of policy issues. (To Cooper’s credit, by Friday he had changed his tune and was making the case for why the story was relevant.)
Rasmussen poll:"Just 8% Have Favorable Opinion of Pastor Jeremiah Wright"
Seventy-three percent (73%) of voters say that Wright’s comments are racially divisive. That opinion is held by 77% of White voters and 58% of African-American voters. In addressing the issue, Obama warned against injecting race into the campaign .
Most voters, 56%, said Wright’s comments made them less likely to vote for Obama. That figure includes 44% of Democrats. Just 11% of voters say they are more likely to vote for Obama because of Wright’s comments.
However, among African-Americans, 29% said Wright’s comments made them more likely to support Obama. Just 18% said the opposite while 50% said Wright’s comments would have no impact.
And their latest presidential tracking:
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows John McCain with a six-percentage point lead over both potential Democratic opponents. McCain currently leads Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton by an identical 48% to 42% margin. McCain has a double-digit lead over Clinton among unaffiliated voters and is essentially even with Obama among those same voters. However, McCain makes greater inroads among Democrats with Obama as the nominee.
Might have something to do with this. RedState's Ericka Andersen:Ironic: Hillary Criticizes McCain on Iraq From America, McCain With our Troops in Iraq
From the ground in Iraq on his eighth trip there, Sen. John McCain's campaign was able to respond to Hillary Clinton’s criticism of him earlier this morning in her speech on America’s presence in Iraq.
Clinton, speaking from the comfort and safety of American soil, has been to Iraq only twice. Her Democratic opponent Barack Obama has visited only once. Amidst a poll released today showing the positive changes Iraqi’s see overall, Clinton once again denounced the foundational agenda America serves in Iraq.
UPDATE: Gallup shows shift too. RCP average here.
UPDATE: Yes, it seemed to me then like a veiled threat to fan the flames, to incite a race riot, Obama's "quiet riot" remark. A reminder from last June's speech (CBS2 Chicago video)--Chicagoan Pat Hickey, With Both Hands. Also John Ruberry.
UPDATE: Liberal AP Ron Fournier turns on Barack:
WASHINGTON - Arrogance is a common vice in presidential politics. A person must be more than a little self-important to wake up one day and say, "I belong in the Oval Office."
But there's a line smart politicians don't cross — somewhere between "I'm qualified to be president" and "I'm born to be president." Wherever it lies, Barack Obama better watch his step.
He's bordering on arrogance.
Nice on Clinton too:
That may seem unfair to a candidate who's running against Clinton, the former first lady who is the model of overbearing pride. This is a woman, after all, who claims experience from her eight years as first lady but won't release her White House records; who trails Obama in delegates but deigned to suggest he'd be her running mate; and who has more baggage than Samsonite yet says Obama lacks "vetting."
But voters expect arrogance from Clinton and her husband, Bill.
Related posts: The 9/11 Generation, The Real Story on Client 10, McCain in Iraq, MAD Dems, Ask Bruce
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