Wright's appearance at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. yesterday propelled him back onto the front pages and gave him top billing on the cable news shows. His appearance, comments and egotism came in from criticism from virtually all quarters.
"I'm sorry, but I've had it with Wright," was the first sentence from Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson who went on to say Wright had somehow come to decide he personified the black church. "In fact, he represents one twig of one branch of a very large tree." That from the main stream left was matched by this from the the main stream right, George Will, who like the rest of the GOP is already salivating:
"He is a demagogue...Wright also is an ongoing fountain of anti-American and, properly understood, anti-black rubbish. His speech yesterday demonstrated that he wants to be a central figure in this presidential campaign. He should be."
And this afternoon, Obama said: "I may not know him as well as I thought."
You can see Obama's comments here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JicZeBkg67A
Here's Robinson's column:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/28/AR2008042802102.html
Here's Will's column:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/28/AR2008042802100.html
And here's a piece from the New York Times's Bob Herbert, who put it all very succinctly:
"The Rev. Jeremiah Wright went to Washington on Monday not to praise Barack Obama, but to bury him."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/opinion/29herbert.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin
Earlier, Wright had appears on Bill Moyer's show on PBS, and spoken to the NAACP in Detroit.
And here is Will Bunch on Obama's press conference Tuesday:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Rejecting_and_denouncing.html
Rev Wright and Sen Obama are two different people, with two different mind sets, and we need to stop lumping them together as if they were one person. Wright introducted Obama to his religion but has never been a political mentor and Obama has consistently made it clear he does not share Wright's views on our country or the present condition of race relations. Wright, perhaps because he works every day with the downtrodden minorities, has become hardened to the political structure and lives in the 40's, 50's and 60's. That is not Obama's experience or mindset - he looks to the future and sees the good that has been accomplished since the past decades and wants to build on that. So, lets 'get off of stupid' and move on to the real issues in this campaign - the economy, health care, social security, the housing crisis, and the war.— bernadette- Rev Wright and Senator Obama are the same racist people both having the same bigoted mindset. Obama's recent comments were said for political reasons or they would have been said many years ago and the relationship severed. America rejects both of them!! Obama will never get the nomination. The DNC will see to that since they know he would lose the election even without Clinton running as an Independent against him.— JMT
- Hillary supporter, Dr. Rev. Barbara Reynolds is a media consultant who has endorsed Hillary on her website: Reynoldsnews.com., and that in a spirit of enthusiasm, reached out to Rev. Wright and tempted him to tell his story at the Press Club to redeem his good name, and the good Rev. Wright took the "bite." This ploy and scheme by Hillary supporter, Dr. Reynolds backfired and has helped Barack redeem his campaign and find his voice! Let's be Clear: There was a time when Rev. Jeremiah Wright was once higly respected and sought after, hence his trip to the White House invited by Bill and Hillary Clinton for Prayer and Support when they were going through Bill's Impeachment time. Some of Hillary's strongest surrogates also have close ties to Rev. Wright, Shiela Jackson Lee and Rev. Marcia Dyson! Going forward, however, Barack has to reiterrate all that got people interested in his campaign in the first place, the fact that he does stand for unity and for reaching out to all classes of people, which deflects that he is an elitist. That he works and stands for the working people and that he always has. That to get anything passed these days you need Change in Washington, away from Corporations and the special interest and invest in people! There comes a time in each Society for the sake of survival, they must Change and As a man of "goodwill", it was hard for Barack to see the egomaniac in Wright. However, when it became clear by the total spectacle Wright made of himself in front of national TV on all Three (3) cable-news channels, which played his Entire Speech -- something usually only Reserved for Presidents! And, Barack was right to divorce himself from Wright for the sake of the work and change he is trying to bring to the people. One Ego or a few Egos cannot or should not get in the way of the "Good" of the Whole! Barack "Investing in People"— Angellight
- obama wrote a book which he himself dedicates to the teachings of wright .. how could he not have seen the "egomaniac" side of his friend/mentor?? the same issues which were relevant to obama's "famous speech" in philadelphia and the entire nation got to witness this past week on national tv now have two completely different reactions from obama ... he shouldn't get to have it both ways ... i would like to have heard wright's answer to the question ... how does obama learn .. from the right or left side of the brain??— suzym
- A big mistake! The fact that Senator Obama sat in the pew, as the congregation cheered on the rantings of a racist and anti-American Pastor. No US Senator, sworn to protect and legislate the best interest of America, in good conscience, would tolerate such a spectacle! Lack of judgment, character and patriotism.— ejm604
The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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