Hitchens: Obama Sold Out His Grandmother

Slate:

It's been more than a month since I began warning Sen. Barack Obama that he would become answerable for his revolting choice of a family priest. But never mind that; the astonishing thing is that it's at least 11 months since he himself has known precisely the same thing. "If Barack gets past the primary," said the Rev. Jeremiah Wright to the New York Times in April of last year, "he might have to publicly distance himself from me. I said it to Barack personally, and he said yeah, that might have to happen." Pause just for a moment, if only to admire the sheer calculating self-confidence of this. Sen. Obama has long known perfectly well, in other words, that he'd one day have to put some daylight between himself and a bigmouth Farrakhan fan. But he felt he needed his South Side Chicago "base" in the meantime. So he coldly decided to double-cross that bridge when he came to it. And now we are all supposed to marvel at the silky success of the maneuver.

You often hear it said, of some political or other opportunist, that he would sell his own grandmother if it would suit his interests. But you seldom, if ever, see this notorious transaction actually being performed, which is why I am slightly surprised that Obama got away with it so easily. (Yet why do I say I am surprised? He still gets away with absolutely everything.)

Read the whole story: Slate

Comments

[moonwatcher]

Obama is just stating a fact how his Grandmother felt. Do you want him to lie about it? Obama has also found many white people feel the same way. Many white people are fearful of black people. That's why Hillary is using his relationship with Rev. Wright. She knows white people fear black people. Call Rev. Wright a radical and by his association Obama. Look at his record in the Illinois State Legislature and Congress. Is the record of a radical or compassionate leader for working people and the poor? Has he not worked and played well in Congress? I look at his campaign. I see a intelligent, capable man working with diverse groups trying to get us out of this mess Bush made. Rev. Wright is not running for President. Barock Obama is.

[Heidfeld]

Although exaggerated, there is some truth in what the man says....

As an athiest, he can obviously spot a blatant falacy (like organized religion), and it is clear that Obama has a lot in common with religion.

Obama's insistence and constant talk about faith and Jesus bothers me, and makes me wonder why some people see him as some sort of new/modern politician?

[Amadeo]

Mr. Hitch,
Hindsoght is 20/20. We can all get up a pedestal and scream as you are doing.
I, for one, believe that Obama should be commended for not succumbing to pressure of people such as yourself and others.

[TribunusPlebis]

We should take the time to read Christopher Hitchens' full article on Slate, from which this post is drawn http://www.slate.com//id/2187277/pagenum/alll), because there you'll find a full display of Hitchens' attack style, with adjectives like "repellent", "revolting" and "gruesome," and nouns like "orifice," "dolts", "cults", "venom" and "dirtbag." You can freely apply any of these modifiers to any of these nouns and come to about the same result: verbal manure. That is what Hitchens appears to enjoy manufacturing and delivering, when his subject is someone who isn't either a neo-conservative or an atheist. And since Hitchens may be the only neo-conservative atheist alive today, he seems to see enemies everywhere. It's probable that Hitchens, before his vituperative screed about Obama's speech on race and Rev. Wright, went through a weeks' long, slow boil of exasperation with the Senator's success in speaking effectively to Americans' desire to recover their faith in their country, which is not unlike their ability to feel faith itself. For Hitchens, faith is impossible. Most likely that is because faith requires humility -- not a characteristic notably present in his writing, which is usually flung from heights of implicitly superior judgment that typically he tries to have readers notice with obscure literary references and tedious displays of overripe vocabulary. To his credit, there was less of that in this Salon article. But that didn't rescue it from the same result: little effective reason and even less truth.

[realistxxx]

The way I see it, Obama either threw both his Grandmother and Rev. Wright under the bus or he threw neither of them under it.

Interpreting anyone's motives is folly, but based on the way Obama seems to view the world I tend to think it was neither. He views them both as wonderful, but flawed, people in his life. He views himself as gifted and flawed and he views the United States and it's people as full of promise but flawed.

To me that is his biggest strength. He is hopeful but realistic. He is remarkably honest and even after two books and numerous speeches and interviews, there are still those that want to parse his individual comments as something separate from the whole.

Obama is a unique leader in that he is not afraid nor ashamed to deconstruct himself, his loved ones or his views of the world and rebuld his perspective and plans around a positive vision that incorporates the obvious good and bad that always are part of the whole package.

It is very disappointing to see so many in this country fail to grasp this fundamental aspect of his character. However, it is not surprising as I too am both a realist and optimist.

[Didi47]

realistxxx:

Bull.

[fignozzle]

i think he bloviates with more pomposity than anyone i can think of.
who cares what he thinks?

[vallon]

Vallon: Hitchens is Making Mischief. As a Democrat who will vote-still-for either Clinton or Obama in November, rather than for the train-wreck policies of Bush/McCain, I'd like to offer my two cents: Chris Hitchens did more in the 90's to turn me into a full-blooded, irate Clinton supporter than almost anyone else. I can't believe that any Democrat would take this guy seriously, especially Clinton supporters. Just Google Christopher Hitchens on Bill Clinton for some insight on how this guy works. The enemy of my enemy is NOT my friend.

[cthomp7280]

Any person selling this story as "throwing White granny under the bus" is guilty of contextual assassination, narrow-mindedness, subjectivity, and self-victimization.

I often find that when people can't effectively make a point, they find one to latch on to. The argument never grows its own legs, but rather it comes at the expense of a previous word or action. It goes to the old premise that "if I can't find a way to build myself, I will find ways to tear you down"...addition by subtraction.

This is why Hillary is loosing...this is why Hitchens fails to make a dent in the subject. Free thinking people don't buy into the whole "hey, pick me because the other guy is more screwed up than I am!" argument. It's laughs a tour own intellect and takes us down that winding road of silly character traits that reach beyond comprehension. At the end of the day we, the American people are left holding the bag, saying "hey, I just couldn't trust that Al Gore or John Kerry enough to get my vote." It sounded good then...think about how stupid it sounds now? Some people picked the legacy candidate, the "guy you can have a beer with", the "im a simple American looking to help other simple Americans"...don't say it...the regret is written all over your party.

[JScott]

Hitchens has just plain sold out. (has to write a book blab on TV, be famous, be a celeb, make lotsa money but not be a journalist)

[Nicolaus]

When he was drunk and disorderly one excused his outlandish behavior and far-fetched confused political opinion, for some wit, a little wit, although at times, no wit at all.

But what is his excuse now? A fear of saying that he likes somebody? Anybody? or is it the fact that he probably did not read the speech?

Either way, he is getting awfully boring. If one wanted to be really cruel one would wish he would consider hiding behind a bottle but, no, just give up, please!

[kirafa]

I simply cannot believe the utter arrogance of some of the posters. You just don't seem to get it. You love to post, "Yes, we can!" and "Obama 08" but simply do not grasp that it is over. You say these things, right underneath a statement of the US is racist. Yes it is. No denying it, the United States is a racist country. If you believe that the US is racist, then you have to accept that the utterings of Rev. Wright have sunk Obama. He cannot win. The racists will be out in droves. People are not going to click on the link that explains what Wright says, anymore than they checked when Kerry was swiftboated or Gore was lashed at for the internet thing. All they know is what they heard and they will continue to hear it and hear it and hear it. This is just a Fox campaign now, wait til the Republicans start, McCain doesn't have to do anything, the PAC's will do it all. The only way to win now, is for us to all come together and back a Hillary/Obama or an Obama/Hillary presidency. So many of you seem to be young, so my last word of advice is, as the Beatles put it, "Come Together", because if we don't, you can expect a draft. If McCain wins, we will be in Iraq a long time and expect Iran to be next. So please, vote against McCain, save yourselves.

[Didi47]

kirafa:

I clicked on the link... watched the videos... looked further and was further appalled to learn about Wright's friendship and numerous trips with Farrakhan... and their mutual admiration society. Racist and hateful ... and horrifying. Then I looked further and discovered Obama has inflated his record like crazy... And I suggest you go and do some homework and learn more about the US and compare it with most other countries.. and I bet you, you'll get down on your knees and thank God you live in the US!

Go Hillary!

[Marmoset]

What I don't understand is why Hitchen's columns are posted anywhere but the National Review.

[Kreskytim]

Is Obama back from vacation yet? He should stay there and let his campain continue on with their dirty work. He doesn't seem to be missed. The press has done a fine job of trashing Clinton for him. He kind of reminds me of Bush on vacation at the ranch when everyone else is ar work( McCain in Iraq, Clinton in Penn).

[vsign]

I don't have white guilt and I do not want a leader of this great country to encourage white guilt and feed off it to get votes. I dislike religion and see this new religious left movement for Obama to be as dangerous as the religious right was for the Republican Party.

I like the movement for the working class. I am working class and my vote will go to the person who best represents my interest in jobs and benefits for the working class.

By the time of my caucus in Colorado, I had two candidates to choose from. I had already decided that Obama was the opportunistic candidate - egocentric to the extreme. I consider Obama dangerous because of what he encourages in his followers - vote for me not with your mind or you are a racist.

Obama delivered Ferrara's words to the media. His campaign made a big deal out of them - just like they did with Bill words about Obama's voting history on the Iraq War. Then his campaign made a big fuss about Hillary's words about LBJ and partnerships between the races to achieve results. He obviously wants no criticism or he thinks it is quite acceptable to intimidate other Democratic voters with charges of racism. To me, that attitude is very dictatorial.

[Heidfeld]

Well said vsign... and unfortunately, not said often enough.

The guy is displaying EXTREMELY dictatorial traits, but nobody wants to talk about it. We know that the media is in his pocket, but even some of your average americans should be picking up on it. Isn't "dictator" one of those really dirty words you are brainwashed about as a kid, like "communist."

Anyway, the man's attitude and character are seriously flawed, and I hope people realise it sooner rather than later. Especially the supposedly free thinking liberals hanging out at the Huff Po.

[vote4peace]

Would you feel the same if he was white????

[nunzia]

visgn and heidfeld - both well said, but I fear, falling on deaf ears.
The zealots are swarming now, not listening.
They will give the country to McCain.
Idiots.

[Bulbul]

I believe religion shoud be kept personal and private, and not be imposed on anybody. All the wars in the history of mankind and killing are in the name of religion, is it not ?

...and these people are telling Hillary to drop out, would they say if it was a white male candidate ?

[Kreskytim]

"You often hear it said, of some political or other opportunist, that he would sell his own grandmother if it would suit his interests. But you seldom, if ever, see this notorious transaction actually being performed, " LOL
Can't stand the guy on the war but he know how to turn a phrase.