Sam Stein

BIO

Sam Stein

The Huffington Post

Durbin On Clinton Camp Raising Wright: Try Your Best

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April 2, 2008 10:33 AM


About Sam Stein

Sam Stein is a Political Reporter at the Huffington Post, based in Washington, D.C. Previously he has worked for Newsweek magazine, the New York Daily News and the investigative journalism group Center for Public Integrity. He has a masters from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and is a graduate of Dartmouth College. Sam can be reached at stein@huffingtonpost.com.

Sen. Dick Durbin, one of Barack Obama's chief surrogates, said on Wednesday morning that Sen. Hillary Clinton was within her right to use Obama's controversial former pastor as a method to persuade superdelegate support.

But, he added, such a move would likely not bear political fruit.

"Harold Ickes [one of Clinton's chief strategists] can try whatever he'd like to try by way of tactics to win the superdelegates," said Durbin. "But I believe that most of them feel as I do, that Barack Obama has handled this is a responsible way and in a way we would like to see from the president."

On Tuesday, it was reported that Ickes, in an effort to recruit superdelegates to the Clinton camp, had raised the specter of fierce Republican attacks on Obama's relationship to Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

"Superdelegates have to take into account the strengths and weakness of both candidates and decide who would make the strongest candidate against what will undoubtedly be ferocious Republican attacks," Ickes told Talking Points Memo. "I've had super delegates tell me that the Wright issue is a real issue for them."

The statement, while relatively predictable, was the first public admission that the Clinton camp was privately using Wright for political leverage. And while Durbin suggested that it would prove ineffective -- "What has happened since [Obama's] Philadelphia [race] speech is that the ground lost initially has been regained," he told The Huffington Post -- conversations with several uncommitted superdelegates suggested the pastor problem could play a mix role in affecting their decisions.

In the end, much may depend on geography.

According to Nathan Smith, a superdelegate and Kentucky Democratic Party vice chairman, Wright is likely to have a massive impact on voters in his state and geographic region. And, consequently, could affect his judgment when choosing a nominee.

"Poor white people are freaked out by Wright," said Smith. "It has hurt [Obama] bad West Virginia and Kentucky. You can go down the Ohio River and it is ugly. He is going to take an ass whooping... These are not traditional southern racists. They are poor income whites who are shocked. They woke up one morning and said, 'I think he's black!' They were just in a daze. 'He wouldn't tell his preacher to stop that?' ... These are the people who wrapped themselves in the flag for George W. Bush. It is not about him being black it is about the god damn American comment. This is not a religious thing it is about patriotism."

On the other side of the equation is a superdelegate from the west coast who (asking for anonymity) said the Wright issue had died down in his state. Political pressure on the matter, he added, now broke down on the candidate line: concern from Clinton supporters and dismissal from Obama backers.

"It depends to some degree whom you are talking to," he said. "I had a passionate Clinton supporter come into my office and rail about it. My reaction is that I grew up on the south side of Chicago. I can understand exactly what is going on here and I don't think it is a factor at all in making an assessment to Senator Obama... I think I see it dying down. What I get a sense of from the press coverage and the folks that are in the middle - and there aren't too many - I don't think it is moving people one way or another."


 
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- dutchess2 I'm a Fan of dutchess2 19 fans permalink

"What we have learned over this year is that hope is making a comeback. It is making a comeback. And let me tell you something -- for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment. I've seen people who are hungry to be unified around some basic common issues, and it's made me proud."

http://www.breitbart.tv/html/49244.html

Michelle Obama's full and accurate quote is available in several places on Google...

Now why do you suppose the bigots want us not to know what she really said?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:06 AM on 04/03/2008
- dutchess2 I'm a Fan of dutchess2 19 fans permalink

On Thursday, April 3, 2008, Joe Scarboro on MSNBC is STILL ranting about the Rev. Wright, refusing to admit his own complicity in deliberately editing out a few seconds of 30 years of sermons to attempt to bring Barack Obama down. He refuses to admit the truths in the Rev. Wright's claims.

The Mainstream media had themselves a right and royal lynching of a black man in the year 2008 and
no one is pushing back.

The Clintons are whispering the same claims behind Obama's back to the superdelegates.

Sure, its just politics... but when do we tell them that thoughtful and intelligent people do not pick their
presidents in the gutter.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:14 AM on 04/03/2008
- ChrisS13 I'm a Fan of ChrisS13 5 fans permalink

Lynching is a pretty strong word, and I don't think it's even near what you dipict. Listen a lot of people have a problem with Rev. Wrights comments, and it has more to do with his hate speak against America. That's why some raise the issue. How could someone who listened to anti American speak for so long, become Pres. of said USA. It may not be an issue for you or I, but you can't tell others how to feel, to each his own and stop making everything about race for crying out loud. If HRC had a 20 year relationship with a preacher that was spouting off on Anti American rants on a video tape, they would be going after her just as hard if not harder.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:57 AM on 04/03/2008
- Nommo I'm a Fan of Nommo 93 fans permalink
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You're talking about 30 second sound bites and suggesting that you have some knowledge of Obama's relationship with Rev. Wright. If it were 20 years or 20 minutes, what is it that you know that would enlighten someone who knows nothing? Your ignorance on this matter is what galls, no white politician has ever faced the kind of rabid sanction that followed the endless looping of a few sound bites of the pastor of his/her church. If America got one fourth as angry about 4,000 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries, if American would get so enraged over the treatment of its veterans, if the nation could generate such rage over the lack of food and health care forcertain of its children, then something useful may happen!

Instead, you heap your rage upon the person of a minister to a congregation in
the south side of Chicago. Blues country. If you visited Chi-town, you'd certainly never see the south side. You have no idea of what a Wright can do and must do in that place, if you are that removed from his outrage and you would disallow his speech, then you cannot call yourself an American, indeed, you are Castro like. What is that?

Fundamentally, America was out for a lynching. Rev. Wright is the subject of a ton of death threats. Lynching, as description, is barely adequate. Whenever has this happened to a white politician. An example, please?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:54 PM on 04/03/2008
- MissT I'm a Fan of MissT 4 fans permalink

Where did you get the idea that he was preaching anti-American hate speech for 20 years?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:35 AM on 04/04/2008
- bison1 I'm a Fan of bison1 7 fans permalink

I think we can agree Joe Scarborough is doing his best each day to secure the nomination for Hillary because that's who the GOP wants and needs in the general election. He, like the Clinton Campaign, sees Rev. Wright as a pathway to defeat Obama. To him, it is just politics, but let us not get nor hoodwinked with this Willy Horton strategy. This election is about the future of this nation. Rev. Wright gave military service to this nation, he served in the United States Marine. Scarborough nor Clinton served in the United States Armed Forces. Black people have loved America when America did not love them. Furthermore, if Obama is who he is after listening to Rev. Wright for 20 years then Rev Wright did something right.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:07 PM on 04/03/2008

"These are not traditional southern racists. They are poor income whites who are shocked."

Memo to the politician from Kentucky: "Poor income whites" were/are always the main supply of "traditional southern racists." Look at the old photos of lynch mobs standing around after a good hanging: how rich do those people appear to be? Rich whites by and large got along fine with "their negroes," whom they prized for working in "their fields" and "their house."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:25 AM on 04/03/2008
- mesuki I'm a Fan of mesuki 12 fans permalink

Reverend Wright.... told the truth.and some people can't handle the truth. I don't know why people are making such a big deal about this story,but I guess that's the only thing they have on Obama,so they have to run with it. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence,won't take this story to heart.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:42 AM on 04/03/2008

The man has posted bulletins that claim Jews are WORSE than the Nazi's, and claims that AIDS was created as a weapon to murder African Americans! That is racist, anti-semetic HATRED, and you should be upset by it. EVERYONE SHOULD BE UPSET WHEN HATRED IS MADE TRIVIAL.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:05 AM on 04/03/2008

Wayne,

Did he say "Jews" or did he say "Israeli's"? What's the exact quotation? I disagree with either phrasing but I do not think the two are equivalent. Do you?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:22 PM on 04/03/2008
- MRb1000 I'm a Fan of MRb1000 10 fans permalink

Hillary is silly to bring this up when her own pastor back Barack Obama's Pastor. Check this out!

http://www2.nysun.com/article/74027

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:33 AM on 04/03/2008
- Nommo I'm a Fan of Nommo 93 fans permalink
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And to think that Rev. Wright actually fought for this country. What the hell for? That he would in the future be castigated for exercising legal rights, the same rights he swore to protect as a member of this nation's armed forces? Does that not make Hillary's Iraq vote just that much more unctuous? This nation would throw one of its own "under a bus" because of a few sound bites. Would reduce his life and its accomplishments into the trash because of their inability to comprehend?

It is the same thing one witnessed daily with our men and women in Iraq. Dying for th profound lies and hypocrisy of extreme corporate malfeasance. Right now, even as we debate these matters with whatever little bit of free speech left here, and America can only think of lynching a man of the caliber of Rev. Wright for exercising the right he put on a uniform to protect.

You should all rot in hell.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:16 AM on 04/03/2008
- bison1 I'm a Fan of bison1 7 fans permalink

Many of his critics forget that Rev. Wright is a veteran. Some of his critics are veterans, but many are not--especially Joe Scarborough, Turker Carlson and many of the FOX comentators.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:45 PM on 04/03/2008

I think it is very important that we talk about who Bill Clinton is as well if we spend time talking about Rev. Wright.

I think it is also fair for Obama people to use this analogy as well ...

A big deal has been made of Senator Obama's pastor Rev. Wright comments from the 20 seconds clip on you tube that was airing a couple of weeks ago and sporadically even now. Obama apparently has been seating in the pew for 20 years, 1040 Sundays in that 20 years, or assuming a sermon is about an hour, 1040 hours, 43.3 days (24x7), listening to Rev. Wright.

Can we ask Hillary Clinton, how long she has been with her political adviser Bill Clinton since disbarred for lying under oath, the perjury, or the impeachment? Since the revelation of the Monica scandal and impeachment on December 19, 1998. It has been 10 years, 3650 days, assuming you will spend at least 3 hours as a husband and wife a day that is 10,950 hours, equals to 456.25 days of 24x7 time spent together.

You do the rest of the analysis...43.3 days spent time with Rev. Wright and 456.25 days time spent with Bill Clinton...who has the most influence in providing guidance here...I think the math is very clear.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:05 PM on 04/02/2008

I don't know why everyone is making a big deal about Obama supposedly being a devotee of Rev. Wright. Hell when he and his wife were making about $285,000 a year they were only putting about $20 a week in the plate. Now ask yourself, just how devoted is that?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:25 PM on 04/02/2008
- adl I'm a Fan of adl 6 fans permalink

From what I understand, they were paying back student loans, but then again, I don't know and neither do you.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:12 PM on 04/02/2008
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My 70 year old, very white, very republican mother who voted for GW twice (and cried when she thought he lost in 2000...then cheered when he stole it) thinks the Wright thing is beyond stupid and said if anyone knew a lick about this nations history they wouldn't be offended by his comments....now THAT was a jaw dropping phone call.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:28 PM on 04/02/2008

Obama made the correct decision not to throw Rev. Wright 'under the bus.' Obama should not have to throw every controversial African American (so-called leader) under the bus to show that he'll be a leader for all Americans. These voters who continue to peseverate on the Rev. Wright controversy were never planning on voting for Obama in the first place.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:17 PM on 04/02/2008
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"These are not traditional southern racists."

Nope. We gots us some new-fangled Northern racists who are eager to slurp up whatever rich brew of misrepresentation feeds their particular brand of insecure bigotry. And who wouldn't vote for HRC anyway, more than likely, when faced with a choice of either her or the Safe, Old White Guy.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:42 PM on 04/02/2008

Wrapped in the flag voters who voted for George Bush are the ones who get their information via talk radio. If it was no this Wright fiasco it would be some other contrived issue.

If Americans can actually walk into a voting booth and vote for GW Bush then they can vote for anyone, even Sen. Clinton.

The American voter reflects the poor state of our public school system. They lack the ability to read and think critically. They cannot discern bias from objectivity.

We are all inertly selfish and the candidate that appeals to that selfishness will always get the vote.

I have never thought of Americans as cowards until the George W Bush era. We voted for a President based on our cowardice and fear of a people who have not stepped out of the 19th century.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:39 PM on 04/02/2008
- ChrisS13 I'm a Fan of ChrisS13 5 fans permalink

Wow, you first hint that HRC is worse then Bush and then you go onto basically say that anyone who doesn't support Obama is either a coward or ignorant. That's a great way to sway support, really makes me want to support Obama in the general.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:03 AM on 04/03/2008

Only people who harbor racist views already are worried about Rev. Wright and Trinity Church. Have the super delegates been polled on whether they think Hillary's propensity for lying her ass off will have an impact on their decision whom to support? I think David Axelrod should come out in the MSM and say, "I've had super delegates tell me that the repeated Bosnia lies issue is a real issue for them. I've had others say that her lies on Northern Ireland and NAFTA are a concern as well. We didn;t have a chance to get into her tax records yet."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:25 PM on 04/02/2008
- ddc I'm a Fan of ddc permalink

...or who's financing her campaign and who she REALLY owes her allegiance to! Who's on that Presidential Library Donor List again?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:46 PM on 04/02/2008
- vincie I'm a Fan of vincie 2 fans permalink

wait till the republicans get a whole of obama if he is the nominee. this man who is a cry baby if someone says something unfavorable about him will wonder where he is at. in a way i almost feel sorry for him when they go after him.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:58 PM on 04/02/2008
- nomobull I'm a Fan of nomobull 52 fans permalink
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WRONG CANDIDATE

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:58 PM on 04/02/2008
- ChrisS13 I'm a Fan of ChrisS13 5 fans permalink

Markie you are naive if you don't think Axelrod hasn't been in Super D's ears with all kind of the same crap. Also, did you bother to read the f'ing article? Many people have a problem with hate speak against our country, not about color. You can continue to create this divide by calling anyone racist who doesn't agree with you, or LIKE OBAMA stated, we can actually try to break down racial divides. Which one would you like to do?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:06 AM on 04/03/2008
- FJRinLA I'm a Fan of FJRinLA 2 fans permalink

GOD DAMN AMERICA

Come now. So much of African-American history really warrants a little "God Damn America", doesn't it?

The Founding Fathers thought so. Many spoke and wrote of their fears that continuing slavery would bring God's damnation on this country. Read your history or just watch the John Adams HBO miniseries. Well we not only continued it, we took it to another level applying false biblical and biological rationalizations to it as if to stave off damnation.

For example, when Obama says his grandfather fought in Patton's Army he's signaling he has a white grandfather because Blacks fought in segregated ALL-BLACK regiments in WWII as they had since The Civil War; so there were no Blacks in Patton's Army. Sadly, there's never mention of the Black Supply Regiment that got GASOLINE through to Patton's Army in France in any movies and most Americans remain ignorant because history that highlights Black patriotism, military expertise, or self-sacrifice is rarely seen on TV even in February and never taught to whites in public school curriculums. Moreover, when we demand it's taught to our own children in school we're criticized for wanting special treatment.

Tell me, does not that warrant a little "god damn america"?

NO,... you know there's millions of other transgressions I could cite...

The Founding Fathers thought so. As did Rev. Wright, and so do I and most people, if they're honest and not afraid of false patriotism demagoguery now advanced by The Clintons of all people.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:23 PM on 04/02/2008

You know I could ask my 85 yr old dad who did fight in the Battle of the Bulge, if there were soldiers of color. His memory is a bit foggy, but he would know that.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:59 PM on 04/02/2008
- robXdion I'm a Fan of robXdion 186 fans permalink
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Yes. But they were in segregated units. And many were heroes. In both WW1 and WW2. You can find this in most history books. I notice you get angry about blacks getting any recognition. But the lack of it is reflected in your ignorance of basic history. That's why there is a Black History Month because that history is willfully ignored. If you knew black history and not just history with white faces ---- you wouldn't have to ask Grandpa anything.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:06 PM on 04/02/2008
- FJRinLA I'm a Fan of FJRinLA 2 fans permalink

I stand corrected, but I'm no Hillary Clinton my friend....the 666th Regiment supplied the 101st & 82nd Airborne in Europe and the 761st did fight for Patton.

Google: "Black soldiers patton bulge" ...

"As the 761st was about to enter combat, Patton reviewed the battalion....

'Men, you're the first Negro tankers to ever fight in the American Army. I'd never have asked for you if you weren't good. I have nothing but the best in my Army. I don't care what color you are as long as you go up there and kill those Kraut sons of bitches. Everyone has their eyes on you and is expecting great things from you. Most of all your race is looking forward to your success. Don't let them down and damn you, don't let me down!'

However, like many officers of the era, Patton expressed doubts....following the review, he remarked, "They gave a good first impression, but I have no faith in the inherent fighting ability of the race." Even after the war, Patton relates the interaction described above..., 'Individually they were good soldiers, but I expressed my belief at the time, and have never found the necessity of changing it, that a colored soldier cannot think fast enough to fight in armor.'

Casualties in November1944 were: 24 men killed, 88 wounded, and 44 non-battle, with 14 tanks lost and 20 damaged. In December, the battalion was rushed to the aid of the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne."

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:54 PM on 04/02/2008

Read some excerpts from Obama’s book; “Dreams from my Father”;
“I ceased to advertise my mother’s race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.”
“I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother’s race.”
“The emotion between the races could never be pure. The other race (white) would always remain just that: Menacing, alien and apart.”
“Never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father’s image, the black man, the son of Africa, that I’d picked all the attributes I sought in myself.”
In the above excerpts the irony is that 12 years old, Obama was benefitting from his “white” grandma.
Can anybody say that Obama does not know his wife's "first time really proud of America" sermon?
In January he said that by the time he was done speaking "a light will shine down from somewhere. It will light upon you. You will experience an epiphany. And you will say to yourself, I have to vote for Barack. I have to do it."
His wife said: "Barack is one of the smartest people you will ever encounter who will deign to enter this messy thing called politics, Americans will get only one chance to elect him.”
What a sense of entitlement or the “stuff” that he used to “puff on?”

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:22 PM on 04/02/2008
- adl I'm a Fan of adl 6 fans permalink

the "light will shine down..." comment was a joke. And, you really fault Michelle Obama for saying her husband is smart? Come on. He is smart. And, once again, taking a few quotes from a book is no different than taking a few soundbites from a sermon. Taken out of context you can make things sound almost any way you want. What is it you're really afraid of?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:07 PM on 04/02/2008
- Shantee I'm a Fan of Shantee 5 fans permalink

Michelle Obama was absolutely correct in her assessment about Barack.....he is a gift to the American people, flaws and all. Anyone who can mobilize young people to vote, get young people involved in the process, get youngins to discuss politics, get them to feel like they truely matter is a miracle in itself. With all the crap young people are exposed to from TV to the world of dumbed down music and hollywood celebrities, it's a phenomenon that they are fired up about something positive for a change.

I have not been proud of my country since George Bush took office; that doesn't make me unpatriotic; it makes me a realist and more importantly it says that I deserve better, that we all deserve better. I love America, but I don't love her blindly, and anyone who does is a fool. Blind love whether it's for a person or a country is a fool's game. There's nothing wrong with sometimes feeling and saying God damn America; just as there is nothing wrong with saying and feeling God bless America. Barack Obama makes me, as a white woman, to feel proud of my country once again. Our lack of a national health care program, the war in Iraq, and our flawed third world voting system does not make me feel proud to be an American. I expect better from America. Just as I don't want my partner to abuse me, I don't want my country to abuse me either.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:12 PM on 04/02/2008
- vincie I'm a Fan of vincie 2 fans permalink

the white grandmother that took care of him and raised him he through under the bus. alll this praise for his father that left him and his mother when he was little. is there something wrong with this picture?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:03 PM on 04/02/2008
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