Clinton Backer "Organized" Wright's Press Club Event

New York Daily News columnist Errol Louis writes:

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright couldn't have done more damage to Barack Obama's campaign if he had tried. And you have to wonder if that's just what one friend of Wright wanted.

Shortly before he rose to deliver his rambling, angry, sarcastic remarks at the National Press Club Monday, Wright sat next to, and chatted with, Barbara Reynolds.

A former editorial board member at USA Today, she runs something called Reynolds News Services and teaches ministry at the Howard University School of Divinity. (She is an ordained minister).

It also turns out that Reynolds - introduced Monday as a member of the National Press Club "who organized" the event - is an enthusiastic Hillary Clinton supporter. ...

I don't know if Reynolds' eagerness to help Wright stage a disastrous news conference with the national media was a way of trying to help Clinton - my queries to Reynolds by phone and e-mail weren't returned yesterday - but it's safe to say she didn't see any conflict between promoting Wright and supporting Clinton.

Read Louis's full column here.

UPDATE: From Politico's Michael Calderone:

National Press Club president Sylvia Smith responded today to a Daily News article reporting that club member Barbara Reynolds, a Hillary Clinton supporter, organized yesterday's breakfast talk with Dr. Jeremiah Wright Jr.

Smith said by phone this morning that she still doesn't know if Reynolds supports Clinton, and doesn't care either way.

"Reverend Wright is newsworthy, period," Smith said.

But Wright wasn't as newsworthy two years ago when Reynolds first pitched Barack Obama's controversial pastor as a potential speaker for the press club, according to Smith.

At that time, the speaker's committee--of which Reynolds is now a part of, but wasn't at the time--didn't move forward with selecting Wright.

"He wasn't newsworthy then in the broader context," Smith said.

Comments

[nerakami]

This is a truly sad state of affairs for all Americans. The world could be collapsing around us and here we are... spending approx 60% of our media coverage dedicated to this garbage.

No wonder Americans are viewed upon by the rest of the world as "whacked". We are appearing childish, petty and shallow. The media coverage over the past 6 months has been shameful and a great dis-service to the American people.

We need to grow up and engage in the real substantial issues facing the entire world.
FYI, there's a world wide food crises going on...

[abouttime]

True, enough already on Wright.
US out of Iraq!

[hokulele]

yes. travel outside of America and talk a lot with others around the world. America is seen as mostly a ship of fools. Many of the more impoverished will still be attracted by the glitz courtesy of taxpayer subsidization of corporate mandated overconsumption. Looks good at first but leaves them looking just like a ghost.

[biglover]

So true Nerakami. Unfortunately, the people who need to be paying attention aren't. Very few people are political junkies like those of us who read and post here.

Our country has been based on keeping people divided and hating each other so while we are fighting amongs ourselves, they get to do their vicious deeds.

America needs to wake up to what is really happening like price manipulation of gas and oil and food prices. A few are getting very wealthy on this crisis at our expense - so those of you who want to continue to vote for these criminals, then do so. But if you want change, then vote for the democracts and vote for Obama because I am afraid Hillary is more of the same.

[mesuki]

I hate to say this ,but it seems that alot of Americans are ignorant in this country.Th­ey don't see that the media is making the decision of who our next president will be. They feed us lies and make a big deal about things that are not important.­Yet we eat up cause were so hungry for information that we don't bother to stop and check the facts for ourselves. They are banking on the fact that most Americans are too lazy to seek the truth or complain of the media bias.....S­o far they're right!....­.......the­y are the ones winning and Americans are the ones losing!.. Big Corporations will be death of America!

[YouThinkAndTalk]

There are plenty of people who don't want us to pay attention to the real issue. Who are they? The one of the two Americas that Edwards was talking about. The 1%, who has all the money and all the papers, and the TV and radio stations.

And who help them, along with others, get all that, money, media etc. Bill Clinton. The one under which Hillary got her "field experience­." Bill started the "Troyan Horse of the Right" that Arianna is referring about and Hilary, with all that experience is perfecting it. The problem is Americans are not Troyans.

[Justtellthetruth]

If you actually WATCH the interview and speech, Reverend Wright comes off as brilliant and inspiring.

When I listen to the man speak at length, when I listen to his sermons in their entirety, I see a pastor that anyone would be proud to have lead their church. I also am reminded how hard it is to tell the truth, and how easily it can be twisted by the media.

If you value the bible at all and know anything about it, you know that if you randomly take any "soundbyte" length quotation from it, you might be either inspired, or horrified.

God brought total destruction down upon two cities, killing all their inhabitants.

God flooded the entire earth, killing almost all of it's inhabitants.

the bible commands the stoning of adulterers, and the killing of witches.

the bible says the law is "an eye for and eye, a tooth for a tooth"

There are THOUSANDS of even more shocking and seemingly off message verses, which, when read alone, and looped on FOX and CNN, might convince millions that Christianity and Judaism are the death cults of an insane God.

Of course, anyone who actually READS the Bible, and strives to understand it, knows it as a book of love, compassion, and hope.

If you believe that Christianity or Judaism are best described as the religions of "an eye for and eye, a tooth for a tooth" then by all means, forget what I've written here and keep on hating.

[hokulele]

And for all the non-Christians? And is signing up to be killers for evil leaders' ambitions and lies a Christian thing? Is it a Judaic thing? Justify killing? Nope, can't be true.

[biglover]

A lot of what the Rev said is factually true but to give this type of history lesson in the middle of a campaign and right before two major primaries was unconscienable. What I rejected most was his acting like a spectacle in front of the camera. Whatever good he said, he contradicted it by his silly actions.

I am glad Obama denounced him. I have a feeling he is jealous of Obama

[mesuki]

I agree with what you're saying ...I have alot of respect for Rev. Wright,but I do think he crossed the line yesterday morning.Ye­s he does speak the truth,but there's a way one can go about it without looking like a lunatic. I think the way he acted yesterday also has alot to do with his age,older people usually feel like their age entitles them to say whatever they feel like saying,sometimes to their own detriment. I know !..because I have an elderly mother that says things sometimes that embarasses me,but I have respect for her and I have to remember the fact that she wasn't always that way and that there was a time that she actually could monitor what came out of her mouth. Wether that's the case with wright,I I'm not sure,but I think that his age has alot to do with his remarks and his ego didn't help the situation

[furelise]

Well, I'm not a Christian or Jewish but I know the scripture you are quoting is:
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.

[amber09]

This is in the Clinton play book to destroy Obama any way they can! If they can't win they don't want Obama to win! The media should be all over this deal! This is as low as one can get!

[vanessa04]

Clinton did not force Obama to choose this guy as his spiritual mentor or his pastor. Clinton did not force Obama to appoint Wright to his campaign, or stand by Wright while Obama tossed his granny under the bus.

Reynolds did not force Obama to do any of those things, either. Nor did she force Wright to be the toxic asshole that he is.

Obama should have dumped this guy when he had the chance. But he didn't. And now his crowing rooster has come home to sh*t on his doorstep.

[honeybear]

Did it ever occur to you or anyone else that as a person ages they get senile or a little muddled in their thinking? When this happens to a pastor who has been with a church for quite a long time, has done wonderful work in a community and is basically living on his past laurels...­the church may want retain him out of affection. The members do not necessarily agree with all of his teachings.­..but they are loathe to retire him out of respect for an aged man whose best works are in the past. I think that this is the case with Rev. Wright.
If Ms. Reynolds was aware that he is a man who may be slightly off kelter or someone who is seeking the limelight out of prideful self-promotion, then she was in a perfect position for setting him up to damage Barack Obama. Why hold Sen. Obama's feet to the fire for indulging an old man who is revered in the neighborhood for the sake of community and church?
BTW, Rev. Wright is not running for president and his ramblings have nothing to do with the man who is.
Now, can we get to issues that matter like gas in your car, food on your table and jobs?

[Oridaman]

So it was O.K. when Reverend Wright was there for Bill, but now that he is Obama's pastor he is a 'dirtbag'? Do much projection? I find it amazing(well actually I don't) that people will go out of their way to find things to lay on Obama, when they have done the same, or worse, themselves. It looks like people DON'T want a change they seem to want more of the same old garbage. So, so sad.

[Wigelah]

Do you actually believe that this situation was part of a Clinton playbook? If that is the case, then her camp is really diabolically clever, an evil genius even. Their plan was so smart that they set it up 20 years ago just in case Barack Obama was going to run against Hillary. Just in case he started to do well against all odds because Hillary didn't think she would have any real competition, look how right on schedule everything fell into place. I think that sort of amazing foresight is incredible talent and true ability of being prepared on day one. Come on. Please tell me that you don't see the ridiculousness of the notion that these circumstances were all contrived by a playbook anywhere. Whichever one of these two wins the nomination the other will work to help the one who lost to win the general election. That's part of politics. It happens every time and it will happen this time as well.

[azcamp]

Reverend Wright is on a book tour. His only objective is to sell his upcoming book. The National Press Club got an advertisement for a book on Rev. Wright's religious philosophy. A book on Liberation Theology will sell few copies without national media promotion.

[Ethics101]

KEEP RELIGION OUT OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.
It never works out.

[sebocd]

You're exactly correct. But which religious issues are you refering to here. Did I miss something?

. Would you be able to meet me at the Lincoln Memorial in D.C. next week and help me scrape of all that damn graffetti about God that some fool carved in the marble and claimed that Lincoln said it. Big crowds have been sneeking over there to read the graffetti and get high on the opium of the masses. What the hell is the country coming to?

[Midnite]

Moderators:

Where is the post that I wrote on this subject over 2 hours ago? There was noting it it that violates the Huffington Post's posting rules

[Bearangaria]

For a pastor and "not a politician," the Reverend Wright is certainly
making a great deal of political hay out of his relationship with
Senator Obama, as well as feeding the media leeches that follow him about.
And now he's taking notes from Hllary's camp. How surprising. The reverend's words and tone suggest that he is, albeit nothing less
than frank about race relations in this country, a jealous opportunist
hungry for a national podium and greedily drawing the limelight to
himself while undermining his former parishioner's campaign for the presidency.
And the reverend seems to be enjoying every minute of it.
This is what is known as doing unto others, right?

[abouttime]

Wright's reputation has been challenged by his associaion to Obama. He is attempting to reclaim his honor. He is a patriot in every sense. His angry denunciation of America is common, not just from religous circles, but coffee houses, college campuses, in music and even in family households who don't like wars that are based on lies, and exposed lies at that. Who has good words for America, a country that tortures, uses the Defense Department for propaganda, that offers no help to Kitrina victims, et al. ? Who does not denounce America with a government that refuses to hold America accountable for attrocities commited in our name?
Why was Bush, Chenney, and the rest not impeached and tried for Crimes against humanity.?
The Ney York Daily News starts the article with: "The Rev. Jeremiah Wright couldn't have done more damage to Barack Obama's campaign if he had tried."
The mainstream media could not have done more damage to America by its cowardess in censoring the trutrh about an impending war that rages five years later.

[biglover]

Great post by abouttime. Really good.

[Shadows]

If you are going to use the Drudge Report as your source, you should really properly credit them.

The conference at which Wright's Press Club speech was a keynote was organized more than a year ago.

[northcan]

Read the story also on http://rawstory.com.....That woman is shameless really. No wonder Hillary thinks she has this wrapped up...decei­tful, and truly pathetic. She did the same to an opponant for her 2000 senate race that split a family apart. This woman is unstable, psychotic and destructive. By the way, Rupert Murdoch is supporting her also....Fo­x News, that's why they don't talk about Hillary negatively. Pieces are comming together.

[furelise]

You are wrong about Rupert Murdoch. He donated a small amount of money to Hillary, they had a falling out and he is now supporting Obama. His daughter gave a $2,300 a plate dinner party for Obama in London, according to a report in Huffpo, all of which, in my mind, is a star for Hillary. As far as the rest of your drivel is concerned it won't win Obama a single vote and will convince voters like me to stay away from the polls if he should win the nomination, which is looking more and more unlikely.

[stoptheworldiwant2getoff]

I feel like I have lost my good sense as I read some of these comments because I don't understand what trouble people are having with Rev. Wright.

I have heard enough pastors say similar and worse things than these. I’m pretty certain many of his members do not share his opinion about everything he says. More often than not reverends stay on point about the things people look to them for.

The insinuation that is being fed by the MSM and small minds is that the “sound bytes” are what were preached week in and week out. I doubt it.

About his appearances: Did anyone think that just because he wasn't speaking out in public that he wasn't going to be in the news? Has a day gone by when he wasn't mentioned by every news organization in this country? You can't say Obama on the MSM without someone saying Rev. Wright.

Who would have thought that just because you listened to a reverend get worked up that you would become that reverend in all your thoughts and all your beliefs?

People are looking for reasons to bring Obama down and this one seems like a good one because the MSM likes it. So for those of you who can't see beyond Rev. Wright to the bigger vision that Obama is offering then hold on tight to that fear and loathing and please keep quiet as John M. drives us deeper into the ground.

[OrionGal]

" The Unapparent Connection is more Powerful than the Apparent One:"

----Heraclitus, 500 B.C.


she & her husband need to realize the wisdom to see thru their childish antics have been around for a long, long time.

[Justtellthetruth]

I saw the interviews, and I would have to say that Reverend Wright was articulate, thoughtful, inspiring, and was in no way a detriment to Obamas campaign. Again, don't take the word of the MORON writing this article, but watch the press club interview and judge the mans words for yourself. I would go to this mans church and be PROUD to be a member, and I will be proud to vote for Barack Obama as well.

[TRex86]

Another Tonya Harding moment. I would like more details of what "organized" means, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Clintons knew Reynolds was going to put Rev. Wright out front. They will do anything to damage Obama. I think it will backfire on them however. Wright's public persona is so toxic that it's easy to distance Obama from his "former pastor." Moreover, it's better that this happens now rather than October. Overexposure to the real Wright does less damage than 30 sec soundbytes on an endless loop. It amazes me how churlish the minister is behaving. Jealousy? Spite?
Consult your Bible, Jeremiah.

[kberly7568]

Check out Rev. Wright's press conference. He should just stop speaking in public already since everything he says is going to be used against Obama's campaign.

http://campaigncircus.com/video_player.php?v=9322

[noliberals]

What do you mean Rev. Wright is saving American from "I can Fix Everything Obama"

[ctom]

With friends like this, who needs Clinton?

[paleoimage]

Once again, religion is toxic to the truth - in science and in politics. The USA is in big trouble if we can't keep all of the pastors and priests from corrupting the empirical truth with mythologies and creating a huge theological divide between our citizens.
McCain's pastors allow creation seminars to misinform his fellow church members about natural history.
McCain endorser Pastor Hagee thinks that Catholics are "unholy" and claims to have seen demons
Pat Robertson and the late Jerry Falwell said that "God let the protective shield around the USA drop because of abortion rights, the ACLU and gay civil unions - so that Islamic fundamentalists could attack us successfully.
Rev. Wright's comments are being hyped by the media (and the Clinton & McCain campaigns) to sustain a racial and theological gap between black and white citizens. All of this nonsense is shameful..­. Our nation has huge 21st century problems that are being addressed with 13th century superstitions.

[Marioth]

100% agreed. We have much bigger fish to fry. Sush as the Obliteration of Iran by nukes, a threat made by a sitting Democratic US Senator.

[furelise]

You have been watching Olbermann too much. Hillary has said in a letter to Pres. Bush there will be no military action in Iran without congressional authority.

[SpaghettiWorshipper]

Wright's arrogance, self-absorption, self-righteousness are the pure, natural, historically consistent manifestation of those who consider themselves the prophets, priests, and pastors on behalf of God. If Obama's to blame for associating with Wright, then it's time we start taking to task all Christians for calling "the word of God" a book with calls to genocide for the sake of race purity and religious purity, with ludicrous interpretations of world politics as "God's judgments," and with frothing hopes for the eternal suffering of the allegedly "wicked."

Since we're taking seriously for once the content of theological statements, let's start asking some deep questions about what it says about all the politicians belonging to traditions started by John Calvin----who murdered a theological opponent for disagreeing with him. Let's throw supsicion on Roman Catholics for associations with an organization that puts archaic sexual codes rooted in outdated sexual hygiene concerns ahead of ravaging present day health crises. Ancient codes of sexual restraint meant to save lives from irremediable infections need present day reformulation as condom promotion. But instead those who won't let their "physio-spiritual" thinking updated by three thousand years insist on the outdated, ancient techniques.

If we're going to hold Obama for his particular allegiance to a particular strand of this neverending human tradition of acknowledging "holy men" and irrational holy books, it's only fair to hold the rest of the religiously affiliated politicians for their own traditions' crimes against humanity and against our intelligence.