Kerry Rips MSNBC On Wright: 'You People Need To Let Go Of This'

Today, John Kerry officially became the 87,436th person to receive one of the three or four versions of the same Reverend Wright question MSNBC has been asking everyone it comes in contact with, including their plants and pets. Kerry, who's maybe a little sensitive toward these sorts of issues, wasn't having it, and his displeasure manifested itself in the closest thing Kerry does that resembles losing his ever-loving mind. That said, it sort of worked! Kerry changed the conversation all right, but Alex Witt opted to just ask one more question ("I would like to get your concerns about the unity of the Democratic party as the Republican party was able to coalesce around its nominee, John McCain. How concerned are you?") before shutting the whole thing down.

[WATCH.]

WITT: Okay. He said it. A 20-year relationship. Reverend wright married him. He is the one who baptized a god parent. How personally painful is this for him?

KERRY: Can I say something to you? Obviously it is painful and he said it. You folks need to let go of this. Television needs to stop dwelling on something that is in the past. I thought Barack Obama yesterday gave America his second big presidential moment of this campaign. The first when he spoke out about the issue of race. The second yesterday, when he made it clear, every one of the statements of the minister are just unacceptable. They're not the person that he knew before. Now let's move on to how we'll put people to work. How are you going to give people health care? How are you going to create jobs in america? What Barack Obama is offering in this gas price issue is real leadership. I mean, do we want people who sort of put their fingers in the wind and throw out an idea for the short term that is sort of politically pleasing, or do you want a here who stands up and says, no, what we need is to really lower gas prices by having a real energy policy, an intelligent policy that puts in place the incentives for renewable fuels and alternative fuels. That's what Barack Obama is doing. And it is you guys have to focus on the thing that really matter to the American electorate. The other thing is just worn out, old history now. This guy had his narcissistic moment and it is finished.

WITT: Okay. Point well taken. Did I say to begin, can I just say, sir, I knew you weren't going to like that question. On the record.

KERRY: Let's move on to the thing that really matter to people. I think people in America are tired of this stuff.

WITT: Okay.

Comments

[reelcobra]

To All Americans...

Don't you get it?

All of this harping on character has no place in American politics.

We need to be concerned about gas prices, and free health care and surrendering Iraq before we win.

So drop the scrutiny about the looney Reverend, and the scam land developer, and the terrorist.

There is no place at the Democrat table for casting the first stone.

Let's just get our guy into the fall and watch the fun when normal Americans get to consider him.

BHO '08!!

[hinnis]

Yeah, why should be be concerned about the character of the person who will be President of the United States. We didn't care about character too much when Bush was elected, and that turned out OK. It is not Obama's character that is important, it is what he says in his teleprompter speeches. Yeah, that's what we should be focusing on.

[dsbsh]

Character matters. But the American people are quite capable of making those determinations on our own. The problem is that the MSM have been doing it for us-- and they're crappy at it. Who decided that the important question in 2000 was who you'd rather have a beer with? Who manufactured the storyline that Gore was dishonest and would say anything to get elected? Who decided that Kerry was an elitist? That Edwards doesn't really care about the poor because he's wealthy? That McCain is a straight-talking maverick rather than a career flip-flopper willing to become George W. Bush to be president? The media should give us substance and let us make character judgments. Instead they do the opposite.

[JamieJay]

Fox News, has been the pied piper of the Barack Obama/Rev. Wright story. The other news media FOLLOWED. Sean Hannity, who also has racist ties to Bob Grant and Hal Turner, had his VERY OBVIOUS reasons for attacking Barack 24/7. Sean Hannity, was clued in by Erik Rush, who is a black Republican that hates Barack Obama with a passion. Erik Rush, probably has never even met Barack Obama, in his life. The MSM, cannot help themselves but to follow Fox News' lead of the 24/7 trashing of Barack ....for ratings!

[Erdgeist]

If we had seriously focuced on energy the way we did during 1977 to 1985, here is where we might be today.

The United states last paid attention to oil during 1977-85, spurred by the 1979 "second oil shock," which raised prices even more than the 1973 Arab embargo had done. In those eight years, the United States proved it could boost its oil efficiencies faster than OPEC could cut its oil sales: the U.S. had more flexibility on the demand side than OPEC had on the supply side. While U.S. GDP rose by 27%, oil consumption fell by 17%, net oil imports fell by 50%, and net oil imports from the Persian Gulf fell by 87%.

Excerpt: "Winning the Oil Endgame" (from a Pentagon grant)

[LINY516]

It's so fixated on Wright, it can't focus on the economy or the fake gas tax fix proposed by Clinton.

Even with the Wright issue, the MSM can't do simple research, which discloses that Wright's former church is under the United Church of Christ. The same group that had the commercials a few years ago about inclusion. Don't rely on the MSM to tell the truth about anything. Go to UCC.org, which is actually governed by white ministers. United Church is Christ is not some anti-white, black only, group.
If the media had even a 1/10 of a brain and a 1/10 of integrity, the public would already know this.

So, pass this on - www.UCC.org (the official site of the United Church of Christ (which is the umbrella of Obama's church))

[hinnis]

Please do not disparage the UCC by claiming that Obama's church is representative of their theology; it is not. As a result of exposure by the press of Wright's statements and positions, there has been great controversy in the national UCC regarding Wright's church. There have even been calls for the church's expulsion from the UCC.

http://tinyurl.com/4z8z9n

[Hare]

Mr. Kerry, the media and specially the right wing media cannot let go of the Wright issue, it would be like telling them to close shop for good. They are a tool, a machine. Foolishness of the Wright sort is what they need to keep them going. Part of their agenda is to continue the dumbing down of Americans while reaping in cash. They're pretty successful at what they do (give or take last few months). Slide Fox and MSNBC laugh to the bank at the end of each day while the morons mesmerized watching such non-sense fall sleep with their drink containers resting nicely on their belly.

[prittfumes]

Very interesting how quickly Obama supporters have done a one-eighty where MSNBC is concerned. They had nary a complaint when MSNBC was one endless anti-Hillary Obamamercial. A Google search for "Jeremiah Wright" yields over a million hits. That wouldn't be because nobody is interested in Obama's "former" pastor and what his influence might have been on Obama over (dare I mention it) twenty years, now would it? I case you haven't noticed it, Kerry is one of those "old school Washington politicians." Isn't that what we are supposed to be moving away from by following Mr. Everything New Obama? Lastly, why should we listen now to the man who conducted one of the most inept presidential campaigns in history?

[OriginalRisky1]

Yep, you are so right. So very very right.

[Vern58]

The MSM is facing an addiction problem here- and they need help. They are still rehashing this over and over ad nauseatum. It has been a week ago, and at least once a half hour-sometimes more- this whole disgusting subject gets mentioned by some pinhead on MSNBC or CNN. Just get over this or we will be forced to send you all to Betty Ford for therapy.

[hinnis]

The Illusion That Is Barack Obama

http://tinyurl.com/54bb2f

[SamThornton]

The above is a link to an article in an Australian newspaper, The Australian, founded and owned by Rupert Murdoch. The article is written by Fred Siegel, former political adviser to Rudy Giuliani. One might be forgiven for assuming Mr. Siegel may be a well-practiced illusionist. That he has the same view of Sen. Obama as do most other writers drawing a paycheck from Mr. Murdoch is probably just a coincidence.

[hinnis]

Why don't you dispute the substance of the article, rather than cast aspersions at the writer? Which of the points made in the article, in your opinion, are incorrect?

[prochange]

Unfortunately due to the lack of proper education there are plenty of people in this country, who will follow the lead of the MSM without thinking.
They elected Bush twice because they wanted to have a beer with a dry drunk.
Now they elected Hillary in Pennsylvania because she was downing shots and told everybody she likes guns from the back of a pick-up truck.
Any candidate who dares to portray himself as an educated, thoughtful, intelligent and sophisticated person is branded an elitist and out of touch with that uneducated, beer-guzzling, gun-waving, pick-up driving average guy. People like Gore and Kerry were made fun of.
Presidents in this country are created at Madison Avenue. They are sold like hamburgers , promising you instant satisfaction without mentioning the enormous gut you will acquire from eating them.
The media is only interested in keeping the nomination process going. Every day means more money in their coffers as unfortunately more money than ever before is spent in this campaign. And all this money goes into advertising, that means the media profits from it. They have absolutely no interest in the well-being of the average citizen. The big corporations who own all of the media nowadays, make money all over the world. They do not care what is going to happen to the U.S. Like Halliburton they will change their headquarters to the Middle East or somewhere else in the world, where they can make more money.

[hinnis]

THE REV. Jeremiah Wright issue is not just a distraction from Senator Barack Obama's campaign for president, and its importance is not as a reflection of Obama's own views. As a voter, I am looking for any and all indications of the candidates' character and leadership. It seems that Obama's strength, his ability to appreciate multiple viewpoints, is also a dangerous weakness when it degenerates into naive moral relativism and paralysis instead of action. If Obama has trouble handling the petty demagoguery of Wright, who just has a big mouth, how will he handle the truly dangerous demagoguery of tyrants such as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who may back up their toxic views with violence and horrific weaponry? This gives me pause.

[Vern58]

Let's look at this from a clearly clinical observation. We are not talking about just any preacher. This is a man who has been a part of Obamas personal existence for many years, someone he considered a friend for nearly 20 years. This is a highly personal matter. I was a personal betrayal. It frays emotion and taxes trust. In the light of this, i think that his reticence to just toss this man out the window in 20 seconds and just keep smiling. The struggle that we have seen in him on this issue is personally painful. And it shows more strength than you wouldI would rather see a thinking, feeling human being in the Whitehouse who weighs issues carefully than a SixGun toting,six pack drinking Annie Oakley cartoon who is touchy feely one second then when the wind shifts ever so slightly becomes Gorg,conqueror of worlds,slayer of Iran.
PS. Don't you think he just might be wise enough to differentiate between a petty Dictator and
a freind by whom he was personally betrayed? I somehow think he does.

[hinnis]

I agree. It is amazing how long this relationship lasted between Obama and Rev. Wright. That's all the more reason to question Obama's character and judgment. I don't know about you, but if I walked into a church and the pastor started making negative statements about "black people," I'd be out of there in a minute. It sure as heck wouldn't take me 20 years, and until such relationship was exposed by the press, to leave.

[hereitis]

Isn't Alex Witt the same asshole who said that Senator John Conyers should be "appeased" that John McCain just recently acknowledged his lack of brain cells in not voting for a Dr. King holiday back in the 80s? Is she really a journalist or just another big dirty-haired blonde that MSNBC thought was cute and said let's put her on camera? Senator Kerry is absolutely correct in that they need to let go of this whole Rev. Wright thing. There are far more important issues to talk about. Oh snap, what am I thinking? We have to keep this Rev. Wright thing going so we don't have to deal with the fiasco that is the US of A.

[hinnis]

BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY: Learn about the so-called “religion” that Obama has been soaking up for the last 20 years. The Internet is a great source for researching this topic...

+++++++++

From Obama's Church Website:

"The vision statement of Trinity United Church of Christ is based upon the systematized liberation theology that started in 1969 with the publication of Dr. James Cone’s book, Black Power and Black Theology."

http://www.tucc.org/talking_points.htm

James Cone defines the theology as thus:

"Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love."

Liberation Theology on Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_theology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_theology

[Nezua]

and this applies to kerry's comment...how? OH that's right, you're obsessed. sorry about that.

[hinnis]

Because Kerry wants us to ignore an issue that speaks to Obama's character and judgment.

If Hillary Clinton had attended a church for 20 years, and considered its white racist pastor to be her "mentor and spiritual adviser," and if that pastor made denigrating remarks in sermons about "black people" and followed a "white theology" premised on the "destruction of the black enemy"; and if that church had given an infamous white racist a "lifetime achievement award";

would you consider it germane to her character and judgment? Be honest, now . . .

[Penny Leonard]

Shame on you Huffington Scanners ....see my blogs about your scanning abilities and I am reporting you to your boss on Monday......Again, and this applies to Kerry's comment? If I had written the above comment...would I have put on the pending awaiting for approval? ......as this above comment is offensive...does not apply to Kerry's comment and I am telling Scott on your posting this blog and not mine which are NOW applicable to the articles....this is not.....shame on you scanners

[hinnis]

If you find the theology of Obama's church offensive, you should take it up with Rev. Wright, or the primary founders of black liberation theology, James H. Cone and Dwight Hopkins.

[fiduciaryatlarge]

60 Minutes still manages to find something nearly every week.

Thats easy for them, they just make shit up.
They are the least credible bunch of liars on TV.

[Agave]

After a long string of lies, half-truths and embellishments that MSNBC -- and others -- ignored, Barback Obama needs to be asked to account for his past. Was Obama's grandfather poor, as he claimed? No. In Indonesia, he was very comfortably upper-middle class. Was Obama born as a result fo the march in Selma, Alabama? Couldn't have been. The dates are too far apart. Did the Kennedy's bring the Obama family into the U.S. No. Again, the dates don't fit. Did Obama know the Reverend Wright had been making these uncomfortable statements for 20 years? We don't know. And in this, the Reverend Wright's claim that Obama knew, but has to be all political about his (Obama's) positions seems a lot more believeable than the Obama claim that he didn't know anything about it.

Or, a different explanation MIGHT be that Obama used Wright a a cheap political tool in Chicago to garner support within his district and now needs to dump Wright like a soiled diaper. And that, frankly, much more closely fits the Obama biography...

Senator Kerry, you have no shame, sir! Your home state clearly stated that they wanted Clinton to be the Democratic nominee and you - and Kennedy - ignored the will of your people to go where you wanted to go.

If Obama considers these quislings -- and Richardson in New Mexico -- as his supporters -- and parades them about in public -- then heaven help us if the facade of Obama gets

[ubuntu]

You have to be one of the approximately 50% of voters who elected Bush to the White House---twice. And you probably think because he went to an Ivy League school, that he's bright, right? As a chicken-hawk, he was really brave during the Vietnam war as well..right?

You probably are also one of the two-thirds or so of the population who actually believed that there were WMD's in Iraq. No doubt Hillary "mis-spoke" or "mis-remembered" her visit to Tuzla; don't you agree? And she's really honest, isn't she. Do you nod your head too when she does the "BOBBLE HEAD IMPERSONATION" WHILE ON THE STUMP? And that "gas tax holiday" is really going to help the poor "Reagan democrats" or however the politicians and media want to categorize as "people who are unable to think independently and who we can manipulate."

You know, if so much wasn't at stake, I'd say this country deserves Hillary Clinton as President.
The world must be laughing again....but we don't need the world do we? That's why we're stuck (alone) in Iraq.

[Penny Leonard]

In response to your tirade about Obama's upbringing, I have lived and worked as a Peace Corp Volunteer in South East Asia for 15 years before settling down in North America and it is OBVIOUS you have not LIVED in South East Asia...maybe you stopped in for tea like Hillary did and "ran from snipper fire" like Hillary did. See Hillary's videos on Bosnia and see Bill's video on "I never had "S' with that woman" and visualize these 2 people in the Whitehouse with their "history of Words" and their CLOSE association with each other...known liers....Very Presidential don't you think? Now Hillary want s to "Obliterate Iran when Iran has not threatened us? That's my Annie Oakley....so Bush and McCain!
What a Change!

[hinnis]

Penny: What do you think Obama would do if he were President, and if Iran precipitated a nuclear attack on Israel which threatened to annihilate its citizenry?

[vincealy]

MSNBC under Dan[ the lawyer ] Abrams has acted as a propaganda wing of the Clinton group. thier new slogan should be [ The Wright news all the time] Absolutely disgusting.Make you wonder if the speaker at the McCain rally had inside info. Comments alone this line ...Soon NBC the nobody but Clinton network will that take the bark off of Obama.......In view of the one sided coverage at MSNBC and the so called comedy on SNL......

[Penny Leonard]

You nailed it, ALL these medias are monitored and given questions from the pentagon and beyond....See Arianna's report on Washington military Pundits' suspended from talking on Telivision....
Instead, Cnn hired just last week, Tony Snow, President Bush's "Former ""Press Secretary and Wolfe Blitzer welcomed him on TV last Week! Talk about nepotism? No wonder the REPEATED airing of Wright has been "HAMMERED" into American Minds.....Pentagon Pundits...­..replaced by Tony Snow, Pres. Bush's former Press Secretary???? Makes you wonder why the Television networks did not HAMMER in on the Hillary words about "running from snipper fire in Bosnia" If Obama had lied on National Tv about running from snipper fire....he would NEVER LIVE IT DOWN" It would have been brought up in EVERY conversation by the TVAnchors.. Wright's words are NOT Obama's WORDS..Hillary's WORDS on running from snippers, were not Hammered repeatedly by TV anchors.FAIR and BALANCED?