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

[VictorLudorum]

We today are not living in the social circumstances and communication and finance oppertunities like in the time rules that today lead our national internatioinal economics were made......­..........­..........­..........­.everythin­g has changed except the statesmanship ,but even statesamanship but that the leaderws cannot adopt ,though they would like thier inheritors to adapt and public to wait..... ..........­..........­........

[LA2000]

Listening to the media prattle on and on about Wright or the Hillary/Bosnia thing is a bit like being trapped at someone's dinner table while they chatter on and on and on about something completely uninteresting. And they just keep talking. Loving the sound of their own voice. For hours. On and on and on and on and on. And just when you think its over, they start repeating the conversation. On and on and on. Its just so boring and unnecessary. There are some interesting stories out there that aren't getting the attention they deserve. 60 Minutes still manages to find something nearly every week. But most of the chatterhead media is just too lazy to do anything other than rehash someone else's tabloid reporting.

MSNBC, its time to find something new to talk about. Or at least something relevant.

[Nezua]

the "Bosnia" lie is not analagous. the "Hillary Bosnia Lie" is indicative of a pattern of hillary's behaviors and HER worldview, and HER approach—hardly a trivial thing when it comes to a presidential candidate. it is HER behavior, whereas wright's behavior is irrelevant to how obama would lead and already does. wright's behavior is WRIGHTS behavior.

another way we can see it is not analogous is that the media is wringing all it can from wright. and has swiftly forgotten about hillary's lie.

that said, i love your metaphor about the dinner from hell.

[noisejoke]

Here's a simple theory I have that I haven't seen here. MSNBC IS fairly to the left of CNN. Right wing types would disagree, but for every Cafferty there are incomprehensible numbuts like Beck and Dobbs. If you really pay attention to what the MSNBC talking heads say, you'll find that besides Olbermann and his pals Maddow and Robinson, most are incredibly inconsistent. In other words, they're BLOWHARDS trying to find something to say every goddam day. I dig Keith's nitpicking and righteous indignation. But, I admit I squirm when he bends over backwards to paint everything in a positive light for Obama. It's generally recognized that Matthews is firmly anti-Hil and pro-Barak. But his primary job is to yell and be smug. The fact is all these mouths hold in their highest esteem is ratings via controversy, gossip, rancor and hysteria. PEOPLE, it's TV! It's cable news! It's on 24/7!!! They gotta do something! After all, bears don't fall out of trees everyday. Come on, have a heart. What would you do if you were a cable news director?
I'll give Fox props for being sincerely right wing, moronic and opportunistic. Have they not cornered the market on flags and blondes? Ales, Rove, Kristoff are manipulative multi-national fat cat chicken hawks manipulating us and our taxes in the name of profit and power. They're barely crypto- in their Facism. We are merely pawns. TV keeps us busy. This "news" crap ain't nuthin' more than ESPN.

[Independent007]

I dont even think that the news is ESPN, I get more from ESPN than the MSM giants out there.
But you are right on. Maybe just maybe, MSNBC will get off the WRIGHT story and start talking about the problems in this country, and the way the Clintons are siding with the right wingers to make sure Obama does not win in November so that she can have another bite at the apple.

That being said, my biggest problem is with the dirty little secret of MSM, ratings.
If more of us just don't watch, then that will force them to tell us things that actually matter.
I for one just tape MSNBC anymore, Olberman, and Abrams are good altthough Abrams really disappointed me with spending an hour on Wright. I saw about half of his show then erased it, it was a total waste of time.
Abrams: report the news, and the nuances of the campaign like you normally do, your pandering for ratings just loses the respect of the people like me that watch you. Stop it already!!!!!
And whoever made that decision about talking about Wright for an hour should be FIRED.

[Agave]

Except it's NOT news, it's entertainment. It sotpped being news when the corporate heads decided the "news" divisions had to make a profit. And when you get to the vanity shows, like Olbermann or Matthews, Blitzer or Dobbs, it's not even thinly disguised news -- it's at best Op-Ed.

Since Oblermann, in particular, has bent over so far backeards to promote Obama that he fell on his ass, and made his "name" by ripping George W., I am curious what he's going to do should Obam win the presidency and then screws up? After this love-fest, will Olbermann have any credibility criticizing his darling?

[Lazycrockett]

Said the Swiftboated candidate bout the future swiftboated. candidate.

[TruthSeeker09]

If Democrats don't want to be swiftboated again, they should learn to fight back. You guys are too passive when it comes to defending your own party, and too willing to allow dissension among the ranks. As has been said before, the Republicans don't own morality. The very same can be said about truth.

[SaulGoode]

If only the media would have done its job with Kerry.

Thank God for John O'Neill and the Swift Boaters

[Darsan54]

Yea, we all like a bunch of lying opportunists lining their pockets with Repug campaign money to ensure the honesty and viability of our electoral system. There is a special place in Hell for them and those who believed them.

[timetorevolt]

If only the media had it's job on Bush..We woludn't be nearly bankrupt..Gas wouldn't be 4 dollars a gallon..4000 soldiers wouldn't be dead..Millions of jobs wouldn'tve been outsourced..

[Absecon2]

It is interesting that Senator Kerry is now upset with MSNBC Since Chris Matthews has asked a few tough questions about Obamas pastor but he was very quiet awhile back when Chris Matthews was gushing about having heard Obama speak and how he was so impressed and excited his leg wouldn't stop quivvering.

[Rendon76]

The media needs to get a life.

[Independent007]

Millions of America woke up with the ABC knee capping incident. Is Wright patriotic? Who gives a rats ass!!!
MSNBC should be careful that they do not go off the edge as well. People are wising up to MSM, and we don't like you guys assuming that we are a bunch of stupid Americans that will believe everything we see on TV.
We DONT!!

[protagonia]

Rendon76 See Profile I'm a Fan of Rendon76
The media needs to get a life.

----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­------

Yeah, a life sentence!

[Caramba]

SENATOR KERRY:
Thank you for your truthfulness and telling the media sucha as MSNBC and Alex Witt to shut up and making a mole out of nothing. Barack Obama despite of media and Hillary camp enjoying chewing him with negativity when they can't debate real issues.

Hillary and her allies have nothing positive about Obama but trash.....

OBAMA '08

[Hopefor08]

MSNBC deserves to be put in the same category as Fox Lousy News. Chris Matthews on Friday started his show by yelling can Obama put this Reverend Wright situation behind him. As Matthews well knows nothing will be put behind Obama when you have Republican idiots of hate like Matthews spouting about it none stop. I have to say CNN has gained some viewers like me for being fair on these matters and not spewing the same way or as constantly as MSNBC. Then you have ABC doing their very best to derail Obama's wonderful campaign and his campaign purpose to let people know that he will be a president who represents all the people, not just the rich like Clinton and McCain. I can't leave out Joe Scarborough who has made it his mission to attack Obama with every word out of his mouth (another republican). These same people has finally realized what a failure GWB has been for the country, but now they will get totally behind McCain who can't keep his story straight on any thing he says. Also Lou Dobbs that I admire in many ways is right back to being his republican self and making sure to say the worst things he can about Obama. So he has lost this viewer.

[Rendon76]

Are you kidding CNN talks about reverend Wright more than anyone else. "TODAY: What did Reverend Wright have for breakfast and how can this affect this race".

[Independent007]

What irks me about Dobbs is not his views, is that he just can't seem to say anything nice about ANYONE.
Complain, but offer solutions! I listen to his shows and all I see are problems not SOLUTIONS. So I still dont know what he wants to do about immigration, just that Congress are a bunch of morons and idiots, but no one comes away from his diatribes with a SOLUTION.
I am Ivy League educated Dobbs, put the problems and solutions closer and I will learn something. Just throw out the problems after problems and Obama and Clinton don't talk about this or that, and you will lose me as a viewer.
Actually you have already lost me, I will check in, in a few weeks to see if I actually hear a SOLUTION to all the freaking problems you say is going on in America.
Or is it Mr. Dobbs, that you want to run as an Independent, and offer the solutions then?
You wouldn't get my vote pal, and I am an Independent. No one likes a whiner. I can be swayed though...

[Tinkeraw]

Bravo!!

[siegfried89]

The Rev Wright is a story the Republicans have latched onto so they can avoid answering embarrassing questions about healthcare, jobs, gas prices, food prices and the other crises which seem to grow ever larger with each passing day.

The news media is doing the public a great disservice by dwelling upon this issue and the "fair and balanced" Fox Newscastersare the most BOORISH of all.. The Rev has bought a 10,000 sq ft home in a White neighborhood, as reportted by Fox, and is no threat to our well being; that is left to the Bush Administration and any copycats to follow--Heaven forbid, literally

Call, email or write to the major media outlets including your local paper and tell them to cool it. Let's get on with the REAL issues, this Reverend Wright stuff is utter nonsense

[DoninJoisey]

Completely agree. The media has become a "weapon of mass distraction".
My wife and I watch CSPAN and PBS and BBC news often to really learn what's going on.

[BDHUH]

Amen! Oops. I mean to say, well written! The noise continues endlessly and can be counted on to drone into the next millenium. Friday on Fox Laura Ingraham and guest sat around like a couple of middle schoolers snarking that they'd inevitably be identified as part of the ("so called") Republican noise machine (as IF...). I can report something of substance - Laura appears to be on the leading edge of the porcelain eye shadow trend (kind of like a french nail job for the eyelids) which is both creepy and cool at the same time.

[Penny Leonard]

Not only call and email the CNN, MSNBC ,FOX, ABC & NBC EVERYONE of these media have HIGH RATINGS for HAMMERING the Wright words...not Obama's words...Fair and Balanced....A TV media friend told us honestly.....VOTE WITH REMOTE....the second "WE the People" change the channel when ANY ANCHOR starts talking about ANYTHING we the people do not agree with....there is a METER in the TV Stations reporting how many people clicked with their remote that second....RATINGS go down....Anchors are TOLD what to do and we the people get more of what we want......WE THE PEOPLE>>>>>VOTE IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR REMOTE....THAT is the ONLY way the Conversations stop.....don't even record these news stations....rating only show the meter is clicking....high ratings..

[hinnis]

What's wrong with showing Rev. Wright on television? He has become one of the most popular TV stars, ever.

[HoosierGirl]

I agree with John Kerry. MSNBC has gone overboard on the Reverend Wright thing. Why do they not care that during a period of a few weeks, Hillary Clinton lied on at least 4 differebt occasions about the Bosnia trip. They have given absolutely no coverage to the civil lawsuit (Paul v. William Jeffers on Clinton) which is currently being heard in California. Both Hillary and Chelsea are to testify in addition to President Clinton. Then there's the question of Hillary's internship with Burnstein in Oakland that was the most important radical law firm that represented the Communist Party and defended the Black Panthers. As a student at Wellesley she participated in political protest groups. Did she choose to divorce her husband when he lied to the country about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. Did she abandon him when she learned he nade $800,000 from a working on a free trade agreement with China. Did she even end her relationship with Mark Penn who worked on the same deal. No, she demoted him. Yet MSNBC spends all of their time bashing Obama for his relationship with Reverend Wright. My response to M SNBC, I would like to see all Obama supporters boycott MSNBC from this point forward. I don't want another LIAR

[Independent007]

I am getting close to doing the same thing. Abrams on Friday convinced me of that.
MSNBC: LEARN FROM ABC, thousands of people will never take their news seriously again, you gentlemen with the exception of Olberman are on the edge of a freaking precipice, DO NOT TAKE NOTICE AT YOUR OWN PERIL. The shouts of boycott will only get stronger and stronger! Take the American people's advice, DONT ASSUME WE ARE STUPID, AND GIVE US THE REAL NEWS LIKE THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CLINTONS IN CALIFORNIA. NEWS IS NEWS, just report the damn thing and Americans will respect you as a purveyor of TRUTH, NOT NONSENSE as you desperately try to increase your ratings. Tell us what matters, and not what you think will increase your ratings, and we will flock to you, TRUST US!

[MsDowntown]

Good for him. I am soooo sick of the same tired questions.
The guy went crazy on national tv...who knows why.
But quite frankly Obama has addressed it and I'm fine with it.
I want issues addressed not his ex-pastor.

[Penny Leonard]

Absolutely, I also want Hillary's words Hammered in to the American's minds how she will "Obliterate" Iran and Hillary's words Hammered into the American's minds how she aligns herself with older millitary Officers and their ENDORSEMENT of Hillary...that is Republican and Bush.
Hillary's words "running from snipper fire in Bosnia"
Hillary's words on gas tax holiday
Hillary's words on Health Care that MANDATES and FINES you so the fine GOES DIRECTLY into the Health Care Special Interest Groups... you the consumer aquire poor credit scores when you can NOT pay for your MANDATED Plan.....
Obama will fight for the same health care plan the Congress is receiving....is that Eletist?
CAN we TRUST ANYTHING from Hillary's WORDS

[VivaComputers]

Okay, I have a question for the MSM:

How do you feel with your media lynching of one of America's most promising candidates? How will you feel when you no longer have a job?

GET REAL! Move on, let's talk about how to heal this nation.

[Agave]

Had Senator Obama been investigated much earlier in the campaign rather than having all the ultra-liberal self-flagellating idiots slobber all over him he might not be the "most promising candidate" in the '08 election.

People! Hillary ain't clean. McCain ain't clean. Obama ain't clean. Not one is cleaner than any other.

But everyone gave Obama a free ride for far too long and now that people are starting to look at everything they originally chose NOt to look into, he is the presumptive Democratic nominee and is trying to ride that press honeymoon into the White House.

Kennedy was a loser in '76. Gore gave the whole thing away in '00 (and could never get me to vote for him again). Kerry was a loser in '04. Obama will be the loser in '08...

My question for Mr. Kerry is why he insists that the primaries have to follow the popular vote, since -- as a super-delegate -- neither he nor Kennedy or Richardson in New Mexico have followed the popular votes in their states.

Bunch of drunken monkeys.

[fedupnburnin]

There's obviously a script the MSM follows when they all sing in harmony. Why shouldn't I believe in conspiracies?