Behind The Scenes Of The Obama-Wright Split

CBS:

Chicago friends of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Sen. Barack Obama say both men are simply sad following a controversy and eventual falling out that came to a head Tuesday. Just how did the battle of wills play out behind the scenes?

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports Obama felt betrayed and Wright felt sand-bagged. Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church said he has been speaking to both men as the events of the past 24 hours unfolded.

Read the whole story: CBS

Comments

[RThM]

The thing you have got to admire about Obama is that he has steadfastly refused and avoided pushing Wright, a former friend, off the cliff for political expediency. In spite of the fact that Wright had "devolved" into a kook and a liabilty with the press having gone into one of its periodic feeding frenzies on him. It has cost Obama dearly in possible support. But you have GOT to admire the way Obama handles these crises without devolving himself and resorting to the basest impules of the politician. Forget Wright. He's not Obama and only the most stupid led by the most cynical of political manipulators would confuse the two. Take a long, close look at just how fundmentally unique and ethical this man is among politicians.

[BassMent]

I agree 100%. People suggesting that Obama threw Wright under the bus need to re-examine the timeline and the facts. Obama went way out on a limb to eloquently defend Wright in his speech on race in Philadelphia. Wright returned the favor by publicly calling Obama out as a political opportunist and a liar. He left Obama with only one option, to sever the relationship.

I would have done the same thing. If a so-called friend of mine found himself in a bully pulpit and announced to the world that I play politics and lie about my personal convictions, I would recognize that person as no friend at all and jettison them from my life as quickly as possible. Although I'm sure I wouldn't be able to do it with as much poise as Obama managed to muster.

Man, it's going to be great having him as my president.

[Yansher]

Obama can stay at Trinity if thats what he wants. He should not be forced to choose another church because of this issue.

[janeadams]

And Rev. Wright has retired as pastor.

[biglover]

It is so obvious that the media is determine to keep this story out there just to destroy this man. This is the same MSM who turned a blind eye to leadup to the Iraq war and all of the corruption and misdeeds of George Bush.

We need to bombard the newspapers and the media with our outrage. They are a disgrace/.

[mauigirl17]

I love how you guys say how brave Obama was not to denounce Rev Wright, now you are saying how brave Obama is to denounce the Rev. Which is it? You can't have it both ways.

[MiddleRoad1]

A one dimensional mind. So rare!

[AMERIKA]

I am sickened by the rascists that live in this country. Who cares what Write has to say. Simply, I actually LISTENED to his sermons and rants and I AM NOT OFFENDED. I can see how ignorant stupid bigoted people would be, but I am not. And I am a former WHITE SOUTH AFRICAN raised in the worst Apartheid regimes. This country make South Africa of that generation look postively saintly.

[sneener2000]

Paleeze!

[kellygrrrl]

Flag Pins and Pastors and Pantsuits - O My!
wonder if they're trying to distract us from real issues:

this is long but worth the watch
Lindsey Williams re: The Energy Non-Crisis

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3340274697167011147

once again, we are being played by our govt.

[antaeus]

So your point is that Uncle Sam had his arm up Wright's bottom and was making him talk like Charlie McCarthy?

By _their own_ frequent characterizations, Wright was an important man in the lives of Michelle and Senator Obama for years, so when he says things like those he has done, it's news.

Real Democrats are worried that such a close association with an extremist will make Obama radioactive in the fall election. It's not obsession. It's prudent concern.

[Truthfighter1]

Let's see, has Rev. Wright killed someone or had any of his so called "cult" kill or hurt anyone?


now lets' look at the Government, committing mass terrorism as we speak over in IRAQ, an unjust WAR worse than 911, Americas chicken's will be coming home to roost again for this stupid WAR, you can count on that.

[Truthfighter1]

and Hillary is a liar...
voted for the War
her pastor is a child molester serving time as we speak
she was ducking sniper fire
she stayed with a cheating philandering husband for over 30yrs and ask why he stayed in the church for 20 yrs.

does anyone not see the double standard that is going on here, Obama can't fart with having the press attack him..

[Truthfighter1]

rollingdivision shut up,
if he did say anything you would be the same Neo_con asking why hasn't he said anything...

STFU!!

[Aywaller]

This is painful to watch. Each of these men will suffer the loss of the other and I sympathize with both.

[poco767]

May I put this into context, mostly the context of the CBS website itself.
The story links surrounding this story are::

Top 10 smartest and dumbest dog breeds
Famous Moustaches
Coolest Fighter Jets.......Ever

Thank you CBS for relegating another non story to the news bargain bin where it belongs.

[Lesjoan]

Wright doesn't matter Obama just doesn't have what it takes to be president.

[EGNY]

Heeeere troll-troll-troll. Showing off your assho....I mean, "opinion," eh? Well, everyone's got one. Some are stinky-er than others. I'm sure you are a person with the vaguest idea of "what it takes to be president"? No, not really, huh. Me either. But I know how to have an informed opinion. I know how to read, and listen and think. So you'll excuse my snarky-ness, but I'm fed up with brainless twits posting meaningless comments from the HRC talking points, which they pass off as their "opinion." Go read a book.

[wesinohio]

I hope you would vote for Barack over McCain in the general election. Obama has good judgment, he inspires almost everyone everywhere, he has demonstrated great leadership skills throughout his life and in the Senate and he has shown great leadership and organizational skills and aplomb in his campaign. Go Obama! However, if Hillary were the nominee of the Democratic party, I would vote for her.

[rollingdivision]

Obama is more concerned about Wright Disrespecting him, Obama than anything else. Obama, "[A]t a certain point, if what somebody says contradicts what you believe so fundamentally, and then he questions whether or not you believe it in front of the National Press Club, then that's enough. That's -- that's a show of disrespect to me. It's a -- it is also, I think, an insult to what we've been trying to do in this campaign."

In Obama's eyes, the most serious wrongdoing in Wright's statements is their disrespect of Obama. From the revered father figure who could not be disowned, Wright has become the the father from whom separation must be achieved in favor of his own identity, or the boorish relative who cannot be tolerated. The adolescent grandiosity and adolescent pettiness of Obama's remarks are perhaps the most shocking revelations of this entire episode.

[Pammy1151]

Today's polls are not good for Obama because of the Wright issue. I just can't imagine that there are so many idiots in this country. But then they elected GB twice so why should I be shocked.

[dagnew]

Sad but true. Hopefully, things will turn around for Barack. He's going to be on Meet the Press Sunday morning for the full hour.
So now the polls will be the central news theme this evening on the news and cable programs, which will influence the idiots even more. The superdelegates need to put a stop to this mess and delcare themselves.

[mtuckey]

It's not Wright that's bringing Obama down, its the fact that he is fighting against Hillary and McCain. It will be better soon.

[kellygrrrl]

yes, this is a sad and painful decision
one of many Obama will be making in the future

however, this is not a public decision
this is a private matter that is really none of our concern

[matthewhusseinsmith]

Oh please, give it a rest MSM.

On the other hand I wish the MSM talks about rev. Wright everyday til November. That will show how commercialized, corrupt, irrelevant and stupid the MSM is.

One way to get rid of the MSM is to turn the TV off, and use google.

Behind the rev. Wright issue , really is the comfort level that the white middle class feel about having a black president.

A sizeable swath of white Americans are hypocrits for whom " judge not a man, by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character." are just words.

Some day, in the near future, blacks, latinos and other non-whites will be the majority; then what? Move back to Europe where people look more for like us?

This is our country; the future ethnicity of America is multiracial; live with it.

[REAGANRIGHT]

and we are bitter, clinging to god and guns

[janeadams]

And to that gas tax that will save most Americans about 20 bucks.

[punkingale]

Matthew, you must be confused putting in MLK, Jr.s quote. If Obama gets 92% of the black vote, it seems it's because of the color of his skin.

[matthewhusseinsmith]

It's the same 90% that voted democratic in every previous presidential election, and I don't recall any of the previous democratic nominee being black.

Before the SC primary, 50% of the blacks were for Hillary, including Clyburn and/or Lewis.

But ol' Bill's fairy tale crap and his SC's comment that Jesse Jackson won it twice, turned the blacks off.

Just recently, Hillary tried to sell the SD's her claim that Obama was unelectable because the white blue collar voters don't support him.