Poll: Majority Think Obama Denounced Wright For Political Convenience

A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 30% of the nation's Likely Voters believe Barack Obama denounced his former Pastor, Jeremiah Wright, because he was outraged. Most--58%--say he denounced the Pastor for political convenience. The survey was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday night. Obama made his statements about Wright on Tuesday.

Wright held a mini-media tour last weekend capped by a press conference at the National Press Club on Monday. Only 33% of voters believe that Obama was surprised by the views Wright expressed at Monday's press conference. Fifty-two percent (52%) say he was not surprised.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[MzTexas]

It was political expediency. As Reverend Wright said . . . . Obama is a politician. Politicians DO and SAY whatever it takes to win. Obama is no different than any other politician.

[jupitor]

I won't go any further than this! This is at a end now, and I didn't even read the article! Looked at the picture and said no more, and so I'll go find some good /new reading now!

[several]

"Obama is no different than any other politician."

Yeah, that must be why he's shattered all previous fundraising records and done it without PAC money. That must be why some of his rallies have shattered the size of previous political rallies. That must be why record numbers of new voters are registering to vote for him. That must be why he talks to voters as if they're adults instead of pandering to us like we're idiots. Yeah, no different at all.

[ObamaEdwards]

POLLS! POLLS! Get yer polls! Right here, red hot, unreliable polls! Ask yer neighbors, ask a friend, ask the gal you used to sleep with: You like Clinton's shoes or Obama's? Huh? Can we get a POLL on that?

[several]

Things that make you go hmmmm:

Poll was only 800 people.

[dax49]

has any one questioned why this pissant topic is still being hawked. turn on fox any timr, day or night, and it's wright this or wright that. any body else think yhis is being done on purpose. i personally don't give a tinkers damn what the man said. it doesn't change iraq, the economy, gas prices, etc.

[Ouroboros]

Of course he denounced Wright for political expediency. But he also denounced him because Wright was obviously in it to feed his own ego, regardless of what America's interests are.

[tanyainsacramento]

Uhmmm DURRR...IF it was motivated by politics, he woulda denounced Rev Wright the FIRST TIME he came up. Obama has shown himself loyal to those he cares about, even when he is expected to denounce them. It was Wrights unloyalty that cause him to feel hurt, enrages, and denounce...why the heck do people make news outta this BS. I hate seeing headings like this in my feed. Especially a week later...MOVE ON! YOUR DISTRACTED!

[ifreez]

Hi;

This is very newsworthy, no?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN_nQOHj__s

[MzTexas]

no.

[96Bravo]

When you read the article is asking the public if they felt Obama was "surprsied" as well as genuintely "outraged" by all of Wrights new comments. Even I, as an Obama supporter, agree that he probably wasn't completely surprised at many of Wrights comments. But I don't doubt Obama was genuinely outraged his former pastor would suggest Obama's race speech was a political ploy. THAT, was genuinely offensive to Obama! I think Obama was absolutely disappointed that Wright would doubt his intent.

Would Obama probably have spoken out against the other Wright comments? Probably. Would it have been politically motivated? Probably. But was Wright's characterization of Obama's intentions (particularly regarding his race speech) offensive to the candidate? You bet.

[northeast73]

Obama dencouced his Pastor because his poll numbers were falling.

Those of you who believe otherwise are not as smart as you like to claim.

[timm0]

Certainly after absorbing your breathtaking assessment of the situation, who could possibly argue that you are not a true genius!?

Obama defended the guy not 3 or 4 weeks ago while he laid out a sweeping, insightful state-of-the-union-like speech on race relations in this country. Now a clinton operative takes the "angry black man" on a media blitz, showcase Wright claiming he's coming after Obama, and the logical conclusion is that an Obama repudiation of this nonsense is just expedient. I wouldn't expect someone as smart as YOU, northeast, to muddle through such annoying facts in the construction of your astoundingly brilliant treatise on the subject. Your opinion is more solid, I'm sure.

[dax49]

i believe there has been no out cry about john hagee's remarks about catholics, because on somr level white anglo saxon protestant america agrees with him. what do you think.

[antoinekku919]

Funny that people wanted him to dropped him he didn't only way he did is when the rev acted like a fool. Now itsonly for political reasons

[ifreez]

Hi;

This is very newsworthy, no?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN_nQOHj__s

[personalpolitical]

Umm....I think he would have done that months ago if he was all about the politically easy way out. Instead he took the issue head on and addressed the taboo subject of race in this country. Political convenience my ass.

[Aleka4]

WTF.

What a bunch of morons your average americans are.

The guy was obviously hurt and sincere in denouncing Wright, yet your little iddy bitty racist minds just can't get over it.

This is why Bush got a second term, and why Americans will continue to elect the the policians who will do the most damage to their own intersts - because you are small minded, closed minded, easily led and have no idea how to put things in persepective.

[gwhizz]

That's right! You tell us!

[northeast73]

yet your little iddy bitty racist minds just can't get over it.
===========

More elitist snobbery from the smarter-than-thou Obama supporters.....how refreshing.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Let me guess, you are easily distracted by shiny object?

[dax49]

that's right, instead of putting some thought into what was said, attack, attack, attack. fox has taught you well

[Chapmanp2]

Now if the Huffington post wanted to be fair they could also show the poll that says 75% don't care about this & don't believe it's an issue worth wasting another second on. Done...

[ctbutte]

Did you know Rev Wright has a new book coming out in October?

Consider the timing.

[ifreez]

Hi;

This is very newsworthy, no?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN_nQOHj__s

[StephenDedalus82]

That doesn't stop the pro-Obama press from gushing over his heroics. Has someone ever been so highly praised for doing so little?

[harriscrl3]

Has a pathological LIAR been elected to office even when people are Aware of their lies and deception? Including but not limited to deceptions that call into account their qualifications to be commander in chief. Even when they lobbied for a program that cause hundreds of thousands their jobs rather than CREATE jobs. I guess it works both ways.

Carol

[atila]

i'm waiting for hillary denounce and reject mikey kantor words about indianans....his loyal friend and top adviser call indianans "sh****" and "worthless white ni***rs" in front of carville and stepanopoulos...so hillary fans,is this hipocrisy or what????.......

[gwhizz]

I go with "what".

He said this 16 years ago. Was it stupid and uncalled for? Probably. Ok, yes.

But Wright was flapping his jaws this week--he's still at it.

Obama made excuses for him in Phila. Was that 16 years ago?