|
||
Obama's 'Sister Souljah Moment'
Harken back to June, 1992. Bill Clinton was having trouble with Reagan democrats. Then Sister Souljah, an outspoken rapper and political activist, made some very incendiary comments in a Washington Post interview regarding the horrific LA riots. "If black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?" Clinton used a speech before Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition to take on both Souljah and Jackson, who had put her on the program the night before Clinton's address.
Clinton, speaking to a predominately black audience, said, "If you took the words 'white' and 'black' and you reversed them, you might think David Duke was giving that speech." Souljah reacted with great vehemence, saying that Clinton "chose to comment without any investigation whatsoever based on an interview in an ultraconservative newspaper, the Washington Post, which is about as familiar with the experiences of Africans in America, inner city youth, and hip-hop, as Bill Clinton is." Then she engaged in a withering assault on Clinton's candidacy, concluding that "Clinton lacks integrity at painting himself as a staunch patriot, a people's servant, a compassionate liberal, a family man, a pro-woman candidate and a coherent scholar. Sister Souljah was used as a vehicle, like Willie Horton and various other Black victims. A poor excuse for an agenda-less candidate". Rev. Jackson added that Clinton's comments were "designed to set off a dynamic to compete with Dan Quayle on the cultural elite issue and the family value issue." The press had a field day.
Inside the Clinton campaign, there was fear about alienating an important constituency. But certain advisors suggested that it could be a good political move to show toughness against this traditional base. This was clearly an opportunity to gain support from blue collar and suburban white democrats while also appealing to independents and moderate Republicans.
Clinton could legitimately argue, as he did, that his position was not manufactured, but instead, entirely consistent with his campaign message. As he told reporters at the time, he didn't "say anything that I hadn't been saying since I first started running. I called for an end to division, which I've been calling for since I first began this race."
Now fast-forward to the Obama-Wright flap. Obama has made unity and reconciliation a theme of his campaign from its inception. No commentators have expressed any sincere belief that he actually shares the more extreme views of Rev. Wright. They simply call for him to make a clean break from a man more interested in bolstering his own ego and selling an upcoming book than supporting a parishioner and the first black candidate to have a real shot at the presidency of the United States.
Obama made a clear distinction in his speech on race between the views of certain older African-Americans who lived through the Jim Crow and civil rights battles and his generation. While recognizing the shoulders he now stands on, he made it clear he is of the future, not the past. He showed personal integrity by not 'throwing Wright under a bus', but is now a victim of that very maneuver. His bona fides established, he should recognize the opportunity Wright has given him. This is Obama's Sister Souljah moment. He would be foolish not to take it.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
It's all in the voters hands now. We'll soon find out their decision.
I am waiting for America's Jerry Fallwell moment; its Ronald Reagan moment; its Barry Goldwater moment; its Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter moments; its Tom Tancredo and Lou Dobbs moments. Its Condolezza Rice Smoking Gun/Mushroom Cloud moment; its tax cut bait and switch moment. I am waiting.
Thank you Catherine for explaining Clinton's "Sister Souljah Moment'.
It's not that I am so young, but although I vote every year I really didn't get really involved in politics until 2000. Now I am a passionate junkie. So thank you.
Is Obama mature enough not to be fooled by our enemies since he was fooled by his own?I don't think so.US Citizen.
As if Hillary has never fooled by her enemies, like her meeting with richard mellon scaife.
Also a US citizen.
I think you are right, in so far as, advising Obama to take advantage of this moment. Which I think is a great moment. But for different reasons. I personally didn't think that there was anything special about the Sister Souljah episode. So, in my mind, it is not worthy of "harkening back to." Because Souljah, said stupid stuff, she was scolded, and I think every reasonable person didn't feel what Souljah said was right. The media tried to pit blacks against whites and make Clinton seem like a Hero. They were good at that and still are. As far as the path, Obama is taking, I think it is calculated and right. But here is the underlying thing, Obama is a Senator and Rev. Wright is a Church leader. I think, what is happening is tremendously important. The SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE is being redefined in 2008, after the Sharptons, Jacksons, Hagees, Pat Robertsons, the Schiavo case and everything in between that has controlled our politics for the last 30 years. What Rev. Wright has offered Obama is a great opportunity to deliniate and redefine and SEPARATE himself from the CHURCH. How brilliant is that. The lunatic religious fringe has gotten way too powerful in polticial circles and they are threatened and should be.
Judge Crier,
While I find myself agreeing with a lot of what Rev. Wright has to say, I know the same people who voted twice for an idiot like George Bush will seize this as an opportunity to discredit Obama by virtue of his 20+ years of proximity to Wright and his message of divisiveness.
To wit, Wright's ego and desire for national media attention has trumped his loyalty to a parishioner who's suddenly far more famous than he.
I admired Obama's speech a few months ago, in which he refused to throw Wright under the bus.
Now comes today and Obama has driven that same bus right over Wright's body.
I like Obama, but even stupid people will see today's denouncement of Wright as political expediency.
Obama should have seized this latest Wright problem and reiterated the same statement he made before. Taking the high road WOULD HAVE BEEN exhibiting fresh new politics, but Like Rev. Wright said, Obama just did what all politicians do.
Karen while I totally agree with you I do believe he HAD to do this to keep his campaign alive. As sad as I am about that I also feel he had no other option. This world is no really ready to elect an honest person. All you have to do is read these blogs. He would have no chance and I do believe that the good he will do in the end will be worth him having to sell is real soul over this.
This a news anchor writing this crap? Let's hear some more tolerant demonrats braying how the media is all right-wing biased and MSLSD is so fair. Go choke on choddah commienazis. lmao
It seems Wright has embedded hmself in the Friends of HRC camp. Gotta wonder if there was a dirty tricks plan regarding him and when it took shape. My guess is part of the kitchen sink.
Yeah, Lisa, Camp Hillary infiltrated Wright's church 22 years ago and spied on Obama as he sat in the pews listening to and digging what the Rev. had to say.
She even forced Obama to marry his wife in Wright's church, babtize his kids there, and when Obama was writing his book, Hillary snuck in at 3 a.m. and forged the dedication to Wright.
She planned this whole thing.
It's all her fault.
You and Pedro the Migrant should hook up.
people like you are the problems in this world not the solution. What's up with that racist coment? it's infantile and uncalled for. ..... typical of a Clinton supporter!
As a matter of fact, clinton did have a supporter arrange that whole Press Club speech from Wright. Also, after Bill's little soiree with Monica, they both invited Rev Wright to the White House so he could counsel Bill on his transgressions. So, yeah, they do have history.
And, as far as your "fresh, new policy", what is fresh and new about hillary? Just askin'......
Catherine, Obama must have been listening to you!
Obama's statement hit all of the right notes. More proof that he's an exceptional guy and would make a great president.
He hit all the wrong notes with me. The more he distances himself from the great, honest Rev. Wright in order to appease his frightened, bigoted critics, this more respect I lose for him.
His press conference today will change nothing; those that oppose Obama will continue to do. If it wasn't Wright, they'd have another pretext.
.
OBAMA IS GETTING SWIFTBOATED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
Republicans gleeful at prospect of running against Hillary.
.
I am so sick of this crap, and sick of Wright. If he ever had a positive message it has been crushed under the weight of his own ego. I don't care what Obama says about him, and I don't care what Wright says in response. Over.it.
Really, so why do you explain that millions of people still support him? You give a stupid answer, I'll treat you accordingly.
Painful as it was to him, Obama did what he had to do today.
Obama can successfully distance himself from Wright's comments if other African American leaders do so as well. It would take a lot of courage, but Obama's ability to secure the nomination and win in the fall depend on it.
The reason why the latest round of statements by Jeremiah Wright are so damaging, is because they take place in the present, not the past.
Up until last weekend, voters could look at Rev. Wright's comments as something that happened a long time ago that Obama's opponents were dredging up to use against him. But Wright's recent foray into the media spotlight has destroyed that argument.
In theory, Wright's disloyalty should free Obama to criticize him but he has to do it in a sensitive way. Something Obama is more than cable of.
Wright is not running for president. Is that so difficult to grasp?
As an Obama supporter, I get where you're coming from. But I've seen good candidates tanked by issues far more trivial than this.
Mike Dukakis would have been a perfectly acceptable and competent president, but the media thought he looked silly wearing a helmet. He also failed to come across as mach enough, when asked what his reaction would be if his wife were raped.
Unfortunately, we live in a country where the most rational leaders are rarely the ones who get elected. The media is the ring master in this circus called American Politics. It's not a good thing but it's the way it is.
Bill Clinton denounced what Sista Souljah said and was right to do so. I thought that then and still believe it now. Despite what America has done to its African American citizens, her comments were dead wrong--even though she has the right to express herself. However, Jeremiah Wright is not cut from the same cloth as Sista Souljah, not at all. He isn't promoting murder or hate.
If Barack Obama chooses to further distance himself from Reverend Wright, so be it. I just happen to believe that all of this will have blown over well before the convention, but even if it does not, this election is not about Jeremiah Wright. Never was. Never will be. In fact, I challenge Reverend Wright's detractors to compare their accomplishments with his, ESPECIALLY in terms of service to the world-at-large.
Are those crickets I hear?
Why is the word "Republican" capitalized in this post, whereas members of the other party as referred to as "democrats"? The first time I assumed it was a typo, but the word "democrat" appears more than once in this post and is never capitalized. Is this meant as a dig, like when Republicans refer to the "Democrat" rather than "Democratic" Party? You're better than that, Ms. Crier.
Eric Meyer
People are stupid, my dear Behm. They will be talking about Wright until doomsday as long as the MSM keeps throwing it on their dinner table.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
