Obama, Not Wright, Is Obama's Worst Enemy

Whoever on Team Obama keeps feeding into Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's seeming compulsive need to speak out on the Reverend Jeremiah Wright should get the swift boot. When Wright went on his latest public and media tear, Obama should have simply issued a statement saying this: Wright is no longer my pastor. And as I have said repeatedly, his views do not reflect mine, and then move on.

But no, Obama's Wright compulsion drove him to deliver a defensive and apologetic so-called race speech in which Wright was the centerpiece. Next, he denounced Wright's views in an interview. Now he holds a halting, stumbling, anguished voice press conference to denounce Wright again. Here's the effect of all this. He's given a slew of gossipy, media talking heads more salacious grist for the gossip and rumor mill about Wright, the church and Obama's long term relationship with both.
He's elevated Wright from a relatively obscure, local preacher to a nationally known polarizing figure. He's deepened the suspicions of those who all along felt that he was a closet radical and race panderer. This hurt him with white voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and almost certainly it will hurt him in Indiana. It has pecked away at the razor thin lead he had over Clinton among Democrats, and dropped him behind McCain in the general election. (Hillary beats McCain by ten points).

He created clouds of doubt among some of his non-rabid, and non-true believer supporters that maybe it's time to take a second look at him and his candidacy. He's given political analysts and pundits boundless ammunition to fire the jibe that maybe he is unelectable. After all, if he bombs with blue collar, rural, and less educated white voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania who are Democrats, what chance does he have of getting a big swatch of the must win independents who fit that same vote demographic in the South, the Midwest and the West to back him in a head to head showdown with McCain? He's gotten so bogged down with the obsessive need to slam Wright that he's managed to self-derail his campaign from the issues that should matter to debating Wright on of all things as to whether Wright and the black church as Wright claims are one and the same.

Finally, and worst of all, no matter how much he protests that Wright doesn't represent him or his thinking, the fact is he sat in his church for nearly two decades, called him a spiritual mentor and family confidant, appointed him to an advisory post in his campaign, and in his so-called race speech refused to disown his two decade experience and relationship with him. This instantly makes his Wright protest sound like the wail of a politician running scared, and who sees the long, arduous, time consuming and patient work he put into building up public trust in him as the nation's great political hope fast washing down the drain.

But Obama is no different than other inexperienced politicians who get blind-sided by damaging and hurtful allegations and associations. They panic, do their public mea culpas, and hope and pray that it all blows over. It never does. The clouds of doubt remain transfixed in the air of the voter's minds, and that doubt will always be there with whispers, wisecracks, and raised eyebrows that maybe the politician with a taint who so many put their fervent faith and hope in is not all that he's cracked up to be.

The more optimistic Obama backers point to Bill Clinton as the best example of a much admired, effective political leader who rebounded from a scandal and attacks and whose popularity ratings soared to the stars. That's true but there are some big differences. Clinton was a battle tested, second term president, the economy was booming, there were no major foreign policy crises, and millions of supporters including many Republicans saw the GOP assaults on him as nothing more than vindictive partisan politics. That was more than enough for him to ride out the tide.

Obama is hardly Clinton. And the issue that dogged Clinton was sex. The issue that dogs Obama is race. That in any season is perennially for a politician, especially a black politician, their worst nightmare. That's even truer for Obama who has worked tirelessly to sell white voters on his non-racial message of unity, harmony, and hope.

Obama then must understand two things. Wright isn't going away. His ego and a press insatiable for any inflammatory Wright quip will insure that. If that's so then Obama should button it up on Wright. Anything else he says on him will further insure that Obama not Wright is Obama's worst enemy.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His new book is The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race to the White House (Middle Passage Press, February 2008).

Comments

[Glowcy]

so, Earl, now that Rev. Wright is officially severed from Obama, are ya happy?

I don't think so. Obama seemed to be in the clutches of great pain as he publically severed his relationship with his former pastor, the man who once inspired his aspirations with the audacity of hope.

GOD bless them both.

[justobserve]

Why is it what Wright said or does reflect on Obama when other candidate's pastor do not. The media should let the matter rest already. It's a personal matter where people go to pray to God. If this is a problem for Obama , it is because the media and the Clintons want it to be so.

[writeaway]

Play me the sound bites where Hagee or the so-called Capitol bunch that supposedly Clinton meets with says "God Damn America", the government developed the AIDS virus to kill black skinned people or anything close. Hagee may have said that God used the AIDS virus to punish homosexuals or Katrina to punish the sinful in New Orleans, outrageous statements but nothing to compare with Wright. And those Wright sound bites only skim the surface of his Black Liberation Theology.

[LinusBern]

I take the opposite view. When Wright said "God-damn America" he was saying the causes of 9/11 were to be found in the actions of the US government. Hagee et. al. claimed the causes were to be found in the sinfulness of of the American people. Frankly the latter view seems far more insulting.

[suekzoo]

Your approach would have failed. VOTERS would never have bought it or been satisfied.

[BlackmaninAmerica]

People are selfish, especially Clinton supporters who say they will never support Obama and those Obama supporters who say they will never support Clinton. I am sorry but you want more of the same with McCain. Higher gas prices, more wars, hmmm, that's what we need. I can't believe the utter selfishness some people have in saying that they will vote for McCain because of what someone's pastor said or how much baggage Clinton has. I am saddened at us progressives sometimes.

[sebocd]

Mr. Hutchinson you sound a bit like Rev. Wright and your criticism of Senator Obama makes no sense. Remember when Senator Obama tried reticence and people like you keep saying " he's avoiding an issue he needs to speak to. The voters need to hear from him about where he stands regarding Pastor Wright". Your blog is sel-serving.

[CeeLee]

Amen
"Obama should have simply issued a statement saying this: Wright is no longer my pastor. And as I have said repeatedly, his views do not reflect mine, and then move on".
Move On!??
What planet have you been living on Ofari Hutchinson? Did you grow up as a African American Male in the United States???
Barack HAS SAID REPEATEDLY that "his views do not reflect mine" and AS USUAL, the Major media outlets with "employees like you" keep bringing up the question. YOU ARE SELF SERVING. You SEEM OF HAVE have a "pulpit" to PROPERLY address the issue in Barack's favor, but like someone lost off the plantation you keep repeating the same racist rhetoric as the major media pundits "you work for". This is part of the reason we STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

[elion10]

Self serving? what? is he supposed to be a Clinton supporter - or do you actually mean, serving himself?

How does it serve Hitchinson to say the truth about Obama?

[c1ee]

Oh come on, if he did exactly as you said, then there will be more criticism. Something along the likes of "How could he throw his pastor under the bus like that, after 20 years! He even presided over his wedding and baptised his children! He is a cold ruthless politician!"

If indeed he did do what you advised him to do, then he would have lost my support. He handled it exactly consistent with what i want in the next president. Someone who tries to understand someone else's predicamenet, gives them the benefit of the doubt, display some loyalty. No more you're-with-us-or-against-us culture.

I should say, however, that i am a bit disappointed Obama throwing him under the bus now. I would have expected a bit more patience, would have expected him to try and settle this in private a bit better. Perhaps he trusted Wright so much that he thought Wright felt ok about his speech on race. Perhaps he feels betrayed that Wright didn't show the same understanding to Obama's predicament as he did to Wright's.

[kravitz]

AP, Media Mistreating Clinton, August 4, 1997
After seeing President Clinton asked a Whitewater question in Mexico and a Paula Jones question in Spain, Cornel Sarosdy wrote to the president and denounced ``the noxious behavior'' of the media.

``I'm not a Clinton supporter; I'd like to see him run out of office,'' Sarosdy said in a telephone interview. But he does not accept the argument that reporters must grab any opportunity to ask a question because they get so few chances.

``Good manners are not to be given up simply for the excuse of getting something done,'' he said.

[sarana]

Excellent post! Thank you for stating it so clearly. Obama created this monster for himself.

Obama must drop out of the race. He has succeeded in dividing the party, setting race relations back 30 years, promoting sexism and misogyny, insulting the working class heart of this country and has allowed Wright to rally the Republicans against all Dems.

Obama was toxic before. He will never win in the GE. i hope the super delegates are paying close attention. Otherwise, hello President McCain!

[c1ee]

LOL thanks for the laughs. You were being sarcastic.. right?

[Tellmethetruth]

Totally agree with Sarana - Obama needs to do what is best for the country and the Democratic party and drop out of this race and either refund the millions he has swindled from many African American loyal to him because of race, or give the funds to the Democratic party to defeat McCain in November.

Everyone I know is switching from Obama to Clinton, and if not Clinton, then McCain in the general.

When Obama loses in Indiana and even in N. Carolina, he needs to graceously bow out of the race. Maybe he can recover to run again in 12 more years when he has gotten the very needed experience to be President and everyone has forgotten about Rev. Wright.

[DBriz]

Sarana, you must be nuts.

[knerd]

sarana, it would be a gift to you if you could see yourself as others see you.
If you aren't following the GOP playbook or a member of the Hillary brigade, then you are surely trapped in the politics of the past. And your choices within that paradigm are limited.

Start to hope a bit. Get fired up and ready to go. Don't answer back in kind and keep on the high road.

There are so many new citizens paying attention to politcs these days that most of them are now seeing what the past system has brought us all to. And they want (gasp!) change !!!

[todayslies]

"The more optimistic Obama backers point to Bill Clinton as the best example of a much admired, effective political leader who rebounded from a scandal and attacks and whose popularity ratings soared to the stars. That's true but there are some big differences. Clinton was a battle tested, second term president, the economy was booming, there were no major foreign policy crises, and millions of supporters including many Republicans saw the GOP assaults on him as nothing more than vindictive partisan politics."

Earl, we're not talking about the Lewinsky scandal. We're talking about the Flowers scandal Clinton survived before he even became president.

[basilfomenter]

It's almost incomprehensible to me that during a time of war, soaring energy prices, massive numbers of home foreclosure, food shortages, environmental threats, genocide, and any number of other pressing issues, we spend our time playing these ridiculous guilt-by-association games. I say "almost" because I remember that we live in a country that elected a complete mediocrity like George W. Bush not once, but twice. And it was done through the manipulation of false images; he was the "compassionate conservative" in 2000, and the "strong leader in a time of war" in 2004. Campaign-concocted fantasies that were amplified by a media that is always voraciously seeking a narrative they feel they can sell.

I'm so tired of people like Hutchinson, who sacrifice their intellect on the altar of their own bias. He's just another person who's more interested in winning trivial battles than solving problems. Pointless.

[bg1]

Hope for Corporate America.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080428_hope_for_corporate_america/

How progressive is he?

[amblush617]

I'm not reaally surprised .. been saying to family .. he had to have some mighty BIG backers for him to make it this far .... seems there's alot of people who just Hillary & Bill is bad, they will do anything to beat Hillary .... even back Obama ...

[LinusBern]

I try and keep an open mind, but there are too many Hillary supporters posting here who are off their rockers. In January alone Obama raised $28 million dollars. 90% was raised from donations of less than $100 and 40% from donations under $25. Hardly the BIG money backers that you have inhabiting your fevered imagination. As with most of the criticisms that seem to come from the Clinton camp if you shine your light back her way, I think you'll find she has "some mighty BIG backers".

Actually I've noticed a number of other arguments made against Obama which are even better arguments against Hillary. For example "with all of Obama's advantages, he hasn't been able to put Hillary away, must mean he won't be able to beat McCain." Well Hillary came into it with huge national name-recognition, she was the wife of the most popular Democratic president since JFK, and she was assumed for the past 4 years to be the heir apparent to the leadership, and yet she hasn't managed to put Obama away, must mean she can't beat McCain.

[shockjock]

Earl, when I read all your posts it seems to me that you are near the front of the line of the Clinton Gray Train.
Did you receive funding from Bill Clinton? Have you been promised more is Hillary is elected? Were you provided with "Walking Around Money" by the campaign. Do you see Armstrong Williams when you look in the mirror.

You are obvious Mr Hutchinson - shame on you.

[luxou812]

I'm an Obama supporter who happens to have listened to Reverend Wright and think he is speaking truth to power. He seems like a kind and gentle person who I would trust my children with. All the discussion is about how BO effected (affected?) and not about what RW said, which is not that bad for a "free" country, and is pretty accurate.

Mr. Hutchinson article sounds spot on to me. I have lost respect for BO during this and the FOX interview. I'm not jumping ship, but BO could have handled all of this much better.

[NetProphet]

I agree. He could have handled this latest "press conference" with more audacity.

[MrGiggles]

This is a country of 300,000,000 people made up of black, white, asian, hispanic , native american, the list goes on. And EVERYONE of these groups is looking to elect a leader who will fullfill their hopes and ease their doubts and fears.

Revereand Wright has every right to vocalize his own frutrations but if he thinks ranting about an America that all of us share in and value is going to somehow solve the problems that we must all face together with then he should be cast out.

Good for you Barrack.

[floydSmoot]

I'm with you luxou. I've listened to Wright at length and agree with much (but not all).

If Obama is a true democrat, his cowardly side had to come out sooner or later. His summary divorce from Wright is the politically expedient (and disgustingly predictable) thing to do, but not indicative of a leader or someone who values all viewpoints.

The dems are going to fuck up the greatest free lunch in history.

[WIpatriot]

And Earl, you are your own worst enemy.

[queermagic]

EARL, you are correct brother.

That's like me testifying to the fact I sat in Marianne Williamson lectures for the last 20 years and had no idea she was teaching the principles from A Course In Miracles.

Who in their right -(wright) mind would believe me? I mean come on. I would sound ridiculous or worse, I would look like I was PRETENDING to be something I wasn't. This is a huge issue for Obama surrounding integrity and honesty. Where is the authenticity?

This places Obama in a war of words with his own mentor/pastor. One pitted against the other. After 20 years of relationship this raises the question, who do you believe?

Also, his wife made a comment that seemingly falls in line with the teaching of Wright. What would make her say such things about America? Even if she believed it to be true and this was her experience, would she have said it out loud during her husband's campaign? Only if she had been hearing it in the pulput of her church every Sunday and deemed it appropriate.

These are valid questions to be raised and valid questions to be answered.

[c1ee]

You are the one wh odrunk the kool aid. When did Obama say he never heard Wright's controversial statements? The only time he said that was when he was asked a specific question on whether he had heard Wright say the 'god damn america' sermon, and he said no, and he was indeed not in the pulpit at that sermon. Did you even see or read Obama's speech on race? I'll feed it to you, since you obviously have an aversion to the truth.

"I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy. For some, nagging questions remain. Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely - just as I'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed."

[theswirls.blogspot.com]

Earl, come on man.

Obama has done the best he can to remove this whole Wright thing. What would you have done if you were Obama?

Secondly, you are still asking why Obama sat there for 20 years. Are fiery sermons reason enough to leave a church that one has been loyal to? A church that gave him spiritual shelter when he sought it? As a devout Christian, I think the answer is no.

But now that he is going around creating more controversy and confirming people's worst fears, I think Obama is right to come out and say "Okay, no more. This guy is wrong, and he will hurt me."

So I simply fail to see your point. If you even made one, that is.

[SpinCycleRadio]

I disagree, the thing that put wright back in the media was Wright and the Media. Obama certainly didn't force Wright in the National Press Club Q&A to emphatically restate all those statements about the US bringing 9/11 on ourselves, the government inventing AIDS, Luis Farrakan, and american imperialism. You can't say that they were being taken out of context. They were direct questions and direct answers.

And I think that this time, by pushing things to a really unequivocal renouncing of the statements Obama can actually talk less about Wright than before. Its over folks, nothing more to see here.

Yes there is a comparison to be made to Bill Clinton but it'n not when he was a second term president but a first-time presidential candidate in 1992. Remember his having to denouce Sister Souljah?

[lenners]

i have finally started listening to Reverend Wright on PBS and some recent clips from the news, I never cared before. I did not buy into the issue. But now I have deicided I like the guy. I agree with him, and I think he is kinda cool. I like him much more than Obama anyway...well I'm a young Hillary supporter so think what you want.

Ya know...people say that the youth attach to Obama because of his divergence from typical politics and his...well I dunno but yeah he is a "cool guy" apparently. I think if anyone is being the 'rebel' in all of this its Wright. Wright is the guy that seems to "cool" to me to be honest. Obama is no different from anyone else, why my peers cannot see this is upsetting. I'll take the high road and be the example for the older teens like myself and attach myself blindly to the real "cool" guy, Reverend Jeremiah Wright. He did serve in our military remember....

(im not a self-rightious, pretentious 19 yr old...thats my twin...)

[sebocd]

Dear lenners, say hello to Maggie Williams for me, if you see her at the Clinton campaign office today.