Rangel blasts Blitzer: Brings up Bizarre beliefs of Falwell and Robertson
By John Amato Saturday May 03, 2008 4:31pm
UPDATE: I'll be on with Sam Seder at 2:05 PST)
Of course the media never critiques the Republicans over their relationship (should I call it a marriage?) to the extreme religious right in the same fashion as they do all Democratic politicians. There's an incredibly tough double standard in play here. We've tried to get them to do it, but they even ignore McCain's new relationship with Pastor Hagee for the most part. Should we produce commercials about that? McCain's Media is going to be a force to reckon with in the fall. And Rangel is a Clinton supporter if any of you are concerned with that fact.
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Blitzer: The criticism of Barack Obama is that what Jeremiah Wright said at the National Press Club, Congressman Rangel, was no different than what he's been saying for some time, and he should have known that these controversial remarks would be made. Is this explanation that Senator Obama is making good enough for you?
Rangel: It's disgraceful that he has to make any explanation for anything. The intrusion of the media and Republicans into the sacred relationship that worshipers have with their spiritual leaders I think is going to come back to haunt us. To think that we have to go into the lives and the beliefs of Rabbis and Priests and ministers and Imams is absolutely ridiculous. We've got a war on. We've got an economy that's splintered. I think the media should be more responsible and start dealing with those issues. I don't think many people care what reverend Wright thinks and I don't see why any candidate should have to explain what ..
Blitzer: But Congressman, even Senator Obama last Sunday said this was a legitimate issue given the nature of -- He wants to be President of the United States. If there's a right wing politician, let's say a Republican politician that has an extraordinarily close relationship with a pastor who is making outrageous statements has been a member of that church for 20 years. Wouldn't that be fair game?
Rangel: Of course not. Of course he's a candidate. He doesn't want to take all of you on and I'm probably over the hill but the truth is that you guys know that his beliefs have nothing to do with someone that went to the church, and if we've got to get into the Jerry Falwell's and into the Robertson's and to the number of people who have what appears to other religions to be bizarre beliefs we'll never get to the issues that Americans were concerned about. I know that every American is more concerned with who is going to be a better Presidential candidate and a better President more than they are on anything that happens in the church that Senator Obama went to.
The Republicans have made it their mission to pander to extremists in religion so with Wolf's logic why then hasn't Blitzer ever gone after all the Republicans who are aligned with them? Because of a terrible double standard in the media. McCain's Media strikes again.
billw made the videos and says: Even though the media is still trying to fixate on Obama's pastor, there are already plenty of signs Rep Rangel is right. A recent NBC-WSJ poll indicated that voters are much more concerned with McCain's close ties to the Bush administration and its policies, and the cash-strapped NRCC just spent more than $53,000 running attack ads trying to link Obama and Rev Wright to Don Cazayoux (D-LA), who won in a special election Sat in a solidly Republican district they had held since 1974, with the outgoing Rep. Richard Baker (R) having won with more than 70% of the vote in 2004, the last year he had a challenger.
I know I'm repeating myself here, but this IS the subject and it needs to be driven home.
The Democrats need to Start HAMMERING the Republicans about Robertson/Hagee/Falwel.
We need to remind them that they are mostly being Racist by only getting on a Black pastor, while the others White Pastors get off with not only saying anything but Doing anything.
(like getting caught with young boys, using crank for sex etc.)
Associating with a pastor who makes crazy conspiracy talks is as smart as a politician hanging out with the Lyndon LaRouche crowd.
♠Bangkok-Bob♠ @ 1:
This is absolutely true. The pastor in Colorado who resigned after it was revealed he was in the closet *AND* a meth-head (who cares if he's gay as long as he isn't gay-bashing from the pulpit?); Robertson's hate-speech about killing Supreme Court justices; Hagee's anti-Catholic trash and comments about NoLa being punished by God. All of this stuff should be every bit as front page as Wright--or more so, given that lives were lost.
Race isn't the only bias revealed here by the media. It's clearly political.
What about Hillary associating with a man that ignored his religious vows, and costed the tax payers millions of dollars with the right wing investigations? We need to get our government out of people religion and out of people bedrooms. Of course the CO-operative media clowns are paid to keep us stupid. GO WOLF, GO WOLF But we will not fall for such stupid stuff you all call news.
RobertD @ 3:
Stupid point to be made here.
By moving the political dialog to religion the republicans are controlling the dialog.
The dialog needs to be moved by the democrats.
The democrats need to start making adds about the Keating 5.
And Rangel is a Clinton supporter if any of you are concerned with that fact.
John Amato, Huh?
Blitzer got squarely smacked in the jaw today by Rangel. Although I'm am Obama supporter, I enjoyed every minute of it. I've always loved Rangel just for that unique quality -- bluntness!
Blitzer didn't know what do to next other than to go on to play the Wright clips already pre-programmed by his network. Blitzer was exposed today as the empty suit he actually is.
Involved @ 4:
So your claiming that it was Bill Clintons fault that the GOP wasted 65 Million dollars trying to prosecute bill for a BJ because the other things they tried were wrong?
Former ambassador Joseph Wilson has some questions. (Too bad the GOP already outed his wife as a CIA operative. You could've used that.)
I'll believe in Jesus (and any/all the others) when he makes my shoes levitate.
If god is all powerfull, and god can do anything, can god make a rock so big even god can't lift it?
When being ignorant all by yourself ain't enough, you can join a religion....
I Like Pie @ 5:
Great point, but maybe that needs to start after the convention. That way, it won't be "old news" when it gets seen by most voters. Just a thought. I kind of felt that way about the "100 years war" ad. In order for it to be effective, most voters will need to know there's a race on at all...and many don't care yet. Until the conventions are over, many people are still paying attention to Dancing with American Idol's Biggest Loser's Big Brother Survivor of the Stars.
♠Bangkok-Bob♠ @ 1:
I'm always getting hammered.
10 fwacbar
When Homer was getting high on medicinal weed, he asked Ned Flanders if God could make a Twinkee so big even he couldn't lift it.
Of course questions like these are called begging the question, because like, "When did you stop beating your wife" any answer would be self-defeating.
ysbaddaden @ 12:
Precisely why I have to use an anonymous server company (http://anonymityanywhere.com/) on line. Here the penalty for using weed or YABA is severe, like death.
First of all, this is Sweeps Month for all of the networks. They need to have very high viewership numbers to take to their advertisers during the "buy" or up front period where advertisers guage where to place their vast revenues.
The only way we can send a message is to mess with their numbers--we simply boycott them all. This will have a terrifically negative impact on their bottom lines--I am sick of this crap--it has been going on for 7 almost 8 weeks now. There is little or no coverage of the war, the economy, job losses, the environment, the criminality of this administration--I'm am sick and tired of being played by these major league asshats who are way overpaid.
Blitzer, Russert, Matthews, Wallace, use terms like "elitist" and electabilty--which is code word for a black man. They think they are being subtle but they are not. For this month, I refuse to watch any of them. I think they are absolute pigs.
Go over to Raw Story and read about the plans to build a huge shopping center in Baghdad, along with malls and shops--this on our flipping dime. I want all funds to Iraq stopped until this is investigated. Have we heard any of this from this tools in the media? No, of course not--yet the plans have been ok'd at the Pentagon and a contract has been awarded.
Save your sanity--watch Colbert and Stewart--screw the rest of them.
It was a bizrrre interview and think I saw Wolf get his feeling hurt with Rangel's last comment.
I am sure there will be McGee ads too.
If anything, Rangel was far too kind in his words to Wolf Blitzkreig. It never ceases to amaze me with what the right wing can say, and get away with, as opposed to what democrats are "allowed" to say.
My personal argument against the existence of the traditional monotheistic view of God is that (remember all you wannabe RWITs, I'm a SoBap) the poor have historically suffered, and that Jews suffered 2,000 years of Christian persecution culminating in the Shoah, both without a God that (no joke) killed a guy because he wouldn't impregnate somebody interfering. Where was God at Cologne, at Masada, at Babi Yar and Auschwitz. The Aztec gods were about as useful to them as Yahweh was to His people, there. The silence of those years is deafening.
Not to mention the 9,999,999,999+ other questions I have as to His existence.
Bingo, " you guys know is belief has nothing to do with what was said in a church " , precisely and who ever shows up on these so called shows , need to go after these agenda driven propagandist , like Blitzer , who is no more a " journalist than a garbage man " who actually works for a living .
The first week Rev, Wright was a mild semi " controversy " but after MONTHS and MONTHS of daily assertions , " How will it hurt obama " .." can he recover " How will he distance himself " "has he said enough " and to show how despicable people like WOLF " AIPAC " BLITZER really are , he actually had a banner , " No response from Rev Wright " after Obama's speech and having the FKN NERVE to make up a story and headline up , Questioning why he hasn't responded , WHY HE HASN'T RESPONDED " . You have got to be FKN kidding . This smut peddler OBVIOUSLY has an agenda to smear Obama , the same FKN way Fox , NBC does , with the constant drum beat of DAILY, HOURLY guilt by association , it makes you think we live in 60's USSR . PRAVDA would be extremely impressed with the amount of blatant propaganda and smear tactics used by these clowns .
And I KNEW once obama criticized Rev. Wright and completely distanced him , the CABLE cesspool , the disingenuous pundits would what....accuse him of " throwing him under the bus " You saw it coming . The blatant way these propagandist try to have it both ways needs to stop .
Blitzer has a problem with Obama and it's because of the long simmering distrust by jews of blacks--and vice versa. Blitzer doesn't even bother to hide his feelings.
Rico @ 7:
Blitzer is CNN's former food reporter. The only reason he is where he is now is
CNN pays their people peanuts, and Blitzer knows he's not worth a cent more.
Eleanor Clift on McLaughlin responded to Pat Buchanan critiquing Obama for not realizing that Wright is a wacko, by saying that then he must have realized what the priests in his church were up to - the highlight of the day.
Keep Speaking the Truth - People are Being Killed
Thank you CBS for allowing Mary Tillman to speak
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/01/60minutes/main4061656.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-EwReGl88o
CONGRESS: Please Stop Bush and Cheney NOW
Today we are Remembering:
4 Students were murdered in Ohio for standing up to
Nixons Illegal War in Cambodia.
http://www.may4.org
And This
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1eyuH1-8A4
[I'll let it go this one time, but your comment is very off topic. Feel free to post something like this on an open thread if you can't find a related thread. Thank You. Site Monitor]
Let's cut to the real deal!
Vote the GOP BUMS OUT!
it's not just right and left, dems and repubs. it's very much white america's fear of black america's hostility and resentment, which obama has done his best to address. indirectly until he was forced to call it by its name. and i know it makes us feel like cavemen, and we'd rather assign this odd imbalance of judgment and examination to republicans vs democrats, but there is a reason you can frame it any way you want and try to turn scrutiny toward mccain and hagel, etc, and yet it refuses to stick. white america is not afraid of whites coming into power. and so the scrutiny doesnt resonate. but all this "if he's been hearing this ['this' being Damn Whitey] for 20 years, doesnt he believe it?" is not about a democrat coming into power.
the devious thing is that wright made such a mockery of obama's attempt to speak to us on a level that wasn't centered on the racism opposing his run or race at all that now any recognition of those dynamics seems tacky, like we're pulling a Wright. but all the reframing in the world won't make the fear of black resentment and power go away.
i'm not sure what the response ought to be. i do think its a good idea to point out the hypocrisy so i'm not saying dont frame mccain with the same judgments. just pointing out why it wont take off like wildfire. i'm also not saying the repubs grip on the media doesnt come into play, of course it does. but that's just not IT at the bottom of it all, i dont think. after all, why aren't clintons' connections being scrutinized?
exactamente. its only the black candidate with the black pastor with the tongue of black fire who has everyone freaked out.
and in a way, i can see why Wright [as gross and self-serving as it was] sort of doubled down his anger and belligerence at the NAACP presser. in his "divisive" and intractable outlook, he probably feels that obama is catering to Whitey. and feeling the pressure to get out of obama's way, Wright has to show the world and his community that he will not in a million years pacify the white view. he bristles at the thought. to him, that means another form of slavery. we dont have to identify with it, but it wouldn't hurt to see where he's coming from. and i'm guessing obama sees wright as a dinosaur and a remnant of the race-hate that obama means to overcome.
both these men, these black men, have traveled different paths, both paths poignant and understandable to a mind that has struggled with non-whiteness and how to fit into the dominant culture, and what that "fitting in" means. but they have traveled in diametrically opposed directions.
Meanwhile the people in TVland are milking it because it puts them back in power, and the black men under scrutiny (control) and further, pacifies the types of minds that need to feel soothed by seeing all this black anger and black-centric conversation.
I think all of this playing out is a fantastic opportunity to move discussion and dialogue forward on these matters, if we don't let fear stop us.
Frank Rich got it right today.
The main problem with evaluating the reichwing religious leaders, in retaliation for the MSM evaluating Wright, is one could argue two wrongs make a right.
Additionally, that could be seen as a violation of religious liberty.
Think of it this way. All religions have some beliefs that may seem peculiar to others. Some Jews feel that they're entitled to the land they hold now in Israel by divine right. That God gave it to them in the Old Testament like a cosmic Century 21 agent.
Maybe this has been addressed, but WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU ON JOHN HAGEE, MR. BLITZER?
This won't wait for an open thread:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080504-1116-bn04bomb.html
[You're right. I sent this on to the rest of the C&L team. Thanks! Site Monitor]
CNN has become an almost totally useless channel in the past 2 years.
Whoops, Sorry to John.
I just realized it was May 4th.
I was going to interconnect.... As we remember May 4th...
Many of the same clowns and criminals from the Nixon era are back
under the guise of and posing as "moral values".
I'd love to say Wolfe Blitzkrieg got pwned but I'm afraid we will never hear about legitimate issues again until every reporter on television is eviscerated. This country appears to be so fucked....
Why doesn't the Democratic party get the same control over the interviews that the Repugs have?
They can demand the questions beforehand and what are no go topics or the appearances are off.
The Repugs have total message control and not one second of screen time isn't choreographed.
The Dems have little sway in the steady negative tone and too often it becomes a Sunday morning shooting gallery.
Rangel held his own but he should have been throwing back Blitzers questions with his own on why Blitzer wasn't grilling McCain on the same issues.
"Yeah, fuzz-face. I'll answer your question when you answer mine first."
You only get pushed around if you let them.
The Dems have to grow some balls and demand control of their face time.
Right on, Right on, Right on Charlie Rangel
I never could stand Charlie Rangel's voice for too long, but he could of spoke on this issue all night long, and I would enjoyed every minute of it. It is time to tell the media to sit their asses down, think about what truly matters, and present it to the American people in fair fashion. I am tired of the distractive nature of the press. It makes you wonder how much supportive politics the major networks are playing.
So far, the media has said nothing about the lack of coverage in Iraq. It appears the would be right-wing power brokers are too busy making the news to report it. Too busy trying to make something out of Rev. Wright's comments. Of course, they would be the last to admit they have become cheap and phony. What really angers me is the media's tendency to set back and evaluate what they have created in third party reflective analysis voice. I mean after bringing the issue up for 27 news cycles, they engage their special guest with the question: "Is this issue concerning the Rev. Wright starting to hurt Barack Obama?" It kind makes you wonder are they checking to see how much damage they have done. So if the guest would of said it did not hurt him at all, does that mean they will continue to bring it up until it does?
As noted, Rangel is a Clinton supporter; one of the main critics of the media's tactics have been Bill and Hillary Clinton, and they have the negative critical scars to prove it. The media have really blast them at every opportunity. The media, especially CNN and MSNBC, hates to be told how cheap they have become. I would not be surprise to see a "hit" piece of journalism toward Rangel in the next news cycle. I said it first.
I have lost the drive to watch cable News TV anymore, especially since they have become too conservative and manipulating. As I watched them totally divide the Democrats during their primary nominee stage, I have really be concerned for them crossing the line and saw a need for them to say they are campaigning for the right.
Joseph
Che's Lounge @ 29:
Wow. Any political things going on in SD right now?
[Brent Wilkes wa sentenced in February, but nothing has been filed against Foggo. And there's the ongoing investigation of Congressman Doolittle(R). Plus, it's a Federal Courthouse! You'd think that, following OKC and 9/11 there'd be tight security, no? Site Monitor]
god love Charlie Rangel. This is how all Dems MUST frame this issue. Hell, Repubs should do it too but it's not in their interest too and the vast majority are unsalvageable on this issue.
fastfeat @ 35:
Blackwater's return and immigration are the two main hotbutton issues here right now. Could be extremists from either side. Too early to tell and no one has as yet been reported to have claimed responsibility.
Che's Lounge @ 37:
Yeah, forgot about the Blackwater issue.
Does seem a little severe for a Cinco de Mayo celebration though.
Beaverboy @ 33:
[Deleted. Pleases don't make entire comments in All Caps and/or All Bold. These are considered shouting. Please keep your volume down. Feel free to post it again, but use the lower case, please. Thank you. Site Monitor]
Che's Lounge @ 37:
I am wondering why they are changing all their phone numbers at the court house. This has nothing to do with them being inundated with questions from reporters. They published the new numbers. This building has been compromised by somebody for some reason.
http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056982&_dad=portal&_sc...
fwacbar @ 10:
And when your full of yourself you can become an atheist.
The news media is nothing but a joke.
I Like Pie @ 40:
Yeah, but your link is to State Courts- it's the Federal Courthouse that's been bombed.
[Okay, folks, time to take this to the open thread. Che's Lounge has linked it there. Thank you. Site Monitor]
ysbaddaden @ 2:
90% of what Reverend Wright said is, what we call, THE TRUTH.
Rangel's comment said nothing that really applies. Why is it in bold-face?
The headline says "blasts Blitzer."
Which part does Rangel do that?
Insight missing is that when you ask this of the more race-baiter types like Rangel, they are most likely to turn this into a racial issue, which the race-baiters are so well-practiced at.
It seems there's a large portion of the country that doesn't seem to forget that Jim Crow doesn't get enforced anymore....
Or that slavery was abolished....
Damn. Seems black politicians, and pastors as well, are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
Joseph @ 34:
So the way to respond is to turn it into a racial issue and then blame the other side for making it a racial issue?
I think Barak might have something to say about that.
STOP George @ 44:
Then by your own admition 10% of what he said isn't true.
Go Rangel!! It's time these shills are called on their shinanigans. It isn't "all about ratings"...it's "all about the future of the USA". You have been complicit in bringing this country to it's knees.
Way to slap his face Congressman. I know it won't wake him up, but at least he'll remember the slap and how stupid he is and how he sold his soul for "ratings".
Beauteeeful. Rangle you just keep telling it like it and make the media ashamed. They have an obligation to the people of this nation and they have been so derelict in their duty.
CD @ 48:
No. 10% of what he said is debatable. Some of it of which I don't agree with. But the majority of what he said (about the blowback, etc.) is absolutely true.
It's a shame that Americans can't get over that patriotic bullshit to see this truth.
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STOP George @ 51:
I must agree. There are two great evils in the world. One is to be blatantly wrong. The other to be blatantly right.
Stick that in your ugly gob, Wolf. I say to you, "Suck on this."
Add the whackadoodle Rev. Moon into the mix as well --- long ties to the Bushies.
now that is how dean shouldve handled it
and that is why dean has to go
General_Rennenkampf @ 52:
That's not the issue here. The issue should be -- why does the corporate media ignore debate on their a priori "truths" which are not truths at all. Playing to people's patriotism is not a healthy debate, btw.
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42 nutjob Says: The news media is nothing but a joke.
===================
With the power to get Amerikkka into two wars, and print get-out-of-jail-free cards for war criminlas. While citizens watch, eating Cheetos, farting, and waving their flags.
tanglewood @ 20:
Uh, tanglewood, be a bit more judicious with the inferences on motive, especially when they involve a generalization about an entire group. I was born a Jew, and, while I'm not a practicing anything, I'm an Obama supporter. I don't know what is up with Blitzer and his particular/peculiar motivations. From watching many clips of him, the most that I'm willing to venture in that department is that he does not come across as very sharp and he seems to read from a prepared script at best.
In fact, as far as I can tell, the vast majority of modern news anchors are intellectually empty suits, chosen for their looks and voices and not their ability to bring real light to their work. Since we know the TV news business is about pulling in the maximum number of eyeballs, I'd be more inclined to ascribe Blitzer's behavior to pandering what sells than his Jewishness.
In any case, we'd all be better off labeling opinion as such and at least offering the best evidence possible to support the ones we have rather than pretending to know a person's innermost thoughts and motivations.
STOP George @ 51:
My bad I wrote before thinking that one all the way through.
The only truth is, whatever hope Obama promised has been thoroughly pissed on by Americans.
And that means everybody who lends their eyes to these pathetic corporate multi-nationals, so desperate for cash they feel the need to do anything to get eyes.
To create conflict where there is none, to dismantle anything worthwhile, to soil anything good, to destroy the very country they're meant to preserve by presenting a fair representation of the truth, by exposing the very corruption they've become part of.
The people are the only body who can destroy this monster. Unfortunately, they're too entranced by the glittery toy to see it's a black hole.
CD @ 59:
No problem at all -- That's why I love these blogs, it allows you to "think" and "debate" fluidly. Unlike the corporate media.
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can we start a e-mail/phone call campaign to tell CNN et al to stop the Wright crap? I mean tell them to resist the urge to go there. I have written Wolfie, Anderson and the CNN news director to please please stop this nonsense. It becomes a media driven narrative that pushes the polls rather than news following the voters mind. Anyone?
MarcyJ @ 6:
Not really sure what your questioning John about.
Rangel Remains in Clinton’s Camp in Her Battle With Obama
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/us/politics/22rangel.html?ex=135865800...
Charles B. Rangel supports Hillary Clinton
http://www.politicalbase.com/people/hillary-clinton/2297/
He is and has been a superdelegate on her side for quite some time.
General_Rennenkampf @ 46:
Why are you making this about racial aspects? Let's not go back 40-50 yrs. to Klansmen and rioting. Or, more accurately, to the mindset that defined those times. Obama, on his own, brings a message of evolving beyond and above all that. The issue keeps DEvolving every time the issue of patriotism is smothered out by claims of racism.
(You see I noted the subject as -"the issue of" - NOT by claiming anti-patriotism.This post is NOT to argue that issue)
I think Barak Obama would like to handle this in his own way and deserves that respect.
If the Rev.Wright issue works against him in the end, let it be about what it really is.
Without all the race-baiters thinking they are coming to the aid of Obama and distorting the issue, the general public will think it through on its on terms without them.
As a matter of fact Obama himself has said that is the way he will process it should he lose. Knowing of what I've seen and heard from that guy, I'll take his approach to race over those who insist on running it first up the flagpole with every horn that blows.
uncle joe hussein mccarthy @ 55:
That was cool how FOX make-up had Dean's eyebrows painted in tiger stripes.While he tried to glare and look demeaning. Chris Whatshisname busted lose with giggles at the sight a couple times.
Hussein sciguy Hussein (my middle name is not Hussein) @ 58:
Hi Hussein sciguy,...Don't know if you've cruised through here often but that's a tall order. You've just labeled the starting platform from which threads usually take off.
Excerpts from a Beliefnet.com interview with John McCain
John McCain: Constitution Established a 'Christian Nation'
Gilgoff: Has the candidates’ personal faith become too big an issue in the presidential race?
McCain: Questions about that are very legitimate.... And it's also appropriate for me at certain points in the conversation to say, look, that's sort of a private matter between me and my Creator.... But I think the number one issue people should make [in the] selection of the President of the United States is, 'Will this person carry on in the Judeo Christian principled tradition that has made this nation the greatest experiment in the history of mankind?'"
[...]
Gilgoff: Many prominent pro-life activists have objected to your campaigns even though you have a more staunchly pro-life record than any of the Republican presidential frontrunners: Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, or Fred Thompson.
McCain: I find it a bit ironic. Part of it may have had to do with campaign finance reform…. But I continue to establish relationships with people like [televangelist] John Hagee, Pastor Richard Land [president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy arm], my own Pastor Dan Yeary and others in the evangelical community. There are issues, also, that I'm in agreement with them on such as climate change and support for the state of Israel. I hope that I can continue the dialog.
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/220/story_22001.html
I absolutely do not want cnn to stop on the wright stuff. I'm serious. I know you think I'm a troll. But when I talk to my republican dad, who's NEVER voted for a democrat and he says "when will these bastards on CNN start talking about something that matters" then I know they've overplayed their hand.
Howard Kurtz covered Bill Moyers criticism of the media this morning on Reliable Sources. But he conveniently omitted the part where Moyers ran down a list of all the offensive comments made by white preachers, including the anti-Semitic comments made by Billy Graham in the White House during a conversation with Richard Nixon. Of course, CNN could never admit America's Pastor hates Jews now, could they?
BTW, I throw up in my mouth just a little bit every time I hear someone use that expression -- "America's Pastor."
jon @ 69:
What does "America" need a pastor for, anyway? I thought Christianity's ideal was triumphing over differences. Too many in the Church still think the proper response to lack of faith or sufficient
hypocrisypiety is to burn at the stake.I don't know how people can defend Wright. Of course the main reason is he is obama's pastor. And the good old boys will defend obama no matter what he does.
Of course Robertson, Falwell and Dobson are butts and they should be censured as well as any pastor who gives such outrageous speeches. But fair is fair. For the last eight yers the Democrats have been telling all the stupid, racist, and homophobic actions of these preachers.
WHY IN THE HELL IS WRIGHT EXEMPT. It doesn't make any difference what color you are if you preach hate everyone should comdemn it. What I find so damn offensive about obama and Wright is....obama sat on his butt every Sunday listening to this man for 20 long years. If he was such a religious and honest person as he is now trying to say he is.....I think he would have left the church after the first couple of sermons.
Marge @ 71:
This simply isn't true. It's already been proven that Obama was out of state when Wright gave his "God damn America" speech. Just because he was a member of the church for 20 years does not mean he attended every single sermon.
Let's not pretend that everyone who goes to church agrees with everything they hear their preacher say. Should we expect every progressive Christian who's sat through an anti-gay sermon or a sexist sermon renounce and reject their church? Should every Catholic renounce the Vatican for the child abuse cover-up?
Marge @ 71:
Yeah, a state and national senator commuted from Springfield and Illinois every Sunday in a world with Sean Hannity willing to criticize a Democrat using national funds to visit his or her sick grandma. Uh, huh.
Are the Dems being told not to mention Hagee? I mean, Puppy Blitzer set the conversation up to go in that direction.
until Americans figure out the source of the dumbing down of the media is that uncontested repetition to 50-70MIL that only the talk radio monopoly can provide, progressives will continue to play politics without a front line.
talk radio does the groundwork repetition for this kind of swiftboating and sets the flavor of the rest for the media. real democracy based on an informed electorate and bipartisanship is impossible without some kind of Fairness Doctrine or demonopolization for talk radio.
it doesn’t matter what wright or obama says- until talk radio is demonopolized or obama supporters start picketing and boycotting the sponsors of the local talk radio stations that give a coordinated pack of liars the biggest soapboxes in the country this bushit will continue.
progressive candidates and causes will continue to get whacked with an invisible 2×4 while media and political analysts wait for the reading and viewing material that attributes the effects of rove’s most important framing tool to political and social shifts instead of coordinated blowhards using the biggest soapboxes in every state.
will @ 17:
Because Dems are too damned concerned with being "nice". So the Repugs and media have taken that to heart and expect obsequiousness from the Dems.
When will the media start hammering the Republicans for pandering to and seeking endorsements from the extreme religious Right? Talk about a bunch of nut cases. In fact, I tend to think that's far worse. Shame on the MSM. They totally disgust me.
fwacbar @ 10:
Amen to that! All preachers are nut jobs. I long for the day when a candidate can say out loud......."You believe what????"
♠Bangkok-Bob♠ @ 1:
I'd be all over that. As soon as the Republicans have a candidate who has made a point of standing behind one of those preachers as the pastor of his adult-lifelong church with whom he or she has had a close relationship; with whom a point was made to refer to as THE main religious authority at all the critical, religious mileposts for the whole immediate family; whom the candidate has held in high regard and proclaimed proudly as his personal spiritual adviser; and finally as his potential spiritual adviser and confidant should he be President.
I think the media would give that just as much attention and the general public would be just as interested, and justifiably so. Personally, I think its a drag that Obama let himself get tied into this guy. He's probably an even more independent and unique problem-solver and thinker without Jeremiah Wright as a personal influence. Definitely better without him in the eyes of an electorate who sees a black man, Obama and likes him, very much, as a presidential candidate yet which sees a black man, Wright and dislikes him as an ideological influence on the candidate (and who has made a lot of noise for 15 minutes.)(And promoted a book.)
Obama has done quite a good job in denouncing the wild notions of Wright and, those that deem him credible are ridin' his train. If they were on his train, they didn't get on because he was black. If they got off, it wasn't because he was black. They had already been on it and he was black then.
So, as to Blitzer doing his watered down job of keeping old news alive, Rangel only succeeded in laying on another layer of racism onto a steaming fetid pile of old news.
Know what Wolf and company? There is a saying that "The truth hurts". You people are so racists that you have become blind to the truth. Senator Obama WILL be the nominee REGARDLESS of what you spin. You have made the extent of your hatred for him so obvious, and when you engage in your spin, your tone alone gives you away. CNN, FOX, fair and balanced? Yea right. Regardless of what you spin, Senator Obama WILL be the Democratic nominee, like it or not. Fair and balanced? Try mentioning about Hagee, Robertson, Falwell, and that lot. What about Iraq, job losses, health care costs, medication cost, gas prices, food prices, wealth disparity, and those who are profiting substantially from Mr Bush's war. You know whom they are. Those are the issues that you deliberately ignore, and instead, concentrate on crap . Why do you not report on issues of that we care about that affect our very existence? Instead you are bent hell on derailing Senator Obama. You guys are in for a rude awakening, and Oh! the backlash.
After the terrible treatment of Senator Clinton by the media (NBC especially), your cries of "unfair media" treatment of any issue fall on deafs ears here.
Too bad , get over it and buck up, as Hillary has done. Stop whining. You expect them to be fair Silly kids.
I appreciate Mr. Rangel's response, although my slant on the entire issue is quite different. Rather than dwelling on who is right or wrong, who should be accused or excused (180 degrees), I am most concerned with how it all played out (90 degrees).
Barack H. Obama might have resolved the debacle he created, if he could only have been honest. For over a year, Obama engaged in a drawn out, disingenuous series of equivocations, obfuscations, and misdirections (tantamount to lying) -- ranging from inferences of not being present, to hearing things that made him uneasy, to an avowal that he would have left the church or said something, if Wright had not recently retired.
Reverend Wright owes me no further explanations. Whether or not I agree with, endorse, rationalize, etc. his (many or few) words, I do recognize that he speaks from his own experiences and passions. He ha