Not to keep harping on this, but ... I've seen zero blowback on Senator Obama's admission of his closer ties with Rezko while everyone has been distracted by Rev. Wright. I didn't watch his speech yesterday, but people seem to accept his explanation that, I gather, its ok for blacks to hate America. (His message might have lost something in translation.)
Now, its a terrible mistake for supporters and opponents to assume that "everything happens for a reason" and there is some [malign] genius behind everything that happens in politics (the way that both Republicans and Democrats assuming that Karl Rove is behind everything bad that happens to the Dems and everything good that happens to the Reps). But I note that Senator Obama chose to let two different stories slip out on the same day, one of which has overshadowed the other. The one that has gotten all the attention is one that is good to get out of the way now and one that he had an answer for. If anyone has the bad taste to bring up the other story now, well that's old news and this campaign is about moving America forward.
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Forward? And here I thought he was all about moving it upward. Me, I'd back the one who promised to keep it on an even keel, but that's just the way I was brought up.
It is often said of an ambitious politician that "He would run over his own grandmother to be elected."
However, until Barack Obama's speech in Philadelphia Tuesday, I had never seen a politician actually do it.
Remember the Louisiana race where the message was "Vote for the crook, not the racist"? Rezko's cash can be returned, and Americans aren't shocked by politicians hanging with shady characters. But he can't undo all those Sundays with Wright, whose sermons are indeed shocking for most Americans.
My take as well.
I have never been a big fan of Martin Marty, but I was shocked this morning (on NPR) to hear him say that Wright is representative of 'mainstream black American Christianity.'
For a white atheist, I've spent a fair amount of time in black Christian churches, and Wright is not in the mainstream of the ones I know.
But Harry, aren't you always telling us that churches seed hatred and intolerance? What's the big surprise?
Actually it was 'Vote for the Crook, It's Important.' Probably the best political slogan ever, unless you count 'In your guts, you know he's nuts', but that one was never on a bumper sticker AFAIK. But as far as the Wright videos are concerned, I can't agree with you. Most people will never see or hear them. What they will hear is the repackaging (crazy old uncle, but you know he's not that far away from what most other black pastors are saying, and anyway you just wouldn't understand...) It is not too surprising to hear that NPR is already on board with that, and there's no reason to think that it won't work just fine.
NPR listeners are Obama's base.
I said shocked, not surprised.
It's true that the black churches I go to (for the gospel singing not the preaching) are all come-to-Jesus churches, only interested in personal salvation and not the social gospel.
But I'd say those are the mainstream, not Trinity and Glide Memorial.
A commenter at (I think) Volokh asked if anybody remembered Rev. Ike. I sure do.
If Obama wasn't a senator he'd be Rev. Ike or maybe Rev. Jim Jones.
On the subject of Grandma and the bus: say what you like about Orrin, but that furry fascist does write one heckuva caption on occasion.
Ah, I quickly lost interest and was puzzling about 'typical white person' remarks at, eg, Instapundit. Now I see.
There's over 200 days till the election, and at this rate we will have at least 100 more Obama gaffes to laugh at before November. Don't know if my ribs can take it.
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