Obama, Wright, the KKK, oh my...

Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:14 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Democrats, Republicans, 2008

From NBC's Mark Murray
As we mentioned earlier today, Republicans have been trying to associate Obama and Jeremiah Wright to the Democrat running in that congressional run-off down in Mississippi. Now, Democrats are trying to tie the Republican candidate there to -- of all things -- the KKK.

Roll Call (subscription required) reports that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has dropped a last-minute mailer accusing the GOP candidate, Greg Davis, "of wanting to honor Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, who is considered to be the founder of the Ku Klux Klan, with a statue in Southaven, the suburban community where he serves as mayor. The mailer calls the incident 'a moral outrage' and says: 'Now Greg Davis wants to go to Congress. It’s up to us to stop him.'"

More: "Davis spokesman Ted Prill called the mailer '11th-hour gutter politics' and said Davis never supported bringing a statue of Forrest to Southaven... Prill said that three years ago, when Memphis officials were trying to remove the statues of Forrest and Confederate President Jefferson Davis from city parks, Greg Davis offered to take only the statue of Jefferson Davis and put it in Southaven, a suburb of Memphis."

Also: "On Tuesday afternoon, the Davis camp and the DCCC pointed to conflicting news stories from Memphis papers in late July 2005 to support their arguments about exactly which statues Davis had agreed to accept. 'The flier is factual, a part of the public record, and has been in the press many times — voters deserve to know Davis' record,' said Jennifer Crider, communications director for the DCCC."

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Comments

This is just non sense. Why would anyone listen to this garbage!

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America for Obama (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:19 PM)

GREAT

Go ahead MSM keep pushing for a Black racist vs White racist.It will backfire on Obama big time.

patty,sd,ca (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:19 PM)

To MSNBC - This is a congressional district race and you guys are trying to throw Obama in this. He has nothing to do with that race.

Marcus, Washington DC (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:22 PM)

wow

nobama (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:22 PM)

Not sure Democrats should really go there. Aren't we already focusing on race too much?

Marihelen (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:24 PM)

It will be interesting to see who wins that district. As Hillary supporters know, but won't admit, Obama has impressive coattails. He campaigned for Bill Foster in Dennis Hastert's Illinois district. Hillary Clinton didn't, because Foster did not ask her to. Foster won that heavily Republican district by a wide margin.

Obama has coattails. Clinton does not have pantssuittails.

Obama/Anyone but Hillary Clinton in 2008. Integrity matters and the Clintons have none. We will have a female president one day. Happily, it will not be Hillary Clinton.

Sick of corruption, sick of the Clintons (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:25 PM)

A statute in honor of the founder of the Klu Klux Klan?

Good grief.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:25 PM)

Can't you just see how an Obama presidency will unite this country? The dividing lines are already forming. At a time when we need the best person ever, this is what we have to choose from. We are in trouble.

Brother Odd (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:27 PM)

WHO Cares...let the dumb Republicans play their games. IT's over for them ..so you can expect anything and everything ...just like the politics of OLD and no body really cares...Barr and Paul will take all of his votes...While Barack Obama...get record millions. NO BODY RESPECT THE RNC anymore...it's totally ruined forever, because of the current administration. And those that hang on to it are either the wealthy ones that gained from this administration or the one that are in complete denial that their party could cause such a disaster for the country.

NON-SENSE (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:28 PM)

I would say something about what's good for the goose being good for the gander, but man...

I can't help but wonder if this might send MORE rural Mississippians to vote for Davis.

Pander, Picayune MS (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:29 PM)

and the reference to Obama and Wright makes sense why?????

Jeez., GET OVER IT!

jeez (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:30 PM)

Now, the GOPs knows how we feel when they engage in gutter politics. The GOPs is now the party of KKK... touche

Bee (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:31 PM)

yes baby, gutter politics, let the dogs loose. While we're at lets inform the public about McCains connections with a White Supremist, an article was published last month in the Huffington Post, but no other news media reported it. WHY?

boogeyman, mamaroneck, ny (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:34 PM)

Ummmmm...In Mississippi, associating a white person to the KKK is like a compliment...............

Right?

Vicki, Florida (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:34 PM)

Eric, Salanis, Ca
"There is only one candidate who will truly support the rights of our troops and vets and that is Barack Obama. He won't allow some young soldier to get killed on his 7th combat tour in Afghanistan the way the republican warmongers have two weeks ago because they forced this fine young man to cheat death too many times. "

I believe that BO has proposed send at least two more brigades to Afghanistan so ot seems will carry on the tradition of escalating conflicts started by previous administrations. This is addition to his threat to attack civilian targets in Pakistan without Pakistani permission - given the right intelligence.

I often wonder if you guys actually listen to what he proposes?

Alan, NJ (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:35 PM)

It's getting ugly out there.

BTW Obama folk (I'm one), lay off WV. They had the sense to seperate from VA at the start of the Civil War. Whatever voting they do today, when it mattered most and people's lives were at stake they were on the right side.

SL, NJ (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:40 PM)

Same old GOP politics, these Republicans are never going to run an clean, they simply don't know how. Cindy MCCain's words, "no negative campaigne" was not believed by any one and her spouse proved her wrong the very next morning.

That's why Americans voted over whelmingly for the Dems in Congress and will do a repeat in the fall. Our economic situation is simply not recognized by the Republicans who largely brought this upon hard working Americans.

High, gas, food, no jobs, no pensions, loss of homes, loss of American lives and others, high education costs, no or limited health insurance, the stock market is draining us, no alternative fuels solutions, the environment is going to hell in a hand basket, no, they simply don't get it!

We will not entrust our country to people who are simply out of date, living extremely high on the hog and refuse to acknowledge how we are suffering.

We, the American people are in trouble and are suffering NOW

GG, FL (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:42 PM)

More Democrat Gutter politics. So much for Change.

SisterSoul, Roseville, CA (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:43 PM)

Both sides should get this trash out of this trash out of politics. America is a down right mean country. This is exactly why Obama and McCains messages are being heard.

I'm for Obama though.

DC (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:44 PM)

These people don't even want a statue of Abraham Lincoln. Talk about racist. I grew up in a racist town. My Father was Supt. of Schools and desegragated schools. In the 50's, the blacks could not attend our schools. The preachers came to my Father's home (14) and said that the next thing you know the blacks will want to join our churches. I was afraid for my life at the time. At 17, I left that city and never looked back. Yes there is prejudice in America and the small towns. I know that this election has brought back memories that I had suppressed. West Virginia is just like my little hometown, angry white poor people. I feel sorry for them but cannot respect anyone who feeds into it. I think this campaign is bringing it to the forefront. Maybe it is time to expose us to what we are. I hope Obama makes it . I do belive we are not over hatred and prejudice yet. I also think it is shameful. Especially when it comes up in an election.

karen sue leawood ks (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:44 PM)

Gee, what happened to the fair and balanced democratic party? This is a joke.

FREE AND THE BRAVE (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:46 PM)

And this has to do with Obama how? This is what outrages a lot of Obama supporters, people throwing him into the wildest accusations. "Oh my god! A democrat acccused a Republican of being a racist. Must be Obama!" Are you serious?

C'mon MSNBC, I expect better from you.

Jason Willis, Orlando, FL (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:47 PM)

Why is this shocking?

Everyone knows that it is not difficult to tie the
Republican to the KKK! That is just a fact.

The Democrats even have one they can tie to the KKK... he is in WV!

Yola,CT (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:47 PM)

If this is all the RPCs have to defeat or run against OBAMA, then we will see you all at his Inauguration.

Tye (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:49 PM)

First Read generally does a very good job, but your headline is unbelievably misleading. This story is about the Democratic Party in Mississippi not Senator Obama.

Didn't you all let Senator McCain off the hook for the horrible ads. in North Carolina run by the Republican National Committee?

This is a last minute mailer. Senator Obama has nothing to do with it.

AND by the way, is the story true? If you are going to run a story like this, could you tell us if it is true as well as telling us what is happening?

Kim, CA (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:51 PM)

only in the south do these crazy subjects come up...can we sell some of these southern states to Mexico?

pleeeease?

step into the 21st century, guys (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:51 PM)

This is what the General Election will look like-how pathetic...

Cindy (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:52 PM)

What dose this have to do with Obama. MSNBC you should take this crap down. Once again the corp. owned media takes the low road.

Obama/Hagel 08

Marcel, Las Vegas, NV. (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:52 PM)

Not sure Democrats should really go there. Aren't we already focusing on race too much?
Marihelen (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:24 PM)

------------------------------------------------

There is a difference between discussions of race and discussions of whether or not a founder (allegedly) of the terrorist organization called the KKK should be honored with a statue.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:53 PM)

WV entered into the Union in 1863. U.S. troops occupied that area of Virginia during the war. It was meant as much to have an additional state for the 1864 elections to vote for Lincoln against MCclelan.

The results are what they are. It does not change the trajectory of the nomination. The raising of white working class voters as an issue if it is done in context of makeing sure that Obama addreses their issues in the General Election is fair game. If instead they are being used as race baiting( " Let's send them a message" ) then it is inappropriate and Hillary should have to answer for it.

Terry, Great Plains (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:54 PM)

BRING IT ON!!! WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? ROOOOFFFFF

OBAMA 2008!!!

Tangie (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:54 PM)

Ugh. Ugly indeed.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:55 PM)

The GOP wants to play Smear-Em Politics, why shouldn't the dems give as good as they get? Sure, the KKK story's probably no truer than the associations with Wright, but that's not the point---it's showing the Repubnant SOBs we know how to play their dirty games too that'll give 'em pause next time...

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:58 PM)

It was just a little too quiet, what with Obabma clinching the Nom, and Clinton backing off (all be it, slightly). Now the republicans want a race fight. The media loves it. Racists love it. Even the wing nut extremists (patty) love it.
Go ahead.
The Obama train is coming to town people. Get a ticket.
(Patty....you can just take your place on the tracks!)

Hope Springs, Syracuse NY (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:58 PM)

To NON-SENSE:

Did you even read past the first paragraph?

Both parties play the SAME games.

Tim, Mobile (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:59 PM)

patty that shows you lack of intelligence, Obama had nothing to do with this story he was being used by your party in a negative light. Then the dems sunk to just as low a tactic and threw in the KKK. I see that mentioning your yout group got you testy. By the way can you tell me how MSM has anything to do with Obama besides the fact that they report and perpetuate news stories. are you really that blinded with Clintard love that you can only see oneway. Ps. please back off of West Virginia, there are a great people in that fine state.

Patty GetTakeMeds (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 4:02 PM)

I'm familiar with that race. Davis's campaign has been so dirty it's turned off some key Republicans in the district. Yesterday Davis had Dick Cheney come to Southhaven, MS to help his campaign. That was either guts or fool's courage on the part of Davis. I'm not sure which.

Jim, the Mississippi Delta (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 4:04 PM)

The point is...... Some Democrats are unfairly trying to paint the Republican as a racist in order to win an election? Now where have we seen this tactic used before?

Campdog (Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008 4:04 PM)

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