Obama: How much damage was done?

HP Boston — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:11:17 GMT

Now, with the emergence of the notorious video portraying Rev. Jeremiah Wright damning the country, criticizing Israel, faulting U.S. policy for the attacks of Sept. 11 and generally lashing out against white America, GOP strategists believe they’ve finally found an antidote to Obamamania
Hillary will not vote for Obama, nor will I.
So much damage... OBAMA is toast!

Obama: How much damage was done?

JF, SC — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:13:09 GMT

"The March 14-18 national survey of 1,209 Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters gave Clinton, a New York senator, a 49 percent to 42 percent edge over Obama, an Illinois senator. The poll has an error margin of 3 percentage points."

I would say enough to cause a 21% point swing in her favor, thats how much it hurt.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Full Moon — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:19:27 GMT

Obama is ignoring the fall-out but the damage is done and will continue throughout his campaign.
It gives McCain much ammo but he may be too nice a guy to use it. Be sure the conservative media will not let it drop, even though the liberal media is already trying to bury it. I think Obama's disguise
is wearing thin and people are starting to see a somewhat different person than before.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Nj — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:22:42 GMT

Good for you John Kerry. You speak the truth.

Look at the clowns on MSNBC.. Joe S and Pat B. These guys are so in the tank for McCain is disgusting
Read this
http://savannahnow.com/node/465534

Obama: How much damage was done?

Chris, Dorr, MI — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:27:22 GMT

I think it was probably a combination of both politics and religion. I'm sure at times he has had to maneuver as a traditional politician, in order to build a base. I won't hold that against him.

How sad would it be if we, as a country, would reject the most hopeful, potentially great president in generations, simply because his pastor has serious issues to work out?

I'm a 48 yr old white male from MI. I have some college and earn around 50k yr. I am not naive and do not drink kool-aid. Please don't insult my intelligence by accusing me of being brain washed. I can assure you, I am not.

I think MI should not have a re-vote. After Senator Obama has secured the nomination, I'm certain a reasonable solution to seating MI and FL delegates will be reached. You can not change the rules once the contest has begun. PERIOD

I do not hate Hillary or Bill. I try not to hate anyone. I could not bear it if she were to steal the nomination and if she were to pull it off I would vote for someone else.

We as a country have a once in a lifetime opportunity to take this great country, that I served honorably, to a place we could only dream of. Please give this man a chance. If history teaches us anything, Hill or McCain will be more of the same.

I appreciate all of the intelligent opinions here but not the thoughtless words of hate and intolerance.

Obama/Webb 08'

Obama: How much damage was done?

Geoff in Brooklyn — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:33:04 GMT

THis is a fair and interesting point. BUT, there two questions that are VERY important 1) which is more likely, Obama winning VA/CO, or Hillary winning Ohio? 2) and even more important, Obama can give McCain a run for his money in more states, spreading him more thin in 'fly-over country.' Finally, are we so sure that Obama's wider appeal won't re-emerge at it's former strength?

Obama: How much damage was done?

Jay chicago il — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:33:33 GMT

The reality is taht Obama has been playing the safe game all the time, trying to present a nice face and loving person, and for experience I know (just look Bush) that those who are so great preachers, and trying to change the world with promises and asking or promising changes, are the most dangerous.
So far we only have see jsut few of his friends, the way they think, the way they see this country. and the biggest problem for me is that he try to distance himself from them, but at the same time, he is unable to make a clear line between them and himself. it is hard for me to trust Obama, it is hard for me to belief what he preach, it is hard for me to see him as a trusting person, capable of doing any good for the economy, the war, the international relationship, to me Obama is, a smart guy who is able to USE the AA community and make themn excited about the idea of having a black president, the AA is willing to put in risk the generalelection, because they know that the media, the country is not going to accept a black men for president. why then dont AA accept it and look Obama with less emotion and more critical way? Maybe the racism is too deep to overcome it.

the fact is that Obama will never be president, he is not rady adn the country is not ready to have a black men for president. that is the fact. even when some over there dont want to say it openly.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Dr.Strangedog, MI — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:41:01 GMT

It is so sad the evry single election year we fall for the same tactics.

Obama's surrogates must be the surgeons that remove Wright from Obama. He cannot. After his speech it's up to them to diffuse Morning Joe and his older mentor Pat B. Of course McCain can take the high road because the machine, the machine, the machine handles all the dirt and grime.

This is the tactic Obama's team needs to implement. Not to attack because that works against him too. They need to change the argument itself. Race isn't the core issue, distraction is. They need to frame this as SWIFT BOATING/FLIP-FLOPPING/GAY MARRIAGE/ILLEAGAL IMMIGRATION/DEAN SCREAMING diversion.

They need to remind people that emotion of outrage has always and will be used against the voters. After each emotional string has been plucked another 4yrs. of the same old policies follow. They need to hit back as many times as the GOP machine hits.

The constitution seperates church and state. A pastor made these remarks not at a rally,fund raiser, or any Obama event. The fact that they lied on him and said he was there is more proof that this is a tactic. OBAMA TAKE AIM AT THE TACTIC NOT THE CONCEPT.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Kelly (from Pittsburgh) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:42:28 GMT

McCain won't be able to use this because he has affiliations with White pastors who have engaged in hate speech. I am a white female from PA, and I am sick to death of hearing about Reverend Wright. I think the media has taken clips out of context in many cases. Lots of pastors and lots of patriotic Americans have criticized America from time to time, that doesn't mean you don't also love America. Reverend Wright just took his words a bit farther than many would. Regardless, it really doesn't have anything to do with Obama. Obama is a patriotic, civil servant. He has devoted his life to the American people. And he is certainly not a racist. He was raised by a white family.

This is a big to do about nothing. Everyone has people in their life who they continue to care about and associate with even though they disagree with them. For instance, my mom is a moderate racist. I argue with her about it, but that doesn't mean I don't love her anymore. Some people, take issue with Obama saying that his pastor should be forgiven as if he were a family member. But if you have a strong faith, you do think of fellow church members as part of your extended family. You take the good with the bad. Just look at Hillary staying with Bill as an example.

Obama: How much damage was done?

John Alexander,PA — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:44:09 GMT

Senator Obama and his followers have been fooling themselves in believing that inspriational speeches can sustain them through the whole process, forgetting that the media is there to tear down the front runner.
As soon as he became the front runner the media went looking and found something to report on.
While the media wants us to believe that they are our frineds and want to educate us, what they really want to do is be the first one out on a new story line.
He should have been up front at the beginning of this Rev. Wright story but he hesitated and let the media define the story and then instead of putting a stop to the story with a denunciation he waited two days so that he could change the focus on the issue into a speech on race relations that did nothing to aleviate his problems with a large part of the voting public.
If he really wants to change the discussion he has to talk to those people that are still not convinced that he can be the president, pocketbook issues, jobs, housing, energy, the war, the stock market, bank loans, americas standing in the world.
Until he sees that he needs these voters to win he will not get the big push he really needs.
Change and hope are just words when there is nothing to back them up. He should not expect all americans to get on the internet to look at his policies statements, he should speak about them everyday so that the message finally gets out to all americans.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Shtuey — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:44:46 GMT

Obama is slipping in the polls nationally, and in NC. He can't run on hope and change anymore. The Republican 527s are already putting their Wright/Obama ads together. With his no revote stance he loses FL and MI. He won't win Ohio, and could lose PA. He won't win in November, and I suspect the super delegates know it. So now they have to decide whether they would rather be politically correct, or win the White House.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Lisa in WORKING CLASS DIVERSE New Britain, CT — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:44:57 GMT

You know, I believe there will be some lasting effect on Wright but none of us know how much of it at this point. I still support him because I think he will be the best President and I think that's still the BEST reason to support him.

He has shown a history of gaining in strength as he moves along. This is a bump and does point to a bumpy ride. But at least he handles the bump in a fresh honest way...in a way that I expect my leaders to handle bumps. I have no illusion that each candidate faces more bumps, some may be larger than others. But I look to how candidates and campaigns handle the bumps and I look at the candidate beyond the bumps.

Bumps shouldn't be decisive.

Obama 08

Obama: How much damage was done?

garyd, amherst nh — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:46:47 GMT

"This too shall pass" and Obama "will overcome" ....
....it never was suppose to be easy. It's about acknowledging the reality of bias attitudes and racism that continue to run a strong current under the surface of "all are equal". The Wright issue had to happen to make the "change" happen. To allow the "hope" to ignite. The difference betwee Obama and Hillary is that Obama acknowledged and confronted the "evil" where as Hillary denies the "evil" because she is the "evil".

Obama: How much damage was done?

Diane from Illinois — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:55:31 GMT

Senator Obama has not lost my support over this. I intend to vote for him, not his Pastor and his speech the other day confirmed to me that he doesn't hold the same views of this Pastor even if he did go to that church for 20 years. Senator Obama is one of most inspiring politicians to come about in a very long time and our nation needs someone of his magnitude right now after George Bush. This pales in comparison over the charades of the Clinton's over the years with all their scandals and illegal activities. And just why won't they release the list of donors to Bill's library? What or who do they have to hide there? Some people wouldn't have voted for Obama anyhow, or various other reasons, and if they need this incident to justify that, than so be it; I'm hoping there are enough of us out there to over-ride whatever mud can be slung at him between now and Nov. The nation needs someone who can inspire, be articulate, tackle tough problems with dignity and grace and lead this country and it's citizens to look within ourselves to become even better. The nation needs President Obama!

Obama: How much damage was done?

Julia Fort Worth, TX — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:57:11 GMT

Well, at least we've seen another side of Obama.
One question I would like answered regards Obama's position on the war in 2001-02 when he said he opposed it. Can the press research any of his speeches, op-ed articles, or anything showing what he would have done instead of going to war in Iraq? So many were caught up in the war fervor back then. What would Obama have done then instead?

Obama: How much damage was done?

class Warrior, D.C. — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:01:06 GMT

Many whites will never forgive him for having an "uppity", obviously political minister. Their pastor may be the crazy and opinionated Pat Robertson, but black folk aren't allowed political, angry clergy. He'll lose white votes big-time over this one.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Jaime, Lantana, Florida — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:02:29 GMT

I hope people watching the political news realize that polls are always at least a couple of days behind. In fact, the most recent poll I was able to find this morning had a polling date range of 3/15-3/18. This means that most of the polling was done PRIOR to Obama's speech. As such, I would be interested to see if he is still slipping in polls taken from 3/18 onward--perhaps starting to come out tomorrow.

Obama: How much damage was done?

twocanpete — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:02:34 GMT

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Not to worry, as the American people have the collective memory of six year old. In fact most white people didn't even notice his skin color until his wife made it an issue and they won't much notice it again if he'll just shut up about it.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Stanley Cohen, New York City — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:11:12 GMT

I read Obama's first book, which has to do with the desertion of his father when Barack was one year old. It is clear to me that Barack sees Reverend Wright as a surrogate father. Barack is not a screaming hatemonger like Wright but I do believe that they share a philosophy in common. Barack Obama believes what Wright believes, but he is much smarter than him. The smooth conciliatory man we see on TV is a disguse to get him elected president.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Alex — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:13:52 GMT

Two most troubling morals of Obama. 1- His Perfect-Union speech would never been done had he not been caught lying. 2- He took both his daughters to Wright’s church, thus perpetuating the hate cycle, diminishing the very post-racial America he is trying to achieve. Lord! His own children! In some deep level Obama had to share Wrights view. There is no other explanation

Obama: How much damage was done?

John B, Des Moines, IA — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:15:31 GMT

Everyone knew this was coming, the talkers and pundits have been working the Rev. Wright story for months. Better for it to break now and blow over long before the election. Consider how the GW Bush campaign refused to discuss a variety of issues ranging from National Guard service to drunkeness and alleged drug use. "This is old news" they said, "it was all hashed out in his run for Governor." Frankly I'm more disappointed the media isn't picking up the angle of Christians trashing the United Church of Christ http://www.ucc.org/news/responding-to-wright.html , a church having its roots with the Pilgrims, in an attempt to benefit the GOP through a secular election.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Any Older White Woman Not Voting for Hillary, St. Inigoes, MD — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:16:05 GMT

I must be in a minority. What I heard in Obama's speech caused me for the first time in my life to make a contribution to ANY political campaign. The fact that he could not desert Wright made me respect him even more because I understood. Obama spoke to America like we were adults - which is precisely why Rush, that weinie Tucker and Pat Buchanan didn't get it.

Obama: How much damage was done?

John B, Des Moines, IA — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:21:03 GMT

Jaime, Landana, FL 10:02 AM; I've been thinking the same way. CBS let it slip Wednesday morning that their post-speech polling showed 65% of respondents were more likely to vote for Obama. I can't back that up because at this time there is no reference to such polling on the web site. Still, I suspect when polling does become available we'll find this will blow over quickly...except among those who would never vote for him anyway.

Obama: How much damage was done?

Ann in Virginia — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:27:21 GMT

Well said Kelly. I keep hearing that the adults need to intervene for the Dems. Obama '08

Obama: How much damage was done?

Joe Toddtoo — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:29:38 GMT

What a "bright" picture awaits the Democrats hoping to occupy the White House: a deceptive candidate who played skillfully and, every time, framed others of racial divide(not just the Clintons, remember how BHO framed Biden's complements of him a long long time ago?) while he sits next to the the person preaching God D--- America, compared against a hero nearly payed the ultimate sacrifice for America.

Has he got a chance??

The voters might have had a choice in Biden, if not HRC, without that early destruction, by BHO, of his candidacy.

What a pitty! What a phony!

Obama: How much damage was done?

Jade7243 Hussein — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:32:22 GMT

Obama has always opposed the war in Iraq and wanted the US to commit its attentionand resources to Afghanistan. Duh... Wax in ears, perhaps?

Second, I think it is far too early to really access what "damage" is done to the general election or even in PA. given that both are so far away in political terms.

Until the message of Obama's speech really sinks in the poll numbers don't really mean all that much. and the cable news boneheads like "angry white guys" Scarborough, Tucker, Buchanan, Blitzer, and "the best Faux News Team on RightWing Cable Talking Head TV" find something else to gnaw on -- perhaps each other -- you can't figure out what's happening. Too much is made out of number shifts without understanding the real dynamic of why.

Third, Hillary has a math problem. Without lying cheating and stealing, Hillary can't overcome her "inevitable" mistake.

Obama: How much damage was done?

dawn CA — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:35:37 GMT

it was planned that is what it was how come it is now that some pastor says aweful things it could have been 2ys before o whatever,a lot of people will still ty to stop the black man simple,I am white by the way so I am not using the ace card

Obama: How much damage was done?

JohnnyU, WA State — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:38:34 GMT

Obama has not lost my support over this. I posted a link to an account of the syphilis experiments performed using black men as lab animals but they won't post it here. It did happen. It makes me angry because I'm HUMAN. (Chuck, why won't you post it? but msnbc will give Pat Buchanan a forum to run his mouth every day)