Old Time Religion (Part 1): Barack Obama’s Pastor Problem
Yesterday, Barack Obama’s presidential campaign suffered perhaps its largest political setback, as all U.S. news media focused on controversial videos of inflammatory sermons given by Obama’s pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Barack Obama is member of the Trinity United Church of Christ. I visited this website months ago and concluded that it was not especially controversial, but this issue has been on my radar. The mainstream media dismissed the issue months ago, but they say the story has re-emerged because “now there’s video”.
This ABC News video summarizes the story well:
For the first time, Obama’s presidential campaign appears tainted in the eyes of the mainstream media. “Guilt by association” is not fair, but Obama had a long-standing, close relationship with Rev. Wright. Barack Obama’s message of transcending social divisions is in stark contrast with the highly divisive rhetoric in some of Wright’s fiery sermons.
One controversy often reveals wider problems. Obama has argued that his “superior judgment” is one reason why he would be the best choice for president. This close and continued relationship with Rev. Wright calls Obama’s judgment into question. Obama is not credible when he claims that he didn’t know about some of Wright’s more controversial preaching. Obama should have distanced himself from Wright before declaring his presidential candidacy in 2007.
Clearly, Barack Obama does not share the same views as Rev. Wright, but Obama and his campaign advisors appear naive to hope that this “pastor problem” would fly under the radar.
It is ironic that some religious leaders convey some of the most hateful messages.
Obama and his campaign must exert maximum “damage control” efforts to minimize the negative impact this story is having. Today’s Rasmussen Report article describes a sharp one day decline in Obama’s standing in their national poll. Before this Rev. Wright story gained national media focus, their latest poll showed Obama at 50% and Clinton 42%. Within one day the numbers changed to: Obama 46%, Clinton 45%.
Talk Radio: I give credit to radio talk show host Sean Hannity. He has been discussing this story since 2007. I wonder why it took so long for the mainstream media to pick up on this story. Talk radio plays an important role in presidential elections. Lately, Hannity has been pushing a story about Obama’s relationship with former radical William Ayers. This Politico article examines this story. This Ayers story probably will not go anywhere because Obama had only a distant relationship with Ayers, but some are including it in the anti-Obama arsenal.
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