It looks like the freshman senator from Illinois finally got the idea that Wright is doing him political damage. So now, when Wright has resurfaces and it is apparent that Obama’s speech in Philly on race wouldn’t cut it with the public, the rookie senator has finally decided to more strongly denounce Wright’s hateful anti-American rhetoric.
Mike Glover writing for the A.P. in his article titled “Obama says he’s outraged by former pastor’s comments” clearly indicates that Obama has denounced Wright’s comments in a much more forceful manner than previously. He writes:
Obama said he heard that Wright had given “a performance” and when he watched tapes, he realized that it more than just a case of the former pastor defending himself.
“What became clear to me was that he was presenting a world view that contradicts what I am and what I stand for,” Obama said.
In a highly publicized speech last month, Obama sharply condemned Wright’s remarks. But he did not leave the church or repudiate the minister himself, who he said was like a family member.
On Tuesday, Obama sought to distance himself further from Wright.
“I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia explaining that he’s done enormous good. … But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS. … There are no excuses. They offended me. They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced.”
So how complete is this break between Obama and Wright? Don Frederick, a political editor in the Washington bureau of the L.A. Times, writes on his blog for the LA Times thinks so:
He could hardly have distanced himself farther from the man who officiated at his wedding ceremony and baptized his two children.
Obama described himself as “outraged” by many of Wright’s remarks and “saddened” by what he termed “the spectacle of what we saw yesterday.”
He characterized as “ridiculous” Wright’s notion that the AIDS epidemic may have been a conspiracy inflicted on blacks by the federal government and that Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan should be considered a leading voice in modern times.
Such views …
“offend me. They rightly offend all Americans. They should be denounced.”
But on the surface, Wright’s crazy statements aren’t different than the one’s he gave in sermons years ago. Maybe, Wright is right about one thing, Obama is doing what politicians do. Obama is specifically trying to separate himself from this divisive figure because it is politically wise to do so.
[Update #1 4/29/2008]
Watch Obama’s press conference for yourself:
[Update #2 4/29/2008]
John McCormack over at the Weekly Standard looks at a passage from Obama’s book and questions really how different is Wright at all from what Obama witnessed in the past.
0 Responses to “The Obamacle speaks on Whacko Wright! [Updated]”