Who will (not should) be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2008?

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

The heavy backlash would indicate otherwise. There's a lot of people in the Midwast who are big on patriotism (including several large military installations) and they don't take kindly to a radical black pastor who screams 'God Damn America!' into a microphone, especially just after 9/11. Add in that he's been tied to Obama in the past and it can do nothing but hurt Obama's campaign.

The people you describe don't vote Democrat very often.

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by panerd

The people you describe don't vote Democrat very often.

They don't vote Democrat very often, but they were the difference in Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton getting elected.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by miked

Like I said, context is important. But you are correct, those people who just hear he said "God Damn America" and nothing else will believe Obama to be unpatriotic because his pastor said that at the end of a 5 minute speech about the God vs. Government. I actually feel for the future of our country that these people may ultimately decide its direction.

But let's be fair. The people in this thread generally don't reflect the voting knowledge of the general public. They're listening to things they see on the nightly news or in political commercials and basing their decision on that small snippit of information. That's the way it is for the majority of the voting public.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Vegas Vic

They don't vote Democrat very often, but they were the difference in Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton getting elected.

Exactly. To get elected as a candidite promoting unity, you need to get some swing votes from the other party. Similarly, Reagan had cross-over votes that helped put him in office for 8 years (i.e. Reagan Democrats).

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

The heavy backlash would indicate otherwise. There's a lot of people in the Midwast who are big on patriotism (including several large military installations) and they don't take kindly to a radical black pastor who screams 'God Damn America!' into a microphone, especially just after 9/11. Add in that he's been tied to Obama in the past and it can do nothing but hurt Obama's campaign.

But some of these voters are the same ones that will sit in an evangelical megachurch and approve of their pastor saying 9/11 was God's punishment for America's sins. Any honest discussion of Wright would include this too. The bigger issue is that in churches all across America millions of people hear messages that the majority find out of bounds. Cheap political gain focuses on Wright, a real concern about the mix of religion and politics in America's churches focuses not just on one pastor.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

But some of these voters are the same ones that will sit in an evangelical megachurch and approve of their pastor saying 9/11 was God's punishment for America's sins. Any honest discussion of Wright would include this too. The bigger issue is that in churches all across America millions of people hear messages that the majority find out of bounds. Cheap political gain focuses on Wright, a real concern about the mix of religion and politics in America's churches focuses not just on one pastor.

Great. The first day we hear that McCain's pastor said something like that, we'll dive right in and beat him up about it. My guess is that there have been many media writers that have already dug into that possibility and found nothing. As far as the voters that would listen to crap like that, that's their business unless they run for government office. At that point, scrutiny begins.

Your repeated argument seems to be that 'everybody's doing it'. That's simply not the case. There's many people that go to churches where these kinds of things aren't said and there's also many people that have left churches where they didn't feel comfortable with the pastor. Obama chose not to fully distance himself from those remarks. That's his choice. As a result, he's paying a political price for that decision. Welcome to Politics 101.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Great. The first day we hear that McCain's pastor said something like that, we'll dive right in and beat him up about it.

You don't find it a little strange at all that McCain's campaign has been endorsed by guys like [EDIT: John. Don't know where I got "Chuck"] Hagee and Pat Robertson, and the media hasn't talked much about it? They may not have said "God Damn America," but they haven't exactly shied away from controversial statements, neither.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

You don't find it a little strange at all that McCain's campaign has been endorsed by guys like Chuck Hagee and Pat Robertson, and the media hasn't talked much about it? They may not have said "God Damn America," but they haven't exactly shied away from controversial statements, neither.

Oh, I find it totally strange to some extent, but this is politics. These guys endorse McCain, but you won't find him in any of their church services. Also, McCain has openly stated that he doesn't approve of their behavior/speeches. Translation: he just wants the votes. Politics 101 rears its ugly head again.

In addition, I think McCain would have handled the Wright situation much differently if it was his pastor doing the blasting. He would have completely distanced himself from that pastor, strictly for political posturing. Now, is Obama possibly a better person for standing up for his friend when the opposite would be much more beneficial for his presidential hopes? Maybe. But presidential politics is a blood sport. Nice guys don't win.

[Fighter of Foo]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

You don't find it a little strange at all that McCain's campaign has been endorsed by guys like [EDIT: John. Don't know where I got "Chuck"] Hagee and Pat Robertson, and the media hasn't talked much about it? They may not have said "God Damn America," but they haven't exactly shied away from controversial statements, neither.

Oh they are waaaaaaaaay more hate-filled and controversial than Wright, but the media coverage is vastly disproportional.

http://www.catholics-united.org/?q=node/136

[ISiddiqui]

There is a reason... ie, they aren't McCain's pastors or friends for one.

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by Vegas Vic

They don't vote Democrat very often, but they were the difference in Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton getting elected.

Carter won in a sqeaker, Clinton in a near landslide. Which one is it?

[stevew]

Ah, this is what she was talking about.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

This Gallup poll result has to be a nightmare for the Democratic party. There were concerns that this drawn-out battle may have this effect on the electorate..........

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/03...t-to-november/

I find these polls to be meaningless. Republicans were saying the same thing when it became clear that McCain was going to get the nomination. When you get right down to it, Democrats are going to hear McCain speak and the Democratic candidate speak, and they will vote for the Democratic candidate.

[albionmoonlight]

http://www.sportspickle.com/features...6-clinton.html

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Great. The first day we hear that McCain's pastor said something like that, we'll dive right in and beat him up about it. My guess is that there have been many media writers that have already dug into that possibility and found nothing. As far as the voters that would listen to crap like that, that's their business unless they run for government office. At that point, scrutiny begins.

Your repeated argument seems to be that 'everybody's doing it'. That's simply not the case. There's many people that go to churches where these kinds of things aren't said and there's also many people that have left churches where they didn't feel comfortable with the pastor. Obama chose not to fully distance himself from those remarks. That's his choice. As a result, he's paying a political price for that decision. Welcome to Politics 101.

No, not everybody, but probably a few million with all sorts of ideologies. You also seem to be saying in your last few points that because it will be used against him validates that it should be used against him. I haven't once said it won't be used against him. My point is that if you're attacking Obama and no one else it's simply a partisan attack that may or may not have much merit behind it. If you want to have an honest discussion you need to broaden your view.

Just because it can be used to destroy Obama doesn't mean the story is that simple.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by miked

Like I said, context is important. But you are correct, those people who just hear he said "God Damn America" and nothing else will believe Obama to be unpatriotic because his pastor said that at the end of a 5 minute speech about the God vs. Government. I actually feel for the future of our country that these people may ultimately decide its direction.

I just listened to that 5 minute speech on a website that is trying to bring "context" to his words. I've got to say that I'm not impressed. This is not a speech about hope and the future...it is a speech that starts with the Supreme Court stealing the 2000 election and ends with America has failed in its dealings with a number of ethnic groups, so God damn America. I don't see a context where this isn't a hate filled speech. It showed promise with the "governments change" section showing that slavery was legal and segregation was legal...but governments change. Ultimately though, it was just a "look at everything that is wrong" speech with no message to fix things or to show any hope for the future. This may not be the kind of speech which shows just how terrible Reverend Wright is, but it certainly doesn't help his cause either.

[Young Drachma]

Hillary's Pastor Rev. Dean Snyder of United Methodist Foundry Church in Washington had this to say about Jeremiah Wright last week:

"The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times. He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. He has been a vocal critic of the racism, sexism and homophobia which still tarnish the American dream. To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the African-American church which has been the spiritual refuge of a people that has suffered from discrimination, disadvantage, and violence. Dr. Wright, a member of an integrated denomination, has been an agent of racial reconciliation while proclaiming perceptions and truths uncomfortable for some white people to hear. Those of us who are white Americans would do well to listen carefully to Dr. Wright rather than to use a few of his quotes to polarize. This is a critical time in America's history as we seek to repent of our racism. No matter which candidates prevail, let us use this time to listen again to one another and not to distort one another's truth."

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Hillary's Pastor Rev. Dean Snyder of United Methodist Foundry Church in Washington had this to say about Jeremiah Wright last week:

Why do I suspect that Hillary would be unhappy her pastor said this? All of her "I would disassociate myself from a man like that" comments aren't going to look so good now.

[Ksyrup]

The whole problem I have with Wright is that he doesn't just proclaim "perceptions and truths." He proclaims unsubstantiated lies, too, and passes them off to his congregation as facts.

I'm still trying to understand how any of this is appropriate subject matter for a church service, though. I honestly can't wrap my brain around that issue.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by BrianD

Why do I suspect that Hillary would be unhappy her pastor said this? All of her "I would disassociate myself from a man like that" comments aren't going to look so good now.

Hillary doesn't exactly strike me as being an avid churchgoer anymore than I believe that Obama harbors linger race issues.

[panerd]

I think it is sad that this country is more up in arms about what somebody's spiritual advisor says instead just the insane fact that all three canidates who want to lead this country actually have a spiritual advisor.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

The whole problem I have with Wright is that he doesn't just proclaim "perceptions and truths." He proclaims unsubstantiated lies, too, and passes them off to his congregation as facts.

I'm still trying to understand how any of this is appropriate subject matter for a church service, though. I honestly can't wrap my brain around that issue.

So does Pat Robertson and he has an entire television network where he does it. It's no different really and the latter has a much larger following. I think the best way to summarize it is "no matter how outside the mainstream otherwise intelligent and well-reasoned people might judge these folks to be, the fact is, they have a following and in the grand scheme of things, they ought be judged on the standard that says "Well, some of those religious folks can be crazy." As opposed to "Gee, that Rev. Wright was advising someone who might become President. I hope Obama's black half doesn't decide to enslave the white half.

But all facetiousness aside, people need to stop trying to understand the context of Wright v. Obama. Either factor it in and say "well, he needs not to be President.." or not. I don't understand the idea of belaboring it. Especially when it's literally ONE sound bite over and over again. It's not a series of presentations or anything of the sort. It'd be like running replays of what Trent Lott said about Strom Thurmond some ways back. Sure, he lost his gig then. But he kept his seat and was

I mean, seriously. People do realize the guy is the post-racial dream of reconciliation, right? The guy was black in name only until he went to college, because being in Hawaii is a multicultural place to begin with. He was raised entirely by white people.

If Obama gets beaten, the next time there is a politically successful black candidate on the national scene, folks are going to immediate wish for Obama's multi-ethnic coalition of sugar plums and tax increases. Because if he loses, the old civil rights guard wins. That means, the progeny and anointed from that affirmative action induced "leadership" class will continue to dominate the politics of race in this country.

And no one wants that.

The only good thing about Obama winning is that he'll give rise to a whole new class of trans-racial candidates who care more about substance than the same bipolar discussions of black and white and race and all of that. Even if he loses in the general, it'll still advance the conversation. Swiftboated or not, they'll have a chance to "have their say." I don't see the trouncing scenarios by McCain that some of the prognosticators here have supposedly seen, but...that's neither here nor there.

The black "community" is and always has been diverse and multi-faceted. But there are enough folks out there who benefit from propelling themselves to the forefront by purporting to speak for the "masses" in a substantive way.

[Ksyrup]

I agree re Robertson and others like him. Completely. And I want nothing to do with him and wish he wasn't even associated with the same religion I am. But I think that's part of this issue many people have with Obama - how could he not run like hell from those kinds of views?

As far as what it all means in the larger context, I've already said that I don't think it should be the deciding factor in whether he is elected, but it certainly is a consideration of his overall judgment and ability to lead. It just isn't (or shouldn't be, IMO) as significant a part of the consideration as all of this press and all of these posts are making it out to be.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I agree re Robertson and others like him. Completely. And I want nothing to do with him and wish he wasn't even associated with the same religion I am. But I think that's part of this issue many people have with Obama - how could he not run like hell from those kinds of views?

As far as what it all means in the larger context, I've already said that I don't think it should be the deciding factor in whether he is elected, but it certainly is a consideration of his overall judgment and ability to lead. It just isn't (or shouldn't be, IMO) as significant a part of the consideration as all of this press and all of these posts are making it out to be.

Ok, I get what you're saying now.

[BrianD]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Hillary doesn't exactly strike me as being an avid churchgoer anymore than I believe that Obama harbors linger race issues.

No, but a lot of potential voters are avid churchgoers. She seemed to be willing to use the Wright situation for political gain, but having her pastor contradict her won't help.

[Fighter of Foo]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I agree re Robertson and others like him. Completely. And I want nothing to do with him and wish he wasn't even associated with the same religion I am. But I think that's part of this issue many people have with Obama - how could he not run like hell from those kinds of views?

Then those people need to be asking the same questions of any politician remotely associated with any wacko religious figure.

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by Fighter of Foo

Then those people need to be asking the same questions of any politician remotely associated with any wacko religious figure.

"remotely" lol

[Buccaneer]

Harsh article on 360 Anderson Cooper at cnn.com about Clinton (referencing Bernstien's bio):

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/2...nces/#more-470

Hillary Clinton has many admirable qualities, but candor and openness and transparency and a commitment to well-established fact have not been notable among them. The indisputable elements of her Bosnian adventure affirm (again) the reluctant conclusion I reached in the final chapter of A Woman In Charge, my biography of her published last June:

“Since her Arkansas years [I wrote], Hillary Rodham Clinton has always had a difficult relationship with the truth… [J]udged against the facts, she has often chosen to obfuscate, omit, and avoid. It is an understatement by now that she has been known to apprehend truths about herself and the events of her life that others do not exactly share. ” [italics added]

As I noted:
“Almost always, something holds her back from telling the whole story, as if she doesn’t trust the reader, listener, friend, interviewer, constituent—or perhaps herself—to understand the true significance of events…”

The Bosnian episode is a watershed event, because it indelibly brings to mind so many examples of this tendency– from the White House years and, worse, from Hillary Clinton’s take-no-prisoners presidential campaign. Her record as a public person is replete with “misstatements” and elisions and retracted and redacted and revoked assertions…

Some people want to look back at the Clinton years with rosy-glasses nostalgia but for those that were paying attention, we had to put with a constant string of lies, half-truths, smarmy lectures, cover-ups, and secrecy. Not saying it was better or worse than Bush2 but it not knowing about Bush2, it was sickening to following all of that at the time.

By the way, since when did alledgedly ducking bullets in another country count as "foreign policy experience".

[Buccaneer]

and from my favorite columnist, Roland Martin

By Roland S. Martin
CNN Contributor
(CNN) -- Its been an interesting week watching folks analyze the outcry over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial comments, especially when they try to link them to Sen. Barack Obama.

Obama's supporters say it's wrong to associate his views with those of his pastor at Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ.

His opponents say that surely his views are linked with Wright's, including the pastor's praise of Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Conservative talker Sean Hannity -- who incidentally many have accused of associations with white supremacist Hal Turner, which he denies -- was foaming at the mouth. He called Wright a racist and an anti-Semite, and then said we all should assume Obama is also a racist and an anti-Semite.
Talk about a stretch.

Frankly, it's just not plausible to suggest that you always share the same feelings or views as someone you know.

In remarks to a Pittsburgh newspaper, Sen. Hillary Clinton responded to a question about the Wright controversy by saying: "You don't choose your family, but you choose what church you want to attend."

True. Very true. But there's also some reality that politicians pick and choose who they want to be associated with.

Clinton pressed Obama during a debate this year to repudiate and denounce Farrakhan's unsolicited praise of him at an event the Nation of Islam leader organized for his group in Chicago.

The moderator, NBC's Tim Russert, brought up comments made by Farrakhan 24 years ago in his question to Obama.

Fine, so what do we make of then-President Bill Clinton publicly endorsing the 1995 Million Man March? Who called for that march? Louis Farrakhan. Who was the lead organizer? Louis Farrakhan. Who was the keynote speaker? Louis Farrakhan.

After he was out of the White House, President Clinton also endorsed the Million Man March. Who called for that march? Louis Farrakhan. Who was the lead organizer? Louis Farrakhan. Who was the keynote speaker? Louis Farrakhan.

Did Sen. Clinton privately or publicly rebuke her husband for supporting a man whom she has determined to be hateful and divisive?

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who is national co-chair of Sen. Clinton's presidential campaign, once stood on stage with Farrakhan in 1997 -- at an event the Times said was "called to promote racial reconciliation after several recent high-profile crimes" -- and praised him for his commitment to ending violence in the black community. Rendell was the mayor of Philadelphia at the time.

According to the April 15, 1997, story in The New York Times, Farrakhan praised Rendell before 3,000 people at the anti-violence rally for ''his courage and strength to rise above emotion and differences that might be between us or our communities.''

According to the Times, Rendell, who is Jewish, commended the Nation of Islam for its emphasis on family values and self-sufficiency.

Must Clinton repudiate and denounce Rendell's past comments and association with Farrakhan?

Former Republican Rep. Jack Kemp is a huge supporter of Sen. John McCain, and he also has a Farrakhan story.

In 1996, when Kemp was the vice presidential running mate of Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, he told reporters that he wanted to meet with Farrakhan and praised his organization's focus on economic empowerment, family values and its pull-yourselves-up-by-the-bootstrap message -- right in line with the GOP talking points. Kemp said he wanted to speak at the Million Man March.

Boy, was he torn apart by Jewish critics, and many in his own party.
Kemp summarily criticized Farrakhan's comments about Jews and whites, but he didn't take his words back. By the way, Hannity pressed every African-American supporter about Farrakhan, but he never got in Kemp's face about his comments. I wonder why?

Must McCain repudiate and denounce Kemp's past comments and association with Farrakhan?

When it comes to homosexuality, no Clinton or Obama supporter should think of criticizing the other campaign's black ministerial supporters because that means most of their own would have to be disassociated from their campaigns.

On CNN's "The Situation Room," Paul Begala mentioned "hateful" things said about gays by the Rev. James Meeks, founder and senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, and an Obama supporter. Meeks has made no bones about his firm opposition to homosexuality (and abortion), which is one of the reasons he's very close to many of the nation's white conservative pastors. (I know him well; I'm a member of Salem).

And then there was the hoopla over gospel singer Donnie McClurkin when the Obama campaign recruited him to take part in a gospel concert tour around South Carolina. McClurkin has preached that homosexuals can be converted to heterosexuals. That set off a firestorm.

But Clinton also has her own issues with anti-gay pastoral supporters.
The Rev. Harold Mayberry, pastor of the First African Methodist Church in Oakland, has voiced for years his opposition to homosexuality. In fact, some have said he has compared homosexuality to thievery.

When Mayberry came out in support of Clinton, her campaign touted his endorsement, sans any mention of his anti-gay rants.

She has also received a $1,000 contribution from Bishop Eddie L. Long of the mega-church New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, who previously led an anti-gay marriage march in Atlanta.

Of course, when it comes to McCain, it wouldn't be a story if his ministerial supporters are anti-gay. It would be news if any of them actually supported homosexuality.

The bottom line: Everyone has an association that is open for scrutiny. Our real focus should be on the candidates and their views on the issues, because one of them will stand before the nation and take the oath of office and swear to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States.

In college, I attended Sinn Fein meetings which were no more than propoganda for the IRA. Does that mean I have terrorist connections?

[path12]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

In college, I attended Sinn Fein meetings which were no more than propoganda for the IRA. Does that mean I have terrorist connections?

Bucc, why do you hate America?

[QuikSand]

I agree with those who find this latest foible involving Senator Clinton's description of the Bosnia trip to be wholly illuminating -- and I totally agree with the conclusions of her biographer excerpted above. This is just who she is, and her relationship with truth will never be a comfortable one. Many people will vote for her based on policy, and many based on trust, but there really shouldn't be any doubt that this is the true person underneath it all -- the person who exaggerates the truth, and then essentially lies to cover up or cover over the initial exaggeration. It would be folly to expect anything different were she elected to an executive position.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Some people want to look back at the Clinton years with rosy-glasses nostalgia but for those that were paying attention, we had to put with a constant string of lies, half-truths, smarmy lectures, cover-ups, and secrecy. Not saying it was better or worse than Bush2 but it not knowing about Bush2, it was sickening to following all of that at the time.

http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2008/03...e-friends.html

(comments aren't bad - "Retarded Weasel." Heh.)

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Fighter of Foo

Then those people need to be asking the same questions of any politician remotely associated with any wacko religious figure.

Why "remotely asssociated"? The whole reason I find any of this relevant to Obama at all is the fact that he not only spent 20 years at this guy's church, but he thought so much of him that he included him in the biggest moments of his life and considers him his spiritual advisor...not to mention, a year ago, he acknowledged - way before any of this happened - that he would likely have to distance himself from Wright at some point.

[Ksyrup]

I find it pretty ballsy that one of Hillary's excuses for the "misspoken" Bosnia thing is that she was sleep-deprived...yet she counts as one of her most poignant selling points that she would be a better choice than Obama (and presumably McCain) to answer a 3am phone call from Commissioner Gordon. If being sleep-deprived causes her to re-imagine a trip to include being under attack, then I'm fairly certain I don't want ANYONE waking her ass up at 3am to determine whether we should launch nukes.

[Grammaticus]

Originally Posted by Vegas Vic

They don't vote Democrat very often, but they were the difference in Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton getting elected.

I would say Ford's pardon of Nixon and the general fallout from Watergate was the difference in getting Carter elected and Ross Perot was the difference in getting Clinton electon both times.

You don't have anything dominant like that in this election.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I agree with those who find this latest foible involving Senator Clinton's description of the Bosnia trip to be wholly illuminating -- and I totally agree with the conclusions of her biographer excerpted above. This is just who she is, and her relationship with truth will never be a comfortable one. Many people will vote for her based on policy, and many based on trust, but there really shouldn't be any doubt that this is the true person underneath it all -- the person who exaggerates the truth, and then essentially lies to cover up or cover over the initial exaggeration. It would be folly to expect anything different were she elected to an executive position.

Bingo.

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by Grammaticus

Ross Perot was the difference in getting Clinton electon both times.

You might say that, but all of the post election research and exit polling indicates that Ross Perot only prevented Clinton from getting over 50% of the vote, and that Clinton would have won by comfortable margins in both 1992 and 1996 without Ross Perot in the race.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Grammaticus

I would say Ford's pardon of Nixon and the general fallout from Watergate was the difference in getting Carter elected and Ross Perot was the difference in getting Clinton electon both times.

You don't have anything dominant like that in this election.

First black nominee or first woman nominee.

The tsunami is coming. Just you wait. The identity politics of this nation have not gone far enough people won't do anything other than turn John McCain into the representation of everything that America has done wrong in the past...well...the entire past.

He'd be the oldest President ever elected to a first term. The media is going to jump on that like a trampoline in the general. That's just the beginning. And painting him as Bush's third term isn't going to serve him well either.

It's like Bob Dole redux.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Why "remotely asssociated"? The whole reason I find any of this relevant to Obama at all is the fact that he not only spent 20 years at this guy's church, but he thought so much of him that he included him in the biggest moments of his life and considers him his spiritual advisor...not to mention, a year ago, he acknowledged - way before any of this happened - that he would likely have to distance himself from Wright at some point.

Mitt Romney was a member of the LDS church and is seriously considered by some to be a strong VP nominee. He was a member of the LDS church during a time when they said blacks weren't worthy of the priesthood because of the mark of Cain they received in the pre-existence.

He's said he "wept" when it happened, when blacks were granted the priesthood. But why wasn't he raked over the coals for stuff some of the elders of the LDS church have said in the past 25-30 years?

It's no different.

[Ksyrup]

I don't even know what LDS Church stands for (apparently I'm not as up on my fringe church attendees as I should be), but he probably wasn't raked over the coals about it because he never got to the point of being a real contender for the nomination...ever think that stuff was "on hold" until he was in a 1-on-1 battle with someone else, or had secured the nomination? If you're going to hurt someone, make it count, right? The Obama thing has been out there and acknowledged by Obama/Wright for over a year, and it's only coming out now because Obama's standing in the race matters.

[Fighter of Foo]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Why "remotely asssociated"? The whole reason I find any of this relevant to Obama at all is the fact that he not only spent 20 years at this guy's church, but he thought so much of him that he included him in the biggest moments of his life and considers him his spiritual advisor...not to mention, a year ago, he acknowledged - way before any of this happened - that he would likely have to distance himself from Wright at some point.

Before Wright it was some finance guy. Tim Russert was going on last month about Louis Farrakhan. There's a lengthy list of crazy and/or corrupt people closely associated with the Republican party. It's been those people, and the giant double fucking standards applied to them, that caused my disillusionment with Republicans. Let's hear all of those stories first without any context and then we can get back to the manufactured Obama controversies.

[Fighter of Foo]

Oh and here's some context on Democratic primary voters crossing over:

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/some_c...democratic.php

"[i]t may be normal for some voters to claim early on in the process -- perhaps out of frustration -- that they will desert their party if certain things do not happen to their liking. And it may be equally likely that they fall back into line by the time of the general election. It is worth noting that in Gallup's historical final pre-election polls from 1992 to 2004, 10% or less of Republicans and Democrats typically vote for the other party's presidential candidate."

"Of course, the larger point of the eight year old Pew numbers is that snapshots from March have a short half-life, so speculate with caution."

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

He'd be the oldest President ever elected to a first term. The media is going to jump on that like a trampoline in the general. That's just the beginning. And painting him as Bush's third term isn't going to serve him well either.

It's like Bob Dole redux.

The problem is that the media's spent the last 5-6 years fawning over McCain and the "maverick" that he was because he often went against Bush on policy. Dole was the republican establishment and was taken to the woodshed by the media. Now, if it's McCain against Obama, McCain will get strongly attacked for a good 2-3 month period. But people will already be jaded against the election media from fatigue and they will be going off 5-6 years of being told what a standup guy McCain was by not supporting Bush on economic issues. Dole was the enemy from day 1.

He's said he "wept" when it happened, when blacks were granted the priesthood. But why wasn't he raked over the coals for stuff some of the elders of the LDS church have said in the past 25-30 years?

It's no different.

Mitt Romney lost the primary because of fears on him being Mormon. After Huckabee's comments in Iowa and the intense media scrutiny on his mormon beliefs in Iowa, NH and the southern states, Romney was done for. If Obama got 1/5th the media scrutiny Romney did in those 2-3 months, Hillary would be the nominee now.

Just imagine if Hillary or Bill came out today and stated how dangerous it would be if someone from the Trinity church was president because "Don't Trinity worshipers believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?". I highly doubt the media response would be to say "Interesting point, what's your response Obama?" - like they did with Romney when Huckabee said it.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Fighter of Foo

Let's hear all of those stories first without any context and then we can get back to the manufactured Obama controversies.

What's manufactured about it? Those are the facts, aren't they? This guy said some batshit insane stuff, Obama's been going to his church for 20+ years, and the guy has been Obama's spiritual advisor and overseen some of the most important moments of Obama's life. Those are the facts in a nutshell, right?

Your comment reminds me of Pats fans trying to defend Belichick's cheating by saying "but others were obviously doing it too." Well, that might be, but it doesn't absolve Belichick.

[Ksyrup]

Dola. And holy shit I just realized you're from Boston. The Pats comment was just off the cuff, not directed to you if you take it that way. Kinda funny, actually.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I don't even know what LDS Church stands for......

Latter Day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church. RLDS is the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, which has since been renamed to the 'Community of Christ'.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

He's said he "wept" when it happened, when blacks were granted the priesthood. But why wasn't he raked over the coals for stuff some of the elders of the LDS church have said in the past 25-30 years?

Um... you do realize that one of the major reasons that Romney isn't still in the race (or leading it) is because people were voting against him for his Mormonism, right? Look at what happened with Huckabee started really railing against him for it.

And Romney was repeated asked about Mormonism. I remember him having to deal with a question on polygamy, which the LDS has had banned for longer than Romney was alive!

[albionmoonlight]

Romney should have run as an economic guru. Then, to temper fears about his religion, just indicated that "Religion is important to me as it is to most Americans. And, because of that, I will appoint judges who understand the important and historic role that religion has played in our society and who do not misuse the Constitution in such as way as to frustrate the will of the people. For a long time, the American people have worked to get the right judges on the bench. I am committed to continuing that work as one of my top priorities. As Americans, we deserve a Constitution that defends our natural rights to worship, to life and to property."

That would have, in my mind, have sent the signal to the religious right that, "hey, you might think Mormons are nutjobs, but I'll get you your judges. That's a fair tradeoff, right?"

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Romney should have run as an economic guru. Then, to temper fears about his religion, just indicated that "Religion is important to me as it is to most Americans. And, because of that, I will appoint judges who understand the important and historic role that religion has played in our society and who do not misuse the Constitution in such as way as to frustrate the will of the people. For a long time, the American people have worked to get the right judges on the bench. I am committed to continuing that work as one of my top priorities. As Americans, we deserve a Constitution that defends our natural rights to worship, to life and to property."

That would have, in my mind, have sent the signal to the religious right that, "hey, you might think Mormons are nutjobs, but I'll get you your judges. That's a fair tradeoff, right?"

+1

[Fighter of Foo]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

What's manufactured about it? Those are the facts, aren't they? This guy said some batshit insane stuff, Obama's been going to his church for 20+ years, and the guy has been Obama's spiritual advisor and overseen some of the most important moments of Obama's life. Those are the facts in a nutshell, right?

Your comment reminds me of Pats fans trying to defend Belichick's cheating by saying "but others were obviously doing it too." Well, that might be, but it doesn't absolve Belichick.

It's a really good analogy and what's funny is while I live in Boston I didn't grow up here and hate the Pats. That said, I'm about as big a defender as you'll find of Belichick regarding the spygate thing.

The question to ask is who's driving the story? It's obviously someone or a group of someones with an agenda. With the Pats, it was a division rival/disgruntled ex-employee. With Obama, it's Hillary and the R's. That's what's manufactured about it. As I mentioned, Wright was the third attempt.

So if anyone pushing an agenda wants to discuss specifics that's fine, but they get to subject themselves to the same standards. That's obviously not happening here with McCain and until it does, fuck everyone who wants to promote it.

In NY, Spitzer had to resign because he spent time as AG prosecuting various people for prostitution. Good riddance.