Obama Parses His Position on Wright (Updated: It’s Just a Time Warp)
[Guest post by DRJ]
I don’t like politicians who parse words and, even though I know they all do it, some do it more than others. (I’m looking at you, Bill Clinton.) I think Barack Obama is parsing words over Jeremiah Wright.
Yesterday on a taping of The View that aired today, Obama had this to say about Wright and his church:
“Had the reverend not retired, and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I believe is the greatness of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn’t have felt comfortable staying at the church.”
I’ve searched high and low and I cannot find anywhere that Jeremiah Wright “acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate.” Forgiveness and understanding is reserved for those who admit they are wrong, not for those who won’t admit it but have a surrogate say they did.
In addition, how have Wright’s words been “mischaracterized”? There’s video. We all heard his words and saw him say them. For Obama to claim that Wright has been mischaracterized is disingenuous at best. All reasonable people know what statements like “God Damn America” mean.
Having said that, true believers are also spinning Wright’s statements. One example of spin was on Fox News this afternoon when commentators argued over Wright’s words “God Damn America.” The Republican strategist criticized Wright, a pastor, for invoking God’s name in vain. The other commentator said there was a comma in the phrase and that Wright actually said “God, Damn America” so he did not use God’s name in vain. I didn’t hear a comma in Wright’s statement but if there was one, it’s a comma without meaning. The point is that Wright believes America should be damned and it doesn’t matter if he wants God, Allah, Wiccans or his congregants to do it.
UPDATE: Fox News reports that Obama also said this about Wright:
“What they spoke to was, I think, a brilliant man who was still caught in a time warp back in the ’60s, early ’70s and the ’50s, where he grew up, and had a sense of where America was and didn’t have a good enough sense of how it had changed.”
Wright can’t tell how America has changed? Wright has been pictured meeting with Bill Clinton when he was President. He lives in a large US city, traveled throughout the US, and presided over a church with 8000 members. Further, his parishioners, Barack and Michelle Obama, are excellent examples of how things have changed in America.
Parsing is one thing but for Obama to think any reasonable person would believe this is just lame.
— DRJ
Just off the top of my head, I think it was “No, not God Bless America, God Damn America.”
So which is it? Do we say God, Bless America?
G (722480) — 3/28/2008 @ 11:50 amI’ve updated the post with Obama’s “time warp” comments from Fox News.
DRJ (a431ca) — 3/28/2008 @ 12:07 pmUnfortunately after watching The View episode, it would not appear to matter much at all what sort of parsing Obama was doing based on the *enthuiastic* responses from the audience (and View hostesses) to anything he said. There seems to be a complete loss of reasoning. Of course, it was also hideously embarrassing when the hostesses declared to him he was very sexy…
Dana (fba430) — 3/28/2008 @ 12:11 pmHe has retired to his 10,000 square foot home. No wonder he eschews middle-classedness. Going straight to the big leagues!
If he hadn’t resigned, Baracky would have left the Church? He had 20 years to do so, what did Wright say recently that made Baracky reach the tipping point? Most of this stuff goes back years and years, not months. This is pure unadulterated BS, and The View was a perfect place for him to spew it.
JD (75f5c3) — 3/28/2008 @ 12:30 pmThe excuse perpetuated by individuals such as Wright are a great disservice to advancing equality and keeps racial issues at the forefront. Keep in mind, less than a quarter of southern whites actually owned slaves, the largest wave of immigration came after the civil war. As such probably less than 20% of our population has any ancestors that owned slaves, probably less than 10% that had more than one or two ancestors that owned a slave, at least 7-8 genertions removed. To believe that the plight of blacks in this country is a result of the vistages of slavery, 143 years after the end of slavery is incredulous.
The only time that I will ever discriminate is when someone claims I as a white person owe them something because they are black.
Joe - Dallas (d29492) — 3/28/2008 @ 12:34 pmI think you need to reread one part of the quote. Obama didn’t say Wright’s words had been “mischaracterized.” He said Wright mischaracterized what Obama believes is the greatness of the U.S.
rowling (5251ec) — 3/28/2008 @ 1:04 pmOpra left the same church but Obama stayed. That tells me Obama’s agenda right there. At the very least it shows he lacks the situational awareness to be president. He is not the great uniter he claims. Far from it.
Retired Cop (7cfd24) — 3/28/2008 @ 1:06 pmRowling,
It’s one thing to say people don’t understand what Wright was trying to say, e.g., his statements were mischaracterized. That was my charitable interpretation.
The alternative is that Obama’s point was Wright misunderstands modern America. That’s also a fair interpretation and it’s reaffirmed by Obama’s “time warp” comment. However, IMO, it makes Wright (and, by extension, Obama) look even more out-of-touch and at odds with most Americans. Why would we want a candidate whose “moral compass” is still living in the 1950’s, ’60s and ’70s?
DRJ (8b9d41) — 3/28/2008 @ 1:15 pmDRJ–remember, the great idea behind the ideology of victimhood and minorityism (I don’t know what else to call it) is that a victim is and always will remain a victim, even when trying not to be a victim, and the status of victim is passed on from generation to generation; and, in complement to this, an oppresser is and always will be an oppresser, even when the oppresser tries not to be an oppresser, and the status of oppresser is passed on from generation to generation. So you see, when Clinton was shaking Wright’s hand, Clinton was simply committing another act of white oppression of blacks, even though neither Clinton nor Wright viewed it that way at the time.
kishnevi (202292) — 3/28/2008 @ 1:30 pmI know but that’s a destructive way to live one’s life, Kish.
DRJ (8b9d41) — 3/28/2008 @ 1:35 pmDestructive, DRJ? I think that the “eternal victimhood” meme can make folks like Jesse Jackson (and Jeremiah Wright) lots of money and gain them influence.
Which is the point, sadly.
Are things perfect? No. Are thing better? Yes. How to continue to make them better still remains the question. Demonizing your opponents is not the most optimal path…unless you are simply about power.
Eric Blair (2708f4) — 3/28/2008 @ 1:49 pmEric Blair brings up a good point. The Jesse’s and Jeremiah’s of the world depend on keeping the anger and sanctimonious sense of injustice alive. Its their bread and butter. Its an unchecked business with no checks and balances and those in the pool are convinced that it is their lot be victims and to give to those who will ‘fight’ for them, be that as it may.
Talk about victimization.
Dana (fba430) — 3/28/2008 @ 1:57 pm“Had the reverend not retired, and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I believe is the greatness of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn’t have felt comfortable staying at the church.”
I think it’s high time somebody applies Occam’s Razor to this whole “parsing the parson” nonsense and applies a little parsimony. I think I will put my garlic nose to the grindstone here and give it a whirl.
Senator Obama’s jabberwocky paragraph begins with “Had the reverend not retired…”, this not only gives us a time reference and a starting point for a major premise. (If “x” or in this case “not x”…and if “y” or “not y”…then…”?”)
The “not y” in this equation is and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate (whatever that means)
The Formula now looks like this:
Major Premise X: If he had not retired;
Major Premise Y: AND he had not acknowledged the offensiveness and mischaracterizations of his racist, paranoid and hateful rants; (please note, he NEVER says apologize)
Non Sequitor Premise:Against this country with all its flaws;
Conclusion: I would have not been comfortable staying.
What can we learn from this syllogymnastic fluff ball?
First, Sen. Obama has given us the preconditions for his alleged discomfort. Anyone who spews this venom from the pulpit must retire AND acknowledge that it is offensive and a mischaracterization of the country’s greatness. Right?
All we need to know now, is what was said when Sen. Obama WAS around. For that, we need two things. Dates he was there. DVD’s or transcripts from those dates. Simple enough, right? Think the MetastasisMedia is going to get those? Those bastions of objective, investigative reporting?
Let’s move on from fantasyland…to…bizarro world.
Just to be clear, the government started the AIDS virus to infect black people is “offensive” and a “mischaracterization” of the country’s greatness, FOR ALL ITS FLAWS.
Please pardon me, but something smells a little fishy to my garlic nose.
The issue for the next leader of the free world is not whether I am offended by that statement, or whether it mischaracterized the greatness of my country…the issue is, it’s a batshit crazy lie.
This Demarxistcratic Primary has so much mean drama and wordplay spin, you need a dramamine and an English to English translator just to do a puff piece interview…on the VIEW of all places for heaven’s sake.
I mean, c’mon…if Joy Behar and the two other lightweights had fawned any more over him, they were risking Michelle’s coming onstage and eliminating the tres bien ensemble from their perky perches.
What was the risk here, they might ask him his favorite recipe? So, why go into Clintonian wordspeak on THIS show? And parse the parson with Orwellian doubletalk?
Because that’s how it was set up to be played. Maybe now it can all go away. And we can get back to talking about hope and change and how sexy he is. That’s what all those deep thinkers on the left want after all, right?
I just have one question….if Bill Clinton was the first black President, then is Sen. Obama the second Bill Clinton?
cfbleachers (4040c7) — 3/28/2008 @ 2:05 pmObama isn’t saying the Rev’s words were mischaracterized, butthat the Rev has mischaracterized what Obama’s views are…
Either way, the entire this was a pile of BS…
Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec) — 3/28/2008 @ 3:33 pm“Parsing is one thing but for Obama to think any reasonable person would believe this is just lame.”
Unfortunately, there are enough unreasonable people around for this man to become President.
Apogee (366e8b) — 3/28/2008 @ 3:37 pmEric Blair,
I think it’s destructive in two ways: People who are repeatedly told and believe they are victims will never get control of their lives, let alone get ahead. And the people who profit from keeping them as victims are destroyed in a way that money can’t measure.
DRJ (a431ca) — 3/28/2008 @ 4:33 pmThat is true, of course, DRJ. But it does give them big houses, bank accounts, press time, and sports cars. And it allows people all into Black power to move into white neighborhoods, as Wright plans to do. And we are so messed up on race in this country that we fear to call these people what they are: power mad hypocrites.
Eric Blair (0211e4) — 3/28/2008 @ 4:48 pmHow about those political buffoons who make a “farce” of words….any come to mind?
The Winkie Wankie Bird (d114a5) — 3/28/2008 @ 5:23 pmEric Blair – we’re not messed up on race in this country, we’re messed up on education. Because of the evil nature of PC, we’re simply not taught analytical thought anymore. Education is now a process of memorization, whether the subject matter is multiplication tables or the “correct” approach to answering a problem. Current students I know and talk with all understand that navigating the bureaucracy of the education system is the goal, and not challenging anything is a good start. Going along to get along is ingrained. It’s not as if we’re all stupid, it’s just that we know there’s a man behind the curtain, we’ve seen the Criterion Collection Wizard of Oz, and we understand that it’s just the way the system works. Oh, and that the act of pointing out that man is verboten.
We (the collective we) are not allowed to discuss the things that could move us away from a victim/oppressor mentality. Not because of one specific group or organization, but because so many have their hands in the till of profit. The many bureaucracies that are part of the poverty lobby simply will not stand for it.
Obama has never tried to sell anything other than an appearance. Any time he has ventured out of vague platitudes, (or away from the teleprompter) he’s stumbled. He understands what he’s doing – emotion runs the majority of the electorate as a given – and he just needs a few others to be on the payroll to make it happen.
Apogee (366e8b) — 3/28/2008 @ 5:50 pm“Parsing is one thing but for Obama to think any reasonable person would believe this is just lame.”
Obama isn’t counting on reasonable people to believe him; he’s counting on the same people — those who think that “Change We Can Believe In” is a viable political platform — to overlook this monumental gaffe and vote for him anyway. Unfortunately, a great many of them will do just that.
Missed It By THAT Much (784175) — 3/28/2008 @ 6:37 pmOh gosh, here’s more of Obama’s ‘explanation’:
“View” co-host Elisabeth Hasslebeck expressed concern that Obama’s choice of pastor may show a lack of judgment.
The candidate explained, “Part of what my role in my politics is to get people who don’t normally listen to each other to talk to each other, who [say] crazy things, who are offended by each other, for me to understand them and to maybe help them understand each other.”
This is such mumbo-jumbo and so off the wall…that it just might be enough to get him elected. So, parse this!
Dana (fba430) — 3/28/2008 @ 6:46 pm“Had the reverend not retired, and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people
See, he’s got a little wiggle room here.
Condition 1: Wright does not retire.
Condition 2: Wright does not acknowledge yadda yadda
Then Barack grows a pair and leaves. See, it’s okay that he not acknowledge, because he has retired rendering Condition 2 moot.
Uber-weasel-y, but he’s got a semantic case. On this one a least.
Uncle Pinky (5ba4c8) — 3/28/2008 @ 6:47 pmif at some point in the future, beerdrinking is authoritatively determined to be immoral, i just want to go on record that i would have given up beerdrinking by now had i known this.
likes butthat the rev in #14.
assistant devil's advocate (71f0d0) — 3/28/2008 @ 7:18 pmApogee, you are surely right about education, in all kinds of ways. How to teach critical thinking without letting politics in the door? I don’t know. Obama was gaming the system, and it didn’t work because of Wright’s incredible hypocrisy and race-baiting.
We’ll see how Obama handles the next few weeks. He’ll have to establish who he is and what he believes. It will be interesting.
Eric Blair (0211e4) — 3/28/2008 @ 7:32 pmHow dumb does Obama think everyone must be who is listening to his ever changing explanations for his 20 year relationship with his spiritual mentor, moral compass and his church?
Nevermind, that’s really a rhetorical question. Obama’s going for the democrat vote so intelligence is not needed.
daleyrocks (906622) — 3/28/2008 @ 7:48 pmEric – If Obama establishes anything concrete about himself before at least a debate with another party, much less the next few weeks, I’ll buy Patterico a 6’er of his favorite beer.
Obama coasts like a mag-lev train on a downhill slope, and none of his supporters seem to care.
Apogee (366e8b) — 3/28/2008 @ 7:52 pmYup, Apogee. Taking a stand would limit his appeal! Nice metaphor, and despite the “post-racial” business, it is ALL about identity politics!
Eric Blair (0211e4) — 3/28/2008 @ 8:08 pmI dunno,
paul from Fl (47918a) — 3/29/2008 @ 3:26 amIt’s all really BS. If we flipped the characters around and McCain or Hillary had a pastor saying the things Wright said and they didn’t chastise, alienate and/or abandon him/her, their candidacies would have been dead in the water. But because we are talking about a Black candidate, he gets all sorts of wiggle room and analysis.
Face it, Obama is another self-loathing Democrat who couldn’t get off the entitlement horse if he was dragged off. His entitlement? You can never state that he is or those close to him are racist. Regardless of what they say or do.
yeesh
Paul from Fl – You should really stop worrying about this SHIT because it is just a DISTRACTION from what is really important. The man said so himself. Can’t you just look somewhere else, like at the republican candidate or Hillary instead? It’s not fair! Leave Barack alone. He’s all about hope and change. He’s the one man who can save AmeriKKKa. Oooops.
daleyrocks (906622) — 3/29/2008 @ 3:59 amBarack Hussein Obama said:
Now, ain’t that amazing? Hillary Clinton had said that while we can’t pick our family members, we can choose our pastors, and that, had her pastor said the things the Rev Dr Wright has said, he wouldn’t remain her pastor. Well, as nearly as I can tell, Mr Obama has just said the same thing! Trouble is, he didn’t say it until what his pastor had been saying was pointed out to him, to his political detriment. Was he asleep in the pews all this time, hearing nothing, or was his pastor’s phraseology offensive to him only after it became a political liability?
Dana (556f76) — 3/29/2008 @ 4:18 amDaley,
paul from fl (47918a) — 3/29/2008 @ 7:53 amWell, thanks to you insight I realize that I too am for hope and change.
I hope that obama realizes he is washed up and changes his mind about running for the presidency.lol
So, what has he done to get his hatey, whackjob pastor to a place of unity and understanding? I’ve got nothing.
Pablo (99243e) — 3/29/2008 @ 8:20 am