Clyburn Blasts Wright for 'Knee-Capping' Obama
By Jonathan Weisman
For a Democratic superdelegate who is officially still unaligned, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.) is sounding more and more like a Barack Obama fan.
In an interview today, Clyburn blasted the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's former pastor, but he suggested Wright's recent re-emergence had not done lasting damage to the Illinois senator.
"I have a daughter the same age as Barack Obama," said Clyburn, the most senior African American in Congress. "I've tried to provide shoulders for her to stand on. And I was absolutely saddened when it became clear to me Rev. Wright, rather than providing a shoulder for his parishioner to stand on, was engaged in some kind of knee-capping operation. That's not the kind of anatomical analogy we ought to be involved in."
He took particular umbrage with Wright's suggestion that attacks on him were attacks on the black church, writ large. But, said Clyburn, if Wright had done grievous damage to Obama, the candidate would not have picked up the endorsements over the past two days from former Democratic Party chief Joe Andrew or Rep. Baron Hill, who represents a conservative district in Southern Indiana.
"Just because one sets out to do damage doesn't mean it will be successful," Clyburn said. "I don't think it was successful."
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I watched Wright's Press
I watched Wright's Press Club appearance, and I don't see what all the fuss is about. The first two thirds were drawn out but informative--people with long attention spans might even say it was brilliant. The last third was unapologetic, but I couldn't help but laugh at some points. I can understand why Obama would want to distance himself from Wright at this point for pragmatic reasons. Wright could have produced some more diplomatic soundbites, but if that is all Obama cared about than he is going to have to make due without them. The press was going to center on the most sensational soundbites anyway. If he is now going to make his denouncement of Wright a center piece of his campaign, we can forget about him taking the time to devote attention to more important issues. Watching Obama and some of his supporters reprimand Wright reminds me of how the older generation of blacks which included Jackie Robinson and Joe Louis reprimanded Muhammad Ali for his "bombastic" behavior and anti-war positions during the 1960s. The only difference is that it is primarily the younger generation which is embarrassed by the unapologetic attitude of the older generation. From reading press reports of Wright's appearance, I was revved up to support Obama's denunciation of Wright until I actually witnessed the appearance myself and found it to be much ado about nothing. I wonder if Obama actually watched the speech itself or had surrogates report to him on how to respond. Wright actually promoted the kind of dialogue that Obama called for in Philadelphia.
One thing I didn't agree with is Wright's claim that Obama is merely acting out of political expediency and that his motives as a "pastor" are necessarily more pure. Men of the clothe can be just as calculating and self-serving as any politician. To quote Michael Corleone, they "are both part of the same hypocrisy." I think both are competing for an audience and looking for ways to shore up their credentials as they realize that their motives no longer intersect.
From a poster at WAPO: I
From a poster at WAPO:
Once again, I submit for consideration in this beloved community:
Surely it is...but I submit that either Barack Obama (architect of arguably the greatest and most unprecedented political run in history - and, architect of the most innovative political fundraising campaign in history) has suddenly became an idiot about the very thing he should know best - the racist proclivities of American media OR we are merely witnesses to pre-emptive planning at its finest.
Candidate BHO emerged from the first media firestorm with an opportunity to deliver his historic speech in Philadelphia. He will emerge from this second firestorm with an expected electoral victory in North Carolina and Philadelphia - while also having shut the door on this association.
Rev. Wright, meanwhile, remains the same as he ever was only larger among those already recognize our truth. He will be as diminished as King pos-1963, as diminished as Garvey or Malcolm X or any other nationalist in the eyes of Black conservatives, integrationists...and that's of no consequence because that is the nature of the beast.
The Reverend has repeatedly said that "this" is not about him or candidate BHO. Of course, the perception from the casual listener is that this is an intentional falsehood intended to mask ego, hubris and greed. To all accounts, that has not been the tradition of the man.
Then again, perhaps everything is exactly as it seems.
"King and chief probably had a big beef; 'Cause of that now I grit my teeth." - Chuck D.
I Still Don't Get It
While I agree that the assertion that Obama was simply at as a "politician" was problematic, I've yet to understand what was so "racist" and "hateful" about any of Rev. Wright's comments. All the pundits keep talking about it like it's apparent and it's not. I've heard that some of the issue is the accusation that the US govt invented AIDS to undermine the Black community, but I don't understand how that equals anti-white hate.
Also, as a member of the echo-boom generation, personally, I'm with Rev. Wright on this one. I sympathize with the tough position Obama was put in; but, I wish he had taken the opportunity to advance an honest dialogue on race rather than pandering to frightened whites, many of whom are either ignorant of continuing racism and therefore delusional or are avowed racists.
no1kstate: Wright was told
no1kstate:
Wright was told what they didn't want to hear and what apologies they wanted. He gave them none of that...therefore he is racist and hateful.
Don't ask for any more explanation than that. There is no more explanation than that.
T3:
Interestingly enough, a young lady at today's symposium has a "Jerimiah Wright for President" button.
I'm not giving the controversy a lot of thought, given that it doesn't impact my reason to support Obama (the last man standing who is neither Hillary nor McCain).
ubstu34:
That would be stupid. They don't need to compete.
You don't see them in
You don't see them in competing spheres of black leadership? I guess they are not personally competing for the same prize, but they represent competing views.
I don't see Obama running
I don't see Obama running for Black Leader. I see him running for President...which is seriously not the job of Black Leader.
I don't see Wright running for President. I'm not really clear if he's running for Black Leader.