CNN re-airs smear video, no mention of McCain campaign's attacks on Obama patriotism
SUMMARY: Reporting on a YouTube video that CNN's Wolf Blitzer described as portraying Sen. Barack Obama and his wife as "America-hating racists," correspondent Carol Costello quoted, without challenge, a Republican National Committee official saying attacks on Obama's patriotism "do[n't] come from us." Costello did not note that Sen. John McCain's campaign has suspended one staffer for circulating the video and that the campaign also reportedly said it was "an error" when it sent out a Wall Street Journal op-ed attacking Obama's minister.
On the March 25 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, in a report about what host Wolf Blitzer called "a new YouTube video attacking Senator Barack Obama's patriotism," correspondent Carol Costello uncritically reported Republican National Committee deputy chairman Frank Donatelli saying about attacks on Obama's patriotism: "It doesn't come from us. As I say, I can't just say more strongly enough, that all the candidates running for president are patriotic. There are a lot of voices out there. There's cable television. There's the Internet. Everybody has a blog. I mean, it can come from a lot of different sources." However, Costello failed to note the role Sen. John McCain's campaign had in circulating materials attacking Obama, including the video discussed in the report. Indeed, CNN Internet correspondent Abbi Tatton reported on March 20, "John McCain staffer Soren Dayton" viewed the video, "then sent it out through the website Twitter," and "[t]hat got Dayton suspended today from the McCain campaign."
Further, Costello did not mention that the McCain campaign reportedly circulated to reporters a Wall Street Journal op-ed in which Newsmax.com chief Washington correspondent Ronald Kessler wrote that "Obama's close association with" Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright "raises legitimate questions about Mr. Obama's fundamental beliefs about his country," which "deserve a clearer answer than Mr. Obama has provided so far." On March 14, the Politico's Jonathan Martin reported that the McCain campaign "included an op-ed from the WSJ written by Ron Kessler about Obama's pastor today in its morning clips." Subsequently, McCain's campaign reportedly said it sent the op-ed "in error."
Moreover, Costello reported that "[t]hose who doubt Obama's patriotism also ask whether he can be trusted as commander in chief," and asserted, "[T]hat's not exactly a million miles from Republican charges against Barack Obama's Iraq policy." Then, while showing a page from the RNC's website attacking Obama, Costello uncritically reported that "[o]n the RNC's website, there are doubts about Obama's commitment to U.S. troops in Iraq," without noting that McCain had also voted against a bill that funded the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the March 25 and March 20 Situation Room reports, both Costello and Blitzer, respectively, said the video was about "patriotism" without noting its racial overtones. Tatton and Costello noted that the Politico had reported that the video was created in part by Lee Habeeb "a former producer of the Laura Ingraham Show" and currently "director of strategic content at Salem Radio Network." But none of the three -- Costello, Tatton, or Blitzer -- noted that, as the Politico's Martin reported, "the incendiary video ... also includes footage of Malcolm X, the U.S. Olympians who raised their hand in the black power salute and the song 'Fight the Power.' " Martin also reported that Habeeb said of his video, "I didn't do this to make him like a scary black man," but, as Martin wrote, Habeeb made this assertion "despite the inclusion of Malcolm X, the black Olympians and a rap song by Public Enemy."
Further, Blitzer described attacks on Obama's patriotism as "a new tactic against Barack Obama that we're sure to see more of if he wins the Democratic presidential nomination. What his campaign simply calls hit jobs on his patriotism." Notwithstanding Blitzer's reference to the "new tactic," since Obama officially announced his run for the presidency, conservative media figures have repeatedly raised questions about his patriotism, pointing to his choice not to wear U.S. flag pins and a photo showing Obama without his hand over his heart during a playing of the national anthem. Moreover, CNN previously lent legitimacy to questions about Obama's patriotism, asking in a February 24 CNN.com online poll: "Does Barack Obama show the proper patriotism for someone who wants to be president of the United States?" Blitzer also described the video as "new," despite the fact it was posted March 16 on YouTube and The Situation Room had previously reported on the video on March 20.
On the February 24 edition of CNN's Ballot Bowl '08, correspondent Josh Levs similarly ignored that Republicans were using patriotism as an issue to attack Obama. Levs stated, "What's going on is that there are some rumors out there about him, just in general in America, getting sent out by email. And he has been trying to fight those off." He later added, "Some are concerned they're not sure where these rumors come from."
From the March 25 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
BLITZER: Campaign smears -- a new YouTube video attacking Senator Barack Obama's patriotism, portraying him and his wife as, quote, "America-hating racists." We'll take a closer look at whether it could do permanent damage to his campaign. We'll tell you what's going on.
[...]
BLITZER: There's a new tactic against Barack Obama that we're sure to see more of if he wins the Democratic presidential nomination. What his campaign simply calls hit jobs on his patriotism.
CNN's Carol Costello's been working that story for us. She's coming into The Situation Room, tell us what she's finding out.
What are you finding out?
COSTELLO: Well, it's a nasty YouTube video and it's out -- it's out right now. It's pretty nasty, but if Barack Obama gets the Democratic nomination, it's just the tip of the iceberg.
[begin video clip]
WRIGHT: Not "God bless America" --
COSTELLO: It's the ultimate attack ad, cleverly edited video interspersing Senator Obama and words from his pastor maligning America.
OBAMA: --particularly controversial -- controversial --
COSTELLO: Obama supporters say the intent is vile: to portray the senator and his wife as America-hating racists. The website Politico says the video was spliced together by Lee Habeeb, a former producer for the conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham.
The Obama camp calls it a hit job. Others say this sort of attack could do real damage if Obama becomes the Democratic candidate.
JOHN FORTIER (American Enterprise Institute research fellow): We may see it again in the fall, where those states like Ohio are key to the election, and those are the types of voters we'll be fighting over. And patriotism is something that will matter to them.
COSTELLO: Those who doubt Obama's patriotism also ask whether he can be trusted as commander in chief. Their take: "If someone doesn't love our country, how can he support our troops defending it?" And that's not exactly a million miles from Republican charges against Barack Obama's Iraq policy.
On the RNC's website, there are doubts about Obama's commitment to U.S. troops in Iraq. And while the RNC denies this has anything to do with an alleged patriotism problem, it is aware those charges are out there.
FRANK DONATELLI (RNC deputy chairman): It doesn't come from us. As I say, I can't just say more strongly enough, that all the candidates running for president are patriotic.
There are a lot of voices out there. There's cable television. There's the Internet. Everybody has a blog. I mean, it can come from a lot of different sources.
COSTELLO: Obama is certainly aware of how this video and Pastor Wright's rhetoric could hurt him. He surrounded himself with eight U.S. flags as he repudiated Wright's remarks in a widely broadcast speech. His surrogates have addressed the charges directly.
GEN. TONY McPEAK (Obama adviser): Because both Barack Obama and John McCain are great patriots who love this country and are devoted to it. So is Hillary Clinton. Any suggestion to the contrary is flat wrong.
[end video clip]
COSTELLO: And the irony of the general's comments? He was actually addressing something said by Bill Clinton, a Democrat. So Barack Obama's getting it from all sides.
BLITZER: Carol, thank you.
Carol Costello reporting.
From the March 20 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
BLITZER: A staffer for John McCain's presidential campaign was suspended today for sending out a YouTube video questioning Barack Obama's patriotism.
Let's go to our Internet reporter, Abbi Tatton. She's got the details.
What did the video, Abbi, show?
TATTON: Wolf, it's this video. "Is Obama Wright?" splices together the Reverend Jeremiah Wright's controversial comments with Obama sound bites. It was traced by Politico.com to Lee Habeeb, a director at a conservative radio network, who tells CNN he made it at home this weekend with a friend, saying, "We're in a world where we're allowed to criticize public figures."
But forwarding the video has led to one campaign casualty. John McCain staffer Soren Dayton was about -- one of about 50,000 people that viewed it. He then sent it out through the website Twitter that allows you to send short updates to friends. That got Dayton suspended today from the McCain campaign. A spokeswoman said: "We have been very clear on the type of campaign we intend to run, and this staffer acted in violation of our policy" -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Abbi, thanks for that.
This whole Reverend Wright "outrage" is steeped in racism. He says nothing worse than a lot of Right Wing evangelical preachers have said, but since he says it in the traditional style of a Black Minister, and wears African-looking garments..... it must be BAAAAAAAD. I don't hear any of these hysterical hand-wringers demanding that white Evangelicals leave THEIR churches.
Being Catholic, does that mean I'm a pedophile too if my priest turns out to have had sex with altar boys?
"Being Catholic, does that mean I'm a pedophile too if my priest turns out to have had sex with altar boys?"
Only if that priest was your personal spiritual adviser, married you, and baptised your children.
Nutnet, if there was more to come out about Wright, it would have found its way to YouTube by now. As it is, they had to comb through 30 years of his sermons -- often given three times a week -- to find anything that could even be called objectionable.
The problem here is that the Troglodyte attack on Obama has assumed that NOT leaving the church is somehow a character flaw with Obama. Of course, framing the issue to their advantage is what professional liars do best.
"Only if that priest was your personal spiritual adviser, married you, and baptised your children."
Wrong, The Catholic Church was clearly complacent in its protection of young boys. Instead of punishing the Cardinal in Boston they gave him a cushy job in Rome. It is known that Rome knew this was an issue for quite some time but there was never anything identifiable done to curb or weed out pedophiles. As such, it continued. Using your logic; everyone who continues to attend the Catholic church feels it is ok to be complacent towards pedophiles; unless they leave the church of course. Do you not see how ridiculous this guilt by association ideology you adhere to is?
Would you agree that people can continue to remain the the Catholic church without agreeing with the actions of Rome concerning the pedophilia scandals? I hope so, because it would be entirely unfair to insinuate that just because someone has remained a Catholic following the complacency of Rome, then they are complacent towards protecting children just because of their continued association with the church. As such, would you then agree that Obama, just like members of the Catholic church, are not representative of judgements made by someone else?
You guys who are holding on to this issue as if it is proof that Obama is a racist really need to step back and let reason take over. Wake up!!!
Your characterization of right wing evangelicals smacks of bigotry. Can you name a single Right Wing Evangelical who calls on God to "damn America?"
The racism of the 'Wright' affair is of Mr. Wright's making. He follows a 'theology' that attributes evil to people on the basis of their skin color. His theology demands that God hate white people. The relationship to Christianity and the theology of Reverend Wright is less than marginal.
The "soft racism" of liberalism and Black Liberation Theology go hand in hand. The Liberals insinuate black people are not competent to achieve on their own, they must be aided by 'enlightened' whites. BLT, on the other hand, says that blacks are incapable of overcoming the disadvantages of white oppression.
People like Wright and his ilk do more harm to blacks in America than good. The greatest threat to black success in the United States is not white racist in the GOP but black racists and their "soft racist" friends on the Liberal left. (They now wish to be called 'Progressives' since 'liberal' has become such a politically loaded word - it means higher taxes, less freedom and less opportunity - oh, that's what 'progressive' will soon mean, too - because that's what the people who claim the label are for.)
Can you name a single Right Wing Evangelical who calls on God to "damn America?"
I think this is equivalent.
snooz,
No 'damning' of America here. Instead a plea to recognize God and seek forgivness. Quite a bit of difference between calling for judgement of our evil ways or the hope of reconciliation with God. One seeks retribution the other contrition. One beats down, the other lifts up.
From your link, now with every head bowed and as the offering plates are passed (no need to pass the plate in the Obamas' aisle, by the way) let's join in the last verse:
"Why should God bless America?
She’s forgotten he exists
And has turned her back on everything
That made her what she is
Why should God stand beside her
Through the night with the light from his hand?
God have mercy on America
Forgive her sins and heal our land!"
One's taking accountability, and acknowledging consequences for misdeeds, one's looking for a handout and entitlements.
You oughtta try telling the truth, it takes a lot less typing.
kernal(oftruth?),
Your posting seems to indicate that someone who takes responsiblity for their own actions is honorable and someone seeking a handout deserves disdain. I am concerned that you have either typed errantly or have come over to the dark side of the force, ie. conservatism?
Your statement could be interpreted as non-progressive and therefore requiring banishment from liberal circles. Please clarify.....
Snooz,
Here is an earlier response to that blog that I felt spoke to the issue of Faith, God and living a Christian life...
Eggnog,
I remember having Francis Sr. visit my univeristy. We had watched his series based on his book, How Shall We Then Live?, in a philosphy class that I had.
A number of us had issue with his reponse to our queries about disobedience, civil and otherwise. Particularly, we focused on the actions of some in the Christian community to harm physicans who were performing abortions. (This was much of his emphasis within the religious right) He felt such actions could be justified. I disagreed. When he mentioned the actions of Rev. Boenhoffer to kill Hitler, discussion focused on an action against a political leader, not against an individual following those orders. By inference he felt that taking a doctor's life could be morally correct. A number of us felt that the civil disobedience was the only approach to persuade Americans to protect the unborn.
We were also troubled by the idea of 'christianizing' our country, exactly the way detractors described religious right as wanting a theocracy. None of us felt that our lot would improve if political leaders defined themselves as christian. We were suffering under Jimmy Carter (whose background often emphasized his 'born again' experience) at the time and thought that we should live as Christ did, not seeking political power to advance His kingdom. Politics and religion are not a good mix. I don't have a problem with a candidate describing him/herself as christian, but then do not make the opposition as unchristian. No such thing as christian politics. Right, excuse me, CORRECT political thinking never has, nor will ever save anyone's soul. I believe that it is God's business who He calls and who follows.
I recall reading several years ago how young Frank left a fundamentalist church and returned to Russian Orthodoxy. I have traversed a similar path, seeing that christianity should have nothing to do with the nastiness of politics. I never was a fan of the religious right, I thought those guys should just have been preaching the gospel.
My comments and links on this site are intended to demonstrate that politics and politicians need to express clearly what they are about and show how they will govern. I am disappointed by the RNC and its candidate, but I believe keeping Obama or Clinton from this office is a better solution for our human condition. This should not be so important that everyone screams at each other. We need levity, I think, and willingness to see politics in its proper perspective.
Much of the focus of the Moral Majority was about making government the vehicle of the salvation that Christ provides. Francis Sr., did feel that the power of political action could in effect change hearts regarding abortion, pornography and matters of religion. It was easy for political figures to exploit that to their political gain, primarily in the Republican party. I think that exploitation harms the Church, the same as the religious left expousing socialism via 'liberation theology' hurts both the individual and the Church by looking at correct government actions to bring about salvation. Again, that is not the purview of governemnt.
However, I do believe that an individual's freedom in pursuit of happiness, religious, economic or otherwise is a good principle for founding and guiding a government.
'liberal' has become such a politically loaded word - it means higher taxes, less freedom and less opportunity
I'll reword it a little bit. "It means higher taxes on the wealthy that will help to create more freedom and opportunity for the poor and middle class.
No it doesn't, stop lying. The Book of Mormon, however, does claim God cursed people with Black skin. Go attack a Mormon priest if you have a problem with racist theology.
-----------------------------------------
His theology demands that God hate white people.
- edrossinoelwein9669
"His theology demands that God hate white people."
It's that "typical white response" that Dem_Sol keeps talking about. Apparently, we white people can not wrap our head around the idea that black people are angry at our government. I think the logic goes something like this:
black people are angry at the government (as are most white people to this point, but that's another issue)
the government largely consists of white people.
Therefore, black people are angry at white people.
Is that absurd enough for ya'll?
She's supposed to be a reporter not a stenographer.
You're forgetting one thing: the media is run by Republicans who will not allow a Dem to be elected in November. Just look at how they are trying to discredit the future nominee, making all Dems look FUBAR during this primary. It's deliberate.
I'm no Obama supporter, but the video is racist- Just like Willie Horton. Just like all those ads that show black faces juxtaposed with unsavoriness. To show Obama along with stereotypical angry Blacks like Malcom X is clearly racist.
I for one, can't wait till the ads start showing Jeremiah Wright morphing into Obama and vice versa. Maybe the same ad companies that did that with Dole and Gingrich will get some more business.
You can bet there will be some 527's 'Wrightbombing' Obama or 'Snipedodging' Clinton in the Fall. Thank you McCain-Feingold for really cleaning up politics. Once again Quinn's First Law is proven correct: Liberalism always generates the exact opposite of its stated intent.
Then you dont read the threads they are there. I notice you attack ME for what I said about conservatives but not what PC said about liberals. Yeah, we get that you guys are determined that liberals ought to just take the insults of conservatives and then ask if we can have another and whine like little pansies if someone returns serve. I just dont think I want to play along.
truth,
Your observation is dead-on. However, I would recommend just sitting back, viewing the next train wreck of a posting and recognizing that every Bell Curve demonstrating IQ in any population has to have someone to occupy the lowest quartiles. Reasoned dialogue is impossible.
Yes and we all know you are ON that bottom rung. It really is a shame you are so PROUD of your stupidity though. You dont come here for reasoned dialogue. If you did you wouldnt come in and post after post regurgitate the ignorant talking points you do that show only contempt for liberals. This is a fairly liberal site. Even someone as ignorant as YOU are know what you are doing. You are annoying us. You are showing your stupidity but you cant help that but the LAST thing you are looking for is reasoned dialogue. Your baseless assertion attacks on liberals is meant to tweak and attack us. Showing how stupid you are is a byproduct.
If you can't stand the heat go post on one of your many conservative misinformation sites. Otherwise, stop whining and take your beating like a man.
----------------------------------------------------
....I would recommend just sitting back, viewing the next train wreck of a posting and recognizing that every Bell Curve demonstrating IQ in any population has to have someone to occupy the lowest quartiles. Reasoned dialogue is impossible.
himru,
No beating here, just enjoying the show of liberals demonstrating their inablity to defend their philosophical ideology. It's too fun to think about leaving.
Many efforts to respond to my postings use foul language, inate liberal animus and especially including those BIG CAPPED words in an attempt to avoid having to intellectually defend the indefensible.
Thanks for your genuine concern about my well being, hymnru, but I'm doing just fine.
Your posting history precedes you. If you think that each post should be evaluated without an eye to your history, you're sadly mistaken.
Given that, if you make a reasonable post, it will be given a fair treatment by most posters. You whine about the treatment your disingenuous posts get, but all you have to do is clean up your act. Remove the log from your own eye before you complain about the specks in another person's eye.
bleachblonde,
I don't quite understand what 'needs to be cleaned up'? My posts never involve use of vile language.
My history here has be stated clearly a number of times, I enjoy the entertainment that you all provide and secondly, I think it is important to point out hypocrisy and vapid intellectual musings from the left. Dialogue requires both parties to be able to articulate what they believe without hatred or use a smokescreen of nasty diatribes to convey a well thought out philosophical position. I contend that much of what the left winged posters do at this site is just that because liberalism fails whenever and wherever it is applied politcially. I'm not hateful nor do I whine when I point that out. I usually attempt to ask for examples for reasoned debate and sometimes have received them. I welcome that kind of dialogue any old time.
As far as seeking humor bleachedbaby, I find that just making someone else have to rationally defend their positions when they can't, alot of fun. The knots that gathered in lib shorts here because of a little tweaking of their beliefs of the left is worth the price of admission.
Thanks for your interest.
My GOD you are an ignorant hypocrite ProudMORON. You have no interest in dialogue you are a liar
I think it is important to point out hypocrisy and vapid intellectual musings from the left. Dialogue requires both parties to be able to articulate what they believe without hatred or use a smokescreen of nasty diatribes to convey a well thought out philosophical position.
So you calling us vapic and hypocritical is fine along with all the other contemptuous and IGNORANT things you say about liberals is all love and light but when we call you a moron that is just so mean. Not only are you an ignorant hypocrite you are too stupid to keep the stupidity and hypocritical contradictions more than two sentences apart in your posts. Not to mention your contemptuous tweaking of our names. Bleachblonde is absolutly correct and YOU are either delusional or a LIAR. You are constantly saying rude, ignorant, and false things about liberals things you dont even TRY to show just ignorant baseless assertions DEFINING vapidity. Every one of your posts drips with contempt for us and most are RUDE just like this one was. Then you WHINE like the little pansy you are that we are sooooo mean to you. Grow up
"and recognizing that every Bell Curve demonstrating IQ in any population has to have someone to occupy the lowest quartiles. Reasoned dialogue is impossible."
I love it. Conservatives relying upon Bell curves.
Ding dong.
Truthseeker, if you're paying attention, Solon posts some of the most thoughtful, well supported and fair comments on this site, just not in response to idiocy. You get what you give.
What you may not understand (because I've been accused of the same things as Solon)is that often the BS posted here by dittoheads has been discussed and destroyed many times in the past, and it gets pretty boring going over the same material 50 times.
It might be worth it if the wingnuts ever absorbed any of the information or logic, but there's no real reward in trying to discuss issues with those who prove repeatedly that they don't want to discuss, but only want to test how high they can pile their manure , then accuse others of "intolerance".
This isn't Freerepublic. You've got to ante up.
Kernal,
On several occasions we have had some thoughtful discussions but we are not beat down. And please, you cannot defend the most shallow thinking of your political leaners and maintain dignity or credibility. Just let those kind of postings just 'whither on the vine.'
ProudConservative, you cannot defend the most shallow thinking of your political leaners and maintain dignity or credibility. Just let those kind of postings just 'whither on the vine.'
This site is all about the shallow thinking of conservative leaders. You need to read this sentence above and take it to heart. The log is in your eye.
clorineinducedhairlightening,
Where have my postings been shallow?
bobbleblondie,
And do you have some tweezers for log removing?
I for one, can't wait till the ads start showing Jeremiah Wright morphing into Obama and vice versa.(Peacockesque stagnator)
Ladies and gentleman, the target demographic of the mainstream media, political ads, and late night infomercials-- The 30%ers.
Buckprivatesanders,
Loved the moniker attack, subtle yet garishly affronting!
Again, I am worried about your tenuous liberal foundation...are you saying that the democrat ads morphing Senator Dole into Newt were offensive? That they were intended for the great unwashed?
I'm sure that if Barack Obama is the nominee that your side will pound the Wright video clips for all they're worth.
The Democratic Party will respond with ads of your nominee talking about a hundred year war, bomb, bomb Iran or telling us that as our economy collapses around us, he'll do less than Herbert Hoover to help.
If I were sitting on the fence, I'd have to think which is scarier, a black preacher or someone who wants my grandkids not only to pay for his war but to fight it as well.
That is if there's anything left to fight for after the economy collapses because we just might elect the re-incarnation of the Emporer Nero.
Always PC? There's never been an exception? Never ever ever?
How many "stated intents" are you packing? I always thought we were to disorganized to deal with stated intent as a wholesale item.
westeastern90210,
This example is perfect.
Proposition-'Let's clean up politics, the public is clamoring(what a load of crap) for campaign finance reform and screw the first amendment.'
Solution-'McCain-Feingold will get money out of politics and campaign financing. Golly jeepers, all is right with the world now!'
The exact opposite that has been generated-'Money thrown into 527's from bowelmovement.org to the swiftboaters for truth. Rather than giving money limited to use by a national or state political commitee or a particular candidate (with more incentive/pressure to not do just smear ads) more mula flows into "issue focused" groups, with less transparency than ever before and with suppossed independence from the candidates. There probably is a level of collaboration that is illegal, let's not kid ourselves.'
Liberalism always generates the exat opposite of its stated intent. Quinn's First Law
I like mine better Conservatives will always say the most ignorant things imaginable because they are really stupid. Let me see. Rural electrification was meant to bring electricity to rural areas. Thus stimulating the economy as consumer goods that TAKE electricity are brought to a wider area. Did that turn out in EXACTLY the opposite way or are you just incredibly brainwashed and ignorant and Rush TOLD you to believe this really stupid nonsense?
Liberalism always generates the exat opposite of its stated intent. Quinn's First Law
I would say the same thing about conservatism.
KFColonel,
Could you give an example of one either refuting what I have postulated or presenting something that confirms your perspective?
So your saying campaign reform was not a bipartisan issue. It was a stated intent of the acursed liberals. Could you link me to that. I suppose it made it as a platform issue at some point. And by your logic (sic) it was doomed because of its source.
I think you could have a major career in pretzels.
The entire attack on Obama and his wife shows who are really the racists here: The GOP and its racist base.
Of course the "conservatives" and Repugs can't recognize their own racism. It's just a normal part of their lifestyle.
I'm not an expert on journalism , but I know a SMEAR campaign when I see one and this is far worse than bad journalism , this is a deliberate campaign to bring up any allegation against Obama and they legitimatize any vile accusation by saying " will it work " and when you see Anderson Cooper , so called journalist have repeatedly have " straight shooter express " on a banner behind him in big letters, as if he were promoting John McSame .
The shear amount of times they have mentioned Rev wright, several times a day , EVERY day tells me this story is purposely HYPED , to ruin Obama's reputation , a constant drip of GUILT by Association and compared to HaGGEE's vile comments and endorsement of McSame , the Rev. Wright issue gets aired 15, 20 times more .
And for CNN (Contains No News ) to make this vile accusation of obama a top story , devoting so much time on it , makes them look virtually the same as Fox propaganda .
But of course this is the same channel that hired Psyops from Ft. Bragg, as " Interns " during the 90's , as reported by Counter Punch , so these guys need to be called out for this agenda driven smear campaign , instead of just reporting the damn news . And they can take that waste of time and space Jennie Moos , the speculation room , and all the other gimmicks and stick it .
If I had one question to ask of Sen Obama, it would be this. You say you are a man of "change" and that you can bridge the divide or racism in our country. After spending 20yrs at your church you made NO steps to bridge the divide there and help change their views on racisim. What would make us believe you could now influence the entire country?????
And you somehow KNOW Obama didn't take any steps to "change" things at his church? Or wait, are you just regurgitating a talking point...hmmmm...let me think??? Is your question suppose to make us think you actually have a brain and are seriously concerned with Obama's patriotism? Or do you just come in here and drop a leading, biased leading Right-wing question and then run off?
I would also like to ask what McCain has done to change his close personal friend John Hagee's vile, Anti-American views or Rod Parsley, etc etc.?
This is the biggest crock I've seen since the Swift Boat Liars.
I don't give a flying fart what Obama's preacher said. It has no bearing on the issues facing us in this election.
If "leadership" is your bugaboo, please explain the leadership exhibited by Gramps McCain's shameless pandering to the Troglodyte Evangelicals.
& Chilly Hilly's anti-American gripe
Americans are waiting for these icons everyone looks up to for deliverance from the evils of fluoridation. What kind of opportunity wants to prime the pump of public health injury into the bust HMO system? Who would make an opportunity out of a WWII chemical wmd to cause a pandemic of autism and even worse mental impairment in children?
An opportunity to speak freely and air your grievances? Or an opportunity to be ostracized for your conscience and Freedom of Speech as Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is doing to Reverend Wright, in order to hurt her rival Obama.
An opportunity to recommend ostracism and shunning of our fellow Americans for speaking out against corruption in government need not apply for president.
http://www.freewebs.com/writingindependence/main.htm
See the recent New York Times' front page efforts to promote the Mercury Movements radicalism and threat to public safety.