Radio Factor guest host Tony Snow offered false and misleading attacks on Obama
SUMMARY: Guest-hosting The Radio Factor, Tony Snow falsely claimed that "since he's been in the United States Senate, [Sen. Barack Obama] has voted present more often than any other member of the Senate." Snow also asserted that Obama "has described Jeremiah Wright as one of his key political advisers, and he said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him." In fact, Obama has stated that Wright "has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor."
Guest-hosting the March 28 broadcast of Westwood One's The Radio Factor, former White House press secretary Tony Snow distorted Sen. Barack Obama's voting record, falsely claiming that "since [Obama has] been in the United States Senate, he has voted present more often than any other member of the Senate." According to The Washington Post congressional vote database, Obama has never voted present during his time in the U.S. Senate, unlike other senators. Snow also claimed that Obama "has described" Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, who recently retired as pastor at Obama's church, Trinity United Church of Christ, "as one of his key political advisers, and he said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him"; in fact, Obama has specifically stated that Wright "has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor."
A January 21, 2007, Chicago Tribune profile of Wright reported that Obama "does check with his pastor before making any bold political moves" -- not that Obama "said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting" Wright -- and that "Obama says that rather than advising him on strategy, Wright helps keep his priorities straight and his moral compass calibrated." The Tribune added:
"What I value most about Pastor Wright is not his day-to-day political advice," Obama said. "He's much more of a sounding board for me to make sure that I am speaking as truthfully about what I believe as possible and that I'm not losing myself in some of the hype and hoopla and stress that's involved in national politics."
From the March 28 broadcast of Westwood One's The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:
SNOW: Louie in Worcester, Mass. Louie, thanks for joining us. Welcome.
CALLER: Hello?
SNOW: Hey, Louie.
CALLER: Hi, I'm walking down the street, so just forgive me for a minute. What I wanted to discuss -- stepped in on real quick is this whole Jeremiah Wright thing. What people don't really understand is, I mean, myself, I'm a Christian. When I got baptized, before I could get baptized, I actually had to agree with my pastor on pretty much everything that he was saying. I had to agree with him theologically and in every other way. So, for Barack to stand up there and say that no, he doesn't agree, that he'd never heard these things, is a lie, a straight-out lie. He had to hear it -- hold on, I got an ambulance.
SNOW: OK, well, I'll tell you what, Louie. We'll cut back the sound here for a minute. I'll respond to that, and then after all the colorful sounds go away, we'll get you back on the line. I don't know if you know, but Barack Obama appearing -- was this on The View? I don't know if it was on The View. It was one of his appearances this week where he said that if Jeremiah Wright had stayed pastor of his church, he, Barack Obama, would have left.
Now, that's just a lie. That's just pure baloney. Barack Obama's been listening to this stuff for 20 years, and he never once raised a peep, but it gives you an indication of the way he handles stuff, which is if somebody becomes inconvenient, he throws them under the bus. But he never steps up and accepts personal responsibility for a position he's taken, or he never gets up and does the tough thing. It's like Bill Clinton. He never gets up and says, "Jeremiah Wright, I don't care if you're popular in the black community, if you're running a mega-church in Chicago, I just think it's time for you to stop this divisive rhetoric." He doesn't do it.
Now, he wanted Trent Lott to step away from the Senate when Trent Lott said something nice, although kind of inept, but said something nice about Strom Thurmond. He was one of the first to call for a number of people who have misspoken, for them to be sanctioned, and yet, when Jeremiah Wright says, "God damn the United States" and portrays white people as a bunch of KKK members, forget about it. He doesn't -- he didn't leave the church when it was putting terrorist literature -- terrorist literature, I'm not making this up -- terrorist literature in the Sunday bulletin for the people coming in.
Instead, what he's doing is just pretending that he wasn't there. Barack Obama, who, as a state senator in Illinois, in order to avoid casting tough or politically damaging votes, would always vote present. And since he's been in the United States Senate, he has voted present more often than any other member of the Senate. If this guy's so courageous, why won't he take a stand on the obvious stuff?
Louie, you there? Is it quieter? Can you hear me now?
CALLER: Yeah, I'm actually inside my insurance company right now, so I can hear you now.
SNOW: OK, good. Continue your point, my friend.
CALLER: No, just what I was saying is, I mean, he had to agree. I mean, there was no way he could actually get baptized if he didn't agree. There's also no way he would be able to get married there if he didn't agree.
SNOW: Well, you know, I'm not sure all churches work that way. I mean, when I was baptized, I didn't have to sort of take a plea that I would agree with the pastor on everything. On the other hand, you don't even have to go that far. He has described Jeremiah Wright as one of his key political advisers, and he said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him.
Snow should correct himself on his misstatement concerning Obama's Senate voting record.
However, Snow's other statement calling Wright a key political advisor and that Obama doesn't make key political decisions without consulting him, is not so vastly different from what is reported in this January 2007 interview at all. Obama says he checks with Wright before making "bold" political moves, that can certainly be interchangeable with "key". This is word parsing, again, by MMFA - and weak.
Frankly, I am over the whole Wright thing and I am satisfied with Obama's handling of it, it is nothing but gratuituous anymore, but I'm just trying to be fair and consistent with this from Snow.
"He has described Jeremiah Wright as one of his key political advisers, and he said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him."
This is nothing more than a clearly calculated lie.Of course Snow is a partisan GOP-er with an agenda, that's undeniable. But there is big difference in an out and out lie, and putting forth a certain piece of information in the worst possible light, which Snow may be guilty of, but I don't see where he attacking Obama with a "calculated lie", as you do.
As I said, we disagree.
It takes a real liar to keep lying while you're dying.
Form the Tribune article referenced: "Though Wright and Obama do not often talk one-on-one often, the senator does check with his pastor before making any bold political moves.
Last fall, Obama approached Wright to broach the possibility of running for president. Wright cautioned Obama not to let politics change him, but he also encouraged Obama, win or lose."
Tommy, it doesn't look like Sen. Obama said that he checks with Rev. Wright, it looks like the author, the Trib's religion reporter who was doing a piece on Rev. Wright, inferred that from the fact that Sen. Obama asked Rev. Wright for advice on his decision to run for office.
Here is Sen. Obama's quote from the article: "Obama says that rather than advising him on strategy, Wright helps keep his priorities straight and his moral compass calibrated.
"What I value most about Pastor Wright is not his day-to-day political advice," Obama said. "He's much more of a sounding board for me to make sure that I am speaking as truthfully about what I believe as possible and that I'm not losing myself in some of the hype and hoopla and stress that's involved in national politics.""
These statements and quotes do not identify Rev. Wright as a key political advisor, the former Press Secretary is lying. How is MMfA parsing here? Sen. Obama says that he does not value day-to-day advice from Rev. Wright. Sen. Obama stated that he consulted Rev. Wright about running for the presidency. How does one infer from those things that Rev. Wright is a key political advisor?
When you say you check with someone before making any bold political moves, it can certainly be said that that person is a key advisor. Why is that a lie?
When you say you check with someone before making any bold political moves, it is certainly reasonable to assume you don't make any key political decision without that person. Why is that a lie?
Tommy, Sen. Obama did not say that, the author wrote that and followed it up with comments about the fact that Sen. Obama talked to Rev. Wright about running for the presidency. Mr. Snow is presenting the Trib's religion writer's words as Sen. Obama's, and that is flat wrong.
Again, Sen. Obama said ""What I value most about Pastor Wright is not his day-to-day political advice," Obama said. "He's much more of a sounding board for me to make sure that I am speaking as truthfully about what I believe as possible and that I'm not losing myself in some of the hype and hoopla and stress that's involved in national politics.""
And I'm saying that those words don't tell me that Sen. Obama considers Rev. Wright one of his key political advisors OR that that Sen. Obama consults Rev. Wright before bold political moves.
You left out the part where Obama said he doesn't make any bold political moves without checking with Wright first. He doesn't say bold "personal" choices, he says "political". He may have qualified it later, but he certainly did say political. And when one checks with someone else on his or her political moves, that person is then a political advisor, in some capacity.
Sorry, we disagree.
You left out the part where Obama said he doesn't make any bold political moves without checking with Wright first. He doesn't say bold "personal" choices, he says "political".
Could you provide the quote please? I honestly can't find it...
"You left out the part where Obama said he doesn't make any bold political moves without checking with Wright first."
Show me where he says that. In the article above, the author is inferring that based on Obama seeking advice from Wright when he was deciding to run for President.
"has described Jeremiah Wright as one of his key political advisers, and he said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him."
Defend away, Tommy. I've said my piece.
No Tommy, here is what you said:
You left out the part where Obama said he doesn't make any bold political moves without checking with Wright first. He doesn't say bold "personal" choices, he says "political".
I'm saying Obama did not say that, the reporter inferred it. Sure, he asked Wright for advice before running for President. That part is undeniable. But the author made a generalization off of one instance, and Tony Snow took that one step further.
"The author of the piece said Obama checks with his pastor, and I said Obama "said", fine, not "said", then "checked"."
That makes no sense. You attributed the Tribune's words to Obama. if you replace "said" with "checked" in your words, it makes it non-sensical.
"You left out the part where Obama said he doesn't make any bold political moves without checking with Wright first." - Tommy
"You left out the part where Obama checked he doesn't make any bold political moves without checking with Wright first." -theoretical Tommy
I'm not calling the author a liar, I'm just saying they inferred something from one instance of it happening. Whether it's true or not, I don't know.
Why should we believe the author?
Let me ask you how often you read articles that are correct, when it's an area of your expertise? For me... I can say it has NEVER happened. So I don't ever believe what a journalist infers, unless it's a direct, verifiable quote from someone. And there is no quote from Obama anywhere saying what you're saying he has said.
Well, if the author put forth conservative misinformation, or was furthering the conservative agenda in his article, then there must be a watchdog website somewhere that will correct it, or should have.
Do you know of one?
So because MMfA did not pick up on the article about Rev. Wright having a statement in there that would, in the future, become a conservative misinformation meme, your defense of Mr. Snow's statements stands?
OK...:)
Someone better start contributing more to MMfA so they can get that time maching project going. Maybe FactCheck can pitch in and they can go halfsies on the R&D costs. :)
You're the one who should proof the positive, that Obama actually said what he is claimed to have said.
I can throw out a claim that someone said something, but without a quote to back it up, I wouldn't expect anyone to believe me.
No, Tommy, we're the ones who are not saying that Sen. Obama considers Rev. Wright a key political advisor because of a one sentence statement that doesn't even make that claim in a religion reporter's piece on Rev. Wright from back in 2007 that also said that they don't often talk together!
Sorry 'bout the lack of punctuation. :)
You can't have it both ways...you can't use a statement that says Sen. Obama "does check with his pastor before making any bold political moves" and "Wright and Obama do not often talk one-on-one often"...again in the SAME SENTENCE...and let that stand as an indication that Rev. Wright is one of Sen. Obama's key political advisors.
I for one am not questioning the truthfulness of the article...I am questioning your assertion that Obama said that, when the author clearly said it, based on "Last fall, Obama approached Wright to broach the possibility of running for president. Wright cautioned Obama not to let politics change him, but he also encouraged Obama, win or lose." The author clearly based the statement that Obama checks with his pastor before making bold political moves (running for president) on that one instance.
Tony Snow, in this case, is trying to insist that Wright is a political adviser, even though Obama has clearly said he isn't. Presumably, he's making this assumption based on the article in question, in that he states "
...(Obama) has described Jeremiah Wright as one of his key political advisers, and he said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him."
Obama has never said that.
The author of the article said he consults his pastor before making bold political moves, but there's a big, big difference.
The point I am making is apparently MMFA, and many of you, think this is some egregious and calculated lie by Snow. As I said, he may have put this in the most negative light possible for Obama, and it may go right to the edge of the truth, but I don't see it the way many of you do. And I have been very honest about my admiration for Obama, hell, if given the chance I may very well vote for him. It doesn't mean I want him treated any differently or with any kid glove treatment.
Sorry, we disagree on this.
Sorry, we disagree on this.
Personally, I'm quite please about disagreeing on this. I would HATE to have to defend conservative misinformation.
Obama: He has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor.
Snow: He said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him.
Tommy: This is word parsing, again, by MMFA - and weak.
This just in: Water is not wet.
So is Obama correct now in saying Wright has never been his political advisor, or is the author lying in 2007 when he said that Obama checks with Wright before making bold political moves?
Never mind Governor, I should know better than to ask you a direct question.
You live off of cutesy phrases to avoid substance. I get that.
"So is Obama correct now in saying Wright has never been his political advisor, or is the author lying in 2007 when he said that Obama checks with Wright before making bold political moves?"
The author is not lying, just inferring something based on one example. If there are other examples, the author did not give them, so we can only assume that it's based off of that example alone.
Never mind Governor, I should know better than to ask you a direct question.
Ok.
Jebus, Tommy! Here is the quote from the Trib...from a story about Rev. Wright...from the Trib's religion reporter/writer..."Though Wright and Obama do not often talk one-on-one often, the senator does check with his pastor before making any bold political moves." She followed that up with two paragraphs about Rev. Wright's recollection of the discussion he and Sen. Obama had when Sen. Obama was considering running for the office of president. That is all!
Take the context into account...this is a religion story, not a political story. She is talking about their discussions regarding a campaign for the presidency. Is that a "bold political move"? Yup. Does Sen. Obama consult Rev. Wright regularly in regard to policy decisions? Nope per Sen. Obama. Does Sen. Obama talk to Rev. Wright frequently? Nope per the same article in the same sentence.
This isn't a matter of the either the author lying in 2007 or the Senator lying in 2008, it is a one-off sentence in a larger story written by someone who was presenting a religion report on a Reverned from Chicago. Would you base a political statement on that and then present it as stronger evidence that the Senator's own words? I would not...should I email the author and see if she meant what she wrote to be taken as you are trying to take it? I'd be glad to...I'm a Trib subscriber, the reportes have responded to my emails before, I'd be glad to clear that up...
Also, white people need to stop cuffing around Jeremiah Wright. Obama will not disown him.
Tommy, Mr. Snow lied. He said "He has described Jeremiah Wright as one of his key political advisers, and he said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him." MMfA did us a favor and provided some context in which Sen. Obama discussed his relationshp with Rev. Wright. You took the statement in that Trib article that MMfA highlighted as a quote from Sen. Obama. You used that quote as the supporting argument to accept Mr. Snow's statements as a simple rendering in the negative. Nope, based on Sen. Obama's own recent statments, the lie by Mr. Snow is proven false.
This isn't about who likes who or who will vote for who or how candidates should be treated...no one should be lied about. And someone like Mr. Snow, a former member of the current Administration, should know better. He lied. He flat-out lied. This isn't pushing the envelope of truth, it is lying. Are you condoning that by keeping yourself above the fray and arguing that these statement by Mr. Snow are acceptable.
BS. Tell me that once you heard the whole statement from the Trib article: "Though Wright and Obama do not often talk one-on-one often, the senator does check with his pastor before making any bold political moves." and balanced it up against Sen. Obama's recent statement that Wright "has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor" you come up with the conclusion that Mr. Snow did: "He has described Jeremiah Wright as one of his key political advisers, and he said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him."
If you want the candidates treated equally, then we'll have to ask Mr. Snow to start lying about all of them.
I want Obama to be hit as hard as anyone on this issues, but this is not an issue, it's a smear. Snow not only did it on The Radio Factor, he did it on Dennis Miller's radio show as well. Only that time, he claimed he voted "present" over 160 times in the U.S. Senate. Dennis Miller tried to correct him, and Snow shot him down. Here's the full exchange:
But even given the author's words, where did Mr. Snow come up with his "interpretation"
Find me a reference where Sen. Obama does either of these things which Mr. Snow claims he did: "He has described Jeremiah Wright as one of his key political advisers, and he said that he didn't make any key political decision without consulting him."
Wow...talk about word parsing...geez..
You accuse MMfA of doing it. Then, when your argument goes flat, you begin doing it yourself.
There is a difference between what Obama said, what the reporter reported (which is NOT what Obama said) and the steps Snow took to in order to blow this flatulence upon us. It's surprising you don't see that, you know, as intelligent as you prop yourself up to be.
Hey, Tommy, look at my first post. Or look at the Trib article referenced in the MMfA item...
Sen. Obama is never quoted in the story as saying anything about when or why he consults Rev. Wright...the author of the story wrote those words based on her understanding of the situation. She is the Trib's religion reporter, she was doing a piece on Rev. Wright. Again, this is the quote from the article that MMfA highlighted and Mr. Snow ran with...
"Though Wright and Obama do not often talk one-on-one often, the senator does check with his pastor before making any bold political moves." This is not a quote from Sen. Obama or Rev. Wright, these are the reported words. Nothing more, nothing less.
Tommy, you posted that "You left out the part where Obama said he doesn't make any bold political moves without checking with Wright first."
Sen. Obama did not say that. The author of the article inferred that.
If your agrument was initially based on these words being a statement by Sen. Obama, why the switch to basing your argument on the author? Tommy, it isn't a matter of disagreement here...it is a matter of taking the words of the person, Sen. Obama, over the words of a reporter. Sen. Obama stated "has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor" and that is linked in the MMfA article.
Will I take Sen. Obama's statement as having more bearing on this question than the Trib's reporter? Yes I will. And IMHO so should any respectable journalist.
So yes, we disagree. But why are you lending more weight to the reporter's statement than the candidate's?
When you say you check with someone before making any bold political moves, it can certainly be said that that person is a key advisor. Why is that a lie?
Because Tony Snow is not even misquoting Obama, he's misquoting a reporter's take on something Obama said in an interview and less than 3 weeks ago, Obama stated "he has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor", which Snow conveniently ignores in order to tell his lie.
I think we're suffering from a lack of definition, both on the part of Obama and Tony Snow.
First we have Obama saying, "any bold political moves," to which Obama offers no examples, but the article's author leaves the impression that he means personal decisions, running for office and shaping his political career.
Then we have Snow saying, "any key political decision," to which Snow also offers no examples. Without such examples, this leaves his numbest listeners with the impression that Reverend Wright has been pulling Obama's legislative strings during his whole political career.
Until Obama yells, "God damn America!" on the floor of the Senate, or yells "AmeriKKKa" on a campaign soap box, or introduces any legislation that in any way reflects the offensive rhetoric of Reverend Wright, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt.
First we have Obama saying, "any bold political moves," to which Obama offers no examples
Obama never said it in the first place, so obviously he could not offer any examples.
"First we have Obama saying, "any bold political moves," to which Obama offers no examples, but the article's author leaves the impression that he means personal decisions, running for office and shaping his political career."
Pete, Obama did not say that....check my posts above
You're both right, I just looked at the article again and realized he wasn't quoted. Sorry.
This only makes Tony Snow look all the more stupid.
Looking at it again, it's not even a paraphrasing of something that Obama said, but an assertion as fact! Without question, Tommy and Tony are both out in left field.
Gov, You have me in stitches, you keep saying you're done, you've said your piece, yet you follow me around like a gnat.
God luv ya, you're killin' me....
Gov, You have me in stitches, you keep saying you're done
Yes, I "keep saying" I'm "done" in that "Wright is my key polical advisor" kind of way.I would love it if Tony Snow admitted he was incorrect about Senator Obama's voting record. Given Mr. Snow's history with facts, what do we think the chances of that are?
As to the other question, I'd include a bit of my own opinion, but it appears that the question of whether or not Wright is a key advisor has been beaten to death, buried, dug up, beaten some more, and burned in a giant pyre.
I really don't trust Snow, but his statements are not far enough away from the responses Obama has given when he answered questions about Rev Wright's role in his life and campaign to call Snow's report a misrepresentation. Obama decided to do a 180 on his pastor when he felt he was a comfortable distance from his original comments, and it's about time someone in the media started calling him out to explain it.
My guess is that Snow was trying to characterize Obama's Illinois state senate voting record, but I wouldn't say that was more than a mistake.
When Snow mentioned this to Dennis Miller, Miller corrected him on it, then Snow challenged that correction saying "no no, it was in the U.S. Senate."
Truth is, Obama voted present in the Illinois Senate 130 times...out of over 4,000 votes. That's less than 3%, which is a lot less of "present" votes than most U.S. Senators are actually "present" for.
Dex,
For what it's worth, I looked up Obama's Senate voting record on votesmart.com and it shows, (if my count is correct,) 48 NV votes.
According to votesmart, NV = Not Voting, excused, absent, or present
Unfortunately I was not able to compare similar time periods for other Senators as this website didn't group by year. (As far as I could tell.)
So maybe Snow's point regarding Obama voting present isn't so far fetched after all.
Interesting. However, he doesn't beat McCain even if every one of his NV was a "present".
IT'S BEYOND FAR FETCHED.
A Senator who is present can only decline a 'yea' or 'nay' vote only by permission of the Senate itself, or when that Senator feels there is a conflict of interest. (Senate Rule XII)
Can you or Tony Snow can find any such record of Obama doing this 48 times?
"According to votesmart, NV = Not Voting, excused, absent, or present"
When I went to that site, it was down.What's this 'terrorist literature' and does it have pictures so I can more easily understand it?
Just be glad it isn't a pop-up book.
More importantly, why hasn't Obama introduced any of this "terrorist literature" as legislation?
Why don't we see any of the "terrorist literature" on his website?
Why doesn't Obama read from the "terrorist literature" during his speeches?
If he is, as Tony Snow implies, merely Reverend Wright's terrorist puppet, why did people elect him to the Illinois legislature or the U.S. Senate on his terrorism platform?
FAIR(ly inaccurate) AND BALANCED (like a house of cards).
At least Snow is back home now so he can remove the mask and resume full-throated pandering to the 28%'ers. I'm sure he was less comfortable having to show restraint when repackaging Bush's crap.
Come on, Nerzog! You know that no one gets rich from public service! You make all of your money AFTER you leave office. :)
Oh now someone MUST have done that math somewhere along the way...:)...we just have to find it! :)
Found it...from back in 2005...this is totally unchecked and unverified by the mighty interwebs, but here is the source document and the quote:
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Cheneys_stock_options_rose_3281_last_1011.html
"An analysis released by a Democratic senator found that Vice President Dick Cheney's Halliburton stock options have risen 3,281 percent in the last year, RAW STORY can reveal.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) asserts that Cheney's options -- worth $241,498 a year ago -- are now valued at more than $8 million. The former CEO of the oil and gas services juggernaut, Cheney has pledged to give proceeds to charity."
Looks like Cheney started this war to get rich. He went from thousandaire to multimillionaire by making war business for Halliburton and exponentially increasing the value of his stock.
But we can't get down on him for working and making some money; he probably has to pay his medical bills out of pocket because there's no for profit insurance company who would cover his condition.
Welcome to "News" American style,
Some corporation hands a right-wing blowhole a microphone, and he starts lying at will--and unopposed.
CALLER: …When I got baptized, before I could get baptized, I actually had to agree with my pastor on pretty much everything that he was saying. I had to agree with him theologically and in every other way. So, for Barack to stand up there and say that no, he doesn't agree, that he'd never heard these things, is a lie, a straight-out lie
SNOW: “…Obama …said that if Jeremiah Wright had stayed pastor of his church, he… would have left…Now, that's just a lie.
These two don't seem real clear on the definition of the word "lie".
"CALLER: …When I got baptized, before I could get baptized, I actually had to agree with my pastor on pretty much everything that he was saying. I had to agree with him theologically and in every other way. So, for Barack to stand up there and say that no, he doesn't agree, that he'd never heard these things, is a lie, a straight-out lie"
Is that Fred Phelps' church perhaps? That's very dictatorial and undemocratic of his pastor, and i for one would have left the church ;)
Exactly, Mary. That's why those two uses of the word "lie" jumped out at me. The caller and Snow were both lying as they accuse Obama of being a liar.
The caller, limited by his own experience as a puppet unable to think for himself, concludes that Obama is a liar because he is able to use his judgement, even in his religious life.
Snow, in what's possibly an even more ridiculous demonstration, calls Obama a liar ,based on Snow's prediction of a hypothetical event on whose outcome only Obama could give even an educated guess.
Nice to see that Tony Snowjob is picking up where he left off. ...
Here's what I really don't get about these guys yelling and screaming about Wright.
First, where is his name on ANY ballot anywhere? Oh... It's not there you say? Fine. Don't vote for Jeremiah Wright, no problem there. From what I can tell, Obama is the one running for office, NOT Jeremiah Wright.
Second, we keep hearing from people like Tony Snow, and just about every other right wing radio / TV host that Pastor Wright has been spewing this "hatred" for over 20 years!!! How could Obama not have heard this hate speech? (bear in mind, I STILL don't think any of what he said in the oft repeated sermon/speech is that controversial, and has a very firm basis in what most of us like to call reality). Well, if Pastor Wright has been sermonizing this hatred for 20 years, and has been haranguing people for 20 years; why do we keep seeing the same 20 seconds of one sermon? If he's been this full of hatred and ANGER for sooooo long where are the other tapes? Where are the other transcripts of his angry hate filled sermons? You know that Fox and others have been crawling around, trying to find them, and apparently, all they have is this 20-30 seconds, that isn't even that bad.
What I'm trying to say, is that it shows that they ain't got nothing better to attack Obama with than with a surrogate attack.
"bear in mind, I STILL don't think any of what he said in the oft repeated sermon/speech is that controversial, and has a very firm basis in what most of us like to call reality."
Not only that, but a firm basis in Biblical Accuracy as well (I'm referencing the GD America part.) He said God Damns America for killing people, it's in the Bible. The God Damning our nation part is subjective, but "thou shalt not kill" is the 7th commandment, and it breaks holy law to commit murder. That's a damnable offense if I ever seen one.
President Eisenhower, before he ran for president, debated whether to run as a Democrat or a Republican, the only one I ever heard doing that. However, he was a war hero being urged to run for president and apparently not at all into politics. Now if Obama had asked his pastor whether to run as a Democrat or as a Republican, that would certainly be seeking political advice as it is very broad policy decision.
But...But...But...
I thought Obama was a Muslim. How could this Christian minister be Obama's advisor????
<Sarcasm off>
First of all, Obama never voted "present" on a vote for a bill in the US Senate. It is true that he voted "present" on a number of bills when he was in the Illinois state legislature. However, the Hillary campaign has falsely stated why he voted present. It was NOT to duck taking a stand on a policy issue. In the Illinois state legislature, it is common for a Senator to vote present to indicate he or she is in favor of the intent of the bill but feels as it stands it is poorly written. Planned Parenthood, who gives Obama a 100% approval rating on their issues, urged him to use this technique on bills they favored but felt needed to be written to accurately reflect the intent of the bill.
Um...not to stir up any trouble but you are incorrect in stating that Obama has never voted "Present"...though I can understand why.
The reference you are using (The Washington Post's Congress Database) doesn't use the term "Present" (which is what it is called in the Ilinois Legislature) it uses the term "Not Voting". The two terms are completely interchangable. "Present" simply means, "I am present but choose to abstain from voting"..."Not Voting" of course...means the same thing.
I have not taken the time or the effort to count all the "Not Voting"s for ALL the members of Congress. So I can't tell you if what Mr. Snow said is true or not. But if someone was willing to due that then they might find the above information useful.
I of course can't speak to anything at all about whether Jeremiah Wright has any sway or say in political decisions made by Senator Obama. Only Senator Obama knows that. We all just have to either believe him or not as we each individually choose.