So it looks like Michigan will be re-doing their Primary.  This could work to Obama's favor, as I seem to recall Hillary not doing particularly well in Michigan -- despite being the only name on the ballot.  (I'm a Clinton supporter, and even I find that perversely funny.)

Hillary better hope Florida gets it together, as she'll probably do much better in that state.

Well, I've watched all the clips now of the race baiting demagogue "holy" man.  And, you know, I don't get it.  How in the hell does someone who seems so thoroughly reasonable and measured, like Obama, sit in that church for twenty years and not 1.) leave or 2.) challenge the paranoid, hateful spiel emanating from the pulpit?  I've no plans for elected office-- much less the Presidency-- but if I so much as yearned to be elected dog catcher I'd like to think I'd have the foresight to look around that crazy house and know I should get myself gone.

Here's what I don't understand - the preacher said these things, not Obama - why is he being held accountable?   Preachers talk all kinds of crazy nonsense; this isn't news, it's a desperate attempt to get something to stick to Obama.

Not impressed.

Obama himself never said stuff like what the preacher says, and it's not part of any of his public policies or in any of his writings.  So, obviously, this guy can blow all the hot air he wants, and it's not affecting Obama.  Where's the story?

At the end of the day, Mike, it's apparently a matter of tacitly endorsing the preacher's arguments by not voicing dissent and/or continuing to attend the church.  The "Enh...he's like the crazy uncle that comes by." response isn't exactly helpful.

Oddly, when the story broke, and I first heard the clips, I thought it was the same preacher whose clips I heard on the radio the other day, railing against Obama.  Same style of delivery, same style of content, very similar voices.  But, a different guy.

Here's what I don't understand - the preacher said these things, not Obama - why is he being held accountable?   Preachers talk all kinds of crazy nonsense; this isn't news, it's a desperate attempt to get something to stick to Obama.

***

Whether you think it is or not, you better believe the Republicans will use this to scare a lot of skittish white voters away from Obama. 

It is rather bizarre that Obama was a member of this congregation for two decades, and only now when he's running for President does he denounce the garbage spewed by this guy.  Even if he happened, miraculously, to never be present during these inflammatory speeches, he surely must have heard about them?  Yet he remained a loyal member of the church, with no protest?  Hard not to see that as some kind of tacit endorsement, or at least someone not willing to stand up for his own beliefs rather than sitting quietly by. 

I wasn't impressed by him before, and I'm certainly not impressed by him now.  I am suprised this hasn't yet been blamed on the Clinton campaign.

No, still not impressed - this was big on the radio last night - they were saying over and over that the Republicans were going to use it against him, but... I'm not buying it.  Don't think it'll fly.

Things always come up - Clinton smoked (or didn't) dope.  No one cared.  Bush was a coke-head.  No one cared. etc etc.

In fact, I'll go one better - I think Obama and McCain aren't the types of guys who will run on this sort of crap - I think once Hillary fades away, we won't have to worry about such bizarre attacks, and focus on the real problems.

And, here's the capper - this isn't going to win any friends here, but, I don't really have a problem with what that preacher is saying.  Makes sense in context.  But I'm glad that Obama isn't saying it.  I'm guessing he's like me, and sees it for what it is, processes it, and moves on. 

Again - where's the story?

Again - where's the story?

***

The story is a candidate -- who you seem to think walks on water and cures lepers in his spare time -- sat idly by while a lunatic spewed all kinds of garbage, and he had neither the foresight nor the courage nor the personal convications to stand up and make his own beliefs heard, or to walk out and find another church. 

Nope. Still not a story.  What's next?  He watched a bad movie one and didn't walk out?

Still not buying it. 

Desperation is a stinky cologne, Hillary supporters.

And blind devotion is both scary and a bit sad.  Are you really so dazzled by this guy that you can't concede even a single mistake or poor decision?  He showed remarkably poor judgement by remaining in this congregation.  Even from a purely pragmatic point-of-view, anyone with political aspirations would have distanced himself from this nonsense rather than continuing to be a tacit supporter.  And if he really disagreed with this guy's message, he didn't have the backbone or the convictions to denounce him until his own personal gains were threatened.  Not a good sign of a leader, for me at least.

And if you think the Republicans aren't going to use this, you're amazingly naive.  Even if McCain doesn't personally dirty his hands with it, you better believe this will be great ammo for the Right.

Oh, it might come up, but nothing will come of it, just as with the other examples I brought up.

Remember, Cheney told a reporter to go fuck himself.  That didn't hurt the campaign.

Here's the thing about this latest attempt:  I understand that some people don't realize this, but blacks in America have had a pretty rough struggle, historically, collectively.   This preacher's words may seem shocking, or blashphemous, or, even... you know... uppity? to some folk, but to those of us who understand history and human reactions, well...  what this guy said was interesting, and nothing more.  And Obama never said any of it, nor does his voting record support any of it.

No, Thom, show me when Obama does do something legitimately wrong, and I'll agree with it.  So far, he's good in my book.  And again, this is a non-issue.

It will be trotted out and it will fade away.  Unlike Hillary's voting record, which will never go away, no matter how many racist attacks she launches against Obama.

If Clinton or McCain were members of a church that regularly denounced black people and they sat quietly by and said nothing, even if they themselves didn't express the opinion, there would be a firestorm of protest.  I'm sure Obama's supporters would be leading the outcry.  If you don't see a double standard there, then I guess this really is a non-issue ... for you, at least.