Barack Obama thought O.J. did it

In his much-publicized and hashed-over speech on race relations Monday, Barack Obama made a brief reference to the notorious O.J. Simpson murder trial, citing it as an example of the predilection to "tackle race only as spectacle."

Less noticed was the elaboration he provided in an interview aired Monday night on ABC's "Nightline" on the question that once so divided many whites and blacks: did Simpson butcher his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her wrong-place, wrong-time friend, Ron Goldman?

"You remember when, during the O.J. trial ... black and white culture just had these completely opposite reactions and nobody understood it. I'm somebody who was pretty clear that O.J. was guilty," Obama told "Nightline's" Terry Moran.

He continued: "And I was ashamed for my own community to respond in that way, but I also understood what was taking place, which was that reaction had more to do with a sense that somehow the criminal justice system historically had been biased so profoundly that a defeat of that justice system was somehow a victory."

For the full transcript of the interview, go here.

For Obama, the jury remains out on whether he has defused the controversy that enveloped him as attention turned late last week to inflammatory comments uttered over the years by his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. But ...

the latest daily tracking of the public pulse by the Gallup Poll shows he's definitely taken a hit. Among Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters, Hillary Clinton is on the upswing (she's now backed by 49%), while his support has dipped (to 42%).

Notes the Gallup release on the results:  "This is the first time Clinton has held a statistically significant lead in over a month. She last led Obama in Feb. 7-9 polling, just after the Super Tuesday primaries. Since then, the two candidates have usually been in a statistical tie, but Obama has held a lead in several of the polls, most recently in March 11-13 polling."

-- Don Frederick

Photo: O.J. Simpson (Associated Press)

Comments

[Richard]

The Lord Jesus Christ was a reconciler. He went to the cross bearing the sins of all mankind. God was not "willing that any one perish". Why not B. Oboma, being a reconciler, be stained with the sins of others to bring about unity in our nation. Hardly would one get another out of the mire without getting soled themselves. Maybe his actions will bring his beloved pastor to repentance and many others as well. Why not? Are we not our brother's keeper? Or should we hide our faces in the sand?

Further more, history cannot be erased, good or bad. If some one saved a life yesterday and committed a murder tomorrow, would the one saved discount his life because his savior sinned?

[Ted Grigg]

For those Bible students out there, I couldn't help but recall a simple scripture that seems to define this situation.

1Cor. 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

[Ellen]

Sad how willing so many are to make this all about race. Obama didn't until his arm was twisted. The words being used to condemn him were not his own. Wright is no longer a pastor at the church. Wright is no longer Obama's spiritual advisor. What the heck do people want from him?

White presidential candidates go to white churches and they don't necessarily agree with everything said within those church walls: e.g. homophobia, anti-choice rhetoric.

If it's about race, it's because too many white people are still bigots.

Shame on us all.

[Diane]

Richard - you are pretty confused.

1) Jesus Christ did reconcile each and every one of us before God. He did this as part of God's plan. He lived his entire life without sin. So he could go before God (only a pure person can stand before God) and speak on our behalf. Successfully.

2) Mr. Obama is not without sin. That has become evident. Over the past few months It has become apparent that Mr. Obama has aligned himself with others who have exploited their positions of leadership in the areas of political, religious, financial and criminal matters.

I am not sure these are the areas you are referring to when you talk about how he has unified others. I personally am unwilling to support Mr. Obama's actions or leadership decisions.

Thank you.

[gerald]

As a liberal catholic I have sat in the pews through many sermons against gays, against supporting the right to chose, etc. Despite not sharing those views, I am still a catholic and would never renounce my church. I got baptized, confirmed, took my first communion, and got married in church. If asked to denounce the church based on those views that I disagree with I would not.

Many people here have no idea what Obama said in his speech, they haven't bother reading it or listening to it, but have ready judgment nonetheless. Obama mentioned OJ and Katrina to illustrate a point, that the media circus took up a topic that had undertones of race and failed to have a discussion on race. Most intelligent people that follow politics would have known that when Obama mentioned OJ in his speech he was referencing how blacks took up the cause of OJ for reasons to do with racial injustice, not because they actually believed that he was innocent. What the reporters have done is just ask the obvious, what was implied in using OJ in the speech.

Obama called for Americans to try to see the world through the eyes of the other. For whites to try to understand black hate and for blacks to try to understand white hate. It's not an endorsement of hate, but rather a roadmap to get past our difference and look for common ground.

A lot of people posting are upset that Obama is getting so much support from blacks and see that as racist. So an Irish American voting for JFK was a racist vote? Bill Clinton receiving 90 of the black vote both times he ran was a racist vote? Silly season indeed. Attacking one another based on our differences makes us a weak nation. If that is your goal, then by all means.

[hector]

A word of warning to all political bloggers out there who read a comment starting with "I'm not a Democrat but..." then critizize one or the other candidate. They ARE Democrates trying to optimize the impact of their criticizm by posing as a nuetral or outsider. I have noticed a number of pro Obama remarks start out in that vain. Why should Republicans care. If anything Republicans would much rather see McCain running against Obama in the general election. Hillary has Ultimately proven impervious to their relentless attack machine. Obama provides them with a whole new arsonal come fall.

[confetti]

And I'm a 57 year old white woman, and I am also 100% behind Obama. It is tremendously difficult for white Americans to acknowledge what is going on here. None of you had a racist grandfather who viciously fulminated against blacks? Get real. With Obama we can all get honest and leave a lot of hatred behind on both sides. His speech is astonishing, and cannot be captured in bytes. And the smear is disgusting.

[Dave C.]

Ted Grigg - Man, it's a good thing that Jesus didn't hang out with people considered "bad company". Have you ever actually read that book?

[Truth]

So people finally have something to complain about with Obama, but lo and behold, it is not something of his own doing. Grasping at straws? I guess we should regard Hillary as an unfaithful person since her husband cheated on her. I mean, they live in the same house together, right?

Have you ever known anyone who said or believed anything that you didn't? Have YOU ever said anything controversial, racist, etc. or are you and all of your friends perfect?

I think his speech was one of the best that has been given in my lifetime. He understands where these negative sentiments come from, both white and black, and he wasn't afraid to talk about it. Show me another candidate with that level of understanding about race relations, something that invades every aspect of our lives. Show me a candidate that would better represent our country to the rest of the world than Obama. Show me anyone else in this race that can reach out to ALL of the citizens of this country and inspire them to be better people.

Before you reply "but his pastor is a racist and hates America", I hope you put a mirror in front of your keyboard, stare deeply into your past, and are able to conclude that there is NOTHING that you have ever done that could be misunderstood, devisive, controversial, or just plain wrong. There is no person in this world that is perfect, but there are a few that are striving for perfection. I truly believe that Obama is one of these select people.

If you don't like his politics or ideals for our nation, that's wonderful because everyone has different political opinions. Sharing these ideals with others is even more important since it helps us form our own beliefs. On the other hand, slandering a person who is trying their best to reach the highest honor in the free world is not only shameful, it goes directly against the American spirit. Have you ever tried to acheive something, against all odds? Have you ever had people unfairly and unjustly try to bring you down because they were jealous or envious of your resolve? If so, it is hypocritical of you to try and tarnish his name because of something beyond his control, something as insignificant as a comment from his ex-pastor. If this was truly the right way to select a President, this world would have no leaders at all.

[uc]

"The world is too much with us" (william ) and i think American should be carefully and repent from what their fore-father has done and ask God to forgive them of their sins. Nemesis is catching up American as a country and signs that God is pouring out his anger, the seed you sow is what you will reap on harvest. the fruit of a good man is measures with sucess and for the past 10years there is no sucess in America economy dollars falling everyday and people still taking against eachother. everyone should search his/her heart and tell himself the real truth.
something is wrong. i like you obama your very honest man and if American doesnt want you to rule them. Please come and Rule Africa unoppose.

[Marian Lee]

Someone wrote "I expected more depth from the LA Times" Heck I expected more depth from Obambam. His waltzing around and around with exactly how often and for how long he had ben listening to this guy in the pulpit, the fact of no answer to "What would you think of me if I attended a racist church ?" That floored me. Listening to the "sound bites " of monstrous screed now being whitewashed as some kind of "Black Liberation Churchness" turned my stomach. If this person wants to be the president of our country and listened to even ONE of that KIND of "sermon" he should be run out of town on a rail.

[Eric]

Barack Obama gave what could be deemed as an eloquent and courageous speech the other day on race and racial politics in reaction to the controversy over the comments by his spiritual advisor and pastor of twenty years Reverend Jerimah Wright. When you get beyond the words and method of the speech, however, questions still remain.

In his speech Obama stated that he could not denounce or disavow his pastor anymore than he could distance himself from his white grandmother who he says made comments that he found to be divisive or derogatory.

While I will admit to not knowing Barack Obama’s grandmother I would suspect that she has never stated words that rise to the level of blaming America for 9/11, that this is the US of KKK-America, that we should not say God Bless America but God Damn America, and that the US helped South Africa put Nelson Mandela in jail which are all things that Barack Obama’s pastor, who he has called his spiritual advisor and baptized his children, has all said.

I would also remind Barack Obama that you cannot choose your family (which his grandmother is) but you can choose which church you go to and what language you expose your children to. Barack Obama chose the church in Chicago where a pastor has blamed white people for all that is wrong with this country, who traveled to Libya to meet with the leaders of that country, and who honored Reverend Farrakhan.

Moreover, Barack Obama throughout his denials of the last week has stated repeatedly that he had never heard any of the controversial statements of this pastor and that when the campaign had started he only heard about a couple of the statements and then only heard about the rest in the past few days. In his speech he stated that he WAS there for some of these remarks, without stating specifically which ones, and claimed that he was bothered by some of these statements although he also stated he never talked to Pastor Wright about these. So was Barack Obama lying earlier when he stated he did not hear about these statements or is he lying now when he said he did? Also, if Barack Obama could not stand up to his Pastor when he spoke the way he did about this country, its government, and the majority of the people in it how can we expect Barack Obama to stand up to the people who are blocking ending the Iraq war, who are not for universal health care, and to those who wish to do harm to this country and their allies.

Regardless of a speech by Barack Obama that most say was done well this is not about speeches and words but about integrity and judgment and on both of these tests Barack Obama has failed.

[Vincent Foley]

To call somebody black while his mum is White and dad Black proves to me also in this campaign that the one-drop-of-black-blood syndrome and some of the White man's superiority complex is still alive - even in the most powerful country in the world.
The American people have now got he unique chance to change the country and the world by bring Obama to the nomination in November.Not only he belongs to the two races and knows how it feels to be Black or White, but also because his message og change is real.
The only way to bring the respect of America around the world and restore is to vote for Barack Obama.
It saddens me to watch Hillary clinton and Geraldine Ferrao get away with her words about Obama.
It is also shameful to notice that no one is more interested in the outrageous speeches of a John Mc Cain's direct supporter Than Pastor Jeremiah Wrights' words.
Do America really stand for change? This will not happen under candidates with personal ambitions.

[AES41]

Obama's OJ comment doesn't belong in politics, or does it?
Next week on April 4th, a new documentary titled "OJ is Guilty, But Not of Murder" will premiere in Los Angeles at the Backlot Film Festival. Those lucky enough to catch this screening will see indisputable evidence that will prove OJ is NOT guilty and who may actually be. You will believe it!

[SBB]

Right on Mr. Rich! I don't often agree with a Republican but your comments hit the mark.

I am all at once excited and exhilarated at the thought of such an intelligent, thoughtful man as Obama being our next president and appalled at the racist, ignorant responses to him-- especially the insane rumors that he is a Islamic extremist.

[poeticflower]

omg...white people are funny. i can't believe ya'll are still talking about this shit. how is the oj trial relevant to Barack's run for POTUS??? I wonder if they asked McCain or Hillary what they thought about oj. What is that the good negro test? fohwtb.

[David Luthor]

If the glove does not fit you must acquit. And if a rhyme can get you off of murder then here is one for you,

gloves shrink due to dried blood !!
a mountain of evidence was swept up by the flood
of one cop who said the n word
to think OJ is not guilty is absurd
be angry with the cop
but please do not adopt
the same amount of anger and confusion
and somehow become disillusioned
if you are retarded then its ok,
but those who aren't know it was OJ.

Ta Da !!