Donna Brazile offers Hillary Clinton a reminder about Rev. Wright

Donna Brazile -- an uncommitted superdelegate of the Democratic National Convention and one of television's few black, female political pundits -- interjected an intriguing observation this afternoon into a discussion on CNN about Hillary Clinton's stiff-arming of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

In short, Brazile provided a pointed reminder that some voters (African Americans, in particular, we would think) might recall that Wright did not turn on Clinton's husband during an hour of need for him.

Clinton, for the first time since the fury over Barack Obama's tart-tongued former minister erupted more than a week ago, today rebuked her rival in the Democratic presidential race for his link to the pastor. Responding to question during a sit-down with a Pittsburgh newspaper -- and then later reiterating her position to other reporters in Pennsylvania -- Clinton said she would not have been a member of a church headed by someone, like Wright, who indulged in racially tinged invective.

Her comments assured another burst of attention on the Obama-Wright connection -- something her campaign didn't have to do during the white-hot heat of the controversy. And it took part of the media spotlight away from her faulty memory (or, less kindly, utter fabrication) about her visit to Bosnia when she was first lady.

Clinton could have contented herself with decrying Wright's messages without saying, in essence, that no way would she tolerate an association with the likes of him.

That's what Brazile picked up on, making a reference to Wright's willingness to join dozens of other religious figures in attending an annual White House prayer breakfast just as the Starr report on Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky -- in all its lurid detail -- was about to come out. No doubt ...

... those at the event -- at least the vast majority of them -- highly disapproved of Clinton's behavior. But they were not willing to shun him.

Brazile's none-too-subtle point: There's a potential downside to turning away, with nary a forgiving nod, from those who once stood by you.

Wright, by the way, remains out of the public eye. He had been invited to preach tonight, Wednesday and Thursday at a church in Tampa, but his appearance was canceled because of security concerns.

-- Don Frederick

 

Comments

[MJ]

Thank goodness there are intelligent people on this board who see the truth about Obama. The New York Times comment section is infested by the crazed Obama-cult.

[Evelyn]

It has been so obvious that Super Delegate Donna Brazile is an Obama Supporter- why doesn't she just come out and say it? Is it because of her gig as a news pundit?

It seems that all of the pundits on tv along with the anchors are super sensitive with anything negative said about Senator Obama while Senator Clinton is free game.

[Karyn Grodr]

To Aba N. Done:

I have to disagree with you. The African-Americans haven't turned their back on the Clintons. They see in Obama an opportunity for an African-American to be president. I can't imagine how proud they must feel that it could possibly happen in our lifetimes! Fifteen years ago we could never have envisioned this. So I don't see them abandoning the Clintons as much as embracing a future with an African-American president. It's an amazing thing.

I feel the same way backing Hillary Clinton. A woman in the White House in my lifetime would be amazing. Whoever wins - Clinton or Obama, it will be awesome and we will have great reason to feel proud.

[One Man Truth Squad]

Ahh, the magic dust is wearing off. It's kind of funny what happens when the caring/sharing people find someone in between them and the power they truly crave. Witness both Hillary and Barack.

The Bosnia thing is kinda funny and sooo typical. But actually ol' Hil has a point about Wright. The press gave BO a huge pass on this subject after he mesmerized them with his speech - the one where he effectively distributed the blame for his and Wright's wrongs to everyone from the Founding Fathers to his grandma. Then he deigned to forgive us all and even help us in our personal growth. Thanks, but no thanks.

Donna Brazile merely reminds everybody that blacks have an almost total immunity to the kryptonite of charges of racism.

[HILLARYOUS CLINTON]

Hillaryous definition: When someone describes a situation in a way that benefits their selfish goals, despite all of evidence to the contrary (reality).

1. Obama leads Hillary Clinton in delegates by 121, popular vote by almost 750,000, he also leads in the number of states won. However, Senator Bayh of Indiana, who backs Clinton for president, proposed a new Hillaryous gauge by which superdelegates might judge whether to support Clinton or Obama. He suggested that they consider the electoral votes of the states that each of them has won. What a hillaryously undemocratic method to override the will of the majority of the voters in the Democratic party.

[Clyde Nelson]

Obama's statement "typical white person" is racist, absolutely!! So don't go around saying HC is racist. Obama is backed by the Black Panthers and if elected President they'd be dancing in the streets in the Middle East, as they did on 9/11. There is no excuse whatsoever for Wright to take God's name in vain and to be so anti-american. Let him leave this country and go to Africa if he feels that way (and take Obama with him.) Obama is a good speaker but so was Hitler.

[Daly]

But the point is that the blacks have forsaken the Clintons? Get serious, I challenge this thinking with the facts. YES, blacks voted for BILL clinton, just as they voted for Carter, Gore and Kerry in nearly extactly the same numbers and percentages that Obama is now enjoying.

Contract this with how many blacks supported Jackson, and Sharpton? Lastly consider IF blacks were simpletons and vote for someone just because they are black, how do you explain Alan Keys ?

Fact is BEFORE Bill's many vailed remarks most blacks got a clue, the same clue that Richardson got - the Clintons have no class and certainly no appreciation for past deeds.

[humblesage]

donald169
So you think Rev. Wrights clip is not out of the context? Is Obama's denunciation something people do not want to hear?
The issue is, even the question was provoked, the answer stand in itself. The fact of the matter is, Hillary answered to the out of context question with out of context answer. It is a major blunder for her. Especially when she should be wooing remaining Superdelegates.
It is the major NO NO, when her opponent is comprehensively answered the issue with all the background context considered.

[Andy]

I agree Lhar. But the even sadder reality is that Americans cant even concentrate on REAL issues anymore effectively to do something about them. We can only be sidetracked by pastors and claims of heroism true or untrue. This is why i believe that much like the Roman empire America has seen her heyday. We are a nation of overweight, selfish, hateful, selfgratifying, snobbish and pretentious people. We dont even care enough about our nation to actually do something about it. I am worried about no healthcare and way high gas prices, not to mention jobs and high-end investment bank collapses. These are only a meager few of the chief concerns of Americans. I am sick literally of all these hateful people including racists who cant stand to see some progress made. When will the majority of people feel stronger about change than being right on history or saying the most nasty and insensitive things to one another. I think i see the future..we argue and fight ourselves into an even more depressed economy where all of our"money" is being spent ever more on the military machine. Once all our eggs are in one basket all it will take is a bigger basket to come along. This nation could be stronger by diversity..politically, economically, and socially but there are those who would just as soon see it flounder and fail. Put your support behind someone who sees and strives for this. People need to wake up and actually sacrifice and strive for somethng better tomorrow and stop going to work and coming home and going to dinner and church on Sunday and thats it. Getting too comfortable with the little bit you have oblivious that its being taken away from you little by little. The only way things will get better Here is when people say enough is enough and start asking for accountiblity and doing something for change. I think that people deep down inside feel they have no power save for scathing remarks to one another that really get nowhere and do nothing. If all you can do for change is say hateful things to other people you dont want change so get out of the way for people who do.

[humblesage]

donald169
So you think Rev. Wrights clip is not out of the context? Is Obama's denunciation something people do not want to hear?
The issue is, even the question was provoked, the answer stand in itself. The fact of the matter is, Hillary answered to the out of context question with out of context answer. It is a major blunder for her. Especially when she should be wooing remaining Superdelegates.
It is the major NO NO, when her opponent is comprehensively answered the issue with all the background context considered.

[Reality Check]

The Democrats cannot win without the Black vote...if you think you can wait and see. Reality Check

[goldenstate]

Brazile is an Obama supporter. Rev. Wright has already destroyed Obama's chances of becoming President. Obama may beat Hillary, but he will lose to McCain. The Republicans will use Wright to bring down Obama.

[Elisabeth]

Obama could have found another UCC location to attend. Brazile pretends she's uncommitted. She's in Obama's pocket. There's a difference in attendiing a breakfast, as opposed to sitting in a pew listening to racist rants by a christian minister. Brazile is not objective when it comes to Obama. She should join his campaign.

[sona]

Hillary is on par with Bush/Rove/Cheney when it comes to lying and destroying other people.

Not a quality person, small character, poor ethics, dishonest to the core.

You can tell when she is lying when ever you see her lips move.

A very poor leader, power and money grubbing corrupt, and vindictive.

Go buy Bill some more cigars, Hillary.

[Carol E.]

it's sad to say but every body calm down. to all the women haters the woman won't win and to all the color haters the black man won't win. JUST GET READY FOR ANOTHER REPUBLIC FOR AT LEAST FOUR MORE YEARS....

[AlFonse]

Being caught red-hand with an outright lie (about Bosnia) seems to re-inforce the impression that the Clintons thinks lies are problems only if they are caught. Of course you can't say that you lied so you said you "mispoke". What does that mean? Voters should recognize this as what it is - an outright lie. What's the difference between this and the lie about the WMD that led to the Irag debacle?

[kcjc]

Donna Brazile needs to get a grip. What does "Brazile's none-too-subtle point: There's a potential downside to turning away, with nary a forgiving nod, from those who once stood by you" have to do with anything? You are getting down and ugly. You cannot hide your favor of Senator Obama and your dislike of Senator Clinton...it shows! It looked like you were crying on This Week with G. S. over the Wright problem and fear that this was hurting Senator Obama. What is relevant was Senator Clinton answered a question. Who distributed the photo of President Clinton and Wright? It was the Obama camp and it obviously has backfired. Was she suppose to say she would sit in his church when directly asked? Wright attended a prayer breakfast with how many other ministers? Senator Clinton owes him nothing! We do have a choice and I happen to think that his choice is wrong for America!

[kh]

Uncommitted superdelegate?

Everytime she speaks she is pro-Obama.

I heard her even try to defend him over the Wright controversy.

I have lost all respect for Obama-Brazile.

[Scott]

I wouldn't turn away from Rev, Wright, I agree with the things he's said. Americans hate to be told we've done something wrong, hell we've been wrong all over the map and then some. If there was a God, we should be damned. But religion and the believe that some God is on our side is just as wrong as the racial bigotry that still pervades this country and the rest of the world.

[Gerald]

Many of the posts above are paid bloggers - the Obama campaign has hundreds of people doing this on their behalf.

So. Hillary was asked a direct question in an interview and answered it. Sorry you did not like her answer.

Rev. Wright insulted Hillary and Bill in at least 2 videos I saw. He owes her an apology.

At least - mixing politics in church will lose that church their tax-exempt status.

Hate is hate people - Rev. Wright crossed some lines. He and Barack now have to live with this issue that will NEVER go away.

They should accept counseling, learn from it, apologize then move on.

[jwalker]

As I see it Hillary Clinton doesn't owe the Black Community anything, at least not the 85-90 percent who deserted her as soon as an African American appeared on the scene. I think it's fairly obvious she misspoke. In this age of video all the time and everywhere it would be stupid for someone to willfully lie about something like that and she is not stupid! Also the amount of ignorance on this blog is stupefying.

[David Rosenberg]

What happened to Joe Biden? Did the cat get his tongue?

[Daly]

Not sure if this is a duplicate, if so my apologies.
Blacks are voting for Obama in nearly the exact same numbers that blacks supported Bill (x2), Carter, Gore and Kerry.
Jackson and Sharpton did not get this support.
Backs are not simpletons pack voters. If that were the case, then how do you explain Alan Keys? I'd be he got even less black support that Hillary. Blacks were actually split this time until billary started the bullary.

[Doc Alaska]

Where is Rev. Wright? Hiding in Africa or the Carribean.

Odd that he cannot be found to be interviewed. That just says that Obama does not want him to spew right now.

Maybe he is being held against his will? No one in all this election media we have can find him?

[Truth Detector]

QUOTE:
And I as an african american women remember that the Clintons where very protected and good to our community way before Obama. Bill Clinton even established his presidentail office iand non-profits n Harlem. Im sticking with them.

Posted by: Hazel Diane Razheda Moore | March 25, 2008 at 04:55 PM
END QUOTE

Ok MISS MOORE, I call bs. If you really were an African American "Women" you would have spelled "woman" correctly and not used the plural form for yourself. You probably would have used "protective of" instead of "protected" which makes no sense as well.

Let's face it. Your neither African American or or concerned about truth in politics, as demonstrated by your poor attempt to spin in favor of Clinton.