Was Jeremiah Wright's speech set up by a Clinton supporter?

Well, here's a most interesting connection we just came across.

Everybody is talking today about how much the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's latest unrepentant militant remarks hurt his most prominent parishoner, Sen. Barack Obama, and his chances to win the Democratic presidential nomination and the general election. So much so that the Obama camp realized the latent danger overnight and the candidate was forced to speak out publicly a second time today, as The Ticket noted here earlier today.

There was little doubt left in today's remarks by Obama, who recently said he could no more disown Wright than he could the black community. He pretty much disowned Wright today. Obama described himself as "outraged" and "saddened" by "the spectacle of what we saw yesterday."

But now, it turns out, we should have been paying a little less attention to Wright's speech and the histrionics of his ensuing news conference and taken a peek at....

who was sitting next to him at the head table for the National Press Club event.

It was the Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds, a former editorial board member of USA Today who teaches at the Howard University School of Divinity. An ordained minister, as New York Daily News writer Errol Louis points out in today's column, she was introduced at the press club event as the person "who organized" it.

But guess what? She's also an ardent longtime booster of Obama's sole remaining competitor for the Democratic nomination, none other than Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. It won't take very much at all for Obama supporters to see in Wright's carefully arranged Washington event that was so damaging to Obama the strategic, nefarious manipulation of the Clintons.

Their supporter, Reynolds, helps arrange a speech by the outspoken and egocentric Wright which receives blanket national coverage to the disadvantage of Clinton's opponent. As Louis writes: "The Rev. Jeremiah Wright couldn't have done more damage to Barack Obama's campaign if he had tried. And you have to wonder if that's just what one friend of Wright wanted."

Reynolds has not returned e-mails or phone calls seeking comment, but Louis notes the obvious conflict between her political allegiance and her press club arrangements. He quotes a February blog entry of Reynolds saying, "My vote for Hillary in the Maryland primary was my way of saying thank you" to Clinton and her husband for his administration's successes.

In another entry, Reynolds notes critically of Obama, "It is a sad testimony that to protect his credentials as a unifier above the fray, the senator is fueling the media characterization that Rev. Dr. Wright is some retiring old uncle in the church basement."

Louis notes himself about the Wright appearance: "It's hard to exaggerate how bad the actual news conference was. Wright, steeped in an honorable, fiery tradition of Bible-based social criticism, cheapened his arguments and his movement by mugging for the cameras, rolling his eyes, heaping scorn on his critics and acting as if nobody in the room was learned enough to ask him a question."

(UPDATE: Sylvia Smith, the press club president, confirmed today that Reynolds is on the club's speakers committee. She told Michael Calderone on Politico.com that she still doesn't know whom Reynolds supports for president, adding, "Rev. Wright is newsworthy, period.")

--Andrew Malcolm

                                                                                                                            Photo Credit: Getty

Comments

[Joanna Marston]

It is quite hilarious, in a way. It is surprising that someone like Obama, who is not for 'politics as usual', hides behind the lame excuses that he "wasn't in church when Wright made these comments."

This is worthy of Wodehouse see http://njn-blogogram.blogspot.com/2008/04/jeeves-takes-revenge.html

[S. Royster]

A Clinton’s supporter conspired with the Rev. Wright to come out in defense of himself before the NC and IN primaries. The purpose behind his coming out was that Obama would be forced to come out strongly against the Rev Wright which would cause many of Rev Wright's African American followers to take sides with him and vote against Obama. This would divide the African American votes and give Clinton the margin she need to win in both NC and IN. Who is that sitting beside Rev Wright at the Press Club, an Obama supporter or a Clinton supporter. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words. The question is, are you going to believe that the Clinton supporter did not have anything to do with his appearece at the Press Club or you lying eyes?

This may be just be another conspiracy theory, but it sound Clintonian to me. Hillary is so clever at fighting down and right dirty. And if we lose the presidency this year it will be the Clintons fault. Just look at what Bill is saying about states like Iowa.

[Dee]

Not only was Jeremiah Wright invited to the White House in September of 1998; the Clintons gave money to his church, as they did to many black churches who supported them. Jeremiah Wright is a big admirer of the Clintons.

[O. Dixon]

Senator Obama is a good man, and he will be an excellent president of the United States of America. He makes good judgements even when they are unpopular. For example senator Barak Obama was against the war from the beginning while the other candidates were for it.

Senator Barak Obama opposed the holiday gas tax that the other candidates proposed. At a glimpse it seems like a good idea for a financially challenged country,but it will compromise the infrarstructure in our country. The gas tax is used to help build and repair roads and bridges which - by the way are in great need. And I'm sure the men and women working in construction would not find a holiday from their pay checks beneficial.

Tough Judgement, but Correct Judgement

President Barak Obama is Correct judgement!!!

Barak Obama for President!!!

President Obama!

YES WE SHOULD!

YES WE CAN !!!!

[Andrew]

These are the small issues that take the place of race when a black man runs for president. No one seriously thinks Obama agrees with this guy; it's just a really provocative soundbyte and a quick justification to vote against the guy who went to a black church. If America really wants better leadership than George W. Bush, we're going to have to be smarter than this Clinton/McCain smear campaign.

[give us EXPERIENCE]

i dont see how anyone can say "we can say obama doesnt agtee with this guy." HOW DO WE KNOW THAT?

i say the evidence that he stayed there this long and sought out a church with a hatred doctrine says this is who he is.

he can tell us anything, but it is what he is living that tells us more.

isnt there another church in Chicago that he can find? he said on Meet the Press sunday he has no intentions of leaving the churdh....WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?