by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright April 28, 2008
All Rights Reserved.

en. Barack Obama's (D-Il.) worst nightmare returned to the headlines as his controversial pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright defended himself speaking to Washington's National Press Club. Snippets of Wright's incendiary sermons surfaced before the March 4 Texas and Ohio primaries, raising eyebrows about Obama. His “God damn America” and “US of KKK” speeches play relentlessly on conservative talk radio, stirring more questions about the 46-year-old junior Illinois senator. While Barack distanced himself from his former pastor, his 20-year involvement with Wright, including his marriage to Michelle and baptisms of daughters Malia and Natasha, makes it difficult to unplug himself entirely. Since the controversy broke, Barack has been on the defensive, prompting his March 18 speech on race. Instead of helping his PR crisis, he threw gasoline on the fire, presenting an historical and densely reasoned rationale for Wright's hate speech.

      Only two weeks before the crucial Indiana and North Carolina primaries, Wright chose to defend his honor, blasting Vice President Dick Cheney. “I served six years in the military,” said Wright. “Does that make me patriotic? How many years did [Vice President Dick] Cheney serve,” answering his critics but fanning more flames over Obma's candidacy. Many voters were appalled by Wright's hate speech, scratching their heads wondering how Barack could have sat and listened to Wright's tirades for over 20 years. Wright tried to distance himself from Barack, telling the press he was a pastor not a spiritual advisor. “I'm a pastor, he's a member. I'm not a spiritual mentor. Voodoo,” Wright said facetiously, trying to dispel his influence on Barack. Wright admitted to praying Feb. 9, 2007 with Obama's family the night before he announced his run for the presidency.

      What hurts Obama is his association with a controversial black preacher, known for occasionally anti-Americian rhetoric. When Barack dazzled the Democratic National Convention four years ago with his keynote address, his image was a color blind advocate of civil and human rights. He railed against the red-state-blue-state dichotomy, telling a cheering audience that “there is no red-states or blue-states but only the United States of America.” Wright's hate speech raised the possibility that Barack shared his feelings about racial inequality and discrimination in the black community. Suddenly the once color blind candidate that epitomized the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s judgment about “character,” not skin color, looked more like someone with a chip on his shoulder. White voters get second thoughts when they perceive a black candidate as holding a grudge.

      In the first objective sign Wright has taken a toll, a new AP-Ipsos poll indicated that Hillary runs better [50%-41%] against GOP presumptive nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Despite trailing in pledged delegates, with only nine primaries remaining, Hillary can now make a strong case to superdelegates that she's more electable. After winning Pennsylvania April 22 by 10%, she could get a bounce heading into Indiana. While Barack is expected to win North Carolina, he's not expected to win too many more contests. When Barack didn't put Hillary away April 22, something shifted. Before the vote, Hillary rhetorically asked Barack why he couldn't close the deal. More bad publicity from Wright can only hurt Obama's chances in Indiana. “He had to distance himself because he's a politician,” said Wright, explaining why Obama had removed him from his campaign.

      Between now and May 6, Barack will have to rediscover what made his candidacy so promising. Both he and Hillary intend to end the war and fix the economy. Both have comparable plans for improving health care, education and global warming. Obama must denounce racism, whether white or black and forcefully tell voters that “he's not the black candidate running for president.” Ever since in March 19 speech on race, he became the African American candidate running for president. Whether intended to or not, Barack must tell voters again why Hillary won't bridge the nation's political divide, end Washington's gridlock and lead the country to more bipartisan cooperation. That message resonated with voters until Rev. Wright dominated the headlines and defined Barack as an African American candidate. More headlines about Rev. Wright can only make matter worse.

      Rev. Wright's wrecking ball continues to flail away at Obama's chances of winning the Democratic nomination. Barack must do something dramatic between now and May 6, when Indiana and North Carolina go to the polls. “I'm coming after you,” Wright warned at the National Press Club, sending chills up the spines of white voters faced with choosing May 6 between Hillary and Barack. No one knows for sure the extent of Wright's influence, despite Barack's attempt to distance himself. If Barack makes no attempt address Wright and reassure white voters, he's looking at a repeat of Pennsylvania in Indiana. Losing another “big” state can only bolster Hillary's claim—together with the most recent AP-Ipson poll—that she's more electable come Novemer against McCain. Rev. Wright now teams with Rush Limbaugh to help assure that Hillary gets the nomination.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

©1999-2005 Discobolos Consulting Services, Inc.
(310) 204-8300
All Rights Reserved.