Why it is time for Jeremiah Wright to 'shut his gob', as we Brits would say

News Type: Opinion — Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:20 AM EDT

politics, hiv, speech, jeremiah-wright, nominee, national-press-club, contenders, campaign-barack-obama

Jeremiah Wright made a speech recently, as well as answer questions put to him by the National Press Club. The actual content of his speech and replies to any questions are irrelevant in this article. It does not matter how good or bad his input was, one thing is clear at this stage. If he is any kind of friend to Barack Obama, he should just shut up publicly for a while and let the dust settle.

I am not advocating muzzling of anyone. I am not trying to deny anyone their free speech. No doubt, quite a few people got a better measure of the man in his latest speech because he was praised by a few commentators in Racists Can't Read or Wright. So the merits of whatever he said is not the main point here. What is more important is that Jeremiah Wright came to national prominence because of Barack Obama. He might have been well known in some circles already, but nationally he was relatively unknown. Obama is a new guy on the block running for president, desperately trying to change things in his own way. Headstrong Jeremiah Wright appears to do things in his own way too, which many people view as divisive, at odds with the 'unity' approach that Obama daily espouses. The press has spotted a fissure between the two men, an anomaly in their association of differing messages, and is hoping to milk that as much as possible in the campaign. It means that everything Wright says at this sensitive time, when the two main contenders for the Democratic nomination are in a fierce battle, will be quoted, requoted and dissected ad nauseam. Free speech or not, the only effect of Jeremiah Wright's words at these crucial moments will be to take the attention away from Obama when he really needs it.

As an unknown quantity to many Americans, Barack Obama is still trying to win over many hearts and minds. Sensible people, who have minds of their own, and who will not follow the lemming instinct, will be able to sort Barack from Wright in their own clear way and make their decisions. But the majority of people in our world are followers, they are not leaders with independent minds. Thus they are likely to be influenced as much by the 'good' people as by the 'bad' ones with their agendas. Barack needs that uninterrupted opportunity to get those key messages to the waverers, to discuss the real issues which are bothering voters and to allow people to make up their minds for themselves. When Wright keeps hogging the limelight with unhelpful speeches which detract from Obama's message, it really is not good. In fact, it shows a selfish person who is only thinking of himself at this important time. One who is intent on challenging Obama in a public spectacle which serves mainly to distract Obama from the task at hand and alienate even more people.

It really is time for Jeremiah Wright to slink back into the background and stop the pronouncements. That's the only way to deprive the press of its oxygen on that front and allow Barack Obama to stand by his own message, or fall by the wayside, uninterrupted, as his rivals are currently doing without anyone else impeding their journey. Whether he accepts it or not, Jeremiah Wright is getting in the way of Barack Obama's message, taking up media time and attention which Obama should be getting. If Wright genuinely wants him to be the nominee then the time for his silence is now.

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{"commentId":1749878,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

Ms CYPRAH

As an unknown quantity to many Americans, Barack Obama is still trying to win over many hearts and minds. Sensible people, who have minds of their own, and who will not follow the lemming instinct, will be able to sort Barack from Wright in their own clear way and make their decisions. But the majority of people in our world are followers, they are not leaders with independent minds.

{"commentId":1749878,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

1 vote

#1 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:23 AM EDT

{"commentId":1750071,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

I'm gonna have to disagree.

Rev Wright has a particular viewpoint on race relations, and it differs from Obama's to an increasingly large extent. Now that there is room (finally) for Obama to say "hey, that's him, not me, he's not my pastor anymore and he no longer has my ear" there's a new found freedom for Rev Wright to put his ideas out there and have them weighed against reality in the marketplace of ideas.

It isn't so easy to dismiss, for example, the at first glance kooky notion that the US government disseminated the HIV virus among the black population, given that the US government does have a history of leaving people, specifically black people, with untreated syphillis for many years under the false premise that they were being treated. It's a pretty big leap from Tuskegee to AIDS, but there is precedent.

I wouldn't blame the Reverend one bit for using his new and improved platform to put his ideas out there and say what he feels he needs to say. If Obama's the candidate I think he is, and if my fellow Obama supporters are truly not "acolytes" or moonies, or whatever word for lemming people on the right think is clever; we should not discourage Wright from speaking freely and let his words be judged on their merit, not on what's politically expedient.

{"commentId":1750071,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#2 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:18 AM EDT

{"commentId":1750811,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

Ms CYPRAH

we should not discourage Wright from speaking freely and let his words be judged on their merit, not on what's politically expedient.

I would be the last one to discourage anyone, greck, and what you say is true, but it all depends on what is more important here at this time: hearing Jeremiah Wright, or Barack Obama, only because the press has an agenda to focus on Wright and the more controversial he is, the more attention he takes. It is a matter of priorities and accepting that hogging the limelight does have unintended or intended consequences for Obama.

{"commentId":1750811,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 1:15 PM EDT

{"commentId":1751373,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

but it all depends on what is more important here at this time:

I'm supporting Obama because I'm convinced that he believes what's most important is an open process; and in my most gullable moments, I'd like to believe that this motive would prevail even if it means losing the presidency.

{"commentId":1751373,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#2.2 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:22 PM EDT

{"commentId":1751688,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

Ms CYPRAH

But what is the point of overcoming so many odds to then lose the opportunity for being president because of someone else? That would be rather silly. I don't mind Barack losing squarely on his own merits, or because he was not voted in. But to lose through the rantings of another person whom the media would focus on, makes no sense whatever.

{"commentId":1751688,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

3 votes

#2.3 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":1752072,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

What's the point in running for president if not to create a better society? if Obama abandons the higher motive, then it becomes about winning for the sake of winning; at least to some extent. To that extent he becomes more of the same.

{"commentId":1752072,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#2.4 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":1753782,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

Ms CYPRAH

Obama is not abandoning the higher motive, greck, but it is unfair to expect him to be as effective as his rivals when he is being railroaded by someone who is all about himself at the moment. While the press is focusing on Wright, they ae only giving attention to Obama in a negative way, that is not right, which is my main point of argument, especially when his rivals do not have to endure that.

{"commentId":1753782,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

1 vote

#2.5 - Thu May 1, 2008 8:48 AM EDT

{"commentId":1754169,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

I hear ya, Ms Cyprah,

I'm just being super idealistic.

{"commentId":1754169,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#2.6 - Thu May 1, 2008 10:11 AM EDT

{"commentId":1754444,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

Ms CYPRAH

Not at all, greck. It is always good to have other input. Thanks for your insightful one. It is appreciated. :o)

{"commentId":1754444,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

1 vote

#2.7 - Thu May 1, 2008 11:03 AM EDT

{"commentId":1751544,"authorDomain":"isaacs"}

Scott Isaacs

I agree with you, MS Cyprah. Based on the events from last Friday to today I believe that Jeremiah Wright has decided to become an opportunist that is attempting to sell his book (which apparently is already in the works according to what he has said recently) and try to ride Obama's notoriety to a bigger speaking stage than he has ever had at TUCC and other black churches: a national stage where he can vent his anger at the U.S. govt and other people he blames for all the world's ills. It's clear to me that Obama was not a godson to him nearly as much as he was an opportunity and Wright's recent actions have shown that.

{"commentId":1751544,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"isaacs"}

2 votes

#3 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":1751704,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

Ms CYPRAH

Based on the events from last Friday to today I believe that Jeremiah Wright has decided to become an opportunist that is attempting to sell his book (which apparently is already in the works according to what he has said recently) and try to ride Obama's notoriety to a bigger speaking stage than he has ever had at TUCC and other black churches:

Absolutely, Scott. I think that now he has a wider audience, he has forgotten what the priorities are and is now enjoying the limelight without thinking about the implications. That is very sad and I do not know what he can gain from it in the long term except to affect Obama in a negative way..

{"commentId":1751704,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":1751726,"authorDomain":"isaacs"}

Scott Isaacs

Unfortunately I think it is good old fashioned selfishness and a love of money, which is the root of all evil. As someone once said, it's all over when you start to believe your own bull@!$%#.

{"commentId":1751726,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"isaacs"}

2 votes

#3.2 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:33 PM EDT

{"commentId":1751861,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

Ms CYPRAH

As someone once said, it's all over when you start to believe your own bull@!$%#.

Tell me about it. So apt in this case. He as a national audience now so there is no stopping him! I am not saying that what he has to say isn't worth hearing. I am saying that it is about being appropriate, and this is not the time to steal Barack's thunder.

{"commentId":1751861,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

2 votes

#3.3 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":1751900,"authorDomain":"isaacs"}

Scott Isaacs

Indeed. We have a pastor with an ego problem when he thinks that he needs to be heard more than one of the potential political leaders of our country.

{"commentId":1751900,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"isaacs"}

2 votes

#3.4 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":1751964,"authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

Ms CYPRAH

Well said, Scott, because that's precisely the case.

{"commentId":1751964,"threadId":"257623","contentId":"1461313","authorDomain":"mscyprah"}

2 votes

#3.5 - Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:24 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"257623","isPrivate":false}

Wright Flight? Will Wright Cause Whites To Run From Obama?	Scott Isaacs	Wed Apr 30	19
Jeremiah Wright's Slave	The OttO Show	Fri May 2	32
Barack Obama's support of Rev. Jeremiah Wright was wrong choice	NY Daily News	Wed Apr 30	17
The Obama-Wright divorce	msnbc.com	Thu May 1	4
Time To Move On: Obama Denounces Wright, Wright's Remarks.	msnbc.com	Wed Apr 30	5

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Why it is time for Jeremiah Wright to 'shut his gob', as we Brits would say

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