May 30, 2008
Hotline After Dark -- Here We Go Again...
Speaking at Barack Obama's Trinity United Church this past weekend, Michael Pfleger, a white Catholic priest, mocked Hillary Clinton for having cried in NH and suggested that she cried because she felt entitled to the presidency. Obama denounced Pfleger's sermon, but there was still a lot of reaction on TV last night. Some highlights:
ABC's Klein: "This is one reason that Hillary Clinton has stayed in the race as long as she has, is for the possibility of something else emerging. Now, is this the something else that turns the tide? I'm not so sure. But that's the point that she's been making all along, is that he is unvetted and he's untested and that there's things out there we don't know about" ("On the Record," FNC, 5/29).
CNN's Crowley: "I think there is some question as to whether he can be held accountable for all things that are said in that church. ... The Reverend apologized. If you remember with Jeremiah Wright, he did not apologize. ... [The Obama camp] took care of this very quickly. And there is also a more distant relationship between the two of them than with Reverend Wright and Barack Obama" ("AC 360," 5/29).
Huffington Post's Sekoff: "This entire campaign has been the worst recruiting ad for purported men of God since Jim Jones started passing out the Kool-Aid. ... Of course it's a ridiculous thing that he said. That's the last thing Obama wanted him to be saying. ... It's like high stakes poker. I'll see your Rev. Wright and raise you two of a kind Hagee and Parsley -- no, wait a minute, I've got a white guy saying something about whitey. I trumped you. It's crazy" ("Verdict," MSNBC, 5/29).
After the jump, more Obama and McClellan continues the TV rounds (KATHERINE LEHR).
Dick Morris, asked if this will politically hurt Obama: "What do you think Kentucky and West Virginia and Pennsylvania and Ohio and Texas were all about? ... They were all about a racial backlash over Reverend Wright. ... He would have won those states easily if it weren't for that. ... Don't say he hasn't been hurt just because he hasn't been killed" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 5/29).
Ex-Civil Rights Commis. Mary Frances Berry: "The problem here is that there's a lot about Mr. Obama ... that the public doesn't know. The press hasn't done its job. ... But they learned in the campaign to apologize quickly, to make a statement quickly, to try to get it out of the way. They're just getting smarter about it as they go along" ("AC 360," CNN, 5/29).
OPENING OLD WOUNDS
Meanwhile, ex-WH press sec. Scott McClellan continued to make the TV rounds.
MSNBC's Olbermann: "Who is more surprised that you're here, you or me?"
McClellan: "Probably the White House."
McClellan, on the continuing criticism: "It certainly is a little surprising how personal some of the words have been. ... Some of the people that are making those comments are almost trying to judge the content of the book, judge me and my motivations for writing the book, and they haven't even read the book. ... I haven't seen people refuting specific parts within the book."
McClellan, on Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) suggesting he testify to Congress about this admin.: "I don't know that there's much more benefit to me going before Congress. I haven't really thought about it. I'm glad
to share my views, and I share them fully in this book. I'm not sure exactly what he's calling for me to talk about."
McClellan, asked which WH '08er he is supporting: "I have not made a decision. ... I'm intrigued by what Senator Obama has been running on about changing the way Washington works. I've had respect for Senator McCain, as well, for the way he has worked across the aisle with Democrats. But I'm going to take my time and think it through" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 5/29).
ABC's Raddatz: "What do you think, as a reporter sitting on the front row of the White House, I should think when I listen to press briefings today?"
McClellan: "Uh, I think you've got a very capable Press Secretary there. I hired her. But, you know, she very much is there, uh, probably operating very similar to the way we did things when I was there" ("World News," ABC, 5/29).
CBS' Couric: "While you were press secretary, you were famous for denying access to reporters who asked tough questions. And now you're criticizing the press for not being tough enough. ... I asked a tough question before the Iraq War and you personally called an executive at NBC News and you threatened to deny access to us."
McClellan: "I did?"
Couric: "Yes, you did, once the war began."
McClellan: "I just don't remember that. That may be but I certainly don't remember that incident. In terms of my style of working with reporters, it was usually straightforward when we were dealing with each other; I think I had that reputation with White House reporters. I just don't recall that specific incident" ("Evening News," CBS, 5/29).
Posted at 09:13 AM
Comments
The Reverend apologized.
Conveniently, you omit Pfleger's immature commentary:
I don't really want to make this political, 'cause you know I'm very unpolitical [laughter], but when Hillary was crying, and people said that was put on, I really don't believe it was put on. I really believe that she just always thought: "This is mine." [applause] "I'm Bill's wife; I'm white; and this is mine! I just gotta get up and step into [sic] the plate." And then outta nowhere came: "Hey, I'm Barack Obama." And she said, "Aww, damn! Where did you come from?! I'm white! I'm entitled! There's a black man stealing my show!" [cheers and applause] Waaaaaaaah! [pretends to weep and cry; wipes face with hankie] Waaaaaaaah! She wasn't the only one crying; there was a whole lotta white people crying!"
Apologized? The hell he did. Here is the Reverend's "apology":
"These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them."
If?
That is no apology; it's not even an acknowledgment that what he said was wrong, never mind "inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message."
[The Obama camp] took care of this very quickly.
No, it did not. Here is yet another opportunity to specifically denounce misogyny and Obama chose yet again to wholly ignore it with some soothing words about being "disappointed" in Pfleger followed by pap about "all that unites us."
Ought Obama be held responsible for what is said in his church by a visiting minister? No. However, he had an opportunity to definitively speak out against misogyny as the father of two daughters and didn't have the guts to do so.
corinne | 05.30.08 09:45 AM
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Well, Father Pfleger just lost my vote for President. Seriously corinne, it's getting old.
And as for "if", as I recall Clinton's it-would-be-a-shame-if-somethin'-was-to-happen like RFK apology contained an if as well.
Seth | 05.30.08 11:30 AM
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Why is this news? Who cares what some priest who supports Obama said. Next it will be "news" what Obama's limo driver thinks or what his dry cleaner says or his barber.
I can see it now:
Headline: COLOR WARS: OBAMA'S BARBER SAYS HILLARY DYES HER HAIR
Headline: DRY CLEANER TO DEMOCRATIC HOPEFUL BARACK OBAMA CALLS GAYS FASTIDIOUS
Headline: OBAMA'S LIMO DRIVER'S GAS GUZZLING HUMMER. DOES THIS MEAN OBAMA IN NOT SERIOUS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING?
BeefyJaws | 05.30.08 02:28 PM
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There is something more than just a little hypocritcal for a Catholic priest to be mocking a woman and accusing her of feeling entitled. No representative of the Catholic Church, with its history of male supremacism, patriarchal sturcture, and abuse of children, has the moral authority to make the type of comments this guy did. Obama should have gotten up and walked out.
Kathy | 05.30.08 03:13 PM
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The Fox News is just as racist as you claim those preachers to be. There are Foxs News Catholic members and I bet none of you denounce your religion. I think that rape of a child is worse than the issues that you are discussing. I am quite sure there are excuses. Just because others get that impression about Hilary we are racist. Obama can not control what others process when in their mind. It sickens me to hears you twist others opinions. You are not running Hilary's blunders. Hilary is a liar. Hilary talks in code about assasanation and in the same breath as to stayin in the race. She talks of the hard working blue collared white working class. But yet her comments are taken out of content. I believe the Clintons are lining Fox News pockets and you are not fair and balanced. You did not drag the infidelity thru the mud. You wait for perfect timing when there are major decisions to be made and you try to change the opinions of Obama who is black or should I say black and white. Obama represent both races. His mother's heart must hurt. I see you in the same light as you see those preachers. Foxs is tearing down Obama to put Hilarry in the white house.I know this want appear on TV. You must respect all opinions. I know that people at Fox News have prejuice family members. Are you denouncing them? The bible states to even love your enemies. You would not understand that and that is the reason why you don't mix religion with politics. You people that oppose Obama going to his church are hipporcrates. There is a reason God commands us to go to church. That is so that we can learn to love the unlovely. Church is the foundation of learning to follow the two greatest commandments, which is love. This is what will make Obama a great leader.
C. Pina | 05.31.08 12:16 AM
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