Charlie Rose

Shaft  04/04/2008 03:12 PM Report

Mr. Rose: I enjoyed this conversation very much, and thank you for doing it so. Although you are not too fond of doing anything with Omaba's campaign, -based on many of the conversations I have seen thus far with respect to the presidential race. You have brought many supporters of the Clintonites, yen not enough Obama support conversation, Please do not take it personal, but I could wrong. Many times people are sensitive about race issue in general, especially in this part of hemisphere than other continents. I can never know why WINK-WINK. Going to what I want to say about this Rev. Jeremiah Wright's case, CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG START SEEING BEYOND THE RACE CARD ALREADY! Enough said on the race issue, one apology and one single condeminiation cannot close HALF-A-MILLENNIA OF EXPLAIOTATION AND HARD FRUSTRATION.

Jo   03/30/2008 01:51 AM Report

Thanks Charlie, for the thought provoking conversation about Senator Obama's speech. For me, there are so many levels for discussion... too many to reply in this email. However, it is my belief that the conversation about race is a door that can never be closed again. The senator's speech pulled the "covers back" on some of the fears and secrets in the hearts of all of us. It shone a light on the marrow of some of our secret beliefs - rightly or wrongly but oh-so-personally. Senator Obama's speech painted a canvas as intricate and vibrant as Michangelo's Sistine Chapel. Yet with passion, he challenged us to look beyond our own fears to understand that we are not alone. I appreciate the courtesy and intellect that you have helped to bring to this subject - without the noise, pandering and hype. Keep the conversation going.

Jo

Ryan Gibbs  03/28/2008 12:14 PM Report

When Charlie Rose asked is there anything Obama should have said I would have said this one thing:

Obama should could have been clearer that what the church is about is the "people" and never really the pastor, the location, and even for some Americans the denomination of the Christian church. I think that more than anything defines the church to most Americans. Still a truly amazing speech.

Kellygo  03/24/2008 12:58 AM Report

Oops. My apologies for the double post. My finger slipped.

Kellygo  03/24/2008 12:57 AM Report

Happy Easter to you (Carol) and all.

Thank you for elaborating. Now I have a better understanding of your point of view. I never considered preemptive strategy to avoid this firestorm. I sure wish you had been a high level advisor to the Senator before this story hit the fan. I am very fearful it will cost him the election even if he gets the nomination, and that would be a tragedy.

You Carol have given me some much needed information at a critical point in my life. Thank you very much. I am grateful.

Kellygo  03/24/2008 12:57 AM Report

Happy Easter to you (Carol) and all.

Thank you for elaborating. Now I have a better understanding of your point of view. I never considered preemptive strategy to avoid this firestorm. I sure wish you had been a high level advisor to the Senator before this story hit the fan. I am very fearful it will cost him the election even if he gets the nomination, and that would be a tragedy.

You Carol have given me some much needed information at a critical point in my life. Thank you very much. I am grateful.

Connie Smith  03/23/2008 04:51 PM Report

I found the conversation with Rev. Floyd Flake and Jon Meacham most provocative, in that it contained much to think about seriously regarding the subject. since you have already received COPIOUS comments, I shall not say more about the segment.

The main reason that I am writing is that I really was very concerned about your apparent "black eye". You do not appear to be of a pugnacious temperament. I was relieved to know that it is the result of a simple mishap while walking along our not-so-well-maintained sidewalks. As the French say, "Prenez garde"!

Carol  03/23/2008 01:30 AM Report

Kellygo, I appreciate your response and accept your apology. I think Powell would have made a good candidate too. Frankly I am not surprised that another front-running democrat would find himself in this position. No matter the color or gender, this is a party that blunders big time. Unfortunately Wright's comments had anti-Semitic overtones too. This is not the guy to give an invocation!! So I am more angered by Obama than Wright only because the campaign knew this was a train about to crash. Bill Clinton, on the other hand, knew how to run a campaign. He would hire sleaze like Dick Morris and go camping because Morris told him so. When Monicagate came out, he had a team that first told him how to lie, until a second team came up with the "it wasn't sex" defense. It worked. Guys like Morris know what the country is thinking and how to reach them. They also know how to avoid problems, and when they do occur, how to spin. Gore went and hired a nice lady in Donna Brazile, but that ticket had no spark. Same with Hillary and Edwards. Obama's campaign had sparkle, but they still didn't know how to handle his association with Wright until it was too late and YouTube beat them to the punch. As a result they were taking by surprise. So all hope was on a terrific speech that avoided major questions. Obama was the hope to beat McCain, but now polls are showing it can go either way. I'm saving my popcorn and chips for this convention because the Dems better get their act together or they will implode. As always, it is their election to lose. Wishing you a Happy Easter.

Kellygo  03/22/2008 07:26 PM Report

Hi Carol,

Thank you for responding to my question. I greatly appreciate you for taking the time to answer. I also greatly appreciate The "Charlie Rose Show" for giving us this forum to express ourselves, and share our thoughts and insights.

The purpose of my question was and still is to understand points of view that differ from my own.

If I could edit that post I would take your name out or qualify that my question is intended for "the collective" of those very critical of Senator Obama and (IMO) angry and outraged by Rev. Wright. I apologize, I did not express myself well and never intended to attack you or anyone personally.

I view Rev. Wright and this controversay very differently. I am puzzled (although I shouldn't be) this episode has created such a strong reaction. I don't see Rev. Wright or his comments as racist. Now, some of his comments are (IMO) ignorant. I never believed there was an AIDS conspiracy; and I viewed the belief there was one as misguided and irrational, but I also feel the outrage and anger torwards Rev. Wright and Senator Obama is misguided and irrational. So I want to understand where this point of view is coming from.

I would like to continue this discussion and will post more questions later. I look forward to hearing differing insights from all who care to respond.

Thanks

Carol  03/22/2008 12:49 PM Report

Kellygo,

A Big NO! (to your question) It seems it was you who originally posed the question about race, but since you were not happy with the response, you play the race card. I don't have "fear" over his comments at all except to say it was also racist and could be used to divide this country further had this come out after an Obama victory. And, having to overcome those fears you speak about would have overtaking his agenda for a resolution to the Iraq war and an improved economy. The NY headlines are still focusing on Patterson's sexlife instead of focusing on our budget issues.

I have spent many months explaining to McCain and Hillary supporters why they should not believe the rumors about Obama, and I still hold to that. I think he is one of the most charismatic individuals we had since JFK. Why can't you just believe my feelings that it's a question of bad judgement on Obama's part? I need to hear from him (not you) why he didn't bring it up sooner rather than "hide" his friend from the campaign. Was Wright going to do the invocation? An honest response from Obama to those questions may make the difference to me.

Did you see Travis Smiley's show when he told Gate's that even he wasn't sure if Obama and Hillary were the right black or right woman candidates. I doubt anyone would label his remark as "visceral".

btw, NYS already voted, so it's out of my hands now. But I think even you could guess who I would vote for if either of them are opposing McCain.

David Fisher  03/21/2008 10:46 PM Report

The "More Perfect Union" speech is more about "what is America" than it is about race. Listen carefully (or read) the "John Adams" series that is on PBS now, and you will see. Remember Barack Obama is a historian and scholar of the U.S. Constitution. We are blessed to have someone who can cut to the chase while maintaining empathy.

Rev./Congressman Flake is also quite a role model/legend from Queens, NY. Of course, it makes sense that he signed up early as a supporter of Sen. Clinton, and had to restrain his comments on the speech.

Kellygo  03/21/2008 07:44 PM Report

Wow Clayton, An excellent and well stated analysis. I wish I could write as well as you.

Uh Carol, what are you so afraid of??? I would ask that you (with all due respect) and others who have expressed overwhelming fear of Rev. Wright's comments critically examine your feelings, thoughts, beliefs etc that lead you to have such a visceral response to him.

I ask again, is your change of support for Obama driven by shame, and guilt over atrocities committed against blacks by the culture you feel apart of fueling your change of vote? Is your fear of black rage, turning into revenge the real issue?

Clayton  03/21/2008 05:56 PM Report

The Obama speech demonstrates that he possesses the gravitas to be president -- irrespective of how each of us defines qualifications to hold that post. I am disheartened that both Meachem and Flake, as well as others providing commentary on Obama's "race" speech throughout the media, have focused on granular and parsed snippets of the speech while generally ignoring the larger lesson to be gleaned. Obama has dared to deal with an incendiary topic -- one with which no other candidate is dealing or likely to deal. Period. Yes, maybe he was forced to, but that does not diminish his Obama's response. He rose to the challenge, and has done so in a thoughtful, reasoned, analytical and calm manner -- from the heart. What more can we ask? It speaks to those of us in the middle who yearn for a "new politics" of reason as compared to the politics of intentional divisiveness we've experienced for 8 or more years. The speech was couched in an "authentic" tone that is generally absent from our political landscape that has come to characterize his approach to issues. While it is likely that the essence of this speech and the necessity to deliver such a speech at some point during the campaign might have been anticipated by the Obama camp, it is stunning that any person could react so intelligently on the basis of a random news event, to assemble such a well-crafted speech, so personal a speech, and one that challenges each of us to think beyond sound bites. This speech has moved and swayed this independent voter.

Carol  03/21/2008 12:54 PM Report

I don't think it's that cut and dry to claim that those who no longer support Obama is because of race. Republicans will usually vote republican, but this is the first time many were coming over to Obama's side because they trusted him. But you cannot deny the truth that Wright was hidden from the campaign early on (this from Obama's campaign). On his appearance on 60 Minutes, when asked about religion, should have openly discussed that while his own minister has struggled with a racist society and is still angered over it,but he does not agree with many of those sentiments. Instead we all knew Wright as one thing in Obama's life--his spiritual advisor, a man who believed in hope. This is so like Bill Clinton saying he didn't inhale or didn't have sex with "that woman". It speaks to his honesty. Do I think Obama is a good man? Yes and so is Bill Clinton. I just have problems understanding this coverup from a man who rightfully called Ferraro on it, but not his own minister. btw, I agree that many of our ministers make us cringe. But if this has taught me anything, it is as a parishioner I need to speak up and let my clergy know when I am upset. As for those who are trying to turn this into some insight about our true feelings on race, I think Americans have shown by their votes that it's the candidate, and not the color or gender, that is important. Obama never had the votes of bigots. My mind was changed because it speaks to Obama's lack of candor rather than beliefs. Obama recently lost a primary because he said one thing about trade but secretly had his representatives meet with Canadians. This primary was before the Wright revelation. For me to return to supporting Obama, I still need to know if Wright was even considered giving the invocation because I do not think that would have been a good thing for a country that still struggles with questions of race, gender, religion. Previous elections, where candidates were White, have turned on a coin due to some revelation or opponent's campaign ad. Candidates need to learn not to hide facts in this age of Youtube and wire tapes (and also keep their pants and skirts on).

wendy  03/21/2008 02:42 AM Report

I donâ??t claim to know Obamaâ??s grandmother and am in no position to judge her racial sentiments. But it does seem to an outsider that Obamaâ??s judgment upon his grandmother is as harsh as his tolerance of Wright is benign. It isnâ??t as if he was raised in Trinity Baptist Church. He chose it as an adult. He chose those sermons he now calls â??incendiaryâ?? and â??inexcusable.â?? He says now that Wright misses the dynamism of American society, yet when it came time to decide where his daughters would attend church, he chose Trinity, where they would â??learnâ?? that the U.S. government concocted the AIDS virus to wipe out the African-American population, that the U.S. would â??plantâ?? WMDs in Iraq, and that blacks harming other blacks are â??fighting the wrong enemy.â?? A beautifully delivered speech cannot overcome that history.

The solution, Obama asserts, to racial divisiveness, is to come together and say â??Not this time.â?? This time â??we want to talk about â??the crumbling schools ... to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids canâ??t learn; that those kids who donâ??t look like us are somebody elseâ??s problem.â?? This time, in other words, we can demonstrate our racial bona fides by, you guessed it, voting for Obama for president.

Kellygo  03/21/2008 02:20 AM Report

I have a theory which I strongly believe is correct, but I would like to hear the thoughts, beliefs and insights of others who may not necessarily agree with me. My theory is the anger and outrage about Rev. Wright's comments and Senator Obama's relationship to him is a cover up for the shame and guilt the dominant culture feels about it's involvement in slavery, jim crow, violence and discrmination against blacks. Fear, is another overwhelming emotion in play. Fear of black anger developing into rage, and rage turning to reprisals and revenge for treatment the dominant culture would never stand for if visited upon it for one second.

Do I agree with Rev. Wright's comments? No, but I also don't think about them. They are the kind of statements I have heard before and write-off as not worthy of thought or energy of any kind. I have heard crazy nonsense from the pulpit of my church. I take the opportunity at that time to throughly read the bulletin or the learn the lyrics from the hymm book. I'm certainly not going to leave my church because something ignorant was said from the pulpit. If I left I would miss many wise thoughtful sermons that have me critically reflecting on my own beliefs and actions.

I hope all of us use this particular controversay to look at ourselves and how we as individuals can be part of setting positive examples for each other.

Carol  03/20/2008 01:00 PM Report

I can't speak to the majority of anti-Obama comments being made here, but I have the feeling they are from McCain supporters. I was an Obama supporter after Edwards dropped out. I switched my support to Obama until this revelation came out, not because I thought he could get us out of Iraq sooner (I am no longer naive to believe in any promises a politician makes), but because I was not a Hillary supporter. But if Hillary wins the nomination, I will have to put my hopes on her over McCain and another 4 or more years of Bush policies. Those comments anti-Obama do not express their candidate of choice. Perhaps being a moderate rather than liberal has more to do with the cause of my switch. My liberal friends still support Obama. Obama's speech, to me, proves he had many opportunities to mentor Wright instead of the other way around. btw, has Wright addressed the media since these revelations? I hope this situation will remind priests, rabbis and ministers that their influences need to reflect peace and hope instead of hate, revenge, and yes, politics. (Especially after seeing last night's episode of Law and Order. It's getting scary out there!)

Shalom Freedman  03/20/2008 09:34 AM Report

The segment analyzing Obama's speech was first- rate. First of all , both Meacham and Flake appreciated the quality of the speech, and the courage it took to make it. But they also provided insight into its political repercussions of it which somehow go against his campaign. Obama did the right thing, but as Meacham makes clear it may only hurt him politically.

What it seems to me is becoming clear is that on the level of thought and inspiration Obama is simply on a level of his own. But that this alone is not enough, and may not be enough to bring him to the Presidency.

mel  03/20/2008 09:22 AM Report

In reply to Andrea:

Has Obama ever shown racism? So obviously what his pastor said has not clouded his thoughts or views? He was raised primarily by his grandparents who were white in a predominantly heterogenoeus society in Hawaii.Maybe one should read his pre-political book Dreams from my father to really understand what forme his views on race and human behavior. He has so much of the world in his genetics and he is intelligent enough to form his own views and ideology. He is not brainwashed by his pastor!If he is then thats too bad but in all that I have read about him, I don't think he is brainwashed. There are on the other hand many Americans completely under the spell of Rusn and right wing talk show hosts and they spew Hate everyday for hours, that to me is more dangerous than what happens in church once a week.

charlize courriers  03/20/2008 05:44 AM Report

Is someone who makes racicist remarks a racist? Not if that person is your pastor. The implication is that whites can be racists but blacks can't. Not exactly my experience. C'est la vie!!!

Vik  03/20/2008 05:41 AM Report

It takes courage, character and strength to stand up for a friend (albeit flawed), and deal head on with the consequences. How many of us can say that we do not have friends that are flawed in some way? How many of us would have walked away from a friend under the pressure he has faced?

The one thing you cannot say about Senator Obama is that he does not have character. The easy thing for him to do would have been to trash his minister and quit the church. It would have made the story go away... But it would not have been the right thing to do.

debbie  03/20/2008 04:53 AM Report

Obama's to patriotic to wear an American pin but to patriotic to stand in front of ten American flags to give a speech when his campaign is in trouble, I can't believe that people can't see through what a phony Obama is. He gave a speech in 2004 that launched his national identity as a uniter on race issues, in his speech he talked about not a white America and a black America but one America and then he goes that same Sunday to sit in the pews of church with his family to hear from the pulpit that America should be called the KKK.A and that no black persons should ever say 'God Bless America" and didn't blink an eye. Sad to see people cling so desperately to a individual's image and not discern that person's actual character.

tom  03/20/2008 04:14 AM Report

"Barack Obama is the answer to Bushism and the idiocracy of past 8 years that has governed American foreign & domestic policies. He will be able to restore the true image, reputation once America enjoyed in the world as the champion of Democracy and Freedom. In addition, Obama has the will, energy and charisma to go against" ......Comment by David Dzidzikashvili,,, Obama didn't even have the energy or what ever else you said to go against his pastor. He in some ways must love America why else want to lead it unless its all ambition and nothing to do with any sort of patriotism which I'm coming to believe about Obama, now back to his so called courage, here is a man that say's he's proud and wants to be the American President but he never had the courage to stand up to his petty pastor and tell him that to teach young black people that their government is out to get them by killing them with aids, or drugs or the white power structure is never going to give them a job or a chance in life is awful, not only that it encourages resentment and racism but that it destroys the sense of self , how are black men and women to want to get a better education, have health family lives if all their problems can be blamed on some white bogymen and that even if they try they won't get far in America because it wants to keep the poor black man down. His pastor's preaching doesn't harm white society it damages black souls, and that the irony about Obama is knows this from his own life experiences but he never stood up and challenged his pastor's beliefs and more importantly his teachings because he didn't want to lose his pastor's public support in his political climb to office in Chicago politics, a truer sign of a coward would be hard to find. The only thing electing Obama is going to prove to the rest of the world is that we are willing to be the victims of our destiny and not the leaders of it, they know far more than some in America that Obama would be as weak in standing up for America as he was in standing up for his true beliefs to his own "spiritual advisor" .

T Cunningham  03/20/2008 12:53 AM Report

Guido's observations about our media demagogues, and the lazy punditry's proclivity for dumb distractions is right.

Obama delivered a mature, grown-up, resolute reply to the nation at Philadelphia and again reminded everyone that he is the best mind and personality we could possibly hope for in starting to lift this country from its sharp trend of decline--cultural and economic.

Andrea  03/20/2008 12:10 AM Report

Mel argued: "Some people say that he should break his relationship with his pastor because of what his pastor said. Using that logic should, Hillary disssociate herself from her skirt chasing husband..."

Mel, your logic is terribly flawed. If a man, call him Bill Clinton, was giving weekly "religious" sermons in which he preached that young women should be treated like sex objects, and other horrible ideas, and Hillary was his faithful parishioner, not objecting to what was being preached but actively supporting it, bringing her child up to think this is appropriate Sunday religious observance -- uh, yeah, I'd have a big big problem with that.

I don't excuse Bill Clinton for his behavior, but making a mistake and being held accountable for it (apologies, etc) is a whole different matter than preaching ideology of hate.

Obama is a brilliant, charismatic, emotion rousing phony. If he is willing to appoint Wright to his political spiritual advisory board, who would he feel comfortable appointing to his cabinet once the election election is already won? Gives me the chills.

Carol  03/19/2008 11:44 PM Report

Just to clarify, I would have had the same reaction if the cleric were a radical white Christian preaching hatred against others. I did not vote for Bush for many reasons, but one of them was because he embraced a pastor who stated that races should never mix.

I don't believe you throw away a friend either, but this particular friend should not have been made the center of Obama "Audacity of Hope" campaign. It was supposed to be the hope and dreams of a country that can be connected and healed. But somehow it's like finding out the man behind this belief is a fanatic who really preaches hate. (even Obama's campaign tried to hide this guy because he was such a loose cannon.) And the real sin made by Wright was not recognizing that this election was filled with that hope of change--A woman or African-American for president! This country has come a long way, and still has a long way to go. So why was Wright so negative when he should have been celebrating this historic change in America? For the record, I supported Obama over Hillary even though NY went for Hillary and was horrified by Geraldine's statements.

That is why this situation has left me confused about Obama's not addressing Wright's statements when they were first made.

And, I still have to wonder if this was not made public, did Obama want Wright for the invocation (I truly believe that Obama truly loves Wright as both friend and pastor).

mel  03/19/2008 10:26 PM Report

Some people say that he should break his relationship with his pastor because of what his pastor said. Using that logic should, Hillary disssociate herself from her skirt chasing husband who had the nerve to mess around with an intern in the OVAL Office? Monica Lewinsky has seen the Oval Office and therefore has more experience than Obama! Right?Isn't a marriage a much more intimate relationship than one between a pastor and the people who attend his church. Obama's speech will only appeal to those who want to be in a better place while the rest of America will be caught up in the hate mongering atmosphere of Rush and Hannity. I am sure in a heart beat Rush and Hannity would be the dream team. I am truly disappointed with the Adults in this country who are unable to be compassionate and take Obama's speech as one of hope and desire to make America a great nation in this troubled world. Until we as Americans cannot recognize the what his message is, we have no hope but to be trapped with more wars and more anger against us.

Carol  03/19/2008 07:43 PM Report

Obama's speech was brilliant and Floyd Flake did a wonderful job of explaining how some African-American pastors use the pulpit. Unfortunately Obama's speech did not calm my feelings about Wright. I have a problem with an elected government official who has no evidence in the past 20 years of publicly disagreeing with the comments of Rev. Wright even if he respected him. And Wright did invoke Obama's name in his sermons. Was Wright going to give the invocation at the inauguration if Obama won? After all, he married him and baptized his children. What part will Wright play in the future if Obama wins because having someone with such anti-American feelings given the privilege of any invocation on the Capitol steps or in the White House may be a slap in the face to those whose family members who lost their lives serving our country. Obama needs to speak to this given his admiration of this man. The irony is Wright may be solely responsible for giving Hillary the nomination. To quote Obama, "Words do matter".

David Dzidzikashvili  03/19/2008 04:50 PM Report

Barack Obama is the answer to Bushism and the idiocracy of past 8 years that has governed American foreign & domestic policies. He will be able to restore the true image, reputation once America enjoyed in the world as the champion of Democracy and Freedom.

In addition, Obama has the will, energy and charisma to go against corporate politics, lobby groups and their power. We need a man who will stand up for a common man. Enough of ignorance, greed and corporate oil monopolies directing American political life. This has to END!

Obama 2008!

charlize courriers  03/19/2008 04:44 PM Report

Is someone who makes racicist remarks a racist? Not if that person is your pastor. The implication is that whites can be racists but blacks can't. Not exactly my experience. C'est la vie!!!

Boris  03/19/2008 04:03 PM Report

Obama was simply brave, intellegent, inspirational and mature - brilliant. He comfronted the root of the problem. To leave the church or speak to the issue as though none of us (except for Rev Wright) have some form of anger, contradictions and the capacity to make off-the-wall statements would be cowardice. Instead, he showed the bravery of a true leader, a Commander-in-Chief, he faced the risks, confronted the problem, and charted a path forward to a solution - unity of purpose, effort and achievement for all. Out of a moment of despire, hopelessness and negativity, Obama offered inspiration, hope and a positive option.

rich dimmock  03/19/2008 12:24 PM Report

1968 speech given by a black college professor...

(i'm surprized he didn't have the speech written on the back of an envelope

he needs to return to academia and be a pastor at his church. we had the "decider" we don't need the "rationalizer".....

i'm sure one of obama's first examples of "moving on"will be to appear on the imus show.

larry allen  03/19/2008 09:14 AM Report

i enjoy listening to you nightly. you know how to keep us informed and to educate us what we need to know. keep up to good works!

Bruce Crossan  03/19/2008 05:47 AM Report

Ever since Ronald Regan ran on the tripartite promise of cutting taxes, building a 200 ship Navy, and balancing the Federal budget (guess which one he didn't even try to do), politicians-- and others in positions of power; see the current financial crisis-- have been telling the American people what they want to hear, instead of what they need to hear. The problem is that their two faced euphemisms have sunk to such a low level that everyone can tell that we are being sold a bunch of horse biscuits. Barack Obama's speech, on the state of race relations in America, was delivered with a frankness that was so very refreshing to hear. I usually cannot watch politicians give speeches, because my truth-o-meter stays pegged on false. It was really nice to be treated like a grown-up and hear the truth that all people must know was in Obama's speech. His detractors say he is all fluff: I think not. bc

connie  03/19/2008 05:40 AM Report

What Obama does now to distance himself from Wright is less important than what he failed to do over the last 20 years. Why didn't Obama leave this church when he learned that its senior pastor was committed to ideas that are "contrary to my own life and beliefs"?

Perhaps because it would have cost him something. Ebony magazine named Wright one of America's 15 best black preachers. He moves in influential church and seminary circles. He openly uses his pulpit to endorse Obama's political ambitions--on the face of it, a violation of the church's tax-exempt status--and commands the allegiance of a large, well-heeled congregation. At each step along Obama's political path--his run for the Illinois house, the state senate, the U.S. Senate, and his presidential bid--he has counted on the support of Wright and Trinity United.

All of this suggests a weakness in Obama's character, a shrinking back from principled decisions if they seem too costly. When John McCain challenged his own party on causes that could sink his political career, Obama voted "present" to avoid taking a position on controversial bills in the Illinois senate. During his captivity in Vietnam, McCain refused to denounce the United States or to be released from prison until his fellow soldiers could join him. Obama couldn't find the moxy to stop attending the church of a minister who makes anti-Americanism an indispensable doctrine of his faith.

teresa  03/19/2008 05:25 AM Report

What the analysts who are gushing over Obama's sentiments regarding race relations are missing is not only did Obama fail to accomplish the mission he needed to, he didn't even really try. He made no attempt to explain his relationship with Wright and why he hung around a man who habitually offered such hateful rhetoric. Obama instead offered a non-sequitur on race relations.

While that non-sequitur surely distracted the scores of Obama sycophants in the media, conservative 527 groups will be lining up to run commercials juxtaposing Obama declaring that Reverend Wright "has been like family to me" with Wright offering one of his trademark greatest hits like "God Damn America." Obama could have tried to defuse those attacks, but instead chose once again to try to hide the ball.

Obama's relationship with Wright warranted a serious treatment. The voting public deserved as much. It says something about the candidate and his willingness to take on the tough issues that he declined to take on the challenge.

tom  03/19/2008 05:19 AM Report

Obama is a coward, he spent 20 years in a church were his own mother would have felt uncomfortable to sit in it's pews, he allowed his family to be exposed to this white hatred,black separatist, anti-Americanism, and betrayed half of his own self just to fit in and justify the insecurity he felt about his identity are all signs of a weak man and not someone that should lead anything, moreover a great country.

Amy  03/19/2008 05:11 AM Report

On the one hand, the current occupant of the WH demonizes everyone who disagrees with him, even to the point of calling them "evil"...... At the other end of the spectrum, we have a candidate, that may have strongly differing views, from other politicians, pastors and heads of State, but assumes that trying to understand, who they are and what makes them tick, is more valuable in the long run, than turning them into a political punching bag....... It would be a lost opportunity of a lifetime, if the forces of illogic and hate were to triumph over one of the most sincere and honest politicians, in memory. By not spinning the issue of Rev. Wright, Obama behaved like an adult and treated the American people as adults who crave thoughtful answers to complex problems, which by the way, probably most of us do..... Meacham, and Flake did a nice job of commentating...... And thank you Charlie, for letting the audience know that Flake is a Clinton supporter. I wish more political chat shows would identify their guests preferences.

sam   03/19/2008 04:50 AM Report

"In my lifetime I never imagined we could potentially elect a president who has the courage to stand back and assess the race issue in such a thoughtful, intelligent and complex way. We must accept that for each of us, race is the issue that is not often spoken of, but is in fact the "elephant in the living room" that, as much as we wish to avoid it, will not go away. The guilt (and anger) we each feel about race will not go away because we do not speak " what have you people been smoking, the courage to talk about race, this is a guy that for over a year has been running in a competition to become President and throughout this year he knew that at some point his racist, anti-American, anti-white pastor was going to become a issue, what did Obama do he ignored the problem even thou he new that his pastor has been on UTUBE with his "delightful" sermons for many months. Obama did nothing intel it began to effect his poll numbers and then he gives a speech on race not on why he sat in the pew with his two young children and exposed them and himself to this white vitriol, and out right lies about his and their country. Courage, please courage would be if Obama walked up and confronted his pastor and told him that encouraging to hate their country to believe that it invented diseases to kill it's children, imported drugs to imprison it's men and to believe that their is no difference between the country they live in to men that flew planes into it's towers to kill over three thousand of it's citizens, that to preach this will only fortify hatred between the races and hearten resentments that in the end just harm black society. It would have been courageous if Obama even now had stood up, spoke out against his race peddler pastor before he became a political liability to Obama and his ambitions.

Linda Baines  03/19/2008 04:25 AM Report

I liked the Rev. Floyd Flake. He brought a sense of sanity back to this discussion. The fact that B. O. had to resort to drama today was a sign of the dysfunction, the reality of his campaign. B. O. had to create an issue where there should not have been one. In order to save face, he is dragging the entire country into his personal drama. I think if I had to choose which church would allow me to have less stress, less drama in an already complicated life, it would be to the one headed by the Rev. Flake. To me it shows a lack of judgement that he chose to stay in a church that was so filled with antagonistic rhetoric. It seems that he felt he found a replacement father in a very dysfunctional situation. Why else would he keep referring to him as his uncle? If someone in your family is so angry and racist, then it is co-dependent to protect them. Is this the kind of person that is capable of the kind of objectivity required to handle the reigns?

Linda Baines  03/19/2008 04:18 AM Report

I liked the Rev. Floyd Flake. He brought a sense of sanity back to this discussion. The fact that B. O. had to resort to drama today was a sign of the dysfunction, the reality of his campaign. B. O. had to create an issue where there should not have been one. In order to save face, he is dragging the entire country into his personal drama. I think if I had to choose which church would allow me to have less stress, less drama in an already complicated life, it would be to the one headed by the Rev. Flake. To me it shows a lack of judgement that he chose to stay in a church that was so filled with antagonistic rhetoric. It seems that he felt he found a replacement father in a very dysfunctional situation. Why else would he keep referring to him as his uncle? If someone in your family is so angry and racist, then it is co-dependent to protect them. Is this the kind of person that is capable of the kind of objectivity required to handle the reigns?

DIG  03/19/2008 03:59 AM Report

Caught it this time. He said "more difficult to "sell" Obama as healer because of the past 4 days". Interesting word choice. Obama isn't a commodity. He's a phenomenon. And hopefully the next president of the United States.

The healing is about the divide of the Liberals and Progressives and Conservative and Religious Right and NeoCons and realists and hawks and doves. I didn't think he was out to heal a nation divided by race. But if it is, he's the one to heal it.

DIG  03/19/2008 03:33 AM Report

Did my ears play a trick on me or did Jon Meacham say that the past 4 days discount Obama's ability to help heal this nation? I'm listening now to a later broadcast and hope I misunderstood.

GC  03/19/2008 03:25 AM Report

PS: Next time Charlie, please also include a representative from the candidate in question and not just a Clinton rep; othewise we will start suspecting that the Clinton Organization of New York (CONY) men mugged you into submission too.

lynne sowder  03/19/2008 03:24 AM Report

In my lifetime I never imagined we could potentially elect a president who has the courage to stand back and assess the race issue in such a thoughtful, intelligent and complex way. We must accept that for each of us, race is the issue that is not often spoken of, but is in fact the "elephant in the living room" that, as much as we wish to avoid it, will not go away. The guilt (and anger) we each feel about race will not go away because we do not speak about it. Just like Obama, each of us is now forced, through no wish of our own, to consider it out loud. In the end, this could be one of the most important things we do as a country, but not if we let our discomfort about "it" punish the black man in the race. It is time to get real - to get honest - to face ourselves. As Obama says, "we are who we have been waiting for", but not if we do not have the courage to be our best (and future) selves.

Guido Continelli  03/19/2008 03:20 AM Report

I find it most amazing that in America it is considered perfectly normal to lynch a presidential candidate for words he has not uttered or believed, but those of a friend or someone to whom he is close enough to consider family. Since when was the qualification to be president dependent on what a priest or pastor says. Should Rome fall or every catholic politician disqualified because there is irrefutable evidence that some catholic priests have a proclivity for altar boys? Should we disqualify everyone who attended a church or had a rabbi, minister, pastor, priest, etc. with issues? The media is sometimes very juvenile and irresponsible in the way it trivializes the political process. There are some decision-makers in the media who are not serving America's long term interests. They behave with the intellectual maturity below that of a high school drop-out. In the last election they were accomplices in the destruction of Howard Dean's candidacy by replaying over and over again a sound re-engineered scream - reducing the presidential candidate to a single scream in the minds of people... and you are surprised by the quality of people you end up with in office. In the Clinton years the media was obsessed with little blue dresses and other distractions you ended up being blind-sided by a mini-recession and 911. These days it is the ranting of a priest while the financial system is facing a much more serious collapse. I can assure you that the people who are running the sovereign funds that are buying up America at fire-sale prices or those who are attracting American factories and jobs to their shores or dreaming up strategies of how to best America in future are not wasting their time in their countries over such tertiary trivia. California is proposing cutting education budgets and laying-off teachers while these countries are graduating ten times the engineers and scientists America is producing. HB1 visa anyone? Furthermore, the thousands facing foreclosure and lay-offs, or the millions having to contend with higher gas and food prices, ordinary men and women, do not give an ant's fart about what some pastor in Chicago thinks. They want to hear what these candidates are going to do about the serious problems confronting the country. If Obama is smart, which I am convinced he is, he will move on and not let himself be sucker-punched and hoodwinked into this non-productive exercise that ultimately leads nowhere. He has said enough on the matter and should steadfastly refuse to waste resources on that divisive agenda. He should devote the rest of the time and lots of resources to assiduously sticking to his positive message. Nothing frustrates and drives negative people to madness more than sustained positive energy and spirit. He should fight his way out of this trap and counter this strategy of distraction by ferociously sticking to his agenda - uniting this country to deal with the difficult challenges it faces. If the press bringsn up Jeremiah Wright, he should ask people how that will stop foreclosures, how it will reduce the price of gas, how it will increase consumer and market confidence, keep jobs in the country, enable parents and students to pay school fees, or end the war in Iraq... and then he should change the subject to one of those things that are relevant to American lives and running the administration in 2009. We have had enough of this nonsense and fools' game.

melissa  03/19/2008 03:15 AM Report

Obama has proven he is a fighter who isn't like other politicians. Most would have "disowned" Rev. Wright and like he said, hoped it went away. Him using this issue as a reason to get Americans to talk speaks volumes to me. I don't agree with everything his preacher said, but I think Obama has shown time and again he is able to be the next President of the United States.

bobb  03/19/2008 03:01 AM Report

In a normal day, anybody wants to talk about race and the crowd starts to thin out. Fortunately for us, Obama critics threw this Jeremiah thing at him, apparently unaware Obama is best when cornered. He maybe just words, but that's the main tool of a president and leader.

Patrick   03/19/2008 01:46 AM Report

I also think this speech played to a strategic strength. Obama just connected race and the economy as issues -- unifying issues. The longer reporters peck at him on these issues, the longer he has to speak on them. Obama's considerable rhetorical skill are well suited for those issues.

transformed  03/19/2008 12:56 AM Report

Ralph Nader may have lost my vote. I'm from Ks which will go for McCain. So I can throw-away my vote and go for principles. But Obama showed a sign that a vote for him will not loose a vote for principle. He's a considered, level thinker. Balanced. Useful talent diplomatically. Which the next in line will definitely need.