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Clinton Campaign Pushes Rev. Wright Story to Win Over Superdelegates

Posted by Chris Bowers, Open Left at 5:47 AM on March 21, 2008.


The story has obviously hurt Obama in the polls on at least a temporary basis, and even may have hurt his chances of ever becoming President.
photoclprintonwright
Photo of Pres. Bill Clinton with Rev. Jeremiah Wright at the White House

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ABC News asks Hillary Clinton if her campaign is pushing Jeremiah Wright to superdelegates:

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign has strictly maintained a public position not to comment on Sen. Barack Obama's relationship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Many times, questions have been answered with -- "you will have to ask Senator Obama about that."

However at a Thursday press availability in Terra Haute, Indiana after a report surfaced that the Clinton campaign was pushing the Wright story to superdelegates arguing that the relationship hurt Obama's electibility -- Clinton refused to deny that her campaign was pushing the story.

When asked, Clinton ignored the Wright portion of the question and said "well my campaign has been making the case that I am the most electable that I have said that for a year or more that I am the person best able to make the challenges that our country faces as commander in chief."

When Clinton was then asked specifically if her campaign was pushing the Wright story -- she shrugged and took the next question, ignoring the reporter.

Well, I just returned from my ward meeting tonight in University City, Philadelphia, and two Clinton staffers made an appearance. When one spoke on behalf of Hillary Clinton, he specifically listed Jeremiah Wright as an example of why Obama would be less electable in the general election. The context of his argument was that the Wright story demonstrated that Obama had not gone through the rigors of a presidential election before, and it was possible that more damaging stories like that would come out as the campaign progressed. Aka, the Wright story is demonstrative of how Obama is less electable.

While we are not superdelegates, we are committee people in Pennsylvania, so the campaigns consider us very important right now. Maybe not superdelegate important, but important none the less. Also, the staffers were aware that I was a committee person in Ward 27, and so they must have known that there was a good chance I would report on what they said to the blogosphere.

Now, whether or not you consider using Jeremiah Wright in an electability argument off-limits might be another matter. The story has obviously hurt Obama in the polls on at least a temporary basis, and even I have argued that the story has hurt Obama's chances to become President (although I also think he is still the favorite). However, since I was in a position tonight to gather real news on an issue the press is discussing, I thought I would report what I found. Yes, the Clinton campaign is arguing to party officials, including me, that the Wright story demonstrates Clinton is more electable. Take that for what it is worth.

Update: Just to be clear--which seems exceptionally difficult in any online discussion of the presidential campaign--I didn't say it was good or bad, I just said it was happening. And yeah, when I can confirm a story because it happened in public and in my neighborhood, then I'm going to report it. I guess that is part of my ethics.

AlterNet is a nonprofit organization and does not make political endorsements. The opinions expressed by its writers are their own.

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Tagged as: democrats, racism, race, delegates, superdelegates, clinton, obama, wright

Chris Bowers was a full-time editor at MyDD from May 2004 until June 2007. Some of his projects have included the creation of the Liberal Blog Advertising Network, the first scientifically random poll of progressive netroots activists, the Use It Or Lose It campaign, the nation's most accurate forecast of Democratic house pickups in 2006, and the 2006 Googlebomb the Elections campaign.


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Posted by: thoughtcriminal on Mar 21, 2008 6:00 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Not an issue
Posted by: truthfinder on Mar 21, 2008 8:13 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This is another pathetic attempt by Hillary to try and change the inevitable nomination of Obama. As reported on this site earlier, other candidates (both past and present) have had pastors who made inflammatory remarks. Remember when Hillary and Rove met at the beginning of the primaries? It all fits, folks.

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Big Picture
Posted by: QQOblivion on Mar 21, 2008 8:18 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why doesn't Hillary attack John McCain for his spiritual associations, the Revs Ron Parsley and John Hagee? (Each of these jackasses is far nuttier and MUCH scarier and more anti-American than the Rev Wright.)
Maybe because Hillary is a Republican mole?
If not, she has at least lost sight of the big picture.

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» Finally Posted by: warriornation
Is the American military still Killing and Dying in Iraq?
Posted by: bc430 on Mar 21, 2008 9:03 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What did President Obama say to military families near Fort Bragg NC. the day after he spoke to the nation about race?

Did Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. experience the horros of war in VIETNAM as a United States Marine.

Did Cheney or Bush or Rumsfeld or Wolfowitz or Kristol or Pearl or Rove or Bill Clinton etc.
experience the horrors of war in VIETNAM?

Why Not?
Is not this the real measure of American patriotism according to these paragons of perfection?

How is the American ECONOMY doing today?

Is the American military still Killing and Dying in IRAQ?
Dr. wright is the PROPHET.
Cheney/Bush is the president.
Why Impeach the PROPHET??????????

Mr.& Mrs. Clinton disgraced the White House.

Why Impeach the PROPHET??????????

Mr.& Mrs. Clinton and the kkk minded determined to make President Obama a "mere Black" candidate like Jesse Jackson.
Mr.& Mrs. Clinton determined to exploit our less educated WHITE sisters and brothers fears and lack of knowledge through race baiting. White racists engage in White racist behavior.
Non winged fish don't fly, and flowers don't bark like dogs. They do not because they cannot. Non White Racist White Human Beings don't engage in White Racist behavior. Mr.& Mrs. Clinton are White Racists. Andrew Johnson had Blacks around him too, and White slave owners had sexual intercourse with Black African female slaves. Where did Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr's skin hue come from? While you are half assedly listening to him, look at him!

Why IMPEACH the PROPHET??????????????


Thank you Dr. Wright.
Thank you Dr. Wright.
Thank You Dr. Wright.
Thank You DR. Wright.
Thank you Dr. Wright.
Thank You Dr. Wright.
Thank you Sir.

Live long and prosper.

Peace.


THINK...

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Mind-boggling
Posted by: Christie on Mar 21, 2008 9:05 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
When are some other videos of Wright’s other sermons going to become available? Surely, Pastor Wright has a few typical sermons in which he clearly demonstrates his appeal and efforts on behalf of those who are mired in poverty. If they are already available, I haven’t heard about any circulation of them. The way it stands now gives the impression that all he ever talked about was damning America for its treatment of this or that particular group. No wonder people ask why Obama and his wife went to that church for 20 years. If that emphasis and repetition had been the case, the stultification would be mind-boggling.

Even more mind-boggling is the suggestion that Obama’s ties to a religious man whose 35 year career has sought to do good for disadvantaged people could keep Obama from becoming President of the US.

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This Demonstrates CLINTON's Unelectability
Posted by: ruscle on Mar 21, 2008 9:36 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Clinton is grasping at straws. She knows she has lost the delegate race. All that is left is to smear Obama with this silly Wright dust-up while it is still fresh in people's minds. AND THAT IS THE BEST SHE HAS. Pretty sad.

I guess she's believing her own spin that she's now the candidate of choice. But I'm still stuck on her war vote. I've heard it explained by Hillary supporters three ways. 1. Hillary voted for the war because she used her experience and she thought it was the right thing to do. OR 2. Hillary voted for the war because she was fooled into believing it was the right thing to do. (After all, she didn't read the intelligence briefing on Iraq before she voted.) OR 3. Hillary voted for the war because she knew she was going to be running for president and she didn't want to look week.

I've never heard any other explanation for her pro war vote.

Let's look at these.

1. I don't have contacts in DC, no friends on any congressional committees, no connections with the Washington elite. Yet I knew during the run up to the war that the sales job on it was based on lies. I knew it was all garbage. Even so, with all her supposed connections and information available, Hillary stood before congress and said that because of her experience she was voting to support the war.

Apparently it was either the wrong experience, or she didn't learn the right lessons from the experience. Either way, it doesn't speak highly of her candidacy for president.

2. If she was simply fooled. Again, with all the evidence available on the net, in the news, on Pacifica Radio, from reputable people... and she was fooled? Yet she didn't believe she was fooled. She stood before congress and said it was a tough decision, indicating that she put some effort into making this decision.

Clearly it was the wrong decision. So, regardless of her experience maybe he judgement is just not up to the task.

3. So maybe she isn't a fool, maybe she made this decision because she knew she would be running for president and didn't want to look weak. War kills people. It's not a big stretch of the imagination to realize that this was not going to be a cake walk and lots of people-- possible Americans--would die horrible deaths. As it turns out, 4,000 soldiers have died. 20,000 have been wounded. Some have lost legs, or arms, or faces. Some have lost their eyesight. Some have lost pieces of their brain. It's been bad. Many people have suffered. Who knows how many Iraqis have died. The region is in turmoil with no end in sight.

And she did this so that she could "APPEAR" a certain way? She did this to increase her job prospects? She was a Senator, but that's not enough? She has to sacrifice thousands of human lives to get a bump in her job rating so she can get a promotion?

She made a political calculation which when something like "Thousands of Human Lives or my image?... hmmmm... I'll go with my image. We can always have more babies."

How callous. How cynical. How cruel. Do you really want someone who would make that choice running the country? How can you trust that she isn't going to sacrifice you or your well being so she doesn't appear weak on some other issue? Or continue the war because, once elected, she doesn't want to appear weak?

You know, it doesn't matter WHY she voted for the war. None of the excuses are appealing. All of the reasons disqualify her candidacy for president. Who cares what Obama's ex preacher said 8 years ago. He said lots of things over 20 years, some good some bad. What really counts is that Obama has good judgement and the courage to speak up and say what needs to be said.

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How?
Posted by: charemor1 on Mar 21, 2008 10:22 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How do we rid ourselves of this shrill and tiresome woman?

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Superdelegates
Posted by: rafey on Mar 21, 2008 10:47 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If the SDs vote for Clinton over a popular vote for Obama, I will cast my vote for Nader this time around ... and I'll just bet I am not alone. I'll take McCain before I be a party to such undemocratic behavior!

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» You are not alone. Posted by: purplewarrior
This staunch Democrat will not vote for Hillary.
Posted by: Christie on Mar 21, 2008 10:57 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I will not vote for “bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” and ”100 years’ of war” McCain. But if Hillary is the Democratic candidate, i will write in Obama’s name.

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» Whoops, someone else Posted by: Christie
Bill Clinton's face is red
Posted by: foreverhope on Mar 21, 2008 12:11 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bill C. giving a speech today in No. Carolina about the same time Richardson was giving his endorsement speech for Obama, Bill C's face SO RED against that white hair. Looked VERY stern, shaking his finger, an angry desperate Bill is an ugly Bill. How dare 'WE' do this to THEM, The Clintons!

More annoying though is when he bites his lower lip.

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» hubris, nemesis Posted by: Christie
» RE: Bill Clinton's face is red Posted by: niliadis
delegates-do the right thing!DON'T DO A RICHARDSON
Posted by: niliadis on Mar 21, 2008 2:05 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Today is a very sad day; the endorsement of Richardson is an endorsement of race only!!!
Obama has brought our country back 50 years. We had moved towards equality and
had we not proved this starting with the Iowa win? Richardson either was offered the VP
Candidacy or got blind sighted by Obama’s efforts to divert the issue of hate into racism.
As a Latino American I truly hope it’s the latter, for we cannot let Obama blind sight us and bully us into the Racial Bandwagon. This is not about race it is about Obama misjudgment of being a member of a church for TWENTY YEARS in which his friend, uncle, spiritual advisor and mentor is an American Hater, an Anti-America that has
Represented his own racism, not ours. Please do not let Obama blind sight you! I as an American Latino love my country and therefore if I was in a church and heard these monstrosities, it would be the clue to immediately get out of there. Obama stayed and supported this Anti-American racist for TWENTY YEARS! Unforgivable! Sad day!
That Richardson that represents the Latinos has throw us all under the bus for a favor or maybe he is naïve to the fact that it is not about racism its about Anti-American Hate!
Unforgivable! As a Latin American I am embarrassed as to what Richardson has done by this endorsement, he has promoted and has put us in the same category of racism!
Shame on Richardson!

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Hurt Obama, his tollerance for Anti-American shd nt be tollerated!!
Posted by: niliadis on Mar 21, 2008 3:52 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Hurt Obama? He needs to step down this is rediculous! His love for this Anti-American!!!
Today is a very sad day; the endorsement of Richardson is an endorsement of race only!!!
Obama has brought our country back 50 years. We had moved towards equality and
had we not proved this starting with the Iowa win? Richardson either was offered the VP
Candidacy or got blind sighted by Obama’s efforts to divert the issue of hate into racism.
As a Latino American I truly hope it’s the latter, for we cannot let Obama blind sight us and bully us into the Racial Bandwagon. This is not about race it is about Obama misjudgment of being a member of a church for TWENTY YEARS in which his friend, uncle, spiritual advisor and mentor is an American Hater, an Anti-America that has
Represented his own racism, not ours. Please do not let Obama blind sight you! I as an American Latino love my country and therefore if I was in a church and heard these monstrosities, it would be the clue to immediately get out of there. Obama stayed and supported this Anti-American racist for TWENTY YEARS! Unforgivable! Sad day!
That Richardson that represents the Latinos has throw us all under the bus for a favor or maybe he is naïve to the fact that it is not about racism its about Anti-American Hate!
Unforgivable! As a Latin American I am embarrassed as to what Richardson has done by this endorsement, he has promoted and has put us in the same category of racism!
Shame on Richardson!

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» RE: I'm sorry for you Posted by: Sissy
Thank You
Posted by: mandy on Mar 22, 2008 7:16 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Thank you for your sane and clear understanding of the facts. I am always interested in the comments of everyone - however, yours was really worth reading over, over and over again. I hope other readers feel the same.

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» RE: Thank You Posted by: djnoll