Apr 1 (2208) Harold Ickes Confirms That Wright Is Key Topic In Discussions With Super-Delegates [TPM]

[brussell]

In an interview with me this morning, senior Hillary adviser Harold Ickes confirmed that Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a key topic in discussions with uncommitted super-delegates over whether Obama is electable in a general election.

The comments from Ickes, who is Hillary's chief delegate hunter, are to my knowledge the first on-the-record confirmation from a Hillary adviser that the Wright controversy is a subject in conversations between the Hillary campaign and the super-delegates her advisers are trying to win over to Hillary's side.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/ickes_confirms_hes_been_pushin.php

[Annie]

So what about Rezko - Ayers..... well you know the routine

[SunnyInCal]

Yes, the problem is the MSM is swinging this as if the Hillary people are the ones that are brining up Rev Wright and they see that as yet another attack on Obama and going negative.

[pnevai]

Welll DUH, No matter how you spin it, you can not ignore Weight, the 800 pound Gorrilla in the room

[freethinker]

Entirely appropriate topic re: electability.

Do these people seriously think Republicans are going to embrace all his racist, corrupt, anti-american nonsense?

Msnbc etc is PC on crack! :mad:

(Except of course when it comes to sexism!)

[skc1976]

I'm glad that they are addressing it with the supers. I wish there was even more on this to share so that the supers would realize he's not a viable option at all.

[B positive]

TPM:Harold Ickes Confirms That Wright Is Key Topic In Discussions With Super-Delegates

AS IT SHOULD BE !!

[Peppermint Patty]

Of course they have to consider the Wright fiasco on the outcome of the GE. For crying out loud, the man said God damn America and that we deserved 911. Well 911 is a raw open wound and you can't tell us that anyone, let alone Americans, deserved that. That tragic day was an "equal opportunity" disaster killing whites, blacks, asians, hispanics, muslim, catholics, jews, men, women, children, straight, gay, in short, HUMAN BEINGS... right across the board. A tragic horrible terrorist killing day and Wright had the AUDACITY to say those people deserved that??? Did he see the same disaster WE all saw? And Obama sat through 20 years of this man's garbage? No. The Republicans will have a field day with this. I do not see the same people who cast votes for that fool Bush, voting for Obama. Wright alone calls into question Obama's judgment. But then there's Rezko, something there is just waiting to explode. I suspect the Republicans have a dossier on Obama a foot thick by now.

If the Democrats want any chance it is with Hillary. The Republicans know this, because they don't have anything on her! They'd have no dirt to sling at her during a GE. But him! He's a blank page just waiting to explode.

If only those super delegates could screw up the courage to go against the Obama/Dean/Kennedy/Kerry/Pelosi machine.

[no_more_bush]

I cannot believe Obama's hypersensitive "rules" have become the standard in this election.http://www.tag-board.com/smilies/mad.gif Hillary better publicly attack him on Wright or I will be incredibly disappointed, I hope she's just waiting for the right time. It's a legitimate judgment/character issue that demands scrutiny, who cares if she's labeled as negative, she already is anyway. He has proven to have no solid explanation for his families attendance, so having the "discussion"(mild swiftboat) will hurt Obama more than it will hurt Hillary.

[tcbwriter]

Do these people seriously think Republicans are going to embrace all his racist, corrupt, anti-american nonsense?


Not the anti-American part for sure but the rest . . . Corrupt? Racist? All they need is to find Wright or Obama bashing gays and it would be just another day in the life of a republican.

[G4Hillary]

Ickes is the ultimate pragmatist. Republicans would annihilate Obama on that one issue alone. You don't have to mention anything else really. As Taylor Marsh said in her post, the Reagan Democrats are likely to go to McCain in the general if Obama is the nominee and that would swing the election.

I'm a good example. My political ideology is left of center but I would vote for McCain before voting for Obama. I also happen to belong to that group they say is "Obama voters". I have a post graduate degree and I prefer starbucks. hehe So if Obama can't pull me, he's definitely not pulling the beer-dunkin' donuts crowd.

I also guarantee that in states like California, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania the ethnic groups are going to vote for McCain. There will be largest exodus of Asians to Republicans since Ronald Reagan. And the support of Latinos will increase from that which GW Bush had in 2004.

The Wright-Obama scandal reminds many Asians of the Rodney King riots where they were singled out and assaulted. It reminds the Latino voters of the racial strife and divide between blacks and latinos in America. In regards to Jews, I don't think I have to explain why they will vote for McCain overwhelmingly.

[Max565]

I can just imagine the ad the Republicans will air in November if Obama is the Democratic candidate. First, with a clip of Michelle saying how she's proud for the first time of her country, then Obama not putting his hand up to his chest for the national anthem and then it concludes with the Reverend Wright sermons! :D

That ad will make Reagan democrats, blue-collar voters to immediately change their vote for McCain - faster than you can say, "Yes We Can"

[PuppyDogMom]

I have a theory about the hand over the heart during the National Anthem. If you look closely at the picture, you'll note that Obama has his back to everybody He didn't know what to do because he couldn't see what everyone else was doing.:rolleyes:

[MaryKay]

I'm like G4. I have a post graduate degree and I have a wine collection, but does that make me any better of a person to decide who should be president? The elite of our party think so, but I say, as long as you vote on issues and not personality (which is what many Obama voters are doing -- what I did when I voted for Obama -- to be honest) then you are making an informed decision. I did not make an informed decision, and that's why I'm working for Hillary now. I'm hoping others do not make the same mistake that I did.

On the Wright/superdelegate issue -- As I mentioned in my blog on Sunday, as someone who teaches diversity management for a living, I see a real problem with the Wright issue becuae it goes against Obama's capacity to unite. He doesn't see his own biases, and that's a problem. While he says he disagrees with Wright's words, he continues to raise his children in that hate -- Which means on some level Obama agrees with that ranting. You don't take your kids to a church where you think the sermons are poison unless you don't think there's actual poison in the cup.

I have to go to work now, but that's my two cents. I think it's a valid issue to bring up with the supers because we will hear those Wright rantings in 527 ads if Obama is the nominee. No doubt.

[Carolyn]

"Hillary better publicly attack him on Wright or I will be incredibly disappointed"

I don't think she needs to, and for now may hurt her. If she strings together convincing wins in PA, IN, WV, KY, PR and has a respectable finish in NC, the superdels will HAVE to take a serious second look, and Wright will be a major consideration whether she brings it up or not.

"...we will hear those Wright rantings in 527 ads if Obama is the nominee. No doubt."

I think a McCain aide was already fired for circulating such a video - images of 9/11, people jumping from the WTC, spliced with Michelle & Wright. I can tell you, these are very powerful images, at least for this New Yorker.
By the way, was anyone else sort of annoyed by Obama's "post 9/11" speech -- like we're all past that now? I don't think so.

[Ohio mom]

If this is true, then how is he still picking up endorsements??? Seriously?? It seems like people are just shrugging off the controversy like we the people are just completely over reacting!!! I'm confused and a little dismayed by the whole thing!!

[Linda C]

Hillary shouldn't attack on the Wright issue, but offer a different vision.
She should rely on the wisdom of Maya Angelou who effectively said that any derogatory comment about any one else based on race is an affront to human dignity for everyone. That should be the "context" that all comments be judged, not some new fangled theology or old fangled theology.

As an Italian Lesbian...I have been attacked by the "old theology". I will not put up with any attack on anyone else based on some "new theology". One cannot achieve true liberation by tearing down another. One cannot achieve true liberation by spreading falsehoods, rumor, conspiracies, stereotypes, manipulations, and untruths about another.

[mjoynaples]

If this is true, then how is he still picking up endorsements??? Seriously?? It seems like people are just shrugging off the controversy like we the people are just completely over reacting!!! I'm confused and a little dismayed by the whole thing!!



It is hard to believe we are in the USA and this is 2008 and after what we have lived through with BUSH the patriarchial DEMS (men and women) are pushing through their MAN with a wink and a nod (and tons of money) ... we are being HOOKWINKED and BAMBOOLZED ... I heard this on the radio this am BO says : "I don't want to just get us out of Iraq, I want to CHANGE THE MIND SET OF how we got in there in the first place..." WHAT? he is back on his HOPE and CHANGE MESSAGE and "you are the hope and change we have been waiting for...HUH?" this 911 commission person loved it and is endorsing him this morning...

[Ohio mom]

It is hard to believe we are in the USA and this is 2008 and after what we have lived through with BUSH the patriarchial DEMS (men and women) are pushing through their MAN with a wink and a nod (and tons of money) ... we are being HOOKWINKED and BAMBOOLZED ... I heard this on the radio this am BO says : "I don't want to just get us out of Iraq, I want to CHANGE THE MIND SET OF how we got in there in the first place..." WHAT? he is back on his HOPE and CHANGE MESSAGE and "you are the hope and change we have been waiting for...HUH?" this 911 commission person loved it and is endorsing him this morning...

SICKENING...MAYBE HE WEARS THAT AXE COLOGNE AND CHEWS ORBIT GUM OR SOMETHING??? ( DIRTY MOUTH...CLEAN IT UP??:p) I DON'T GET IT!!!

[kyforhillary]

I was on another website yesterday and the poster said" the only votes Hillary is getting is the littles blue haired ladies and beer bellied men." Well this typical blue haired lady is absolutely voting for Hillary!!

[mkreyns]

Most of us have heard that many Republicans voted in the primary for a democrat. I will give the Republicans credit for playing God with the political system to get McCain elected. Throughout this election, I read many articles in upcoming primary states where Republicans were voting for the candidate that they thought McCain was most likely to beat in November. I think they voted overwhelmingly for Obama and knew that they could crucify him in the GE. Maybe they really want the nomination to go to Obama. Here is the reason for my analysis.

My son is in a home school under a Christian Umbrella as required by TN state for withdrawing your child in the middle of a school year. In this state you must also have a Bachelor's degree to home school through high school. I went to the Christian home school for testing today and the theory slipped out that the secretary voted for Hillary, so she would get the nomination. When I assured her that I thought Hillary would get the nomination, she disagreed saying that she definitely thought Obama would be nominated. I gave her some article on Odinga and some other connections to look up online. She wanted to be so convinced that Obama would be the nominee because I know she wants McCain to win. Well, needless to say, I think that they are getting nervous when I try to insist that Hillary will get the nomination as I think they are afraid that she can and will beat McCain.

In essence, I think the whole thing backfired. Many Republicans voted for Obama for the same reason, knowing McCain could beat him. I think they are counting on the media not letting the cat out of the bag about all the bad Obama news until the nominee is chosen. Well now they know McCain will win if Obama is the nominee. They are counting on just that. let's remember that in the beginning of the race, many thought that Hillary could not compete against McCain. However, the tide has changed. The irony of all ironies?

How does this relate to SD's and Ickes? Many Republicans knew that McCain could beat Obama. A surprise Hillary nomination now seems to worry the Republicans because they count on taking Obama down. Are the democrats smart enough to have played this game all along or are they just waking up from the stupor now?

This is where writing to SD;s and Ickes is important. We should all urge Ickes and other SD's to understand that we know what is going on and why Hillary needs to run the course of the primaries and come out as the nominee with the conscientious support of the SD's, knowing exactly what the Republicans know, that Obama is unelectable.

PS You probably knew all about this, but I needed to vent it.

[Suzan]

"Do these people seriously think Republicans are going to embrace all his racist, corrupt, anti-american nonsense?"

Exactly!

[B positive]

If this is true, then how is he still picking up endorsements??? Seriously?? It seems like people are just shrugging off the controversy like we the people are just completely over reacting!!! I'm confused and a little dismayed by the whole thing!!

This is EXACTLY why I feel the Dem party is leaving me!

I've been fighting racism, homophobia, sexism and all forms of prejudice my entire life... no matter which way it flows it is just plain WRONG!

If these endorsements continue then I guess the party has completely left me behind in order to take a new path of apologist ideology... no thanks!

[mjoynaples]

[In essence, I think the whole thing backfired. Many Republicans voted for Obama for the same reason, knowing McCain could beat him. I think they are counting on the media not letting the cat out of the bag about all the bad Obama news until the nominee is chosen. Well now they know McCain will win if Obama is the nominee. They are counting on just that. let's remember that in the beginning of the race, many thought that Hillary could not compete against McCain. However, the tide has changed. The irony of all ironies?... Obama is unelectable!

Thank you Mkreyns for the recap...this is great! Hillary does seem to do better as the underdog and maybe this is all a part of it... Hillary is not a quitter, we have a DEMONSTRATION coming in NYC... against the MEDIA BIAS, SEXISM and FRANCHISING THE VOTERS OF MI and FL AS THEY ARE... we are also in it to win with SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON!!!!

will continue to write to Ickes and the SD's.... GO HILLARY !