Obama On Trial (Or: Media Completely Wright, Wright, Wright, Wright, Wright On This One)

(click to enlarge)

But Steve Achelpohl, the Nebraska Democratic chairman who recently endorsed Mr. Obama, called the controversy over Mr. Wright “a bump in the road” for the candidate. Mr. Achelpohl said he thought — or hoped — that Mr. Obama’s denunciation of Mr. Wright on Tuesday would move the campaign beyond the problem.

“I think it’s been blown way out of proportion, and people will realize that,” he said. “This is a media-driven thing and a presidential candidate shouldn’t have to vet every person that he has had a relationship with in his life.”

With the near week-long pre-Pennsylvania media orgy over the "bitter" comments still fresh in mind, you can see, above, how yesterday's Day Four pre-Indiana/N. Carolina installment of the Wright paroxysm played out in the NYT dead tree edition.

The front page treatment and the double, jumbo-sized pics beautifully capture how the media has blown the Wright situation out of all proportion (while lending more understanding to Obama's look of disgust on page A17).  Noteworthy, as well, is the comparison between the two images at either end of that page -- the latter of which has the feel of crowing.

And, as a visual illustration by itself, what follows is a list of the NYT Obama-Wright links since Monday:

quote from: Wright Remains a Concern for Some Democrats (Thursday NYT)
After Break With Ex-Pastor, Obama Tries to Move On (Thursday NYT)
Primary Loss and Furor Over Ex-Pastor Hurt Obama in Poll (Thursday NYT)
A Strained Wright-Obama Bond Finally Snaps (Thursday NYT)
While Clinton Focuses, Obama Is Distracted (Thursday NYT)
Obama Breaks Forcefully With Ex-Pastor Over Fiery Remarks
(Print Headline: an angry obama renounces ties to his ex-pastor) ( Wed NYT)
Mr. Obama and Rev. Wright (Wed NYT)
Praying and Preying (Wed NYT)
Clinton Tweaks Obama on Wright (Wed NYT)
The TV Watch: Not Speaking for Obama, Pastor Speaks for Himself, at Length (Tues NYT)
Blogtalk: The Wright-Obama Drama (Tues - NYT)
Obama Says He’s Outraged by Ex-Pastor’s Comments (Tues - NYT)
Obama Adds to Distance From Pastor (Tues NYT)
The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Speaks for Himself (Tues NYT)
The Pastor Casts a Shadow (Tues NYT)
Obamas Wright Response (Tues NYT)
Dribbling Past Reverend Wright (Tues NYT)
Former Pastor of Obama Says He Isn’t Divisive (Mon NYT)
Obama Addresses Ex-Pastor’s Media Blitz (Mon NYT)
Wright Defends Church and Blasts Media (Mon NYT)
McCain Criticizes Remarks by Obama’s Former Pastor (Mon NYT)
The Early Word: McCain Takes Up Wright Issue (Mon NYT)

Comments

[gkoutnik]

This issue is quickly becoming the best recent example of how more coverage results in less knowledge and understanding. I suspect that the ratio of those who have consumed media about Wright to those who have read, in their entirety, his interview with Bill Moyers and his speech to the Nat'l Press Club, grows at a staggering rate each day. Wright has some very hard things to say about America, but his passion and intensity do not diminish the fact that those things (with the exception of the AIDS thing) are true.

And where is the coverage of John Hagee's solicited endorsement of John McCain? Where's the full-page spread with pictures of McCain beaming, rather than exhibiting a look of disgust? If Hagee were given the full Wright-treatment by the press, McCain's candidacy would sink without a trace.

[black dog barking]

That pretty much sums it up, gkoutnik, the more our news organizations cover it the less we know. Heckuva job Newsie. BHO is in an impossible situation, seemingly forced again and again to justify the actions of an independent agent acting independently. Wright tells a compelling story, his story of his life in our country — not Obama's story.

God *damn* the press coverage of this Rev Wright stuff.

[black dog barking]

Happy Mission Accomplished Day to one and all!!!

Old news, that.

[cab91]

“This is a media-driven thing and a presidential candidate shouldn’t have to vet every person that he has had a relationship with in his life.”

So you agree with Steve Achelpohl's rationale that this situation has been blown out of proportion? You find nothing inconsistent about Obama's statements disavowing Wright?

How about: What did Obama learn about Wright in the past 8 weeks that he didn't know over the past 20 years? He sought Wright's counsel, attended his services and Wright was very much a part of his life. "I didn't hear it" is a weak excuse. Ministers like Wright don't go off the rails overnight. I would be willing to bet that Wright's speeches are speeches that his parishioners heard on a regular basis.

I think you're too willing to give Obama the benefit of the doubt. Achelpohl is wrong: When you're running for president, yes, you do have to vet your friends more carefully. Obama knew Wright would be controversial, which is why Wright was uninvited from Obama's speech to announce his candidacy. He probably tried to pacify Wright by giving him an advisory position on the campaign but people like Wright don't stay quiet forever.

[black dog barking]

What did Obama learn about Wright in the past 8 weeks that he didn't know over the past 20 years?

BHO spoke long and eloquently to the role of Rev Wright, the meaning and context of Wright's exercise of free speech, in Philadelphia in March. In real time that speech put a stop to the media coverage of the Rev Wright "issue". There have been no new revelations of forgotten or secret connections between Rev Wright and BHO: Wright is in no way connected to the Obama campaign, he speaks for himself and his own experiences and observations.

When Steve Achelpohl says "…(t)his is a media-driven thing" he's making an accurate observation. Wright didn't crash the National Press Club, he was invited. Wright doesn't pay for media attention, it is given to him. By the media.

God *damn* the press coverage of this Rev Wright stuff.

[Megalomania]

An argument for Hillary, especially for those who continuously offer the ideal that Hillary Clinton waffles on issues. Here, America has a young thin unknown African-American who has worked the streets of Chicago for only three years which is very shallow to insignificant in understanding the Black community. Also delivering no significant legislation where Obama has played a leadership role. Obama always is in partnership and co-sponsoring legislation. Here many are saying Hillary is entitled to be President? Heck we are all entitled, things being equal everyone should have a chance. But we know one has to work at that ideal, so far Hillary is working at it, doing very well.

But really the kicker here is Obama who is on a Rant about Change to believe in. This is funny, Obama cleverly chooses a rant that opens his base to believe in anything he says and can change his mind for what he thinks anyway he wants. Talk about being able to waffle. And you better believe the Republican Neo-con’s are going to rip into that ideal very soon. This must be the most clever superficial blatant slogan management and mind twisting anyone politician could ever use and Mainstream Media knows it, yet mainstream Obama nuts don’t yet realize Obama will be characterized as a Bummer shortly.

He has absolutely no leadership skills. Obama has been behind Hillary Clinton’s leadership power cure ever since the start of this primary. The Media has just stroked Obama like a new pet puppy, happy, fun guy, and seems to be smart. Blowing the obedient dog whistle via Chris Mathews and Joe Scarborg and the 100 megawatt MSNBC machine to steer the Black electorate. Play a little hoop do a little jive dance and the college crowd goes nuts, this is cool. Yes it is, but really stupid. The media seems to be putting the brakes on Obama now. All of a sudden some video comes out well after the first primary in Iowa. To be sure that Iowa election would very different with this stuff which obnoxiously shows the Media’s complicity to control this election. Twenty years of friendship with a weirdo Black radical pastor is giving America the creeps. Judgement here is blown to hell. Imagine giving national security secrets to all these morons.

Hillary is the choice