Obama’s Michigan co-chair tells TPM Election Central that there’s “a lot of momentum” behind a do-over primary there.
McCain: I “worry” that al Qaeda will attack in Iraq to tip election against me.
Trial lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs unexpectedly pleads guilty to bribing judge.
Like a number of emailers, TPM Reader JB is wringing his hands over Obama’s Rev. Wright:
The Wright time bomb appears to be detonating, now that the horse race narrative has stalled and the media needs new material. The inadequacy of Obama’s response is deeply discouraging. I was very excited about Obama, but I suddenly think Wright is going to deal a death blow to him on the “electibility” front. Michelle Obama’s comments and now the man who lead him to Jesus is saying “God Damn America”, and all BO can say is “I disagree”? He has to thow him under the bus and then back up over him again, but it does not appear that he will. Not clear it would even help that much, given the depth and length of their relationship. Sad to say, but it’s best this happen now rather than in October. As distasteful as her tactics have been, I suddenly think we may be better off in November with Hillary. Wright is cancer.
Late Update: TPM Reader KR defends JB:
No, no, no. JS doesn’t get it. JB wasn’t saying he’s switching his vote at all, and certainly not because Obama’s pastor made inflammatory remakrs during a sermon. JB is saying, equite accurately, that the Wright issue is a potential death blow to Obama’s campaign unless Obama deals more forcefully with it than Obama has to date.
What I think JB is saying is that the Wright problem will suck all the air out of this month long gap until the Pennsylvania primary, not to mention provide the GOP with all the ammo they need if BO gets the nomination. And actually, I’m quite surprised you just posted JS’s email without mentioning yourself any of those (seemingly obvious) points.
TPM Reader MS foresees this line of attack:
Imagine this 30 second ad, run heavily next October. I think it would be devastating among undecided and swing voters.
“What does Barack Obama really believe in? His spritual teacher for 20 years has been Jeremiah Wright. Wright wedded Obama & his wife. Obama named his book from a sermon of Wright’s. [insert video of favorable comment about Wright by Obama]. What has Jeremiah Wright taught Obama? [Insert rabid clip of Wright capped by “God Damn America!! God Damn America!!”] We need a solid patriot to lead our nation. Someone we can trust. Vote John McCain 2008.”
TPM Reader JS responds to JB …
I go to church every Sunday, and frankly, I never received the memo that says you’re obligated to agree with everything that a pastor says in a sermon. I thought the idea that you’re allowed to actually disagree with him or her is inherently “American”. So what’s JB’s problem, again?
Let me get this straight. This guy JB is switching his vote from Obama to Clinton because Obama’s pastor, from whom he’s publicly disagreed on repeated occasions, made inflammatory remarks during a sermon in a service that Obama never attended. Can we please try to wrap our minds around the stupidity of that notion?
If JB loved America as much as he apparently claims, he’d take his vote a hell of a lot more seriously than that.
Late Update: TPM Reader JM:
Agree wholeheartedly with JS, and completely fail to understand the hyperventilation over this issue. I mean, I saw Chris Matthews (Chris Matthews!) on the Today Show this morning saying that everyone knows that this guy doesn’t represent Obama’s views and that voters understand that you shouldn’t necessarily be held accountable for everything and anything any of your associates utters in public. You know you’re deep in the weeds when Tweety is your voice of reason.
I think that this drawn-out primary season is starting to drive people nuts.
and TPM Reader MM:
Oh Good Lord,
The problem with we Democrats is that every new issue that comes up gets us running around in circles, flapping our hands and screaming that the sky is falling.
A big part of why I voted for Obama is that he is NOT like that — he stays cool under pressure, and he plays the long game.
The Wright thing will get worked out. The candidacy will survive. Obama is not John Kerry (he’s a much more gifted politician, for one thing, and a better strategist).
Bottom line: we have two strong candidates who are in a real struggle for the nomination. Interest in the election is the highest it’s been in years. That’s healthy in a democracy. Much healthier than the kind of easy coronation we’ve gotten used to.
Everybody take a deep breath. The sky is still firmly overhead.
The pro-civil-liberties Democratic version of the surveillance bill just passed the House.
The final vote was 213-195.
There are all sorts of things about this version that are better than the White House/Senate Dem version, not least of which is no telecom immunity.
Late Update: The final tally has been revised to 213-197.
Vote-suppression guru Hans von Spakovsky is out of government, but he’s still on the “voter fraud” (read, minority disenfranchisement) case.
And now TPM Reader KB …
Don’t over react to this pastor stuff. Yeah, it’s problematic. But Obama has said he does not agree with everything the guy has said. And if he needs to make a stronger statement I’m sure he will at some point. But right now reading TPM is like watching a focus group of DLC democrats freak out every time Sean Hannity goes boo! Please calm down and buck up. The phrase “death blow” from that reader email is just so off base. Right now Obama is still the odds on favorite for the nomination, and still the favorite in November. This is another complication that requires a smart media strategy. That’s the category of storm we are dealing with. This too shall pass.