Opinion: Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of Barack Obama, stars in an anti-Obama spot after all
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
While Sen. John McCain has puzzled even running mate alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for refusing to make an issue of Sen. Barack Obama’s former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, others are taking up what they perceive to be the slack.
Ohio airwaves have been saturated in the closing days of the campaign with clips of the former Trinity United Church of Christ pastor in an anti-Obama TV ad (or see video below) by the National Republican Trust, an independent political action committee.
The group has said it will spend $2.5 million to air a 30-second spot, not just in the battleground state of Ohio, but also in Florida and Pennsylvania.
The spot is as unsubtle as the preacher himself. Over now familiar fiery clips of Wright condemning U.S. policy, a woman’s voice intones:
For 20 years Barack Obama followed a preacher of hate and said nothing as Wright raged against our country. He built his power base in Wright’s church. Wright was his mentor, adviser and close friend. For 20 years Obama never complained until he ran for President. Barack Obama. Too radical. Too risky.
Obama disavowed Wright’s words in a speech on race last March. When Wright, who officiated at Obama’s wedding and baptized his children, held a news conference afterward accusing Obama of political expediency, Obama cut off all ties with Wright and left the church.
At the time, Obama told reporters, “When I say I find these comments appalling, I mean it. It contradicts everything that I am about and who I am, and anybody who has worked with me, who knows my life, who has read my books, who has seen what this campaign is about, I think, will understand that it is completely opposed to what I stand for and where I want to take this country.’
-- Robin Abcarian
To get automatic alerts to each new Ticket item -- on today’s results, tomorrow’s analyses and the construction of a new Washington adminiustration -- go here to register free.
