Obama’s Sister Souljah Moment (Newsweek reads DU)

[sniffa]

Outside of his rousing speeches, it's rare that Barack Obama shows any emotion on the campaign trail, other than to flash a grin at his supporters or to chuckle at one of his own jokes. Sometimes he reveals just enough passion to sound snippy at reporters when he feels their questions are trivial.

But nothing over the course of the 15 months of his presidential campaign—not his announcement in Springfield, Ill., his landmark victory in Iowa or his shock defeat in New Hampshire—nothing came close to the emotions on display at the back of a sports arena in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Tuesday.

In a narrow concrete space enclosed by tall black drapes set up for a press conference, Obama sounded both angered and saddened by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's performance at the National Press Club on Monday. For all the focus on polling and next week's primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, it was clear that Obama's reaction to his former pastor was more personal than political.

.................

For a campaign that had little comment on Wright's media blitz on Monday, Obama's press conference was a complete reversal. Many pundits have wondered aloud why Barack Obama has not had a Sister Souljah moment in this campaign, evoking Bill Clinton's 1992 repudiation of the hip-hop star's inflammatory and racist comments. In Winston-Salem Obama went far beyond Clinton's criticism, disowning his former pastor—and running the risk of alienating a community on the South Side of Chicago that has been among his most ardent supporters.

more:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/134766

[FrenchieCat]

1. Probably not so much as the moment was evident to anyone looking.....

It wasn't something that he chose or calculated to do, which makes it that much more impactful.

This guy is going to win the General election, because he is honest, human and brilliant.

[book_worm]

2. You said it, Frenchie.

[sniffa]

7. That's the way it played on Hardball and so far "Shuster's New Show"

:hi:

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. Shuster has a show? please tell.....

:hi:

[sniffa]

14. He's filling in for David Gregory

;)

:hi:

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. OIC...I never get to watch that time of day.

If I'm not mistaken, David is supposed to fill in for Ed Schultz the rest of this week, and I missed it today, dammit. Thanks for the headsup.

[Coexist]

17. aw man, I missed it.

[Adelante]

3. It was the NPC transcript he just saw this morning

According to Ambinder:

EARLY THIS MORNING, after a long day of campaigning, aides showed Barack Obama extended excerpts from Rev. Jeremiah Wright's jaunty and freewheeling press conference in Washington. Obama, the aides said, was deeply, visibly angry. Two said he "insisted" that he hold a second press conference today to unequivocally denounce Rev. Wright's conduct and sever himself from Wright's fulminations. Obama did not want to let Wright hijack his campaign any longer.

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/04/obama_denounces_wright.php

[sniffa]

4. The way it's playing out so far on MSNBC

is that this is his NH-crying moment; you saw emotion and that people will pick up on that.

[stellanoir]

5. How can we be thoroughly sure that you are not butter ?

I'm with Frenchie.

[Barack_America]

6. The question is; Who Was Sister Souljah Here?

Obama for denouncing Wright? Or Wright for going on national television and suggesting that Obama is just another disengenuous politician, that he (Wright) single-handedly represents the black church, etc.

Which one was thrown under the bus and which one resisted?

Calling it a "Sister Souljah moment" overly simplifies the situation.

[FrenchieCat]

8. But we know that all must be simplified in this day......

Symbolistically, Sister souljah was portrayed by Wright - Obama's denouncement sent a signal to all Americans, but in particular to non-Black Americans, that Obama is simply not the Black Candidate, but a candidate who just happens to be Black. Which was exactly what he said he was in the first place.

[Adelante]

9. And that's the critical thing

Getting back to being "a candidate who just happens to be Black." He's got to be the candidate for all Americans or he's sunk. He knew that from the beginning.

[tishaLA]

12. you're exactly right

that's who he needed to (re-)become. And I think he made a big step in that direction today.

[Barack_America]

10. Frenchie, I've got a video I'd like you to see.

This was about 5 blocks from my house.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xatvpxldF4U

Go to about one minute in.

If you want to know why I'll never give up on Obama, they're the reason why.

Enjoy! :hi:

[GetTheRightVote]

13. That was so cute and he appeared to be so real with the children

Thank you for sharing the warmth of this video.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Thanks. I had seen this, and like you want everyone to see it......

This is like the President I was promised as a Kid. He's just really right here for us......and that feeling is palpable.

:thumbsup:

[Auntie Bush]

18. Hey, You stole that from that Colorado guy from the old draft clark site. lol

Do you remember his name? He's now a Hillary supporter and as I remember he was quite ill with diabetes or something.