This Should Warm You Up for CNN’s Compassion Forum at 8 p.m. EST
By NoQuarter on April 13, 2008 at 5:56 PM in Barack Obama, CNN, Father Michael Pfleger, Hillary Clinton, Religion, Rev. James Meeks, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., Rev. Otis Moss
From CNN, the host of tonight’s forum with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama:
Obama, Clinton to headline forum on ‘pressing moral issues’
A group that promotes a liberal stance on religious faith and morality issues is sponsoring a nationally televised presidential forum Sunday night featuring Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.Senators Obama (D-Illinois) and Clinton (D-New York) will each be given 40 minutes on CNN Sunday night to discuss the topics of poverty, AIDS, global warming, abortion, genocide in Darfur, as well as human rights and torture. Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, is hosting the live television event, which is being dubbed “The Compassion Forum.” Republican presidential nominee John McCain received an invitation, but the Arizona senator declined. … [more below]
Here are your warm-ups: (1) “Who Hillary Really Is,” a great YouTube about Hillary, including her Pennsylvanian roots, the importance of faith in her life, and much more; and (2) below the fold, there are reports on a eulogy that Rev. Jeremiah Wright gave yesterday, [listen to audio] in one of his very rare public appearances since the scandal over his remarks about “God Damn America” and “Amerikkka” as well as a counter-sermon by a black Virginia bishop to protest Wright’s speech. (The Norfolk, Va. bishop of Exodus Faith Ministries declared a “Unity & Patriotism Day” to counter Wright’s views of America.)
During tonight’s forum, I wonder if Barack Obama will be asked about his highly controversial comments about small-town Pennsylvanians, and if he’ll be asked about his 20-year close association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright as well as his other spiritual mentors, including Rev. James Meeks, Rev. Otis Moss, and Father Michael Pfleger.
From Saturday’s Chicago Sun-Times, “Rev. Jeremiah Wright criticizes media at Eugene Pincham funeral“:
[...]
While discussing “seven lessons the judge taught me,” Wright never mentioned church member Obama, who has rejected some of Wright’s comments, which included denunciations of America for its mistreatment of black people and claims that America’s promotion of terrorism abroad helped prompt the 9/11 attacks. But Wright did take the opportunity to bash some of the critics of his controversial statements, including Fox News personalities Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity.
And while Wright made no mention of terrorism, he did revisit the topic of America’s mistreatment of blacks, saying America’s founding fathers “planted slavery and white supremacy in the DNA of this republic,” and adding that Thomas Jefferson wrote, “ ‘God would punish America for the sin of slavery.’ I guess that makes Thomas Jefferson unpatriotic,” he said to the cheers of the congregation.
[...]
Escalating into full-preaching mode, Wright thundered, “Fox News can’t understand that. [Bill] O’Reilly will never get that. Sean Hannity’s stupid fantasy will keep him forever stuck on stupid when it comes to comprehending how you can love a brother who does not believe what you believe. [Pincham’s] faith was a faith in a God who loved the whole world not just one country or one creed.”
At that point, congregants nearly drowned Wright out with a booming standing ovation.
Wright also referred to Fox News as “Fix News.” …
Well, well. It is, at best, politically expedient to pass off all blame on Fox News when, in fact, commentators for dozens of major media outlets and innumerable bloggers of all political stripes have objected strongly to Rev. Wright’s hateful, racist and inaccurate attacks on America and the American people.
Here’s some detail on the protest yesterday by Bishop E.W. Jackson Sr., of Norfolk, Virginia’s Exodus Faith Ministries who “like Wright also a former Marine and also African American will sound a very different note than has been heard from Wright’s sermons”:
Black Minister in Norfolk Area Declares ‘Unity & Patriotism’ Day as Counter-Balance to Jeremiah Wright’s Speech at Norfolk Church
Bishop Jackson Calls for Unity Based On Ideals & Patriotism – Not RACE
Sunday, April 13th, 11:30 Am – 1701 Park Ave. (Hoover Ave. Entrance), Chesapeake, VA. at Exodus Faith Ministries
Contact: Bishop Jackson, 866-573-0772, 757-546-7587
[...]
Wright has been quoted as saying “God damn America”, accusing the Government of creating the AIDS virus to kill blacks, and calling the United States a white supremacist country.”
Says Bishop Jackson, “Last Friday I buried a young African American soldier who died from wounds suffered in Iraq”. “Before he went on that mission - his second voluntary tour - he told his mother he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Seen in that light, Rev. Wright’s remarks are beneath contempt and denigrate the sacrifice of Sgt. Jevon K. Jordan and many other Americans, black, white and every other ethnic background.”
Bishop Jackson has begun a campaign to counter the remarks of Rev. Wright and those who defend him. He argues that Wright’s so called “black liberation theology” is not representative of what African American preachers are offering in pulpits around the country. “We preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified, not hate your country, hate other people and avoid ‘middle class-ness’. The Anti-American, Anti-Israel, pro-Farrakhan message that Wright teaches is heretical to the Bible and Christianity. Christians are too busy teaching what God is doing for us to become obsessed with what real or imagined enemies are doing to us. God commands that we forgive.”
Bishop Jackson is an unapologetic patriot. …
:::::::::::::::::::
Here’s more from the CNN article on tonight’s forum. Apparently abortion will be discussed at length:
Katie Barge is director of communications at Faith in Public Life, which is sponsoring the forum. She contends a “new conversation” is currently “bridging ideological and religious divides” in the faith community, even on the issue of abortion.
“Everyone is against abortion — let’s hope; or at least we can find a lot of common ground,” asserts Barge. “And I think that from what I’ve heard Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton say about abortion, is that they would like to see a whole lot less of them.”
Barge shares her hopes about the direction of the discussions on abortion Sunday night: “How can we support mothers who do want to be able follow through with their pregnancy? How can we prevent unwanted pregnancies from happening? How can we get past the bitter divisiveness that we have seen around this issue [of abortion] and really get to work?” …
What was McCain reason to decline?
Lack of compassion?
He probably does’t want those right wingnut social conservatives to know what he really thinks.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
I hate to think how Campbell Brown is getting another opportunity to piss all over Clinton. I hope they don’t set her up.
I wish you guys would write about the way CNN is muffling up the Obama statement so their viewers can’t quite hear what’s going on.
You could do much better than this article
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/04/cnn-pulls-a-fox-sneaky.php
I also don’t like this forum; I thikn it’s playing right into a forum to explain out Obama; I don’t know why HRC has to do this (again!). It’s a plataform for Obama to excuse his Wright and SF bullshit.
CNN is one of the worst of all and they have treated
HRC like shit. I don’t know why she has to do this.
Are they appearing together as a debate?
no, they take turn. not together.
I bet Hillary goes first. Just like the debates, so Barry can suck up some thoughts like a sponge.
If that’s the case they shouldn’t let him listen in (nor any of his buddoies go running to tell him).
Here is what I am afraid of that they will try set HRC up with some religious trash (you know, some have tried some trash already). CNN is so dirty and disgusting that they may use it publicly to
blur the Wright issue further.
Anyway, I am glad I don’t have cable. Will wait for you guys to report back
This is the best political forum on the web!
I’d be lost with out these guys!
Well it gives barry another chance to tell everybody in America It’s Their Fault. Whatever It is. Name something.
Bishop Jackson is displaying dare I say it…Dangerous Leadership that has the wollop of Moral Authority behind it…Hmmmm…..He is also correct in that Liberation Theology is considered Heresy by many denominational churches.
Rev Wright’s Liberatation Theology is no better than those Pat Roberston, dead Jerry Falwell crackpots. Just another side of a crackpot, hateful coin.
Did you see Donna Brazile in that video, when the guy was saying that McCain respected Clinton and didn’t think Obama will be a good president? Donna looked so uncomfortable.
Yes. That was very amusing. That was Mark Halperin — http://thepage.time.com — whose blog I find invaluable for following the race, even if I don’t always like what he writes about Hillary.
Some people here have labeled him a Republican. I don’t know, and I can’t tell what his personal preferences are from his blog. In that video clip, Halperin is telling it “like it is.”
Can you tell me what video you are referring to? I’d love to see it. It’s my favorite
And I just want to take a minute to thank you guys who post here.
It’s my favorite web site.
Unfortunately, this is another one of those blogs that I used to respect until this primary season. Will things ever be the same again? As an African American, it is quite tiring to see and read the same old same old as so-called progressives call out the Black church (and yes, our church is no more monolithic than any other church) and Black people.
I am not a supporter of Barak Obama. I have always been a supporter of John Edwards, to the point that I voted in my meaningless state primary (Washington, which disenfranchised my vote at the request of the Democratic Party) rather than the Democrats Abroad Global Primary.
As this primary season goes on, I’m starting to wonder if I will be able to vote for either candidate. Since casting my first ballot in 1968 for Bobby Kennedy (I lived in California at the time), I may not cast a presidential vote. Too bad. But instead of the progressive blogs educating people about John McCain, you are fighting each other over our own prospective nominee and I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels this way.
for sure, it’s been very depressing. I mostly blame the media and the tone set in the debates by the media, which seems to need to see the girl candidate slapped around. It’s not Barack’s fault, but he’s used it, to his advantage, and that set him up for the counter-punches, what goes around comes around. But it isn’t anything like what we’ll see when we get a nominee, then we’ll really be exposed to depressing attacks. Everyone knows McCain, I’m in it for Hillary because I think she’ll do the best job of cleaning up the big bush mess. I’d take him as vice president, and I’ll vote for him if he becomes our nominee, but I fear he’s lost it, with his remarks about working class people. he’s “book smart” and he lacks common sense, but he’s also new to politics and he can learn if he gets it that he has something to learn. I disagree with you on this site though, the media hasn’t been reporting this stuff, and it needs to be reported, candidates really do need to be vetted. The president of the United States is the most powerful person in the world, and we need to know who we’re getting. We have the right to want the one whom we most agree with on the issues, and the one we think is the most competent.
So you are generalizing about this blog and complaining the blog is generalizing about the black church? Your argument makes no sense.
I’m an AA on the opposite coast. Here’s my story:
In the beginning, I wasn’t even interested in the Democratic Primary. I was too consumed with anger over the Democratic Congress’ reluctance to impeach Bush/Cheney. But eventually I felt like I was the only one who felt this way. Everyone was choosing candidates and so I chose mine. Hillary. She is,afterall the senator from my state. But I was determined to support the Democratic nominee no matter who that was.
From the start, the so-called Progressive blogs started slamming Hillary viciously. My feelings weren’t hurt as I don’t fall in love with political candidates. I just wanted a democrat to win. And I graciously asked that people respect my choice because I was going to support the nominee no matter. But that wasn’t enough. Something had to be wrong with me. The Clintons were Satan. I respectfully disagreed and reminded them that this was a democracy the primary feature of which is choice.
When it came down to Hillary and BO, I still maintained my Party loyalty. Still the attacks were relentless, vulgar, and even threatening. Then the ‘Movement’ captivated the country and I noticed that the MSM was working overtime to bash Hilllray and sell BO. I remained cool. And then before SC I noticed that the Obama campaign very deftly and covertly played the race card and AAs went batshit over what was a very crafty hat trick and suddenly the Clintons were whale shit.
I don’t like Movements. I don’t like people to insult my intelligence. I did my own research on BO and discovered quite a few things I didn’t like. I felt his resume to be thin. And I said so. That’s when the attacks really went to hyper space. It was far uglier than anything you see here. This so-called unity candidate was dividing everybody and blaming it on Hillary and Bill. But it was the MSM’s behavior that tipped the scales. When Wright and now this latest crap came out, I was already in the WIN WITHOUT ME phase.
I don’t care. The Dems have rained on my parade once too often. This not about Hillary or McCain anymore. It’s about a Party that has lost it’s mind. Sorry, but I don’t care if McCain wins. Like you, I started in ‘68. I have NEVER NOT VOTED.
Ya think the Party gives a shit as to why I feel this way? That in and of itself was the final outrage!
Fuck’em!!!
Hillary is the girl candidate, and she can’t be choosy, she has to face her enemies. She’s had lots of practice and she show that the girl has to be better prepared, smarter, and more tolerant and forgiving than any man. She’s forging a path for the rest of us, and the first is always the bravest. If she wins and shows was a different presidency can look like, one that isn’t so egocentric, and can tolerate a brilliant, professional, and expert staff and advisors, it won’t be so hard for the next woman. Matter of fact, quite a few possibilities will be working for her and getting real training. Obama is a fool to have dismissed the opportunity to be her vice president, which shows he’s a fathead. He thinks the end game is winning the job, he won’t know what to do next, but he’ll be very confident that he can do it best, after all, he’s the man.
Love your wise words, Anna.
Yesterday, I watched a BOOKTV.org show featuring a female professor at Johns Hopkins — I can’t remember her name, unfortunately — but she wrote a study on all the women who have run for president. She used the most scientific methodology that she could think of for her study (and I was impressed with her imagination in figuring out how to track coverage scientifically). She found that the way that female presidential candidates are treated by the media hasn’t changed since the first woman ran in the late nineteenth century. A sad commentary.
But she wasn’t pessimistic — she was ultimately an optimist, like you. She mostly said that female candidates like Hillary are just going to have to figure out ways to get around the biases, and she gave examples of how that can be accomplished effectively.
She spoke at the Clinton library in Arkansas. I should go to Booktv.org and find her name, and the name of her book. And post an Amazon ad for it.
Just hope that Hillary goes second tonight, tired of Obama taking credit for Hillary’s ideas and platforms!
On a lighter note, watch how many times Obama ummms and uhhhs tonight, and maybe his shoes will slide in his mouth again, after all it has been a week, he is due again!
And if Obama appears with a swollen eye, we all know that he got the crap beaten out of him by Michelle for being an idiot again!
Don’t bet on it. Hillary will be forced to go first. Just like usual.
I would be very surprised if Obama goes first. It would definitely show that the tide has turn. But I won’t bet on it.
Nothing comes easy for our captain.
Will Obama even show up, after all it is in Pennsylvania, land of them gun totin bible thumpin people who are real bitter!
Maybe Obama will smooth things over tonight by leaning against them all with his vibrating phone, telling them all “come to my hood” and then winking at them!
I read that he waited until the last moment to accept and that thought for a while it would just be Hillary.
CNN is consistently probama so anything they can do to shore him up and provide any assistance is something that they will do … they are always in it for Obama. That is what is so awful about that “network” as in the Obama network.
Apparently, Hillary won the “coin toss” and elected to go first.
That Bishop Jackson seems like a straight up guy. I would love to see a video of him.
Clinton up first at Sunday night’s Compassion Forum
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/13/clinton-up-first-at-sunday-nights-compassion-forum/
Drat!
Well drat and good, at least can turn it off after the first 40 minutes…lol
He should just said “I agree with What Hillary said”. End of show.
Well Brown will have to read what Clinton said first, so Obama and say “I agree”!
Hope Hillary runs out with a pillow making sure Obama is comfortable this evening…lol
and a blanket, and a baby formula milk bottle.
This is just ridiculous….
What, we not allowed to be as rediculous as Obama supporters are continually?
It is truly silly, isn’t it. And such silliness requires silliness back:
Since we’re speaking so very religiously, may I just say that I covet Hillary’s scarf? Now I’m a sinner … thou shalt not covet … but I do, dammit.
ROFLOL !!! You see that was an interesting comment in this “forum”
I was kind of coveting her jacket myself. I think it’s silk.
That too! I’m not sure I could wear such bright yellow. Maybe I’ll let you have the jacket, and i’ll just wear a scarf … that oughta get some attention.
silliness ensue-eth …
Ok. Scarf is yours. I look good in bright yellow. I’m a Garlic Nose.
Update: listen to audio of Rev. Wright’s eulogy
I don’t have to listen to know what kind of crap I would hear. You can fill me in on the details.
I don’t want to listen either. Someone should, though, to make sure that the Sun-Times reported his eulogy accurately and didn’t leave out some new verbal bomb of his.
This tape will self destruct in three minutes.
OK, I am holding my nose and going in.
You are brave and I salute You….Banjo Up…
She went first! Told ya!
I cannot even believe we are having a religious forum with candidates for President of the United states. We have had 8 years of listening to religion sticking its nose in government. Not to mention these “personal” questions. What is CNN, the National Inquirer now?
Why doesn’t Cafferty answer these questions?–that morally bankrupt sack of crap.
I am not comfortable with this at all and it’s only ten minutes in.
Hey Up, she did choose to go first though, she won the coin toss, just like she’ll win the GE.
She did!? Now, that’s my woman.
She’s a strong one!
She’s doing fabulously too. I bet Barry’s in the back room taking notes….
while practicing in front of a mirror
Slow down Hill. Don’t go too fast, Barry can’t keep up.
Hey no insulting the NI. I think the National Inquirer is better than CNN these days myself.
If Cafferty had to answer these questions fire and brimstone would shoot out of his nostrils and he would lose his CNN gig.
Sorry guys - this “compassion forum” thing is to stupid to take seriously.
It’s Hillary lynching forum.
She’s ready for them. I can tell.
I’m too poor for cable….Wish I could see her….I have to wait until next day….Keep describing if you can….thanks. Don’t trust msm…
She’s doing GREAT Artist. I really mean GREAT.
LIVE FEED
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream2
I agree I don’t like this forum one bit; there was already a while ago a forum obn the candidates’ faith; wasn’t that enough?
Hillary is above all a pragmatist….Falwell started this whole trend toward bending the constitution….She has to talk about this stuff but she’s not a theocrat and never will be.
(In Gomer Pyle’s voice)
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Wouldn’t you know Hillary is speaking first. Obama can watch so he can see what to say when they interview Him (the almighty).
How is she doing? Any weird questions yet?
Oh boy, they are bringing up Darfur and Tibet. Barry refused to call for boycott because he doesn’t want to step on toes for the Games in Chicago in 2016. He danced around that like a ballet last week. I meant to post the piece here but it fell thru the cracks.
Will they ask him the same question?
No, they will start all his questions with “Hillary Said…”. What do YOU think?
Ugh!!…. what a nightmare… The media melting with BO (iack!)
Again refuse to stand up for what is right for personal gain.
Same pattern.
Yeah let em die till I sew this up will ya?
hmmmm…..Maybe they’ll clean up OBAMESSIAH’S distict by razing the slums to build unity shit for the Olympics…..Here’s an idea juat give each po folk a bus ticket and a crisp $ 20.00 bill and send them to the state capital….Worked for St. Reagan and Lt. GHWB in Pennsylvania 1988-89.
ARTIST HERE IS A LIVE FEED
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream2
I tried it ….thanks, but I can’t get it….have an old computer and not the right fast fix ….. I’ll just keep checkin in on the commentary…To be honest
I have’nt cared so much about an election since the HIJACK of 2000. It’s like the ghost of NIXON RETURNS in that this shit is just about as bad as that shit was.
Ok The Baby Jesus is up.
Did you notice he looked Campbell Brown up and down when he came out. I think he like.
No, I noticed SHE looked HIM up and down though.
God, you make me laugh. And I really, really need the laugh.
Click.
I think he was taking a spinning class in the green room.
Here Barry, here’s some free air time to spin your bash and rebutt what Clinton said about it. You’re welcome….swoon.
Is Campbell drooling?
There is some spittle at the mouth edges yes.
Why does he ALWAYS wear a black suit?
Minimizes his crackerness and has a slimming effect…
your a freaking riot wca
Another good one!
Hi,
I don’t have CNN. I didn’t realize I could watch it over the internet. I am watching it right now, but I missed Hillary. How did Hillary do? Also, I had a chuckle when he called himself a devout Christian. Hardly!
She did great JM. I would wager you will be able to see the video at CNN right after Obama is done.
I hope so!
Will YOU look at how she is looking at him??????
She is undressing him with her eyes. SNL will have a field day with this.
ROFLLLLLLLLLLLLL. SNL. You’re right. She’s shameless. LOLOL.
I think she wants him more than even Olberman!
This is kinda like Political porno….I can’t see anything…Is this what the blind go through at a porno movie?…Geeeeezzzz…..
I can’t believe they (Campbell; Barbara Walters, etc) find him sexy or even attractive; it makes one wonder who do these women share their beds with??
Ugh…
I do not find him unattractive to be honest. I just don’t like him. But just to look at, I think he’s a pretty good looking guy.