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The Spectacle Blog
Kathleen Parker today at times seems almost ready to acknowledge that raising issues related to the infamous Rev. Jeremiah Wright is a perfectly legitimate exerise, but then, as is her wont, she veers off into near nothingness with an equivocal “above it all” dodge about how this is all just silly-season politics.
Here’s what she and almost everybody else is missing: The story now is not about Obama’s 20-year relationship with Wright — which is indeed now “old news,” even though it never got adequately aired or criticized four years ago — but instead about new and credible allegations that an emissary for Obama offered to buy Wright’s silence. The story told by Wright himself seems to suggest that violations of several laws might at least have been approached (although the technicalities of the various laws at play can be tricky), and certainly that something highly unseemly and unethical occurred (from Obama’s end, or at least from his alleged intermediary). This is decidely not old news. This is even more decidely not “racist.” This is a legitimate issue, one that, if the shoe were on the conservative foot, the establishment media would be leading all their front pages and their newscasts with for many days on end.
If Rev. Wright makes these claims, why isn’t 60 Minutes interviewing him? Why isn’t the Washington Post editorial board weighing in, in stentorian tones (if the written word can be stentorian), about the need to adequately examine disturbing allegations that might at least cast light on a president’s character even if not on his legality? (Any day now, however, I do expect a WaPost piece about how Romney back in the Sixth Grade paid a classmate $20 to cover his tracks while he played hookie in order to pig out at the ice cream parlor.)
After all, it wasn’t Republicans who said the Rev. Wright was important and admirable; it was Barack Obama himself, repeatedly… until Wright embarrassed him. Well, if the morally exemplary Rev. Wright, who may be outspoken but hasn’t yet been called a liar, says he was offered hush money, then the media should be banging down his door wanting more details. Wright may be a racist demagogue, but those asking for more attention to this matter should be able to do so without a single racial implication being raised.
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More Blog Posts by Quin Hillyer
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/05/21/missing-the-point-on-rev-wrigh
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Chuck| 5.21.12 @ 7:02PM
Well put, but it needs some follow-up namely presumptive nominee Romney and only Romney not a Romney flunkie and/or radio talk show host. Romney needs to challenge Obama directly and start asking Obama questions concerning hush money. Well Mitt here is your chance to win the election in May.
C Bowen | 5.21.12 @ 7:52PM
Quin;
I happen to think what is being done to Edwards is a terrible precedent--which seems to be a consensus on the Right, and likewise, in this hush money case, conservatives would be foolish to pursue the legal aspects and technicalities, and stick to the ethical angle:
Why was Wright's silence worth $150,000?
In the Stratfor e-mails, it is said Jesse Jackson took a payoff to not agitate on Israel issues (that being a shakedown) so my guess is that this is a common practice on the D side of things when dealing with the Hustler Community.
Bill| 5.21.12 @ 7:52PM
Imagine what wright will do when Obama gets re-elected.
LiveFreeOrDie| 5.21.12 @ 10:26PM
"Well, if the morally exemplary Rev. Wright, who may be outspoken but hasn't yet been called a liar, says he was offered hush money, then the media should be banging down his door wanting more details. "
When a five-time elected Sheriff came forward with evidence Obama has some 'document' problems, the media deemed it ought to be ignored as well. So did the Spectator.
PattyMor| 5.22.12 @ 7:50AM
Where is Sestak investigation? Where is the Rev. Wright investigation? Where is the Fast and Furious investigation? Where are NBP questions of why the suit which was won, suddenly dropped?
Where are the investigations of Obama's parentage, his birth place, his relationship with Sotero, or his grades investigated? How did get into elite school, inspite of (in his own words) smoking dope and skipping classes in H.S.? Where are the questions of why O'Dismal went to Pakistan (while a poor, stuggling student), what did he do there, who did he meet with, what passport did he use, and who paid his way? Why are all his records under lock and key? Why is he using a social security number issued in Connecticut, in spite of never living there?
There are no questions, because the media doesn't want to know, nor care to know. Might as well call ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN etal Prada on the Potomac.
LiveFreeOrDie| 5.22.12 @ 10:20AM
Same with the Spectator. They beat the topical stuff to death but any significant allegations with serious implications are ignored. Those who would cave to PC nonsense are worse than those pushing it! Grow a backbone Spectator.
Romney = McCain| 5.22.12 @ 10:16AM
Quin, don't hold your breath waiting for the media to air Wright's allegations of being paid off to keep quiet. They aren't interested. If there is any truth to Jeremiah Wright's allegations the truth will come out. Just not with the media's help. As for Ms. Parker, she sold any conservative credibility she had four years ago when she declared her childish, catty war on Sarah Palin & endorsed, talked up, & voted for current President Obama. I don't pay mind to any advice she has to give conservatives. She has made it clear where her loyalties lie. Kathleen Parker is the Michael Smerconish of so-called conservative journalism. As for Romney harping on Obama's ties to Jeremiah Wright for twenty+ years, he'd better not or the "Esatablishment" boneheads will take back his ACME "how to be a severe conservative & win an election" kit.
Oldefarte| 5.22.12 @ 12:37PM
I disagree somewhat. Two private citizens engaged in monetary commerce is allowable [if legal, of course]. To me the more important issue is that Obama was completely ignorant of Christianity and that Wright indicated Obama's historical involvement in the Muslim/Islamic religion and attendance of their mosques. This could go to possibly explain his selective foreign policy activities as POTUS within the middle east. Why has Israel been given the virtual finger and former semi-friendly Arab nations been overturned and now headed twoard domination by the Muslim Brotherhood factions within same? Why has our military been used [under cover of NATO] to facilitate same? If the entire ME becomes one big Iran governed by Islamic radicals, both Israel and the US become in more danger than presently. His bowing and scraping to these ME sheiks may be more than symbolic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Redatheart| 5.23.12 @ 7:14AM
The reason 60 Minutes isn't interviewing is because the GOP/Team Romney just gave the Left media a free pass, allowing them to gloss over the possible bribery issue. Meanwhile, Obama flips the resurgence of the Wright story into an online fundraiser for himself. With Romney's swift capitulation at the behest of Axelrod's early a.m. tweet last week, the precedent was set for the media. They know that whenever questions of Obama's past come up, Romney will smack them down and they, in turn, can focus entirely on any questions in Romney's past and run hard with them. A prime example is the Left media griping about a GOP war on women, endorsed and blessed by the president offering a condolence call to a co-ed that got her feelings hurt. Now, news agencies are carrying the news story about Mrs. Romney's hobby/therapy for her MS, of purchasing riding horses. Yes, some have reportedly been imported and yes, some cost in the six figure range, but isn't this story an attack on a woman? Of course it is framed to be an attack and defamation of her character. The Left media isn't discussing Mrs. Obama's extravagant vacations, her sweater collection that costs upwards of $2000-$3000 each. They aren't revisiting the YouTube's of Obama's aunt that reveal she believes she's entitled to everything America has to offer, even though she's reportedly an illegal in this country. Romney wouldn't want to see those videos used in a campaign ad to help define what the Obama's philosophy of America, but meanwhile, as much dirt-existent or not- is being excavated on his own family. They can find nothing despicable about Mrs. Romney so they are using her interest in horses against her, to help frame their argument that she's out of touch and over-privileged.
If Romney plans to follow the McCain game plan and refuse to allow the vetting of Obama that should have occurred in '08, then we already know the end result. It's fine if he personally chooses not to engage in necessary dialogue, but to try and silence others is a fool's errand, to be polite.
Simon Templar| 5.23.12 @ 10:02AM
Quin, spot on!
Exactly, this is the real story and the real issue that NEEDS to be addressed. Everyone knows about the Revs political views and unique preaching style. Just how many others have been asked and payed to keep their distance and silence?
What is at issue here is huge deception about this incompetents past, his past associations, his past travels, his past educational experiences, and his past "jobs."