Was Kerry asking to swiftboated when he opposed the war in Vietnam and testified in congress, even saying some things that turned out to be false? His comments, while good intentioned, ended up hurting a lot of people, including a lot of Democratic veterans.
He never apologized, and progressives never expected him to, because they understood that the man was essentially good, and felt it was unfair that he was painted as something he wasn't.
Unless progressives believe that Obama concurs Wright's divisive language, they should be willing to stand up and defend him. Willing and eager. Sitting on your hands while a good man is tarred and feathered by the Right, is not progressive. It's cowardly.
Please don't compare John Kerry, a war hero, to Rev. Wright.
I wasn't. I was comparing him to Obama. Read it again please.
I don't think Obama can be compared to Kerry.
Why?
Regarding Kerry--I think it was dishonest for him to run for president as a "decorated war hero" even though he was a combat veteran who earned a number of medals, because his place in the history of Vietnam was as the young man who testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was an anti-war hero, really, rather than a "war hero." If Obama is really a devotee of Rev. Wright, then he isn't quite who he presents himself as--someone who is "beyond race." I can kind of understand how Obama could have fallen under the Rev's spell, being a black man raised by his white grandparents and never really knowing his father...but that is at odds with being the miracle worker that his campaign has built him up to be.
Fair enough. But that's not what I hear on this site. The question is very simple. Do you think Obama is a "race hustler" trying to pull the wool over America's eyes? If you do, go ahead and hold him to the impossible standard set up by the Right. That's why I compare him to Kerry here. Kerry made some mistakes that the Right exploited. Obama has clearly made some mistakes on this issue. But unless you believe he is a bad man, you should be able to see him, at the very least, as on the same team.
Helping the Right throw Obama over the bus is just as divisive as Wright's comments.
I have a lot of respect for Obama, I think he's a wonderful person but I am not comfortable with him as our nominee this year. I don't think this thing with Rev. Wright should be a permanent stain on his career, more of a speed bump...which might or might not prevent him from earning the presidential nomination this year.
