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March 21st, 2008
09:50 PM ET
Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 3/21/08
John King is in for Anderson tonight. And since he's our Chief National Correspondent and traveled for the past week to Iraq and Europe with Sen. John McCain we'll cover that tonight.We'll also have the investigation into the candidates passport files, Gov. Bill Richardson's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama, and some more of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermons.We'll start posting comments at 10p ET and stop at 11p ET.
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Good program John.
Hi John,
Great job! Thanks so much for framing the Rev. Wright's sermon by playing more of the speech. I was curious, and I appreciate the coverage!
Erica: Thanks for blogging. It seems like you always find the time to at least say "Hi". Great shot! Nite bloggers!!!
have a great weekend everyone ....thanks for watching ...anderson will be back on monday ....
Lori, It is not about being accountable for words Wright said. It is about his judgement. Either he didn't know what was going on in his church for 20 years (pretty scary to be our President with no intuition), or he listened and accepted this hatred that was being spewed. I say that goes to judgement, character, and I question his belief system. In his speech he asked me a 37 year old white man to go back in time. Man we progressed so much in the last 40 years. Am I ignorant not to know that there is still some racial divide- Of course there is, but to blame me for it and not to explain why he continued going to this church and listening to this hatred doesn't get it. If he was such a uniter and trandsends race why did he do a speech on race? Why didn't he just answer the question about why he chose to go to a radical cult church that hates America? He should of just disowned him and moved on. I think this has cost him the election and it is sad.
What was it Pastor Wright said that was not true? You can disagree with a persons conclusions, however you must use the same set of facts since there is only one set.
Now as far as what one person desires to be blessed and another wants to be damned is certainly a matter of perspective. So before you get all patriotic and haughty check your position on this highway of life. And make sure you are honest about what you have heard in your churches and your homes, oh yea sanctify your own house first.
It seems that Obama's vision of one America doesn't include Florida and Michigan. Obama's not showing the leadership necessary to be the president of this one United States of America.
A real leader would fight to protect, rather than deny the rights of all Americans to participate in an election. Does he really think that we would support him in November after fighting so hard to silence us in the primary? I don't think putting his own personal interests above the rights of the American people is a good path to the White House.
Go Hillary!
Aw, the "Bear Stearns" caption was so much better! I didn't even try to beat that one...
I feel that Mr. Richardson backing Senator Obama is very important. Richardson, who is a close friend of the Clintons and knows them personally, is not letting his personal feelings interfering with what this nations need! It also shows that people realize in spite of what the media is trying to do with the sound bites of Rev. Wright that Senator Obama should not be held responsible for what another man said and those people still supporting the candidate that is about HOPE. Now that CNN has played more of the sermon you hear the sermon in its right context; you can get the real meaning of what REV. Wright was saying. You can not put government above God. There is no hate in that sermon!!
John,
Really enjoy your clear and unbiased perspectives....Thank you. Interesting the many comments I am hearing about "Richardson living to tell about his stand against the Clintons" as an incentive for fearful supers to step up
John,
Didn't McCain say he wouldn't mind staying in Iraq for 100 years AS LONG AS NO TROOPS GOT INJURED OR KILLED? Hello! We ARE in Iraq and troops have gotten killed and injured! What gives with him?
Good for Bay....I agree with her, I think Obama and Hillary have had the worse week of the campaign. I think Obama has lost alot of votes
over the Wright relationship.
It will be a tough election between McCain and Hillary, but McCain has had a good week. Good Luck to him.
Thank you for a good show and See you next week.
HRC3sure.....great point. I forgot about that. Between that and the fact that New Mexico was Hillary's, he really looks like an opportunist.
Those are some cool looking aquatic animals. 🙂
McCain can ask why Obama stood by and listened to someone say G-D America, but Obama can ask why did McCain help to do that to our economy and our troops when he voted for the war. I think Obama has the better argument.
OH the sea pig is cute!! I want one!
I see. If it is U visa, it is ok to harrass? Is that what she is saying?
And now she is eligible for the U visa, so she can just kiss-off?
I am outraged!!!
Laura, Hear! hear! Like I have said here before, Love her or hate her, Hillary had been vetted in the most extreme ways imaginable. Her closets are open, the basement has been dug up. She has no secrets. We know it all, the good, the bad and the ugly, and guess what? She is still here, stronger than ever!
Governor Richardson's campaign was all about emphasizing his experience and the importance of experience as a presidential candidate and he endorses Obama, give me a break !
Governor Richardson is a so called "super-delegate" that is going to vote opposite of the New Mexico primary, granted it was close but it went to Hillary. There is nothing "super" about Richardson, he is out of step entirely !
Strange.........When John Murtha endorsed Hillary Clinton, CNN reported it, but that was about it. Now when Bill Richardson endorses Obama, suddenly it's a huge deal with Obama supporters waving signs in the background and Richardson singing the praises of Obama. I would think it would be a bigger deal to have Murtha who was the first to say we needed to get out of Iraq endorse Hillary Clinton whereby showing confidence in her to end the war. I've always said Hillary Clinton will win the presidency inspite of the media, certainly not because of its support. It appears to me that every time Obama gets in some kind of trouble, the press (media) tries to rescue him. He should not be a presidential candidate when he spent twenty years supporting a church and a pastor spewing such inflammatory, incendiary, unpatriotic rhetoric. I guess it should be no surprise that Malcolm X supports him!
bill richardson's endorsement will do nothing for obama to get the hispanic vote. hispanics already strongly support hillary clinton.
bill richardson's name means nothing to hispanic voters. while he was running they voted for hillary not richardson. His endorsement just shows how disloyal and ungrateful he is because the clintons helped with his political careerl
oh-oh... the fence that ate the garden :: Immigration official
In terms of Senator Obama not leaving the church, as a christian, I have this to say: as a believer, one does not have to leave the Body of Christ – the Church – because of the pastor, unless his/her faith is in the pastor. The basic instructions for a person who has a personal relationship with Christ ( A Christian) is in the BiBle where you see
Jesus instructing us to love one another not to hate one another. Therefore, since Senator Obama is not following the pastor, but Christ, I do not see any reason for him to leave the Body of Christ. When a Pastor fails either because of lack of forgiveness leading to anger or whatever, a believer's responsibility is to pray for him not to just leave.
Thank you,
Marie from Martin County Fl
I'm sorry did you all seem to forget that the reason for Richardson's endorsement was based on Obama's speech of Race. It had nothing to do with betrayal for the clintons. Obama's speech was based on racial unity for all americans. Richardson had either experienced or felt this racial divide regardless of what position bill clinton gave him. And why does it have to be justified as what the clinton's have done for him? He recieved his position as an ambassador based on his own intellect and merits. He went to college, was elected into congress based on his own merits. And now he's ungrateful, booooo! So if Al Gore endorses Obama does that make him ungrateful for the clintons. And just who the hell are they for someone to feel grateful or ungrateful.
I think it is ridiculous some in white America act like they've never heard politics in church before especially in the south. And I beleive Hillary Clinton has repeated several times Super Delegates can do whatever they want to do!
Hello, John, i mean comone the guy is already traveling the world and meeting other world officials, while Clinton and Obama are catfighting. I think they are just wastign their time, because Mcain is already there.
Good Show by the way
Keep talking about the race negatively is not in the Benefit of Great Nation of America. Stop it at once.
Obama is Great, faithful, and can bring US to the leadership of the whole world.
I hope People do not miss this Golden opportunity.
Jamal, your man 's campaign is on the attack just as much as anyone. Please stop saying that he is above that. Senator Clinton IS a fighter. Your candidate was "shaken up" by all the reports in the media about his pastor. I want my President to be a fighter – not get shaken up.
a lot of energy from all of our panelists on politics tonight - i keep wondering if the energy will fade .. and i bet some of you from time to time think: ENOUGH ALREADY.
It is absolutely unthinkable that one person could be held accountable for the words and actions of another. How then could anyone ever be held blameless for the 'sins' of our fathers, mothers, siblings and so forth.
Senator Obama, nor any other candidate, should not be subjected to something as trivial as defending his former pastor's words.
When Americans get past the "smoking mirrors" and realize what is really at stake, it may well be too late. Sad commentary on what could be a terrific future.
dah! is someone hoping for the for the VP slot? Why else would Richardson endorse Obama. After all Hillary did win his state.
Oh, can someone tell Rolland Martin that he may find some white preachers that have been as fiery as Pastor Wright but he doesn't see a Presidential Candidate sitting in the pew!!! That even if they endorse one of the other Candidates, those Candidates have not spent 20 years of their life with them.
If there is a "downfall" of America, history will record that the media played a major roll in the process.
How about just reporting the news and get off the brain washing.
About Rev. Wright and Sen.Obama.
To all the people who are criticizing Sen. Obama and know that he
does not agree with any of the things the Preacher has said should also know that the Senator has not written the surmons. If someone can prove that the Senator did write these damming sermons they should come forward.
Otherwise lets stop all of the nit picking and lets get on with the election and may the best man win. And he will.
bill richardson is a traitor for having endoresed obama and not hillary
the clintons gave him his career! fortunately mexican americans don't care very much for him, we voted for hillary clinton, so the endorsement won't help very much. it just shows how ungrateful this man is. as a mexican american I didn't vote for him, i voted for hillary.
if he runs for v.p with obama, i will not vote for him, i'll vote for Mccain.
Forty three Presidents-ALL with one thing in common- VOTE for real change a new point of view HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT
Lou Dobbs and Anderson Copper have failed to look at the complete story of political leaders and their pastors. The anti-Obama commentators continue to ask "how could Senator Obama have stayed in his church with Rev. Wright?"
Not once have I heard that question answered with let's look at our history in the south with White political leaders. How many racist organization did they belong to and no one asked them to leave them. They were "disqualified" from office because they belonged to all "White" clubs and organizations.
Your arguments are so hypocritical! Now you have a new standard for Senator Obama- saying he should have left. These White political leaders never left their families members, churches, organizations, commuities where many who believed the racist lies about Black people resided.
I have a question I dare any of you to ask "why did the White people of the south elect racist leaders if they did not believe in being racist?"
With Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s sermon you could kind of sort of see what he is trying to say, that the U.S. is abusing its power over the rest of the world. It's just the way he delivers the sermon, that is very abrasive, and out there. But I really do not believe that his sermon should shape the way voters should see Obama's platform.
Apparently Gov. Richardson wasn't in town when his state elected Hillary Clinton as their choice for the democratic nominee.
Hi All,
I am getting very tired of all the focus on Reverend Wright's comments. He is not running for president. Clinton, McCain and Obama are the candidates...not their preachers. This is hateful stuff and Obama is not Reverend Wright...just as I am not my preacher. Is Hillary her hairdresser...should we get tapes of everybody's barber as well. Let's focus on the candidates.
Stewart
What is being missed in review of Rev Whites speach is that amoung the poor and disenfranchised there is a deep distrust of America and it's motives. As a so called white man I work with the poor and Rev. White to me is only expressing the views of his flock. The well fed and the well cared for mainstream must be shocked that there is a large portion of America that has not shared in the dream. My condemnations of our policy's towards the medial class and the poor would make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. If Rev Whites comments shock you you live in a bubble.
I believe that people are over blowing the issue of Rev Wright to mask the real issue of race. First of all who honestly believes the man preached like this every Sunday based off a 6 year old sermon? Also people keep saying he let his children listen to this. Well as a African American I can say every black church I have ever attended for 40 plus years has what we call "childrens church" they arent normally in the sermons that are preached to the adults. And my last comment is hw long will we beat this dead horse? Until November, lets move on to the issues.
Quite frankly, I don't go to hear either "God bless America" or "God damn America" . . . that is not why I attend church. I don't go to church to hear politics about politics, or about any political figure.
I want to hear the words of love and of hope and of what I can do to better my world and that of those around me. I go to help bring God to earth and into my life . . . and to learn of the hope via my faith.
Politics has no place in church irrespective of Obama, Clinton or McCain. So whether it's Reverend Wright or Pastor Haggee, both men do a disservice to the congregants.
I have Lou Dobbs for that . . . and in the luxury of my own home.
Gov Richardson just opened the door for superdelegates to ignore the will of the people.
I question whether McCain really made a "mistake". He sent out a printed statement the next day that was very cleverly worded but gave the impression that yes indeed Iran is funding and helping al Quaida. I believe he is conflating Iran and al Quaida the same way in which was done with Iraq in order to drum up support for a harder line on Iran.
To TN Dave, If the issue concerning Obamas Judgement in this whole affair had been public before the primary season, Obama never would have gotten all the votes that he did. People that supported him , no longer do but now it is too late to change their votes. He should have been vetted far more, before the primaries. He does not have the experience to be President. Belonging to an afro-centric, hate spewing church shows his judgement skills. We are going to learn more and more about him and if this issue is any indication, it is not all going to be roses.
Roland Martin is clearly an Obama supporter. He cannot see the controversary in Rev. Wright's comments. Even Obama (after saying he was not in the pews) changed his mind in another interview and said that he was in the church when various controversial comments were made.
Let me tell you, if any preacher from any faith in Canda said those remarks..like God Dam Canada, they would be charged with treason.
Now if Hillary Clinton was in this situation she would have been asked to step down. Obama still has lots of questions to answer.
His judgment is very much in serious jeopardy.
apropos of nothing: the roman ruins in jordan are breathtaking.
and the israeli press at the western wall makes us here in the us look laid back tame ........
I appreciate the attempt tonight to put Rev. Wright's sermon in context. Roland has done a great job shedding some light and helping us to see the fuller picture. There is an outstanding post from Sam Stein on the Huffington Post that shows about 8 minutes of the "GD America" speech. You get to hear what he said before and after the overplayed sound bytes. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get a clearer understanding.
Relaying the whole story is what journalism is supposed to be about. Hats off to AC 360 for didding deeper!