Comments on: Grading Barack Obama’s Crisis Communications Efforts Regarding Rev. Wright http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/30/grading-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-crisis-communications-efforts-regarding-rev-wright/ Speaking Excellence Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:35:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Terry Gault http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/30/grading-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-crisis-communications-efforts-regarding-rev-wright/#comment-211 Terry Gault Thu, 01 May 2008 02:43:10 +0000 http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/30/grading-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-crisis-communications-efforts-regarding-rev-wright/#comment-211 I'm going to have to agree with Lynn here for slightly different reasons: I think that if Obama chose to say what you have suggested here about distancing himself from the fiery reverend in the future, it would help to justify what he was saying by making him seem overly important. The media is blowing this thing way out of proportion, but by saying something like "he will never enter the White House" would buy into this hysteria. Nonetheless, you are dead-on about your suggestion to redefine the debate by bringing up the media's bias by not equally focusing on McCain, Hagee, and the remarks of Falwell. This is exactly what he needs to do: there are more important issues here than what this random preacher thinks...especially now that Obama has distanced himself from such a radical and ridiculous position. I’m going to have to agree with Lynn here for slightly different reasons: I think that if Obama chose to say what you have suggested here about distancing himself from the fiery reverend in the future, it would help to justify what he was saying by making him seem overly important. The media is blowing this thing way out of proportion, but by saying something like “he will never enter the White House” would buy into this hysteria.

Nonetheless, you are dead-on about your suggestion to redefine the debate by bringing up the media’s bias by not equally focusing on McCain, Hagee, and the remarks of Falwell. This is exactly what he needs to do: there are more important issues here than what this random preacher thinks…especially now that Obama has distanced himself from such a radical and ridiculous position.

]]> By: Lynn http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/30/grading-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-crisis-communications-efforts-regarding-rev-wright/#comment-210 Lynn Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:40:32 +0000 http://www.tjwalker.com/2008/04/30/grading-barack-obama%e2%80%99s-crisis-communications-efforts-regarding-rev-wright/#comment-210 I liked your analysis of what Obama did well and less well. I completely agree with your take on how he could/should have repositioned, hence, reframed the issue (bringing up Hagee and Falwell). But, I don't agree with your position on how he could have protected himself in the future. I think here Obama would have been on shaky grounds with the African-American constituency. I think that your statement was very strong and my friends of color tell me that it isn't that unusual for a Black pastor to be extremely "passionate." White Americans had a rude awakening by suddenly being privy to what goes on in some African-American churches. Wright's rantings may be a bit more extreme-but none-the-less... I liked your analysis of what Obama did well and less well. I completely agree with your take on how he could/should have repositioned, hence, reframed the issue (bringing up Hagee and Falwell). But, I don’t agree with your position on how he could have protected himself in the future. I think here Obama would have been on shaky grounds with the African-American constituency. I think that your statement was very strong and my friends of color tell me that it isn’t that unusual for a Black pastor to be extremely “passionate.” White Americans had a rude awakening by suddenly being privy to what goes on in some African-American churches. Wright’s rantings may be a bit more extreme-but none-the-less…

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