Obama, Clinton Spar on Iran, Gas

Barack on Meet The Press: Strong & Measured Against Iran:On Meet The Press with Tim Russert, Barack addresses important aspects to maintaining a strong but reasoned position when dealing with Iran.
(BarackObamadotcom)

Obama Talks To Russert About Why He Denouced Rev Wright:In a very far ranging, incredibly civil and thoughtful interview with Senator Barack Obama addressing substantive issues and positions, Tim Russert of MEET THE PRESS on May 4 demonstrated why he is "the best objective political interviewer" in Washington today! An amazing display of journalistic integrity -- Russert (as usual) combining informed insight with direct and probing questions! And to Senator Obama's credit -- he did not "bobble and dodge" Russert's questions, but was candid, consistent and clear in his responses. Congrats to NBC for providing the BEST "really balanced" election coverage in 2008!In this segment of MEET THE PRESS, Senator Obama explains why he joined the UCC, his admiration for the work of his denomination, but his complete distain and denunciation of certain statements and political views of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright. He also explains why he tried for so long to make a difference in "denouncing Rev. Wright's words without denouncing Rev. Wright the man" -- a distinction he believes was proper and right. However, as Rev. Wright has continued to state and expand his most controversial remarks, Senator Obama believes that "maybe Rev. Wright didn't know me as well as he thought -- and maybe I didn't know him as well as I thought." In response to a Russert question, Senator Obama feels that it is OK for critics and the public to wonder why this drama is taking so long to unravel -- why it has taken so long to more completely denounce Rev. Wright. In a candid and direct response, Obama states the personal anguish and political discomfort Rev. Wright has brought to him and the campaign -- and hopes that America will judge his response and values on the totality of his views, policies and actions -- not the current fixation on "guilt by association with Rev. Wright" some pundits and opponents would like to push. As directly as can be stated, Obama said to Russet that Wright has indirectly and directly "divided the country and fed racial antagonisms" needlessly -- which is totally the opposite direction the country needs to go -- and totally opposed to the version of racial reconciliation and social understanding he (Obama) outlined in his speech on race in PA. Obama hopes that the nation has had enough of the replay of Rev. Wright's views -- which do not reflect his views -- and will be allowed by the media to move back to the real issues of the economy, jobs, Iraq, affordable health care -- and the multitude of other "substantive issues" the response to which will determine the quality of American life in the next four years. Listen to the interview and judge for yourself if it is "time to move beyond Rev. Wright!"
(andersoniaprof)