Opinion | Editorials
Obama caught between friend and foe
As Reverent White was in attendance at Obama's wedding, also baptised his children and was the pastor in his local church (when Obama was in town), Obama has found it extremely difficult to divorce himself from his association with White.
- Gulf News
- Published: 00:30 May 2, 2008
For supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton who may have thought she has had a rough ride from the media during primary campaigns, they will doubtless be pleased by a recent poll which showed that her opponent's reputation is being damaged. The furore surrounding Barack Obama over his association with Reverend Jeremiah White will not die down. Possibly it is because the media has only just become aware of exactly how close Obama and White were. Obama has tried to distance himself from the outlandish remarks White has been quoted as saying, but Obama's initial observations were considered too little and too late. This is probably why the media decided not to let the issue go. Especially as it appears Clinton is making some sort of comeback, and they didn't want to be caught out, should she succeed and become the next president.
There have been accusations for some time that the press has gone easy of making adverse comments about Obama. It was thought that maybe the media were not keen to be seen as racists if they ganged up on him. It seemed that while it was fair play to attack Clinton on each and every occasion by disparaging her in print or through uncomplimentary photographs, similar treatment of Obama might be considered divisive along lines that America refuses to acknowledge is there, but usually lies hidden, except in the inner cities.
As Reverent White was in attendance at Obama's wedding, also baptised his children and was the pastor in his local church (when Obama was in town), Obama has found it extremely difficult to divorce himself from his association with White. It has become a burden he is unhappy and unwilling to bear, But what Americans are wondering is, if he loses the candidature, will all be forgiven between him and White?
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