Last Updated: 2008/12/05 20:49

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Inside America

U.S. Political Report

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George R. Packard
President, International University of Japan;
Director of the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, President, U.S.-Japan Foundation

George R. Packard was dean of SAIS from 1979 to 1993 and is now director of the Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies as well as professor of East Asian studies at the school. He is also president of the International University of Japan. From 1965 to 1967, he was chief diplomatic correspondent for Newsweek. Prior to that, he served as special assistant to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Edwin O. Reischauer. In March of 1998, he was appointed president of the U.S.-Japan Foundation.

Packard Report - May. 2008

The U.S. presidential campaign has taken a dramatic and unexpected turn in the past four days. Senator Barack Obama's worst nightmare has come true: the pastor of his church, the minister who presided at his marriage and baptized his two daughters, his spiritual counselor for 20 years, has gone public with unimaginable vitriol against his former parishioner.

Until last week, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright could be dismissed by most voters as a kind crazy uncle. But his appearance on Bill Moyers' television program and at the National Press Club gave him a serious platform on which to spread his message of hate. Specifically, he charged once again that
  • The American Government created the AIDS crisis as a tool of genocide against minorities
  • The September 11, 2001 attacks on America were Justified because America commits terrorism
  • People should say "God damn America" instead of "God Bless America."
Wright is thoroughly enjoying his moment on the stage and will not soon go away. Obama had put some distance between Wright and himself in a thoughtful analysis of racial issues in America in a memorable speech in Philadelphia on February 28. In that speech, he said he could understand the rage of an older generation of African-Americans who suffered discrimination in their early years. But he added that he could never totally break with Wright.

For Wright, this was just one more insult. Earlier, Obama had rejected a role for Wright on the day he announced his candidacy for president in Springfield, Illinois. Wright was furious, and now he is having his revenge.

Yesterday (April 29) Obama went further and fiercely condemned Wright's statements as "ridiculous" and "divisive and destructive" and as not representing his campaign. Wright, unabashed, said yesterday that Obama is betraying their close friendship of 20 years.

There is a huge irony in the fact that Obarna is the first black American to have a reasonable chance to become president of the United States. and that now his chances are being derailed by a fellow black American. It seems that Wright is on an ego trip and would rather justify his own rants and raves than see genuine progress for black America.

Already this flap has resulted in Obama's poll numbers slipping in Indiana, which holds it primary on May 6. Right wing corrunentators in the media are asking: how could Obama have sat quietly in Wright's church for the past 20 years while Wright was making such absurd and explosive statements.

The very group that Obama is seeking to win back from Hillary -the blue collar, older, Catholic working class voters can be expected to be outraged by Obama's connection with Wright. It is hard to see what could convince them to vote for a black candidate who has ever been associated with Wright's views.

It is worth noting that the conservative Republicans, until now, have feared Obama as the Democratic candidate more than Hillary. They are convinced that HiIlary's "baggage" going back to her Arkansas days as wife of the philandering Governor, Bill Clinton, will give them enough ammunition to sink her ship in November. They are gleeful today at the prospect of a McCain - Clinton contest on November 4.

Another concern for Democrats is that the "Neo-cons" who influenced George W. Bush to invade Iraq are circling around McCain and gaining strength as his campaign wears on. Robert Kagan, William Kristol and Max Boot are all moving into the inner circle of McCain's foreign policy team. McCain last week called for Russia to be kicked out of the G-8. He has said the US should remain in Iraq for 100 years if that is what it takes to "win" that war. He has moved far to the right on economic policy, and now endorses Bush's tax cuts that he once opposed. AIl of this may just be a way to raise funds from conservative Republicans, but it raises concerns among sensible foreign policy analysts.

Finally, no one believes that Hillary can beat John McCain, the war hero, in November. Her pathetic lie about facing gunfire in Bosnia will be matched against McCain's genuine heroism in Vietnam. GAME OVER. MCCAIN WINS.

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