Obama: I Didn't Distance Myself From Wright And Rezko Because I Haven't Been In Washington Long Enough
In an interview to be broadcast on PBS, Obama gave an answer to the Wright and Rezko questions that we haven't heard before.
The gist of it was that he hasn't distanced himself from these figures as much as he might have because he hasn't been in Washington long enough...
MS. IFILL: Do you think that your association with those two people or people we don’t know about would raise questions about your judgment?SEN. OBAMA: Well, no, look, all of us have people in our lives who we meet, we get to know, in some cases form friendships with, who end up getting themselves into trouble or say things that we don’t agree with. And probably what’s true is because I haven’t been in Washington as long as Senator Clinton or others that I have not distanced myself from these people for as long a period of time as somebody more steeped in Washington politics might have.
But keep in mind, on all these issues, there is no allegations that I’ve done anything wrong, just as in the situation with Reverend Wright there is no allegation that I’ve said something that was inappropriate.
I'm not sure precisely how to parse this. It seems like Obama is saying either that (a) He would have distanced himself more from them if he were better versed in the ways and wiles of Washington politics; or (b) that he would have distanced himself more if he'd had more time in Washington to do this. Or a bit of both.
Either way, he's arguing that the fact that he didn't distance himself further from these figures is indicative of something positive.
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