Why Dem attacks misfired in Scalise controversy

1) The Sharpton factor. There’s no need to dwell on Al Sharpton’s offenses, from Crown Heights to Freddie’s Fashion Mart to the Tawana Brawley hoax. Suffice it to say that Sharpton has been behind some of the ugliest racial episodes in recent decades. Yet Sharpton has visited the White House more than 70 times since the first Obama inauguration. Sharpton is said to be on texting terms with Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett and Attorney General Eric Holder. And the president himself has addressed Sharpton’s National Action Network, standing in front of the group’s “No Justice No Peace” logo. So Republicans ask why they should excommunicate Scalise, who may have done absolutely nothing wrong, while Obama embraces Sharpton.

2) The Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Yes, there was a big controversy when videos of the angry, anti-American rants of Obama’s pastor became public during the heat of the 2008 Democratic primary campaign. But Obama claimed he never heard the worst of what Wright said, and managed to dispel much of the controversy with a speech in which he declared, “I can no more disown [Wright] than I can disown the black community.” After that, the New York Times editorial page rewarded Obama with an editorial headlined — this is true — “Mr. Obama’s Profile in Courage.” Obama, of course, did not withdraw from the presidential race. So Republicans ask why they should disown Scalise when Obama steadfastly refused to disown Wright.