Larry Lessig is a law professor at Stanford University and a NON-PAID technology advisor for Barack Obama's campaign. During a handful of lectures throughout the last few years, he has shown a controversial video mocking Jesus You can view it here.
Lessig has since apologized and no longer runs the video in his presentations. Read more about what he says here.
Lessig is a friend of Obama's from his Chicago days and a former colleague at the University of Chicago Law School. He's also an outspoken supporter for Obama and Business Week Magazine lists him as an "Innovation Advisor" for Obama. Lessig has spoken fondly of Obama at rallies for the Senator and the Obama campaign has used Lessig's name as part of promoting their technology plan. However, once again he is NOT a paid advisor.
First of all, as a Christian, are you offended at the video? Obama is a Christian. Is he offended? Should Obama jettison Lessig from his team of advisors even though he's apologized? Should Obama reject the endorsement or return any money donated to his campaign from Lessig? Do you even care? A critical editorial of Lessig is here.
The Brody File research shows that Lessig has given the maximum $2,300 to the Obama campaign this campaign cycle. In addition, he gave $1,000 for Obama's 2000 run for Congress and $4,000 for his 2004 Senate run.
You know how we are here at The Brody File. We lay it out there and then wait for your reaction. We will post your comments. Leave them here.
This past weekend the McCain camp came under fire from the Obama campaign because McCain was going to hold a fundraiser at the home of Clayton Williams who has made controversial remarks about women in the past. Nobody is saying that the Lessig video and the Clayton remarks are the exact same situation. Williams was fundraising. We have no reason to believe Lessig is doing anything like that. But Obama is getting campaign advice from Lessig. Williams is not advising McCain.
I think you're going to find some Christians upset at a video like this and will question Obama's associations with people who may be considered not just liberal but also on the extreme left. It doesn't make for a winning general election strategy and it leaves him vulnerable.
Yet others will say wait a minute. How far does guilt by association go? After all, Lessig didn't utter inflammatory words. (Though he DID choose to show the video) I mean we have the whole Jim Johnson vetting issue, the Hagee remarks and we can go on and on.
What is legitimate to pin on a candidate and what is not? Some conservative blogs are hot to trot about the Lessig video but it is fair to wonder if guilt by association has no end. The Lessig video can be argued on both sides.