Ironic, isn't it? Some conservatives have been calling for an inquiry into Barack Hussein Obama's Muslim connection--didn't he attend a madrassa in Indonesia?--when the real problem turns out to be Obama's Christian mentor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
Wright is a kind of Ward Churchill in vestments. Remember Ward Churchill? He's the leftist white guy who was posing as an American Indian as he gave speeches saying America deserved to be attacked and that 9/11 was a case where the "chickens came home to roost." Eventually the University of Colorado gave Churchill the boot.
Oddly enough Wright used exactly the same language as Churchill in saying that on 9/11 America got its comeuppance. Actually, Wright's statements taken collectively are worse than those of Churchill. Wright also said the U.S. government deliberately introduced AIDS into the black community. And he insisted that instead of saying "God bless America" we would be better to say "God damn America."
This is the man that Obama calls "like family." This is the man that Obama credits with "introducing me to my Christian faith." This is the mean that Obama choose to marry him and his wife, and to baptize his children. This is the man who inspired the title of Obama's book. This is the man whom Obama credits with being a mentor over more than two decades.
I found it very interesting to hear Wright explicitly endorse Obama over Hillary in church. Normally when evangelical preachers cross the political line they get hammered for violating the separation of church and state. One pastor I know invited a local Republican official to give his personal testimony in church and had to answer to the IRS for it. How come black churches engage in blatant electioneering, even to the point of busing members to the voting booth, and nobody from the ACLU or the media raises an eyebrow?
Equally fascinating is Wright's comment in church that unlike Hillary, Obama will be a race man. Wright's argument is that Obama will stand up for poor blacks against the rich whites who control the country. In the past Obama has been accused by some of being insufficiently attentive to black concerns. The term sometimes used for this is Oreo: black on the outside, white on the inside. Wright by contrast seems to be claiming that Obama is white--or at least tan--on the outside but black on the inside.
Wright poses a possibly lethal threat to Obama's chance to be president. Obama's great appeal is that he's the political equivalent of Tiger Woods. He's not an America hater or a race man like Charlie Rangel or Jesse Jackson. Wright makes Americans wonder: why is Obama so close to a man whose incendiary views are far worse than that of just about any black radical figure with the possible exception of Louis Farrakhan? Isn't professed ignorance of Wright's political views, combined with a refusal to cut ties with him, proof of Obama's bad judgent?
Pretty soon people are going to ask: Is Wright's influence the reason why Obama doesn't want to wear an American flag pin? Or raise his hand to his chest when the national anthem is played? Is Wright's ideology part of the reason why Obama's wife says she has not been proud of America for her whole adult life? And behind all this, the big question: at a time of war, can America is entrusted to a man who seems tolerant of the kind of vicious anti-Americanism that we are used to hearing from our worst enemies?
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 44)
61. "By the way Paul, you probably would have called Martin Luther King Un-American too, since he did not obey US Policies by marching and speaking against the Vietnam War." --Dkassa
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Really, now? At the risk of validating your completely irrelevant and unprovable speculation as to how I might have regarded MLK, I can only ask one question: exactly what laws did MLK violate?
He had a Constitutional right to free assembly and free speech. So, remind the class, dkasa, exactly what laws did MLK violate that might cause me to label him as a subversive element?
Jesse Jackson DID violate laws.
End of completely inappropriate comparison.
Paul at 10:31AM on Mar 19th 2008
62. Mokele: I have faith that you are black.
AndrewV at 10:32AM on Mar 19th 2008
63. You know, Moke, on some of the news stories on AOL about Obama, I am often called "black" by others when I comment on Obama.
I consider it an honor, and welcome the adjective.
Linda at 10:33AM on Mar 19th 2008
64. brian,
Wow, I'm actually saying "thank you" to you.
AndrewV,
You're putting faith in that which you don't know. EVERYBODY loves Beyonce and fried chicken!
Mokele-Mobembe at 10:58AM on Mar 19th 2008
65. Hey Paul,
First of all I'm not your friend, second of all you missed the all point: Moral laws supercedes human laws. Thank God for people who disobeyed human laws, otherwise segregation would still be legal. Ooops, well maybe that's what you really pissed about. Do you miss the good all days Paul? T
dakasa at 10:38AM on Mar 19th 2008
66. Obama has caused many to show the hate they have in their heart. Closet hate mongers are exposing themselves in droves. Seems strange how they condemn Wright while putting themselves in the same category.
Jerry Brown at 10:38AM on Mar 19th 2008
67. 1. A racist who lies about the most personal things, who can't spell or use the shift key and who doesn't understand grammer, physics or biology said I was unprofessional. Yeah, I'll take that to heart.
2. I've never seen "blaxploitation" spelled out. That's fantastic.
Ryan Anderson at 10:39AM on Mar 19th 2008
68. brian,
You need help dude. Serious help. I take offense to your racist statements on here today. It bothers me. You see, I experience racism quite often. I'm White, my wife is African, and our 3 kids are mixed. We get the stares and comments from both sides. This is where I need my most work in living as a Christian.
Because when I hear things so blatently ignorant and racist, I want to hurt that person. Many a time, my Wife had to stop me from hurting someone when they say things to my kids or my wife.
This is what I need work on. I don't turn my cheek or show enough mercy when it comes to racism.
You brian, are an ass hole. You have problems.
I hope we meet.
Botts at 10:40AM on Mar 19th 2008
69. Moke...
I'd do Beyonce'. I've dated outside my Caucasian race...and boy, oh boy! Did I have great fun!
As for food...EVERY culture contributes great recipes to the world's buffet! There are things that I like from all cultures and things that I just can't handle from all cultures. This is what makes living so much gosh-darned fun!
Paul at 10:40AM on Mar 19th 2008
70. Mokele: Don't be fooled by brian's appeasement. He backs off as soon as his targets show a little spine. He says he thinks you are kind, but lumps you in with the liberal left atheistic agenda that he denounced only a few minutes ago. He says atheists are irredeemably cruel people, and then claims you are considerate. Doublethink, anyone?
As for my faith, I know of what I speak. I like cornbread, watermelon, fried chicken, 50-Cent, Outkast, rims, and Duke Ellington. Prove I am not black.
AndrewV at 10:40AM on Mar 19th 2008
71. "Moral laws supercedes human laws." --Dkassa
_____________
Yeah? Whose morals? Which moral code should we follow? Do animals have moral codes that supersede "human" laws, too? Because if they do then maybe we oughta follow those moral codes as well?
Dkasa, here's how far out of touch you are: moral laws ARE human laws.
And it's a shame that you let your obvious emotional investment in such political issues interfere with your ability to make friends. THAT, my friend, is the very seed of racism, hatred, war, and killing.
Nonetheless, I wish the best of luck to you and your people.
Paul at 10:46AM on Mar 19th 2008
72. What laws did MLK violate? Why don't read MLK's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" so you can understand that Civil Disobedience is what transformed America to the society that it is today. Have you forgotten that Segregation was legal Paul?? Why do you think Rosa Park ended up in jail for not giving up her seat? Because she broke the law Paul. Are we really having this discussion? Again, you really need to study your history before you start preaching about " Constitutional right to free assembly and free speech" Obviously that constitution did not extend to all member of society which is why some had to "break the law" in order to make it a "more perfect Union"
dakasa at 10:55AM on Mar 19th 2008
73. Andrew...
I can prove that you're black...and white.
My computer screen displays your posts in...wait for it! Black and white!
Paul at 10:52AM on Mar 19th 2008
74. Hey. Wait a minute. I'm a third generation Washingtonian (D.C.)!! Prove I'm not black.
Linda at 10:52AM on Mar 19th 2008
75. botts,
really? me racist,your nuts. if your wife is purple what do i care. but we do see a pecular sensitive side coming out and a hostile side at that. most assurdly i am not racist in the least. i said many many blacks are resentful of whites and thats true. many many blacks use the race card and thats true. jackson and sharpton are an affront to humans in general. if you have a sensitivity here i suggest you deal with it without lashing out at me. fair enough? besides i am surprised you writing me. whats with this turn of events?
brian at 10:52AM on Mar 19th 2008