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 7 of 44)
91. brian, do I know good and well that I'm gay?
I think my wife would disagree.
AndrewV at 11:12AM on Mar 19th 2008
92. Mokele; I'll concede that Jackson and Sharpton do more harm that good, but they are not an affront to humankind. They serve a purpose that is slowly becoming unnecessary or has already become unneccessary (I think it's still the former).
brian; I couldn't care less about Obama's preacher.
Ryan Anderson at 11:13AM on Mar 19th 2008
93. I have not forgotten that segregation was legal at one time. In fact, sanctioned discrimination continues today in America when our president proposes Constitutional amendments that would prohibit marriages based on little more than a person's gender.
Still, you haven't proven your completely irrelevant allegations about how I might have regarded MLK.
Moreover, comparing MLK with Jackson again falls short. MLK (and Rosa Parks) objected to the sanctioned victimization of Negroes in America. Jackson's unauthorized trips to broker deals, however, was never about civil disobedience because Jackson was in NO WAY a victim of any sort of systemic discrimination at the time he took the trips. In other words, societal change did not serve as the foundation for Jackson's negotiations. His trips abroad did NOTHING to benefit the greater good of the American people. On the contrary, they threatened the greater good by undermining the authority of US government.
Again, end of completely inappropriate comparison. No wonder you can't believe we're having this discussion. You continually bring up completely irrelevant topics of discussion.
Paul at 11:13AM on Mar 19th 2008
94. "botts what have you to say for obama's preacher??"
Obama's preacher is like 95% of all preachers here. Hateful, false, divisive. I'm sure where your from, your saturated with those jerks.
So what does that have to with Obama? Does that mean he can't be President? Obama has something to his advantage. He isn't indoctrinated. He was raised outside of Religion. He is extremely intelligent.
Why should we agree with 100% of what our pastors may say in a sermon.
All it is, is a smear tactic. They have nothing on Obama. So they have to resort to shit like this.
He's still going to win.
But I am like Paul in this, I worry about his safety once he does win.
A lot of indoctrinated Christians out there willing to pull the Trigger.
And you think Muslims are our enemy?
Look into your community. You'll see the future evil that gathers thousands of new members by the weeks and indoctrinates our Children with false teachings at young ages.
Jesus warned of this. He said we (Christians) would be our own destruction.
Now what do you think that means?
I see it coming. I know it's coming. World War III is going to be a Holy War.
But it's going to be Christians against Christians.
Believe it.
Botts at 11:15AM on Mar 19th 2008
95. Hey Hey Hay, Paul....
There is no shame in being from D.C. This is a fine, vibrant city. I don't deride politicians like the rest of you. There are plenty of us natives, too.
Almost all our museums are free, too.
Linda at 11:16AM on Mar 19th 2008
96. brian,
Word of the day: You're
Your failure to employ the the word you're when you instead say your sometimes confuses your meaning and what you're trying to say, not only now, but even back to your posts of yore. You're welcome.
Mokele-Mobembe at 12:00PM on Mar 19th 2008
97. ryan,,
yes yes ryan you could care less were it mccains preacher. but because its a liberal democrats preacher your good to go.
and botts, why are you no enraged at this preachers comments? why are you not indignant at this and seperate yourself from obama
brian at 11:20AM on Mar 19th 2008
98. Mokele; would brian assuming AndrewV is gay be a racist moment? I know gay is not a race, but still...
Ryan Anderson at 11:21AM on Mar 19th 2008
99. Linda...
You're absolutely right...I used to live in Laurel, Md.
You know I was just joking about DC. I loved going into town. I also enjoyed going up to Baltimore.
Paul at 11:21AM on Mar 19th 2008
100. Brian,
It is difficult being African-American and conservative. The problem is that the Civil Rights Movement has been reinterpreted by people like Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton. Instead of focusing on how to repair the damage of slavery and racism, they exploit the lingering anger and bitterness for political power. There is a tremendous amount of pressure to conform. There is no toleration for alternative views. They are quick to silence any opposition. Most of us are afraid to challenge the status quo for fear of being labeled traitors. The most insidious part is they have convinced liberal whites of their views and are quick to label racist anyone that disagrees with the agenda.
I am not an advocate of Affirmative Action for instance. I think it would be better to strengthen families and schools so that all children can compete equally. If the schools are dysfunctional then that needs to be addressed. Inadequate funding; let’s restructure. Poor curriculum; create a universal curriculum so that every child studies the same subject at the same age. Bad teachers, make testing of teachers’ mandatory; to be a teacher you would have to pass stringent national requirements. Let’s rebuild dilapidated urban neighborhoods by using non-violent offenders. They could be taught construction work; a useful skill. Gang problem; recruit African-American men as mentors to young boys so they don’t seek role models on the street. The list is endless, but self-appointed leaders refuse to listen.
janesophie1 at 11:23AM on Mar 19th 2008
101. This is borderline ridiculous. Completely grasping at straws, with nothing else to grasp at. How many people have racist parents and grandparents, whom they've lived with all their lives and learned how to LIVE from, and completely disagree with their racist views? PLENTY. Same with religious views, same with political views. We've all had teachers whom we have disagreed with on some fundamental principal or another.
This is possibly one of the most racist blog entries I've read by a supposed professional.
Strados at 11:23AM on Mar 19th 2008
102. "and botts, why are you no enraged at this preachers comments? why are you not indignant at this and seperate yourself from obama"
Read my post jerk. I already answered this.
I already am aware that most preachers are one in the same. Hateful, divise, you name it.
It doesn't surprise me in the least that Obama's is like the rest.
Botts at 11:24AM on Mar 19th 2008
103. Paul: 9:30 club!! Wow. I was there a lot. I hooked up with the Greaseman once (pre-sobriety) and got into an awesome brownout/blackout. The early 80's are kind of blurred.
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Bryan, WH holds no hope. I just posts his truths.
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You call it hatred, I call it brutal truth. What's the dif? This is a blog, after all.
You know, if it was Obama up there sermonizing like the Rev, it would be noteworthy. It was not.
Linda at 11:25AM on Mar 19th 2008
104. botts,
obama is done. sad to say because he seems like a nice guy. but he is finished. hillary the hun is moving in for the kill. its all over but the singing. and thats a shame because hillary is a witch in my estimation.
brian at 11:26AM on Mar 19th 2008
105. "He's [Obama] still going to win." --Botts
________________
Obama very well might win the Democratic nomination, but I'm not so sure about the general election, Botts. We both know that there is still enough residual racial bias in this country to keep Barack out of the "White" House. And this later eruption with his personal mentor and pastor will NOT endear him to that critical middle segment of Americans (mostly white) who MIGHT have been previously inclined to vote for him.
I'd bet that just as many people who will vote for Obama because he's black will NOT vote for him because he's black. We all know this, and it IS a problem in America.
Personally, I don't think Obama's really fit for the job just yet. I would, however, vote for Colin Powell if he ever ran. I would NOT vote for Condoleezza Rice because she just reminds me too much of a Bush mouthpiece.
Paul at 11:29AM on Mar 19th 2008