Throughout his campaign Barack Obama has mocked his critics, noting that they just don't get what a novel figure and consistent unifier he has been for his whole life. "They say: We don't know enough about him. His pastor once said something. He's got a funny name, sounds Muslim."
But of late Obama's pastor has been saying a lot, and finally Obama has been forced to denounce him. For the first time Obama has called the Reverend Jeremiah Wright's views "ridiculous" and even accused him of being a purveyor of "hate."
To which one might say: better late than never. Maybe Obama never really knew how radical this guy is. But how likely is this? Let's remember that Reverend Wright is the one who has been consistent over the years. He used to believe that the U.S. government manufactured the AIDS virus and deliberately spread it in the black community, and he still believes it. He thinks America may have conspired to bomb itself on 9/11, and he's never wavered in that conviction. Now, and before, he thinks that "God Bless America" is better expressed as "God Damn America!"
Obama has been hearing such messages for more than two decades, packaged in an incendiary racial ideology which surpasses anything that Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton have ever said. And yet Obama selected this man for his mentor and even called him "family." By contrast with this white grandmother, Obama actually chose to make Wright part of his intimate circle.
Even six weeks ago, having heard all the controversial comments by Wright, Obama was standing by his man. He distanced himself from some of Wright's views while refusing to repudiate Wright. He said he could no more repudiate Wright than he could repudiate his own family. This by the way is the speech that many pundits hailed for its originality and brilliance. I think it will go down as one of the biggest blunders in American political history.
What Obama should have said in that speech: "Once upon a time this man rescued my spiritual life. A long time ago when I was spiritually and emotionally at a low point, he was there for me and he helped me get over the hill. So I owe him big time. I know that he's said some crazy things, but I've overlooked them, because of what he did for me." Instead Obama tried to sound like W.E.B. Du Bois. He impressed the liberal intelligentsia, while shooting himself politically in the foot.
Now Obama would have us believe that, as far as Wright is concerned, he's had just about enough. But why? What has Wright said that has finally caused his disciple to end their relationship? While Wright has been pontificating a lot lately, he has not given us any new bombshells. But he did suggest that, in his beliefs like the one about the U.S. government and AIDS, Obama agrees with him.
Wright noted that of course Obama is now saying something different; that's because Obama is now running for president. So he has to say something different! Translation: what we see with Obama is not what we get. And Wright is in a position to know. He's nursed Obama intellectually and spiritually over the years. It is Obama himself who has given us this man, and assured us of his integrity and reliability.
The more I examine the two, the more I think that it is Wright who is being consistent and calling it the way he sees it, and Obama who is hiding the part of himself that once embraced this man and maybe still agrees with many of his beliefs but now finds him a political liability. While Obama continues to portray himself as Mr. Straight Talk, at this point he is a candidate enveloped in shadows.
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 58)
46. Ryan...
If you can't recognize the bigotry of 9 out of 10 blacks supporting Barack Obama then YOU are the idiot.
If you can't recognize how black Americans measure EVERYTHING through their transit of color, then YOU are the idiot.
If you can't discern how black Americans employ a double standard with regards to hate speech in America then YOU are the idiot.
This much is crystal clear: A vote for Barack Obama is, indeed, a vote for black racism in America.
Paul at 11:12AM on Apr 30th 2008
47. fanman,
yes the truth is once again out!!
brian at 11:12AM on Apr 30th 2008
48. brian; good moring. Business is fine. Are you still slow?
Ryan Anderson at 11:13AM on Apr 30th 2008
49. D’ouche D’louza, you ignorant slut.
I’ve seen you slinking in the hot gritty night, sauntering from car to car, underneath garish city lights, hawking your wares, “hey baby, you lookin’ for some hot, wet and pulsing right wing ideology? Wait… First tell me, are you a cop? You gotta tell me if you’re a cop or its entrapment.”
What else do we know about Jeremiah Wright? Inspired by JFK’s challenge to “Ask not what your country can do for you but rather what you can do for your country” he joined and became a highly decorated Marine and after two years he joined and became highly decorated Navy man, he was subsequently considered patriotic and virtuous enough to be part of president Johnson’s medical team at a time when many African-American men had good reason to doubt that they could excel in this country. Does that sound like a man who would fill every sermon week after week with hate filled anti-American invective? Surely someone would have reminded him of how well he had done in the land of opportunity had he constantly engaged in this behavior but Dinesh would have us believe that every sermon was a hate America fest.
Is there any doubt that all across America some pastor or other is engaging America bashing on some level? But since such vitriol is usually directed against targets such as gays, liberals, foreigners and such I have no doubt D’ouche D’Bag would approve.
Tell me D’ouche, where is your disapproval for the fact that John McCain actively sought and received the endorsement of reverend John Hagge after knowing that John Hagge is on the record of making rabid anti catholic remarks, remarks he has yet to take back or apologize for. The media has only half heartedly asked McCain about this with the result that he neatly side steps the issue. Where is the constant media attention on this?
Let’s face it D’ouche, time has not been good to you and though you’re putting up a tough front, your religion is sagging, deep lines are beginning to creep across your politics, your economic philosophies are drooping and honey, your pimp is just not that into you anymore.
But then again your pimp (pimps actually) have problems of their own. There’s sure to be a new sheriff in town soon and you’ll have to find honest work, but a lifetime of whoring for the right has left you ill equipped to handle a real job. I would advise you to find a man who would make an honest woman out of you but no one wants to marry an old whore who never had the goods to begin with.
Maybe Ann Coulter would put you up at her place, as a housekeeper of course, because you do to earn your keep. You can do some light housekeeping around the house to the soundtrack of Ann moaning behind the door of her lair as a result of the expert handling of some well-endowed liberal while you lament the fact that you don’t “measure” up.
rabidmccain at 11:15AM on Apr 30th 2008
50. Paul; I'm just curious what exposure you have to "black americans"? It's just not been my exprience that they are bigoted or universally support Obama.
So let's assume though that Obama's supporters are racist (which I don't think they are). How does that make a vote for Obama a vote for racism? Obama is not his supporters. Obama is Obama, and as far as I can tell, he's right on about race in America.
I am an idiot though.
Ryan Anderson at 11:16AM on Apr 30th 2008
51. DID YOU GUYS REALLY NEEDED THIS PASTOR'S COMMENTS TO REALIZE HOW INCONSISTENT HAS BEEN OBAMA ALL THE WAY?? WHAT A THOUGH INTELLIGENCE YOU GUYS HAVE. HE IS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER LATIN PRESIDENT WITH THOSE CHAOTIC COUNTRIES , SAME HALF & HALF RACES, AND SAME LIES,SLOGANS AND PURPOSES, OOPS!!WAIT! DON'T FORGET MUSLIMS COUNTRIES AND TREATISES, AREN'T THEY ALSO VERY LIKELY????
pet at 11:20AM on Apr 30th 2008
52. Before we get derailed on the usual theist-atheist sniping lets look at what Wright is really saying.
He accuses the federal government of introducing AIDS to black populations. Well has there been any organized attempt to introduce VD to black populations before? There is the infamous tuskagee experiment: Black men with Syphilis were withheld treatment for their disease by doctors who lied to them and claimed they were getting better. This was continued even after antibiotics were proven to be able cure syphilis. When the experiment was exposed the doctors involved lost their careers and medical research practices were reformed to make any and all such experiments illegal to perform. Have there been similar experiments since Tuskagee? Not to my knowledge.
Wright also states that the U.S. was behind 9/11. Certainly conspiracy theories abound by those who see everything machiavellian in what the government does. But engineers who have examined the impact and destruction of the WTC conclude that the method of failure was structural and not explosive. But what about the argument that the government let the attacks happen? This too falls apart given the interdepartmental chatter leading up to the attacks. There is ample evidence of bureaucratic snares and rivalries, but no smoking gun from the white house or any agency saying 'let this happen'. Unless Wright has that smoking gun, what he is declaring a conspiracy is no more than political incompetence.
Now does wright have the right to be upset with America? Of course he does. Most Americans are pissed off by one aspect or another of their government. If it's not liberals being pissed off by gitmo then it's conservatives being pissed off by the IRS. And Wright has the right to be express his views however he so chooses. He chose, every other month or so, to express it in his sermons.
Sadly, Obama is the democratic frontrunner. That means that the conservative media must remain fixated upon him and all things associated with him. This is nothing more than a continuation of guilt by association. And as Wright has continued to express his views then Obama has done the only option left to him and rejected wright. Perhaps be believed he could get away with ignoring the man's negative message for his possive ones. Only Obama will ever know for sure. Regardless, until I see Obama promoting policies that are openly biased according to race I will continue to see this as nothing more than it is: the forging of an albatross to hang about Obama's neck.
Somber at 11:20AM on Apr 30th 2008
53. paul,,
the fire is lit and now its going to rage. but remember i said,an i mean we have to forgive as christians or we are no better than the blacks who harbor racial bigotry and couch it behind subteness and inuendos. i say forgive, but lets recognize the truth. forgive brothers forgive and botts you too
brian at 11:21AM on Apr 30th 2008
54. ryan,
". Paul; I'm just curious what exposure you have to "black americans"?
so ryan unless you know someone personally,you trying to discount everythin thats said, i forgive you but thats pretty cheap and ignorant
brian at 11:26AM on Apr 30th 2008
55. Rev. Wright is no different in his racist views of the white population and the United States than Christian fundamentalists are about gays.
What does the podium get you, a forum to spread your own distorted, uneducated views on a populace that is just as uneducated as you are. It could be a place to stand and talk about equality and acceptance, but usually it is a place to spread one's vile disrespect for a humanity that isn't just like you.
I think we should put all of those religious "pastors" on a new show called "America's Pastor".
It would be interesting to see how America actually votes based on its belief system.
And who in America had the strongest voice, would it be the fundamentalist Christians? Would it be the Catholics, Baptists, Mormons, or maybe none of the regulars, maybe it will be a new religion, or none at all.
TJ at 11:26AM on Apr 30th 2008
56. hahaha brian... How I haven't missed you. I can deal with a president in office that has a surplus, equality for people is moving forward and the only thing I have to worry about is him getting his dick sucked. I mean there is a reason that Bush is being called the worst president in American History and 50 years from now it will be a known fact in textbooks.
danny at 11:28AM on Apr 30th 2008
57. rryan,
So let's assume though that Obama's supporters are racist (which I don't think they are).
now you made this statemnet but you do not know. the numbers of blacks voting for obama sure suggest racial prefrence or they would surely vote for mccain
brian at 11:31AM on Apr 30th 2008
58. danny,
i forgive you for your angst. but we need a president with character.clinton had none.
brian at 11:34AM on Apr 30th 2008
59. Paul, brian,
People vote for the candidates who will best understand and address the issues that matter to them. Is it any surprise that the blacks gravitate toward Obama? No, you just have to turn it into a race war.
Mokele Mbembe at 11:38AM on Apr 30th 2008
60. Yes, Ryan...
You really are an idiot. How do I know this? I know that you're an idiot because you actually need someone to explain black bigotry to you. I know this because you need someone to actually explain Barack Obama's racism to you.
Yes, Ryan...you are an idiot.
Read Barack Obama's bigoted speech from Philadelphia. Obama is such a racist, he even had to fabricate the racism of a white campaign worker in South Carolina to illustrate his points.
There could only be two reasons for such fabrication. Either, one, the widespread white racism he perceives doesn't actually exist. Or, two, he's a racist who views the world through his bigoted eyes.
Take your pick, idiot, either way, you lose.
Paul at 11:38AM on Apr 30th 2008