Regarding Wright

re: Regarding Wright

JacksonDem'73 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 04:59:05 GMT

Obama gets no free pass here; this is very troubling. How does one place himself under the spiritual guidance of a man like this? Obama did for 20 years, he said this rev is his mentor..very disturbing

re: Regarding Wright

polchat — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:48:13 GMT

Pastor Wright holds up a mirror to the face of America.....for those in America who see themselves as they truly are in that reflection, dont like what they see!! All "true" Christians know that for the millions of babies killed yearly, same sex marriages, prostitution habits, all out attacks against families, rampant homosexuality, injustice, greed, cloning, and every vile and abomination written of in the Bible done in and by this nation. God certainly CAN NOT...DOES NOT ....

BLESS AMERICA FOR IT !

It is long past time for us to roll up our sleeves and change what we "true believers" know needs to be changed so we can GET RIGHT WITH GOD !!

We have a monumental task before us.....for the powers of darkness are strong and subtle !!

re: Regarding Wright

realpages — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:55:58 GMT

The etymology of the word pastor links it to the Latin word feed and to the Celtic word for herdsman. Obama chose for 20 years to be spiritually feed and herded by this hate filled man. His wife made the same choice. As partners, the Obamas made the same choice for their children.

I can only surmise that Obama is lying when he says he was unaware that his pastor held such despicable views. There is just too much video evidence that shows Wright often and unabashedly spewed his messages to his flock. Does Obama really believe that educated middle and upper-middle class white voters can be hoodwinked and bamboozled into believing that he conveniently defied the odds and was never there when Wright erupted into anti-American and anti-white sermons? Even if his slick style manages to pull that off, does Obama really believe that educated middle and upper-middle class white voters can be hoodwinked and bamboozled into believing that he did not hear from fellow church community members about the provocative nature of the sermons Wright vomited in the pulpit?

Obama should have shown the courage years ago to sever the link to this man, even if it meant severing his links to the wider church community. The principles at hand are just too important to be overlooked like a crazy uncle (a ridiculous analogy from a highly educated and intelligent man). Obama did not show such courage. By the way, the etymology of courage comes from the Latin word heart. By not having the moral courage to walk out of his church years ago, Obama has given us a glimpse of what is in his heart. Instead, he camouflaged it with his relentless and vacuous mantra of hope and change that people who rightly are color blind could not see through.

re: Regarding Wright

FRANK TELLS — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:28:42 GMT

I WANT TO FIX HILLARY CLINTON FOR STAYING WITH BILL WHEN SHE SHOULD HAVE DIVORCED HIM OVER:

1. HIS ANTIMASTURBATION

2. HIS CHEATING ADULTERY

ALSO IM AGAINST HER NOT LISTENING TO ME ABOUT VOTING AGAINST THE ANTI POKER BILL (PHONE CALLS, LETTERS) AND RECEIVING FUNDING FROM HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES WHEN THEY ARE ALREADY OVERCHARGING AND AGE DISCRIMINATING. I ALSO BELIEVE LIKE JOE LIEBERMAN THAT BILL CLINTON SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED AFTER ILLEGALLY CHEATING ON HIS WIFE.

re: Regarding Wright

ericrsiny — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:54:29 GMT

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/just-what-did-o.html

What did Obama know and when did he know it?

In his Friday night cable mea culpas on the incendiary comments made by his spiritual adviser Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., repeatedly said, "I wasn't in church during the time that these statement were made. I did not hear such incendiary language myself, personally. Either in conversations with him or when I was in the pew, he always preached the social gospel. ... If I had heard them repeated, I would have quit. ... If I thought that was the repeated tenor of the church, then I wouldn’t feel comfortable there."

Obama told CNN that he "didn't know about all these statements. I knew about one or two of these statements that had been made. One or two statements would not lead me to distance myself from either my church or my pastor. ... If I had thought that was the tenor or tone on an ongoing basis, then yes, I don't think it would have been reflective of my values."

But according to a New York Times story from a year ago, the Obama campaign dis-invited Wright from delivering a public invocation at Obama's candidacy announcement.

“Fifteen minutes before Shabbos I get a call from Barack,” Wright told the Times. “One of his members had talked him into uninviting me."

re: Regarding Wright

lb078 — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:12:46 GMT

once again we have a jounalist who can't keep his evident bias out of his stories. mr. romano, if you've bothered to watch mr. wrights videos, how can you possibly believe that anyone who's attended his church for almost twenty years wasn't aware of the types of messages being preached? while i'm sure not all of his sermons were this terrible, was mr. wright saving all his racist propaganda for the days obama wasn't in attendance? obama is an intelligent guy, he knew what was going on. he might not have been the one spewing the hate, but he kept coming back for more.

re: Regarding Wright

wdmll — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 04:48:15 GMT

Is Barack Obama the person to takeover the reins of the United States of America?

I have been watching the throngs of Barack Obama supporters as they swell the political gatherings. They appear go be in the presence of the man that is going to take this country forward, to leave behind the shekels of the past. To mend the divide between the races. The past is the past and there is no way, but into the land of milk and honey. Where a person’s creed, race and social, economic standing, will not stand in his or her way, in the new world of change. Change that will erase all the injustices of the past. The white man can ease his conscience for the sins of his father and his father. The black man can now standup and say it is time, time for the oppression of the black man end. This country is now ready for a man of color to lead us all.

So Obama is that man, his shining torch would lead the way. But what do we really know about this man. He is very successful, both he and his wife are highly educated and they appear to have the perfect family. The American dream that should be available to anyone apparently has been achieved by the Obamas.

He has had a different upbringing than many African Americans. He was born in Hawaii to a white mother and a Kenyan Father. His mother was a self proclaimed atheist nor was his father a devoted Muslim. His parents divorced when Obama was of a very young age. Obama and his family went to Indonesia where Obama spent a few years in different schools. His racial make up would not have been an ethnic obstacle in his younger years in Hawaii or Indonesia. Through his stepfather, he was exposed to Islam. This was by at times, going to the local Mosque with his stepfather and limited Islamic study at one of the schools that he attended. This all ended in 1971 when he brought to the United States.

Obama was afforded an exceptional education at both Columbia University and Harvard Law School, at which he excelled. Early on, be became a civil rights lawyer and worked in community affairs. He made his way into politics both in the Illinois State Senate and as the U.S. Junior Senator from Illinois in 2004. Here we are today, Obama one of the leading candidates for the Democratic Bid for the White House.

Barack Obama and his wife are examples of how hard work can lead to the White House. So why are we hearing about their church minister and how he hates whites and this country is the curse of the earth. How Michelle Obama has made statements about this country that can now be explained by the twenty years exposure to The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., pastor of Obama’s Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. So is Michelle the window into the inner thoughts of Barack Obama. Has his upbringing and long association with the likes of Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. and others, created an anomaly contrary to the best interests of this country. Is he the person to takeover the reins of the United States of America?

wdmll http://wdmll.blogspot.com/2008/03/is-barack-obama-person-to-takeover.html

re: Regarding Wright

auntidi — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:12:28 GMT

I listened to the Audacity to Hope sermon preached by Pastor Wright and could only conclude one thing: The preacher is getting crucified for an abberation. His sermon was so soft spoken and biblical based that I found it very difficult to reconcile that sermon with the clips that the media are playing right now. The preacher never once yelled his voice, never once screamed at the congregation. I could have been sitting in my own church listening to this and would have felt completely at home. I challenge your readers and you to listen to this sermon. I listened to it last night and failed to bookmark it. Its audio only. If this is a typical Wright sermon then I have no choice but to believe Obama when he says he didn't hear Wright say those things.

I think too one needs to put into context Wrights statements about Clinton and 9/11. Where are the WHOLE sermons? Why just a tiny clip of each? Can it be because the media didn't want us to hear all of it? Why not? These are also legitimate questions. I am not entirely defending pastor Wright's inflamatory words but I find it ludricous to that we would judge a man as a racist by taking a few small snippets out of his sermons, refuse to put them into context to hear the whole message, and then nail him to the cross for saying things that aren't even untrue?

Hillary doesn't know what its like to be called a N****** OK is that a lie? He is saying that Clinton isn't black? What is racist about that? He is saying she hasn't had this particular experience that every black person has had. That she doesn't know the damage that racism does to a person. Sure it was blunt. Sure it was shocking. But maybe people need to be shocked and maybe it takes a pastor willing to shout and scream the N word to get people to listen. I wasn't there and haven't been privvy to the full sermon so I don't really know...and neither does anyone else.

Barack knows what it is like to grow up black in a world run by rich white men? What is untrue or racist about this? Is there any untruth here? Anything other than a blatant fact?

The united states bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki and has killed thousands and thousands of civilians? Are we surprised that there are people and countries in the world that hate us? What is untrue about this? This statement, made five days after 9/11 tends to make you remember that everyone's emotions were high and how can we judge this man's personal pain and demons about 9/11 based on this one statement torn from a sermon that we haven't heard? What did he say after this? What did he say before? Was there a message of unity and reconciliation and love that we didn't get out of this? Wright isn't the only one that has said this. Falwell said that the terrorist struck because of gays. I've heard Pat Robertson say that Katrina was gods judgement on the sinners.

I'm a believer and a christian and I have sat through some sermons I've disagreed with, almost left the church over a couple of times. But mostly I try to judge my pastor by a standard of love taught in the bible.

We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by the actions or words.

re: Regarding Wright

FtGreeneNY — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:00:22 GMT

The unfortunate irony in this dust-up over Rev. Wright is that it appears that very few people are actually examining what the man said. I suspect that many who are unfamiliar with the preaching tradition in a lot of black (and other) churches have allowed Wright's preaching style to "frighten the horses" as much as any interpretation of the actual narrative content of the clips has.

But let's look at the statements he made in those sermons:

1. The US brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own acts of terrorism.

One can argue whether or not our propping up dictators, supporting repressive regimes, and squashing democratic movements by populations when they run counter to our perceived national interests over the course of our history have or have not contributed to the type of hatred that encourages people to act out a 9/11 (I for one do believe that there is some cause and effect), but many people, myself included have wondered silently and aloud about whether or not there were some chickens coming home to roost there, not that it was right or just, but that there was a connection - and my apartment was rocked by the planes slamming into the WTC and I watched the buildings burn and fall and screamed at the sight along with my neighbors.

2. God bless america, no God damn America.

Said in a context of a nation continuing on a legislative and social track that disenfranchises significant numbers of black men via policing them starting at a very young age before they commit any crimes, constantly monitoring them through information gathered during shake and pat-downs (hell in my first semester at my Ivy League university, I was stopped and questioned twice on my way to class by campus police in front of everyone - an experience shared by many other black male students at the time there) and imprisoning/warehousing them at much higher rates than whites for the same crimes, in addition to our country perpetrating some admittedly horrible things in the name of our freedom and national security: to date, thankfully, we remain the only nation to have ever bombed a civilian population with a nuclear bomb. For me, this was about America not just failingliving up to its promise, but in some ways violating that promise. If you are Christian, you do not exploit and further victimize the least of us, and you do not needlessly kill the innocent. That is in fact the road to damnation. True Christian behavior (and I've never understood why this seems to be so difficult for so many) is easy; you act as much like Christ as possible; violence, hatred and exploitation have no place in the equation.

3. America started the AIDS virus.

On this, I have no idea what Wright was talking about; I worked in the LGBT rights and advocacy movement, have served on the board of a large AIDS service organization in the black community here in Brooklyn, and here are so many theories as to how the AIDS virus started and many of them in different communitiers are based in consipiracy, none of us will likely ever know where it came from for certain. However, we certainly did our part, particularly in the early years to exacerbate the AIDS epidemic here as it ravaged the gay community and communities of people of color. Frankly, I've been impressed that from what I've read, early on Wright was one of the black ministers who did not turn his back on gays or people living with HIV/AIDS in his community or church.

4. Hillary ain't never been called a n****r.

Um, is there something false in this statement? A statement that was also connected to Hillary's being part of the existing tradition of the nation being run by wealthy whites. Perhaps I missed something, but I'm fairly confident in my belief that the US has always been run by wealthier white people, and one can argue that though sexisim is a hugely powerful and negative force in our society, white women have benefitted from racism in a way that black men have not benefitted from sexism (perhaps a talented black owman should actually be the front-runner for the Democratic nomination). White women have also been great beneficiaries of some of the remedies created to repair the damage done by both sexism and racism. For instance, the largest beneficiaries of affirmative action have been white women, which is wonderful. I find the use of this clip interesting in that after the last debate, all of the pundits who remarked on Hillary's noting how different or important it would be for a woman to be President acknowledged that had Barak said something similar about being a black President, it would've been political suicide. I think that a bad by-product of the success thus far of Obama's campaign has been the unwillingness of Americans to admit that race is still a huge problem, not just for people of color, but for whites and America in general. The visual evidence of that in some quarters (the video of Rev. Wright) betrays the pain, anger and seething at least for some in the black community about what has been done, what continues to occur, and what there is yet to achieve.

re: Regarding Wright

kygirl — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:15:39 GMT

I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ELECTION SINCE IT STARTED. AT FIRST I WAS UNDECIDED BUT AS TIME WENT BY I BECAME A HILLARY SUPPORTER. NOW I AM VERY GLAD I DID. AFTER HEARING HIS PASTOR SPEAK I AM SO APPALLED. ANYONE WITH SO MUCH ANGER INSIDE AND DELIVERING SUCH MESSAGES IS NOT GOOD . I WOULD NEVER LET ANY OF MY CHILDREN LISTEN TO SUCH A SERMON. IF I WERE OBAMA I WOULD HAVE BEEN ASHAMED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SOMEONE SUCH AS WRIGHT. OBAMA ONLY TRIED TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR HIM AND SAY THAT WRIGHT WAS OK. I DON'T THINK SO. THEIR NEW PASTOR EVEN UP HELD THE ACTION OF MR WRIGHT. I WANT TO ASK HOW ANYONE COULD APPROVE ANYONE WHITE OR BLACK SAYING SUCH THINGS AS WHAT MR WRIGHT SAID??????? IT JUST WAS NOT RIGHT FOR ANYONE TO SAY ABOUT ANYBODY OR ANYTHING. I BELIEVE OBAMA DEFINITELY HAS BEEN HEARING SERMON SUCH AS THESE ,THOUGHT OUT THE YEARS HE HAS KNOW MR WRIGHT. IT WOULD NOT BE LOGICAL TO THINK THAT MR WRIGHT HAS NOT VOICED THESE THINGS TO OBAMA. DOES OBAMA REALLY THINK THE AMERICAN OR AT LEAST PART OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE STUPID. NOT EVERYONE THINKS HE IS SEXY AND COOL AND SHOULD BE PRESIDENT. SEXY AND COOL JUST DOESN'T GET THINGS DONE. AND I DON'T THINK HE IS EITHER (SEXY OR COOL)!!!!! HE IS NOT BEING HONEST WITH AMERICANS AND THOSE WHO BELIEVE HIM BETTER WAKE UP SOON . REAL SOON.

GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

re: Regarding Wright

Tisha — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:39:48 GMT

I do not think that any Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, Reverend, Bishop whatever you call them should be talking about politics from the pulpit. We do have separation from Church and State . It's a two way street. Keep religion out of Goverment and Keep Goverment out of Religion.

re: Regarding Wright

Nedudgi — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:18:28 GMT

Regarding the post of FtGreeneNY:

This is a dust-up? What would you say if these or similar white racist comments were made of the pastor of Hillary's church? I bet you were out shouting that she should drop out of the race immediately, because she has not repudiated these sermons when they happened. And by the way, you would be correct, Racism is racism, and it is repugnant and should be denounced no matter whether it is white or black racism. Rev Wright is clearly a black racist, and should be called as such, damn the political correctness of the left of the Democratic Party. He is Obama's spiritual mentor, adviser and "uncle" as he repeatedly stated. Typically someone with these attributes is there to guide you in matters of values, ethics, faith, etc. So, we can expect that while Obama would never admit it (he is a politician after all) his values are shaped by the views of Rev Wright. If so, he has no place in American politics, not as a candidate for president, not as a senator, not as a federal dog catcher.

As far as this county is run by rich white people: well maybe I am color blind but our secretary of state, one Ms. Rice, seems to be black and she is definitely part of the click that is running this country. So was Colin Powell. Both payed a crucial role to get us into the Iraq mess. So, I would expect that we democrats should finally get over judging people by their color, and start judging them based on their character and achievements. Obviously the Rev Wright does not subscribe to this.

As far a being still angry for the suffering of black people during slavery: this country (and others) obviously were wrong, and should be ashamed of that part of American history. However, that was many years ago, and maybe we should also remember the part of our history that thousands of white soldiers gave their life in the civil war to abolish slavery.

As far as still existing discrimination: yes there is discrimination, but there are a lot of policies to combat it, all initiated by those damned white Americans. You going to an Ivy league school, probably at least aided by affirmative action (or similar diversity policies) is but one proof. Blaming black crime on white biased justice alone grossly simplifies things and tries to absolve blacks of the responsibility they should take for their own actions or rather inactions.

As far as Hillary is not being a n...r is just a fact: well it is a fact as much as it is a fact that without president Johnson's arm twisting congress the civil right act would have never been passed. For which fact Bill and Hillary Clinton were crucified by Obama supporters....

2. God bless america, no God damn America.

3. America started the AIDS virus.

4. Hillary ain't never been called a n****r.

re: Regarding Wright

FtGreeneNY — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:02:46 GMT

Yes, actually this is a dust-up; dust-up - slang: a row or angry dispute...

I'm actually trying to figure out the racist bit of Wright's comments...some folks are saying they're racist, but I don't get it.

As best as I can paraphrasing the clips:

America has done some awful things around the world - not racist

America should take care to treat all of its citizens equallly and fairly - not racist

Hillary's never been called a n****r - not racist

So, in trying to understand Nedudgi, should I believe that something's racist because someone doesn't want to hear it?

BTW, I don't have to wonder about HRC's pastor, but can look at what's come out of her campaign otherwise from WJC on down to Ferraro. She can run her campaign anyway she wants to, and I as a Democratic voter and her Senate constituent can make a decision about how to act accorndingly.

Also, Colin Powell and Condi Rice (for Pete's dake) are evidence of a nation's now being run inclusively??! Wow, after 400 years, we have arrived! Two people (well, down to one) in a lame administration and I'm sure we're lousy with black and brown CEOs and on and on as well.

Still being angry for slavery? Of course people are still angry about slavery, and Jim Crow, and lynching, redlining, unequal pay, police misconduct, and yes, unequal treatement under the law (not blaming whites for black crime - at least not all of it, but yes, wanting equal treatement, which often does not occur, particularly if you are unfortunate enough to be poor and/or black or brown). The larger point is that because so much is still yet to be done, America, not just blacks have yet to truly recover from slavery and all that happened after emancipation. Just 30 years ago when I was nine, my mother took me on a march in Decatur, AL because they were prosecuting a mentally-disabled black man for raping a white woman. It was my first encounter with the Klan (they had done a counter-march before ours). As it turned out after railroading the man and sentencing him to death, it was later found that not only did he not commit the rape, but he was physically incapable of having done it.

As for policies created to mitigate discrimination, of course they exist. And yes, I'm sure that since I couldn't be given favorable treatment because I was from a foreign country, or a legacy, or a rural area, I got some because I was black...but I also got it because I was smart, did well on the SAT, worked hard, and had been an honors student at one of the best boarding schools in the country, i.e. had the same qualifications as just about every other undergraduate applicant.

It seems incredibly easy for far too many to imagine that save for the bad behavior of some blacks, everything's just hunky-dory with respect to race today. It reminds me of having a conversation with a (white) classmate in high school about racism when another friend came along, heard what we were talking about and said, "why are you talking about that? didn't we write it out of the constitution?"

re: Regarding Wright

HolyRoller — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:29:31 GMT

Hussein Obama's CHICKENS HAVE COME HOME TO ROOST.

Smells like a few of his swine are wallowing in the mud with him and his buddies, also.

He is no longer a viable candidate, and the real nasty stuff isn't even public knowledge yet. This is going to be real entertainment.

NOBAMA!!!

re: Regarding Wright

orion12 — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:14:13 GMT

How can people criticize Rev. Wright? The man has not uttered any racist comment. He does not agree with America, he says Clinton is not a ***.... Objectively is he saying what others are not saying. I feel this whole hype is the fault of the press being so hungry for causing sensation. He has the right to make his point. Many Americans are damning Bush for everything he does, even though they are times not justified. How is Wright different? I guess because he is black?

Clinton can make so much noise about being a woman. She wore green the just a couple of days ago to show she has Irish background. But I do not hear any noise about this. Barak Obama wore the outfit of his father's people..... Ha ha!!! He is called a muslim terrorist. Why is'nt Clinton called an Irish IRA terrorist? Am I making sense here? Oh if Obama says "I am black" he becomes a racist. Clinton does not become a feminist for saying she is a woman!! This is very lopsided.

Every time a black man stands up to make a point he is labeled an angry man. Some have written Wright is an angry man and full of hate. Where is the hate? He is making a point. And a legitimate one too. Many of those who will not vote for Obama because he is black are full of what? Whiteness? I think that people are either trying to make Wright's comment into a mountain or they are just seeing themselves as they really are: they do not like a black person to talk about these things because they feel uncomfortable. But this is America... racism is here and we have to face it.

What bothers me is the media and people trying to blame Obama for what Wright said. To go to the extent to even suggest Obama leaves the church is beyond me. Is this a state run by some wierd ideology, whch states that one has to be controlled and he must conform to some code of political correctness? Does he not have a choice where he worships? How many of you would leave your church because the pastor or priest makes a bold comment? Are catholics leaving their churches due to scandals about homosexuality? (I must make it clear that I am not equating Pastor Wright's comments to any perceived immoral action). If some of us, cannot stand a black man being so strong as Obama is, then that is a problem. I can understant that. But let us not get silly and try to blame him for belonging to a church where the respected pastor makes comments that make people uncomfortable.

I ask the media to go and look for some sensible story. Seems that they are getting short of news. I guess if Obama snores that may be a good headline. Wow!! Wake up guys bring us news and analysis not pushing forward your pet problems and biasis. Be professional.