The Jeremiah Wright controversy will cost Obama the nomination. If Clinton wins in PA and gets the FL delegates reinstated, which I expect, then that means she has won seven of the nine major states for the Democratic Party to win in November while Obama would have won only one of them, with MI to be decided. It would be a huge risk for the superdelegates to vote for the candidate that has not won enough of these states and considers Rev. Wright to be a mentor and role model.

He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. His anti-US, anti-white pastor is his adviser for everything, despite Obama’s sudden interest in now separating himself from the bigot, though he had 23 years to decide to do this. He is toast. He won’t win over the male white vote now; he won’t win over the female who were behind Hillary; he won’t win over the moderates like he could have. It’s best to find out now that he wasn’t at all the great unifier. Beneath it all is a black separatist is not concerned with all Americans just all black Americans. What a shame and let down Obama is.

The Wright Dust-Up Shows and Proves That Many Whites Don’t Know Black
People at All
Black America Web ^ | March 16, 2008 | Deborah Mathis

Posted on 03/17/2008 11:41:36 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

The eruption of outrage, shock and fear that is flowing over Barack
Obama’s campaign like hot lava because his pastor has preached some
strident sermons tells us one thing for certain: Many white people don’t
know black people at all.

If they did, they would know that Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Chicago is
hardly the only black minister who uses the pulpit to rant against
racial duplicity and injustice. The black church has always been the
place for letting our hair down and speaking our peace — a safe haven
from the criminations outside. It’s how and why the black church became
the nursery for the freedom and civil rights movements. Not every
minister seasons his or her sermons with political commentary, and not
every one who does is as fiercely spoken as Rev. Wright, but there is
nothing unusual about the black clergy as social agitator. Guess the
shockees didn’t know that.

It seems they were also clueless that, when race, racism and
discrimination do invade the pulpit, it is not always in the context of
forgiveness and humility. Much of black America is resentful, angry and
distrustful — rightly so, some of us would say. Did the uninitiated
honestly believe that slavery, lynching, Jim Crow, white resistance and
flight, economic and educational duality, hyper-incarceration and
yawning disparities in wealth, health and longevity have had no lasting
effects; that all of that is really no big deal — something we can kick
off as easily as our Sunday shoes?

Surprise.

This could be a teaching moment for the society at large, which would do
well to pay closer attention to 35 million of its members and to give
heed to their accounts of their own experiences. Unfortunately, and
typically, the alarmists are threatening to make it a Waterloo for
Obama.

The candidate has denounced Rev. Wright’s statements about America’s
treachery, honest as they were.

Obama has even removed his Wright from his ministerial council. That had
to be painful for Obama, who has otherwise spoken devotedly of the
preacher who “brought me to Jesus,” performed his marriage ceremony and
baptized his daughters.

Those pounds of flesh are not enough for the alarmists, however. They
and frothing pundit after frothing pundit want the candidate to rebuke
Wright categorically — mind, body and soul.

Obama is in the unenviable position of having to court a large and
diverse audience — the American electorate generally and Democratic
voters particularly — that includes a good number of people who have no
knowledge of, curiosity about, nor sympathy for the black experience,
while, at the same time, remaining true to what he knows about Rev.
Wright specifically and the black church generally.

It’s a delicate balance, and Obama has tried to strike it, explaining to
journalists that the anger and disdain expressed by Rev. Wright reflect
common themes in “the black memory,” albeit not sentiments he shares.

In a fair world, Obama would be able to elaborate about the black
perspective and thereby give some context to Wright’s comments and the
facts of black expression.

But, then, in a fair world, there would be no racial divide to bridge.
Of course, Obama’s detractors would never consider that.

Masquerade,

Your comments are just as incendiary and out of touch with reality as Rev. Wright saying the government invented AIDS.

Obama and Rev. Wright are not the same person. Rev. Wright is not “anti-white”; his church has the most white attendees of any traditionally black parish in the nation. Neither is he “anti-US”, unless you believe, as even George Bush has been forced to admit is false, that protesting specific policies is inherently unpatriotic.

There is no ground for thinking that Rev. Wright will actively advise President Obama on anything at all, much less on “everything.” He has retired, and left the campaign.

Many of Rev. Wright’s comments are unfortunate in style or tone, and some of them are clearly just wrong. But Senator Obama is another person, and his own words and manner make clear he’s no “wolf.” Rather, it is your own paranoia, and that of others, which is a cheap disguise — for your obvious terror of anything different from your small, shallow self.

Have you ever hear a white southern baptist preacher expound on the maladies of American society on a sunday morning? Heard a few that forgot the kindness in their voice.

This Wright controversy is nonsense. Obama has never done anything in his Ilinois legislature and US Senate careers to suggest that he does not heed reconciliation.

Hillary Clinton is the most upstanding, decent candidate America has had in a long time. Even though she voted for the war, she has come to see that it was a huge mistake. Despite not admitting that, she’s changed 180 degrees.

Her faith in God and the American people is strong and will remain strong. She has support from the big states, blue collar workers and women. Women see her value and it’s undeniable.

Hillary isn’t listening to half-baked sermons. She knows better. She has 35 years of experience, including 8 years as a borad member with Wal-Mart, 8 years as first lady and two terms as senator. She has met people around the world and is capable of negotiating with all of them.

Though her plans are nearly the same as Obama’s, she has the leadership abilities to force her initiatives through Congress, without change, and deliver on her many grand promises.

The troops will come home. Oil prices will be brought down, but granted not as low as the $10 a barrel price during her husband’s administration. And even though the country isn’t in the midst of a tech bubble, the way it was during Bill’s term, Hillary will find a way to produce milions of new jobs.

Isn’t it about time we had a female president? Vote Hillary and vote for the kind of change that keeps on changing.

I find it hard to believe that in the Twenty years that Barack Obama attended Rev. Wright’s church he never heard him preach anti-white and Anti-American rants.

I heard that Oprah Winfrey went to the church, but quickly stopped going and left. Probably after hearing the rants of Rev. Wright. After that Rev. Wright attacked Oprah openly in his sermons. At least Oprah had the good JUDGMENT and intelligence to get up and walk out of that church. Something that Barack Obama appeared not to have. Now I know where Michelle Obama’s get some of her statements from.

This is a big problem for the Democratic party.

Could we just get religion out of politics, PLEASE? To be fair, if we scoured the rhetoric of the bible-thumping pastors of the religious right, what would we find?
Hate speech against gays, blacks,
immigrants, liberals. What will your POLICIES be, and how will they affect us,
that’s what I want to know. I couldn’t care less whether you believe in God, Jesus, Mohammed
or the Tooth Fairy, as long as you keep your religion out of my face and out of the Oval Office.

peace to all

this will cost obama the nomination without any doubt.all hillary has to do is steer clear of this issue and let obama’s campaign collapse.
the superdelegates will understand that every white vote that could have gone either way in the general election will now prefer mccain.obama couldn’t hope to win ohio or PA after this.
the irony is that it looked as though clinton could only have won the nomination by stealing it. obama has ended up handing it to her on a plate.

How about invitations to murder foreign leaders? or calling for violent disobedience. How about instigating the repression of black people during the civil rights campaigns?

BTW – Nice piece Tim.

Too bad both sides are starting flood blog posts with automated messages. Welcome to the new technology age.

I’m surprised no one’s made the parallel to Kennedy’s speech on religion in ‘60. It was a defining moment and can be for Obama. He’s being served a fat pitch and it’s up to him to knock it out of the park. I have a feeling he will.

But I also have a feeling that JFK’s speech didn’t really figure in that outcome just as this business about Wright won’t have any impact on BHO getting the nomination. There are a few firebrands who will respond negatively to BHO’s association with Wright, but I submit they would never have voted for him anyway. And there are enough Henny Penneys out there who will believe the sky is falling and will act according, but I also submit that if it wasn’t Wright that scared them off, they would find something else. This is NOT an issue for Obama. At least not now.

The 800 lb gorillas in the room are THE PARTY and THE CONVENTION. It’s going to be a brokered convention and a HELL of a lot of people are going to be pissed. If Obama comes away with the nomination, THEN Rev Wright’s comments will be used against him. Frankly, I think Obama would be better off saving his speech until after he gets the nomination. If he takes his best shot now, how will he respond this Summer? Rehash?

Yo, Tim, my main man. You be bad bro, you be bad. Why don’t you take your bad self (and your horrible patronizing) on down to that dock of the bay and boogie East, my man, boogie East. You be cool then, man, you be cool then. You hear what I’m sayin’?

The article concerning white people not knowing black people at all is very interesting to me as a “white” person. I am a democrat and felt that I have raised my three children to believe that all people are created equal. There are differences among culture and region among the races. Other wise you are just the same as me. Someone who wants to see your children do better than what you have in life. If you hold resentment against an entire race and gather to complain about that race….Then you are a racist. Talking about a church that is a safe haven to let your hair down and say what you think( when what you think is that white people are responsible for everything bad that has happened to you) is alarming. I do not sit in a church where the preacher speaks ill of anyone. I don’t seek out people that tell me that I’m oppressed due to all the government programs geared toward African – Americans to make me feel better about the shortcomings in my life. “White” people go hungry the same as “Black” people do. White people have money problems the same as Black people do. White people have no medical insurance the same as Black people do.
There can be no open discussion about race in America as long as the rules are different for each side. “Blacks” can say whatever they want and can say “Whites” don’t understand what they’ve been through. “Whites” can say something that deals with the issues and be concerned that they’re going to be labeled a RACIST. The reason you’re seeing a backlash over Mr. Wright’s remarks is that most “white” people are tired of playing by different rules and will stand up to racism in any form even in the democratic party. We are all human beings and need to accept that. I would vote for a “Green” president if he had the right views, but I will break party lines and vote for McCain if Obama gets the nomination. Mr. Obama has brought a divisive tone to this campaign with his association with an unpatriotic racist. If you don’t think that he is, poll the soldiers fighting in Iraq and see if they’ve ever “Damned” America. If anyone has a right to…they would. I bet you can’t find one over there that share his view..”Black” or “White”

Since we are on the topic of religion. Jesus sermons was very much anti-Jewish in his time and to the ‘establishment’ him and his followers were not fit to be leaders. Look at what happened since, they turn the world upside down.

If you speak against America that does not mean you are un-patriotic, in fact many times one who loves the country will criticize it. There are many preachers white and black that occassionally go ‘off’ track in thier sermons. Should all the church attendee’s be condemned for being ‘racist’ or leave the church?

In Christianity there are also many white churches, black churches, Chinese churches, Korean churches

It is old news for many outside of America that feels the white man has introduce Aids in Africa (no direct proof is available but it is widely accepted rumour)

Judge by the fruits…..not just by someone words. Remember George Bush represented the evangelical Christian (I am one) whose foreign policy has pretty much more harm than what Rev J.Wright has said. The evangelical christians voted back to back for George Bush.

It is really hard for a person of colour in America -the land of equality and justice

This is not about race it is about his hate for America and his delivering that at a church that is supposed to bring people together not separate them. If Obama makes a home run it will have to the biggest home run that has ever been hit , he can not remove him self from this mr. Wright or Farrakan, he has been a member for 23 years and he can’t do it . there is a difference between Mitt Romney and Obama . Mitt just had a different church then normal no hate delivered there and it is a shame that had to even be a item. But he addressed it and it did not help him, he was eloquent in the speech but no one took it as it should have been taken. and I am white and I consider my black brothers and sisters as friends not enemies but this church is tearing that apart . I have roots here and so does the black man he or she has every right to seek what ever position they want and are qualified to do , I wish them all luck in finding their dreams and aspirations. so how could this man sit there for 23 years and not know about this , that is unbelieveable.

this will be obama’s first test of image control in the “new media” that thrives on such stories…if he can get over this hump, he should be fine, but his not dropping Wright sooner is troubling– is he too naive or does Wright have too much sway over Obama?

in any case, Obama has to drop Wright like a lead balloon…having a rascist bigot of a preacher (lets call a spade a spade) is not what the “post racial” icon needs, or wants politically…and i think its valid to question what effect Wright has on Obama as a spiritual advisor, just as if McCain hired an extremely rascist white power pastor, or if Hillary started touting the “little red book” as their spiritual advisors

we shall see, but i think he’ll overcome this

Interesting discussions, finally. I enjoyed reading them. Each is making valid points at the same time as disagreeing with each other. This is what this blog is supposed to be all about. Keep up the good work.

Just as I have defended HRC from scurrilous attacks, I feel compelled now to take up the mantle for Mr. Obama. Judge both/either on the body of their work, not isolated instances. Has Mr. Obama’s public acts depicted him as being anything other than a lover of this country and all it stands for? Judge him by that, not what his friends say.

Yes, I believe Mr. Obama should distance himself from this man and his comments, but only his comments. I certainly do NOT believe he should turn on him. This is a free country and we’re entitled to our opinions. While I don’t share Rev Wright’s views (I scarcely know what they are) I sure have no trouble finding many, many acts conducted by this country to be loathsome and regrettable. To deny them is to ignore them, and by extension, not learn from them.

If this country isn’t big enough to stand a little criticism, most of which it brought upon itself, then it’s time for American Revolution II.

Now, if anyone would like, I can cite America’s Hall Of Shame and I think you’ll have to agree Rev Wright is NOT being an anarchist, a bit over the top, perhaps, but since when is that a crime?

Isn’t it interesting that the worst they can come up with on Sen Obama is the words of a preacher whose church he attends?

Guit by association, let’s see who has the worst associations then, Let the media loose to investigate these COZY friendships. Open up McHillary.

BTW DD – should we not take that little Afrocentric rant at the end of your first post as a bit racially charged? I think I truly understand your dislike of sen obama now, the best man at your wedding notwithstanding.

Poor Jed, there is SO much for you to learn. And, again, I must fault my pitiful ability to articulate, and apologize. I had hoped by directing my comments to Tim, and by calling attention to his patronizing phrasing, which you didn’t seem to mind, stating, “This about race,” (what, you thought that was a typo?), that one would recognize that I was mocking his attempt to be, well, I’m not sure WHAT he was ‘attempting’ to be. Facile comes to mind.

I have to confess I’ll be pretty embarrassed to learn that Tim is black, but I’d also be surprised. Even if he is (was?), I’m sure there’s a word for that type of journalism and I’m pretty sure it’s not professional. I know, I know, I’m picking nits, but if Tim gives us something (anything) other than the democratic primary to chew on, perhaps I would leave the nits the Hell alone. (Love using Hell now that we can.) Damnation!!

What th? #$(*@# proxy errors again.

Whatever happened to the separation of church and state? This is nothing more than the media stirring the pot for the sake of the almighty dollar. And WTF, I thought the media were considered “liberal!” Sure seems like they’d prefer McSame.

I vehemently disagree with Jeremiah Wright’s statements and I think he and his ilk (Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, etc) drive a continuous wedge of division between the races. I think he is drunk on his own power and is an attention whore that could really care less about helping those in his community. I think his time would be better spent damning gangs, illegitimacy rates, the lack of value of an education as Bill Cosby has done rather than damning America and the “white man.”
That said, I think it is unfair to dump Wright’s comments on Obama’s doorstep. He has come out and been very specific in his repudiation of the comments and that should be the end of it. There are going to be nutbags on both sides of the party lines that support the candidates and will make off-the-wall and offensive statements. If we hold each candidate accountable for such statements, we’ll never get to hear them speak about the relevant issues (the war, economy, etc) which is a travesty.

Burn Daddy, I think you might be jumping ahead of the game by claiming that the media is pushing for McCain. Afterall, the New York Times ran their hit piece on McCain on the front page despite much of the story being conjecture. The story on Wright and Obama was buried in the middle of the paper.

I haven’t got to see or hear the speech but I really don’t think the whole white people don’t understand black people or “it’s a black thing” is going to help unite people for Obama. I am not saying that is Obama’s intention or the message he is trying to portray but that is kind of the theme I have been getting from comments and blogs. To me it seems kind of divisive for someone whose stated goal is to unite. I am not an Obama supporter but this church thing is not the issue for me that it is for some. I doubt I will be voting for Obama regardless but this preacher thing did make me feel really bad for him.

(BD)

“The story on Wright and Obama was buried in the middle of the paper.”

Are you kidding me! It’s on every channel, everyday, repeatedly. The McCain flap lasted 2-3 days tops.

(Jed Clampett)

He doesn’t quite understand that MSM refers to the audio and video news sources that those with short attention spans partake in. Those folks will never be reached by print media, they cannot force themselves to read for more than a few short minutes.

Burn Daddy I wasn’t trying to insinuate that the mainstream media has not picked up on the story and run with it as they clearly have, but I don’t exactly see them abandoning Obama and running to McCain.

SITM

I understand what you mean, It’ just seems to me that all the attention on the negative, and in my opinion irrelevant, aspects of the Democratic race, whether pertaining to Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton, detract from the real issues facing the party. I fear that if this drags on there won’t be enough time to unite the party and focus on a clear platform for the GE. I was one of the fools who believed in 2004 that there was no possible way the Dems could lose. At the onset of this election cycle I felt the same way, but now I’m not so confident. In 2004 I was bummed out for a good month after the loss, but if we lose this election I truly fear what the future holds for my children, America, and the rest of the world.

Flaming Father,

Only a month? You got over it?

But you’re right, there are no givens. At the moment the Dems are fractious, for no good reason that I can tell, and they need to get that out of their system.

My preference would be the convention choose HRC but I think for the interest of party solidarity, they should opt for Obama. Not that I think he’s more electable, rather there are many petulant Dems that would rather see McCain win than HRC. I have to believe they’re more interested in their own philosophical imperatives than they are the good of the country. But politics is the art of compromise and that’s needed at the moment.

DD

There’s a wicked, wicked flu going around here in IL. It got so bad that at one point I was having hallucinations that some hag named Linda was trying to stab me. I don’t know why I was wearing a wedding dress either. Weird
But I’m finally getting over it. })

Touche Father,

Loved your Liebermann touche as well.