Obama, Wright and the Agency Problem

As Barack Obama tries to heal this country's racial wounds, Jeremiah Wright seems intent to pick off the scab.

This would not be so harmful to Obama if he didn't also have what lawyers like to call an "agency" problem. That's the upshot of Obama's decision to disassociate himself from certain of Reverend Wright's words, but not the man himself.

Obama and his campaign are trying mightily to make it clear that Wright doesn't speak for Obama, but the facts remain stubborn. Obama credits Wright as the man who brought him to Jesus. Wright married Obama and baptized his children. He served for more than a decade as Obama's preacher and until recently as a part of a campaign advisory team. Even in disassociating himself with Wright's remarks, Obama explained that he couldn't disown Wright because he is like a family member. It is clear that Wright is an important person in Obama's life, which makes questions about Wright fair game.

Each time Wright speaks, it leaves Obama open to the question: you've disassociated yourself with some words, what about these words? And, as we all know, Wright has been speaking quite a bit lately. One can agree with Reverend Wright about many things, sympathize with him about others, and still recognize that his message about racial differences and division is deeply discordant with Obama's commitment to encouraging hope and bringing America together.

It seemed for a couple of weeks like Obama had successfully put the worst of the Reverend Wright controversy behind him in his majestic speech on race in Philadelphia. At the time, Obama's refusal to disown Wright seemed like a deeply loyal and gracious act. Now, in the face of aggressive disloyalty by Reverend Wright, Obama's graciousness seems foolish.

In fact, Wright, more than anyone else this campaign season, has called into question the premise of Obama's candidacy. In describing Obama's statements disassociating himself with the worst of Wright's remarks as those of "politician" who was doing "what politicians do," Wright has raised fundamental questions about what Barack Obama believes and what he values. Wright appears to think Obama agrees with him about everything, but can't admit it because he is running for office.

That's not an impression Barack Obama can afford let linger if he wants to be President. He needs to make clear, now, that the desire for change, unity, and reconciliation that has propelled his candidacy to this point is far more important to him than his personal relationship with Reverend Wright.

Comments

[Hastings]

Two weeks ago, with his bitter remarks, Sen. Obama gave Sen. Clinton the greatest gift of her life. These remarks allowed Sen. Clinton to move to the center. She was going to do that anyway after the convention but Sen. Obama's remarks gave her a chance to make her move much sooner. By moving to the center Sen. Clinton was bound to lose support from the radical lefties. This was not going to be that big of a deal because outside of Democratic Party politics their influnce over American political thought is close to zero. Besides, the radical lefties never really liked her or President Clinton anyway. Rev. Wright is offering Sen. Obama the same gift. The question is will Sen. Obama accept that gift. Will he take advantage of his current situation to kick the radical left to the curb, as Sen. Clinton has, and move to the center? He is at a crossroads. If Sen. Obama makes the move to the center he may have have a chance to be elected President. A small chance but a chance. If he doesn't make the move to the center within the next two weeks it is over for his bid for White House. It is going to be very interesting to watch which direction he goes in.

[MissDarla]

Keep drinking the kool-aid of hope.

[speciallady2003]

Is this a joke? You think that in the interest of political expediency we should throw our elders away. Their message is outdated, so ignore and marginalize them. This is how we should unite our country? Most of us have older people in our lives and it seems mean to toss them aside because they spout their generational message. Apparently our appetite for intolerance is insatiable, we should all be ashamed.
We may not agree with his delivery, or his message, but I thought freedom of expression was our right.
I feel a bit ridiculous having to say I'm white. What I have seen is a country that still takes baby steps and denies freedom of speech to dissenters and I am disturbed at the sheer numbers of racists that dwell here. It saddens me.

[Fairfloss]

Senator Barack Obama needs to show us he has the strength required to lead this country and all of this countries people. Stop the bleeding heart sob story. We have enemies out there who want to see us dead. We have crisis that need taken care of now. We need a strong President. Either Barack Obama can do the job or he can't. He needs to make his call. Step up to the plate. Step into a telephone booth and come out as superman.

Jeremiah Wright is only interested in Jeremiah Wright. His ego is driving him. If he hates America so badly, let him abandon the mansion that is being built for him and go to another Country.

We can't get away with blaming everything on the Republican's or on the Bush Adminstration. That floatie is out of air.

I ask Barack Obama to live up to what he said in 2004 at the Democratic National Convention.
"We are not a nation of black and white, of brown and Asian, we are all AMERICANS." Now we are looking to him to live up to those words or is he going to let this malicious Pastor stop him?
It is all that simple. JUST THAT SIMPLE.

[laksa]

People should not think of Obama and Wright as same person. I heard this afternoon Chris Matthew actually depict them as one person 'jekyle & Hyde'? I believe Chris is over compensating the fact that Hillary said he is bias against her and therefore did not accept his invitation to his college tour. He is now saying all these ridiculous thing about Obama. How is Obama bringing anyone together when there are people who like Wright but whites who cannot look passed color. All whites who think or said things like 'oh, I cannot vote for Obama because of Wright' are racists at heart looking for an excuse. And Wright gave them that excuse although Wright himself is racist too against white.

[Fairfloss]

I don't see color when I look at Pastor Jeremiah Wright. I see a self-serving man who cares about no one but himself. An OVER inflated ego. I also see hate, which is colorless.

I don't see color when I look at Jeremiah Wright, he is a very LIGHT skin "Negro," his word, not mind.

He is putting on a show for his audience. HE IS A SHOWMAN. When is some one going to have the courage to call him what he is, or are they all going to continue to deny a man like Barack Obama his destiny?

[joanndarc]

Wright's remarks were honest and funny, so much truth to almost all of it.

[overclocker1980]

And this is why we will lose. We have Clinton, who makes Cheney look like an honest boy scout, and then Obama, with issues.

Clinton will destroy the country, and is possibly the worst politician in our history for sheer adiction to power and dishonesty, toss in sheer war mongering... hell I'd vote Cheney over her, Cheney is at least quasi honest, has some experience, and isn't a complete liar. Or Obama, who has questions.

Really, we need to remove all of the Clinton supporters, all of their delegates, and rebuild the party, and then put for a less risky option.

[margoharris]

I think that Sen. Obama needs to find a new church to go to, like now! I seems as if Rev. Wright likes to hear himself talk, no good can come of this. Seems like Rev. Wright doesn't think to highly of politicans in general.

[trevor01]

Obama cannot seem to deal quickly and effectively with this particular albatross. Why not? He's like Hamlet in this regard. In his head an argument rages and so he can do nothing. It's time to stop talking about Obama and to realise we have a great candidate who will make a great president. I live in hope.

[jmpurser]

You can't heal a wound until you acknowledge it. Wright didn't pick the scab so much as point out that we're still bleeding.

[bigoledude]

How can Obama distance himself from Wright now? I would have never dreamed the reverend would torpedo Obama like this. I suppose the remarks Obama made separating himself from the reverend must have angered the reverend.

[Jazz42]

(jmpurser)
I completely with your comment. It seems like the bleeding will continue to flow. People rather blame others for their shortcoming. I guess it make them feel good about themselves. I'm African American, all this discussion that is going on. I've lived through this for sixty six years. I don't see any changes coming anytime soon.

[Computer Geek]

We need to be hopeful. There are those of us (whites) who understand and accept what Reverend Wright is talking about (and agree) and who also understand that this divide between us is to maintain the status quo by those at the top. They want us divided so that they may remain in power. It has always been so since the beginning. The joint power of a united black and white US would destroy them and bring about what we the oppressed seek - equality for all. They 'use' the flag as a weapon to demonize and spread fear. Whites are made to feel threatened by this. I am personally mortified by their behavior and those that feel justified in using fear. This country has and continues to do things that are morally and legally indefensible and it does it on the backs of those that have defended and fought for her at every turn. Our black brethren have been soldiers and have fought for America in the Civil War, in World War I and in World War II. What did they receive in return? Degradation, derision and hate. No one on this earth deserves to be treated that way. The church's job is to point this out and bring truth to power. I think he is absolutely correct! As Obama says, we are the ones we seek!