Obama's "Cultural Issues" At Play in Chicago

This week OffTheBus is rolling out introductory columns by some of our star contributors, who will now be writing regular dispatches on their "beats." In her column, "Dateline: Obama's Chicagoland," Windy City resident Christine Escobar covers the national campaign from Obama's hometown, reporting on strategic and cultural developments at Obama headquarters and in the city more generally. For her kick-off she takes up the Trinity United story and gives us some local insight into Obama's former church and Father Pfleger, the preacher at the center of the most recent controversy. --John Tomasic

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In the wake of Obama's historic victory Tuesday as the presumptive Dem. nominee, Chicago continues to experience the repercussions of his resignation from Trinity United Church of Christ.

Vastly different views of Obama's decision to leave the church abound, from renewed calls for keeping religion out of politics to the more critical view of Obama's departure from what some see as the heart of the black community.

The priest at the center of the controversy that spurred Obama to resign, Father Michael Pflegler, heads the south side Catholic parish St. Sabina, at which he has served as pastor for more than 30 years. But he was removed from his post this week by Cardinal Francis George for at least the next "couple of weeks." Sabina's members have been pleading for the return of their pastor and say they would like to meet with the Cardinal.

While it may seem politically advantageous to jettison associations that bring the campaign controversy, critics charge that the Obama has missed a key opportunity to stand with the black community once again, a community that has clearly offered its support to him in several states during this long drawn out primary.

Pfleger, though unconventional in his delivery, has long been a vocal advocate for residents of his community in the city's Auburn-Gresham neighborhood.

Supporters of Pflegler believe advocates working on the street level bring about the change that Obama speaks so eloquently about. To turn away, they say, in the face of shoddy criticism preemptively is second guessing the role these activists play in their communities.

Writing in the Chicago Defender, Lou Ransom notes that Obama faces a glaring double standard when dealing with his relationship to the black religious community. The public's tolerance for black ministry of the dramatic nature does not nearly match the public tolerance for white rightwing political "pulpitry."

"When Father Michael Pfleger talked about white entitlement in the pulpit at Trinity, he didn't say anything he wouldn't say at his own St. Sabina. He didn't say anything that wasn't repeated at any number of Black churches.

And, the truth he told in his pulpit was no less the truth than what is told in the pulpit of any number of white ministers, who historically have used the pulpit, and the bible, to justify any number of racist behaviors, from owning slaves to banning miscegenation to advocating lynching. "

Currently, the Chicago arm of the GOP shows no departure from the skewed rightwing script on Obama and his religious background. They continue to float the Muslim rumors about Obama and his religious background, dredging up connotations of Arab ties.

From this point forward, it seems Obama will have to maintain the delicate balance of addressing criticism from those who believe he is either too black for comfort or not black enough. In the long history of presidential electoral politics, Obama is making up for lost ground on a path previously paved by white males.

Follow Christine Escobar on Twitter: www.twitter.com/greenparentchgo

Comments

[Drewkowski]

If religion in itself were not such a screwed up thing, Trinity might not be that bad. The problem is, they should be able to speak openly about how white people still enjoy the benefits of their slavedriving past, without the need to mention the "G" word.

[2cntswrth]

Very wise and indepth discussion by the writer. I do not remember ever seeing this kind of scrutiny upon a candidate's religious affiliations before now. And the right wing conservatives continue to see only their views of truth in religion as correct and superior. You are exactly correct. While the black church certainly has its variety of worship styles, there is a common theme of liberation from oppression that has always been there since slaves would meet in brush arbors and develop their own expressions in music and preaching about how God would deliver them from masters who insisted that Jesus and the Apostles taught that they should remain in slavery and oppression. It is sad that even today, we see the theological backgrounds from all our varied theological perspectives about life converging upon this one candidate, Barack Obama---who is now somehow charged with the responsibility for why we all see God differently from our own perviews. Yes, Barack can find God in another less controversial church. But, in no way does that eliminate our need to self-examine why we expect ed him to bear the burden of something no one else has ever been expected to do---simply because they wanted to be president.

[GrainOSand]

...and some want to say he is lucky in being mislabeled black! He is expected to solve the situation in the Middle East where multiple presidents have failed (although I do believe he misspoke on the question of Jerusalem -- it is not for an American President to decide how that debate will be resolved). He is expected to be above race when he is viewed as a racial candidate, all over the internet, on FOX news specifically and to a lesser degree on other broadcasts of “news”, you can hear race-based idiocy spewed by people claiming intelligence.

Hypocrisy made me stop writing my thoughts on this and other blog sites for a few days with the intention of never writing in this way again. A need to vent frustration with hypocrisy finds me back here voicing that frustration and reading comments such as yours that reflect it is more than just I who see that fairness has nothing to do with America, in fact we are bordering on reflecting the antithesis of fairness in this campaign struggle. Home of the hypocrite, for I am seeing no bravery, no courage, no principle, just bad examples of everything I would not teach to a child. Yet some say it is about the kids. This process does not give a damn about the kids. This sort of process chews up the hopes and dreams of future generations in the divide it creates. Hypocrisy is killing the Democracy.

[GrainOSand]

Wright and Pflegler as men of the church use dialogue differently than politicians. The mood is different, the intent is different, and almost everything about it is different except the use of words crafted to deliver a message. A political message by necessity is different from a message out of the church. The job of a politician who seeks righteous leadership of the people is inclusive reflection of the hopes and aspirations of all the people in such a manner as to cause a majority of the set of voters to vote for them. The role of a community-based pastor is to speak to the needs, the sins, and the redemption of a community. In so doing a pastor may draw from any subject matter including politics to deliver the message of needs met or not, sins committed or not, and redemption realized or still wanting.

The truth will always be hard to discern in any way that is close to a mass and simultaneous realization (9/11 is the most compelling instance I have seen), because the histories of the people doing the discerning are vastly different. My history says to me that neither Pflegler nor Wright said anything wrong, yet I know and accept there are parallel realities. Few are enlightened enough to be able to see beyond their own truth, yet it seems worthy to make the effort. However, withdrawal may beckon or manifest for prolonged and repeated deficiency of reciprocation.

[Turtleluv6]

When everyone uses race and ignorance to try to destroy you and those important to you then the best thing to do so that your community is safe is to walk away. But your faith and belief in God will always be with you regardless of the church you attend. Alot of people forget that.

[Suthngal]

No matter what would have happened, he would have been stuck. It's almost apparent that Wright and Pfleger were trying to cause a problem for BHO. He had to do what he had to do. It's sad that ppl would continue to blame BHO for what someone else said.

[JulieSA]

Yes, I wish Ms Escobar would address that. It seemed as if both Wright and Pfleger intentionally tried to sabotage Obama's candidacy. Does Ms Escobar know if this was intentional, or if these men just have some kind of impulse control problem? Their actions are incomprehensible to a rational person.

[kellygrrrl]

I really wish that Trinity Church had used their moment in the spotlight a lot more wisely

so many Americans have become so completely repulsed by all Religion

a major opportunity missed to shine a positive image

[barackobama4prez]

You are right about that. I was dissapointed that the members did not come out to support Barack. Even when he made his race speech and didn't denounce Rev. wright, the church never stood up for him. That's why I know it had to be painful for Michelle and Barack. I feel for them, because I remember being/feeling DISSED by multiple church ministries in my 33 years on earth.

[ObserverinVancouver]

I feel sad for the whole Obama family about departing from the church. I feel sorry for the chuch, too, in getting swept up in the tides of history and being unfairly portrayed. On the other hand, it is very exasperating to consider how much harm supporters (and many more than just those connected to UCC) of Sen. Obama have done to him.