I expected a roaring debate in the political blogosphere this morning, and on cable news after the Friday night Bill Moyers interview with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Instead, there's eerie quiet.
The most I could find was this post on Protein Wisdom saying that Moyers didn't play hardball with Wright. It's true, he didn't. Instead he did what I wish more journalists would, he interviewed him in a way that helped us get to know the person. He let him speak his piece, so we could listen.
There's so much to admire about Rev. Wright, but first, the shame of the professional media, who hounded not only Wright, but members of his congregation, including a woman in a hospice, to try to uncover more dirt about Wright and thereby embarrass Barack Obama.
Wright isn't running for office, he points out, it isn't his job to get our vote, it's his job to help his congregation, to help them understand the world they live in, to help them do better in that world, and to prepare them for what they believe comes in the afterlife.
Watching Wright, I wondered if Sean Hannity's preacher could stand up to the kind of objectification this man has withstood. What about Tim Russert's? How about the people who are close to Charlie Gibson and Andrea Mitchell? And how about the CEOs of Time-Warner, GE, the Sulzbergers and the Murdochs? These people have never run for office, they've never been vetted or elected. Could they come out so well after being put through the wringer that Wright has been through.
I think the silence comes from the fact that there still is some humanity in the press and in the blogosphere, and those who watched Moyers and really listened to Wright, realized that he's not a liability to Obama, he's an asset. At least some of the polish, the quiet confidence, self-respect, intelligence and grace we see in Obama must have rubbed off this man.
Watching Wright gave me pride in being an American, and shame at the same time, for coming from a country so willing to objectify and villify this person before checking out whether the characterization was accurate. Even the supposedly courageous and thorough NY Times calls his oratory "racist" in an editorial in today's paper. Based on what? I've watched the sermons that have been excerpted; if these are racist, then every other preacher in the US is racist too.
Wright says the religion of the people on the deck of a slave ship must be different from the religion from the people under the deck. On the deck, god is justifying the practice of slavery, and below -- god gives them hope that someday they will be free. My people, the Jews, understand this very well, it's part of our tradition. We've just celebrated the holiday of Passover, a feast that's all about the pride of an enslaved people. If we're still telling the story, passing it down from generation to generation, after 3000 years, why should we be critical of the African-Americans who are telling the story of their enslavement, which ended only 145 years ago, and whose manifestations are still with us today.
We, the United States, have made mistakes, and those mistakes are as much who we are as our triumphs. The failures leave behind people and their culture, their music, their legends, their religion and their hopes. Sure it seems strange when you hear it for the first time, but that's good! Because the second time it's not so strange, and eventually it becomes part of our melting pot, and enriches all our lives.
If you haven't watched the Wright interview, make the time to do so. You won't be sorry.
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moyer actually did say some things AFTER THE WRIGHT CONTRAVERSY...DO A SEARCH BEFORE YOU MAKE A WHOLE ARTICLE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfqCyMU3mfo
What the hell are you thinking when you say that "...Wright is not the insane racist that the press made him out to be. He is a brilliant historian and reverend, quite soft-spoken and a good patriot to boot."
Maybe in some Klingon mud hut you'll find someone who agrees with your optimism, but here on earth people like me are taking a big pass.
Wright is so wrong for America - and for you, that your parents should spank your ass for weeks and weeks.
Plus, I don't believe that you believe what you wrote.
As much as I admire Winer, I can't buy the slavery blame. Maybe because Obama wasn't a descendant of slaves way back when, he tries too hard to "understand" that past. The fact is that it is the past and having preachers like Wright rub this country's nose in the despicable practice, day in and day out, really accomplishes nothing. It does keep black racism alive, just as the KKK keeps white racism alive simply by daily reminders in the South.
"The fact is that it is the past and having preachers like Wright rub this country's nose in the despicable practice, day in and day out, really accomplishes nothing. It does keep black racism alive, just as the KKK keeps white racism alive simply by daily reminders in the South."
Is that how you plan to deal with the racism you know is all around you and being practiced everyday? Ignore it?
As a Black woman who has lived most of her life in the deep south, let me disuade you of that false notion. The more you ignore it, the worse it gets. Because the people doing it think they can get away with it. And they do get away with it because of people like you.
When you see or hear something that is racists at its' core, speak up, denounce it. Make it clear that you won't tolerate racism.
But that would make you involved in the fight against racism, wouldn't it? You can't ignore it and be against it. You have to do something.
What the hell are you thinking when you say that "...Wright is not the insane racist that the press made him out to be. He is a brilliant historian and reverend, quite soft-spoken and a good patriot to boot."
Maybe in some Klingon mud hut you'll find someone who agrees with your optimism, but here on earth people like me are taking a big pass.
Wright is so wrong for America - and for you, that your parents should spank your ass for weeks and weeks.
Plus, you don't even believe what you wrote.
Go Away
I too just celebrated Passover.
I believe Bill Moyers was trying to help this country not destroy ourselves with racism. The quiet after the interview, was perhaps, OK "let it be, let it be, whisper words of wisdom, let it be."
The Press corp interview with Rev. Wright in D.C. yesterday just blew the lid open again. Is Wright chastising Obama?
No one say the Moyers interview because it is on PBS and on a Friday night, if you watch PBS on a Friday night . . . . well you are a loser.
Reading Unbias's comments I would say his name is an oxymoran- Unbias is quite Bias and stuck in his or her own stereotypes! Any "loser" who watched Bill Moyers interview with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright with an OPEN MIND became a "winner" because they became educated about a man of God and Truth, as he sees and experiences it, instead of being led by a bunch of corporate media news spinners and vindictive entertainment hosts interested in stirring up controversy and ratings then in getting to the truth. Trying to smear Rev. Wright or Barack Obama may work (because America has been "dumbed down" for so long -many find it hard to think for themselves) but we are all the losers for this. This once great country with a truly inspiring vision is sinking fast! The "Truth will Set you Free". Americans both individually and collectively must face their "shadow" side and deal with their own Racism, Sexism, Homophobism, Ageism and any other "ism" you can find! Oh and how about Imperialism or Empireism?
Why? Because Wright is not the insane racist that the press made him out to be.
He is a brilliant historian and reverend, quite soft-spoken and a good patriot to boot.
Obviously, whoever made that origianl tape loop was working for Hillary.
Repubs, Independents and Dems for Obama. YES WE ALL CAN.
Finally an intelligent thoughtful comment. YES WE CAN1
Wow, can't see through your Obama colored glasses can you? If Wright keeps up what he did this weekend with all of the speaking engagements, Obama has 0 chance of winning in November and may not be able to even beat out Hillary.
People want to 'cling' to their 2008 version of Swiftboating. They want to believe there is a reason other than race that makes them fear Obama - so they use Rev. Wright as the 'end all be all' of why they couldn't vote for Obama. It's sickening. And it's also sad that we do get what we vote for - so here comes another 4 years of fear.
You don't question his judgement at all for listening to this goof for 20 years straight? You don't question that race relations go both ways and "black liberation theology" isn't exactly inviting many people?
You have never even read anything on black liberation theology. Your comment is based on what someone else told you. Black people were oppressed in this country and still are in some places and circumstances. Any liberation theologoly teachs people to be proud in the face of adversity. Be proud of your past, which includes many trails and many many accomplishments. How can that not be inviting to someone else. I feel proud to here Italians talk about there culture. I think that it is wonderful that mexicans have such a rich culture and enjoy there own culture. Why is it that when you here BLACK it automactically means something negative to you?
I
Odd, after listening to Rev. Wright for an hour, I thought...damn, I could listen to this man for 20 yrs !
Me too!
You need to check out "the doll test".
Who got it twisted? Minister Wright is not running for US President. Senator Barack Obama is. The media is making more of tWright than he is worth in the context of it all. But it's been the only effective way corporate media can control the minds of the general public, casting doubt about voting for an African/Anglo man who actually wants to change the game in Washingon DC. Even the Republican pundits are saying isn't this overkill (perhaps they are afraid of what's to come out of McCain's closet of whose endorsements and money he's embraced, Hagee perhaps?) Enough already, the man got his fifteen minutes yesterday, thanks to Clinton supporters. Move on.
"perhaps they are afraid of what's to come out of McCain's closet of whose endorsements and money he's embraced, Hagee perhaps?"
If McCain calls Hagee his mentor and attended his church for 20 years I would say yes, if not I would say no.
As long as this goof keeps running around making an ass of himself and Obama this story will continue.
Keep making this election about one issue - a pastor - and you will get exactly what you deserve. Unless you are a spiritual leader, quit throwing stones.
Amen.
Didn't stay that way for long...
In the U.S., Black male unemployment was 1.75 times white male unemployment in 1960.
In 2000 that grew to 2.8 ...
Thanks for identifying with the oppressed Mr. Winer.
Don't you have cable? It's not been quiet at all over the very important Rev. Wright story.
Definitely, let's worry about what friends of the candidates say and not what the candidates themselves say.
Hillary '08
Every so often, the true bias of PBS and Mr. Moyers shines through. What a pathetic touchy feely interview that was. BillO (who is himself quite a goof ball) was correct when he called Mr. Moyer's questions "softballs" and "cup cakes."
Liberals and leftist democrats, do you have to make it so obvious?
Hillary '08
UltraClassic you are just disappointed that you did not see and hear more of what was repeatedly pushed at us on cable TV. Moyers gave the man a chance to express himself without the hoopla of a bunch of cameras and newsmen.
Why is it that anybody that disagrees with Republicans and Conservatives is labeled some kind of nut, subversive, anti-American, etc.?
We left MSNBC on in the living room last night, and when I woke up this am, there was Scarborough, screeching about Wright. and Obama Poor little Mica (the hapless Combes to Scarborough's Hannity) was trying to object. At least I think she was. I turned the set off.
I used to watch Scarborough, but he has become Limbaugh's other voice of the dittoheads who are hell-bent on distrupting the Democrat's choice of candidates......the same bozos who wear those cheesy flag pins, but don't have the faintest idea of the meaning of the word "democracy."
I wonder what is happening to his ratings. I consider myself a kind of Nielsenian microcosm because I watch a lot of crap (as well as the little bit of good stuff that I manage to find). And, it turns out, that when I stop watching, so do a lot of other people. It isn't that I am any kind of trailblazer, just that I reflect the opinions of a lot of other couch-potato slugs. Or so it seems.
If I won't watch Scarborough anymore, is anybody else watching?
Given Wright's performance yesterday at the National Press Club, I wonder if Mr. Winer may be eating some of his words today. Reverend Wright: "quiet confidence", "self-respect", "not a liability to Obama", "polish". Not even close to the descriptions of Reverend Wright today post Q&A at the Press Club. We can only hope that not any of this type of "grace" as rubbed off on Obama.
"I think the silence comes from the fact that there still is some humanity in the press and in the blogosphere, and those who watched Moyers and really listened to Wright, realized that he's not a liability to Obama, he's an asset. At least some of the polish, the quiet confidence, self-respect, intelligence and grace we see in Obama must have rubbed off this man.
"Watching Wright gave me pride in being an American, and shame at the same time, for coming from a country so willing to objectify and [vilify] this person before checking out whether the characterization was accurate."
CNN has jumped on the Fox Bandwagon it is not quiet enough when it comes to Rev. Wright.
Rev. Wright is no longer part of Obama's campaign. The media especially Fox was not going to let their media created Rev. Wright issue die. I was feeling that if people got to know Rev. Wright they would understand where he is coming from. Obama distanced himself from him what else can he do? I have never seen a candidate held accountable for someone else's words.
To me Rev. Wright is defending his faith. Faith in God trumps Obama who afterall is just a man. Rev Wright traveled the country talking to clergy explaining who Obama was and that helped Obama tremendously. Rev. Wright is damned if he does and if he doesn't people don't want to hear the truth. Spiritual things sound like nonsense to carnal minds. So my faith tells me no matter how it looks Obama can still win. If Obama does not win it is not because of Rev. Wright.
I am so tired of the media feeding us fear saying things are true that are not. If people are so through with Obama why is he still raising more money than the other candidates. This race is so closely watched that I hear Obama loud and clear when he says not the same old politics not this time.... People of faith world wide just keep praying for some righteous spirits in high places soon.
I believe the MSM are run by corporations who are interested in the bottom dollar and are in the business of making money. Therefore, quite unbiased news making is not of interest to them. They, like all advertising, play to the viewer"s emotions and are not interested in fair and balance reporting and informing the viewer of all the facts. Whereas PBS is not owned by corporations and is free to inform the viewer of the facts and not play sound bites. I bet the majority of the hosts of the cable TV shows never actually watched the entire Rev Wright"s sermons and all they saw is what they fed the audience over and over and over.
The corporations you speak of also run the Republican party. The party of deregulation. When one votes for anti-abortion they are really being duped into voting for Corporations to be able too do as they please no mater how detrimental it is to society or Planet Earth.
GWW
Simply proves that the media is in the bag for Obama and scared to death to be called racist even if it means an honest, objective conversation regarding views, character and policy of our next president are all omitted. Our media are not journalists but mostly PR hacks and mouthpieces.
You are right about the media being in the bag, you just just picked the wrong person/s they are in the bag for.
Do you think Baby Bush could have survived if the media was really legit? Do you think Grandpa would be the Republican nominee if the media was legit?
Wake up. This is a Black man fighting his way to the Presidential Democratic nomination. If it wasn't Wright it would be something else, no matter how big or how small. Stupid voters are not interested in issues only BS.
That is one reason the real best and the brightest in this country can't run for office because they may have some skeletons in their closet that wouldn't affect their ability to put America back where it belongs as a respected world leader and not the laughing stock of many other people around the world. I just came back from 10 days in Greece. When asked what they thought of Baby Bush each Greek (or Greecian as Baby Bush calls them) said they "hated" him. Can you imagine that? Not liked or disliked, but hated.
Huh ? The last few days proves the media is in the bag AGAINST Obama. They look through every Rev. Wright sentence with a microscope and any word which goes against what they think MUST be his narrative, according to THEIR thinking, somehow proves that "this is gonna hurt Obama," and then they play it over and over.
If the media was against Obama, they would have broken this Wright story before Iowa and we wouldn't be where we are now. the media has done everything they can to defeat Hillary including holoding off on Wright until Obama had enough time to deal with it before PA. They did their level best to get McCain the presidency, but Hillary, the fighter, was smart enough to stick it out. Thank god.
Obama is simply to green. Make him VP and the republicnas are toast.
Hillary/Obama 08
Bill Moyers interview with Rev. Wright was a joke. It was a softball puff piece. The left is trying very hard to spin away Rev. Wright's comments but it is not going to work. The only one who can do that is Sen. Obama. He has a big decision to make. He can take advantage of the situation and move to the center or lose. What he does in the next two weeks will make or break his campaign. If he does what he needs to do it will be interesting to how the left reacts.
Posted April 26, 2008 | 01:15 PM (EST)