The Controversial Merlin To Obama's Would-be Arthur

The following piece is produced by the Huffington Post's OffTheBus.

As Barack Obama kicks off his "Embrace the Change" Gospel Tour in South Carolina, his recent declaration on Wednesday that he would "take up arms" to prevent another 9/11 draws focus to an element of the Senator's religious background that he likely won't be campaigning on.

On the Sunday after the terrorist arracks of 9/11, Obama's highly publicized pastor and confidant, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the man who led the Senator from skeptic to self-described Christian, said the attacks were a consequence of violent American policies, and put the blame at the feet of "White America."

Four years later Wright wrote that the 9/11 terrorist attack upon our nation was a "wake-up call" to White America," reminding it that "people of color had not gone away, faded into the woodwork or just disappeared, as the Great White West went on its merry way of ignoring Black concerns."

Such statements are indicative of "a certain deeply embedded Anti-Americanism," said Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative group that studies religious issues and public policy. "A lot of people are going to say to Senator Obama, are these your views?"

Obama says they are not. "The violence of 9/11 was inexcusable and without justification," he said in a recent interview. He was not at Trinity the day Rev. Wright delivered his remarks shortly after the attack, the Senator said, but "it sounds like he was trying to be provocative."

Little wonder that conservative bloggers and pundits have raised concerns about Obama's spiritual ties to a man who espouses a form of Christianity which depicts America as deeply and intractably racist, and who believes there are two types of white Christians - those "who lynch people in the name of Jesus" and those "who ain't got time to lynch people." After a fiery sermon about the injustices which white America has promulgated on blacks, the good Reverend announced, "God is tired of this shit!"

Rev. Wright is no stranger to controversy. As the senior pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's south side, where Obama is a well known member, Wright's self-described "self-determination" views have been called divisive by many. Wright himself was installed as a chief in Ghana in August 2003, after years of building relationships with that country.

The son of a Baptist minister from Philadelphia, Wright started to teach what became known as Africentric theology.s. "Are we going to be a black church in a black community?" the budding preacher asked. "Or are we going to be a white church in blackface?" The answer is in the congregation. Under Wright's leadership, Trinity has grown to 5,000 members, the largest congregation in the predominantly white United Church of Christ.

Still, this is a large source of controversy for Obama who says he has been deeply influenced by his church and considers Wright a "spiritual father." Rev. Wright also performed Barack and Michelle's wedding ceremony, baptized their two daughters, and dedicated their house in Chicago. The title of Obama's second best-selling book, The Audacity of Hope, which is also the theme of his presidential campaign, was lifted from a sermon preached by Rev. Wright, who says his celebrated parishioner often turns to him in moments of frustration.

However, in an interview with PBS's "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly" recorded just before Obama's February announcement, Wright said he warned the senator that their association could pose political problems, partly because of his history of supporting Palestinian causes.
Wright is a long-time friend and supporter of Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam. In 1984, Wright accompanied Farrakahn on a trip to visit Libyan strongman Col. Moammar Gadhafi, who was not only our sworn enemy, as well as Israel's--our staunchest Middle Eastern ally---but also a known supporter of international terrorism.

As Wright told The New York Times in a March 6 interview, "When Obama's enemies find out I went to Tripoli with Farrakhan to visit Gadhafi, a lot of his Jewish support will dry up quicker than a snowball in hell."

With 9/11 still weighing heavily on many Americans, and the primary only a few months away, the snowballs may already be melting. In the meantime, Rev. Jeremiah Wright remains the cleric, counselor and confidant of the senator who hopes to become the next President of the United States of America.

Comments

[DANIELLECLARKE]

Obama in 2004 on anti-gay supporters


His message is the same as his campaign's recent
letter.
*Obama Seeks U.S. Senate seat*
*by TRACY BAIM
* *2004-02-04*

WCT: One of the things that supporters of the state
gay-rights bill have
been saying is that some of the supporters of
certain Senate candidates,
yourself included, were not coming out full force
for the Senate bill this
time. Do you feel there's a litmus test for people
whose supporters aren't
fully 100%?

Obama: You raise an important point. Although your
initial question was
whether there's been a backlash against me, I see
none of that within the
Democratic Party. I think there are still
geographical differences in terms
of attitude toward gay and lesbian issues. I think
downstate, there is a
difference. On the Southwest Side, the Northwest
Side of Chicago, where the
Catholic Church is still a significant institution,
there is a difference.
And, to a certain extent, within the
African-American community, because of
the strong affiliation with the church, there is
still some resistance.

My attitude is that candidates for office, persons
in elected office, are
ultimately responsible for what they say and what
they do. I think the
question is, are they forceful, clear, strong
advocates on behalf of these
issues. Are they doing everything that they can to
lobby on behalf of these
issues. They're not always going to be successful,
even within the
Democratic Party. And there are going to be people
in this U.S. Senate race
who support me who may not feel the same way I do on
gay and lesbian issues.
That's going to be true of the other candidates as
well. The important thing
is, what do people see me saying publicly, how am I
acting publicly, how am
I voting publicly. Because what I do think is
unacceptable is saying one
thing in one forum, and saying something else in
another. What you do have
to expect is consistency, and not playing to a
particular audience.
http://outlineschicago.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=3931

[Hubert]

Come now, Ms Wheeler. Your attack on Obama is more than deplorable- it is childish to the extreme.

This is the same tactic that the Jewish lobby uses over and over against those who associate with those who criticize Israel or a Jewish cause.

This is worst than the so called politics of hate or fear.

Wheeler's attempt to demonize Obama for nothing more than his friendship with a controversial is the worst kind of character assasination

It will not work- judge a person by their acts not their associations.

[starrianna]

"It's being seen as a racial incident in the Black community.­"

Well, then, the black community needs to get over themselves.

This is about THEM 50 years ago. Dig?

If someone said, 50 years ago, the following:

(1) the NEGROS ARE TRYING TO KILL YOUR CHILDREN!
(2) that AMERICA IS AT WAR WITH THE NEGRO!
(3) Being a NI&$ER is a CURSE!

What would happen? *** You tell me! ***

Today, it's A-OK for Obama to pay a guy who says

(1) the GAYS ARE TRYING TO KILL YOUR CHILDREN!
(2) that AMERICA IS AT WAR WITH THE GAYS!
(3) Being GAY is a CURSE!

??????????­??????????­??????????­??????????­????????

[Rhydderch69]

Starianna, cutting and pasting again I see. I hope they're paying you by the word.

[timInChicago]

I find it disturbing that a blogger for Off The Bus can make commentary on every single facet of a candidate's life, when we know so very little about bloggers own bio. I cannot take seriously her commentary without knowing more about her. What are your own affiliations? Can you vouch for every organization that you have ever supported? Can you give us a list of individuals that you have admired and respected in your life time. We know nothing about you given your bio is one short paragraph. Reveal yourself fully, and then you can pontificate about absoluts

[fiatpax]

Wheeler's guilt-by-a­ssociation arguments and "focus-grouping a big shot-gun blast of mud, trying to figure out what of it will stick" (well put, rhydderch69)smacks of not-so-subtle racism. I wonder why this essay is featured prominently, while Sam Sedaei's well-reasoned and well-documented article about why Hillary is bad for the country is way down at the bottom with the also-rans? Do I detect a pro-Hillary bias at The Huffington Post?

[steveja]

A very sad revalation about someone wanting to be the President of our country. Keep up the commentary as only them we will really get to know the candidates.

[dtd]

How convenient in light of the other hit pieces about Barack Obama associating with a gay basher that you not include that his church was the first Black church in Chicago to welcome gays and lesbians and has repeatedly denounced homophobia in the Black church.

[starrianna]

Well, if that is true,

THEN HE WOULD *** NOT *** HAVE HIRED MCCLURKIN!

The man is an idiot.
Either that, or he is a craven opportunist.

You can't have your cake and eat it too, Obama.

[dianethomas]

I agree. First a gay bashing pastor, and now a racist one. What's next--a neo nazi in rehab? He's running for the presidency of the United States, for god's sake, not a post at the local little league club. Why is it that every time a black candidate gets caught with a house full of fleas, everyone starts ranting injustice, yet if Edwards started stumping with a racist drag queen, he'd be strung up faster than a side of beef. Enough with the hypocrisy. This isn't about color or sexual preference, but standards and beliefs. Which I personally require in a president, and am sad that Obama isn't the man of faith or hope I thought he was. But then principles don't seem to matter anymore when it comes to casting a vote. Just to hear that he's associated with a man who even refers to lynching is horrid enough. And we thought Saddam was a threat!

[Rhydderch69]

Hit piece. Thanks for raising it now...

Hey... maybe if you try to connect Wright, McClurkin, the Mafia, and the Madrassa you'll get something really good.

"Wright himself was installed as a chief in Ghana in August 2003, after years of building relationships with that country. "

oooh... oh dear. So Obama's 'Merlin' (did you want to say witch-doctor) has a Ghanaian connection­... And those nasty Ghanaians have long been working to subvert American democracy and poison our apple pie?

Worse, 23 years ago, "In 1984, Wright accompanied Farrakahn on a trip to visit Libyan strongman Col. Moammar Gadhafi, who was not only our sworn enemy, as well as Israel's--our staunchest Middle Eastern ally---but also a known supporter of international terrorism.­"

Please. So Wright was a leftie, anti-Reagan firebrand in his youth... so was Quaddafi. Funny how Quaddafi's dropped off the horn-and-tail list of late..

Denise Wheeler is simply focus-grouping a big shot-gun blast of mud, trying to figure out what of it will stick.

Denise, I wish you well, but you will do better to do new Oppo instead of recycling the old.

[zull2]

That's a whole lot better than having the Reverend Sun Myung Moon as your spiritual adviser.

So what you're trying to say, is that all of Obama's beliefs must be directly imprinted from his minister? Would you then say that all of Hillary Clinton's beliefs are a direct imprint of Reverend Moon's?

Because that's what you are getting at with this post.

I'd have to say that any rational person would realize that what Obama is referring to is that our government's propensity for interfering militarily in the politics and lives of other sovereign nations purely for reasons of greed is the reason why people keep strapping bombs to themselves and try to kill us. As far as the part about the white man, you haven't been to a lot of inner-city churches, have you?

[Obama2008]

What a stretch!

I was raised by catholic parents, attended catholic grade school, and on occasion, frequent a catholic church.

I am pro choice, pro gay marriage, believe priests should be able to marry and believe women should be able to be priests if they choose. I denounce abuse by priests, I believe in birth control, and that the choice to divorce should be up to individual citizens, not the church.

I would hate to think that I would be guilty by association because I have been in a catholic church. Oy-- Is the Hillary camp this nervous?

[altohone]

Nicely put!

[RuthieM]

Like with any true Christian, any true Pastor will tell his congregation that they are not to listen to him, he's just the messenger of God's Word, that they are to follow Jesus Christ. The fact that you media continue to put Obama following his Pastor like the pied piper, like those who followed Jim Jones and drank poison, just lets me know you do not know from what you speak, but only want to hurt, stir and spin this against Obama, as usual. Every Christian, if they go to Church at all, 'hears' their pastor, but follows the Word of God, the Bible, Jesus Christ, as Obama has made his belief known. Yet you continue to make him and his pastor as one, to inflame untruths, and you should stop this.

[ltreeves]

Spoken like a true Christian! But I don't find any of this immflammatory, only outrageous that someone aspiring for the presidency would even align himself with someone capable of such vile remarks. Like seeks like, as they say, and I don't care whose Bible the senator is reading. To have a man like that at the pulpit is shameful enough, let alone being the spiritual confidant of someone who professes to be a man of faith, but is obviously just a man of votes. And hopefully with more information like this, less and less votes. Disgusting! With a messenger like that, I'd rather vote for Cheney!

[altohone]

"A man like that"?

You mean someone who was 24 years ahead of the curve when it came to finding a non-militaristic way of bringing a tyrant back into the fold of the world community?

I'm amazed that some pretend that white men don't have a cross to bear... historically perfect with no apologies required.

The sad reality is that white men like myself bear those crosses AND have a whole workshop of carpenters building new ones for us.