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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.