Wrighteous Indignation

At a press conference yesterday afternoon, Barack Obama publicly divorced himself from his former pastor, calling Jeremiah Wright's controversial comments inexcusable rants, destructive, outrageous and appalling. Obama appeared to take the appropriate tone and has received, thus far, mostly positive reviews throughout the blogosphere and in the mainstream media.

The comments by Wright were also wrapped into a news cycle in which Al Sharpton took a surprisingly sharp tone with Obama, criticizing him for seeking nonviolence in the wake of the Sean Bell verdict. According to the New York Post, Sharpton accused Obama of "grandstanding in front of white people." Taken together, Wright's comments and Sharpton's criticism suggest a growing schism among the leadership of the African American community. Those leaders born out of the struggle of the civil rights movement appear frustrated, if not threatened, by a potential Obama presidency.

To some extent, it is a question of method. The post-racial ideals that undergird the Obama candidacy run counter to the tone that Sharpton and Wright have used as a guiding principle: furious anger in the face of injustice. Obama's approach is more measured, more even-keeled, and given his success, more effective. It may be that Sharpton's and Wright's motives are purely selfish, growing out of a fear that Obama will marginalize the need for their kind of leadership.

Whatever the case, that Reverend Wright has stepped back onto the national stage is undoubtedly damaging to the Obama campaign. But it brings with it a silver lining. Though Obama's attempts to defend Wright while denouncing his comments were certainly admirable, it had the effect of keeping the Wright story alive. Now, the nuance that Obama once required is no longer necessary; when McCain or the RNC attacks Wright, Obama can agree.

It also allows Obama to separate himself from Wright in a way he has, until now, been unable. Obama's previous defense of Wright had painted him as a good man taken largely out of context, leaving questions in the minds of many as to how much Obama and Wright were really alike. Now that Wright has proven himself to be angry and arrogant, paranoid and delusional, the contrast between him and Obama could not be more stark. It is no longer possible to compare them.

In the narrow context of the upcoming primaries in Indiana and North Carolina, Wright may still prove to have been severely damaging to Obama. But in the broader context of a race that won't end until November, this new controversy will likely subside.

The frustration with presidential contests is that they almost always devolve into issues that do not -- or at least should not -- matter. John Kerry's race was more about Swiss cheese and wind surfing than it was about Iraq and health care. It seems too that a presidential race itself has little relationship to answering who would make a better president. Debates and town halls bear little resemblance to the day to day activities of a commander in chief. But the one thing a presidential campaign can demonstrate is the extent to which a candidate can deal with the political reality of political reality.

Reverend Wright as an issue shouldn't matter. Reverend Wright as an obstacle should. Obama must prove that he is capable of navigating such hurdles, and overcoming them; doing so is the only way he can prove to the American people that he will not be distracted from the work with which he is asking to be entrusted. As of today, he has done his job well.

Comments

[rosita]

we go to church to bring more peace to our hearts, to thank God for everything that we receive, to ask God to help us to cope with our daily issues, to pray for peace, happiness, health, family, friends etc. NOT TO HEAR SOMEONE TALK ABOUT ANGER, HATE, BITTERNESS, MISTAKES AND TO CRITIZE OTHER PEOPLE. Don't understand why Obama heard that for 20 years? and still continue his relationship with Wright? No, No, No......th­ere is definetely something fishy there! Don't believe Obama one bit, never did, never will.

[blueshift]

If you actually read your Bible, you would know how prophetic ministry works. It challenges assumptions, and if there is evil, injustice or wrongs, calls it out for its anti-Godness. This is not to justify the indefensible (the impolitic, and obscene, language that Rev. Wright used)....b­ut really, read Jeremiah, or the first half of Isaiah, or pretty much the entire book of Revelation. The pretty much say it the way Wright said it. Please read Jesus' statement about the sheep and the goats. May I suggest you read these passages honestly, for what they actually say. Not for what your preacher, or your neighbor or your Zondervan commentary says they say.

-I am an evangelical white working class American. And I read (and understand) the Bible.

[ApolloSpeaks]

It follows from your argument that in rejecting the "prophet" Jeremiah Wright, Obama was rejecting God; or that in using His prophet to damage Obama's campaign God was visting judgement on Obama.

Nevertheless, this all seems to me very symbolic that Obama's candidacy was doomed from the start and that providence used this black Jeremiah, the preacher from hell, to wreck Obama's campaign and benefit McCain and the political (W)RIGHT.

[Nommo]

Who do you believe, if anyone, or anything? You go to church for your reasons and others for their own. I'm guessing that you are one of those enlightened parishioners who decided to leave the Trinity Church, yes?

[dem2win]

Nice spin. The interesting thing is that the reverand did not really say anything more contorversial than he did on the tapes that ran in the media 6-weeks ago. If anything, he stayed true to himself and his beliefs. Six weeks ago, Obama said that these statements were controversial but he could no more denounce Wright than his white grandmother. Now, he says they are outrageous and feels the need to publically split with Wright. Why did it take 6-weeks, why did it take 20 years? The only thing new that Wright did say was that Obama's race speech 6-weeks ago was simple political posturing. So, was it posturing 6-weeks ago or was it posturing yesterday? Is Obama really angry about the devise comments that he called contoversial 6 weeks ago or is he simply angry that his polling numbers went down.

[BeFair]

Nice spin from you also. Obama said that he could no more disown(not denounce) Wright than his white grandmother. He had already denounced Wright's outragious statement. Now he just divorced him because Wright came out to smear his character. Your spin went round and round and got nowhere.

[Bluesage]

Those who still think that Obama had no idea who this man was for the past 20 years are the delusional ones. Rev. Wright did not become a radical, racist lunatic over the past week, or month or year or decade. He is who he's always been. Obama did not ever have a casual relationship with this man (read his book) and has now proven to everyone that he is a liar and a phony and he is not fit to be president. The veneer he has been wearing and the media has been polishing for the past year has begun to crack and now we are seeing the ugly truth about both Obama and his preacher. If I was Obama's "typical white granny" I might be getting a little worried about that bus now.

[fun2bfree]

I have read his book--he mentions Wright briefly during the section about how he worked in Chicago and got to know the community. No where do I recall anything beyond a casual relationsh­ip...he was moved to tears by his sermon...I don't see that as anything..­..Seems like you are making stuff up--not unusual for Hillary supporters--they take after the candidate that way.
Obama has demonstrated in his books, in his actions as a community organizer and as a state legislator and as a US Senator, and as a presidential candidate that Obama (he is the candidate-not Wright) Obama is not racist, not a radical, not a lunatic -just a brilliant, insightful, thoughtful, caring, and accomplished individual with a hope for unity and harmony in this nation and this world....n­othing about his association with Wright changes any of the mountains of evidence about the authentic decent person that Obama is....
on the other hand--the mountains of evidence that comprise Hillary's baggage are all about her actions and her words, her lies her deceptions, her bad behaviour, and nothing about Wright makes anything about Hillary anything but what she is and remains--WRONG. Wrong for the Democrats, Wrong for the Country. We have had conniving, lying presidents. Time for a change to something different.
Come on INDIANA! Come on North Carolina, forget about Wright--GET IT RIGHT!

[rudiy]

Wright is a hater. It has nothing to do with race only. A bigot is a bigot. A nut is a nut. He thinks Farrakan is one of the great 20th century men, because he teaches racial superiority and separation. So did Hitler. Wright says the US government opened the AIDS pandora. As to Sharpton, it is always race never justice. He has never appologized to the Duke kids although he was ready to hang them.
Obama is not playing to whites. He is playing to real Americans

[Midnite]

Do you mind providing links that show Farrakhan teaches racial superiority and separation and that Al Sharpton wanted the Duke kids hung or even punished? People make accusations like this all the time and never provide evidence to back it up.

[DallasMike]

I would like to see proof the Sharpton and Jackson apologize for not giving these "white boys" the benefit of the doubt.

[THEhillbilly]

This thing is funny as hell. A few days ago, some of Huffington Post's censors declined to post my comments because they couldn't tolerate criticism of Crazy Jeremiah and the grandiloquent, done-nothing tyro senator Obama who willingly followed him for nearly two decades. After Obama's carefully orchestrated damage control sniveling of yesterday, Wright has morphed from angel to devil, and my rejected comments are mild by comparison. Obama's groupies are chanting, "Barack says he no longer likes Wright, so let's dump on him."

[OhMyGoodness]

I go to church and I follow no one.

[trollsbwild]

It is truly puzzling how so many of you write about Wright, yet no one is writing about the press conference Bush had yesterday blaming his monumental F ups on the Democrats.

[hoopesaz]

I'll help you with the puzzle. This is an article about Obama and Wright. So, naturally, comments to the article are related to Obama and Wright. Want to talk about Bush and his press confrence? You'll probably find those comments linked to the story about Bush and his press conference.

Not so puzzling when you think it through.

[aftershock]

That's just not "sexy enough"

[DallasMike]

Thats because he was right to blame the Demacrats.
They hold the power in both the House and the Senate.
The MAKE the laws they have the power to lift the ban on No nuke power plants.
They can lift the ban on drilling for oil in our own country
They can lift the ban on new oil refineries.
I love the way you lefties blame Bush for all your ills when it is acually the Congress that has the power to change things.
Why not start laying blame at the feet of those who deserve it Nancy and Harry.

[kcjc]

Judgment is a key issue and he cannot even judge the man he sat in church with for 20 years. This is not going away. Wright is still in a position to bring him down. Senator Obama stood to loose many black voters, that's why he did not come out sooner. He only came out yesterday because he is a politician and people will remember!!

[jsmedia]

McCain has been in Washington for 25 years and has shown poor judgment on the issues that matter - Iraq, the economy, Supreme Court nominees, and on and on. Clinton and her 35 years of experience has shown equally that her judgment is flawed - authorization of Iraq war and Nafta are two examples.

If you are a regular church member, how often do you "socialize" with your pastor? Obama did not have an intimate relationship AND members of the media who have attended Trinity Church, which has a large white membership, attested to the fact that sermons were not inflamatory in the manner of the "chickens coming home to roost" sermon.

Catholics, as I am, were duped by some members clergy who had a history of sexual misconduct while church members sat in their pews for decades. Judge not lest ye be judged.

[nerakami]

I am extremely saddened by people's perspective of Rev Wright.

America has progressed in race relations however, just 40 years ago attack dogs were set on blacks in the streets. The physical trauma is over, but it's time to address the psychological and emotional repercussions of discrimination. Whilst the tone and rhetoric of Rev Wright is not in accordance with how many blacks feel today, I am sure you wouldn't call a woman who remains in an abusive relationship narcissistic, because she is also psychologically victimized. The older generations of blacks will have a harder time overcoming the internal issues because of the physical anti-black experiences they went through.

I am a victim of sexual abuse and I can tell you this, even after 20 years and therapy the after-effects are still with me today.

It is important for whites to understand that there are scars left on the black psyche from slavery, segregation and racism. To dismiss the Rev. Wright in the manner you did, is an insult to the black experience and the road we are traveling to emancipate ourselves from the cobwebs of mental slavery.

The natural response victimization is to get angry however, it is now our challenge as blacks to embrace forgiveness so we can move on. It is not an easy task but we know it is necessary that we transcend all negative energy from our past. At least, you can be open minded to understand this difficult journey .

[wutzhappn]

wow, this is such spin. We are now to believe that Rev. Wright has been suddenly overtaken by aliens and has had a complete personality transformation in a matter of days? The same bloggers who were coddling him just a week ago are now joining Obama in throwing him under the bus. Rev. Wright is who is always is and Obama is just another politician.

[grendl]

HuffPost's Pick

Barack Obama, potentially this nation's first black president is currently in an abusive relationship, being victimized by the words of his pastor Reverend Wright.

We all know the unfairness of slavery, and we all acknowledge black anger in America, but its important to differentiate a white slaver in the 1800's from some college kid at Rutgers University.

The office of the presidency in not a means of reparations, affirmative action, or some kind of apology to any of this country's numerous abused populations. All must be represented. And that pastor's fiery words and tone smack too much of a need for retribution, and godly punition.

We don't need that right now, thanks. No ones dismissing your pain, but you have to direct your anger or hurt at those responsible. I wasn't there, but Wright damned me anyway because of my color, or nationality and such general swipes are a turnoff to voters.

Just because you've seen the evil in others, doesn't mean you ignore the good.

[nerakami]

Again, the point is being missed. Above all things, gain understanding.

This is in no way advocating reparation or even apologies, what I am stating very clearly, is that the psychological damage of abuse in whatever form goes deeply into the subconscious mind and takes a very long time to heal. That reality is what needs to be understood.

Still to date, there are subtle stereotypes and images being fed to the public and black youths, perpetuating this notion of inferiority. The acceptable societal standard of beauty in magazines, movies etc. is certainly not traditional black features. As subtle as this is, young black girls absorb a perception of "ugliness" which becomes a part of their sense of self. The years of messages of inferiority is deeply seeded.

We more than anyone else KNOW it is our responsibility to transcend the negative self image. No one but ourselves can do that. It will take a long time and will be easier if white America especially understand what the process is (brotherhood and all). Believe me, the more aware amongst us, know that we are so way beyond the "anger" period... we've already stepped into healing, but we don't throw our ancestors away because they have a harder time coming to grips with their pain.

[SamanthaJaneSalem]

I'm saddened that in 2008 so many white Americans still aren't all that advanced in their thinking about race.

For instance, Wright has been called a racist, and there's a lot of "equal time"-type thinking about "black racism" against whites. He said some controversial things-- but where's the racism? And even if he and some other blacks have racist views, it's quite different when you're in the 12% minority-- the one that suffered through slavery, segregation and the white blacklash to the civil rights movement.

A white kid somehow ends up at a nice university-- a black kid ends up in a gang. Is it all an accident? No-- persistent racist attitudes and even institutions put some kids on a path to failure. As a nation, we are all responsible for changing these social ills. The United States became a wealthy country partially through slavery, and history doesn't just end with a date of emancipation. Its after effects shape us until we address the historical imbalance.

Obama has gone out of his way to be a post-racial candidate-- not being elected because he's black, not tapping into white guilt. He has held up his end of the bargain. Our end of the bargain, as whites in the majority, is to realize racism still exists (just ask any black person) and if we don't do anything about it, then we *are* at fault.

[KillTheMessenger]

I think Mr. Obama more than once expressed that he understands the deep seated trauma of African Americans. He knows on more than just an intellectual level where Reverend Wright's mindset comes from. But more importantly for the African American community AND ALL of America is the fact that Mr. Obama also understands that victims are not always their best own advocates. The hurt, the anger and the infinite need to prevail against ones aggressor leave victims in a poor position to defend themselves or even better their own situation. This might be sad, but Reverend Wright has just made a powerful display of this often misunderstood fact.

One can only hope the African American community and ALL other minorities in the US (including white, college educated males and females) understand that they need a person like Mr. Obama who has the ability to bring people together and work on compromise for the good of all. Reverend Wright is not running for president and he has just proven why nobody with his baggage of hurt can.

[Bluesage]

I'm a white, college educated, fairly comfortable woman who's pretty damn sure I don't need a man like Obama in the White House. He's a phony, he's got very poor judgement when it comes to his friends (Resko) and his pastor (Wright). The veneer has cracked wide open and we are now seeing the real Obama and I want no part of the "Hope & Change" he is presenting. It's as phony as he is. It was also the Obama campaign that used race and like Bill Clinton said, there are memos to prove it. Trying to paint the Clintons as racist was a huge mistake. They may have their flaws but racism has never been one of them.

[WmC]

Personally, I'm extremely saddened by Rev. Wright's perspective about himself, which I would have to term self-absorbed. He treated an attack on him--which truthfully wasn't an attack at all, but merely a sound-bite from a sermon--as an attack on the "black church".

This is sadly similar to the sentiments expressed by the likes of Falwell, Robertson and politicians like Tom DeLay who feel discriminated against and demonized because they're such devout christians. Attack them and--in their own eyes--you're attacking Jesus.

[superlive]

It really was an attack on the BLACK Church and it's unique tradition of mixing loudmouth sermons with socio-political exposition.

[SamanthaJaneSalem]

Let's look at how the frontrunners from each party approached the nomination:

McCain is detested by most conservatives, yet for all their resounding fury he still won the nomination-- playing by the rules in caucuses, open primaries and winner-take-all states. For the most part, Republicans didn't want him, yet he won anyway.

Meanwhile, many Democrats wring their hands worrying who can beat the Republicans in the fall, not realizing that the winner is the one who wins the most delegates. Obama has jumped out to an insurmountable lead in the delegates by playing according to the rules-- and the liberal base, for the most part, *does* like him.

McCain sought the endorsement of a pastor who called the Catholic church "the Great Whore" and has cozied up to televangelists who claim America brought 9/11 on itself because of its sins. Yet Anderson Cooper & Co. aren't fretting over how this might damage McCain beyond repair.

Everyone is worrying about what working class white males might think. Ever consider what working class blacks might think? Contrary to popular belief, not all blacks are college professors who sip mochas.

McCain called his wife a "c*nt" in public-- no press conference necessary. Huckabee, trailing in delegates, didn't use Democratic talking points to blast McCain.

The New York Times said McCain had an affair with a female lobbyist. If the same had been said of Obama, would he have been given the benefit of the doubt?

*Double standard*.

[revolutionaryjerry]

Al Sharpton criticizing Obama? That is the funniest thing i've ever heard. Al Sharpton is an idiot, and once Obama is President he will be lucky if he's allowed to step one foot into the White House. How are you going to argue with Obama's non-violent approach to solving problems, when you claim to be a follower of the words of Dr. King?? Dr. King would be proud of Senator Obama, and would no doubt distance himself from individuals like Sharpton, Wright, and of course the violence promoting Louis Farrakhan.

[grendl]

.


Barack Obama's smart.

He knew the best way to win the race, was to avoid race as a key platform. Not because he doesn't feel it an issue, but because it's not the most pressing issue, and if it's not the most pressing issue what's the point of going near such an explosive powderkeg. Pennsylvania blue collars, and soccer moms with angelic children sleeping snugly at 3:00 a.m. need not be reminded of his color 24/7.

This wasn't about race, but that fuse was sure to be lit by his opponents, and in the Wright case his friends. Agendas counter to Barack's necessitated such an inevitable eventuality. And he would be naive to not have foreseen such a thing. He did, I'm sure.

The only problem I see is he's just a millisecond slow in addressing these kinds of issues as they surface. That great speech would've been all the more great had it come of his own volition, not prompted by immediate necessity. It seemed a tool of political pragmatism, not just him telling us his thoughts.

[KillTheMessenger]

Political pragmatism is NEVER to tell ones thoughts and to ALWAYS pander to the voter. We have two fine examples of that on this presidential campaign.

But Mr. Obama, more than any other politician in this country, has decided to walk a fine line satisfying voters who want genuine responses and voters who can not handle them. He walks this line with enormous skill so far, especially if we grant him that he has not had all hope cooked out of him, which usually makes people take more risks in politics than is good for them or their mission. And that is exactly why we should give Mr. Obama our trust to lead this country where it needs to go. We already have plenty of proof that no other candidate can.

[Lastamendment]

I hope those who are castigating Obama about Wright will go after Hagee and McCain with equal enthusiasm. Some have argued that Hagee didn't baptize McCain's children and so on. I think that is irrelevant. McCain sought out Hagee's political support and has not rejected Hagee's endorsement. Hagee has made offensive comments about Jews, Islam, Catholics, gay people, and the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Obama walked the fine line that a lot of politicians have to when someone they know starts undermining their campaign. He finally decided he'd had enough. I can see why some African Americans will be upset. After all, several of the things Wright says are true. But they are overshadowed by his comments about AIDS and the U.S. being like Al Qaeda. Talk like that is not going to win a national election for Obama, and I for one am glad that he made it clear that he and Wright had to go their separate ways. In the end I think most in the African American community will come around to Obama again.

Now we'll see if the media kid gloves come off against McCain and his (arguably worse) group of controversial religious figures.

[jmyoung666]

Exactly. The worst thing I can say about Wright is that he appears to be a grandstanding opportunist. None of his comments are as bad as the ones made by the preachers Mccain associates with and actively solicits support from.

Believing the US government created AIDS is not outlandish. Not saying there is any substantial evidence to support this theory, but our government has done worse.

Stating there is a moral equivalency to our country's actions in Iraq and the terrorists who attack is is not outrageous. Maybe people are not able to face the truth, but it does not mean it should not be spoken.

[Bluesage]

The really, really big difference here is that McCrazy did not sit in Hagee's church for 20 years. Apples and Oranges. I've noticed Obama supporters who cannot legitimately defend Obama always reach for the Apples and Oranges (Hillary and McCrazy).

[dem2win]

Unfortunately, McCain doesn't have a 20-year relationship with Hagee and he never called him his spiritual advisor. He also doesn't claim memebership to Hagee's church on his BIO. We all like the idea of the first black democratic president and the message it sends the world but I am down in North Carolina and the word from my republican friends is "we disagree with Hillary on policy but at least she loves her country." The scary thing is that this is not political posturing--these are people with college educations in middle to upper income groups and they think this guy in not only out of touch but not an American. The majority of Dems may understand and forgive the contoversy but Barrack cannot win a general election. There is a church sign 20 miles from here that says "Obama....­Osama Hmm Are they brothers?"

[elusiveyo]

haggee is repulsive, but McCain didnt go to his church for 20 yrs, call him a father figure, title his book after one of his sermons, give him a place in his campaign, all Haggee did was endorse McCain if you cant see the difference you dont want to

[Lon]

Not quite right. What McCain did was to seek Hagee's endorsement, and then appear at a rally with him to court the voters who share his views. And Hagee's views are on a different scale of repulsive with the worst of what has been attributed to Wright. He has claimed that the Nazis did not do anything they did not learn from the Roman Catholics, and that God struck down New Orleans for its sins.

I am bothered by the seriousness with which Wright takes AIDS conspiracies but that is not at all on the scale of what Hagee has actually said.

It is understandable that McCain is not getting scrutiny because his primary race is over. But this idea that his seeking the endorsement of Hagee which he has distanced himself from about to the same degree that Obama did in the Philadelphia speech on race, odd given that McCain can't use the family excuse he only has the pandering excuse) is silly.

[jhNY]

I'm a Clinton supporter, a rarity here I'm certain, but even I can see McCain sought Hagee's endorsement, that is, went out of his way to get Hagee's endorsement, even when 2 minutes of googling could have shown McCain what a millenialist nutbag Hagee was, is and always will be. And when asked by the press if he made a mistake in seeking Hagee's endorsement, he said no, even though he disagreed with him re the Catholic church being the great whore, which is undoubtedly magnanimous of him. Would be interesting to hear McCain opine on Hagee's views regarding war with Iran, and regarding Israel's returning territory to the Palestinia­ns...

[gdogs]

I'm glad that Obama came out yesterday and denounced this maniac that calls himself a minister. However, and this is a big however... this issue is not over. Yes, Obama can agree with McCain when the ads start appearing, but he still has to reconcile the "poor judgement" issue. That he attended this man's church for 20 years, and that he couldn't pick up on the underlying hate, goes along way in framing Obama as a poor judge of character. This will be played out once Obama has the nomination locked up. Add this issue along with the Ayers issue, and the Joyce Foundation issue, and it is looking more and more like he will be unelectable come the fall. Most people don't even know about the Joyce Foundation yet. The fact that he sat on the board of this foundation (that is as anti gun as they come) will have a major effect on voters all across the south, midwest, northwest and the heartland. I really hope Obama is ready with an answer for this one.

[adept2u]

Wright is no maniac he is a passionate advocate for peace and racial reconciliation.

[gdogs]

Wright is a hate mongering egomaniac that has no concern whatsoever for Senator Obama's presidential bid. And seeing as how the only racial reconciliation that is possible, will be done precisely as Obama is going about doing it, I would have to say that reconciliation is the furthest thing from Wright's mind.

[ralphie]

i am sick and tired of the M$M and their pundits injecting all the religious leaders in our politics. just cover the politicians and their past legislative history.

[radicalcentrist44]

Wright is the one making appearances. The media should report on this. I want to see Obama finally address hard questions. I still want to know what he stands for.

[carefulcautious]

I'm disappointed that Obama would reject Rev. Wright. He hasn't said anything that ANY AMERICAN WHO IS AWAKE disagrees with.

Obama/Edwards 08! Si, su pwayda! Yes, I can!

[Careful]

Oh really? So you think the US government invented AIDS to kill minorities?

[carefulcautious]

I think BusHitler and the ReTHUGlicans did, yes. Read your history, friend. Anyone who understands the EVIL of NEO-CONs knows it's true.