Email to a Rabbi: Wrong or Wright?

Almost as soon as Barack Obama's speech on race in America ended and for days thereafter, the calls came flooding in. Most from Jews; most reacting with admiration and relief after hearing Senator Obama deliver "A More Perfect Union," discussing race, religion and Reverend Wright. But a couple mentioned a draft of an upcoming sermon that was already being circulated and would be delivered at a local temple. Surely, I thought, the congregants and the community deserved better.

And so I wrote:

From: Howard W. Gutman
To: Rabbi
Subject: Your Proposed Saturday Sermon

Dear Rabbi --

I am a conservative Jew by upbringing and a reformed Jew by practice. My father was a Holocaust survivor, who spent the entire war uncaptured in Poland, before coming to this country under a phoney Danzig passport and raising two children first in the Bronx NY and then in our "palace" -- a three bedroom, one bath home in Queens NY. (He spent his adult life in the New York garment district before passing away in 1973 when I was 16 years old.) In the interest of full disclosure, let me note that, along with being a lawyer in Washington DC, I am an original member of Senator Obama's National Finance Committee and co-chair of Surrogate Fundraising; I assist with the Jewish community and other communities of faith; and I hold other equally meaningless titles with the campaign. I would hope, however, that I would be writing this same email even were I a long time friend and supporter of Hillary Clinton or John McCain.

I am writing to urge you to revise the sermon "Sen. Obama... Wright or Wrong," that you plan to deliver this Saturday. The brunt of the sermon asserts that, in his celebrated speech on race, Senator Obama set up a "moral equivalency" between his white grandmother and Reverend Wright. The sermon then proclaims that moral equivalency to be "false" and attacks Senator Obama both for his association with Reverend Wright and for the moral equivalency allegedly outlined in his speech. While the sermon calls Senator Obama's speech on race "eloquent," and "thought provoking," and while in the sermon you assure the congregation that Barack is "patriotic," such compliments come off either as "damning with faint praise" and "setting up for the kill."

I urge you to revise the sermon not only because I believe it is wrong and unfair -- about which reasonable people of course may disagree - but also because it has the potential to be so damaging and destructive to the cause of racial and religious harmony, when the prospect for meaningful improvement has never been greater. While certain television news commentators may prefer ratings over racial and religious progress, I hope theological and community leaders of every religion and race grasp the opportunity that Senator Obama has now created, acknowledge and give credit for it, and then build upon it -- rather than seek to tear it down.

Both Barack and the speech deserve no less. Let's look at both.

Senator Obama

Senator Obama never sought to run on the issues of "race," "religion," or "racial and religious harmony." He never sought to run as a black man. Instead, the Clinton campaign and certain television commentators chose to make the Obama candidacy about race and religion. Yet, however it reached this point, the Obama candidacy now could not be more important for blacks, Jews and indeed every American. Through his thoughts and words -- but mainly through his honesty and courage -- Barack has brought us all out of the shadows.

I know of no person -- not Dr. King, not any rabbi I have ever met, and certainly not any other politician -- who would go into an African American church -- Dr. King's Church -- on Martin Luther King Day and devote a significant portion of his speech to acknowledging and then decrying the continuing existence of anti-Semitism in sectors of the black community. That is precisely what Barack did last year. Some might make that speech at an AIPAC convention, but I know of none to do it to an all black congregation. Similarly, in my 51 years, I have heard many rabbis use the story of Passover to talk about religious intolerance against Jews; yet none has lectured on racial and religious intolerance within the Jewish community by forcing us to acknowledge, for example, that the elders at our seders still use derogatory yiddish words for African-Americans. I do not mean to suggest the "moral equivalence" of the language or to argue whether racism in the Jewish or other white communities is more or less prevalent or better or worse than anti-semitism in the black or other non-Jewish communities. They are all worthy of condemnation and most of us know it. But I know of no one -- let alone a politician in a presidential race -- other than Barack to so eschew self-interest and expediency by raising the harder side of the question to the less receptive audience.

And the character of the man and the importance of his candidacy were similarly reflected in his entire approach to that Tuesday speech in Constitutional Hall. There were more politically expedient ways to deal with the Rev. Wright mess -- the easiest would have been to stand on a stage surrounded by a General and a rabbi and perhaps a hispanic minister and to give a speech focused on the hate words and decrying -- in the most eloquent terms (as we know Barack can) -- just how wrong such language was and why. And ending there.

Why the heck continue with a speech about the underlying problem of racism that led 8500 African-Americans to cheer Reverend Wright in church? About the problem that leads to offensive statements by older Irish or Italian union members at Christmas dinners or Jewish elders at seders? Why give a speech on the history of race relations, applauding how far we have come but refusing to sugar coat how much further we have to go and assigning blame to us all? How could a politician do something that naive? Something that no matter how honest, how truthful, and how eloquent will of course leave so much for commentators and sermons to attack in the months ahead? Because any such speech -- particularly an honest and eloquent one -- on a problem that divides at every turn and with every word must necessarily leave so much for each "side" to attack. Each "side" always will attack the "moral equivalency" of any analysis, because that is how we got into this mess -- racial and religious divide -- in the first place. How could a politician be so naive to hope to shed light brightly on all and excuse none?

Because it was the right thing to do. And that is the man I have come to know and will always admire.

The Speech

So the decision to actually say something meaningful reflected the character of the man.

What did his words reflect?

First, can you imagine that the speech was written by Barack himself? That in a world of speech writers, media men and handlers of every sort, a candidate decides to address the American people on perhaps the most sensitive issue of our somewhat stained history and he picks up his own laptop and writes it himself to tell what he believes? That he taps out the most important speech of a presidential campaign and perhaps of most of the voters' lifetime on a Sunday and Monday night, after putting his two daughters to bed? (I emailed Barack Sunday night and he was writing the speech -- alone.) In thinking about the three remaining choices for leadership in America for the next 8 years, can you picture either Senator McCain or Senator Clinton writing any speech themselves? Or even thinking on their own so deeply about an issue? Even had the speech been flawed, can we afford to attack and find fault with such talented leadership?

But in fact the speech was far more than the thought-provoking diversion you describe in your sermon.

The speech as you recognized denounced in the strongest terms Reverend Wright's offensive words and hate speech; established (as it should not have had to do) that Barack of course loves this country as much as and is as patriotic as anyone; and demonstrated again (what I have long witnessed first-hand) that his support for Israel that is second to none. (In Barack's words: " [Reverend Wright's words] weren't simply a religious leader's effort to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country - a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam.").

And then it dealt with the the history and progress of race relations and the work that remains ahead. It offered NO moral equivalencies and it is unfair to struggle to find them for that was not the point of a sermon. Barack did not address whether Reverend Wright and the 8500 people who were cheering his words were equivalent, better or worse than racists (or in fact those who use yiddish epithets). For that was not the issue, nor should it have been. He had already denounced the offensive words and sentiments in the strongest terms. He had already explained his association with Rev. Wright and the Church:

"And I confess that if all that I knew of Reverend Wright were the snippets of those sermons that have run in an endless loop on the television and You Tube, or if Trinity United Church of Christ conformed to the caricatures being peddled by some commentators, there is no doubt that I would react in much the same way

But the truth is, that isn't all that I know of the man. The man I met more than twenty years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith, a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another; to care for the sick and lift up the poor. He is a man who served his country as a U.S. Marine; who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God's work here on Earth - by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS."

Rather the point was that those who feel left out of the America dream and cheered Rev. Wright's words, or who cast blame on and harbor prejudice (in union halls or at seder tables ) against other religious or racial groups because they too have been left behind in pursuit of the American dream are all still part of this country and its fabric. As Barack put it: "they are a part of America, this country that I love." A faulty fabric indeed in a country he loves, with enough blame to go around for the deficiencies in the fabric. Barack shielded none from blame. But he proposed no equivalencies. He instead set out the problem of racial and religious prejudice on all sides that still exists in this country.

And in his honesty in so raising and in dealing with this issue, Barack took a huge leap for us all. Not just in his unmatched eloquence, but in his equally unmatched honesty and insight. A leap that we can and must build on if we are ever going to make progress on this issue. A leap that, as noted above, any could attack in a sermon -- but that all should instead applaud and build upon.

For Jewish leaders to find fault in a speech, in a man, and in a candidacy that has done so much on this issue -- and who uniquely has the talent, insight and leadership to do so much more -- means that we have chosen to divide when the opportunity to unite has never been closer.

That would be a shame. And it would be a missed opportunity that has taken us so long to tee up. For no gain.

I am happy to discuss this issue at any time.

All the best.

Howard Gutman

Comments

[EdnaEpstein]

Bravo!

Why are all those of you who are so ready to smear Obama with Wright's words so unable to take Obama at his word or suspend your outrage just long enough to figure out where the anger of a Wright might be coming from.

Why are you so unable to see with Wright's eyes or walk in his shoe?

Why are you so unwilling to put in the scales his actions as well as his words? Wright's 3 years as a US Marine and another 3 years as a navy medic... the wonderful work his church has done in the community.

How many of you who are OUTRAGED! Outraged! can say as much about their own lives and actions? A little rachmones, or Christian Charity to temper your outrage, please.

And why are you so ready to smear Obama with the words of another, words he has disowned in every conceivable way and yet to give so many others a pass? There is a level of heat and insufficiency of light here that is most unpleasant and speaks very badly for those of you posting so much OUTRAGE.

[Fotios]

“If America does not use her vast resource of wealth to end poverty and make it possible for all god’s children to have the basic necessities of life, she too is going to hell.”

"Most Americans are unconscious racists."

“I knew that I could never again raise my voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today – my own government.”

"Our nation was born in genocide when it embraced the doctrine that the original American, the Indian, was an inferior race. Even before there were large numbers of Negroes on our shores, the scar of racial hatred had already disfigured colonial society. From the 16th century forward, blood flowed in battles over racial supremacy. We are perhaps the only nation which tried as a matter of national policy to wipe out its indigenous population."

“I have a dream.”

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Are you ready to call this man unpatriotic and racist despite all the good he did?

[RadioResearch]

In reading the Torah I note that slavery of others is justified and even regulated. Anyone who comes from the Abrahamic tradition knows perfectly well that the source of racism among us is directly related to those verses. Perhaps it is time to condemn the source not the result because the result is that many people, not just Africans, have been the victims of those terrible texts and react accordingly.

if the Torah were truly the word of God there would be no racism, slavery, homosexual discrimination, or evil in the world. But it is obvious that there is and the Torah is more concerned about its people being the "chosen.' God has no reason to chose one people over another unless he can't get his omnipotent act together in which case he is a failure.

"In a person of light there is light...." GTh

[DougC]

The back issues of the 2007 TUCC newsletters 2007) contain references to “zionist jews” and a posting from Hamas among other racist, anti-semitic and anti-Amercian rantings. This has been in Mr. Obama’s Church Bulletin for twenty years and he just gave them $20,000 to publish this crap. These are not idle ranting from the crazy pastor. This is a hate group. Do the press and the DNC not know this? I called the Anti-Defamation League. Their answer “We don’t get involved in politics” suggested that and even if he is an anti-Semite, he’s OUR anti-Semite! The implication being that he’s our superstar Democratic anti-Semite and we still love him so shut up and go away. He’s not one of those evil Republican or radical right-wing anti-Semites. Next, I called Senator Dodd’s office and they didn’t know anything about it. I called Senator Leahy’s office and they hung up on me. Go away you troublemaker; he’s OUR anti-Semite, we don’t want to hear it!
Maybe Obama isn't really an anti-Semite but he's belonged to (and contributed to) an anti-Semitic organization for twenty years. But if anyone else, e.g. Hillary Clinton or John Edwards, belonged to an organization that published that kind of filth, their candidacy would be a non-starter. So Mr. Obama, either quit the “church” or quit the campaign. Where is that great “judgment” that Barak is supposed to have?

[FogCityJohn]

Sorry, DougC, but you're completely wrong in the last paragraph of your post. We routinely forgive white politicians their membership in churches that espouse offensive doctrines. Right-wing preachers regularly denounce the U.S. -- indeed, some have gone so far as to say that our immorality was the cause of the 9/11 terrorist attacks -- and yet politicians who attend their churches and seek their endorsements suffer little or no political penalty. Similarly, Catholic Democratic politicians attend a church whose official dogma is explicitly homophobic and sexist, positions that most Democrats would agree are unacceptable. Yet no one calls upon these politicians to renounce their church. (And these positions are officially sanctioned doctrine, not the rantings of individual priests.) The same could be said of Southern Baptists, like Bill Clinton. But we subject black politicians like Obama to a double standard. We assume white politicians can attend a church but disagree with its doctrines, and we accept that. In contrast, we assume blacks are monolithic and unable to choose to disagree with the messages they hear in church. Once again, race plays a large role in how we view these things. Your post is just more evidence of that.

[EdnaEpstein]

I am White and a Jew and I couldn't agree with FogCity John and Howard Gutman more... it is shameful the way Obama is being hounded by the Wright matter, when he has disowned those words. The assumption that TUCC or Wright was no more than his more idiotic verbal excesses or even Left wing pro-Palestinian silliness (which I think is about as stupid as one can come and apparently from what he has said so does Obama) is eminently unfair to Wright and even more to Obama. There is such a "gotcha" quality to it all and such a blocking out of the goodness and decency and thoughtfulness and intelligence in the man, I mean Obama... that it makes me really sad for all the facile haters out there stewing in your equally facile outrage which has begun to sound so hollow and so false and either full of another agenda or simply willfully deluded... yet another Willie Horton moment. Yet another Swift Boat attack... yet once again, the hounds braying for blood.

[Gma11]

It appears there's plenty of hate to go around. . .

[plafayette]

The only reason you don't hear about the covert groups that HRC and McNasty belong to is because too many of our top people also belong to this same racist sect....and it would be too much of a global embarrassment. Think Skull & Bones, KKK, the Fellowship and others that have remained active and in the shadows yet they are deeply interwoven through our government and other highly respectable public institutions. Not to mention our largest corporations. You folks really do make it seem that there are more race bating idiots than ever running around in America. If we could just get it in our head to come together WE THE PEOPLE could finally CHANGE enough of the government to get it's greedy foot off of all our necks so that poor whites and poor blacks could finally live a much better life. Are you not tired of 10% of the population enjoying all of the wealth? Suspend racism and vote for Change.

[richcpl]

Priests, pastors, ministers, rabbis, imams and the rest of them shouldn't be talking partisan politics from their pulpits. Assuming they're enjoying their tax exemptions, it's illegal.

A group of self-appointed American Jewish leaders had a letter to the editor in today's NYTimes praising the hate-spewing Pastor Hagee as "a true friend of Israel for many years."

Look at how far American Jews have drifted in 50 years. Fifty years ago American Jews worked for social justice and collaborated with Blacks in the Civil Rights movement. Now they support Pastor Hagee, who believes the Catholic Church is a whore, whatever that means, and that a Jewish homeland in Israel is but a way station to the Second Coming of Christ, when all infidels, Jews among them, will be slaughtered.

Sad.

[ldvisavis]

The rhetoric on this site can get heated and sometimes veers off into the absurd--or worse.

Thank you so much Howard, for raising the dialogue with your thoughtful words. In the excessive whirl of tangental silliness, it is wonderful to be reminded of what is really at stake.

[hinnis]

Poll: Clinton Leads Obama, Tight General Election Race
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 10:38AM
Atlanta, GA -- Strategic Vision, LLC, an Atlanta-headquartered public relations and public affairs agency, announced the results of a three-day poll of 1200 likely voters in Pennsylvania on various political issues. The poll has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points. For the poll, 576 (48%) identified themselves as Democrats; 504 (42%) identified themselves as Republicans; and 120 (10%) identified themselves as Independent or other party affiliation.
In a head to head matchup between John McCain and Hillary Clinton, Clinton led McCain 45% to 42% with 13% undecided. In a head to head matchup between John McCain and Barack Obama, McCain led 48% to 41% with 11% undecided.

[hinnis]

OBAMA’S CHURCH IS PRO TERRORIST GROUP HAMAS
http://tinyurl.com/2rwc7f

[savagetiger]

You realize you look like and idiot, right?

Obama supporters tend to actually be educated, so go find some sub 80 IQ's where this crap may acutally work.

[hinnis]

ISRAEL FEARS AN OBAMA PRESIDENCY
http://tinyurl.com/6f6exn

[hinnis]

I’M SURE OBAMA HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THIS, EITHER, EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED IN JULY OF 2007 -- JERUSALEM – Sen. Barack Obama's Chicago church reprinted a manifesto by Hamas that defended terrorism as legitimate resistance, refused to recognize the right of Israel to exist and compared the terror group's official charter – which calls for the murder of Jews – to America's Declaration of Independence. The Hamas piece was published on the "Pastor's Page" of the Trinity United Church of Christ newsletter reserved for Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., whose anti-American, anti-Israel remarks landed Obama in hot water, prompting the presidential candidate to deliver a major race speech earlier this week. Hamas, responsible for scores of shootings, suicide bombings and rocket launchings against civilian population centers, is listed as a terrorist group by the U.S. State Department.

[hinnis]

The theology which Wright has been teaching Obama at his church is called “black liberation theology,” which is based upon the white oppressor against the black oppressed. This is why Wright refers to Jesus as black, and his killers as white. Wright cites black theologist James Cone as his theological inspiration. Here are a couple of his quotes: 1. To be Christian is to be one of those whom God has chosen. God has chosen black people. 2. While it is true that blacks do hate whites, black hatred is not racism. 3. All white men are responsible for white oppression. 4. Theologically, Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man the devil. 5. Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community … Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love.

[mindact]

That is completely false. That's not what black liberation theology is about. Black liberation theology is an outcrop of liberation theology that flourished in Latin America. It's focus is on the oppressed and their ability to rise above oppression and not on the oppressor. You're putting out flat out lies about Mr. Cone to posion the conversation. Being pro-black does not equate to being anti-white. Just like being pro your district does not mean you're against the country or being pro your family translate to you being against everyone else's family.

When it's St. Patty's day, people step out in their green garbs to highlight their lineage to Ireland. What's wrong with African American's highlighting their lineage to Africa, or Asian American's to Asian or even latin American'?

If you want to sit down and parse snippets or sound bites of what Barrack's preacher said, I'd say be my guest, because truth be told, if we go ahead and parse through utterances made by our preachers and take out sound bites, a lot of us will be outraged at what we hear in isolation. Like they say, everytime you point that finger, there are four of them pointing right back at you. Ah the irony of life....

[plafayette]

Hinnis you are a real nut job and a hypocrit. If the Jewish people can stand up anywhere in the world and shout "NEVER AGAIN" as a reminder of what they endured during the Holocaust then I do not see the problem with African-Americans expressing through Liberation Theology the same type of sentiment against those who have lynched, raped, burned, and oppressed them for hundreds of years. The last U.S. lynching of a black person occurred In 1981, a Mr.Josephus Andersonan, in the south. Does this even register with you? Do you have any idea at all what it truly has been like for blacks in America. Not as safe or as "kind" as you may think. And from the hate that you continue to spew I would feel sorry for any black people crossing paths with you day or night. I wonder what kind of justice a person of color could expect at your hands...say if you were a policeman, doctor, lawyer, landlord, dentist...etc. How many have you made to suffer because of the color of their skin?

[DoninJoisey]

Thank you, Howard.

It troubles me that I hear alleged "patriots" chant "America is #1" - well, in many areas, such as infant mortality, we are far from # 1. Pointing out what is wrong is a needed first step in correcting what is wrong. If you belive that America is perfect, then that means nothing can be improved, because we're already perfect.

I spent 16 months in the Marines in Vietnam, yet Cheney, who is a coward, would label me unpatriotic because I don't support a war of aggression for oil in Iraq. I consider Wright, who was also a Marine, more of what I'd like my son to be than Cheney.

Rev Wright, from accounts I've read, has done much good, and I'm sure the 30 seconds out of 2 sermons we heard over and over is the worst he's uttered in 30 years of sermons. How do I know? Because if they could find any more, Fox would have it on endless loop.

Note that I do not agree with the 30 second clips, but I can understand what injustice a black person of Wright's age had to have experienced, and understand anger. It is counter-productive to feed anger. Hate only begets more hate.

I also find it amusing that so many "religious" people are so judgmental.
It is as if some in the service of God seem to think it's an apprenticeship program to become God, as they make judgment pronouncements that aren't theirs to make.

[GemStone1972]

The fact is what Obama has said and done is going totally in the wrong direction! Excuses! Rationalization! Continued allegiance! If it had been Clinton's or McCain's white pastor who preached not just 5 snippets but rather week after week, month after month, year after year that another race with in America is the enemy and America is not our friend because that race controls America do you really think what Obama has said and done to date would be enough if it were Clinton or McCain and it involved there white pastor? If Clinton or McCain’s pastor had written about supporting Hamas and had visited terrorist states in support of those terrorist states and we found that out would what Obama has said and done be enough if it were Clinton or McCain? If we herd this pastor was a part of there campaign team and had been there spiritual adviser for 20 years and was still continuing to have that pastor as there chosen spiritual adviser would we be OK with that? If they were still attending that Church when 24 other churches of the same exact faith are within the same driving distance would it be enough? If Clinton or McCain had thrown there grandmother under the bus but not the pastor, especially if that grandmother was of the race that the pastor weekly’s innuendoes called the enemy would we see as the right thing to have done? Americas answer should be a resounding absolutely not!

[DoninJoisey]

Bull.
Did you listen to Obama's speech? What part don't you understand?
Have you read up on Rev Wright? 30 seconds out of 2 sermons out of 30 years of sermons and you're judging him?
I have heard disgusting statements from Falwell, Robertson, Dobson - yet there are millions who slurp up their bile.
First it was the smear that Obama might be Muslim (not that I'd care) now it's that he goes to a black Christian church!!!
It's obvious you wouldn't have voted for him anyway, since your mind is closed to reason.

I suppose you find Hillary's "the Fellowship" of mixing politics, business and a dash of religion more acceptable? What could be more American than prayer while feeding greed and ambition, right?

[Krazime]

Why do people keep ignoring the fact that Obama has stated those sermons in the 30 second loop in the news.....he said they were not the typical Sunday sermon.
But everyone keeps making the same kinds of statements, and they keep getting worse.....that he sat in the pews for 20 yrs and listened to hate for 20 yrs. THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
That he sat his 2 daughters in the pews to listen to hate....THAT TOO IS NOT TRUE.

The loops they played over and over were from what.....3 or 4 sermons from a year to 3 yrs to 7 yrs ago.

IN ADDITION.....why are people also ignoring, that the one specific sermon (one of the worst), Wright was quoting from Admiral Peck, and he stated those words as a "faith footnote" in his sermon? Since all this crap was introduced, no one has made mention of Admiral Peck's words.....why is that???

[mindact]

First of all, if Rev Wright spent every Sunday preaching about the "Evil White People", the United Church of Christ would have disbarred it from it's member congregation. It's a flat out lie that the Rev preached hate speech all the time. Did he talk about challenges black people faced? Yes he did. Did he ask for blacks not to be dependent on handouts but help themselves? Yes he did. Did he ask those who've made it not to forget those who haven't? Absolutely. Was this his message every Sunday? absolutely not. He prime focal message was a Christian message about the ressurection of Jesus Christ. That was the only constant every sunday.

Now in the context of talking about the patholigical woes impacting blacks and their ability to rise above it. He did not shy away from the historic root cause of some of the problems. just as he didn't spare the black folks who play victim. He made it clear that expecting hand-outs is a waste of time. In the course of this discourse, he made some outlandish comments, which when viewed in isolation, seems very disturbing, but when viewed in context makes sense. Do you wonder why there were clips of the message rather than the entire message? This is the first time in presidential politics, the opposition couldn't find anything to use agianst the candidate and resort ed to parsing his wife's and preacher's utterances. For God sake, they're not running for President. Barack is

[EdnaEpstein]

GemStone... it is good to know that you have been sitting in on TUCC sermons for the last 20 years since you are so knowledgeable about what Wright has been saying for 20 years... I guess you equate 20 second loops with 20 years... I didn't think brain washing came so easily.

Just when did Obama throw his grandmother under a bus? You see some cartoon and that becomes reality for you?

Just what is it about you folks?

[Cole2008]

Why didn't you share what his message is?
Why does this need to be an Wright or Wrong issue. Obama admits that Wright's words were devisive and out of date, and that he wasnn't acknowledging how far we have come, etc... Why didn't Obama try to change the church? This makes me fundamentally question what is in Obama's heart. Obama tells us he wants to meet with world leaders like Iran and Cuba and yet he can't change the mind of Rev. Wright. Even if it costs Obama the presidendency Wright will not simply acknowledge Obama's words from the speech everybody is trying to say is so inspirational. Trinity Unified Church of Christ promotes victimization. Just because a church does some positive things doesn't mean they are obsolved of other sins. Obama didn't have a life long relationship with the church and he is a worldly man. Why didn't he say maybe this church once served us well, but now we need to REACH out to all people. and say change needs to start here. Rev. Wright is a very sad man and Obama has made a poor choice in a mentor.

[maddogbitesback]

Anyone want to take a bet that the Rabbi will ignore this blog and continue on with his speech. I bet the rabbi will do as he planned.