Lear on the Heath

Monday, the world was treated to the spectacle of a seemingly intelligent man of the cloth, named Jeremiah Wright, intoxicated by the giddy exhilarations of lights, camera and press action -- behave like any two-bit celebrity from reality TV. It was a sort of psychological portrait of a bad father figure, at the National Press Club -- a Post-Modern Vaudeville Abraham trying his best to sacrifice a child on the alter of his manic high self-regard. The American circus, once again, exploding in a cacophony of the narcissism of the ongoing cult of personality which fuels all news cycles. I must also drily note that the good reverend's appearance seems to have been orchestrated by a gleeful and fervent Clinton supporter, another member of the clergy (sigh), named Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds.

Tuesday, Barack Obama, riven with quiet anger came out at a press conference in North Carolina, and finally dropped the other shoe. He stood there, and with certitude said "enough is enough." He was visibly appalled, outraged at being labeled a pandering inauthentic politico by his(semi/faux) surrogate. Still, you can see how painful it is for Obama -- how it goes against his intrinsic sense of loyalty and history -- to finally jettison the mad Reverend Wright.

What the last day has been about for many Obama believers, was how long it would be until the inevitable denunciation. One knew, of course, watching Wright rage madly about HIV as a government conspiracy against minorities, not to mention American terrorism and "God Damn America" still being justified, and his mockery of various regional dialects -- that it was a matter of hours before this strange modern Lear on the heath would be excommunicated.

What I find sad is that Wright's soul-sick glee at being heard nationally has all but obliterated whatever was good about the work the man did for decades on the south side. Well, media attention is an intoxicant, and humility is the first quality to collapse when one is drunk with the sounds of one's own narcissistic dialectic. Wright, of course, messianic, and thrilled, and out to sell books, will keep it coming". It's an American tale.

Hopefully, now, Barack Obama can return to a campaign of honor, of hope, and of ideas that inspire. There are miles to go before he sleeps.

Comments

[AarynLaperle]

Speaking of Shakespeare (your title), here's another quote that's equally relevant:

"I know thee not, old man: fall to thy prayers;
How ill white hairs become a fool and jester!
I have long dream’d of such a kind of man,
So surfeit-swell’d, so old, and so profane;
But, being awak’d, I do despise my dream," - Henry V in Henry IV.

[cynicalismo]

Hal was carousing with Falstaff and the other boozers for a long time. With the crown in his hand, how sincere was he when he denounced Falstaff? He didn't have to fake it since he was king already.

Obama sat there listening to Wright for twenty years. With visions of the presidency in his head, how sincere is he in denouncing his pastor? We'll see.

In the meantime, the seeds of doubt, righfully or wrongfully, are sprouting in millions of minds. We have to ask ourselves this question, "Do we want a Democrat in the White House in 2009?" If the answer is "yes," we have to make sure that we have a candidate who can win.

[mheister]

Well-played!

[Billie]

This Rev. Wright thing is soooooo blown out of proportion. But it makes me think: wouldn't it be nice if all those casting stones would also jettison those rapid preachers of the annhilation of all non-"christians" via the rapture? Isn't that REAL madness? Or who denied and looked the other way for decades of abuse by priests in the Catholic church? Isn't that REAL madness? These are way worse than anything Wright ever said. And I think Obama did what he had to do, because Wright is obviously feeding off the situation. So now, please, let's move on! We have more important issues to focus on than this tabloid-y circus. I think Obama has handled the whole thing with grace and elegance.

[bev5419]

Obama had no choice. I feel sorry for Rev, Wright. I Think he is getting goofy/senile. Wright was never like that. Obama is nothing like that.

[doyourownresearch]

It certainly is refreshing to hear a candidate speak to the public on important issues in a composed, intelligent and adult manner. Obama has already done that numerous times. Bushs childish display at his presser yesterday was an embarrassment to every American. Can you imagine McCain responding to questions and criticisms of Hagee or Parsley - it'd be good for laughs, but it'd be an embarrassment similar to the temper tantrum bush had thrown.

I also appreciate Obama's honesty regarding the gas tax holiday scheme. While the others are pandering for votes, Obama's telling it like it really is.

I respect that in Obama - the subjects may be delicate - and he may not be telling us what we want to hear, but he handles it all with grace and respect.

[AnotherToerag]

I agree that it's refreshing to hear a candidate speak to the public on important issues like we're actually adults. The racial divide is an important issue. What Obamas pastor says is most definately not an important issue, no matter what the media wants us to think.

Also, McCain did respond to a Hagee question, saying it is "nonsense" - then he repeated the word nonsense two dozen more times for effect. Way to confront the question Johnny Mac...

[CaseyBabes]

OK, I have it now.......­.Obama has shed "Reverend" Wright from his circle of trust, BUT, while doing the shedding this past tuesday, B. Hussein Obama continued to sell DVDs of his Philly speech for campaign support funds refusing to denounce the Wright nutjob....­....(tip of me hat to Ann Coulter).

[demdekalb]

Coulter is your source? What about that whole Adams apple thing that she got going? P.S. was a good speech though, be a shame to waste it on you.

[peggio]

I have asked repeatedly about that Adams apple thing with Mr. Ann. Part and parcel with this "silly season" is now that Obama has done all the denouncing requested instead of moving on it's the only subject on cable under the guise of moving on. Irony of ironies.
Meanwhile still no vetting of Shrills little right wing prayer circle of fiends, oops, I mean friends. That would be the group that feels God has chosen them to lead. Our lady of the bad pants suit is now a member of the "elite" cell. Irony of ironies. McManiac is happy to have pastor Hagee & the curse of God on Nola for a gay parade that came in the form of a mighty storm that didn't pick out gay people but killed and ruined lives indiscriminately. Irony of ironies. Not to mention Rev. Parsley, he of the notion that our country was founded in part to destroy Islam, no vetting for our crazy war hero. Irony of ironies.

The real irony is that we the people (myself included) give these people our time which encourages them to say anything real or imagined. We are enraged but engaged which gives them more reason to talk nonsense. Irony of ironies.

[BEHM777]

Senator Obama did the politically expedient thing, That is what politicians do. That is not a jab at Senator Obama, it is a fact. I do not doubt that he was sincerely pained by having to denounce Reverend Wright, but were Senator Obama not running for POTUS, it would not have been an issue I believe. I also do not believe that this will have a lasting negative impact on Senator Obama's campaign. If it does, it just shows how truly pathetic and shallow the American people have become.

[carefulcautious]

Agreed. Rev. Wright is the last honest man--what AWAKE American disagrees with him? If Obama were really the candidate of change, he would be proud to admit his agreement with Wright, instead of LYING and DENYING it. Wright speaks the truth--thank goodness Obama knows it. I hope he's just faking this rejection until he takes office.

Obama/Edwards 08! Se de pueda! Well, I can!

[BEHM777]

The "mad" Reverend Wright? I personally think he laid it on a little thick, i. e., got WAY too comfortable, but mad the man is not. Nor has the great body of work he has accomplished on his own and through the auspices of Trinity United Church of Christ been diluted one bit. Now it certainly would have been better for Senator Obama's campaign if he had let the Bill Moyers interview speak for him. That interview showed the calm, introspective side of the man. While I concede that point, it is only because of this ridiculous feeding frenzy by the media and the reactions I have read from bloggers and posters and even my own wife's opinion. Timing is everything in some matters, and his timing wasn't good, even I have to agree with that. Still, the man isn't diminished in my eyes because I know him.

I will challenge you and any other detractor to compare your good works and accomplishments with Reverend Wright's.

[JohnBarleycorn]

Reverend Wright has stated the US government manufactured and disseminated AIDS with genocidal intent on the black community.

At the NAACP speech this week he, intentional or otherwise, read from a figurative Nazi playbook on utterly fallacious and discredited theories on Eugenics.

He may not be mad in the psychiatric sense of mental illness, or the still higher legal standard, but these remarks alone -- and there are many more examples in the same vein -- demonstrate that he is demented, possibly paranoid, extraordinarily ignorant and not possessed of enough intellectual fortitude or sound judgement to lead a flock of actual sheep, let alone a congregation of thousands.

Your fatuous argument is on par with "But Mussolini got the trains to run on time."

How sad for you that you're commending the engineers and captain of the Titanic as it touches bottom.

[BEHM777]

"Engineers and captain of the Titanic"? Mussolini? Reverend Wright has built and successfully led a congregation of thousands to do much good in their community. That is a fact that flies in the face of your disparaging comments about him. Let me rephrase--your LIES about him.

As for the HIV/AIDS comments, I am not in agreement with that. However, this nation has done horrible things to non white folk over the years. Research what was done to Native Americans and take a look at how Japanese citizens were treated during WWII. I won't even mention Tuskegee.

I know Jeremiah Wright. It is clear that you don't. Still I am glad you choose to exercise your 1st amendment rights. I simply choose to disagree with your narrow way of thinking.

[Unrepentantliberal]

At least it's getting out there that it's the pastor of his CHRISTIAN church and not Muslim mosque. It's a diversion but not completely a bad one.

[AshevilleVoice]

I like the way you've said that he became "intoxicated by the giddy exhilarations of lights". It makes sense. What I don't understand is why we can't just hear Rev. Wright with the same amount of benign curiosity and widely encompassing tolerance we give to any other clergy. The Pope with his former Nazi ties hasn't been dissected this thoroughly.

If we judged every candidate for presidency by scrutinizing their church's pastor for any signs of human imperfection, we'd find everyone on the planet unelectable.

Something is gravely askew in the frenzy of judgment over Wright.

[ShawnMichel]

Too bad the Billary Clintorises will be licking each other mad over this idiocy.

Friggin' sheep, the lot of 'em.

[elbzee]

Good God Shawn, I understand you don't like Hillary, but let's back off the nasty misogyny! Pretty darned abusive if you ask me!

[BigMike75]

You know I was willing to give Rev. Wright a pass(I've heard him preach). Not after watching that Minstrel show on Monday, and watching how he displayed nothing in the way of loyalty to Barack Obama.No one should be surprised by this "crabs in a bucket" display, it's something quite regular in the black community. For weeks Barack Obama has defended his pastor, much to the dismay of his inner circle, He has been smeared, analyzed, and picked apart like no other, and never once did he throw his pastor under the bus.
So there at the National Press Club show, when he had a chance to say something positive about Obama, when he had a golden opportunity to edify this historic candidate, he chose to damage Obama even further, and put the spotlight on himself. He chose to make this about himself, and capitalize on the national spolight and further his assinine rhetoric. Let's hope the good ol' Rev can sell some more books or command those Clinton like fees on the speaking circuit because of it.
The biggest joke is watching Rev. Barbara Reynolds in the background enjoying the show, after all she had a hand in organizing the whole thing, and she surely didn't know that such a spectacle would adversely effect Obama, the candidate that her candidate is running against I might add.
Good to see black on black crime is still alive and well in America.

[elisunday]

Great title.

[walkereads]

"Hopefully, now, Barack Obama can return to a campaign of honor, of hope, and of ideas that inspire."
...Like telling fox news that he thinks that deregulation is a good idea. "Pandering inauthentic politico" indeed! Harold, turn off the mike. And get this clown off the stage.

[Cfordy0]

OBAMA N WRIGHT..IS AS DIFFERENT AS ......CHUR­CH N STATE.....­its plain as day.....Ob­ama 08

[ohmemercylard]

I began listening to Rev. Wright's interview with Bill Moyers, and he sounded fairly reasonable until he slipped in "sodomy" in his list of mega-sins such as war and murder. He lost me at sodomy.

[donaldw6]

You're the first one I've heard mention that. That's remarkable in itself.