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

[LeonBNJ]

Sadly, Rev. Wright has said certain things that even in context are deeply offensive to many in America and became easy sound bites to be used against Obama. While he clearly has a right of free speech, other have the right too to reject and condemnd his recognition of Farrakhan, a notorioius anti-semite and his saying 'the government' made AIDS to kill off Blacks.
Obama has now thown Rev. Wright under the bus as he has to politicaly. Obama should find another church with a more moderate pastor.

[Willemaq]

Not so fast there Leon, there is documentation to suggest that the US government, beginning in 1969 may have pursued and eventually succeeded in developing a "biological microorganism" for which 'NO IMMUNITY COULD BE ACQUIRED' (sound familliar?) but don't take my word for it do a little research on the subject, you may be unpleasantly surprised.

Start here:
http://www.apfn.org/apfn/aids.htm

[shinybear]

To me it's not his opinions but his willingness to get his friend into trouble without a care that really upsets me.

I've defended Rev. Wright over and over- here and elsewhere but I think this piece says it all.

It's even sadder because Obama tried so hard to do the right thing all along and is being punished for it- not just by the Clinton and McCain people or the MSM but by Wright himself.

And how nice of the Clinton people to give Wright the rope to hang himself with!

[COMtns]

I love it when the corporate media goes into overdrive to tell me not to listen to a person. I've long since learned that this is the time to go listen to that person and to hear what they have to say that the corporations don't want me to hear.

One common technique is to go through a public person's writings and find just a few things that can be attacked. Then they get pulled out of any context they might have had and get listed as a mantra of hatred to that person. They are then chanted over and over, and the message is not in the details of the chant. The message is that you, as a good corporate citizen should not listen to this person.

That is almost always a sign that the person is saying other things, beyond the mantra of the two minute hate, that should be listened to.

[StillAmused]

After exercising its fangs on the Clintons, the stenographic press has now decided to take a few bites out of Obama. As with any feeding frenzy, things tend to get out of control at the trough.

As one who has frequently defended both Clintons against twisted, fabricated press narratives, I wasn't looking forward to the predictable, brain-dead press campaign to force Obama further and further from Wright. I'd hoped he'd have the integrity to flip them the bird and not capitulate­... maybe even remind everyone that the current administration, despite its best efforts, hasn't yet succeded in revoking the First Amendment

Guess not. Media approval is as much an intoxicant as media attention.

It's become clear, from the pious wimpering of the talking heads -- white AND African-American -- that they're unnerved by Wright's violation of the 'new rules': namely, that we should all keep our heads down, avert our gazes and walk on tip-toe where race is concerned.

It preserves all the comfortable, grandiose illusions of cultural enlightenment in America, the only condition under which the media is willing to promote Obama... and he's accepted their terms.

Expect these morons to confront reality? They're the same quivering handmaidens who helped sell you the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Yeah, there are miles to go, alright... it's a long, hard road, placating the media beast.

[AAKAlan]

You have conveniently ignored the main issue: that Reverend Wright threw Obama under the bus, putting down his highest ideals and beliefs, including the excellent Philadelphia speech on race as the pandering of a politician.

Up until then, I defended Wright.

[StillAmused]

"Reverend Wright threw Obama under the bus..."

My point exactly. It's all about Obama, right?

You probably skipped over my naïve reference to the First Amendment. Wright defended himself against an organized press character assassinat­ion... if he had any decency, he'd have thrown himself into the volcano for Barack.

... so we could "all keep our heads down, avert our gazes and walk on tip-toe where race is concerned.­"

"Pandering" is your word choice, not Wright's.

[superlive]

That White Grandma speech is probably what drove Dr. Wright to the press. It was among the worst White-pandering I've ever witnessed and was anathemic to everything Obama should have learned over his 20 years at TUCC. To wit, "Different is NOT deficient".

The motto of Chicago Trinity United Church of Christ is "Unashamedly Black, Unapologetically Christian". Obama's continual reference to his White heritage and rearing was monumentally damaging to the cause of cultural diversity. It's as if he was saying to the White voters of America: "Hey, you can trust me, I grew up with Whites!" Where does that leave the Blacks without immediate White forebears? Are they then deficient?

If Dr. Wright knew that Obama took the lessons of the TUCC sermons so lightly, he probably would have thrown him out of TUCC long ago. I should point out at this juncture that Wright takes a dim view of political office-seekers because he has seen too many of them go bad once in office. An obvious example would be Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Il) who beat Obama handily in 2000. Rush was a Black Panther (therefore Maoist-Atheist) when it was chic, then a Baptist Pastor when that was necessary to dampen his BP past, then a politician when it became a possibility. Now Rush is using his church charities to launder corporate contributions. That's the type of mischief Wright implied when he said politicians do what they do.

[jonesgen57]

Not too many people in his position would have the fortitude to sacrifice themselves like this. But we should remember that he is a US Marine and a Christian. If it were in a war he would get a medal.

[SeekingtruthinAmerica]

I think this article said it exactly--describing a man who started out to teach Jesus and love and fell upon his own ego into madness and absurdity.

[donaldw6]

I am very much in sympathy with Obama. I am also sympathetic to Rev. Wright, and the many tribulations of the experience of black Americans in our history. Most of all, I know how important it is for Obama to separate himself from a narrative that is completely antithetical to the way he sees the world and the way he wants to interact with it.

Obama knows about the America that produced Rev. Wright, but it is not the America that Obama wants to put forward. The way in which the media has propelled Wright's story, and the way Wright has revelled in the attention to create a story that threatened to utterly distort Obama the man, was insufferable. I will judge the fairness and rationality of participants in this process by their ability to separate the two men in their thoughts and actions.

A word in support of Rev. Wright. He has come to the end of a long career of frequently distinguished service only to find himself nationally vilified. Who among us would suffer that fate without protest? If his response has not always been made with dispassionate selflessness, how difficult would it have been for any of us, if put in the same position, to rise and meet it with no vulnerabilities exposed? I wouldn't vote for Jeremiah Wright for president, and Obama has done what he can to remind us that we don't have to.

[Siryn]

He should have stopped before shooting off wildly at the press conference. Whatever redemption and respect he earned, he squandered in a matter of days.

[grendl]

Doesn't the bible say "do unto others as they would do unto you"?

Jeremiah Wright threw Obama's campaign under the bus with his ridiculous antics, steering it headlong off the cliff of racial divisiveness. Barack should have no moral dilemma in letting him go.

But it may be too late. Unless Barack grabs the wheel and starts steering this campaign himself. Why hasn't he. He's basked in the afterglow of his followers undying love for too long.

He's basked in your hyperbole, and unmerited affection for too long. He's still nothing but talk until he gets into office, eloquent as it is, but now is the time for action. ( which of course means a speech, ironically talk )

Maybe this country did fall a little too hard for Barack, its made him lazy, or silent, or scared to show us what he can do.

[ghostofgrrrl]

The "WrightBoating" of Obama should serve as a call to action for Obama's supporters.

We must stand up with our candidate and be tough and get this race back to the focus of issues.

[joececchini]

WrightBoating! I love it. Coined!

[nellie]

Great idea. Got a few billions lying around to buy a tv network?

[HumeSkeptic]

American terrorism and "God Damn America" still being justified, and his mockery of various regional dialects
----------

You disappoint me, Jon.

You don't agree that U.S. is currently the biggest terrorist organization in the world? Check out the definition of terrorism used by our own military, and judge our actions of recent past against that definition.

And you find "God Damn America" unjustified on what grounds? Because it is offensive? How about flag burnings? Are you against flag burning as a political statement? Do you think the reaction of Muslims to cartoons of their Prophet was justified? You must, if you are offended by "God Damn America" .

Mockery of regional dialects? Are you serious? How about borrowing a sense of humor from someone for a day?

It is one thing to support Obama, but its shouldn't require viciously attacking a decent human being like Reverend Wright.

And this is from one Obama supporter to another.

[grinreaper]

i am barry hussein obama and i approve humey spammin huff with this drivel!!

[Pammy1151]

Hume as one Obama supporter to another I don't always agree with all of your posts but this one I totally agree with.

[cadbury]

Sorry, folks. You can't pin anything about Rev Wright on Clinton and/or her supporters. He's done two other media events beside the NPC this week! Besides, are you suggesting that Obama's pastor/mentor is so dumb that he'd fall for that? I'd say that's pretty condescending; wouldn't you?? The Rev Wright and his often outrageous statements are solely Obama's -- the gift that keeps on giving. (If Obama is the nominee, be prepared for all Rev Wright all the time from the repubs. UGH!)

[janeadams]

Wha HUH?

[cadbury]

Janeadams, did you not read the article? Here's what Baitz said:

"I must also drily (sic) 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."

What sheer and utter nonsense! Dr. Reynolds had been trying to bring Wright in as a speaker to an NPC event for two years. And it wasn't the only stop on his media tour. HOW IS THIS WHOLE SORRY MESS CLINTON'S FAULT?

[jennbeez]

I saw Obama's unfortunate tendency to apologize instead of standing up for himself when his closet smoking came out. He could have saved himself by saying: "Yes, I smoke. Smoking is LEGAL if you're over 21, in case you don't know. And, by the way, tobacco brings much needed revenue to places like NC , VA, and WV where the soil is too rocky and bare of nutrients to grow anything else."

That approach was honest and would have won him votes from the same rural whites who are attacking him now.

If when the sermons were first thrust out into the media, if Obama had simply stuck up for Reverend Wright's God-Given American Right to speak his mind, he would not be in this position now. Obviously, his pastor feels slighted by Obama's earlier distancing effort, and so he is lashing out at an old friend who he thought would defend him more.

What is really despicable is knowing that someone from Hillary's staff sat at the computer for HOURS at the church's website clicking and searching for something the Reverend said that could be used to smear Obama. Now, that is a disgusting pastime. Someone whose job it is to look for shit to smear.

[HumeSkeptic]

Two wrong statements by Reverend Wright: one on AIDS and another about Farrakhan being "one of the greatest voices of the 21st century".

For those two statements, Jon, you label him "the mad Reverend Wright."?

And you choose to ignore his lifetime of contributions to reconciliation among races and religions, and all the charitable work that he has done and the people he has helped?

"the mad Reverend Wright."?

"Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"

[KDH]

It was mad for Wright to even go out and speak in public. I suppose you think that was wise and Obama wanted him to? Sounds "mad" to me.

[HumeSkeptic]

You are saying that it is the obligation of all individuals to abandon their own beliefs and lives, and dedicate themselves to helping Obama get elected, otherwise they are"mad".

I have never seen "mad" defined that way.

[missjabez]

I think Rev. Wright is working for Clinton.

[minnehot]

Good Bye Obama:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/28/AR2008042802269.html?hpid=topnews

[tiredoflies]

missjabez.­....that dog don't hunt baby

[NABNYC]

I suspect Hillary and the media will search around and find some other black person, demand Obama reject and renounce him too. I think Gary Coleman's been in the news lately. Maybe they can ask Obama to reject and renounce him.

I would love to imagine the media assaulting Hillary and McCain at every opportunity, demanding they reject and renounce their votes for Iraq, make amends for all the people who have died needlessly, ask how much of their (and their spouse's) personal fortunes they will give away to rebuild Iraq, to support the injured Americans and their families. Going back through every Bush speech, every Cheney lie, every Condi tall tale, and demanding of Hillary and McCain, again and again, "How could you have believed this story, and what will you do today to fix this terrible disaster you have caused."

But no. Instead we've got stolen intellectual property of a private minister preaching to the members of his church, stolen by the media and re-played without permission, and used again and again to attack Obama. Here's my question: Did Rev. Wright have something to do with starting this war in Iraq? No? Outsourcing? No? Throwing people out of work? No? Saturating communities with guns? No? Not him? Did he kill someone? No? Then what did he do? He said something? He said some words that some white people found frightening? Like Emmitt Till? He said something? That's it.

[avicenna]

The good Rev. could have at least tempered his tone by denying global warming is destroying the planet because of human gluttony or that waterboarding is not torture and human rights are over-rated - but no - he had to strip all hypocrisy and delusions from America's made up face and hold that mirror up in an excruciatingly unflattering light. This just isn't good for politics or the "average blue collared American" who know real rights means access - not to health care - but to guns. The media knows - in fact, they even conjure - what the citizenry values - and that is flag pins - and good American sounding names - like George, Dick, and Cheney.... those are things from the heartland you can trust.

[HumeSkeptic]

Beautiful post. Thank you.

[LangstonA]

I and my boyfriend watched the entire video podcast of Rev. Wright's interview on Bill Moyer's this week. Bill played longer excerpts from the sermons from which Wright's supposedly controversial statements were taken. I agreed with everything he was trying to convey from the pulpit and I did not disagree with the manner in which he conveyed it. After the excerpts Moyers asked what I considered to be superflous questions regarding the excerpts. I said to my White boyfriend "Baby, why is he asking Wright this stupid question, did Bill not just view the excerpt like us?". My boyfriend explained that Moyers still had to ask Wright to "break it down" for the benefit of White America. This entire episode has reinforced to my view about the staggering lack of understanding White America has for any aspect of African-American culture outside of that which is produced by corporate owned media. I saw Rev. Wright's comments in their entirety and what he said seemed correct to me. If I wanted the U.S. to go to hell in a handbasket I would not bother speaking up against what I see as injustices committed by the U.S.. It is because I care and I want the U.S. to live up to the promise of the Bill of Rights and Constitution that I criticize the country when it is doing unjust things. When I saw Rev. Wright's sermons I came away feeling he was coming from the same place.

[S1m0n]

"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."

Obliterated it as far as the national media, perhaps, which only learned about Wright a month ago in any case. People on the south side of Chicago will have a different story to tell, and what the national media thinks now or thought then of Wright won't matter much to them.

[ghostofgrrrl]

I'm afraid this is but one of many painful decisions Obama will be making over time.

If he wasn't "vetted" before, I'm pretty sure he is now