My Own Reverend Wright

It's a truism by now: "The personal is political." The political is personal, too. Very personal.

During the uproar in March over the incendiary remarks of Barack Obama's longtime preacher, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama supporters implored people to be empathetic, saying "Don't we all have someone like that in our lives?" But no one gave a concrete example.

I've got one. A good friend of mine is now publicly representing the faction of "Clintonites" that are threatening to not vote in November or to vote for John McCain rather than fall in line behind Barack Obama.

Yeesh. As I assume Obama did vis-à-vis Wright, for the last week I have been crossing my fingers that no one connects the dots between me and my friend, out of fear of "guilt by association." I never gave Obama the benefit of the doubt on the guilt-by-association thing, but now that it's happening to me, I do.

Seeing my friend, who I know to be liberal-to-moderate, on a FOX News Channel segment called "Dems Divided" talking about the splinter group he founded, which is named after a predatory feline creature, made me recoil the way I imagine Obama did when he first saw the tape. It was my own "God damn America!" mortification moment. (Although my friend does look very good on TV. It was a little like watching a Leni Riefenstahl film. Looks good aesthetically, but think about what she's doing!)

The differences in the particulars between Obama's Rev. Wright and "my" Rev. Wright are, of course, many. For starters, I am not the "spiritual mentee" of my friend. I haven't known him for anything like 20 years -- but, I think I'm probably friends with him in an equally close way, one in which Obama and Wright are not.

I was about to write that my friend's views are also not as "out there" as Wright's, but I have to think about that.

Is it SANE for a Democrat to back McCain after the Republican-induced nightmare of the last eight years? As painful and prolonged as the schism has been within the Democratic Party for the past several months, as annoyed as I've been with some of Obama's supporters (such as the entire MSNBC on-air rogue's gallery), and as much as I deplore what happened with Michigan and Florida, I still always liked Barack, and I think he's a mighty fine candidate who I now, as of last Saturday, am supporting.

I went to my first Obama event last night. I'm sick of being in a chronically aggrieved position, as Hillary supporters have been for months. I want and need to be positive and excited again. I want to be available to the appealing Hopey McChange, not the twisted, angry Oldy McSame.

I mean, at some point you can regret things that happened, but get over it and move forward. Right?

When we talked this evening, my friend explained that, for him, this IS moving forward. This is constructive to him, because he is staging a heartfelt protest of what he sees as a transgression against the democratic process perpetrated by the DNC. Just as I can't live with waking up in November to a President McCain, my friend can't stomach what he sees as voter disenfranchisement akin to what happened with the outcome of Gore v. Bush. He feels passionately that this is the right thing to do.

This friend and I watched the debates together, and howled at Obama's insulting "You're, you're likeable enough, Hillary" together. We bemoaned the unfair treatment Clinton received from the media (while it was happening, not after all the damage had been done). We supported our candidate. That far we went together. Just as Obama went a certain distance down the road with his pastor.

So when I read on Politico that my friend met face-to-face with McCain this weekend and they got along swell, it was like my own "Rev. Wright Q&A at the National Press Club" forehead-slapper.

But I'm not running for president. I'm just a Democrat trying to move forward. So even though I must denounce his most inflammatory (in this case to fellow Democrats) public statements, I get to stay friends with "my Reverend Wright." It's an experiment in (Christian?) tolerance: I'm going to work hard to get along with my unlike-minded friend in a way I couldn't with Bush supporters in '00 and '04 or Obama supporters last month.

And you know what? I hope that somehow Obama can stay friends with his Reverend Wright. Because real friends can agree to disagree.

Within reason.

Comments

[Tyrione]

Because real friends can agree to disagree.

The most limp-wristed, politically correct mantra of the 1990s still alive nearing the year 2010.

[GLaB]

Mr. Shrake,

If the comments on this post haven't sufficiently scared the hell out of you to the point of joining your friend's insurgency...

If the Obama campaign's state of Perpetual Victimhood throughout the primary season hasn't convinced you that it's change we don't need...

If the cynical trumping of the Clarence-T­homas-High­-Tech-Lync­hing-Card hasn't demonstrated the total lack of morality of his campaign...

... Perhaps Obama's willingness to spin about 180% on his longest held and most highly trumpeted "principles" in the last few days will convince you to set back down with your friend and have a long talk.

[shrake]

Y'all can call me Scott!

[JennyJay]

"Agree to disagree"? Not on your life. If a person could make such a drastic turn on a dime, and be happy with it . . . then that person is either demented or seeking the spotlight. , , , You have to be pretty stable emotionally to want a demented friend around you. . . . I couldn't do it.

[shrake]

So, no one asked who my friend is. What his real name is. He's the main Clintonite­s-for-McCa­in spokesman. Did you all just *know* who it is and not care? Not want to discuss the specifics? I find this thoroughly baffling.

[zanzig]

Actually, it was more like "Who gives a flying continental?" So you and your friend disagree on your votes; how is this newsworthy? There seems to be a considerable amount of manufactured angst on HuffPo about the differences between "Clintonites" and "Obamabots" and I really cannot understand this. The Democratic Party has a nominee; work to get him elected; end of story.

[egal]

Know, and don't care.

What really needs to be said about a person who believes that voting for McCain in protest is worth the lives it will cost if he wins, who insists on a personal vendetta even when they know everyone may suffer for it?

Or who complained about the DNC process only after their candidate was a sure loser and wanted to change the rules in the middle of things, claiming to combat disenfranchisement of their allies while screwing over those who acted lawfully?

Reasonable discussion with those who disagree with us can be a good thing, benefitting us all.

But these people refuse to see any view but Hillary-as­-gipped-vi­ctim. They support changing the rules midgame, wield bigotry and nepotism/cronyism as weapons, and ignore independent confirmations that Hillary received far gentler treatment than her opponent. They have no qualms about causing further suffering for our soldiers, our economy, our nation, our world, and all people therein merely to make a point. They refuse to talk or listen, driven by pique and fury and so enamored of the "feminist victory" of which they have convinced themselves Hillary was deprived that they refuse to see how harmful her actions have been, to gender equality more than anything.

Instead of productive discourse, people who make irrational, emotion-driven, or spiteful decisions when lives are on the line leave us little recourse for dealing with them save to ignore their extremist ways or lash out at the same.

[orangepetal]

Country before party compared to 20 years in a racist church. ( Just one thing off a long list. ) Really.
Democrats are losing the best thing that could happen with Clinton, but whatever.
I will not and cannot vote for Obama, believe me I wish I could.
Yes, and just to prove I'm really republican now, I quit Naral, Move On, Workers rights, etc.
Please stop with the coat hanger visual. I thought that fear was a repub tactic. Is it not time anyway that men cared just as much about their daughters ?
And Mc Cain is quite cute, did you notice his glee when he realised he had the support of so many Democrats. I can't stop laughing. Mc Cain will be good, he will fix Iraq, Focus on energy resources, I hope he will increase small buisinesses access to health insurance.
Obama and his wife are too disgruntled for me, maybe because I think America is just Fab.
Would definitely prefer a democrat, but it is not up to me, the DNC decides the nominee.
Anyway you all seem pretty confident, historically you should not be. Oh, but Obamas getting all the republican kids with his ingeneous idea of sex education in public schools. It is amazing what disenfranchised people will believe. That guy in Chicago who was the guru of his ideology of how to attain power is proving to be extremely effective .
PUMA

[Piatt]

"I think America is just fab." I've been looking for the 16% who think the country is headed in the right direction. Think we've just found one of them.

[going2ireland]

You give no reason why you won't vote for Obama. That in itself speaks volumes about yourself.

[Justsaynodeal]

One big one, he isn't qualified. His resume is slim...........he is an opportunistic and
audaciously ambitious and just has no experience which would make him a leader of this country, especially in this time of peril. He is a user, shallow who when scripted sounds inspirational, but without a script, he reminds me of #43. I will not vote for him.

[dannyS]

I felt that it was unfair to implicate Obama for the reverend's comments.
I've had friends that were good to be around but I knew were... misguided - and this weekend I had a discussion with a family member that left me very depressed because of his religious (intolerant) views.

[orangepetal]

Your friend is not running for President. I'm sorry there is a big difference.

[CJGibson]

Neither is Obama's "friend."

[Justsaynodeal]

One chooses his friends, and Obama's only claim to being ready for the POTUS is his good judgement.­.........h­e didn't vote for the war resolution. He didn't have to. He wasn't in the US Senate after 0911. Well, he certainly has used poor judgement in his selection of friends of 20 years..........Rev. Wright, Ayers, Dohrn, Rezco.......etc. But I see in the selection of these friends, he used them to gain a political base....to meet the shakers and movers of Chicago. That is why I think he is an opportunistic person, who will use and then throw them under the bus when he doesn't need them anymore........

[sandtats]

Interesting, your and your friend's standard of cringe-worthiness. So, no problem then with any of the following?

1. In response to Kroft's rhetorical question to HC on 60 Minutes, days prior to Ohio, "But you know he's not a Muslim, right?" "No, No, of course not...well, as far as I know." Right on the heels of her campaign dissementing an official photo of O in African (code Muslim) garb whilst on a Congressional trip.

2. "SHAME on YOU, Barack Obama, SHAME ON YOU!

3. Pehaps we should ask Barack if he'd like another pillow?

4. The skies will open, celestial choirs, magic wands...you remember, the "fairy tale" thing.

5. "We all know RFK was ASSASIANTED in June!"

6. "Boy, "Kid," "Schuck and jive.." Bubba's "Jesse Jackson" redux comment in S.C.

7. "I have the support of hard working Americans, white Americans."

So, sexist remarks, the biased MSM caused her the nomination but apparently had no impact when she was winning? How does that work? All of these claims of sexism ONLY started in earnest after she started losing, badly.

[shrake]

No, I don't. Yawn. Pretty thin gruel, and seeming thinner by the day.

Show me an _accurate_ quote, actually attributable to one of the Clintons, that's not *wide* open to interpretation, and we'll talk.

The above carefully decontextualized and massaged "quotes" are just taken from MSNBC's lame talking points from the last 6 months.

Thin gruel. Weak tea. Normal campaign fare ginned up to seem racist by craven pseudo-journalists, then parroted by you.

[SMP]

Excuse me........­..........­...so tell me.. John McCain and the Repugs have thought up all those remarks they are making now all on their own??? I think NOT.......­..........­..The above quotes you are calling weak tea....are accurate..­..........­......Hill­ary knew exactly what she was doing....and I truely believe her and John McCain collaborated throughout the primary.

Trust is NOT something McCain and Clinton will ever have from the democrat party...and esp not from me. Afterall Hillary once was a republican


50+ older white woman......

[AlexVonHussein]

Some of the people writing claiming to be Hillary supporters are actually Republican , moving around incognito. Decent Hillary Supporters would listen to what Hillary Said. I saw real passionate Hillary supporter after her speech say they will support the party cause thats what Hillary asked them to and they know by keeping her sincere wishes true they show true loyalty and respect for Hillary and her future en devours.

[laurelnyc]

Thanks for your condescending judgment. "Decent" Hillary supporters, eh? Perhaps you should learn to respect others' right to judge for themselves who is best to cast their vote for. We do not live in a dictatorship. Clinton supporters are free to vote for whomever they want, just as Edwards, Romney, Paul, etc supporters are free to vote for whomever they want. When our first choice is no longer available, we must then consider the remaining candidates and decide who our vote should go to. We do not have to fall in line because we are not mindless party followers! Obama and his supporters constantly claim how great that they can unite Dems and Republicans...well then, they should be proud that they have succeeded in uniting many Clinton supporters with McCain supporters.

[AhEnnui]

Thanks for addressing this, Mr. Shrake.

I have supported Obama from the beginning for many reasons, from the quantifiable to the more intangible. Yet, I watched Hillary with pride, and I defended her from those who were quick to crucify her and insult her with sexist language. I am still bitterly upset about how she was treated by the media, and I admire her courage.

Some of her supporters on the other hand... I stumbled on a pro-Hillary site the other day that I found to be incredibly insane and, yes, shrill. These rabid supporters are taking their rage out on Obama to an astonishing, and frightening, degree. They are reduced to saying that McCain isn't THAT horrible, and he PROBABLY won't have anything to do with overturning women's rights... and if this nation goes to pre-Roe laws, that's not so bad. People lived through it.

II'd post direct quotes, but I wouldn't want anyone on that site to feel famous.

So, this is a rambling way of thanking you for addressing the utterly bizarre world of those Hillary supporters who have gone completely 'round the bend. I needed to read your thoughtful sanity, and I hope some calm returns. I mean, isn't voting for McCain out of spite no better than being one of the dumbasses who voted for Bush the second time around?

Wow. I rambled.

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

Where did the corruption occur??? Party rules are party rules right ....But the rules only apply to some people right ....Why don't someone just go and dust the signs off...and turn back the hands of time because some in this country are never going to move forward

[pcplz]

After reading all of the comments here....all I can say is OMG! Are you people reading what you are saying??? I haven't read such unsupported bickering since my last romance novel. Lots of "you did...nuh uh....you did!" This sounds like a bunch of spoiled brats here.

STOP ALL OF YOU!!

We need to be together.....we need to read the issues and listen to what each candidate is saying. Leave all of this now, lets go forward. Use our minds and not the emotions.

What do we want for our country?? Do we really want McCain? Four more years?? Which candidate, when we come down to vote will offer our grandchildren more? McCain??

We cannot vote on this months emotions.....we have to vote for the future of our children and grandchildren. That certainly doesn't mean voting Republican.

I want to be known as the ancestor that voted for change and for something new. As far as I can see, experience in this world of politics is NOT a good thing. Look where the experienced ones have got us.

Obama offers us something new, fresh, and a change. Lets go forward not backward. John F Kennedy wasn't so very experience­d.....youn­gest president elected. Sometimes this is needed.

Please stop this irrelevant rhetoric..­....think. Then think some more. Then do what your late night conscience tells you is the right thing to do.

[Justsaynodeal]

I have thought about this for long and hard hours, and there is no way that I will allow the DNC to do what the Repugs did in 2000 and 2004......­.......cor­rupt an election process. The fact that Hillary was able to stay with in a % point with the DNC and DNC rules committee making decisions based upon how they would insure Obama would be named the nominee, shows that she is one h*ll of a candidate. Well, the DNC wanted Obama, now lets see him win without the support of people who consider him not qualified to be POTUS.

[research]

Wright is a good man.

See my profile for links to his wonderful sermons.

All the candidates we treated badly by the press.

Kucinich didn't even get to debate.

Hillary's history of war mongering and her lies did her in.

The Clintons are DLC.ORG: the conservative corporatist so called dems.

But you women want "special rights". You want HRC to be treated like a "lady".

No. She was mistreated just like everyone else. Quit your whining.

Oh, and you folks claiming you were for HRC and no are for McCAin?... Nobody believes you.

[Bagger]

Wright is a good man. The guy dedicated his life to God. It's a shame 2 minutes of video has summed up his entire career. All these racists need something to cling on to express their true feelings. They're afraid of black people. What did Wright say again? Nothing that makes me question Obama's integrity.

[RobinRocks]

Quit your whining?

Oh yeah, that's going to have me join your party.

[research]

"join your party" see, another republican man pretending to be a pro-Clinton woman.

[roncraw]

So much for bringing the party together. Hillary won Fla. yet Obama has changed 6 Hillary delegates slated to go to the conv. with 6 of his.

[snarkopolitan]

Both candidates had their lawyers jockeying for the most advantage, using arguments that could at any time have been switched. The lawyers and the candidates understand this much more than the loyalists who threw their hearts and souls into believing these arguments.

I, for instance, will always believe that the pledge not to participate in MI and FL, once signed, should have been obeyed to the letter. To me, neither HRC nor O should get ANY delegates from either state, because they agreed these states wouldn't count. For Hillary to get half the Michigan delegates is, to me, unfair buckling to pressure from her powerful connections. I think her representatives tried to cover their tracks and mislead her supporters by concentrating on these 6 delegates, who were a minor detail HRC's campaign magnified into a cause celebre.

Compare it to counting a vote where HRC's name was the only one on the ballot, or even half-counting it. I think it's surreal, Orwellian. What if the situation were reversed and O bama's name was the only one on the ballot? Would I say, "Well, H illary chose to remove her name" and employ all the other arguments we know so well? I like to think not.

Would I say, "Since O bama was treated so badly I will vote for a man who will continue to block every good thing I believe O bama stands for?" That I KNOW I would not.

[LAJonathan]

GET OVER YOURSELVES!!!! This is so old, stop your stupid whining and MOVE THE HECK ON WITH YOUR LIVES. OLD NEWS, all of it. Drop the negativity and get with the program, you've had ample time! Rev Wright is OVER, he's not running!!!!

[RobinRocks]

If you want to move on do so... stop reading the blogs.

p.s. Rev Wright is not OVER ~ he is UNDER the carpet where he the media swept him months ago.

STOP PRETENDING the DNC didn't bend the rules to suit your candidate.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"STOP PRETENDING the DNC didn't bend the rules to suit your candidate."

you know what's funny about that?

it was hillary who insisted on seating florida and michigan. had she kept her mouth shut, the outcome still would have been the same - obama would have won. those primaries were deemed ILLEGITIMATE before they even happened, something hillary had no problem agreeing to until it became clear she was losing. where's the integrity in that? why didn't she stand up last year when the rules were made and say "this is disenfranchisement of the voters!" because SHE DIDN'T CARE. she didn't care until she needed to use it to her advantage. that is slimy and good riddance! clintonism has been rejected, it is a great day in america.

[AlwaysforHillary]

I am sorry you cannot understand your friend's feelings in this matter, but I DO!!! I am one of millions of Hillary supporters WHO REFUSE TO VOTE FOR OBAMA UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!! Put aside the fact he has NO EXPERIENCE and has RADICAL TIES TO TERRORISTS, CRIMINALS, RACISTS AND PEOPLE WHO HOLD ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENTS - HIS WIFE INCLUDED, those of us who will not support Obama feel very strongly that Hillary's nomination was STOLEN from her in just the same way Al Gore's was STOLEN from him! Only this time the Democratic Party did it to itself!!

Not only did the DNC stand silently by throughout the whole campaign while Hillary was the victim of a sexist, misogynist media, but she was screwed out of delegates and votes she earned in Florida and Michigan!! Obama was handed 55 uncommitted votes and if that wasn't bad enough, the DNC STOLE 4 4 DELEGATES - AMOUNTING TO 600,000 PEOPLE'S VOTES - AND HANDED THEM, TOO, TO THEIR FAVORED BOY!!!!

If Hillary had received the delegates she earned and deserves in Florida and Michigan, she would not only have won the popular vote, but the delegate votes as well!!!

She was strong-armed into dropping out of the race. And now she is not even being given the chance to be part of the role-call at the convention-giving her delegates a chance to vote for her!! This is UNHEARD OF!!!

[Bagger]

Wow. You are insane.

[NotMcCain]

Of course, with this post, you support McCain now. If this is your view of reality, four more years of Bush will probably seem just fine.

[ProudLiberalDan]

Hysterical nonsense.

For those few people so myopic who won't vote Obama out of spite because their candidate didn't win, I have nothing but contempt for those who will vote for McCain, who will rev up the Iraq War and who will appoint judges who will inflict the religious rights' agenda on America, to say nothing of his anti-union, pro-tax cuts for the wealthy, agenda.

If you HAVE to cast a protest vote, then vote for Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party candidate, or write in Hillary's name. At least for someone, anyone, who generally stands for the things you say you support. Reward McCain, a candidate who opposes what Hillary states she believes in, only makes that person seems like a delusional fool.

Any Clinton supporter who votes for John McCain because Hillary isn't the nominee is an IDIOT. McCain stands against everything that Hillary has worked her whole life for. Voting for a candidate who works against the the policies you support because your preferred candidate isn't the nominee is the ultimate in STUPIDITY.

Everyone has a right to be disappointed when their preferred candidate doesn't win. However, these people who are switching from Clinton to right-wing McCain need to use their brain.

[orangepetal]

Thats why we are here, give us someone viable and let us go forward.

[bichn]

Not only did Obama win, but he did so by following the RULES. The very rules that the Clintons tried to change because they did not feel they benenfited from them. And you apparently believe all the lies that the repugs have been peddling about Obama, which is really sad. Nobody stole anything from Hillary Rodham Clinton. She lost because she thought it would be all wrapped up for her on February 5th. She lost because she and her campaign (and husband) insulted any voters anywhere that did not support her. SHE SIGNED THE SAME PLEDGE EVERYONE ELSE DID ON FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN BUT WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT SHE COULD NOT WIN WITHOUT THEM SHE DEMANDED THAT THE RULES BE OVERLOOKED, THE PLEDGE SHE SIGNED BE NULLIFIED AND SCREW ANYONE WHO DARES TO GET IN HER WAY.

YOU AND ANYONE ELSE WHO VOTES FOR MCCAIN WILL HAVE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS. HOPE YOU ARE PROUD. OBAMA DID NOTHING TO HILLARY. HILLARY DID IT ALL TO HERSELF.

[kdogg]

#1. she did not have any delegates in florida and michigan until she was a awarded them by the dnc.

#2. the only way she could have possibly had more popular votes is if obama got no votes from michigan and none of the popular votes were counted from the caucuses.

#3. there was no way that hilliary was going to catch up in delegates no matter what the dnc decided.

go take your untrue talking points and troll elsewhere, rethug.