What Should Obama Do About Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright?

The latest attack on Obama is about his former pastor and friend Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. The sermon he made 7 years ago after 9/11 suggested that U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East was the primary reason for the attack. There are a large number of people who agree with that analysis. The derogatory phrase "G-d Damn America" is a justifiable criticism of Rev. Wright. However, there is a difference between a clergyman givng a sermon and a public statement on the record.

Sermons often use harsh language from scripture with many references to damn and damnation. In context, sermons are supposed to raise emotions in a biblical sense. From that perspective, I have experienced some of my Rabbis using harsh phrases of damnation to those who they considered enemies of Israel. The wretched attacks on Arabs and Muslims by some of these AIPAC type clergymen are blatantly racist and hateful. I presume that Rev. Wright did not expect that particular sermon to be on the record.

On the other hand, the comments by Falwell and others about the 9/11 attacks being caused by gays and liberal values was intended to be on the record and not merely a sermon. There is a difference. The fact that Rev. Wright has retired gives Obama some wiggle room about leaving his church. However, of it is his church's policy to promote Rev Wright's views, Obama should leave the church as I did when I believed that my Rabbi was advancing hatred and bigotry.

Comments

[catriley]

I have to respectfully disagree with Mr. Drobny. This was not an isolated sermon that has caused this firestorm over Rev. Wright (Obama's "mentor") It's a series of sermons, some recently, in which Wright as called "white people" the "enemy", the list is too long to get into here, but it's not one sermon 7 years ago that is the problem. If it was simply one video said in the heat of 9/11 grief, then it would not be such an issue. Though I cannot see ANY reason why a man of Jesus would say those hateful things while the Country is in mourning. When your "mentor" comments recently to the NYT about "semen stains on a dress", that is a problem.

Oddly, I find it a bigger problem that Obama, rather than stand up and acknowledge he knew about these hateful views, feigns ignorance. THEN.. he dumps his 20 year "spiritual advisor" because it gets in the way of his candidacy. Frankly, I'd be much more likely to support Obama had he not dumped his long-time friend that way. It's one thing if it was an overzealous supporter, or colleague he doesn't see much, but this is a part of his life and family. His book was named after one of Wright's sermons.

It's about character. About linking yourself with a church and a man that preaches racism and hate. And then, it's about refusing to own up to it, and throwing him under a bus for political gain.

[ruffmama]

Obama needs to get a little "Rovian" here. He needs to beat the 527's that are sure to air their swiftboating ads at the pass. He needs to make his own ad that begins with the usual "I am B.O. and I approve this message" and then he needs to either play some of the incriminating videos of Rev. Wright or show some stills with the audio of the Rev Wright and then conclude with a statement of how he "rejects and denounces" these statements. Then he needs to SATURATE the airwaves with this ad so that everyone is just so sick of hearing Rev. Wright's rants and they will be so over it already that they just tune it out. Then when the 527's make their ads and the cable news channels go on and on the public will already be so desensitized to the video and the words of Rev. Wright that the ads by the 527's will have little effect. BO will take something that the other side will undoubtedly try and use against him and bombard our senses with but BO will have already spent all of that ammo before they get a chance to.

[BubbaC33]

Obama has been using the Rove playbook since the start of the primary season.

[BubbaC33]

When Geraldine Ferraro spoke in such a wrong-minded manner every Obama supporter on HuffPo and all of the anti-Hillary pundits on MSNBC (which is all of the pundits on MSNBC) condemned her comments and Ms. Clinton. Olbermann had a special comment attacking Ms. Clinton for the wrods spoken by Ms. Ferraro.
But now Obama supporters and the pundits on MSNBC are saying we cannot hold Obama responsible for the wrods spoken by Rev. Wright, that it would be wong to hold Obama accountable for something someone else has said. It seems there is one standard for Ms. CLinton and another, more forgiving, standard for Obama.
Some might argue this double standard is actually racist, and I'd agree. It certainly reveals no small level of misogyny. That misogyny rears its ugly head on MSNBC is not surprising, Matthews and Russert have displayed an ugly hatred for Ms. Clinton for a number of years. And now even Keith Olbermann has fallen in to their pool of hatred. And Olbermann has to offer a special comment on Obama's failure to dismiss Rev. Wright or he will also reveal his own hypocrisy.

[Avigdor]

Good call, Sheldon. Mention rabbis. Maybe you can get some Jew-hatred fired up at the Huffington Post (unheard of, I'm sure). It's not enough that everybody's already at each other's throats over race.

Democrats are the party to unite the country. Yeah, right. When are you going to start?

[GwenElle]

What should he do now? You mean now that he has shown the incredibly poor judgment to first have Rev Wright as a member of his advisory committee and secondly fail to request that Rev Wright leave the campaign as soon as it came to public attention months ago that the reverend could be a political liability? .

You mean what should he do now that he has betrayed the trust and confidence of his supporters by failing to exercise just a little bit of common sense?

I am an Obama supporter. Right now, I am questioning his judgment. I am feeling a bit betrayed (and I am someone who does not necessarily disagree with Wright's sentiments, only with the manner and forum in which they were expressed). Barack should have the judgement to know that he cannot afford to in anyway associate with someone who holds the views of Wright and realistically expect that not to become an issue, if not an outright a barrier to achieving the office of the presidency.

I don't know what he should do, but he had better do it fast and with total unequivocation. That letter is not enough. His appearance on Olberman is not enough. I fear that Barack has allowed his personal loyalties to put at risk and possibly destroy this campaign.

Exactly what was he thinking!?

[Emmaboverry]

Oh and you should, you should. John and I would love to have you on our side. Once you've got your head on straight, please join us in thanking MSM:

Dear Media:

Thank you for your part in creating PASTOR-gate. Our fight against
the insurgent forces of Obama and his ranting Pastor will not be easy.
But with your help, we can do it.

The Clinton-McCain Campaign

[geriak]

Obama has attended this church for over 20 years. A man who states judgement is what he has - shows he has no judgement here - BEWARE!

[Gibbons]

Now we know why Michelle said for the FIRST time in my adult life I REALLY love my country. She had been listening to this preacher spew hate for white America and what is worse bringing up their children in this environment, If Obama Really loves his country he should take himself out of the race and ask his supporters forgiveness and tell them to support the democratic ticket. By now the republicans probably have every dvd that preacher made.

[RGKahn]

What did Rev Wright say that was wrong? Our history is taught in such simplistIc terms or not taught at all. It is a pale shadow of what really happened. It is white washed so that Americans may think that they are God's chosen people. I was told that SOME white people might find his views excessive and intemperate. I have to say that SOME people will find something to complain about on any subject that might come up. If your are afraid to offend everybody you don't open your mouth and speak at all. And then you will be offending somebody for not speaking out on a topic. The reverend has a right to speak what he perceives to be the truth on a good many topics. He has that right. Lionel on Air America Radio, keeps saying that the First Amendment is a real bitch, and he is right. It is not there to protect to protect politically correct speech, but speech that some may be offended by, by politically incorrect speech.in other words. I understand that Senator Obama can't say what I have said, and that is a shame on many levels. If you are looking for a candidate with no flaws, there is no such person on the face of the Earth or in our history. Saints did not become saints because they lead perfect lives, but because they were able to change what they had been previously to become something better than the sum of their parts.

[bauersox]

When you add Jeremiah Wright's adoring panegyric to white-hating, Jew-baiting Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, you get a more detailed picture of the extent Wright's fanaticism. Remember, in his books, Obama calls this man "mentor" "sounding board" and -- worst of all -- "moral compass"

[catriley]

OMG - They have officially jumped the shark. That post by RGKahn is the first that actually likens Obama to a "saint." God help us all.

Trust me, Wright's comments are not okay to not just "some white people", I'm hearing the protests from people of all colors and religions.

[Prism]

Hey Senator O! It's simple: Cut all ties with Wright and his "church" .Denounce hate speech eminating from your campaign in the strongest terms. Stop plagarizing Farrakhan speeches. Remove Jesse Jackson Jr. for tawdry race baiting dirty tricks. Muzzle Michelle. Fall in love with your country which has given you the MOST extraordinary benefit of the doubt on everything from NAFTA to Blackwater to Rezko to the timetable of troop withdrawals to your to your nonexistent portfolio. Let's be honest: You ARE the luckiest man in America .

[Emmaboverry]

But don't you SEE? Senator Obama is using this church to hide the fact that he's a Muslim. Personally John and I don't care what Obama's religion is. We know he hates America and that he and that evil old man are out to stop WAR. Please join us in thanking MSM for recognizing our true threat:

Dear Media:

Thank you for your part in creating PASTOR-gate. Our fight against
the insurgent forces of Obama and his ranting Pastor will not be easy.
But with your help, we can do it.

The Clinton-McCain Campaign

[MizJ]

What does this say about Obama's judgment when he is such close friends with both Rezko (helped purchase a house while under indictment) and Rev Wright who is screeching about racism? Not much.

[Silpat]

Well in all fairness to Obama, a lot of politicians align themselves with people of questionable character, for one reason or another. Make no mistake, Bill and Hillary Clinton have surrounded themselves with a laundry list of questionable characters over the years. Now, if Obama's judgement is being questioned because of his association with Wright, then the judgement of the Democratic Party as a whole should be questioned for having Sen. Robert Byrd (a former Ku Klux Klansman) represent their party for all these years.

For those who don't know or have forgotten, the Ku Klux Klan is a domestic terrorist group that spews and preaches hate, encourages racial separatism, and in the past they bombed churches killing innocent adults and children alike. In summary, they openly and outright terrorized blacks and Jews in America. What makes this Jeremiah Wright situation so hypocritical is that Byrd, in essence, was considered an active member of the team, whereas Obama was just a spectator on the sidelines. In my opinion, it takes a lot more audacity for America to forgive Byrd's sins then to overlook Obama’s judgment in this case.

[bauersox]

Are you actually saying that the Clintons regard the KKK as their mentors, sounding boards and moral compasses? Because if you're not, the above is a very silly statement.

[nomobull]

same standrad for all candidates or find another argument

[gallonjug]

it says he was a fool to think that the right wing of the democrat party was any more open-minded than the GOP. nobody has found a single bad thing to say about barack obama except that he has a weird middle name, he knows a guy who is a shady businessman, he went to a church where the preacher said crazy stuff and he was never president before.

[BubbaC33]

You're right, I can't find a single bad thing to say about Obama, I can find abunch of them. And there is no real purpose to listing them again, no Obama supporter on HuffPo seems to be able to do anything but attack Ms. Clitnon and ignore anything Obama does that might be wrong or wrong-minded. How anyone can defend the venom-filled sermons of Rev. Wright is beyond comprehension, beyond reason. And given Obama was a member of his church for so many years calls his thinking into question.

[PioneerKing]

Now that the media has focused on Sen. Obama's supporter Rev. Wright, I hope that they will be equally focus on Rev. Hagee and his support of Sen. McCain. In addition Sen. Clinton has ministers who have supported her who have made controversial statements. One should press the media to focus equal discovery on all of the controversial comments made by all of these candidates’ religious supporters.

[Gibbons]

Can you dig up a DVD of some of senator Clinton's ministers making these outlandish comments or are you still Hillary bashing and supporting the dead horse that was Obama's campaign.

[Emmaboverry]

I found I could agree with some of what Pastor Wright said. And I thought the Hillary rant was marvelously funny and appropos! I'm glad Obama didn't sell his old friend out for his own political future.

It's funny that folks aren't outraged that George Bush was featured dancing and joking with his criminal homies who helped lie us into a holocaustal war--or that the whole country didn't explode when GB feigned looking for the WMDS and clowned around about not finding them. Well, the journalists did laugh. Now they are grilling Obama and full of all this "need to know," like they are cross examining some suspected thief. Far as I know the good and angry Pastor has done a lot for the poor--he hasn't started a war yet that killed a million civilians and 4000 American soldiers--

So ironically the Pastor's righteous rant could cost us the peace candidate, while one of the hawks will start the new war. Who'd a thunk it?

[Middbrain]

This is getting worse.Can some tell me what how we would have treated a republican candidate who had associated himself for 20 yrs with a white pastor who delivers sermons akin to KKK hate speech and said goddamn America after 9/11? This thing isnt going rt. More polarization is about to happen and all the media support Obama is now getting may not be enough to stop the republicans smear campaign come November.

[GoreyFantod]

"This is getting worse.Can some tell me what how we would have treated a republican candidate who had associated himself for 20 yrs with a white pastor who delivers sermons akin to KKK hate speech and said goddamn America after 9/11?"

Do you mean someone like former Republican Presidential candidate Pat Robertson? I know he's extremely wealthy - all in all he seems to be doing quite well. George W. Bush & John McCain would also seem to fit your description & America is treating them both quite well despite their embrace of Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Bob Jones, etc.

[bethinCary]

I think you can excuse some of the language as wright being from a different generation who did not grow up later in life as other AAs' to see the small benefit of their struggles..
I can forgive Wright for the strong use of language...
After all, MSNBC still has "thier partisan loudmouth" bigot in Pat Buchanan giving his so-called "expertise" which amounts to nothing more than bigotry of old white-boys playbooks.
CNN- the same in Lou Dobbs---"let's all get rid of BROWN PEOPLE'--who has a horse farm where many immigrants clean up shit after horses...
The grandstanding is fake outrage...
Where the fuck has thier outrage been over the treatment of Katrina victims, the lies to get us into Iraq (which the latest report said Saddam had nothing to do with Al Qaeda btw), the war coverage which has been nul and void for 5-6 mos now,the wiretapping by GW of Americans, the way vets coming back from Iraq, the lack of GW to do anyhting ON ANYTHING???
WHERE'S IT BEEN????
I know Americans are smarter than to buy into thier campaign melodrama..
Turn off the TVs...
Want answers?
nets....

[PardonMyFrenchFries]

"He only retired last month after Obama surged. Interesting timing. You can't imply he's been retired for a long time. Too easy to verify he hasn't been."

Good point

Obama actually takes advice from this man. Obama is appearing on every news network to explain that he wasn't aware of these comments BEFORE recently but there is evidence that he was adviced by Mr. Wright to distance himself from Wright in a recorded conversation. He would have left the church but he didnt know about this. Is that ok with everyone to allow Obama off the hook on this one?

[gplaw]

Then you must punish everyone that you know and do not know becuase we have all said inflammatory things to make a point. Before anyone attempts to cast aspersion, please first examine yourself. We must remain objective throughout this process and not be quick to condem. This nation is on a path of healing and we must embrace it no matter how painful.

[nomobull]

they knew he was gonna get a closer look because of the campaign. but why wasn't this brought up then.he takes spiritual advice not political. when my pastor talks politics i disagree with him but when . so am I responsiable for him.

[Gibbons]

You condone it by continuing to go to his church. My preacher talks of the teachings of Christ.

[Melissa]

He sat in the church for twenty years and never knew what this minister stood for is not believable.