The Religious Wright (Can Obama Talk Right about Wright?)

Wall Street Journal ^ | 17 March 2008 | JAMES TARANTO

[shrinkermd]

....Are we wrong to think that Barack Obama's campaign is imploding? For the past few days the national spotlight has been on Jeremiah Wright, pastor of the Trinity United Church of Christ and Obama's so-called spiritual mentor, who turns out to be a certifiable America-hating crackpot. As ABC News reported last week:

...In a set of "talking points" on the church's Web site, Wright proclaims himself an exponent of "black liberation theology." He cites James Cone, a distinguished professor at New York's Union Theological Seminary, whom he credits for having "systematized" this strain of Christianity.

...Here is a quote from Cone, explaining black liberation theology (hat tip: Spengler, a pseudonymous columnist for the Asia Times):

"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.

Could Obama really have been unaware for all these years that his spiritual mentor follows a racially adversarial theology, one that demands of God that he be "for us and against white people" and that he participate "in the destruction of the white enemy"? It doesn't exactly sound like the sort of change we can believe in.

[shrinkermd]

Senator Obama has promised us he will discuss racism in the next day or two. IMHO he will have a hard time talking around Pastor Wright's paranoid and bizarre beliefs which, according to some at least, are common beliefs in black America.

There is an explanation. Shelby Steele in his last book described Senator Obama as a "bargainer" much like Oprah Winfrey.

The problem for him is he began his rise to fame by joining a "challenger" church and pastor. By doing so he achieved political viability which he has since added to with antiwar and "bargainer" rhetoric.

But can he say this? If not, how will he resolve this? Even the dominant media will have a hard time rescuing him from this conflict of values since they are no longer immune from serious criticism on the Internet and talk radio.

[AmericaUnited]

The racist Wright tried to beat Hannity over the head again and again with the fact that Hannity had not read Cone's books and hence did not know anything about black liberation theology. From reading what Cone has written above all I can say is that he is certifiably insane.

[tessalu]

No one need to tell me that black people have a sub-standard religion. I have been to too many black shurches, and I am very proud of my black Cristian friends. My favorite pastor is a black minister,and I do hope to see him in heaven. This pastor Jeremiah Wright is a pastor straight out of hell. It is a total waste of time, for Obama to make excuses for Jeremiah Wright. People know a pastor straight out of hell, when they see one.

[MHGinTN]

Oh my, this is rapidly escalating into more than I think most Americans even want to confront! Perhaps that is how Barry will escape this one, by appealing to the revulsion factor.

[Matchett-PI]

bttt

[Paleo Conservative]

Here's a triple bag barf alert quote from the Huffington Post today.

Amid all the righteous noise made about Rev. Jeremiah Wright, it was David Gergen, on Anderson Cooper's show, who made the most pertinent observation. The veteran GOP operative with bipartisan ties informed the audience that black America is having a different conversation than white America, so one cannot apply the CNN, Fox, or MSNBC framework to African-American concerns.

[hemogoblin]

Since the worst oppressor of U.S. blacks today is the Democratic Party, maybe Obama and Wright really WILL succeed in destroying the oppressor! They’re sure showing a lot of promise ...

[Kakaze]

Let me repeat what I've said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.

"All the statements that have been the subject of controversy"........note not the beliefs just the statements that caused controversy, are the ones he addresses.

Many people have said Obama doesn't believe what Reverend Wright believes.

Obama, chose this environment, he either believes in it or he's too stupid to be turning oxygen into CO2. One thing Obama is not, is stupid.

[maine-iac7]

I have seen no one yet commnet on the Bullfrog's statement in one of his rant videos:

“Jesus is a BLACK man!” (Oppressed by the Romans - who were RICH WHITE MEN!)

I'd like to hear the “O” explain that one/

[Anti-Hillary]

Obama wants us to give him the job as the leader of the Free World. A job in which you must engage with leaders from around the world and get a read on them. YET, he apparently was best buddies with Wright for 20 years and was just never able to figure out that the man was a RACIST????

I wonder how much he'll be asking for that bridge he wants to sell us tomorrow?...

[maine-iac7]

There is a black on black religion war brewing in the background -

“Obama is a long-legged Mac-Daddy” - this Halem minister says. this video is hilarious.

at the end, he declares war on the Sharpton’s, Jackson's, Wright's etc - he tells the people that these men are the blacks enemies -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-RhOBDU&feature=related

[enduserindy]

I find it disturbing that the best answer Obama can give is that he attended this church to be more “black.” I have gone through all the possibilities and have found this the best one. What I find crazy is that I seem to be damn near alone in saying it out loud and get allot of crap when I do. The MSM is defending this like its the same as pro-lifers endorsing McCain. It doesn’t take a genius to see the monumental disasters liberals have orchestrated for Black Americans and ignoring this issue as they have for as long as they will appears to be yet another planned disaster. The MSM isn’t stupid, it’s just really good at looking surprised. The best part is we know conservatives aren’t to blame for this because they all feared Hillary and never dreamed it could be so easy. The splits going on in the Democratic party are profound. The good news is these new cracks will show so much of it for what it is. I think the Dems were in the process of selling Black America down the river for the new and soon to be incompatible hispanic vote. With the amnesty and entitlements that follow poor Americans will feel it the most and they will be angry. Something went wrong though. Obama started winning. No one saw it coming. Or did they? Once again the MSM know this will really end Obama’s chances and still push him. Was it because they really want a Republican to win in ‘08 or ...?

[Godwin1]

Obama belonged to an anti-white, anti-American congregation for two decades. Because Wright isn't the whole story. As Wright proclaimed America the creator of AIDS, the racist mob masquerading as a congregation stamped its feet, cheered and applauded. This church's membership is made of of racist bigots who hate our country. Of all the churches in Chicago, Obama decided to throw in with this one. He can not be president of all the people because he despises almost 90 percent of them.

[MHGinTN]

Barry thinks so highly of this hateful atmosphere, he wants his children inculcated with it so he has brought them to it regularly. What’s that old saw?... A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

[HerrBlucher]

Wow, that is one funny vid.....it would work great as an SNL skit.....and its REAL...LOL! What is even more interesting is all the serious faces in the background.....I would not be able to keep a straight face I would be laughing my head off!

[PghBaldy]

Durbin’s Mistake (Obama was in attendance) [Byron York]
I just asked the Obama campaign whether Sen. Dick Durbin was mistaken ...I got back a one-word answer: Yes.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZjE3YzcwNTQ5M2YwOTE1YWE0ZGZmYWEzMWI2N2YwZmM=

[MHGinTN]

Dick Durban is a fool, still? Amazing! One would think the democraps being back in contgrol would have conveyed something heady on Dickey. Apparently not, he’s still a fool and opens his mouth to prove it.