Culling Obama's Flock

Townhall.com ^ | March 18, 2008 | Debra J. Saunders

[Kaslin]

Conservatives ought to be careful before they insist that Barack Obama further renounce his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. This vicious guilt-by-association political game cuts both ways.

The left has used this game to marginalize conservatives. In 1993, the Rev. Eugene Lumpkin was fired from the San Francisco Human Rights Commission because he said he believed the Bible told him that "the homosexual lifestyle is an abomination against God." This year, critics called on GOP nominee John McCain to denounce supporter Pastor John Hagee, who called the Catholic Church "the great whore."

McCain said he did not agree with all of Hagee's views and later specifically repudiated Hagee's anti-Catholic rhetoric. As McCain told Fox News' Sean Hannity last week, "I think that when people support you, it doesn't mean that you support everything they say."

Obama's condemnation last week of Wright's over-the-top and downright racist statements should settle the matter as well -- especially as Wright is retiring from Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ and no longer is one of Obama's many campaign advisers. Yes, I know what Wright has said. In 2003, Wright accused the American government of funding the drug trade and told his congregation not to sing "God Bless America," but instead, "God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people." Wright called the 9/11 attacks an example of "America's chickens coming home to roost." His church gave anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan a lifetime achievement award.

Obama has praised Wright as a former Marine who lovingly "preached the gospel of Jesus." Maybe. But Wright clearly had a strong hate streak going. You don't crow that the 9/11 victims essentially got what was coming, and not -- at some level, anyway -- hate America.

I have white friends who argue that they would walk out of a church where the minister spouted hatred against racial minorities; hence, they expect that Obama would do the same.

They note that Obama considered Wright a mentor and that the senator was a member of Wright's church for some 20 years -- which suggests a close spiritual relationship, even if the Obamas were one family among 8,500 Sunday worshipers.

I appreciate their point, but they ignore a certain reality about being black in America. To wit: In certain venues, a black man is going to hear anti-white comments from African Americans who have not had the extra something it takes to get ahead in this world. After a while, the buzz becomes background noise. That doesn't mean Obama buys into all their grievances -- although he probably believes some and understands more.

Of course, most white voters don't want to elect a president who bears them ill will. That's why Jesse Jackson was never viable. He overplayed the race card. He sang a one-note whine of endless victimhood, which gave little recognition to the many opportunities now open to black Americans. On the other hand, Obama is a viable candidate because he is a black man with a foot in two worlds. With his Harvard law degree and Senate seat, Barack appeals to white America as a black success story. But even if Obama has grown beyond grievances, that doesn't mean Obama has moved beyond recognizing the grievances of underclass African Americans, who have fared less well in a world that can look at them with hostility.

It is simply no more possible to nominate a black candidate who does not recognize racial animus than it is to nominate a female candidate who, her Yale law degree and Senate seat notwithstanding, does not recognize the gender hurdles facing some American women.

"Obama should be held accountable for his beliefs," Sen. Dick Durbin, D- Ill., told reporters during a press call Monday. And: "To go beyond that I just don't think is fair."

Durbin is right. I hope he remembers those words the next time he wants to dump on a GOP supporter who talks outside the party lines. Not that I expect Durbin to resist the Democrats' double standards.

Here's the problem with the renunciation game. If it succeeds, you cut away nonpolitical people from a candidate -- until only the carefully scripted professional political class has access to elected officials. You drive average citizens who speak their minds away from the process, so that only the nakedly ambitious need apply.

I've written whole columns against America haters who blamed this country -- instead of the terrorists -- for the 9/11 attacks. If Wright were running for office, he would get the full treatment for his race-baiting and delusional ramblings and for rhetoric that ill serves Chicago's black community. But as long as Wright is not drafting policy for Obama, he is entitled to his uninformed opinion.

[DB]

B.S.

You don't expose your young children to such hate - for all of their young lives - if you yourself don't share the same views.

There is absolutely no way Obama doesn't hold the same views as his mentor.

[originalbuckeye]

The BIG difference is that McCain has only met Hagee a few times. Obama referred to Wright and his mentor and spiritual adviser. McCain has been in public office for over 25 years. I HOPE we know all the scandals and bad stories about him. I’m sure the Clintons have something up their collective sleeves. I hope it won’t be too damaging the weekend before the November election.

[Sarah]

very insightful

[wideawake]

Bottom line: If John Hagee said that America deserved 9/11, John McCain would call him a lunatic and cut all ties.

[farlander]

Not to mention, all that hate just drips from his wife. Hence they’ve muzzled her since her last ‘I’m not proud of my country’ speech. Seems everything fits the mold. And people do get it.

[cookcounty]

I don't understand the equivalence. John Hagee and John McCain is not remotely the same as Obama and Wright.

Obama has repeatedly referred to Weight as his "mentor" and "spiritual asvisor." He's been closely associated with him for 23 years, and has played, according to Obama, a very significant role in his life. Obama sought out Wright. McCain did not seek out Hagee.

Obama is running on the concept that he has amazingly good judgement (since there's nothing on his resume) and that he is such an accomplished "uniter." What kind of advisors can we expect from Obama?

[KantianBurke]

“To wit: In certain venues, a black man is going to hear anti-white comments from African Americans who have not had the extra something it takes to get ahead in this world.”

Double standard and excuse making for reverse racism.

[JZelle]

Obama will be fine as long as he stays away from Bob Jones Uiversity.

[vaudine]

You posted the exact truth I noted upon reading Ms. Saunders piece. There is a vast difference in meeting a supporter a few times and being mentored for 20 years by a close personal associate. Of course event blatant differences like this have never stopped the media from drawing a parallel.

The media, for instance, have made much of Hagee calling the Catholic church a whore and hating the Catholic church. He finally got tired of it and refuted it. His answer can be googled, but the msm will not bother because it doesn't fit their agenda.

vaudine

[syriacus]

Wright's Church has a child care center.

What are the little children being taught?

[return to sender]

Articles like this one, and the knowing willingness to NOT see things for what they so obviously are, are the reason that conservatives, and most especially the republicans, are losing this country.

[ari-freedom]

oh please, this is not a church. It’s a malcolm x cult.

[Grampa Dave]

"Oh please, this is not a church. It’s a Malcolm X cult!

Melanie Morgan comments in the Fox Green room re Bob Beckel:

Bob Beckel was steamed.

Later, I asked him why he was so upset.

He replied ..."because Obama’s people didn’t vet him and now Hillary’s going to win.’

Catch that?

A senior Democrat strategist thinks that Obama has lost the campaign over his association with Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s militant separatist language that includes statements like “God Damn America.” ...."

Just What Did Obama Know About Wright's Past Sermons? (Plenty)

“Barack Obama either agreed with what was preached from the Trinity pulpit, or he tuned it out and stayed around pretending to for political reasons. To say he stayed for 20 years but doesn't agree with Wright's preaching is incredible denial. It'd be like a man buying White Sox season tickets for 20 years, attending the games, and saying he's not a fan.”

Obama’s supporters want us to ignore this story… just push it under the rug. While they’ll align Republicans with any obscure pastor who does or says something controversial, they’re trying to convince us that Obama’s 20-year long close relationship with Wright, including his effective endorsement of him, his church and rhetoric with a $22,500 donation in 2006 is irrelevant.

“When Obama decided against wearing an American flag pin, we may all have been a bit too quick to accept his rationale, too quick to find that issue unimportant. Now, that American flag pin has gotten a lot bigger for a lot of us, especially in light of what may have been and may still be Obama’s deeper, and, perhaps, secret, less than patriotic beliefs about America.”

“Wright says that blacks can’t be expected to sing God Bless America because of racism. Obama doesn’t salute the flag during the National Anthem. That sure strikes me as an amazing coincidence since Obama swears he never heard Wright say anything against America.”

Now, the next phoney liberal CINO:

[Maceman]

OBama sent right $22 large. What does it say about him that he was willing to make such a large contribution to help this this guy spread his hate-filled anti-American message?

Debra Saunders is way off the mark here.

[Maceman]

right = Wright

[maine-iac7]

the “dumb blond” has advice for the moonbats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqRwLyCH2fs

pass along