Posted on 03/19/2008 5:36:37 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
There was a time when patriotism and an outsize love of country was a given in anyone running for president of the United States. Not any more. Barack Obama and his wife have demonstrated that being black means never having to say you’re sorry about your — or your fellow blacks’ — conditional love for America.
At two Wisconsin rallies last month, Michelle Obama declared, “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country.”
For such transparent civic disdain, a white candidate’s wife would have been made to crawl over broken glass to beg forgiveness, and both would have babbled endlessly on about her unconditional love for her country. Not the Obamas. For all his vaunted humility, Obama never really admits wrong-doing. Obama “clarified” Michelle’s remarks, then Michelle “clarified” her remarks. Neither apologized.
Then on Tuesday, Obama delivered a major speech in Philadelphia to quell public indignation around the incendiary anti-Americanism of his spiritual mentor and erstwhile campaign team member, Jeremiah A. Wright, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
Mr. Wright is an angry, anti-white black conspiracy theorist committed to Afro-centric “black liberation theology.” He speaks to his all-black congregation of “this racist United States of America.” According to his “Black Value System,” “racism is how this country was founded and how this country is run.” Wright considers “God damn America” a more fitting salutation to the flag than “God bless America.”
Obama has willingly identified himself with Wright’s vision for 20 years. Wright married the Obamas and baptized their two children. Yet this church is the very antithesis of what you would expect as the spiritual home of a man running on his ability to heal divisions and transcend racial identity. But until Tuesday’s speech, Obama’s response to criticism of Wright had been remarkably tepid: “We don’t agree on everything … I’ve never had a thorough conversation with him about all aspects of politics.”
And even in Tuesday’s speech, which was well received for its eloquence and lofty sentiments, Obama condemned a few of Wright’s “outed” remarks, but did not express remorse for his poor judgment or truly distance himself from Wright.
This struck me particularly: Obama said that Wright was “like an uncle” and he couldn’t disown him because uncles “don’t stop being a member of your family.” That’s disingenuous. Even if Wright were a real uncle, Obama would be obliged only to eat Christmas dinner with him, not support his institutionalized bigotry and racial alienation.
Lying down with dogs gives a candidate fleas. Obama should have taken ownership of his long-term lack of judgment. But he didn’t. In fact, he implicitly shifted the blame for his moral blindness in asking people not to assign “guilt by association.” The real moral flaw, Obama seems to suggest, isn’t his association with a racist; rather it is the flaw of judging others.
Which brings us to the pith of the matter. Obama has been planning his bid for the glittering prize for years. He’s supposedly a canny fellow. How did he fail to realize that his separatist church (in which his own mother would not be welcome) and racist pastor were going to be a huge political liability to him? Why didn’t he quietly drop out a year ago, and — here’s a radical thought — join a church that reflects his public persona: a church that encourages and attracts a mixed membership of blacks and whites, and whose pastor preaches unity and race-blindness.
That he stayed at Trinity United suggests he and his wife felt they were morally comfortable in that pew. We must conclude that until they saw his effect on others, they didn’t see anything wrong with the church or with Wright.
Obama’s instinct to escape personal censure for a stunningly poor choice of mentor and religious institution speaks to a troubling sense of personal entitlement. Americans’ unwillingness to accept such behaviour for what it is speaks to the soft bigotry of low expectations.
I am reminded by this episode of another such Democratic presidential candidate’s hypocritical sanctimony: “I smoked, but I didn’t inhale.” Bill Clinton got a pass on a single joint (although not without sustained ridicule).
Nobody can smoke institutionalized vulgarity for 20 years without inhaling. And no white candidate’s career would survive the shame of it. Obama’s rhetoric transcends racial division in America. White Americans’ guilt-fuelled reluctance to condemn Obama’s failings and selective silence embodies it.
“Nobody can smoke institutionalized vulgarity for 20 years without inhaling.”
The treatment of Obama has been racist. Can you imagine if he was a white guy...or a GOP guy?
He would be done already.
Anybody looking for any variety of opinion on this will find it on the net. If you limit that to broadcast TV Obama got overwhelmingly positive reviews.
The obvious issue of race has been discussed from all sides. Wright made racist remarks, Obama lectured us on our reaction to them. That is the basis of what has happened.
However, one major point that no one is stating about what Wright said – and that is that he committed blasphemy! For a clergyman to damn anything is something pretty dramatic, and certainly beyond demonstrating behavior that is spiritual in any way. The average Joe uses the word “damn,” and as obnoxious as it is, unfortunately it is common. But for a man of the cloth, a man who speaks as though he is a messenger of God, it is a different issue. It has a deeper, more serious meaning. Wright knows this, all religious leaders know this, and Obama knows this. Yet no one has commented on what is actually the strongest, most appalling words in Wright’s speech.
Further, he not only “damned” America, and white Americans, and the military that have fought in wars…but, he said “God Damn.” That is blasphemy of the highest order! I am simply shocked that none of this country’s religious personalities who have made public statements, or no commentator, or no pundit – not one person - has issued one word about the serious and sinful proclamation made by this man who claims to be a messenger of God’s word.
Hasn’t Wright read all of the Ten Commandments? He has the audacity to tell all of America that in the Bible it tells us not to kill – the Sixth Commandment, but before that is the Third Commandment - not to use God’s name in a blasphemous way. “Thou shall not take the name of God in vain!” Do you remember the THIRD COMMANDMENT, Mr. Wright??? (I say Mr. because his reverend title should be stripped from him for this irreverent and sacrilegious pronouncement.
Have we become so centered on our “feelings” about racism that we have let this major infraction against God slip by with nary a comment? Have we become so used to hearing people talk this way that when a religious leader lowers his standards to say such a common thing that it is not offensive and we forget how very much of a sin he has committed - a man who is supposed to teach others not to sin! Evidently Obama has. Evidently Jesse Jackson has. The moment Mr. Wright uttered those two words “G-d Damn,” I am sure the Heavens shook and God became very aware of where Mr. Wright should go when he appears for his judgment day. To the place Wright has proclaimed everyone else he referred to in his speech should go, where the damned go!
I have been reading all the posts about Obama and his pastor the last few weeks and I am wondering why no one has asked why this man (Wright) is spewing all the this political trash from the pulpit...my idea of a pastor is one who shepherds the sheep and brings God’s word to the congregation when he is speaking from the pulpit.
If a pastor wants to speak about politics that is left for after church or beforehand...not from the pulpit. I know that there is really no “separation of church and state”...but everyone brings that up...if this man is spewing political speech from the pulpit isn’t he violating that sacred cow? Why hasn’t the IRS come and stripped him of non tax status?
Just wondering........
“I am reminded by this episode of another such Democratic presidential candidate’s hypocritical sanctimony: “I smoked, but I didn’t inhale.” Bill Clinton got a pass on a single joint (although not without sustained ridicule).
Nobody can smoke institutionalized vulgarity for 20 years without inhaling...”
Nice analogy!
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“Nobody can smoke institutionalized vulgarity for 20 years without inhaling.”
Reminds me of a saying, as follows:
If you hangout at a barber shop, sooner or later you’re going to get a hair cut!
The blacks thought they were going to triumph over the whites. This is racism. We opened our society to all. Whites paid with their lives to help do it. But hatred for Caucasions still remains.
The “Reverend” is spewing hate speech plain and simple. Why is everyone falling all over themselves to call it anything but? Whites who even hint at anything that blacks consider offensive lose their jobs and spend the rest of their lives bowing and scraping and apologizing all over the place. What this is revealing to dumb, naive white liberals is that there are black racists who are as virulently bigoted as any sheeted Klansman. About time.
Not so surprisingly, the Queen of all Media, Ms. Oprah Winfrey quietly 'left' the TUCC many years ago. Could it be that someone on Team Oprah said this preacherman is nuts and a bigot and he is gonna offend your white audience (the ones that watch you O so that King World pays you a gazillion dollars every year). And Oprah was smart enough to get away whilst the getting was good...but Obama thought he was the 'chosen one' so he stayed. Hmmmmmm
Obama should have taken his pastor aside and told him that he is giving a bad example to young people.
Good post, an excellent well-written analysis.
Does racism exist today? Damn right it does! Racism will continue to flourish until we can come together in unity. Select individuals readily identify themselves by the color of their own skin and then are angered when others follow their lead. Maybe the day blacks stop using the “N” word whites may follow. The reality is America will never be the “Great Melting Pot” until people are willing to partake in it. Having separate “black” and “white” agendas only perpetuates the problem. We shouldn’t forget the mistakes of our past, but we also shouldn’t ignore the progress that HAS already been made. We need people willing to build on previous progress and move race relations forward. Simply rehashing historical crimes will never progress racial equality.
Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of races co-existing in unity and harmony. He spoke of all races striving together as one for the American Dream. Reverend Wright preached a message of separatism and hate while defaming America and Americans. Senator Obama sat there for 2 decades exposing himself, his wife and eventually his children to Wright’s rants. Obama was forced to give a speech for political expedience and some laud him as courageous. A truly courageous man does the right thing when no one is looking.
Initially, Obama stated he wasn’t present during the speeches. Later he admits he was there for some of the statements, but never experienced that side of Wright one on one. I guess he figured it out before last February when his campaign asked Wright not to partake in the evocation. Of course, he was still worthy of being an advisor.
Did Obama ever object to the message? He now has rebuked “some” of Wright’s statements. Maybe someone should ask Obama which of Wright’s statements he agrees with. Obama states he would have left the church, but Wright was going to soon retire so there was little point. Maybe someone should ask him how many years he continued to attend AFTER he determined Wright’s message wasn’t healthy. Nevertheless, Obama subjected his children to Wright’s teachings so yet another generation can grow up with jaded with hate and deceit. Why would any parent handicap their children with such drivel?
I haven’t always agreed with my friends, leaders, ministers or family members, but none of them have ever said what Reverend Wright said. There just isn’t place in my life for that much hatred. Obama used the larger subject of racism to avoid answering the questions of his own judgment, character and personal beliefs. He blamed conservatives, fear-mongering, talk radio and other instead of accepting personal responsibility. He eloquently delivered a great speech while ducking the valid questions of acceptable speech and hate and destruction.
So the red phone rings at 3 am and the country is in crisis. Obama wakes his wife and she says, “I have only been proud of America one time. Obama then seeks out spiritual guidance and calls Wright for reassurance and what does he hear? “God Damn America.” This isn’t the man we need in the White House or Commander-in-Chief.
abso-freaking-lutetly spot on!!!
I loved the way he callously threw his 85 year old grandmother under the bus simply to justify his 20 year relationship with the Reverend "G*d D**n AmeriKKKa".
Are not there any black pastors that can give a sermon without HATE? The preachers make fun of their opponents. As people that are supposed to be God’s emissaries is that correct?.
Excellent column, but it’s in Canada, so even with the Internet it will have about as much influence on US public opinion as a commentary from Europe.
Obama chose to make a rabid ranting racist his main “spiritual mentor” — it is curious that neither he nor his campaign advisors seem to have grasped just how drastically the hatemonger Jeremiah Wright could eviscerate Obama’s “unity” message. Obambi is truly a babe in the woods where the Clintonistas are concerned......
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