Obama fails in facing challenge posed by pastor's demagoguery

The Southtown Star ^ | March 27, 2008 | Fran Eaton

[LibertyRocks]

Barack Obama missed a valuable opportunity last week to acknowledge America's dramatic social changes and to soundly refute those who are content to wallow in bigotry of bygone days.

More than a year ago, we raised questions about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's teachings at Chicago's now nationally known Trinity United Church of Christ. Last week, when national news outlets excerpted some of Wright's most vitriolic quotations and Americans saw firsthand the enthusiastic response of the Trinity church family, those same questions reappeared and became a national discussion topic.

Segments of sermons showing Wright outrageously claiming the federal government developed the AIDS virus for black genocide and blaming the United States for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks while sarcastically declaring "America's chickens have come home to roost" were featured on national news. Polls immediately began to show a decline in enthusiasm for Obama.

In a nationally televised speech, Obama defended his 20-year relationship with Wright, saying the 66-year-old pastor "was like family" and "a part" of Obama. Then he distanced himself from Wright's most controversial quotes.

"Reverend Wright's comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity," Obama said. He went on to portray Wright's anger as being the result of a black man's struggles through 1960s and '70s racial tensions.

Ironically, Wright's upbringing was educationally privileged. He is a third-generation college graduate. Both of his parents held doctorates. As a young man, Wright attended a premier college preparatory school in Philadelphia.

Perhaps Wright's legendary venom toward non-blacks is not so much the result of a difficult life experience as much as deeply-ingrained religious black liberation theology and the Black Value System, a doctrine adopted by Trinity almost 30 years ago.

In addition to advocating devotion to the black community, the black family, the black work ethic, allegiance to black leaders who advocate the Black Value System and personal commitment to the Black Value System itself, Trinity's unique church doctrine details the "Disavowal to the Pursuit of 'Middleclassedness.' "

Until just recently, Trinity's Web site provided a description of the Black Value System's conflict between blacks (referred to as "captives") and non-blacks ("captors"):

"Classic methodology on control of captives teaches that captors must keep the captive ignorant educationally but trained sufficiently well to serve the system. Also, the captors must be able to identify the 'talented tenth' of those subjugated, especially those who show promise of providing the kind of leadership that might threaten the captor's control," the site said.

Trinity's Web page described these captors and what they do to keep control of captives. According to Wright's teachings, "captors" purposely separate the "talented tenth" from other "captives" through three various methods:

First, "Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another."

Also, "Placing them in concentration camps and/or structuring an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons."

Then finally, "Seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which while training them to earn more dollars, hypnotizing them into believing they are better than others and teaches them to think in terms of 'we' and 'they' instead of 'us.' "

A black person must reject the lure of money and success, which often leads to "rising above one's raising," the perceived curse of "Middleclassedness." Reject "Middleclassedness," Trinity teaches, and blacks "no longer will be deprived of their birthright, the leadership, resourcefulness and example of their own talented persons."

Such destructive rhetoric must be challenged in America's public forums. Instead, on March 18, presidential candidate Obama did his best to stifle further discussion of Wright's destructive teachings and turn the political tables.

"We can play Reverend Wright's sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words," he said.

"We can do that. ... But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we'll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change."

It's true, Sen. Obama, racial strife will not cease if we as a nation don't directly face destructive teachings, such as those emanating from mosques and churches, including the one with which you so proudly identify. While Wright has every right to preach as he wishes in his pulpit, we have a responsibility as fellow citizens to challenge irresponsible demagoguery.

Our self-righteous junior senator should be reminded that over the past 130 years, the United States' laws and regulations slowly have been corrected to ultimately rid our nation of racial discrimination.

Change has taken place in America already, senator. Despite what Trinity teaches, there are no captors or captives. There are only good folks who desire to move ahead toward a better day for all who follow - no matter their color, race or creed.

*************

Fran Eaton is a south suburban resident, a conservative activist in state and national politics and an online journalist. She can be reached at featon@illinoisreview.com.

[LibertyRocks]

Some interesting information in this column about Rev. Wright who grew up "privileged". And, great commentary on how Barack missed a golden opportunity to acknowledge the change that has occurred in our country over the last 30 or so years in the area of equality and opportunity.

[LibertyRocks]

Ping...

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[kromike]

Obama's lack of intuition is a foreshadowing of things to come should he become President. The guy may be bright, but like a lot of geeks, he has no street smarts.

And the Presidency is no place for a dweeb with only a couple of years of experience abstaining from important Senatorial votes. He's already in over his head and he refuses to admit that he's drowning.

[tessalu]

Obama is not one bit better than Jeremiah Wright.

[fantom]

Nice to see the Obama derangement is in full throat. It's 24/7 on fox. Greta thinks she is covering Natalie Holloway. If this is the best they have on this guy , the pubs are screwed.The right is set up for the Hillary battle , this guy they are not ready for. They are beginning to shred. Can't wait to see gramps and he on the same stage . I can see mccain and some rhino party hack against the big O and some moderate dem.

[LibertyRocks]

Quite scary isn’t it... I can’t believe he got this far — no wait, I can believe it because the DNC just LOOKED at him and said — Oh, he’d be good... we can show everyone we’re “color-blind” with no thought as to his credentials, his background, etc... etc... I’m beginning to wonder if some in the DNC didn’t know this would happen and if it’s not a way to try to set back race relations by decades. Stranger things have happened.

[LibertyRocks]

I believe you’re right. He either needs to come out and say — I agree with Wright, or say he rejects him completely. He can’t do either one for fear of alienating half of the country. He’s walking a tight rope here, and he’s about to fall off... I hope.

[LibertyRocks]

There is a lot more to attack Obama on besides this, but we do have a right to know exactly where Obama stands on the Black Values System, and Black Liberation Theology for sure. There’s a ways to go until November, and I don’t think Obama will last that long... He’s already saying how tired he is.

As for McCain - I’m not sure he can stand next to Barack and look good, frankly. He doesn’t have the charisma, speaking abilities, nor does he have a strong backing in the GOP base (read boots on the ground) vs. the Obamaites who are basically brainwashed by the message of “Hope” and “Change”. I think the GOP really shot themselves in the foot by vaulting McCain to this position. They may think that they are appealing to the “Centrists” in our country, but when there isn’t much difference between the two candidates the younger, more vibrant, more charismatic person would win...

I pray I’m wrong... There’s also murmurs about Gore stepping out from the shadows to take the nomination and “unite” the Democrats. Don’t know if this is just wishful thinking of the DNC at this point, or what.

[river rat]

The leftists and ????? have been twisting themselves into pretzels, trying to scrub that “tar baby” issue of a racist rabble rousing preacher and make him look like a friendly and harmless “preacher man” just talking “the talk”...

But the problem remains STUCK to Obama, and he just can't seem to refute, explain or throw it off his back and out of the media... Now, Obama, his angry wife and his clearly racist Pastor hang like a stinking Albatross around the necks of the DNC... They're stuck with THEIR creation, and they deserve him.... The nation doesn't!

This evening they interviewed a number of black preachers, who to a man and woman stated that the Rev. Wright was a wise man and that if he said ANYTHING in his sermon — then it was TRUE...”at least to blacks”. I was stunned that so many black pastors indicated they believed the crap about AIDS being intentionally “developed” to harm blacks. Once again - whites are responsible for the “black condition”... Their own behavior is faultless... The preachers brought up the Tuskegee Syphilis experiments with blacks as justification. There appears to be a LOT of anger and even White Hate in black CHURCHES! And Obama attended one himself... I believe there is a reason for that - in that the “Rev” Wright truly reflects Obama’s unmentionable inner beliefs.

Now - I'd REALLY like to know who we're to believe represents the REAL Obama and the REAL BELIEFS of the majority of American blacks....

I'm beginning to suspect that the situation is a hell of a lot worse than we've been led to believe....

[leadhead]

REAL Obama and the REAL BELIEFS of the majority of American blacks....

Too right!

We have a Presidential candidate and his wife who hate America and all whites.

Which always makes me wonder, if this country is so bad, why do they stay?

These people's whole life is spent wallowing in self-pity and shouting hate. And 92% of us are to change our lives to accomodate 8%? Yea,right.

I know who the racists are.

[wastoute]

I am surpised that some enterprising person hasn’t spent the effort to find Obama in the pews in some of those tapes. You know that they have to have hihlighted him being he is a celebrity. I am willing to bet with some effort video of him can be found clapping (at least) if not dancing at some of these remarks made by “Rev.” Wright. Let us see how long his candidacy lasts once those pictures hit the net. I would think Hillary’s people would be on this.

[Kay Syrah]

Which always makes me wonder, if this country is so bad, why do they stay?

Because of the other "R" word. As in reparations. Why go somewhere else that doesn't owe you? I mean that would be like Willie Sutton hanging around the dump.

Interesting reading

[iopscusa]

I love this “Obama derangement”, his stealth campaign was to allow the BHO Messiah to float through to the WH just like Hilldog’s campaign. Now both of these frauds have been IMO mortaly damaged and will continue to destroy each other and their iddot party all the way to the convention,
it’s just another Spitzer moment!

[Grampa Dave]

Wright has been exposed as a racist/anti America pos, and Obama in turn has been exposed as one who listened to this pos for 20 years.

On his new campaign plane, Obama said he has spoken with Wright in recent days and disputed any suggestion that he or his campaign have asked him to stay out of the limelight.

"I have talked to him," he said. "I haven't asked him to do anything."

Walter Williams: "For the nation and for black people, the first black president should be the caliber of a Jackie Robinson and Barack Obama is not. Barack Obama has charisma and charm but in terms of character, values and understanding, he is no Jackie Robinson. By now, many Americans have heard the racist and anti-American tirades of Obama's minister and spiritual counselor. There's no way that Obama could have been a 20-year member of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church and not been aware of his statements."

Thomas Sowell: "It is painful to watch defenders of Barack Obama tying themselves into knots trying to evade the obvious. Some are saying that Senator Obama cannot be held responsible for what his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, said. In their version of events, Barack Obama just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time—and a bunch of mean-spirited people are trying to make something out of it."

Hussein Obama’s racist pseudo minister has turned the Dems' run for President into party's train wreck!

Devastatingly, Shelby Steele writes: “Obama has fellow-traveled with a hate-filled, anti-American black nationalism all his adult life, failing to stand and challenge an ideology that would have no place for his own (white) mother."

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.”

Here is the link to the Star Spangled Banner video with obama standing there without his hand over his heart...

Notice her ear ring!

[LibertyRocks]

Either Hillary’s or the GOP’s research teams. I think right now the GOP is simply sitting back and letting the Dems tear each other apart. As for the speeches... If someone has the DVD collection it’d be a good idea to go through them looking. Problem is, I don’t know how many anti-Obama people have those DVDs.