...by going on a mini publicity blitz that, by the standards of the mainstream media, is so obviously contrary to the best interests of the Obama campaign, is not Reverend Jeremiah Wright effectively distancing himself from Obama?
Monday, April 28, 2008
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Dude isn't a politician?
Bill said: Not a politician, but he would have given P.T Barnum a run for his money when it comes to salesmanship. He is obviously just another person who has found a way to make money selling racism under the guise of religion. A 10,000 square foot house in a ritzy Chicago neighborhood, paid for by his church, not bad for somebody who makes his money catering to his flocks needs to vilify the white males instead of reminding the black males that they are the real anchor that keeps the black race from moving into the main stream of America. A typical person that places the Blacks burdens outside their own area of control. Instead of accepting their own responsibility, this guarantees an ironclad excuse for not succeeding while claiming they are doing everything possible,ua while placing blame everywhere but where it belongs. The current black culture is not a culture but a refuge from the reality of the 21st century.
Very true. He helps Obama this way. He becomes a real man, not just a sound bite. A real man with his own agenda.
Exactly. He distances himself from Obama and this is much more efficient than it would have been the other way around. Now people who are so inclined can dislike Wright without having bad feelings about Obama.
This can only end in tears.
Bill to MPT: While I recognize the rationale behind your conclusion, I don't agree. Obama can't separate himself from Wright. There are some who have said: An adult could listen to Wrights rantings and separate the fact from the emotion. They may not be affected after considering the source. I agree, but what kind of father would expose small children to this kind of perpetuating hate speech. There is a good deal of hypocrisy involved in this behavior. As a resident of a small town, I believe what you see is what you get. High flung words don't count for much.
MPT to Bill: On what basis do you assume that Sen. Obama's children were in attendance during any of the questionable sermons/rants by the dear Reverend? In the videos of his sermons I have never seen any children. I think his political musings are directed exclusively to his adult parishioners. I find this rumor rather hard to believe and it seems to be more based on a partisan desire to call into question Sen. Obama's character then reality.
When it comes to family values, it is my opinion that Sen. Obama beats the Clintons and McCain's handily.
Hard to agree. I would think Obama would prefer Wright simply "goes away". Any distancing effect is really too subtle to see.
I have seen cyncial viewpoints that say Wright really would not want Obama to win. For if he does, then all of Wright's complaints about America are essentially incorrect.
Hard to agree: Well, not so much. You implying that Wright is working against Obama and does not want him to be President shows me that there is already quite a bit of distance between the two in your mind. That's exactly what makes this story a good one in the long term for Obama. It might still be damaging in the short, though.
Bill to MPT: Obamas church services are regularly seen on a local Chicago TV station. Do you suggest Obama would forbid his children to watch? The church bulletin is free for the taking as you leave church. That same bulletin has included hate speech from a Hamas leader, terrorists, and other Israel haters. Do you suggest his children have never read the bulletin? Being a small town person makes me a realist, naivity is not one of my strong points. My children always read the bulletins brought home from my church. Those same children were always in the pew next to me during the service. Obama himself has often said they attend church as a family, and he strongly advocates this practice. I have not been present when Wright preached one of his hate sermons, nor do I have any proof Obamas children were ever present during one. On the other hand I could never bring myself to accept that the children of Barrack and Michelle are so stupid they haven't been able to figure out who Reverend Wright is and what he believes.
Look, I'm not going to be able to convince you to think otherwise, but there is really no basis for the argument that Sen. Obama does not care deeply about his children and wants them to be educated with the values he himself beliefs in (which, as even McCain assured us today, are not the same values that Rev. Wright believes in). As I said before: when it comes to family values, he beats the Clinton's and McCain's handily, in my opinion.
My interpretation of this is that they have different church services for families and for adults only and that Sen. Obama attends the family services which tend to be less controversial. This is simply my guess. What it comes down to in the end is whether you believe that Sen. Obama is a bad person or a good person, once you made up your mind about that, you will interpret the given facts in such a way that the story fits. It seems we are on opposite sides on this one. Have a nice day.
As to your point about church services on TV: Not that I know anything about that, but couldn't all children potentially watch this program? How does this relate in any way to Sen. Obama?
Bill MPT: I don't remember saying Obama wasn't a good person or even hinting in that direction. It is just that when you are presenting yourself as a healer and compromiser, your life and actions should not just be average but above reproach. It is only in this context that my criticism is applicable. Obama played the politics game exceedingly well but it is obvious "to me" that like all politicians he compromised the ideals he is portraying to the public just like all politicians do white or black to promote his own ambitions. I wouldn't in any way object to having him for a neighbor. He is intelligent, interesting and very well read, but it takes more than that to get my vote for president. We probably both agree we would like to see change in Washington. Obamas problem is, even though he talks the talk, he just doesn't walk the walk.
Folks,
PLEASE refrain from passing judgment on Rev. Wright if you have not listened to ALL of his speech to the National Press Club yesterday. It was televised on C-Span and will undoubtedly be run again from time to time.
Rev. Wright sounded like a disciple of Martin Luther King, Jr., preaching RECONCILIATION for 10 or 15 minutes of his remarks. Taken in context, I did not hear a single sentiment expressed by Rev. Wright that any clergyman with a college degree or divinity degree would find fault with. White, black, evangelical, mainline Protestant, Catholic - they would all agree that religion should promote "transformation," "liberation" AND "reconciliation." Some clergy would emphasize spiritual liberation more than the social liberation that Rev. Wright emphasizes, but his three core principles are not controversial in any religious setting I have ever been in.
Rev. Wright also referenced several points in the interview with Bill Moyers where questioners in the audience had been misled by the way the interview had been edited. (He did not suggest that the editors intended to mislead.)
I suggest it is long past time for responsible members of the public to call for an end to the half-a--s--d comments made by pundits and commentators who have not heard any of Rev. Wright's sermons or speeches all the way through, and most of whom don't know enough about Christian theology to appreciate the wisdom of what Rev. Wright says, even if they watched a complete sermon.
Bill to hard headed liberal: While I am a firm believer that opinions are like belly buttons in that everybody has one. I certainly don't agree that all opinions are created equal. That being said: Wright certainly has a right to his opinions just like you do. Since I never pass judgment on anyone, for the simple reason I believe that is not within the realm of my authority, I would not presume to pass judgment on you or Wright. I would, however, disagree on your assessment of yourself as a hard headed liberal. You are not hard headed, like Wright, you act irrational. No one who is rational could reach the many conclusions you have just posted, or Wright has said, and then make the unsubstantiated claims and comparisons you and he have posited. It is not possible to ever achieve agreement with any person unless that person is capable of objective thinking. Therefore, I will close this post by saying you and Wright are certainly entitled to use subjective thinking if that is the only thought process you are able to use to justify your opinions. Just don't insult the rest of us by subjectively concluding your thought processes, which by their very nature, ignore the facts, are viable in making an argument.
Bill to hardheaded liberal. It is obvious Obama was more incensed with Wright than even I was.
He Said:
“I am outraged by the comments that were made, and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday,”
“The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe they ended up giving comfort to those who prey on hate,”
Obama also said he was particularly "angered" by Wrights accusation that distancing himself from his pastor was only political posturing.
Obama said he was particularly “angered” by that suggestion.
“If Reverend Wright thinks that that’s political posturing, as he put it, then he doesn’t know me very well — based on his remarks yesterday I may not know him as well as I thought either,”
Obama said Wright’s assertion that the U.S. government was somehow responsible for afflicting the black community with HIV was “ridiculous.” He said he was offended by Wright’s argument that the United States brought terrorism upon itself by committing similar acts overseas. Wright repeated that argument Monday.
All it was was a bunch of rants that aren’t grounded in truth,” Obama said of Wright’s Press Club performance.
“And I can’t construct something positive out of that.”
It is perfectly obvious that his last statement proves he would not even consider it rational to try. But try you did, and you failed miserably.
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