Letters to the Editor
burlydee
Published Letters: 282 Editor's Choice: 7
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Glenn Greenwald March 17, 2008
[Read the article: Why Jeremiah Wright is so wrong]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]UPDATE: Steve M. notes that the Bush White House, in addition to consulting with Robertson, also consulted with the anti-American Jerry Falwell, including on the question of whom the administration should nominate to the Supreme Court. It even appointed a White House liaison for Falwell. When Falwell died, President Bush "said he was deeply saddened by Falwell's death, calling him 'a man who cherished faith, family and freedom.'"
Shouldn't we be very concerned about American children hearing our President praise an American-hating radical who believes that our country is a sick and wicked land that God wanted to be victimized by the 9/11 attacks? Again, the issue here is number (2) above, not number (1).
UPDATE II: Frank Schaeffer, son of highly influential Religious Right figure Francis Schaeffer, writes (h/t FPL-Dan):
When Senator Obama's preacher thundered about racism and injustice Obama suffered smear-by-association. But when my late father -- Religious Right leader Francis Schaeffer -- denounced America and even called for the violent overthrow of the US government, he was invited to lunch with presidents Ford, Reagan and Bush, Sr.
He goes on to chronicle his father's long history of extreme "America-hating" statements, ones which never caused Republicans to repudiate him, and says: "Every Sunday thousands of right wing white preachers (following in my father's footsteps) rail against America's sins from tens of thousands of pulpits."
Yet Schaeffer, like hordes of similar, America-hating white Christian ministers, are celebrated as cherished figures among the very same right-wing faction feigning such outrage and offense over Wright's far more mild statements. White, right-wing Christian evangelical rage against America is understandable, respectable, and noble. Liberal black Christian anger towards America is scary, subversive, and despicable.
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@ Carol Richards
[Read the article: Why Jeremiah Wright is so wrong]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't think its about speaking out against racism that I want from Joan; in this post she is practicing the institutionalized racism I and other posters have complained about by making Obama answer for Wright. And its hard to argue that this is a national issue. Joan is pushing this conversation more than anyone. And Joan will go on MSNBC and use it there too. She is stirring the pot. And its purposeful. Of course she omitted Barack's response to Wright, it lessens her point which is to make Obama look bad. To attribute Wright's words to Obama. That is the goal here.
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Stop changing the subject AKA Smith
[Read the article: Why Jeremiah Wright is so wrong]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why don't you respond to some of the things other people have posted? Anyone argues with you is full to fall into your framing of the debate.
Why do you associate Wright's words with Obama, but don't hold white candidates to the same standard?
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I meant to say
[Read the article: Why Jeremiah Wright is so wrong]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Anyone who argues with you is a fool for falling into your framing of the debate. It the same frame Joan tries to put on the debate. "I'm not bothered by it, but some Americans will be..." Instead of elevating the debate, you wallow in it. Can we have a moratorium on speaking for other people?
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@ AKA Smith
[Read the article: Why Jeremiah Wright is so wrong]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Stop being so obtuse. She clearly meant that Joan's whiteness and Americaness is preventing her from seeing other perspectives particularly the perspective of African-Americans and people who don't hold the US in such exceptional regards. You know, like the rest of the world.