Letters to the Editor
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If there was any doubt that Rev. Wright had a point...
...this discussion puts it to rest.
Simple affiliation with Wright is a "problem" for Obama. Yet complex relationships had by white politicians with corporate heads whose private views are obscured receive little press outrage -- even when big donations appear to get policy at odds with the public interest. What an appalling double standard. Even the Ken Lay-Bush relationship, which didn't get the same MSM coverage that Obama-Wright has received, never looked at what Lay thought about blacks or American history. What are all of the personal views of Clinton donors, who have stronger political ties to Clinton than Wright has to Obama? I guess Wright's crime is that he said what he thought publicly.
And what did Wright say?
Goddamn America for nuking two cities killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people. I invite people to tell me how God thought this was okay.
Clinton doesn't know what it was like to grow up black? Clinton supporters -- is there something I don't know here?
This nation and the major forces in the world have been run by rich white people. The Fed's willingness to bail out Bear Sterns with a sweetheart $30 billion loan backed up by our tax dollars -- without Congressional approval -- pretty much lets me know this is still the rule. Does anyone claim that rich whites haven't been running the show?
While Wright has said some things that may be baseless (AIDS was a plot against blacks), do Clinton supporters really think that Obama is responsible for everything that his pastor says? Is Hillary Clinton responsible for everything Walmart has ever done? She was on their board -- she didn't just shop there. Is Clinton responsible for everything Web Hubble did or said? He was her law partner. Is Clinton responsible for everything her husband did, from NAFTA to all the international deals that allowed her to lend her campaign $5 million?
Looks like Wright may be on to something when he points the finger at this nation.
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The Elephant in the Room
None of this matters - not Obama's claim that he "wasn't in the pews" when this firebrand minister delivered his trademark oratory, not Obama's dissembling explanation of influence-peddling Tony Rezko's influence in his real estate. Today he gives a speech on the only issue that does matter - and the only issue that insures McCain his presidency: race. Because it is slowly dawning on the campaign, and the Democratic electorate, that, in a general election, in the present time in America, the racial attitudes of the American populace are not, er, conducive to the election of a black man to the white house. I'm not happy about it, but a politician who can't speak plainly is hardly the solution by which we're going to fix that problem in this country. Instead, perhaps his speech should be on hubris - he can enlighten us as to the dangers of that quality by illustrating how it can destroy a political party.....
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@ Factoidus
You are right -- that's an elephant, not a donkey.
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Don't Apologize on My Behalf
Obama doesn't have to apologize for his Pastor's comments on my behalf. After hearing his Pastor, I like Obama even more than before! I haven't heard anything come out of the Pastor's mouth that is a lie & I applaud everything I've heard him say. If I were a religious person (& I am NOT), this would be the church for me! Right on! Where did this Country go so wrong? Why is Obama's candidacy in jeopardy, even slightly, because of an exercise of free speech by a third party, no less? The critics believe we are the greatest nation on earth & yet they act like this? Is there a feather or something else I can wear that will let the rest of the world know that I am NOT one of these right-wing, religious, flag waving, moronic, "IDidNotVoteforBush" moronic Americans? Where's Borat when we need him?
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Another Perspective
McClellan's reluctant attempts to credit or even address Obama's work are minimalist (at best). The innuendo and insinuation leave little to the imagination. Ending with "Most of those would be exotic qualities in a president. And maybe that's the real problem" leaves the reader to contemplate whether McClellan is suggesting Obama's ties to his community ought to be a problem; his association with his church ought to be a problem; his ability to connect with a wide variety of people ought to be a problem and/or whatever else or is he suggesting the public find his "exotic" qualities are the problem? This is a question I can neither answer nor want to as each person must come to terms with that on their own.
Looking at the world in terms of black or white is an impediment to reason and logic. Right versus wrong undermines the value of nuanced thinking; The tendency to demonize those with different views leaves little room for compromise and understanding. Obama interprets the world thru a prism that reflects the vast array of ideas gathered from a plethora of encounters with individuals from all walks of life.
In contrast failure to surround ourselves or even occasionally associate with people whose views challenge our own keeps us entrapped in a group-think mentality that has consequences. For instance in his impenetrable bubble Bush declining to court any views counter to his own led to extracting blood and treasure we can ill afford to pay. He stuck us with a bill containing numbers stretching farther than the eye can see. Even if he had listened, the judgment required to make decisions, that could have averted our current state of circumstances, Bush does not have.
To govern effectively requires more than 51%. We need a president who includes all Americans. The only candidate whose appeal and success in drawing people from all walks of life and transcends party lines is Obama. With a background entrenched in diversity, a drive to learn, a promise to include everyone and a willingness to listen to various points of view makes Obama an appealing, qualified and viable candidate.
Furthermore his judgment has shown to be right when others followed a group think mentality; his open-mindedness is an asset in dealing with the complex issues; and his intellect coupled with reasoned logic will have a profoundly positive effect on the way Americans view the world, America's role on the world stage and America's responsibility therein. America's future depends on it.
Obama seems to be the only candidate who "gets it!"
Exotic qualities are not so much the issue as is the decision to see from other perspectives.