Letters to the Editor
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@Billmar
Thanks for the perspective. Since I am not Christian, I don't have specifics, but my first thought was that all these preachers say crazy things. Rabbis do too.
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Article a bit extreme
Preachers of all types seem to condemn government from time to time
if Wright wants to damn America (for some particular acts) this also happens all the time on the right
I often see the bumper sticker 'God will bless America when America returns to God' on the way to work
Does anyone here really think that cabs pass Hillary by because she's black or that she has been called the so-called N-word?
Is Wright wrong when he says America is run by rich white men? I read the paper every morning and check the web too, it certainly seems that way to me
The Weathermen were never popular, calling some ex-Weathermen the most glamorous, etc. is to distort history
In any event, these 2 are not starting fistfights or blowing stuff up today
I supported Clinton for president, but would be happy to vote for Obama
my advice to him is not to sell out but to state his case clearly and honestly
A
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mysticmom's post
Wow. Mysticmom says it -- says the obvious truth we water down, and it makes perfect sense. It also makes me outraged, not in a righteous way, but in a humble way. I'm not doing anything like the work Wright has done in my life.
If you haven't read mysticmom's post, I suggest you do. Salon editors: this one needs a star because it is one that should be read.
It tells it exactly as it is.
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This just in: progressive candidate supported by progressive community
Bill Ayers and the Reverend Wright will be liabilities to Barack Obama only if he lets them become liabilities. All indications are that he will not let that happen. Obama has clearly articulated his objections to Wright's polemics, and I'm sure he can see through a sociopath like Bill Ayers as well. The fact is that Obama's campaign has been about healing divisions and bringing people together, and that includes outliers on the left.
I don't see Obama engaging in code words, or winking and nodding at extremists, or apologizing for them. I see him forthrightly confronting the arguments of those who claim to be progressive but are actually race-baiters or just plain sociopaths. Compare this to George Bush, for example, who in 2000 gave a speech at the same "university" that granted an honorary doctorate to Ian Paisley, for a true moment of flirting with the devil.
Someone far upthread mentioned that as a junior legislator, Obama was always trumpeting his Harvard credentials. That reminds of me of one of my favorite jokes:
Q) How do you know if someone went to Harvard?
A) They'll tell you.
Golden Boy
PS The University of Chicago campus is not equivalent to Hyde Park. The campus is heavily patrolled and students rarely leave it. Hyde Park after dark is dangerous, I'm sorry to say.
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Uncles, schmuncles
I think what frightens most white middle-American types is Wright's tone and volume.
Had a monk chanted the same ideas, no one would have even noticed, or perhaps they would have nodded off or changed channels before it could be translated from Latin for them.
Catholics think they're eating Christ, once a week.
THAT'S crazy.
If it's revealed the Rev Wright's inflicted that kind of week-in week-out lunacy on his congregation, I'll worry.
Also, when will we see John McCain be made to answer for, or distance himself from the nationally televised rantings of millionaire CEO of GETV, John Hagee?
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What have we done?
After two terms of Bush and his colossal failures (e.g., Iraq, Afghanistan, the economy), the 2008 presidential election was supposed to be a cakewalk for the Democrats. Regardless of which candidate we support, and regardless of our feelings for Howard Dean and the party elite, we have all but ruined our chances of returning to the White House.
Obama supporters will blame Clinton and Clinton supporters will blame Obama. The truth is: We are all to blame for the mistakes and mishaps of this primary season. Though as rank-and-file Democrats, we didn't decide the ludicrous rules for the primaries, we tacitly approved of them by coming to the party (no pun intended) too late. Though we are not the MSM directing the tenor of the debate, we are the ones lapping it up and keeping it going. Though we are not responsible for our Congressional leaders' inability to make any headway against the Bush Administration, we have allowed them to expend precious energy on Superdelegates and re-votes in two key states.
So, what have we done? Not only have we lost the general election before we even have a nominee, we--the Democrats--have set race and gender relations back decades. That is shameful and we have no one to blame but ourselves.
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Obama's speech
Just watching the Obama speech. In my mind, he has finally morphed into the "Black Candidate" that he has striven so hard to avoid. Quote:
"... we will never be able to achieve ... our goals of universal healthcare, a more just economy, (etc.) ... until we can create a more perfect union (of the races in America) ..."
Wow. That's quite a statement. He is setting as a precondition for achieving all the other goals the creation of a "more perfect union". And, of course, only he can achieve it because of his (quote) "background and life story".
Ouch. When his speech gets deconstructed in the coming days, weeks and months, I'm afraid it will have "megalomaniac" written all over it. It's a sad sight, really.
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Obama's crazy uncles....
For me it would be preferable to have a President who is agnostic! Where are the preachers that have a non-political message of love and unity? Some on the far right (white) like
Pat Robertson, Haggee, and the late Falwell, have contributed to fostering hate, and Rev. Wright's words seem to be the kind that stirs up more hate. (And Dobson doesn't win any praise either!0 Obama doesn't seem to be that way, and I will vote for him if he wins the nomination - have already voted at a caucus. This is certainly a time when the separation of church and state is an important issue and it would be great for religion- and politics - if these preachers would stick to the religion business and stay out of the political business!