Letters to the Editor
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Knee-Jerk Patriotism Is a Problem; Obama's Relationship With Pastor Wright Is a Real Problem
Lots of people in our country are much too narrow-minded on issues of patriotism -- that's a given. I like to think I'm not one of those, but the Pastor Wright issue raises questions nevertheless -- questions that will be on the radar or under it for as long as Obama's candidacy lasts. A few examples:
1. What else is out there waiting for us? I find it hard to believe that over 20 years' affiliation with Wright and this church, there aren't other damaging disclosures coming; e.g., Obama was proven to be present at a "bad" sermon; proof that church activists were spreading the pastor's message (so to speak) in previous Obama campaigns; proof of financial funny business in those campaigns with the church's fingerprints; associations with other radicals either through the church or otherwise -- the list goes on.
2. If Obama becomes president, what will be the role of Wright (or Wright-thinking surrogates) in the White House? Chaplain to the president? Spiritual advisor to the president (following the example of some previous presidents)? Nothing at all? We don't know.
3. Most important, what does Obama himself really think? His speech artfully rejected the pastor's worst outbursts, but he he has stuck by the pastor as a man and also his congregation. Will a President Obama be giving us a diet of liberation theology, reparations, and the like? How much is he in tune with Wright's overall philosophy?
The problem for me is that the more I think about this, the more questions it raises. Some of them are really troubling. I honestly don't know what I'd be getting with an Obama presidency. And you can be sure that his enemies, who are legion (and resourceful) will be looking for dirt and asking these same questions and many more. I think it will be more than enough to defeat him in the general election. Democrats who don't see this are deluding themselves.