FYI - Obama just posted on huffingtonpost about Wright

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barack-obama/on-my-faith-and-my-church_b_91623.html

This is another post, from earlier, that is relevant. Sorry, I don't have the writer's name.
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"Fear is the mind-killer, fear is the little death..."

I love that quote from Frank Herbert’s Dune.

This is just my opinion after reading sooooo many diaries about electability and Pastor Wright and Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro. I am a Senator Obama supporter just so you know right up front. I posted this on Daily Kos buy was inspired by my readings at the Cafe yesterday.

FEAR.

I believe that we, the American people are victims of a misled furor of patriotism that led us into Iraq where we killed the head of state and his family members, tortured, maimed, and have Iraqis and Americans dead and wounded in the thousands. The person and persons who sent us there wear flag lapel pins and probably put their hands over their hearts for the National Anthem and the Star Spangled Banner.

Faux News are these peoples' propaganda machine. And people trusted them. After 600,000 pages, billions of dollars, and thousands dead and wounded, they find there is no connection between Al Queada and Iraq.... which people in this community have been saying for years. Project for the New American Century is their religion. GWB served 2 terms. And he has nearly destroyed this country under the weight of debt. Where did all the money go? I guess we were so busy being scared that we didn’t notice? You want someone that 'safe' in office? One you can have a beer with, and the beer is spiked with FEAR?

See where FEAR got us? See what FEAR fueled? From FEAR we will inherit many awful things. I bet there are many Iraqis who are really angry. This FEAR led us as if we were blind. FEAR of not having electability probably had a smart woman vote for the Iraqi war.

So, after the video on youtube of Senator Barack's ex-Pastor, are you not voting for him now? Because it was scary that he said those things about America not being blessed, that chickens come home to roost and that the White Man has screwed us? (translation: White Man=Establishment. That's the dated part for me. Historically for us it was the White men hosing us down in the streets of the south or stripping us naked on a major street to search us, for making us sit in the back of the bus, not drink from the same water fountains, come in the back door, not serve us at gas stations and lynching us.... I am not yet 50 but I have memories of some of this as a child. ) Was any of it lies? The Establishment has screwed us and I do have a difficult time getting a cab in NYC and Washington DC. It got so bad that my White friends hailed the cab, I tell you no lie and I was sure mad as hell about it. And embarrassed and appalled.

So all of this makes Senator Obama less electable. Correct? Or is this just some Senator McCain or Senator Clinton talking point that you've embraced and are running with because there is unease that Senator Obama is an unknown? Your doubts are creeping in. Is he too good to be true? Probably, he's just a man, a smart man. There is FEAR.

For Senator Obama supporters and people who are still trying to decide, (IMHO) I say that it is time for us to be brave, really brave.

This Pastor Wright is sermonizing (lessons) to his church. At my church I don't embrace everything my Priest tells me. Do you? Does Senator Obama? Is he smart enough to have his own thoughts? You're unsure because you still don't know who this African-American is; who African-Americans are. We are all of you. We are of African descent. We can also be part Hispanic, Native American, Irish, French, German, Indian, Arab, Japenese, Chinese, Korean, Norwegian, Swedish, Italian or any mix there of. We are Americans, a motley crew just like the rest of the country. Our skin ranges from pale to dark. We are beautiful just like everyone else. We all have our stories.

America is not just pretty, it is beautiful, but there is anger. The anger of Pastor Wright who saw his family members hanging from trees is nothing compared to the anger of generations of people from Native Americans who were here, to African Americans, some of which were dragged here, to Immigrants who fled here. This anger is piled up and simmering, just below the surface. And why is everyone angry? Injustice, and lots of it. Because the establishment has played us off each other from the beginning of American time to keep those that have, in power, and those that don’t, fighting amongst each other. Having fear of each other. I truly believe that a mother in the Bronx has the same desires for her children as a mother in Utah. Safety, good health and education. Just from that, we can find more things in common. Build on our sameness and not our differences. We are a beautiful people from Brad Pitt, to Halle Berry to me, my Europeon husband to Markos’ baby, Denzel Washington, to all of you.

What are we going to do about it? Shy away in FEAR from each other? Or will we not fall into this trap yet again.

If we are going to go into this walk together, and I hope that we do, if we are going to take responsibility on this changing of America...all of us Americans, are going to be in for some inconvenient truths, everyone. There are racists, there are sexists, there are some not very nice people abounding. And another truth is that there are many angry people, African Americans as well. And have been for generations and out of that rises a gem like Senator Obama whom I believe has taken what is excellent from his background and translated it to where he can be a wonderful President of our country. He is bright, engaging, and has experience. He is cool, calm and collected. He is inspirational for many people and we are going to need a good dose of inspiration to get us through the next years. Americans across the country thought so as well. He is in the lead of the primary. So if you are going to vote for an African-American, know that there are angry people around. But we have lived with this anger for centuries. I bet everyone is angry though. You probably got angry people in your family, so it is not a strange concept. Geraldine Ferraro is really angry. GWB, I’m not sure if he has feelings at all.... But here is a chance for Americans, to work together to make a difference and a video of a Pastor blows us off track and plays to whatever FEARS the MSM can use to make us dance like so many puppets.

Is the Pastor a bigot? That is a hard one for me because I know his anger. I have lived it myself and I am not a bigot. But I do not want to portray that it is only one group of people’s fault. The Status Quo is at fault and it oppresses many of us, African American, European Americans, Gay, Lesbians, women...anyone who is not in lock step with the Status Quo is road kill. But the Pastor is angry. And my take on it is that he is angry about Injustice. Maybe it is the same way for Geraldine Ferraro. She’s of that age where things were different. Is she a bigot? The fact is that Senator Obama is qualified and has worked hard to get where he is and to lessen that with an affirmative action statement sounds like a talking point to lessen his electability and play into the FEARS. But is there fairness in politics or is it just always politics? I think she was playing politics and that is my take on it. An African American or woman or any other minority has to somehow prove that they are worthy beyond affirmative action and as a activist for equality for woman, I found her comments disturbing because she threw another minority under the bus to bolster up her raison d’etre. Senator Obama has not done that. Senator Clinton, well she endorsed the Republican Senator John McCain over Senator Obama and that was just in so many ways very wrong. Senator '100 more years in Iraq?' McCain, need I say more?

I believe that this is the real deal for all of us. I am not voting against anyone. I have a candidate that I can vote for. And that is really refreshing. And it is not with FEAR. It is with HOPE.

Senator Obama has distanced himself from his ex-Pastor a few months ago. Will he have to do it every time? Every week? Everyday? Just to make you feel safe? Does he have to wear a flag pin and eat Freedom fries? If he does, then you best vote for John McCain or Senator Clinton. I believe that they will give us the same ole same ole shit. FEAR.

I believe that Senator Obama will give us a challenge to rise above our differences and reach a great potential the we as Americans are capable of. But we have to really want it in order to not get sent off track by the MSM who loves to trip us up. We have power. But only if we stand united.

The President cannot do anything alone unless we give up our power to them. Under FEAR George Bush Jr. was able to tap our phones, go to war, spend billons of dollars (and who knows whose pocket that is in). While we were in FEAR, many people died in our name.

We have to help by staying involved. All the passion that we see in the primary season should not end in January 2009. We need to take responsibility and vote and be on top of the issues of our communities. Be informed. We have to help each other as well. We have time to watch TV, write diaries, comment and play World of Warcraft (ok that is my time sink...), certainly we have time to educate ourselves about the issues of the country and pertinent issues of the world. I do not believe that the primary, the general election or the Presidency will be a cakewalk. In fact I believe it will be damn difficult. Senator Obama will not be able to do a quick fix. We are in deep kaka for a time, but I believe that he will put us on track to move away from a FEAR based country to a country empowered to make change and do change. He was ready on day 1 of his campaign and I believe that he will be ready on day 1 of his Presidency.

Positive change. And with that energy we can do wonders and make this country great for us. It is a long-term goal for the sake of future generations. And we can truly be the home of the brave. In fact, we are pretty brave already...but somewhere along the way we got distracted. Let us not get distracted now.

I think we are all jumping to conclusions based on that sliced up video hitpiece.

Give Obama a chance to explain.

Jeez fella, get a grip. The McCain campiagn goes away for a couple of weeks to decide their strategy for winning the White House, and when they come back, it turns out that the strategy is to run against Hillary. This is the reason that they've pitched this to the media. Haven't you ever watched a political campaign before? If not, then brace yourself, because it's going to get nastier than this.

I am very tired of all of this hate speech.

I am voting for Obama in the General Election; despite the shocking nature of the videos that have been playing on the networks all day, none of this has shaken my belief that he is a uniter or a divider.

The networks are simply proving his point that politics as usual is getting us nowhere.

I grew up with the anger and hate I hear on radio talk shows--the sort of anger that the high school boys in my home town in rural Minnesota expressed towards Native Americans. They all had guns and pickup trucks and used patriotism as an excuse to threaten anyone who wasn't like them.

Some years ago I moved to New York, where one can hear the anger that Rev. Wright expresses on the streets of the South Bronx. The latter sort of anger is more foreign to me, but like talk-show radio hate it takes root in a climate of poverty and violence and ignorance.

How do we eliminate the poverty and ignorance that gives birth to this?

Mary Refling

So, that's it? Obama is done? Nothing he can do?

The Good News:

The PA election is still 5 weeks away. And Obama is expected to lose anyway.

People's attention span is notoriously short. As the economy gets worse, and people realize the surge isn't working after all, Obama plays to his strength.

After much gnashing of teeth, it dawned on me that this is just ONE NIGHT.

Let's check back in 5 weeks before we declare Obama's campaign dead.

The question here is not whether our candidate can survive against Hillary and be nominated for the general election. Question is, can he survive the general election with the scores of DVDs containing provocative commentary from the Pastor? You know the Republicans will be quite vicious with this.

I am glad Obama did not just outright cut Wright loose and throw him under the bus as if he were nothing more than some expendable campaign staffer. Obama considered this man to be like an uncle and spiritual advisor.

First of all, I think it'd be pretty hard to find a black congregation in the United States that doesn't have much pent-up anger about how they are treated by the U.S. and expresses it on occasion.

Second of all, Obama has already rejected the comments in question and comments like them.

And third of all, I don't believe Wright said anything blatantly racist or necessarily untrue. Inflammatory and angry -- yes. But he didn't say anything that would necessitate "disowning" the guy who was a close friend and confidante for so many years. In fact, if Obama had just summarily disposed of the guy and completely denounced and rejected the MAN, I do believe my opinion of Obama's character would have soured significantly.

If this is what ends up sinking Obama's campaign, then fine, let it be. But I am glad that Obama stuck by the Reverend and maybe it just shows that some things are more important than the Democratic nominations -- like family and what you believe in.

Let me get this straight. You're disheartened because of what a friend of Obama's thinks? Do you have any friends who are a bit racist, or who sometimes say something wildly inappropriate? I have people like that in my family. Should I disassociate myself from my grandpa? Or would it be better for me to love the old coot anyway, and try to keep him out of the public eye? Is it hypocritical for me to teach my child tolerance even though her great grandad isn't capable of showing any? I don't think so.

Elysian,

Let me take your points of condemnation one by one:

The Pastor called US the number one killer

Not difficult to make such an argument though I reject it too.

Just think about Saddam once being a CIA asset and then the vast number of lives taken by him and then the effort to overthrow and kill Saddam taking many more lives and now we are arming more killers in Iraq.

Osama bin Laden and his al Queda were also largely funded by us BTW.

It goes on and on.

You sure there is no argument?

held US responsible for AIDS

The theory that the development of the Salk vaccine caused AIDS was once taken very seriously but seems to have been thoroughly refuted.

Some are late in getting the word and then reject it.

It remains a popular myth in the African-American community like many in every population.

/9-11/

See my first answer above.

Mandela's imprisonment and apartheid

We nearly alone supported the apartheidist's in South Africa under Reagan long after the rest of the world had become disgusted. When our support ended so did apartheid. Israel BTW did not cover itself in glory.

Palestinian plight

We have not been exactly helpful in arena where few have ever covered themselves with glory.

Easy enough to get worked up into a lather over any side.

killing of innocents to bring down Castro & Libya

True.

I mean, it goes on and on over, not one or two, but several sermons.

Just like you here? :-)

How do you explain how you presumably sat through such incendiary sermons

I sat through yours and even agree with much of what you say. I think you are probably a sincere and honest person.

Should I be ashamed? :-)

Best, Terry

I have no idea how this will affect Obama's run. The Obama camp used their best asset tonight. Obama's ability to communicate. I saw him with Olberman and on CNN. And also read his post on Huffington. All pretty much the same. Well composed, crafted and delivered.

I don't know guys. I am a Hillary supporter but couldn't help feeling some empathy for him having to go out there and publicly repudiate such remarks. Obama was clearly at a conflict having to separate Wright from his words. He had to come all the way around and say the truth, which is that race is an issue. This is something that the Obama camp has avoided during the campaign unless they could use it to their advantage by finger pointing at Hillary. If Hillary wins the nomination and this issue becomes one of the main reasons for the victory, it will be a bittersweet.

I take everyones point about McCain's endorsements.
But McCain's relationship with Hagee and Parsely is different from Obama's relationship with Wright. While all 3 preachers are equally controversial, Obama's relationship with Wright is more intimate and personal. I think that this will be a sore spot that reporters will pick at. Obama is at his best when he delivers statements and speeches. However, he looks a little uncomfortable and defensive when having to answer tough questions.

I was pondering the comment by radio host Taylor Marsh, who cautioned against holding Barack responsible for what his pastor says because, after all, we have cafeteria Catholics (I was one) and most people don't agree with everything their pastor or spiritual leader says.

The comment is gracious and fair, and yet it doesn't sit right with me. For what it may be worth, and based on my own experience, here's why: There's nothing that my pastor, Rev. Doug, says that I disagree with. I can assure you I'm neither sheep nor lemming, and never have been either. I've been attending my church since Sept. 2007, and not once have I heard Rev. Doug talk about politics--except to encourage us to vote--or address socio-cultural concerns, except to remind us that the church tithes 12 percent of our offerings to a different community group each month. Other than that, we just go about doing things that are civic minded and help the community.

What our Rev. talks about is the core principles of Science of Mind/Religious Science. Everything he says is constructive, positive, and uplifting. He shows us the tools we can use to connect to spirit and grow. He empowers with love, not hate. There's nothing he or any of the practitioners say that the old, young, middle-aged, white, black, Asian, Native American, East Indian, Mexican, GLBT, straight, mentally and physically disabled, Jews, Catholics, Hindu, Muslim, Protestant, etc., congregants can disagree with.

How can we disagree with teachings that are completely accepting and compassionate and inspiring and encourage us to see not only our own divinity (as a part of God) but to recognize it in others without exception? What a revelation it's been for me: I can go to a spiritual center that I'm completely in tune with, and it's safe to be so because there's absolutely nothing about its teachings that are detrimental to anyone. The Sunday service sets a positive tone for the week. And since I'm a person whose faith informs her, it's good to know that there's nothing about my religion that will hurt you.

That's the new standard for me.

On the other hand, Rev. Wright spews and instills hatred and bitterness. Just look at the two women congregants who were interviewed. Smile much? Obama says Rev. Wright inspires and motivates him. What does being moved and directed by a hate-filled "spiritual" leader say about Obama? That Obama dismisses him as an uncle who speaks inappropriately at times is even more troubling--unless, of course, Rev. Wright is Obama's uncle.

Now don't think I don't feel compassion for a man and a congregation who feel as hateful as they do at Obama's church. I don't hate back. But I do think it's fair to say that Obama's membership in such a church, with a pastor that preaches politics from the pulpit (unlawful for a tax-exempt org.) and spews ugly invective and loathing of this country, shows very bad judgment, indeed, and is a dealbreaker for the presidency.

I'd feel the same way about any candidate associated with a "church" like this one. Especially if that candidate presented him- or herself as a uniter and an agent of change and did not leave the church immediately after hearing this kind of hate speak. Therefore, no amount of denouncing on Obama's part could ever erase his church's effect on him.

And after last night's interview with Anderson Cooper, we know he lied. I'm sure he'll be spotted in the church on more than one of those taped sermons, and we'll find that it was the black liberation theology that drew him to the church in the first place.

Fine for a private citizen. Not okay for a would-be president of all the people.

Elysian,

I commend you for your very straight forward presentation of the situation. I don't have any easy answers, but I appreciate your intellectual honesty.

I am a devout Catholic and we believe that Jesus is a man of peace not hatred. Anyone who speaks of Jesus but spews hatred is not a follower of Jesus.

My wife used to go to one church every Sunday morning until we had a bad experience with the priest who criticized one of the churchgoers for singing the wrong song. That is enough for us to be biased against that priest. My wife and I never attended the services at that particular time since then. The priest didn't spew hatred, racism or even unpatriotic words. The mere fact that he didn't have finesse to criticize one of churchgoers was enough for us to be turned off.

I am not running for the highest office in this beloved land of ours but if my priest spews hatred against the same people that our God died for (Catholics believe that Jesus sacrificed his life for all mankind, not only whites or blacks), I have enough conviction and good judgment to determine that it is wrong and that the priest should be outright condemned even after his first sermon of hate and racism.

I have been reflecting on TerryHallinan's points (in his earlier posting here) about US being somewhat responsible for:

... US the number one killer, held US responsible for
AIDS/9-11/Mandela's imprisonment and apartheid/Palestinian
plight/killing of innocents to bring down Castro & Libya ...

I think we all agree that the AIDS issue is totally ridiculous. As for others, isn't TerryHallinan right?

Lost … in the wake of great controversy, in the emotion of hateful sentiments, and in the fear of “differences” (race, culture, gender, and religion) is a family … a father, a mother, and their two young children. I have poured over hundred of pundit blogs and citizen commentaries, and watched hours of media coverage only to be horrified beyond the harsh preaching of Reverend Jeremiah Wright. One blogger suggested that not only is Barack Obama not fit to serve in our government at any level, but that he is not fit to be a parent because he exposed his children to this one man.
Since the subject of this man’s offense is racist, bigoted, and anti-American, let’s consider some questions in that vein. How many children have witnessed lynchings where mobs of people cheered as the looked on at the actual physical brutality, not just what one is suggesting or imagines based on their own personal reality? How many children have witnesses lynchings where families cried for the quivering body of a father, a brother, a son (and yes sometimes a mother, a sister, a daughter), not just a picture in a book or story shared on the front porch? Both sets of children were exposed by their parents to fear, hatred, and even death.
Have you ever wondered why we have so many hyphenated Americans (Asian, African, Irish, Jewish, Native, Polish …)? When we seek to highlight our differences first and our Americanism second, is it any wonder that when pushed we all become anti-American? I just don’t see that this church affiliation sets the standard of fitness to be a governmental official, to be an American, or more specifically, a parent.
We currently are a part of a culture where parents have sex with their own children and/or step-children; where elected officials have sex with women who are not their wives, men who are openly homosexual, and paid professionals. We live in an age where children are exposed to drugs and violence at the hands of their own parents, teachers, and preachers. We live in a society where children kill other children by means of extreme rage and violence while living with parents who are so disengaged and unaware because of their own personal circumstances. Are these people fit to serve in our government, to be parents? How does membership in a church, tithing as is God’s command, and committing oneself personally and individually to God for ones own salvation make one unfit for public service or parenthood?
I do wonder who among those I have read from and listened to tonight have lied, made a questionable decision, joined a group in their community or neighborhood, listened to commentary that was different, either strongly or mildly, because it didn’t change your personal attitudes or opinions, etc? I know I have lied, I know I have made questionable decisions, I know that I attended a church for a number of years that had a message that I didn’t fully relate to, I know I have listened to off-color jokes (about women, race, sex) and foul language conversations and still haven’t denounced the speakers. I know I am a child of God, I know I am imperfect. I know with the utmost certainty, based on all humanity’s sinful nature, that I am fit to serve in public office should I so choose. I know with the utmost certainty, again based on all humanity’s sinful nature, that I am fit to be a parent. Most importantly, at this precise moment in time, during the “fierce urgency of now” … Barack Obama is fit for public service, fit for the presidency, and, above all else, fit to be a parent! Do they dare compare?
The mere mention of the "r" word has taken on a personality totally and completely foreign to us all. White people don't want to be called a racist because it implies some sort of acceptance of the horrific history of our American past. Black people don't want to be called a racist because it implies some sort of angry demand for reparation or affirmative action appointment for the horrific history of our American past.
The words “race, racist, racism, or racial” are emotionally powerful! It is real, alive, and now breathing … it is fearful, it is angry, it is hateful, it is hurtful, it is jealous. The use of the word "racist" is almost always being attributed to the speaker or author. The use of the word "racist" is rarely ever being attributed to the comments. The speakers, authors, pundits, and media persons have an extensive vocabulary and a command of language to understand how to properly use the words in correct form (either as a noun or an adjective) to discuss, in context, the racially-motivated or racially-charged or racially-biased statements / sentiments. Unfortunately, it is only after the fact, that the price of poor word choice begs vigorously for an apology that yields little because the passions have been so inflamed either positively or negatively that the gut reaction leaves no room for thoughtful response.
We have had alcoholic presidents (U.S. Grant, George W. Bush), adulterous presidents (Warren Harden, Bill Clinton), at least one corrupt president (Richard Nixon), and great presidents (Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt). Through it all America is still the best nation on Earth!
Being president is a job for a temporary season. Being a parent is a gift from God for a lifetime … period. Being humane towards our fellow man is a choice we will obviously struggle with through eternity.
Judgment is not ours! That day has yet to come. What is ours at this time is to choose a president, not a preacher; to choose a president, not a prize-fighter; to choose a president, not perpetual war; to choose a president, not pride, punishment, prejudice, or poverty.

This ends the ramblings of a grieving American citizen at a critical juncture in our nation’s future.

Let's face it, no matter what the analysis, for Obama to be connected to this reverend is just plain stupid if you want to win the presidency in this country.

I have read Obama's comment on HuffPost, read the transcript of his interview with Garrett, and seen his interview on KO.

I feel that Senator Obama has responded to the crisis and media onslaught with calm, dignity, and transparency.

Obama asks us to remember that a man or woman may do good works in some areas of life and be terribly flawed or lacking in others. I think here of the example of my own father, a wonderful father to me and a terrible father to an older half-sister, the victim in a bad divorce. Still, my father was a good man.

I think it is significant in this regard that Obama has compared Wright to an uncle. We all have family members whom we love, who have given us much, and who, at the same time, caused us pain, chagrin, and humiliation by some of their words or actions. We manage to forgive them. And we ourselves, of course, are the beneficiaries of such mercy.

Obama's response asks us not to assign guilt through association. To the best of my knowledge, Obama's entire public career repudiates the anger we have seen in selections drawn from Wright's sermons now being aired.

Why then the close and continuing association between minister and parishioner? Obama asks us to be able to understand historical context. Wright, he reminds us, came of age as an African-American man in the 1960s; he lived a life harder than Obama's and fought battles that Obama never had to fight. For this Obama is grateful. But that experience has left Wright and others of his generation full of anger. Obama understands the reality of that anger at the same time that he deplores it and suggests to all of us, black and white, that such anger will not solve our problems.

Will such an answer work politically? Obviously not with everyone. But I suspect it may with enough.

The important thing to remember is that Obama represents the new generation and Wright the old. The new generation does not feel the same anger and resentment as does the old. So Obama should be judged on the basis of what he says and not on the basis of what his pastor says.

Remember also this: Obama did not say he is proud and honored to receive his pastor's support. But McCain said he is proud and honored to get John Hagee's support. Guess who is being ferociously attacked in the media?

Bob