If you're an Obama supporter, the wisest course is to stop talking about Jeremiah Wright. Stop defending him, stop explaining him, stop applauding him, etc., etc. Move on to other issues.

Not a "must read" because few people who use a blog like this would not know about Tuskegee history.

The two first commenters are correct, your post is ridiculous and strikes this reader as making excuses for an conspiracy theory that has caused great problems with actual lives in Africa. It's going to get you nowhere to defend a preacher telling that conspiracy to his flock. It's outrageous and detrimental to his flock that he did so.

You really aren't doing Obama any favors with this sort of thing, quite the contrary. Sometimes I think that many of the so-called supporters of Obama on this site don't even know anything about him at all.

You would be better off putting up the following, althought that probably wouldn't make some lefties happy that he was hanging with Rick Warren and praising him and Sam Brownback and George Bush:

Race Against Time - World AIDS Day Speech Friday, December 1, 2006 Printable FormatRemarks of Senator Barack Obama 2006 Global Summit on AIDS and the Church Saddleback Church Campus Lake Forest, California

I want to start by saying how blessed I feel to be a part of today and how grateful I am for your church and your pastor, my friend Rick Warren.

Ever since Rick and Kay visited Africa to see the pain and suffering wrought by AIDS, the Warrens and this church have proved each day that faith is not just something you have, it's something you do. Their decision to devote their time, their money, and their purpose-driven lives to the greatest health crisis in human history is not one that's always reported on the news or splashed across the front pages, but it is quietly becoming one of the most influential forces in the struggle against HIV and AIDS. The resources of governments may be vast, and the good works of philanthropists may be abundant, but we should never underestimate how powerful the passion of people of faith can be in eradicating this disease.

One of those passionate individuals is the man we just heard from - my friend and colleague, Sam Brownback. Now, Sam and I may not agree on every issue, but I could not be more impressed with his efforts on issues like AIDS, the crisis in the Congo, the genocide in Darfur and sexual trafficking - issues that touch some of the world's most vulnerable people. I am proud to work with him on many of these issues, and I'm proud to be by his side today.

I took my own trip to Africa a few months ago. As I'm sure Rick and Kay would agree, it's an experience that stays with you for quite some time. I visited an HIV/AIDS hospital in South Africa that was filled to capacity with people who walked hours - even days - just for the chance to seek help. I met courageous patients who refused to give up for themselves or their families. And I came across AIDS activists who meet resistance from their own government but keep on fighting anyway.

[SNIP]

That's why it was so frustrating for me to go to South Africa, and see the pain, and see the suffering, and then hear that the country's Minister of Health had promoted the use of beet root, sweet potato, and lemon juice as the best way to cure HIV. Thankfully, the South African government eventually repudiated this, but it's impossible to overestimate how important it is for political leaders like this to set a good example for their people.

We should never forget that God granted us the power to reason so that we would do His work here on Earth - so that we would use science to cure disease, and heal the sick, and save lives. And one of the miracles to come out of the AIDS pandemic is that scientists have discovered medicine that can give people with HIV a new chance at life.

[SNIP]
Now let me say this - I think that President Bush and this past Congress should be applauded for the resources they have contributed to the fight against HIV and AIDS. Through our country's emergency plan for AIDS relief, the United States will have contributed more than $15 billion over five years to combat HIV-AIDS overseas....

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study is indeed an ugly part of the history of this country and one of the reasons for African-Americans' distrust and anger. The exposure of that atrocity, carried on in the name of science, happened in the 1970's and shocked most Americans. That, of course, does not mean that it was forgotten or forgiven by the African-American community. It was just one horrific example of living in a country that has viewed them as expendable, unimportant, less. So, I do understand why Rev. Wright is angry and I understand why he might, from time to time, let out that anger from the pulpit. But, is that anger productive? Does it produce some positive action?

From what I have read, Rev. Wright and his congregation have done some extroidinarily positive things in their community. That is to be applauded and pointed to as an example of how people can come together for positive change. But, how do the words we have heard on those videos help achieve those ends?

We all get angry at injustice and we all have times when we rant and rave at that injustice but, when the ranting is over, what have we accomplished? Granted, sometimes anger stirs us to action, but often it just generates more anger or it pushes us to actions that are counterproductive.

After that wonderful, moving speech given by Obama, I have only one question for him. What did you do to help move that congregational community past anger to positive action? I know what you have done yourself because I can see it and hear it in your campaign. But, what did you do in that church during those years? Did you use that great gift you have to try to bring about positive change? I do want to know.

Hello,

This study is well known to just about everyone with any knowledge of modern American history. It doesn't hurt to remind people of it, but this particular factoid has no real relation to the Wright controversy.

The development of Reverend Wright's theology is complex and does not owe anything particular to this study. If you seriously want to learn about the Reverend's theology, read James Cone's A Black Theology of Liberation. Also, listen to Mark Thompson's radio program Make It Plain on Sirius.

I'm not an Obama supporter, and I don't see how this controversy could in any way influence my belief that he is not the best candidate. But, at the same time, the uproar does highlight the latent racial prejudice that infects every part of modern American life. I am on the Reverend's side.

Thanks.

mp