Obama's pastor: Israel has right to exist

[oberliner]

WASHINGTON – Controversial Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who has been making headlines due to his ties with presidential candidate Barack Obama, spoke out on Monday as part of an attempt to clear his name, following the criticism roused by some of his statements.

During his talk, Wright denied comparing Israel's policies to apartheid, saying that former US President Jimmy Carter had made the connection, not him.

"My position on Israel is that Israel has a right to exist; that Israelis have a right to exist, as I said, reconciled one to another," he said during his address. "Palestinians and Israelis need to sit down and talk to each other and work out a solution where their children can grow in a world together and not be talking about killing each other; that is not God's will," he said.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3537156,00.html

[aquart]

1. Well, isn't he just the sweetest thing?

And, damn, I'm grateful to have his permission.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Well, I agree with him here (except for the 'God's will' part as I am not religious)..

but - and maybe this isn't really a topic for the I/P forum, why are his views seen in the media as so important? Israel's existence isn't going to be up to him. Do people really think that if Obama gets to be president, his pastor will determine his policies, or will be getting a role in his government? If so, then he shouldn't be president, whatever the current pastor's precise views. If not, then why are his views getting so much media attention?

[Shaktimaan]

3. He's Obama's pastor.

The assumption is that as Obama's pastor he had an enormous influence on helping him to understand, judge and perhaps even shape an opinion on matters. Even if he isn't influencing Obama now, people fear that his influence was formative.

Worse is the likelihood that Obama chose this particular church and pastor specifically because this guy's ideas appealed to him. If Obama sought him out because he wanted a church that reinforced his own beliefs then we can potentially learn a lot about Barak through the words of his pastor. Even if this is the case though, it's very likely that Obama sought him out for his positive qualities such as his deep commitment to civil rights rather than his tertiary connection to Farakkhan or any occasional fiery rhetoric condemning the united states.

I think it's safe to say that Obama probably doesn't condemn the U.S. But he's up for an important job so I'm all for the media digging deep through his closet and dragging out any weirdos. Better now by a democrat than later by McCain.

[pelsar]

4. Obamas pastor still "stinks"

i asked my mom if she would have stayed in the synagogue if a rabbi spoke like him...she said most likely he congregation would have thrown him out.. i asked the same of some non jewish friends..same response.

at best you can put it off to the black subculture of "fiery pastors" denouncing the "white person" and the establishment etc....but that doesnt work when the guy in the congregation is a "Ivy league school grad running for president....

__________

Hes what the blacks i grew up with would call an "oriole cookie"-black on the outside, white on the inside.....something stinks, either he is with the pastor or he's not and hes been "faking" it all these years to fit in....

[ProgressiveMuslim]

6. Spot on baby. You should have heard the speech to the NAACP

broadcast live on CNN.

SPOT ON.

[LeftishBrit]

5. I suppose it's just so different from the British system...

In the UK, if a political leader was thought to be strongly under the influence of any religious adviser - especially a specific individual preacher - in a political and not merely spiritual sense, then that *in itself* would be seen as an indication of unfitness for office. Regardless of the exact content of the preachers's beliefs. There would be references made to Rasputin, various cults, etc.

I doubt that Obama is under Wright's influence; but sometimes I'm startled at the extent to which religous preachers have an influence on politics and politicians in America, and the extent to which it's accepted and assumed that this will be the case.. I suppose you'd have the right to be similarly startled at the fact that bishops here sit in the House of Lords. (I oppose this - roll on COMPLETE separation of church and state!)

[azurnoir]

7. That situation exists here because in part

300 or 400 years ago you Brits had the wisdom and foresight to ship a goodly deal of your religious zealots west, perhaps America should keep up with tradition and ship ours west...... to China

:evilgrin:

[pelsar]

8. we got a ton over here...

that have to shipped out as well......(this place is a magnet for religious zealots)....but i'm easy, send em east, west, north or south.....just please get them out of here.