I Think I Understand Where Obama May Be Coming From

[Mike03]

This is in no way any excuse for the things Reverend Wright has said, and I've only heard a few of them; apparently there are other things that are inflammatory and offensive.

When I was in my late twenties, I had a powerful, charismatic person extend his hand to me and he became my mentor for about eight years. He was totally different from me. I am an agnostic, and he was a Catholic. I am a liberal Democrat and he was a Republican. We voted for different candidates. He made jokes about women that were offensive to me. But he did great things too. He attempted to help a black person start the first black-owned bank in Los Angeles. His family was wonderful, intelligent and kind. His wife loved Rush Limbaugh, but she would help anyone in distress that she came across.

Yet, this man had many things to teach me. He was soft, gentle, kind. He had suffered enormous tragedy. He had been in World War II. His friendship was one of the most important things in my life.

Obama is intelligent enough to accept a man from a former generation, flaws and all, and filter out what is helpful and useful and inspiring, and discard the rest. I wish Obama would articulate what he really feels about this situation.

It's possible to appreciate, even love, a person who holds diametrically opposed ideas. Especially when you are young and inexperienced. And then you get hooked, because you can't disown your mentor.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. The Wright thing is only a GOP (and their Hillary) smear on Obama

[Saturday]

3. The GOP, Hillary, ABC and that darn internet. They're all against Obama.nt

[cbayer]

5. Was that (and their Hillary) part really necessary to make your point?

It's offensive, patently untrue and obnoxious.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. they are eating out of the same trough

[emilyg]

6. You lost me at Hillary.

[sniffa]

7. go away

[emilyg]

10. all that love

[Saturday]

2. If you're in a one on one situation that's fine. But after you realize

your mentor has some offensive opinons you don't appoint him to the advisory committee of your Presidential election campaign unless his opinions agree with yours. Shows lack of judgement IMO.

[Rockholm]

4. If so, then why can't you accept what Gerry Ferarro said?

[RC]

9. Because what Ms. Ferarro said was truly reactionary for political purposes.

From where I stand out in the middle of Left field, Hillary and her supporters are mostly indistinguishable from the rabid right.

I would much prefer Edwards or even better Dennis, but Obama is all we have left and he is doing a good job of defending himself from the various "swift boaters" on both sides.

[cbayer]

8. Nicely said Mike.

We choose different people to play different roles in our lives. And I have more respect for people that surround themselves with people who's views may differ fom theirs, than those that surround themselves only with like minded people.

I don't agree that you get "hooked" and that you can't disown someone, but keeping them around for whatever purpose they serve is a deeply personal decision.