Obama's preacher didn't say anything all THAT bad...or that wrong.

[Ken Burch]

The man was using vivid rhetoric, as preachers are wont to do, to speak truth to power.

Why is it unacceptable to morally condemn the country when the country fails morally?

People who don't want to hear "America" ever criticized or questioned are incapable of having progressive views anyway, so we shouldn't bother with those limited soulless reactionaries. When the flag pin goes on, the heart permanently contracts.

There's no real story here.

[better tomorrow]

1. here's what I think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7irdvIQmTA

[cali]

2. Yeah, he said somethings that were wrong

not the condemnation of America for its treatment of minorities, but the attacks on Bill, Hillary and Natalie Hollowell were bad. If he wanted to criticize bill for his policies re AAs, fine, but to say bill screwed AAs the way he screwed Monica was gratuitious and nasty. To say that hillary had never been called a n***er while ignoring that she has been called a c**t and other demeaning names that are just as bad, omits half the story. To say that Hollowell more or less deserved it was disgusting.

And yeah, there's a story here. And it's a big one- much as I think a lot of it is manufactured.

[Demeter]

3. Ah, But We Don't Dare Speak Truth in Public

George might hear it.

[Ken Burch]

5. So what? The preacher didn't use small words.

n/t.

[Ravy]

4. Yes, it is amazing that Obama rejected and disassociated himself with those words. nt

[Captain Hilts]

6. Sorry, there's just no good way to say "damn the United States." nt

[pnwmom]

7. Yeah, unfortunately, that was crossing the line. But I agree that the rest of it

seems pretty much what you would expect -- in line with strong black preachers from the time of MLK, Jr.

[RaleighNCDUer]

17. Bullshit.

He did not say "damn the united states". He was employing contrast rhetoric: "Instead of saying 'God Bless America' we should be saying 'God Damn America'" and went on to expound on how America has failed those who are asking god to bless it, and why it deserves condemnation instead.

Not that it matters to anyone who only hears what they want to hear.

[Evergreen Emerald]

8. he said that aids was created by the government to kill black people

He said that Clinton cannot be President because she has never been called the N word. He has said some really stupid things.

[purji]

18. is the aids thing personal with you?

really i'm just asking cuz I have only been on Du for about 10 min and this is the second or third time you have brought that up.

[barack the house]

9. Pat Robertson has bashed America varius occasions on 911 and the like but no candidate denoucnes or

rejects. Obama has nothing to answer for the gult byassociation is fallicy. Many go to churches where the priest is inflamatroy from many race.

[easy_b94]

10. Some People can't handle the truth.

[jasmine621]

11. Thank you for your thoughtful post. In America, however, perception

is the only reality. And right now, the Rovian perception rules the day.

[goodhue]

12. Indeed

a mountain out of a molehill

[BigDDem]

13. Yep, didnt say anything bad

PLEASE take that message to PA and beyond!!
Spread the word!!

"God Damn America"

[NOLALady]

15. It's Wright's message that he shares with many

ministers, black and white.

I'm certain Wright has his counterparts, black as well as white, in PA.

But, the ministers aren't running for President.

If our nominee is destroyed, we can't blame the Republicans or Obama or HRC. We can blame ourselves for allowing non issues to divide us. I do not see Republicans eating their own about the McCain/Hagee connection.

[NOLALady]

14. There's a story about Wright and his views here.

Not so much a story about Obama and his views.

If they really want a rational story they could focus on why some men of his age think that the Government could be responsible for aids. They could focus on why some people feel like 2nd class citizens, angry and marginalized. They could focus on why some Americans are/were not aware of the perceptions of other Americans. They could see the sermon as a need for dialog and communication. They could recognize that it's time all of us work a little harder on realizing MLK's dreams.

This silliness can be turned into something positive and beneficial. But, positive is hard work. Negative is easy.

[Arkansas Granny]

16. The problem is not so much what he said, but how it will be perceived

by the Independent and Republican crossover voters that will be needed for Obama to win the GE. They already have doubts about his religion and patriotism and this just plays on those fears.