One side damns Rev. Wright, the other side disses Obama

[RichardRay]

Another poster and I have both suggested that the Clinton's come out with statements supporting Reverend Wright. As far as I can tell, niether of us suggested that the Clinton's do this because Obama needs help.

I'm not talking about 'rescuing' Barack Obama, or 'tossing him a life ring', or 'cleaning up his mess'. I, at least, believe he will deal with this issue just fine, will go on the be the nominee and will be elected president. I am talking about Wright, Trinity church and its people. I believe strongly that anyone who takes the time to listen to this arc of what Wright has preached over the years, look into the actions of the church in its community and think about the experience of the people who worship there, such a person would determine that none of them deserve the treatment to which they are being subjected.

If there's someone here who thinks Barack Obama needs to be rescued by the Clinton's then I'm willing to let the process have its say about that - just don't heap calumny on a person, people and a church who simply do not deserve it.

Unless, of course, you do believe it. If you believe that Wright is a bad person and that his teachings are at least venal if not actually evil, if you believe that Trinity is a den of hate and that people who choose to go there are enabling awfulness, or if you believe that the people who go to the church are either complicit with those actions, or stupid, if you believe all of that, then go right ahead and dump on him, it and them. Just don't claim to do so under the banner of progressive politics or a concern for what's right, just or equitable.

[EFerrari]

1. That is what finally seems important to me -- the unjust and profound

disrespect not only of Wright but also of the people who built that church and who make it work every day.

[BenDavid]

2. Start with the reason he had to give this speech. Obama lied and

this speech is nothing more then to protect his own ass and hope this passes....I hope it stays with him and when he looks in the mirror obama realizes that big hole in his chest is the hole in his own soul because of the lies and alibies he has had to do during this campaign......

i have turned the other cheek on this obama fellow many times and the last time was in January when obama and his surrogates with a willing whoremedia accused the clintons of being bigots and racists. Well, it seems that to see the true race baiter and race card playing candidate then obama only need look in the mirror and that hole in his soul......

[movonne]

5. Race baiter hummmm...

[napoleon_in_rags]

3. Both of them should come out with statements on the race-baiting.

Obama should state that Ferraro has nothing to do with Clinton and that fixating on her doesn't move things forward, Clinton should state that fixating on Wright doesn't move things forward. They need to call this out as what it is: A media created fiasco designed to discredit them both.

[EFerrari]

6. Obama just did say fixating on Ferraro doesn't move us forward. n/t

[napoleon_in_rags]

8. Oh really? Good. Was it in his speech?

I haven't seen it yet, the Youtube version was down.

Regardless, it is very much Clinton's turn. Lets see if she rises to this occasion.

P.S. there is now a post below saying that Clinton DID already say that. Both of these candidates should drum this in to the media if they have too, and put all this junk to rest.

[EFerrari]

10. It was in his speech.

I won't paraphrase because I'll mash it. :)

[keep_it_real]

4. If Hillay said, the Wrightgate should be put to rest

That enough was enough on the issue that Obama has dealt with it sufficiently and that we should move on; if Hillary came out and said something like that she would get some respect back from the black community and the Obama campaign and America in general and I would damn well fall off my chair.

[robbedvoter]

7. She had said that - and refused to make any comments on the issue

Of course, nothing short of dropping out and defending BO 24/7 would be satisfactory to you - but than again, that's not the point here.
The point is she is not touching this.
Interestingly enough, Ferraro made her statements weeks ago, on an obscure local station and they had been made public only now, by BO's campaign. Why? I let you 'splain it.

[elixir]

9. I do claim under the banner of progressive politics that Wright's statements are inexcusable

Some of those comments were criminal and all the good actions in the world don't offset the anger and hate he is teaching in his church. Shame on him.

[RichardRay]

11. So, do you leave footprints in the water when you walk on it?

Or, do you just hover?

I guarantee that in the arc of your life you have said, done and felt things at least has questionable as Reverend Wright. Unless you're a) under the age of 3, or, b) an avatar of the bodhisattva of compassion.

No, I don't have to know you, or even have met you, or know a damn thing about you, to be able to say that. You're a human being living in the world. That's all it takes.

Thanks, you give me lots of material for my own practice; I'll work on it. I wish you luck with yours.

[monmouth]

12. Have you ever listened to that Donohue Catholic guy? Same

thing,different pew in my estimation. I'm Catholic but Donohue is someone I wish was of another religion.... Man's a fool.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. I could write a stirring

defense of Trinity UCC, but why? When Obama betrayed the teachings at that church and employed gay baiting hate preachers that Wright would detest, who preached open slander against an entire class of voters, he said the opinions of gay people are of no consequence to him, and he refused to apologize for what was said, and refused to even promise he will not host future events where one group of Americans is demonized by another. He has refused to do that. He has defended the worst of the Fundamentalist haters and told those they insult that we should get over it, he will always listen to the bigots, always have a place for them. He defened hate preaching. For months on end.
Trinity is a very inclusive church, and they are not bigots. I can not say the same for Obama, who has now fired Wright, who stands with me, while he retained McClurkin, who stood on Obama's own stage and used religion to divide, to slander, and to hold up a minority for ridicule. Obama never said it was a mistake, never apologized, and has reserved the right to continued use of such Rovian tactics.
He has refused to even promise that no American minority will be verbally assaulted at his Inaugural Evnets, refused even that.
Obama clearly has not learned the real lessons Wright teaches, of inclusion and knowlege and justice for all. Obama has given legitamacy to homophobic bigots, even while Trinity UCC mourned the murder of their gay choir director in Dec. Trinity organized vigils and marches against hate crimes, for he was one of two African American Gay Men murdered in Chicago that month. And Obama called homophobes 'good decent and moral people.' Even when they kill, Barack? Is that part good or is it decent? Moral in your book? Hate is never good. Words have consequences. Baiting bigots with minorities is always, always wrong, even with a cross, even when Obama does it.
He is not being honest about his own actions. Not at all.
The good people at Trinity UCC and certainly Jerimiah Wright will understand if I do not rush to defend them, lest I also seem to defend those that Obama supports, who are the enemies of my rights. Rev Wright would never ask me to defend a man who employs others to attack my kind, without apology, without so much as a sign of regret. Jerimiah Wright would know why I can not stand with McClurkin, too bad Obama does not get it.
The speech was nice today, but did not address the intolerance that is constantly coming from religion. Were it not for this preacher and that preacher, Obama would be golden today. Instead, he's tainted by McClurkin for many Progressives, and by Wright for many more conservative people. Wright does not hate. McClurkin does. Obama calls it faith and family. I call it hate and bigotry.
It is very much the martini glass calling the champagne flute gay, if you see what I mean.