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Obama's Reverend Wright Press Conference
huffingtonpost.com — he denounces Wright....LET"S MOVE ON!
preneel- 1199 diggs
- digg it
- jforjools, on 04/30/2008, -47/+182Alright. Now can we get on to (no particular order):
gas prices? health insurance? housing market? Iraq soldiers who are killing themselves? something that might make my life (and yours) a little better? countless other relevant topics?- minox, on 04/30/2008, -51/+70No, because no one can possibly believe that Obama didn't know the nature of Wright's views for that period of time.
- jforjools, on 04/30/2008, -32/+27I disagree--but even if I didn't, who cares more about this than the list of RELEVANT issues?
- p0s3r, on 04/30/2008, -40/+41Obama's severe lack of a judgment is an amazingly relevant issue.
- compdude32, on 04/30/2008, -23/+15You can learn a lot about a person by who he associates with, the fact that Obama had a guy as wacko and anti-american as wright is as a friend shows a severe lack of judgement. Do you really want this guy dealing with foreign heads of state?
- archiesteel, on 04/30/2008, -12/+26First, Wright is no anti-american. The only persons believing this are right-wing nutjobs for whom the US can do no wrong.
Second, people are free to be friends with persons with whom they disagree. There was no lack of judgement on Obama's part. The fact that Republicans and Hillary supporters make such a mountain out of a molehill speaks volume about their inability to attack Obama on relevant issues. - sodade, on 04/30/2008, -9/+23Calling Wright a "severe lack of judgment" is ***** hilarious compared to Hillary and McCane supporting the Iraq fiasco. I am more interested in judgment where it directly relates to running the country. You idiots think that, because of the way that Bush pandered to the religious right, religion has something to do with running the country. You are very ***** wrong.
- Charlotte_Web, on 04/30/2008, -16/+12Yesterday, Obama said, "...[Wright] was never my, quote/quote, “spiritual advisor.” He was never my spiritual mentor."
However, in a speech a few months ago, Obama said, "And then I’ve got to give a special shout out to my Pastor. The guy who puts up with me, counsels me, listens to my wife complain about me. He’s a friend and a great leader not just in Chicago but all across the country"
And...
"I first met Rev. Wright when I moved to Chicago after college. And that’s where I met Rev. Wright and started going to Trinity United Church of Christ and he helped me on another journey and introduced me to someone named Jesus Christ."
Gee, Wright sure sounds like a spiritual advisor and mentor to me! - ensta2, on 04/30/2008, -5/+6You can tell a LOT about a person from the "little things". However keeping this man in his life... is quite beyond a little thing... this is very telling of Obama's character
- oldhick, on 04/30/2008, -40/+20I couldn't agree with p0s3r more... How is this not THE most relevant issue surrounding Obama. He's come out and denounced his spiritual adviser. The man that married him, baptized his kids, his mentor... What else must people find out in order to realize this guy doesn't know is ass from a hole in the wall?
- Murdats, on 04/30/2008, -8/+17it would still leave him more compentent then the other 2 choices.
remember this election is not about getting a good president, its about getting one less crappy then you have had for 8 years, the bar is set very very low. please this time actually get above it. - Stroggoth, on 04/30/2008, -9/+0BB for president. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gNJ1z-ulB4
- actorboy, on 04/30/2008, -11/+27"How is this not THE most relevant issue surrounding Obama. The man that married him, baptized his kids, his mentor"
So all those Catholics baptised, confirmed and ministered to by pedophile priests have poor judgement or, worse, are somehow pedophiles themselves? Do I show poor judgement or am I guilty of being a Republican because that's the party my best friend belongs to? Or am I more grounded because I listen to all sides of the debate before making up my mind as to what I personally believe?
Personally, I have a lot more respect for Obama because of this this. He tried to disassociate himself from a particular position without condemning the man. He tried to treat a differing viewpoint and its holder with respect to let that person maintain their dignity. Building bridges between opposing sides -- isn't that the message he's running on? Unity? A lesser politician would have immediately thrown such an association under the bus for their own political gain -- just look at how the Clinton campaign treated Bill Richardson. Richardson was a great man until he went for the other side, now he's Judas.
I have no problem with Obama -- he tries to listen every viewpoint and understand their foundations, he weighs those viewpoints against his own beliefs, and he considers consequences before making up his mind. It's called thinking before you speak.
Maybe the world you live in is a black and white one where every man is either purely good or purely evil. That's not the world the rest of us live in. I believe there is something we can learn from everyone -- even those we disagree with. - oldhick, on 04/30/2008, -19/+5@actorboy - the Catholic thing doesn't really apply unless... Certainly if the pedophile priest was your CLOSE personal friend, if he was your 20+ year spiritual adviser, if he was your mentor, then yes, those Catholics made some really, REALLY bad choices.
I'd have no problem with this story at all if Wright was JUST a minister at Obama's church.
But after 20 years of close friendship you just now realize you don't agree with your close friend... Thats ***** and you know it is. - compdude32, on 04/30/2008, -15/+3actorboy, one BIG difference between the Catholic pedophiles and Rev. Wright, and that is the Catholic priest didn't make their pedophilia public. Obama knew of Wright's stance on America and still chose to associate with him, that is a big problem.
And then you add in the way Obama has handled it and it shows even more key insight to the kind of person Obama is. He knew this person for 20 years and claims to have never heard any of his tirades, he claims he never knew Wright felt this way.
Either Obama is completely lying about that (which is likely) or he is extremely stupid. - archiesteel, on 04/30/2008, -3/+20Close friends disagreeing seems pretty common. Also realize that the controversial comments ascribed to Wright were not made 20 years ago.
For example, I'm friends with people who hold the delusion that free markets are actually stable, and are the solutions to all of society's problems (or almost). Should I stop being friends with them because we disagree on this fundamental notion? Of course not.
You guys have nothing on Obama, which is why you're hanging on to this like flies on a piece of turd. It's getting old, and won't mean anything come November. - kayala, on 04/30/2008, -5/+14Um, what? You spend months calling for the guy to denounce his spiritual mentor, and then you critcize him for it? Totally not a double standard there.
- OwdenBowden, on 04/30/2008, -10/+3@Actorboy
"So all those Catholics baptized, confirmed and ministered to by pedophile priests have poor judgment or, worse, are somehow pedophiles themselves? Do I show poor judgment..." In your statement you are comparing a pedophile (people who do evil things to children in secret) to a person out in the open that has chosen to listen to and believe in the comments and beliefs their CHOSEN spiritual leader. However in the case of Obama - it took him 20 years to figure out that he "doesn't have the same beliefs" as his CHOSEN spiritual leader.
Maybe I am losing my mind but if I walk into a place of worship several times a week and each and every time I keep hearing all this hate speech; and I do not protest what is being said / comment how wrong this type of thinking is; and then if I keep going to this church year after year - then I am what you call a Believer and a practitioner and follower of this chosen leader of mine.
BUT - if I go to this place of worship and after several visits I do not like what I am hearing - I do not believe what is being said to be true, and I do not voice my opinion; and I do not try to sway them all to the right path and I keep on with this house of worship only to leave it 20 years later when I am running for the most powerful office in the world - then I am still a BELIEVER and also a FOOL.
Obama is a believer in all that his spiritual leader has publically and privately stated. He is fooling only the idiots that call themselves "Obamacans" and himself; He has no judgment, no intelligence, no abilities and as such should not be elected into the office of the President of the United States of America
In the end it is Black, Grey, White and in Full color even
OBAMA LIES - lpse2000, on 04/30/2008, -2/+3@kayla
Obama only denounced his paster AFTER Wright said Obama said what he said because "he's just a politician" Obama wasn't offended when Wright attacked America, only when Wright attacked Obama. - germ5150, on 05/01/2008, -2/+0@actorboy
If those priests preach pedophilia from their pulpit and you as a Catholic listen to that garbage for 20 years then they should be held accountable. This was not some undercover hidden aspect of Wright's life, it was the focus of it. He included these quotes in his own promotional video. You are an idiot if you can not make that differentiation.
- Murdats, on 04/30/2008, -8/+17it would still leave him more compentent then the other 2 choices.
- didiman, on 04/30/2008, -27/+12Obama is either incredibly naive or, to use p0s3r's words, has a severe lack of judgment. In either case he is unfit to be president.
- Vermifax, on 04/30/2008, -3/+4He will be President.
- dOOBiEx213, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Unfortunately, the three stooges are ALL unfit to be president... but it's not like that's stopped anyone in the past.
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -15/+37This "judgment" issue is *****. He went to him for spiritual guidance, not political guidance. As a spiritual leader, he's been right all along. We should turn the other cheek. We should do justice. This is the religion.
Where in Obama's long track record of public service is there any evidence at all that he shares the paranoid politics of Rev. Wright?
I have a fantastic guitar teacher. I've learned a lot from him. He's also a racist. By taking guitar lessons from him, am I necessarily taking on his views? No. We can either see the good in people, or we can focus on the negative and shun everyone who isn't 100% in line with us. I'm not sure what that bizarre world looks like.
More practically speaking, there are lots of POLICY examples where Obama has shown excellent judgment: the Iraq war, Lieberman/Kyl, this gas tax holiday *****, his bill to put all legislation online to make gov't more transparent. Etc. Etc.
The fact is. You folks were never going to vote for him, and you're trying to whip up whatever FUD you can to scuttle his campaign. Well, it's working with the "down ballot" voters. They think he's a muslim with ties to terrorists...and they're also upset about what his Christian pastor said. So, essentially, you've fooled some of the people some of the time. And the rest of us get stuck with whichever candidate is most willing to lie and fearmonger and manipulate in order to get into office. And then you wonder why our gov't is corrupt and incompitent. In closing, I would just like to say: ***** you.- archiesteel, on 04/30/2008, -7/+16Excellent point. Too bad the anti-Obama zombies will digg you down instead of trying to argue your points in a rational manner...
- didiman, on 04/30/2008, -13/+5Actually the point was way off the mark. The catholic priests were not openly pedophiles so most the congregation did not know it was happening whereas Rev Wright's bigotry, anti-American, and completely insane remarks were made publicly. I guess your second brain cell isn't working correctly today.
- actorboy, on 04/30/2008, -4/+9@ didiman
Yet, the Catholic church has long been known to be harboring pedophile priests. It's obviously public knowledge or we wouldn't be talking about it here. Should all Catholics now denounce their church? Or is there not something to be gained regardless of the of the church's faults? - Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -3/+7@didiman: So you're completely ready to believe that a pedophilic priest showed no signs of molesting young boys over the years but absolutely cannot believe that Obama didn't see the remarks everyone's pissed off about that were in 2 or 3 sermons over the past 20 years?
- theycallmebubba, on 04/30/2008, -11/+3It would be a very, very long stretch to call that man a 'Christian' pastor. What you should have said is he's a 'Black Liberation Theology' preacher - which, as it turns out, is (like mormonism) nothing more than a skewed and flawed misinterpretation of what the Bible teaches, taking many things WAY out of context.
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -3/+2Mejari- These types of remarks weren't limited to two or three speechs. The following is a subsection of a comment made by Griberal on a different article:
He stayed in the church for twenty years because he believed what Reverend Wright was preaching. In Obama's book "Dreams of My Father", he quotes from the first sermon that he heard Wright preach. Also, Obama would later name his book "Audacity of Hope" after this sermon. So it's easy to see that this sermon had a major impact on his thinking and on his life. A quote from this sermon that was important enough for Obama to include in the book "Dreams of My Father" was "It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks' greed runs a world in need". So yes, he stayed in the church for all that time because he not only agreed with what Wright was saying, but it shaped him into the person that he is now. Obama is doing what he has to do politically to make this go away. - breezytrees, on 04/30/2008, -1/+4Are you religious wendelgee2? I don't think you fully understand the relationship a pastor has with his disciple. A pastor is not just a spiritual guide, but a guide in all things relating to life. He is your connection to God. He is the voice of God. He guides you in God's eye down the road of life, and keeps you on the moral path.
Reverend Wright, with messages like "White people purposely gave the AIDS virus to black people," does not preach the voice or message of God. He cannot possibly keep you on the moral path. To trust and believe that he will keep you on that moral path to heaven... and to do so for 20 years, is a severe lack of judgement. It makes me question Obama's own moral fiber. Anyone that is familiar with religion should and will question Obama's character as a result of his relationship with this man who calls himself a pastor... and you should too. If you still want to vote for him: Go for it. I voted for him in the primaries. Now i'm not so sure. No politician in the running is worthy of my vote currently. - breezytrees, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3Wendelgee2: Obama doesn't have any political history to base his political judgement off of. He has brought forth only two bills to senate in his entire career. This is all we have to base his political judgement on. All we have a glimpse of are the things he says... and yes... in that regard he does have good political judgement. I agree with the things he says. But I cannot say he has good political judgement, for what a politician says and what a politician does are completely different things.
- sodade, on 04/30/2008, -5/+2Wendelgee2 - thank you for that great post.
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -2/+4Beats workin...
- p0s3r, on 04/30/2008, -40/+41Obama's severe lack of a judgment is an amazingly relevant issue.
- dafragsta, on 04/30/2008, -16/+28Just like any number of people here probably have racist family members (who are a lot less distant than an unrelated preacher) but that doesn't make those people racist. No one person is responsible for what another person introduces into their environment. At best, they can only move away from that person.
- CabesMojo, on 04/30/2008, -10/+17Or wait 20 years until the rest of the nation finds out then move away.
- didiman, on 04/30/2008, -16/+20Your analogy is invalid. You can't choose your family members, you can choose your pastor.
- Kas70, on 04/30/2008, -9/+11And I suppose you have risen to the challenge and denounced every racist word you've ever heard come out of the mouths of friends, family, bosses, neighbors, and acquaintance alike...right? Surrre you have.
- purplelantern, on 04/30/2008, -3/+7No. But you shouldn't associate with them for 20 years.
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -2/+10No, but I also wouldn't refer to them as my mentors and advisers, use their quotations in my book and titles of their sermons as the book's title, and publicly defend them until the heat became too great then denounce them.
- Dibou, on 04/30/2008, -2/+6I say things to those I find racist or I don't approve of their behavior. If they don't change I don't associate with them anymore.
You can tell a lot about a person's character by the company they keep, and Obama's company does not look good. - sephiroth965, on 05/01/2008, -2/+1I'm in high school and I've actually got a good friend who's racist(Not "I wanna kill all the blacks." racist, more "Black people are stupid." racist). I know he's ignorant and he knows I think so, but really that's his one flaw and he really doesn't bring it up often because he knows it offends a lot of people when he says something racist. Aside from saying racist remarks once in a while he's really a great guy and a good friend. I don't blame him for being racist anyway, because it's really because of his upbringing around racist family members. He's a product of his environment.
@purpleplantern
Rev. Wright's racist remarks (alliteration wasn't on purpose) weren't made 20 years ago.
- rthakidn, on 04/30/2008, -5/+8For years, it has been acceptable practice to condemn a WASP male for associating with a racist organization, lets say a country club, now indeed, the chickens have come home to roost!!
- dafragsta, on 04/30/2008, -6/+9Correction. For years, it's been OK to be a WASP and be racist, just as long as no one else found out, and don't act like this is a double standard, because I've got two ***** words for you; Strom Thurmon. There is a bit of a difference between BELONGING to a racist organization and going to a church with a preacher who has "spells." It's also hard for a WASP to imagine what it must've been like growing up as a black man in the middle of the 20th century.
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -2/+6Strom Thurmon wasn't my senator nor did the majority of the country have an opportunity to vote for him. Obama is running for president of the country, not senator of one state, therefore your analogy is not valid.
- dafragsta, on 04/30/2008, -8/+1Are we splitting hairs to be petty? OK then, George W Bush. I'm sorry your Rush Limbaugh, Anne Coulter, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham claptrap has polarized you against anyone who doesn't believe the same way they do. There is another world where other people who aren't Republican can be forgiven for their vicarious relationships, which are infinitely less conflicting with their and our interests, and apparently you aren't a member of that population.
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -1/+7I consider myself Democrat, so don't consider me brainwashed by any of your examples. You say Obama should be forgiven for his vicarious relationship, yet you bring up Strom Thurman -- who is dead. Apparently you too don't believe in forgiveness if you're allowing a man's actions to follow him even after the grave.
- Nougat, on 05/01/2008, -1/+111oops: The difference here being that Strom actually spewed the vitriol, where Obama has not. Yes, in later years, Strom Thurmond recanted his earlier statements, but it's certainly a lot more difficult to believe in such a change from someone who *made* the statements than it is to believe that someone who *heard* the statements disagrees with them. Clearly so, I might add.
- compdude32, on 04/30/2008, -6/+7dafragsta, if I had racist family members, they certianally wouldn't be any sort of adviser for me. You can try to justify it however you want but the fact is Obama chose this man to be his spiritual adviser, he chose this man to marry him, after 20 years he still didn't see any reason to not associate with this man.
- rthakidn, on 04/30/2008, -0/+7This is known as cherry picking. Those who rationalize Wright's, and therefore Obama's behavior/reaction can try to draw distinctions between "Strom Thurman" and Jeremiah Wright, they can discount the inappropriateness of their attitudes based on upbringing or life experience, but it does not change the fact that they are fundamentally racist. Just out of curiosity, I'm surprised you raised Strom Thurman as your example, a deceased former Senator, instead of Robert Byrd a former KKK member yet active member of congress.
- pettdog78, on 04/30/2008, -1/+4And remind us again what Robert Byrd's chances are of getting elected as President of The United States of America??? Zero. That's what his chances are. We all know that if a racist KKK member or even someone who used to be a KKK tried to get elected he'd crash and burn in his first three months of running.
- rthakidn, on 05/06/2008, -0/+1Agreed, and therefore it is with some surprise Barrack Obama is still in the race, since he obviously was not offended by the racist/treasonist Jerimiah Wright for 20 years.
- Nougat, on 04/30/2008, -11/+20It's not black and white. You're not 100% in support of someone else and all they say and do, neither are you 100% opposed to someone else, and all they say and do. And over time, their positions can gradually shift, and your positions can gradually shift, which makes your approval vs. disapproval vs. indifference ratios wander around accordingly.
There are many reasons people go to a particular church, and the demeanor of the pastor is just one. A smaller one than you might think, I would argue. People stay in all sorts of communities for tradition, companionship, economics, protection - not just churches, but political parties, street gangs, secular charitable organizations, and social networking sites.
Insisting that Obama is guilty of supporting Wright until today or yesterday is like insisting that I think Kevin Rose is god because I visit Digg many times a day.- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -2/+4You don't come to Digg to hear Kevin Rose preach, however. You come to Digg for USER submitted articles and USER submitted comments. If Kevin Rose had a blog that you frequented which spewed remarks that could be considered racist or hatred than it would be a valid analogy
- Nougat, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Okay, then. Fair enough. Substitute "Kevin Rose" with "MrBabyMan."
- Dibou, on 04/30/2008, -4/+5On the contrary it is perfectly black and white.
Racism against whites is OK with liberals.
Racism against blacks is not OK with liberals or conservatives.- Kas70, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2rac·ism (rszm)
n.
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
Blacks *react* to (real or perceived) racism, they do not view others as inferior. On the contrary, they are always trying to affirm their good qualities to raise their collective self-esteem from an ingrained inferiority complex. - Nougat, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Kas70: That's quite the blanket statement you make there. Positive generalizations based on race are still generalizations.
- Kas70, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2rac·ism (rszm)
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -2/+4You don't come to Digg to hear Kevin Rose preach, however. You come to Digg for USER submitted articles and USER submitted comments. If Kevin Rose had a blog that you frequented which spewed remarks that could be considered racist or hatred than it would be a valid analogy
- flintmecha, on 04/30/2008, -3/+1Really? Because I can.
- mozert, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1Restrict trolling plz. Thanks.
- jforjools, on 04/30/2008, -32/+27I disagree--but even if I didn't, who cares more about this than the list of RELEVANT issues?
- fedupamerica, on 04/30/2008, -43/+26The only people who care more about the so called RELEVANT Issues are either Black or people who made donations to the campaign. It is very hard for any self respecting human to believe that Obama is just now aware of that pigs hate speak. It is also hard to believe that Obama doesn't believe some of it himself. Sorry. But it's true.
- Eezyville, on 04/30/2008, -13/+28So when someone addresses problems with our country its suddenly a hate speech?
- compdude32, on 04/30/2008, -13/+3Have you listened to any of Wright's comments, it isn't addressing problems, it is pure hate and lies.
- sodade, on 04/30/2008, -3/+15I am not a big Wright fan or anything, but the whole coming home to roost thing was pretty dead on IMO. You people are the next wave of McCarthyism. Good job ***** over all that America really stands for.
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -4/+3Obama denounced him, and claimed his comments were not representative to what he believed -- so whether or not YOU consider it hate speech, Obama apparently now does.
- Kas70, on 04/30/2008, -2/+3He considered it divisive, which it was.
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2OK, he didn't specifically use the words 'hateful'. Instead he used words like 'strongly ... and vehemently condemn,' 'offend all Americans,' 'destructive,' 'appalling,' and finally 'they also give comfort to those that prey on hate.' I'd say those words are equal to saying Wright's comments were hateful AND divisive.
- goomba323, on 04/30/2008, -12/+20And since when did Obama say he agreed with any of Rev. Wright's crazier statements? It's really ridiculous. You think if we elect Obama we would have an unpatriotic president? More unpatriotic than, say, our CURRENT president? C'mon, pathetic argument.
- compdude32, on 04/30/2008, -15/+2More unpatriotic than the current president?
You can say many things about Bush, but he is very patriotic, that is undeniable.- actorboy, on 04/30/2008, -2/+16Patriotism is not determined by how often you wave a flag and say America. Patriotism, like heroism, is determined by actions. To say I am a patriot then cut my country off at the knees to favor my rich corporate friends is not patriotism.
- Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -3/+11Depends on if your definition of patriotic includes 'sending off our fighting men and women to die in an unneeded war' and '***** over our economy causing rampant poverty'. Its people who think the only part of patriotism is wearing a flag pin that are flushing this country down the toilet. You can't just say you love your country or put a bumper sticker on your gas-guzzeling Mega-Ultra-Hummer, you actually have to do something to help this country, or at least not work actively against it like Bush has, then you can be called patriotic
- obliviousfool, on 04/30/2008, -3/+9@compdude32, BWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA-Ha-HAAAAAAAAA!!!
- notoneofus, on 04/30/2008, -2/+6@compdude32: No, he's jingoistic.
- compdude32, on 04/30/2008, -15/+2More unpatriotic than the current president?
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -6/+17I would like to see evidence in any of his actions, or his speeches, or off-the-cuff comments, or his 2 books, that he believes any of Wright's paranoid views. Bring the evidence.
- sodade, on 04/30/2008, -4/+12You were dugg down because they have none.
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -3/+2And I'm being dug down why then? Because I have some?
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -5/+5Here's your evidence, including the TITLE of one of his books.
In Obama's book "Dreams of My Father", he quotes from the first sermon that he heard Wright preach. Also, Obama would later name his book "Audacity of Hope" after this sermon. So it's easy to see that this sermon had a major impact on his thinking and on his life. A quote from this sermon that was important enough for Obama to include in the book "Dreams of My Father" was "It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks' greed runs a world in need". So yes, he stayed in the church for all that time because he not only agreed with what Wright was saying, but it shaped him into the person that he is now. Obama is doing what he has to do politically to make this go away.- Kas70, on 04/30/2008, -4/+1Black people talking about white people and their researched differences and historical relationship is not "hate speech".
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -2/+4He simply asked for proof that any of Wright's views entered into any of Obama's speeches or books. I have provided that proof per his request. And I'd say that 'White man's greed' is as generalized and hateful as me saying 'black man's laziness'.
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -2/+3These are again, Jeremiah Wright's words.
Here are Obama's words just after that passage:
"I heard something else; at the foot of the cross, inside the thousands of churches across the city, I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh, the Christians in the lion's den, Ezekiel's field of dry bones. Those stories--of survival, and freedom, and hope--became our story, my story; the blood that had spilled was our blood, the tears our tears; until this black church, on this bright day, seemed once more a vessel carrying the story of a people into future generations and into a larger world. Our trials and triumphs became at once unique and universal, black and more than black.
So, there you have it. That's how a half-white/half-black man, sitting in a black churching listening to a preacher decry 1/2 of you deals with it. You see it branching out to the rest of the world. In his view, black means anybody who is having a hard time. Who has been cheated by the system. It's not about color, it's about class, and power.
Now, unless you're going to actually read the damn book, get its full meaning, and report back on how Obama responded to those words, I suggest you put away your out of context quotes. There's so much nuance in this book in his relationship with Wright, in his personal relationship with the faith and the church. So much that he disagrees with. So much diversity of opinion that he reports within the church. So many times that he reshapes the message. You can't capture that nuance with a soundbite. Our roots, all of us, they're complicated.
- OralCavity, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3if the word "white" was not in that sentence, would it be any less true?
- Kas70, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3@ 11oops
Do and have white people run this country from its inception? Have they benefited from that arrangement and sought to keep others out of the process and power structure? That sounds an awful lot like "white man's greed".
- Kas70, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3@ 11oops
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3Just one more thing, 11oops. I actually do appreciate you presenting that quote as evidence. I'm hoping you'll stick around to answer one last question...I hope I didn't snap at you too much in my response to you before...Digg, it makes folks less than civil. Anyway. I'm wondering what you are afraid he will do once he's in office. If he does harbor some of the same resentment of whites that Wright does (though, being 1/2 white, that wouldn't really make sense), then what policy proposals do you think he'll cook up to act out that hatred? I guess my question is, what does all of this have to do with anything?
- Dibou, on 04/30/2008, -3/+2Typical white person.
I can't disown Wright anymore than the black community.
A domestic terrorist is morally equivalent to a US Senator with whom he disagrees.
He had a CLOSE, PERSONAL relationship with Wright for 20 YEARS!
And that is just off the top of my head.- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2So his plan is to get into office, and then what? Enslave white people for revenge? What the hell are you scared of?
- fedupamerica, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1I think what he is scared of is electing a man that has far to little experience and a history of exercising very poor judgment. That in and of itself is scary.
- InnerRayg, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Fedup, I can grant you there is an argument for poor judgement, but not experience. He's been in politics for some eight years now at the very least, and before that taught constitutional law. You don't have to vote for the man, but at least give him credit where he deserves it.
- fedupamerica, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I can give him credit for 5 years in DC, but I can't agree with the idea that he has enough experience to be a President in this day and age. The world is a crazy place now, and it requires someone who has at least run something more than Project Vote Smart.
- sodade, on 04/30/2008, -4/+12You were dugg down because they have none.
- lhbaker, on 04/30/2008, -4/+6Of course he's aware. Rev. Wright has a Constitutionally guaranteed right to think and say whatever he wishes. I'm not sure I see the problem with that. You can agree or not, but for you to assume that Obama is secretly racist because he's black (why did you capitalize that, anyway?) makes YOU the racist. Sorry, but it's true.
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -1/+1He's only 1/2 black, and his Kenyan father left when he was young, so he was raised by his white single mother and her family. So, if he's racist, he's racist against his own family...which makes no damn sense.
- Laughsatyou, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1typical black father.
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -1/+1He's only 1/2 black, and his Kenyan father left when he was young, so he was raised by his white single mother and her family. So, if he's racist, he's racist against his own family...which makes no damn sense.
- Eezyville, on 04/30/2008, -13/+28So when someone addresses problems with our country its suddenly a hate speech?
- NightVortez, on 04/30/2008, -11/+25I agree, in fact, with all politicians, instead of building a smear campaign based off something personal not mentioned in the past, or a white lie to make a story seem entertaining, lets, if you have to, build a smear campaign based off their political positions.
I'm sick of the media when discussing a candidate mentioning things such as race, age, sex, their [non-political] history, their personal life ect. a lot more then their political position.- jakeson2, on 04/30/2008, -17/+4nightvortez says that as long as it is HI|S candidate in trouble. When it is a conservative he calls in people like DAN RATHER. Besides who reads that radical crap on the huff-puff post blog?????
- Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -2/+5Obama would love nothing more than to debate on the issues, because if people forgot all this stupid crap, there's no way anyone else could compete. he is the clear winner in policies over McCain and Hillary, but thanks to 'He's actually a racist' and 'He's a Muslim and a terrorist' and 'OMG No flag pin!' he has to waste his time defending himself against retarded attacks. So, if you can get McCain, Hillary, and the media to stop with the personal attacks all around I'm pretty sure Obama wouldn't mind a bit.
- NightVortez, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2You do realize my candidate (out of the ones running) is McCain, and that the comment was directly aimed at Clinton and digg's multiple accusations of her.....
"white lie to make a story seem entertaining" was suppose to be the story about how she lied about the Bosnia fire.
I'm actually disappointed that no one got that and that I didn't get buried right off the bat. - InnerRayg, on 05/01/2008, -1/+2I caught it-you have a good point. The sniper story is good for a joke, but it's not a huge campaign issue. I don't consider Wright that big of an issue either, but that's my own thing.
Now, there are legitimate questions about Clinton...that whole Canadian fiasco, that was directly tied to her policies and I would have liked to see more explanation. I agree there is no real threat of job loss from Canada, but if we're going to keep strong with Canada in our NAFTA agreement I would like her to be honest about it.
- Dibou, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4How about we talk about how Obama wants to raise capital gains taxes even though it will LOWER tax revenue because he thinks it is "fair"?
- jakeson2, on 04/30/2008, -17/+4nightvortez says that as long as it is HI|S candidate in trouble. When it is a conservative he calls in people like DAN RATHER. Besides who reads that radical crap on the huff-puff post blog?????
- tellahoohooo, on 04/30/2008, -12/+11but first...where did he get that suit, how much does his hair cut cost, what does he eat for breakfast...
honestly i think he only got the sound bites from wrights press conference, if he actually watched it or read the transcript he would see..
Wright is a showman, he's a preacher, he's got an answer for everything and he doesn't need others to write it for him.
watching obama denounce him, simply ridiculous...it was exactly as wright said, he must distance himself from me politically.- jakeson2, on 04/30/2008, -11/+10Wright is also a radical purveyor of racism, and anti-Semitic radicalism. He is now trying very hard to present himself as a nice guy. His whole church as some others in the black community exists only to promote more and more feelings of victimization of the parishioners. That is not what Church is for. We know that because of the Radical Muslim movement. Just look how it affected Michelle Obama. She, in spite of her and her husband making 9 MILLION dollars last year, now, now at long last is finally proud of her country. NOW FIRST??? NOW AT LAST???? Perhaps she came to that proud realization so late in life because of the rantings of Mr Wright.
- sodade, on 04/30/2008, -4/+4She is finally proud of her country because she thinks that America has passed beyond it's racist roots. Too bad she is probably wrong...
- staticneuron, on 04/30/2008, -3/+3I am not big into religion but when Wrights and his church's efforts make it onto frontline news as a positive story, something about this mud slinging reaks. His church (which does have White, latin, indian and various other races attending) does seek to have more of a positive influence over the black community. His church tries to provide role models and to elevate the mindset of some of the misguided youth out there. One person making money doesnt speak volumes. Throwing money at a quagmire doesn't help. The church is aimed to fix the community by changing the mindset and behaviors of the youth first.
- Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -4/+2So wait, you can only be proud of your country when your husband makes 9 million dollars? Or maybe, just maybe, it takes more than money to be proud of something. Maybe it takes the knowledge that we as a nation might possibly be able to put aside the stupid things that divide us and come together to make our country better. Nah, you're right, what a bitch for not just shutting up and going to spend her 9 mil at the mall.
- jakeson2, on 04/30/2008, -11/+10Wright is also a radical purveyor of racism, and anti-Semitic radicalism. He is now trying very hard to present himself as a nice guy. His whole church as some others in the black community exists only to promote more and more feelings of victimization of the parishioners. That is not what Church is for. We know that because of the Radical Muslim movement. Just look how it affected Michelle Obama. She, in spite of her and her husband making 9 MILLION dollars last year, now, now at long last is finally proud of her country. NOW FIRST??? NOW AT LAST???? Perhaps she came to that proud realization so late in life because of the rantings of Mr Wright.
- RepubOperative, on 04/30/2008, -36/+17Quit picking on Baararaaaaaak Obaaaama. Baaaaaaaawl. Let him hang out with his racist black supremecist friends! Bwwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Quit picking on Barack Obama.....let them tell their racist stories in church! Quit picking on Barack Obamaaaaaaaaa. Cry Cry Cry............
- didiman, on 04/30/2008, -24/+9Well liberals are only good at one thing, and that's whining.
- Murdats, on 04/30/2008, -7/+8who is whining about liberals here?
- 47f0, on 04/30/2008, -3/+4Dildoman, seems like you and your playmates are the squeaky wheels on the whine-wagon. Grow up a little, and realize that the phony flag-waving, lapel-pin, neo-con faux patriots are about to get a wakeup call.
Good Morning - we are Americans - we'll be taking our country back now, thank you.. - InnerRayg, on 05/01/2008, -2/+1Trolls are trolls. There were several intelligent responses to the Wright controversy almost directly above you, and they were from Conservative Republicans. Please take note from your more intelligent friends and do unto others as you would onto you.
- dafragsta, on 04/30/2008, -9/+17It must be nice to get to say that after all of these past 8 years. How much whining and complaining have your patriotic elephant cohorts done over the shots taken at Bush and Cheney, who actually are racist and elitist. What good has Bush done for the people who defend him? How much bipartisan hope has he doled out in his time?
- RepubOperative, on 04/30/2008, -10/+4Did you say RACISM AND ELITISM! That would be Democrats that you are talking about....not Republicans. More Democrats than Republicans are racists BY FAR.
Jesse Jackson's 'Hymietown' Remark – 1984
Feeding Frenzy Rev. Jesse Jackson referred to Jews as "Hymies" and to New York City as "Hymietown" in January 1984 during a conversation with a black Washington Post reporter, Milton Coleman. Jackson had assumed the references would not be printed because of his racial bond with Coleman, but several weeks later Coleman permitted the slurs to be included far down in an article by another Post reporter on Jackson's rocky relations with American Jews.
A storm of protest erupted, and Jackson at first denied the remarks, then accused Jews of conspiring to defeat him. The Nation of Islam's radical leader Louis Farrakhan, an aggressive anti-Semite and old Jackson ally, made a difficult situation worse by threatening Coleman in a radio broadcast and issuing a public warning to Jews, made in Jackson's presence: "If you harm this brother [Jackson], it will be the last one you harm."
Finally, Jackson doused the fires in late February with an emotional speech admitting guilt and seeking atonement before national Jewish leaders in a Manchester, New Hampshire synagogue. Yet Jackson refused to denounce Farrakhan, and lingering, deeply rooted suspicions have led to an enduring split between Jackson and many Jews. The frenzy also heightened tensions between Jackson and the mostly white establishment press.
-------------------------------------
"This is a white man's country, and will always remain a white man's country."
--Rep. James F. Byrnes (D., S.C.), 1919
Appointed to the Supreme Court by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941
Appointed Secretary of State by Harry S. Truman in 1945
"Slavery among the whites was an improvement over independence in Africa. The very progress that the blacks have made, when--and only when--brought into contact with the whites, ought to be a sufficient argument in support of white supremacy--it ought to be sufficient to convince even the blacks themselves."
--William Jennings Bryan, 1923
Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, 1896, 1900 and 1908
Appointed Secretary of State by Woodrow Wilson in 1913
His statue stands in the U.S. Capitol.
"Anyone who has traveled to the Far East knows that the mingling of Asiatic blood with European or American blood produces, in nine cases out of ten, the most unfortunate results. . . . The argument works both ways. I know a great many cultivated, highly educated and delightful Japanese. They have all told me that they would feel the same repugnance and objection to have thousands of Americans settle in Japan and intermarry with the Japanese as I would feel in having large numbers of Japanese coming over here and intermarry with the American population. In this question, then, of Japanese exclusion from the United States it is necessary only to advance the true reason--the undesirability of mixing the blood of the two peoples. . . . The Japanese people and the American people are both opposed to intermarriage of the two races--there can be no quarrel there."
--Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1925
President, 1933-45
"This passport which you have given me is a symbol to me of the passport which you have given me before. I do not feel that it would be out of place to state to you here on this occasion that I know that without the support of the members of this organization I would not have been called, even by my enemies, the 'Junior Senator from Alabama.' "
--Hugo Black, accepting a life membership in the Ku Klux Klan upon his election to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat from Alabama, 1926
Appointed to the Supreme Court by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937
"Mr. President, the crime of lynching . . . is not of sufficient importance to justify this legislation."
--Sen. Claude Pepper (D., Fla.), 1938
Spoken while engaged in a six-hour speech against the antilynching bill
"I am a former Kleagle [recruiter] of the Ku Klux Klan in Raleigh County. . . . The Klan is needed today as never before and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia. It is necessary that the order be promoted immediately and in every state in the union."
--Robert C. Byrd, 1946
Democratic Senator from West Virginia, 1959-present
Senate Majority Leader, 1977-80 and 1987-88
Senate President Pro Tempore, 1989-95, 2001-03, 2007-present
His portrait stands in the U.S. Capitol.
President Truman's civil rights program "is a farce and a sham--an effort to set up a police state in the guise of liberty. I am opposed to that program. I have voted against the so-called poll tax repeal bill. . .. I have voted against the so-called anti-lynching bill."
--Rep. Lyndon B. Johnson (D., Texas), 1948
U.S. Senator, 1949-61
Senate Majority Leader, 1955-61
President, 1963-69
"There is no warrant for the curious notion that Christianity favors the involuntary commingling of the races in social institutions. Although He knew both Jews and Samaritans and the relations existing between them, Christ did not advocate that courts or legislative bodies should compel them to mix socially against their will."
--Sen. Sam Ervin (D., N.C.), 1955
Chairman, Committee on Government Operations, 1971-75
"The decline and fall of the Roman empire came after years of intermarriage with other races. Spain was toppled as a world power as a result of the amalgamation of the races. . . . Certainly history shows that nations composed of a mongrel race lose their strength and become weak, lazy and indifferent."
--Herman E. Talmadge, 1955
Democratic Senator from Georgia, 1957-81
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, 1971-81
"These Negroes, they're getting pretty uppity these days and that's a problem for us since they've got something now they never had before, the political pull to back up their uppityness. Now we've got to do something about this, we've got to give them a little something, just enough to quiet them down, not enough to make a difference. For if we don't move at all, then their allies will line up against us and there'll be no way of stopping them, we'll lose the filibuster and there'll be no way of putting a brake on all sorts of wild legislation. It'll be Reconstruction all over again."
--Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson (D., Texas), 1957
"I have never seen very many white people who felt they were being imposed upon or being subjected to any second-class citizenship if they were directed to a waiting room or to any other public facility to wait or to eat with other white people. Only the Negroes, of all the races which are in this land, publicly proclaim they are being mistreated, imposed upon, and declared second-class citizens because they must go to public facilities with members of their own race."
--Sen. Richard B. Russell Jr. (D., Ga.), 1961
The Russell Senate Office Building is named for him.
"I did not lie awake at night worrying about the problems of Negroes."
--Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, 1961
Kennedy later authorized wiretapping the phones and bugging the hotel rooms of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"I'm not going to use the federal government's authority deliberately to circumvent the natural inclination of people to live in ethnically homogeneous neighborhoods. . . . I have nothing against a community that's made up of people who are Polish or Czechoslovakian or French-Canadian or blacks who are trying to maintain the ethnic purity of their neighborhoods."
--Jimmy Carter, 1976
President, 1977-81
Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, 2002
"The Confederate Memorial has had a special place in my life for many years. . . . There were many, many times that I found myself drawn to this deeply inspiring memorial, to contemplate the sacrifices of others, several of whom were my ancestors, whose enormous suffering and collective gallantry are to this day still misunderstood by most Americans."
--James Webb, 1990
Now a Democratic Senator from Virginia
"Everybody likes to go to Geneva. I used to do it for the Law of the Sea conferences and you'd find these potentates from down in Africa, you know, rather than eating each other, they'd just come up and get a good square meal in Geneva."
--Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D., S.C.) 1993
Chairman, Commerce Committee, 1987-95 and 2001-03
Candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, 1984
"I do not think it is an exaggeration at all to say to my friend from West Virginia [Sen. Robert C. Byrd, a former Ku Klux Klan recruiter] that he would have been a great senator at any moment. . . . He would have been right during the great conflict of civil war in this nation."
--Sen. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.), 2004
Chairman, Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, 2008
* "You cannot go into a Dunkin' Donuts or a 7-Eleven unless you have a slight Indian accent."
* "My state was a slave state. My state is a border state. My state has the eighth largest black population in the country. My state is anything [but] a Northeastern liberal state."
* "I mean, you got the first mainstream African American [Barack Obama] who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice looking guy."
* "There's less than 1% of the population of Iowa that is African American. There is probably less than 4% or 5% that is, are minorities. What is it in Washington? So look, it goes back to what you start off with, what you're dealing with."
Sen. Joseph Biden Jr., (D., Del.), 2006-07
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, 1987-95
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations
Candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, 2008
- RepubOperative, on 04/30/2008, -10/+4Did you say RACISM AND ELITISM! That would be Democrats that you are talking about....not Republicans. More Democrats than Republicans are racists BY FAR.
- didiman, on 04/30/2008, -24/+9Well liberals are only good at one thing, and that's whining.
- jbenson2, on 04/30/2008, -38/+39Problem is all of the topics will become "distractions" if you ask the O-man a tough question.
Sheeple: So Obama what do you bring do this presidency
Obama: Hope
Sheeple: Can you elaborate?
Obama: Hope for change
Sheeple: Yes, yes, we know you want change but what kind of change?
Obama: The kind of change you can hope for.
Sheeple: What change?
Obama: Hope for change!
Sheeple: I'm sorry I just don't understand what change you bring that some other candidate can't offer.
Obama: This debate is becoming another "distraction".- marmanukem, on 04/30/2008, -18/+18http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForCh ...
Read it, stop being ignorant.- jbenson2, on 04/30/2008, -18/+10Summary of the O-man's position
"I'm voting for Barack Obama."
"Why?"
"He's the only candidate who can really change this country."
"Change it into what?"
"A country full of hope."
"Hopeful for what?"
"Change"- actorboy, on 04/30/2008, -8/+18"How do you respond to an Obama supporter?"
"Copy/paste fake dialogue."
"What if they produce facts?"
"Copy/paste fake dialogue."
Okie, got it. But what if they link to his platform to call ***** on your assertion that he has none?"
"Copy/paste fake dialogue."
Example: http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Frank_Schaeffer_ ...
- actorboy, on 04/30/2008, -8/+18"How do you respond to an Obama supporter?"
- snotrokit, on 04/30/2008, -5/+7go back to writing for Hillary. It is very clear by your statements that you fail to comprehend what you read.
- Treoinmypocket, on 04/30/2008, -1/+8I've read it. Have you?
There is no substance in that plan and most of it is unattainable nonsense. He addresses specific topics but every solutions is "will create", "will make sure", "will work for".
Nothing about how to fund any of that. Nothing about how much that will cost. More importantly his plans show a complete ignorance of the impact these costly solutions will have.
Platitudinous nonsense.
And since you introduced his grand plan. Let me ask you about universal healthcare that is going to rescue 47.5 million uninsured (including 9 million children). Do you know where that number comes from or do you just accept it? Because it comes from a very specific government report. the Census Bureau's 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC),
And that report spells out some uncomfortable specifics for the universal healthcare banner wavers:
1) its was corrected to 44.8 million ( or 15.3% of the population) shortly after its initial publication.
2)44.8 million Americans isn't 44.8 million actual American citizens...9.2 million of these are non citizens. So now we're talking 35.6 million AMERICAN CITIZENS or 12.3% of the population
3) of the 35.6 million American citizens w/o healthcare 18 million of those are between jobs and uninsured for a year or less according to the report.
4) 17.5 million America citizens or 6% of the population - not 47.million people or 15.3% - are chronically uninsured.
That is one hell of a big difference and do you think that 14 out of every 15 people in this country should have their healtcare costs go UP to cover the 1 out of every 15 who needs help?
I don't. I think we can help that 6% without screwing everyone else.- Fragger404, on 04/30/2008, -1/+4If I could digg you up 100 times I would. It royally pisses me off when people bandy about that 47 million figure without realizing what that number means and how it breaks down
- Laughsatyou, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2+1
- InnerRayg, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2WTF? Intelligent criticism of Obama? What is this world coming to?
You make a good point, and I will look over the plans again tonight. Take note Digg: This is how you change opinions, not fervent and pointless yelling.
~Obama supporter
- jbenson2, on 04/30/2008, -18/+10Summary of the O-man's position
- dafragsta, on 04/30/2008, -8/+6You fail at listening comprehension.
- lhbaker, on 04/30/2008, -3/+4So you make your point by inventing a dialogue that never took place?
- joe122370, on 04/30/2008, -5/+4that's exactly all Obama ever says. He's gonna be a different politician except for lying about how he feels about white folks and then defending his pastor and then denying him 2 days later.
- Kas70, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2He's half white, so he's "white folks" himself.
"2 days" - WTF??
So you are a ridiculous rock that doesn't adjust his position in light of new evidence? You still think Iraq has WMD's don't you?- Fragger404, on 04/30/2008, -4/+2If it took him 20 years to realize that his pastor is a racist prick then he's too dense to get my vote
- Kas70, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2He's half white, so he's "white folks" himself.
- tyho, on 04/30/2008, -2/+4CAN I JUST EAT MY WAFFLES PLEASE!
- mozert, on 05/01/2008, -2/+1Dude, you have eaten a clown or what
- marmanukem, on 04/30/2008, -18/+18http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForCh ...
- IanRReardon, on 04/30/2008, -17/+32If this was McCain you wouldn't be saying move on, it would be all over the front page for days. The liberal bias and double standard on here is crazy.
- johnhummel, on 04/30/2008, -10/+17Considering that the man that McCain sought the endorsement of, Reverend Hagee, has said that Katrina was a punishment of God upon New Orleans for holding a parade, and that the Catholic Church was the Great Whore - for some reason, it hasn't hit anything front page.
Obama's former pastor sayiing he thought Farrakhan was a great guy? Front page for almost two months now. Yeah - keep telling us it's a "liberal" media.- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -5/+4Cite a source that confirms McCain SOUGHT that specific endorsement.
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -1/+5Via ABC:
STEPHANOPOULOS: So was it a mistake to solicit and accept his endorsement?
MCCAIN: Oh, probably, sure. […]
STEPHANOPOULOS: So you no longer want his endorsement?
MCCAIN: I’m glad to have his endorsement. I condemn remarks that are, in any way, viewed as anti-anything. And thanks for asking.
or:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/02/29/mccain-he ...
On Thursday John McCain welcomed the endorsement of John Hagee, but a day later the Arizona senator sought to maintain some distance from the evangelical leader after the Catholic League and the Democratic National Committee called on McCain to denounce his support, citing controversial remarks Hagee has made in the past on a variety of subjects. - johnhummel, on 04/30/2008, -0/+5http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/mega ...
"Mr. McCain, who has been on a steady search for support among conservative and evangelical leaders who have long distrusted him, said he was “very honored'’ by Mr. Hagee’s endorsement. Asked about Mr. Hagee’s extensive writings on Armageddon and about what one questioner said was Mr. Hagee’s belief that the anti-Christ will be the head of the European Union, Mr. McCain responded that “all I can tell you is that I am very proud to have Pastor John Hagee’s support.'’"
Ahhh - but did he *seek* the endorsement?
According to Hagee, yes: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/artic ...
"n an interview that will appear in this Sunday's New York Times Magazine, controversial televangelist Rev. John Hagee declares, "It's true that [John] McCain's campaign sought my endorsement."
McCain has attempted to distance himself from some of Hagee's views, much as Barack Obama is doing in relation to Rev. Jeremiah Wright. But unlike McCain, Obama has not stood on stage with Wright and accepted his accolades this year."
So how does this square with Hagee calling the Catholic Church the Great Whore? According to McCain: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/11/mccain-hagee-h ...
"I will say that he said that his words were taken out of context, he defends his position. I hope that maybe you’d give him a chance to respond. He says he has never been anti-Catholic, but I repudiate the words that create that impression."
Oh, well, they were taken out of context when he called the Catholic Church the Great Whore. I'm sure people will understand. - pettdog78, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2First. Anyone with half a brain will admit that almost half of all the evangelists out there are nutjobs in one way or another(Hell Wright isn't even that far off from being one).
Second. Sounds like Hillary will have some ammunition to use against McCain in the general election... ** - 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2JohnHummel...Thanks for the source and Hagee's quote. I guess I was taken in by McCain's spin about accepting it, but not seeking it.
- InnerRayg, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1I applaud all of you for being so awesome at being smart.
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -1/+5Via ABC:
- Dibou, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2It hit the front page of Digg.
That and every unsubstantiated smear on McCain so far.
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -5/+4Cite a source that confirms McCain SOUGHT that specific endorsement.
- obliviousfool, on 04/30/2008, -8/+9Okay. Let's fix the double standard. Let's ask McCain to explain away his support from Rod Parsley, John Hagee, Tim LaHaye, Jerry Falwell, and a host of others. That's the double standard. McCain has a whole back room full of crazy-ass, religious wackjobs yet the press doesn't seem to be hounding him about it.
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/48397/
Just how close is McCain's position to Hagee's? That is relevant.
Let's go! Let's fix the double standard. C'mon. I want to see McCain squirm and distance himself, and have the story be the lead on every channel!- samdu, on 04/30/2008, -6/+3There's a HUGE difference between getting someone's endorsement and support and having someone as your "mentor." Huge difference.
- johnhummel, on 04/30/2008, -2/+5Yeah - it's like saying your proud of getting the endorsement of the Grand Dragon of the KKK - but hey, it's not your mentor, but it's OK.
Think I'm going to far? Brown University (where McCain spoke at) had a policy that interracial couples couldn't date on campus. Doesn't sound too far off from "separate but equal" to me. - pettdog78, on 04/30/2008, -3/+1Obama supporters seem stuck on McCain for some reason... You guys need to realize that even if Wright didn't F UP McCain's chances of winning still would have been minimal at best.. Even the Republicans are unsure as to whether they really want to vote for him. In all likely hood they'd actually prefer Hillary to him. Obama, not so much...
- obliviousfool, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2So this guy who seems to want to bomb Iran to force the apocalypse says that him and McCain see eye to eye on foreign policy, and McCain doesn't get asked for a clarification on that? If we're holding Obama responsible for other peoples' words, lets hold everyone responsible for other peoples' words. See how that works? It's a game you can never win. And yes, you can disagree with your "mentor." See Socrates and Plato and just about every other famous mentor/student relationship since.
- johnhummel, on 04/30/2008, -2/+5Yeah - it's like saying your proud of getting the endorsement of the Grand Dragon of the KKK - but hey, it's not your mentor, but it's OK.
- CrackyJSquirrel, on 04/30/2008, -1/+6It is quite disturbing this double standard. It really opens your eyes to what a joke the media has made of our election process.
- StarlessKnight, on 04/30/2008, -1/+4Samdu:
"Neither presidential candidates nor anyone else should be held responsible for the views of those who support them, unless the candidate seeks out that support and/or expressly welcomes it. With regard to Pastor John Hagee, that is precisely what McCain has done -- repeatedly."
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/02/29/ ... - pettdog78, on 04/30/2008, -3/+1Oh the irony... Just where were all you Obama supporters when the media was constantly attacking Romney for being a Mormon? For a whole year that man was being accused of every horrid lie that Libs and anti-mormons could pull out of the book! He was acused of being a racist and constantly had to defend himself. Even your own Rev.Al Sharpton insulted him on public tv suggesting he wasn't a real christian!
Well you guys sat back and watched him get attacked constantly with one false accusation after another and none of you defended him. So now that your own candidate is under the flame it's a different story, cept this time Obama really does have racist ties that won't disapear no matter how hard he tries. - InnerRayg, on 05/01/2008, -1/+2Wasn't me at least Pettdog, if I had been there I would have discouraged that and buried it. I don't trust Romney, I think he was too much of a businessman, but attacking him for being Mormon is stupid.
- samdu, on 04/30/2008, -6/+3There's a HUGE difference between getting someone's endorsement and support and having someone as your "mentor." Huge difference.
- 47f0, on 04/30/2008, -5/+7Are you insane, or were there just lead paint chips in your nursery? McCain's proud of pastor Hagee's endorsement. Of course, Hagee just condemned all Catholics, so that's ok, and McCain sort of muffled out a little denial of that platform. Pastor Wright, in a very much out-of-context sound-bite said "gawdamn America" - but Pastor Hagee, completely in context, essentially said the same of New Orleans. But that's OK, because racist white homophobes are our heroes. And compared to anything that Pastor Wright has said, Hagee's unique idea that it is our destiny to bring about nuclear conflict in the Middle East to bring about Armageddon is breathtaking in it's scope of arrogance and global destruction. Now, can we talk about McCain's other "spiritual adviser", Rod Parsley - he's another real beauty.
- joe122370, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3it's not in any way out of context and Wright himself confirmed his beliefs over the weekend to the press. He also called obama out for lying because that's what he has to do as a politician
- lhbaker, on 04/30/2008, -3/+2IanRReardon = one of the 19% who still think everything is fine with the world, if only the other 81% would just STFU.
- johnhummel, on 04/30/2008, -10/+17Considering that the man that McCain sought the endorsement of, Reverend Hagee, has said that Katrina was a punishment of God upon New Orleans for holding a parade, and that the Catholic Church was the Great Whore - for some reason, it hasn't hit anything front page.
- OwdenBowden, on 04/30/2008, -22/+21Obama gets caught with his pants down and now he is looking to blame a third party.
20 years to figure out that he does not agree with HIS spiritual leader and adviser - Well I guess by 2029 he can get busy fixing what was wrong in 2009.
OBAMA LIES.- PaisleyTeal, on 04/30/2008, -3/+3 . . . and hillary . . . doesn't?
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2But, but, but... she does it so everyone else can too...
- IckyZ, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2I thought this all started with a third party...
- PaisleyTeal, on 04/30/2008, -3/+3 . . . and hillary . . . doesn't?
- deanlowe, on 04/30/2008, -8/+6What, no more bowling or basketball???
- BobSconce, on 04/30/2008, -8/+19So, actually, I used to think that it was just a dumb distinction, but then I saw things such as this:
Barack Obama, Candidate for President, is 'UCC,' PR Newswire US, February 9, 2007
In November 2004, during his acceptance speech following his election to the Senate, Obama expressed appreciation for the support of Trinity UCC's members. The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., pastor of Trinity UCC, is one of Obama's close spiritual advisors and is credited with giving inspiration to the title of Obama's bestselling book, "The Audacity of Hope." Obama says he first heard Wright use the phrase in one of his stirring sermons.
"Trinity UCC has been a true community to me — a place in which the mind, heart and soul come together to celebrate God's goodness," Obama told United Church News in 2004.
(There are a bunch more similar quotes at http://www.volokh.com/archives/archive_2008_04_27- ... )
I'm not bothered with Obama having a friendship with this Wright guy. I am, however, bothered that Obama has clearly lied about it. Instead of saying "Yeah, he says a lot of wacky things, but I've found him to be challenging and full of new perspectives. While I obviously don't agree with many of his positions and sermons, I still count him as a friend," I thought Obama had honor, but he's been acting like a typical politician.
I live in NC and will be voting next week. I'm not sure if this is enough to make me vote for Hillary (who has her own history of lies, half-truths and cover-ups, but has marginally better policy positions), but it certainly makes me like Obama less.
And, yes, I recognize that I'm just going to get dugg down by all the pro-Obama folks who just don't want to hear anything negative.- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -8/+15You're being dugg down because he has said that in the past. That's what his whole "race" speech was about a month ago or so. Yeah, Wright says some crazy things, but he's fiery and interesting, and challenging. Wright's also burdened with the scars of the civil rights era in a way that Obama is not...and never will be. But the black community is too. They look at Tuskegee and think, why not AIDS too. It's crazy, but some of them are old enough to remember a lot of horrific things.
Honestly, the reason none of this bothers me is that I don't see any evidence that Wright's beliefs are Obama's beliefs. They are not the same person. Not even close. The idea that a half-white/half-black man would harbor racial hatred and distrust is absurd. Which half of his family does he distrust??- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -3/+6He stayed in the church for twenty years because he believed what Reverend Wright was preaching. In Obama's book "Dreams of My Father", he quotes from the first sermon that he heard Wright preach. Also, Obama would later name his book "Audacity of Hope" after this sermon. So it's easy to see that this sermon had a major impact on his thinking and on his life. A quote from this sermon that was important enough for Obama to include in the book "Dreams of My Father" was "It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, where white folks' greed runs a world in need". So yes, he stayed in the church for all that time because he not only agreed with what Wright was saying, but it shaped him into the person that he is now. Obama is doing what he has to do politically to make this go away.
- MixMastaKooz, on 04/30/2008, -6/+3@11oops I was going to give you a snarky comment, but I find it will be wasted on you. You honestly believe that people don't try to incorporate the best other people offer (in this case, inspiration to think in new ways) and discard the worst? Inspiration comes in many forms my friend. Oh, and he stayed with the church because of what it was doing for the community because *Obama was a community organizer* and I assume that Wright was philosophically challenging.
- joe122370, on 04/30/2008, -1/+6even saying the phrase "white folks greed" would be enough evidence that obama is a racist himself, but he even wrote it down in his book. If McCain wrote a book about "black folks laziness" you libs would run him out of town and riot in the streets.
- InnerRayg, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1Joel, the quote is taken in context a few comments up, and you should try to find it if you can. Those were Wright's words, not Obama's, and he tries to emphasize soon after that it is an issue of class, not specifically race, that he felt should be important.
- Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -3/+6Wow, ok, Bob, you do know that whole part that you wrote that you would be fine with Obama saying? Yeah, he ALREADY SAID THAT, basically word for word. But the media and his opponents won't let it die, and apparently Wright wanted to be a jackass and make things worse, hence all his new statements.
- staticneuron, on 04/30/2008, -5/+7What does that matter?
Obama's words
"I have already denounced those comments that have come out of these previous sermons. I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia, explaining that he has done enormous good in the church, has built a wonderful conversation. They are a wonderful people and what attracted me has always been the ministries reach beyond church walls. But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions, that the U.S. government is involved in AIDS, when he suggests that Louis Farrakhan represents one of the greatest voices of the 21st century, when he equates the United States' wartime effort with terrorism, then there are no excuses. They offend me, they rightfully offend all Americans, and they should be denounced. That is what I am doing very clearly and unequivocally here today."
I can be as close to my freinds as i want to but if one of them claims that aids was manufactured I am going to disagree with them big time. But that would not negate my overall opinion of them. Postive opinions, thoughts ideas and viewpoints shared over a period of years do not all of a sudon go away because of a few conflicting ideologies.
What is sickening is that people trumpeting this horn are downright lying to themselves and others. If you take a look at all of your friends and colleagues, do you really agree with "everything "they said?- pettdog78, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2What I don't do is make them my personal ad-visor when I am running for President. I put them in a dark room with a TV that has only one channel...
- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -1/+4I also don't incorporate their words into my book and its title, nor do I allow them to perform my marriage ceremony and baptize my children, nor do I refer to them as my spiritual mentor and advisor, nor do I initially defend their statements while comparing them to my grandmother before publicly denouncing them when the heat gets too hot.
- wendelgee2, on 04/30/2008, -8/+15You're being dugg down because he has said that in the past. That's what his whole "race" speech was about a month ago or so. Yeah, Wright says some crazy things, but he's fiery and interesting, and challenging. Wright's also burdened with the scars of the civil rights era in a way that Obama is not...and never will be. But the black community is too. They look at Tuskegee and think, why not AIDS too. It's crazy, but some of them are old enough to remember a lot of horrific things.
- keithb1984, on 04/30/2008, -3/+6Get off Obama's dick for crying out loud! No I am not voting for that peice of crap, and his minister isn't the reason, his minister is jsut one of MANY reasons why. Do you not realize that Obama has attended this church for YEARS and had both his daughters baptized there... and the church is openly a AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH! Obama chose to seperate himself from the white race by attending a ALL BLACK CHURCH! To me, that says Obama does not want himself, his wife, or his children interacting with White People at his church. OMG Imagine if McCain went to a church that prided itself in being all white...
- rodrigo74, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2In terms of minister McCain is not that much better, with that crap about the Katrina and gays..
- heypetray, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2How can we get to any of that stuff without knowing whether or not he's patriotic?!?! I'd also like to know whether he would consider Hillary as a running mate! Do you think that his being black appeals to the black community?
/Sarcasm - fakekevinrose, on 04/30/2008, -1/+1ooo boy, i can't wait until they let him talk about energy policy. hopefully one day they'll stop with manufactured political distractions (on notice)
- streak, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2This has all been planned, this Wright/Obama business of the past 2 days. Obama lost Pennsylvania because he didn't repudiate Wright strongly enough. Solution? Have Wright make 4 "characturistic" public appearances in 24 hours to repeat and highlight his earlier, ridiculous statements, then Obama can make a big "todo" about how non-mainstream Wright is.
- minox, on 04/30/2008, -51/+70No, because no one can possibly believe that Obama didn't know the nature of Wright's views for that period of time.
- newswhore, on 04/30/2008, -58/+30This story is a litmus test for intellegence. If you care, you have none.
- tcbishop12, on 04/30/2008, -10/+31As to litmus tests: Respectfully, "newswhore", if you can spell intelligence correctly, perhaps you have some.
- cufford, on 04/30/2008, -7/+9Yeah...pretty ironic, isn't it! newswhore doesn't care about what the predominant problems with our electoral discourse are. Now that's "intellegence" all right!
- jforjools, on 04/30/2008, -7/+10The way I read it, newswhore is saying that if you care about the Wright 'story' , then you have no intelligence. ...Sounds like he/she **does** care about the predominant problems with our electoral discourse.
...Gotta go use spellcheck now.
- jforjools, on 04/30/2008, -7/+10The way I read it, newswhore is saying that if you care about the Wright 'story' , then you have no intelligence. ...Sounds like he/she **does** care about the predominant problems with our electoral discourse.
- fedupamerica, on 04/30/2008, -8/+12Intelligence without common sense is useless.
- bgrah449, on 04/30/2008, -4/+3That's not true. Look at all the physics guys in the mold of Einstein. Intelligence (pattern recognition) has value apart from common sense (control over environment resulting from lessons learned from pattern recognition).
- heypetray, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1I think what bgrah is trying to tell us is that there is a difference between smart and intelligent. It is Similar to how Intelligence and Wisdom differ in D&D. Intelligence revolves around 'knowledge' and wisdom(smart) revolves around 'experience'
It's the booksmart vs streetsmart model.
- heypetray, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1I think what bgrah is trying to tell us is that there is a difference between smart and intelligent. It is Similar to how Intelligence and Wisdom differ in D&D. Intelligence revolves around 'knowledge' and wisdom(smart) revolves around 'experience'
- bgrah449, on 04/30/2008, -4/+3That's not true. Look at all the physics guys in the mold of Einstein. Intelligence (pattern recognition) has value apart from common sense (control over environment resulting from lessons learned from pattern recognition).
- newswhore, on 04/30/2008, -14/+6litmus test for intelligence- You blindly follow a president for 8 years that can't speak and all you have on my is the improper usage of a vowel? Enjoy your 4 dollar gas.
- NoCt1, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2Its going to hit 4 dollars no matter what you think.. Thats just the way things aer going to be.. and Oil is trading below the 110 mark.. So it should go down in price..
- heypetray, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Yeha!
- NoCt1, on 04/30/2008, -1/+2Its going to hit 4 dollars no matter what you think.. Thats just the way things aer going to be.. and Oil is trading below the 110 mark.. So it should go down in price..
- TsuruchiBrian, on 05/01/2008, -0/+1Normally it is polite not to ridicule people for spelling errors. But when you are misspelling the word "intelligence" while attempting to insult people with no "intellegence", it makes it hard not to.
Also, Digg has a built in spell checker. You don't even need to know how to spell words correctly. You only have to be able to right click with your mouse and pick the right word from the list. And even if you choose the wrong word from the list, that wrong word will still at least be spelled correctly.
- robmohr, on 04/30/2008, -36/+33Seeing now the clear contrast -- Obama ethical, and someone you would want for a friend; Hillary ready to kill with dishonesty (only abot to say "I" and "Me"; and Jeremiah Wright intoxicated with himself (egocentric to the core) and a poor student of any of the social theologies that bring meaning to our human relationship with a forgiving and loving God.
- InRussetShadows, on 04/30/2008, -25/+27An ethical man does not sit in the pews for 20 years and claim ignorance of what he saw for 20 years. Sorry, try again.
- Murdats, on 04/30/2008, -5/+20and an ethical women does not repeat multiple lies and then when presented with very clear evidence claim she mispoke.
- jakeson2, on 04/30/2008, -10/+5Right on and Obama has nothing to be proud of either. His wife is not so hot either since she is now after all these decades of affluent living is finally at long last "proud of her country".
- Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -1/+4Why does affluent living automatically make you proud? Just because you're doing better than the rest of the plebs? I'd be pissed if the only reason she was proud was because she had cash. She's proud because, when she said it, it seemed as if people could put aside the petty things that separate us and make a better country. As this whole controversy, the flag pin, etc... shows, she was sadly mistaken, but that's not her fault.
- pettdog78, on 04/30/2008, -0/+1Maybe if she used some of it for charity she'd be more proud... She's certainly richer then the rest of America.
- InnerRayg, on 05/01/2008, -0/+2Pettdog, the Obama family donated over 70,000 in 2005 and 60,000 in 2006, and it's reasonable to guess they donated a similar amount these last two years. That's not exactly insignificant.
- jakeson2, on 04/30/2008, -10/+5Right on and Obama has nothing to be proud of either. His wife is not so hot either since she is now after all these decades of affluent living is finally at long last "proud of her country".
- marmanukem, on 04/30/2008, -6/+22An ethical man does not SEEK the endorsement of a pastor who claimed that hurricane Katrina was punishment for the sin of New Orleans, specifically a scheduled Gay Pride Parade.
- pintomp3, on 04/30/2008, -1/+6what about a man who's spiritual guide said we need to destroy islam? oh wait.. same man, different pastor.
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/200 ...
- pintomp3, on 04/30/2008, -1/+6what about a man who's spiritual guide said we need to destroy islam? oh wait.. same man, different pastor.
- jakeson2, on 04/30/2008, -11/+5You are SO right. Obama and his wife neither one has a leg to stand on with the issue of the racist and anti-Semitic Wright.
- tiraid, on 04/30/2008, -3/+5Wow! I finally get it! You guys have helped me see the light! Obama isn't ethical because "An ethical man does not sit in the pews for 20 years and claim ignorance of what he saw for 20 years". But Obama is ethical because "and an ethical women does not repeat multiple lies and then when presented with very clear evidence claim she mispoke" and "An ethical man does not SEEK the endorsement of a pastor who claimed that hurricane Katrina was punishment for the sin of New Orleans, specifically a scheduled Gay Pride Parade."
So, Obama is bad, but he is good because Hillary and McCain are bad!
Anyone who falls for this "logic" is a lost cause.- 11oops, on 04/30/2008, -2/+3Sadly, yes. The US population is a lost cause. Remember, torture is OK because the enemy does worse.
- ubuwalker31, on 04/30/2008, -2/+1Who ever said that politics is logical?
- Murdats, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1my point was that he is the lesser of the evils you are presented.
- tylerkuite, on 04/30/2008, -2/+3Wow...first of all, Obama probably isnt even that religious, if at all, unfortunatley you have to claim your a christian to win an election, which is so damaging to any kind of progress that could be made, so this whole thing is really a waste of time. Stuff like this is what makes America worse off. Turn off CNN and Fox News, quit submitting to their biased, out of context soundbites. If you actually examine what the guy ***** said IN CONTEXT its not that controversial. Its hard to be patriotic when your government ***** everything up, and treats you like *****. This country is the best country ever, but for the last decade, we havent had much to be proud of, we start useless fights with countries for stupid reasons, all of the stuff we do to people comes back to us, you know were going through bad times when the UK thinks theyre better than us, why dont we just let religion take a back seat and actually fix and restore this country to its potential greatness, and the 3 candidates suck of course, but the only one who id vote for is Obama
- Murdats, on 04/30/2008, -5/+20and an ethical women does not repeat multiple lies and then when presented with very clear evidence claim she mispoke.
- scamper22, on 04/30/2008, -7/+5I'm sorry, the only sympathy I have for any fo them is Jeremiah Wright.
He has preached what he has preached for 20 years (right or wrong).
Obama listened and became part of that community and worked with the reverand to fix the issues. They probably shared grand tales of bring back the black community and reversing all the wrongs in the world. Day in and day out, they struggled with the issues.
Next things you know, big shot Obama goes on TV and tells the nation, he doesn't agree with the reverand's views?
I could just imagine how betrayed Rev. Wright felt. Then of course he goes on TV and does an entertaining bit.
Of course Obama probably felt betrayed Rev. Wright didn't just shut up and accept it all as politics. But then Preachers are never people of nuance... Something a wise leader would have known...and would have never been so close to him in the first place... or would have never rejected him in the second place. - Number23, on 04/30/2008, -1/+10"someone you would want for a friend"
Hey Digg-tard, FYI he's running for President, not America's black best friend.- tylerkuite, on 04/30/2008, -3/+0Im so ***** sick of all this race *****, who the hell cares...we need to stop segregating everything and stereotyping people, seriously...we are so voluntarily segregated that people who have never even had a black friend in their entire lives are commenting on stories with opinions that were formed on ***** stereotypes from the ***** media...everybody is the same. go out and talk to people, even if they look different than you, and why cant we talk about things that matter? and thats coming from a white guy
- Laughsatyou, on 05/01/2008, -1/+2were we supposed to think lower or higher of you because you are white? sounds to me you are stuck in the same mind set you are claiming to be against.
- tylerkuite, on 04/30/2008, -3/+0Im so ***** sick of all this race *****, who the hell cares...we need to stop segregating everything and stereotyping people, seriously...we are so voluntarily segregated that people who have never even had a black friend in their entire lives are commenting on stories with opinions that were formed on ***** stereotypes from the ***** media...everybody is the same. go out and talk to people, even if they look different than you, and why cant we talk about things that matter? and thats coming from a white guy
- jaymzdean, on 04/30/2008, -1/+1Ok, Obama, thanks for letting us know that it's inappropriate to criticize the government's foreign policy during the government's "wartime efforts". I'll keep that in mind next time I'm criticizing the governments "wartime efforts".
- joeanon, on 04/30/2008, -2/+7Judging a Candidate by their Pastor is just some prejudice redneck dumb ass *****.
As we all know, there isn't a bit of truth to this witch hunt against Wright.
Wright is complete ***** too, just listen to him talk more than once and that will become clear. He cuts people off, he re-defines the argument to belittle his opponent knowledge. Saying things like.. Oh you can't have an opinion because you haven't read this book and that book.
However, none of this has ANYTHING to do with fixing the nation. The idea that if Obama is ethical the rest of congress and corporate America will just go along for the ride is just the most naive ***** I've ever heard in my life.
Even if Obama could cast his spell of ethics on America.. it could only last 4-8 years and then it's back to business as usual.
It's the PEOPLE of America who need to change VASTLY more than the politicians.
It's not as if 50% of the politicians don't believe in evolution or thing Obama is Muslim.
It's the retarded American public that's been spoon fed extremist ***** all their lives.
Obama can't realistically fix that in 4-8 years.
We need an ENTIRE party of ethics. Not one man.
Pelosi ,,, Dean,.. Reid.
They all have to go along with most of the democratic party and just about all of the GOP in congress to really reform this nation.
The people are going to have to assemble, protest and maybe even riot and boycott governmental law.
It's simply not possible for Obama to do this on his own with SO FEW people education on the issues or scientifically minded enough to even grasp if a given solution is a good idea or a pipe dream.
Obama health care plan for instance....sucks.
His stance on biofuel is mostly ... lacking entirely in detail.
What stance has he made clear ?
Is he also too stupid to feel the need of the people to have real answers presented to them or does he think we are ALL too stupid to know a good idea from a bad one. I think the average public probably is too stupid.
Many of you are dumb enough to go along with tax cuts and rebates and gas tax holidays. Those are OPPOSITE of solutions. That's the same stop gap rig it up solution we've been using for 30 years. That's just candidates pandering to your immediate wants while ignoring the long term.- Laughsatyou, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1rednecks > you
- InRussetShadows, on 04/30/2008, -25/+27An ethical man does not sit in the pews for 20 years and claim ignorance of what he saw for 20 years. Sorry, try again.
- JOHND777, on 04/30/2008, -30/+44I just pray that Obama was not too late in responding to this guy, but my guess is he is such a classy dude that he tried his best to leave the kooky Rev. with some dignity until the guy yesterday finally gave that up himself. Meanwhile Bosnian G.I, Jane HRC gets another chance to mute his message. At least we are off the "bitter" crap and bowling non-issue she used for Penn. Wonder if she paid the bills???
- RepubOperative, on 04/30/2008, -26/+21Yea. Obama is such a "classy dude" that he didn't want to tell him he was a racist for TWENTY YEARS! So he kept going to the racist church on the South Side of Chicago.....
- johnhummel, on 04/30/2008, -11/+19And once again - we ask "What was racist that Wright said"?
Offensive? You can claim that. Illogical (US created AIDS)? OK - fine. I'll give you that. Doesn't hurt my feelings.
But racist? Seriously? What did the man say that was out and out racist? "Rich white people rule America." Gee - that's totally racist - if you're an overly sensitive white hanky waving bigot.- CabesMojo, on 04/30/2008, -8/+15Read the Church charter, exchange the word black for white, and all of a sudden its racist. Actually just exchange nearly anything Wright said like that and you'll notice its sound racist.
While most the stuff he said is just unfounded and completely out in left field, to deny its racist undertones is just ignorant. - RepubOperative, on 04/30/2008, -9/+3@johnhummel what is wrong with you boy? Do you think that something is racist only if someone uses the word *****? Think stupid *****! If I sit here and bash the country and continue to use the word white every time I bash something it is racist.....and that is what the reverend did. He is a racist and so is Barack Obama. Obama is a racist because he sat there and listened to it for TWENTY long years.
- elamr, on 04/30/2008, -1/+9@RepubO,
In your mind he's a racist. Nothing will change you mind. so be it. Vote Hillary or McCain. Bitch and cry if Obama is elected. move on with you life. - johnhummel, on 04/30/2008, -3/+8The fact you just called me "boy" tells me where your own views on race lie.
I'm not your "boy", your "servant", or your anything.
And how is pointing out that the US is run by rich white people racist? Are you that sensitive to "Oh, no - it wasn't anything but hard work that got me here - combined with 200 years of slavery, 100 years of 'separate but equal' where black people couldn't even own land" - and all of the sudden all of the problems went away? - 47f0, on 04/30/2008, -1/+3Repub, if you're not the fifteen-year old your level of insight indicates then you should be old enough to remember a few things. I'm younger than Pastor Wright, and I remember "colored" water fountains, white-only restrooms, and "sunset" laws for blacks. I'm sure Pastor Wright remembers them much more personally, and vividly than I do. But Obama is younger than I am, and Pastor Wright's experiences, and voice are not his. Obama is not Pastor Wright's clone, any more than McCain is Pastor Hagee, or Rod Parsley's clone.
But since you're obviously such a mindless clone, you probably can't even understand that. - ubuwalker31, on 04/30/2008, -0/+4@John: Its the tone. While it is factually true that "rich white men" run this country, its the tone in which the word "white" is said that people find offensive. The tone isn't descriptive, it is accusatory and derogatory and baiting. And racist. The same way in which RepubOperative used the word "boy" to make you angry. This whole conversation is despicable.
- Laughsatyou, on 05/01/2008, -0/+3rednecks are the ***** of white people.
- elamr, on 04/30/2008, -1/+9@RepubO,
- JOHND777, on 05/02/2008, -0/+1And you are not a racist yourself am I correct Repub operative?? I'm sure you love all your fellow humans regardless of race,creed or color and you know that two wrongs does not equal a right!?? Our Constitution which applies to ALL American citizens as currently interpreted (so you can spare me the slave, Jim Crow remarks) states that all persons are created equal! If you do not believe this, then obviously you do not believe in our country. As the saying goes "love it or leave it" so perhaps you should renounce your citizenship and emigrate back to where you are from.
With respect to the kooky outrageous statements he made in the looped snippets and his general us against them victim speech, I would submit that the founding fathers were also quite wise to separate Church from state for this very reason. Also if I follow your reasoning everyone who listened to Hitler despite his sick philosophy should be equally condemned!! So I guess the Pope who was a Nazi youth and in the German Army, and the Governor of California whose Dad was a Nazi army officer are also racists as well??? This is the same standard being applied to Obama so lets be consistent regardless of color!
Ignorance can be very dangerous and while your use of the term N***** may give you an emotional thrill and make you feel better about yourself, I would suggest it does more harm to you as a person and can only give you temporary happiness in a sick, twisted way. I honestly hope you will use the tools God gave you as in your brain and heart and seek to recapture your humanity as opposed to your inflated view of self!
- CabesMojo, on 04/30/2008, -8/+15Read the Church charter, exchange the word black for white, and all of a sudden its racist. Actually just exchange nearly anything Wright said like that and you'll notice its sound racist.
- Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -0/+8Why do you people keep repeating "TWENTY YEARS"? It's not like Obama showed up for his first day of church and Wright yelled out "***** whitey!" and Obama sat their nodding. The 'racist' statements that you're referring to are clips taken from around 3 sermons given over those TWENTY YEARS, mostly towards the end of the time Wright was preaching (getting cooky in his old age, I guess you could say), you know, that time Obama was busy being a public servant? So why is it so impossible for you to believe that Obama is telling the truth? Oh, right, because you don't care about the truth and simply want to make people who don't agree with you look bad. Class act.
- johnhummel, on 04/30/2008, -11/+19And once again - we ask "What was racist that Wright said"?
- indigit4l, on 04/30/2008, -19/+220 yrs.... so true. Obama's twenty year "mistake" is costing him. However, ***** Bush and ***** you too RepubO. Hil for the win. Hi-ho!!!!!!!
- didiman, on 04/30/2008, -14/+5Obama will win the nomination, but he has ZERO chance of winning the presidency. McCain might as well already start picking out the drapes.
- Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -1/+6You heard it here first, folks, didiman is claiming that republican presidential nominee John McCain is a homosexual
- streak, on 05/01/2008, -1/+1Obama was indeed too little, too late in responding to Wright. That's why he lost Pennsylvania and why he orchestrated with Wright to bring up those ridiculous statements again in 4 separate, over-acted public appearances in 24 hours, so Obama could more strongly repudiate them again and have the gullible public believe Obama was never really associated with Wright or the awful actions of his church.
- RepubOperative, on 04/30/2008, -26/+21Yea. Obama is such a "classy dude" that he didn't want to tell him he was a racist for TWENTY YEARS! So he kept going to the racist church on the South Side of Chicago.....
- susanggs, on 04/30/2008, -48/+118Anyone who claims he isn't voting for Obama because of this wasn't going to vote for him in the first place. I am voting for Obama for a host of reasons.....but if you want to talk about "character," the way Obama handled this tells me that he has a strong moral character, an innate sense of decency - qualities that are sadly lacking in both his opponents.
- p0s3r, on 04/30/2008, -39/+48Mar 18, 2008 Barack Obama:" I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. "
Apr 29, 2008 Barack Obama:" I disown this man."
He sat in that man's church for 23 years. He donated over $50k to it in the last 2 years. The same man married Obama to Michelle, baptized his house, and inspired his best-selling book. Obama even gave a national speech on why Wright is apart of him and how he supports him. Obama turned on that man as soon as his self-serving interests were in jeopardy. Character?- jon30041, on 04/30/2008, -26/+27Between March 18th and April 29th, there was this one press conference that Wright gave.
***** happens, positions change. Deal with it, people have flexible minds and they learn.- DavidS9, on 04/30/2008, -17/+12What do you have to say about the REST of Obamas "FRIENDS" and the other people he CHOOSES to surround himself with?
If nothing else they show he has a sever LACK of judgment when it comes to dealing with people. - Murdats, on 04/30/2008, -6/+2not if you are religious
- Jonnio, on 04/30/2008, -6/+8The only thing that changed between those two dates is that Wright would not just fade away. He came out and made it more obvious than ever how he felt and what he has been preaching to Obama for the last 20 years. Do you think the stuff Wright said in the speech on the 29th was new?? Do you really thing Wright changed in that few weeks?
Please, Obama saw that speech and said oh crap, there is no recovering from this one, time to punt the guy. How in the world does that show good character? Character would have been leaving the church years ago.- Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -1/+5I know you don't believe anything Obama says, but he is consistent. When this whole thing came out he said that he was unaware of those statements, and when he was made aware of them he denounced them, and they were to his knowledge random abberations, because you can get soundbites to make anyone look crazy, so Obama stood by his friendship. But then Wright comes out and basically says 'no, those clips are what i believe' and Obama replies with 'well crap, you're not who i thought you were, gtfo'. Seems pretty consistent to me.
- DavidS9, on 04/30/2008, -2/+2Yeah he consistently lied and covered up till it got shoved in his face that everything he said was proven wrong
- Mejari, on 04/30/2008, -0/+2Way to ignore everything I said, thanks. What exactly did he say that got 'proven wrong'?
- yngtimmy, on 04/30/2008, -4/+3so after all the comments, after all the badmouthing america, it only took 1 press conference to change his mind on the 23 year relationship?? no. It took 1 press conference to realize he needs to posture himself just like aaaannnyyy other candidate does when running
- DavidS9, on 04/30/2008, -17/+12What do you have to say about the REST of Obamas "FRIENDS" and the other people he CHOOSES to surround himself with?
- jon30041, on 04/30/2008, -26/+27Between March 18th and April 29th, there was this one press conference that Wright gave.
- p0s3r, on 04/30/2008, -39/+48Mar 18, 2008 Barack Obama:" I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. "