R.I.P in regards to the Reverend Wright ‘controversy’…
Posted by MJ "revoltingpawn" on May 2, 2008
Now that Mr. Obama has denounced his former pastor it would seem to be time to leave this ‘controversy’ behind us all now. My last words on this…
I remember when the story first broke and the media was having a field day playing the short out of context clips non-stop. Anyone who had any real understanding of the history of the black church realized controversial political talk is not uncommon in a church forum but people were shocked anyway. Sure the Rev. Wright has said some controversial and just plain wrong headed things but he has been speaking in public for over 20 years but he is being judged on just a couple minutes of his speeches. Hell, when I get into a intense debate among friends I have been know to say some off the wall things but please don’t hold it against me. If you have never listened to the whole sermons I would suggest that you do so. I was sad that the whole controversy seemed to be fueled by our fear of the black community and a lack of understanding that still exists. Some people even felt Obama should have fled his church because of a couple inflammatory political comments by the pastor. Ridiculous…
Obama realized that most people did not seem to understand the the Rev. Wright was not anti-white or anti-American but speaking out against past and currant injustices to African-Americans as seen by someone who lived before the civil right movement. Obama addressed this in what I think will be seen as a landmark speech that everyone should hear.
Alas, the controversy would just not go away and the mainstream media was hooked despite the many other real issues that needed to be covered. Cue the Rev. Jeremiah Wright himself…
Anyone in their right mind would have just disappeared but I think the Rev. Wright felt wronged and needed to say his peace which he did in a interview with Bill Moyers. Mr. Wright handled himself very well in the interview and defended his past words and just maybe the whole controversy would have gone away.
The Rev. Wight then had a presentation at the National Press Club. I will not comment much on this but to say the Rev. Wright embarrassed himself and Mr. Obama. If believe in conspiracy theories some have speculated that the Rev. Wight said his peace on the Bill Moyers Journal and then did a favor for Obama at the National Press luncheon fiasco in allowing an out for Obama in regards to the Reverend.
Obama did what he had to do in denouncing his friend the Rev. Wight in the strongest words possible. The point of this whole post?
Can we put aside the whole Obama-Wright drama show now? I know FOX News and the right wing talk radio blow holes will continue to play the clips for the near future but a enough is a enough! We need to stop being distracted by the media and certain political interests who would rather have us be talking about this non-issue then what we should be taking a look at. We are in the middle of choosing the next President who will be facing a tough road after the disastrous Bush Administration of the past eight years. It’s time that we and the media get back to the real issues at hand - the recession, record gas prices, our eroding civil rights, the continuation of Americans still dying in a undeclared and unneeded war in Iraq and possibly soon in Iran. Please can we do this?
This will be my last post on the Rev. Wright and I will also not comment on other blogs any more in regards to this subject.
THIS POST WAS EDITED ON AND EXPANDED ON 5/5.
May 5, 2008 at 1:30 am
The controversy ended with me weeks ago, well, actually, never seemed significant enough to me in the first place. It’s the media who needs to give it a rest. Ultimately, they are the ones who have the power to keep it alive, or choose to listen to their viewers and move on to more pressing issues.
May 5, 2008 at 7:53 pm
It seems as though Obama supporters are content on blaming the media, and rightfully so, but the hard truth is that the main stream media crucifies everyone during an election cycle - Hillary Clinton included.
An extension of this is that everyone seems to whine about it. That is what I’m tired of.
Obama should have denounced Wright weeks ago. If he did, all of this would be a non-strater. Simply dismissing him using the ‘Crazy-Old-Uncle’ approach was never going to work. It is naive to think that Wright was going to simply vanish into the fog. This guy has been an outspoken supporter of old school civil rights, and a critic of what he perceives as white driven institutional racism, his entire life. Obama even admitted that much during his race speech. What makes anyone think Wright was just going to up and quit public speaking?
Unfortunately for Obama, people are paying attention to him now.
The sad out-growth of this debacle is that moderate white democratic voters now have their excuse not to vote for Obama and not look like racists while they support Hillary (or so they think). These are the same people that are now calling left wing talk shows and claiming Obama is un-electabe, even though he is winning the nomination right now!
I agree that the whole episode should be dropped, but as long as the media sees fit to keep it in the news cycle, Obama supporters simply won’t be able to wish it away. The main stream media won’t let them. If Obama is going to get past this post-Pennsylvania rough patch, he needs to stay on message, and maybe have a little chat with Rev. Wright regarding the future (i.e. do you want to be a public speaking circuit blowhole fifteen-minute-wonder now, or have real influence and a voice at the highest levels of government later?)
June 13, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Oh no, Barack Obama can’t be accused of racism, because he’s black. We all know, liberal Democrats, don’t have a racist bone in their bodies. Of course, if someone such as Ron Paul, were to be accused of racism, it must be used to indict his whole campaign, as one associated with racism. We can’t do that with Barack Obama’s because he’s a black guy. Le’t just Barack a big break and forget the whole thing ever happened. After all, Barack is the second coming of MLK and JFK. It gives us so much hope for change in our future. Forget about concrete ideas and philosophy. Let’s bury partinship now. We need a black president now!! Who cares about his politics or whether his pastor is racist.
June 13, 2008 at 3:25 pm
ftsmallwood…
What was the point of your comment? You went on about that Obama can’t be a racist of course because he is black. Are you trying to say he is a racist? Do you have any information showing that he is a racist? Obama is not a racist not because he is black but simply he is not a racist!
Maybe if you had read either of Obama’s books or listened to one of his speeches you would know that Obama is in fact not that kind of person.