18/03/2008 > USA
Jesus was a poor black man who lived in a
country and who lived in a culture that was controlled by rich white people. The
Romans were rich, the Romans were Italians which means they were European which
means they were white and the Romans ran everything in Jesus's country. Barack knows what it means
to be a black man living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich
white people! Hillary can never know that, Hillary has never been called a
nigger! Hillary has never had her people defined as non-person. Hillary hasn't
had to work twice as hard just to get accepted by the rich white folk who run
everything or to get a passing grade when you know you are smarter than that C
student sitting in the White House. Oh I am so glad that I got a god who knows
what it is to be a poor black man in a country and a culture that is controlled
by and run by rich white people. "
Well I,
like many people, found Jeremiah Wright's comments appalling. At first glance
you think; how can he [Obama] be associated with someone like that. But they're
generations apart. Wright grew up in the sixties. Me being 31, I don't harbour the
same kind of anger. If you look at my grandfather, he fought in the navy, and
had some very different views from me concerning race. But I still loved him
and learnt from him. Likewise, Obama isn't blinded by a harsh past, so he can
see that progress has been made, unlike his mentor.
I think the
media have played this really carefully. For example on CBS yesterday, they
didn't directly address the main issues. I think they want to believe that
Obama has the best intentions, that he's not too involved with this pastor. And
he himself skirted around the issue. It seemed to me that his speech was
papering over what the pastor had said; that he was covering it up with
excuses. Conservative pundits will pick up on this but the mainstream media
won't. It was conservative bloggers who were the ones that pointed out-
legitimately- the lack of coverage on the issue.
What Obama's "spiritual adviser" really said
Since Barack Obama's
close ties to black pastor Jeremiah Wright
emerged in the mainstream media last
week, comments deemed anti-patriotic and racist from the democratic candidate's
"spiritual adviser" have dominated the news. See some of these infamous remarks
straight from the horse's mouth, notably about September 11, along
with viewpoints from our Observers on both Democrat and Republican fronts.
The contributors
"Hillary has never been called a nigger"
Posted 12 March 2008
Jesus was a poor black man who lived in a
country and who lived in a culture that was controlled by rich white people. The
Romans were rich, the Romans were Italians which means they were European which
means they were white and the Romans ran everything in Jesus's country. Barack knows what it means
to be a black man living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich
white people! Hillary can never know that, Hillary has never been called a
nigger! Hillary has never had her people defined as non-person. Hillary hasn't
had to work twice as hard just to get accepted by the rich white folk who run
everything or to get a passing grade when you know you are smarter than that C
student sitting in the White House. Oh I am so glad that I got a god who knows
what it is to be a poor black man in a country and a culture that is controlled
by and run by rich white people. "
"The stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back into our own front yards"
Posted 14 March 08
Our Observer Wayne Phillips is a supporter of Barack Obama:
Well I,
like many people, found Jeremiah Wright's comments appalling. At first glance
you think; how can he [Obama] be associated with someone like that. But they're
generations apart. Wright grew up in the sixties. Me being 31, I don't harbour the
same kind of anger. If you look at my grandfather, he fought in the navy, and
had some very different views from me concerning race. But I still loved him
and learnt from him. Likewise, Obama isn't blinded by a harsh past, so he can
see that progress has been made, unlike his mentor.
The media are absolutely using this against him. The implications behind it are that, behind the scenes, he hates America, [meaning that] nothing he's said for the last year is true. I get the feeling there's a lot of pressure behind the press, especially from the Clinton campaign. Because everyone thought he got a free pass [because of his race], the media had to react, and then they over-compensated. They're just obsessed with racial divisions. Obama has tried desperately not to be painted as a black candidate. It doesn't do him any good [being black].
I personally don't think he'll suffer from this as much as predicted. Mainly because of the way he's handled it. He's not running from it. It was a bold move to make a speech about religion and ethnicity and the effect they have on politics, and he addressed the comments adequately in his speech. It's almost unusual to see a politician take on such a subject head on. It will have an impact, but it won't stop him from being a nominee."
Our Observer Ken Shepherd is the editor of the blog NewsBusters:
I think the
media have played this really carefully. For example on CBS yesterday, they
didn't directly address the main issues. I think they want to believe that
Obama has the best intentions, that he's not too involved with this pastor. And
he himself skirted around the issue. It seemed to me that his speech was
papering over what the pastor had said; that he was covering it up with
excuses. Conservative pundits will pick up on this but the mainstream media
won't. It was conservative bloggers who were the ones that pointed out-
legitimately- the lack of coverage on the issue.
We'll find out if it affects him when the next votes come round, but that's not until April 22. The story can't dominate the news for five weeks. It'll probably die down in a few days."
Obama didnt say or do anything contraversial
When most politicians are wrapped in controvesy it ususally revolves around something that politician said or did. Clinton had an affair with Lewinsky, Spitzer paid for a prostitute, Bush misled the American people into war. What makes this contraversey unique is that Obama didn't say or do anything contraversial. He didnt change his message or make an out of bounds attack against a political opponent. Instead, we are slamming Obama because of something his pastor said several months to a year ago. Guilt by association. Obama came out and denounced and rejected these comments yet still he is under fire...Why?? I guess the implication is inspite of Obama's words and his message of unity dating all the way back to 2004 he must feel the same way his pastor does. After all he attended that church for 20 years. It's inconceivable that he could have a different mind set. Is it? If you compare Obama's words to Wright's they are polar opposites. The difference in their world view is generational. Older blacks experienced both overt and government sponsored racism. Time has past, they have grown older but their ill feelings remain decades later. Obama, had a much different experience. He has a multi ethnic background, never experienced first hand Jim Crow. So if you wonder how can Obama think differently even though he goes to the same church it is because his life experience is different. The unfortunate thing is gas has hit 4.00 per gallon, we still have not solved the healthcare problem, public schools are failing and we can potentially miss an opportunity to correct all of these things by dwelling on a few horrid words spewed by someone Obama knows. Democracy makes mistakes. We elected Bush twice and have weakened this country as a result. If Democracy continues to yield bad results and poor leadership does that mean that democracy is broken?
@ Wayne Philips
"So if you wonder how can Obama think differently even though he goes to the same church it is because his life experience is different"
Indeed! I do agree with you Wayne. Life experiences have big impacts on how people think and it also sharpened our mind.
I am white and find most of the preacher's comments justified.
I really do believe that many Americans should be less sensitive when they hear criticism of this country. Wright served in the military and has dedicated most of his life serving his community. There is no reason why this man has and should be treated like a second class citizen. Why is this not obvious? People in this country have to start being less "patriotic" (its usually superficial) and less sensitive. I've traveled to western Europe throughout my entire life and I have never heard so many people say that they are the best country like I have here in the United States. Barack Obama is the best thing that could ever happen to this place. I will be ashamed, embarrassed, and completely dissolutioned ed if this does not happen.
No this is not a generational thing, Katrina was just a few years ago. Anger is justified.
Can't believe I'm posting this.
I have never been a huge fan of the ultra religious Mike Huckabee but he defended Rev. Wright unlike anyone on either political side. I wish this clip was trimmed a bit more, you'll have to watch the annoying stuff before and after.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/19/huckabee-defends-rev-jer_n_9234...