Only because I think it’s unfair not to follow up as things changed since yesterday afternoon, Rev. Wright is out of the Obama campaign and Obama has made a much stronger statement via the Huffington Post on a Friday afternoon (surprise surprise - avoid the news cycle). Beyond the fact that Obama apparently feels that the only people he needs to apologise and comment to read left wing blogs, the statement itself should leave plenty to be desired for anyone who’s on board with him on this. The HuffPo statements are in bold. Observe:
The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He’s drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.
I suppose “drawn attention” is one way of putting it, sure. And note that he’s still pushing the “retiring” angle, as if that somehow makes what’s happening okay - is that a veiled insult toward Wright? Is something physically or mentally wrong with Wright? What does that mean?
Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it’s on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.
Well, that’s good to hear. But Sen. Obama, Wright’s been the pastor since 1972. More than 30 years of sermons, and it’s almost completely certain that he’s made similar statements that might not be on tape somewhere, and that you yourself may have heard, having been at the church for nearly 20 years according to the CNN article above. So, Sen. Obama? Is it just the statements that we know about that are problematic, or are there more?
Because these particular statements by Rev. Wright are so contrary to my own life and beliefs, a number of people have legitimately raised questions about the nature of my relationship with Rev. Wright and my membership in the church. Let me therefore provide some context.
Are they? I mean, he’s one of the people you consult on a variety of issues, he’s obviously a very important part of your life, both personally and politically. Your own statements have more than suggested that he plays more than just a role of spiritual guide in your life, and we all know you’ve hedged your positions on other issues and statements since your campaign started, so why exactly should we take you at face value here? Furthermore, “these particular statements?” If these statements are “contrary” to your own positions, which statements of his are not?
As I have written about in my books, I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago.
Mmmmm, appeals to authority. Noam Chomsky is also a respected scholar. Dr. James H. Fetzer was a Marine captain and has a doctorate for his work in philosophy, and now heads up Scholars for 9/11 Truth. So it’s great that you knew him, Obama, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much. You do hang out with this guy, Rezko, etc - your ability to judge character is hardly rock-solid.
He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It’s a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS.
Most churches that aren’t named Westboro Baptist do, Sen. Obama. I’m glad that his Church can do its typical Christian duty. This matters why?
Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life.
I wasn’t aware Jesus was all into the hatred, Sen. Obama. I went to Catholic School for 16 years - I do remember some statement from Jesus about the plank in your own eye, maybe you can tell us if Wright’s found his yet?
In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he’s been my pastor.
Okay, either you lied last night, or you lied when you said you consult him “before making any bold political moves”. Which one is it, Sen. Obama?
And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.
The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation.
So you mean to tell me that, over the course of the 20 years that you’ve been attending this church, you’ve never, ever heard statements like these? Okay, let’s even assume that this passes the smell test (it doesn’t) - what statements have you heard that may have given you pause? Could it be the ones that you mentioned in your book, Dreams of My Father?:
“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, apartheid in one hemisphere, apathy in another hemisphere…That’s the world! On which hope sits!”
And so it went, a meditation on a fallen world. While the boys next to me doodled on their church bulletin, Reverend Wright spoke of Sharpsville and Hiroshima, the callousness of policy makers in the White House and in the State House…”
Do you believe that “white folks’ greed runs a world in need” as Rev. Wright does? What other inflammatory statements in this sermon you mention resonate with you?
When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments.
Did you? Does “came to my attention” mean “when the media heard about them” or “when I heard about them?” Are we still to believe you didn’t actually hear him say anything like this? Assume we are: Is the word “provacative” enough to really encompass this man’s statements? Was this statement enough? Apparently not - you posted this, after all.
But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.
You know what, Sen. Obama, this is fine - I understand fully that a church community is important to many people, and I’m sure you’ve fostered a number of strong, firm relationships with fellow members of your congregation. Others may disagree with me on this, but I don’t see that as the problem. The question is not whether you’ll remain a member of the church in question, it has to do with your relationship with Rev. Wright and your feelings regarding all his comments, not simply the ones the media has gotten around to digging up.
Let me repeat what I’ve said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.
Let me repeat what I’ve said earlier: what about the statements we don’t know about? Why should we take you at face value?
With Rev. Wright’s retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good. And while Rev. Wright’s statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States.
No wonder you’re excited about Rev. Moss - he co-chairs the committee that you just dismissed Rev. Wright from, and he feeds the messiah complex that’s cropped up around your campaign, saying that you’re, according to the Plain Dealer’s interpretation of your articles, “fruit of answered prayers and the spiritual child of the civil rights movement.” Oh, and Rev. Moss is 73 while Rev. Wright is 67 - odd that the older guy isn’t much closer to retirement, hm?
Obama’s statement ends with that last quote, and the real problem with this is that it’s typical Barack Obama - the classic bait-and-switch we’ve become used to (”I repudiate those comments, and look over here at all this good stuff!”). We want to ultimately judge you on the basis of who you are and what you believe in - when a man such as Rev. Wright is such an influence on your life - and you’ve admitted as such numerous times - the American people you’re attempting to represent as President must know what you actually believe in, and tip-toeing around the issue with hedged excuses, half-stories, and outright lies simply will not cut it.
Up to this point, I’ve only felt that Barack Obama is the wrong man for the job. Right now, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to believe that he’s even fit for the office.