What Could It Be, It's A Mirage......

After watching a good deal of Reverend Wright's talk at the National Press Club yesterday afternoon I've concluded this guy is to Obama as Bill is to Hillary except ten times worse. My thoughts were mirrored in Bob Herbert's NY Times piece today and it's making me wonder if what I thought was Obama's sure ticket into the WH is suddenly being washed away by another short-sighted blowhard thinking the world revolves only around his tiny mind. 

Watching him parody the accents of Presidents and other politicians (and not even coming close) was just freaking weird and something you'd expect from someone who was not very sophisticated. I understand the positions he takes on race relations and this post has nothing to do that subject but only the fact that this guy is putting a huge dent in the campaign of the best candidate for President there is simply to feed his own ego. This is another great example of why religion and politics don't mix well.  It's time  to  cut the  cord on this clown. 

Comments

[Dr. Strangejazz]

Religion and Politics do not mix.

That being said I saw Rev. Wright speak before the National Press Club and I thought he made some good points. The problem is that he was PREACHING to them as if he was in church.

"The best quote was the religion of the master is not the religion of the slave."

White theology is different than black theology.

Apparently that point was missed and people were too busy paying attention to his bravado.

Bottomline: Rev. Wright is defending the black church but at the same time he's ruining it for Obama.

It is a shame people cannot separate the two.

Let this be a lesson to any black person who wants to be president. Tell your pastor to STFU.

[Jack Klompus]

"I understand the positions he takes on race relations and this post has nothing to do that subject but only the fact that this guy is putting a huge dent in the campaign of the best candidate for President there is simply to feed his own ego."

Why should Wright pander? He's not the one running for President. If something like this sinks Obama, then Barry's really not as strong a candidate as people thought. He's going to have to deal with much tougher shit than this in a general election, as well as in the Oval office.

"It's time to cut the cord on this clown."

Obama has cut the cord. It's all the media at this point. As long as it sells, they'll keep him in the "news" cycle.

"This is another great example of why religion and politics don't mix well"

Do politics mix well with anything?

[Jackie]

Black on Black crime is apparently very alive and very well.

[Mr. Kruger]

Why should Wright pander? He's not the one running for President.

I don't think anyone should pander for any reason. He's soaking up all this attention only because he's connected to Obama and if he really feels strongly about what preaches he'd be supporting him instead of torpedoing his campaign. The message he's sending "I'm more important than the first potential black President."

White theology is different than black theology. Apparently that point was missed and people were too busy paying attention to his bravado.

The point was not missed at all and I thought it was very meaningful. But he's seems to have little interest in using that insight as a means of helping Obama get elected and more as a way to punish him for denouncing other statements he has made in the past. The guy lacks character.

[Jeff]

Why does Wright keep giving the media reason to talk about him? Is he really trying to hurt Obama? I guess it's more important to him to defend his own statements than it is to see Obama succeed. Why did the NAACP invite him to speak? Didn't they realize what it would cause? Are they trying to hurt Obama's campaign? Was it so exciting to have a topical speaker at their gala that it was worth hurting Obama's campaign? This is truly frustrating.

[Jack Klompus]

"if he really feels strongly about what preaches he'd be supporting him instead of torpedoing his campaign."

Couldn't disagree more. If Wright feels strongly about what he preaches, then he certainly shouldn't shut up/apologize just to assuage white voters so they'll elect Obama. That would be contraditory to what he's all about. In the end, it's up to the Obama campaign to solve this media bonanza. If they can't, then they have no business being in the race.

[phil]

I think Kruger says it all when he said this:

"...this guy is putting a huge dent in the campaign of the best candidate for President there is simply to feed his own ego."

That's what's going on here.

[Mr. Kruger]

If Wright feels strongly about what he preaches, then he certainly shouldn't shut up/apologize just to assuage white voters

I can not understand this logic- if that's what it is. Making an ass of himself is in noone's best interest- not even his own.

[Jeff]

I just read this article which suggests these recent Wright appearances are part of a damage control strategy by the Obama campaign. I have to admit, now, it seems plausible. If so, I hope they know what they're doing.

[Jeff]

Oops, forgot the link:

http://isaacs.newsvine.com/_news/2008/04/28/1456616-catastrophe-for-obama-rev-wrights-naacp-speech

[Jackie]

I think Kruger says it all when he said this:

"...this guy is putting a huge dent in the campaign of the best candidate for President there is simply to feed his own ego."

That's what's going on here.

Agreed.

Horse's ass of the highest order.

[Dr. Strangejazz]

I think some of you here are missing the point.

Wright sees the attacks on him as an attack on the black church. I kinda agree with him on that. They were kinda an attack on black theology.

So he sees himself as defending the black church. In his mind the church is far more important than Obama. Because Rev Wright answers to a higher power.

So he doesn't need to pander to anyone because he is not apart of the Obama's campaign.

[phil]

He may feel this is all "an attack on the black church." But, it doesn't play out that way at all if you look at what has caused the uproar. It has nothing to do with anything other than him saying a lot of things that sound just a little bit nuts.

If it were an attack on the black church, you would see all of the usual players lining up behind him. That really isn't happening.

I still think this is a guy who is getting off on the attention at this point. Obama's having chosen him as a pastor in years past was based on how the guy was then. He's a little different now.

[Jack Klompus]

"I can not understand this logic- if that's what it is."

What can't you understand? Isn't this all about keeping Jeremiah quiet so whitey doesn't feel uncomfortable? Blacks are still gonna vote for Obama no matter how crazy the preacher gets.

Which brings me to another point. I don't believe Wright is hurting Obama's campaign as much as y'all perceive. How many Democrats would not vote for Obama because of Wright, versus the charge that "Obama is not as electable against McCain as Hillary?" The things is, one provides better soundbites and sexier headlines than the other. Still, both are being paddled around the news these days. Now one can argue the former is what is fueling the latter, but I think there's more to it than that.

[Jackie]

"It has nothing to do with anything other than him saying a lot of things that sound just a little bit nuts."

Exactly. It is about Him. Nothing more, nothing less. Him and his selfish, egotistical ass.

And, not for nothing, but whevener there is lively discourse taking place with reasonably intelligent people and someone prefaces their point with this missive ...

"I think some of you here are missing the point."

...I usually start searching around for a glass of STFU.

Isn't this all about keeping Jeremiah quiet so whitey doesn't feel uncomfortable?

No. It's about guilt by association and Wright is giving the media and the other campaigns every opportunity to carry on with this circus act. It's about the difference between having to listen candidates continually deflect mud and getting them to talk about the issues. It's not as complicated as you're making it out to be.

[Dr. Strangejazz]

@phil

You would like to think that the "usual players" would come out but that's not the case. IMO a lot of them were too scared to say anything for fear of making more of a mess of the situation. Besides a lot of people thought this was over after the Obama speech.

Rev. Wright is within his rights to defend the black church but it is hurting Obama's chances.

[phil]

"I don't believe Wright is hurting Obama's campaign as much as y'all perceive."

Klompus is right here. Goes without saying there are those who are grasping at anything they can to slow Obama's momentum. God, I certainly hope he doesn't accidentally run over his cat.

"...lively discourse taking place with reasonably intelligent people..."

Thanks for the generosity, Jackie. I needed that today.

[Jack Klompus]

"It is about Him. Nothing more, nothing less. Him and his selfish, egotistical ass."

No way. There's a lot more at play than just that. That may be Wright's own motivation, but there still has to be a medium and a willing audience. When you compare Wright with some of Obama's other skeletons (as well as Hillary's skeletons)it's interesting to me why this continues to have so much news traction. Why the fuck is it such a big deal? I'm not surprised, but I am perplexed.

[Dr. Strangejazz]

@Jack Klompus

It's a big deal because the media is making it a big deal. It's the media's way of letting people know that Obama is the BLACK candidate and he goes to a WACKY church.

At this point the whole coverage pisses me off. It's as if black people and white people are hearing TWO different things when it comes to this.

[phil]

@ Strangejazz

Since when are "lot of them ...too scared to say anything for fear of making more of a mess of the situation"? I rarely see that concern come into play in how some of those players decide when to throw their hat in. Perhaps I am missing the point of how, overall, what Wright says is in defense of the black church.

And, please, blame it on "THE MEDIA". THE MEDIA is responsible for casting this pallor on the campaign. I think we have to look deeper at how THE MEDIA is used, and by whom. I think it's obvious.

[Jackie]

No way. There's a lot more at play than just that.

Fair enough. I admittedly got a little carried away.

You would like to think that the "usual players" would come out but that's not the case. IMO a lot of them were too scared to say anything for fear of making more of a mess of the situation

All due respect, but honestly, where do you come up with this stuff?

[Mr. Kruger]

So he sees himself as defending the black church. In his mind the church is far more important than Obama. Because Rev Wright answers to a higher power.

And he sees himself as "The Black Church" and the higher power is more power.

[Dr. Strangejazz]

@phil

Yeah the media is to blame on this one because they could have choosen not to cover Rev Wright.

"I rarely see that concern come into play in how some of those players decide when to throw their hat in. Perhaps I am missing the point of how, overall, what Wright says is in defense of the black church."

I think you are missing the point. If you spent 48 minutes and listened to the entire speech made at the National Press Club you would get a better understanding.

As far as the usual players go. I think a lot of people thought this would blow over after Obama made the speech.

Another reason could have been Obama told them not to interfere.

[phil]

@ Strangejazz

"Yeah the media is to blame on this one because they could have choosen not to cover Rev Wright."

THE MEDIA. You talk about this like it is an singular entity. It's not. But I'm done with that.

Wright is a nut job. If he is defending the black church, he is actually doing it a disservice. The media covered him because old video of his sermons "happened" to land in their lap. How do you think it got there?