Shelby Steele on Obama and his pastor problem
His pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is a challenger who goes far past Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in his anti-American outrage ("God damn America").How does one "transcend" race in this church? The fact is that Barack Obama has fellow-traveled with a hate-filled, anti-American black nationalism all his adult life, failing to stand and challenge an ideology that would have no place for his own mother. And what portent of presidential judgment is it to have exposed his two daughters for their entire lives to what is, at the very least, a subtext of anti-white vitriol?
What could he have been thinking? Of course he wasn't thinking. He was driven by insecurity, by a need to "be black" despite his biracial background. And so fellow-traveling with a little race hatred seemed a small price to pay for a more secure racial identity. And anyway, wasn't this hatred more rhetorical than real?
Labels: 2008
posted by Matt Friedeman at
9:21 PM
4 Comments:
I would say it is not much different than folks who claim to be Christian who exalt people like Rush Limbaugh to the heights of greatness. His devisive and vile words are accepted right-wing dialogue. Rush sure has a lot more and more strongly dedicated following than Jeremiah Wright. Rush is openly praised by just about every conservative that gets a chance. You will not find me supporting Wright's words and Obama also denounced them. But how many conservatives go on day after day afraid to denounce the words of Limbaugh because he is respected and influential in those circles?
Trying to justify somebody's bad actions by someone else's bad actions does not deflect the truth that they are doing bad. Rush is not the current or former spiritual advisor for any person running for president. Blind devotion to any person makes one blind to the world around them. Obama's devout supporters should really open their eyes and judge his actions as they would judge any other politician's running for office.
Annonymous. Judge Obama by his actions and words then. And to act as if Rush is not influential to Republican candidates is naive. One does not excuse the other. It is just angering alot of people that Republican candidates year after year have sought the endorsement of questionable individuals and organizations and no where near this level of interest came from it. Can anyone in their wildest dreams see a Republican candidate denouncing Billy Graham or rejecting his endorsement because of his anti-semitic comments? And do not act like Jerry Falwell was not respected in Republican circles.
Wait a minute! Didn't John McCain run over to Liberty University and kiss up to that master of hate Jerry Falwell?
Didn't George W. Bush make a trip to Bob Jones University when he knew about its stand on interracial dating?
The Republican Party has spent the last 25 years cultivating close friendships with some of the biggest religious demagogues of all time.
Obama gave a speech where he explained his actions. McCain has been known to hang with religious nuts as well.
What does any of this have to do with getting this country back on the right track?
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