Soap Opera Politics Vol 1, Issue 8: Rev Wright & Obama

I am trying very hard to be neutral on this. Please share your views. I was hoping the Rev Wright controversy would die down and Obama and Hillary would have a nose to nose race to the finish. Then, at the convention, they would kiss (like the pix on the side of my homepage) and make-up, both be on the same ticket (either way) and they would bring all the Dems together for a win in November. A real kumbaya moment.

Now, I think Rev Wright may be disrupting my dream! Please let me know your thoughts. I am worried now about the Dem´s ability to elect a President in November especially given the obvious Black vs White divisiveness Wright appears to be creating. I am wondering whose side is Wright on? Could he be an undercover Right Winger?

Last Thursday. Rev Wright was on Bill Moyers on PBS. Yesterday he was on CNN speaking during an NAACP dinner. Today, he was speaking at the National Press Club. He is on every cable news Channel answering questions before the Press. He is everywhere!

First, Jeremiah Wright often speaks of himself in the 3rd person.

Rev Wright says he is descriptive when he speaks about racial injustice -- not divisive, as his critics say. Yet in his next sentence he says criticism about his speeches were not an attack on him but on the Black Church. He said the black religious tradition, despite its long history, is in some ways “invisible to the dominant culture.” He does attempt to bring the message together by saying, "this means rooting out any teaching of superiority, inferiority, hatred or prejudice and recognizing that each person is one of God’s children … no better, no worse. Only then will liberation, transformation and reconciliation become realities and cease being ever-elusive ideals.”

Flabs Blogger quoted these comments from Rev Wright:

. This Wasn’t an Attack on Me, It Was an Attack on the Black Church
. Hits those who “worship Sunday mornings in a black clergy robe, then burn crosses on Sunday evening with a white Klan robe.”
. “The Christianity of the slave-holder is not the Christianity of the slave.”
. On Farrkhan: “How many people do you know who could get one million people on the mall? Farrakhan is like E.F. Hutton. When he talks, black America listens. Whether they agree with him or not, they listen.”
. On Obama’s reaction: “We both know that if Obama had not said what he said, he would never get elected.”
. “We have never apologized for slavery. We have never apologized for Japan.”
. On the Government created AIDS: Have you read “Medical Apartheid”? I read different things.. Cites the Tuskeegee Experiments. “I believe our government is capable of doing anything.”

Early Reaction to the Reverend´s words:

. Juan Williams, a Black Commentator on Fox News, said Reverend Wright confirmed the worst.

. Tamaran Hall, a young, female, black commentator on MSNBC said “Rev Wright came across as Arrogant and Cocky."

. Christian Broadcasting Network: "Jeremiah Wright did Barack Obama no favors. A lot has been made about why Jeremiah Wright would come forward now at such a sensitive time for the Obama campaign. I think we got our answer today. As much as he cares for Obama, he cares much more about defending his Church. He came to the National Press Club to get a few things off his chest and take some digs at the media must have felt good."

. Joe Watkins, Black media pundit on MSNBC, "He´s killing Barack Obama." "What poor timing! A good Pastor does not throw their members under the bus. Rev Wright was trying to set the record straight for the sake of Rev Wright." "Obama is trying to bring in the White Working Class Voter and every time Wright speaks, its guilt by association and Obama is losing these voters because of Rev Wright."

. David Axelrod, head of Obama Campaign, "Rev Wright is doing what Rev Wright feels he must do. We have no ability to influence that. I dont think we would have encouraged him to go on this "media tour."