WTF - Obama - Rev. Jeremiah Wright

[mere1975]

Obama's addressing some controversy today about statements that his pastor, old friend and spiritual advisor (admittedly, a man who is like an "old uncle" to him, whose opinions he doesn't always agree with) made.

I'm off to look up Jeremiah Wright now. . .

_____

Edit: a tidy little summary of the situation here.

Does anyone really think that he believes and agrees with every word his pastor says?

Would Jewish supporters change their minds because his pastor went on a peace-seeking trip 24 years ago with Louis Farrakhan?

Isn't he allowed to have an opinion on 9/11 -- one that Obama has said he doesn't agree with?

I think this is just trying to play on voter fear -- that is, Obama is a black American man, but a "non-threatening" one for middle America. So far, his race hasn't hindered him much, but a link with black American culture could change that image of him. Does that make sense, or am I being racist myself?

Even conservative Brite Divinity School at TCU still plans to honor the reverend this month.

______


- Mere "how did I miss this this weekend?" 1975

[Irock]

Yeah, the whole thing is dumb. I'm sure you could find a member of my family that's a biggot without looking very hard; doesn't mean I'm one.

Also, I'm not sure what all he said about 9-11, but I don't find this all that disturbing.

he suggested the attacks were a consequence of violent American policies and proved that "people of color had not gone away, faded into the woodwork or just 'disappeared' as the Great White West went on its merry way of ignoring Black concerns

I actually find it a little disturbing that so many in this country have refused to even consider (and suggested that only a traitor would consider) that those attacks may have had something to do with our activities in the Middle East.


Saying the government invented AIDS, though, strikes me as a little wack-job-y...

[mere1975]

Saying the government invented AIDS, though, strikes me as a little wack-job-y...

I think this theory is more common than I realized.

I was just reading about a woman I heard speak a few years ago -- the Nobel Peace Prize laureate from 2004, Wangari Maathai -- and she may or may not have said the same thing. Not about the US, but about western scientists.

Controversy arose after the announcement of the Nobel award, when, according to Radio Free Europe, "News media in Africa -- including the Standard -- [...] have reported that Maathai has claimed HIV/AIDS was deliberately created by Western scientists to decimate the African population." [4]Radio Free Europe also reported that "Maathai denied making such allegations" and that "The Standard has stood by its reports." [5]

In a 2004 interview with Time Magazine, in response to the question, "You've said that AIDS is a biological weapon manufactured by the developing world to wipe out black people. Do you still believe that?" Maathai replied, "I have no idea who created aids and whether it is a biological agent or not. But I do know things like that don't come from the moon. I have always thought that it is important to tell people the truth, but I guess there is some truth that must not be too exposed," and when asked what she meant, she continued, "I'm referring to AIDS. I am sure people know where it came from. And I'm quite sure it did not come from the monkeys."[6]

In response she issued the following statement:

“I have warned people against false beliefs and misinformation such as attributing this disease to a curse from God or believing that sleeping with a virgin cures the infection. These prevalent beliefs in my region have led to an upsurge in rape and violence against children. It is within this context, also complicated by the cultural and religious perspective, that I often speak. I have therefore been shocked by the ongoing debate generated by what I am purported to have said. It is therefore critical for me to state that I neither say nor believe that the virus was developed by white people or white powers in order to destroy the African people. Such views are wicked and destructive.[7]"

Coincidentally, her Wikipedia profile also shows her with Barack Obama!

- Mere "I did not, however, think he agreed with her alleged possible theory on AIDS because he stood next to her" 1975

[zenmomma]

They just showed Obama's speech on Sky News here. I was on my lunch and was able to watch all of it. Try to watch it if you can. He said some pretty interesting things.

[NerfHerder]

The pundits are merely overemphasizing the relationship between Obama and this pastor. Fact is Obama joined this politically influential church for the connections and networking. They were extremely helpful in local politics, of course, but now 1+1ers are doubting Obama's ability to pick advisors (spiritual or otherwise) because of some good old fashioned church pastor embellishment.

Anybody who won't vote for a candidate based on their crazy supporter's whacked out ideas is silly anyway. I mean we only have three choices at this point and even the crazies have to choose. There's going to be some overlap here and there.

[Sybil]

I think this is just trying to play on voter fear -- that is, Obama is a black American man, but a "non-threatening" one for middle America. So far, his race hasn't hindered him much, but a link with black American culture could change that image of him. Does that make sense, or am I being racist myself?

Yes, you make sense. I heard about this over the weekend, and my immediate reaction was "somebody's trying to scare the white folks". It's an old tactic, underhanded but effective. Apparently these video clips of this minister that have been making the rounds are a few years old - which begs the question why they are surfacing now? Obama's campaign has been steadily gaining momentum. Time to bring out the scary black man - hide the (white) women and children, boys!

I have been an unapologetic supporter of Hillary from the jump. It pains me to think that her campaign could be the catalyst for this kind of dirty trick, but it's the only thing that makes sense. At the very least it's been instigated by someone who doesn't want Obama to get the nomination, and is trying to demonstrate that he can't win the general.

I didn't see Obama's speech, but I did read it online - you're right Amy, he did have some very interesting and thoughtful things to say. I'm liking that guy more and more.

Sybil

[roach]

I haven't paid attention to the news since last week, I'm amazed this thing is still going on. he went on fox news last thursday or friday to talk about it.

I guess we all know he's not muslim now.

[Rubbs]

I think this is just trying to play on voter fear -- that is, Obama is a black American man, but a "non-threatening" one for middle America. So far, his race hasn't hindered him much, but a link with black American culture could change that image of him. Does that make sense, or am I being racist myself?

Yes, you make sense. I heard about this over the weekend, and my immediate reaction was "somebody's trying to scare the white folks". It's an old tactic, underhanded but effective. Apparently these video clips of this minister that have been making the rounds are a few years old - which begs the question why they are surfacing now? Obama's campaign has been steadily gaining momentum. Time to bring out the scary black man - hide the (white) women and children, boys!

I have been an unapologetic supporter of Hillary from the jump. It pains me to think that her campaign could be the catalyst for this kind of dirty trick, but it's the only thing that makes sense. At the very least it's been instigated by someone who doesn't want Obama to get the nomination, and is trying to demonstrate that he can't win the general.

I didn't see Obama's speech, but I did read it online - you're right Amy, he did have some very interesting and thoughtful things to say. I'm liking that guy more and more.

Sybil

Sybil,

HRC's campaign has been distorting, dividing, and manipulating since Iowa. If you watch and listen critically...they consistently work in this fashion. Even though I have supported Obama for a couple of years now...I am very dissapointed in Clinton's campaign...to the point that I would have a hard time voting/trusting for/in her.

Obama has responded by thoughtfully attempting to balance between responding to distortions and negative attacks and uplifting the issues and his message. He is not perfect. But there is a message of Truth and Change that is very relevant to our nation.

Is this the country that we want it to be?

Do we really want to move forward?

How are we going to do that?

Less politics and more reality.



-rubbs

[katie]

Less politics and more reality.

fuck yeah.

[roach]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWe7wTVbLUU[/youtube]

[mr_j]

I say this REGARDLESS of whether or you like Obama or don't....

If you want to be a conduit of positive change, and you want to affect society in the best, most inclusive, and most productive way possible, then you don't associate with extremely negative, hate-filled, openly racist and separatist people like Mr. Wright. It has nothing to do with a fear thing, it has every thing to do with reputation. If I were to run for President, I most assuredly would not admit to being a two-decades-long follower of someone like that.

I see clients every day in a similar situation, and I tell them straight: you can tell me all day that you just 'friends' with drug-dealers or prostitutes, but if you consistantly run with them and you admit to looking up to them, your association with them will make you suspect. Like it or not--that's how things work in life; you make associations, you cannot complain when people associate you with them. Complaining about guilt by association is not acceptable; if you don't like to be found guilty, don't associate! That's my main beef w/Obama's support of this guy. If you're going to run for President: don't hang around radicals like this, because you'll have to answer for it!

Furthermore, you cannot begin to create a positive change when the people you call your spiritual advisors or your friends are people like Mr. Wright. Obama will have to answer for it; dodge the question all he might, and complain that it is dirty politics, he is still accountable for his actions; this is not some mere 'supporter'--this is a man with two decades' worth of close personal ties (not to mention being the man who brought Obama to "christianity," if I remember correctly.)

ps. i find political talk about change useless. i believe in helping people. but i don't talk about it. i just do it. talkin' ain't doin', after all. so you're gonna find me mostly mum about 2008...already lost a good friendship to political differences this year, and that's what bugs me about this election. not supporting Obama doesn't make me a bad person. sadly, there are those who feel otherwise...

[squeezle]

just a couple of quick thoughts on this...

i agree that this kafuffle totally smacks of carefully timed scare tactics to try to sway the outcome of the primaries. i find it revolting, far more revolting than a man calling to light the institutionalized racism and structural violence in our country.

i also disagree that what Rev. Wright is racist - having studied some liberation theology (mostly out of Latin America and Africa) what I hear is a man trying to motivate and empower a marginalized community to take action against social injustice. liberation theologians are primarily interested in ending oppression - always a bitter pill to swallow for those in power.
do i find him dangerous or scary? no, but then i'm a feminist and the same people that find Wright scary probably find me scary too.
do i agree with everything he says? no, but i do think there are a host of systemic issues that need our attention

And on the topic of AIDS, this view is very common in the United States and around the world. Check out AIDS and Accusations by Paul Farmer - it talks about the CDCs response to AIDS in the 1980s and some of the conclusions they drew were indeed very racist. Haitians were singled out as being one of the big 4 risk factors (Haitians, Homosexuals, Hemophiliacs, & Heroin users) and were treated horribly by our government – never mind the fact that there were no cases of AIDS in Haiti until it was brought there by American tourists. It’s a part of our recent history that doesn’t get much air time.

[NerfHerder]

Fucking ace speech, Barack.

[roach]

sa

[roach]

Fucking ace speech, Barack.

go to minute 19.

i have hit delete way to much in this.


ro"juneteenth"ach

trickle down, cute. shit loves taking the laws of gravity.