Posted on April 29, 2008 by thestateofblog
I’m outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday. I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992 and have known Jeremiah Wright for almost 22 years. The person I saw yesterday was not the person I met 20 years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but they also give comfort to those that prey on hate and I believe they do not accurately portray the perspective of the black church. They certainly do not accurately portray my values and beliefs. If Reverend Wright thinks that is political posturing on my part, he does not know me very well.
But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions, that the U.S. government is involved in AIDS, when he suggests that Louis Farrakhan represents one of the greatest voices of the 21st century, when he equates the United States’ wartime effort with terrorism, then there are no excuses. They offend me, they rightfully offend all Americans, and they should be denounced. That is what I am doing very clearly and unequivocally here today.
The State Of . . . Obama’s campaign. Throwing Rev. Wright under the bus will not sit well with allot of black people. And in this case, I don’t even think the saying, “you can always go home,” to Trinity that is, will apply to Obama when this is over with. I (rich) think this is a sad turn of events for Obama. I’m sure he will do his best to make-up for any lost ground with black people once he gets the nomination, but this will be remembered for some time.
Filed under: Politics
And I quote this very astute commentary from one of TSO’s frequent contributors, Big Wayne:
” Bad Timing. Rev Wright should disappear into the background until February 2009. Of course, he doesn’t speak for Obama, but he has alredy been indelibly linked to him.
Nothing that he says can help Obama, but there are many things he says can hurt him. ”
This will divide the party. It will upset many Blacks. Rev. Wright will fire back, and this whole fawking ordeal will snowball once again. This is bullshit. HRC should thank Rev. Wright personally, for not knowing when to STFU!
You think John McCain isn’t sitting around just licking his chop?
Do you really think this is going to offend blacks? Most have never heard of Rev. Wright until all this happened. Don’t you think most blacks will care more about putting Obama in office than they do about him slighting his former Rev that has gotten out of pocket?
Rich,
I’m with Sasha. This ain’t offending blacks. We’re backing Barack and we want Rev. Wright to shut the hell up!!!!
Good job, Barry Hussein.
Under the bus you go, Rev. Ego!
With food shortages, skyrocketing rates of foreclosure, and ridiculous gas prices, this is what people are concerned about?
Geez. People get the leadership they deserve.
I completely disagree with the sentiment that Blacks will be offended. Speaking for myself (as opposed to my whole entire race), I appreciated what was, in essence, Obama telling Wright to sit down and shut the fuck up. I dont think we give our bretheren (Sp) enough credit. We’ve managed to keep our eyes in the prize thus far. I believe folks will accurately see that Wright had become a liability who should be cut loose. And Obama did just that.
Wright has somehow tricked himself into thinking that his new found spotlight has something to do with him. As intelligent has he is, I expected him to do a better job at playing the game.
As the Rev. builds his 10,000 sq. ft. $1.6 million dollar home with church money… Who cares what the man of the cloth? thinks. He is in essence just like the Clintons. The same old bullshitter protecting his turf. And if blacks or whites can’t see that them let them fall by the way side. The ship is full anyway.
What its going to do is cause yet ANOTHER huge distraction from Obama’s campaign. Yeah, he had to come out and publicly denounce Wright, but had Wright not taken that interview this shit would have continued to subside into the background. And we could discuss a resolution to some real issues like unemployment or the fucking gas prices.
This is pissin me off. Not so much because I’m an Obama guy (cuz I am) but because I want to hear about the ISSUES! Not about what some fame hungry preacher who lost his perspective has to say.
Regardless of how smart or intelligent or accurate Wright’s comments may have been, his timing was shitty. THE SPOTLIGHT IS NOT YOURS! YOU ARE NOT RUNNING FOR SHIT! This was a selfish move on his part. Obama brought this nationwide notariaty to Wright, and what does Rev Wright do? Bite the hand that fed him.
I do not like that guy…not at all.
Pardon mon francais.
I hope you guys are right but I’m in Chicago and I’m a member of Trinity’s sister church. So maybe I’m a little sensitive on this point. I’m surprised at Obama’s reaction because I saw Rev. Wright’s speeches yesterday and didn’t see or hear anything wrong with them. I certainly didn’t see or hear anything that warranted such a strong reaction. I think Obama could have maintained his distance from Wright without this most recent denunciation. It’s starting to feel like he has to disassociate himself from anybody who says anything that might be interpreted as crazy by “them.”
rich
I certainly didn’t see or hear anything that warranted such a strong reaction
His little joke about wanting to be the VP on Obama’s ticket ticked me off alone. This dude is trying to make paper$$$ I heard him mention his book at least twice. I am with Big Wayne… Sit his ass down PLEASE! … He is royally f**king things up.
For real Rich?
Both my favorite columnist (Eugene Robinson) and that other guy at the NYTimes wrote today, Rev. Wright is wrong. Like the Good Book says, There is a time for everything…a time to speak and a time to BE SILENT.
And an attack “against the black church”?! There are tons of black churches that don’t support ‘Liberation theology’ but I guess Wright wasn’t talking about them…
Rich,
Please don’t tell me your feelings about this are colored by your being a member of the friggin’ sister chuch! What the hell is a sister church anyway??!!
Wright has lost his rational mind. You cannot underestimate what the public eye is doing to him. One day he is a respected former pastor in the Chi. Next day, he is more hated than OJ??? Everything you have ever worked for is being mocked and misconstrued in the Media. And then Barry O calls his views misguided… He’s pissed. I’d be pissed too.
Would I try to sink Barry O? Probably not.
I agree with DVV tho, watch O turn Lemons to Lemonade.
For real, t-hype. I thought Wright was off base trying to make it into a war against the “black church.” But still I thought Obama’s previous distance tactic was working well enough. Let the media and the right wing squabble over Wright so Obama can focus on what Dina alluded to earlier–food shortages, foreclosures, war, etc–you know, that important stuff.
Now that Obama has all out blitzed Wright, he ensures that this whole thing will be in the news for another week. And it only hurts Obama, not Clinton or McCain.
I watched Rev Wright the other day too.
I was not impressed. He offered various ways in which African culture leads to different results. Most of which, was silly and really off point.
Wright really blew his chance to make a meaningful statement to the country.
If I had 45 minutes of coverage from CNN….Let’s just say that you wouldn’t see my A** dancin on the podium and singin italian operas.
Does anyone on here that is mad at JW disagree with the content that was said? I can understand being upset with how he might have said them or the flippancy in which he spoke, but that doesn’t disuade me from believing that he was speaking the truth.
Is a minister supposed to be guided by political timings or Godly timings? We can all say that it would have been better to wait if Obama’s candidacy is all you care about, but it may be the case that in God’s timing, this was the appropriate time for JW to speak and to speak the truth. I can’t get mad at a man speaking the truth. I don’t wanna get so caught up in Obama becoming pres that I deny a man to speak truth at any time.
What does it profit a man to gain the world yet to lose his soul?
Or maybe I should say …
What does it profit a man to gain the presidency but to bury the truth?
rfw2
I can’t get mad at a man speaking the truth
Some was truth and some was his opinion.
Is a minister supposed to be guided by political timings or Godly timings
He was introduced to the world as Barry O’s friend, pastor and mentor. He held an official position in his campaign. His exposure should never have paralleled Baracks, now he has put himself in a contrarian position. Now, not only is he fighting HRC, He’s fighting Rev. Wright. If he opens his mouth one more time publicly to combat Obama’s sentiment, (I’ve got 20 bucks says he does just that ) Then what will you say. Will that be God’s timing too? He’s like one of the chicks from the Flava Flav show who gets on TV acts an ass then gets her own spin off. He’s looking for exposure.
” We can all say that it would have been better to wait if Obama’s candidacy is all you care about, but it may be the case that in God’s timing, this was the appropriate time for JW to speak and to speak the truth. I can’t get mad at a man speaking the truth. ”
What was wrong with him keeping his truth to the same few hundred people who he has been spitting it to for 20+ years? Why did he need to take a national forum to do this? He is looking for exposure. This is not about God.
I just don’t think that the Lord had anything to do with this. I believe if the Lord did call this man to get on national television and deliver a timely message, he would have given him a more eloquent message. What I saw on CNN was buffoonery. Rev. Wright is caught up in his own hype and in his own mind. It’s despicable and it is the quintessential reason that we as a people have a difficult time surmounting our many obstacles. Too many of us cut each other down. As a so called man of God, I expected him to continue to lift up Obama given the incredible predicament that he (Obama) was put in. I believe Obama did his best to tell the world, this is a man I love and respect; he made a mistake, etc. What was he supposed to do? I believe that most black people are mortified by Rev. Wright’s behavior and wish he would just go away.
half of the shit JW was spewing may have had some validity… and the other half was absolute non sense!!
C’mon, does anybody here really believe this right brain(black) left brain(white) learning crap? all of the differences he used for examples were not learning differences, they were cultural differences.
Which side of the brain does latinos or asians or arabs learn on??
And did you see the way he was dancing and prancing around on the stage at the press club?? Kinda looked like cooning to me….
Obama should have rejected, denouced and DISOWNED that jig a long time ago…
i’m not saying that this was definitely God’s timing. I’m saying that a preacher/minister should not have to hold his or her tongue based on the political timings, because they answer to God and not to the people. I also agree with the point about it being opinion, but I’m asking for you all to tell me which points of his opinion do you not share or think are totally outrageous? I can’t claim to know whether it is God’s
timing in this instance or if he speaks up in the future, but neither do any of us. I believe that, if it’s God’s will, Obama will be president and there’s nothing JW or any of us can do to change that.
Re: Big Wayne - “What was wrong with him keeping his truth to the same few hundred people …”. If it’s truth, then why would you limit it to a choice few?
If it’s truth, is it really about exposure or getting the truth out to the masses?
Re: ahh - I know a lot of black people that are not mortified. I agree that JW could have presented himself w/ more eloquence as I stated in my initial comment. I just think that he has a right to speak his mind when / where he chooses and that as a minister he does not have the obligation to make such decisions based on political timings
Re: Greek - ” … half was absolute nonsense …”. What half was that? In Monday’s speech, I saw nothing about the left/right brain. Are you referring to another speech?
That nigga JW is a coon. He cooned in front of cameras for millions. And for what?. And he wonders why white folk think that black folk are minstrels.
Where is Bill Cosby when you need him?
LOL
^Oh, please.
Obama is full of it. He’s been a member of the church since 1992. Obama started it with Wright when he disinvited Wright from his presidential announcement last year.
Wright was quiet and seemed to be somewhat passive about it while seeming to understand what BO was trying to acheive.
Then BO, for political expediency, was passive-aggressive last month as the Wright controversy was taken to a whole different level by the media. Again, Wright was fairly quiet, probably hoping things would blow over, but the media kept baiting him, and BO kept running his mouth condemning Wright’s LOOPED comments when HE (Obama) should have shown leadership and STFU.
I’m sorry, but a man is only going to take so much - especially a fireball like Wright . I don’t blame Reverend Wright. He did well and was patient for a long time while I would have BLASTED Obama a long time ago.
Say what you will, but to Wright’s credit, he has been consistent with his statements - although I don’t agree with all of them. He has not waffled like BO, who has accused Hillary Clinton of waffling.
In my opinion, it appears that Wright has AUTHENTICALLY and consistently addressed America’s weaknesses and racial problems. What has Obama done? He gave a fake and convenient race speech in Philadelphia to save his hide with white voters. While Wright is over the top on some issues, I’d take him over fake ass King Barry anyday.
Wright has been straight-forward, candid and honest. He has not tried to nuance his words. While BO is an appeaser and back-stabber.
BO deserves what he gets.
uh oh Terrence, you don’ did it now. Don’t you say nuthin’ bad about BO on TSO. Don’t you knows that they will come git ya’?
LOL
TSO has become a blind BO love fest. Hell, even Roland Martin is fair SOMETIMES. TSO on the other hand, can’t wait to spin a story in BO’s favor.
Even though i voted for him (BO), I will admit that Rev. Wright has seriously (in my opinion) damaged BO’s chances in next week’s election. In NC, all they need is a few snippets of Rev. Wright and BO together and it’s over. You can even put the TV on mute. Watch and see how the rural areas vote for HRC.
Obama is a politician. He said what he had to say. Wright was correct. And so is Obama.
I ain’t hating on the brother for it. He’s either running for POTUs or president of black america.
Not both. Get over it. You can’t sit on a fence and shyt on both sides.
RFW2 — if black people aren’t mortified then they should be.
Terrence — if you believe that JW is authentic, then you represent the nigga mentality that continues to keep this race down. You don’t have to be a fan of BO, don’t even have to vote for him, but JW being the face of black consciousness and/or a moral compass is ridiculous. What exactly has JW done except make the rest of us with some sense have to try to defend politics in the pulpit? I am SO tired of the problems we face being regurgitated without someone following up with solutions. Just how long are we gonna blame the white man? At some point, we as a community have to take matters into our own hands as we did once upon a time.
If JW was a true man of God then why does it matter how the media portrays him? They crucified Jesus and HE was forgiving. Aren’t these the principles that JW has taught for 20+ years? Hundreds of people go to him for guidance and this is his reaction because BO, no less the media failed/betrayed him? If JW was just doing God’s work/will he would stick to the programs that he says he created to help the down trodden and leave it at that.
aah … Why should blacks be mortified?
And if you’re saying that JW is just complaining about the problems but not coming up with solutions, then you can ask those on the southside of Chicago (including Obama) what JW has done to provide solutions for the problems facing black folx. The thing you seem to be accusing him of not doing is the thing that has been well documented as having been done.
Also, you make comparisons to Jesus as if He didn’t get crunk some times and cause a spectacle. Jesus created much more of a spectacle than this when he went into the temple and started turning over tables and benches while calling out folx in the church. (see Matt 21:12)
You don’t think this was a spectacle? Do you think Jesus mortified and embarrassed His people when he did this? Should Jesus have just stuck to the actions that were helping the down trodden here?
rfw2 — Jesus wasn’t self serving. I can’t say the same about JW.
Black people should be mortified because JW was cooning. Period. Call it what you will, it was buffoonery plain and simple.
Re: my statement as what JW has done, I was answering Terrance when he said that JW is the one who has consistently addressed America’s weaknesses and racial problems. While ground work is imperative and I honestly believe that, you need legislation. Who knows the number of lives that BO has impacted through his work.
And, when you are the Son of God, you get to act the way you see fit when you are trying to bring your people to salvation. Silly of me for holding a man of God to higher standards…
Wait so first, you say that JW should have used Jesus as an example for how to live by being forgiving, and now in this case, he shouldn’t have used Jesus as an example? That doesn’t sound consistent.
And forgive me if I misunderstand you, but are you saying that you are holding JW to higher standards than Jesus when you say “Silly of me for holding a man of God to higher standards”? Are you saying a man of God should be held to a higher standard than Jesus?
I thought Jesus is “THE” standard to which we all should strive to be like, meaning that there is no higher standard.
Most of what JW said is true. (AIDS created by the US is out in leff field, but consider the Tuskegee Experiment and what happened at PA psych hospital and more) And that ebonics comment was just pure niccashyt..
But bruh man needst to take the Farrakhan route right now and stay cool.
Testing
Big W…
“He was introduced to the world as Barry O’s friend, pastor and mentor.
Naw. man. He was introduced to your world as that. In reality Obama has a hell lot more to be thamkful for to Wright than the other way around. Obama could have handled this a man’s way, and basically told folks that “look I said what I said, take it or leave it, and exited stage left. Instead he kowtows to mofo’s like Hillary whose main squeeze, Ed Rendell publicly prased the NOI and the Minister, to types like O’Reilly who publicly said that he and McCain are part and parcel of the “white cristian male powerstructure” and gennerally makes himself look like a weak ass negro. White folks don’t respect limp dicked mofo.
Besides, I don’t give a good fuck what an elder says who helped you along, you say, “yes sir” and move along.
Y’all so hard on the Presidency that yiu wanna compromise your integrity? What you think as Pesident Obama can get anything positive done without black folks behind him en masse?
He can’t afford to piss us and particularly the black church, off.