Yea, and I can appreciate Manson , but as a candidate I wouldnt want to be part of it or near it.

No stunt Greg. the two just dont really tie together for reasons I have mentioned at least a couple times now. And I suspect I explained it well enough for everyone else

Someone said Obama “chose to attend a church that seems to believe powerful white people wish to subjegate and kill blacks.” This country has a long history of churches filled with powerful white people who have wished exactly that on blacks, and to deny that, or to ignore that context is what is naive. Am I endorsing what Wright said? Hardly, but I can understand and appreciate the context in which statements like these are said and how they are snipped apart from everything else that is said and taken out of context.

What is even more telling is that no one here on this blog has taken on John McCain for actually going out and seeking an endorsement from a preacher who has said equally vile things about Americans. Why haven’t any of you said anything about that, or is this all really just a political stunt?

Greg;
“First of all, neither situation is about the ministers; they’re both about the senators. In the case of Barack Obama he has stood by his long-time minister even though he disagrees with many of his statements. That shows loyalty and courage.”

Obama is either incredibly niave or a bad liar.
This church is Obamas only real tie to the average black man in middle America. That will be one of his strongest supporters in this election. He risks alienating that base if he tells his pastor to take flying leap. Most of the black community will se it as a disenfranchisment of their support for him. Obama has no ties in his past to connect him to this part of America. He has always been in the upper echilons of a black elitest community.
I’ll bet right now he would love to just smack the crap out of Wright and tell him to shut the hell up.
But a presidential candidate expects me to believe that after 20 years of knowing this man that he had no idea ?
He is an incredibly bad liar, and niave for two reasons.
1) Not being hip to the pastors hate.
2) Or expecting me to believe he wasnt hip.

When they got there they told him they had voted unanimously to fire the young preacher and, while they naturally thought the elder would agree, they wanted to come to him and include him in the process. The elder said, “Well, you thought wrong.”

The board members said, “What do you mean? You don’t actually agree with all the things he says, do you?

The elder replied, “Of course not. But when my wife was on her death bed he spent the last eight hours of her life with her, and he spent the next eight hours with me. The man stays.”

If people walked out on their minister everytime he or she said something they didn’t agree with, there would be no one left in the pews. I certainly have had people disagree with me over the years, and there are no doubt things I have said from the pulpit I would like to take back or no longer agree with.

Ministry is about much more than just preaching. I don’t know all that much about Trinity but I suspect there was a lot more to Trinity’s ministry than just Rev. Wright’s provocative sermons. Nor do I believe that he was “vile” and “offensive” each and every Sunday. But it does appear that he got people thinking and that’s the purpose of preaching. The greatest compliment a parishioner can say to me is that they were still thinking about what I said a week or two ago.

Micky, I will engage you on one point. You’re absolutely right about there being a big difference between the Wright and Hagee situations. However, not in the manner you argue.

First of all, neither situation is about the ministers; they’re both about the senators. In the case of Barack Obama he has stood by his long-time minister even though he disagrees with many of his statements. That shows loyalty and courage.

John McCain, on the other hand, actively sought out someone who was not his minister for political purposes and then embraced the “spiritual leadership” Hagee was spewing.

Its definatly fair. Especially since Obama has not taken a srong enough stance against this nasty angry man.
Like I said, hes either and idiot or a liar.
To say he wasnt hip to his preachers standings reveals ignorance.
To try and justify it is disengenuous since he already un invited him to a function not too long ago.
Theres definatly a disconnect here.
” I was not in the pews when these statements were made”
You mean to tell me that in twenty years he could of seen a hint of this Pastors anti white sentiments ?
I dont think hes a hateful person either. But I do believe he sympathizes in a certain directions and I really dont see him embracing his white half in his choices. His wife, his church and those he surrounds himself with.
Looking into ones past when running for preseident is not only expected, its right. And yea, you will find dirt on just about anyone. God knows I know.
But 20 years ! Of not realizing this mans feelings ! Thats not just some small episode in the mans life, that huge.
If Obama should get elected do we really want guys like Wright influincing or having access to our president ?

It’s a wonderful post, Eric, and I agree with you that Condoleeza Rice does indeed have class and doesn’t deserve the disparaging and disgusting remarks from Reverend Wright, but evidently by considering the source I wouldn’t be surprised at anything coming out of his mouth. He’s vile!

I just wish we’d all just stop this guilt-by-association thing. It’s not fair to bash Obama for attending a popular, mainstream Black church.

JMJ