Pay attention to what he means by reconciliation.
In his speech, Wright says, this whole affair has nothing to do with his views, or Brack Obama, but it is an attack on America’s black churches. Mean time, The Washington Post declares an open war on Black America right after he gave the speech.
Still More Lamentations From Jeremiah
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, explaining why he had waited so long before breaking his silence about his incendiary sermons, offered a paraphrase from Proverbs yesterday: “It is better to be quiet and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Barack Obama’s former pastor should have stuck with the wisdom of the prophets. Instead, Wright has gone on a media tour, climaxing with his appearance yesterday morning at the National Press Club. There, he reignited a controversy about race that Obama had only recently extinguished–and added lighter fuel.
From the moment he entered the room, Wright seemed to be looking to stir controversy; he was escorted by Jamil Muhammad, a leader of the Nation of Islam, which contributed to the minister’s prominent security detail. Speaking before an audience that included Marion Barry, Cornel West, the New Black Panther Party’s Malik Zulu Shabazz and Nation of Islam protocol director Claudette Muhammad, Wright praised Louis Farrakhan, defended the view that Zionism is racism, accused the United States of terrorism, repeated his belief that the government created AIDS to extinguish racial minorities, and stood by his suggestion that “God damn America.” Far from softening his provocative words, he held himself out as a spokesman for millions of churchgoing African Americans. “This is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright,” he argued. “It is an attack on the black church launched by people who know nothing about the African American religious tradition.” He added: “If you think I’m going to let you talk about my mama and her religious tradition … you got another think coming.”
Most problematic for the Democratic presidential front-runner was Wright’s suggestion that Obama was insincere in distancing himself from his former pastor. “He didn’t distance himself,” Wright announced. “He had to distance himself, because he’s a politician, from what the media was saying I had said, which was anti-American.” Wright spoke of friends who told him that “we both know that if Senator Obama did not say what he said, he would never get elected,” and he said of his past parishioner: “Politicians say what they say and do what they do based on electability, based on sound bites, based on polls.” And that apparent decision by Obama to exclude Wright from his presidential kick-off announcement? Didn’t happen. “I started it off downstairs with him, his wife and children, in prayer.”
The pastor’s performance puts new pressure on the candidate to say forcefully that Wright doesn’t speak for him or the African American church. Though the candidate said on Fox News Sunday that Wright had been “simplified and caricatured” by the sound bites of his inflammatory words, Wright willingly embraced the sentiments of those sound bites yesterday. In front of 30 television cameras, he mocked the media, leveled charges of racism at the government and, at one point, did a little victory dance on the podium. It seemed as if Wright, who jokingly offering himself as Obama’s vice president, was actually trying to doom his former parishioner. The pastor played right into the small band of anti-Wright protesters outside, who waved a sign: “Obama’s chicken comes home to roost.” In his 30-minute prepared speech, Wright made a cogent call for a “spirit of reconciliation” and delivered a rebuke to those who questioned his patriotism. “Those who call me unpatriotic have used their positions of privilege to avoid military service,” he said. He also protested that his infamous quotations were taken out of the full “context” of his sermons.
But the spirit of reconciliation dissipated during the question period, as Wright expanded on his fiery quotes. The crowd (all but a few tickets were bought by churches and organizations supporting Wright) cheered loudly and heckled the moderator, a USA Today reporter, when she tried to maintain order. He explained his claim that the Sept. 11 attacks meant “America’s chickens are coming home to roost.” Said Wright: “You cannot do terrorism on other people and expect it never to come back on you.” Wright defended Farrakhan’s statement “20 years ago that Zionism–not Judaism–was a gutter religion.” Of the Nation of Islam leader generally, Wright added: “He is one of the most important voices in the 20th and 21st century … Louis Farrakhan is not my enemy. He did not put me in chains, he did not put me in slavery and he didn’t make me this color.” At this point he traded a high-five with Barbara Reynolds, a local pastor.
He repeated his belief that the government created AIDS as a means of genocide (”Based on what has happened to Africans in this country, I believe our government is capable of doing anything”). He defended his earlier comparison of US Marines to the Roman soldiers who killed Jesus, saying the “notion of imperialism” is the same. The moderator asked the audience whether Wright should apologize for his “God damn America” remarks. Shouts of “No!” followed, and Wright used the occasion to demand an apology for slavery. “Until that apology comes, I’m not going to keep stepping on your foot and asking you, ‘Does this hurt?’ Do you forgive me for stepping on your foot, if I’m still stepping on your foot? Understand that? Capisce?” Capisciamo, Reverend. All too well.
I urge my readers to watch the speech and compare to the above article, and compare how much time it was giving to Louis Farrakhan (during Q & A section).
The high tech lynching continues, ladies and gentlemen.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Via Niqnaq
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I honestly feel Reverend Jeremiah Wright should have kept his mouth shut until after the election.
Comment by Robert Friday April 29, 2008 @ 4:47 pmWhen have we had a black man to get this far in a
Presidential election? I have notice whenever a black man or woman obtain status, it’s usually a
black person trying to bring them down. It’s very difficult as it is for Obama and he comes along with his big mouth and absurd rhetoric
at the press club like some damn little clown. Take his ass back to his church and preach
there and not to the public about a black man who is trying to accomplish something. It really saddens me to hear and see his face on television.
Not only am I mad, I am damn right furious for what he has done and still doing. I will vote for Obama and I like Hillary but I feel we should give him a chance since Hillary has already been there. What he has done is exactly what the white race wants to see, another high level black man
bite the dust. Reverend Wright says it has nothing to do with Barack Obama but the black churches. That is BS, he just wants publicity and trying to make a name for himself. Change is what we need and I believe Obama can and will do it.
Robert,
Please. I also felt that the Rev. Wright should have waited due to how the media was going to use what ever he said as kryptonite for Obama.
However people like you annoy me with your rhetoric. You do not know this man. You said the following:
“he just wants publicity and trying to make a name for himself. Change is what we need and I believe Obama can and will do it.”
1. Wright is ranked as one of the most profound and recognized black ministers in the county. He has a name and a legacy and it was destroyed. 35+ years of ministry and public service was destroyed. He also had his sermons televised on TV-One in the mornings…so stop with the “he’s trying to make a name for himself”. The man is trying to save what he spent his whole life doing.
2. I personally feel for Wright even though I feel like his timing was bad. I also do not think that he should have done the NPC becomes it was like walking into the LION’S DEN.
3. Where do you suspect Obama got his message of “hope” (audacity of hope) and change (need for transformation and reconciliation) from…guess??
I support Obama 100% but I am not going to dog the Rev. I like him and think that he is a man of truth. He was more than dragged through the mud, his character was assisinated. He has been distorted to the point it became criminal. This country does not like truth but I DO.
I am only 21 and I believe in Wright’s worldview. He is very contemporary. He isn’t an “old guard” or “outdated” like many think.
He speaks of change. The need to accept one another for our differences and unify. I do not know why people keep claiming that he is striving for the opposite.
Comment by RhondaCoca May 2, 2008 @ 5:00 amAs salaamu alaikum,
Wright knew very well what he was doing when he went into the Press Club.
I agree with Rev. speaking out on his role of addressing issues but at the same time - the demeanor, tone, mood, and TIME he did it was totally inappropriate.
He should read Ecclesiastes 3
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
[...]
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.
[...]
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
Obama haters were baiting - dying to see race explode on the Presidential scene and Wright played right into it consciously.
Did Wright think what he was saying, was something that only he had realized? No - you can hear the same materials from Minister Farrakhan but you don’t hear him at the Press Club because he knows very well that the TIME is not right.
The truth can set you free, but there is time for the truth - I think that’s an Islamic principle as well.
Lets not also forget that America is majority white, right?
Comment by Dunia's Stranger May 2, 2008 @ 9:09 amWa’aleikum salaam Dunia,
Yes, the majority of population are Whites, but look at how 2 % of population (Jews) in US are giving special treatment, and all the candidates fight who is more pro-Israeli & Zionist than the other. Even the Spanish speaking population are courted beyond than the Blacks. Why is it wrong to talk about Black issues; the prison incarnation, the apartheid the Black people face in health care, education, housing market, legal system (you can get free if you shoot an UNARMED blackstudent man 50 times. Just think for a second if the man was a White)etc. Why is it a minefield to raise these issues? Or should we wait another Katrina to see the bigger picture?
Before the Whites became the majority, let us remember that there were indigenous people in land, but since they were wiped out, don’t forget the Black slaves built the country and made waves to industrial revolution in Europe and gave us Goethe, Bach, Dickens and others so they could write their masterpieces quite and peacefully.
Yes, the Blacks are minority, but they were once the majority, long before the Irish,Germans and East Europeans came, and they still fight to be recognised equally before the law.
I believe, as someone said, Rev. Jeremiah Wright did a tremendous favour to Obama, to remind him who he is and to avoid to become an Uncle Tom.
God help us Africans & 3rd. world people if he becomes the President
Comment by gess May 2, 2008 @ 12:00 pmHow can you say that Wright did Obama a favor to remind him not to become an Uncle Tom.
I find that a comment offensive (not racially because I’m not black) but because that term is often thrown around. Give the man some credit - he came under much pressure for not wearing an American flag pin and he didn’t buckle under pressure. He didn’t run out and change his middle name back in the 90s because he was running for office - I know Muslims who have no political inspirations and they change their names.
1st - I’m not a person who thinks that Obama is the answer or some messiah for America or the worlds problems.
2nd - Hispanics outnumber blacks in America. They are a political force to be reckoned with, hence arguably their vote is more important the black communities. But you don’t hear any Mexican politician or padre speaking about US stealing California from Mexican during the US-Mexican war of 1846?
3rd - Jews, well… your familiar with the Mearsheimer/Walt work so you already know how things work.
Yes, they are only 2 percent but remember one of the key aspects of the US Const 1st Amen is freedom of speech, press, and petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Guess what - it helps to have money to exercise those rights and well being financially well off helps petition government - hey its a democracy and Jews are only exercising their rights under it. I don’t hate them for what they can accomplish but I do hate the results it produces. Hence population of a people in the US don’t really matter. Think of why the US has such as hard line embargo against Cuba? Cuban expats have such a big influence. Think of why US agriculture is HEAVILY subsidized? They lobby hard!
Sean Bell’s shooting is tragic -yes, a black man was shot 50 times by 2 of 3 officers who were also BLACK, with the Black officer being the first to draw his gun on him.
Look, there is nothing wrong with talking about Black Issues - Cornel West talks about them all the time and in mainstream media as well but he didn’t do it in a way that was selfish.
Yes, Wright did in a selfish way. He got up in the press conference Q&A and answered questions in a way that were not in the sensitive manner his speechs and interviews are.
Comment by Dunia's Stranger May 2, 2008 @ 2:05 pmNot at all, it is not offensive to call him an Uncle Tom, look at his record. He voted the continuation of Iraq War and threaten to nuke Pakistan. He is, agree or not agree with me, a toll of American imperialism, and there is no indication what so ever that he will end more wars and close the US military bases in more than 150 countries. If you ask me, the Pakistani people have reason to worry about if Obama becomes the President then McCain, simply looking at how he in the speed of the light distanced from Rev. Wright, while McCain’s pastor still enjoys the limelight. It proves he will do anything to please whoever finances him and has no backbone.
Excuse moi Dunia, is that not the case Rev. Jeremiah Wright came out to defend his name? And why should Blacks and non-Blacks show their patriotism? It is not about serving your country six years in military, but how dare you to criticize our way of life.
But he still faces problems to convince voters that he is not a Muslim in a manner Neo-conservatives, Zionists and Christian Zionists bash the Muslims
http://gess.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/obama-he-wants-the-white-vote-the-black-vote-the-jewish-vote-but-he-aint-looking-for-the-muslim-vote/
Ok, I am more interested in to know why he is better than the other candidates, and what changes he wants to bring.
Not from average people who had no say about NAFTA agreement or anything about the distribution of their country’s resource. A look the power sharing in Mexico is good start to begin with.
The rest, I’ll comment later, Insha’Allah.
Jazak Allah Khair for your comment.
Comment by gess May 2, 2008 @ 3:53 pmGess,
This is the last post I’ll make on this topic.
I want to see where you get the source that Obama said that he’d nuke Pakistan - I know that one can imply from his words in a mangled way that might suggest but the 1 thing i recall from that speech were he was asked about al qaeda is that he would not use them against civilians and that they are generally off the table in terms of options.
And trust me, the Pakistani people are not worried about him - I think the average person there is more concerned with the price of wheat having doubled than his subtle comments in a primary.
Ending the bases in the different countries in the world? wow - you can’t be serious right? I don’t think there is a single person alone that can do that. haha. Your talking about him dismantling an entire industrial military complex? Thats even more of political suicide than criticizing Israel.
Voted for the continuation of Iraq? What that really means is that hes willing to help provide the troops already there the armor to stay alive.
The comment on backbone - did you forget that hes running for a political position? Not spiritual/moral position? You think he’s not going to try to do everything that he can to improve his chances of winning? I guess he’s an uncle tom then? In fact, every black politician is an Uncle Tom.
Look nobody’s perfect - especially not politicians. JFK refused to criticize Sen McCarthy during the 50s yet what he did for this country in other respects is great. Maybe it would have been better had Nixon won in 1960 rather than JFK since JFK was sell out for not criticizing McCarthy.
Why is he better? 1 simple reason - lesser of the evils. I don’t think who is better; I think who is less evil and greedy, and I think he is because McCain wants 100 possible more years in Iraq and Hillary said she’s obliterate Iran if they attacked Israel.
Wright did not come out to defend his name for the Press Club event - he already had defended it on the Bill Moyers interview. I have to agree with Bob Herbert on this point: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/opinion/29herbert.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=herbert&st=nyt&oref=slogin
On a related note. I don’t know if you’ve lived in America or where you live exactly in America but outside of the major cities America is very deeply religious, white, and generally wary of foreign names. Its a surprise Obama has made it this far.
Comment by Dunia's Stranger May 2, 2008 @ 7:12 pmDunia,
Just you know, I did not forget your comment
PS. I hope you had a wonderful weekend.
Comment by gess May 5, 2008 @ 3:43 pm