Remembrance of Things Pastor
I think that Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has been fatally damaged by the revelations of the extreme statements of his pastor, Jeremiah Wright. A couple of examples:
“The government gives them [African Americans] the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, God damn America, that’s in the Bible for killing innocent people,” he said in a 2003 sermon. “God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme.” [2003]
“We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye …. We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America’s chickens are coming home to roost.” [September 16, 2001]
A candidate for president of the United States cannot cozy up to someone with this kind of anti-American rhetoric. He has lost Main Street white America. Is anyone going to believe that he didn’t know about Wright’s views? Is anyone going to accept as an explanation that he wasn’t in attendance when these things were said? He’ll get clobbered in Pennsylvania, clobbered in Indiana, clobbered in Kentucky.
This isn’t about white racism. It’s about Wright racism.
I thought that Obama was exempt from racial reactions because he was the Tiger Woods of politics. People looked at him and saw him not as someone who is black, but as someone who transcended race because of his unique skills and accomplishments. Not any more. He just triple bogeyed the presidency. He’s done. He was done the day he first heard Wright’s outbursts and didn’t resign from the congregation. There is no way that the superdelegates will send him out as the Democratic nominee now. The truth is, Obama did fine until the Clinton campaign began to attack him, and then he showed that he just wasn’t up to it. Better we find out now than later.
Anonymous says:
Paul,
Haven’t you learned to stop making predictions?
If Obama ends up winning the general, will you quit your job and retire? Seriously, I’d like to see you put up or shut the f&ck up.
You thought Obama could transcend race because he didn’t talk about it and made your old white ass feel like you were absolved of your historical racism. Now that someone Obama knows is on tape as an angry uppity negro you don’t feel comfortable anymore.
Well guess what? You were never for Obama, you are for McCain. You like old rich white dudes because you yourself are an old rich white dude. You love yourself some institutional racism too!
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Anonymous says:
Sounds like Ba-rack Obama has an evil twin named Ba-lack Obama. So which one would voters get if they elect him?
It’s best we not have to find out. I’ll take Hillary or ol’ Johnny Mac having those nuclear launch codes any day of the week.
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Anonymous says:
This is a prime example of why white voters should be extremely careful of voting for Barack Hussein Obama. I think many of these young caucasians are voting for Obama just because they think it would be “cool” to have a black dude in the Whitehouse.
I grew up in Detroit (and I don’t mean the suburbs). If anybody wants to see what America could end up like under an Obama administration of 4 or 8 years’ duration all they have to do is look at what happened to what was once one of this nation’s greatest cities–Detroit. See website http://www.detroitiscrap.com for the full flavor of what I’m talking about.
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Anonymous says:
I guess mccain gets a free ride with the catholic hater rev hagee and his evil twin rev parsley…but then agin double standards always fit the winger world well
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Anonymous says:
Burka’s a right-winger with a sever case of political myopia.
Obama’s preacher is a non-story — right up there with the political views of his pharmacist and gardener.
Burka, wanna be judged on the views of your preacher, the next time you write something for Texas Monthly.
No, that would be ludicrous. Right?
MSM sucks.
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Anonymous says:
Oh yeah I forgot, there are no black people on “main street USA.”
At some point, there needs to be anthropological expedition into main street white America to see if Burka’s Norman Rockwell wet dream ever really existed.
How ’bout this, let’s just go to effin’ Dayton and ask the first ten white people that don’t have mustard on their round, honky faces and see whom they will vote for. Whoever it is, wins! We could save millions on elections or at least it will save the next 6 months of Burka-esqu predictions of the impending disaster for any Democrat and how everything is good news for Speaker Craddick.
Jesus, Mr. Burka, you have become a parody of yourself. How wrong do you have to be for how long before you become both “wrong and wrong on Texas politics”?
John Sidney McCain has n
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Anonymous says:
Hey Paul. I want to remind you that this is one of the most unusual elections in history and that very little of what was predicted to happen has happened. These past few months have taken all sorts of twist and turns and I think it’s incredibly premature to write Obama off.
After all, who would have thought that the Clintons could have rebounded from Whitewater, Monica, etc? And, that’s probably just the tip of the iceberg if the truth were to be known.
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Anonymous says:
Paul – have you ever attended services at a black church? I know this sounds a little off-putting, but most black ministers have something to say about this country still being racist in their sermons on Sunday.
And yeah, it’s OK to root for the extinction of the Jews a la Hagee, but not to get mad about racism?
First, Obama wasn’t black enough for black folk, and now he’s too black for the racists. Geeez.
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Anonymous says:
It’s typical of the double standard which abounds in Black-White relations in “politically correct” 2008 America.
For a White person to say anything against Blacks is viewed as heresy, while it is perfectly acceptable for Blacks to say anything they please against Whites.
What if it had been a White presidential candidate attending a church whose White pastor had made anti-Black comments?
Everybody with any sense knows darn good and well that that White presidential candidate would be scorched and then tarred and feathered.
So why should Obama get off scott-free?
If it is wrong for Whites to be racist, then it is equally wrong for blacks to be racist. Stop the double standard.
Hurray for Paul Burka having the guts to tell it like it really is.
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Anonymous says:
I understand Paul to say that you cannot run for American President an anti-American … or one who enthusiastically associates with anti-Americans. This isn’t his pharmacist; this is the person from whom he takes spiritual counsel and has identified with in the past. Independent and moderate voters (regardless of race) won’t give Obama the benefit of the doubt here.
This is McCain’s dream come true, and Obama has to deal with this issue. Lots of folks feel Obama has not been fully vetted, and this kind of thing affirms their worst fears.
So, unless he takes command of the situation and the spin, the D’s are in a horrible spot. If the supers nominate Mrs. Clinton, it will overturn the popular vote to nominate Obama and thus alienate young and black voters across the country. If they nominate Obama as-is, they alienate moderates who feel the race is between an anti-American and a war hero … during a time of war.
That said, Obama is probably the best communicator since … well the “great communicator.” He has a mesmerizing presence reminiscent of both Reagan and Clinton. He may be able to overcome this setback. But it’s going to be one tough, tough sell.
Some of you may think Paul’s prediction a bit of a reach. But you know it rings true.
As another evil, sexist, racist, rich white male once said, “[you] dost protest too much, methinks.”
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Paul Burka says:
I didn’t like Falwell, I didn’t like Hagee, I didn’t like Robertson, and I don’t like Jeremiah Wright or any other so-called men of God who preach hatred.
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Anonymous says:
Paul, I am almost always with you, and I plan to vote for McCain.
But at the same time, I think you have overreacted this time.
The same people hating Wright already hated Obama. I have not heard any white voter say they switched away from Obama because of Wright.
By the way, I notice that Wright is about to be honored by TCU.
That’s about as white-mainstream as you can get.
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Anonymous says:
Where is the 3rd party when you need it? Dems are committing seppuku, while the Reps are still sold on iraq and tax cuts. mcCain panders to the religious right; Obama repudiates Wright but does not resign from the church, and the non-racist Clinton machine injects racism. No wonder it’s hard to generate political enthusiasm among the young! Hypocrasy Rules!
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Paul Burka says:
Readers may be interested in Obama’s position on the controversy surrounding Rev. Wright’s remarks, response, which appears online at huffingtonpost.com.
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Anonymous says:
“I didn’t like Falwell, I didn’t like Hagee, I didn’t like Robertson, and I don’t like Jeremiah Wright or any other so-called men of God who preach hatred.”
The fact that you imply these three preachers are somehow “equivalent” betrays a breathtaking ignorance. Go buy Bill Martin a cup of coffee before you post again.
It’s clear how FOX, et al is and will spin and splice the Dr. Wright’s sermons.
Obama’s response to and rejection of Wright’s over the top rhetoric is consistent and clear.
Better for the dems that this come out now.
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Anonymous says:
“I didn’t like Falwell, I didn’t like Hagee, I didn’t like Robertson, and I don’t like Jeremiah Wright or any other so-called men of God who preach hatred.”
I have no trouble believing the veracity in the above statement. But, the hypocrisy is clear: when you disagree with the sermons or ideology of a religious figure associated with a political figure you like, it’s not a bid deal. But, when you disgree with the religious sentiment tangentially related to a presidential candidate of a party for which you do not vote, it is a “fatal error”.
Granted, I am an effin’ moron, but even I can see that.
When white protestants “preach hate” it’s okay because you consider them “mainstream”. When black protestants “preach hate”, it’s fatal because it proves that they are out of “white main street america” – whatever the %*$! that means. Why is one different than the other?
To echo another anonymous poster above: Hurray for Paul Burka spouting hypocrisy at best or religious bigotry at worst!!!!
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Anonymous says:
Damn you rich! You already have your compensation.
Damn you who are well-fed! You will know hunger.
Damn you who laugh now! You will weep and grieve.
Damn you when everybody speaks well of you!
A rant from a radical preacher? Without a doubt. Someone on the Obama campaign? That’s the Scholars Translation of Luke 6:24-26, and the speaker is Jesus of Nazareth.
In the King James Version, the first part of Luke 6:24 reads “But woe unto you that are rich!” That comes off as quaint and a lot less shocking to modern ears — not the kind of preaching that nets you space on Fox News. But Jesus meant his words to be shocking. He meant them to strike against the status quo and shake up the comfortable.
God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human.
God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme.
That’s Jeremiah Wright.
Is the vision of a pastor standing in his pulpit shouting “God damn America” shocking? Yes. But don’t mistake Wright’s (or Jesus’) statement for what some drunk in a bar would mean using the same phrasing. Wright isn’t saying “FU America!” he’s saying “these actions of America are worthy of God’s condemnation.” He’s just saying it in a way that cuts through the Sunday morning sleepiness and makes people sit up in their pew.
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Eileen Smith says:
Wow.
[anonymous 1] “You like old rich white dudes because you yourself are an old rich white dude. You love yourself some institutional racism too!”
[anonymous 5] “Burka’s a right-winger with a sever (sic) case of political myopia.”
[anonymous I lost count] “Hurray for Paul Burka spouting hypocrisy at best or religious bigotry at worst!!!!”
Personal attacks? Accusations of racism? At least say something constructive.
And if Paul’s such a know-nothing, racist dumba**, well, then ask yourself, why are you reading his blog?
Sidebar: If you want to read a dumba** blog, you can read mine.
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Anonymous says:
I can read whatever blog I want for whatever reason I want. And people are free to comment here within the rules described on the page.
So thank you, I will both read and comment to my heart’s delight- as long as your site doesn’t cowardly take away comments again.
Saying burka is spouting hypocrisy or religoius bigotry is not an ad hominem. It’s my belief or more accurately my fear. I also am afraid that he can’t see the hypocrsiy in his analysis. I am afraid that he may be practicing latent religious bigorty. An ad hominem would be the following:
“Paul Burka is the kind of person when he finds a chesnut, he thinks it’s an orange and blames Democrats for the discrepancy.”
For good and ill, Burka is considered the preeminent voice on the Texas Legislature. His prozaic worldview can make or break legislative careers or at the very least frame what citizens think about their Legislature. Why shouldn’t he be held to the same standard that he holds others to?
As for saying something constructive, I will start when he does. Until then, I don’t give two shakes of a lamb’s tale what you think of me.
Finally, Ms. Smith, if you think me a fool for responding on this blog about Mr. Burka’s comments, then I can’t imagine what a fool you must be for respodning to mine.
You guys at the Texas Monthly really need to get thicker skin either collectively or individually.
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Anonymous says:
To anonymous at 9:37 p.m., it is crystal clear to me that what Jeremiah Wright is actually saying is “God damn you, White fokez”.
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txasslm says:
anon at 10:00 p.m.
you really shouldn’t drink when you write.
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Anonymous says:
Geraldine Ferraro was right, the only reason that Barack Hussein Obama has gotten as far as he has in this presidential campaign is simply because he’s Black.
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Anonymous says:
Paul,
Great job….the clintons have done a great job reviving the southern strategy…well done.
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Anonymous says:
I think everyone is missing the point. The point is choosing your preacher is a very personal thing – it is nothing like choosing your gardener or Pharmacist or even doctor. NO one forces anyone to attend church, you seek out the church you are most comfortable and have the closest ties to. Unless Obama joined this church for purely political reasons then we have an obligation to ask why he joined that church out of the thousands located in Chicago that did not preach hate on a regular basis.
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Anonymous says:
Good lord. If the Democratic Party is so craven and racist that they dump a candidate over this, they deserve to lose not only the next election, but an entire generation of voters.
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Jason Miller says:
I have to say, the hypocrisy on display here is simply stunning. Candidates routinely align themselves with controversial ministers. For the modern Republican Party, its core strategy. But when a black progressive does it, he’s finished as a presidential candidate? I’m sorry, but that’s the very definition of racism.
Shame on you, Paul.
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Eileen Smith says:
Anonymous 10PM.
I’m not going to be a fool again and respond to your comments.
Crap. You got me again.
“So thank you, I will both read and comment to my heart’s delight- as long as your site doesn’t cowardly take away comments again.”
No one’s taking the comments away. Go for it.
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The Other Alan says:
However incendiary Rev. Wright’s words were, a great deal of the sermon in question has a basis in reality. Racism is alive and well. But did Burka take John McCain to task for his association with Hagee and that man’s delusions? Not that I’ve found on this blog. Does McCain believe the Catholic church is the “great whore” and that Jews who don’t accept Jesus will fry come the rapture? Who knows? But if it means Republican votes what the heck. I think Johnny Mac’s desire to be commander-in-chief has blinded him to the reality of our decades of failed Mideast policy. Honor for a soldier is doing his duty. Honor for a commander-in-chief is not using the troops as fodder to advance a delusion.
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Anonymous says:
During the Vietnam War, the anger that began to emanate from the nation’s pulpits was pretty strong stuff. Even in small town in New England, where professionals nested and were conservative–ministers were pumping out the rhetoric. And let’s be clear here: all that talk was regarded as very anti-American.
What’s the difference, between then and now? In context, nothing.
Get over it.
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Anonymous says:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/16/17571/2310/136/476847
A very smart person posted this on Daily Kos.It is a thoughtful analysis of the Rev Wright situation.
I guess I never paid enough attention to realize Mr.Burka apparently has no critical thinking skills.
What he has written is pathetic in too many ways to list.
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Anonymous says:
hey paul,
first time reader…
you’re an idiot.
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Anonymous says:
Oh My God! Obama’s preacher has said nasty things about America and that finishes Obama off as a candidate! Brilliant analysis genius! I hope you don’t make a living out of writing this crap.
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Anonymous says:
All I can say as a well off white man is that it never stops amazing me how much people will exagerate and move away from reason in order to protect their turf.
Im not sure whether its conciously or subconsciously, but people are petrified that a black man might actually be in control of the country.
Get a hold of yourself people, have you ever paid attention to Mr. Obama. Does he really seem like the pastor or his ideas are a major influence in Obama’s decision making.
What if, what if, what if. Its amazing how you let all your other politicians lie to and bamboozle you, but its so hard to take such a big chance on the black guy because…oh man…he may just have a little of the black experience in him.
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, at least I would get some snacks right now…..even if your moronic histaria eliminates all the good candidates.
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Anonymous says:
This has to be one of the most unbelievable posts I have read from Burka whos has made a totally undefensible statement that comments by somebody’s preacher have ended that persons presidential ambitions. Are you kidding me??? If Pat Robertson, who blames the USA’s culture for 9/11 and gays for AIDs can campaign for Bush and help him get elected, how can a preachers comments that Obama completely repudiated derail his candicacy?
Guess what Paul, there are a lot of angry black people in America. Many are still pissed off that their ancestors were loaded into boats where they had a 10% percent survival rate and then forced into centuries of slavery. They are pissed off that the country remains economically segregated and still very, very racist. What is remarkable is that Obama is extrordinarily not angry.
Every black person who associates with other black people is going to have connections with people who expouse these types of beliefs. As a candidate he was right to repudiate them. If his association with this person disqualifies him from the presidency, then all black people are disqualified.
Shame on you Paul for buying in to this racial game and pronouncing judgement on the obama candicy in such a severe manner. This blog has done you a disservice in the past and does so again in this post. You are fast losing credibility of as a journalist because of this blog. I recommend you give it up, as you once had a reputation as a prominent commentator on Texas politics which is quickly fading.
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Anonymous says:
While i agree that this will hurt Obama deeply, maybe even finish him off, i think the first quote you cited is not far from the truth when looked at from a black perspective. Who here doesn’t believe the judicial system in the US is wrought with inconsistencies and racial biases. There are more brothers in prison than in college. At least Obama, during this campaign, has been trying to call attention to both the disentigration of the black family and the inherent inequalities of the judicial structure(see his work in state senate). There are two sides that need remedying, and Obama knows this. He won’t play victim politics and that is worth something in my book. But yes, the middle-lower income white vote will abandon him because of this and yes, there should have been more thought by Obama in regards to associations with Wright outside of just the church, but don’t forget that Obama came to the church in a quest to identify with and mobilize the community. Where better than in the community’s biggest church.
So, sadly, this candidacy may be tossed aside for all but the “Wright” reasons. Wright said things that most all black urban preachers say, i’m willing to bet. The black church is a dynamic that most white Americans know nothing about. The church has been a place to vent social injustices over the course of hundreds of years. White Americans didn’t have social horrors to deal with on a daily basis so they had not need to address it on Sundays. Blacks lived with it every second of their existence…so of course it will be brought up in church. Obama may actually be trying to bring these thoughts and prejudices out into the open and call attention to them from the perspective of one of their own. It’s something that not just black Americans need to hear and examine but all Americans, as we are all obviously in this together.
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Anonymous says:
Wright is the perfect issue for people who didn’t want Obama to win the nomination in the first place (and in my conversations I’ve noticed such people always reference how “they” will respond, by which they mean some imagined middle America which hasn’t chimed in yet, they understand the ambiguities of this issue given that Obama never said, and clearly doesn’t believe, the comments being reviewed). I’d put the chances of this whole thing blowing over in two weeks at 50/50 (because there will be no additional news, Wright said what he did and condemned him, what more could happen? these videos on YouTube will get old).
Up until now, I thought if super delegates went for Clinton the African Community would still back her during the general (they’re used to disappointment). This Wright fracas, though, raises a serious possibility that they won’t. If superdelegates flip the result because of him, who doubts this will happen because many consider Obama to be, erm, a little bit too black to be the nominee? There aren’t many Democratic African American politicians who aren’t vulnerable to being tarred with guilt by association. Wright, clearly, was a product of his times. And under other circumstances, Democrats would have no problem making the case that, not being a political figure, Wright should be dismissed as a relic.
For all of the divisiveness of this primary season, on racial issues the question African Americans will ask of the Democratic party, I suspect, is this: when things got rough did you have our backs? No cheap shots about affirmative action. No trotting out the dinosaurs of the black power movement. If they perceive that the answer is no, I think there will be a consequence (implying, as it does, future disqualification of black candidates for political office where they would need the ballots of white voters).
Republicans, of course, will do all of this. Dems will make a mistake if they simply let them or even play along.
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Anonymous says:
Paul, you really got the temps rising on this one. The race issue will do it everytime, especially in the deep south. One point on the Obama preacher issue.
Just remember Paul, if a small part of a sermon by one of the other candidates appeared on youtube, would you do the same for mc cain or clinton or just say anyone of the majority race?
I think this is a real case of bias in the media. Just take a look at the different views by white journalist and black journalist on Fox network last week. Even O’Rielly was out done by the african-american female journalist who embarrased him on his own show. If we cab ever get past our fear of people we don’t associate with or have the same pigmentation or the same opinion… Mr. Obama has done an amazing job of communicating and energizing new voters,young, old, black, white, brown, and that gives cannont be ignored by those who have been around a long time and are resistant to change.
It’s is also interesting that not one white media group has identified Rev. Wright as a former United States Marine. Wonder why?
Paul, you and other conservatives can choose the story line and cause unnecessary fear by unfairly targeting Mr. Obama because of Rev. Wright. Fox paid a high price for the videos and I wonder how many other video clips of pastors sermons will be played during the next few months. And what kind of media attention will they get or what kind of response will the media give when they received information about “their” candidate?
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Anonymous says:
Apparently blacks are racists too.
But it’s okay for blacks to speak ill of America and whites but it is not okay that whites can. I hate double standards.
Today’s WSJ (A-6) has a column thatstates that the hate spilled out by Jerimiah Wright are typicall and historical forms of (what I call) hate speech by blacks. Blacks have had numerous opportunities to become “equal” and have been given much. Most of the black community’s response has been what Jeremiah Wright has espoused.
this is not a perfect world by any means but I wish the black community would wake up, see what they have been given, appreciate what they have accomplished, and just be happy, be normal. Quit trying to purposely set yourself apart from the whole of society. Whites don’t ask you to be white, they ask you to be human, be normal. Work hard, be polite, pay your taxes and enjoy America. Improve it if you can; don’t just try to tear it down.
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Anonymous says:
I find it curious that the author is quick to dismiss the source of the trouble (Wright), but ever more eager to commute guilt by association sans any other evidence to support such an accusation.
It seems there is a choice: Either reflect on the candidate in question and wonder if there is anything to presume he evinces such beliefs; Or, tweak the Archie Bunker in everyone. The latter is obviously, rampantly affected here … though it is difficult to say whether or not those sentiments are part of a pre-existing condition.
There’s nothing in Obama’s track record, legislative rercord or history in general to suggest he has adopted these views. In fact, everything suggests the exact opposite. For those who haven’t read it, consider this commentary from David Kuo:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/jwalking/2008/03/obamas-wright-response-ready-o.html
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David Seaton's Newslinks says:
William Faulkner defined the situation: “The past isn’t dead; it isn’t even past.”
The past is always with us… to paraphrase Joe Louis, “we can run, but we can’t hide.”
The Indians (from India) put it in an even more graphic expression, “so the meal, so the flavor of the belch”.
There is some idea going around that somehow, through Obama’s divine grace, I suppose, we can miraculously put hundreds of years of history in the icebox and begin anew.
The Reverend Wright is the just the “flavor of the belch.“
http://seaton-newslinks.blogspot.com
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Anonymous says:
To Anonymous at 9:59.
Re: dailykos.com comparison of Wright’s sermon to those of Jesus.
The translation used by dailykos.com in defense of Wright was pulled from a somewhat controversial group of “scholars” know as the Jesus Seminar. The quotes come from their translation of the Sermon on the Mount. This group notably rejects the Resurrection and has decidedly different views of Jesus from many Christians in this country. I’m not sure this makes Wright’s own sermons any more palatable to voters who take offense.
For more on the Jesus Seminar, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar#The_Scholars_translation
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Anonymous says:
Paul:
You may be on to something. The numbers, at least for now, seem to back you up.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
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Anonymous says:
Rev. Wright is a great excuse for people who were searching for an excuse to justify their desire to vote against Obama. But it’s hypocritical, selective enforcement. If all candidates were responsible for the crazy statements of some of their supporters — or even some of their close friends — none of them could stand.
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Anonymous says:
Moron.
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Anonymous says:
To Anon @ 11:47 am.
I read todays WSJ. It not as critical of Obama as most conservative white media. And if you think blacks need to wake up, think again. The wake-up call came during the civil rights movement and after years of discrimination by whites. Slavery was a wake-up call. You think blacks have forgotted the lynchings, the selling of our wives and children and then the jim crow laws and now the conservative media who represent what rev. wright and sharpton preach about. (and many others if you ever have time to visit the black church in america).
I am so proud to be an american. I know some bias still exist in america. I also know their are many white americans who are very proud supporters fo Mr. Obama. That’s what makes this country so strong. While some will ridicule and try to paint Mr. Obama by assocating him with an ex-Marine and his former Pastor, the truth will eventually prevail. Some of us still have faith in the American way….in God we trust.
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Anonymous says:
I beg you, please, please do not send another Republican idiot to the White House. You know, the frat boy guy, the guy you’d love to drink brewskis with…..We’ve already had that guy. He’s destroyed this nation. He’s destroyed this planet. Let’s try to save what is left.
OBAMA in ‘08!!!
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Anonymous says:
to Anon @1:24
You missed the point. The wake-up call came and went. America woke up to the fact that slavery was wrong (African countries also have slavery….it’s not just a white thing)and did something about it. Sure some residual racists attitudes remained and that is unfortunate. However, this is not a white problem. It is a human problem. Blacks simply cannot point back in history and claim they are still a victim. those days are gone. And if one thinks they are still discriminated against, I suggest it is more of a push back from society on the I’m- still-a-victim attitude, not the color. Drop the attitude, be a normal person in America, not a person of color (any color).
Many well-educated, successful blacks have assimilated into society and have contributed a great deal to our world. And they have been welcomed to society as a whole. Unfortunately many of the blacks and black leaders have accused those successful blacks of selling out, or not black enough, or other, what I believe, are racist if not rude comments. Jeremiah Wright simply preaches to be radical and not American and shun the society whom they blame.
Again, don’t be black, white, red or yellow. Hispanics and Asians have by large measure successfully assimilated into the whole society and are very successful and contribute much. Don’t be a color. Just be.
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Anonymous says:
Is that stupid pun in your headline a Proust reference? Is it supposed to imply something, or are you just being cute with titles you noted in some comp-lit syllabus back when you were in college?
When Bush was in Austin, did he drink with guys who reference Proust? Or did he just nickname you, dismiss you, and in one fell swoop earn your undying allegiance?
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Anonymous says:
I suspect that a lot of people are relieved because they can now vote against Obama without racial guilt. After all, they’re not racist, Obama’s minister is. Sure they’ll concede that there might still be racism in today’s America, but it’s really the fault of “the blacks” who refuse to assimilate. Whatever you gotta believe to live with yourself.
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Anonymous says:
So, this is how you “Swift Boat” a black man running for President.
Creative. Well done.
(BTW Eileen, is there anything about politics that isn’t personal? This was dumb post.)
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Anonymous says:
This was “a” dumb post.
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Anonymous says:
Anonymous at 11:47 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. is absolutely correct.
If anything, Blacks have been given PREFERENTIAL treatment in access to education and employment. The fact that many Blacks stubbornly refuse to learn anything or to go to work and do a good job is not the fault of Whites.
If you want a look at what happens when Blacks gain control over a political entity, visit the website http://www.detroitiscrap.com and you’ll get a good, strong dose of what results from Black “empowerment”.
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Anonymous says:
Paul,
Boy, did you step in it today, or what? I think you probably missed the ball in declaring Barack’s campaign dead. But at this point, that’s neither here nor there. I’ve got to wonder a little bit about you picking up on a few examples of Wright’s sermons and not looking at the context, the timing, or even whether Barak was in attendance. You jumped to the DOA diagnosis just a little too easily.
Now, if your point was that “it doesn’t matter” because Barack’s campaign is dead just because his old preacher said these things well, then, I vote with the double standards crowd. McCain is far more guilty by association than Barack. (Though it may be that THAT kind of hate speech is more acceptable to the American mainstream).
What I do find really interesting is the racial loathing that becomes apparent with all this anonymous posting. I think Anonymous at 4:14 said it best, and is a perfect example of the racism that is so pervasive in our current society. There’s some seriously aggressive bad attitude in that poster. But I can’t tell if they’re even self aware of their racism or just clueless bigots. Maybe, they proved the point that you were trying to make. There are so many a@@holes out there that Barack never had a chance. Yet, I still disagree.
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Anonymous says:
Well said Anonymous at 4:31.
Its too easy to categorize something you don’t understand or scares you, instead of making an effort to understand the grey areas and motivations of those you may not undestand/agree with.
To write Mr. Wright off as un-American is easy but simplistic. It reminds me of much of the current black/white thinking that is undermining us today. This country was built on free speech. A pastor’s exercise of these rights based on the wrongs he feels/sees in the country translates into bad or dangerous judgement only in an entirely oversimplified world.
I know it may be difficult, but try using your brain and your judgement for a change, instead of listening to goofballs like this author.
Author: Please pick up another sandwich next time instead of your keyboard.
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Anonymous says:
Anonymous at 4:14 pm and 11:47 am and 2:40 pm…
I love to debate race on the blog. Everyone can be honest and speak from the heart and remain underground. Whites who sit around all day watching BET, sports, etc. feel so comfortable being entertained by blacks. But what about the powerful blacks in politics and business? What about the powerful voices of the black media and journalist who understand the brainwashing that some whites so blindly spew out over the blogs, newspapers and networks about those lazy blacks who feel victimized. For your information, I earn a 6 figure salary, I have a college degree and nobody ever gave me a thing. I worked my way through college after losing my father at the age of 14. Your effort to sterotype blacks and use Mr. Obama’s preacher to condemn him because he just could be the next President of the US is crystal clear. If you guys would look at the facts (and not the color of skin)…Mr. Obama has won the most states, the most votes and the most delegates…and it is quite evident by most that Mr. Obama is the most qualified to be the
commander in chief. ONLY those who really cannot face reality will persist in denying those facts. I play golf and do the country club gig…have lots of white friends..so don’t be fooled to think blacks are not in tune with the american capitalism.
Just be honest and look at what’s best for our country. Try not to get personal…I love this country!
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Eileen Smith says:
To infer that anyone who does not support Obama is a racist is…I don’t know…offensive? ignorant? laughable?
By the way, I wouldn’t exactly call Paul a Hillary fan. We all can continue to throw around allegations of racism, sexism, and blogism, and we’ll still be right where we are. In a major Democratic meltdown.
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clarissa says:
Phew!
I’m totally glad I’m Latina.
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Anonymous says:
Wow. Some of the racist comments and stereotyping on this post are really disappointing. I would say shocking but, unfortunately, they’re not. Anonymous at 4:14 just kinda pushed me over the edge enough to write this. I so rarely see the kind of stereotyping about whites that I see about blacks in his/her post. We wonder why there’s so much anger in the black community. I can’t imagine. Another of the entries is something about why can’t the blacks just assimilate? I ask, assimilate and become what? The stereotyped crap from my friend Anonymous 4:14?
Sometimes the right to free speech for all just sucks. As a mother, I would feel like I failed if I had a child grow up and write the kind of stuff that Anonymous 4:14 wrote.
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Anonymous says:
To add on to Eileen’s post, not only is Paul not a Hillary fan, he voted for Obama.
I too think Paul is wrong about what he wrote. But, a racist he’s not.
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Eileen Smith says:
I agree with 5:21PM. Some of the comments on this post are pretty awful. “Barack Hussein Obama”? “round honky faces”? “religious bigotry”? assimilation?
I do appreciate the commenters who have actually added something to the conversation. So, thanks. To the sane people.
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Ben says:
“Woo her, wed her, bed her and rid this house of that horrible curse of her” – Bill S. (or some reasonable fact simile)
I want to be free from all these Obama supporters. Obama is never going to win because he is just like his supporters (weak kneed). He had one meaningful chance to distance himself from the reverend and failed. He was too afraid he would lose the “black” vote.
I disagree with Mr. Burka, Obama may get by the Democrats (weak kneed again) – too afraid of offending the african american deligation. However, that will not be the case once the Republicans take over. Not too weak kneed to discuss this topic. (All day, all night, and explain to me again….)
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Anonymous says:
Paul: Just got this off CNN. CNN/Opinion Research just released a poll saying that 52% of registered D’s say Obama is their choice for Pres, with 45% supporting Clinton.
What is it that they say? Something like “it ain’t over until it’s over??”
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Anonymous says:
anon @5:40pm. You actually have it figured out. You got out of low gear, saw your situation and did something about. Self reliance is what it takes. I am not putting blacks down. All I’m saying is that most blacks have been given opportunities that they squandered and have instead chosen to blame everyone (and the White race) for troubles of their own making. I think anyone, any color, when they want to do well in life is to be….maybe be like you.
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Anonymous says:
Dear Anonymous at 7:13:
I had to go eat about ten cookies after I read your post. So believe me, this is me writing on a sugar high with my feelings definitely medicated. Thank your lucky stars.
“I’m not putting blacks down. All I’m saying is that most blacks have been given opportunities that they squandered”….blah, blah, blah.
Holy crap. Read your above sentence out loud and TELL me that Rev Wright doesn’t have a cold, hard thread of truth running through his statements. If the above is not putting black people down, I would hate to see your version of doing that.
Be careful what kind of energy you put out there my friend. Life has a way of teaching us lessons and it might just come back to bite you in your “self reliant” butt.
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Anonymous says:
To anonymous at 6:31 p.m., those percentages may very well be true, but in the final analysis in the November general election, I think McCain will squeak by and become the nation’s next President.
I, myself, will hold my nose and vote for McCain.
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Paul Burka says:
I completely agree with anonymous at 7:13 p.m. I abhor this kind of racial stereotyping.
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Anonymous says:
Anon @ 8:24pm
Sorry you don’t think self-reliance is good. Careful of the negative energy you out out to my friend. I was trying to build up, not tear down. If you believed in self-reliance you would have agreed with my statement.
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Anonymous says:
I am Anonymous at 11:47am and 2:40 pm…
Since some misconstrue my remarks as potentially racists (like Anon @5:04pm and Paul @6:04pm) I now am comforted that my views and remarks are those that are reflected by Barack Obama today. I know I’m not racist and I knew I was on target.
Those of you who want to divide this country I hope you will re-read Obama’s speech and change. I hope you will.
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Donovan says:
Thank you Mr. Obama for standing up for a man who’s worked tirelessly to help African Americans in the areas many of these posters claim blacks lack.
Thank you for standing by your former pastor and seeing the man work over 30 years, and not nine so called “controversial” quotes.
Thank you for showing your supporters, me included, and America what true integrity, strength, and courage looks like.
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Jane Smith says:
The anti-American and Anti-White beliefs of Reverand Wright and his devoted followers of 20 years, Barrack Obama and his wife Michelle, were revealed to the world on national television recently. Subsequent to these revelations, Barrack tried to distance himself from his spiritual advisor whom he once credited with providing the title of his book Audacity of Hope. However, Barrack’s attempts at distancing himself are too little, too late. They are entirely superficial and nothing more than a charming dance he seems to do with the press and those willing to believe his lies out of some sense of misplaced liberal guilt.
The history of Barrack’s contacts with Reverand Wright show such a degree of intimacy and interconnectedness that no self respecting person could possibly
believe Barrack was not aware of Reverand Wright’s positions. Whether or not Barrack was present in the pew and heard the Preacher’s words on any particular day is not relevant. It is implausible Obama did not know Wright’s views and beliefs. The fact Obama is using the defense of not being present in the church at a particular time, or did not hear the words at a particular time, makes Obama look untrustworthy. He seems as though he believes he can fool the American public into thinking he is innocent and has no knowledge of Wright’s teachings by using these parsed statements.
I, and others I have spoken with throughout the country, especially in Pennsylvania, have started to wonder if Barrack is racist at home and in church and only superficially politically correct in the public eye, when the cameras are rolling, and when it is expedient for him to further his career and political aspirations. People are frightened by Barrack’s long term, committed, intimate, familial relationship with someone who is Anti-White, Anti-American and a follower of Louis Farrakhan.
This is one of many times when this person has been exposed as a liar. He does one thing behind the scenes, and yet another when the cameras are rolling, when it is politically expedient and will help further his drive toward the presidency.
How stupid does Barrack think the American people are? Maybe he was listening to his wife too much, she thinks Americans are stupid and lazy. I guess part of the Obama campaign strategy was banking on the stupidity and laziness of the Americans. We would be too lazy and stupid to figure out Obama’s lies regarding Tony Rezko, Reverand Wright and his stance on NAFTA. How many other lies is Obama telling us and is his campaign machine covering up? He has broken trust with the American people. He has lost credibility.
Grow up Barrack. The Presidency belongs to someone who is prepared, mature and stands up for what they believe. Not someone who will repeatedly lie to the American public to make themselves look good, while they do something else entirely different when they think no one is looking. What would happen if Obama was elected and had to stand up to Republicans to get his Agenda of Hope passed? Or to foreign leaders? How could we depend upon him to stand up for what he tells us he believes in when he is ready to belittle every bad thing that happens to him on the campaign trail to a race conflict? What will he do? Accuse them of not passing his policies because he is black? Affirmative action and his racist pastor will not help him negotiate with foreign leaders or opposition in Congress. Obama, you clearly lack experience, maturity, any skill other than charm, and respect for the American voter.
Barrack may be distancing himself from Reverand Wright. But, I am distancing myself from Barrack Obama.
Signed,
A Former Obama Supporter
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Anonymous says:
Your reference to Reverend Wright as rascist is patently slanderous and itself, rascist. Your girl Hillary has made comments critical of the USA and you are silent. Admit it: Rev Wright offended you when he spoke of your rich white privilege. Well, I can’t wait until Barack takes office and immediately reinstates the fairness doctrine for Republican Nazis like Rush, Sean, etc. Followed up by immediate congressional hearings and a federal investigation to expose the Nazi (Fox) News Network role in disenfranchising African American voters in Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004. The FCC takes away Fox’s license to broadcast and that is followed by criminal prosecution of all of the Fox Nazis who assisted in stealing the last two presidential elections by their false reports, as well as this illegal REPUBLICAN war and our lastest REPUBLICAN Economic DEPRESSION. Then, when the elections are determined to be stolen, Judges Roberts and Scalito are impeached and replaced by President Obama. Get ready !
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STRONGBLOOD says:
Paul, I look forward to you writing and asking me what happened sometime in novemember or December after it became clear to you that Obama has become the next President of America. God will campaign for him because he got the guts to speak the truth. main stream white men and women will vote for him because God will campaign for him. Watchout.
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Ben says:
I know this will set off you double Rs, but Maureen is correct.
“The candidate may have staunched the bleeding, but he did not heal the wounds. His naïve and willful refusal to come to terms earlier with the Rev. Wright’s anti-American, anti-white and pro-Farrakhan sentiments — echoing his naïve and willful refusal to come to terms earlier with the ramifications of his friendship with sleazy fund-raiser Tony Rezko — will not be forgotten because of one unforgettable speech.” (M. Dowd)
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Donovan says:
Hey Jane, a so called “Former Obama Supporter”
IF you really were a supporter, it might help if you actually KNEW how to spell his name, “former supporter.
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Anonymous says:
“America’s Chickens are coming home to roost” We all saw that rant that we kept hearing “that was just days after 9/11″ and “oh my God he was saying they deserved to die” and horrors.
Fox took the clip from this sermon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ
Wright was talking about being stuck away from home the days after 9/11 with flights grounded. He was thinking about how you respond to such a loss, haunted by the images of people jumping from the building, some holding hands, some on fire.
He talked about a psalm verse often quoted and explained why we never heard the rest of it and it was about bashing the head of your enemies infants against the rocks. Oddly he was against that.
Then he was watching TV listened to Ambassador Edward Peck,Former Chief of Mission in Iraq (on Fox news ironically) and Ambassador Peck said it was “America’s Chickens are coming home to roost”
He talks a bit more and then goes into his now infamous rant we all heard.
Then he gets quiet and talks about how violence begets violence. Before we decide how to react we have to look in our hearts…and so on.
The God damn America? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2TFJb4e7Iw&feature=related
He talked about how government can change and has changed. Slavery ending and all that and the friend we had in the white house for 8 years, Bill Clinton, and then the stolen election and watching the government changing for the worst. (That You Tube isn’t as full as one I first heard but is still near 7 minutes)
The full text of Jeremiah Wright’s “Audacity To Hope” sermon in 1990 is here:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/03/for-the-record.html#more
That’s the speech Obama got book title from and you understand why TV pundits mention that in hushed tones. Yes, how horrid for Obama to pretend to be a person of unity when he can be inspired bt a sermon that says things as bad as:
The real lesson Hannah gives us from this chapter—the most important word God would have us hear—is how to hope when the love of God is not plainly evident. It’s easy to hope when there are evidences all around of how good God is. But to have the audacity to hope when that love is not evident—you don’t know where that somewhere is that my grandmother sang about, or if there will ever be that brighter day—that is a true test of a Hannah-type faith. To take the one string you have left and to have the audacity to hope—make music and praise God on and with whatever it is you’ve got left, even though you can’t see what God is going to do
and end with words as hateful as
And that’s why I say to you, hope is what saves us. Keep on hoping; keep on praying. God does hear and answer prayer.
What Audacity!
Keep in mind FOX ordered a package of his sermons, I believe it was 12, to find the moments of excerpts that did not represent the sermon at all. Imagine how not angry the rest of them must be.
The problem has never been Wright nor Obama listening to Wright nor the church…
It is the media intentionally distorting and misrepresenting knowing they will fuel hate and widen divisions but thinking it’s worth it to get sucha gotcha on Obama.
And it’s worked. The church gets threats and hate mail. The rev Wright gets threats, the Divinity School that had planned to award him before this all broke is getting so many threats that they had to move the dinner to a secret location for security reasons, that is if they haven’t given in to pressure to cancel.
A church that has done so much good, so many social and outreach programs is now a focus of haters from all over. A minister who insisted on staying in Chicago when others had left for the suburbs, who is an admired scholar, who teaches responsibility and family and loving one another is now called hateful, America hating, racist, evil.
And a candidate was hit with all this hoping to ruin him. There is no other way to look at it. They didn’t present facts for him to defend, that would be news. They presented horrid distortions-that is a smear. They didn’t attempt to correct it.
I’ve sent videos and text and letters and articles from those who go there or know Wright to all the networks (not FOX) and shows even knowing they must or could already know. The only ones who have shown some of the other side was NPR (I didn’t send anything to them).
We should not be allowing this. MSM is getting away with a horror and people are judging and spreading it with no attempt to find the truth. Obama is regaining in the polls, that isn’t the point. Voters might decide the “bad” minister doesn’t matter-but justice says the media should be required to show the rest of the story
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