Reverend Wright seems like a very bad person to me. He damns America and embraces the nation's leading Anti-Semite. Wright's church magazine gave Farrakhan what amounted to its man of the year award. Granted it was for doing something good, but Mussolini got the trains to run on time and I don't think the American Railway Association put him up for an award. Evil people who do good things don't deserve awards from churches.

I am troubled that such a flawed person has been Obama's guiding light for over twenty years. I find Mr. Obama's claim that he was not directly exposed to his Pastor's hateful views in over twenty years of sitting in the pews incredible. The statement calls into question Mr. Obama's honesty.

The Obama Bubble has burst bigtime. Now Michelle's comments have context. For 20 years Obama has been guided and mentored by a hatefilled racist Marxist of the first rank. Ask yourself if any politician would last 5 minutes if it were revealed they had been guided or mentored by David Duke. Because he was a blank slate to so many he asked us to believe in his judgment. If he thinks he can finesse this he has none.

As a big Obama supporter since 2004, I have to admit that my bubble has burst. I believed in this man before my friends and family even knew who he was. Unfortunately, I do not believe that he attended that church for 20 years and did not know of the views of his pastor who obviously has no problem preaching politics of racism, hate and division from the pulpit. I simply don't believe it...and if I don't believe that then I have to question everything else I believe about Obama. I believed in his orations of unity all the while on Sunday he was attending a church that preaches just the opposite. Turned out he is just like all the rest....tell you what you want to hear while snickering behing closed doors. I'm deeply saddened. I voted for Obama in the primary....my vote just changed.

Fundamentally, throughout history from the Roman Empire to today, slavery was a common element of the human race. Not necessarily based on the color of the skin.
I am WHITE and have never owned a slave, yet, because I am white, I am (in some cases) the enemy of the black American race.
Have we forgotten about the Jew's that were rounded up and slaughtered by the Hitler movement? Do the Jew's today have a HATE grudge for Germany today?
Or how about the American Indian, we, the white man befriended them, traded with them blanket laced with small pox to kill off their tribes and basically robbed them of their country which is rightfully theirs and forced t them onto a reservation. I don’t see or hear of any uprising of these people. Or do we have one day a year devoted to the American Indian!
I recall the Gammage case in Brentwood PA, making headlines on the front page on most newspapers in the country. Yet another case, on the very same week, a white man was set afire with gasoline and burned to death in a black Chicago neighborhood (that did not make the headline but was a small article 20 pages into the newspaper) and when the blacks were caught, their reason for burning him was "because he was white".
The Rodney King case and the OJ case was just a minor example of the magnitude of the racial divide within this country. Blacks (appeared) to not judge the issue of murder but cheered since a black man won the trial. In the Robert Blake case, you didn’t have tons of blacks annoyed because he was acquitted.
We have did our best at providing lower test scores for blacks to attend medical schools, police academies, and numerous governmental jobs. But where does it end?
Slavery has been gone since the end of the civil war, but the hatred still lives on in a large portion of black community. I am not saying that all whites are not bigots.
How can a man of God preach hatred for white within the confines of religion?
Reagan forced bussing on the people over 20 years ago but where is the statistics on how this has helped unify America's ongoing racial divide. Furthermore, it is not only the whites we have to look at but the blacks as well. That is, both the whites and the blacks play an equal part of this divide in this so called "United We Stand?"
This presidency is a powder keg. I dread the thoughts of a black president mainly since I have lived through the 1968 riots and will protect my family at all costs. We don’t need another Civil War. All it takes is one crazy man to shoot a black president and no doubt, we will have 1968 riots all over again, hopefully, this time with the white man taking action!
It is unfortunate, but this country has gone to hell, and I feel sooner or later a civil war is imminent.

Sept. 11 a result of bad US Foreign Policy? This is not the first time I've heard this. I am Canadian and have heard that sentiment from many of my fellow citizens. America, my Friends, is viewed as a bit of a know-it-all Bully who imposes THEIR BELEIFS and Religious views, which they view as superior, onto other Countries. The US is not the moral Gaurdian of the World, every other Country is autonomous. NEEDS autonomy. r If you run your own Country and stop trying to tell everyone else how to live, things might get better.

Stella: "Turned out he is just like all the rest....tell you what you want to hear while snickering behind closed doors. I'm deeply saddened. I voted for Obama in the primary....my vote just changed."

And who did your vote change to - one of the candidates who is "just like all the rest?"

Do you really believe he was "snickering behind closed doors?" Obama publicly repudiated the expressed racist views of his pastor last year as he was beginning his presidential campaign -- it made the NY Times, but no one paid much attention to it then. The videotape you saw over and over was spliced from sermons for sale on a DVD made and sold by the church. Not exactly "behind closed doors," is it?

Think about it a little while longer, Stella, before you decide to change your vote. Could be that Obama was never the saint you thought he was, and is not the sinner you think he is now.

I really hated to hear of this long-term association. Nevertheless, once it was revealed, Obama still chose not to criticize Wright outright on a personal basis. Instead, he offered a far less damning critique of Wright's separatist views in the form of a publically stated 'disagreement' (he knew he was on dangerous ground, but I think his long-term loyalties prevented him from pronouncing a complete disengagement - which probably should have happened years before anyway. Unfortunately his wife's recent comments will probably come back to haunt them as well).

On several levels this fuels the flames of doubt that many voters will experience in fits down the road - and surely the GOP will find ways to fan those flames. I predict the media swiftboating will be far more subtle than heretofore seen in Kerry's day.

McCain will distance himself while benefitting to a huge degree - meanwhile, the dream candidate may turn out to be a democratic nightmare after all .... and while I was prepared to vote for Obama, my allegiances are still with Hillary - but far too late, I suspect.

Any revelation that smacks of black separatism is the polar opposite of the 'unity' message Obama was clearly trying to send earlier in his campaign - and will be very hard to overcome in an otherwise fragile political climate.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lecia-shorter/reverend-jeremiah-wright_b_91848.html

A must see. John McCain says "he knows Senator Obama" and "he does not share" the views of Pastor Wright. This is such a dead issue.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ed1Tb-vrEww

Here's is someone with absolutely nothing to gain and more to lose - speaking up for Senator Obama on the Wright issue. This person says "he knows Senator Obama" and "knows that he does not share the viewf os Rev. Wright."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ed1Tb-vrEww

How can you listen to 20 years of black liberation theology and its message of class warfare and not be influenced by it? Black Liberation Theology is not theology, it is politics and revolution. Obama has this hanging around his neck and he will never be able to convince me that he doesn't think like The Rev.

Perspective, you say: "Any revelation that smacks of black separatism is the polar opposite of the 'unity' message Obama was clearly trying to send earlier in his campaign...."

Do you realize that Obama has not changed his message at all? that the words that so trouble you were said by someone else, not Obama?

Mr. Shriver:

You said "Unity is the goal itself. Uniting the country will fulfill the longing of our times: it will help put an end to meanness, help inspire a new generation of commitment to social and environmental care, help bring about the conditions that can lead to the possibility of a more harmonious world."

Why is unity the goal? Unity about what? We haven't really had very many shared values in this country for a long time. I see no unity anytime in the foreseeable future on equal rights for homosexuals, torture, pre-emptive war of aggession, health care, religious freedom or much of anything else. We are a profoundly complex country made of an endless array of beliefs, views, thoughts, opinions and lifestyles. What is the mechanism by which unity could occur?

RC - were you by any chance also convinced until just recently that Obama was a Muslim?

Have you ever noticed that you can listen to a point of view from a trusted person and not agree with it, even though you learn from it?

I want to begin by disclosing that I have and continue to support Hillary Clinton. I am also a long time, proud member of the Democratic Party. Given the real possibility he will capture the nomination, I have also been seriously considering Barack Obama for president. I had reached the point where, even though I think Clinton is the better candidate, I could support Obama in the general election. Now I am not sure what I would do if Obama is the Democratic candidate. I was absolutely stunned when Obama said he did not think his church was very controversial. As for Obama's claim that he was not exposed to or aware of Pastor Wright's views I could only conclude one of two things. Either Obama is lying and knew full well what his pastor was preaching. Or Obama really was unaware which tells me his church membership was merely window dressing and not something he took seriously. In either case, I am left with serious reservations about the character and beliefs of a man seeking the highest office in the land.

R. Edwards: “Either Obama is lying and knew full well what his pastor was preaching. Or Obama really was unaware which tells me his church membership was merely window dressing and not something he took seriously.”

Did you think Hillary was being honest when she said “as far as she knew” Obama was a Christian? Do you think she might be hiding something by not making her tax returns public? Would this cause you to not vote for her? Please think about – at least as much as you’ve thought about Obama’s veracity.

What do you know about Hillary’s church attendance? Her preacher’s views? Seems to me, considering how seriously you take Obama’s religious practices, that you’d demand to know, and then would re-assess the candidate based on it.

Also, Obama did not "claim that he was not exposed to or aware of Pastor Wright's views" Where did you get that? Obama publicly reputiated *certain* views of his pastor last year.

E Favorite - you seem to be a strong Obama supporter and that's all well and good.

On the other hand, public perception is the ONLY thing that counts when the votes are cast. What he actually said and what someone else said about him, can easily become one and the same in the minds of voters.

How many different ways do you think this 'newly discovered' fact in Obama's background will be spun? Shaping public perception is also the only real goal of all political campaigns.

By comparison, McCain is getting a free pass in the press and mainstream media much like Bush always has - although he has any number of dubious historical 'glitches' and mis-steps in his lengthy political past.

To myself and many other democrats, he's just more of the same old pro-war Bush neocon GOP, so no chance of my ever voting for a republican in this lifetime. That view does not hold true for fence-sitting blue dog style democrats and independents.

For example, as much as he tries to win over the evangelical right, James Dobsen 'censored' McCain in the family values area because he was 'sampling' a relationship with his present wife while married to the first one.....his present wife is, after all, so much better for his political career based on money and connections, that a person could almost be cynical about this & virtually everything McCain has done over the years in pursuit of his overmastering long-term goal - POTUS.

He has used up virtually all of his own character in the chase. Doesn't matter - McCain is the right color for GOP purposes. Therefore, he can apparently do no wrong.

I'd say Obama's status is a far more fragile thing, and can stand far less controversy in his run for POTUS. My point was made to include the perceptions of a broad political spectrum of voters - liberals and moderates alone will not elect Obama, which is the larger point to be made.

It is now pretty obvious that Obama is Anti American & racist. He does not put his hand on his heart for our National Antham, Does Not wear a flag pin, His wife has never been proud to be an American. Instead of being the great uniter it is obvious he is the Great DIVIDER. Now we should realy be afraid by what he means by change.BYE BYE OBAMA & Take your socialist ways with you.

It is now pretty obvious that Obama is Anti American & racist. He does not put his hand on his heart for our National Antham, Does Not wear a flag pin, His wife has never been proud to be an American. Instead of being the great uniter it is obvious he is the Great DIVIDER. Now we should realy be afraid by what he means by change.BYE BYE OBAMA & Take your socialist ways with you.

Gary, Snopes is your friend...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/obama.asp

Many people don't wear an American flag pin. Does that make them un-American, too? What about you? Do you wear one?

One does not necessarily place their hand over their heart while singing the National Anthem. Also, it's possible that the photo in question was taken just prior to Obama raising his hand.

Perspective - thanks for getting back to me. I notice you did not address my question at all, but instead talked about public perception.

I agree that public perception is very important - obviously it can change very quickly - sometimes based on facts, sometimes based on lies or pure spin.

Let's see how this plays out. One of the major points of Obama's campaign is hope - I hope that that the American public can be less cynical, and not so easily spun so that perception, irrespective of reality, is all that matters.

I guess they key for me in all this is that, although we have no direct evidence that Barak Obama personally holds racist views, we can certainly see that he is comfortable socializing people who hold and openly express racist views.

It's possible that Obama isn't a racist. Maybe he just listens to others discuss how much they hate other people based on the color of their skin - while silently disagreeing with them. But he doesn't say anything because he doesn't want to be disruptive.

Alternativley, maybe he is a racist. Maybe he does agree with the racist views of the people he socializes with. In that case, while he's sitting at the committee table in the Senate, he's secretly hating the white people around him, but he doesn't say anything because he doesn't want to be disruptive.

Either way, I think it's news and we should talk about it.

Zzim - The alternatives you mention are not the only possibilities.

For instance: Perhaps he is used to sitting at tables with people with various points of view and listening to them all - without saying anything - to help determine his own perspectives. Perhaps the result of all that listening is what we hear in his speeches. Perhaps that's what he really thinks.

I agree it's something we should be talking about -- with all the candidates.

E Favorite -

Actually, I thought I did answer it....no, he has not changed his message. But he is being held accountable in the press because of his close association with someone who had preached a divisive message - Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I implied that while McCain gets a pass from the press on his checkered past, the democrats will not be so fortunate in terms of past associations. The media is in fact skewed to the right, contrary to the perpetual if disingenuous neocon comments skewering the 'liberal' press.

I also pointed out in another thread that I felt Geraldine Ferraro was playing the race card with her recent sleight-of-hand Obama comment, as she bowed out of Clinton's campaign - in my mind that was an underhanded and calculated remark that should have been beneath her, but apparently wasn't. Instead, she experienced a nauseating attack of 'sour grapes'......

In my estimation, whether Obama is benefitting from his blackness or not, is about as pertinent as asking whether McCain and Hillary Clinton are benefitting from their whiteness - one could speculate that they are, but who's making an issue of it?? The all around nastiness is just commencing........

SHAME on WAHABi, not iSLAM, SHAME SAUDi ARABiA, OSAMA et al!:

Att: OBAMA, NAACP, & Friends of The NATION OF ISLAM, U.S.A. etc..

Please see: On, "ON-WOMANS-WRONGS & SHAMING MEN, not HUMAN RIGHTS!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peFQWuk4nuo&feature=related

UNDERCOVER of Islamic-Zionism , aka “AL TAQIYA” (not by Jews) via Saudi Built MOSQUE!

Internationally, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS & Millions INVOLVED in Non-Islamic Nations!

Abolish islam in Sweet Sweet U.S.A.!

Remove Tax free Status & Building permits, restrict-Boycott Travel, Student exchange etc..!

WHATA you say, BARATONE Mesmerizing HUSSAIN OBAMA about ye brethren(s) on YOU-TUBE here & there, and the Nation of Islam, NAACP, et al??????

Imortant: The IMMAM/MUFTi said, "If any one who is a MUSLOM/MOSLEM/MUSLOM who reverts to another Religion, then "KILL HIM..." [similar said].

So, what does OBAMA & SAUDi Arabia Kalif & KING have to say to THE WORLD about this "ELDERS OF AL-TAQIYAH" (Islamic-ZIONISM, not Jewish, & take Over of the World..) TO THE WORLD???

WE are Waiting.....anti-American Double-Agent OBAMA, Nation of Islamic, black loving NAACP , OPRAH etc,...

Note: How come OPRAH Winfrey Does Not Show These Six Video's on Her Show?????????

Perspective -- thanks - I see your points.

We'll see how fragile Obama is and how he comes out of this. Certainly he must have known that at some point he'd have to deal with this pastor business - it wasn't exactly a secret - just perhaps of little interest to the press and his opponents until he became a serious contender - and perhaps when the Muslim angle wasn't hurting him so much.

I'm eager to see how Hillary reacts. So far, she's silent. McCain was certainly gracious about it.

Why all of the fuss about Rev. Wright, when John McCain has Rev. Hagee and Rev. Ron Parsley endorsing him? It's not like THEY haven't said anything that's devisive or could be considered anti-American!

That's all this talk about Rev. Wright is - a way to obscure the fact that McCain has been endorsed by two hard-core haters.

I think that if you've never heard African-Americans talk like Reverend Wright, you haven't had many African-American friends.

I first heard about "the real story" (not that I believe their version of the story now) of JFK's assination when my father made me help ground's keepers of the golf course I grew up near move furniture. The bitterness was shocking to me, a bookworm. But I had read Fredrick Dougless's autobiography and Malcolm X by that time.

Later, while in college, I worked as a labourer at a construction site. I drove some of the workers home sometimes. They would clearly warn me, "When you drive out of here, don't stop for anything".

If we think that that attitude is not prevalent in the African-American community with the continuing poverty in America, the incarceration of so many of our black brothers, that a token representation in our workplace of blacks somehow has solved this problem, the high unemployment, then, for sure, the work of Fredrick Douglous, Martin Luther King and many others is not done.

If you feel Reverend Wrights anger doesn't have a root cause, drive accross the tracks and open not only your eyes, but your heart.

I only know a little of Reverend Wright said from youtube. But if your reality is "lighted streets on quiet nights", go downtown saturday night accross the tracks for a different reality.

The issue is not about Mrs Clinton or Mr. McCain, it is strictly about Mr. Obama and his relationship for 20 years with a virulent racist. It's not about an uncle, etc. etc. It more than places in question the generalities that has peppered his speeches about unity et al that now sound hypocritical and less than truthful. As to his mother being white, he had a choice of calling himself white, black or neither, he chose black and maintain a relationship with a black racist preacher and that to me says it all!

It is decidedly less than honest for Obama to claim he never was in the pews, for the past 20 years, during Mr. Wright's diatribes. It is even much less credible to claim that he was unaware of Mr. Wrights world view or hasn't heard about his utterances. Especially in light of the fact that Mr. Wrights was dis invited to the Springfield event - announcement of his candidacy - owing to jewish sensibilities. If he had know then about the jewish issue a year ago it is stretches credulity that he was not aware of the rest of the controversies. It is not the act itself that is damaging to Obama, but it is the failed attempt on his part to protest ignorance. He should have come forth right and should have said he has known of Mr. Wright's world view for as long as he had known it, and then should have added that he does not share that world view. While, he is not happy about his views, he had not made an issue of it for sake of comity of the congregation and also could have spoken about this man's redeeming qualities, if any, that kept him from confronting him openly. Then there is another nasty thing that needs explanation, is Mr. Wright's allusion, in an NYT interview, to their discussion of how they may have to dis associate from each other at least after the primaries are over. These two have turned up to be deal breakers for Sen. Obama

So Obama is guilty of hating whites because he's associated with a pastor who sometimes goes off on a rant and says racist things?

That makes no sense. Then again, you can't argue sense with bigots.

Obama joined Wright's church to get elected to state offices. He's dumping Wright now because wright is of no use to him anymore.

Obama's nothing but a politician using blacks to get ahead.

he's slimey

Athena -

Your point says it all - McCain pandering to fundamentalist right-wing preachers and sucking up their tainted support like a sponge simply points to his supremely flawed character and chameleon-like political nature.

While I have no fear of an Obama presidency, McCain in the White House and a completely stacked right wing Supreme Court should give pause to any half-way intelligent voter.

This country really can't endure 4-8 more years of the Bush doctrine - on the other hand, we can fully expect that upwards of 50% of voters will want exactly that come November.

A few percentage points either way will probably make the difference - another electoral college president??

If Obama tells it like it is about the despair in the poor black community, he won't win the election.

Europeon-Americans want to know how to make the payment on the McMansion and want a little help funding the wealth parade in their neighborhoods.

"If you run your own Country and stop trying to tell everyone else how to live, things might get better."-------------Amen, hear, hear! But that would be unAmerican. We don't know how to not butt into other people's business, how to not choose your preachers and churches for you, how to not select your friends and mentors for you. How to not do your thinking for you. For us, it's all there in black and white. Uneasy lies the head of the Great Decider.

Where's the hate? Sounds like truth to me.

"Racism is how this country was founded and how this country was run. . . . We believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God." He also said the September 11 attacks were the result of a corrupt U.S. foreign policy.

More anti-American rhetoric from a Black man:

What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy--a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.

- Frederick Douglass

I am a regular church attender and I do not agree with everything I hear from my pastors, I don't even know everything they believe. Moreover, every chruch I have attended has more than one pastor and they don't agree on everything. Taken out of context, you could have them "saying" some pretty silly things. This attack, by, I assume, the Clinton campaign (but, most certainly, furthered by feminists and assorted anti-Christian folk) and, is actually an attack on Evangelical Christianity, on morality, and ethics and God. These are very sick people.

The "attack" was a result of the Wright church creating a video of his "greatest hits" and selling/distributing it themselves. No one sneaked into the church and surreptiously recorded Rev. Wright in his rants. Sen. Obama would have us believe that Rev. Wright's preaching is "out of character" for him -- the result of taking a few comments out of context. So what is that context? Why did the church choose THESE comments for their video if it was "out of context." Sen. Obama indicated that he had heard a few of these comments, but not all of them before -- and didn't judge them sufficiently out there to have publically denounced them or to ask Rev. Wright to step down as one of his "spiritual advisor group." Which of the comments did Sen. Obama not see as inflammatory? How is it possible that in the nearly 20 years he has been going to this church, listening to Rev. Wright (who he acknowledges as his spiritual advisor, the person who married him and baptized his children -- someone he looks to for spiritual advice) and leaning on him, that he nevertheless never had a clue that this was how Rev. Wright felt. That doesn't make sense -- it calls into question Sen. Obama's credibility on the subject.

I think Sen. Obama has some further explaning to do and that the media needs to explore his statements to date and his thinking on this much more than they have. It feels like Sen. Obama wants to endorse Rev. Wright's comments in the black community and run from them with the white community. Now that might be problemmatic in a national political race for the presidency.

I believe that most of what Wright said was false or misleading and simply designed to enrage the audience and create a mob mentality. Let's start with Hiroshima and Nagasaki:

1.) The Axis Powers started WW II, not the U.S. We entered the war after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.

2.) Hundreds of cities, with civilians, were bombed with conventional bombs during WW II. Japan bombed cities in China, Australia, Philippines, Korea and much of Asia. Germany bombed cites in England, Russia, Poland, France, Netherlands, etc. The Allies bombed cities in Germany, Japan and Italy.

3.) War Crimes - the Japanese military murdered most probably 6,000,000 Chinese, Indonesians, Koreans, Filipinos, and Indochinese, among others.

4.) Two weeks prior to using the Atomic bombs the Allies issue the Potsdam Declaration that gave Japan the choice of surrender or destruction. Japan never responded.

5.) The decision to drop the Atomic bombs saved countless lives, both American and Japanese. Estimated United States casualties rose to over a million, while unknown for Japan if amphibious assaults were launched. If you compare that statistic to the one hundred ten thousand killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you would probably say that the casualties in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were just a small fraction of what the casualties would have been if an amphibious assault was carried out.

6.) An order given by the Japanese War Ministry, ordering the execution of all Allied POWs, numbering over 100,000, if an invasion of the Japanese mainland took place.

7.) Japan also had an Atomic Program during WW II. The U.S. intelligence knew of its existence and took the possibility very seriously.

No reasonable person will ever dispute that Germany or Japan would have bombed U.S. cities with either conventional or nuclear weapons if they had the capabilities, resources and opportunity.

Next we'll cover the truth about AIDS

what really hit home for me is when I asked my best friend who is an american citizen from Kenya and an avid supporter for Obama how she felt about the clips on the news. Shocking me to my core she said her preacher here in NC just this past Sunday preached a sermon regarding placing banners at all airports saying drop the word of God or Jesus Christ once you enter the USA that somehow we white americans don't tolerate it over here- never hear the word God here is what he said?? She said her pastor preaches sermons that she often disagrees with and many similar to Rev Wrights- now we're in NC is this happening all over the US?? I had no idea this is what goes on in African American churches....it's actually frightening to learn how naive I've been. Why would someone dedicate hours each Sunday to such a message if they don't beleive in it???

All of us have friends and family that spew the type of hatred an ignorance of the most reverend Wright. The proof of what is in our heart is when we speak up and say, "Cut it out" or "Don't speak like that in my home". And we are frail comon folk, not aspiring presidential contenders. Barack's actiosn or more clearly lack of actions is doubly dumbfounding. First he lacked the moral fortitude to speak up and say no! Second, he lacked the political savy to realize that even if he agreed with the reverend, he needed to pretend he didn't. What a dope this "man who would be King" is.

Stipulating that I am an Obama supporter,

the emergence of "racial politics" in the election of late has made me start to believe my black friends who warned that America would never elect a Black candidate.

I don't mean to completely dismiss consideration of the Pastor's remarks, though it is well to point out that Obama has disavowed and condemned them.

The vehemence of the Pastor's rhetoric, which is related to the deplorable history of America's treatment of Black people, is symptomatic of the gnarled and twisted state of cross-racial mistrust and resentment.

Perhaps Obama can address these underlying issues in a way that is healing rather than exacerbating.

In the meantime, we all should mix sadness with whatever anger we might feel. And compassion.

Hat tip to Crooksandliars.com

"1. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson said America is damned — cursed by God, though not permanently — because we tolerate feminists and queer people.

2. John Hagee says America is damned — cursed by God, though not permanently — because we tolerate Muslims.

3. Jeremiah Wright says America is damned — cursed by God, though not permanently, suffering from hate and division, from bitterness and envy — because we succumb to hating one another."

What is the difference between the examples above? In the first 2 they are white Republican ministers of large evangelical communities. In the latter the preacher is a black Democrat preacher from a smaller religious community. Of course the latter has to be denounced and vilified while the former are held up as paragons of moral virtue.

Another, less inflammatory sample of what is said at Trinity UCC Church is here:

http://www.tucc.org/home.htm

Note, I am not a member of that Church. In fact, I am a Wiccan, not a Christian. I am an Obama supporter, but only because I disagree with HRC on several issues. He was not my first, second, or third choice, but the person that ultimately wound up voting for in the primary.

Another person, Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com, made the same point I made earlier in this thread.

"White, right-wing Christian evangelical rage against America is understandable, respectable, and noble. Liberal black Christian anger towards America is scary, subversive, and despicable."

I want to know if this pastor talked this stuff all the time...why then are there 6 years between the clips that add up to less then 30 seconds? Has anyone LISTENED to them? I had an argument with another poster in another forum...he called the Pastor a lier for saying Black Men were used for experiments, given Syphllis. Then given placebos instead of meds. It is true, it happened.

An unfair justice system that gives black men longer sentences for the same crimes a white man does..

We did bomb 400,000 people and even today cancer and mutated babies are the result. We did that...and this country is not run by rich white men? It's not???

Obama's mother was white, his grandparents raised him...they were white. First the whistpers that Obama was Muslim. because his father came from Kenya...but his father was Atheist. His mother spiritual not religious. No Obama was not Muslim. But now you have to attack him for his pastor. Make up your mind, you hate him because of his Muslim religion or the truth his pastor says...or is it his race? Well..if it is race, just vote for the white half.

And for you people that claim Pastor Wright an anti semite...Jews and Muslims are semites. People throw that word around alot, and have no idea what it means.

Who can forget the Rev. Billy Graham’s unfortunate conversations with Richard Nixon and H.R. Haldeman about the Jews? They made anti-Semitic jokes, talked about which reporters were Jewish and how reporting had deteriorated since more Jews had become journalists. Nixon complained (on tape) that the Jews had a “stranglehold on the country” and Billy Graham responded: “If you get elected a second time then we might be able to do something.”

Did anyone repudiate Billy Graham?

Bill Crystal from the NYT made a claim that he was able to prove that Obama was in the church on July 22 when one clip came from. Except he was in Florida talking to La Rza at the time. Cyrstal had to appologize today, He had got the news from Newsmax. Gods...he should know Newsmax is not the place to get truth.

You people can not be saying stuff that you know is true. All I can say is prove it. For the stuff you are saying.../prove it.

Until you do you all are just bigoted, racist liers.

Why not have clips from each week...why have clips from the pastor 6 years apart? Over 27000 mineuts and all that came from it was 30 seconds?Can anyone think? Or does being spoon fed garbage for all these years of the Bush gang warped your reasoning?

How about all those White pastors that Damned New Orleans because of gays...or Damned New York because of the ACLU, Gays and us Pagans? How about the pastors that claim America is damned for abortions..How about Fred Phelps, that go to soldiers funerals and say God is happy when a soldier dies? What no rage over that? Why, cause Phelps is white?

No where has Rev Wright preached white hatred...he said America was ruled by wealthy whites..and it is. Are you all wealthy? Is it not the owners of corporations that run us? Is it people that are loseing their homes getting bailed out or that Bear and Stearns for Billions. Now are you mad because the Pastor was lieing or because he was telling the truth? Has Hillary been called n**ger? I doubt it.

I am a middle aged white woman, but if I was green or purple, lies are lies..and bigotry is bigotry...I will vote for Obama, I trust him and I like him. He would not treat us like fools or to be used. He is honerable, and to me that means everthing.

And I simply adore Michelle..she is intelligent, brave and down to Earth, and one wonderful speaker.

GoBama 08!!

terra

I am waiting for one person to come forward with proof of Obama talking in any way with hate or bigotry. One person. You all think that if anyone knew anything they would not come forward?

My pastor, parents and neighbors were Christian, I am not. So their words did not attach themselves to me.

terra

"He also said the September 11 attacks were the result of a corrupt U.S. foreign policy."

Um, gee, I really hate to burst your bubble here, but they were ......

Regarding the comment: "The flare-up over the hateful words of Barack Obama’s minister, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., dominated the news cycle this weekend."

I fail to see how rightly pointing out the country's past moral failings - many of which continue today - is in any way 'hateful.' If your diagnosis is cancer, is the doctor who told you about it also 'hateful?' You cannot cure what you cannot name.

And how hateful would you suppose are slavery, lynchings, Jim Crow, segregation, denial of voting rights and institutionalized racism?

How hateful was the Tuskegee syphilis "experiment"
How hateful was Bull Connor and his dogs?
How hateful were those fire hoses turned on peaceful protesters?
How hateful was the assassination of Medgar Evers? Of King?

Am I hateful to bring these unpleasant historical facts to your attention? Cry me a river.

Let's live in the real world, folks.

I watched more of the clips on Rev. Wright and the thing that bothered me was his 'damning' not the content of what he said. It bothered me like Falwell when he used similar words.

Not what he said, but how he said it.

But I understand his anger...

Bud:

Even if you end up disagreeing, you need to go further back than 9/11 to understand what Rev. Wright is saying about 'corrupt foreign policy'. You will need to consider Western Imperialism, the Ottomans, the Arab-Israeli wars, the negotiations over Jerusalum, the West Bank, and Gaza, the oil industry, the arms industry, World War I and II, US and western foreign policy in the Middle East, and that is not a complete list.

He's not saying something that isn't out there. For more on that point of view, I suggest reading Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn.

Colorado Kool aid asks: “Why did the church choose THESE comments for their video if it was ‘out of context.’"

You’re a little confused – it was the media, not the church, that chose those particular comments – and I’m hoping you can guess why. The church published an entire DVD of the pastor’s complete sermons given over a period of years. Then the media went through them, picking out the inflammatory parts. If there were more inflammatory parts, you can bet the TV clip you’ve seen repeated a zillion times would be a lot longer.

Williego46 says: “he [Obama] lacked the political savvy to realize that even if he agreed with the reverend, he needed to pretend he didn't.”

I see no indication of pretending. Nothing in Obama’s speeches indicates that he agrees with the video clips we’ve seen of Pastor Wright. Just the opposite, in fact. Does it occur to you that the pastor has heard Obama’s speeches and sees how different the tone and content are?

Your comments mirror mine and those of my husband. We voted for Obama in the New Jersey primary. If we had known about Obama's membership in Rev. Wright's church we would have voted for Hillary. His rants about 9/11 are infuriating to those of us who love this country, and unbearable for those of us who lost a loved on in the terrorist attacks.

Pat Harris:

Those who of us who may not like the tone and words he used but are sympathetic to his message and anger - love our family, our community, our country, and Earth.

I think we must change our foreign policy to cure the root cause of what happened on 9/11.

I think that you have to give Rev. Wright a pass on the comments about 9/11. I mean, look at the date - 9/16/01. There was a LOT of heated rhetoric being flung around in churches that day. How are Rev. Wright's comments any more offensive than Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson's, blaming 9/11 on Gays, Feminists, and Pagans? I am sorry for your loss on 9/11. But, you have to step back and look at things from a different perspective.

There is nothing he can say today that will excuse him sticking around this beast for 20 years. Sorry, you can try to invoke the name of Falwell and Pat Robertson, Geraldine Ferraro, whoever, but the fact remains that this is the pastor that he chose for his children to listen to and be mentored from - give me a break - he is a fake.

Reminds me of a meaningful quote:

"All our visitors bring us happiness, some by coming and some by leaving."

You can't be angry and stay put to benefit anytime you can. Barack Hussain Obama and his "desciples" keeping an eye like a hawk or vulture on anyone makes a mistake, slips, falls or comments about him and his, quick to call everybody who disagree a racist, but when it comes to their own "try to justify it." He does not know that Wright made those speeches? Wow, what about what Angry Lady Michelle said?

What is the difference between what Farakhan, Wright, and Michelle Obama said? Nothing but the same that they admire the same man and he admires them.

The denial and condemnation of Farrakhan's endorsement didn't come until forced to, same with the Wright's comments, we just waiting to hear what he says about Michelle's comments.

Nothing but the sheeps of the same flock of racism and pointing fingers at others.

Than you.

There is nothing wrong or flawed in Jeremiah Wright speaking the truth of America's problems and what has been viewed as wrong but never changed. He just has the confidence to speak it and ensure that those congregants who trust him for knowledge are given a snippet of whats really going on in our country.

Until we stop burning down ALL churches, businesses, allowing (and accepting) racially divided groups to spread a message of hate in America. Sending our jobs to overseas factories to making a bigger profit. Building more jails and prisons instead of improving our colleges and moreover, choosing to criticize a pastor for speaking his mind on issues of Americas ills; we will NEVER be a better America.

Thousands of people have written about the errors of Jesse Jackson, Bill Clinton and others over the years. Lets think of how George Wallace refused to change and was celebrated for speaking out. Bull Connor for his outward misuse of force on people and the many catalyst for division in America.

Whenever Americans accept that there is a divisive line that has been in place for years and HONESTLY work for change, we will be better. This is doing more to continue to divide rather than include.

There is nothing wrong or flawed in Jeremiah Wright speaking the truth of America's problems and what has been viewed as wrong but never changed. He just has the confidence to speak it and ensure that those congregants who trust him for knowledge are given a snippet of whats really going on in our country.

Until we stop burning down ALL churches, businesses, allowing (and accepting) racially divided groups to spread a message of hate in America. Sending our jobs to overseas factories to making a bigger profit. Building more jails and prisons instead of improving our colleges and moreover, choosing to criticize a pastor for speaking his mind on issues of Americas ills; we will NEVER be a better America.

Thousands of people have written about the errors of Jesse Jackson, Bill Clinton and others over the years. Lets think of how George Wallace refused to change and was celebrated for speaking out. Bull Connor for his outward misuse of force on people and the many catalyst for division in America.

Whenever Americans accept that there is a divisive line that has been in place for years and HONESTLY work for change, we will be better. This is doing more to continue to divide rather than include.

Why do the Post and the Kennedy's insist on being the defenders of the Obama campaign? Mr. Shriver is offering all kinds of advice to Obama: "Obama has to..." "Obama must..." "He needs to..." "He must..." "I hope the Obama campaign..." "Obama must realize..."

I don't see the Post defending other candidates the way they defend this one.

His very close 20 year relationship with a "Pastor" that spews hate is embarrassing to say the least. If this was any of the other candidates, they would no longer be in the race. I used to think that the excitement of this Presidential race was constructive. But now it has reached a point that is destructive for the country. His speech today should be about withdrawing from the race to salvage what he has left.

His description of his relationship with his Pastor is just the latest example of Obama changing his story to suit his audience. The public is not buying it. He has changed stories on other issues: NAFTA, public financing, relationship with REZCO, using other speeches, money from special interests, etc. Then when someone dares to criticize his inconsistencies, they are charged with racism. It reminds me a little of the GWB administration calling people unpatriotic for criticizing them. His campaign has been playing with the race issue from the beginning:

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=aa0cd21b-0ff2-4329-88a1-69c6c268b304

The deception has become the pattern.

Enough is enough. There is no credibility left. Please stop defending him.

All I can say is I attend a predominately black church and if I ever heard my pastor speak that way I would walk out and never come back...

The sad thing is that McCain did the right thing and stepped up to defend Obama's character. Hillary was silent.

If Hillary steals the nomination, I will not only happily vote for him, I will work for him and contribute to his campaign. His politics aren't exactly mine, but at least he is a decent man with character.

Mr. Shriver

"A hidden affinity for a harsh and ruthless preacher..."

First you offer a subjective and unsubstantiated attribution about Pastor Wright's character as "mean-spirited and divisive" and "harsh and ruthless".

Then you suggest that Barack Obama must either repudiate the man based on your attributions to *your* satisfaction because not to do so is sufficient proof that he is guilty of the same sins. You further suggest that he must have a "hidden affinity" (overtones of secrecy and perversion?) or Mr. Obama couldn't possibly have bonded with Pastor Wright in the first place. You express your hateful attributions as though they are generally understood and accepted without question.

This is exactly the process whereby people and groups are marginalized and demonized. It's an evil process that ignorant and intolerant people have always used to justify not only everyday discrimination, but terrible, terrible crimes against other human beings. This is how the holocaust became possible. This is how the Rwanda massacre and ethnic cleansing in the Balkans was possible. This is what fuels the murdering in Darfur and the middle east.

If anyone should be ashamed of sowing divisiveness, mean-spritedness, and harsh ruthlessness, sir, it is you.

His bubble has burst and it is a shame. At least for a little while, we were led to beileve that this man was different. That he could really take us in a new direction of coming together. Oh how we wanted to believe! We all want a better world and nation and latched on to the dream he presented to us. Now that reality has set in (or been exposed), I am so very, very sad.Yes, some white ancesters years ago did horrific things to blacks. But until the present-day blacks can forgive and let go of their anger (as a good Christian should), nothing will ever change. The whites who voted for Barack proved that they have a different attitude today and can look beyond race, but it all came tumbling down because certain blacks could not do the same as they continue to cling to their unforgiving, hate-filled and even anti-American attitudes.I couldn't believe that the Barack Obama who had so inspired me could be associated in any way with the poisonous, hateful speech of the Rev. Wright. It was also disheartening to watch the clapping, cheering and high-fiving of the so-called "church" members after some of the most offensive comments by himI really thought that maybe there was finally a wonderful role-model for black youth and even all youth that is so desparately needed today. I guess that leaves us with Bill Cosby who has been brave enough to "tell it like it is" and put responsiblity where it belongs (with each of us individually, black and white) instead of playing the "blame game". Barack, you gave us a dream and now you have taken it away. I know that I am not the only one who is sad, sad, sad, and so, so, sorry.

Comical that with all the real issues out there worth discussing (2 days from now being the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War and botched occupation, close to 20% of Americans without access to affordable healthcare, an economy in the tank, and rampant cronyism and corruption in government), that everyone is focusing on this circus sideshow.

Look, they're politicians. They do things to get elected. They all do. You don't think there are skeletons in John McCain's closet? I've been on the Hill, and I've seen his temper up close and personal. He is at times emotionally unstable. You would think that a 70+ year old man would be able to control his emotions, but at times he can't. Lots of his colleagues think he's nuts. Personally, I think he's an honorable man who has been to Hell and back in his lifetime and I forgive him his foibles because I see the greater goodness in him.

Senator Clinton refuses to disclose her basic financial information, nor that of her husband. The Saudis have donated millions to the Clinton Presidential Library and have personally ferried him on private jets to/from Saudi Arabia for speaking engagements to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The NY Times reported this late last year. But the Clintons refuse to disclose their tax returns or the donor list to the Clinton Library. Why? Folks, this is truly important information that has to come to light! The Clintons are bought and paid for by foreign governments, corporations, lobbyists, and special interests.

Obama has this nutty Pastor in his background. The nutty Pastor that doesn't beg questions of whether or not Obama is suited to be President, but whether or not he has a secret "Black Supremacist" agenda. Race is the one constant undercurrent in American society. It is inevitable that the first black man with a legitimate shot at the Presidency has to answer questions as to whether or not he is a threat to the predominantly white aristocracy of this country.

Take the tin foil hats off, people. Reverend Wright is merely the forcing function. Barack Obama does not have a secret agenda. He has merely arrived at the point that all of us knew he eventually would.

He now has to answer the fundamental question: "Does a black man deserve to be President of the United States?"

OMG, here we go again with right wing media, and the WashPost keep going at it again, try for WM distraction, we are so worry about Obama's preacher and forgetting what the republicans have done for the past 7 years, I have not seing the outrage over the lies bush told us to start this war that cost us over 850 billion dollars, I did not seing the Post examining Mccain's Health care plan and social security plan.

I am an Obama supporter (Gave money, voted for) and believe he will be the president to represent my views and help our country.

I grew up in Brooklyn NY with lots of African Americans. I have seen terrible things whites have done to blacks and visa versa (I have been mugged by African Americans many times). There is no way I can understand what its like to be African American.

I know that what the reverend said is what is felt deeply and truly by his flock and others. For me he is speaking their truth, a black truth, not mine or yours, but theirs.

He has that right to speak and NOT be persecuted. As a Jew many rabbis speak pejoratively about Arabs, they have that right to do so though I may not agree.

I am voting for Mr. Obama and not his preacher. Though they are close and have a bond that does not meant they are one in the same. Guilt by association is strange when Mr. Obama shows no evidence to support the upsets felt by this reverend.

Judge not least ye be judged seams to fit this moment for me. I don't have the black experience to judge that what this reverend was saying.

What is truly amazing is what the people who post here claiming that Wright told the truth have to believe. That the US Government gave drugs to black folks to turn them into addicts? That it invented the AIDS virus? That the people killed on 9/11 got what was coming? What interesting minds they must have.
I suppose that it takes all kinds.Certainly anyone who believes this man's crackpot conspiracy theories and shares his ethical judgment belongs no where in public office.Much less the Oval one.

Uh Bud,
The cause of the September attacks were terrorists bent on killing Americans--policies don't murder people. Killing thousands of people is not justified because a group of Arabs do not like our policies. And with regard to Israel, most of us in America do not believe they are "corrupt".

It is this "Reverends" angry, nasty tone lashing out at other victims of society that detracts from any truth he may be speaking. But lets look at his praise for the vile anti-semite Farrakhan. I can only take from that that Wright too hates Jews. Yes, slavery is evil. Yes, racism still exists. But isn't it about time people were constructive about addressing these issues? Making nasty remarks about another oppressed people (the Jewish people) is not way to rise up or help your people rise up. This Wright person loses all credibility. And Obama should be ashamed being a member of his church for 20 years.

Also love the "bubble has burst" talking point. Keep it up, Clintonites. The only thing the Clintons and Bush's know how to do is foment Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.

I can only pray American sees beyond the FUD in 2008...

Lynn says: "There is nothing he can say today that will excuse him sticking around this beast for 20 years."

Well, that's pretty definitive, isn't it? Thus, my questions below are not addressed to you, but to people who are a little more open than you.

So, to these other people:

- Would you consider changing your mind if you heard another tape, perhaps two or three times as long as the original 30 second clip of Wright, that showed him to be mellow and compassionate?

- Would you reflect on people in your life who you stick by because you love them and they’ve enhanced your life, even though you disagree vehemently with some of their views and on occasion they’ve embarrassed you greatly?

- Will you acknowledge that sometimes the media distorts things and that after you get other information, you change your mind?

I hope there are many people who are willing to think about these things, rather than close themselves off the way Lynn has.

Lots of folks think the media is biased against their candidate or some other nonsense.

The only thing the media is biased about is circulation and ratings (or, in the modern era, page views).

Sex, religion, and race incite great disagreement among us, and therefore increase readership or viewers. The only thing that could make this even more ludicrous is if Obama had to denounce Britney Spears.

But while we lemmings sit here in the muck reopening our festering wounds and making money for big media, we ignore the bigger issues at play in our nation.

After all, what's more interesting? Replaying the 60s Civil Rights Movement and the bigotry, veiled or otherwise, that fueled our parents' and grandparents' rage, or debating the merits of mandating that everyone purchase health insurance vs. merely mandating that the insurance companies provide affordable and accessible health insurance and letting Americans make their own choice regarding coverage?

The issues in this election are laid out for us to examine. They do not involve a crazy Pastor who has been disavowed. They involve the future of this country. We are at a crossroads.

Wake up.

Jeremiah Wrights words are shocking to white America because they are the truth. Its called HATE because too many white people want to ignore the FACTS stated in Rev Wrights comments. Calling Rev. Wright's language HATE is the root of what he was saying.
White men, who are grew up in or are direct descendents of White men who lived and developed in a racially divided America, are in control the media and how much of Rev. Wright's message was delivered. They have turned what black Americans have to go through into our own fault if we say anything about it. Racism still exists.
His language and the affirmation of his congregation is HURT from white America's constant denial that too many (not all) of their own still harbor "oppressive" attitudes. We will only be a country united when these speeches are made in WHITE churches as well. God Bless America.

Everyone has someone who they care for, who may at times say or do the wrong things. It doesn't mean we throw them under the bus. Wright's statements, while inflammatory, need to be understood in the context of half a millenia of slavery and Jim Crow.

Obama seems to be saying to those who would use this to attack his own character, "Get over it."

Once again, Obama's confident virtue shines like a beacon for all of us to see.

Bravo, Obama

I've never seen such outrage over someone speaking the simple truth. Oh.. wait.. this is America. Nevermind.

Forty years ago the Civil Rights movement was hijacked by hate-spewing demagogues who drowned out the voices promoting the dignity of all men and national reconciliation.
These past 40 years have seen the U.S.A. revise its federal and state laws with the aim of making racial discrimination against non-Caucasian people illegal.
Unfortunately, many of those who might have been able to take advantage of these changes were and continue to be convinced by such demagogic voices to not participate in the common culture of the U.S.A., and, instead, to self-segregate themselves (using, among other things, a culture of victimhood, racial animosity, and pride in academic illiteracy), thus ensuring to this day the existence of a permanent underclass identifiable by race.
We Americans must repent of this sad detour that, tragically, was not sufficiently opposed due to both the political correctness of the 60's and 70's cultures and "white guilt".
We need to make real the 1963 dream that each of us judges any other by the content of the other's character, not the color of the other's skin.
Wouldn't that be a breath of fresh air? Political Correctness would evaporate. And on that clear day, we'll be able to see forever.

I think Mr. Shriver and most whites are reprehensible for insinuating that Reverand White's words were hateful and even more incendiary than the hate and venom that springs forth from many white conservatives and their pastors in the Religioius Right.

Mike Huckabee is a racist baptist Minister who defended the Confederate Flag -

White Conservatives regularly - as they are doing now with Obama and his Pastor - use racism in order to win elections

They visit Bob Jones University - insinuate that African-Americans are intellectually inferior - etc.

Whites and many Jews have no love for the black American Community - Reverand White has merely responded in kind - he's told the truth -he has acknowledged that racism exists ni America.

What is so wrong in saying God Damn America?

Whites would try to silence persons who speak out against racism in America

Yet they act as if Reverand White is even more hateful than Mike Huckabee - or Jerry Falwell?

This whole thing is sickening.

Great speech that had some hard truths mentioned. However listening to an occasional racist statement by a Grandparent (who you can't choose), and choosing to attend a church where the leader obviously despises the US government, and by extension the US, is totally different. Obama has been disqualified from becoming president (20 years of subliminal brainwashing). He seems like is a likable guy, but to run the country you must be a true believer in the US (warts and all).

Jeremiah Wright exploded over the infuriating comment made by Ferraro!!!!

After the long history of the black being in hell then to have some one say that Obama wouldn't be in the position if he wasn't black the floodgates came down and the anger spewed forth aftger three hundred years of being treated like maggots.

As if black conferred special favors for Barack Obama in this campaign. It is hysterically ironic.

Jeremiah Wright exploded over the infuriating comment made by Ferraro!!!!

After the long history of the black being in hell then to have some one say that Obama wouldn't be in the position if he wasn't black the floodgates came down and the anger spewed forth aftger three hundred years of being treated like maggots.

As if black conferred special favors for Barack Obama in this campaign. It is hysterically ironic.

Obama defends Pastor Wright's hate filled sermons as "fierce criticism" of the US. This is nonsense. Obama is showing his true colors by tap dancing around the truth to get in office. B. Hussein Obama does not love this country that he is so consumed with leading. Rather, he will say anything to get into office so he can try and change this great country into his twisted vision of he thinks the country should be. And since his vision has been shaped by the hate filled likes of Wright it is not hard to imagine where Obama would take us. Right down the drain.

I have not read all of the comments posted, but I think this fiasco is ridiculous. If Senator Obama considers himself a spiritual man; a man of independent thought and stout character then I am fairly confident he can weather this nuisance. What separates man from beast is free thought and discerning intellect. I think most of you agitators give others too much credit for the influence of one on another person's life. It isnt necessarily absurd to think one person can wield influence damming (see Jim Jones) or inspiring (see Dr. King); however we are ultimately responsible for OUR own actions. And all of this is an issue when there is starvation in the richest country, when thousands are losing their homes and jobs. Where is the humanity in this matter? Find some of significance and I might move this issue up from the bottom 10th to the bottom 20th on importance.

The measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Thank you Dr. King

LittleDoc writes: "Right down the drain."

So he's going to bring us up out of the drain and then send us back down again? That seems like a lot of extra work.

The only reason Obama is running for president was the response he received to one speach he made as a young Senator or while he was in the Senate race...can't remember. Yup, it was a good speach. After that speach, he was deemed a Democratic Prodigy...a man of the future. He got lucky once, and his fame spread...kind of like that Dupre call girl that serviced former NY Governor Spitzer...she's an overnight success and I 'm sure she will now get a record deal. And don't kid yourself people. Obama's race has worked out in his favor over the past few years (I can't fault him for that though). Compared to Rev. Jesse Jackson, he's a saint...but his reverend certainly isn't. This is one of those things that he had no idea would come back to haunt him because he never dreamed a few years back he'd be running for President. If he knew he would be running, he would have high tailed it out of that church after first hearing such politically disastrous (and despicable in my opinion) comments by Rev. White. The fact that he stayed, and in fact considers the man "family" speaks volumes and makes me wonder what other skeletons Obama has in his closet. If any are as damaging as this fiasco, then he is definately in trouble.

Hark! Ye saith,

""Unity is the goal itself. Uniting the country will fulfill the longing of our times: it will help put an end to meanness, help inspire a new generation of commitment to social and environmental care, help bring about the conditions that can lead to the possibility of a more harmonious world."

WOW! What a BEUTiFUL MiND & HEART! WOW!

You are the Prophetic Generation of the Eclati[ON, not OFF], "Ho Co Fe Fa", a belief, like a relgion, yet better!

Hay, After-all, Brethren's MiTT ROMNEY too refered to ye (like minded [APOCALYPTARIANS as Us, in U.S. Today & Future & Bound & Space forth wise) whe he sayth,

""..Guess there is something BIGGER THAN OUR-SELVES.." [Similar said around Thanksgiving Times 2007] while campaigning.

REMEMBER: This is ALL PROPHECY via ALL 5-Major Religions [ABRAHAMiC-3 & VEDiC-2]!

5-STARS's for Brethren(s) TiMOTHY SHRiVER et al!

Opps. Like "5-STARS" Then,

21-Hearts for the [SiS][TAT][s]

♥.J
♥♥..O
♥♥♥...Z
♥♥♥♥....E
♥♥♥♥♥....V
♥♥♥♥♥♥.....Z.us

"i" am not allowed to use the word

S
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To Go Along With My BRETHRENS like this horizonontally WAPO/NEWS/WEEK???

Att: EDiTOR Of This WAPO BLOGG, et al:

You have have 30-minutes to restore my Constitutional right to FREEDOM of PRESS, SPEACH & RELIGION, includes this Blogg/Internet.

Please restore the WORDS (which ye devilishly black-listed & Others) :

S
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S
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AND The OTHERS! YOU KNOW!

YOU ARE Openly Committing "A HUMAN-WRONG Against A HUMAN RIGHT"

Becarefull how ye tread!

30-minutes!

Ps: This & ye evilizing behaviors is been captured on other medium.

SHAMe SHAME "Washington Post", N.Y. TiMES, N.Y.POST, MSNBC, Channel-7 N.Y.C.!

IF Not, LAW SUITE IS COMMING, as WARNED ye so many times!

Mr. SHRIVER, TiMOTHY, Bloggers et al,

Mrs. Sally QUiNN, owner, Partner , bennefactor etc.., of this WAPO Blogg have been Duly Served Directly & Electronocally:

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/sally_quinn/2008/03/our_friends_and_their_views/all_comments.html

Please see Her Lonk @ March.18th.08:2:33PM. Thanks!

You know, there is a point to be made here. In my 42 years, that's my age, in this country, born and raised, everytime a minority, in my younger days minority meant "black American", spoke against ethnic injustice or highlighted, his or her words were controversial. I remember hearing a local newscaster refer to Spike Lee's movies as controversial. This same time, if a white American made comments regarding race or ethinicity, those comments were regarded racist. Now Pastor Wright was way the heck out there. My Congolese wife even says his words are unforgiven and inappropriate. I, as a black American who experienced prejudice and racial slurs here in the United States, do not condone the Reverend's words but understand why he could say them. Bottom-line is Senator Obama did not say them and it is hard to believe that he would, would agree with them, or tolerate them considering he has a little bit of everything in him. It would be like spitting on his ancestors graves. It was sad to read comments on here where those who use to support Senator Obama, a true agent for change, are not any more. Oh well, I can understand how you feel. Those words would not be appealing to me either though again, Senator Obama did not say them. I really don't think the Senator had time to visit the church that much and it was a church base for him and his family when they had time. But, hey, what can you say. I just wanted to drop my comments on this entire issue. As I told my wife last evening, there are generations of Americans who went experienced inequality on both sides, white and black people. Those generations have not healed yet, hopefully ours will. You don't have to forgive Reverend Wright but you should really think about forgiving Senator Obama, he did not utter those words and if we don't forgive him for ASSOCIATING with a could be racist, then the healing will not start. I think any one who has listen to all of the candidates, except those who defiantly support a candidate, know who the real agent of change is. If you don't, your ears were closed and your mind is made up. It is definitely not politicians who have been in office for years, they would have done something or stimulating some change by now, don't you think?

Blacks need to start taking some personal responsibility for high rate of high school drop out, sexual promiscuity, children born out of wedlock, , absence of male parenting/role models, drugs, crime, incarceration, AIDS, and lack of personal responsibility instead of playing the victim hood game and blaming everyone else for their plight! Until that time there will always be hate mongers & race baiter,s to use them and profit from their plight like the Rev. Wright, Rev. Jessie Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton as well as 10,s of thousands of White and Black Politicians. In fact the whole Democrat party! Hands outs, instead of a hand up, is the means of keeping Blacks down and economic Slaves! Keeping Blacks as an race of victims instead of a race of achievers is in the best interest of Black preachers and Democrat politicians! Blacks will never be lead to the promise land by hate mongering Preachers like Rev. Wright or by bottom feeding Politician that wants and works to keep Blacks in the Ghetto on Welfare, and voting Democrat!

There can be no Doubt that Obama and his wife are both Racist & American haters. After watching videos of their preacher I have lost all respect for Obama and anyone the attended that Church or still supports Obama. If any white had belonged or attended even one sermon of a church that spews that kind of hate they would be vilified by everyone, and rightly so. Michell was being honest when she said for the first time in her life she was proud of American. Because for all of her life she has hated American and most of its White Citizens! Obama belonged to that church for 20 years yet he does not share those views? That is beyond belief! How can he expect any one intelligence enough to vote, even a left wing loony to be that stupid? We have to get away from this double standard where it is ok for blacks to do things way over the line esp. ones that would be be President! It is very scary to think that someone that supported that preacher and went to that hate filled church for 20 years may be President! After watching those videos I can very easy see where Obama may well be a Muslin with a secret agenda for this Nation when elected! One thing for sure it is hard to see how anyone that listen to the venom spewed out from that so called preacher for 20 years can be a Christen! If Obama gets elected after this he will have did a better con job on the American public than any President in History even better than the Moron in the WH now.

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Obama the Audacity of hope? When he has prayed at the Alter of racist hate for 20 years! If elected President will it be Audacity for Revenge. No white Politicians would survive a day if they attended a church of hate for this Nation and Blacks for 20 years. Obama needs to withdraw and take his strange wife to Kanya where they can direct their hate at other tribes!

WAPO, et al;

Pplease restore the Words

HU{MATE} Kind

Jackie Endres says, "Jeremiah Wright exploded over the infuriating comment made by Ferraro!!!!"

Where on earth did you get that idea?

Please take note -- Wright's comments were taken from a DVD made of sermons he has preached over a period of years. He is now retired. As far as I know, he hasn't made any comments about Ferraro. If he did, I'm shocked I haven't heard them yet.

Have you? Please provide your source or stop saying such things.

Thanks

WHERE's the N.A.A.C.P. & OPRAH WiNFREY & LOUiS FARAKAHN, JESSE JACKSON, SHABAAZ et al???

Where are Ye???

♥J
♥♥O
♥♥♥Z
♥♥♥♥E
♥♥♥♥♥V
♥♥♥♥♥♥Z.us

Well Tim,i am surprised you did not cast your moral opinion on New Yorks fallen govennor,any advice for a man who clearly abused his position of power.To the naked eye he appeared to be the perfect husband and father,makes you wonder.

Since WAPO deliberately deleting this straightforward & honest Essay; "i" , Tim Shriver, am re-Cycling this important little ESSAY on your blog & in your Care. Thank You Cyber Friend(s) & Real Friends!

Here it is restored. Please WAPO, stop deleting , Stealing & then Plagerizing me Workls & Others.

Shame WAPO Shame on You!

ON TH E SOLUTION TO THE UNDOCUMENTED ILLEGALS POLLUTION:

A Definition of Not Ducumented and those who are Legaly Documented

A genuine "AMRiCAN" ,aka "U.S. Of A."'er's, is some one who is, by birth or Naturalized, a
"documented" TEAM-PLAYER all the way, not half way! Having certain inalienable right indeed.
SUGGESTiON:

Please help all/every/any "iLLEGAL" (Not Documented Justly) congregate(s) or stranger(s), to fill-out I.R.S./Dep't TREAUSARY 'Form-W-7' aka "TiN" number or "TAXPAYER iDENTIFICATION Number. (like a 9-digit S.S.# or Biz E.i.N#).

iMPORTANT: IT's FREE & LEGAL & the only Criteria is to have a Ligit issued Passport of that person's Ebassy, Counslulate, Nation, AND to have a bonofide Address!

Hence: Every body is happy. The reciepient, Employer & Uncle-Sam, and American's & onfaith bloggers too!

So, This "TiN#" will help them "legally' pay taxes (while here, but NO-tax return privilage) apply for a drivers License, Go to school & other good tidings.

iNCAMERA (Secret): IF , one who has a "TiN#" and can show they have payed taxex, work & lagit
address etc.. THEN a "FEDERAL iMIGRATON" [D.H.S.] JUDGE or MAGiSTRATE, From the "Dep't of
Justice", will most likely be "FAVORABLE" to those WHO-HAVE "TiN#", ELSE those who HAVE-NOT,
so to speaketh will have no 'Chance'!

This is a Best of three-worlds scenerio: Good for SELF esteem, the Employee & Mrs. & Mr. Uncle
SAMMY Baby's!

Here is the "W-7" linko & explanation. ENjOY!
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw7.pdf

"There's alway's an Answer!"

.J
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......Z.usThank you ALL!

1st Posted here on MARCH.18th.2008, 12:29PM

March 18, 2008 10:18 PM

I wonder if Senator and Mrs. Obama's children were in church when the Reverend Wright was denouncing America, saying that 9/11 was "the chickens coming home to roost," that our government distributed the AIDS virus to the African-American community, and all of the other statements that sound like the ravings of an insane man. I hope that they would not expose their children to such anti-American ravings.

Dear Dr Shriver

I wish you a wonderful Easter 2008!

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia