Posted on 03/19/2008 2:54:22 AM PDT by suspects
Forget the Straight Talk Express. Barack Obama’s campaign has the biggest bus in this presidential campaign and yesterday he threw everybody under it.
Even his grandmother.
As a former speechwriter myself, I was looking forward to Obama’s remarks yesterday because I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how anyone could talk themselves out of Obama’s predicament. How does Obama - the Kumbaya Candidate - explain his 20 years at the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s black power church? How does a uniter spend every Sunday in the pews where anti-white, anti-Semitic and anti-American conspiracies and kookery are preached on a regular basis?
It’s like discovering that John McCain is a closet pacifist, or that Hillary Clinton is Rush Limbaugh’s Client No. 9.
Yesterday I got my answer. Blame everyone.
I knew we were in trouble when Obama compared the hapless but harmless Geraldine Ferraro with the Rev. Wright on the “racial insensitivity” scale. And invoking the memory of the O.J. Simpson trial in a speech on racial unity left some of us wondering if the Tawana Brawley references were cut at the last minute.
Obama did say that some of Wright’s comments were “wrong” and “divisive.” He also admitted that he had in fact been in church for some comments that “could be considered controversial - just as I’m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests or rabbis with which you strongly disagree.”
Uh, no.
As a graduate of Oral Roberts University who grew up attending church five times a week - including tent revivals, healing services and the handling of less-than-friendly reptiles - I can honestly say that I never attended a service where the minister preached race hatred, anti-Israel paranoia or used the phrase “ridin’ dirty” in a theological context.
And other than Obama...
(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...
Hey Michael! Great work, as usual (suspects).
I’m with Michael Graham on this. I was raised and educated a Catholic and while I heard a lot of liberal claptrap in homilies and classrooms, I never heard a racist remark or vulgar epithet in church. To the contrary, a lot of the priests and nuns would have had previous assignments in inner city schools or in the Deep South.
I refuse to believe that Rev. Wright’s UCC is a mainstream black church in the USA.
This kind of reminds me of when everyone was waiting for Clinton to make his first public statements on the Lewinksy matter; you remember that horrible, arrogant “you can’t touch me” statement he made?
I remember one of the networks, I think it was CNN, had Orrin Hatch handy, and had been talking to him before the speech. When they cut back to him, he looked horrifed and sputtered: “what a jerk!”
What’s stunning is that Obama has sold out the radicals in favor of the white folks; seriously damaging the base that everyone assumed was his by nature. I wouldn’t be surprised if Cynthia McKinney just got 5% in the polls: that is, if anyone was bothering to track these things.
LOL! "I Have an Excuse" speech!
It is amazing, Obama acts as if he's held hostage by his own church.
I for a fact know you can get up and leave a church ..I've done it. I didn't leave because of racist rant I left, when on the 3rd extra collection of the day a visiting nun said "From the few of us with means to all those who have none", She had nothing but communist rhetoric and this was the fianl straw, it was a long solo walk but after I left many more started too.
This is not a anti catholic rant, I just want to make the point that if one stands for what he believes and commits the simple act of leaving often many others will follow, its a shame B. Hussein, never walked away from Wright, he might have really made a impression then.
Then again his complacency says enough.
He brought his young daughters and exposed them to this rage and hate. What parent would do that if they didn't agree with the message?
Best commentary I’ve seen yet. “You’re all guilty -— and yet — I, the Sacred Heart of Obama, can embrace you all!”
If he’d just said, “In a way, I’ve been looking for an identity all my life. I thought Jeremiah Wright gave me one: bold, strong, confident, black. Now I see that was racism. I saw that along time ago, but it’s hard to part with an old friend and a whole community. That was a weakness on my part, and a dissembling. I’m sorry” — I’d have respected him.
But this “noral equivalence” game that calls his white grandmother a racistr because she was afraid of aggressive black pandhandlers on the street -— no.
Thanks for making that point more clearly than most.
After 9/11, I walked into Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Cool Valley for Sunday Mass. When the priest started ranting about the “evil men controlled by Alan Greenspan”, I made my statement. I got up, genuflected and left, 10 feet from the priest. I never went back. I don’t however, have a racial community on which I have to base my political career.
On youtube, the Obama supporters have pushed his video to number 2 (of most viewed list.) However, when I read all the comments and they were ALL positive, I figured something fishy was going on. I tried to leave a comment...just to ask why all the comments were positive and if they were “censoring” comments. Of course, they are. If it was such a great speech, what are they afraid of...why not let the people’s voice be heard, isn’t that what the Democratic Party is all about? (end/sarcasm)
Mark for later.
Senator Obama through his "I Have An Excuse" speech has jumped the shark!
The cat is out of the bag. He is the last person you would want as President. His refusal to wear an American Flag lapel... his not placing his hand over his heart during the National Anthem... these are just a glimpse of what the Senator thinks of his country.
Nevermind that Grandma only said things Rev. Jesse Jackson has said from time to time and Rev. Wright was sellind DVDs of racist diatribes in the church gift-shop. They are exactly the same!!!
He also brought his wife. OBambi might not have been listening, but it looks like Michelle was hanging on every word.
Perfect!
I grew up in the Deep South. (Louisiana) I never heard any racial, (anti-black) stuff preached in church. For as long as I can remember, there were always a few blacks in church, and it was as fundy as you can get (A of G). Even now, my mother’s church is about 1/5 black. They wouldn’t stay if they heard any of this.
Your assertions are strongly reinforced by Obama and his family listening to racist rants for twenty years. Perhaps the venom being put forth had a ring of truth to the Obama family. That is all well and good in a free country, but he is unsuited to represent all of us. Too bad Rush has handed the nomination to Hitlery.
There are different theories about this which have been suggested by cult experts and the pundits.
"Subject: Obama - Jedi Knight [Rich Lowry] "I've been caught up in the fervor of the last few days of this Obama-Wright controversy and definitely thought the 'taost' analysis was right on the money. But darned if I don't see him beatifully executing jedi mind tricks - "These are not the droids you're looking for" - as this speech is delivered. And the crazy thing is, it's working on me!!" http://corner.nationalreview.com
Pretty scary.
"Contradiction [Jonah Goldberg] He says we need to air out and discuss the problems/issues of the black community and he also says we shouldn't be distracted so we can be united in our demands for universal healthcare and the like. So which is it? Should we talk about racism and black folks or should we galvanize for a transracial campaign? Should we be distracted or unified?"
http://corner.nationalreview.com
He wants to have it both ways. Or, in the language of North Korean Mind Control and schizophrenia - "cognitive dissonance" (the double bind).
Obama himself has written about inter-racial language as requiring "tricks" and "tactics". In his Philadelphia speech he parsed Wright's race baiting by suggesting it was understandable in the context of civil rights struggles 40 and 50 years ago and on a par with Geraldine Ferraro's comment about identity politics.
This is a debater's rhetorical trick: "I don't want to talk about that issue, but now that you have brought that up let me speak my mind on this..." He had a lot to say on the issues and controversies of Wright's racial invective which he previously claimed to know nothing about. It doesn't wash.
He is claiming not to do exactly what he then does. He joins a congregation with a racist ideology and then plays the innocent victim when he is exposed. Are we in the America of 2008 or 1963? He wants it both ways. He wants to pretend to be Martin Luther King and then cry foul when anyone calls him on it.
It's absurd to have to try to debate with this kind of contradiction. Any opposition or criticism will be met with the charge of racism or being unfair to him because of race. This isn't about Geraldine Ferraro, slavery, Jim Crow or Selma, Alabama. What's next, a sermon on the Nubians and Ethiopians building the Egyptian pyramids?
Is it me, or is he darker now after yesterday's speech?
It won't be long until he's whiter again. The winner needs the "white man" vote, so this "Darker Obama" is counter productive.
“I have an excuse” Speech
BAWHAH! That is the line of the day, even better then “ridin dirty in a Theological context”.
Throwin’ Granny under the bus, my goodness my goodness
Uh, no. We attended a church for several years. Gradually the messages started changing. The first time I heard something I strongly disagreed with was the last time I attended that church.
This whole thing answers soooo many questions, I think it is good. I could never understand how after so many years, with so much opportunity vicitmhood was still alive and well. Now I know and it is very apparent that we will never get beyond race if this is the norm in black churches.
I have never been to church where race has been brought up. Church for me is finding strength in Christ to be a better person.
I also find it disgusting that Rev. Wright preaches his hate under the guise of Christianity. Talk about blasphemy.
And I’ve lived in the mid-west, the South, the West, gone to church multiple times a week, fellow-shipped with black congregations - never, ever have I heard one slur against any race - nothing but love and acceptance to all.
These folks (Obamas, Wrights, et al) are hauling around a load of baggage. Not fit to lead, in my opinion. They will stir up the pot of strife in the land, and propagate hate and misunderstanding.
Everybody under the BACK of the bus! When Obama is no longer a threat to America, I may actually feel sorry for him. He is a middle aged man who has no idea who he is, and his subconscious self-loathing causes him to bite the hands that have fed him, from his grandmother to his mother country. Now that the facade of being a unifier has been cracked, he has nothing left. Pray that he does some sincere soul-searching and reparation of his own.
Black callers to Rush yesterday state that it is the norm... we just don't “understand the language”. Yeah... goebbels is proud of osamabama.
LLS
Good one, Mike! Just a correction: Obama through everyone under the bus except Wright.
Michael Graham Ping!
When our bishop in So.Fla voted FOR the ordination of a homosexual bishop, (robinson) we left that episcopal church we had worshiped in 12 years. About 80 others followed and started a new church!!!
Doh!
Just keepin' it real yo. Are you feelin' me dog?
I'm so tired of hearing this claptrap. First of all, after Texas and Ohio, Hitlery had a net loss of delegates compared to Obama. Go look up the numbers. Secondly, even if she had lost bigger, that would not have been the killer to get her to quit the race. Sheesh, even Romney only suspended his campaign. Hitlery would have done no less and would have been in a perfect position to get back in after this Obama implosion.
You Rush-haters need to stop listening to the liberals and use your own brains for a while.
BTTT
Yesterday I got my answer. Blame everyone
I finnally get it. Hope and Change. He HOPES we can all CHANGE our filthy racist ways and join the united states of non-acountability
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Obama wants to be President of the country his minister thinks should be damned by God. Where does that leave the voter? Should voters endorse a man who doesn’t like and has no faith in the country?
Very well said. The cleverness of Obama’s oratory is often, as I expect it’s designed to be, mind-boggling.
We're in a war and facing a very serious economic crisis. The next president will have to secure the border, direct national security, and stimulate the economy. There is no time to wander down memory lane rehearsing and reviewing racial conflict from the Garden of Eden to the Civil War and 1960s Selma, Alabama, inside the mind of a very confused Harvard liberal who hangs around with ignoramus race-baiting preachers of the Sharpton and Farrakhan mold. That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. If anyone had described that a year ago - or 20 years ago! - as a formula for winning the presidency they would have come across as a lunatic which is about where this is right now.
Best Line Of The Day (as heard from a caller to the “Grandy & Andy Morning Show” - WMAL, Washington, DC)
[Paraphrasing] — “If Obama is president and the phone rings at 3 o’clock in the morning, and there’s a crisis or catastrophe in the world, who is he going to call? He’s going to call the Rev. Jeremiah Wright!”
This caller is so right!!!
“...and the only way to “cure” folks like Rev. Wright is more federal spending, to ease the pain and assuage the guilt.”
Standard liberal nonsense, with no economic or social facts in view.
Well, as a member of the ELCA for a number of years, I did hear anti-American talk from the pulpit after 9/11. But then I left that church for that very reason (along with another).
Obama hasn’t. And that’s the nut of it.
I don’t remember that at all. I’d love to have an archived video of that event.
You showed the courage Obama lacks.
When I worked for the Defense Dept in then West Germany during the 70’s, we wondered how it could be that the German people couldn’t have known about the concentration camps, couldn’t have stood up against the evil racist stuff going on back in Hitler’s time.
It is this kind of trickle of acceptance - and lack of courage - that is the greatest danger to a society
composed of people with so many different backgrounds.
We need all of these different backgrounds to make our country great. We don’t need white, black or any other kind of racists. We do need people who will stand against them.
LOL!
Blasphemy—exactly! At least in the videos I saw, the “sermons” had nothing to do with the Bible, New or Old Testament. Nothing of Christianity, only this hatred, these incredibly stupid accusations. No, I believe this church’s sole purpose is to prepare people for race wars. If, as some have asserted to interviewers, ALL black churches are like this, then we have a huge problem in this country.
Courage had nothing to do with it. It was disgust with what was being preached from the pulpit, knowing I had options. Courage comes when such decisions are made in the face of adversity, or potential backlash. I would suffer none of that.
But neither would Obama. There are other churches. Ophra was able to make that decision to leave (from what I’ve read she did so because of what such a relationship could do to her image). For whatever reason, it was the right decision.
Obama chose to stay. And because of that, he should be held to account.
You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.
You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!
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