Past Time for Obama to Say 'No More' (Victor Davis Hanson)

The Corner at NRO ^ | 29 April 2008 | Victor Davis Hanson

[SE Mom]

Dana Milibank has a sober review of Wright’s morning rantings — and what they portend for the Obama campaign. For weeks now Wright has insulted the United States, whites, Jews, Israel, Italians, et al., but confined his media attacks to talk radio and cable news. But at the Press Club he showed disdain for the liberal corps, and that is a felony of a different sort. So expect outraged reporters to strike back.

All this will be fatal to the Obama candidacy. Had he set an example of moral outrage at his pastor, Wright would be gone and Obama would have recovered by now from any backlash from the African-American community.

But the problem is that by contextualizing Wright, Obama has lost any high ground in commenting about race, and essentially given Wright a blank check to say what he wants without being “disowned”. Moreover, Obama’s de facto original embrace of Wright — in a Faustian exchange for the racial fides that jump-started his Chicago campaigns — initially set a particular tone in the African-American community, to such a degree that a racist who lectures the NAACP about genetic brain differences is now canonized rather than jeered out of the hall.

The white poor and middle class, Hispanics, Asians, etc. look at Wright’s middle-class upbringing, his mansion and perks, and wonder why he is, Ayers-like, so venomous toward the society by which he has done so well, and how he gets away on national television lecturing about genetics and the relationship between race and brain DNA. As far as the electorate's response: as in the case of Michelle Obama, if prosperous upper-middle-class and wealthy African-Americans show such disdain toward the United States, and are applauded when they do, then the less well off of other races and backgrounds will tend to give up on race relations, as if there is no point to addressing grievances and victimization that seem exaggerated and endless rather than empirically based.

If conservatives at first thought the Obama/Wright catastrophe was ironic, given Obama’s liberal sermons, or in a political sense timely in helping the McCain candidacy, I think by now they and most other Americans instead see the mess as tragic for the country, and a radical setback in our collective racial relations. Everyone of good conscience should deplore Wright in the strongest terms, and implore Obama once and for all to disown this extremist.

Otherwise I think some day Barack Obama will have a lot of answering to do in empowering a bigot who has done so much damage in so short a time to his country. Right now Wright and what he has said to the nation are the legacy of his campaign.

04/29 07:49 AM

[SE Mom]

Excellent piece. Here's the link for the Dana Millbank article Hanson references:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/roughsketch/2008/04/obamas_pastor_reignites_race_c.html

[WayneS]

Nice piece. Short and to the point.

[SE Mom]

If conservatives at first thought the Obama/Wright catastrophe was ironic, given Obama’s liberal sermons, or in a political sense timely in helping the McCain candidacy, I think by now they and most other Americans instead see the mess as tragic for the country, and a radical setback in our collective racial relations. Everyone of good conscience should deplore Wright in the strongest terms, and implore Obama once and for all to disown this extremist.

VDH-

[popdonnelly]

“initially set a particular tone in the African-American community”

Good article, but I have to disagree with this. That tone existed in the African-American community for a long time. Which explains Reverend Wright’s success.

[SE Mom]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/roughsketch/2008/04/obamas_pastor_reignites_race_c.html

this is the link for Milbank

[stockstrader]

In his "I HAVE AN EXCUSE" speech on race--Obama could have taken the 'high road'--and disowned Wright, and he could have stated the 'black racism is just as bad as white racism'!!

Instead, he took 'low road'--and refused to disown Wright--and then went on a pathetic explanation of why black churches are like that, and why white Americans need to understand that and 'deal with it'.

If he had taken the 'high road'--Obama had a once in a lifetime chance to ask that black preachers everywhere STOP spreading ugly, divisive, racial hate and venom. Instead, he took the 'low road'--lecturing us on why things are the way they are.

Obama needs to make another speech explaining why he was complicit in helping to POISON the minds of the current generation of black youth.

[Always Right]

I thought Obama’s “better than ‘I had a dream’” speech put all this Pastor Wright stuff behind him.

[tomkat]

As far as the electorate's response ... then the less well off of other races and backgrounds will tend to give up on race relations, as if there is no point to addressing grievances and victimization that seem exaggerated and endless rather than empirically based.

Setting aside Hussein's core marxism for the moment, Hanson nails the very crux of what's happening right now.

King's ghost must be rattling its chains at what's being done to whatever progress his message helped bring about.

/gut feeling

[Jeff Head]

Perhaps that is what these last few days has been all about...letting Wright go unfettered and unhinged in order to give Obama the opportunity for a clean and definitive, morally outraged break...just before Inidana. Maybe we will see that break, what should have occurred years ago, now.

If it is, then the overall question still begs to be answered. Why did it take so long> Why did it have to go this far?

The answer is clear. Obama went to this church, fed at this trough, drank deeply at this well because it is what he believes. Now he has to seperate himself purely for political expediency...but it does not change the man and still points terribly towards his judgement and character.

THE AUDACITY OF TRUTH - BRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA

[Travis McGee]

How can Obama disown his surrogate father, mentor and spiritual leader of twenty years, without coming off as an airhead twit or a hypocrite?

Twenty years is not undone by another speech.

[tips up]

What a situation. Obama is doomed with this Rev Wright mess. And the nomination is his mathematically, unless the superdelegates go against the will of the people. And if that happens, Wright/Jackson/Sharpton will have a field day. The perfect storm is heading the Democrats way...

[stockstrader]

Exactly. Not only is Obama proving to NOT be a uniter--he is proving to be exactly the opposite--a polarizing racial divider (in addition to his class envy/class warfare divisiveness).

If you want to further divide this country along racial, social and economic lines (while demoralizing our military)--an arrogant, anti-American, Marxist elitist,,,,who is also a cocky, arrogant, enabler of black racism--Senator B. (whose middle name must NEVER be spoken) Obama,

and his anti-American racist pastor, mentor, close friend and 'spiritual advisor',

and his anti-American, unapologetic, bomb-throwing, terrorist friend,

and his anti-American, bitter, angry wife,,,

are THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME!!

[mdmathis6]

Well the bloom is off the rose....it is shocking for many liberal whites to realize just how much animus blacks have toward them and this country. Looks like we’ll have to have another civil rights movement...to help save guilt ridden liberal whites from depression as they face the new reality...that is of the black Americans that have been discovered wearing the dreaded white robes and hoods!

[Obadiah]

What really grieves me is the fact that Jeremiah Wright stood in a pulpit disguised as a vicar of Christ and preached hate and divisiveness. That this “church” has a large and approving following is deeply disturbing. That so many Blacks genuinely and completely fail to see the issue is deeply, deeply troubling.

[snowsislander]

Senator Obama needs to leave the race.

Not only has he heeded this disgraceful Mr. Wright for 20 years and called him a spiritual guide, but Mr. Obama has also contributed significant financial support to Mr. Wright's church.

Senator Obama is not the type of person that we need vying for the presidency of the United States.

[Arkansas Toothpick]

If the black community, as a whole, does not unify around a positive, pro-America theme and begin to eschew racial conspiracy and other nonsense policy, they will never have an African American president.

[ClearCase_guy]

I’d say the notion that “blacks can’t be racist” is now totally dead.

[Grampa Dave]

"Dana Milibank has a sober review of Wright’s morning rantings — and what they portend for the Obama campaign. For weeks now Wright has insulted the United States, whites, Jews, Israel, Italians, et al., but confined his media attacks to talk radio and cable news. But at the Press Club he showed disdain for the liberal corps, and that is a felony of a different sort. So expect outraged reporters to strike back."

"All this will be fatal to the Obama candidacy. Had he set an example of moral outrage at his pastor, Wright would be gone and Obama would have recovered by now from any backlash from the African-American community."

"With each new hate rant by Wright and the silence of Obama on the topic of Reverend Wright, Barack Obama seems to confirm his own moral obliviousness. Worse yet, he seems to have disdain for those who are troubled by his own unwillingness, to break with Wright.

On his new campaign plane, Obama said he has spoken with Wright in recent days and disputed any suggestion that he or his campaign have asked him to stay out of the limelight.

"I have talked to him," he said. "I haven't asked him to do anything."

Walter Williams: "For the nation and for black people, the first black president should be the caliber of a Jackie Robinson and Barack Obama is not. Barack Obama has charisma and charm but in terms of character, values and understanding, he is no Jackie Robinson. By now, many Americans have heard the racist and anti-American tirades of Obama's minister and spiritual counselor. There's no way that Obama could have been a 20-year member of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church and not been aware of his statements."

Thomas Sowell: "It is painful to watch defenders of Barack Obama tying themselves into knots trying to evade the obvious. Some are saying that Senator Obama cannot be held responsible for what his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, said. In their version of events, Barack Obama just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time—and a bunch of mean-spirited people are trying to make something out of it."

Hussein Obama’s racist pseudo minister has turned the Dems' run for President into party's train wreck!

Devastatingly, Shelby Steele writes: “Obama has fellow-traveled with a hate-filled, anti-American black nationalism all his adult life, failing to stand and challenge an ideology that would have no place for his own (white) mother."

Just What Did Obama Know About Wright's Past Sermons? (Plenty)

“Barack Obama either agreed with what was preached from the Trinity pulpit, or he tuned it out and stayed around pretending to for political reasons. To say he stayed for 20 years but doesn't agree with Wright's preaching is incredible denial. It'd be like a man buying White Sox season tickets for 20 years, attending the games, and saying he's not a fan.”

Obama’s supporters want us to ignore this story… just push it under the rug. While they’ll align Republicans with any obscure pastor who does or says something controversial, they’re trying to convince us that Obama’s 20-year long close relationship with Wright, including his effective endorsement of him, his church and rhetoric with a $22,500 donation in 2006 is irrelevant.

“When Obama decided against wearing an American flag pin, we may all have been a bit too quick to accept his rationale, too quick to find that issue unimportant. Now, that American flag pin has gotten a lot bigger for a lot of us, especially in light of what may have been and may still be Obama’s deeper, and, perhaps, secret, less than patriotic beliefs about America.”

“Wright says that blacks can’t be expected to sing God Bless America because of racism. Obama doesn’t salute the flag during the National Anthem. That sure strikes me as an amazing coincidence since Obama swears he never heard Wright say anything against America.”

Here is the link to the Star Spangled Banner video with obama standing there without his hand over his heart...

Notice her ear ring!

The picture, which appeared on a U.S. Web site, showed the Illinois senator donning a Muslim elder's headdress and robes during a 2006 trip to Wajir in northeastern Kenya. Ahmed Sheikh Bahalow, a retired teacher and elder from ethnically (read Muslim) Somali Wajir, said his community was offended by the insinuation Obama had done anything wrong on his visit. "The Somali community and in particular those living in Kenya have never been that interested in America politics," Bahalow told Reuters in the central town of Isiolo. "But we are following it keenly now because we have been provoked." Wajir residents planned to demonstrate in the town after Friday prayers to show their support for Obama, he said. Those aren't Episcopalians praying on Friday.

"Hussein Obama’s big mouth, small brain, condescending, America-hating, grandkid-baby-terminating, born-alive-infant-abandoning, America-hating-wife, kooky-moonbat-America-hating-pastor, racially-divisive, race-baiting, crotch-saluting, America-flag-disrespecting ... chickens ... coming home to roost ...!"

[F15Eagle]

Keep talking Rev. Wright. It shows what Obama followed for 20 years and desired for a spiritual advisor were he president (little “p” emphasized).

[PogySailor]

If conservatives at first thought the Obama/Wright catastrophe was ironic, given Obama’s liberal sermons, or in a political sense timely in helping the McCain candidacy, I think by now they and most other Americans instead see the mess as tragic for the country, and a radical setback in our collective racial relations. Everyone of good conscience should deplore Wright in the strongest terms, and implore Obama once and for all to disown this extremist.

Wright is the next Sharpton. Making $$$ by stirring up racial division and suspicion. They have no desire to bring the country together. They can't make money that way.

[usmcobra]

January 20 2009 The Reverend Wright steps to the microphone to deliver the opening prayer for President Elect Barrak Hussein Obama’s inarguration.....

God Damn AmeriKKKa the chickens have come home to roost....

or something along those lines with the emphasis on extreme unabbreviated gloating.

[stockstrader]

If the black community, as a whole, does not unify around a positive, pro-America theme and begin to eschew racial conspiracy and other nonsense policy, they will never have an African American president.

Exactly!! The last thing in the world this country needs right now--is a DIVISIVE President. Even worse--a RACIALLY DIVISIVE President. And the worst possible situation--is a PATRIOTIC DIVISIVE President!!!

Between Obama's complicity in the spewing of sickening racial hate and venom, and his refusal to wear a flag pin, and his refusal to put his hand over his heart during the national anthem, and his belief in "pre-emptive" surrender in Iraq, and his belief in 'class envy and class warfare' with his socialist/Marxist economic policies,,,

a left-wing EXTREMIST like Obama would be the MOST DIVISIVE PRESIDENT EVER!!

Obama is a scary person. A very scary person indeed.

[sarasota]

How could he show “moral outrage at his pastor” of 20 years?
The outrage should have shown itself shortly after attending the church for several sessions.

[SE Mom]

As others have siad- Obama is now in an impossible situation. He will have to walk a fine line if he decides to come out against Wright’s latest tirade(s). The first time he lumped it altogether saying he disavowed the controversial comments. That will not be good enough this time. He needs to get specific- black and white brains wired differently? The US government is a terrorist organization? The same government probably responsible for AIDS being inflicted on Black America? The list goes on...

If he completely and specifically disowns Wright- he risks alienating part of his base of blacks. It he doesn’t- he risks alienating many whites and blacks outraged by Wright.

It’s ugly.

[ImpBill]

You are 110% correct. The Al Sharpton’s and Jessie Jackson's don't exist in a vacuum. For everyone of these "preachers" in the national limelight there are scores of others cashing in on their fame notoriety.

All this episode has done is that it has elevated Wright into a position where he can make some serious dollars, being yet another pariah to the black community.

[Jeff Head]

As well it should be. In fact, to any rational, objective, honest person, he cannot wash himself clean of Wright. it's just too tight and long standing a relationship.

But he is going to have to try and real the MSM, more Democrats, and the Independents back in who are, understandably, waivering. This "speach tour" gives him the perfect opportunity to make (at least publically, because I believe he would continue to have Wright in the basement) a hard, clean break.

[ImpBill]

"It’s ugly.

Actually, I think it is "beautiful"! < / snickering >

[sarasota]

Brit Hume said yesterday that Jesse Jackson refused to comment on Wright. What’s up with that?

[RipSawyer]

Twenty years is not undone by another speech.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Excellent tagline material! Will you make it available or use it yourself?

[Clock King]

Finally, someone states that Wright/Obama have taken us a step backwards in race relations.

[Crawdad]

Keep asking yourself, "Where are black voters going to go"?

The dems have allowed them to get too close to their dream of a black president to abandon Obama.

What a beautiful mess.

[Travis McGee]

Have at it.

[LongTimeMILurker]

I don’t think, as some have suggested, that Jeremiah Wright is trying to hurt Obama. I think he is speaking becasue he believes Obama as President is inevitable and that his own time has already come for such bigoted rhetoric. The more he is in the news, the more blatant and arrogant Wright becomes.

[TexasCajun]

"Nah! Nah! Nah! ...Not God Bless Jeremiah Wright! -- God Damn Jereamiah Wright!"

[GnuHere]

I think that is exactly right and why he now seems to be in the news 24/7 - he has become his own enterprise thanks to the infamy and is now a separate entity from Obama.

[TexasCajun]

Now that is one impressive post Grampa.

[roses of sharon]

Get it thru your heads.....THE UNAMERICAN DEMOCRAT PARTY is an enemy of the United States of America.
And any man or women in this enemy movement should be treated as such.

Hussein Obama is NO victim of Wright or Clinton, they are all on the same page vying for leader of their anti-American radical Democrat Party

[DuncanWaring]

...unless the superdelegates go against the will of the people.

That's the whole point of "superdelegates" ... to go against the will of the people if the people choose wrong.

[Rider on the Rain]

Your comments pretty much sum up my feelings. I will add that the senator is worse than his advisor, and almost as bad as his friend and wife. Just my 2 cents.

[TalBlack]

Obama has been done in by the double standard blacks have been allowed for forty years. Any black man who took “advantage” of that double standard wilfully put himself in a ghetto. Obama made his choice a long time ago and it cost him his big dream. He won’t be president.

[ottbmare]

Louis Farrakhan is not my enemy. He did not put me in chains, he did not put me in slavery, and he didn't make me this color."

No, he didn't. Nobody put you in chains or in slavery, you fool--you were raised in a prosperous middle-class community and now have a mansion in a white neighborhood to retire to. You're a rich man, not a slave.

And as for "this color"? You look like you've go a pretty pale color going on there.

[Rummyfan]

...a racist who lectures the NAACP about genetic brain differences is now canonized rather than jeered out of the hall.

Imagine the uproar if a white man had said this, any white man. Why do narcissistic idiots like Wright get a free pass?

[austinaero]

” there is no point to addressing grievances and victimization that seem exaggerated and endless rather than empirically based.”

So very true!

[blam]

"That tone existed in the African-American community for a long time. Which explains Reverend Wright’s success."

I agree.

[sr4402]

That tone existed in the African-American community for a long time

Yes, that Tone needs to be asked of Obama very simply:

1) Do you believe that the United States is responsible for 9/11 as Pastor Wright said?
2) Do you believe that our goverment created HIV as your pastor said
3) Do you believe that our goverment is a Terrorist organization just as Pastor Wright does?

Wonder what would happen?

[Paradox]

Obama will soon all but “disown” Rev. Wright. It will be his Sister Soulja moment, but he will do it with a “wink and a nod” to the black voters. I mean besides, does anybody here really think that the vast majority of black people are NOT going to vote for Obama, even if he sh*t and p*ssed all over Wright? Please...

[Miss Didi]

FIERY REV. O'S CROSS TO BEAR
HE SALUTES FARRAKHAN, BLASTS US

[Eva]

The only problem with this article is that it doesn’t go far enough, much like most of the other articles that are criticizing Obama’s Wright problem.

Wright may not be stereotypical of all the Black churches in America, but he IS typical of what is being taught in our colleges and universities. It is nothing but post modernism from a Black perspective. If parents don’t wake up and realize what they are paying for in the way of education this country, the left will have achieved its objective, right under our noses, using our own children.

[stockstrader]

Exactly!

The indoctrination of our youth is scary. Why doesn't Obama address how the next generation of black youth are POISONED by hateful, venomous, racist rants spewed from a position of honor (pastor)?

Why doesn't he address the long-term, permanent damage done by that type of disgusting hatemongering and indoctrination??

Great tagline, btw, mind if I borrow part of it? Thinking of,,,

"CHANGE"--a euphemism for further dividing this country racially, socially and economically

[Eva]

Obama is never going to address the indoctination of the young because they are his base. I’m wondering if the type of courses that are included in an ethnic studies major are what Wright meant when he said that African Americans need to be taught differently than whites. It is no wonder Obama and his leftist cohorts appear to be elitists, no one respects people that are easily led.

The clearest example of post modernist thought in action is the Duke Lacrosse case. For people who don’t fully understand what post modernism entails, Duke is a living example.