Gore in '08?

[subgenius88]

This convention is going to be pure chaos and fun to watch. Neither will have the required number of delegates, this Reverend Wright issue is not going away no matter how badly Obama wants it to, .

I don't get this Rev. Wright issue. I swear I've read 10 different articles and haven't been able to figure out exactly what he said or did that has caused such an uproar. Can someone please for the love of god link an article that actually states the case. Every one I read just refers to it as if it is common knowledge.

This paragraph basically sums up all I've been able to find:

For nearly a week, Mr. Obama has struggled to distance himself from a series of controversial statements by his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., who characterized the United States as fundamentally racist and the government as corrupt and murderous.

And? I thought this was obvious - I'd like to know specifically what he said, but I can't find anything.

[subgenius88]

About the most controversial issue about race with him is requiring both sets of parents approval for bi-racial dating of students at Liberty U.

Oh, is that all?

[subgenius88]

Ok, I've gone to wikipedia, and apparently it has to do with 9/11 being the result of "blowback" and a litany of criticism of the US treatment of minorities Is that really it?

[bassjones]

in the 70s through early 80s. He later apologized and removed the requirement. I challenge anyone to find me any evidence that he "talked about bringing back slavery all the time." that's just slanderous.

Wright gave a lifetime achievement award to Louis Farrakhan and traveled with him to Libya to meet with Kahdafi. He refered to the USA as the "USKKKofA", made the same assinine post 9-11 statements as Ward Churchill about "America's Chickens coming home to roost", and said, "Not God Bless America, G-d #$%# America" among other things. All three of those were shortly after 9-11. Supposedly there's allot more tape. It may not be a big deal to those of you who probably agree with Wright. It doesn't matter to me at all because I'm not voting for him regardless - I'm also not voting for Hillary regardless and I highly doubt I'll be voting for McCain either. It will matter big time with the white, blue-collar, church-going, country music lovin', moderate Democrat and moderate Republicans who may have been tempted to vote for Obama. Also, his explanation doesn't pass the smell test for me. "crazy Uncle", "I never heard anything like that while I was attending there." - yet he didn't have him give the prayer at his presidential announcement banquet due to "controversial remarks" he'd made from the pulpit, and his "fiery rhetoric" in his sermons. He also informed the Rev. that there would come a point when he would have to disassociate himself from him because of his preaching style. So, which is it? Did you not hear them and decide to distance yourself, or did you hear them and only now are pretending you didn't hear them when you come under fire? Do you really disagree with them and find them offensive or are you only pretending you find it offensive when in fact they are your true beliefs and you're simply trying to present yourself as more moderate so as to win the necessary votes of white people who would be scared to death of an Obama presidency if they knew how you really felt about them? This issue's not going away.

[poopstains]

The Rev. Wright thing should be a non-issue. Every Republican candidate I can remember went after Rev. Jerry Falwell's endorsement and he talked about bringing back slavery all the time. Most still try to get an endorsement from Pat Robertson even after he was found guilty of discrimination for drastically underpaying his black employees. No one mentions these things when the Republicans do this.

Talk about your right-wing media bias.

While the Rev. J. Wright thing shouldn't been the hinge on which Obama's candidacy is based it is an issue that deserves scrutiny and explation. Obamas case unlike the ones here is this wasn't just and endorsement, he brough Rev. J. onto his campaign. He didn't bring him along for a road trip but as a member and advisor. Rev's beliefs and ideas were no secret to Obama, so much so he had to tell the Rev. to forget about giving a speech at Obama's candidacy announcement party.

Barack always struck me as a pretty secular dude. I have to wonder if he didn't just choose a church because he had to choose a church because he's a politician. If he were a non-church going politician, he wouldn't even be able to run for president. Unfortunately for him, he might have picked the wrong place!

Obama was a steady member of this church totaling nearly 22 years if I remember correctly. I don't think he has been in politics that long (I honestly don't know) so I don't think he was just looking for a church to be connected to and just picked the wrong one

[subgenius88]

Wright gave a ...

Thanks for the info - somehow I knew it would be you to answer! Interestingly, your man Falwell came to similar conclusions as Wright vis a vis 9/11.

Also, after some research, Wright's "assinine" comments were actually a quote or paraphrasing of a statement made by U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Edward Peck.

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/21/t ... 11-sermon/

Overall, though, I have to agree with your post. It's kind of hard to overlook a pastor saying "G-d #$%# America", but like one lady said when asked if she thought Wright's message was extreme - "Do I think it's extreme? No, I think it's being black in America."

[bassjones]

I wouldn't exactly say Falwell is "my man", but the idea that he supported the reinstatement of slavery was a bit extreme, don't you think? And I definitely didn't support him saying that after 9-11 either. Robertson either for that matter.