Is Obama a wolf in sheep's clothing ?

[Bob]

Feeding the homeless, or serving in the Marine Corps does not mitigate any of the venom this man has spewed, and yes, I listened carefully to his "speeches". The Kennedy pronunciation diatribe was interesting given that Ted was an early supporter of Obama. The blacks can't sit still in class and learn because they're right brained learners was outrageous. I have followed Obama all along, and considered giving him my vote, but there is no chance of that now. Obama has shown poor judgment in even associating with Wright's church. Several weeks ago Obama said he could never disown the Rev. Wright. Well, where is he today? Do you believe Obama has been ignorant of the depth of his minister's rage? It has only been the close scrutiny that comes with being the party's nominee that Obama's past associations have come back to hurt him. The press has hammered Hillary from the get-go, and only recently has anyone attempted to back Obama against the wall in a press conference with tough questioning. Perhaps this will ultimately be a tough learning experience for Senator Obama. Minorities need to join in the leadership of this country at the highest level. Just for the record, I am no fan of Senator Bush McLite.

 

[Miss Kitty]

ho-boy.

...I am sorry to laugh, but this is the all time funniest response I have ever seen.

I am getting some of the wildest emails about Mr. Obama. The kind that tell me to either forward or watch our country become Muslim. So disturbing.

 

[30A Skunkape]

...I am sorry to laugh, but this is the all time funniest response I have ever seen.

I am getting some of the wildest emails about Mr. Obama. The kind that tell me to either forward or watch our country become Muslim. So disturbing.

This is Von Erich country, love it or leave it

 

[yorkshireman]

So, I hope for the sake of this country's future, Rev. Wright will go gently into the good night of retirement but I fear, with the media's encouragement he will continue to rage against the dying of the light and keep everyone distracted from the things that really matter.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

[Geo]

I typed this about 10 this morning, before the daily Mediacom outage, and couldn't post it at the time. I apologize if it loops back...

What bothers me the most, out of all of this, is that it seems Americans only want to associate with and listen to people with whom they basically agree. People should not seek to be our leaders because they associate with people who sometimes say provocative or controversial things?

I wonder how many people watched Moyers, the Detroit NAACP speech, and the Press Club speech. I'm betting none of you commenting. Wright actually did very well on the first two, and it was the final Press Club event at which he stumbled -- badly. Wright came across as thoughtful, professorial, and challenging in the Moyers interview, and said some inspirational and thought provoking things in Detroit. He actually reminded me of a good professor who throws out several theories from academia on a subject, and lets the students discuss and hash out what's good and valid, and what doesn't pass muster. He clearly feeds off not just applause, but also the negative feedback of his audience -- he doesn't expect them to passively listen, he invites participation.

A wonderful professor (not from or familiar with DeFuniak at all) remarked that Wright on Sunday reminded him of the old Chatauquans, and that it was a shame that we didn't have discourse like that in our country anymore. I agree. Few of the ideas in that speech that seem so new and offensive to many were new to me, and I understand the historical roots of some of the ideas, even if I don't agree with them. The real shame, for me, is that so few Americans had ever heard them.

So few Americans want to be challenged, and are only too ready to completely discredit a man who's life, on balance, has been one of many good and great works. He is a retired Marine, a minister who gave much to the least of those in his community, and an elder who deserves a modicum of respect. So he's out of touch with the times, what older person isn't? Gosh, on this very thread Bob just a equated a minister helping the homeless, sick, and needy of Chicago with Hugo Chavez. Um, the Red Scare is kind of 1960. Still, your wisdom and perspective is always appreciated.

And for those of you who don't think Barack Obama is angry, you couldn't be more wrong. Obama is genuinely a nice guy -- and I think the very diplomatically phrased "Jeremiah Wright in no way speaks for me or this campaign nor does he represent my views at all," was Obama speak for SYMFPH. Let's hope Rev. Wright has a translator. There should be an arena to discuss and debate his ideas, but the American media isn't equipped to handle intellectual discourse. We only like to hear people tell us things we all pretty much agree on, we want to passively listen and absorb, and we want to do it in 5 minutes or less. So, I hope for the sake of this country's future, Rev. Wright will go gently into the good night of retirement but I fear, with the media's encouragement he will continue to rage against the dying of the light and keep everyone distracted from the things that really matter.

Thank you. I feel sane again...

When I read the reactions of others to events (in this case Wright's words) and they are so far different from mine I occasionally start to worry- wait a minute- it's gotta be me. I must be the one who clearly doesn't get it.

And when I am not worried about it I am still fascinated by it. How can two individuals hear/read the same words and draw such drastically different conclusions?!

Anywho. I am 100% in sync and in agreement with everything you said in this post.

 

[Furthur]

Last night May 2, on Hannity's America, there was a black minister -sorry I've forgotten his name- who has known the Rev. Dr. Wright for decades. According to him Wright and his brand of Black Liberation Theology is Neo- Marxist.

So I apologize for being "over the top" and calling him a Communist.
Now that I know the correct PC I will in the future only refer to him as a Neo- Marxist.

Is there anyone on-board who can explain the difference?
I'd appreciate it.

Ciao Comrades,
Furthur

 

[scooterbug44]

Did I miss a news cycle? Is Reverend Wright running for President?

 

[Chickpea]

Thank you. I feel sane again...

When I read the reactions of others to events (in this case Wright's words) and they are so far different from mine I occasionally start to worry- wait a minute- it's gotta be me. I must be the one who clearly doesn't get it.

And when I am not worried about it I am still fascinated by it. How can two individuals hear/read the same words and draw such drastically different conclusions?!

Anywho. I am 100% in sync and in agreement with everything you said in this post.

Count me in as well with agreeing with Rapunzel and with you. I am a political junkie and love all this - I am certainly still very hopeful that Obama will get the nomination and that his message of hope will resonate more than Hillary's of fear and that a healthy portion of the +/- 80% of americans who say they are currently unhappy with this administration and that they deplore the economic woes we are all facing will NOT vote for McCain.....although I must say that I have very little faith - I hope to be surprised but am always amazed at how the Republicans message resonates with so many (even though so many end up voting against their own self interests)..... as they say in France -on verra....

 

[rapunzel]

Bill Moyers agrees with me, too.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfqCyMU3mfo"]YouTube - Bill Moyers: I've never seen anything like this[/ame]

Which means it is all about race, isn't it? Wright's offensive opinions and inflammatory appearances are judged differently. He doesn't fire a shot in anger, put a noose around anyone's neck, call for insurrection, or plant a bomb in a church with children in Sunday school. What he does is to speak his mind in a language and style that unsettles some people, and says some things so outlandish and ill-advised that he finally leaves Obama no choice but to end their friendship. Politics often exposes us to the corroding acid of the politics of personal destruction, but I've never seen anything like this — this wrenching break between pastor and parishioner. Both men no doubt will carry the grief to their graves. All the rest of us should hang our heads in shame for letting it come to this in America, where the gluttony of the non-stop media grinder consumes us all and prevents an honest conversation on race. It is the price we are paying for failing to heed the great historian Jacob Burckhardt, who said "beware the terrible simplifiers.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Huh? Did you hear him say this or hear about him saying this?

I am aware of Wright saying that the US should apologize for slavery. And I am aware of Wright saying the equivalent of- he wouldn't put it past the government to have created a deadly virus to harm people given the history of despicable things it has done. I am aware of him citing text to support these remarks.

But I am unaware of him saying that he thinks the US should apologize for giving AIDS to Africa.

Certainly you aren't referring to this speech? Let's see it, SJ. Cite your source so we can A) see that he said this and B) see it in context...

G

The source was the Rev Wright himself, in a recent speech, and I heard him say it, not some media guy saying he said it.