Again, “The Man” is at play and causing a rucus with the arrest and four-hour detainment of Yale Graduate and Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates. By now, you would think that Black folks and “conscious” folks of other races would abandon the notion of “The Man” who gets too much credit in situations where common sense is overridden and self-responsibility is despised. It is much easier to cry racism and point to a plethora of social behavioral theories than to accept the bare-boned truth. Sometimes Black people do stupid stuff and race has absolutely nothing to do with it.
First, a call is made to the police because Mr. Gates’ allegedly appeared to be breaking into his own home. Apparently, the door was jammed. Questions flare about why the police was even called. Of course anyone in a residential neighborhood who views someone trying to force a door ajar should call the police. People break into homes in broad daylight. Doctors murder their own wives in broad daylight. Mr. Henry Louis Gates lives in the real world where men just like him-not just stereotypical younger Black male thugs-commit heinous crimes. Accomplished, affluent, successful people often find themselves in prison garb for quite some time because they have committed crimes.
Mr. Gates was allegedly into his home by the time the police confrontation began. Allegedly, the cops knew exactly who he was when they arrested him. There is a huge gap-between when Mr. Gates supplied proof of identity and was arrested-that Mulloverthis is not willing to suppose is filled with improper behavior by law enforcement simply because Mr. Gates is a Black man. Mr. Gates was allegedly “shocked” that after he proved who he was, the incident continued.
Having had to prove TWICE that I lived in my own house because the burglar alarm went off in the middle of the night, I disengaged it, and answered the calls from the alarm company with the appropriate code, I know how aggravating it is to look at law enforcement (two white officers) who challenged me because of what could have actually been “suspect”. However, having an appreciation for law enforcement-the same fellas that might have been answering the same call if I actually had a gun pointed to my head by an intruder-governed my disposition in getting my license, a piece of mail with my name and address on it, and answering numerous questions. There was no unseemly conduct or display of irritation to the point where after having established my identity, I could have been arrested for disorderly conduct. By the way, being one who is more than averse on my legal rights and most knowingly and audibly equipped to express them, I could have stopped the officers much sooner than they chose to stop in both encounters inside the home where I LIVE. However, I did not. I worked with the program. Mulloverthis smiled and thanked the officers both times, although I could have been indignant.
Law enforcement cannot cease to stop a swurving car because Jesse Jackson may be in it, or fail to make initial inquiries because Black people are involved. Nor, should law enforcement have to be disrespected, interrogated, or challenged because they have to do their job. Those cops did not know who Henry Louis Gates was, and even if they did, so what. Yaleducativism, Harvardism, and African-American intelligencia does not absolve anyone-including Mr. Gates-from knowing that law enforcement must be respected, even if they want to be tough guys/gals. The cops were within reason to confirm Gates’ identity and then ensure that there was nothing fishy going on, despite the fact they were dealing with “Henry Louis Gates”.
If the depth and breadth of Mr. Gates’ interaction with the Cambridge police consisted of him providing identification and fully cooperating with the officers, then the officers do need to offer an apology. If not, Mr. Gates and his supporters need to sit down somewhere and eat some chocolate.
Meanwhile, Mulloverthis chooses to commend the people that help to keep our neighborhoods safe and when everday “good” people do bad things, sometimes have to put their lives in danger to muddle through the particulars. Thumbs up to law enforcement.
The question is not whether Christianphobia is on the rise or not. The question is do people who despise Christians, because we hold fast to the Bible and our faith, have the ability to be equitable and just.
Imagine the melee gay activists, same sex marriage advocates and the so-called “open-minded” (and I use this characterization lightly) people would have if Mrs. California was pro-gay, and a staunch Christian judge began an uproar because of her support for the advancement of gay rights. Imagine. It’s not hard to imagine, because Christians can no longer go to our own churches without being challenged by people who want Christians to deface our teachings and comply with modern “thinking” and ways of living. When gay people are filthy and downright egregious in their tactics to advance their causes, they are activists. When Christians do the same thing, we are barbaric bigots.
Perez Hilton probably thought he was going to set Miss California up. Perez admitted Miss California’s answer cost her the “win” in the Miss USA pageant. To those who believe her position is outdated and inundated with bias, Perez’s “on the spot” question was fair game. Again, had Perez been James Dobson questioning a hard core lesbian whose avid response supported same sex marriage, and the lesbian suffered the crown because of her viewpoint, no one in America would be able to take a nap.
When folks believe that terrorizing church members by locking them into a sanctuary is not that big of a deal-but the same action against a bunch of preschoolers by a bunch of young black or latino males would have a community in an uproar-that’s when we know the answers to the pertinent questions. What is equitable and justifiable is what people want while the means-end application of principle is out of the window.
Kudos to Miss California for her forthright boldness and honesty while enduring another episode of heterophobia for believing in traditional family values. Just as homosexuals have a right to their opinion, so does Miss California and every other Christian who opposes same sex marriage.
Pat Buchanan, a nominal ”Whitey”, can be short-sighted to the point of apathy. Although I believe Obama’s success in the Presidential campaign is largely the result of brilliant consulting and marketing, to suggest that Black people support Obama simply because he is Black, and this causal reasoning/relationship is WRONG, clearly demonstrates the sick thinking that lies within “Whitey”.
Pat and his inane cohorts utter hypocrisy as model representatives of a people and individuals who will not trust a Black man (who is no less qualified than his contemporaries) simply because he IS BLACK. Many of this population just cannot trust Obama because they don’t know Obama and his name (Hussein) and life comes from an ethnic/racial background to which Whitey is unfamiliar. It’s amazing how Whitey can trust one another (even when they are unfamiliar with one another) simply because their choice politician supposedly stands for what they believe. Whitey trusts one another because of similarities and commonialities and EXPECT Blacks to trust them. But when it comes to Blacks and our allegiances to another Black politician, Whitey becomes brain dead and needs some grandiose justification as to why Blacks choose to trust each other; Hence, Whitey struggles to understand the popularity among Blacks for Senator Obama. White people have a stalwart indisputable record of voting for, and supporting one another. To isolate all of the contributory reasons why would be impossible. One cannot re-write the reality of the past, where the very racial prejudice which Whitey is complaining about today, was the impetus for much of who they supported and put in office to push their racist self-entitlement agendas. Concerning matters of equity, Whitey should centrifuge all prior US Presidential elections and verify the real reasons why Whitey has put all of the prior US Presidents in office, and did not radically elect one Black man or one woman aforetime.
Must Blacks placate the present groanings that come from a people, who have historically and presently continue to give jobs, hook-ups, and educational opportunities to their white friends, relatives, or persons who they can “relate to”, who are often UNQUALIFIED (not merely not-as-qualified fledglings when compared to competent educated Black folks) in their life-long affirmative action programs called “nepotism” or “legacies”? To gripe about affirmative action policies and its inequity and prejudice against white people and males is an insult. Lord, have mercy. And to think, Whitey can actually look at his own face in the mirror, primp and continue to be Whitey and indulge in the height of Caucasoidness. Whitey thinks that Joe is better suited for the promotion b/c he plays golf and attempts to connect with the team over drinks after work where Cinque (what kind of a name is that) feels his time is better spent with his two sons or at a family re-union. If only Cinque were more of a team player. If only Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey and BET would distinguish themselves as non-partial, non-biased media entities that did not blatantly support the Black candidate. How will they know? Let the mainstream media outlets whose reach is exponentially greater than a popular African-American morning show program, with FOX NEWS unquestionably at the pinnacle of biased coverage against Obama, lead the way. I hope Buchanan has started his own letter to address prejudice in media coverage and race in this campaign inspiring Whitey to clean his/her act up.
We know that Whitey prepares and catapults their very own children, and are purposed in and of themselves, to progress based upon the same core values and foundation of what their progenitors taught and HAVE PASSED ONTO them. Legacies are virtuous when embellished with Caucausoidness. These same Whitey should comprehend that Blacks have the same aspirations for a better life and employ progressive actions to be all who we are to be; only with the knowledge and realism that much of what our family lines have worked with historically, as a foundation for what we presently possess and how we think and relate to Whitey, is STILL transitional because Whitey has been–and still is all too often–a thief, robber and a liar. The same thief who ran free Black people off of their own property with death threats is the same thief who thinks that a young Black Man’s creative expression lacks character and reason, because the standard by which he judges is one he has inherited down the Whitey line, particularly when such a subjective valuation is criteria for placement. Oh, the hypocrisy of Whitey to be frustrated as he must now endure watching boys who cannot define a dissonant chord or what it is to embellish a melody, but are musical geniuses that master the very art they do not technically “understand”. Whitey is suffering because he is accused of being Whitey, and sarcastically denotes himself as such, because he feels he has overcome his Whiteyness because he has a few Black or Hispanic friends. Let this same Whitey be tested and have to decide who to believe: the Central Park Jogger, or those ghetto rough-necks. Thank God for advances in DNA testing which is freeing men from behind prison bars and the interdependence of the Whitey mentality that put them there in the first place.
Human power coupled with biased subjectiveness is not bound within racial/ethnic/class classifications. But, unfavorable bias based on race has all too often been the disgusting stalwart principle of how White people view Black folks. If Whitey is on an affirmative action mission, let Whitey begin with their unofficial preferences and decision-making based on race, class, skirt length, and the applicant’s willingness to be more like Whitey.
Obama is not the first African American man who has ever dreamed, attempted to become, or could ever be president. Too many Whiteys were in power with backwoods thinking for a Black man to lead America in past times. White people, in general, are getting up to speed with the here and now and Whitey doesn’t like this type of progress. Black people and White people alike, are ready to take a chance on a man whose life experience, and very composition is wider and more tolerable than the Pat Buchanans of this world. Black people are supporting Obama because he is Black. But too responsibly complete this idea would mean that the traditional inflammatory ways of Whitey would not bear its intended fruit. So, I’ll finish the declaration. Black people are supporting Obama because he is Black and SAYS he is for a people–not just Black people–who want to be treated, valued, and judged for who they are. Black people want to trust Obama because he is a man who knows what it is to be Black in America. Black people are just like White people in this regard, Whitey: they trust the one who they think may be just like them. Black people support Obama because they are willing to alienate the traditional politicians whose built-in prejudices are so engrained within that their reasoning is flawed against the appeal of the hopeful candidate who may be just that–only a hopeful.
Moderators Note: For those who do not follow this blog, it is imperative that you understand that I do not believe all White people are racist, prejudiced, or biased based upon race. I also do not believe that racial animus can only be directed by White people against Black people, or is exclusive to White people. However, I do believe that there are still too many people who have the opportunity to influence the thoughts (which if given enough life, will breed action) of others are racist and contribute to the social ills and disease in race relations. I am not of the school of thought where it is best to sweep things under the rug, at least the elephant is no longer in the room. The use of the word “Whitey” seems to be part of Pat Buchanan’s vernacular as he continues to eloquently misguide others into believing that White people are treated unfairly with certain policies and political trends that benefit Blacks.
CNN, you blew it. That is the nicest way I can encapsulate my sentiments against that farce of a special, “Black in America.” I was so disappointed in Part 1 that I could not muster up the strength to see Part 2, which by peer review, was worse than the first. Let me qualify my rant by saying I am far from the disgruntled Black American who is antagonistic against white media and looking for an opportunity to whine. What I am weary of is what my brilliant colleague referred to as potrayals of “black victimization”. In short, I was hoping CNN would take the needle off that victim record and show a side of Black America that whites have collectively yet to see or acknowledge.
When I saw the previews and internet video clips of the “special” (and I mean special here in a very tongue in cheek, short bus kind of way), I immediately thought finally, an accurate portrayal of blacks that Tyler Perry didn’t write, would make its way into America’s living rooms. I had my fingers crossed that CNN would use the program as a means to display to white America that we are not all on welfare, having babies out of wedlock, getting shot over a game of skully, and basically broke, busted, and disgusted. I wanted to see blacks who achieved their goals of academic success, home ownership, united families, and upward mobility obtained without shaking, jumping, rapping, or disrobing. I wanted the motive for this greatness to be shown in light of ratherthan in spite of. Let me unpack this further. Which sounds better? Black success in light of an innate desire to realize our potential as productive citizens of these United States of America, a realization of our identity as a strong culture with much to offer the world, and a people who have every reason to love themselves OR black success in spite of the lengthy history of disenfranchisement at the hands of whites that led to impoverished neighborhoods, inequities in education, inner-city violence, and broken families? The former is an actualization of the philosophy of W.E.B DuBois who believed in order for a man (or in this case, a people) to take his place in the world–he must be himself. Blacks have something to teach the world. DuBois believed in black potential, and it was not something to be conjured and nurtured only under harsh circumstances. It was something that blacks as human beings should have the proclivity to do. The latter is a further entrenchment of the idea that blacks are the perpetual victims of the residue left behind by white America’s domestic form of imperialism upon its own dark citizens, and therefore no matter what we overcome, our success is never independent of the variable of victimization.
So yes, I believe CNN only further embedded the stereotypes that have been floating around about blacks since European travelers and historians during antiquity and the medeival period chronicled the lives of Africans by telling wild tales of oversexed dark people who hop on one foot, dwell in caves, and communicated in screeches. This type of misinformation leads to a mythology that rationalizes and philosophicizes the supposed inferiority of a people. As far as I am concerned, the use of the word black in “Black in America” is not a reference to the people but rather the growing vacuum about what else it means to be black. Better luck next time.
Moderator’s Note: This post is from a guest contributor, NIK.
Jesse Jackson’s recent ramblings about Barack Obama presents a melange of considerations for the African American community regarding leadership, loyalties, priorities, policies and unwritten codes of conduct. Here’s some thoughts I posted on another blog reflecting the same:
“To call Jackson a hater is shallow and simplistic. Jackson has a great company of other civil rights and local Black community leaders who did not immediately rally behind Obama because Obama is not a black community leader. [These loyalists] had political alliances with national leaders who took care of their local agendas. So because Obama now most probably will be a Black man leading this country, everyone else [including the old regime] must fall in line. This does not nullify the need for Black community leaders, because Obama’s history is a good indicator that he will not focus on African American concerns, but concerns for all. So Jesse, who has championed the causes for Black people for decades, can have his opinion and say what he wants. He just needs to act like a reverend and have some decorum in his conversation.
Obama’s individual responsibility approach is not new, but is [certainly] needed. Bill Cosby and other conservative leaders have been shaking their fingers at the Black Community for years urging African Americans to clean up our own lives. But, DON’T BE FOOLED. Although this type of leadership is necessary, Bill, Obama, and Armstrong Williams are not coming to your rescue if your son is murdered at the hands of police brutality, or if your black daughter is missing and there is no national news media coverage. Jesse, Al Sharpton, and endless other leaders are the ones who have stuck in the trenches and still will when the very necessary Obama is taking care of other business. So the Black Community ought not rush to dethrone [our leaders] because we will be in for rude awakening if we think Obama changes [this] dynamic.”
A good place to begin in this dialogue is to define and identify our leadership. I’ll start off by saying that a leader in the black community is one who the community recognizes has the ability to inform, mobilize and steer the community when there is a crisis, urgency, or injustice that should be of concern to African Americans; one who has the ability to incite collective action amongst African Americans; and otherwise, one whose life and work advances the lives of African American people. When collective action is needed, community leaders get the phone calls.
This is just be a place to begin. Mulloverthis and contribute.
First, we haven’t had the privilege of seeing Obama’s toes or scuffed heels with all of his photo opps, so we can immediately presume that Barry Blitt’s artwork is figurative, at best. Second, Michelle has had her bad hair days, but we haven’t seen the retro bouffant hair-fro on her yet. She’s managed to appear like the American classic woman, refined in non-flamboyant designer wear. Third, Osama Bin Laden isn’t a friend of Obama. Osama is a close-knit relative of our incumbent President and the former President Bush’s wonderful friends. That is why allegedly, all of the Bin Ladens present in America during the 9/11 terrorist attack were given clearance and wisked away to safety before our incumbent President took action to protect Americans. (See Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 documentary). Fourth, Obama’s vertical face is not that much longer than Michele’s. The Mrs. has quite a long face and the marked difference hints of great distortion in their real likenesses. Fifth, the Obama’s wouldn’t be burning an American flag. According to Obama’s critics, he wouldn’t even have one around to be burned. Sixth, if this were to be taken literally, the machine gun would be on Obama’s back filled with pellets to traumatize anyone who dared to talk about his wife who dares to put herself under public scrutiny by being an active voice on his campaign trail, and would most probably be an active Washington First Lady. Seventh, Michele’s black power militia attire almost worked. But, upon careful inspection of the pattern on her pants they were made for bird watching, not terrorism or war. The pants are a dead giveaway. This depiction must be satire.
Furthermore, this cover and story must have been directed to its own constituency of Fru fru wanna bees, the self-proclaimed savvy eclectics, legitimate upper crust New Yorkers, and left over New York Times or Wall Street Journal readers. This type of cover and its consequent dialogues would go well with fresh fruit and brie, or a toasty frappachino at a side-walk cafe or palacial upper East side apartment-house. With the cover’s anticipated controversy, it was also sure to (and certainly did) break traditional New Yorker ranks and get the magazine a reluctant spill-over affinity from anyone afflicted with Obamamania.
The fears that some may have of Obama because of his Muslim background may have been ignited and fueled by this cover. The imagery inference that Obama has terrorists associations with Bin Laden could be seen as inflammatory and ignores the blatant connection our current lovely leaders have with their dynasty associates–the Bin Ladens. So, for all those who fear Obama’s covert activity with terrorists, they would be better suited to evaluate the present administration and its relationship to the family of the so-called initiators of terrorist activity against the United States.
Any critique of Obama and his real allegiance to America will be deemed racist simply because Obama is an African American. This cover is a question of patriotism. Yet, it also reinforces the reality that if we have an African American president, the racism sign needs to be posted on the front door of the white house and will be tagged whenever it needs to shut down any unflattering inquiries into Obama, his actions, allegiances and practices.
Finally, the last step for those who don’t want any spoofing of presumed Democratic Nominee for the President of the United States of America Barack Obama, don’t read the cover or its articles at all.
Democratic intra-party sparring continues as Jesse Jackson painstakingly made a co-guest commentator aware of his disgust for what he perceived as Obama “talking down to Black people”. Jackson specifically referenced one of the Bush administration’s babies, the faith-based initiatives, betwixt and between the initial whispered tirade and denoted that he wanted to ”cut his [Obama's] balls off”.
Here’s my take on Obama and faith based initiatives as posted on another blog: ”Obama’s decision to support faith-based initiatives is more so a strategic move to garner more of the conservative Christian support, and to fortify allegiances from African American clergy, than it is to continue the programs and policies. Obama is working to narrow the existent gaps between himself, staunch conservative Christians and lingering African American Hilary loyalists. Jesse Jackson’s commentary, albeit tasteless and possibly divisive, is reflective of how many African Americans feel about Obama but just are not willing to pronounce because after all, Obama just may be the first African American President of the United States. Jesse and our local grass roots civil rights activists don’t need to look for another day job because their agenda is pretty much mutually exclusive to that of Obama.” Expanding Bush’s faith-based initiatives as part of Obama’s hopeful Presidential administration would be part of the bi-partisan change that makes Obama the deal breaker for those who are disgusted with traditional political party lines.
As for Jackson’s insipid comments, I don’t think anyone would query with the fact that they were terribly unseemly in timing and substantive content. That was bar room, sports locker, street level, gangsta-style hood talk. We weren’t ready for that raw lingo on CNN or Fox News from a reverend. Jackson simply “played” himself. He failed to camouflauge his newsroom ready decorum until the cameras were completely turned off. He might have even made the co-guest commentator uncomfortable having to sift through such refuse between takes.
Jesse apparently has issues with how Obama addresses Black people and whatever his gripe is with Obama, I don’t think it should be taken as a general dislike for, or disapproval of, Barack Obama for President. No politician, especially one of Jesse’s caliber and historical presence as a Civil Rights leader, is going to see eye to eye with everything Obama says, particularly when it boils down to the African American community. Jackson and Obama are two different Black men who have incredibly different paths in life, political careers and national agendas. Many civil rights leaders fare with Jesse in Obama’s approach to dealing with issues that affect our community. Hence we can now appreciate the last minute trump into Obama’s bandwagon and failure to endorse him as their candidate of choice–but support the campaign– until Hilary bowed out of the race.
So, this Jesse Jackson faux pas was just that: a faux pas or boo boo. This is not an egregious breach between two Black men. Obama is going to have to work with the good old boys, blue bloods and old school civil rights activists to make it to the White House. The race card sword is double-edged and since Obama’s campaign uses it, it just may swipe a good cut against themselves. Obama can’t berate fathers in the black community on Father’s Day and not expect distance and an aftermath from leaders who have worked to publicly advance the imagery of African American men. Clearly, Obama and his nifty advisors would not find it fitting to go to a mother’s day event and talk about individual responsibility and the social ills of manipulating women who cause men to walk away from full responsibility as fathers rather than endure eternal fighting. Nor would he focus on the increasing number of absentee and deadbeat moms. There is a time and a place for everything, and with such a strong absence of vigorous speeches bolstering the African American community, Obama needs to lighten up on the rare insular communique he makes when addressing any African American demographic.
Lou Dobbs posed the question to his guests on today’s show, “WOULD EVERYONE HERE AGREE THAT THIS IS A BROKERED NOMINATION?” The press and political pundits have already dropped out of the race before all the votes have been counted. TIME Magazine’s cover story is “And the winner is…” with a picture of Barack Obama. The so-called experts have moved on to the question of will Obama beat McCain. Yet, the reality is that neither Obama or Clinton have enough delegates to secure the nomination. So, if Hilary is squeezed out of the race for the cause of “unity” within party ranks, the Democratic party can concentrate on ending the White House Republican regime. Ignore the polls showing that the majority of democrats want the race between Hilary and Obama to continue.
I have a solution. Since there is this urgency for synergy within party ranks to prepare for McCain, let the movers and shakers call for Obama to drop out. His lead over Hilary in the popular vote is like splitting hairs. Super-delegates will pay attention to the popular vote. John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama, which is not surprising at all. Although Edwards made a number of gratuitous comments regarding Hilary, he stated he believed the “man” for the job was Barack Obama. Consequently, the super-delegates committed to Edwards may transfer to Senator Barack Obama. The good old boys are squeezing hard. It is hard to believe that if Hilary were a white male with the same stats and prospects in the remaining primaries, there would be so much pandering and overt requests to just give up.
Clinton believes she may still win the nomination. Clinton’s call for Michigan and Florida’s delegates to not only be seated, but their votes counted (representing over 2.3 million popular votes) during the DNC convention is controversial. Obama was not on those tickets, so he will not get any delegates if these votes are counted. This, according to some commentators, will not be fair to Senator Obama. The rights of United States citizens to have their votes counted should not be balanced against what is fair to the leading candidate. This Obamamania is starting to make some otherwise reasonable individuals delusional. Since when are voting rights contingent upon how it will affect a candidate’s standing? Well, the pressure is on to make one contender the winner. The mele is politics-as-usual, whether Obama wants to admit it or not.
Those who still have to vote, do not fall prey to the influence of those who have already decided there is a Democratic nominee. Know that your vote is supposed to count. Media bias may dissuade some people some of the time, but it won’t fool all of the people all of the time. The press will continue to distort commentaries to feed a spin–as in alleging that Hilary relied on working class people, white people, to get the win in West Virginia to substantiate the Clintons and their race card tactics–while the only people who will really pay the piper are the Americans who drink the kool-aid and fall for the hype.
When is the last time you laughed so hard that you felt the muscles in your abdomen constrict? Well, watch this video, and see if it is just as amusing to you.
Reputedly, McCain’s campaign has counted Hilary Clinton out. What a demonstration of pompousity to its height. Or, maybe this is just the type of touting we can expect from two men who appear to be quite frustrated with having to take Hilary as a serious contender in the first place. The Pennsylvania win and current edge Clinton has against McCain in some of the latest polls is not enough for McCain to consider. But the latest AP poll showing Hilary has a nine point lead over McCain as the most likely President should not fall on deaf McCain ears. Seems like the old boys network is tightening its ranks to squeeze Hilary out of the race, as momentum builds for her candidacy. So the defection of a former DNC chairman super-delegate to endorse Obama is not a surprise. The subtle impression these moves would try to give the public is that Hilary can’t beat McCain so why even pay attention. But the reality is, she can beat McCain, and probably would fare better against him than Obama. So to those who don’t have earplugs in while crossing a busy street against a red stoplight and the warning hand sign, don’t fall for the hype. The boys feel the pulse of too much happening for Hilary that just may put her in the White House.
One thing we do know, either Hilary or Barack will have to bow out within the next few weeks. The DNC Chairman has put up the flag and one of the hopefuls must quit to foster unity within party ranks to beat McCain. I really don’t think this will be quite difficult, because once press coverage narrows to the Democratic candidate versus McCain, McCain own words will push voters to make sure we don’t have a borderline Alzheimers patient in office. Even his honorable military service can’t justify the concept of 100 more years in Iraq. Forget McCain’s temperament. Something must be wrong upstairs to think that Americans will tolerate another term in Iraq, more or less another century, if necessary. Hopefully, Americans will put someone in office who will have the wherewithal and ability to get us out much sooner.
Hilary just needs to keep campaigning and focus on her agenda. She does not need to capitalize on any Obama or McCain mishaps or blunders. These gentlemen are about to box it out with one another. Obama needs to focus on his campaign and issues that will repair the breach his comments have made against the working class. There is no advantage, whatsoever, to dwell in Pastor Wrightville and attempt to disassociate or denounce any of Wright’s statements or actions. Obama, in my opinion, slaughters his own credibility by acting as if his former Pastor’s commentary and mentality is a news flash to him. Again, no real-life church member sits and is an active part of a church for 20 years and does not know the heart and sentiments of the pastor.
If any one thing can be credited with reversing Obamamania, Pastor Wright holds the winning ticket. Pastor Wright feels the need to be as arrogant as he possibly can in providing pedantic context to his messages which he claims was discolored by biased repeated airings of sound bytes and edited clips. This mission of Pastor Wright’s, of course, since he can’t even make himself appear to be humble, cannot wait until the criticism dies down so that Obama can begin to recover from public scrutiny for sitting under a man who can justify cussing from the pulpit. And, Wright’s weak-kneed current attempts to cloak his inappropriate editorializations in the guise of the prophetic tradition of the black church is aggregious.
Although I may be young, I have been in the black church for almost 40 years. This pulpiteering may have existed at Obama’s church, amongst others, but is by no means a tradition of the black church. Here we have another decrepid use of the race card. Most importantly, authentic prophets don’t take the time to keep explaining why they had to obey God and speak what they were ordered to speak, when it is real prophecy, particularly to an audience that has absolutely no ability to comprehend such an explanation. So Wright needs to SIT DOWN and enjoy his retirement because this explanation is not cutting the mustard.
If Obama is to recover, he simply needs to keep campaigning and ignore Wright.
For more on this topic, peruse the articles below:
