RE: Wright Is Scaring Me
Poster Phruce asked in the forums a question of basically all of us here at eyesonobama.com that I thought was a really legitimate one and I wanted to answer it fully in a thorough post. I don't intend for this to be an end-all answer and by all means if anyone else has a different perspective, I invite them to offer it.
Phruce asked why Reverend Wright went on his recent appearance spree and what were we all to think considering Obama's condemnations of his remarks while having sat 20 years in this pastor's pews. He framed this all by saying that Wright was scaring him.
I'm sure he does scare you, Phruce. I believe the performance of Reverend Wright at that National Press Club event worried a lot of people. But no, I don't believe this is the death knell of Obama's campaign.
What I would suggest you do is try to find an outlet, probably online somewhere, where you can view Wright's interview with Bill Moyers. I would also advise you to watch his NAACP address, if you can find video of it somewhere. Do this just so you can get a wider view of Jeremiah Wright, the man as well as how his mind works.
What I think happened at his appearance at the National Press Club event was that a man imploded under intense scrutiny and attention. What I think Wright intended to do was defend himself. But in his frustration, pain and confusion over being thrust into the den of lions that the media can be, (because he was not the one who initially circulated and played over and over again those now infamous clips of himself from ten years ago), he handled himself poorly.
As a result, he placed Obama in an unfortunate and unfair position.
Let me be clear: I believed Obama handled well the initial controversy of this with his original speech on race. And I thought it wrong the media's continued hammering away at Wright when he is not the presidential candidate.
But I think Wright undid any good he may have done with the Bill Moyer's interview or the NAACP address by saying a few of the things he did at the National Press Club event-- he may have unnecessarily exacerbated circumstances by even speaking publicly at all.
But, Wright was a man who felt he personally was under fire and he followed that universal, human instinct to defend himself.
In my mind, his fault is not that he spoke publicly, the fault is in the way he did so, wherein he said things that made Obama feel disrespected and insulted. Obama and Obama supporters feel Wright did a disservice to him and rightfully so.
Of course, no one can purport to know fully a man's motivations, and any one who does is only revealing him or herself to be foolish. So, all that I suggest to you about Wright's motives, I am not saying it with certainty -- only as possible reasons for you to consider. All factors in the situation should be considered.
And regarding what you said about being afraid that "Obama l[ying] about knowing what sort of politics his preacher preached" : he did not lie.
Obama may have heard certain inflammatory remarks-- we cannot know which ones because even he said that the Wright at the National Press Club event is not even the man he knows-- and thus disagreed with his preacher on certain points.
Even Jeremiah Wright himself complained that Obama condemned his remarks which have been looped on Youtube without having heard the entire sermon.
So, in that respect, it appears that Obama has told the truth.
And let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater--if a man like Obama emerges from such a church and maintained such opposing views to his pastor on certain points as he's expressed in his words and actions, then that should destroy any doubts about just what kind of man Obama is.
Also, Obama's actions and words should also quell the fears of people regarding Trinity Church of Christ. Apparently, Jeremiah Wright and his words are what Obama is at odds with. There is much to be said for a church that brings us the unifying and open minded ideas of Obama.
With that said, Obama has condemned Wright's comments--the old ones and the new-- and we have to remember to assess Obama as his own man. Obama is not Wright and Wright is not Obama.
To read the original post, click on the following link:
Phruce's forum topic: "Wright is scaring me"
Phruce asked why Reverend Wright went on his recent appearance spree and what were we all to think considering Obama's condemnations of his remarks while having sat 20 years in this pastor's pews. He framed this all by saying that Wright was scaring him.
I'm sure he does scare you, Phruce. I believe the performance of Reverend Wright at that National Press Club event worried a lot of people. But no, I don't believe this is the death knell of Obama's campaign.
What I would suggest you do is try to find an outlet, probably online somewhere, where you can view Wright's interview with Bill Moyers. I would also advise you to watch his NAACP address, if you can find video of it somewhere. Do this just so you can get a wider view of Jeremiah Wright, the man as well as how his mind works.
What I think happened at his appearance at the National Press Club event was that a man imploded under intense scrutiny and attention. What I think Wright intended to do was defend himself. But in his frustration, pain and confusion over being thrust into the den of lions that the media can be, (because he was not the one who initially circulated and played over and over again those now infamous clips of himself from ten years ago), he handled himself poorly.
As a result, he placed Obama in an unfortunate and unfair position.
Let me be clear: I believed Obama handled well the initial controversy of this with his original speech on race. And I thought it wrong the media's continued hammering away at Wright when he is not the presidential candidate.
But I think Wright undid any good he may have done with the Bill Moyer's interview or the NAACP address by saying a few of the things he did at the National Press Club event-- he may have unnecessarily exacerbated circumstances by even speaking publicly at all.
But, Wright was a man who felt he personally was under fire and he followed that universal, human instinct to defend himself.
In my mind, his fault is not that he spoke publicly, the fault is in the way he did so, wherein he said things that made Obama feel disrespected and insulted. Obama and Obama supporters feel Wright did a disservice to him and rightfully so.
Of course, no one can purport to know fully a man's motivations, and any one who does is only revealing him or herself to be foolish. So, all that I suggest to you about Wright's motives, I am not saying it with certainty -- only as possible reasons for you to consider. All factors in the situation should be considered.
And regarding what you said about being afraid that "Obama l[ying] about knowing what sort of politics his preacher preached" : he did not lie.
Obama may have heard certain inflammatory remarks-- we cannot know which ones because even he said that the Wright at the National Press Club event is not even the man he knows-- and thus disagreed with his preacher on certain points.
Even Jeremiah Wright himself complained that Obama condemned his remarks which have been looped on Youtube without having heard the entire sermon.
So, in that respect, it appears that Obama has told the truth.
And let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater--if a man like Obama emerges from such a church and maintained such opposing views to his pastor on certain points as he's expressed in his words and actions, then that should destroy any doubts about just what kind of man Obama is.
Also, Obama's actions and words should also quell the fears of people regarding Trinity Church of Christ. Apparently, Jeremiah Wright and his words are what Obama is at odds with. There is much to be said for a church that brings us the unifying and open minded ideas of Obama.
With that said, Obama has condemned Wright's comments--the old ones and the new-- and we have to remember to assess Obama as his own man. Obama is not Wright and Wright is not Obama.
To read the original post, click on the following link:
Phruce's forum topic: "Wright is scaring me"
Support Eyes On Obama!
Recent Blogs
Related Blogs
