Obama’s Racism Problem
June 2nd, 2008 at 09:26am Mark Noonan
Victor Davis Hanson suggests that this whole issue might well cost Obama the election, and gives three reasons why:
First, he can never quite come clean about his past. Obama seems to claim that the problem with Rev. Moss and Trinity is the sudden attention given these men of faith and the difficult spotlight put upon them as a result of the Obama campaign.
But such public attention is NOT a problem for Trinity and Co.—only a problem for Obama. When the crowd rises to its feet to shout approval of a racist like Wright or Pfleger it is not because of sudden public attention, but because they wish to hear such racist scape-goating that apparently serves as some sort of collective catharsis…
…Two, Obama situates these scandalous incidents in terms of himself. So Wright is wrong for showing “disrespect” for Obama. Pfleger erred by “disappointing” Obama. But these reprehensible figures are not wayward disciples whose straying hurts the messiah, but rather hard-core calculating politicians who know precisely the cost-benefit ratios of their own rhetoric…
…Third, can’t Obama’s advisers warn him that he is falling into a disturbing pattern? When a dubious figure of his past courts controversy, he should not, in anger and in hyper-sensitivity, counter with blanket praise (cf. his kind words about Wright and Trinity) and then slowly qualify that until he reaches the ‘disowning’ phase. By now all of America knows the truth: Wright, Trinity, Moss, Pfleger, et al have never changed one iota. They are intellectually honest and candid in their extremist views; the only one who changed is Obama. So the question always arises-WHY?
One thing we have to be clear on here is that for all of Obama’s claims that Trinity is somehow mainstream in the Christianity practised by African Americans, the fact of the matter is that most African American Christians are, well, Christian - as an example, black minister T. D. Jakes notes a very traditional, evangelical set of beliefs for his ministry. As a Catholic, I could argue some of the theology, but I would - also - not feel unwelcome at Jakes’ church, nor would I feel even in the slightest that the church was other than Christian, and filled with my brothers and sisters in Christ. There is nothing there about “black values” or other racist claptrap we saw over at Trinity. The point here is that Obama didn’t have to join such a church as Trinity - he didn’t have to sit there for 20 years while the minister spewed racist, anti-American hate - he didn’t have his marriage performed and his children baptised by a hate-mongering con artist.
But he did - and he did it entirely by choice and because he thought it was a good thing. It is only as Trinity became a threat to his Presidential prospects that he started to modify his views on it - and then only haltingly and only taking the final step when forced to it by a racist “sermon” against Hillary Clinton, directly. Being there for 20 years means that either Obama is, himself, a racist or that he was just being politically expedient. Given that Obama’s mother is white, I discount racism as a motivator - so it falls to expediency. Given the nature of Chicago Democratic politics (corrupt and very leftist), Obama probably figured that his best way in was to latch on to the most leftwing expression of black politics in the city. And it worked splendidly - State Senator, United States Senator, millionaire author; everything went just fine until Obama had to step out of Chicago Democratic politics and present himself to the American people. At that moment, Obama discovered that the rabble-rousing racism of Trinity didn’t play well outside the hothouse of Chicago leftism. Obama was in a position akin to Wallace giving his “segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever” speech at the NAACP. Obama wants change - and the first thing he had to change was his dirty, Chircago laundry.
Obama still has the upper hand in Campaign ‘08 - he is still the favorite to be the next President of the United States of America, but Trinity is like an acid eating away at his public persona, day by day. Unless and until Obama can fully explain to the American people why he latched on to racism and figured it was good for 20 years, that acid will eventually destroy him - the only question is whether this destruction will be prior to or after the election.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Corruption, Democrats
10 Comments
1. Danish Artist | June 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Damage control underway. Move over Huckabee and the bookshelf.
The term Obamessiah now fits.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Democratic-Primaries/ss/events/pl/050608democraticprim/im:/080601/ids_photos_india_wl/ra1884211108.jpg/
Will the libs react negatively with Obama like they did with Huckabee or make the faithful excuse?
2. Sunny | June 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Lets face it Mark, you are not a potential voter for Barack Obama for President of the United States no matter how he should handle any situation that arrises. First, the right put out the rumor Obama was a muslin. When that didn’t work with any person with half a brain, Obama’s choice of Christianity was wrong. There is no way he can or ever would convince you and those like you that he could be an effective president no matter how he handles these issues, no matter what chuch he might have been a member of, no matter his views on America and the issues that we must address as a nation. The very fact that he is a Democratic candidate is enough for you to find fault. He is evil in you eyes no matter what he says or does. However, that would be true of any Democratic candidate. Most who hold your political views do not want unity as it does not serve your purpose. However, I do believe that the majority of Americans are so weary and tired of the division of this country that they are more willing to do what is best for the country, not just their party. You and those who think like you politically have become a minority in the US.
3. LiberalNitemare | June 2nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Youll notice that Sunny doesnt discount the accuracy of the stories about Obama and the Trinity church. Sunnys only real complaint is that somehow, we found out about it.
Let me sum it up for you Sunny.
Karl Rove didnt make Obama join that church and sit in the audience nodding his head in agreement for 20 yrs.
Dick Cheney didnt threaten Pfleger with his pheasent rifle in order to get that “I hate white people” sermon last week.
George Bushs pet goat didnt force Obama to abandon his church in a transperant attempt to distance himself from it.
For a guy that claims to be a uniter, Obama seems to hang around with a lot of racists.
4. William Teach | June 2nd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Well, Sunny, we did want unity, at least as far as our foreign policy went, but, of course, after voting for Iraq, the Democrats immediately condemned it, before it even started.
Flip it around: would you consider voting for McCain? Or do you immediately discount him because he is a conservative?
If Americans are so weary of divisions, then maybe you Democrats should stop creating them. You put everything in terms of us and them. And if someone doesn’t agree with you, you must destroy them personally.
I voted for Clinton in 1996 and Gore in 2004. But, todays ultra socialist Democrats are just too much for me, of which Obama is one, not too mention his association with bigots and seperatists like Trinity Church and terrorists like Bil Ayers.
And LiberalNightmare is correct: you and the other liberals are just upset that people found out what your leading candidates actual character is. Considering that his character accounts for 80% of his campaign, that means something. 20 years ago, y’all could have gotten away with it. With todays new media, ‘taint happening.
5. FmrMarine | June 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Mark;
It is a shame the first black with a real chance at the WH happens to be a left wing afrocentrist, with racist/marxist views.
Condi, Colon, JD, for a few would have made great choices.
6. Mark Noonan | June 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Sunny,
You don’t get it - its not me that Obama has to worry about it, but centrist voters, who were first a bit thrilled by Obama and who are now souring on him rapidly. He still might be able to get over the finish line and become President, but he’s damaged goods…and only a complete and honest airing of why he did what he did will fix the problem in the long run, though it might not help him win in November…but he’s a young man, and can try again.
7. Sunny | June 3rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
“Flip it around: would you consider voting for McCain? Or do you immediately discount him because he is a conservative?” William Teach
Yes, I am considering voting for John McCain. And I will not condem him for asking for the endorcement of a radical evangailistic preacher with whom I totally disagree.
I voted twice for Ronald Reagan, Bush 1 the first time, Bush 2 in 2000. Your point is??
8. Simon Priyo Prayogo | June 8th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Date Written:
June 8, 2008
PUBLIC DOMAIN:
Indonesia is a developing country
ACT RULES:
1959 – 2009
(50 years)
DESCRIPTIONS:
Political Crime, Generally:
Abusing of power and authority!
Political Crime, Particularly:
Assassination, Camp concentrate, Nihilist, Sedition, Subversion and Treason.
Political Crime, Hybrid:
To secure long (Being about: 20-40 years) political (political crime) ends, or terrorist activity with women in political.
STATEMENT:
Collusion, Corruption and Nepotism in Republic of Indonesia!
QUESTION:
Is there any political crime in Republic of Indonesia?
What’s up . . . In 1965/ 1966!
What’s up . . . In 1998/ 1999!
What’s up . . . Between 1999 and 2009!
Thanks of your attention.
I’m a man!
9. Simon Priyo Prayogo | June 8th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Dear, friend
So far I have known … Majority: ISLAM in republic of Indonesia: Sunny. Very well!
I don’t want to live under ISLAMIC SHARIA LAW! Generally: I’m an Indonesian, Particularly, I’m a Christian!
I’m sure, there’s not any correlation between: my country (Republic of Indonesia) and storm-belt.
Thanks of your attention.
10. Simon Priyo Prayogo | June 8th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Decimal number is the best number to count on!
The form of reality and the form of thought.