TexasDarlin

[UPDATED AT END]

Barack Obama’s self-proclaimed “spiritual advisor” and “moral compass,” the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ (http://www.tucc.org), says that Obama deserves to be President, and Hillary does not, because “Hillary Clinton ain’t never been called a nigger.”

Wright also said in another VIDEO:

“Hillary is married to Bill, and Bill has been good to us. No he ain’t! Bill did us, just like he did Monica Lewinsky. He was riding dirty.”

http://tinyurl.com/23rqtw

Outraged Democrats in the blogosphere today are calling for Rev. Wright to resign from Obama’s campaign.  Yes, he is on the campaign. According to Ben Smith of Politico:

Wright is a member of Obama’s African American Religious Leadership Committee — the sort of largely honorary, advisory body that in recent days has recently been used mostly to throw people off who say controversial things.

The Obama campaign couldn’t immediately say whether he’d remain on the committee.

Well, I’d be shocked if Obama does not announce Rev. Wright’s resignation today.  What choice will he have?

,But Wright’s resignation will not matter.  It will be far too little, far too late.  The sobering story of Obama’s 20-year relationship with Rev. Wright provides voters with a window into the soul of this agent of “change” and “unity.”

“The Audacity of Hope,” Obama’s bestseller, was inspired by one of Wright’s sermons. Wright is one of the first people Obama thanked after his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. In a Jan. 2007 Chicago Tribune story, Obama said that Wright keeps his priorities straight and his moral compass calibrated.

“What I value most about Pastor Wright is not his day-to-day political advice…He’s much more of a sounding board for me to make sure that I am speaking truthfully about what I believe is possible and that I’m not losing myself in some of the hype and hoopla and stress that’s involved in national politics.”

Obama says he found religion and Jesus Christ through Wright, whom he met in the mid-1980s. Obama has been attending Wright’s church regularly since 1988….In 1991, Obama joined the church and walked down the aisle in a formal commitment of faith. Wright later married Obama and Michelle Robinson and baptized their two daughters. …He prayed privately with Wright before announcing his candidacy last year.

This is not about a campaign advisor saying something stupid with racist implications, such as Geraldine Ferraro, whose comments were rejected by Hillary Clinton:

I certainly do repudiate it and I regret deeply that it was said. Obviously she doesn’t speak for the campaign, she doesn’t speak for any of my positions, and she has resigned from being a member of my very large finance committee.

No.  This is different.  This is about an overtly racist religious leader who guides Obama’s moral code. Obama is spiritually led by a man who says that Hillary Clinton is unworthy of the presidency because she has never been called a nigger. One must question whether Obama accepts this value system. Is there any other rational explanation for his 2-decade attendance at this church? How many times has Obama attended one of Wright’s poisonous sermons? Does he take his children?

Surely there must be hundreds of Christian churches in Chicago where the Obamas could worship, and hundreds of non-racist ministers from whom Barack Obama could seek spiritual guidance. But Obama prefers to follow the moral compass of a man who blames America for 9/11, preaches rabid racism, denigrates the Clintons from his pulpit to the applause of his congregation, and rewards Louis Farrakhan:

In one of his sermons, Wright said to thumping applause, “Racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run! …We [in the U.S.] believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God.”

In Dec. 2007 Wright Jr. and his Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, honored Farrakhan at a gala, bestowing on him its Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Lifetime Achievement Trumpeteer award.

In the November/December issue of his church’s magazine, Trumpet, Wright heaped praise on Farrakhan, whom he helped in organizing the Million Man March in Washington in 1995. Wright lauded Farrakhan as one of the giants of the African-American religious experience in the 20th and 21st centuries.

“When Minister Farrakhan speaks, black America listens,” Wright said. “His depth on analysis [sic] when it comes to the racial ills of this nation is astounding and eye-opening. He brings a perspective that is helpful and honest.”

Farrakhan has repeatedly made hate-filled statements targeting Jews, whites, America, and homosexuals. He has called whites “blue-eyed devils” and the “anti-Christ.” He has described Jews as “bloodsuckers” who control the government, the media, and some black organizations.

Hailing Farrakhan’s “integrity and honesty,” Wright said, “His love for Africa and African-American people has made him an unforgettable force, a catalyst for change, and a religious leader who is sincere about his faith and his purpose.” (see Newsmax link)

Wright thinks America was responsible for 9/11,, according to ABC:

In addition to damning America, (Wright) told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda’s attacks because of its own terrorism.

“We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye,” Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

“We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America’s chickens are coming home to roost,” he told his congregation.

Obama shrugs off these assaults by Rev. Wright as  ”inflammatory rhetoric.” Really? That’s hypocritical because Obama asks us to elect him in large part based on the power of his rhetoric.  Didn’t he tell us that words cannot be understated as a source of inspiration in America for believing in ourselves, believing in hope?

ABC articulates my concerns about Obama clearly and concisely:

In a campaign appearance earlier this month, Sen. Obama said, “I don’t think my church is actually particularly controversial.” He said Rev. Wright “is like an old uncle who says things I don’t always agree with,” telling a Jewish group that everyone has someone like that in their family.

But Obama’s close association with Wright over more than two decades and the minister’s close ties to Farrakhan cannot be explained away so cavalierly. If Obama rejects Wright’s warped view of this country, why does he continue to attend his church? If Obama disagrees with Farrakhan and his anti-Semitic and anti-white statements, why doesn’t he denounce him rather than continue to associate with a minister and friend who is one of his advocates and who gave him an award for lifetime achievement? Does Obama secretly agree with some of their hate-filled, radical statements while publicly avoiding race-specific appeals as part of his candidacy?

That comports with Obama’s habit of not showing up for controversial votes or tackling tough policy issues, allowing him to broaden his appeal through charisma alone. Farrakhan himself recently spoke approvingly of Obama’s strategy, which is crucial to inviting whites to support him.

“Barack Obama has been very careful not to position himself as Rev. Jesse Jackson or Rev. Al Sharpton as a promoter of `The Black Cause,’” Farrakhan said in the interview with FinalCall.com. “He has been groomed, wisely so, to be seen more as a unifier, rather than one who speaks only for the hurt of black people.”

At the least, Obama’s membership in Wright’s church and close ties to Wright himself suggest a lack of judgment and an insensitivity to views that are repugnant to the vast majority of white Americans who are not bigots or anti-Semites.

That same lack of judgment has shown up in Obama’s gaffes — threatening to invade Pakistan and offering prompt negotiations with anti-American despots. More frightening, Obama voted last August to give Osama bin Laden and other terrorists the same rights as Americans when it comes to intercepting their overseas calls in order to pick up clues needed to stop another attack.

To evaluate what Obama’s ties to Wright mean, picture America’s reaction if President Bush’s minister, mentor, and moral compass had the views of Wright and was an admirer and supporter of Farrakhan.

“He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas,” Benjamin Franklin said.

Obama may be a gifted orator, but his choice of a friend and advisor suggests he is masquerading as a moderate. While the liberal media have already decided Obama will be our next president, Americans may have a different view when they consider what his ties to Wright tell us about the presidential candidate’s true opinions and character.”

Barack Obama bloggers and other supporters are calling on Senator Hillary Clinton to concede the race for the Democratic nomination to Obama, and urging her supporters to rally ’round their candidate.  As a basis for this plea they often cite the need for “unity.”  They point to the racial divisions that now scar this election and their fear that the Democratic Party will be wounded for generations, or at least long enough to lose the General Election in November.  They imply that Hillary Clinton is responsible for this sad state of affairs.

My answer is: NO. I will stand by Senator Clinton until the last superdelegate makes a decision.  I will not rally around a man who preaches unity while his own pastor and spiritual adviser preaches division and bigotry.

THE LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN IN THE SAND.

[UPDATE 3/14/08 1:00 am PST]
1. To my surprise, no announcement today regarding Rev. Wright’s resignation although, as I said in the post, I don’t think it matters. It appears that Obama may try to dismiss the severity of this problem by pointing to Wright’s recent resignation as pastor of TUCC. This of course does nothing to address the question as to why he sustained a 20-year spiritual relationship with a hateful bigot.
2. I’ve been unable to find information on whether the Obamas take their children to sermons at TUCC, although I saw a quote from Obama saying that he goes to church as often as possible.
3. The Obamas donated approximately $22,000 to TUCC in 2006 (link to come.)

Note:  My effort at hyperlinks has failed.  I’d greatly appreciate technical tips.