Faux News is manufacturing a rightwing shitstorm (TM) over Barack Obama's pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., and Democratic "surrender monkeys" are running in terror. Here's TPM reader JB:
The Wright time bomb appears to be detonating, now that the horse race narrative has stalled and the media needs new material. The inadequacy of Obama's response is deeply discouraging. I was very excited about Obama, but I suddenly think Wright is going to deal a death blow to him on the "electibility" front. Michelle Obama's comments and now the man who lead him to Jesus is saying "God Damn America", and all BO can say is "I disagree"? He has to thow him under the bus and then back up over him again, but it does not appear that he will. Not clear it would even help that much, given the depth and length of their relationship. Sad to say, but it's best this happen now rather than in October. As distasteful as her tactics have been, I suddenly think we may be better off in November with Hillary. Wright is cancer.
Gimme a break - in that case McCain's friend John Hagee is a Humvee-penetrating EFP.
But here's a suggestion that would solve both Obama's "pastor" problem and his "Muslim" problem with one stone: he should convert to Judaism!
I know most of us would accept Obama into "the tribe" in a heartbeat.
Update 1: Here's Obama's statement on HuffPo:
I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago. He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It's a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS.
Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.
The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.
I think that says everything that needs to be said.
Obama's minister
That this man, who wants to become our President, can go to the same church for 20 years and say he never heard Wright say this stuff is preposterous. Barack Obama has been the spoiler in these races, and he should be asked to step aside NOW!! He is inexperienced and a good speaker only when it's a speech; when he's questioned about anything, he stutters and stammers like a kid getting tested on the homework he forgot to do. STEP ASIDE, BARACK, and let a REAL candidate run against McCain. Obama will never beat him.
Should I give two *hits
what someone's pastor says? Is he on the ticket?
Do you have any idea how freekin' sick I am of hearing about what some religious zealot somewhere says? Churches are corrupt right now. Like every other corporation republicans have touched, they're there to suck taxpayers dry.
I care about as much what that guy says as I do what Pat Looneytick Robertson has to say.
Rev Wright and Obama
If there are progressives here who care about the issue, or who think that, of the two candidates left standing, Obama is the better choice, you should know that the Obama-haters might come here to blitz the place with comments about the Rev Wright.
Personally -- I think this is just another tempest in a teapot, if a slightly more worrisome one than some. But I am sick of peripheral "issues" ruling the roost and guilt by association as the Way To Go.
McCain Gets a Pass
You'll notice that McCain didn't have to rebuke/denounce the endorsements he received from the right wing nazi preachers that believe all of our problems are exclusively due to the Muslim religion and gays in this country. However, if Hillary or OB have someone in their campaign say something off color, according to the media (MSNBC & CNN), those persons must be excommunicated ASAP. If that's not bad enough we have to hear Wolf Blitzer, Chris Matthews, Rick Sanchez, John King, etc, etc, go on ad nauseam 24/7 as though the sky is falling. John McCain on the other hand pretty much gets a free pass. All he had to do was say that he doesn't agree wih every statement those folks make and that's pretty much the end of it. Hmmmmmmm........ I'm already smelling the CNN / MSNBC cheerleading strategy that was used in 2000/2004 to get Bush elected. The question is will people fall for it all over again?????