Obama's "Uncle" Wright Still Preaching The "Good News"

In the not-too-distant past, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright played an instrumental role in the spiritual life of Barack Obama. Yes, Obama sat in Wright's church, TUCC, for over 20 years. They were close, with Obama going to Wright for spiritual guidance often. Obama even referred to Rev. Wright as an "uncle," and claimed that his church was not a "particularly controversial one."

Huh. More evidence that Obama is not really clear on the definition of "controversial." In case you need a reminder of the kind of message preached by Rev. Wright, here are some "highlights":



What a moving message of love and peace from the reverend, don't you think? Naturally, once his comments came to light, Obama did what he does so well - throw people under the bus. Yep, he quickly disowned his "uncle." But, don't you worry - Wright still loves him his Barry no matter how much distance Barry puts between them. Ain't love grand?

One might have thought that after Obama dissed Wright, and distanced himself from his church of 20+ years, maybe Wright would have faded into the past. If that's what one thought, one would be wrong. Oh, no, he is still out there, as this piece by Maureen Callahan indicates, Obama's Race-Rant Rev. Rages On:

[...] During a five-day seminar Wright taught last week in Chicago, he was back at it, claiming that whites and Jews are controlling the flow of worldwide information and oppressing blacks in Israel and America.

"White folk done took this country," Wright said. "You're in their home, and they're gonna let you know it."

The course, advertised as focusing on politics and public policy in South Africa and America, was taught in a small, ground-floor room at the Chicago Theological Seminary, where Wright's voice echoed out an open window. The class was composed of about 15 to 20 students, mainly older African-American women who would arrive early and giddily linger during lunch breaks and after class, looking for the reverend's attention. (The course cost a little over $1,000 if taken for college credit and $300 if taken without.)

Holy moley. That's a pretty good chunk of change to be lectured with hate speech, isn't it? Wow - who knew? Ahem. But this is just the beginning of Wright's vitriol:

[...]"Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect," Obama said.

Yet during this course -- which was described as asking, "What is the response and public witness of persons of faith to ongoing developments in both countries?" -- Wright made many statements about what he believes are the true aims of whites and Jews.

"You are not now, nor have you ever been, nor will you ever be a brother to white folk," he said. "And if you do not realize that, you are in serious trouble."

He cited the writings of Bill Jones -- author of the book "Is God a White Racist?" -- as proof that white people cannot be trusted. "Bill said, 'They just killed four of their own at Kent State. They'll step on you like a cockroach and keep on movin', cause you not a brother to them.' "

What the hell?? Where does Wright come off with this kind of incendiary speech? And WHY is he preaching this hate-filled rhetoric? What is he trying to accomplish with this?

One last little gem from the, er, "good" reverend:

[...]The civil-rights movement, Wright said, was never about racial equality: "It was always about becoming white . . . to master what [they] do." Martin Luther King, he said, was misguided for advocating nonviolence among his people, "born in the oven of America."

"We probably have more African-Americans who've been brainwashed than we have South Africans who've been brainwashed," he said, and seemed to allude to President Obama twice: "Unfortunately, I got in trouble with a fella for saying this . . . All your commentaries are written by oppressors." At the mention of Nation of Islam head Louis Farrakhan -- whom Obama disavowed during the campaign -- black leaders "go cuttin' and duckin'," he said. [...]

Well, Wright may have retired from TUCC - to his million dollar home, built by TUCC, in a predominantly white neighborhood, mind you - but it hasn't stopped him from spreading his hate-mongering, racist tirades.

And our current president sat there for over twenty years listening to that rhetoric. Perhaps that explains Obama's selection of an Attorney General who, after a biracial man was elected president, declared Americans "cowards" when it comes to discussions on race. Or maybe that explains why the Department of Justice
dropped the charges against the New Black Panthers who intimidated voters in Philadelphia without bothering to read the memoranda on the case first. Never mind that the attorney handling the case, J. Christian Adams, said it was as clear a case of voter intimidation as well as a violation of federal law as he had seen in his Department of Justice career, one he resigned over this case. And it sure explains Obama's response to Israel and her prime minister.

Yep - I would say this explains a lot. Wouldn't you?

**Condolences to the family and friends of Sen. Robert C. Byrd, the longest serving Congressperson, who passed away this morning at the age of 92. Sen. Byrd was a man I had admired, until the summer of 2008. Still, prior to that time, he did a lot of good for the country.