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Wright was asked to explain his relationship with the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, a relationship of particular concern to some Jewish voters. "Louis Farrakhan did not put me in chains. He did not put me in slavery, and he did not make me this color," Wright answered. When asked if he really believed the U.S. government spread AIDS among African-Americans, he said, "I believe our government is capable of doing anything … Yes, I believe we are capable." In an instant the professor had become, to use Wright's word, invisible, and the angry black man had taken his place.

Every church of any size—black or white—instantly puts its preacher's Sunday message on DVD these days, and the preacher's fans and students line up to purchase it in the bookstore after church. This is how Jeremiah Wright's sermons found their way onto cable news stations and became such a problem for Obama. Wright did not seek the national spotlight. It found him. His talk on Monday showed him to be a complex figure—a man of great intelligence and vision who, in a sense, is refusing in spite of Obama's declining poll numbers to stop preaching the message he's preached all along. Wright continues to be relentlessly, one could even say aggressively, critical of the white establishment on behalf of his own constituency—a constituency that does not generally include the white, beer-drinking working-class Democrats who Obama so badly needs to woo and win. Wright showed himself to be both professor and preacher. What he's not is what Obama now most needs him to be—and that is a politician.

© 2008

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: THE RAVEN @ 05/14/2008 8:36:21 AM

    Well, Well, Well! I just read the side-bar concerning "Today in Political History". Grant said, concerning the U.S. war against Mexico, that it was "...one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation". Sounds farmilar? And that "Nations like individuals, are punished for their transgressions." Sounds a litle like THE GREAT WRIGHT to me! "God damn America", and God will punish America is what Wright said. Sounds a lot like U.S. Grant's words to me. Any takers?

  • Posted By: howiefineman @ 05/12/2008 5:34:30 AM

    haha the biggest haters are the ones responsible for the republicans being in office in the first place: The NOBLE SPEAKING EVER RESPECTFUL BEVERAGE CHALLENGED TEDDY KENNEDY, THE RESPECTFUL AND EVER LOYAL LOST IN A LANDSLIDE TO TRICKY DICK OF ALL PEOPLE GEORGE MCGOVERN, HAMAS LOVING JIMMY CARTER, SWIFT BOATED JOHN KERRY, JUST NOW SLITHERING OUT FROM UNDER A ROCK JOHN EDWARDS, VENGEANCE IS MINE I WILL CAST THE DECIDING VOTE AL GORE, YEEEEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAW HOWARD DEAN, ZERO DELEGATE WINNING DODD, NEVER EVEN GOT OFF THE BENCH BILL BRADLEY, FIRST SENATE LEADER IN HALF A CENTURY TO BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE TOM DASCHEL AND WHO THE HELL CARES BILL RICHARDSON. haha if any of these gyne envy phallically challenged MEN? had done their job this country wouldnt be in this mess. THEY are the ones responsible for BUSH. THEY are the ones responsible for the mess the Democratic Party is in. THEY are the ones responsible for knocking out Senator Clinton because BANTAMWEIGHT BARRY couldnt. Clinton has had their t*ts in a ringer for 16 MONTHS and they still havent been able to do it. hahaha and theyve got the DNC and MSM and all the obamabots helping them out. GOD BLESS AMERICA. oops i mean NO, NO, NO, GOD DAMN AMERICA OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT BY OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN SPIRITUAL ADVISOR TO OBAMA CRAZY OLD UNCLE JEREMIAH WRIGHT. Hahaha

  • Posted By: sharenews @ 05/07/2008 10:39:44 PM

    Hillary didn't have to say or doing anything because what followed the initial Wright rantings Obama and Michelle's did a good job themselves thru their elitist slippages and all of the questionable associations they have had coming out of woodwork (in addition to Wright....Ayers....the list goes on) . As much as you want to wish it all to go away permanently it will never happen. It may sleep for a little while but if Obama is the nominee you can bet all of this will come back with a vengence spearheaded by the McCain campaign. So put your brown helmet on as by then I'm sure there will be enough Obamapoop that will be slung be the republicans.

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