Obama's stand on Rev. Wright - shows integrity

[Bluerthanblue]

"I have spent my entire adult life trying to bridge the gap between different kinds of people. That’s in my DNA. Trying to promote mutual understanding, to insist that we all share common hopes, and common dreams, as Americans and as human beings. That’s who I am, that’s what I believe, that’s what this campaign has been about." These were the first words Obama spoke at yesterdays news conference.

He is a particularly unique individual- the son of a white American mother and a black Kenyan father. Born into a 'nuclear family' he then lived with his single mom, went on to aquire a step father and half-sister and then settled down to live with his maternal grandparents. He attended foreign schools, American public schools, a small elite private school, and an Ivy League college.

I believe there are many people who could come from such diverse beginnings, carrying a lot of anger and resentment. But Obama has chosen to focus on the positive. I admire that. I want a leader that encourages us to seek out the things in each other and in our fellow human beings (not JUST 'us'- but ALL people) that connect us- bind us together, rather than to focus on what divides us. It's easy to see what we don't have in common, it takes effort and sometimes a lot of patience to discover what can give us some mutual ground on which to stand.

To many in the 'white' community- Barack will never really "fit in" because he is only "half white"- and there are those in the 'black' community who share this prejudice. Add his fathers "African" not "African American" heritage - and you have another 'culture' which has been quoted to claim that he doesn't fit into either. Then there is the private school he attended on scholarship, which separated him from those classmates from more affluent families.

Even still, what some see as a negative, Barack has come to recognize as an asset that few people get a chance to experience. He DOES embody something new, different and important. He DOES represent 'change'- and HOPE, for many people who reject being marginalized. Who reject the concept of black/white them/us- as the downward spiral we have been stuck in for too long.

Rev. Wrights comments and perspective are not 'wrong'. His thoughts and opinions may not be popular or comfortable, but they are not wrong.

I confess, at first I was disappointed to hear that Barack was distancing himself from Pastor Wright. But when I actually read and digested both the NPC transcript, and Obama's statement yesterday- it was quite plain that Obama did the correct thing, at the correct time, in a respectful way.


Please take the time and effort to listen or read the remarks by Obama and Rev. Wright in their ENTIRETY- they are available here---http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/04/28/transcript-rev-wright-at-the-national-press-club/

and here----http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/04/29/transcript-obama-press-conference-on-jeremiah-wright/

Obama does NOT want to focus on what DIVIDES us as a nation.. as a people. Rev. Wright feels he must focus on the division.

Those who fault Obama for not separating himself from Wright sooner may want to ask themselves how any divide will ever be "bridged" by cutting ourselves off from those who see things differently than us. How we can "promote understanding" by refusing to listen or consider the perspectives which others hold.

You also have to also ask why the comments of one candidate's Pastor needs to dominate the news and conversations of a country that is in the kind of situation we find ourselves in today. To what end?

The media and those who have something to gain by stirring up strife- continually beating the Obama/Wright drums (complete with miss-leading 'sound bites' from both men), probably aren't going to stop anytime soon.


There is much more at stake here than a presidential nomination I believe.

We all need to pay attention. And think for ourselves, while we still can.


Thanks for reading this

blu

(edited to put Obama's opening comment in quotations- :blush: )

[Larkspur]

1. Obama disses Democrats and liberals so his Unity slogan is crap

He proved that he is willing to diss Democrats and liberals in his Faux News interview on Sunday

[Pawel K]

3. wtf are you talking about?

[EFerrari]

2. The three principles of Wright's philosophy

are liberation, transformation and reconciliation -- not liberation, transformation and division.

[Bluerthanblue]

6. I understand and personally

I agree with the Rev. Wright. That is why I said he needs to address the division. His position as a pastor is much different than the position as leader of a country (and I know you know that Sfexpat). He has the ability and responsibility to speak up in defense and confirmation of his congregation (even in retirement) and his community.

I don't believe that Rev. Wright seeks anything but true community for all people. I don't think Obama wants anything less himself.

Sorry I didn't say it better.

thanks,
peace~
blu

[EFerrari]

15. Ah, now I understand.

Thanks, blu. :)

[Bluerthanblue]

23. I really didn't

say it clearly, and I appreciate your pointing that out.

Rev. Wright would not be a very effective pastor if he didn't focus on what needs ministering to.



Thank YOU Sfexpat-

I think I'll go back under my rock for awhile.
But I'm still keepin on- :hi:

[applegrove]

4. What you quoted... I liked that opening statement.

[Bluerthanblue]

9. I do too- and it

points to part of what I really feel gives Barack the potential to help move our country forward in a different, ... more positive direction.


:hi:

thanks

[Texas Hill Country]

5. needed to happen a decade ago... WAAAAAYYY to late for me.

[Bluerthanblue]

11. what needed to happen

a decade ago?

Can you elaborate?

thanks

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

7. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BenDavid]

8. I have to disagree with your assumption this somehow showed

integrity by obama. Obama did the only thing the whoremedia told him to do. All day Monday the mediawhores were telling obama what he needed to do about pastor wright. The whoremedia showed obama the playbook on what to do.(press conference)How to react towards wright.( be mad, angry, upset)All was laid out for obama and the whoremedia did the wink, wink and was telling obama you do this and we will have your back by telling america how forceful, powerful etc etc you were in your condemnation of wright. Well, the mediawhores did not let us down as the afternoon and evening talking heads were right on point. BUT,

What the whoremedia and obama did not do in that press confernence was answer the three questions, and kept this issue alive. Those three are: Why did he stay a member of the congregation? Why didn't he speak up earlier? And why did he reward Rev. Wright with a campaign position even after knowing of his comments?

You all remember that obama said for the first time a few weeks ago that HAD Rev. Wright NOT recently resigned as pastor of the church, he would have withdrawn. But that only reraised the same questions: Why didn't he act before the resignation? obama had 16 years to speak out about the bigotry and racist remarks his pastor said, but obama sat in the pew and said nothing. After knowing about some of these sermons and having serious problems with some of their messages, why did Obama still decide to appoint Rev. Wright to his official presidential campaign religious advisory committee?(which obama had to resign him)

Which brings up the question, WHY NOW? We all know why now, but maybe you obama folk need to know that now obama is a seriously flawed candidate and I have to ask this question:

If our choices are doing the right thing and losing with Obama because fair is fair OR doing the wrong thing and winning with fewer-delegates Hillary, what should super-delegates do? I think you know my answer but maybe you obama folk need to re-examine yours.

Ben David

[Bluerthanblue]

10. please, do me

and yourself the favor of reading both Pastor Wright's statements at the NPC, and Obama's replies in their entirety. (I linked to transcripts of them both-)

And try, if you can, to read them without prejudice- Without preconcieved assumptions.

If you do, I believe you will hear something that you hadn't expected.

thanks-

blu

[Hope And Change]

12. K & R!

:kick:

[wrando]

14. politician by trade

It shows the opposite, it shows he wants power so badly nobody is safe. He would toss his mother overboard in a heartbeat.

bill from ct

[Bluerthanblue]

16. if what you say were true

he would have abandoned Pastor Wright long ago. Can you answer one very important question for me?

Did you listen to or read the complete speech and questions at NPC of Wright, as well as Obama's full statement yesterday?

If not, you are flying on instruments, and the media is your flight control-

Not a very healthy, or intelligent position for anyone. Even someone from Connecticut.

:hi:

And as for your statement about what he would do with his mother- your comment speaks volumes- about you.
Obama has written and spoken about his late mother with a love, respect, and grace that you could only dream of possessing.

And that is sad for you. And your mother.

[me b zola]

17. Elegant & thoughtful post

It does not surprise me a bit that you support Barack Obama. You are a deeply thoughtful, complex thinker who is guided by an inner goodness that is rare.

Beautiful post, beautiful you.

Nominated.

[Bluerthanblue]

21. thank you

for your very kind words. I would like to be the kind of person you describe, but I continually fall far short of this-

We have a wonderful candidate, and I do believe and trust that our greatest potential and hope as a nation and as individuals will begin when he is inaugurated next January.

It's been a long difficult journey, and it won't be easy- but change is coming.

peace~
and thanks again for your kindness.

blu

[niyad]

18. sorry, but to have us believe that he didn't really know what wright has been preaching

all these years is disingenuous, to say the least. I don't see his comments yesterday about wright as showing his integrity at all. like so many other things, he is continuing to disavow parts of himself when inconvenient.

and don't bother flaming me--I really don't care.

[Bluerthanblue]

22. I have no desire

to flame you. But I don't believe you when you claim you "don't care" either. People who don't care don't take the time to post.

I'm interested to know what -exactly- you think Rev. Wright has been preaching that Obama should have known about, and that are objectionable. I'm asking seriously- Most people have little personal understanding of what was actually being said by Rev. Wright, they have heard little more than the sound bites which have been manufactured by the media and pundits.

I don't believe Obama 'disavowed' any part of who he is. That is what came through to me so strongly in the two transcripts that I link to in my OP. It was to be true to what he stated yesterday, in his speech at the DNC four years ago, and has continually stated in this campaign. I think that it is also partly why he felt personally dissapointed in some of the comments made about his actions and beliefs at the NPC event.

You don't need to agree with me, or anyone else. It IS unfair though, to spread gossip- and partial truths/ incomplete out of context quotes really are little more than propaganda and gossip.

thanks-
peace~

[me b zola]

19. I believe that I forgot to say

K&R :thumbsup:

[me b zola]

20. I also forgot to say that I agree with your OP

[Two Americas]

24. Wright isn't "dividing us"

Wright talks about the divides that are already there, and about the ones who are dividing us and how they do that.

Being silent about the divides does not magically make them go away, and blaming the person who talks about them for causing them makes them worse. Ignoring a divide does not bridge a divide, nor does creating the illusion that a divide has been bridged make it so.

What Obama did may be smart and may have been necessary for a politician to do. But a battle avoided is not a battle won.