Was Reverend Wright Really That Controversial?

[political_Dem]

I don't think so. Would you please give your thoughts about the man?

I have mine, but I'd like to hear from other folks.

[mwei924]

1. He's not racist himself.

He's just too eager to accuse people of racism.

[political_Dem]

4. My take on this.

If people were acting racist, then they should be called out for it. Isn't that right?

Why should he be penalized for telling the truth?

[mwei924]

8. The truth is hard to handle for most people.

[political_Dem]

19. Fair enough.

[cliffordu]

14. Perhaps you should apprise yourself of his body of work in his community

before you make this kind of judgement....Or lack thereof.

[BlooInBloo]

81. It doesn't matter to the "they're oversensitive" crowd.

[Two Americas]

80. racism

Racism does not "go both ways."

Is there any controversy involved at all in stating that white America is racist?

[rebel with a cause]

86. My take on it is: if you know the true history of these the United States

and you accept what has been done in the name of nationalism to people who are poor, powerless, Black, Brown, Beige, female and/or children, then you will understand someone like Rev. Wright speaking out as he did at times. If this was the only way he ever spoke, then I would say that he had an anger problem, but that is not the only way he spoke. As most ministers do, he sometimes spoke of hope, sometimes spoke of self responsibility and sometimes spoke of heaven and hell. Sometimes he called on people to make change and sometimes he called out people and this country when he felt people needed to be able to release some of their own anger about what was and is being done in the name of nationalism.

Now if you do not know and do not want to know that truth about the history of this country, but want to continue to believe in the fairy tale history that is taught in our schools, then you hate people that sometimes speak angrily of the powers that be in this country and how they take advantage of those who are different than them. That difference can be due to class, gender, ethnicity, or anything else perceived by them. You want to believe that everything done on this continent has always been fair and no one was ever been the victim of our government. You want to believe there is no such thing as white privilege or any national profit gained off the sweat of slave labor. You will want to believe that globalization is fair to everyone in all the countries affected by it, and that what is happening to us is because of the Chinese and Indian people/business men.

You don't want to hear anyone talking bad about this country for any reason. You want the world to be cheerleaders for the good old USA. We are the greatest country that has ever existed, we want what is best for all the world and you cannot accept that anyone could not love us. But of course, we are not expected to love every other country or their leaders.

As for me, sometimes I think about what has went on in this country and been done by this country and I say "Dam you, you didn't have the right to do what you have done in the name of this nation, in the name of your God or in my name or that of my ancestors. Dam you."

[JeffR]

2. He said "God damn!" just like Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes.

QED.

[BklynChick]

3. I agree with much of what he's said (the so-called controversial stuff). My only issue with him is

his ego, which surfaced late in the primary and could have hurt Obama.

[political_Dem]

6. What about his ego?

Was it the fact that he was unapologetic about what he said?

Or was it his comment about Obama just being another politician?

[BklynChick]

9. yes, when he said Obama was being just another politician and it was obvious he wanted to steal his

thunder. That pissed me off.

[glowing]

13. I think that he did that so Obama would have to throw him under the bus.

The good Rev. told him at the beginning.. you need to get rid of me... Obama wouldn't.. and the good Rev. took one for the team.. After Obama rid himself of the Rev, he's gone from site. He knows Obama is NOT just another politician. He knows Obama is special.. so, he took himself out during the primary.. so it wouldn't be all that big in the GE.

[political_Dem]

18. In a way, I agree.

After all, he saw first hand what might happen if it words were going to be twisted out into the mainstream. And sadly, his words still are. :(

So, yes, he did take one for the team. And he stepped down because of it.

But what got me is that he was welcomed by the Clintons right after the Lewinsky scandal.

[Cosmocat]

41. YEP ...

You would think that he would know after the initial burst that the MSM/Right wing would waiting to LEAP at anything else he did.

Putting whatever general beliefs he might have aside, you would like to think that the man would know the kind of damange it would be if he offered new fuel for the fire, and he would be careful of what he said - BO WAS one of his parishiners, BO WAS someone who was a 20 year member of his church, who married into his church AND a black man.

Wright put his ego above the bigger picture. BO did the right thing sticking behind him at first, he also did the right thing when he kicked him to the curb, if Wright was a "friend" he would have kept his mouth shut.

[butterfly77]

54. Isn't right one of the REAL americans...

that McCain and Palin always talk about he fought for his country and came back and was treated like a second class citizen. By the way he was one of the medics who cared for President Johnson...

[Curtland1015]

5. His message wasn't really. But cut up into 3 second sound bytes...

...with no real context around them, I can see why it might worry people.

Stupid people mind you...

[political_Dem]

12. I think that the people cutting up the soundbytes didn't understand the context of what he said.

I think they also were fearful of "race" and the discussion of it in such a blatant fashion.

When a person gets used to the derogatory phrase of "Black folks are always whining about racism", then that's what they are going to think when they hear Rev. Wright's speeches. I think that some white people out there are frightened of Black folks being truthful about racism in American society.

It is as if some white people want it all to go away, wrapped up in a neat little bow. And if they don't "see race", then it doesn't exist.

What Rev. Wright does, is bring race and racism up so that it can't hide anymore.

[Cosmocat]

42. O V E R B L O W N ...

and the media is as guilty of letting it get blown out of proportion as much as it was, as it was of carrying water for slamming Clinton over the BJ.

TO THIS DAY, they allow right wing partisans to shout "BO sat there for 20 years listening to that."

HORSESPIT - it isn't like Wright was going off like that every friggen Sunday. You KNOW the right wingers poured over every possible tape of his sermons, and they could only come up with two clips.

As with EVERYTHING with these nutjobs, no context, and the MSM carrying their water.

[treestar]

65. Exactly

I tell every right wing nutjob that says that - surely you realize that in 20 years he spent time speaking about many things. And that their own preacher might have said something that might offend others, too. They are asking Obama to leave his church because on one day the preacher said something that might offend some non-church members someday. If that's the standard they are applying to Obama, apply it to themselves. Surely every preacher says something that would offend someone else one day.

That's why it doesn't fly. It imposes a ridiculous duty upon the churchgoer.

[Whalestoe]

7. He's fine. Certainly not the devil people tried to make him out to be.

Although I don't think he did Obama any help when he came out with all of his speeches. He should of just done The Journal with Moyers and been done.

[glowing]

10. I think he does what he does to inspire those who may not have much other

than hope and prayer. If you listen to more than 2 sound bites, he's actually pretty good. Very thought provoking (which I cherish in a preacher-man). In general, I think America needs to learn more about one another.. If anything this election has taught even me, is that we need to spend more time being neighborly again. We need to learn and understand and agree and disagree in civilized discussions. I don't think he preaches hate. I've heard more hope from him than these sound bites have mutated him into.

[sandnsea]

11. America isn't #1?!?

Yeah, to a lot of people, that is controversial.

It was a 'well duh' moment for me. It also gives me hope that Obama really does know what needs to be changed in this country. To truly respect the world again. To engage and interact with various cultures. To have news from around the world.

I have to stop. My head is spinning just thinking about it.

[mwei924]

15. The biggest problem, IMO, was his message contradicting Obama's message.

Obama was running as kind of a post-racial candidate, always talking about uniting people and stuff. Then you had his 20+ years preacher saying things that clearly turn off a lot of people and is very not post-racial.

[FrenchieCat]

16. Considering the shortness of the soundbytes,

I don't think so.

Just a fiery preacher......and there are many of those.

He is not Barack....and that is the key.

[political_Dem]

17. Here's the other thing.

In a piece I had written for another site, I suggested that maybe America "ought to be damned" because of its long history of exploitation, racism, classism, sexism and prejudice against the GLBT community.

We are a society that is suffering and hiding our heads in the sand is not going to make it any better.

In the comments to this piece, there were several persons who wrote back, "Stop it. Do you want Obama to Lose?" They were actually afraid that just saying that America was damned would stop Mr. Obama in his tracks.

If they had read Rev. Wright's sermons, they wouldn't have that fear. But, I think they were threatened with the backlash that might come from those soundbytes.

[Indi Guy]

20. A Little 'Straight Talk' Here...

Wright is an old Black man who had a right to snipe at the America he grew up in.

Obama gave Wright an out with his "Race" speech (which I thought was brilliant); but Wright (probably because he never had a national audience) went on an anti-racist rampage and dismissed Obama as a politician.

Wright dismissed Obama!

The timing was great. After Wright dismissed Barack (after Obama said Wright was off the hook) Wright put his foot back in it by going on national media with his extreme (old style) racist rants.

Barack easily cut him loose at this point.

[political_Dem]

21. What do you mean by "extreme, old-style racist rants"? Please explain.

[Indi Guy]

24. That's easy to explain...

...older Black people know the old America where White racism and suppression was as common as apple pie.

Rev Wright grew up in that world. He just didn't get the memo on the transition thing.

[political_Dem]

25. If you meant it that way, then what Rev. Wright said wasn't extreme or racist.

What Rev. Wright gave was a critique of racism in America.

And there is racism (of that style and more) still going on in present day America. Did you forget about James Byrd, Jr. in Jasper, Texas? And what about the derogatory shouts at the McCain/Palin rallies which evoked a response from Rep. John Lewis?

That is proof enough that the racism he commented on wasn't relegated to the past. It is still happening to himself, Mr. Obama and other people of color everywhere.

[Indi Guy]

29. Only a fool would say there is no more racism in America...

Only a fool will cling to the ways of the past.

Obama gets it.

[political_Dem]

30. Talking about race is not holding on to the past.

It is simply discussing American society in a historical and present-day context, warts and all.

Rev. Wright preferred not to have his head in the sand while mainstream (white) America hid in droves. Therein lies the difference.

Again, to get to inclusivity, racism must be examined. Then, solutions must be provided in order to stop it.

Otherwise, ignoring its causes only perpetuates racism.

[Terran]

61. Pointing out the racism endemic in our nation is not racist.

I don't know why you think Wright himself has made racist comments. He talks about racism openly, and republicans (and some people here during the primaries) labeled his statements as racist.

[Anna Lee]

22. I have no problems with Reverend Wright

I think, like me, he is getting old. Many people cannot understand what he is saying because they haven't lived through the experiences he has lived through. I too sometimes fear that time will move backward and am tempted to want to start fighting back or reminding people to be diligent. I understand his sermons in the context of his age or more his youth. It is hard to let go when you think justice may move backward if you don't spread the word. The message I hear is one from a granddad to a younger generation who might forget that, given the right political atmosphere, time might slowly slip back. All us 60s type will die off sooner than we think. Reverend Wright needs to realize. Also, he knows that the forward movement has stagnated. I, too, find that frustrating. Perhaps a CHANGE on Tuesday will provide many answers for this country.

[political_Dem]

23. Thank you. That was beautifully put.

I tend to think his speeches were saying that the old battles are not over. The most important element, as someone said above, was the hope factor. I too agree, that when things get very dark, faith and hope is the only thing you have to hold on to--especially in a world that is very cruel to you, your friends and your loved ones.

I also hope that people are wise enough to vote in change on Tuesday as well. :)

[Indi Guy]

26. Wake up...

The Obama style inclusiveness eclipses the old divisiveness.

This is how he will win the election & this is how his administration will be run.

[political_Dem]

28. In Barack Obama's speech on race and racism, he called for discursive honesty.

In order for people to be inclusive, they have to discuss their feelings about racism and race in society so they can learn from one another. From that, understanding is born.

Coming together doesn't happen magically. It has to deal with learning to accept difference as a thing of beauty instead of fear.

[Indi Guy]

34. Understood and Agreed...

Obama is all about moving forward.

[goletian]

27. if you understand the full context of his remarks, absolutely not.

would god damn america for killing innocent people and enslaving them? my guess is jesus wouldnt approve. i mean, if godll send people to hell for being atheists, gay, liars, adulterers, etc... why not for killing? for enslaving? and, yeah, american foreign policy was a huge factor for why we got attacked on 911 (chickens coming home to roost). anyone who actually believes they hit us because they just hate freedom is drunk on bush kool aid. thats not sayin it was right, but pretending we dont know why it really happened isnt going to help the situation.

wrights comments were fine. black liberation theology is fine. for anyone who hasnt, i would strongly encourage you to seek out his sermons on youtube and listen to them in their entirety. or at least listen to enough so you can put things into perspective. im an atheist, but ive always defended this guy. hes a good guy.

[Karenina]

31. Only to the ignorant and fearful.

[Poseidan]

32. all religious people are controversial

Especially Christians. They tell you to obey them, or their big-bro' God will send you to hell for all eternity.

I personally like Rev. Wright though. They butchered him and his message, solely for political gain. There was no truth in what happened. It was emotional pandering.

[endthewar]

33. I found it funny how the MSM never played the Audacity of Hope sermon

You know that was the first tape they went to look at. They didn't find it controversial so they just ignored that sermon.

[99th_Monkey]

35. I think "WAS" is the operative word here. ... as in old "news" being recycled in desperation. ~nt~

[ClayZ]

36. I like him!

I did not go to church much of my adult life. I listen to several of his full length sermons. I thought he was a great preacher!

He is quite a scholar!

[wellst0nev0ter]

37. He Didn't Blast The "Right" People

When Obama went through that Donnie McClurkin fiasco where the preacher says we're at war against homosexuals, nobody really minded. In fact, they thought it was good for him. But when another black preacher refers to the forces that have actually hurt black people, no we can't have that :eyes:

[and-justice-for-all]

38. Nope

But that witch hunter sure the hell is.

[truthisfreedom]

39. Reverend who?

I forget. And I'm not the only one.

[TheKentuckian]

40. The Rev. Wright stuff is pure distraction

This was a tremendous sermon that they ripped the couple of out of context soundbites from. As far as I can tell this was a fire and brimstone speech with at least 4,000 years of precedent that wouldn't have been blinked at except for the privileged frame of reference that is uniquely American exceptionalisim. A theory that states that the U.S. is so wonderful that we never do anything wrong or if we do that it should be brushed neatly under the rug.

It can't be ignored that much of the flack comes from Wright being a black man because very similar words from Robertson, Hagee, or Falwell are heralded as truth or at worst nothing to be worried about. Robertson can repeatedly lead prayers for the illness and/or death of Supreme Court Justices to met his political ends and it nary an eyebrow is raised but when Wright warns of accountability for our actions then the shit hits he fan.

[Honeycombe8]

43. You don't think so? "God Damn America!" doesn't sound controversial to you?

Hate speech about whites....that sounds non-controversial to you?

Yes, he's controversial. Yes, he cost Obama thousands of votes. Almost including mine.

[political_Dem]

48. Would you please describe the hate speech about whites in his speeches?

I've heard this explanation about Wright many times from white people.

(This is my observation.)

List the specific speech and the phrases. Thanks.

[Honeycombe8]

68. Here ya go.

Something about blacks living in a country (America) that is controlled by rich white men.

On the face of it, I think I get what he's saying. But now YOU think about the words:

rich

white

men

Which of those three attributes is something to be reviled? Or hated? If my dad is rich and white, and obviously male...then should he be the subject of Rev. Wright's wrath? Just because of who he is?

That is called discrimination. That is called prejudice. Hating a group of people for what they are, rather than individuals for what they do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hPR5jnjtLo

But I get why Obama stayed with the church. If you wanted to get anywhere in Chicago politics, and particularly on the south side, you had to belong to that church. That was the ticket.

[political_Dem]

88. No it isn't. Not even close.

Like another person said down the thread, this says more about your racial attitudes than it does about Wright.

You can't find anything derogatory in Wright's speeches.

You're afraid of Wright telling the truth about racism as it is.

It's time for you to step out of your colorblind little world.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

53. No.

Clearly he was discussing the American government. That's something anybody who hasn't had their head up their ass for the last eight years has been thinking. And everybody else will be thinking tomorrow.

"Hate speech about whites"

I've never heard him say anything racist against whites. I've heard plenty of racists make this charge, but they're never able to substantiated these claims.

"Yes, he's controversial. Yes, he cost Obama thousands of votes. Almost including mine."

That says a lot more about your intelligence and your views on race than it does about Rev. Wright.

[GreenEyedLefty]

62. If that's all I heard, yes. But there's this pesky thing called "context."

People should take the time to either read or watch what he had to say, in its entirey. There's an awful lot of context leading up to "God damn America."

[Honeycombe8]

70. I did. I get what he was saying. I get that it's an Af. American church thing, too.

Or so my best friend (who is black) tells me.

But the question was....do you think he's controversial?

The fact that many Americans have shunned him, the fact that the Obama campaign hid him from the start and later disassociated with him, the fact that people have to explain what he has said...all of these things tell us that he is, at the very least, controversial.

The question was NOT does Rev. Wright have a point. It was whether he is controversial. Obviously, he is. Or so Obama and most of America think. Oh, and me, too.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

91. Pfff.

"The fact that many Americans have shunned him,"

"Americans" shunned him because they didn't like Barack Obama, and we desperately looking for any excuse not to like him.

[bklyncowgirl]

44. Theres some twenty years worh of tapes of this guy. They keep playing the same two or three lines

Who knows, maybe the good reverend just woke up on the wrong side of the pulpit one Sunday.

On the plus side this church does a great deal of good in the community, which is how Obama met him. My take on this is that Obama may not be the most religious guy in the world but as an aspiring politician he needed to join a church and this is one of the largest African-American churches in Chicago. Perfect networking opportunity for a young pol.

[jbnow]

45. The clips played were that controversial but the sermons

themselves much less so...but even more those were a few minutes from a few sermons from 30+ years od sermons.

I could give a lot of quotes from journalists (black) who knew the church, talked to many, many members about it and were saying "That is not the Wright they know"...They were ignored or dismissed every time, it never led to a question or conversation.

But instead I'll mention that Jat Carney of Time Magaizine was asked by George S on 3-23 "This Week" when we'd be hearing more on Wright.
Carney said they'd gotten years and years of Wright's sermons and had a group of reporters go through them. (You can imagine plenty of media groups did the same thing to find more).

Jay said there wasn't anything on them that were that controversial so there'd be no story.

So THERE is the scandal. That should have been a huge story. First Obama was not at any of the sermons clips were taken from....so they could have put a stop to the meme we still hear about Obama listening to hate speech for 20 years.
Even more they could have slowed down the hate mail and threats to the church and to Wright. It's like, hey the true story means nothing. The church and Wright were incidental damage to the attack on Obama...and boy were those clips hot.
Why clear it up. Why bother trying to undo the ruining of the reputation of a man who gave decades to building that church and it's outreach programs, an ex-marine with 3 presidential commendations, a scholar...
and why try to clarify that the thousands of parishioners don't go there and listen to hate.

Just not hot enough for them to say it isn't controversial outside of those few minutes. That was a great injustice

[political_Dem]

47. Exactly. That's why I think that it was highly racist for the MSM to go after Wright.

They'd never go after Rev. Hagee with the same vehemence and he has said more controversial (and hateful) things from the pulpit.

[cali]

46. uh, yes. obviously he was.

you asked the wrong question. the real question is more like: "Did Reverend Wright deserve his rep as controversial?" Even then, I think you'd have to say yes. That's not neccessarily a bad thing.

[AtomicKitten]

49. They clipped his quote to make it seem so.

:mad:

[Hamlette]

50. his sin was speaking truth to power

and being more theatrical than white preachers (yes, generalization, and probably not fair but its my experience that white church services are boring and black services are more energized and fun.) If you've never been to black services like Wright's you'd freak (as I did as a teen ager going to my first black service.)

[SweetieD]

51. I didn't see anything wrong with what he said.

[Lumpsum]

52. A black man who questions America's moral ambiguity.

It's not controversial. He has every right to do so.

[amber_86]

55. He just speaking his mind

A lot of people say stuff like that. I have myself to say stuff like that. We are all humans and we do make mistakes. Everyone is not perfect

[Orsino]

56. No. It never gained the traction the wingers hoped for.

Wright had some extreme views, or extreme phrasings of those views, but I mostly agreed with the out-of-context stuff I heard--as did Obama for many years.

[Two Sheds]

57. I'm a white Southern male and I say Wright is speaking The Truth

his biggest problem is that he's got the swollen head a lot of successful, charismatic preachers have. Comes with the territory.

[leftofthedial]

58. no

[Johonny]

59. Compared to other evangelical christian preachers

no.

[harun]

60. I liked what he said. It was honest.

[Justitia]

63. Not to me, but then again, I paid attention to what he really said - context & all.

I just wish he would have quit talking after the Bill Press interview, which I really liked.

It was the forum after that (can't remember the name) that became a bridge too far, IMO.

However, it led to Obama's race speech, which I loved.

[stillcool]

64. Not for me he wasn't...

he spoke the truth which is a no-no in American politics, especially coming from a black man. Of course, no one actually cares about who the man is, and his life's work. It's all about the sound byte, and that is all Americans need to pass judgment on a persons worth. Too bad he didn't pal around with Bill Ayers.

[elkston]

66. To certain white people he WAS.

These are the same people who think blacks should wake up everyday and praise them for "allowing" us to have the basic rights any human should be afforded.

Oh yeah, and the civil rights bill passed, too. Whites gave up so much just to give us equal opportunity and we should be more grateful. After all, you wouldn't want to be back in Africa would you?

Look, I think Rev. Wright was just telling it like it is. The ugly, unfiltered truth. I don't agree with all of Black Liberation theology, but I don't believe it is anti-White. It's simply trying to empower a community that has been knocked down. Striving for more economic and political influence in America is a worthy goal.

[Willo]

67. He's not controversial, but he has the perfect personality if you want to create a controversy.

How to create a boogie man - Minimize the common stuff and maximize the not so common.







Jeremiah Wright (behind the I.V. pole) as a Navy Corpsman Tending to Pres Lyndon B. Johnson. Bill Moyers was the President's Press Secretary at the time, and is behind Wright.

[LynnTheDem]

69. He lays on his hands to protect people from witches!!11!

[Kurska]

71. It sounded too militant

Reverend wright may not be militant, but when you quote Malcolm X and use phrases like "God damn america", no matter the context it SOUNDS militant.

Militantism is always wrong, there is a reason it's Martin Luther KingJr.'s day and not Malcolm x's.

Frankly, this country has it's fault, But I do deeply love it and no matter the intent statements like "god damn America" just ring wrong to my ears. I can't speak for the african americans he was talking about america failing in that sermon, but as a son of a russian jew who might not be here if his great great grandfather hadn't fled the pogroms of russia, God bless america it gave my family a second chance.

first post

[Essene]

72. He's been turned into a bogeyman, but there is nothign scary there at all

and the reason the mccain campaign waited as long as possible to pull him out is because he is more useful as a vague hate symbol than a real scandal, because if pressed on the truth... on the record... what he said really isnt that awful.

he's divisive in his rhetoric when taken out of context, but it's nothing remotely like the GOP have claimed.

[Kurska]

74. Mccain didn't mention it, because it's not effective and would look bad

Even hillary had to drop it, black preachers are just way too sensitive a issue to bring up in a general election, it looks like race baiting. In the same way democrats tend to avoid crazy ass white evangelical preachers, taking them on looks anti-religious, even if what they said is terrible it's not popular to question a "Man of god".

[Doityourself]

73. Not to me,. n/t

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kurska]

82. How bout lets not have a spiritual leader for this administration

Just a thought, Left wing christianity and right wing christianity taste the same to me if it's being shoved down my throat

[truebrit71]

76. When he was born he wasn't allowed to vote because of the colour of his skin..

...he couldn't sit where he wanted to on a bus because of the colour of his skin...he couldn't drink from the same water fountains as the whites because of the colour of his skin...he couldn't go to many schools because of the colour of his skin...he couldn't date whomever he wanted because of the colour of his skin...but he was juuuuuuuuuust the right colour to go off and fight for the country that wouldn't give him his basic civil rights...he came back from two tours in 'Nam and STILL found that Jim Crow was alive and well...He spent his entire LIFE dealing with racism and bigotry so when he says things that the pasty-faced rich, white elites don't like to hear, all of a sudden HE'S the bad guy...To that I say BULLSHIT...

He speaks truth to power and knows whereof he speaks...walk a mile in his shoes and see how your perspective would change...

Based on his life experiences I don't think he has said anything controversial at all...

[Tatiana]

77. Wright is an educated scholar and a smart man.

I think he acted a fool on purpose so that Obama would have a reason to distance himself. Obama wouldn't have done so otherwise and Wright would have continued as an election issue without Obama's denunciation.

[Two Americas]

78. yes and no

He should not be, but he is. That is mostly because whites have little or no experience in Black churches in my opinion - little or no awareness of the reality of being Black in America as far as that goes. Also, a few remarks were taken put of context and presented in an inflammatory way to get the maximum reaction.

[JCMach1]

79. Wright, yes-- Obama, NOT

[cynatnite]

n/t

[cynatnite]

83. He's not my cup of tea, but the RW has made hay out of incomplete phrases...

They isolated two phrases...not even complete sentences in the ads. The commercial plays over and over. I've been muting the TV because it gives me a headache.

[Metric System]

84. He was attacking Hillary from the pulpit dating back to at least December 2007 so my opinion of him

is not too favorable. I mean, the Obama campaign distanced themselves from him for a reason. That being said, a lot of the supposed controversial stuff he said was taken out of context. But he ultimately did himself him with his behavior during that press club thing.

[Brooklyns_Finest]

85. Older black people

That is just how a lot of older black people talk. That is how my dad and uncles are. They lived through a time where they were consistantly treated like second class citizens. Doesn't stop my dad and uncles from voting for white democrats in every election.

[jobycom]

87. I was hoping he'd be Secretary of State. As for controversial, of course he is.

He tells sinners they are sinners instead of telling sinners that their neighbors are sinners. Of course he's feared.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

89. Not to me

The right-wing media took his "God damn America" statement out of context and played it over and over.

He was merely saying that America had a lot of unacknowledged sins in its past.

[secondwind]

90. Wright is someone from the 60's, and he speaks that way, but I personally

liked him, and I associated with him. I'm white, female, and over 60.........

Frankly, this country needs more people like Jeremiah Wright!