Oprah’s boards burning with Wright responses; Wright accuses America of creating the HIV virus
posted at 11:47 am on March 14, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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As I noted earlier, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has more than one high-profile member in his congregation. Besides presidential hopeful Barack Obama, Wright also preaches his message to Oprah Winfrey, one of the most successful and beloved media personalities in America. She has an active on-line community at Oprah.com, and her forums have had almost 300 posts from members in the past 24 hours after the revelations of race-baiting and hatred at Trinity United Church. Most talk about their concern over the content of Wright’s sermons:
I have to agree with Dick Morris [who appeared on Fox's O'Reilly Factor last night]. We both intensely dislike Hillary and Bill. But, it needs to be said that Rev. Wright strikes me as a very dangerous, divisive, and anti-American racist. …
This is extremely troubling. Rev. Wright is one of the worst I’ve seen anywhere in America. He is truly dangerous. .. .. .. Obama’s failure to distance himself from this very dangerous anti-American will become more damaging in the next few days. …
I was upset as well. It’s beyond inflammatory and much worse than anything Geraldine Ferrarro said, yet I don’t hear a peep out of Obama. What is pastor said is beyond disgusting. To blame the US for what happened on 9/11. And I am NO fan of the Clintons, but those things he said about Hillary and Bill…and did you “see” the tapes or just hear them? This would certainly explain Michelle Obama’s anger.
Let’s wait and see if the mainstream media steps up to the plate. They took great glee in attacking Mitt Romney and his LDS faith, let’s see if they go after Obama. …
Obama should not be held responsible for what Rev. Wright says from the pulpit. However, being a member of a church that is racist is not much different than being a white person who belongs to a country club that doesn’t admit Blacks. …
The threads also pointed to an allegation made by Wright that the US created the HIV virus, presumably for deliberate infection of certain populations. In a speech made at Howard University in January 2006, he offered the following conspiracy theories:
Mr. Wright thundered on: “America is still the No. 1 killer in the world. . . . We are deeply involved in the importing of drugs, the exporting of guns, and the training of professional killers . . . We bombed Cambodia, Iraq and Nicaragua, killing women and children while trying to get public opinion turned against Castro and Ghadhafi . . . We put [Nelson] Mandela in prison and supported apartheid the whole 27 years he was there. We believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God.”
His voice rising, Mr. Wright said, “We supported Zionism shamelessly while ignoring the Palestinians and branding anybody who spoke out against it as being anti-Semitic. . . . We care nothing about human life if the end justifies the means. . . .”
Concluding, Mr. Wright said: “We started the AIDS virus . . . We are only able to maintain our level of living by making sure that Third World people live in grinding poverty. . . .”
It isn’t so much the anger that Wright manifests that will be off-putting to mainstream Americans of all creeds and colors, but the conspiracy-theory lunacy that he spews. Almost all Americans gave up on supremacy theories decades ago; most of those who espoused them are dead. No one has argued in the mainstream in any way, shape, or form for that kind of nonsense since the Dixiecrat movement died out in the 1960s. An ill-worded valediction for Strom Thurmond six years ago drew so much condemnation that it forced Trent Lott out of his leadership position in the Senate, although to be fair, former Klan member Robert Byrd remains in the Senate — as a Democrat.
Most Americans would find the notion that we are crypto-supremacists insulting and offensive. And yet two of the most popular people in the US choose to attend the church of a minister who apparently makes that a recurring theme of his ministry. In Obama’s case, he has given over $22,000 to support Wright and his message in 2006 alone.
Given the intense media interest in Mormon underwear and LDS doctrine in the fall of 2007, one might expect a little more scrutiny of the much more political and racially-charged message coming from the pulpit of the Trinity United Church. It looks like that may have already begun, and the reputations of both Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey rest on how quickly and adeptly they can distance themselves from the debacle.
Update: Barack Obama tried pushing back, but this seems rather weak:
Q: I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but it’s all over the wire today (from an ABC News story), a statement that your pastor (the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago’s South Side) made in a sermon in 2003 that instead of singing “God Bless America,” black people should sing a song essentially saying “God Damn America.”
A: I haven’t seen the line. This is a pastor who is on the brink of retirement who in the past has made some controversial statements. I profoundly disagree with some of these statements.
Q: What about this particular statement?
A: Obviously, I disagree with that. Here is what happens when you just cherry-pick statements from a guy who had a 40-year career as a pastor. There are times when people say things that are just wrong. But I think it’s important to judge me on what I’ve said in the past and what I believe.
Cherry-pick? Perhaps Senator Obama can explain the context that would justify “God damn America” and the accusation that America created HIV. That dog won’t hunt.
Howard Dean left his church over a bike path. We laughed at the superficiality of that choice, but Obama has a much better reason to repudiate Trinity — and Wright’s supposed retirement won’t come nearly in time to rescue him from this problem.
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Obama HIMSELF has adopted Wright’s rhetoric by not wearing an American Flag pin or placing his hand over his heart when reciting the National Anthem. Sure, he said he will SHOW his patriotism, but its very obvious that his failure to do these small outward actions PROVE he accepts Wright’s anti-American mentality!
ihasurnominashun on March 14, 2008 at 1:06 PM
There’s that word “Zionism” again. Where did I hear that word before??
Conservative_SAHM on March 14, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Based on the Obama defenders I’ve been listening to all day call into the Boston talk radio shows, you nailed it. They pretty much completely agree with Wright.
TheBigOldDog on March 14, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Thanks. Enuf’s enuf.
HotAirJosef on March 14, 2008 at 1:10 PM
But most of America doesn’t.
President McCain, anyone?
HotAirJosef on March 14, 2008 at 1:10 PM
Nothing’s been removed, that search function just doesn’t work properly. Trying going to the boards, and then “World & More > Local & World News”
Tanya on March 14, 2008 at 1:11 PM
come on guys, obama has been a member of this church for twenty years and now is trying to convince the american public that he doesnt agree with these statements by his minister and his churchs own mission statememt. my god people, just look at this churches web page and replace white everywhere that the word black appears. this so called minster as well as anyone that supports what this church espouses is a racist pure and simple. please dont waste your time in trying to make the case that i am a racist for bringing this up as i didnt bring it up, his minster as well as their own web page did that for all of us. furthermore, i am sick and tired of people not having the courage to simply come out and call this what it is. racism. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!! we are about to elect a man as president of the united state of america who i know in my heart that isnt qualified and worse hates virtually everything that we stand for. this country isnt perfect by a long shot as we have no doubt committed our own sins but we deserve better than this. again, WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
devere252 on March 14, 2008 at 1:14 PM
TheBigOldDog on March 14, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Then he’ll be easier to beat than I thought - no way the majority of America believes that crap. Unless they stay home of course…
Stevel on March 14, 2008 at 1:15 PM
Howard Dean was probably right about the dirt path and certainly is right about religion in a free society. One shouldn’t belong to a church that you disagree with, when you can find one that think is just right. We have churches for just about everybody, but conservative atheists like myself. If leftist atheists can’t deal with liberal Christianity, they can go to the Unitarian church.
thuja on March 14, 2008 at 1:20 PM
No one in the MSM will have the balls to even approach this preacher’s vile, racist, anti-american, anti-semitist sermons. Not even one milli-angstrom of copy space will be devoted to this story.
Sergei on March 14, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Now all we need is for a bombshell to break in Hillary’s camp and this race is over before it starts.
John Sidney McCain, 44th President, 2008.
Post-Campaign National Catchphrase: “Oh well. It could have been worse.”
HitNRun on March 14, 2008 at 1:25 PM
Doprah is as racist as he.
Remember the cattle beef trial? After the trial, she said her voice would not be silenced like the 400 years of oppression did to slaves.
Nice statement from a supposed pillar of society.
Same church, same values.
madmonkphotog on March 14, 2008 at 1:27 PM
Jeremiah Wright is a mentally deranged white man. He thinks that America caused 9/11, created the HIV virus and he thinks he is black when he is clearly mostly white. He probably also hates or lusts after his own mother or both. Even I can’t help him.
Sigy on March 14, 2008 at 1:31 PM
getting a glimpse at that church vs. how Oprah and Obama present themselves to white america. And you start to get an idea of the “mask” they(the bargainers) wear that Shelby Steele has been talking about.
jp on March 14, 2008 at 1:31 PM
No wonder her Highness Michelle O is so evil and ill tempered. She’s been hanging with the Rev. too long. The Big O (Oprah) and Mr.O (Obama) are better at hiding their feelings I guess. Of course anyone saying anything will be branded a racist and silenced immediately. Is this the kind of life we want? Silenced and labeled?
Speaking of Her Highness Michelle O., has anyone seen her in public lately? Hide the Rev., hide the little woman, evade the press and scream racism at every criticism and maybe you can keep this charade going for a while long, Mr. O, political rock star of 2008. A vague memory in 2009.
UnEasyRider on March 14, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Shelby Steele is a clever man. Didn’t he say that Obama couldn’t win?
Pax americana on March 14, 2008 at 1:35 PM
If O’Bama Hussien is elected president who in the God Damn America hell do you think will be the holy man that will administer the oath of office?
O’Bama and his wife are disgusting pukes for aligning themselves with this rascist bastard!!!!!!!!
Winebabe on March 14, 2008 at 1:37 PM
here here
trailortrash on March 14, 2008 at 1:38 PM
thats what he thinks in the end, b/c of the contradictions with stuff like this. He doesn’t think it’ll hold up through a presidential campaign.
the only way Obama wins is if the media black outs this type of stuff and Obama is able to stay calm and cool through the race. he does have significant political skills, which is the scary part.
jp on March 14, 2008 at 1:38 PM
And another thing……..Oprah is just as bad. I’m sick and tired of this self-promoting, do-gooder wench.
Winebabe on March 14, 2008 at 1:39 PM
An Obama presidency is looking more and more like a nightmare for the American people. The mask is slipping and the fearmongering that motivates his campaign is now leaking out. Can you imagine what President Obama would do to this nation with a Democratic Congress hanging on his coattails?
Pax americana on March 14, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Frighteningly, yes I sure can! It’s why I want to start tearing my hair out when people speak so grandly of ‘just sitting this one out’. If ever there was an election we absolutely CAN NOT sit out it’s this one! For heaven’s sake….look at the possible outcome if too many do just that!
dustoffmom on March 14, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Not only do you not hear a peep out of Obama, you don’t hear a peep out of Oprah. So, what is this? The church for rich blacks to whine about how they were stopped from succeeding by white Amerikkka?
Blake on March 14, 2008 at 1:49 PM
look, two years of O-racist with a dim-o-crat congress and we get congress back, two years after,we get it all,for a very long time…It’s worth it…
twiggman on March 14, 2008 at 1:50 PM
What he means is, if someone gives 1000 sane sermons and two insane ones, it would be cherry-picking to take those and cast it as representative of the whole.
Anyway, I’m don’t think that Obama needs to comment beyond what he’s already said.
ChenZhen on March 14, 2008 at 1:50 PM
No Twiggman, it is not worth it! The damage that can be done in months, not 2 years, is catastophic.
Off now to buy a wig….I’m going to need one soon. ;)
dustoffmom on March 14, 2008 at 1:55 PM
I would note that the sermon flagged by the WSJ is in fact the very same sermon that can be heard in a YouTube clip recently featured here at Hot Air.
Karl on March 14, 2008 at 1:59 PM
dustoffmom… just think Pelosi, Reid and O-bambi..YEEEEEEEEE AHHHHHHHH…..It don’t get any better than that…
twiggman on March 14, 2008 at 2:06 PM
Great stuff. But I have this vision of a post-election McCain victory party, at which Rev. Wright ascends to the platform and, gasp, hugs McCain. Then, in a move which would be so familiar to anyone who watched Mission Impossible (the TV series), Rev. Wright reaches under his chin, pulls upward–OMG! His face comes away to reveal the smiling visage of. . . Karl Rove. (And now I’ll do my impression of a trufer.) Think about it. Have you ever seen the two of them together? Well, have you? ANSWER THE QUESTION! WHY WON’T YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!?????
smellthecoffee on March 14, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Doprah has been racist from the very beginning. The White people of this country are in such a lather to find a nice black that they can elevate and worship they grabbed the first one who looked harmless. Harmless? She’s had an agenda from the very beginning and has been spewing her racial propaganda for years. Now she has unlimited wealth and power. We have enriched one of our most dangerous enemies.
UnEasyRider on March 14, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Oprah’s site is still working. Just go to her Community at oprah.com and type Wright in the search box.
Oprah’s site
PattyJ on March 14, 2008 at 2:23 PM
What an absolutely delusional piece of garbage. The Dems would seize on such a golden opportunity to pass as much superliberal legislation as possible, not to mention jumping at every chance to fill the SC with their stooges. It would take the best part of a generation to recover from all the foreign and domestic policy reversals. We are still paying for Carter’s Iranian fiasco now. And the figures just aren’t on your side - the last time the Dems got hold of Congress under Eisenhower the GOP didn’t wrestle back control for decades.
It would certainly be ‘change’, but not as we have known it. If you want to subject our kids to such crap then you are either a moonbat or a idiot.
Pax americana on March 14, 2008 at 2:25 PM
We’ll see. His media groupies can’t fix this by themselves and it lends itself to the kind of quiet mudslinging the Clintons do so well through their surrogates. He’s going to have a deserved bullseye on his back till the donks pick their nominee, and if he just ignores it, Hillary’s hit crew will pick him apart.
a capella on March 14, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Wright is wrong about HIV. In fact, HIV is a fraud and a myth.
fossten on March 14, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Obama’s Rolling Stone cover needs more glow. I gotta have more glow baby. More glow!
gabriel sutherland on March 14, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Several black commenters on another site mentioned that this is what they hear regularly from their churches and they see nothing wrong with it. If that’s true, then we still have an incredibly long way to go before the acrimony between races subsides. Both sides have to do their part - yes, the discrimination has to stop (and has in very great measure) but the forgiveness has to start sometime. This type of demagoguery taught to children by their preachers promises another generation of anger, suspicion and hostility even in the face of enormous progress. Maybe this happening now is a good thing. Maybe the bandaid needed to come off so the wound could really start to heal at last.
inmypajamas on March 14, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Why isn’t the press dogpack camping out in the church to hear its pastor, and then dogging him outside the church nagging him about what he’s been saying?
Oh, no, we couldn’t do that! We can lie about every other thing, but to try to bring out the truth like that and confront the racist angry idiot, oh, no.
Mommynator on March 14, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Obama going to Wright’s church and then saying he doesn’t agree with everyhing he says is like attending a Klu Klux Klan rally and saying you don’t necessarily agree with their inflammatory rhetoric and that the Grand Dragon is merely like the crazy old uncle we all have.
NNtrancer on March 14, 2008 at 5:21 PM
They don’t have to camp out, they can purchase his sermons on video disk.
bnelson44 on March 14, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Amen! Let’s have a real talk about racism, both sides.
PattyJ on March 14, 2008 at 5:37 PM
They see jackson and sharpton getting rich spouting this stuff so they do also.
peacenprosperity on March 14, 2008 at 5:39 PM
attending
aKlu Klux Klanrallyrallys for twenty yearspeacenprosperity on March 14, 2008 at 5:40 PM
This is a really dull subject. Hagee, Wright, Parsley, Jackson, all these really great religious leaders we have in America.
Our founding father’s certainly showed great wisdom in wanting separation of church and state. What a bunch of wankers.
MORE SEPARATION PLEASE!!!!
lexhamfox on March 14, 2008 at 5:41 PM
That magnificent bastard!
Jaibones on March 14, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Cast of Characters:
Grand Dragon Wright, Leader of the O-Cult
O-Racist
O-Wifey
O-Where-Is-Stedman
faraway on March 14, 2008 at 5:41 PM
One of the reasons that I had to shop around for a church was that I kept running into the type that provided, shall we say,information and programs that fell outside of the scope of what I think a church–and a pastor’s–purpose should be (the purpose being to impart the Word and let the Word do the work). I’m very glad that the Spirit led me to do that.
About Oprah: just this past Sunday, one of my fellow parishioners and I got to talking about Oprah “coincidentally.” Neither of us had watched her show for years, but my friend had tuned in on accident and had been shocked at the New Age-y, secular agenda which OW seemed to be promoting. Has anyone else noticed this?
Of course I mentioned her role in the Obama campaign and my friend, a black woman like me, but a life-long Democrat said something like this: “then they both bear watching.”
Something’s going on here.
baldilocks on March 14, 2008 at 5:41 PM
I’m really hating that, since my last name begins with ‘O’ also. :-)
baldilocks on March 14, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Obama’s claim that quoting ‘Rev.’ Wright is cherry picking is like a grocer, after a customer finds maggots in a slice of steak, claiming that the meat should be considered in context.
Obama is over because America is over racist conspiracy kooks.
Obama is just a slick empty suit, hiding racist conspiratorial invective.
hunter on March 14, 2008 at 5:44 PM
O-racist’s claim to fame is that he has great judgement (Iraq would be a mess).
For 20 years he didn’t have the judgement to take his wife and kids away from Grand Dragon Wright?
faraway on March 14, 2008 at 5:47 PM
You’re right, Peacenprosperity. He’s been going to that Klan rally for 20 years. What’s more, he donated $22,500 to the Grand Dragon at least once. My guess is that Obama is pained and angry only because his past is catching up with him.
NNtrancer on March 14, 2008 at 5:55 PM
Oh crap.
Limbaugh and McCain go to the same church, and the pastor’s an America-hating, conspiracy-theory-peddling racist? And Limbaugh and McCain reflect those views and give lots of money to the church?
The media will never, ever let go of this. Ever. They’re both completely and totally over.
Uhh…what? Oprah and Obama?
Never mind.
misterpeasea on March 14, 2008 at 6:03 PM
Mr. Wright, the reason the Third World is a poverty-ridden sh!thole is not that it is being robbed by the United States.
The robbery is in fact carried out on a daily basis by their own leaders, most of whom are little more than illiterate thugs whose only claim to fame is that they’re quicker on the trigger than anyone else in the neighborhood, and generally crazier into the bargain.
Oh, and BTW, Mr. Wright; the objects of their perpetual kleptomania invariably include the aid we “evil” Americans send to their countries. You might want to take that up with the agency that usually handles delivery. Namely, the United Nations.
cheers
eon
eon on March 14, 2008 at 12:19 PM
CCRWM on March 14, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Sorry messed up the blockquotes somehow…
CCRWM on March 14, 2008 at 6:10 PM
Or hunt down, butcher and eat a chimpanzee, infecting themselves by accident with a simian autoimmune disease which they then pass on to the rest of the world. There you go, rev.
peacenprosperity on March 14, 2008 at 6:16 PM
I went to the Oprah site and I see a lot of comments that are critical of Wright but, and I admit I only read 1 page, I don’t see them holding Oprah accountable for attending the same church…hummm… I stopped sipping the Oprah kool aid a long time ago when she started with the New Age garbage…
I wonder if as she drives to her penthouse after a show she breaks out in hysterical laughter and gasps “What a bunch of stupid white women!
CCRWM on March 14, 2008 at 6:33 PM
No, “we” don’t. THEY do.
SouthernGent on March 14, 2008 at 6:33 PM
Jesus Lord, we created OPRAH!
drjohn on March 14, 2008 at 7:31 PM
I’m white and have gone to a lot of big, black, churches here in Dallas and Oakcliff, Texas (I love a black gospel choir), and have NEVER heard anger and rage like this racist preacher of Obama’s is spewing.
Bishop T.D. Jakes, of Potter’s House, has inspired me through many services…and most services are almost 3 hours long, so you’re pretty committed to that person preaching to you every Sunday! Any white person would feel completely comfortable and would be welcomed and greeted by all, at Potter’s House.
Sorry, but Obama goes to this church because he’s in sync with the message of the preacher. Obama’s toast…and now the poor Dems have only Hillary to go back to. Sheesh. Sad….cause we only have McCain to turn to.
luvstotango on March 14, 2008 at 7:37 PM
High alert. The destruction is spreading out of control. OpraBama in crisis damage control mode.
petefrt on March 14, 2008 at 7:48 PM
This is pretty hilarious. The same fucking rightwing blogs that declared Romney’s racist, sexist, intolerant cult to be out of bounds for criticism or discussion are now piling on cherry picked quotes about Obama’s minister. You can find plenty of really hateful slurs against blacks, Jews, Catholics etc. in the book of Mormon, but, partly because of blind hatred for McCain and Romney being his main competition, blogs, just like this one, refused to allow any debate on that.
Link me to ONE FUCKING article where Allah or anyone else talks critically about the hate filled crap Romney teaches and gets taught by his minister every fucking day of the week. Romney is a 3rd generation elder in a dynastic family of Mormon leaders. Obama just attends the church.
Now you can debate the relative evilness of what Wright says vs. the Book of Mormon all day: the point is, its JUDGING SOMEONE’S RELIGION, which none of us has the right to do, in fact, if you ARE a Christian, Jesus told you DIRECTLY NOT TO DO IT, FUCKWITS.
And yet here you are, blithely bashing Obama over religion, just what people like you complained when it happened to Romney. The ironing is delicious, to quote Bart SImpson.
docweasel on March 14, 2008 at 8:23 PM
You are stupid, so your comment is excused. I’m sure you have other positive qualities.
JiangxiDad on March 14, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Yes, you have no answer for the substance of my comment. I didn’t think so. Posting a meaningless fill comment like yours, and calling _me_ stupid pretty much shows you DONT have any positive qualities.
docweasel on March 14, 2008 at 8:33 PM
No, you misunderstand. There is no substance to your comment. That is why I call you stupid. You equate Mormons with the racist Wright and his followers, so I realized you weren’t intelligent. You cannot distinguish between right and wrong, or weigh something as being better or worse than something else. A hatred-filled racist preacher is the spiritual leader for a presidential candidate, yet you find a way to dismiss that. You are clearly educated, so that’s why I said you probably had other redeeming qualities, but intelligence is clearly not one of them.
That’s why I called you stupid. Sorry I didn’t make my reasons clearer earlier. See we all have our faults.
JiangxiDad on March 14, 2008 at 8:49 PM
I find Mormons just as hatefilled. That’s MY judgement. You are judging Obama and his minister. My point is, rightblogs, mostly those who hated McCain and backed Romney as the default anti-McCain out of expediency, declared Romney’s religion out of bounds and anyone who ‘cherrypicked’ hateful comments from it, and there are plenty, was anti Mormon and unAmerican, because we respect any and all religions. Unless they happen to be that of a black man who is a liberal Democrat. Now, all the sudden its cool to bash them.
I never doubt you had faults. Ignorance and inability for critical thought are foremost among them.
docweasel on March 14, 2008 at 9:02 PM
Repeating yourself and expecting a different outcome is silly. Yes, you believe Mormon are a source of great hatred and racial divide in this country, and preach hate. Therefore, you excuse Obama and his ilk.
Not only is that a silly notion, but illogical as well. It is weak thinking. But now I am repeating myself. You must be wearing off on me.
JiangxiDad on March 14, 2008 at 9:09 PM
I’ve never bought this specious argument - a religion is a creed or doctrine people choose to follow, not some quality they are born with like race or gender. It is absurd to say that no-one has a right to judge a religion, as much as it would be to say that no-one has a right to judge a political belief. Jefferson would be turning in his grave at such a proposition.
If we ringfenced religion in this way it would leave Islam, Scientology, or any cultic belief that claims divine inspiration beyond criticism which would be not only be an absolute travesty, it would be damned dangerous.
Pax americana on March 14, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Barry is imploding on Fox.
Telling some pretty unbelievable statements.
If the media wasn’t in his jock, they might want to follow up.
But if Mitt Romeny said some of this, they would, for sure.
What a load of garbage.
benrand on March 14, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Why do liberals have to swear so much? They remind me of teenagers that think it’s cool to tak like grownups.
docweasel, I don’t think anyone here is critizing Obama’s religion. Put down the Bill Maher cue cards for a moment. We are critizing the fact that this potential president of the United States has, for twenty years, attended a divisive church that blames White America (Reverand Dr. Wright’s words, not mine) for the problems of minorities. Google the “The Black Value System” to see what the church believes. It’s the same old liberal “it’s not my fault” attitude.
cannonball on March 14, 2008 at 10:02 PM
The curtain is being pulled on obama and his surrender followers. Thank God we have McCain to pound the dimicrats through the fall.
Colonel_prop on March 14, 2008 at 10:25 PM
I’m not excusing anyone. I’m saying, that for political expedience, many Republicans excused the hate-filled, racist, intolerant of other religions, anti-Semitic, sexist theology of Mitt Romney. In fact, many considered it off the table to talk about it. They labeled anyone who did anti-Mormon bigots. These same right wing bloggers are now jumping all over Obama for his religion and the statements of his religious leader.
That’s hypocrisy. That’s a double standard. That’s what I’m on about.
docweasel on March 14, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Welcome to the tinfoil hatted leftist loonies expectation of an Obama presidency. This is what they feel and think about this country and it’s citizens. They wish to dismantle everything and replace it with a Orwellian nation. We are beginning to get it. Maybe it’s not too late after all.
sharinlite on March 14, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Having been unable to get my daily fix of HotAir for too long (& I have the shakes to prove it) I’m saddened by what seems to have devolved into acceptable commentary on this outstanding site. I know you’ve opened up HA registration at least once this year and I see many newcomers posting- but not too many of the usual daily suspects’ posts that I learned so much from and took great enjoyment in reading several times a day. Great work continues by Allah, Michele and now Ed, but is someone asleep at the moderator switch?
NightmareOnKStreet on March 14, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Oprah has removed the 300+ posts from her web site, that didn’t take long.
Dollayo on March 14, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Sooooo………..I guess if a candidate for POTUS were say….oh…I don’t know……a member of a religious group called HAMAS it would be UNFAIR to JUDGE their RELIGION???
Show me the passage where it is FORBIDDEN to judge an ideology or teaching. Show me the passage that states ALL THINGS ARE EQUAL.
And while you are at it, oh master of things Biblical, why don’t you give me chapter and verse where Christ called people “fuckwits”?
This “pastor” does not preach the Gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected. He preaches hate and lies. Prove me wrong.
Talon on March 14, 2008 at 11:42 PM
I’ll answer docweasel.
Romney is no longer a candidate for President. So why is your arguement relevant?
Secondly, no one posted any anti American videos from Romney’s church that we currently see from Obama’s church.
Thirdly, Romney is no longer in the race because he was caught in lies and outed as the flip flopper he was to gain political advantage. Obama has been outed as a liar (Rezko) and a flip flopper (Iraq war).
Fourthly, name one campaign advisor who was a minister of Romney’s church. There may have been one or more, I don’t know, I’m just rolling the dice.
Fifth, and lastly, while it seem’s it was perfect acceptable to call Romney on such things, it appears to be completely out of bounds to call Obama on the very same things.
One country, one standard. Is that too much to ask? Or is affirmative action in play here?
Hog Wild on March 15, 2008 at 12:05 AM
That’s because whenever anything comes out of Willard’s mouth, everyone in their right mind already knows that he is lying and that you can’t believe a word out of his mouth!
A bigger phony in the republican party has never existed!
He is a pro Reagan/anti Reagan, abortion loving and abortion hating, lying politician who would have done more for the homosexual agenda than ted kennedy and less at the same time. “Whatever helps me get elected.”
Once a liar both a sinner and untrustworthy. Unpresidential.
SaintOlaf on March 15, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Can we take down that caucasion hating bulldyke Oprah, too?
peacenprosperity on March 15, 2008 at 12:49 AM
That’s gotta be the post of the day… for dKos or HuffPo to quote.
NightmareOnKStreet on March 15, 2008 at 1:17 AM
sheesh.. GD Obama! GD Obama! you stupid naive nitwit!
Chakra Hammer on March 15, 2008 at 1:23 AM
Talon, docweasel has taken the red pill, don’t wait up…
NightmareOnKStreet on March 15, 2008 at 1:30 AM
Why should I vote for someone who hates me because I am white?
I’m so confused.
winemkr on March 15, 2008 at 1:31 AM
SaintOlaf
You are a sick misinformed twit.
winemkr on March 15, 2008 at 1:34 AM
I am so weary of people misquoting and misinterpreting Christ. Christ did not say we are not to judge, he said, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” If you judge another, you’d better be fully prepared to be judged. This is about accountability–I can’t stand around pointing out everyone’s failings and then expect a hands-off approach to me.
The Bible is loaded with references to accountability and how to confront people when they are doing wrong. Telling people they are not supposed to judge is a complete twisting of Scripture by those who either do not want to stand up to scrutiny, or who lack the moral courage to tell the truth to others.
DrMagnolias on March 15, 2008 at 7:20 AM
There is a silver lining for Obama with the revelations of what Reverend Wright has been saying. Now instead of just getting 90% of the black vote, he is sure now to get 98%.
mhexel on March 15, 2008 at 9:13 AM
Sad, but possibly true, if as some have indicated that this type of preaching is common for black congregations.
evenkeel on March 15, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Parsley:
“Allah is a demon spirit”….check
“Islam is a false religion”….check
A couple of important things to remember…
Rod Parsley is based in Ohio…McCain is from Arizona.
McCain is often, mistakenly quoted saying, “Parsley is MY spiritual guide.”…Not true.
McCain called Parsley, “A spiritual guide”
see the difference?
franksalterego on March 15, 2008 at 10:26 AM
What further undermines Obama’s credibility when he says he had no idea that Wright held these sorts of views is the fact that the parishioners are going wild. The more ridiculous, racially charged and inflammatory, the greater reaction. Shit, even the people in the choir behind him are nodding! This is an odd choice of church for a guy who claims to be about bringing the races together.
Sean68 on March 15, 2008 at 10:54 AM
This is the beginning of the end for Barack Hussein Obama.
Dave R. on March 15, 2008 at 3:10 PM
This issue has gotten to viral, that even the lame stream media can no longer cover this issue up. There is no way, the average folks of America, regardless of party, will elect someone who hates America as President. Obama is toast. His lustre is all gone, his candidacy was just a bunch of vapor anyway. I echo others here, too bad we only have McCain left. At least he loves his country
karenhasfreedom on March 15, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Not to mention that McCain is Episcopalian. Now that’s a denomination in which you can see clearly where their conservatives and liberals are.
newton on March 16, 2008 at 1:42 AM
The Rev. Wright’s comments are truly paranoid and insane. Worse yet is the Obama’s obvious decision to continue to “worship” there for 20 years to hear the rants. Wright married them; he baptized their children, for God’s sake! What better endorsement than that?
I think this is a BIG TIME issue for Obama. Now he appears a liar and it puts Michelle Obama’s comments plainly in context.
This is a deal-killer for many independents, including myself and much of my family.
Clearly the sleazy Clinton’s leaked this, and bully for them. It is best to know such associations now than later.
And Ed….please this “docweasel” does not meet the civility requirements. He is unhinged.
kathy from austin on March 16, 2008 at 3:01 AM
Docweasel, even assuming moral equivalence between Mormonism and what Rev. Wright is preaching (which is ridiculous), it’s far more difficult to believe that Romney embraces the less palatable parts of Mormonism than that Obama endorses the worst of Wright’s wrongheadedness. After all, there’s no equivalence in what they have to do to distance themselves from the objectionable material. Obama merely has to attend a different UCoC church. According to your argument, Romney would have to renounce his entire religion - though I’m not religious myself, I understand that it’s a bit more difficult than changing shirts or even churches (imagine that). To Romney, the objectionable parts of Mormonism are not sufficient to justify renouncing it - that’s a reasonable statement, I think, given that plenty of Muslims in America say the same thing to themselves every time another bomber bites the dust in Iraq. Obama thinks Wright’s statements aren’t objectionable enough to justify driving to a different church every Sunday - that’s an UNreasonable statement.
Anyway, moving to point-by-point refutation (I’d do this on your blog, except you won’t let anyone comment on your absurdities):
Hmmm, this is refuted by THE VERY QUOTATION FROM CAPTAIN ED THAT YOU USED IN YOUR ARTICLE. You know, the “more than 100 years ago” response. Romney is not obliged to answer for what Mormons thought of other religions 190 years ago. Especially not if this doesn’t translate into a prescription for action today (you know, like the Muslim prescription for action regarding non-Muslims, which STILL doesn’t automatically incriminate all Muslims out there).
No. Way. Mormons think the Book of Mormon is holy? It MUST be heresy. Is there some kind of rhetorical rule against demolishing straw men the opponent sets up for you?
Of course, no context is provided. Without the context, there’s no reason to assume that the bad church is of any particular religion or even a tangible church - it could be a symbol for devil-worship, or of US Congress for all I can tell from what’s given. Is this supposed to be a genuine question? How can I tell, when it’s so ridiculous? Furthermore, now we’re getting into the “well, the book says this, so he’s bad!” arguments. Are we next going to castigate Jews because the Old Testament forbids homosexuality?
Is the question “Are you a racist?” going to somehow become a better question because you attached a religious quote to it? Now I know why nobody’s asking these questions; they’d get laughed out of the room.
According to the Old Testament, God talked to people, According to the New Testament, God talked to people. Why are you shocked that according to Mormonism, God might still be talking to people?
Obviously these two questions are meant to go together, but it’s not obvious what they’re getting at. Is is somehow a bad thing if Romney is in good standing with the Mormon Church? Is it somehow a bad thing if he isn’t? What exactly is the point of this?
Well, it’s no more ridiculous than having witnesses in court swear on the Bible. Again, is there any point to this question other than to figure out whether Romney is really Mormon or not?
Who cares?
No, Romney isn’t going to consider his happiness in this life a blessing from the Lord. It must be a lie. Like the cake. You know, this refutation is getting really boring. All these questions are meant to SOUND incriminating, but they never actually get there.
“Mormons teach” - what an ambiguous phrase. Is this supposed to be another part of the Book of Mormon, or is it something that’s commonly taught, is it something a few radicals espouse, or what? Who cares what Romney’s plans for the next life are, anyway? Are they going to somehow affect your judgment of his actions in this one?
This is the lamest question ever. Even if polygamy retroactively became a sin, even a Protestant would say that’s just more time spent in purgatory, assuming you lived your life in a generally virtuous way.
And Romney is condemned for the well-intentioned but misguided action of Mormon leaders over half a century ago because…why?
Hey, if all those wars the Old Testament documents weren’t sinning because God said they weren’t, why can’t the same overriding authority be applied to polygamy?
Translation: If the Mormons turn out to be right, do you think the Mormons will be rewarded for being right? Answer: Who cares?
No way, the people who thought Smith was a prophet put him above people who weren’t prophets. Unthinkable.
Damn, dude, why did I waste my time with this drivel when I could be sleeping? I love how you try to pull the moral equivalence stunt with Wright’s conspiracy theories. For your next trick, I suppose you’ll prove that Joseph Smith caused cancer…or something.
The feebleness of your attacks only justifies to me the suppression of them by mainstream conservative thinkers. Spewing idiocy like this will only make conservatives look bad.
Actually, what’s really hilarious (but not surprising) is that you have no f***ing clue who Ed actually supported. I won’t give any hints, but it starts with a “Fred” and ends with a “Thompson”. And if we’re talking “racist, sexist, intolerant,” why aren’t there women priests n other branches of Christianity? Break out the torches and rakes and other handy implements, let’s storm the Vatican!
The sad thing is, I probably could link you to an article on Captain’s Quarters that does just that if I felt like expending the effort. Since I don’t, you’ll just have to suck it up. And your comment only illustrates why Obama’s choice is more damaging - there’s less personal damage involved in not making the choice. Imagine Romney’s position as a child of the second dynastic elder of the Mormon community. Imagine trying to renounce your religion and most likely your family name because bits of the holy book disparage black people. Now imagine Obama’s choice between listening to Rev. Wright’s rhetoric and…going to a different church. That Obama chose to listen to Wright despite the ease of not doing so demonstrates that he doesn’t find it all that objectionable. Not so in Romney’s case.
Idiot. I can finally say it because you finally made it clear that you missed the entire point of the discussion. WE’RE NOT DISCUSSING OBAMA’S RELIGION. Being a card-carrying member of the United Church of Christ is not the objectionable thing here. The objectionable thing is that he sits and listens to Wright (and helps support him financially) as Wright makes these ridiculous speeches, when it wouldn’t be difficult to distance himself from all that. On the other hand, your assaults on Romney’s Mormonism are definitely judging religion, though your judgment is incredibly weak if this is the best you can offer. I’d hope you could come up with more, except then I might have to do another monster comment like this, and I don’t want to do that.
Math_Mage on March 16, 2008 at 6:17 AM
Oprah’s choice of pastor bring’s in to question the motivation for selecting the latest book for her book club.
davod on March 16, 2008 at 7:44 AM
I have never disliked anyone more than Obama and Oprah. They are deceitful power mongers who will destroy America as we know it. They are race-baiters, anti-America, anti-troops, anti-war on terror…. I hope they both sink in popularity REAL soon!
PoliticallyIncorrectSandy on March 16, 2008 at 8:59 AM
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