Posts Tagged ‘Jeremiah Wright’

I believe that deep down, Rev. Jeremiah Wright means well.  Deep down I absolutely believe Rev. Wright is well-intentioned.  At the same time, deep down I know that Rev. Wright is wrong on this occasion…indefensibly wrong.

What I’m about to say will not be said in malice.  Nevertheless, it needs to be said.  Rev. Wright’s most recent remarks concerning Jews and the Obama administration are simply unacceptable.

Forgivable…absolutely.  Acceptable…absolutely not.

When asked whether President Obama has reached out to him in the months since their public separation, Wright offered the following:

“Them Jews aren’t going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he’ll talk to me in five years when he’s a lame duck, or in eight years when he’s out of office.  They will not let him … talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is.”

The response by many in the African-American community, my community, was one largely in support of Wright.  The contention by and large in our community was that Wright “told the truth” and was accurate in his assessment of how the Obama administration would keep the distance between the President and his former pastor.  Conversely, the response by many in the Jewish community was one of anger and disbelief, blaming Wright for the political gulf in between the two.

So let’s talk about where the “truth” and “blame” are found.

I’ve always argued, it’s not what you say it’s how you say it.  It’s not what you do it’s how you go about it.  The problem I have with Wright’s remarks is very simple; they were wrapped in utter contempt.  “Them Jews” is little different than the African-American equivalent of “You People.”  The marginalization and objectification of any group of people along racial/ethnic lines is contemptuous by definition.

Black people, (“We”) of all people should readily understand this fact.  I shouldn’t even have to spell it out, though it seems I’m now forced to do so.

Yes, President Obama has many key advisors who happen to be Jewish.  Yes, President Obama has gone to considerable lengths to downplay ethnic variables affecting his political equation which might throw it out of balance.  But that’s very different than any statement leading off with “Them Jews.” The latter is an indictment of a people as well as a religion.  Such an expression suggests an active disdain for the whole of a people, not a common sense political strategy.  Therein lies the difference.

Let’s turn this on its head.

“Them Black people aren’t gon’ vote for anyone but Obama come November.” Or even Senator John McCain’s ill-advised “that one” remark.

See my point?

To argue that Wright’s remarks are somehow “acceptable” because to some they ring “true” (note the quotation marks) is a hollow and often misguided argument.  The intersection of race and politics is far more nuanced in nature.  But given Wright’s public behavior of late…”Them Jews” evidently did the right thing.  The distance in between the two was not only a good idea…but a GREAT idea.  In this discussion of “blame” and “truth,” these facts can’t be discounted.  Rev. Jeremiah Wright is a political fire hazard and that’s the truth.

Speaking of public behavior…

Frequently Rev. Wright has made the argument and distinction that his job as a minister and spiritual leader is different from that of a politician.  Agreed, they are exceptionally different.  But Wright hasn’t been simply a “minister” for quite some time.  He’s now a public figure and bound to the same rules and expectations as all other public figures.  He’s not “preaching the word” as they say, he’s giving political commentary.

Note the difference.

There are certain things simply inappropriate in the public space by public figures.  The fiery rhetoric, commonplace to many historically Black churches is best suited for the pulpit, not the press podium.  Far too often Rev. Wright seems to forget where he is these days and fails to recognize his own job title has changed too.  The longer he wishes to exist in the public space and offer commentary of a political nature, the more he will have to abide by the rules of the political arena.  It was true for Muhammad Ali, it was true for Dr. King.  It was true for Jesse Jackson and even Min. Louis Farrakhan.  Ironically enough, it was Min. Farrakhan who understood the inherent political dynamics to say largely nothing in conjunction with (then) Senator Obama during his campaign.

What bothers me the most is the subsequent apology that inevitably comes in the wake of these public gaffes.  If these public figures spent half as much time thinking about their day-to-day rhetoric as they did the well-crafted apologies, then fewer apologies would be in order overall.  It’s to the point where I’m not sure whether I’m more offended by the original remark or the two-page apology after the fact.

I don’t want any more apologies from Rev. Wright.  Now if that means he should retire from public life, then so be it.  He can’t seem to stay out of his own way and it’s to the point where his controversies are overshadowing his contributions.

I’ll end where I began. I believe deep down Rev. Jeremiah Wright means well.  I believe Rev. Wright deep down is well-intentioned.  At the same time, deep down (within me) I know that Rev. Wright is wrong on this occasion…indefensibly wrong.

If “We” are not willing to check ourselves when “We” are in the wrong, then we’ll have abrogated the moral high ground in which to check others similarly in the future.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.MrMoKelly.com.  Mo’Kelly can be reached at Mo@MrMoKelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.

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Subscribe to The Mo’Kelly Report HERE

I believe that deep down, Rev. Jeremiah Wright means well.  Deep down I absolutely believe Rev. Wright is well-intentioned.  At the same time, deep down I know that Rev. Wright is wrong on this occasion…indefensibly wrong.

What I’m about to say will not be said in malice.  Nevertheless, it needs to be said.  Rev. Wright’s most recent remarks concerning Jews and the Obama administration are simply unacceptable.

Forgivable…absolutely.  Acceptable…absolutely not.

When asked whether President Obama has reached out to him in the months since their public separation, Wright offered the following:

“Them Jews aren’t going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he’ll talk to me in five years when he’s a lame duck, or in eight years when he’s out of office.  They will not let him … talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is.”

The response by many in the African-American community, my community, was one largely in support of Wright.  The contention by and large in our community was that Wright “told the truth” and was accurate in his assessment of how the Obama administration would keep the distance between the President and his former pastor.  Conversely, the response by many in the Jewish community was one of anger and disbelief, blaming Wright for the political gulf in between the two.

So let’s talk about where the “truth” and “blame” are found.

I’ve always argued, it’s not what you say it’s how you say it.  It’s not what you do it’s how you go about it.  The problem I have with Wright’s remarks is very simple; they were wrapped in utter contempt.  “Them Jews” is little different than the African-American equivalent of “You People.”  The marginalization and objectification of any group of people along racial/ethnic lines is contemptuous by definition.

Black people, (“We”) of all people should readily understand this fact.  I shouldn’t even have to spell it out, though it seems I’m now forced to do so.

Yes, President Obama has many key advisors who happen to be Jewish.  Yes, President Obama has gone to considerable lengths to downplay ethnic variables affecting his political equation which might throw it out of balance.  But that’s very different than any statement leading off with “Them Jews.” The latter is an indictment of a people as well as a religion.  Such an expression suggests an active disdain for the whole of a people, not a common sense political strategy.  Therein lies the difference.

Let’s turn this on its head.

“Them Black people aren’t gon’ vote for anyone but Obama come November.” Or even Senator John McCain’s ill-advised “that one” remark.

See my point?

To argue that Wright’s remarks are somehow “acceptable” because to some they ring “true” (note the quotation marks) is a hollow and often misguided argument.  The intersection of race and politics is far more nuanced in nature.  But given Wright’s public behavior of late…”Them Jews” evidently did the right thing.  The distance in between the two was not only a good idea…but a GREAT idea.  In this discussion of “blame” and “truth,” these facts can’t be discounted.  Rev. Jeremiah Wright is a political fire hazard and that’s the truth.

Speaking of public behavior…

Frequently Rev. Wright has made the argument and distinction that his job as a minister and spiritual leader is different from that of a politician.  Agreed, they are exceptionally different.  But Wright hasn’t been simply a “minister” for quite some time.  He’s now a public figure and bound to the same rules and expectations as all other public figures.  He’s not “preaching the word” as they say, he’s giving political commentary.

Note the difference.

There are certain things simply inappropriate in the public space by public figures.  The fiery rhetoric, commonplace to many historically Black churches is best suited for the pulpit, not the press podium.  Far too often Rev. Wright seems to forget where he is these days and fails to recognize his own job title has changed too.  The longer he wishes to exist in the public space and offer commentary of a political nature, the more he will have to abide by the rules of the political arena.  It was true for Muhammad Ali, it was true for Dr. King.  It was true for Jesse Jackson and even Min. Louis Farrakhan.  Ironically enough, it was Min. Farrakhan who understood the inherent political dynamics to say largely nothing in conjunction with (then) Senator Obama during his campaign.

What bothers me the most is the subsequent apology that inevitably comes in the wake of these public gaffes.  If these public figures spent half as much time thinking about their day-to-day rhetoric as they did the well-crafted apologies, then fewer apologies would be in order overall.  It’s to the point where I’m not sure whether I’m more offended by the original remark or the two-page apology after the fact.

I don’t want any more apologies from Rev. Wright.  Now if that means he should retire from public life, then so be it.  He can’t seem to stay out of his own way and it’s to the point where his controversies are overshadowing his contributions.

I’ll end where I began. I believe deep down Rev. Jeremiah Wright means well.  I believe Rev. Wright deep down is well-intentioned.  At the same time, deep down (within me) I know that Rev. Wright is wrong on this occasion…indefensibly wrong.

If “We” are not willing to check ourselves when “We” are in the wrong, then we’ll have abrogated the moral high ground in which to check others similarly in the future.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.mrmokelly.com.  Mo’Kelly can be reached at Mo@mrmokelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.

http://twitter.com/mrmokelly

Subscribe to The Mo’Kelly Report HERE

ARTICLEURLDAMN! DAMN! DAMN! All is ‘fair’ in this presidential election and Rev. Wright is clearly in the field of play. We can assume the other side has been sitting on this for quite some time. What this has to do with Senator Obama…nothing but that never meant anything before.

But oh well…if these allegations are true as described in the New York Post…

DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!

But what is most disconcerting is that the article is pegged as “Barack Obama’s Former Pastor” making any possible connection to Obama they can.

Read more HERE

RELATED: Dear Omega Psi Phi – Moratorium on Barack Obama

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex and Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.MrMoKelly.com.

Subscribe in a reader or by email

Help Bring Mo’Kelly to National Radio HERE

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Morris W. O’Kelly can be reached at Mo@MrMoKelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.

ARTICLEURLDAMN! DAMN! DAMN! All is ‘fair’ in this presidential election and Rev. Wright is clearly in the field of play. We can assume the other side has been sitting on this for quite some time. What this has to do with Senator Obama…nothing but that never meant anything before.

But oh well…if these allegations are true as described in the New York Post…

DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!

But what is most disconcerting is that the article is pegged as “Barack Obama’s Former Pastor” making any possible connection to Obama they can.

Read more HERE

RELATED: Dear Omega Psi Phi – Moratorium on Barack Obama

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex and Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.MrMoKelly.com.

Subscribe in a reader or by email

Help Bring Mo’Kelly to National Radio HERE

Visit Mo’Kelly’s GIFT SHOP HERE

Morris W. O’Kelly can be reached at Mo@MrMoKelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.

Although I am an ardent supporter of Senator Barack Obama generally and his presidential campaign specifically; my support is neither naïve nor myopic in nature. There are policies of Obama in which I do not completely agree and there are decisions he’s made thus far which give me pause. That said; Senator Obama is still far and away the best candidate to lead this country come January of 2009.

Let me say it again for those who may wrongly confuse this editorial to be something other than what it is.

Senator Barack Obama is still far and away the best candidate to lead this country come January of 2009.

With that as a preface, the recent “controversy” surrounding the remarks of Father Pfleger made while speaking at Trinity United Church of Christ has provided a good opportunity for Obama. It is an opportunity to cement himself in the minds of voters as being truly ready to lead the most powerful nation in the world.

Yes, this controversy is in fact a considerable opportunity.

In short, it’s time for Senator Obama to go on ahead and start acting “presidential.” This is not a veiled criticism, alleging lack of experience as his detractors have sought to do.

On the contrary. It is not even to slight his sincere attempts at clarifying his stances on issues controversial in nature. I get that, and its importance is not lost on me.

It is though a critique of his campaign’s ill-advised strategy to continually breathe life into issues “below” a “President.”

The he-said/she-said politics of repudiation and rejection were somewhat understandable in the beginning, unnecessary at the midway point and now simply counterproductive and counterintuitive to “Presidents” six months prior to the general election. If there ever were a clear example of the law of Diminishing Returns at work, this is it. With every subsequent public declaration, denouncement and distancing from the actions of others unrelated to him…less is achieved and more is lost.

Why Senator Obama should even be ASKED to comment on the sermon of a man uninvolved in his presidential campaign, of an unrelated religious denomination, made in a church he no longer attends is questionable at best.

“Father Pfleger”…Catholic priest…hello?!

Conversely, why Obama feels the need to continue to respond and breathe life into dead issues is equally curious in nature.

Campaign manager David Plouffe (right), I blame you.

Stop responding to every ill wind detractors blow your way. Enough with the public declarations, official announcements of ties cut with this individual or that congregation.

It’s time to stop running…and I don’t mean in a campaign sense. It’s time for Senator Obama to step up and be presidential.

There has to come a point when Senator Obama says to the media and his detractors in his most diplomatic, respectful and sincere voice that he’s done with having to answer for anyone and everyone; especially those with no official connection to him.

That time should be now.

There should be no more public statements to the press about people who make remarks either inappropriate and/or controversial who have no official tie to Obama’s campaign.

If former RNC chairman Ken Mehlman (left) were to make a regretful remark between now and November, should we assume that since he is both Obama’s friend and former classmate at Harvard Law that he should distance himself from both Mehlman and Harvard University?

Exactly… enough is enough.

There has to come a time (i.e. now) in which Obama takes a page out of the book of the great African-American (ahem) “philosopher” George Funkenstein Clinton (no relation) in regards to these pseudo-controversies. Let these folks know he (Obama) is the future leader of the free world and act accordingly.

George Clinton (right) says simply and succinctly…

“Cry two tears in a bucket…f*** it.”

In other words, people need to get over themselves. Stop breathing life into dead issues. We were abundantly clear that Trinity United Church of Christ is not popular with everyone; no need to continue to bring it up…even when others try.

The remarks by Pfleger, arguably inappropriate within the context of a religious sermon were far from hateful and in no way connected to Obama. In any event; this is not an issue for the “President of the United States” in which to concern himself. Last I checked, Obama wasn’t a steward of the church, just a member of marginal attendance.

(Now a former member…)

The cart is now officially before the horse when members of infrequent attendance are held responsible for the decisions of the pastoral leadership.

Remember, it was Senator Obama who reminded us that he couldn’t be all things to all people.

(So stop trying to do so now Barack…”cry two tears in a bucket.”)

And therein lies the rub with running a campaign that seeks to unify the nation. Unifying the nation implies bringing the people you like and the people you don’t like together for a common cause. The Greasers and the Socs. The Hatfields and the McCoys. Louis Farrakhan and B’nai Brit
h. Intelligent people and the Sean Hannitys of the world. Seemingly incompatible, arguably incongruous, yet all together for a greater good.

Unity is what we as a country desire, right?

Unifying the nation means bringing people of disparate histories, divergent socio-economic means and political dispositions together for a common cause. It means agreeing on a common course for the nation as a whole, even if we manage to disagree on the minutia along the way.

Senator Obama has undertaken the task of making America whole once again and such “discomfort” is the cost involved.

Inclusion is often times uncomfortable. The mass immigration through Ellis Island at the turn of the 20^th century was “uncomfortable.” The end of segregation was “uncomfortable.” Women’s suffrage was “uncomfortable.” Unifying a nation is inherently “uncomfortable” for all involved and history has proven as much.

Thus, the fact that Senator Obama is appreciated by a controversial figure like Minister Louis Farrakhan should be WELCOMED and understood in its appropriate context; not looked upon in abject horror. Such is the cost of unifying a nation.

Imagine that, majority-White states like Oregon, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas and Louis Farrakhan find common ground in attempting to move the country forward. They are unified in their belief in Obama and it should not be misconstrued as anything else but that. Believing in Obama doesn’t mean one a priori believes in Louis Farrakhan or that there is anything sinister or unsavory about Farrakhan believing in Obama.

Stop getting it twisted America.

Instead, much of the country (and Obama) decided to more clearly establish the line of demarcation between Obama and Farrakhan. The press and Senator Hillary Clinton also sought to drive a wedge between White working class Americans and Obama. Where in truth, bringing the nation together means exactly what it says it means; bringing the whole of the nation…together.

Unfortunately, Obama has been complicit to this point…a critical campaign error. With the repudiation of Farrakhan, the slippery slope was then set beneath Obama’s feet. The expectation was then in place that he would (and should) be responsible for people who endorse him (unsolicited no less), irrespective of the fact that we all allegedly sought to have a “unified” nation. Some members of the media wanted you and I to believe that any person Farrakhan endorses was somehow antithetical to American ideals.

Obama has helped fuel that fire.

With the Jeremiah Wright debacle, America generally and Obama detractors specifically sought to establish a 21^st century Mason-Dixon line separating those who understood and appreciated Rev. Jeremiah Wright from those who argued he was an Anti-American hate-monger. Given the slippery slope was firmly in place post-Farrakhan, Obama was compelled to remain consistent in answering to questions about “controversial associations,” having nothing to do with his campaign.

Another campaign error.

Obama should be compelled to answer for the rhetoric or political theories of Jeremiah Wright during his “job interview” no more than any of the rest of us should for that radical relative we all have, in our own respective job interviews.

If you disagree, then Senator McCain has a lot of explaining to do in regards to his “association” with President Bush.

President Bush’s well-documented history, pre and post his election as president is VERY sketchy on its best day. Or how about McCain’s “association” with Vice President Cheney, who has been convicted of not one but TWO DUIs once upon a time? At least Jeremiah Wright fought for this country as opposed to hiding behind nepotism and “questionable” medical documents. Jeremiah Wright didn’t dupe America into invading a country for WMDs that didn’t exist. If you want to talk about “references,” Rev. Wright is a much better one than President Bush, truth be told. If this election is about “close associations,” then Senator McCain should be doing a hell of lot more denouncing, repudiating and distancing himself from President Bush and VP Cheney than he has…because those guys we know for a fact are suspect.

Isn’t that right, former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan (—>)?

If Senator Obama is to be questioned why he remained a member of Trinity United Church of Christ for 20 years, simply because of Jeremiah Wright and Father Pfleger, then Senator McCain should be questioned why he remains a member of the (United Church of the) Republican Party in the wake of:

Tom DeLay

Alberto Gonzales

Armstrong Williams

Karl Rove

Jack Abramoff

Scooter Libby

Mark Foley

Ted Haggard

Larry Craig

…et al.

It’s time for Barack Obama to start acting “Presidential” and stop bending down to breathe life into issues and minutia beneath a president of these United States of America.

“Cry two tears in a bucket…f*** it.”

David Plouffe, get it together.

RELATED:

The Mo’Kelly Report FULLY Supports Jeremiah Wright

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infus
e and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex and Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.MrMoKelly.com.

Subscribe in a reader or by email

Morris W. O’Kelly can be reached at Mo@MrMoKelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.

Talk about perfect timing. With all the talk and “jokes” about assassinating presidential candidate Obama, here comes the latest in an ongoing probe as to racial discrimination within the Secret Service…complete with emails. Let’s just say that members of the Secret Service find it “funny” to joke about assassinating Jesse Jackson and “nooses.”

Maybe it’s just Mo’Kelly, but nooses and assassinating leaders who are African-American don’t exactly seem like belly laugh material.

“Did you hear the one about murdering Jesse Jackson?”

Chuckle, chortle, sniggle, guffaw. That sure was a knee-slapper. Hardy har, har, har.

One day folks will learn that email and text live on forever. It won’t be today though.

Nice to know that the people charged with protecting Obama can’t even seem to get past race themselves.

Oh and by the way…America still owes you an apology Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Haven’t forgotten that.

Read about it HERE

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex and Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.MrMoKelly.com.

Subscribe in a reader or by email

Morris W. O’Kelly can be reached at Mo@MrMoKelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.

See, it’s instances like these which SHOULD re-cast Jeremiah Wright in a light different than one he was orginally portrayed. Although SOME would have you believe we live in a “post-civil rights” era, or that the Black Liberation Theology is both antiquated and inaccurate in its discussion of America…the truth does not change.

Ladies and gentlemen…in the course of ONE week we have a major mainstream news channel “joking” about the dual assassination of the world’s most infamous terrorist (along with) a presidential candidate. We have the the implied juxtaposition of the assassination of RFK with “the reasons” why Senator Hillary Clinton is going to “hang around” in the Democratic primary race. Just prior to these events, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee joked (at the NRA no less) of Obama being assassinated.

And now this…an Obama mural defaced ONLY HOURS AFTER IT WENT UP!

Mind you, that’s not even including Rush Limbaugh’s references to Obama as “stupid”…or that the only way Obama made it out of Harvard was due to “affirmative action.” And hat tip to Hicktown Press for this Michelle Obama “artwork” that’s making its way around the net. It speaks for itself.

America, you owe Rev. Jeremiah Wright a HUGE apology. The War on Barack (and Michelle) Obama continues. Read about the mural defacement HERE.

Also, Newsweek is running a cover story on Obama and the racial undertones of the campaign at this juncture in the election season. Find it HERE.

Other than just waking up Black…what has EITHER done to encourage or incite such hatred? There are no such demonstrations or defamations against Cindy McCain or Hillary Clinton. There haven’t been any calls for the assassination (joking or otherwise) of Hillary or John McCain. All the Obamas have ever done to inspire THIS level of hatred was wake up Black. And to think, Jeremiah Wright the MARINE is considered “anti-American.”

America owes Jeremiah Wright an apology.

RELATED:

The War on Barack Obama

The War on Barack Obama II

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex and Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.MrMoKelly.com.

Subscribe in a reader or by email

Morris W. O’Kelly can be reached at Mo@MrMoKelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.