I know this is a minority opinion here today, but I am pretty darn upset with Jeremiah Wright. If you look at my comments from the past weeks, I have been Wright's most ardent defender. I will continue to defend his words, but I no longer defend his actions. He seems like a very bad friend.
I wrote a diary that was on the rec list, on Thursday, about how great he was on Bill Moyers. It had almost a thousand comments, by the end, and I read every single one. I felt (and still feel) that Wright had been treated badly by the press who completely distorted him. I put that interview in my signature and have encouraged everyone I know to watch it. Many HAVE watched it and given me glowing feedback. He was a decent man and that much was clear.
Then he gave a speech at the NAACP. I thought it was great, as did other people. I was less than thrilled with some of the things he said (he said stuff about education that is pretty bogus) but my attitude was that he is an old guy, and has some pretty kooky ideas and he has the right to speak out for himself.
And today...Jeremiah Wright: The Sequel! Watching his appearance earlier I had one sinking thought: this dude isn't thinking about Barack for one second.
In other words, he isn't interested in the fact that his actions can hurt Barack who is, after all, running for president. He is out there, talking to the press, and clearly enjoying all the attention, without being mindful that every word he says is stapled to Obama's back. However he feels about injustice and racial inequality, he seems completely unmoved that a very great man, (his very own friend) has a really good chance to become the first black President.
I am very angry with him, not because of anything he has said, but because he isn't a very good friend and I think his ego is greater than his love for Barack Obama. He is a private citizen and he has every right to do what he wants. But what he SHOULD do is stop this "media tour", stop acting like the world revolves around him, and be mindful for just ONE second about what his actions have the peril of doing.
I am just really bummed out. I hope Wright will take some time away from the cameras. After November, I don't care if he gets his own. But until then, he needs to stop sabotaging Barack's chances.