Is it time to Wright a wrong? Updated x2
Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 10:04:18 AM PDT
Before I begin, let me say that I’m sure I’ll get a few "concern troll" comments and many people may vehemently oppose what I am about to say. This isn’t a "chicken little" rant, I don’t think the sky is falling, and I’m not taking a ride on the "OMG Barack is gonna lose b/c of 2 days worth of bad press" train. I am not, IMO, overly concerned nor overreacting, as I am simply addressing thoughts that I have calmly and rationally mulled over during the past 24 hours both alone and with friends and family. So, in essence, I am posting this diary to share my own conflicting feelings and to see if anyone in this community shares my sentiments.
Is it time for Barack Obama to end this Wright fiasco once and for all, should he just let it ride until the news cycle burns out, and if so does he have the time and/or luxury to do so?
More after the jump.
As an African American female, I was not overly concerned with the original Reverend Wright flap. I’ve personally experienced the type of preaching performed by Reverend Wright, although I am now agnostic, and have felt that the whole big-to-do was basically a cultural issue, a difference of opinions, and something that would pretty much fade into obscurity. For the most part, that was the case. Obama wasn’t seriously hurt by the "scandal" and he didn’t have to throw his pastor under the bus to walk away relatively unscathed. All was good. No harm no foul.
When Reverend Wright made his Moyer appearances on Friday and his speech to the NAACP on Sunday, I developed a much more favorable view of him. I thought that the publicity could only help, as his name and sermons were not going to magically disappear, but at least he showed that there is more to him than the "God D*mn America" soundbite that has been running in a continuous loop for nearly a month. I viewed most of the live National Press Club speech Monday morning, and again came away with the opinion that little harm was done. Wright had finally demonstrated that he’s not some big scary black militant...if only he had stopped there.
Yesterday afternoon, when I had the opportunity to view the full question and answer segment following the NPC speech, I started to reconsider my initial appraisal. It wasn’t until viewing his behavior after his speech, which in my opinion was obnoxious, narcissistic, and cartoonish, that I began to feel as if he was causing more harm than good. He literally personified the "shuck-and-jive" stereotype. His behavior was so over the top that it negated whatever positive points he had just addressed and only reinforced the negative opinion that most of his detractors share. While I personally agreed with some of the points he was trying to make, his delivery overshadowed the importance of his words.
So my question is, what is Obama to do? Does he continue to skirt around the issue, the race speech notwithstanding, or does he distance himself from Wright now that he’s gotten a second chance to do so? He is stuck in a very precarious position. He can continue to support his ties to the pastor he defended (who has since insinuated that Barack was pandering and "doing what politicians do," therefore undercutting the main theme of Obama’s candidacy), take the opportunity to make a clean break from Wright and his views (which may upset African American voters and also appear to be pandering), or do nothing at all and hope that this episode shall pass as well? If Obama chooses to continue his stance by Wright’s side, will it be advantageous or detrimental to his candidacy? The issue is more than just the scrutiny of his ties to a controversial figure, it’s also an assessment of how he handles difficult situations and how well he recovers from negative press. Voters and Superdelegates are watching.
My major concern is that Wright is not going anywhere. He’s gotten the national spotlight and plans to milk it for everything it’s worth. He’s got the opportunity to make a ton of money on speaking engagements and pimp his upcoming book at the same time. He has no initiative to stand down. He comes off as being a little full of himself and his behavior was not appealing. I understand his desire to speak out and defend himself against unfair criticism, but that can be done without driving a deeper wedge between the fractions of our party and our nation. It just seems that his actions are self-serving, and I am concerned as to how far his preening will go.
Our nation has serious issues concerning race relations, which are boiling just under the surface of our society’s politically correct exterior. This campaign has, unfortunately, brought out the worst in some people and we have a long way to go in healing the rifts in the country (as well as this party). It’s wonderful that Barack Obama gave an eloquent speech on race, which wouldn't have occurred had Wright not become a campaign issue, but he can’t be expected to give a ground-breaking speech every time Wright says something inflammatory. There are too many Americans that have negative views about people of different races, religions, gender, and sexual orientation and we definitely need to have an open dialogue about it. But the people who will not vote for Obama because of his race are not going to change their minds by listening to Wright, and they will not be swayed by Obama’s pretty speeches, as much as I do love them. Actions speak a lot louder than words. You can’t just tell someone that a black POTUS will not threaten white America, you have to show them. The most effective way to combat racism and attempt to eliminate bigotry is by example, which President Obama will provide with his policies and conduct in the White House.
I personally don’t find Reverend Wright, or his statements, to be offensive. But I am not part of the constituency that the campaign needs attract. Obama needs the support of crossover Republicans and Independents, and these are the people whom I believe may be turned off by Wright’s behavior. Since there is no way to silence Wright or make him go away, Obama may have to denounce his behavior. The rhetoric about race from the ‘60s is not an effective method to promote equality and acceptance in today’s society. The rowdy, rah-rah approach of Wright and his contemporaries are battling today’s war with yesterday’s weapons. We need to address race in a way that does not scare people away. We need to encourage people to open their minds and hearts by accentuating our similarities without exploiting our differences. We need a new approach. We need a new dialogue. We need a new leader. We need Barack Obama.
UPDATE: Obama is taking on Wright right now in press conference. A few quotes below:
"Wright doesn't know me and based on what he said yesterday, I don't know him well either"
"...his views offend me, and have rightfully offended many Americans, and therefore should be denounced"
UPDATE #2: Is this thing gonna get ugly? Why do I have the feeling that Wright's going to come back swinging? A few more choice quotes:
"Reverend Wright doesn’t speak for me, he doesn’t speak for my for campaign..."
"When I say I find these comments appalling, I mean it. It contradicts everything that I am about."
"...completely opposed to what I stand for and what I want for this country."
"he somehow thinks it’s appropriate to command the stage for 3 or 4 days..."
"When I watched it, it became clear to me that it was more than just him defending himself. He’s presenting a worldview that contradicts what I stand for."
"His suggestions that my previous denunciation of his remarks were somehow political posturing..."
"The person I saw yesterday was no the person I’ve come to know over the past 20 years."
"I did not vet my pastor before I decided to run for office. I was a member of a church...I didn’t scrutinize everything he’d said over the past 30 years...I don’t think anyone can attribute those ideas to me."
"What mattered to Wright was him commanding center stage."
"I want to use this press conference to make things very clear."
"I want to make it absolutely clear that I do not prescribe to the views he presented...I do not want them attributed to me."
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