That's the rap on Jeremiah Wright these days. Blamed America for 9/11. Said we were damned by God for our behavior. For this, he has been declared radioactive-- so toxic that it is inadequate for a presidential candidate to merely repudiate those words. It's too late, we are told, that candidate is already far too tainted to be commander-in-chief.
This is the standard. Everyone should know that. But is it really?
What about McCain?
Television evangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, two of the most prominent voices of the religious right, said liberal civil liberties groups, feminists, homosexuals and abortion rights supporters bear partial responsibility for Tuesday's terrorist attacks because their actions have turned God's anger against America.
"God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve," said Falwell, appearing yesterday on the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club," hosted by Robertson.
"Jerry, that's my feeling," Robertson responded. "I think we've just seen the antechamber to terror. We haven't even begun to see what they can do to the major population."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
What was the consequence for these statements? Were these pastors shunned for their "blame America first" rhetoric? Did Fox News put these comments on a continuous loop? Did CNN grill President Bush for his embrace of these "men of God?" Not exactly.
A White House official called the remarks "inappropriate" and added, "The president does not share those views."
"Inappropriate." That's it?
And Falwell's response:
Falwell was unrepentant, saying in an interview that he was "making a theological statement, not a legal statement."
Is that all it takes?
Strangely enough, John McCain had rejected Falwell-- prior to these statements. And afterward? McCain sought Falwell's support. Spoke at his university. Kissed up real good.
And the media reaction? Smart politics.
Double standard at play? Gross understatement. Why such startling different reactions? The burden is frankly on the MSM to make the case that the disparity in treatment is not because of racism.