I know that many are weary of the Wright story. This non-story should not have been as sensationalized as much as it has, but everything for ratings is a popular theme, rather than journalistic integrity these days. Still, the MSM continues to try and squeeze what little legs this story has, instead of focussing on the issues.
Now it seems that the Clinton campaign is attempting to interject some life into the dying story, by somehow insinuating that this has something to do with Obama's ability to lead the nation?
Well let me introduce you to Reverend Calvin O. Butts and his chief supporter Hillary R. Clinton.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/...
Rev. Butts has had a difficult struggle of late, because there are many that disagreed with the spectacle he was making and the potential hardships for the church when he stood outside of his church to proclaim his support and endorsement of Hillary Clinton.
As Dr. Butts stood in the frigid air outside the church on West 138th Street, off Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, he extolled Senator Clinton’s "experience, ability, respect and character."
"This is no time for waiting or hoping for solutions," he said, in what seemed like a swipe at the campaign of Senator Barack Obama, Senator Clinton’s chief rival for the Democratic nomination, whose autobiography is titled "The Audacity of Hope."
In his brief remarks, Dr. Butts, who is black, also seemed to anticipate criticism that he is somehow betraying his race by not supporting Senator Obama, who is also African-American.
This "is not a race-based decision for me, and I hope it’s not a race-based decision for you, either," he said to about 80 boisterous Cllinton supporters.
But not everyone shares his enthusiasm, as quoted by a Harlem resident and several other Obama supporters in attendance:
"For her to come here and try to trick us out of the black vote is a sham," Mr. Hunt said. "It’s a sad day in Harlem."
But a closer look at Rev. Butts yields some alarming facts that have come to light during the release of Clintons records. It has been discovered that Clinton (along with Charles Rangel and Chuck Schumer) secured $1 million in funding for Rev. Butts' organization that coincidentally coincided with the South Carolina elections.
Clinton accepted credit for the Abyssinian earmarks and other earmarks in a statement released in December, saying, "I am proud that these funds will help support critical investments in New York City -- from strengthening community programs for our children to supporting the city's colleges and universities to cleaning up our waterways."
Still, this does not prove it influenced Butts' decision; however, no investigation has been conducted into possiblity the inpropriety thus far.
However, here is the more pressing issue with Rev. Butts. He, like Rev. Wright has been quoted stating incidiary comments and has been the subject of a few controversies.
Accotrding to CBS News:
He is on the board of advisors for the controversial Khalil Gibran International Academy, an Arab culture school that opened last fall in Brooklyn. Many New York City residents feared the public school would teach Islamic values.
Butts reportedly told a gathering at the United Nations conference on "Islamophobia" in 2005 that, "whether Muslims like it or not, Muslims are labeled people of color in the racist U.S ... they won't label you by calling you a ni***r, but they'll call you a terrorist."
In 1996, Butts told a South Carolina gathering that "the church is more responsible for racism than any other institution in America" and that "racism is built on a Christian foundation."
At that same South Carolina speech to the National Council of Churches, Butts said a statue of former President Theodore Roosevelt should be torn down.
"Right in New York City, outside the Museum of National History, there is a statue of Teddy Roosevelt riding a horse with a Native American clinging to his boot on one side and an African-American on the other," Butts told the group. "What we should do is rent two tow trucks, loop a steel cable over the statue and pull it down."
In at least one cause, he found agreement with the political right. In 1993 he blasted rap musicians for "vile, ugly, low, abusive, and rough music." In a public demonstration, he ran over rap music compact discs with a steamroller.
Coincidentally, Rev. Butts donated $1000 to 2004 Illinois Senator for his senate race. In a stunning reversal, after he recieved the earmarks, he changed his view of the Senator, and endorsed Clinton! Coincidence?
I wonder is this will be vetted as much as Obama has been? One has to wonder why it has not been investigated?