His speech will placate supporters and many in the media. The issue will never go away. Obama will lose.

This Wright stuff is just another way for the Wingnuts to avoid the actual issues of this election and shift the focus from their lack of idea's, it's just like the Swiftboat nonsense from 2004.

You want to talk about CRAZY, Anti-Americanism?

McCain sought out this Rev Rod Parsleys endorsement, Rod Parsley didn't seek out McCain.
On February 26, 2008, just a week before the Ohio Primary, John McCain announced at a rally in Cincinnati that televangelist Rod Parsley was his "spiritual guide." This was an important "get" for McCain because Parsley is the pied piper of the religious right in Ohio, and McCain had been struggling with those in the Religious Right and fellow uber-conservatives, and he also needed to end Huckabee's constant needling. McCain can now put a small checkmark in the religious right voting box...but that checkmark comes with some HEAVY baggage...

As I live just down the road from Parsley’s church and home, this hits home for me in a big way, and I felt compelled to research it more.

McCain’s "big toe" and spiritual guide, Rod Parsley (aka, the Parsley Flake).

Well, for starters, Rod Parsley
http://pray2jesus.info/?p=47

a fundamentalist Christian, has called for the eradication of Islam as a false, anti-Christian religion, and for Christians to wage a new crusade against Islam. Parsley wants his followers to man their battle stations, ready their weapons, and lock and load to let the reformation begin. Guess this fits right in with McCain’s "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" favorite song and philosophy.

Additionally, Parsley and his Center for Moral Clarity have called for the outright prosecution of people who commit adultery, and have compared Planned Parenthood workers to Nazis. The CMC pushes a strict biblical response to moral issues like abortion.

Further, Parsley's World Harvest church and ministries have been accused of engaging in pro-Republican activities in violation of its tax-exempt status, but have never been investigated or found guilty, amazingly enough, by the Republican-controlled Ohio (and federal) government. In recent elections in Ohio, Parsley and his ministries have been a key to fundamentalist Christian GOTV efforts, for the likes of George Bush in 2000 and 2004 and for the failed (thankfully!) gubernatorial run of Ken Blackwell in 2006.

I live less than 5 miles from the Parsley compound, home to World Harvest Church, Bible College and Harvest Prep High School, and to his internationally televised Breakthrough Ministries, all located at 4595 Gender road in Canal Winchester, Ohio, a southeastern suburb of Columbus. If you want to say "Hi" to the good reverend, you can do so here: customerservice@rodparsley.com.

I also live less than 5 miles from Parsley’s million dollar mansion, located at 10720 Allen Road NW in Pickerington, Ohio. My sister’s family lives less than a mile away. It may sound odd, but one beef I have with Parsley is a simple inconvenience in that when his 12,000-member church lets out on midday Sunday, his bought city policemen hold all other traffic up until the flock exits the compound. It’s on a two-lane road in a rural/suburban area, but when church lets out and you get caught in it, you might as well be living in LA at rush hour.

Both of the massive Parsley properties can be viewed by going to Google Maps. Interestingly, according to the Fairfield County Auditor’s webpage, Parsley has his home in a trust in his wife’s name. Guess it wouldn’t look good to have than hulking mansion in his name. Wonder how many in the flock know he lives in a mansion?

According to his web page, the Rod Parsley ministries started out as a small garage church back in 1977 and have grown at a staggering rate ever since. The Parsley ministries are committed to fulfilling their responsibility to be accountable to God, and to the government and all of their requirements...particularly those associated with the exemption from federal income tax under §501(c)(3) for religious non-profit organizations. Yup, Gawd wouldn’t want it any other way...at least for McCain’s spiritual guide.

Discussion on some of the Parsley Ministries:

Breakthrough

According to the web page, "Breakthrough is a Rod Parsley-hosted television show taking biblical doctrine and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a potential viewing audience of 97% of homes in the United States. Breakthrough is seen in nearly every nation and carried on 1,400 stations and cable affiliates, including Daystar, INSP, Cornerstone Television, World Harvest Television, The Church Channel, The Trinity Broadcasting Network, ENLACE, which broadcasts in Spanish to 20 nations, and Europe 7."

McCain can see it already, his name and positions being televised on Breakthrough by his spiritual guide round-the-clock, all over the country and world for the next six months, free of charge to McCain...and tax-free for the Parsley Flake.......and moral-free if we’re keeping it real.

The Center for Moral Clarity

The Center for Moral Clarity, ahhh, pomposity and moral superiority practically drip from the name alone. Parsley, a self-described Christocrat, founded the CMC in 2007. Parsley and the CMC have called for the outright prosecution of people who commit adultery, and have compared Planned Parenthood workers to Nazis. The CMC pushes a strict biblical response to moral issues like abortion.

Here’s a little text from the CMC web page:

Abortion: Life's Greatest Enemy

Rod Parsley is leading our nation into a new awareness concerning the tragedy of abortion. People from all faiths and cultural backgrounds are coming to understand that abortion has been nothing less that an American genocide over the last 35 years, claiming the lives of 46 million unborn babies. In fact, Dr. Parsley has been so moved by this issue that he directed his staff to produce the DVD set, Life’s Greatest Enemy, which exposes how African American children, in particular, have been the target of a generation of homicidal doctors and so-called "family-planners." Over 25 percent of the African-American population has already been exterminated by abortionists. Nearly as many black babies are aborted in American as are allowed to be born. Rod Parsley is determined to bring this outrage to an end. Through education, the establishment of crisis pregnancy Hope Centers, and serving as our voice on this issue in our nation’s capital, Rod Parsley has directed the collective might of his 10 ministries to fighting murderous abortion in America and throughout the world. With your generous support, Rod Parsley’s crusade against abortion will continue both gaining strength and saving the lives of thousands of unborn children.

Hope Centers? Yikes.

Here’s some more text from his web page:

Defund Planned Parenthood

In the past two years alone, Planned Parenthood has received more than half a billion dollars from the federal government to execute their horrific policies and facilitate the national scourge of abortion on demand. Abortion is a crime against humanity. It is horrible enough that this tragedy is legal in the United States ... but to sponsor it with our tax dollars — yours and mine — is unconscionable."

"Abraham Lincoln took on the daunting task of sounding an alarm and calling like-minded men and women to battle and to sacrifice for a noble cause. Today, our battle is not a war between the states, it is a war within the states ... a clash with our culture over the absolute sanctity of human life. And so, we call upon every committed Christian citizen to join in this battle for the sanctity of life in America and to rise up with a clarion call to the Congress of the United States to STOP funding Planned Parenthood through a major nationwide initiative, challenging our leaders to put a stop to this outrageous, yet long-standing, policy. There is a price to pay to rescue an entire generation ... and with your help, we will continue to fight against this culture of death. Give your most generous gift right now and let us stand together in calling on Congress to right this wrong.
Give until it hurts... to stop young people from planning parenthood.

Reformation Ohio

Reformation Ohio is a coalition of denominational and independent churches, ministries, businesses and other organizations committed to making a permanent impact on the state of Ohio by preaching the Gospel, performing acts of compassion throughout the state and empowering individuals and communities through non-partisan voter registration."
According to their web page, "liberal policy organizations and some Ohio media outlets have consistently misrepresented Reformation Ohio in that regard. This type of criticism is proof that opponents either misunderstand the purpose of Reformation Ohio or choose to disseminate inaccurate information. The truth is that Reformation Ohio has never been a political organization. Its focus is preaching the Gospel, feeding the poor and encouraging voter participation – something any Christian organization, regardless of its politics or values concerning moral issues, should be able to support. At a Reformation Ohio evangelistic event, you will never hear participants encouraged to vote for or against a particular candidate. You will hear exhortations to participate in the political process, guided by one’s own values.

Guess we’ll just have to take him "on faith" that he’s not doing anything illegal that would jeopardize his multi-million dollar tax dodge as a religious non-profit. As an aside, I talked to a co-worker awhile back that attended a Reformation Ohio function on a lark, and she noted that their people at the voter registration table tried to feel folks out to see if they were the "right" kind of voter before they signed them up. I’ve also heard that for those they did sign up that didn’t have the "right" feel to them...well, those registration forms were placed in old file #13 for safe keeping. Nice, eh? McCain’s spiritual guide hard at work!

Books by Rod Parsley

Are you looking for answers, for the truth? How about some light Fundie reading from the pen of the Parsley Flake?

Silent No More includes a chapter titled "Islam: The Deception of Allah," which states that there is an ongoing war between Islam and Christian civilization, that Islam is an anti-Christian religion, and that the U.S. should launch a crusade to eradicate Islam. The Flake notes that Muhammad received his revelations from demons and not the true God and that Allah was a demon spirit. And in a show of "F them all" idealism, Parsley does not differentiate between Islamic extremists and the many other non-violent followers.

In Silent No More, Parsley also thoroughly trashes activist judges, civil libertarians advocating separation of church and state, and homosexuality. Yup, nothing controversial here...this is right up McCain’s alley. I’m sure all Americans would feel quite comforted knowing the Parsley Flake is McCain’s spiritual guide.

The Flakes other self-proclaimed bestseller, Culturally Incorrect, includes a table of contents with chapters titled, Surveying the Battlefield, Pretenders to the Throne, and The Battleground of Science. Hmmm...do you smell a book chock full of unsubstantiated Fundie talking points. McCain’s spiritual guide sure can write a page-turner! Guess WE are going to have to spoon-feed McCain’s spiritual guidance to the MSM, as all I hear now is "cricket, cricket." FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting at http://www.fair.org/... is working to refocus the MSM on this issue.

I haven’t written at all about McCain’s religious positioning over the years, but the details are sordid and many. During McCain’s 2000 presidential bid, he called Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell agents of intolerance, but over the last year he was backtracked in double time on that sentiment. And in the last few months, after McCain sought and devoured the endorsement of Texas televangelist John Hagee, who called the Catholic Church "the great whore" and a "false cult system," he has since had to renounce to some extent due to the Catholic League’s loud protestations.

I also have not written about all of Parsley Flake’s individual ministries, but if you want to see this Fundie preacher in action, check out these most excellent videos at Brave New Films:

http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/31622-rod-parsley-mccain-s-anti-gay-spiritual-guide

Foul demons that have clogged this vacuum cleaner...BE GONE!! Sorry, just flashing back to a funny Gary Larson cartoon. Holy Mackerel is right! McCain has picked himself a real winner to serve as his spiritual guide...and it is our job to make sure America knows just what a weiner he is. Good night and good luck...

How dare those reporters ask the Obamessiah questions!

Pubic servant, is weiner a technical term?

Oh yeah, and nice new alias, John E.

Bottom line is Obama knew exactly what Wright was about for years but choose to ignore it and continue to attend the church anyway. Clearly he was aware of Wrights comments before Fox aired the videos like he said. He lied about that and now he doesnt want to get caught in that lie. So he will give some lame speech about the greatenss and uplifting of the races that his followers will say is the greatest speech on race ever. His media followers will proclaim it great also. However none of that will change the fact that he lied in the Fox and MSNBC interviews and that he still took his children to a pastor who was a racist.

This article is about Barrack Obama not John McCain, and besides. John McCain never went to Rod Parsley's church for 20 years.

THis is a a straight qoute from Obamas book the Audacity of Hope;

“It is this world, a world where cruise ships throw away more food in a day than most residents of Port-au-Prince see in a year, WHERE WHIT FOLKS GREED RUN A WORLD IN NEED, apartheid in one hemisphere, apathy in another hemisphere…That’s the world! On which hope sits!”

So clearly he knew of Wrights anti-white teachings and just lied about it on the news channels. He put it is his own book. It was the simple speech that he was in awe of. He has been caught in an outright lie. Lets see if the press holds him accountable like they would any other candidate.

Really NO ONE agrees with EVERYTHING that their pastors say if they DID it wouldn't be a NEED for pastors. They are trying to CONVINCE most of the people sitting in the pews. I had a pastor preach a sermon about the "righteousness" of the war in Iraq- there isn't much righteousness in killing but you didn't see me getting my panties in a bunch about it. Just move on.

In short, you are all grabbing at straws. Let it go. It really doesn't matter to the masses. You don't know Rev. Wright. You've only heard pieces of his sermons. Get over it and stop commenting on what you don't understand. The ultimate is that racism still exists. The difference between Rev. Wright and most people is that he lets you know where he stands, and most others will either wear a white sheet or just "throw rocks and hide their hands". Get over it and stop fearmongering!

Unless you are the most arrogant person in the world, you do not attend a church for twenty years that espouses hatred against America and then expect to be elected President of the United States.

Wright is a human being who has, in his lifetime, seen staggeringly atrocious examples of blatant and systematic racism and violence. I haven’t heard anyone actually claim that Obama was anti white, particularly given his upbringing with his stated affection for his white mother and grandparents. I also think it is the height of hypocrisy to be so damning of Obama for daring to have so much as a connection with Wright when Byrd of West Virginia, who once said, “Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds” is actually still serving in congress.

Stand Up and Clap Loudly for Sun-Len! Excellent Reporting, Give this girl a raise!
He's a lying Politician. He will be exposed, just like all the other's before him. He is not a super-human, he will get found out by someone coming forward with concrete evidence he know's full well he belong's to a Hate Church.
Don't be delusional. He's gotten away with his illusion long enough. He separates not Unites. He could very well cause such a division as to cause a Civil War.
He has Wright's Hate Seed planted firmly within him. That Hate Seed will Bloom, and you will see Obama for who he really is. He goes completely against the Pope, Vatican and Roman Catholic Church believing the Doctrine of his church, Jesus was a Black man born in Africa, not Semite.
Larry Elder, infiltrated, investigated and deeply researched Obama. Larry Elder is a Black man and he say's Obama is lying.
"Satan is a lier" "Satan himself is dress as an Angel of light". Beware this man, he is evil..

Obama's Denouncing the Rev. Wright statements and read all about it.

Stating he never heard the Rev. talk like this in his sermons..... In the Whole 20 Years? BULL, I don't buy it.

I hope the rest of the democratic Americans are bright enough Not to
buy this song and dance. It's Call DAMAGE CONTROL. "Well Rev. Wright is retired now, and theirs a new Minister of the church." How convenient!

That Does not change the fact that Obama has know this man, will continue to know him, and receive advice from him. He will not discard this man out of his life "Suddenly" after 20 Years. Especially if he's like an Uncle/Father figure constantly giving advice.

Obama's wife, Michelle, and even Oprah has made statements that are questionable, and along the thinking lines of Rev.White. Recently both of them have been seen less. - Damage Control!

Give us a Break, Obama will say anything to sooth his believers.

Too Many Fib's, Cover up's, and Obama Hoped that some things would not be revealed.

1. Obama has fibbed about his connection with Louis Farrakhan till pushed.

2. Obama has fibbed about his real estate deal and involvement with Antoin "Tony" Rezko till pushed.

3. Now this thing with Rev. Wright. and having to be Pushed to make a Statement about that.
(Not to mention his affiliation with other Questionable situations, Fibs about growing up, etc.)

In AMERICA 3 STRIKES your OUT!

He has not even completed one full term in the Senate.

Not to mention about the Muslim Garb he Wears, Michelle proclaiming being Proud of America for the first time in her life, and Obama NOT reciting the Pledge to Allegiance, Putting his hand over his heart, Rejecting to wear an America Flag Lapel Pin ... NOW we have, ... GOD DAM AMERICA ! ! ...I could continue with the FACTS !

Is it only going to get WORSE after he's President? Especially If he's lying and covering NOW !!

This is the same tactics that President Bush pulled, and is pulling as we speak.

I don't see CHANGE, I See a REPEAT...and it's even MORE Cunning & DANGEROUS than Bush, as Obama is a OIL SNAKE CHARMER....and american's lap it up.

I Hope the Young voting Americans Wake up soon from this trance and SMELL THE COFFEE.

I’m sure their will be more Secrets from the Obama Closet, as where theirs Smoke…theirs Fire !

And theirs been an awful lot of Smoke

The shame! Barack Obama is for change! He said he was. It doesn't matter what the truth is, his words are inspirational, and that is all we need. We can conquer the white world with our inspiration! Ooops. Sorry. I'll address that later.

Obama's church's adhesion to
it's "roots" in Black Africa,
is utterly sad and tragic.
Together with European and Arab slave traders, the africans themselves were quite willing to sell the untold millions of black africans into slavery.The africans did not do this under threat.It was part of their culture. It's time for black americans to reject "african culture" the very culture that gladly sold them into slavery. The great paradox is that blacks must now embrace the very european culture that was partially responsible for enslaving them.The only other choice is for black america to sink even further into violence,
crime and broken families.

Before I dive in, let me be clear - I am an American, proud at times, shamed at others, but an American nevertheless. I love America, but I'm not foolish enough to be blinded by my adoration.

Pastor Wright's comments weren't controversial -- they were truthful, rather or not Obama causes them "appaling" or not. Obama was raised in a single parent house hold, he didn't grow up wealthy, he has been called the "N word" before -- he doesn't fit the mold of someone who traditionally would run for President of the US. America has had its hand in some horrible stuff, both here on our soil and aboard, and our nation is controlled by rich white people. What is the controversy?

As a Christian or any truly religious person, you don't pledge allegiance to a flag or a nation, you pledge allegiance to God -- so therefore you can call out the injustices and oppressions and crimes against humanity without reservation. Your loyalty is to a higher power, not to stars and stripes.

On another note -- has everyone forgotten that Obama's mother was white, his grandparents that had a great hand in raising him were also white -- do you really think he is racist against those he loves and who love him?

This isn't merely about a candidate associating with strange people or getting support from them. It's about a very intimate relationship of almost 20 years with someone who hates America and white people and doing nothing but build this guy up about it until a few days ago...and oh yes about Obama lying about it also and Michelle Obama's own negative speeches, etc.

Obama's church's adhesion to
it's "roots" in Black Africa,
is utterly sad and tragic.
Together with European and Arab slave traders, the africans themselves were quite willing to sell the untold millions of black africans into slavery.The africans did not do this under threat.It was part of their culture. It's time for black americans to reject "african culture" the very culture that gladly sold them into slavery. The great paradox is that blacks must now embrace the very european culture that was partially responsible for enslaving them.The only other choice is for black america to sink even further into violence,
crime and broken families.

How often has someone you were "affiliated with" or "associate with" done something wrong or said something appalling?

Senator Obama associates with this pastor because he believes the pastor is basically a good person, and capable of providing sound morals to his children. I'm sure he doesn't agree with everything this guy says, and he'll address that in tomorrow's speech.

But why does the press make such a big deal about what some guy associated with Obama says? If Obama said blacks should sign "God damn America", I can see the issue - but he didn't.

If I had to disassociate myself from people every time they said something I didn't agree with, I wouldn't have many friends at all.

Obama shouldn't have to answer for this pastor's obviously racial comments.

And PS... I'm a white male, and I'm still voting for Obama.

Obama has white relatives and do people think he has not hard racial comments from his white relatives? Does that mean he should disown his white family or his black family because of someone elses words? He understands the anger of black americans and the misunderstanding of white americas.
Give the guy a break!!!!

the blog would have been a little more truthful had it noted that independent media, trying to stir up dirt, ended up eating dirt after admitting that sources proved Obama was in Miami on the day of the subject Wright sermon. (see, e.g., FOX News.com)

This discussion is a TOTAL embarassment to our country and the many, many courageous people who have fought so hard for civil rights and TRUE EQUALITY in our nation. That ANY white American would have the audacity and presumptive arrogance to label any African American a racist is unbelievable to me. All of this just reenforces my belief that we will never achieve peace until we try to better understand why people feel and act as they do - whether they be islamic fundamentalists or an African American minister. Perhaps when we better understand how someone could be so angry, we may even realize our own culpability in their anger - perhaps even make changes that will help them become less angry. If you want a really interesting African American perpective on the Wright controversy, please go to http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/sayitloud/dmathis317 - and please, try to be civil to one another.

This sudden show of patriotis, with the God Bless America and the photo op between 2 American flags are condescending at best. Check out this article: Obama Attended Hate America Sermon
Sunday, March 16, 2008 7:14 PM
By: Ronald Kessler
Contrary to Senator Barack Obamas claim that he never heard his pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preach hatred of America, Obama was in the pews last July 22 when the minister blamed the white arrogance of Americas Caucasian majority for the worlds suffering, especially the oppression of blacks…..Obama claimed, The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity [United Church of Christ] or heard him utter in private conversation. In fact, Obama was present in the South Side Chicago church on July 22 last year when Jim Davis, a freelance correspondent for Newsmax, attended services along with Obama. In his sermon that day, Wright tore into America, referring to the United States of White America and lacing his sermon with expletives as Obama listened. Hearing Wrights attacks on his own country, Obama had the opportunity to walk out, but Davis said the senator sat in his pew and nodded in agreement. Addressing the Iraq war, Wright thundered, Young African-American men were dying for nothing. The illegal war, he shouted, was based on Bushs lies and is being fought for oil money. ..…© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

I believe that this is a cultural issue more than a patriotic issue. I feel (even as a white woman) that this is more than likely how african americans truly feel. Even more so at the age the Reverend is. I am sure that someone of his generation did become a harsher critic on America's policies on both social and military issues. I dont think his sermon was even about the white race. I think it probably was more so about the trials of the past for african americans. I can see how Obama did not cast him aside due to this and its okay with me. I am sure that Obama see's that his path was opened up by the generation before him. The same as the white race feels about the generations before us. So I think if your not of the culture, you cant judge. I know that as much as I disliked the words, I see it as an opportunity on what we as Americans of all race can do to make changes. No one should feel angry at America if that is what the words represented. I am looking forward to hearing tomorrow's speech by Obama. He still has my vote and I am a republican.

Oh yeah, and nice new alias, John E.

Posted by: Jeff | March 17, 2008 3:48 PM

I agree with Public Servant.

John W McBush has some explaing to do of his own:

McCain/Rev John Magee:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/28/pastor-john-hagee-endorses-mccain-donohue-freaks-out/

McCain/Rev Rod Parsley...

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

Oh yeah, and nice new alias, John E.

Posted by: Jeff | March 17, 2008 3:48 PM

I agree with Public Servant.

John W McBush has some explaining to do of his own:

McCain/Rev John Magee:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/28/pastor-john-hagee-endorses-mccain-donohue-freaks-out/

McCain/Rev Rod Parsley...

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

Obama's religion seems to be a cynically calculated political move to. He put his religion on the table to begin with. Early on he signed up for the Democrats' new Let's Court the Evangelicals program. In virtually every stump speech he tells us that "he praises Jesus every Sunday". It almost seems like divine justice that it is now blowing up in his face.

PS to Jeff: I wonder if John "copy-and-Paste" E (aka Public Servant; aka Jim Shortz; aka Obama Girl; aka too many aliases to count) really thinks anybody is fooled by by his posting under so many post names?

of course....a long winded responce from "public servant", making the "Obmanation" of Wrights hate speak justified. Anyone that would sit in pews to listen to a so called religious leader spew GD's one after another has got to be a misguided soul....including Obama.

I would like to know if Obama's church, reverend Wright, and people like him would fall under the umbrella of Obama's expanded "hate crimes" statutes.

from barackobama.com:
"Expand Hate Crimes Statutes

Obama will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section. "

On the Obama pastor issue, we have to remember, that just like the recent ex-governor of NYC, who came in under the flag of “CHANGE”, he did just that, he changed into his core beliefs. We don’t know who Obama is, he doesn’t like using his middle name now and he said he doesn’t really know his pastor, a friend for over 20 years. I don’t understand how a person can know someone for over 20 years, he is the pastor that married them, he baptized their children’s and Obama doesn’t know him? I think Obama is not telling the truth and yes words do matter. This pastor has said things that amount to the overthrow of the USA government; Obama wife said she wasn’t proud of the USA until now and Obama doesn’t like to wear the flag or salute it during ceremonies. We didn’t connect the dots before 9/11, should we at least try to connect them now before we get someone in the White House whom core beliefs we don’t even know.

One last point, I am a government worker with a security clearance, if I had a pastor that I had been listening too for over 20 years as a friend, my wife says that she didn’t feel there was anything to be proud about the USA until recently and I wasn’t proud to wear the flag pin or salute the flag, I can guarantee you I would not get the clearance, nor would I get the job, but are we now willing to give this very sensitive job to someone we really don’t know? It is not better to be with the devil you know, then the one you don’t?

Public Servant, comments that long are typically regarded by most folks as "comment spam." Perhaps next time you can write this all up in a blog entry (there are plenty of free services out there), and provide a link instead?

Thanks.

That said, you did a very interesting job highlighting some of Parsley's more extreme positions, but I missed the part where McCain was a member of his congregation for 20 years.

Public Servant @ 3:29 p.m.

So how is that sequel on 'War and Peace' coming along?

Jake, et al, this is the pastor of Obama's church that he's gone to for 20 years. To say he's someone Obama only "associates with" is an attempt to confuse the issue.

The fact that Obama won't answer questions about Wright is typical of the Obama campaign. First they obfuscate and deny (like with the initial Rezko stories) and then they come clean to a friendly media organization like the Libune. What's there to trust from them?

This man is a racist, pure and simple, any attempt to say that anything he's seen justifies the comments like "Goddamn America" is just wrong. He and Michelle Obama aren't proud of America. They're just mocking all of you who are making excuses for Wright right now.

p.s. "he didn't grow up wealthy" this is incorrect. As the son of diplomats, Obama grew up in comparative wealth in Indonesia and Hawaii. He attended Punahou School, a private college preparatory school, from the fifth grade until his graduation in 1979 and then went on to Columbia and Harvard. So, yes, he was rather wealthy for the time.

Jstar, how are Wright's comments truthful? The U.S. "deserved" the attacks on 9/11? We didn't "bat an eye" about nuking Japan to end WWII? History shows the leaders discussed and debated in depth what to do: drop nuclear bombs or invade?

And, one particular comment the Obama-une conistently shies away from is Wright's comment that the U.S. government created the AIDS virus to enact genocide against blacks.

Please explain the "truthfulness" in that comment?

Let's back up a bit and see whether or not this is even worth pursuing.

Those of you who are "anti-Obama": Is there ANYTHING that he could say or do that would change your minds?

If there isn't, then there is no point in discussing it any further. You've made up your minds and further discussion is pointless.

If there is something he could say or do that would influence your thoughts, I'd be interested in hearing what it would be.

Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s rabid anti-American, anti-white rhetoric and Obama’s ill-considered association with the Reverend’s church for 20 years are fast turning the Democratic contest (and the presidential election if Obama is the Democratic nominee) into an unspoken referendum on race, which is unfortunate.

But I am not concerned about Mr. Obama's so-called "race" (he has none). He is bi-racial; his "blackness" is the result of his conscious attempt to find a racial identity with a race. Whether that attempt had come about as a result of genuine personal need to belong to a community or political calculation to further his personal ambition remains to be seen (or to be debated by future historians).

Unlike most "mono-racial" people who are tossed into a racial basket from the day one, bi-racial people have to consciously decide (or not decide) on their racial identity, yet never being completely comfortable about their decisions. Mr. Obama is no different (in fact some black accuse him of his "fake blackness," which undoubtedly angers him, but deep down in his heart he knows his identity will always be an attempt). Thus, people who talk about Mr. Obama being black or people who see his bi-racial background as a symbol of racial unity are both wrong. Mr. Obama, in spite of his political posturing and formal identity with black community, is really his own man, his own "race," wherein lies the hope and danger of Barack Obama.

The hope, of course, is that he genuinely believes (his association with Rev Wright notwithstanding) that he can help bring about greater racial harmony and unity to this country (the altruistic vision quest thing); the danger is that he is using all this racial wishful thinking to further his own personal ambition that has more to do with his search for fulfilling his self needs (the ego trip thing, with Rev Wright and his congregation being just a means to his ambition, although now having outlived their usefulness a bit too long).

My concern is Mr. Obama the man, not his race, and on this account, as I watch him closely, particularly his body language and manner of speech (which actually reveal more about a person's psychological makeup than what one says in public), unfortunately I am more convinced than ever that he is on the trip rather than on the quest. Undoubtedly he is a man of great intelligence, full of moral indignation and idealistic utterances, not unlike the now disgraced Eliot Spitzer, but also of great cunning with compulsive need for personal power. He belongs to a rare breed of men who can look into your eyes with not the slightest flutter of his eyelids while telling you lies quoting the Holy Scriptures (no, there is no point in talking about his being a Muslim, Christian, etc; he is his own religion)

Barack Obama publicly confessed last Friday night. He confessed in front of a TV audience that he had never seen his spiritual mentor, Rev Wright, going into his rabid anti-American tirade in 20 years of his association with the Reverend until he saw him on TV a few days ago. Realistically, one cannot credibly argue, even if he is a top-notch lawyer like Mr. Obama, to be a member of a church, located a short driving distance away from where he lived for most of the 20 years he had been a member, actively assisting its proselytizing efforts with large financial contributions (to the tune of $22,500 in 2006 alone), by professing not to know what the church’s pastor had been saying much of the time.

Unless Mr. Obama can prove that Rev Wright customized his sermons on the days Mr. Obama was in attendance ("Oh, Barack is in the pews, I'd better tone down today"), this is outright fraud, or to be more charitable, an attempt at such; an attempt no less phony than a man who lived next to an active railroad track for 20 years claiming to have heard no trains passing by. The guilt by association? Absolutely; the trains went by him every day.

Last Friday night Mr. Obama confessed: He is a liar. As he spoke to millions of Americans, his eyes were looking straight into the camera, with not a flutter on his eyelids. This man is not a visionary, not a uniter as he claims, but another overambitious public figure in search of personal power at people’s expense, undoubtedly more intelligent, more convincing; thus, more dangerous.

Hopefully what Abraham Lincoln once said will become the parting epitaph for Mr. Obama's attempt at his ego-fulfillment as pubic service before it is too late for America:

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

"How often has someone you were "affiliated with" or "associate with" done something wrong or said something appalling?"

THis ssaying from Obama backers is really starting to irritate me. If I went to a church and the pastor talked about ANY race of peopel in a negative way I would never return to that church again. I would certainly NEVER bring MY CHILDREN into that church. That is such a copout. Obama didnt seem to have a problem with Wrights anti-white views until he decided to run for president. Obama lied to both MSNBC and Fox News when he said he was not aware of these types of comments made by Wright. He qoutes Wright in his own book and even says that is the speech that sold him on Wright. One of the posters above qouted the exact words straight from Obamas book. HE IS TOAST!!!

The audacity is that you feel that blacks have a pass when it comes to being a racist. What would you call it when blacks speak of whites that never did a cruel thing to them with such hatred. Please educate me I am dying to know.

The words used by Rev Wright are exactly related to issues important to voters …. the values that make up the foundation of his sermons will influence Obama’s actions related to society and world affairs. Obama’s claim that he has never heard the words “from the pulpit” is an insult to the public .. it is impossible to be a church member for 20 years and be so ignorant of your minister’s social positions.

After listening to Rev Wright giving sermons, is there any doubt as to why Mrs. Obama has never been proud of America during her adult life?

Obama is lying - that is what i'm getting from all this. Why are Obama supporters so blinded by what they think is change and it really isn't change at all. Just the same story, different politician!

I love it Jake! My dad is a Pastor and has been a pastor for over 30 years. They were raised in an era that makes it very difficult for them to shake off the hurt and pain of the past. So often my dad says racist things that I just can't believe. He never taught us to hate, and I don't think he hates anyone, he is just distrusting of some. I said all of that to say that the pains of my dad's past is what I understand, but it doesn't make the rest of him horrible. He is a great man of God. He is one that has made mistakes, but overall, I won't stop loving him or sitting under his ministry because I don't agree with him all the time. Before you judge a few of Rev. Wright's sermons, get more information on him and his ministry. I can guarantee that most of you that are screaming about Obama were not going to vote for him just because he is black.

I wonder how it's racist to talk about racism in America? If your parents didn't have the "American" right to vote guaranteed by law until only 40 years ago, you would hear his words differently. If your parents had known people that were murdered by being lynched simply for doing better than some of their white counterparts, you would hear his words differently. Many whites are not racist, but many still are, and say things like "I'm not voting for the N*****" as recently as the Ohio Primary. America still has a massive race problem, and speaking about it to those that deal with it everyday is not racist. To discuss these issues is not "anti-white". That's why we still have undercover racism in this country, because any time someone African American mentions racism, somehow he or she is anti-white. Besides, Wright was a Marine, so I guess we should view all ex-Marines views on America suspect. There are prominent white citizens that are members of Trinity. I guess they are race traitors? What is more important is that somehow, this one, old speech, which has never been hammered in any other speech by the entire church congregation since, has circulated in the wake of Geraldine Ferraro, who has a repeated "race" problem, as do many Clinton supporters. I wonder if it's the media's determination to do Hillary's and McCain's work for them. Lou Dobbs and others already brought up Rev Wright after Obama passed the Louis Farakkhan litmus test. Ferraro is definitely racist, saying Jesse Jackson was only in the race because he was black in 1984, then the same thing about Obama this year. (Media sweats..."Obama needs a race problem too! Yes!!!! Found something on his pastor from 2001 that makes Obama seem anti-white AND racist! Yay!!!!") Who is Hillary's pastor? What has he said since 2001? Is Hillary still in this race because she's white? A woman? Entitled to it because she says so? I think she can't believe that she has to fight against a black person, any black person, this hard to secure what she thinks is owed to her. I find that the Clinton recent 100 Million dollar deal with a Kazakhstan financier that she refuses to disclose on her phantom tax returns far more troubling that what one of her friends has said to the press. All those records to confirm her White House experience over eight years? Whoops, we haven't seen them. Why not? I think it unlikely that a women who has that much money can identify and champion the interests of the average American when she can't even show us her records.

Funny, it's as if all the posters here expect some degree of honesty out of Washington. It's gone on so long we can't really say you're still gullible or naive...you must be stupid? The motivational speaker won’t make a good President, he hasn't the experience to make the right decisions, after a while all the slick talk and semantics will wear off and then it'll be too late. Like most others have stated, you don't attend a church for well over a decade and not be made aware of this type of racism by a black "priest". How is it the Romney had to continuously explain his religion yet no one is supposed to as Obama anything that might make him sweat? You Dems are like the angry kids in the schoolyard..hillarious!There's not enough soap for all the dirty laundry on this guy....and while we're at it; McCain acts like a Democrat anyway...so how could The People's Republic of Maryland lose?

Hey Obama, if your pastor, for twenty years, walked, talked and looked like a duck, then he was probably a duck. Now, insert the words "racist and America hater" instead of "duck."

Obama lamely tries to use the context argument to minimize/explain Wright's comments. I see some of his sheep are also trying.

Wright said that America created the AIDS Virus to kill black men. Someone please tell me any possible context where this statement is not deranged and ridiculous.

He won't answer questions, instead he will make a speech tomorrow. What a load of horse manure. Only morons will still vote for this liar.

Get over it and stop fearmongering!

Posted by: Sheila | March 17, 2008 4:04 PM

Sheila: Your delusional if you think most Americans should just forget about it. This man is a racist and a bigot and i believe as time goes by you will see more and more of his true feelings about America and white people.You can take this to the bank, this mans political career is over. Beware Americans this "huckster" is a wolf in sheeps clothing. He makes Rev. Ike look like a amatuer.

BHO can only give a speech on this issue where he has the floor and doesn't have to answer direct questions about this issue. In other words, he is dodging the one-on-ones because he can't stand up to the heat of direct scruntiny and needs to control the forum.

Rev. Wright, Tony Rezko, and Farrahkan, these are the associates BHO holds as advisers and close friends, and without these close ties BHO wouldn't even be the junior congressman in Springfield.

BTW, just what has BHO accomplished in DC as this great "uniter" anyways? I think the junior Senator from Illinois should spend more time on trying to getting something done first before trying to leapfrog to the next best job. Then again, this is his "m.o." and has worked in the past before he got smoked out as a fraud that speaks well.

Oh well, BHO and his wife can get back to the business of hating white people and this country very soon since obviously that is what they are best at doing. So long BHO and glad we got to know the true you, it was only a matter of time, but your true colors are not red, white, and blue, only black.

Rob thanks, I think you silenced the lambs.

Hay "public servent" your post seems awfully detailed..sure looks like the Obama camp working every chat room possible.

"That ANY white American would have the audacity and presumptive arrogance to label any African American a racist is unbelievable to me. "

??????

Is this not this a "racist" statement in itself?

America's obsession with race and religion is off-putting to say the least. Most of those claiming to live the moral and virtuous lifestyle turn out to be the biggest hypocrites of all, and some of the hatred spewed from extreme white Christian groups makes the rest of us on the planet reel in dismay. So what if Obama's pastor has made some controversial comments? He could basically be a good man who speaks out of turn at times, or in fact there could be some truth in what he says. This makes neither himself nor Obama un-American (whatever that is) So get over yourselves and stop being so judgemental. As I said before the obsession with race and religion takes too much attention away from the real issues facing both the US and the rest of the world.

Obama's trying to prove that Reverend Wright has it wrong. Unfortunately, the reaction by some may actually prove he's right after all.

How about you, what are you trying to prove?

Do you think a mixed-race candidate with a funny-sounding name can get a fair hearing? Or will you automatically assume he doesn't care about this country and believe every false rumor you hear that he doesn't pledge allegiance or salute the flag? And would you be as ready to believe these lies about a candidate with blond hair?

Is Reverend Wright right after all?

I find it very DISTURBING that the News Media can "hound" Obama and won't "hound" Clinton about her TAX PAPERS. Sen. Obama is NOT RESPONSIBLE for Rev. Wright!!!! Stop using the double-standards...IS THIS ANOTHER TACTIC USED AGAINST KERRY??? IT WON'T WORK -- SEN. OBAMA will be the nominee for president.

Now, you're being SOFT on Hillary as the whole world watches as the media continues to make a mockery out of itself...

No, I'm not dilusional. Tell me, what do you know about the African American Church experience. Have you ever been to a black church, sat under a black leader. Well search your history. Call it what you want, bottom line, you are all fearful of black people and the reason that you're so afraid is that in your tiny heads you really think you are better. Address the facts, you won't vote for him because he's half black. Enough of the philosophical stuff. Rev. Wright was right in a lot of his ideologies,and you know why you all are so upset, YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE!

Barack Obama has confronted the issue of Rev. Wright's comments head-on. Before the firestorm over the sermons was unleashed, he denounced the comments, saying that Wright was like an "old uncle", and that he didn't agree with everything the man said. He has never publicly embraced any of the inflammatory sentiments espoused by Reverend Wright.

And when the firestorm DID hit, Obama took those denials and made them stronger. He was the one that proactively approached the media to make it clear that he completely (to borrow a phrase) "rejected and denounced" the comments made by Reverend Wright.

What's more, his denial was not just "I disagree with these comments that are causing me political trouble", but a complete and full-throated rejection of the MOTIVATION behind thecomments:

I just want to say to everybody here that as somebody who was born into a diverse family, as somebody who has little pieces of America all in me, I will not allow us to lose this moment, where we cannot forget about our past and not ignore the very real forces of racial inequality and gender inequality and the other things that divide us. I don’t want us to forget them. We have to acknowledge them and lift them up and when people say things like my former pastor said, you know, you have to speak out forcefully against them. But what you also have to do is remember what Bobby Kennedy said. That it is within our power to join together to truly make a United States of America. And that we have to do not just so that our children live in a more peaceful country and a more peaceful world, but that is the only way that we are going to deliver on the big issues that we’re facing in this country. We can’t solve health care divided. We cannot create an economy that works for everybody divided. We can’t fight terrorism divided. We can’t care for our veterans divided. We have to come together. That’s what this campaign is about. That’s why you are here. That’s why we’re going to win this election. That’s how we’re going to change the country.

This wasn't Geraldine Ferraro having her comments quietly deemed "regrettable" with no effort to combat their divisiveness. This wasn't Samantha Power being immediately kicked off the Obama campaign for calling Hillary a monster. This was a flat-out rejection of the inflammatory comments made by Rev. Wright not only BECAUSE they were inflammatory, but because Barack Obama fully believes that they are COMPLETELY WRONG.

So you tell me: What "reasonable" person looks at Obama's denunciation of his former pastor's remarks and says he should still be held responsible for them? What "reasonable" person says things like (per the comment linked above) "As for Obama's response, it is bumbling and inadequate." What would be the motivation for such a "reasonable" person to push this idea? Would it be to help a Democrat, or even to help America? Or would it be something different?

Finally, I want to say something about supposedly "reasonable" crap like this:

But Obama has been a member of the church for 20 years. It is utterly implausible that he didn't know Wright was a controversial figure. Hell, Obama's own staff knew that Wright was a controversial figure.

And if Obama disagreed so much with Wright's views, why didn't he walk out or the church?

When Bill and Hillary went through their very public marital issues, I always hated it when people said things like "She only stayed married to him so she could be President, too". Because you know what that is? It's bullshit. It's absolute fucking bullshit.

I can almost guarantee you that you've never met Barack Obama, or Hillary Clinton, or any other public official at the highest levels of office. Everything you know about them is based on the actions you know about publicly, as exposed and analyzed by the media filter. This gives you the right to judge their actions - but it gives you NO right to presume to analyze or criticize the most personal and difficult issues these people (yes, living, breathing human beings like you and me) go through in their lives, especially when you do it in the most basic, simplistic, ignorant, most meaningless way.

You know why Obama stayed in his church? No, you don't. And neither do I. And neither does anyone else, except him and those with which he's discussed the issue.

Reverend Wright helped Barack Obama find God. He married him to Michelle, he baptized his children. He gave Obama counseling on his faith in Christ, and no doubt helped him through trying times. In short, he had a relationship that Obama has always characterized as deeply meaningful and personal. If you truly believe that Obama is as close to Reverend Wright as he is because the core of his teachings and guidance were based on hating America, I truly find no grounds on which to call you "reasonable".

You can love and respect a man and not accept everything he says, even when the statements you disagree with are as inflammatory as you can get. I don't know anyone that would throw away a deep, meaningful, abiding 15-year relationship with a pastor and a church because that pastor occasionally sermonized about topics beyond the pale of acceptable political conversation. I don't know anyone that could be so involved in a congregation that has constantly been characterized as the epitome of what an acti