I find it absolutely laughable that Americans, the press, or any Republican or Democratic politician could somehow question Barack Obama’s patriotism or ability to act as president because he was a member of Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s church. Why are there people in the U.S. who are trying to turn Senator Obama into some kind of politican radical? What is going on here? For the time being let’s just call it laughable — to avoid calling it disturbing.
Hillary has more than her share of questionable cronies from back in the Arkansas days — even during the Clinton Administration. Nobody’s is taking another look there. Where is the outrage — other than Iran’s official protest before the U.N. — for her “obliteration” threat? When Chelsea was last asked about Monica Lewinsky, she moved away from the “that’s none of your business” response to the “my father’s behavior shouldn’t influence how you vote for my mother”. But if the press and pundits are asking why Obama chose Wright as his preacher for 20 years, shouldn’t they also ask Hillary why she decided to stay married for the past 10 years with her lying and cheating husband? You think it was to help her get elected? Seriously! Why is it that Hillary talking about her religion and her relationship to God is not too personal to share with the American people, but talking about Bill and her sham marriage is none of our business?
How about John McCain? The U.S. military has a horrendous record of segregation, discrimination, homophobia — not to mention invading foreign countries and murdering civilians, and yet no one is asking John McCain to justify his lifelong committment to the U.S. military. Why is no one outraged that McCain is “glad to have” Hagee’s endorsement?
I don’t think it is such a hard stretch for any American, white or black, to understand Wright’s frustrations with and anger towards a system that has abused a large percentage of American citizens. Should all presidential candidates distance themselves from African Americans who are angry about the past? How much more radical is what Wright has said than his white counterparts John Hagee or Pat Robertson?
New York Times op-ed columnist Frank Rich has written an excellent piece today entitled “The All-White Elephant in the Room” about this double standard. Continue reading →
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