Barack pulls the plug...

Barack Obama has made the extraordinary effort to cut all ties between himself and Rev. Wright. There really was no choice for Senator Obama because he was seeing first hand how the rants of Reverend Wright negatively affect the sensibilities of most patriotic Americans.

Mr. Obama took issue with several statements that were made by the Reverend with regard to the recent controversy caused by the Reverends sermons while he was the Pastor at Senator Obama’s church.

Reverend Wright is very critical of many aspects of American life that involve racism and discrimination. However, he tends to go way overboard when venting about real and perceived bad deeds done to people of color. Most people would concede that there are many facts supporting his position but the Reverend goes to the max in labeling America as a racist oppressive society. There seems to be no good that can happen in America according to Reverend Wright. And most Americans, including Senator Obama, believe that there is plenty of good left in America.

The most disturbing part of the Reverends campaign was watching him make use of the media attention that has focused on him. He really seemed to relish a platform that allowed him to vent his views one more time. Most people have dismissed him as a crank but he doesn’t get it. The Reverend suggests that those who criticize him don’t get it. I think the Senator has the best idea as to what to make of the Reverend. It’s time to leave him to his own devices and supporters and move on. The coming election is too important an event to ignore.

Comments

[David Peterzell]

Why on earth would Rev. Wright be so emphatic NOW, at a time when Obama didn't need this? Kudos to Obama for terminating his affiliation with someone who doesn't really have his best interests at heart.

[rashad]

Its ironic to me that Rev. Wright would use the "chickens coming home to roost" comment to prove one of his points. When Malcolm used it, the Nation of Islam cut ties with him. Obama had to do the same.

[fred warrick]

distancing himself seem to be a good idea - the majority of the electorate seems to have grown weary of the divisiveness preached by both parties.

answers and results are what this country need - this country and the world.

i fear though that the republican fringe will devote too much time on Obama's race and ties to Wright, while the democratic party will be fixated on McCain's age and Keating ties

[Paul Yarmoluk]

All of this seems like one giant non-issue compared to the real problems Americans face. However, in the words of Norah O'Donnell of MSNBC, policy issues are not as "sexy" as Wright, thus we cannot yet turn the page until the media and every single one of their blowhard pundits cares to comment on it. Gay Marriage. Terri Schiavo. All BS issues which effectively distract us from the important ones.

And the media is equally to blame.

[Sigaba]

Hey, Kareem--

Could you share some of your experiences with radical African-American thought? Did you ever experience moments when someone attempted to align you with viewpoints with which you did not agree?

Also, can you discuss with us how the trajectory of your views of the African American experience have changed over the years.

[mary]

"As you sow, so shall you reap" Wright used those Bible words to explain "Chickens come home to roost". He was quoting Ambassador Peck in his 9/16/01 sermon.

Thomas Jefferson said something like: I tremble for my country when I think that God is just and jsutice does not sleep forever.

Sorry, but I agree with Wright on this one. As one Iraqi war Marine vet said: "For every two, three enemy we kill, we wake up 10 or 12 more". Those children and babies in Iraq were never my enemy. But some of those children that saw their brothers, sisters, parents die due to our cluster bombs in civilian areas (a war protocol does not condone that) and torture, will most likely grow up seeing me as his or her enemy.

Part of Obama's character is the "fruit" that his Bible tells us is how you can recognize true Godly people.

"by their works you shall know them"

Perhaps if the media had not spun Wright to bring the desired results, or if people would ask: what have we (not me, you, just in general) done to Wright to create a paranoia of our government?

He served in the military, honored by President Eisenhower~and to me~that is remarkable for a man not allowed at the time to order a Coke at a dime store lunch counter, which was condoned by our government. How about using the word: wounded?

Emmett Till would turn 67 this year. Wright will turn 67. That info calls for understanding of what formed Wright's personality. I do not agree with the gov plot on AIDS; more human error, carelessness and egotism to cause the spread of the animal HI-virus to humans.

I did not read the books Wright pointed out, that he read, in his Press Club interview. I have studied the subject since the 1980s. Well documented it started with a polio vaccine.

[Abogada Adelante]

Kareem,
Once again you have provided a thoughtful and reasoned analysis for your readers and fans. Reverend Wright is certainly entitled to his opinions under the First Amendement. It is what makes America great. Barak Obama does not share Wright's views and undoubtedly remained in his church bacause of the enormous social and economic contributions of the church to the underserved families of Chicago that continues today!
My regret and disappointment lies not in Reverend Wright's desire for media attention, but with the sanctimonious response of Hillary Clinton, seeking to inhibit the enormous contributions of Barak Obama that has united us. Fortunately, Obama's desire to eliminate the fears associated with cultural, ethnic, racial and religous diversity will continue to be applauded.

[simon]

Kareem,
What a tragedy it will be if Obama fails to get the much needed nominaion due to the nature of what Rev, Wright has done to him. He has hurt Obama's whole family and people need to realize this. The media circus surrounding Wright is a travesty. All that Michelle and Barack have worked so hard for poof, gone, in a short amount of time. We live in very difficult times and there is so much at stake here and I am appalled that Wright needed the attention so badly he overlooked our economy, the war in Iraq, etc. for his 15 minutes of ill gained fame. I hope Obama will saddle up to the bar and take on the Clinton camp as anyone else would. He has to man up now and quickly lest he lose it all. It will be a valuable lesson for Oabama but he wil have to get down and dirty sadly to advance.

[Geo]

Kareem I love ya and you were a great hero of mine growing up. Still, dont you think basketball is inherently discriminatory against the shorter player? I mean if I were 7 feet tall and the tallest guy on the court, I think I would be great too. Isn't that simple physics?

Anyway, how many sky hooks did I do pretending to be you? Thousands. It can be effective against a taller opponent.

Do you think the Moslem religion subjugates and harms women? Obama dumped his pastor, after 9/11 did you feel the same? Or consider it? Or do you think Obama's dumping of his pastor is strictly strategic, rather than a change of heart..? Why didn't he do it weeks ago, when he was up in the polls?

And do you think attending services of a liberation theologist for 20 years, baptizing your kids there, etc, makes you also a liberation theologist follower, and that the White House is no place for such radically bad thinking?

I enjoyed you in Airplane too.

God bless you.

As for Abogada Adelante comment on Barak's "contributions", what has he done? Not much. He just arrived at the restaurant but wants to be in the front of the line at the buffet table.

Cool celebs may get into clubs that way, but not candidates for President.

[Jon K.]

I think all rational people want to make this society a better place for all of its citizens, and there's plenty of room for improvement in our society. The problem with Reverend Wright isn't necessary whether he is wrong or right. (Quite frankly, he's right on a lot of issues.) The problem is the energy he conveys, one of self-righteous narcissistic anger. Yes, to improve society one has to first identify the problems, but the most important thing--for those who TRULY want to change society in a positive way--is to find beneficial solutions to these problems and then enact those solutions. I think in the end it was more about Reverend Wright's ego than anything else. In his heart, he doesn't really want change, because change would deprive him of his soapbox, upon which he has gain social and financial status. I believe Barack Obama truly wants to enact positive societal change and it's a shame that Wright has distracted him from that message.

[fred warrick]

that's a good point by Jon K. So many times politicians and public figures take advantage of their time in the spotlight to engage in divisive rhetoric in order to keep themselves in power and their constituencies appeased. Thus, solutions are never presented, change never effected and results never achieved.

[Jon K.]

Hillary Clinton is evil. I find it so disappointing and disturbing that people are falling for her pandering. If you look at her body language, it is so unnatural. There's no real person inside there.