Planks wrote:
The man's a very good speaker.
So was Hitler. Now, before I am smacked w/ the "racist" stick or the "conservative" club, let me just say this. I AM AN OBAMA supporter. AND, I agree that the media needs to report on the sermon in it's entirety. However, the comments about 911 sited in this video were only a few of SEVERAL disturbing statements Wright has made from the pulpit.
I watched the Senator's speech in Philly and I really want to believe that he was not influenced by Wright's venom during the 20+ years he has been attending his sermons. I am POSITIVE that Reverend Wright has had a positive influence in regard to the VAST majority of his services (faith in God, family and culture). So, how can we NOT at least entertain the idea, however disturbing that it may be, that Obama has been NEGATIVELY influenced by the obvious hurtful content of some of the reverend's sermons.
I also have to question Obama's comparison of his white grandmother with Reverend Wright's views. He said that he could no more disown Wright than he could his grandmother for making some hurtful statements about young black men and other "cringe" inducing comments. Now, I may be over-simplifying this a bit, but I haven't heard about Obama's grandma getting in front of a room full of religious followers and whipping them up into a froth with explosive and derogatory claims and language. It's very much a case of "apples and oranges".
I used the example of Hitler for a reason. We all know that he was a raving sociopath. But, he was also an accomplished orator. He interspersed his hateful rhetoric with rousing calls for nationalistic pride and self reliance for the German people. He focused his speeches toward lower and middle class Germans who were still feeling the sting and stigma resulting from Germany's humiliating defeat in WWI. In other words, Hitler had an "audience" that was hurting, disenfranchised and searching for retribution for wrongs (real or perceived) committed against them. This is, to a definite lesser degree, similar to Reverend Wright's comments being aimed at the African-American populace.
An extreme example; yes. But it does help illustrate my point. Simply put, no matter how eloquent or accomplished a speaker, politician or religious leader may be, it does not excuse him/her from using their talent to espouse hateful and disturbing rhetoric. Also, it shouldn't matter what one's personal experiences are, no matter how painful or intense. These past experiences are something that need to be drawn upon to develop one's character. But, again, they should not be used as an EXCUSE for spreading such bile and border-line insane statements.
I am still an Obama supporter, but I truly have to do some more research on my own before I can re-establish the FULL confidence I had in the Senator before this situation arose.
Take care, everyone.