Mr Obama Fires His Minister

The participation by Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton in this year's presidential campaign has made things quite interesting by giving us an object lesson in how a party that almost couldn't lose an election is trying its best to commit political suicide and throw the contest to the opposition. And it's giving us one of the best windows ever into how race and gender have become the dual third rails of American politics.

For breathtaking insincerity and hypocrisy, I have to give this week's award to Mr Obama for his handling of the affair of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, pastor at his church. You will recall from recent news reporting that Reverend Wright has come under heavy criticism for his outrageously racist comments, which include this gem from a 2003 sermon: "The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no; God damn America! That's in the Bible for killing innocent people."

The shocking thing about this whole affair is not that Reverend Wright made such statements; it's long been clear that blacks can be just as racist as whites, although able to escape the condemnation that would pour down on whites for the same sort of comments. What grinds my gears is this comment by Mr Obama, quoted in The Washington Post yesterday: "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 or heard him utter in private conversation."

Let's step back a moment and think about this. Mr Obama has known Reverend Wright for 17 years, and considers him to be "...like an uncle who talked to me, not about political things and social views, but faith and God and family." He also says that, "All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country." I think it beggars the imagination to think that in 17 years, Mr Obama didn't personally hear, or at least hear of, the sort of comments that have now caused controversy in the campaign. And it's clearly the coldest sort of political calculation that has led him to throw his old friend and mentor under the bus at this point.

Standing by one's friends in times of trouble and controversy is an admirable trait. But Reverend Wright is known for making the sort of offensive comments he would himself quickly condemn if made by a white man about blacks. Can you imagine the howls of outrage if any white person running for president depended on the counsel of an openly racist religious figure? This is the sort of friend Mr Obama doesn't need if he wants to be president. It's just a shame it took this sort of attention to make him realize it.

Yes, America has a sad history of race relations and racial justice. But as I've often written here, I think that America doesn't get the recognition she deserves for facing the problems and working to fix them. Race relations in this country aren't perfect and probably never will be, especially when the bar for what's considered "racist" is set to different heights depending on the race of the observer. We won't really get beyond the legacy of racial problems until blacks realize and acknowledge that they can be every bit as blatantly racist as whites...but less willing to acknowledge it.

I don't think Mr Obama is any more ready to be president than Ms Clinton, but I wish them both well and I'm glad they're both running. I just wish they'd quit fighting each other and start working toward giving us a realistic option to the disastrous presidency of Mr Bush.

Leadership and competence have nothing to do with race or gender, any more than being a stupid buffoon does...anyone who has served in the military can tell you that. We need a president who can unite the country to face the serious problems that stand before us. Mr Obama can be a very inspiring figure. But can he provide the leadership to implement his vision of hope for the future?

His choice of friends and mentors gives a window into the answer.

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo