Column: Is the Reverend Wright wrong?
April 1, 2008
Sometimes it’s good to be right. Sometimes it’s even better to be wrong. And sometimes, being Wright means being wrong. Let’s cut to the chase, here. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Sen. Barack Obama’s spiritual leader, has been making news anchors everywhere giddy with every new statement he makes. Controversy. Wahoo!
Personally, I’m very glad to live in America where religion and politics don’t mix. Religion never makes the news here. I mean, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is very hands-off on the God stuff and evangelical Christians definitely did not play a large role in the election of President George Bush. The big difference in this situation is that now the religious shoe is on the other foot.
How often do Democrats have to deal with the negative spin of religion? Maybe a little, but the press isn’t nearly as rabid when it does. This is yet another unique aspect of this election year. To be fair, Huckabee was a member of the clergy, and Obama is not. Huckabee made statements that many people did not agree with, but at least in my opinion, speaking out against abortion is a lot less controversial than speaking out against America as a whole.
Now don’t start sending me e-mails about freedom of speech, because I’m not arguing that Wright should not say these things; as an American he has the right to say whatever he wants as long as it does not incite violence. What I am saying is that the bulk of America, at the moment, finds Wright’s statements to be not very nice, to say the least, especially five days after Sept. 11, 2001: “We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because of stuff we have done overseas is now brought back into our own backyard. America is chickens coming home to roost.”
But there are Americans who agree with his sentiments. There are people who want to hear what he has to say - maybe not you, definitely not me and probably not Obama. This doesn’t make them bad people. It means that maybe they are angry, maybe they are fed up with aspects of the government, but they are Americans with opinions; as are the conservative Christians in the Republican Party.
If you know me, you know I’m not (excuse my stereotyping) the Obama-Maniac College-aged Joe-Schmo. I think Obama is a fine politician regardless of my views about him as a president, and Wright’s statements shouldn’t impact the way his campaign is conducting business. But I’m not naive, and I know it will.
Politics is a dirty business and not a single politician is exempt from mudslinging. That comes in all forms, and it comes when it’s least expected. Part of Obama’s charm is that he is able to turn negative press into his mantra of promoting change. This is either a curse or a blessing, depending how you look at it. Is it inspiration or empty statements? We’ll see what America thinks soon enough. But as for his affiliation with Wright, he’s there. He’s his retired pastor. He’s his confidant. Maybe the senator agrees with Wright’s statements, maybe he doesn’t. But Obama must like America at least a little bit to want to be its leader.
More April 1, 2008 Outlook Stories
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- Is the Reverend Wright wrong? — Sometimes it’s good to be right. Sometimes it’s even better to be wrong. And sometimes, being Wright means being wrong. ...
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