Obama Says Nothing Constructive Came From Wrights Press Club Rant

29th April 2008

Obama Says Nothing Constructive Came From Wrights Press Club Rant

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I thought Pastor Wright tried to get too cute yesterday. I agree with Barack that what Wright did yesterday was simply not constructive on any plain, and I’ll add that it was nothing but a snide display of egotism.

I was with Wright on the statements that were looped time and time again from his sermons, which were by far, by-and-large grounded in truth if not just out right true; and which the end point of the statements he made were intentionally obscured and mischaracterized .

barack obama and jeremiah wright

Even further, Friday night on Bill Moyer he aquitted himself quite well in having an intelligent discussion of the issues, and flushing out the basis of his personal viewpoint, and describing the history of and philosophy from which liberation theology comes. He even did quite well in articulation of “different but not deficient” on Sunday night at the NAACP meeting, and wasn’t bad through the press club speech.

But when it got to the question and answer part, it just became a ridiculous, unbecoming spectacle. Sure, it was funny at times from a juvenile stand point, and I wholly admit I’m juvenile enough to enjoy such things in a setting where it simple doesn’t matter. But the issues being discussed, and Pastor Wright’s current position in the national dialogue and body politic made it too important a setting for his behavior.

He was unduly flippant, and needlessly sarcastic and patronizing; and this comes from a self-admitted smart-ass. All the smirking and clowning was just way over the top.

And the really sad thing is, up until that point, Wright was winning the media offense. He had well articulated a number of things on three extensive broadcast (2 of which were live); though the media dug out the one or two points to pounce on. Then he acted a fool at the end and gave them tons of ammunition to run amuck with.

Wright is right, he has to be a pastor while Obama’s a politician, but what he was doing yesterday wasn’t pasturing; but self-aggrandizing egotism, and I think at that point he basically threw Barack under the bus. Because that behavior at the end served no purpose in defending his church nor in representing God; and he knew it was going to hurt Obama, and apparently didn’t care.

I’ve supported the brotha for the last month, but this is where I get off the bus.

There’s a link in this ABC Article to a video of Obama’s press conference

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Barack Obama’s Speech on Race, Church and Former Pastor

1 On April 30th, 2008, MrsGrapevine said:

Well, I’m glad you have exited. One thing about pastors of mega-churches, their egos get in the way of their legacy. I hate to speculate about his motives, but I think it rhymes with honey!

2 On May 1st, 2008, Kevin said:

I agree that a lot of ego was on display, but on the other hand, that entire Q&A was a setup. That woman had the nerve to ask if he thought it was God’s will for Obama to win? What kind of question is that?

This is all a big double standard to me (not what you’re saying, I get that. I’m talking about how this is playing out in general). You can’t tell me that Hillary Clinton doesn’t have some racist- or sexist-ass relatives/church friends/associates out there. Nobody’s pulling them out of the woodwork and demanding that she denounce them. People act like black folk are the borg: “Oh, you were in the same room when someone said something I don’t like, therefore you must believe the same thing.”

Was this ill-timed, politically? Yes. Was Rev. Wright’s ego on full display? Yes? But I really think this is something that neither Rev. Wright or Sen. Obama can win. No matter what either of them say or do, eventually it will be that they are “too elite” or “too black” or “too mouthy” or whatever.

3 On May 1st, 2008, Rashunda said:

I need to find the transcript or the online video of Rev’s Q&A. Or maybe I shouldn’t. The last image I have of him is from Bill Moyer’s show. He was elegant, articulate, intelligent…all of those adjectives and more.

Please don’t tell me the brother gave a good bucket of milk and then kicked it over.

4 On May 1st, 2008, D. Yobachi Boswell said:

MrsGrapevine, I still defend him pointing out the truths that he does when he’s actually giving a message, I just think he acted like an ass the other day; and I’m calling him on it.

And I do think there’s a money factor in this; that became clear when he plugged the fact that he’s writing a book.

5 On May 1st, 2008, D. Yobachi Boswell said:

Kevin,

The “set up” argument suggest that Wright was too stupid to foresee the absolutely predictable before it happened, and the absolute obvious while it was happening. I don’t believe for a milla-second that a man that learned, and that knowledgeable of history as he demonstrated over his 4 day media tour (particularly in regards to racial factors) was too stupid to know what was going on.

And there in lies the problem. He knew exactly what was up, and chose to play into it for very selfish and immature reasons. He seems to me to have wanted to have set up Barack to be in a no win situation. I know he was hurt and insulted by how he was rabidly portrayed; but put on your big boy draws.

And to your point about the double standard; yep, the deck is stacked against Barack, just as it is always stacked against people of color; and especially Black people.

Most Black folks of any thoughtfulness and self-awareness see what’s going on here. They don’t want Black people to have a voice, the skin privilege enjoying majority does not see our perspective as valuable, and do not want the ideological status quo messed with. As Wright say on Bill Moyer’s; they get upset when you tamper with their myth. And many whites really have a hard on to portray that there is a culture of Black racism out there equivalent to that of white racism in order to justify themselves, and simply to be antagonistic.

I mean, white is right you know. They can’t be in the wrong.

6 On May 1st, 2008, D. Yobachi Boswell said:

LOL, good bucket of milk analogy Rashunda; but yeah, that’s basically what he did.

*sighs* Over all I like the guy and appreciate that he represents; but he’s really gotta get a hold of his ego. I know he wanted to show how much he’s not a punk and wasn’t going to let the media push him around; but sometimes discretion is the better part of valour.

I don’t have video of it, check youtube though; I’m sure it’s there.

7 On May 1st, 2008, dara said:

Rashunda,

he made an ASS of himself! and the arrogance was such a turn off!

8 On May 1st, 2008, Rashunda said:

@Dara - > Part of me wants to stay in “Ignantland.” Shall I look for the video? You don’t know how impressed I was with Rev during the Moyer interview.

@Yobachi - > “Bucket”…blame (or thank) my grandmother for that one. I used to hear it all the time, which shows the type of kid I was.:-)

9 On May 1st, 2008, cooper said:

Obama had to separate.

I still feel that it’s all a something which should be a non issue in light of the real issues, a shame the whole way it’s done here, and I kind of like the Reverend, showing his ass-holish side for all to see - just seems to me that should have endeared him to a lot of white males out there.

God think I’m no a running for anything,

10 On May 2nd, 2008, dara said:

Maybe I’m not being totally fair because I failed to watch the entire “show”
I just couldn’t take it anymore!

OK, I did agree with Rev. Wright on some things (i.e. you can’t have a foreign policy like the U.S. and expect to never be attacked for all of our “bad” deeds). But there seemed to be no rhyme or reason for his little press conference except to pump up his ego. I’m just questioning whether his arrogance would have been on display had his supporters not been in attendance at the press club. He put on a real show! The bottom line is there’s a time and place for that type of discussion. A week before a crucial primary, at the national press club was just not the appropriate place or time…esp. if you consider Obama to be a friend.

11 On May 2nd, 2008, Kevin said:

The “set up” argument suggest that Wright was too stupid to foresee the absolutely predictable before it happened, and the absolute obvious while it was happening. I don’t believe for a milla-second that a man that learned, and that knowledgeable of history as he demonstrated over his 4 day media tour (particularly in regards to racial factors) was too stupid to know what was going on.

Good point and well taken.

12 On May 2nd, 2008, D. Yobachi Boswell said:

Cooper, it would be a non-issue if our politics were predicated on honesty and what matters; but alas they are not, and their were determined force who didn’t have to work very hard to make it an issue.