Barack Obama's Church

I haven't been around much lately, so I haven't kept up with this thread, but I can imagine the back and forth that's happened within it.

But my thoughts on this non-issue over the past week or so are this: who cares? It's the media doing what the media does best: exhausting one issue until they find out that Hillary Clinton has sex slaves in her dungeon or John McCain was born on Mars (trust me, keep a look out for these stories in the next few months).

By November we will have forgotten about it, except for those who already passionately dislike Obama and weren't ever gonna vote for him anyway. What Obama's pastor says is not reflective of what Obama himself believes. Yes, even if he's had this pastor for 20 years. I've had the same pastor for more than half my life, but that doesn't mean he speaks for me nor does he share the same beliefs as me (mostly the whole God thing). This is sort of similar to when groups of white supremacists gave support and donations to Ron Paul's campaign. He may know them and gladly accept their donations, but that doesn't mean he agrees that all blacks need to be shot.

If people seriously think that Obama will turn out to be a racist because of the church he goes to (the same one Oprah goes to, if I recall correctly), or that Ron Paul will turn out to be a racist because of the supporters he gets, or if John McCain turns out to be an anti-semetic homophobe because of the support he gets, or if Hillary Clinton turns out to be a trans-gendered homosexual because of the support she gets (actually that might not be far off ), they need a serious reality check.

I'm not seeing the racism in that. Why is it that, on both sides, making any comment about race is automatically assumed to be racist? I'd expect any old white lady to lock her car doors as she stops at an intersection with dangerous looking people, is it racist of me to assume his grandmother would do that? Or is it only racist when a black person is saying it?

Could be truth to this....don't scientists believe there could have been life there about the time he was born?

I thought I was pretty clear about that. Marathon even quite correctly chastised me for repeating over and over how much I can't stand Obama in this very thread!

Sometimes I get the feeling that people just don't read.

Bill Richardson has now endorsed Obama. I think we might be on the verge of an endgame here, where he's the first of a triad (the others being Al Gore and John Edwards) of endorsements that close ranks around Obama so that Democrats can put this nightmare phase to rest.

Another person not reading. I've been amazingly clear that my attacks on Obama are not from the right, and just because juvenile pretense is your first mode of argument, don't project it upon others. Obama's a spineless conciliator who gives a good speech but for whom details are an afterthought at a time when we need a firebreather with a backbone and policy expertise to clean up the mess left by Bush. If you think saying that is saying "I've been a lifelong republican, but . . ." then please get yourself some help as soon as possible.

This kinda talk belongs in my new thread with the witty rep worthy headline.

Well let's just move it there

Who said anything about God?

We're talking about racism here....and the racist comments that Wright made. And if you actually bother to watch the videos were he racially slanders Hillary, you'll notice that a lot of the people listening to him in that church stand up and shout their approval.

I'm not saying that Obama does that, but knowing from experience the way black churches become charismatic during sermons, I would imagine that he was involved as well.

You mean like the New Black Panther Society has had an ad on Obama's website for the longest time?

There is still a difference though. A big one....one that you can't see without actually taking off the rose-colored glasses.

Ron Paul has not attended a white supremacist church for the past 20 years.

But Obama has clearly attended a black supremacist church for the past 20 years, and not only that, he has financially supported that church.

You mean the same one where Oprah left because of the racial rhetoric.

At least get your facts straight before you join the party.

If Ron Paul attended a white supremacist church for the past 20 years, I'd assume he is racist too.

Now you're just deflecting the issue. McCain is not responsible for the people who vote for him. He is responsible for the people he affiliates with....and there is no record of him associating with anti-semetic homophobes.

You're doing a really crappy job at trying to deflect this.

Well in the light of good humor, I'd agree.

But you're still dead wrong. The support she gets does not indicate who she is as a person.

Now if she associated with trans-gendered people, you might have a case.

Until then quit deflecting the damn issue.

You don't racism and racial stereotyping in saying that 'typical white people'....are afraid of black people? And lets not even mention the part where Obama talked about how wrong racial stereotyping was in his speech.

Someone drank too much koolaid.

My point was, I've had the same pastor for more than half of my life. My family has donated money to the church. That in no way means that any of us agree 100% with what the pastor preaches. For all we know, he could be a racist too; that doesn't mean we are also racists just because we've attended that church and given money to it. Who's to say it's not the same for Obama and his pastor?

Now who's racially stereotyping?

I'm sorry, but unless it comes out that Obama actually believes in the racist sentiments that his pastor was preaching, it's a big non-issue to me. The biggest clue that it's a non-issue is that the cable news networks are devoting 3/4 of their air time to this story. As far as I know, he's denounced the statements made by his pastor. You can play the "what if" game and speculate what Obama may or may not have done at that Church until the end of time, but unless there's hard evidence that he's racist or that he'll start making anti-white policies if he's president, I'm not gonna blink twice about it. Plus, even if it turns out he agreed with his pastor 10-20 years ago, that doesn't mean he could have changed his mind in recent years.

And it's not like I'm a long time Obama supporter, I just have a rational head on my shoulders.

If you won't leave your church if your pastor constantly spewed racist crap against other races, there is something wrong with you.

Its not racial stereotyping....but a fact.

Have you ever been to a black church? I have, and the majority, if not all have the same worship style.

I'm not condemning it either, as I enjoy it myself.

I'm condemning the fact that Obama has stood by and supported this racist bigot for the past 20 years.

Fine. I guess you have no problem with the future POTUS associating himself with racists, financially supporting racists, and himself making racist comments.

Yeah, he has denounced the statements, but not the church, nor the pastor.

Which is strange really, because Obama said last year that Imus should be 'fired' after his racist remark. And rightly so.

Only problem is that Obama asked a racist bigot to work for him on his campaign, knowing full well a year prior to all of this, that Wright had a history of making racist comments. Now tell me that isn't a double standard.

No you're really reaching.

If he changed his mind in recent years, why didn't he leave the church like Oprah did?

Oh right, you skipped that part in my reply.

A rational thinker wouldn't write this off as 'nothing.'

Y'know, I'll bet that Obama wishes he'd joined up for worship at the Triple-Rock to hear Reverend Cleophus..