US 2008 Presidential Campaign/Debate Discussion Thread - The Fifth Installment

[diamond]

Well how come all the rich Canadians come to the USA when looking for the best healthcare?

It's a known fact.

dbs

[corianderstem]

So?

It ain't just about the rich.

[BVS]

How come all the poor americans die ignored?

[MrsSpringsteen]

Politico points out that Wright actually holds a formal position with Obama's campaign:

Wright is a member of Obama's African American Religious Leadership Committee -- the sort of largely honorary, advisory body that in recent days has recently been used mostly to throw people off who say controversial things.


The Obama campaign couldn't immediately say whether he'd remain on the committee.


abcnews.com

Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11

By BRIAN ROSS and REHAB EL-BURI

March 13, 2008—

Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America."

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor for the last 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's south side, has a long history of what even Obama's campaign aides concede is "inflammatory rhetoric," including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own "terrorism."

In a campaign appearance earlier this month, Sen. Obama said, "I don't think my church is actually particularly controversial." He said Rev. Wright "is like an old uncle who says things I don't always agree with," telling a Jewish group that everyone has someone like that in their family.

Rev. Wright married Obama and his wife Michelle, baptized their two daughters and is credited by Obama for the title of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."

An ABC News review of dozens of Rev. Wright's sermons, offered for sale by the church, found repeated denunciations of the U.S. based on what he described as his reading of the Gospels and the treatment of black Americans.

"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," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda's attacks because of its own terrorism.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.

Sen. Obama told the New York Times he was not at the church on the day of Rev. Wright's 9/11 sermon. "The violence of 9/11 was inexcusable and without justification," Obama said in a recent interview. "It sounds like he was trying to be provocative," Obama told the paper.

Rev. Wright, who announced his retirement last month, has built a large and loyal following at his church with his mesmerizing sermons, mixing traditional spiritual content and his views on contemporary issues.

"I wouldn't call it radical. I call it being black in America," said one congregation member outside the church last Sunday.

"He has impacted the life of Barack Obama so much so that he wants to portray that feeling he got from Rev. Wright onto the country because we all need something positive," said another member of the congregation.

Rev. Wright, who declined to be interviewed by ABC News, is considered one of the country's 10 most influential black pastors, according to members of the Obama campaign.

Obama has praised at least one aspect of Rev. Wright's approach, referring to his "social gospel" and his focus on Africa, "and I agree with him on that."

Sen. Obama declined to comment on Rev. Wright's denunciations of the United States, but a campaign religious adviser, Shaun Casey, appearing on "Good Morning America" Thursday, said Obama "had repudiated" those comments.

In a statement to ABCNews.com, Obama's press spokesman Bill Burton said, "Sen. Obama has said repeatedly that personal attacks such as this have no place in this campaign or our politics, whether they're offered from a platform at a rally or the pulpit of a church. Sen. Obama does not think of the pastor of his church in political terms. Like a member of his family, there are things he says with which Sen. Obama deeply disagrees. But now that he is retired, that doesn't detract from Sen. Obama's affection for Rev. Wright or his appreciation for the good works he has done."

[MrsSpringsteen]

Video of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor and mentor to Barack Obama, has been posted. The Reverend defends his most famous constituent and attacks Hillary Clinton, saying, "Hillary ain't never been called a n****r."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPjVp3PLnVs

[corianderstem]

I think I shall use this smiley here:

[2861U2]

Originally posted by MrsSpringsteen
Politico points out that Wright actually holds a formal position with Obama's campaign:

Wright is a member of Obama's African American Religious Leadership Committee -- the sort of largely honorary, advisory body that in recent days has recently been used mostly to throw people off who say controversial things.


The Obama campaign couldn't immediately say whether he'd remain on the committee.


abcnews.com

Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11

By BRIAN ROSS and REHAB EL-BURI

March 13, 2008—

Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America."

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor for the last 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's south side, has a long history of what even Obama's campaign aides concede is "inflammatory rhetoric," including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own "terrorism."

In a campaign appearance earlier this month, Sen. Obama said, "I don't think my church is actually particularly controversial." He said Rev. Wright "is like an old uncle who says things I don't always agree with," telling a Jewish group that everyone has someone like that in their family.

Rev. Wright married Obama and his wife Michelle, baptized their two daughters and is credited by Obama for the title of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."

An ABC News review of dozens of Rev. Wright's sermons, offered for sale by the church, found repeated denunciations of the U.S. based on what he described as his reading of the Gospels and the treatment of black Americans.

"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," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda's attacks because of its own terrorism.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.

Sen. Obama told the New York Times he was not at the church on the day of Rev. Wright's 9/11 sermon. "The violence of 9/11 was inexcusable and without justification," Obama said in a recent interview. "It sounds like he was trying to be provocative," Obama told the paper.

Rev. Wright, who announced his retirement last month, has built a large and loyal following at his church with his mesmerizing sermons, mixing traditional spiritual content and his views on contemporary issues.

"I wouldn't call it radical. I call it being black in America," said one congregation member outside the church last Sunday.

"He has impacted the life of Barack Obama so much so that he wants to portray that feeling he got from Rev. Wright onto the country because we all need something positive," said another member of the congregation.

Rev. Wright, who declined to be interviewed by ABC News, is considered one of the country's 10 most influential black pastors, according to members of the Obama campaign.

Obama has praised at least one aspect of Rev. Wright's approach, referring to his "social gospel" and his focus on Africa, "and I agree with him on that."

Sen. Obama declined to comment on Rev. Wright's denunciations of the United States, but a campaign religious adviser, Shaun Casey, appearing on "Good Morning America" Thursday, said Obama "had repudiated" those comments.

In a statement to ABCNews.com, Obama's press spokesman Bill Burton said, "Sen. Obama has said repeatedly that personal attacks such as this have no place in this campaign or our politics, whether they're offered from a platform at a rally or the pulpit of a church. Sen. Obama does not think of the pastor of his church in political terms. Like a member of his family, there are things he says with which Sen. Obama deeply disagrees. But now that he is retired, that doesn't detract from Sen. Obama's affection for Rev. Wright or his appreciation for the good works he has done."

That pastor is despicable, and Mr. Obama has some serious explaining to do. I hope he gets hammered hard about this, but I doubt he will be. I don't understand why Obama went to that church for 20 years listening to this kind of hate and racism. Obama says he looked around for a long time to find the right church, and this is the best he could get? He thinks its ok to bring his daughters to listen to this hate? Do "god damn" and "nigger" really belong in a church?

[BVS]

Distance yourself!!!

[financeguy]

While I generally like Obama, it's a pity that some of his advisors are always playing the race card.

[BVS]

Originally posted by financeguy
While I generally like Obama, it's a pity that some of his advisors are always playing the race card.

I agree.

[deep]

Originally posted by 2861U2

That pastor is despicable, and Mr. Obama has some serious explaining to do. I hope he gets hammered hard about this, but I doubt he will be. I don't understand why Obama went to that church for 20 years listening to this kind of hate and racism. Obama says he looked around for a long time to find the right church, and this is the best he could get? He thinks its ok to bring his daughters to listen to this hate? Do "god damn" and "nigger" really belong in a church?

While I was driving today
I did tune in to

E I B

excellence in broadcasting

and it looks like you got down the

talking points


exacto!


mucho dittos

[2861U2]

Originally posted by deep


While I was driving today
I did tune in to

E I B

excellence in broadcasting

and it looks like you got down the

talking points


exacto!


mucho dittos

You are correct

[MrsSpringsteen]

This Pastor and his connection to Senator Obama has been well known for quite a while now-so why did it take so long for any network to investigate it? I don't agree with everything my Pastor (and my church) says, but I'm not running for President-so I think to dismiss it as being like an old uncle is naive. And now we know he's not just his Pastor, he has a formal role with his campaign.

[2861U2]

Since Obama has no experience, he's been running on how he has good judgment, right? Well is he really showing good judgment by continuing to go to this church and seeking the guidance of this Wright guy? Is he really showing good judgment by allowing his little girls to be subject to "America is evil" and "God damn America" and how we deserved 9/11?

I think not.

[financeguy]

Obama must be a terrorist!!

These Negroids just aren't to be trusted.

[A_Wanderer]

Originally posted by anitram


How are you more free than I am?

He could publish MoToons without being brought before the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission.

[joyfulgirl]

Um...so then I'm the only one who thinks that Wright isn't so bad? I'm not into going around damning America but there is truth in what he says. I actually trust Obama's take on this. Obama's been going to that church for 20 years and he and Michelle didn't turn out so bad, did they? And have we seen members of his congregation gone wild hatin' on America out there?

[anitram]

Originally posted by corianderstem


And gosh, how nice for the people here in the US that they can choose whatever doctor they'd like ....

People in Canada can CHOOSE THEIR OWN DOCTOR. What the hell is diamond talking about??

[anitram]

Originally posted by A_Wanderer
He could publish MoToons without being brought before the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission.

And how does Alberta provincial law apply to me?

[deep]

Originally posted by anitram


People in Canada can CHOOSE THEIR OWN DOCTOR. What the hell is diamond talking about??

too astute
for you