In reading the posts on this thread, it appears to me that most of you, with the exception of MHE & RM, seem to think that Obama is a racist. Is that how most of you feel?

If the recently disclosed recording of Rev. Wright is indicative of the type of sermons that he has delivered to the Obamas for the past 20 years, I would conclude that the Obamas are racists. If Rev. Wright has gone nuts recently for some reason, then I would be willing to give Obama the benefit of the doubt.

 

However, it is my understanding that Wright's latest racist rant is not his first. Obama has had plenty of time to find a new church and a new spiritual mentor if he had desired to do so. Standing with a racist for so many years shows very bad judgment, IMO.

 

It is beginning to look like the mainstream media will now be forced to provide some coverage of Obama's religious underpinnings, as they so gleefully did months ago in the cases of Huckabee and Romney.

 

Barack Obama’s friend, pastor and spiritual adviser, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, said in a 2003 church publication, "In the 21st century, white America got a wake-up call after 9/11/01. White America and the Western world came to realize that people of color had not gone away, faded into the woodwork or just 'disappeared,' as the Great White West kept on its merry way of ignoring Black concerns."

Barack Obama's Very Controversial Pastor

 

Well, let's look at this in a geographical sense....there is a really good chance that Jesus was a poor black man. In that case, which is the racist? The reverend who acknowledges that? Or the person who believes Jesus was a white man? From a societal view, I believe the circumstances of Jesus' upbringing and life are too vague to make a definitive determination, but I believe there's a better-than-good chance that He was poor, whether black or white. Of course, He could quite possibly have been Middle-Eastern. Does it really matter whether one person believes He was black or another that He was white? Jesus, at this point in history, is not a human being, except in how He is manifested in each of us.

In the geographical sense and from a historical perspective, what leads you to believe that the chance that Jesus was a black man is much better than he was Inuit woman?

 

Is there any historical evidence contradicting the generally held belief that ancient Israel was populated primarily by Jewish people? What purpose would be served for an African-American minister asserting that Jesus was a poor black man instead of simply stating that he was a poor man? Rev. Wright is not the first nor will he be the last to fill the seats and build an empire (6,000+ members strong) with racist vitriol.

 

Obama needs to step up to the plate and tell us which of Rev. Wright's beliefs he shares and, more importantly IMO, which ones that he condemns. He also needs to explain why he has waited until now to distance himself from Wright.

Wait. You are saying that not voting for someone means that you hate them and are being un-Christian?

 

woodsrider said endorse and support. I would never support a racist politically. I would talk to them and try to counsel them (if given the chance) but I wouldn't politically support them.

 

How do you make such leaps? See post #51.

 

"If you endorse and support an openly racist person you are racist."

 

That was the quote that I was responding to. How do you get that I accused anyone that not voting for Obama means that they are un-Christian? Maybe you are unfamiliar with "love the sinner, hate the sin."

In the geographical sense and from a historical perspective, what leads you to believe that the chance that Jesus was a black man is much better than he was Inuit woman?

 

Is there any historical evidence contradicting the generally held belief that ancient Israel was populated primarily by Jewish people? What purpose would be served for an African-American minister asserting that Jesus was a poor black man instead of simply stating that he was a poor man? Rev. Wright is not the first nor will he be the last to fill the seats and build an empire (6,000+ members strong) with racist vitriol.

 

Obama needs to step up to the plate and tell us which of Rev. Wright's beliefs he shares and, more importantly IMO, which ones that he condemns. He also needs to explain why he has waited until now to distance himself from Wright.

 

 

Simply, the reverend is preaching to a black audience. IMO, as it is possible that Jesus was a black man, then it's appropriate that he portrays Jesus as a man to whom his congregation can identify. There's a reason why the majority of portraits of Jesus is white. I do not see anything overtly racist in that.

Simply, the reverend is preaching to a black audience. IMO, as it is possible that Jesus was a black man, then it's appropriate that he portrays Jesus as a man to whom his congregation can identify. There's a reason why the majority of portraits of Jesus is white. I do not see anything overtly racist in that.

 

I agree. It is no different than Jesus appearing white in painting/art in a white church or hispanic in a hispanic church.

 

To me, if is not Jesus's earthly body that one need to be concerned about.

Simply, the reverend is preaching to a black audience. IMO, as it is possible that Jesus was a black man, then it's appropriate that he portrays Jesus as a man to whom his congregation can identify. There's a reason why the majority of portraits of Jesus is white. I do not see anything overtly racist in that.

I respectfully disagree. It seems most likely that Jesus had an appearance similar to the other people who were born and died in the Bethlehem area. I do agree that Rev. Wright presented Jesus as a poor black man because he was maximizing his appeal to a predominately black congregation.

 

The recording of Rev. Wright reenforces the impression that I already had of the Trinity United Church of Christ after spending a few hours browsing its website when it first appeared that Obama had a chance at the Democratic nomination. Race has no legitimate place in religion or politics. Americans first commitment should be to their own nation and people, regardless of the color of their skin.

I agree. It is no different than Jesus appearing white in painting/art in a white church or hispanic in a hispanic church.

 

To me, if is not Jesus's earthly body that one need to be concerned about.

When was the last time that you heard a minister or priest who was not African-American claim that Jesus was a white man? I do not regularly attend church, but I have never heard any preacher make such a claim. In the absense of evidence to the contrary, it seems like common sense to believe that Jesus was of Middle Eastern origin because that is where he was born. I agree that his race should not matter, so my question is why does it seem to matter so much to Barrack Obama's spiritual mentor?

 

I have always considered the lame attempts to paint Obama as a Muslim to be ridiculous. I am much more troubled by Obama's membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ than I would be if he was a moderate Muslim.

 

Who cares if Obama was or was not a Muslim in elementary school? It is irrelevant. Obama's ongoing relationship to Rev. Wright is not irrelevant.

When was the last time that you heard a minister or priest who was not African-American claim that Jesus was a white man? I do not regularly attend church, but I have never heard any preacher make such a claim. In the absense of evidence to the contrary, it seems like common sense to believe that Jesus was of Middle Eastern origin because that is where he was born. I agree that his race should not matter, so my question is why does it seem to matter so much to Barrack Obama's spiritual mentor?

 

I have always considered the lame attempts to paint Obama as a Muslim to be ridiculous. I am much more troubled by Obama's membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ than I would be if he was a moderate Muslim.

 

Who cares if Obama was or was not a Muslim in elementary school? It is irrelevant. Obama's ongoing relationship to Rev. Wright is not irrelevant.

 

 

For the most part Anglo churches don't have to speak the claim. The claim that Jesus is more European White is made in the art that surrounds many churches. I pastor a church with stain glass. Jesus looks very Anglo-Saxon in the windows. I recall one of the first paintings to influence my childhood was of Jesus as the good shepherd. In that painting I see now a very European looking shepherd for someone who is born Semitic and raised in the climate of the Middle East.

 

The truth is that we all have a tendency to paint Jesus as he identifies with us. White America sees him as European (one of the more famous paintings of Jesus makes him look like he walked out of a hair salon with gleaming blue eyes.) and often Black America sees him as someone at least more bronzed if not black. Ever see some of the art work from Asia by Asian-Christians? Jesus has more squint there than in my church windows.

For the most part Anglo churches don't have to speak the claim. The claim that Jesus is more European White is made in the art that surrounds many churches. I pastor a church with stain glass. Jesus looks very Anglo-Saxon in the windows. I recall one of the first paintings to influence my childhood was of Jesus as the good shepherd. In that painting I see now a very European looking shepherd for someone who is born Semitic and raised in the climate of the Middle East.

 

The truth is that we all have a tendency to paint Jesus as he identifies with us. White America sees him as European (one of the more famous paintings of Jesus makes him look like he walked out of a hair salon with gleaming blue eyes.) and often Black America sees him as someone at least more bronzed if not black. Ever see some of the art work from Asia by Asian-Christians? Jesus has more squint there than in my church windows.

Artistic license aside, I know of no Caucasian minister who claims that Jesus was a Caucasian. The churches that I have attended in eastern Kentucky never gave me the impression that Jesus was of Eurpean heritage.

 

I just finished watching video clips of Rev. Dr. Wright and then watched Obama being interviewed on Fox News and I believe that Obama's campaign is in deep trouble over his association with Wright. I found Obama's explanations very underwhelming and unconvincing. His careful word selection in answering Major Garrett's questions struck me as very Clintonian (Bill Clintonian - not Hillary).

 

The fact that Obama appeared on FNC to respond to the revelations about his pastor shows some desperation, IMO. He sees his chances of winning the votes of white independents and white moderate Republicans slipping away. Without independents and moderates, Obama will be well on his way to a McGovernesque defeat.

 

The story about Trinity United Church of Christ and its racist pastor has been available for the taking ever since Obama tossed his hat into the ring. Why is the story suddenly being carried by the liberal news media?

Better late than never...

 

Controversial minister leaves Obama campaign

 

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., condemned racially charged sermons by his former pastor Friday and urged Americans not to reject his presidential campaign because of “guilt by association.”

 

Obama’s campaign announced that the minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., had left its spiritual advisory committee after videotapes of his sermons again ignited fierce debate in news accounts and political blogs.

 

Obama did not clarify whether Wright volunteered to leave his African American Religious Leadership Committee, a loose group of supporters associated with the campaign, or whether the campaign asked him to leave.

When was the last time that you heard a minister or priest who was not African-American claim that Jesus was a white man? I do not regularly attend church, but I have never heard any preacher make such a claim. In the absense of evidence to the contrary, it seems like common sense to believe that Jesus was of Middle Eastern origin because that is where he was born. I agree that his race should not matter, so my question is why does it seem to matter so much to Barrack Obama's spiritual mentor?

 

I have always considered the lame attempts to paint Obama as a Muslim to be ridiculous. I am much more troubled by Obama's membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ than I would be if he was a moderate Muslim.

 

Who cares if Obama was or was not a Muslim in elementary school? It is irrelevant. Obama's ongoing relationship to Rev. Wright is not irrelevant.

 

 

How is it that you all take so many comments and spin them? This is not what I said. Please refer to my actual post, but, in short...paintings, artwork, ect appears in churches, childrens books, etc with Jesus as a white man...in Hispanic churches, He has Hispanic characteristics. THAT is what I said.

 

I honestly don't care what Rev. Wright says.

How is it that you all take so many comments and spin them? This is not what I said. Please refer to my actual post, but, in short...paintings, artwork, ect appears in churches, childrens books, etc with Jesus as a white man...in Hispanic churches, He has Hispanic characteristics. THAT is what I said.

 

I honestly don't care what Rev. Wright says.

You said that Rev. Wright claiming Jesus to be a poor black man is no different than European artists giving Jesus European features. It is different. Jeremiah Wright has made repeated racist comments and he has been the Obamas' pastor for 17 years. Had John McCain collected Caucasian Jesus paintings by European artists over a 17 year period, then maybe your analogy would fit.

 

Now, Obama has gone on record as saying that had he been present when Rev. Wright made his racist remarks that he would have left the church. Few people who see Wright demonize white Americans, blame our goverment for the 9/11 attacks, and compare our nation to Al Qaeda are going to believe that Obama has not heard similar statements from the pulpit in his 17 years as a member of the Trinity congregation.

 

The issue was judgment. Now, the issue is credibility and Obama is in danger of losing his.

Obama and his campaign are unraveling. Who knows how much money Rezko really contributed to Obama?

 

Obama: Rezko Raised Up to $250K

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Presidential candidate Barack Obama said Friday that he got more political money from indicted Chicago businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko than he has previously acknowledged.

 

Rezko helped raise up to $250,000 for his various political races, Obama's campaign said. The campaign had previously put the figure at $150,000 but now says that amount was only for his 2004 Senate race.

 

And in interviews with two Chicago newspapers, the Democrat again said it was a mistake to involve Rezko in his purchase of a new home — not just because Rezko was under federal investigation but because he was a contributor and political activist.

By that criteria does that mean that anyone who spoke up for Strom Thurmond (even at a birthday party i.e. Trent Lott) is likewise a racist?

 

Didn't Strom's position on blacks change considerably? From what I recall, while Strom espoused racist positions earlier in his career, later in life he admitted he was wrong. Which happened with a lot of people, both R and D.

 

While Morehead Eagle will disagree, I see a big difference in 1. being endorsed by a wack job and 2. having a close relationship with someone who is a racist (and only someone blinded by candidate or party loyalty will argue that Sen. Wright is not a racist after listening to his recent diatribe). To state that American deserved 9/11 because of our use of the atomic bomb in WWII is simply indefensible. Do I think Obama believes what his former minister espoused? Heck, I have no idea what Obama believes to be honest. I know he says he doesn't have those views, but I have to admit, that there is zero chance that I would stay involved in a church lead by someone that had those views; there is zero chance that I would call someone with those views my spiritual advisor and there is zero chance that I would have anything to do with someone that had those views. If what I've recently heard and read is true, the fact that Sen. Obama continued to have a relationship with Wright is troubling to me, and as most people on here that have taken the time to read my posts on here over the years know that I'm not the type of Republican to espouse hatred and sling mud towards Democrats. I would be just as troubled with McCain if he recently attended a church lead by a minister espousing support for the KKK, or McCain stated that such a minister was his spiritual advisor. I would consider such to be extremely poor judgment even if McCain didn't support what his minister was saying.

Didn't Strom's position on blacks change considerably? From what I recall, while Strom espoused racist positions earlier in his career, later in life he admitted he was wrong. Which happened with a lot of people, both R and D.

 

While Morehead Eagle will disagree, I see a big difference in 1. being endorsed by a wack job and 2. having a close relationship with someone who is a racist (and only someone blinded by candidate or party loyalty will argue that Sen. Wright is not a racist after listening to his recent diatribe). To state that American deserved 9/11 because of our use of the atomic bomb in WWII is simply indefensible. Do I think Obama believes what his former minister espoused? Heck, I have no idea what Obama believes to be honest. I know he says he doesn't have those views, but I have to admit, that there is zero chance that I would stay involved in a church lead by someone that had those views; there is zero chance that I would call someone with those views my spiritual advisor and there is zero chance that I would have anything to do with someone that had those views. If what I've recently heard and read is true, the fact that Sen. Obama continued to have a relationship with Wright is troubling to me, and as most people on here that have taken the time to read my posts on here over the years know that I'm not the type of Republican to espouse hatred and sling mud towards Democrats. I would be just as troubled with McCain if he recently attended a church lead by a minister espousing support for the KKK, or McCain stated that such a minister was his spiritual advisor. I would consider such to be extremely poor judgment even if McCain didn't support what his minister was saying.

 

 

It only changed publically when it became politically expedient for him to change. (Same as Jesse Helms) When it became clear that the fight for Civil Rights was over and segregation lost, then Thurmond began to publically change his tune. I doubt he had a blinding light experience in the crucible of the issue. :thumb: