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Jillette Sparks a Thought
Penn Jillette rambles for over seven minutes in order to deliver a cynical suspicion -- i.e., that the Obama-Wright relationship might have ended due to a deliberate scheme. Please. Obama's dad left when he was two, and Wright filled that vacuum when Obama came of age in his mid 20s, and family is family.
Americans always vote over character issues and they don't get the hold that fathers have over their sons? You don't need a master's degree to suss this stuff out, but a lot of baboons out there are still hung up on why Obama stayed with Wright for as long as he did.
How many guys out there have cut ties with their dads because their political beliefs aren't in synch with his, or because his views on this or that are extreme or perverse or impossibly retrograde? Not one. If your father's philosophy is asinine or astonishing, you might argue a bit once in a while but you always let it go after four or five minutes of pointless debate because his jerkweed beliefs are set in stone. You suck it in and change the subject and say "please pass the mashed potatoes." Anyone who says they don't play it this way is a liar.
There's also this view from Chicago Tribune reporters Christi Parsons and Manya A. Brachear:
"In Chicago, the choice to attend [Rev. Wright's] Trinity for so long is a little less of a puzzle, given Obama and Wright's shared history on the city's South Side and the spiritual and cultural haven the church and pastor offered the aspiring politician.
"Membership at Trinity is often taken as a progressive credential, a sign that a person is attuned to issues of social justice and equality and supportive of issues important to its gay and lesbian members.
"'Rev. Wright is more sophisticated intellectually than many pastors,' said Kwame Raoul, the state senator who took Obama's place in the Illinois legislature and who is a member at Trinity. 'He's well-read, he takes the theology seriously. He doesn't just make quick references to the Bible but offers a very deep analysis and an application to current events.'
"In an interview in early 2007, Obama said Wright had affected his politics by nurturing his connection to the historically black church and how he understands the obligations of his faith.
"'He's been somebody who has helped me feel comfortable with some of my doubts when it comes to faith and how to work those through,' Obama said at the time. 'His scholarship is very rigorous, and his sense of social justice is very keen.'"
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 3, 2008 at 6:58 AM
comment #1
Arizona Joe
says ...
I would not discount Penn Jillette's theory of chicanery out of hand, nor Wells' psychological analysis of the Obama - Wright relationship.
I am still hung up why Obama stayed with Wright as long as he did. My impression of Obama is that he is a product of the Harvard Law Review at his essence, i.e., that his mind is an information processing machine. Obama is able to assimilate a great many facts, get to the issues, and then make a persuasive argument on what needs to be done. And in Obama's case the argument issues from a fellow who is charismatic, handsome and the embodiment of multicultural.
Now, upon graduation from law school, Obama did not go to a white shoe law firm or Wall Street. He chose a much different path which leads one to believe that he had his sights set on big time politics from the get-go. Given that he thrived in the crucible of Harvard Law, he knew in his bones that he would at least be a United States Senator. [Just as Jim Cramer knew that he would make at least tens of millions of dollars.]
Hence, I suspect for all his estimable brain power, and his genuine compassion for ordinary citizens, Obama lacks gut instinct and cunning.
Probably after 9/11, Obama should have seen cut ties with Reverend Wright. I am surprised he did not realize the guy was radioactive, and see that his pastor's words would haunt him in the long term.
Lord knows the Clintons have a complicated, messy, mutual psychology. However, they have dumped a great many associates through the years because they knew they were a liability, e.g., Jim and Susan McDougal, Lani Guinier.
It is amazing the Republicans now desire Obama as an opponent rather than Clinton. I have heard anecdotally rock solid older liberal Democrats express apprehension about Obama's character.
Race is the big factor, of course. But it is still astonishing that Obama now has more baggage than Clinton. Obama was reluctant to denounce Wright, and at the same time he talked down to small town folks with religion and guns. Here's a guy who's managed to paint himself as a radical black and an elitist all at once, a remarkable dialectic.
I admire Obama. I think in many ways he is superior to Clinton. However, he has been naive and lacked circumspection. And I don't think he has gotten much help from his campaign staff. Leadership involves the delegation of responsibility, and I really wonder what kind of a White House staff he would have.
Rev. Wright is sophisticated intellectually? Rev. Wright's scholarship is vigorous? Have another Courvoisier. If Rev. Wright was really smart and sincere, he would have kept near invisible for the duration of the election.
Posted by Arizona Joe
at May 3, 2008 11:11 AM
comment #2
Josh Massey
says ...
So you came to Mel Gibson's defense when his father said his outlandish things?
Posted by Josh Massey
at May 3, 2008 8:47 PM
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