Obama asked to explain after his minister 'damns' America

There is no reason to assume that Barack Obama agrees with his minister, The Rev. Jeremiah Wright; in fact, there is every reason to believe he does not. Nevertheless, this is the man who baptized the democratic presidential candidate's daughters, who married him to his wife, to whose church he has gone for many years, where he has heard the minister's sermon week in, week out.

The title of the Illinois senator's second book, the successful "The Audacity of Hope" is borrowed from him. And this minister - how does one put it? - has ideas which deviate from the American public's acceptable mainstream.

Over the weekend, a number of short videos were released featuring some of Wright's provocative statements. He, for example, believes that the United States brought the events of September 11 upon itself.

"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 into our own front yards," Wright said.

The minister is recorded on video making these comments to members of the "Trinity United Church of Christ" in Chicago. In addition to this, he is documented cursing America: "The government? wants us to sing God bless America? No, no, no! Not God bless America! God damn America." He also accused the U.S. administration of distributing drugs to the black community.

This is not the first time that this man has caused Obama embarrassment, although it appears that these new video clips seen on television are far graver, with every YouTube surfer now able to glance at and be impressed by them.

When the candidate spoke to Jewish voters in Cleveland a few weeks ago, he was asked about his relationship with Wright. His audience was not familiar with the new remarks, but were still concerned about the fact that Wright gave a Lifetime Achievement Award to another African-American preacher and open anti-Semite, Louis Farrakhan, and some comments he made about Israel - which is not a state he is particularly fond of.

Obama was ready for this question. He acknowledged that Wright was one of those who sometimes says "controversial things," and characterized the minister as, "like an old uncle, who sometimes says things I don't agree with."

Afterwards he reminded those present that they too may have an uncle like this, or another relative, whom they heard express himself in a manner not completely correct, such as when he may have spoken "about African-Americans," and despite this they still did not break contact with him.

Obama has already clarified, and clarified again, that he does not think Farrakhan deserved the award for his anti-Semitic outbursts. In a recent televised debate, Obama even rejected Farrakhan's endorsement of him, and denounced his positions.

In any event, the way he has treated Wright has always been to tiptoe around the issue - distancing himself from positions on certain subjects without denying their relationship, the esteem and respect he feels for him. All of this somehow worked until now. His campaign staff had hoped that Wright's retirement from the church a few weeks ago would prevent new scandals, although now it is doubtful whether Obama keep this magic trick working. Not in the light of the new comments.

"Obama chose this racist demagogue as his pastor for decades," says Roger Simon of the U.S. daily Politico. Anyway, an interesting question is now under discussion: to what extent can a candidate be connected to the comments of his associates, and to what extent he is required to distance himself from controversial people even when it is obvious that there is not the slightest trace of evidence of consensus between them.

Blacks are forgiven more often

There were those who tried to compare the connection between Obama and Wright to that of Republican candidates to extremist preachers from the Evangelistic right. For example, the relationship between John McCain and the pro-Israel preacher John Hagee, who has already expressed similar contempt for the Catholic faith. This is a possible comparison, but in this case it is not applicable.

"[Obama's] connection to Wright isn't the equivalent to John McCain's going to Liberty University to make nice with [preacher] Jerry Falwell," writes Ross Douthat in The Atlantic magazine. "It's the equivalent of John McCain taking his wife and children, most Sundays, to Jerry Falwell's church." And this McCain has not done - neither with Falwell, nor with Hagee."

This is what one of Obama's Jewish listeners in Cleveland asked him: "Would a Jewish senator be forgiven for his belonging to a synagogue which is headed by a rabbi who curses America?" He thinks that such a senator would not. He also thinks that Obama has been treated lightly on this issue. Why? The listener is silent. If he would have spoken, he would certainly have mentioned the color of the candidate's skin. He is not the only one to hold that extreme remarks by African-American leaders are treated leniently.

In any event, the debate concerning the candidate's skin color is renewing. Wright, when he explained the deficiencies of the opposing candidate, said "Hillary [Clinton] ain't never been called a Nigger!" This is true, of course, but it not certain whether it is relevant.

Obama, who tried, and succeeded, in ridding himself of the epithet "the Black candidate" is being drawn into this niche again and again. Clinton's campaign plays an important role in this.

Bill Clinton indeed compared Obama to the "black" candidate of the 1980s, Jesse Jackson. Former vice presidential contender Geraldine Ferraro last week got into trouble when she said the Illinois senator was a candidate only on account of his color. Wright also, even here, contributed to the painting of Obama as "Black." This helps in Mississippi, where he won, but will be counted as a disadvantage in general. America is perhaps ready for a black president - but it is not ready for a "black" president.

Unacceptable comments

Obama's campaign responded to the videos with amazement and anger. Amazement - because Obama indeed has already explained that he does not agree with Wright. Anger - because of the assumption that the publication is nothing but another milestone in the slur campaign being carried out against him: that Obama took his official oath of office with his hand on the Koran, will consult with Zbigniew Brzezinski, and wants to surrender to Iran.

This is an understandable response for a campaign which has had to contend with not a few lies and many half-truths. Nevertheless, it is not the correct response, and explanations given up to now have barely sufficed.

Obama on Friday made his first step in the right direction, when he told the Fox news network that Wright's comments are unacceptable, and do not reflect what he heard when he himself was present for the minister's sermons.

First step - but it will not be the last one.


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