Obama, Faith, and Double Standards

17Mar2008 Filed under: Politics Author: Mike Van Winkle

Jeremiah Wright criticized America for not being inclusive and metaphorically said God should damn America. Rod Parsley, John Hagee, Falwell, Robertson and many other right wing preachers say literally God damned America for being tolerant and sent hurricanes or terrorists. Which is worse?

Wright’s “God Damn America” is at least the moral equivalent to the inflammatory rhetoric of John Hagee et al, but the point is that if John McCain were a twenty-year devotee of Mr. Hagee or Mr. Falwell, you bet the press would be all over him about it. Just because the Obama campaign would like this to go away does not mean that it will, or that it should.

Tags: Election 2008, obama, Wright

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4 Responses to “Obama, Faith, and Double Standards”

Beasley's Brother
March 18th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

I believe that the speech from Senator Barack Obama today clarifies and raises consciousness about the Senator’s relationship with Rev. Wright and explains where Rev. Wright are coming from. In due respect, McCain receives support from Pat Robertson, James Dobson, & the Late Jerry Fawell. Each one of those gentleman have a long history of racism and bigoted comments.

Regardless, It is not helping matters when we engage in this dialogue. America is the most segregated on Sunday Morning when they attend church. There is alot of things that I disagree with in my own faith, but it is mine and I own it. Barack Obama owns his faith, and probably disagrees with many statements that are made. But it is a private matter. So we need to step back, breathe and go forward.
mike van winkle
March 19th, 2008 at 10:26 am

Interesting observation. We are the most segregated on Sunday mornings. I think you are exactly right about this. The question is though, does someone’s “faith” matter. It is hardly the same that John Hagee happens to endorse McCain. But Obama actually goes to Wright’s church, which means he, at least tacitly, endorses Wright? Right?

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Robert Depper
March 19th, 2008 at 1:02 pm

I have yet to feel comfortable with the microscopic attention to Wright’s comments. Hell, I didn’t pay much attention to them once I got the gist of his statements and the gist of the media attention. I don’t think it’s fair to judge Obama by the statements of his pastor. And it’s certainly not fair to make all the wild polemic leaps made by many in the blogworld and the mainstream media for that matter to Obama’s views on race or America. I watched the race speech that Obama just made and continue to be impressed with his classiness, directness, and rhetorical gifts.
Leslie
March 19th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

When Obama referred in his speech to other churches and their pastors, that hit home to me, since I’m Catholic. Several Catholic bishops — in my opinion — behaved with close to criminal abandon in shuffling around and covering up for priests. If I ran for public office, I would not expect to be held to account for what I did (or didn’t) do to speak up about that, or leave my church. Many of us have been disappointed by the clay feet of our own religious leaders.

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