posted on Apr, 29 2008 @ 11:28 PM
I think this entire issue is really more simple than people are making it out to be...
With no offense toward Rev. Wright, he obviously likes the spotlight. He comes off as the type of person who gets people to think by making a
statement that is controversial and then letting them wrap their minds around it. A lot of people do this, he just happens to be on the cusp of one of
the most news covered political campaigns in history.
Rev. Wright helped bring Obama closer to God (something Obama himself says), he married Obama and his wife, he was a spiritual mentor to Obama. I
think in a lot of ways Wright feels like he helped make Obama. Now Obama is getting all of the attention, and Wright is still preaching at his church
(admittedly a VERY large church) in Chicago. I think Wright feels shortchanged because he isn't getting any attention, and the guy he feels like he
helped create is getting a lot of attention.
Then Wright gets thrown into the mix and gets his 15 minutes of fame (when the video of his first sermon was released) and he starts salivating. A guy
like Wright won't settle for just 15 minutes. Like I said earlier, he likes the spotlight, and doesn't want to give it up.
So are some things that are apparent:
1.) Wright likes the spotlight
2.) He chooses to make his points by making controversial statements
3.) He feels that at some point in the mix of things it is harder in America to be an outspoken black person than it is to be an outspoken white
person
4.) He has a book coming out in November
I think Wright has "become a charicature of himself" as Obama said. He got into the spotlight and wants to stay. I believe Obama when he says that
Wright is no longer the person he once knew (or thought he knew).
Obama has done the right thing. He has discontinued his association with a man who is saying some very inflammatory things simply because he has a
louder voice to say them with now that he is being covered by the national news.
Wright doesn't speak for Obama anymore than Obama should have to apologize for what Wright says now that he has dissassociated himself with the Rev.
It is as simple as that...
Obama is the best candidate up there. No person has motivated and inspired people to participate in the political process (from both parties, for
various reasons) like he has. It is a shame that with so much inspiration and excitement around a campaign, there is an equal amount of skepticism and
bitterness. I think Wright surprised Obama by choosing to be on the bitter side rather than the inspired side...