Should a candidate be held responsible for the views of his or her pastor?
If we were all held accountable for the views of our clergymen/women, then no one would ever go to church/synagogue etc. Obama shouldn’t be held responsible for all the words of Jeremiah Wright. It is, however, totally fair to ask Obama what parts of Wright’s ideology he agrees with, and which he disagrees with.
The reality is that Americans deal with this kind of thing all the time in their own lives. They go to a church where the pastor repeatedly says things they disagree with and have to decide at what point it’s too much to stomach. Ironically, Wesley Clark was mocked in 2004 for leaving a church because the minister criticized the war. Howard Dean was criticized for leaving a church over land use or development policies.
Some people stay at such a church because they feel that part of a minister’s job is to challenge the views of his congregants. Some stay because the Sunday school is terrific. More commonly, I hear people say something like, “I don’t like the minister’s sermons, but he was so wonderful when my father died.” We should remember that the main purpose of a minister is spiritual. If he helps someone get closer to God, or find meaning, that matters tremendously.
So, it’s not sufficient for Obama to say Wright is a crazy uncle. He has to say what parts of Wright’s message he shares. More important, Obama needs to explain why he’s stayed at the church. It’s a totally legitimate question. If his answer is that, despite Wright’s views on politics and race, the church brought Obama spiritual meaning, then that needs to count for a lot.
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Obama has a perfect opportunity to explain his beliefs to the American people. About his background and where he spent his early childhood and what shaped him. Maybe these are already in his book which I have not read. When Richard Nixson was besieged in the 1952 election, Nixon
used the checkers speech to overcome his problem and stayed on the ticket.
My only concern is that Louis Farrakhan, an avowed and outspoken anti-Semite is also in the mix. But Obama with his oratory can transcend
whatever he chooses if he is truly sincere. He has a perfect chance to
address uncertainty about his origins if he is sincere.
What we learn in Church in basic Gospel churhes, is to forgive people that have wronged us. Looking at any Black community, including their churches, we see that this basic of Gospel doctrines is thrown out. Violence and hate is put into practice with ease. Thug life is celebrated in Black community and lifestyle. Obama was taught and conditioned by "his" pastor of 20-years. No amount of slick denials by a politician is going to change the fact that Wright's racism and hatred is implanted in the Obama's. Michelle Obama proved how deep is the hatred of America within them. She is middle-aged and has only been proud of America when it bows to Barack. Ferreting out the marxist and herectical beliefs of Obama and his Pastor is very important. What a marxist could do in a few weeks, let alone four years is something to dread and reject.
"part of a minister’s job is to challenge the views of his congregants"
It is? I thought his job was to teach within the bounds of an established Christian framework, not make up his own.
But as a Catholic, I have to say, these not-so-mainline Protestant churches make no sense to me. Not only is there no Real Presence, no liturgy (as we know it), heck there is hardly any talk about Jesus, because so much time seems dedicated to the Clintons and 9/11 and black opression.
And yes, Obama has to be held responsible, because lacking all those things listed above, a church like his has nothing to go on but its minister. It becomes a "cult of personality" as they say. The reason people show up is the sermon as delivered by this particular man.
That says a lot about this particular candidate, don't you think?
have any of you actually listened to Reverand Wright?
i watched several YouTube clips and he appears to be making some very cogent arguments germaine to social justice and his "flock."
black people, especially in Chicago, experience racism everyday. it would be odd if their pastor did not address these basic everyday issues of justice.
he fulfills a very different role than those of his parishioners who are offered these observations for reflection. instead of reflection we get sanctimonious hate and misunderstanding... walk a mile in another's man shoes, before you condemn him...
c'mon... it doesn't take much Christly compassion to recognize the greivous harm endured by black people in this country? true, much is good, but it is not the Pastor's job to dwell on what works, but correcting what's not...
Steven Waldman:
I agree with you about respecting Obama's source of spiritual inspiration -- without letting the spin doctors turn our heads.
Are you the editor having the birthday tomorrow? If so, happy birthday.
Allow me to give you the spiritual scoop of the century.
Isaac Mozeson, author of 8 books
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