Wright's "chickens coming home to roost"

Read the following and tell me if you'd be surprised if you heard Noam Chomsky, Chalmers Johnson, or even Michael Moore speaking these words.

I salute Anderson Cooper for actually reporting on the entire sermon, rather than a 10 second snippet.

   "We took this country by terror away from the Sioux, the Apache, Arikara, the Comanche, the Arapaho, the Navajo. Terrorism.

   "We took Africans away from their country to build our way of ease and kept them enslaved and living in fear. Terrorism.

   "We bombed Grenada and killed innocent civilians, babies, non-military personnel.

   "We bombed the black civilian community of Panama with stealth bombers and killed unarmed teenage and toddlers, pregnant mothers and hard working fathers.

   "We bombed Qaddafi's home, and killed his child. Blessed are they who bash your children's head against the rock.

   "We bombed Iraq. We killed unarmed civilians trying to make a living. We bombed a plant in Sudan to pay back for the attack on our embassy, killed hundreds of hard working people, mothers and fathers who left home to go that day not knowing that they'd never get back home.

   "We bombed Hiroshima. We bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon and we never batted an eye.

   "Kids playing in the playground. Mothers picking up children after school. Civilians, not soldiers, people just trying to make it day by day.

   "We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff that we have done overseas is now brought right back into our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost.

   "Violence begets violence. Hatred begets hatred. And terrorism begets terrorism. A white ambassador said that y'all, not a black militant. Not a reverend who preaches about racism. An ambassador whose eyes are wide open and who is trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice upon which we are now poised. The ambassador said the people we have wounded don't have the military capability we have. But they do have individuals who are willing to die and take thousands with them. And we need to come to grips with that."


Tags: obama, Wright (all tags)

Comments

48 Comments

Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

Wright has been defused. It has been defused because the this same pastor met Bill Clinton in the White House.
This pastor is now a 'comical' man. He is not angry but a ranting old man. That is the new meme. Those who were pushing Wright before are back pedalling now.

Obama is home free.

by ListenNOW 2008-03-21 08:22AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

Do you have anything else to say.

This is basically what you said all day yesterday.

You are beginning to sound very creepy.

By the way if you think releasing a photo everyone has laughed at would make the issue go away , you have to be on something.

by lori 2008-03-21 08:24AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

The issue will/would have gone away on it's own, as it is at heart a silly issue in a complicated and important campaign.

I agree that the photos are meaningless and not worth any real discussion.  I don't see any evidence that it was the Obama camp shopping them around, however.

by Cycloptichorn 2008-03-21 08:26AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

In providing the photograph to The New York Times, the Obama campaign appeared to be trying to divert some attention to the Clintons after a week in which Mr. Obama's relationship with Mr. Wright has left him facing one of the biggest challenges of his campaign

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/ 03/20/photograph-of-bill-clinton-and-rev -wright-surfaces/

There you go.

by lori 2008-03-21 08:30AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

Thanks.  Well, they shouldn't have done that, as the photos are not indicative of anything and are as silly as the whole Wright issue is at heart.

by Cycloptichorn 2008-03-21 08:35AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

How old are you? How many presidential elections have you paid attention to?

This may go away for the primary, which I also doubt very much, but it will be all Wright, all the time, in the general. If you think otherwise you are dangerously deluded.

by americanincanada 2008-03-21 08:32AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

I don't think people will remember too much of it, other then those who were predisposed to look for reasons to dislike Obama to begin with.  March is a long way from October and November.

Now, I'd like to hear you pledge: if Obama is the Dem nominee, you aren't going to work to KEEP it in the minds of people.  Will you?

by Cycloptichorn 2008-03-21 08:36AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

You want to hear a silly story?

The general public was convinced that Kerry was a wimp, despite being a war veteran with a purple heart.

by mjc888 2008-03-21 08:52AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

That had much more to do with Kerry's inability to effectively fight those accusations then anything else.

I doubt Obama will have that problem.

by Cycloptichorn 2008-03-21 08:54AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

The Kerry wimp thing is a great example.  I'm so glad that there's nothing like that that right can use against Clinton.  Whew!

by niksder 2008-03-21 09:06AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

What is wrong with you, the minute the Republicans have an ad of Wright, the Democrats will have an ad of Haggee preaching New Orleans deserved Katrina, and Robertson's latest rantings, and Rod Parsley calling Catholics "deamons."

/Sad to see Democrats are still afraid of the Republicans.  

by rejectandenounce 2008-03-21 08:41AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

And how close was McCain to this guy?

by mjc888 2008-03-21 08:53AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

Quite a rude comment there, but I'll reply to it. I've been involved in politics since campaigning for Congressman William Fitts Ryan in NYC in 1964. This commenter is correct. The modern day news cycle is about 6 hours, the retention span maybe 6 days.

Just as Bill Clinton's adolescent ranting in SC has long since gone away, so will Wright's youtube videos. What will remain is the image of Obama's brilliant speech on Tuesday. The only ones who will remain influenced by Rev. Wright are those who would never have voted for Obama in the first place.

What will also remain is the war in Iraq and the spiraling economy.

by vermontprog 2008-03-21 09:44AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

After the Clinton camp refused to hit him on it publicly , he was caught pushing the photo to the public , just like the Rezko one.

New kinda of politics.

by lori 2008-03-21 08:33AM | 0 recs
Sure, sure

The Clintons were entirely above board on the Wright issue.  If you consider pushing it to the superdelegates as a reason Obama is "unelectable," or Hillary being unable to deny at a press conference that they're pushing it as "above board."

Riiiiiight.

I think that bringing this Wright/Clinton picture to the media's attention serves two purposes:

1)  It is solid evidence that Wright is a respected religious leader, and not just some kook or crank.

2)  It points out the Clintons' hypocrisy for making hay out of this when they have previously acknowledged him as a religious leader.  Important enough to come to D.C. for Bill's mea culpa about Monica, and apparently sit right beside Hillary during the meal.

It in no way should equivocate the two relationships.  Obama's is obviously a lot closer.  But it does . . . or should . . . serve to defuse the situation a little more, and maybe get team Clinton to STFU about it.

by Praxxus 2008-03-21 09:54AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

Not silly to the 56% of voters than now question Obama since the Wright videos surfaced.

by mjc888 2008-03-21 08:48AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

LOL. Dream on.

by mjc888 2008-03-21 08:26AM | 0 recs
Oh, HA HA HA HA HA

I've never read such a funny - and stupid - comment in my life.

Dream on!

by Shazone 2008-03-21 08:32AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to
Quit spamming. You've cut and pasted this comment about 30 times in the last 48 hours, and it's annoying.
by sricki 2008-03-21 10:21AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright'

god damn america !!!

That is enough .

Releasing photos that has been universally panned as amateur hour won't remedy the situation.

by lori 2008-03-21 08:22AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright'

Have you taken the time to listen to the sermons, or do you care so little for justice that you'll condemn someone on a sound bite?  

I challenge anyone to listen to the whole sermons and to still make the same claims.

They were posted in this diary (and elsewhere, I'm sure):

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/3/21/1174 6/7411

by freedom78 2008-03-21 09:09AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright'

Who are you going to defend next because of "context"? Ward Churchill himself?

There was a time when all Democrats were embarrassed by the likes of Wright and Churchill, because they so perfectly fed into the narrative that Democrats hated America, which was regarded as a vicious smear and fabrication.

Now many of these same Democrats are going to all lengths to defend these kind of hateful utterances.

Really, you should be ashamed to call yourself a Democrat if you're going to defend this kind of ugliness.

by frankly0 2008-03-21 10:44AM | 0 recs
They are NOT "hateful utterances"

the brief soundbites grossly misrepresent Wright's actual beliefs and sermons.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TRINITYCHGO

Listen to them in fuller context.  Just do it already.

by bigpink 2008-03-21 12:25PM | 0 recs
YOU should be ashamed

Wright is a mainstream, African-American religious and academic LEADER.  Anyone who hears the sermons in their fuller context and still accuses him of being racist and America-hating should check themselves out of the progressive movement / Democratic party.

by bigpink 2008-03-21 12:27PM | 0 recs
Re:

How do you think the republican commercials will use it in November? This is no longer about just getting the nomination among democrats but about winning the country in November.

by americanincanada 2008-03-21 08:23AM | 0 recs
More

He should have printed the earlier part too, where Amb. Peck first made the remarks.

Also, the later comments about seeing the people in the WTC was moving as well.

by elrod 2008-03-21 08:25AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens

Remember Jesse Jackson's "Hymietown" comment?

It lived on and on.

These videos are much, much worse of a situation.

by mjc888 2008-03-21 08:29AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens

That settles it.

If Jeremiah Wright is the Democratic nominee, I will not vote for him.

What?

He's not running?

Well... they all look and think alike.

by zonk 2008-03-21 08:38AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens

LOL.  Point taken, but too bad that Obama is so closely associated with Wright.

by mjc888 2008-03-21 08:56AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens

"They all look and think alike."

Sounds like something Obama said just yesterday, that his grandmother was a "typical white."

by mjc888 2008-03-21 08:57AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens

What's atypical about her?

by zonk 2008-03-21 09:00AM | 0 recs
If Obama's grandmother is not atypical

Then what, exactly, is a "typical white person"?

by DaveOinSF 2008-03-21 09:30AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens
I remember an Obamite yesterday saying that "we should milk the photo for all it's worth." Well, newsflash, it's worthless. However what's interesting is that the use of the photo is just the kind politics by innuendo that Obama preaches we must rid ourselves of. He speaks of Washington being broken for reasons like that, but reaches out to use it the moment the going get's a little tough. Well Mr. Obama I have news for you, things will get a lot rougher, as this campaign moves on, and if you do ever become President, things will get even rougher then that. Your promise was change and a new kind of politics, however the reality hat we see with you, whether it's pastorgate, or NAFTA, or Iraq is a lot more of the same piled higher and deeper.
 
by pollbuster 2008-03-21 08:45AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens

There are none so deaf as those that will not hear.

The whole point isn't that "SEE SEE CLINTON IS JUST AS BAD AS OBAMA" -- it's that Wright isn't the fringe monster many of you would so clearly love to paint him as.

by zonk 2008-03-21 08:49AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens

There are none so blind as those that will not see.

Taking a picture with somebody does not equal a lifetime of experience with that person or knowing that person well, or taking advice from that person, or learning from that person's teachings, or being close to that person, and so on, and so forth. Give it a rest, you can't win this debate.

by pollbuster 2008-03-21 09:11AM | 0 recs
He can't win the debate

If the people (s)he's debating won't read for comprehension or follow the rules of logic.

You completely ignored zonk's point, and restated your own.  No one can win a debate with someone that uses those tacticts!  Please re-read zonk's post and attempt to comprehend.  If what zonk said is unclear, ask for some clarification.

I'll even try to help:

The point isn't that the Clintons are as close to Wright as Obama.  That is a silly thing to claim.  The point is that Rev. Wright is considered enough of a respected religious leader to be invited to the White House.  For Bill's big Lewinsky confession, even!  The point is Wright is enough of a religious leader to sit at Hillary's right side during the dinner.  Are you getting it yet?

The point is, the Clintons are hypocrites for peddling Wright as a racist fearmonger when in the past, by their own actions, they have acknowledged that there is much more to him than that.

by Praxxus 2008-03-21 10:01AM | 0 recs
Re: He can't win the debate

Maybe you believe your own lies at this point, but the Clinton's were not the ones peddling Wright a fear monger, that's just your incredible allegation. It doesn't become any truer just because you know how to use bold type on your computer. The plain fact is that having dinner with someone doesn't equal a lifetime of experience with that person, and doesn't equal being inspired by the teachings of that person, as Obama apparently was inspired by Wright. Nor is it relevant where everyone sat at the dinner table. I have to admit that was pretty funny. And nor does it matter what else was going on that day. These schedules are planned months in advance, and not everything relates to each other. As I said to Zonk you can't win this debate even as a substitute for Zonk. perhaps someone should substitute for you. Oh and good luck to your candidate in trying to shake Mr. Wright. My advice to him is to find wool. He is going to need a lot of it to go over a lot of eyes.

by pollbuster 2008-03-21 10:48AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to
His image will be altered. He is angry now soon he will turned into a just a another 'ranting old man' on the fringe like Hagee is.
People that were shocked at him will be laughing at him.
Obama will have neutralized him.
by ListenNOW 2008-03-21 08:34AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

when would obama neutralize obama.

That seems to be who is running for president and has been damaged by it.

by lori 2008-03-21 08:35AM | 0 recs
Too bad

Nice effort, but a shame.

Some people -- who surprisingly seem able to work a computer -- are too attention-deficit affected, too ignorant, and too hellbent on finding a nice blurb to fit their world view to move beyond whatever snippet they can use for their own purposes.

So long as it gives them leave to scream 'RACIST!' - against a black minister who grew in an era of this, or this, or this.

But yeah... he ought to just get over it.  Everything is gumdrops and happy racial harmony now... what right does he have to still be pissed?

He's just an angry black man - and such people are scary... such people should... what exactly?

Can one of the many people painting him as America's biggest monster explain that exactly?

by zonk 2008-03-21 08:37AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

The Right is so up in arms over Wright.....it isn't race...it is that a democrat has religion and their base, the Christian right, is now up for grabs. Think about it...they don't like or trust McCain and Obama is a devout Christian who can talk to them about poverty, charity, social justice, loving-thy-brother, etc. They don't agree with him on abortion, but they do on gay rights(Obama says that the church shouldn't be forced to recognize gay rights and it should be the choice of individual demoninations).

All this means is that there is no distrust, just starting points for compromise. McCain demonized them in 2000 and is now pandering to them.

Rove's ticket to greatness is on the table and they're scared to death of Obama bringing them over to the democratic side.

by ListenNOW 2008-03-21 08:39AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's "chickens coming home to

Seriously what planet do you live on?

by pollbuster 2008-03-21 08:49AM | 0 recs
Chomsky and Moore

I would not be surprised to hear those words from Noam Chomsky or Michael Moore. I would be very surprised to hear that Obama looks to either of those figures as political leaders.

I think you are being unfair to Chalmers Johnson, he is not a polemicist.

by souvarine 2008-03-21 08:51AM | 0 recs
You are mistaken

Obama very clearly stated that he does not look up to Wright as a political leader.

Regarding Chalmers Johnson, here is the opening paragraph of the Introduction from "Rogue State."

"This book could be entitled "Serial Chain saw baby killers and the women who love them." The women dont really believe that their beloved would do such a thing, even if they're shown a severed limb or a headless torso. Or if they believe it, they know down to their bone marrow that lover-boy rally had the best of intentions; it must have been some kind of very unfortunate accident, a well-meaning blunder; in fact, even more likely, it was a humanitarian act."
 

by highgrade 2008-03-21 09:00AM | 0 recs
Re: You are mistaken

Obama chose Wright as his religious leader and sounding board. I can imagine Obama respecting Chomsky's work on language, or Moore as a polemicist, but neither are sources of Obama's fundamental views.

I have no doubt that Chalmers Johnson has strong views, and I have a personal understanding of what you quote above. But most of what I have read from him shows a deeper understanding of what America is than your quotes from Wright.

by souvarine 2008-03-21 09:10AM | 0 recs
Re: You are mistaken

Of course, Wright is not an academic so his treatment of the issue is obviously less sophisticated - but the underlying idea is the same.

I don't know that I'm as familiar as you seem to be (saying that Obama used Wright as a "sounding board"), but I cannot think of even one example where Obama looks like he believes in the newly created Wright school of foreign policy.

I understand this issue politically - it can be a very powerful tool, but practically speaking it's nuts to think that Obama is looking to Rev. Wright as a foreign policy guru.

by highgrade 2008-03-21 09:46AM | 0 recs
Re: Wright's

I agree with much Wright says there.

by TomP 2008-03-21 09:00AM | 0 recs
Nope

none of those people you mention, Chompsky, Moore et al. would have a snowball's chance in hell of ever being considered for the POTUS.  Whether or not I and many progressives might agree with a great many things that they say, the vast majority of Americans including many, many independents as Rasmussen is clearly showing in its polling, are just not there and it will not be Obama that gets them there.

by linc 2008-03-21 09:42AM | 0 recs

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