...But Hillary is the divisive one...

Recently, candidate Barack Obama quickly worked to distance himself from his 'spiritual advisor', Reverend Jeremiah Wright, as the more press Wright's sermons received, the more negatively the connection was viewed.

What does that connection entail? The talking points all over that everyone knows:

• Obama's attendance at the Pastor's church for the past 20 years.
• Wright married the Obamas.
• Wright baptized their daughters.
• The title of Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope", came from a Wright sermon.
• To recap- he went to the church for two decades.

I remember vividly when my mother decided to hang up her Buddhist beads and took me along for her Christian Church search. A few times at the Church of the Rock charismatic church, where people spoke in tongues and the whole damn thing was on TV ('dim the house lights, Pastor's gonna Heal...). Some sanity prevailed, and there was a quick jaunt to the Baptist church (never to be repeated, as I recall). One trip to the Staceys across the street's church, some odd affair where music wasn't allowed, so you sang to the tune of...whoever knew it best. And finally, The nearby Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, who accepted open, frank questions, didn't condemn to Hell its parish during sermons, and still managed to keep the formality inherent in the faith that broke away from the Holy See. Actually- I will restate- the Pastors who accepted open, frank discussion. The tone of a congregation is absolutely set by its minister. If one chooses to stay on at a church, to take time out of their lives to attend, and commit to indoctrinating one's children there- it is not a passing decision. America has churches on every other street corner, sometimes more- if one is uncomfortable, it's a simple matter to move on to the next one.

This post may seem a bit shocking for those of you who know me as somewhat an agnostic Buddhist- but my point is a vital one. As personal as choosing a faith is (or not choosing one), picking the person to represent, interpret, and reinforce that faith is even more personal, that much more critical. It determines the shape of ones belief system, and how that is subsequently acted upon.

Why do I care either way?

I care because it seems people were sold. I've been hearing for months now that Hil is just not inclusive enough, that only Barack has the makeup to unite our parties, our people.

His speech- which, to his credit, came from his own hand- rings well. The old 'looks like he dodged a bullet' review. It will be interesting to see if it is enough to overcome this. Or this, for that matter. I don't know what's worse- supporting a parish that clearly is...inflammatory and pretending it's not to win elections, or turning back on the guy who was your surrogate father and close mentor to win elections.

Tough call.

[source, source, source]

Comments

[Cassandra West]

What I like about Obama is that unlike Kerry who sat by like an idiot all during those Swiftboat ads, Obama fights back with elegance and grace and speaks from the heart. I truly think he, with his calm demeanor and careful explanations to people eager to eviscerate him, may be the one person who can throw some cold water on the raging conflagrations popping up all over the world.

[coeus]

Obama's speech rang true to me. I don't remember the last time a politician spoke about race in a way that was both honest and positive.

I'd love to see a youtube of that if anyone can think of one.
(Oh, and suggesting MLK is cheating.)

[Cassandra West]

Hillary's violation of her Passport Files occured in July of 2007, with a "training instructor" at computerside! The subject was instructed to activate her mother's file, and instead she typed in "Hillary Clinton"....Like THAT is a real violation!

The McCain breach was on March 14th, the same day as the last breakin to Obama's files. I suggest McCain's breach was obviously an afterthought, to divert attention from the Obama Breakin.

This, coupled with the FACT that the supervisor was a Clinton advocate, tells me CLINTON is behind it...Think about it....When did the Wright tapes hit the internet? ......March 14th? BINGO!

[Cassandra West]

Now, McCain has had to fire someone over supposedly being racist. This all diverts us and sidetracks us. Only a small percentage of any race is 'racist' to the point where they would want to hurt other people or curtail their rights. We need to ignore such foolishness and get to other issues I think it's stupid to allow all this mudslinging when we should be demanding answers from all the candidates.
McCain is an honorable man and so is Obama. I think they would both like to hold a civilized campaign if the media and pernicious factions could be circumvented.

[Cassandra West]

As Tamsen will attest- I was a right wing radical at one time. However, Gerald Ford, John Anderson and others warned of the religious takeover of the Republican party clear back in the early 70's and their predictions were right. Even farther back, Robert Heinlein warned of it in 1952 and all his predictions came true.
Bush and his cronies have stripped us of 4th amendment rights, started an illegal war for profit, etc... Hardly anything Clinton ever did could compare to that in the scope of how it will affect generations. He certainly didn't burden our children with a horrendous debt so he and his friends could remain rich...
You are correct about Democrats picking lousy candidates- but truthfully, I'd take the worst of them over the very best of the Republicans. If McCain gets it, I will be more concerned about his running mate, as I don't think McCain will live long enough to fulfill his term.

[Goodwin]

Perhaps Obama will be President SOMEDAY, though not likely from this election. Hillary will squeak on through by the barest of threads but eventually lose to McCain. I'm a Republican but am not saying this because I vote the party line (I don't); rather, it is a reflection of how the Dems still need to work on producing better candidates OR work towards controlling their infighting (note: the Republicans aren't that much better either but it would have indeed been different had Gore not stayed on the sidelines). Beyond McCain, the Republicans too have their work cut out.

Bill Clinton, the best President ever, even over Jefferson or Lincoln? Bill's greatest "challenge" came not from the economy or through international policy, but from a White House intern. Certainly not on the same level as the Civil War.

As well, I seem to recall the Dems landing a few of their own into the Oval Office over the years besides Bill; hardly the handiwork of the Republican Party (unlike the Baath or PRI elsewhere in years past).

Enough of my soapbox --- back to destroying the Constitution and the rest of the world. :)

[Cassandra West]

When I saw Obama speak at the 2004 Convention, I said out loud all by myself because he made such an impression on me: "That guy is going to be President someday!"
I think Bill Clinton was the greatest President we've ever had. I mean that- even greater than Jefferson or Lincoln. He took a crappy economy and a time when the 'nuclear clock' was almost at midnight and turned them into a surplus and set the clock back to around a quarter 'till....
That's why it pains me to see him trying to destroy Obama because he wants back in the White House so badly that he will push, shove, nudge, hurt the entire Democratic party if need be- and destroy Obama so his wife can win- not realizing the obvious- that she CANNOT win because she IS a Republican and they want McCain in, not her.
This whole thing sickens me. Obama is of mixed parentage and he goes to a black church which 'horrors! Oh my- big surprise!' is a bit bitter about the plight of the black race in America. If he went to another church, they would have found something else to 'expose' because the whole idea is to hang him on something.
I'm sticking with Obama. If he is destroyed, then I will never vote again. I'm sick of the entire way the Republicans are able to manipulate every damned election. Hillary Clinton was pushed by them for over 3 years, and she LIED and said she wouldn't run. She played right into their hands. They will once again, apparently be allowed to force their will upon the people- unless the people see through it in time to say; "NO MORE!" and elect Barak Obama. I for one am fed up with being manipulated and told by Republicans how BAD we are and how GREAT they are while they systematically set out to destroy the Constitution and the world. No health care for the masses, but by God, we can pay a trillion dollars on Bush's oil war! Phuque them and the horses they rode in on!