RAFIQUE TUCKER OP-ED: Wright Is Still Wrong

Asserts the moderate-liberal Democratic blogger and supporter of Sen. Obama's presidential bid, about controversial pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright's speech yesterday at the National Press Club: "First off, [Nation Of Islam Min. Louis] Farrakhan did in fact call Judaism a gutter religion, and even if he was talking about Zionism, and I know I should know better considering who we're talking about, but are we supposed to treat that statement as if calling Zionism a 'gutter religion' is somehow a good thing? Are we supposed to agree with you, and Jimny 'Douchebag Diplomat' Carter, that standing up for Israel is somehow a bad thing? I think not. Farrakhan was wrong then, and he's wrong now, and so are you."

He continues his commentary: "One of the big problems I have with Wright, is his assertion that his brand of preaching and theology represents the mainstream of the black church. I find that assertion ridiculous. The prophetic tradition of black preaching is one thing. Wright's sermons are something else. Don't get me wrong, it's not as if Wright's the only one who preaches this way, but the idea that this is how the black chuch, or the church in general is to function is revolting."

Mr. Tucker also takes issue with Rev. Wright's implication that Sen. Obama was insincere in distancing himself "because he's a politician": "And lastly, there's this, in which he totally throws Obama under the bus, and may cost him the Presidency...Ouch. To paraphrase the proverb, 'My enemies I can handle, God save me from my friends.' Obama needs to cut this guy loose. I mean, he can't totally disown him, but he needs to publicly denounce Wright's views some more, and with more force than before."

My response: Rev. Wright is foul for arrogantly arguing that his particular controversies are synonymous with an attack on the black church. I've been to black churches across America and listened to preachers who were (majority) liberal Democrats to conservative Republicans, and I've never heard Rev. Wrightesque rhetoric in the pulpit. However, critics of Rev. Wright who have never set foot in Trinity United Church of Christ here in Chicago are wrong that Rev. Wright "always" preaches politics in the pulpit. I've been at the church several times, and none of the times I was there did Rev. Wright go on one of his political rants. The sermons I heard focused on religion and Christians following the gospel. I should add that I know someone who attends Trinity and she is quite upset at how the church is being portrayed in the media.

Update: Sen. Obama denounces Rev. Wright's comments yesterday at the National Press Club: "What particularly angered me was his suggestion somehow that my previous denunciation of his remarks was somehow political posturing,” Sen. Obama said today in a press conference. He called the reverend’s latest words “a bunch of rants not grounded in truth.” “It contradicts everything that I am about and who I am,” said Sen. Obama. He was apparently dumbfounded that Rev. Wright chose to come out now. “The fact that Rev. Wright would think it’s somehow appropriate to command the stage for three or four consecutive days in the midst of this major debate is something that not only makes me angry, but also saddens me,” Sen. Obama said. “That’s a show of disrespect to me, that also, I think, is an insult to what we’ve been trying to do in this campaign,” he said.