Prometheus 6

What's there to "protect"? He's winning.

I also disagree that Rev. Wright is in the doghouse. There are those who question his timing and possible narcissism. Personally, while I'd like for Obama to win, I'd be okay if he lost because Rev. Wright was out speaking the truth. I could live with that. Rev. Wright isn't in my doghouse. "America" is, but not Rev. Wright.

Usually, African American writers and commentors are very tough on other African Americans, and maintain relentlessly high expectations.  It's one social attribute I've been consistantly impressed by for decades.  Pace Ferraro, Sen. Obama did not automatically "get" the support of the huge and reliably Democratic cohort of African American voters; he had to fight for their support, and he won it the old fashioned way.  He also, in some cases, lost it (as with Skeptical Brother over his disassociation with Rev. Wright, or with strongly pro-Palestinian African Americans over his rhetorical attacks on Hamas).

He also defaulted to a lot of African American support because of the scorched earth campaign of Team Clinton.  I've never heard of an Obama supporter so fanatical that he/she blamed the entire JW epison on Team Clinton; I have heard Clinton supporters blame her new-found racialist odium on Obama. (BTW, I have to shoot this stupid notion in the head: [click] White people are usually reluctant to accept the allegation that another White person is racist; and this reluctance becomes an automatic backlash when the allegation is made by a Black person, or someone with a different ideological orientation.  So if it had been the Obama campaign accusing Clinton of racism, rather than her own supporters' remarks, then Obama's campaign would have been obliterated at once [BLAM!])

But even if Sen. Obama wins the White House, he will be held to ethical and ideological standards that will be almost unearthly, and his most exacting critics will be the African American commentariat.

I agree with you, no1kstate. 

Bill Clinton Racebaited.

Tavis Smiley Playahated, and not only did that,but seems to have done it on behalf of Hillpatine.

Dr. Wright stabbed Obama in the front on national tv.

It's not like Black folk woke up one day, saw the sky was blue, and then decided to put these folks in the ' doghouse'.

Thanks, X.

rikyrah - what was Tavis thinking? Are you on the SNCC listserve? They completely tore him to shreds!

Dr. Wright stabbed Obama in the front on national tv.

I completely disagree with that.  In fact, I think the whole notion is without evidence unless you subscribe to some racist notion that the statements and behavior of one black man is something another black man has to answer for, etc.  There simply was no knife or stabbing of Sen. Obama.  If anything, it went the other way around.  But it's too much for people to be honest about that.

Sen. Obama basically described Wright as the crazy uncle in the attic (or in the basement when Sen. Obama started his campaign) and, while he pointed out some good things about Wright, Sen. Obama allowed the whole idea that "Rev. Wright is wrong" (about America) to go unchallenged in the media (because Obama agreed/conceded the point) which lend itself to the caricature Sen. Obama talked about.  Even worse, Sen. Obama played politician and that's in the pejorative sense that Wright's comments never implied despite the media spin:

when you start focusing so much on the plight of the historically oppressed that you lose sight of what we have in common, that it overrides everything else, that we’re not concerned about the struggles of others, because we’re looking at things only through a particular lens...

Seriously, who in the world would go to a church like Trinity for years, a church that expressly states its Afrocentric view point (Unapologetically Black), insist on adhering to the Black Value System and openly ascribes to the Black Liberation Theology that is all about seeing things through the lens of the "oppressed", by definition, and then act like they (he, Sen. Obama) didn't realize that particular focus/lens as a member of that church?

The idea is preposterous.  Worse, it's the biggest stab in the back because Sen. Obama wasn't just denouncing Wright, Sen. Obama was denouncing any and everyone who could be deemed to "focus [too] much" on the plight of the historically oppressed.  What the hell is that?

Sen. Obama basically described Wright as the crazy uncle in the attic (or in the basement when Sen. Obama started his campaign)

That's where the troublesome sorts are always kept!!

Seriously, who in the world would go to a church like Trinity for years, a church that expressly states its Afrocentric view point (Unapologetically Black), insist on adhering to the Black Value System and openly ascribes to the Black Liberation Theology that is all about seeing things through the lens of the "oppressed", by definition, and then act like they (he, Sen. Obama) didn't realize that particular focus/lens as a member of that church? 

I think TheXCard makes a good point. Obama's stance is puzzling, to say the least. I wouldn't relish the task of explaining to America why Trinity, far from being an aberration, is an archetypal Black church, and why that is, while trying to remain popular with the majority of Americans at the same time, but that's the task he's set himself, and at some point I think he's going to have to have that conversation.

I think he's going to have to have that conversation.

I think someone needs to have it, but I don't think Obama will be the one that will do it.

Perhaps. However if he does have it, he may want to start with the characterization of Black liberation theology as racist, and point out that out of the 400 some odd years of our presence on the American continent, we've only been legally free for the last forty. What other kind of theology could a Black church worthy of the name be reasonably expected to have?

Don't worry folks. Juan Williams or Shelby Steele will step up to the plate and explain it all so that hard working Americans without college degrees can understand it and be assured that we are not praying every Sunday morning for God to kill all of them.   

Whoever does it will have to teach folks to distinguish between race-conscious and racist. 

In America, (I can't write those two words without thinking of Randy Newman's great song "Sail Away.") black folks who are race conscious are always presumed to be racist even by kneegrows like Williams and Steele.   

Obama shouldn't have to explain anything more about Trinity Church until McCain explains Revs. Hagee and Pressley.

Since I don't do church and have not since I was ten years old, I remain completely uninterested in listening to any public figure, including the Dalai Lama, explain the source of their religious faith or beliefs. It's all moon shine, as H.L. Mencken once opined, to me. This is a bizarre country! We are more obsessed with religion than any Islamic country. 

I've decided for myself that the fact people find their beliefs to be both symbolic and significant is more important than the fact that I don't understand why.

Obama is symbolic...we're talking First Blackism here, Black folk have our civic religion too. Obama will represent the ultimate Black success story. The means and outcome of that success will also be seen as symbolic.

I understand why and I deeply respect their reasons but I am just tired of having people publicly explain. 

I'm very uncomfortable with the notion that Obama is seemingly not going to be able to pick his own VP like any other white man without having it pressured or hoisted upon him by the refined racists in the party. It seems pretty clear that even though I can't possibly fathom Mrs. Clinton securing the Democratic nomination in 2012, or 2016 for that matter and she is bent on revenge and making sure that Obama is not elected. There seems to be an unspoken growing consensus among those same refined-racist white liberals, that Obama will surely lose so they don't want to assume the Vice Presidency. There is also this perception that Obama will be a "pushover" if elected president. The horror of  Mr. and Mrs. Clinton in the position of co-Vice President(s) is terrifying. And finally the fear of nothing "Black" getting passed in Congress.

as VP. The assassination comments, in addition to the non-apology to the Obamas and trying to blame them, burned the last bridge for that train. Obama will choose his VP. He has 1.5 million donors - RIGHT NOW - folks don't want to get it....but these folks aren't Democrats YET. They are part of 'Obama Nation', and aren't easily transferable.