Let's hear it for tabloids

This may be the best response I've seen yet to the media's obsession with Reverend Wright: a writer for Us Weekly looks at the coverage and relishes the fact that, at Us, they're more objective about this kind of nonsense.

Us has been accused of distracting people from the "Important Issues" and the talking heads love to tut-tut about how attention to celebrity gossip is causing the great dumbing-down of American society. But after weeks of watching the mainstream news media's coverage of the Reverend Wright controversy, I'm just
fine sticking to the Brangelina beat.

Piling on the irony, she points out some flaws in the coverage that I haven't seen anywhere else:

At Us we know that every celebrity breakup has two sides - yet the news media failed to apply that same basic due diligence to the Wright story. Did no one think to interview any of the other parishioners of Trinity United Church? Are we to assume that all 10,000 of them are America-hating racists? Let's not forget that Wright was at one point deemed a nationally recognized, legitimate spiritual figure. (You know, the sort of person you would invite to the White House for a prayer breakfast with other national religious figures if you were in the need of PR redemption after a sex scandal with a certain intern named Monica.)

I try to resist criticizing the mainstream media, because it has become almost a cliche. But Lara Cohen nails something here. You know it's getting bad when a purveyor of gossip is critical of the press for its lack of intellectual discipline.

Hillary's perfect hindsight on Wright

Hillary has said several times that she would have left the church if she had heard the statements by Jeremiah Wright that have become so infamous.

But of course she is saying that with the benefit of hindsight. Obama has said that he hadn't heard his comments about "God damn America," etc., and didn't like them. In this latest instance, he denounced him. But none of the rest of us know what Obama's relationship with his pastor was like before this. The church has 8,000 members - I'm guessing Obama has not spent a lot of personal time with Jeremiah Wright. And what right does Hillary have to judge someone else's relationship with a church, which is a deeply personal one? It's a purely political move, which at this point is exactly what I expect.

Jeremiah Wright - not actually that popular

Yesterday I predicted that one of the ironic benefits of the Jeremiah Wright nonsense is that it will force many public African American figures, particularly pundits and pastors, to distance themselves from him. Looks like that is already happening. The LA Times contacted several black ministers in Los Angeles for their reaction. They were responsible and measured in their responses, exactly as you would expect:

"This didn't have anything to do with the black church -- it was basically an attack on the individual message he proclaimed, which hurt some individuals," said the Rev. K.W. Tulloss of Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church in Boyle Heights. "My own members were offended by Rev. Wright's words. His views have cast a wedge between people, and that's the exact opposite of the unity Jesus represented."

It's clear from this article that Jeremiah Wright is well outside the mainstream of black America:

But the biggest concern Tuesday among local black religious leaders -- and across a wide swath of black Los Angeles -- was not about Wright's words per se but about their impact on Obama's historic campaign. In barber shops and beauty salons, at church gatherings and on Internet blogs, African Americans said that Wright's remarks might be badly damaging the senator from Illinois.

Kudos to the LA Times for a solid piece of reporting, but, unfortunately, this was published on page A12. I'm not blaming the Times for burying it - Obama's response was on the front page. This isn't the main story. But it's also something that might be missed by most of white America. Fortunately there is more dialogue between black and white America than there used to be. I think the another hopefully positive outcome of this episode is that many, many African Americans will feel empowered by Obama to make it clear that the stereotype of the Angry Black Man does not apply to them.

Bob Herbert on Jeremiah Wright

I'm not a huge fan of Bob Herbert. I respect him for his passion and willingness to fight for what he believes in, but he's not the most interesting columnist around - too often I find myself reading his columns and knowing exactly what he's going to say. But sometimes I don't.

Today was one of those days. He has expressed some disappointment with Barack Obama, but would obviously be thrilled if Obama won the presidency. So his criticism is usually from the perspective of a concerned friend. Today, however, his target was Jeremiah Wright, and Herbert was not happy.

The question that cries out for an answer from Mr. Wright is why — if he is so passionately committed to liberating and empowering blacks — does he seem so insistent on wrecking the campaign of the only African-American ever to have had a legitimate shot at the presidency.

Herbert makes it crystal clear that he thinks Wright is acting like a narcissistic fool, preening for the cameras, all at Obama's expense.

This may be one of the benefits of this controversy for Obama - it is going to force African American moderates, like Herbert, to come out of the woodwork and denounce people like Wright. Not that Herbert would be coming out of the woodwork - he's got a fairly strong record to run on. But denouncing Wright will make it clear that Obama is right - it's time to move beyond the polarization left over from the 60's, and there are lots of people like Bob Herbert - deeply aware of and concerned about the legacy of racism in this country - who nonetheless will side with white people and "mainstream America" over a divisive figure like Jeremiah Wright.

Which disagreement might be a new experience for a lot of white people. Too many people see Jeremiah Wright and assume that he does, in fact, speak for the black church. This may be a great opportunity to Obama to make it clear that there are literally millions of people who agree with him, but not Jeremiah Wright, on some very important issues.

Obama reacts to Jeremiah Wright

Here's the video of Barack Obama reacting to Jeremiah Wright:




It's amazing to see the pain that he is trying hard to suppress, and the anger. One thing Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have in common is that neither of them grew up with their father. When Obama says that Wright was like a father to him, that means a great deal that most of us cannot understand. This is clearly very painful for him, and watching him, he is clearly very honestly expressing his real emotions. It's almost like Hillary crying in New Hampshire, except that it's much, much more important. Obama deserves points for being honest about this issue, which is unusual for a politician.

Obama and Rev. Wright - the saga continues

Obama responded forcefully to the latest Jeremiah Wright mess today. Good for him. Early this morning, I read some posts to the effect that Obama supporters were feeling demoralized. Andrew Sullivan felt it. Josh Marshall picked up on it.

Buck up, people. Did you think this was going to be easy? Do you subscribe to the magic wand theory of racial healing? Did you think the fact that Barack Obama gives great speeches was going to be enough? Did you think that Obama could snap his fingers, and anger would no longer vent from unexpected places, in unexpected ways, at inappropriate times?

If you thot any of that, then you deserve your fear and disillusionment. Obama consistently and constantly reminds us that change is not easy. Buck up. This will not be easy. Staying calm in the face of anger and cynicism is difficult. It's very hard. Sometimes it's almost impossible. But it is never less than crucial. This is the beginning of a very long and very hard road to travel. This is not the end of anything - not the end of the politics of fear or the politics of polarization. This is the middle of American history. There are many who have come before us who had much greater tasks and faced worse odds. We are extraordinarily fortunate to have a great leader who can meet difficult challenges with grace. This will not be the last time he faces dissension within the ranks and disappointment and crisis. We have not heard the end of this, and probably won't until the general election. Even then Jeremiah Wright and his asinine commentary will linger in the American consciousness. But it will fade, and more important ideas and issues will surface.

Have faith. Do not deny your fears, but deal with them. Stay calm. And don't even think about giving up.

Jeremiah Wright and the Freedom to be Angry

A question simmering in the national debate, unconscionably but unforgettably asked by George Stephanopolous, is whether or not Jeremiah Wright loves America. I think it's a ridiculous question - the man served in the military. But whether or Wright loves or hates America, it is clear that the is angry at America. I think his anger is eminently justified, as an African-American who grew up in the era of segregation.

But more important than whether he loves or hates America, or whether or not his anger is justified, another thing is clear: he trusts America. Jeremiah Wright has made some incendiary comments about this country, comments that reasonable people, Barack Obama and myself included, find offensive.

But Jeremiah Wright has the freedom to be angry. He has the freedom to make a fool of himself. There are countries in this world where he could not make these kinds of comments without getting into serious trouble. There have been times in the history of this country when a black man who said the things that he has said would have been silenced, either by political means, financial means, or possibly even by violent means. But Jeremiah Wright, whether he is conscious of it or not, knows that he will not be silenced. And that is a good thing. It is a testament both to the freedom of speech we enjoy in this country, and to the progess that we have made towards achieving equal justice for all people, regardless of racial or ethnic background.

There are occasional debates in this country about the "intent" of the Founders. What exactly did they mean by various words and phrases that are used in the Constitution? Beyond any specifics, we know without a doubt that the Founders trusted us, their children and successors. They trusted us to find the right path, to make this democracy work. They did not make it easy - they intentionally made it hard. But they trusted us.

Jeremiah Wright, consciously or not, knows that the Founders trusted us. He understands, as most people do, that trust is difficult, and can be tested. He knows that trust can be gained and that it can be lost. But he has not lost his faith in America. He has not abandoned the trust that he has for this country. We know this because he trusts that he will not be silenced. He knows that, as much as he may anger his fellow Americans, he can trust them to respect his freedom of speech. He knows that, as an American, he shares a deep and abiding faith with other Americans in the importance of the freedom of speech. He knows that, much as they may not like what he says, other Americans will respect his right to say it. He trusts even those people he disagrees with, those people he does not like, those people he does not respect. He trusts them because he is American, and he trusts America. Which, in my mind, is about the best possible example of how to love America.

Martin Marty on Jeremiah Wright

Martin Marty, one of the great American theologians, defends Jeremiah Wright. Andrew Sullivan's eloquent examination of the issue here. Sullivan isn't a fan of Wright's, but he recognizes his right to speak his mind, and the unfairness of the attacks on him.

Kareem on Wright

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a post at HuffPost today about Jeremiah Wright. First of all, thank goodness for this, because I finally have something I can write about that isn't about the Clintons. Kareem also has a blog at the LA Times.

I like Kareem, not just because he's a classy guy, but because he played for the Lakers. He also played for UCLA, which is unfortunate (I went to USC), but that is balanced by playing for the Lakers.

He has a very measured, careful piece about Jeremiah Wright. He makes what I think should be an obvious point: we are carrying the burdens of history.

"Because of the nature of the problems, which in many cases were started in the 19th Century, Americans in this day and age have to pay for issues that they didn't cause and shouldn't have to fix. But nonetheless we are stuck with the tab."

He specifically cites Katrina, and, believe it or not, cuts FEMA some slack:

The incompetence and unpreparedness of the authorities who where supposed to do something about the disaster was seen by blacks as racism pure and simple. But actually the folks at FEMA were trying to straighten out a situation created by racist policies put in place 80 or 90 years ago. Again and again these situations rear up and bite us all and create more bitterness and distrust between different sectors of Americans.

I think this is something that gets lost in the debate. Lots of white people look at our current reality and wonder why black people don't work harder, or go to college, or somehow pick themselves up by their bootstraps. But we forget that we have lots of advantages. I sure didn't have to pick myself up by my bootstraps. I was fortunate enough to live in a neighborhood with great public schools, and even more fortunate that my parents could afford to send me to an elite private college in the east. And my parents were the beneficiaries of the hard work of their parents, and so on.

Kareem also explains the tendency of African Americans to believe in conspiracy theories. I'm going to quote this at length:

Reverend Wright suggested in one of his sermons that AIDS was intentionally allowed to infect people because it would probably do most of its damage in the black community. White Americans see this view point as racist paranoia. But black Americans remember the Tuskegee experiment when black men who had syphilis were left untreated intentionally so the progress of the disease could be studied by government doctors. This actually happened and its memory has caused a collective distrust of doctors in the black community for which white Americans can not see any rational basis. Again we are stuck with dealing with the evil deeds that were done before many of us were born.

There's a very simple reason many blacks see conspiracy theories where white people don't: because, for many, many years, there WERE conspiracies that kept black people oppressed. Paranoia is justified when people are, in fact, out to get you, or even when they no longer are, but were in the past. Jim Crow was not just a conspiracy theory, it was a whole bunch of conspiracies, perpetuated by lots of different groups in different parts of the country, and affecting blacks in most areas of their lives.

But Kareem, at the end, is optimistic, both in his own ability to explain:

"I am mentioning these events to give a more complete background to Rev. Wright's comments from his pulpit."

and our collective ability to heal the wounds:

"Together we can make the dreams of the Founding Fathers a reality for all Americans."

Tell you what, Kareem, just writing this post, I'll root for UCLA in the NCAA. For at least one game.

Clinton on Jeremiah Wright - dangerous territory

Hillary finally gives us her opinion on Jeremiah Wright:

"He would not have been my pastor," Clinton said. "You don't choose your family, but you choose what church you want to attend."

That's a not-so-subtle slam against Obama. Yes, you do choose what church you want to attend. For me, however, this raises questions of church and state. Not constitutional issues, but personal ones. A person's relationship with their church and their pastor is deeply personal. It is also one of the most sacred relationships - in some respects, the most sacred relationship - a person has. I am extremely reluctant to criticize another person's relationship with their pastor or their church, because to do so is to question their faith, their relationship with the divine, the sacred, the transcendent. There's a fine line here. Obama did make a decision to attend this church. But he has also made it clear to what extent he disagrees with Jeremiah Wright. Beyond that, I think he deserves a certain amount of respect for the privacy of the space in which he has chosen to worship. I think we go down a dangerous road if we open up a person's faith for too much critique.

A church or synagogue or mosque or any other religious place is where someone goes to come to terms with things that we cannot deal with in an earthly medium - the nature of mortality, questions of sin and redemption, eternity. In America, we very carefully proscribe politics from interfering in those realms, because it is important for people to have the greatest possible freedom to address those issues as they see wish to. To question too deeply a person's relationship with their pastor, their church, or their religion, is to intrude on that sacred space that we have worked so hard, literally for centuries, to protect.


hat tip: Andrew Sullivan

Conservatives on race

The debate on race that Barack Obama helped begin with his speech in Philadelphia has started to take some interesting turns, particularly among conservatives. I know lots of conservatives who are not racist and recognize the burdens that African Americans face. Some conservatives don't like affirmative action. That's a legitimate topic of debate. Affirmative action is one of those things that we will know is successful when we can do away with it. The question is, when will that be? And there are some conservatives who are disgusted with Jeremiah Wright's apparently anti-American rants. Again, honest differences of opinion. Some people denounce him completely for his comments, others try to understand where he's coming from, and see the whole man.

But then there's Pat Buchanan. This is mind-boggling.

First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.

I'll be the one of the first liberals to acknowledge that one of the great virtues of American society is that we have lots of opportunities to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps - I'm the product of people who did exactly that. And Barack and Michelle Obama are both clearly examples of people who have done that, as well. And Buchanan is technicaly correct that lots of African Americans have prospered. But he seems to think that, once the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were passed in the 60's, all racism and its effects simply vanished, and that whatever problems African Americans have is strictly their own fault. That's beyond ridiculous.

He thinks that black people in America owe whites thanks:

We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?

Seriously? Barack Obama is running for President of the United States of America. Does Buchanan think he's doing that just as a joyride? He's doing it because he loves this country, and he thinks he can make it better. He's incredibly grateful for the opportunities he has had. He makes that clear. If Pat Buchanan thinks otherwise, he's not listening. Which, of course, would not be surprising.

Buchanan claims that he's hearing the grievances, but he doesn't seem to give them any credence. He doesn't seem to think that the grievances have any legitimacy. Which is absurd and incredibly insulting to African Americans. Yes, there have been great strides in redressing the sins of the past in this country. But forty years of opportunity is not much time to make up 350 years of oppression. If Pat Buchanan wants to hear expressions of gratitude from African Americans about all the wonderful things white people have done for them, he could start by stop whining about the problems of being a white American male.