(Community Matters) From the perspective of Obama’s campaign, I fear the risk of Rev. Wright on the speakers circuit. Of course, he doesn’t represent Senator Obama nor his campaign.
I believe Rev. Wright is speaking out to defend African American religious tradition – much as Rev Joe Parker and his colleagues did in Austin – and to clarify the manipulative sound bites publicized by Hillary Clinton’s campaign on uTube. How many who watched understood the Reverend to be quoting the former US Ambassador to Iraq when he spoke of “chickens were coming home to roost”?
As Rev. Wright is reminding America, there still exists anger and disillusionment among segments of the African American community (I’m walking on ice here since I don’t know if it is some, most or all). Will this impact swing voters? I hope not. Obviously we still have far to go. Let’s discuss it, deal with it and strengthen our country.
Hope for conversation, for a new style of leadership, for reconciliation . . . . this is the magic of Obama’s campaign. I don’t suggest there isn’t conversation needed and disappointments to be addressed from many American constituencies today. We’ve spent the last 15 years divided. Time to come together.
Community Matters 