Politics

While Obama may have thought he was unifying the Democratic Party by denouncing his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., he may have been hurting it at the same time.

Many Americans were shocked and appalled when they heard snippets of Wright’s sermons, which claimed that the U.S. was attacked because it commits crimes of terrorism against its people. Though his comments were inflammatory, they were not out of the norm for African-American churches.

Wright was an influential part of Obama’s life. He presided at Obama’s wedding, baptized Obama’s two daughters, and preached to Obama in church for decades. Obama once said that he could not condemn Wright any more than he could criticize his own grandmother, who also said provocative things.

Obama may have thought it would be advantageous to separate himself from Wright as it becomes less clear who will win the Democratic nomination. However, should he be the nominee, it is likely that either the Republicans or Swift Boats would use this as an example of flip-flopping.

Obama stands strong on the fact that he never supported the war in Iraq, yet his choice of people he supports in his life vacillate more. 

I voted for Obama in the primary elections, yet like his position with his former pastor, I am becoming less sure of my support.

The 2008 presidential election marks a turning point in history for country, no matter who the Democrats nominate. For the first time ever, we could have a woman nominee or an African-American bidding for president. Though these are both monumental achievements, the campaigns and press have set up a fight that is not going to find a winner: which group is more oppressed – women or African-Americans?

Barack Obama, however, is doing his best not to make race an issue in this campaign. Some have dubbed him “post-racial,” through which he is able to ascend the issue of race and just be seen as a candidate.

Just when the press was beginning to focus on the candidates’ issues, from NAFTA to health care, race was thrown back onto the playing field with the allegations that Obama sides with his inflammatory former reverend, Jeremiah Wright, who voices many anti-White America exclamations in his sermons. In his speech addressing race, Obama said that Wright’s comments were “were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity; racially charged at a time when we need to come together to solve a set of monumental problems.”

In the speech that first thrust Obama into fame, his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, he said, “There is not a black America and a white America… There’s the United States of America.”

Hillary’s camp hasn’t gotten off without scandal. A few weeks ago, former U.S. Representative Geraldine Ferraro’s inflammatory comments to a California newspaper brought the gender issue back into the limelight. She said, “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.” A few days later, Ferraro resigned from Clinton’s finance committee.

If the media truly wants to see Obama as being “post-racial” or see Clinton as a modern woman that can take on the presidency, they should reject the race and gender cards and refocus on the issues – helping the American people choose the best candidate to be the Democratic nominee.