Jeremiah Wright Can Be a Problem or Opportunity for Obama

Summary

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Unfortunately, because few non-Black people have spent any time in Black churches, the recent video clips of [Jeremiah Wright] shown on cable news channels conjure up fears and anxieties that are, quite frankly, unwarranted but understandable. These video clips were first promulgated several weeks ago on Fox News by commentators Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. One can only guess at their motivations, but it appears that they want to sully [Barack Obama]'s image by tying him to Wright and implying that Obama shares the same attitudes that the videos portray. If successful, this could be enough to frighten the bejesus out of enough white voters to deny Obama the nomination and/or the presidency.

It would be in Obama's interest to hold a national press conference regarding his views about his pastor, his faith and his American identity. Similar to the speeches made by John Kennedy in 1960 regarding his Catholicism, and Mitt Romney about his Mormon faith, Obama must tackle this issue head on. He must be open and honest about his background, his motivations and his vision, as transparent as he was in his memoir, "Dreams of My Father."

Obama's supporters, and those who would like to support him but have questions about how influential Wright has been regarding his spiritual journey, want to hear directly from the candidate, not campaign spokespersons. We know that Obama is biracial and the product of a white mother and African father, but how did this influence his American identity? What led him to Wright's church and what has been his experience there over the past 20 years? What are his views regarding 9/11 and the connection, if any, to American foreign policy? What are his views regarding America's racial divide and how it can be healed?

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Jeremiah Wright Can Be a Problem or Opportunity for Obama

There is an adage that the most segregated hour in America is at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning. Therein lies the difference in reaction to the recently released videos featuring provocative statements by Sen. Barack Obama's pastor for the past 20 years, Dr. Jere...

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