What Should Obama Do About Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright?

What Should Obama Do About Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright?
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The latest attack on Obama is about his former pastor and friend Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. The sermon he made 7 years ago after 9/11 suggested that U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East was the primary reason for the attack. There are a large number of people who agree with that analysis. The derogatory phrase "G-d Damn America" is a justifiable criticism of Rev. Wright. However, there is a difference between a clergyman givng a sermon and a public statement on the record.

Sermons often use harsh language from scripture with many references to damn and damnation. In context, sermons are supposed to raise emotions in a biblical sense. From that perspective, I have experienced some of my Rabbis using harsh phrases of damnation to those who they considered enemies of Israel. The wretched attacks on Arabs and Muslims by some of these AIPAC type clergymen are blatantly racist and hateful. I presume that Rev. Wright did not expect that particular sermon to be on the record.

On the other hand, the comments by Falwell and others about the 9/11 attacks being caused by gays and liberal values was intended to be on the record and not merely a sermon. There is a difference. The fact that Rev. Wright has retired gives Obama some wiggle room about leaving his church. However, of it is his church's policy to promote Rev Wright's views, Obama should leave the church as I did when I believed that my Rabbi was advancing hatred and bigotry.

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