From John Ray at Stop the ACLU:
Hugh Hewitt links a 1995 profile of Obama in the Chicago Reader. It’s worth reading in full. He shares his views on black churches and the Christian Right, and he makes clear his preference for “collective action” over individualism. And at the end, after discussing his participation in Minister Farrakhan’s Million Man March:
“But cursing out white folks is not going to get the job done. Anti-Semitic and anti-Asian statements are not going to lift us up. We’ve got some hard nuts-and-bolts organizing and planning to do. We’ve got communities to build.”
It doesn’t seem like Barack had any real problem with cursing out white folks or making anti-Semitic and anti-Asian statements, it’s just not as productive as he’d like. It’s the same when he discusses the “wonderful preachers” in Chicago. “As soon as church lets out,” he says, “the energy dissipates.” You see it’s not enough to just say “God Damn America” on Sunday, you have to organize your community and get on with the damning come Monday.
Update: Since Hugh’s linked back here…in response to his question (”Did many mainstream Dems join that march?”), the short answer is no. Only two members of Congress attended, as did a couple of mayors (including Marion Barry), Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton. President Clinton gave a speech endorsing the goals of the march, but condemning its organizer.
At the time Clinton said “One million men are right to be standing up for personal responsibility, but one million men do not make right one man’s message of malice and division.” He did not refer to Farrakhan by name, but in retrospect this looks like pretty strong stuff compared to Obama’s “Anti-Semitic and anti-Asian statements are not going to lift us up.” And of course Clinton didn’t actually attend the march.
Hugh Hewitt links a 1995 profile of Obama in the Chicago Reader. It’s worth reading in full. He shares his views on black churches and the Christian Right, and he makes clear his preference for “collective action” over individualism. And at the end, after discussing his participation in Minister Farrakhan’s Million Man March:
“But cursing out white folks is not going to get the job done. Anti-Semitic and anti-Asian statements are not going to lift us up. We’ve got some hard nuts-and-bolts organizing and planning to do. We’ve got communities to build.”
It doesn’t seem like Barack had any real problem with cursing out white folks or making anti-Semitic and anti-Asian statements, it’s just not as productive as he’d like. It’s the same when he discusses the “wonderful preachers” in Chicago. “As soon as church lets out,” he says, “the energy dissipates.” You see it’s not enough to just say “God Damn America” on Sunday, you have to organize your community and get on with the damning come Monday.
Update: Since Hugh’s linked back here…in response to his question (”Did many mainstream Dems join that march?”), the short answer is no. Only two members of Congress attended, as did a couple of mayors (including Marion Barry), Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton. President Clinton gave a speech endorsing the goals of the march, but condemning its organizer.
At the time Clinton said “One million men are right to be standing up for personal responsibility, but one million men do not make right one man’s message of malice and division.” He did not refer to Farrakhan by name, but in retrospect this looks like pretty strong stuff compared to Obama’s “Anti-Semitic and anti-Asian statements are not going to lift us up.” And of course Clinton didn’t actually attend the march.
21 comments:
Over my years the only thing that has been clear to me is, these people flip flop when ever the opportunity will benefit there agenda. I feel these people don't even know what there agenda is, or if they did have one it became lost in the draconian arena we know as politics. Excuse me for sounding like a "nut", but I will not trust any of these people.
Do you mean politicians?
Did B.HUSSEIN.O' take sniper fire at the march?
I don't know anything about sniper fire, but I heard someone plugged him from behind.
"Anti-Asian"? Was that from the same Rev. Wright who railed about Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Or did he mean "Asian" in the European sense, in which case the Rev. was indulging in a round of self-hatred?
It's a TUCoC thing. I wouldn't understand, I'm just an AWP.
Another brick on the scales.
Each item alone is only partially alarming, and not quite formless.
Taken all together and without comment the whole forms a distinct shape.
You people are so ignorant!! Now let me ask this question, what was the march? Let me hear what you thought that march that attracted millions from around the country was about?
Rhonda,
If you are like most people who comment here and call us "ignorant" or "racist" or whatever, you probably won't come back, but I'll answer your question anyway.
In fact, I'll give you two answers. The first will be what I remember the stated aims of the march to have been, and the second will be the answer I find when I look it up on Google.
1) As I recall, the stated aim of the Million Man March was to show black men in America could organize and come together for political purposes. There was also the idea of instilling pride and purpose, and I believe, self-reliance, in the black community.
Ok, now I'll look up the answer.
2) "The Million Man March was a African American march convened by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in Washington, DC on October 16, 1995. Minister Benjamin Chavis Muhammad was the National Director of the Million Man March. The event included efforts to register African Americans to vote in US Elections and increase black involvement in volunteerism and community activism. Speakers also offered a strong criticism of the conservative offensive of Republicans after the 1994 congressional elections (most notably the Contract with America), characterized as an attack on programs like welfare, Medicaid, housing programs, student aid programs and education programs."
Ok, now, why is it that the black men of America need Louis Farrakhan to help them organize? Really, that is just pathetic.
All that being said, you look very pretty in your pic, Rhonda.
:)
Yea, my brother went, I just wanted to see if you people even slightly knew what you were talking about.
"Ok, now, why is it that the black men of America need Louis Farrakhan to help them organize? "
You are arrogant. He brought them together to heal, empower and make a call for social action not only within our communtity but outside of it. Mabye if you knew a thing or two about history then you would know the reason for such march.
P.S. I know I do.
Rhonda,
I understand the reason for the march. However, Louis Farrakhan is a hater. He believes the white man is the devil, and he hates Jews.
Sorry, I can't get with that.
You dont get it. Many people who went to the march did not go for farrakhan. There were so many other reasons to participate.
I also wanted to add that I do not expect you to approve of someone who calls you the "devil" though he is not the only. I spent my entire life trying to move away from completely hating whites because of the way they act towards me on a regular basis, when I learn about our society and people's mentalities, I sympathize with such anger though I do not approve of it.
There are many people who have made hateful comments about jews but are still accepted in the mainstream. Why don't you chastise everyone? Their seems to be a double standard and that is an issue.
You dont have to get with it. I never asked you that but you feel the need to chastise Obama because he went to the Million Man March. That is an attack on the black community and I take that personally. A lot of people went...a lot!!
Rhonda,
That is a small part of my problem with Obama.
If Obama went to the Million Man March and there were not all the other things, I probably wouldn't care much.
However, there is also,
1)Jeremiah Wright, who thinks that the American government invented AIDS to kill the black man, etc, is Obama's mentor
2)Obama is friends with William Ayres, the Weather Underground Terrorist who said he wish he had planted more bombs
3) Obama's connection with Raila Odinga in Kenya, who has made a deal with Kenyan Islamists to establish Sharia law
4) Michelle Obama is a socialist who talks about people slice of pie needing to be smaller, and who tells young women not to go into "corporate America", but instead to go into charities, as if those charities budgets were not paid for by money made in corporate America."
Obama will likely be elected President, and if he is, he will not be the first President who is a racist, and he might even turn out to be a decent President.
Thus far, he looks problematic to me. But, I don't much like McCain or Hilary either, so I'm hard to please.
:)
"1)Jeremiah Wright, who thinks that the American government invented AIDS to kill the black man, etc, is Obama's mentor"
Rod Parsley is John McCain's mentor and he thinks that abortion is a plot to kill black babies-he calls it the black genocide. The video is on Youtube. I also wanted to add that the AIDS theory is not at all "outthere" or "crazy". You should read "Medical Apartheid" by Harriet Washington. I had to do a research project on Medical Experimentation and minorities last year. Many have been talking about that possibility when it comes to AIDS. I do not think that is the case though I believe that this country took part in spreading the disease and ignoring the epidemic for too long. After what this country did in the Tuskegee Experiment, many would put nothing past them.
"2)Obama is friends with William Ayres, the Weather Underground Terrorist who said he wish he had planted more bombs"
This one is silly and I feel like people are looking for anything which is stupid. Many politicans and people have "shady" associations. I do not believe that Obama said he was his friend more than an associate that he has come into contact with on various occasions. Please.
"3) Obama's connection with Raila Odinga in Kenya, who has made a deal with Kenyan Islamists to establish Sharia law"
I have heard much conflicting Stories when it comes to this story so I am going to rule it out.
"4) Michelle Obama is a socialist who talks about people slice of pie needing to be smaller, and who tells young women not to go into "corporate America", but instead to go into charities, as if those charities budgets were not paid for by money made in corporate America."
This is silly and Corporate America as my father tells me is not the friendliest enviornments for women and minorities. Many also choose to give back to their communities. I have met so many people who fled Corporate America to do other things.
"Obama will likely be elected President, and if he is, he will not be the first President who is a racist, and he might even turn out to be a decent President."
If you think that Obama is a racist then you are ridiculous. How is he be a racist?
"Thus far, he looks problematic to me."
To you, if you continue to listen to far right wing smears then of course. However I will ensure you that the truth is not too far away. Just stop listening to one-sided information.
"But, I don't much like McCain or Hilary either, so I'm hard to please."
Yea, so sit out the election.
:)
Rhonda,
You seem like a good person. I'd rather not argue with you. However, I will not simply allow your version of the truth to go unchallenged. That is not to say I believe I am absolutely correct about everything I say. I have no idea whether Obama would be a decent President or not. However, the evidence does not bode well.
1)Rod Parsley is NOT McCain's Pastor of twenty years. He may be an inspiration to McCain, I don't know. There is not an equivalency there. Come on, be fair in your argumentation. Sheesh. I doubt McCain even goes to church that often, for God's sake.
2) Yes, many politicians have shady associations. I like that you admit that. Obama is, at best, a politician with shady dealings like almost every politician. He is certainly no Messianic figure.
Now, WHAT IF MCCAIN WERE FRIENDS WITH ERIK RUDOLPH?
3) You rule it out. I worry about it. Although, I can file this under "politician with shady dealings." Certianly, Bush is "friends" with the Saudis and they are hell on Earth.
4)" Corporate America as my father tells me is not the friendliest enviornments for women and minorities. Many also choose to give back to their communities. I have met so many people who fled Corporate America to do other things."
True. Corporate America may not be friendly to minorities in many cases. However, money is made in corporate America. It is not made in Charity work. By that statement, I am not talking about YOU making money. I am talking about the fact that charities do not create wealth for society. Business does. In that way, business is charity. For instance, I own a business that employs 50 people. Thus, my business helps feed and educate 50 families. Do you see what I mean? We create wealth. Charities are organizations which do good, yes. But, they don't create wealth. They live off the donated wealth of others.
About Obama being a racist, I don't think we have conclusive evidence either way. He could be. He certainly is close with Wright who is a racist. On the other hand, Oprah left Wright's church because of Wright's statements. And yet, Oprah supports Obama. I don't know that she would do so if she thought Obama were a racist.
Like I said, if Obama is a racist, he certainly would not be the first racist to have been President.
“Rod Parsley is NOT McCain's Pastor of twenty years. He may be an inspiration to McCain, I don't know. There is not an equivalency there. Come on, be fair in your argumentation. Sheesh. I doubt McCain even goes to church that often, for God's sake.”
I am being fair. The Christian Right loves people like Parsley but look at what he says about our government, blacks and abortion. Why is he accepted, period? I also love the fact that people probably get that McCain is no practicing churchgoer or probably even Christian. Doesn’t that deflate almost all of the republicans own incentives. McCain has called Parsley his "spiritual advisor"
Once again, I see nothing wrong with neither Trinity United nor Rev. Wright. Rev. Wright is very prominent. I wish people can stop distorting him. As I figured, you decided not to contest anything else I had to say. If people knew the truth then there would not be a problem.
“Yes, many politicians have shady associations. I like that you admit that. Obama is, at best, a politician with shady dealings like almost every politician. He is certainly no Messianic figure. “
I love how people who hate Obama always say that crap. Nobody thinks that Obama is any “Messianic” figure. Many of his supporters are insulted and sick of people saying that.
" Corporate America as my father tells me is not the friendliest enviornments for women and minorities. Many also choose to give back to their communities. I have met so many people who fled Corporate America to do other things."
“True. Corporate America may not be friendly to minorities in many cases. However, money is made in corporate America. It is not made in Charity work. By that statement, I am not talking about YOU making money. I am talking about the fact that charities do not create wealth for society. Business does. In that way, business is charity. For instance, I own a business that employs 50 people. Thus, my business helps feed and educate 50 families. Do you see what I mean? We create wealth. Charities are organizations which do good, yes. But, they don't create wealth. They live off the donated wealth of others.”
My entire family consists of entrepreneurs because they refuse to join in with the greedy and prejudice institutions in this country in the name of money. Many African Americans avoid it like the plague because of those same reasons not to mention that Corporate America avoids us as the plague
“About Obama being a racist, I don't think we have conclusive evidence either way. He could be. He certainly is close with Wright who is a racist. On the other hand, Oprah left Wright's church because of Wright's statements. And yet, Oprah supports Obama. I don't know that she would do so if she thought Obama were a racist.”
That is silly and illogical. Obama is not racist by no means and your judgment is a big stretch (to put it nicely). Oprah is in the moneymaking business…she will say anything to keep her popularity. After knowing the church and Rev.Wright, I have nothing wrong with what he is saying. Many people agree with me esp. after seeing the full sermons. I do not expect white people who usually aren’t interested in hearing certain things to agree or even want to hear it now. I don’t expect society to change nor do I expect people to know the difference between racism and reaction to racism and social injustice.
“Like I said, if Obama is a racist, he certainly would not be the first racist to have been President.”
Of course not, we have had what now 43 racist presidents.
Rhonda,
Is it possible for a black person to be racist?
There is a difference between racism/prejudice and reacting to racism, prejudice and social injustice.
I believe that everyone is racist because we see race, have been socialize in a society that is racial etc...
I will ensure you that Obama is not prejudice. Coming from his background and the fact that he is for unity amongst other thing. There is no way Obama is prejudice. The fact that people can keep repeating that non-sense means that they enjoy propaganda and that they enjoy being brainwashed by stupid talking heads.
However you can think whatever you want.
And you too.
You'd be interested to know that I come from a multi-racial family.
Wow, you are a bigot.
I especially like how you qote Obama directly, but then twist his words, and place it in a seperate highlighted section, like somehow your "interpratation" is somehow more valid that his actual words.
Sort of like this:
So you say that that you disagree with the concepts of harmony and comunity, because you must dispise America, and can't stand it when free speach dosen't serve your selective, insular world view
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