Jeremiah was a bullfrog, was a good friend of mine

[Harlan Huckleby]

It was also a strategically wise tack. His other options were worse. Throwing Wright under the bus would have ended his candidacy.

Ended his candidacy is going a bit too far. It would of made him look like a typical dirty politician and he would of lost some of the black vote, but I wouldn't say it would even be close to ending his candidacy.

OK, well he would be in Hillary's position, waiting for the train wreck and hoping the conductor gets killed.

Driving that train, High on cocaine
Barack Obama you better watch you speed
Trouble Ahead, Trouble behind
And you know that notion, just crossed your mind!

[Joemailman]

As such, turning his back on this pastor would be like turning his back on blacks...and that would be political suicide for Obama.

This is correct. Offensive to many white people too. (I'm a white people, I can speak for them.)

I can't imagine how Obama could have handled the situation any better than he did. He made a sincere and impressive case.

This issue of why he stayed in the church so long is the biggy that remains.

I think he addressed the issue of why he has stayed in Wright's church for so long:
But the truth is, that isn't all that I know of the man. The man I met more than twenty years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith, a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another; to care for the sick and lift up the poor. He is a man who served his country as a U.S. Marine; who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God's work here on Earth - by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

I guess people will accept or reject his reasoning. I accept it because I think we tend to be too judgmental.

[The Leaper]

I guess people will accept or reject his reasoning. I accept it because I think we tend to be too judgmental.

I'm glad his church did all those things.

Plenty of other churches do as well, without the cursing and gyrations and hate speech. If my church honored a bigot and racist like Louis F (since I'm white, let's go with Davy D) I think I would find a new church.

Claiming that he was completely ignorant of these outbursts and only knew the church for its "good stuff" is a poor excuse IMO. Either it tells me that he is incompetant and doesn't have a clue what is going on around him, or it tells me that he knew full well what was going on and didn't have the balls to speak out against it until his hand was caught in the cookie jar.

[swede]

You accept it because otherwise you'd have to vote for Hillary.

[Joemailman]

I don't dread having to vote for Hillary...or McCain, who I voted for in the primary in 2000.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think he addressed the issue of why he has stayed in Wright's church for so long:
But the truth is, that isn't all that I know of the man. The man I met more than twenty years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith, a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another; to care for the sick and lift up the poor. He is a man who served his country as a U.S. Marine; who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God's work here on Earth - by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

I guess people will accept or reject his reasoning. I accept it because I think we tend to be too judgmental.

So the postives outweigh the negatives.

This argument might work with most Americans, in fact most Americans probably already gave Obama the benefit of the doubt. I'm not sure this argument will sway many people who were horrified by Wright but were otherwise considering voting for Obama.

There's nothing more Obama can do about it. Just have to wait and see next fall to see what price he pays. Some people are going to question Obama's judgement for staying in the church.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I don't dread having to vote for Hillary...or McCain, who I voted for in the primary in 2000.

I consider all three candidates outstanding. Or to put it in Lake Wobagon terms, they are all above average.

I have become so turned-off by the left wing of the Democratic Party. They have been so righteous, nasty, dishonest ..... where's that list of insults? Afraid I am taking it out on Obama, to an extent. "If it feels right, vote for spite."

Obama was positioning for a presidential run from the moment he started his first national job. He was only in his position for two years before he formally announced. That's no way to get to know a politician, he has no record. Beyond experience, I can't vote for somebody so unknown and untested.

[The Leaper]

I have become so turned-off by the left wing of the Democratic Party.

The entrenched politicians on both sides are often quite despicable.

To me both sides fight for some things we need...and neither side fights for everything we need.

Yet, we are forced to either accept one or the other at face value.

Puke.

[swede]

Claiming that he was completely ignorant of these outbursts and only knew the church for its "good stuff" is a poor excuse IMO. Either it tells me that he is incompetant and doesn't have a clue what is going on around him, or it tells me that he knew full well what was going on and didn't have the balls to speak out against it until his hand was caught in the cookie jar.

Obama, like Jeremiah Wright himself, is very intelligent and calculating. Membership in that church gives him entree into Chicago's powerful black caucus. Obama, in my opinion, doesn't share all of Wright's views (I doubt Wright believes everything he preaches) but he understands their utility in sheparding the black vote his way.

It isn't Obama and it wasn't Wright who shocked me; it was the thousands in the congregation smiling, nodding, and laughing at his hateful words against white people and America. I will tell you this. Following the release of these tapes I have to wonder about the relationships that I have with African-Americans in my community. I have felt fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy constructive and respectful relationships with black students, their parents, and other members of the community. But now i wonder if to them I'm just a whitey.

So much for bringing America together Barack.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Claiming that he was completely ignorant of these outbursts and only knew the church for its "good stuff" is a poor excuse IMO. Either it tells me that he is incompetant and doesn't have a clue what is going on around him, or it tells me that he knew full well what was going on and didn't have the balls to speak out against it until his hand was caught in the cookie jar.

Obama, like Jeremiah Wright himself, is very intelligent and calculating. Membership in that church gives him entree into Chicago's powerful black caucus. Obama, in my opinion, doesn't share all of Wright's views (I doubt Wright believes everything he preaches) but he understands their utility in sheparding the black vote his way.

It isn't Obama and it wasn't Wright who shocked me; it was the thousands in the congregation smiling, nodding, and laughing at his hateful words against white people and America. I will tell you this. Following the release of these tapes I have to wonder about the relationships that I have with African-Americans in my community. I have felt fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy constructive and respectful relationships with black students, their parents, and other members of the community. But now i wonder if to them I'm just a whitey.

So much for bringing America together Barack.

Yes, we hate your honky ass.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Claiming that he was completely ignorant of these outbursts and only knew the church for its "good stuff" is a poor excuse IMO. Either it tells me that he is incompetant and doesn't have a clue what is going on around him, or it tells me that he knew full well what was going on and didn't have the balls to speak out against it until his hand was caught in the cookie jar.

Obama, like Jeremiah Wright himself, is very intelligent and calculating. Membership in that church gives him entree into Chicago's powerful black caucus. Obama, in my opinion, doesn't share all of Wright's views (I doubt Wright believes everything he preaches) but he understands their utility in sheparding the black vote his way.

It isn't Obama and it wasn't Wright who shocked me; it was the thousands in the congregation smiling, nodding, and laughing at his hateful words against white people and America. I will tell you this. Following the release of these tapes I have to wonder about the relationships that I have with African-Americans in my community. I have felt fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy constructive and respectful relationships with black students, their parents, and other members of the community. But now i wonder if to them I'm just a whitey.

So much for bringing America together Barack.

Yes, we hate your honky ass.

Obviously, whites want black friends so as not to appear racist. However, if we dig deeper what we notice about white people is not if they have black friends but in fact, how many black friends they have. White people like numbers. They like to count things like stars in the sky and the death toll at Mt. Everest and the number of times they’ve seen Tori Amos and/or Phish in concert. Counting the number of black friends is then clearly a divine imperative. The number of black friends white people possess also illustrates their comfort with black culture. Here’s a handy guide to the number system:

1—The white novice. This black friend is the gateway to helping white people understand gang signs and Vietnamese beauty supply stores. This black friend is probably the only black friend for many white people and when they all hang out (because white people hang out) they bring their “mutual” black friend with them.

2—The white black club-goer. Two black friends serve as bodyguards when white people go to black clubs to see how exactly one “pops, drops and locks” it.

3 -4—The white BET-er. See Justin Timberlake/ Robin Thicke/ Jon B for more information. For old school reference, see Michael McDonald.

5 and up—Impossible.

[BallHawk]

Did you write that number system thing yourself, Ty?

If so, Bravo.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Did you write that number system thing yourself, Ty?

If so, Bravo.

No, i stole it.

Check this site out..hilarious.

https://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com

[Harlan Huckleby]

National Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Radio spent the past week pretending that the Jeremiah Wright controversy did not exist, as if it were some scurrillous gossip on the internet. AFAIK, The Bullfrog's name was never even mentioned this past week.

They had extensive coverage today on Obama's glorious response to the situation that did not exist. It was a day of praise and congratulations.

They might as well call it Obama Public Radio. Obama clearly started out as the underdog, but Hillary and now McCain are at a decided disadantage with media coverage.

Man, my short time with the republicans is already changing my perspective.

[Harlan Huckleby]

3 -4—The white BET-er. See Justin Timberlake/ Robin Thicke/ Jon B for more information. For old school reference, see Michael McDonald.

Do the Beastie Boys have street cred?