Last week on Friday I was positively praying for the US bank Bear Stearns to collapse spectacularly. Not because I hate the bank or wanted the death of capitalism or wanted to bring on recession to all of us, mind you. No. It was because I was uneasy about the revelations that emerged about Obama’s pastor Jeremiah Wright.
To recap: Revd Wright was caught on tape giving sermons calling America the ‘US of KKK-A’ and all sorts. Obama is close to him and the implication was he supported those comments. Can’t imagine that going down too well with a campaign designed to unite people. Anyway, Bear Stearns collapsed and all weekend the talk has been of recession and Iraq. But Wright’s words are Obama’s Achilles Heel and they have the potential to derail his campaign badly, even at this late stage. And if you don’t believe, see these polls.
Of course, his opponents don’t care that Obama’s speeches have always sharply been at odds with his pastor’s views. They have repeatedly tried to fling mud at him, claiming he (and his wife) weren’t patriotic enough etc. Rather than run away from the criticism, it looks like Obama is taking a gamble by making a big speech later today specifically addressing race politics. I hope it works. He has the damn thing in the bag almost.
So I agree with Jerome Armstrong of MyDD when he says:
Let me put it this way, Obama’s not going to change minds about what they see in Wright. The dismissal and repudiation of Wright must be addressed, and in a way so complete that there is no doubt that 20 years of a close relationship does not mean a thing. If Obama wants to keep Wright as part of his life, and try and convince that its a net positive, he’s going to pay a deep price.
Obama supporters, its time to pray.
