Political Punch

Senator Clinton makes a good point. You can't choose your family but you can choose your pastor. The funny thing is she chose Billy Graham who has been known to make an anti semetic remark every now and then, such as, pedlers of pornography, and satan worshipers. I'm not saying one pastor has a better point than the other. The true point is, the candidates don't necesarily always agree with what thier pastor says.

In attempting to find out what Obama's church's doctrinal statement was I looked to the church's website. The only thing I found that would indicate it was the following that is listed under "about us":

Talking Points

Dr. Wright's talking points (3.1.7) for Trinity United Church of Christ its Web site and
the Black Value System (in response to Erik Rush's comments (2.28.07) on the Hannity and Colmes show):
• One of the biggest gaps in knowledge that causes the kind of ignorance that you hear spouted by this man [Erik Rush] and those like him, has to do with the fact that these persons are completely ignorant when it comes to the Black religious tradition. The vision statement of Trinity United Church of Christ is based upon the systematized liberation theology that started in 1969 with the publication of Dr. James Cone's book, Black Power and Black Theology.
• Black theology is one of the many theologies in the Americas that became popular during the liberation theology movement. They include Hispanic theology, Native American theology, Asian theology and Womanist theology.
• I use the word "systematized" because Black liberation theology was in existence long before Dr. Cone's book. It originates in the days of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. It was systematized and published by theologians, Old Testament scholars, New Testament scholars, ethicists, church historians, and historians of religion such as Dr. James Cone, Dr. Cain Hope Felder, Dr. Gayraud Wilmore, Dr. Jacqueline Grant, Dr. Kelley Brown Douglas, Dr. Renita Weems, Dr. Katie Cannon, Dr. Dwight Hopkins, Dr. Linda Thomas, and Dr. Randall Bailey.
• These scholars, who write in various disciplines, also include seminary presidents like Dr. John Kinney and professors of Hebrew Bible, like Dr. Jerome Ross. Black liberation theology defines Africans and African Americans as subjects – not the objects which colonizers and oppressors have consistently defined "others" as.
• We [African Americans] were always seen as objects. When we started defining ourselves, it scared those who try to control others by naming them and defining them for them; Oppressors do not like "others" defining themselves.
• To have a church whose theological perspective starts from the vantage point of Black liberation theology being its center, is not to say that African or African American people are superior to any one else.
• African-centered thought, unlike Eurocentrism, does not assume superiority and look at everyone else as being inferior.
• There is more than one center from which to view the world. In the words of Dr. Janice Hale, "Difference does not mean deficience." It is from this vantage point that Black liberation theology speaks.
• Systematized Black liberation theology is 40 years old. Scholars of African and African American religious history show that Black liberation theology, however, has been in existence for 400 years. It is found in the songs, the sermons, the testimonies and the oral literature of Africans throughout the Diaspora.
For Trinity United Church of Christ
The title is the only place I found Christ mentioned.
I agree a closer examination of the candidate should be explored. Let's not be too hasty in our search for a new president or a new agenda. I don't favor the agenda as espoused on the website.

I still have to scrtch my head when I hear opinions that want to downplay Rev. Wright's statements. If Barack Obama was an occasional visitor to that chruch, and had "casual" relationship with the Rev., then by all means, stop beating the issue. But these two gentlemen are very closely related and have deeply been involved in each others lives...if you ask me, we haven't examined this incident closely enough. This man wants to be our president, not the school treasurer. It's time that we take Hillary out from under the microscope and start to really look at the reality of Barack Obama leading this nation and it's people. Who we embrace and hold in high esteem in our spiritual values speaks volumes about who we truly are. The nice haircut, suit and diplomas are only the first chapter...I have a feeling that the story of Barack Obama has not even begun to reveal itself...

Its amazing to me to see how everyone downplays and avoids the issue. if you think about everything in this world we have the power and influence to change it. To love one another is not difficult yet we prove time and time again that our own personal hurst and personal truth holds us back... it is easier to hate than to begin widespread love. This love is also not airy fairy love we need love with passion, conviction and honesty to be able to address issues and not sugar coating everything always promoting openess. I pary one day our eyes will be open and maybe just maybe we will be like that one crow sitting left of the murder.

I still want to see proof that Obama wants anything to do with the white race and America in general. He belongs to a church that is all black, they promote all black and Africa and nowhere does his church say one thing about white or America.

DON'T GET HUNG UP ON REV. WRIGHT'S STATEMENT "GOD DAMN AMERICA". WHAT HE REFERRED TO WAS GOD'S "JUDGEMENT" OF A NATION OF HYPOCRITES WHO TOUT FREEDOM ,DEMOCRACY, AND THE AMERICAN WAY WHILE PROMULGATING INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AND WAR. EVERY THING HE SAID WAS TRUE: DID THIS COUNTRY NUKE JAPAN? WHAT WAS DONE TO THE INDIANS? WERE WE LIED TO ABOUT IRAQ, NOT TO MENTION 911? IF YOU WANT TO HOLD OBAMA RESPONISIBLE FOR THE CONTENT OF HIS PASTOR'S SERMON, THEN YOU MUST LIKEWISE HOLD HILLARY RESPONSIBLE FOR HER PASTOR'S CONVICTION (3YEARS PRISON)FOR CHILD MOLESTATION.

What this episode clearly shows is that in spite of forty wasted years of indoctrination about matters racial, and for all the judicial and legislative chicanery employed over those years for compelling us into “loving our brothers,” nothing has changed, except that Black rabble-rousers are given more deference (and latitude,) than White rabble-rousers. Being a White male, I find Rev. Wright’s remarks refreshingly honest. Perhaps people will now come to their senses and understand the absolute idiocy in dreaming of a day when mankind will gather together in a utopian multi-hued rainbowed chorus and stand, hand-in-hand, harmoniously singing ‘Kumbaya' - because that day will never dawn. Our ethnic differences will never abate so long as they remain in our genes; Darwin was right and Boas was a charlatan.

Charles: Well said!

You say Senator Clinton should not talk about Rev. Wright's hate speech against America? You are wrong!

Senator Clinton should continue to raise that issue because it speaks to Obama's character deficit that he would continue to attend Wright's church, listen to the anti-America shouting of Wright and worse yet, let his children hear that kind of rhetoric.

Obama is Wright's enabler and his silence is consent -- by his silence Obama failed to repudiate for nearly 20 years egregious Wright's hate speech.

We should turn our backs on Obama -- he should not be president of this country.

Senator Hillary Clinton will be the next president of the U.S. -- superdelegates must vote her to be the nominee of the Democratic party asap.

'Ignorance' so many Americans. We are NOT a DEMOCRACY. We are a REPUBLIC. The PEOPLE do not elect our leader, the ELECTORALS do. If we were a DEMOCRACY - there wouldn't be an ELECTORAL system - it would be whomever get's the most votes. Yet - we are a society that elects officals by the most votes by a very small group of people. Hiullary has a chance becuase we are not a Democracy. That's why she still has a chance. The superdelegates wil decide... how's that for your democracy. I've heard it a thousand times - I'm a democrate because I live in a democracy... Brilliant - and you think your vote counts too I bet.

None of these crazies are going to get out of Iraq. There is no difference between any of them. Ron Paul was the last hope for this country. To hear defenses of any of the 3 major candidates nauseates me.

I am sick of listening to morning show hosts (Matt Lauer) and other media yahoos spewings of how it's Hillary that is destroying the Democrats chance to become president. They seem to have forgotten that we live in a democracy. Presidential nominee should not become so through a coordination of the party elites and the biased media. Until the votes of Michigan and Florida are counted Obama, his lawyers and the elitist heads of the party are showing that they are no better than the Republicans. They will have stolen the candidacy from its own supporters. If this happens I feel pretty sure that many democrats will be former democrats. If they force Hillary out by not allowing the democratic process from reaching fruition then many of her supporters will walk out as well. If Obama wins fair and square then many of us may consider voting for him if not then he is digging his own grave. Someone must have forgotten that their of millions of Hillary supporters that feel quite rightly that Obama has had a free ride and Hillary has been berated unfairly not only by the Obama camp but also by the media and the DNC.
If they are going to treat us like we are Republican then we might as well vote like we are Republicans. Nadar is starting to look better with each salvo that being lobbed across Hillary’s bows to get out! Be careful what you ask for since when she leaves many of us will follow. Count the VOTES!

isn't it strange that Bill Clinton calls on Rev Wright for spiritual guidance during his impeachment trial and Hillary and Bill's pastor uphold Rev. Wright see
Hillary Clinton is a hypocrite and a liar and not worthy to be president

I cannot believe some of the comments on this page, filled with hate and venom and ignorance. This is a non-issue. Wright made some bad remarks Obama renounced those comments and answered the questions that needed to be answered. We are so done with this. It's over. I don't even know who Clinton's pastor is, or what religion she is. Her website says something about her being a Methodist at age 13. If she still is, who knows and who cares? McCain is going to laugh all the way to the Whitehouse because of all this petty nonsense about non-issues and all your holier-than-thou opinions. When your kids are all in the middle east still fighting a war 10 years from now, you can all blame yourselves.

Mariann: If you want to call Rev. Wright out for his hate, then you must acknowledge your own hate. Every comment you have left here makes you no better than the man you are claiming to denounce. Therefore, no you don't understand God's word because you know that you are to love your enemies, you know you are to love your neighbors as you love yourself, and that you can not cast a stone at a sinner if you can't come clean about your own inner sins. Hate is a sin and you are no better than the people who at least had the nerve to come from behind their veil. Seems to me you have a lot of repenting to do.

Also, Rev. Wright church is an intergrated church, he even mentions it in the full video of his sermon that you only heard a 1 minute sound bite on by which you are judging and condemning this man. The vast majority is a black congregation but he do have white & hispanic members. Again, let he without sin cast the first stone and take a hard look at the woman in the mirror before and ask God to help remove your inner hate so you can stop spreading hate & lies.

Lauren: Why don't you become a member of Obama's church? Then you would be right at home since you believe Wright is a good pastor. What he is good for is nothing. And to use god's name in vain is a sin. Don't you know your bible. That pastor doesn't preach the gospel he is too busy running America down and all the white people. And Obama knew this from the start. The white people that vote for him don't have the brains to sit on or the window to throw them out of. Obama doesn't love this country and neither does his wife run of the mouth Michelle. Obama just wants to make history in this country so he can brag about it. Wake up and face the facts. Didn't you ever read about his background with crooks?

Just as Hillary tried to deflect the furor about her honesty problem by saying Wright wouldn't be her pastor...

Hillary's own pastor is now standing up for Reverend Wright!

If you're buying into the FOX news/Clinton machine's two or three 10-second sound bytes on Rev. Wright, you need to be a grown-up and go listen to the whole sermons. Totally non-controversial. Sure, white people dont "get" the black experience, but even so, Wright makes perfect sense to this white dude from Kansas.

Wake up, folks. You can't believe a word out of Hillary's mouth.

Thanks to Hillary for denouncing Wright. Obama won't do it.

At least one candidate has some guts.

Hillary Clinton is such a hypocrit. She was able to "have a heart" and forgave her cheating husband Bill but doesn't think Obama should forgive his pastor. " He wouldn't be my pastor", she says, " we can't choose our family but we can choose our pastors." Well, Bill wouldn't be my husband. Afterall, we can choose our husbands. But she choose to remain with him.

Are you Americans saying that because Wright is black its a big deal to have suggested that America had a hand in the 9/11.How about the testimonies the White Marines are giving about the War in Iraq. The fact that the war was just not called for. Can't you see then that America is still incuring the wrath of the Arabs? God forbid!! but if something happens again as a retaliation to the war in Iraq wouldn't it have been as a result of your actions;if what the marines are saying is anything to go by!!!.
If i were an American i definitely would not be voting for Hilary who had a hand in this war in iraq. Barack will receive my votes hundred times over!!!