Obama's judgment becoming an issue

By FRANK KACER

Much has already been said concerning Sen. Obama and Rev. Wright, and much more will be said before the presidential campaign is over. With apologists rushing to Obama's aid, I would encourage African-American political leaders to consider why whites are so offended and not just claim we don't understand blacks. The fact is, most of the country is shocked and dismayed by Rev. Wright's racist, white-loathing, inflammatory rhetoric. Not only are whites portrayed as the cause of all evil, but the pastor chooses to believe and promote demonstrable lies (i.e. our government invented HIV/AIDS to kill people of color; Jesus was a Black man; we are greater terrorists than al Qaeda).

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But what concerns me even more is that a man claiming a long, close, personal friendship to Wright, one who describes him like family, a mentor, a personal spiritual leader who brought him to Christ, is seeking to be President of the United States.

Senator Obama's March 18 speech was masterfully delivered, touched many hot buttons needing open public discourse, but fell far short of being convincing about his honesty and judgment. To have known Wright for as long and intimately as Obama has indicated, yet to show ≥surprise≤ by his distain for the white race and far left conspiratorial beliefs, is misleading at best and crass political expediency at worst. But even beyond that I think the most startling revelation is the lack of any attempt by Obama to confront Wrightπs obvious racism and false beliefs. To downplay on one hand long-standing, deep-seated racial bigotry and on the other hand to claim to have not been aware of it over 20 years of friendship and sermons makes one wonder how perceptive Obama is, or whether he understands how the flames of racial hatred are fanned.

But letπs consider even further, if Obama had admitted to confronting Wright about his views, and had tried to reason with him but to no avail, I could actually be sympathetic to his situation. But that never happened. Instead, Obama gave a shallow condemnation of the rhetoric, and a firm endorsement of the man, and no indication of ever challenging or even questioning his obvious vitriol towards anything white. This has to give me pause about Senator Obamaπs true thoughts about race, and his incredible willingness to sit by (with his family) and passively endorse verbal poison that stokes more racial hatred than there already is. Reverend Wrightπs words are not just ≥political views≤ — theyπre racial doctrine.

If Obama claims to be a Christian but is unwilling to confront evil, this is more than an oversight or faithfully standing by your pastor, this is personal weakness and a potentially fatal character flaw. Is this who we want to run our nation, to ≥bridge the racial divide,≤ to decide how to deal with radical Islam? The ≥change≤ he constantly speaks of, is one that may actually reverse much of the racial progress that has occurred over our generation. Iπm not willing to take that chance, are you?

One final note to consider. Who would a president-elect Obama invite to give the invocation during the presidential inauguration? Would it be the most influential spiritual leader of his entire Christian life, or someone else? Who will continue to provide spiritual mentorship during difficult and challenging times? Maybe his political expediency will only last until the final vote is counted.

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Frank Kacer of San Diego is also a monthly political columnist for Good News, etc.