Home > Thinking Right > Archives > 2008 > May > 01 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWright, Obama and the black church
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A black female columnist in Barack Obama’s hometown newspaper, the Chicago Sun-Times, essentially accuses him of “acting white” in his response to the incendiary anti-American rhetoric of Jerimiah Wright.
Wright’s speeches, which prompted Obama’s criticism, were “given in defense against an orchestrated assault on his character and on his ministry,” wrote columnist Mary Mitchell. She took Obama to task for denouncing them. “There is no institution in the black community more respected than the black church,” wrote Mitchell.”And the notion that white pundits can dictate what constitutes unacceptable speech in the black church is repulsive to most black people.”
A predominately black crowd of Wright supporters who gave him a standing ovation at the National Press Club “cheered, clapped and punctuated his speech with shouts of ‘amen,’” she noted. “So, when Obama says America was ‘offended’ by Wright’s harsh language, he isn’t speaking for or to Black America. He is speaking to White America.”
She continued:
“As much as I want to see Obama make history by becoming the first black man to be elected president, I don’t want to see a warrior like Wright denigrated to prove to white voters that Obama is not a radical.”
The Wright-Obama episode does, as Mitchell suggests, offers a rare window into America’s racial divide. Mitchell, like Wright, attempts to portray his particular anti-American radicalism as a microcosm of the black church, and therefore protected from criticism by “white pundits.” She, like most liberals, sees conspiracies and orchestrated campaigns — this directed at Wright — where none exists.
Far be it from this “white pundit” to offer commentary on how anybody, black , white or otherwise, should interpret scripture or what the rituals and practices of any church should be. But at some point the doors open — as they have on Wright’s ministry — and what’s said there is judged against fact, values and beliefs of the larger community, and the intellectual soundness of the interpretation of events or scripture. In Wright’s case, it’s not a question of interpreting scripture, but of political radicalism and virulent anti-Americanism.
While I’m not in a position to have an opinion on what transpires in black churches on Sunday morning, if his conspiracy-laced anti-Americanism is indeed the black church in America, as Wright declared at the National Press Club, we — blacks and whites — are in trouble. And so is the ministry.
It would certainly be a call to massive integration of churches, both ways, to make certain that rhetoric such as Wright’s is challenged on Sunday and Monday and Friday — and not just when it surfaces in a campaign where a candidate is trying to appeal to all.
Comments
By AmVet
May 1, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this
Five years ago today our fighter pilot hero of Alabama courageously landed upon the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Along with McArthur’s wading ashore onto the Philippines, what a memorable moment in US history!
And what American will ever forget that now famous “Mission Accomplished” banner?
Sadly, it has become the very emblem of misjudgments and mistakes made.
And even more, a testament IMHO to the deadly and misguided ineptitude of the most arrogant and incompetent President in US history.
4061 Americans KIA.
Read ‘em and weep…
By jbmlaw
May 1, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Good morning all. I am a member at a mostly-white congregation of a church with a mostly-conventional Protestant theology and a mostly traditional service. The one time I attended a “traditionally” African-American church I participated in an admittedly-interesting service, although not one that particularly spoke to my metaphysical needs. The service I attended did not strike me as anti-American; I do not recall any condemnation of any, more positive, filled with various calls for “respect” for others, and patience and tolerance – nothing alien to my beliefs, although perhaps not anything essential to my religious beliefs either. (I define religious beliefs as the relationship between IHWH and man, with the inter-relationships among men a mere subset of the former.) The most striking element of the service I attended was a stirring music program, easily the best part of the service. The sermon was too long, but then any sermon that lasts more than 15 minutes is too long for me – I have a short attention span, and my mind wanders.
Perhaps the service I attended was not “The Black Church.” While I will defend the African-American practices I observed, I will not defend leftist politics masking as theology.
By TW
May 1, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this
Mr. Wooten - you contributions to my thesis on ‘the many faces of racism’ is most appreciated. The numerous examples within your writings this week may even necessitate a new chapter. Keep up the highly transparent good work.
By Redneck Convert
May 1, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
Well, everybody knows all us Southren folk have been real kind and gentle to Those People all our life. Long as they kept their place we let them go. Things was real good under the Jim Crow laws but some people just can’t accept something good. They want to change everything. Now we got Those People showing up in our schools and eating places and everywhere else. It just goes to show that being kind and gentle don’t always work. Now they expect to vote and even hold political seats. Like everybody else says on this blog I didn’t have nothing to do with how Those People wound up poor. Maybe my Daddy did but you can’t expect to blame me for what my Daddy done. I got what I got fair and square and you can’t blame me for taking advantage of some chances I wouldn’t have if Those People wasn’t slaves and such.
Anyway, I’m with Wooten. I don’t know what goes on in the churches of Those People though I’m glad they have enough respeck to not show up in our churches. You can’t preach love and understanding if you got a bunch of rabble-rousers in your midst. I hope they ain’t in their churches planning to take over our guvmint or do protest marches. This Rev. Wright sounds like just the kind of person that would cause us a whole bunch of trouble. Like the yankees that come down here in the 60s and tryed to change our good Southren way of life.
Anyway, this Obama is finished now. Time to elect McCain and let the Rev. Hagee and other Right-thinking people keep his librul ways under control. We need to give people tax credits so people can buy health insurance. If they don’t make enough to get tax credits that ain’t our fault. This is Free Innerprize, not some commie outfit. And we need to keep the tax cuts going so good people like jbmlaw and my boss can keep their country club membership and take their vacation in far-off places. And we need more godly conservative judges on the SC. Its time to put a stop to abortion and all the other sins in this country. Besides, it don’t look like we will make any gains in the House and Senate so we need a Republican President with the veto pen to keep things under control.
The boss at the warehouse looked at me kind of funny this a.m. I think he is making plans to lay me off. It ain’t my fault gas prices are so high and people ain’t buying beer as much as they use to. Besides, its Clintons fault. He done it first. If he had of left that intern alone we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in.
I sure hope people on this blog don’t blast me and call me a librul again today. Its happened two days in a row and I get pretty tired of it. One even said my Mommy is in New Jersey. I guess its the price you pay for speaking out for godly conservative things.
Have a good day everybody.
By Craig
May 1, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Another day, another screed about the Rev. Wright. No mention of the vile John Hagee of course.
What a surprise.
Of course conservatives can’t talk about real issues - like the war, or gas prices, or the economy - since their champion simply wants four more years of the same failed policies.
By Ray
May 1, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Good article in the Wall Street Journal today talking about where all of Obama’s friends are at this time. Not one has stood behind him and supported him, including Je$$ie, Big Al, Maxine Waters, Cynthia McKinney, Cornell West, John Lewis (who switched his support to Obama), Ophra and any number of white supporters, including the Kennedys, numerous white politicos, etc. You can do a lot of things in this country as a black man but one thing you cannot do is put down a brother, no matter how much of a wingnut he is. I wonder how many of his black “supporters” jump up and down in a similar congregation on Sunday. Mary Mitchell, and most of the black community have another allegiance in this fight and it is not to the candidate Obama. You can’t say those things, Barrack, and you are finding out that Wright speaks for more of the black community that you do.
By Truthifier
May 1, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
In yesterday’s blog, several people posited that if Rev. Wright were white we would not see so much attention being paid to him for his remarks. As an example of how a white minister with a record of making extremist statements is called out for his outrageous views, I would offer up the Rev. Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. I think it is fair to say that if Mr. Phelps were serving as a spiritual advisor and mentor to either Hillary Clinton or John McCain there would be puh-lenty of complaining! And rightly so. Extremism, no matter the color of the person delivering it, is going to be rejected by most Americans.
By CJ
May 1, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
On Rev. Wright, ‘I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother’. I bet his white grandmother is anxiously awaiting his decision about her!
If all black churches, as Wright and his supporters would have us believe, preach hate against whites and America, then we have much bigger issues than the presidential election.
For the sake of putting this issue to rest, nominate HILLARY CLINTON! She has her issues, but none are as divisive as this one. Hillary will do an excellent job for us as President!
By Just Wondering
May 1, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
I’m not trying to fan the flames, seriously, but I have a question that perhaps someone here can answer. I know a lot of traditionally white churches have embraced diversity and opened their doors to people of all races. Is there a movement within the traditionally black churches to embrace diversity by welcoming whites and other races in?
By DichotomE
May 1, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
The very fact that AJC continually hosts blogs that displays the content like that seen in this one, is the prime indicator that we have much bigger issues than the presidential election. What country have you been living in CJ?
By Ray
May 1, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
Why is this Wright thing such a surprise to white America? Have the soccer moms and dads had their heads in the sand for the last generation? Wright represents the racial tone of attitudes of the black community to whites and to America. Deny it all you want but the only people critizing Wright are whites. The liberal Demos are not putting him down for fear of loosing their voting base and black America is certainly not going to put down a brother. There is a spirit of hate and resentment just under the surface of most everything that has to do with black/white relations in this country and it is not going to go away anytime soon. We are two or more generations from electing a black president. Obama as tried but it is obvious that his campaign is coming apart because of this. I would like to have seen McCain beat him fair and square.
By Adam
May 1, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Obama supporters are anxious to see the Wright embarrassment go away and try to deflect the controversy back onto the evil white society. But the more we learn about the radical positions of Wright, Obama, Ayers and others the more we understand the real Obama.
Mary Mitchell is repulsed by the notion that white pundits can dictate what constitutes unacceptable speech in the black church. I’m sure Klan members are equally indignant of the idea of criticism of what is said at the the Klan meetings. However when these equally racist environments are exposed, the participants want to quickly change the subject.
By CMS
May 1, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
O.K. Wooten, as a young reader of your column,an independent,and a 31 year old black man, this is about as much since that you have made to me. With that said I support Wright’s rhetoric as well as Obama’s position.
Because I grew up in a black church I fail to recognize the “radicalness” or Anti-American sentiments within Wright’s rhetoric. It is what it is. At the same time, Obama is a politician who has to appeal to the masses without alienating his base … I don’t envy his position at all, because he shouldn’t be defined by another man’s point of view.
Hell I’ve heard African American preachers say worse behind a pulpit that I don’t agree with, and as I’ve grown older I understand the need to get a different perspective on Christanity … its already divide enough. The ministry in general has strangle hold on policy making when there needs to be a true seperation of church and state, but this is coming from the mind of a liberal.
I respect the conservative right, you all make some valid points. But we are all the total of our respective experiences. And as black american my experiences in the church I was raised in, how I interact with my family, and society in general is simply different … not deficient.
By jm
May 1, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
I wonder what Thinking Right would look like if Mr. Wooten was actually serious about the issues of the day rather than harping on about Rev. Wright (who is clearly maximizing his fifteen minutes of fame). Then I read this
I will let you get back to your daily dose of Rev. Wright is a baaaad person.
By Why wonder
May 1, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
What makes you believe that traditionally Black churches do not embrace diversity and welcome whites and other races? You see the Church does not belong to either Black nor White, the Church is GOD’S CHURCH which we are all a part of the BODY. My church is about 95% Black, however we do have some White members and a few Hispanics.
The problem is not at all coming from the Black perspective, rather Whites and other groups who too often through their predjudices are too fearful of the Black experience and somehow are convinced that it is an inferior one, even in the realm of religion. Blacks have never tried to prohibit Whites or other groups from worshipping with them, it has always been the other way around.
My particular church was integrated almost 40 years ago by a White preacher against death threats from some in the community. He believed that we are all God’s people and when the community began to change its demographic, so should the community church.
I challenge ANY non-Black who reads these words to walk into any “Black” Christian church in Atlanta. You will realize that those in the church will only see you as their brother or sister in Christ and not as a non-Black.
A bit if truth for you this morning.
By The surge is working...
May 1, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Luckovich’s cartoon this morning hits the nail on Jim’s head. Create a diversion and maybe the voters won’t notice what a mess everything else is. Good plan, Jim.
How about a column on “Mission Accomplished”? about how April, 2008 was the deadliest month for US soldiers since September, 2007? or any of a myriad of important topics that actually affect our daily lives? Any possibility of that, Jim?
By anonymous
May 1, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
CMS makes a good point. It is also a point that applies equally to white people. We are the total of our respective experiences. How we interact with our family, and society in general is simply different… not deficient.
By prince of peace
May 1, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
Another day…Another Wooten screak concerning Wright.
This is what the right wing does best as taught by Lee Atwater and Karl Rove.
When you have nothing of substance to contribute..Keep hammering at the “SCARY” things like Wright, Willie Horton, Obama’s middle name.”
Sometimes this even plays out when the right wing starts eating it’s own as it did to McCain in 2000. Thank you Karl Rove.
But it’s not only Wooten who is complicit in this ongoing trash.
The Washington Post and NY Times published more than 12 times as many articles mentioning Obama and Wright as they did mentioning McCain and Hagee.
And, just for fun..The following from Bill Maher.
“Bush was all over TV this week. He was on ‘Deal or No Deal.’ Then he was on ‘American Idol,’
which was unexpected, because it’s usually only in the early episodes where they have the retards.”
By Bill
May 1, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
I grew up in the South during the most turbulent times of the civil rights movement. I learned good people could have insanely wrong beliefs. The real change in the South, and with those people, came through strong and ugly dialog.
There’s a change in how we talk about race since those days - there is no tolerance for extreme talk on either side in polite society. Instead we speak in platitudes and, whether we truly believe it or not, act as if there’s no longer a great divide between races.
We acknowledge that there are white and black racists but paint them all as insane or evil. It just isn’t so. There’s a difference between being wrong and crazy or evil.
By pigeon holing them we cut off all sensible discussion. So black racists only talk openly among others who hold the same views, white racists only talk openly among their own kind. So the extreme opinions are reinforced by that receptive audience.
I understand why people follow the politically correct line. It’s easier and less dangerous to just keep quiet. Extreme views from whites - and to a lesser degree from blacks - are quickly shouted down.
By hushing up the bigots on both sides, or dismissing them all as crazy, we let the hate smolder and grow unchallenged.
In my early days in the South, I saw true bigots change through the heated discussion (well, discussion is too polite a term for what was happening).
Many of the old southern bigots were otherwise decent. People can and often do have a weird mix of wrong-headed thinking and goodness. That should be obvious but it helps to say it.
The only difference with a racist like Wright - compared to the white racists I remember - is that it is easier for me to understand how so much hate could build up. It would be hard to argue that life has been equitable. And it’s especially true for those who grew up in Wright’s generation.
Foolishly or not, I’m heartened by the wide exposure of Wright’s views. He isn’t alone in thinking what he does - he spoke out instead of showing the outside world one face while reserving his extremist views for those within his inner circle. Maybe he spoke out because his feelings were hurt, maybe because he craves attention — heck, maybe he’s just nuts or plain evil. It really doesn’t matter.
I started by say that some white Southern bigots were decent folks. Some of them were not decent at all - some were evil to the tips of their toes. That may be the case with Wright. I have no way of knowing.
But I’m glad he is speaking openly instead of confining his venom to the pulpit. I hope he’ll be answered just as openly and with just as much emotion. In the process people on both sides will get bent out of shape.
Truth is, a little reshaping would be a good thing.
By Shar
May 1, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Mr. Wooten: Your column should have begun and ended with the statement, “I’m not in a position to have an opinion on what transpires in black churches.” Instead, for the second day in a row you offer up commentary on events you have not witnessed and people you have neither met nor interviewed regarding issues you have not researched, all in the hope of arousing the passions of the similarly uninformed and for the purpose of deflecting attention and criticism of the indefensible policies of the people you support.
This is yellow journalism at its most shameless.
The tactic of using the moral authority of the clergy to incite passion over reason and to stimulate political action has been sharpened to a painful point by the current Administration. Republican assaults on the civil and privacy rights of gay Americans, our fellow citizens, was fed through conservative church pastors, primarily white, for the sole purpose of getting conservative voters to the polls.
If the tactic is offensive in one group, it is offensive in all. This is the lesson that Rev. Wright and Senator Obama failed to learn. Racism is destructive and wrong, regardless of who it targets. So is the manipulation of people’s spiritual beliefs for political gain, regardless of who is holding the strings.
Jbmlaw, who does not wallow in Mr. Wooten’s admitted ignorance, writes, “While I will defend the African-American practices I observed, I will not defend leftist politics masking as theology.” Fair and appropriate, as long as “rightist politics” are similarly abjured. Mr. Wooten does not share jbmlaw’s intellectual honesty, choosing instead flaunt his lack of knowledge in the pursuit of pandering.
By Just Wondering
May 1, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
why wonder @9:57, thanks for your reply. I appreciate your insight. I meant no offense, and was just genuinely curious about how black churches welcome others since we hear a lot of talk about the black church, but no one would ever refer to - the white church. It would be taken as racist. I understand that black churches came out of a time when blacks were not welcome in other churches but was just wondering how they are living in the now.
By Sassy~TU~Hunay
May 1, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this
I wish Rev. Wright would sit his retired a* down and shut the hell up. All African-American preachers do not preach hate and spew the garabage that comes out of his mouth in their puplits.
By ron
May 1, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this
Good morning, With their impatience,the black community is tipping it’s hand before their candidate is elected.They will destroy any chance he ever had of being elected.
There is a weak slate of candidates before us and the people will have to choose which one they think will do the least damage in the next four years.Hell of a way to run a country.
By Abomi Nation
May 1, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this
Great column Jim. The fact is the media has ignored the Black church and treated it as if it were off limits. White America has been given the idea that the Black church is nothing more than pretty gospel music sung in churches on Sunday.
There seems to be a serious double standard here. On one side you have the media exposing uncomfortable issues within White Southern Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, and Mormon churches.
When it comes to the issues of the Black church however the media is somehow expected to remain silent. Self censored because of the fear of being called racist.
Focus on the pretty gospel music White America, then move on. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
By Ray
May 1, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
What’s it going to take in this dialog for both black and white to come to the center and get this behind us? This is one of the most important issues that we face in this country and we need to talk about and fix it NOW.
By Why wonder
May 1, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Just Wondering.
That is the very danger in allowing media to form our perceptions. It is unfortunate that our modern day media is used in a way that was never intended; independent/objective/impartial.
I’m just one who believes in “if you want to know how something really is, experience it for yourself firsthand”.
There is no “Black” church, only churches where the dominant demographic is Black. Again something that we have just bought into over time because of the social conditions that initially forced and continues to perpetuate it.
By getalife
May 1, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
The gop had nothing to run on until Wright hit the corporate media.
I say run Omama and lose to get the gop to clean up their mess. They can’t govern and this will finish off our country and their party. A draft, a depression, more wars is what this country deserves.
You get what you vote for.
By HIDT
May 1, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
Jim, like me, you grew up in rural south Georgia. Were all the horses in your area dead from you beating them daily? I know you are doing your part to get Hillary nominated (which is fine with me, though I think McCain can beat either), but Wright’s 15 minutes should be long over.
By tommy
May 1, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
It is very sad that most of you taking part in this column are affraid to call Jerimiah Wright what he is a bitter old racist himself. That man is the classic racist being friendly to many caucasions then slamming them behind the door of his church. I wonder if all of you defending the black church realise that in this country we do have seperation of Church and state. But since many of the african americans refuse to move on past the 60’s they continue to hold political meetings and describe them as church. If it was a white church saying the outlandish and ignorant statements that the racist wright has said the entire media and the country would come down upon them with great vengance. Oh that’s right we already did that it was called clan meetings, and I am here to say that Wright is nothing more than a racist leader of a racially discrimminating and blaming church
By tommy
May 1, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
It is very sad that most of you taking part in this column are affraid to call Jerimiah Wright what he is a bitter old racist himself. That man is the classic racist being friendly to many caucasions then slamming them behind the door of his church. I wonder if all of you defending the black church realise that in this country we do have seperation of Church and state. But since many of the african americans refuse to move on past the 60’s they continue to hold political meetings and describe them as church. If it was a white church saying the outlandish and ignorant statements that the racist wright has said the entire media and the country would come down upon them with great vengance. Oh that’s right we already did that it was called clan meetings, and I am here to say that Wright is nothing more than a racist leader of a racially discrimminating and blaming church
By Roc-a-fella
May 1, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
The Jeremiah Wright controversy demonstrates the arrogance and ignorance of white America. Additionally, it demonstrates the politics of fear that has driven so many out of the realm of politics and led to such apathy among minorities.
First of all, I emplore you to watch the entire sermons, not the Fox News manufactured, fear-invoking sound bites. Whether you agree or disagree with Jeremiah Wright, why not make a concerted effort to figure out why a decorated Marine/man of the cloth that speaks five languages with a Ph.D would feel this way? Why not get to the bottom of the feelings and try to address them? If the portion of white America that continues to fan the flames surrounding this nontroversy wasn’t so cocky and down-right stupid, we could turn this Rev. Wright nontroversy into a very enlightening experience for our country and possibly turn the page on America’s racist and hate-filled past.
However, the news media intent to increase ratings is focusing, instead of on a dialogue and solutions, on some contrived nontroversy that doesn’t impact how much I pay for gas or for a box of cornflakes or whether my cousin will make it home from Iraq alive and well.
Wake up America!!! Please show me where Barack Obama has done anything to demonstrate that he’s divisive. Examples please! This man has a white mother and white grandparents. He’s half white. How can he hate White America? Wouldn’t that translate into self-hatred?
The entire controversy is being flamed by the guilty conscious of white America that the half-black candidate will pay white America back for the atrocities that its inflicted on black people. Let’s be intellectually honest here. We had a couple hundred years of slavery, lynchings (I’ve seen pictures where the sheriff/representative of the government was present), segregation and Jim Crow. The people fanning this Wright nontroversy is intent on making sure that their racist chickens don’t come home to roost.
I hope all of my caucasian brethren that read this entry take one step back and try to put themselves in the shoes of black America. I hope they can show a little empathy considering the atrocities set forth above and finally understand that the American experience has been different for the black community. Next time, try to be understanding before condemning.
We’re in this thing together, so let’s make a change and move forward together to the next chapter of America. United we stand, divided we fall!!!
By tommy
May 1, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
It is very sad that most of you taking part in this column are affraid to call Jerimiah Wright what he is a bitter old racist himself. That man is the classic racist being friendly to many caucasions then slamming them behind the door of his church. I wonder if all of you defending the black church realise that in this country we do have seperation of Church and state. But since many of the african americans refuse to move on past the 60’s they continue to hold political meetings and describe them as church. If it was a white church saying the outlandish and ignorant statements that the racist wright has said the entire media and the country would come down upon them with great vengance. Oh that’s right we already did that it was called clan meetings, and I am here to say that Wright is nothing more than a racist leader of a racially discrimminating and blaming church
By deegee
May 1, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
“While I’m not in a position to have an opinion on what transpires in black churches on Sunday morning, if his conspiracy-laced anti-Americanism is indeed the black church in America, as Wright declared at the National Press Club, we — blacks and whites — are in trouble. And so is the ministry.”
That’s funny, JW says, while I’m not in a position to have an opinion on the subject, here’s my opinion…
“She, like most liberals, sees conspiracies and orchestrated campaigns — this directed at Wright — where none exists.”
Oh really???? JW editorializes on the Jeremiah Wright controversy 3 times in 4 days. This is the kind of B.S. that angers people. Peeing in one’s face and calling it rain tends to provoke people. Please, just have the nads to admit to what you are doing because it’s so obvious. You aren’t fooling anyone.
By anonymous
May 1, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Roc-a-fella the reason white people have such a hard time working through the race issue with blacks, is because everytime a white person expresses an opinion, people like you automatically start calling them arrogant, ignorant racists. Why bother.
By RCH
May 1, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this
Mitchell is right:
And the notion that white pundits can dictate what constitutes unacceptable speech in the black church is repulsive to most black people.”
However, a potential President is a member of that church and it is not acceptable to most Americans .Recent poles have labeled that type of rhetoric hate full and racist.
Obama is no fool. Recent slides in pole numbers in Carolina and Indiana have brought this to light. He cannot when on the black vote alone and cannot risk alienating the white vote.
By jbmlaw
May 1, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
Dear Bill @ 10:06, unless Glenn hops online, nobody can top your essay today, my compliments.
Dear Shar @ 10:08, thanks for the commentary, but my “intellectual honesty” requires that I disclose that it is specifically “liberation theology” that I had in mind with my closing comment. And as to equal condemnation of rightist politics masquerading as theology, I have to admit that I probably would never notice; my beliefs are integrated so thoroughly that I would be unable to distinguish one from the other. The obvious example is “abortion.” My thoughts on “abortion” are rooted in both religious belief and in my more political and ethical perceptions of the value of innocent human life. Similarly, if I were blessed with a pastor who distinguished, with a sneer, “government” from “Godly” institutions, I may attribute that to intellectual arguments – separation - within religious tradition rather than a political bias, although there is little question that conservatives and libertarians also politically embrace that religious doctrine, among many others. It seems to me that it is the left side of the aisle that most often chooses to reject much religious belief and doctrine and practice, thus my arguably too-broad-brush painting. Having said such horrible things, it would be intellectually dishonest for me to fail to acknowledge that I recognize thoughtful morality in such friends of the left as you and Southern Democrat.
Dear deegee @ 10:38, the line you quoted by Mr. Wooten is a sound argument. Your position, that condemning evil is as bad as the evil itself, is unreasoned.
By tommy
May 1, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
Roc-a-fella, 1st let me comend you on not being brave enought to use your real name then stealing a hip hop labels name for your own. Second i have seen an entire sermon and in the entire sermon Rev. Wright said derogatory statements about whites, 27 times in only 38 minutes of footage. Also you ask where Obama has done anything wrong. He was a member for 20 years and only now does he denounce wright. Either Obama sleeps in church, agrees with Wright or just said what he said to get the media off his back. Whatever the case may be Obama is obviously a man who lacks the ability to recognize charecter as he has now cast Wright to the side and disassociated himself. You sound like a man angry at life and looking for someone to blame and us white people are getting tired of being the scapegoats. By the way I am a solid part cherokee does that give me the right to blurt out hate speech too.
By tommy
May 1, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
Roc-a-fella, 1st let me comend you on not being brave enought to use your real name then stealing a hip hop labels name for your own. Second i have seen an entire sermon and in the entire sermon Rev. Wright said derogatory statements about whites, 27 times in only 38 minutes of footage. Also you ask where Obama has done anything wrong. He was a member for 20 years and only now does he denounce wright. Either Obama sleeps in church, agrees with Wright or just said what he said to get the media off his back. Whatever the case may be Obama is obviously a man who lacks the ability to recognize charecter as he has now cast Wright to the side and disassociated himself. You sound like a man angry at life and looking for someone to blame and us white people are getting tired of being the scapegoats. By the way I am a solid part cherokee does that give me the right to blurt out hate speech too.
By Ray
May 1, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
I was visiting my pregnant 35 yr old daughter three years ago in Portland, OR and she informed me on Sat that we were going to the Redemption of the Lord and Saviour Baptist Church the following morning while she performed with the gospel choir. She stated that it was in a part of town that I don’t frequently go and that we would be in a definite minority in the congregation. As a minority of one, I sat in a pew and watched my daughter sing with a large number of decidedly overweight, very turned on and happy ladies who sang like nothing I have ever heard. On either side of me were very large ladies with pink and bright green finery, gloves, fancy hats and white stockings having the time of their lives. It was hard not to get caught up in what was going on and my clapping turned out to be some to the loudest.
The preacher gave a few words, then announced that since it was Super Bowl Sunday, he would keep the sermon short (about three minutes). The ladies on either side of me were sisters and invited me and my daughter to their home to watch the Super Bowl and eat dinner. The game was good but didn’t hold a candle to the hospitality and warmth shown by that family. We still exchange X-mas cards and when I visit Portland this month, I will definitely be in that pew clapping my hands again.
By Roc-a-fella
May 1, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
The Rev. Wright nontroversy demonstrates the arrogance and ignorance of those in White America that continue to fan the flames surrounding this nontroversy.
First of all, please watch the entire sermons prior to forming your judgment, not the Fox (a cunning and coniving, slick animal) News contrived and fear-invoking snippets. Whether you agree with Wright or not, you need to hear the entire sermon before commenting? If you won’t do that, you’ve lost all credibility.
This nontroversy has given America a great opportunity to turn the page on its racist past. What a wonderful opportunity for White America to say, hmmm…a decorated Marine/man of the cloth that speaks 5 languages and has a Ph.D has these feelings about America. I wonder why?
What an opportunity to step into the shoes of a class of Americans that have dealt with American government inflicted atrocities such as slavery, lynchings (I’ve seen pictures of sheriffs/government officials in front of a burned black man hanging from a tree), segregation, Jim Crow and the crack epidemic? What an opportunity to show a little empathy and say, hmmm…maybe the America that I live in is a little different than the one that others live in and maybe I shouldn’t immediately project my point of view on blacks and condemn them for the ills of their community (here’s your arrogance).
Instead, we allow the corporate-owned media, content on increasing ratings, and the racist in the GOP, like Newt Gingrich, to fan flames of fear throughout America. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!
Give me an example of Senator Obama being divisive. Examples please!!! Did we forget that this man is half black, half white? He has a white mother and white grandparents. How can he hate white people? Wouldn’t that be self-hatred?
The segment of White America that continues to fan the flames of hate surrounding this nontroversy are reacting to their guilty conscious. Their concerned that the half-black candidate will pay them back for the atrocities set forth above. They are concerned that the chickens in their racist past will come home to roost.
Ladies and Gents - don’t fall victim again to some nontroversy that allows a terrible candidate to run our country. We’ve been duped twice. Where would we be if the election of 2000 hadn’t been stolen from Al Gore? Wow!
We are in this thing together. I hope my caucasian brethern reading this blog entry will take this nontroversy as an opportunity to step into the shoes of black America. I hope each of you will show black people a little empathy and understanding.
I hope we all use this nontroversy as an opportunity to understand one another better. We are in this thing together. United we stand, divided we fall!!! We have been divided for way too long. Let’s turn the page on America’s racist past and move on to the next chapter of our Nation.
By the way, a racist with no power is just ignorant. In my view, it takes power to be a racist. If you don’t have any power over me and aren’t a part of the establishment, I could care less what you think. Just a little FYI.
By Steve
May 1, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
Keep going Mr Wright you are going to go down in history as the man who singlehandedly scrubbed the idea of a black man being the first president of the US. Hate mongering is really getting to be very tiresome and totally living in the past.
By prince of peace
May 1, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
By Ray
Your remarks on the church in Portland hits home!
Being born and bred in that wonderful city I probably can give a good estimate of where this church is located.
It would most likely be in the Northern section with names like Albina, Union, Killingsworth, Mississipppi; am I far off?
Have a great time on your next trip there..Plenty of great places to visit, eat and perhaps make merry!
By AmVet
May 1, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
The surge is working…
How about a column on “Mission Accomplished”? about how April, 2008 was the deadliest month for US soldiers since September, 2007? or any of a myriad of important topics that actually affect our daily lives? Any possibility of that, Jim?
None whatsoever.
Jim is like the character played by Kevin Bacon in Animal House who keeps yelling “Remain calm. All is well!” during a street riot.
It appears that the “party of personal responsibility” is anything but.
And if you want an excellent political agent provocateur, our esteemed columnist is your man.
(HIDT is correct in noting Wooten’s following the “Mann Coulter Strategy” of doing his part in getting Hillary the nod.)
But blissfully the demise of their non-conservative conservatism is at hand no matter how this all plays out.
Then the “conservative” teeth gnashing will begin anew in earnest.
01-20-09 The End of an Error
By Curious Observer
May 1, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
How delightful to see all these children of racists and closet racists cry “racism” when it comes to the Reverend Wright. And then we get the pious sermons of the amoral jbmlaw et al., who believe women should be forced to have babies they conceive but don’t believe we have any Christian obligation to help support those children.
The entire episode involving Obama’s pastor is merely another version of swift-boating. The Republicans, who stand to lose big-time in the forthcoming election, will stoop to anything to keep a Republican in the White House. This particular ploy is aimed at prying blue-collar white voters from the Democratic camp. Republicans believe that the people who have suffered most during the current administration will bend over like a frat pledge and cry, “Please sir, I want some more!”
I note that these adherents of a color-blind society and moral purity say nothing about McCain’s proclivity for sleeping with women not his wife and his profane tirades against Senate colleagues. They say nothing about McCain’s involvement in the Keating Five and his willingness to seek out the endorsement of a pastor who exhibits contempt for Catholics and others not of his persuasion.
I don’t give a hoot if Jeremiah Wright says the moon is made of green cheese. He’s not running for election. This old red herring technique won’t work with this voter. Mr. Wooten may write about the Wright controversy until the election, if he so desires. He is merely preaching to the choir of Southern Republicans who are so desperate that they will resort to any dirty trick to see their candidate elected.
By ghost rider
May 1, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
By AmVet
May 1, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
“The surge is working…”
Only if you ask the gerbils who occupy the white House, and Petraeus, McCain, Lieberman, and Graham.
Any general, admiral or anyone offering a differing view soon disappears!
Happy “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED DAY!”
By deegee
May 1, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
Dear jbmlaw@10:47, I’m not sure what you mean by your comment about condemning evil. My point is that the Wright controversy has taken on a life of its own over the last few weeks. Obama has handled the issue with dignity. Obama has a political record, a family life, a personal life, and has written two books that speak for his character and values. It is a disgrace on our electoral system to watch him being skewered by this controversy. There are thousands of ministers, priests, rabbis, omans, etc. that speak every week to their congregations. I doubt you will find many in the congregation that will agree with every belief their holy man preaches. But that does not preclude their finding spiritual strength in their sermons.
Using this issue in the way it has been used by Obama’s political opponents goes a long way to explain why the American voter is pi$$ed off and angry at the system and desire the kind of change around which Obama has centered his campaign.
By Adam
May 1, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Roc-a-fella and the rest of the Wright apologists want to staunchly defend this radical racist by suggesting, as Wright himself does, that anyone who hasn’t deeply studied his “Black Liberation Theology” and all of it’s nuances are unqualified to even suggest anything is wacky about his rants.
Jim Crow, lynchings, slavery, blah, blah, blah. Wright can preach his hatred and pass the plate afterward. Evidently he and Jessie, Al, and many others have found this to be a very profitable gig. Judging by his extravagant new house, the oppressive white society has evidently removed the boot from his throat and loosened it’s grip on his lifestyle.
When Wright says this isn’t about him, he’s correct. However, what it is about is OBAMA. What does he believe? Do we want to elect a president that shares Wright’s paranoias? Wright preached his poison for years and nobody really cared. We still wouldn’t care if it weren’t for the inconvenient fact that the guy shouting Amen from the front row for 20 years is now a candidate for president.
By Roc Returns
May 1, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
Anonymous - the problem is that whites aren’t empathetic. You can’t come to the table thinking you know black people and what’s best. You have to come to the table with a listening ear and a willingness to learn before you speak. If you do that, we can have a very open and frank conversation. Most whites are ignorant about black culture. In order to make it in corporate America, most blacks have to assimilate to white culture, but whites rarely have to assimilate to black culture, which leads to this ignorance. We know about this ignorance and I personally wouldn’t hold that against anyone.
Tommy - there’s an old saying that a hit dog will holler. I guess you’ve been hit. Enough said.
Can you tell me that you’ve never heard a racist remark from a family member or co-worker or boss or friend? If not, you’re too racist to even realize racism. Have you never heard or thought, hmmm…black people are violent or let me lock my doors around blacks or Mexicans are criminals or whatever.
Did you denounce the person that made these comments?
Once again, show me what Obama has DONE to be considered a racist. Him sitting in a church for twenty years, how does that make him racist? This argument to me is terribly weak and elementary. You must be one of the dumb hicks that the media is pandering to. Anyone with intellectual muscle and being intellectually honest would destroy that argument in a moment.
What is racism to you and how does sitting in a church and listening make him a racist? Show me a statement from him that reflects these sentiments. Show me an action that reflects he’s a racist.
Your argument about judging character would kick all of the candidates out of the race. Let’s talk about judgment where it really counts and how McCain and Clinton voted to take us to war. We’ve all been duped by someone that we thought had certain characteristics and turned out to be a fraud. Let’s be real. You can’t hold that against him. Heck - most of America thought Bush would be a good president. I’ll do my best not to hold that against my GOP friends.
By AmVet
May 1, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Frankly I am sick of this topic.
It was played out years ago with Graham, Falwell, Robertson, Jackson, Sharpton, et al…
Give me an ethical secular humanist to run the show who doesn’t have to explain his relationship with some demented and vitriolic “man of the cloth”…
By ron
May 1, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Bill @ 1006,I referred to the discussions you allude to yesterday.They were wild.They got results.I’ll reprint your post and reread it a few times until it all sinks in.I sincerely hope the next discussions are more civil.I’m sure there’ll be more discussions.
By George Washington
May 1, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Yeah, the Black Church is in reality the Church of Very Fat Black Ladies wearing nice clothes and Fancy Dancy Hats, pretending they can sing…So What? The Free Masons and the Knights of Columbus look just as stupid in their funny looking costumes, and have for hundreds of years…Not to mention the pointy hatted Vessel of Christ on earth…Ranting and Raving is expected of the Revs in such churches, it serves as the Black talk radio….just like Rush, Sean, and that other idiot, I don’t recall his name…
By Lynne
May 1, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
On “Mission Accomplished Day” with 4,000 dead and counting….Jim Wooten is pondering about the black church. Well Jim, your fears are well-founded, indeed many black ministers share the same views as Rev Wright and for good reason. See, you’re such a perfect example of why. Just look in the mirror. You’re the real face of terror.
By RCH
May 1, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
* The Roc Returns*
Once again, show me what Obama has DONE to be considered a racist. Him sitting in a church for twenty years, how does that make him racist?
I guess sitting or marching at a KKK meeting isn’t racist either.
It is what was said that is important;by staying he endorsed what was said!
By anonymous
May 1, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Roc Returns you’re saying that white people are somehow obliged to let black people set the tone of the discussion. BOTH sides need to put aside there pre-conceived notions of the other. I accept your statement that white people in general do not know what it is like to be discriminated against, but that does’t mean that they are not thoughtful people with views that are not inherently racist. I have heard racist remarks from family members and friends. I’ve also heard racist remarks from black people. There is plenty of blame to go around.
By old91A10
May 1, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
The real culprit is Barack H. Obama. He might have resolved this long ago, if he could only have been honest. Obama’s explanations have been nothing but misdirection, obfuscation, and equivocation — tantamount to lying.
Obama, his campaign, and his supporters have tried to point the finger elsewhere. Jeremiah Wright is the culprit. Hillary Clinton is the culprit. The media is the culprit. The GOP is the culprit. Ridiculous.
Obama’s stories have changed so often that even the Obamaniacs have whiplash.
Obama has done the same with regard to questions about Rezko. Denials and misdirections usually refer to a narrow strip of land, returned campaign funds, or billable hours. Even if I accept these explanations, I can not ignore eleven dilapidated buildings within jogging distance of his house.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDHsHM0laT8&feature=related
The only explanation (by Obama’s staff) is ‘if he were aware, we would have passed it to proper authorities’ (my paraphrase).
Meanwhile, Obama is AFRAID to DEBATE. That is one of the final straws that brought three members of my family over from undecided or his camp to Hillary Clinton. Watch the inane screed from Obamaniacs on this.
By Charles
May 1, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
The so-called educated African Americans were disappointed with Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s performance at the National Press Club. Specifically, most so-called educated African Americans had no qualms with his positions on the government introducing drugs into the black community or his questionable anti-American Radicalism because the man’s integrity and scholarship speaks volumes. But the so-called educated African Americans were not particular pleased with his antics/buffoonery during the question and answer period.
In the minds of the so-called educated African Americans, education is the tool which provides distinction from the average black person. Most believe that education elevates them to the level of educated white people thereby deserving equal status and treatment. Anyone could see that Reverend Wright’s antics didn’t resemble anything that a comparable white person would do. He is educated but wasn’t acting white. He was acting like the average black person having a ball; and that runs the risk of exposing the façade of the so-called educated Negro. His antics terrified most of the learned integrationist Negroes through-out America.
If Black and White people can maintain separate institutions/churches, it bodes well for both peoples. It keeps the enemies of both groups, black and white, from exploiting the two groups. Should some black and white churches volunteer to integrate, the affect/ effect would be disastrous. It would be similar to the integration of Pat Buchanan and his brigades with Ross Perot and the Reform party. The Buchanan brigades entered the Reform party and destroyed all of its lofty possibilities. The Reform Party was transformed into a quasi-Republican Party; the very kind of politics that the newly formed Reform Party sought to escape. Consequently, many Reform Party members had no choice but to separate and reorganize the Reform Party anew.
In my opinion, the black church with all of its imperfections is the best religious institution that the country has to offer. It is one of last hopes for America; and especially African Americans. Let’s keep our churches/institutions separate for the sake of our nation.
By George Washington
May 1, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
The ajc circulation may be plunging like a rock off an air craft carrier, but in the Gulf countires, newspaper circulation is growing rapidly…People read both a morning and an evening newspaper…The Financial Times just began a Gulf edition…these are not skinny little papers like the urinal, daily issues are the thickness of the Sunday urinal, chock full of ads….Not to help woodenhead in anyway whatsoever, but the ajc could offer a daily version in the Gulf, transmitted electronically for printing in the Region… English language papers are big sellers there….American corporations buy whole page ads to influence the money men in the Gulf…Delta, Coke, maybe even Home Depot is they were smart enough to open a store or two in the Gulf, would buy the ads…So what is the incremental cost of transmitting the ajc for printing in the Gulf…Very little, but Atlanta gets great exposure to one of the worlds new great money centers, local companies get the same exposure, and the Gulf readers get to read about the greatest Southern City in the usa….Naw, too much work for woodenhen…..Forgit it.
By Gerald Newton
May 1, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
No matter how much the black church may chastise Obama for trying to be too white, they will vote for him by the millions, because he is black. Streets filled with protests is a real posibility if he isn’t the clear winner in November.
By Roc Returns
May 1, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Let me take you intellectual peons on a journey to unravel your weak argument that Obama subscribes to Wright’s views and show you that its your fear/guilty conscious that makes you think he’s a racist.
First of all, Wright has been a preacher for 36 years. In those 36 years, we’ve come across 3 sermons that are problematic or controversial. In 36 years, there are nearly 2,000 Sundays to preach. 0.0015% of his sermons that we know about are controversial. Obama was a parishoner for 20 years which put him in the pews for approximately 1,050 Sundays with perfect attendance. He’s on record and its been proven that he wasn’t there for these 3 controversial sermons.
Are we ASSUMING that Jeremiah Wright preached the same type sermon every Sunday for 36 years? Are we ASSUMING that every Sunday for the 20 years Obama attended the church that these are the types of sermons that he heard? Are we forgetting that one sermon was after a once in a lifetime event called 9/11? Are we ASSUMING that Rev. Wright sermon on the Sunday after 9/11 had nothing to do with the emotions surrounding this catastrophy and reflect his daily beliefs? Are we ASSUMING that there was nothing else at the church that interested Obama like ministries or the congregation and the only reason that he went was to hear Jeremiah Wrights racist sermons that he gave every Sundy? Are we ASSUMING that there was a viable alternative as a church for Obama (any church doesn’t just cut it)?
It takes a racist that doesn’t want to give a black man the benefit of the doubt to assume that all of Wright’s sermons reflect the three controversials ones that have been publicized. Also, let me mention that this is a huge ASSUMPTION because if there were more, we would’ve heard about them by now.
Do you peons that continue to fan the flames surrounding this controversy now understand why its silly? I need you silly, intellectual peons to show me at least 1% of his sermons that reflect a racist view point before you criticize the man. I need you silly, intellectual peons to show me a sermon with Obama in the crowd cheering some racist point. Better yet, I need you silly, intellectual peons to show me Obama being a racist or promoting racist viewpoints. You can’t!!! Thus, you really on some silly argument that he sat in a church for twenty years with a preacher that made three controversial sermons and now he’s a racist. Stop being silly!!!
By the way, (i) Hillary’s not black, so she doesn’t know what its like to be a black man which was the heart of one sermon, (ii) the chickens coming home to roost comment was a quote of the ambassador to Iraq and one man’s patriot is another man’s terriorist, so stop being arrogant and ignorant and believing that America has never done anything wrong, and (iii) God is superior to America, so America is accountable to God for all of its evils.
I rest my case!!!
By George Washington
May 1, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
The zionist scum pushing for an American war against Iran better watch their backs….Egypt is on the edge of revolution….food prices are so high, people are ready to revolt, and Akmed and Abdul are there to help…Camp David has given the zionists 30 years of peace, which they have used to attack their other arab neighbors, and the Persians to the South East. Now, Islamic Brotherhood is in a position to inherit hundreds of M-1 main battle tanks, dozens of F-16’s and other advanced American weapons….Time to pay for your crimes, zionists….You can start by showing a little gratitude to Jimmy Carter and the American taxpayer who has made this 30 year peace possible….
By George Washington
May 1, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Gulf States May End Dollar Pegs, Kuwait Minister Says (Update4)
By Fiona MacDonald and Matthew Brown
May 1 (Bloomberg) — Gulf states are considering dropping their pegs to the dollar after the U.S. currency’s decline stoked inflation across the region, Kuwaiti Finance Minister Mustafa al- Shimali said.
Yes, there are some'' Gulf Cooperation Council states considering dropping their pegs to the dollar, which has fallen 13 percent against the euro in the last 12 months, al-Shimali said in an interview in Kuwait late yesterday without naming the countries.Some countries will do what we are doing.”
Al-Shimali’s comments may restoke speculation of a change in Middle East currency systems that eased after the United Arab Emirates and Qatar last month ruled out any revaluation or dropping the dollar peg in the short term. The issue will remain a key issue as long as inflation remains high.
Inflation is rising in the Gulf to a great extent because of loose monetary policy,'' said Marios Maratheftis, head of research for Standard Chartered Plc in the Middle East in a telephone interview from Dubai.Tightening monetary policy can only happen if they drop their currency pegs or strengthen the currency, preferably both.”
The U.A.E., Bahrain and Qatar lowered their benchmark interest rates today by a quarter point, matching a cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve a day earlier. The move is needed to maintain the dollar pegs. Saudi Arabia is on its weekend while Oman moves its interest rates in line with the London Inter Bank Offered Rate.
Gulf Inflation
Inflation is running close to 10 percent in Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E., while Qatar’s consumer prices rose 14 percent in the fourth quarter.
The Kuwaiti dinar has appreciated 7.9 percent against the dollar since the nation in May became the only Gulf Arab state to drop its peg to the U.S. currency. Contracts to buy U.A.E. dirhams in 12 months time are trading at a 2 percent premium and Saudi riyal forwards are trading at a 1.3 percent premium to the spot price, suggesting that some traders are betting that those countries will follow Kuwait in revaluing. The link to the dollar meant that imports in euros and other currencies that have strengthened against the dollar became more expensive.
The idea of dropping the peg “has been started by other Gulf countries and they are partially going this way because the dollar has been going down for some time,” al-Shimali said yesterday.
Forum meeting
“This news has already been in newspapers,” al-Shimali told reporters at a meeting of the Fourth World Economic Forum in Kuwait today.
Reuters reported today that al-Shimali said he was citing newspaper reports and not expressing his own opinion when commenting to Bloomberg on the future of the Gulf dollar pegs.
When asked at the forum about Gulf states considering dropping their pegs, al-Shimali told reporters that he would not comment on behalf of Gulf states.
Officials at the Qatari, Omani and U.A.E. central banks were not immediately available. The Bahraini and Saudi central banks were closed today.
Revaluation speculation peaked in November after U.A.E. central bank Governor Sultan Bin Nasser al-Suwaidi said he was considering dropping the dirham’s peg to the dollar, and a Saudi Arabia central bank official said that Gulf states may revalue their currencies together.
All the GCC states, apart from Oman, are planning to form a single Gulf currency by 2010. The group’s central bank governors will meet in June in an attempt to get the project back on schedule.
The case for currency reform is strong,'' Simon Williams, chief Middle East economist at HSBC Holdings Plc, said in a telephone interview from Dubai.The inflationary pressures the Gulf faces not only demand a stronger currency, they also require an independent monetary policy. The issue is not going to go away, but I don’t believe that change is close.”
By George Washington
May 1, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Hillary’s face may not be black, but her heart is as black as midnight, with evil…..
By AmVet
May 1, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
No matter how much the black church may chastise Obama…millions…because he is black.
Gerald, that is a lie.
He is NOT black.
He is a mulatto. (the offspring of one white parent and one black parent or someone 50% black and 50% white)
Unless you consider his white mother to be nothing more than sliced liver.
The racial dishonesty in this country is still appalling…
By RCH
May 1, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
*Gerald Newton *
Remember, African Americans make up only 18% of the population. Hispanics make up a larger percentage, most of which will vote for McCain ( His push for the bill last year granting amnesty)
Many conservative Democrates are now leaning for John McCain as a moderate in the Republican Party.
The guilty “white” complex is not going to