This dust up between Wright and Obama is a dust up caused by politics, media, and the ongoing battle between the Black old guard and the Black new school. (I was going to write old school vs. new school but I think old guard is appropriate because, in my opinion, the old guard is now guarding against the new school taking over).
Thew new school understood and understands that Black politicians cannot rely on just Black voters or just speak to Black voters. Even if their constituency is primarily Black, they know that they can't limit themselves to just Black people. "It's a new day" is the correct term to use and the new school realizes this. That doesn't stop the new school from recognizing racism when it is there, but the focus isn't on that because the main battles have been won. This is exactly what Obama was saying when he mentioned that Wright is the older generation who is viewing things from a different perspective because of what he, Wright, as experienced in his life time.
However, even if that were all that there is to it, this mess would still be a big as it is because this is politics and Obama had previously tied himself to Wright. That makes Wright's comments, out of context or not -- and I agree that many are out of context from what I've been able to hear -- fair game in the war of politics.
Let's be clear about this, Obama lied when he said he didn't know about the comments Wright made. Obama, himself, has backtracked on that so I think lie is the appropriate word to use. Obama tried to have it both ways, he needed to placate Blacks who think politics at this level is just about "being Black", you know, those who asked if Obama was "Black enough". He also needed to placate whites who may have wondered if he was just another "Black politician." His campaign is about showing that he's different and is about change. Remember, "change" was the hot campaign word for a moment. Well, change requires toning down the old guard rhetoric and talking about commonality.
But the old guard still has power and still is capable of flexing. Wright showed finesse when he was interviewed on Moyer's show. Then, he even had some white people wondering if the clips of Wright was fair. I think that's why O'Reily had a fit over the interview because Moyer showed something that wasn't being showed. But when Wright went to the press club, it was old school on display. It was joning on display. It was in your face "Black nationalistic politics" in your face. It was Black Liberation Theology right there in the open, delivered in the charismatic Black preacher style and those who have never seen it, can't deal with it.
Let me be blunt. The mainstream and conservative media wanted to see a contrite, soft speaking Black man, apologize but instead they got the "bad Negro" all up in the place! Actually, what was on display was a man who is sure about what he said, standing tall and defending what he said and what he believes.
The media, mainstream and conservative, isn't showing that Wright's church has Black and white members. Nor is the mainstream and conservative media telling that Wright's church is a member of a mostly white denomination. That would destroy the media presentation, but truth doesn't matter in politics.
I'm getting some joy out of this only because the battle between the old guard and the new school has to happen and the sooner the better. It broke on stage when Cory Booker was going against Sharpe. It's on stage now but the media doesn't see it, what they see is "Black vs. right." It's a damn shame, and I'm not happy to see it happen at the level of presidential race, but it has to happen. Probably, there was no option, it had to happen at this level; the national level.
I AM happy that the race baiting of Clinton Inc. has been on full display. As someone who infamously said Bill Clinton was nothing but a cracka in a suit, and stood up to the barrage of comments afterwards, I get to smile some, even though it's about 10 years later.
Wright has to defend himself. Obama has to distance himself. It's politics. It's the old guard vs. new school and even though it's fueled by politics and the media, it has to happen.
And, honestly, Blacks need to see the racialist and racist aspects of the Democratic party to fully understand what politics is about; power. And Blacks need to see and understand that the Blacks at the local and national level of the Democratic party, don't know how to play the power game. It's go along to get along, every once in awhile, slightly bucking, but then going back to pleasing the Democratic power structure.
It's time. And Obama is the spear head.
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