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Originally Posted by RFK1968
Why do people act as though this was a common part Reverend Wright's sermons week-in-and-week-out. These were random occurrences that have destroyed this man's legacy, all with the purpose of bringing down a presidential candidate. I can't believe we're reaching a point where the sins of everyone that surrounds the political figure are cast upon that political figure. It was pathetic when it was done to Mitt Romney. It's pathetic when it's being done to Barack Obama.
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"Random occurrences that have destroyed this man's legacy"? I gotta disagree with you here. The pastor in question is fully and solely responsible for the content of his sermons. If his "God Damn America" invective has damaged his legacy, he has himself and only himself to blame.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RFK1968
But this idea that someone should leave their church because they disagree with some of the things the preacher says is absolutely ludicrous. Would you abandon members of your family that made racist or sexist or homophobic statements just becuase you disagreed with them? What if your church was as big a part of your life as your family? Obama said Wright was like an uncle. That doesn't surprise me one bit. I've got a racist uncle. I still hang out with him sometimes. Does that make me a racist? This whole "agreement by association" principle falls flat on its face.
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There's no "agreement by association" here - it was more "agreement by appointment". Obama chose to bring the man into an official role in his campaign. That makes the man's prior comments relevant.
That said, I give Obama credit for his response - once the remarks were known, Obama unequivocally refuted them and dismissed the pastor from his official role in the Obama campaign.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RFK1968
And these same people find it acceptable for a candidate to be endorsed by someone who has made homophobic, anti-Semetic or anti-Catholic remarks because, to them, it's the degree of association that matters, and they are the deciders regarding what degree is acceptable.
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I think one might consider appointment to an official role in a campaign to be a pretty strong association, no?
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Originally Posted by RFK1968
If anyone could find me a single piece of evidence that Barack Obama shares any kind of this sentiment, I'd really love to see it. Otherwise, if we're going to continue this "agreement by association" mentality, I'd be worried about the tremendous can of worms that will be opened regarding associations on the other side.
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I think Obama handled the situation very well, and I don't fault the man at all for this episode. He addressed it directly as soon as it came to light.
Has Obama not dismissed the pastor, then I believe Obama would deserve criticism. As is, I think he handled the situation well.
Matt