My response to O'Reilly after watching his segment about me

I wasn't sure if my emails were going to get to Bill O'Reilly, so I decided to send them along to Bill Shine, senior vice president of programming, and Joel Cheatwood, senior vice president of development at Fox News.

I know Joel because he was in a similar position at CNN and I worked with him on some programming while he was there. I always like Joel and thought he was a fair and talented guy. So what the heck, I figured that if Bill's email wasn't the same as everyone else at Fox News, then Joel could pass it along.

Here is what I just sent Bill:

Bill and Joel,

Just in case Bill doesn't get this, be sure to pass along.

"Oh, Bill, I just watched your segment, and talk about weak!

"Please, please, call me so we can discuss the issue.

"You tell your audience that I'm a Wright apologist, but you don't even bother to tell your audience what I even said on the issue. Dude, that's Journalism 101. You offer no facts, no analysis, just a weak opinion. You paraphrased me saying that I didn't think the issue is no big deal. WRONG. Then you, and Bernard Goldberg, go on to state some of the "crazy" things, as Bernie said, that Wright has said.

"Did you bother to even see that I said ON CNN that what he said about the AIDS issue is flat out wrong? And what he said about the government injecting blacks with syphilis was wrong? BUT it is correct that the federal government allowed black men to go untreated. It is known as the Tuskegee Experiment, something President Bill Clinton apologized for.

"If you want to tell your audience that I'm an apologist, do me the favor and say what I said, as opposed to show a photo of me and offer no facts whatsoever.

"Oh by the way, Bill, Bernie noticed that I'm a black guy and then decided to go on and discuss white liberals.

"Please, ask me if I'm a conservative or a liberal. Be upfront and ask me. Even you would be shocked by the answer.

"Again, just in case you actually want to have a conversation that is fact-based, call me at 4XX-XXX-XXXX.

"For someone who has done your show eight to 10 times, and who has actually defended you from the folks who think you are to the right of Hitler, I'm terribly disappointed that you were so weak with the facts. Had you worked under me at the three papers I've run, as well as website and radio station newsroom, you would have gotten verbally smacked down for such weak journalism.

"Call me. I'll be happy to chat with you."

See, a real debater would pick up the phone and accept the challenge. Let's see if Mr. No Spin Zone is really interested in the facts.

Comments

[Zenovia]

Roland you know Bill can be a punk sometimes.

But check out this link on Bill Clinton giving an award to a racist.

http://www.geocities.com/republican_strategist/clinton-racist.html

Is this stuff true or is this just a hit job?

[Tenika Moore]

This Jermiah Wright stuff is really dangerous for the Clintons/Demo. Party!see below:

www.urbanstump.typepad.com

[Tenika Moore]

This Jermiah Wright stuff is really dangerous for the Clintons/Demo. Party!see below:

www.urbanstump.typepad.com

[Michael]

Roland please keep shining the light on the truth, there needs to be objective reporting more than ever right now. The derailing of Barak Obamas Champaign is not the only attempt here; the major attack is on the African American Community.

[Dee]

Roland, I hate to write improperly, but "I ain't even mad at ya." That letter was on point.

[Brandy Wilson]

Roland ...I hope you have some capacity to get help in stringing together a montage of Bill idiotic rantings and play them at your next encounter with motor-mouth...Roland ...the man needs to be Pimp-Slapped... Do it ...please do it...(The sick part about that is the freak would probably get off on a real black man grabs him and roughs him up a bit) ...you know he strikes me as one of those, "Beat Me...Beat Me I love it guys!, The Freak!

[Brandy Wilson]

Roland ...I hope you have some capacity to get help in stringing together a montage of Bill idiotic rantings and play them at your next encounter with motor-mouth...Roland ...the man needs to be Pimp-Slapped... Do it ...please do it...(The sick part about that is the freak would probably get off on a real black man grabs him and roughs him up a bit) ...you know he strikes me as one of those, "Beat Me...Beat Me I love it guys!, The Freak!

[Dusty]

Roland, hopefully Bill O'Racist will respond to your request. But chances are he will most likely try to shout you down so that you can't get a complete thought out on his show. He doesn't like anyone coming on to his show and trying to corrupt his audience with the truth. They love ignorance there. Sometimes I think it's just a waste of time.

[Callie, Cleveland OH]

Roland,
I wouldn't even waste my time on him. I wrote this letter to send to Pat Buchanan because I was so angry when I read "A Brief for Whitey", it was just so racist and backwards!! I'm still mad. I have decided against sending it because it's not going to improve his view of Blacks and reading his letter probably reinforced my old sterotypes of whites. I need some peace on this issue! You know you are probably capable of debating O'Reilly without getting emotional, I just can't do it!!

[Cocoa]

After hearing part of Rev. Wright sermon i was curious to what he said about the aids genocide, so i went and done research and found a article that supports what he said. And the former president apology was in it i still have the web-link about it. But i'm not saying that Roland is wrong as of now i have to go on what i'm seeing concerning the article i have. I never believed that the reverend was a racist in the first place.

[Songbird]

LMAO at what Dusty called him.

Don't let him off the hook, Roland. Stick it to him. He's a rectum.

[A.C.]

Roland, there is a Huffing Post article that claims you did agree with Rev. Wright on the Tuskegee event. You may want to check them on that.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-mills/blacks-injected-with-sy_b_92896.html

"...Likewise, CNN contributor Roland Martin said last Friday: 'I was watching another channel where they played a sermon where [Rev. Wright] said that America infected African-American men with
syphilis, called the Tuskegee experiment. That actually did, indeed, happen.'

No. It. Did. Not.

And the only reason Obery Hendricks, Ed Gordon and Roland Martin weren't humiliated on national television is because Bill O'Reilly, Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper are more ignorant about black history than they are."

[simplycharming47]

See, a real debater would pick up the phone and accept the challenge. Let's see if Mr. No Spin Zone is really interested in the facts.

Roland you made your own point. A REAL Debater would pick up he phone!! He's not interested in FACTS. He has access to the same information that you, I and everyone else have. He's only interested in his own agenda and that is to inflame, incite and spew his ignorant racist propaganda with the intent of "scaring white people" into NOT VOTING for Sen. Obama..

THIS JERK IS ONE SICK INDIVIUAL..

[Wendy]

Most african-americans was waiting for this day to come -"Obama Bashing". Most of us didn't think it would come inside (his) church because (some) of us has heard thess remarks from our pastor's or other black pastors. Let's take a short trip down "oppression of the negro" and these lesson's taught by the oppressor to weaken the spirit of the african-american. The oppressor cannot kill a negro and get-away with it today because of "DNA", but they can try to "kill" us in the media. So, with that said - as African-americans, we must aways stay on "top of our game" because of the fear-factor.

[HUGgy bear, GOD's Leading Lady]

Brother Roland:

I PRAY for the day when you will be out of "POLITICS" for good.

TRUTH is always "CONTROVERSIAL" in a world that thrives on LIE. Please remember that CHRIST never turned around and apologize for whipping the MONEY CHANGERS out of the Temple. John the baptist did not turn around and apologize for calling the 'Religious Leaders' a "GENERATION OF VIPERS". Think of Stephen too. I know that it is very difficult to explain SPIRITUAL THINGS to people that are SPIRITUALLY DEAD. People say God is on their side, when THEY need to come over to the side of GOD ALMIGHTY.

Trust in The ALMIGHTY GOD. Be of a good courage. A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING will take place. Praise be to GOD ALMIGHTY!

[Swiffht]

Roland, Bill O'Rielly is a racist - and has been one for a long while. When guys like you appear on his show, it gives him a level of legitimacy that he doesn't deserve. I understand how powerful & seductive "tv air-time" is but can you be more selective in your appearances. Do you really need to be on The O'Rielly Factor? Stop legitimizing O'Rielly's racist agenda.

[Dan Jones]

Change was to were in last sentence. You WERE so weak on the facts ...

[Christo]

Roland: It is a pleasure to see objective facts used in responding to a TV "talking head". What O'Reilly did to you is unfortunately indicative not just of him but many of the cable tv commentators. It almost seems as comments any occasion in which that can be supported by facts is simply coincidental. It is not just O'Reilly or FOX News or democrats or republicans. The problem is becoming endemic. The result will be that many will tune out, informed discussion will cease, and the many of the viewers will get calcified into positions that match their prejudice.

[Christo]

Roland: It is a pleasure to see objective facts used in responding to a TV "talking head". What O'Reilly did to you is unfortunately indicative not just of him but many of the cable tv commentators. It almost seems as comments any occasion in which that can be supported by facts is simply coincidental. It is not just O'Reilly or FOX News or democrats or republicans. The problem is becoming endemic. The result will be that many will tune out, informed discussion will cease, and the many of the viewers will get calcified into positions that match their prejudice.

[kravitz]

What church does Hillary Clinton belong to, and who, exactly, is her minister/paster/priest?

It's a simple question isn't it? She's said Jeremiah Wright would not be her pastor. Well then, who would be. Who is hers? She needs to explain what standard she is actually upset about, and to whom she is comparing Rev. Wright. If she is saying her pastor is better than his, what is this based on.

It's irresponsible for Hillary Clinton's campaign to avoid making this comparison. This is why people irrefutably understand that she is using Wright to divert from her lies about sniper fire in Bosnia. The internet is making her look like a crazy cult member, saying she belongs to "The Family" which is not actually a church. Eventually, she's going to have to clear this one up too.

Are Some Hillary Supers With Wright's Church?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/25/22354/6315/805/484306

[Zenovia]

Roland,

If right winged Christans are still wondering why Black folks still have a problem with lynching remind them of Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."

Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree, can they get that in their head.

I'm not mad at them though.

[Claudia]

Roland. Everytime you appear on CNN i make everyone in the house gather around with me and LISTEN. I find your voice to be sharp, honest and true! just awesome! As for Bill? well, I feel that he has ALWAYS acted out his anger in bizarre ways. Rise above. NONE of his rants have any value other then to cause a reaction.

[Claudia]

Roland. Everytime you appear on CNN i make everyone in the house gather around with me and LISTEN. I find your voice to be sharp, honest and true! just awesome! As for Bill? well, I feel that he has ALWAYS acted out his anger in bizarre ways. Rise above. NONE of his rants have any value other then to cause a reaction.

[Barbara]

Go Roland! Thanks for continuing to challenge those "talking heads" on television for giving out false information to the public. Bill O'Reilly is especially guilty of this act. In addition, thanks for taking CNN's anchors, reporters and pundits to task for distoring the facts, too. Now, since Hillary Clinton stands in judgement of Obama for staying at his church so long, when will someone ask her why she has stayed with Bill so long? She should be the last person to pass judgement on someone. And finally, I am disgusted as to how the media, including CNN, bought into Hillary's manipulation of changing the dialog from her Bosnia's fabrication to Rev. Jeremy Wright. The media spent about two days on Hillary's "Big Lie" and continues to "push" the Rev. Wright's story...and he's not even a candidate.

[Milburn Drysdale]

Tuskegge Experiment overview and settlement details

http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/Story.asp?s=1207586

[NPC from Columbia SC]

Roland, I'm not sure what else to say. Your bloggers have said it all. When I heard this morning that he "Po Bill" had some "Roland Martin" comments, I said "WELL?!!!??" Again I say "Po Bill."

[WAKE-UP]

Roland,

Obama, needs to hear Rev. Wrights’ entire sermon, and we shouldn’t allow his service to the Nation be miss represented. Please advise.

No disrespect, but a lot of white people don’t understand the Black Community or you are not willing to see that Black people may not have the same view of America as they do. We have common hopes, but equality in America is not for its entire people.

Caucasians make up 66% of America / Minorities make up 34% of America / Blacks make up 12% of that 34% of minorities. If the percentages and conditions were reversed I believe that their understanding would be different. (Blacks make up 70% of the inmates in American jails; remember only 12% of the population)

Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were great Black Americans and they were also friends. Blacks respect them both and hold them dear for their ultimate contribution of sacrifice. Martin was about non-violent protest and was called many disrespectful names. They called Malcolm a racist because he said “if they hit you, you hit them back” and he also called them “blue eyed devils”. Do they remember all the names black people were called back then???--- I guess not. We don’t call Malcolm a racist… They DO! So, please tell them to stop using Malcolm X’s name if you don’t know his full story. They only use his name to create fear in less informed white people. (It’s Not Fair)

What did Malcolm X, Farrakhan or Wright ever do that actually physically hurt White people? Did they lead a massacre on white people? Did they dump drugs in the suburban neighborhoods? NO, NO, AND NO!!! They just spoke up! The same as Robinson and Farwell.

America has taken away or discredited all Black Leaders that have shown promise because of fear. Fear of _______??? You fill in the blank. America doesn’t mind if Black people follow Martin Luther King Jr., because he’s dead, and dead leaders can’t lead.

Let’s not forget the teachings of Willie Lynch. What names did they call him when he was teaching the methods of slavery, racism, torture, rape and murder? (RACIST) White people need to stop being self-righteous… (EGO) Look at Katrina!

Roland, Please have O’Rilley, explain why any group of people HAD to go through the history that Blacks have gone through in America. There was a people (Oppressors/white) and another group of people (Oppressees/black). And after all of this have we the Black people started a civil war??? NO, NO, AND NO!!! I dare him to reply. I bet he thinks that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves… NO, NO, AND NO!!! Study real American history, it was the pressure of from Black and White abolitionists, most notably Fredrick Douglass, Wendell Phillips, Governor John Albion, Rep. Thaddeus Stevens, Sen. Charles Sumner, and Senator Lyman Trumbull authoring the first Confiscation Act, which started the emancipation process. Sen. Trumbull, then authored the Second Confiscation Act, which freed the slaves of all rebels, and co-authored the Thirteenth Amendment, which actually freed the slaves.

I’ve heard NO DENOUNCING OR REJECTING of White Religious leaders who made similar remarks as Rev. Wright, and let’s not talk about the Catholic Church and child abuse!!! Did the members stop going to those religious institutions??? Did they call it a house of child abusing liars preying on Americas’ young? Think about it. Remember a little over fifty years ago black people were being beaten, spit on and cursed for trying to go to the same schools as white children (Brown v. Board of Education), etc., and there are still places in America minorities are not welcomed. Yes, there has been change, but not enough. Blacks take what we are given and they call it equality.

Remember, this government allowed Black men to have syphilis as an experiment, back in 1939 – 1972 and White people find it hard to believe that Blacks could think HIV was designed for Black people. We know our history! (Look at the aids epidemic in Africa) wow!

On the matter of leaving or staying in a particular church,,, a Black Church. Here we go again; it’s obvious a lot of people know nothing about the Black Community or the Black Church (sure). But they discredit a Black leader Rev. Jeremiah Wright and then they act so appalled. They can spin and play the sound bites any way they want, because they own the air waves. They can create fear among less informed White people (part of the 66%), but it’s not fair, when they themselves understand the sentiments of Black people and they know that things have to be put in context to have full and correct understanding. I challenge them and their cohorts to listen to the whole sermon, go to the Black State of the Union next year or to a Black Church. Would they prefer Mr. Obama go to a White Church? Or maybe they should circulate a list of approved Churches for the Black community.
At some point America has to come to terms with it’s past and teach real American History in our general schools. One principle we teach in church, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, what does this mean to them? American politicians can do anything to others and the people have to act like zombies! We can call them OUT!!! This is why our country is in such a felled state. WE THE PEOPLE MUST SPEAK OUT, WE ARE A GREAT PEOPLE AND A GREAT NATION, but we must hold our politicians accountable… If a preacher paraphrases current events to point out that our political climate must change, is he wrong? Bill Maher does it every week. Is America so sacred that we can’t voice our disappointments? Or is it that they have never experienced what a Black man in America has experienced. If a person is not Black then they can’t tell our story and we can not tell theirs, but we can respect each other. I do respect them. You know there are still places in this great land of the free that minorities aren’t welcomed. Ask O’Rilley if he is a member of any of those clubs?
Obama, is not aspiring to be the post racial unifier, he is aspiring to be the President of the United State.

Is being President an Entitlement? If it is an ENTITLEMENT to the 66%, and Obama must bleach his skin and act like he as no history, even though half of his history in White, and White people never call him a White man (?!#%$#@*?), then he should get out of this race, because that means America is a liar!

Think about our Children please. This America must unite on real things and get back to real pride and respect as one people or we are headed down an even darker path. You are a very intelligent and you understand what the make up of America will be by 2020 and 2050 (according to the census report). We must get to diplomacy and what’s right for the people of our country and get away from race or we will be heading to destruction. Our country can’t afford any more greed from the 1% to 5%. We only have this world and we can’t keep covering it with darkness. We must deal with our enemies but we can’t keep creating new ones. (Diplomacy) We can not continue to build a large population of our people in prisons. We need a productive America.

PLEASE!!! Tell them to Stop creating fear in people and Stop repackaging Sen. Barack Obama, who has a great deal to offer this country!!! PLEASE, for our Children.

[Jay]

Keith Olberman just gave you props on his show ha! ha! Maybe Bill will stand up and take his tongue lashing like a man.

How can he resist? He's getting called out by everyone.

Too Funny!

[rikyrah]

I just came to tell you that you made Countdown!!!

Olbermann had me cracking up.

Keep on Keeping On, Roland.

Been missing you on CNN>...I know a Brotha needs the occasional night off, BUT.....you are SO needed, after all you and Jamal are the only sane Black ones...David Gergen has more than his share of good moments...but, the rest of them?

Puleeze.

[Keith]

Roland, where have you been? I keep looking for a show where there is real dialogue about the truth of Jeremiah Wright. Is there any chance this is going to happen? The American people need to know the truth...it is wrong that Fox and other hs played Americans for fools and equally wrong that networks like CNN will not take up the mantle of truth in journalism.

By the way did you see the comments from the pastor of Foundry Methodist, the clinton former church?

[Louise]

Roland I am sick of this election. The polls and the media have bashed Obama to enhance hillary's chances of winning even though she is behind in delegates, popular vote and states won. He is the presumptive nominee and the clintons and the media are truly turning me off.

Hillary and her supporters are really playing the race card and her comment just recently about Reverend Wright just demonstrates that she will say or do anything to win. She acts as if she is running Obama is the democrat and she is the republican candidate and no one is taking her to task on some of her outlandish comments with the exception of you.

Why are our black leaders silent during this time. You would think in the interest of Reverend Wright, prominent black leaders and clergy would stand up and say enough is enough. But it appears that they are all playing duck and run.

I for one, if she gets the nomination will not vote for her and a recent essence poll indicated that I am not the only one who feels that way--but no one published the polling results.

[Carla]

Good job Mr. Martin. Now put Ann Coulter on blast for her ridiculous commentaries regarding Obama and black people in general. Her articles "Throw Grandma Under The Bus" and "Hillary: Stand By Some Other Man" would be a great start. I think it is time for you to take her to task.

[Angela]

As always Roland, thanks for keeping these nuts in check!! Here is an interesting article/interview that I read that pastor Jeremiah Wright gave nearly a year ago. It is so interesting. I know some people will still not get it. I was intrigued by the way he responded to the questions...

Here's the link and here's the text.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,471221,00.html

March 13, 2007

SPIEGEL INTERVIEW WITH BARACK OBAMA'S PASTOR
Is America Too Racist for a Black President?
Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign has been attracting a lot of early attention. His pastor, Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., says while the Democrats are ready for more faith, America may not be ready for a black president.

SPIEGEL: Barack Obama seems to be developing a compassionate liberal answer to the so-called "compassionate conservative" platform US President George W. Bush ran on in 2000. Is the Democratic Party looking to take more care of the religious voter?

Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr.: I wouldn't say "more care." The United Church of Christ has a 350 year history of being on the side of social justice. Our denomination was against slavery. We were a part of the Underground Railroad; part of the abolitionist movement. So it’s nothing new for us. What is new is that Barack says we need to stop being afraid to talk about our faith and how our faith and values influence public policy and the decisions we make. We’ve been biting our tongues because we don’t want to offend our Jewish friends and our Muslim friends. The new movement is toward not being afraid to talk about your faith. But you should also stop thinking you have absolute truth -- that your faith is the only one.

SPIEGEL: Isn't that the nature of faith, though? Believing strongly in your faith to the exclusion of others?

Wright: We’re not on this planet alone. Right now, the average American or the average German or the average Brit couldn’t tell you the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite. I mean, you got Christians who lynch people in the name of Jesus, and you got Muslims who fly planes into buildings. But you got some Muslims who don’t do that. You got some Christians who ain't got time to lynch people. We need to stop lumping folks together and start living together. Otherwise, we’re going to kill each other off because you don’t believe what I believe. That’s crazy. Before Democrats were quiet because they didn’t want people to think they were fanatics. Barack has broken that ice.

SPIEGEL: But how far can you go? As Barack Obama points out in his book, "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream," religion is more about convictions and truth, whereas politics is about compromise. Where are the limits to introducing faith into the political arena?

Wright: Let’s take a simple issue. Far right radical conservative Christians want to put prayer back in the school. Now my family may start off the day in prayer, and I’m going to teach my daughters and my sons how to pray. But I’m not going to force your kids to pray like my kids. In public, I have to understand that I’m still going to pray tonight and tomorrow morning, and my girls and my son better pray too. But I’m not going to force my Jewish friends, my Muslim friends, my Hindu friends, my Sikh friends to hear a Christian prayer in a public forum like school. We understand that private faith does not force public decisions. That’s how you work at compromise. I haven’t given up what I believe, but I live in community with -- in a city, state, nation, and world with -- people who don’t believe what I believe. That doesn’t make them defective or inferior.

SPIEGEL: That sounds different from what Obama wrote in his book. He wrote that faith should return to the center of both private and public life. Should he ever become president, what would that mean?

Wright: From what I know of Barack -- from what he has written, from his speeches and from the life I know he has lived -- faith in public life does not mean that God tells you to bomb another country or to go get Saddam Hussein. Faith in public life means that every child, regardless of their religious belief, should have health care. That every child should be able to go to school based on the intelligence they have not only the ability of their parents to pay. Because my faith saying I can bomb Iraq is the same as your faith saying you can take over a passenger plane and fly it into the World Trade Center.

SPIEGEL: Can you be a good Christian and be pro-choice?

Wright: Both. You can be a good Christian and be pro-life. You can be a good Christian and be pro-choice.

SPIEGEL: You mean it's a purely political question and faith has nothing to say about it?

Wright: First of all, we shouldn’t even be having this discussion. Neither one of us can get pregnant. But what a woman decides about her body and her God is her business. Women who are pro-life can be just a good a Christian as a woman who is pro-choice and vice versa. It gets to be a problem when I decide one position should be the law for everybody. In public life, we have to find a way to live together even though we disagree -- and some things we will never agree on. But we've got to leave this I'm-going-to-kill-you-because-you-don't-believe-what-I-believe attitude behind.

SPIEGEL: So why bring faith into the public arena at all, if it's so divisive?

Wright: Faith should be pulled into the public arena when it affects how we live. If it doesn’t -- if it’s so heavenly focused -- it does no earthly good. What does my faith say about 44 million people with no health care? What does my faith say about the fact that my girl can’t be a nuclear physicist because she’s black and from the inner city and because her schooling options are not what they are for George W. Bush’s girls or for Bill and Hillary’s daughter Chelsea? My faith says, no, that’s not what God intended. It pulls it back into the public arena the idea that there’s got to be something fair for all of us.

SPIEGEL: Do you think Obama would be able to win Christian voters back from the Republicans were he to become the Democratic nominee for the White House?

Wright: That’s hard to tell. If the pattern of what we saw in the November elections -- where evangelical Christians, whether Republicans or Democrats, abandoned the stay-the-course doctrine, abandoned the years of lies -- if that pattern continues, I think politicians like Barack are going to win people back. We’re making more enemies than winning friends at the moment. We’re making enemies because (what the Bush administration is doing) is not Christ.

SPIEGEL: Thousands of people listen to your sermons. Can you as a pastor help move voters from the right side of the political spectrum back to the left?

Wright: First of all, not that many people are church goers. But that's America in general. That said, historically, the black church it has been the political force. It caused blacks to fight to get out of slavery, for example. African-Americans used their faith to not lose hope and to keep on fighting. A clergy person needs to be aware of that and needs to keep in mind the clergy's role in changing the public life for the betterment of all. Not just those who believe like I believe, look like I look, think like I think, live where I live. But for all. How do we treat the most vulnerable in this society? What are we doing for our old people? What are we doing for our kids? What are we doing for our poor? The clergy need to put those questions on voters’ minds.

SPIEGEL: Barack Obama has been criticized as a so-called "post-racial politician" who shies away from those interests traditionally important to black voters in the United States…

Wright: I think that criticism is unjustified. It’s a cute term, but he shouldn't be criticized for who he is -- a person who doesn’t “play the race card,” but who instead talks about the issues. Look at it this way. Nobody wants their wives to live in fear of getting from the house to the grocery store or to her job. Whether they're black wives or white wives isn't the issue. I don’t care what color they are. The bullets don’t discriminate. We've got to do something to make sure they have a safe environment. Now to call that post-racial is unfair. We’ve got some common needs that we need to address. How do we put policies in place that will ensure their safety in the future? That’s the kind of politician Barack is.

SPIEGEL: Do you think he will be President in two years?

Wright: No. Unless Barak pulls off nationally what he was able to pull off locally, and wins the hearts and minds of people who have been perennially anti-black. Racism is so deeply engrained in this country that he could be flawless in terms of his policies. But he's still a black man in this country, which has a sorry history in terms of how it sees African-American males. That’s my 65-year-old, jaded perception of where this country is. I was pleasantly surprised in the Senate election. I would like to be as pleasantly surprised in the presidential election.

SPIEGEL: Rev. Wright, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us.

Interview conducted by Marc Hujer

[nic]

So, is it safe to assume he hasn't called you back? I didn't think he would.
Personally, I haven't watched Fox in years (except for Fox Sports Network, and the occasional outrageous clip posted elsewhere).
I find that I sleep better without that extra anxiety.
I don't know why anyone pays attention to the fools on that channel, really.

[Angela]

I just heard that Robert Johnson (founder of BET) was one of the Clinton backers who sent the threatening letter to Senator Pelosi.... Intersting, huh? http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5651730.html

I can't believe that he is still actively involved in her campaign. I wonder if her women supporters know that he made his fortunes exploiting women? hmmmmmm

[KIT]

Roland,
Your CNN people got on my nerves tonight. The bald-headed hispanic guy was talking about Barack and Hillary's economic plan and he says, "Barack seems to just be following Hillary's plan". I am so sick and tired of the media trying to give off this perception of Barack not being knowledgeable and has to somehow play off her ideas! I am convinced this man is much more intelligent than Hillary. She is only older and better at playing the game politicians play.

[april]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSuT5zN2SPI

barack obama in his own words regarding the economy. address given on 3/27/08 (TODAY).

[celestine]

I have learned alot reading the blogger's comments here. I agree the that the black community leader's are not rallying around the idealogy that black churches have a duty to teach their congregation regarding political and living issues. Does the media forget that many of our elder's did not get an opportunity to go to school and had to learn from their pastor's and children that by the grace of god attended schools. I want people to not forget us the multiracial voter's and the native indians of the America's, who really are getting left out of this whole darn race issue. Have not the Native Indians taken a beating and still keep on ticking along. Let me say on behalf of the multiracial's we are many!! Especially now we need to be heard and counted in on the race, religeous issue's.
Sorry Roland, I agree with the other blogger's you should not legitamise O'Rielly, he will just cut you off and not let you get your points across.

[KIT]

Celestine -
I agree with your analogy. Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, etc. have also been the victim of prejudice and racism in this country. I have always said that the minority groups in this country has been victims of the flaws in this country and because of that fact they hold a different perspective on the patriotic position. Just like Obama said, "we don't see America as a marching band, but more like jazz with bluenotes, but we appreciate it all the same".

[celestine]

Thank you KIT, I support OBAMA on myspace page and repost for him.
My daughters are also college students,they asked me to vote for OBAMA and to donate money to his campaign instead of sending them money for their lunches. I have had many native american indians, hispanic's and asians say their prayer's is that we will all be united. The youth vote of all nationalities inclusive of young white college students are really inspired by OBAMA, especially their on the east coast. Those like myself multiracial just want to not allow "HATE", take over this campaign. Yes, and to be included as the middle to poor people struggling. huggss nessa

[Jay]

Something that I found interesting is a letter that Rev. Wright wrote to the New York Times. It shows a glispe of this mans heart and what kind of man he really is. Wonder why we haven't heard anything about this from the main stream media. Hmm....

In March 2007, New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor published a brief story about how Rev. Jeremiah Wright had been uninvited from delivering the invocation before Barack Obama's official presidential announcement.

Wright responded by writing the following letter:

March 11, 2007

Jodi Kantor
The New York Times
9 West 43rd Street
New York,
New York 10036-3959

Dear Jodi:

Thank you for engaging in one of the biggest misrepresentations of the truth I have ever seen in sixty-five years. You sat and shared with me for two hours. You told me you were doing a "Spiritual Biography" of Senator Barack Obama. For two hours, I shared with you how I thought he was the most principled individual in public service that I have ever met.

For two hours, I talked with you about how idealistic he was. For two hours I shared with you what a genuine human being he was. I told you how incredible he was as a man who was an African American in public service, and as a man who refused to announce his candidacy for President until Carol Moseley Braun indicated one way or the other whether or not she was going to run.

I told you what a dreamer he was. I told you how idealistic he was. We talked about how refreshing it would be for someone who knew about Islam to be in the Oval Office. Your own question to me was, Didn't I think it would be incredible to have somebody in the Oval Office who not only knew about Muslims, but had living and breathing Muslims in his own family? I told you how important it would be to have a man who not only knew the difference between Shiites and Sunnis prior to 9/11/01 in the Oval Office, but also how important it would be to have a man who knew what Sufism was; a man who understood that there were different branches of Judaism; a man who knew the difference between Hasidic Jews, Orthodox Jews, Conservative Jews and Reformed Jews; and a man who was a devout Christian, but who did not prejudge others because they believed something other than what he believed.

I talked about how rare it was to meet a man whose Christianity was not just "in word only." I talked about Barack being a person who lived his faith and did not argue his faith. I talked about Barack as a person who did not draw doctrinal lines in the sand nor consign other people to hell if they did not believe what he believed.

Out of a two-hour conversation with you about Barack's spiritual journey and my protesting to you that I had not shaped him nor formed him, that I had not mentored him or made him the man he was, even though I would love to take that credit, you did not print any of that. When I told you, using one of your own Jewish stories from the Hebrew Bible as to how God asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?," that Barack was like that when I met him. Barack had it "in his hand." Barack had in his grasp a uniqueness in terms of his spiritual development that one is hard put to find in the 21st century, and you did not print that.

As I was just starting to say a moment ago, Jodi, out of two hours of conversation I spent approximately five to seven minutes on Barack's taking advice from one of his trusted campaign people and deeming it unwise to make me the media spotlight on the day of his announcing his candidacy for the Presidency and what do you print? You and your editor proceeded to present to the general public a snippet, a printed "sound byte" and a titillating and tantalizing article about his disinviting me to the Invocation on the day of his announcing his candidacy.

I have never been exposed to that kind of duplicitous behavior before, and I want to write you publicly to let you know that I do not approve of it and will not be party to any further smearing of the name, the reputation, the integrity or the character of perhaps this nation's first (and maybe even only) honest candidate offering himself for public service as the person to occupy the Oval Office.

Your editor is a sensationalist. For you to even mention that makes me doubt your credibility, and I am looking forward to see how you are going to butcher what else I had to say concerning Senator Obama's "Spiritual Biography." Our Conference Minister, the Reverend Jane Fisler Hoffman, a white woman who belongs to a Black church that Hannity of "Hannity and Colmes" is trying to trash, set the record straight for you in terms of who I am and in terms of who we are as the church to which Barack has belonged for over twenty years.

The president of our denomination, the Reverend John Thomas, has offered to try to help you clarify in your confused head what Trinity Church is even though you spent the entire weekend with us setting me up to interview me for what turned out to be a smear of the Senator; and yet The New York Times continues to roll on making the truth what it wants to be the truth. I do not remember reading in your article that Barack had apologized for listening to that bad information and bad advice. Did I miss it? Or did your editor cut it out? Either way, you do not have to worry about hearing anything else from me for you to edit or "spin" because you are more interested in journalism than in truth.

Forgive me for having a momentary lapse. I forgot that The New York Times was leading the bandwagon in trumpeting why it is we should have gone into an illegal war. The New York Times became George Bush and the Republican Party's national "blog." The New York Times played a role in the outing of Valerie Plame. I do not know why I thought The New York Times had actually repented and was going to exhibit a different kind of behavior.

Maybe it was my faith in the Jewish Holy Day of Roshashana. Maybe it was my being caught up in the euphoria of the Season of Lent; but whatever it is or was, I was sadly mistaken. There is no repentance on the part of The New York Times. There is no integrity when it comes to The Times. You should do well with that paper, Jodi. You looked me straight in my face and told me a lie!

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Senior Pastor
Trinity United Church of Christ

[New Yorker]

A good leader:

1. Has INTEGRITY! (U listening, Hilary?)

2. Shares great affection with supporters/partners, and is about the common good over personal ambitions.

3. Has Big Picture vision for the nation.

3a. Knows that economics IS NOT 'complicated' if one is learned. (Listening George?) lol

4. Has the ability to motivate and mobilize citizens.

5. Has intelligent and practical plan to materilize vision.

6. Has the stones to take decision on life and death over sworn enemies!

7. Is President Barack Obama