Is Obama Guilty by Association?

Soon to be former-Governor of New York Spizter is probably somewhat relieved that much of the news reports these past few days have focused on Presidential Candidate Obama’s relationship with his former minister, Reverend Wright. If anyone had any doubts that politics is a dirty game, I am pretty sure they resolved that lingering question witnessing this weeks events.

Reverend Wright has a long history of racist and anti-Semitic statements. Those statements were made from pulpit of the church that Senator Obama attend for 20 years. Senator Obama has identified Rev. Wright as one of his mentors. Reverend Wright officiated at the Obama Wedding, and baptized the Obama children. At no time in the past did Senator Obama ever distances himself from Rev. Wright’s hate filled tirades. Only now, after being confronted by unrelenting news reports, is Obama speaking out. So the question begs to be asked - “Is Obama Guilty by Association?”

There are really three reasons we find ourselves talking about this story this week:

First up, timing. Not the timing of the stories themselves, but the lack of timing on the part of Senator Obama. Reverend Wright has been making these types of statements for years. If you have heard the statements, you know that they were not made in casual passing. They were well thought out and constant. Obama claims he was never in attendance to hear Reverend Wright make sure venomous statements. Maybe that is true, but surely you have heard the hundreds of audio clips that date back a decade. Yet Obama remained silent while a member of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ. Why?

And what about the timing of the mainstream media? Reports of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ hate filled atmosphere and anti-American rhetoric have been going on for years. Obama’s relationship with Reverend Wright was well known when he ran for the Senate, which in turn carried over to his Presidential campaign. What obligation did the media have to investigate this story? Should the mainstream media been asking the questions they are just asking now months ago?

Secondly, politics and the pulpit. I like many people do not go to church to attend a political rally. Nor I am naive to think that politics and religion shouldn’t intermingle. But what Reverend Wright said from the pulpit was unchristian, and instead of leading his flock, he was inciting their hatred. What Reverend Wright did was no different that what Hitler did from his stage, and what was witnessed at Klan rallies across the South. Hate, distrust, and more hate are all I heard. This type of political fervor belongs outside the House of God, if at all.

Thirdly, racism in America. Racism is not going way. There will always be people who will discriminate against another person because of their race. Many will find my next statement controversial, but racism exists amongst Blacks, Asians, Native Americans, as well as Whites. Each race has their own “hate” demons to confront and deal with. The focus of Reverend Wright’s vocal distrust of Americans who are not the same color as him does not serve the greater good of race relations in America.

In the end, Senator Obama deserves this scrutiny, as would anyone (including you and me) if they associated with such a controversial figure as Reverend Wright. Knowing who Reverend Wright was years ago, did Senator Obama show the best judgment in continuing their relationship? Does Senator Obama's most recent statement put the issue to rest? Is Senator Obama guilty by association?