Obama’s Farrakhan – Jeremiah Wright Dilemma: Race, Religion and the Politics of Repudiation

Based on that one statement, both Russert and Clinton (sensing an opening) called on Obama, not just to denounce AND reject Farrakhan statements but Farrakhan himself. Obama “conceded the point,” clearly an uncomfortable moment watching him get twisted on someone who has huge street cred in the black community. They then turned to Obama’s personal spiritual leader, the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, and his association with Farrakhan as well as the church’s nationalist practices and suggested that Obama’s associations are “suspect.” Obama ignored calls to criticize Wright. Both Farrakhan and Wright have given non-hostile critiques of Judaism, and neither has advocated attack on Israel – yet both have been labeled “anti-Semitic” for their comments. However, the post debate commentary suggested that Obama was somehow connected to hate mongers and radicals, part of the “what do we really know Obama” fear campaign. Minister Farrakhan, who has seen it all before, issued a statement telling the public to affirm their support of Obama, despite his rejection of the Minister’s support – calling the whole inquiry “mischief making,” for the purposes of hurting Obama’s campaign. Clearly it was meant to pit supporters (Blacks and Jews) against each other – but at what point does what somebody has said in the past matter? And does repudiation mitigate what the candidate stands for (or against)?

Six years ago, in 2002, Mississippi Senator, Trent Lott, made racist statements at a retirement party for Strom Thurmond, suggesting that had more people supported the former segregationist’s “States Rights” Party in 1948 (as Mississippi did) “we wouldn’t have had all these problems” (inferring that the ensuing Civil Rights movement would have been somehow forestalled). Lott, the incoming Senate Majority Leader, was forcing to resign his leadership post, but then he was given the post of Senate Minority Whip last year. Oregon Senator, Gordon Smith, defended Lott’s remarks last year when Lott announced he was retiring in 2008. Smith called the remarks “big hearted warmness.” Yeah, for ugly days gone by. The media frequently refers to Farrakhan as racist, but Trent Lott has been referred to as a “Segregation Nostalgist.”