World The Wright Way Obama mentored by anti-American, anti-Zionist black separatist. I n the end, it was not the lies about his religion, but the truth about his reli- gion that may have irrevocably splat- tered the image of Barack Obama. Democratic presidential frontrunner Obama survived a malicious, viral e-mail campaign that he was a Muslim. But can Obama's populist candidacy survive the truthful revelations about his 20-year rela- tionship with spiritual adviser Jeremiah A. Wright, the "black separatist" Christian pastor? The two men were and are tight — very tight. It was Wright's charismatic, "in your face," African-American activism that first brought Obama into the Trinity Church in Chicago as a practicing Christian and regular attendee. While away at Harvard studying law, Obama morally tutored him- self with tapes of Wright's fiery lectures. Wright was a moving force in Obama's family as well. Pastor Wright married Obama to his wife and baptized their two children. The pastor's provoca- tive sermon, "The Audacity of Hope gave Obama the title for his bestselling book. Obama even huddled with his pastor for spiritual guidance just before announcing his presidential bid. Wright was given a prominent advisory role in the campaign. The pastor is precise- ly the mentor and close personal adviser Obama has long declared him to be. It seems too late to distance himself or condemn the recently broadcast bigotry of Wright. The real question is how a man described by many as a leading anti- American, anti-Israel, anti-white agitator became Obama's closest mentor for two decades? The Backdrop Exactly what is the objectionable conduct of Wright? To begin, Wright is a close con- fidant and supporter of Minister Louis Farrakhan. The leader of the Nation of Islam has called Jews "bloodsuckers;' who practice a "gutter religion:' In 1984, Wright accompanied Farrakhan on his controver- A28 March 20 * 2008 sial visit Libyan strongman Col. Muammar Church from an 87-member congregation Qaddafi. in 1972 with a $30,000 annual budget to a Farrakhan's and Wright's 1984 visit and black mega-church said to boast as many subsequent support was done precisely as 10,000 members operating on a more to openly ally themselves with a declared than $9 million annual budget. In 1993, enemy of the United Ebony magazine States. Why? Because listed Wright among these two American its top 15 pastors. In men of the clergy — March 2007, Wright Farrakhan and Wright was honored by a — are avowed enemies resolution of the of the United States. Illinois House of The Farrakhan- Representatives. Wright connection is no distant matter of The Divide the turbulent '80s. As The wide black recently as December acceptance of 2007, the church's Wright's damning Barack Obama and Pastor Wright publication bestowed hate rhetoric points upon Farrakhan its up a complete racial highest honor, the "Dr. disconnect with Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. white America Trumpeter" Award for that still lies just Lifetime Achievement. below the surface. Wright himself The angry world of described Farrakhan Wright is the embit- in that magazine as "a tered experience 20th and 21st Century that most Americans giant:' Wright heads either don't know or up the church publica- would rather forget. tion. As recently as this That bitter legacy Palm Sunday, March 16, the church listed includes slavery until the Civil War and Jim Farrakhan on its prayer list in the weekend Crow after, segregation and social torment handout at church services. in the 20th century, thousands of lynchings in almost every state of the Union from The Wright Profile Minnesota to Mississippi continuing into In the Farrakhan mold, Wright is a fire- the post-World War II era and a voting brand anti-American, anti-White, anti- rights law that did not pass until 1965. Zionist preacher. His pulpit statements, Yet, the black church is vastly more than by now widely broadcast on cable TV and a cauldron of inspiration via rage. It is also across the Internet, have histrionically a place of exhilaration for a better way, a asked followers to chant not "God Bless new way. Obama says he represents that America;' but "God Damn America"; to new way; he is the apostle of "change" and condemn Israel and Zionism for "state ter- a torch of the new politics. Yet revelations rorism"; denounce Washington for creating about his infusion with Wright represent the AIDS virus as a weapon against black his tie not to the new century, but to the people; and to recognize that America is decades-old politics of bitterness, rage and controlled by "rich white people' hate. Immediately after the 9-11 attacks In a political defense that now ranks against the World Trade Center in New York with Bill Clinton's assertion that he "never City, Wright waved his arms and almost inhaled" and "never had sexual relations danced, bellowing that America had with that woman:' Barack claims he was brought the crime upon itself. never in the pews when Wright expressed Despite his extremism, Wright is no his hateful sermons. fringe member of the African-American But more than a year ago, in March mainstream. He is a giant in the black 2007, Obama suddenly uninvited Wright to community. Wright built the Trinity offer the invocation at a major campaign Wright's charismatic activism brought Obama into the Chicago church. event. Wright stated, "Fifteen minutes before Shabbos, I get a call from Barack... One of his members had talked him into uninviting me:' Wright pointedly chose the Yiddish term Shabbos to refer to the Friday-night time. Wright added, "When his enemies find out that in 1984 I went to Tripoli with Farrakhan, a lot of his Jewish support will dry up quicker than a snowball in hell:' Wright added that Obama advised, "You can get kind of rough in the sermons, so what we've decided is that it's best for you not to be out there in public!' The Takeaway For Obama, it seems like a "lose-lose" situ- ation. Either he has repeatedly lied to the nation about his knowledge of Wright's bigotry, or for 20 years he was ignorant of his own mentor's views being broadcast worldwide every Sunday. The Jewish community has long self- censored on Obama's hate links. The Anti-Defamation League even recently issued a press release that it was satisfied that Obama had disavowed Wright's race hatred and anti-Zionist fervor. But now, in a weekend interview, ADL National Director Abraham Foxman says his view is different. "More is now known:' says Foxman. "It is not a casual, one-way way relationship with Pastor . Abraham Wright" Foxman Foxman has joined the growing chorus of dis- belief about Obama's ignorance. "It is very difficult to believe that throughout these years, Obama has been unaware of the conspiracy, bigotry and anti-Zionist views:' Foxman said. While most in America are worried about playing a race card, Barack Obama has shown he is still carrying around a full deck. El Edwin Black, on assignment for the Washington Post, was the first Jewish journalist to inter- view Minister Louis Farrakhan as part of his broad investigation of the Nation of Islam. This article is adapted from a longer piece from the Web site the Cutting Edge News at www.thecuttingedgenews.com .