Obama's grandmother

Common wisdom is that Fred and Rudy lost the nomination because they didn't want it enough, they weren't willing to do whatever it takes to be elected president. Barack Obama proved that he is willing to do just about anything including through his own grandmother off the train.

In his speech on racism he mentioned Reverend Wright then told about his grandmother's fear of black men and use of racial epithets. He then said that he could not disown his pastor and spiritual adviser any more than he could his grandmother.

This is a clever bit of verbal slight-of-hand. He brought up both and dismissed them both in the same breath. He did it so quickly that most people will not notice how dissimilar the two instances are.

Reverend Wright consistently gave anti-American speeches to an approving audience of thousands. He perpetuated the idea that blacks are the continuing target of multiple conspiracies by whites. And this was from the man that these thousands look to as their spiritual head.

In contrast, Obama's grandmother confided to him that she fears black men and sometimes used language normally reserved for black comedians.

Exactly how are these similar?

I hope that he at least called ahead of time to warn his grandmother that he was going to tell the world that she is a vile racist.

I have several objections to Obama's use of his grandmother in this fashion. I will grant that both offer spiritual guidance of some sort but that is where the similarity ends. Obama's grandmother was one of the people who raised him. Apparently and prejudice that she has did not interfere with her love for him or his love for her. A lot of people have secret, unreasoning fears that do not conform with what their rational mind tells them and many people continue to use words after they have fallen out of favor.

Contrast that with the Reverend Wright who built up a failing congregation by preaching black power and white hate.

Plus, of course, Obama did nto choose his grandmother but he did choose him minister. When someone I respect says something I strongly disagree with I feel a little sick inside. If it continues then I stop respecting that person and possibly stop associating with him. Obama did not do this. He continued to sit in the pew as his minister damned the country Obama wants to lead.

Why didn't he leave? Because his grandmother used racial epithets? Come on.

There are two possibilities. Thomas Sowell pointed out that many blacks who grew up without the ghetto experience try to overcompensate and become "blacker than thou." Dick Morris speculated that Obama needed local black credentials in order to make it in Chicago politics. It would be nice to know which represents the real Obama.