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Views on Obama’s ex-preacher
I am a white woman, and I have been to primarily black churches on and off for about 10 years. I also frequently watch black pastors on TV, because they are so passionate about Christ, but I have never seen or heard anyone talk the hate that came out of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s mouth.
I am a firm Barack Obama supporter and will remain one, but I find it very hard to believe that he has never heard the Rev. Wright express those views before. One does not become a racist overnight. If it were a white pastor spewing that hate, I can’t even imagine the consequences.
The Rev. Wright is the worst kind of bigot, using the word of God to divide this country. I know God is shaking his head in disgust and bewilderment. Too bad it’s not all of America doing the same thing. We need to stop defending people like him of any color and get back to doing the right thing to bring this country together.
I feel strongly that in the coming days we are going to need each other very, very much.
M.E. Cromwell .
Blue Springs
Before we pass too much judgment on the Rev. Wright, we need to take a look at his personal history. He grew up in a time when the government sponsored the Tuskegee experiment, injecting 399 poor, unknowing black men with syphilis for 40 years (1932 to 1972). It was years later when President Clinton offered a formal apology for what the government did.To the Rev. Wright, believing the government had a role in the AIDS crisis isn’t so farfetched. The Rev. Wright grew up in a time when blacks were lynched, denied education and seats on a public bus they paid to ride.
As a black American myself, I can’t imagine the horrors the Rev. Wright must have witnessed as a young black man living in a segregated and racist America. And although it’s not my past, I can hardly say he’s wrong for being so skeptical and angry about the U.S. and the mistreatment and neglect it has shown toward people of color.
April Ward
Kansas City
A senior for ObamaIn Steve Kraske’s article “Clinton has no reverse gear” (5/8, A-1), he says, “In Clinton’s case it’s a base of millions of women, blue-collar types, older voters whose shift to Obama still needs to be seen.”
I am a senior, and I support Obama. Many of my “older voter” friends and co-workers feel as strongly as I do about Obama.
We are tired of being classified in the Clinton camp. We encourage all seniors to join us and applaud the younger voters who already have.
Wayne Conery
Kansas City
Hillary is the only go-getterTo the voters in Kansas City: Quit listening to the news and vote with your own mind. Get on a computer and look up both candidates to see what they stand for.
The pundits have been saying for eight weeks that Sen. Clinton should drop out of the race. I would like to know why. She is the only go-getter of the two candidates. Some people say she will do anything to win. Well, I would say she will do anything within reason to win, and that’s the kind of person I would like to see in the White House.
She speaks with a whole lot more confidence than Obama, who calls for “Change We Can Believe In.” I notice Obama doesn’t say what kind of change. It could very well be change for the worse.
J.A. Adams
Kansas City
This Republican wants changeI am a registered Republican. Looking back eight years, I believe it would be impossible for America to be in worse shape internationally and economically if Al Gore had been elected president.
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