Legal Commentary

The Wrong Defense

By Big Tent Democrat

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

Via Ambinder, the Trinity UCC (the Wright church in Chicago) issues this statement:

[T]he Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.’s character is being assassinated in the public sphere because he has preached a social gospel on behalf of oppressed women, children, and men in America and around the globe.”

(Emphasis supplied.) In my view, this is the wrong approach for the church to take, as it is false and fails to condemn Wright's offensive remarks. I defer to Barack Obama:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday denounced inflammatory remarks from his pastor, who has railed against the United States and accused its leaders of bringing on the Sept. 11 attacks by spreading terrorism.

. . . Obama wrote that . . . he's been pained and angered to learn of some of his pastor's comments for which he had not been present. . . . "I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies," Obama said. "I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Reverend Wright that are at issue."

(Emphasis supplied.) The Trinity UCC appears unwilling to reject Rev. Wright's offensive comments. Instead it chooses to falsely smear those offended by the Rev. Wright's remarks, including Senator Barack Obama. I find the Church's statement unacceptable. I stand with the sentiments expressed by Senator Barack Obama regarding Rev. Wright's remarks.

Update (TL): Comments at 200, thread now closed.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 16, 2008 (boomark / email).