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"Are we all responsible for the past acts of a few, I don't think so. So get over it, you [blacks] have every opportunity as white America has." (sic) [brackets mine]

As a society, the United States systematically denied black families opportunities to accumulate financial and educational capital well into the 20th century. As a result, blacks have a plethora of disadvantages. They are entitled to a level playing field.

"Get over it" you say. You say blacks "... have every opportunity as white America has." Bullshit. Urban black schools are still segregated. Read Kozol's Savage Inequalities and then tell me that those students have every chance a suburban student has. Black students are disproportionately trapped in schools that prepare them for nothing but failure. They are too poor to move away, as whites have, so their future is entombed in America's ghettos. They do not get a shot at the American Dream.

"Get over it," you say. I can't get over that.

Let me summarize the rest of your argument: Obama shouldn't be a presidential candidate; this is because he didn't repudiate Wright's statements; because he didn't I won't vote for him. (Implied: Because I won't vote for him, he shouldn't be a candidate.)

Obama did repudiate Wight's statements. In no uncertain terms, he said that this kind of black anger is an obstacle to the unified effort that must be made to overcome racial inequality in America. He stated that he could not in good conscience abandon the church because of the good it does. Wright has been and remains instrumental in the church's many successes. Obama acknowledged Wright's successes as a Pastor, yet stated that he strongly disagreed with Wright's radical sentiments. I felt this was appropriate.

Rather than throwing Wright under the bus, Obama used his pastor's failings as a metaphor for the state of race relations in America, and asked all Americans to step up and deal with the problem. Perhaps that's where your objection lies. You're saying, "get over it," and he insists, "deal with it, first."

Obama is a candidate because he got a wonderful education, and he moved forward in his life, not backwards into the Black experience. Black Liberation Theology has tainted Rev. Wright and for Barack not to repudiate this poor excuse for a minister is reprehensible. Black entitlement jargon is BS. Blacks are no better than any race, creed. And we are not responsible for the acts of Black Slavery merchants who sold their ancestors, not responsible for the acts of the Dutch slave merchants who transported blacks to America ages ago. Yes there have been injustices towards black people, but there also have been injustices towards Irish immigrants, Italian immigrants. Are we all responsible for the past acts of a few, I don't think so. So get over it, you have every opportunity as white America has. What you do to secure that dream is on you. Your life is what you make of it in other words. Obama is where is now due to securing a upscale education, and most likely the rearing of that white grandmother, who probably instilled these sentiments in him. I am not voting for him because he fails to see the flawed judgment he exhibits in not totally repudiating Rev. Wright. His platform is for unity of all races remember. Well his defense of Wright speaks volumes.

His speech is just that nothing more nothing less, there are many people in the United States who have been wronged in one form or another, my point is, people have the choice to change in todays day and age, the part that is difficult to understand is why they choose to live in a past which they did not personally experience;and continue to behave as if it was them it happened to. It doesn't matter which race it is, all of the people who come before us have suffered in some form or another, the lesson is if the future learns from the past. Most are so self absorbed they can not get beyond their own desires to further their own existence. We live in a day and age that allows anyone to accomplish anything they choose to, the only person holding them back is themselves, and as far as being oppressed, suppressed in our society, take a stand with your children and be parents, people learn bias and hate from their families and parents, if a person truly wants change then it begins at home, it is about respecting each others as human beings not as a black man, or hispanic or Asian or Native American, but as a person with a bit of self respect for others and your family. The reverend intentionally made his statements and clearly understood what he is saying on national televisions, is was about sensationalism and a day of fame. He is selfish for not thinking of what it would to Obama, clearly he stole the spotlight and put a black spot on Obama. Sad !

Unfortunately, some of the things Rev. Wright said are true. There are unaddressed issues within the black community-no closure is possible for the damage done following the Civil War and the continued problems that exist in our country. Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth. Senator Obama is taking a beating for something he did not say.

While I certainly do not want to dismiss the "plight of the Blacks", it is a sentiment stuck in the 60s.

Yes, many blacks still clamor about racism in America and share Rev Wrights point of view. Does that make it right for anyo9ne to fire such sentiments up even further?

Soundbites or not, these statements have been made - period!
Not once, but over the course of decades. My friend - there is no context at all justifying these "soundbites". Not only were they inflammatory and divisive, they were blatant distortions of historical facts (Aids). There is no excuse or mitigating circumstances for a public figure to spill such hate and nurture the underlying sentiment.

Just turn the thing around for a second and assume, a white Senator had attended the speeches of David Duke of the Ku Klux Clan. Just once.
Do you honestlythink that this white senator would still be a candidate today?

Obama hmself called for the immediate firing of Imus after racial comments. One tiime only and he fell into the trap of Reverse Racism.

Now that a member of his support staff is concerned, a different set of rules apply? It's a joke, it is against American Principles and it is hippocritical.

Fir an extensive collectioon of cold hard facts about Senator Obama, so you can truly base your opinion on factual evidence, go to

\http://ca4mccain.blogspot.com/

regards