Quote:
Originally Posted by JAD_333
Your point seems to be that, because Obama could be president it is particularly unacceptable for him to call his pastor his friend because his pastor makes outlandish statements. Or, to put it another, someone aspiring to high office should disown any friend who says something provocative which he or she disagrees with.
I am satisfied that Obama did not subscribe to what his pastor said in those inflamatory sermons. The issue for me was how he would handle the public revelation. Would be claim ignorance or admit he knew of his pastor's sermons? I think his speech today put the issue to rest for anyone with a sense of fairplay. Of course, there will be those who won't and can't let it go.
Time to move on.
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I don't think Obama should disown his friends. I think he should have exercised moral leadership in that personal relationship. Why didn't he stand up to his pastor and tell him he didn't agree? Why did he reference this man as his moral compass when he obviously knew this man's outrageous beliefs and teachings? People try to dismiss this as a molehill, but it raises deep questions about Obama's character and deep seated beliefs. Why was he not willing to fight for values he says he's so passionate about when the cameras were turned off? Because either he really secretly agreed with the man on some issues, or he isn't quite as passionate as he lets on.
You have, on the one hand, John McCain, who took torture to avoid demoralizing his fellow POWs and burnt political bridges standing up for things he believes in, and, on the other hand, Barack Obama, who wouldn't bother raise his voice over dinner to his life long friend and mentor about outrageous and unpatriotic teachings at his church. I think it speaks volumes about Obama as a person, and to me, it sounds like a whole lot of hypocrisy,
at best.