Yesterday we saw a very different vision of America. I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday. I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992. I’ve known Reverend Wright for almost 20 years. The person that I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate, and I believe that they do not portray accurately the perspective of the black church.

They certainly don’t portray accurately my values and beliefs. And if Reverend Wright thinks that that’s political posturing, as he put it, then he doesn’t know me very well. And based on his remarks yesterday, well, I may not know him as well as I thought either.

Now, I’ve already denounced the comments that had appeared in these previous sermons. As I said, I had not heard them before. And I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia, explaining that he has done enormous good in the church. He has built a wonderful congregation. The people of Trinity are wonderful people, and what attracted me has always been their ministries reach beyond the church walls.

But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS, when he suggests that Minister Farrakhan somehow represents one of the greatest voices of the 20th and 21st centuries, when he equates the United States wartime efforts with terrorism, then there are no excuses.

They offend me. The rightly offend all Americans. And they should be denounced. And that’s what I’m doing very clearly and unequivocally here today.

This latest speech is being called an offensive on the part of Senator Obama but make no mistake about it, this is no offensive; this is a defensive and nothing less!

Price check in the fruit aisle

Matthew 7:18-20:

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Barack's so-called offensive against Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr. should've taken place a long time ago if he's a devout Christian as he has suggested, not to mention the fact that no truly devout Christian attaches a negative connotation to a brother in Christ clinging to his religion - or, in my opinion, even his gun. After all, our God-honoring forefathers made every effort to ensure that we would be able to cling to both of them. Perhaps Barack slept through that portion of history class but I digress.

Does the excerpt from Senator Obama's speech above corroborate what Reverend Wright had to say about what Barack believes? I think so. Senator Obama said, "I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992. I’ve known Reverend Wright for almost 20 years. The person that I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate, and I believe that they do not portray accurately the perspective of the black church."

So, Senator Obama has attended the church Jeremiah Wright pastored at least since 1992, has known him for almost 20 years, even thought enough of him to pluck the title of his book from one of Reverend Wright's sermons but, in spite of the fact he couldn't disown him just a few weeks ago, he now finds Reverend Wright's words to be divisive, destructive and even comforting to those who prey on hate? Talk about a change of tunes!

I find Senator Obama's sudden enlightenment concerning the incendiary nature of his former pastor's words spoken from the pulpit quite humorous, especially in consideration of the fact that Senator Obama didn't find the same words Reverend Wright had said to be nearly as horrific as they appear to be now that Reverend Wright is suggesting that Barack is just doing what politicians often do which is lie through their teeth to get themselves elected. Imagine that.

Which turnip truck does he think we fell off of?

Does Senator Obama seriously believe we're going to buy this convenient anger on his part? Does he think we're going to blindly accept his word that he had no idea that Reverend Wright felt the way he obviously does about Israel, our nation's government attempting to commit genocide against men of color by inventing the H.I.V. virus, our nation bringing September 11th on itself and more in spite of the fact Reverend Wright married Barack to his wife, baptized his children and was, according to Senator Obama himself, "like family?" While he may have thought so back in Philadelphia a few weeks, he clearly doesn't now - or at least his campaign advisors don't.

Who do we trust?

Hamas doesn't believe that Barack Obama is as pro-Israel as he portrays himself to be publicly. They're hoping he gets elected.

Jeremiah Wright, Jr. is saying that Senator Obama is just telling us what we all want to hear so he can be president as opposed to holding any genuine contempt for what the good Reverend has had to say in the past.

What, exactly, is the truth? Is there any possible way we can know?

While I genuinely pray that Senator Obama isn't a wolf in sheep's clothing and Hamas has misplaced its trust where Senator Obama's allegiance to Israel is concerned, there is far too much history between Senator Obama and Reverend Wright for me to believe that the Reverend is falling far from the truth when he says that Barack is simply saying what he has to say to get elected when it comes to his condemnation of his former pastor's words. Common sense should tell us that but there's plenty of fruit to be picked from the tree of the Obama-Wright connection if that's what it takes to see that Senator Obama is wearing a poker face where that issue is concerned. Even the mainstream media, I believe, may have taken notice of Barack's sudden John Kerry-like position change.

Shortly after giving his speech yesterday, a question and answer session was held during which the following exchange took place between Senator Obama and a questioner (emphasis added mine):

QUESTION: Why the change of tone from yesterday? When you spoke to us on the tarmac yesterday, you didn’t have this sense of anger and outrage.

OBAMA: Yes, I’ll be honest with you — because I hadn’t seen it yet.

QUESTION: And that was the difference you…

OBAMA: Yes.

QUESTION: You heard the reports about the AIDS comments.

OBAMA: I had not. I had not seen the transcript. What I had heard was he had given a performance, and I thought at the time that it would be sufficient simply to reiterate what I had said in Philadelphia.

Upon watching it, what became clear to me was that it was more than just him defending himself. What became clear to me was that he was presenting a worldview that contradicts who I am and what I stand for.

Senator Obama is putting on quite a show for us now but where was that anger just a few short weeks ago? For that matter, as the questioner wondered, where was it day before yesterday?It was nowhere to be found! And no, I don't believe it's because Senator Obama hadn't seen a transcript of what Reverend Wright had said. Why do I say that? Because Jeremiah Wright's words spoken prior to Obama's glorious speech in Philadelphia on race relations wherein our would-be president offered no apologies for his behaviors but instead rationalized them as part of the black experience? They're no different today than they were back then! Not a bit different!

Jeremiah Wright, Jr. isn't being any more controversial, unpatriotic, divisive and the like than he was before! But one key thing has changed, especially in light of Barack's recent comments concerning common Americans clinging to religion and guns. What is that? Small town America is beginning to realize that Barack's values aren't in line with ours. Thus, Barack's campaign advisors, sensing that public opinion may be beginning to swing against him, are advising Barack to do everything he can to distance himself from his buddy Reverend Wright.

And that, ladies and gentlemen? That is why Senator Barack Obama is angry. Conveniently angry.

Conclusion

I can only speak for myself but when November rolls around? If I have to walk five miles in pouring rain to vote my conscience to the very best of my ability, I'm going to. Who knows? I may even thump my Bible a few times and shoot something with my rifle on my way home for good measure to commemorate the event.

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