Obama: In Wright's Footsteps

Charisse Van Horn, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Apr 13, 2008 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Ok, now you know I was much more lenient towards Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's Pastor, when he made his rightfully described outrageous statements. But some of my reasons for giving the man slack were personal. First, I am mixed and was raised by my Great Grandmother who was born in the latter end of the 1800's in Barbados. She immigrated to America and loved this country. In fact, when she became a citizen she studied American history to the point that she could give any historian a run for their money. But she also viewed America as a racist country, one that was full of freedom and liberty, yet at the same time filled with hatred and bigotry to those whose skin was on the "colorful" side of the spectrum. Growing up, she would tell me how "lucky" or "blessed" I was that I looked white, and how so many opportunities would be available to me due to my appearance. Anyway, I forgave and excused Jeremiah Wright's statements more easily for the simple fact that he is older, grew up in a more racist environment, and by the looks of it, didn't seem to write out many of those statements before he said them. Granted, the thought that America is secretly killing off people with the Aids or HIV virus is far fetched and would be great fare for a suspense plot crafted by John Grisham, but nevertheless, I characterized the views as being his own, and not necessarily a reflection on Barack Obama- now I've changed my mind.

Now that Barack Obama has blatantly insulted the working class folk of America, I am truly ticked off. Surprisingly, I am more angered and incensed by Barack Obama's comment while campaigning in Pennsylvania then by anything aired on Fox TV depicting Wright as the epitome of African American bigotry. Why am I outraged? Because Obama didn't live in the generation that Wright or my grandmother grew up in. Obama is making huge generalizations about "middle class" Americans that I find frankly, disturbing. Hmmm, following in Wright's footsteps I take it. I let Jeremiah slide because I gave him the benefit of the doubt; those were his own "characterizations " of people that he gathered over a lifetime of being on the receiving end of bigotry and prejudice. I can give him that much. I can understand where he is coming from and his views. However, I do not give Obama credit for being on the receiving end of "bitter, angry" middle class Pennsylvanians throughout his lifetime.

His comments truly are elitist and definitely show that he is not only out of touch with America, but that he makes the same generalizations of groups of people that his pastor does. Unfortunately, Obama has shown that he is not in any frame of mind to lead the country.

I'm a registered Republican, and I think, because of my African American roots, I was willing to change parties. I was willing to set many of my values aside to openly embrace Obama as a step forward to a new America, one that was without bigotry, prejudice, or racism.

Too bad Obama turned out to be the biggest bigot of them all. Good thing I didn't send in my party change- looks like I'm back to McCain.

Published by Charisse Van Horn

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Obama: In Wright's Footsteps

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