compared to Wright, Penn (and thus Clinton) is Wrong
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compared to Wright, Penn (and thus Clinton) is Wrong
By jeff97005 - Apr 8th, 2008 at 2:23 pm EDT
Also listed in: Barack Obama 08' Portland Group | Oregonians for Obama | Washington County Oregon
I'm a believer that Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity UCC did not cross the bounds of decency and basic patriotism when he --
one) amidst a life time of other sermons and proclamations that were right on track with a caring, faithful ministry to his congregation and their neighbors, and
two) in the context of his congregation that knew and expected him to be forceful and challenging about the issues at the intersection of life and faith, and
three) in the tradition of the United Church of Christ which expects and celebrates conversation and critical as well as supportive response to what is shared from a free and prophetic pulpit
-- made the remarks that caused such an uproar. As many who have watched the fuller video accounts of the sermons from which a few short seconds of sound bite were excerpted, I think the proclamation of good news, hope in the face of challenge, courage in the face of the powerful and encouragement towards increased responsibility and faithful action by his own congregation is in the best tradition of the preaching art.
The key, I submit, is that Rev. Wright was preaching to a congregation that had the power and the responsibility to call him as their pastor, to continue his call, or - if needed - to curtail his call. Barack Obama is a member of that church, and with thousands of other members had a less than 0.05 % voice and vote in the continuation or curtailing of Rev. Wright's tenure at Trinity UCC.
HOWEVER: Mark Penn was serving solely at the determination of Hillary Clinton as the top and highest paid staff member of her campaign. Clinton had and has 100% voice and vote to continue or to curtail Mark Penn's call to his position in her campaign.
Now we know that Penn (and his consulting firm) was serving the cause of Blackwater amidst the outcry over mercenary contractors run amok in Iraq, serving the cause of Countrywide amidst the outcry over the predatory lending practices and mortgage crisis, and serving the cause of Columbia amidst the specific outrage voiced by Clinton over the trade agreement proposal concerning the USA and Columbia. Penn was being paid significant and generous dollars by Clinton as he was also being paid by his other clients to contradict and limit the policies supposedly supported by Clinton. So, Hillary Clinton announces over the weekend that Penn is out. Good, she has that 100% voice and vote.
And yet, now we learn that Penn is not really out, but will continue to do paid work for Clinton and was publicly present on the daily campaign leadership call to the news media covering the campaign.
I want to ask "what the hell?" Instead, I ask "how in heaven's name does Rev. Wright and Trinity UCC get to be a huge issue to the Obama campaign while Mark Penn may not become a concern at all for those supporting Hillary Clinton?"
Barack Obama is right to engage in higher and deeper issues, with better and more solid integrity, and with a wider variety of Americans of every experience, perspective, and vision. I commend Obama for continuing - carefully and thoughtfully - his connection to and conversation towards better engagement with his church and his pastors. Especially as he was not and is not the lone voice and vote that can or should make such a decision.
Clinton keeps claiming to be Ready on Day One She's ready already to do anything, to pay anyone, to break any commitment, to toss any kitchen sink, as she seeks to become the Democratic Nominee for the Presidential Election of 2008? Mark Penn and Hillary Clinton are 100% wrong. Yet Clinton would leave a church if the pastor was controversial even as she won't really fire an employee who is actively taking money to work against her announced interests.
I am one ready on this day to believe and announce that Obama is the only candidate remaining who is ready to engage, involve and offer leadership to the country I still hope and pray we might someday become.
By jeff97005 - Apr 8th, 2008 at 2:23 pm EDT
Also listed in: Barack Obama 08' Portland Group | Oregonians for Obama | Washington County Oregon
I'm a believer that Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity UCC did not cross the bounds of decency and basic patriotism when he --
one) amidst a life time of other sermons and proclamations that were right on track with a caring, faithful ministry to his congregation and their neighbors, and
two) in the context of his congregation that knew and expected him to be forceful and challenging about the issues at the intersection of life and faith, and
three) in the tradition of the United Church of Christ which expects and celebrates conversation and critical as well as supportive response to what is shared from a free and prophetic pulpit
-- made the remarks that caused such an uproar. As many who have watched the fuller video accounts of the sermons from which a few short seconds of sound bite were excerpted, I think the proclamation of good news, hope in the face of challenge, courage in the face of the powerful and encouragement towards increased responsibility and faithful action by his own congregation is in the best tradition of the preaching art.
The key, I submit, is that Rev. Wright was preaching to a congregation that had the power and the responsibility to call him as their pastor, to continue his call, or - if needed - to curtail his call. Barack Obama is a member of that church, and with thousands of other members had a less than 0.05 % voice and vote in the continuation or curtailing of Rev. Wright's tenure at Trinity UCC.
HOWEVER: Mark Penn was serving solely at the determination of Hillary Clinton as the top and highest paid staff member of her campaign. Clinton had and has 100% voice and vote to continue or to curtail Mark Penn's call to his position in her campaign.
Now we know that Penn (and his consulting firm) was serving the cause of Blackwater amidst the outcry over mercenary contractors run amok in Iraq, serving the cause of Countrywide amidst the outcry over the predatory lending practices and mortgage crisis, and serving the cause of Columbia amidst the specific outrage voiced by Clinton over the trade agreement proposal concerning the USA and Columbia. Penn was being paid significant and generous dollars by Clinton as he was also being paid by his other clients to contradict and limit the policies supposedly supported by Clinton. So, Hillary Clinton announces over the weekend that Penn is out. Good, she has that 100% voice and vote.
And yet, now we learn that Penn is not really out, but will continue to do paid work for Clinton and was publicly present on the daily campaign leadership call to the news media covering the campaign.
I want to ask "what the hell?" Instead, I ask "how in heaven's name does Rev. Wright and Trinity UCC get to be a huge issue to the Obama campaign while Mark Penn may not become a concern at all for those supporting Hillary Clinton?"
Barack Obama is right to engage in higher and deeper issues, with better and more solid integrity, and with a wider variety of Americans of every experience, perspective, and vision. I commend Obama for continuing - carefully and thoughtfully - his connection to and conversation towards better engagement with his church and his pastors. Especially as he was not and is not the lone voice and vote that can or should make such a decision.
Clinton keeps claiming to be Ready on Day One She's ready already to do anything, to pay anyone, to break any commitment, to toss any kitchen sink, as she seeks to become the Democratic Nominee for the Presidential Election of 2008? Mark Penn and Hillary Clinton are 100% wrong. Yet Clinton would leave a church if the pastor was controversial even as she won't really fire an employee who is actively taking money to work against her announced interests.
I am one ready on this day to believe and announce that Obama is the only candidate remaining who is ready to engage, involve and offer leadership to the country I still hope and pray we might someday become.
