Obama's 'radical' religion

When Rolling Stone describes a liberal's religion as "radical," maybe it's time to start paying attention.



The magazine's recent profile of Barack Obama is an eye-opener for those who are interested in the teachings of Obama's Trinity United Church of Christ through the words of his close friend, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

This is as openly radical a background as any significant American political figure has ever emerged from, as much Malcolm X as Martin Luther King Jr. Wright is not an incidental figure in Obama's life, or his politics.

Previously, from the right, there has been commentary about the church from MSNBC's Tucker Carlson and Illinois Review's Fran Eaton. She was also quoted in this Chicago Tribune story earlier this month.



Here's how author Ben Wallace-Wells describes a Wright sermon in the Rolling Stone piece:

And there is the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a sprawling, profane bear of a preacher, a kind of black ministerial institution, with his own radio shows and guest preaching gigs across the country. Wright takes the pulpit here one Sunday and solemnly, sonorously declares that he will recite ten essential facts about the United States. "Fact number one: We've got more black men in prison than there are in college," he intones. "Fact number two: Racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run!" There is thumping applause; Wright has a cadence and power that make Obama sound like John Kerry. Now the reverend begins to preach. "We are deeply involved in the importing of drugs, the exporting of guns and the training of professional KILLERS. . . . We believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God. . . . We conducted radiation experiments on our own people. . . . We care nothing about human life if the ends justify the means!" The crowd whoops and amens as Wright builds to his climax: "And. And. And! GAWD! Has GOT! To be SICK! OF THIS SHIT!"

Over the last few days, there's been lots of coverage on the teachings of the Mormon church and its relation to presidential candidate Mitt Romney. After the Rolling Stone article, maybe the media will zero in on Obama's church.

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