What Obama was really mad about

Just as he threw his white grandmother under the bus, identifying racist statements she had made in his childhood, Barack Obama sent his 20-year pastor who conducted his wedding and baptized his children, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, underneath with her. God help anyone who is, or has been, a friend or relative of Barack Obama. If he perceives you as interfering with his political ambitions, you could be next.

Very belatedly, after Wright resurfaced this week with a plethora of big time public appearances defending his outrageous black liberation theology, Obama has followed the dictates of the political pundits, who virtually unanimously said he could not win the presidency without repudiating Wright.

While the obvious, surface reaction Obama had in his angry press conference was disagreement with Wright's controversial views, what Obama was REALLY angry about was that his 20-year pastor, confident and friend wouldn't stay hidden until after November and let his buddy Obama be elected president in peace and quiet. Obama can't possibly be opposed, or unfamiliar, with Wright's views, having been associated with him for 20 years. If he was, he would have left the church long ago, as Oprah Winfrey and others have.

But Obama obviously misread Wright, or didn't know him as well as he thought he did. The main conclusion one can draw from Wright's convention and television appearances this week is that he has a huge ego and has a new book coming out shortly. While its possible for him to garner the publicity, he needs to do it--whatever the consequences for Obama--to sell books.

Wright is simply following in the footsteps of other major black preachers like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who make their living as professional apologists for their race. They show up at any real or perceived event with possible racial overtones and exploit it to the max for their own personal gain. They extort millions of dollars in hush money from major corporations and countries around the world for their "non-profit" organizations--from which they draw huge salaries and expenses--in return for not attacking them.

Poor naive Barack Obama had not stopped to consider the dollars involved for Wright. Most pastors stand behind and help their parishoners in their pursuits, acting as behind-the-scenes cheerleaders and encouragers, praying for their success.

Jeremiah Wright obviously has a very different agenda.