From: Kenneth Wilson
To: Tom Teepen
Sent: Friday, July 23, 2010 1:22 PM
Subject: The more things change
Good morning:
I unearthed an item filed more than two years ago that included
commentary by you and others on the relationship between then
primary candidate Obama and the Rev. Wright. You may not
have revisited the theme recently. Perhaps one of these days
you may wish to do another column on "Taking racial high ground"
in light of current faltering efforts to avoid its "sinking sand".
Best wishes,
Ken Wilson
Lawrenceville, NJ
P.S. Mr. Malone, now Editor-Publisher, no longer entertains
my informative emails.
kw
File copy...
To: Tom Teepen
cc: bjmalone@njtimes.com,
letters@charleskrauthammer.com
Good morning:
Tom Teepen, Taking racial high ground
The Times of Trenton, Saturday, March 22, 2008, A11
“ . . .Obama firmly and convincingly disavowed Wright’s excesses but, . . ., just as firmly refused to disavow him personally . . ..”
Charles Krauthammer, No it’s not enough, ibid.
“ . . But Obama was supposed to be new . . . transcending the anger of the past as represented by his beloved pastor. . . .
Then answer this senator: If Wright is a man of the past, why would you expose your children to his vitriolic divisiveness? . . ..”
© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved
Obama Defends Rev. Wright, Blasts Imus
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 8:47 AM
“ . . .Obama told ABC in the interview he would never appear again on Imus’ show after Imus set off a firestorm of outrage
when he called members of the women’s basketball team at Rutgers University “nappy-headed ‘hoes’” on his popular morning talk show.
‘He didn’t just cross the line,’ Obama raged then. ‘He fed into some of the worst stereotypes that my two young daughters are
having to deal with today in America’ . . ...”
Obama seems unable, today, to decide--
In promising to bridge the racial divide--
To be consistent
In being insistent
On the principle of not favoring either side.
He quickly distanced himself from Imus
And said he’d never again appear on his show,
But to distance himself from membership in J. Wright’s congregation
Barack has been exceeding slow[1].
It does appear that Barack H. Obama
Does not appreciate unsavory rhetoric aimed at blacks,
But tends to think it alright for his pastor (of 20 years), J. Wright,
To take at white folks non-benevolent cracks.
And for those who now think Obama
Is the greatest thing to come down the pike
Since the invention of the internal combustion engine,
Here’s an analogy that they may not like:
From a note archived on February 4, 2005
In a scene from the movie, “Paleface”,
Bob Hope was kissing, fervently, Jane Russell—
For her, Bob was only a “husband of convenience”,
But on their wedding night he was simply hot to hustle.
Being annoyed at his untimely (for her) advances, she used a gun butt
And knocked him out (from behind), surcease from romance to seize;
When he awoke next morning, while still rubbing his head he thanked her “for a most lovely evening”;
She then shook her head wonderingly unbelievingly, and said: “You sure are easy to please!”
This seems to apply to Obama’s admirers
Who are always ready any opportunity to seize
To characterize his perceived attributes in superlatives--
They, too, “sure are easy to please”.
Of course, it can’t be gainsaid
That admirers of Hillary also similarly seize
Opportunities to sing the praises of her Clintonesque qualities
That only confused or bemused folks might please.
But, generally speaking, in politics (and elsewhere)
What is admired or what is abhorred
Seems to hinge less on the inherent nature of the object involved,
Than on whose particular ox is being gored.[2]
Still, were it not such a serious matter
We wouldn't ask Senator Obama to justify
Distancing himself from poor Imus (in the morning)
While embracing J. Wright as a spiritual ally.
Best wishes
Ken Wilson
27 Royal Oak Rd
Lawrenceville (soon perhaps to get its own ZIP code), NJ
(but still) 08648-3239
P.S. I hope you and yours suffered no ill effects
Due to the tornado that struck Atlanta, downtown;
And that things are back to normal on Peachtree St.--
A street of universal renown.
Perhaps you know whether there was any damage
In the vicinity of 3095 Towerview Dr., NE,
Where, between 1958 and 1965, inclusive,
Our primary residence happened to be.
kw
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Jimmy C., even as candidate for the presidency, still member of a segregated church,
Was asked "Why?"; and with a dismissive quip and a scoff
Answered the reporter’s seemingly meaningful question thus:
What would you have me do? Stop the world and get off?
[2] Association! It’s being said that the current nomination impasse--
That all Democratic operatives deplore--
May be broken by the introduction
Of overtures for the nomination by Algore!
