To the editor:
I can't fathom why Barack Obama hasn't completely distanced himself from his pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The reverend addressed the National Press Club in Washington on Monday and once again came across as bombastic and almost arrogant in his selection of words.
Wright has harmed Obama's chances in the race for the White House in dramatic fashion.
Today he implied that most Americans don't understand that Obama is a politician "who must say whatever it takes to win" while Wright is a pastor who says "what he must say in order to be understood."
At the same time he praised Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan as an important voice of black Americans, blasted the U.S. government and indicated if Obama is elected he will come after him when he is president to spread his message. Here as well as on Bill Moyers' program last Friday, Wright comes across in my view as a radical leader with words of hatred in many of his thoughts.
He was almost, after his speech, more an actor who tried to be comedic in his arrogance toward the American way. I found his rhetoric to be offensive, which brings me to another point.
Religion and politics are supposedly not to mix, yet GW Bush brought religion up more often than any president in memory. Americans believe in faith and God which is a wonderful freedom we should cherish, but there have been others. The good Rev. Jerry Falwell came out in his own words with many thoughts of which many Americans did not agree.
The Rev. Ted Goddard or Pat Robertson who even ran for president also placed their thoughts into the American political system. Wright is wrong, just as were Falwell, Robertson or Goddard and others. Let's call them members of the Bull pulpit.
How do these people gain such fame and fortune? How did Tammy Faye and Jim Baker make all of their millions allowing them to spread their words to make them rich? Why do so many in our nation follow leaders such as those I have named? Be it war, the right to life, the economy or other issues — why do these few have as much or more clout than a nutcase like even Rush Limbaugh. Part of America's problems should be placed at the altar of the above famous people I have named. Where should religion be in our political decisions? I believe the answer is in their own churches and not forced down American throats as the word of the day.
W. J. BEHRINGER
Newburyport
