Letter to the Editor:

Obama changes tune on minister too late

Richard Rychtarik, Las Vegas

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 | 2:02 a.m.

I must take umbrage with the letter by John Esperian in Monday’s Las Vegas Sun. Mr. Esperian laments that the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s views are inadvertently undermining the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama. I find this patently untrue.

It is candidate Obama who has directly and irresponsibly undermined his own candidacy because of his historical alliance with Wright. Hardly anyone exposed to the media has been able to escape Wright’s hateful statements, his negative views about America. This kind of venomous hatred doesn’t just magically appear in someone as advanced in age as Wright.

What hasn’t been as noticeable in the news media is Obama’s video in which less than one year ago he sang the praises of Wright, referring to him as a longtime friend, a mentor and an adviser. What all this points to is a lack of good judgment on the part of Obama.

Obama must have known then as he does now about the character and opinions of Wright, yet he chose not to find another church, mentor or adviser. Now, faced with months of controversy and his polls slipping, he denounces the reverend and says he doesn’t always agree with him.

Well, then, what are the principles that the senator and the reverend do agree on? As Mrs. Obama said so eloquently, “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country.” Is this something they can agree on?

Please, let us elect a president who can today provide us with at least some specific views about where our country’s future lies. Once the audacity of hope has waned, the devil will be in the details.

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By Johnathan_Abbinett (Johnathan Abbinett)

May 7, 2008

12:54 p.m.

Flag

Wright is NOT running for President - and I most certainly would not want anyone to judge me on the merits of some of my family members, friends, past teachers or mentors!

Why aren't we hearing about the crazy preachers that have endorsed McCain - and how McCain has happily accepted their endorsements?

America has made mistakes and a true patriot is willing to discuss our weaknesses, mistakes and errors openly and candidly - that's what the 1st Amendment is all about, it's easy to listen to someone we agree with - the real patriotic challenge is being mature and adult enough to be able to fairly and actively listen to our worse critics!

I've never, ever been so proud AND equally ashamed of being an American - and I've said that time and again over the past 7 years (and have felt that way ever since the greedy, rich republicans pulled off their coup on the common people back in 1980)!

The low information voters that are trying to use the tired, old "America love it or leave it" hardcore view no longer carry any weight with hardly anyone with a fundamental education in critical thinking and logic!

I'm from Indiana originally (infamous for having been the northern headquarters of the KKK), and a family member of mine said Sunday, "Indiana will vote overwhelmingly for Clinton - there's no way Indiana will support a black!" I responded, "It will be a bellweather to see how Indiana does vote - and I agree Clinton will probably win, but I'm betting she will barely eck out a close vote!"

I'm so proud of my home state Indiana today!

When you hear valid, critical commentary from truly patriotic people - that's a solid sign that really are some serious things going wrong!

The audacity of hope will never wane, and the devil has always been in the details - none of that is new either!