The Orbis

Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Opinion

So it would seem that Obama answered his critics. Anyone concerned that Senator Obama sought a church home with Pastor Wright for ideological reasons would now have to realize that such was not the case. However, the message of this speech brings up a whole new line of concerns about the candidacy of Obama. He characterized the notion that "white racism is endemic" as a "profoundly distorted view of this country." I for one don't find such a view to be distorted, and neither do many minority groups. Indeed, one need only look at the nationalistic tenor of the immigration debate, characterizations of the burden we have to be a strong presence in the Middle East and the utter lack of aid to those most affected by Hurricane Katrina to see that racism remains not only a matter of personal behavior, but still exerts a strong influence on public policy. Obama revealed himself once again as a vacuous "uniter," who seeks to speak only about hope. His criticism of Pastor Wright rests on his characterization of Wright as having a view "that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America."

Far from being a candidate committed to a critical change in the many shortcomings of America, Senator Obama is showing is that his "hope for change" merely refers to a mental, rather than material, state. The problem with America, according to Obama, is that we are cynical and pessimistic. The remedy for this is not critical engagement with uncomfortable issues, but rather just the idle recognition of all the good we do so that we no longer feel bad about American ills. This speech on his former pastor has shown that Obama is afraid of the kind of critical and productive engagement on fundamental issues that this country needs now. Indeed, in defending his association with a radical pastor as being non-ideological, Obama has shown how unworthy and quotidian a candidate he is.

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