Barack Obama

Can’t Shake the Devil’s Hand and Say You’re Only Kidding.

By J. Wesley ⋅ March 27, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Barack Obama had no illusions about the racist beliefs of the very wrong Rev. Wright. It would require a childlike suspension of disbelief normally found only in Renaissance Faire enthusiasts (or Obama supporters) to believe otherwise.

So the rest of us are left with two options:

1. Obama felt an ideological affinity with Wright, and stayed because he was comfortable, or, 2. Obama knew that Wright was a bigot and remained because of the political power and connections it gave him.

For the sake of argument, let’s go with option 2. Does anyone believe this is less repugnant than 1?

Honest bigots are wrong, and vicious, but really believe in their misguided cause. In the words of the Book, “They know not what they do.” What sort of moral center must you have to financially and morally support bigotry just to further your own career, while all the time believing it’s wrong?

If option 2 is correct, then Barack Obama signed on to a classic Faustian bargain — giving up his soul to the devil in exchange for power. In the world of black Chicago politics, it was a good deal. Unfortunately, the bargain worked TOO well. His 2004 Convention speech catapulted him into national prominence and the magic that Wright worked for him has fizzled. So now he’s spinning us all, hoping we’ll get so dizzy as to forget his cynical dabbling with racist politics.

In 1990, while Obama was still at Harvard Law, They Might Be Giants released their best album — Flood. I don’t know if he ever listened to it, but track #6 might have kept him out of trouble:

“This is where the party ends
I’ll just sit here wondering how you
Can stand by your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
You and your racist friend
. . .
Out from the kitchen to the bedroom to the hallway
Your friend apologizes, he could see it my way
He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking
Can’t shake the devil’s hand and say you’re only kidding

This is where the party ends
I can’t stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
And your racist friend.”