The Stylistic Gap
Lynn Sweet’s got the goods in this transcript of reporters asking Obama about his resignation from Trinity United Church of Christ yesterday (emphasis mine):
Q: Do you think it will be possible for you to join a black church, or a historically black church, or do you think as matter of, do you think that political correctness is going to be an issue in this election and that will be a factor in the racial mix of the church that you join?
BO: It’s an interesting question. I do think that — I said this earlier, that there is a different religious tradition or a worshipping style in some of the historically African American churches and other churches. But I am confident that we are going to be able to find a church we feel comfortable with and that will reflect our concerns and values. But I do think there is a cultural and a stylistic gap that has come into play in this issue.
What a tin ear this man has for religion in America! Barack Obama may think of himself as a Christian, but most American Christians do not —and will not— recognize the kind of race-based conspiracism and outright segregationism of the Black liberation theology he’s been wallowing in for most of his adult life. Is there any clearer evidence of his insularity from normal American life than his clumsy defense —and then abandonment— of his pastor and his church? What sort of man of faith allows politics to dictate where his worship turns?
It is almost fascinating to me that this supposedly brilliant man should have so little sense of how offensive his church is in the eyes and ears of most Americans —and, moreover, how stupid he must think people are to expect them to ignore his serial capitulations on the question of faith.
And is there any promise he’s kept from his “legendary” race speech? He has disowned Wright and now he has disowned his church. What’s next? It doesn’t really matter because these choices of church and spirituality are a question of “style.” Never mind that the substance of what is preached in these places is anti-American, anti-white, and classist; in Obama’s mind, it’s really more a question of how it’s seen by others than it is of genuine religious fidelity.
Barack Obama is a user of religion and a hypocrite. As an atheist with a clear conscience and a sound moral structure, I reject him utterly.
