Wright's wrong: He's under fire, not black church
Obama's pastor surely enjoys soaking up media spotlight
There were some interesting insights -- as well as some nutball theories -- in Rev. Jeremiah Wright's appearance at the National Press Club on Monday.
There was also a heavy dose of B.S., as when Wright said negative reaction to his most divisive comments was "not an attack on Jeremiah Wright [and has] nothing to do with Sen. Obama. It is an attack on the black church launched by people who know nothing about the African-American religious tradition."
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No sir. Not true. You were criticized for what YOU said. Maybe the average white commentator truly doesn't understand the African-American religious tradition, but that doesn't mean the criticisms of your comments weren't utterly valid.
Just when you figure Obama would love to see Wright shopping for motor homes for his retirement, Wright is soaking up the spotlight with more enthusiasm than Spencer Pratt on a red carpet.
Meanwhile, Obama called Wright's most recent appearance a "spectacle," said their relationship had been altered and added, "What Rev. Wright said [Monday] directly contradicts everything I have ever done or said in my life."
Politically, it's a risky move. The skeptics will say Obama waited too long before truly distancing himself from Wright. Others will say Obama sold out his friend to save his presidential ambitions.
One thing that can't be disputed: The Rev. Wright is loving every minute of this new level of fame. It's amazing how many public figures who condemn the evil media will embrace the evil media even as they're condemning the evil media.
Good to hear they're going to renovate the NIU lecture hall where five students were shot and killed last February.
When NIU's president initially announced plans to raze Cole Hall and Gov. Blagojevich said he'd ask the Legislature for funding, it was classic overreaction.
Not to minimize the tragedy. It would be impossible to do so. But you can't tear down every structure where horrible violence has occurred.
Buildings aren't evil or haunted. Some people are evil, and some memories are haunted. It's never about the building.
It's nice to see former Cubs manager Lee Elia getting some respect from the fans and the media a quarter-century after the infamous, expletive-filled rant that would have become a YouTube sensation if YouTube had existed in 1983.
(Note: Elia's rant didn't become a part of pop culture lore simply because it was excerpted on newscasts. It was woven into the fabric of the time because Steve and Garry played it repeatedly.)
Also nice to see all these sports pundits pointing out that all Elia was doing was protecting his players -- especially since I said the same thing in Sox and the City some two years ago. Forgive me this indulgence, but I wrote:
"There's something ... a little noble about Elia pouring his heart out, Marine-style, in an effort to protect his players. Amid all those expletive and non-sequiturs, Elia seemed sincerely wounded by those heartless Cubs fans. In his own way, he was trying to protect his players."
And why was I writing about Lee Elia in a book celebrating the White Sox?
Because he was the starting shortstop for the Sox in the first game I saw at Comiskey Park -- Sox against Yankees, summer of 1966. Elia hit seventh and went 0-for-4, Mickey Mantle homered for the Yankees, and the Sox lost 2-1.
And I think I'm still below the .500 mark as a Sox fan in games I've attended.
When I heard about Laura and Jenna Bush reading to second-graders in Napverville on Monday, I couldn't help but be reminded of Dubya reading the story "The Pet Goat" from the book Reading Mastery II : Storybook 1 to schoolchildren on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 -- and all that has happened since then.
I also got to thinking about presidential offspring. Fraternal twins Jenna and Barbara Bush have had their moments of youthful indiscretions, but no more so than millions of their peers. They seem to be bright and passionate and devoted to their family. Good young women.
The same could be said of Chelsea Clinton and Amy Carter.
So when was the last time we had a presidential offspring that turned into, well, kind of a disappointment? Someone who never really lived up to his/her potential and has carved out a dubious, disappointing legacy?
Hmmm. Can you think of anyone who fits that bill? Someone who might say such negative talk is "Typical of the criticizers who criticize"?
I'll hang up and wait for my answer.
