You were waiting for it and you finally got it. Obama has opened his eyes and felt the outrage of so many in the progressive (anti bigotry) community and he's finally spoken out in "fierce" terms.
I'm pouring over the recently released transcript now, here are a few gems direct from Obama's mouth
Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit.
Way to go PE, finally! Coming out and stating, in no uncertain terms, that bigotry is not welcome.
"I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit"
You couldn't be any more clear than that Mr. Obama.
Comparing gay marriage equality to incest, pedophilia, and polygamy are totally unacceptable, and you've just made that clear. Preaching hate from the pulpit, urging people to revoke the constitutionally protected rights of a minority is not acceptable 'whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit'.
I couldn't agree more Mr. Obama. thank you for standing up to bigotry. When your base called foul, you didn't turn a deaf ear to their anger, you listened. When tough questions were asked of you, you didn't resort to empty platitudes and moral equivelence about how bigotry should be respected as a legitimate view point! No, you rejected bigotry catagorically!
Mr. Obama didn't stop there, no, he went even further in his renouncment
His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate
Bravo! Mr. Obama, Bravo!
They offend me. They rightly offend all Americans. And they should be denounced. And that's what I'm doing very clearly and unequivocally here today.
Yes! way to stand up to hatred Mr. Obama.
It is antithetical to what I am about. It is not what I think American stands for.
I totally agree.
But what I do want him to be very clear about, as well as all of you and the American people, is that when I say I find these comments appalling, I mean it. It contradicts everything that I'm about and who I am.
And anybody who has worked with me, who knows my life, who has read my books, who has seen what this campaign's about, I think, will understand that it is completely opposed to what I stand for and where I want to take this country.
This is a man I can believe it, this is a man who does not stand for bigotry and hate, this is a man who.... oh, wait... WHAAAAAT!?
What's that? oh, ok... I'm getting word that these comments by Obama were not directed at Rick Warren (the man who compares incest with marrige equality) instead these were comments made back in
March and April about the reverend Jermiah Wright?. Really? Huh, ok then, OOOPS! SORRY!
Ok then, still, no need to panic, If he'll stand up to a man who uses harsh rhetoric to criticize American foreign and domestic policy I'm sure he'll have no problem rebuking a man who compares gay marriage equality to incest right?.... right? So what do you have to say Mr. Obama about Pastor Warren (this should be good!!!)
What I’ve also said is that it is important for America to come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues.
Wait.... what? Social issues? surely you jest Mr. Obama. Civil rights for all is not just a social issue. It goes to the heart of what America stands for... right?
And I would note that a couple of years ago, I was invited to Rick Warren’s church to speak, despite his awareness that I held views that were entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian rights, when it came to issues like abortion. Nevertheless, I had an opportunity to speak.
But...but... you were a member of Reverand Wright's church for 15 years, surely in that time you must have realized that the two of you had disagreements on issues right? But you're such an honorable man that not even 15 years of friendship would keep you from standing up and speaking out against Wright's comments, remember you said
"His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate"
.
Why will you not speak out against the bigotry of Rick Warren? Sure he let you speak at his church, but his message is divisive, destructive and fosters hate. Surely if you'll speak out against your pastor of 15 years you'd have no problem speaking out against a man who once invited you to his church..... right? And if not, I'm sure you have a good reason.
And that dialogue, I think, is part of what my campaign’s been all about: That we’re not going to agree on every single issue, but what we have to do is to be able to create an atmosphere when we — where we can disagree without being disagreeable and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans.
Dialogue?... disagreememnt? disaagreeing without being disagreeable?
But... back in April you said this about Rev Wright...
But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS, when he suggests that Minister Farrakhan somehow represents one of the greatest voices of the 20th and 21st century, when he equates the United States wartime efforts with terrorism, then there are no excuses. They offend me. They rightly offend all Americans. And they should be denounced. And that's what I'm doing very clearly and unequivocally here today.
And this...
But what I do want him to be very clear about, as well as all of you and the American people, is that when I say I find these comments appalling, I mean it. It contradicts everything that I'm about and who I am.
AND THIS!
In some ways, what Reverend Wright said yesterday directly contradicts everything that I've done during my life. It contradicts how I was raised and the setting in which I was raised. It contradicts my decisions to pursue a career of public service. It contradicts the issues that I've worked on politically. It contradicts what I've said in my books. It's contradicts what I said my convention speech in 2004. It contradicts my announcement. It contradicts everything that I've been saying on this campaign trail.
So conspiracy theories about AIDS, praise of Minister Farrakhan, and comparing U.S. wartime campaigns with terrorism is enough to get a good old fashioned rebuke live on cable tv. That stuff contradicts everything that you're about, you find that stuff appalling "And [those comments] should be denounced" because "It is not what I think America stands for."
But.. what of the man who equates gay marriage with pedophilia?
During the course of the entire inaugural festivities, there are going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented. And that’s how it should be, because that’s what America is about. That’s part of the magic of this country is that we are diverse and noisy and opinionated.
WOW... just... WOW
So there you have it ladies and gentlemen. In 'Obama's America' a man who holds dispicable, hateful, anti civil rights, anti human rights views against gay people represents just another valid viewpoint in the great marketplace of ideas. A man who actively funds programs designed to turn gay people into heterosexuals... a man who equates gay marriage with incest, pedophilia, and polygamy... THAT MAN represents a legitimate part of the diverse, noisy, opinionated, magic of America. Not only that, the man who equates incest with gay marriage is worthy of the honor and global validation that comes with giving the invocation at the inaguration of the first African American President in U.S. history.