Tag Archives: Black-Liberation Theology

Baby Barry was a Muslim

Some say the presidential election will turn on the economy. Some say on national security. Alan Sullivan, the Seablogger, says it will turn on faith, since there is evidence that Baby Barry is hiding (indeed, denying) another blockbuster. He grew up a Muslim, says his own half-brother. BB’s Indonesian stepfather, while not particularly observant, when he did go to mosque on Fridays, took his stepson with him. Now BB claims he’s a Christian, though of the Black Liberation Theology variety, which has about as much to do with Jesus as the Nation of Islam. So, as Alan concludes, in all probability, BB really is an atheist, or at best an agnostic. Although the Muslims consider him theirs, despite his apostasy. Should it matter? It surely will to some American voters. But I wouldn’t vote for him, anyhow–too inexperienced, too lefty, and way too dishonest.

Via Fresh Bilge.

UPDATE:  Rick Moran at Pajamas says all this is a smear. It’s complicated, that’s for sure, but I’m not persuaded by his "evidence," which is accompanied by numerous insults for anyone who doesn’t agree with him–except for one cite of ABC’s Jake Tapper’s demonstration that BB’s half-brother’s remarks were misinterpreted by the Jerusalem Post. That looks conclusive. But I still think Daniel Pipes’ analysis (linked above) is persuasive. Moreover, BB has demonstrably prevaricated about so many other things in his background that I see no reason to trust his denials on this one. FWIW, Libya’s Colonel Gaddafi thinks BB is still a Muslim. Heh.

Barry’s good speech

Sen. Obama could have taken the normal political course and run from the contradictions inherent in his initial denials about his mentor/pastor Jeremiah Wright. But he didn’t. At least not in his speech today in Philadelphia. I didn’t see it but read the transcript here. He didn’t explain why he chose twenty years ago to align himself with conspiracy-minded Black Liberation Theology, divisive as it is for a man who talks unity. But he made a fine stab at explaining why it is the way it is, and going some distance to refute it. His overall "from many, one" message also was impressive, and truly unifying. Now, if I only believed in the reliability of Democrat-run government to right all these wrongs he enumerates (though I disagree with him on Iraq, his attacks on corporations and the idea that government should help people "find good jobs"), I might want to vote for him. But I don’t, and so I won’t. But I do admire his unusual willingness to confront the Wright issue that, all by itself, could yet bring him down.

MORE: OTH, the speech really P,Oed Roger L. Simon, who calls it B,S. He makes a good point:

"…anyone who finds moral equivalence between Wright’s racist screeds and (Obama’s) white grandmother’s admitting to him in private that she feared black men on the street has got a serious problem."

If Oprah left, why not Barry?

This, to me, is one of the most interesting aspects of the controversy over Sen. Obama and Rev. Wright–which might cost the O man the Pennsylvania primary. The famous television hostess was a Wright parishioner until she left the black-liberation theology congregation in South Chicago. Obama, whose half-white background would seem to make his membership more intellectual than emotional, never left. Cobb says we’re unfairly focusing on Barry’s membership, when we should realize that BLT is pervasive in the black church and not unusual at all. Then why did the easygoing Oprah see that it was not to her advantage, but Barry, the supposed unifying architect of "hope" and "change," did not?