When Barack Obama had the chance, out of the public eye, to reject racism and reject homophobia, he did not act. He did not act. Why should I trust him now, after making an eloquent speech years too late? […]I want to see Barack Obama explain to me why he didn’t walk the walk. At the least, I want Obama to admit he was wrong. Then the issue will be over for me. Otherwise, like you, A, it sure looks like a political move, weak on morality and high on manipulation.
I think it’s not only natural but required of a democratically inclined voter to scrutinize the candidates for Head of State. This questioning doesn’t exclude an understanding of where the candidate comes from, not politically, but emotionally and culturally.
While I can question Barack Obama’s motives for not stepping up and away from Reverend Wright and his alleged racism, I can see how for a person of “mixed blood” in the US, where skin color seem to be very important, it might be difficult to do that. I can only vaguely imagine what it means to be both “too white” and “too black” and basically be told that one doesn’t belong in either group in a culture where so much revolve around racism, race and culture. But I can imagine, perhaps more than most why one would choose not to bring one’s pastor’s possible racism up to his face, or even leave that church. I have stayed in places I didn’t like simply because I liked some of the people or because I had no “elsewhere” to go. It can and has been argued that Obama’s racial background shouldn’t have anything to with his lack of objection homophobia from those close to him. I would disagree with this, because the emotional set-up of Obama’s basic background most likely has made him dependent on approval, and one is ready to accept a lot, also ideas and views that one disagrees strongly with.
This is not an excuse, but I do think it puts the matter into perspective.