Belly
you are not from left of center, you seem from center to right but may be you have many faces. If you wrote with your real name then we will know who really you are, then of cause you will be full responsible on unionists,if you are a unionist officer as you said, for what you write. His pastor is not an idiot because he said the truth, without people like him, every one would think that the race discrimination does not exist in USA. But it exists, as it exists in Australia and it hurts very much. Idiots if not racists are the people who think putting their head in the sand the race discrimination would disappeared, automatic.
I understand what his pastor said, it is not helpful at all for Obama but he told it long time ego. The pastor spoke from blacks side, from human rights activist's side, as the unionists speak from labors side, Obama speak, for all Americans and of cause he can not agree with his pastor. Two different roles, one express a part from American society, the blacks, the victims, some prefer the blacks without rights, without voice. I stand by blacks side, I understand them very well, and I support Obama ONLY if I think he will bring more justice and more equality.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

A Symeonakis, I disagree with you on this one - Belly's been pretty upfront about his identity, and it's pretty clear he's a leftist.

The pastor is indeed an idiot.

There is probably some truth in the pastor's overblown rhetoric, but to express it in the way he has will only engender dislike and hatred.

Things are never as simple as they seem, and the pastor's criticism was scathing.

TurnRightThenLeft
The pastor did what he did in the past. He promoted the equal opportunity and blacks interests. You know Bush's popularity between blacks is very low, 2-3%, they are against the conservatives, the right parties. Why? BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS. Many of the problems have deep roots, are problems from the past and other problems of cause current discrimination against them. The pastor is not a politician, he try to bring the problem on the surface of American society. You have right, his criticism was scathing, but was the best if not the only way to be heard!
TurnRightThenLeft
All activists, all fighters at first stages use this kind of tactics, by time they slow down. Do you remember Arafat? At the end he awarded with Nobel of Peace! Now the PLO receives weapons from USA to fight Hamas!
I mean do not be hard with activists if they say the truth, if they fight for good reason ONLY because they use hard comments.
They push the history forward.
I am left too, but not left for the chair.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Col Rouge
Obama do not plays on race card as the blacks are only 13% of USA population and 30-35% have not right to vote.
In countries with many races every politician play a race card. The extreme right is against the blacks, Latinos, migrants, aborigines etc.
The center, the opportunists try to seem that they do not play on the race card BUT THEY PLAY ON RACE CARD. With their behave, they keep the problem as is, they leave the race discrimination to hurt and victimize innocent people.
Obama said sir we have a problem, the best way to solve this problem is to recognize its existent. He said this problem has deep roots and we can not solve it from one day to an other but let's try.
Obama said our main goal is the health system, the working contritions, the lost jobs, the business which close, we have many and big problems which we can solve ONLY if we are UNITED. The race discrimination divide our society and minimize our abilities to solve our problems. Let's give a fair go to all Americans!

Race? I never did like the Indianapolis 500. I don't have much time for Formula 1 anywhere. Dead boring. But if Obama wants to give the US of A a decent health service he is a refreshing change who won't get to the White House.

A symeonakis - I'll agree that sometimes strong words are needed.

But consider this - the pastor's words have damaged Obama's campaign.

If Obama is indeed the best option for the equality of which you speak, wasn't it stupid of the pastor to make statements that would polarise and damage Obama's campaign at such a crucial time?

While strong words are needed, the intelligence of knowing precisely where and when to use them is more important. This was not the time or the place.

The pastor didn't just touch on issues of race inequality, he made some very cruel, scathing comments about America in general.

He didn't just insult the guilty parties, he also insulted the many decent Americans as well.