GREETINGS FELLOW DEMOCRATS!





There is a bunch of stuff today...

...including a job opening at Texas Freedom Network. All you young Political Science majors give it a heads up.





IN MY OPINION: LEONARD PITTS JR.

The messenger who killed the message

By LEONARD PITTS JR.
Posted on Sun, May. 04, 2008

My cousin thinks Jeremiah Wright walks on water.

He is a minister, my cousin, and for years, whenever I've visited him in Chicago, he has asked the same question: Have I ever attended one of Rev. Wright's services? When I said no, he would lecture me on the wonderfulness of Wright, the innovative ministries he has started, the liberation theology he preaches. I owed it to myself, my cousin would say, to hear him speak.

Well, I've heard him. Call me unimpressed.

Wright, as everyone this side of the Kuskokwim River knows, re-emerged in a big way recently. Having gone into seclusion after inflammatory soundbites from his sermons forced his one-time parishioner, presidential candidate Barack Obama, to make a high-stakes speech on race in Philadelphia, the longtime pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ came out to plead his own case.

He started strong in an interview with Bill Moyers, went quickly downhill with a keynote address before the NAACP in Detroit, and crashed with an appearance at the National Press Club in Washington. Indeed, while some white observers, charmingly eager to pretend they are victims of oppression, have contended for months that Wright's most striking sin is racism, this media blitz argues convincingly that Wright's signature failing is something else entirely: clownishness. With arrogance running a close second.

Not to deny Wright's affinity for the racially-charged soundbite. His refusal to disavow the old AIDS-was-created-by-the-government-to- kill-black-people canard was disappointing, to say the least, playing as it does into an unfortunate streak of paranoia and conspiracy theorizing that runs deep in the African-American community.

Similarly, his defense of Louis Farrakhan against charges of anti-Semitism -- that it's unfair to hold the Nation of Islam leader accountable for things he said 20 years ago -- is singularly weak. Until and unless Farrakhan apologizes for and repents of his years of Jew-baiting, it is entirely fair and, indeed, entirely necessary, for people of whatever religion, race or culture who believe in human equality to denounce him, all his good works notwithstanding.

If you condemn bigotry when it is turned against people like you, but tolerate it when people like you turn it against someone else, you forfeit all claim to the moral high ground. You are a hypocrite acting only from narrow self interest.

For all that, though, the thing about Wright's lost weekend that stands out most for me is his demeanor in the two speeches he gave: smug, mugging for the cameras, signifying, jive talking, acting the fool.

Did he really say an attack on him was an attack on the black church entire? Did he really make those faces and throw that silly salute? Why didn't he just slap his hands together, yell ''Dy-no-mite!'' and be done with it? Wright came across like drunken Uncle Buddy at the Thanksgiving table, the one who doesn't know he's not funny and won't shut up.

More to the point, he did not come across like a reverend. Or even a Christian. The heck of it is, he had insightful things to say about culture, about difference, about reconciliation. But the messenger killed the message.

It was bad enough that Obama was finally forced to sever ties with him. Bad enough that conspiracy theorists wondered aloud whether Hillary Clinton had a hand in setting up the speeches. Which is crazy, but you understand where it's coming from. Wright is this year's Willie Horton. Except that where Willie Horton was made by George H.W. Bush, Wright made himself.

He had his chance to walk on water but -- sorry, cousin -- he fell in instead. The only remaining question is whether he will pull Barack Obama down with him.





Rev. Crawford gets our daily email every day...

...This is her opinion but it is a local perspective on the Obama/Wright issue from a local African-American pastor. I took some—a very little- out of it out to make it fit the page. I will be glad to send the complete letter to anyone who wants it. There may be other pastors who disagree with this. I found it fascinating and thought it needed to read by others.

I, Rev. Dr. M. J. Crawford , do hereby declare and express my personal feelings regarding the Pastor Wright and Senator Obama situation.

I have been listening to the news clips from Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, and I feel the need to address this issue from the stand point of a female African American Church Pastor.

I was not there at the church, when Dr. Wright was preaching, but I know from what I saw on the news clips the emotions of the pastor and the congregation were extremely high. Pastor Wright had gotten to what we call the "hoop" in the Black Church , which means showtime and sit down.

Now, my problems with this whole news clip and some other stuff is for anyone to take one phrase or excerpt from what was probably a 45 min to a one hour or more sermon and run it on the air is really wrong, towards Sneator Obama, Pastor Wright, and Senator Clinton for the following reasons:

1. The excerpt was taken out of context. If they do it to hurt Senator Obama, they will do something to hurt Senator Clinton.

2. What was said in the sermon before and after that one statement?

3. What was the title of the sermon?

4. What bible text (scriptures) was the preacher using for the sermon?

5. What happened to the Pastor or a member of his congregation during the previous week, day, or even that same day before the sermon that would bring Pastor Wright to that line of thinking and preaching? Something had to set him off, for him to go there. I have heard Dr. Wright too many times, for the media to make it seem that he preaches those kinds of sermons every Sunday or everytime he preaches.

6. What does what Jeremiah Wright say in a sermon have to do with Senator Obama? Obama did not preach the sermon Pastor Wright did. What did or does that have to do with Obama? Obama probably was not even at church that Sunday, especially since most politicians and professional people do not attend church any place every Sunday.

7. Last time I checked Pastor Wright was not running for Office, and he does not control the national vote. So why is Wright in the mix. Some over zealous reporter wanting get a career upgrade so they tried to hurt Obama, so the clip was aired.

NEWS FLASH most African Americans do not care about the excerpt from the Pastor Wright,sermon since we know it was taken out of context, and we have probably heard worst, by some other Preacher. After 20 years of being at that church, I do not believe Senator Obama or his family can remember very many, if any of the Dr. Wright sermons that were preached over those years.

8. In the African American Church, we have an eat the meat and leave the bone, frame of thinking about speeches and sermons. We internalize the part of the sermon we like and we agree with, that is the meat. We discard what we do not agree with, that is the bones, trash, and scrapes. And last there is the "hoop" at the end of the sermon, this is the gravy, it is meant to raise the emotions of the crowd. It is to get the crowd up on their feet talking back to the pastor in a form of emotional call and response support. "The Hoop" really has little or no substance no body internalizes it." Hoops" are mostly the show at the end of the preaching/teaching sermon. Most African Americans who are members of those types of congregations do not feel like they heard a sermon without some type of "Hoop" at the end.

9. Lastly, it appears that Rev. Wright has gotten caught up in the media and feels the need to defend himself and his ministry, which is making his position and remarks worse. There a quote that I have heard Dr. Mike Murddock, of The Wisdom Ministry of Ft. Worth, Texas, uses a saying which is, "What you want forgotten you do not discuss." Rev. Wright needs to leave things alone, move on, and be quiet. Things will blow over, if he will leave things alone.

10. Due to the behavior of Pastor Wright, Senator Obama has not choice but to separate himself and his family from Pastor Wright. This will be difficult for Obama and his family, since they have been a part of the congregation for so long. But there are times when we do what we must do.

11. As to Rev. Wrights's retirement, it is too late. His media circus has already done the damage that did not need to be done.

Regarding the sermon, it appears that the person who started to circulate the clip, does not know anything about African American Preaching, Emotion, or how most of us deal with what we hear.

African Americans have been lied on, hanged, electrocuted, slandered and worse, because we do not react, or process information the way other races and genders think we should. People who have no real knoweldge of African American emotion and mental processing, need to stop making assumptions about how we are to re-act under various situations.

We make up our minds to vote, purchase things, and do whatever else we want to do, based on that! African American experiences and emotions. And What we want to do! Slander, lies, torture, arrest, and beatings, can break us. In some cases. The person is NOT guilty of a crime or whatever. In a lot of cases we did not have anything to do with anything but we will go a long for the the authorities for the purpose of getting along and being left alone.

Even though we understand the legal system is said to be fair, juries are not composed of African American peers, and we are tried of trying get someone to understand the African Americans understanding, so we throw in the towel and declare "Whatever", and off to jail or prison we go, for crimes we did not committ.

Muck raking and scandle is an everyday thing for the African-American Community so it does not affect the majority of African-Americans in a negative manner. If we have already made up our minds we are for something, then we are for it or them.

We know what and why the message was taken out of context. It was to sway us to the Clinton camp, and it may sway some of the white voters, and maybe even a few African American voters who have always lived in inter-racial neighborhood and went to those school, and do not understand the political system culture from the real African American point of view.

Some Blacks know what it is like when what we say or what we do is taken out of context, to prove a negative point. We also know what it is like to be blamed for something one else has done. Or even die for crimes we did not commit. But that is real life in the culture and life of the real African Americans (or shall I say Blacks, because those of us who are of mixed races and who had great, great, great, grandparents born in America, do not know anything about Africa. Most of us are of white, Indian, and slave decent and all slaves were not African. The Africans who recently come to America from Africa do not recognize us nor consider us as African. Nor do we consider ourselves African.

But back to the message, and the race for president. What does Senator Obama have to do with what comes out of Pastor Wright's mouth. Obama does not control Pastor Wright's speech. But, God controls it all, and if God allowed it to be said as a part the sermon, there is a reason it was said, and it was more of warning to look out for now and the futrue. And it was not a threat. God is trying to tell us something. Think about it. That is the only part of the sermon that is being aired... what's up with that?

Yes, there are times when African Americans, can be divided and defeated, but there are times when we come together and the devil in hell can not shake us loose. I truly believe that is the case with Obama. Pastor Wright is Pastor Wright and Senator Obama is Senator Obama and neither one of them can control the vocal utterances of the other. If Obama did not say it why is he being attacked and held responsible for it just, because he happens to be a somewhat active member, of a church with a pastor who still relates to the 1960's which was the time of his hay day.

Most Black Americans who attend a Black Church could care less what Pastor Wright said, he is not running for president. And from what I have seen with the press and the debates Senator Obama knows how to eat the meat, leave the bones, and work within the everyday changing political system

"But before I go to my seat", that is another phrase from the African American Preacher "hoop", or in this case the end of this expression of how I feel, Senator Obama is Senator Obama and Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright is Rev. Dr. Wright, and what Wright says is his opinion, it has nothing to do with what Obama may say or think.

For years Blacks have worked for bosses they did not agree with, but the boss never knew it, because we needed our jobs to support our families and we could not be ourselves until we quit that job, got a new manager, retired from all jobs, or we died. Senator Obama does not have to agree with everything Pastor Wright, says to attend his church.

Rev. Maggie J. Crawford, Ph.D. - Pastor
Stearne AME Church ; 2611 W. 28th St. ; Bryan , TX 77803
Mail & Donations: P. O. Box 1415 ; Bryan , TX 77806
Church 979-822-5549; Church Cell 979-574-7589; FAX 281-997-9709
Pastor's Mail: P. O. Box 553 ; Pearland , TX 77588 ;
Home 281-485-4179 or Pastor's Sprint Cell 832-545-9416





To: Brazos Valley Coalition Against the War Members and Friends

Hi everyone,

Democrats in Congress are deciding in the next day or so whether they're going to give the president another $178 BILLION to continue the war in Iraq—-a move that could fund this war into the next administration. At a time when Americans are feeling the pinch of a sinking economy here at home, it's clearer than ever that dumping more money into the president's stay-the-course strategy is the wrong answer. We need to make sure Bush doesn't end up with another blank check for the war.

It's vital that Representative Chet Edwards hears from you right now. Can you call Rep. Edwards right away and tell him that voters want Democrats to fight the president for an end to the war? Tell Rep. Edwards that Congress shouldn't give the president another cent for the war without a real timeline to bring our troops home.

Here's where to call:

Representative Chet Edwards
Phone: 202-225-6105

Thanks,

David (for the Coalition)





NEW RASMUSSEN POLL INDICATES CORNYN UNDER WATER

May 5, 2008
10:00 AM

Cornyn 47, Noriega 43 according to poll

From the summary:

It’s time to add United States Senator John Cornyn to the list of potentially vulnerable Republican incumbents in Election 2008. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the state find Cornyn leading Democratic state legislator Rick Noriega by just four percentage points, 47% to 43%.

Any incumbent who polls below 50% is considered potentially vulnerable.





TFN Seeks New Outreach Coordinator

The Texas Freedom Network (www.tfn.org), a statewide, nonprofit organization located in Austin, seeks a full-time Outreach Coordinator. The Texas Freedom Network is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization of religious and community leaders who advance a mainstream agenda supporting public education, religious freedom and individual liberties.

The Outreach Coordinator will support the Outreach Director with the following:

Membership Recruitment
-- Contribute to defining and executing membership goals
-- Identify and cultivate leaders within TFN membership and progressive community
-- Identify and cultivate membership at Texas colleges and universities
-- Coordinate field operations of grassroots projects
-- Public speaking at small outreach events

Event and Project Coordination
-- Coordinate logistics of TFN events, including conferences, membership meetings and outreach programs
-- Build participation in all TFN events through various outreach tools, including e-mail alerts to TFN members and allies, coalition building, phone-banking and mail programs

Allied Organization Maintenance
-- Assist in coordinating the Texas Faith Network (previous experience in organizing and/or working with communities of faith a plus)
-- Build relationships with allied organizations staff

Volunteer Recruitment and Development
-- Coordinate, recruit and energize volunteer supporters
-- Manage and update volunteer database
-- Create volunteer programs to increase leadership development and grassroots participation
-- Assist Outreach Director in working with and/or directing all Outreach interns

All staff assist in general office responsibilities, including correspondence, data entry, answering phones and working with volunteers. Travel and working long and/or irregular hours are required.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Applicants must have at least two years grassroots organizing, field, or project management experience; be well organized, resourceful and persistent; possess excellent verbal and written communication skills (writing samples required); and demonstrate a commitment to the mission and goals of the organization. Applicants must be highly motivated self-starters who are able to work independently and in a team environment. Experience working with faith communities highly preferred. Bilingual is a plus.

COMPENSATION: Annual salary of $32,000+, commensurate with experience; benefits include health and dental insurance, 401(k) plan, generous paid vacation, personal leave and holidays.

TO APPLY: Fax cover letter, resume and at least three references to Val Benavidez, Outreach and Field Director, at 512-322-0550 or e-mail val@tfn.org, by May 23, 2008.

The Texas Freedom Network is an equal-opportunity employer, and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.





Brazos County Democratic Party
P.O. Box 4568
Bryan Texas 77805
979-779-5600 Fax 979-779-5601

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.
Harry S. Truman, Democrat, President of the United States of America