I have to admit I am not much of a conspiracy buff, I don't believe that our government is hiding aliens at Area 51, introduced crack cocaine in the inner cities or that Elvis is alive and well working at a doughnut shop in Topeka, but I have learned over the years that in the political arena everyone has a hidden agenda. I watched Rev. Wright speech to the National Press Club this week and I saw the most arrogant person I have ever seen. It was either Wright's way or the highway, criticizing the people who submitted questions, being flip with the answers, answering questions in sound bites,catering to the audience that came to see him and being rude to the redheaded moderator. Some of the things he said would only make Louis Farrakhan, Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton proud. He said that the federal government introduced AIDS to the African-American community, saying that we deserved having terrorism in America and that this whole attack by the press about his taped rants about America wasn't about him but the Black religious experience as a whole. ALL LIES. The first two statement I bought up only need common sense to be explained but the third is just ridiculous. Not once after the video tape footage aired showing Rev. Wright slamming America, have I heard any commentary saying that this kind of preaching is common practice within black churches nationwide. I have no problems with pastors of any faith speaking from the pulpit on issues including politics that affects their congregation and their faith. Where I draw the line is when lies and hurtful things are preached.

   While I could analyze Rev. Wrights whole speech including his tone and the other comments he made at a NAACP fund raiser in Detroit and on Bill Moyer's show on PBS, I want to comment on the reason why would Barack Obama's spiritual advisor would make these comments on the national stage. There is a big difference saying these comments in the context of a sermon surrounded by his congregation, to be sold as DVD to these same members of the church, and speaking in the limelight of all major national news services in attendance. ( even though most of the audience weren't members of the press but filled with Wright supporters but at least the cameras were rolling). There are many pundents out there saying the reason Rev. Wright went out there and made these comments is because he doesn't want Barack Obama to win the Presidency of the United States. That for some reason he is purposely trying to tank his parishioner and friend's campaign. The reasons for this is kinda weak in my opinion. While I agree that Rev. Wright is an arrogant and vindictive man, and would seek revenge of having Barack Obama distance himself from Rev. Wright and his comments, he might feel that Obama is embarrassed of him or that he is selling out his race for the highest office of the land, but I have a better conspiracy. I think that Rev. Wright is taking this opportunity of being in the limelight as a way to advance his career. Right after this controversy started ,he “retired” from his church (to a nice house and a large line of credit, at no expense to him) and started a speaking tour. He is using this new found fame to propel himself to heights of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Louis Farrakhan as a leader and speaker of African Americans nationwide, not just a prominent preacher in Chicago. He is taking his show to the masses. Where the conspiracy gets interesting is that he is learning one lesson from these men, is that without the perception of African Americans being oppressed by white America and its government, they would lose their power because they wouldn't be needed anymore. The worst thing that could happen to these leaders is having a black man like Barack Obama win in November from a majority white electorate. There rhetoric of a racist America would fall on ears if “racist” America elects the first African American president. This is why while leaders like Farrakhan, Jackson and Sharpton I believe has endorsed Obama I haven't noticed them out there campaigning for him. Hmm, very interesting.

   These so called “leaders” need a majority of the blacks in America behind them to keep them on the t.v. when issues that affects African Americans come up. They are like the Democratic party who has promised them a better life for decades now (while calling Republicans racists and evil) but without any significant progress. Power is very addictive, no one wants to leave the spotlight and the power that comes with it and will do and say anything to keep it. That's why most politicians never retires until they die in their seat (can we say Strom Thurmond and Robert Byrd), the same can be said for athletes and actors. They need to always be in the spotlight, its like cocaine to them.

   While we will probably never solve racism on either side 100% we have made great strides over the decades. The real problem for African Americans nationwide is the destruction of the family structure which has hurt many urban areas, in the area of education, crime and economic development. When the likes of Bill Cosby talks about the real problems in the inner city, he is called an Uncle Tom and takes a lot of criticism from black leaders nationwide. We need more leaders like Cosby who talks about the real issues and the positives of living in America and the opportunity it presents and less from the likes of Rev. Wright who wants to blame America first and its government for all the ails the African American community, but what do I know, I am a middle class white male. In my eyes the most discriminated person in America.