What Leadership Looks Like
by Tammy J Fischer Labey
April 29, 2008
I must have listened to Rev Wright's speech to the NAACP Sunday night three times--but then I'm
drawn to colorful people who tell it like it is and it's been a while since I've had my fill. Also the
content was in large part comprised of historical insights derived from linguistic studies and then
artfully synthesized w/the visionary premise of Change. As a college student, I accidentally acquired
a minor in Linguistics by way of curiosity and a really good professor. It was enough to keep me
interested in the stuff, informally, as lifelong student of psycholinguistics—w/out really much
considering the value of the insight into the dynamics of human behavior it had provided me. So I
was intrigued, no...awestruck, w/Dr. Wright’s command of the subject matter.
I'm blogging here, in the land of the free w/the partial protection of the internet as my mask, and yet
I find myself filled w/self doubt in my own determination, judgment, to actually publish my opening
sentiment, so ostracized is this man, Jeremiah Wright as of this moment. I mean, that’s gotta hurt!
Especially for someone who honorably served this country in so many different ways during an era
that treated his people as second class citizens. But enough on that, I’m sure the Reverend will
have no trouble defending himself in his next book—which I look forward to reading.
As it were, then, unfortunately (or not) the next day at a breakfast conference organized by none
other than HRC supporter and fellow ordained minister, Dr. Rev. Barbara Reynolds, Wright rose to
take the podium. Minutes earlier, he was photographed leaning forward to hear Reynolds whisper
[something] into his ear. (I’d like to see that picture plastered all over the cover of every major news
publication during the next few days but I’m not holding my breath.) When he finished speaking,
Wright opened up the floor to Q&A and managed to single handedly “swift boat” the historic
candidacy of one of his own—assuming a mocking demeanor and showing a general lack of respect
for entire segments of the American population, not least of which included one Senator Barack
Obama running for President.
Understandably hungry, perhaps, for the platform he quite possibly deserves in his own right, Rev
Wright's judgment was indisputably off key, if not AWOL. Yet he could hardly have been oblivious to
the impact of his behavior in the aftermath of the GD America loop and massive guilt by association
campaign against the Obama candidacy. Except there it was: The over the top vitriolic words,
haughty affect, and seething rancor spilling out to bare dark decades of ugly, mangled...digested
chickens. In general, Dr. Rev. Wright's "bitter" rebuke of the unjust character assassination he'd
been subjected to at the hands of the media in absentia gave way to what any woman scorned
would recognize as a deep sense of betrayal. Let me just say I'm sure glad there were no cameras
around when I went through my divorce; it's personal, people, and the Reverend Wright is not
running for office—enough judging already.
Undermining the very platform of Change, at any rate was something one could have reasonably
expected be motivation enough to put aside any such personal need for vindication. The tone of
dignity and respect for all Americans irrespective of demographic concern, afterall, is just what the
Obama campaign is working so hard to achieve; such that if I'm having a bad day, I opt not to wear
my Obama sweatshirt in public:) Add the Reverend’s assertion Obama was playing politics as usual
when he publicly took exception to some of Wrights more extreme positions, and some of us baby
boomers started expecting the fire hoses to re-appear out of the sixties.
Instead, ever the even tempered diplomat, Obama took the podium to respond. He addressed an
exceptionally attentive audience that has come to expect anything but empty rhetoric from this guy
who gives voice to our appeal for respect. It’s hard to imagine a more definitive test of one's
strength of character than Senator Obama has faced these past couple months w/the Rev Wright
debacle. Pundits, Super Delegates, and Voters all have been wrestling w/the seemingly "no win"
nature of what to do about "Uncle" Wright.
Sure, it's glaringly personal—that's what makes it so potentially volitile; it's also painfully public—
cutting across time, space, and culture—that's what makes the stakes so high. We are riveted to
the story because we want a leader to show us the way in dealing w/our own relationships.
What we got was HRC surfacing to stand in judgment of Obama's predicament even as she offered
"regret" that [some would work to politically exploit] the situation, insulting us w/her doublespeak. Yet
when her husband, our president betrayed her, their daughter, and our country w/his blatant self
indulgent behavior, HRC calculated ways to have her cake and eat it too. "I'm not Tammy Wynette
standing by my man" she told us, in so many words, standing by her man.
Senator John McCain’s response is not worth mentioning; but that he would have us elect him as
our leader???
In sharp contrast, Barack Obama, once again stepped to the plate this morning and opened his
heart; sharing his deepest feelings w/grace and eloquence that we might know him and find him
worthy. There are very few people on the face of the planet w/such strength, courage, and
commitment to Changing the way decisions are made in Washington; and even fewer that are
ready, willing and able.
The Senator from Illinois is all of the above. People know a leader when they see one; today we
have found a leader in Barack Obama. Let's hope it's not too late.
God Bless America: YES WE CAN!
by Tammy J Fischer Labey
April 29, 2008
I must have listened to Rev Wright's speech to the NAACP Sunday night three times--but then I'm
drawn to colorful people who tell it like it is and it's been a while since I've had my fill. Also the
content was in large part comprised of historical insights derived from linguistic studies and then
artfully synthesized w/the visionary premise of Change. As a college student, I accidentally acquired
a minor in Linguistics by way of curiosity and a really good professor. It was enough to keep me
interested in the stuff, informally, as lifelong student of psycholinguistics—w/out really much
considering the value of the insight into the dynamics of human behavior it had provided me. So I
was intrigued, no...awestruck, w/Dr. Wright’s command of the subject matter.
I'm blogging here, in the land of the free w/the partial protection of the internet as my mask, and yet
I find myself filled w/self doubt in my own determination, judgment, to actually publish my opening
sentiment, so ostracized is this man, Jeremiah Wright as of this moment. I mean, that’s gotta hurt!
Especially for someone who honorably served this country in so many different ways during an era
that treated his people as second class citizens. But enough on that, I’m sure the Reverend will
have no trouble defending himself in his next book—which I look forward to reading.
As it were, then, unfortunately (or not) the next day at a breakfast conference organized by none
other than HRC supporter and fellow ordained minister, Dr. Rev. Barbara Reynolds, Wright rose to
take the podium. Minutes earlier, he was photographed leaning forward to hear Reynolds whisper
[something] into his ear. (I’d like to see that picture plastered all over the cover of every major news
publication during the next few days but I’m not holding my breath.) When he finished speaking,
Wright opened up the floor to Q&A and managed to single handedly “swift boat” the historic
candidacy of one of his own—assuming a mocking demeanor and showing a general lack of respect
for entire segments of the American population, not least of which included one Senator Barack
Obama running for President.
Understandably hungry, perhaps, for the platform he quite possibly deserves in his own right, Rev
Wright's judgment was indisputably off key, if not AWOL. Yet he could hardly have been oblivious to
the impact of his behavior in the aftermath of the GD America loop and massive guilt by association
campaign against the Obama candidacy. Except there it was: The over the top vitriolic words,
haughty affect, and seething rancor spilling out to bare dark decades of ugly, mangled...digested
chickens. In general, Dr. Rev. Wright's "bitter" rebuke of the unjust character assassination he'd
been subjected to at the hands of the media in absentia gave way to what any woman scorned
would recognize as a deep sense of betrayal. Let me just say I'm sure glad there were no cameras
around when I went through my divorce; it's personal, people, and the Reverend Wright is not
running for office—enough judging already.
Undermining the very platform of Change, at any rate was something one could have reasonably
expected be motivation enough to put aside any such personal need for vindication. The tone of
dignity and respect for all Americans irrespective of demographic concern, afterall, is just what the
Obama campaign is working so hard to achieve; such that if I'm having a bad day, I opt not to wear
my Obama sweatshirt in public:) Add the Reverend’s assertion Obama was playing politics as usual
when he publicly took exception to some of Wrights more extreme positions, and some of us baby
boomers started expecting the fire hoses to re-appear out of the sixties.
Instead, ever the even tempered diplomat, Obama took the podium to respond. He addressed an
exceptionally attentive audience that has come to expect anything but empty rhetoric from this guy
who gives voice to our appeal for respect. It’s hard to imagine a more definitive test of one's
strength of character than Senator Obama has faced these past couple months w/the Rev Wright
debacle. Pundits, Super Delegates, and Voters all have been wrestling w/the seemingly "no win"
nature of what to do about "Uncle" Wright.
Sure, it's glaringly personal—that's what makes it so potentially volitile; it's also painfully public—
cutting across time, space, and culture—that's what makes the stakes so high. We are riveted to
the story because we want a leader to show us the way in dealing w/our own relationships.
What we got was HRC surfacing to stand in judgment of Obama's predicament even as she offered
"regret" that [some would work to politically exploit] the situation, insulting us w/her doublespeak. Yet
when her husband, our president betrayed her, their daughter, and our country w/his blatant self
indulgent behavior, HRC calculated ways to have her cake and eat it too. "I'm not Tammy Wynette
standing by my man" she told us, in so many words, standing by her man.
Senator John McCain’s response is not worth mentioning; but that he would have us elect him as
our leader???
In sharp contrast, Barack Obama, once again stepped to the plate this morning and opened his
heart; sharing his deepest feelings w/grace and eloquence that we might know him and find him
worthy. There are very few people on the face of the planet w/such strength, courage, and
commitment to Changing the way decisions are made in Washington; and even fewer that are
ready, willing and able.
The Senator from Illinois is all of the above. People know a leader when they see one; today we
have found a leader in Barack Obama. Let's hope it's not too late.
God Bless America: YES WE CAN!
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