The Podcast - Episode 1

April 18, 2008

This is the first installment of our podcast!

We talk about how the website came to be, and we trudge through the Obama v. the ‘economically disenfranchised’ conversation. We conclude by reflecting on the Rev. Wright, the Church and state, and the relationship between pastor and parishioner.

Two posts from Messages are mentioned.

Small Town People Caricatured…again. Obama Misunderstood…again (so he says)
Rev. Wright v. the god of Patriotism

This is our first attempt, slightly edited from the original recording (as you may notice), and I feel like I was grasping for thought (maybe it was my diet coke and banana breakfast). Matt, however, makes many valuable points and widens our conversation by including a variety of other sources. Enjoy.

PS: I did want to note (and Matt, feel free to add your thoughts, of course) that what continues to bother me (and maybe I need to let this go) about Obama’s comments - even in light of the interpretation Matt highlights in the podcast, is that each of the interpretations I have heard continue, it seems to me, to rely on some ‘universal economically disenfranchised person’ - so one’s economic status = a certain way of thinking, living, voting, etc. If you are, let’s say, poor, then you will vote x or you will be more likely to vote x…even if supporting x provides no economic benefit. I have a problem with this way of thinking because it suggests, in my view, ‘the poor’ or those who have been ravaged by shifts in the economy cannot have a world view that takes into account their economic trouble , embraces many values or ways of life many Democrats find to be, well, unworthy and beneath them, and does not result in antipathy toward others, etc. I have more I want to say about what it means when one calls others angry and bitter, as well…but enough said for now.

Posted by Tony Posted in Podcasts, Posts by Matt, Posts by Tony