Video: Did ‘Obama’s spiritual advisor’ go on ‘race rant’ in Hot Springs?

Jim Wallis was among the lineup of speakers at the Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs. His talk on race in America is attracting national controversy.

Calling Dr. Jim Wallis President Barack Obama’s “spiritual advisor,” the popular conservative news and opinion website The Daily Caller reported July 7 that the liberal evangelical leader went on a “race rant” at a recent event Hot Springs. The story was subsequently picked up by a number of other conservative media outlets and has been making national waves.

Wallis visits the White House on a regular basis, logging 65 meetings with the President or the First Lady, according to The Daily Caller. And at his June 29 speech in Hot Springs at the Wild Goose Festival, a progressive Christian event, the website portrays his remarks as “accusing all Americans, especially those who take conservative political stances, of being racists.”

But was it really an accusatory, racist rant, from a man “who has the ear of the leader of the free world,” as the website alleges?

J. Clarkson, the festival’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, says the the address aimed to generate “a conversation about justice and what people of faith can do to bring about a more just society.”

“While some of our festival goers probably agree with most of the statements made by Wallis, others might feel he has gone too far or, just as likely, not far enough,” Clarkson adds. “Whether the subject is marriage equality, immigration reform, Stand Your Ground laws, poverty, or persistent symbols of racism in popular culture, we feel that the time has long since come for people of faith to speak and work on behalf of justice for all of our brothers and sisters. If Jim Wallis’ words seem strident, it may be a reflection of our impatience with those who continue to twist the doctrines of our faith to justify an unsustainable status quo.”

A video of Wallis’ remarks at the Wild Goose Festival is below.

Video embedded here via Dale Lature’s YouTube page.

What do you think? Was Wallis’ speech a constructive dialogue or did it go too far? Feel free to voice your opinion in the comments field below.

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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3 thoughts on “Video: Did ‘Obama’s spiritual advisor’ go on ‘race rant’ in Hot Springs?

  1. Your headline asking whether or not Jim Wallis gave a “race rant” gives merit to what is clearly propaganda being circulated by right-wing media. No reasonable person could construe Wallis’ comments as racist. That said, thanks for sharing the video of Wallis’ remarks.

  2. Dionysis

    “Popular conservative news and opinion website”. First of all, it is hardly popular compared to the other right-wing venues; he may be a tad more tolerable than his Daily Caller partner, Dick Cheney, but that’s like saying death by drowning is preferred over self immolation. The Daily Caller has a well-documented history of publishing blatant lies that dweed Carlson later admitted were false. Carlson has, of course, been fired from CNN and MSNBC. But big bucks from his funders, the Koch brothers, allows him to continue spewing out his usually litany of lies and hypocrisy.

    And consistent with his inherent dishonesty, there is nothing racist in these comments, only the claim of fact-challenged whiner Carlson, who one Senator recently inquired about by asking “Who is ‘Tucker Carson’?

  3. Unaffiliated Voter

    Just what we’d expect from an Obongo ‘advisor’…seems his advice hasn’t helped potus and flotus at all…this propagandist has
    been to the White House some 68 times…what the hell for ???

    How did the mushy skulls from Madison County react to be told that everyone is RACIST? Oh, they agree, right? yep…lolol…

    and now, the Veterans for ‘Peace’ will feature race baiter, and JEW hater Cynthia McKinney, former Georgia Congresswoman
    and hate spewer to speak to their national convention here on the 26th…what an OUTRAGE that this EVIL woman would be allowed into WNC at all~ !!! WHERE is the Jewish OUTRAGE ???

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