Jeremiah Wright, Obama's Pastor: "Hillary Ain't Never Been Called A N****r"

Video of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, pastor and mentor to Barack Obama, has been posted. The Reverend defends his most famous constituent and attacks Hillary Clinton, saying, "Hillary ain't never been called a n****r."

Meanwhile, The Blotter has detailed some highly controversial statements by Wright in the past:

Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America."

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor for the last 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's south side, has a long history of what even Obama's campaign aides concede is "inflammatory rhetoric," including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own "terrorism."

UPDATE: Politico points out that Wright actually holds a formal position with Obama's campaign:

Wright is a member of Obama's African American Religious Leadership Committee -- the sort of largely honorary, advisory body that in recent days has recently been used mostly to throw people off who say controversial things.

The Obama campaign couldn't immediately say whether he'd remain on the committee.

***
Read a HuffPost blog by Barack Obama

Comments

[AjicNYC]

Senator Obama's campaign just gave a statement "He profoundly diagrees with SOME of the statements and postions of rev wright" lol so its seems like ,oh ok he respond see, but wait what does some mean. This is like my poetry class what do these words mean. Please make clear statements whihc part to you agree? which you don't ?why do you have a spirtual adviser on your committee?

[aftershock]

You have to agree with someone 100% or else screw em? Great logic, and definitely has nothing to do with the gridlock in Washington we're seeing today. ~rolls eyes~

[Independentjunkie]

heh.. aftershock. your messiah said precisely that in his book. he praised him over and over again in his book.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

Clinton said she disagreed with Geraldine Ferraro. But, that wasn't good enough. She had to resign from her campaign. Even then, she didn't do so FAST enough. This pastor has an official position on Obama's campaign. How FAST does he have to have him removed from tyhe campaign to avoid a 'special comment' from Keith Olbermann?

[HumeSkeptic]

To be fair, I think you should prepare and give a list of every single thing that that pastor ever said. Then give it to Obama to put a check mark against each item that he agrees or disagrees with.

[Mattie]

I think if you title your book after a sermon your pastor gives, if he marries you, if he baptizes your children and if you have him as part of your campaign, you could assume he agrees with him on many issues.

[Independentjunkie]

Obama disgarees that 911 was our fault

obama disagrees that we should say God damn america i.e God Damn Americans like me, my wife my 5 yr old child. Those who died in 911 were damned by god and deserved it ( according to the logic)

Obama disagrees that the white man brought aids to the attack the black man

Obama disagrees that the white brought drugs to erradicate the blacks

Obama disagrees that he donated 20k to the church last year

Obama disagrees that whites are to be hated

obama disagrees w/ the rev that he called him his mentor and spirtual adviser AND... as late as last week! clearly making excuses for him as " oh he rightfully talks about social issues"

obama disagrees so much that he wrote passages after passages about his mentor , praising him in his book- NOT ONE SINGLE TIME mentioning any disagreements before his primary run .

he disagreed so much! so so much - THAT HE GAVE him an official spot on his campaign even after the fact!.

It's like some white candidate disagrees with DAVID DUKE so much , that he awarded that talk w/ making him a part of the campaign! and calling him his mentor.

Cough *bs*

[hank48188]

Obama gave $20,000 to that Church, sounds like he must like it.

[jane1]

Exactly, he "disagrees" so much that he has been listening to sermoms such as this for over 20 years!! You can SAY you disagree with just about anything. Actions speak louder than words, comes to mind yet again regarding Obama. Funny how Huff buries this story.

[vsign]

What did Obama do and feel when 9/11 happened?

I REALLY want to know.

I flew a flag after 9/11. I felt great love for this land and people.

Now I know what Obama did after 9/11. He was at church listening to Rev. Wright spew hatred toward America. No matter how we got to 9/11 - this was a time to love America. This was a time to be with the victims of 9/11 who had to jump out of windows.

This is how we find out who Obama really is. A man with so little history politically that it is easy for him to run for President based on two books that he has written about himself. Who he is religiously is how we are going to have to answer who he is.

Look at his church. This is where the answer to the mystery of who Obama is lies. I hear alot of hate and need for revenge.

No wonder Rev. Wright preaches the way he does. He preaches hate for white people and revenge against white people. No wonder he celebrated 9/11.

This is Obama's spiritual advisor.

[vsign]

What did Obama do and feel when 9/11 happened?

I REALLY want to know.

I flew a flag after 9/11. I felt great love for this land and people.

Now I know what Obama did after 9/11. He was at church listening to Rev. Wright spew hatred toward America. No matter how we got to 9/11 - this was a time to love America. This was a time to be with the victims of 9/11 who had to jump out of windows.

This is how we find out who Obama really is. A man with so little history politically that it is easy for him to run for President based on two books that he has written about himself. Who he is religiously is how we are going to have to answer who he is.

Look at his church. This is where the answer to the mystery of who Obama is lies. I hear alot of hate and need for revenge.

No wonder Rev. Wright preaches the way he does. He preaches hate for white people and revenge against white people. No wonder he celebrated 9/11.

This is Obama's spiritual advisor.

[itsafreakingame]

Obama has stated that this man is like an uncle to him. We all have uncles like this and most of us stay away from them, because we don’t agree with them. Obama not only included him, admired him, but he has also been a loyal member of his church for twenty years. If you look around you, you will find that drug users tend to hang with other drug users, intellectuals hang with intellectuals, Christians hang with Christians, and then there is Obama and who does he hang with a racist Rev. Jermiah Wright. Isn’t being a black racist just as bad as being a white one? Obama has a book out where he openly admits that the Rev Jermiah Wright was his mentor. If a person is raised with hate he becomes hate. Has or is Obama a white hater?

[HumeSkeptic]

Your criticism of Obama's association with this yahoo is valid. However, you present as if that this Church and this pastor have been Obama's only associations, to the exclusion of intellectuals, fair minded people from all walks of life, politicians, lawyers, economists, and so on. That, of course, is absurd.

[aftershock]

"drug users tend to hang with other drug users, intellectuals hang with intellectuals, Christians hang with Christians"

Ever think that might be part of our countries problem, and the reason we're so divided?

[itsafreakingame]

Yes I do think thats a problem. Thats why Obama hanging on a preacher who hates whites has me alittle concerned.

[dairyair]

From the above video - I didn't see any hate in his message. Matter of fact he spoke of Jesus and how Jesus endured in a hostile environment like the blacks do and how Jesus showed love in that environment.
Is stating truths now being a racist?

[Independentjunkie]

FINALLY found the video that shows all of the things. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-kD0QdRJk )

inludes where he blames whites for pushing AIDS! to blacks.

Some one said something interesting on a blog.

"What's worse , having a racists in your membership at a church OR belonging to a Racist CHURCH?

[itsafreakingame]

Ask Hillary everytime she or her husband state a truth they are accused of being racist. Huffington conveniently didn’t show the whole speech. The parts where the Rev Jeremiah Wright states he hates America, that America should go to hell, and that we bombed ourselves on 9-11, these parts are not included in this video. This video only shows half of the speech he gives. You cannot limit yourself to one news source. That is exactly why so many people believe Obama walks on water!

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

htere are other videos that are available for you to view on YouTube.

[cthomp7280]

Once again, point to the racist quote....until you quote me a racist comment, your opinions are about as valid as G.W.'s excuse to go to war.

[itsafreakingame]

He calls the United States the US of KKK. Then there the fact that he states over and over god damn America and he goes on to say that’s in the bible! If you think that he is lovin on the whites then you probably voted for G.W.

[Ariadne]

I haven't ever heard a whole sermon or speech from the Reverend, but of the sound bites that I have heard there isn't much that I disagree with. He sounds pretty much right on. We have meddled all over the world, there hasn't been equality and justice in America. I'm so tired of the idea that to be patriotic you have to believe that the USA has never made a misstep or been involved in something that created a blow back. Its just not sensible and there's nothing wrong with admitting you have made some mistakes and vowing to be better and more thoughtful in the future. That is the hope that Obama brings.

[JonStewart4President]

The video may be new, but Obama has spoken about Wright several times, saying that he disagrees vehemently with many things he says. And that Wright is like the Crazy Uncle people have, who you love, but says things you disagree with.

And Wright is no longer the Rev. at his Church and Obama didn't let him speak before him at a function at the church. He refused to do so. He does have a 20 year relationship with the guy, and like him, but has been clear that the guy doesn't speak for him or that they agree with him.

I agree with him that we do have some relatives, adopted or otherwise, who we know are otherwise good people, but that also say some stupid things once and a while.

That being said, if Rev. Wright has any offical part of Obama's campaign, that should cease and desist. And Obama needs to be even clearer about denouncing and rejecting what Wright says, even if he does have affection for him.

[hank48188]

Did you listen to Rev Wright about 4 days after 9/11? Wouldn't you think any SANE person would quit going to a Church that blamed 9/11 on the victims? So what if he is no longer the Pastor, Obama sat in that Church for 20 years listening to that hate, he knew what Rev Wright was selling. Obama was married in this Church, takes his Children there to be exposed to all that filth and hate. And Obama claims to have good judgement?

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

why would you ask IF he has a position on the campaign. It has already been widely reported that he DOES have a position onthe campaign.

[sjmarie]

I too support Obama, and this reverend should be removed from the campaign.

[LeftLeaner]

Whether he resigns or not is irrelevant.

All that does is take attention from a very explosive controversy - namely, Obama's deep entanglement with the philosophies of what appears to be a very dicey CHURCH.

I want to know much more.

This is starting to make me very nervous.

[kingfishstew]

To those defending this pastor:

I remember, a few years ago, I was spending time withsome close friends of mine, and one suggested that we go to his aunt's house to spend the rest of the evening there as she was nearby and he hadn't seen her in a while. But halfway there, we had to turn around because my friend remembered that his aunt was very racists and one of our friends was black.

So no doubt, I'm sure there's more than one of us who have that embarrising family memeber. That's not the point.

But that's not the point. Even as someone who somewhat understands that segregation didn't end at the door steps of churches in America, and how that and the civil rights movement intertwined with black nationalist thought, I'm simply saying its time to put that behind him / us.

Obama is asking to be a minority, ruling the majority through democratic election. If he susceeded, he'd confirm U.S. exceptionalism, because that's probably one of the most rare political feats in the world. But while White Nationalism is disgusting, it is still possible to be president of the U.S. and be a White Nationalist

You Can't be President of the U.S. and be a:
Black Nationalist
Hispanic Nationalist
Jewish Nationalist
(Probably even Catholic Nationalist)
Or Any Type of Minority Community Nationalist.

So both on principle, and on politics, Obama needs to stop his pussyfooting around and get rid of this man.

[itsafreakingame]

Obama has stated that this man is like an uncle to him. We all have uncles like this and most of us stay away from them, because we don’t agree with them. Obama not only included him, admired him, but he has also been a loyal member of his church for twenty years. If you look around you, you will find that drug users tend to hang with other drug users, intellectuals hang with intellectuals, Christians hang with Christians, and then there is Obama and who does he hang with a racist Rev. Jermiah Wright. Isn’t being a black racist just as bad as being a white one? Does this reflect on him? Obama has a book out where he openly admits that the Rev Jermiah Wright was his mentor. If a person is raised with hate he becomes hate. Has or is Obama a white hater?

[kingfishstew]

This isn't about religion. This is about 1960's style black nationalist rehtoric which may of had its place during the Civil Rights struggle, but sounds tired, extreme and silly now. As a strong Obama supporter, I tell the Senator: This is your first Red Phone moment.

I know it'll be hard for you. I know the type of reputation Rev. Wright has in the black community, because he was the type of agitator blacks might have needed to motivate them during the 1960's. But it's time for the world to change. White Nationalism, Black Nationalism, Latin Nationalism - none of these should be acceptable in the world we're trying to build.

Be a leader to the 21st Century, Obama. In fact, be a smart politician Obama. And Don't let your personal attachments to this man, the product of an era we're trying to put away, bring you down.

Ironically, as it was Robert E. Lee who commented about being a leader, "To be a good commander you must love your Army, and be willing to sacrifice that which you love."

To be a good leader Barack, you must be willing to sacrifice even those you love....if they're a burden to the Army or the Mission as a whole. We've had plenty of leaders who value loyalty over honor. Don't fall into that trap.

[editrix66]

I do think Obama needs to answer this directly. He needs to reassure voters that he does not think the U.S. did not deserve 9-11 and then emphasize that he wants to represent all of America. It's probably good in the long run that this came out now before the general election. He needs to address this idea that he is not a black separatist or a Muslim. There will be extreme groups on the Right who will never be convinced, but he won't get their votes anyway. The fact is that most people have pastors who say things they don't agree with. Mine says things I don't agree with all the time. But I respect his dedication to service, he has abiding faith, and he is a good man. I suspect Obama felt similarly about his pastor. Your church is not just your pastor; it's your faith, a group of people that becomes your family, and you usually work within it for change, even when you disagree with the pastor and many of your individual church's policies. Leaving a church is sometimes akin to divorce. It's not like choosing a restaurant. And concerning Obama's church. It's in Chicago, where there's a huge murder rate of African Americans, incarceration rate, gangs, teen birth rate, unemployment, poor public schools. I can see where Obama would disagree with Wright but know where he is coming from. However, many people won't get that, and for the sake of his campaign, he is going to have to ask Wright to withdraw from that committee and then explain what he believes.

[dutchess2]

Racist racist racist...

George Bush lied you into war. Its costing you and your children $12 BILLION a MONTH!

Thousands of Americans have died unnecessarily. Thousands of Iraqis have died unnecessarily..

What are the republicans worried about?

Rev. Wright...

Yes... this give them permission to condemn Barack Obama.... so you see, it was not that he
is a black man, has nothing to do with how truthful the rev is... its how offended you can work yourself up to be over the truth from the black perspective.

Shame Shame Shame

[rubicon101]

This is a following excerpt from a New York Times article ..it is frightening that this has been 'swept under the rug' in looking at Senator Obama and what influences he has from his life...isn't time before we put someone in the highest office of the President of the United States that we actually know who Barcak Obama is?
excerpt as follows;

"“I remained a reluctant skeptic, doubtful of my own motives, wary of expedient conversion, having too many quarrels with God to accept a salvation too easily won,” he wrote in his first book, “Dreams From My Father.” "

"Still, Mr. Obama was entranced by Mr. Wright, whose sermons fused analysis of the Bible with outrage at what he saw as the racism of everything from daily life in Chicago to American foreign policy. Mr. Obama had never met a minister who made pilgrimages to Africa, welcomed women leaders and gay members and crooned Teddy Pendergrass rhythm and blues from the pulpit. Mr. Wright was making Trinity a social force, initiating day care, drug counseling, legal aid and tutoring. He was also interested in the world beyond his own; in 1984, he traveled to Cuba to teach Christians about the value of nonviolent protest and to Libya to visit Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, along with the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Mr. Wright said his visits implied no endorsement of their views."

is this just the tip of the iceberg?

[ragtopdodge]

What's the big deal here?

Even Mother Theresa admitted she had some doubts about her religion b/c of all the suffering she has seen.

As far as Obama and Pastor Wright, I'm sure 99% of the time, the pastor is inspirational and not spewing racial diatribes; however the media is only showing a few contraversial clips.

I have a feeling Obama will "denounce and reject" Pastor Wright's statements (some that have been reported are as old as 2003) and kick him off his advisory board.

[cthomp7280]

People often feel that questioning God means that you are "not a true believer". But with questions comes answers...with answers come enlightenment. This should be a sign that those who sway too easily to the right or left are not asking enough tough questions t oothers, and even moreso, to themselves.

[AjicNYC]

You guys dont get it. Even if he kicks him off the committee it does not mattter he would just be doing it to get elected. He went to this churh for 20years what do you want him to reject or denounce his lifestyle for 20 years?

[editrix66]

I agree that Obama will need to take Wright off his board, but I think he will have to respond more fully to explain his beliefs to middle-of-the road voters. I do not believe Obama thinks this way, but Wright will scare off people, and it won't matter that when you look at tapes of Falwell or Robertson, you hear speech that would be objectionable to many. People are used to hearing evangelical white preachers spout off, and they can dismiss it as so much sermonizing. They are not used to hearing black preachers. Obama can't just say he disagrees with him. He needs to say what he likes about Wright, why Wright inspired him, and where he and Wright part company. Let this be the "Checkers" speech in which he just talks to the American people straight up about his name, his faith, and his race. He can then point to that speech when people bring it up again.

[tbone99]

Thats right and look who Mother Theresa's spiritual leader was - the main Popephile himself..

[bdl0715]

Sorry, but in your post, I see nothing objectionable. As a white, Christian, I see no problem with anything you talked about. So he went to Cuba. We all should be going to Cuba.. So he met with Moammar Qadafi. As Christians, we all should be talking not only to our friends, but to our enemies as well.

I love my Pastor, but I do not agree with everything the says or feels.

Has anyone looked at Hillary Clinton's pastor or John McCain's pastor and disssected their statements and held the candidate responsible?

[rubicon101]

bdl0715, you need to get your 'act' together and listen to just a few of the sermons of Pastor Jeremiah Wright...if you don't find any of this objectionable, then there is something wrong with you..

[AnninCA]

I think Obama's politics of change will shock quite a few people who imagined that he meant that we'll all just get along better.

A lot of us have consistently asked, "Change what?"

Now the reality behind his "vision" for America may be in sharper focus. It will offend a great many people.

What I do not personally like about the approach is how it rests on such negative attitudes towards others. I've seen that play out often now in this campaign.

I agree totally that change for the better is a worthy goal, but I do not believe for a minute that one will ever accomplish much other than destroy lives and careers by focusing on punishing people for the past.

Ferarro is only the first to tumble if he's elected. And that is highly unfair and destructive.

[HumeSkeptic]

A lot of us have consistently asked, "Change what?"
------------
And people have repeatedly answered. However, your disinenousness has prevented you from acknowledging the answers.

-Change in how the NeoCons (and Hillary) view the world as "good" and "evil".
-Change in how lobbyists (through politicians like Hillary) control our government.
- Change in how we resolve issues with our adversaries (from the warmongering way that Hilary prefers)
- Cahnge in the way we spend our "foreign aid".
-Change in the way we look at healthcare needs of our citizens.

And there are many more.

For thinking people, "Hope" is not some miracle that a sky-God will come and save us all.

To rational people, "Hope" means that if we do the right things, and work hard to achieve our goals, "We Can" achieve our goals.

To rational people, "Yes we can …" is not an incomplete sentence. It is a "prefix" to:

Yes we can

Stop the war and have peace
End discrimination
End poverty.
Stop corruption
End hunger
Repair the environment
Have universal healthcare
Make education affordable
Solve the energy problem
.
.
.
No, Obama cannot possibly deliver all that. No one can. But what’s wrong in making progress in each? What’s wrong in thinking that we can make progress?

Sure, we need plans to do all that. And Obama has offered ideas and plans, some very detailed, on how "we can". For example, look at his healthcare plan. Not detailed enough? Just because you might not agree with it doesn't mean that he didn't offer details.

Somehow, some are stuck with the slogans, and fail to understand the meaning behind the slogans. They are the ones who are clueless, not the well-educated and the well-informed who understand what it all means, and are willing and excited to make it come true.


"

[texanna]

What bothers me about this is not the comments or the way in which they were said. No, what bothers me is that Sen. Obama has a religious advisor or some sort of religious advisory committee as part of his campaign for President. Where exactly does he stand on the Establishment issue? I mean, he was a professor of Constitutional Law, wasn't he? What did he teach with regards the Constitution? Maybe it would be better if he were asked about that instead of the non-issue of his pastor and his pastor's comments. Oh, wait, that would be actual journalism so probably won't get that one.

[Susan1968]

Obama was not a professor. He was an instructor. Big difference.

[dutchess2]

ACtually, class outlines, and peole who attended are surely available... why don't you write the University and ask..

[cthomp7280]

Does anyone live near supposed Indian burial grounds? I used to, and strage things happen there. I make that point to say this. America was built on some very inhumane premises. No matter how deep you bury the bones, the spirit of the atrocity still lingers. When people make light of what you have been through, it can easily piss you off. America has this undertone about slavery that "oh, it was so long ago, aren't you over it yet?" The answer is "NO!". Why? Because it's the equivalent of Whites getting a 50 meter head start in a 100 meter race. The direct results of slavery are some of the problems that face us today. Discounting his message is not seeing seeing the forest for the trees.

[tbone99]

No racism is not over yet BUT neither is sexism., for 100% of all women.

[davvid]

this stuff will scare alot of whites away from the democratic ticket

[HumeSkeptic]

The whites who would be scared by this are scared by a whole lot of other things, such as ghosts and "terrists" hiding under their beds. In other words, they are mostly Republicans.

[mcfried]

They were already scared - bunch of racist sissy's

[cthomp7280]

I think that is the oxymoron of the year. Most whites who are democrats see the ill's of injustice and the pitfalls of prejudice...if this frightens anyone, it would be those who either think slavery was a summer camp, Jim Crow was a band, or Seperate But Equal was a sweetener. America and it's government plays on the ignorance of it's people to advance agenda. It's a shame that in the age of information, people are dumber than ever....

[dutchess2]

Didn't you hear?

Barack says the time is now.

And he says this is it.... if he does not make it, he's done, and the US of A can continue just like it is... 100 years in Iraq and counting... $12 Billion a month....

But he's not willing to carry you to the voting booth.... either you vote for a chance to get your country back, or you don't..... He's asking us to take our country back, and run it ourselves, as the Founders wished....

Its up to you.