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

[JUSTME]

I have yet to read, in any of these comments, what Rev Wright may have said that is neither correct nor true about being black in America. Let me just remind you folks that America is the country where, not so very long ago, four little black girls were killed by a bomb planted by grown white men in a church in Alabama. This is the country where the governor of a southern state stood in front of the entrace to a university to prevent a young black woman from taking her place inside because she was, in fact, black. This is a country that prosecutes and imprisons a disproportionate number of African Americans (north and south) for the same crimes committed by white Americans. Need I go on?

So, what the fuck is wrong with what Wright is saying? Wright is speaking the truth. It's an ugly truth, to be sure, but it's a truth. It's THE truth.

Here's the big difference between Ferraro and Wright for all the indignant caucasians who see Wright's words as evidence of reverse discrimination and further proof of the victimization of white society at the hands of brown and black people.

Geraldine Ferraro probably grew up referring to African Americans as "eggplants­." That is the word commonly used by New Yorkers of southern Italian heritage to refer to black people and the word is more than a reference to pigmentation. "Eggplant" is also meant to imply something less than human, less than equal, less than worthy of rights or respect.

Conversely, Rev. Wright probably grew up being referred to as a "nigger." There is no need to explain the many ramifications of this word because, white or black, we know them well. But it is likely that when Rev Wright was called a "nigger" as a little boy or a young man, he had no option but to allow himself to be slandered because fighting back was a course of action fraught with danger.

How many of the caucasians on this blog who have been "victimized" by Rev Wright would have had the cojones to join the Freedom Riders in Mississippi in the middle sixties? How many of you caucasians who are offended by Wright's words would ever volunteer to exchange places with any African American who has grown up in poverty, north or south, bearing the full brunt of American racism? No takers? I thought not..

Speaking as a middle-aged white woman who has lived in both North and South, I say that racism is a cancer that is slowly killing this nation. If we do not excise this hatred from the American body, it will not matter who becomes our next president, because it will still kill us. For pandering to these racist instincts, the Clintons should be abhored and repudiated by all fair-minded Americans. Obama is playing to the best of who we can be while the Clintons appeal to the worst of who we are. The disingenuous ploys of the Clinton Camp can do nothing to change this reality or divert what is at least a majority of Democrats from this ugly truth.

[picodegallo54]

hmmm, Geraldine speaks what many consider to be the truth, and Hillary gets nailed. this guy does the same thing, and Obama gets another free pass? need we say more?

[editrix66]

It's been on the news. Where is he getting the free pass?

[JUSTME]

Yes, you do need to say more. Pissy little comments are not going to make it. And yours is a pissy little comment borne, no doubt, of a pissy little mind.

The exact problem is this: That Geraldine Ferraro indeed spoke what many--including many Clinton supporters­--consider to be the truth. The problem is not that she spoke what many consider to be the truth, but that the "truth" itself is completely fucked up. Now do you understand?

It is no great virtue to speak the truth, if your truth is or should be abhorent to any fair-minded, thinking, reasoning human being. How laughable is it that Ferraro considers herself a victim of black/brown America because people of color are not sufficiently congnizant of her role as a champion of civil rights? All this posturing about reverse discrimination and how white folks are daily losing a privilege here and a privilege there, is nothing more than a cover up for the racist reality that is the United States of America.

Get you head out of your ass and think about things before actually speaking.

Pissy, pissy, pissy.

You know, I'm a grandmother. I should not speaking this way.

[HumeSkeptic]

Had he gotten a "free pass", this thread wouldn't exist. Think about it.

[creekside]

wow picodegallo54 that is soo ignorant. the thing geraldine should have been amazed by is how obama is a viable candidate for president in spite of his color. Black men still can't hail a cab in NYC. .

[LAJonathan]

There is no free pass here and if you can't see the difference its very sad. Especially after reading such a thoughtful post from JustMe.

[jane1]

I believe you are entirely missing the point. This discussion needs to take place but NOT from the pulpit in the manner this pastor did so. What are his members to take away from a "sermom" such as this? They walk away MORE outraged, more angry. An angry people creates a violent people. This was NOT solution based speech. He could calmly speak about the issues our society still has regarding race and what we can do to better ourselves. Instead, he whips his congregation into hysteria and perpetuates their anger. His intent is clear.

[AnninCA]

Geraldine Ferarro has been an advocate for minorities her entire life, and it's absolutely shameful to paint her as you did.

[nihilon x]

Just because you "advocate" for minorities doesn't mean that you aren't racist.

Thomas Jefferson talked a good game about equality, yet had no problem owning black slaves.

[PTTY]

Was she for Blacks when Jesse jackson was running for President in 1988?

A Ferraro flashback serial Black Man racist

"If Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race," she said.

Really. The cite is an April 15, 1988 Washington Post story (byline: Howard Kurtz), available only on Nexis.

Here's the full context:

Placid of demeanor but pointed in his rhetoric, Jackson struck out repeatedly today against those who suggest his race has been an asset in the campaign. President Reagan suggested Tuesday that people don't ask Jackson tough questions because of his race.

And former representative Geraldine A. Ferraro (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that because of his "radical" views, "if Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race."

Asked about this at a campaign stop in Buffalo, Jackson at first seemed ready to pounce fiercely on his critics. But then he stopped, took a breath, and said quietly, "Millions of Americans have a point of view different from" Ferraro's.

Discussing the same point in Washington, Jackson said, "We campaigned across the South . . . without a single catcall or boo.

It was not until we got North to New York that we began to hear this from Koch, President Reagan and then Mrs. Ferraro . . . . Some people are making hysteria while I'm making history."

This is what the ex-Pastor was talking about. And America likes to act like America did not LYNCH BLACK PEOPLE FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.

Their SKIN just happened to be Black, made that way by OUR ALMIGHTY GOD.

If any white person had to live with going in to apply for a job or a home and told the JOB OR THE HOME HAS BEEN TAKEN, but you had just been told they both were still available until the WHITE PERSON saw the Color of their skin.

What would we do as White Americans if someone had to live like this for the last 400 years? Think about it for a moment.

[SLone08]

Like she was an advocate for Jesse Jackson? I don't think she's a racist but she knows exactly what she's doing when she makes these types of statements.

[Nardwilly]

Gerladine has not been an advocate for minorities all of her life. She was a machine politician from Queens, NY. She grew up in an all white Italian community.

[dairyair]

Racism is a 2 way street. Until both streets stop racism it won't be stopped.

[cthomp7280]

Those who see the point in the Rev's message are those same people who would have been members of Civil Rights org's in the 60's...bot­h Black and White. Those who find nothing wrong with these statements are those very people who said "Negroes have schools, housing, and jobs...why do they need to sit beside us and eat beside us to feel equal?" Detachment from a problem breeds a subtle insensitivity to it. Whether people realize it or not, a condecending attitude towards something may appear as "harmless", but the message isn't for your own consumption when you publicize it. Calling Mexicans "aliens" may seem harmless..­.but are any of you Hispanic? Do you know how it feels to be referred to as an "alien"? Just because it's water to you, doesn't NOT make it less acidic to someone else. White people commonly do this because, for all intents and purposes, they think this land grew beneath their feet. They stole this land from the Natives, enslaved Blacks to farm and till it, dupped Asians to connect it by railroad, and then opened the harbors of New York for fellow Europeans to come plant flags here. How thick are some peoples skins supposed to be when the America in which they live, pay taxes, and raise their children, has such a recent history of betrayal? It's funny how people jumped all over Michelle Obama for her comments about America and never did they stop to think that, in her lifetime, she has grown up in Jim Crow, segregation, Seperate But Equal, and "the glass ceiling". America's promotion of Obama is the first major outward sign that America is attempting to change...

[JUSTME]

Good job, cthomp. You're absolutely correct, of course.

[mensa999]

I was afraid to watch the clip. Afraid to hear another James David Manning. However when I heard this pastor, I laughed because again as Americans we are afraid to talk about race. Once we can actually converse maybe rewrite our text books to include stories not just of slavery but of bravery, innovation, participation in our constitution, then and only then will we be able to hear opinions of men like this and hear truths in what are said. I believe that had this man been more eloquent in his speech, more benign in tone than people would have heard some truths in his words. Ron Paul a white man who ran for office has made similar references to 9-11. I didn't hear him chastise white people. Has Hillary ever been called a n****? Weren't we separated by doors " coloured doors" " Whites only" " Segregatio­n." I feel blessed because my family tree is as colorful as the rainbows so I feel as if I can connect with many. I can infer with one or the other. The air has gotten fresher and will continue to only if we are willing to look at our past and learn from them. I make it a point to stress to my children that it wasn't that long ago that it was illegal for blacks to acquire an education. Some may not remember this saying..."­If you want to keep something away from a ni**** keep it in a book." This history is important for our children to hear because they don't know the value of much today. Don't use this to turn away from Obama. He doesn't have some sinister plan to kill whitey because he would be doing harm to himself in the process. Remember if you don't know where you come from than you cannot know where your going.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23623222/

[AguynamedWayne]

"whitey"? Wow, you defend racism by being racist!

[dutchess2]

Bin Ladin himself said 9/11 was retaliation for our presence in Muslim countries.­...

We don't want to face this.

We don't want to face the fact that we did use the atom bomb on yellow men, but not on Germany who look like us..but were far more capable of destroying us.

We don't want to face how we are perceived by the browns and blacks and yellows and reds we have
pushed aside, used, exploited or hated...

Now the press is all gleeful, Obama has to repudiate and distance, yadda yadda yadda...

And McCain's two haters on his team....

Not a word from the MSM...

[dolphingirl]

I'm sorry people, but you're going to to have to "Wake Up" to the reality that many black people living in the United States view this country through a completely different lens than many white people. What Obama's pastor has said may shock you and it may offend you, but what he said rings true to many black people and we all know the reasons why. To put this in perspective, there are a lot of people who were raised by racist and/or bigoted parents, but they themselves chose to rise above that type of mentality. Does that mean they loved their parents any less? We all have the ability to take the good from people and leave behind the bad. I would guess that this pastor has done a lot of good for his church and his community and I'll bet that that is what Obama is attracted to, his service, not his rhetoric.

[HumeSkeptic]

What Obama's pastor has said may shock you and it may offend you, but what he said rings true to many black people and we all know the reasons why.
------------
In my mind, what is more important is whether what he says is indeed true, not whther it "rings true" to many. I think that much of what he says is indeed true, but not everything. I think all his references to a sky-God and his son are all based on what some sheep herders imagined to be true a couple of thousand years ago, and should be discarded as such.

[AtlantaBill]

dolphingirl - yours is the most intelligent post i've seen here regarding sen obama's relationship with the reverend. as a mid-60s AA from the deep south, i certainly understand the analogy you make regarding an individual's relationship with their parents who may have been racist and yet their offsprings (some at least) are able to separate the good from the bad qualities. i for example have assumed throughout this campaign that many southerners of my generation would find it difficult to support an AA candidate simply because of their indoctrination throughout their lives. i both understand and accept that reality. offsprings of these same individuals have managed to embrace a more progressive view when it comes to race without having to "renounce and reject" their parents. i guess the kitchen sink is being emptied pretty quickly.

[LAJonathan]

Excellent analysis! Thanks

[nerakami]

very wise words.... I hope more people take a step back and realize this is a deep seeded issue within the American psyche.

[melann830]

While as a minority in this country, I hear and comprehend your argument and respect it as well, I still believe that many black people- and I know many, do not subscribe to Rev. Wright's rhetoric or other's like his because it further prevents complete assimilation into our society. His biased language is such that it makes blacks distance themselves from the rest of us because they don't trust us, tend to believe it, agree with it and live it daily. They will discontinue associations with people who are different or not even attempt them. They will seek to date or marry only in their culture and we won't ever make the complete progress we should be making with race relations. At some point in our history this has all got to stop and someone has to put the first foot forward and cut the cord from this type of hateful and racist rhetoric. I know there are whites, hispanics, asians who say racist things too. But they are not going to be our leaders of today or tomorrow. Why not have Obama take this lead and publicly hold a press conference or at one of their future debates completely reject, denounce and sever all ties with this pastor. This pastor is not his mother, his father, stepfather, or grandparents. From what I have read, he came from good decent people. Don't you believe his family would be a bit disturbed by this rhetoric. I know Obama's mother was supposed to be progressive in her thinking, but this is carrying it a bit too far. I am a Hillary supporter, but this nomination could go either way at this point and we all know the medias speculations pro and con for both sides. If Obama should win the nomination, don't you think people want to trust him and feel that he has a balanced and fair opinion of us collectively? Of course we do! We want to trust him, that's why this is so frustrating. Writing a blog on the HuffPo is no way to justify or sever ties with Wright. It is a start, but not enough people read this online paper. He should go before the masses and publicly address this issue with humility, not with arrogance so that America can take a deep sigh of relief and vote for him should he be the nominee.

[ALMAL]

as i always believed ,
that Obamas judgement on the war against terror was wrong,

and wasn't based on facts(nobody invited him on senats meetings in2002,he didn't know the base of decisions)­.and he gave a speech.
it was enough for me not to trust senator Obama.

and now i understand better,why he did it.

He can believe in his supirior judgement,becouse it was

JUDGEMENT OF BELIEF ,based on SPIRITUAL EXPIRIENCE.

AMERICA can not trust senator OBAMA and doesn't need this JUDGEMENT while fighting against terrorists and HATERS OF AMERICA

[dutchess2]

Yes.... the Rev punches your permission slip...

go ahead..

The rest of us want change in DC, and we want leadership from a man who has seen more than one side of the issues..

[OneLiberalLady]

By the "war on terror" do you mean the invasion of Iraq? Where there were no Al-Qaueda and no weapons of mass destruction ?
Mr. Obama's judgment was not only correct, but he was courageous to stand up and be heard on the matter at a time when his opinion was unpopular.

[aftershock]

Obama's judgment on the WOT has been wrong? In what alternate reality? Obama was SPOT on with his speech in 2002, he predicted EXACTLY what the consequences of our folly in Iraq would be, mainly that it would be a distraction from the ACTUAL War on Terror.

Criticize him for his connection to Wright, fine. Criticize him for being right about Iraq and the ramifications of invading and occupying, just plain dumb.

[AnninCA]

Well, there's a bit more of this to come. There is a book out this month regarding Oprah, Obama, and Kool-Aid.

It's a scathing look at the spiritual mission Oprah is on, using Obama as the political base. The book is written by a Christian opposed to Oprah's new-found spiritual goal, so I assume it will appeal mostly to Christian right-wingers.

However, the "movement" themes are vague and spiritual in nature, so if ends up being nominated, the Republicans will have yet another nail to pound into his coffin.

[editrix66]

There is a book about Oprah, Obama, and fruit-flavored, sugared water? What are you talking about? If you want people to take you seriously, and I would like to, please stop being so insulting. I do not think that Hillary supporters are idiots or trolls or anything of the sort. I can certainly understand why people support Hillary Clinton. But you have never shown any respect at all for people who support Obama, preferring to stereotype them as giggly teenage neophytes who view Obama as an American Idol contestant or something. I am over 40, have a graduate degree, am a mother, am a Christian, have been a Democrat my entire adult life, and I don't drink Kool Aid. Please, just stop the "Kool Aid" references. You are not doing Hillary Clinton any favors.

[Witkacy]

Your CAPS LOCK fixation and piss-poor spelling are a dire threat to America and our language, "Almal"...­You are a terrorist-­against-fa­cts, you are...

Isn't there a FOX News forum you can haunt with your stupidity?

[moevaughn]

If Hillary Clinton's pastor had said anything like this, Huff post would have run it as the top of the page headline with a big photo. Huff Post has a horrible pathetic double standard.

[cthomp7280]

Instead of ranting on, and on, and on, and on about this supposed "hate" message he is spewing. QUOTE ME THE HATE!!!!! Show me the hateful message and prove your point. Until then, take a look in the mirror and ask yourself: "why am I so offended?"

[AguynamedWayne]

I don't know, but to me, saying that black americans should no longer sing "God Bless America" but should instead sing "God Damn America", sounds pretty hateful. Blaming White Americans for 9-11 doesn't only sound hateful , IT IS! Saying that the US gov. created AIDS to kill off black people (even though it was Gay Americans who have scapegoated as the cause for it) sounds not only hateful, but conspiracy theory crazy! And hell yes, I'm offended!

[dutchess2]

You thought they could live in fear and hatred and deprivation for generations and sing the same happy song you do?

Where were you when Ronald Reagan would not let Koop mail out the booklets on AIDS and what they knew about it and how it was spread..

Reagan thought it was just deserts for Gays...and withholding information, condoms, and training from the black, the one group most dependent on public health, was criminal.

But you can google that...if you were really interested.

[nihilon x]

He never said that "white Americans" are responsible for 9-11 -- get your facts straight.

Likewise, pointing out that the U.S. Government has been complicit in demeaning and destroying the black community for centuries is not "hateful" either -- it is simply the truth.

You are right -- you don't know.

I suggest you investigate further -- the Tuskegee syphillis experiments and the 10-to-1 crack vs. cocaine sentencing disparities would both be great subjects for you to read up on and start your education.

If you need more examples, feel free to ask -- I'd be glad to help you out.

[dolphingirl]

Of course you are offended, because you have no clue. No clue what it is like to be a black man in the US or a black man of Mr. Wright's generation growing up in the US. Are you really trying to make the case that Barack hates white people or hates the US? If so, tell us what Barack has SAID or DONE!

[aftershock]

He didn't blame "white Americans" he blamed the "rich white Americans" in charge of our disastrous foreign policy over the last several decades. And on that, he was 100% correct. His AIDS theory sounds no crazier than the large majority of white Christian pastors who blame gays for all society's ills, or abortionists for causing hurricanes, and his "God Damn America comment" (which you chose to omit the end of this statement, being that "God damn America for killing innocents), sounds no different than Falwell saying God allowed 9-11 to happen (in essence "damning America") because of feminists, atheists, and gays.

The uproar over his comments is warranted, but the extremes to which some white Americans are taking this is already ridiculous, when they need only look at their own churches to hear similarly nutty stuff weekly.

[HumeSkeptic]

Of course you are offended. But, I think, that is the whole purpose of that kind of a political statement, to offend you and, hopefully, to make you react and think. It is the same as flag burning as a political statement.

[dolphingirl]

Thank you!

[AguynamedWayne]

I don't know, but to me, saying that black americans should no longer sing "God Bless America" but should instead sing "God Damn America", sounds pretty hateful. Blaming White Americans for 9-11 doesn't only sound hateful , IT IS! Saying that the US gov. created AIDS to kill off black people (even though it was Gay Americans who were hatefully scapegoated as the cause for it) sounds not only hateful, but conspiracy theory crazy! And hell yes, I'm offended!

[dutchess2]

I don't know where you were hiding when Bin Laden TOLD us 9/11 was retribution for our presence in muslim countries.­.

And what were we doing over there?

Mining their oil.... that's what.

The rev. says it, and you're all upsot?

[HumeSkeptic]

Is flag burning to make a political statement hateful? I don't think so. Is saying that 9/11 happenned at least partly as a result of past actions of U.S. government's misguided foreign policy hateful? I don't think so, because I know the history of how al Qaeda came into existence in Afghanistan following our support of the Mujahedins. I don't know if that would have happened anyway, regardless of whether Blacks had a bigger say in our government. I suspect that it would have, because it had nothing to do with race. Another thing, trying to find reasons why 9/11 happened is not justifying the senseless murder of 3000 people. Disallowing or even discouraging open discussion of why it happened is unwise and detrimental to our well being.

The AIDS business does seem far fetched, but I don't know enough about it to say whether that has amy merit or not.

You can react to all this emotionally, of course, that is your choice. But, there is another way to analysze things. Besides, what is important is to find out to what extent Obama agrees or disagrees with these statements.

[joeyp404]

Don't act naive. This speech is certainly not made out of love for the white man.

[HumeSkeptic]

It is not the "hate message" (if there is one) that is bothering people. It is the exposure of hate that we all know exists, but are unwilling to acknowledge.

The above said, Obama has admitted that his affiliation with the Church has been an important factor in his life, if only to convince people that he is a Christian. Fine. Now face the consequences.

I am always bothered by politicians who feel the need to convince people of their belief in some sky-God and the sky-God's son to gain credibility with the voters. "Hey, look, I'm just as ignorant as your are" - that's what they are telling the voters. Unfortunately, all our politicians do that and, therefore, I take that out of the consideration when evaluating relative merits of politicians.

[hank48188]

This is just a case of the MSM HOODWINKING you average Americans, you have been BAMBOOZELED by them, they were making you think he was like Tiger Woods, but they have just run the OKIE-DOKE on you folks, Obama has a very dark side.

[cthomp7280]

What's his dark side, enlighten me....

[hank48188]

Belonging to a Church for 20 years that preaches hate against whites. Let me give you a heads up, most white people in this country were not here during slavery or their reletives, they were living in treland, italy, Poland, Germany etc. I don't think the Gov't created AIDS and i don't hold the victims of 9/11 responsible for their own deaths. Rev Wright preaches hate, I hope everyone takes to the time to listen to this man.

[dolphingirl]

What has Obama SAID or DONE to reveal this dark side?

[AnninCA]

Exactly right. Nobody really wanted to look too closely. When Michelle made her comment, she was labeled, "refreshing in her candor." And Ferarro was right when she said that anyone who tries to say something is immediately labeled a racist.

In any case, the voters now have some more information about Obama. And they should have it all.

And super delegates need to kiss a lot of those red states they are dreaming about turning blue. This won't play in Kansas or most of the states where he's won.

He'll get creamed in the Fall.

[AnninCA]

Actually, I believe the hate-filled supporters are starting to make sense to me. I just got confused with the seemingly positive slogans. I believe his supporters concur that America is just awful, and nobody has done anything good. It really is a campaign of negativity and explains the queasy feeling a lot of Democrats have and why there is such a clear split in the party.

[HumeSkeptic]

As smart and bright as Obama is, if he chose to affiliate himself closely with a Curch, he must pay the price. It is only fair. People should be held accountable for their actions. Just as I hold Hillary responsible for her consistent support of the NeoCons on war and foreign policy, I hold Obama responsible for his affiliation to his Church. Sure, I don't give equal weight to the two, but there should be accountability for each.

[cthomp7280]

What is he accounting for?

[HumeSkeptic]

Associating himself with the particular church and the pastor. There is nothing necessarily wrong with it. But he made those choices, he made his association with the church and the pastor a matter of public discourse, he should be held accountable for those choices - for better or for worse.

For example, he could have said from the beginning that his faith and religious beliefs have nothing to do with his candidacy, and refuse to talk about it. Instead, he felt the need to prove to the voters that he is a church-going Christian and prays every night, and has this great relationship with the pastor. Fine. Now people have every right to explore how that effects what kind of President he would be.

[dutchess2]

Say what?

whatever happend to freedom of religion in America?

Did the Bushies do away with that too?

I'm sure you don't like it. Yo don't want to know how our attitude and racism in this country plays out among blacks.... did you think they would love us, and see the same America you see? They love this country more than we do, they were brought here against their will, and they have stayed to try to make it what its constitution says it can be. But don't act like a girly girl to find out they don't see things the same way you do when we've done all we could to make sure they never experienced the best of America.

Show us the hate in the reverand's speech...s­how us anything that is untrue...

We'll wait right here.

[sklfcats]

Is this the kind of leadership America Wants? Barak is a hate monger and now his preacher..­..wonder who learned from who. I say dump Barak while we can. He is NOT a positive way for America.

[SeekerOne]

Any of you so-called democrats here ever hear the term "divide and conquer?"

Wake up to the fact that Hillary will not win the general election without Obama. None. If the African-American community sits out, dem's can call it a day now. I have to assume the gloaters here are Republicans.

[HumeSkeptic]

I am glad that this is being discussed. While I definitely prefer Obama over Hillary, mainly based on the war and foreign policy issues, the potential influence of religion on our leaders is a huge problem and needs to be brought to the forefront and confronted.

If anyone running for office allows his or her faith and religious affiliation become relevant, then it is perfectly legitimate for the media to scrutinize the nature and extent of the candidate's involvement in religion.

As an atheist, I just love seeing politicians getting grilled for their religious beliefs. As a citizen, I love politicians getting grilled for the hypocrisy that their religion brings to the process.

By the manner in which Obama gets out of this hole that he himself dug should tell us something worthwhile about Obama.

[RobertaInCT]

Very well stated....­.........

[williamina]

He aint getting out of this hole. It is over, watch PA. There is the answer.

[HumeSkeptic]

I have seen politians dig much deeper holes and get out of those holes. What you stated might be just wishful thinking on your part. We'll see.

[dutchess2]

Too funny!

Its been all over Huffpo this past week about McCain's two errant preachers, one determined to
do away with Islam, the other preaching against the Catholic church.

I didn't see you all upsot about McCain's spiritual advisors..­.in fact, he was called upon to disavow, but he refused to distance himself...

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

[tbone99]

Your last sentence is very intelligent. I love it.I assumed Obama has had a plan to deal with the inevitble racism that would arise and this will be a good time to display it. If he finesses this , Iran won't be overly formidible and he truly is the whiz kid he's bragged as being.

[ragtopdodge]

How is this any different from McCain's association w/Hagee, the Catholic-hatred monger?

[rubicon101]

Why is this suddenly an issue? well for me because I've just heard about it and this is why I've stated previously about "crowning" Barack before he is vetted. Let's hold off on the coronation until we know more, much more about Barack and his ties to Rezco and Pastor Jeremiah Wright..
Has anyone heard all the inflammatory remarks by this pastor and the fact that Barack has been going to this church for close to 20 years.
20 years!!! what's that all about?
Barack sitting in the front row at church, listening to every word this person preaches..­using Pastor Wright as a sounding board? Have you listened to just a few of those sermons? What more are we NOT hearing?
Don't you think you want to know MORE about Barack and what type of President he would make?
Now you start to add up the things we do know about Barack which include snorting cocaine..b­uying property off of Rezco and now Pastor Wright that thinks 9/11 was deserved!
Is this what we want in the White House??
We the people and the media better start asking some tough questions and demand some answers!!

[HumeSkeptic]

Of course we do. And that is exactly what is going on right now. I fail to see the reason for your concern. For the same reason, I would like to see a record of what Hillary did during her years at the White House, and find out if the experience she claims is worthwhile or even relevant.

[jane1]

You are so right rubicon101!!! 20 years of listening to this type of black supremacy white-hating anger. They want pay back, the anger in pastor Wright's voice is frightening, considering he is suppose to be giving a church sermom!! Yet, he still holds an official position in Obama's campaign. Imagine what may be in store for the future. Very laughable how this story is not on Huff's homepage. Even all you Obama followers need to examine how difficult this will be to overcome McCain in the general. Sensible, middle of the road America will NOT vote for Obama at the end of the day. You are handing McCain the election with your blinded support for Obama.

[dutchess2]

20 years against 400 years of lynching and discrimina­tion....

Oh, you poor thing!

[HumeSkeptic]

I heard no mention of "Black Supremacy" and "White-hating anger". That's a straw man. Also, I found nothing frightening in his speech.

As for his association with the Obama campaign, yes, that Obama needs to defend. Obama made the choice of having the pastor a part of his team, he must be held accountable.

As for handling McCain, he has his own problems with that creep in Columbus Ohio who is out to destroy Islam.

We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Right now, we need to decide whether this is more important than Hillary's support of the NeoCon policies that have resulted in hundreds of thousand people dead.

[tbone99]

i did not hear white hate but I did hear sexism sloughed off as not a a concern historically and now, in comparision to the "plight" of the A.A. Thats just not true- and rape statistics and domestic assault cases prove it.To downgrade one in order to emphasize another is despicable­.We have a long way to go on both .

I have two words for the Rev, - - Anita Hill.

[Willemaq]

Based on excerpts from one or two sermons you extrapolate 20 years of "black supremacy white-hating anger"? Get a fucking grip and compare that to hundreds of years of slavery, lynchings, rape, murder, denial of basic human/civil rights, inequity in the legal and educational systems, housing and employment discrimination, a black person being "legally" defined as three fifths of a human being etc.

It is generally accepted in the black community that one has to be at least three times better at a given skill than a white person in order to merely compete on the historically uneven playing field. So... a bit of "vitriol" from time to time in my opinion is understandable.

[AnninCA]

It's been frustrating to see how little vetting has been done.

[drmavis]

I'm really worried about the videos of Jeremiah Wright that are hitting the news stations. I think what Obama needs to do now is:

1. Go on 60 Minutes or similar show
2. Talk honestly about his faith - his Christian beliefs, his thoughts on racially charged theology, his church, the things he agrees with Wright on and the things he strongly disagrees with him on
3. Denounce and reject Wright's racially charged messages, and remove him from any position on his campaign

This could be seen as similar to what Mitt Romney did, when he went on and discussed his Mormon beliefs honestly, and this was very beneficial to him. This could put an end to the Jeremiah Wright video business, and also help counteract the false beliefs that Obama is Muslim (viral email smears started by Clinton campaign).

What do you all think?

[mcfried]

This is way out of control. The media should be ashamed of themselves for participating in this kind of character assasination. I'm not religious but I have been to a number of religious services of all types. Preachers in my opinion are all nuts, the preach to get full effect. Damnation, hellfire blah, blah, blah. What I'm trying to get my head around is why Obama is the only presidential candidate to receive this intense critism for something his preacher says ? All those pundits ignoring McCains nutjobs (woman hating, catholic hating, Islam destroying), Hillarys Bible study group and push this like it is the worst thing the have ever seen. This preacher speaks of the injustice he sees in his own community and is over the top, or just plain wrong, like all preachers, McCain and Hillarys guys I'm not sure what their excuse is. The bottom line these pundits have decided a black man can't be president because his pastor is pissed. Hillary and McCain are fine .... WHY ?

[AguynamedWayne]

You seem to be forgetting that Mitt Romney was racked over the coals because of the teachings of his Mormon religion.

[TxWonderWoman]

I think you are missing the point of why this should be discussed NOW. We are talking about our party's nomination. This will be issue NUMBER ONE in the General Election. The Republicans will beat us over the head with this. We will know every word this pastor has ever spoken before they get through with us. Can we afford to do that? Something to think about.... and discuss NOW

[PJay]

I completely agree with you. It IS an outrage.
Funny how this video *suddenly* resurfaces. (It was out a while ago and Obama addressed it.)
Can we say Clinton camp conference call to the press? Wink wink nod nod.
This is the same media that never allowed a dissenting voice in the run up to the Iraq war.
In fact, and dissenting voices got fired (Phil Donahue) or never appeared again if they were guests.
The economy is tanking but Haliiburton, KBR, GE are making a killing - literally.

[sklfcats]

Who cares who resurfaced this video. USA does not need Barak.

[hank48188]

I'm just thankful that Hannity showed this stuff everyday for a week and the MSM had to cover this preacher. Obama shows very poor judgement exposing his children to this type of speech

[liz3]

WHAT CHARACTER????? HE APPOINTED THIS MAN TO HIS CAMPAIGN AFTER THE 911 SERMON. DISCRIMINATION IS ALWAYS WRONG AND IT COMES IN ALL COLORS!!!!! BO NEEDS TO ANSWER AND ANSWER NOW OR THE PEOPLE WILL ANSWER FOR HIM (NO)

[mcfried]

He's half white. So now he hates himself, he already said he thought the 911 sermon was deeply wrong. Relax, think about it Liz3, I know you are an anon poster here but if you are a white woman in her 50-60's and liberal you are in the same demographic as his mother. So if he hates you, he hates his mother. If you are older if he hates you he hates his WWII veteran grandfather and grandmother (who he constantly praises for her independence). What does he have to answer for an older black man, who is also a veteran, who believes white rich people have gotten a better deal than black people. He is obviously way off base in fact about the 911 stuff, but like I said Sen Obama has disagreed. So he needs to answer for a Veteran who feels there is racial prejudice in the USA - really ?

[dutchess2]

Where are you living that you don't know that Bin Laden claims he did 9/11 because we were medling in Muslim Countries.­..

What about it don't you understand.