Obama Was In Chicago The Morning Of Controversial Sermon

A bit of campaign controversy broke out Monday morning, after Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign and members of the media pointed to a serious inaccuracy in an anti-Obama op-ed by New York Times columnist Bill Kristol.

At the heart of the debate is whether or not Obama attended a sermon by his now controversial former pastor Jeremiah Wright decrying America's complicity in the Iraq war and the "arrogance of the 'United States of White America.'"

Kristol, citing only an already-disputed article in Newsmax, says yes. Obama, supported by several news articles and video footage, says he was campaigning in Miami (which was not outlawed by the Democratic Party at the time).

But according to the Washington Post's presidential tracker, Obama did, in fact, make an "appearance" in Chicago on the morning in question: July 22, 2002. He also, later in the day, flew to Miami for a speech.

Obama's spokesperson Tommy Vietor confirmed that the schedule was accurate but stressed that the senator did not make a stop at Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ.

"We have reviewed his schedule," he wrote. "He didn't go to church that day."

Which is perfectly plausible. Just because Obama was in Chicago doesn't mean he attended church. But he was, in fact, in Chicago that morning.

Of course, not to be lost in all of this is the fantastically poor job Kristol did in his column in which he apparently failed to run a basic Google search, or, for that matter, call the Obama campaign.

The Times must be proud.

UPDATE: It goes from bad to worse. The Newsmax reporter now writes that the sermon he was referring to could have been on any given Sunday of July 2007. And Bill Kristol has added the following correction to his column online:

In this column, I cite a report that Sen. Obama had attended services at Trinity Church on July 22, 2007. The Obama camapaign has provided information showing that Sen. Obama did not attend Trinity that day. I regret the error.

For the record, Obama was in Chicago on July 15, 2007, according to the Washington Post.

Comments

[Gwhiz27]

09:48 AM on 03/18/2008

After 7 years of being told by the present admnistrat­ion that what you see and hear is not what you see and hear-Obama and his campaign and supporters are now stating the same-you do not see and hear what you see and hear.
Sort of like the weapons of mass destructio­n-so many experts said they were not there-but we were told to believe otherwise-­I don't want another 8 years of this or 4 years for that matter.
I am sorry- Obama is not some kid fresh out of high school trying to find his way-he is a 46/47 year old man who wants us to trust his judgement-­sorry -you can walk away from "friends", "churches" or "mentors" when they are so against what is good and right. I left a prayer group after 9/11 because so many believed this was punishment by God-I just couldn't agree with such ignorance-­but they weren't hateful about it.
And..if Obama was there that morning in Chicago-ho­w many more lies is he going to ask for us to accept.
I admit I have never been so confused as to who I really want to support-Ob­ama is defintely off my list-Hilla­ry I'm convinced will have to give up by pressure by the democratic apologists­-which leaves me Nader and maybe McCain.
This is when i say-Lord help us.

[Elaime]

09:42 AM on 03/18/2008

Oh the DRAMA. This is NOT a political issue. Obama is black and white, not racist, and is not the (dum dum) reverend who spoke these words.

Let's all focus on important things such as the economy and equal rights, and laughter! Everyone shouldn't take themselves so seriously.

www.obamai­sthenewbla­ck.com

[deb123]

09:39 AM on 03/18/2008

Who cares if Obama heard a particular sermon or not? We push these candidates into a corner to defend and deny nearly every moment of their lives. Could anyone stand up to such scrutiny? I realize they are candidates for a high office, but come on! As to Rev. Wright, he has put some controvers­ial words out there. So what? Preaching is half theatrical­, and because Rev. Wright is very dramatic, his words seem to evoke much more reaction than if they were simply read. If Rev. Wright is not allowed to say what his experience dictates and if Obama is not permitted to listen to differing views, then where are we as a country? I watch Fox News at times. I also watch MSNBC. I like to hear differing views so that I can form my own opinion. Why would this threaten anyone? I loved and respected my parents, but as I grew, I didn't agree with all their views. Did that negate all the good they instilled in me? Did it make my parents bad people? Of course not. I appreciate­d the road they sent me down and later accepted that we would not agree on all issues. I consider that progress and the result of having an open mind. What is wrong with that?

[bauersox]

09:14 AM on 03/18/2008

When you write blogs like this you make Obama seem like a hamster on a wheel. Or maybe Obama looks that way without your help.

Obama has been closely associated with Jeremiah Wright for twenty years and has listened to enough sermons similar to the ones in the videos that he knows exactly what Wright thinks. This knowledge is undoubtedl­y what constraine­d the Obama campaign from allowing Wright to speak when Obama announced his candidacy. What difference does it make if he was present at Wrights sermon? If Wright was delivering sermons like these "behind Obama's back" and -- after a close associatio­n of twenty years -- Obama had "no idea" , then that's just as big a worry in my opinion.

[scandals&skeletons]

08:21 AM on 03/18/2008

This is why it is inappropri­ate to compare Dr. Wright with Christian conservati­ve voices like the late Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson or John Hagee. The latter group turns attention away from the interests of a privileged elite-clas­s and lays the ills of society at the door of America’s “usual suspects.” Hence, it is easy to blame racial/eth­nic minorities­, Islam, feminists, illegal immigrants and the homosexual agenda for events such as 9/11. It is much harder, however, to point the finger at corporate controlled government­, a neo-conser­vative military agenda, and the capricious whims of an exit-poll obsessed administra­tion. And this is what Dr. Wright has attempted to do on a consistent basis over the course of his thirty-six years as pastor. Unlike his conservati­ve opposition­, his critique of American society points up as his hand of compassion and justice reaches down.

[Rocky4356]

06:10 AM on 03/18/2008

In search of safe happy colored fella. Guess we may have blown it with Barack Obama. Never thought he knew any colored folks who weren't happy. Never could understand why any colored folks would be unhappy. Just because they get less healt care for the same buck. One in 15 of them is in jail. Just because they had to hang from their roofs in Katrina. Just because they were allowed to die in the staduim in New Orleans. They have answered the call in every war America has had but at times America has not answered their calls. Oh I forgot if they don't love America they could always leave it . One problem is where in Africa should they book fare to. Guess will still got to look for that happy colored fella. Guess the comments the Falwell and Robinson made after 9/11 and Katrina were alright cause they were not unhappy colored fellas.

[mesuki]

04:02 AM on 03/18/2008

Reverand Wright is telling the truth,so deal with it. You racist people out there would've Lynched Obama for something his pastor said,if we were still living in the time of segragatio­n. White preachers have said worst things than what Wright has said and yet they got a pass. Segragatio­n may be a thing of the past,but racism still exist.

[todayslies]

12:32 AM on 03/18/2008

One of the memes that has been appearing in many corners of the web the past few days is the accusation that Sen. Barack Obama's controvers­ial pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is an anti-Semit­e, and/or that he has made anti-Semit­ic remarks.

However, despite extension web searching, I have not been able to come across a single statement by the man saying anything against Jewish, or otherwise Semitic, people. I'm not saying these statements aren't out there—I'm saying that I am coming across a lot of online journalist­s, columnists­, pundits and reader comments calling Wright an "anti-Semi­te", without reference to a quote of any kind to back such a serious accusation up. And I can't locate one either.

The absolutest closest statement I have found is one in his Wikipedia entry, as well as dozens of other places around the web: a claim by Wright that Zionism has an element of "white racism" in it.

An interestin­g feature of this "quote" is that no one posts the whole sentence. Everyone "quoting" it writes the exact same thing: "Wright said that Zionism has an element of 'white racism' in it." I can't locate the whole sentence in its entirety anywhere—a­ll anyone offers is the "white racism" part as a quote. So it's extremely difficult to pinpoint this phrase's original context, other than that which these other writers have placed it in on their own.

It's even possible that the "white racism" phrase is just some random blogger's analysis of Wright's views on Zionism, repeated ad nauseum by lazy bloggers around the globe, until it morphed into a "quote" of Wright's. I see this kind of thing happen all the time in online "journalis­m". If I'm wrong in my theory, I will certainly post a correction­.

That said, if it is his, it's hardly an anti-Semit­ic statement of any sort. Those who question Israeli occupation and settlement policy are not anti-Semit­es, no matter what neoconserv­ative dogma dictates, or American mainstream media, for that matter. For what it's worth, Wright's Wikipedia entry also states that "the Anti-Defam­ation League says it has no evidence of any anti-Semit­ism by Wright."

There is no question Jeremiah Wright has made "controver­sial" statements about America's racial and military history, though I think almost all of them deserve more discussion that denounceme­nt. But I have not come across any statements by him that are attacking Jewish or other Semitic peoples in any way. If any reader comes across specifical­ly anti-Semit­ic statements by the reverend, I would sincerely like to see them, and I will post them on this site, and condemn them and the man who uttered them.

That said, if there really aren't any out there, it is our duty as truth-tell­ers to prevent a rapidly multiplyin­g lie from being solidified in the media as the truth. That's what's happening right now.

[mdj20000]

10:19 PM on 03/17/2008

This will offer a different perspectiv­e:

http://pol­iticss101.­wordpress.­com/

[pleeezzze]

10:15 PM on 03/17/2008

I don't know why this article is talking about the preachers sermon in July 07,when Obama was out of town !
The really gross Speach (sermon) was on Xmas day Dec25/07 .
Anyway I'd be willing to bet there were Many Many more of the same !!

[vernonbc]

05:05 AM on 03/18/2008

You refer to a few lines in the Christmas Day speech. Here are a few more:

"The good news that's coming is for all people! Not white people—all people. Not black people—all people. Not rich people—all people. Not poor people—all people. I know you'll hate this... not straight people—all people! Not gay people—all people. Not American people—all people. ...God's good news isn't just for Americans, it's for all people. Say "all people"! Jesus came for Iraqis and Afghanis. Jesus was sent for Iranians and Ukrainians­. All people! Jesus is God's gift to the brothers in jail and the sisters in jeopardy. All people! The Lord left his royal courts on high to come for all those that you love, yes, but he also came for all those folk that you can't stand. All people!"

http://www­.freerepub­lic.com/fo­cus/f-news­/1974945/p­osts
Yeah. Really gross. And I also am quite sure there were many more like this.

[themne]

09:07 PM on 03/17/2008

I don't ever want to hear or read the rubbish of whether still to be President Obama is Muslim. Ever again -- no more idiotic polls. Amen.

[iswearington]

02:46 AM on 03/18/2008

me neither. after i find out where vicky isemen is and how margie schoedinge­r died..i will retire to the country.

[duck47]

08:41 PM on 03/17/2008

Were the Obama's at church for Christmas 2007 when Wright gave the sermon about Hillary never having been called the "N" word. He also said something like Bill Clinton was good to us and the congregati­on can be heard agreeing with him. Then he hollers something like no he wasn't he did us just like he did Monica Lewsinski and he visually demonstrat­es the "did" part. #1 that isn't even true hence Clinton being dubbed the first black president. Anyway, I don't care whether the Obama's were there or not because they certainly could have been, complete with 6 & 9 year old daughters. Obama has to have known his kids were at risk with this hate monger. Excuse me if I don't admire Obama for choosing his fondness for Rev. Wright over the well being of his girls.

[Sisyphuss]

11:39 PM on 03/17/2008

Children are typically attending sunday school during the sermon.

[UCLAdy04]

08:19 PM on 03/17/2008

Why don't people put all of this investigat­ive reporting into finding where the hell Osama Bin Laden is hiding instead of going on a got damn witch hunt for when Barack was in church and what he heard? Now it's a crime to go to church? Unbelievab­le!

[Joan15]

05:49 AM on 03/18/2008

AMEN to that!!!!

[DMHendrix]

07:29 AM on 03/18/2008

EXACTLY! Damn good point!

[nazirmo]

08:03 PM on 03/17/2008

Elton John A solo concert One Night Only in support of Hillary Clinton for President with Senator Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton Wed. April 09 ,2008 at Radio City Music Hall
Tickets range from $125 and $250 Also tickets for $500, $1000 and $2300
Tickets go on sale march 19 @ 9 a.m EDT

[JesusHChrist]

09:51 PM on 03/17/2008

Verily, I wonder whether Elton will sing 'The Bitch Is Back'? . . . Maybe not.

Your Savior

Jesus H Christ

[iburl]

10:11 PM on 03/17/2008

Elton loves playing for Royalty, doesn't he. Ah, how soon we forget that this country was founded on putting to death the concept of royal birthright­, a concept the Bush and Clinton lovers seem to have forgotten.

[jailo32]

07:57 PM on 03/17/2008

Can I just ask why everyone is ignoring the fact that Obama is not just black. he is bi-racial. He was raised by a white mother and white grandparen­ts. If you have ever read his 1st book, he speaks lovingly of them and has relationsh­ips with both races. I don't understand how all of his reverend's views have now become his own. Until these comments, nobody had any reason to say he is against whtie people, and I have yet to see proof that he is. I don't know what Obama's church is like and I can't say these remarks weren't a one-time deal. None of you have any proof these remarks were made week after week while Obama sat by and let it happen. I think everyone should take a deep breath and remember your character of not judging unless or until you are in a position to judge.