Bill Clinton And Jeremiah Wright Photo Uncovered

**UPDATED**

Politico is reporting on a recently uncovered photo of Bill Clinton and Rev. Jeremiah Wright:

The recent coverage of Rev. Jeremiah Wright has often cast him as a marginal, almost fringe figure, but Trinity Church is a major Chicago institution, and Wright has long been a prominent pastor on the American scene.

And an anonymous blog set up to defend his church offers some compelling photographic evidence of this: A photograph of Wright and President Clinton, which it says was taken on September 11, 1998 -- the date of a White House gathering for religious leaders.

Hillary Clinton, according to her recently-released schedule for the day, was present at the gathering.

That's where Clinton reportedly told the assembled clerics, at the depth of the Monica Lewinsky scandal, that he had "repented."

Clinton Campaign Statement:

Less than 48 hours after calling for a high-minded conversation on race, according to the New York Times the Obama campaign is peddling photos of an occasion when President Clinton shook hands with Reverend Wright. To be clear, President Clinton took tens of thousands of photos during his eight years as president.

Obama Campaign Statement:

After their top surrogates pushed this story line and Senator Clinton's campaign outlined this as a central strategy in her plan to overturn the will of Democratic voters, I can see why they wouldn't want such a photo out there that shows the respect even President Clinton has for Reverend Wright.

Comments

[Mystery954]

Jeremiah Wright in context… tell the MSM to do their jobs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvMbeVQj6Lw&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/20/224958/631/841/481227

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ&feature=related

[mix2007]

Thank you
Thank you
Thank you

The media is shamelessly negligent in providing any context.

The media should be ashamed.

[simplify]

People are losing their homes, the infrastructure and schools are crumbling everywhere. We are spending our grandchildren's futures in Iraq and around the world filling the coffers of the rich with our tax dollars and Americans Black and White Latino and Asian and American Indian remained divided by racism and bigotry perpetuated by the right and by the corporate controlled media....a­nd we keep letting it happen day after day, year after year. No wonder things are as bad as they are in our country.

We need to move forward America!!!!!!! and running around trying to shove our so called brand of democracy militarily around the world doesn't work and we will have more enemies than friends globally.

[JudgeCrater]

There goes Bill, enabling 20 years of hate speech on the part of Reverend Wright. Based on all the jumped-to conclusions regarding Obama and Wright, this must mean that President HRC will round up the white folks and bus them to internment camps.

Hey, I just realized that Wright was in the SAME CITY as McCain during this visit. This means that McCain is also irrevocably poisoned by this man's terrible hate speech. Darn, who's a scared white voter going to vote for?

[dhb4u]

SHEEP FOLLOWING BLINDLY

Wow, a photo of Bill Clinton at a prayer breakfast in the white house when he was president. SHOCKING, NOT! And this is reported as being pushed by Obama's camp. This shows how desperate the camp really is. They should be, because Obama went to a church and had as a mentor a Rev. who preaches hate and division. By the way, did you know Rev. Wright went to a premiere all white high school growing up in Philadelphia. He was a son of a wealthy minister and his Mother was the vice president of an exclusive girls school in Philly. The Wright family lived in Germantown, PA which is a beautiful tree lined neighborhood with filled mansions. Not quite the background of descrimination and hardship he pushes in his speeches. Suprise, another Hypocrite in the Obama camp!

[ginamc]

Speaking of hypocrites in the Obama camp -- I heard from one of the Senior Advisor Hypocrites himself on Morning Joe, David Axelrod -- angrily, hatefully talking about Clinton. Tom Brokaw asked Axelrod was this productive. And, of course, in a way that only hateful Axelrod could respond--oh yes. The Obama campaign is pathetic and growing more and more desperate by the minute. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BARACK OBAMA and pass the memo to your entire staff and the whining, hate-filled fanatic supporters of yours. YOU and ONLY YOU chose Jeremiah Wright as your Pastor -- LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.

[mensa999]

This picture is important for many reasons. The press has been focusing on this story for over 2 weeks. Obama has been sentenced guilty by association. It also shows that the Reverend isn't some back street dude trying to recruit a militia out in the wilderness. A person that harbors such HATRED for a group of people does not go out of their way to associate themselves with the "enemy." because such attitudes are held by uneducated people. This is why Obama is having a hard time getting to the so called "blue collared Archie Bunker types" Archie was not the brightest apple out of the bunch to say it mildly. A speech with big words would not do the job. Let's look at the character of Archie. His views didn't come out of endless research it was passed down from generation onto generation it was a view shared by his peers and if he suddenly changed, he would have had to have answered to his lodge brothers. Remember the episode where they were trying to recruit a black man and he also happened to be Jewish so they were getting the two for one deal? This scene plays on what Obama had said in his speech. People of all races share their stories behind closed doors in the barbershops and beauty salons. All sides have issues. Some have resentment. This episode was based on the fact that the lodge did not want to be sued for inequality. They had to find someone to fill the quota. So it touched on some White people's resentments which grew out of having to include people that they did not want to include. It was their lodge. Their time to gather and talk shit with the fellas. Now you have people of color who have been murdered, lost their land, lost their freedom, so they too have "resentments. However Edith who was his wife, did not share her Husbands views. Would we say she is guilty by association? She loved that man with all of her heart the good and the bad but I would say that Edith was compassionate, rationale, generous and just a good person all around. If we are guilty by association then GOOD. Had Archie been married to someone that shared his views his daughter might not have had a chance. Same can be said about Reverend Wright and Obama. Wright the generation of the past who cannot forget the injustice. And Obama who did not live his adult life in the civil rights era but who because of who he is has faced his own adversity. Having had his mother as an example a darn good one might I add, he carries her diligence towards helping humanity and service. He had to learn about his dad not from experience but through his mother and through his fathers family. Wright served as the mentor who guided him spiritually and gave him an incite on the struggles that his fore fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters had endured. But maybe just maybe Wright can also learn from Obama. Maybe Obama can show him a time in American history were people of all races can stop being a color and start acting like the United American People of America.

[Asinistra]

Unlike my two commenting compadres here, I am what they might call an Obama-bot or cult follower or shmoe...wh­atever. But I do agree with dhb4 that this picture is small potatoes--a potato tot, really. And I do agree with ginmac that it reveals a very disappointing strain of hypocrisy on the part of Barack's people. Ginmac, sadly, as is the nature of these debates goes over the top and weaves hate into the mix...but no thank you. Hypocrisy should suffice to make the essential point, which is this: The man labors mightily this week to lift the tone of the discussion and then his people betray him with this petty and utterly useless bit of payback. Seriously, was anyone in the Obama camp listening to that glorious speech of his on Monday? And did anyone in the Obama camp ask if releasing this picture was even remotely in the spirit of that speech? If you want to lead the nation out of the gutter, folks, you have to stay out of the gutter no matter how easy and tempting it may be to go there. Even if it costs you. What? A super delegate? Small price to pay for your soul and the country's.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"SHEEP FOLLOWING BLINDLY. By the way, did you know Rev. Wright went to a premiere all white high school growing up in Philadelphia. He was a son of a wealthy minister and his Mother was the vice president of an exclusive girls school in Philly. The Wright family lived in Germantown, PA which is a beautiful tree lined neighborhood with filled mansions."

Well...THE­RE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD! Oh such an OUTRAGE that a BLACK American "went to a premiere all white high school" and "lived in a beautiful tree-lined neighborhood filled with mansions" back in the "good ole days" of WHITE SUPREMIST RULE AND PROTECTION FROM CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION of their MALTREATMENTS & MURDERS of our Black Americans.

I am a WHITE ATHEIST American..­.SICK TO DEATH of YOUR RIGHTEOUS RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIC HYSTERIA. YOU and your fellow "Christians" hang on EVERY WORD of this CRAP spoken by YOUR "spiritual advisors" in YOUR churches! Talk about SHEEP FOLLOWING BLINDLY!!!

BARACK OBAMA for President Of The "UNITED" States Of America!!! ... HOPE & CHANGE! ... To FINALLY bring TRUTH to...

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created EQUAL, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable RIGHTS, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. THAT WHENEVER ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS, IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR TO ABOLISH IT, AND TO INSTITUTE NEW GOVERNMENT, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their SAFETY AND HAPPINESS.

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[WWWexler]

Hillary can't win this race honestly.

That means she has to win it dishonestly or drop out.

Dropping out would be the right thing to do.

-Wexler

[ginamc]

Hillary? The only one that is INHERENTLY DISHONEST IS OBAMA -- hiding his crazy uncle, Rev. Wright, from ALL of you wacko robots -- Obamabots, wake up and face reality.

[tkk]

If Wexler actually said that, I will pleased to vote against him the next time he's up.

What a hypocrite Jeremiah Wright is. Shaking hands with Bill Clinton and then calling him Satan in his sermons. I guess that's the kind of values Barack Obama got from his minister.

[dclobbyist]

That picture doesn't prove anything. To me it looks like he's asking where the bathroom is.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

LOL! you are right...it looks like he is pointing to the corner!

[Rubiconski]

Incredible. just incredible. I mean, the fact that Wright is at a reception for Bill Clinton the VERY DAY the Ken Starr report is released has to be the biggest break the Obama camp could have possibly gotten!! Clearly the guy is just meant to win.

[jbohio]

Just love the new politics that Obama is always talking about! Wonderful example!
Oh...wait.­.......thi­s is the same-old-politics
This is absolutely ridiculous to try and weave the Clintons into Obama's judgment of his choice of a pastor for 20 years, to perform your wedding ceremony, and baptize your children.
But what do I know?
I'm just a typical white person....­..........­......

[julescator]

The Fox news channel and Hannity should be ashamed. They parsed Rev. Wright's speeches. What they did not tell you is that that whole diatribe on the Sunday after 911 was an Actual quote from a WHITE AMBASSADOR - see for yourself:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/20/224958/631/841/481227

I have sent this to every news organization and to the Associated Press and the FCC. These people tried to start a RACE RIOT based on something that is untrue. This is HORRIBLE!

[julescator]

This is going to rock the world of FOX news. It is the entire tape of Rev. Wright's sermon and it's a quote from a White Ambassador: This is SHOCKING THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO DO THIS TO OMABA KNOWING THE TRUTH. NO WONDER OBAMA STOOD UP FOR HIS PASTOR. I AM CALLING THAT NETWORK TODAY. SEE FOR YOURSELF - THIS IS A HORRIBLE INJUSTICE:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/20/224958/631/841/481227

[wildgeeseNC]

WOW. I just watched those clips. How insidiously disgusting it was to take a few seconds out of a sermon in which Wright is dramatizing a quote of someone else's words!!! The sermon in its entirety is a typical call for peace and nonviolence. And yet by artfully editing it, Wright came across as a man celebrating and applauding violence.

This is beyond depravity. Ironically, those who are trying so desperately to portray Wright as unChristian do not qualify as Christians themselves. It is a violation of the 9th commandment to "bear false witness against thy neighbor." And those who tried to portray Wright as unAmerican, I guess our laws against slander don't appeal to them, so they are free to violate them also. How patriotic is it to ignore truth, law, and every spiritual code of decency?

[PadrePio]

God Obama and this site are so desperate to change the subject. Who cares about Obamas passport records being looked at? In 1992 the same thing happened to Bill Clinton and as to photo ops Clinton did not have Jeremiah Wright on his campaign committee and he never called him " an old Uncle". You Obamabots need to stop hyper ventilating your candidate is not Jesus. Despite what time of year it is or even if you think he walks on water.

[julescator]

This is going to rock the world of FOX news. It is the entire tape of Rev. Wright's sermon and it's a quote from a White Ambassador: This is SHOCKING THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO DO THIS TO OMABA KNOWING THE TRUTH. NO WONDER OBAMA STOOD UP FOR HIS PASTOR. I AM CALLING THAT NETWORK TODAY. SEE FOR YOURSELF - THIS IS A HORRIBLE INJUSTICE:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/20/224958/631/841/481227

[SophieR]

HuffPost's Pick

Thanks for posting the link to a fuller excerpt of the sermon.

I believe that Wright's interpretation is a valid way of looking at American history. It's not the ONLY way of looking at U.S. history, but it's part of the truth. Many American colonists did terrorize Native Americans. Many slaveowners did terrorize African slaves. Our government has brought terror to innocent civilians throughout the world. Americans have also done wonderful things, but no one out there could reasonably ignore the fact that our past is littered with the bodies of those who have stood in the way of what some Americans have deemed "progress.­"

And the last part of that sermon, when Wright says that 9/11 is a time for us to examine ourselves, to examine our own relationships with the Creator, that was beautiful.

I don't understand - I just don't understand - what all the flap is about. If we Americans are so insecure about our own history and our own actions that we can't listen to valid criticism, we'll continue to make the same horrible mistakes that we've made in the past. Yes, the U.S. has done some amazingly good things. Our Constitution and our Declaration make beautiful promises. But anyone who thinks we're perfect is being willfully blind. And if you listen Wright's sermon, he's not saying that we deserved to be attacked on 9/11. He's saying that this "unspeakable act" (his words, by the way) by the terrorists is a chance for us to think about what we've done to others. It's a chance for us to make a choice: do we want to continue the cycle of violence, or do we want to repair it?

When we invaded Iraq, we made our choice. We decided to continue the violence. And look how well that's worked out. Thousands of Americans dead. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead. And more hatred of Americans than there was on September 11, 2001.

What I think is saddest about this entire Wright flap is that Obama had to denounce the man's words. For God's sake, we need to talk about these issues, not pretend that we're always right and that THEY (whoever they are) are always wrong. I think Obama's speech in Philadelphia tried to remind us, gently, that we have to consider the other's perspective. If we're white, we need to think about how it feels to be black in America, to be judged constantly by the color of your skin? If we're black, how does it feel to be white, to be deemed racist if you voice an opinion that isn't PC? If we actually try to empathize with each other, to imagine each other's pain, we're much less likely to behave so cruelly toward each other.

I don't know why I'm writing this here. Few people really listen to each other. That's what I've learned from reading these blog comments, from watching the news, from watching the way the media and the pundits and the die-hard supporters for ALL of the campaigns have behaved. We're all just interested in hearing ourselves talk, and I'm probably no different. Please, if anyone really is listening, please stop being so cruel to each other - in your words, in your actions, whatever campaign you're supporting - and just try to imagine someone else's perspective. I'll try to do the same.

[dora rice]

I TOTALLY AGREE. QUIT PULLING THE WOOL OVER OUR EYES. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. WHETHER YOU JUST MEET SOMEONE AT A LUNCHON, OR WHETHER YOU ARE A MEMBER FOR OVER 20 YEARS OF THIS CHURCH .

[GAArmyWife]

The issue is...if he was respected enough to be invited to the White House TWICE he probably isn't some crazy anti-american, radical, racist. Which explains why Obama would stay in the church.

[A Meat Beetle]

Padre:

Obama supporters don't believe he's Jesus. They think he's even bigger and better and more important than Jesus. And he looks good on TV too!

[Taurus]

Who cares? Everybody interested in privacy in a country where it's being demolished, that's who. I would care if it were Senator Clinton's records, too. In fact, when it happened in 1992 to Bill Clinton, which you seem to dismiss, it was a HUGE scandal. It should be the same no matter who it happens to in whatever party.

And could we please have some dignity and respect between the two Democratic campaigns? Your contempt (Obamabots, Jesus) is really disgusting. I have never insulted Clinton's supporters in any way, shape or form. We need to bring back civility, person by person. Why don't you start? Save your anger for those who deserve it: the GOP.

[tkk]

Funny, I don't see any Obama people worried about Hillary Clinton's privacy. Oh, I forgot, all the rules are different for Obama because he's the Messiah.

Obama is a manufactured hero just like Jesus.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"God Obama and this site are so desperate to change the subject."

YOUR desperation to keep the subject FRONT & CENTER is SHOWING!

"In 1992 the same thing happened to Bill Clinton and as to photo ops Clinton did not have Jeremiah Wright on his campaign committee and he never called him " an old Uncle"."

The news was reminiscent of a breach of Bill Clinton's passport information during the 1992 presidential campaign. THE FBI LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION after the State Department reported that someone had ripped out pages from his passport file from the late 1960s and '70s.

The department concluded that a search of Clinton's passport records was AN ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, reportedly by trying to show that Clinton tried to seek citizenship in another country to avoid the draft. Clinton was running against PRESIDENT GEORGE H. W. BUSH.

Then-State Department Inspector General Sherman Funk found no evidence the White House ordered department staffers to dig for political dirt in Clinton's passport files. However, Funk said THE WHITE HOUSE PROBABLY KNEW IT WAS HAPPENING.

Now...Back to the PRESENT breach of passport records...

The breach SEEMS like "IMPRUDENT CURIOSITY" among the contract workers, said McCormack, adding that senior management at the State Department was not aware of the incidents until Thursday afternoon. Breaches occurred January 9, February 21 and March 14.

THE FBI LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION when CLINTON'S passport was breached. But VIOLATING the DEMOCRATIC FRONTRUNNER'S passport and private life....aw­ww, it was just "IMPRUDENT CURIOSITY" .... how does McCormack know, you ask?... he's asked the Contracting Company's nightwatchman!

And NOW I'm hearing that the "fired" employees have IMMUNITY FROM INTERROGATION because they NO LONGER work for our Government. WHAT A SURPRISE! Well then...NO POINT in launching an "INVESTIGATION"! Should some SINISTER shenanigans surface...­THE UNTOUCHABLES in our White House will cite their "EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGED" PROTECTION FROM ANY CRIMINAL WRONGDOINGS!!!

You think Rev. Wright is ANTI-AMERICAN? He's going to be in GOOD company! You ain't seen NOTHIN YET!

I am SICK TO DEATH of the RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS running ramshod over our Constitution, and ruining America's reputation! When "God" talks, Bush listens. He sits in HIS church each and every Sunday, listening to "homosexuality is an abominatio­n...a mental illness...­a "choice"..­.and EVEN "a bigger threat to the United States than terrorism"? (in the words of YET ANOTHER RELIGIOUS EXTREMIST EMPOWERED BY OUR GOVERNMENT ... Sally Kern, Oklahoma State Rep.

Repeat after me...SEPAR­ATION OF CHURCH AND STATE! SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!! SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!

Let us HOPE for CHANGE!

BARACK OBAMA '08!!!

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[PadrePio]

Releasing this photo is keeping Rev Wright front and center. It's a hail Mary. You can't run for President if your "old Uncle, spiritual adviser, and confidant" is anti American. The Rev Wright can have his opinion "the US of KKKA" but not his own facts "AIDs was invented by the US Government and introduced in to black communities to kill blacks".

[dax49]

this whole post is sad

[jennifer Vizzo]

What us the difference between a photo op with Bill and a photo op in a Somali ceremonial outfit? Good or bad, it's PR, and it will be fodder for the spin factory.

[julescator]

I AM SHOCKED- THEY HAVE LIED SO MUCH ON REV WRIGHT. THIS SERMON WAS SO TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT REV. WRIGHT WAS QUOTING A WHITE AMBASSOR - THESE WERE NOT REV/WRIGHT
S WORDS THERE WERE THE WORDS OF A WHITE AMBASSACOR. SEE FOR YOURSELF!!!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/20/224958/631/841/481227

[seg78]

Wonder why Hillary was so quiet about the whole Rev. Wright story? She has her own skeletons!

http://www.alternet.org/election08/80248/?page=1

[pzdoff]

Sometimes I think I've accidentally stumbled on to a rightwing blog.....n­ow is one of those times.

[jadez]

no doubt the clintons gave fox the tapes.

now we see they were big fans of the man.

finally these 2 horrors will be sent to the dust bin of american politics.

President Obama..

[alwayslearning]

Sorry to burst your bubble...S­enator Obama's campaign released this photo -- fact!!! Do your research. Proves how desperate they are getting about the 'race' issue. This 'typical white grandmother' resents being called a racist by Senator Obama. I am sure there are many others.

[julescator]

Well you should do your homework. it appears that the Rev. Wright tape at the center of this storm was parsed and taken out of context. He is actually quoting a WHITE Ambassador all the way down to the "chikens coming home to roost!::

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/20/224958/631/841/481227

[Taurus]

Does anyone listen past their own rhetorical prejudices anymore? Obama didn't say all white grandmothers were racist, and he didn't even say his own was racist. Why don't you Google the speech and read it carefully? You've stripped what he said of all of its nuance. Try it again, and then "always learning" would be a fitting cognomen.

[captnEarl]

He without sin cast the 1st stone.