Obama Tells Smerconish That He Confronted Wright On Statements

The Politico highlights a snippet of transcript from a tomorrow's edition of Michael Smerconish's radio show, in which he interviews Senator Barack Obama. Smerconish, who's been an Obama defender, apparently questioned the presidential candidate on his relationship with Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Trinity Church, which Obama insisted was "not a crackpot church."

Obama also told Smerconish that he had previously confronted Wright on his controversial statements:

SMERCONISH: Would the speech have come as a surprise to Wright?

OBAMA: No, I think he recognizes. When some these remarks first came to light were a year ago, and I actually called him and it created some tensions that were reported in the newspapers. He understood that his perspective on some of these issues were very different from mine and hopefully we could agree to disagree on some of these issues. I wasn't familiar with some of the most offensive remarks that had come up otherwise we probably would have a more intense conversation.

Obama also suggested that the whole flap only proved "the danger of the YouTube era," which is some perplexing perspective from the guy whose own message is currently being carried far and wide by YouTube.

Comments

[roncraw]

Buchanan is one of the few who isn't afraid to say what he means and tell the facts.

[JJRodham]

OK wright says those hateful thing because he, a child from the 60's

[accountability]

Just want to make a comment to you Jason. I really appreciate your posts, particularly for their lack of bias and "trouble making" LOL. It is always refreshing to read someone who is not pushing an agenda. Thanks. NOW, can you get whoever is in charge to fix the damn posting mechanism? AAACCCKKK! driving a lot of us crazy. Some are even getting paranoid. Have Mercy. ;-)

[ObamaSeeChange]

I wonder why Rev. Jeremiah Wright is so angry? Could it be.......http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what/2hung.htm

[MsLiz]

That was chilling. Kind of like going to a Klan Cracker Barrel.

[ObamaSeeChange]

I wonder why Rev. Jeremiah Wright is so angry? Could it be......

[whatchamean]

Obama said.

[outnow]

As a child, I disagreed with what all ministers, rabbis and priests tried to tell me. I thought it was me. Now I realize that, indeed, it was them.

[deb123]

People! People! Give it up. There have been (and are) many who have called upon America to look at its soul and account for its wrong doings. Those people come from the church (both black and white), the political arena and your neighbors' living rooms. We are not a perfect country, but we are able to criticize and discuss what we think. Leave it at that. Personally, as a retiree, I would like to know if an expensive war will continue to drain the resources (both human and financial) of my country and place an undue burden on future generations. I would like to know if America has the guts to face the fact that we are slipping backward in education, health and the general welfare of our citizens. I would like to know if we care that our Constitutional rights are being eroded in the name of patriotism. Finally, I want to know if anyone cares that our country is in historic debt to Communist China (which we now call "China"), Japan, Saudi Arabia, and many other countries and if anyone cares how that debt will be repaid. Who cares what Obama's preacher said? I care what Obama and other candidates say about the very serious issues facing this country. I suggest you do the same. It's your future, too.

[JJRodham]

What do these words mean on 2008??? lynching, bamboozle, hoodwink, Typical, silly season, N*****, I am glad I have all these new words to add to my vocabulary. cant wait to use them

[MariaHopeful]

MSNBC needs to fire Pat Buchannan!

[mamamay]

Pat appears to be holding a grudge because he did not get so far when he was campaigning for Pres. He also, knows how to send out his racial preferences via slurs to and with Joe Scarborough. MSNBC removed Tucker, now they need to get rid of Pat and Joe. Myka acts afraid of Joe, she does well with Willy and David S, but these other south eastern losers need to move on. Chris Mat is trying to clean up his act and see things for hardball as close being political correct. Obama is fine and far better than hil or McC. Obama is credible. Pat thinks because Obama will not desert a sinking ship, indicates that Obama has not distance himself from the truth. Pat is not an authority on credibility, but he does prove himself to be an authoritarian. I am glad that his sis, Bay does not desert him, even though she disagrees with him too, on many stands. This is no different from Obama disagreeing with the Rev. The problem with Pat B. is he is truely a racist and doesn't give Obama the time of day, because Pat thinks racially priviledged. Yes Fire him et al, from MSNBC This craps been going on too long.

[MsLiz]

What will Pat Buchanan do all day if he can't get up, put on a suit and tie, and hang out at MSNBC studios waiting to be asked a question? Go to the Senior Center? He can't be a Walmart greeter, he doesn't have the stamina.

Pat's article saying that Blacks are fortunate to be in the USA for, among other reasons, their Christian salvation is hysterical. Those nuns must have beat the Catholicism into Pat. Being chained in the bottom of a ship, laying in one's filth, starved, sold, beaten, enslaved, raped, children and spouses sold away, working in the hot southern sun from dawn until dark, fed animal entrails, murdered if non-compliant, for generation after generation. Then the war, turned loose without a home or job or land to farm, then subjected to the terrorism of the KKK, ripped off by employers, lynched, drowned, imprisoned, sometimes moving north where there was inadequate housing, etc. is all worthwhile if one comes to Jesus. Yeah, that parochial school education is so much better than public schools.

[MissingAmerica]

The Republicans have become so self-righteous that they have forgotten not only what America is all about, but what God is all about. Turn this around. How much more does Obama have to say? How much clearer does he have to make it that he has denounced Wright, confronted him, and feels Wright's statements are hateful and derisive?

[Bagger]

I just want to say that this whole Rev. Wright flap has had one extremely positive effect.

[hank63]

"Obama also suggested that the whole flap only proved "the danger of the YouTube era," which is some perplexing perspective from the guy whose own message is currently being carried far and wide by YouTube."

[unsolved999]

Okay. Apparently I can't post the link. If you go to Buchanan's editorial to his web page, you can go to the forum link to see the comments. It's pretty ugly stuff...

[nolalily]

Buchanan needs to be pulled off the air.

[unsolved999]

Let's try again.

[unsolved999]

Since I can't post a comment to Buchanan's most recent, rascist diatribe, here is a link to his website with comments to his editorial.

[pleeezzze]

So now Buchanan is racist ?? what ? did he dare say something about the known racist Obama ?

[research]

Pleeezzee, yes Buchanan is a racist, you didn't know? He is an infamous racist from way back. His new books has this gem

"America faces an existential crisis. If we do not get control of our borders, by 2050 Americans of European descent will be a minority in the nation their ancestors created and built. No nation has ever undergone so radical a demographic transformation and survived. Only whites have the appropriate “genetic endowments” to keep America from collapsing."

It's far from Buchanan's only racist statement, look it up.

[union79]

where is it?

[accountability]

I see the problems with posting aren't fixed yet. From what I figured out last night: you can't hit the return/enter key on your keyboard . that is where the post will cut off. any breaks in the post cut off there. Hope they fix this soon. just keep typing without spacing in paragraphs.