Flashback: Wright's Letter To NYT About Obama

In March 2007, New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor published a brief story about how Rev. Jeremiah Wright had been uninvited from delivering the invocation before Barack Obama's official presidential announcement.

Wright responded by writing the following letter:

March 11, 2007

Jodi Kantor
The New York Times
9 West 43rd Street
New York,
New York 10036-3959

Dear Jodi:

Thank you for engaging in one of the biggest misrepresentations of the truth I have ever seen in sixty-five years. You sat and shared with me for two hours. You told me you were doing a "Spiritual Biography" of Senator Barack Obama. For two hours, I shared with you how I thought he was the most principled individual in public service that I have ever met.

For two hours, I talked with you about how idealistic he was. For two hours I shared with you what a genuine human being he was. I told you how incredible he was as a man who was an African American in public service, and as a man who refused to announce his candidacy for President until Carol Moseley Braun indicated one way or the other whether or not she was going to run.

I told you what a dreamer he was. I told you how idealistic he was. We talked about how refreshing it would be for someone who knew about Islam to be in the Oval Office. Your own question to me was, Didn't I think it would be incredible to have somebody in the Oval Office who not only knew about Muslims, but had living and breathing Muslims in his own family? I told you how important it would be to have a man who not only knew the difference between Shiites and Sunnis prior to 9/11/01 in the Oval Office, but also how important it would be to have a man who knew what Sufism was; a man who understood that there were different branches of Judaism; a man who knew the difference between Hasidic Jews, Orthodox Jews, Conservative Jews and Reformed Jews; and a man who was a devout Christian, but who did not prejudge others because they believed something other than what he believed.

Story continues below

advertisement

I talked about how rare it was to meet a man whose Christianity was not just "in word only." I talked about Barack being a person who lived his faith and did not argue his faith. I talked about Barack as a person who did not draw doctrinal lines in the sand nor consign other people to hell if they did not believe what he believed.

Out of a two-hour conversation with you about Barack's spiritual journey and my protesting to you that I had not shaped him nor formed him, that I had not mentored him or made him the man he was, even though I would love to take that credit, you did not print any of that. When I told you, using one of your own Jewish stories from the Hebrew Bible as to how God asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?," that Barack was like that when I met him. Barack had it "in his hand." Barack had in his grasp a uniqueness in terms of his spiritual development that one is hard put to find in the 21st century, and you did not print that.

As I was just starting to say a moment ago, Jodi, out of two hours of conversation I spent approximately five to seven minutes on Barack's taking advice from one of his trusted campaign people and deeming it unwise to make me the media spotlight on the day of his announcing his candidacy for the Presidency and what do you print? You and your editor proceeded to present to the general public a snippet, a printed "sound byte" and a titillating and tantalizing article about his disinviting me to the Invocation on the day of his announcing his candidacy.

I have never been exposed to that kind of duplicitous behavior before, and I want to write you publicly to let you know that I do not approve of it and will not be party to any further smearing of the name, the reputation, the integrity or the character of perhaps this nation's first (and maybe even only) honest candidate offering himself for public service as the person to occupy the Oval Office.

Your editor is a sensationalist. For you to even mention that makes me doubt your credibility, and I am looking forward to see how you are going to butcher what else I had to say concerning Senator Obama's "Spiritual Biography." Our Conference Minister, the Reverend Jane Fisler Hoffman, a white woman who belongs to a Black church that Hannity of "Hannity and Colmes" is trying to trash, set the record straight for you in terms of who I am and in terms of who we are as the church to which Barack has belonged for over twenty years.

The president of our denomination, the Reverend John Thomas, has offered to try to help you clarify in your confused head what Trinity Church is even though you spent the entire weekend with us setting me up to interview me for what turned out to be a smear of the Senator; and yet The New York Times continues to roll on making the truth what it wants to be the truth. I do not remember reading in your article that Barack had apologized for listening to that bad information and bad advice. Did I miss it? Or did your editor cut it out? Either way, you do not have to worry about hearing anything else from me for you to edit or "spin" because you are more interested in journalism than in truth.

Forgive me for having a momentary lapse. I forgot that The New York Times was leading the bandwagon in trumpeting why it is we should have gone into an illegal war. The New York Times became George Bush and the Republican Party's national "blog." The New York Times played a role in the outing of Valerie Plame. I do not know why I thought The New York Times had actually repented and was going to exhibit a different kind of behavior.

Maybe it was my faith in the Jewish Holy Day of Roshashana. Maybe it was my being caught up in the euphoria of the Season of Lent; but whatever it is or was, I was sadly mistaken. There is no repentance on the part of The New York Times. There is no integrity when it comes to The Times. You should do well with that paper, Jodi. You looked me straight in my face and told me a lie!

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., Senior Pastor
Trinity United Church of Christ

Comments

[lcmartin]

Perhaps the NY Times should produce the tape of the interview and Ms. Kantor's notes. Pastor Wright seems to have included quite a few specifics in his letter, while the Times just gives a blanket statement, "the interview was conducted in a professional, blah, blah...man­ner; Rev. Wright was treated... blah...bla­h; didn't return calls..." Those are claims that are hard to verify. The Times goes back and forth on issues, and the editorial department doesn't take credit for the news department or vice versa. Much of the time, it's difficult to know what the Times is really saying. The latest New Yorker has an article about newspapers becoming irrelevant. I can think of a few newspapers--with the exception of the independently owned Seattle Times--that should become obsolete. Most of them belong to large conglomerates who have a personal interest in promoting corporate welfare.

[Unchained]

I am sorry....I will not bash Obama for what a minister said. The minister isn't running for President.

In fact, Wright told much of the truth about America...­about the world for that matter. I would bet there isn't a human alive that doesn't have some form of bigotry in some area, against some people...

Speaking of it seems to be the no no.

Of course the Repubs won't let this die...they have to scream louder and point fingers to cover up their own corruption, failure to prosecute white collar crony neocons...­and elected public servants.

Their sins are bigger than some minister shouting the truth.

By the way...I am a conservative, Christian Repub...no­t voting Repub this round.

I am just sick of what is going on in Washington­....

And don't get too comfortable Dems....yo­u wimped out the last election and sold us out on the Dem side...you lied too.

[DoninJoisey]

Agree. I've been more disgusted by what I've heard from Robertson and Falwell than what I heard from Wright.

And I have a bias, too - I am bigoted against hypocrites.

[libbypfeiffer]

I'm sick of the illogical argument that people, including the Reverend, can criticize this country. There is a big difference between criticizing the country, which I'm quite a fan of doing, and I believe is a critical and patriotic thing.... and spewing the hateful words that he did on Sept. 16, 2001. When the entire country, and the world, mourned and grieved together and unified in solidarity after the horrendous attacks, Obama's church was basically saying we had it coming. There is NO excuse for that. That offended me more than any other hateful words of his. And it shows, more than anything, the amazing DISunity. How can Obama be a unifier when he clearly comes from this frame of thought of "us" and "them"? Not just because of his church, but also clearly stated in his earlier memoir. The only thing Obama disavowed is his whiteness. Not his grandmother, but his own whiteness.

[seanwalter1969]

It's clear all Obama fanatics want your own Obama version of Fox News. Sadly it has come to that in many ways. Places I use to enjoy getting my news from such as Olbermann, some Air America hosts, and this site now turn me off just like FOX News.

By the way where is Rev Wright now? What planet are the hiding him on? I'm sure they are afraid of a microphone being put in front of his face, because people will see what kind of moron he is!

Both Hillary and Obama trail McCain at this point and would probably lose to him. This should be impossible considering how the Republicans have messed up the Economy, war , and everything else. This election should be a no contest.

Please DNC since probably Obama or Clinton will have the so called required number of delagates dump them both. I will not vote in the election if Obama is the nominee. I would have never imagined I would feel this way about an election especially after 8 years of Bush.

[wildflowermaven]

Maybe Wright is hanging out with Vicki Iseman

[grn1]

Senator Barack Obama addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) forum on Foreign Policy in Chicago, March 2007. (Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty Images)

US senator Barack Obama was widely hailed for his 18 March speech calming the media furor about the sermons of his pastor for twenty years Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Wright's remarks, Obama said, "expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country -- a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam."

It might seem odd for Obama to mention Israel and "radical Islam" in a speech focused on US race relations, especially since Wright's most widely reported comments were about America's historic and ongoing oppression of its black http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9427.shtml427.shtml

[Ahyoka]

I heard he had to cancel several speaking engagements because there would be trouble if he went there (one was in Houston) .

[TERRYKEITH4]

I'm sure Obama is in distress over your one little measly vote....

[DoninJoisey]

So join the 50% of Americans too lazy to vote.

You're claiming to reject Obama because of snippets of 2 sermons taken out of context out of hundreds and hundreds of sermons given in 30 years? Maybe you shouldn't vote.

[RRH]

I have serious doubts of anything said about Rev. Wright. He has a friend in Louis Farrakhan and Obama has been with Wright for twenty years claiming to never have heard a racist comment. I think Hillary's prayer group being brought up is no comparison. I believe Obama has the same believes his Mentor Wright has.
I am a catholic, every Sunday our priest reads from the scriptures and has a sermon always on being good Christians. For Obama to imply we all have heard our ministers, priests or Rabbis make comments which makes us unfomfortable is inaccurate. I would have left after the first utterance of anti American or anti White comments. You are guilty by association and as long as Obama refuses to disassociate himself with Wright, he is as guilty. Imagine if this were Hillary how differently she would be treated.

[Freedomscap]

You are just telling on yourself, with this post. You don't have many friends with a different point of view, than yours?

[Hopeforward]

I tried to reply before, but have to ask, you say you are a Catholic? what did you do when the whole Pedophile scandal broke in the church, run for the exit doors? or, did you keep on contributing to the collection plate knowing the Vatican was paying out MILLIONS to the victims who had been abused? where do you think that money came from? do you not see that as "guilt by association" if your same standards are applied?

And I hardly doubt you approved of the abuse that the children endured over the YEARS.

Enough said.

[TERRYKEITH4]

No Hopeforward!!!! The little boys going to Rev. Wright's church don't have to be afraid of being raped on Sunday morning or at choir practice! You need to shut up! You sound like Elizabeth Hasselback!

[wildflowermaven]

Rev Wright said in the letter that he did not 'shape or form him' or mentor him. Who Obama is is from God (paraphrase of Wright's words). Why do people insist on believing Obama is some sort of Wright puppet in the face of reality??

[SpaceCadet]

[[I have serious doubts of anything said about Rev. Wright. He has a friend in Louis Farrakhan and Obama has been with Wright for twenty years claiming to never have heard a racist comment.]]

I haven't heard anything that was racist in endlessly played video sequences of Rev. Wright. Much of what he said was true, although stated in an offensive manner, Some of it was untrue like the government using AIDS as a way to destroy African Americans. But none of it was racist as far as I know. It seems to be mostly white who are themselves racist who are continually calling Rev. Wright a racist to get at Obama.

[abromber]

I agree. I'm a white Jewish guy from NYC, an ambivalent Democrat. I gave money to Hillary early on but now i support Obama. I was curious, so I read and watched a lot of the sermons and I didn't find them particularly offensive. Honestly, I was surprised, they really aren't anything like they are being made out to be. I suspect this is a story mostly because of the public's appetite for scandal and the publishers' need to sell newspapers. In a way, it's the perfect co-dependent relationship. I'm in it, and if you've read this far in the blog comments, you are too.

[richardsgirl]

"Obama has been with Wright for twenty years claiming to never have heard a racist comment."

What racist comment have YOU heard from Reverend Wright to assume that Senator obama must have heard racist comments too? I have listened to the soudbites, read the entirety of the sermons as have been printed in various media venues, and I have sat in Reverend Wright's church, among his very diverse congregation of both black and white congregants, and I have yet to hear him make a 'racist" comment. Controversial, perhaps, but not racist! If you also listen objectively to Reverend Wright's statements in the context of his sermons, you will know that his comments are neither anti-American nor anti-White. It is not anti-American to recognize the injustices within our country and abroad, nor anti-White to recognize that our governemnt, controlled by the majority race, has engaged in policies that have perpetuated these injustices. He is not speaking about white people in general who have little more power than black people in general; he is speaking specifically about a historically white governing body and its more questionable policies that have affected people around the world. Senator Obama doesn't need to disassociate himself from Reverend Wright simply to appease the bias and ignorance of those who do know or want to know the truth, a truth most intelligent people recognize, which is why this has not hurt him as some anticipated and hoped it would.

[AlAkbar]

thank you!!!!!!!!

[CLEDUC]

I don't think the recent letter by the NY Times responding to this adequately addressed the issues raised in REv. Wright's letter. Generally, I think Rev. Wright's key points stand.

[DrPayne]

Agreed. I notiuce that the Times response polays up the "Wright doesn't dispute what we say....", while completely ignoring his poin that THEY ignored what Wright said.

So let's see. The Times runs a story that is years old about Sen. McCain and a lobbyist. Then they run a year old interview about Obama. Nothing about Hillary though.


Damn, ya know the Hillary camp is right, there sure IS a bias against her.

Whatever.

[CaptainSunshine]

NY is for Hilary. There's no way that the Times would run a smear campaign against the Clinton's. You can put them in the same class as SNL, a form of NY entertainment.

[JohnBarleycorn]

And what points were those?

That the reporter did not simply parrot his comments and publish?

[splacko]

Its not a matter of the narrow point Mr. Wright is trying to make in his letter. Its the implication of his anti-semitic remarks/undertones in the letter that points to the larger issue of Obama's judgement over continuing and maintaining a relationship with this man.

[TERRYKEITH4]

So now I suppose by your views Barrack Obama is guilty of complicity for the holocaust in the "undertones" as you call it. You sound like you're smoking meth splacko! GAFG!

[PrinceHal]

It seems useless but necessary to note that the New York Times was reporting a news story, not writing an article about what Dr. Wright thought of Senator Obama. To the Times, that was another story for another day.

Rev. Wright, however, has taken the fact that the endless praise he heaped on Obama was not printed and turned it into a federal case.

There would be many more federal cases per hour if journalism were conducted in the way he obviously thinks is essential to continued publication of the New York Times. (To see the news story Kantor was assigned to write, click the link at the top of this page.)

[galateadoro]

The NYT has absolutely no credibility, it prints what it chooses to protect and propagandize the corporate powers controlling the US. The sold us Iraq through Judith Miller knowing her articles were lies.

Rev. Wright simply experienced their backstabbing on a personal level, the paper displays its betrayal of its readers on a daily basis.

[ptarantino]

That's a pretty good letter by Wright.

[Not Blind]

Rev. Wright mentored Obama, but like other spiritual guides, "molding" or making someone who they are is not the same thing. Individuals evolve over years, and are shaped by their experiences: their families, religious, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, socio-economic and other factors...­events that happen, places we see, visit and live.
The media went way overboard by taking miniscule sound-bites from Wright's speeches (and even those were quotes of others), and misrepresented them as Wright's own, and then "analyzing" Obama's relationship with Wright, to draw conclusions of "facts" that were skewed. The media has been doing this, for nearly a decade: following FOX as their "mentor" as to what constitutes "journalism" and "news." Whatever the PNAC, AIPAC and our administration want people to hear, FOX broadcasts, then other networks and media repeat or write it, blindly, ubiquitously, so the perception is there's only one side to a story.
The media failed to mention Wright's military service, that he has two master's and a doctorate degree, and that his congregation's membership soared from less than a hundred to over six thousand, mostly due to outreach and community-based programs to help the people of his city.
What's worse is McCain's encorsement byHagee, who is more venomous in remarks about Catholics (who are Christian) and Moslems received but scant notice. The media has a lot to apologize for.

[AlAkbar]

Good post. I found it interesting too that over a year ago Wright was refusing to take credit for shaping Obama. But then I have no problem separating the 2. And I will also say that if I were a Hillary or McCain supporter I don't think I would jump ship because of the Family or Hagee, especially not if I felt strongly about their merits in the first place.

[riverhorse]

Why wouldn't the Rev. Wright take the reporters follow up calls to make sure the story was accurate. Because he knew the story was accurate and chose instead to write a rebuttal without having to address the facts. this story about Rev. Wright and his 20 year relationship with Obama is not going away and I predict there's more to come.

[jazzo65]

You cannot assume to KNOW why Rev. Wright does not check the accuracy of the NY Times report unless you spoke with him directly and he told you. Please stop making your assumptions sound as though they are the absolute truth. This is one of the problems in our society. It is very possible that
Rev. Wright did not fact check the article for many, many other reasons. Publicizing your assumptions about someone else's thoughts, actions, or inactions as though they are fact is WRONG on so many levels.

[TERRYKEITH4]

Stay tuned riverhorse, for the next episode of the Rev. Wright.!!!­!

[AlAkbar]

people:

THERE IS HEALTH CARE, IRAQ, OUR BROKEN COUNTRY - geez it seems y'all WANT the Rev Wright NOT to go away. Focusing on who is preaching in any of the candidates churches, absent the presence of a serial killer, is pretty much a distraction that the media is taking to the bank. Wake up and let's debate who is better suited to run the country.
If you want to start making a list of anyone objectionable in any way that has ever been linked to Hillary or McCain you are going to need alot of paper. This is not where the focus of this race oughtta be.

[JMEB]

I wish the attention on Wright would go away. This is the biggest "tempest in a teapot" I've ever seen, although I guess the media is stirring this as much as possible to not look like Obama lapdog anymore.

[alwayslearning]

Anti-Americanism and hatred are not little things. This is serious stuff and should be kept in the forefront when we are selecting someone to be our leader.

[stlswest]

If you believe that Barack Obama is anti-american or a person consumed by hate, then you are CHOOSING to believe that. There are heaps of evidence to the contrary. Everything about Obama indicates a man who believes in, and loves this country despite its shortcomings, and there are many. I know it can be hard to wade through all of the crap the media "reports", but listen to Baracks message, try to see his vision. He presents a truly unique and awesome opportunity for America. Get on board!

[TERRYKEITH4]

No. They're doing it, because their reporters, corresponts, and editors are lazy, and know that they can skate through by printing irresponsible articles about Rev. Wright. They'll stop when the boss says they need something new. How dangerous are those who believe what newspapers print!

[Hopeforward]

I blame the media for the distortion of Reverend Wright. Not only Faux news, but CNN,NBC and ABC who have done nothing but run small snippets of a few sermons out of the HUNDREDS of sermons Reverend Wright has given throughout his 30+ year career. But we heard nothing about those other sermons, we heard nothing about all the good Reverend Wright has done in the community.­.......not­hing.

Now here a letter that Reverend Wright wrote to the NYT's because they wanted to distort the facts and Reverend Wright called them on it. Nowhere in the letter does Reverend Write say he was "dis-invited" when Senator Obama announced he was running for president, but Faux news keeps right on repeating that as if that were the truth. The media keeps pounding on that Reverend Wright "molded" Senator Obama so to make it seem that in those few snippets we are so sick of seeing that Senator Obama must share those same views when in the letter Reverend Wright said the opposite but the NYT's never even printed it. What a shame that this man has been utterly destroyed by the media and misquoted by the NYT's. All I can say is, if Reverend Wright is all they have against Senator Obama then this country would be crazy not to elect him as the President of the United States.

[hank48188]

If you read Obama's account of sitting in the Pew at Church listening to Rev. Wright give his "Audacity of Hope" sermon, it is easy to see that two of the favorite themes of Rev Wright are Greedy White Folks and the bombing of Hiroshima. I resent any American complaining about the bombing of Hiroshima, it helped to end the War without an even greater loss of life. I wish every American would watch the Ken Burns film called "The War", you would get a much greater understanding of who we are as a country and also the savagery of our Japanese enemy.

[Tumult]

The history of power in this country is one of rich white men. As a white person myself in this day and age I do not think any special consideration is given for skin color. (Even though I know Reverend Wright would be a non-story if Obama wasn't black, as evidenced by the bevy of insane white preachers associated with white candidates, past and present.) But the majority of the history of this country you were required to be both white and male, and it is within peoples living todays lifetime that this changed. I would reject Obama if his campaign was run on being the affirmitive action pick for the Whitehouse, like Hillary seems to be doing.

And Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed 3 days apart after the Japanese politically wanted to surrender (conditional surrender, and they were afraid the military might overthrow the government if they unconditionally surrendered). And in both cases it was the use of weapons of mass destruction against civilian populations. Take care that in the course of fighting monsters..­..

[ResidentChimp]

These are the typical rantings of the racist Wright. You can see from the responses, that he envokes hatred and racism that is not condusive to healing. The germ of Obama's argument is that Wright is justified in hating because of the trartment afforded him growing to adulthood. But that argument should be applied to everyone. Does everyone have a right to voice hate for the slights accorded to them? The other issue that needs to be addressed by Obama and Wright is the idea of collective guilt. Does it exist? If so who can be held blameless and how can individuals claim righteous anger to throw the first stone. How does that bring us together as Obama claims he can do? And what examples can Obama point to as bridging the gap between different peoples. His oratory may be judged by some as exemplary, but how does calling one's own grandmother a "typical white person" reflect on him. If a white politician used that term for his black mother, he would be crucified in public and the press. We will know when race is no longer an issue when white people can speak about race without fear of reprisal. Ferarro found out the time has not yet come.

[GrainOSand]

He is not justified to hate, he is justified to indict.

Everyone has not had the singular/unique wonderful experience that has been the African American experience here in America.

Please list the slights against you and if they are legitimate you have every right to indict the guilty.

The guilty need to address guilt, not those they hold guilt concerning.
Throw a rock into a pack of dogs; the one who comes out yelping (feeling guilty) is the one who got hit with the rock.

He does not claim he can bring us together he more says we need to come together in order to advance the causes and the progress of nation. He expresses a belief that his approach will work if we can unite.

What he said about his grandmother makes him honest. What he said in the radio interview was a misstep that he later attempted to correct. Every person is an individual. Many of peach colored skin have died the world over concerning the plight of African people. I cannot and will not diminish that fact. I do not think the senator does either.

A "white" politician with a black mother would be considered black unless pigmentation dictated otherwise (which is a really long discussion).

[Bozwellian]

Rather think that seeing racist/hate response is more in the dwellings of the "beholder" trying to rationalize a position that facts do NOT support ! Think also, that unless there is an ability to grasp the history where much can be found to explain the "today" , rather difficult to give credit for "learning better" , hard to figure how ignorring what has gone before does NOT effect/affect today and while impossible to change the "history" of the past, acknowledgeig and learning from it can offer the option to actualize BETTER in the present and future and resolve to DO better. Strage how so many consider since something of the past is over, done that folks should just give but cursory acknowledgement and figure all is well or well enough or some suching. Facing truthmaticals seems to be thought disadvantageous , perhaps stirs up guilt laden feelings , it does seem too many prefer to ignor,just brush off ,declare the past inconsequential ,that as it's in the "past", just let it be and move on....seem­s rather shameful and dishonest but not unexpected for indeed, the truthmaticals are riddled with honest reasons of which guilt laden realizatons IS the proper response by folks who have the abilty to comprehend the many faceted reasons as to WHY we yet waddle in such mucky mirerings that should have been resolved long ago if we here in the grand USA actually DID embrace the concepts that this nation was founded upon.

[TERRYKEITH4]

Hey Bozwellian you wouldn't believe how simple the answer is to your comment... Although many of us are of legal age to do what we want inside the law..... Many of us still have the mind of a three year old. This is why things that should have been resolved years ago still exist.

[Kim445588]

Thank you for speaking out Reverend Wright.

Ms. Kantor is an embarrassment to her profession, and couldn't carry your briefcase.

[isis]

Oops, I mean GOP doesn't equal GOD.

[isis]

He writes a good letter. I saw rich religious conservatives and their stooges do the same type of smear job on my pastor. Their fear was of course that people might not figure out that GOP doesn't equal GOD and then their tax breaks and inside favors might go bye bye. My pastor's sin was praying for peace.