Jesse Jackson: Attacks On Jeremiah Wright: 'A Source Of Pain'

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said that recent attacks on Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the former pastor of President Obama's Chicago church, have been a personal "source of pain" for him.

“I know it’s a source of pain for me to see him used as an object of degradation and manipulated the way he’s been used the media as if he’s some sort of enemy of the state. It’s not fair and it’s not true,” Jackson said Monday on MSNBC. “It pains me to see him used as an object of degradation.”

Wright became a household name during the 2008 campaign when then-Senator Obama was running for office. Video of some of his sermons, in which he cursed America and made negative comments about Jews, became a source of major focus, prompting Senator Obama to publicly break ties with his spiritual adviser and deliver his now-famous speech on race in America.

Jackson said that Wright's work for marginalized groups is being overshadowed by many of his comments.

“I remember when parents were kicking their youth out of houses, called AIDS a kind of leprosy, he had a ministry," Jackson said. "I remember when gays were being in isolation and committing suicide, he had a gay ministry. So his ministry has been a most profound one. That’s why people like a young Barack Obama and Michelle would go to that church, because it was such a well-ministered church."

Added Jackson," "It reminds me so much of Dr. King [becoming] a 'communist,' he was kicked out of his own convention. The attempt to use Dr. King as an object of degradation was real too."

Wright, the former pastor of the influential Trinity Church of Christ in Chicago, resurfaced in the news recently after billionaire Republican businessman Joe Ricketts' plan to run a series of negative ads connecting President Obama to Wright became public last week in a New York Times story. (Ricketts said the ads were not going to run.)

In a book called "The Amateur," which debuted last week, Wright claimed to author Edward Klein that he was offered $150,000 by the Obama campaign to stay quiet during the 2008 election.

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Comments

[andrewsullar]

10:26 PM on 05/29/2012

I understand how painful it is to you Jesse. I felt the same way when Michael Richards was attacked by you for using the same language you do.
Jerimiah Wright claimed he told his granddaughter "the Jews won't let me talk to Obama". Is it okay if all of us tell our grandchildren "the blacks rape and murder like no other race on earth"?
Yes, condemning black anti-semites is painful to the black lobby. They also get plenty angry when black homophobes and anti-Asian bigots are taken to task. also Especially when they are connected with the black church.
We have no anti-racist movement in America because being liberal in America means to ignore the rampent hate and bigotry that many prominent black "social justice" leaders spew about other groups while at the same time condemning anything that offends blacks. Even when it is true.

[Nosyhuman]

08:09 PM on 05/23/2012

As a veteran I'll always respect Reverand Wright because he was a Marine ( the finest our country had to offer).

Unlike many of our so called lovers of America ( he served); they (on the other hand) used all types of escuses to not serve the country. Cowards as far as I'm concerned. Running to Canada and France or getting their rich daddy's to save them.

[respected]

12:44 PM on 05/24/2012

F&F! So true!

[Elizabeth aka Betty]

07:27 PM on 05/23/2012

The very awful and very sad American history for African Americans is hat for most of our years in the United States the ONLY place where we could covertly discuss our political future, share our troubles and vent our frustrations was at the Sunday church meeting. Many of those meetings were held outdoors.

In the midst of by "justice long denied" frustration renders thought not tactfully expressed and sometimes not accurately expressed. I also feel sadness for a man (though I did not know him personally) who spent many years fighting for righteousness and justice through the tenets of the Bible being judged by his error rather than his god accomplishments.

[C wash]

03:29 PM on 05/23/2012

If I was Rev. Wright I would sue Karl Rove and Fox news for damaging my reputation in church and with the community. No one talks about his work in the community and fact of all the work his church as done for the community. My problem is why don't they play the whole sermon. If you listen to it. You will see he was not saying anything other than the GOP has said dam to the black people and God! the truth is they really have.

[C wash]

03:25 PM on 05/23/2012

Go ahead and mention or talk about Rev. Wright and we welcome a discussion on Mormon religion. Let's talk. Then I can tell you about my discussion on this cub that is suppose to be a religion and Mitts plans to change the world with this religion. His plans is make his religion the most powerful.

[Denmark Vesey]

10:22 AM on 05/23/2012

Food for thought. Why are the Rev Jackons, Rev Wrights, Rev Sharptons and even (MLK during his time) are disliked and demonized, yet the Rev Ikes, Creflo Dollars, T.D Jakes and Bishop Eddie longs get a free pass from scrutiny. Seems to me the scorn is always directed towards the Revs who are actually PUTTING in WORK ! just my humble opinion.

[Mr Muckle]

01:34 PM on 05/23/2012

Not humble, DV, just on point. F & F

[Mdazes]

02:00 PM on 05/23/2012

The minsters up in these black mega churches collecting mega dollar are not disliked and demonized because they are staying in their place and not rocking the boat. In the meantime Rev Jackson, Wrights and Sharptons should welcome the noise it show they are hitting on the truth.

[Godprotection]

09:02 PM on 05/22/2012

Jeremiah Wright------said that Hillary Clinton PAID OFF black preachers to attack him

Video

http://s1.zetaboards.com/Express_Yourself/topic/4799972/1/

[ylobrkrd]

06:25 PM on 05/22/2012

If the Romney campaign brings Rev.JW into the discussion wouldn't it make all the hard work of declaring Pres. Obama a Muslim null and void. The Repubs want the choice at election time to be between Muslim and Mormon. "Accusing" the Pres. of being a bible thumping, hell, fire and brimstone following Christian may backfire in a big way. After all the far right are pretty much hell fire people themselves. Now you are left with the choice: far right Christian vs Mormon. Did they dodge a bullet without knowing it?

[Beth3]

05:34 PM on 05/22/2012

jesse jackson; what can I truly say about this man. Well he was a man who made a lot of money off the backs of his peoples degradation, blight, misfortunes, racisim, and any and all other "disinfranchisements" as he used to love to say and dote on. For so many years he got rich from this. Even most whites don't like him nor do they respect him, as I truly don't. And especially after saying what he said about President Obama while he was running for the Highest most Prestigious Office in the World. This man to me is the most dispicable man I've even seen or herard who is/ was in the limelight at one point in time. To me he is Awful and makes me puke whenever I have to see him. jesse get a real life, repent, go back and start alll overrr again, 'cause you need a whole brand new start if you can get one at this point.

[Isaac Montgomery]

11:17 PM on 05/22/2012

I hear you talking loud, but saying nothing, you accuse Jackson of being a dispicable person, can you tell me in your own words specifically what Jackson has done to not deserve your respect. you sound like one of those people who thinks listening to lies and proproganda from the popular medias make you enlightened. you must understand that the people you listen to are not for you.

I'm not saying Jesse is all that, but you're saying he's worthless without being specific. personally I look at people who generalize without specifics as being puppets who want to impress, but can't think for themselves. so prove me wrong and give some specifics to why you Jesse is so awful of a person, I mean if you can!!!

[BOBinPS]

09:57 PM on 05/23/2012

Really? The day Trayvon Martin was killed in FL, 7 black teenagers were killed by blacks in Chicago. Where was the Rev'd Jackson? He was waiting for a story he could exploit for his own fame. He found FL. That is why non-blacks consider the Rev'd just another self-serving political hack.

[FloridaLAW]

11:38 PM on 05/22/2012

most whites didn't like MLK either, did you know that? Look it up. King became a martyr and that's why they eases off of him, names a few alleys (in the black communities not their) after him.

[WinslowWong]

11:03 AM on 05/23/2012

".. names a few alleys (in the black communities not their) after him." Oh Come on! MLK Blvd, St., Hwy, Ave. are always in black communities so we crackers know when we're lost; cuts down conflict. It's very late at night, you're driving through an unfamilliar city and want to get a bite to eat. A sign post up ahead reads, George Wallace Memorial Avenue 1 mile, Rosa Parks Way 4 miles. It's a two way street bro. ;-)

[BOBinPS]

10:02 PM on 05/23/2012

And do you remember how the black community attacked Bill Cosby because he told them to man up, and take some responsibility? They didn't name streets after him.

[Denmark Vesey]

03:55 PM on 05/22/2012

Matin Luthur said way more inflammatory things than Rev Wright. MLK and Ali were called the most dangerous men in America. Histoy now shows them to ahead of the times they were living in. The I have a dream speech is just a small part of MLKs legacey.

[Bradleeeeeee]

05:10 PM on 05/22/2012

Could you please provide the inflammatory things MLK said?

[Easy123]

07:59 PM on 05/22/2012

He really can't

[Denmark Vesey]

10:21 PM on 05/22/2012

Yes. From a Birmingham prison MLK penned Letter From Birmingham. 4-16-63 . Where he stated, that indevisuals have the moral duty to disobey unjust laws. 4-4-67 The speech Beyond Vietnam, MLK stated '' America is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today ''. He said much than lil black boys and white girls holding hand.

[Senior Mason]

02:33 PM on 05/22/2012

Both Jackson & Wright have attacked Obama. I think Jesse said he wanted to do something to the Prez's manhood and Wright said some revealing things about Obama on those tapes.

[Isaac Montgomery]

11:22 PM on 05/22/2012

as brothers we can do that, but I'll bet you one thing, I'll bet you both of these men will support him and encourage others to support him also!!!

[Eldo Hill]

02:30 PM on 05/22/2012

Will somebody please tell me what did Reverend Wright do so terrible, The white people want to call him a radical well if you look at the gop they are all radicals and more radical than reverend Wright, they are willing to sacrifice the poor, unemployed, middle class and seniors in order to get what they want, reverend wrights beliefs or is beliefs and only affect him and people that choose to accept his reliefs but the gop ideology affects us all weather we want to agree with them or not because they are the law makers our only recourse to silence them is to vote them out of office.

[baje1944]

03:06 PM on 05/22/2012

What about destroying America first before they see the black President gets re-elected? We are dealing with some truly demonic and apparently racist people.

[papapj]

03:42 PM on 05/22/2012

Where's the racism?

Quotes, please...I really don't expect a response...

[Isaac Montgomery]

11:25 PM on 05/22/2012

are you serious? this man did two tours of duty as a marine to help protect America!!!

[ChiGuy]

12:32 PM on 05/22/2012

Save us the histrionics, Jesse.
The Rev. made some awful and incendiary statements about whites America. They are no doubt informed in large part by his experiences trying to navigate life as a black man in this country. But that doesn't make his rhetoric right. He deserves a measure of scorn for his inflammatory words.

Fortunately, rational people, including Barack Obama, listen to his rants with the necessary grain of salt and don't formulate the same opinions. That's why the right wing's latest push to resurrect the whole Trinity/Wright nonsense will fail, dismally.

[octavia ash]

03:32 PM on 05/22/2012

The question you need to ask yourself is: "Was Rev. Wright, right about what he said?" He may not have said it in a nice way, but the truth is the truth, no matter what way it comes out.

[ChiGuy]

05:30 PM on 05/22/2012

I personally don't need to ask myself anything at all, oa. I worked on Obama's campaign in 2008 and was right in the middle of all this nonsense the first time around. I've heard more snippets of Wright sermons than most Chicagoans.

And you never saw me claim that a lot of what he has ever said wasn't correct. As I CLEARLY stated above, much of his opinion about America was formed from just living his life as a black man in this country.

But there were many things which he has said which are flat-out false, too.

Examples?

“We [in the U.S.] believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God."

“The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. The government lied.”

[Isaac Montgomery]

11:34 PM on 05/22/2012

Fanned and Faved!

[papapj]

03:43 PM on 05/22/2012

"The Rev. made some awful and incendiary statements about whites America."

Like what? Can you quote one sentence he said referring to White people...? Of course you can't...and you know it.

[ChiGuy]

05:37 PM on 05/22/2012

In 2007 and 2008 I was working on the Obama campaign staff downtown. I have heard and read more from and about Reverend Wright than most people have. It was part of my job. And while much of what he has said over the years is fundamentally correct, once in a while he gets it completely wrong

"...the U.S. of KKKA!"

Well golly, papapj, who might he be referring to.....Asian Americans? No........Native Americans? No.......Hispanic Americans?No.....Hmmm....let's see now....who is left?


Additionally:
He also claimed that America "created" the HIV virus expressly for the genocide of people of color.
Are you going to claim that because he didn't SPECIFICALLY say "white" that he WASN'T talking about white America? Or did Americans of color also help create the disease to wipe themselves out??

[Ethan Cole]

12:28 PM on 05/22/2012

It's freedom of speech, he can say what he wants to say. If Obama can endorse gay marriage, then he should endorse Rev Wrights freedom of speech.

[baje1944]

03:00 PM on 05/22/2012

Ethan Cole,

Bravo! Bravo!

[milles manson]

11:55 AM on 05/22/2012

obama coud not of said it better when he silently threw his breaking of ties to rev.right,rev.wright is a racist.