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Clinton Backer "Organized" Wright's Press Club Event

The Huffington Post   |   April 29, 2008 08:50 AM

Read More: Barack Obama, Barbara Reynolds, Clinton Wright National Press Club, Errol Louis, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Wright National Press Club, Jeremiah Wright, Wright National Press Club, Wright Press Club, Breaking Politics News
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New York Daily News columnist Errol Louis writes:

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright couldn't have done more damage to Barack Obama's campaign if he had tried. And you have to wonder if that's just what one friend of Wright wanted.


Shortly before he rose to deliver his rambling, angry, sarcastic remarks at the National Press Club Monday, Wright sat next to, and chatted with, Barbara Reynolds.

A former editorial board member at USA Today, she runs something called Reynolds News Services and teaches ministry at the Howard University School of Divinity. (She is an ordained minister).

It also turns out that Reynolds - introduced Monday as a member of the National Press Club "who organized" the event - is an enthusiastic Hillary Clinton supporter. ...

I don't know if Reynolds' eagerness to help Wright stage a disastrous news conference with the national media was a way of trying to help Clinton - my queries to Reynolds by phone and e-mail weren't returned yesterday - but it's safe to say she didn't see any conflict between promoting Wright and supporting Clinton.

Read Louis's full column here.

UPDATE: From Politico's Michael Calderone:

National Press Club president Sylvia Smith responded today to a Daily News article reporting that club member Barbara Reynolds, a Hillary Clinton supporter, organized yesterday's breakfast talk with Dr. Jeremiah Wright Jr.


Smith said by phone this morning that she still doesn't know if Reynolds supports Clinton, and doesn't care either way.

"Reverend Wright is newsworthy, period," Smith said.

But Wright wasn't as newsworthy two years ago when Reynolds first pitched Barack Obama's controversial pastor as a potential speaker for the press club, according to Smith.

At that time, the speaker's committee--of which Reynolds is now a part of, but wasn't at the time--didn't move forward with selecting Wright.

"He wasn't newsworthy then in the broader context," Smith said.

 

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collapse DrDemon See Profile I'm a Fan of DrDemon


I do not know Dr. Barbara Reynolds, and I have never heard of her until recent times. But I must say her crafty, but yet vindictive actions pertaining to the "timely" function by the National Press Club was totally gratuitous!

With her stature and religious background, she should be ashamed of herself!

She knew damn well that her actions were just an attempt to derail Senator Obama from an ultimate dream of his; to gain the presidency. Although, I"m sure that HER PAL, Hillary, was extremely appreciative of her efforts.

But remember the saying, "GOD DOES NOT LIKE UGLY". So I"m sure that she was totally content with executing those actions of hers¦ and those actions WILL come back to haunt her and Senator Clinton; now known as "Mrs. Divisive" herself!

As opposed to encouraging unity, Dr. Reynolds elected a different path which provided Senator Obama nothing but DISDAIN, DISREGARD, RIDICULE, DISRESPECT and SCORN with REVULSION!

Lastly, I believe she will find that her actions will have tarnished her reputation, in the eyes of millions of Americans, for a long time coming!

I hope she is happy with herself!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:16 AM on 05/01/2008
collapse NoonDaySun See Profile I'm a Fan of NoonDaySun

Being in the middle, you can be a uniter -- or with both sides seeing you as the enemy.

I think Wright is a zealot. -- Zealots are strong fighters, brave, and can give hope when others are losing theirs. The trouble is, they tend to end up with a siege mentality. -- You're either with them totally, or you're the devil.

As has been said, there's a time in the evolution of things for people like Wright, but at a certain point, they need to retire and let a new generation -- one that didn't need to grow quite as many scars to survive -- take the stage. Wight himself will never understand that, though. And some (probably a lot) of white people in America will understand even less than that.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:51 PM on 04/30/2008
collapse SugarMan See Profile I'm a Fan of SugarMan

See. This is what I mean. Hillary can't be trusted. She throws rocks and then hides her hand. She cannot be trusted in the White House. I am an Obama man. But I will vote for McCain before I cast a vote for Chief White Woman Hillary

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:44 PM on 04/30/2008
collapse MNmommy See Profile I'm a Fan of MNmommy



So let me get this straight, now Senator Clinton is responsible for Obama's choice of place of worship?

Tin foil anyone?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:32 PM on 04/30/2008
collapse ebanks84 See Profile I'm a Fan of ebanks84

Some of you are finally waking up to the truth behind our SHADOW GOVERNMENT. They appear to be one thing before our eyes and are evil personified behind our backs. The more you see the whole picture here, the more you will understand what we are up against. It's been this way for more years that you would like to know.

Hillary was the appointed one to take the baton from Bush. The Clintons and The Bushes are very good friends. Don't think everything she says about him wasn't staged. Learn more about the two and you'll learn more about your government. If you keep this evil dynasty going, you will shortly see the end of this world as you know it.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:03 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse rikki52b See Profile I'm a Fan of rikki52b

This whole thing seems a bit strange, now it really stinks.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:43 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse patamakka See Profile I'm a Fan of patamakka

usually, in islamic countries, church and government are one. church spells out what government does, ergo holding the nation locked up.
is the united states of america such a country? can politics be politics and religion be just religion, instead of a dictation from politics or otherwise?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:24 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse friedeggonpavement See Profile I'm a Fan of friedeggonpavement

Oh my God, Hillary Clinton is the anti-christ, oh no it's Bill, no Obama, Wright, Reynolds. Oh I forgot it's Reagan, Bush, MC. Oh my God come now. Help us. The anti-christ is here but we can't vote on how it is.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:09 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse Revrob56 See Profile I'm a Fan of Revrob56

I think you are too kind to organizer Reynolds. I respect Rev. Wright for his past ministry at Trinity. Still, I am at a loss to understand why a shepherd(Wright) would throw his sheep(Barack) under the bus as the pundits call it when the sheep has gone out of his way to lay his body in front of his shepherd and resist all efforts and encouragement to throw him under. Some say he had to defend the church. That's Jesus' job. We declare the gospel. We don't defend it. It doesn't surprise me that there is a Hillary connection at the NPC. It also wouldn't surprise me if an investigation into the Bill Moyer's piece and the Detroit NAACP events wouldn't reveal Clinton fingerprints. And just a note on the flag pin. I'm a Christian and have been for all my life. And while I've been given crosses to wear, I don't wear necklaces. But the cross(my faith) is in my heart. If I were to wear a cross necklace and it broke or I lost it I would still be a Christian. Can't we get past this foolishness and get to real issues like joblessness, education, the mortgage disaster etc. and stop focusing on the "confusion of minutia"(e.g. flag pins, Christianity) even when someone says "as far as I know..."

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:58 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse lizr See Profile I'm a Fan of lizr

It's called pure and simple EGO and Jealousy. on Wright's part.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:06 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse johngw See Profile I'm a Fan of johngw

He went from being a pastor to being a star.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:37 AM on 05/01/2008
collapse Ginzaman See Profile I'm a Fan of Ginzaman

He's "news" as long as you can manipulate the hell out of him for maximum profit/ratings. And the fact that his telling the truth is damaging Obama's campaign doesn't matter. If Obama can't take the racist crap now, he has no business being president.

Looks like Ms. Reynolds is just another person of color who knows her place.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:52 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse rationalthought1 See Profile I'm a Fan of rationalthought1

This whole thing is a generational battle and transition. Wright and the Clintons and Bush and McCain are still stuck in the great divides of the 60's. In attempting to unify these forces Obama will catch fire from all sides - its like trying to break up a fight. It will not be easy but someone has to make the move some time. Interesting, isn't it, we have a person, half black -half white, attempting to bring together the opposites. All the toxins have to rise to the surface in the prosess - its like having a social enema, or maybe an exorcism.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:07 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse xxmaryxx See Profile I'm a Fan of xxmaryxx

Barack Obama is one man who has been defending another man which he admired. WHAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND FOR THE LIFE OF ME IS...Why Rev Wright's is more important than the ecomony,gas prices, lost jobs. It begining to seem like it's the only way to bring OBAMA down. I guess having a husband who seems to be tied to columbians.and making shady deals, or even being charged for fraud is no big deal. 2 wars and whats seems like a 3rd and all anyone can talk about is some REV's beliefs. COME ON NOW !!! wake up .. We got so many things to be duscussing and we are letting the MEDIA get stuck on yet AGAIN reruns of REV WRIGHT..talk about the CLINTONS FRAUD CASE FOR HEAVEN SAKES. Do we really wants a PRESIDENT who's fighting fraud charges, ISN'T THAT MORE IMPORTANT ???

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:38 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse lizr See Profile I'm a Fan of lizr

What is important - what is news- is whatever will bring Obama down.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:07 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse enyapjeff See Profile I'm a Fan of enyapjeff

I hope that this is not True.

If it is, it shows how desperate and self-serving that HRC is.

We need a change in the way we do politics. It's no longer issues it's EGO!!!!

Go Obama !!!!!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:36 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse WineWonkette See Profile I'm a Fan of WineWonkette

The first time I heard about the "controversy" of Barack Obama's church and the Reverend Wright was from a Clinton supporter who had called into an Air America radio show, MONTHS before the story broke. They have been pushing pushing pushing this story in Tonya Harding fashion way before it started circulating among Hillary's endorsement vehicles in the MSM.

There's a special place in karmic hell for those who seek to destroy others for their own personal gain.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:09 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse POdVet See Profile I'm a Fan of POdVet

It's obviously not true as the article states.
"But Wright wasn't as newsworthy two years ago when Reynolds first pitched Barack Obama's controversial pastor as a potential speaker for the press club"
2 years ago! Long before Obama started his campaign. This is just a desperate attempt to polish over the duplicity Obama was caught in. He was never my spiritual advisor or mentor he was just my pastor...yet until last month when the bad press started, he was still the spiritual advisor to the Obama campaign. Deeds speak more to judgment and character than flowery words in a pre written speech. And Obama's words are loud and clear. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, I am the great and powerful wizard of Obamaland. Well get ready to click your heels together Dorothy because Oz is and always was just a dream, and the all powerful wizard is nothing but a myth when the truth comes out.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:21 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse lizr See Profile I'm a Fan of lizr

Michael Moore says Wright was invited to the White House to counsel HIll and BIll over the Blue Dress. WOnder why we don't hear more about that from Hill?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:09 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse ebanks84 See Profile I'm a Fan of ebanks84

The point is to DESTROY OBAMA so HILLARY can take her place behind BUSH. The media is doing their job very well, I would say. The scoundrels!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:59 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse MrZrule See Profile I'm a Fan of MrZrule

Dr. Wright had a bully pulpit and he put into play to carry the message of salvation. Yes, that bully pulpit. More people tuned into his sermons over the weekend than to all his sermons at Trinity United Church of Christ for forty years combined. He's a pastor not a politician. He said so over and over and over.

I listened rapt for the whole thing. Moyers, NAACP, the National Press Club. I can see why Sen. Obama attended Trinity and clearly Dr. Wright is intelligent, well-read, well-spoken and then, Damn! When he started jiving at the National Press Club after his prepared remarks, I was crestfallen.

There he goes, being deficient. I felt he'd gone too far.

From my perspective he'd lost it.

He was being himself and I judged him from my point of view, not his. I get the point. I will do better.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:13 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse BitterInPA See Profile I'm a Fan of BitterInPA

With little doubt, Clinton's campaign was behind the original YouTube loop of Wright. I now see the evil that the other Right (the GOP) recognized in the Bill and Hill for the past 12 years.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:06 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse rnmina See Profile I'm a Fan of rnmina

Finally, I see what all my red state friends have been saying to me about Billary and it saddens me.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:51 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse lizr See Profile I'm a Fan of lizr

it is very very sad as there was indeed, and still is a rt wing conspiracy and it is still working to shut us down.

the irony is that Hill and BIll are now working with it. See Hill's embrace of Richard Mellon-Scaife the other day!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:11 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse johngw See Profile I'm a Fan of johngw

And don't forget how she had Rupert Murdoch host a fund raiser for her.

I guess that's what they mean by "triangulation."

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:40 AM on 05/01/2008
collapse friedeggonpavement See Profile I'm a Fan of friedeggonpavement

Maybe the photo captured nothing more than one ordained minister supporting another ordained minister. Who knows maybe Rev. Reynolds and Rev. Wright have been friends for years.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:50 PM on 04/29/2008
collapse harriscrl3 See Profile I'm a Fan of harriscrl3

I wouldnt put it pass her and it gets worse. Seems Senator Clinton is getting campaign support from Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. Now here's the conundrum if Hilary is the harder democrat to beat why oh why would you be supporting her campaign to help her get the nomination.

You know I was all for Hilary in this contest as long as she wanted if she played fair but this is ENOUGH. SD need to come out and END this contest RIGHT NOW. BUt no surprise they wont come out they have NO BACKBONE something I've always known. Thats why congress is INEPT and unable to stop a runaway President.

Carol

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:38 PM on 04/29/2008
collapse gnomic See Profile I'm a Fan of gnomic

Although Clinton is using the Rove playbook and I can't tell the difference between her campaign and the GOPs, I simply don't think that they are that smart. Its too subtle. They prefer the more direct passive/aggressive approach, whine and lie and then claim they other candidate is whining and lying.

Rev. Wright has been a godsend for Clinton - what else would she have to distract from the fact that she is losing the race and the only chance she has is to ignore the rules and the voters. Does anyone think that the DNC is dumb enough to overturn the vote and deny the first black candidate his chance at the white house? The cry of racism would be deafening and it would be the begining of the end for the Dem party And rightly so.

But you have to hand it to them; only they could lose to a war-monger when 70% want us out of the war in Iraq (and the one that they are trying to start in Iran).

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:33 PM on 04/29/2008
collapse oldlakelady See Profile I'm a Fan of oldlakelady

Will this story ever reach the MSM - unfortunately it probably won't. I wish there was a way that the Barbara Jordan (avid Clinton supporter) connection to the Press Club invitation could get out in the public domain so voters could see the devious, destructive nature of the Clinton supporters. Character and integrity are such a key issues here - there is only one candidate in this race who has these qualities in spades and consistently stays true to his beliefs and speaks and acts with honesty - Barack Obama. My 87 year old Mom is voting Democratic for the first time in her life in November and she has become a strong Obama supporter. She became so upset and concerned if she should still vote for Obama after the constant news coverage of the Press Club speech by Wright. He frightened her with his rants - egged on by a manipulative line of questioning that was designed to bring out defensive kinds of responses. Wright was way out of line and it was sad to think that this man's brilliant carreer has ended in this way. We talked tonight and she felt reassured by Obama's new conference today and the stroong, clear way he separated himself from Wright.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:23 PM on 04/29/2008
collapse lizr See Profile I'm a Fan of lizr

Dan Abrams on MSNBC shut down Lawrence ODonnell when he tried to bring it up tonight...

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:13 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse kentay305 See Profile I'm a Fan of kentay305

some things need to be thought of about this news article above...

i went on the NPC site http://npc.press.org/calendar/calendar.cfm and this is the calendar for the month. there are only 2 members in red and at the top of the calendar it reads...

Note: Private events are not listed on the calendar until the week prior.

does this mean that this woman actually scheduled this pastor to talk knowing that he would have this outburst of ranting?

its simple people...if you are looking for an excuse not to vote for obama then you wont... we all know NOW who we will vote for or not. long before the voting comes to our state... dont make excuses if you believe in obama trying to bring us all together and also use common sense on many of the issues then make that happen and vote for him... besides who do you think is a bigger threat to republicans

just listen to talk radio... for every one topic of hillary there are 4 about obama... they know who the real threat is... and we have to send our strongest person to dc along with a majority congress and house or reps to change alot of things that are going on.. dont make excuses just vote on the better candidate.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:13 PM on 04/29/2008
collapse kcforshort See Profile I'm a Fan of kcforshort

More crabs in barrel...a Clintonista specialty.

Not a suprise, at all--unfortunately.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:54 PM on 04/29/2008
collapse ishy See Profile I'm a Fan of ishy

Was this the big surprise that the Clinton camp promised voters - one that (according to them) would confirm her "eligibility"? Did Barbara Reynolds (a confirmed Clinton supporter) have a big hand in securing Wright's services to the Press Club Event, knowing that he'd most likely rant and rave, continuing to embarrass and hopefully harm Senator Obama? This seems to be the consensus.
We badly need some real honest feedback on this.
GO AWAY HILLARY!!! We need to see the last of you - long before June. BYYYYYYYYYEEEEE!!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:37 PM on 04/29/2008
collapse Outofnowhere See Profile I'm a Fan of Outofnowhere

Huffington Post, this should be your headline story!!
Also, Wright was at a fundraiser for Hillary last fall in Chicago. He and other prominent blacks hid from the news cameras as they were arriving and exiting.
This is totally orchestrated by Billary!
For those who are unsure about Obama, this is even more reason to support him. The reason Hillary is using these sideshows is 1: she's got nothing substantial on him (think about it!) 2: It detracts attention from her wreck of a campaign, lies and horrible judgment.
GO OBAMA!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:10 PM on 04/29/2008
collapse cinemaven See Profile I'm a Fan of cinemaven

Wow, I clicked on your links that support this claim and it was amazing to see Wright cuddling Clinton.. they look so good together...
Oh, wait... you DON'T HAVE ANY LINKS
You don't have anything to support this silly claim.
You made it up out of nowhere
Of course, there will be a few gasping Obama supporters (hi Rat) who will believe this nonsense and repeat it but for the most part everyone will realize what you're doing (Hi Furelise).

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:35 AM on 04/30/2008
collapse WaterRat See Profile I'm a Fan of WaterRat


A challenge to all of the corporate media to run this as their lead story.
It was a set-up.
Said it once, said it again - Barack Obama was Swift Boat-ed.
Not by the GOPers. None other than a Hillary supporter - Barbara Reynolds.
Move over Fox, fair and balanced coverage isn't just yours.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:57 PM on 04/29/2008
collapse furelise See Profile I'm a Fan of furelise

You certainly are "out of no where" if you think you can run this up the flagpole and it will fly.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive