Excerpts from Rev. Jeremiah Wright Interview with Bill Moyers

I've been sent by Bill Moyers' people excerpts from his interview with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, which will air tomorrow night on PBS. This is the first major Wright interview since the Obama "controversy" broke last month.

REVEREND WRIGHT:
The persons who have heard the entire sermon understand the
communication perfectly.

When something is taken like a sound bite for a political purpose and
put constantly over and over again, looped in the face of the public,
that's not a failure to communicate. Those who are doing that are
communicating exactly what they want to do, which is to paint me as some
sort of fanatic or as the learned journalist from the New York Times
called me, a "wackadoodle."

It's to paint me as something: "Something's wrong with me. There's
nothing wrong with this country...for its policies. We're perfect. Our
hands are free. Our hands have no blood on them." That's not a failure
to communicate. The message that is being communicated by the sound
bites is exactly what those pushing those sound bites want to
communicate.

BILL MOYERS:
What do you think they wanted to communicate?

REVEREND WRIGHT:
I think they wanted to communicate that I am unpatriotic, that I am
un-American, that I am filled with hate speech, that I have a cult at
Trinity United Church of Christ. And by the way, guess who goes to his
church, hint, hint, hint? That's what they wanted to communicate.

They know nothing about the church. They know nothing about our prison
ministry. They know nothing about our food ministry. They know nothing
about our senior citizens home. They know nothing about all we try to
do as a church and have tried to do, and still continue to do as a
church that believes what Martin Marty said, that the two worlds have to
be together. And that the gospel of Jesus Christ has to speak to those
worlds, not only in terms of the preached message on a Sunday morning
but in terms of the lived-out ministry throughout the week.

BILL MOYERS:
What did you think when you began to see those very brief sound bites
circulating as they did?

REVEREND WRIGHT:
I felt it was unfair. I felt it was unjust. I felt it was untrue. I
felt for those who were doing that, were doing it for some very devious
reasons.

Excerpt 2

BILL MOYERS:
Did you ever imagine that you would come to personify the black anger
that so many whites fear?

REVEREND WRIGHT:
No. I did not. I've been preaching since I was ordained 41 years ago.
I pointed out to some of the persons in Chicago who are in all of this,
new to them that the stance I took in standing against apartheid along
with our denomination back in the '70s, and putting a "Free South
Africa" sign in front of the church put me at odds with the government.
Our denomination's defense of the Wilmington Ten and Ben Chavis put me
at odds with the establishment. So, being at odds with policies is
nothing new to me.

The blowup and the blowing up of sermons preached 15, seven, six years
ago and now becoming a media event, not the full sermon, but the
snippets from the sermon and sound bite having made me the target of
hatred, yes, that is something very new and something very, very
unsettling.

Excerpt 3

BILL MOYERS:
Here is a man who came to see you 20 years ago. Wanted to know about
the neighborhood. Barack Obama was a skeptic when it came to religion.
He sought you out because he knew you knew about the community. You led
him to the faith.

You performed his wedding ceremony. You baptized his two children. You
were, for 20 years, his spiritual counsel. He has said that. And, yet,
he, in that speech at Philadelphia, had to say some hard things about
you. How did those words...how did it go down with you when you heard
Barack Obama say those things?

REVEREND WRIGHT:
It went down very simply. He's a politician, I'm a pastor. We speak to
two different audiences. And he says what he has to say as a
politician. I say what I have to say as a pastor. But they're two
different worlds.

I do what I do. He does what politicians do. So that what happened in
Philadelphia where he had to respond to the sound bytes, he responded as
a politician.

Excerpt 4

BILL MOYERS:
In the 20 years that you've been his pastor, have you ever heard him
repeat any of your controversial statements as his opinion?

REVEREND WRIGHT:
No. No. No. Absolutely not.

I don't talk to him about politics. And so he had a political event, he
goes out as a politician and says what he has to say as a politician. I
continue to be a pastor who speaks to the people of God about the things
of God.

Greg Mitchell's new book So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq, has been hailed by Glenn Greenwald, Bill Moyers, Arianna H and others, and features a preface by Bruce Springsteen. He is editor of Editor & Publisher.

Comments

[RodgerLodger]

PBS released a few snippets from the interview today and they were really good, solid comprehensive look at how the Rev. Wright has been distorted and caricatured. I look forward to the entire interview Friday night and hope that he gives other interviews, given that PBS is a small part of the TV band. Further, if I were Obama I'd go on tour with the reverend, at least visiting major cities in all the regions. I think the two gentlemen appearing together would make Obama, and later the Democratic nominee, unstoppable. I assume this idea, which is so obvious, has occurred to Obama's campaign people, and I look forward to seeing more and more of Rev. Wright, ideally together with Sen. Obama.

[SethBullock]

I think you are right on Wright. Best to stand up for him and just say "give us your best shot." McCain didn't cower about his preachers, who are actually nuts. Wright could actually be an asset.

[tiredofhillary]

In 1961, a young man, after hearing Pres John Kennedy's challenge to, 'Ask not what your country can do for you....' gave up his student deferment, left college in VA and became a Marine. In 1963, having completed 2 yrs of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide med assistance to the Marines and Navy personnel.)

He did so well that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. He was assigned to the Navy's premier med facility, Bethesda, as a member of the Presidents med team. He helped care for Pres Lyndon Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service, the White House awarded him 3 letters of commendation.

While this young man was serving, VP Cheney, received 5 deferments, 4 for being an undergraduate student and 1 for being a prospective father. B. Clinton and G. W. Bush, used their deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided active duty through connections.

Who's the real patriot? The man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for 6 yrs or our 3 leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who sacrifice something or those who talk about love of country?

After the military, the young man finished college, entered seminary, was ordained as a minister, and became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest cities. This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ.

[CeciliaBertrand]

Thank you 'tired of hillary' - most eloquent. I teared up on the finish -- had no idea it would conclude that way.

This sequence in Hillary's Hell was wrong from the start -- seeing it turn around in the media (much to their chagrin) is a welcomed relief. What goes around - comes around --so here we go, Vindication for Slander.

I am looking forward to watching Rev and Bill tomorrow night - Hope the ratings shoot through the roof. Truth deserves it.

[mightylou1]

If you heard his entire sermon of the "chickens come home to roost," you will find that he was far more sensitive to both the victims and their families, but I bet you have never heard the ENTIRE SERMOM.

Whether or not America started HIV Aids in Africa or in Blacks we do not know. However, we do know that the American Government conducted unauthorized medical testing on Blacks in the 20th Century and then pretended those testings did NOT happen.

So who is fooling who?

[MosiahGarvey]

I never got the big deal over what he said, what he was guilty of was being insensitive to the victims of 9/11, i mean no matter how much u disagree w/ foreign policy 3000 people just died, they had nothing to do w/ foreign policy, they are just doin their 9-5 like the rest of us. But other than that and HIV thing, although id direct some people to Dr. Harriet Washington's book "Medical Apartheid" if you want to read about some disgusting things Americans have performed on Blacks from 20th century to even 10 years ago.
America supported Apartheid?Yep.
America took out Mossadegh for nationalizing resources?Yep.

American Foreign Policy isn't all rosy

[SethBullock]

On the 9/11 thing, you know he was actually quoting former U.S. Ambassador Ed Peck, right? That those weren't even his words about "chickens coming home to roost." And that the speech that clip was lifted from was in part mourning the victims--Wright was in New Jersey during the attacks--and in part a plea for restraint in getting revenge. I think it's more than defensible--I think it's admirable.

[mightylou1]

Why don't you get the interview on Youtube. We know about the RNC, and HC and all the things they will do to stop Obama.

There are those who say that JW should NOT have come out to say anything, because that may hurt Obama in both IN & NC.

Well I do not know, but I do know that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.

[LoveTruth]

I lost 7 people on 9/11. I live in New York and I was not offended. Watch the full sermon....please. See what the guy was talking about.

[mdj20000]

Linda Daves - the RNC party chairman of NC was on the Micheal Baisden radio show today. She did everything but call Obama a n**** along with Perdue and Moore - the white democrats running for Governor in NC. She even praised Jesse Helms as a "good man" for his stance against African Americans in NC. If you guys don't have the tape I suggest you get it ASAP because I have feeling this will be big news since Roland Martin from CNN did the interview.

Check out Michael Baisden's website:
http://www.michaelbaisden.com/

Me and everyone I know was left speechless after this interview. The RNC is a piece of work to put it lightly.

[shag11]

I am constantly talking to "my" folks telling them, if you want equality, you can't preach segregation and prejudice. People trying to defend Rev. Wright don't understand the big picture. I heard Juan Williams on NPR today and he said, in a recent poll, 8% percent of whites said they couldn't vote for Obama cause he's black.
That 8%, against whatever Rev. Wright's number of blacks he gets to vote for Obama is an imbalance, not in Obama's favor. Obama had attempted to run a colorblind campaign and now it's blown. Instead of defending Wright, he should have been outright dismissed as old school. But noooo, it's been kept alive, and Juan Williams also said, the Repuglicans want Obama now, whereas before they feared him. The "race-card" was created for them prematurely..

[pfurlong56]

Juan Williams? are you serious... don't make me say what he is for Fox News, figure it out.

[prittfumes]

"The 'race card' was created prematurely..."

Absolutely.
By whom? Obama/Axelrod.
Why? To lock up the black vote.

[SethBullock]

That is such an idiotic idea. Why would Obama and Axelrod want to alienate the whole racist vote? The "race card" was created the day Obama was conceived by a black man--and racism was something Obama would have to contend with no matter what any Democrat did.

[Sneakerface]

Why does playing "the race card" lock up the black vote ?? When has Obama and his campaign EVER played "the race card ??" The only time I've ever heard him or his campaign talk about race is when his opponents bring it up, or make insensitive remarks. I don't understand the luncay of people who call Rev. Wright a "racist" - he is protesting AGAINST racism, as well as injustices perpetrated by the policies of the US government. If Rev. Wright is such a racist, and Obama and his campaign are racially divisive, why are such large majorities of blacks now supporting Obama ?? To follow this train of logic, one must assume you think that most blacks are racist, or at best, tolerate racism. I say that's total nonsense.

[cmeans29]

Bill Clinton played the race card in S.C; during that timeframe Hillary was leading in the national polls, among african americans, with 52 percent. A myriad of senators reportedly ," advised Bill to tone down his rhectoric."

[twostrangers]

What percent of blacks won't vote for McCain because he is white? Would this be the same Juan Williams who said Timothy McVeigh represented white people in their natural state?

Thanks for connecting Williams, Wright and Obama.

[mightylou1]

Your comment is so sterotypical.

Why would they play the race card when they knew that they needed to run a colorblind campaign in a country that looks at color before it looks at content of character.

The only reason why the race card has been played is because this is a RACIST country . If Obama's father had been white, you would have thought that he was JESUS with all of his natural talents and great oratory.

Now that you have found out that he is NOT white, you just know that he cannot be Jesus.

However, the real issue is that if he was NOT the front runner and were losing, then whatever J Wright said would have been unimportant.

All of this garbage is NOT about JW, but about the fact that this country would rather remain divided than come together and treat people equally.

This is just what MLK talked about 40 + years ago. There has been very little progress.

[LoveTruth]

Shag11,

Juan Williams has said things that were narrow-minded and just straight lazy thinking. I used to like him but lately...I do not know.

Wright is not OLD SCHOOL. Nobody is preaching segregation or prejudice! Where is the segregation and prejudice? You act as if you know Wright when you don't.

The issue with Wright is that he is misunderstood on so many levels and this misunderstanding is a result of people's small and narrow-minded understanding of black political and social thought. There is also a misunderstanding when it comes to black culture, resistance and church traditions when it comes to the social gospel. For many there are either "inclusionists" and "separatists". They have been misunderstood and even silenced the "transformative". Go look it up because I'm not explaining it to you.

[LoveTruth]

Also,

There is nothing such "colorblind" in this country. That does not exist! In order for Obama to be acceptable be has to come off as acceptably black, meek and benevolent. You know the good negro image. This is the truth.PERIOD.

For its, Let's just forget who we are. Forget about TRUTH and just be "acceptable". I defend Wright because I have integrity and I refuse to watch black leaders, thinkers and ministers used a political bait for speaking against this country's social injustice, atrocities, inequality and history. I see the bigger picture, my friend. I get equality because I demand it and I should have it because I deserve it as anybody else.Period. I'm not waiting for anyone to hand it to me.

The rest of the the stuff was illogical so I'm not going to bother.

[dr4Will]

wright is not the only liar here--mr see and hear no evil obama is right there with him!!!

[SethBullock]

Do you have some evidence that something he said here is a lie? Let's see some evidence. Otherwise, you are just blowing smoke.

[JimReed]

Someone should offer Rev. Wright a weekly national TV program so that he could preach to the nation, at least to that portion who wants to hear. It might be a welcome change from the other weekly national TV preachers who always avoid issues. I would like to hear more from him.

[marla219]

You can watch the new pastor of Trinity at tucc.org. He's pretty good, too. And the church is wonderful. All the hate I see on this comments page is more disturbing to me than anything Rev. Wright said.

I wish people were more openminded and willing to listen. Trinity is model for what a church can do for a disadvantaged community. The outreach and empowerment of the church has caused it to grow and help more and more people, and all that good work is being ignored because of a few fiery sermons where Rev. Wright spoke negatively about the government. The intolerance is an example of what is wrong with our country, and what is wrong with Sunday Christianity. Love and forgive your neighbor as God would -- we are all imperfect.

[mightylou1]

Denouncing of what and who you believe in only seems to apply to African Americans especially if they are running for President. However that same standard does NOT apply to White Males who are running for President ,wh en they are endorsed by a preacher who blames a natural disaster on NO to the fact that they celebrate homosexuality. How phony and pretentious is that?

It also is funny that when African Americans make statements that are true and question the practices and policies of America they are unpatriotic, but when White Americans question the same policies and practices and say things about 9/11 as J. Falwell did, he was NOT deemed to be unpatriotic.

Oh what a double standard for the White American vs for the African American.

[LoveTruth]

He's a prominent minister. He was on TV-1 for a while. I think he still is!!!

[Whycee54]

So since the Pope was a part of the Hitler regiem as a boy, does that mean all catholics have to denounce the catholic church too? And why is i nobody makes McCain disown that weird preacher he is rolling with. HUH??? WHAT?? This is definately the silly season.

[WoodyCPM]

This is definitely the racist, bullshit, smearing season. The press and many people are grasping at any reason NOT to vote for Obama because he's black. ANything to give them cover. The press's job is to bring him down. The corporate owners of the country weren't paying attention until after SUper Tuesday. They assumed, like Clinton did, that she would be the next President, after all that's what the press had been saying for two years. While they had their attention diverted, Obama put together a great organization and he stole Clinton's thunder. After Super Tuesday, the attack dogs have been unleashed and Obama is up against the same old double standard that blacks have been up against since the beginning. They are expected to somehow be more perfect than perfect in order to be given the benefit of the doubt. Hillary Clinton has got some crazy bullshit religious nuts in her past. So does McCain. Of course Obama can't touch that because half the damn country sucks off these crazy nut balls preachers on a daily basis. Wright is NOT a crazy nutball preacher. He's nowhere near as loopy and loony as Hagee, Falwell, et. al.

[TeresaZ]

I am really surprised that people are so upset over Reverend Wright. He's just wrong. There would be no talk radio if everyone who is wrong is censored. Lots of people are wrong. His church does some great work if you take the time to go to their website. I am much more concerned that the main stream media appears too afraid to address how Americans would feel about a Muslim, Huma Abedin, with suspicious financial resources, currently serving as Senator Clinton's "traveling chief of staff." Just because some slimy people served the question up in a sensational way doesn't mean it should be ignored. Will she serve in the Oval Office? She has been an assistant with Clinton since 1995 or 1996. I think this relationship is much more worrisome than sad Reverend Wright. I hate to bring this up because some will think I have problems with all Muslims. I do not. I have a problem with this woman's position and financial questions post 911.

[cakelady]

All churches do some good. However, I've read an article that said that some statements have been taken down from the churches web site. They call it scrubbed of some of the more damaging statements and such. So checking their web site now will not help.

[ceti]

Wright is right on most things actually. He has a way to bring the truth to his congregation. http://wrightisright.wordpress.com

Wright expresses what most of the world feels and understands. It's many Americans and the whitewashed history they read and the media lies they consume, that are often wrong and at odds with world opinion.

[prittfumes]

As far as I am concerned, there is no acceptable reason for uttering the words "G** D*** A******" from the pulpit of any church. Even in the case of a direct quote, there is always a way to clearly convey the meaning without uttering the actual words. An apparently brilliant man such as Rev. Wright surely knows this. He should not need to use those actual words from the pulpit of a church to make his point. If Obama thinks his Race Speech resolved this issue for anyone (other than his dedicated followers and "guilty" white people), he is gravely mistaken.

[ipv4]

Your giving the guy crap for saying "GOD DAM AMERICA" a man who for a good portion of his life was considered a second class citizen. Please prittfumes he has every right to say it especially in the context of why he was saying it.

[SethBullock]

So you would condemn a candidate for something his preacher said when he wasn't even there? I have a feeling you made up your mind a long time ago--like maybe the first time you saw Obama and realized he was black.

[prittfumes]

I do not know Obama personally. However, I had seen and heard him numerous times long before he ever decided to run for president. I don't think anyone is "condemning Obama for something his preacher said when he wasn't even there". Yes, there are many who really believe Obama did not hear those "comments in the videos". I am not among those believers. I was a regular church attendee for years. I know how church grapevines work and, believe me, there is no way Obama did not know about those "comments in the videos", even if he "was not in the pews that day". I would not be surprised to learn that he purchased copies of these videos, or that he knew exactly what was on them well before they ever appeared on YouTube.

If you knew me, you would know how ridiculous it is to suggest that my opinion of Obama is because of his color.

[WoodyCPM]

Thank you. That's the heart of this problem. It's just a bunch of typical American racists running around wildly and ignorantly accusing someone else of being racists in order to cover up their own racial biases.

[valkyrie607]

Sadly, there are too many reasons for uttering those words.

Unless you define "acceptable reason" as "reason that won't jolt me out of my cryogenic, TV-induced torpor."

[Biracial1]

Strange Fruit

Seven trees
Bearin strange fruit
Blood on the leaves
And blood at the roots
Black bodies
Swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin
From the poplar trees
Pastoral scene
Of the gallant south
Them big bulging eyes
And the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia
Clean and fresh
Then the sudden smell
Of burnin flesh
Here is a fruit
For the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather
For the wind to suck
For the sun to rot
For the leaves to drop
Here is
Strange and bitter crop

I say G** D*** A****** almost daily after reading some of the racist comments on this board from the very same people who are condemning Wright. Some of you assume that after slavery our country became the land of the free... get real, we are still not treated like equals, otherwise the concept of an AA president wouldn't scare some people to death. You will NEVER know what it really feels like until you have to raise your sons and daughters in a country where yes they will be judged/profiled simply because of the color of their skin.

[spokensoftly]

US of A still don't get it.
But thanks for sharing as we continue to perfect a union.

We will never forget.

[mensa999]

You have to listen to the entire sermon. Once you listen to the sermon you will understand how it fit into what he was saying. A quote is a quote for a reason. It's somebody else's words.

[WoodyCPM]

It isn't going to help. They're not capable of hearing anything but their own ignorance and small minded bigotry and then projecting that on to Wright. They aren' t interested in listening or understanding Wright's entire sermon. They don't want to know what the truth is. They're interested only in having their prejudices and bigotries reinforced and justified.

[AmbroseChapel]

Personally, I could care less about this whole ordeal. The whole notion that religion has become such an important issue makes me uncomfortable. That "compassionate discussion" on CNN was utterly bizarre. I don't know what to think about this Rev Wright doing this interview. It's certainly his right to speak out and defend himself if he feels that he is being wrongfully attacked. Smart to choose PBS. The Obama camp will have to deal with this over the weekend. This will be the weekend story. Mark my words. Matthews calls this Obama's Iraq war. My answer is... I'd rather have Wright than the Iraq war on my hands...

[scamperdo]

"I'd rather have Wright than the Iraq war on my hands..."

AMEN!

And how sad to compare whatever some pastor said in a church to the death toll, world condemnation and trillion spent on the freaking MESS.

And meanwhile media can't understand why they are bleeding viewership and newspapers going bankrupt.

[Stevelagain]

You are setting up false choices. We do not have to accept Wrights' racism and bigotry in exchange for ending war. That is not a choice we have to make. We can reject war and we can REJECT Wright's racism and bigotry......as Obama SHOULD have done rather than praise him for 20 years and never speak out against it until the camera was on him.

[an observer3]

I listen to Rev. Wright every weekday morning. His sermons are uplifting and insightful.
I find nothing wrong with the message or the messenger.

[Msohio]

Reverend Wright's hit job was done by Brian Ross, another ABC employee. With the Reverend Wright story and the ABC "debate" , the Disney Company should be boycotted.

[rwe]

AAAHH, the softer ,kinder, gentler racist,anti semite,anti American pastor... Hope and CHANGe at it's best

[SethBullock]

Let's see some evidence that Wright is anti-semitic or racist--otherwise, I suspect YOU are the racist.

[Sneakerface]

Watch the interview tomorrow with Moyers. You will see that he is condemning America's POLICIES and actions which have been oprressive. Patriotism and loving America isn't going around saying "America is wonderful" and the USA is the "greatest country in the world," kissing the flag and wearing flag lapel pins. Real patriotism is loving your country enough to speak out against the things its leaders have done to keep this country from fulfilling its promise and its potential. "Love It or Leave" is intellectual laziness and stupidity. Condemning injustices and working toward making things better is what we all need to do. Rev. Wright put his life on the line for his country, and spoke fiercely against injustice. THAT is a man who is a true patriot.

[BEHM777]

I think the thing that angers me the most about the trashing of Dr. Wright is I know him. I can't claim to be a bosom buddy, but I have a connection with him through my former pastor whom he mentored (along with Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu). I can tell you that he is a brilliant as well as talented man. I have seen Dr. Wright in unguarded moments, the kind of moments when people reveal their hearts. I have broken bread with him and I have listened to him talk clearly and concisely about a wide range of subjects. Oh yes, I have heard him preach with the conviction of a man that knows he is responsible to the Creator for EVERY word that passes his lips.

Whether you choose to love him or hate him, at least have the integrity and intellectual honesty to HEAR the sermons that the clips were taken from IN THEIR ENTIRETY. Take a few moments to explore what this man has done in ministry on his own and through the auspices of Trinity United Church of Christ. Use your critical thinking skills. If nothing else, be courteous enough to vet him as you would want to be vetted. To fail to do so and continue to repeat the lies about Dr. Wright is nothing less than bearing false witness on your neighbor.

[Bittertruth]

SO ACCORDING TO THE PRO-LIFE CROWD, THE ONLY CHILDREN WORTH SAVING ARE AMERICAN CHILDREN?? WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN IN GAZA OR THE CHILDREN IN AFRICA ? ARE THEY WORTH SAVING? AMERICA IS SO FULL OF CRAP ITS UNREAL.