Barack Obama Sets the Record Straight
At the gym today I saw Fox News on one of the monitors as the Republican mouthpiece constantly ran footage of Reverend Jeremiah Wright preaching followed by footage of Senator Barack Obama with the aim of creating a strong visual bond between the two men.
With Fox News apparently converted to the "all-Reverend Wright-all-the-time" channel, and the Hillary Clinton campaign throwing a "kitchen sink" worth of racially-tinged innuendo his way, Barack Obama gave a brief interview tonight with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC's "Countdown" where he set the record straight on his decision to distance himself and his campaign from the views of Reverend Wright.
Senator Obama spoke of the passion that many African Americans feel, including Reverend Wright, who were among the pioneers of the generation that fought for their fundamental civil rights in America. He implied, (in my impression of the interview), that the injustices of the Jim Crow South are fresh in the memories of many black civil rights activists, which sometimes leads to heated rhetoric. Obama acknowledged the debt he has to those activists who broke open the doors of opportunity for him, and he is clearly deeply grateful for their struggles and their contributions to American life. He reiterated his love for his country and his strong sense of patriotic duty, (which has led him to run for president).
Senator Obama should in no way be held accountable for the impolitic utterances of his former pastor. It is unfair to engage in guilt by association. Obama showed good judgment by distancing his campaign from the more radical views of Reverend Wright and relieving him of any formal connection to his organization, but Obama also showed an admirable character trait by refusing to denounce Rev. Wright the person.
Obama also acknowledged that Swift Boat 527 groups are sure to use Wright's fulminations against him if he were to win the nomination. His interview tonight and actions taken I think show clearly that Obama is better prepared to take on the inevitable Swift Boating than was John Kerry in 2004.
We should recall that the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., who is honored with a national holiday and politicians including George W. Bush and John McCain have paid homage to his memory, in April 1967 called the United States "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today." In my opinion, Reverend Wright says nothing in the taped vignettes I've seen on TV that is untrue about America, despite the "tut-tutting" of liberals and conservatives among the chattering class. Obama showed that he is nimble in taking care of potential pitfalls in his campaign and that shows he would be a great candidate in the general election against the Republican smear-meisters.
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I have long believed that too many churches in this country are not much different than madrasas in countries like Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, and it should not be allowed. Around the world, places of worship and their congregations hide behind a veneer of religious freedom to practice hatred and racism. Whether you are an Arab, a white Fundamentalist, or a black Trinity member, too often each group champion racism and hatred of others that feeds intolerance. Where hate is in the pulpit, it is self delusional to believe worshipers are not participating in a religious ceremony that practices hatred. As long as we allow American churches to espouse intolerance under the guise of religious freedom, we will never eradicate the enemies of America and the extremists who are fomenting the same brand hatred.
Rev. Jeremiah Wright has not told his congregation to "Hate white Americans or Hate the government or Hate your country". He never uses the word hate nor do he imply hatred. Show me an example where anyone has walked out of Trinity church in Chicago touting hatred towards others?? To imply we should go around the United States censoring sermons in our American churches go against our freedom of speech.
More and more peole will come foward with more truth on Obama. Soon he will be history just like the liberal party.
Senator Obama has the most delegate and popular votes this is a fact! Michigan and Florida will not have a re-vote so Hillary can't benefit from those states delegates. Her only hope is to win over the superdelegates and that will not happen the party will go with the majority vote - Obama has the majority vote!
PRESIDENT OBAMA GET USE TO SAYING IT!!!!!!!
You write:
'... [King] in April 1967 called the United States "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today." In my opinion, Reverend Wright says nothing in the taped vignettes I've seen on TV that is untrue about America...
First, bringing up King is a no-no. If Hillary can't do it, neither can you.
Second, King wasn't pastor to Kennedy or Johnson.
Third, Obama's campaign is as much about his supporters as it is about him. Your words are the kind of words that have hindered, not helped Democrats in the past -- and will hurt Obama in the coming election if - forbid - he makes it that far.
I'm satisfied but if this issue can call into question and bring out of the woodwork the nut cases on the Republican side that have royally screwed up this Country for their Religious desire to remake the Middle East, then I'm for the Pastor story to continue.
Rev. Wright isn't working for the US government and has not influenced it the way these other nut cases like Hagee and Bill Kristol, Pearle and other wackos that want to turn this Iran Iraq thing into a 100 year or more religious war. No he hasn't
There is a difference between what Wright DID and what Wright SAID. What Rev Wright DID was nothing, what he SAID offended, but welcome to the loss of being able to speak your mind in America. And leave it to FOX News to tell us what is right and what is wrong. What the Republicans have done is monumentally problematic and requires us to think our way out. What Republicans and their Middle East vision, is far worse than anything Wright could ever say. And Clinton doesn't stand up to these THEOCRATS.
Talk about cult. This reminds of the days you could not say ANYTHING bad about Bush or the Iraq war, or you'd get thrown off the stage. Who are these cultist complaining about Wright? Shit, he didn't out a CIA spy, or have anything to do with 9/11, and he sure has hell didn't go to the UN and show us false lies, of how Saddam was building WMDs. Rev. Wright is not responsible for this 3 trillion dollar Iraq War, the death of 4,000 marines, 100,000 Iraqis, or 3000 Americans on 9/11.
The more people condemn Rev. Wright, given the context of what is happening to this Country, Marine deaths, false wars, Iran, Iraq, Economics, Wars, Inflation, Gas Prices, Republicans being controlled, actually controlled by Hagee types, the more infuriated people will become. It will help Obama.
It will make people infuriated at Clinton for not standing up to these Republicans and for McCain trying to appease them. Yes, keep this story going.
People of principle stand up for the right of others to express their opinions.
If the senator believed in principle that the reverend had the right to say what he said then he would stand by him regardless of the outcome. He did not, so perhaps he chose to distance himself for other, more calculating reasons.
Or is Hillary the only one we can accuse of being calculating?
If you can't see your double standard then perhaps you need your glasses changed!
Last week a supporter of Clinton's was trounced upon for comments that she made in some backwater newspaper. KKK talk and "Birth of a Nation" references have been made about Clinton's campaign for other remarks.
Yet a "man of God" says "God Damn the United States" and "the chickens are coming home to roost" in reference to 9-11 or other issues, and he is praised for his insight and "truthfullness". Well, I am tired of this "God" these people are looking to for guidance. Forgiveness is paramount if we are to move on and dig ourselves out of the 20th century quagmire.
ALL of these folks need to stop this firestorm and see tha preaching hate is not the way. Yes, naive but Obama supporters need to say no more, Clinton supporters need to stop and all need to stik to the ISSUES!.
Look, he may have denounced what was said , but it took him years to do so. What was he and his family thinking about in between the time he (Obama) knew of the reverend's words and his (Obama's) repudiation of them?
OK.Now let's have Senator Obama tell us why as the Chairman of the Senate Sub-Commitee of European Affairs he has not called that body into a meeting? Was he too busy signing up as a co-sponsor to hundreds of bills and such? If he were such an astute politician he would used his position to practice and hone his foriegn credentials. You could extend that to potential presidential skills. Hummmm. Maybe he could use some more seasoning? Redshirt?
The Senate Subcommittee of European Affairs has met approximately seven times in the past NINE years. So, if you're going to hold him accountable for not yet calling a meeting during the past three months he's helmed it, then in all fairness you should hold all the previous chairs to the same accountability standard. And, before you find yourself quick to respond with a "then why hasn't he held a hearing about Afghanistan" argument, I'll arm you with the facts (which are readily available online at senate.gov): the SSEA only deals with matters concerning Europe (excluding any Asian areas) and Greenland. Afghanistan is not in Europe...a
You say: "Senator Obama should in no way be held accountable for the impolitic utterances of his former pastor. It is unfair to engage in guilt by association. "
Rolling Stone magazine's current issue is all about support for Obama and smearing Hillary.
This article in a year old Rolling Stone says:
http://www
" This is as openly radical a background as any significant American political figure has ever emerged from, as much Malcolm X as Martin Luther King Jr. Wright is not an incidental figure in Obama's life, or his politics. The senator "affirmed" his Christian faith in this church; he uses Wright as a "sounding board" to "make sure I'm not losing myself in the hype and hoopla." Both the title of Obama's second book, The Audacity of Hope, and the theme for his keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 come from Wright's sermons. "If you want to understand where Barack gets his feeling and rhetoric from," says the Rev. Jim Wallis, a leader of the religious left, "just look at Jeremiah Wright." "
This sounds a like a little more than "guilt by association".
The Obama people are quick to accuse Hillary and demand apologies for the inocuous statements of Geraldine Ferraro. Yet you characterize Obama's relationship with Wright as "guilt by association"?
The real question we need to be asking now is why Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy are trying to shove Obama down our throats.
And, why, in general, are many big blue state Democrats trying to foist Obama on us.
Haven't they heard that the economy is in trouble? Don't they remember the Clintons took the wrecked Reagan/Bush economy and half trillion dollar a year deficits and turned it into the best 8 years of economic growth in American history leaving us with a half trillion dollar surplus?
Don't these blue state Democrats remember the 22.7 million jobs the Clintons added to our economy? Even after these same Democrats frittered away their majorities in the House and Senate and blamed it on the Clintons.
It's time for the Big Blue State Democratic "Voters", who's states voted for Hillary, to start calling up their Congressional Representatives who are super-delegates backing Obama and ask them what the hell they think they are doing.
Obama has been strong-arming the black delegates who had supported Hillary to back him or face challenges in their elections this year. It's time the voters who backed Hillary start sending the same message to their Congressional Represenatives who think they can back Obama after their constituents backed Hillary.
and the Hillary Clinton campaign throwing a "kitchen sink" worth of racially-tinged innuendo his way,
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I am SOOO glad that the rediculous hypocrisy of the Obama cheerleaders is being shown.
Even NOW you STILL claim that the Clintons "inentionally" threw racial comments towards Obama (totally FALSE) as some sort of stragegy. And the explanation I am given is that they do this to court the votes of all those "racist" democrats in PA. Hmm? HRC needs to do somethign to get those votes from Obama? I think not.
But OBAMA certainly needed to do somehting to get the BLACK vote from the Clintons. So why not smear them in black churces all over the countyr, like Wright did. "Hillary aint neve been called a (nword) and Bill didnt treat us good"....w
The pastors sermon was given at the pulpit long before Obama threw his hat in the political arena. So how can you say Obama's camp was attempting to "Play the race card"? when it was FOXNEWS Sean Hannity who broke the story on Rev. Jeremiah Wright (March, 2007). And cherry picked certains soundbites from the pastor sermons to play over and over daily on their network. Obama didn't do that!
Wait a minute. Last week you pummeled Clinton for Ferrero's comments and this is your take on the Rev's? Talk about a double standard. Wright MARRIED Obama, has been his PASTOR for close to 20 years. This is NOT an aquaintence but a close family friend! I find it IMPOSSIBLE to believe that Obama has never heard the heated rhetoric that is running on TV especially since so many members of the Black church community have already commented that these types of sermons are common-place for the Rev.
I have no issues w you defending Obama, but the hypocracy is unbelieveable! I thought Jonatha Alter was going to cry on friday night as he and Keith tossed each other soft balls regarding the issue, 2 broken men, how sad. And then Keith tossed bean bags to Obama. How is this possible after he made a "special comment" on Gerry's words and the fact that it took Hillary A WHOLE DAY to let her go? The comment that the Rev made regarding Hillary was made on 12/25/07, so it's taken Obama MONTHS to react! But that's ok?
The Rev's comments were/are unconscienable and have no place on the national stage, they are mean and hate filled, there is no excuse to make for them and by comparison, Gerry's comments were almost innocent. The fall out over Gerry was immediate and intense and the outrage over the Rev's comments should be the same. I'm sorry but you can't justify his words, it's impossible.
More importantly, this is a silver bullet in the general; add it to Michelle Obama's heated statements and you've got one hell of a commercial from the hateful GOP.
I agree that this is unfortunate and that Obama cant always control his surrogates, but this is his PASTOR, it is a deep and close relationship. The media is already looking to put him in a pew on a day when the Rev made similar remarks, accepting his challange that he never heard these types of statements. IF they succeed, it will be difficult for him to square his story and still make the case that he is above the frey.
I understand that you support him and based on your editorials, i understand that you are very emotionally attached to this candidate; that said, hypocracy is still wrong.
And, as others have noted, Ferraro hasn't been a close advisor/mentor to Sen. Clinton as Rev. Wright is to Sen. Obama--the comparisons are not similar in that respect. Rev. Wright has been called his mentor on spiritual issues.
Ferrero made her comments publicly on the national stage repeatedly. Wright made his statements in private to his own congregation. Get your facts straight otherwise your entire argument in a specious one.
And how good was Obama's judgement when he said those types of statements were "never" made in his presence?
It won't be long before this misstatement is exposed.
It's still a straight dem ticket for me in November, but let's not give McCain too much more ammo.
I hope I'm not the only person alive still able to see or smell a double standard. The Olbermann incident puts it in absolutely clear perspective. An associate of Hillary Clinton made a truly obnoxious statement; Clinton was tarred and feathered through the insidious process of guilt by association - even after she repudiated Ferraro's statement. Olbermann even dumped a Special Comment on her. Then, not two days later, an associate of Barack Obama was shown to have made what many would also consider truly obnoxious statements; Olbermann et al took great pains to point out that Obama should not become the victim of guilt by association because of what Reverend Wright said. If that's not a double standard - giving Obama a free pass for the exact same thing Clinton was pillioried for - then there is no such thing as a double standard.
I don't buy it one bit. This whole issue has to do with Obama's credibility. Obama can't be accusing of Hillary of same old politics when he himself lies about facts that define his character. People keep giving Obama benefits of doubt with Rezko and NAFTA. But Obama clearly perjured himself in front of National TV and on fine print here with his Wright mea-culpa. Obama clearly & emphatically stated that had he heard any of the hateful, racist sermons of Wright, he would've QUIT the church long ago. I said he was pained and hurt when he heard those speech for the 1st time. Oh really? This piece below easily found in the internet proved Obama out to be a liar:
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Contrary to Senator Barack Obama’s claim that he never heard his pastor Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. preach hatred of America, Obama was in the pews last July 22 when the minister blamed the ‘white arrogance’ of America’s Caucasian majority for the world’s suffering, especially the oppression of blacks. . . . In fact, Obama was present in the South Side Chicago church on July 22 last year when Jim Davis, a freelance correspondent for Newsmax, attended services along with Obama. In his sermon that day, Wright tore into America, referring to the ‘United States of White America’ and lacing his sermon with expletives as Obama listened. Hearing Wright’s attacks on his own country, Obama had the opportunity to walk out, but Davis said the senator sat in his pew and nodded in agreement. “
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BREAKING NEWS ALERT - UPDATE
A copy of the Trinity United Church of Christ bulletin for July 22, 2007, sermon atttended by U.S. Senator Barack Obama included a letter from a Hamas leader, an organization the U.S. has declared to be a sponsor of state terrorism. ...
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So who is Obama take us for? Stupid? Evidently. So what is it Obama? Do you or do you NOT believe in such hateful Sermons, you can't have it both ways. When Obama can lie in front of National TV like that, one just wonders how true the NAFTA and how much more there is it to Rezko.
Obama has been caught in a bold-faced lie and people like you just let it pass. Hypocrites of the worst kinds...
Shall we talk about hypocrisy? Each of Reverend Wright's statements that you so ignorantly hold up as proof positive of Obama's anti-Americanism are truthful, no matter the offensiveness of their delivery. Consider; since before the founding of the United States of America rich whites OWNED blacks and until forty years ago segregation was a legal mandate in this country. Remember, the Supreme Court ruled that separate is NOT equal. Today, because of this long sordid history of oppression and unequal opportunity, there still exists a division along racial lines between inherited opportunities and privilege. Don't tell me that you wish that you had been born black.
Although slavery and segregation are no longer allowable in our society and public lynching aren't a fun family weekend event, black communities still suffer from the historic challenges that they have faced. Don't believe me? Just look at those who suffered the most from hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Reverend Wright's comments that seemed to have offended so many white people are no more than a note taking of the apathy that many of our white leaders have towards protecting and uplifting all of our citizens no matter their skin color. Obama's distancing himself from the truth's that Wright spoke was a political necessity because of the biases and fears that people like you harbor. So next time, before you leverage the allegation of hypocrisy, do some research and self reflection to try to understand the perspective of others not like you.
Institutionalize / Covert racism has proven to be far more DIFFICULT to combat when compared to sexism. I know one should not even attempt to compare the two but it seems to be an issue that continues to plague this society. All one has to do is take the comments from Ferraro into account and those comments could have been from the likes is Susan B. Anthony herself. Yet, although it has become somewhat taboo to be "openly" racist and sexism is often times very overt, it does NOT even that all is well in the on the homefront. All one has to do is consider the reaction to Marc Furman, Rodney King up against the LACK of response to the kid being killed in the bootcamp here in Florida (while the cops were found NOT guilty when they were caught on video), the Jena, LA case and the lack of response to Katrina and it has to be OBVIOUS that the US still has a LONG WAY to go. Yet, people across this country seem to ignore the FACT that WOMEN have made the MOST PROGRESS as a result of AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.
The more we move toward Obama and King's vision of America (not Wright's) the better off we all will be. The sad thing is the media plays on the ignorance of the public and many will wrongly judge Obama by the comments that ANOTHER person made, while NOT doing the same thing when it comes to his counterparts. (I will not start mentioning the likes of Pat Robertson, Ted Hager, Jerry Farwell etc...) Note: Clinton and McCain too have some questionable people within their cliques.
Judge a person by the content of THEIR CHARACTER! If we start judging everyone by every single person he/she knows or even associates with then WHO IN THE WORLD will be eligible to serve this country???
After all, those so called Christians should be aware of what the Bible says about JUDGING people? I am glad to see that Obama DID NOT condemn the man but instead the WORDS that were said.
HuffPost's Pick
Around 1990 I visited some small black churches with an African-American friend. The pastors were generally the age of Jeremiah Wright and I was usually the only white person attending the services.
Most of what I heard preached was extremely Christian and biblical. Some of the things the pastors said, however, were similar to the clips playing on the internet of Pastor Wright. (That didn't mean they let their congregations off the hook - they were exhorted to be Christians and to do right themselves no matter what others did.)
These statements weren't said in a hateful way, but rather out of frustration. These little storefront churches were in very poor areas with congregations that were struggling. The pastors (and some of their church members) had grown up in the era of segregation and some of them had come from the deep South. They witnessed daily the difficult situations of many in their churches and wished for a better world for them.
Coming from an entirely different church tradition, I was always rather shocked when I would hear the pastors of these churches launch into what I perceived as bursts of anger, but the people in the congregations clearly - and calmly - related to what was being said. The pastors spoke what was in their hearts. They also nodded their heads when the pastor taught what the Bible said about living as a Christian in a sometimes hostile world. After the services, I generally was greeted with a warm bear hug by the pastor and treated in a kind and friendly way by most of the people in the church.
To be sure, I don't think that hateful words are helpful 99.9% of the time, but before one condemns Jeremiah Wright, and his congregation members - including Barack Obama - along with him, it might help to try and understand him and the totality of his preaching. And if anyone says this means Obama is a hateful person, well, they had better take a closer look at him. One reason I admire him is that he and his campaign are trying to stay above the negativity and vitriol that are being relentlessly thrown at him. This is hard to do in American campaigning, so apparently he has learned a positive thing or two from his pastor.
Context, context, context. Thank you.
I have seen this same thing in a different context, having grown up in a closely multi-racial society. There is pain that needs to be expressed by people who have been mistreated, and I think you hit it right on when you said that even though there is pain, people are still extolled to uphold principles of positive behavior, and in this context, "Christian" values of behavior. But it's not limited to churches. We all have some kind of pain, yet that pain is not an excuse to act out, and for the most part people don't act it out. They go home and buck up and go back out into the world and try to make it all work. This church and others like it also preach personal responsibility, yet as you say, may provide a safe outlet for the frustration. Again, thanks for making this point so eloquently.
And when the 3000 sermons are released than we will be able to put these "few" angry sermons in context. Until we can read for ourselves ALL the words of the Rev. Wright we will all be in the dark and reduced to making things up about the good Reverend. We know about the African-American church you visited but the issue is Rev Wrights church. I have been in MANY African-American churches and I never heard the garbage that the Rev. Wright said. Obama is responsible for putting Rev Wright on his campaign and there are many more questions to be answered - he knew the man 20 years!. If you condemn the "negativity and vitriol" than why do you give the good reverend a pass? The Reverend Wright is not MLK - not by a long shot!
THIS IS NOT A MESSAGE OF UNITY.
"One reason I admire him is that he and his campaign are trying to stay above the negativity and vitriol that are being relentlessly thrown at him."
"To be sure, I don't think that hateful words are helpful 99.9% of the time, but before one condemns Jeremiah Wright, and his congregation members - including Barack Obama - along with him, it might help to try and understand him and the totality of his preaching.
I have long believed that too many churches in this country are not much different than madrasas in countries like Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, and it should not be allowed. Around the world, places of worship and their congregations hide behind a veneer of religious freedom to practice hatred and racism. Whether you are an Arab, a white Fundamentalist, or a black Trinity member, too often each group champion racism and hatred of others that feeds intolerance. Where hate is in the pulpit, it is self delusional to believe worshipers are not participating in a religious ceremony that practices hatred. As long as we allow American churches to espouse intolerance under the guise of religious freedom, we will never eradicate the enemies of America and the extremists who are fomenting the same brand hatred.
As one who remembers how hated MLK was by the right in the 1960's, and how luke-warm even many Northern Democrats were, it seems ironic that many of the same crowd that now salute his memory are so quick to denounce Rev. Wright and, by extension, Barack Obama.
Indeed, Wright's rhetoric is only slightly stronger than King's was, and Obama is of an entirely different generation, one that sees a very changed America, yet an America that still has a ways to go in order to fully live up to its creed.
Yes, the haters are still out there and they still rant against change, though their numbers are fewer and their words more carefully parsed than they were forty years ago.
Frankly, I don't know whether this country is yet ready for a leader like Barack Obama, I hope to God that it is, but the mere fact that Obama has come this far at this late a date in the campaign should give all progressives hope, whether they are Obama or Clinton supporters. The fact that he appeals so strongly to younger voters who are, after all, our future, gives me hope. I am also encouraged that his appeal seems to cut across racial and political divides, to some noticable extent. Only those of us who were around and politically active back in the 1960's can have a clear concept of how far we have come. However vitriolic the Democratic campaign has been, the very notion of an African American man and a woman of any race doing battle for the presidential nomination of a major political party would have been unimaginable in 1968.
Put aside your differences for just a few moments, people and remember. Those of us who were there have lived to see an age of wonders.
The problem Senator Obama has is not with those who honor Dr. King's memory, but rather with pragmatists who see potentially lethal political fodder if Wright's sermons are presented alongside Mrs. Obama's own confession that she had never been proud of America before now. These impolitic remarks are going to be radioactive in a general election, however unfair any such portrayal might be. His predicament has nothing to do with superficial liberalism as you suggest, but rather with the historical racism in places like OH and PA, where 1960s identity politics never played well, especially if it involved the phrase "g-damn America."
How couragious of you to stand up for what is right. Way to challenge the right wing hate mongers.
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