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Opinion: In Huffington Post column, Barack Obama distances himself from minister

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Barack Obama just took the unusual step of posting a column on Huffington Post to again reject the comments of his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The core of Obama’s piece:

The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach ... or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.

Let me repeat what I’ve said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.

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With Rev. Wright’s retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good.

-- Scott Martelle

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