Barack Obama's pastor's words echo through campaign

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright may have stepped down as pastor at Barack Obama's church in Chicago, but his sermons are still echoing through the presidential campaign -- some rather vile ones, as captured in a video that recently made its way to YouTube.

As our friends at The Swamp reported a little while ago, Obama's campaign is trying to put some more distance between the senator and the preacher, but given the focus on race and gender this week, expect this to simmer for a while. 

"It just came to me within the past few weeks, ya'll, why so many folk are hating on Barack Obama," Wright said in the video of a Christmas sermon at Trinity United Church of Christ. "He doesn’t fit the model. He ain't white. He ain't rich and he ain't privileged. Hillary (Clinton) fits the mold."

This from CNN, attributed to an Obama campaign spokesman: "Sen. Obama has said before that he profoundly disagrees with some of the statements and positions of Rev. Wright … Sen. Obama deplores divisive statements, whether they come from his supporters, the supporters of his opponent, talk radio or anywhere else."

He may deplore them, but he'll likely be forced to deal with them. Among Wright's comments about Hillary Clinton: "Hillary was not a black boy raised in a single parent home, Barack was. Barack knows what it means to be a black man living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people. Hillary! Hillary can never know that. Hillary ain't never been called a n-----! Hillary has never had her people defined as non-person."

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Umbria]

From today's WSJ:

Meeting with Jewish leaders in Cleveland on Feb. 24, Mr. Obama described Mr. Wright as being like "an old uncle who sometimes will say things that I don't agree with." He rarely mentions the points of disagreement.

Mr. Obama went on to explain Mr. Wright's anti-Zionist statements as being rooted in his anger over the Jewish state's support for South Africa under its previous policy of apartheid. As with his previous claim that his church gave the award to Mr. Farrakhan because of his work with ex-offenders, Mr. Obama appears to have made that up. Mr. Wright's statements denouncing Israel have not been qualified in any way. Mr. Obama nonetheless told the Jewish leaders that the award to Mr. Farrakhan "showed a lack of sensitivity to the Jewish community." That is an understatement.

As for Mr. Wright's repeated comments blaming America for the 9/11 attacks because of what Mr. Wright calls its racist and violent policies, Mr. Obama has said it sounds as if the minister was trying to be "provocative."

Hearing Mr. Wright's venomous and paranoid denunciations of this country, the vast majority of Americans would walk out. Instead, Mr. Obama and his wife Michelle have presumably sat through numerous similar sermons by Mr. Wright.

Indeed, Mr. Obama has described Mr. Wright as his "sounding board" during the two decades he has known him. Mr. Obama has said he found religion through the minister in the 1980s. He joined the church in 1991 and walked down the aisle in a formal commitment of faith.

The title of Mr. Obama's bestseller "The Audacity of Hope" comes from one of Wright's sermons. Mr. Wright is one of the first people Mr. Obama thanked after his election to the Senate in 2004. Mr. Obama consulted Mr. Wright before deciding to run for president. He prayed privately with Mr. Wright before announcing his candidacy last year.

Mr. Obama obviously would not choose to belong to Mr. Wright's church and seek his advice unless he agreed with at least some of his views. In light of Mr. Wright's perspective, Michelle Obama's comment that she feels proud of America for the first time in her adult life makes perfect sense.

[Wright's NOT Right]

Obama "disagrees with some of the statements" from Wright???

Give me a break! To sit and listen to ANY of that crap for 20 years makes Obama just as dirty as Scumbag Wright (don't call him Rev. again; he ain't no man of God!).

For Obama or anyone else to sit in that cult "church" and listen to that evil B.S., just lends a false credibility to such an imposter.

Now we see where Obama's wife feeds her hatred from too.

I don't care how many "good" things a person has to say. When their "evil" finally shows through, it's time to stay away permanently.

Obama displays TERRIBLE JUDGEMENT!!!!!! He should NEVER be allowed to make decisions for this country!!!

Hey Obama, try explaining what parts of Wright's message you DO agree with!

[veritas]

What a a joke- this has been out there but the press had refused to explore it. Rev. Wright has been the 20 year spiritual mentor to Obama- You have no choice with uncles with whom you disagree- ministers-you can just walk out the door. For me the most offensive part is that the Obama's have chosen to expose their daughters to this spewing of hatred towards white America. As a parent I find that unforgivable. The Obama's donated over $20,000 last year to the afro-centric church whose website boasts the mother country as Africa. Not the United States.
Freedom of speech is just swell but we're talking about hiring someone to represent all of America-not just black America. There is not just this one speech but many, many over the years. Wright has a position on Obama's campaign. He hasn't retired -just stepped down-temporarily- seems like someone (perhaps David Axelrod) wanted him out of the way so that the American people could be hoodwinked and bamboozled-Okey dokied (althought that code word is unfamiliar to me since I've been excluded from those terms-I don't fit the profile.) Our press is hurting this country by biased reporting- We need the truth and we need it now- All of it-not just what fits the corporate demographic of the youth that they would like to appeal to raise their ratings, sponsors and thereby money made. Corporate greed cannot be allowed to control who we elect to lead us during this frightening time in history.

[Tracy]

If Hillary Clinton's minister and spiritual advisor of 20 years had said anything approaching this kind of hate-filled rhetoric she would be eviscerated by the Media and the so-called progressive blogs (like Huffingtonpost) to no end. It's a double-standard and it's not right.

[andy]

For months I dismissed all the rhetoric about Obama's preacher and mentor as political garbage, however now after seeing and hearing this hateful nut recently on MSM I've learned my lesson about so easily dismissing these investigative articles. Hearing Rev. Wright was very concerning. He makes Hitler sound like a choir boy.

If Obama really deplores this hate, why has he stayed with this nut for 20 years?

[Kim]

After watching last nights O'Reilly Factor and reading today's news, Obama is in a hole to deep to craw out of. Twenty years of listening to the crap Rev. Wright is spouting has got to get into your heart. If American's continue to support Obama they are just stupid!!!!

[Hillary All the Way!!!!]

Barrack Obama along with his America hating wife and their America hating, racist preacher who HATE America and white people are NOT what America needs! VOTE FOR HILLARY!! Before it is too late. THIS is an OUTRAGE.

Obama's Mentor --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAYe7MT5BxM

[Chris]

Obama is such a great and powerful speaker, that I think he's managed to deceive everyone, including the media. However, the sheepskin covering is beginning to rapidly deteriorate and we are now learning who Obama _really_ is. Let this be a lesson to the left. A great speaker does not by default make him a great person, rather it makes him all the better at deception.

[Sidmore]

This is a really terrible time for Obama. I don't know how he will recover if he does not explain his church and his relationship with the pastor in great detail. I am seeing it on these message boards; the very people who voted for him are starting to lose faith in what he offers the country. In case you didn't know it, this is OBAMA's SWIFTBOAT- this attack came directly fron the Republicans and it is a good one with the ability to SINK his campaign. The thing you have to focus on IS because the Republicans have said this does it make it TRUE- does it make Obama a different candidate from the one you knew before. Was John Kerry different in his being after they ran the swiftboat ads? No, he was the SAME patriot he has always been. This country fell for Republican dirty tricks and lost the election in 2004. Are you going to fall for them again? Are you going to think that Obama HATES his white mother who gave him life and his WHITE GRANDPARENTS who raised him? Take out his pastors inflammatory language and get to the core TRUTHS he is espousing. America has made foreign policy decision that have maimed and killed people living outside of this country (this is FACT). We are doing this right now in IRAQ. His pastor believes us being attacked on 9/11 was retaliation for our foreign policy decisions that have killed and maimed- think about it for a second- IS that really so out of the ball park? Don't we WANT a foreign policy that is JUST for all of humankind? One that WILL ENSURES we are not hated enough to be attacked in the outrageous way we were on 9/11? If you as a white person can truly think for a second and try to join your black brothers and sisters (we are ALL HUMAN BEINGS) in this journey and I KNOW you have the decency in you to understand- BLACK AMERICANS have had to LOVE this country when it DID NOT LOVE US. This is the ULTIMATE ACT of love for your country. THAT is the BLACK EXPERIENCE. WHITE People do not have that UNIQUE experience. In the pastor's words WHITES hear HATRED because that has been your experience- to hate and terrorize black americans from slavery to Jim Crow. If you listen closer, you will find what you ACTUALLY hear is ANGER at being SOUGHT OUT for the bad things in country and being EXCLUDED from the goog things in the United States. ANGER comes from injustices. If you dig deep into your souls, you know that we can address these SOCIAL INJUSTICES so we can become the HUMAN FAMILY. Whites seems to think Obama sat there day after day and absorbed HATRED or even ANGER- Have you EVER thought he sat there day after day and said I WILL REPAIR this breach of TRUST that has occured between America and its citizens AND Americans of different races. Obama has said his presidency could bring about racial reconciliation and he is abosolutely RIGHT but do you think it will be easy? Of course not, we as Americans will have to face some UGLY truths about America and then seek to stamp them out. This is our chance to make a MORE PERFECT UNION- one where Pastor Wright can ONLY say GOD BLESS AMERICA for the way she has served her citizens. Are you going to let the REPUGNICANS take this away from you? They WILL you saw it in 2004!!!!!!!!!!! OBAMA 08!!!!!!!

Barack Obama have the strength of character to weather this storm and CREATE A MORE PERECT UNION in the vein of the GREAT AMERICAN Presidents that have come before you- Lincoln, Roosevelt, Kennedy....

[Sharon]

Come on people act like grown ups. I'm sure you have had people in your life that you were very close to (parents, grandparents) who had a lot to say that you did not agree with. You still loved and respected them. Everyone has an opinion. You don't have to agree with them or they are just out of your life.

[Julie, Burbank]

Frankly I see nothing wrong with a pastor or anyone saying "Hillary was a never called a n..." because odds are, she wasn't LOL. Okay, she didn't grow up black or a boy...right.

Every minority group in America expresses some set of frustrations about how larger society relates to them--and for white people, we can't get riled and all "scared" because they don't sound happy all the time.

Not only is this retired neighborhood preacher not a big, the tapes are old and put in context of whatever was going on at the time of these sermons? He's reacting to stuff like plenty whites/non-blacks I know, who are frustrated with some key US policys, can criticize heavily and still love our country. That's what Americans are supposed to do.

We can't go back to the Freedom Fries-era of the earlier days of this Bush Administration when any question of our imperialistic jaunt into Iraq got anyone branded "unpatriotic." Look where that's gotten us -- almost 4000 American soldiers dead and we're dissecting what some southside Chicago preacher said on old videotape? Stop it already.

He's no worse than McCain's John Hagee and his other nutso spiritual advisor who's out to "destroy Islam"...way to go there and demonize a whole religion, sheesh.

Obama's still got my vote and in every way when you see Michelle Obama say what she said, you know she was marveling at how hordes of people have engaged themselves in the political process. This is creating a DIFFERENT kind of pride and ENGAGED patriotism.

Hopefully, our soundbyte culture won't ruin it with intolerant, buzzkill posts like these.

[Jenna]

I thought Jesus was Jewish.

[George]

The double standards are scary, if you go after or say something negative about Obama you are a racist, even if it's a fact. If Mc Cain or Hillary would have been just for minutes listening to some sick white supremacist their career would be over, but Obama stand by this sick guy for 20 years and didn' find anything upsating about him.
HELLLLOOOO!!!!!

[lina]

Hillary is a candidate supporting pro-choice, correct? This is a hypothetical story;

A strong-willed woman looks back at her political career and could have had a son who would have been a renowned physician, or a president just like his dad. We'll never know, the fertilized egg in her body threatened her conveniently planned blueprint of personal goals. She's a modern woman with her own agenda and a political ladder to climb, therefore she aborted the nagging tissue a couple of months before it evolved into life. She is the first woman president ever elected to the Oval Office. However, she's very depressed because she wondered what that fertilized egg or nagging tissue could have been.

Some people say she's a murderer, some people say it was her choice.

You could listen to someone and may not agree with their take on LIFE....Likewise, Obama can go to a church service and may not agree with everything he hears.

Remember that ol' saying, when you go to the dance, you don't have to dance with everybody, just somebody...when you see a menu, you can't order everything, just the one dish that you wish to order.

[BL]

I watched that Vedio everyone is freaking out what did he say that was not true.. is it now hate speech to say whats true. This country is run by rich white people.
If not tell me who then
DA

[hhkeller]

Obama is fake. He'll attack Geraldine Ferrraaor who has geiven the country 50 years of public serivce. But says nothing about the pastor who foments hate and real devisiveness.

Obama's words are empty rhetoric.
He needs to lose in order to grow up.
He also need some time in the Seante learing that difficult choices dont make for good one liners.

[bill Carson]

If members of a congregation had to agree with and belieive in every word their pastor utters over a 20-year period or walk out, our churches would be empty or filled with mindless cattle.

And I recall some of the right-wing Republican "reverends" - Pat Robertson & Falwell - also blaming America's woes as the results of America's "sins".

So stop being so hypocritical by demonizing Wright. African Americans have every right in the world to be less than swooningg over what a fabulous country this is. Until you've walked in another man's shoes, your criticism is no more than blind hate - exactly what you condemn Rev. Wright for.

[Bill in NY]

Someone should remind the reverend nutcase that women were "non-persons" until 1920!!!

[Susan]

Are you kidding? Obama chose this church; he has been a member for 20 years. The pastor married him, baptized his children. You can not tell me this Pastor developed his views of the world overnight and it just so happened Obama never sat in the pews and heard these sermons.

What kind of judgment are you displaying if you maintain a relationship with a church and pastor with such radical views?

If we forget Obama for a moment and think about his young daughters, it's okay for Obama's children to be exposed to this kind of hate?

Do the Obama's believe at some level that any of what this man says is true? Is that why Michelle Obama states in her speeches that "America is mean" and "I am proud of America for the first time in my life"? Have these views formed because of this Pastor?

[Dylan]

I wish we could just have an atheist or agnostic president, one who is not aligned with any of these cults. I don't see that happening in my lifetime unfortunately.

[Darrell Tiner]

Hussien Obama was raised as a muslim, he claims to have converted to Christianity. We see the type of religous conversion that he had by his pastor/mentor--it's not Christ-like it is pure black radical islam--Obama is still a muslim and if America puts him over her, just start looking to the Arab countries to see what direction he will take us.

[JR Hudson]

This is one of those clear differences between the Black and White communities. It is almost common conspiracy theory about what Rev Wright said about 911 and other things. Many people in the Black community feel that way so Rev Wright was expressing a commonly held view. I know you can't validate this statement to your belief standard but it is still true. Also, what Rev wright said is no different that those types things comminly said by White so-called Conservative ministers using larger tv audiences pulpits. Your problem is what was said doesn't fit your perscriptive definition of American Society because your view is the only standard to be observed and the only one allowed to be espoused.

[Tim B]

It's disingenuous for Barak to distance himself from Wright. Wright baptized his daughter, he provided the title of "Audacity of Hope" that has proven central to Obama's campaign, and more importantly, he was the man Barak chose to listen to Sunday after Sunday, for many years.

Those who willingly support an organization are rightly held responsible for views the organization upholds. This is true whether we are a member of a political party, a gun club, the KKK, an advocacy group, or, as in the case of Obama, a church.

Barak cannot now cast away his long association with his church's teachings for the sake of political convenience.

[bill anderson]

It didn't occur to me but as one commenter noted, how could parents not only willingly take their children to be indoctrinated with such hatred but also let this angry, hate-scorning so called man of the cloth, baptize their children and be a political adviser on Obama's campaign to boot. Obama's 20 year commitment to following and financially supporting this hate-monger underscores his judgment or lack thereof.

[mj]

I don't get it. This man's words only make me like Obama a little bit more. Martelle and the commentators on this post have a twisted supremacist point of view. Good to know I should avoid the LA Times like Faux news.

[joel]

@andy:

To say "he makes Hitler look like a choirboy" is foolish. No speech, especially an afro-centric paint-by-numbers derivative job like this, can compare to one murder, let alone a holocaust. Don't vote for Obama, fine. But leave the radicalized exaggeration and sloppy thought to the "nut jobs" rather than becoming one of them in your response.

[charles higgins]

Can you imagine if a conservative said anything even approaching this. Look for the press to cover this up as their darling gushes forth. Can you imagine a USA hating black couple 'repairing' our image abroad. Can you imagine the divide it will cause-probably decades. Obama is so far left he will never be a uniter. If the press does it's job 'fair and balanced' he will go quietly away.

[emjade]

I don't really see the hate in the clip. I hear a lot of comparing and contrasting and a very fiery rhetorical style

[soleil]

"Hillary! Hillary can never know that. Hillary ain't never been called a n-----! Hillary has never had her people defined as non-person."

Wait a minute, haven't women been constantly portrayed as objects in the media? Isn't it an impediment to our personhood to still have these preachers around who believe that women should obey and not have control over our bodies?

[Kevin]

Though it may offend, and even frighten you white Christian kids, The scary old black man has made some good points, and perhaps making a few good points about our society, and social issues, is better than making a slew of bad points
just because a book says too. If what he says is rhetoric, and "evil" (retarded Christian close minded fearful statement by the way) then what is in that book. All im saying is the freedom you have decided to care so much about is in action. who are you to tell him he cant say what he wants?
I guess having another opinion gives you the right. Try to be rational people.

[soflindie]

If u are a Catholic - Do you agree with everything your Pope says ? If so , then u can not be a Democrat . Do you believe blindly in everything the church has done ? if so, u are a horrible Parent ! You are willing to allow your children to be Alter boys when the Catholic Church has done TOO LITTLE TOO LATE when it comes to pedophilia.

This is a year old story - was addressed in 2007 . The Pastor is NO LONGER with the church and Obama disatnced himself from the Pastor.

Looks like Fox news needs to find something , anything to get people to stop talking about Geraldine Ferraro.

[Dr Coles]

No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance. See http://tinyurl.com/2znnvl Know whom you are voting for.

[Frosty Cupcake]

Is there some quote in here I'm supposed to disagree with?

"a culture that is controlled by rich white people."

Check.

"[Obama] doesn’t fit the model."

Double check.

"Hillary has never had her people defined as non-person."

Technically a triple check.

Is there something outrageous here that I'm missing?

[McClum]

None of you understand the oppression that has happened in this country and how we are viewed by the world at large. You are egocentric selfish people afraid of anyone that doesn't look like you.

Obama is not Rev. Wright and I'm sure does not agree with him on many issues.

[Joe]

Haven't women been treated as non-persons longer than blacks have been slaves? Did black men get to vote before women? Hillary Clinton did not grow up privileged.

[Wayne]

Isn't everyone sick of this game of guilt by association? Don't we all want to bring the focus back to where it belongs -- on the actions of the actual candidates? We can play this guilt-by-association game all day long and bury everyone, eventually. Why do we play it? Because we're bored and because the candidates are so similar? It's sort of satisfying but, in the end, pretty empty. Let's move beyond all of this and settle on a Democratic candidate who can win in the fall. It's time to get moving on this.

[ginaswo]

I am DONE with Obama as a potential candidate in the General Election. Rev Wright-This is the man who brought Obama to Christianity, this is the man who baptised his little girls, this is the man who he prayed with the night before he announced his candidacy, this is that man. This is hate not love, vengeance not forgiveness, separatist not inclusion, all coming from that pulpit. The profanity and hip grinding on Christmas eve as children attend this sermon. I am a lifelong Dem I will not vote for a candidate who refused to repudiate these comments and donated 20,000 to this church last year, tis Rev Wright is the head of Obamas campaign African American Religous Committee. BUt Gerry Ferraro couldnt talk about sexism? Gimme a break, the end, done, fini. Say goodbye to the dem base DNC, you are creating a new generation of Reagan Dems, the McCain Dems.

[brian]

is this guy black???

the cup is half full. rich white people enslaved africans, but they also freed the slaves and changed policy to give africans a fighting chance. it isn't easy being black, but success is possible. he would better spend his air telling blacks how to live healty productive lives to change public opinion and reach success, vs. hating on whites

[Joshua]

Now I have an Idea why Obummer doesn't recite the pledge of allegiance and his wife Michelle not being proud of being an American.

Who is really Barack Hussein Obama?

An old adage says, Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell who you are.

[Julie]

Why is every body crying over what Obama's former pastor said over a year ago.

Listen, He is only saying what is true. Alot of black children grew up in America without any real role model and most of them end up in prison. Obama could have been one of them.

And most of our political leaders turn blind ears to the problems facing majority of Black children, latino and some white children in our society. Because barack Obama has lived and experienced it, he will help to make live better for folks who have lost hope.

Barack Obama is not his pastor and barack Obama is half white and half black and he understands both world and he will heal this wounds between us (white and black).

Barack Obama is all about inclusiveness and let us not get cheated out from the gift of this great man.

Barack Obama '08

[Pete Lawson]

Hate-filled toward America or white America? I don't really think so. Frustrated, angry? Certainly. I've been spit on for my color (white) in another country. Until that happened, I had no idea what the kind of treatment felt like. In the service, I couldn't eat publicly with members of my squad in certain areas of the country. Wonder how the black members of my squad felt about that... I didn't hear Dr. Wright say anything that didn't resonate as true from my experience.

Is that upsetting to me? Yes! But not because it's hate-filled towards America, but because it's a reminder of how far different we are in our behavior from what our espoused beliefs are. We have a long way to go to live up to what I've always believed America stands for. Can we do it? I think so. But not by denying that the worst of our failures need to be acknowledged and changed.

[andy]

Seriously folks, America is a racist country. That's all the man is saying. It's the truth. White people just have no clue what it's like to be nonwhite in America. Until you walk in our shoes and learn about our history, shut the hell up!

[PJ]

Obama should step down and away from this "religion" and then try to rehabilitate himself. He needs to wander in the desert of the Senate for a time and then try again. Why would anyone want a president who hates...dislikes...whatever, the country he will lead?

Obama's 20-year support of this racist man is unforgivable.

[cluephone]

The minister isn't running for office, is he.

When in the name of everything sane will you people get some perspective and insight? A wealthy, myopic populace is nothing to be proud of. It's dreadful. When comments and actions are blown into cartoon hyperbole at the drop of an opinion, it's time to reasses your connection to what's real. The world is looking at this behaviour they same way it would watch a schizophrenic stand in the intersection and yell at cars.

[Joshua]

Now I have an Idea why Obummer doesn't recite the pledge of allegiance and his wife Michelle not being proud of being an American.

Who is really Barack Hussein Obama?

An old adage says, Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell who you are.

[HS]

Wow, he sure seems to put stupid people around him. His wife has a big mouth, the advisor who called Clinton a monster quit. Remember the scandal involving an advisor and Canada? Now this? If this guy puts so many "dim blubs" around him, he must be just as dim himself.

[alee21]

Obama is a hypocrite, decrying Ferraro's comments which are rather harmless compared to what Wright has been spewing for so many years.

Do we really want a nominee who belongs to such a divisive church for so long?

What does that say about Obama's plans (and presumably Michelle's) for the US?

[Ron]

These guys commenting are just nutty. Lots of preachers say equally inflammatory things. These people are just itching to stick it to Obama.

You can tell you're dealing with real new junkie nuts when they use abbreviations like MSM (Mainstream Media) and referent O'Reilly.

[Jon]

I'm a white non-religious male, born and raised in America. I was expecting an extreme video, but this seems pretty mild. It must be that O'reilly and Ann Coulter have desensitized me to ignorant statements.

Anyway, it is true that America is run by rich white people. However, after the civil rights movement, women and minorities have gained ground and continue to do so. This old man is still living in the past and he appears to still be pissed off. Obama is younger and absolutely much more calm. I judge a man for what he says, not what his associates say.

[Eric]

Look at where the economy is today, everything is bad! How did we get here? George Bush and his cronies. It will be years, maybe decades before we dig out of this mess. We need to stop fighting and fix America. Ron Paul is/was the best candidate but people are so ignorant that they won't listen to new ideas. America is paying the price and it is going up.