Obama ducks queries on Rev. Wright, promises speech on race Tuesday

MONACA, Pa. — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama avoided all the questions on the teachings of his long-time pastor at a news conference here today, promising to address racially tinged comments made by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright in a speech on race in America the Illinois senator intends to deliver Tuesday in Philadelphia.

In an unusual step Friday Obama posted a statement on the Internet denouncing as “inflammatory and appalling” comments Wright made that were circulated on video clips. Among them, Wright said blacks should sing “God damn American” instead of “God bless America.” Obama said he was not present when Wright made those comments.

A conservative website reported last night that its correspondent had witnessed Obama attending one of Wright's "God Damn America" sermons last July and nodding his head in agreement with the large congregation. The Obama campaign denied the senator was in church that day.

Also Sunday, Obama's chief political strategist, David Axelrod, admitted on a conference call with reporters that the campaign knew it had a potential problem with the sermons and beliefs of Wright a full year ago and actually disinvited the pastor from giving the invocation at Obama's candidacy announcement in Springfield.

And new polls released today showed Obama's relationship with the militant pastor appeared to be hurting the candidate's popularity.

But reporters at the news conference today sought to probe Obama on his...

understanding of Wright’s views about white America and why he chose to raise his children at Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, where Wright was pastor until recently.

Obama has had a long and close relationship with Wright, crediting the pastor with leading him to embrace Christianity and taking the title for his book “The Audacity of Hope” from one of Wright’s sermons. Obama was married by Wright and his children were baptized by Wright.

At a Pennsylvania rally shortly before his news conference today, Obama uncharacteristically ended his remarks with the phrase “God bless America.”

Obama plans to deliver a speech "on race, politics and unifying our country'' Tuesday morning in Philadelphia. Fellow Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, a close advisor who has talked to Obama about the speech, says the address is one the candidate "has reflected on personally and with a great deal of intensity."

Durbin said that Wright and Geraldine Ferraro had both "reflected in their language a mindset in America that was dominant a few decades ago." But Obama plans to talk about how America is changing, he said, and talk about "a more positive view of where our nation can go."

For the Q & A transcript of Obama's session with the media regarding Wright today, continue reading below.

--Mike Dorning and Christi Parsons

Mike Dorning and Christi Parsons write for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau.

Q: Senator, do you believe Rev. Wright was unfairly characterized in his controversy and what questions do you need to answer for voters tomorrow in this race speech?

Obama: You know, I am going to be talking about, not just Rev. Wright, but just the larger issue of race in this campaign, which ramped up over the last couple of weeks. So I don’t want to give a full preview. You might not come to the speech. But (pause) as I said in my statement, the statements that were the source of controversy from Rev. Wright were wrong and I strongly condemn them. I think the caricature that is being painted of him is not accurate and so part of what I’ll do tomorrow is talk a little bit about how some of these issues are perceived from within the black church community, for example, which I think views this very differently.

Q: Senator, can you describe to us again the importance that you believe Wright had in your life and also…

Obama: Sun-Len, as I said I’m going give a speech on this.

Q. But on that you also said that in June of 2007 you already said that you knew about a couple of the statements that were made.

Obama: Sun-Len, I’ll address this tomorrow.

Q: With all this talk there were some editorials out today, one of them even suggesting that “the bloom is off the rose,” to use their words. How much of an impact do you think this story has had on your campaign at this point?

Obama: I think that’s going to be. You guys are in a better position to assess that than I am.

Q: Senator, sort of going to Jeff’s question: In your own view, you’re someone who has a lot more experience with Rev. Wright than some 20-second soundbite that someone pulled out. Based on your own experience, going to church there, listening to sermons, talking to fellow congregants, what do you think is the way Rev. Wright characterizes white America? And why did you choose this particular church with this particular pastor to help lay the moral foundation for raising your children?

Obama: Mike, I mean, I know you guys are curious about this. This is why I am giving a speech tomorrow that will be a lot more fulsome than a press conference. Does that make sense?

Q. But will you address this point of how you think he characterizes white America?

Obama: I will absolutely address it.

Comments

[Christian Prophet]

It's not about race. Obama on defense, speaking of race, answers nothing and hurts himself since all defensiveness is hurtful. He needs to disown his THEOLOGY. See:
http://miraclesdaily.blogspot.com/

[Lynn]

Like running into the offices of the Chicago Sun Times on a Friday evening, Obama talks himself out of things. He is a great talker, I'll give him that. What else is there? Not much.

[Barbara]

But what about all those right wing churches that spew hate against gays and said not to vote for John Kerry? The questions he is being asked by the reporters are insulting. He already extensively addressed this on 4 tv appearances so he doesn't need to answer any more questions about it.
And to bring his children into it is disgusting. The reporter crossed the line. How he raises his children is his business.

[Barbara]

Really, not much? Unless you count Harvard Law School, law professor, community organizer, state senator, US Senator.
wow, just spewing more HRC talking points, arent' you.
He just expanded his delegate lead by 10 and is 700,000 up in the popular vote. No, he doesn't have much going for him-except a winning campaign. No Clinton/Bush dynasty!!

[goldenstate]

Rev. Wright has destroyed Obama's chances of becoming President. He may beat Hillary, but he has no chance against McCain. That's the reality.

[Atom]

And if that's the case, goldenstate, then it will be a sad moment in American history. I am a Republican. I am also the son of immigrants and I have a goofy name. When leaders of other faiths spew hate, or do nefarious things, no one questions their patriotism. When Jerry Falwell blamed 9/11 on gays, atheists, and non-Christians, did anyone accuse him of hating America? No. When Catholics defended their church's shameful handling of priest abuse, were their loyalties questioned? No. But Obama's got a goofy name, and he's the son of an immigrant, and he's lived around the world, and his pastor blamed US foreign policy for 9/11 (something that is mentioned in the 9/11 Commission Report, though not as forcefully as Rev. Wright), so he's a threat. He must hate America. Has he ever expressed hatred for Americans? Has he pledged allegiance to other nations? No and no. To say that his associations with a pastor are somehow an unforgivable sin, worse than Dick Cheney and Halliburton, worse than Duke Cunningham and the defense contractors who bribed him, is disgraceful.

If Obama loses because of his policy goals, that's okay. If Obama loses because of his personality, that's okay too. I get it. Some people rub you the wrong way. But if this is what does him in, then I don't think I can live in this country anymore. I believe that we have three competent candidates for the presidency, and either of them would be a drastic improvement over President Boob and his band of nitwits. But what does it say about this country where people who are different are branded as traitors? If you're a patriotic American who's parents came from somewhere else, what's the point of living here if now and forever your allegiances will be questioned? What's happening now is sad, and I hope there are enough people out there who will not be swayed by this silly controversy.

[Anee]

It's over for Obama. The media pundits are already trying to spin this as an historic speech, but the American people see it for what it is, more baloney and we are sick of it.
Why is the media so in love with Obama? Are they controlled by the Republicans and can't wait to face this guy in the general election because he will be easy to beat now?
Guess so.

[poetryman69]

Getting yourself pastored for 20 years by a radical hater shows bad judgment. Lying about it when asked by the media shows dishonesty. Now we know the real reason why you refused to wear a flag lapel pin and why your wife has never before been proud of America. If we take you at your word, you spent 20 years in the company of a man, and never once figured out that he was a virulent racist. A president of the United states cannot afford to be that obtuse. Request for presidency denied.

--klqtzz