Barack Obama's minister, Jeremiah Wright, heads South (literally)

For years, it seems, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has made periodic preaching excursions from his homebase in Chicago to Tampa (anyone familiar with the Windy City's weather -- especially its winter and almost-never-seems-to-arrive spring -- can readily understand the allure of such trips).

Wright, we've learned, annually draws big crowds to sermons he delivers at two predominantly black churches in the area. And next week, he'll be the prime attraction at a revival Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at one of those places of worship.

Think his appearances will generate a bit more coverage than usual?

The St. Petersburg Times' story on Wright's impending visit includes many admiring comments from those who have heard and known him over the years.

Similarly, a Los Angeles Times article earlier this week noted that along with the incendiary statements Wright made from his Chicago perch that now are causing headaches for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, he "also provided uplift. He affirmed the resiliency of the black family, invited married couples in the pews to stand and be cheered, and eventually focused on how to save failing relationships." (Read more here.)

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Daleesp]

Now Senator Obama is speaking as a racist would?

Here is a quote taken from a Philadelphia radio station from Senator Obama:

"The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person who, uh, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know, there's a reaction that's been bred into our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way and that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it."

His Grandmother is a typical white person??? Senator Obama’s use of words reminds me of Pat Robertston would say about various minority races.

[Sunny Florida]

Ok, this Wright stuff is disturbing, very. But the bigger problem I have for Mr. Obama is his pattern of saying one thing and then distancing himself from those words when the opposite is revealed at a later date. That is called "spin", people. We have a need and right to know Senator Obama from every angle and what he believes when he talks of equality and a "vision" for America. To say that Clinton +/or Obama is at fault for the direction the Democratic campaign has headed, is ludicrous and short-sighted. America is a melting pot of races, genders, culture, etc. and we each have a personal interest in seeing "ourselves" in our President. With that connection comes passion and emotional investment. However, it also must be tempered with information about the candidates (good and bad, without negative "label" attached to said information) so that we can make informed choices, rather than only emotionally-driven ones. To Americans: try to take off the blinders of opinion polls, media spin, mud and excitement and remember what this race is really about: Hiring someone to do the toughest and,arguably, most important job on the planet. Being President of the US isn't about speeches, promises and what-if's - it is about who you believe will get up, everyday, and work their butt off for every hardworking American, because they have a track record of that already. That person is Senator Clinton. She has worked hard and diligently for all Americans, and spent years building strong relationships because she has a passionate vision of what America can be, not just because she's running for President. Vetted, intelligent, tested and hardworking. Senator Clinton is the right choice for me in '08

[Ed]

Well, it took a while, but the media has finally found a way to make this election all about race. We'll make Barack Obama responsible for someone else's words. Then we'll repeat it enough times the world doesn't know the difference. Maybe, just maybe, he has weapons of mass destruction.

[capolitics]

I think the media has turned this into a circus. Five years ago I was attending a church, spoke the pastor, even sang in the church. The pastor over this time said some rather strange things about death, our sins, and the effect of other people on our brothers and sisters. It was only about a handful of sermons that I did not like, the rest of them were fine and up lifiting. But I did not leave for these reasons or run the opposite direction of the pastor when I saw him every sunday. This guilt by association moniker is childish nonsense. I went there for God, not for any preacher. I learned to intelligently consider written passages not agree with a human representative on any subject. I enjoyed the coffee and meeting people every week and their companionship and good intentions, not their private political positions. WE, as a country, need to grow up and out of the gossip mongering sewers. We must look like fools to the rest of the world.

[Shane]

The real tragedy here is that the media just won't let this story go.

For some reason, the media doesn't seem to crucify members of the GOP for associating themselves with hate-spewing right-wing religious types.

They get a free pass.

But that Obama worshiped at a church where the pastor said things that AT TIMES crossed the line, he's somehow tied--inexplicably--responsible for it.

[david peterson]

Obama's moronic minister will not cost him the nomination
be it will cost him the election. The white working class
will see it and be stunned, they will never trust him
when his minister is a get whitey hate monger. Black
racism is ok I guess in the democratic party, as
is male bashing by feminists. The biggest victim wins.

[BLACKMALE4HILLARY]

Now is the time for Obama supporters to pracitce some of their preaching about UNITY andcome together with Clinton supporters to create a team. Barack's independent candidacy is now, I believe, fatally wounded. His connection to Rev. Wright will cost him crucial support that he would need to win in Nov. For the good of the party and country, Obama needs to accept a position on the ticket with Clinton. Any other scenario would not be acceptable to a large segment of Democratic voters and thus would almost certainly give the election to McCain. With voters in Fla and Mi already disenfranchised, the democrats may, once again, pull defeat from the jaws of victory and hand the GOP another 4-8 yrs in the WH and 100 yrs in Iraq.

[richard jankowski]

i think racism is alive and well in the USA, but i think this shows that blacks are more racist than whites.if whites said what pastor wright said the blacks would be going wild. i think they are given more opportunities today than ever, but it's never enough. the past is always brought up.

[Bill]

I wouldn't vote for Clinton under any circumstances. The last thing this country needs is the White House turned into another Springer episode....again.

[Jeugenen]

THE DARK SIDE OF OBAMA’S PASTOR WRIGHT

OLD PASTOR WRIGHT,
THOUGHT HIMSELF BRIGHT!
BUT GOT IT ALL WRONG,
AND GOT HIMSELF LONG!

NEW YORK TIMES SPIN,
IT STINKS LIKE SIN!
SPEWS OUT HATE,
AND YOU TAKE THE BAIT!

SO SORRY,
END OF STORY!

[Trevor Covington]

The Hillary supporter who just posted their comment should do some real research on Hillary and Bill. Then they should decide whether or not they really want Hillary (who spent a large part of her adult life defending big corporations to make a lot of money) and Bill (who was disbarred from the practice of law for five years for his improprieties while in office) back in the White House.

[maee]

I WILL BE GLAD WHEN WE AS HUMAN BROTHER AND SISTERS CAN GET PASS J. WRIGHT . WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER BLACK WHITE BROWN ETC

WE MUST LOVE EACH OTHERS GOD MADE ALL OF US WE ARE ALL IN AMERICA. SO LETS US GET PASS THIS AND ELECT THE PERSON WE FEEL WILL DO THE BET JOB.
LET US SEEK THE LORD FOR THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB,

TOGETHER WE STAND DIVED WE FALL , OTHER COUNTRYS ARE WATCHING AMERICA,IF WE CANNOT HELP EACH OTHER . HOW CAN WE HELP OTHER COUNTRYS.

.
.

[n.ortega]

If Mr. Obama really wanted to unify the Country, how can he attend a Church where his Pastor says hateful words that foments hatred, bitterness, and resentment. No wonder so many African-Americans still feel like victims if pastors continue to harp on past mistakes instead of preaching about love and forgiveness.

[SynPenguin]

1st thing I agree this has turned into a media circus

2nd and most importatnly America has never been a "melting pot" of anything that is the biggest bunch of crap ever!
I live three blocks away from "Little Mexico" in a Wisconsin city... WISCONSIN! Those Mexican folks didn't "melt".
I use to go to a church that had services only in Polish, those Polish folks didn't "melt"
I carry a Cherokee Nation Card, I am a Native American who lives in the United States, I don't want to "melt" into anything.
Unless every single person that lives in the Unitied States only speaks "American" English, only eats "American" food and has only truly "American" beliefs (what ever those are). Then that will be a melting pot...

We are a big salad bowl, each of us having or own unique being but coming together to change the "flavor" of America and that is the way it should be.

[Rev Don Spitz]

Obama is a racist like his pastor. He sat for 20 years in that church and had to know what that pastor was about. Why is the liberal media giving Obama a pass on his racist beliefs?

[Tara W]

Who will Obama select as his Vice Presidential Candidate?

If Obama has questionable spriritual advisor's, then we need to examine all of his other advisor's. We cannot afford to have questionable individuals in the White House or even second in command.

Tara W.
Http://CenterLine.tv

[babs W]

Right on "capolitics" . You expressed my point of view perfectly.

[kaye s]

To those who say that "Obama is not responsible for someone else's words" ... you are obsolutely correct. He is not responsible for the vile comments of Rev Wright, but he is responsible for his own actions. We all have a choice of which church we choose to attend ... it's not forced on us. When Obama "chose" to attend a church where Rev Wright, a professed man of God, repeatedly espoused hatred for his fellow man (specifically while men), he was making a statement by his actions. It is very difficult to believe that Obama does not harbor the same sentiments as Wright, otherwise he would have found another church and disassociated himself from Rev Wright. What kind of person would want to sit and listen to a "pastor" defame another race or preach hatred. A pastor is someone that you look to for wisdom and guidance ... not someone who preaches hatred and promotes racism with in the House of God. Wright is a racist lunatic and If Obama had no better sense than to continue his membership at this church, what sort of decisions would he make for this nation if he were sitting in the Oval Office?

[S.F. Carney]

Let me see if I've got this straight.
Hillary Clinton does not have to apologize for her husbands lack of morals. Husbands and wives are supposed to share their thoughts and opinions with each other. There is no relationship closer than that of man and wife. She also does not have to shoulder the blame for the comments Geraldine Ferraro made.
Why then does Mr. Obama have to shoulder the blame for what his minister says.
Do I really have to wear red, white and blue to prove I am a patriot? Does that flag pin on your collar mean you will be the first to take up arms to defend what's right?
Mrs. Obama said, "For the first time... I am proud of my country." Considering how most blacks have been treated, that was a statement of hope for those who told themselves long ago that America would never get past issues like race. America will never give blacks an even playing field. Like Mrs. Obama, I too was beginning to feel a new kind of pride in my country. I wonder if she will still feel the same way when the media gets through with her husband.

[Patrick]

Well the media built him up, you cant cry now that they are the ones bringing him down.

[Bill O'bama]

It is not a question making Barak responsible for the reprehensible sermons of J. Wright, but Barak needs to answer WHY did he listen to such drivel for 20+ years? Why did he support, monetarily also, such a pastor and institution, and why only NOW when it is politically necessary is he trying to say he does not agree with the men he says has been his mentor / spiritual leader / blah blah blah?

This man has shown a lack of JUDGEMENT / LeEADRESHIP and also shown COWARDICE for not standing up to what he knows and should have known was not appropiate. Instead even exposed his impressionable kids to such drivel. His wife already seems to have been drilled with this philosophy - I am for the first time in my adult life proud to be an American...WOW !!

This man Barak stopped wearing his lapel pin after 9/11 !! Know why, because 5 days after 9/11 Wright gave the now famous "chicken coming home to roost" sermon. Must have influenced Barak I am sure since he decided to remove his lapel pin flag, but yet had to use the flad as his prop to save his political sorry ass.

Shame on you Barak. NO JUDGEMENT / NO LEADERSHIP /

Retire and go commiserate with Wright, maybe even co-author some books, milk them "typical white" for speaking engagement fees - what better way to get even with them slave masters.

[Rob Davies]

What's the big deal with Reverend Wright's comments? American foreign policy has been controlled by big business throughout our history. Furthermore, what about CIA murders of South American democratically elected officials, the lack of support of the newly elected president of Argentina, support of Pinochet, Iran-contra, death squads in central america, invasions of Canada, the Philippines, the Spanish-American War and Hawaii. Most Americans have no clue about the real history of our foreign policy history and should do a bit of reading before they open their ignorant mouths. I'm more disturbed by the ignorance of the media and the average American, than the comments of Reverend Wright who happens to be right on the mark.

[Caroline Miniscule]

All those who say Obama should not be held responsible for the words of his pastor please take note of a couple of things: In his first speech on the subject - he denied ever having heard Wright make such inflammatory statements. In his second speech on the subject, after various news media had pointed out that they found it difficult to believe that after attending the church for 20 years that he had never heard any of these things - Obama makes a second speech in which he says, Yes, he did hear those things. So he has just revealed himself to be a liar.

Now, I suppose a politician who has been revealed to tell a ile is not so unusual...but Barack was supposed to be so different. And, then his comments about his grandmother - "afraid of someone she didn't know" - I don't know, I would think that most elderly women would be afraid of people they didn't know.... that's the nature of becoming old in a violent society where the elderly are preyed upon by the young.

[lhal]

Going south? Good, he'll be closer to Guantanamo Bay where he belongs. If he "preached" what he "preaches" in an Islamic Temple in the US, he'd be going to Guantanamo anyway.

[Semour Butts]

Obama will say or do anything it takes to obtain the presidency, It's been said (rightly) that obama wouldn't be in this position were he not a black man. any white man with as little experience as Obamas got would never even be considered for the post...SB

[Chad Harris]

Unreal, why will liberals continue to pander to Obama's defense of a Black Hitler (Wright)....Look at yourselves in the mirror. How utterly devoid are you of introspection? If Bush attended a church like this for 20 years you would impeach him. America deserves a better candidate for President than this FAKE - OBama. At least with Hillary you can kind of gauge whats coming. I don't want to be 'schooled' in racial history by this veiled racist Obama.

[Steve]

Capolitics,
Nice puff piece, real touching, kumbaya,yada,yada. This is not gossip mongering -you never once heard your preacher accuse a "white" govt. of injecting black people with AIDS, of building bigger prisons to incarcerate people of color, that 3000 innocent citizens died because America's chickens came home to roost.
I doubt your pastor impugned Condi Rice, Clarence Thomas & Colin Powell because of political affiliation. If he did, and you remained at your church, then you are as foolish as Jeremiah Wright. Obama is not guilty by association, he is stupid by association. His further association with this man, William Ayers & the words of his wife just don't instill confidence in a largely white America. Give me Thomas Sowell, Condi, Alan Keyes, intelligent black people - not the New Black Panthers...

[CJ]

Obama 08

[Caroline Miniscule]

>>>She also does not have to shoulder the blame for the comments Geraldine Ferraro made.

Perhaps because nothing Ferraro said was worthy of blame?

What are the statistics of black voters - new black voters, who have never voted before - coming out to vote in these primaries? For Obama.

Considering Ferraro's years of service for minorities (she's a Democrat - you can take it as read she did that), for Hillary Clinton to throw her under the bus is reprehensible, and if I *had* been going to vote for her, I sure wouldn't now. Nor will I vote for Obama because he's a liar - let us not forget his corruption scandal with Rezko, either, also something he has in common with Hillary - corruption (but then, name one politician that doesn't) and his wife seems to be living in the past of 50 years ago.

Did Obama ever say if he agreed with his wife that people shouldn't go to college in order to get well-paying jobs, because it would take them forever to pay off their student loans?

[Mary Mantelli]

Rather than basing your opinions on what you read about Pastor Wright, or what you heard about a speech I would strongly encourage you all to take the time to watch the full length version of Barack Obama's speech on race in America. I heard so many televison and radio commentators liken this speech to those of Lincoln, Kennedy, and King that I had to watch it. I was not disappointed. Obama is so incredibly inciteful and articulate on what is behind the racial divide in this country - I have never heard it described more plainly - but, it is much, much more than a speech on race. This speech clearly identifies the REAL oppressor in this country and it is not whites oppressing blacks or affirmative action harming whites - it is corrupt government and rich corporate America hurting each and every one of us. Please, please watch this video and then send it on to everyone you think you can convince to watch it, too. It is truly a speech that every American should see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo

[Annoyance]

Wow. The media really knows how to lay it thick. Take a story from McMean's henchmen and blow it up, and hand it to good ol' Hill to make matters worse. Most of America is still full of hatred and biggotry and the people cannot ascend any type of sub-rational thinking that allows them to think everyone is racist, or feminist, etc. etc.. His pastor was wrong in his thinking, we get that. The KKK leader (don't know his name, nor care to look it up), wrong. Hillary and her die-hard gal-pals....wrong. Who cares who you played with in school, grow up and quit thinking that just cause you listened to outback country that someone that listens to death metal has an alternate agenda that causes you offence, when in fact it has nothing to do with you. You don't like it, don't listen to it. Also don't do them a disservice by telling everyone else about it, nobody else cares.

Just think about it, if McCain helps trump Obama, then Hillary wins, but by that time the republican machine will have enough dirt to bury Hill and Bill, with his interns, and we will be looking for another good war with Iran and China. By good, sarcastically speaking, of course.

[CJ]

Barack will be a fine President.
Obama 08

[Silvia]

From the point of view of a Hispanic American, let me say to hose who call Obama a racist and those who want to make him pay for what his pastor said, you're much more racists on your comments and quite detached from the reality of racisms and classism in America.

I'm the typical type of what Clinton calls her supporters, Hispanic and over 50. Sorry, but I would not vote for any other candidate than one capable of being an honest candidate with no minimal if any links to what is contributing to the demise of the middle class in America -- lobbysts and their dirty money. They don't represent the people like Hillary says, they represent million dollar salary CEOs and their personal interests.

Silvia

[lhal]

I have thought all along that Barack Obama is a phony and very arrogant. I never liked him. I don't care what race he is or isn't.

[Enkidu]

Jeebus, did NONE of you read or watch the Obama speech? I would love to hear a very cogent and constructive discussion as to what displeases anyone in this forum about the "more perfect union" speech, as I was swayed by it in a definitive fashion.

[Black Man]

I

He is Just telling it the way it is.

Hiliary is wealthy,

She has not struggled,

She has never been called a Nigger.

Whats the Point?

[Donna]

There's no need for anyone to try to put words in Obama's mouth (which of course is ridiculous)

Just read the very first post to this article.

[JAMIE]

Why is it Obama's fault what one of his friends think? I have friends, and have had pastors, with whome I have disagreed, but I have never had anyone hold me to account for what they thought. John McCain spoke at Bob Jones University for crying out loud. Hillary's husband lied to our nation on camera, more than once, and took sexual advantage of a young intern. Hillary sat on the Board of Walmart for six years and then had the nerve to visit China on a "women's rights" trip. Do you really think Obama is rascist? If you answer yes to that chances are you are the rascist. He is bi-racial for christ sakes.

[Steve]

No GOP candidate for President has EVER attended a church for 20 years where such bile was spewed; why can't you people see that Obama is not guilty of saying these things, but by associating with this Black Panther church is guilty of bad judgment? It does not matter that this is a few sound bites - the very fact that this preacher said these things even once shows that he is a foolish, hateful black racist. It is that simple - it's not gossip, it's not a media circus, it's not character assassination. It's disturbing to any one of intellect, or reason, who is trying to get along in this world that a presidential candidate calls this guy a mentor. You can not compare Falwell, Robertson, anybody you may hate to this Jermiah Wright. You just can't support that assertion - plus, none of those guys was anybody's pastor! Obama is toast - get over it,. and realize that MANY, MANY reasonable americans are a little shocked that anything like this was ever said in a mainstream black church.

[Janet]

Forget Wright. He's just one person. What voters need to do is educate themselves about Black Liberation Theology. Start by checking out the website of the Trinity United Church of Christ (http://www.tucc.org/about.htm - Obama's church). Then do a little research about James Cone, the primary architect of Black Liberation Theology. You might begin to understand where Wright's words have been coming from, and why some of us are so concerned that Obama has associated with this church for so long. Even Oprah has left this church. A direct quote from their website is "We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization." The foundation of Obama's church is based on the oppression of blacks and not the colorblind teachings of Jesus Christ. Where exactly does Obama’s allegiance lie? He may not be the “uniter” that everyone wants to believe…

[Walt Riggins]

Obama has to lead the ignorant as well as the educated and that is not easy. McCain and Bush arre in their element when dealing with the USA morons and imbeciles, lemmings who seek out cliffs from which to jump. The USA does indeed look like a foolish nation of war mongerers and racists to the rest of the world, because the rest of the world sees them for what they are. Personally, Obama has paid too high a price to lead the buffoons of the USA out of the dark ages brought abut by Bush/Cheney/Rice/Wolfiwicz/Rumsfeld and Karl Rove, the Frankensteins of the world political order. It will be decades until the USA understands the impacts of its deadly mistakes, domestically and globally. Bush will be dead and the world will regret not acting against the USA sooner as it murdered those who disagreed and gave weapons to Israel to continute its rampages of disaster. USA has become a barely concealed cabal of semi-organized crimes

[college kid]

Obama is bad for us and the Nation. I rather have a ethical republican in office than a crazy, truth spinning, racist like Obama. Obama is just playing all of us for saps!

- College Kid

[Bird of a feather]

Barack is proving to be as much of an idiot as Bush, if he believes he can distance himself from the kinds of people he's worked and grown up with, and have us believe that he's not like them, or at least influenced by them.

Rezko. Wright. Who's next, R. Kelly?

Now, all the early drones who idolized Obama don't know what to do.

That's what happens when you put someone up on a pedestal without knowing where he/she comes from, or where he/she stands.

[ronnie]

no one should have to shoulder the blame for the comments Geraldine Ferraro made.
Geraldine should not be blamed for telling the truth. this is the first tiem in recorded hiostory sence washington that the truth was told by a politician former or present.
Personally I am deeply ashamed of barak hussian Obama
Hummmmm I wonder why the mews media doesn't use his middle name more often. Hummmmmmm I wonder why hussain doesn't use his middle name more often. HUmmmmmmm I wonder why his wife doesn't use his middle name more often. Hummmmm i wonder why all those politicians doesn't use his middle name more often. HUmmmmmm i wonder When it'll be his time to stand on the stage and cry over getting caught with his pants down in a hookers bed. Hummmmmmm I wonder why all thoise mid westerners and westerners are lusting so hard after a known liar, and racist. are all of those white males gay andd in heat? are they that stupid>
Hummmmmm I wonder why the news media and obama aren't calling for the new governor of new york to resign as he admitted to practually the same thing the white governor was canned for.
Hummmmmmmm where in the hgell is all of these white guys with a tan like obama and the new york governor are coming from.

[Kid College]

obama is a racist. A liar, with the mastery of tongue, but I will not be fooled!

[Rebecca Boone]

I read the lame speech before I heard Obama the orator deliver it. He appears to me to be playing the race card for all it's worth. His argument is that he's disadvantaged as a candidate by reason of his blackness; factoring in such a fact is pure bigotry on the part of whites, but on his part it's intelligent realism. His dream scheme is to cure whites of our bigotry by infiltrating the US government at the highest level as a closet Muslim and "unifying" everybody on earth. Wake up, guilt-ridden idealists! You're being gulled by a gifted orator. So far, Barack Hussein Obama appears to have no Hitler-like will to power. Instead, he’s humbly but shrewdly counting on his sob story of being black to con you into voting for him. Clearly, he's an ardent supporter of affirmative action. Being editor of the Harvard Law Review is impressive. I wonder if he won this coveted prize by the same tactics – i.e., I’m more entitled than others because I’m black?

[Sadie]

All of Obama 's close friends and associates are either hate mongers, criminals or racist or combination of each. Wright, Farrakan, Aryers, Rezko.
He said himself he was boneheaded....it's more than that you don't have friends and associations unless you have a lot in common with them.
Another sign of poor judgement,he is also a heavy smoker....yet he talks about health insurance...if he isn't concerned about his own health he sure as heck isn't concerned about anybody else's. This country cannot survive a person of such poor judgement in all areas of his life. He would have Osama Bin Laden head of National security.
oops guess that was boneheaded.

[cheb]

I think people have gotten dumber over the years. We are collectively moving backwards and proof is in what you people are saying. Its obvious you did not even listen to his speach. btw I am a white former republican. Obama could very well be the best president we ever had but you people want to focus on rasicm and get distracted from bigger issues.

[David]

Please read his speech if you haven't. It will alleviate all your fears. Barack Obama is a good man with a vision of hope and unity for this country that we haven't seen in 50 years.

[lhal]

Good for you, College Kid. Pick patriotism over flowery speeches. Your President should have deep patriotism first.

[Matx]

I see that after decades of fighting the concept of "Separate but Equal" that there are blacks like Jeremiah Wright who want nothing more than "Equal but Separate." Isn't that about it? Doesn't that type of social arrangement benefit the Jeremiah Wright's of the world by allowing them to maintain their own little fiefdom's?

To listen to Obama criticize those who voted for the war for "their lack of judgment" has now become ludicrous in the extreme. At least they were acting on what they believed was valid intelligence at the time.

What's Obama's excuse for sitting in this church for 20 years? Where was his judgment?

This country is in dire economic trouble, political trouble, all kinds of trouble and we just don't need some vapid "feelgood" like Obama at the helm. It's just that simple.

Let him go preach his message of "hope" to his client Rezko's slum tenants who were deprived of heat in the middle of a brutal Chicago winter. I'm sure they'd love to hear it. Perhaps it'll warm their souls.

Otherwise, enough already of Barack Obama. It seems I've met his overzealous, smiling type a thousand times during my sojourn through the corporate world and I'm sorry but his type is always utterly dangerous. Smiling, happy, projecting warmth and collegiality, and then "wham"... stabbed in the back everytime.

Ironically, to make my point, I'd submit that Reverend Wright is experiencing that scenario right now at Senator Obama's hands, isn't he?

Wright is now a liability to Obama so Obama publicly denounces him. One supposes their twenty odd years of friendship suddenly doesn't mean much to Obama anymore. I honestly don't know which one of them is more pathetic.

No matter, thanks but no thanks to both of them.

Matx

[Bill Alton]

Obama has lured liberal/stupid whites/blacks with his speeches, its true what is being said ,due to being black is the only reason he is where he is at. In reality he is of mixed race so he is really neither race. He has no real plans just a lot of empty talk that he is able to sell. This country has for too long ignored the fact that mixing the races is wrong and will be the downfall of this country. We are almost there now wont be too long be for we will reap the wrath.

[Mary Pat]

It has been known for quite sometime that Pastor Wright has a history of some inflammatory sermons, and therefore the only thing anyone should find surprising is how long it took the Obama campaign and the press to address this. This should have been aired quite sometime ago. Obama is running to represent all of America, not black or white America.It is personally and politically naive of Mr .Obama to not understand the significance of this, and this is my problem with him as a candidate. Regarding his comment about his grandmother, I don't think Obama's grandmother is unusual.... and I am sure many black women, and maybe men, felt and maybe still feel uncomfortable approaching a group of whites on the street. I am on guard approaching any group I don't know.

[lhal]

Yes, I also believe the Obama is almost like George Bush. He distorts--with charm--but it's a distortion. Just as Bush tried to use fear as a motivator, Obama is trying to fill Americans with this notion that somehow we're all damaged. We're not damaged. We're fine. We just have some problems that we can solve--without him, I hope.

[ronnie]

to the writer of thie below post ; are you that dense> or just wear a sign saying "hey I am stupid" this was worded from our constitution. hussain hasn't writen anything. this guy hussian thrives on Plagiarism.
By the way if you check your history yuo'll find that Lincoln did not write the gettysberg address and had to be talked int giving it by his aids. he wanted wanted to skip the entire trip to gettysberg for the night ligfe of washington. and john was listed by pravutally every major newspaper and tv station as going down in history as the most do nothing president. and he still holds the title. when martin luther king's widow attempted to have his lifes works (speeches and quotes) put into books she was turned down by every major college she contacted because he kind wrote nothing. he Plagiarised them form other writers. eviodently kings widow got enough money to p[ay to have them published which is a shame on blakcs everywhere.

Jeebus, did NONE of you read or watch the Obama speech? I would love to hear a very cogent and constructive discussion as to what displeases anyone in this forum about the "more perfect union" speech, as I was swayed by it in a definitive fashion.

Posted by: Enkidu | March 20, 2008 at 07:05 PM

[blueyed devil]

Obama doesnt know what its like to be a white man in a black world .being called racist while you are surrounded by thousands of black racists passing laws against giving a white man a job .being called a blue eyed devil in front of young children being beaten and shot at by beautiful young black men who laugh as they run away leaving you bleeding in the street I have lived in a black world as a white man and its a hell of alot worse than it is for a black man in a white world .a black man can treat a white boy like a dog and its a ok cause everyone knows white people are racist

[A Voice Crying in the Wilderness]

God works in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform! The likelihood of Rev. Wright's sermon contents costing Mr. Obama the nomination, as well as the presidency, are almost 99.9% sure. However, what it may have cost Mr. Obama given the loss of both, cannot be compared to what it may have saved him from: "a country full of narrow-minded people who don't have the capacity to judge "fairly" and "equitably" in any given situation."

[lhal]

MAXT! It's worse than that. Obama has said he didn't vote for the war. Of course he didn't. The vote happend years before he was in the Senate! THAT's what I've been saying...he's a weasel-worder.

[Jonathan]

I am glad that I voted for Hillary Clinton. Senator Obama has confirmed my worse nightmares. That he is a racists and doesn't like America. We can't be blamed for what was wronged from past injustice here in America. What has happened in the past should stay in the past and we as a nation should move forward.

That is why I must urge any of the remaining states that are up for grabs to vote for Hillary Clinton in double and even triple digit leads before it is too late and John McCain Fries wins the election and 4-8 years of more republicanism and more of the Bush-Cheney policies that have plagued this country into an economic downward spin of uncertainty.

We as a nation can't afford to give McCain Fries the election away because Barack is a bone head for tolerating racial comments by J. Wright? I urge you to watch or by The Golden Girls on DVD and find the episode where Dorothy "Bea Arthur" is friendly with a supposedly well know author Barbra Thorndike. Forgot the actress name. Anyway, they became close friends and the rest of the girls in this episode felt left out of their friendship so they decided to go to the Mortimer Club an exclusive club supposedly in Miami to make up. Well Sophia who was played brilliantly by Estelle Getty had a date who was Jewish and couldn't go to the club because this character TOLERATED AND BELONGED TO A CLUB
that tolerated Anti-Semitism. Dorothy ended the friendship and the rest is history.Same thing is happening here.

If you belong to a group or a club in America that praises Anti-Semitism, Anti-White, Anti-Black such as the KKK Klan, I FEEL THAT YOU SENATOR OBAMA SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF! HOW CAN YOU ALOW THIS KIND OF BIGOTRY AND HATE SPEW INTO YOUR FAMILY? HOW DO YOU TOLERATE IT AND PREACH YOUR MESSAGE OF SO CALLED CHANGE WHEN IN REALITY YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A PHONY! I HOPE PEOPLE IN AMERICA SEE BARACK OBAMA FOR WHO HE REALY IS AND ALWAYS BELIEVE IN THIS PHOLOSOPHY"ONCE A POLITICIAN ALWAYS A POLITICIAN". AND THERE IS ABSOLUTLY NOTHING THIS MAN CAN DO OR SAY THAT WILL MAKE ME CHANGE MY MIND. LET US ALL PRAY THAT AMERICA ISN'T TOO LATE AND THAT WE CAN SEND A RELIABLE DEMOCRAT LIKE HILLARY CLINTON INTO THE WHITE HOUSE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, I THINK THAT HOWARD DEAN SHOULD STEPDOWN AS THE DNC CHAIRPERSON.

[Mimi]

Obama is great! He is inspiring. He is intelligent, spiritual and genuinely a great leader. They don't come by that often.
You go ahead rant. He is not a racist. He is both races and he has seen both sides and understands the true meaning of racial misunderstanding. Fearful people always focus on the negatives. Your Masters have spoken on the radio the TV and print and you repeat it on the blogs.
It is truly amazing Obama's His speech was all about coming together and having one voice so the people can have the power to change things around in this country so our children can have a decent education, health care and decent life. You hateful angry people are so focused on your own hatred that you project it out towards him,
Your life is not going to get any better you'll be stuck in the box you live in for a long time to come.
You are the echo of corporate power. I

[Dorothy S.]

It is sad that Rev. Wright's comments came out at this late date. I am a member of a UCC church. If my paster said what he said about anything political, he or she would have been fired on the spot. That church should be required to pay taxes as they are preaching politics. Now we have someone who gets the nomination who will never be electable. The so-called super deligates had better think more than "Twice."

[Caroline Miniscule]

>>Hiliary is wealthy,

>>She has not struggled,

>>>She has never been called a Nigger

Hillary may never have been called a Nigger, but since she's a woman who grew up in the 60s and 70s you can bet she was called the equivalent. (Much like black men call black women today. Ever listened to "gangsta rap"?)

Obama is wealthy too. So is his wife, come to that. So are a lot of people of color - actors, athletes, politicians... - How in the world could that happen in a racist America, I wonder.

[Umbria]

Here's a very nice summary of the blogosphere action on Obama's latest gaffe. My grandmother is just a "typical white person" :-) Click on "Recommend this" to keep the article alive.

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/obamas-mother-is-just-a-typica.php

P.S: Here's the audio clip. It's also embedded in the article.
http://www.youtube.com/v/SxmEz8H33ZI&hl=en

[Caroline Miniscule]

>>> In reality he is of mixed race so he is really neither race.

On the contrary. Get all mixed-raced people together and no one will be able to claim to be "superior," and no violence would arise from that human trait that one race, tribe, or club is superior to another.

Make sure they're all atheists, and you won't have any violence over which God is the just and true God.

That'd be the way to peace on Earth.

[lhal]

If Rev. Wrights words were preached again and again in an ISLAMIC temple on US ground, there would be a terrorist watch on the place and the leaders, and the words would be condemned by most Americans. But nooooOOOOOoooooo. Barack Obama says this is his uncle and he loves him. So, hating America is, then, ok.

[RC Price]

Sunny Florida posted "We have a need and right to know Senator Obama from every angle. . ." THis is a joke, right?
You didn't know squat about George Bush because he succeeded in hiding everything about his past and you didn't care less. George W. Bush was the biggest fool in the country, and he got elected. Now, a professor of constitutional law at one of the most prestigious universities in the world is running, and you want to know every detail of his life? This is deserving of only a sneer. America deserves its fate.

[Marks]

>His Grandmother is a typical white person?

She isn't? Is there something special about her? That's a way to describe her. White older lady ( I don't know her age) in a blue dress.

How harmful is that? We are judged from a distance by color of skin and gender characteristics.

Folks don't know her, so they claim Obama threw her under a bus, flippantly.

Who knows how conversation went between his Grandparents, his mother and since he didn't really know his father, the way they talked to each other.

What did his Grandparents say about his father to him?

I can imagine Grandma describing Barack as her black grandson to others. Is that shameful?

Maybe his mother said, she's just a opinionated white lady in a fit with her mother. Barack heard that as a child.

Imagine the time period of Barack's family, moved from Kansas to Seattle, then to Hawaii. His mother marrying a Kenyan and having a child. 1960.

Straight talking people, who helped raise him. There were real to each other. Obama's mother married a black guy and they had a black child.

His Grandparents had their beliefs and a way they talked. Only Obama knows and he's lovingly familar with his Grandmother. He isn't saying anything that shames her.

[Boris]

In response to the following from "Steve":

"Nice puff piece, real touching, kumbaya,yada,yada. This is not gossip mongering -you never once heard your preacher accuse a "white" govt. of injecting black people with AIDS, of building bigger prisons to incarcerate people of color, that 3000 innocent citizens died because America's chickens came home to roost. I doubt your pastor impugned Condi Rice, Clarence Thomas & Colin Powell because of political affiliation."

The government deliberately infected black people with syphilis in early 20th century. Under Reagan, government pointedly refused to consider AIDS (then called GIDS) an official disease much less epidemic, and refused to fund research for it. So while Wright's suspicions may be factually wrong, there is a kernel of truth in his distrust for government (particularly when it comes to the treatment of black people.)

America has the largest per-capita percent of incarcerated persons IN THE WORLD. And guess what: a disproportionate number of them are blacks, incarcerated due to unfair and heavily biased drug laws (as well as generally race-biased law enforcement and jurisprudence.)

3000 citizens died on 9/11 from what even the CIA officially calls "blowback". Go and research U.S. ties to (and funding of) Afghan mujaheds (including Bin Laden) during the 80's; research U.S. complicity in formulating and encouraging the rise of radical "jihadist" theology throughout the Middle East, as a counter to Soviet ambitions in the region; research U.S. support for horrifically oppressive regimes in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, with their radical teachings and totalitarian policies, and the blind eye U.S. turned to the proliferation of radical Saudi madrassas all over the world.

As for the black neocons you mentioned, aren't they the ones trying to turn a blind eye to black ghettoes and black crime, pretending everything is honky-dory and proposing that it's every man for himself and let the strongest (and wealthiest) survive?

Welcome back to reality, brother...

[ME]

I hope you all realize that all your comments stress is a huge divide among blacks and whites in America!! And a real lack of tolerance for your own neighbors. How could you possible suggest with so much hate in your words because you disagree on religion and race, that your candidates (Clinton and McCain) could in anyway lead the free world and get us all from this mess of "hate the US" going around the globe?

[John Sinclair]

The funny thing is that the Rev. Wright is Right. Why sugar coat how screwed up our country is? Just because you are an American and love your country does not mean that you have to close your eyes to what we have become. More people need to speak out about the evil and corrupt state that our so called 'elected' leaders have lead us to. Remember the story of how Jesus cast the tax collectors out of the Temple? This is what we face today. What would Jesus Do? He would revolt against the Serpent of Corruption that is our Government.

[Robert]

You knew it was only a matter of time before, talk radio and anti-Obama types would inject race into the conversation.

This has been the tool to control pea brains for years. It also help reduce the amount of people participating in the voting process so we continue to vote idiots into office.

McCain and Clinton are the same as re-electing Bush. Maybe it will take America dying at the hands of idiots before the people finally wake up.

[Arzinia Richardson]

After reading most of the comments above, it is plain to see why Bush was elected twice, and Americas dream is tanking. It seems Amercians believe they understand things, they have no idea about and refused to ask , or notice what is happeing around them..Obama may be, and I hope he is, the "Tar Baby" from hell . Amereca needs a bath..

[carmela]

It is time for the Clinton team to fold up their tents and call it quits - something the democratic party should have encouraged them to do well before. There is no chance that without Michigan and Florida that Hillary can catch up in delegates or popular vote, without some real dirty backroom deals. The people have spoken against her divisive, arrogant, egotistical candidacy over and over again.

And what about those so called big march 4 victories? well it turns out that over 100,000 republicans in both texas and ohio cast votes for Clinton - almost all (probably) deliberately to skew the race - as has been amply verified from exit polls. This was an even larger effect in Mississipi - which is how Obama lost the white male vote. Can anyone else explain those 38000 votes from registered die-hard republicans in the most extremely red portions of the state who suddenly came to Love hillary? does anyone know any republican who would ever vote for her? please, those of you who would come forward - I know I'd like to meet one and frame him/her for safekeeping.

But this is the hole the democratic party establishment by supporting Hillary long after sunset has dug for itself. Would the wright sermon snippets be a problem? sure . But in the end - those would be an issue among those who wouldn't vote for Obama anyways, whether race was always going to be an issue for them or just the fact that Obama does not have the established lobbies and special interests behind him. Ultimately, for Hillary to somehow emerge on top now would arrive at such a cost to the demcratic party that a win in Novemebr would be impossible.

They would become the party known for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory - yet again. Hillary's fate wll be the same as Gore's and kerry's. And the party will have itself to blame.

The main thing I'll be sorry for in such a case is the country - that once united country - now in the process of sticking the knife in the back of its black population, and its most enthusiastic young citizens who frelt there was something worth looking forward to other than 100 year wars, rising oil prices, declining environment, shaky security, eroded liberties and all-but-gone sense of leadership in the world. This is the country without obama will lose the one person who could do something about the monumental challenges we all face. The outcome of this loss will unfortunately be for all of us to bear, whether we saw it going in and tried to do something about it, or not.

[Charley]

Obama's speech said it perfectly. And now we get to see if the knucklehead vote is that much bigger than the educated vote.

[Joshua]

From what I can gather from watching Obama's speech and the reports from three different news channels over the past week, Jeremiah Wright did say some ignorant things and I think Obama, while if not aware of the comments all over the press, was aware that Wright regularly made controversial statements. In an interview with Anderson Cooper last night, he admitted this, but he said that the controversial comments he heard were not the ones that are all over the press. Should he have quit the church? That was his choice, but clearly he believed that Wright's overall positive message outweighed the ignorant comments that he was present for. Does anyone really think that Obama, a Columbia and Harvard - educated man believes that AIDS was created to kill black people? Mike Huckabee is defending Wright because he says that pastors do a lot of speaking, and some of it can get emotional. Those same controversial comments have been echoed by many people in the past and are born from the frustration of feeling ignored by the adminstration and targeted by racists. Wright's comments were plucked from just a few emotional sermons over a span of decades. You can't honestly judge Wright based on such a limited sample. Nor can you judge Obama for supporting him.

The Jeremiah Wright issue is just a reason for people who already don't like Obama - for whatever reason - to rally against him. They will keep pressing it in an attempt to keep him from being nominated and eventually elected. I believe that Americans will get tired of hearing about it and will eventually become a non-issue. There are simply more important things to our country right now.

[Kayrock]

The downfall of America will come because America has always swept the truth under the rug. When will Americans realize that this country belonged to the Indians and every other race is an immigrant race. The success of this nation was built on immigrant labor of the sweat of people of colour, europeans, hispanics, asians, jews, arabs. We mistreat one race and turn a blind eye, we take the home of the braves and justify it as a legal transaction. We drive out the palestinians from their homeland and expect no one to cry fowl. We topple governments in South America and yet we cover our actions be a term called Democracy. Our ignorance is made even more obvious when instead of facing the truth about our pitiful, racist, simplistic, bigoted tendencies we choose to dwell and hold onto the very traits that condemm our own very existence. Europe is laughing at us, the Arabs our starving us of oil, China is grabbing all the oil in Africa and yet here we are squabbling over race issues. Here we are refusing an opportunity to elevate our thinking and to transcend race. Here we are about to give in to fear and hate and deviciveness. Here we are about to let Bush and Cheney have another eight years of our lives thereby depriving our children the opportunity to have a meaningful future, depriving our old people quality healthcare, depriving our veterans ( who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms) the benefits and honor they deserve. Shame on you America if you cannot transcend your pitiful limitations. If you cannot face the truth about your nature, if you choose to accept ignorance and mediocrity and snuff out the one chance to have for hope, unity and change. The republican agenda is one of fear, mediocrity and ignorance. A party that would rather plunge this country into war time and time again and can offer no hope for economic and intellectual advancement for its people. Jeremiah Wright had the courage to call America what it is. Barack Obama had the courage to call out the sin but to forgive the sinner. The challenge for us it to grow up and choose the right part, to remove the veil of racism from our faces. America will not achieve greatness untill it comes to terms with the truth and until it faces its own fears. Yes there are such things as black anger and white resentment. These are things we have inherited from forebears and administrations that did not want to embrace the truth. Republicans need to wake up. White people need to show some courage and accept the truth - you have oppressed other races and people of colour and the braves of this land. Black people need to learn to forgive and understand white resentment. Whites are losing their jobs also, Whites are people too. Whites have sometimes been marginalized and reversely discriminated on. If we accept Obama's challenge to look beyond our races and measure people by the strenght of their character then we will have the hope of being the nation that other nations look up to.

[Jonathan]

To Mimi : You will come to realize that Black people don't Like us white folks. I am sure that you live in LA or in NYC and not notice the amount of dirty looks that they give you for going into a black neighborhood. I get it all the time in New York City. When I go to East Flatbush, or East New York, Brownsville, Bushwick, and even Bed-Stuy. Don't get fooled by his good looks and his phony speeches because his whole campaign is a prophet for them and not for us. I guarantee you that if I was trying to hail a cab in any one of these neighborhoods, they would carve my heart out or even pull a gun on me because of my color. I have been a victim of racially charged violence when I was 14 years old and I know the pain that I was going through at that time. It could happen to anyone at any given time. Having said that, that is why I have animosity towards black people, but I don't preach hate and I don't go out of my way and seek revenge for my injustice in life. I have learned from my tragedy in life and I never let it bother me. It only bothers me when a man like Barack preaches something that I was even considering believing him and was going to consider to vote for him because I believe that he can change America. But when his pastier from the Church of Crists J.Wright continued to bash white America for past injustices done to them, it doesn't preach heeling, it opens old wounds that don't heel so easily

[Eric Grec]

I notice the cruelty of comments being spewed by some who are pounding their chest over Reverend Wright's comments. Well, he must have loved his country at one time since he did serve as a U.S. Marine. But, no matter, it appears the fury is really all bout undermining Obama by those who already had their minds made up before Reverend Wright was even in the news...

[Dave]

Racism today is 99% Black people. the scattered few white people who are still racist are strung out on drugs and in jail. Africans masterminded slavery, sold there own people to Americans who needed cheap labor to build there empire (not smart on their part) but they did not resist. They brought Africans to America and for a short time enslaved them, then guess what, we set them free. We took already enslaved people from their own country and eventually set them free. Get over it! Its like me still holding a grudge against the guy who beat my great great great great grandpa to death, finding his great great great great grandson and beating him to death. I hope someday we do have a black president, Obama isn't the one.

America needs to stop being so divided because we will fall that way. One nation under God indivisible!!!!!!!!!!! Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians........It ain't workin. Why is every minority group a Democrat and so anti Republican? They are all the same!!!!!!!! We need to stop associating; it gives the parties an edge and makes way for lobbyist, corruption, greed, BS. Just pick the best candidate and stop letting them play there politician games with us!

[Fred]

Obama is desperately rolling out the "speeches" and attacks in a pitiful attempt to change the subject from his recent scandals (i.e. getting caught lying about NAFTA, his 20-year relationship with his crazy, racist and anti-American "mentor and spiritual adviser", and now his blatant attempt to disenfranchise millions of voters in Florida and Michigan). Unfortunately for him, these genies are out of the bottle, and they are going to hound him for months. And if, God forbid, he becomes the Democratic nominee, the Republican attack machine will destroy him. Shame on him for pretending to be the candidate of "change", the candidate of a new kind of politics, the candidate of unification. He used these noble ideas to "hoodwink" the American public into helping him fulfill his insatiable ambition. This cruel hoax on this nation is threatening to cripple the Democratic party, and may ultimately hand the Presidency over to the Republicans.

[T.]

The amount of sheer rage out here is, well, pathetic. Apparently, a lot of Hillary supporters are furious about Obama's campaign and are reveling in the Wright brouhaha. Yeah well, revel in this: Democrats can not and will not win the fall elections without black votes. Vent all you want about Obama, but whatever loss Obama has sustained in white support pales in comparison to the COMPLETE COLLAPSE of Hillary's black support. She can't beat John McCain without black votes; they're already lost to her, and they're not coming back. So go ahead and nominate Hillary -- it'll be interesting to see who you rant against when she loses.

[anon]

It amazes me how easily people develop visceral, totalizing opinions about Obama from a couple of wholly decontextualized sound bites of his pastor. It is sad because no other candidate comes close to being so intellectually honest. His policy advisers are the real deal like I have never seen in a politician. This racism storm is a tragic distraction. For what it is worth, from one random dude on the internet, Obama 2008.

[m Lopez]

STOP the MADNESS! Everyone has someone that they know and love that has said something they do not agree with, and yet they do not disown them and are not held accountable for what this other person has said. Its like a program being brodcasted with the announcer stating that " this program does not reflect the views or opinions of this station". Yet the network will air a controversial program, movie, or news story.

Pastor/ Rev Wright said some things that ARE and WERE true. Pastor/Rev Wiight said somethings he THINKs is true. Pastor/RevV Wright said somethings that make you go Huh; What? and Well! And again Pastor/Rev Wright said these things. I did not see Mr. Obama waving his hands nor clapping or saying "preach, preacher, tell it like it is"! Instead, Mr. Obama said he did not agree with the comments that Pastor/Rev Wright said that were inflammatory, and in spite of his Pastor's comments, his Pastor is still a part of his family. His Pastors views, which he has a right to are his Pastors and that does not mean they are Mr. Obama's views. I am sure that over 20 years the majority of Pastor/Rev Wrights sermons were not about the same things, delivered the same way and Mr. Obama was not at every service. Please open your eyes people and realize that we are being tricked in to losing our focus on what matters.

It is about working to understand why it is a divide in this country, so we can work on uniting our country. By the way, who got a copy of the taped sermons and decided which ones to air? And if they are so hateful, and inflaming why are they being aired over and over and over again? See it for what it is people. Someone is running scared and thought this Black man might just win this thing, we better do something to stop this from happening. Preachers White/ Black/ Asian/ Hispansic/ Jewish - Rabbi/ Native American all say controversial things, we just don't get to see it on national news.

You want to talk about questionable people in the White House, let's start with our current Commander in Chief, and his flaky cabinet, which most have quit for lying, stealing, cheating, showing favortism and oh yeh I forgot supporting torture with picture to boot.

[Fred]

The brand of theology which Wright has been teaching Obama and the others at his church is called “black liberation theology.” Black theology is based upon the premise of the white oppressor against the black oppressed. This is why, for example, that Wright refers to Jesus as black, and his killers as white. This is the only way the story of Jesus fits within this brand of “theology.” Rev. Wright cites James Cone, another proponent of black liberation theology, as his inspiration. Here are just a couple of James Cone's quotes: (1) “To be Christian is to be one of those whom God has chosen. God has chosen black people." (2) "While it is true that blacks do hate whites, black hatred is not racism." (3) "All white men are responsible for white oppression." (4) "Theologically, Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man "the devil." (5) "If there is any contemporary meaning of the Antichrist, the white church seems to be a manifestation of it." (6) Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community … Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love. *** These teachings are fundamentally racist and divisive. Obama has chosen to belong to this racist church for 20 years, and now because of exposure by the press, he tries to fool the American public once again.

[ketchikan]

MAXT,

You are right on...I couldn't have said it more clear or as eloquently.

ketchikan

[TWG]

Obama had my vote until recently. I am more Republican than Democrat, but my vote is up for grabs each election because I want the best candidate in office, although oftentimes it is a choice between bad and worse. Kerry in 2004 had my vote too until he started obfuscating on every issue that came up. Voted one was a Senator, but said differently as a candidate. Same thing with Obama. Now Obama has BAGGAGE and he has made an apt point to not distance himself, and instead has taken the politician's path of wanting it both ways. His Audacity of Hope is now just audacity to me. Hillary gets a big thumbs down and Repubs have nobody viable to offer, but, ultimately, the Repubs will steal another election as the Dems pick each other off, once again. Kudos Barak, kudos Hillary --- you have successfully screwed each other and your party.

[T. Manning]

Most media outlets are failing to report the other side of the story, our history which Senator Obama spoke of in his speech. We never questioned or asked the great leaders of the past to leave their churches, neigborhoods, clubs, and the like that taught hatred of other races.

Mr. Dobbs, you are way off base with your comments and questions about the speech that Senator Obama gave today. One thing is crystal clear to me you are unforgiving of Senator Obama. You come out to wanting the senator to say "I hate my pastor". If you and others want that, then I must demand of you and the others to also say I hate the racism white men who sat year after year in our nation’s congress and not under pastor. These “Christian” men were devout racist and were elected in part "because" they were racist; this is our past in this nation and I might add few people left their church, city, state or this country because of them.
Let me name a few of these great leaders Gov. Wallace and Senator Thurmond to name a few and I sure you could add a just a few more if you wanted too. For all the conservative radio talk show and television show host, like yourself, refuse to discuss this part of our history. This leads to my conclusion that you are all hypocrites, demanding of Senator Obama a different standard. Frankly I find now find you all discussing. How many of our great leaders where members of all white clubs, and now you charge that Senator Obama is not fit to be president, give me a break. Once again the media denies its own history as Senator Obama stated in his speech. Senator Obama is not a racist and media and continues to attempt to label him as the “Black candidate”. I choose to as Senator Obama said to move on and forgive the acts of the past.
Let me address the question of if he knew the position of his pastor, then why did he stay? Dr. Martin Luther King asked the same question of millions of white southern Christians during the early days of the civil rights movement. White pastors and their congregations of the South who supported and befriended racist leaders (pastors, relatives, neighbors, co-workers and all others) in my South in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”
How many good Christians sat in those churches, in silence, some preaching hatred of Negroes? Dr. King was so disappointed with some the “good Christians” of the South, he said “we will have to repent in this generation not only for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, But for the appalling silence of the Good people…” I dare you to discuss my comments on the air! Many of these same people went on to be great leaders in our nation. They did not hold the values of hatred that was clearly taught and practiced in their churches, lodges, schools, clubs and so forth! Moreover, we have not asked them to express a hatred of their past relationships with friends and family whose views they did accept. I do not recall anyone demanding Senator Thurmond to repudiate his past before support was given to him in several elections.
Let me help you with a church and school that discriminated against Blacks---Bob Jones University. I had Christian friends who attended both I did not condemn them. I met them as individuals and loved them as my Christian brothers and sisters. However, I still rejected teachings and actions of Bob Jones church and university. I also have Mormon friends, I was fully aware that their church leaders, doctrine, and church discriminated against black people. We, together, looked beyond our past and embraced one another as friends. Let's move on as Senator Obama has said, our nation has serious problems that need to be addressed.
The argument you and others are using is false one, and as I said before supremely hypocrite! Once again as Dr. King said before we will have to repent in this nation. CNN has to change, your reputation is at stake as a fair station, I as not seeing the “best political team” reporting all the positions and voices.

[TEXAS]

I understand that Rev. Wright is resigning and after listening to Obama's speech on t.v Sat. I believe he qualifies to fill his position. Obama has twenty years experience.

[T. Manning]

They are afraid to post my comments on the subject, so much for freedom of the speech and the press.

[Sheryl]

Thanks to Pastor Wright I do believe now we are seeing the true racial pull of this electoral decision, as evidenced in these posts. Do we want a man in the White House whose spiritual advisor has a terroristic attitude towards our own country? And by the way, where is Oprah NOW? She sure is lying low. I don't blame her!

[Patricia]

At least Obama goes to a "predominantly" black church and not an exclusively white church like most US presidents have. Can we please get past this? At least Obama's pastor wasn't teaching that women should stay in the home, be submissive to their husbands and that women pastors/priests are an abomination before the Lord as has almost every pastor/reverend/priest of every president since the nation began. For goddsake get over it.

[Jet]

This just shows that racism doesn't go away because black people dont want to move on like Rev. Wright.

If I'm Hillary I might as well drop out of the democratic candidacy now. WHY? 'Coz if she does Obama will be a BIG mistake and it will be more embarassing for Obama to continue his candidacy.

I hope what happens is Hillary vows out and tells everyone that she will support McCain. I am really hoping for this to happen since Hillary is running out of options.

We are voting for a president. It doesn't matter what party it is. We need a president who we can count on. It doesn't matter whether we go bankcrupt just like what's happening with the economy. It's still better than living under a president who is supported with terroristic views like Rev. Wright.

Obama always says his supporters wont support Hillary. Well, Hillary's support wont support him either. Hillary's supporter might as well vote for a patriotic Republican(with Democratic views) than someone who is supported by terroristic ideology.

[vinay]

Mr Wright has some views which are politically a timebomb. But That is him. I do not blame him for saying what he has been saying for decades. I do not know what is the law about such inflammatory statements in USA. In other countries, if you are caught abusing your country on video, you are in prison.
Coimng back to Mr Wright, he advised Mr Obama to fight the election in the fond hope that Mr Obama will further the cause of the blacks. Eight months on, there was no statement from obama supporting blacks.
Mr Obama utilized Mr Wright to consolidate his base amongst the blacks, and then turned 180 degrees and started talking of Iraq war. May be his hatred for Iraq war is also grounded in the preachings of Mr Wright ( we have brought 9/11 upon ourselves). Mr Wright's outburst was timed appropriately, just when it started appearing that Mr Obama has all but secured the delegate lead and covert or overt support of the keneedys, Deans,pelosi's etc. I do not blame Mr Wright. He has been consistant in his beliefs however wrong they may be. I have major problems with Mr Obama. His beliefs appear like a mystic morning haze, beautful but momentary, dying as soon as the son comes out. At the end of his beautiful speech, I was left wondering what was his position on the various issues he so beautifully orated. Our past never leaves us. We can only move forward accepting it as a part of us. Mr Obama's campaign forgot this small thing. His avoidance of talking about his own community even once has waylaid a lot of young people to naively believe that they will erase black problems just by electing Mr Obama. This is forgetting history in a tearing hurry. They should have waited a few more years. Waited till he had some concrete achievements other than marvellous use of prose and a flimsy opposition to Iraq war. A man who took a conscious decision not to change anything about his own uncles ideas over two decaed can never change a country as huge and diverse as the USA. He can only hope.

[schmidt]

At this point Obama, now proven bitter and racist, should drop out of the race. Due to this scandal i think many people are changing their mind, Obama should never have been in the first place, we should redo the primaries without Obama

[vinay]

A rejoinder to the earlier mail. I will anyday choose a politician who has dirtied his/her hands in politics. Politics is a game played in the dirt of money, position, power and we are naive to believe that politicians will be spotless and clean. So what do we do. We accept the fallacies of our poilticans to a reasonable level and move on.
On the other hand I dread preacher-politicians. This breed depends on building a squeaky clean image and refuse to enter the heart of the issues. They stay above the issues and give us ideological guidelines. They refuse to enter the routine mudslinging of politics. They depend on their colleagues who gleefully play with the mud, throwing it at anybody and every body. And they extract a price from such clean leaders which can be damaging to nations.
If we could solve the tricky issue of black-white relations by having a deep understanding of it and then delivering a speech about it, the problem would have been solved long ago. A speech never solved a problem. A problem of several centuries will need lifelong work for Mr Obama and others. I wonder how does he connect with the black people he so vividly described in the barber shop. With ivy league degrees and millions of dollars at his command, i believe it will be very dificult.
Mr Obama is frighteningly intelligent. He has to use the intelligence very carefully. If he has such deep understanding of black problems, how is it that he did not utter a single word about it in all his campaign, until it came back as a big question mark to corner him? Is he really committed to the problem he so evocatively placed before us? Or is it a small step to his presidential dreams?

[angry duped almost-Obama voter]

If "context" is so important -
If we can't judge (Rev. Wright) without taking his comments "in context" -
How come he don't give us no context on his poor grandma?

[Windfall]

So Obama says his grandmother is "a typical white person" and the drive-by media has no problem with that.

Can you imagine the media uproar if Clinton said, "Obama is a typical black person"?

The blatant duplicity and hypocrisy of the drive-by media is astounding. This is not journalism. This is partisan cheerleading masquerading as journalism. O. K. The media has thrown in with Obama. We get it.

We now live in a "post-racial" society where the rules are:

1. You can say any hateful thing you want to about whites with no consequences whatsoever.

2. Any statement about blacks, no matter how innocuous, can and will be taken as evidence of deep-seated racism especially if there is some political advantage to be gained.

But the real question remains…

Can I put an “Obama for President of the US of KKKA” sign up in my front yard or would that now be considered a hate crime given that I’m not an angry, America-hating, racist, lunatic, Reverend Doctor?

[Mike J]

How Can you support Barack because of his Pastor??? The same way you have supported Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, that GAY GUY up in Denver who was supposed to be representing the Religous Right. You talk about hipocrisy, you know how you feel in your hearts, you know your hatreds and prejudice. You just can't face it. It's like coming out of the closet for many white americans. This is why this conversation is sooo offensive to white americans. Pastor Wright was right, Barack was right and in your hearts-you know you are wrong and have been wrong for so long. Not ME-I am no RACIST! Yes you are. But you too can change. That's the only change that will change this country

[George]

It seems like finally some dirt has been found on Obama, and how convinient it will be to use this to kill his candidacy.
Listening to speech.Rev wright did not attack any race specifically in fact he was emphasizing how unfair the American system was historically designed against both Black and White Womens.
I think his criticisim was blatently ditrected towards the government establishment dominated by Rich white men not every white man.
it deos not take great interlligence to know that the American government is greatly influenced by Big Business in America and in most great Western Countries(Carlyle Group and the Bush family,Halliburton contracts in Iraq and the Dick Chaney,cash for Pierage in the UK) We have to wake up and smell the coffee beacuse these companies and coonnections have influences on the countries foreign policy.
the sad thing is when the policies go wrong it is the average Jo who suffers not the rich business owners who have the means to get out of harms way.
There is no Presidential candidate whose character or Judgement has no blemish or something they rather not make public - does this mean they are not fit for candidacy?.
Jesus Christ is not coming to be president people is going to be an ordinary human being who has had real life experiences ,trials and trebulations here on earth, some they would have failed some they will have passed with flying colours.
People should stop one sided criticsim of OBama because of his Pastor who once served his country in the Army, stop pretending there is no race issues in America and rather bring ot and debate it and try to solve it. You have a great country ,lead by example in these testing times we face in the world and stop trying to sweep things under the carpet beacuse if you don't deal with this now it will take another 100 years before another Mixed raced person with Obama's ability to cross over the races can come along and evoke any sort of debate.
George, London Uk

[Kent Strong]

I would love to dig through some of speeches/sermons made at Bob Jones University - a necessary campaign stop for any Republican looking to bolster support among its core base: racist white bigots who spew hate, homophobia and want to blow up abortion clinics and kill innocent people.
Give me a break! All of you indignant white folks who are "appalled" by Rev. Wright have some nerve. White racism is something that happened and still happens to black people, not the other way around.
For the record, I find the stuff being played over and over again on news very offensive. I live in New York and lost a very dear friend on 9/11, so I find his comments on that event downright disgusting. However, Obama is not Wright. He did attend his churchfor years and if this was the kind of stuff Wright was doing on a regular basis, I would agree with folks who say Obam should have bolted the church. However, as I understand it Wright's church is one of the 3 largest churches in Chicago and has a very wide range of people (and yes even some white people) as members. He was invited to the Clinton White House when Bill was at his lowest just after the Lewinski scandal to help Bill atone for his sins and ask for forgiveness. Clearly he was respected enough to be hand-picked to a White House prayer breakfast. So I say that not to say Clinton is a hypocrite, but instead to say that Wright has a very long career and is respected by many people in the religious community. So respected that he was personally picked by Clinton to come and pray with him in his darkest time as president.

Just trying to shed a little light. I just wish we could get back to the issues that really matter like economics, the war and the fact that no matter who is president, if we don't start curbing greenhouse gases, our children and grand-children will look back on these times and say shame on you for letting distractions like a politically incorrect black preacher's offensive comments stop us from talking about what really matters.

[Jane Burschinky]

It's regrettable to hear a person who leads a flock in a congregation, like Mr. Wright, would speak of things contrary to the teaching of the very thing he is supposed to follow, love and kindness. Now, there are others who preach what people want to hear, to get followers and the donations to come in. This will then become a trend where Pastors preach, not based on the true teaching of Bible, but on what people sentiments are. They become popular and gather devoted flocks in a building, called church. Mr. Obama who has been an attendee for some twenty years could have stood up, if he has aspiration to become a future leader of United States to speak up and approach Mr. Wright. We are all adults with reason to believe that Mr. Wright would have preached similar speeches from the pulpit attended by Mr.Obama. It would not have been the first time to have this kind of sermon being preached. To have such a strong sermon, it has to have come from a very strong feeling over time. Mr Obama owes us an honest response, with gut to admit that yes he had heard those sermons before from Mr. Wright during 20 years he was coming to the church and yes, during the extended tim of some 20 years he did not disagree before with angry and spiteful sermons and yes, the reason he did not disagree was because he agreed with what Mr. Wright's stands for. It takes a real character AND conviction to stand up for something we see and hear things not right. Regardless what the media says, we need to dig deeper and work diligently to unmask candidates running to lead our country. We should not be complacent and just listen to the sermons or watch news when it comes to selecting our next leader. The stake is high and our children and their children's future depend on us choosing the right leader to lead the nation.

[stewart]

Wright may have single handedly destroyed Obama's chances of ever being elected to this office. On this Good Friday I think of the words "forgive us or trespss as we forgive those who tresspass against us" and think to myself, all those persons who have supported and turned out for Obama are surely still behind his effort?
But its all the rest who were ambivilant about the notion of his cnadidacy based on the notion of some latent contempt for 'the white man' who may now be saying, You see? There it is? they are waiting to even the score after all?
Some might say, well Obama would never have earned their support any way? I say perhaps, but this revelation of Wrights percieved animous has made it all the harder to convince folks sitting on the fence of this divide.
I am sorry to say, this may be a fatal dynamic after all.

[David Wince]

I have been following this interminable presidential race for months, and am completely bewildered by your election processes. All those different primaries, and nothing has been decided. Michigan and Florida may even not get the chance to vote !! Some democracy !
And you have the nerve to send your observers into other countries to make sure their elections are not fixed.
Thank God our elections only last about one month. If it was like yours, I'd leave the country.

[D.E. Strothers]

I live in Illinois and am a Democrat. I am a white woman married to a black man. I have been to the Reverend Wright's church and have heard him preach on tv as well. I the dozen or so times I have heard Reverend Wright preach there has been no doubt to me about his dislike for the white community as a whole. I am wondering why Senator Obama cannot admit he knew about the beliefs and politics of the Reverend and just get it over with. Senator Obama travels from Hyde Park to 95th and Parnell to go to Church, a good distance in the city and nowhere near his own neighborhood. He must truly want to go there. I disagree with most of the people here, racism today is mostly green. Those who have and those who don't. Twenty five years ago the area that I live in was mostly white and today the same area is about 50-50. When you look next door and see a Mercedes in the drive and the yard and the home are well kept, are you prejudiced against the owner because he is black----- hell no, you are prejudiced against the deadbeat across the street who doesnt keep up his things. Barack lives in one of those neighborhoods with the Mercedes in the drive, color isn't something he is really seen for here in Illinois,, he appears to be just the guy next door where he lives. I don't understand as just the woman I am, why we can't just put our religion and our wallets and our color aside and vote for people who will try to make this country better.

[Obamamania]

Obama is our Savior! Obama and Reverd Wright are RIGHT! God D*** america. Obama will apologize to our Muslim brothers for an arrogant america. Let us choose now to rally arounf Barak and Michelle and make them proud. No more so called "elections" which your "typical white person" votes for clinton. They are racists!