Barack Obama denounces Jeremiah Wright's 'ridiculous' notions

The break between Barack Obama and his onetime pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is now official.

In comments in North Carolina today, Obama noted that he had given Wright the "benefit of the doubt" when the furor over the preacher first erupted in mid-March, based on YouTube snippets from past sermons in which his incendiary comments included a condemnation of America.

No more, the Democratic presidential contender stressed, following Wright's remarks Monday at the National Press Club in Washington.

Obama began his response today by saying that a belief in racial reconciliation "is in my DNA" (and given his biracial bloodlines, of course, that resonates as more more than just a symbolic phrase).

"Yesterday, we saw a very different vision," Obama said of Wright's Washington appearance, which at one point he termed a "performance."

He could hardly have distanced himself farther from the man who officiated at his  wedding ceremony  and baptized his two children.

Obama described himself as "outraged" by many of Wright's remarks and "saddened" by what he termed "the spectacle of what we saw yesterday."

He characterized as "ridiculous" Wright's notion that the AIDS epidemic may have been a conspiracy inflicted on blacks by the federal government and that Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan should be considered a leading voice in modern times.

Such views ...

"offend me. They rightly offend all Americans. They should be denounced."

And in line after line, he did so.

"When I say I find (Wright's comments) appalling, I mean it," Obama said.

And during a Q & A with reporters following his statement, Obama came back -- unprompted -- to Wright's opinions on AIDS and other matters, calling them "rants that aren't grounded in truth."

Obama really had no choice but to take this step. Asked why he did not do it on Monday, in the immediate wake of Wright's latest remarks, Obama said he had not seen the widely televised event.

He probably should have. But for his political hopes, better a day late than never.

Two questions immediately loom: How will Wright respond? And, more importantly, to what degree will the Wright controversy, given Obama's link to him, undercut his presidential bid?

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Andy Capaloff]

I am not one of Obama's supporters, but he cannot control what anyone else says and his reaction was exactly what it should have been. I will be very disappointed if anyone in the Clinton camp tries to use Wright's recent publicity campaign in any way against Obama. Unfortunately, I don't feel I can expect such scruples from the Republican side if Obama goes on to be the Democratic candidate.

[Joe]

Umm isnt he like his uncle and he can no more disown him then he could the black people?
Obama knew all along this guys views and now that he knows it will hurt him he is distancing him self.
I dont mind having Hillary or McCain but Obama would be a disaster.

[Santa Fitstein]

Obama scares me. He should scare American Jews everywhere. His agenda is hidden, just like he tried to keep the true views of Wright hidden.

[Trudy Gibbs]

The press needs to let this story go. Rev. Wright does not represent or speak for Barak Obama. Senator Obama has never spoken like Rev Wright...the outrageous statements by a inflammatory paster are not part of the Obama message. It is a sad day when the press misses all the good qualities of this presidential candidate and has to wallow in inflammatory side issues. Shame on you.

[Keith Bowling]

I am so happy about Barack responding in such a straight line! It must be hard for him to have to say such things about a man that used to mean so much to him. And even though I feel like Barack had to distance himself away from this radical man, I'm sorry for Barack and his family. They are really trying to do the right thing!

[John Douglas]

A little bit late in the day. You had all those years to decide we was offensive. Now your nomination is on the line, you cut him off.

I question your judgment. You are not fit to be president.

[douglas schott]

...it would have been better if he had let it lie for a while after the new interviews, by using terms i like "i gave him the benefit of the doubt", after wright was in front of him by choice for all those years, mr obama's spiritual leader...kind of spooked me...Aloha

[Victor Williams]

This is amazing. He's known the man for two decades, and only NOW does he find Wright's remarks horrifying? When he sat week after week in the pews hearing this, and never objected before? When he knew for a year that this would be a problem (in April 2007 having the conversation with Wright himself about how he might have to "distance" himself? When he was confronted in November 2007 about Wright, his mentor and friend? This looks like nothing more than Obama's desire that no-one would notice, that this would all blow over, and that this is a political last-ditch effort to save himself from a long-running spate of extremely poor judgement.

[kaye-s]

Good for Obama. I hope we can all now leave this stupid Wright business behind us once and for all and get on to what really matters--which is undoing the damage that the current administration has done to this country both at home and abroad.

[Jim Jones]

Now that Obama has officially denounced Rev Wright, what ever will the Clinton campaign have to keep harping on now?

Everytime she's pressed with something negative she used to be able to redirect it back to the issue of Obama's pastor.

Can we start talking about the real issues now?

[DJ123]

I am so saddened by how the so called pastor acted. I agree with Obama to cut his ties with him. Shame on you Rev. Jeremiah Wright Shame on you..

[freemarketer]

A day late and a Dollar short Obama, you have been with him for TWENTY years. You claim you were not present when he made the most ugly comments, even though you were a member of the church, you broke bread with the man who baptized your kids, was your"spiritual" adviser. Now all the sudden the great Obama, the great uniter, has an epiphany!?! Yeah right.

The Rev. made a joke of himself yesterday along with his hooting and hollering fan base. Auditioning for a yet to be disclosed TV show, book, or radio gig. no doubt.

You're a joke Obama, and all of you friggin apologists or reverse racists (you know who you are) can go crawl back in the hole from which you came. This campaign is over.

Pity, I was actually looking forward to a black man in office. It would finally put to bed all this victim hood and cries of unfairness so we can move on to the more important issues. But leave it to you crybaby whining victims to shoot yourselves in the foot. Hmmm, perhaps that's why the good Rev. is throwing Obama under the bus. Rather than emphasizing keys to success, men like him like to use a ready excuse for failure – racism – even as this racism seems not to affect his own life's success.

Why ?? First, he obviously understands the power of playing the race card. He can see that most Americans despise being accused of racism...Simply put, charges of racism create fear that keep a power play in his favor..Especially to the hooting and Hollering flock who pays tithing to the ringleader, er, um Reverend.

Second, being a victim, even to those who seem successful, is a difficult temptation to pass up. Being a victim is not only an ego-boosting badge of honor, it also supplies a ready excuse whenever one fails. Even if he has to be a victim against a man of his own skin color like Obama..

what a joke..

[Daniel Millet]

I've had several bishop's help lead and shape my spiritual beliefs. I never agreed 100% with any of them, and we are talking 10+ people here. In fact I'd say I disagree with them more then I agree with them, yet we all get along and have incredibly deep conversations. I only wish the media could engage every American in these conversations.

Frankly I don't care about Rev. Wright anymore. I do care about Barack Obama, though, and I would like to know more about his actual policies....

Young people like me, under 30, care more about policies then "GOTCHA!" politics. I think it's because I've been on the Internet since age 8 and am well aware that the MSM loves GOTCHA! while they ignore anything of real substance.

[SEAN L]

Twenty years of not knowing who or what Rev Wright was talking about; give me a break!

[George]

I thnk this RECENT apperence of Mr. Wright and today's "cut bait" is all staged. He is trying pull fast one on us.

[Matt]

Finally, now maybe the pundits who have made this non-issue into an issue will enable the Obama campaign to focus on the issues that voters really care about.

[Santa Fitstein]

Obama scares me. He should scare American Jews everywhere. His agenda is hidden, just like he tried to keep the true views of Wright hidden.

[Candi]

This whole episode really puts the question of Obama's judgement into serious question. We don't have another 20 years to wait for him to realize that there are people in this world who, given the chance, would cause us harm.

[Pozer]

How could Obama possibly condemn Wright since most everyone has been taking everything he's said out of context. This is a beauty.

[Victor Williams]

This is amazing. He's known the man for two decades, and only NOW does he find Wright's remarks horrifying? When he sat week after week in the pews hearing this, and never objected before? When he knew for a year that this would be a problem (in April 2007 having the conversation with Wright himself about how he might have to "distance" himself? When he was confronted in November 2007 about Wright, his mentor and friend? This looks like nothing more than Obama's desire that no-one would notice, that this would all blow over, and that this is a political last-ditch effort to save himself from a long-running spate of extremely poor judgement.

[BZ]

Too late.

He is done. Period. End of report.

Obama will not be able to recover from this, it is too deep within the fabric of his core values. This statement comes too late, and sounds way too political.

[Big D]

Don,

You said Obama "...could hardly have distanced himself further..." WHAT?

Oh, perhaps any SANE human, let alone American, would not only denounce the "AIDS" and "Calipso-Loui" comments by wright... but would simply say anyone who believes that conspiricy theory BS is either mildly retarded or NUTS!

You also say "...he should have." with regards to Obama "...not have seen the WIDLY TELEVISED EVENT." Do you believe that for one minute given the 24/7 media outlets and that he at all times has access to newspapers, tv's, blackberry's, radio, Obama never saw the "event" visa vie Wrights "sermons?"

No... the kitchen just got HOT....!

Wright is a wack job nut and that is what Obama must admit!

[BZ]

Too late.

He is done. Period. End of report.

Obama will not be able to recover from this, it is too deep within the fabric of his core values. This statement comes too late, and sounds way too political.

[Dee Garcia]

I am a blind Christian who was planning to vote for Obama until my pastor told me he actually not a Christian but a Muslim. When I found out the entire Rev Wright church was defending Obama, I asked my pastor what to do, he told me to pray to God that Hillary does not get elected, or that Obama does not do something extreme when he is not choosen. Now I am home alone and I don't know what to think. I can not watch TV, only listen to it. I need MacinTalk to use a computer, and God is not answering my prayers for Obama to drop out and for something bad to come to light about Hillary. I wish President Bush would tell me what to do.

This is the end times. We are living in the rapture.

[jwalker]

I hear squeaking bus brakes! Obama is absolutely pathetic. If he acts this way as President we are in real trouble. While I understand he felt he had to have this news conference today to save what's left of his campaign of yada yada, yada I was a little put off by the harshness of his remarks. I wonder how other black people will feel. By now his modus operandi should be clear; every time he gets into trouble he gives a speech on race or tolerance or whatever to calm the liberals who adore him. I don't think this is the end of the Wright business because now Wright will have to respond and so on and on. Not good for Wright, Obama or the country.