In D.C. appearance, Jeremiah Wright remains controversial

David Axelrod, the chief strategist for Barack Obama, gets credit for understatement of the month with his comment on MSNBC this morning before the Rev. Jeremiah Wright wrapped up his media blitzkrieg of the last few days with an appearance at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

To the extent that voters attribute to Obama statements and opinions that aren't his, Axelrod said, "it's obviously not helpful."

Now, in the wake of a feisty Q&A session that followed a speech Wright delivered (see video below), Obama and his top aides can only sit back and gauge how "obviously not helpful" the man who was the candidate's pastor for many years continues to be to his presidential hopes.

Our colleague Christi Parsons of the Chicago Tribune was among those covering Wright today, and she reports that in his address, he provided "a learned lecture on the black experience in America and on the African American faith tradition, an attempt to put into context the controversial sermon snippets that have been airing in recent weeks."

But, as he answered questions after his talk, Wright did nothing to quell the controversy ...

that has enveloped him and, by extension, Obama.

Wright stood by a sermon he delivered at his Chicago church shortly after 9/11, in which he said “America’s chickens are coming home to roost” for supporting "state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans.” Snippets of that discourse have been among those making the rounds on YouTube.

Today, Wright repeated his payback argument, saying "“You cannot do terrorism on other people and expect it never to come back to you. Those are biblical principles, not Jeremiah Wright bombastic divisive principles.”

Similarly, he said there was a biblical basis for the sermon in which he said "God damn America" due to the stain of racism.

"God doesn't bless everything," said Wright. "God damns some practices."

As he did in his interview with Bill Moyers that aired on PBS on Friday night, Wright seemed dismissive of the much-hailed speech Obama gave in mid-March in which he denounced the preacher's catalog of inflammatory remarks as objectionable and not reflecting his own views.

"If Sen. Obama did not say what he said, he would not get elected," Wright said.

Defending his relationship with Louis Farrakhan, Wright said the Nation of Islam leader "is not my enemy. He did not put me in chains. He did not put me in slavery."

Wright may have done Obama one small favor, casting himself as someone who will keep offering scathing political criticism, regardless of the outcome of this year's election.

Wright told his audience: "As I said to Barack Obama, if you get elected, Nov. 5 I'm coming after you, because you'll be representing a government whose policies grind under people."

That's probably small solace to Obama as the May 6 primaries in North Carolina and Indiana approach.

As political analyst David Gergen summed up on CNN: "I'm sure Rev. Wright has many virtues. Loyalty to his former parishioner is not one of them."

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[LESHAN O RICHARDSON]

ONE THING THAT IS ALL WAYS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT IN THE MEDIA AND POLITICS CONCERNING RACE IS THE TRUTH. IN ANY CASE: THE TRUTH IS NEVER VIEWED THE SAME BY THE ASSAILANT AND THE VICTIM. PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM SINCE SLAVERY, AND WHITE AMERICA CONTINUES TO TRY TO MASK IT BY A FEW GOOD DEEDS OR ACCOMPLISHMENT OF A FEW BLACK PEOPLE. A PERSON THAT INITIATES AND PERPETUATES HATE CAN NOT TURN AROUND AND JUDGE A PERSON FOR TALKING ABOUT BEING HATED BY THAT INDIVIDUAL. THIS IS HYPOCRISY. JEREMIAH RIGHT IS ONLY SPEAKING TRUTH THAT OBAMA CAN'T SAY. OBAMA, IS IN A CATCH 22, BECAUSE HE IS BLACK; THAT’S WITHOUT ANY CONTROVERSY FROM JEREMIAH WRIGHT!!

[mrinternet]

The Real Story: Should Obama NOW Drop Out of Race Due to Racial Controversy?
OMG - how many out there have serious head injuries???

It's not about Obama conveniently ending his long relationship with Reverend Jeremiah Wright and that ends it and Jeremiah Wright is a bad man and racist and how could he?

It's all about Barack Obama how after 20 years of having a close relationship with Pastor Wright appears to have a dual personality - one of which is a dark hidden side with racial confusion and the convenient use of disposable people. Obama - remember chose Jeremiah Wright and his church. Jeremiah Wright had very little to do with it except to just accept Barack Obama's friendship and now come to find out - hidden agenda.

It is an extreme stretch of anyone's imagination that this Obama – Wright relationship of convenience is all a complete surprise to Obama after 20 years of spiritual mentoring by Wright and Obama naming a book after a close friendship with Jeremiah Wright.

This is all about saving Barack Obama's presidential campaign after the public scrutiny does NOT like what it sees in the Obama racial controversy. This could set back civil rights 40+ years. This is NOT something to be ignored and just explain it away with another grandiose Obama public lecture/speech!!!

This candidate Obama comes highly manufactured and repeatedly groomed after more numerous focus group encounters and fine-tuning than half a dozen candidates combined. Obama may be the most highly tuned candidate, as the result of many, many focus groups – of our time. Obama "SLICK" is the quintessential political consultants dream robo-candidate that is intentionally designed to mislead the public...and he is!!
http://thejunction.net/justfacts/2008/04/28/jeremiah-wright-demands-race-privilege-central-obama-campaign-issues/

NO one - I am convinced can have it both ways. The real discussion should now focus on whether Obama should drop out of the race altogether. This is not Presidental and what the American People deserve or need right now. This Obama racial controversy could set back civil rights 40+ years. This is NOT something to be ignored and just explain it away with a public lecture/speech !!!

Obama had it for twenty years HIS WAY with the racist Wright - now he wants us to completely disregard that - it was different - it didn't happen - we don't understand - we are taking it out of context - we need to move on - it's not important... HS it is very important. It is outrageous!!!!

The American People deserve to know exactly what we are getting into with any Presidential candidate and most rational people I know do NOT like what they see NOW in the Obama - Wright relationship of convenience.

When Michelle Obama wants to move on - that is an indication that they are into campaign damage control and no more and the race for President over-rules personal privacy and ANY relationship of convenience such as Obama- Wright.

Obama is too radical and NOT Presidential - and this comes from a Democrat.

The remaining Democratic primary voters and super delegates can/should act wisely and DENY Obama the White House.

[Ron Dog]

Listen up people. If most Americans listen to their pastors thier would be on premartial sex none at all. So the people who state that Obama listened to ever word that his Pastor spoke are lair. Why because they don't listen to what their pastors say themsleves. Rev. Wright has spoken agaisnt wayward fathers. He has spoken agaisnt black on black crime. And yet people have the gall to pretend they listened to his whole sermon and still think he is a racist. what about the last part of his sermon where he said that thre is forgiveness for America if we would turn to him and repent. He clearly used the word we, WE as in not the white people of the United States but all people of the United States. So I know that the person saying he is the most hateful person they have ever heard is a liar. Rev. Wright has stated that he is for the Gospel, That his loyality to God comes before any nation. Any christian believes that ity is God who gives a Nation it's power. So when AI hear so-called Christain saying that hate they go agaisnt the every Bible that claim tho believe in. Show me in the scripture where the Bible states that America is exempt from the penalty of sin. America you were est by God Almighty, our rights where given by our Creator, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Whom God sets free is free indeed. God Bless America Lord and keep us Sane.

[Heather]

In this article they quote Wright as saying:

"Defending his relationship with Louis Farrakhan, Wright said the Nation of Islam leader "is not my enemy. He did not put me in chains. He did not put me in slavery."

This is interesting news. I did not know rev Wright was ever placed into slavery! If he is saying someone who is alive today did not put him into slavery, then surely he is suggesting someone else alive today did!