Barack Obama again faces queries about Rev. Wright

Barack Obama continued today to tread the fine line he's been walking in discussing the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Meeting up with MSNBC's Chris Matthews for a lengthy interview in front of a college crowd in Pennsylvania, Obama disassociated himself from the more extreme comments uttered by his ex-pastor, but not from the man himself.

And while insisting -- as he has previously -- that he was not present when Wright made the pronouncements that fueled the recent furor, he steered clear of specifying the "controversial" statements he has said he did hear from the preacher.

Left hanging was the question that may determine Obama's political fate -- will his approach to the flap suffice?

Matthews assuredly would have broached the topic of Wright, but it was raised first by a student at West Chester University, who asked Obama how the uproar had affected his "spiritual life."

Obama made a point of noting he is a Christian who prays "every night." He wryly added: "And when you’re running for president, you pray even more."

He called the controversy that erupted over Wright and his relationship to him "a difficult moment.  You know, this is somebody who, on the one hand, is a good man, but said some things that I deeply disagree with."

Matthews returned to the matter later, asking why ...

Obama had stayed a part of Wright's congregation (as well as noting that he had contributed a sizable amount of money to the church over the years). The following exchange ensued:

OBAMA:  I think that what has happened is we took a loop out of — and compressed the most offensive things that a pastor said over the course of 30 years, and just ran it over and over and over again.
There is that other 30 years.  I never heard him say those things that were in those clips.

MATTHEWS:  But you did say you heard him say controversial things.

OBAMA:  But I’ve heard you say controversial things.

MATTHEWS:  You didn’t give me $27,000 dollars either.

OBAMA:  The point is this is a church that is active in AIDS.  It’s active on all kind of thing.  And so this is a wonderful church.  But as I said, look at the amount of time that’s been spent on this today, Chris.  At a time when we haven’t talked about a whole host of issues.

The interview wound to an end shortly after that. But as much as Obama clearly wanted to move on, just as clearly he can expect questions about Wright to be a staple at future forums and debates.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Steve Sailer]

What did the Presidential candidate know and when did he know it?

Obviously, Obama is trying very hard to mislead the American public. He's known since the 1980s that Wright is a far leftist radical -- heck, that's why Obama chose Wright's church! You can read all about it on pp. 274-295 of Obama's "Dreams from My Father." There's a very good reason Obama subtitled his autobiography: "A Story of Race and Inheritance."

[blacknews]

We have all seen the tapes so why is it necessary for Chris Matthews to spend so much time on this issue. To me it sounds like he has an agenda not unlike CNN & FOX News who suddenly decided to begin airing the Rev Wright tapes at the same after siting on it for months.
http://www.blacknews4us.com/

[Marks]

Let me say this,

Anything and I mean, anything, Rev. Wright said in Trinity Church is better than a Church who allowed predators to prey on children! Church's have scandals but still can be doing good works.

How can a Church allow intolerant, blaspheming, unpatriotic screaming words at the pulpit and young impressionable people might hear!

( Supposedly Obama's two daughters are forever negatively harmed by rhetoric! Or they already understand what black afrocentric pride is and who Louis Farrakhan is all about. How could Obama! Where was his better judgment! Why is he giving money that Church! )

I believe Obama's for years went to basic Church services and left before the 4 hour got rhetorically loud and wild sermons occurred.

Obama's gave money to the Church as he said, for the social programs it has.

There is a difference between words and illegal actions protected! Words are free speech. Illegal criminal actions like preying on children for pleasure and abuse are felonies!

Anyone challenging Obama's Church better check their own!

A lot of people continuing going to the Church that has protected predators. They tithe each month to the organization that didn't do anything about predators except move them around.

People continue going to the Church building where a predator abused children, if its cherished older building in a community. A Church where they got married, a predator did evil things in another room of the building or the basement. Maybe a predator Pastor or Priest married them!

If anyone wants to say Rev. Wright is unpatriotic for things he said, he's BETTER than that guy in Utah creating Ricin poison! Creating a toxin that can be distributed in a deadly way, is very unpatriotic to me!

In that motel room with the poison, an anarchist book!
Very unpatriotic!

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jM7qg8oXI4YiKn3zf0e_HoIubm-AD8VQ199G0

There were a lot of Bishops guilty, helping the moving predators around or not calling the police when crimes against children were known! A lot of directives on what to do, come from the Vatican.

Church that protects some loud and screaming rhetoric!
Another Church protected THOUSANDS of predators, about 4% of Priests over decades!

Still a Church with scandals, can be doing good things in those communities. Church's can retain a good image, though they were protecting predators! Right?

[Julia de Burgos]

Oh God, this is never going away ha? This is going to kill this campaign, ha? Obama won't let this die. Why do they keep asking him about this? So his pastor is a racist, so what? McCains' not going to do anything with this. He already said so.

[Obama Mama]

And yet again, with an hour-long interview, there's nothing more important to blog about! Give it up. Hillary lied about taking fire in Bosnia when she was under the best protection imaginable thanks to our troops, who do take fire, daily, thanks to her vote for the Iraq War. She dishonors the soldiers and officers who put themselves on the line to ensure her safety, and even wants our soldiers to stay in Iraq to "deter" Iran, for pity's sake - some "withdrawal" she offers! Tell me, please, where her proposal ends up being any different from McCain's.

An Obama supporter recently put it best - what's more important, Race and Religion or Truth and Troops? To me, getting us out of Iraq with no permanent bases left behind, and back on Al Qaeda's tail is Priority No. 1, and getting our government out of lobbyists' pockets is the means to achieving Priorities No. 1, and 2 to get lenders regulated and consumers protected, and 3 to finally have portable affordable employer-provided and/or government-subsidized healthcare with no limits on preconditions, and 4 to repair and replenish our troops and equipment, and so on.

People who won't vote for Obama because of Wright probably weren't voting for him anyway. People who care more about our two wars, our stagnant economy, global warming, our international influence and our health will move on from the retired pastor, and vote for Obama to get our country back on track again.

[JanetP]

Jeremiah Wright is a bully and a racist. He is using a church in Chicago as a front to promote his anti-white and anti-American agenda. The white race should stop tiptoeing around this issue and call it what it is.

Barack Obama, with all his brilliance, intellect and Harvard credentials, would have us believe that in twenty years he wasn't able to figure out that Wright was spewing poisonous racist venom from the pulpit he hides behind. That is unmitigated crap and Obama insults the intelligence of the people he is asking to elect him the leader of the free world.

People: We are surrendering our country. We must get beyond this political correctness and challenge hate speech whether we find it in a KKK meeting, a White Supremist Convention, or a black church in Chicago. If this issue is not properly addressed and resolved the moral authority to challenge any other person is lost. Rev. Wright cannot be given a pass because he is black and Obama cannot be given a pass for his failure, up to this moment, to acknowledge the harm Wright has done with racist rants.

[Bill]

Matthews' response that Obama didn't give him $27,000 was disingenuous. I presume he didn't give Wright the money and that he gave it to the church for its good works.

[eddie23]

REv Wrigth is neither a bully nor a racist.

I listened to the entire sermon, not the best one I ever heard, not too bad either.

How can this man, a US marine, be anti-American ?
He is American, period.
Neither is he racist. Prove that claim !

[Patrick]

DOES TWO WRONG MAKE ONE RIGHT???
PREDATOR PRIEST DOES GOOD DEEDS FOR OTHERS TOO, DOES THAT MEAN THEY SHOULD BE SPARED LIKE WRIGHT??

[anonymous]

MSNBC is pro-Hillary. Of course they are going to nitpick and not let the issue fade. I think we should get past this already. There are a lot of skeletons in everyone's closet. I've heard my pastor say lots of things I don't agree with, I skip over them and pray when he gets to the spiritual god parts. It's a nice church. Come on people! Wake Up!!!! You are being bamboozled by the media. Get a freakin' brain cell.

[Patrick]

DOES TWO WRONG MAKE ONE RIGHT???
PREDATOR PRIEST DOES GOOD DEEDS FOR OTHERS TOO, DOES THAT MEAN THEY SHOULD BE SPARED LIKE WRIGHT??

[John C.]

The reality as that there are racial issues. Democracy and freedom for both whites and blacks in America is still very much a work in progress and it is that America that made it so very painful in pre antibbellum America for blacks and the vestiges of it that persist that Rev. Write was alluding to. You don't go from 300 years of slavery to a perfect society with equality for all without going through exactly what we are going through on these issues right now.
To me the answers to these issues are to be found in education, a belief in the inherent value and worth of every human, faith and hope, and a stable economy that can offer jobs to everyone who want to work.

[Angie]

The church does many other good things - thats why he stayed. Do a documentary about the good things the church has done. This is how you will really understand why (Obama) stayed. This Rev. went off a couple of times - as we all do from time to time. My advice - do a full documentary on the church this is what's needed.

[kemo]

BOTTOM LINE - Black liberation theology is NOT “Christianity” as most of us understands it. It is only theology as it promotes hate. This "church" promotes one primary message: black hatred against whites. Its social programs, AIDS assistance, college assistance, community assistance are for BLACKS ONLY! Whites need not apply. The key is what is NOT said; the key to the sick center of this organization of Afro-centric, former “slaves” seeking revenge for 200 year old "sins" and inventing and promoting 2000 year old "sins" .. whites killing the Black Jesus!
If things are so damn bad in the USA why not go back to Africa!? Flights leave daily!
Don't try to sell me B. H. Obama as some-oh-so-clean, black John Kennedy. What B.S.! Members of this “church” hate John Kennedy all that John Kennedy stood for; he was powerful, rich and white.
BHO is NOT the man he claims to be. Just who is he? He is a creation of what he and his political handlers think the American people want. He, for damn sure, is NOT the kind of person we need in the Whitehouse when our nation is at such a crisis point.

[Rosemarie]

Why all the attention on a minister who is not running for office? Why no attention about a candidate lying about her "experience" in the White House? Why no attention to shady dealings while in the White House, in the governor's mansion, in a senate seat? What is lurking in those tax returns that a candidate refuses to reveal? Who owns the media?

[Chandra]

IT goes both ways... if this would've been Hillary going to a "white power" (KKK-like) church who had said the same thing and then Hillary claimed not to know... you know Obama supporters would be the same way.

There was an article by a small paper at the beginning of the Presidential races where Obama and Wright were overheard talking about how Obama would eventually have to distance himself from the Rev. (the Rev. said that to Obama) because of the Rev.'s "outspokenness" and the "black power" of the church and Obama said that "I know...".

Find that article and see for yourself that Obama DID know and according to his book that was the church where he felt at home... the one he had been searching for... Black Power, fiery speeches, and all.

Does nobody think it's... weird(?) how he almost never says anything about his white heritage?

In the end it really doesn't matter whether it's Obama, Hillary, or even McCain. They all have the same Goal... how they make it come about is the only difference.

If you're smart you will use your right to Write-in somebody better...

Of course the masses would have to actually research history and realize how this republic was meant to run and what's really going on. The sad part is, at the first whisper of someone incorrectly saying conspiracy "theory" they immediately stop researching and go with the sheeple again. *sigh*

[A. Other]

Why are so many presidential candidates so religious?

There are many people in this country who are intelligent enough to be skeptics and nonbelievers. Not everyone is a sheep following some church leaders blindly and paying them money to hear more lies and be brainwashed (such as Obama, Clinton and McCain).

How can we be certain that Obama, Clinton, or McCain will uphold the Constitution regarding separation of church and state? Religion, no matter what kind, has absolutely no place in politics or in public schools.

[Kwame Nyamekye]

I remember George Wallace and the kind of hateful things he did and said about African Americans when I was growing up. Nevertheless, many African Americans came to see a different side of him and forgave him both for what he said and what he did. Unfortunately, I don't see the same spirit among my white cousins with regard to the Rev. Wright and Mr. Obama (who by the way was a member of the church for more reasons than the fact that Rev. Wright was the pastor). Churches are involved in all types of good works in the communities they serve beyond the Sunday morning services. Doesn't the Bible also teach forgiveness? Forgive, forget and move on. Mr. Obama didn't say any of the things you guys are grilling him about.

[Anne]

Look. This is not rocket science. PLENTY of people sit through occasionally nutty sermons - or passively tolerate their minister's, or their church's extreme positions on some social issues even when they strongl disagree with them. The reason they stay in those churches is that they support the overall good works that those churches do in the community, and they give huge amounts of money to those churches because they are doing such effective "thousand points of light" work in the community. They are helping youth with after school programs, funding programs to feed villages overseas, supporting elderly in the community, etc. Yes, they might not supopprt every political utterance from their ministers, but they support the Church and all its good works, and they feel that particular church is doing more good in the community than perhaps any other church where the sermons might indeed be less inflammatory. What I have heard from my friends who attend such churches is that they simply ignore the inflammatory parts of the sermons, which are either rare or are just a couple of minutes in the sermon and focus on the overall message of love and ofrgiveness and taking care of your neighbor and giving back to your community and those less able to help themselves, and the uplifting feeling they get from that far outweighs the other. Barack Obama did not give $27,000 directly to Rev. Wright. He gave $27,000 to Trinity Church so that it could continue to be a beacon of hope in the South Side of Chicago. How hard is that to understand?

[Richard Faulkner]

So Obama and Clinton are critizing Bush and McCain on the economy. Like they would have done something much earlier. Well where were they earlier? I know of NO bill that they introduced to fix the problem. Where were they oh yeah out taking care of their butts instead of taking care of ours like they say they have for years and will if elected. What a crock.

[M Mitchell]

Are you people really that dumb? Black people have not been treated like Americans since coming to America. Heck, we only recently start being treated like human beings, at all. So, why do you think we would see America from your view point?

If your forefathers and foremothers had been rapped, beaten, castrated, and even murdered for sport, you may have a different prospective about America, too.

If your government, under the Reagan Administration, had allowed major drug dealers to distribute drugs in your community to finance an illegal war (Iran/Contra), then warehoused your young men who sold those drugs; you may have a different prospective about America, too. Before you call me nuts, you may want to GOOGLE my assertions.

Etc. etc. etc.

I believe most American citizens are reasonably decent, while many other pretend to be. But the U.S. Government is guilty of doing unthinkable things to the all the darker people of this country and the World. Unfortunately, White Americans seem to be the only people on the entire planet who doesn't know this!

Mr. Obama is only in the public eye because he first established "Street Cred" on the mean streets of Chicago. You don't get "Street Cred" by embracing fairytales and ignoring American History - the good and the bad.

[maz hess]

I think most of the people are just happy that barack is not a muslim

[Maria Boggiano]

Please Mr Frederick, retire Rev. Wright. We are tired of this. I watched the Hardball college tour with Chris Matthews and I saw that the whole student body and teachers were energized by Obama's magnetism and vision. In a real democracy it is not just conservatives and the right wing that have a say. They had their turn for eight long years. It is time for the new generation of politics to take over and voters want to vote on issues, not distractions and non-issues. It is clear Obama loves this country as much as McCain or he wouldn't subject himself to the scrutiny and rigors that come from running as a candidate.Your article appeals to a small segment of voters.

[Cedrick Mason]

President Bush gave us misleading info. on the Iraq situation. Here we have Sen. Clinton lieying about her trip to Bosina. Why are you not showing the link between the two.
Do we want another president who will lie to the public again. Play hardball on this issue, the press played hardball to destroy Barack Obama over the Rev. Wright issue. This will get the public to begin to call into question her truefulness when the phone rings at 3 o'clock in the morning.

[Jenny]

Two things really irk me about the media's handling of the Wright issue, and some of the comments I'm seeig online:

1) Giving money to a church and attending that church (however sporadically the Obamas may have attended it--and I'm guessing their attendance was sporadic) does not mean that a person believes the pastor is a guru, nor does it mean that they are complacent with what a pastor says. This church is, for all of its complexities, a church family that does very good works in the Chicago community. I know; I lived not far from there when I was a student in Chicago. In large churches like this one, while the pastor does serve a unifying role, the main thing is frequently the community, NOT the ideology or rhetorical moves of its minister.

2) People who believe that Obama is trying to mislead the American people might do well to consider that he's not deceitful--any more than Hillary Clinton or John McCain are lying around the people they've associated with in certain contexts--as much as he's STUBBORN and thinks that the issues are more important, especially in a context such as this, where students had shown up with a variety of questions for him. He will have to deal with the Wright issue over and over again, and he knows it. But I don't see why that means he can't talk about other issues when he's speaking to people who waited a long time to see him in person.

[Gus]

Oh please.... everyone is a hypocrate if they want to act like they've never said anything racist before in their lives.. what a waste of time and way to talk about insignifican issues..... Just like obama said, we can keep talking about the same issues this time, and next time and the time after that or we can actually talk about real issues that face americans and do something about it.

what about the real issues we fice today? what about our economy? war? medicare? education? I guess talking about some racist comments are more important to some people than real issues...

John McCain has no room to talk Reverand Hagee is twice as bad as Reverand Wright. This guy thinks going to war w/ Iran will fulfill some prophecy.......

Obama has a greater chance and will beat McCain in 08.

[jc]

This topic is old. Obama handled himself beautifully. Why would he "disown" his spiritual mentor, not having to agree with his social views, for the same reason why he wouldn't "disown" or stop loving his white grandmother...Again, this topic is old...

Despite me dis-liking the Rev. Wright, Obama didn't have a "sell-out" excuse for defending Rev. Wright. Took the good with the bad...When I mean "sell-out" excuses, the examples are clearly defined in;

1) I didn't inhale...
2) It really wasn't sex...
3) You voted for me, but now you actually have two-presidents...

[zammy]

I hate what the Reverand Wright said about white America. But then again, I don't how it is to be black and having been sent to the back of the bus or loved ones lynched for no reason but your skin color being black

I imagine, when that entire African-American generation who have experienced such atrocities pass on, maybe all this pain would go away.

[Roach]

Obama has hardly addressed this issue. Does he agree with Wright? Did he hear Wright say these things? Is he a black nationalist like Wright? Does he think any of this would be OK if said by Whites? Or disqualifying? More important, when will he ever stand up to blacks and tell them when they are wrong, parochial, selfish, misguided, overly conspiratorial, or just plain self-destructive? Will he tell them the Public Enemies, Farrakhans, and Sharpton's are a dead end?

I doubt it. This guy is insecure about his identity. And he identifies inner city angriness as the well of black authenticity.

[Nannie Turner]

I,myself am terribly afraid that this is another George W. Bush mistake.In 2000 and2004,people voted for a pesident because they liked him.Wake up and look at where that mistake has took us.This man(Obama)lies with the same ease that Bush does and people just over look that.This is a dangerous man.I can understand the young people who are disgusted with the corruption in Washington.However I cannot understand why the older ones are endorsing him.All I can say is that we are headed into worse times than we have had with Bush/Cheney.How will you like having Louis Farrakan and Jerimiah Wright in Obama's cabinet?Think people,before it is too late.

[08vote]

Nannie, how many KKK members were in ANY REPUBLICAN cabinet?

[Zoey]

Who cares about Wright? The poor horse has been dead for a long time now. Seriously, WHO CARES?

[cplummer]

For those of you tired of hearing about this issue, GET USED TO IT!! Sen. McCain will not have to say a SINGLE word about the good Rev. Wright...the 527's will be falling all over themselves running ad after ad after ad showing the Rev. Wright's sermons...the ads have written themselves. This is what we get when we refuse to vet a potential Presidential nominee...we only have ourselves to blame!!

[thomas in ky]

i have predicted ,and i might say correctly every president since lyndon b johnson..am i just lucky? maybe.this election while being hard to call has some things that are basic and will determine the next president.hilliary clinton ,bless her heart has far too much baggage and negatives to win a general election...she never could win to start with.barack obama could very well be elected president, but to do so would have to poll many many white votes that in a general electionmay be impossible for him to do,remember doug wilder ? he was the first black to be a gov in this united states..leading by 17 points in the polls days before the election he won by a half percentage point.obama all other issues aside must win the white vote to be elected..so far he has only garnered about 26% of the white vote..is mccain sitting pretty..the polls suggest he is.however it is a long way to november ...all this is interesting to say the least

[Texas Democrat]

The fact is that there is NO WAY that Obama did not know that his minster and mentor of 30 years was teaching black theolgy, and why so many of these comments by the minister are slurs against America and other races and religions and why he blames AIDS on White Americans and 9/11. And if he did not know, then he is not only an inexperienced candidate, but a clueless one. What a uniter. Hillary Clinton is our only hope.

[jodi]

There is a big difference between the Catholic church goers and Obama going and bringing his daughters to Rev. Wright's sermons and no one should have to point it out but ....... People going to Catholic Churches did not hear Bishops moving pedophile priests around.....they knew nothing about it and when that horrible issue came out in the press many people like myself stopped donating to the church and some Catholic Churches stopped handing the donations in as a protest. In the case of Obama, he brought his 2 daughters to that church to hear Rev. Wright's racist comments against white America and donated $27K last year.....although he claims he donated to the church that helps people like those with AIDS, it is more likely that he donated that money for the Revs new home. Obama did nothing to indicate that he did not approve of Wright's comments and racist sermons. Obama is unelectable....vote Clinton

[Deborah]

To M Mitchell,
you obviously never took history in school. The Russian,Jews,British,Scots,Irish,Italians,Chinese,Japanese,.ETC.Should I go on?.....we all know what our forefathers and foremothers experienced.Rape, beatings, castrations, and even murdered for sport.We just dont dwell on what we cant change.Thats why they call it history.You should have a different prospective about your freedom. Quit blameing everone else for what YOU can change. quit harboring hate for others today that had nothing to do with yesterday. Is this never going to end? Just be blessed that the times have changed and that YOU can make a difference.

[Frank]

Do John McCain and the current crop of conservative republicans respect the moral foundation of this country? The U.S. Constitution was actually designed, among other things, to protect the people of America from misguided government.

U.S. Constitution: Amendment I - Freedom of Religion
Right now, for the first time ever, your tax dollars are funding religious groups you may not agree with. Conservative republican faith based initiatives are at the root of using your tax dollars to promulgate religious beliefs you may actually disapprove of. Conservative judges appointed by Bush ruled that taxpayers do not have a right to challenge expeditures by the executive branch.

Amendment IV - Search and seizure
Under the guise of court action against abortion, Conservative Republicans had John Ashcroft subpoena all the medical records of literally thousands of women just like you and members of your family. Conservative republicans are invading your privacy every day. Unfortunately for all of us, they don't appear to care about our U.S. constitution, or by extension, the people of our great country.

Amendment X - Powers of the States and People
John McCain and conservative republicans have tried consistently to overturn States Laws. They used your tax dollars to destroy the will of the people of Oregon, and the famous "Death with Dignity" law; they lost, but undoubtedly will try again. Conservative republicans and John McCain and no longer respect States Rights.

Amendment VIII - Cruel and Unusual punishment
Would you rather die, or support a government which supported and sanctioned torture? The founding fathers would rather have died, and in fact they were proud to fight and die for our government: A government which specifically outlaws cruel and unusual punishment for very important reasons.

I am one of millions of people that view this straying from our moral foundations as very bad news for our country. I urge you to keep this in mind in the coming election.

[patel]

I know, people dismiss African-Americans when they use their past as a justification for their present day "blame the white-man" rhetoric. It's in the past. Ideally yes...But people who experienced segregation still exist and are alive. Forgiving and forgetting is much easier said than done. Those who don't forgive become people like Reverand Wright. Sometimes, I can't say I blame him or people like him If 1960 was the year when civil rights began its momentum, then that means people who are about 55 and older, African-American born and having grown up in the South still feel the sting of discrimination and segregation.

The 1960's?...wow in History's time-line that is a blink of an eye. I always thought segration happened during a time when present day Americans ceased to exist. I'm an immigrant from India, who arrived to the United States in 1989. I guess my parents, who are very dark-skinned and still alive thank you, would have had to sit in the back of the bus too, had they lived in the south during their teen-age years. I could now understand the anger of the African-American community. Reverand Wright happens to be their voice. It scares me, but now at least I understand...

[LittleQueenie]

WHY IS THIS STILL NEWS?? I didn't care then and I don't care now! Instead of just sound bites, read or listen to the whole speeches - they are NOT that bad!! Is Wright a racist? I don't know - does he have reason to be angry with this country? YES!!!! African-Americans were treated like something less than animals while Wright was growing up. For more than half of the 20th century, AA's in the US South were hosed, lynched, kept from voting, could not use "white" facilities - yet these same AA's enlisted in the Marines, Army, etc and fought for this country, only to return to be treated like crap. This country studied AA men with syphilis for 40 years, refusing to treat them, even when a complete cure was available. I don't blame him for being angry with this country!!
Can we please start talking about the issues facing us - the war, the economy, the lack of health care, etc

[robert]

When are people going to actually watch Wright's sermons and discover that the snippets that fox news released are actually Wright quoting Ambassador Peck? When will they realize that Wright is a compassionate man who has disagreed with US foreign policy for years? What about the WHITE pastors saying the destruction of New Orleans and 9/11 was God's vengeance? No one is giving them crap!

[USA]

This story about rev wright is getting played out, why not put the warmonger up againt the wall, he had a son that served in Iraq and by fall will have two more sons in Iraq and this lunatic is trying to run in this election, he must be demented.

[Matthew from Colorado]

How about the Reverend (and State Senator) James Meeks, who is also happens to be a delegate pledged to Senator Obama?

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/obamas-other-pastor-problem-james-meeks

This is NOT about 'race', this is about tolerance for anti-human, anti-American hate speech.

[Philly]

Those who call Wright a racist need to look into thier own hearts first.Secondly, go buy a history book and try to understand why MOST blacks(and many whites) agree with the man.

[DPG2K]

MSNBC pro Hillary? What are you smoking, "anonymous"? Perhaps it's what you (and/or the candidate you support) were snorting instead.

[Mick]

Are people so desperate and blinded by their hate of the current administration that they could possibly vote for Hussein Obama after this Wright issue surfaced? You must be kidding. Anyway, this stuff will get replayed if he gets to the general election, and he will be swift boated. No coherent white people to the right of Karl Marx will vote for him. Their won't be enough Extreme Leftists, the young and stupid or Blacks to overcome that.
They must be out of their mind to even think of letting this Liar anywhere near the WH.

[Reality]

The presidential campaign have brought out a lot of issues that some people may have known about, overlooked or were completely oblivious to until now.The issue of Senator Obama's sincerity and Dr. Wright's comments should teach America a lot of valuable lessons.I think Dr. Wright may be right on many of the issues he has addressed - but he might have recieved a warmer welcome in a different venue (i.e - a talk show or community forum). It is sad that in seeking to bring something to the forefront, many preachers use the pulpit to covey their (vs God's) thoughts to a 'captive' audience. I do think some preachers might address these issue out of the sincereness of their hearts - but they might knowingly or unknowingly do so at the expense of God's word being preached.
I do not believe Sen. Obama and many of the church's parishoners believe everything Dr.Wright has preached. I doubt the Senator's position would entitle him that opportunity.
On a more serious thought- it is sad to see that both candidates support abortion and same sex marriage. Both of these issues are in stark contrast to Christianity.
I do think most people look at a candidate's position on faith to determine their moral and ethical viewpoints on issues. People might not agree with a candidates beliefs but will use it as a barometer in regards to their stance on moral and ethical issues.
If anything, maybe this 'episode' will cause all the candidates to do a true evaluation of their hearts to see if it aligns with what they profess or if they are just 'playing politics.'.

[rosalynneus]

Obama is revel and a cristian by convenience. His blood is musulm and liberal. He can't help it. YOU CAN if you think. Don't show your hate for the present administration by voting for HUSSEIN OBAMA.

[pa mom]

The following is the doctrine from the Trinity Church. Should white people find it offensive? Replace the word black with white...does it become more offensive? Does it make me a racist if I think so.

These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They consist of the following concepts:

Commitment to God. “The God of our weary years” will give us the strength to give up prayerful passivism and become Black Christian Activists, soldiers for Black freedom and the dignity of all humankind.

Commitment to the Black Community. The highest level of achievement for any Black person must be a contribution of strength and continuity of the Black Community.

Commitment to the Black Family. The Black family circle must generate strength, stability and love, despite the uncertainty of externals, because these characteristics are required if the developing person is to withstand warping by our racist competitive society.

Those Blacks who are blessed with membership in a strong family unit must reach out and expand that blessing to the less fortunate.

Dedication to the Pursuit of Education. We must forswear anti-intellectualism. Continued survival demands that each Black person be developed to the utmost of his/her mental potential despite the inadequacies of the formal education process. “Real education” fosters understanding of ourselves as well as every aspect of our environment. Also, it develops within us the ability to fashion concepts and tools for better utilization of our resources, and more effective solutions to our problems. Since the majority of Blacks have been denied such learning, Black Education must include elements that produce high school graduates with marketable skills, a trade or qualifications for apprenticeships, or proper preparation for college.

Basic education for all Blacks should include Mathematics, Science, Logic, General Semantics, Participative Politics, Economics and Finance, and the Care and Nurture of Black minds.

Dedication to the Pursuit of Excellence. To the extent that we individually reach for, even strain for excellence, we increase, geometrically, the value and resourcefulness of the Black Community. We must recognize the relativity of one’s best; this year’s best can be bettered next year. Such is the language of growth and development. We must seek to excel in every endeavor.
Adherence to the Black Work Ethic. “It is becoming harder to find qualified people to work in Chicago.” Whether this is true or not, it represents one of the many reasons given by businesses and industries for deserting the Chicago area. We must realize that a location with good facilities, adequate transportation and a reputation for producing skilled workers will attract industry. We are in competition with other cities, states and nations for jobs. High productivity must be a goal of the Black workforce.

Commitment to Self-Discipline and Self-Respect. To accomplish anything worthwhile requires self-discipline. We must be a community of self-disciplined persons if we are to actualize and utilize our own human resources, instead of perpetually submitting to exploitation by others. Self-discipline, coupled with a respect for self, will enable each of us to be an instrument of Black Progress and a model for Black Youth.

Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness.” Classic methodology on control of captives teaches that captors must be able to identify the “talented tenth” of those subjugated, especially those who show promise of providing the kind of leadership that might threaten the captor’s control.

Those so identified are separated from the rest of the people by:

Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another.
Placing them in concentration camps, and/or structuring an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.
Seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which, while training them to earn more dollars, hypnotizes them into believing they are better than others and teaches them to think in terms of “we” and “they” instead of “us.”
So, while it is permissible to chase “middleclassness” with all our might, we must avoid the third separation method – the psychological entrapment of Black “middleclassness.” If we avoid this snare, we will also diminish our “voluntary” contributions to methods A and B. And more importantly, Black people no longer will be deprived of their birthright: the leadership, resourcefulness and example of their own talented persons.

Pledge to Make the Fruits of All Developing and Acquired Skills Available to the Black Community.

Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions.

Pledge Allegiance to All Black Leadership Who Espouse and Embrace the Black Value System.

Personal Commitment to Embracement of the Black Value System. To measure the worth and validity of all activity in terms of positive contributions to the general welfare of the Black Community and the Advancement of Black People towards freedom.

[ck]

Extensive rhetoric (from Obama and the media) and lots of mental gymnastics (from the public) have been applied to try in vain to explain away Obama’s racial bias, which was made glaringly clear in the exposure of his 20-year relationship with Rev. Wright (whom Obama knows has a long-standing relationship with and admiration for Nation of Islam head Louis Farrakhan, a known racist, chauvinist, homophobe, anti-Semite and anti-American) and in Obama’s own public slip using those three little words, ‘typical white person.’ What would Obama or his campaign minions call anyone who dared refer to Obama, Rev. Wright, or any other black person a ‘typical black person’? Obama is the only one continually injecting race into this campaign because he knows it’s to his advantage to do so and because he knows he can do so with impunity, while making it clear that anyone not from his camp who introduces it for discussion risks being forever branded a racist. Obama’s much-touted but actually quite inane ‘race’ speech showed primarily that he believes the so-called ‘racial divide’ to be the most important, if not the only, issue confronting this country, and yet at every self-serving opportunity he widens that divide in an apparent effort to make it a chasm, rather than bridge it as he would try to do if he were indeed the ‘uniter’ he claims to be. Otherwise, why would he sit by silently for 20 years and listen approvingly to Rev. Wright’s hate-filled, racist, anti-Semitic, anti-American views and never condemn or question them until the eve of the important Pennsylvania primary? If Obama is sincerely confident in the ‘American people’s fairness,’ as he has been quoted, why does he not allow voters themselves to place race in appropriate context as just one among the many issues our country faces? Instead, he continues to press race as though it’s the only issue that matters, because it’s the only one that he knows will, without fail, serve his own ambitions. After he succeeds in making a racial chasm out of any divide that may exist, does he have a plan for solving that problem? Or does he believe, simply by being half-black/half-white that only he, merely by being nominated and elected, can single-handedly save us from the kind of racial strife that he and backers such as Rev. Wright are apparently deliberately fomenting? In fact, does Obama have a detailed, intelligent, workable plan for solving any of this country’s problems? He's spoken many thousands of words, but hasn’t proposed any real solution for even one of those many complex problems. Thus, his words amount to only so much empty rhetoric, including his attempted explanations of the Rev. Wright issue, which will not and should not simply go away as Obama's supporters would like. Rev. Wright’s clear hatred for anyone who is not black and Obama’s clear support for such hatred cannot be explained away or cleaned up no matter how much time passes and no matter how many pretty words are used, and it is precisely such hatred that makes Obama unfit to be president.