Barack Obama responds to latest Jeremiah Wright remarks

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The hot-talking Rev. Jeremiah Wright was back in the news today, speaking to a jammed National Press Club and giving no ground in the controversy over his taped sermons.

So, naturally, his most famous parishioner, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, was asked about it while he was campaigning in North Carolina Monday for the Tar Heel State's May 6 Democratic presidential primary. And Obama, in turn, asked voters to judge him by his own words and deeds rather than his past associations.

His controversial former spiritual mentor reemerged in the presidential campaign through a broadcast interview and a series of speeches over the weekend and today.

"I think people will understand that I am not perfect," Obama said, "and that there are going to be folks in my past like Rev. Wright that may cause them some concern."

"But that ultimately my 20 years of service and the values that I've written about and spoken about and promoted are their values and what they're concerned about," Obama added.

The Illinois senator spoke at a press conference (hastily arranged by campaign staffers after Wright's latest remarks) on the airport tarmac in Wilmington, N.C., as media traveling with him were about to board his campaign plane. Airplane engines roared in the background and a plane taking off interrupted the brief media availability, which lasted less than six minutes and permitted only three questions.

Obama sought anew to distance himself from Wright's incendiary remarks after the former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ spoke Monday in Washington. Wright delivered a high-profile speech the night before at a NAACP dinner in Detroit and also appeared on a PBS program hosted by Bill Moyers for a lengthy interview in which he said he was hurt by the reaction to his inflammatory sermons.

"Some of the comments that Rev. Wright has made offend me, and I understand why they offend the American people," Obama said. "He does not speak for me. He does not speak for the campaign."

"Many of the statements that he's made, both that triggered this initial controversy and that he's made over the last several days, are not statements that I have heard him make previously," the senator added. "They don't represent my views."

--Mike Dorning

Mike Dorning writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune's Washington bureau.       Photo Credit: Trinity United Church of Christ

Comments

[Core Democrat]

Obama followed this Pastor for 20 years and he is asking Americans to believe him when he says he did not know that Wright was Anti-American and racist.
We have heard this man a few times and we know what Wright is saying. Get Real! Obama believed this too or he never would have stayed and listened to this Pastor or "Mentor" or Spiritual Advisor." for 20 years. And Obama took his children, the next generation. There is no good judgement here and certainly no Unity. Obama is no uniter of All Americans or America.

[lmaylhi]

The "Rev" Wright is a perfect example of what has happened to black culture in the U.S. A few "leaders", whose power over their followers comes from their shrill and continuous idiotic rants against all things that they perceive as not "giving" them what they want, produces a black population with a completely destroyed family system, uneducated, lazy, dependent on government welfare systems to keep them in crack, and generally bad for the gene pool.

Your leaders have utterly failed you, black Americans. They have led you down the path of demagogery and envy. They keep you enslaved to their message of doom and hatred. Wake up and save yourselves - white people can't, and now certainly WON'T, be interested in doing so.

Get rid of these idiotic, moronic, uneducated cretins - Wright, Jackson, etc., etc. before your entire culture is completely destroyed (won't be much longer). When the collective guilt of the white folks runs out, and run out it will, they will see you for what you are - a gaggle of uneducated, illiterate, shiftless boobs, angling for your next fix, and will find a better way to deal wtih you.

[Johnny]

Why in the world is Wright choosing this moment in time for a media tour in which to voice his defiant bravado?

Is it because he wishes to help Barack Obama?

Is it because he wishes to help the "black church?"

Is it because he wishes to promote Jeremiah Wright?

It answers itself. Obama has to come to terms with the fact that the man he has considered family clearly does not consider Obama family.

Obama will make the right choice, as he always does, and will say and do what he must in order to publicly separate himself from Wright and his immature selfishness. I feel for Obama, though. It is perhaps those qualities that give Wright such a powerful hold on Obama. Wright's immaturity and selfishness are in common with Obama's biological father; by cutting himself off from Wright, Obama may feel unconsciously that he is finally separating himself from his father, also.

We love you, Barack. Keep going!

[KYJurisDoctor]

Why won't the good reverend do something good and just go away!?!

[jennifer potenciano]

whatever he says about his "former" pastor, obama is now (politically)a "dead man walking."

can the obama donors & superdelegates & howard dean & pelosi & carter & the kennedy clan & the male chauvinist kennedy publicist ted sorensen & all other head-over-heels salivating obama fanatics not see this?

two points are hardly incontrovertible in this l'affaire wright (who's very wrong). & this affair can hardly be dismissed as simply "guilt by association."

firstly, how can a supposedly smart (as obama likes to describe himself) guy got to nurture a relationship with a man he calls almost his uncle for well over two decades--& remained largely unaffected by it?

how could obama have regularly communed with his pastor wright for 20 years--& not imbibed his, no, not simply radical, but TOTALLY ANARCHISTIC POLITICAL VIEWS? (how can wright curse this "GOD DAMN AMERICA" which has taken him into her bosom for almost his entire life here in america--& not be called, no, no simply an ANACHRONISM, but, worse, an ANACONDA?)

now that it's politically mandatory (for his survival) to disown wright, obama has shed his decades-long friendship/relationship w/ his beloved "former" pastor, as if he were merely changing his handford briefs.

2nd point, & this is very revealing. obama himself admitted (in my in-depth research of his open admissions) that, once he had decided to make a full-time career out of being a politician, he (obama) decided to study the oratorical ways & techniques of preachers like wright & his likes. obama admits that he learned a lot from these 'religious" guys on how to move their audience--to tears, to laughter, to scorn, to pity; how to cajole, threaten, beg, & convince.

study obama's stage act during his declamation moments in this campaign--& you'll see, clearly, a wright clone. even the way obama pivots, or executes onstage his 360-turnaround (about face, showmanship-wise or politically) to show himself to all in the crowd is so wright-ish, i can, hardly, for the life of me, ever believe that obama hasn't completely immersed himself in everything that wright has taught him.

no, to repeat, obama isn't merely mortally wounded or badly damaged: he's (politically) a dead man walking. really. analyze this crucial point.****

[jennifer potenciano]

the things that obama did, & is still doing (including the big flap on his "BITTER" insult of small townsfolk) aren't at all attributable to his political opponents, but to himself alone. you are the company you keep. show me who your friends are, & i will tell you who you are. character is the man. eternal verities all, hardly indisputable.

whatever he says about his "former" pastor, obama is now (politically)a "dead man walking."

can the obama donors & superdelegates & howard dean & pelosi & carter & the kennedy clan & the male chauvinist kennedy publicist ted sorensen & all other head-over-heels salivating obama fanatics not see this?

two points are hardly incontrovertible in this l'affaire wright (who's very wrong). & this affair can hardly be dismissed as simply "guilt by association."

firstly, how can a supposedly smart (as obama likes to describe himself) guy got to nurture a relationship with a man he calls almost his uncle for well over two decades--& remained largely unaffected by it?

how could obama have regularly communed with his pastor wright for 20 years--& not imbibed his, no, not simply radical, but TOTALLY ANARCHISTIC POLITICAL VIEWS? (how can wright curse this "GOD DAMN AMERICA" which has taken him into her bosom for almost his entire life here in america--& not be called, no, no simply an ANACHRONISM, but, worse, an ANACONDA?)

now that it's politically mandatory (for his survival) to disown wright, obama has shed his decades-long friendship/relationship w/ his beloved "former" pastor, as if he were merely changing his handford briefs.

2nd point, & this is very revealing. obama himself admitted (in my in-depth research of his open admissions) that, once he had decided to make a full-time career out of being a politician, he (obama) decided to study the oratorical ways & techniques of preachers like wright & his likes. obama admits that he learned a lot from these 'religious" guys on how to move their audience--to tears, to laughter, to scorn, to pity; how to cajole, threaten, beg, & convince.

study obama's stage act during his declamation moments in this campaign--& you'll see, clearly, a wright clone. even the way obama pivots, or executes onstage his 360-turnaround (about face, showmanship-wise or politically) to show himself to all in the crowd is so wright-ish, i can, hardly, for the life of me, ever believe that obama hasn't completely immersed himself in everything that wright has taught him.

no, to repeat, obama isn't merely mortally wounded or badly damaged: he's (politically) a dead man walking. really. analyze this crucial point.****

[Moses]

It seems that time has stood still for Rev Wright. While I recognize historical injustices that have inspired his perspectives and that have contributed to his complexion, he seems to be stuck in time and does not recognize that Barack Obama has moved beyond the past and is proceeding forward. Progress does not mean forgetting the past or rewriting history, but simply not insisting on being stuck in the past, not capable of getting beyond it and focusing on the present. Rev. Wright is in his own dimension of time and space, obviously oblivious to any other dimension, like the here and now.

[Don Fitzgerald, Chicago.]

I think the Reverand Wright has the right and the obligation to speak out against injustices, no matter who is responsible for the injustices!!! He is a veteran of our military, which entitles him to speak his mind without catcalls or some other mindless responses. The media and his opponents, Senators McCain and Clinton, have proven one thing, they are capable of acting like political hacks and that doesn't bode well for this nation!!! They have no regard or concern for the truth, as long as they can take cheap shots with the help of corporate america and its lackey, the mainstream press!!! The story will not go away, not because the Reverand Wright is exercising his right of free speech, but because corporate america is afraid of Senator Obama's Presidency. Senator Obama will not allow corporate america to run rough shod over the country and they would have to pay their fair share of taxes, something the Republicans have allowed them to avoid!!! Senator Obama is no saint, but compared to his opponents, he is head and shoulders above them in comportment!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW

[seth]

To those who are a bunch of dogs, full of hate and bigotry. Give Obama a break. He is only human and not a god. You can hold him responsible for his words not guilty him by third party association. Even a cheer leader can become a president let alone this bright eloquent conciliator. Frankly AmeriKa does not deserve him. Just continue with your Chaney's and Scalia's!

[Ross C.]

Good Senator Barak Obama does not seem to understand that Black racism is NOT ok. Black anti-Semitism is NOT ok. Black anti-Americanism is NOT ok. Obama's family ties in Africa make Caligula look good (Kenyan election violence, Lord's Resistance Army, Idi Amin). Obama's summer vacation in Pakistan has received no coverage, either. Senator Obama's unwillingness to appreciate the importance of suffrage in Florida, Michigan, and Washington do not bode well for his election either. So what if he did win a lot of uncontested backwater phony red-state caucuses? Obama is no font of wisdom and he is entirely unqualified to become president of the United States; both by his lack of experience and by his temperment. The whole idea of his acceding to the presidency is totally ridiculous.

[Lorraine]

I take great exception with the Rev. Wright's blanket assertions about all Black American Christians and/or Black American Christian Churches. I found that truly offensive. So much so that if in fact an average day of sitting in Rev. Wright's Black Christian church was more of the same of that which he chose to dish out this week for any and all media sources - one can only imagine NOW how truly absurdly Barack Obama - after 20 willing years of listening to this man - voluntarily - must think and feel - about anything.

And of course - correcting the record as to Barack Obama being anything other than his full and complete and supportive Christian congregant - in all of it. No differentiation from Rev. Wright on any of that. He clearly knows who Obama truly is - as well as himself - and he will stand for no one watering any of that down. All of it being fine and dandy, according to the rules of racist Christian engagement invented by Jeremiah Wright - over the past 20 years. And as such wherever Rev. Wrightgoes, so goes Barack Obama. Reasonably so - after 20 long years - of choosing to be mentored by this man. You bet. Voluntarily so. Going back for more and more racism and hatred and preposterous statements as to current events around the world - time and time again. No differentiation at all.

[Ronald Loui]

Ha ha ha.

All this about the Reverend, and the intrade price on "Obama wins the D-nomination" has not changed one nickel. It's still over 80 cents to buy a $1 payoff. And Hillary will cost you about 17 cents for that $1 if she wins the nomination.

So papers can generate a lot of headlines, and make a lot of bloggers feel important, but the smart money is still on Obama.

Fact is, if you don't like the Reverend, you have to admit Obama is a Christian. If you don't like the Reverend, you have to admit Obama and Wright have different views and are different people. If you don't like the Reverend, you have to admit that black people can quote the Bible, can be ex-Marines, and can speak in grammatical sentences. A lot of people out there have trouble admitting all of those things.

You think educated liberals have trouble with a guy like Jeremiah Wright? No, no, no no no no, as they say. It's people who keep bankrupting their campaigns and replacing campaign managers (both Clinton and McCain) who really worry people who know how to use a spreadsheet and read a newspaper...

[Your Conscious]

Jeremiah Wright said nothing that was untrue! I challenge anyone with intelligence in this post to point out one thing specifically that Wright said that was untrue! If America wants to truly move forward to healing this country and its people, then it has to come to come to grips with its racist past, present and future.

[S1-W]

Idi Amin was Ugandan. It's interesting to hear so many speak of how a persons race does not matter when it comes to consideration for positions whether it's in life generally or in politics. All of this talk of Barack Obama's need to help white people see that he is not going to initiate laws to exact some measure of revenge should he be elected president are absurd. The issue of white comfortability with Obama is the main concern. He should say this or he should say that, he should repudiate him or disavow that all these things are the litmus test that Barack Obama seems to be failing because he is not in the mold of the old "Negro". Being independent from white thought (and yes we do have different thoughts on many issues) he has shown himself to be untrustworthy. Not to the mainstream of America but to the powers who control the dispersal of the information. It is in the hand of a small few to make or break by lies, disinformation, misrepresentations and distortions anyone who doesn't tow the line. This is not just a problem for Obama but it has taken an ominus turn directly related to his race. I am reminded of how the character of Mr. Spock used to respond when witnessing some amusing human behavior," Fascinating".

[Rich]

As far as I am concern.............this whole political process is getting to be one big joke. For instance we have a man who I feel is too old to be running for presidency, and has pulled some sneaky stunts in the past. A Afro-American who definitely comes from "out of the blue" to run for office, and belittles small towns people. Who has a pastor who is so so prejudice & anti-American, who can't keep his mouth shut. How does a man like this pastor qualify to teach the world about God, or any supreme being you believe in?. Oh yes, let's not forget the "lady" who can't even tell the truth about going to another country, and claiming she was so called "fired upon' by radicals. Can anybody tell me who we can really support after these 2 in the political arena for the democrats is worthy. Why are they acting like two children fighting all the time, maybe we should send them to their rooms huh. Stop throwing mud at each other, and grow up to show you can actually run a country.
Then we have a man, who now has allowed our country to be so buried "money wise" to stomp out terrorism. Terrorism has been going on forever, and he thinks he can become a hero to stop it all?. What is even worst, is these terrorist are probably laughing behind our backs, and watching our economy fall apart, without even attacking us. The gas prices, food, insurance, health, is now running amok, and we are allowing it to happen to us Why?. The American people need to speak up loud & clear, that we are tired of being bullied by "higher ups" who have plenty on their plates. Please help the average & poor Americans struggling to make ends meat to even live a little, Congress. If this country doesn't collapse like the 1929 Depression, I'll be surprised. God Bless America that we have the right to express our feelings, and I truly hope & pray that our country gets turn around quickly before we see another 1929 disaster.

[Michaelee]

Reverend White is a very powerful speaker and I cannot believe that after 20 years Barack Obama has had no influence by this man. I do believe that the news media should not have given Reverend White the opportunity to share his condemnatory and condescending remarks.

[nimesh dixit]

The DRAMA of Obama-Wright is to FOOL the people of America. Obama realized the mistake of not distancing himself from Wright and was looking for a way to do so. He realized that while he threw his grand mother under the bus, he held his pastor on the top. He needed a way out. So they conspored. Rev. Wright gave that chance to Obama to distance himself from wright. This was a well planned DRAMA to fool the People of America. Obama and Wright are still buddies and must be laughing at all those fools are buying into the denouncing of wright by Barack.

[Errol Smythe]

Some people may be jumping up and down with glee. They may revel in this kind of media frenzy. It ain't good. It is sickening to see some self proclaimed political experts performing post operative post mortems on the Obama and Wright association.
Some one brewed up this crazy brew of media frenzy tonic in their twisted demented diabolical minds and are trying to destroy two people ,Barak and Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
It ain't right. It is bad.There is need for forgiveness, for clearing the air, for reconciliation.
All this media frenzy is like piranha's in the water looking for the next meal.
When the feeding frenzy is over, the waters recede to blessed quietness stained with the blood of the piranha's latest victim.
It is sad that there is all this denouncing this and denouncing that in the public arena when more substantial issues are placed in the abeyance tray awaiting appropriate action.
Politricks is a dirty game.
Barak is being attacked for his association to Reverend Wright to cause confusion amongst the black electorate.
The next line of attack will be his name, then his speeches,then his voting record,then what he didn't say,then what he should say,then he is not black enough,then he is not a good candidate....etc etc...THESE ARE ALL DELIBERATE DEVISIVE TACTICS engineered by someone that has a lot to gain and a lot to lose...Barack should remain focused.
Barak has nothing to be ashamed of. He should remain focused and by pass all this messy mudslinging kitchen sink strategy.The saying holds true WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND. It won't be long before Barak will be nominated by the superdelegates and have the task of healing the Democratic party torn by selfish destructive ambitions of YOU KNOW WHO. Errol Smythe.

[steven klein]

News room
Att: steve doocy or Bill O' Rilley
I am an avid fan and watch fox news everyday. The other day when Mr Wright was called to the podium to give his speech I was almost positive that i saw Obama's wife standing and giving him a tremendous round of applause which was not show or was there any mention that she was there. I could be wrong but it sure looked like her and with all of her derogatory comments as to not being an American I think it is ludicrous after serving in the military during Vietnam and watching a future candidate speaking against our great country. Regardless of any mistakes that our people in office make we are still the greatest country and stand proud to state that I am an American and stand for our beliefs whether I agree or disagree.
Please respond since I tried to get in contact with you via the telephone it appears that emailing was the only way to voice my options.
My name is steve klein and I live in florida.
I would appreciate a response to my issue .thank you for taking the time to listen to my comments and hope to hear from you or someone regarding that issue
sincerely,
steve klein at skcaterer@aol.com

[ahjamu]

Wow! Its amazing how arrogant European folks are to believe that they have created something marvelous and wonderful with this country and that African folk need to just accept white supremacy or shut up.

The proof to our claims of America's disgraceful racist legacy is proven by just picking any African from any inner city (choose me!) and plunk me down in any European environment. The truth is I will emerge from that environment doing as well, if not better than any of you. By the same token, take your foolish, naive, and ignorant existence and plunk it down in the despicable environment I inherited in what Malcolm X called "the vicious cycle of white supremacy." 99.9% of you wouldn't last a week in that environment. You know it. We know it. Everyone knows it.

You people better bow down and thank you God that we haven't risen up and torn this country down because everyone else in the world knows we would be 100% justified if we did.

[Errol Smythe]

Now that all the fuss of the Wright/Obama association is just a post script and old news the media can sit back and watch Barak win next week big time.
After he wins no doubt some self professed political experts can consult their notes and see that their polls were wrong again and Barak obama is very popular in America and that Bill O'Reilly's Fox news interview with Hillary Was timely for Barak.Yeah, Hillary did a big favour for Barak.
Barak's speech was watched by record number of people sitting on the fence that will now vote for Barak contrary to what the polls say.
So there you have it .Barak will win over Hillary by a massive 17% margin. Watch the press for details. Hasta la vista Baby! Errol Smythe.

[Errol Smythe]

Now that the dust has settled and we can see the trees in the forest of media spin and soundbites it would appear that all the negative energy spent by the kitchen sink strategy department has fizzled out and the wreck a candidate campaign truck has an engine blow out and had to stop in the pits for a complete engine overhaul.
Well it's just too late because the Barak political racing machine is just warming up and going into high revs and looks like the finishing line is just around the corner and the race will soon be over with a triumphant winner and one sorry sore loser.Reality check up on streetwise politics says the word on the street is that Hillary may have done Barak a big favour on the O'Reilly factor Interview because most sitting on the fence voters can see clearly now. They can see media frenzy tried to hoodwink them that it was over for Barak. But it
ain't over til the lady sings. and on Friday it will be over. Barak will have won by a margin of 17%. "So who is a fooling a who?" as some wise song writer sang.Looks like the shoe is on the other foot. That's right. What goes around comes around. A new day is dawning. Time for a breath of fresh air. Watch the press for details of the BARAK OBAMA LANDSLIDE VICTORY, next week. Errol Smythe

[Errol Smythe]

Now that all the fuss of the Wright/Obama association is just a post script and old news the media can sit back and watch Barak win next week big time.
After he wins no doubt some self professed political experts can consult their notes and see that their polls were wrong again and Barak obama is very popular in America and that Bill O'Reilly's Fox news interview with Hillary Was timely for Barak.Yeah, Hillary did a big favour for Barak.
Barak's speech was watched by record number of people sitting on the fence that will now vote for Barak contrary to what the polls say.
So there you have it .Barak will win over Hillary by a massive 17% margin. Watch the press for details. Hasta la vista Baby! Errol Smythe.