Was Jeremiah Wright's speech set up by a Clinton supporter?

Well, here's a most interesting connection we just came across.

Everybody is talking today about how much the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's latest unrepentant militant remarks hurt his most prominent parishoner, Sen. Barack Obama, and his chances to win the Democratic presidential nomination and the general election. So much so that the Obama camp realized the latent danger overnight and the candidate was forced to speak out publicly a second time today, as The Ticket noted here earlier today.

There was little doubt left in today's remarks by Obama, who recently said he could no more disown Wright than he could the black community. He pretty much disowned Wright today. Obama described himself as "outraged" and "saddened" by "the spectacle of what we saw yesterday."

But now, it turns out, we should have been paying a little less attention to Wright's speech and the histrionics of his ensuing news conference and taken a peek at....

who was sitting next to him at the head table for the National Press Club event.

It was the Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds, a former editorial board member of USA Today who teaches at the Howard University School of Divinity. An ordained minister, as New York Daily News writer Errol Louis points out in today's column, she was introduced at the press club event as the person "who organized" it.

But guess what? She's also an ardent longtime booster of Obama's sole remaining competitor for the Democratic nomination, none other than Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. It won't take very much at all for Obama supporters to see in Wright's carefully arranged Washington event that was so damaging to Obama the strategic, nefarious manipulation of the Clintons.

Their supporter, Reynolds, helps arrange a speech by the outspoken and egocentric Wright which receives blanket national coverage to the disadvantage of Clinton's opponent. As Louis writes: "The Rev. Jeremiah Wright couldn't have done more damage to Barack Obama's campaign if he had tried. And you have to wonder if that's just what one friend of Wright wanted."

Reynolds has not returned e-mails or phone calls seeking comment, but Louis notes the obvious conflict between her political allegiance and her press club arrangements. He quotes a February blog entry of Reynolds saying, "My vote for Hillary in the Maryland primary was my way of saying thank you" to Clinton and her husband for his administration's successes.

In another entry, Reynolds notes critically of Obama, "It is a sad testimony that to protect his credentials as a unifier above the fray, the senator is fueling the media characterization that Rev. Dr. Wright is some retiring old uncle in the church basement."

Louis notes himself about the Wright appearance: "It's hard to exaggerate how bad the actual news conference was. Wright, steeped in an honorable, fiery tradition of Bible-based social criticism, cheapened his arguments and his movement by mugging for the cameras, rolling his eyes, heaping scorn on his critics and acting as if nobody in the room was learned enough to ask him a question."

(UPDATE: Sylvia Smith, the press club president, confirmed today that Reynolds is on the club's speakers committee. She told Michael Calderone on Politico.com that she still doesn't know whom Reynolds supports for president, adding, "Rev. Wright is newsworthy, period.")

--Andrew Malcolm

                                                                                                                            Photo Credit: Getty

Comments

[Jet]

Why is it that all of a sudden this is the news? Because what Obama did will really bring him down.

We are talking about Rev.Wright's word so whoever set it up doesn't matter.

The fact is: Rev.Wright will always say one thing.Whether it's wright or wrong he's a man of his word and Obama cannot change that. Since Obama cannot change that he will definitely repudiate the man now.

Rev.Wright is not a politician...Obama is...so who is lying on their beliefs/ideology?

[toby]

No the question is:

After their long relationship, why didn't Obama see this coming?

This is a judgement thing. How could he have not known that Wright was SUCH a loose cannon?

And if it's loyalty...well isn't that what Bush does? Puts loyalty above competence?

[Justin]

Whether or not there was ill-intent by Reynolds, whether or not there was involvement by the Clinton campaign is no longer the point for me.

The point is, given Sen. Clinton's approach to this election, it would not surprise me in the least if there were a connection.

I am admittedly a small sample, but there is no circumstance under which I will vote for Sen. Clinton in a general election. In January I gladly would have.

[dave]

Blame this on Hillary Clinton? You have got to get off the dope and on medication.

[Ann]

"It won't take very much at all for Obama supporters to see in Wright's carefully arranged Washington event that was so damaging to Obama the strategic, nefarious manipulation of the Clintons."

ANd in that case, the Obama-bots need some serious psychotropic medication!

Wright had been interviewed by Bill Moyers for PBS last week.

Wright spoke at the NAACP over the weekend - and was pretty much as outrageous and offensive if not more so than the was at the Press Club.

It was at the NAACP that he spouted off about how blacks learn differently because their brains are different - a nasty racial theory that has been floating around for decades to explain the poor academic performance of black children.

He was at his worst at the NAACP.

Then he spoke at the Press Club.

No one put the words in Wright's mouth at the PRess Club. He did it all by himself.

The only one to blame for what Wright said is Wright.

The only one responsible for the questions are arising about the judgement of someone who would associate with Wright for 20 years is Obama.

The Obama-bots (who have churn out more conspiracy theories than Robert Ludlum ever did) need look no farther than Obama and Wright as to the source of the problem.

If Obama had not been closely involved with Wright for 20 years, it wouldn't matter what this radical fringe minister says. And anyone in Chicagoo KNEW who and what Wright was 30 years ago - a radical black minister who was the Christian version of Louis Farrahkan (a scary dangerous man.)

It was Obama who hooked up with this guy and gave him over $20,000 in 2007.

It is Wright who has made the outrageous and racist statements.

It is Wright who is going around with bodyguards from Farrahkan's organization.

It is Wright who is running his mouth.

The problem is all the making of Wright and Obama.

The reality tha Obama-bots reject is that their deity has clay feet and has close ties to some real flakes. They really don't know anything about Obama - aside from what he had deigned to claim about himself and what they project onto him as some kind of weird wish-fulfillment.. Reality, though, is a biitch and now it is biting them on the butt.

[Kim]

More dirty tricks from the Clinton campaign. I can't say I'm surprised . . . There's no question that Hillary wants the nomination more and is willing to do anything to get it, but that kind of ugly politics is exactly what makes me want to vote for Obama and barely able to hold my nose for the idea of voting for Hillary.

[BUZZARD;S KORNER]

Now, why isn't the media focusing on this part of the story? Another question is Why does the media allow themselves to be pulled into a media frenzy via the Clinton Campaign but fail to check out wheter the facts are true or not....I have watched this race and I have seen Hillary go from being on the top of the hill, to capping someones kneecaps.....WHY, WHY, WHY......DOES THE MEDIA ALLOW THE CLINTON MANIPULATION?

Someone please answer that question.....

BUZZARDS KORNER!!

[Fred C Dobbs]

Trying to establish linkage to Hillary Clinton, how desperate can an Obama supporter get?

One wonders if there is a link between the LA Times and MSNBC?

The fresh line coming out of MSNBC today is that over the last twenty years no one who attended Jeremiah Wrights services heard any thing like the comments as noted over the last several days.

It is a good thing that we have the video from pastor Wright diatribes else we would be taken in by the folks over at MSNBC.

Barack Obama sat there for twenty years and now we are to believe that he had no idea as to the truth about Wright? Who do I believe, Chris Matthews/Barack Obama or my lying cheating eyes and ears!

[Obamamania]

Obama is our Savior. Obama, Ayers, and Reverend Wright are Right! God D*** america! The stupid, bitter, racist "typical white people" of pennsylvania voted for clinton. How disgusting, now they have even more blood on their hands! They ignored their opportunity to redeem themselves for their racim, and evil past -> slavery - to finally make Michelle proud. How sad. Please no hater responses, but you bitter, typical Indiana white people, please stop buying guns and save your money for my reparations check! Obama ''08, Repartions Check, ''09! http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/racism/0108 27.reparations.html

[verne]

It certainly does raise suspicion....I put nothing past The Clinton's and the old negro guard of the democratic party...they only maintain power if they can continue to pray on the underclass in the black community...

[Annette Keller]

This article is ridiculous. Given that 1/2 of the U.S. electorate is Democrat and about 1/2 of that electorate is for Clinton, there's a random 25$ chance that anyone who organizes a Wright press event is a Clinton supporter. If you take into account a probability that the person sympathetic to Wright, organizing the Wright press event is black, the chance that the person is a Clinton supporter is higher than 25%.

The fact is, an attempt to blame the Wright press event on Clinton is far more remote than associating Wright with Obama.

This is more Obama-supporter paranoia and divisiveness.

[politichick]

I just knew that you pro-Obama media hounds would bend over backwards to try to pin this on Hillary somehow! So then are you implying that Bill Moyers, the NAACP, AND the National Press Club are ALL Clinton Conspirators too?? Absolutely ludicrous! The bottom line is that Rev. Wright is lashing out at Obama out of pure anger and hurt -- after all, Obama turned his back on him and threw away a 20 year relationship the very second that it became a political liability. If a so-called friend did that to you, wouldn't you jump at the chance at a little sweet revenge on the national stage? C'mon!

[Smily]

Rev. Dr. Reynolds was on the CBS Evening News last night. She defended Wright, saying he did not preach hate. As another clergy person, she only wanted to give him the opportunity to redeem himself. I'm sure she did not expect him to go off the way he did. Remember, the questions were pre-SUBMITTED and Wright would NOT take any questions. It couldn't have been friendlier to Wright. For those who really believed she set him up for Hilary, get real. She set it up to help her friend, and he blew it on his own.

[TR]

Because Sen Clinton is a SAY ANYTHING, DO ANYTHING candidate. She has HIGH negatives for a reason. She will do ANYTHING to get elected. Most members including high profile people have said his sermons are not usually like that but now he goes there at this time? Set up by Sen Clinton....YES to try to make matters worse....Clinton cannot win the General election, she has LOST the black vote and the YOUTH stays home. She has made herself UNELECTABLE

[MindMadeUp]

Thank you Hillary Clinton for being a great Presidential Candidate!!

You are right on with your plan for Universal Healthcare, you are right on with your plans for education, you are right on for supporting working class America!!

You are not a flip-flopper, or a windsock, you don't try to fool us all by switching to what everyone wants to hear. You are the genuine article.

In a time when a man named Obama is trying to pull off the biggest Schmoozing of America in recent history, you are rock solid in your character and your commitment to the American people.

Hillary, no skeletons of 20+ years of hate and racism are jumping out of your closet to claw America in the face. No parlor jokes of demoting our American flag come from you.

Thank you Hillary for all your surprises are joyous ones, not ones that make a person think "wow I didn't know you supported that extremist person".

After months of standing your ground in the face of formidable odds, you have proven that you have got what it takes. No other presidential candidate has had the stuff shoveled on them like you have, and you made it through to the other side. You have shined through as the most tested Presidential candidate of the whole entire contest.

Thank you Hillary for allowing us to continue to have our individual GOD BLESS America. We are a nation with problems, but at the end of the day, Americans are full of heart, and at the end of the day, I know you'll be right there fighting for us.

Hillary for President 2008

[Francine Shacter]

I have two comments to make:
I believe in freedom of speech - and that includes the right of people to (1) be wrong (2) be outrageous and (3) make fools of themselves.

My second comment is that anyone who knows anything about polling and the reliability of poll data will tell you that responses about what a person will do at some future poiint aren't worth - in the words of Franklin Roosevelt's first vp, Garner - "a bucket of warm spit." Seriously, now, tell me that in a fit of spite a reasonably intelligent Democrat will really vote for the flawed Republican candidate, McCain, in November. My prediction? Very, very low probability!!!

[Paul]

I think that regardless of who did what to put Wright in front of the TV cameras with a microphone is a good thing. We can now see what he is really about. Anyone who could attribute his thinking and comments to Obama are clearly, for any rational thinking person, making a fool of themselves.

[Sam]

"Did Hillary supporter set up Wright speech?'" Talk about speading rumors and lies. Andrew Malcolm you Hillary hating misogynist. How about this for a blog title-
"Andrew Malcolm a zombie apologist for Barak Osama- America-hating liar?"

[JDC]

This kind of drama has Clinton written all over it and if this is what you want for the next 4-8 years, you know who will provide it for you. That anyone continues to fall for it is beyond me. Come one people, focus on the real problems facing our country.

What is nearly tragic is that this will probably hurt the entire Democratic party.

[Paul]

Smily said earlier:

Rev. Dr. Reynolds was on the CBS Evening News last night. She defended Wright, saying he did not preach hate. As another clergy person, she only wanted to give him the opportunity to redeem himself. I'm sure she did not expect him to go off the way he did. Remember, the questions were pre-SUBMITTED and Wright would NOT take any questions. It couldn't have been friendlier to Wright. For those who really believed she set him up for Hilary, get real. She set it up to help her friend, and he blew it on his own.
______________________

I think you are being too kind in your interpretations of Rev. Reynolds actions. I don't think this lady is a friend to Wright - if she knows him as a friend would, she would know how he was going to behave. I think she is probably conflicted with her interest in Hillary. However, as others point out, he spoke at a number of different venues. The reason all this happened is likely because Rev. Wright is a proud man who happens to also be black and feels the pain of being attacked unfairly. He probably wanted to set the record straight and of course the media would be delighted at the wonderful stories this would provoke. I think though it is a good thing. Timing may be not too good for Obama in the immediate state votes, but in the near to longer term, it will show Mr. Wright for what he is. As mentioned in an earlier post, anyone that is a thinking person and not totally partisan, would have to admit that Obama is not being influenced by this man's views. Nor could he have understood this man's make up.

[JefF]

The Clinton will say anything do anything to WIN. She is not a fighter she is a cheater. How can you trust anything they say. Lies become half truths and guess what? You will be paying more than you thought for Healthcare as she leaves office and makes enough money to ensure her daughter take her place in a couple of decades of course after JEB bush get his turn.

[Bill C]

Rev. Jeremiah Wright....now there's a real judas for ya.

This guy is not a real christian.

[Cheryll]

Are the Obamanites so desperate that they now have a conspiracy theory that Wright's egotistical remarks are Hillary's fault? How pathetic they are...NEVER ! EVER! Will I vote for Obama and his whining group of fanatical cultists! The DNC will lose and big!
If he thinks Hillary was tough...the Republicans will eat him alive, while he whines about bad everyone is to him! PUTZ!

[Steve]

Hillary Clinton does not control Rev. Wright's words or Obama's choices. Leave HRC out of this mess.

[Anonymouse]

well, at least the world knows he's not muslim now!

I remember months ago, everybody was spreading the idea that Obama was Muslim,

This controversy has cleared that right up, hasn't it? Now, everybody knows that Obama had a pastor that brought him to christianity.

Had this controversy not come up, people would still be spreading that rumor, but now everybody's clear on his religon.

Everybody can now take a sigh of relief!

[Mike]

How sad the Los Angeles Times has become. Lets blame Hillary for this??? did she write the good reverends speech. give him talking points? does she also know who shot biggie? LA Times what has happened to your standards?

[Allen Johnson]

Operation Chaos continues!

[Jane G. Thomas]

Well, somehow I am not surprised to hear that the do-aything, say-anything-to get elected-Clintons would be behind the re-emergence of Rev. Wright. Fortunately, there is still no chance HRC will get the nomination; so I can vote Democratic. Had she been the nominee, I would not have voted Democratic.

[Paul]

ACTUALLY, THE GOOD REVEREND IS COMPLETELY CORRECT. LISTEN TO WHAT HE SAYS. AND I'M NOT BLACK - JUST A STUDENT OF HISTORY !!!

[J Peters]

Nice try!! Now Sen. Clinton is the cause of everything wrong in this campaign, hers, Obamas and McCains. Give me a break!!!

[Emlyn]

Another low-ball tactic from another low-ball presidential candidate.

Fight fire with fire? Consider:

What of Ms Clinton's affiliation with "The Family", also called "The Fellowship"--a conservative, fundamentalist organization started by Abraham Vereide, which upholds military superiority, "religious capitalism", the elite class, and avoids the word "Christian"? How deep do we dig into her spiritual family before we discover skeletons in her confessional?

I'll take positivity and optimism and grassroots energy any day over the muckraking and political prostituting of the Clinton campaign, who spend vastly more time manufacturing dirt on their rival than they do producing substantive and qualitative evidence that would help to disprove why Hillary Clinton would make such an appalling leader of people.

The Clinton campaign is incapable of winning hearts, so it does what it knows best: It casts off its self-respect and sprawls naked on the precinct floor, flashing its political genitalia at anyone with a blank ballot.

The Johns can all but resist.

[JR]

I accept that he's sorry that he didn't condemn Wrights statement before now and that he doesn't agree with them, but if he tries to lay this on Clinton then enough is enough. That would be about the lowest most gutless thing he or his supporters could ever do. I've tried to give them the benefit of doubt many times in the nomination cycle but trying to blame Hillary for his mess. Wow, what a jerk and I swear I will never vote for this man.

[Jennifer Pulver]

Absolutely ridiculous. Yes, let's blame everything that's wrong with the Obama campaign on Hillary. Get real. She's not perfect but her behind Wright speaking out. Please! Wright is clearly an egocentric nutcase who is fueling his own personal ambitions.

[Marco]

I have three degrees. Please do not refer to me or my like as an Obama-Bot. All I want is a president who thinks in the present tense, and answers the questions he is asked with thought and his/her own sense of truth. Obama is only one doing that. The others lost their sense of self sometime in their 50's.

[Seth]

Are there any adults left in the Democratic Party? If so, will someone please get a hook and get Billary off the stage. Really. Her parade of narcississtic, do-anything, say-anything, I'm-entitled-to-the-Presidency schtick has really worn out its welcome.

[park]

this was neither a carefully orchestrated, nefarious conspiracy to kill Obama's campaign,or all his fault for misjudging Revrend Wright. can't you possibly remember the last time you misjudged somone? this is a bunch of stupid comments from a reverend who has some misguided ideas. maybe he's crazy or something.

[MAUFIT]

Whoever arranged the press conference of Wright is not the issue here, it's what garbage that comes out of Wright mouth that matters and for Obama to denounce his "uncle" now is too late and is viewed as political exploitation just like what Obama did to his grandmother - dragging a "typical white" into the mud with Wright. Obama had a chance to denounce Wright in his famous speech in Philadelphia.

[Moysh]

I am NOT crazy enough to vote for any democrat this time around. My vote goes to the Moderate McCain. He is a Mensch.

[Kristen]

Hahaha, this play couldn't have been more perfectly played. I work for an important man that would have given his soul to create this scenario.

I am surprised that no one has realized the connection between my boss and some of her biggest supporters. I would look more into newly adopted fund raisers added to HRC's camp since she has declared that she will fight all the way to the convention. Follow the money, it always leaves a trail.

Oh the beautiful damage. We won't even have to fight a campaign against Nobama, Hillary can bloody him to the point of near death and we can put anyone in and beat him. Thanks Hill.

[Marshuff]

If you think this is below the Clintions you do not live in the real world. This is right up their alley. The Clintons will stop at nothing to gain control of the White House. If you vote for some one like them you are no different than those that voted to put Hitler in power. Wake up people.

[Jimi]

What is the big deal.

Overtly bigoted, xenophobic, and racist white preachers endorse McCain and people aren't spending all of their time dissecting these relationships.

Wright is not Obama. Think about all of your "questionable" acquaintances before you start throwing stones.

[wildbill]

It seems some people cannot see past the nose on their faces. Anyone can see that this is a ploy by OBAMA's team to SMEAR Mrs. Clinton once again. Why don't you folks out there GROW UP. We are supposed to be adults. Isn't it about time to start acting like one?

[Sean]

What do we really want from our president - a person that is honest, intelligent, forward thinking and puts the country and it's people in ahead of their self interest.

The recent comment that "a reasonably intelligent Democrat will really vote for the flawed Republican candidate, McCain, in November. My prediction? Very, very low probability!!! "
My take on that is - Why is that a low probability? Seeing Obama and Clinton acting anything BUT presidential.

After 16 years of lies and ego - let's vote for someone with integrity

[Eileen]

This is all speculation! Shame on you guys, LA Times, for even printing this garbage! So, let's find a way to turn the tables on Obama and Rev. Wright, and blame the Clintons now?! Are you out of your whacked out minds?! I'm sick of it. How totally biased the media has become. This is an insane, far-fetched "connection"! Hillary had nothing to do with Rev. Wright and Obama's connection! This is starting to sound like a ridiculously biased media soap opera.

[marie Batten]

You and FOX seem to be brothers in crime against HC...did she set up Bill Moyers on PBS as well? How stupid are you?

she is a fighter and if we ever needed one - with an IQ, it is now.

[Will]

I am an Obama supporter, but this article is innuendo. Wright is not Clinton's fault. Her supporter may well have thought that arranging this would keep Wright at the forefront, damaging Obama's campaign, but to suggest a conspiracy is like saying America created HIV.

Judge Clinton on the merits: after losing a little sleep, she lies outright by telling us that she landed in Bosnia under sniper fire.

Judge Obama on the merits: after his former pastor makes inflammatory statements, he first makes the most significant speech on race in modern American history, then clearly disowns the man he thought he knew, but didn't.

Obama is a real leader, and our country's hope for a future.

[Don Jones]

How many so called men of God get away with giving folks what they want to hear in exchange for a bully pulpit and fat wallet? Wright and his wife look half white also. That is the higher attraction, being "light". Being "light" was the mutuality of Wright and Obama. Also Obama was a source of money, which Wright obviously covets along with fame.

It is all so visible and all so disgusting and no one believes Obama did not take a gamble and lost. He was hoping he could put Wright back in the closet by standing up for him back a few weeks ago.

Don Jones
MyManJohn.com

[Richard Blackmore]

Hello? Barrak Obama Isn't rev. Wright. Rev. Wright isn't Barrak Obama. Get over it. Move on to something that is an actual issue, like the econmy, or taxes, or the war in Iraq. This is Rovian slime tactics at its worst.

[SK]

Stop this divisiveness. If we continue to let the media help the Hillary campagin perpeturates this kind of hate and hostitlity towards OBAMA, we are going to see no end to this. The Dems will regret in the end for not doing anything about it. The Dems will lose a lot of votes because of the dirty politics the Hillary camp is playing.
I am so sick and tired of these negative tones coming from the Hillary campaign.
As a democrate, it is disgusting to me to see the ongoing negativity and bickering going on, it is time to put a STOP to it, and foucu on the REAL AGENDAS and ISSUES. Our economy is at stake!!!!

[Jeff Swander, no alias needed]

Now it's all beginning to make sense... we don't hear squat from this guy until the dirty little Clinton machine gets to him, then he won't shut up. It's so obvious now, why did it take so long to make the connection? Maybe people want to believe that Mrs. Clinton is honest? Nah... there's too much history for people to believe that. Wright made a choice between supporting a parishioner who just happens to be campaigning for president and getting his own overblown persona into the national spotlight for his 15 minutes of fame. Looks like the Clintons got their money's worth from buying him off.

Keep it up Democrats - make sure we elect McCain, the only candidate who has the stuff to tell the people the truth, not the ones who will say anything just to get elected. Even though Obama has far more charisma than substance, Clinton is just plain dishonest.

When will the American people wake up amd smell the coffee?

[Marshuff]

Uh...just how grown up is someone that goes by the name of wildbill anyway? Duh...or think Clinton is the answer?

[mariann]

WHEN HILLARY MARRIED BILL, WAS OR DID HILLARY EVER ANTICIPATE a "Monica Lewinsky", "Gennifer Flowers", etc.?? And Hillary and Bill know each other more than 20 years that Obama says he "knew" of Rev Wright.

Also, if OBAMA IS JUST RESPONDING "AS A POLITICIAN" ACCORDING TO REV WRIGHT, SO MUST BE...JOHN MCCAIN, HILLARY CLINTON, BILL CLINTON (though disabarred from praticing law), UNITED STATES CONGRESS, ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED STATES, AMBASSADORS AND SUPREME COURT MEMBERS APPOINTED BY POLITICAL OFFICIALS, GOVERNORS, STATE AND ASSEMBLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, ETC.

[ck]

Preposterous. Who cares who scheduled the speech? Wright made the outrageous remarks. Obama has known and accepted Wright's views for 20 years. He and his wife brought their daughters to Wright's church Sunday after Sunday to listen to Wright's hate-based, divisive radical leftwing black ideology masquerading as religion. Neither of them ever questioned, objected to or condemned Wright's views, and never left Wright's church. Renouncing the remarks and the man today means nothing other than blatant political expediency. Case closed.

[spiritguide]

I'm sorry to say that at this point my avid interest in Obama is waning considerably, and will probably result in my hoping that somehow Hillary wins the nomination.. even tho I will have to hold my nose when I vote for her. Obama has made a HUGE mistake in staying with Trinity Church and treating Rev Wright so affectionately.. in that he presented himself as a hope-driven unifier who wants to represent all Americans.. not just angry and disenfranchised Black Americans. Perhaps he is not mature enough to be taken seriously after all. He should have seen all this coming and dropped Wright years ago. The Reverand is an outdated, unstable, faux intellectual egomaniac.. who is making this election about him. He is not the great Biblical scholar or Rights activist that he presents himself to be, and he is a prime example of the problem, not the solution. I find this all very sad.. and feel that this election has gone from an exciting prospect of positive change, to a very messy and ugly soap opera disaster. The whole process is going down in flames.. soon to crash and burn. I can't wait til it is over...

[Zion]

Good grief what's next? Is Hillary responsible for global warming now? Did Hillary sell Barak his first bag of coke? Is she hiding in the closet waiting to eat your children?
This kind of paranoid delusion is why Barak Obama and all his little cronies need to get out of the election and let the REAL politicians fight it out like they know how to and not suck their thumbs and cry and whine about what the big bad Hillary monster is doing to then.

[Daniel]

I think I just read a comment that said Hillary has no skeletons in her closet...wow, and you think Obama supporters are delusional.

I can't say it's not possible his recent behavior wasn't prodded by the Clinton campaign or its supporters. But my first thought was that it was setup by Obama's campaign, to make it easier to draw a distinction between the two men.

What I don't understand is that John McCain is going through exactly the same thing with John Hagee, but no one is paying any attention to that story.

[JamesC.]

Hillary Clinton could have driven the Rev. Wright to his speech, and it wouldn't have been relevant to the core issue. The problem is Obama's long-term relationship with Wright and his treatment of the issue over time. Wright, formerly "just like an old uncle," has become a major political liability, and now Obama is fighting for his (presidential) life. Obama's has been less than candid concerning his knowledge of Wright's incendiary views, and that is also becoming apparent.

I'm struck by the backlash against Wright. He's not the problem - his views have been known for years. Obama and his judgment/candor are the real issue.

[fedup in PA]

Holy cow! Are people supposed to believe that Hillary Clinton made Jeremiah Wright act like that?

[Graniteman]

What a load of buffalo patties! This allegation sounds like desperate spin doctoring by the Obama campaign. Let's face it, folks. Senator Obama associated for 20 years with a vocal pastor who has said the most outrageous things (e.g. the federal govt. spread AIDS within the black community). Why did Sen. Obama stick with Rev. Wright until today? Because the TUCC church provided a springboard for the senator's political career. The very junior senator from Illinois is now in a nose dive. Can he recover? I doubt it.

[gerry]

Why is it that every time something occurs that in any way forces people to look at barack Obama in a new or different light it is blamed oon the Clinton's -- Hillary Clinton had nothing to do with the relationship between Sen. Obama and his pastor -- It was of his own chossing -- and if this leads to brining him down to earth it is of his own doing -- It was more then acceptable for him to align himself with Pastor Wright when it was to his advantage and he need his support to win the Senate -- now that he is in the National Sptolight everything has changed -- Now that's politics --

[Art]

Obama is not electable. I have a few questions for the Obama-bots and Clinton-bashers: 1. Name the most significant thing that Obama has actually accomplished besides giving speeches. 2. How much jello must Obama have in his spine to sit for 15 years in the pews of a maniac like Wright who believes that AIDS was a US govt. plot, that Farrakhan is a great hero, etc, etc? 3. Why did Obama vote "present" on each controversial issue? 4. What is the most difficult situation that Obama has ever faced in his adult life? 5. Name one major state Obama has won besides his home state.

Hillary is an absolutely remarkable woman, in my opinion, though she is not perfect. Obama is a perfect piece of plastic with no content. Americans will be able to see the difference by November. (The polls already show Hillary ahead of McCain 9 points, but Obama even.) Americans previously elected "nice clean guy" Bush (with no content of character), and look what happened.

McCain has a very strong character, and there is no way that Obama could stand up to him.

[Jahooudi]

Obamamania, I am convinced that you are either under 13 years old, or decided to stop taking your meds.

Saying things like "typical white people of pennsylvania" are you kidding?! Barack Obama is about unity. I truely believe that. You are no supporter of Obama if you honestly think the way you type ( and I give you the benefit when I say "think". )

Keep waiting for that check...

Rev. Wright preaches hate. Its that simple. Now some Obama supporters are saying he was set up? I call bullshit! What a bunch of cowards.... "oh It wasnt his fault.....wahh wahh"

Obama is slipping in the polls. he knows it and is intelligent enough to move on. Try focusing more on what Obama can do instead of what Clinton "might" be doing..

It's moments like this and people like Obamamania that will make us all watch McCain take the oath come November.

[Hillary made him do it!]

Hillary Clinton made all of this happen! Hillary Clinton will do ANYTHING to win! She will even refuse to get caught doing things, just to make the press look bad! But we all know that absence of proof is proof! Obama's wife would be PROUD of this country if it weren't for Hillary!

[EX-obama supporter]

how does one explain Wright's appearance on Bill Morely last week, the NAACP Speech, the Press Speech.

have we forgotten Wright ridiculed CHELSEA CLINTON BY NAME in the Press speech?

nice try but no wings.

[Beth Chapman Martin]

This news should be offensive to any voter who was disgusted by the karl rove /GOP machinations of the last 8 years. enough

[Superpower]

What ever happen to, - I can no more disown Reverend Wright blah, blah blah..? More snake oil for the masses.

[Bronxx]

Seriously, people. ... 1) If there was a potential connection between an Obama supporter setting up a nationally televised forum for a high-profile associate damaging to Clinton, the Clinton supporters would be in flames over it. So yes, Obama supporters are just as justified in getting upset IF THERE IS SOMETHING TO THIS. As has been noted, the fact that she's a Clinton supporter and that she's an associate of Wright may be non-competing in this case and nothing nefarious was intended. THAT is the job of the media, though, to investigate those things, so back off the people who honestly raise the question and seek the answers. ... 2) For the love of God, if you're going to spout off, get your facts straight. Obama did not sit in the pews for 20 years, he sat there for 15 (20 just sounds so much more damning to you, though, doesn't it?), he's KNOWN Wright for 20 years. Not defending him either way, just saying to get your facts straight. ... 3) The money Obama donated was to the CHURCH and its ministry, NOT to Rev. Wright. (If you want to prove me wrong, go track down the check Obama wrote and prove it's made out to the Rev instead of the actual organization of the church.) Quit trying to make something out of the fact that he donated money to a religious organization he's attended for over a decade that is heavily involved with community projects and helping the less fortunate. Wow. ... 4) If you want to judge Obama, judge him on what he's said and done (and preferably "why" if you have the guts to do the research). Sure, he sat in the pews for 15 years, but look at his public record and you won't see a single bill, law, movement, suggestion, public statement, or anything indicating a man who shares the distorted views of Rev. Wright. Whether you agree with Obama's policies he's enacted is one thing, but that's not what you're screaming about, now is it? THAT is the kind of distracting crud that had mucked up our political discussions for decades now, and what we mean when we say we want to stick to the issues. Discuss policies, problems, and solutions. If you want to question Obama's character or McCain's character or Clinton's character, fine, just do it armed with FACTS, not with "well, geez, he knows this person and spent time with them and had some associations, so they must represent his views, even though he's never said or done anything to indicate anything other than exactly what he's been saying to us".

[Zizzerzip]

The thing that gets me is, Who gives a S#&% what one person says? This USED TO be the UNITED States of America. A place where people had the right to free speech. Politics as usual has sure changed that.

Vote for Change.

[Al]

This will come back to bite Hillary and backfire a great deal. It will hasten her exit from the race. Clinton will do anything to get elected. Fortunately, as bill used to say, the American people will figure it out.

[elgarbanzo]

oh yes, here's the obama recipe:

1st pin it on the competition

2nd make a speech

[Josh N.]

Rev. Wright was right. The only people who dont recognize it are rednecks and undercover racists that cant accept the truth and shame of their government's history.

That said: Obama is not running for President of Pissed off black Americans but President of the United States. As much as it has hurt people of color, white peopel are a part of these United States.

Yes Rev. Wright was nearly 100% correct but it reallyd oesnt matter. This is America, the truth has no place.

[Paula Angelique Hafner]

It is a sad day indeed.

[J Snow]

Hillary has proven herself to be as lowlife a scumbag as George W Bush. Barack Obama should rightfully let Hillary have it and demand that she withdraw from this race now!

[Dave]

This is nothing more than sensationalism at its worst. Want a scoop? Try a box of Raisin Bran.

[Paul]

BAHAHAHAHA. This takes the damn cake for Clinton paranoia.

[Jack]

Hillary, is capable of anything and anything to achieve power. This is certainly true. And only a fool would vote for her.

Obama, is capable of anything and everything to achieve power. Has it occurred to anyone that this whole thing is an Obama ploy. He needs to distance himself from Wright. But he just can't do it after that last speech. That would be a flip flop he couldn't get away with. So have Wright go off the deep end to give Obama the reason to break the connection. All the cows fall for it and it also blows right back at Hillary. A perfect scenario for Obama. This is a WIN for him!

Bottom line, there is nobody worth voting for in this election. I'd suggest leaving the presidential chair empty as a better option for the next 4 years.

[gw]

It amazes me again and again how dumb the Obama groupies are.
How can anyone take the blog of Andrew Malcolm seriously?
He was communications manager for the Bush presidential campaign and is an admirer of Ann Coulter.
Don't you see that he has an agenda to write such garbage?
But I guess he blocks inconvenient comments like this one...

[Edluva]

Classic. I don't think Obama has placed any blame on Clinton for this. The writer has an opinion and a very good picture of a Clinton supporter together with Wright who happens to be the same person who kinda set things up. No big deal. Both women have the right to stand on their own merit. And so should Mr. Obama. He said what he's had to say. Both of them will get what's coming to them either way.

More classic...how people flip out on some people words but you let others' words "slide" (like Pat Buchanan). No one's OUTRAGED nor did the media make one peep about this http://www.buchanan.org/blog/?p=969. Is it because he's not running for President? You believe what he's saying? Or is that he's a bigot and totally forgets about 300 years of slavery and Jim Crow? It's hypocritical, shallow, and not important. The best way to avoid all of this is to ignore it, don't hype it up in the media, and move on.

See, I'm not all upset and neither should you. Nothing that Wright said or says affects any of you. It doesn't take food out of your mouth, send you to Iraq, or makes the oil companies richer for doing absolutely nothing. But what McCain is planning is REAL. Let's get to the REAL stuff like winning against the Republicans and getting out of Iraq.

[poh123]

This is truly, truly pathetic, LA Times. Truly, pathetic. I mean the media has to find a way to get Clinton involved in this. I hope this blows up on your face and it will.

[Jed Clampett]

How often do you hang out with your pastor? if you even go to church. Do you always listen to what he has to preach or say and act on it? I would venture to say not, otherwise the country would not have drifted so far from the things of value, of true worth.

Bigots and racists will use Wrights words to justify not voting for sen Obama. Just like they will ignore their preacher calling for the assasination of a sitting president. What is really disconcerting is how easily these people are manipulated by the media. All it takes is a 10 second spot on the news networks and a mischaracterization and the population is outraged, unflinchingly believing the whole story, as if they are worthy of trust or even anything more than half hearted attention. Seems the enemy of humanity has done it's job well on americans, so well in fact that they can't recognize when they are being used like puppets in a game. Unfortunately, they don't recognize that they themselves are the prize and give themselves fully to the enemy of humanity, spreading it's disinformation and hatred.

Perhaps God has damned america.... americans are just too enthralled by the veil to recognize it or admit it.

[Dr. Susan Daly, psychiatrist]

Rev. Jeremiah Wright is increasingly grandiose, paranoid, and delusional. These symptoms are characteristic of Bipolar Disorder, which is commonly treated with mood stabilizers and anti-psychotic medications.

People in the United States are overly excited by bipolar patients. Like the coverage of Britney Spears, this coverage of Rev. Wright has done nothing except fuel tabloid sales and internet coverage. Wright's psychiatric condition has nothing to do with Barack Obama.

Maybe Wright's friend, Rev. Dr. Barbara Reynolds, could take him to his psychiatrist instead of exploiting his illness. Then he could go back on his medications, and presidential politics could return to baseline.

[Margaret B.]

Mr. Frederick - what a idiotic and uglyt smear this article is. Mrs. Reynolds is an "ardent" supporter of Clinton? She sounds lukewarm at best. She IS clearly a supporter and admirer of Rev. Wright, with a similar background to his. This is clearly why she chose him to speak.

What a shameful piece of trash this blog post is. Revealing only in the depth of depravity an Obama supporter will go to blame Hillary and excuse Obama for his own poor judgment. Just utterly twisted and disgusting.

[Jason]

How can any sane person argue that the Clintons are behind all of this?????? Seriously, just how much do the media wants Obama to become the next president? this is favoritism!!! America is going down the drain!!!!

[anne]

Boo hoo blame it on Hillary. Every time something goes wrong for poor Obama he blames HIllary. The fact is that he sat on that church and listen to that crazy man for 20 years and now wants us to pretend he never heard those remarks. Americans need to take a hard second look at Obama and his lack of judgement. He wont even debate, he scared because he has no answers too his shady friendships and terrible judgement.

[John]

the writer must a Obama supporter and trying to help, but the he uncle's nephew's wife's brother's best friend is Obama!!!!!!

[Margaret B.]

I misidentified the blogger in my previous post - shame on you, Mr. Malcom, not Mr. Frederick(sorry).

And I repeat - you are your own worst enemy if you are an Obama supporter. Oh wait, you probably support Clinton, huh? Ha, ha. Now I get it.

[xbjllb]

What a desperate pathetic last-ditch attempt to tie the suicide of Obama's Rove Trojan Horse campaign to the Clintons.

Really, can you hear that? It's the sound of MILLIONS of Americans, laughing their asses off.

[Patrick]

BLAMING THIS ON SEN. CLINTON?

ARE YOU SERIOUS! AND YOU WONDER WHY WE CALL YOU BIASED!!

[Mark]

Hillary Clinton is everything that her supporters have hated about the Bush/Rove bunch for 8 years. Now they have become what they hated. I guess it's kind of a Stockhold Syndrome, "identifying with the aggressors" thing. They figure that this is the way to gain power, and they have discarded their morals long ago. Power is everything. Must. Get. A. Woman. Into. White. House. Even. If. We. Have. To. Become. Republicans. In. The. Process...

It's so sad. To think these people used to be Democrats and ethical people.

[Bill]

Let me get this straight. Obama sets up a Clinton supporter to book a speech that will diss him. Nice try.

Indiana, vote for Hillary, former WalMart Board member and friend of the working class. Watch how long it will be, if she wins, before she drops you like a bad habit.

I'm also in agreement with the writer who thinks we should do a bit more probing on that group, The Fellowship, that she belongs to. Rick Santorum is also a member. You do the math.

[i saw the light now i'm EX-OBAMA!]

so is that why he insulted Chelsea by name yesterday?
GET REAL, WILLYA?

SO MANY PEOPLE SELLING THEIR SOUL FOR OBAMA.....do you really come that cheap?

[lindame13]

Can't Obama and his bunch do anything that is their fault, come on people, this is incredible, He never says anything wrong, itls always Clinton, His minister of 20 years opens his mouth and it is Clinton's fault. How stupid does this get.

[Richard P. McDonough]

Wright was right and wrong. Obama is a victim of Wright's big mouth and America's deficient press and intellect.
Clinton is undoubtedly behind all of this, she being the lady upstairs while the randy husband was getting orally satisfied downstairs, hardly a first for him with her knowledge, and then feigned surprise and sorrow.
Her only sorrows are at getting caught out.
She is, as the late and brilliant Amanda of Foreign Policy said, a MONSTER.

[Caroline Miniscule]

>>>It was at the NAACP that he spouted off about how blacks learn differently because their brains are different - a nasty racial theory that has been floating around for decades to explain the poor academic performance of black children.

And of course if a white person had espoused this - that person'd be run out of town on a rail! Anybody who ever dared give him a job again would be excoriated. But there's no backlash when Wright says it?

As for the Clinton campaign setting Obama up for this fall... get real! Wright could have refused to speak, he could have spoken more intelligently...to blame Obama's pastor's problem on the Clintons is ridiculous.

And no I won't vote for Hillary either. I wish I didn't have to vote for McCain... can we get a write-in campaign going for Fred Thompson?

[Vets4Obama]

This is exactly how the Clintons operate. Wake up People of North Carolina and Indiana. This is your chance to stop the dirty tricks that Bill and Hillary will do to take the White House. Nothing is out of bounds with them. If they cannot win, they want John Mc to win so she will not be to old to run after 4 Yrs. She lies. Nuff Said.

[Leontes]

Hillary and her husband are race-baiting thugs who will say and do anything to get elected. Bill used to be president; now he just pimps his wife's (political) corpse. A vote for Hillary is a vote for bigotry and intolerance.

[AT LEAST WRIGHT IS HONEST!!]

At least Wright tells the truth. Obama just lies and lies and lies. Why isn't that a headline???

[Tired]

Seriously, people. You all get 10 minutes alone in the corner, to think about your behavior.

I'm getting a shack in the woods.

BTW, I'm voting Obama at this point just because the other two candidates are just plain NUTS, or borderline senile. Seriously: Have you _really_ looked at the pictures of Hillary, like if it wasn't election time? How manic is that. You want THAT psyche in the White House? Good night, and good luck. Getting chilly in here. At least: Obama doesn't lie about being shot at, and pronounces world leader's names right. Has that going for him. Seriously. World Leaders! Are you kidding you can't say his name right? Not much says "fading power kidding iself" like "leading senator doesn't know the world leader's name." And: My brain is so full of all this Democrat GARBAGE (I'm a democrat!) that I can't even think of what wrong with McCain off hand! Which is the DANGER. PEOPLE. When McCain looks good, you know you have SCREWED UP.

It's like a plague of pig-headedness. Right now, democrats are proving conservatives RIGHT. THINK about that. THINK about it. Just because you believe in a certain way, which is good, doesn't make you a good person. If Democrats were Coke, I'd be drinking Pepsi. I am dismayed, truly, by the fact that at this crucial time in the world, socially, economically, and environmentally, NO one has it together. Except, maybe, if we can put Star Magazine down, Barack.

That is, if I can afford the shack in the woods. Well, I guess I'll save on heat bills by printing off all this Trash America is writing and stuffing it in my walls for insulation. "quis goes inter adveho inter." Sow away, suckers.

[Nonya]

This is a just another political button that someone else has pushed. I won't say Hillary did it directly but it sure sounds like the "establishment" is involved in trashing Obama.

[Jennifer H]

NOW THIS IS A CONSPIRACY THEORY!!! Unbelievable the lengths people will go to so they don't have to admit they were mistaken in thinking Obama was "presidential material". The curtain is lifting and it's a dark, ugly production behind the Obama campaign.

[You are idiots]

The important piece is an ardent Clinton supporter is defending Wright. He's a but loony, but he's a free man in America and can say what he wants. If you don't go back and listen to his sermons get off your high horse. You don't know sqaut. However I now expect HRC will denounce the organizer for being a friend to Wright. That's the way it works right?

[TheGlobalEndlessPreemptiveWar]

Interesting how the media has made Reverend Wright the most important issue of the week and barely mentions the scandal of the Pentagon's psyop operation using retired generals to sell the war. Ask yourself how many have died in Iraq as a direct result of the Pentagon and media's lies and collusion? How many have died from Reverend Wright's comments?

Reverend Wright is spot on when he talks about US imperialism. And just for the numbskulls out there - when he says God Damn America he is really saying God Damn US Imperialism and the Corrupt US Government. He's not saying God Damn You Joe Sixpack and Jane Zinfandel.

The media is doing it's job very well. Distracting the population, spinning the news and spreading disinformation.

[Adrienne]

I have said all along that Hillary has no integrity. She is a liar and a cheat, and those are the nicest things you can say about her. I will never vote for her. Those of you that do will get what you deserve another 4 years of deceit and corruption. Not to mention the fact that most other countries ate going to see her has representing the same old American politics. It is Obama that has caused people to become excited about the Democratic party. The only difference between Hillary and Bush is she's not as stupid as he is.

[Dave]

If Clinton is the engineer behind all Obama's shortcomings in judgment with regards to personal alignments, I am truly impressed. We need someone that cunning in the whitehouse!

[Katy Cook]

Goodness! The Obama supporters will do ANYTHING to villify Hillary. I honestly like Obama, but the more they attack Hillary the more I am likely to turn against him and vote for no one if Hillary doesn't make it. To say that Hillary is behind the Rev Wright's comments now is just garbage, and I am infuriated by it.

Give me a break, people! You are turning moderates like me against your candidate, and making it less likely that he will win EVEN if he gets the nomination!

[Mike B.]

Seriously?? You think that Rev. Wright was unwittingly manipulated by a well-known Clinton supporter?

To say that the Clintons somehow tricked him into this by their influence on the organizer is an insult to Rev. Wright's intelligence.

He knew what he was doing. He knew the effect he would have. He knew who was organizing the panel.

While he helps Hillary here, this outcome was the result of his conscious choice not some nefarious Clinton plot.

[sam]

Oh Definitely! If not done by Hillary then who would? Why would he even come out now, right at this vital moment. Why did not he gave his speech 1 month ago? It is definitly a politics play by the Clintons......really bad! She is playing a foul game.

[Caroline Miniscule]

>>>Rev. Wright was right. The only people who dont recognize it are rednecks and undercover racists that cant accept the truth and shame of their government's history.

Right about what? He's a black man in a country "controlled" by rich white people. How is it then that he is about to move into a million dollar house in a white neighborhood? (And why is he doing that, anyway? Shouldn't he be nearer his flock)

Obama is a black man in a country "controlled" by rich white people. How is it that, until Wright opened his mouth, Obama was very close to getting the nomination to be...oh, I don't know... the most important poltical figure in the world, otherwise known as the President of the United States?

Condoleeza Rice is a black woman in a country "controlled" by rich white people. I do believe she's Secretary of State.

People of any race in this country can succeed, if they'll embrace the precepts of getting a good education, getting a good job, and having a good life. People who want to sit on their butts and accept welfare because they're "owed" - stay on welfare their entire lives. That isn't the fault of rich white people. Well... actually yes it is. Cut welfare for the uneducated and the unmarried moms .... people'd be forced to go to work. That would solve a lot of problems in this country real quick.

[Pogo]

While U.S. citizens prepare for a declining economy and families lose their homes, the politicians spend their time attacking each other or someone else. "Rev." Wright should be ignored as he speaks only for himself these days.
Congress is stuck in revierse and can't get anything passed. Illinois has a Governor who is probably about to join another Illinois Governor in Prison.
While I have no faith in most of the politicians, the Democrats have helped push me into supporting Sen. McCain with their antics and backbiting.

[Janie]

It all has been a political calculated move by Obama.
He needed distance from wright so they set it up, so he could puplicly denounce him and act angry.
I don't buy it.

[alice m]

Now that answers my question of who clued, whoever made that Wright mashup tape, into what sermons should be watched. A member of Obama's own church or a friend of Wright's like Ms.Reynolds? Someone would have had a lot of time on their hands to sit through at least 10 years of 52 weeks of sermons to find what they needed, without some inside help.

Wright is against the war in Iraq; ditto Obama; ditto many Obama supporters. Why would Wright cozy up with Reynolds if she supports Clintons?

Now I understand Obama's speech today. Back stabbers.

[Ann]

If that sick, slick, political slut, Hillary Clinton, is the candidate, I vote for McCain. Obama was a community organizer - he had to join a neighborhood church because that's where people go for all sorts of activities, including social justice ones. If this country wasn't such a theocracy, people could just do their thing. Religion is such a waste of time. And don't forget, the Clintons invited Wright to the WH for a religious breakfast.

[DreadPirate]

Clearly a conflict of interest. Reynolds should ask forgiveness before another minister for her nefarious and political favor for Teh'Clintons.

[cettlb]

This is something that Hillary will do. Trust her as far as you can throw her and Bill.

[James Pro]

THIS SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE!!!! IF ANY OF CLINTON FANS WHAT TO KNOW THE REAL TRUTH BEFORE IT'S TO LATE GOTO ( hillarythemovie.avi ) IF YOU STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT HER WHEN YOU FINISH WATCHING IT. THEN FLY ME AN EMAIL AT ( anthonypro59 at yahoo dot com ). SEE THE TRUTH THE CLINTONS WILL NOT LET THE PRESS SAY IN THE NEWS...

[Verona]

I say "Yes" -- IMHO this spectacle has Bill and Hillary Clinton written all over it.

Recall "Primary Colors" (1998)? In that movie, based on the 1992 Bill Clinton US Presidential race, we saw "...the shocking lack of personal morals of a 'natural' candidate for the office.... (and) the inner deal-making that everyone connected with the campaign makes to achieve the vision they started with, no matter how ugly the cheating, talented candidate gets on his road to the election."

[Adam P.]

Oh boy, should have seen this one coming. While I'll give it probability of being true, that matters just as much as Reverend Wright's comments themselves in respect to Obama's electability.

But more importantly, whatever happened to that wonderful thing called "separation of church and state"? It looks like an even more hollow claim now.

[JOSEPH]

what a slimy slug Hillary is, this woman will do anything and everything to get the nomination, she is so obsessed with winning there is no obstacle with this what so called woman

[kat1park]

If we are comparing judgment issues, his relationship with Rev. Wright and Hillary's judgment about Iraq and Bosnia and the fraud case that she's now involved in, are not even in the same arena. Let's face it, Obama has much better judgment than she does. At least you won't hear about people associated with his administration being murdered or mysteriously disappearing or committing suicide. Let's face it, Rev. Wright is a non-issue. He's a distraction created by the Clintons because they believe Americans do not have long attention spans and distractions work. The voters are the ones who have to ultimately stand up and say we will not be tricked into ignoring the real issues so that you can steal a nomination. Before Rev. Wright, Hillary Clinton wasn't the better candidate? What has changed? Nothing. The only difference is that her camp has been successful, with the media's help, in focusing everyone's attention on Rev. Wright in order to take attention away from the fact that she is not the stronger of the 2 candidates. Vote responsibly. Obama's mother is white. I don't care who his pastor is, as he said today, his very DNA goes against him being racist. Do you love your mother? He loves his too. If you can't admit anything else, at least admit that the man hating white people defies logic given that his own mother is white.

[jammer]

Funds from Auchi's loan may have helped finance a complex series of transactions between Rezko and Democratic Presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama involving the 2005 purchase of Obama's Chicago mansion and Rezko's purchase of an adjoining landlocked parcel.

The Times of London reports:

"A company related to Mr. Auchi, who has a conviction for corruption in France, registered the loan to Mr. Obama's bagman Antoin ʽTony' Rezko on May, 23 2005. Mr. Auchi says the loan, through the Panamanian company Fintrade Services SA, was for $3.5 million.

"Three weeks later, Mr. Obama bought a house on the city's South Side while Mr Rezko's wife bought the garden plot next door from the same seller on the same day, June 15. Mr. Obama says he never used Mrs. Rezko's still-empty lot, which could only be accessed through his property. But he admits he paid his gardener to mow the lawn."

Rezko's relationship with Barack Obama goes back to at least 1990, when Obama's law firm did work relating to a Rezko housing development. Rezko was a key early-money fund raiser in Obama's state Senate campaigns and his failed run at the US Congress. In June 2005, when the mansion was purchased, Rezko was widely known to be under federal investigation. Rezko also is a key fundraiser for Illinois Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The sudden emergence of Auchi into this story indicates Rezko's deals may include a money trail leading back to dead Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Auchi's Saddam links trace back to a failed 1959 assassination attempt on the life of then-Iraqi-prime-minister Abdul Karim Qasim.

Auchi's General Mediterranean Holdings company was also the largest private shareholder in Banque Nationale de Paris which later merged with Paribas to become BNP Paribas. At Saddam's insistence, billions of dollars of Oil for Food transactions passed through BNP from its 1995 inception until 2001.

In January 2004, Iraqi newspaper Al-Mada published a list of 270 Oil for Food beneficiaries. The list was translated and published on line by The Middle East Media Research Institute. Hundreds of millions of dollars of Oil for Food money was illegally diverted to buy Saddam favor from the United Nations, possibly reaching as high as Secretary general Kofi Annan's son. Also receiving million's from Saddam's slush fund were heads of state and their associates from Russia, France, China, and numerous Islamic countries.

The Auchi-Obama links go beyond the mansion deal. The Times of London February 1 reports uncovering, "state documents in Illinois recording that Fintrade Services, a Panamanian company, lent money to (an) Obama fundraiser in May 2005. Fintrade's directors include Ibtisam Auchi, the name of Mr. Auchi's wife."

Auchi, a Chaldean Christian, was later pardoned by Qasim. As Saddam's Baath party took power, Auchi prospered. He went to work for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil in 1967. He rose to be Oil Ministry Director of Planning and Development before leaving Iraq in 1979. His brother was apparently killed by Saddam's regime as were family of many high-ranking Baathists. But there are also claims that Auchi continued secretly working for Saddam's intelligence services, a kind of dual reality not uncommon in the twisted world of Saddam's upper echelons.

What is certain is that Auchi prospered mightily collecting "commissions" on sale of weapons and other goods to Iraq in the 1980s and 1990s. Living in the UK, he is now listed as Britain's 18th-richest man. The Times of London reports, "On the 20th anniversary of his business in 1999, Mr. Auchi received a greeting card signed by 130 politicians, including (Prime Minister) Tony Blair, (Conservative Party leader) William Hague and (Liberal-Democratic Party leader) Charles Kennedy...."

In spite of his British connections and an earlier 2004 US visit, Auchi was denied entry into the US in 2005. It is believed that he was attempting in 2005 to win a US visa with the help of Rezko several as-yet-unnamed Illinois political figures. Among Auchi's many international awards is a 2005 election as an "Honorary Member in the International College of Surgeons in Chicago, Illinois." Obama has denied trying to help Auchi.

Auchi has played a role in BNP since the late 1970s. When BNP was privatized by the French government in 1993, Auchi acquired stock in the banking giant through his Luxembourg-based company, General Mediterranean Holdings. Auchi played a key role in BNP's 2000 merger with Paribas. According to the New York Times, "As recently as 2001, General Mediterranean Holdings described itself in an annual report as one of largest single shareholders in BNP Paribas." Saddam used Oil for Food fraud to channel millions of dollars to heads of state, activists, terrorists, and journalists--many of whom returned the favor by backing Saddam in 2003 when the US finally invaded.

In 2003 Auchi was convicted in France for receiving about $100 million in illegal commissions as part of a scandal involving the French oil giant Elf Aquitane. The UK Guardian wrote:

"(Elf was) the biggest fraud inquiry in Europe since the Second World War. Elf became a private bank for its executives who spent £200 million on political favours, mistresses, jewellery, fine art, villas and apartments."

Auchi's General Mediterranean Holdings also has connections to the new Iraq-connections which lead right back to Tony Rezko. Auchi's company helped finance a 250 megawatt power plant in the Kurdish town of Chamchamal, Iraq, teaming up with Rezko and Iraq's former Minister of Electricity, Aiham Alsamarrae. Alsamarrae, a Chicago resident with dual US-Iraqi citizenship is accused of graft involving Iraq reconstruction projects-an embarrassing connection for the war critic Obama.

Returning in 2003 to post-Saddam Iraq, Alsamarrae had been made Minister of Electricity under the occupation government of Paul Bremer. Alsamarrae escaped in what he called "the Chicago way" from the Green Zone in December, 2006 after being held for four months in relation to a $2 billion Iraqi reconstruction corruption case. He is now living in his Chicago mansion.

Writing in Human Events, March 3, 2008, John Batchelor reports on an Alsammarae-Obama-Rezko connection:

"...in April 2005, one month before Mr. Alsammarae left his post, his Ministry of Electricity signed a contract for $50 million with Companion Security to provide training to Iraqis to guard electrical plants by flying them to Illinois for classes.

"Companion Security was headed by a former Chicago policeman with a troubled history, Daniel T. Frawley, in partnership with Mr. Rezko and in association with Daniel Mahru, the lawyer for the original contract and Mr. Rezko's former business partner. In April 2006, Mr. Frawley entered negotiations with Governor Rod Blagojevich's staff to lease a military facility in Illinois to be a training camp. In August 2006, Mr. Frawley started negotiations with Mr. Obama's U.S. Senate staff to complete the contract....

"The timeline of Companion discussions in 2006 is important to note: April 2006 Frawley speaks to governor's office; August 2006 Frawley speaks to senator's office; October 2006 indictment of Rezko revealed; October 2006 Rezko arrested upon return from Syria; October 2006 Alsammarae convicted in Baghdad and makes his first escape attempt; December 2006 Alsammarae escapes from Baghdad. ...

"(In 2004) Mr. Auchi traveled by private aircraft to Midway Airport in Chicago and then to a fete at the Four Season Hotel, where he met with his business partner in

Chicago real estate, Mr. Rezko, as well as with Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Also present that night, according to a fresh report by James Bone and Dominic Kennedy of the London Times, was State Senator Barack Obama, who had recently won the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat...."

Most politicians try to keep their financial backers out of trouble until after the election. But Rezko, is already indicted by a federal grand jury. And now hi

[I am the Egg Man]

Obamamania, you must be lucid or on some type of psychotropic drugs.. get real. you are indignant and throwing the racist card is nothing but a mere ploy on your 13 year old mind maiking comments about white people.. you are a student of ognorant history. you need to come down to north carolina and see how we feel about our heritage. Obamamania is typical of how you place judgement on whites for something that has nothing to do with color.. this is a matter of what happens when someone has been found out and your thoughts do nothing more than humor me and the rest of the readers. Obama is slipping in the polls. he knows it and is intelligent enough to move on. Try focusing more on what Obama can do instead of what Clinton "might" be doing.. get a life OBAMAMANIA. . YOU ARE IGNORANT OF REALITY AND THERES NOTHING THAT CAN BE SAID OTHER THAN GET OVER IT ! AND TRY NOT TO BE SUCH A CRYBABY.. HAHAHAHA.. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH POLITICS. ITS JUST THAT YOU CANT STAND TO SEE YOUR MAN BEING FOUND OUT.. HUMOR US WITH SOME MORE OF YOUR VERBAL GARBAGE.. YOU NEED TO SEE A PSYCHOTHERAPIST !

[Catya F]

There was a good reason the Founding Fathers endeavored to separate church and state. Can we put this faux issue behind us and get down to some damn real ones? Planned starvation? Oil? War? Rampant corporate greed? (and that's just the issues emanating directly from the Oval Office.)

I just wish the reporters would get real, even if the entertainment tonight commentators won't...oh, wait...they're the same!

[Bob H. of NC]

I live in Asheville, North Carolina. I got a "push-poll" call 2 days ago, trying to influence my vote in the approaching NC primary. It was so obviously pro-Clinton and anti-Obama, it was laughable. It was obviously not a real poll, but an attempt to sway my vote by presenting very inaccurate stories re: Obama and Clinton. Always positive for Clinton, always negative for Obama. This was paid for by either the NC GOP or the Clinton campaign. The "questions" were so pitifully transparent that by the end of the "poll", the woman calling (obviously black) and I were both laughing. She actually pleaded with me to go through the entire list of questions so she wouldn't lose her job. A year ago, I admired Hillary Clinton. Today, I don't feel that way.

[sushi eating volvo driver]

I'll take Obamas frayed connections to Wright any day over Clintons new found connections to Limbaugh, Scaife, Fox News and bill o'reilly.

At least Wright has a reason to be angry. The most disgusting and pathetic sight is the rich white male playing a victim which is the bread and butter of Fox News and its ilk. Oh reverse racism boo-hoo! I'm a white male myself who's not even rich and I hope if I ever start whining and playing the victim about reverse racism i get slapped.

The fact that Clinton's chumming up to the same people who tried to destroy her and Bill during the 90's shows shows that she is motivated by nothing but a lust for power and money. I'm guessing another Clinton presidency will increase their fortune from $100 million to a few billion.

[Hoss]

I'm so glad that we have both the media and the candidates themselves to keep voters from hearing about the issues instead of this wonderful tabloid drivel. Campaign 2008 has taken what little dignity was left in any semblance of reasoned, responsible public debate and cast it to the winds. Surely this is not what the Founders meant when they enshrined the four freedoms in the First Amendment!

[nyctenant]

What Wright is doing to Obama is Black on Black crime!
So, it must be the Whites' fault...

[Kris Davey]

No doubt. Hillary & family will go to any extent to get nominated. Well can't blame them. This is what politics is about.

[kat1park]

Ex-obama supporter, Wright did this. Not Obama. What's your point? When will you guys get it? Rev. Wright does and says what he wants to. He doesn't represent Obama when he is doing that. What is so difficult to understand about that? I don't represent my pastor. He doesn't represent me. No matter what he says. I'm my own person. I represent myself. Regardless of what I listen to or where, I still get to decide who I am and whether or not I agree with everything that comes out of a person's mouth. And I can decide to listen to what someone says and take the good and leave the bad. I do not have to agree with every single word that comes out of someone's mouth. Your arguments have no basis in reality or fact. Obama's mother is white. He is not racist. How many of you hate your mother? Use common sense.

[Lynn]

Please come out to Washington and visit the press club and see the mountain of rules they have to determine who does and does not get to speak at press club events. One person does not organize anything there.

[Polls dropping so I'M OUTRAGED?]

This will come back to bite Hillary and backfire a great deal. It will hasten her exit from the race. Clinton will do anything to get elected. Fortunately, as bill used to say, the American people will figure it out.
-----------------------

AL, its time to face reality. Give it up.
you put up a good fight but IT IS WHAT IT IS.

Yes, of course, Hillary did this. But it didn't start with the press club; it started over 20 years ago when Hillary first began writing Rev. Wright's sermons. Then, through a carefully planned series of events made to look like coincidence, she lured Barack Obama into joining Wright's church and you know the rest. But seriously, by calling Wright a "crazy old uncle," Obama seems to have earned the Wrath of Wright all on