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

[Tom J]

How is this worse than Hillary hanging on to her old friend Mark Penn too long, or McCain hanging on to his previous campaign staff buddies who almost bankrupted his campaign this time around? These things happen. The important thing is to recognize the truth and move on - just as Obama has done.

[Bob]

This Obama-Rev. Wright show is just that - a show. They are both in on this act. Obama did not condemn Wright when he had the chance. If he does it now out of the blue he will be seen as doing it for his election. If the reverend keeps on spewing his hate America speech this will give Obama another chance to condemn him claiming now that he has really seen it for himself though he missed it for the last twenty years.

[ex-Obama supporter]

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!

Posted by: J Snow
-----------------------------
obama has reduced you to a prostitute.
he had me looking like fool too - but no more.
do the line down the page test.
THE STUFF ADDS UP, YA KNO WHAT I MEAN?

[Bob]

This Obama-Rev. Wright show is just that - a show. They are both in on this act. Obama did not condemn Wright when he had the chance. If he does it now out of the blue he will be seen as doing it for his election. If the reverend keeps on spewing his hate America speech this will give Obama another chance to condemn him claiming now that he has really seen it for himself though he missed it for the last twenty years.

[John]

I must admit that as an outsider I find the current spat between B.O. and H.R.C. amusing. It just goes to prove that the democratic national party is parinod of everything - first it was GWB and the RNC that have a conservative conspirarcy, then Cheney, and now it is H.R.C. and who knows who or what will be the next target.... Get with guys, the world is a tough place and if you can sort out your own party - how the heck are you gonna sort out the bad guys to America. Get real, Get tough, suck it up and move on to the real battle ground - not with americans, but with the real enemies of the state - foreign nationals and foreign states that want nothing more than to see America degraded by a lack of focus on them...

[AL W.]

It doesn't matter who put this man on the stage in front of the cameras... the news reporters should have been investigating this man from the start. But, the fears of being seen as attacking an African American the news reporters and agencies aren’t doing their job. This appears to be a problem with the reporters in the country anymore always afraid to stir up controversy; they won't challenge GWB and his policies so why should they start now.
Obama is blind after 20 years of listening to this man and he refused to distance himself from him years ago makes him a bad choice. What happens if he chooses the wrong people for the important jobs running this country? Look at GWB choices, all friends and friends of the family and where are we now. This country is becoming a third rate nation with incompetence at the helm.
I say this since as a kid I was raised watching Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Jimmy Swaggart. As I grew up and saw the hate and hypocrisy these men preached I turned from them.
Neither Clinton nor her supporters are at fault here the man at fault is the Rev Wright he preaches hate and distrust and should be shunned by anyone in politics. I don't see him any differently than I do an Islamic minister that preaches hate towards the USA govt. and every American tells the Muslim followers to denounce there ministers.
This is a GREAT country and only will remain great if we continue to keep church and state separated.

[POLYGAMIST WIVES IN SESSION]

you sad, sad, sad people.
WRIGHT IS SAYING THE SAME THING HE SAID BEFORE OBAMA WAS EXPOSED, SO HOW IS IT CLINTON'S FAULT NOW?

GET A GRIP AND FACE FACTS BEFORE YOU GET COMMITTED.

[peabody3000]

dont forget, the judas Rev. Wrong was "on a cruise" and unreachable before his appearance. im sure his hosts used the time well to coach him on his performance

if you were the treacherous reverend, wouldnt you have taken obamas phone call before trying to make a spectacle of yourself? or would you have spurned it like he did?

obama is the right choice for america. we dont need a clinton part II presidency or a bu$h part III one with mccain

[tlsmith1963]

Why do we have to keep discussing Wright over & over again? It's stupid. I want the Republicans to pay for the last 8 years. We need to attack *them*, because they deserve it.

[Jerry]

Obama HAS NOT LIED , THE CLINTONS HAVE, THIS IS A FACT

[Kevin]

hahahaha.... You people make me chuckle. If you would listen to yourselves.
Please, let us all go back to the confederacy. The confederates had the answer in the beginning. States rights. I believe in it now and always. You morons don't realize that the feds are just a form of unionized government pyt in place to protect states rights. Clinton, Obama, nor McfreakinCain can give you anything. Study your history and see what our wise forfathers wanted for this great nation,
Don't misunderstand, I am not pro-slavery or anti-black because I say the confederates had it right. Study your history before you listen to these wolves in sheep's clothing.
Ask yourself before you vote, does clinton, obama, or McCain go to bed at night worried about the well being of the citizens of this great nation. A wise person will automatically have the answer.
It is a fool that thinks that any of these people want to help you. They are in it for numero uno.
WAKE UP AMERICA...

[Please LA Times!]

"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."

Brilliant.

In addition, the last time someone handed a picture of Obama wearing traditional Somali clothing to the media, it hurted Clinton. Also, heading into a state where the black vote is going to be very significant, it might be in Obama's interest to be put on the defensive on race related issues (remember South Carolina), because, naturally, they will come to his defense in droves.

Finally, why isn't anybody asking him nicely what this whole thing says about his judgement? He has talked a lot about having good judgement, and how that matters more than experience, and went the extra mile in accusing Clinton of bad judgement for voting for giving the president power to take action on Iraq (remember that Clinton did this in a setting where there was an intelligence report supporting the "danger" Iraq posed, and she is the Senator from New York). She made that decisions in that setting and pressure, and the whole thing happened over a matter of months. On the other hand, Mr. Obama attended that guy's church for 15 to 20 years and just realized "who he is"?!

In regards to Tony Rezko, he gets to say his decision was just "a boneheaded one" and gets away with it without significant scrutiny, despite the fact that when the transaction occured, the guy was already being investigated.

He gets better treatment from the media; big time. He should be called to task on his hypocricy.

[Trawlerman]

The supporters of "Sniper Dodging, Duck Hunter" Clinton seem to forget that getting a Democrat elected is crucial to this country. That means the votes of more than just the died in the wool Democratic voter, but also the undecided and "Reagan Democrat" types as well. The whole Clinton era has left such a bad taste in the mouths of those folks that they will never vote for Hillary. If you want the ultimate polarizing figure, nominate her.

As far as basic honesty, Obama is head and shoulders above Hillary, and most people know it. She is the patently phony Washington Insider through and through, and like the Bush's, thinks that there ought to be a Clinton dynasty as well. Only a bunch of Clinton phonies would try to take the words of some bitter old fart and lay them at Obama's feet. Why don't you apply the same outrage to that act as you do to the fact that the Press Conference was arranged by a Clinton supporter. ANS: You are the ultimate double standard types.

[Bob Keller]

As we all know, "This is all a part of the vast right-wing consp, oops never mind. It's not time for that yet." Not only are we seeing the real Obama, but also the real Hillary. Hillary will stab you in the back in a nanosecond. Do you like what you see? I don't, both of them well say and do whatever they have to so they can win. That's all that matters! But this is really fun to watch! It is a circular firing squad, LOL!

[titi]

not sure who owns the writer or the paper, but to label it as a clinton manipulation, and have actually ppl that believe it, tells me something about IQ; no wonder this campain has gone so long, w/so little substance; the media farts, and all pretend it smells like roses; u must be a total retard, to believe this bs, ie. clinton did it..only in amerika this bs is actually working...go get a brain...

[bachu]

this is beautiful. I am loving every minuit of it.

[Paul]

Well, okay. I agree with the comment that Obama did not sit in the pews for 20 years. Good to correct that.

I think it's useful to point out further that he did not sit in the pews for 15 years either. The sum total of his time there if you were not absent from church at all would be perhaps 52 hours a year for 15 years. That would be a total of about one month or two months depending on how you calculate it, spread out in small increments over a long period of time. It also assumes there was never another pastor giving a sermon.

And, I would add that sitting in the pews is not a one-to-one face-to-face interaction. What is more, it is clear that while Wright has his issues, he was not throughout the course of every sermon giving the kinds of speech and of making the kinds of comments that he gave on national television this past week, or those that were used as excerpts to make the infamous 1 1/2 minute videotape. Clearly, if he were neither Obama nor any of the other congregation would have remained. Nor would the congregation have grown.

This all needs to be thought about rationally and intelligently. If you do that, and remember that Obama is not Wright and Wright is not Obama, you will see that this has very little to do with Obama's personal philosophy, morals and objectives. I would argue that it also has little to do with the judgment -- do you know your preacher that well? For example, what about all the issues with the Catholic Church and the pedophilia?

At the outset, and given the position that Jeremiah Wright occupied as the leader of his church, Obama would not be trying to "vet" him in case he decided someday to run for president. Why would he do that for someone that has a vibrant and growing congregation of some of the most upstanding people in the Chicago community?

[Zac]

Politics is a nefarious game, that has cause so much grief over the centuries. Take for example Julius Caesar's cause of war against the Roman senate particularly Pompeii Magnus. He had Mark Anthony elected as consul of Rome and then he knew that he could have his wishes channeled through Anthony to the Senate. On one hand Cato and Cicero noticed what Caesar was trying to do to their republic so they had the Senate vote for the return of Caesar to Rome, disband his arms and be tried for Treason. The all calculating Cicero thought that with the majority voting for Caesars trial that Mark Anthony would veto it. Caesar on the other hand knew Anthony and he also knew the outcome , that Anthony will not veto the vote being caught up in the moment.
In the end Caesar marched his legions onto Rome forcing Pompeii and his senate supporters to flee because they couldn't raise enough legions in time for the defense of Rome.
The Point of the story is that the Clinton campaign had a calculated move, in having Barbara Reynolds set up Rev.Wright, and having a big ego he couldn't resist this chance of speaking out his mind. Although it might not have been as calculating as Caesar's was, we can see that there was much thought going into this process. It all stinks of politics to those that understand history and love it with a passion.
My only prayer is that America will look beyond this and choose the right person to lead. One that is transparent and true in every fiber of their being. I hope that America will chose Barrack Obama.

[Peter Gallo]

It's like a Kara Walker...

[Bill]

"I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base."

[Larry]

Good to see the cabal of white pansy that support Momma Clinton all popping up all over the place. Must be spring. The world is laughing at you people. Just the though of having a saw-off dumb blond as your President, (actually, that does fit AmeriKKKans to a tee), no, too funny to go on. Good luck sailing down that Banana Republic path you folks are on!

[Paul]

To "Please LA Times"

Please! Obama has said consistently that he is not a perfect person. People do make mistakes. Even boneheaded ones -- something a bit like your misjudgment in your comments here that are narrowed down to a very small focus on tangential issues.

I posted a bit earlier on my thoughts about how this does not reasonably reflect on Obama's judgment. Do you know your pastor that well?

And, in my view, the press is giving none of this a rest, nor are vacuous blockers like yourself. If you're not on someone's payroll and are a real and thinking person, I suggest you step back and think rationally and consider what I set out in my earlier comments. I suspect you'll come to a different place.

Indeed have a look at yourself and consider how you might want someone to view your boneheaded mistakes over your lifetime. And don't tell me you don't have any. And don't tell me this is different because it concerns someone who might be the next President of the United States -- look at who is there now, although as Obama says, that is a very low bar. I would submit that you would need a very much lower bar than Obama for someone like Clinton.

People, including Presidential material, are only human. They do need to meet a high standard, however, the Main principle of that for me is that they recognize that they are not perfect, but they do make mistakes, and they know how to get advice to avoid and minimize them and to change direction when that is what is the proper course of action. Do not be concerned about looking and feeling embarrassed when they have to do so.

It is so much more difficult when your opposition is waiting in the wings to say -- "flip-flop". But someone capable of doing that is what is needed.

[Steve]

LOL, it's good to be a conservative.

[insane? yeah, u could say that]

SADDEST THNG?
here you have peple knowing the facts but here they are trying to make a case for obama.

do they KNOW this man said these things since years ago?
do they know Obama defended him only months ago?

do they know this man insulted Chelsea, Hillary and Bill by name? sure they do.

but their pride is choking them, so its now Hillary's fault.
these people would rather have an incompetant man in charge bedause of what? Rather than admit they were wrong and he's turned out to be a fraud?

or did they get an autograph that might now be worthless?

THIS IS NOTHIG SHORT THAN INSANITY!!!!!!
they are like the polygamist wives who hear the child being raped in the middle of the night then wake up and fix breakfast for the rapist and wishes him a nice day.

this is bizzarre, and INSANE, YES, I AM CALLING YOU OBAMA DENY, DENY, DENY INSANE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST YOUR MARBLES!!!!!!!

[ms in la]

Sam Zell's Tribune Company owns the LA Times now, much to this former subscriber's chagrin.

He was overheard referring to Senator Clinton as a "C**T" at a party last year. His Tribune papers across the land have handily endorsed Senator Obama.

However- I am not about to jump from one dot to the next and attribute this sketchy piece of "journalism" and exercise in inaccuracy and fantasy to any Sam Zell conspiracy, even though his rabid, hostile feelings about the Clintons' are no secret to anyone...

Instead I'll place the blame square on the confused writer, Andrew Malcolm.

PS The President of the Nat'l Press Club made a statement that SHE - not the Clinton "operative" Dr. Reynolds- had invited Rev Wright to speak.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080429/pl_usnw/national_press_club_statement_on_errol_louis_story_in_ny_daily_news

But then I suppose it was Dr. Reynolds who then strapped the Reverend to the chair and injected the microchip into his brain just prior to his taking the stage. You know-- the one Hillary had prepared. It's the same one she had inserted prior to the Moyers show and the NAACP meeting. Oh and of course she had it planted in him years ago as well. It's the reason he thought of all those zany things to say!

Now that's the kind of omnipotent magical woman we need running this country today! Who else could get us out of this mess?

You are lucky Mr Malcolm to have a writing job that has no burden of demand for fact checking or copy edits prior to publishing. Cushy life.

Let's see, a black preacher who has served 6 years in two of our military branches, and has worked over 30 years in a ministry that has provided day care for children of working mothers, homes for the elderly, financial aid for the needy, rehabilitation programs for those trying to get off drugs, and jobs for those willing to work, has preached that he is angry with America. Preached that God will condemn the sins of a nation that enslaved, beat, raped and impoverished millions of humans over hundreds of years simply because of the color of their skin.
And we are upset with him because of his choice of words or the tone with which he expresses his anger?!?
Many of the prophets in the bible condemn Israel for her sins against God's word to warn Israel she must repent or suffer God's wrath. And we can not bear to hear anyone make the same analogy with America?
Are we more upset with the messenger, the message, or with ourselves?

[Paul]

To MindMadeUp - its clear yours is and that you are in a complete state of denial. Hillary so positive. I know you must be dreaming....

[Richard Terrell]

Jeremiah Wright is a racist, a bigot, and his black liberation theology is a fraud. The fact that Barack Obama sat there for years and didn't walk out, says a lot about him. Either he agrees with him or he hasn't the stomach to do the right thing and leave. If he can't handle Rev. Wright, how will he handle foreign heads of state who might be at odds with him and his philosophies? Obama is not ready for this job! Hillary is a witch who will do ANYTHING to get elected. How have we gotten to this level with such pathetic choices for president? I put a lot of blame on MoveOn.org for the millions spent getting Barack nominated. I blame the Clinton machine for the utter chaos they have caused by their sheer unparalleled lust for power. They have no scruples. Many dead bodies lie in their wake. Bill should be in prison. They would be a disaster. Can you imagine Bill in the White House again? I can't even think about it. Vote McCain, an American hero, flawed but principled. He was NOT my first choice but he NEVER voted for ONE earmark. Hillary just voted 2.3 million for her home state. We have to finish the job in Iraq and keep those people free from Al Queda. Iraq is our line in the sand. If we don't stop them there, we will meet them in NY, or LA.

[F.M.]

It doesn't matter who organized the conference. Was Rev. Wright FORCED to say the things he did? Nobody pinned him against a wall and forced him to say the things he did. He said them because he truly believes them. Just because he was given a stage to espouse his views does NOT mean he needed to. He did it because he WANTED to.

[Zoe]

This question rates right up there with Wright's claim that white America invented AIDS. Jeez-O-Pete, the guy is a self-centered jerk that wants HIS name in the headlines, no matter how much it hurts his so-called friend, Mr. Obama.
NO, Clinton had nothing to do with this...how much power are people willing to give her? The Press Club has more than ONE person who decides who speaks.

[Crystal Coy]

To those who are looking for new ways and fresh reasons when they get up in the morning to strengthen their hatred against Hillary Clinton .......

you people seriously need to be preached by Rev. Wright to detox your system inside out. You have something more dangerous than AIDS.

This is a democratic country. You are free to vote for whoever you want for whatever reasons you have, but it is pathetic to blame everything on Hillary Clinton from dawn till dusk day in and day out.

Get Help, people! Get Serious Help!

[JJ-VA]

The Obama idolizing media is doing it again. Turning even Obama's flaw into means of attack on HRC w/o any factual basis to substantiate. Stop misleading voters using your wild far fetching guesses. This election will determine the fate of the country financially. Neither of the guys looks like they would have any idea how to fix the flagging economy with huge debt. Aside from the overzealous antiwar Moveon.org and the blacks, Obama was mainly pushed by the young voters who wanted someone of their kind, i.e., inexperienced. Would you hire an inexperienced CEO to fix a company going bankrupt if you hope to have a chance to fix it? When the roof of your house leaks, would you hire a college grads who never done such work to fix it? No! But that's exactly what electing Obama really is. They successfully destroyed HRC using personal attack tactics similar to GOPs even though they have much less substance than HRC on issues and policy and vision to fix the country. Voters have been misled by these smokes. Every politician by nature is flawed because of the competitive nature of trying to pander to supporters. What voter should really focus on is whether the person has overall integrity to serve for the interest of the country,and whether has the competence, skill, experience. Even Kennedy had mistress. When you hiring a CEO, you are not hiring a nun or priest. But the sensational media would have nothing to hold the audience's attention if they don't talk about personal attacks of each side. But it's the voter who will pay the ultimate price when your salary stagnates, housing price slump, dollar value depreciates, price of everything including gas, food, tuition, tax, soaring, social security bankrupting, government huge deficit, individuals huge debts, all because we thought one guy is more likable than the other one, one guy has better faith than the other one. But the guy we picked turned out to be an inexperienced idiot controlled by the VP like a puppet. We better not make the same mistake, but guess it's too late now.

[mike lewis]

The fustian blather stirs the cacophonous chorus.

[Betty B.]

Bill Moyers has a lot of class. I listened to his interview with Rev. Wright. Something has shifted in the demeanor of the rev. from that interview to this one. Clinton is all over this. She HRC is the lowest form of human life on this planet.

Why hasn't the media jumped on the "GLOBE" cover story???? Clinton gay lover scandal? Because right now America the Clintons are controlling the media.

And why hasn't the media written about the Paul versus Clinton trial that is upcoming? Because right now America the Clintons are controlling the media.

Thank goodness BArack OBama is the democratic nominee, and in January he will go through his inauguration as the next US President.

The media has been busted - the Clintons are busted.
Where's Bill today, out of sight so their devious plans can be focused on through the media.

America - it is dangerous to let Bill C. near that White HOuse, but it is even more dangerous to let HRC - the lying "married woman" get the Democratic nomination. She won't - I promise.

[peahirider]

Let's put this in context. By openly admitting to the use of the same type of negative attack strategy that, presumably, Republicans will use against Senator Obama in November, Senator Clinton has demonstrated that she is not qualified to be President, let alone run at the head of the Democratic ticket. As a lifelong Democrat, my mind is made up and cannot be changed: I will neither support nor vote for Senator Clinton should she become the Democratic nominee. What is worse, I am sure that I am not the only one. What is to become of the Democratic Party in November?

[Prantha Trivedi]

And the Clinton SLEAZE keeps oozing.

Do we really want the first woman president to be so sleazy and underhanded? HELL NO!

Obama '08

[Lynn]

Everytime there is an election nearing, a sudden new or renewed controversy is sparked in the media against Obama. No media controversy against Hillary, just Obama. Can't get the media to ask about anything, like explain why she would work for a communist radical left law firm. Do I think Hillary had something to do with this? Yes.

[James Townsend]

I live here in Indiana I voted early about a week ago for obama. I think the clintons had rev wright do this since obama refused to have a debate. Shame on you hillary.

[Terri Stevens]

Read .....
When the Rev. William Procanick put his hand on the Bible during his sex-abuse trial in Oneida County Court earlier this year, he swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

But as the former Clinton pastor was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl at his home last March, Judge Michael L. Dwyer said Procanick sacrificed his honesty the day he testified.

“As a minister of God, you got on the stand and you lied,” Dwyer told Procanick, the 54-year-old former pastor of Resurrection Assembly of God church on Kirkland Avenue.

A jury found Procanick guilty Jan. 22 of first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Dwyer said he believes Procanick was being honest when he told the girl's mother in a recorded phone call that he was wrong to caress the girl's body while she was trying to fall asleep.

However, Procanick instead testified in court that he did nothing wrong other than spend time alone with the girl, who was a friend of the family, Dwyer noted.

If Procanick had accepted responsibility from the beginning instead of straying from the truth, Dwyer said, Procanick would likely have faced a lesser punishment and possibly avoided jail time.

“The truth would have set you free,” Dwyer said. “You had a chance to be a man and say, 'I made a mistake.' But as always, the cover-up is much worse than the original crime.”

Procanick's defense attorney, George Aney, noted that Procanick still received a sentence less than the maximum, which was up to seven years in prison.

“It's considerably less than the maximum, but considerably more than he deserved,” Aney said.

Aney also took issue with how Dwyer and the victim's mother used harsh language to attack Procanick's Christian values.

“You are just an evil man,” the victim's mother said Friday in court. “You lied, and you had your wife lie. And all these people who showed up in court to support you, did you lie to them, too?”

The Observer-Dispatch does not identify sex-abuse victims and their families.
The victim's mother said her daughter is still waking up scared at night because of what happened, and she continues to see a therapist. The young girl also feels that everybody is mad at her, the mother said.

Assistant District Attorney Doug DeMarche Jr. then read a note written by the girl, who did not appear in court Friday.

“Bill made me sad and scared,” DeMarche read. “I thought I did something wrong, because I trusted him.”

Dwyer gave Procanick an opportunity to speak in court, but Procanick had nothing to say to the victim and her family.

Aney did not plan to speak in court, he told Dwyer, but he felt obligated to respond to what the victim's mother said about Procanick and his wife.

“I believe she shows her own lack of Christianity by referring to people as liars,” Aney said.

After the sentencing, Aney further commented about what was said in court.

“I respect Judge Dwyer for what he said this morning, but I have to say I disagreed with him,” Aney said. “I have every right to express my feelings, and my feelings are that we are not permitted to call anybody a liar. That's a judgment someone higher than I makes.”

DeMarche, however, said he can understand why the girl's mother spoke of Procanick in such harsh terms.

“She had a lot of faith and trust in Mr. Procanick, and he violated that trust,” DeMarche said. “I think she's justified in being angry.”
Did the Clinton supporters know this? IF A PASTOR IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY THEY KEEP!
>
> When the Rev. William Procanick put his hand on the Bible during his
> sex-abuse trial in Oneida County Court earlier this year, he swore to tell
> the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But as the former Clinton
> Pastor was sentenced Friday, January 22, 2008 for three years in prison
> for first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child
> [inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl at his home March of 2007],
> Judge Michael L. Dwyer said Procanick sacrificed his honesty the day he
> testified.
>
> Okay, so now that Bill and Hillary Clinton's pastor has been convicted of
> child molestation, will we see the same furor directed at Hillary that
> O bama has had to endure these last few weeks? I don't think so!!!!
>
> IF A CANDIDATE IS KNOWN BY THE PASTOR THEY KEEP……
>
> Then you need to email this article to everyone you know. Here the
> CLINTON'S former Pastor is convicted of unspeakable Child Molestation. So,
> if Obama bears the guilt for his former pastor's comments, then Hillary
> has to be equally tainted by this guy's crimes.
>
> For proof, please see: http://www.uticaod.com/homepage/x1637676857
Thank you for the abuse report. We will review the report and take appropriate action.

[earl]

This article is ridiculous. All the zany Obama supportors are seeing cospiracys in every dark shadow. Obama was a close friend and supportor of Wright for 20 years and now he acts like he didn't know Wright was like that. Even now it's blame Clinton instead of taking resonsibility for supporting this racist who hates America. I would have voted for Clinton or Obama to keep another Republican from getting in office. I don't think I could vote for Obama the more this stuff drags out and we see who Obama really is. Supporting a person like Wright and then blaming Clinton is the final straw. Obama should apologize to Clinton and resign as a candidate. He's becoming a laughing stock.

[Mike G.]

Folks: This is a transparent issue.

Wright knew what he was doing; he knew the conference organizer supported Clinton.

This piece is not journalism.

It is bringing the gasoline of innuendo in contact with the flames of a hasty, riled-up public to make a conflagration out of nothing.

Poor show, L.A. Times. You carry a banner in the American march toward anti-intellectualism.

[Leon]

This is definetly the lowest blow that the Clinton's have pulled against Barack Obama.. I guess there isn't a problem when you have to cheat to try to win a election. It is also a well know fact that our so call brothers are our own worst enemies, because of the slave mentality, we cannot come together and support a president who is all about change. Guess change can be a scary thing, guess now I know how our fomer slave masters felt when the slaves were freed. hmm. We need to wake up and smell the coffee.. Check yourself you uncle tom's...

[eileen]

This kind of trash article, rather than investigating and vetting the candidate, is insulting to your readers.

It's time for journalists to stop drooling over a good orator, and start LOOKING at his flaws. Had you performed your jobs correctly to begin with, we would not be uncovering some of this ugliness that could erupt in the general election.

And enough already with the, "But, but, but Clinton..." crap.

Good grief! Have you no shame?

[NJ]

Have you all noticed that before each of last major primaries, a manufactured "scandal" comes out against Obama?

Before Ohio and Texas it was the Canadian trade situation that turned out to be Hillary's, not Obama's camp, that told the Canadians not to worry about NAFTA. Yet Clinton used it to falsely smear Obama.

Before Pennsylvania, it was Reverend Wright, that we have heard about for it seems likes years now every day, and which Hillary brings up again and again. Enter the ABC "lynching" (I mean debate) where Hillary commented on Wright (again), Farrakhan (again - even though Obama had rejected AND denounced him at an early debate), Ayers, flag pins, etc.

And, of course, "bittergate" the "bitter" comments that a Hillary supporter secretly taped, which were scandalized.

Now this again, right before NC and Indiana, with Hillary AND the republicans using Wright excessively to attack Obama.

What has impressed me most about Obama, though, and why I will vote for him, is this. The Democratic leaders asked both candidates to keep it civil for the sake of the party and the future of our country. One has; the other has not.

Obama had the opportunity to criticize Hillary about the Bosnia thing, but he didn't - not even at the ABC debate when he was asked directly. Hillary took (and has taken) every opportunity again and again and again to slam Obama, however - her fellow Democrat.

Obama consistently compliments both of his opponents as faithful servants, and seeks to discuss differences in the issues. Hillary, on the other hand, takes every opportunity to smear Obama - and even more disturbing does not do the same to her Republican opponent.

Because they are both so similar in their policies, I choose Obama because he has demonstrated loyalty to the party and has tried to remain above the negative fray, in spite of the 5-on-1 attack (Hillary, Bill, McCain, Republicans and the media).

Starting out as a strong Clinton supporter (and I REALLY AM a 50-something white lady), what made me switch was Hillary's actions that have resulted in harm and division to her own party and its members.

If she will do this to her fellow Dems while clearly in the spotlight, she will have no problem stabbing the Democratic voters in the back behind closed doors after being elected.

[Dude]

This whole Wright thing is just a Republican distraction. It will be the wedge issue of this Presidential election. As long as you silly people continue to discuss Reverend Wright, Barack and Michelle Obama, more Americans are dying in Iraq, more are being injured, gas prices continue to rise, and more people are losing their homes. The Republicans don't want you to discuss the real issues, because they know they have failed the American people. So, just keep discussing Reverend Wright.

[Kolo]

Grasping for straws..... This is like that Obama rally after the ABC debate where people thought Obama was flipping the bird. Please. This woman, another minister, has done nothing wrong. Grasping for straws.....

Good grief, it's the media - left-wing, right-wing, everybody - that's making this race a circus.

You should be ashamed.

[Pell]

Attention: Hillary supporters - don't be counting up your chickens in advance on this. In case you missed it, there was another media coup for Obama propaganda today - huge Free media coverage for his prepared speech on every channel - it was all about Obama, Obama, and more Obama. The media was so into letting him say his speech. His O supporters voted early, rushing out to the polls in unforeseen numbers to vote early this week in upcoming primaries. The Obama campaign started saying a few days ago that a 1 vote win will be a WIN, but he's already set for a landslide victory with early voters!. This was a planned staged event today and Obama gave the speech that his his speechwriters wrote last week. Obama and Rev Wright are laughing about this now or will be soon. Imagine - their audacity. If there are Hillary supporters out there, mark my words.

[Josh52]

don't be counting up your chickens in advance on this. In case you missed it, there was another media coup for Obama propaganda today - huge Free media coverage for his prepared speech on every channel - it was all about Obama, Obama, and more Obama. The media was so into letting him say his speech. His O supporters voted early, rushing out to the polls in unforeseen numbers to vote early this week in upcoming primaries. The Obama campaign started saying a few days ago that a 1 vote win will be a WIN, but he's already set for a landslide victory with early voters!. This was a planned staged event today and Obama gave the speech that his his speechwriters wrote last week. Obama and Rev Wright are laughing about this now or will be soon. Imagine - their audacity. If there are Hillary supporters out there, mark my words.

[l. PERRY]

IF A PASTOR IS KNOWN BY THE COMPANY THEY KEEP!

When the Rev. William Procanick put his hand on the Bible during his
sex-abuse trial in Oneida County Court earlier this year, he swore to tell
the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

But as the former Clinton pastor was sentenced Friday to three years in
prison for inappropriately touching a 7-year-old girl at his home last
March, Judge Michael L. Dwyer said Procanick sacrificed his honesty the day
he testified (sound familiar???).

Okay, so now that Bill and Hillary Clinton's pastor has been convicted of
child molestation, will we see the same furor directed at Hillary that
Obama has had to endure these last few weeks?

IF A CANDIDATE IS KNOWN BY THE PASTOR THEY KEEP......

Then you need to email this article to everyone you know. Here the CLINTON
'S Pastor is
convicted of child molestation. So, if Obama bears the guilt for his
pastor's comments, then Hillary has to be equally tainted by this guy's
crimes.

Below is another article about this story...
Judge to ex-pastor: \'You lied\'

http://www.uticaod.com/homepage/x16376

[Rory]

Hahaahahahaaha! So amusing. Its a vast freaking Left Wing Conspiracy! Hillarys hacks even wrote the script for Wright to blither out. Say this, say that, roll eyes, bark at the moon, good doggy! All at Hillarys command.
Haaaaa!!!!!