'Gasoline on the fire': Barack Obama on Jeremiah Wright

Today's "Meet the Press" on NBC featured a full hour with Sen. Barack Obama, and it's no surprise that the first third of the interview focused on the inflammatory remarks of Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., and their effect on Obama's quest for the Democratic presidential nomination.

After snippets of some of Wright's more controversial sermons "were looped on cable stations 24 hours a day for about five straight days," Obama said, "I did what I thought was right, which was to denounce the words, not denounce the man."

After all, the Illinois senator noted, he had known Wright as a former Marine and a pillar of the community, and "I think that the American people understand that when I joined Trinity United Church of Christ, I was committing not to Pastor Wright; I was committing to a church and I was committing to Christ."

But last Monday, Obama said, "when [Wright] came out ...

... at the press conference of the National Press Club, not only did he amplify some of those comments and defend them vigorously, but he added to it."

Wright's "divisive, hateful language" -- about terrorism, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and a possible government conspiracy to harm blacks with the AIDS virus, among other things -- "put gasoline on the fire," Obama said.

"What really changed was a sense that he was going to double-down on the statements that he had made before," Obama said -- an indication that "he did not share my fundamental belief and my fundamental values in terms of bringing the country together and moving forward, and the pride that I've got for this country."

Asked whether he could have handled the situation better by cutting his ties with Wright earlier, Obama responded: "When you're in national politics, it's always good to pull the Band-Aid off quick.... But life's messy sometimes, and, you know, it's not always neat, and things don't proceed in textbook Political 101 fashion."

If he becomes president, will he seek Wright's counsel?

"Absolutely not," Obama replied.

-- Leslie Hoffecker

Comments

[jennifer potenciano]

here's how jeremiah wright figures in obama's railing against hillary's iran stand. let me explain.

there he goes again, this obama.

obama is riding high, once again, on hillary’s coattails, as he criticized hillary’s warning against iran (if she is the u.s. president)—that iran faces massive u.s. retaliation, “obliteration” even, should iran attacks (read: “nukes”) israel.

but hillary was quick to qualify it by saying: "i don't think they {iran’s prexy, ahmadinejad & the rest of the Islamic fundamentalist hegemony-obsessed Iranian leaders} will do that, but i sure want to make it abundantly clear to them that they would face a tremendous cost if they did such a thing."

iran's deputy u.n. ambassador, mehdi danesh-yazdi, filed a diplomatic protest before the u.n., calling her comment "provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible" and "a flagrant violation" of the u.n. charter.

obama, getting into the scene, said: "it's not the language we need right now.” so what does obama propose to do, in such a “nuking” scenario? he wants to “talk it out” w/ the Iranian leaders, & mix such talk w/ u.n. sanctions, his one alter ego, bill “judas” (carville’s lingo) Richardson told cnn’s tom wolfson.

well, i say, firstly, to be fair to hillary, obama should urge the u.s. government to also file before the world body a diplomatic protest against iran to protest against ahmadinejad’s constant threat to “obliterate” israel, iran style—w/c statement (using obama’s logic) we may also call "provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible" and "a flagrant violation" of the u.n. charter.

secondly, i can see a lot of the american voters sneering at obama, saying: “look who’s talking! here’s a guy who can’t talk it out with his ‘whack-a-doodle’ {as one commenter said} pastor of long standing--20 years—and now who wants to ‘talk it out’ with a ‘crazy head of a government’ {same reader} with a nuclear weapon, who’s far more dangerous than a jeremiah wright."

what do the 70 % american people advise obama? “oh boy, get your act together, & be of a piece.”

incidentally, this commenter beat obama to the draw when i proposed in a posting i made last month, vis-à-vis mugabe & zimbabwe, that the u.n. must flex its muscles & throw its weight around, so as to urge the african dictator to cut & cut clean. same principle can be apllied here in iran’s case. again, as is his wont, obama is just a 3rd-rate, trying-hard copycat.

obama’s “soft talk, meet-the-terrorists” approach has already been shot down by the hoover institution scholar thomas sowell in his recent nat’l review online analytical piece on obama as a “political poison.”

in his dumb, naïve proposal, obama fails to see that the present iranian regime’s top guns leaders are a different breed of animals, who talk from both sides of their mouths, as they lust for nuclear capability.

study history--& you won’t fail to recognize that this was the fatal error of the british pm, neville chamberlain, in his series of talks with the ascendant nazi fascist brute, adolf hitler in mid-1930s.

chamberlain tried to talk hitler out of the nazi fascist dictator’s hegemonist intentions & actions—against czechoslovakia, poland, & ultimately, against the world, in general—to no avail.

only in 1938 did chamberlain decide to talk tough against hitler—when it was already too late (he was deposed as uk pm, & died soon enough), when hitler seemed at the cusp of conquering the entire europe. only the timely adoption of needed tough measures --& help from other nations, led by the u.s.— made hitler capitulate, willy-nilly.

this will be hillary’s exact paradigm, not the goergie boy bush unilateral action against iraq. hillary will bring the weight of the world’s consensus & the u.n. imprimatur & its members’ collective decision to bear upon iran’s ahmadinejad & company.

seen from history’s prism, hillary’s principled stand on war-freak iran can be readily appreciated as making some sense—though further refinement & fine tuning will make it perfect.****

[jennifer potenciano]

there's a one-to-one correspondence on jeremiah wright & obama's tirade against hillary's stand on "obliterating" iran.

let me explain.

there he goes again, this obama.

obama is riding high, once again, on hillary’s coattails, as he criticized hillary’s warning against iran (if she is the u.s. president)—that iran faces massive u.s. retaliation, “obliteration” even, should iran attacks (read: “nukes”) israel.
but hillary was quick to qualify it by saying: "i don't think they {iran’s prexy, ahmadinejad & the rest of the Islamic fundamentalist hegemony-obsessed Iranian leaders} will do that, but i sure want to make it abundantly clear to them that they would face a tremendous cost if they did such a thing."

iran's deputy u.n. ambassador, mehdi danesh-yazdi, filed a diplomatic protest before the u.n., calling her comment "provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible" and "a flagrant violation" of the u.n. charter.

obama, getting into the scene, said: "it's not the language we need right now.” so what does obama propose to do, in such a “nuking” scenario? he wants to “talk it out” w/ the Iranian leaders, & mix such talk w/ u.n. sanctions, his one alter ego, bill “judas” (carville’s lingo) Richardson told cnn’s tom wolfson.

well, i say, firstly, to be fair to hillary, obama should urge the u.s. government to also file before the world body a diplomatic protest against iran to protest against ahmadinejad’s constant threat to “obliterate” israel, iran style—w/c statement (using obama’s logic) we may also call "provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible" and "a flagrant violation" of the u.n. charter.

i can see the american voters sneering at obama, saying: “look who’s talking! here’s a guy who can’t talk it out with his ‘whack-a-doodle’ {as one commenter said} pastor of long standing--20 years—and now who wants to ‘talk it out’ with a ‘crazy head of a government’ {same reader} with a nuclear weapon, who’s far more dangerous than a jeremiah wright."

what do the 70 % american people advise obama? “oh boy, get your act together, & be of a piece.”

incidentally, this commenter beat obama to the draw when i proposed in a posting i made last month, vis-à-vis mugabe & zimbabwe, that the u.n. must flex its muscles & throw its weight around, so as to urge the african dictator to cut & cut clean. same principle can be apllied here in iran’s case. again, as is his wont, obama is just a 3rd-rate, trying-hard copycat.

obama’s “soft talk, meet-the-terrorists” approach has already been shot down by the hoover institution scholar thomas sowell in his recent nat’l review online analytical piece on obama as a “political poison.”

in his dumb, naïve proposal, obama fails to see that the present iranian regime’s top guns are a different breed of animals, who talk from both sides of their mouths, as they lust for nuclear capability.

study history--& you won’t fail to recognize that this was the fatal error of the british pm, neville chamberlain, in his series of talks with the ascendant nazi fascist brute, adolf hitler in mid-1930s.

chamberlain tried to talk hitler out of the nazi fascist dictator’s hegemonist intentions & actions—against czechoslovakia, poland, & ultimately, against the world, in general—to no avail.

only in 1938 did chamberlain decide to talk tough against hitler—when it was already too late (he was deposed as uk pm, & died soon enough), when hitler seemed at the cusp of conquering the entire europe.

only the timely adoption of needed tough measures --& help from other nations, led by the u.s.— made hitler capitulate, willy-nilly.

this will be hillary’s exact paradigm, not the goergie boy bush unilateral action against iraq. hillary will bring the weight of the world’s consensus & the u.n. imprimatur & its members’ collective decision to bear upon the case of iran’s ahmadinejad & company.

seen from history’s prism, hillary’s principled stand on war-freak iran can be readily appreciated as making some sense—though further refinement & fine tuning will make it perfect.****

[Seni]

I will never believe Obama was as close to Rev. Wright as he said he was and still not know his pastor's views.Twenty years is a very long time. Anyone will show their true charactor long before that length of time.Obama is trying to get elected and he will easily lie about his past for that reason. If he really didn't know his pastor's hateful views, then his poor judgement is not the kind this country need in these dangerous times.

[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/010827.reparations.html

Anyone not voting for Obama is a racist!!!

[Alan]

I am truly amazed at how "simple" some whites are. Are you really outraged because some pastor said, "God Damn America?" Let me ask it this way. Has the American government (like all nations), through its military, killed innocent men, women and children around the world? Yes. Has it enslaved and legally sanctioned discrimination against some of its own citizens? Yes. Would God bless these actions? Of course not, he would damn them. It's possible to love America (as I do), but to also be a grown up. Grow up.

[Bob Perrin]

How about the two of them meet on meet the press or some other forum. I mean Reverend Wright and Barack Obama. Can you see it? Would you like to? Don't hold your breath, Not even the media is that bold........

[Joseph]

Do you go on TV and publicly denounce YOUR pastor right away every time he says something nutty? Because if you have never heard your own pastor say something nutty, you probably haven't gone to church very much.

It takes strength of character to draw a careful line and avoid smearing a man just to get ahead. And this is precisely the strength of character that Obama has shown. He has stated clearly and unequivocally that he disagrees with the radical statements by Wright, but he has avoided smearing Wright in public, because despite Wright being a bit nutty, he's still a nice guy.

That's an uncommon strength of character and willingness for self-sacrifice for the greater good that Obama has, and it is a quality worthy of respect. The people who are trying to demean him for it are severely lacking in character themselves.

[Mel]

Smoke and Mirrors. All this ruckus about Obama's Pastor is smoke an mirrors. If your priest molested a child, and your are a member of that church does that mean that you condone it? If a Rabbi had an affair and you are a member of the congregation, does that mean that you condone it? If your husband has sex outside the marriage, lies before the Amercan people and you do not decry it, does that mean that you condone it? Affiliation in an religion or organization does not mean that you agree with everything that the leadership says and promotes. Union workers do not always agree with their leadership, Catholics do not always agree with the Pope as in the right to life issue. Jews do not always agree with the politics of Israel. It's time to get off this stupid political game of guilty by association. As Amercians who love our country, we should rise above this.

[Vote Hillary]

The only diffrence between what Wright said now and before is...Wright saying Obama denounced his words for political purposes this is what angered Obama he cant believe his pastor of 20 yrs would do that to him when he was so close to the nomination so Obama threw him under the bus with his grandmother,NEWS FLASH Obama will throw all of you under the bus with grandma and his pastor to win this nomination! Where's the CHANGE? Where's the HOPE?? Typical politician is what Obama is not that i care just be honest about it and dont try to fool the American public! Vote Hillary Vote Smart!

[CC]

Much ado about nothing.

[David]

Many of the super delegates will appreciate the honest and intelligent way Barack has responded to inflamatory statements by Wright and phony gas tax holiday proposal by
Clinton and McCain.

[EthanQ]

Funny how the Clintons, those bastions of personal priopriety with no ties to the unsavory want to fan the flames of the Wright controversy.

Guilt by association!

Fortunately the majority of the American public want no more of it.

After 8 years of Bush dementia, Americans want something more than last smut standing...no matter how much the media want to pour gasoline on the fires.

What do you care about more, America, the state of the country or Fox News ratings?

[Mandelay]

"And what would you do, Sen. Obama if Iran attacked Israel? This, after all, was the question that prompted Sen. Clinton to respond that she would take steps to knock Iran on its butt.

And what would Se. Obama do? Sit down to tea, pinkies up, and sip away, while he "negotiated" Iran away from making a second strike on Israel? Or would he call Minister Farrakhan for guidance? How would he deal with such a situation? Why is it ok to ask Hillary Clinton such questions and why is it ok for Obama to forget the question she was asked and only play off her response? Silly, dilly season, Sen. Obama. But, such are the problems you might be facing. Best get your game plan set in case a major war breaks out. There are lots of nuts out there in the world who now have big bombs and they're not interested in sitting down to tea. Best get some testicular fortitude, fast.

[Robert]

So Obama is finds Wright's comments distasteful but not distatsteful enough to keep him from saying the invocation at his campaign announcment. This guy is getting a free ride from the press. But he has learned one thing; the young folks of today believe they are the entitled generation and he is promising them that all the good things will come to them with no sacrifice.

[Marross]

The fawning media and other Obama supporters miss a salient point: regardless of Wright's statements, Obama has lied consistently about what he knew of them and when he knew them. He attended a church for 20 years that even Oprah felt comfortable in and left. Yet he knew nothing of his "spiritual advisor's opinions?? He asked him a year ago not to give an invocation out of concern about fallout due to his controversial views. Yet as recently as a few months ago he had never heard these controversial statements.Then a few weeks later in his stupendous "race" speech (otherwise known as dodging a bullet) he turned the debate into a lecture on why whites had to understand Blacks. While admitting that he did not agree with everything Wright said, he could no more disown him than he could disown his racist grandmother. It was only when Wright jeopardized his Indiana primary results that he suddenly found him offensive. What a liar and a con man!!! They keep saying Clinton will do anything to win but Obama is the real whore. He will be anything anyone wants him to be in order to get elected. The only thing he can't be is competent and qualified to be president.

[Ronald Lewis]

When will America "get it"?

What will it require to drastically change the course of our society and nation?

Let's forget about politics altogether -- Let's think about the future of our country. Think for yourselves, America -- Not what the mainstream perpetuates as "fact" or "truth".

We rely far too much on the media for our "knowledge". It is the media which controls public opinion to begin with!

Let's not wait on any man or woman to change the course of country. America is home to more than 300 million people -- Surely, we can come together and make great change happen.

[Martha Montgomery]

Why didn't Russert show Obama was FOR the reduced gasoline price this summer 2 weeks ago he learned this quickly from Kerry,now he is against it? He voted for it in IL Senator when it was coming from their road and bridge funds, now we are taking it from the oil companies and he balks.Only now, 2 weeks later he cannot see the forest for the trees. The big tree oil companies and Bloomburg (R) turned (I) ,...have got to him. He swings at whiffle balls.
Obviously he does not understand the working people and all our checkbooks. It is simple math. It is time we listen to Hillary Clinton. She gets it!
If we take 18.5 cents for cars and 24.5 cents for truckers (this will lower truckers cost) and we pay for it with the windfall tax on Oil Companies profits, we win. The congress could pass this bill in a NY second. Results would be an additional economic stimulus. Here is why.
If a 2 car family each with a 20 gal. tank @3.50 a gal with a fill up weekly,
received for 12 weeks the 18.5 cents per gal=$88.80 savings for a family. Now we know if each family added $11.20 to this they can go to a local grocery with the $88.80+11.20=$100 and the grocery is giving them $10 for every $100 they spend.
So for the rich,.. what do you think of the $110 for every family. Of course a family will vote for Hillary she understands a family checkbook and any economist should understand this additional stimulus of$110. Do they think we will buy gas, lol, no. We are buying food with our summer tax break.

[charlieb]

What is going on with Senator Obama? All he does is talk about Senator Clinton. I still have not figured out where he stands on anything. All he ever said in the debates was that he concurred with everything she said, and then add some something. He seems stuck on trying to discredit Senator Clinton. He'e empty!! What accomplishments? I remember eight years ago, Bush saying he was a washington outsider and he was going to change the way it was run. Now Senator Obama is saying the same thing! SCAREY!!

[JQ Public]

One more shot over the bow by Obama's idiotic followers. I don't know why people compare him to Hitler, maybe the facist references to MAKING the rest of America DO what he CLAIMS we should do, ACCEPT that blacks are racially prejudiced against "typical white people" because 50-60-to-140+ years ago blacks suffered from Jim Crow and slavery in the South and a "typical white person" like his grandma shouldn't have been afraid of an imposing black man on the streets of Honolulu, Hawaii, badgering her for change and after she handed it over he still wanted more (for further details see his books).

Do I have the premises correct Obama followers? I wouldn't want to take his words out of context since he speaks the "truth." Make no mistake, Barry H. Obama is being pilloried with his own words and his flopping around like a fish on this whole Rev. Jeremiah Wright scandal: "I didn't hear him," "I did hear him speak but didn't hear the offensive things he supposedly said," "I defend him like an Uncle but I'm personally ashamed of my own ("Typical White Person") Grandmother's fear of imposing black panhandlers she doesn't know when they confront her on the street," "I don't defend the words that many find offensive spoken by Rev. Wright but I can't disown the man," "I'm appalled at Rev. Wright's latest diatribes at the Nat'l Press Club, and I really mean it (this time)."

OK then there's the whole curious business relationship with Chicago slumlord and currently on trial Antoin "Tony" Rezko and shady Iraqi billionaire businessman Nadhmi Auchi. Not to mention Obama's purchase of an $800,000 below market value home (with the "assistance" of the aforementioned Rezko and his wife) and property in an exclusive neighborhood, the one where Obama and the wife live like "just plain folks" as they tell it. And Obama's cozy relationship with Excelon, the nation's largest operator of nuclear powerplants where Obama watered down a bill requiring Nuclear plant operators to initially notify residents of possible health dangers regarding nuclear leaks, etc. which became whatever the plant operators decided was unhealthful with no independent oversight or independent watchdog agency to assure legal compliance. Excelon's people responded with over $200,000 in contributions to his campaign. Aren't you glad he says he isn't in the pocket of any businesses he writes legislation about? His answers about any of the foregoing are, "I don't take money from special interests." See in Obama's world you can't believe your own lying eyes and ears, you need to wait for the respository of all knowledge to tell you the "truth." :^(

This is the tip of the iceberg about this novice politician, I'd hate to see what he'd do if he makes it to the bigtime. Let's make sure that doesn't happen. Vote No on Obama.

[kay]

I CAN NO LONGER SEE ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BILLARY AND MANY CORRUPT AFRICAN LEADERS,good example is OBASANJO(immediate past President of Nigeria) THEIR STYLE OF POLITICS IS THE SAME AND THEY BOTH APPEAR RICHER THAN EXPECTED,THEY ALSO HAVE TIES.OBASANJO IS RATED THE 2ND MOST CORRUPT PRESIDENT AND ONE OF THE RICHEST MEN IN AFRICA,HE PLAYS DO OR DIE POLITICS TYPICAL OF THE TYPE OF POLITICS BILLARY IS PLAYING IN AMERICA TODAY.(Imagine running the economy against the advice of all the economist in the country.subjecting the whole economy to danger just to get back to white house,it's SELFISHNESS to the highest order)
WHAT DOES BILLARY KNOW OR CAN DO FOR AMERICA NOW WHICH THEY COULD NOT HAVE DONE GIVEN THE MANY YEARS THEY HAVE BEEN IN POWER ???? WHAT ELSE DO THEY HAVE TO OFFER????
AMERICA IS GREAT AND HAS GREAT INDIVIDUALS......BILLARY HAS HAD THEIR TURN AND AMERICA GOT WORSE,IT'S TIME TO TRY SOMEONE ELSE.

THAT IS WHY BILLARY HAS LOST SUPPORTERS TO OBAMA,HOW COME NO OBAMA SUPPORTER IS RUNNING TO HILLARY???IT IS BECAUSE AMERICA IS GREAT AND HAS PEOPLE OF GREAT MIND.
BILLARY CAN FOOL SOME PEOPLE FOR SOMETIME BUT BILLARY CAN NOT FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME
obama08

[Harry Grace]

The Evita Peron of American politics, Hillary Clinton, wouldn't know honesty or sincerity if it bit her. And John McCain continues to get a free ride. When will the media start asking questions about Clinton's association with Bobby Seals? Or McCain's seeking out Pastor Hagee? Or Bush's consuling with Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell? What's the difference between these men and Wright and Obama? Frank Rich has a great article on this in the NYTimes this weekend. Read that, not this biased blog by Don and Andrew, who's colors, no pun intended, are showing.

[San Ying]

The United States of America has not apologised to the world for having 'obliterated' Hiroshima and Nagasaki when the war was almost at an end. That was a war crime of unimaginable proportions.
Now we have a presidential candidate threatening to 'obliterate' a whole nation. Hillary had better watch her words before the world gets 'obliterated' in a third world war.
How can such a crazed woman get into the Whitehouse? But if a mentally deficient drunkard could get in for 2 terms, Americans must AWAKE and make SURE he is not succeeded by this crazy woman who is also a proven liar.

[ck]

It really doesn’t matter whether Rev. Wright was or wasn’t or ever would be considered a ‘political’ advisor to Obama. He was, as Obama has often admitted, his ‘spiritual advisor,’ a close friend of the family for whom Obama even titled his autobiography. For 20 years, Obama accepted and approved of (through his church attendance and donations) Wright’s hate-filled, divisive preaching, which was, as Wright has recently made abundantly clear, radical leftwing black ideology (a la James Cone and Malcolm X) only masquerading as ‘Christian religion.’ It would be astounding if such preaching ever truly led anyone to Christ, who taught patience, tolerance, acceptance, forgiveness and love, that is -- unity. Wright’s spiritual ‘hero’ is Louis Farrakhan, the notoriously anti-American, anti-Semitic, homophobic, racist, sexist head of the Nation of Islam (Muslims) in America. If Farrakhan is Wright’s spiritual hero, and if Wright is Obama’s spiritual ‘hero,’ it doesn't take a rocket science degree to conclude that (despite his repeated so-called denouncements of Wright's 'remarks, not the man')Obama swallowed -- hook, line and sinker -- their bigoted ‘us versus them’ world view. Far more frightening, however, is the fact that Obama’s ‘political’ resume includes the name of Tony Rezko, the Arab-born Chicago ‘businessman’ now on federal trial for fraud, extortion, etc., with whom Obama has had close ties for at least 17 years, and who has contributed extensively to Obama’s political campaigns, apparently grooming Obama all along as a Presidential candidate. In fact, Obama and Illinois Gov. Blagojevich shared the same Rezko-connected political donor list. It’s strange that nobody among the national media has been reporting visibly on the Rezko trial during this primary campaign. It appears increasingly evident that Wright’s rants are Obama's well-contrived ‘red herring’ to deflect attention away from his Rezko connections during the trial. Small wonder, since one of those who apparently contributed much of Rezko’s initial $8.5 million bail was an Iraqi multi-billionaire illegal arms dealer whose customer list apparently include names like Saddam Hussein. It’s interesting, too, that Wright is now building a million-dollar mansion in an affluent south Chicago neighborhood. Wonder if it’s the same toney neighborhood where Rezko helped Obama buy a house and lot next door to his last year, and where Farrakhan also just happens to have a home?

[Myst]

Too little too late Obama. Wright didn't say anything new - he only reasserted what had already been revealed in the well played soundbytes. The problem is that Obama could not say that the media was pulling those soundbytes out of context anymore. Wright reaffirmed and ellaborated on them - IN CONTEXT. Obama had heard all of the same lines before and was never offended... he still chose to be a student to Wright - named Wright as his spiritual advisor. He still chose to give Wright $27000 in contributions in 2006 alone. THIS IS HOW OBAMA AND HIS CONGREGATION FEEL ABOUT WHITES AND ABOUT AMERICA! WAKE UP PEOPLE!OBAMA LIED and is now trying to cover hi @ss.

[Myst]

Obamania - to counter your absurd assertion that anyone who doesn't vote for Obama is a racist - I say that anyone who suppports Obama after he has been revealed as a racist America hater - IS A RACIST WHO HATES AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Myst]

To all of you who keep saying that it is ONLY his pastor and it doesn't matter - GET REAL. WRIGHT IS NOT JUST OBAMA'S PASTOR! HE IS HIS SPIRITUAL ADVISOR, UNCLE FIGURE WHO MARRRIED oBAMA AND HIS WIFE AND BAPTIZED THEIR CHILDREN. OBAMA NAMED A BOOK AFTER WRIGHT'S WORDS! HE KNEW EXACTLY HOW WRIGHT FELT ABOUT AMERICA AND STILL ATTENDED THE SERMONS WITH HIS FAMILY FOR 20 YEARS AND GAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS ENDORSING WRIGHT'S MESSAGE OF HATE AND RACISM! GET REAL OR AT LEAST COME UP WITH A BETTER EXCUSE FOR HIM FFS! WRIGHT HAS BEEN ADVISING OBAMA THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE HAD A SPECIAL POSITION AS ADVISOR! HE WAS NOT JUST A PASTOR! IF YOU SUPPORT OBAMA - YOU SUPPORT WRIGHT - CAUSE OBAMA SURE DID UNTIL IT BECAME POLITICALLY INCONVENIENT FOR HIM!

[ian mathson]

From my perspective in New Zealand the Fox propaganda machine looks like a rich man's play thing...where do they get the Sean Hannity's of this world. I suspect the majority of Americans know that the "guilt by association" rant they have been on for months is a farce...totally lacking intelligent content. Fox and its presenters lie every time they say they are fair and balanced.Obama is the only candidate who can bring positive change to a country (and a world) in serious economic trouble. Isolating and declaring war on people you don't agree with is plain dumb. Rich right wingers are interested in one thing...preserving their wealth and positions of power. Vote Obama and save us all from your military madness.

[Lee]

There aren't many nations on the globe whose citizens will rally around a pastor who proclaims "God d___ this country" regardless of context. I've experienced forms of discrimination myself as an immigrant, but if you resort to pointless hatemongering, and try to justify that by providing some historical context of America's past sins, you shouldn't be taken seriously. EVER.

MLK spoke dreams about racial unity, though no such thing was allowed in his lifetime. Jeremiah Wright spins divsive conspiracy theories contradicted by simple science. (This man believes whites and Europeans are more developed in the left side of the brain and thus 'objective' learners, meanwhile blacks are "subjective" learners) The former is an enduring American legacy and the latter is better left forgotten.

Child molestation is an act of crime, not an ideology. If you attended a church where one of the priests secretly raped little boys, you are most certainly not guilty of child molestation, or necesarily sympathetic to the criminal priest. "Unfair to be labeled guilty by association" applies in this scenario, but less so with Obama's affiliation with the reverend. He was part of Wright's church for about 20 years. Unless Wright turned radical at the turn of the new year, Obama was very much familiar with his views.

Granted, Americans vote for Obama, not Wright. I consider Obama's condemnation of his former pastor as sincere. But Americans need to ask tough questions about their candidates regardless of party lines. EVREYONE wants an alternative to Bush, but that's not enough. You can run the country like Jimmy Carter and still ruin the country. The louder a candidate's mantra about change and hope, the more attentive the citizenry must be.

[pat]

At the end of the day, Obama is inexperienced in world affairs, economic policy and basic leadership. Would you give the keys to your car to someone who never took drivers' education or even have some formal training? Probably not, so why give the keys to the Country to a glib talker who has yet to pay his dues?