Why Oprah quit Jeremiah Wright's church and Barack Obama didn't

Early in the 1980s rising television star Oprah Winfrey was looking for a local church in Chicago. Not surprisingly, she like many blacks including four years later a community organizer named Barack Obama, was attracted to Trinity United Church of Christ and its dynamic, outspoken pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

That South Side church was THE place for upwardly mobile Windy City blacks to connect and it had an aggressive community outreach program. And attendance continued Winfrey's childhood connection with black churches and their shared sense of community and support.

As The Ticket noted Sunday morning, the same reasons caused other black clergy to steer the young Obama there, saying he'd have more luck connecting with black churches in his urban organizing efforts if he actually belonged to one himself. Obama's friends later added that alighting at Trinity with its forceful male leader was also part of the mixed-race Obama's exploration of his black identity in the absence of his father.

Things went along fine for several years, as Oprah's fame and fortune exploded and as Obama laid the groundwork in local efforts and political connections for his political career.

But something began bothering Winfrey. By the....

...late 1980s, she was an infrequent attendee at Trinity's services and by the early 1990s she had stopped going altogether.

According to a revealing article, headlined "Something Wasn't Wright," in the new Newsweek by Allison Samuels, a major reason was Winfrey's concern with Wright's inflammatory sermons, her association with them through church membership and the potential impact on her widespread popularity.

Samuels' quotes unnamed sources as saying that, Winfrey, now a multi-billionaire, knew her audience was mainstream and while Wright's anger-filled rants may have been familiar to lifelong black churchgoers, they would be nothing close to mainstream in the minds of Winfrey's millions of fans.

Ironically, while Winfrey protected herself against negative associations with Wright, her endorsement of and active campaigning for Obama last year has hurt her popularity, as noted in two recent Ticket items here and the other one here.

Questions have arisen over why Obama as an astute budding politician would have remained in the same church environment for 20 years and when Wright's shocking sermon snippets initially emerged weeks ago deny having heard them.

He clearly was aware of the danger of association with Wright, having disinvited the pastor from giving the public invocation at Obama's campaign announcement in Springfield in February of 2007 because, reportedly, Obama said Wright's sermons could come across as a little "rough."

Yet in his recent speech on race in Philadelphia, Obama said: "As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthens my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children. I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can disown my white grandmother."

Yet five weeks later after Wright's National Press Club speech and news conference performance, Obama had this to say: "I am outraged by the comments that were made, and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday. His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate.

"They offend me, they rightly offend all Americans, and they should be denounced. And that's what I'm doing very clearly and unequivocally here today."

Tim Russert on "Meet the Press" Sunday asked Obama about defending Wright a full year after he indicated Wright's words could be trouble for his campaign and what he'd learned in the five weeks between his Philadelphia remarks and last week's denunciation of Wright? The same question has been raised by numerous Ticket commenters in recent weeks.

At one point Obama said he was like millions of Americans: "My commitment, as I said, Tim, is to the church, not to a pastor."

Obama also replied:

"Well, you know, previously, there were a bunch of sermons that had been spliced from a collection of sermons for 30 years. And that's not who I thought he was. That's not what I thought defined him. He's somebody who's a Marine, he's somebody who has served
on city colleges boards, somebody who was a respected pillar in the community.

"And so I thought it was important to--for him to explain or at least provide some context for some of the things that he had said previously. But when he 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.

"He put gasoline on the fire. And what that told me was not only was he interested in using this platform to continue to make statements that I fundamentally disagree with and that offend me, but also that he didn't have much regard for the moment that we're in right now here
in the United States where we can't be distracted or engaged in this divisive, hateful language.

"Instead, we've got to bring the country together to solve problems. And, so in that sense, what became apparent to me was he didn't know me as well as I thought he did, and I certainly didn't know him as well as I thought I did. And, and that, you know, was disappointing, but something that I had to clearly speak out about."

The complete Obama transcript is available here. And the full hour video is available here. The parts concerning Wright are in the first 17 minutes.

Does Obama's most recent explanation of his relationship with Wright assuage any concerns you may have had? The comments section below is open.

--Andrew Malcolm

                                                         Photo Credits: AP and Trinity United Church of Christ

Comments

[Ron Green]

He says hes disowned his comments and does not agree with him. Thats good enough for me. Others will have to decide on their own.

[Moishe T]

Enough already. Haven't we had our fill of hot news from "an unnamed source" from the Bushies? But to fail to quote her directly as to why Oprah abandoned Wright and trot out the phantom "source" as authority.....is almost a bad as this article's failure to tell us at all as to why Obama didn't leave sooner.
Of course Oprah lost some ratings after she endorsed Obama. Fer chrissake her show plays greatly to women, some of whom must have been Clinton supporters, and were miffed.
In my view this is another lame, obviously Clinton backed missive designed to perpetuate Wright in the media...like a hand puppet.

[Steve Rodriguez]

Obama has never accomplished anything in his political career. Are we going to let him try, at the risk of our country? I say h--- no!

[Sir Topham Hat]

(I'm not faulting your story -- only the subject matter.) This is exciting as hearing about Britney Spears' child custody battles. If Wright were the one actutally running for president, now *that *would be a story for the ages ...

[Sam]

What Obama does and says is called Opportunism. And shortsightedness. Naive, he was hoping that pastor would come to his rescue and stay quiet, instead of pushing along his own divisive black agenda. Mike Huckabee is right: Wright needs Obama to lose to reinforce the fears that white people have about blacks, and that black people have about whites. Unfortunately, its looking more and more like he will get what he wants.

[Paul Frank]

Oprah quit the church because she's a businesswoman (actually a business conglomerate) first and last. Obama stayed in his church because he is a human being first and last and because he loved, and continues to love, his church community and their commitment to the poor in Chicago and beyond. The politically expedient thing for him to do would have been to throw his pastor under the proverbial bus the minute he became a political liability. He didn't because he is a decent and a courageous human being. In his eloquent speech in Philadelphia, Obama criticized Wright’s most incendiary comments without betraying the man he’d come to love and respect despite serious political disagreements. Obama’s answers to Russet yesterday were exceedingly intelligent, honest, and to the point.

[Mr]

The problem is not what Obama's religious associations might be or have been, because he has handled the issue. The problem is the controversy itself and the media's obsession: Sure it's important during a critical election for the public to scrutinize their prospective representative and leader. But the issue goes far beyond that. People are fundamentally afraid and anxious of anything that they can't fit into a tight little box, a concise explanation with no grey areas. But the world is full of grey, nebulous and difficult to define situations. Everybody's fantasizing about what Obama's past association with Wright might say about his character, mainly because it's related to an experience which, to many of them, is foreign: being black in America (as it is to myself). How foolish that we should make our decisions based on some imaginary, anxious conjecture, rather than on what the man actually says and does, and what his demeanor clearly demonstrates.

[cheryl]

I don't see the point in blasting the man for reminding Americans of the history of the US and its consequences. Did you forget the lyncings in the South, Jim Crow, discrimination. What else can he and I name that is written in the books of life for all of us. What do you expect from a man that defended his country only to be treated as a second-class citizen with few rights. How would you feel? Did your family have a person that was misreated by the society they are sent to protect and serve? Lest we forget he is a Black man, not biracial, triracial or un-racial. People get a grip on reality. I've heard worse rhetoric from Imus, Falwell, and a few other famous or not so famous So-called evangelist and leaders of the caucasian persuasion. Besides, Oprah depends on the mainstream, remember how she became a billionare. It wasn't from the black community.

[Steven]

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright shows how our definition of racisim changes over time. While there may have been a time when his fired up, rough sermons were fashionable, they are now a stereotype of something that is wrong within the black community. I like Obama. I like Oprah. I think they represent moderation and mainstream America. I do think that Obama hanging on so long shows that he can be overly loyal to someone. I hope he can come out and say that he's learned a lesson that he won't make it again. We've had a President for eight years who has repeatedly chosen loyalties to bad advisers over acting on his own reason and his gut. If President Bush had to part with a Rev. Jeremiah Wright before the 2000 election, then would we be so terribly screwed as we are right now?

[Elliott]

I am getting really tired of this created issue.

Yes, Reverend Wright has made controversial remarks but focusing on him will not help Americans who can't afford health care, it will not bring our troops home from Iraq, it will not provide healthcare to the 40 million plus who are uninsured.

Much like the NY Daily News had the guys to end their coverage of Paris HIlton, I'd like to see Top of the Ticket put this distraction to bed. It's time to focus on things that matter.

[Substance]

"...late 1980s, she was an infrequent attendee at Trinity's services, and by the early 1990s she had stopped going altogether."

Even without the suggestion in this article, Americans knows Oprah has good jusgement and after her initial campaign help for Obama, she even distant herself from Obama - this is what Americans call Good Judgement.

While Oprah can sense the danger and do the right things, Obama is a total opposite and a total failure in judgement. Why is he behave that way? The answer is simply, his egotism. He still believe he can turn things around by making another speech, doesn't matter substance or credibility. In his mind, Americans is easily fooled - just make them (Americans) guity and tell them what they like to hear. Afterall, he got a blind army to vote for him eventhough he behaved like a crown just like he did in Rev Wright's flip-flops.

[Millicent Blair]

The Presidency of The United States is one of the Highest offices in the world--

If people have any doubts-it is important to continue to get answers-as well as to continue to ask questions of the contenders-

Beautiful oritory is not enough--the Substance must be there! If change is promised-one must ask What Changes -- Jack Kennedy and Ronald Reagon both graciously answered all questions-

This is a most difficult time in our history- Contenders for the presidency of our country must stand the test!

That is not too much to ask!

[HigherMinds]

For me the central issue is Sen. Obama's repetitive lying and "back-pedaling" when confronted with the Wright controversy. He was given multiple opportunities to tell the truth and he didn't. I am disappointed that the media has ignored this point and have only pursued the "sensationalism" of Obama's pastor's/mentor's viewpoints.

It seems impossible for anyone to know just how much of Wright's ideology is shared by Obama and the fact that Obama continues to tell politically expedient lies, makes it more impossible to make any determination.

While I don't believe any of the candidates are above telling politically expedient lies, it is only Obama who is trying to sell himself as being a "cut above" in the honesty and integrity categories, but his actions do not support the characterization.

It is far from clear to me what kind of change Obama can bring to "politics as usual" since his behavior has definitely been demonstrative of the same old song and dance we've seen in every other politician.

[Al Austin]

I'm a pledged Clinton delegate, and I think Senator Obama is handling this Wright situation as well as it can be handled. The popular media should stop giving a platform to Wright and others with ignorant and hateful views. I support free speech, and responsible and objective media. At this point who cares about what the reverend thinks or believes. Perhaps Wright has been compromised by the other right.

[frantz vidal]

What is a president of the USA supposed to do when he is elected?
He runs the country, right? He deals with the issues in america, and outside of America. He takes care of its people, its economy, security, growth.
You would expect a president to be "patriotic" by default, and they all have been, they were not all good, or right, but they were all patriotic.
So what is all this fuss about patriotism?
He is not wearing a flag pin, he is or was friend with so and so, 62% think that he may not be as patriotic as blah blah blah.
Come on people, try to look deeper in the candidates, and not only what is being fed through the TV.
Read more than one newspaper, and learn how to read between the lines.
Make your own judgment, and don't forget to vote.
Enough of the gossip, this is your future, register, and speak out.
Cling to your voting right.

hu!...

[DRB]

Who cares about Wright? He's a smart guy, but histrionic as so many pastors are.

Let us examine Hillary vs Obama on the issue of leadership.

Let me first say I teach leadership for a living. I am not from the United States, and I do not have a vote, and have no political affiliation.

But I know a transcendent great leader when I see one.

Daniel Goleman (of Emotional Intelligence fame) had written a book many years ago called, "Primal Leadership", where he describes the quality of a transformational leader - one who can make a truly positive change. Here is a quote from the book,
"The fundamental task of leaders... is to prime good feeling in those they lead. That occurs when a leader creates resonance a reservoir of positivity that unleashes the best in people. At its root, then, the primal job of leadership is emotional"

A great leader leads i.e. inspires talented people and motivates them around a common purpose.

Hillary would like you to believe that a great leader is someone who can list out policy point after policy point. That's a great manager not a great leader.

A US president has at his disposal any number of smart intelligent people. But only an inspirational leader can rally around people - in Congress, and the public - to get things done.

Obama is the most talented leader I have seen and it will be a shame if America is not ready for him.

[chris]

it is impossible for obama to win in November.....

[Marks]

Rev. Wright's celebrity will never cease long as media keep writing articles about him.

The only thing that can settle fascination with Wright is knowing how often Obama was at Trinity Church to hear those rants and raves.

Once a month, twice a month, every Sunday of how many months during 20 years. Did his young daughters have to sit through screeching preaching by Rev. Wright? It was noisy for children!

Did Obama go to 30 minute Christian service with a 300 member choir Trinity Church has, like most people experience? The sermons were said in a calm voice and reflective of concerned issues?

How many different Sunday services did Trinity offer? 4 or 5 from 7:00 am to 1:00? Was Wright screaming at every service on Sundays or just one?

Obama's could have skipped many of Wright's ranting sermons and still gone to Church!

Were Rev. Wright's rants always about sins of the Federal government or some international thing that occurred he felt angry about? He screamed and yelled all the time?

Obama legislative actions don't go with Rev. Wright's ranting. Obama watched the very political Rev. still do good things in that Chicago community.

Very calm and only spiritual acting, Rev. Wright, married the Obama's and baptized his two daughters in separate years.

It wasn't up to Obama controlling Rev. Wright's good standing as a Pastor. When 8,000 members belong to the same church as he, what was harmful?

Oprah's actions and reasons for leaving Trinity Church don't have to equal how Obama felt.

Rev. Wright is not at the Jerry Falwell level of success for the national media to keep focus on him. Not a well known influencer like former Christian Coalition executive Ralph Reed.

Access to President after receiving the honor to run this country is more importance!

Jerry Falwell and Ralph Reed had the highest Bush White House access and influence there is questionable.

Falwell had his weird rants about culture.

"God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve."

Rev Jerry Falwell, blaming civil libertarians, feminists, homosexuals, and abortion rights supporters for the terrorist attacks of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, to which Rev. Pat Robertson agreed.

Quoted from John F Harris, "God Gave US 'What We Deserve,' Falwell Says," The Washington Post (September 14, 2001)

Ralph Reed in 1981 interned in D.C. with Jack Abramoff. Both worked for College Republicans some kind of company.

Reed introduced Abramoff to the female who became his wife.

Abramoff over the decades became a corrupt Republican lobbyist committing money laundering, influence peddling and illegal wire transfers to Republican appointments. He corrupted the Interior Department and some Senators.

Abramoff had a business partner who participated in a murder for profit.

Abramoff had 200 contacts in 10 months at the Bush White House in 2001.

Ralph Reed was special to Karl Rove. Rove kept getting Ralph Reed jobs at Microsoft, Enron, wherever.

For a time, Ralph Reed could call Bush directly. From before 2000 to 2004 at least.

No media is harming Ralph Reed today and they should be. Reed got money from Abramoff's crimes.

"Reed is a bad version of us! No more money for him." - Jack Abramoff to Michael Scanlon from an email message dated January 4, 2002.

Michael Scanlon plead guilty conspiring to bribe a member of Congress and other public officials.

Ralph Reed is more "evil" in his Republican ideology than Rev. Wright's blather that Federal Government created AIDS.

In other words, Rev. Wright is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. There are other more important and real issues than Wright to write articles about.

[A. Bostonian]

The Democrats are doing with Obama what they have done since 2000.

They are rallying behind a candidate who can't win.

It is ironic that so many Democrats vehemently oppose Hillary Clinton, perhaps the only candidate who could beat John McCain next fall.

Obama supporters will be hoping for change until they are blue in the face. Meanwhile, the McCains will be moving into the White House.

[Millicent Blair]

Another Parson explained what Obama saw in Rev. Wright-- Obama Grew up in a white family and missed his father--
Wright became a 'father figure" -- someone who married him and Michelle and baptised their children--
That is pretty powerful!

It must have been a blow to Obama to realize Wright didn't care one bit about him-- It was a Loss-
Now he must navigate Without a father figure!

He is a wonderful husband to Michelle-and father to his children--
Whether he can run our country, has to be evaluated separately from his relationship to Wright--

Often when things get tough--the tough get going!

So let us assess the data from now on!

[mtlyorel]

Michael Moore is right. Oprah should be president. She has shown more good judgement and political acumen than 5 Obamas put together.

Although I do not like Wright from the picture painted by the press, I do believe that Wright has the absolute right to defend himself from becoming a victim of convenience for Obama.

Obama aligned with Wright for political expediency and he should at least be honest enough to admit that instead of making up asinine excuses as 'going to his church for religious guidance', 'looking to Wright as a father figure', and 'discovering his identity' at Wright's church. No voter believes this bull. He is a total hypocrite who is a most typical politician.

[frantz vidal]

Listen to the comment by DRB. He is so right!

[janet]

Oprah, a woman with no college education, totally self-made and the product of abuse, knows her audience and the "middle America" which constitute it, a lot better than the guy who wants to be President. That he should never have realized HOW offensive Wright's sermons would be -- they're no different what what Osama Bin Laden said to justify blowing up the World Trade Towers -- shows he's too naive to represent the people. His comments about bitter, gun-toting xenophobes was another reflection of that.

Sure, there are lots of ignorant racists and conspiracy theoritsts like Wright in the black community, but a pastor should be setting his flock straight, not leading them down the blind alleys of darkness and hatred. And Obama should NOT have taken his kids to listen to this man for all those years, just because there was some political and social expediency in networking at that huge church.

Obama should have denouced Wright off the bat, as Hillary did anti-Semites or racists she's been supported by, even more tangentially. Geraldine Ferraro made one comment that was arguably true and certainly not racist, and her distinguished career was thrown under the bus, yet Obama AND his followers made endless excuses for WRight's really outrageous comments for months, until WRight himself was "offended" by the lack of all-out support for his views and put his foot in it too deeply for Obama to continue to ignore.

Obama's willingness to equate Wright with his white grandmother who raised and loved him, and may only have shown some fear of blacks but never ran around denouncing them weekly to thousands, showed a lack of loyalty. His giving it to Wright instead was misguided and showed poor judgment.

I'm also offended by Obama denying that he'd heard or even known about Wright's anti-American,racist, ignorant sermons (like blaming AIDS on the government) -- Oprah and everyone else knew right away. He's just lying, and that's perhaps the worst failure of all

[Benjamin]

mtlyorel wrote "Obama aligned with Wright for political expediency and he should at least be honest enough to admit that instead of making up asinine excuses as 'going to his church for religious guidance', 'looking to Wright as a father figure', and 'discovering his identity' at Wright's church. No voter believes this bull."

Right, because most people go to churches for 20 years for reasons of political expediency, not for religious guidance, who does Obama think he's trying to kid?

Do you people claiming this really believe it? Talk about asinine. I've done things for political expediency in my own life, but nothing that spanned a whole year, let alone two decades. If he's able to stay in one church in the name of political expediency for two decades, the man has stones made of granite and deserves the presidency.

As a Libertarian Ron Paul supporter, one thing I'm enjoying about the tear down of Obama is that the mainstream democrats have shown that they are as media conditioned as the republicans. Rev. Write is not running for president, Obama is. I doubt you'll find a single person flinging poo at Obama over this right now who agrees with everything their pastor says and if you do find one, I guarantee you they won't be presidential material. While the republicrat Hillary has dragged the democratic primary into the sewer for her own selfish amibition with all the tricks that GW's 2000 campaign pulled on McCain, the economy teeters on the brink of catastrophe, the war continues with no end in sight, spending is out of control, the world is facing a food shortage, and the democrats want to vote for Hillary because Obama's pastor isn't presidential material.

One day you guys are going to be sorry you didn't get wise to the way you're being manipulated through your fears and prejudices. Not that Obama is capable of fixing what's wrong, I don't think anyone but Ron Paul does out of the two big party's candidates, but Obama seems to be the only one out of the "big three" who wanted to change the tone American politics to bring intelligent discourse back into the mainstream. Instead, the mainstream wants gimmicks like gas tax holidays and candidates who fantasize about being under fire.

[Ronald]

AMERICANS; OBAMA'S DNA IS WHITE AND BLACK!!!!
HIS MOTHER WAS WHITE, AND WAS RAISED AND GIVEN EVRYTHING IN LIFE BY HIS WHITE GRAND PARENTS.....WHAT ON EARTH MAKES PEOPLE THINK THAT OBAMA HAS THE SAME VIEWS OF WHITES( HIMSELF!) AS REV RIGHT HOLDS???????????????????????????
AND WHO DID REV JW QUOTE ABOUT THE 'CHICKENS'?? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, GET OVER THIS CRAZY STUFF AND GIVE AMERICA AND THE WORLD A BETTER PRESIDENT GO OBAMA!!!

[Hylas]

This is a non-story, non-issue and lazy journalism. Wright doesn't speak for Obama. Obama doesn't control Wright. This is America. People can say what they want (though not if Bush stuck around for much longer). I support Hillary but I think Barack has answered these questions with grace, dignity & thoughtfulness. The press can't let racism die. It's easier than reporting on the issues.

[dx]

The hype over Rev. Wright's comments and the double standard being applied to Obama as well as Rev. Wright proves Rev. Wright's point; so he says the truth and most cannot accept the honest criticism. A man goes to a church because he believes in God and that's where he goes to pray. It's that simple. God is beyond patriotism ,White racist supremacy and economic greed that causes poverty , so it is appropriate to acknowledge these sins of the USA.

[swissfish]

I am from Switzerland, although I am not American hater; but after 2003; after Irak war decided not to visit USA nor buy any US products.
This is not the mind set of one person; try to talk to people out side US.
America is a great country, land of opportunity; and the land which has potential to bring whole world together as a single democratic nation.
Since couple of decades you have presidents who lie for their cause... who were/are selfish... real politicians than humans...
See how bad the US economy is, see how the people are suffering in war zones, see how other people from other nations think about America.
Its really sad; how a nation could fall this much down; because of the politicians and their selfish policies

What makes a good president?? Did you ever had a second thought???

- is your new presindent :
young and energetic to bring the whole world together..
think logically and judge the things in the right way and time..
wise enough to create a dream team around with best people for their job..
is a human than politician..
Change the world Indiana!!

[Walter L. Johnson]

I think very few Americans actually agree with everything their pastor says. I know I don't, but I don't change attendance habits over who the current pastor is. People pick a church for a lot of reasons, even within the same face.

Some like the drama or other aspects of the actual services. Some like the geographic convenience. Some like to keep associating after services with other members they have known for a long time. My wife and I socialize with other members after our Church services, and that is usually the only time we see those people. That is a big reason why we still attend there. Some pick a church because of the convenience of when the services are. I picked our current Church location that way. It offered the latest Sunday services. We have stayed with that same Church through three pastors, not all of which were worthwhile, even though they moved their late service from Sunday to Saturday. Some join because enough seats are available to guarantee not standing. Some just like the seats or the ambiance of their church. That is why my sons insisted we stay with that church since the building reminded them of where they grew up. (I had wanted to change when the Sunday evening service ended to a church with the latest morning service (in the same denomination.) People pick churches for all kinds of reasons and often stay mostly out of habit. People even change religious denominations, but not as easily as churches.

There is no "Black" Church. Obama's church belongs to a well established, multi-ethnic denomination. What most people think of as a "Black" Church has a style of preaching and especially a style of music and perhaps even dance. that gives it a certain flavor.

The one question I would have is if Obama actually attended the Church every Sunday. Given that he now lives in Washington, D. C. it seems like a long commute. If he wasn't regularly attending the church in Illinois, what reason would he have to change churches? It would have merely become an alternative place of worship to where he attends in Washington, D. C. By staying in the same church, he guaranteed himself a friendly place to visit when in town, rather than becoming a celebrity at another church.

The only thing that should matter is what Obama has stood for in his mature adult life (post 25) and that is tolerance and reconciliation. No one besides he can speak for him. All even a spokesman can really do is follow the candidate's instructions. Rev. Wright wasn't even part of Obama's national campaign, so why did anyone pay any attention to anything he said? This whole story has been a mountain in a mole hill.

If your story shows anything it is that Oprah made the decision to leave her church under implicit duress--the fear it might impact her TV popularity. That is not a moral reason to change churches, but a business decision. I instead admire Obama for sticking with his church in spite of political considerations. The church rewarded that loyalty by removing Rev. Wright as the pastor. I suspect the Rev. has since becomes so controversial primarily for self-serving reasons, the desire to make a lot of money giving speeches.

[eliana]

Jeremiah Wright isn't the only old black man to stick a knife in Barack Obama's back, he's just the most recent. Whether it's former UN Ambassador (and Clinton supporter) Andrew Young saying that he'd like to see Obama become president in 2016, or BET founder Robert Johnson calling the Senator a drug dealer, it's clear that black men of a certain age are albatrosses around Obama's neck. Even his supporters do more harm than good. Al Sharpton accused him of grandstanding in front of white people. And Louis Farrakhan and Jesse Jackson did their damage the old fashioned way, via endorsement. Louis should know better, but Jesse?
http://www.236.com/news/2008/05/01/inappropriate_hottie_rundown_o_6224.php

[ibmama2]

There are millions of people in churches, synagogues and mosques in this country who remain even if they don't agree with everything the clergy utters.

This is a non-issue and even polls seem to agree. The real dangers in this country are a war we don't want or need, erosion of civil rights, education, crumbling infrastructure, balance of payments, job loss, poverty, corporate welfare, access to health care, and onward. This is a media-powered distraction.

[Robert Walcott]

Oprah realized that Wright was a complete fool. Apparently Obama understood nothing!!

[Kiki]

Obama showed very poor judgement in continuing to go to that church after those 9/11 comments.
His speeches re: Rev. Wright were at first very mild (along with trashing his 85 yo grandmother who raised him
and very unfair to her) and his recent ones are seen as political damage control.
He says he didn't hear those inflammatory sermons - you know what - I don't believe him.
He can't fool me and I'm not voting for him. Not in the primary and not in the general election.
If he really wanted unity for all Americans, he would have told that preacher off, left the church long ago.
I don't know what his game is but it is not unity. He's a liar.

[John S.]

Had enough of Obama and his double speak yet? If you need to know what Obama thinks hold your finger up to see which way the wind is blowing. He insulted many people with the way he handled the Rev. Wright mess. Now he and those who still think he is credible want to believe Obama will bring the country together. Really? Which way will the political winds be blowing then? Sorry but I expect more from my elected officials than what Obama is "promising."

I saw a major red flag yesterday while listening to Obama's public speeches and appearances yesterday, he claimed to speak the "truth." Bush said Iraq was buying "yellowcake" and had weapons of mass destruction so we had to go to war, at least he didn't say that was the truth. Anytime a politician claims to be telling the truth you need to clear your head if it sounds too good to be true you can pretty much bet the farm he is telling you anything but the truth. Time to send this political chameleon back to Hawaii where he had such a terrible, horrible upbringing. If you believe that one I've got a plan to get us out of the war, er uh, insurance plan for everyone, uh, Hope and Change...yeah...that's the ticket!

[jim aaron]

I think most of you folks have never heard a full Wright rant, go to YOUTUBE and type in God Damn America and trying listening to 4 minutes of of this hate and anger. Obama gave Rev. Wright about $20,000 a year and he knew full well what the Rev. preached, Obama said in 2002 or 2003 that he went to church most Sundays at the 11:00 AM Service. You can see why Michelle Obama said "America is a mean place in 2008",

[Hans Iken]

I think the fact that Obama knows Wright, went to the church he preaches in, has nothing to do with his ability to be the president the USA needs now.

The way people are preoccupied with this non-issue is amazing. I would almost think this is an orchestrated campaign to deprive the USA of the candidate that appears the best for the job from the remaining candidates.

In my opinion the most important qualifications for the arguably most stressful job in the world are: composure, intellect, charisma, education and personal integrity.

Note that guilt by association is very much absent on the list. Besides, if this was a real issue, then surely the other candidates have far more guilt by association then Obama. The list is too long to post here, but the internet is full of scandals about the others.

[martin]

It's a sad day in America when we judge our leaders by their pastors, priests, or any other type of religious leader remarks.

When we are finished with this sidetracking, may we get back to the Real Issues at hand, such as:

The Economy (or what's left of it)
The War in Iraq
The Housing Crisis
Gas Prices
Rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast

These are the Real Issues, not what Rev. Wright said or didn't say.

[DaMav]

It bothers me a great deal that Obama has been so dishonest about his association with Wright. His story keeps changing. Initially he said there was nothing controversial about the church, then we find out Wright was disinvited to speak at his campaign kickoff. So he was lying. Then we heard 'crazy uncle' explanation but the tapes came out and Obama himself condemned the remarks. But he said he could not disown his pastor. Then more remarks came out and he suddenly disowned him for political convenience.

Then the connection to Ayers came out and he started the same cycle of lies on that one, spinning it as something that happened when Obama was eight and hoping nobody read the narrative too closely. Obama seems to have a fundamental problem telling the truth. And he wants us believe his house deal was no big deal. Only the naive would buy this.

I'm more than ready for a black President. But Obama is not the right man for the job, regardless of his race.

[Mary]

I have had enough of Rev. Wright....the issue that is overlooked by the media that disturbs me is when a candidate running for our President comes out and says, 'because we can, we would obliterate Iran if they were to attack Israel or ANY of our friends in the Middle East'! This kind of thinking is NOT what I want in my President when that red phone rings at 3AM or any other time.....it sounds too much like what we have heard from Cheney and Bush.

[NCGUy]

Many times now since the latest version ofthe Wright flap Obama has claimed that he never referred to Wright as his spiritual advisor or mentor. He claims that was an overstatement made up by the press.

Has onyone from the press bothered to verify this new claim by Obama.

Didn't Obama use terms like advisor and mentor about Wright himself in at least one of his books?

[Peter in Kansas]

For every single negative association that Obama has, Hillary and McCain have 15 or 20!!! It just so happens that the News Media constantly needs fresh meat, and they were desperate for stories in the six weeks prior to PA and OH primaries.

As someone who looked closely at all the candidates, and have for many years, there is not one doubt in my mind that Obama is far and away the best. In comparison to HIllary, who has been scandal plagued and is awash with lobbyist and foreign money (check out all the oil contributions to the Clinton library, and Clinton's shady dealings on behalf of foreign businessmen); or McCain (Savings and Loan Scandal, etc...), Obama's past has yielded a tiny fraction of people who prove detrimental to him. In fact he is squeaky clean! And, if you judge people only on what they have actually done or said, (not on what people they know have doneo ro said), his candidacy soars above Clinton and McCain's like an eagle over worms.
Clinton has proven that she is petty and mean and that her election is far more important than her party or country. McCain is a nice man who is simply dumb! We don't need another dummy in the white house. Look what the last seven years have wrought.

Finally, Obama as President will give the US another chance in the world. Our government is currently hated by people all over the world. That would be wiped out in an instant with the election of Barack Obama. The entire world would open to a new brand of diplomacy and we could, once again, become a world leader instead of a world intimidator.

[mikew]

My grandaddy taught me two important things about people:, (1) "judge a person by the character of the company they keep; and, (2) "watch what someone does, not what they say".

Obama doesn't pass muster on either count. That's two strikes. In my, with my rules, there is no third strike. He's out.

[I thought LA was progressive]

Issues over, racists, go back to your nose jobs and keep it out of other people's church lives. You disgust us.

[foo]

Hillary must believe in extramarital sexual relations. Also, the big boss should have sex with lower level employees, as long as it is consensual. Finally, the chief executive should lie under oath. These are all the motto of Hillary, simply because she has remained in a relationship with Bill. Right?

[Dan Stewart]

What's far more scary and troubling than all the Wright prattling are the comments in this response section! Talk about collective national cluelessness! If these biased, emotion-based, illogical comments accurately represent the views of America today, we are in a world of hurt! And - we deserve whatever self-serving politico that this bizarre presidential campaign puts in the White House. Batten the hatches, America! This ride is going to get bumpy - quickly!

[erica]

Rev. Wright is not an issue. He's not running for office and as far as the judgment questions goes, picking a church where the pastor might say things you don't like and voting to go to war that has killed 4000+ American soldiers does not compare. The loss of life in regards to Obama's decision to stay with his church family, which by the way, most people don't easily abandon, is nil. The war was a terrible judgment call. The church is not an issue.

So if I'm looking at judgment in this instance, I'm looking at the one that will cost America more money or cost America more lives.

[Rajah Kahn]

The Reublicans couldb't find ant blemishes on the INDIVIDUAL character of Obama, so they had to look for associations to assassinate him. They found Rev Wright, and gave most white folks the EXCUSES not to vote for Obama, which is totally ridiculous. Hillary Clinton and her husband have associated wit the worst of EVILS, yet there is nothing about this. I will never understand why the man should be responsible for someone's else freedom of expression. However, the motive is really simple, and ways to bring the BLACkMAN down, People who vote for Hillary are voting for LIES and Political scandals.

[Dose of Reality]

The root of this whole problem stems from the idea of a "BLACK CHURCH" which is racist and wrong to begin with. For a church to identify itself with any race, creed, or color is FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG AND IGNORANT!

This is what gave fule to wright to preach such biggoted idiolotry... Oprah seemed to have wised up and joined a CHURCH!

Can you imagine if there were a "White Church" ?????
Really, for any man to even be considered a viable candidate for PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES that will represent a multitude of people from all ethnic bacgrounds (MOSTLY WHITE I might add) he cannot have such racial identity "marks" .... He/She cannot be defined as "African American" "Italian American" "Cuban American' "German American" .... They can only define themseves as AMERICANS! Because the problem is if you identify yourself as anything along the lines of "African American" or the like... look at what comes first... "African" is placed before American.... so, what you are saying by that is... you are "Black" before you are American....

Understood folks!

Good, I am glad you see things clearly now!

[mary LB]

I did not have any problems with Rev. Wright.

I have big problems with a media that would gather sound bites~who by the way, found the exact sound bites they needed to rile a bigoted citizenry?~to attack Senator Obama.

Was it a year ago already that Obama said he did not agree with everything his minister said, but that he lead him to Christianity? That should be good enough for everyone.

The problem is not Wright~it is everyone who tried, judged and condemned him.

In the meantime Bill Clinton is in Los Angeles Court for the Clintons latest fraud trial and not a peep from the press. Did Bill show up on the 25th? How do I know, media will not tell me what transpired. The L.A. Court tells me two new court dates are scheduled: 5/13 and one in Aug. if I recall correctly.

Seeing as both Clintons have been in trouble for FEC fraud with Hsu, Haung, Marc Rich; money laundering charges and the mysterious death of Vincent Foster...

...Wright is their smoke screen. Anyone that knows a bit about Obama knows who he is, but it is the Clintons who lead the "does not love the country" smear, and Wright was used to sow that seed deep in the minds of a gullible public that has fallen hook, line and sinker for Clinton lies.

As Wright pointed out: As you sow, so shall you reap. He is the fruits of Emmett Till, children dying in church, many more due to the "crime" of being born black. Wright hands the US a mirror. Truth hurts.

[kathy]

You Spin me Wright 'Round, Obama, Wright 'Round.....
First off, love the way Obama chooses a church by how high it can elevate his standing with blacks and his networking abilities! Gee, I thought it was about faith.....Next, Oprah bailed when she realized Wright was a loon; unlike Obama who held Wright to his bosom, inviting him to be his friend, marry him, baptize his girls. Right up until Obama disinvited him to speak at the inaugural. Alarm bells in his head? Oh yeah. Will Obama look into Putin's eyes and "see his soul" just like Bush misjudged him & Obama supposedly misjudged Wright? He reads people so well, our Obama does. Rezko, Wright, his bomb-making friends.....As to the gas tax, IL roads are some of the worst, always under construction & have been for years. As STATE senator, Obama did nothing about it, yet he says the TEMPORARY reprieve will layoff construction jobs? Pullease! And our STATE tax on gas is always one of the highest if not the highest in the country. Did nothing on that either. Did little or nothing his entire career, except if you count foreclosure filings that he did as a JUNIOR law partner in the BLACK community. Big deal. Talk about resume padding.....