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

[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.....