March 26, 2008
"A Wonderful, Welcoming Church"
GREENSBORO -- Barack Obama today defended his controversial pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and invited people to visit his church, a direct counter to Hillary Clinton's Tuesday comment that Wright never would have been her religious leader.
Obama said that Trinity, where Wright was the pastor for 30 years, is a "wonderful, welcoming church" that had a pastor who was "trying to teach a lesson connecting scripture to our daily lives."
Obama said that his "former pastor said some objectionable things when I wasn't in church on those particular days, and I have condemned them outright."
But trying to contextualize Wright's comments, Obama added: "I do have to remind people, though, this is somebody who was preaching at least 3 sermons at least a week for 30 years. And so, [sic] got boiled down, they found five or six of his most offensive statements, boiled that down to half an hour sound clip or half minute sound clip, and just played it over and over again."
He said the clips spoke "to some of the racial divisions that we have in this country and tapped into those divisions. I hope people don't get distracted by this because as I said in my speech last week on Tuesday we can't afford to be distracted."
Clinton said yesterday in an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune Review that individuals can't choose their relatives but they can choose their church.
Her campaign was silent on the issue for a week, and Obama's supporters yesterday accused Clinton of raising Wright to distract from her mistaken recollection of her trip to Bosnia.
Obama today reminded his NC audience, which was majority Black, that Trinity belonged to a majority White denomination.
"United Church of Christ is, by the way, is 99 percent white denomination," Obama said.
Today, speaking to the young White man who had asked Obama about his faith, he said that focusing on Wright was a distraction.
"You and I, we are both Christians," Obama said to the young man. "And even if you're not a Christian, we are both Americans. And we cannot solve the problems of America, if every time somebody somewhere says something stupid that everybody gets up in arms."
(NBC/NJ's ASWINI ANBURAJAN)
Posted at 05:06 PM
Comments
I am so disappointed in Hillary a woman contender and how her campaign will be remembered in history. She is 1st woman as a presidential candidate and somehow the way her campaign is run, the way she conducts herself is not what exemplifies womanhood for me (of course this is only my opinion). Her behavior appears unbalanced, and sulky like some spoiled, bullying child. When she is challenged on her years in the white house, it is either none of our business, oh you can never understand (high and mighty) or give me a break (get off myback). It is not the American publics fault that what was done by heror her husband in the white house is our business, and we will continue to ask. Whenever she is confronted with her own issues, her response is never to address them but to blame anyone other than herself or husband. Then next immediately she attacks the other candidates as if to say look over here. Well not only is she attempting to destroy he party. She and no other woman can be proud of this race, but it will stay with us since history is being made. She has brought even the role of a presidential candidate down to some stereotypes woman have strived to overcome for ages. Those are the witch, the shrew, the gold digger, and the snappish, uptight ticking bomb. Me myself, I would have even preferred the blonde bombshell.
Gawania | 03.26.08 10:49 PM
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I am so disappointed in Hillary a woman contender and how her campaign will be remembered in history. She is 1st woman as a presidential candidate and somehow the way her campaign is run, the way she conducts herself is not what exemplifies womanhood for me (of course this is only my opinion). Her behavior appears unbalanced, and sulky like some spoiled, bullying child. When she is challenged on her years in the white house, it is either none of our business, oh you can never understand (high and mighty) or give me a break (get off myback). It is not the American publics fault that what was done by heror her husband in the white house is our business, and we will continue to ask. Whenever she is confronted with her own issues, her response is never to address them but to blame anyone other than herself or husband. Then next immediately she attacks the other candidates as if to say look over here. Well not only is she attempting to destroy he party. She and no other woman can be proud of this race, but it will stay with us since history is being made. She has brought even the role of a presidential candidate down to some stereotypes woman have strived to overcome for ages. Those are the witch, the shrew, the gold digger, and the snappish, uptight ticking bomb. Me myself, I would have even preferred the blonde bombshell.
Gawania | 03.26.08 10:50 PM
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After thinking back to 911 when a lot of us ran to the churches ofAmerica, we heard a lot of condolences, critisms, and condemnations against this country and it’s sin. We heard how America had turnedit’ back on the Lord and now he turns his back on America basically. Which to me was the same as saying we were damned becauseof our cultural condescendance, and depravity. Rev Wright basically said the same thing that I heard when I watched tv preachers Jerry Farwell, Pat Robinson, John Hagee, and Rob Parsley which are white men. Why is itso inflammatory when this black preacher says it is what is a puzzle to me, even if he was one of the candidates pastor go to the other candidates churches videos and find out what their pastors said some of the same things. I think this was a time when the church stood to point out to Americans that we could not continue to get away from the morals of what this country was built on, that disaster would await. (this is only my opinion).Do you remember weeks after what your pastor, rabbi, clergyman, bishop, even the pope said?
Gawania | 03.26.08 10:55 PM
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My husband and I have already decided that if Hillary is given the democratice nomination, which she does not deserve nor has she earned- it will be a travesty and we will not vote in the general election in Nov, 2008.
Put all your white, democratic, pundits on notice! The Republicans will win the general election if Hillary is given the Democratic nomination.
Why? Because if the Democratic party steals the nomination away from Barack Obama, it will show that they truly are not democratic and do not seek and adhere to the " will of the people" and are just as Republican as the Republican party.
Cheryl | 03.26.08 11:15 PM
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I was in Guam on 9/11, and attended several born-again Christian churches: fundamentally "white" churches. MANY of the pastors and parishoners characterized 9/11 as the Almighty's punishment for an increasingly greedy, inhuman, abusive society. So it wasn't just Barack's minister, not just that church. Speak up, folks - am I the only one who heard that kind of response from religious folks after 9/11? During the horror of realizing we were not invulnerable, after all...that grief and horror we all experienced, I also looked within for the reasons. I discovered my own greed. My first worry had been that my stocks had crashed... my savings, retirement. Only Later, the loss of life, the human tragedy, seeped into my consciousness, brought me to my knees. Have we no responsibility to change? .... to become better human beings, better neighbors, more fiscally responsible, more educated, more gratefully practicing our precious democracy.
See you at the Polls!!
Lanis | 03.26.08 11:43 PM
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I was in Guam on 9/11, and attended several born-again Christian churches: fundamentally "white" churches. MANY of the pastors and parishoners characterized 9/11 as the Almighty's punishment for an increasingly greedy, inhuman, abusive society. So it wasn't just Barack's minister, not just that church. Speak up, folks - am I the only one who heard that kind of response from religious folks after 9/11? During the horror of realizing we were not invulnerable, after all...that grief and horror we all experienced, I also looked within for the reasons. I discovered my own greed. My first worry had been that my stocks had crashed... my savings, retirement. Only Later, the loss of life, the human tragedy, seeped into my consciousness, brought me to my knees. Have we no responsibility to change? .... to become better human beings, better neighbors, more fiscally responsible, more educated, more gratefully practicing our precious democracy.
See you at the Polls!!
Lanis | 03.26.08 11:44 PM
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I was in Guam on 9/11, and attended several born-again Christian churches: fundamentally "white" churches. MANY of the pastors and parishoners characterized 9/11 as the Almighty's punishment for an increasingly greedy, inhuman, abusive society. So it wasn't just Barack's minister, not just that church. Speak up, folks - am I the only one who heard that kind of response from religious folks after 9/11? During the horror of realizing we were not invulnerable, after all...that grief and horror we all experienced, I also looked within for the reasons. I discovered my own greed. My first worry had been that my stocks had crashed... my savings, retirement. Only Later, the loss of life, the human tragedy, seeped into my consciousness, brought me to my knees. Have we no responsibility to change? .... to become better human beings, better neighbors, more fiscally responsible, more educated, more gratefully practicing our precious democracy.
See you at the Polls!!
Lanis | 03.26.08 11:44 PM
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hillary thinks she is entitled to the white beause she was frist lady.well i disagree i think not only is she not entitled to the white house but she is doing all she can do to ensure thatshe rips the party apart.hillary stands for everything i am a shamed of.she is like a person that wants to give you advice but not take her own advice. do as i say not as i do well i'm sick of the game she is playing.as a woman she makes me ashamed.her time has come and gone if she wants to be at someone she needs to be mad at herself and her husband who toatlly disrecpected her in front of all america and a broad.hillary and bill have so much dirt in there pass but they do not want to address it why do they feel we the american people are not fit for them to answer our question?ask why her or bill have never answered for white water,why is she hidding her tax return,who are the donors for their libary,what did they do with the peter and paul money?why can't the clinton's be happy that obama is bring the party together bringing out people who lost hope trying to help bridge the party while hillary is ripping it down she is a fake as the day she stood up beside her husband while he lied about having sex with monica.now read the papers hillary was in the white house while bill and monica were in the oval office having sex disrepecting hillary and all that we stand for as american.
white water | 03.27.08 02:16 AM
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hillary thinks she is entitled to the white beause she was frist lady.well i disagree i think not only is she not entitled to the white house but she is doing all she can do to ensure thatshe rips the party apart.hillary stands for everything i am a shamed of.she is like a person that wants to give you advice but not take her own advice. do as i say not as i do well i'm sick of the game she is playing.as a woman she makes me ashamed.her time has come and gone if she wants to be at someone she needs to be mad at herself and her husband who toatlly disrecpected her in front of all america and a broad.hillary and bill have so much dirt in there pass but they do not want to address it why do they feel we the american people are not fit for them to answer our question?ask why her or bill have never answered for white water,why is she hidding her tax return,who are the donors for their libary,what did they do with the peter and paul money?why can't the clinton's be happy that obama is bring the party together bringing out people who lost hope trying to help bridge the party while hillary is ripping it down she is a fake as the day she stood up beside her husband while he lied about having sex with monica.now read the papers hillary was in the white house while bill and monica were in the oval office having sex disrepecting hillary and all that we stand for as american.
white water | 03.27.08 02:17 AM
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Why is it that Obama is getting a free ride with little investigation into his past dealings? Could it be that the corruption in the Illinois politics could bring down more than just Obama, maybe some other high profile Republicans and Democrats? How is Obama able to load up on so much cash and no one looks into it? Could his loose ties to an Iraqi billionaire have something to do with all the money laundering its way into his campaign? Corruption in Illinois politics is legendary. The Rezko connection was quietly addressed without much inquisition. I guess will deal with all these questions after he gets the nomination or worse, when he's President!!
Joe | 03.27.08 08:22 AM
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Joe, you are truly dense. The Rezko ties have been raked over again and again. Especially by his opponents. If there was any there there, it would be news. However, his conservative home state newspaper concluded that everything was on the up and up. This is an attempt to "Whitewater" him. Claim all kinds of shady dealings through innuendo, but never coming up with any actual proof of wrongdoing. It's pathetic.
Shaun | 03.27.08 10:06 AM
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I was shocked at Wrights statements at first. But I listened to the whole sermon and I agree now that I have heard them in context. We need to stop letting the media get away with telling half truths. We need to hold them accountable to showing both sides, all sides and the whole truth. We are adult enough to make our own decisions if we are armed with all of the information that is available. There is no doubt that some of these pundits have heard the whole sermon and they know that the whole sermon if played for all to hear, may change the perception that some people may have about this man. We need to stop letting them make up our minds for us and think for yourself. Listen to what the man is really saying.
tboi | 03.27.08 10:38 AM
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Do you hear the whole audio or video? I guess not. Rev. Wright, even though I do not agree with "some" of his comments, is a wonderful and just man. You "must" hear the whole audio or video!
He was stating comments that were not his, but made by a caicasian male who is or was a diplomat when he said in his comments "when chickens coming home to roost". He said that he loved everyone in the congregation that day. He said to look at everyone beside you and tell them "I Love You". He loves this country! He was a Marine and serve this country. He speaks five languages, many degrees, and speaks around the world.
Does Media want to give this man a heart attack? Be a little respectful. He is retired and not Obama's minister any longer.
Now, if he was telling his congregation the story about what caucasians had done from the Indians to slavery, would Media hound him on that?
Frilly | 03.27.08 11:12 AM
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Did you hear the whole audio or video? I guess not. Rev. Wright, even though I do not agree with "some" of his comments, is a wonderful and just man. You "must" hear the whole audio or video!
He was stating comments that were not his, but made by a caicasian male who is or was a diplomat when he said in his comments "when chickens coming home to roost". He said that he loved everyone in the congregation that day. He said to look at everyone beside you and tell them "I Love You". He loves this country! He was a Marine and serve this country. He speaks five languages, many degrees, and speaks around the world.
Does Media want to give this man a heart attack? Be a little respectful. He is retired and not Obama's minister any longer.
Now, if he was telling his congregation the story about what caucasians had done from the Indians to slavery, would Media hound him on that?
Frilly | 03.27.08 11:16 AM
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Sure there are nutty white pastors, too. The difference is, John McCain or Hill don't go to their church!
Here's my quetion: BHO keeps saying he wasn't there a lot. Why not? Is he a C&E Christian (Christmas and Easter) like so many others, or does he truly believe, in which case you find the time to attend services? When he wasn't at this chruch, was he at another? Does he also belong to a chuch in Washington? It seems like if you say you are too busy to go to church, you really aren't much of a Christian. He wouldn't be the first politician to go to a church to help his career.
flyover | 03.27.08 11:31 AM
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Reverend Wright should come out and make a public statement and explain himself instead of having Senator Obama carry his cross. If he is afraid of coming public, he should send fax message to newsrooms and apoligize to Americans.
peter mwangi | 03.27.08 12:06 PM
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I beleive this election needs to start talking about real issues;however, the Obama supporters have to realize that the Rev. Wright issue is important given the respect that Obama has for him. Americans are concerned with how much influence he had
on Obama over a twenty year period. What Wright said, no matter if Obama claims it was in or out of context, is pure racial hate. It is far more serious then Obama or Clinton making their life experiences sound more colorful. Obama with his story about being conceived after a civil rights rally or Clinton saying she landed in Bosnia under sniper fire. I personally can let them both get away with these things, it's just "product fluff", but Rev. Wright and Obama's association with him is far more serious. Obama has put himself up as a "healer" and "uniter", but all I have seen is a nasty camapign that Obama has contributed to just as much if not more then Clinton.
Tony | 03.27.08 12:30 PM
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Either Senator Obama has never really taken his faith that seriously or he's trying to play down the fact that Wright has been a long-time mentor and spiritual advisor. If my pastor had said such things, there's no way I'd still be there. I don't believe he represents the majority of black ministers or that his church is in the mainstream of black churchs. I had assummed I'd vote for Senator Obama if Senator Clinton doesn't win the nomination, but not after this.
jane | 03.27.08 01:33 PM
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I find Hilary's comment "you can't pick your family but you can pick your church" pretty dangerous territory. She did pikc her family. After the Monika debacle, ya know the one where she and her daughter were disrespected, humiliated in public, her husband was impeached etc., she made a choice to stay with him. In essence, she did pick her family becsue she had a choice. Her analogy is plain wrong.
deise | 03.27.08 02:01 PM
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WHO SHOULD WE FEAR MORE, REV. WRIGHT OR HIS CRITICS?
I am 54, female and white. When the controversy surrounding the Rev. Wright and Barrack Obama unfolded I decided to look into it for myself. On the one hand you had Barrack defending the man and his message on the other hand critics were claiming that the Reverend was preaching hate. What I found was a man who did not look like me or sound like me but was saying things that reflected an earnestness of thought that dug deeply and searched for moral truth. The more I read the more I understood the love this man has for our country and all of humanity. It was also clear for any one who bothered to read his sermons that his words were not designed to stimulate hate but to prod us out of the comfort of conventional thinking and force us to re-assess our perceptions and perspectives.
I remember as a kid my Dad telling me that American is the greatest country on earth. When I asked him why, he couldn’t answer other than to say, “Because it is.” This same type of simplistic thinking best describes the reverend’s loudest critics. I’m sure if they asked to explain how they arrived at their conclusions their answers would be just as inane. Critics that serve up opinions not grounded in reason or fact do a great disservice to us and reveal more about themselves than they do about the nature of Rev. Wright.
Portland, OR.
Mary | 03.27.08 03:16 PM
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Obama has condemned these statements outright.
It depends on what the meaning of "outright"
is.
hombre | 03.27.08 04:03 PM
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The acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree, does it?
flyover | 03.27.08 06:16 PM
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All I know is this....
If Hillary was friends with David Duke (or the like), who has ties to the Klan, people would be outraged! Rightly so.
If she went as far as to say that she will not denounce him and that he was like a family member, all hell would break loose.
Again Rightly so.
If she belonged to a church that had speakers, pastors, and etc speak in racist tones about all ethnic groups she would be ran out of town on the rail.
This sentiment wouldn't just hold to Hillary, this would hold to anyone!
It should also pertain to Obama.
He says he is a uniter, yet he has very divisive people close to him.
To have people this close to him with these views and to go so far to say they are like family, must mean that he too in some way harbor these feelings in himself as well.
That is discouraging and alarming.
The Obama camp wants him to not be accountable.
They want this swept beneath the rug as if it means nothing.
They should ask themselves if they would feel the same if Hillary or McCain or a person in general would escape as easily.
tia | 03.28.08 03:05 PM
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"Racism has many definitions, the most common being that members of one racial group consider themselves intrinsically superior to members of other racial groups. Racism inherently starts with the assumption that there are taxonomic differences between different groups of people. Without this assumption, prejudices against different peoples would be catagorised as being prejudices related to national or regional origin, religion, occupation, social status or some other distinction."
I am not defending the Rev words but lets start with the definition of the word Racist.................the rev is not racist ( he may be a bigot) and neither is Obama because they are not in the majority and cannot collectively hold a race back based on varies reasons. This argument of "you are the company that you keep" is ridiculous, how many people are married to or in love with people of different races, religions and political Ideology? Jesus himself hung out with people that were considered low lifes in his day..................... I am not an Obama cult member and it is funny to me that he has been the only presidential candidate being called a Muslim when we have and had Presidents who were and are a lot more linked to Muslim nations ( I just find that curious). How do any one know that he didn't talk to the Pastor about his feelings? maybe Obama loved the people in the church, and the fellow ship and reached out to the preacher to see thing different but was unable to reach him, maybe he wanted to show the Pastor that America is different from what he thinks. By the way in most Black Churches kids don't sit with there parents they sit in class away from them. People do research before you judge people by your standards, see every side and ask questions, just makes sense to me.
L hubb | 03.28.08 04:32 PM
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