Rev. Wright's Church Newsletter Includes Commentary Critical Of Israel

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Barack Obama

Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, continues to make headlines. The most recent focus? His church's newsletter.

A June 10th, 2007 issue of the newsletter featured an open letter written by Ali Baghdadi, appearing on the "Pastor's Page," that calls Israel an "apartheid" regime. The letter says Israel worked on an "ethnic bomb" that kills "blacks and Arabs." The letter also says "Israel was the closest ally to the white supremacists of South Africa."

In the introduction to an article printed on the "Pastor's Page" on July 7th, 2007, Wright references "the 'state' of Israel" – note the quotation marks around the word "state."

And on July 22nd, the "Pastor's Page" carried a pro-Palestine article by Hamas leader Mousa Aba Marzook excerpted from the Los Angeles Times.

"Why should any Palestinian recognize the monstrous crimes carried out by Israel's founders and continued by its deformed modern Apartheid state?" Marzook asks.

The revelations could hurt Obama's standing with the Jewish community, with whom some commentators have already suggested Obama has a problem. The American Spectator has seized on comments by Obama advisor Merrill McPeak concerning the influence of pro-Israel voters on Middle East policy. ("Obama has a Jewish problem and McPeak's bigoted views are emblematic of what they are," wrote Robert Goldberg.)

But Obama trails Clinton by just five points among Jewish Democrats, according to this recent Gallup poll – a divide that is within the poll's margin of error and one that cuts against the notion that Jewish voters are rejecting the Democratic frontrunner.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by jennybee42 March 30, 2008 5:17 AM EDT: If your critical of Israel you can''t become President of the USA?
It proves the strangle hold Israel really has on the politcal process of the USA.; Reply to this comment


by ernestw48 March 29, 2008 9:39 PM EDT: I''ve heard alot about the so called Rev. Wright(I do use the term loosely).He need''s to really seek God and read his Bible. We are all brother''s and sister''s in Christ. The Bible say''s Jesus died for all,black,white, red, and brown. He need''s to get saved and live for God-FOR REAL!!!; Reply to this comment


by jackson509z March 29, 2008 12:57 PM EDT: Amazing how you dismiss the claim. Why not discuss Israeli arms sales to South Africa, and justify it if you can!? Americans, including Wright, have a right to be critical of all non-democratic foreign governments, including Israel.; Reply to this comment


by beinformed March 28, 2008 6:30 PM EDT: Bkackspirit3, I am not voting for Ombama, not because he is black and/or white, male and/or female... Those qualities do not define my determination on who I beleive will be the best president. Are you voting for him because he is black? We have the best country in the world because we are free to express our opinions and vote for politicians and ideals that we beleive in. My reasons for not voting for Obama comes down to the disparity of his words and actions... the content of his character. He says he is above certain things... to me, he has clearly shown he is not. Not one of these things has to do with Rev Wright, a man I believe has done good things for many people. I am saddened that he was not able to receive and award from the Bright Divinity School at TCU because of safety concerns. That reaction of a few angry people is wrong, we need more compassion and understanding in the world, which I hoped we could have shown Rev. Wright by allowing him a warm welcome to Texas. Hateful speech attracts hateful hearts, I hope we all learn to forgive and live harmoniously, if not for us, for our children and grandchildren.; Reply to this comment


by downsteamjim March 28, 2008 5:16 PM EDT: Please try to stick to the real issues in this campaign:Posted by BLKPRESIDENT
I agree. Should we elect a person President who has the closest association with racism and hatred since the Civil War?; Reply to this comment


by b-easy63 March 28, 2008 1:20 PM EDT: church smirch--the church is not the candidate. On the other hand--this IS the candidate:

HILLARY CAUGHT "EMBELLISHING AGAIN"

"I think for anyone to try to question the Clintons'''''''' huge support (for Ireland) and start trying to nitpick and saying, ''''''''But she wasn''''''''t sitting down at the negotiation table'''''''' _ sure, we know she wasn''''''''t sitting down at the negotiation table," Ahern said.

After suffering criticism from rival Obama''''''''s campaign and Protestant politicians in Northern Ireland, Clinton this month backed off language that suggested she was ever involved in the 22 months of negotiations that preceded the Good Friday pact.

But Clinton still suggests that she wielded a hidden hand over the diplomatic triumph.

"I wasn''''''''t sitting at the negotiating table, but the role I played was instrumental," she said in a March 13 interview with National Public Radio."

We''''re sure it was Hillary, just as sure as we are that you ducked snipers and ran for cover with no greeting ceremony in Bosnia.

catch the full article here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stor
ies/2
008/03/28/ap/politics/main3976527
.shtml; Reply to this comment


by blackspirit3 March 28, 2008 1:15 PM EDT: ARE WHITES HIDING THEIR HATRED FOR A BLACK CANDIDATE UNDER REV WRIGHT WORDS. ALL THIS STUFF OVER A FEW WORDS OUT OF ONE PERSON MOUTH IS STRANGE. IF WHITES DO NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA BECAUSE HE IS BLACK THEN STAND UP AND SAY THAT, DON''T HIDE YOUR RACISM UNDER REV WRIGHT, DON''T USE REV WRIGHT AS A REASON FOR NOT VOTING FOR OBAMA, WHY SHOULD I JUDHE ALL WHITES ON THE WORDS OF A FEW KKK MEMBERS? WHY WOULD I ASSUME ALL WHITES ARE LIKE THE ONE TO TWO WHITES WHO YELL THE "N" WORD AS I DRIVE BY, LETS GROW UP. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA BECAUSE YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH A BLACK MAN, THEN DON''T VOTE FOR HIM, BUT TO USE REV WRIGHT WORDS AS A COP OUT IS COWARDLY, I RATHER YOU BE HONEST AND SAY, "I CANT VOTE FOR A BLACK MAN TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY" VEREUS SAYING " WELL OBAMA MUST BELIEVE AS REV WRIGHT BELIEVES" THATS IS A LIE, MPST WHITES HAVE FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND EVEN CO WORKERS WHO SAY HATEFUL UGLY THINGS AND YOU HAVE NOT DISOWNED THEM. GROW UP; Reply to this comment


by blkpresident March 28, 2008 12:22 PM EDT: Whtpresident,

Newsflash for you: Obama''s Pastor and Obama''s church are NOT, NOT, NOT (can ya her me now!!!!)running for president, so please stick to the real issues shaping this campaign: OLD man McCain''s age and his ability to stay awake during critical intelligence briefings and, the other candidate--Lil'' Hillary--and her idea of foreifn policy, donning an apron and baking our terrorist enemies a batch of brownies. Missy and Grandpa are out!; Reply to this comment


by blkpresident March 28, 2008 12:15 PM EDT: Hillarygrl34 and Secret Love,

Please try to stick to the real issues in this campaign: OLD man McCain''s age and his inability to stay awake during critical intelligence briefings, and also that other candidate--the girl--whose idea of foreign policy is to don an apron and bake a batch of cookies for terrorist enemies. American doesn''t need or want lil'' missy or granpa.; Reply to this comment


by eshaneua March 28, 2008 11:34 AM EDT: Hss it occurred to ANYONE that the the supposed Rev. Wright scandal was deliberately and intentionally leaked to the press so that Barack could give the speech and obtain the vote of the evangelicals?; Reply to this comment