April 24, 2008 12:59 PM
- Text
Rev. Wright's Tour Begins
Rev. Jeremiah Wright, longtime friend of and pastor to Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, is getting back into the news, this time on his own terms and initiative. As Chicago Sun-Times' Lynnn Sweet points out, Wright is going very public in the wake of controversies stirred by taped remarks of some of his sermons, which included often replayed statements like "God damn America."
First up is an interview with Bill Moyers of PBS, which will air Friday evening. Next comes a turn at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on Monday. According the The Caucus blog at the New York Times, Wright tells Moyers he feels the controversies are unfair. "I felt it was unjust. I felt it was untrue. I felt for those who were doing that, were doing it for some very devious reasons."
Wright says the political reasons for the flap are clear. "I think they wanted to communicate that I am unpatriotic, that I am un-American, that I am filled with hate speech, that I have a cult at Trinity United Church of Christ. And by the way, guess who goes to his church, hint, hint, hint? That's what they wanted to communicate." And, in a seemingly back-handed compliment, he says Obama has dealt with the issue the only way he can. "He says what he has to say as a politician. I say what I have to say as a pastor. But they're two different worlds. … I do what I do. He does what politicians do." Stay tuned for more from Wright's interview.
First up is an interview with Bill Moyers of PBS, which will air Friday evening. Next comes a turn at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on Monday. According the The Caucus blog at the New York Times, Wright tells Moyers he feels the controversies are unfair. "I felt it was unjust. I felt it was untrue. I felt for those who were doing that, were doing it for some very devious reasons."
Wright says the political reasons for the flap are clear. "I think they wanted to communicate that I am unpatriotic, that I am un-American, that I am filled with hate speech, that I have a cult at Trinity United Church of Christ. And by the way, guess who goes to his church, hint, hint, hint? That's what they wanted to communicate." And, in a seemingly back-handed compliment, he says Obama has dealt with the issue the only way he can. "He says what he has to say as a politician. I say what I have to say as a pastor. But they're two different worlds. … I do what I do. He does what politicians do." Stay tuned for more from Wright's interview.
Popular Now in Politics
- CPAC: Will Sarah Palin spring a surprise?
- Sarah Palin revs up CPAC faithful
- Mitt Romney wins Maine GOP caucuses
- CPAC: Anti-Obama beats pro-Romney
- Ann Coulter riles up the CPAC crowd
- Romney on Obama: I will "knock him on his heels"
- Romney takes on hecklers at Maine town hall
- Mitt Romney wins CPAC straw poll
- Gov. Jindal prepping for national stage
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
- Santorum infers straw poll-rigging at CPAC
- Immigration speaker sparks controversy at CPAC
- What Does 'GOP' Stand For?
- Obama campaign launches "truth team"
- Health Care Bill: What's In It?
- Timothy Dolan: Birth control tweak a "first step"
- After uproar, Obama tweaks birth control rule
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News
- U.N.: Syria's crimes against humanity continue
- Obama: 2013 budget reflects "tough choices"
- Deaf girl: I was kept in UK cellar as sex slave
- Ex-UK police officer convicted of corruption
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News






