From The Road
March 15, 2008 4:23 PM

Obama Tries To Move Past Controversial Pastor

By
John Bentley
Topics
Barack Obama
(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley


PLAINFIELD, IND. -- Speaking out against his controversial pastor, Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama said Wright made statement that were "incendiary and that I completely reject," but that he would not allow them to derail his campaign. "If all I knew was those statements that I saw on television, I would be shocked," Obama said. "It just reminds me that we've got a tragic history when it comes to race in this country."

The fiery pastor at Obama's church has been quoted as saying that blacks should condemn America for "treating our citizens as less than human," and that the U.S. brought 9/11 on itself because of its foreign policy.

Hoping to put the controversy behind him, Obama invoked Bobby Kennedy's speech in Indianapolis after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. "He said, at that moment of anguish, we've got a choice in taking the rage and bitterness and disappointment and letting it fester and dividing us further," Obama said. "Or we can take a different path that says we have different stories, but we have common dreams and common hopes."

This is the first public visit to Indiana for either Democratic candidate, but it could become a battleground state during their May 6th primary. The northern part of the state is in the Chicago television market, where Obama is frequently on the news, and two of Indiana's largest cities, Indianapolis and Gary, both have significant African-American populations, which have voted overwhelmingly for Obama. But there are also a number of blue-collar employees in the state, who tend to vote for Hillary Clinton, and Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind, is actively campaigning for her.

Aware of the 72 delegates and 12 superdelegates that are at stake here, Obama opened his speech by thanking Indiana's newest Congressman, Andre Carson – who also happens to be an uncommitted superdelegate. He closed his speech by telling the crowd of around 3000 that he would be actively campaigning in Indiana, and that he "needs people who are willing to get involved."


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by emsupset March 17, 2008 3:11 PM EDT
Dear UCC Officers:

How can your church maintain its non profit exempetion from the IRS when Pastor Wright blatentley supports Obama from the pulpit.

THis is a severe violation for any non profit to support any candiate, much less in the manner of Pastor Wright.
Reply to this comment
by emsupset March 17, 2008 2:58 PM EDT
Dear UCC Church Officers:
It is difficult to see how a Harvard Grad "didn''t know"? !
But let''s forget Obama''s comments on whether or not he knew for a second. He is toast. Had my vote. Lost my vote.

For UCC to defend Pastor Wright''s comments is outrageous as the racist comments the Pastor has made. Not once. Not twice%u2026who knows how many times%u2026so many examples on You Tube alone. The Pastor''s comments are very offensive, divisive and sickening and undermine any of the good works he or his congregation have done.

Please explain to me how your church can support this Pastor and his congregation for giving a lifetime achievement award to Farrakhan and the Pastor''s highly inflamatory racist remarks?
Reply to this comment
by vincan-2009 March 17, 2008 4:11 AM EDT
How can you say that Pastor Wright for 20 years said vile things? I''m sure that 95% of the time this fine pastor preached the word of God and Jesus and was responsible for bringing people to Jesus as Obama said. No one is a saint, we all are sinners. Black people have many things against them as they make their lives worth. Obama is not McCain who has changed all his good opinions to bad opinions to please the hate mongering Bush lovers. Does McCain even go to church? McCain hasn''t done his taxes yet, but Hillary is the one the press is so determined to be done. We sure don''t want all Bush''s people behind McCain to make sure he owes them something.
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by hill4change March 17, 2008 2:29 AM EDT
I also would add that I am not "part of her campaign" I am a supporter.
Answer me this mmcgee8: Why did obama refuse Rev. Wright''s offer to do the invocation at his announcement for his Presidential candidacy, & try to distance himself from Rev. Wright at that time if, as he says now, he didn''t know the content of Wright''s sermons then. Was it a lapse in his self ascribed "judgement" to make Rev. Wright with his racist diatribes the spiritual advisor of his campaign? Rise above racism? I think not, just racism of a different flavor!
Reply to this comment
by hill4change March 17, 2008 2:17 AM EDT
mmcgee8 here is some more fact that I forgot to include. It is easy to say that medialaw and I are spewing filth. We never said anything untoward or hate filled. Just facts and opinion on how we feel the process is playing out. Isn''t this something obama supports. He says that we should rise above the negativity. Yet I read over & over & over negative sexist & hate filled things from obama "supporters", about Senator Clinton. If you truly believed in his "cause" would you not then speak about her in terms that are respectful & inclusive!! Not devisive & disrespectful. Here are some more facts for you!!

Hillary traveled to Northern Ireland seven times between 1995 and 2004, and gave what Northern Irish leader and Nobel Laureate John Hume recently described as %u201Cdecisive support%u201D to the peace process in Northern Ireland. She focused especially on encouraging the emergence of women in the political process. In addition, Hillary''s work at the grass roots and behind-the-scenes helped cultivate the conditions necessary for the peace to take hold and last.
Reply to this comment
by hill4change March 17, 2008 2:05 AM EDT
This is for mmcgee8.
You obviously have no basis in fact. You as many others are acting on emotion. I have included for you some actual fact. Maybe you should read and get a better understanding of what you believe is fact.


"In 1998 under the auspices of the U.S.-led Vital Voices Democracy Initiative, established by Hillary and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright the previous year %u2013 Hillary brought together 400 women in Belfast, Northern Ireland to foster their rise to prominence and leadership and to ensure that their success helped support peace. She met with community workers and with women politicians in Northern Ireland to encourage them to take on a larger role. She carried a pledge to the government of Ireland that the United States would remain a partner in the peace process.

Senator George Mitchell said that %u201CShe was very much involved in encouraging the emergence of women in the political process in Northern Ireland, which was a significant factor in ultimately getting an agreement.%u201D

Hillary%u2019s efforts have continued as Senator. She visited the Republic of Ireland on her first trip during her Senate term, and Northern Ireland on her second trip, where she spoke with all of the major leaders in Northern Ireland."
I also would add that Senator Clinton was named person of the year in 2007 by Irish American magazine.
"Words" are important and these are based in fact!
I too supported obama but have since wisened up!
Reply to this comment
by jisantiago March 17, 2008 1:44 AM EDT
I have been a Barak Obama supporter and I still am. But the Rev Wright controvercy raises questions about Obama''s credibility and sound judgement. I find it a little difficult to digest Obama''s claim that he didn''t know of Rev Wright''s anti-white sentiment, given his 20 years of association with him. The only way Obama can redeem himself and bring his supporters back to fold is by completely revoking his ties with the Reverend and repudiate in no uncertain terms the pastor''s misplaced bitterness about America.
Reply to this comment
by royswan March 17, 2008 1:27 AM EDT
The issue is not about Obama being responsible for his supporters''s comments. The issue is Obama being held responsible for SUPPORTING REV. WRIGHT FOR 20 YEARS, with large contributions and by being a member of Wright''s congregation. Why did Obama support Wright, who is obviously an incediary fascist, for 20 years. How can Obama say, with a straight face, that he ''never heard'' such comments. This is ludicrous. But, again, more to the point, why does Obama support these politics of hatred in his personal life?
Reply to this comment
by debunker-2009 March 17, 2008 1:15 AM EDT
For Senator Obama and his family to attend this church and listen to Dr. Wright%u2019s vile message of hate for 20 years is unacceptable. Senator Obama%u2019s credibility and judgment are greatly lacking.He cannot bring people together, only divide them further. He should apologize to the American people for his deception and for the good of the Democratic party and the United States of America, he should step-out of the race for president.


Reply to this comment
by plrdar March 17, 2008 1:10 AM EDT
In the formerly Showtime tv show Dexter, Dexter%u2019s serial killer brother says to Dexter%u2019s sister something like: %u201CYou wanted to be loved so badly that you never even bothered to look closely to see what was so easy to see %u2026 that I was the %u2018ice killer%u2019%u201D.
Much worse than a tv show, our country has far too many people who are like Dexter%u2019s sister. Namely, they want to have unity so badly that they are unwilling to look closely enough to see that Barack Obama is not going to deliver anything like unity.
If he could, then how come he has contributed immensely to date to the most divisive campaign in the recent past? And how come one of his most prominent supporters is a man who historically created one of the most divisive democratic primaries ever - namely Ted Kennedy?
And how can you feverishly push for support from Ted Kennedy and his like when you are supposed to be a new kind of politician?
I for one am happy to pass the cup for Obama to get lots of counseling.
And, I am hoping for the good of the country that he fails in the primary.
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