Obama Campaign Tries To Downplay Wright

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:


CHICAGO – While Barack Obama has tried to avoid talking about Rev. Jeremiah Wright recently, his former pastor has not been keeping a low profile, scheduling a slew of public appearances. When asked if he believed that will hurt him in the upcoming primaries, Obama dodged the question, telling reporters, "I'll let you prognosticate."

In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Obama said he did not discourage Wright from making appearances and understands why his desire to speak. "He is somebody who has obviously been the subject of some pretty sharp attacks," Obama said. "It's understandable that somebody, after an entire career of service, would want to defend themselves."

When the controversy surrounding Obama's relationship with Rev. Wright first broke, Wright remained quiet. Instead, Obama gave a number of interviews and addressed questions about Wright. The controversy seemed to fade away – during six weeks of campaigning in Pennsylvania, Obama was asked by voters about Wright only twice.

Going forward, the campaign appears to want to put an end to questions about Wright. Communications Director Robert Gibbs did not have a comment about Wright's appearance at the NAACP Freedom Dinner last night. "We've said all we're going to say," Gibbs said.

Wright didn't have much to say about his most famous parishioner, either. "I'm not here for political reasons," he said at the dinner. "I'm not a politician. I know that fact will surprise many of you because many in the corporate-owned media made it seem like I am running for the Oval Office. I am not running for the Oval Office. I've been running for Jesus a long, long time and I'm not tired yet."

[vanesa4]

Rvd. Wright has the right to say whatever he wishes, but he should know better than do it now. His monopolization of the media at this time does a tremendous dis-service to all of us. We, as citizens, are living a historical political season and his message --valid or not-- should be postponed. We have higher priorities to focus on at this moment and don''t want any citizens'' perceptions influenced by a man who, in his own words "speaks as a preacher speaks to his audience". Vanesa4

[vanesa4]

Rvd. Wright has the right to say whatever he wishes, but he should know better than do it now. His monopolization of the media at this time does a tremendous dis-service to all of us. We, as citizens, are living a historical political season and his message --valid or not-- should be postponed. We have higher priorities to focus on at this moment and don''t want any citizens'' perceptions influenced by a man who, in his own words "speaks as a preacher speaks to his audience". V4

[vanesa4]

Rvd. Wright has the right to say whatever he wishes, but he should know better than do it now. His monopolization of the media at this time does a tremendous dis-service to all of us. We, as citizens, are living a historical political season and his message --valid or not-- should be postponed. We have higher priorities to focus on at this moment and don''t want any citizens'' perceptions influenced by a man who, in his own words "speaks as a preacher speaks to his audience". V4

[vanesa4]

Rvd. Wright has the right to say whatever he wishes, but he should know better than do it now. His monopolization of the media at this time does a tremendous dis-service to all of us. We, as citizens, are living a historical political season and his message --valid or not-- should be postponed. We have higher priorities to focus on at this moment and don''t want any citizens'' perceptions influenced by a man who, in his own words "speaks as a preacher speaks to his audience". V4

[vanesa4]

Rvd. Wright has the right to say whatever he wishes, but he should know better than do it now. His monopolization of the media at this time does a tremendous dis-service to all of us. We, as citizens, are living a historical political season and his message --valid or not-- should be postponed. We have higher priorities to focus on at this moment and don''t want any citizens'' perceptions influenced by a man who, in his own words "speaks as a preacher speaks to his audience". V4

[vanesa4]

Rvd. Wright has the right to say whatever he wishes, but he should know better than do it now. His monopolization of the media at this time does a tremendous dis-service to all of us. We, as citizens, are living a historical political season and his message --valid or not-- should be postponed. We have higher priorities to focus on at this moment and don''t want any citizens'' perceptions influenced by a man who, in his own words "speaks as a preacher speaks to his audience". V4

[vanesa4]

Rvd. Wright has the right to say whatever he wishes, but he should know better than do it now. His monopolization of the media at this time does a tremendous dis-service to all of us. We, as citizens, are living a historical political season and his message --valid or not-- should be postponed. We have higher priorities to focus on at this moment and don''t want any citizens'' perceptions influenced by a man who, in his own words "speaks as a preacher speaks to his audience".

[vanesa4]

Rvd. Wright has the right to say whatever he wishes, but he should know better than do it now. His monopolization of the media at this time does a tremendous dis-service to all of us. We, as citizens, are living a historical political season and his message --valid or not-- should be postponed. We have higher priorities to focus on and don''t want any citizens'' perceptions influenced by a man who, in his own words "speaks as a preacher speaks to his audience".

[vanesa4]

Rvd. Wright has the right to say whatever he wishes, but he should know better than do it now. His monopolization of the media at this time does a tremendous dis-service to all of us. We, as citizens, are living a historical political season and his message --valid or not-- should be postponed. We have higher priorities to focus on and don''t want our perceptions as citizens influenced by a man who, in his own words "speaks as a preacher speaks to his audience".

[ike-3]

The new game in town now is "BRING OBAMA DOWN" nomatter how