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March 15, 2008 4:23 PM

Obama Tries To Move Past Controversial Pastor

Posted by John Bentley
(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.
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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.


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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.
Reply to this comment
by plrdar March 17, 2008 1:09 AM EDT
The deeper issue here is why Obama feels such a close connection to a church that clearly is filled with black racist people who hate white people. One can imagine nothing plausible in reply except that Barack Obama indeed sees himself as an oppressed black man who needs to avenge this wrong that has been committed to him.
Yet it was his black father that chose to walk away from him when he was 2 years old and leave behind the family so that he (i.e. Barack%u2019s father) could attend Harvard when another less prestigious school offered to pay for not only Barack%u2019s father but also for housing / expenses for the entire family.
Barack%u2019s black father abandoned Barack Obama. His white family raised him.
So the identity issue obviously runs deep for Barack Obama. Clearly he has found his home by playing the aggrieved black man in the privacy of his church and family while he poses as a uniter in public.
A fine life if that is what he chooses.
But a terrible person to have as president of the US.
He sounds like he needs a lot of counseling help in order to reconcile the real racial divide - namely his own identity crisis.
Instead, he is projecting his personal crisis onto the country and far too many people are buying it.
Reply to this comment
by plrdar March 17, 2008 1:07 AM EDT
I wish him, his wife Michelle and the reverend health and happiness. And I hope Barack Obama learns that racism of blacks against whites is no better than racism of whites against blacks. Blacks by the way aren''t the only minorities in the US. Asians. Latinos. Pacific Islanders. Etc.
If you strive for Black issues, that is fine. But by definition you are racist because you are interested only in the things that are desired for blacks. The president needs to be look out for the interests of all Americans, not just whites, not just blacks, not just Asians, not just Latinos.
Words are cheap. Barack Obama has practiced moving speeches since his days in Harvard Law School. Through those efforts, he has earned the oratorical prowess that he now commands in his campaign. That however, is not the same thing as walking the walk. He speaks well. His actions say something entirely different. There is not a single thing about Barack Obama''s church of 20 years that is unifying. There are many things about it that are racist, hateful and divisive.
Judge the tree by its fruits.
Reply to this comment
by plrdar March 17, 2008 1:05 AM EDT
Until Obama locked up 90% of the black vote, he was not going to distance himself. Even then, he was not going to distance himself until being forced to do so. Yet a day after expressing his renouncing of the reverend''s ideas, Obama was campaigning in Indiana and he played the victim card claiming that he was being wronged by people out to get him. That stance makes it clear that Obama''s renouncing of Reverend Wright''s words was an insincere renouncing. Obama also tried to cover his wife Michelle Obama''s words when he renounced the reverend''s words. Yet Michelle Obama''s words spoke for themselves when she said that it was the first time in her adult life that she was proud of her country.
Again it is a free country. Reverend Wright, Michelle Obama and Barack Obama are all free to be ashamed of America. They are also free to run for president as a uniter.
Hopefully, voters will remember that we are free because of sacrifices made by the men and women of the armed forces and because of the exercising of our individual right and privilege and duty to vote in our elections. Remembering that, it is this author''s hope that Barack Obama serve as many terms as he wishes in the US Senate as the senator from Illinois but that his presidential campaign fails.
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by plrdar March 17, 2008 1:04 AM EDT
Moreover, how could anyone sincerely campaign as a uniter of all races when they were a committed member of a racist, hateful, divisive church for 20 years? How can Obama campaign as a uniter when Obama chose a racist, hateful, divisive preacher to be his spiritual advisor?
Let''s hope voters look at this issue closely and take it into serious consideration when voting. Any person who was truly a uniter and who truly had good judgment would have left that church a long time ago.
Reply to this comment
by drdave212 March 17, 2008 1:04 AM EDT
Nobody put words in Wright''s mouth or did a fake voice-over. Wright%u2019s white America didn''t conspire, drug him and hypnotize him before his sermons.
Honestly, when I heard his words I felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. This guy is keeping his folks down with sick, conspiracy; hate filled theories just like Farrakhan. Furthermore, only by going to HIS church and paying attention to HIS sick "charismatic" rantings can "believers%u201D find out the TRUTH. This ABSOLUTELY reflects on the sort of person Obama IS. It''s no wonder Barak wants to create "unity". Look at the world view of his divisive pastor who preaches DIS-unity. Wright''s a real life, black Archie Bunker and a throwback to ancient times. No wonder Obama wants "change!".

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by debunker-2009 March 17, 2008 1:03 AM EDT
Referencing the recent uproar over his former minister''s controversial sermons, Barack Obama on Saturday denounced the "forces of division" that he says have become part of the Democratic race for the White House.-CNN

Does Obama include Rev. Wright among the "forces of division". He should! Look at Obama''s comments about the Reverand''s hate speech very carefully. He only denounces "some" of the comments that we''ve been hearing on the video tapes. He chose to attend this church. He knew about these comments as he & Wright discussed last year distancing Wright from the campaign. Why? When Obama started his presidential bid Wright was suppose to speak at the event. He was asked not to just before. Why? Obama wants us to believe that Rev. Wright only spoke this way when Obama wasn''t in the pews for 20 years? Give me a break. He is a divider, not a uniter. Enough of his flowery and dodging excuses. His poor judgment
is change we can''t believe in.
Reply to this comment
by drdave212 March 17, 2008 1:03 AM EDT
Nobody put words in Wright''s mouth or did a fake voice-over. Wright%u2019s white America didn''t conspire, drug him and hypnotize him before his sermons.
Honestly, when I heard his words I felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. This guy is keeping his folks down with sick, conspiracy; hate filled theories just like Farrakhan. Furthermore, only by going to HIS church and paying attention to HIS sick "charismatic" rantings can "believers%u201D find out the TRUTH. This ABSOLUTELY reflects on the sort of person Obama IS. It''s no wonder Barak wants to create "unity". Look at the world view of his divisive pastor who preaches DIS-unity. Wright''s a real life, black Archie Bunker and a throwback to ancient times. No wonder Obama wants "change!".

Reply to this comment
by plrdar March 17, 2008 1:03 AM EDT
Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright Jr. are free to say what they will. And because Obama is running to be president of the US and because he is running on a campaign of unity and good judgment, this issue of Obama''s membership in his church is a valid issue.
Look at NYT April 30, 2007 article wherein Reverend Wright said that he had discussed with Obama the idea that Obama would have to distance himself from the reverend and Obama said yes he agreed. Same article also explains Obama listened to recordings of the reverend''s speeches while Obama was in Harvard Law School so that Obama could learn to move audiences the way Obama saw the reverend move audiences. Both of these facts show that Obama was well aware of the controversial nature of the reverend''s speeches. This shows that it is dishonest for Obama to claim that he never heard the reverend''s comments until just now.
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by dugstir100 March 17, 2008 12:07 AM EDT
Thank You Obama, you have been successful in putting another four years of Bush back in the White House. The only chance Democrates have now to win in November is for Obama to step down. That would show him as being noble and putting his country first. Maybe he can rebuild and come back and try again but the game is over now for the dems if he gets the nomination.
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by hallihunt March 16, 2008 10:30 PM EDT
For all the Obama supporters who think this is no big deal, you''re in denial. This may not seem as big a deal to democrats, but Obama''s association with Wright will be used to fire-up the Republican base if Obama is the nominee. The Wright sound bites, Obama''s delay in the denouncement of the words, and even the praise given to Wright in Obama''s books will be used to instill fear and outrage in Non-African Americans. You''re just kidding yourself if you think we''ll see the end of this soon. It may be given a short break until the a democratic candidate is determined, but if the nominee is Obama, this weekend''s glut of "Wright News" will seem like a wink of the eye compared to the barrage will see in the Fall.
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