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March 27, 2008 12:11 PM

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

Posted by Brian Montopoli
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.
Tags:
Jeremiah Wright ,
barack obama ,
israel ,
jews ,
pastor
Topics:
Barack Obama
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Add a Comment See all 117 Comments
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.
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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!!!
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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?
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by secret_love March 28, 2008 8:17 AM EDT
part 3
Obama is just trying to play his cards right and deceive the American people, I know and so should everyone else know that what obama is now starting to say is contradicting to what he was just standing by last week in his speech, And let us not forget rev wright retired a few years ago and obama was still turning to rev wright for leadership, so him
talking about "he would have left the church if rev wright hadn''t retired" is a ball faced lie. He said he wouldnt have felt comfortable staying in the church if he knew certain things would be offensive to americans but he did know and he did stay in that church, He knew what was going on in the church and refused to put wright on his campiagn for that reason alone, and we the american people that truely love our country are still waiting for obama to say GOD BLESS AMERICA
sorry those anti american remarks stay in my head and now i dont think anything he says can make me change my mind about him i will not believe him, i think it was foolish for hi to stay in that church and i bet obama still has rev wright on speed dial asking him what he shold say next to the american ppl to help make this matter go away
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by secret_love March 28, 2008 8:16 AM EDT
part 2
again this is why obama is just words, he stated
Had the reverend not retired, and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and Mischaracterized what I believe is the greatness of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn''t have felt comfortable staying at the church," Obama said Thursday during a taping of the ABC talk show, "The View." The interview will be broadcast Friday. but if this was so true then why did obama and rev wright have the talk that obama would have to stray away from his long time religious leader because of certain controversial things might come to light during his campaign,
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by secret_love March 28, 2008 8:14 AM EDT
part 1
Obama said he could not denounce his pastor and he has been loyal to him, and has stayed in the church for 20 years, His famous speech made headlines all over the world bringing up the issues of race and the most he was able to say about rev wright was he didn''t agree with what he said on some things, well now that his campaign has taken a hard hit he decided to change his outlook on rev wright,
Reply to this comment
by edhillfiker March 28, 2008 7:50 AM EDT
Barack Obama should absolutely be held responsible for Rev. Wright%u2019s comments. This is not an endorsement from a minister he barely knows.

Those who brush this off are obviously not Jewish and it''s ok for Obama to have set there for 20 years and listened to this racist propaganda?

It''s not ok.

This shows moral judgment.

Oprah left that church after hearing this garbage and took a high moral road.

Obama was caught in a lie regarding all this.

First, he said he had never heard these sermons, then admitted he had & he sat silent!

He points his finger at Clinton for her war vote, claiming she showed bad judgment. Yet, he continued showing bad judgment for 20 years.

History has taught us you do indeed have to have the courage to stand for what is right.

Recall the saying "When they came to get the Jews I said nothing, when they came to get the Poles. When they came to get the homosexuals, the teachers, the intellectuals, the gypsies, I said nothing.
When they came to get me I realized, I was the only one left.

It took tremendous courage for some in Germany those many years ago. They stood up for what they believed and paid a high price.

Obama, who I used to support, has shown he has caved in to pressure from his own group, even in the face of terrible wrong.

Obama is a moral coward and we are fools if we put him in the White House.
Reply to this comment
by edhillfiker March 28, 2008 7:37 AM EDT
Barack Obama should absolutely be held responsible for Rev. Wright%u2019s comments. This is not an endorsement from a minister he barely knows.

Those who brush this off are obviously not Jewish and it''s ok for Obama to have set there for 20 years and listened to this racist propaganda?

It''s not ok.

This shows moral judgment.

Oprah left that church after hearing this garbage and took a high moral road.

Obama was caught in a lie regarding all this.

First, he said he had never heard these sermons, then admitted he had & he sat silent!

He points his finger at Clinton for her war vote, claiming she showed bad judgment. Yet, he continued showing bad judgment for 20 years.

History has taught us you do indeed have to have the courage to stand for what is right.

Recall the saying "When they came to get the Jews I said nothing, when they came to get the Poles. When they came to get the homosexuals, the teachers, the intellectuals, the gypsies, I said nothing.
When they came to get me I realized, I was the only one left.

It took tremendous courage for some in Germany those many years ago. They stood up for what they believed and paid a high price.

Obama, who I used to support, has shown he has caved in to pressure from his own group, even in the face of terrible wrong.

Obama is a moral coward and we are fools if we put him in the White House.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 March 28, 2008 5:33 AM EDT
("Obama has a Jewish problem and McPeak''s bigoted views are emblematic of what they are," wrote Robert Goldberg.)

It is not Mr. Obama that has the problem, it is those who call themselves Jews, and cannot separate the political entity known as Israel from the religion known as Judaism, and who cannot separate a second generation "Black" man running for president, from other "Black" people who are more vocal in their struggle against American apartheid, which their families have endured for at least 40 generations.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 March 28, 2008 5:26 AM EDT
"How is a country that regards the indigenous people as not deserving of equal rights not apartheid?"

Sorry for the typo.
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by brianbwb-2009 March 28, 2008 5:24 AM EDT
Other than the statement about the "ethnic bomb" that kills "blacks and Arabs", for which I have seen no evidence (unless he is speaking allegorically), the other statements listed in the article are accurate, can any one say they are not?

How is a country that regards the indigenous people equal rights not apartheid?

Israel and the US were supporters of the South African apartheid regime, it is well documented.

Marzook''s question is a legitimate one, anyone care to answer?

Also, the Pastor''s quotation marks around the word "state", implies he questions the legitimacy of a nation that does violate accepted human rights conventions, which is his, and anyone''s right.
Reply to this comment
by ranger1948 March 28, 2008 4:12 AM EDT
wht president
Yes but that is supposed to be acceptible for all the bad things the whites have done to the blacks.
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by whtpresident March 28, 2008 3:52 AM EDT
I would post the emails back and for with this Texas church today however there is a disclaimer at the bottom. Basically and I cant share them with anyone. But I will say, I got the feeling that that church is much like TUCC.
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