Obama Condemns Pastor's Fiery Remarks

Says He Has Looked To Rev. Jeremiah Wright For Spiritual Advice, Not Political Guidance

(CBS/AP)  Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday denounced inflammatory remarks from his pastor, who has railed against the United States and accused its leaders of bringing on the Sept. 11 attacks by spreading terrorism.

As video of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has widely aired on television and the Internet, Obama responded by posting a blog about his relationship with Wright and his church, Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, on the Huffington Post.

Obama wrote that he's looked to Wright for spiritual advice, not political guidance, and he's been pained and angered to learn of some of his pastor's comments for which he had not been present. Obama's statement did not say whether Wright would remain on his African American Religious Leadership Committee, and campaign officials wouldn't say either.

"I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies," Obama said. "I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Reverend Wright that are at issue."

In a sermon on the Sunday after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Wright suggested the United States brought on the attacks.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Wright said. "We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."

In a 2003 sermon, he said blacks should condemn the United States.

"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people. God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

He also gave a sermon in December comparing Obama to Jesus, promoting his candidacy and playing down Clinton.

Questions about Obama's religious beliefs have dogged him throughout his candidacy. He's had to fight against false Internet rumors suggesting he's really a Muslim intent on destroying the United States, and now his pastor's words uttered nearly seven years ago have become an issue.

Obama wrote on the Huffington Post that he never heard Wright say any of the statements that are "so contrary to my own life and beliefs," but they have raised legitimate questions about the nature of his relationship with the pastor and the church.

He explained that he joined Wright's church, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, nearly 20 years ago.

Wright officiated at Obama's wedding and the baptism of his children, reports CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds.

Obama said he knew Wright as a former Marine and respected biblical scholar who lectured at seminaries across the country.

"Reverend Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life," he wrote. "... And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn."

He said Wright's controversial statements first came to his attention at the beginning of his presidential campaign last year, and he condemned them. Because of his ties to the 6,000-member church, Obama decided not to leave the congregation.

Obama also has credited Wright with delivering a sermon that he adopted as the title of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."

"With Reverend Wright's retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good," he wrote.

Also Friday, the United Church of Christ issued a 1,400-word statement defending Wright and his "flagship" congregation. John H. Thomas, United Church of Christ's president, lauded Wright's church for its community service and work to nurture youth. Other church leaders praised Wright for speaking out against homophobia and sexism in the black community.

"It's time for all of us to say no to these attacks and to declare that we will not allow anyone to undermine or destroy the ministries of any of our congregations in order to serve their own narrow political or ideological ends," Thomas said in the statement.

[blkpresident]

Pretty sad day when Obama, who is ru nning for president, has to apologize for his pastor, who is not running for president. Guess everyone knows the only way to attack Obama is through others because they cannot attack perfection. It''s a simple matter, America; we a choice between a woman, an OLD man or Obama. Pretty easy choice to make if you ask me.

[jimmb4]

I guess this puts to rest the allegations that Obama is Muslim. Obama is a Christian, who denounces the remarks of Wright. This is clear.

[sjbj2322]

Part 1: NOT ENOUGH! Admit it Barrack. You were a man in search of finding yourself when you went to Trinity and aligned yourself with Wright later referring to him as your spiritual advisor. Appointing him as the minister who married you and blessed the births of your daughters. If you think that politicians don''t make decisions based on and as a reflection of the morals, values, and yes - religious principals that they are taught - you are crazy. Is Wright''s influence the reason that you noted in your book that you "found A SOLACE in nursing A PERVASIVE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE AND ANIMOSITY AGAINST MY MOTHER''S RACE", OR "The emotion between the races could never be pure..... the other race would always remain just that: menacing, alien, and apart," OR "I ceased to advertise my mother''s race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites," OR "never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn''t speak to my own. It was into my father''s image, the black man, son of Africa, that I''d packed all the attributes I sought in myself.."

[sjbj2322]

Part 2: More from Barrack%u2019s book - OR "THAT HATE HADN''T GONE AWAY," he wrote, blaming "white people %u2014 some cruel, some IGNORANT, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives," OR "There were enough of us on campus to constitute a tribe, and when it came to hanging out many of us chose to function like a tribe, staying close together, traveling in packs," he wrote. "It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names," OR "I had grown accustomed, everywhere, to suspicions between the races. WHEN YOU FOUND TUCC AND JEREMIAH, DID YOU SIMPLY FIND ANOTHER PACK??? BUT YOU''LL SURE PANDER FOR THE WHITE MAN''S VOTES. AND WHAT ABOUT THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU''VE LIED TO INGRATIATE YOURSELF AMOUNG BLACKS!! READ IT FOLKS - http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/saywhat.asp. BUSTED - FINALLY!! YES, There is so very much about this man that has not been brought to light.

[rowdytexan2]

Another one of his great friends and inspirations down the tubes in his sacrifice to put the shill on mature Americans that he''s worthy to be our president. (snort)

No thanks! The repudiation of the teachings of his church is about 20 years too late.

[tcwersdc]

I not know what most people think, but I think that maybe he should have brought this up in the first place instead of waiting until it becomes a problem.

[smashwl7]

Were was the media whe Mitt was running for Prez. Look at what he learned in his Church I feel bad for Obama. This is why good people do run for president.

"Now WE ARE GENEROUS WITH THE NEGRO. WE ARE WILLING that the Negro have the highest kind of education. I WOULD BE WILLING to LET every Negro DRIVE A CADILLAC IF THEY COULD AFFORD IT. I WOULD BE WILLING that they have all the advantages they can get out of life in the world. BUT LET THEM ENJOY THESE THINGS AMONG THEMSELVES." LDS "Apostle" Mark E. Petersen, "Race Problems - As They Affect the Church," Address delivered at Brigham Young University, August 27, 1954, as quoted in Jerald and Sandra Tanner''s book entitled, "The Changing World of Mormonism," p. 307, emphasis added.

LDS - "Those who were LESS VALIANT IN PRE-EXISTENCE and who thereby had certain spiritual restrictions imposed upon them during mortality are known to us as the NEGROES." LDS "Apostle" Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 527, 1966 edition, emphasis added.

LDS - "THE NEGROES ARE NOT EQUAL WITH OTHER RACES where the receipt of certain spiritual blessings are concerned, ...but this inequality is not of man''s origin. IT IS THE LORD''S DOING, is based on his eternal laws of justice, and grows out of the LACK OF SPIRITUAL VALIANCE OF THOSE CONCERNED IN THEIR FIRST ESTATE [the Mormon pre-existence]." LDS "Apostle" Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 527 - 528, 1966 edition, emphasis added.

[iceman_1960]

Barack Obama will be d*amned for doing this now, by the same people who were demanding this action yesterday.

You don"t have to be a mighty prophet to predict that.

[oeangus]

Er, except the pastor is correct, especially about the U.S. supporting state terrorism against the Palestinians.

[iceman_1960]

OK, John McCain, we"re waiting.

Lets hear you denunciation of Hagee the Horrible.

Something a little stronger than "I"m proud to have the support of Pastor John Hagee, although I don"t necessarily agree with all of his views."

Something a little stronger than that, John.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by TracyMor-gan at 06:53 PM

Don''t pretend to care. You of all people have been the most racist on here. You don''t care at all, because you are the main problem.

[blkpresident]

Listen up people! Pastor Wright isn''t running for president last I checked.

[iceman_1960]

This was never a big deal anyway.

People compartmentalize what gets said in houses of worship. Sane people don"t let it spill into their private lives (except for suicide bombers).

How many Christians have cut off their hands or gouged out their eyes when these led them into sin ?

None of them do that, although I have heard that verse recited in pulpits many times.

Get real about this stuff.

[sosoe-2009]

Let'' see, this is some of what Mr. Wright said. We''ve got more Black men in prison than there are in college. Racism is alive and well. Racism is how this country was founded and how it is still run. We put Nelson Mandela in prison and supported apartheid the whole 27 years. We believe in white supremacy and Black inferiority.---THESE ARE TRUE STATEMENTS, PEOPLE!!!!!White America has always had a "problem" with strong Black men who speak their minds!! Most got lynched for dong so!! Look at what happened to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.----A WHITE MAN KILLED HIM!!!!! BECAUSE HE SPOKE HIS MIND----AND HE WAS PREACHING LOVE AND TOLERANCE!!!Black people are dam--if-they--do, and dam--if-they--don''t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jeth18]

Obama%u2019s basically claiming ignorance by saying %u201CI never heard him say it. I didn%u2019t know he was like that%u201D. This Reverend is on video DOZENS of separate times spouting garbage like this so you know he%u2019s done it even more off camera. Either Obama is lying when he says he never heard this kind of talk from the Good Reverend, or he wasn%u2019t in church enough be as pious as he claims. Believe me, if my ecclesiastical leader said anything half as inflammatory as this loser, my church would be buzzing for weeks about it. So which is it, Obama? Did you look the other way as you rode along with this America-loathing racist or are you lying about how devoutly faithful you are? My Spidey senses tell me he was deeply involved in this church and didn%u2019t disagree with the Reverend enough to leave out of disgust. That%u2019s not the man I want leading my country. I''ll vote for a man like John McCain who proved his love for America during his torture in Vietnam and a life of honorable public service.

[paris1969]

I don''t believe a word Obama is saying ... not after 20 years ... and who wouldn''t have known their pastor talked like this. He is expecting us to suspend our intelligence.

[blkpresident]

TracyMorgan,

Obama is not responsible for the remarks/beliefs of his pastor. Are you responsible for what your pastor believes? Of course, not, so why subject Obama to this kind of nonsense. Face it, America has three choices left: a woman, an OLD man or Obama. Choose Obama and knock this nonsense off.

[iceman_1960]

"McCain never attended Hagees church, McCain never donated $25,000 to Hagees church. McCain wasnt married by Hagee. McCain never claimed Hagee was his spiritual advisor. It isnt comparable."
- Posted by TracyMor-gan at 07:00 PM : Mar 14, 2008
----------------

Then why did McCain say he was "humbled and honored" and "proud" to receive the endorsement of Hagee the Horrible ?

Why did he stand up with him like that ?

Don"t make excuses for McCain and attack Obama. It stinks of hypocrisy.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by sjbj2322 at 06:47 PM

You know, African Americans and others know exactly what it is to suffer racism, and many times it provokes an internal anger that wants to strike out. So, it isn''t unusual for someone of mixed race to strike out in such a way, either. Case in point, Anne Frank was actually German-Jewish. Yet, in her diary, she struck out with comments like, "The Germans are the worse people on earth." Of course, there are many good Germans, yet the anger was from the pain within. You should go and listen to what Native Americans have to say about white people from time to time. It aint pretty! Yet, Limbaugh can get on the radio and say: "A woman as President and a Black man as Vice-President? He, he. Isn''t this still America?" And what''s the reaction of people like you? "He''s a true American."

[iceman_1960]

Here is the fellow that TracyMor-gan thought was fit to be Commander-in-Chief:


http://youtube.com/watch?v=o4DykmZz_YA

[phillysage]

"I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue" so says Barakh Obama, yet he constantly refers in a very haughty, sexist misogynist way to his women adversaries as "silly" "wrong-headed", "ridiculous" The man is a hypocrite of the worst sort. His denunciation of his pastor Jeremiah Wright does NOT ring true at all.
As others have noted, he has been a follower of this man an his church for years! He says he only looks to him for "spititual" advice...but Pastor Wright seems much more like a political fanatic than a man of God. It would be nice if Pastor Wright''s "spiritual" advice had made Barak a more honest and humble fellow, and not the snake that he is.
I hope Hillary picks a black for Vice President, but please not this Dude! There are plenty of worthy, experienced and mature black Democrats who could be Pres. or V.P. Barck Huseein Obamma isn''t one of them.

[prinzowhales]

Let''s hope that something real, real good happens for America...that being something real, real bad happens to Obama, Clinton and McCain...

I was wondering how the Democratic wing of the Demopublican Party was going to shoot themselves in the foot this time...never in my wildest dreams did I think they would shoot themselves twice in the head, twice in the gut, jump off a cliff, drown themselves in the river and then drop an ACME Safe on their heads after the advice of their senior election strategy consultant Wily Coyote....

Now I want to hear if, and if so, how long that idiot spiritual advisor of Obama''s has supported the carving of five Southern states and creating a Confederacy of Dunces called the "New African Republic".

[tcwersdc]

First Off, I have know problem with anyone running for the highest office in the land, (i''m white), but I do have a problem when the person that is making himself/herself better than the rest because of their back ground. I do not equate race with anything except for simple mines. I do think that if you are going to run for this office that maybe you should be upfront.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by sosoe at 07:01 PM

You are right on about the racism in this country, and yet people can''t understand the reaction to it. A lady once told me that unemployment sent her to a clothing store to apply for an open position there. When she arrived, the store told her there had been a mistake and that they weren''t hiring anyone. She thought, well, I''ll just hang around and look at some of the sales. They didn''t know she was in there when they commented that they would never hire a black person. Just then someone came into the store, someone white, and asked for an application and got one.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by TracyMor-gan at 07:08 PM

No TP, he will never be as loathing as you are.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by bondshomo at 07:09 PM

Spammer alert. uh, I mean Spammer Jerk! You were voting for Ron Paul, remember?

[nggr]

bondshomo,
hit "publish" once. then wait.

[iceman_1960]

Barack Obama has put this behind him now.

People who are worried about the failing economy will not let some obscure Pastor influence their votes.

John McCain is going to lose.

People won"t vote for an elderly, not very bright Republican at a time like this.

[goldesprit]

Honestly, is Obama thinking we are slow or something?

[iceman_1960]

Barack Obama has put this behind him now.

People who are worried about the failing economy will not let some obscure Pastor influence their votes.

John McCain is going to lose.

People won"t vote for an elderly, not very bright Republican at a time like this.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by sjbj2322 at 06:47 PM

You know, African Americans and others know exactly what it is to suffer racism, and many times it provokes an internal anger that wants to strike out. So, it isn''''t unusual for someone of mixed race to strike out in such a way, either. Case in point, Anne Frank was actually German-Jewish. Yet, in her diary, she struck out with comments like, "The Germans are the worse people on earth." Of course, there are many good Germans, yet the anger was from the pain within. You should go and listen to what Native Americans have to say about white people from time to time. It aint pretty! Yet, Limbaugh can get on the radio and say: "A woman as President and a Black man as Vice-President? He, he. Isn''''t this still America?" And what''''s the reaction of people like you? "He''''s a true American."
Posted by rudy654 at 07:04 PM

[drum747]

20 years of hate, 20 years too late!! Sorry Obama but trying to distance yourself now? Donating 25K last year? You named your book from one of his sermons? He baptised your children? He married you and Michelle? He is your "Spiritual advisor"? Wow talk about a lack of judgement,....

[iceman_1960]

RE: Post by TracyMor-gan at 07:11 PM : Mar 14, 2008

Spare us the phony indignation, Grand Dragon.

You weren"t going to vote for a Black candidate anyway, Klansman.

Did Robert Byrd wave goodbye to you as he was leaving the KKK ?

[tajomari]

go to www.tajmagazine.com and let us know who you support.

[phillysage]

Barakh Hussein Obama now will not even be able to carry the District of Columbia. Democrats wake up and stop drinking the Kool-Aid.
Jeremiah Wright is his "spiritual" advisor? A man who spews hatred of America matching if not exceeding that of Nation of Islam''s Louis Farrakhan! Yes, we need a Black on the ticket this time, but not, never, not ever, Bark Obama

[drum747]

20 years of hate, 20 years too late!! Sorry Obama but trying to distance yourself now? Donating 25K last year? You named your book from one of his sermons? He baptised your children? He married you and Michelle? He is your "Spiritual advisor"? Wow talk about a lack of judgement,....

[jimmb4]

Obama has lost the vote of bondshomo. In order to lose a vote you had to have had it in the first place. Somehow it seems unlikely that this is the case.

If you are Catholic and your pastor was a pedophile, does this make you one too? I don''t think so. If you are a Clinton supporter and her husband is has *** with interns does this make you unfaithful? I don''t think so. So what is the point? Obama denounces these remarks by Wright and you denounce Obama. Does this mean that you support Wright.

[jonesforch]

Wow this man is scarey;

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4443230&affil=kivi

[iceman_1960]

RE: Post by phillysage at 07:16 PM : Mar 14, 2008

That isn"t going to work now.

People will vote their economic interests, not some Pastor most people hadn"t even heard of a week ago.

Wait and see.

[drum747]

Hearing Mr. Wright''s venomous and paranoid denunciations of this country, the vast majority of Americans would walk out. Instead, Mr. Obama and his wife Michelle have presumably sat through numerous similar sermons by Mr. Wright.

Indeed, Mr. Obama has described Mr. Wright as his "sounding board" during the two decades he has known him. Mr. Obama has said he found religion through the minister in the 1980s. He joined the church in 1991 and walked down the aisle in a formal commitment of faith.

The title of Mr. Obama''s bestseller "The Audacity of Hope" comes from one of Wright''s sermons. Mr. Wright is one of the first people Mr. Obama thanked after his election to the Senate in 2004. Mr. Obama consulted Mr. Wright before deciding to run for president. He prayed privately with Mr. Wright before announcing his candidacy last year.

Mr. Obama obviously would not choose to belong to Mr. Wright''s church and seek his advice unless he agreed with at least some of his views. In light of Mr. Wright''s perspective, Michelle Obama''s comment that she feels proud of America for the first time in her adult life makes perfect sense.

[prinzowhales]

Let''''s hope that something real, real good happens for America...that being something real, real bad happens to Obama, Clinton and McCain...

I was wondering how the Democratic wing of the Demopublican Party was going to shoot themselves in the foot this time...never in my wildest dreams did I think they would shoot themselves twice in the head, twice in the gut, jump off a cliff, drown themselves in the river and then drop an ACME Safe on their heads after the advice of their senior election strategy consultant Wily Coyote....

Now I want to hear if, and if so, how long that idiot spiritual advisor of Obama''''s has supported the carving of five Southern states and creating a Confederacy of Dunces called the "New African Republic".

[guadalcanal3]

If the pastor doen''t like the United States...maybe he should consider moving to Africa...I hear the blacks really treat each other really good there...especially in Rawanda,Somalia,the Congo,Kenya.Uganda,Chad and the Sudan etc....I hear machetes are very very popular as well as mass rape and killings....

[iceman_1960]

To whom it may concern:

Knock it off.

Making threats against elected officials is a felony.

[iceman_1960]

White visitors to Obama"s church are welcomed enthusiastically, according to Factcheck.org.

[jimfinster]

Obama should leave this church if he REALLY disagrees!

[iceman_1960]

"Iceman go blow McStain already"
- Posted by ObombA1 at 07:23 PM : Mar 14, 2008
---------------

Real mature there, Potty Mouth.

[tcwersdc]

rudy654 I can understand that, I was in the Navy for over 20 years, coming from a small town in Iowa, and I hate to say this but my best friends were non white. I have not problems with who gets the the president, it would be better then we have now, but in the same voice, I would hope that we do not end up with another problem like Bush.

[jwind11]

20 years of hate, 20 years too late!! Sorry Obama but trying to distance yourself now? Donating 25K last year? You named your book from one of his sermons? He baptised your children? He married you and Michelle? He is your "Spiritual advisor"? Wow talk about a lack of judgement,....

Posted by drum747 at 07:17 PM : Mar 14, 2008

the voters on the bubble will move away from obama on this, as they should....the voters who are under his spell will excuse this and whatever else obama does or doesnt do.

[carlad1958]

Neither Senator Obama, nor Senator Clinton, are responsible for everything everyone they know says. Last I checked, unless W has finally been successful, this is America and EVERYONE is entitled to free speech. Obama and Clinton do not have to denounce and/or reject every utterance from every friend they have. We all have friends with whom we agree and disagree on things. I have a wide circle of friends and I am sure that there isn''t one person that holds every single belief in common with me.

Stop being ridiculous. This is what happens when the race starts a year too early. Nothing else to do but tear the candidates down. I believe that people who say they won''t vote for Obama now weren''t going to vote for him before.

[iceman_1960]

Here"s a white person who has actually been to Barack Obama"s church:

"And in fact, a professor of theology at the University of Chicago Divinity School, Martin E. Marty, wrote this in April 2007, rebutting Rush"s claims on Fox News:

Prof. Marty: "To those in range of Chicago TV I"d recommend a watching of Trinity"s Sunday services, and challenge you to find anything "cultic" or "sectarian" about them. More important, for Trinity, being "unashamedly black" does not mean being "anti-white." My wife and I on occasion attend, and, like all other non-blacks, are enthusiastically welcomed."

Regarding this renewed attack on Trinity, Prof. Marty told FactCheck, "That kind of e-mail is vicious and lying, and makes my blood boil... Many civic officials, public school teachers, etc. are members at Trinity; [Rev. Jeremiah] Wright has been on TV with his services for years, and no one found them racist - it"s smear politics."

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/sliming_obama.html