The Wright Questions For Obama

The Nation: Sermon Excerpts From Rev. Jeremiah Wright Damage Credibility Of The Senator

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Peter Wehner

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A few thoughts on the widely played excerpts from the sermons of Barack Obama’s pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago:

1. This is the worst crisis the Obama campaign has faced. It has done deep and perhaps long-term damage by calling into question the judgment and credibility of the junior senator from Illinois. And it badly undermines Obama’s claim that he is a figure who can bind up America’s racial wounds.

2. Senator Obama, whose campaign only last year said that he was “proud of his pastor and his church,” is now saying that he wasn’t aware of the angry, reckless, anti-American, and racially divisive comments by Reverend Wright. But that claim stretches credulity. Reverend Wright, after all, is not a stranger who is offering up a presidential-year endorsement. Wright has instead played a pivotal role in Obama’s life -- including marrying Barack and Michelle Obama, baptizing their two children, and inspiring the title of Obama’s second book, “The Audacity of Hope.”

Senator Obama has been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since the early 1990s. Are we supposed to believe that the kind of venom and vivid hatred that we have all seen on display -- that God should damn rather than bless America, that this country created AIDS in an effort to foster genocide, that we had 9/11 coming to us, that America is the “U.S. of K.K.K.A.” and that Israel is a terrorist state -- is an anomaly for Wright? That the overwhelming majority of his sermons are expositions on the love of Christ and the need to break down the dividing walls between us? That Obama was utterly shocked to see Wright’s words strung together on cable TV? That he has seen a side of Wright in the last week that he never knew existed?

This is a pastor, after all, who traveled to Libya in 1984 to visit Muammar Qadhafi with Louis Farrakhan and presented a lifetime achievement award to Farrakhan only last year, calling the Nation of Islam leader a man of “integrity and honesty” and referring to him as “one of the 20th and 21st century greats of the African-American religious experience.”

The odds are a good deal better than even that Wright’s hatred is on regular or semi-regular display at the pulpit of Trinity United. The question now becomes: What did Senator Obama hear, and when did he hear it?

3. Reverend Wright’s toxic comments may help us better understand the remarks by Michelle Obama that she is proud of America for the first time in her adult life only now that her husband is running for president and that she considers America to be a “outright mean” nation.

If someone admires Reverend Wright as much as Michelle Obama seems to -- and she has spoken very well of him in the past -- then it’s reasonable to assume that they share some common values. People who attend the same church for a quarter century often share key attitudes and outlooks of their minister. That’s not always the case -- but it’s more often the case than not. And it is very rare that people who attend a church for more than 25 years hold views that are fundamentally at odds with their pastor.

It sounds like clashing cymbals to hear Obama’s rhetoric -- at once calm, reasonable, and unifying -- and then to hear the comments of two people who play among the most important roles in his life: his wife and his minister. People are right to wonder: What the heck is going on here? Did Obama embrace Wright and his church in an effort to gain legitimacy during his Chicago years -- and now wants to jettison Wright and his church in an effort to gain legitimacy during his run for the White House?

4. Senator Obama and some of his supporters have made the plea that he not be made “guilty by association.” What people are asking for is not guilt but responsibility by association -- especially an association this long, this deep, this important.

And on the matter of “guilt by association,” here’s a thought experiment. Assume that the spiritual leader and pastor of the church George W. Bush or John McCain attended was, say, a white supremacist or an anti-gay bigot. Do you think that there would be any hesitancy among the press to push the “guilt by association” storyline? I rather doubt it.

I ask because on Thursday CNN’s Anderson Cooper and some of his commentators were visibly unhappy that they were forced to spend valuable time talking about the Wright issue rather than, say, health care or education policy. Anderson and the others clearly viewed it as distasteful and a distraction from a full airing of policy issues. (To Cooper’s credit, by Friday he had changed his tune and was making the case for why the story was relevant.)

5. We actually have an example of how the MSM plays the “guilt by association” card when it comes to certain political and religious figures. In the 2000 campaign George W. Bush spoke once at Bob Jones University; it was an event used to bludgeon Bush with for the rest of the campaign and into his presidency. And, of course, Bush did not attend Bob Jones University, financially support it, or consider Bob Jones to be his spiritual mentor or close friend for 25 years. Yet these things mattered not at all. Bush spoke at Bob Jones University -- and so to many in the press, he was joined at the hip with it. The association between Reverend Wright and Senator Obama is far deeper in every respect.

Until now Barack Obama has run a remarkable campaign and has shown himself to be a man of apparent grace and class, an apostle of hope and unity. But recent events are starting to eat away at the image of Obama. Nothing has done more damage to him, however, than the comments of his pastor Jeremiah Wright. What Obama has said by way of explanation is neither reassuring nor persuasive -- and before this story plays itself out, much more damage to the reputation of Barack Obama may be done.

The words of Jeremiah Wright are acidic -- both in their own right and in what they are doing to the Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. For his next sermon Reverend Wright might consider meditating on the words of James: “the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” To these words Senator Obama may simply say, Amen.

[jerryz7936]

That''s why McCain is having a hard time with the conservative republicans. They don''t like pastors or anybody that don''t aligned with their beliefs.

I truly believe they make themselves pro American but, they do not follow some American ways. They chose to tear people down just by association, not talk about issues.

O.K. I hold them accountable for this war and the poor economy because they voted for Bush and/or because they are republicans. They aligned themselves with a poor candidate and it%u2019s a problem with me and I''m sure with most Americans. I question their poor judgment and their association to Bush. Your judgment put our troops in harms way. I''m sure most Americans feel the same. The war was not wise. You need to explain your screw-up!
Stick with issues. Sounds so ridiculous. It''s like Robin Givens should be the heavyweight champion of the world because she was married to Mike Tyson.

You conservative renounce and reject your president and party for poor judgment. That is the big issue.

[elicatlover]

Thank you for an insightful column. It''s encouraging to finally see someone on this site address this issue honestly and objectively.

[vastr-wcon]

.
A very nice summary of the true foundation of hussein. Clearly, he''s a divider - not a uniter. The only item left out of this execellent article is Wright''s constant advocacy of "black values" - i.e., as so appropriately described by Ferraro, special treatment for blacks and, simultaneously, condemnation of whites. He''s been preaching that vile, bigoted and hateful approach for decades. There can be no doubt that hussein has been a part of it over that time.

/

[catsbecca]

But John McCain''s Pastor HAS said and done similar and worse things! He''s even had a "slave sale" at his church!!! How does Obama get criticized for his Pastor''s preaching, but no one is commenting on what McCain''s pastor is doing: http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/02/john_mccain_sho.php

[tbweb]

The only question that comes to mind for me is what was Rev. Jeremiah Wright thinking, over exposing himself in the middle of a heated Presidential Campaign and doing serious damage to Sen. Obama in the process? Thank God he left Sen. Obama''s campaign and decided to retire from the ministry as well. Timing is everything and the timing of Rev. Jeremiah Wright''s public over exposure could not have come at a worst time for Sen. Obama. With supporters like this, who needs opposition! With all due respect, Rev. Jeremiah Wright has provided ammo for Sen. Clinton who showed "class" and didn''t touch this with a 10 foot pole, and Sen. McCain who may not be so kind and even if Sen. McCain is the GOP attack machine will not be if Sen. Obama wins the Democratic nomination.

[samthetvcat]

"To Cooper%u2019s credit, by Friday he had changed his tune and was making the case for why the story was relevant"

It''s absolutely relevant - the NRO says this issue brings bigotry, judgment and credibility to the fore and I wholeheartedly agree!

So given that 75% of all whites, latinos, asians, and biracial people have a preference for whites and harbor hostility to blacks, and even 50% of blacks have a preference for whites and harbor hostility to blacks, but 100% of people like to think they''re race-neutral, how many of you are really willing to put YOURSELVES to the same tests that you seek to subject Barack to? It goes to objectivity and truth.

Peter Weiner, the test is here: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/Study?tid=-1

How unbiased, how committed to truth, and how much character is in all of you?

[samthetvcat]

"before this story plays itself out, much more damage to the reputation of Barack Obama may be done"

There''s this curious tendency of people in the media to keep saying this again and again - ''this could be fatal'', ''this is serious'', ''will his campaign survive'' - combined with a complete void of any research into factors which would shed light on the issue.

What''s with the need to say this? My sense is that it''s people''s way of saying ''I''m terrified at the thought of a black person actually becoming President'' . . . it''s very primal really, but people just look almost sub-human when they just repeat this without seeking to inject rational thought into their assessment. True, the NRO always act like this, but WOW I''m shocked latinos like Geraldo are like this too . . . who knew?!?

Like some of the fears people have expressed about a black person becoming president (when Barack is actually half white) is that Osama would be granted a pardon, Barack would laugh and cheer when people throw themselves out of buildings in the next 9/11, Barack will wage genocide against whites, etc . . .

[samthetvcat]

There''d probably be stereotypes attached to anybody new as they got close to having a serious shot at the White House:

latino candidate - open the floodgates, massive grants of amnesty, merge with Mexico (right?)

same-*** candidate - children getting the wrong message about ''sexual perversion'' (evangelicals tend to group homosexuality with beastiality, child molestation, orgies (?))

female candidate - vulnerable to attack, or conversely destined for armageddon as the female seeks to prove her toughness, masculinization of women

[samthetvcat]

Like is Barack''s association with this pastor REALLY that reflective of how Barack might lead, or is it really more reflective of how people worry that a black in power might leave them vulnerable in some inarticulable way . . . people really need to question themselves about that as much as they question Barack and his relationship to his pastor . . .

[kennergirl]

Like is Barack''''s association with this pastor REALLY that reflective of how Barack might lead,
Posted by SamTheTVCat

No, but it does show he apparently is a bad judge of character. Even if Rev. Wright felt this way personally he should have kept it to himself. He just isn''t Obama''s pastor he is his mentor which, in my eyes, makes him even more of an influence over Obama. You wouldn''t pick a person as your mentor if you disagreed on issues that most would think is important especially if I were running for the highest office in the land. Rev. Wright calls home, where he has built quite a sizable congregation, in a country he apparently hates. It''s a little hard for most people to swallow that fact alone.

[ajmarine1]

You wouldn''''t pick a person as your mentor if you disagreed on issues that most would think is important especially if I were running for the highest office in the land. Rev. Wright calls home, where he has built quite a sizable congregation, in a country he apparently hates. It''''s a little hard for most people to swallow that fact alone.

Posted by kennergirl at 04:15 PM : Mar 17, 2008



Also, the fact that he was asked to be on Obama''s African American Religious Leadership Committee showed he was still seeking spirtual guidance from him and Obama is either a liar or stupid or he thinks we are stupid if thinks that we believe he did not know this side of his pastor after 20 years.

[samthetvcat]

kennergirl, AJMarine1 - are you both ''Conservatives''? I know AJMarine is, so how then do you vote for somebody who''s mentor is Jerry Falwell and Rev. Hagee?

Conversely if you support Hillary, applying the same standard you just held Barack to, doesn''t a vote for Hillary effectively endorse the idea of infidelity?

You think you''re different and you''re not . . .

[samthetvcat]

Okay some doofus on CNN is trying to play the ''credibility'' angle - relative to the Clintons, and McCain/Vickie Iseman/Paxcon . . . ROTFLMAO . . . redneck . . .

[ktgld14]

It is unfortunate that the real issues are not getting the attention that they deserve. It is also unfortunate that the Senator''s credibility is being called into question regarding a statement that the pastor made several years ago. The rehashing of this issue is making people think it happened yesterday when it did not. It is unfortunate that what is being forgotten is that the Senator has worked with people from all walks of life including republicans and will continue to do so if elected, so why are we questioning that now? If this is the extent that the opponent will go to to try to sway voters away, what does that say about them??? Unfortunately, this is the way the game is played.

[ajmarine1]

kennergirl, AJMarine1 - are you both ''''Conservatives''''? I know AJMarine is, so how then do you vote for somebody who''''s mentor is Jerry Falwell and Rev. Hagee?


Posted by SamTheTVCat at 04:47 PM : Mar 17, 2008


Hi Sam, I like to think of myself as and Independent, I voted for Carter twice, Bush twice, and when Dole and Clinton ran, I voted for a third party candidate; so what does that make me?

As far as Falwell and Hagee, they are nut jobs too.


I''m just asking the question, if Obama is elected, is his pastor a man you want wishing in his ear as a mentor, and do you believe that he didn''t know his pastors views before now?

[ljb6599]

I am sick of this racist ***!!!Talk about the issues please!!

[wogerwabbit]

This idiot is telling me in effect that because I listen to George W. Bush, I''m a dumba$$ too.

[Syndicate]

CBS_Oliver: Jack Kemp has that picture hanging in his office. It has a caption that says "Fredom is an expensive thing". It is signed by Mrs. King. Not something normally associated with Republicans and thus the Joke. Sorry you didn''t get it.

[ajmarine1]

McCain has also had a run-in with controversial preachers. John Hagee, the leader of San Antonio''s Cornerstone Church who has been accused of making disparaging remarks about Catholics, endorsed McCain. And Rod Parsley, leader of the World Harvest Church of Columbus and accused of urging war on Muslims, endorsed him.

McCain was not a member of either minister''s church, and he denounced their remarks.



Everyone decide if this is the same thing or not.

[kesac4650]

Barrack continued going to that church for 20 years, but claims he disagreed with the mesage. No one I know would have returned on the 2nd Sunday after hearing the minikster take the Lords name in vain, and curse our nation.
Did Barrack lead in any small way, in that church? It certainly doesn''t look like he did, or those types of rants mighht have been eliminated years ago, and never had the chance to blow up in Obamas face.

[ajmarine1]

In his struggle to shore up his base, John McCain has once again cast aside his principles by embracing Rev. John Hagee, saying he was "pleased to have the endorsement of Pastor John Hagee," despite his intolerant comments about Catholics, women, African Americans, Muslims and LGBT Americans. He repeated his support today, saying "I am very proud of the Pastor John Hagee''s spiritual leadership to thousands of people%u2026I am not endorsing some of their positions." [McCain Media Availability, 2/29/08]

Hagee has already come under fire for his anti-Catholic remarks. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said McCain should "retract his embrace of Hagee," and said Hagee "has waged an unrelenting war against the Catholic Church." Chris Korzen, Executive Director of Catholics United, said "We hope Senator McCain will take the principled position of publicly and unequivocally distancing himself from Pastor Hagee''s anti-Catholic comments. Intolerance and bigotry do not belong in American politics."

http://tinyurl.com/22jyk3

[tbweb]

Unfortunately for Sen. Obama, the Republicans have been looking for a new Willie Horton replacement and it appears Reverend Jeremiah Wright just volunteered for the new GOP TV attack Ads should Sen. Obama win the Democratic nomination! Meet Willie Horton Part II.

[blkpresident]

Rev. Wright is NOT running for president folks.

[samthetvcat]

AJMarine1, I pointed this out under another article that I watch Hannity and Colmes all the time and get asked how I could watch that show when Sean Hannity is so racist (according to many Democrats)...I think the belief that when somebody has negative qualities they ought to be rejected isn''t a belief that people who tend to see the good and bad in everybody embraces - acceptance is the cornerstone of tolerance. What I get of value from watching Sean Hannity is his passion for discussing and sharing Conservative issues and values. And Barack has said that what he got from his pastor was spiritual guidance.

While the 20year difference versus and endorsement is a distinction, I don''t see how it''s one that''s relevant to the question a candidate''s values. Because Barack''s never shown an anti-white platform in his 12 years of public service, so what would be his motive to change now? Desire to ensure re-election by pleasing the voters who put him over the top? That same vulnerability would then exist with McCain and Hagee''s armageddon scenario, made an even greater threat given his ''bomb bomb Iran'' ditty.

[samthetvcat]

PS There was a black pundit on CNN Headline News who was suggesting that Barack might tomorrow come out and say he''s talked to his pastor and his pastor is going to come out and admit that that his sermon was very unChristian and that the focus should have been on peace, not incitement. If so, that would be genius! Wouldn''t that go a far way towards making people feel that their concerns have been heard and addressed?

PPS I still feel like when people say things like ''do you see the issue'', ''do you get the issue'' what they''re saying is really that they are terrified of what a black President might do in office . . . that''s surely part of the firestorm. The guy on CNN Headline News even admitted that about 2/3 of emails felt the same way . . . that''s right in line with Harvard''s finding that 75% of whites, latinos, and asians harbor hostility towards blacks. In which case, race relations are likely to continue to flare up throughout the campaign . . . it could actually be a great opportunity to have a collective healing . . .

[ajmarine1]

Posted by SamTheTVCat at 06:39 PM : Mar 17, 2008


I still haven''t decided who I will vote for.

I wish Obama had more experence, I think he will raise taxes, or at least let the Bush tax cut run out, and if you want out of Iraq, he looks like he is headed that way.

Hillary says she has experence she does not, I think her policies are close to socialism,taxes will go up, she now says she will leave Iraq, and I shudder at the thought of Bill wondering around the White House with nothing to do.

As far as McCain, you will get more of Bush.


Who to vote for, who to vote for?...........I guess there is always Nader.

[samthetvcat]

AJMarine1 - ha ha I understand where you''re coming from . . . I was hoping for a Obama/Romney showdown and would have been estatic with either, but for me Hillary/McCain sure does make Nader look promising HA HA

Probably for all of them their VP and cabinet choices might bring some much-needed breadth and depth. People might almost want to vote for a McCain/Crist ticket, almost HOPING McCain might suddenly retire :o

[luckylary777]

If the African American population wants to heal the racial divisions in this country then they should begin to let go of these anti white militants. Why would I join with you if you hate me so badly? If they continue to cast stones do not expect an olive branch. I truly believe that O''bama is not the right choice at this time. You can say you are a leader of all people or you can show you are a leader of all people. His manipulation of the young and impressionable is below all ethical standards, these kids have no idea what they are standing up for. The result will be an embarassing defeat of O"bama in the general election. No O''bama for president. We need integrity.

[peacedreamer-2009]

What''s Obama supposed to do, put a muzzle on him? In this country, we still have some freedom of speech, I think. Although I hate the things WRight said, Obama is not in charge of censuring or censoring the things someone else says. Shesh, his is so transparently an attempt to smear the first serious non-white candidate. Anyone who thinks Barack is responsible for the things his pastor says ought to think about how hard it is to censor even one''s spouse or children, let alone an unrelated person. They say what they say, and no one else should be responsible for it but the person who says it.

[ajmarine1]

Posted by SamTheTVCat at 07:17 PM : Mar 17, 2008


I just hope whoever gets in does their best and has the countries best interests at heart.

[gdpor3811]

The really sad thing comes down to one thing. What if John McCain or any other Republican had been a member of Pat Robertsons church? The liberal press is giving Obama a buy on this one.

I was a life member of the United Church of Christ. I was a member of the consistory which is the non-clergy board of directors that is in charge of each church''s goverance.

We had monthly meetings, we had a yearly annual meeting. In the Congregational tradition governance was up to the members.

As a 20 year member of his church Sen Obama had the opportunity to be on the consistory. Was he. He also had the opportunity to attend, speak out and vote in annual meetings.

Silence is concurrance.

Rev. Wright was also a member of Obama''s campaign staff.

Silence is concurrance. What could Obama have been thinking. How could Wrights'' rants be construed as good ministry.

I have now watched Wright''s video''s. I remember the church service I attended the Sunday after 9/11. We were in shock, we were greiving, we were looking for Gods Grace. What could Wright have been thinking. Worse what could Obama have been thinking. Reality is Retzko and Wright tell us alot about Obama.

The bloom has come off the rose.

[sjmrash]

This is a media distraction that needs to be put to rest and let''s get back to politics. We have had Mormons and athiests running for president and I don''t care about his minister!!! I care about the politics!!!! Hey MEDIA......GROW UP!!!

[old300d]

Saying G.D. is a sin to Christians. It is using the Lords name in vain. This is what most Christians, no matter what their color believe.

To somehow try to suggest it is a black thing is a BIG LIE ! ! !

[old300d]

L.F. the leader of the nation of islam is a brainwasher !

So is J. W.

That is how he can say G.D. America in church and the people cheer.

He is dammning them too and they cheer.
They are brainwashed. Is Obama brainwashed too ?

[tbweb]

Many have accused Sen. Obama of having a "glass jaw" and of being "thin skinned", unable to take criticism and unable to take a hard punch on the jaw. The road to the U.S. Presidency is not a cake walk and its not suppose to be and if you really think about it we really don''t want it to be! Sen. McCain, left for dead, no money, he came back! Sen. Clinton, left for dead, she keeps coming back! Sen. Obama, wounded by an association with Reverend Jeremiah Wright, gives a speech on "race" tomorrow in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, the whole worlds watching and wondering, can he also come back?

[pepperwood2]

Good News BILL for HILLARY from Penna. Husband''''s Partial Birth Bill Veto wins support for Hillary from States Roman Catholics.

As a voting Democrat from the old school of Bill & Hillary Clinton, Mondale, Ferarro. I''''m happy to learn that Governor Rendell has come out with a vengence for Hillary in our GRRREAT State of Pa.

The old guard is alive & well here. They''''ve expressed the belief That The Shepherd Boy Obama is a Democrat out of line, not sure what that means, but it is clear that the Governor has connections, and assured us that Hillary will win Pa.

Each day his constituents gather together at the summit to find new ways to distain, mock, belittle, ridicule, and start rumors circulating concerning Obama. His camp is encircled & he is outnumbered. He has to go it alone! Somehow, we''''ve been told that Pa, NY,OH, NJ, & MA are superdelegate states and since Rendell was president of the DNC, I''''m sure he knows the ropes. We don''''t understand this but it sounds like a pretty slick trick.

We''''ve been told that Our Great White Hope is in Hillary and that she is entitled to the nomination and nothing is going to stand in HER way. I trust this will be good news for Bill, most Pa & all voters across this Great Nation of ours, & the Mainstream News. We are not biased here in Pa.

This is fun & we''''re just warming up here in Pa. It''''s Polka time so lets Roll out the Barrel & start the count down for Hillary.

[tbweb]

Posted by pepperwood2 at 10:58 PM : Mar 17, 2008,,,

Sen. Clinton was always projected to win PA. from the very beginning. Sen. Obama will campaign in PA. of course, but never expected to win in PA.

[nearl4511]

The coolest thing is....

If you run your mouse over this article without clicking to open, it is advertised as written by "The Nation" wheras it is truly written by "The National Review". A little different take on the world in these two perspectives.

I am convinced now that because of this constant race baiting McCain, war monger that he is and no economist, will win the Presidency and the Democrats may lose both houses.

I know I am discouraged from voting for anything CLinton and I''m a die hard progressive (that''s Liberal for you NRO idiots).

[samthetvcat]

pt 3
Unless Barack can get this pastor to sincerely have second thoughts about the hate-filled anti-American rhetoric and how it might have been adversely influencing the congregation, I''m not sure this is going to go away. People are probably going to get very animalistic I would guess...

[samthetvcat]

ps2
Barack really can''t - that''s just the reality. If he comes out tomorrow and demonstrates more compassion and understanding of his preacher (who really is a bigot) than for the people who don''t want a black President to in any way act like a ''black'', he''s going to be DESTROYED by the Right. I think that when you''re different from everybody else you can only realistically expect others to adapt a little bit and then the burden largely lies on the person who''s different to acclimate, and if one expects too much change to happen from the status quo they''ll just squish that person like a bug (?)

To be honest, even I didn''t believe it when Barack said he''d never seen that side of this preacher - if he tries to stick with that, I think he''ll also be screwed because the Clintons and McCain are much better known by people, and the suspicion level even without the freaky preacher would have already been higher for him. And I''m not sure the average person is really capable of distinguishing between a person with some negative qualities with also some positive qualities (either as individuals or collectively) - like this is country where only 28% of people actually got that there would be consequences for Iraqis if we invaded.

[samthetvcat]

pt 1
--"Here is a comment made by Paul Goode in another venue that deserves to be repeated:
"So let me get this straight...Barack Obama''''s pastor makes an ill-considered remark in the sanctity of his church, and Obama is called out in the public pulpit and made out to be somehow responsible for it. But, for the last 28 years, lunatic right-wing Christian ministers can spew anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-Arab, anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, anti-science anti-human bile from their cable networks and talk shows; summon the wrath of their god on the Muslim world; and call for the assassination of foreign leaders -- and the Republican presidents and politicians who consort with them not only get off scot free, they get away with branding the media as liberal. What a world..."--
Posted by CBS_Oliver

Okay, I''ve made the case for days that about why Barack isn''t the one who needs to be ''honest'' and address possible racism, it''s a question everybody needs to be asking themselves. But the reality is that politics are animal warfare, and the Republicreeps get away with this appaling behavior because they can.

[ksh1022]

I can''t believe there are people out there trying to defend Obama and his choice of churches and spiritual advisors. Obama obviously knew what the "Reverend" (and I use the term lightly) Wright was. He condoned Wrights racism and indeed paid for it with his financial contributions. I''m not opposed to a black president as some would like to believe. I just think that Obamas judgement is in question. We need a President who loves all Americans not just the black ones. We need a president who has enough sense to run as fast as he can from a racist bigot. Obama didn''t run he had his arms around Wright for the last 20 years.

[ramos937]

I voted for Obama in the TX primary.

"-"Here is a comment made by Paul Goode in another venue that deserves to be repeated:
"So let me get this straight...Barack Obama''''''''s pastor makes an ill-considered remark in the sanctity of his church, and Obama is called out in the public pulpit and made out to be somehow responsible for it. But, for the last 28 years, lunatic right-wing Christian ministers can spew anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-Arab, anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, anti-science anti-human bile from their cable networks and talk shows; summon the wrath of their god on the Muslim world; and call for the assassination of foreign leaders -- and the Republican presidents and politicians who consort with them not only get off scot free, they get away with branding the media as liberal. What a world..."--
Posted by CBS_Oliver"

Sorry, but the folks listening to this type of sermons were not running for President.

I frankly now believe that Obama must have sat through a number of similar sermons during the 20 plus years he attended this church. He never objected or took issue with the content. To me, a Presidential candidate, no matter his/her talents and/or failings, must love the USA and so show it. By failing to speak out or object in some way, Obama funked this test.

Also, if someone does think that the Republicans would not use this issue againist Obama, that person is extremely naive.

I now wish I had my vote back.

[neonink]

Here are the reasons why obama is a self-loathing character:

1) cocaine as a young man, known fact. Kids do drugs when they don''t feel good about themselves.

2) How does a man with a VERY white mother sit Sunday after Sunday in a church that is condemning "whitey" for everything?

3) Michelle looks more in charge than Obama, watch them together sometimes. She rules the roost. Pay attention next time.

4) Former muslim, atheist, and now christian he has no identity.

5) white/black? father left. He has no identity.

6) To saddle up to someone with a VERY STRONG message like Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a mentor, spiritual advisor, uncle like he has never known made Obama a sponge for any hate diatribe that he was integrated to. With Wright, Obama finally found his "roots".

Of course, without a strong identity of Wright and wrong, Obama has probably been brainwashed into most of the trash Wright has taught him. A young man with an absent father found a new teacher.

Do you really want a President with so many psychological issues? Scary.

The whole family needs some SERIOUS THERAPY that Michelle Obama CAN BE PROUD OF.

[ianlou]

Give me a break! Look at all the Nut-Job Evangelists Bush associated himself with, he filled the Whitehouse with Ivory Tower League Christian Collage graduates.

[Netterz]

WHO would attend a church for atleast 20YEARS, Married there, kids baptised there, but not agree to the words being preached, an beleive and follow, for 20 LONG years, his entire ADULT life, a part of his spiritual upbringing,the views and donate a crapload of $$ to a CHURCH he shares no interests or views? Who blatently keep reverse racism alive and thriving? This same man who refuses to recite the pledge, refuses to place his hand over his heart, or even a small gesture, to show he loves this country, by wearing a flag pin on his lapel....Any one who votes for this man, beleives his lies of how he can ''heal''America, needs to have there head examined. He is as slick as the slimiest used car sales man on earth. If he gets elected, we might as well seal te death warrant on our own fates, and this once great country we call home. He slides around,every time the heat turns on him, like a snake charmer.. Scary...

[babs118]

if there was any question about media bias in favor of obama, you are proving it right now. this "news break" is just one more campaign speech, given freely and enthusiastically. and also a free ad for his first book. you and your comrades should be ashamed of yourself.

[pdchapin]

This shows Obama''s basic problem. Since few people really know him - he''s depended so far on first impressions - when a serious charge surfaces, whether it''s true, false or misrepresented, people get uncomfortable. Uncomfortable people don''t vote for you. If people knew him better they would be able to judge the justice of the accusation better. And everything we''ve seen so far is minor to what the Republicans are going to do to him. They don''t have to prove anything, just raise questions. If nominated, he''s going to get crushed, and probably take some Democratic members of congress with him. I just hope it''s not to late to get another candidate. Hillary''s no prize, but we know all her warts already and have already passed judgment on them and she''s still running neck and neck with McCain.

As for the charge itself, image McCain belonging to a church that gave an award and praise to the head of the KKK. African-Americans, and most whites, would be outraged. If the pastor in my church did that I''d quite on the spot. There are other churches.

[element51]

I knew it was just a matter of time before the big bomb was dropped. I just didn''t expect it this soon. There is just no way in He11 that the republicans were going to lose this election. It made no difference who the democrats nominated, they were going to lose. That is a special talent the democrats have. This article, which was written by the National Review, not The Nation, is represenative of how deceptive things can be. I''ll bet most of you thought this was an article from The Nation. I have tried, as an independent voter, to look at the facts to help in making my voting decision. But I have discovered that in reality there are no facts. Just smoke and mirrors. So for me it comes down to this.Once he is elected, I will support McCain because since he will win we had all better hope and pray that he makes some good decisions. I think that the republicans will take back the House and Senate so McCain will have clear sailing to do what he wants. Based on what has happened the last 7 years, he can''t possibly do any worse. We are a strong people and we will survive whatever is to come. God bless America. We need your help!

[element51]

babs118...I guess you and I see this story in a completely different light. How can you say that this if a free pass for Obama? Just the opposite..it is the end of him as a serious candidate. This is like the stake through the vampires heart. There is no way that he can defend himself no matter what he says any any speech. In the unlikely event that he does get the nomination the republicans will be able to defeat him on this story alone. You should be dancing in the street. You have just been handed the presidency on a silver platter. You won and you hardly had to fire a shot. Congrats.