Obama's Pastor Protests "Unfair" Treatment

Rev. Jeremiah Wright Says Media Took Comments Out Of Context

(CBS/AP)  The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, former pastor to Barack Obama, said that publicizing sound bites of sermons in which he condemned U.S. policies was "unfair" and "devious," and done by people who know nothing about his church, according to excerpts of an interview released Thursday.

Wright said that, as an activist, he is accustomed to being "at odds with the establishment," but the response to the sermons has been "very, very unsettling."

The interview, scheduled for broadcast Friday night, is the first the pastor has given since video of his preaching gained national attention in March, putting Democratic presidential hopeful Obama on the defensive.

Among the most remarked upon sound bites was Wright proclaiming from the pulpit "God damn America" for its racism. He accused the government of flooding black neighborhoods with drugs.

The controversy forced Obama to explain his 20-year association with the minister, who is stepping down from Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.

"The blowing up of sermons preached 15, seven, six years ago and now becoming a media event, not the full sermon, but the snippets from the sermon ... having made me the target of hatred, yes, that is something very new," Wright told "Bill Moyers' Journal" on PBS.

"I felt it was unfair. I felt it was unjust. I felt it was untrue. I felt - for those who were doing that - were doing it for some very devious reasons," he said.

In a March 18 speech in Philadelphia, Obama described the history of injustice that fueled Wright's comments, while also condemning his pastor's statements and acknowledging white resentment of African-Americans.

Asked his response to the senator's speech, Wright said, "He's a politician, I'm a pastor."

"I do what I do. He does what politicians do," Wright said. "What happened in Philadelphia, where he had to respond to the sound bites, he responded as a politician."

Wright said he has never heard Obama repeat any of the pastor's controversial statements as his own opinion. "No, no, no. Absolutely not," Wright said.

Wright gave the interview as presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and the North Carolina Republican Party argue over a TV ad with Obama and the pastor scheduled to run Monday, ahead of the state's crucial May 6 primary. A narrator in the spot says, "He's just too extreme for North Carolina."

McCain has asked local officials not to run the ad, but the state Republican Party said no.

"The Republican party of the state of North Carolina is dead wrong," McCain said on CBS News' The Early Show. "They are an independent organization. I'll do everything in my power to make sure not only they stop it but that kind of leadership is rejected. And the overwhelming majority of republicans in North Carolina share my view." (Read more about McCain's efforts to stop the ad and others like it.)

Wright is scheduled to speak Monday at the National Press Club in Washington.

[haoli25]

As long as there are living examples like Rev. Wright, the ''N'' word will never go away.

[pesojoe]

A sick mind teaches his flock hate and racist values. Obama often attended and even brought his young children to hear the tripe deceptively passed as religion. I feel as though that is why his wife is ashamed of America. Twenty years and this family never understood what their church values were, hard to believe isn''t it?

[ranger1948]

He made the statements, thereis no misconstruing their meaning. He associates with radicals and hate groups that are racists. Now he has to accept rsponsibility for his actions. Let him go back to Afica if he loves it so much. It is obvious his hatred for America.

[reasondriven]

So, we%u2019re supposed to believe that Obama is a racist? Hah! The guy is half-white, half-black. Does he hate half of himself? I%u2019m pretty sure the right-wingers don%u2019t even believe that one themselves%u2014although, if you repeat something long enough to a bunch of self-proclaimed %u201Cditto-heads%u201D%u2026 If you watch the full context of Wright%u2019s sermon, and you still claim that what he is preaching is anti-American, then you are either self-deluded or bigoted. There is nothing anti-American about reflecting on some of our moral failings and inspiring us to strive toward a higher ideal. There does, however, seem to be something a bit anti-American about shutting one%u2019s eyes and plugging one%u2019s ears and repeating the mantra: %u201CAmerica is perfect, America is perfect.%u201D Maybe the Obama people should make similar doctored sound bite clips of religious leaders that Hillary and McCain associate with to combat this nonsense.

[rowdytexan2]

"I feel very sad that Obama''s moving speeches of "hope" are not matched by his backers, associates and advisors. I am truly opposed to racism; no matter the color and hateful excuses/doctrine.

Now I have learned that Obama has a flaming racist minister and I have learned that Black Liberation Theology is a marxist ideology with a twist calling for leaders to kill whites and Jews (whereas Marxists call for class based mass murder). I can''t support him to be the president of all our people and protect our nation.

Just like I could not support a white person who was a member of a KKK church for twenty years for president of the US, I can not vote for a black person who is a member of a Black liberation theology church to be our President! I am very disappointed that Obama''s slick words are covering up something very stupid, dangerous and ugly - hate and bitterness."

Well said!

[armadillo01]

Obama''s religious beliefs are concern enough for me to not fully trust him. I listened to his speach, and while he is an eloquent speaker - his actions speak louder than his words. As an adult, he might be able to separate Rev Wrights words from his personal beliefs - but, 1: if you don''t agree with such radical views - why stay?, and 2: How does such provoking and divisional sermons impress his children, and how THEY perceive the truth? If you don''t believe in such rantings - how could you subject your children to this weekly?
I think he does support Rev Wright''s opinions of the United States - but you can''t get to be President on that pulpit.. tell them what they want to hear instead.
Nope not for me -- a GREAT speaker - but trying to hide the true Obama under beautiful sermon-like speaches..

[undermyboot]

No one that the Far Right targets will ever survive politically. No one is perfect enough to survive their talk radio and Fox News propaganda. The MSM now parrots the far right talking points and ignores the problems with the Far Right politicians. The rightist morons in this country swallow the *** of their propagandist masters and parrot their idiocy as if it makes sense. And here they are on this board showing how f*cking stupid they are. ROFLMAO

[grammawhamma]

Asked his response to the senator''s speech, Wright said, "He''s a politician, I''m a pastor."

"I do what I do. He does what politicians do," Wright said. "What happened in Philadelphia, where he had to respond to the sound bites, he responded as a politician."
--------

Sounds to me like the great Rev. Wright just put his foot in his mouth again with the above statement as far as Obama goes. We all know what politicians are known for...its "lying". So I guess Rev Wright just indirectly called Obama a liar. Wow...I never ever thought I would agree with something Wright said!

[ksh1022]

The Republicans will have a field day with this. If we chose Obama this Wright stuff will guarantee a victory for McCain. Is this what we want?

[wango2007-2009]

"...publicizing sound bites of sermons in which he condemned U.S. policies was "unfair" and "devious," and done by people who know nothing about his church..."

--------

What else would an un-American racists say to cover his tracks? We all saw and heard what he said. Who does Wright think he''s fooling now by making these kinds of excuses?

[abbe91]

"We all saw and heard what he said.
Posted by wango2007 at 05:04 AM : Apr 25, 2008"

Really ?

[popstom1]

Rev.hurt Obama now he''s on the spin trail And
you call willy slick 95% of Blacks vote Obama
now let 95% of white vote Clinton and well
we''ll see

[shirk3-2009]

what part of "god damm America" do people not understand??

[broncfan1661]

If everyone was responsible for the actions of people they associated with then no one could ever run for president. Everyone has hot headed friends or controversial figures in their life.
Posted by jedi0808 at 01:18 AM : Apr 25, 2008
___________________________________

What a hypocritical statement, You''re crying about people associating Obama with his pastor and in the next sentence you use the word Billary.
This seems to be the M.O.of the Obama people; No matter who says something bad about their candidate, they attack Hillary with slimey remarks.

[kesac4650]

Obama has never said he would leave that church. He said he "might have to think about maybe doing something".
Obama never says anything concrete.

[cfin5]

Heh,......Yeah Wright! What I really want to see is Obama give you the mic again. We got all the tapes we need to defeat "no show to vote" Obama. Couple more wouldn''t hurt.

[beebopareebo]

59 percent of Americans were familiar with Reverend Wright. (Pew polling) Just in time for the last couple of votes, here he comes again to make sure that no one misses out.

This is not good for Obama. No two ways about it.

[crater7]

FOLKS! GrammmaWhammma, HAS NAILED IT.

THE GOOD "and evil" REV. WRIGHT SAY''S; OBAMA BY SAYING THE REV. WAS WRONG FOR HIS RACIST COMMENTS, REV. WRIGHT HAS CALLED HIS YOUNG GRASSHOPPER, A LIAR.

YOU GOTTA LOVE IT.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

[mcvet]

FOLKS! GrammmaWhammma, HAS NAILED IT.

THE GOOD "and evil" REV. WRIGHT SAY''''S; OBAMA BY SAYING THE REV. WAS WRONG FOR HIS RACIST COMMENTS, REV. WRIGHT HAS CALLED HIS YOUNG GRASSHOPPER, A LIAR.

YOU GOTTA LOVE IT.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by crater7 at 06:59 AM : Apr 25, 2008
+ report abuse

Excuse me but isn''t this EXACTLY how we ended up with the WORST PRESIDENT in US HISTORY?? That IS NOT what he said and NOT what Obama said... God when will you simple minded people ever learn?? Follow them folks.. they''ve lead you so well up to this point!! ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush

[demandbetter]

I am coming more and more to the acknowledgement that America may never be able to deal with the prejudices that plague our country. Only in politics can a person take a Vetran and turn him into a hate-monger ,or a racist. We all hear these snippets that Rev. Wright said . The first thing I did is to go a listen to the whole statement in its context. And guess what I still did not agree with the msg 100% ,but I understood a little more where he was coming from.

We in America always pride ourselves on having free press. We look down on some of the other contries where the gov controls the press , because we the gov is controling the msg that come over the air to influence the population..... guess what ? politicans do it to us all the time. gov does it here all the time. Do you think G. Bush was a popular president and that was why he was re-elected , No , he and his powerful connections use fear and terror to influence people to vote and feel hopeless without his leadership..... 4 years later I hope we all see how much of a mistake that was.


If your feelings are your feelings ,fine ,just make sure that someone else is not influencing your emotions...... this is the single biggest reasons we are divided as a nation.

[mcvet]

Rev.hurt Obama now he''''s on the spin trail And
you call willy slick 95% of Blacks vote Obama
now let 95% of white vote Clinton and well
we''''ll see


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by popstom1 at 05:57 AM : Apr 25, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL YOU have GOT to be kidding? The ONLY people involved in this debate are you losers who can''t seem to stop running the ROVE type of champaign. Hillary CAN NOT win... Why some of you fascist can''t seem to get that through your head is beyond me. But to fail to understand that the NEXT President Obama is out there talking to American''s about the issues that really matter to them, Social Security, Medicare, the Debt, the War in Iraq, makes NO sense. It''s over... move on. Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

If your feelings are your feelings ,fine ,just make sure that someone else is not influencing your emotions...... this is the single biggest reasons we are divided as a nation.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by demandbetter at 07:04 AM : Apr 25, 2008
+ report abuse

NO! The reason we are divided as a Nation is that ONE party has used FASCISM, guilt by association and gutter politic''s to win. We can continue to do that I guess but the results will be MORE and DEEPER divisions. Sieg Heil Bush

[jack3213]

"I do what I do. He does what politicians do," Wright said. "What happened in Philadelphia, where he had to respond to the sound bites, he responded as a politician."

AND WHAT WRIGHT DOES IS EVIL & SINFUL AND WHAT OBAMA DOES IS HYPOCRITICAL AND POLITICAL?

[johnny343sc]

HEY REV. WRIGHT... JUST BLAME IT ON THE WHITE MAN JUST LIKE YOU BLAMED EVERYTHING ELSE ON HIM.

You know, what is sad is that Obama preaches to "look beyond race" and he can''t do so himself... his actions prove this.

;)

[perceptions5]

The Rev. Wright has only one person to blame for his unbelieveable remarks, himself.

I couldn''t really care what else he preached about and only care about the excerpts in question:

1. That the us government injected the aids virus into the Black community.

2. That the 3,000 people that died on 9/11 got what they had coming to them

................................you know the rest.

The Rev. Wright needs to come clean on his comments......................either condem them or support them.

It sounds like he still believes what he said.

And Obama used very bad judgement in staying or at least not confronting the Rev. Wright when he knew what was going on, twenty years.............

And how can you "self-righteous" liberals defend this intolerance?

Liberals where are your "principles"?

Really sad indeed

[popstom1]

Mcvet NC. 70% white lets see if 95% votes Clinton
in NC

[noah8851]

Osama Obama- Has a nice ring to it, doesn''t it? That along with a bigot pastor should do the trick to really mess up the USA.

I was undecided on who to vote for and this bigot preacher made the decision for me. Clinton did not listen to rage like this for 20 years and say nothing. Obama was called out by the press and then he responded.
Sounds like the current administration.

[sosoe-2009]

White people, back-up! You call this man,racist? WHITE AMERICA INVENTED RACISM! We even put it in the Constitution! This man is bitter about the "dogged" Jim Crow Laws, which legally enforced the Constitution of OUR, United States. It stated that a black man or woman is only "three fifths" human. Yeal, Rev Wright wasn''t in the pulpit when THAT decision was made! You "holier-than-thou" whites,are hypocrites! I wonder how you would feel now, if you were treated like you were "three-fifths" human? You could get burned alive for having the AUDACITY to look a white man in the eye. Lynched for having the NERVE, to think you could cast a vote. Legally, had to use "colored only" bathrooms. Sports greats like Jackie Robinson, had to have his white teammates bring his meals out to the bus, because he wasn''t allowed in the "white only" restaurants and hotels. I have black friends that are the "cream of the crop". I also have white friends that are not so "cream of the crop". I''ve attended black churches with my black friends. You can''t understand black churches and black pastors with snipet soundbites. The black church was the ONLY thing black people could call their own. And yes, they vinted there. They had a right to. To make a "spectacle" of Rev Wright is like "THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK". AND, guess who called Rev Wright to the Oval Office for "spiritual counseling" when Bill cheated with Monica? The Clintons!! Hell-ery "picked her pastor" then. michaelmoore.com

[libh8er]

in which he condemned U.S. policies was "unfair" and "devious,"

I think using your position as a pastor to make disparaging comments on your country is unfair and devious.....especially the stupid ones like YOU made.

[perceptions5]

NO! The reason we are divided as a Nation is that ONE party has used FASCISM, guilt by association and gutter politic''''''''s to win. We can continue to do that I guess but the results will be MORE and DEEPER divisions. Sieg Heil Bush

Posted by MCVet at 07:08 AM : Apr 25, 2008

ladies and gentleman ,i present you the whackjob mcvet, his hatred for Bush runs so deep that he even blames him for the division in america.....anyone else think the division in america started just 7 years ago? anyone?
Posted by jamesm12341
--------------------------
jamesm12341, everyone knows that McVet (aka McNaziNut) is a flaming liberal Democrat diehard.

The guy has zero principles and appears to be extremely contaminated by decades of "misinformation" put out there by the most corrupt institution in America, our mostly liberal MSM wolfpack press.

CBS is an alpha member of that corrupt liberal press which is why McNaziNut finds himself very comfortable on this KNOWN liberal website where the anti-GOP and pro-Dem and pro-Obama propaganda is put out constantly for their followers.

McNaziNut is probably so contaminated he is beyond help.

But we do need to de-contaminate others who have fallen under the spell of the liberal propaganda coming from our liberal MSM wolfpack press.

[libh8er]

But we do need to de-contaminate others who have fallen under the spell of the liberal propaganda coming from our liberal MSM wolfpack press.
Posted by perceptions5 at 08:03 AM : Apr 25, 2008

All true, but he is a disabled marine corps vet...currently undergoing chemo. Maybe you could see your way clear to cutting him some slack. I have.

[ranger1948]

sosoe
Yes there has been racism and still is racism by whites against blacks. Is it right, no. Does the black race also commit racism against whites, yes.. Racism by any race is wrong. We have made amendments to the constutution, we have developed programs to give the blacks a hand up sothey receivbe equal treatment. Have we erased racism by the wihites or by the blacks. NO, and we probably never will. Now do we go on fighting white against black, or do we join together as one nation and straighten out this mess the politicians have created. I would vote for any black candidate that is qualified. I believe obama is a rqacist and this disqualifies him in my book. I also have black friends. I had one that i wish he were here today and could run for p[resident. He was known and loved and respected all over the world. I would have voted for him over anyone i know. Lets put racism behind us and work together to save this country.

[libh8er]

Yes there has been racism and still is racism by whites against blacks. Posted by ranger1948 at 08:08 AM : Apr 25, 2008

It isn''t really racism. People really need to look up the definition of racism. There''s plenty of prejudice and bigotry to go around on both sides. So don''t deceive yourself in to thinking it''s only one way.

[ranger1948]

demandbetter
No matter why he said it, he did say it . It can only be construed as racial and antiAmerican. He hurt obama''s chances of winning this election by showing what he is like and obama admitting this was his mentor. I cannot trust obama to lead this country as one nation.

[ranger1948]

McVET
YOUR MIND IS A RERUN. YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON ON THIS SIGHT THAT IS TOTALLY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT A NAZR WOULD THINK AND DO. I THINK YOU WISH YOU HAD BEEN BORN IN GERMANY SO YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A NAZI.

[mudrose-2009]

Jermiah Wright is a racist. He can parse his commentaries until his literally blue in the face but the guy is a bigot and a racist. And his warped claims of "snippets" and "taken out of context" is a pundits way of trying to excuse the obvious which he and Moyers that lefty pander of all time were trying to do. To make statements that his not policital is also a crock of *****. Wright preaches "liberation theology". Liberation Theology, on the other hand, is a belief system about political agendas, socialistic economic policy, and redistribution of wealth. Proponents of Liberation Theology, like Rev. Wright, teach that God commands us to form a government that will supervise our economy to create government-subsidized jobs under central-government planning; guarantee healthcare and education by having government control both; and achieve ''''economic equality'''' by redistributing wealth through massive taxes on the affluent and massive government entitlements for the poor. And it advocates replacing governments that do not embrace this socialistic agenda. Those are the beliefs of Liberation Theology."

Who does he think he''s kidding other than his Democrats/Socialists/Progrssives/Whatevers?

[boycot-china]

Now Senator Obama wants his former pastor of 20 years to come clean for his election sake. Who does Senator Obama think we are? STUPID? Just go to his Church''s website and see the truth. It doesn''t take a rocket scientist to see the light. Senator Obama attends and financially supports a Church that preaches the over throw of America and the killing of White and Jewish Americans. This is supposedly a Christian Church. Senator Obama took over a month say anything about his pastor''s racist comments and views. Now, Senator Obama calls the middle class a bunch of white trash? Why doesn''t Senator Obama just call us all all white *****, because his true RACIST colors are coming out. I am truly offended by his accusations. Senator Obama did not have a slip of the tongue, but he is a RACIST! His wife stated that she is embarrassed of being an American, but makes millions a year. How can Senator Obama honestly say that he can identify with the middle class? He doesn''t even have a clue! Don%u2019t believe a single word that Rev. Wright is trying to say, because it%u2019s just another Senator Obama lie.

[afmca]

First, did the press and politicans blow Wright''s comments out of proportion? Of course they did. They are incapable of deep serious thought so they go for the sound bite. These comments could have brought some good introspective communication, but that doesn''t sound as good as a good negative ad.

Second, should Wright be thoroughly emabarrassed for some of his comments? Of course he should. As a pastor he sunk to the lowest denominator. His "blame" for this tragedy was embarrassing.

Third, are there still race issues in America? Of course there are. But because of all the fringe liberal and conservative groups that exploit messages instead trying to resolve issues this will not change.

This is one of the major reasons for the decline of America .. our inability to confront and resolve issues instead we changeng them into "causes."

[ranger1948]

MAXIFY55
I agree with you. It is identical to the last election, try to chooose the least of the evils and then vote . I would like to see everyone refuse to turn out and vote for the election, rhen what would the government do. Bush is out of the job as of January 20, 2009. Would really screw things up for the politicians.

[perceptions5]

All true, but he is a disabled marine corps vet...currently undergoing chemo. Maybe you could see your way clear to cutting him some slack. I have.


Posted by LibH8er at

------------------------------
LibH8er, there is a concept that you and McVet need to start warming up to and that is McVet is one of the most intolerant liberals on this website.
And if the man is under going treatments then he should be more compassionate in his comments.

But "clearly" he''s not.

Please defend a person that puts out hate and divide in every comment that he makes.

He, like Rev. Wright, will be judged on the "remarks" that each of them make, "themselves".

Am I clear?

[ranger1948]

cbsoliver
That would be fine for him to call out to thieves, liars, murderers and criminals in general, but he pointed his comments at strictly white people and all of them.

[ranger1948]

jedi0808 and reason driven
Are you two related to McVet ?

[mudrose-2009]

Also remember how the Lefties define anything you say as contrary to their point of view as being racist, extolling hate speech, bigotry, etc.

It''s a new ruse by the Democrats/Socialists/Progressives/Whatevers designed to shut up anyone who presents a contrary point of view.

[crater7]

MCVet; that is not what he said, not what obama said;

MCVet, PLEASE, EXPLAIN YOUR VERSION OF WHAT HE SAID, AND PLEASE LEAVE YOUR HITLER RANTS OUT OF IT.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

[mudrose-2009]

Obama identifies the new public enemy: the "distractions" i.e., those who might wish to see someone else become president next January. "It''s easy to get caught up in the distractions and the silliness and the *** for tat that consumes our politics" and "trivializes the profound issues" that face our country, he warned sternly. These must be resisted.
Why? Because Obama understands that the real threat to his candidacy is less Hillary Clinton and John McCain than his own character and cultural attitudes. He came out of nowhere with his autobiography already written, then saw it embellished daily by the hagiographic coverage and kid-gloves questioning of a supine press. (Which is why those "Saturday Night Live" parodies were so devastatingly effective.)
Then came the three amigos: Tony Rezko, the indicted fixer; Jeremiah Wright, the racist reverend; William Ayers, the unrepentant terrorist. And then Obama''s own anthropological observation that "bitter" working-class whites cling to guns and religion because they misapprehend their real class interests.

[mudrose-2009]

In the now-famous Pennsylvania debate, Obama had extreme difficulty answering questions about these associations and attitudes. The difficulty is understandable. Some of the contradictions are inexplicable. How does one explain campaigning throughout 2007 on a platform of transcending racial divisions, while in that same year contributing $26,000 to a church whose pastor incites race hatred?
What is Obama to do? Dismiss all such questions about his associations and attitudes as "distractions." And then count on his acolytes in the media to wage jihad against those who have the temerity to raise these questions. As if the character and beliefs of a man who would be president are less important than the "issues." As if some political indecency was committed when Obama was prevented from going through his 21st -- and likely last -- primary debate without being asked about Wright or Ayers or the tribal habits of gun-toting God-loving Pennsylvanians.

[mudrose-2009]

Take Ayers. Obama makes it sound as if the relationship consists of having run into each other at the DMV. In fact, Obama''s political career was launched in a 1995 meeting at Ayers'' home. Obama''s own campaign says that they maintain "friendly" relations.
Obama''s defense is that he was 8 when Ayers and his Weather Underground comrades were planting bombs at the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol and other buildings. True. But Obama was 40 when Ayers said publicly that he doesn''t regret setting bombs. Indeed, he said, "I feel we didn''t do enough."
Would you maintain friendly relations with an unrepentant terrorist? Would you even shake his hand? To ask why Obama does is perfectly legitimate and perfectly relevant to understanding what manner of man he is.
Apart from the self-congratulatory fatuousness of that statement -- as if in this freest of all countries, political self-expression is somehow scarce or dangerous or a sign of patriotic courage -- to speak of pin-wearing as a sign of inauthentic patriotism is to make an issue of it yourself. For Obamaphiles to now protest the very asking of the question requires a fine mix of cynicism and self-righteousness.

[pollroller1]

Yep, bigotry is alive and well in the good old USA.
Not just the good ole white boys and girls, but by blacks too.

[mudrose-2009]

But Obama needs to cast out such questions as illegitimate distractions because they are seriously damaging his candidacy. As people begin to learn about this just-arrived pretender, the magic dissipates. He spent six weeks in Pennsylvania. Outspent Hillary more than two to one. Ran close to 10,000 television ads -- spending more than anyone in any race in the history of the state -- and lost by 10 points.
And not because he insufficiently demagogued NAFTA or the other "issues." It was because of those "distractions" -- i.e., the things that most reveal character and core beliefs.
charleskrauthammer