Rev. Wright Fights Back
Obama's Ex-Pastor Defends Controversial Statements, Says Criticism Over Sermons Is Attack On Black Church
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Rev. Wright Defends Himself
Barack Obama's former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright is speaking out against the criticism he's received, calling it "attack on the black church." Susan Roberts reports.
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Rev. Wright Speaks Out
Sen. Barack Obama's pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, will appear in a nationally-televised interview in order to discuss controversial remarks he made. Jim Axelrod reports.Jim Axelrod speaks out.
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Rev. Wright On-The-Record
As the primary race intensifies, Barack Obama's pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright is set to speak with journalist Bill Moyers to confront accusations about his controversial ministry. Jim Axelrod reports.
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Rev. Jeremiah Wright spoke at the National Press Club before the Washington press corps and a supportive audience of black church leaders beginning a two-day symposium. (CBS)
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"I served six years in the military," Barack Obama's longtime pastor said. "Does that make me patriotic? How many years did (Vice President Dick) Cheney serve?"
Wright spoke at the National Press Club before the Washington media and a supportive audience of black church leaders beginning a two-day symposium.
He said the black church tradition is not bombastic or controversial, but different and misunderstood by the "dominant culture" in the United States.
He said his Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago has a long history of liberating the oppressed by feeding the hungry, supporting recovery for the addicted and helping senior citizens in need. He said congregants have fought in the military, including in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"My goddaughter's unit just arrived in Iraq this week while those who call me unpatriotic have used their positions of privilege to avoid military service while sending over 4,000 American boys and girls to die over a lie," he said.
Wright said he hopes the controversy will have a positive outcome and spark an honest dialogue about race in America. Wright says black church traditions are still "invisible" to many Americans, as they have been throughout the country's history.
He said he hopes "the most recent attack on the black church - it is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright - it's an attack on the black church," he said to applause, "just might mean that the reality of the African-American church will no longer be invisible."
"Rev. Wright is calling for a continued conversation about race and religion, one which Obama himself began in a much-heralded speech last month," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "But it's quite a different discussion when led by a preacher and not a presidential candidate and one that can’t be helpful to Obama's campaign." (Read more from Ververs on Wright.)
Videos clips of Wright's sermons, circulated widely on television and the Internet, knocked Obama's presidential campaign off-stride. The Illinois Democrat distanced himself from the comments of Wright, whom he has known for 20 years.
In a sermon days after the Sept. 11 attacks, Wright said "America's chickens are coming home to roost" after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Japan and "supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans."
Asked about some of the comments after the terrorist attacks, Wright challenged the reporter questioning him.
"Have you heard the whole sermon? No? The whole sermon?" he responded. When the reporter shook her head, he said, "That nullifies that question."
He said criticism comes from people who only have heard sound bites playing repeatedly on television and have never listened to his entire sermons.
Wright said he's told Obama that if he is elected in November and is inaugurated in January, "I'm coming after you." He said that's because his differences are not with the American people, but U.S. policies.
"Whether he gets elected or not, I'm still going to have to be answerable to God on November 5 and January 21," Wright said.
Obama was asked yesterday if he believes Wright's recent appearances will hurt his chances of winning upcoming primaries, reports CBS News reporter Maria Gavrilovic. Obama dodged the question, telling reporters, "I’ll let you prognosticate." (Read more about the Obama campaign response.)
In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Obama said he did not discourage Wright from making appearances and understands why his desire to speak.
"Look, he is a former pastor of mine. He is somebody who has obviously been the subject of, you know, some pretty sharp attacks over the last. And it's understandable that somebody after an entire career of service would want to defend themselves."
Last night, Wright told a 10,000-strong audience in Detroit that his critics get it wrong when they call him divisive and polarizing.
"I describe the conditions in this country," Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., the former pastor of Obama, said during the NAACP's 53rd annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.
"I'm not here for political reasons. I'm not a politician. I know that fact will surprise many of you because many in the corporate-owned media made it seem like I am running for the Oval Office," Wright said. "I am not running for the Oval Office. I've been running for Jesus a long, long time and I'm not tired yet."
©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.





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See all 558 CommentsWatch the "Hannity and Colmbes" show on TV. Every time Sean says "Jeremiah Wright", you have to drink. Every time he says "Ailes", you have to do a bong.
I guarantee you, if you play every night, you WILL flunk out of college!
In the words of wright (and remember per obama "words matter") his hate speech wasn''t hate speech. Why no, it was just "different". It''s ok to spew the racist talk, it''s ok if you''re black. No problem. Sit there and take it.
As for FOX covering this stuff, try watching it sometime. I think most thinking libs (hope there are a few) would be surprised. Shame FOX does have a mathews with a bulging vessel on his forehead.
PA was Clinton''s to lose.
Hillary enjoyed a 16 year name advantage, family roots, to her own credit 35 yrs of experience, decades of political favors and friends to call on.
Why is Hillary losing more states than Obama
Why is Hillary behind in pledged delegates?
Why is Hillary only 24 superdelegates ahead?
Why is the Clinton machine/Hillary millions in debt?
Why didn''t Hillary knock Obama out on Super Tuesday?
Why didn''t Hillary win her birth state of Illinois?
WHY CAN''T HILLARY CLOSE THE DEAL W/ 35 YRS OF EXPERIENCE, A MACHINE, POLITICAL CONNECTIONS, AND A PRESIDENT BEHIND HER?
WHY CANT SHE BEAT AN INEXPERIENCED, AMERICA HATING NO GOOD NEWCOMER ??
Because Obama is the best candidate, who is running the best campaign, who is running on the issues, who is breaking finance records, who is bringing the young and new voters to the democratic party?
McCain needs to explain comments by Hagee and Parsley regarding "the Catholic church as a cult" and "Islam is a false religion that needs to be exterminated".
Clinton needs to explain why she has not "walked out" of her own church after her paster said she was wrong about Wright.
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/17066161.html
Posted by blackspirit3
When Rev Wright preached Anger and Hate, African Democrats loved him. When the Pope preached peace and love, African Democrats Denounced Him. African Democrats like all Democrats know only Hate and Anger and will only listen to a God who preached Hate and Anger like Obama.
You haven''t the slightest idea what you are talking about.
One thing I think that most whites just don''t have a clue about is that blacks in the US believe in celebrating their freedom. Not taking it for granted like most whites I know. Lest you forget, only 150 years ago blacks were slaves in this country, bought and sold like horse and buggies. Their lives and cultures were trnasplanted against their will to this country. They now celebrate their freedom and they celebrate their race and I don''t blame them for partying however they see fit as long as they don''t go out and invade countries like Iraq claiming its so the the oil of the Iraqi nation is for the Iraqi people. Now that''s blasphemy! Something the Bush White House does every day to the US constitution.
Obama''s life of social activism, coupled with an emphasis in his speeches on government social action to eradicate unjust suffering, aligns with Cone''s words, albeit in a context that extends beyond the black community to the nation, and then to the world. Cone wrote:
"Therefore, whoever fights for the poor, fights for God; whoever risks his life for the helpless and unwanted, risks his life for God. God is active now in the lives of those men who feel an absolute identification with all who suffer because there is no justice in the land." (p. 47, Black Theology & Black Power)
Michelle Obama''s recent statement about pride-in-country is thoroughly consistent with both the Afrocentric theology of Trinity UCC and with the black theology of their spiritual mentor''s (Wright''s) mentor (Cone). Her efforts to explain what she meant by her statement have, so far, been vague. The less she says, the better it will be for her husband''s campaign. The more she elaborates on what she meant, t
Just look at the lousy leaders the Dems chose to run the Senate and House, abusrdly bad choices are Pelosi and the insufferable wimp out of Nevada (can''t even remember the wimp''s name! he is so lame!)
So while the Dems argue and sulk (fed by a steady stream of biased reporting from the corporate press)the Repubs will probably be able to steal the Presidency for another 4 years and completely wreck the economy. They don''t want a recession they want a depression so the big banks and rich can redistribute what little wealth the middle class has toiled for over the last 70 years. They already have a permanent hand in you wallet at the gas pump with Bush and his Saudi buddies running things.
OTOH, Bill and Hillary tho'' not one in the same are totally joined at the hip - only he has delusions of grandeur and would never let her be President if he is not. His ego is way too grandiose for that.
He claims that whites "pick" on black children who "don''t speak good english," but no one picked on JFK for his english. This is just totally false. Everyone "picks" on the people from Boston and their terrible accent.
His statement that the color of your skin changes the way you are judged about your speech is divisive and inaccurate.
He claims he is a Christian. He should be preaching peace, love and charity. Instead of this message of hate and condemnation.
According to this loon, you left brain, logic specific, objective learning, cantata loving, garlic noses who don''t know that Arabic is not a religion but a language -- hint hint, like the alphabet - (two variants of the Phoenician alphabet would have major impacts on the history of writing: the Aramaic alphabet which, excuse me, is rooted in Arabic and the Greek alphabet) - wink, wink Wright who can''''t make any logical connections because ... blacks are right brained, art specific, subjective learning, common meter loving, non religious speaking people.
And now I''m relegated to speaking only to left brain, logic specific, objective learning, cantata loving, garlic noses as blacks are simply relegated to speaking only to right brained, art specific, subjective learning, common meter loving, non religious speaking people.
I''m not trying to be divisive, I''m just trying to be descriptive, therefore I can no longer talk to my black brothers as they can no longer relate to us. See, now that''s where the problem has been all along and I want to thank Rev. Wright for pointing out to us that our problems stem from the fact that we all only use half our heads. Thanks. I really appreciate it.
"
No, you idiot, it''s an attack on THAT black church.
This is a real score for McCain. All he has to do is wave an American flag and say that I love soldiers.
It looks like the chickens are coming home to roost at T.U.C.C.
Lots of black people claim the cops are in charge of drug dealing.
They hear that junk at church ?
No wonder that won''t tell the police who did it when someone is killed.
-Posted by tomtomasters at 10:40 AM : Apr 28, 2008
The hardest thing Rev. Wright has EVER had to do is hate the country that has made him so very rich. He now lives in a gated community surrounded by the White Devils he so detests.
-Apr 28, 2008
That''s because he wasn''t saying "God Damm America", "The U.S. of KKK A", etc. in the PBS interview. Look, this bigot realizes he screwed up Obama''s campaign, and he''s in damage control mode right now. He IS a politician, and he knows how he has to play this now.
No, serving doesn NOT make you patriotic. So the Cheney comparison is moot. Timothy McVeigh served in the Army, and he was filled with the same hateful rage against the USA as Rev. Wright.
Obama is unelectable. He has become the candidate of not only race, but of racial bigotry. Thank you Hillary for allowing us all to see who Obama really is.
A fellow clever enough to speak five languages, preach a theology that puts the word of God at naught if it does not support black liberation theology, should have been able to get to the issue and resolve it. From what I have heard, he has not distanced himself from Cohn and the deceitful fellow coyly says..."I''m not a politician"...as if that excuses his racism...or that of the Church Elder, Obama.
Wright comes out of the same intellectual and moral gutter as Haggee and his ilk...enemies of Christianity...one places blacks above the Word, the other places Israel above it...And, not surprisingly, this theology has the support of the Ford Foundation which also supports the racism of the Reconquistas and La Raza...
The capitalists are trying, as they collapse the economy, to create racial and religious discord, to get people to invest emotionally in this faux-fight.
They are fighting a class war...and the naive, the complacent, along with the stupid and the treacherous, are lining up behind them. Wright is so right on so many points...its a shame he refuses to stand with the people...all of the people.
If you say it, it''s you being descriptive, it i say it, it''s me being a raciest. Keep on talking, you are definately going to ensure a McCain win. God will most definately judge you and your raciest remarks because God doesnt see color, but he does hear your voice.
Posted by minnick8
Yeah, it probably is BUSH''s Fault. Pimping poverty and victimization is so lucrative. Speaking engagements, media attention, 10,000 square foot house in a "white" gated community with a credit line of $10 million bucks. Yeah, it''s Bush''s Fault.
According to this loon, you left brain, logic specific, objective learning, cantata loving, garlic noses who don''t know that Arabic is not a religion but a language -- hint hint, like the alphabet - (two variants of the Phoenician alphabet would have major impacts on the history of writing: the Aramaic alphabet which, excuse me, is rooted in Arabic and the Greek alphabet) - wink, wink Wright who can''t make any connections because ... blacks are right brained, art specific, subjective learning, common meter loving, non religious speaking people.
And now I''m relegated to speaking only to left brain, logic specific, objective learning, cantata loving, garlic noses as blacks are simply relegated to speaking only to right brained, art specific, subjective learning, common meter loving, non religious speaking people.
I''m not trying to be divisive, I''m just trying to be descriptive, therefore I can no longer talk to my black brothers as they can no longer relate to us. See, now that''s where the problem has been all along and I want to thank Rev. Wright for pointing out to us that our problems stem from the fact that we all only use half our heads. Thanks. I really appreciate it.
I also find it interesting that Obama has distanced himself from Rev. Wright only after he became a political liability. If Obama really had serious objections to this man''s racist, anti-American remarks, he would have found another pastor a long time ago.
"I served six years in the military," Barack Obama''''s longtime pastor said. "Does that make me patriotic? How many years did Cheney serve?"
Posted by jh6379
Perhaps it "says it all", but against the wrong person. Cheney''s NOT RUNNING in 2008. Who IS running is a war hero with impeccable military credentials and a POW for several years. Since Wright made it an issue, let''s compare his military record with McCain''s, shall we?
Even taking into account that some of his statements were taken out of context, Jesus didn''t d*mn the Romans nailing him to the cross. So, no "Christian" should d*mn anything, ever.
I''m not saying other so called "Christians" haven''t done the same thing. But they get "attacked" too.
He should be preaching peace between the races. Not pointing out differences, that don''t actually exist.
It appears he is trying to be divisive.
Posted by guyfrompa45
I need to heal racially. Perhaps I should go to an Obama rally. Now that he is pretending to be a man of the people, he might condescend to have a beer with me and cheese fries. Or better yet, garlic balls.
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