Obama Rips Rev. Wright

Dem Candidate Says He's Outraged By Ex-Pastor's Remarks, "Saddened" By "Spectacle" Of Recent Appearance

(CBS/AP)  Barack Obama angrily denounced his former pastor for "divisive and destructive" remarks on race, seeking to divorce himself from the incendiary speaker and a fury that threatens to engulf his front-running Democratic presidential campaign.

Obama is trying to tamp down the uproar over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright at a tough time in his campaign. The Illinois senator is coming off a loss in Pennsylvania to rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and trying to win over white working-class voters in Indiana and North Carolina in next Tuesday's primaries.

"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama told reporters at a news conference Tuesday.

"Obama's decision to address Wright's recent comments after several days of trying to stay away signals concern over the damage that was being done to his candidacy," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs.

"His strong denunciation of Wright's remarks, particularly those made yesterday at the National Press Club, was aimed at voters in the upcoming primaries, a national audience and the Democratic superdelegates who hold so much power in the nominating process," Ververs added. "It may bring even more attention to the issue but Obama clearly felt he needed to make a very clear and public break with his former pastor." (Click here to read Ververs' full analysis).

His strong words come just six weeks after Obama delivered a sweeping speech on race in which he sharply condemned Wright's remarks but did not leave the church or repudiate the minister himself, who he said was like a family member. After weeks of staying out of the public eye while critics lambasted his sermons, the former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago made three public appearances in four days to defend himself.

On Monday, Wright criticized the U.S. government as imperialist and stood by his suggestion that the United States invented the HIV virus as a means of genocide against minorities. "Based on this Tuskegee experiment and based on what has happened to Africans in this country, I believe our government is capable of doing anything," he said.

And perhaps even worse for Obama, Wright suggested that the church congregant secretly concurs.

"If Senator Obama did not say what he said, he would never get elected," Wright said. "Politicians say what they say and do what they do based on electability, based on sound bites, based on polls."

Obama stated flatly that he doesn't share the views of the man who officiated at his wedding, baptized his two daughters and been his pastor for 20 years. The title of Obama's second book, "The Audacity of Hope," came from a Wright sermon.

"What became clear to me is that he was presenting a world view that contradicts who I am and what I stand for," Obama said. "And what I think particularly angered me was his suggestion somehow that my previous denunciation of his remarks were somehow political posturing. Anybody who knows me and anybody who knows what I'm about knows that I am about trying to bridge gaps and I see the commonality in all people."

Although Obama leads in pledged delegates, no Democrat can win the nomination without the support of the superdelegates, the elected officials and party leaders who can vote their preference. The Wright furor forces those Democrats to wonder about Obama's electability in November.

Facing that reality, Obama sought to distance himself further from Wright.

"I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ since 1992, and have known Reverend Wright for 20 years," Obama said. "The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago."

The Illinois senator said of Wright's statements Monday: "All it was was a bunch of rants that aren't grounded in truth."

"Obviously, whatever relationship I had with Reverend Wright has changed," Obama said. "I don't think he showed much concern for me, more importantly I don't think he showed much concern for what we're trying to do in this campaign."

CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports that Obama saw the news coverage yesterday, and, according to aides, was deeply angered and insisted that he give a press conference today.

Obama said he heard that Wright had given "a performance" and when he watched news accounts, he realized that it more than just a case of the former pastor defending himself.

"His comments were not only divisive and destructive, I believe they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate," Obama said. "I'll be honest with you, I hadn't seen it" when reacting initially on Monday, he said.

Wright had asserted that criticism of his fiery sermons was an attack on the black church. Obama rejected that notion.

"He has done great damage, I do not see that relationship being the same," said Obama.

Wright recently retired from the church. He became an issue in Obama's presidential bid when videos circulated of Wright condemning the U.S. government for allegedly racist and genocidal acts. In the videos, some several years old, Wright called on God to "damn America." He also said the government created the AIDS virus to destroy "people of color."

Obama said he didn't vet his pastor before deciding to seek the presidency. He said he was particularly distressed that the furor has been a distraction to the purpose of a campaign.

"I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia explaining that he's done enormous good. ... But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS. ... There are no excuses. They offended me. They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced."

While Obama said he remains a member of the church "obviously this has put a strain on that relationship.

"There wasn't anything constructive out of yesterday," said Obama. "All it was was a bunch of rants that aren't grounded in truth."

At one point, Obama said he understood the pressures Wright faced but wouldn't excuse his comments.

"I think he felt vilified and attacked and I understand him wanting to defend himself," Obama said. "That may account for the change but the insensitivity and the outrageousness of the statements shocked me and surprised me."

[ranger1948]

hungry1968
We are talking about one instance where wright was invited to the white house. obama followed wright and his teachingsa for 20 years, now he disavows wright, as well as the white grandmother who raised him, but he still aligns himself witht he racist church and its doctrines, who are associated with farakhan, the black panther party, ans rezko. Not to mention his racists wife who he had to lock away to keep her silent the last few weeks. His true colors have been shown to America. We do not need a racist of any color in the white house.

[myshiba]

Obama is the combination of Rev Wright and Rezko. This rookie is a phony and DISHONEST. Pls don%u2019t be fooled by salesman. If he is the nominee, the republicans will eat him alive. We, as the Democrats, deserve better!


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Posted by themagic07

* * * *
ALL OF AMERICA DESERVES BETTER, TOO! Great post!

[myshiba]

TO: BLKPRESIDENT:

JANE FONDA ENDORSED YOUR LORD AND MASTER, OBAMA!

[myshiba]

There you have it. Sign at;

http://www.ipetitions.com/petitio
n/seatourdelegates/index.html

* * * *
DONE!

[kailumego1]

This is merely a stumbling block for Obama, which determines how dedicated people are to change the social antiquated narrow-minded discourse in America.

And for those jumping for joy that this "Judas" Rev. Wright has come forward spewing his unilateral racial discourse, it only proves this country isn''t ready to move forward.

[kailumego1]

Listened to Rev. Wright''''s speech in its entirety and a lot of what he stated is correct.

What makes him predictable like a lot other unyielding Afrocentric individuals is that his philosophy is parallel or tandem to arrogant Eurocentric individuals.

In that both Afrocentric and Eurocentric individuals are narrow-minded, egoistical, ethocentristic when it comes to introspection, or looking within the bowels of themselves and members of their own group, while overzealous to criticize members of other groups.

Like those Eurocentric individuals that vociferously castigate people of color, Africans, Arabs, Hispanics, African Americans, etc., and those Afrocentric individuals that harp on racism and colonialism.

Throughout the world there has been and continues to be patriarchal hegemonic rulers, leaders, etc. that has forsaken the people, of which they reside over, for their own self-aggrandizement.

Evil is personified throughout every ethnicity, culture, race, etc., examine what''''s been occurring in the Congo DRC for the last 10 years. The vile barbarianism of Tutsis rebels and the Mai Mai against women and children, not a product of colonialism.

Wright is a typical Afrocentric patriarchal hegemonic that uses the media for a platform, in order to gain notoriety for his narrowly skewed perception just like many Euro-ethnocentristic individuals, which are too wrapped up in their delusions of grandeur to see beyond their limited view.

[blkpresident]

Jane Fonda, Patty Hearst and Hillary Clinton.

[revmichaelj]

here we go again!!preacher agains a politition candate... reminds me o jesse jackson, al sharkton. three preachers has nothingelse to do so tey find thier way into the polital ring,just to make a fool out of themselves for what?? just to show the world just how stupid they really are?? what about thier congregation who''s taking care of them while thier out making stupid fools out of themselves??? what has that to say for other minister''s who are at home taking care of thier flock and trying to do thier job as they were called on by god...
church and state are separated so just leave it at that?!! if preachers were to run for public office that''s one thing but if not then let the polititions do there job at running for office..... rev.jeremiah wright has made his point on the matter,no need to say it a thousand times over for a point that has all ready been made. go back to your church and reconcile to them for abanament and making a fool out of yourself and the church..
sincerly rev.michael j. kaull

[blkpresident]

Somewhere in NY a kitchen stove needs a woman''s touch. Where''s lil'' Hillary? Still criss-crossing the country pipe dreaming about a woman becoming president, smirk, smirk.

Somebody may want to tell lil'' missy that terrorist don''t play softball or powder-puff football.

[bsimon2007]

http://shareddarkness.com/2008/04/29/racist-obama-spam.aspx

oh dogsoul, sigh... do you forward along emails like this? ^^

[bsimon2007]

Again, Obama has to deal with Jeremiah Wright on one side, and crud like this ---

http://shareddarkness.com/2008/04/29/racist-obama-spam.aspx

...on the other side. If/when folks get anything like that in their inbox, please take the time to respond to everyone, and shame them for forwarding it along...

[themagic07]

Obama is the combination of Rev Wright and Rezko. This rookie is a phony and DISHONEST. Pls don%u2019t be fooled by salesman. If he is the nominee, the republicans will eat him alive. We, as the Democrats, deserve better!

[craigh9]

We''''ll see what happens soon, everyone here beats a drum based upon some certain issue, but everyone misses the real issue - MONEY

Obama has plenty and Hillary is broke
Obama leads in Pledged delegates and popular vote - and those will only increase on Tuesday.
While politicians (read superdelegates) have been known to go against the will of the people for personal or political gain - never has a politican been made that will turn his back on MONEY!
Ask yourself why you didn''''t see the mass of superdelegate support Hillary expected after the Penn. Primary - the answer is simple, the superdelegates are just waiting for the right moment to align themselves with Obama to get access to his fundraising and the new constituency he has formed in the party. That right time will be after the NC and Indy Primaries.
Hillary is whipping a dead horse! NO WAY will the party go against the popular vote, pledged delegate vote, money, and in the process alienate all the new democrats that are now engaged because of Obama.

[onceagirl]

I watched Senator Obama renouncing the Reverend Wright...and there was great sadness in his face. But examine his past...half white, half black...a little boy who never was accepted fully by the society around him as he grew into adulthood. He has overcome so many social obstacles by his tenacity to learn, graduating magna *** laud from Harvard Law being his first great achievement but his soul needed a moral compass so he joined Reverend Wright''s church where he found the salvation for which he had sought for so long....complete acceptance with no strings....it''s not the Reverend Wright that kept him there, it was the salvation that this acceptance gave to him to rise above his childhood experiences with bigotry and learned to love his savior Jesus Christ within himself. It''s not easy working with the poor in Chicago south, but he did...for he has a greater calling to be our President for all the people and if we refuse him, we deserve to be still sailing blithely on a all encompassing ship of fools. God save America.

[pesojoe]

Barack Hussein Obama lemmings clammering for anything to throw at his rivals. Please don''t pull the curtain back and see Obama for who he really is. Up to the point that Obama only values winning Wright was a man of integrity his mentor, the man responsible for Obamas family values. Obamas wife was a excellent student of Wrights " I''ve never been proud of america" When will these family values start spitting on our flag and our troops? Anyone that still believes Obamas hype should think would you be so mentally stunted that you would never notice on sunday morning that these views surrounded you and your young family?

[zavatchen]

I denounce Senator O''Bama. Closley following his bid for the Democratic nomination, I have heard so much double speak it is making me sick. I hope Indiana and North Carolina voters put him under.

[hungry1968]

sosoe
If the Clinton''''s invited wright to the White House, it proves one thing only, they are not racist.


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Posted by ranger1948 at 07:53 AM : Apr 30, 2008




So Obama attends the church where Wright is a minister and that makes him a white hating Black Panther, yet when he''s invited to the White House, it''s because they''re humanitarians?

You''re kidding - right?

[libh8er]

He only did it b/c he had to. If no one said anything about it, Ubama would still be sticking his tongue in Wright''s mouth. Barry Ubama is a sham candidate.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by sosoe at 07:21 AM : Apr 30, 2008

He was invited to Whte House once. He wasn''t invited back.

This is old news.

[myshiba]

chuegevera:

You may THINK he is strong but he is OBVIOUSLY weak. We shouldn''t have to think someone is strong, it should be obvious. Please face the rality that is Obama ( no principles and very poor judgment. . .NOT presidential material).