Rev. Wright: Obama "Threw Me Under the Bus"

(AP)  The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's controversial former pastor, said in a letter obtained by The Associated Press that he is "toxic" to the Obama administration and that the president "threw me under the bus."

In his strongest language to date about the administration's 2-year-old rift with the Chicago pastor, Wright told a group raising money for African relief that his pleas to release frozen funds for use in earthquake-ravaged Haiti would likely be ignored.

"No one in the Obama administration will respond to me, listen to me, talk to me or read anything that I write to them. I am 'toxic' in terms of the Obama administration," Wright wrote the president of Africa 6000 International earlier this year.

"I am 'radioactive,' Sir. When Obama threw me under the bus, he threw me under the bus literally!" he wrote. "Any advice that I offer is going to be taken as something to be avoided. Please understand that!"

The White House didn't respond to requests for comment Monday about Wright's remarks. Several phone messages left by the AP for Wright at the Trinity United Church of Christ, where he is listed as a pastor emeritus, were not returned. Wright's spokeswoman, his daughter Jeri Wright, did not immediately comment on the substance of the letter.

Then-Sen. Obama cut ties with Wright when his more incendiary remarks became an Internet sensation in the spring of 2008. At a National Press Club appearance in April 2008, he claimed the U.S. government could plant AIDS in the black community, praised Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and suggested Obama was putting his pastor at arm's length for political purposes while privately agreeing with him.

Obama denounced Wright as "divisive and destructive" and later cut ties to the pastor altogether and left Wright's church.

The letter was sent Feb. 18 to Joseph Prischak, the president of Africa 6000 International in Erie, Pennsylvania. Wright subsequently agreed to write a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on the group's behalf to try to get access to millions of dollars.

Wright's original letter ranting against Obama's treatment of him surfaced in an appeal filed by federal inmate Arthur Morrison, boxing great Muhammad Ali's one-time manager, who was convicted of making phone threats.

Charles Lofton, Wright's executive assistant, told The Associated Press that he faxed a copy of the letter to Morrison's attorney as requested. A copy of the faxed letter signed by Wright showed that it was sent from the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago on March 31 to the fax number for Goodwin's law office in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Prischak, of Africa 6000 International, is a business partner of Morrison, who has been imprisoned for nearly 18 years after he was convicted of making phone threats between 1989 to 1992 to hospitals where an ex-girlfriend worked.

Prischak told Wright in a Feb. 11 letter that he was seeking the clergyman's help in reaching out to the U.S. Treasury Department. He said that Uday Hussein, the son of Saddam Hussein, had entrusted 87 million British pounds in 1990 to Morrison and Ali to buy pharmaceuticals, milk and food for the children of Iraq.

Prischak said the money was never spent because Morrison was imprisoned. He sought Wright's help in lobbying U.S. authorities to permit 25 million British pounds in interest from the money held in an overseas account to be allowed to be sent to faith-based groups for the children of Haiti.

[newerdeal]

You know who is toxic now ? President Obama.

Just ask Charlie Crist.

[Harden_Tar]

This American hating, racist, self centered, wacko got his comeuppance and is not happy about it. Tough. Obama absolutely cannot be associated with him. (At this time). Poll numbers drive this POTUS more than most. If Obama's approval starts to rise by some miracle, prepare to see a reconciliation. After all, I am convinced that Obama shares many of the right reverend's views.

[mikelpond]

the Rev Wright thought he could ride Obama's nomination to stardom. Like a lot of preachers, he's full of himself. I think Obama is lucky that Wright showed his true intentions when he did; before Obama became President. He's an egotist, better left behind.

[formrusmcsgt]

"No one in the Obama administration will respond to me, listen to me, talk to me or read anything that I write to them. I am 'toxic' in terms of the Obama administration," Wright wrote...
---
Neo trolls will contend he's Obama's "right-hand man" anyway....

[ToolMangler1]

He has nobody to blame but himself. the words came out of his mouth, no one elses. If he had been speaking to everyone and "NOT JUST BLACKS", he would have rephrased his message to be less 'toxic' and more 'all inclusive'. Instead he stepped up as a Black man and not an American, thereby alienating many that would have embraced the meaning 'if not the phraseology' of the message. That makes for political toxicity of the first order. (The only one that could love that message would have been Satan)

[imnho]

REV Wright tried to throw Obama under the bus and failed. In the process of the attempt he missed his intended target and wound up under the bus himself. He tried to screw Obama politcally and wound up screwing himself.I don't have a lot of sympathy for Wright

[ToolMangler1]

hhhmmmmm. valid point, mayhaps

[mokey22]

I have no problem with a black President infact, I would have liked to have seen Colin Powell as president, he was a proven good man and had experience, but Obama and Wright are of the same grain. As one poster said before me, Obama believed and worshipped under Rev Wright for 20 some years and when it became a libility to be associated with Wright Obama changed and all of a sudden he doesn't believe as Wright does. I have no sympathy for wright or Obama.

[heavynne]

The truth of the matter is whites do not like to be called out. They like to think of themselves as the great white hope to everyone. Those of us who are not white live in a world totally different than what is portrayed by whites. They pretend to be all good and equal when that's really in reality not true. Whether you are qualified or not, it's still harder for you to truly be equal. (the justice system, the financial system, the job market, etc.) Look at our president, very educated and well grounded, but still some think he's not qualified to be in the position and his education is above and beyond that of a lot of the past presidents. So this is a reality check for everyone.

[ToolMangler1]

"The truth of the matter is whites do not like to be called out."

But non-whites relish in it???

"Those of us who are not white live in a world totally different than what is portrayed by whites".

Poor little thing!! Is Bill Cosby 'White'???

"They pretend to be all good and equal when that's really in reality not true."

HUH???? what'd he/she say?
I never pretended anything. I am just me, just like 'you' are just 'you'.

As for 'equality', that is exactly what you make of it. Tell me that no Black can rise above the common perception of Blacks and I can point out hundreds of thousands that prove you wrong. Obama is just one. (BTW, I voted 'FOR' him).
This article is about the 'Rev. Wright fussing about being castigated for shouting (in Church) "God Da-mn America". This is who you should be griping about. I understand what his messaqge was about, but he chose the absolute wrong way to deliver that message. Just what should a candidate for office do in that case, Agree with the words (let alone the sentiment)?? He would not be a candidate very long if he did take that stand. (For all I know, 'you' might not have voted for a man that said that in Church or in front of a crowd.)
Personally, I think Obama is doing a far better job than people give him credit for. (Nobody is on his side, they all want him to the extreme right or left as a Dem, and the GOP wants him farther to the right and the Tea Party wants him so far to the right that the GOP wouldn't want him..

[6591Hou]

heavynne - The people who felt the President was not qualified were primarily vocal about his level of political experience - not his education. State senators, and then junior U.S. senators, do not ordinarily attain the presidency. Unfortunately for the people who measure those sorts of things I don't believe that there's a strong case to be made that proves higher state office, or more extensive political experience, will always result in a better president. The character of the individual seems to be more definitive.

[national1942]

Under the bus is where you belong...stay there. I have not the LEAST sympathy for you. You are a fony.

[lucilioness]

STAY UNDER THE BUS! WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? YOU GOT JEALOUS OF OBAMA, AND YOU TRIED TO DESTROY HIM. YOU LOSE, LOSER!!

[newerdeal]

I have reason to believe we all came from Africa and all people are people of color.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1885586220070718

Our president cslls people black and white a lot.

He really needs to quit that. It sets a bad example.

I quit calling people black or white years ago.

Rev. Wright likes to call people black or white. He is a con man.