Barack Obama responds to the Wright controversy
March 14th, 2008
By Gerardo Orlando
In an exclusive on the Huffington Post, Barack Obama resonds to the offensive statements made by his pastor:
The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He’s drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.
Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it’s on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.
He goes on to explain how he became involved in the church, and how he will stay there with the new pastor who replaced Wright.
He will obviously need to address this subject again many times in the future. It will no doubt hurt him politically with some voters. He asks that people judge him on his own statements, and I suspect most voters will do just that.
Let me repeat what I’ve said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.
With Rev. Wright’s retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good. And while Rev. Wright’s statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States.
March 14th, 2008 19:01
He’s been a member of that church for decades. The “Reverend” married the Obama couple. The “Reverend” baptized Barack’s kids. The “Reverend” spewed this hate filled, RACIST crap for years-influencing his congregation with the tacit support of Barack. Barack, on at least 1 occasion gave 22 grand to this “church.”
When one picks a church, it’s not a random act - especially if one attends church on a regular basis. For Barack to support this church and this “Reverend” all these years is disgraceful and a refection of the mans character and judgment (unless, of course he supports what this clown is saying).
Having said all that– none of this will matter (although it should be a huge issue). NONE of the main stream media has picked up this story (except briefly on ABC). This will blow over like it never happened.
Now- contrast this to a conservative republican candidate. If the tables were reversed and a Christian preist spewed racist garbage it would be covered everywhere, it would be vilified, Jackson and Sharpton would gather the troops and there would be rioting in the streets and that republican candidate would disappear.
Geraldine Ferraro actually hit the nail on the head– Aside from his excellent delivery when giving speeches, this guy has a very thin track record, and because it’s black and a that’s a novelty is a presidential candidate he’s taking the country by storm.
March 15th, 2008 14:58
None of the media has picked this up? You lost me on that one. Every network had it on all day.
Do you want to be held to answer for all the sins of your own church?
Guilt by association is bullshit. Th Reverand said lots of hateful things, but he’s also done some good things as well. You want to judge Obama just on the negative, and you assume that this stuff filled all his sermons. That’s ridiculous.
March 15th, 2008 15:36
Were you high when you wrote this? Would you stay at a church for decades if your spiritual leader said anything remotely like this? Would you donate cash?
If you were running for office would you add this clown as an adviser? This doesn’t speak to BO’s judgment?
So he’s said some good things- you’re justifying these horrible things?
You’re absolutely wrong on this one.
March 16th, 2008 01:01
This is just a bunch of bullshit
i went to a church where a Catholic priest worked who later in his career was accused of child molestation, does that make me or anyone else who attended the church child molesters??? (in any case, thankfully I was never an alter boy…)
To try to plaster Obama with every statement the reverend in his church has made is purely BULLSHIT!!! It should be obvious that some people like racists and the Israel lobby, are dead set against Obama and will stop at almost nothing to drag him down but honestly I think most Americans, Nick notwithstanding, are smart enough to see through this shit
March 16th, 2008 19:13
What’s bullshit is BO gets a pass when it’s obvious a close personal confidant of his - and a person who is influential in that community-is obviously a racist, blame America, hate America bigot who perpetuates hated in his “church.”
Comparing child molester priests to this scandal is not remotely relevant to this story. If your child molester preist got up on the pulpit and proclaimed his love for little boys penises and admitted to raping his alter boys, would you support that preist? and if you did, wouldn’t that say something about you? Of course it would.
Oh, and yes, EVERYONE that doesn’t agree with BO has to be a racist–PUH-leese– you gotta do better than that old card..
March 17th, 2008 21:15
Gerald Ford was married to a drug junkie for God’s sake, trying to plaster all this stuff onto Obama by stating that this guy is his “obvious close personal confidant” is racist because you sure don’t hold other politicans to that standard.
In any case Obama’s lead is insurmountable so with regard to the Democratic nomination, it really doesn’t matter if his reverend is an America hating black panther terrorist… though I will admit that this might help McCain, in the end, with all the division being perpetrated by Hillary, if Clinton does manage to destroy Obama’s campaign, I would be more happy with McCain that another Clinton.
March 27th, 2008 07:02
I am no genious but why in the hell would you go to church if you are not influnced by it.