Political Insider

By NoBO

March 18, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

“Obama’s chickens have come home to roost.”

By Katie

March 18, 2008 10:11 AM | Link to this

Not only freinds who we might want to broom under the rug, but when I think about it some of my siblings and even my paprents.

I still love ‘em, but sure wouldn’t want them to be speaking for me.

The more I think about it, the more this seems like a made-for-media smear Obama phony issue.

By Addis

March 18, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

Excellent remark! That is all about this issue. We know a lot of idiots and lot of heros as well. Obama 08! America still loves Obama!

By michelle

March 18, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

Anyone who BUYS this explanation would accept Farrakhan as his running mate and not blink an eye. People that are voting this man in will live to regret it.

By jc

March 18, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Thats a taste of things to expect from his speech today. I think its going to be a great speech and its going to be something that really pushes him forward and unites America

By Addis

March 18, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Excellent remark! That is all about this issue. We know a lot of idiots and lot of heros as well. Obama 08! America still loves Obama!

By Donna

March 18, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

What’s the old adage… “Your friends are like the buttons on an elevator, they will either take you up or bring you down.”

By Risa

March 18, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

There is old saying: “Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell who you are”…Obama is good friend of people who gave life time achievement award to Farrakhan, who is all about hate, racial hatred, anti-Semitic and horrible.

By JB5

March 18, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

That’s a very weak answer. Barrack is going to have to do better than that and he is going to have to say something more about Wright than to claim he wasn’t there and didn’t know about the pastor’s beliefs because frankly I don’t think America is going to buy that line.

I went to the church website months ago and found it somewhat appalling that a candidate for President of the United States of America could be a member of an organization with such divisive beliefs. If I could see that from a visit to the website, I find it impossible to believe that Barrack who attended services there and was a member there couldn’t also know what the Reverend teaches.

By EB JEB

March 18, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

I have more than a few problems with all politicians. This crop is no different.

Sen. Obama carefully leaves out that his association with Mr. Rezko was as his attorney! This was not some incidental relationship that lasted a few hours, days, or weeks. It lasted for years, it is how he “supported himself” while working as a community organizer. Working to help the neighborhood and to defend one of the worst offenders against it at the same time. He also likes that he is the “black” candidate when he wrote in his own book that he is not black, but mixed. So why does he keep saying that race isn’t and issue while he plays the race card in EVERY state. His mother was “white as milk” and he is not black. He is African-American as his father was from Africa and his mother from America, but that doesn’t make him black, it makes him of mixed racial background.

Sen. Clinton well let’s just say she is less than honest when it comes to her past business dealings and pretty much everyone knows it.

Sen. McCain is probably the least honest of the group, which in itself is somewhat of an accomplishment. Wonder how much money he has made from the War Profiting of Dick Cheney and GW? If this were the end of the civil war they would all be in jail already.

By White Crow

March 18, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Isn’t it strange that last week when it was Ferarro, there was no reconcilatory tone by the press. They wanted blood - now they are demonstrating a totally different value when it comes to the fact that there is more racism coming FROM the black community than they want to admit.

By Joshua

March 18, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

I think I might be more impressed if Obama stuck up for his preacher. Saying that the media was selecting bits and pieces of a sermon that actually meant something. Then he could go on to damn the overzealous media.

By HL

March 18, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

Please, don’t get caught in the drama. Believe me, Hillary has plenty of dirty of laundry too. It’s just down to old school mud slinging from the Clinton camp to try to discredit Obama by innuendo. Dirty Republican style back room politics to be sure.

By Jane O

March 18, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

What’s all this blabber about Obama’s preacher. If the man’s a Muslim, he can’t have no Church of Christ preacher. You can’t have it both ways!

By David

March 18, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

He is not the nominee.

By Sven the Blog Catalyst

March 18, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

I assume the driving force behind at least the timing of this issue was Hillary (let’s face it, if she hadn’t done it, the Republicans would have later on). And, she has largely succeeded — she has now “painted” Obama as “the black candidate” by associating him a preacher who exhibits the worst various stereotypes that most whites have of blacks — over-emotional, talking trash, unprincipled, blaming others for their plight, hostile to traditional white values, etc.

And, frankly, it’s Obama’s own fault for not seeing this coming, not distancing himself from Wright early in his political career, and not knowing that Wright’s brand of social commentary would NEVER fly with a majority of while Americans. The end result — Obama’s candidacy has gone from “riding high” to “barely hanging on” in a few short weeks. Be prepared to see the Democratic Party elite begin shifting their support back to Hillary, and attempting to maneuver her towards the nomination — they know now that putting Obama up as the Dem candidate in the general election will be a bloodbath for their party.

Fairly or not, Obama’s toast. No way can he explain away his long-term involvement with Wright in today’s speech… at least not to the satisfaction of most voters.

By Ricky

March 18, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Guilt by association is the nasty stuff of McCarthyism and the witch hunting of those scary old times. Can’t we tell the difference between doing dirty deals and knowing people who do dirty deals? In Chicago politics you get to know all kinds of people, and the proof of the pudding is in who you owe and who you don’t. The pope is the ultimate spiritual advisor of millions. Do we all take responsibility for all his positions?

By Daughter

March 18, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

“Chicago Tribune: Obama Satisfied All Doubts About Rezko Chicago Tribune | March 16, 2008 10:39 AM”

“The most remarkable facet of Obama’s 92-minute discussion was that, at the outset, he pledged to answer every question the three dozen Tribune journalists crammed into the room would put to him. And he did.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/16/chicago-tribune-obama-san91742.html

By julian

March 18, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

The right wing losers will never be satisfied with any explanation because they thrive on division. When America is divided then can bring it politically and economically to its knees, like right now when great business institutions like Bear Sterns is lost overnight. The GOP extremists betray us and strip America of its industrial bases and ship it to china and india to line their nasty pockets. In this they have the allegiances of a bunch of loud religious loonies and hate monger louts. America needs to shut these fools up! Obama will be the president. He will bring us together and make America rich and strong again.

By maz hess

March 18, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

First Obama was called a muslim sleeper which was sworn in to the senat with his hand on the coran, now they say that he is a extrem follower of a black pastor. What will be next? That he is a member of an extrem buddhist group to free tibet or a nihilist fighting God when ever he can?

By Jason Hussein

March 18, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

BO has said, nor done anything wrong. Someone he knows, very well, did say something “un PC”. But this is America, and the last time I checked we still had freedom of speech. No matter if you agree or disagree. The words were not Obama’s.

P.S. Where are those taxes and list for the Clintons library? That COULD be the real coverup/story.

By John P. Ellis

March 18, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

To ‘Reverend’ Jeremiah Wright,

I’m a black man that has been disappointed in the American experience. But after hearing your call for ‘Back people’ to sing ‘God Damn America’, I think you need to remember, God’s in the blessing business, NOT damning! Remember what Balaam said, I can’t curse what God has blessed!’ Instead of loving the ‘hell’ OUT OF the ‘white man’, how about loving ‘Heaven’ INTO him? You need to be delivered from this spirit of unforgiveness, and prejudice. I’ve learned one thing, the ‘white man’ doesn’t have the power to stop me from dreaming, or stopping them from coming true! Remember, Jesus (Yeshua) said ‘Forgive as you WANT TO BE FORGIVEN’. (Mark 11) According to Lerone Bennett Jr., the first slaves were brought to America by rich Africans BEFORE THE MAYFLOWER ever set sail, AND THE FIRST RUN AWAY SLAVE RAN AWAY FROM ANOTHER BLACK MAN! The ‘Christian’ faith reached Africa long before Europe. Remember the Ethiopian eunuch? Plus, Jesus (Yeshua) WAS NOT a poor black man! Why would a poor man need a treasurer (Judas)? ALMOST ALL THE DISCIPLES WERE working WHEN THEY WERE CALLED AND PROMOTED TO FOLLOW JESUS’ IN HIS WORK! This carpenter from Nazareth was a faithful tither, a successful carpenter, and since he came to fulfill the law, his cup overflowed from OBEDIENCE… THIS was how he supported his ministry. How could Judas have been stealing out of the bag of a homeless, broke Messiah?

The twelve tribes of Israel were ALL colors. If you had been part of the dispersion after 70 A.D., in the end time regathering, you would look like the people that you were scattered among, NOT MATTER WHAT COLOR! Jesus said, ‘Father, FORGIVE THEM! He also said that believers can do the same thing as He did! (Hint Hint) It takes Resurrection power to forgive your oppressors! How can you say you love God WHO YOU CAN’T SEE , and NOT love that white man that you see EVERYDAY? Remember Peter was told to forgive 70 x 7… What number are you up to ‘Reverend’ Wright? If God forgives and blesses America, who are you to damn it from the pulpit and inspire masses to fall deeper into a state of unforgiveness? Cursing the land you live in is about like being stuck in the top of a tree and calling for someone to cut it down instead of bringing a net! God’ll bring you a ladder if you humble yourself! Israel NEVER cursed Egypt! The Torah says to ‘Bless and curse not!

To White America, STOP SINGING GOD BLESS AMERICA! He’s BEEN doing that from day one! It’s time for AMERICA TO BLESS GOD! First, repent of replacing God’s Holy feast days with heathen festivals like christmas, and easter, plus you take the Torah and prayer out of the schools and teach a satanic doctrine called ‘separation of church and state’. Read Isaiah 9:6- and realize that the government shall be on His shoulders and the increase of his government AND peace SHALL KNOW NO END! He’s coming to rule AND reign from Jerusalem FROM THE THRONE OF DAVID FOREVER! Part of your problem is worshipping yourselves. On 9/11 America rallied around the flag, but NOT the Cross! In Judges God says to call on the gods you have chosen to save you in the day of your tribulation! Be careful not to make the flag an idol! Israel’s the ONLY land God placed a people and promised the blessing of Abraham. The Messiah’s coming to rule from Jerusalem, NOT Washington!

To ALL Presidential candidates:

prove that America is a true ally of Israel by immediately moving the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem which is the Eternal Capital of Israel, NOT ‘palestine’! In every country that America has diplomatic relations with, the American Embassy is in the ‘capital city’ of that sovereign state…except Israel. Bless God by having the courage to agree with His Word by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Here’s a news flash for Wright, Jesse Jackson, Farra’con’, Sharpton, David Duke the grand dragon, exalted Pooh-Bah of the Masons and everyone (and everything) else…Jerusalem is not only the capital of Israel but the whole world when Mashiach comes! Everything black ain’t beautiful, and everything white ain’t right! Since God’s Son spoke all creation into existence including colors, HE’S ALL COLORS AT ONCE! Reread Numbers 12 to find out how God feels about racial prejudice!

So, to the white people who holler ‘Race Card!’ with pain and irritation when blacks speak about how we ended up here, there’s an ol’ southern saying, ‘If I’d known yall would’ve been this much trouble, I WOULD HAVE PICKED MY OWN COTTON!’ Well, I’ve got a saying also, ‘You should’ve picked your own cotton AFTER YOU PAYBACK THE INDANS FOR THE LAND YOU STOLE!’ New York for a hand full of beads…?

To black America, the first slaves to reach these shores were brought by rich Africans! (‘Before The Mayflower’)…When Moses said ‘Let my people go!’, HE WAS TALKING TO PHAROAH…THE BLACK KING OF EGYPT! Jeremiah Wright’s ‘zeal’ for the oppressed would have more impact by calling attention to Darfur and Sudan, a fire storm of black on black genocide. You, Jesse, Julian, Louis, and the rest of the ‘civil rights pimps’ need to use your influence to stop the African Jihad inflicted on your brothers across the water! Do you have the courage to go and live in the middle of the Sudan and stand for righteousness the way the Jews are doing in Israel? THAT’S real faith!

The only reason that America’s not a ‘greasy spot’ on the planet from judgment, is that America’s spread the Gospel like NO OTHER COUNTRY! The Word says that gentile believers (Christian Nations) grafted into the commonwealth of Israel, are to be a ‘servant’ to the ‘circumcision’ (Israel). Preaching the Gospel to the world has delayed judgment for a little while; but considering our lust for aborting babies, war, violence in the streets and musical terrorism called ‘rap, America could be closer than it thinks in reaping the rewards of slavery and land stealing by being enslaved to arab oil and in being in debt to every bank on the planet.

If the Word of God is true when it says that ‘Judgment begins in the house of God, Jeremiah Wright and the people he’s offended need to heed Jesus’ words concerning the fall of a divided kingdom!

Lastly, Barak Obama… They say ‘water taste like the pipe it flows through’. As your ‘pastor’ was put out to pasture, shed all the influence this man has on your thinking. IF he was truly your pastor, he was your spiritual leader and teacher. But IF you just joined his church for political ‘connections’ (you won’t be the first or the last!) become a true believer and govern accordingly. (Romans 13)

Yours Truly, The Gardener

By maggy

March 18, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Common Sense. Is Obama responsible for statements made by anyone. Isn’t that curtailing freedom of speech? I personally have heard many people make the same statements as Pastor Wright, mayve not with the same condemnation. Yes, we are all free to express our thoughts, but this sensitivity that makes people our silencers must stop. Leave it up to each individual to make their own judgments. What is really un-american is prohibiting freedom of speech. The United States can only get stronger when people question government’s actions of the past and present.

By maggy

March 18, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this

Common Sense. Is Obama responsible for statements made by anyone. Isn’t that curtailing freedom of speech? I personally have heard many people make the same statements as Pastor Wright, mayve not with the same condemnation. Yes, we are all free to express our thoughts, but this sensitivity that makes people our silencers must stop. Leave it up to each individual to make their own judgments. What is really un-american is prohibiting freedom of speech. The United States can only get stronger when people question government’s actions of the past and present.

By Mr. Logic

March 18, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

The reality of the matter is this…No matter how good a job a person can do or is doing the people that can not do as good of a job usually are very good at deception, propaganda tactics, coercion and mind manipulation. The irony of this fact is that Hillary Clinton has not been doing such a good job. Barack Obama has been. We were intimidated into accepting Bush on 1 term, fooled into another. Don’t make a similar mistake. Vote Obama for 2008. Vote for Change

By John P. Ellis

March 18, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

When Wright gets tired of loving the hell OUT of the white man, he ought to try loving Heaven INTO him! How can he say that he loves God Who he can’t see, and not love the white people he sees everyday?

By Valerie

March 18, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

I am voting for the brilliant, hard-working, conscientious, curious and likable Barak Obama. He is not the divisive, attack-dog type like Hillary, and he is no war-mongerer like McCain. He is not a racist. He loves our country, and he has proven his good judgment over and over in his life and is the good works on a community level for the poor, the under-served of our country. He is carrying hope, an honest work ethic, and intelligence. The preacher thing is being blown up to justify the anti-Obama-ites out there.

By willem

March 18, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe that this is still a story. I’ll admit that it was titillating at first, especially because Wright’s comments so sharply contrasted with Obama’s core message that it was alarming and confusing. However, he immediately condemned these statements in the harshest terms and apologized for them. Compare this to Clinton’s remarks that Ferraro has a right to her opinion, but that she disagrees.

As for Rezko, he gave a very detailed account of his dealings with Rezko to the Tribune in a manner consistent with his demand for more government transparency.

I think it’s appropriate for Americans to ask these kinds of tough questions for our potential leaders. But Obama has already answered these questions to my satisfaction.

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit to find supporters in Obama’s camp who hate whites, supporters in Hillary’s camp who hate men, or supporters in Ron Paul’s camp who hate all immigrants. Ultimately, I’m not voting for their close supporters, and these remarks by Wright only slightly diminishes my respect for Obama (I similarly only slightly lost respect when Clinton’s and Paul’s supporters made similar racist/sexist statements).

By MissTatum

March 18, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Did you know Democrats Supers-Delegates are 842 out of 2025 needed? That’s 42% and with this way of picking a nominee Your vote is only a little over 1/2 needed to win. The party picks your Nominee. I moved here from Japan two years ago, originally for Switzerland. I’m 28 years old & wondering why are so many of you Democrats?

By ct

March 18, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

Katie wrote “Not only freinds who we might want to broom under the rug, but when I think about it some of my siblings and even my paprents.

I still love ‘em, but sure wouldn’t want them to be speaking for me.”

Even if you would not want your parents speaking for you, if you were running for president and your parents were making very anti-american comments, it would be the public’s duty to question you as to whether your views are shaped by similar influences. As family and religious institutions often play an advisory role in many people’s lives, we have the right and duty to examine whether or not a candidate shares that same view of America.

By fred

March 18, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

I know we all want to believe that blacks and whites want to get along for our common good and the love of country. Its obvious that Obama’s wife doesn’t feel proud to be an American. Its also very evident that the people who attend this church haven’t heard Rev. White’s sermon only once. I am sure as most common sense people we all are that Rev. White has been aggravating people’s senses for a long while. Its kind of like throwing fuel on a smoldering fire. Eventually the fire burns out. But in Wright’s case he continues to burn subliminal and outright hateful remarks to his flock. I am a Christian and I have never been to a Church where my priest has stood on the alter and delivered outrageous remarks like the so called Rev. Wright. Our congreation would immediately call for his ouster. So what you have here is Obama claiming he has never heard that Youtube speech. That may be true. But if Obama has been to church on more than once I am sure the Rev. Wright has had more hateful speech that was never heard or videoed and Obama has just sat there taking it all in. Is this the type of President that we want. We want a President that will stand up to Rev. Wright and tell him and the flock that this isn’t right and he isn’t going to be supported any more by anyone in the flock. That is always a good way to make someone change their ways. Isolate them and make them think twice about their conduct and behavior. If I ever stood in a crowd and ranted about Black people what would happen to me? And for the record it seems that the majority of Americans which are white at this point are being subjected to hate from people like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Rev. Wright, and others because they are white. The worse part of this is that most whites weren’t slave owners, view it as disgusting and immoral yet people like Wright are lumping anyone with light colored skin as a person to be hated. I don’t want anymore people like Wright continuing to keep hate alive. Obama has danced around this issue so he can keep the Black vote in his corner. He isn’t deserving of this position at this point. He hasn’t shown maturity or any emotions as to what other races feel when they are being attacked for no reason other than being white.

By Yvette

March 18, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

Let’s be honest people.

Barack Obama is a black man. His name could have been George Johnson and he still would have to face the race issue because he is a black man. White people have always and will always be extremely cautious with Black people. It started with education…is this black person “qualified” to be educated? Is this Black person “qualified” to work in our factory? Is this Black person “qualified” to manage our office? is this Black person “qualified” to be a cop? This always seems to be the question on just about every white person’s mind…How to “qualify” black people. There is an blatant game of racial “qualification” being played in this contest. Are we as Black people surprised? Not at all black people have seen this before in the media, in movies and most importantly in real life. Qualified black people get passed and scrutinized in a way that no white person has ever been subjected to.

No one in the media is asking these questions to Hillary Clinton: Your religious beliefs? When were you last in Church? Your feminists beliefs? How will your feminist beliefs affect your role as President? Why are such a high percentage of white woman voting for you? Why are white men in rural areas voting for you? Do you think that your race is playing a part in the white male and female vote in rural areas? Are they relating to you because they know your white face and the Clinton name?

This contest stopped being about the economy, the war, healthcare and education the moment Barack Obama became a formidable black candidate. There was a definite buzz in the air and a shift in the Clinton camp. Hilllary had REAL competition and this was scary. The media at first had nothing but glowing things to say about the new black senator on the scene and seemed to actually be giving Barack some props although they wanted to know more about the Senator and his background. But that was just a lull to the prelude and we as Black people knew that sooner or later the sh#! would hit the fan and it did. Racism would rear it’s ugly head and of course it did. In the form of Bill Clinton.

Bill Clinton starts talking about race after his wife loses what should have been an obvious win. He makes a point of insulting the very black constituents that put helped put him in office. Bill knows that as a white male from Arkansas the scariest thing to a white rural male is a black man in his neighborhood. Bill plants the ‘race card’ seed and so it begins. A downward spiral of a ‘vetting’ (aka lynching) of a Black man running for a Presidential seat in the white house. Everything imaginable becomes a reason to not vote for this Black man; His name, wife, experience, pastor, church, religion, speech, and shoes all become ‘excuses’ for some white people to find fault with voting for this black man. When deep down the real ugly truth of the issue is none of the above. The truth is he is a black man and there are some white people who would DIE before they would give him a cup of water to quench his thirst, let alone vote for him.

I’m not sure what Barack will accomplish by giving this speech today. But I do know that if he does lose this nomination to Hillary Clinton it will be because he is a Black Man.

I can only have the ‘Audacity to Hope’ that people in America Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, etc.. will stop being such racists jerks.

By Thozmaniac

March 18, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

If Obama is elected to the oval office I’ll be moving back to Europe to support all the anti-Americans who reside on that continent, and beyond.

By Jodi

March 18, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Obama is running on his JUDGEMENT. Any person with good judgement would have left that church and never called Rev. Wright his Pastor. This is how the same old racist people continue to be racist against whites…..simply because they were raised to be against whites. Obama should not have been running for President untill he had left that church and joined a decent church for at least 5 years. I could have forgiven the past if he had changed his future and his kids’ future by leaving that church before those young girls were brainwashed like their Mother. I am sure his speach today will be great and send chills down our spines but giving speaches is his strong suit. He can make many people believe him but I HOPE the majority will not take a chance on nominating him because Obama will easily be beaten by McCain while the latest polls show Hillary would beat McCain. The best thing Obama can do is to step down from the race. At this point we can not even have him on the ticket as VP because he would hurt Hillary’s chances.

His good judgement also had him remove his name from the MI primary while running for President. Good judgement sould have said whether or not the vote counts at least I get publicity leaving my name on the ballot. Hillary showed good judgement and Obama did not.

By Jefferson

March 18, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

If my church had a set of “white principles” like Obama’s church has “black principles” which in essence are some warped form of liberation theology and filled with hatred for whites I would quit immediately. It is not an issue of a few loose comments; it is the ideology of the church. How does Obama profess to bring people together when he is a long time member of such a church. I was incensed with the congreation almost dancing in the halls as Wright spewed out his hatred for this country. Sorry, he will not get my vote

By Brian

March 18, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

While it is true we all have people we know that say things or do things we don’t agree with, the problem I have here is that Obama has been attending this church for some 20 years. He has, week in and week out, listened to the words of this man, and has chosen to remain in that congregation…for 20 years. Most people that I know would have found another church to attend if they were hearing things they didn’t agree with coming from the pulpit. At some point people choose whether they agree or disagree with the perspective and language of a church. If they don’t agree than find somewhere else to go. Why did he continue to attend?

Religious faithful see their pastor, minister, etc as a person of spiritual leadership…a model for them to follow. They are influenced and inspired by the things they say, by their actions, and the manner in which they live. The words I heard on those videos are not words of love, forgiveness, faith, or anything else remotely associated with a Christian church. After 20 years, something from all that got through to Obama.

By John

March 18, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Birds of a feather flock together. You people are telling me that Obama spent 20 years with Wright, his friend and mentor and never heard a hint of this racist rhetoric and totally disagrees with it and was not influenced by it? Rigghhhtttt……..

No way… NO WAY will I vote for a guy who thinks of my 5 year old daughter as a “blue eyed devil”. That’s what Obama’s chum Farrakhan said at any rate. Oh, and let’s not forget that Obama considers Molcolm X one of his heroes. And what did Mr.X have to ssay about whitey? “Kill ‘em, Kill’em all” I believe it was. But don’t take MY word for it. Let’s hear from Obama himself: From Dreams of My Father: he vowed that he would “never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn’t speak to my own. It was into my father’s image, the black man, son of Africa, that I’d packed all the attributes I sought in myself, the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela.”

By Dr. Charles

March 18, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

I have heard the excepts from Rev. Wright that have been disseminated through out the mass media. I have been acquainted with Rev Wright for over 20 years, and his Church that many upper middle class African Americans attend. What he said about 9-11 and how American’s unjust foreign policy towards the Palestine precipitated the attack on the World Trade Center was 1000% CORRECT! I like Mr Obama, but it appears that he is just like all the other political leaders except Jimmy Carter.

By Vincent

March 18, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Obama is completely inmatured and not American enough to hold the heighest post of our Nation. Has nothing to do with his color but with judgement, integrity, experience and unquestionable patriotism. Surely he is not my candidate when he associate with and praise people who hate U.S. and don’t feel American enough. We are not dumb, with that pedigree I don’t know how good and decent Americans can support him. By the way, Republican will pulverized him before he wake up!!!It is lost cause.

By Diogenes

March 18, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

To folks like Maggy spouting “freedom of speech” adages, and defending Wright’s ability to say whatever he wants — have you no vestige of a clue? Of COURSE he has the “right” to say these things, and of course Obama has the “right” to associate with people like Wright whenever he wants. No one is arguing otherwise.

What many of us ARE saying, however, is that Wright’s twisted belief system — and Obama’s consistent association with Wright’s church — make for one very poor Presidential candidate. So, anyone can say what they want, just don’t expect most of us to vote for you when you are, as “Sven” says above, “over-emotional, talking trash, unprincipled, blaming others for your plight, hostile to traditional white values, etc.”

By mikelevy

March 18, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

The idea that Obama is somehow accountable for the stupid things others he associates with says or does is rediculous. We all know and sometime love people like this, choosing to see the good in them, rather than the bad. This is just another anti-Obama zing from an overly defensive media who first touted Obama with stupid ‘Obamarama and Obamamania’ and now want to appear to be level regarding their critisism of him as opposed to Clinton. Another thing I ask, when will the critizism about Mrs. Obama stop? I fully support her remark about not always having been proud of being an American. She is realistic and I share her feelings. It is very difficult to be supportive of a country that disregards the needs of its people in favor of the profits of big business, fails to provide basic healthcare necessities that other major countries do, wages an unjust war that only benefits industry under the guise of ‘spreading Democracy, twice elects a president who should be tried for treason. I could go on and on. I love my country but am not blind to its imperfections and am certainly not naive. During the Viet Nam conflict, pro war ‘Hawks’ used the phrase, ‘America Love It or Leave It’. Today we, the backers of true change via President Obama can proudly say ‘America Love it and Change it’!

By John P. Ellis

March 18, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

In the words of that great black intelectual Gorge Jefferson: ‘Don’t let the doorknob hit you where the good Lord split you!’

By MissTatum

March 18, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

Would you want your Young Daughter hearing this Man saying GOD-DAMN AMERICA? How about “He did us like Monika Lewinsky, Riding Dirty? Love the Hell out of your enemies and that’s The White people? This Guy is sick & no Children should have to hear this. Now I see why so many Black Kids have problems if this is what they here in Church.

By Jeff

March 18, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

two comments:

A) Why is a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, supposedly one of this country’s best and brightest, using ‘you know’ every two words??????

B) You don’t sit under a preacher’s preaching for TWO DECADES without absorbing much of his belief system. Matter of fact, most people I know will leave a church within two MONTHS if they find the pastor’s belief system does not align with their own. Therefore, it can be logically assumed that Obama’s and Wright’s beliefs are the same.

And THAT disqualifies Obama from residency in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

By shannon

March 18, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

I have listened to rock n roll for the last 40 years and have heard much worse than this Pastor can come up with — I am normal, successful, middle class American with grown, successful children. SOme things I agree with and some I don’t. There were many people in that congregation who were in agreement - —- is that a hint that maybe all is not “Perfect” in our world? Maybe Obama listened to his preacher and it was food for thought about how to unify America, the land he obviously loves. …

By L. henderson

March 18, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

As a child I was told, If you sleep with dogs, you will get fleas on you. I think this is what the Reverend Wright was shouting about. This country had a relationship with the drug dealer of Panama, Manual Noreiga. When this relationship soured into hostitilty, America invaded the country,the innocent and powerless lost their lives. American also had a long and close relationship with the murderious Saddam Hussein of Iraq. It is reported that senor members of the Bush administration had many pleasant and worth while meetings with Hussein. After the relationship became hostile, America invaded Iraq not once but twice and countless American children died and untold numbers of Iraqi If you are a christian and you value every life god placed on this earth, and you witness political murder of the powerless, women and children. You maybe justified in screaming for GOD to damn.

By ghost of strom

March 18, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

gooooooooooood morning/ african american. why can’t blacks be americans and quit running against the wind. what really makes me puke is to hear a red neck, segregationist like bubba perdue refer to blacks as my african american friends. wouldn’t you like to be a fly on the wall. i,m betting on n****. dna don’t lie. ask strom and thomas j. perfect justice would be that we find out that bubba and joe lowery are first cousins and that bubba’s grand pa loved the wood pile. i would feel sorry for joe. if i was broke down on the side of the road, my bet is it would be black person who would stop to help me. by the way, don’t pay any attention to the rumor that when bubba was practicing that he had a love affair with a chimpanzee.

By Sven the Blog Catalysr

March 18, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

I’m listening to his speech. I’m hearing a long litany of racial grievances blacks have due to previous discrimination; I’m not hearing any “wakeup call” for blacks to get their stuff together and start living responsibly. Unless he focuses on BOTH parts to the puzzle, he will get nowhere in this election.

By Sven the Blog Catalyst

March 18, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Okay, he’s touching on it a little bit late in the speech, but I don’t think it was enough.

By Diogenes

March 18, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

He needed to have a “Bill Cosby” section in this speech, but he missed that chance and blew it. Otherwise, as always, he’s an excellent speaker. Not sure it was enough, though.

By Jeff

March 18, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

Anyone got the text of that speech? I’ve learned that it is much better to read the text of the speech than to listen to it. The things a speaker can do with his voice to incite your emotions are nullified when READING the text rather than listening to it. Makes one much more objective that way….

By MissTatum

March 18, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

This was a Very Sad attempt to explain anything about the Pastor. He talked about his own campaign 98% of the time. I think Hillary and McCain should get the same amount of Free airtime. Also We should demand that this Church loses it’s Tax-Free Status. Since the 1950s, the federal tax code has provided an exemption from federal income taxes for nonprofits of all types as long as they don’t “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” H.R. 235—109th Congress

By AL

March 18, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

AJC carry’s water for Obama!! So does the rest of the corrupt media in this country. They no longer report the news they build empires and destroy them. This guy is no crazy Uncle. You can’t pick your family you can pick your Pastor. If a white person attended such a church that said anywhere near those things he would be finished….period. That is a fact. I would not let my child near that so-called Reverand much less Baptise them. I know exactly what my Pastor is about after just 4 years. He did too. He is a liar. If you defend this behavior I feel sorry for you. To think people bring their children to hear this hate only perpetuates the problem thi country has. This guy is no President of the United States of America!!!

By joachim

March 18, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

Smooth reassuring talk is not what we need. I want someone in office whose “yes” is “yes” and whose “no” is “no.” Honesty is important, not being made to feel good.

By the way, the Senate oath of office is this: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

How about it, Obama?

And something else I was wondering about… why did Obama say in the PBS Newsmaker interview yesterday that he had an African-American father? His father was Kenyan, his step-father was Indonesian, and then he lived with his maternal grandparents (white American).

By Truthifier

March 18, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

So, when Obama supporters called for Geraldine Ferraro to step down from her role in the Clinton campaign, they were taking a principled stand. Yet, when people call for Rev. Wright to step down from his role in the Obama campaign, they are violating his freedom of speech. Yeah, that makes perfect sense.

By Clay

March 18, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

They were his words, how would reading them instead of listening to them make them less bias. His charisma isn’t an act, he has the power to unite our country. He’s not tricking us into action like Hillary.

By Jeff

March 18, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Found the text.

Regarding Rev Wright, Obama said “he has been like family to me”.

“I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community.”

“We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustice in this country. But we do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist in the African-American community today can be directly traced to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow.” Two comments: 1) He then goes on to list them, after saying such a move was unncessary. 2) He continues to live in the past, as many blacks do. I can honestly say than 99% of white America could not care less about the travails of a black american, just as they could not care less about ANYONE eles’s problems!!

“Segregated schools were, and are, inferior schools; we still haven’t fixed them, fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, and the inferior education they provided, then and now, helps explain the pervasive achievement gap between today’s black and white students.” But segregated schools produced MLK. Integrated schools produced Fifty Cent.

“That history helps explain the wealth and income gap between black and white, and the concentrated pockets of poverty that persists in so many of today’s urban and rural communities.” Care to explain all the WHITE poor people???

“And occasionally it finds voice in the church on Sunday morning, in the pulpit and in the pews. The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright’s sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning.” Difference being that never ONCE in my 25 years on this earth have I heard a WHITE preacher spew anywhere NEAR the vitriol that Rev Wright does on a weekly basis.

“But what my former pastor too often failed to understand is that embarking on a program of self-help also requires a belief that society can change.” A preacher preaching SELF help? I havenn’t met a Bible-believing preacher YET who claims that SELF help is the way to change.

“In the white community, the path to a more perfect union means acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination - and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past - are real and must be addressed. Not just with words, but with deeds – by investing in our schools and our communities; by enforcing our civil rights laws and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system; by providing this generation with ladders of opportunity that were unavailable for previous generations.” Civil rights laws… you mean those laws that state that you can’t fire a guy just because he’s white, which is exactly what happened to me not too long ago? “Fiarness” in our criminal justice system? It already is “fair”. You do the crime, you do the time.

By Yvette

March 18, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

Like a Phoenix …I think Obama has managed to rise from the ashes!

I think the speech was good. It touched on racism across the broad horizon.

Not just blacks and whites; but Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans. I liked the message and I also connected with him on grandparents whom make racist statements and relatives and friends. We don’t disown them; we may not like what they say but we know that their thoughts and voices come from their own unique experiences. My mother was raised in the 40-50s she died in 1993 from a massive heart attack, but I remember it was not until she was in her 50s that she spoke about actually being friends with a white woman at her job. She had been working all her life and she never once in her 25 years had a friend of another race. I have been at my job for 5 years in corporate America and one of my dearest friends is a white woman. We relate and argue on many issues but skin-color has never been one of them.

Barack is right. Racism goes both ways and in the end if we focus on skin color WE WILL ALL LOSE.

By MissTatum

March 18, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

Clay, “He was reading from a teleprompter, but Obama spoke well.” “Rev.Jeremiah Wright HATES AMERICA!” “NOT JUST WHITE PEOPLE!” Obama met Oprah at the Racist Wright church? I don’t like Racist of any Color! Sorry if my English is not good. I’m very new at writing English.

By Jason

March 18, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

Well, Clinton and Obama have both lost my vote by reducing this primary to a mudslinging contest. We are on the precipice of the most pronounced economic downturn since 1929, and they’re busy scouring media archives like catty teenage girls for any semblance of a skeleton in the other’s closet. They should be devising plans to soften the blow of an impending recession instead of calling each other fat sluts on Myspace. Tells me where their priorities lie.

By Jean Chevreille

March 18, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Senator Obama will do OK, as JFK did before him. Truly, people, changing denominations, because of something your pastor says, is not the answer. If that were the case, I would probably no longer be a Catholic, a fact of which I am most proud.

By Now You Know

March 18, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

The Republicans have exactly what they wanted all along: a divided Democratic Party. Hillary couldn’t beat the Wave of Charisma (and misogyny), and Charisma will crumble under the !Gasp! new “revelations” they’re beginning to spill about Obama. They don’t even LIKE McCain, but they’ll take him to the White House (hacked machines on standby if needed), and you’ll all be wondering why, yet again, you’ve can’t have “change.” Keep “hoping” y’all. That’s all you have, and it’s worth about as much as the dollar in you pocket.

By Zane hernandez

March 18, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

What, you only post what’s convenient fire?

By MissTatum

March 18, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

Obama said “We all want to get to the same place.” I don’t want to get where the Democrats want to go. I came from a Socialist Country and you won’t like it. I don’t like Racist of any Color! It looks like the Democrats are the Racist, Sexist, Class envy and pit all Americans against each other. Hypocrisy? Is that the right word?

By BO08

March 18, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

ALL you who have negative opinions about Barack Obama should change your hearts. Remember God knows your heart & is watching & you will regret it at the end. It’s horrible how you feel about a man who no doubt will be the Best President the United States HAS EVER HAD. If you want Clinton again & McCain just be prepared for the US to get worst than it’s ever been before. LET YOUR HATRED FOR THIS MAN GO.

By Vincent

March 18, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

Jason you are coward! when you get hurt you start running principles are priciples and we democrats have Hillary to defend them.Tis about him not her !!!! She undoutbtly is a full fletch American!!unless you going to question that? Anyway democrat don’t need your vote!! We rather lose than get a person vote that does not believe in the Dem platform!! Rep looking for your vote they take you them screw you!

By One

March 18, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

OBAMA IN ‘08!!!!! OBAMA IN ‘08!!!

By Diogenes

March 18, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

Miss Tatum, welcome to America, and yes, it’s the right word. Thanks for your excellent insight, having come here from a socialist environment … and thanks also for your ability to see through the liberal Democrat feel-good propaganda.

By MissTatum

March 18, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

BO08, Your two Socialist can’t win. They have divided the party in 1/2. That’s not White people fault.

That’s the Democrats fault which 93% are Black. What you say sounds like a threat. Go get Hillary. It’s her fault not ours. I’m not afraid. I’m 5’2” and 105 Lb. You are a Hate Monger trying to intimidate Americans. Get use to the idea of President McCain. Obama 2012 Maybe?

By Churchill

March 18, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

It warms my conservative heart to see all the racism and rancor in the Democrat party. I thought you guys were tolerant and supportive of diversity.

By Jason

March 18, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

“ALL you who have negative opinions about Barack Obama should change your hearts. Remember God knows your heart & is watching & you will regret it at the end.”

So let me get this straight: God has officially given His endorsement to Obama. This decision was divinely broadcast to you, the chosen one. Consequently, if I don’t vote for Obama, I’ll be banished to hell when I die.

You should have someone check your house for a gas leak.

By Donna

March 18, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

By julian

March 18, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

The right wing losers will never be satisfied with any explanation because they thrive on division. When America is divided then can bring it politically and economically to its knees, like right now when great business institutions like Bear Sterns is lost overnight. The GOP extremists betray us and strip America of its industrial bases and ship it to china and india to line their nasty pockets. In this they have the allegiances of a bunch of loud religious loonies and hate monger louts. America needs to shut these fools up! Obama will be the president. He will bring us together and make America rich and strong again.

Julian to claim that the government should do something to shut up those whose viewpoints differ from yours is anti- free speech and that is unAmerican.

And how is Obama going to bring everyone together and make America rich?

We don’t need a President or the government to get rich.

By Jeff

March 18, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

Does anyone else think it is kinda weird that a US Senator is following me around today????

By Donna

March 18, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

By BO08

March 18, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

ALL you who have negative opinions about Barack Obama should change your hearts. Remember God knows your heart & is watching & you will regret it at the end. It’s horrible how you feel about a man who no doubt will be the Best President the United States HAS EVER HAD. If you want Clinton again & McCain just be prepared for the US to get worst than it’s ever been before. LET YOUR HATRED FOR THIS MAN GO.

What in your mind is a “negative opinion”? Is disagreeing with Obama’s politics and vision of government a “negative opinion”?

If so, then I guess I am sinning against God, no?

I can’t say enough how sick I am of the self-righteous, smug, arrogant crap of many Obama supporters.

By Copyleft

March 18, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

“it can be logically assumed that Obama’s and Wright’s beliefs are the same.” Because they knew each other. And a churchgoer automatically agrees with everything his minster or priest says, on EVERY issue, in EVERY circumstance. Uh-huh.

Jeff, attaching the word LOGIC to that statement is the height of irony. Obama acknowledged that his pastor—a good man of principle and Christian compassion—had his blind spots, which Obama himself did not agree with. In other words. Rev. Wright is a real human being, not a demon to denounce.

It’s funny that, in the name of avoiding ‘racism,’ you want to operate in such a black-or-white world.

By Donna

March 18, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Jason,

Good point. Didn’t Bush say the same thing about God backing him? Didn’t the Dems jump ALL OVER Bush about that?

Funny when a Dem talks about God, Jesus and church Dems don’t make a peep. When a “conservative” talks about God, Jesus and church, Dems call that person all kinds of names. Hypocrites.

Churchill: The Dem Party is THE party of identity politics. THIS was their key to power. Now it’s back to bite them in the a**.

That is why government and political parties should stick to what really matters not this social issue crap.

By Copyleft

March 18, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

Donna: Have you offered any criticism of Obama’s policies, other than blanket generalizations like “It’s socialism!”

Please do so, and you’ll see your critiques treated with respect. Offer nothing but ignorant hate, and you’ll get the judgment that warrants (both here and from whatever god you follow).

By Jeff

March 18, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

Copyleft:

Obama was in the man’s church for TWO DECADES. According to Obama, this was the very man that led him to Jesus. To think that Obama is not both INTIMATELY acquainted with the man’s beliefs is the EPITOME of lunacy.

And the only way a man attends a church for two decades while disagreeing with the pastor over such major issues is also LUNACY. The only options are thus: A) He was a member of the church but did not regularly attend. This distances him from Wright, but opens up the possibility that he was in fact a practicing Muslim hiding behind the vestige of church membership. B) He agrees with the pastor’s racist views. This would be the honest option, yet obviously means he is toast in the election.

By Churchill

March 18, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

Will you guys riot in Denver when Hillary steals the nomination for the first “Clean and Articulate” (thanks, Joe Biden D-MD) African American candidate?

By Copyleft

March 18, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Jeff: Again, with your black-or-white thinking, you’re overlooking other options, such as

C. Obama knew little of Rev. Wright’s personal views on race, since they weren’t the topic of Sunday sermons very often.

D. Obama knew something of his strident political views, disagreed, and dismissed them, while still respecting the man’s spiritual words and acts.

Your “either/or” trap simply isn’t going to work… because people know the real world doesn’t work that way.

(Aside to Churchill: Always nice to see you wishing for violence in America! Nice to know who’s REALLY the one 4 out of 5 terrorists would support.)

By Fariyal Ali

March 18, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

It amazes me to see what garbage people focus on. The country is in turmoil and we stop to talk about Sen. Obama’s preacher? People you need to educated yourselves and try …just try to understand what is really going on. People are talkng about Sen Obama and Rezko …while there are photos of Sen Clinton and President Clinton hugging and no one seem to notice. But why does all of this matter when we have bigger and I mean bigger issues to deal with. Hundreds of our soldiers are killed and we hear two seconds of this on the news…but Sen. Obama’s preacher gets weeks of coverage? We should be ashamed of ourselves, for allowing this insanity. No one is to blame for all this madness but ourselves…this shows how shallow we are.

By Copyleft

March 18, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Cut ‘em some slack, Ali… it’s all they’ve got to work with.

Obama just will NOT stop being black and liberal, and—worst of all—refuses to apologize for it! They’ve got to dredge up SOMEthing to complain about.

The sad thing is, they’re only talking to themselves. The only folks they’re ‘convincing’ about Evil Covert-Muslim Obama and his Racist Church Mentor are the people who were never going to vote for him anyway.

You know—the idiots!

By Jeff

March 18, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Copyleft:

Both your C and D are addressed in my A and B.

A and C are the same issue. If you attend the man’s church regularly, you would have known about his views more than likely within the first month or so.

B and D are the same issue. You don’t go to a church whose pastor you disagree with.

I should know on that second account. I left the church I had attended for 20 years because I disagreed with the pastor’s politics. (Note that he became President of the Georgia Baptist Convention a few years later, after having been on its Executive Board for quite a while.)

Even the church I attend now I pay close attention to the pastor’s theology and politics, and I have ZERO problem leaving said church if I disagree with EITHER as much as Obama now says he disagrees with Wright.

The fact that Obama never left speaks VOLUMES, either in case A or B.

By Churchill

March 18, 2008 4:18 PM |