Obama invokes RFK in distancing self from pastor

Give Obama the benefit of doubt. The 9 min YouTube audio shows the positive side of Rev. Wright:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFZROa0rlMU

A beautiful sermon, which directly inspired Obama (and his book title). And boy, with Ferraro-gate, Spitzer-gate, Wright-gate, Rezko-gate and all the pains of daily life, this is undoubtedly relevant to most, if not all, of us.

I believe that Obama is sincere and does not share his pastor's radical views. His whole record of service has been built on a message of unity.

Barack Obama contiues to inspire me with his ability see the forest for the trees.

Look at the scope and inspiration of the people who've voted for his campaign. Barack Obama is the candidate for the times and should be America's choice for President.

Besides praising Farakkan without also denouncing his anti-semitism, what is the big deal with pastor Wright's comments on race? I am white and I have read a history book. Too many people want to feel that their privilege is merely the result of their superior intelligence and virtue. This country was founded upon racism...and not only against blacks. And vast inequalities in wealth, power, and status remain to this day. We can only conclude that either 1) minority groups are genetically predisposed to being oppressed or 2) this country continues to be built upon structural inequality. This is not a question of whether or not whites have bigoted attitudes. Minority groups have been historically oppressed and have not been granted equality nor the means necessary to heal from the multi-dimensional effects of oppression.

Obama is a Fraud. Give him the benefit of the doubt? Come on this is the beginning of the end for him. Thank God last thing we need is this guy in office

If it were only that easy. You see, he picks the wrong mentors and friends: a pastor who despises whites and everything American, a card-carrying Communist in Hawaii, a Socialist organization in Chicago, actively campaigning for a openly Socialist candidate in Vermont and his 20-year friendly with Tony Rezko and his link to Auchi, Saddam Hussein's money launderer. I'd say that's bad company.

So Barak was in a church for 20 years and never heard this?? HOW stupid does he think we are?? Seriously .. there is no benefit of the doubt ..his judgement is reprehensible

I can accept that he might not have been at the service where the pastor was at his most inflammatory but what about his wife and children? Someone should have told him what the pastor was saying and he should have selected another church at that point.

OBAMA IS A LIAR AND A MUSLIM >> Have Obama also tell the world what VILE acts of Mohammed he condemns! He has said that Islam merits respect ... WHAT IS THERE TO RESPECT ????

"Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him'" (Bukhari 9.84.57).

Quran 3:28 Don't have unbelieving friends unless it is to deceive them. Remember the final goal is to Allah.

Quran 4:89 Have no unbelieving friends. Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them.

Qur'an: 9:29 "Fight those who do not believe until they all surrender, paying the protective tax in submission."

THAT IS WHY THE SAME PASTOR AND LEWIS FARAH-con ARE PALS!

There is nothing positive about Wright. I'm sure Hitler gave inspiring speeches as well. For Obama to give money and condone Wright shows that Obama is a bigot and a racist. Obama is a disgrace.

I find Americans' obsession with race pathological and regressive. Get the hell over it already!!

I'm afraid that when the Republicans' get hold of this in the general election, he does'n have a prayer. McCain will keep us at war until my grandchildren are old.
Sincerely,
Valerie Underhill

Without weighing in on whether or not the content of Reverend Jeremiah Wright's sermons should be denounced by Barack Obama, I do find one aspect of this story quite troubling. We have now seen more sermons from Barack Obama's minister in 48 hours than we ever did of Mike Huckabee ---- and Mike Huckabee was a presidential candidate for 14 long months.

Why is it acceptable to scour every last sermon given by Wright, but only weeks ago we weren't allowed to see or read Mike Huckabee's sermons?

In fact, not only was it totally ignored by the traditional media, but the few times the question of Huckabee's sermons was raised, it was brushed aside as inappropriate.

Why the hypocrisy? After all, Mike Huckabee was an evangelical Southern Baptist minister who's entire campaign was based on the fact that he was the Christian candidate. Are we to believe that he didn't rail against the US government over abortion in previous sermons? Or homosexuality? We know what he had to say about AIDS victims.

I don't imagine one gets to be the be president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention without passionate fire and brimstone sermons as part of his repertoire.

So, I find it curious that the traditional media now has its white hot focus on Barack Obama's religion and a few select words by Reverend Jeremiah Wright. After all, Huckabee made his career as an actual preacher. Why the change of heart in the last few weeks? Why does Obama have to be held responsible for every word spoken during Wright's passionate sermons - while Huckabee is allowed a free ride and never questioned about his own words? From his own mouth?

Well, it's fair game now. If Huckabee reappears as a VP contender or decides to get in the race in 2012, I think we can safely point to this as justification for wanting to see Huckabee's past - in his own words.

When Mitt Romney's religion came up - it was portrayed as essentially un-American to even whisper about Romney's Mormonism. I agree that it has no place in politics, but let's make sure this is going both ways.

There's a double standard alright.

McCain/Rev John Magee:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/28/pastor-john-hagee-endorses-mccain-donohue-freaks-out/

McCain/Rev Rod Parsley...

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

this raises many Questions on if we can trust a person that is guied by such a hatefull person

There is nothing positive about Wright. I'm sure Hitler gave inspiring speeches as well. For Obama to give money and condone Wright shows that Obama is a bigot and a racist. Obama is a disgrace.

i wonder why obama is not perceived as a bi-racial person. he is running as the "first black candidate for president when he is just as white. is there a platform here? i can't recall him couching this important subject in this way...?

You're kidding me, right? First his preacher uses Malcolm X's sick sermon almost word for word after JFK was shot to described what happened on 9/11 ("America's chickens have come home to roost") and now he is invoking RFK? He has the entire Kennedy family campaigning for him. Please, let those who have died rest in peace. You have absolutely NO SHAME.

I believe that Obama is being less than honest with his supporters and the world. I believe Rev. Wright has opened our eyes to a small fraction of what Obama has heard in his congregation for the past 20 years. It is illogical to believe that Obama has never known of his mentor/pastors beliefs. He knew about Reverand Wright's beliefs back in February 2007 and only now removed him from his campaign because Wright couldn't contain himself by withholding his true beliefs from the public. It is unfathomable to think this Reverand has held his tongue for 20 years while Obama was a part of his congregation. The Reverand lives for every opportunity to state his true feelings about America. Obama get real! Do you actually think we will believe you when you lie flat out in front of our face?!

He forgot to invoke George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill and MLK

Last December, someone who attends Obama's church told me that this would happen. It would depend, she said, on whether it becomes clear that Obama will win the nomination.

So folks, this information was fed to the media by the Clinton camp. After all, the media doesn't do any research on its own any more.

If anyone knows how to divide the country, it's Hillary and the DNC powers that be. I hope Obama wins the spite the likes of Pelosi/Reid/Cargill. That will be a great day for America.

It's time white entitled politicians - Dem and Repug - equally corrupt, reckless, and heartless - got their comeuppance.

As a Obama supporter, I am terribly upset about this news. Obama has known Wright intimately for 20 years. He knew about these appalling views and statements, and he did not distance himself years ago if he really felt the way he only now says he does. He has only responded to these views once they become more widely know. Like the promises he is making to us that I am starting to believe he does not know if he can keep, this is another example of a lack of trustworthiness. I fear that he is just a common politician who puts his ambition before anything else. Sadly, it is time for all of us to wake up.

Character counts. There is no way I would stay in any church that damns the U.S., blames us for all the ills of the world, and you've seen more. Either Senator Obama is lying about never hearing those pronouncements from his pastor or he is not as smart as he seems to be, to attend twenty years and not be aware of those sermons. I too was taken by Senator Obama when he came on the scene, but shortly after he started the campaingn I heard asked his plan to fight terrorism and he responded to double foreign aid. He lost me right then and there, how naive.

I just find it hard to believe that he knew this man for 20 years and did not know the Reverend Wright held these racist, and anti-US feelings. Even in rejecting his former pastor, he seems to be a rather "tepid response''. There is no fire or passion in denouncing this man. There should be if he wants to keep my vote. He needs to get teed off that his reverend was out there uttering such garbage.

Obama is not a trustworthy person. Anybody who believes him is a kool aid drinker.

America, let us focus on the "United" portion of the United States of America. I pray and have faith that God will allow us to do just that if we work together.

I truly believe in Barack Obama...he has done something special that only comes around one in a while...like RFK, JFK, MLK, Lincoln, Jefferson, etc... There are MANY that don't want to see us united; lets prove the pundits wrong!

Yet another try to tarnish Obama's reputation. It has to be understood that he is just a man and is as fallible as any. But to try and hold him accountable over someone else's stupid statements is a little outlandish. This has Clinton written all over it. When all is said and done, the Clintons will have inflict all kinds wounds on the democratic party. The Clinton's, I am convinced by their latest tactics, view an Obama presidency as a loss to their ambitions. I am also convinced that they don't care about the democratic party. I will vote for Mccain a 100 times before I vote for Hillary.

Obama is too smart to have blindly followed this man for 20 years without knowing what he stood for. That would indicate at least a private sympathy for the pastor's views.

You can bet someone in Hillary's camp is reviewing all of the tapes to see if Obama was present at any of the speeches given when Re. Wright was wrong....if he was...he's toast...

This whole scene of using Obama's pastor is nothing more than a hack job by the powers that be. Just take 5 minutes to watch the programming on Fox. There is very little to attack Obama on, so now the right is going after the people associated with Obama. They are salivating like mad dogs. It is going to be disgusting to see the new lows that conservatives are going to put the American public through from here on out.

Still Ni, the remarks made by Wright were of the worst kind. I really believe that if this were John McCain, and his Reverend were making racist comments about blacks, and John McCain did not outright say that he wanted nothing to do with him or his Church, heedless of any prior valid messages, that John McCain's career as a presidential candidate as well as his days in the Senate would be immediately over. We cannot condone things like this. It's racist and its wrong.

http://www.springboardblog.blogspot.com

Is everyone also forgetting the fact that everyone in the church during those sermons was standing up and cheering? So is Obama saying that he is the only member of this church that doesn't support this ideology? Come on we aren't that stupid. This Reverend married the Obama's and christened their child. HE IS A FRAUD! He tries to play both sides of the aisle. He used the liberal blacks during the time in Illinois to get him elected and now he trying to go to the middle and dis-associated himself with them. He will be picked apart by McCain. Ultimately the liberals are ruining the Democratic Party. The Democrats are so seriousley flawed are have no identity. McCain is our only hope.

As a white man, I did not find the pastors remarks all that out of line. I heard a lot of truisms spoken there, and I think the HRC campaign has tried their hardest to throw mud at Obama and this was the best that they could do. Unfortunately for her campaign, it was a much worse week in the news for her. It is aparent to everyone that she no longer wants to talk about real isssues, and Obama has had to waste precious time deflecting her "kitchen sink" strategy, which has irritated most rational voters.

Unbelievable nerve invoking Robert Kennedy's spontaneous remarks on the night of Dr. King's death. I knew RFK and you're no RFK so don't even try to link up with him. Robert Kennedy was and remains a spirit of hope in the Democratic Party, an ever present reminder that we can do better. RFK knew better than to drag politics into religion or religion into politics. Sen. Obama, trying to cover some serious errors in judgment, has no right to invoke RFK, despite a misguided Ethel's support. RFK would not be sitting in any "house of God" listening to the crap coming out of Jeremiah Wright's mouth. RFK made too many stops on his last campaign to spend time with people who could not vote ... poor children. He went to the ground zero of poverty in the U.S. Sen. Obama and his Pastor can wage all the ideological warfare on the U.S. they want ... but please don't insult us with your invocation of RFK. How ironic that Bobby was one of those rich white men Pastor Wright blindly screams about all the time, while his congregation applauds. Instead of invoking RFK, go down to ground zero in lower Manhattan and imagine what it was like to have buildings come down on you, or to jump out of a skyscraper window because you didn't want to burn to death. Imagine the families and children left behind. And yes, do ask Pastor Wright to tell it like it is and blame the U.S. for that. What a great formula: apologize/agonize over bad judgement regarding Rezko/Wright on Friday afternoon/evening ... invoke RFK on the next day. Public bamboozled/hoodwinked once again. Readers, for more religion in politics, specifically at the DNC, see the NYT blog on the DNC at: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/embracing-the-faithful

I have a jogging partner, 20 years my senior, who spouts out some pretty awful rhetoric sometimes. It reflects his age, his world as he knows it, and his experiences. I ignore what I disagree with, sometimes I try to get him to see it my way, but still I am loyal to him and realize that with the salt comes the pepper. All of us are what we are because of the good and bad that we have heard, experienced, or lived. Get over it. There are some commenters on the other blogs that are members of Wright's church and are as shocked as we that he said some of these things (albeit seven years ago). My own mother said a few awful things that I would be embarrased to admit. But I unconditionally loved her for the TOTALITY of her and the good things and love she gave me. Some of you commenters are so eager to bring someone down, like you scored or something. In fact, you scored against yourself, because it belies that you had a rose-colored glass of the real world to start out with.

May be many more of senator Obama's friends have the same kind of opinion as Rev. wright has expressed. Now he has to find each one of them and distance himself? The way media is presenting this is that we shouldn't be working with anyone who disagrees with us. This is totally wrong. Give him a chance to fcus on issues rather than silly stuffs

Oh Please.....20 years it takes for him to finally denounce what his 'Pastor' says?? How convenient. If he didn't get nailed on this now...he would NEVER have denounced it! If I heard one sermon by this 'Pastor' I wouldn't have stay around. And ALL Americans are not responsible for the 'racism' that this country was founded on. My ancestors didn't hit Ellis Island until 1910...Long after slavery ended.
Racism must stop from ALL colors. Not just the majority.

Rev. Wright, finding himself in proximity to the spotlight, gave in to the sin of Pride and took the opportunity to grandstand, to the detriment of his own reputation's, his parishioner's, and America's.

Obama borrowing from RFK is creepy.

He's getting creepier the longer he campaigns. Thank God New Hamphsire voted for Clinton otherwise this knucklehead would have been coronated by MSNBC,.

I can't beleve all the Obama apoligists. Only a kool-aid drinker can ignore the blindingly obvious truth: He is an untrustworthy person who is surrounded by shady people.

I mean the guy has no concrete message besides slippery concepts like Hope and Change. Pol pot was a change for Cambodia. Hitler provided hope to Germany. And I wish they hadn't.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT BILLY GRAHAM SAID ABOUT JEWS WHILE VISITING THE WHITE HOUSE? MORE THAN ONCE??

ITS ON TAPE...

SO... IF YOU WANT TO... WE CAN DO THIS UNTIL THE COWS COME HOME.... OR WE CAN ASK .... QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WAR, THE BUDGET, WHAT A CANDIDATE PUTS ON THEIR RESUME...

SO.... ITS UP TO US.... WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

Obama says Wright is a man whom he respects. Obama respects a racist and a bigot. Obama had this bigot baptize his kids and gave thousands of dollars to this bigot to spread his hate speech. Obama is disgrace and should resign ASAP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xb7AVw_no0&eurl=http://obamawho.wordpress.com/2008/03/14/riding-dirty-obamas-pastor-says/

This entire situation saddens me deeply. However, I truly feel that Barack is handling it very well and demonstrating his true leadership. Presidential politics is a tough dirty business. His opponents are skilled in the old school politics of divisiveness. They will almost anything to win.

Pastor Wright may have vented some vitriol in a few sermons but reality is that we still suffer under racism in this country. Further, even in his most controversial statements there are nuggets of truth. Like most people I recognize that organized religion is created by man and inspired by God. As such I tend to ignore that which in my own conscience is contrary to the teachings of the Supreme Being.

I believe we are a nation of good people and solid ideals. Barack and his campaign are trying to raise the standards of our politics. Like organized religion and the realities of our nation: it is an imperfect process.

I believe Barack Obama too and still give him my wholehearted support as do many of us here in Nevada. If I were defined by the hell fire and brimstone sermons given by my former priests and pastors, no one would know who I am. It took a lot of guts for Barack to go into a live Fox News Interview over this church thing and calmly and honestly answer all their questions. Come around Pennsylvania! We've got a real candidate here.

It's funny to see the Obama apologists come out of the woodwork here.

The simple fact is this. A man does not attend a church for 20 years, and call the pastor a good friend, "like an uncle to me", without buying into what that church is selling. it is very clear what Wright is selling, and it is racial hatred and diversity.

Obama will most likely beat Clinton out for the nomination. His lead is near-insurmountable as it currently stands. I look for him to be completely destroyed by McCain, though. People bucking for the White House can only hide things like this for so long, the question is just who has the dirtiest laundry. Obama, you need to load up your hamper and get moving.

Why aren't we talking about all of tehse religious leaders? We have a truck load of questionable people involved here. As A Catholic I am very upset with the views of the preachers John McCain has stated he is "proud to be supported by" and who are his "spiritual advisors." If he doesn't know ther views then he should find out before he gets up on a stage with them.So much hate. Maybe we should get rid of all these religious people?

Note all of Obama's hardcore fanatics "I believe, I BELIEVE, I DO BELIEVE IN BULL@#$!".

These people are illogical self hating whites, or ultra nationalist blacks.

A sad assortment of societies lowest creatures.

Obama is the next McGovern, believe it.

ah them Spiritual Advisors! anyone in medialand want to bring up HRC's Spiritual Advisor "JEAN HOUSTON," and the infamous White House seance'?

Does Mr. Obama take his children to church? What do they think? Can they distinquish between what is positive and negative. They count on their FATHER to lead them in the right direction. This church sends a very clear message to me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v105/SwanSpirit/OBAMALIES.jpg

I have a dream too ,a new era where you and I ,can treat each other with respect, i believe on your dream too Obama, GOD bless AMERICA and your dream

Obama's an A-Hole, just like me.

You will not let us loose this moment.....YOU LOST THIS MOMENT ALL BY YOURSELF! Shame on you for financially supporting and continuing to be a part of this church. If you have a "church family" and did not know your money was financing this then you have a serious problem. If you went anyway....you have a serious problem. I believe you are lying because you have everything to loose....there's too much smoke!!

Mandalay: Your post gave me goose bumps. So many people remember where they were when JFK was killed, how many when RFK was killed? I am so unbelievably offended by Senator Obama's chutzpah that it makes me physically sick. I suppose this is more of his notion of "he is the change we have been waiting for."

In response to mioux's comment:

"I find Americans' obsession with race pathological and regressive. Get the hell over it already!!"

Mioux, I assume you're talking to black Americans, because most white Americans would very much like to get over it.

-What this truly reveals to me is that this nation has yet to get beyond its unhealthy and corrosive relationship to race. NEWS FLASH: African-Americans have a much different view of their country than white people. Duh? It's really hard to believe that so many people find Wright's hatred and inflammatory remarks all that surprising. Read a history book - slavery, sharecropping, KKK, Jim Crow, civil rights era beatings, racial profiling, white flight after Brown. The last twenty years we've seen positive steps, but the reaction to this story only implies what has been true all along.

Barrack's claim to fame was:
a) He is a "uniter", and
b) He has "good judgement".

He failed on both counts after having followed a DIVIDER like his pastor.
He definetely showed BAD JUDGEMENT.

Obama has always said, "words are important and matter as they are a source of inspiration". Well the foul words coming out of his pastor's mouth do matter and they are NOT a source of inspiration. They might have been to the Obama family until they got caught.

We want a President that has demonstrated consistent thinking throughout their lives and regardless of the position they have taken and be man or woman enough to stand up against criticism for that life. So, far John McCain is the only candidate that has not changed his opionions or direction for political purposes. He has stayed the course eben when it was not popular. Obama's denial of his pastor's preachings is political manuvering to save his campaign. It was once said that "you can fool some of the people all of the time and all the the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time". Mr. Obama and Hillery Clinton are both learning the hard truth associated with this and they do not like it one bit. Hang on to your hats folks, the rhetoric, finger pointing and truth bending by these two has only just started!

Say what ever you like oh you ignorant folks.Obama has inspired me more like any other politician out there and he has earned my vote.He will prevail and he will win because he has a beautiful soul.We live in a world where we only see imperfections.I see the "fierce urgency of now".

Ever wonder why Obama is so flush with money? It turns out that Penny Pritzker is running Obama’s finance campaign. She is a billionaire (inherited) and her and Obama’s families take vacations together at the billionaire’s summer vacation home.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120554763760338773.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_leftbox

So much so for the Obamas’ poor boy/girl from the wrong side of the tracks image

Obama is self-imploding. Hard to see him as an agent of hope and change when in reality it is politics as usual. We have his Ad man strategist, David Axelrod, to thank for. He is so good at packaging mediocre candidates and we were fooled…and some are still fooled. Let’s sit back, relax and enjoy the Obama-Michelle-Rezko-Wright song-and-dance.

Three steps to being a successful political spin artist:
1 - Dig up dirt on the opposing candidate's personal life and attack him with it
2 - If you can't find anything negative about him, dig up dirt on the people he knows and associate him with it
3 - If he disassociates himself from them, make sure the press prints more about his friends' views then his own

There is a book by Dr. Michael Savage titled "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder".
As they say in cards, Read'em and Weep!

Come on, guys, if the best you can do is attack him for what his pastor said, I think you'd better take a better look at your own church and your own beliefs. You church goers: do you agree with everything that's said from the pulpit? My own blood kin grandfather was a Republican. I guess that excludes me from any Democratic runs for president. Geez, people, he's the best hope for America since the Kennedy brothers. And how snide is it to make sure you know RFK spoke from a flat bed and not a car. How low have we sunk?

YES I CAN AND I WILL GIVE OBAMA THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT! Their are those who will gladly permit doubt and cynicism to divide us. Remember that part of Obama's appeal is that he's not this "Angry Black Man" with a chip on his shoulder against the establishment. Republicans and Hillary want to destroy that image by attacking who they think is the weakest link, Rev. Wright. Never mind that Obama himself ever expressed those views or if you see him say any racial or ethnic slur like The Rev. Jeese Jackson did, if Obama has such a divisive man as a friend, than he MUST AGREE with this man's views on the world right? Mostly wrong.

I was wondering when he's gonna mention word:"...dream". One way or another!

If you don't vote for Obama you are a racist and if you do vote for Obama your a racist as well. Since only racists vote for Republican that leaves only a couple of people left who are not racist and not voiting.

I'm not voting for Obama because I dont like politicians who wrap themselves in religion. They are ususallly the biggest fakes. Just don't trust them.

Why don't we all just cut the nonsense. Millions of voters see Hillary as a feminist witch, Barack as some Malcom X wannabe and John as some closet klansman.

Now that this election is not just about white men, all of our hypocrisy is coming out. Bigots are supporting each candidate. It's just some candidates have more bigots than the others.

This pastor should be immediately removed from any and every church we don't need his type of malicousness made public ever again. This man sounds demented and as if the power of the pulpit has given him to much of a voice. I pray he won't hurt Obama's chance of change in this election. What a shame if we let a demented person tell us how to vote. Go Obama

This kind of thing plays beautifully into the fears of white America. Hardly, something new, just reinvented to scare the pants of people. The pastor is of an older generation and his views are probably pretty common in that age group. I don't see Obama agreeing with any of it but I do respect him for not throwing the preacher to the wolves. The man served his country as a marine and in the navy. Read his history on line. It is hardly the history of a racist. God, when I think of the scandals and associations of the Clinton's from David Wilhelm and cows to Monica, and how all of that was glossed over, it makes me sick. The dirt bombs are flying and will because Obama has sent shudders of fear through the Clinton camp. Oh, by the way in case you wonder I am a white grandmother and I don't feel threatened at all by this latest dirt. Go Obama!

I've had enough of Obama and his racism and his racist pastor. Obama gave tens of thousands of dollars to Wright to spread his hate speech abotu whites, Jews, Asians, Hispanics, etc. Obama cheered while Wright gave sermons saying the 3,000 persons deserved to die on 9/11. Obama is full of hate and is a despicable human being.

I am a pastor so I am sure that influences my perspective. First I think about the Roman Catholics beliefs on birth control and how the majority of its members disagree. I have no problem with members of a church not believing the same way as the pastor. In fact I consider it healthy. I also believe Pastor Wright's comments have been taken out of context. His rhetoric makes that easy to do.

As far as Obama is concerns. If you believe that each person must take ownership of their own faith (in Obama's case his walk with Jesus). Then I think it is unfair to judge him by any of his pastor's words, even the ones we like. Obama must stand on his own before us and before God.

May we judge the candidates fairly and with proper humility. Amen.

Obama shows once again his ability to focus on the real issues, stopping short of real politics. Clinton is seeking to divide while Obama is seeking to unite. Clinton does not understand that change cannot be forced, and when it comes you cannot stop it.

Obama shows once again his ability to focus on the real issues, stopping short of real politics. Clinton is seeking to divide while Obama is seeking to unite. Clinton does not understand that change cannot be forced, and when it comes you cannot stop it.

His deer in the headlight speach last night was pathetic. Does he really think people are that stupid to believe he did not know of Rev Wrights sermons,
And of course the Obama people are going to blame Hillary for this.
But hopefully Obamas free ride from the adroring press he has recieved will now stop. Look into the man he is.
WAKE UP AMERICA

jh: My family wasn't HERE when slavery was still being practiced. I will apologize to anyone who feels offended by the color of my freckled Irish skin -- but as Rodney King admonished, isn't it time to start thinking about how to all get along? Does any of the divisiness that is pantomimed and screamed in Rev Wright's worship move the discussion forward?

We all know people that we admire, but whose views differ from ours on perhps a host of some subjects. Without exposure to various viewpoints how can one ever come to intelligent conclusions? Give Obama credit for listening and determining for himself his own beliefs, which seem to patriotic, positive and without the rancor of Rev. Wright.

I find it sad that Obama's attendance at a church immediately implicate him as a Jew hater or worse. To say that his pastor and he are one in the same in belief is not only a fallacy but the spreading of FUD. There are many people out there who have attended churches that have pastors that are less than exemplary.

Ayaka: Tell me how this differs from the castigating Hillary, has taken from the media ,for the people on her committees?

For Obama to give money and condone the Irreverend Wright and gets praise from the Irreverend Farakkan shows that Obama is a bigot and a racist. Obama is a disgrace.

So Barak was in a church for 20 years and never heard this?? The Irreverend Jeremiah Wright married the Obama's and christened their child.

Why have these so called reverends praising Farakkan without also denouncing his anti-semitism,

And his wife also was not happy with the USA until her husband finally is trying to dupe Americans into voting for this un-holy demigod

Hillary or McCain will be the better chooice for America

Wake up democrats !!

Elect Hillary or otherwise loose the election to McAin for 8 more years.

After these revelations (and god knows how many more to come), ther is no way he can beat McAin.

Hillary is extremely intelligent. She may have more baggage than Obama but atleast it has been thoroughly checked by the REBULICANs.

There is no way that Non-Black's in the 35+ age group would vote for Obama after these revelations. Especially since they have a moderate Republican like McAin as a choice.

Of all the candidates, I think Barack has most adequately addressed the issue of his faith. I think he makes the distinction between the good and the bad of his former pastor. No one is perfect, and Obama rightly aknowledges that. Remember, Wright was Obama's spiritual mentor, not his foreign policy, domestic policy, or any-type-of-policy mentor. Obama is smart and rational to keep those aspects separate, and I think we should respect him for that.
All the candidates have associations that could be viewed as problematic, but only Obama has the integrity to tell the american people the nuanced truth about it. He deserves our vote!

Obama sounds to me like the politicians from the country I come from. They invoke change as a political strategy, and now I am a long-time refugee in this country because of that change. In that country, there is a saying "tell me who you are with and I will tell you who you are". Americans, be careful, because I am really worried about this country's future. VOTE CAREFULLY!

I take my hat off to this pastor, and note that obama's remarks show that he will just be another problem to the world, a typical American president who takes no responsibility for the actions of America around the world. Your country has trained, funded, created terrorists. America's real allies are now few because of the actions of your country with your own allies. Millions and millions of people have died around the world because of your foreign policy. This pastor put his finger on what the rest of the world thinks. Yes, whether you like it or not on 9-11 people around the world were thinking that it was only a matter of time before this happened due to the millions killed yearly around the world from your foreign policy. But I see from reading the replies here, many American's don't even understand that, so couldn't even comprehend what the pastor said. go back an put your head in the sand America, because until you wake up to the actions of your government around the world, you will never understand why the world hates you, it isn't because of what you are brainwashed into believing. So to the Pastor I congratulate him for saying it how it is, and having the intelligence to understand.

tony is right (and no, I'm not the same person). what many people are ignoring is that Obama was aware of other radical things Wright had said, and had already commented on them, that he didn't agree with everything Wright said (and vehemently disagreed with some of it). He's said he wasn't at the 9/11 sermon and we have no reason not to believe him. But the bottom line is that Obama already repeatedly made clear that he did not view his church as having anything to say about his politics. The only thing this "scandal" has really shown is that it was a mistake to ever give Wright an official role in the campaign, but that doesn't imply support for the specific sermon being circulated now.

For all the commenters who are so convinced that Obama is a liar, untrustworthy, unfit to be president (and for that matter for any supporter), read this piece by legal scholar Cass Sunstein:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0314obamamar14,0,7185898.story
It drives home Obama's intellectual honesty, and his commitment to reason in his policy decisions. _This_ is what matters in a president, not poor choice in who you listen to for an hour on a Sunday.

Robert Brewster says-
"John McCain is the only candidate that has not changed his opionions or direction for political purposes"
You're not serious, right? The straight talk express is a sad joke. The anti-torture bill, perhaps...

Oh, my!

I saw the towers come down, and when I returned home the first people who were claiming it was "blowback" were my white Irish union neighbors who were politically active as democrats. I had meny disagreements with them. They did not appear to be racist not haters, but their opinion about the cause of 911 did differ from mine.

Then I read the book by, forget the names, sorry, the advisor to several presidents, and why started the book, running down the hallway, his book was a hit, and he also felt that blowback could not be ruled out as a cause.

I do not believe that Muslims attacked the US because they do not like our religeon, nor our support for isreal, because they attack China, as well.

Now, even today preachers in the Catholic Church preach hate and target gays, and women, and this has even resulted in deaths. I have never heard that a presidential candidate must distance him/herself from the Catholic Church.

As for many protestant denominations, and ministers, haven't you heard that yopu are going to go to hell if you don't sign on to thwewir beliefs?

co-mon now. Do you really believe that all those folks around the world that cheered when the twin towers came down were in on the plot? So, are they all racist and haters? Or is it possible that there is a rage out there, in the larger world, that harbours deep resentments toward the US? Is it at all possiblt to understand how others think, even if one does not adopt those same feelings?

Lets get real, folks, this is not racism, and not hate, it is a burning resentment, fuled by reality.

take care

last time i checked, this is still america; where anyone can say any goddammed thing they want. so whats the big deal?

We have his Ad man strategist, David Axelrod, to thank for. He is so good at packaging mediocre candidates and we were fooled…and some are still fooled. Let’s sit back, relax and enjoy the Obama-Michelle-Rezko-Wright song-and-dance. Posted by: alee21

Axelrod is an expert spin master who knows how sell just about anything. Should be interesting to see how he spins Obama for the media this week.

There is a worrisome aspect for obama campaign.
Nobody wants the 3 am decision maker to be a follower who did not know his preacher for twenty years. The answer to the 3am call hopefully will not be what the preacher said :
God damn america and the chickens have come too roost.
He should have denounced the preacher not when media exposed him but on 9/11.His continuation in the senate is a grave insult to the victims of 9/11.. Even the crimes of the new york governor are miniscule compare to this.

BEST COMMENT YET

This is NOT "guilt by association." Obama does not casually or haphazardly "associate" with Wright. Obama deliberately, affirmatively SELECTED Jeremiah Wright to be his (Obama's) LEADER. Obama said that he selected a church where he felt "comfortable."

We can assess Obama's leanings by the leadership he CHOOSES to follow.

We can assess Obama's credibility when he asks us to believe that a man, to whom he has referred repeatedly as a "mentor," held strong and repugnant views completely unknown to him (Obama) until very recently.

Even if we are to accept Obama's assertion that he did not, until recently, quite "get it" about Wright's views (begging the question of whether Obama is really that lacking in intelligence or perception), then we are left with the question of what Obama thinks Wright's church website means by billing itself as a proponent of "the Black American Family" and "Black values." Is that what RFK meant by "coming together" and being "a united America" ?

Jeremiah Wright holds and loudly shares views that are separatist, racist, and paranoid. (He believes that the US government developed the AIDS virus in order to deliberately infect "people of color," as one example of his paranoia.)

Obama can and should be held accountable for his choice of leader. I, personally, left a church (it was the last straw, admittedly) when the trustees voted to remove the American Flag from the sanctuary -- and to do so under pretext, at that! (They said they would have it "sent out to be dry-cleanwed" and then never quite returned.) I was a trustee at the time, and repsent at the vote. I left the church by the next Sunday -- without rancor or personal malice, but without second thoughts.

Obama can and should be held accountable for the congregation he choose to worship with -- those who cheer lously when Wright trots out his "blame America" rhetoric.

A last observation: Is is any wonder that Michelle Obama, who has also chosen to be led by Jeremiah Wright for the last 20 years, believs that America is a "mean-spirited" place?

Obama endorsed Rev. Wright so it would appear that he is guilty of poor judgment. Rev Wright was his "mentor." It is horrible to even think of having an American president who is anti-American.

So, Obama wanted this guy to be his "spiritual advisor". I'd assume he asked his views? or is he claiming he never even asked. No politician or their campaign is that stupid. the lies are piling up.

Ever played 6 Degrees Of Kevin Bacon? If you look hard enough, you can link someone to anyone. Never said anything outrages in your whole life, or never been around anybody who never got into any trouble? Unless you are a saint living among other saints...

Things like this need to be brought to attention and give pauses. But we tent to blow it way out of proportion. Let's keep in mind these are pieces out of a person's decades of activities, and react with reason and measure.

Obama's theme talk about good judgement. With his radical pastor for 20 yrs. in the hot seat so with him because association means influence on how this man will govern if elected. I hope the democratic party will make a good judgement in choosing a candidate who's not unfit to be president if elected.

This vile radical leftist who hates America and apparently White America was been outed by his own so called mentor.
Obama's excuse is he missed those sermons ? Spare us the lies.
Those vile hate filled sermons have been for sale on video at this so called church for twenty five years ! He gave this so called church $22,000 last year !
His book's title is ripped off from one these hate speeches !
This guy should have the decency to resign from this race and the senate !

Apparently, when it comes to the hate mongering of his moral and spiritual mentor, Obama's only excuse appears to be the Rip Van Winkle Syndrome- Barack was asleep for 20 years.

The seeds of doubt have now been planted in all non-black minds of Americans. Obama (and his chip on the shoulder wife) is a closet miltant, waiting to unleash his agenda if he gets elected. But he is now unelectable, and if the Dems have any sense, they'll go with Hillary. Otherwise you are pitting a war hero against a guy aligned with the sentiment "God Damn AmeriKKKa!"
Any bets on who wins the general election in that case?

So what of the Wright's statements was untrue then?

Regardless of which candidate becomes President, I am proud to see this huge step past gender and race. Whites have clearly been eager to show that they are ready. But are enough Black Americans ready to also see past race? Having a 20 year relationship with the angry and bitter Rev. Wright can not be dismissed with comments like "former". It may not be racism on the part of whites that will be Obama's undoing. I think the Obamas may need to spend as many years away from this hurt and anger to see all Americans as just Americans.
I am ready for a Black or Woman president, but I certainly would not vote for a white candidate who was a member of the kind of church that preaches racism nor would I a Black candidate, racism and prejudice is wrong for everybody. Obama lost my vote this week. But maybe next time he or another will be ready to show us all the change we want and need.

What so many seem to forget is Barack's own background. His father may have been African, but he was raised by his white mother and white grandparents. These were people he revered and loved dearly. Do you think comments such as Rev. Wright's could NOT be disturbing to him? His dark skin color and white upbringing gives him a unique ability to understand issues from many different angles. He may be able to relate to their anger at being oppressed and yet that anger is also directed at himself and members of his family. He IS half white ~ why would he ever be in agreement with the angry rhetoric of those sermons??

I find it hard to believe that Reverend Wright is a Reverend. Somebody needs to wash his mouth with soap. There is no doubt that Obama has heard similar tirades at church in the last 20 years. The Bible says, "By their fruit you shall know them." Apple trees bear apples, orange trees bear oranges. The truth is, this latest news lets us see inside the real Obama. So don't blame Hillary, she didn't say these things. Don't blame conservatives, they didn't make the Reverend say these things, they are just "fruit inspectors".
There is another wise saying, "The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree".

This expressive and jubilant appeal by Illinois Senator Barack Obama is truly a landmark in U.S. politics. He has displayed the kind of intuitiveness and emotional largesse that traditional Washington politicians are wanting for.

I firmly believe that he is the kind of president, one who will bring honesty and the integrity we need so badly in our nation today.

The videos show a man spewing hatred in the guise of a sermon. That is not a small thing to be written off to sensationalist journalism or political hackery in the absence of true negatives. This man is a serious negative for Obama and so far his attempts to steer clear have been weak. For every denial you have to come back to the fact that it was 20 years! Not 20 years ago! But continually over 20 years, continuing to the present! It is that this has come up time and again in the campaign. That Obama himself knew it to be an explosive issue when he un-invited Wright from the candidacy launch event. There is enough smoke to be convincing of a fire. Continued attempts at deflecting the issue isn't making things better. Trying to associate with RFK is far fetched and unconvincing. Calling out MLK does not make him any less associated with institutionalized hatred.

A matter of trust with Obama has now surfaced and it cannot be taken back. He has said he never heard the comments from Wright. After 20 years, he never heard any derogatory statements from his (uncle figure). Come on ! As a Navy veteran I find it appalling that Wright said the things he said and Obama refuses to cut the ties with him and that "church".
It has also surfaced on Fox News that Oprah is a member of that "church". That explains her backing of Obama and not a woman, the very people who made her famous.
Well from this moment on (although I am only one person) I intend to do every thing I can to see that Obama does not succeed.

Whether Barack knew or didn't know what his pastor say does not change the history of America. We all know the rich upper class whites took the land from Native Americans, enslaved African American, and fooled middle and low income European Americans (whites) into thinking race is wealth. We (All Americans) have come a long way. Let's focus on our future. Let's keep working together.

I'm glad people aren't constantly judging me based on the actions and words of those I choose to call friends. Since nobody is perfect, I'd likely have no friends.

Anyone ever heard of looking at the situation in their own shoes? No? Well I'm sure some of your friends have said some messed up things. You know who you are! Calling other people racist bigots is NOT the solution. Working together and appreciating others is.

Try to see what can be instead of what was you cynical bastards!

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As much as I am disappointed at the prospect that Obama may not have the chance to bring this country together, I am glad that the infammatory views of those who he has kept company with in the past has surfaced now. The time has certainly come for Obama to become introspective and evaluate all of his relationships with "questionable" people, who may get in the way of his commitment to the American people. How he handles this situation will forever determine his character, strength, and resiliency. I advise Obama to rise above the one sided views of those who feel scorned by America and use those damaging statements as a sprinboard to reveal his character. It will not be enough to denounce these statements; he will have to bring to the forefront his contrasting views of how he has and will embrace and support all Americans. If he can regain the trust of all of his supporters and take the wind out of sales of these flagrant comments, he will truly become one of the greatest leaders of all times. I still have faith in his ability to lead America and help us regain our stellar reputaition.

What a mess! A serious hot mess! It's guilt by association. That's simply what it is. So does this mean Hillary believes the same thing Ferraro does? Just curious. I have to say, I sit in church week after week and I hear things I don't agree with. Take what comes from the horses mouth.

The Clinton machine is working overtime to keep Obama wrapped around the axle with non-issues such as having to defend his pastor's statements. While they're hoping to reap politcal benefits from this needless confusion, they're very likely going to outsmart themselves and end up being exposed for the crass political hacks that they are. While I once held them in the highest esteem, I have little respect remaining for them. I hope that Obama will maintain his bearings,stay focussed on the real issues and not be totally distracted by this nonsense. America is going down the tubes while precious time is being wasted on meaningless non-issues such as this. Let's get the discussion back on track so the candidates can address real proposals for solving the crises that are wreaking havoc with this country on a daily basis.

20 years of hearing his pastors sermons and now after it made "some" of mainstream media he rejects it...? A little to late!

Obama should dropout! He could NEVER win against McCain now!

The last I remember, America was all about the separation of Church & State.
My disappointment in Obama, is that he keeps explaining his relationship with Rev Wright, rather than speaking of the Constitutional separation.

As for the double-standard, it's obvious.
This story gets headlines, yet when McCain is endorsed by Rev John Hagee, who has said some horrendous things himself, about Catholics, etc... THAT is a non-story.

The media continues to be the hypocritical voice of the GOP.

This is NOT "guilt by association." Obama does not casually or haphazardly "associate" with Wright. Obama deliberately, affirmatively SELECTED Jeremiah Wright to be his (Obama's) LEADER. Obama said that he selected a church where he felt "comfortable."

We can assess Obama's leanings by the leadership he CHOOSES to follow.

We can assess Obama's credibility when he asks us to believe that a man, to whom he has referred repeatedly as a "mentor," held strong and repugnant views completely unknown to him (Obama) until very recently.

Even if we are to accept Obama's assertion that he did not, until recently, quite "get it" about Wright's views (begging the question of whether Obama is really that lacking in intelligence or perception), then we are left with the question of what Obama thinks Wright's church website means by billing itself as a proponent of "the Black American Family" and "Black values." Is that what RFK meant by "coming together" and being "a united America" ?

Jeremiah Wright holds and loudly shares views that are separatist, racist, and paranoid. (He believes that the US government developed the AIDS virus in order to deliberately infect "people of color," as one example of his paranoia.)

Obama can and should be held accountable for his choice of leader. I, personally, left a church (it was the last straw, admittedly) when the trustees voted to remove the American Flag from the sanctuary -- and to do so under pretext, at that! (They said they would have it "sent out to be dry-cleanwed" and then never quite returned.) I was a trustee at the time, and repsent at the vote. I left the church by the next Sunday -- without rancor or personal malice, but without second thoughts.

Obama can and should be held accountable for the congregation he choose to worship with -- those who cheer lously when Wright trots out his "blame America" rhetoric.

A last observation: Is is any wonder that Michelle Obama, who has also chosen to be led by Jeremiah Wright for the last 20 years, believs that America is a "mean-spirited" place?

This is the same story current President Bush has been using - I received bad intel on Iraq - oops! Now Obama wants us to believe that he didn't know what was going on under his nose??? I was under the impression that he was smarter then Bush. Mmmm??? I guess not! Because he is using the same cop, you can't blame me because I didn't know. Everyone around me knew but no one told me. Wow, that kinda talk got us into the Iraq were will Obama's spin take us WWIII??? After all, since he has no clue what is going on right under his nose if he becomes president we can expect him to not see our enemies coming till it is too late.

As a Canadian I can't help but feel that you are a doomed country. There is nothing to read but the vitriol of your citizens for political the presidential candidates and aspersions are being cast left to right on any and all .... Shame on the lot of you ... you may feel that you are without sin in this world but the world sees you and your country quite differently than what you imagine.

The three remaining candidates are now subjected to the revilement of anyone who carries anger, hatred and evil in their hearts. The revilement in the posts made would make any thinking person sick.

The candidates are merely humans and as such have come and stayed in contact with many unsavory and offensive people over their lifetimes as have we all.

McCain, Obama and Ms. Clinton are neither the devil incarnate or a deliverer from the current woes that beset America ... I suggest you all had better "Pull up your socks" and pitch in to try and preserve what is best about your union .... leave the vileness in the dark ... the light of decency has never been so apparently needed by so many.

Good Night ... and ... Good Luck!

Judgement? Obama has made it a point in all of his speeches and debates that he has better judgement than Hillary and McCain because of the one non-vote he made on Iraq resolution. Where is the judgment when it comes to knowing Rev Wright these past 20 yrs. Where is the judgment in his relationship with Rezko? Obama has mentioned his lapsed in judgement in Rezko case, and probably now over Rev Wright. Our next Democratic nominee will be running for the Presidency of the United States. The most powerful position in the world. Can we risk a lapsed of judgement on a critical situiation? We can't. We have too much to fix after the last 8 hrs of this administration.

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As much as I am disappointed at the prospect that Obama may not have the chance to bring this country together, I am glad that the infammatory views of those who he has kept company with in the past has surfaced now. The time has certainly come for Obama to become introspective and evaluate all of his relationships with "questionable" people, who may get in the way of his commitment to the American people. How he handles this situation will forever determine his character, strength, and resiliency. I advise Obama to rise above the one sided views of those who feel scorned by America and use those damaging statements as a sprinboard to reveal his character. It will not be enough to denounce these statements; he will have to bring to the forefront his contrasting views of how he has and will embrace and support all Americans. If he can regain the trust of all of his supporters and take the wind out of sales of these flagrant comments, he will truly become one of the greatest leaders of all times. I still have faith in his ability to lead America and help us regain our stellar reputation..

I am shocked by the number of racist comments here. It just goes to show that we DO have a long way to go in healing this nation. Barack Obama is the only candidate who has made it his mission to unite this country. To get beyond the divisions, the racism, the sexism, the pure hatred that has divided us for too long. If you are too ignorant to see that, well, there is no hope for you. If you call yourself a Christian and cannot see that the love that Jesus preached is the love we need now more than ever, then I feel sorry for you. You choose misery instead of redemption. You choose blindness to light. You will suffer on this earth and beyond. You will be left behind when we move this country forward. We have a choice at this moment in our history. We can choose to move this country forward in a new direction, or we can choose the trajectory toward a failed civilization. I choose the former. I choose Barack Obama.

...and bytheway, words are more harmfull than any other weapon!

First, I would like people here to go back to those statements by the pastor, and see them in the context he said them. All he was saying to his audience is asking the Americans to do some introspection as it relates our own misdeeds that included himself as an American. We do that all the time if only we have the strength honesty about ourself..

Senator Obama said that he never heard the racist rehetoric from the good pastor.

In all of 20 years Senator Obama had no idea that the good pastor was a racists.

This defies belief! For Obama supporters to accept this for the candidate goes beyond all reason.

Can Obama's unity message inspire the US?

The young are already inspired.
However, those who are part of the old politics are looking for way to not support a black candidate.

Can the US afford to have a leader who is only wanted by poor white voters without education, who have been feed lies?

They believe that:
1. Iraq had WMDs
2. Iraq supported terrorism
3. Muslims are terrorists

(Just add all the untruths they hear via the media on daily basis.)

The majority of the lowly educated white vote, will likely never vote for an African American. That is why the US has had folksy presidents with low IQs running it into the ground. Here is what happened since Reagan, through Bush I, Clinton I and Bush II:

1. The largest gap between the richest and poorest in the US since the 1920s.
2. The largest ever debt in human history.
3. The most hated the US has ever been in the world.
4. The rise of China with the above presidents being concerned mainly with the Middle East.

(There is much more... if you care to think.)

So, it seems fated that the US will give up its position as world leader as its lowly educated white voters have no clue that:

1. They cannot have a war and a great economy at the same time.
2. They cannot have a war and no casualities at the same time.
3. They cannot ignore the desires of the rest of the world and seek to exist in that world at the same time.

There is more here too if you put your thinking hat on.

The younger voters understand some of the above. The college kids really do, as they watch the US dollar become as cheap as toilet paper, unable to even buy a gallon of gas.

The young are willing to hope that somehow Obama can win this thing and then win the respect of the world for a change. With the respect, the US need not spend much on security as no one out there will be interested in attacking it.

But I know that the young are outnumbered by the rest, as the other voters in the US are out of touch with the world.

I don't think obama is a racist, and in fact he is probably a better politician and maybe he might be more intelligent than hillary. however one has to realise that all his speaches and his message about hope are carefully calculated speeches that he knows will appeal to the masses. obama is no fool trust me on that one, however i still think hillary would be a better president and i am hoping with 8 years of training as vice president obama might be able to make us proud in a few years time.

There is a huge difference between having friends or associates with a view that is different from your own and having a person with a certain view be your adviser. Face the facts, folks. Obama sought Rev. (Oh So Wrong) Wright for spiritual guidance for TWENTY years. There is no room for doubt, so giving Obama the benefit of it is just ridiculous. I personally left a church that I felt was verging on anti-semitism, and I would hold any political leader to as high a standard. He is so FAR from being fit to be president, it's not even funny. He shouldn't even be a senator. I was all ready to vote for the guy until this came to light.

Obama grew up, too, not as a poor, black boy, but with his white grandmother and white grandfather and attended Ivy League schools. Everything about him is a ruse, a story, a concoction of what is palatable to achieve a goal. It is utterly impossible to believe he had no idea what mindset his spiritual advisor for 20 years had. The Clinton campaign did NOT release this. These tapes and books of the pastor's sermons are in print and are for sale and ABC bought one. It may be too late for the press to be doing the investigation and vetting of this candidate that they should have done months ago. Takes a lot of chutzpa to print this stuff and offer it for sale; somebody was buying it up. Perhaps, the same people who go there year after year for 20 years and listen to it!!

All I have to say is "Birds of a feather
flock together.

Yes I do agree with everything that's said in the pulpit ay my church !! Do I like it? Not always, but it's all comes from the KJV Bible and it's Gods own words so what right do I have to complain? This country was founded on our Christian beliefs and if Mr. Obama chooses to align himself with these people, then he will have to face the consequences.(either here or when he faces Our Lord and Saviour)

I am a Clinton supporter...the main reason is all the gender bashing everyone has done! The media has said ALL kinds of horrible things about Hillary-all based on her womanhood. They have treated Obama with kid gloves. If Hillary's church had spouted anti-black bigotry, the press would have plastered it from here to eternity the first week of her campaign!!! Obama has pretended he is ABOVE every other candidate and the press have helped him do this. We never heard the fact that he won his Illinois seat by hiring an ol' Harvard Law school chum to nitpick apart the other candidates signed petitions and find tiny legal problems that cleared away ALL his competition. Thousands of voices were not heard in Illinois because Obama erased them with legal mumbo jumbo! Now he spouts "Let the American voices be heard!" because the caucuses are in his favor. While in the senate, he "jacked" other senators bills after they had done years of hard work. They contributed all the blood, sweat and tears for the first 99 yards and Obama got all the glory for walking it over the finish line! This is the REAL reason it took so long for the other Chicago black legislatures to support him.....they knew the real Obama! And if the press were doing their job, they would know he already has a track record of bad judgement. Other black lawmakers were angered by Obama's endorsement of Dorothy Tillman, known for waving a pistol at a city council meeting AND under ivestigation for CRONYISM AND TAX EVASION (an article in the local paper ran a 3 part series 3 weeks before Obama's endorsement of Tillman) I can also talk about the pork Obama promised his "kingmaker", Emil Jones when Jones gave him everybody elses legislation to carry across the finish line. "Some people call it pork...I prefer to call it steak," Jones told a friend after explaining how Obama would reward him. THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET BECAUSE THE NEWS MEDIA IS A JOKE!! They pick who they want and bash everyone else and praise their candidate of choice. Out of everything-this is the scariest thing of all! I think most of the things Pastor Wright say are true to a certain extent. I'm white but I sure as heck am not rich...and I think the whole country is run by rich white people! What I think is the most DAMNING and telling thing about Obama is the fact that he can sit there straight faced and say HE HAS NEVER HEARD WRIGHT SAY THESE THINGS! This tells you how much Obama will lie and pander to smooth things over. He knows how to deliver a line and lie with out batting an eye. He also has said he will surround himself with people to help him get the job done. I'd rather have Pastor Wright who will tell it like he ses it than Emil Jones who will "steal" from someone who has earned it and give it to someone who hasn't or Dorothy Jones who might shoot me if I disagree. MEDIA-IF YOU WILL DO YOUR JOB RIGHT-WE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, CAN PICK THE RIGHT PERSON TO LEAD!

There was a really good profile about the Rev. Wright in the Religion section of the Chicago Tribune back in January 2007:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/religion/chi-070121-relig_wright,1,271630.story

Yes, he is a lot more than a few "ooh! ooh!" soundbites. Most people are.

Because I am not familiar with Senator Obama's specific church, I cannot speak to the pastor's comments. However, it may be that the pastor is overwhelmed by the recent events involving former Congresswoman Ferraro. I know I am overwhelmed. Ms. Ferraro does not speak for me.

I'm 39. Women before me did amazing work to break glass ceilings, and I honor the women who stood up and said that there should be equal pay for equal play. I also know that there were white men who made the choice to hire and promote women. The results have been positive. Our daughters shouldn't have to worry about these things or sexual harassment in the work place. Neither should our sons.

Over the years, friends, co-workers, and family members have shared with me their distress over a certain religious leader or another on a local level. It's amazing HOW MANY religious leaders have "lost their way". (Is it because they are human?) In many of these cases, the religious leaders have become distracted with personal issues and haven't the tools to cope with the situation they find themselves in. It's strange, isn't it? We entrust educated leaders with our spiritual guidance, and sometimes those leaders forget their training.

If you had a really crappy day, week, or a severe personal struggle and mouthed off to everyone in your family, they have every reason to set you right, but they shouldn't disown you. Instead, they should reach out and do everything they can to uncover the root of your difficulties. Good physical care comes from treating the source, not the symptoms. The same applies to our spiritual health. If there is a problem, we must be diligent in our efforts to offer love to the one who is hurting.

I'm sure the pastor at the United Church of Christ in Chicago is a beloved person. At his hour of need, I would expect that his congregation would want to help him rather than toss him out. I would hope my family, friends, and community of faith would do the same for me.

Wishing you a brand new day...
Bobbie Sue

Try all you want to smear him, it only further reveals how scared you are of this unstoppable movement for change! Power To The People, YES WE WILL!

What record of service are u talking about . My understanding is Obama is new , so to speak , to the political arena.
Why does he not know his pastor ?
A pastor is the leader of a church and you should know if he is teaching the word of God or not and if not you need a new church. My concern is that Obama is hiding his true beliefs about a God.
Many people have went to Washington to make change ( for the poor working people) But here we are still poor working people, with no health coverage ,terrible schools for our children and NO JOBS .
While all the now rich polititicans pat each other on the back claiming to be doing a good job.

I agree, once again, with Obama. I personally want to stop fighting with people because they are republican or of a different culture.

We must unify this country or we will fall apart. Obama had that insight in 2004. I knew it 2006. I hope we can change course before its too late.

Aron burr was put on a ship and never to hear the name of united states ever again for damming the united states why should this not be the same.If the revernd and Obama dosen't love our and their country let them leave we could do without them.Obama's wife done said she didn't love it till Obama started winning in the Primary.If he didn't hear for 20 years what do you think he could hear in four years.

Why does Obama refuse to say the pledge of allegiance or put his hand over his heart? I believe we have our answer.

Here are two interesting websites. (actually two pages from the same site) They look at the statements made by and about the candidates and evaluate them for truth.

Here is the one for Obama:
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/personalities/barack-obama/

And here is the one for Hillary:
http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/personalities/hillary-clinton/

I knew Obama was a fake. He is capable of doing anything to get elected. It is my sincere hope that he does not receive the nomination-for if he does-the republicans will tear him a new asshole, thereby leaving this country struck with an old bitter-prisoner of war veteran who will continue to fight an already lost war. This man is struck in the 60's and 70's- the beginning of his tragic defeat.

Has everyone forgotten that McCain recently embraced the support of the infamous Rev. Nagy whose public utterances and attacks are as bad or worse than anything Rev. Wright has said? Anyone who won't vote for Obama because of the former pastor of his church certainly can't vote for McCain either because of his acceptance of Rev. Nagy. Or do those phonies that are protesting the loudest think that inflammatory language is OK if a white man does it but not if a black man does it?

This campaign has become boring; gossip, after gossip. There are no more issues. It is going to be a long campaign year. Yawn. So the reverand said whatever he said. Reverands are aways contraversial. These are his words. How is Obama supposed to control what every person says? I have gone to churches for the most part you have to be tolerant otherwise you would have to start your own church. There are about as many versions of spiritual religiosities as there are people on earth.

There are other reason for not wanting to vote for Obama this is not one of them. Lets see: experience attacks have fallen flat because it turns out his oppoents don't have much of authentic experience that they claim they do. Scandals ditto, his opponents have more skeletons in their closets than he does. The Keating five, favours for telecoms lobbyists, etc -- McCain, Whitewater, Cattle futures, Steve Foster, etc -- Hillary

Obama is on the verge of beating Slick Willie at his game that is why the media and his opponents are feeding the public on non-issue, mindless stories. And BTW he is black with a name like Barack Obama it scares the hell out of some people. But it shouldn't be because he's plaid and playing by the rules and he's winning. That is pricesely the American dream that everybody seems to extol though some only pays lip service to it. He doesn't have much of the baggage that other candidates have. It is just a nightmare for his opponents. Nobody ever expected this, not in a million years.

This divisive stuff has been in America since America was founded. It is precisely the reason Obamas message of inclusive politics is resonating with people who are literally drop dead sick and tired of divisive politics, religions, and race.
For Gods sake and the sake of humanity lets try something else; inclusiveness. Whatever Obamas failings are one thing is for sure he has consistently waged a compaign on politics of inclusiveness this is what he should be challenged on not the antethesis of it; divisiveness. Obama stay the course of inclusive politics no matter what your distractors throw at you. Going by the results now we believe you are right and they are wrong at trying to drag everybody to usual divisive politics.
Obamas politics is no different from what Nelson Mandela did in South Africa and it saved South Africa from the explosively destructive politics of apartheid.

News flash - Most intelligent people agree with some parts of what Reverend Wright is saying. Calling Obama a Communist or apologist for his church is not going to stop him from winning the nomination. Too many people believe in him. The only people who still believe in Hillary are Angry Old Women.

Yes we can.

I like this new preacher better tho!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RLX_dmYKQk&feature=related

WHERE IS THE CHANGE BARACK? WHERE IS THE OPEN MINDEDNESS? It takes Rev. Wrights racism being exposed for him to be removed from Obama's right hand side on the campaign, next to Oprah, and an apology from Obama. This man is a pig, no better then a NeoNazi or white supremacist.

--

I believe Obama.

It is time for us to heal from one another and Barack Obama will be able to do that because he is of both worlds. He is half-white and half-black and he is the one to bring us together and heal this wound we've been carrying against one another for so very long.

I am a white female and l trust and believe in Barack Obama even more than ever.

YES WE CAN and YES WE WILL.

Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'

Some of the quotations (WSJ 3/14/2008) from Wright's sermon at the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel in Washington on Jan 15th, 2006:

"Racism is alive and well. Racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run. No black man will ever be considered for president (Sorry, Gen. Powell), no matter how hard you run Jesse [Jackson] and no black woman (Sorry, Condoleeza Rice) can ever be considered for anything outside what she can give with her body."

"We put [Nelson] Mandela in prison and supported apartheid the whole 27 years he was there."

"We started the AIDS virus...we are only able to maintain our level of living by making sure that Third World people live in grinding poverty..."

The article goes on to note Wright's adoration for Louis Farrakan (famous in years past for having worked with a feces-encrusted Tawana Bradley to hoax the nation into believing she had been raped by white men) and his comments (a la Ward Churchill) "blaming America for the 9/11 attacks because of what Wright calls its racist and violent policies..."

Make up your own mind.

But wow, Obama was bed with this man (figuratively speaking) for 20 years? If leadership really was part of his character, wouldn't he have denounced him immediately and then begun working to educate black people with respect to the poisonous falsehoods emanating from this so-called Reverend? Perhaps having Hussein as a name actually does have some significance.

Not so long ago one of my acquaintances derided Obama as being just another Chicago politician. Seems like maybe he owes Chicago politicians an apology.

My grandmother used to tell me, "Show me your company and I'll tell you who you are." Senator Obama has done so, and all of his back peddling efforts are shameful, though not unexpected. Just imagine if Senator Clinton attended a racist church whose "pastor" delivered an anti US message. She'd be over and out and she would DESERVE to be. This "church" and Obama's clear association with it is frightening.

I SPENT 4 HOUR SATURDAY MORNING READING ABOUT BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY. IF THIS PHILOSOPHY/THEOLOGY MATERALIZES IN THE WHITE HOUSE AS OBAMAS UNDERLINING WORLD VIEW THEN ALL THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT NORMAL CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AT THE DOOR AND REPLACED WITH A NEW THEOLOGY OF BLACK SOCIAL TEACHINGS
OF THE OPPRESSSED AND WHITES SEEN AS OPPRESSOR.

News flash: Many white people may not vote for a guy who hangs out (and marries) folks who hate white people. not unreasonable: wouldn't expect blacks to vote for folks who hang out with folks who spew hate about blaks. The sad thing is, many blacks just don't see what the preacher said as being racist crab. God damn (just quoting the preacher: said this in a church, in front of children. amazing) him, and anyone who attended his church.

And about the bs that Mccain having the same problematic preacher. Didn't attend his church, didn't get married by him, didn't let him babtize his children. Just took his money. Big dif. If a black guy took money from the rabid preacher of BO, it would not be nearly as big of a deal. If Mccain belonged to a club that didn't admit blacks or jews. Well, Imagine. But it is OK if a black guy like BO does it.?!?! Amazing.

Reverend Wright is obviously a bright, confident and truthful man who considers it a part of his duty to recite historical fact. Everything he said is correct. Painful but very correct. Racism continues to strongly influence many aspects of life in this country including justice and healthcare. Thank God for the Reverend Wrights of this world who consider speaking the truth far more important than currying favor. This is a very unusual trait especially in Reverend Wrights profession. Remember Martin Luther King's letter from the Birmingham jail when he addressed the concerns of fellow clergy who advised him that it was not the right time to protest. Even MLKs self sacrificing form of protest had its opponents. I fully understand the opposition to Reverend Jeremiah Wright's recital of American historical fact accompanied by his carefully thought out opinion. I also understand and fully appreciate the stated position of Senator Obama who would not have had many of his opportunities without the existence and examples of Reverend Jeremiah Wright and many other brave and concerned Americans.

George Delany wrote: Aron burr was put on a ship and never to hear the name of united states ever again for damming the united states why should this not be the same.If the revernd and Obama dosen't love our and their country let them leave we could do without them.Obama's wife done said she didn't love it till Obama started winning in the Primary.If he didn't hear for 20 years what do you think he could hear in four years.
------------------------
George, I’m afraid your grasp of history needs a little tweaking (as well as your spelling). Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel, for which he was tried and acquitted. He spent several years in self-imposed exile but not on a ship. You’re referring to the fictional character Phillip Nolan in the story The Man Without a County. It’s hard to be convincing when you don’t have your basic facts correct.

The Obama apologists are in full attack mode.
I love the desperate McCain Or Clinton did it too comments .Real Sad excuses.
Obama and his family not McCain or Clinton attended this church that peddles hates for the last 20 years. Obama calls Rev Wright his most important mentor, his book title comes from a Wright sermons,and the his campaign slogans like chanting of "change" comes from Wright services.
Wright preaches about hating America, Hillary, whites , Jews, the military and you name it.
Obama tells us he missed those sermons . Well those sermons were sold right at the church for two decades.
You don't donate $ 22,500
to a church you proclaim you know nothing about .

Who are we nominating here - Obama or Rev Wright?

I think Barack Obama embodies a new and better approach to race relations in this country. He rejects the old divisions we've grown used to and demonstrates in word and manner a deep understanding of our potential to move ahead.

I'd like to sell Obama supporters the Brooklyn Bridge.

This moment of strife is actually an opportunity for Senator Obama to demonstrate leadership:

http://acropolisreview.com/2008/03/barack-obama-condemns-reverend-jeremiah.html

Those spewing their hatred over Obama are simply exploiting Rev Wrights unfortunate rantings. If it wasn't Rev Wright it would be something else

I have never seen one man inspire such fear in his competition before. Why would they turn the media guns at Fox and ABC upon him as if launching an assault, then be so frustrated when it appears he weathered it well.

We've already acknowledged there are people, 20% of the known population who will never vote for a black candidate, no matter how qualified. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/15/12452/5153/711/477281

And there are also those people who are so used to the attacks and smears of typical elections that they don't look for the positive information, they look for and remember only the negatives. • Abramoff GOP Lobbying Firm Indicted, Major HRC Donor
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/14/91513/8023/534/476441
• Clintons Tied To Rezko
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/clintons-tied-to-rezko.php
• File under "I Didn't Read The NIE And Voted For The War."
Report Shows No Link Between Saddam and al Qaeda
http://blogs.abcnews.com/rapidreport/2008/03/report-shows-no.html
• When candidates keep their tax returns secret — no, not that one - MCCAIN
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14907.html
• Media ignore McCain's finances after obsessing over Dems'
http://mediamatters.org/items/200803140010

But there he was this week, handling an unprecedented attack from multiple sides. Could he hold up. Could his credibility and reputation hold up. Most of all, could the people who believe in him, and the people who want to trust in him and need a new kind of leader still have a reason to support him.

That would be a yes.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14906.html
"The Trib concluded, “When we endorsed Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination Jan. 27, we said we had formed our opinions of him during 12 years of scrutiny. We concluded that the professional judgment and personal decency with which he has managed himself and his ambition distinguish him. Nothing Obama said in our editorial board room Friday diminishes that verdict.”"

Have Catholics denounced Catholicism because of pedophile priest? No. And, I don't think anyone would expect them to either. You can not put the Reverends words or thoughts on Obama anymore than you can blame any Catholic for the criminal behavior of some priests.

Can anyone believe that his campaign managers did not know about this? It seems to be a cover-up from the begining. Shame on his campain staff that tried to hide this crap. There seems to be big $$ hanging around for his big time contributors - they just saw a big opportunity with this snake charmer.

"Obama is too smart to have blindly followed this man for 20 years without knowing what he stood for."

Fellow Americans, what have you become? When is it alright to blindly following anyone? Learn some history about our great nation before you espouse your loyalty so cheaply. I am a descendent of colonial slave owners, native Indians, and recent immigrants. I am proud of my history and my country but intelligent enough to realize:

1) My ancestors weren’t perfect and I’m not responsible for their sins but I can still be proud of them.
2) Someone can attend a church for 20 years and not necessary agree with everything his pastor says.
3) You can take snippets of anyone’s words to make then look evil. I’m not defending ever word the pastor but maybe a little context might change your view of them.

Get over it.

I’m a little disturbed by Obama’s association with his minister that preaches in a way that would be deemed anti-American. Of course after 17 years going to this church he suddenly distances himself from this minister in a convenient manner since he is now running for president. I wouldn’t stay in a church that is so political. Certainly this church should loose the tax breaks of a church. This comes out after Obama’s wife just said for the first time in her life she’s been proud of her country. Of course they say she was misunderstood. And there is the back talk about Canada and distinguishing between political reality and what he wants perceived in order to get elected. There’s also the picture where his hand isn’t over his heart during the pledge of allegiance. There is a pattern that is emerging. There is a point where every American has to wonder if Obama is trying to put one over the American people and if he could be a president who loves his country. We need a change but not to someone who is not willing to defend his country from a minister that hates his country. Those people that are trying to deny this stuff and blame it on Hillary or some hack job are obviously in the same anti-American camp as Obama. This guy isn’t presidential material. I was ready to vote for him. Not now!

And here’s the second point that’s coming out. Should Obama get elected it’s looking like every time somebody is critical of Obama or his policies or a decision of his is going to be deemed a racist. That will be their defense. That my friends is a bunch of bull. That shows that these people that are defending this nonsense are racists of the highest degree. Obama is not showing leadership potential. Obama has been getting a free ride from the media for months. Now his whole campaign is getting a little creepy. I can just see the Republican fodder now about how Obama isn’t a good American. The guy has some good ideas but in the end America isn’t going to elect a president who they aren’t quite sure he even loves America. Able to criticize yes, but still love America and not stand by those who hate America. I am sure Obama will keep a few die hard fans but there’s always going to be a few America haters no matter what. As for me, I will not give Obama the benefit of the doubt because he should be like everybody else and not given the benefit of the doubt just because he is a black man. Obama should have denied his ministers anti-American views years ago. To do so now is just not good enough. I don’t want a leader who blindly follows idiotic leaders. Bush has a whole cabinet that does that but that’s not good leadership. “Yes we can” reject Obama and his allegiance with those that hate America.

This is NOT "guilt by association." Obama does not casually or haphazardly "associate" with Wright. Obama deliberately, affirmatively SELECTED Jeremiah Wright to be his (Obama's) LEADER. Obama said that he selected a church where he felt "comfortable."
We can assess Obama's leanings by the leadership he CHOOSES to follow.

We can assess Obama's credibility when he asks us to believe that a man, to whom he has referred repeatedly as a "mentor," held strong and repugnant views completely unknown to him (Obama) until very recently.

Even if we are to accept Obama's assertion that he did not, until recently, quite "get it" about Wright's views (begging the question of whether Obama is really that lacking in intelligence or perception), then we are left with the question of what Obama thinks Wright's church website means by billing itself as a proponent of "the Black American Family" and "Black Values." Is that what RFK meant by "coming together" and being "a united America" ?

Obama's attempt to pass off Wright as an "uncle," some dotty, misguided, but lovingly-tolerated family member, is a deliberate obfuscation. Obama likens Wright to a family member -- and we all know that we cannot CHOOSE our family members, and that many of them are embarrassing. You can (and DO) choose your pastor. And, sadly, Obama has chosen this man as the pastor, not only for himself, but also for his daughters.

Jeremiah Wright holds and loudly shares views that are separatist, racist, and paranoid. (He believes that the U.S. government developed the AIDS virus in order to deliberately infect "people of color," as one example of his paranoia.)

Obama can and should be held accountable for his choice of leader. I, personally, left a church (it was the last straw, admittedly) when the trustees voted to remove the American flag from the sanctuary -- and to do so under pretext, at that! (They said they would have it "sent out to be dry-cleaned" and then never quite returned.) I was a trustee at the time, and present at the vote. I left the church by the next Sunday -- without rancor or personal malice, but also without second thoughts.

Obama can and should be held accountable for the congregation with which he chooses to worship -- those who cheer loudly when Wright trots out his "blame America first" rhetoric.

A last observation: Is it any wonder that Michelle Obama, who has also chosen to be led by Jeremiah Wright for the last 20 years, believes that America is a "mean-spirited"

An ancestor of mine was a Brit who participated in the burning of the White House during the Revolutionary War; my grandfather was a member of the original KKK; my ancestors fought in the Civil War (on the "wrong" side!); my father and brothers were racist; my radical "religious" aunt told me I would burn in hell for going to a public school dance. Currently, from the public airwaves, I hear prejudice, racism, sexism, bigotry, hate and radicalism spewed from the mouths of paid "newscasters". And what does that make me?

Are we condemned to be painted with the same brush as our ancestors or the hate-mongers or the words a preacher shouts in a sermon? Absolutely not.

And I believe Barack Obama - that he disavows the ugliness of racism and radicalism and has hopes for bringing out the best in us to build a better America for all of us. I like that idea.

"Most recently, you heard some statements from former pastor that were incendiary and I completely reject, although I knew him and know him as somebody at my church who talked to me about Jesus,"

Geez. Just yesterday, Wright was "like an uncle." Today, he's "...somebody at my church."

Way harsh, Barack.

I believe that Obama doesn't agree with what his mentor, er, I mean crazy Uncle has to say.
I also seriously doubt that Obama has ever heard his mentor, er, crazy Uncle say anything that could be considered racist of anti-American even if their relationship goes back over 20 years.
I firmly believe that Rev Wright only says racist and anti-American things only if he is sure that Obama isn't in Church that day.
Yes he can!
Don't let them "hoodwink ya" or "bamboozle ya".
Besides, everything Rev Wright has said is true, right?
C'mon everybody, lets all sing "God Damn America!"
Yes he can!

Where was your outrage when black kids found nooses hanging from a tree in their schoolyard last year?

Our hope lies in acknowledging the differences then finding common ground.

That Obama KOOL AID is powerful stuff.
But,the Obama Denial cocktail
must really have quite a kick to it.
Now the Obama chanters believe that a uniter is guy who published a book that potrays Wright and his church as life changing event .
Even though the Church and the Mentor Pastor have been outed as peddling non stop hate of a very nice wide variety with a separatist twist.
My favorite part is Obama also attended the Louis Farakhan million man march in 1995 which also peddled the same type of hate and separatism but again Obama really did not hear those speeches either.
So does Obama have a hearing problem or a crediability problem or a telling the truth problem ?
He is done so put a fork in him.

This country was founded upon racism.
Posted by: Jeremy | March 15, 2008 3:58 PM

Jeremy: You need to repeat the 5th. grade ...the country was founded on the premise of religious freedom,,,,does the word Mayflower ring a bell ?

Look at the scope and inspiration of the people who've voted for his campaign.
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | March 15, 2008 3:54 PM

Doug: You left something out , that was before the bigot and racist wright made a splash with the news cycle. Your "homie" dropped 8 points over night according to Rassmussen poll, your starting to sound as delusional as ROGER MORRIS !

Just more smears by the Clinton campaign. They can't attack Obama's platforms, so they attack those of people, that he knows.

FYI Guys - Wright isn't running for President. Obama is.

So folks, this information was fed to the media by the Clinton camp.

Posted by: Terris Linenbach | March 15, 2008 4:18 PM

Terris: Strictly conjecture on your part, the reality is the story was broke by a fellow by the name of Ronald Kessler who works for Newsmax.

As a white man, I did not find the pastors remarks all that out of line. I heard a lot of truisms spoken there, and I think the HRC campaign has tried their hardest to throw mud at Obama and this was the best that they could do. Unfortunately for her campaign, it was a much worse week in the news for her. It is aparent to everyone that she no longer wants to talk about real isssues, and Obama has had to waste precious time deflecting her "kitchen sink" strategy, which has irritated most rational voters.

Barack Obama is NOT telling the truth. As the saying goes, "Show me your friends and I'll tell you what you are". He IS friends with racists. In his heart he believes what the pastor is saying or he wouldn't stay with the same church for over 20 years! It is not possible Obama didn't know what his pastor was saying in his sermons. Certainly his fellow parishioners told him, or his wife heard, or his children came home with stories. One big lie on Obama's part. He is scary and I am glad we have all found out in time, and now know what is behind this dangerous campaign to win the White House.

I'd believe Obama was genuine in this speech if he'd quit Wright's church immediately. That he didn't means he thinks we're fools.

Obama takes alot of creative license in his speeches. Always trying to capitalized on the reputations of great men who have come before him. Obama is well funded, why can't he write his own words of inspiration and talk about himself. RFK is dead, so he can't complain, and we can't elect him.

Everyday Obama seems more and more insincere, and willing so say anything or do anything to get votes. Does anyone still feel inspired by Obama?

I was shocked at the Rev. Wright Speech, and the racism, but in General I found him to be more inspiring than Obama, because his passion seems genuine, and Obama seems so surreal, and so ingenuous.

Hillary is down-to-earth. She works hard, and believe she truly is devoted to Public Service. I like that. I feel that if I vote for her she will take pride in doing all she can to bring peace and prosperity back to the USA. Obama seems to be all about personal ambition and changing his tune every day, depending on who he is talking about, and people like that follow the money, and power, and don't really take pride in helping others.

Senator Obama should resign from his senate seat. He has not gained the character to be seated as a member of the Senate. How has he shown his allegiance to America? Attendance at Mr. Wright's church-20 years; wife says that she is finally proud of America; Does Obama have the traits a President? even though he was born in Hawaii, do you consider Obama as a person who was brought up into in average American home? Commander & Chief of the Military--who will ; appoint various officials-- who? Who are his mentors, associates, friends?

It's all over lefties...B.J. Clinton and Hillary fired off a cruise missile and made a direct hit on an empty suit...no camels were involved.

Paulo

So:
Best case scenario - Obama never realized this guy's views for 20 years, despite apparently being mentored and taught by him. So Obama is not a very good judge of character or engages in willful blindness.

Hopeful case scenario: he knew from the beginning, tried to hide it and is now lying. (You're telling be he didn't go to church after 9/11?) In short, politics as usual.

Worst case scenario: he was mentored by this preacher for years and has picked up at least a few of his views. So Obama should not set foot in the office.

Maybe this was leaked by the Clinton Campaign, maybe it wasn't. They didn't preach it. They didn't hire the members of the congregation to cheer. (Preachers don't about face in a day without someone noticing. This congregation was on its feet. If this was the first time he did so they would be sitting there in shock.)

I am white, Christian and of German decent. Therefore I'm suddenly responsible for the Holocaust (German), the Crusades (Christian) and slavery (white)? Follow the Rev. line of thinking and that's where you get. Remember the Holocaust, but don't blame every German for it. Remember 9/11, but don't blame every Muslim for it. My family never raised me with racists views. The difference here is guilt by association vs. guilt by birth. Someone who is denounces others for the circumstances of their birth is racists. Someone who judges others for the people they CHOOSE to associate with is practical. You choose your friends, not your race.

Sorry Obama. Bye.

Looks like we are being "hoodwinked" by Obama.

Don't sweat these bye-bye Obama people. They wouldn't have voted for him anyway.

Through all this, I just don't see what he has done wrong. He's lived an exemplary life based on personal betterment and applying the results for the betterment of society.

I cannot agree with Rev. Wright, but I can completely understand why he would feel that way. I love my country dearly, but I'm also an honest student of its history, and there are some ugly chapters mixed in with the other wonderful chapters. Guerilla war in the Phillipines and Nicaragua (post Spanish-American war), lynchings, Tuskegee experiment, Jim Crow, Internment of Japanese in California, Ahbu Graib, murder of striking workers by private police, attacking world war I vets when they marched in D.C., dogs attacking peaceful protesters, railroaded convictions overturned by DNA evidence, trail of tears, ... there are a lot things that our government has done that we rightfully should be ashamed of.

People, don't be so shocked that there are citizens who deplore things about this country yet still love it.

Finally, guilt by association is such a weak guilt. It's like thought and speech, and religious belief in that it harms no one ... no person is affected by beliefs or associations. That's why the constitution protects these things, and that's why people should lighten up about Mr. Obama's crazy uncle in the attic.

Best case scenario--Obama basically agrees with Wright, though he wishes he'd be a little more nuanced in how he phrases things. But Obama is a politician, which means coward, so he's gotta try and appease the white narcissists who get all upset if someone so much as hints the US has ever done anything bad. (I'm white, btw.)

There are white members of Wright's church and if I lived in Chicago I might attend it myself. Not all of us think Wright is a racist. I'm more inclined to suspect the sort of white folks who get upset about this of that same sort of hypocritical white resentment I grew up with down south.

BHO doesn't know his pastor of 20 years?   Right.  BHO invokes the words that RFK spoke 40 YEARS AGO as he has the word CHANGE blazed across the wall of the auditorium.  Right.  Why is he USING THE PAST while trying to get elected on the CHANGE MANTRA?   Perhaps he wouldn't get caught up so much if he stuck to tangible issues. It is hell when one can't keep their pie in the sky straight.

If Senator Obama is the candidate it will send Christians to Senator McCain. Senator McCain has been endorsed by questionable church leaders, but he did not sit in their congregation for twenty years, financially contribute to their church, and embrace them "like an uncle". This goes to credibility and honesty.

ummm Donald,

The next time Obama steps foot in that church is when hell will freeze over.

Nice try though!

Paulo

Has everyone FORGOTTEN that Obama's mother was WHITE. He would be the last individual on earth to create division among races. Also please don't forget his speech of Unity among races at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. LETS DON'T GET AMNESIA PEOPLE. LETS GET OUR FACTS STRAIGHT.

The problem here boils down to judgement. Barak Obama seems like a nice guy, a real nice guy, a really really nice guy. And that's just the problem. Does he know how to say the word "NO." He trusted Rezco, and he trusted a demagogue who had been spewing incendiary hatred for years. And, he underestimated the American public's reaction to these speeches.

We're not talking here about decency or skin color, but judgement. A world leader needs to be shrewd and skeptical, can never allow himself to be misled. Barak is simply too naive. I'm a Democrat voting McCain.

I am writing to offer a perspective on this situation that I hope will provide some insight.
I was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ for over twenty years, and I attended regularly until I relocated, several years ago. I have a large collection of sermons preached by Rev. Wright that span the 20+ years I attended. The clips that are getting played across the Internet represent a few minutes extracted out of thousands of minutes of sermon footage. Here’s what I would hope the readers of this forum will consider:

In the African-American worship tradition and experience, the black pulpit is a symbol of freedom and catharsis. Congregants, many of whom have experienced more nuanced but still painful instances of racism during the week, are set free. Worshippers experience this freedom vicariously in the freedom of the preacher. When I attended Trinity and heard the sermons preached by Rev. Wright, I heard his words in context. I therefore clearly understood (and I believe most who attended understood) that his messages gave voice to very real pain experienced by older and not-so-old African Americans. Most important of all, his sermons did and do offer hope that by coming to know Jesus’ example as a healer and liberator, we would be inspired to follow the example, go out into the world, reach out to others, and work to bring about change in our communities, cities, and country.
When I left church after service, I wasn’t filled with hatred or venom towards anyone. I was usually hungry, in search of a decent meal, and ready to get on with whatever the week was to bring. Trinity’s members certainly possess the ability to make the distinction between hyperbole and homily. Knowing what I do about the church firsthand, I understand why Mr. Obama did not cut ties to the church—his experience at Trinity (and mine) was simply not what some in the media and the political arena are trying to portray. I posted these comments on another blog, but I am posting here in the hopes that my comments may be of some help.

I'm troubled by how Mr. Obama appears to be more willing to criticize his former pastor than he is to take on the puppet masters that have orchestrated this fiasco! I'm speaking of the Sean Hannitys and Rush Limbaughs, Fox News, and the like.

What is absolutely incredulous is how they have been able to manipulate mainstream media into doing their deceit for them. Senator Obama had better begin to stand up to these purveyors of division and stop trying to please everyone.

He's repudiated Farrakhan (a man that, contrary to popular belief, is generally held in high regard within the African-American collective -- his most dependable constituency) and he's now trashing his pastor. Yet he did not mention Limbaugh or Hannity or (perhaps) the Clintons) by name.

You trash your spiritual leader because your handlers think it's the path of least resistance? As opposed to forcefully contesting having to answer for what some another adult -- a preacher at that -- has to say? Who's he going to be forced to repudiate next, Michelle Obama?

When it's all said and done, the day after the election, he is still going to be what society classifies as 'black.'

The speed and ease at which he was willing to make roadkill out of Wright and Farrakhan is troubling to me.

Barack Obama has a hard time with the meaning of words, it seems. To most people, the word "mentor" is someone you know very well, and therefore, someone you attempt to pattern your life and behaviors after. But now Obama says he somehow didn't know that Rev. Wright is a racist? Or that this pastor loathes America -- you know, the very same country Obama claims he wants to represent to the entire world? This despite the fact that Obama claims Wright as his "spiritual mentor" and the fact that he named his book after a sermon preached by this very same Rev. Wright? Sen. Obama's craven political instincts defy belief. What a coward. Or a liar. You choose. Either way, not someone who should be president. If this is the way he treats those close to him, what makes you think he'll keep his promises to any of you?

I supported Hillary, something I am starting to regret even though I think some of her plans are better, but this is sad.
To ask someone to reject the man that had you reborn into the salvation of Christ and was like a surrogate father is something that I do not think many of these critics could do so easily.

Also, Billy Graham, Pastor to the Presidents, at times used to say some awful and vile things about Jews. Yet, he is still some how respected and Presidents continued to welcome him.

Once it looked like Obama might become the nominee, a full frontal assault began. CNN is misreporting things and Ferraro is saying get back young boy, it is not your turn. She is telling White ethnics in PA, you know we must ban together against the interloper. The other half of Clinton in her position because of her husband is some how more entitled to be accepted with some phony experience.

McCain was and claimed to be an Episcopal until he went to South Carolina. Then he said he was a Baptist since he went to a Baptist church for a while. He is kissing up to every right wing preacher no matter what they have said an no one bats an eye. Many of the preachers have agendas for the US, some that they try to hide in secret steering committees, that could lead the US to ruin. Wright talks but suggests no action or ultimate damnation while many of the pastors on the right want posture and action that could leave the country to dangerous places. Remember, many of the pastors McCain has and are associated with, have said 9/11 was due or justified due to sinful ways. More damnation would occur unless we changed our ways. katrina was also God's wrath for a sinful nation or city.

This is also sad due to what it might mean. Its is why no minority( even though he is half white and in some places would be identified as such) from a working class and non-idylic background can ever be President. Because most of the majority wants everyone to have experiences just like theirs, they cannot understand how a young man(Obama), might find something from this man that was doing good in the community and preaching hope. How a 70+ year old man could say such things. The man served as a marine and a nurse to President Johnson but also suffered degradtions that many can only imagine. When you see the hypocrisy of your country, the way you are treated, and serve and are told you may need to fight for freedoms in other country, on one can undertand. How many "over the top" sermons did the pastor make in his 30 years. Part of the churches job is to challenge the comfortable. The only thing I had a lot of trouble with from what I say was is damnation of the US due to its behavior. The Hillary comments were not appropriate in the way he said them.

Most of my male family member have served the country, many in combat. Most still believe that almost everyone in the country should be expected to be ready to answer the call of duty regardless of race and class and to do something for the country and beyond themselves. Desptite this, some of my older relateives, remain and remained bitter about aspects of this country. Even though he did well and this country and his sons became very successful( as defined in this country), he resented the fact that he had to fight for freedoms he did not enjoy himself and the enemy, the Germans, were treated better than he was. Others, while critical, saw their service and years afterwards is a chance for them to see and demand that their country live up to it promises. I suggests these men love and hope for the best from this country more than many that might here a sliver of what they say and think otherwise.

As the RitaJ said, the right and others have pasted together a few minutes of 10,000's of minutes of sermons that are not indicative. She is a primary source, not secondary.

I am impressed by the ability of some of the people posting comments here to express their negative feelings. Some must have talent, practice, and determination. I salute their skill and pray that I may never attain it for myself.

He has no right to invoke Bobby Kennedy, a man Obama has nothing in common with. Kennedy was a true fighter for the little man.Obama is trying to spin with words like "my FORMER" pastor. This man has been a constant in his life for 20 years. His recent retirement doesn't revoke that. And trying to play it like he ahd no idea what this guy was about is just silly season. He used poor, poor judgement and no person who associated with such a man and church should lead this country --it will cause the kinds of division he claims to be against. The argument that it is only a few sermons doesn't hold water either. These are hateful sermons and just one is too much.

Scout Finch,

Calm Down. IF Huckabee would have come as far as Obama has in the campaign with so many votes, he would have been looked at closer too.
No one with the name Mike "Huckabee", and his extremists beliefs would ever have had a chance to win enough votes to be President. Neither will someone with the name Barack "Hussein Obama" and his extremist affiliations will ever become President either, unless by chance he is made Vice President, and the President dies. This is the only thing Hillary has to worry about- that is if she makes Obama VP.

'This is the first time in my adult life that I'm proud of America'
...and the swamp posters that can finally see through our racist, Marxist and socialist cause.

God D_mn America!

"Jeremy: You need to repeat the 5th. grade ...the country was founded on the premise of religious freedom,,,,does the word Mayflower ring a bell?"

I'm not sure where you went to 5th grade Ron B. but the Pilgrims launched a genocide against the natives and did not allow Catholicism, Quakerism, or other forms of Christianity in their colony. Also Pilgrims didn't write the Constitution (which basically limited citizenship rights to property owning white male Protestants). By the way Ron, I majored in US History and also engage in such liberal activities as reading and not letting the mainstream media interpret reality for me. You people would wrap dog crap with a US flag and deny that it stinks.

If you think the flag only stands for freedom, justice, and life...and not also oppression, destruction and empire you have made it into an idol.

I like how Ron Paul can say that the terrorists attacked on 9/11 because of our oppressive foreign policy and that makes him a prophet who "speaks truth to power." Wright says it and it makes him a "race panderer" and "un-American"...and therefor the same for Obama. Ridiculous. I see that the supposedly non-racist Ron Paul supporters have all lined up behind McCain. They were everywhere a couple months ago and now they're nowhere to be found.

Can I recommend a book Ron B? It's A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES by Howard Zinn. From page 1 it is honest about it's agenda...to tell US history from the perspective of the underside of history. To tell history from the perspective of the "victims of progress." It might help you wake from your American dreams.

I was born in Russia but become an Australian.You can emagane how I use to hate USA. But beeng Australian for many years and integrating into western culture changed my personal view on USA.
Sadly, watchig your election, I fined myself geting very frustrited with your FOX NEWS coverage, who doing ( Mr Hannity) averything to create hate and divison to all USA.More frustriting is that people and professionals appears to be to stupid to see the big picture for your election.Barack Obama - is your blessing, as a President. He is the only one who can put you back on the map, as a POEWR and RESPECT in the WORLD. But you ingaged yourself in patetic school like fiting - beliteling and shamful.

Obama belongs in the dumpster. If ever there was a more slippery tongue LIAR he stands at the head of his class. When the so called pastor get's done delivering his hate spewing venom from the pulpit, I would not like to be outside of his so called church when his parish flock leaves. They have been brought to a frenzy to hate whites. What about Obama's children? How do you think their lives will be affected by listening to a racist spewing hatred towards whites. Obama should be barred form the human race.

Let's face it, there is a double standard in this country. Any black, even if they are half white, that has ever seen or heard of Lewis Farakhan has to denounce Farakhan. If you ever shook his hand, you are unfit for office. So , if you are black and want to run for dog catcher, you should open the announcement of your run that you denounce Farakhan.

New black candidate: "Hi, I am running for dog catcher and I say that renounce Farakhan !!!!
I swear I have severed the link that allows Lewis Farakhan to control and influence any black that has heard his voice or seen him or even that knows of him. I am no longer part of the Black collective single mind and have independent thoughts. I can actually hear a debate and argument and form my own opinion. His mind tricks have no influence on me and I can think for my self. Again, I denounce Farakhan and have great plans for dog catching !I now open the floor to questions".

Reporters: Sir, Sir
Black candidate: Yes Mr. David Duke

Reporter: Do you reject Lewis Farakhan ?

Oh, well !

This election just makes me hate this country. Just like the current elected officials make me hate this city and county and state. To feel otherwise is just being in denial. We suck as a nation and as a people. Unworthy of even a small weak dream of a better life because of our limited intelligence and moral indifference. A shame but true.

If the Pastor only said a few off-beat things over the years, I think that we could all understand it as a fluke. But this was about 20 years, and 50 times per year, or almost 1,000 Sundays. Pastor Wright sells these tapes and all reflect a similar tone. many years ago, when a church I went ot began a negative crusade, I left. In this case, Obama stayed. He must have liked the message to some degree to financially support it, and attend regularly.

Anti-American? Outrageous? Awful to say that God will damn us for our sins, or is punishing us for our sins?

At the height of the Civil War, following unprecedented bloodshed, an American said the following:

Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether."

That was President Abraham Lincoln, in one of the few times he addressed the entire nation. So let's have a little less shocked outrage, if you please. We need more preachers willing to scold America for its sins, not fewer. And like his predecessor from Illinois, apparently Senator Obama knows that moral leadership does not always mean saying comfortable things.

Yesterday's mentor, uncle, and leader,
Today's associate,

And still some supporters around?
Nut.

B.O. knew he was attending a racist church. He is not naive. He should drop out of the race. He, his racist pastor/mentor, and his wife are not proud to be Americans.
BTW Bobby Kennedy Jr. is endorsing Hillary not B.O.

I agree with beebop, just because Obama has some of the Kennedys backing him (Robert Kennedy's children did not back him) why does he feel he can use Robert Kennedy to justify his abominable association with Mr. Wright. He (obama) is the lowest of the low.

Moderate & all other critics:

RitaJ actually attended this church. She commented above. She claims that the speeches have been pieced together to make it look symbolic of his sermons. She claims it is not. So how many actual sermons were "over the top". When I was a kid, I angry as heck about South Africa and Haiti. I could not understand the hypocrisy of the country.

Can anyone here tell me you should not have been angry about those situations and asked why ?

How many people here have denounced there person that brought them to Christ and salvation over a few words ?

I have some problems with Obama but why do black people get a protological exam while white preachers get a pass !

While one or 2 comments where a bit more than I would like, you here older, and some younger blacks, make similar complaints but still love this country. Many of my Relatives served pre-80's and beleive you should serve despite their treatment; yet in this country we have to bribe poor and working class people to fight and no one wants to pay taxes.

Now, Obama wants to move the country past the hate and hurt of the past. He has seen the good and bad and wants to call on the country to do more of the good.

Most WWII vets still call Japanese J..ps, but people understand why that is. How many of Wrights sermons have been "over the top" ?

Because of the Tuskegee experiments and racial terror, older blacks have a reason to be suspicious. We might not be in Irag if more Americans were suspicious.

I wish all the critics would tell us if they have ever been to a black church.

If RFK attended Klan meetings, he might have a point.

Pastor gave him 'words', Tony Razko got him money, big money -- and now he runs away from them.

Judgement !!
Judgement?

As a convert, from Islam, how will he talk to Saudis to produce more oil to lower prices?

Terris Linenbach, give it a break, that is the most rediculous statement I have ever read on these blogs. To say Clinton put this information out is beyond rationality. Besides whoever put it out did us the voters a favor, we all now know what I have believed to be true all along. I plan on keeping this in the blogs until after all the states have had their opportunity to vote in their primaries so it doesn't get swept under the rug like every other dispicable fact about obama is being covered up by the media. And now for him to use RFK to cover his racisim is a true example of why we should send him packing and out of political life.

Peary, I doubt that, but someone certainly should be. I would be willing to bet that he and his family were there for ALL of the sermons. Someone should be checking this just to verify what a liar and piece of garbage obama really is. If you think Clinton is looking to find proof that obama was at the sermons, you can bet so is obama so he can try to get rid of them before anyone discovers his lies.

John said So what of the Wright's statements were untrue? Well for one try telling the survivors of the people that died on 9/11 that they deserved what they got. See if they believe this. Maybe the comment about God *** America cannot be said to be untrue, but if you want to agree with that, then move out of this country. I can't believe how many people agree with Wright's comments or find them anything but disgusting and unamerican, and anyone that can write them off should also leave this country.

After all, Obama is not an empty suit. He has attended this Church for over 20 years, absorbing all the up-lifting messages and all the hatred towards no-black, he is completely filled-up now. How can anyone say he is an empty-suit? He has also learned how to preach, since evidently there are plenty of Obama followers who are emotionally and financially invested in his success. He talked about being an 'uniter' today. But sooner or later, the hatred inside him will spill out, because he is brainwashed by his pastor. He is beyond salvation now.

Its funny, this thing came out at the right time. America is so full of it sometimes it makes me wonder. Mr. Wright comments are deemed racist by whites, I think that Slavery, Jim Crow, and racial bias were racist acts against blacks. I also believe that
black people play the race card all the time, but white people do it in a sublte way that is insidious none the less. Race is in issue in America and we are supposed to have Free Speech here. White America thinks all that civil rights stuff was 40 years ago and my family didnt own slaves, so get over it. Black people know that they are descendants of Slaves, reconstruction was stopped cold after the civil war, Jim Crow/Segragation law were LEGAL and openly practiced here in AMERICA, and racial bias is alive and well in america. Also my black friends do not trust white people. I can see why. Race will always be an issue in America. We fought a war over the economics of slavery and we have been fighting it ever since. The church is central to the African American community as it is to most communities. But don't expect Black clergy to preach what the Non-Black clergy preaches. The same problems don't exist in Schamuburg as in Englewood. Get over it America, we need change, Bush is an idiot and Mccain isn't concerned about the Economy, he's just back from Iraq, bet all that war money would be good for the
economy if the contractors weren't hiding it overseas. We had the Clintons already, just because you were married to the President doesn't make you qaulified. Check out her past and you'll see that press junkets and photo ops don't qaulify as diplomatic missions.

Mr. Obama may denounce, discard, or even burn in a bonfire the hate rhetoric tailored by Rev Jeremiah Wright, the acknowledged spiritual guide of Mr. Obama, like some old clothes that do not serve Mr. Obama's purpose any longer, but he cannot alter, hide, or erase the fact that he had worn the undergarment for 20 years in apparent comfort until the world finally came to notice it.

As Mr. Obama's lofty rhetoric of racial harmony and unity begins to crumble into the shape of a rhetorical artifice to snare the naive, the unsuspecting, and the gullible to propel him into the job of his lifelong ambition, we find the man of "change" himself listening surreptitiously to the sound of a different drum--a thundering sound of hate and discord, far removed from the call for racial harmony and unity. We must then ask ourselves, in spite of Mr. Obama's vehement and categorical castigation of "some" of the Rev Wright's hate speech, if the man who has been inhaling such a noxious and corrosive fume for the past 20 years can be cleansed enough in short order to be entrusted the highest office in the land, nay, the world.

Let us be realistic and clear of one thing: this issue of Mr. Obama's 20 years of close association with Rev. Wright, whose toxic brew of inflammatory, anti-American, anti-white tirade has been well-known for nearly a quarter of century (but unbeknown to Mr. Obama by his own account), may abate, but it will not go away and is sure to return with force and fury that will sink a swift ocean liner.

Indeed, it is likely to become the most heated singular issue that would beset Mr. Obama with questions challenging his patriotism if he were to become the Democratic nominee opposing John McCain, a man of impeccable patriotism. The appeal to the American people to stick to the "issues," the Obama camp's trump card, will not do since patriotism is an immensely important issue to most Americans. Worse, as he tries to extricate himself from this fatal error of judgment and association, the extrication itself will beget more elaborate and equally dubious explanations, thus damaging his credibility further.

Realistically, one cannot credibly argue, even if he is a top-notch lawyer like Barack Obama, to be a member of a church, located a short driving desistance away from where he lived for most of the 20 years he had been a member, actively assisting its proselytizing efforts with large financial contributions (to the tune of $22,500 in 2006 alone), by professing not to know what the church's pastor had been saying every week, unless if Mr. Obama can prove that Rev Wright was customizing his sermons on the days Mr. Obama was in attendance ("Oh, Barack is in the pews, I'd better not give out this brew today"). Otherwise, this is outright fraud, or to be more charitable, an attempt at such; an attempt no less hollow and phony sounding than a man who lived next to an active railroad track for 20 years claiming to have heard no trains passing by. The guilt by association? Absolutely; the trains went by him every day.

The truth of the matter is that Mr. Obama himself calls Rev Wright "crazy uncle," indicating his knowledge of the pastor Jeremiah's "crazy," lunatic preaching, yet, in spite of his claim to the superior capacity for judgment fit for a US president, he failed to foresee the danger of being anywhere near an anti-American lunatic asylum, much less supporting it with contributions, knowing fully well that the director of the asylum was a lunatic himself, though more innocuously known as the "crazy uncle." Poor judgment does not even begin to explain Mr. Obama's inexcusable failure of 20 years to uphold American ideals, and if that were to be his explanation then the fact of it would disqualify him to be the next president of the US.

It ought to be clear, in spite of Obama supporters' attempts to control the damage, Mr. Obama's credibility has been irreparably harmed, not merely by his association with Rev Wright but through his unconvincing attempts at extrication. Thus the concerned Americans, particularly the Democrats, are urged to press Mr. Obama to withdraw his candidacy from the Democratic presidential nomination contest at this time as his candidacy has been fatally compromised, far more so than John Kerry's ill-fated 2004 presidential bid.

The anti-Americanism of Mr. Obama's mentor, Jeremiah Wright, is clearly a weapon of mass destruction to be used against the Democratic presidential aspirations in the fall election if Mr. Obama is the nominee in the form far more effective and devastating than the homemade varieties that have come to the world's attention, and the countdown has already begun. As to the disposition of Mr. Obama's delegates, should Mr. Obama so decide, they might be assigned to John Edwards, a viable candidate who could run effectively against Mrs. Clinton.

Mr. Obama must go; this is not his time for fulfillment but redemption in the wilderness.

A website named newsvine claim to have footage of obama attending the church while the pastor is making inflammatory statements it is supposed to air monday on foxnews. It is a shame that the news media refuses to cover this huge story. Obama is a liar and should resign from the campaign. As he would put is Laspes in Judgement/Bonehead Mistakes an Uncle that you dont always agree with or Angry black marine from the 60's excuses just dont wash. For him Change= Rev Wright racist/spiritual advisor/mentor/sounding board/20yr friend. Change= William Ayers radical terroist/20 yr friend. Change= Rezko money launderer/slum lord/business associate/17 yr friend. No wonder Michelle was not proud of her country and she also went to an Ohio university and made a speech "Americans have been synical and mean and have broken souls" huh did this come straight from Rev Wrights bible? You are known by the company you have kept, especially the company you've ketp for many, many, years.

Crucify Obama for his pastor's sermons all you want. The fact remains that this country has had a complicated racial history that was not that far back. People that participated in that movement still hold grudges, both black and white. The pastor is providing a narrative from his generation, just as I'm sure many of us have older members of our families that sprout the same racist nonsense because that was their life experience.

Just because your dad is racist does not mean that you are as well or believe the same crap that your dad does. The younger generation is dealing with the aftermath of the civil rights movement... we cannot brush that movement under a rug and pretend it did not exist.... the pain is there, underneath the surface. You discuss it rather than let it fester. This is the only way you can get past it. I commend people like Pastor Wright that have the courage to discuss these issues, that for reasons of political correctness, people choose to ignore.

This is a window into a culture of people that have been oppressed. Do not ignore it and pretend it does not exist. We are all trying to get to a post-racial America, but we must not be afraid to discuss our not so rose-tinted present and immediate past.

Obama is best friends with this minister. He was his mentor. You mean that he didn't see any of these thoughts in twenty years...twenty years?

You have got to be kidding!

Obama should step down and stop minimizing this issue. It would be discusting for anyone to be involved with this Pastor.

He not only speaks about his racial views, but also about his dislike for America.

Does Obama really think that the American people are so stupid?

Why isn't Obama apologizing to Hillary and to the American people?

What do you get when you unite Rezko's financing and Wrights words

Something were trying to avoid.

Look, we are begining to make mokery of the 2008 historic presidentila election by taking our eyes off the ball. We seem to be more facinated by what surrogates or candidate's pastor comments than what the candidate said or stand for or deed personally in the past. We seem to be moving the goal post constantly and that is not good. The current flap about Obama's pastor comments over time is a good example of what is wrong with this years presidential election. Now, tell me, should we start punishing people for the sins of their father or mother or sister or brother or uncle or aunt or priest or cousin or nephiew and the list goes on and on. Let's move on to the most important problems of the the day - health care, global financial decline, unemployment, shifting global economy, high oil prices, katrina and after effect, and so on.

Obama used Wright. He used him to get elected, he used him as an inspiration for one of his book and he used him to sell that book. He was his spiritual advisor for 20 years and has said he does agree with many things Wright has to say. The fact of the matter is, no one put a gun to Obama to stay at that church—the relationship until recently worked in Obama’s favor. Just like all his other associates he for now in which he is in hot water.

I believe Wright is racist, sexist and anti-American, but Obama ditched him just like he ditched Louisiana after their primary. Obama was a no show at the Black National State of the Union address after the primary, he had already move on, again just like he had with all his other associates that no longer serves him or who have become a liability.
But is should be mentioned that Hillary was at that meeting, lending her support even though the majority of the African American population as abandoned her after 35 years of support to the disadvantaged, minorities and women of this nation. After reading these blogs, she is a better person than most. Most of us would have said, forget them if that is how they feel, but not her and amazingly still not so, she still fights to get their vote, hoping loyalty and service still mean something. Hillary has had to deal with racism and sexism all the way. She has had to deal with it from the press, Obama supporters and even other women. It amazes me how young women through their support for Obama instead of Hillary describing in Newsweek this week, it’s the cool thing to do or they feel women no longer have a glass ceiling—they do, their just not old enough to experience it yet. But if enough can not be found for them in the press, corporate American or churches, then look at the world. CNN showed the plight of women in the Iraq last night—perhaps these young American women are too much absorbed in their own world to look at the whole of the world and what a Woman president would mean not only in their lives, this country but the world. I am not suggesting to any one to vote on race or gender, quite the contrary, but stop looking at Obama with rose colored glasses because he is cool like an American Idol contestant. Obama, his camp and his church have a separatist ideology which they play to their advantage. Obama plays the American public for fools and there are a lot of fools to be played.

One should ponder the question, exactly what has Obama done for his own state? What has he done for the African American population that makes him so much better than Hillary Clinton’s 35 years of experience and her dedication to the disadvantaged, minorities and women? Well we in Illinois we know what he has not done, show up for work for the Illinois’s people as a senator. Getting his wife a 300% pay raise while he controlled influenced the health board that approved expansions for area hospitals which Michelle’s hospital really benefited (that’s called a kickback). Her hospital really benefited greatly as other Chicago benefited maybe not to the same degree—but hospitals south of Chicago especially southern Illinois were not so fortunate. In one of the latest articles for the Tribune and an interview with Obama where he promised to let a particular prosecutor keep his job when and if he becomes president took a lot of balls (but this is of course if he does not try to embarrass or try and prosecute Obama for money laundering and accepting bribes and kickbacks before June 08—right). There are other losses for the state, a 1.8 billion dollar Futuregen program for clean energy coal was suppose to be given to Illinois, the announcement was made in Dec 07, but in Jan 08 it was gone. This was one of Obama’s pet projects and would have brought 100’s of jobs to southern Illinois, but Obama has been to busy campaigning for President to worry about this and his state.

Barack haven't you used the Kennedy name enough to learn a lesson? It didn't fool people in Massachusetts and it isn't fooling anyone about that racist church you belong to.

So Obama was not deceptive about his relationship with Rezko, instead he was naive/boneheaded and he is not deceptive that he knew about the racial hatred of Wright instead he was naive/unaware. Is being so often naive such a good qualification for leader of the free world?

The issue is not whether or not Barack Obama agrees with the statements made by Rev. Jeremiah Wright. The issue is his reluctance to denounce the reverend entirely. Hate or the advocation of it has no place in the White House, and anyone coming into power who would not outrightly denounce anyone who believes that way is a very scary prospect indeed for this country.

So let me get this straight. Obama wants us to believe that after a close, 25-year relationship with Jeremiah Wright, he only this week discovered through the media that Wright was an anti-American radical?

Let’s pretend that this is indeed the case. This very clearly shows, then, that Obama lacks the intelligence and judgment necessary to be the most powerful leader in the world. Period.

Hate is hate whether from a black or white and this nut case, Wright, is certainly a hater and Obama listened to him for 20 years?????And Obama's a supporter of change - give me a break. My family came from another land, owned no slaves, and in fact, my grandmother worked as a maid for a family that helped to run the Underground Railroad and I just don't get this nonsense. I will definitely not vote for Obama, not because he's half black, but because he's stupid in the company he keeps. Birds of a feather, flock together.

I'll give Obama the benefit of the doubt as he denounces some of the hateful and obvious untrue comments of Wright. But what is disturbing is those in the congregation who cheered those remarks. It is really sad when people have that much hate in their hearts. Especially when they supposedly believe in a loving God.

For ALL the Obama & Wright apologists....
Nobody put words in Wright's mouth. Nobody did a fake voice-over. Wright’s white America didn't conspire and drug him and hypnotize him before his sermons.
Honestly, when I heard his words I felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. This guy is keeping his folks down with sick, conspiracy; hate filled theories just like Farrakhan. Furthermore, only by going to HIS church and paying attention to HIS sick "charismatic" rantings can "believers” find out the TRUTH. This ABSOLUTELY reflects on the sort of person Obama IS. It's no wonder Barak wants to create "unity". Look at the world view of his divisive pastor who preaches DIS-unity. Wright's a real life, black Archie Bunker and a throwback to ancient times. No wonder Obama wants "change!".

Suggestion: Obama, You want "unity & change? Start at home and end the racism endemic in your provincial community before venturing out into America and preaching to us about "hope” & "change" based on false & empty promises. You've turned out to be just another old fashioned hack black "leader"; The kind that constantly evokes the name of MLK (& now RFK SHEESH!) and tries to ride his coat tails. But MLK, HE was a true American hero & PATRIOT. He would collapse in despair if he had to listen through a divisive, racist, hate filled sermon by the likes of Wright.
Personally...I'm nauseous. The last thing I would want to hear on a Sunday morning is some sick clown dancing on a stage and “charismatically” telling me why we deserved 9/11. But the first thing Obama & his co-worshipers want to do on any given Sunday was go see THIS guy.

Do you support child molestation?

Have all Catholics left the church and renounced the Pope and the priesthood? The Catholic Church has sheltered and protected the child molesters among the priesthood. Does this mean that Catholics approve of child molestation? Have all Catholic women had every possible conceivable (pun intended) child they could? Have Catholic women used birth control? Are all Catholics are against birth control because the Church is? Have all Catholics had sex ONLY for procreation? Do all Catholics believe in sexual abstinence unless the sex is for making a baby? We can go on and on and not just about the Catholic Church.

Everyone picks and chooses which tenets of their church they will follow and ACTUALLY believe. Why is Barack Obama targeted because his church leader is (justifiably) angry about the racism Blacks have experienced?

Senator Obama invokes Robert Kennedy and takes on his mantle. Why is it that he ignores the wishes of Robert Kennedy's family? Robert Kennedy's family have not endorsed him and have asked Senator Obama not to use Robert Kennedy's name in his speeches where it could be interpreted that the Robert Kennedy family support Senator Obama. Guess Senator Obama doesn't feel he has to respect the family's wishes.

You can hardly find a elderly black preacher who will not tell you that "America has committed terrorist acts". Because, it is true, Jesus would tell you the same thing, and that's nothing against all white people, that's only against the in-decent white people who have committed and supported the terrorist acts! Obama has done the right thing, he rebuked his pastor, thats all he can do about it, what do you want Obama to do, burn down the man's house?

The pastor had accused America of engaging in a pattern of un-righteous military activities, he was not incorrect about that, although I expected him to lay off that kind of talk after 911 for a few weeks at least. As soon as someone says that - no - no I cant believe it - America did something terrible - no - thats impossible. How is that being anti-white?

Len, it might be too late. Even if Obama denounces the reverend now, doesn't it make you question what his intentions are? Why the wait? Why not the immediate denouncement for such hateful comments? Does it come only after the non-denouncement costs him points in the polls? It's not the right path for decision making and I would strongly suspect that Barack may have destroyed any real chance to be president even if he does still win the democratic nomination.

http://www.springboardblog.blogspot.com

Obama is CORRUPT, a LIAR, and his slogan of change an ILLUSION.

1) CORRUPT: A houseowner wants to sell both a house and adjoining land. Obama can afford to buy only the house. No problem, the criminal Rezko to the rescue. Rezko pays full price for the land, whereas Obama gets a discount of $300,000 on the house. Nice to have criminal friends like this!!! (reference ABC News)

2) LIAR: Obama claims he did not know about Wright's America-hating (God damn America) and racist views till it was revealed in the mainstream media in March 2008. Obama attended Wright's church for 20 years, was married by Wright, had his children baptized by Wright, donated over $20,000 to Wright's church and named his book "Audacity of Hope" after one of Wright's sermons. You really believe after 20 years and all this he did not know what Wright preaches?

3) ILLUSION: Exelon Corporation had not disclosed radioactive leaks at one of its nuclear plants in Illinois. Obama, a senator for Illinois introduces a bill to make disclosures mandatory. Seems like Exelon doesn't like it. Each draft of the new bill by Obama goes more and more towards Exelon till disclosures end up being "voluntary". What gives? How about $250,000+ donations by Exelon to Obama's campaigns!!! Obama is not change, he is WASHINGTON BUSINESS AS USUAL. (reference New York Times)

People need to stop believing their fantasies about Obama and realize that Hillary is the one who has been fighting for them all along. All the way back to 1993 when she tried to introduce universal health care (before it became politically fashionable).