Thank you, Mr Wright. Please keep talking.

McCain should explain his association with Parsley his "spiritual advisor". Parsley has said that Islam is a "false" religion and that those who practice it should be "exterminated". McCain has defended Hagee who has said the Catholic church is the great prostitute of religion and that it is a "cult". He said that Katrina was God's punishment of America for the sin of homosexuality.

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

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/29/john-hagees-mccain-endor_n_89189.html

McCain should call the new plank on his political platform "Americans for religious intolerance, xenophobia and homophobia".

I am waiting for Clinton to walk out of her own church after her own pastor said she was wrong about Wright.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/17066161.html

When your church gives its Lifetime Achievement Award to Farakhan, a hater of the Jewish people, when the members dance in the isles over your comments about the death of Natalie Holloway....it's hard for a Christian person to understand how you embrace the name of Jesus.

I am sorry for any embarrassment caused to Obama, an example of just about all that is good in America.

But Wright is articulate and, more importantly, he is largely correct.

Supposedly, he has the freedom to speak his mind.

The ugly truth is that of all countries enjoying freedom of speech, America is, by a good measure, the least free.

But you are free to call people names.

Social pressure from officials making personal attacks against individual citizens - attacks which are repeated endlessly in the press - is a nasty and effective way to silence people.

Why do Americans tolerate this kind of low-life behavior from a man like Cheney?

It's simply disgusting.

Sorry Obama, this is the beginning of the end for your political nomination for president ... Obama is "typical politician" and not St. Obama.
Thanks for this gift by her Mentor and spiritual guide, Rev. Wright ...
20 years together is impossible cancel ... The Pastor Casts a Shadow!

God Bless America !!!

"puts Obama in a tough spot" is an understatement.

Again, intelligence, idealism and oratory skills aren't sufficient (or even most crucial) to be POTUS. If Obama has toughness and tenacity, now would be the time. I have believed for a while now---he does not.

We know what Rev. Wright believes in.

We know that Sen. Obama disowned his White heritage
and the White Community
for the Black militant Community, a Black militant wife, a dysfunctional pastor
from a church with a unique
dysfunctional charter, and fringe, non-mainstream ideas
and values.

We do not know if Sen. Obama believes what Rev. Wright believes or how much of what Rev. Wright believes.

We do not know Sen. Obama
and what he believes.

We need to know what Sen. Obama believes.

It appears Wright is showing his true colors, that of a bigoted deranged racist. It also appears Obama is now doing a flip-flop on Wright. I don't think he's flipping because of what Wright is saying, rather than he wants the white vote and will say anything to please the masses.

Yes, Mr. Wright, please keep talking. The more he talks, the more Obama can denounce his statements and the further Obama will be distanced from Wright come the general election.

Wright's statement yesterday that he would "come after (Obama), too", because Obama is part of the government, helps Obama in this way.

The time has come for Sen. Obama to throw the Rev. Wright under the boss. Unless Obama does so, the presidential nomination is out of reach for him because the Rev. Wright will not be going away and will not be shutting up any time soon. He has found a national platform and is going to use it and abuse it, at the expense of Obama. Obama supporters such as myself now question why he would spend twenty years in the church of a pastor with the views the Rev has espoused.

This comment above by MJ represents everything that is wrong with American politics today. This is what Sen. Obama wants to change. Politics of misrepresentation. Politics of association.

MJs comments reflect an "anything goes" culture that is hurting America. MJ, and people like him, don't care what is said if it helps their candidate. It doesn't matter if it is true. It doesn't matter if what is said even matters. It doesn't matter if the candidate themself said those things or if he even believes them. It doesn't matter if he has denounced those types of statements multiple times in multiple ways. All that matters is that if X happens, then my candidate wins. Shame on you.

MJ's are simple comments that reflect simple (and hurtful) sentiments.

Racist, Bigot. Enough said.

How hypocritical for those who needed a reason to not vote for Senator Obama to find it in Jeremiah Wright.

well you know you are the company you keep,so does america still believe this moron is our american dream or can we now get off this little boy and golden girl and get america back on track

Once again, the paper that takes pride in having never endorsed a Democrat for president shows its bias. Obama makes a strong, clear, unambiguous statement that Rev. Wright doesn't speak for him or his campaign:

"Some of the comments that Rev. Wright has made offend me, and I understand why they offend the American people," Obama told reporters. "They don't represent my views and they don't represent what this campaign's about, but he's obviously free to make those statements."

...and the Tribune labels it " the verbal equivalent of a helpless shrug."

Meanwhile, John McCain continues to accept and even seek out endorsements from far-right nutjob preachers who want to turn this country into a faux-Xtian theocracy, but to the Tribune that's not news.

Just how much booze is good ol' boy John passing out on his campaign bus, anyway?

I don't think Mr. Wright is any kind of "reverand" nor does he talk like one. He says he's been doing Jesus' work all these years, but frankly, Jesus would never say the hateful, bitter comments spewed forth by Mr. Wright. He obviously hates this country and what it stands for, so perhaps he and his true followers should move to another country more to their liking. He is a rabblerousing hatemonger, but I wonder why Mr. Obama did not recognize this decades ago?

It will take more than a scrug of the shoulders Obma for you to ever get rid of the Wright legacy....He has ruined any chance Obama ever had to be President. He needs to step down and let HRC beat McCain..It's over for Obama...

When are Hillary Clinton and John McCain's pastors going to make themselves available for multiple extensive interviews and questioning? I neeed to know exactly what they believe, since it's clear that a candidate for President's beliefs are exactly the same as their Pastors. I want to see all the pastors grilled extensively. I want to see all of their past sermons so I can determine if the were politically correct enough. We need a pastors debate, since their views are clearly more important than the views of the actual candidate.

I guess the question is: why? Why would Wright do this? Is he trying to sabotage Obama's campaign? Some spiritual counselor if he is. Or, is he trying to help Obama in the long run. The media will run with a story until it has outlived its life - a public saturation point, if you will. Obama will likely survive this to win the nomination. When Wright is raised in November, this will be "old news." Wright may be a nut, but he is a smart nut. I can't imagine that he would sabotage Obama's campaign. I further can't imagine that someone much more poweful than Wright in the Democratic party wouldn't tell him to put a sock in it if they thought this were really doing damage.

I love these posters saying that if you listen to the whole thing then Wright is correct. I'm still looking for the context that makes "9/11 was America's chickens coming home to roost" correct. I'm still looking for the context that makes black people and white people are "biologically different in the brain" correct. Enlighten me.

If Rev. Wright was an important of a role in Obama's years in Chicago, then what does that say about Obama's traits and whether he is suitable to be in a tough leadership position.

I'm not saying Obama shares Rev. Wrights combative views on race relations and U.S. governement, but I am saying natural leaders don't seek such strong personalities to follow.

Obama's "issues" from the past few years, collectively, are beginning to paint him not as a leader but rather an idealist. I'm still convinced that Obama didn't willingly buy (even though he and Michelle might have like it). Obama obviously knew, when he ran for POTUS, the issue was going to come up. I think he felt obligated to Rezko's patronage over the years, he also felt it was smart politically. Moral issues aside, people with leadership qualities would never mix their home with their work in such manner.

In Rev. Wright's issue, it could be that over time Obama needed Wright less as a mentor and more as a political ally. Whatever the situation, Obama have a very small window to get his response out.

The race issue is not being brought on by the Clinton campaign but by the friends of Obama. Obama has not distanced himself from Wright. No one knows what Obama believes. He stayed with this church for 20 years and says again he never heard any of Wright's remarks. I have little faith in Obama! I believe his friends both white and black have corrupted him.

Christy, it is very easy to see why Obama didn't see Wright for what he is years ago. There are 2 reasons, one he agreed with Wright and what he says even though he now says he doesn't. Typical politician a liar and a hypocrit. Secondly, Obama does not want to be labeled as being too white by the black community. If he disagreed publicly in the past with someone as outlandish as Wright then the rest of the black community would be down on him immediately as being too white. He has since come out against Wright because he has been forced to. He knows he will not win the nomination with the black vote alone. He needs the white vote also. Wright is getting his day in the sun right now but it will not last. People like him get their deserved comeuppence at some time in life. Wright's is coming, bet on it!!

Someone above referred to Obama as a saint. He's not a saint. He's the Messiah.

Why did oprah stop going to Rev jeremiah Wrigh church you dont have to be a philadelhia lawyer to know why she quit. Sen obama said he never heard rev Wright comdem America and he wants to be our commander chief God Bless America

I don't thin kObama agrees with all of what Wright said, but then I also think that Wright definitely hurts Obama's chances because we only know of Rev Wright through Obama.
Wright appeared to be perturbed that his 30 years of preaching was only credited to being widely noticed through the Obama link. Wright also appeared to become entranced by his own voice and the public in the room certainly emboldened him and his oratory.

It looked to me like the man was falling under the influence of the attention of the media (and the story the wanted to get) and he was unaware of the harsh light it put him in because he couldn't see through the stage lights.

From an above comment: This comment above by MJ represents everything that is wrong with American politics today. This is what Sen. Obama wants to change. Politics of misrepresentation. Politics of association.

----------------
I don't remember Sen. Obama actually saying that he wants to change the above politics. The above comment is just more proof of what his strategist, David Axelrod, has done by linking Obama with the word CHANGE. Over the past several months, I have read many people's interpretations of what Obama means by change. Each person has his/her own interpretation of it and assumes that is what Obama will change.

i think what needs to be discussed is what people think they are doing for their god.

I have been a hopeful and enthusiastic supporter of Obama since he entered politics. His messages of bringing people together, and getting beyond the polarization(s) of the past seemed to transcend typical politics.

Now, however, Rev Wright has seized the stage, and shows no sign of going away. Every time he speaks, he drives more people away from Obama - especially independents and Republicans who might be tempted by Obama's message.

Anyone who cares about the Democratic party should be concerned about what Wright is doing to Obama. I don't know what may cause this situation to improve, but I hope that Obama finds it.. for his sake, and for ours.

Due to his ranting idiot pastor, Obama now only runs even with McCain, while Hillary beats McCain by 10 points. WIN WITH HILLARY or PROBABLY LOSE WITH OBAMA - What will the Superdeletaes do?

Wright, who is Obama's mentor and former campaign advisor stated that Obama is only distancing himself from the remarks because of politics. Obama's denouncement is just his way of voting "Present". The writings of Dr.Cone and the black liberation theology as outlined on the church website were obviously known to Obama and his 20yrs in church far outweighs his "helpless shrug." That was just Obama playinng the victim. A situation resulting from Obama's poor choice of associates? Obama wasn't giving the finger to Hillary, he was giving it to the voters.

Same as most people, 95% of what Wright says is fine. You can focus on that, and learn something from it, or focus on the 5% as 'proof' you're so smart there's nothing new left for you to learn.

Meanwhile, Obama still has the vision for America he had in 1993:
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-1993/Vote-of-Confidence/
and 1995:
http://eyeonbooks.com/ibp_obama.php

ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!

Democrats are slowly waking up to the fact that their nominee is an old school Black Liberation Theologist who is no more electable than a Klansman would be.

Obama duped you, folks.

To try and deflect the impact of the hateful Wright, many Obama supporters like to mention Hagee, Falwell, etc.. If Falwell or Hagee has been the pastor and close friend of a presidential candidate for the 25 years, it's a campaign issue because it speaks to the judgment and character of that candidate. If Falwell/Hagee married the candidate and his or her wife, it's a campaign issue. If Falwell/Hagee baptized the candidate’s children, it's an issue. However, if Falwell, Hagee or another controversial preacher has merely endorsed a candidate, big deal. issue. Obama CHOSE to spend the last 25 years aligned with the hateful Wright and the Black Nationalist movement. Big, big difference between a voluntary 25-year relationship and being the recipient of one of thousands of endorsements for president. Nice try, but sorry, Obama cheerleaders.

Where was Rev. Wright in 2004 when we really needed him? It looks like Obama's chickens are coming home to roost !

Rev. Wrights comments are no different from other white pastors or reverends. Just last week it was one that said Hurricane Katrina happened because a gay pride parade was to start that following day. And to top it off he was with Sen. John McCain.

obama used wright to build his political base early in his political career, and for some reason (?) CAN'T disown him. As for wright, he loves himself so much (and the attention he is getting) he will never shut up.

I see we have a lot of white bigots on this comment board. It is easy for you all to pass judgment living white in this world and is clueless what other races, religions, and ethnicities experience in their day-to-day life. Furthermore, many of you have the slightest knowledge of the historical and theological perspective of the Bible. Know what you are talking about before you post your dim-witted views. Let’s face it, racism does exist and it is the non-colored people who are afraid to talk or do anything about it. Rev. Wright, keep on talking and educating the ignorance of people, including those who have posted here. God always makes a way!

Jeff asks:

I'm still looking for the context that makes "9/11 was America's chickens coming home to roost" correct.

It's called "blowback." Who taught Osama bin Laden everything he knows about terrorism? Our very own CIA, back in the days when he was part of the "muhajadeen," Islamic radicals fighting the Russians occupying Afghanistan. Our "intelligence" agencies (can't remember of W's daddy was running them at the time) thought that by arming and training Islamic radicals, they'd give the Russians their own little Vietnam-style debacle. It worked, sort of, in that the Russians eventually went home. But it turns out that while Osama was the "enemy of our enemy," that didn't make him our friend--most of what he and his people hated about Russia they also hate about the US.

Rev. Wright gets a bit flowery and apocalyptic-religious about it, but if you cut through the language he's simply describing the political equivalent of Newton's Third Law: every action has an opposite reaction. Many people in the military and intelligence community have also observed that 9/11 is a blowback from our previous bad middle eastern policy. All Rev. Wright's done is interpret this effect in a religious context... which is not all that much different from the right-wingers who say that 9/11 (and Katrina, for that matter) are divine punishment for homosexuality, abortion, or whatever their favorite sin is.

Enough of Rev. Wright if you want to go tit for tat about this craziness then you have to bring in the Pat Buchannan statements in to play like these
recent statement A Brief for Whitey by Patrick J. Buchanan
Posted: 03/21/2008
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=25634

http://www.mtsu.edu/~baustin/buchanan.html

I don't see him in the news like Rev. Wright has been and he is not even running for office and has never run for office the man was in retirement you should have left him there. Now you have opened the box and now you want to close it you can't have it your way or no way. Does a person only have to show one side in this country in order to promote the truth. Hypocrites, hypocrites, hypocrites. Can't stand the truth you rather live a lie.

Do you think Karl Rove has paid Rev. Wright to do this?

Is it pure chance that Rev. Wright was silent until Obama pretty much has the nomination.

If not Rove, could the Clintons be behind this?

It is hard to believe that Rev. Wright would do this on his own, it has to be for money.

Rev Wrights comments didn't change anything. Those people who plan to vote for Obama will do so. Those who didn't plan, simply have a reason to justify (in their minds) not doing so. President Bush is a known christian fundamentalist. McCain is begging for the fundamentalist votes, is there a uproar over this? If we are foolish enough to vote McCain in, an we are in Iraq 10 yrs from now, it will be the Chickens comming home to roost for the american public for being stupid to maintain the status quo.

OK, Rev. Wright says that 911 was the U.S.'s 'chickens coming home to roost', aka 'as you sow so shall you reap'.

Will he then agree that it's possible that slavery was 'chickens coming home to roost' for some Black Africans? Or the Holocaust was the Jew's "chickens coming home to roost"?

It would seem that the principle he applies in the case of 911 would apply to slavery and to the Holocaust.

I'm just extending his logic, not saying that I believe any of the chickens coming home to roost.

It's sad to see so many people taking the bait the media lay out for them. The truth is that, if there was a sin committed in relation to Rev. Wright, it was the sin committed by the people who first aired the out-of-context material from a 6-year-old sermon of Wright's that was heard by a congregation that largely had a multi-year history in the context of which to understand what Wright was getting at.
When one hears at least as much of the context as Bill Moyers broadcast during his interview with Wright, one realizes that Wright was seeking to convey the biblical prophetic message in the context of current events. Sadly, I don't believe the Bible truly gives us the language that Jeremiah or Hosea or Amos or the other prophets used when they confronted the kings of their day. My guess is the chroniclers were too embarrassed by it to write such language down. So Wright's offensive language seems over the top, but the biblical prophets certainly didn't mince words, either, when confronting the unjust and egotistical powers of their day.
With today's media spreading 6-year-old sermons around the world instantly - and out of context - we get a much more immediate effect and reaction than any prophet of biblical times ever could hope to get; and yet the primary effect is influenced by the context of the rehearing, not of the original setting, thereby opening the broadcasting up to grave possibilities of distortion.
That said, the politicos who "prooftexted" Wrights words did so, as he properly claimed, with a political agenda, and the media amplified this dishonest agenda through their willingness to repeat it endlessly.
Obama has said - as the article above clearly states - that, though Wright has a right to say what he wishes (which, we must be reminded, has been taken out of context for political purposes), he doesn't represent Obama's thinking; and those who would suggest a guilt by association between Wright and Obama are like my Dad and others in 1960 who claimed that, if Kennedy got into the White House, the Pope would control the country.
Let's open our eyes, people, and realize when nefarious political - and otherwise monied - interests are at work to undermine our democratic process through both political and for-profit media enterprises; let's do our own due diligence to discover what the candidates are all about; and let's vote our consciences for the person who, flawed as we all are, offers us the greatest hope for righting the wrongs of the past and setting us on the path of greatness to which I believe our beleaguered nation longs to return.

I'm trying to understand a few things:

Why can Clinton tell outright lies and nobody is even talking about it, while Obama is being held accountable for something someone else said?

I am very disappointed in Rev. Wright. It does seem like he got a national platform and the narcissim kicked in. Is he trying to sabatoge Obama as some (including Newt Gingrich) believe?

Why is the press more focused on Wright than on the real issues? (OK, that was rhetorical - I know why.) Even though Clinton's pastor publicly supported Rev. Wright and McCain said that Obama shouldn't be held accountable for Wright's comments, people still won't let it go because keeping it stirred up supports their own interests and views (just like the people who keep saying Obama is a Muslim, denies his white heritage, etc.).

Note to those who keep arguing the validity of Wright's original 9/11 survey: either watch the entire sermon and get the proper perspective (or at least watch the WTTW interview) or stop flapping your lips about things you don't understand. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

God forbid if something that the Reverend Wright said would ever be "taken out of context". The damn America / anti-Zionist section of his rant would seemingly be clear enough to someone like me, however.

Neither do I see articulation as an adjective that would apply here. Neither does this guy appear to be smart enough to just go away. He is still promoting his Tuskegee Study storyline that he very inaccurately presented in his church soliloquy.

We, his detractors, should give him credit however, for this stumbling discovery with respect to right-brained vs. left-brained people. Right-brained people are generally characterized by: feelings, images, symbols, imagination, FANTASY, impetuousness, etc. Left-brained people are generally characterized by: logic, ordered patterns, object identification, facts, details, REALITY, practicality, etc.

Most people probably tend to be more right-brained than left. Am not condemning right-brained people, a choir grouping that I am not a part of, but it is always a good thing to know when u are out of your league. This guy is not nearly that smart.

The Great Obama will wear himself out if he chooses to defend the Reverend Wright's persistently asinine statements. What an evil genius Karl Rove is.

Truly yours, Left-Brained at the 29th Parallel,

I still do not see how anyone is offended by what Wright has said. He has made accusations against the governent, but nothing un-patriotic. What exactly did he say that people take such issue with?

BK,

It is the "blinders". White privilege allows some the luxury of seeing the world through only their narrow perspective while refusing to acknowledge the realities outside their direct line of vision. It isn't their fault and I don't blame them. Ignorance IS bliss. I don't have that luxury. Despite the level of education, professional success, etc., that we achieve, we still have the same common experiences of racism that they just can't understand. They've never been told be a cab driver that he won't take them home because they live on the south side. They've never been followed around in stores under suspect of being a potential thief. They've never been pulled over, not for speeding, but for "driving while black." They've never been hurt be being called a "n***r" while walking through a suburban mall. I have white friends who have shared some of the even uglier things said about black people behind our backs. We have a reason to be frustrated. These are the realities that African-Americans deal with every day, and other minorities experience similar things. We're supposed to just "get over" slavery, lynchings, Jim Crow, racism,etc., but they can't get over a comment made by a fiery & frustrated minister. I totally understood Rev. Wright's comments as not being un-American, even with just the sound byte. It wasn't anti-American sentiment; it was a call to look in the mirror and fix what is broken. We have done some terrible things to people in our country and to people of other countries. But, it is their world and they don't really have to understand. It must be nice to have that luxury.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Rev. Wright... yes, the truth shall, indeed, set us free. Obama CHOSE that church; he was fully aware of their ideology. His joining (and remaining in attendance for TWENTY YEARS) was part of his overall strategy, like his decision to refer to himself as 'Barack' instead of 'Barry'. You see, 'Barry' had a little problem in that he just wasn't 'black' enough. His actions were part of a calculated effort to woo the black community. And now it's all coming back to bite him in the butt. Bottom line? Our actions define us. Period.

ENOUGH ALREADY:

ENOUGH ALREADY!

Donna,

His NAME is Barack, not Barry. Why on earth do you think he should call himself Barry? I think it is an insult to give someone a nickname just because you like it better and expect them to embrace it. Your comment was pretty shallow. My first day of work in Corporate America, I was asked for a nickname that they could use. I responded that I wanted to be called by my name. What is that about?

Also, I don't agree with everything my pastor says, but I'd be church hopping the rest of my life if I left a church every time a minister said something I didn't like or agree with. Eat the fish and spit out the bones!

Looking in the mirror often makes people uncomfortable. But, covering up one's reflection doesn't change what is really there. Take a look, America, and come to grips with who we really are. Only then will we not have to deal with the petty bickering that is going on right here.