Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama issued a statement on Friday regarding Rev. Jeremiah Wright's racist and anti-American comments, and amazingly published his response to the rising controversy at the far-left, Bush-hating -- and oftentimes vulgarity laden -- Huffington Post.
I kid you not.
As my colleague Mark Finkelstein reported Thursday, Obama's spiritual leader for the past 20 years has encouraged his congregation to sing "God Damn America," stated from the pulpit that our nation is the "U.S of KKK A," and declared that America deserved to be attacked on 9/11.
On Friday, Obama tried to distance himself from these abominations:
The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He's drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.
Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.
[...]
The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.
Let me repeat what I've said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.
It seems highly doubtful that this statement will end the controversy, although it will be interesting to see how the mainstream press cover this issue in the coming days.
However, isn't it curious that Obama chose to first publish this at a liberal blog? What was the calculus behind this decision, and will media explore this side of the story?
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
And guess what's
March 14, 2008 - 18:56 ET by motherbeltAnd guess what's missing?
A commitment to remove him from his campaign.
Bill Shaheen had to go, for implying that Republicans would use Obama's admitted drug use against him.
Geraldine Ferraro had to go, because she said Obama was in the catbird's seat because of race.
Other campaign workers got tossed overboard.
But not Obama's........
Hussein can't go there mother
March 14, 2008 - 19:08 ET by acumenRemoving the black sabbath preacher from his campaign would be tantamount to Hussein implying Wright was actively involved to some degree in Hussein's campaign. Hussein can't go there.
The fact he was married by this hate-monger, his children were baptised by this racist and Hussein has referred to him as his spirtual advisor/mentor is bad enough. Ha, bad vibes....
Acumen, I just read ABC news
March 14, 2008 - 19:28 ET by exLibI just read the copy at all the main sites, ABC, CBS, and MessNBC and they all have basically the same story.
In it, the story only dates one quote from just after 9/11, the other quotes were "at Christmas" but doesn't say, "last christmas" and somewhere in the piece it says the comments were all made 7 years ago.
The story is very sly in implying that these were not the norm for the church, and they were also old quotes, nothing new, or current and that this guy Wright was some transient at the church, a "retired' minister.
The negative parts of the story were all quotes from a "Conservative" at Newsmax.com, not "objective" parts of the story.
Oh, I see....it's the old
March 14, 2008 - 19:33 ET by motherbeltOh, I see....it's the old Democrat "statute of limitations" play....
Old news!! Irrelevant!! Move on!!
No, it's those self-righteous SWIFT BOATERS!
March 14, 2008 - 19:35 ET by PawpawNNo, it's those self-righteous SWIFT BOATERS! They're out to sink BHO just like the JFK 2!!
Ha Paw
March 14, 2008 - 19:48 ET by acumenOr maybe the wrong-rev Wright is a Hillary plant.
This dem primary is a circus...
This just in-Kennedy drops his load in Nantucket!
March 14, 2008 - 19:50 ET by PawpawNOil slick caused by TEDDY! Read all about it! http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Kennedy_polluter/2008/03/14/80443.html
Interesting exLib
March 14, 2008 - 19:44 ET by acumenWho wudda thunk?
I've been reading about Hussein's parents/childhood lately - disfunctional much? Man what a strange bunch. I have so much I would like to say about his parents but seeing how they are both deceased I'm not going to get into that in any depth. But it's got to make you wonder about Hussein's character (or lack of) formation.
And that was so long ago...yada, yada...
Who cares about his Character Acu?
March 14, 2008 - 20:45 ET by exLibThat was so 1960.
No adays the content of Character is NOT how one is to be judged. You should be judged acording to the content of your policies and rhetoric.
If you say "hope", "change", "Gov't Broken I Fix", "Bush ruined America", "Free" health care. Who cares about what your life is based around.
Besides, ISSUES, Can't we talk about ISSUES?
WRIGHT LEAVES OBAMA
March 15, 2008 - 06:31 ET by motherbeltWRIGHT LEAVES OBAMA CAMPAIGN
Update Saturday 0730
Apparently at 9 PM last night, the Reverend left the Obama campaign.
The idea to put this out
March 14, 2008 - 19:02 ET by bigtimerThe idea to put this out on HuffnPuff was a pure far leftist motive but stupid IMO, the hope that this will go away by Monday is what he's aiming for by doing this on a late Friday afternoon, thinking these words will do the trick in a pinch, which they won't.
People are going to be looking for proof that he was never at any of these sermons of Wright's high and low...nobody with a brain is going to believe all of this tripe that he hasn't heard of any of Wright's hate-filled racist speeches, the way Wright thinks ect...he stayed there twenty years for heaven's sake, his children baptized, the Obama's married there....he can run but he can't hide.
This is not over by any means....as much as the leftist msm want it to be...he is/was their new leader, they thought they had gotten rid of the grip from the Clinton machine...they will still protect this man in sheeps clothing with everything they have until the end.
But more than anything he did not say he was going to let Wright go as an religious adviser on his team...something is wrong with this picture....
Guess he is going to be on a few Fox shows and on Olbermann...going to be interesting.
bt.. and now he's..
March 14, 2008 - 19:44 ET by Gary Hallbt.. and now he's.. going to need to issue a statement distancing himself from the Huffington Post and all of the radical hate mongering on that site. (;~/ gh
GaryH...Olbie/Olbermann show
March 14, 2008 - 20:04 ET by bigtimerGaryH...
LOL, I didn't even bother reading the comments at HuffnPuff, makes me too mad.
I just got done listening to him on Olbermann...he is not the same, attitude adjustment is what has happened to him, I am quite sure they will have a blogpost here about this so I don't want to go on to long, but the one thing that cracked me up is he refused to repudiate Wright.
When Olbie asked if he had left the campaign, which Olbie said he has now, the way Obama put it was interesting, he said he was on a sabbatical and he has stepped out of the spotlight.
Of course Olbie doesn't ask well does that mean he is done with your campaign in all areas and capacities...which is the first thing a good reporter would want to clarify, of course we are talking about Olbermann here.
Nevertheless, him saying he has stepped out of the spotlight is not exactly saying he is no longer in any way, shape, or form going to be aiding in my campaign...just stepped out of the spotlight.
Of course 527's came up, then he also said he does not recall...recall...a fav with the politicians, he didn't recall hearing anything inflammatory while he was in the pew from Wright...
Well, we all know there is most likely going to be audio and video somewhere...what is he going to say if he is present in one of them...I was sleeping?
I just wanted to put this out there for now...he is supposedly going to be on with Major Garrett on H&C..got to get for a bit.
bt... I prefer
March 14, 2008 - 20:06 ET by Gary HallOlbiedog.
arf
bt, I agree.
March 14, 2008 - 20:36 ET by R D HelmObama's running to the Huff Post was a show of cowardice. He should have called a press conference and faced the music. I would have respected him more had he done so. Now I have lost what respect I had for the man.
As to his judgment, or lack thereof, why would someone seeking national political office remain involved in a "church" such as his? For all of his education and alleged intelligence, did he really somehow think this would never become an issue?
LOL-And, like you, I cannot even venture into that site, or any other of the far left blogs, as my blood pressure reaches stroke levels before the first page even loads.
Theme for Election '08: I want my mommy!
No coup for you
March 14, 2008 - 19:02 ET by acumen"....isn't it curious that Obama chose to first publish this at a liberal blog?"
I guess the Peoples Weekly World doesn't do mea culpas.
So let me get this straight...
March 14, 2008 - 19:17 ET by aeroveloObama, the man who could very well have been the next president sat in the pew every Sunday and listend to this guy say this crap and didnt stand up and heckle him at least? For 20 years Obama let this guy go on and on about how racist, how evil and how corrupt America is and then thinks hes going to run for president??
Either he is seriously dillusional or he is on hell of a con man. Im sorry, but if I were going to run for president...if I ever even remotely aspired to that office, I would NEVER, EVER find myself associated with that noise...not for one day even.
So, Im sorry Obama, but thats just too close to home. I dont care what black churches do in their own walls or what they think of whites for that matter.
But there is NO WAY this man will become president now.
He is toast. Pure and simple.
--
Ask yourself: Do I want a good paying job, or do I want a government hand out. Its that simple!
BT - First there was
March 15, 2008 - 08:29 ET by Gat New YorkBT - First there was Samantha Powers and now Wright. Why were these people ever advisors to Obama in the first place?
The truth is these so-called firings are window dressing to get him elected. I have no doubt that both will be highly influential in a President Hussein Obama administration.
Very Calculated I think
March 14, 2008 - 19:09 ET by exLib#1 Refuse to do a Debate on Fox thereby marginalizing their potentially "tough" questions.
# 2 Go to Far-Left-leaning sources to give "exclusive" interviews thereby getting no tough questions and mostly positive press and blog comments.
I haven't seen anyone here comment on one of the most striking exihibts of Media Bias.
The Media Hardly Reported this story for over a year, yet as soon as Obama "apologizes" and "Distances" himself he's front page as "having dealt with the situation".
I love the question on ABC or CBS.com website; "How come this comes out now?" Like, we thought this shouldn't matter so why now? Like, we didn't do our jobs for a year, why are we getting called out on the carpet now? Because Rush, Hannity and O'Reilly still are relevant?
Obama's spiritual leader
March 14, 2008 - 19:18 ET by pices312I know that if this was the Clinton's spiritual advisor there would be calls for her to be flogged in the Rotunda.
I am listening to him , Obama, defending him, Rev Wright, as having had a 40 year ministry. Keith asks if he will repudiate the man and Obama responds "No, I will not repudiate the man...".
This is the same man that says not God Bless America, God Damn America. Obama will rue the day he did not repudiate the man.
We can only Hope
March 14, 2008 - 19:21 ET by exLibWell, Obama may be making the first "mistake" of his campaign for underestimating how much the Media is in the tank for him
OR
He could be very shrewd and we may all realize how much the media really is in the tank for him.
We have commented on
March 14, 2008 - 19:24 ET by motherbeltWe have commented on that... you might have missed it. Early this AM I commented on Mika B on Morning Joe wanting to know "where this is coming from" and saying Obama dealt with this a year ago, and we should move on.
Others had comments too....you must have slept in and missed it. LOL
Well, the threads move along and get bumped down pretty quickly some days.
Funny!
March 14, 2008 - 19:12 ET by ArcherBWhat about the ones that are NOT part of the controversy... YET?
Or, in other words, "If it hurts my campaign, I condemn it."
"To send men to the firing squad, judicial proof is unnecessary." Ernesto "Che" Guevara
A web of deceipt, I'm afraid
March 14, 2008 - 19:14 ET by ThisnThat"The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation".
Uh-oh, I don't think this one has the distance. He's left himself wide open on this one. What a rookie. This stretches credibility. Will the MSM play this one out? Don't bet on it.
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Are all the tapes of his sermons available?
March 14, 2008 - 19:16 ET by PawpawNHope all of the tapes are available, then everyone can see exactly what he preaches each week. Go to the website and read Mission Statement and info there. Probably all tapes and archives now deleted! How often does Mr BHO go to the church? Can it be verified if he was there or not on this date? Did he view this prior to this week? If so, why not repudiate sooner? Many, many unanswered questions that the MSM will never ask!!
If Obama is as smart as everyone thinks
March 14, 2008 - 19:23 ET by exLib.. Then he probably gets a phone call Saturday by Rev Wright and he says Barrack, don't come to church tomorrow I'm letting one loose, but don't worry I'll send you the tape, he, he.
(as he laughs slyly).
i don't know about Barak
March 14, 2008 - 19:23 ET bybut Michelle has been paying attention in church
"Man created god(s) Anything believed was created by man"----Syrius
Damn Skippy!
March 14, 2008 - 19:25 ET by motherbeltYou got that right, botg... LOL!!
Skippy?
March 14, 2008 - 19:32 ET bySkippy?
I've got news for Obama
March 14, 2008 - 19:35 ET by Tom1969caIf the pastor at my church routinely preached sermons like that, I wouldn't "personally hear him preach while I sat in the pews" ever again. I'd be looking for a new church ... preferably one that preaches the Gospel of Christ.
~~~
I admire FDR for not insisting on getting the approval of France and Germany before going to war.
--Anne Coulter
Trivia
March 14, 2008 - 19:36 ET by acumenTrivia -- Obama’s great-great-great-great grandfather, George Washington Overall, had two slaves according to the 1850 census.
So I guess when Rev. Wright was railing against American slave-owners he was in fact condemning Obama's family. Yet this was Obama's spiritual advisor/mentor? This keeps getting wierder and wierder...
Speaking of wierder, search Obama's mother RIP (first name Stanley - I kid you not) and father RIP bio. Not your typical Ozzie and Harriet Nelson kind of folks.
It does NOT matter Obama . . the power of Talk Radio has
March 14, 2008 - 19:43 ET by JayTeeThe Power of Talk Radio has put the Public (several Million) in the Pews at your Church, listening quietly to the G.D. Pastor, whom I shall refer to as Malcomn "Y", becasue the dude is a letter above the Malcomn "X" guy.
It does not matter the the MSM has announced that Wright is taking a 2 week vacation, and then a 3 months MIA leave, and his NEXT possible news conference will be AFTER the Aug. Convention.
It does NOT matter that you are sorta/maybe/somewhat distancing yourself from your "Spiritual Leader".
YOU need to tell us on what Subjects you DO agree with when Pastor Wright speaks. . . . from whence does thou Spiritual inspiration arrive ?
A Spiritual Leader does something to obtain leadership ownership over your life. There has to be some connnection. . .
What was it ? Inquiring minds wanna know.
Hillary ? Where are you ? Jump in here Woman . . .
Two observations here:
March 14, 2008 - 20:21 ET by R D Helm1) Whoever advised Obama to run to the Huff 'n Puffs with what has to be one of the squirmiest "explanations" this side of the Clinton War Room, gave Obama some very bad advice.
2) Obama has handled this whole thing very badly from the start. His refusal, even now, to remove the "Rev." Wright from any role in his campaign shows extemely poor judgment on his part.
Theme for Election '08: I want my mommy!
Rev Wright gone now-just announced!
March 14, 2008 - 20:41 ET by PawpawNRev Wright gone now-just announced!
paw -- Gone where?
March 14, 2008 - 20:44 ET by Jack BauerGone where? To hell? To Libya?
Jack
March 14, 2008 - 21:17 ET byredundant
"Man created god(s) Anything believed was created by man"----Syrius
PawpawN, it's too late. Obama is through.
March 14, 2008 - 20:49 ET by R D HelmIt's too bad, really, because I really thought he was running a pretty good campaign until this came along.
Theme for Election '08: I want my mommy!
His campaign is over
March 14, 2008 - 20:23 ET by nwahsObama has been a member of a "church" dedicated to racism and hatred for America for 20 years. The "Wilder effect" is blown out of the water. It is impossible for Obama to be elected.
The real story is how disgustingly anti-American the media is to serve up this person as a Presidential candidate, how corrupt they are to actively manipulate the American public to accept an anti-American candidate for President of the United States.
Shawn backwards . . Agree
March 14, 2008 - 20:30 ET by JayTeeThis is bigger than anything on the Democratic Ticket. The G.D. 800 lb Gorilla in the Room cannot be covered up.
The MSM risks being thought of as fools, unless they go with the story that's already out there. Democrats in the Privacy of the Voting Booth will pull the wrong lever....
Watch the Pennsylvania vote, it will tell a tale in 5 weeks.
The statements that Rev.
March 14, 2008 - 20:35 ET by Jack BauerNow that sounds like a flat out untruth. I just don't believe it.
Senator Obama seriously expects us to buy that?
It just so happens the only hate preach rants made by Jeremiah X. in the 20 years Obama has been a member of the church, were all videod.
Wow. What a coincidence. And what a coincidence that he was not there either.
Come on Barack. Mind you, the Obamaniacs will believe anything so he may get away with it.
Kudos the Sean Hannity though. He has been after this like a dog with a bone for months, all but ignored by everyone. Including most other Foxbots like O'Reilly.
In fact, earlier this week when Hannity was going on for the umpteenth time, I was getting really bored and wishing he'd just drop it. How wrong was I now it's starting to ignite.
This is so fun to watch
March 14, 2008 - 20:41 ET by yruymiAmerica is being treated to a spectacle. The implosion, the self-destruction of the Democratic Party is divine to witness. How perfect that the heiress Clinton has been denied inevitability by a silver-tongued man of color who associates with anti-american radicals such as his pastor and The Weathermen.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any better.
After twenty years, he just
March 14, 2008 - 20:46 ET by jpm100After twenty years, he just noticed now?
Some members of the MSM look
March 14, 2008 - 20:49 ET by AntiMediaSome members of the MSM look like they are going to throw up while reporting this story.
This just keeps getting
March 14, 2008 - 20:50 ET by rbosqueThis just keeps getting better and better! What a 'rat soap opera!
The spin coming from Obama on this...
March 14, 2008 - 21:28 ET by PrairieSkyis astonishing...I don't for one minute buy this garbage about how he so strongly decries and rejects these racist, anti-American, and anti-semitic statements made by this nut-case minister, Wright. Obama has been a member of this church for 20 years, the whole time which Wright has been the pastor. Wright's attitudes and comments are so inflammatory and disgusting, that if Obama truly felt repulsed, as he now says, by what was said, he should have denounced them then and there, and left the church. I have been in a similar, though much less serious, situation. The church that I attend had a priest who had been there for some 20 odd years. Following the start of the Iraq war, he began a fairly subtle, at first, commentary from time to time, which was obviously intended to slam President Bush, the reasons for war and to a lesser extent, the military. Being a family with a strong (and long) military history, at first my family and I ignored this, knowing that this priest was a Democrat, and we figured that he would get it off his chest, and that would be that. Wrong! As the months went by, this pattern of political pontificating from the pulpit continued and became more pronounced. Others in the parish began to talk about it, and we started to notice that attendance at Mass was declining. Finally, we virtually stopped attending this church. Eventually this priest retired, and a new priest was assigned to the parish, who fortunately feels that a church service is NOT the place for politics. So, about this newfound indignation that Obama supposedly feels toward his longtime pastor, advisor and confidant? I don't buy it. I think maybe we are seeing a part of Barack Obama's life that is very, very disturbing, and very, very telling. I have thought for a long time that there is much more to this guy underneath the carefully applied veneer that he covers himself with.
Here here!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 14, 2008 - 21:58 ET by BEGRUNTOutstanding Prairie!! Great observation, couldn't have said it better!!!
"If a man does his best, what else is there"?
General George S. Patton Jr.
re:BEGRUNT
March 14, 2008 - 22:27 ET by PrairieSkyThanks...And I love your quote by Gen. Patton. My family and I are huge admirers of his. Boy, could we use a man like him today!
Makes Perfect Sense
March 14, 2008 - 21:27 ET by rammingspeedThe Huffington Post is among Obama's top supporters. It is a safe harbor for him, a place where he gets to make an "official" denial of the problem without being challenged. The mainstream media would be obliged to rip him, if they did things right, and they can't be in that position because they're busy trying to get Obama elected. There is real bleeding here, and by avoiding the main news outlets, Obama is acknowledging his plight.
Who'd have ever thought this guy would get some of his (liberals) own medicine so quickly, and in such a way that it can't be stepped over.
Good point...
March 14, 2008 - 21:33 ET by PrairieSkyI do think the choice of the Huffington Post is very telling, although Obama did just do a brief interview on Fox News with Major Garrett, during which he stumbled all over himself while trying to keep up with Garrett's very direct questions. It was very interesting to watch.
The way the media covers this is going to write their history
March 14, 2008 - 21:42 ET by nwahsI am so curious as to who in the media will destroy themselves in the futile attemp to silence the "GD America!" comment. You can not wipe away that sound byte. How can the super delegates choose Obama now? You have a former First Lady and a media creation who's self proclaimed mentor is video taped yelling hatefully - "GD AMERICA!"
For any news agency pretending this is not catastrophic to the Obama Presidency, they are only writing their own eulogy. How many times will that hateful comment be played?
GD America. Obama can not be elected now. What is he going to say? "I was for Rev. Wright, but now I'm against him"? He got all over Clinton for her error in judgement after only a brief time to look at the issue. Obama had TWENTY YEARS to study Wright.
Suddenly his stellar judgement on the value and need of the Iraq war is cast in a new light. Maybe Obama is anti-American? Is that possible?
oops wrong place!
March 15, 2008 - 06:14 ET by motherbeltoops wrong place!
He distanced himself from
March 14, 2008 - 21:50 ET by JerryHe distanced himself from the reverend's statements at HuffPo??? Aren't these the very people who have the same world view as the reverend... America is a country of racist terrorists who deserved 9/11... the reverend probably pilfered that sermon from a HuffPo blog.
And it sounds like he is using the Al Gore "Iced Tea" defense. "Every time the reverend was controversial, I wasn't there!". Yeah, right.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
I'm sure any newspaper
March 15, 2008 - 06:20 ET by motherbeltI'm sure any newspaper would have given him op-ed space. You gotta wonder why he chose HuffPo...
At first I thought it's because his liberal friends are angry with him. But I can't imagine them getting mad at him for anything, other than defending something any Republican said or did.
So is he supposed to be "brave" for going into the liberal lion's den so to speak?
I have to admit, I'm puzzled by it.
Good catch on the "Iced Tea" defense, I love it!!
Issuing a life or death
March 15, 2008 - 00:05 ET by FairlightIssuing a life or death press release renouncing your racist pastor, that could make or break your political career, on HuffingtonPost is like renouncing bad taste on Rosie.com.
Obama doesn't have a clue what he's doing.
Goodbye adorable Barry. Tell the media hi on the way out.
Isn't gonna matter anyway.
March 15, 2008 - 01:48 ET by wiwfIsn't gonna matter anyway. He'll still see him for spiritual advice when it comes to "ridding this country of slavery."
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
Bye bye Obama
March 15, 2008 - 05:44 ET by Parker1227Is Obama responsible for what Rev. Wright says? No.
But is Obama responsible for supporting this racist Ward Churchill wannabe by staying in his church for 20 years? Yes.
(And exposing his children to this kind of hate and insanity is unforgivable.)