Obama Denounces His Minister's Controversial Remarks

First, former vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro stepped down from Hillary Clinton's campaign over her remarks about Barack Obama. Now, with Obama's campaign facing an outcry over inflammatory remarks by his minister, Obama said, “I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue," and by evening, Wright had left the campaign (he had been on the African American Religious Leadership Committee).

Obama is close to Reverend Jeremiah Wright of the Trinity United Church of Christ. However, an ABC News report (video above) reviewed some of Wright's sermons and found one where he said, "Barack knows what it means, living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people. Hillary can never know that. Hillary ain’t never been called a [N-word]!” And then there's a sermon he made on September 16, 2001:

We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye. We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost.

In the same sermon, he later said, “No, no, no, not God bless America — God damn America!”

Yesterday, Obama wrote a lengthy essay for The Huffington Post, "I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies...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."

Obama also wrote he was not leaving the congregation, noting Wright's imminent retirement and his own strong ties to the church (Wright married Obama and his wife, baptized his daughters, and gave a sermon that inspired the name of Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope). He told news organizations had he heard these sermons earlier, he might have left the church, but also emphasized that Wright is like an uncle to him.

Hoping that the Wright issue is behind him, Obama is now revealing that his embattled fundraiser Tony Rezko actually raised $250,000 for his previous campaigns, much more than previously thought.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 15, 2008 10:00 AM

Comments [rss]

riceball246

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWVa-XxHzHg

riceball246

I think I'm gay for Obama.

MisterTissue

Boy...it's scary when black people yell, huh?

This is a non-issue. Not to mention the fact that I keep seeing the same segments from the same sermons from five and seven years AGO! How is this an issue other than white folks are easily scared by black folks who seem angry...

The accusations of Wright's supposed racism are squarely rooted in the acusers' prejudices.

VanessaNYC

fortheartz,

Thank you for the link. I just finished browsing the site. I couldn't find anything racist.

I don't equate black pride as racism and I find it odd that others do. I'm a feminist, but I love my father, my husband, my male friends.

I really don't see the issue here.

Peace.

Obama '08

gcouncil

Racism is racism and should not be tolerated by ANYONE.

I have a HUGE problem with the incredible latitude the press and everyone one else gives certain black politician and celebrities.

'Apparent' is right when he/she said that if a white candidate had been connected in the same manner as Obama, their goose would not only be cooked but served with healthy portion of stuffing and mash.

It's absolutely ludicrous that this is just now being addressed by the press, let alone Obama and his campaign.

Karen

I think the guy hit the nail on the head. We are responsible for the increase in terrorism, the increase in oil and gas prices, the economy failing...I don't go around asking God to damn someone or an entire country, so would disagree with the minister on that one, but as for the rest..I like the guy.

Too bad Obama hasn't got the guts to say as much.

JacqueMehoff

how is this any difference than what comes out of conservative radio, publications and various religious supporters?

if anything, the conservatives always has the most colorful language to describe people or ideas they hate.

another pissing match. McCain has his loose lip supporters, too.

babyhitler

god damn america! LOL, the republicans are just waiting for Obama to beat Hilary so they can show Obama's trusted minister say this 24 hours a day. Obama is done. and so is the democratic party. The reverend is Obama's Kristen.

fortheartz

Vanessa and everyone else, click on the Trinity United Church of Christ link, www.tucc.org, and read just how racist this church is and remember Barack Obama has been a member for 20 years. It has nothing to do with nasty politics, or a minister that is "like an old Uncle", it's reality. PLEASE CHECK IT OUT and be totally informed when you cast your vote in November.

Goomba

Yo matty! Oprah is a puttana. Oprah gave us that mamaluke Dr. Phil. You think that puttana has good judgement? You a stoonad or something?

babyhitler

I don't understand how Obama can be a god fearing christian if he was raised in a muslim society by an atheist mother. Does not compute. Hey democratic party, smell that? That's your party torn in two by a civil war.

apparent

If a campaigning white politician belonged to church where the pastor preached very far right wing based sermons and conferred upon David Duke the Man of the Year Award while traveling to greet certain racist Serbian leaders just how long do you think that campaign would last? Reverend Jeremiah Wright is not only a racist but is so anti-American it is absurd that a future US President sits in his church. Telling his church that the US spreads AIDS in black communities and 9/11 was 'US chickens coming home to roost' should have been enough for Obama to turn in his membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ. Obama's clear reluctance to emphatically denounce the racism of his pastor inside of calling him an 'uncle' can only be explained in two ways. First, he agrees or at least sees a good measure of 'truth' in the remarks or just does not want to be seen 'dissing' a fellow black. Either way it is a poor excuse for someone running for the US Presidency.

Art Stewel

He has denounced the pastor after 20 years in that church yet considers the pastor an Uncle and never directly heard him make objectionable comments. What a crock. His true colors are shining through. Obama, is a politician. He is no different than any of them.

matty

Hey a goomba, you're a brains are a made out of a pasta pazool!

Goomba

Obama is just a big jamook. That puttana Oprah loves him so he is shit.

berniegoetz

I wonder if this guy goes to the same church...

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

MFer

I want a president that says fuck you to Billy Graham and shut up to Oprah. I want an atheist president. Obama may be our best bet. But his religiosity, feigned or not, irks me. Hillary too. But W is the worst. All religions suck ass.

ptwnbkr

yeah, at least he did not make nasty, mud-slinging remarks about the opposing candidate or their associates (as far as we know). sure, he may be seen as flinging "mud" at america, but i am guessing he is american too which means that in a sense he is including himself (and obama) as opposed to attacking a group to which he does not belong or have any clue about.

that said, i gotta admit that i actually can agree to some extent with some of what he says. he sure is not the first to say them, but i gotta love the "no, no, no, not......" phrase!! how long 'til that is seen on a t-shirt or poster (busted t's?)?

r_friend

I see we've reached the "Let's Parade Out the Wacky Supporting Characters Who Make Controversial Remarks" phase of both candidates' campaigns.

VanessaNYC

I apologize. I didn't realize that this man was part of the Obama campaign. That does make a difference. I'm glad to hear that Obama denounced his comments.