RAW DATA: Obama’s Statement Condemning His Pastor’s Controversial Sermons
The following statement was released by the Barack Obama campaign Friday in response to criticism over sermons delivered by his pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.:
On My Faith and My Church
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.
Because these particular statements by Rev. Wright are so contrary to my own life and beliefs, a number of people have legitimately raised questions about the nature of my relationship with Rev. Wright and my membership in the church. Let me therefore provide some context.
As I have written about in my books, I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago. He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It’s a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS.
Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he’s been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.
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.
With Rev. Wright’s retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good. And while Rev. Wright’s statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States.
I am very personally upset with the comments made by Rev. Wright. It’s one thing to bad mouth the administration who sits in Washington, but another to disrespect your country, where you live, where you enjoy the freedoms it renders and all the other great advantages of being an American. It disturbs me greatly that a senator of the United States could ever sit and listen to this type of anti-American and racist comments by a spiritual leader. We do not really know Barack Obama, because no one, not even the media, have had the courage to ask the hard questions. Every one is caught up in the “star” deal. We need to ask the hard questions and weigh our decision as to who will lead our country.
I decided to wait until the smoke clears. I think it has. Go folks of America, listen, this is not a time to go backward. Jeremiah Wright is one person who has made some very hateful and sad statement regarding our country. Let stand together and denounce his words. Now for Sen, Obama, he is a member who at the leading of God cannot just walk way from his church. Many years I have sat through some God awful sermons with hidden racism, I prayed and prayed and asked God for guidance, it wasn’t until last year (after 16 years of faithful service) my prayers were answerd. I left my church for another and have found peace. America, let not be too crictical of Sen Obama as to why he stayed, that is between hom and God. The bible gives us the right to judge, but ith righteous judgement. When the towers fell Pasor Hagee and Pastor Robertson critized the American goverment. Lets not let RACE be a dividing factor that we cannont turn the pages of history for our children. I read Sen Obama speech on race and I appauld him for reviewing our country to us in broad open media. America, I pray for healing as we move past this unfortunate time.
Rumor mongering, speculation and assumptions is most of what I’ve read in these comments. On the bases of these statements it appears that if any of the writers have attended church in their lifetime they too missed the sermons regarding “The Wagging Tongue”, “Gossiping” and especially “Baring False Witness”.
One theme seems to be true, that as adults we forget when judging others that we are also judged by the company we keep; whether we are in league with them or not. I will say this, I have some very close friends that upon hearing something that they’ve done, I’ve gone from mildly to wildly shocked and I am almost never with their program on the matter.
And by the way, my pastor too has private thoughts, that come to light every now and then, that I don’t agree with, only difference is I get to go to my pastor and tell him I don’t agree; I don’t have to tell the whole world.
“The truth shall set you free.” Once again we are subjected to a master wordsmith who professes to understand that “words mean something.” One does not have to be a rocket sciientist to logically discount the truthfullness of “the man who would be king” after he tells us that for some 20 years he has worshiped at the feet of the Pastor Wright and had never ever heard such “vitrol” ever. Senator Obama has put forth the persona of an intelligent charmistic well versed politician and yet in the same breth ask us to believe he has the intellect to lead our country in its times of grave peril. Truth be known, his utterances are those of an intellect that bellieves it is his right to sway his fellow man to “do as I say, not as I do.” There are already some 535 such mind sets occupying offices of our federal government. We certainly do not need one headidng our government. lee
AH AH! here the long avaited truth
america’s army created it.
Dear Senator Obama
I have read your book Dreams from my Father [I actually bought the book so I can read up more] and I have now studied your anguished plea in these columns.
But I have also read all Comments previously addressed to you in these columns. I am pleased that you at last answered the questions about your Faith, but again, none of the many other questions posed to you.
Like, for instance, is the Kenyan Rebel Leader your cousin or is he not. I could answer any question like that about my cousins or brothers or any family with a simple Yes or No. Just tell us in this manner: Is that man your Cousin or is he not: just Yes or No will suffice Senator.
Regret to say though, you are lying to the Nation once more in your plea about Rev Wright. Why Senator, why don’t you come out with the truth?
A President must not be a Liar, Senator. You should know that!
I am African American and I feel that Mr. Obama does not share his pasyor’s opinion. The question that should be asked, does black american churches and people feel simularly to Obama’s pastor? Fox will be alarmed that over 70% do. I have heard these views from many chuches that feel this way. America needs to undestand self awaresness amongist black is not racism. African Americans does not hate America but dislike how it is run and how it negatively affects us. I feel that Senator Obama’s message of hope and change represents the newer generation,that allowing poverty sticken people whatever color you are will not by hendered by old politics. Senator Obama belives that this war should not have been fought and it is driven by wealthy buisnesses that is connected to policticians. To my understanding, Senator Obama feels that millions should be spent on educating Americans so that we do not loose more jobs to out-sourcing instead of this war.