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 feel this is so shameful for Obama
Shame on you
First of all a man running for president should be about supporting Americans
and America. This is what the job of president is about.
I would have expected a man like Obama to belong to a church that preached to both Blacks and whites alike. Speaking of love to ALL mankind not just to one race.
But I can not support a man who is raising his children solely in a black church teaching and using such words as the N word. In any kind of reference. To teach hate. Teaching Anti-American
How do you teach your children or your country not to see color when you go to a place every week that the teaching is all about one color one race
I supported Obama because I thought he was above the typical statements of White are holding back the blacks, I thought he could help the blacks in this country to let go of that way of thinking and work towards a united way of thinking and living for us all.
By him belonging to this type of church it conveys to the world “I will take care of my people” (meaning blacks) That is not Unity
I was wrong and shame on him for trying to con us.
I just wished we could start the primary’s over…
The congration in these videos seemed very happy with the sermon.
Obama is a liar.
I DON’T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE WILL BELIEVE THAT THROUGHOUT ALL THE YEARS OBAMA’S STATEMENT COULD BE TRUE! HE HIMSELF COMMENTED THAT HE CONSULTED WITH REV. WRIGHT BEFORE HIS CAMPAIGN AND PRAYED PRIVATELY WITH HIM. YOU DON’T GET TO TURN AROUND AND SAY I NEVER “PERSONALLY” HEARD HIM. EVEN IF HE DIDN’T HEAR REV. WRIGHT SAY THESE WORDS, IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT MR. BARAK DIDN’T KNOW THE PERSONALITY OF HIS CHURCH BASED ON HIS VERY VOCAL PREACHER.
How can anyone believe his comments condemning this pastor after his NAFDA incident? He will say anything. If you attend a church for 20 years, you know your pastor. As for this so called church, a church is a public place to worship G_D, it is not a place for a political agenda.
Anyone who would believe that Obama could spend 20 YEARS as a member of that church, with the pastor being a personal FRIEND of the family, and NEVER hear or witness any of the of the pastor’s anti-American and racist views must sit up late with a camera, on Dec 24th, waiting to catch Santa Claus coming down the chimney.
I am sure Obama and his family not only attended Sunday services but also during the week as well as participating in church activities. 20 years is long time. I heard Mr. Wright’s teachings in what Mrs. Michelle Obama had said, that this is the first time she has have ever been proud to be an American. I hear it Obama when he speaks of Mr. Wright’s teachings about Jesus and caring for the poor and for justice. I do not hear love, but hate and separation that are deeply rooted.
It is amazing to me that Mr. Obama’s pastor, who is so well schooled, and highly considered, would make such an attach on America when it would be obvious that the is watching.
Is he Obama talking to America like one of his staff talked to someone
in the Canadian government/ about not REALLY going to change NAFTA…
Humm I wonder…
We need to spend more time talking about important issues concerning our country…..People are losing there lives, homes and frustrated with this diversion of attention about this highly opinionated preacher…….We want to hear more about how these candidates can best introduce solutions on this dying economy……..This has been “PLAYED OUT” and blown out of proportion. Are we going to continue to ride this out so Clinton and McCain get a upper hand on someone who is HONEST and SINCERELY DEDICATED TO THEIR WORK.
Americans are being short changed by this “smoke screen”.
Obama says,
“They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.”
He doesn’t love the USA if he will not wear a lapel pin with the flag , or place his hand over his heart and pledge allegience to our flag.
I also find her hard to believe that in 20 years of membership of Rev. Wright’s church he has never heard him speak in this manner before.
Also I wonder what he is saying out the other side of his mouth because I remember what he said to the gays about how he might same some things that would seem like he might be against ’same sex marriage’ and other gay issues but that actually he would always support them and their issue.