Obama Attempts Damage Control, Fallout Over Pastor’s Sermons Unclear
Barack Obama speaks at a town hall meeting Saturday in Plainfield, Ind., where he addressed controversial sermons by his former pastor. (AP Photo)
The presidential contenders have all had their share of supporters whose insensitive remarks forced the campaigns to issue disavowals. This week, it was Barack Obama’s turn.
After a series of recorded sermons by Obama’s longtime pastor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. sparked controversy over Wright’s fiery views on race, America and the Sept. 11 attacks, Obama responded Friday by firmly repudiating Wrights’ views in lengthy written statement and a round of cable news interviews.
On Saturday at a town hall meeting in Plainfield, Ind., Obama broached the matter with the public, saying they’ve probably heard comments “that were incendiary and that I completely reject.”
The question now is whether Obama’s response worked, and whether his connection to Wright will haunt the Democratic senator’s campaign and dampen his presidential hopes.
Rival Hillary Clinton has not yet drawn political attention to the sermons, and deflected questions Saturday.
“Ask the Obama campaign,” she said to inquiries about Wright.
Pollster Doug Schoen said it’s unlikely the Wright issue will play big in the primary, but that it poses trouble down the road.
“In a Democratic primary this issue has limited viability and utility,” he said. “In a general election, however … I think this could be a real serious problem for Barack Obama.”
Obama tried to put Wright’s sermons in perspective Saturday, saying: “It reminds me that we’ve got a tragic history when it comes to race in this country … But what I continue to believe in is this country wants to move beyond these kinds of divisions.”
In an interview Friday with FOX News, Obama said he personally never had heard the pastor’s controversial comments, though he joined his Trinity United Church of Christ nearly 20 years ago. He said the sermons now sparking controversy didn’t resemble the ones he remembers from Wright, which, Obama said, stuck to messages of faith, values and helping people in the community.
But Obama’s pastor long has been a lightning rod for controversy. For starters, Wright’s relationship with Louis Farrakhan, once described by Obama as a “close” relationship, has been of concern to many in the Jewish community.
And once Wright’s remarks were publicized last year, Obama backed out of plans to have Wright speak at his Feb. 10, 2007, presidential announcement.
Author Larry Elder said he doesn’t buy Obama’s new, firmer denunciation of Wright.
“How can Barack Obama dis-invite him … and now claim he had no idea that Jeremiah Wright made all these incendiary comments? It doesn’t work,” Elder told FOX News.
There’s too many variables on the campaign trail to measure the direct impact on his poll numbers, but pollster Scott Rasmussen pointed out that Saturday’s Rasmussen daily tracking poll showed Obama nearly tied with Hillary Clinton.
“That’s a big drop from Obama’s 8-point lead a day before,” Rasmussen said.
Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for President Bush, suggested that the controversy and the timing of Obama’s disavowal show him to be little more than a shrewd politician.
“I think there’s a reason Republicans I talk to are increasingly looking forward to running against Barack Obama,” Fleischer said.
Wright, who presided over Trinity’s congregation until his retirement earlier this year, officiated Obama’s wedding to Michelle and baptized their two daughters. In Obama’s first book, “Dreams From My Father” from 1995, he writes the pastor had great influence over him in the early 1990s. And it was Wright who delivered a sermon “The Audacity of Hope,” which had such an impact on Obama that he made it the title of his second book, published in 2006. The theme of hope continues to be central to Obama’s surging campaign.
His repudiation of Wright has gradually risen to a crescendo.
Three weeks ago, Obama spoke to the Cleveland Jewish Community Leaders group and was asked about Wright. Obama noted the pastor occasionally was known to “say controversial things,” adding most of those controversial statements were “directed at the African American community.”
Obama assured the Ohio Jewish leaders he never heard anything anti-Semitic, and said “he is like an old uncle who sometimes will say things that I don’t agree with.”
Obama’s camp released a somewhat stronger statement Thursday after FOX News had reported more on Wright’s sermons — in one, he repeatedly said “God damn America,” while in others he blamed the United States for the spread of HIV and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and highlighted what he saw as a racial divide between Obama and Hillary Clinton.
“Senator Obama has said before that he profoundly disagrees with some of the statements and positions of Rev. Wright, who has preached his last sermon as pastor at the church,” Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said. “Senator Obama deplores divisive statements whether they come from his supporters, the supporters of his opponent, talk radio, or anywhere else.”
Then Friday, Obama issued the written statement calling what he’s heard from Wright “inflammatory and appalling.”
Later Friday, Obama told FOX News that he could no longer lay low as he heard more of Wright’s remarks.
“Once I saw them I had to be very clear about the fact that these are not statements that I am comfortable with,” Obama said. “I reject them completely - they are not ones that reflect my values or my ideals or Michelle’s.”
Democratic strategist Tanya Acker said Friday that Obama has nothing to be sorry for, and his campaign is in the clear.
“There’s no basis for attributing those statements to Barack Obama,” she told FOX News. “We don’t play guilt by association here, and it’s not fair.”
Throughout the campaign, candidates seemingly on a weekly basis have had to respond to, denounce and sometimes fire supporters who made offensive comments. Obama’s foreign policy adviser Samantha Power left the campaign after calling Clinton a “monster” in an interview with a Scottish newspaper. Clinton fundraiser Geraldine Ferraro left the campaign’s finance committee after saying much of the attention being paid to Obama’s campaign was because he is black.
And earlier this month, Republican candidate John McCain distanced himself from Iowa Rep. Steve King after King said terrorists would be “dancing in the streets” if Obama were elected.
Obama said Friday the pastor has never been active in his campaign and that he is no longer on his African American Religious Leadership Committee. The campaign said Wright left that unpaid post Friday, without elaborating.
Obama said Friday that with Wright retiring from the pulpit, he doesn’t see an issue with his family remaining in the congregation. Wright delivered his final sermon last month and retired as leader of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
FOX News’ Jeff Goldblatt and Bonney Kapp contributed to this report.
Oh, please,
“If Obama is lying and covering NOW, is it only going to get WORSE after he’s President?
This is the same tactics that President Bush pulled, and is pulling as we speak.
I don’t see CHANGE, I See a REPEAT…even MORE Cunning and DANGEROUS than Bush, as Obama is a CHARMER.
I Hope the Young voting Americans Wake up soon from this trance and SMELL THE COFFEE.” guy from the Internet wrote this, but I agree with him!
T. Barr
Scottsdale, AZ
No gilt by association, really? Isn’t that what the Dems and the media did to Rommney? I have been to many Mormam meeting and have never heard such hateful words coming from any of their leaders mouths.
Obama finally got caught with his hand in the cookie jar , He is not the little quire boy everybody thought he was . You are not goung to tell me that in 20 years Obama did not hear any of those anti-american or racial remarks that the rev. said. I bet if if somebody did some research they would find out that he did hear some of the remarks.
MARION IN KAMUELA HAWAII
It is a shame that someone of the church is filled with so much hate. He preaches hate toward the U.S. and White people (”European Americans”). If my church/preacher had substituted the work Black with White then there would be an outcry from the media, but if you are Black(african-American), then all is forgiven for fear of the all powerful race card and the constant “poor-us…we are so oppressed. I grew up and went to school in a 50/50 Black/white community and black& white had the SAME opportunities. I find it astonishing when being black…you can have black colleges, Black entertainment television, black history month, a quota system for jobs etc…when if there were White entertainment television or White colleges or European American college funds…it would be racist. Wake up America!! It would be nice if we could all be Americans again without the division of where our ancestors originated prior to coming to the U.S. Get a job based on merit and not the color of your skin. Back to Obamas’ preacher…it is apparent he has European blood mixed with his African ancestors, so why does he hate White people? If you are White then you cant voice your opinion….Black is the way to be in society today…I am white and I wish I could clain to be black as Obama does…even though he is 50% white or “European American”
Wright obviously hates America and there is no doubt in my mind that he and Obama are on a “Black Power” kick, All of this remins me of the 1960’s when the name of the game was Black
Power. We now have the same thing, only on a much larger scale. I remember when National Guard Armories, Army armories, R.O.T.C facilities, etc,. were looted and weapons galore stolen. Some of thos weapons were crew served and I wonder where they have been stashed all of these years. Are the Black Power advocates waiting for that big day when they see Obama
sworn in as president. Wake up America - we are confronted with a very serious and dangerous situation. As for Wright….and God Damn America. How about a bucket of tar and a load of feathers.
Obama should be held responsible, If McCain had been sitting up listening to someone speak the same about blacks and the country, or listening to a white racist (and that is all this pastor is) it would show content of charcter of the person hearing it. AND I WOULD WANT TO KNOW!
I bet OAAMA WILL GO AND SIT RITGH BY PASTOR WRIGHT ON EASTER SUNDAY!! OBAMA IS A FAKE AND HE LOVES THAT CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I recall some pretty infamatory remarks recently by Michele Obama who has never been proud of America until her husband was running for president? She was echoing Wright! I don’t buy the Barack comments about not knowing Wright is an America hating preacher. He has been on TV over the past sevral years and the Obama’s have been around him for twenty years? I recall Barack calling him a great spirtual influence? Did Wright preach two different sermons each Sunday? I don’t buy the Obama reasoning on this. Barack the truth will set you free!
Either Barack is lying about his personal knowledge of Wright and is trying to distance himself for his presidential run or Barack is out of touch with with reality. I do not believe he could have been around such a caustic jerk and not know what he preaches or belives. Either way I would never vote for Barack or any other person running for president that hang with America hating KOOKS!
Black people in the United States over a certain age all live with a specific kind of pain. All find different ways to deal with it. Some ways look prettier than this, and some look worse. To all of the commenters here, ask yourself: how much do you really know about this? Really? How much do you really care to know? That pain is part of America’s history. Standing back and calling Wright’s recorded remarks ‘hate-filled’ is lazy. It’s lazy not because it is incorrect (it isn’t; some of the remarks ARE hate-filled); it’s lazy because it is incomplete. Obama’s statement that he strongly condemns Wright’s comments - but will not repudiate the man himself and the totality of his life’s work - is the honorable path. It is also the path that, as is usually the case with Obama, takes the risk of actually trusting the American people to be understanding instead of trying to corral them into believing some particular thing.
There was never any getting around the fact that, to consider Obama for president, America as a whole was going to have to have this encounter, at least peripherally, with the anger that is a real part of the black American experience. Obama, being a man of character, will not attempt to extirpate that aspect of the black experience from reality, because it is reality, and a bigger part of it than many care to admit . There is no ‘transcending race’ without first understanding the real history of race and its social fallout, just as there can be no real hope without a firm grip on reality. Obama has told us clearly, in detailed terms and in great specificity, what he believes. The way America comes to grips with the Pastor Wrights of this country during the course of the campaign will say a lot, but it will say more about America than about Obama.
Thank you and Brian Ross at ABC News for bringing this information to the American people. Sen. Obama has been given a free ride by the news media. The TV reporters and newspaper/magazine writers should apologize to all Americans for failing to earlier investigate Sen. Obama’s past. We know very little about him.
Sen. Obama must explain why he and his wife have listened to this pastor for 20 years. Jeremiah Wright preaches hatred and racism. His attitude is that America is to blame for everything.
I would never listen to a pastor like Jeremiah Wright. Certainly not for 20 years. I would not be married by this pastor or let my children be indoctrinated with such hatred or name my book after one of his sermons. Sen. Obama says he doesn’t have the experience but that he has the judgment to make correct decisions. Please explain to me how having a 20 year relationship with a pastor who preaches racist and anti-America hatred is good judgment?