Schedule Puts Obama in Miami During July ‘07 Wright Sermon
December 2000: Barack Obama's former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright speaks at funeral service at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. (AP Photo/Chicago Sun-Times)
Barack Obama issued a firm denial Monday to a report that he was in church in Chicago last July when his controversial pastor delivered an anti-white sermon.
Doubts were cast on the story Monday as records showed the Democratic presidential contender was in Miami that day.
On the “fact check” portion of Obama’s campaign Web site, the campaign states: “Fact: Obama Did Not Attend Services on July 22.”
Click here to see the denial on Obama’s Web site.
Reports circulated over the weekend that Obama had attended the fiery sermon that day by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. But a copy of Obama’s schedule viewed by FOX News as well as video of Obama speaking appear to place him in Miami that day at a convention of the National Council of La Raza.
A National Council of La Raza official recalls Obama arriving on time that day for a 1:30 p.m. event that was part of the group’s annual national convention.
It is not clear whether he might have been able to attend church in Chicago before or after flying to Miami for his appearance. The National Council of La Raza official told FOXNews.com he was not involved in any travel plans for Obama to arrive at the convention.
Click here to see a video of Obama speaking that day in Miami.
Speaking with reporters Monday, Obama declined to field new questions about Wright. In what is campaign is billing as a major speech on race, Obama said he would in part discuss how some issues are being perceived inside and outside the black church community.
Obama again said he condemned the controversial statements by Wright that had come to light, but he believed the media frenzy has taken a wrong turn on its coverage.
“I think the caricature that is being painted of him is not accurate,” Obama said.
Obama in the last few days has denied being present for any of Wright’s inflammatory speeches at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where Wright retired last month as senior pastor.
Obama’s purported attendance at the sermon was first reported by NewsMax.com freelance reporter Jim Davis; it was noted again Sunday by NewsMax.com writer Ronald Kessler.
Davis reported last Aug. 7 that Obama and his Secret Service detail had been among the parishioners attending the July 22 sermon in which Wright spoke of the “United States of white America” and blamed the Iraq war on “Bush administration bull—-.”
NewsMax issued a clarification Monday to its story, adding that Davis stands by his reporting that Obama attended a service in July fitting the description he first reported, but he no longer was sure it was on July 22.
Click here to read the original report by Jim Davis.
Click here to read the report Sunday by Ronald Kessler.
The report was advanced Monday by columnist Bill Kristol, a FOX News contributor, in his weekly column in The New York Times. Kristol cited Kessler’s report as evidence that Obama is not being fully candid about his relationship with Wright. The New York Times later published a correction to Kristol’s piece.
Click here to read Kristol’s column in The New York Times.
Wright’s comments in the July 22 sermon were mild in comparison to other sermons he delivered, sermons Obama has said he did not attend.
In one sermon Wright repeatedly said, “God damn America”; in another he blasted former President Bill Clinton, saying he “did” blacks “just like he did Monica Lewinsky.”
Following mounting pressure last week, Obama denounced Wright’s words, and Wright stepped down from Obama’s African American Religious Leadership Committee.
Obama told FOX News Friday that he condemned the text of Wright’s controversial sermons, in which he condemned the United States as institutionally racist and blamed the government for HIV and the Sept. 11 attacks. Video clips of the sermons were played in heavy rotation on national television late last week.
“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.”
Obama called Wright’s remarks “inflammatory and appalling” in a written statement Friday.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign has yet to comment on the matter. Clinton faced heavy criticism over a racial issue of her own last week after top campaign adviser Geraldine Ferraro said the only reason Obama had gotten so far in the presidential campaign was because he was black. Ferraro resigned from the campaign’s finance committee shortly after her remarks.
I am not an Obama supporter. However, even if he had attended the meeting it does not follow that he approves every statement that was made that morning.
Where is the proof. His words do not matter any more. If he was not there on that day, he definitely was there on other days during the last 20 years of this pastors racial rhetoric. Obama needs to stop whining and realize politics is tough. The heat is on!
WHERE IS THE BEEF!!!!!!!! GO HILLARY!!!!!!!! NObama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is just an attempt by Fox News to destroy Obama, because they think Hillary is weaker against McCain.
NOW IT EXPLAINS WHY Barack Hussein Obama has refused to wear an America Flag pin on his lapel, now explains why he doesn’t show respect for the America Anthem, now it explains why Michelle said: For the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country statement. Apparently these 2 have never been proud before until now that Barack Obama is running for president. To tell WHITE PEOPLE what to do, right?
They both have actually acted just like their spiritual pastor Jeremiah Wright have preached , TO HATE AMERICA, TO DAMN AMERICA!
Obama should just back out now quietly, AMERICA HAS SEEN THEIR TRUE COLORS ABOUT HIM, HIS WIFE AND HIS SPIRITUAL PASTOR FOR 20 YRS, JEREMIAH WRIGHT!
I can’t believe Obama has denied his ministers racism comments,come on,this guy was his minister for over 20 years!!! He is in trouble,i hope all those super delegates look at this ,and start thinking of Golden Boy all of a sudden,the more you get to know him,the more you don’t want to know him!!! The republicans are going to eat him up if he is the nominee,heaven help us!!
BIG DEAL HE WASN’T THERE FOR 1 SERMON. HOW ABOUT THE REST OF THE 20 YEARS? I AM SURE HE WAS THERE FOR THOSE RACIST SERMONS.
Go FoxNews! Finally you are seeing the inconsistencies with this candidate. Is it possible to get the schedule for the secret service detail assigned to Obama in late July? Obama couldn’t have been in Chicago and Miami at the same time. Perhaps Obama has the dates mixed up.
These rants are upsetting. I would be surprized that this is an isolated situation with Mr. Wright. He seems to harbor a great deal of hate and bitterness. It is sad.
it really doesn’t matter if ob was there or not. doesn’t ob realize how he has insulted the american people by claiming that after being a part of his pastors (uncles) life for twenty years he knew nothing of his prejidious? I, myself have relatives who I am sorry to say are prejudice, but despite that fact, I love them. Wouldn’t obama have done better for himself just to state that simple truth? I think in the long run, it would’ve served him better, but now. . . deceit never works and now my faith in everything he has siad in the past is gone. Sadly, I will no longer be voting for him
I jut can’t believe that a person can attend sermons from this man and not know that he is a racist of the worse kind. No wonder Obama’s wife is not proud of her country. The fact that Obama wasn’t there for a particular sermon doesn’t mean he wasn’t there for others. To see members up and clapping Wright on the back is sickening. My feeling is if you don’t like our country go to another one. Maybe then you will see how lucky you are to live here.