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 SO tired of stories like these. Both Hillary and Obama have had to take the blame for the words of others lately. If this is the criteria, no one is fit to be president. NO ONE!
I have family members, good friends and colleagues that I have known for years that have made some pretty racist comments over the years. Am I racist because I heard the comments and did not rebuke them? NO. I just believe that people are going to say what they want. This is America! If you are going to judge someone, at least judge them by their own words. Guilt by association is a WEAK argument against Obama, Clinton or McCain.
As a Christian, I am surprised to see so many people forget the fact that Jesus spent most of his time on earth with people who had TERRIBLE reputations. Did that mean that he agreed with the things they said and did?
I love my Dad. My Dad has made a few racist comments in my presence over the years. Am I not qualified to be president because I still think my Dad is a great man? To get your vote, would you have to see a video of me denouncing him everytime he made a racial remark?
I cannot beleive this is news. This IS NOT news. Senator Obama, whether he was or wasn’t, at the church in July DOES NOT MAKE HIM A RACIST. Further, Rev. Wright has THE RIGHT, to state whatever he feels. It is HIS Church. Also, for the white readers who may find this a bit bloggers feelings a bit raw, get a clue. HAS ANY OF YOU BEEN BLACK??? Probably not, and frankly would not want to be. But in order to understand completely the context of Rev. Wright’s statements, you must first have been able to understand, from a black man’s perspective where Rev. Wright’s sentiments come from. Frankly, he said nothing that was NOT FACTUAL. Although, whites today may not feel that this applies, guess what it does. Just like I’ve had idiots in my community, by the sheer numbers, there are more in White America doing far more dastardly things THAT ARE AIMED DIRECTLY AT BLACK PEOPLE. Senator Obama has about as much influence on Rev. Wright as John mcCain does on David Duke, or Hillary on John Hagee. Incredible that this is news. Further, to my Christian contingent, be you white or black, one attends church for their souls, not for the Preacher. But trying to make something out of nothing, which this is what you are doing in ludicrous. So you have Obama denounceing his spiritual leader. His Pastor. His Reverend. He must do this too appease who, you white America?? Do you even see how you are?? Oh, my bad, that’s was your ancestors….. PLEASE….
I thought only rebulicans were racist
Once again we see the Double Standard that has permeated America.
When can apologist be held accountable for defending the hate speech coming from black churches and organizations such as La Raza?
This country has a foundation of cultural differences and I hope as Americans of all races we can unite to condemn these actions.
Chech the church’s bank deposits and obama’s checking account to see if he gave an offering at any of these services.
Week after 9/11, Christmas, and any other sermon.
If Wright didn’t make these type speeches regularly and they were rare, why was the audience behaving like they were used to this type sermon???
If it was rare, as Obama is leading Americans, you would have seen a different look on the faces in the crowds. Whether or not they liked what they heard, they wouldn’t have had the look “like they were accustomed to this and “a look like… this wasn’t a new and different speech”??
Please, folks wake up!
This isn’t about religion or a pastor. It’s about being friends with a hater of America, and an Anti-American who God damns America and blames America and whites for everything that goes wrong, and says we deserved 9/11. HE HAD DAMNED OUR MEN IN UNIFORM AS WELL WHEN HE HAS DAMNED AMERICA AND SAID WE DESERVE THIS!!!
IF YOU KNOW OR HAVE SOMEONE IN THE MILITARY, IT IS YOUR AMERICAN DUTY TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THIS BEFORE THEY VOTE!
Obama must believes that most of us are fools. There is no way possible that OBAMA was not aware of Jeremiah Wright’s racist views and his close relationship with Farakaham. Is he trying to tell America that he attended this man’s church for 20 years and has not heard any racist or anti-Amrican statements made by Jeremiah Wright ?. He could not convince a 12 year old, that he was ignorant of this man’s background. You have to be a certified fool to believe Obama.
Oprah, who claims to be such a wonderful American, knows about Jeremiah Wright’s racist ways but she went ahead and endorsed Obama for the President of the USA. What that says about her ?
God Help Us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It seems to me all but impossible that one whom is as proud a follower of his preacher as Obama has us to believe would not have heard some of these coments before now,why then has he distanced him self from this person now and back when he first decided he would run for president,that clearly means he knew this would come out,after all he has been going to this preacher for years
I find this so hard to believe that Mr. Obama in 20 years of attending this church that he never heard this racist remarks made by his pastor. It is obvios that this pastor is a bigot and full of hate how he can say he never heard it must be becauce he never attended mass..
Obama is a big liar.
It really doesn’t matter where anyone was during any of the Rev. Wright sermons — why?
When you view the any of the Rev. Wright sermons shown on T.V. —- it is so easy to see that the people attending the services is very much enjoying and supporting the sermons presented by Rev. Wright. It seems that this might be the type sermons that Rev. Wright presented on regular Sunday Services.
If I were at my church and the pastor presented a sermon of such a natural - I would not remain in the church to hear such. I don’t support such talk and no one is going to mindset me in such a manner……..”HATE AMERICA…….HATE WHITES…….THEN USE THE N***** WORD TO REFER TO HILLARY CLINTON”.
I truly don’t believe the Barack Hussein Obama is material for president.
I fact, Barack Hussein Obama NEEDS to remove himself from the Democratic Presidential Election — immediately.
Barack Hussein Obama NEEDS to resign from his Senate seat - immediately.
Barack Hussein Obama’s wife wrote a paper on ‘Racial Divide’ and she shared her ‘America’ at one of Obama’s Rally gatherings.
Barack Hussein Obama has VERY POOR JUDGMENT — his relationship with REZKO the indicted fund-raiser. Hopefully, America will know the truth about the relationship between REZKO and OBAMA. America deserves to know the truth.
There are over 120 news articles about the Tony REZKO case - trial that is located at: http://www.suntimes.com THEN, do seach —-REZKO…and all the articles will appear.
Barack Hussein Obama just might find himself swimming is a fast and hard moving “Ethical Whirlpool’ before the REZKO trial is finally over.
THANK YOU —— MEDIA for providing daily up-dates on the REZKO trial. America deserves to know the truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
VOTE - HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON - PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON is the right president for America!!!!!
YOU GO GIRL!!!!!
YOU GO GIRL!!!!!
YOU GO GIRL!!!!!