Obama Condemns Pastor’s ‘Incendiary Language’ But Explains and Defends Continued Relationship
Tuesday: Barack Obama gives a speech in Philadelphia on race, politics and national unity. (AP Photo)
Barack Obama roundly condemned the remarks of his controversial pastor on Tuesday but also took several steps to explain why the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.’s incendiary rhetoric is still valid.
Going to great lengths and several times repeating his reason for his continued association to Wright and his membership at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Obama said the pastor introduced him to his Christian faith and continues to perform God’s work on Earth.
“As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. … I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother,” Obama told an audience at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Hoping to thread a tough needle, Obama is seeking to return his campaign to the place it was until about a week ago, before his image was tarnished by the details of his relationship to Wright, who has been Obama’s spiritual adviser for 20 years.
Obama has tried to mold himself as a transcendent American political figure not viewed uniquely as an African-American running for the presidency but rather a candidate who is African-American and uniting the country behind him.
In a speech billed as one on race, politics and unifying America, Obama described his interracial background — a white American mother and black African father — as well as his wife’s ancestral history of slavery. He credited the United States for allowing the freedom that enabled him to enjoy such a mix.
“I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents. And for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible. … It is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts — that out of many, we are truly one,” he said.
Defining the freedoms that this nation’s inhabitants enjoy, Obama said he did not excuse some of the anti-American statements made by the pastor, though he acknowledged that he knew Wright to be a fierce and vocal critic of U.S. policy.
“Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely — just as I’m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed,” he said.
He also defended some of Wright’s remarks in a historical context, saying to ignore them might be politically expedient but it would be the same as ignoring this nation’s history of prejudice and racial struggle.
“We can dismiss Reverend Wright as a crank or a demagogue … but race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America: to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality.
“The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we’ve never really worked through — a part of our union that we have yet to perfect,” he said. “And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.”
Obama described Wright as a product of the segregation and disparities “passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow.”
He said segregated schools and “legalized discrimination” of 50 years ago in housing, education and the workforce have perpetuated “the wealth and income gap between black and white.” The Illinois senator also blamed lack of basic services for the urban blight and denigration of the black family.
“For the men and women of Reverend Wright’s generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table. At times, that anger is exploited by politicians, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politicians own failings.
“And occasionally it finds voice in the church on Sunday morning, in the pulpit and in the pews. The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright’s sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning,” he said.
Obama said that anger may be counterproductive, but it is real.
“To simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races,” he said, adding that the anger is one that also transcends race and exists among middle and low-income white workers who “don’t feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race.”
Blaming politicians and conservative talk show hosts for a racially infused cycle of hate, Obama said fear has been bred in whites who have seen affirmative action programs take jobs and educational opportunities away. Obama said those fears have been “routinely exploited” but rather than focusing on the “real culprits,” a “racial stalemate” has resulted, in part from Washington corruption.
“Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism,” he said. “Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze — a corporate culture rife with inside-dealing, questionable accounting practices and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many.”
He said that if he heard Wright only in the context of the “endless loop on the television and YouTube,” then he too may have reacted in the same way.
“But the truth is, that isn’t all that I know of the man,” he said, adding that Americans of all stripes would benefit by following the conservative philosophy of self-help found in Wright’s sermons. However, he lamented that Wright’s language shows the preacher is stuck in the same pattern that has trapped many Americans.
“The profound mistake of Reverend Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It’s that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made. … But what we know — what we have seen — is that America can change.”
Obama urged Americans to follow the Scripture and “do unto others as we would have them do unto us.” He pleaded with his audience to ignore comments like Wright’s that continue to see division and conflict as inescapable.
“We can play Reverend Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. … We can do that. But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change. That is one option.
“Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, ‘Not this time,’ ” he said.
“This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generatio — the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.”
Hooray Michelle!
Every person has the same OPPORTUNITY except light skin people. Whites are denied assistance and jobs because the law racially discriminates against them.
However, Obama does not yet understand the duality of our laws that protect “special interest” groups such as African Americans, Latinos, sexual deviants and etc. Instead, he wants to “change” our laws to make it better for the “underprivileged”. This means more discrimination against the White American Male which is the only group that qualifies for NO SPECIAL ASSISTANCE.
Since everyone else qualifies, this means only white males are “DENIED BY LAW” jobs and special assistance. Tell the poor in the white community that it is not discrimination when they are denied a job because quotas for other races have to be met. This is LEGAL DISCRIMINATION against the group the MR Wright is condemming as having “special privilege”.
Even Obama eluded to the poor white people who “feel” as though they do not enjoy the privilege of their race. At first, I thought he was beginning to understand. But then after reading it the second time, I understood that he still thinks that white skin “magically” assures a person a job, house, car and a “good” living.
Sorry, life is not easy and for my entire life the only “privilege” I see is to everyone but the white male. A president MUST come to terms with the truth of racism in order to “bring the races together”.
Americans that have anger at America and hate for America because of (black) slaves in America, which was short lived in the years of America’s history, should count their blessings that their ansestors were brought here. Not all Americans had slaves, Not all Americans had Plantations, hundred/thousands of Americans and Americans Immigrents work hard and lost their lives building up America. All residents in the USA should be greatful they live in this country, or belong to this country. There is still slavery in other parts of the world today, go and to your research (Slavery in Modern Africa) This is truly the land of apportunities, but you have to help to open the door for you. Obama chose and look for a church and locations that suited him best for what he believes, he chose his friend, he chose his supporters, he chose his real estate agent. People have choices. Obama made his. At least this country has done things against discrimination and continues to do so, Obama chose the church that preaches racism against whites. This is not about black or white or others the Unites States is and has been formed by many ethnic groups. That is what America is.
You know, Americans are a bunch of hypocrites. Before Obama came out with anything on this issue. The media, along with the many people, continually kept saying, “he’s going to have to address this issue”, “he’s going to have to address this issue”. When he chose to “address the issue”, he is being persecuted for it. I tell you, I would never, ever want to be White. Many of them have issues that go beyond my ability to comprehend. To live in such a unrealistic world of thinking more highly of yourself than you ought to, being taught that you are better than minorities, and given privileges above other people, only because of your skin color is ignorance at its highest level. Race in this country has always been an issue that no other president has really been willing to address on the level that Obama just chose to address it on. This to me is the reason why Obama is being scrutinized so harshly. Many White Americans are not ready to face what they have created. It works for them. They have considered themselves, and many still do, as they super race of people. White’s have been making all of the political decisions for all Americans for centuries. Even when their own forefathers were slave owners and didn’t even think of blacks as human beings, but cattle, never once have I heard that any of them were consider unworthy to run this country because their ancestors but the “R” in racism, and “B” in bigotry. Now the first time a black man has an opportunity and chance to even come close to running this “so-called” great nation of ours, all hell is breaking out against him because someone in his circle of friends seems to be racists. How dare any white person judge him. I would venture to say every single white family in America has had someone who spoke out how they distained blacks. Some of the names they probably called blacks and other minorities in the homes and in their offices would make you cringe. All black Americans and many minorities have have ever witnessed in America is white racism. Over the centuries in this country from the politicians to the clergymen, there has been radical racism. But whites seem to be so used that being “the way things are”, they have no clue how it has looked to blacks and the experience it has caused minorities. There is a reason why, in our times, no matter what anybody says to justify it, the Katrina victims were treated differently than the Florida wild fire victims. But now that there seems to be “overt” racism in the camp of a black politician and everyone’s crying about 20 years. Centuries to 20 years. Come on!!! What did I say about ignorant and unrealistic thinking. Let me tell that writer who wrote that with his speech, Obama “is digging a bigger hole” for himself. He IS NOT digging a bigger hole, but is exposing the hole that the media is trying to dig for him. As I said, how dare they demand that he address the issue, and now condemn him for doing what they would not stop demanding that he do. HYPOCRITES!!!! HYPOCRITES!!!!! It is so obvious that they want him to fail and are doing whatever they can to cause it to happen, just the way they choose to break up hollywood couples and do everything in their media power to see that it happens.
Of course “white America” will ALWAYS see America as a great country. It has been their great pearl for the taking every since it came to be. When they turn on their television, they see themselves most of the time. Everyone else is a token of some kind. They are not routinely stopped by police just because of their color. There ancestors were not lynched, rapped and sold, barred from entering the front doors, nor denied opportunities only because of their skin color anywhere in this country, As I said in another entry, it sickens me to hear judgmental White Americans try to judge or speak about the black experience without the experience. That’s like me as a female trying to describe what it feels like to take a leak from the the front, having never had anything to hold on to in order to do it. I have no idea what that feels like. How dare I even attempt to explain, with absolute conviction, that feeling to anyone. But, of course, whites who do that are so use to telling everyone how to feel, they don’t even think about how ignorant they look when they are attempting to do it, no matter how intelligent they think they sound while they’re doing it.
I’m glad this whole thing happened. The responses to Obama’s speech is really showing the absolute continued self righteousness, ignorance of many White Americans. And the fact that this country is still divided. This event is exposing the absolute need for change. I am glad that we have a candidate who is in a position to brings these issues to the forefront causing us to finally deal with them. Causing us to face ourselves. It’s time to wake up White America. You are not the super race. You are a part of the human race like everybody else. You don’t get to continually get to chose what ethnic groups gets to rise or fall in this country. Who died and left you the boss of the lives of all people. That fooliness is coming to an end, and that is the reason this campaign is such a big issue right not. White Americans have been looking at themselves running this country for ever and don’t want the change. Obama is for all americans. He wants to give all Americans a genuine reason to see this country as a great country from within this country. Not just the White Americans. He wants to cause all americans to feel equally as blessed to be here as White Americans. That’s why right now, during this time, judgmental whites need to just be quite, and vote for whoever you think they want to vote for, but stop trying to speak on an issue they have absolutely no real ideas about. Ignorance IS NOT bliss!!!
Post my comment plx?
Hooray to Don and Western NY!
I am so sick of it being okay to be racist and hateful if you are black, but shame-shame-shame to white people. It is pretty clear to me that America needs to have an open, honest discussion about race. I meet more racist, prejudiced black people than any white or hispanic people I know—and I live in a very diverse area.
Slavery was abhorrent, unjust, and disgusting. The racial segregation of the early to mid 1900s was also degrading and rightly condemned. But it is a new millennium—we are all equal in terms of OPPORTUNITY! Every legal citizen of the US is afforded the same rights and opportunities—some may just have to bite the bullet and work harder than others.
Did he lie? Yes. He knew about the speech.
Does he harbor racial prejudice? Yes. If he was so high and mighty, he would have left the church, just as I did when I disagreed.
If he was a white man, would everyone be sucking up? NO. Look at Jesse Jackson (Oh the speech was fine).
Didn’t a white woman not to long ago make a TRUE racial statement? What happened with her? Oh what happened when the white woman golf announcer. Who JOKED about her FRIEND Tiger Woods. Even he said he took it as a joke.
Blacks need to realize that racial discrimination goes both ways.
And to think that they believe that slavery was ended by blacks. No it ended with thousands of white lives.
Barack Hussein Obama (BHO) continues his bad Judgment and proven inability to Lead America except into a racial war by failing to renounce his racist pastor and his distorted view of Christianity. Christianity is based on the 10 Commandments, the Golden Rule, Peace and Love! Pastor Wright and his congregation is wrong for his bigoted teachings, Hatered and Unamerican Diatribe his congregation pays him to preach.
(OHB) wants us to ignore the man behind the curtain just like the Wizard of Oz and vote for his continued bad judgement. No one should ignore his bad choices, disrespect to his grandmother and (OHB) drug use. (BHO) is not qualified to be a private in the US Army because of his admitted drug use so he could not qualify to lead even a buck private as Commander in Chief.
@James
So let me get this straight, blacks never sold other blacks to the slave traders? I’m guessing most blacks won’t admit this happened, or excused it. I have traced my heritage back to the civil war, and guess what I’m white, and my family didn’t own any slaves. Oh no I broke your stereo type of all white americas.
The problem that lies with Obama is, he and Reverand Wright get to be bigots, and it’s ok, and anyone else that is a bigot, is crucified and hated.
Bottom line is Obama showed his true colors, and is using “washington double-speak” to get out of it. What I want to know is how is he transending the races, when the man he looks to for guidance is a bigot, and proudly displays that bigotry on dvds?
I’m doubting Fox will display this, since im not pandering to liberals enough.
Obama keeps digging a bigger hole. There is nothing he can say or do that will change that he knows what this supposed preacher would say. Also how dare him say that in every church you hear things like that. If you go to a Catholic, Protestant, Espiscopal Church you will never hear that kind of dirty talk. A real church with real preachers, reverends and priests would never do that. He should be ashamed of himself for continuing to attend that so called church.
To the Foreigner James:
Thank God you don’t live in the US! Keep your opinions and your votes in your own country.