Obama Complains That Pastor Was ‘Boiled Down’ to Sound Clips
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Wednesday sought to quell concerns over anti-American remarks by his former pastor, saying people are paying too much attention to a small number of “stupid” comments.
Obama gave a sweeping speech on race last week in which he condemned incendiary remarks by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, but the words of the former pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago continue to dog the candidate. Reflecting the campaign’s concern about the fallout, Obama used a question about religion at a town hall forum as an opportunity to address the issue.
“This is somebody that was preaching three sermons at least a week for 30 years and it got boiled down … into a half-minute sound clip and just played it over and over and over again, partly because it spoke to some of the racial divisions we have in this country,” Obama told an audience in this central North Carolina city.
“There are misunderstandings on both sides,” the Illinois senator said. “We cannot solve the problems of America if every time somebody somewhere does something stupid, that everybody gets up in arms and forgets about the war in Iraq and we forget about the economy.”
On Tuesday, Obama’s rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, weighed in directly, saying: “I think that given all we have heard and seen, he would not have been my pastor.”
The controversy began earlier this month when videos of Wright’s sermons surfaced, including one in which the pastor shouts “God damn America” for its treatment of minorities.
Wright has said the U.S. government invented AIDS to destroy “people of color” and also has suggested that U.S. policies in the Middle East and elsewhere were partly responsible for the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon.
In the speech last week, Obama sharply condemned Wright’s remarks and the preacher’s refusal to acknowledge progress in race relations. But he refused to repudiate his longtime spiritual mentor, saying he could no more disown Wright than he could disown his white grandmother.
Wright has canceled some planned public appearances this week. Obama said Wednesday he has spoken with the pastor.
“I have talked to him. I have not asked him to do anything,” the Illinois senator told reporters.
Has anyone listened to the sermon in it’s entirety?
Camp Hillary provided the tape to the news media!
GO HILLARY !!!
“Boiled Down” - the pastor tapes were from the church store - Best of Rev. Wright - it was not one comment - but - many. This church is far too radical and anti-American and will cost Obama the election. NOW there are new facts coming out thanks to FOX News about the pastor’s recent article bashing yet another American group - Obama cannot win the election with judgment and background being questionable - after 20 years he had to know the general message.
The facts on Wright just keep coming - what’s next that we do not know yet??
I think this opens the door to the inner beliefs of Obama, based on comments from his pastor. No true man of God what make up these conspiracies and use his platform as a pastor to make devisive remarks about race to further divide the country. Obama’s public platform looks to be 180 degress from Mr. Wright’s comments. I think Obama’s true feelings may be subdued and actually revealed in wright’s comments. This is revealing. No one who would be president should be able to tolerate this type of divisive speach for 20 years.
I have to say that if Obama listen to any of the speeches, or even if he was present that we should give Obama credit for putting them toward a positive solution to what is going on in this particular country. What he is doing and what he is saying does not sound like the Paster’s remarks. You have a lot of people that listen to certain other individual’s but they don’t live
that way or work that way. Some time negative remarks cause’s a person with positive thoughts to use them to there advantange.
Just a few questions…
Hate mongering under the guise of a Christian Church….Is that a Christian value?
Spewing unproven untruths to the gullible…KKA, HIV, 9/11…Brainwahing at its worst and desensitizing at its best. Obama’s wife’s mouth spewed forth what…and where did it come from?
If this church is a norm is it a threat to US security?
Does “great social things for a community” absolve this anti-American venom? Does Brite Divinity School espouse Rev. Wrights views and are they training their students in these views?
Is not anti American remarks treason in war time?
Sorry don’t believe you. They won’t post my comments and no curse words just truth as I see it. They don’t won’t to harm their golden boys image. Go Hillary!!! Jean
this is the first fair and balanced report I’ve read on fox’s website about Obama. was that so difficult?
Marcus Levius Fl.
i really don’t understand why Barack Obama is being held accountable for the words of another man ,or is it the fox is scrapping so hard to find some kind of blemish on the man : well your efforts are week you cannot touch what is untouchable so try again i am really getting to hate the fox network for this media lynching of Barack Obama
Obama you know that your Preacher (if you can call him that) is a white hating bigot just like you. I don’t blame you for what he says just the fact that you sat there for 20 years listening to it. Then you LIED about it and said that you never heard him say those things Yea right!!! You are not right for the white house. We need Hillary in there to fix the mess we are in . Jean
For many years now Farrakan has been saying that he is not anti-American, racist, homophobic, or an anti-semetic his defense has always been that he is being judged by “sound bites’ I’m just wondering if perhaps Fox thinks that there may be some coordination in this arguement. I know Wright and Farrakan are close……probably just another coincidence…or maybe ya’ll are saving it for November.