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.
Oboma just cannot let go of this anti-American hate filled person. Tells me a lot about the real Oboma.
Oboma just cannot understand by standing by this man he is defeating himself. He just cannot let go of Wright and that tell us a great deal of how much he believes this man’s preaching of hate and anti-American beliefs.
The doctrines of that church are largely racist. They are disgusting and frankly that kind of talk goes against people of ANY skin color. As a Hispanic, I am horrified by that type of racial discussion. If Obama gets the nomination, my entire family is either not voting for president, or writing in the name of Hillary….. we won’t tolerate racism in ANY form, from people of ANY color. The comments from the pastor WERE limited in what was shown in sound clips, this is true. The doctrines of that church are unchanged, however, and Obama has been with that church for 20 years. Can’t explain your way out of that, Obama.
How many times are we going to let this man defend these hateful comment?!
Senator Obama wants to keep deflecting the fact he sat in Rev. Wrights church and knew about his teachings/sermons. Wouldn’t just one of these vial comments been enough, even if it was spread out over thirty years, for the senator to change churches?
Not sure I will ever understand that one and no amount of “explaining” or “deflecting” will change that
The fact he keeps bringing it up without being completely honest makes me suspect him even further. I’m not the only one who feels that way for sure. He will lose Pa. by a large margin.
A staunch democrat voting for McCain
FOX, I am so disappointed in your journalistic reporting. The word is getting out that you did take Jeremiah Wright’s soundbites out of context. Because a statement is racial does not make it racist. Ambassador Peck, a white retired military officer, was the one quoted in the clip referring to “…Americas’ chickens coming home to roost”. Also, as a right-leaning minister myself, I remember the many sermons after 9/11 condemning our arrogance as a country, from wiping out the Indians for their land, to slavery, to Jim Crow, to segregation, to killing millions in war and calling it collateral damage. Thanks for not giving us context, and I was beginning to think that you were a news network and “unabiased”. Very sad.
For generations every bible that you picked up, every religious painting that you saw, every motion picture about the Bible depicted the disciples and Jesus, as blond haired, blue eyed White people with the exception of the alledged traitor, Judas, who was allegedly dark skinned. A religious setting that debunks the stereotype that everything and everyone White is right is obviously going to be littled by White America. Fox News you are a “monster” and “typical white people” and mere distractors from real issues.
People are referring to you programs as, Fixed news that is obsessed with the reverend “we now have the reverend wright cable show courtesy of fox’ for updates about this you could go to any program at night a shame, I am retired military and would love for you all to speak about foreign policy and the mess in Iraq/Afghanastan, and live up to your fair and balance slogan.
On Greta’s show yesterday Karl kept calling Dr. Wright by the name of Williams clear sign that its not that serious if he doesn’t even make a correction on the name, early sign of the all Blacks in the same boat symptom of racism otherwords know as hidden racism , and whats worse she didn’t correct him proves to me one thing sleep depriation is gettin to you all on this topic.
Senator Obama has addressed this issue with the dignity and grace which only an indivividual who has been exposed to some of the truths of what reverent Wright has said. He has responded to the inflamtory comments with respect for those who were offended without discounting the opinions of those who might in some way agree with the reverent. We do live in a sick world but there are signs and we will be better.
Comparing apple with orange … tricky Obama!
Think about it!
Obama refused to repudiate his longtime spiritual mentor, saying he could no more disown Wright than he could disown his white grandmother.
You pastor comes after you but grand mother comes before you! So you choose pastor not grand-mother … saying the two are equal is a betrayal of a grand mother and uplifting of a pastor for political advantages … want to keep black votes.
Your choice produced your pastor but your grand mother produced you … idiot!
You can disown a pastor and still you have many choices to go to but you can not disown nor choose a grand-mother.
The most sickening thing is the ignorance of the media to decode such simple tricks … instead the media is saying that Obama sharply condemned Wright’s remarks and the preacher’s refusal to acknowledge progress in race relations …. poor victims! Serving Obama.
Obama said that “I have talked to him. I have not asked him to do anything,” … do you want to believe this B.S. … you told him to cancel because you know him more than we do … you did not want to take risk on what he might say once he get to the pulpit under the current environment … it is unlikely he will appologyze to America, the American poeple, and Hillary…