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.
Obama’s Pastor was “boiled down” to his own words. You don’t just spew this hate once or twice - it’s bred in you. Tha’s why I’m concerned about Obama listening to this guy for 20 years and lying about every hearing any negativity and not disassociating with such a hateful person. I violates everything he wants America to stand for. Think twice about voting for this nut - you may get your wish.
It’s always someone else’s fault, isn’t it? Take responsibility. PERIOD. Although I don’t believe “Take Responsibility” has any meaning in politics today. If everyone took responsibility there would be a lot less need for dirty politics, government, and their buddies with deep pockets. Buddies who constantly take our tax dollars, allow others to become dependent on the working class and throw stones from their glass houses.
Stepping off my soapbox now, have a good day~~
more hateful talk against the italians is coming out that this “reverend” spouted out. it is despicable that barack makes excuses for this hatemonger.
All it takes is one racist slip in this PC world… and your image in the public eye is toast. Jerimiah Wright not only slipped up once… but on several occasions let rip many, many, many, racist and biggoted statments from the pulpit of his church in Chicago. We’ve all seen and heard these statements on the news and on youtube. It does not matter how much you hear; whether it be the entire sermon or just those short “clips” … if it walks like a racist statement… if it talks like a racist statement… then it is a racist statement. It doesn’t matter how pretty you try to dress up hate, the stench of its message will always cut through any perfume of oratory.
The Rev. Wright had more comments appear yesterday - these were in print, articles he posted in Trumpet Magazine in December. They derided Italians and took the whole white suprm. idea to a higher level. The articles were on line and when discovered were jerked off quickly. Fox talked of them last nite. This minister was whisked off on vacation - unreachable. He has cancelled 3 appearances in the US. Obama went on vacation ( to avoid the continuing flap) and MSNBC lauded his speech. Obama camp is keeping him out of sight. Couple this with the Renko deal - where Obama ( in the midst of the Wright controversy) confessed to the chicago papers that he misspoke - he had garnered much more money from Renko than he had previously thought, that there was a stupid deal with renko who helped to buy his house, that they were more than acquaintances. Add the fact that obama tried to link the MKL march as the place his parents met and he was conceived from that meeting ( in reality - his math is a bit fuzzy - he was born 4 years before the march), his statement that he had a degree in gov when in fact he did not, adds up to alot of lying - not stretching the truth but outright lying.
Lets just manipulate the facts to suit Obama’s goals. What a fake. makes McCain look better evry day…
First off, I have no affiliation with Mr. Obama because I do not agree with is policies at all. My point I would like to make is that we live in such a secular world that this is all over the news but when Religions mis-handle the Gospel of Jesus Christ all over America nothing is heard of. So to me I could care less of this guys opionions; its his salvation message that he brings forth. Now if he said trust in Jesus and everything I teach you and maybe then you go to heaven I got issues. I must say I would think my wisdom would take me out of his Church if that kind of talk was a constant, but I can not judge the heart of Barrack and nor can anyone else but God. My friends decide for yourseleves make your own choice, quit lettting the posion of media distract your intellect that God gave us all. Let your conscience lead your decsion not the media which has continually made americans lazy in there research for the truth.
P.S. Never be ashamed to spread the Gospel of Jesus, it’s what he commanded all believers to do.
Sorry, no excuse for the Rev. Wright. He said hateful things and nothing Obama says will change that. Obama sat there listening to him with his wife for twenty years and also with his children.
I will not vote for Obama. I’m for Hillary. Just because he gives a good speech doesn’t mean he will make a good President. He is much too inexperienced and while I was listening to him and trying to give him a chance the Rev Wright ruined it all…and also he doesn’t wear a flag pin and doesn’t put his hand over his heart to the plede of allegiance. Something is not right here.
Word to Obama………. Change churches, then start hitting Clinton on her tax returns, Whitewater, Foster, etc. Your guilt by association to the church will fall on deaf ears unless you give it up. The Elders need to make a decision.
The speeches Obama is doing now, are more for sticking up for Wright than rejecting what he said. I would not allow my children around a person like that for fear of raising them to be biased. Michelle and Barrack should have been better parents to protect their children from nonsense like this. Their children, like my children are our future and you have to protect them as long as you can from the crazy people in the world. Wright is an evil man that has been put on a pedastile and worshiped to like a false god. Black people are doing just as good as the white people. Some have it good, some are in the middle and some are not doing so good - white or black. I am so tired of hearing about the poor black people, what about the poor white people? My fear with Obama is uniting the black up against the white when we have been doing so good with each other. My final word, Obama needs to get over the fact that his pastor is a crazy man who needs to be put away so as not to poison young children who grow up to be adults with imbreaded bias - parents you should be ashamed of yourself.
2 Two out of 8 Thousand from the rest of 300 Million Americans:
You are an amazing man, Senator Obama. FoxNews reported you as having said “people are paying too much attention to a small number of “stupid” comments.” You and your pastors are the “half-minute sound clips” Senator. The rest of us 300 million are getting on with our daily lives. We are tired of you and your “8 000 sound clips.”
Many others have commented on Iraq. You must read these Comments and you will learn something.
Then you mention the economy. Really Senator, President Bush has just stepped in [he is still your President, young man, try show some respect] to support the Financial Institutions who in their turn will support the ordinary Voter in the current housing situation. It is a worldwide problem at present, for some time actually, but you and your rich Pastors wouldn’t know that, too much money chasing two many irresponsible spenders, but The Bush Administration is dealing with it. …. Of Course, we realize you spoke on the stump in North Carolina where you have to win after Senator Clinton wipes the floor with you in Penn.
But Please Senator, you are not fooling so many anymore, your “sound clip” support has been dwindling way we see it, you fooled many at first, but your ratings are coming down; it never was just a “small number of “stupid” comments”, Son, and it has grown into a deluge now. Come read all the Comments, see for yourself.
Not Please, Senator, merely try show some respect for America and stop stirring in the racial pot every opportunity you get, or manufacture, when you land in a fix. You are done, Good Bye to You, Sir.
Maybe a little small advice: Get out before Denver; go home and start preparing for your Senate fight in 2010 if you care to accept advice from an old fellow. I want maybe, lay a bet: you will not be elected unopposed next time. Maybe, I am only guessing, particularly if you continue in the present race, maybe in any event, they just, maybe kick your ass out the Senate too.