Obama Says Pastor Was in a ‘Time Warp,’ Suggests He Would Have Left Church
Barack Obama says his controversial former pastor was stuck in a “time warp” and suggests he would have left his Chicago church had Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. not retired.
While still defending what he called the “broader aspect” of his long-time pastor, Obama said in a pre-taped interview with ABC’s “The View,” which aired Friday, that Wright’s most offensive sermons drew from an outdated view of America and its prejudices.
“What they spoke to was, I think, a brilliant man who was still caught in a time warp back in the ’60s, early ’70s and the ’50s, where he grew up, and had a sense of where America was and didn’t have a good enough sense of how it had changed,” he said.
Obama disputed what he called an overstated notion that Wright was his “spiritual adviser” or “mentor.”
Hillary Clinton earlier this week for the first time spoke out on the controversy over Wright, whose anti-American and racially charged sermons threatened Obama’s campaign. The New York senator said she would have left the church if her pastor behaved like Obama’s.
Asked what he’d do if the reverend had stayed on, Obama told “The View”: “Had the reverend not retired, and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I believe is the greatness of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn’t have felt comfortable staying at the church.”
As he did in his speech on race more than a week ago, Obama continued to defend Wright’s character. He said he spoke with him recently, and “I told him I feel badly that he has been characterized just in this one way. People haven’t seen this broader aspect of him.”
Obama reiterated that he never personally heard Wright’s most controversial sermons.
“Now keep in mind he’s preaching three times every Sunday and for 30 years, and I’m not vetting my pastor and I didn’t have a research team during the course of these 20 years go pull every sermon that he’s given and see if there’s something offensive that he said,” Obama said, adding that “I don’t purchase all the DVDs.”
In his sermons over the years, Wright has railed against the United States and accused it of bringing on the Sept. 11 attacks by spreading terrorism. He also has said the government invented AIDS to destroy “people of color” and has shouted “God damn America” for its treatment of minorities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Although the Rev. Wright is obviously anti-American, anti-Italian, anti-Semitic, and just outright prejudiced, I think the real issue that people should focus on is the way Obama betrayed his own grandmother in front of the whole world. Has he never heard of the proverb ‘blood is thicker than water’? How can you trust a man who would sell his own grandmother down the river by proclaiming her a racist? If he wanted to make his point about race, why couldn’t he be vaguer and say something like, “I’ve known fine outstanding individuals in my life who claim to be open-minded, yet still cross the street when coming upon a black person.”? I’d like to know how his grandmother feels about his betrayal.
Oh, and I too cross the street when I am alone, the street is deserted, and I come upon someone who looks like they could do me harm, no matter what the race (usually based on sixth sense, observation of the clothes and mannerisms of the fellow pedestrian, etc.). That doesn’t make me a racist – just a cautious, perhaps somewhat paranoid person, who has managed to avoid being mugged thus far.
On a final note, many of us in Canada are praying for your country. Anyone but Obama!
Oh well another time Obama is not being asked any tough questions.
I have a question when did pastor Wright “acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended”? I haven’t heard anything has anyone else?
Just how stupid does he think we are.
I am a typical white guy, I grew up two doors away from Tucker Carlson, I have no idea what a black church is like, I don’t know what it is like to grow up black, or be black, I bet it is frustrating. I am sure this preacher doesn’t hate me or my white kids, and I have faith that anyone running for president doesn’t either. Lets look at the economy and the war, and make the USA a better country. Jeff R
Re: samatha burns According to you American = Racist?
It difficult to believe that Mr. Obama can continue to use such poor judgment when it comes to the content of Rev. Wright’s sermons and not apologize for it rather than try to justify and explain this poor judgment.
If Rev. Wright was living in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s…why was he living there with him?
As a Christian, it is difficult to believe that staying in a church whose Senior Pastor spews such divisive venom, anger and hate is preferable than moving to one that preaches love and brotherhood.
Mr. Obama’s words just don’t ring true and as it stands it is easy to question his motives and political judgment.
Trying to determine if Mr. Obama meets the watermark of an experienced and able representative is made more difficult by his treatment of this issue.
What about Wright’s replacement? His Easter sunday sermon was attacking the press as being racist’s because they broke the story. It seems infectuous in that church.
HOW INSULTING?!!!!? Does he think or KNOW his followers are that DUMB & AWESTRUCK to buy that pile of dung?
Even if Obama did not know about the things Wright said, he does know that his church selected racist Louis Farrakhan to be their Man of the Year because of what they called his “greatness”. Can anyone explain what greatness Obama’s “tight knit” congregation sees in a known RACIST?
RE: Amelia Willson
America is 232 years old. As one of the youngest countries on this planet, it is still wrought with flaws. Because somone, in this case Sen. Obama, speaking of the flaws which America still hasn’t overcome doesn’t mean he is speaking against it. As a military veteran, I served during the Vietnam conflict, which brought out a lot of the flaws within this country. I love America, but sure wish it would take its head out of the proverbial “sand”. Until all citizens realize we still have a long way to go as a nation, and open up dialogue concerning the issues we face as a nation, we will remain divided as a nation.
Wating to hear this from Obama…..
“I was for the Church and Pastor before I was against them.”