Did Obama Say Rev. Wright Acknowledged Offending People?

I am so tired of reading about this whole ridiculous Wright “controversy.” If we, as individuals, were responsible for the things our religious leaders said and did, no Catholic would be able to show his/her face in public, much less run for elected office. The fact that Senator Obama is still having to waste time talking about this is unfortunate.

“here coming the hillary fanatics…”
Well, it’s obvious the Obama supporters won’t say anything because the guy can do no wrong. He gave a race speech as damage control to the Wright issue, not as a progressive politician being a great thought leader.

Am I the only one who feels that I’ve heard more than enough about Wright?
Let’s do some VP speculation, some McCain investigation, something FUN for a change…
Or, if that ain’t possible, focus on Obama’s great popularity among students as a PROFESSOR (in contrast to Clinton’s lie that he was “just” a lecturer – she’d wish she’d have the capacity to be it) in Constitutional Law… Why did no journalist talk to his colleagues and students… or are they all SO positive and enthusiastic that the MSM isn’t interested… for they want scandals, bad rumors, slips of the tongue…

I think this shows Obama’s arrogance. But what else would you expect when he is treated like the second coming by the media.

How anyone can even consider this man for president, I can’t understand. He won’t acknowledge anything to do with the American flag, his wife said this is the first time I feel like an American, and for 20 years he sat and listen to thst garbage, if my minister or priest said something like what he said I would leave the church. If a white minister said this in his preaching we would have riots in the streets and every black in the country screaming white racists. We didn’t even know this man a year and half ago, what qualifies him to be president?

This Wright Stuff will not go away, no matter how much he lies about it. Just makes you wonder what else will “drip” out between now and November. At least Hillary’s flaws are all out in the open.

Democrats, I am quite sorry to say, are in general quite quite stupid.What on earth can you can you say for a party, that has just been able to send a single man by the name of Clinton to the White House, twice. They are destined for four extra years in the wilderness and quite rightly so.We need an alternative to the Democratic Party, an Independent Group led by Bloomberg and Lou Dobbs to topple this arrrogant war crazy Republicans.If not for Bill Cliton, the Party would be dead by now with 40 years of the Black House. Will they ever learn? Will they ever learn, that the single most important issue for Americans is Patriotism.The Democratic party / Dean and Pelosi are going to the cleaners. Mayor Bloomberg, please please come to our rescue.

Does anyone know what tax loophole that Obama used to avoid paying AMT tax in 2006 with $1 million income?

Aw, c’mon Barack. And Hilary makes a booboo about Bosnia but that makes her a liar, untrustworthy, etc. NOW he says he would have left if Wright had not and that Wright wasn’t his spiritual mentor. What a crock! This guy is the biggest Tuesday morning quarterback I’ve ever seen. 20 years and he was thinking about leaving?

Wright does NOT hurt Obama.
Here’s the latest news:
The latest news!
Today’s Gallup Poll Daily tracking update finds Barack Obama with an eight percentage point advantage over Hillary Clinton (50% to 42%), this gives him a statistically significant advantage for the first time since before the Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy.

Petra,
Your statement is highly inaccurate if you include Republicans.

obama is clearly lying again. for him to claim he didnt hear these things when all those people in church was jumping up and shouting (liar). Now he’s trying to copy Hillary again when she stated she would have left the church he had 20 years to leave that church and didnt (liar).

It seemed pretty clear to me.

Dead horse, withiring on the vine, subject.

So it’s the same as when the story first broke a couple of weeks ago and he went on TV and said “NO” that he was never present to hear anything controversial. And then 5 days later in his big speech he said “YES” that he had been present for some. Nobody called him on it, he just changed his story and nobody called him on it! What’s wrong with the media? Jake Tapper at least is calling him on it in this instance, so thank you.

Harko-SENIOR LECTURERS are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and ARE REGARDED AS PROFESSORS. Couldn’t have said it better myself. Not A PROFESSOR. Only regarded AS a professor. Nice play on words from UC if I may say so myself.

From Obama’s Book – His Own Words :
‘Dreams of My Father’,
“I CEASED TO ADVERTISE MY MOTHER’S RACE AT THE AGE OF 12 OR 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites”
From Dreams of My Father, ” I FOUND A SOLACE IN NURSING A PERVASIVE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE AND ANIMOSITY AGAINST MY MOTHER’S RACE”.
From ‘Dreams of my Father’, “The emotion between the races could never be pure….. the THE OTHER RACE (WHITE) WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN JUST THAT: MENACING, ALIEN AND APART”
From Dreams Of My Father, “never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn’t speak to my own. IT WAS INTO MY FATHER’S IMAGE , THE BLACK MAN, THE SON OF AFRICA, THAT I’D PACKED ALL THE ATTRIBUTES I SOUGHT IN MYSELF.
From Dreams Of My Father:
“THAT HATE HADN’T GONE AWAY,” he wrote, BLAMING WHITE PEOPLE,- SOME CRUEL, SOME IGNORANT, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives.”

Every time Obama talks about Wright he ends up “misspeaking” or having to “clarify” what he really meant. As someone posted here before, every time Obama talks on this matter his nose grows a little longer like Pinocchio.

Obama is a player. He is playing the country. Its so ridiculous really…parcing his words with such smooothness. It’s obvious he does not want to make his pastor mad. His pastor knows the real Obama..thats all.

Give it a rest people…especially you Jake.
Rev Wright isn’t the candidate I’m voting for. Rev Wright is just an old preacher from the very rough south side of Chicago.
He is stuck in a period from years gone by…you know kind of like Bill and Hillary Clinton and their race baiting and strong arm politics. Let it go people and breathe the fresh air.

i’m telling you if the bigot obama gets the nominee i’m voting for mccain
he lied on the view this morning saying wright said i’m sorry. bs

This is a non-story and it is time to move on. I trust Obama’s vision for this country, that is what I based my vote on. I did NOT base my decision on the words of his pastor. Ridiculous! I can’t believe people are so shallow as to base their decision on what Wright said! People say crazy things everyday. I look no further than my white friends who talk about “porche monkeys” and “race wars” almost weekly. The only reason this is even being questioned so hard is because the man is Black. Get over the fear people and stop hating!

Obama isn’t Wright, although he has belonged to his church, that is “unashamedly black”, for 20 years. If Hillary or Mccain belonged to a white supremacist church for 20 years, they would have been run out of the race already. Time to stop coddling Obama.

JUDGEMENT! OBAMA has none! Imagine 20 years, mentor, speaks as he is a pastor. He is not electable! I WILL SHOUT THIS EVERYDAY! HILLARY 08

Obama is just starting to seem a little too “slick” for me. What seemed like an impressive guy at first, now seems just like any other dishonest politician.
The bloom is definitely off the rose.

Thinking-Is that the same poll showing McCain ahead?

He’s running on a unification and judgment platform, so he should have been leading by example. Why go to separatist church if you believe in uniting? Who is he trying to unite? What does that say to the people in this country that aren’t black?

OBAMA drop out now, you are an embarassment to the party. Republicans are already saying he will not win on his judgement and his lack of experience. Hillary is the only solution.

This guy is running for President of the United States, not for the lead in the school play.

excerpt from another link
Now a preacher in America is very much like a politician. He or she has to get the congregation stirred up, at least enough to pay for his upkeep. The Rev Wright is a fantastically successful politician. The Trinity UCC is a family business, and with DVD sales and televangelism it’s making a mint. That’s why the Rev has to be so provocative — to keep his congregation clapping and cheering. Obama learned his rhetorical cadences from the Rev, and probably much else besides. It’s been one pro teaching another.
The very notion of “whites” versus “blacks” being like so many M&M’s in different candy boxes is a purely political creation. Humans are enormously variable. It makes about as much sense to divide people into sports fans versus music lovers, or fatties vs. skinnies. If politicians could get voting mileage from those divisions, the Left would be telling us all about the oppressive conspiracy against the fat, or the persecuted skinnies all over the world. “Divide and conquer” still works like a charm

Obama should quit race now. He is embrassement to civilised world.
Shame on you Mr. Obama and his wife.

Ugh, typo, sorry. I meant:
“Had she gone on vacation and had she not turned on the stove, I would be angry.”
In this construct, I would be angry only if both A and B were true. If she left the stove on while she were at home I’d not be angry, and had she gone on vacation, having turned off the stove, I’d not be angry.
“Had she not done her homework and had she not eaten her supper I would admonish her.”
See, this is confusing :)
Sorry! :)

Clearly, it is Obama and his supporters who are causing the party to divide. So much for “uniting” the party.
Democrats have never been so divided. And so much of it is the kids on Facebook who really don’t get it anway and who we can’t count on to vote in November.

Obama is calling for change but he is a old politcs, he is not for a change but playing Al Sharpton or Jesse jackson games.
Obama had nerve to call Sen Trent Lott to resign which he did, now Obama is not ready to quit race.
Shame on you Obama Hussiein Osama

Obama is toast.
Don’t believe the polls. These were the same polls that said Obama will win California 49-36 … so … I think every one needs to chill out a bit.
Dodd/Leahy, You both need to chill out a lot because you will be campaigning for Clinton when she becomes the nominee.

He had a chance to be leader. He could have stood up and spoke out against the hate that his pastor was preaching. If he had done that, he wouldn’t be in the predicament that he’s in today. He would have been a true leader, not just a smooth talking politician.

Wow, talk about phony bologna.
Obama thinks America is stupid and Bill Burton thinks America is REALLY stupid if they believe we are going to trust their words now.
America is a lot smarter than those two guys give us credit for and we are not buying any of their BS anymore!
Well done, Jake! Well done, indeed!

This is simply the latest of many examples of Obama saying one thing and his campaign interpreting his words as something else.
Perhaps David Letterman should do a new segment entitled “Greatest Moments in Presidential Nominee Speeches” and feature the Obama liturgy.

Obama’s acting like any unprincipled politician who won’t take any stand that could diminish the enthusiasm of his base. He’s artfully straddling young post-racial supporters and Rev Wright’s Afrocentric congregation (yes, I saw the wild cheering during Wright’s most hateful applause lines). A man of greater integrity would not prevaricate, but would stand on principle. Such a man also wouldn’t expose his young children to such divisive rhetoric. Let’s do move on…understanding that Obama, eloquence and charisma personified, is just another slick politician. I venture he’d throw his own mother under the bus to get elected…

This has to be about more than just winning the democratic primary and getting the nomination.
What good is it for Obama to have the nomination if he has no chance of winning the GE. It will be cold comfort when McCain iss in the whitehouse.
Clinton has a better chance of winning the GE and she certainly does not put blue states like MO and MASS in play for repubs as Obama does against McCain. Hillary is even ahead of McCain in Ohio and within the MOE in many other states.

Thinking-Wright issue dead? Do you actually trust any poll? Where was it conducted? How many blacks in this poll? What states were involved in poll? And if this is truly a 50-50 country where were the republican thinking about the Wright issue? And if this poll is only democrats then one has to add republicans to numbers to get a correct picture, correct?

If your goal was to get Obama the democrat nomination yet put McCain in the White House, then…
Mission Accomplished.

Dogsoldier.
I have no Idea. Gallup though is respected. But, read the poll and you will see that Clinton is performing worse against McCain then is Obama.
Second guess it if you want, that is up to you

Bloomberg for President. Independents and Reagan Democrats for Bloomberg. Save us Mayor.

The antics of the DNC for the last week or so have shown some real frustration and desperation on the part of its leaders.
The DNC is quickly losing control of the party and disenfranchising voters at every turn with moves similar to the McGovern and Dukakis campaigns.
Squeezing out endorsements from various Democrats across the country is ratcheting up the mistrust of Democratic voters everywhere.
Regardless of what new scheme the DNC comes up with, Jeremiah Wright will not go away. The hate, fear, treason, and racism of Obama’s friends and family will follow him long after the nomination process is over.
Couple the Wright statements with the Obama books and the Michelle Obama Princeton papers, and you have a candidate that reeks of the very worst in America today.

20 years of Black House for the Dems if you leave out the 8 Clinton years. Reject the Clintons and spend 8 more years in the Black House. We need a new party to rescue us from the Republicans. The Democrtas are simply incapable.It was FL in 2000, it will be FL again in 2008 for rejecting the votes of the 5 members of my family.

It is not an issue of race, color or religion. Our country is truly great. We have gone beyond it. But, not this man. 2 weeks ago, he was my second choice after Hillary, but, now I will fight tooth and nail to defeat him.

another Hillary blunder…Obama was a law professor. and the surrogate who said Hillary would answer ‘vote for me anyway…’ that birdie gonna crash land in her own mess.

Oh Come on; it is the same 20 or so posters saying the same thing over and over again. The only thing you are changing is your own ability to act rational.
Desperation in it’s worse form

WHEN DID THIS PREACHER ACKNOWLDGE THAT HE OFFENDED PEOPLE?????
I’m still waiting for an apology from Obama about the “typical white person” comment…the more Obama opens his month… the more he shows the SNAKE he is… and you know what…if this STUPID DNC doesn’t see this..
If they ANNOINT Obama….
THEN THEY DON”T DERSERVE MY VOTE….I”LL VOTE MCCAIN…He’s served his country long enough to EARN vote….
the democrats don’t even represent the middle class anymore… why the hell would I vote for them???
At least I know what I’m getting from Mccain…..

Damn, this Reverend Wright sure has put a dent in all our big plans for Obama.

Excerpts from Final Call re RNA Movement/ Trinity Church search
Ndaba: ?A great sitting-down?
By Dora Muhammad
Updated Aug 9, 2003, 08:32 pm
CHICAGO (FinalCall.com) – There?s a certain moment in time, that if leaders have the wisdom to see and seize it, they can make a historic turn in the lives of their people. Such a moment was the July 26 summit on reparations, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said as he opened the meeting held at the Salaam Restaurant.
Nearly 50 activists from across the country answered the call to discuss operational unity and a consolidation of efforts, in order to enhance and fortify the movement for reparations for Black people?s suffering in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
“The principle of reparations is the one great principle that we all can unite around,” Min. Farrakhan stated in his opening remarks. “Religion has not united us. Politics has not united us. Our economic needs have not united us. Our Blackness has not united us.
“But in the principle of reparations, all of us have a stake in it and see the value of it and know that if we unite today on the basis of reparations, then our children and our children?s children can be the beneficiaries of what happens today and from this day forward.”
Gathered together in the Ashanti practice of the principle of consensus, the “big sitting-down”?or ndaba, as the South African Nguni call it?was the fruition of the vision of Dr. Conrad Worrill, the national chairman of the National Black United Front (NBUF).
The church, the courts, the community
Representing Trinity Church and its pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Dr. Iva Carruthers spoke of equipping ministers beyond worship, and enabling them to effectively network, empower people and impact policy. Within the next year, she intends on working with over 400 preachers, with a focus on connecting theology, technology and transnational public advocacy. She termed it: “intentional communication.”
Much of the consolidated case is based on human rights precedents of crimes against humanity, but another strong component of the legal argument is consumer protection law. This will enable the litigation team to challenge the companies on the basis of their lying to the public in denials that they have no connection to the slavery, because the team has gained possession of documents that show the companies? involvement.
Since the consolidated lawsuits are set for a Chicago courthouse, Attorney Lionel Jean Baptiste, who is representing a Chicago plaintiff, has been thrust to the forefront of the legal team. However, he cautioned the summit that the legal battle cannot stand alone in the fight for reparations.
“We understand that we are in an arena that has been set up by the slave master,” he said, “We will not win in that arena, unless we step it up in the streets, unless the political fight is brought to bear.”
I am not stating anything here, nor trying to incite anything. Merely believe the Wright issue needs more “sunshine” before it goes away. The press has apparently dropped it. so voters must check for ourselves. If it is benign good, if not we need to know.

MattOhio writes:
“If a person has a PhD and in the teaching profession, that is when you call them a Professor . Obama doesnt have a PhD..went around telling people he is a professor..”

Forget Hillary!: she ruined herself..
BUT? OBAMA?…
is the above is what we’ll get from a POTUS?..
a string of negatives.. which ultimately ends up being GOBBLEYGOOK?…
“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 think is the great character of this country – for all its flaws – then I would*n’t have felt comfortable staying there at the church,” Obama said.
—
goobleygook!..obfuscating an April 2007 New York Times article:
“If Barack gets past the primary, he might have to publicly distance himself from me,” Mr. Wright said with a shrug. “I said it to Barack personally, and he said yeah, that might have to happen.”
GOBBLYGOOK!

Thinking writes:
“… it is the same 20 or so posters saying the same thing over and over again …”

There is no doubt in my mind that Obama heard Rev. Wright say incendiary comments while he was a member. He said so in his speech. We will continue to hear more as the press digs deeper, and they will dig deeper. One of his comments was made the Sunday after 9/11/2001. So we are now supposed to believe that. A) He did not hear about these comments 6 years ago B) He knew that Wright would resign in 6 years so that was o.k. and C) the new pastor would not share the same beliefs that the old pastor who was popular enough to build a congregation 8,000 strong?
Now you want us to believe you can win in November?
Mr. Obama you greatly underestimate the intelligence of the American public.

John writes:
“Where’s the story about Obama exaggerating about his COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP rule? He’s told that story everywhere and anywhere, especially in debates!”

Mary writes:
“Besides, if it was a deliberate sentence “miscontruction”, it certainly did the trick, eh?”

why are you people supporting another Bush: “believe what I say not your lying eyes?”
This is WORM: What Obama Really Meant. Do you really believe this is going to change if he were elected to office?
Besides the fact he won’t get elected to office — anyway

What about Condi Rice’s recent American birth failure and slavery remarks?
What if Wright had spoken of America’s ‘birth failure’?
In 2006, the same Condi Rice compared critics of the war in Iraq to 19th century slavery apologizers.

Why did Barack Obama choose a spiritual advisor/mentor who agrees with the world view and teaching of James Cone and Black Liberation Theology?
Why didn’t Barack Obama choose a spiritual advisor/mentor who agrees with the world view and teaching of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.? Rev. King warned against “drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”

geevill,
you’re wrong. Hillary always does relatively well in the Rasmussen polls, when compared to Gallup.
Today Rasmussen writes, after polling Gore’s popularity among Democrats as well:
“Gore is viewed favorably by 76% of Democratic Primary Voters, Obama by 70%, and Clinton by 67%.”
So, among Democrats Hillary trails both men in favorability.

“True dems” as you call them are not all behind Hillary

I think Obama will be the nominee but lose to McCain because Hillary supporters will not support Obama. So that means more of our troops dying, the Supreme Court will overturn Roe vs Wade because of who McCain appoints. And then we have a conservative Supreme Court for how many years…..way too many, they’re on there for life. Stem cell research will not go forward. I would gladly have Obama for 4 years instead of a conservative Supreme Court for the rest of my life. You can’t vote them out.

If the media plays up Obama’s misteps even 20% as much as they play Hillary’s, Obama negatives will be up there with Hillary if not more.
I cannot recall any election where entire news outlets beat up on one candidate. The following media outlet have done this to Hillary: MSNBC, NPR, CNN (with Roland Martin and Amy Holms), FOX, NBC, and Politico.
That is just plain wrong.

I cannot believe that Obama defenders are now equating Rev. Wright to MLK. They seem to be suggesting that King himself would say those hateful sermons if he were alive.
Is this crazy or what?
Can you imagine Hillary trying to compare Wright’s sermon to that of MLK?
She will be toast right away.

Obama needs to see a shrink. Seriously. He does. Many Americans have had thier mother’s leave them at the same tender age as Obama’s mom. (10 years old.) It is framed in a way that say’s Obama “wanted desperetly to go back to America for Schooling”. However, no 10 year old that I know, would willingly leave their mother for a “higher calling”. Are you kidding me?
She left him. Plain and simple. Therein lies his bitterment towards the “typical white person.
Obama has Mommie problems.

How very big of bho, to confess that after twenty years of listening to wright, that he finely had had it with him–during the primary–and might have left the church if he had not retired. good thing bho gave him a job on his campaign when he was out of a job!

now obamaliar is trying to sell the baloney story that one of his roles is to get people to understand different points of view, etc., as an explanation for 20 years listening to hate speech (which he, of course, lies and says was just a few minutes,,,). yeah, right, he has someone marry him and baptize his children, takes his kids to that church, praises the person as his spiritual advisor, uses one of that person’s sermons – a very hate-filled one – as the basis for his book, etc. but he was only doing it to show people how to get along or whatever. he continues to insult our intelligence.
then his supporters further the insult by calling us names when we say – truthfully and in good conscience – that we will never vote for this man.
yet his media pals still grovel at his feet and salivate at the thought of kissing his —. pathetic.

More dissembling and double talk. This man needs to bow out. Please.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. oBAMA IS ROUNDING tV CHANNEL TO MAKE HIM SMELL GOOD BUT EVERYTIME HE OPENS HIS MOUTH.. THE FOULD SMELLING IS ENGULPING THE AIR, MAKING THE VIEWERS CHOKE AND LEFT US SICK. wE ARE SICK OF HIS INTERVIEWS, HIS CON WORDS, HIS VOICE THAT HAS NO EMOTION. hE LOOKS LIKE A ROBOT BECAUSE HE IS SO COLD IN HIS EYES THAT VIEWERS LIKE IS CHILLED TO DEATH WHEN WATCHING HIM ON MANY TIMES IN CNN, HIS ONE OF THE MEDIA SUPPORTERS AMONG THE MANY.hIS PRESENCE ALONE IS OFFENDING.

Greg: Sorry, but Obama was not a professor – sr. lecturer was his title. Although he had the competence, knowledge, and performance for professorship consideration, he did not publish enough-that’s a requirement in all academic circles. He also spent time in other positions – evidently did not see the academic life as his life-long career. I don’t think he himself calls himself a professor, although he has done so a few times…but others refer to him as that – its not true. (and I am an obama supporter – I’m not being sarcastic)

When I think how the press screamed “Liar” if Gore said hello and this guy can keep changing his story about being in the pew, no I wasn’t there…well I was there etc.and is never called on it! It’s amazing. I also laughed when Obama was back one day from a vacation and called campaigning a death march.
If he can’t take Hillary heat,how will he handle the scorching GOP?
And those supporting Obama are sick of the Wright story? Ha! Just wait till the GOP gets started. Hillary staying has actually protected BO.
At this point I have to believe he’s suppose melt down, but for Macain , not Hillary. I think that’s why the Macain loving press want her to drop out so badly. They have been saying nothing else since Iowa! Drop out before Obama melts down , we want him for Macain

What’s so weird about this whole Wright flap is that it’s essentially ten minutes of video being extrapolated onto a whole career. It seems probable that Jeremiah Wright has been saying provocative things for a long time, but these ten minutes must be the only in his long career that people would find “hateful” since no other videos are coming to light.

ah the irony of the spelling errors. It’s 2 am and I’m practically seeing double. SEE, even English Professors don’t always have perfect grammar.

What Obama’s pastor said does not really bother me. Let’s be honest, you really do not have to look that hard to find offensive comments in today’s world. BUT, what does bother me is his evasiveness. This is why I don’t think his speech was as important as everyone states. During his speech he admitted that he heard some offensive comments, but the Friday before on MSNBC, CNN, and even Fox News he stated that he never heard any such comments. That seems like he lied somewhere. If that is the truth it goes against his message, which makes him just another politician.

I think the Wright issue reflects on Obama’s veracity, willingness to stand up for his beliefs, and effectiveness in bringing about change and unity.
If only he had just said “I was wrong. I’m sorry. I should have spoken up sooner. I should never have allowed lies about AIDS to be spread to a group already vulnerable to poor health care. I ask Rev. Wright and anyone else who says such things to stop such dangerous and divisive rhetoric and to become part of this dialogue.”
I don’t need Obama to reject Wright, but I need to see some strength in actually resolving the issue, instead of just telling everybody that they were right to feel the way they do.

What are we to make of Obama’s admission in his speech that he heard Reverend Wright make controverial statements? Wright is man who derided all Italians by saying they had “garlic-sniffing” noses. I do not know anyone who makes these kinds of remarks only once or twice. The man is a bigot who preaches an ideology of victimology that is damaging to his parishioners. No way Obama had no idea. My guess is that he went along with this dangerous garbage purely for political purposes. He only objected when it hurt him politically. And he wants us to think he is a different kind of politician. Right.

@BT, IA: I have a solution for you. Leave your churches too. From the sound of it the only things being shown are to little boys in the dark. Grow up.

Pastor Wright is angry and frustrated he could move past the ’60s. But now he has to do the right thing by coming out admitting that he offended people of all colors and all races and apologize to everybody. He has to do that very humble gesture, that very candid apology will help him to move forward. Forgineness is part of the American Way. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

WAKE-UP AMERICANS ! Another 8 years of cover-ups will REALLY hurt us. I am as afraid for our country (and embarrassed) as I was with the last election. I am also OUTRAGED with the medias irresponsibility in ‘running with’ every distraction Obama presents as if it’s legitimate.

You people make me laugh, all these what ifs.

Unfortunately I am one of those life long Democrats who will vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee.
I really liked the man when he spoke at the 2004 Democratic convention…even saying..gee, that man should run for president some day. A lot has changed since then.
I know that McCain will go against much of what I believe as a Democrat but maybe that is just going to have to be okay. I rationalize that, through this vitriolic and “undemocratic process”of a primary, including the party leaders themselves, we will again have to reenvent ourselves….again. We may have someone who is like another Bush but maybe we will learn something.
My advice is let the Democrats, my party, destroy itself as it is doing, from within, and begin all over again.

Here’s a question: who among you has heard Rev. Wright’s comments in full, not just the snippets played over and over again in the mainstream media? Because if you hear them IN CONTEXT, you might have a different view.
Beyond which, as a nation people cannot go around the world invading other countries, propping up dictatorships and generally acting the bully without making people outside of that nation angry, and they cannot rationally expect to be able to do that forever consequence-free. And the treatment the U.S. gives its own citizens is often shocking in its lack of even-handedness or fair treatment. So have a good hard look at yourselves before you go blasting someone for having the nerve to speak their truths.
Certainly things have been said in churches that I’ve attended that have offended me, and no doubt you have been in the presence of offensive comments as well. Are we all to walk out whenever someone says something we disagree with, or should we take their behaviour as a whole- including their work in the community and as a spiritual strength to their people- into consideration? Read Bill Maher’s post about how all Catholics should walk out of the church, and you’ll have an idea what I mean.

Barack Obama will make a sporting target this Fall for John McCain. As long as he understands he will be on a live firing range and the hummiliation will be with him a lifetime!
Run Barry, we’ll count to five…and give ya a head start.

BT, IA – No, we as individuals can’t be held responsible “for what our religious leaders” say and do. But it’s ridiculous to compare the sins spread throughout various Catholic churches with the very specific words and mindset of ONE preacher in ONE church. The individuals in that church may not be responsible for Wright’s words (though they could, of course, demand that he leave), but the churchgoers are responsible for their own reactions–they could leave. Obama could have left any time in 20 years.
Yesterday I was on a train next to a young black woman who was trying hard to be rude and obnoxious to the white people around her and I thought about “Rev.” Wright and the way his publicized rants may have encouraged her rage. That is something Wright has done for the last 20 years, in addition to perverting the Gospel. He has encouraged black people to be angry every day of their lives. Obama started out this campaign saying he wanted to bridge all divides, and if he’d meant that, he could never have tolerated such deliberate attempts to enflame racial anger. It’s the opposite of what he says he is about.

Extremism and extremists are the death knell of the Democratic Party. If ever we have needed moderation in our actions and words it is now, but the media will not enable it because anything said in low tones with deliberate thoughts does not play well.
I am voting for Hillary because she has the best grasp of the policies and the problems. Obama and Michelle are students of the school of Black Liberation Theology. I am liberal but I am not brain-dead. When told to take Wright’s comments in ‘context’, I find even more scary rhetoric. When told to read Obama and Michelle’s writings, I find more separatism and inability to articulate a united vision.
Take it all the way to August and beyond. Senator Clinton, it is time to quit parsing and worrying about who you will offend by speaking truth to bigotry. The bigots won’t vote for you anyway. Instead of worrying about who you will offend, speak loudly for those you must defend. They will vote for you.

Yes, Obama stated that Reverend Wright acknowledged offending people, mischaracterizing the nation, . .. It’s a similar sentence construction to this: Had the Wright videos not come out and had the effect not been damaging, then Obama would not have to be defending his minister and 20 year alliance. However, semantics aside, let’s just say that Obama was telling another whopper to the ladies.

I don’t see any Obama supporters leaving comments on this subject. I would really like to hear how this latest statement reconciles with his other statements on the issue. To me, it just seems to be inconsistent and stated as attempts to backtrack. However, I would really like to understand the pro-Obama argument–maybe I’ve missed something.

You’d think that Sen. Obama’s campaign was created on Madison Avenue, with one of the best marketing engineers our country has. But, savvy customers always look at the list of ingredients on the label…no matter how beautiful the packaging might be!
On Obama’s label you might find these ingredients in very small print: hypocrite (as in double-standard for his calls for Imus to step-down, but down-right endorsing his pastor Wright); liar (as in “I’m just as shocked to hear those remarks as you are…and if I ever heard those things, I would have left that church”); copycat (as in copies practically every idea Clinton came up for our economy and then uses Deval Patrick’s speeches, etc.); fox in sheep’s clothing (as in saying he admired the likes of Reagan’s ideas and Bush Sr. economic plans–though both were failures).
At this point, anyone who has yet to vote in the primary and chooses Obama, does so with “OPEN EYES” and you’re really helping McCain when you do so!!! Obama will be a swiftboater’s dream in the GE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m a white male, retired, from New England, and a member of the UCC. My dear, departed father used to warn me about the dangers of discussing religion or politics. I have no recollection of him warning me about the dangers of discussing religion AND politics. After reading many of these posts, I want to issue my own warning. The inherent dishonesty of attacking Wright as a way of undermining Obama and thus diverting my vote to either the Clintons or McCain is likely to backfire. I have not yet made a choice- but I regard most of the posts here as illustrative of the candidates and the candidate’s character- In my opinion, there is little difference between the utterances of the candidate and the utterances made in the candidates’name(s), made either overtly or covertly.

OPERATION CHAOS

Wow, Lem, you’re certainly right that we need this discussion if what you got from my post was that I “longed for the days when black people
knew their place and dared not speak ill of a society in which they connot even ride a subway without a white woman being afraid of them because of the color of their skin.” Nothing could be further from the truth, and that you would take that from my post illustrates your prejudices and “ignorance,” not mine. I was not afraid of the woman, first of all. But she clearly was deliberately being provocative. If you can’t look at the reactions of the congregation in the Wright videos, at their cheering at his virulently anti-white, anti-American statements, and not see that his screeds could inflame any black person with latent rage (and there are good reasons for that rage), you aren’t looking. I said that someone, like this young woman, who might be susceptible to that kind of rhetoric would certainly be encouraged by Wright. That’s just a fact. Wright intentionally prolonging rage, and that Obama, who claims to be seeking to be a healer, “couldn’t see” that for 20 years says a lot about him. But you seem to be one of the Obama supporters who finds it necessary to characterize any criticism of him as a sign of racism.

Just one minute
I’m not a conspiracy theorist. I’m just curious. I do enjoy the occasional Ludlum, Forsyth and well, most tension filled political and conspiracy novels. My curiosity though, does not stem from the pages of a novel. It comes from the current stand or atmosphere in Washington. I especially got extremely angry when Patrick Lehay asked Hilary Clinton to step aside because she was hurting Barack Obama. My first thought was, this fellows’ got some nerve. There is nothing that Hilary has done to hurt Barack that he himself has not done. Why is it that the men in Washington would rather settle for a lame wounded horse in a major race rather than sent in a battle tested, battle ready, strong and very competitive Amazon? Why are these men, joined by these so called Conservative Democratic Women, so threatened by Hilary Clinton that they are trying to force her out of the race? Are they so jealous that a second Clinton is going to be president that they can not stand it? Is Patrick Lehay an ignoramus? Why is he treating her like she is no more than a nuisance? How dare he? Does Patrick know something that he thinks the rest of us are ignorant to? Does he think that we all listen to the likes of MSNBC, CNN and ABC? Have they bought into their own delusion? “Give it up already?” I wonder where he got the nerve from.
Why are they so afraid of Hilary Clinton? Do they see in her an unimaginable potential that exceeds all of their capabilities? Could this be the only woman of our time with all of the real potential to be president and are we going to let the Washington bullies silence her? I hope not.
My only conclusion is that there is a conspiracy; but not the kind you think. Is it possible that knowing that Barack Obama has not a chance in Hell of defeating John McCain, that they would much rather have McCain in the Whitehouse than a Hilary Clinton??? I’m curious, is Barack Obama a part of this conspiracy or is he so brilliantly dumb that these simple facts escape him? Is the male dominated press in on this conspiracy? Why are the women in the press intimidated by these oppressors? Very few have dared to ask challenging questions of Obama while they join in with the male dominated press corp to discredit and humiliate Hilary Clinton. Do we not want to progress pass the 1800s? I thought we were in the 21st Century? Are men still so afraid of women in power that they would do anything to destroy and discredit them? I know that I have a lot of “Whys”. I would hope that by the end of this primary season, we would come close to figuring out what Patrick and his gang is hiding and what they are holding on to. I hope though, and sincerely so, that it would not be too late.

Obama keeps changing story all the time. I don’t believe a single thing that fall out of his mouth anymore.
It’s absurd that people still try to defend him. If it’s too hard to relate, try imagine your husband, your wife, or your friend behave like this to you. Would you trust them?

re: joeysky’s “…your wife, or your friend behave like this to you. Would you trust them?
Excellent point joey – I mean Hilary has told us if her pastor said those things she’d leave the church… We are left to assume that if her pastor went down on Bill, she’d stay… and you’d trust them both… Are you really comfortable calling other people’s opinions absurd?
I’ve tried but enough is enough, so it seems to me that it’s a win-win for HLC supporters – No matter if she loses the nomination or somehow goes on to lose the general election, you will all be able to go on blaming men or the media or the cultists for your lives… no need for introspection or any intellectual honesty. You all win! Congrats I guess…

Dems,
I am an independent and as such I have independent thoughts. I have seen through Obama from the beginning. His words do not match his actions. I did not just have that link available. I had to search through my bookmarks to find it. I actually believe the Democratic Party is very screwed up.

To the media:
You are supposed to be informing us, giving us the unvarnished and verified facts.
You are NOT supposed to be shaping and sculpturing our opinions by what you do & don’t report and how you word it.
Please do the job we, the people, depend on you to do! Anything else indicates you are in somebody’s pocket and/or can’t be trusted.
So much of this campaign BS could have been/ can be avoided if you would just be unbiased and give us the unadulterated facts.
Please stop the sensationalism!
Please give unbiased information.

Who cares about Reverend Wright. I can’t beleive that anybody would be stupid enough to base their decision for President on this guy. He can say whatever he wants in HIS church.
Just like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, etc. They say things that are far more vile than anything Wright has said, but the media don’t care.
What hypocrisy.

I AM SO SICK OF OBAMA’S LIES. They just keep coming. First he didn’t hear the preacher raging, then he did. He tried his best with his surrogates, Dodd, Leahy, etc. to get Hillary out before she won the big states. Ohio and Texas, then Pennsylvania. She knocked him and his plan down with a swift kick. Now, he saying he wants her to stay. He’s either stupid, crazy, or a lying hypocrite.

Guilty as charged, so are you. I’ve read your posts. In any case, I am for Hillary and I don’t like the the fact that he’s had a lack of scrutiny and is still being babied by the media. Hillary is far more qualified. Look back at any of the debates and you’ll see she gave detailed plans, had deeper knowledge of foreign and domestic affairs. I prefer her for OBVIOUS, sane reasons.

Actual ttlt, having power includes having great influence over people. Wright had great influence over his congregation. He used the pulpit to spread his views among people who looked up to him, respected and trusted him. The message will spread from there. Making a racist view part of a system in which people interact, is racism.

After reading most of the comments, I want a say…
I am a 45 year old life-long Democratic activitist. Since my gradeschool years, I have worked in campaign offices, canvassed, done GOTV activities, visibility events, phone-banked, held positions in my county Democratic committee, and contributed to many Democratic candidates and causes. I support Senator Clinton because I think she is wonderfully intelligent, has the best policies all round, knows how Washington works…she works like noone else I’ve ever seen and does not give up in the face of adversity. And she has seen a lot of adversity. She lets the mostly undeserved criticism roll off her back and gracefully proceeds on. While she has her own set of flaws, she is my candidate of choice.
All that said, originally, I was willing to support Sen. Obama should he prevail in this primary. That was until I saw what his campaign was really about. Tearing down the presidency of the most popular Democratic president in recent history doesn’t get a pass with this voter. The below the radar comments such as, “oh, you’re likeable enough,” “I’ll have to think about it” (Mrs. Obama’s response when asked if she’d support Sen. Clinton’s candidacy), “first time in my adult life I’ve been proud of my country” comment,” “typical white person,” just don’t give me confidence in Sen. Obama. His vague and clearly conflicting Rev. Wright statements just make me frustrated.
I can’t understand how a candidate can justify winning if it means losing half the Democratic party–many of Sen. Clinton’s supporters will still vote for Sen. Obama if he succeeds, but after trying to paint Pres. Clinton and Sen. Clinton as racists, many will hold their noses to vote and won’t get out there and fight for someone they feel doesn’t really have the best interest of the Democratic party in mind. And he is going to need all the help he can get in the GE if he is the nominee. Another 28% say they will either not vote for a President or vote for Sen. McCain. In this light, Sen. Obama’s talk of unifying the country looks lame if he thinks he can do if by tearing his own party apart first.
Along that line, noone has ever answered this question for me–why would Sen. Clinton condone playing the race card in the middle of a hard fought primary battle right before the S.C. vote when S.C. African Americans make up a sizeable portion of the Democratic vote there? Why? Why would she condone the race card being played when she has always supported and worked for AA causes? When President Clinton got where he was largely due to AA support? It makes no sense to me…It’s ridiculous. I sincerely feel Sen. Obama’s campaign set out to destroy Sen. Clinton’s standing with African Americans. HE played the race card.
Initially, after hearing the 2004 convention speech, I was VERY excited about an “eventual” Obama presidency. But, as this campaign season warmed up, and I read more about him, listened to his supporters, visited blog sites, and I heard him in impromptu interviews and realized he sounded a little like President Bush with a seeming lack of off the cuff communication skills, it made me wonder…In my gut of guts, I just wasn’t sold on Sen. Obama. Many of his supporters just spewed hatred for anything Clinton…unbelieveable…
Now, these are just my own gut reactions…I do have to say that Sen. Clinton has always been at the top of my list…but as any good Democrat should do, I DID look at Sen. Obama. I just didn’t find what I believe is necessary in my President. I found a typical politician who runs on the platform that he is NOT a typical politician…and this typical politician has things/actions in his background that I feel make him less likely to be able to defeat John McCain in the GE should he be the Democratic nominee. He complains about Sen. Clinton beating him up for the GE, but he hasn’t seen anything yet. The Republican smear machine is chomping at the bit to get at him.
Although I am white and grew up in a predominately white part of a medium sized city, I have been very close to a number of black people. The friends I had were wonderful. I learned a lot about their culture, and it was, for a 20 something woman, very fascinating and enlightening. I felt so welcomed into the families, really welcomed. For awhile, those families took the place of my own white family. I share this only to show that when I look at Sen. Obama, I don’t see a “black” person…he’s not at a “supposed” disadvantage in this voter’s mind…I have come to my conclusion about him as a candidate based on what I’ve seen come out of Sen. Obama’s campaign.
At this moment, I can’t vote for Sen. Obama. If he is the nominee, I hope he does his homework and tries hard to earn my vote back. Right now, I feel taken for granted and overlooked…right now, I feel like he has chosen to pit the younger, newer voters against those of us who helped build the Democratic party, who fought for candidates so that all people could have equal opportunities and because there is still a lot of work to do to accomplish even these basic rights. I will continue to support Sen. Clinton because, right now, she is the best candidate, in my judgment, to get things done.

“It must be remembered that in those great days I was considered to be an “integrationist” — this was never, quite, my own idea of myself — and Malcolm was considered to be a “racist in reverse.” This formulation, in terms of power — and power is the arena in which racism is acted out — means absolutely nothing: it may even be described as a cowardly formulation. The powerless, by definition, can never be “racists” for they can never make the world pay for what they feel or fear except by the suicidal endeavor which makes them fanatics or revolutionaries, or both: and invite you to those which they know you will never own. The powerless must do their own dirty work. The powerful have it done for them.”
James Baldwin

Another one of Obama’s misspeaks which the national media has “passed on”.Obama reminds me of Kerry, one of his big endorsers.. Oh, Barry, just flip and then you can flop!!

If u think it is dirty now,
wait until the Republican Attack Machine gets started…
***Back when EVERYONE was watching the S Carolina debate to find out if Sen. Obama was real change from the politics as usual…
Obama on his first big money supporter, Tony Rezco, “I only worked for five hours for him as a client as a junior lawyer.”
(NO BIG DEAL)
and then later,
“He helped my buy my house and saved me $300,000 and gave 250k to my campaign” and then, “he never asked me for anything.”
ht
Plus
His spiritual mentor for 20 years Pastor Wright said America is responsible for 9/11 and “god d@#$ America”, wouldn’t most Americans stand up and walk out….
Obama said, “I was never there in the pews”, and then later “I was there” …
***the Republicans are going to dismantle Sen. Obama with this stuff
…if he wins the Nomination.
At a disputed meeting earlier this year between Obama’s senior economic adviser Austan Goolsbee and Canadian diplomats over NAFTA.
In that meeting, which the Obama campaign initially denied ever took place, Goolsbee reportedly told the Canadians that Obama’s tough rhetoric on NAFTA was mere political posturing. After Canadian officials leaked a key memo that called into question the Obama campaign’s repeated denials, the campaign acknowledged the meeting but denied Goolsbee ever said any such thing.
“Again, this story is not true. There was no one at any level of our campaign, at any point, anywhere, who said or otherwise implied Obama was backing away from his consistent position on trade.” Obama Spokesperson Burton said.If u think it is dirty now, wait until the Republican Attack Machine gets started…
Sen. Obama in his own PA commercial, ” I never took and will never take money from the oil companies.”
Fact: He did receive $215,000 from the Oil Industry.
And he has two Oil Industry Executives on his fundraising staff…
If u think it is dirty now, wait until the Republican Attack Machine gets started…