Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11

abcnews ^ | 3/13/08 | BRIAN ROSS and REHAB EL-BURI

[MittFan08]

Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11

Obama's Pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Has a History of What Even Obama's Campaign Aides Say Is 'Inflammatory Rhetoric'

By BRIAN ROSS and REHAB EL-BURI

March 13, 2008—

Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God damn America."

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's pastor for the last 20 years at the Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's south side, has a long history of what even Obama's campaign aides concede is "inflammatory rhetoric," including the assertion that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own "terrorism."

In a campaign appearance earlier this month, Sen. Obama said, "I don't think my church is actually particularly controversial." He said Rev. Wright "is like an old uncle who says things I don't always agree with," telling a Jewish group that everyone has someone like that in their family.

Rev. Wright married Obama and his wife Michelle, baptized their two daughters and is credited by Obama for the title of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."

An ABC News review of dozens of Rev. Wright's sermons, offered for sale by the church, found repeated denunciations of the U.S. based on what he described as his reading of the Gospels and the treatment of black Americans.

"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people," he said in a 2003 sermon. "God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

In addition to damning America, he told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001 that the United States had brought on al Qaeda's attacks because of its own terrorism.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

"We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost," he told his congregation.

Sen. Obama told the New York Times he was not at the church on the day of Rev. Wright's 9/11 sermon. "The violence of 9/11 was inexcusable and without justification," Obama said in a recent interview. "It sounds like he was trying to be provocative," Obama told the paper.

Rev. Wright, who announced his retirement last month, has built a large and loyal following at his church with his mesmerizing sermons, mixing traditional spiritual content and his views on contemporary issues.

"I wouldn't call it radical. I call it being black in America," said one congregation member outside the church last Sunday.

"He has impacted the life of Barack Obama so much so that he wants to portray that feeling he got from Rev. Wright onto the country because we all need something positive," said another member of the congregation.

Rev. Wright, who declined to be interviewed by ABC News, is considered one of the country's 10 most influential black pastors, according to members of the Obama campaign.

Obama has praised at least one aspect of Rev. Wright's approach, referring to his "social gospel" and his focus on Africa, "and I agree with him on that."

Sen. Obama declined to comment on Rev. Wright's denunciations of the United States, but a campaign religious adviser, Shaun Casey, appearing on "Good Morning America" Thursday, said Obama "had repudiated" those comments.

In a statement to ABCNews.com, Obama's press spokesman Bill Burton said, "Sen. Obama has said repeatedly that personal attacks such as this have no place in this campaign or our politics, whether they're offered from a platform at a rally or the pulpit of a church. Sen. Obama does not think of the pastor of his church in political terms. Like a member of his family, there are things he says with which Sen. Obama deeply disagrees. But now that he is retired, that doesn't detract from Sen. Obama's affection for Rev. Wright or his appreciation for the good works he has done."

Click Here for the Investigative Homepage.

[PISANO]

Obviously, there will be an immediate statement of condemnation by Barak. Right?

His camp is in war room mode right now. If he comes out right now and condemns his preacher's words then it can be asked WHY has he been going to a church whose pastor has condemned the US for over 20 years? Why now? What's different? Why not years ago? Why even go to a church that preaches this? ETC ETC

Barak Hussein Obama is in a pickle.

Unless Hillary doesn't touch it at all, and McCain stays in his stupid HIGH GROUND mode during the general election cycle, this isn't going away!

[Def Conservative]

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. This is common in many black churches. As a black man, I warn the party...be careful who you reach out to.

Yeah, a lot of blacks are pro-life...but that’s as far as their conservatism goes.

I would pay for this fool’s one way ticket to Africa, since he hates America so much. I am disgusted that my brother is risking his life overseas for this clown. There should be a LOUD effort by ALL Americans to pull this clown’s tax exempt status.

[semaj]

"When one removes patriotism from their perspective and tries to view this nation and culture as it currently exists - from an historical and biblical perspective - there are, for lack of a better word, warts."

Bears to be repeated. I love the principles and ideals that the country was founded upon. And for the most part, America has tried to live up to those ideals, but in recent times, America has fogotten just what made this country great in the first place. "America has forgotten its "first love." Remember what Toqeuville said about America's greatness.

[Edgerunner]

He’s a CINO

Sounds downright Islamic to me...

[ridesthemiles]

I’m suprised ABC News is covering this.”

Don’t you suppose it is because they are supporting Hillary in everything???

First Woman President???

First Lady to Bill?

I never thought any of the cast of anything at ABC was able to see what real monsters both Nill and Hillary are.
They not only have drunk the Kool-Aid at ABC, I think they make up a new batch several times a day.

[ridesthemiles]

“We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye,” Rev. Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.”

I don’t suppose anyone ever told the preacher about Pearl Harbor???

Maybe he needs to go live somewhere in Africa.

[ridesthemiles]

Biblical scholar, pastor, and community activist”

Needs revision:

Activist........””Pastor””....scholar of a different Bible than I grew up with...

[ridesthemiles]

Anyone who would voluntarily sit through such tirades is not even fit to vote, let alone be President.”

This is rich target material for the General Election, IMO. Even if McCain doesn’t use it directly, no one controls the internet, and this is going to follow Obama for the rest of his life.
It’s not like he just joined the church and only spent a couple of Sundays there, seeing if it would be a good fit for him and his family.

He cannot do “revisionist history” on a 20 year membership.

IMO, this isn’t going to go away.....

[Condor51]

Sen. Barack Obama's pastor says blacks should not sing "God Bless America" but "God d*mn America."

Right on Rev!

• God d*m America! (Bring around the Bentley boy!)
• God d*m America! (Ramah, honey. Which $2000 suit should I wear?)
• God d*m America! (Oh, you need a new car to go shopping. Okay, a Benz or Jaguar?)
• God d*m America! (Where should we go for vacation, Monaco or Nice?)
• God d*m America! (Should we sell our Penthouse Condo, or the Mansion? No, keep both.. okay.)
• God d*m America! (Woo-hoo, it's Monday. Off to Vegas baby!)

The ingrate Rev should try his preacher scam in ... Sudan. And his faithful flock should go with him.

[PLD]

After looking at that clip again isn't this Racist pig wearing Muslim garb..It looks like it to me..The purple night gown is the one I noticed maybe more..

[A CA Guy]

Obama’s preacher is Satan's intern.

You hear no racism like this from whites anymore unless you go back 50 years to historic footage with the old Democrat KKK with the sheets over the head and crosses burning.

This preacher is a hater.

Anyone not dark is a target for that man.
Evil in a preacher's robe.

[PLD]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4443230

[Deo volente]

I'm listening right now to some of his “sermons”. Michael Medved is talking about it on his show.

The level of hatred and rage in the “reverend's” voice is terrifying.

[maine-iac7]

I will vote for the candidate that promotes our national interests and that their opinion of our nation does matter.

The winning post of the day - the decade?

for asininity

[maine-iac7]

Bless you and Bless your brother for his service - I have family over there too = We need to assure they don’t get sabotaged back here...

[maine-iac7]

He trashed Clarence Thomas and Condi Rice not respecting their accomplishments because they are Republicans.

because they are successful - ergo, as lady Obama says, playing up to Whitey.

I fear not only for whites, but for the thousands of blacks who are AMERICANS - who love this country, who have made a good life for themselves, pursuing the AMERICAN dream.

They are equally, perhaps more, despised by these people - Michelle O. encourages black NOT to go to college and incur tuition debt, NOT to work for "Cooperate America" - i.e., not to take advantages of all the advantages both she and Barack have - which leaves them both very wealthy indeed.

They don't see the irony...

[maine-iac7]

After looking at that clip again isn't this Racist pig wearing Muslim garb..

Looks like Kenyan garb - not the Muslim turban garb Obama was in, but the Kenyan dress he was in with his relatives in Kenya -

[maine-iac7]

back 50 years to historic footage with the old Democrat KKK with the sheets over the head and crosses burning.

Not to mention the former KKK High Mucky Muck, Senator Bird - who STILL retains his seat.

Doddering old fool

Not to mention the white REPUBLICANS that were murdered by the DEMOCRATS back when they were fighting to give the blacks the vote...The democrats fought it tooth and nail...

'tis a puzzlement.