Well, maybe just a little worried.
Nice pic. Your work?
Posted on 03/14/2008 2:03:09 PM PDT by bahblahbah
The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He's drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.
Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.
Because these particular statements by Rev. Wright are so contrary to my own life and beliefs, a number of people have legitimately raised questions about the nature of my relationship with Rev. Wright and my membership in the church. Let me therefore provide some context.
As I have written about in my books, I first joined Trinity United Church of Christ nearly twenty years ago. I knew Rev. Wright as someone who served this nation with honor as a United States Marine, as a respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago. He also led a diverse congregation that was and still is a pillar of the South Side and the entire city of Chicago. It's a congregation that does not merely preach social justice but acts it out each day, through ministries ranging from housing the homeless to reaching out to those with HIV/AIDS.
Most importantly, Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; he's been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.
The statements that Rev. Wright made that are the cause of this controversy were not statements I personally heard him preach while I sat in the pews of Trinity or heard him utter in private conversation. When these statements first came to my attention, it was at the beginning of my presidential campaign. I made it clear at the time that I strongly condemned his comments. But because Rev. Wright was on the verge of retirement, and because of my strong links to the Trinity faith community, where I married my wife and where my daughters were baptized, I did not think it appropriate to leave the church.
Let me repeat what I've said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country.
With Rev. Wright's retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss, III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good. And while Rev. Wright's statements have pained and angered me, I believe that Americans will judge me not on the basis of what someone else said, but on the basis of who I am and what I believe in; on my values, judgment and experience to be President of the United States.
No matter what Obama says, his wife’s recent statements bear out the fact that they have been sitting under this hatred for 20 years. In fact, in hindsight, it helps one understand the origin of Michelle Obama’s hateful statements.
Yeah, clearly the old hater is all about Jesus.
< /s >
Senator Obama, did you bring your children to this church and expose them to this preacher’s racist and hate-filled preaching? Isn’t that child abuse?
To follow-up Senator, please explain how someone can attend a church for 20-years, have the pastor baptize their kids, and donate large amounts of money to it, but not actually believe the pastor’s teachings as you seem to say in your statement?
This excuse doesn’t fly. It’s the equivilent of someone trying to rationalize a 20 membership in the KKK by saying well, I don’t agree with everything they say and I disagree with their major premise totally. That begs the next question: then why are you still a member of the KKK?
Whoops, the right link to the quote here here.
http://www.barackobama.com/2007/06/23/a_politics_of_conscience_1.php
I’ve walked out of church services for less “controversial” things than Obama’s pastor said.
I would not be a member of a church that preached things I strongly disagree with.
Obama is not being honest. How can one sit under this kind of preaching for 23 years, consider this man as a mentor and spiritual advisor, and even name one’s book after one of his sermons yet vehemently disagree with him on these issues.
Obama is a phony and a danger to this Republic.
Uh huh.
The MSM is not showing this firestorm. They Fox and Drudge are avoiding it.
The same religious right who believes that in order to be a servant of God you must not partake in voting for Partial birth abortion? The same religious right who actually supports giving the bible a read and not giving awards to a Nation of Islam leader? The same religious right who actually believes that all human life is sacred?
The same religious right where one of the leaders actually professed to a faith in Global Warming(Pat Robertson said that if I can recall. I do not endorse it but to tar all members of the Christian Right as Libertarians(which is thet true Far Right) is ridiculous)? The same religious right that is not Anti-Semitic, believes in Israel not for religious identity but because it is moral and right, the same religious right that is not Anti-Catholic? The same religious right that helped to free the slaves(who you were not a part of, sorry Obama. You cannot claim victimhood)?
Now let’s look at Democrats:
The same Democrats who constantly profess a hatred for Jews, Catholics and Evangelicals(who freed the slaves during our Civil War)? The same Democrats who lean towards your(Obama) policies on life? The same Democrats who won’t even let a child pray in public school thereby having a hampering on our moral foundations? The Democrats who see everything as a socio-political issue and not theological sometimes?
I am not entirely a religious right man myself(nevermind if Religious Right is a demeaning term usually used by Left-Wing activists) but I find those lines insufferable.
'Nuff said.......White Sox ain't got a chance against the Cubbies THIS year!
You WILL give the pastor the benefit of the doubt, now, won't you!
Yup...the one I posted is my work. I like yours, too. :-)
???
Great minds, eh?
Osama Obama is a liar. He has stated in the past that he was well aware of this church’s “radical” reputation when he joined it 20 years ago. He obviously found that aspect of it to be attractive. He is a trained community organizer. Trained by radical Leftists. Does he mean to tell us that in all the years of his association with Wright and his church, he was unaware of the radical statements made by Wright from the pulpit? He is unaware of the black nationalist policy statement that the “church” practices? Obama must not be allowed to become our Liar in Chief.
Obama is denying the obvious and his fans will buy right into it...just like when bubba clinton denied diddling the intern.
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