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.
Isn’t that special. What d bro’s in d hood gonna say ?
“I did not have sexual relations with that reverend, Mr. Wright.”
If my pastor said these things I’d only have to hear them once, ‘cause my butt’s out the door and it’s not coming back. So, Hussein, why not you too????
Sorry Hussein, I do not believe you. Your own actions (not saluting the flag, not wearing the flag on your lapel), your wife's statements and activities, all of these things begin to add up now.
You are backing away now because it is politically expediant, but by your own measure, your judgement now is in abject and total question. You are not qualified or judgementaly capable or qoualified of leading this nation.
You knew this man...you identified with him...and now that chicken has come home to roost.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
If he preached the gospel of Jesus, how did Obama miss the lessons on not killing innocent babies?
Contrast this apostate church with the great Moody Church. Hussein joined it so he could fake being a Christian without much work so he could chase a political career. It is okay to be a liar according to the Koran POS.
These are from his book.
Doesn’t look like he likes to say anything about his white side.
From ‘Dreams of my Father’, “In Indonesia, I had spent two years at a Muslim school”
“I studied the Koran..”
From ‘Audacity of Hope: “Lolo (Obama’s step father) followed a brand of Islam ....”I looked to Lolo for guidance”.
From ‘The Audacity Of Hope, “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
From The Audacity Of Hope, “We are no longer just a Christian nation,” “We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.”
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 other race would always remain just that: menacing, alien, and apart.”
From ‘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, “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, 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.”
” 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.”
One problem Obama: The American people don’t know who you are! What are your values? No one knows! Your association with Wright says you have REALLY BAD judgment, and you have no experience.
So with all of that in mind, we’re all back at square one: you and Wright need to go back to Chicago and do community work. The American people will make sure that happens.
Popcorn, anyone?
He also donated over $20k a year to the man.
Furthermore, the whole premise of the church is racist. See its website.
Quack !
This could work. It will certainly satisfy most leftists.
Absolutely right. Mr. Obama, I know ministers of the Gospel of Jesus, and Mr. Obama, he’s no minister of the Gospel of Jesus.
Of course this is a load or rubbish, but it will effectively satisfy many people’s concerns about this issue.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.