Posted on 03/14/2008 3:29:09 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday denounced inflammatory remarks from his pastor, who has railed against the United States and accused its leaders of bringing on the Sept. 11 attacks by spreading terrorism.
As video of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has widely aired on television and the Internet, Obama responded by posting a blog about his relationship with Wright and his church, Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, on the Huffington Post.
Obama wrote that he's looked to Wright for spiritual advice, not political guidance, and he's been pained and angered to learn of some of his pastor's comments for which he had not been present. Obama's statement did not say whether Wright would remain on his African American Religious Leadership Committee, and campaign officials wouldn't say either.
"I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies," Obama said. "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 Reverend Wright that are at issue."
In a sermon on the Sunday after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Wright suggested the United States brought on the attacks.
"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," Wright said. "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."
In a 2003 sermon, he said blacks should condemn the United States.
"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. 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."
He also gave a sermon in December comparing Obama to Jesus, promoting his candidacy and playing down Clinton.
Questions about Obama's religious beliefs have dogged him throughout his candidacy. He's had to fight against false Internet rumors suggesting he's really a Muslim intent on destroying the United States, and now his pastor's words uttered nearly seven years ago have become an issue.
Obama wrote on the Huffington Post that he never heard Wright say any of the statements that are "so contrary to my own life and beliefs," but they have raised legitimate questions about the nature of his relationship with the pastor and the church.
He explained that he joined Wright's church, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, nearly 20 years ago. He said he knew Wright as a former Marine and respected biblical scholar who lectured at seminaries across the country.
"Reverend Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life," he wrote. "... 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."
He said Wright's controversial statements first came to his attention at the beginning of his presidential campaign last year, and he condemned them. Because of his ties to the 6,000-member congregation church — he and his wife were married there and their daughters baptized — Obama decided not to leave the church.
Obama also has credited Wright with delivering a sermon that he adopted as the title of his book, "The Audacity of Hope."
"With Reverend 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," he wrote.
Also Friday, the United Church of Christ issued a 1,400-word statement defending Wright and his "flagship" congregation. John H. Thomas, United Church of Christ's president, lauded Wright's church for its community service and work to nurture youth. Other church leaders praised Wright for speaking out against homophobia and sexism in the black community.
"It's time for all of us to say no to these attacks and to declare that we will not allow anyone to undermine or destroy the ministries of any of our congregations in order to serve their own narrow political or ideological ends," Thomas said in the statement.
Fox Allstars ready to start discussion ....coming up shortly on Foxnews Channel....
Concerned citizens groups can run the tv adds of the sermons in the background with Obama refusing to have his hand over his heart during the national anthem. I can’t wait to see those.
He was for it before it became known...or something. Chhhhchhhhaaanges! (sung in my David Bowie-Hunky Dory era voice)
“Concerned citizens groups can run the tv adds of the sermons in the background with Obama refusing to have his hand over his heart during the national anthem. I can’t wait to see those.”
Might make some great bill boards.
Not credible. This preacher has been an “activist” in this way for many years. His CHRISTMAS SERMON was hate filled for Heaven’s sake.
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.
I think Foxnews showed him making a comment about the Government hiding the fact that the Japanese were going to bomb Pearl Harbor....now that is really reaching back!
Still waiting for him to separate himself from The Reverend Wright.
Yes, the presstitudes are all comparing this hateful malcolmx to John Hagee.
Hagee does not hate his country.
Hagee does not hate anyone, including catholics.
Hagee is not even John McCain’s pastor.
Hagee has not received 20,000 from McCain.
This is shameful even for the presstitudes.
These hatriotics must go to the same hate American School.
The hate America a$$holes out here, with a couple of glasses of wine in them will go back there sometimes when they get on a hate America roll.
Yup! Yup! Yup! All those chickens are coming hommmmme to Roost! A raving bigot has just taken the Magic Negro Down!
It’s raining BS.
That could have worked on Sept, 16th, 2001
Gee Obama has just been Kristen’d!
“This requires a suspension of disbelief.”
This entire election campaign requires it.
What about all the other contiversal sermons?
I would like Obama to address each one.
Heres 2 he can start with.....
Obama, do you believe Jesus was a poor black man living in a country that was ruled by rich white men?
Obama, do you belive that Whites invented AIDS to desroy the black people?
mark my words....
somewhere out there is a video of aunt jeremiah wright shouting how whitey is the devil while hussien and mrs. obama are in the background pumping their fists and cheering...
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright = Grand Wizard of the Klan-With-A-Tan
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