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.
PRAY TELL what did they say??
ML/NJ
How can we really know?
Yes, Obama is loyal to the United States...enemies.
I don't suppose there is a copy of that sermon. It sounds like one that Obama actually listen to.
too late Hussein
You can listen to them here:
http://www.townhall.com/talkradio/Show.aspx?RadioShowID=5
Thursday March 13 show, second hour. Wright starts speaking at 14:47. The commentary by Hewitt and his guests and callers is good.
Wright reminds me of Malcom X. The same bombast, the same in-your-face hatred of whites and of America.
Liberals regard black racial bigotry as either impossible by definition or infinitely forgivable. Let's see if they can maintain those beliefs after they hear Wright's hate-filled racist rants, repeated again and again.
And to think that George Allen's political career was ended by one use of the word "macaca."
They all agreed and especially Charles Krauthammer that this is bad bad news for obama’s campaign.
It’s too little, too late, IMHO.
And how about his wife who apears to echo the pastor's sentiments about our country? She has also been pretty inflammatory. Once again we see how the government refuses to go after these terrorist-loving and very political sermonizers who make political statements while in church? Obama lies, he prevaricates, he is untruthful! What kind of prez would he make? Ghastly!
I want to know if he or his wife or kids was in one of those crowds cheering this preacher on.
I actually read that once, that FDR knew they were going to bomb Pearl Harbor. I think I actually read it on FR. Anyone remember that thread?
Actually, people who are Afro-Centric DO believe Jesus and Moses and a whole bunch of other biblical folk were black!
“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...”
My thoughts exactly, and we need to find it to catch him in the lie.
Oh no Senator..., you cannot weasel out of this one so easily. :)
That is for dam sure.
Birds of a feather flock together.
The pastor most likely go the idea from Hussein O.
Well now, gee, we can all believe it, because the Fox Allstars have spoken. /sarc
(I'd guess Juan Williams wasn't in the group, or there would have been a 911 call from Fox News, for sure.)
The perfect coming Dem’Rat storm has all the dark forces in place for one big cluster you know what. I hope it blows the rotten party to smithereens.
Oh yeah, now that he’s exposed he apologizes. What about the weekly sermons you listened to for the past twenty years.
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