The Rev. Jeremiah Wright was an early concern, Obama aide admits

LA Times ^ | 3/16/08

[South40]

After he moved to Chicago in the mid-1980s to work as a community organizer, Barack Obama forged close ties with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright -- joining the pastor’s Trinity United Church of Christ in 1988 and using the topic of a Wright sermon, "the audacity of hope," as the title of his most recent best-selling book.

But more than a year ago -- long before some of Wright’s more incendiary sermons became hot-button videos on YouTube, forcing Obama to publicly renounce his pastor last week -- the Obama campaign had a sense that Wright's sharp tongue might spell trouble for the Illinois senator.

[South40]

If Nobama knew this would be a problem as much as one year ago why did it take him so long to try and distance himself from his hate-monger pastor?

[Farmer Dean]

‘Cause he really likes and agrees with him?

[GulfWar1Vet]

Bingo.

[Army Air Corps]

He digs the Rev’s rap.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Because the Rev says the same things the white “progressive” Dems say: blacks are victims, Amerika does evil things, ... everything we’ve been hearing since the ‘60s from liberals.

[tobyhill]

He kept him on his campaign until just 2 days ago so it must not have bothered Barack (can't say middle name)(Rhymes with Osama)Obama too bad.

[big'ol_freeper]

I just mentioned to mein frau yesterday that I predict a Demoncrat defeat of McGovernite proportions come November.

[JHBowden]

“one said that if Obama was the nominee THEY WOULD VOTE FOR MCCAIN.”

Well, we’re in the same boat. We on the right don’t agree with McCain 100% either, but letting the Black Panther crowd run the country would be a complete mistake.

[Redgirl]

I think Obama was too scared of being called an Uncle Tom if he cut ties with Wright. He stayed close with Wright for the same reason Michael Vick stayed close with his “pack”. Many blacks don't “abandon” thier brothers when they strike it rich, no matter how criminal. Don't sell out to whitey!

[Grampa Dave]

Just What Did Obama Know About Wright's Past Sermons? (Plenty)

“Barack Obama either agreed with what was preached from the Trinity pulpit, or he tuned it out and stayed around pretending to for political reasons. To say he stayed for 20 years but doesn't agree with Wright's preaching is incredible denial. It'd be like a man buying White Sox season tickets for 20 years, attending the games, and saying he's not a fan.”

Obama’s supporters want us to ignore this story… just push it under the rug. While they’ll align Republicans with any obscure pastor who does or says something controversial, they’re trying to convince us that Obama’s 20-year long close relationship with Wright, including his effective endorsement of him, his church and rhetoric with a $22,500 donation in 2006 is irrelevant.

“When Obama decided against wearing an American flag pin, we may all have been a bit too quick to accept his rationale, too quick to find that issue unimportant. Now, that American flag pin has gotten a lot bigger for a lot of us, especially in light of what may have been and may still be Obama’s deeper, and, perhaps, secret, less than patriotic beliefs about America.”

“Wright says that blacks can’t be expected to sing God Bless America because of racism. Obama doesn’t salute the flag during the National Anthem. That sure strikes me as an amazing coincidence since Obama swears he never heard Wright say anything against America.”

[EyeGuy]

“Check out the comments of the good-sense Dems who will now NOT VOTE FOR OBAMA ...”

I’ll give them credit for a microgram of good sense, and only that.

There were plenty of reasons to not even consider voting for this race-pandering socialist, long before Preachergate.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Obama’s dilemma is that Rev. Wright and his church aren't unique in black America. Even in the little town I live in we have a black church where the preacher rants this racist hate. If Obama denounces Wright too loudly he will lose black votes.

[Krankor]

What’s somewhat disturbing is the fact you can see Obama’s new minister, Rev. Otis Moss, jump on stage and give old Rev. Wright a congratulatory slap on the back. Evidently he agrees with Wright’s views.

[O Neill]

Fine. The O Boogie Man is the nominee...McCain wins big in November...and the Clinton apparatus is history...a heap of rusted, anachronistic trash...

Works for me.

[igoramus08]

The first I ever heard Obama or his campaign condemn Wright was last week, not at the begining of his campaign as he claimed on Friday.

Might be wrong, but if he did condemn Wright I think we would have heard more about this earlier.

[TNPatriot]

[South40]

"When Jeremiah Wright makes these statements the Amen chorus in that church was very loud

[Farmer Dean]

Talk trash and your church will be full of trash.Speak the true word of God and your church wil be full of true believers.