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Mocking of Clinton at Obama’s Church Reverberates
The New York Times ^ | May 30, 2008 | Susan Saulny

Posted on 05/31/2008 1:53:24 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Reverberations from the Sunday sermon of a Roman Catholic priest who mocked Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at Senator Barack Obama’s home church here continued to spread Friday, after the priest offered an apology and the archbishop of Chicago gave him a public reprimand for “partisan campaigning.”

In a guest appearance at Trinity United Church of Christ, the priest, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, who resigned about two weeks ago from an unpaid position on the Obama campaign’s Catholic advisory council, delivered a tirade against Mrs. Clinton that included fake tears, a high-pitched voice and top-of-the-lungs screaming. He also gave a racially tinged critique of so-called “white entitlement,” of which he says Mrs. Clinton is guilty.

“When Hillary was crying, and people said that was put on — I really don’t believe it was put on,” said Father Pfleger, 59, the white pastor of a predominantly black South Side church. “I really believe that she just always thought: ‘This is mine. I’m Bill’s wife, I’m white and this is mine. I just got to get up and step into the plate.’ And then, out of nowhere, came, ‘Hey, I’m Barack Obama.’ And she said, ‘Oh, damn. Where did you come from? I’m white. I’m entitled. There’s a black man stealing my show.”

Father Pfleger, a well-known longtime activist and friend of Mr. Obama, issued an apology late Thursday. “I regret the words I chose on Sunday. These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama’s life and message, and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them.”

The Clinton campaign repeated on Friday, for a second day, its displeasure with how Mr. Obama has handled the situation, calling for him to reject Father Pfleger more forcefully.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; democrats; election; elections; hillary; obama; pfleger; trinityucc
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To: Krankor
"It seems Obama hasn't just failed to inspire a few looney reverends towards racial harmony, but an entire congregation, as well."

Scarey huh?

21 posted on 05/31/2008 3:26:36 AM PDT by ~Vor~
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To: sockmonkey

As a Roman Catholic it surprises me that a lot more of this kind of stuff has not surfaced. Perhaps you forget that most of the priests who started seminary in the late 60’s and 70’s are deeply invested in the notion of social justice and social activism. Remember this guy was arrested for climbing up on a billboard and defacing tobacco advertising. It is a theology driven by anger. A deep desire to change the social and political structures that enable perceived injustice against those who are most vulnerable in society. Of course, the greatest injustice for this group is abortion. The unborn are the most vulnerable. They believe the rights of the unborn have become the victim of broad social and political manipulation.

Every time something like this happens (Pfleger, Wright, Hagee) people predict politicians will pay a political price because of their association. I believe the exact opposite. For example, it appears to me that Obama has tapped into a deep reservoir of public anger towards politicians and the political media. It is the anger that gives him his teflon powers. I may be wrong, but in the next few weeks all that anger will be concentrated on John McCain and he will be devastated by a press seeking their own redemption. People are making a huge mistake in underestimating the skill and toughness of Obama the politician. People forget he is being attacked on both sides by Hillary and McCain but he appears to be drawing strength from the minor wounds he suffers. People make a mistake if they think that Obama is just an old stye politician saying “whaever” if it gets him elected. He believes what he is saying.

As the general election unfolds Obama will begin to speak about the social injustice that is the root cause of abortion. He will appeal for a better approach (an understanding) by society of our need to respond to the call of the unborn. He will defend a woman’s right to choose but be critical of those who promote abortion other than as the option of last resort. If he goes this route, he will be entirely consistent with his own writing on the meaning of life. He will draw huge support from the Catholic community and hierarchy and not lose a single liberal vote. Do not underestimate this guy.


22 posted on 05/31/2008 3:31:57 AM PDT by spatso
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

A Roman Catholic priest curses and blasphemes from the pulpit. The representative of Peter. And Rome does........??


23 posted on 05/31/2008 3:32:52 AM PDT by combat_boots (She lives! 22 weeks, 9.5 inches. Go, baby, go!)
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To: spatso

I think there’s a lot of truth to what you’re saying. Obama will really test the public’s powers of discernment. The left is a formidable adversary because for the most part it is sincere in its moral passions, and people respond to sincerity.


24 posted on 05/31/2008 3:39:37 AM PDT by Yardstick
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To: spatso

Leave Pastor Hagee out of this discussion. Obama’s yeahoos aren’t even in the ball park. John Hagee is attacked now because he’s become rich, powerful, supports Israel, and is a whale of a good preacher. Watch him some time. Old-fashioned gitemup inthe mornin’ God-loving preaching the Word of God. I sure wish he were closer to us up here in flyover country.


25 posted on 05/31/2008 3:40:38 AM PDT by combat_boots (She lives! 22 weeks, 9.5 inches. Go, baby, go!)
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To: Cowboy Bob
Its not just Rev. Wright that is the problem...its the entire Church!

You are right! But the problem is not confined within the walls of this church. It goes beyond the church and encompasses the whole culture and the people that Obama has surrounded himself with for more than 20 years.

Wright
Pfleger
Farrakhan
Ayers
Dohrn
Rezko
ACORN
Hyde Park Liberal Elitists and many others

Then there is Michelle!

26 posted on 05/31/2008 3:42:28 AM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Yardstick

“social injustice that is the root cause of abortion”

So, the mentality of I don’t have XYZ so I’ll have a baby by anyone I chose at any time I want, including when I am 14, 16, 18 is social injustice? Or that losing your virginity is such a fad that it is for all intents and purposes worthless in its social value? Following that train of thought, if virginity is of no value, then neither is the product of losing that virginity..a baby? Oh yes. This whole setup is publically funded here in the US: the baby part and the get-rid-of-the-baby part, even up to sucking out his or her brains at birth to kill him or her. In Burkina Faso or Myanmar, who knows how these things go. I know I don’t.

I also don’t understand the whole argument anymore. I don’t want to see the ugliness of treating what is precious with such disdain and callousness.


27 posted on 05/31/2008 3:50:04 AM PDT by combat_boots (She lives! 22 weeks, 9.5 inches. Go, baby, go!)
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To: FixitGuy

Has the national discussion on race relations that Barry promised started yet? Because I would like to discuss black hatred of white people. I will be using the congregation at Trinity United for show and tell.

REALLY REALLY FED UP WITH THIS BS.


28 posted on 05/31/2008 3:50:51 AM PDT by ishabibble (ALL-AMERICAN INFIDEL)
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To: combat_boots

that post should have gone to #22 I think.

Must go get caffeine.


29 posted on 05/31/2008 3:52:10 AM PDT by combat_boots (She lives! 22 weeks, 9.5 inches. Go, baby, go!)
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To: spatso

That’s ridiculous. Wasn’t Obama the one who made the comment about a baby being a “punishment”? He can’t spin that.


30 posted on 05/31/2008 3:52:34 AM PDT by ovrtaxt (This election is like running in the Special Olympics. Even if McCain wins, were still retarded.)
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To: libs_kma

Dailyloid. It is a pervasive, livelong contamination of the air and water that place a Dailey continuously in office, makes incopetent liberals go beserk with power, bubbles up to cause Chicago’s worst hack politicians to seize power on the national stage (e.g. Mosely Braun, Obama) and it even enters the grondwater causing the dead to rise on every election day.


31 posted on 05/31/2008 4:04:40 AM PDT by rod1
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To: livius
Here is the contact info for Chicago Archdiocese. Let them know that Phleger has to go, he is a stain upon the Church.
Our Holy Father was just here in the States, and all his good work will be overshadowed by this self-hating mental case.

http://www.archdiocese-chgo.org/contact.shtm

32 posted on 05/31/2008 4:07:15 AM PDT by ishabibble (ALL-AMERICAN INFIDEL)
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To: livius

Who are these people at Trinity?
DemocRats.


33 posted on 05/31/2008 4:12:05 AM PDT by Oldexpat
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To: Yardstick
(the left) is sincere in its moral passions

Bell curve my man, bell curve. Passion & belief dominate the fringes, whether on the right or left. One side embraces ecclesiastical belief, while the other holds faith in secular institutions.

The balance is in the middle; I for one cannot believe the US will vote for an America hating, black nationalist.

34 posted on 05/31/2008 4:13:13 AM PDT by semantic
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To: ishabibble

In China and missing a lot of this.

Has Obama gone through the sacraments in a conversion to Catholicism, and thereby joined the Catholic Church? Or has he announced that he will do so?


35 posted on 05/31/2008 4:17:48 AM PDT by John Leland 1789
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To: Krankor

“This is the one taboo subject nobody talks about, but what kind of people belong to this church?”

I’m glad to see that someone else has noticed the same thing. If one judges that congregation on the basis of their reaction to the racist rhetoric spewed by all the pastors, then one can only conclude that that UCC is one of the most racist congregations in the nation. That raises the question of why Obama choose to join a racist church?


36 posted on 05/31/2008 4:18:17 AM PDT by DugwayDuke (A true patriot will do anything to keep a Democrat out of the White House.)
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To: combat_boots
Very good question. This is certainly a case where leadership seems to be lacking. As a Catholic I am appalled at his behavior. It's disgraceful and something needs to be done about it.
37 posted on 05/31/2008 4:19:43 AM PDT by RU88 (The false messiah can not change water into wine any more than he can get unity from diversity.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Father Pfleger is a disgrace to my Church.

The congregation at Trinty is a disgrace to religion.

Barack Obama is a disgrace for belonging to that church.

Lot of disgrace going on in Chicago.

38 posted on 05/31/2008 4:22:29 AM PDT by jwalsh07 (El Nino is climate, La Nina is weather.)
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To: John Leland 1789
NO! This Phleger is a renegade priest, last year during a demonstration, he called for a gun shop owner to be “snuffed”. Direct quote.

What really appalls me is how much he seems to hate his white skin, and how he grovels to the black congregation, all of whom behave disgracefully. Have you seen the video? It's posted upthread.

39 posted on 05/31/2008 4:23:14 AM PDT by ishabibble (ALL-AMERICAN INFIDEL)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them

IF the words offended? IF?

The classic nonapolgy. "Im sorry IF you were offended. Hey dipwick- you should apologize because you DID offend. No "if"
40 posted on 05/31/2008 4:23:25 AM PDT by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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