If Barack Obama is to be believed, he just figured out that The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a complete nutjob.
Barack Obama’s campaign is in full damage control mode.
On March 13th, an ABC News report revealed incendiary excerpts from several sermons recorded on DVD by Obama’s spiritual advisor, The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr. Until his retirement last month, Wright was the pastor at the Trinity United Church in Chicago.
Reverend Wright suggested amongst other things that the United States government “lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color.” He also claimed the United States bore some responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. Wright said, “We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because of stuff we have done overseas is now brought back into our own backyard. America is chickens coming home to roost.”
In one sermon delivered in April 2003, a month after the War in Iraq began, Reverend Wright said, “The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes three-strike laws and wants them to sing God Bless America. No! No! No! God damn America for killing innocent people. God damn America for threatening citizens as less than humans. God damn America as long as she tries to act like she is God and supreme.”
When Obama was initially asked about this quote by a reporter from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Obama appeared unconcerned. “Here is what happens when you just cherry-pick statements from a guy who had a 40-year career as a pastor. There are times when people say things that are just wrong. But I think it’s important to judge me on what I’ve said in the past and what I believe,” said Obama.
However, that did not quiet the storm. On March 14th, Obama issued a statement concerning the controversy. “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 . . . In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue,” said Obama.
Yet I cannot bring myself to believe that Barack Obama is telling the truth where it concerns The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Jr. It is because of the following paragraph in Obama’s statement:
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.
The preceding simply does not pass the smell test.
Obama has been a member of Reverend Wright’s congregation for nearly two decades. Reverend Wright married Barack and Michelle Obama. Reverend Wright baptized their daughters.
Does Obama really expect us to believe that in nearly two decades he never attended a service where Reverend Wright uttered an unkind word about America? Did Reverend Wright only go off the deep end on the Sundays when Obama wasn’t around?
Does Obama really expect us to believe that in nearly two decades, the man whose sermon inspired his book The Audacity of Hope never told him face to face he believed the United States was responsible for spreading HIV against people of color? Or what he really thinks about Israel?
Does Obama really expect us to believe he would not demand a white Republican politician disassociate with a church whose pastor denounced African-Americans? Not on your life. Even if that pastor’s retirement was imminent.
If he does, Obama must really think the American people are stupid. One would hope that Democratic Primary voters might begin to clean their rose-colored glasses. This, however, might not be in the offing. If Obama should prevail against Hillary, I suspect it will not be the last time we hear the name Jeremiah Wright.
People are judged by the company they keep. It is hard for me to believe that Obama would title one of his books based on one of Wright’s sermons and yet be unaware of what he preaches. That Obama should protest that he only became aware of Wright’s views at the outset of his presidential campaign, and yet retain him as a national leader of his campaign’s African-American Religious Leadership Committee, descends to the depths of disingenuousness. Now that’s what I call audacity.
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Obama has wilfully and wantonly attempted to cover his tracks in his defense of the volatile, vitriolic and racist slurs from the mouth of the said, Reverend Wright. Now, Although a Caucasian, I am no racist; however, if perchance I was to hear the racist epithets and other bilious, muttering befoul the air in a place of worship; without pause, I would exit hurriedly.
The fact that Barak Obama attempts to weasel his way about the mulberry bush with self-righteousness is not befitting, nor apropos, for one aspiring to be the next President of the United States.
One quote from the less than tolerant Reverend Wright was: “Barak knows what it means to be a poor, black man in a country and culture controlled by rich white men”. Not satisfied with this, tacky, remark he, then, drew a parallel with Jesus, who as a “black man” in a country which was controlled by white men (Romans).
Obama will likely wheedle some of his flock, persuading his present disciples that he was preoccupied thus unaware of the good Pastor’s racist ranting. Perhaps naively, one has to trust that a Pandora’s Box has opened; especially now that Barak’s, other, true-believers those of the leftist mass-media have locked onto the racist reverend and Obama connection.
One can only imagine the fallout if a Caucasian aspiring to become president chose to worship in a church, which spewed racist vitriol towards blacks or any race and creed; undoubtedly and rightly, he or she would be castigated and would never stand a chance of becoming the next President.
Comment by misanthrope | March 15, 2008
"…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."
– Quote from Obama's released statement concerning his Pastor.
This is exactly the standard that should be applied to Mr. Obama,
and he fails on all counts:
1. "Who I am". Yes, who is he? Very little is known about Obama,
other than that he has the most liberal voting record in the Senate.
He is also know to have associations with nationally known radicals:
"Ayers and Dohrn…better known nationally as two of the most
notorious - and unrepentant - figures from the violent fringe of the 1960s anti-war movement."
In other words, Obama has not even come close to receiving the scrutiny
needed to be President of the USA. The main stream media has NOT helped
by continuing to give him a pass, and by letting him dodge tough questions by
the tactic of painting the questioner as racist.
2. "What I believe in". The public really doesn't know. The only
thing for sure is that Obama believes in the words "hope" and
"change", and his wife believes that America is "just downright mean."
Wonder how she arrived at that belief?
As to how exactly the two words, "hope" and "change" would be translated
into US policy, were he to become President, no one has a clue.
Can we not know volumes about what a person believes by listening
to what is preached in a church in which he, and his wife,
have been members for 20 years?
3. "On my values". If the values of the church you have
attended for 20 years do not indicate your values, what
would? If your values don't reflect you church's values,
then your attendance indicates hypocracy.
4. "Judgment". What does it say about the judgment of a person who
proclaims to be the one to unite America, that remains
closely associated with, and places on his advisory council a radical
hate-America, anti-semitic, hate-white pastor?
5. "Experience". As has amply been asked by Hillary Clinton's
campaign and many others: What experience? He made a speech
in 2004. And has been a first term Senator who has sponsored NO
significant legislation. As far as his state Senate experience in
Illinois, it seems that he spent most of his time voting 'present', thereby
avoiding taking stands. Exactly what he does now in his speeches.
Comment by jrich | March 15, 2008
I once read where Obama refused to wear an American Flag on his lapel to show his paitriotism and instead he would rather explain his paitriotism. I think it's time for him to start explaining. I once saw a picture of Obama standing with 2 of the other Democratic candidates during the national anthem. He was not saluting with his hand over his heart. Then recently, Michelle Obama and her words of "First time in my adult life I'm proud of America". I cannot recall in my adult life where a presidential candidates paitriotism, loyalty and love for America are in question. This is a very serious issue for America. Why is the mass media covering so much for this man? If this were a Republican, he or she would be crucified. I am so thankful that Fox news showed the Reverend Wright interview and tapes of his sermons. Is this how blacks think of white people? I never have heard this before and I've lived in Houston where it's a majority Black.
Comment by andeke4 | March 16, 2008
Senator Obama and Michelle attended Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church for twenty years. They were married by Rev. Wright and the Obama children were baptized by Rev. Wright. He blessed their (think Rezko) home and I believe the children must have heard the preacher's hateful sermons also.
You must believe those recent videos of Rev. Jeremiah Wright are not the only video's of this egotistical man. He is not ashamed of his diatribes of pure racism against America, whites and Jews. He is retiring from the pulpit, but he will attend Trinity Church and I imagine, on occasion, he will preach a sermon for some extra pocket change.
Major Garrett of FNS, "asked Obama if he had ever heard Wright's preach Racism" [March 15, 2008]; Obama said, "No, he had not heard Wright make racist remarks until five months ago when the media released the video tapes". [October 2007]
Obama said, "If I thought that [racism] was the repeated tenor of the church then I wouldn't feel comfortable, but frankly that has not been my experience at Trinity United Church of Christ." Obama said, "He is like an uncle to me he helped me to find Christ". Rev. Wright said, "Jesus Christ was a black man born into a rich white man's world".
Former White House press Secretary Ari Fleischer summed up the Obama's lame excuses to Major Garrett when Fleischer said Obama's statements "are nothing more than that of a shrewd politician."
Now all we need is an investigative reporter who can produce just one video during the twenty year span and prove Obama and Michelle heard their great preacher spew his venom and hatred of America, whites and Jews before October 2007.
–
"Whatever evolves was first, created" - Jason Leverette, Patriot
http://www.johnmccain.com/dreamsdestiny/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQhjaCgAS80
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Comment by FromTheTop | March 16, 2008
>Reverend Wright suggested amongst other things that the United States government “lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color.” He also claimed the United States bore some responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. Wright said, “We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because of stuff we have done overseas is now brought back into our own backyard. America is chickens coming home to roost.”Rev. Wright said, “Jesus Christ was a black man born into a rich white man’s world”.< that is just a simple statement of historical fact. Do you think Jesus was a blond and rich?
Comment by JDBishop5 | March 22, 2008