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Obama's Pastor: Updated
If we have learned anything over the course of this election season, it is that this kind of rhetoric should be flatly denounced, and fast. Unlike the minister to a localized congregation, a president is someone who needs to speak for the country as a whole. John McCain once courageously labeled Jerry Falwell and Pat Roberston "agents of intolerance," but this year he ran back to their ilk with open arms. Hillary Clinton's campaign has shown a pattern of injecting racial divisiveness into the contest. Though I applaud her for finally coming to her senses, her response to the Ferraro controversy was much too long in the making. And while Obama has repeatedly denounced Louis Farrakhan, he seems hesitant to criticize Wright for what he is: a liability. Because you offer large slices of truth in your sermons does not mean the whole pie isn't degraded by those bits that are contaminated by race-baiting passages.
All those who use scripture (or bogus cultural analysis) to bolster their inflammatory, divisive views should be exposed and rejected, and that includes Jeremiah Wright. Taking a stand on this matter does not mean that you believe that African Americans have not suffered almost unfathomable hardship during their history in this country. Indeed, Wright's sermons are born, I believe, of legitimate anger. And the Black church has historically been a singular venue for venting such emotions. That said, I still believe that Wright's emphasis is regrettable, and, yes, offensive to many. The clips featured on YouTube are selective and do not dwell on other aspects of Wright's message of healing and forgiveness. Wright spends no small amount of time interpreting scripture, and detailing the message of Jesus. Yes, the clips we're now watching cherry pick for controversy, but the fact is that the controversy is not all that difficult to find. The point is, for whatever reason, Wright, who recently retired from Trinity, is a man who enjoys hitting the hornet's nest with a stick.
By the way, in case some of you were wondering, I still support Obama as the Democratic nominee, though I think he should address this subject at greater length. It is precisely Obama's message of unifying the country across racial and party lines that appeals to me. Likewise, he often speaks to black audiences (and white ones, too) about the need to be accountable for the choices one makes in the course of life, and his refusal to be labeled as a victim is refreshing. So, given Wright's over-heated rhetoric, this begs the question. Have those drawn to Obama simply been duped?
As one reader points out, an adherent of any religion should not be expected to share all of the views of his or her priest or pastor (just ask Rudy Giuliani on the subject of abortion, or Hillary Cliton on gambling), yet the YouTube clips of Wright will continue to fuel what I regard an unjustified view that Obama is somehow out of step with America's values. Symbols are important in campaigns, and I think Obama would help himself by continuing to clarify his relationship to his faith and his church.
Though many will disagree, I firmly believe that God has not damned the United States, as Wright claims, just as God has not specifically blessed the United States over any other place on the globe. God doesn't whisper into leaders' ears and tell them it's alright to launch preemptive invasions, as George Bush claims. God did not envision 9/11 as punishment for New York City's decadent excesses, nor did he steer hurricane Katrina into New Orleans, as Hagee claims, to get back at the place for being tolerant of homosexuals. God doesn't take sides in football games, or help actors win academy awards. Moreover, he or she certainly doesn't prefer one race over another, regardless of how badly that particular race has been treated by another one.
For what it's worth, here's Trinity's (and Obama's) new pastor, Otis Moss.
UPDATE: In an interview today with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Obama was asked about Wright. Here's the exchange:
Q: I don't know if you've seen it, but it's all over the wire today (from an ABC News story), a statement that your pastor (the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's South Side) made in a sermon in 2003 that instead of singing "God Bless America," black people should sing a song essentially saying "God Damn America."
A: I haven't seen the line. This is a pastor who is on teh brink of retirement who in the past has made some controversial statements. I profoundly disagree with some of these statements.
Q: What about this particular statement?
A: Obviously, I disagree with that. 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.
Later in the day, Obama went further and penned a piece that's now up at Huffington Post. Read it here. Salient bits:
Let me say at the outset that 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. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialog, whether it's on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.
And:
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.
Like Hillary Clinton on the Ferraro matter, I applaud Obama for making a forceful, unambiguous statement.
Recent Comments
(Page 2 of 219)Ronda2:20PMMar 13th 2008
So Not True...a love for your people does not make you a bigot. A speaker of the truth does not make you a person who supports division. It simply means that we as Americans need to deal with somethings which make most of us very uncomfortable...and what's wrong with that other than making us confront issues we have been ignoring for a loooooong time.
lynn2:23PMMar 13th 2008
JOHN mc cain
JOHN MC CANE WILL BE AMERICAS NEXT PRESIDENT
Katherine2:25PMMar 13th 2008
Well, I've known about this Trinity Church and Pastor Wright for a long time now. Ya see, I used to watch Oprah, and she would talk about her church and pastor...THIS church...THIS Pastor. Ya, I boycott Oprah now.
Anyway, listen, this Pastor Wright is outrageous. (WHAT kind of Pastor says GD in church?) He always curses (s,f,c,n,gd) and he's OBSESSED with white people (hates, absolutely hates white people, especially rich white people), and he hates White America, etc. I'm telling you, I've been following this church for a while, and their main concerns are Africans and Palestinians and all Muslims, etc. It really is a white vs. brown/ black thing to Pastor Wright and a lot of his congregation. See, instead of defending Obama about his Christianity, people ought to realize that this is a radical church, and the politics of this Pastor supersede all faiths and are separatists from whites, thus their faiths, and he embraces all brown/ black people, thus their faiths. This is why it was no problem for this church to give Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan the lifetime achievement award for "truth."
Trinity is ALWAYS about politics and a socialist agenda. On and on.
I agree with doeadeer: It will do NOTHING if Obama denounces and rejects this Pastor and this church. He's been going there for 20 years!! He got baptized there, got married there, his children were baptized there...he titled his book "Audacity of Hope" after Pastor Wright's speech (a speech about eviscerating the middle-class and white capitalism).
You know, plus there is a whole Black point system...and a "non-negotiable commitment to Africa"---when really, I think our President should have a non-negotiable commitment to America. Hey, that's just ME.
CLEARLY: Obama does not have an issue with this sort of church or its Pastor, and he hasn't for 20 YEARS.
Edwin2:28PMMar 13th 2008
UNDERSTANDING CERTAIN TRUTHS, OBJECTIVELY, SETS THE FOUNDATION FOR CHANGE. WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO A BETTER AMERICA!
O B A M A 08!
DONALD2:30PMMar 13th 2008
To Bob Norris,
Bob, please wake up. Senator Obama DID NOT take his oath on the Koran (Q'uran). A new congressman did.
I suppose you think that Senator Obama is a muslum,
another lie by the competition. HE IS NOT!
atsea2:32PMMar 13th 2008
Finally, thak God we all agreed he is not Muslim. Now let's go after his Church. What is shame.
Katherine2:36PMMar 13th 2008
In case you missed it:
**Pastor Wright screams about Obama and Hillary and the N word, and white people, of course:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAYe7MT5BxM
**Here's more on Obama's Trinity church Black point system:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZXeNk7H3u4&feature=related
Lynn2:38PMMar 13th 2008
I find it hard to believe after being a member of this church for 20 years, after sitting through 20 years of sermons, whooping and yelling “amen” after every word he says, that OBAMA’S views different from his minister.Obama's book was inspired by his Minister. How can you remain loyal to a church who minister shouts discrimation, vulgar innuendos (“Hillary is married to Bill, and Bill has been good to us. No he ain’t! Bill did us, just like he did Monica Lewinsky. He was riding dirtys.) I say Obama’s JUDGEMENT SINKS. Obama is laughing all the way to the Whitehouse.
I also read in the New Yorker Magazine, Obama’s wife salary went from $121,000 to over $300,000 when he became Senator. Inflation I guess!! He is a wolf in sheeps clothing.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/03/10/080310fa_fact_collins
Katherine2:43PMMar 13th 2008
atsea:
No, I do not agree that he is thoroughly a Christian. This "church" is a radical POLITICAL church. The bible is getting twisted and wrung out in this "church." See, it's a white vs. black-brown thing...it's NOT excluding Islam, it's separatist from White people and White America and White Capitalism and White Government and everything that goes with it. Ex: They are anti-Israel and Pro-Palestine...fine, whatever, but they take it TOO FAR. Trust me.
tzada2:44PMMar 13th 2008
MWB2:02PMMar 13th 2008
The media likes to skew relationships and dialogue as much as possible without being held accountable. This is one of those instances. This should not be a "renouncing-feud" between candidates. Religious affiliations are made because one wants to get in touch with the best of themselve. ANYONE could have purched 8 years worth of sermons of any preacher or political figure for that matter and clipped together what will be skewed evidence of incriminating proof toward one opinion or another. Your opinion is just that. Judge Obama by what he has said himself, and not what you can piece together of loosely-associated individuals.
Loosely associate these will you?
Democratic Socialists of America
Frank Marshall Davis (mentor the Frank mentioned in Dreams of My Father)
Raila Odinga
Rev. Jeremiah Wright
Louis Farrakhan
Bill Ayers
New Black Panther Party
International Socialist Connections
Net search the above with Obama's name. You don't have to use all 3 Arabic names, Obama will do.
J & I Stewart2:44PMMar 13th 2008
Congrats to David, ABC News and AOL.
This should have come out months ago. But I am not sure that it would have changed anything. The only change is, blacks are voting for a black just because of race. So GERALDINE FERRARO had it right and I commend her for her stance on this issue.
willienomo2:47PMMar 13th 2008
The truth hurts.
PARMA232:52PMMar 13th 2008
Michelle and Barack met at Sidley & Austin, when she was assigned to advise him during a summer job. Michelle’s co-workers warned her that the summer associate was cute. “I figured that they were just impressed with any black man with a suit and a job,” she later told Barack.
This is the way this woman thinks, who is the racist here
Michelle and Barack, thanks for making us look like racist when it is you who say we will only be impressed with a black man if he has a suit and a job
Lynn2:55PMMar 13th 2008
Here is another video for fox news...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,337308,00.html
Hako2:57PMMar 13th 2008
Obama needs to clarify his position on some of his associations. He will be nailed if he doesn't. That said, we need more fairness all around. Having heard Ferraro explain, and hearing the full comment, not just the PART that was taken out of context, she owned no one an apology. She certainly is not a racist, as her long record in public service shows. Some "journalist" ceased on a portion of her comments to create the illusion she was saying something racist.
PARMA233:00PMMar 13th 2008
Michelle and Barack met at Sidley & Austin, when she was assigned to advise him during a summer job. Michelle’s co-workers warned her that the summer associate was cute. “I figured that they were just impressed with any black man with a suit and a job,” she later told Barack.
This is the way this woman thinks, who is the racist here
Michelle and Barack, thanks for making us look like racist when it is you who say we will only be impressed with a black man if he has a suit and a job
PARMA233:08PMMar 13th 2008
Michelle and Barack met at Sidley & Austin, when she was assigned to advise him during a summer job. Michelle’s co-workers warned her that the summer associate was cute. “I figured that they were just impressed with any black man with a suit and a job,” she later told Barack.
This is the way this woman thinks, who is the racist here
Michelle and Barack, thanks for making us look like racist when it is you who say we will only be impressed with a black man if he has a suit and a job
Kyle3:11PMMar 13th 2008
A lot of people don't get that what the reverend is saying actually has backed up fact. I am talking about actual hard fact that has been put up around places all around the web as well as in books you can look into yourself.
Drugs: Check into San Francisco and the CIA selling drugs to the African-American population.
African Militant Groups: Check into arms dealing and the capturing of arms dealers along with their releases & continued work.
and finally the Middle East: Follow up on an accurate history of the US supporting Israel and you might just find the underlying issues brewing there have just cause. Maybe not in the proper way, but stirred by our hand none the less.
Do I support everything he views? Not a chance in hell. I am just saying that he isn't entirely ignorant with his accusations. I feel his generalizations spawn where you get his ignorance from and that he should be using this information in different ways. None the less though, our government has been responsible for quite a lot.
pisces3:13PMMar 13th 2008
It doesn't matter if he denounces it.
I couldn't agree more with the statement below.
Go to the website for the chuch and you'll see what it's all about. I was wondering when the media was going to address this issue! He doesn't have my vote, that's for sure. NoBama!
He willingly attended that church for 20 years and heard that stuff for 20 years. He must have basically agreed with it because he could have changed churches at any time.
Thank you, ABC News, for being honest enough to report it
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listen2:18PMMar 13th 2008
Listen to the last 5 seconds of the video and that counters your arguments against Obama. We all have people like this in our life that say outragious things to make a point. I think Obama is at that church still because he has a major influence on the people there; he ties them together. ABC should show the whole service of White's, instead of just the one's that are unfavorable to majority of Americans in order not to be biased, which is tough to do. Obama is simply being respectful to White, who is like an uncle, by taking in whats important by Christ, but does not necesarily agree with White's political stance or view of America. As a black man, I dont agree with White's politcal and social views either because they are irrational and lack credibility because of his use of pathos.