Obama's pastor problem fades: Poll

In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines. In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.) The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation. What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated. While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections. Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country? After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest cities. This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last three decades. Since these comments became public we have heard criticisms, condemnations, denouncements and rejections of his comments and him. We've seen on television, in a seemingly endless loop, sound bites of a select few of Rev. Wright's many sermons. Some of the Wright's comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and should be condemned, but in calling him "unpatriotic," let us not forget that this is a man who gave up six of the most productive years of his life to serve his country. How many of Wright's detractors, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly to name but a few, volunteered for service, and did so under the often tumultuous circumstances of a newly integrated armed forces and a society in the midst of a civil rights struggle? Not many. While words do count, so do actions. Let us not forget that, for whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the last 30 years, he has demonstrated his patriotism. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0404wrightapr03,0,92000.story in honor of "christian"

If Obama is elected, will he open the U.S. borders to every ill, penniless, and criminal resident of Kenya the way George Bush has done for Mexico? He uses every opportunity to assert that the U.S. will not send illegal immigrants home. Even though the majority of them are from South America, I would think he would be even more hospitable to those from his ancestral land.

It's a safe bet that the issue of Obama's spiritual mentor Jeremiah Wright will not go away. Check again around next October about both Wright and Rezko.
The really significant numbers here are the ones showing either Democrat in a virtual dead heat against McCain. That's bad news for the Democrats -- after the last 7-1/2 years of war, and a faltering economy, Democrat should be easily polling ahead of any Republican.
This just shows what light weights Hill and Oprahma are.

JanetP,

Not only are you wrong on Obama, yor're wrong on the geography.

Come se dice? Mexico.

!GOBAMA!

Obama's pastor isn't the problem. Obama is the one who has exhibited a distrust and dislike for whites, including the white in his own blood. Read his book, "Dreams from my Father." Here's just one of many passages in which he discusses whites: He says of Macolm X's book, "One line in particular stayed with me. He spoke of a wish he'd once had, the wish that the white blood that ran through him, there by an act of violence, might somehow be expunged." And of course, we all know about his description of his white grandmother who raised him, only to have him disrespect her by calling her a "typical white person" for having a fear of some black men. Read today's feature article in the Tribune about violent crime by black men and maybe even Obama might admit that she had a point. Just what we need, a racially-driven bitterness in the White House.

MJ,

Check back in October, when John McCain's fully vetted. Once the Democratic primary's tied up, we're all going after McCain.

The mainstream media will be pressured to no longer give the old guy a free pass, and the media will comply.

The story about McCain being in bed with the lobbyist won't go away. Neither will video of him singin, "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran." Or the 100 years in Iraq statement.

And I eagerly anticipate the open debate about who's nuttier, Pastor Wright or John Hagee, the demonic end-timer who's endorsement McCain actively sought and received.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/04/jewish-leader-calls-john_n_95187.html

Most Americans understand the truth behind Wright's words, even if they find his tone abrasive.

So let's get that all out in the open -what exactly have our intelligence agencies been doing in other countries over the years?

What have our military adventures done to the world?

Does God really bless the murder of innocents?

Then, let's talk about John Hagee's fanatical end-timer views. Here's a guy who's probably disappointed y2k didn't wipe out humanity. Here's a guy who literally seems to think America should trigger Armageddon just so he can say, "Told you so."

Listen to MLK's speech on Vietnam, and then come back and tell me just how radical you really think Wright's views are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5VhCvrEcPY&feature=related

Hillary and her supporters are grasping for straws and they know it. They are losing on all fronts and Hillary has herself to blame.

Common sense should tell Clinton and her supporters that a person is not responsible for what another person says. If these people would get for real and quit grasping for straws they would see that. Hoping that Obama would damage his own campaign or pleading with the media to help her in “dirty mud / kitchen sink slinging” campaign is even crazier. A person is responsible for his or her own actions. Someone needs to remind these people of this fact. For example; telling the whole planet through every News Agency in the world, a Bald Face Lie about being under Sniper Fire like G.I. Jane and implying that Bill Clinton is a coward by saying that the Bosnian mission was too dangerous for the President of the United States, so send his wife is disgusting! Hillary has her “lying” self to blame for the Total Destruction of her “Lying, Exaggerated, Self-aggrandizing based Campaign”. We have had enough Bald Face Lies told to us during the last 8 years, people with common sense will never cast a vote for a Pathological Liar like Hillary Clinton .

THE PASTOR AND HIM NOT HOLDING HIS HAND OVER HIS HEART IS HERE TO STAY..THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL THIS PERSON NEEDS TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE U. S. A. ARTHUR

America is in a recession and can no longer afford a war in Iraq.
McCain knows nothing about the economy and would lose this election to a chicken( never mind it coming home to roost)

Don't think so. I, for one was not mesmorized by Obama's speech at which he did not address the concerns of most people regarding the venom dipensed by his spiritual leader. I guess he was the only one who wasn't concerned about the iimpact on his children.

Obviously Obama is losing ground even he is outspending Clinton. I will only vote for Clinton because I can see Obama is immature and will stir up the country, not because he will to change, it is due to his lack of experience and his power cherishing.

This November there is a national election, but also 50 state elections. The popular vote does not decide who is president. If that were true then Al Gore would be president today. Hillary Clinton can beat McCain in the big/key states and be very competitive in southern states. Sen Obama could well win the popular vote over Sen McCain but loose the big states by small margins and put McCain in the Whitehouse. Sen Clinton when you crunch the numbers is the stonger candidate for the Dems to win in November

Trust me as a typical white person this issue has not faded at all. I believe that Rev. Wright and Barack Obama has the right to there views and I just want to say thank you for letting me know before November. I am a liberal Democrat and will only support Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Nominee but if the Coward Dean and gang get unelectable NObama in as the nominee. I won't be voting for NObama come November! The first time I have not voted for the Democratic Party Nominee in my 55 years. over 45% of like Democrats agree. I would not call that fades at all.

Of course Obama is ahead of Hillary in the poll of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters. Why do you think he has more delegates? But Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters will be joined in the general election by Republicans and Independents, and it is there that Democrats will learn that Obama is unelectable, largely because of Reverend Wright.

Sooooo JanetP are you saying that ONLY Americans that Clinton let in lots of Irish( I think is was? And I'd guess that McCain heritage is Irish too. Will he be doing the same?

I am betting aside from perhaps American Indians we all have ancestral lands and it is also highly likely that you could find "every ill, penniless, and criminal resident" in each of the countries.
How did you come to be here - Ellis Island? Please read the inscription on the statue of liberity - there is nothing there about xenophobics.

Did you know that Obama is related to Harry S. Truman, James Madison, Winston Churchill and Robert E. Lee and because no ones perfect I choose to overlook his Bush/Chaney relationship.

Perhaps you could research your heritage, perhaps you could be related to Wright - wouldn't that be a hoot.

I've read up on Rev. Wright who has an impressive resume. I’ve read some of his sermons. I’ve looked over all the good the 70 ministries of his particular Church do helping the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of their congregation and community. I’ve watched the controversial sermons in their full context.

President Johnson wrote Rev. Wright a personal letter of thanks during LBJ’s time recovering in a Marine hospital. President Reagan thanked Rev. Wright for travelling to Lybia to successfully help recover a US serviceman being held captive. President Clinton invited Rev. Wright and thanked him for coming to his White House plea for understanding during the Lewinsky scandal. Rev. Wright has helped a lot of Americans beyond presidents.

30 seconds of snippets of anybody’s life is not how a man should be judged. I came to like Rev. Wright so much, I’m showing my children some of his sermons (without some of the inflammatory remarks).

I think my daughter's English teacher -- a big Barack supporter and a big non-supporter of HRC -- said it best. As soon as the video began of Wright, he told his class, Obama just lost the election.

It's gone away, temporarily, because reporters who are in love with Obama (that's most of them) failed to dissect the speech, swooned over it and failed to note all the discrepancies, and the convenient timing, that race only mattered when he was about to be hammered.

The issue has NOT gone away permanently. HRC will probably lose the nomination (and let's face it -- the fact that Obama, with his fund-raising success and the media in his pocket, is still running neck and neck with HRC speaks VOLUMES), but Obama will lose the general election. He will be swiftobated into the next century.

What would Al Sharpton say if a white preacher shouted anti-American and racist comments from the pulpit and Hillary stayed to listen for 20 years?
Whites do not tolerate this type of behavior and it is sad to see that they can overlook the racist behavior in non-whites. I will not vote for racist Obama.

Clinton only has herself to blame for that.

It's one thing for someone's pastor (Obama) to say something but it's totally different when you yourself (Clinton) tell a bold faced lie. It shows a total lack of integrity on her part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHVEDq6RVXc

I'm a Democrat who is completely dumbfounded by my fellow Democrats' unease over Rev. Wright. You're surprised by an angry Black pastor on the Southside? The man might be a little crazy, but what mega-church pastors aren't?

Democrats, you seriously disagree with the idea that we should acknowledge and learn from America's racist past? Really?! You disagree with the fact that racism persists today in hiring, and housing, and public education, and higher education, and the military, and immigration? Are you, Democrats, really uncomfortable with an angry, urban Black preacher?

The "White man created HIV to kill Black man" theory is just SO offensive to you, even when the Tuskegee Study is fresh in our national memory? How about smallpox blankets? It doesn't make the Rev. Wright any less nutty, but it does put it in perspective.

The guy's right about a lot of stuff, and all of us know it. He's also loony as hell, and all of us know that, too. But, last time I checked, most Americans listen to loony people talk every Sunday morning.

It's ridiculous to think that we would let this incredibly intelligent, qualified, timely candidate slip away because of his nutty pastor. How childish of us.

Did Rev. Wright change his name from Gus Savage?

If Obama's pastor was his only issue, he would be lucky. The DNC has been stopping their own candidates from throwing darts at each other from day one. There is a lot of information on Obama that is around that the Republicans will use against him and rightly so - his first mentor the Communist; his second mentor the Rev. Wright; his socialists and marxists ties; his PLO ties and Israeli lies; his abandonment of his own people in Chicago on more than one occasion because there were campaign contributions or buddies involved; his real estate deal with Rezko, who received $3.5 million from Saddam Hussein's money launderer; his lie just recently to the American people that all troops would be out of Iraq when, at the same time, his aide wrote that Obama expected 80,000 to remain in Iraq. The primarily liberal-leaning press organizations have presented a biased front to the public but I doubt that will hold when the Republicans unleash their fury on him should he get the nomination. The man is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

If you listen to the actual sermons the sound bites were lifted from, you would see that Wright does not preach hatred at all.

Yeah, Roger and JanetP. We will continue to hate your whiny a**, you coward. ANd we will destroy you and your kind at every opportunity. We hate you, as you have hated, demeaned, and degraded us. Remember that.

Clinton has crashed and burned her own campaign, she has no one else to blame but herself....and Mark Penn.

For the past month, Hillary Clinton has repeatedly attacked Barack Obama because one of his economic advisers met with Canadian officials in Chicago to discuss NAFTA.

Now the Wall Street Journal reports that her own chief campaign strategist did the very same thing on a new free-trade agreement with Colombia.

"Hillary Clinton's chief campaign strategist met with Colombia's ambassador to the U.S. on Monday to discuss a bilateral free-trade agreement, a pact the presidential candidate opposes." (less)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ZbTM3QvV4

Yeah, Roger and JanetP. We will continue to hate your whiny a**, you coward. ANd we will destroy you and your kind at every opportunity. We hate you, as you have hated, demeaned, and degraded us. Remember that.

I'll have an order of molasses and irony please? Florida, Florida, Florida.

Why Clinton has a fighting chance explained in a unique medium at http://sgtpepperpolitics.blogspot.com/

Politics Meet The Beatles. Every song has a meaning. Every song has a time. Visit the only blog fusing each Beatles tune to the 2008 campaign. Read, listen, comment. Jam.

This weeks topic, "I Want You (She's So Heavy): The Case For Hillary."

I'm scared. Last week he was a Muslim, now he's a Christian extremist. A person who changes religions so fast is a flip-flopper. I'm afraid. I'm white...I was raised to vote for old white dudes. When Obama is soon our president, I'm moving to Canada...I'm lying in the fetal position right now cause I'm so scared. We need an honest person like Hillary or Bush Senior, Sr. His middle name is Hussein...now I just peed my pants...all the young people voting for Obama? It's frightening...let's change the voting age to 55, so only evil oldies can vote. Did I mention that I'm afraid? He doesn't have the experience. He wants to make everyone's middle name "Abdul"...oh no....I just soiled my drawers. Hold me....I'm scared.

Hillary still has the most super delegates. Thats a huge plus.

These polls are meaningless and everyone should be aware of that. Clinton was way ahead in the primaries right up until the moment when votes started begining to be cast.

McCain has little chance of winning. When the guy running for the Republicans is despised by most conservatives, he's in trouble. When he tells the Wall Street Journal that he doesn't know enough about the economy, thigs are spinning too fast for him. As for foreign policy, the fact that he believes that al Qaeda is being supplied by their sworn enemy, Iran, will eventually become a big deal. We'll see what the polls say in a few months, once he's actaully in front of the camera a bit more.

But I just have to say, to any Democrat worried about the Clinton and Obama supporters saying that if their candidate doesn't win the primary that they will vote for McCain, don't worry. These people are fools. They are the tiny minority supporting their candidate not because of issues or anything meaningful, but because of petty things like sex, race, or, frankly, stupidity. Anyone who supports what Clinton or Obama believes in would take the other as a second choice in a heartbeat compared to a man who wants never-ending wars, no action on environmental issues, no governement action on the economy besides more tax cuts for the wealthy and therefore a depression, and for loyalty to trump competence. On all of these issues the Democrats are in agreement. The reality is that though threats like these get made in every tough primary election, what happens in general elections show that they are empty threats every time.

The only danger is that if there is a big enough, dirty enough fight over the nomination, the party may end up splitting, and the half that ends up losing this fight may stay home. Legitimacy is going to be important, which means the candidate who wins the popular vote shouldbe the one to get the nomination. If that candidate also wins the delegate count, there should be no question. But if one candidate wins the popular vote and the other gets the pledged delegate count, we are going to be in trouble. Either way that goes, the super-delegates are going to be seen to be overturning the will of the people.

This is why this system is so wrong. In my humble opinion, the best way to fix the system would be to have all the states have primaries and caucuses on one day (just like every election between the parties). Who ever gets the most popular votes wins, and we continue to have pledged delegates in cases of disputes. Super-delegates may destroy the party in this election cycle. If the Democrats lose this time it will be their own fault.

THE PASTOR AND HIM NOT HOLDING HIS HAND OVER HIS HEART IS HERE TO STAY..THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL THIS PERSON NEEDS TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE U. S. A. ARTHUR

Posted by: ATHUR BURRIS | April 5, 2008 1:12 PM

Why's this, now? Because a guy shrieking in all-caps, who apparently can't spell his own name, says so?

I can't keep myself laughing at the ridiculous comments voiced against Obama, "not holding his hand over his heart", elsewhere "don't wore a flag pin", etc, I have never read such immature comments about the choice of a candidate, and actually i am a bit afraid that the people writing down such ludicrous crap have the right to vote. ;)

nb: I am not american, i was not set to take side until I have read the disgusting propaganda sometimes bordering xenophobia of the Clinton's campaign and its supporters spamming over the Washington Post. At the view of this sickening mud from a so-called Democrat, I will now take great pleasure to see Hillary -that pathetic liar- take the door.

If the anti-Obama comments in this thread are representative of the average American's mental capacity, it hardly matters who's elected. Doh, he doesn't wear a flag pin...doh, he'll let all the Africans in....doh, he hates whitey...All this on the basis of a phony Fox News tape loop about a guy who, as Jennifer rightly points out in the first post here, has a few qualities that none of our heroic elected leaders on the Right have remotely approached in their self-absorbed lives.

Let's face it, America hates and fears anyone with an intellect. Who was the last brilliant mind in the office? Certainly no one since TV began to encourage us to vote on the basis of looks, polls, and 30-second sound bites. That's Obama's real problem -- too many uninformed midgets who can be duped into voting against their real interests, even though the guy they voted for on the same "Ah luv Amurrica" basis the last two times totally ruined them. Yet these people have power over the relatively few Americans who actually trouble themselves to understand the issues. You'd think at some point they'd turn of the Hee-Haw reruns and give a moment's thought to the proposition that somebody with brains might be a better bet to make the right decisions than someone who appeals to their prejudices and fears, especially when their prejudices and fears have done such a poor job pointing them in a beneficial direction in the past. But no. He didn't put his hand over his heart; he criticized our country; he's a commie; I'm votin' for the guy with the flag pin who gave away my job and sent my son to die in Iraq.

Unbelievable.

JanetP said: "I would think he would be even more hospitable to those from his ancestral land."

Yes, that's why we will vote for Obama, he will be more hospitable to people from his ancestral lands -- AMERICA!

Stupidf###

All of you who harp on Wright don't really care about Wright. It's all about politics. You don't want Obama to get elected, and you want to persuade others to vote against him. You don't care by what means.

So, please explain to me how the fact that Wright was Obama's minister informs my vote if I'm concerned about the economy, trade deficit, devalued dollar, federal deficit, Iraq war, pollution, undue influence of lobbysists in D.C., or other substantive issues. How does Wright help me predict what official actions Obama would take as president??

Your silence on this question (you know who you are) proves my point. Wright is a Red Herring and doesn't help me decide which presidential candidate will best address the economy, federal deficit, the tax breaks for the wealthiest, the Republicans curtailment of bankruptcy, stem cell research funding... the list goes on.

IF INTERESTED IN HOW A CANDIDATE WILL EXERCISE PRESIDENTIAL POWER, HOW DOES WRIGHT HELP ME DECIDE TO VOTE BASED ON SAME?

The reason the pastor flap is no longer an issue is because Obama addressed it head on while Hillary has decided to spend the past month lying.

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reported that Clinton consultant Mark Penn is shilling for a free trade agreement with Colombia that Hillary says she opposes.

As can be seen from the Clintons' tax returns, those friendly people in Dubai give millions to Bill Clinton while Hillary claims she opposes Dubai ownership of American seaports on national security grounds.

Marc Rich, the fugitive international financier and union buster, was pardoned by Bill Clinton, who enjoyed a social relationship with Rich's wealthy wife.

Hillary's brothers, Tony and Hugh Rodham, also profited from dubious presidential pardons offered by the would-be First Filanderer.

Tony Rodham helped gain a presidential pardon for a Tennessee couple convicted of bank fraud.

Hugh Rodham pocketed $400,000 in legal fees after two of his clients were granted last-minute pardons. One, Carlos Vignali Jr., was convicted for transporting 800 pounds of cocaine; and his pardon was granted against the wishes of the Justice Department.

The list goes on and on ...

One of the best compilations was done by the very reputable Stuart Taylor of the National Journal, who asked:

"Hillary Rodham Clinton is supposed to be smart. But how smart is it for a woman with such a bad reputation for truthfulness and veracity to put those character traits at the center of the campaign?)" ...

Christopher Hitchens, the ubiquitous conscience of the Fourth Estate, is right.

Hillary's "offenses to veracity and decency rival," he said, "if not indeed surpassed, the disbarred and perjured hack who is her husband and tutor."

Parents, can anyone in their right mind think this pair of co-dependent "grifters"--the word Jimmy Carter's chief of staff, Hamilton Jordan, used to define them--is a good role model for today's children?

Personal responsibility is the key to government accountability.

Just today, Hillary is blaming "the boys" for her tanking campaign ...

Forget the pharonic and wasteful spending by her campaign, the vicious infighting among her key advisors, race-gate, the made-for-Hollywood portrayal of Full-Metal-Jacket St. Hillary of Bosnia, etc., etc., etc.

When Hillary is losing, it is always because she is the victim of dark and sinister forces.

Except that these are an ever changing cast of characters (witness her making nice-nice last week with the man who in the 1990s she claimed headed the "vast rightwing conspiracy"--Pennsylvania mogul Mellon Scaife).

If you begin to add up the list of all those Hillary has blamed at one point or another for her being unable to realize her agenda or her ambitions you come up with at least the beginnings of an interesting profile ...

It is of the American people themselves.

I am shocked by the viciousness of many of those who have commented. I should not like o meet then in a dark alley -- unless, of course, they are cowards.

Of course Obama is ahead of Hillary in the poll of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters. Why do you think he has more delegates? But Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters will be joined in the general election by Republicans and Independents, and it is there that Democrats will learn that Obama is unelectable, largely because of Reverend Wright.

Posted by: Austin Austin | April 5, 2008 1:33 PM

Nice try, Nostradamus. Does Mark Penn cut your checks, or are you shilling for free?

You Hillbots would be hilarious, were not so many lives at stake, from the war in Iraq our gal Rodham authorized, or from the impending war in Iran she tried to clear the way for last support with her vote on Kyl-Lieberman.

Your logic is impeccable. Because Hillary's got less support than Obama, she and only she can beat McCain.

You people are suffering from "Baghdad Bob Syndrome", with all your blanket denials even in the face of overwhelming empirical evidence to the contrary.

Do you ever wonder if the reason Hillary's losing is because most Democrats want to finally run an actual opposition candidate to the neocon racket?

Kind of hard to do with someone like Hillary, who they say gets more money from Raytheon, Blackwater, etc. than any other candidate.

Did you know her campaign's run by Mark Penn, whose firm works both for McCain and Blackwater?

With Bushes and Clintons, or for that matter, McCains, it's a dog and pony show put on by moneyed leash-holders, and Americans now realize this.

Obama's not a perfect candidate, but he's by far the most level-headed, evenhanded and ipragmatic of the three.

And he doesn't repeatedly lie about sniper fire in Bosnia.

Thanks so much to Jennifer for her post. Together, if we work hard, the next administration will be full of men and women who truly love their country, and therefore are not afraid to criticize it when we as a country fail to live the ideals Thomas Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence.

Amanda | April 5, 2008 2:15 PM

Amanda, with all due respect, maybe you should try antidepressants. Or, if you're on them, maybe you should lay off them for a while.

I feel your despair, but there's a long way to go in this election. We haven't even begun to vet Johnny McBombBomb.

Looks like the democrats will do the impossible and lose in a time when republicans are unpopular.

HRC cannot be trusted. She lies, cheats, and will do anything to win. I do not fully agree with Obama politically, but at least he is honest. He will make a good president. His speech on race was a masterpiece.
I hope for the sake of our country that HRC does not become president. (a woman is fine, just not that woman!).

Hey Leroy, I saw your comment.

Did you hear what Jerry Falwell said after the 9/11 attacks? No one stood up to him, and McCain actively went after his support afterwards. Here's what Falwell said:

"I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.' "

If you're telling me that that isn't just as inflamatory, and frankly more insane, you've lost your mind. Wright's comments were pointing out something obvious: if you are black and see that one in seven black people are in prison, that black people are constantly harrassed by the police, and have a harder time getting ahead in this country, it's sort of difficult to be proud of this country. Falwell practically said that America deserves to be attacked because we don't persecute gay people as much as we used to, we have lawyers that believe in a fair defense for all, and that we don't ever persecute so-called pagans, also known as everyone besides members of his church, and are not anti-feminist. Which is crazier?

Whites do not tolerate this type of behavior and it is sad to see that they can overlook the racist behavior in non-whites. I will not vote for racist Obama.

Posted by: Leroy | April 5, 2008 2:17 PM

Some people (see above post) are just as stupid as the day is long and nothing will ever change that.

They have every reason to be angry, I mean the angry old rich white guy Republicans have only been able to legally vote in this country for a little over forty years and they have only ran every aspect of this country for little over 200 years...so yeah, I can understand why they would be afraid of Obama's pastor and why they would want to try to put Obama's pastors words in Obama's mouth.

Sensi | April 5, 2008 2:38 PM

If America is stupid enough to let jingoism, propaganda, dogma and xenophobia determine our president in 2008, we pretty much deserve the downfall we're gonna get.

I don't think that's gonna happen, though. Obama looks like he's going to win this thing, provided his security detail does it's job.

Before you throw Clinton under the bus do some serious research on Obama because once he gets the nomination you cannot call DNC and say "sorry, we have changed our mind about him" You may want to do that if he gets the nomination and the Republicans and the media start releasing some hidden things about him ..
Its amazing how some people are falling for this Change motto. Obama isn't changing anything. He is doing what others have done- saying one thing and then doing another. He talks against Nafta then tells the Canadians not to worry -its just campaign talk. When he is confronted with it he lies until there is evidence, then he give another speech to cover it up. He tells you he worked for slumlord Rezko for "5 hours"- another lie, there is a long association between them and hundreds of thousands of dollars in deals and influence. He says he didnt hear racist Pastor Wrights cursing of American and the n when he is confronted with the evidence he gives another speech to actually defend that church. He takes money from gas and oil companies and then says he will not be controlled by lobbyists. He is for the "people voting" but then tries to stop the Florida vote because he lost here after camapaigning on T.V. He says he is for Health care and the poor yet his wife works for the Univ of Chicago hospital that charges minorities without insurance 5 times more than whites with it. Michelle says she came from a poor background, yet her upper middle calss brick home shows what a farce that is. Obama was handed legislation in illinois and he claimed it as his own after others had worked hard on it- he steam rolled others there and then spit in their face. He says he was "against the war but has voted numerous times to keep on funding it and he even voted aginst troop withdrawals. Wake up people. The list goes on and on. Who knows what the Republicans will dig up on him when they are backed to the wall.
Obama missed his calling - a good replacement for Rev. Wright
Wake up America before its too late!

I agree with Sanbourne. Please read "Dreams from my Father." That will clear up any misunderstanding the kind of person Barack Obama is: a person who is committed to healing the divisions that exist between white and black Americans. Anyone who says that book proves he is racist against anyone either just skimmed it to find something damning, or is lying. (Sanbourne, by the way, is misrepresenting what Obama said he thought of Malcolm X as a young man.).
In any case, as younger man, I was ashamed of my polish heritage, because of the stereotypes. I am more mature now, and I am no longer ashamed. Does that make me biased against Polish people?

whats going on, guys. everybody loves barack obama in europe. he is really a leader. the "billarys" gained over 109 million of US dollars in the last seven years!!!! And you really believe they are representing the poor guys in your country!? c'mon! wake up!

the last years the bush and clinton family was in charge of the proud US of A. Is this the kind of democracy you really want!? This is not a democracy. This is a Plutocracy! Just wake up, guys! Obama is the best option! Not just for the US of A, but for the whole world.

Lies of the Heart, Lies of the Mind, Lies of the Soul, Lies of All Kinds....

Bigoted Racial Hatred is in of itself the "biggest lie ever told!"

Rev. Wright and Farrakhan are educated men that "know their audience" and have profited from inflaming social ignorance.

Sen. Obama is just as guilty of promoting bigotry and social ignorance as Rev. Wright. Anyone that would support beliefs of indifference through words or actions which includes giving money to such an organization is in agreement with the ideology.

Sen. Obama has no right to lecture me or anyone else concerning his judgment in this respect. White Guilt and Moral Equivalence was the basis of his "Speech"... and it failed to properly address the issue.

The Media will continue to attempt to marginalize this issue... They may even be able to get John McCain to make a comment that supports the idea of "let's forget this ever happened"... But, the voters will not forget!

The Mass Media and Corporate America want Obama. Why?

YOU FIGURE IT OUT... NUMB SKULL!

When are Americans ever going to "VOTE" for their own "self-interests?"

The African-American community at-large is truly voting for it's "self-interest" by virtue of the last Primaries.

John McCain may very well win only because the people can't stand "bigoted racial hatred."

Interesting, isn't it...?

I am ALWAYS right so listen carefully. Obama will take the Democrat nominee - and nearly all Hillary supporters will come to their senses, let go of their emotions and vote Obama. McCain will be swiftboated for cheating on his wife, sleeping with lobbyists, singing BOMB BOMB IRAN, flip floppin on conservative issues, and saying HE WOULDN'T MIND STAYING IN IRAQ FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS. I'll just have to come back and say I TOLD YOU SO.

I am a liberal Democrat and will only support Hillary Clinton

Roger | April 5, 2008 1:31 PM

Roger, if you support Hillary, you aren't a liberal Democrat, you're a Republican who wants to see the status quo stay the status quo.

Hillary's got all that corporate support precisely because she's a useful idiot who won't rock the boat. She won't be able to, what with all those political favors her and Bill owe everyone from the U.A.E. to Raytheon.

To call yourself a liberal Democrat while supporting a candidate who has endorsed the neoconservative far-right Republican corporate agenda time and time again is patently absurd.

The DLC Democrats have been burning the party to the ground for 8 years now. Zero opposition, when America needed you most.

Seriously, you guys make the Vichys look like pit bulls.

So maybe your gal Rodham ought to sit this one out.

I have to agree completely with Dodson/Sensi/Wilford. Reading some of the racist xenophobic-based comments on this page is a stark reminder of how many Americans (or humans in general for that matter), really aren't smart enough to vote for the right candidate. I'm not American (white Canadian guy if it matters), but from the outside looking in it scares me that Obama isn't the obvious choice this time around. Send him north if you guys are too foolish to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Now I see some people try to deny voting for him just because his preacher said some stupid stuff in the past because our pastors talk only 'Gdly' words. 'A very valid reason' to deny him the vote? History tells us (not old history but our recent history) tells us race or associations has never been an issue to justify our votes. My Gd we can even look at John Macain endorser the catholic basher pastor. Nobody want to vet that. The questions all raised above Obama has tried to answer them all. We want to give them deaf ear, its our choice.
I am certain when I say this give Macain four years we lose our super power to either China or/and India in ten years. 10 trillion debt by Bush owed to middle east and far east. We will see the fading of a once superpower country away. Empires rise and fall remember!!!

I think the fact that so many are now defending the Rev. Wright is an indication that they are afraid that Obama's association with the church has seriously compromised his electability in the general election. A lot of white people that previously supported Obama are now second guessing themselves.

You are right-Americans don't like intellectuals. That is why they turned on Kerry and Gore (with the help of the media) and elected George Bush-possibly one of the dumbest persons in this country.
It is also why they will pass on Hillary Clinton-the most knowledgeable and intelligent person in the race (also the hardest working). Sure she has flaws but she is a safer bet than a a pseudo-intellectual who reads a great speech but fumbles over answering the simplest questions. Believe me, this guy is slick as hell but he is no genius. Just give him a few years of fumbling around on all the important issues facing our country-the war, the economy, health care, etc. Then we will realize that we have elected George Bushes' Black twin.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-oped0326trinitymar26,0,7143430.story
chicagotribune.com
Rev. Wright in a different light
By William A. Von Hoene Jr.
March 26, 2008
By William A. Von Hoene Jr.

During the last two weeks, excerpts from sermons of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., pastor for more than 35 years at Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's South Side, have flooded the airwaves and dominated our discourse about the presidential campaign and race. Wright has been depicted as a racial extremist, or just a plain racist. A number of political figures and news commentators have attempted to use Sen. Barack Obama's association with him to call into question Obama's judgment and the sincerity of his commitment to unity.

I have been a member of Trinity, a church with an almost entirely African-American congregation, for more than 25 years. I am, however, a white male. From a decidedly different perspective than most Trinitarians, I have heard Wright preach about racial inequality many times, in unvarnished and passionate terms.

In Obama's recent speech in Philadelphia on racial issues confronting our nation, the senator eloquently observed that Rev. Wright's sermons reflect the difficult experiences and frustrations of a generation.

It is important that we understand the dynamic Obama spoke about.

It also is important that we not let media coverage and political gamesmanship isolate selected remarks by Wright to the exclusion of anything else that might define him more accurately and completely.

I find it very troubling that we have distilled Wright's 35-year ministry to a few phrases; no context whatsoever has been offered or explored.

I do have a bit of personal context. About 26 years ago, I became engaged to my wife, an African-American. She was at that time and remains a member of Trinity. Somewhere between the ring and the altar, my wife had second thoughts and broke off the engagement. Her decision was grounded in race: So committed to black causes, the daughter of parents subjected to unthinkable prejudice over the years, an "up-and-coming" leader in the young black community, how could she marry a white man?

Rev. Wright, whom I had met only in passing at the time and who was equally if not more outspoken about "black" issues than he is today, somehow found out about my wife's decision. He called and asked her to "drop everything" and meet with him at Trinity. He spent four hours explaining his reaction to her decision. Racial divisions were unacceptable, he said, no matter how great or prolonged the pain that caused them. God would not want us to assess or make decisions about people based on race. The world could make progress on issues of race only if people were prepared to break down barriers that were much easier to let stand.

Rev. Wright was pretty persuasive; he presided over our wedding a few months later. In the years since, I have watched in utter awe as Wright has overseen and constructed a support system for thousands in need on the South Side that is far more impressive and effective than any governmental program possibly could approach. And never in my life have I been welcomed more warmly and sincerely than at Trinity. Never.

I hope that as a nation, we take advantage of the opportunity the recent focus on Rev. Wright presents—to advance our dialogue on race in a meaningful and unprecedented way. To do so, however, we need to appreciate that passion born of difficulty does not always manifest itself in the kind of words with which we are most comfortable. We also need to recognize that the basic goodness of people like Jeremiah Wright is not always packaged conventionally.

The problems of race confronting us are immense. But if we sensationalize isolated words for political advantage, casting aside the depth of feeling, circumstances and context which inform them, those problems not only will remain immense, they will be insoluble.

William A. Von Hoene Jr. of Chicago is a member of Trinity United Church of Christ.

The Wright Stuff:
Rev. Wright's so called unpatriotic comments is and was a non issue. Not one Theologian has come out against him, on the contrary, he has been defended from Mike Huckabee to Hillary's Pastor. So who is making all the noise? Those that make their $$ living (talk radio & TV Shock Jocks). These entertainers exist by divisiveness and snide innuendo posing as journalism. All of us have cursed the government openly or in our harts for some of the wicked decisions that have been made by special interest leaders to the detriment of America (all the people). This is embodied in the Founding Documents that has no place for kiss ass followers of tyrannical leaders. Just the opposite is true, The Wright Stuff has it's place, however uncomfortable and inarticulate.

To the person who claims his fear of Obama and is threatening to move to Canada coupled with the paranoid rantings of Roger and JanetP ...all of you should move to another country tolerant of idiots and bigots. Your lack of OBAMA intellect is disgusting and I am white. I commend Mr. Wright for his service and patriotism. I must admit the loop of his rantings by FOX News is what inspired me to listen to his sermons in their entirity and YES, his comments were taken out of context and since I've enlighten myself I am now an OBAMA supporter. I challenge White America who are doubting Obama's ability to lead because of Mr. Wright to listen to the entire sermon and stop being manipulated by fear.

It is absurd mistaking HRC's deception and greed for power to intellect and fighter. Wake Up America.

If GALLUP says so. HAAHA!

This issue is what makes Obama UNELCTABLE in the general.

Keep whistling past the cemetary liberal media.

It's fading, trust me, dont worry. LOL!

I remain excited... and certain... that an Obama precidency will restore, world-wide, the love for this great country.
We need a fresh mind-set... no more dynasties or dinosours!

If Iowa & New Hampshire did anything, they proved that polls
are interesting but worthless in the final analysis.

Rev. Wright has morphed from
a patriotic honored American into a USA-hating, White-hating,etc raving lunatic; his words and his actions in his own tapes & writings prove it.
His inaccessibility proves that Sen. Obama's handlers know that he is a major liability.
He is and has been the pastor
in a church that at best has ringe, non-mainstream ideas and values.

Sen. Obama has disowned his
white heritage and the white community for the militant black community as revealed
in his writings and responses.

That he has been a member of
Rev. Wright's church for as long as he has, was married by him, had his daughters
baptized by him and now refuses to disown him says it all; Sen. has adopted fringe, non-mainstream ideas and values and will impose them given the opportunity.

The media and the DNC have not investigated or vetted him, his ideas, values,associations,
writings,speeches,etc
properly; they should investigate him thoroughly
immediately or they and all of us will regret it.

He should not be a Democratic candidate for President; his fringe, non-mainstream ideas and values,and his actions in Illinois and in the Senate
make him suited only as a third party candidate, The Black Liberation Party/The Black Nationalist Party!

QUESTION?? FORGET FOR A MIN. RACIST OBAMA & LOOK AT HIS EXTRA LEFT VOTING & PROPOSED BILLS.
VOTE YOUR POCKETBOOK FOLKS! IT COMES DOWN TO + HOW HUGE TAXES WILL COME TO YOU BY VOTING DEMOCRAT. THEY WANT CITIZENS TO PAY HUGE TAXES (INCOME REDISTRIBUTION) SO ALL
MERE CITIZENS CAN BE THE SAME BUT RULED BY ELITE CONGRESS & GOV'T.
DO YOU WANT TO SUFFER, LOSE CHOICES & RIGHTS IN LIFE, WHILE GOV'T TAKES THINGS AWAY FROM YOU?????
THAT IS THE CORE QUESTION !!!!!!!!

You want another war? brothers and sisters killed go ahead and vote McCain. Over half of you Americans voted bush. America wake up...

I don't understand why everybody threatens to vote for McCain if their candidate doesn't win. Their policy is practically identical - so by saying you'd sooner have McCain, you're saying that it's not their policy that is important, but rather their gender/race and character. I'm hoping to vote for Obama in the fall, but if not, it'll be Hillary - because I believe in affordable health care, less tax breaks for the rich, and getting out of Iraq. Although... Obama didn't wear his lapel pin and Hillary exaggerated her vacation, so I'm votin' for Ol' Johnny!
On a side note, I'm completely floored by the outright bigotry surrounding the campaigns and evidenced by comments everywhere. Really, I thought we were 30 years past all this.
Gawd protect us all from Obama's flea bitten tribesmen and Hillary's pathological lies.

Jennifer, too bad he became a turncoat that damned America. In one split second he undid all the good that you claim was accomplished in his lifetime. The man deserves to be forever exiled from this country. And the voters should not let this disappear from their thoughts when it comes to choosing the next President. If they do we will be saddled with a President and first lady that is as racist as Wright.

Daly, That is funny, I didn't know they were all related and came from ancestry from Kenya. What comic book have you been reading? I need a good laugh.

VOTE YOUR POCKETBOOK FOLKS! IT COMES DOWN TO + HOW HUGE TAXES WILL COME TO YOU BY VOTING DEMOCRAT. THEY WANT CITIZENS TO PAY HUGE TAXES (INCOME REDISTRIBUTION) SO ALL
MERE CITIZENS CAN BE THE SAME BUT RULED BY ELITE CONGRESS & GOV'T.
DO YOU WANT TO SUFFER, LOSE CHOICES & RIGHTS IN LIFE, WHILE GOV'T TAKES THINGS AWAY FROM YOU?????
THAT IS THE CORE QUESTION !!!!!!!!

Posted by: SUE | April 5, 2008 4:27 PM

Let's see. Taxpayers money used to save the incompetents in business.
Wage suppression from outsourcing.
High energy costs effecting the prices of food and everything else.
An elite government that is above the law, the rule of law and the letter of the law.
Government spying on its own citizens (I'm so sure it's limited to terrorist threats.)
A stacked SCOTUS that favors corporations over citizens in all things.

OBAMA IS A RASIST ANS I WOULD NEVAR VOTE FOR HIM. AMERICA NEEDS HILARRY!

The poor and the racist will vote for Obama. The ones who feel the government are responsible for their kids will vote for him, too. The ones who think police should all be black and white police are racist will go for him as will Toddy boy and his followers. They want Blacks to run everything, regardless of truth and fairness, in the belief that everything is the white man's fault, even when there are blacks shooting blacks in their schools.

I can't wait for the debate between McCain and WHOEVER. I'll bet as soon as things get STRESSFUL he'll blow a GASKET and THEN his devoted followers will see the REAL McCain!!! I was horrified to hear that he was going to be the Republican candidate!!! It seems people in this country have more taste for SH-T THAN SUGAR!!! OF COURSE he sings ' BOMB, BOMB, BOMB, ...BOMB BOMB IRAN!!! He acts like he's a few french fries short of a Happy Meal!!! That carefuuly controlled voice oh his reminds me of someone who's not too cool !!!

"Yeah, Roger and JanetP. We will continue to hate your whiny a**, you coward. ANd we will destroy you and your kind at every opportunity. We hate you, as you have hated, demeaned, and degraded us. Remember that."

Posted by: Hank | April 5, 2008 2:32 PM

Such hateful words! You surely must have been under the tutleage of Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Don't be too sure.

Some of you guys do not seem to remember Jim crow or when the white men ruled the country for over 200 years. Black people were treated less than a dog and white women was just decoration. And you call Rev Wright who served "his" country and once he came back from the military treated like a second class citzen. We in the 21st century and 40 years "after" the civil rights movement and we are still talking about the first this and that. How can we display democracy to the Iraqi when you can not let a black man or white woman show their god given gifts to this country. Hipocracy white america!

To the blogger C. Watson: It was Jesse Jackson not J. Wright who was asked to the White House to counsel the sexual predator and his enabler wife. I do not remember being polled re "the fading of this story." Perhaps it was left-wing Democrats who were polled. This story has not gone away and will not go away. The Pastor Wright mocked Billary in one of his sermons. It was almost pornographic in tone and so inappropriate for church. And, I might add, for children attending his services. I dislike the Clintons and I am not defending them. But, what Wright did at that particular church service was inexcusable.

Judgment? Judgment? Judgment? "Don't tell me words don't matter!" Well, pshaw, where is the actions to match this rethoric? With a viper in the pulpit while you sit there 20 years, with wife, children listenening to the vennom spew forth, why no action? How many more "uncles" who are mentors are there? Are we electing a president who is willing to let us all be damned and allow future attacks to just be seen as "chickens coming home to roost"? It's about judgment and the judgment of the American people electing a president for this country not for the world. By the way, for all the democrats roasting Hillary and her supporters, well guess who you will need come November? I remain amazed at how much sexism there has been in this race and if Hillary is out of the race, the focus will turn to how this has been a factor. McCain may be a bit older, but age has its advantages, including experience and judgment.

By the way, wasn't Timothy McVeigh of Oklahoma also a "former" Marine?

Apologies to the Marines. McVeigh was a decorated former member of the U.S. Army.

Apologies to the Marines. McVeigh was a decorated former member of the U.S. Army.

Obama will loose. He will loose because his true colors are already starting to emerge. Every black will vote for him because he is black. The blacks do not want to be equal with whites, they want to be superior. IE Reverened Wright and all his comments. If Hilary's pastor talked like this of white people, the media would of had a field day and Jesse Jackson would have been first on the scene. Please prepare for the worst America. When Obama looses there will be a riot like no other!!! I origianlly voted for Obama, now he turns my stomach!!! His wife is so unamerican too. "She is finally proud to be an american". Ungrateful since she has had a very sucessful life!

To call for Hillary to be president because she was the first lady for her husband as govenor and president is insane...That is not experience. She was a lawyer in a law firm...so are many lawyers....that is not experience either. Every time she was given the position of leadership, she failed...She shamed her husband's admin. by

To call for Hillary to be president because she was the first lady for her husband as govenor and president is insane...That is not experience. She was a lawyer in a law firm...so are many lawyers....that is not experience either. Every time she was given the position of leadership, she failed...She shamed her husband's admin. by

RE: Posted by: Wilford | April 5, 2008 2:35 PM "I'm scared. Last week he was a Muslim, now he's a Christian extremist."

Yeah, I'm scared too, but only because if you actually believe this extremist B.S. myth then I'm scared that you may live close by me, and I don't like to live near nuts.

To the blogger C. Watson: It was Jesse Jackson not J. Wright who was asked to the White House to counsel the sexual predator and his enabler wife.

Posted by: SKM | April 5, 2008 7:17 PM

Sorry, you are wrong.
Photographic proof:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jeremiah_Wright_and_Bill_Clinton_at_1998_White_House_Prayer_Breakfast.jpg

RE: Posted by: Wilford | April 5, 2008 2:35 PM "I'm scared. Last week he was a Muslim, now he's a Christian extremist."

Yeah, I'm scared too, but only because if you actually believe this extremist B.S. myth then I'm scared that you may live close by me, and I don't like to live near nuts.

Posted by: Anonymous | April 5, 2008 7:56 PM

I'm even more scared of people without the basic educational and reading background to enable them to comprehend and understand sarcasm ...you go, wilford...that was the most entertaining post on the blog.

Do you think McCain will forget? Doubtful...I know I never will forget.

Wishful Thinking. And there is worse to come. The press won't tell us, but if opponents ever getting around to reading Dreams from my Father, they'll have ammo aplenty. Obama's autobiography shoes him to be obsessed with race. Once he decided it was convenient to be Black, he resented his own flesh and blood--mother, grandparents as well as Hawaii school friends. One now understands why Obama how Obama sat through all those hate-whitey sermons: Obama himself is a racist.