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Wright’s Wrong Move
Published by Pamela Gentry on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 11:41 am.
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
Posted April 30, 2008 – Sen. Barack Obama did everything he could to distance himself from his former pastor, respectfully, but the Rev. Jeremiah Wright went too far in his latest public appearances. Wright’s antics have angered Obama, forcing him to denounce, disown and break ties with the flamboyant and arrogant pastor.
And, yes, I said “arrogant.”
After Obama witnessed what he called “rants” by the former pastor of the Trinity United Church in Chicago that were “not grounded in truth,” he realized it was time speak out.
“The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago,” Obama said. Wright made it easy for Obama to rebuff him, and it may lead to the Illinois senator leaving the church altogether.
Wright, so caught up in his 15 minutes of fame, somehow thought he should take a national platform – not once, not twice but three times – to defend his name and his views on America, even if it meant jeopardizing Obama’s candidacy.
Wright’s spectacle at the press club furthered negative stereotypes and re-enforced the fears of an “angry Black man” held by many Whites. If this latest episode derails Obama’s bid for the White House, Wright might find that Black folks are his greatest critics.
“When I say I find these comments appalling, I mean it,” Obama told reporters at a news conference Tuesday. “It contradicts everything that I’m about and who I am. And anybody who has worked with me, who knows my life, who has read my books, who has seen what this campaign is about, I think will understand that it is completely opposed to what I stand for and where I want to take this country.”
The airwaves will be filled with Wright’s comments now throughout the rest of the primary season. The constant chatter about the ordeal will make it more difficult for Obama to stay on message, and the news media will pass on discussing gas prices to follow the circus appeal of Wright.
Obama, obviously agitated by Wright’s allegations, said, “But he states, and then amplifies, such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. Government somehow being involved in AIDS; when he suggest that Minister [Louise] Farrakahan somehow represents one of the greatest voices of the 20th and 21st century; when he equates the United States’ wartime efforts with terrorism, then there are no excuses,”Obama said.
Wright’s statements combined with his attacks on White America were obviously riveting for the Illinois senator. “I have spent my entire life trying to bridge the gap between different kinds of people,” Obama said.
“His comments were not only divisive and destructive, but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate,” Obama told reporters on the campaign trial in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Of course, the big question is what impact this will have on his campaign. We’ll have to wait for the next contest to get the answer.
When Rev. Wright first came in the news and was being targeted by Whites, the Black Community came to his side. Now he defends himself and Obama disses him, Blacks are ready to burn this man at the stake. Our hypocrisy will cost us the election. Our chickens are coming home to roost. (ya’ll get mad if ya want too, we know what we say behind closed doors)
THE GOOD REV IS SHOWING HIS TRUE COLORS! HE HAS SHAMED ALL OF US IN HIS BETRAYAL AND BACKSTABBING OF ONE OF HIS OWN, OBAMA! THIS MAN IS SPEAKING AND DOING THE WHITE MANS WORK FOR HIM. BY COMING OUT AT THE TIME HE DID IS PROOF OF JUST HOW LOW A BROTHER WILL GO TO ACHIEVE WHAT HE CAN FROM THE WHITES WHO ARE USING ONE OF OUR OWN AGAINST THE OTHER IN ORDER TO PREVENT A BLACK MAN FROM SEEKING THE PRESIDENCY! HE HAS DISGRACED US ALL AND IS NO BETTER THAN THOSE HE CONDEMS!! KEEP YOUR HEAD UP OBAMA!!
I beleive that the senator is doing the right thing.
You only get one chance to show the world on a stage of that level what type of people we really are. It was a national and gobal stage. The good Rev. did not understand what was at stake with his arrogant speech. So what the media attacked him. Men of GOD should know how to act by the values that GOD has written in the Bible. Vengence is mine sayeth the Lord. Not Jereimah Wright ( The key word in response was closed doors)Not national spotlight
WELL SAID DONNA !!!!!
I AGREE WITH ALL THAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN…OBAMA 08!!
Ok…now what does Wright have to do with Obama again? Maybe I missed it.
Obama supporters, is this not enough yet? Obama is only disagreeing with Wright now because it is hurting his campaign!!! He listened to the guy for over 20 years and was married and his kids were baptised by the man he has called his uncle!!!! WHAT A FAKE. Even black people should denounce him for falsely acquiring their support. He is not who you thought he was…WHAT A HYPOCRITE!
I AGREE WITH DA’ TRUTH. BLACKS KNOW WHAT IS SAID BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AND NOW WE WANT TO ACT LIKE REV. WRIGHT’S COMMENTS ARE NOT SO. I KNOW SEN. OBAMA HAD TO DISTANCE HIMSELF, BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS HE KNOWS THE REAL DEAL. IT’S WRONG FOR THE MEDIA/AMERICA TRY TO CENSOR WHAT IS SAID IN THE BLACK CHURCH. FOR YEARS THE BLACK CHRUCH HAS REPRESENT AND SPOKE THE TRUTH, WHY STOP NOW.
I think this is so sad! Some of these so call christians is why the church is so broken. I know God is not pleased. Bmoore is so right about “Men of GOD should know how to act by the values that GOD has written in the Bible.” But to me, they don’t fear GOD anymore. That’s why they do the things that they do. So I say Obama, keep the faith.
why should wright back down from the truth dam obamma and his attempt at the white house we dont need another condelezza rice its enough of you out there at the black church praying to the white jesus also know that sunday is the most segregated day of the week between 11 and 2 the white people go to the white church and the black people go to the black church
Donna and Bmoore are on point. Black America let’s try to walk the walk and stand for rightousness and put away hatred and mailce. We are a nation of people who most of us have come through long suffering. There is a big difference between ignorance and ignoring we’ve had to do both. If there ever was a time for us to show that we truly love who we are and accept each other whole heartedly it is now. It’s our time to shine we are being tested and tried don’t let the enemy continue to put the jacket of let them rob, steal, and kill each other mentally, physically, and financially. We all can’t lead but we can stand together with genuine love in our hearts and minds with each other. Go Obama!
I figured it out, Rev Wright and Billary are friends’s and he is working for Billary’s campaign it wouldn’t be the 1st time a brother was misused to destroy one of his own.
i saw on news rev. wright live in house value over million of dollar and with a line of credit of 10 million attact to house in a white nibor hood that is 95 or more white with house value way into million so why is news repeatly play wright video wright news take up more of any news topic then house mess, skyrock gas, food cost, so have u made ur judement of who try two keep obama down rev wright and news media
Corey your right i seen on CNN, Lou Dobbs said on Monday when the tape was aired how long was Hillary going to pay the reverend to do this.
Corey…..It’s evident that most of you just became interested in this election because the Black Man is running. Grow up dude. I don’t think Bill or Hillary introduced Wright to Obama, nor did they attend the church, nor were they married by him, nor was their child Baptized by him. How about some of you holding Barack accountable for this mess he created. You don’t just decided one day you are going to run for President. It’s an early process dude. Barack should have been thinking about this 20 years ago. HE’S FINISHED!
I agree with Donna. What is sad is how many black people on this page are defending Wright and calling Obama “white” or suggesting that. This just says that we as black folks do not know how to act. Rev. Wright has his views, but he knows better than to go on a media tour and show is arrogant behind,when he know what is at stake. No..you do not have to pander to white people, but you need to know that there is a time and a place for everything. Wright could have saved all that energy after the elections, then put a firestorm on America that we have never seen before and getting global support on just how hypocritical America has been to people of color. There is a time, place, and a way of doing things. All reverend was doing was backstabbing Obama..that is just plain and simple. Why is he running his mouth now of all times in the thick of election season? Why is he appearing for press conferences three times and maybe even more..this is a media tour for him. NO, it is time for us black people to GROW UP! Stop running our mouths about the “white man” and start beating the “man” at his own game, but acting smart instead of a fool. We are just playing into the racist hand of blasting our mouths, instead of thinking and outsmarting him. Obama has the “outsmart you” mind, too bad reverend (with all his education) and some other black folks do not have the same intelligence.
yes I alo heard the TV invitatio to Wright came from some commitee connected with Hillary. A member was part of the people voicing opinions about Wright. When another person brought the invitiation to Wright fact up, the woman wanted to change the suggest. She says “it doesn’t matter who invited on TV, what we are talking about now is what he said”. No I guess it does not matter or surprise anyone that Clinton and supportors as well as Wright are bed fellows.