Obama Repudiates His Pastor’s Statements

Posted on March 14, 2008

Update: I told you so…Wright Leaves Obama Campaign!

Spokesman Tommy Vietor emails:

“Rev. Wright is no longer serving on the African American Religious Leadership Committee.”

Obviously shifting strategies since this morning, Obama finally comes out with a strong statement against his pastor’s remarks.

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 dialogue, whether itâ€™s on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issueâ€¦

Rev. Wright preached the gospel of Jesus, a gospel on which I base my life. In other words, he has never been my political advisor; heâ€™s been my pastor. And the sermons I heard him preach always related to our obligation to love God and one another, to work on behalf of the poor, and to seek justice at every turn.

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.

Will it be enought to dig him out of the hole? Its better than any earlier statements, but its still full of holes. He has been a member of the church for 20 years. I guess he is trying to say that in that entire 20 years he never attended at a point where this pastor said anything. Also still at issue is his pastor’s position in the campaign. I’m sure he will be quitting soon.

Geraghty questions the timing:

He chose to post that statement on… the Huffington Post. At 4:30 p.m. eastern on a Friday.

Obama will also be on FOX tonight for an interview with Major Garrett.

Lots of good analysis at Hot Air

» Filed Under 1st Amendment, Elections, News, Politics As Usual

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Comments

2 Responses to “Obama Repudiates His Pastor’s Statements”

theMachiavellian on March 14th, 2008 9:21 pm

So in 20 years, in public or private, Obama never heard Rev. Wright express his anti-American, anti-Jewish, or anti-white feelings?

On his campaign site, he describes Wright as a “close confidant.” (http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/11/12/obama_has_never_been_a_muslim_1.php#practicing-christian)

What a load of bull.
Terry K. on March 15th, 2008 9:03 am

Just as I guessed in a earlier thread — even Wright leaving Obama’s campaign is not enough for Jay.

Will Jay ever hold John McCain to the same standard over John Hagee and Ron Parsley?