Jeremiah Wright: Obama Didn’t Denounce Me (UPDATED & BUMPED)
April 29th, 2008 at 07:07pm Matt Margolis
Of course, I knew that, and anyone not infatuated with Obama’s candidacy know that, but now Jeremiah Wright is confirming what we already knew… much to the dismay of Obamaniacs.
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright said Monday that he will try to change national policy by “coming after” Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) if he is elected president.
The pastor also insisted Obama “didn’t denounce” him and “didn’t distance himself” from Wright’s controversial remarks, but “did what politicians do.”
Wright implied Obama still agrees with him by saying: “He had to distance himself, because he’s a politician, from what the media was saying I had said, which was [portrayed as] anti-American.”
Well, first, let me just say that the media didn’t say what Wright said, they just played vide of what said, and his words spoke for themselves.
But anyway, Wright still told two undeniable truths. First, that Obama did not truly denounce Wright, and second that Obama only attempted to distance himself from Wright for political cover, not because of a genuine rejection of Wright’s words.
Thank you.
UPDATE: Wright’s recent public spectacle has Obama running for political cover.
UPDATE: Bulldog Pundit makes an interesting observation regarding Obama’s newfound “outrage” over Wright’s recent comments.
What did Wright really say this weekend that was any more offensive than what Obama previously dismissed as “soundbites”. I listened to this guy’s speeches to the NAACP and his comments at the National Press Club yesterday and I didn’t hear anything worse than he had said previously. I did learn however, that this guy’s kookiness is not limited to “sound bites”. The full version is just as loopy, and there’s absolutely no chance in hell that Obama wasn’t aware of it having gone to his church for 20 years (although he was mysteriously absent from church when all the “sound bite” moments occurred).
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
38 Comments
1. winnowhead | April 29th, 2008 at 11:10 am
In related news…
Your last post whined about the DNC cutting and snipping “McCain’s Own Words” out of context.
Funny, isn’t it, how “one’s own words” can serve your purpose in such diverse ways?
2. Matt Margolis | April 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
As the post clearly explains, winnowhead, there’s a significant difference between showing clips of a sermon (with Wright) and the actual splicing of a sentence to change the meaning (with McCain’s words)
perhaps that’s too complicated for you to understand, but anyone who graduated from grade school should understand the difference.
3. winnowhead | April 29th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Well, thanks Matt, you just proved my point.
I find it hard to believe you truly are so partisan that you don’t understand the difference between replaying 5 seconds of a sermon (without context) over and over again, and broadcasting (or discussing honestly) a sermon in full context.
But that’s okay, since we all know you’re only interested in reinforcing GOP talking points, we don’t expect any more of you.
4. js | April 29th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
news flash on MSNBC
Obama denouced this racist pig today….only because he thinks it will keep him in play for the election….not because he thinks he made a mistake for the last 17 years….not because his kids psych told him it screwed up his kids minds..but because of his ambition, the need for speed you could say….greed for power…
5. js | April 29th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
from FOX:
In a press conference in North Carolina, the Illinois senator used his strongest language to date to denounce Wright’s controversial sermons and his public remarks since those sermons became national news a month ago.
“Yesterday we saw a very different vision of America,” Obama said. “I am outraged by the comments that were made, and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday.”
“The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago. His comments were not only divisive and destructive but I believe they ended up giving comfort to those who prey on hate,” he said.
end quote
so obama makes like the tiger changed its stripes in for spots like a leopard, eh? fat chance…the whitewash just came offf…..
6. hermie | April 29th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
So, will Obama now disown the entire black community?
After 20 years of subsidizing Wright, his close friend, mentor, spiritual advisor, political advisor and supporter, … he just figured it out?
What I want to see is the backlash the black community and the civil rights organizations will say about Obama’s throwing his friend under the bus for political advantage. (Well, at least he’ll keep his ‘typical white’ grandmother company.)
7. Dennis | April 29th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Matt, have you listened to Wright’s presentation at the Nat’l Press Club, unedited and in full context?
Unless you let Wright speak for himself in full and evaluate his words by Scriptural and historical criteria, you have no standing to ridicule or diminish him. You’re just repeating hearsay. That doesn’t hold up in a court of law - but the court of public opinion is a vulgar venue.
If you reference the Bible you will find the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah was hated for being anti-patriotic, for pronouncing the nation under the judgment of God and prophesying its doom. He was persecuted, imprisoned and finally thrown into a deep pit of mud. The king preferred false prophets who only spoke of national greatness.
Too late the nation learned the false prophets had been wrong and Jeremiah was right. Because they spurned all calls to repentance, the Jews were taken into Babylonian capitivity and their nation taken from them. See http://www.injil.org/TWOR/56.html
I do not necessarily compare Rev. Wright to the Old Testament Jeremiah, but there are enough parallels to be wary of dismissing him out of hand. He makes a strong case for many of his controversial remarks - but it takes some Biblical erudition to discern this. To judge him by political or even shallower “patriotic” criteria is a fundamental mistake.
In fact Jeremiah Wright is an American patriot (six years in the Marine Corps), he is a scholar and moreover he is an authentic Christian. And he is misjudged, grossly and preemptively - largely by people who have not even given him a fair hearing. They haven’t the knowledge or qualification to even understand what he is saying, let alone to judge it.
It is not Wright’s responsibility to sit down or shut up, but to continue his ministry. Ideally Barack Obama should not disown Wright, but continue to value his friendship and counsel. In the end Obama will make his own decisions anyway. It is altogether appropriate for him to have outside spiritual advisors who make him think uncomfortable thoughts and consider criteria beyond political expedience.
Unfortunately, in the divided and rabidly polarized America the Bush presidency has left us, Barack Obama, the finest presidential candidate America has had in a generation, is left in an untenable situation, where he is damned no matter what he does.
8. neocon | April 29th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Dennis,
So now Barack is a victim? “The best presidential candidate in a generation” who can not even unify his own party, is a victim of evil Americans who have the audacity to question his judgement?
Should we not delve into his past and hold him accountable for personal decisions he made? Should we just rubber stamp this guy because he makes people faint at campaign stops?
Just what criteria do you use when selecting the POTUS?
9. SEW | April 29th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
In fact Jeremiah Wright is an American patriot (six years in the Marine Corps), he is a scholar and moreover he is an authentic Christian. And he is misjudged, grossly and preemptively - largely by people who have not even given him a fair hearing. They haven’t the knowledge or qualification to even understand what he is saying, let alone to judge it. Dennis
“I’m outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle;” Wright’s remarks “a bunch of rants that aren’t grounded in truth” Obama
10. js | April 29th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
7. Dennis
no matter how you slice and dice it….the bible doesnt recognize black ethics, white ethics, hispanic ethics or little boy blue ethics….and whitey does not occur in the bible one time, no, not once…anytime someone uses racial superiority and condemns another race…they are wrong….
11. SEW | April 29th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
“Matt, have you listened to Wright’s presentation at the Nat’l Press Club, unedited and in full context?
Unless you let Wright speak for himself in full and evaluate his words by Scriptural and historical criteria, you have no standing to ridicule or diminish him. You’re just repeating hearsay. That doesn’t hold up in a court of law - but the court of public opinion is a vulgar venue.”
Dennis
“I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday,” Obama said in a last-minute press conference today. The candidate said that after watching Wright’s appearance from Monday, “what became clear to me was that he was presenting a world view that contradicts what I am and what I stand for.”
Barry Obama
Dennis you’re on a roll here. So, which is it? You on BarryO’s side, or Jerre Wright? Quick, see if DP can forward the emergency Dem talking points.
12. Dennis | April 29th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
In an ideal world Barack Obama would not have had to disown Jeremiah Wright, but would have continued to value his friendship without political penalty.
Unfortunately in the divided and rabidly polarized environment the Bush presidency has left us, Obama has been compromised and reduced to dealing in the currency the American public now prefers most: pandering.
Js, if you allow Wright to speak for himself nowhere does he “recognize black ethics, white ethics, hispanic ethics or little boy blue ethics.” That is your own fabrication.
Jeremiah Wright:
“Reconciliation does not mean that blacks become whites or whites become blacks and Hispanics become Asian or that Asians become Europeans.
“Reconciliation means we embrace our individual rich histories, all of them. We retain who we are as persons of different cultures, while acknowledging that those of other cultures are not superior or inferior to us. They are just different from us.
“We root out any teaching of superiority, inferiority, hatred, or prejudice. And we recognize for the first time in modern history in the West that the other who stands before us with a different color of skin, a different texture of hair, different music, different preaching styles, and different dance moves, that other is one of God’s children just as we are, no better, no worse, prone to error and in need of forgiveness, just as we are.”
13. neocon | April 29th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Dennis,
Your continued apologist and excusatory tone on behalf of Jeremiah is very funny.
Please continue
14. neocon | April 29th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
And dennis,
Are you then admitting that Barack disowned Wright for political expediency?
I thought he was a different kind of politician?
15. Danish Artist | April 29th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I guess Obama did denounce Wright before he didn’t?
Wait…..
Obama didn’t denounce Wright before he did?
Wait……
What iteration are we on?
We’ve come a long way from a non-issue by the Obama himself!
16. SEW | April 29th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
“and rabidly polarized environment the Bush presidency has left us” Dennis
Hey, Dennis, don’t forget Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and Halliburton.
Obama, after 20 years, last night found reason to throw “Reverend” Wright under the bus. Will Rezko and Ayers be next? Will society reimburse he and his wife for college tuition and camp expenses?
17. hermie | April 29th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Organizations like the NAACP had Wright speak and not only agreed with his remarks, but cheered him on as if he was running for President.
Yet Obama now considers these remarks to throw Wright under the bus.
Well thanks Barry…You let the NAACP, Bill Moyers and other allies on the Left prop up Wright so they could prop you up, and NOW you decide you have to distance yourself from him.
Could it also be that Barry’s thin skin was the real reason that Wright was now persona non grata? After all, Wrights words were just fine and dandy with Obama…until Wright made statements that Obama was acting like a typical politician.
18. Rich | April 29th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Oh my this is just getting too delicious. Obama and his stooges have said for weeks they were soundbytes taken out of context. Now they are saying Wright is really the turd they just said last weekend he wasn’t. The only thing worrying me now is the fact that Clinton is gaining on McCain in several polls. Obama is only up on Clinton five points in NC in recent polls. This is about a thriteen point drop.
It is so hilarious to see you lefties try and jump through hoops on this issue. First we were racist for speaking out against Wright, now Obama is “outraged” at Wright’s statements. What has changed between Wright’s sermons and what he said yesterday for Obama to make the flip? I’m really wanting to hear an explanation.
Meanwhile, a trip to the DailySatan(DailyKos) will show you that lefties are now saying Wright is a Clinton plant. I’m sorry but if Clinton is that good at manipulating a situation then she should be President.
19. Freedom1 | April 29th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Please, please, listen to Wright’s whole speech!
(Video) Rev. Jeremiah Wright : No Apologies for “God D— America” at the National Press Club
Rev. Wright Taunts Journalists, Blasts Government at the National Press Club Wright was accompanied by bodyguards from the Nation of Islam.
“Click here to read a full transcript of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s remarks and question-answer session at the National Press Club.”
20. Freedom1 | April 29th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Please, please listen to Wright’s whole speech!
(Video) Rev. Jeremiah Wright : No Apologies for “God D— America” at the National Press Club
“Click here to read a full transcript of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s remarks and question-answer session at the National Press Club.”
21. Freedom1 | April 29th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
At the National Press Club, Wright was accompanied by bodyguards from the Nation of Islam.
Here’s more from Wright!
Rev. Wright in Full, Unedited Context
(Via LGF), “The full video of Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s now-infamous “God Damn America” sermon has been posted by Fox News here, in three parts: Sermon Video Presents Obama’s Former Pastor in His Own Words.
Watch the whole thing—because despite the outcry from mainstream media and Obama supporters (there’s a difference?) that Wright’s vile comments were taken out of context, when you watch his complete sermon it’s even worse.
And now we have more examples of completely in-context hate speech, from other sermons by Rev. Wright, at Hugh Hewitt’s blog: Providing Context For Reverend Wright: The New Audio Of His Sermons.
22. Kahn | April 29th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Wrights crime is speaking the truth. He’s saying publicly what many blacks believe and what many liberals believe.
Liberals don’t want America to know who they REALLY are. That goes against all the plans.
23. dickvee | April 30th, 2008 at 2:13 am
I love how libs and the racist apologists say everything is taken out of context. As if there is a context to say ‘God Damn America’. Only dennis would think that is acceptable in any context. The media will now start playing ENTIRE sermons or chapters from Wrights dvd’s to show complete context…and it won’t be pretty. I’ve seen more not shown often, and it is incendiary…can’t wait until its on a Repub ad. Watching some of the MSM spin this is pretty funny….even though I noticed C. Matthews is still in support of Barry, but it appeared he wasn’t having much a tingle up his leg anymore. Old Barry may weasel out of this for a while, but every whitey I know will remember all of this past November. I guess thats just typical for us white left brained people.
There is a quandry now for the libs, and more so for blacks who support Wright’s agenda. This spectacle will set race relations back half a century if not resolved to the satisfaction of us typical white people. Since we are known as ‘the man’, it won’t take much now to really return to the man. As blacks rally to Obama’s side now, everyone will be watching to see if he still gets 98% of the black vote. And, of course, any candidate who gets more than 50% of the white vote will be getting the racist vote! ha ha
William Ayres is breathing a sigh of relief with his bombing wife, that the news pressure is off of them for a while. So early in the year, yet the cumulative effect of learning who BHO is, will finally cause a crash and burn. Thats why Operation Chaos is now in a temporary pause. Stay tuned.
24. Kurt | April 30th, 2008 at 2:22 am
So does this mean that Obama has now disowned the black community and his own grandmother now?
25. Christian Wright | April 30th, 2008 at 2:31 am
When is McCain going to denounce Haggee?
26. Freedom1 | April 30th, 2008 at 3:55 am
The Man Behind Jeremiah Wright - JAMES CONE, Founder of black liberation theology
James Cone:
Professor of Systematic Theology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City
Views America as an irredeemably racist nation
In his landmark 1969 book Black Theology and Black Power, Cone wrote:
27. Jeremiah | April 30th, 2008 at 5:29 am
When is McCain going to denounce Haggee?
Don’t know. But he ain’t near the danger that this Wright feller is.
However, it’s a good thing we were able find what kind of people Mr. Obama is associated with before we let him have the reigns……talk about train-wreck…
Wheweee!!!
28. Danish Artist | April 30th, 2008 at 6:06 am
C Wright,
Again shows his ignorance…..and ability to parrot liberal talking points.
“But, but, but, but, but, but…When is McCain going to denounce Haggee?”
Did McCain attend Haggee’s sermons for 20 years?
Two different circumstances….but when we are dealing with people who have the attention span of lettuce……………
29. Christian Wright | April 30th, 2008 at 6:46 am
I don’t see anything wrong what what Wright is preaching. I have not heard one thing that does not ring true.
An attack on Wright is an attack on Black culture, Freedom of Speech, and Separation of Church and State.
What ever happened to disagreeing with what a person says, but being willing to die to protect that person’s right to say it?
30. hermie | April 30th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Psst CW … Obama has denounced Wright’s speeches and what he has been preaching.
Does that mean that Obama is now attacking black culture, freedom of speech, etc?
Please read your hourly Obama talking points and excuses memos, for Barry’s current spin.
31. phnx | April 30th, 2008 at 8:06 am
This is really great, now Dennis blames President Bush for the mess that Obama and wright have created. In the demented minds of liberals is there anything for which President Bush is not responsible?
32. js | April 30th, 2008 at 8:28 am
whats really strange is how they condemn america and call themselves christians while standing up for black superiority…whitey isnt the US Government….whitey is only 60% of this nation…and whitey is responsible, worldwide, for combating slavery…just like whitey did in America…there isnt a black man alive today in America that suffered slavery in the last 140+ years of US history…this is a nation that we control our destinies, not the government…and if an entire culture resigns itself to live in ghettos, dealing drugs and being involved in organized crime…it thier choice, above all reasons…that put them there…and keeps them there…when they point the finger at whitey, they forget that they have 3 fingers pointing right back at themselves…..
33. Danish Artist | April 30th, 2008 at 9:14 am
so CW, you are now defending, what liberals have termed in other circumstances, HATE SPEECH!
To use liberal reasons - “it doesn’t matter if it’s true, it is hateful.”
“He doesn’t deserve his position as if he agrees with hateful statements.”
I could go on and on!
CW, why are you defending hate speech?
why do you keep deflecting?
34. Parker | April 30th, 2008 at 11:20 am
I don’t see anything wrong what what Wright is preaching. I have not heard one thing that does not ring true.
CW - So then we can presume that you agree that HIV and crack cocaine were government plots aimed at African-Americans?
35. SEW | April 30th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Parker, those were mere “distractions”, the HIV crack cocaine statements. You know, move on statements.CW is talking about his anti America anti White racist remarks. The politically acceptable remarks to the liberal crowd.
Anyone notice smooth talking Barry’s stutter? Big deal dealing with a pastor crisis.Compared to this huge pastor crisis, national security issues will be a piece of cake to Barry. Simple cut and run! Send a chill down Chris Matthews leg!
36. hermie | April 30th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Obama thought he could sail through like he did during his campaigns for IL State Senator and then US Senator. He has never been truly challenged and he had no need to prove himself, or to significantly contribute to the voters.
He won his State Senate seat not by a campaign on the issues, but by seeking a technicality against his opponent, and throwing her ff the ballot.
His ‘godfather’ Emil Jones, got him the best committee assignments and credit for work which he was a ‘Johnny come lately’ to the process, after more senior and experienced legislators did the heavy lifting first.
His US Senate race was helped by the media delving into the court records of first his primary opponent, and then the GOP candidate. Then the state GOP leadership compounded the problem, by importing Alan Keyes rather than a qualified Il candidate. Again, not so much as a campaign on the issue, but by his opponents being knocked out before Obama had to step into the ring.
Obama’s ambitions grew bigger than his judgement. Instead of being content to prove himself as a US Senator and legislator, he spent over half his term in office hawking his books and running for POTUS.
Now his connections to racists, domestic terrorists, shady money men, and antisemite foreign policy ‘advisors’, are becoming known.
From looking at the MSM, Obama has found ‘courage’ in denouncing Wright. This was not ‘courage’..this was a typical Chicago politician trying to cover his rear.
37. Kahn | April 30th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
CW - nothing wrong with what Wright says? OK.
The US Government invented AIDS to attack the black man?
The US government imports and peddles drugs to suppress the black man?
Careful, the liberal playbook says do not admit that you subscribe to insane ideas. But, well you actually do?
38. Christian Wright | May 1st, 2008 at 8:15 am
No, Kahn:
The US government did not invent AIDs.
Reagan just did not do anything to stem the infection rate of AIDs until it reached into the White population. He did not care if it killed gays and blacks.
US government imports drugs.
Yes. Under the Reagan Administration. Read the book “Powderburns” by a retired DEA agent.
Reagan’s contra arms deal allowed drug lords in South America to use CIA planes to ship cocaine into the US. Since this cocaine was primarily distributed in Black communities, it is a fair statement.
The money the drug lords made selling drugs to American citizens allowed them to buy more guns from the US. Reagan should have been tried for treason for this.