Obama's ex-pastor gives fiery speech to NAACP

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN/AP: Obama's ex-pastor gives fiery speech to NAACP


The Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. speaks at an event held by the Detroit chapter of the NAACP.

DETROIT, Michigan (AP) -- The outspoken former pastor of Barack Obama told an audience of 10,000 at an NAACP dinner on Sunday that despite what his critics say, he is descriptive, not divisive, when he speaks about racial injustices. "I describe the conditions in this country," the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. said during the 53rd annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner held by the Detroit chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

"I'm not here for political reasons," Wright said. "I'm not a politician. I know that fact will surprise many of you because many in the corporate-owned media made it seem like I am running for the Oval Office. I am not running for the Oval Office. I've been running for Jesus a long, long time, and I'm not tired yet."

By speaking at the event, Wright was following in the footsteps of Obama and the senator's rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as former President Bill Clinton. It's a $150-a-plate fundraiser billed as America's largest sit-down dinner.

"I am not one of the most divisive" black spiritual leaders, he said. "I'm one of the most descriptive."

Wright received a long, loud standing ovation.

He became an issue in the presidential race in March after the circulation of videos of old sermons in which he accused the U.S. government of racism and accused it of flooding black neighborhoods with drugs. In a sermon days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Wright said that "America's chickens are coming home to roost" after it dropped atomic bombs on Japan and that the United States "supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans."

The videos, circulated widely on television and the Internet, knocked Obama's presidential campaign off stride. The Illinois senator distanced himself from the comments of Wright, whom he has known for 20 years....

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/27/obama.wright.ap/index.html

[David Dunham]

1. Hillary will benefit from articles like this one.

[DJ13]

2. Why? Is Obama naming Wright his VP choice?

[kid a]

3. This is great for Obama. Rev Wright defining himself and moving away from Obama

[DeepModem Mom]

5. I am so in the minority here I know, but I don't think Pastor Wright...

helped Obama tonight. I keep thinking of the electorate described in the many articles I post, down in the paragraphs, in the text. They seem to vote for the familiar, or what they perceive as the familiar, not the different.

In a perfect world, none of this would matter. In a perfect country, we would have perfect voters, with perfect motives. But there is no perfection -- and our country is far, far from the world of DU.

I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that Pastor Wright is placing himself between his gifted parishioner and his dream, the dream of many of us for him, of taking the oath of office as President. I hope I'm wrong.

I'm interested in your point, however. I hadn't thought in terms of this speech being a way for Wright to define himself and distance himself from Obama. I think we will have to see how this plays out over tomorrow, and the days after.

[EthicalPolitics101]

6. Gaga On Politics

There's a fine line between the Rev. Wrights defense on Obama and Obama disenfranchising himself from the Reverend. I believe these are all political tactics on his presidential campaign to get nominated.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. A worthy goal, ethical politics -- welcome to DU, EP101!

[PDJane]

4. the Rev. Wright is his own person,

a fine orator, and a thinking man. What he does or doesn't have to do with the political landscape is a question of sound bites and corporate stupidity.