Obama says we're 'cherry-picking Wright's comments

[bigtree]

excerpts of Obama's telephone interview Thursday with Tribune-Review reporter David. M. Brown:

Q: I don't know if you've seen it, but it's all over the wire today (from an ABC News story), a statement that your pastor (the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago's South Side) made in a sermon in 2003 that instead of singing "God Bless America," black people should sing a song essentially saying "God Damn America."

A: I haven't seen the line. This is a pastor who is on the brink of retirement who in the past has made some controversial statements. I profoundly disagree with some of these statements.

Q: What about this particular statement?

A: Obviously, I disagree with that. Here is what happens when you just cherry-pick statements from a guy who had a 40-year career as a pastor. There are times when people say things that are just wrong. But I think it's important to judge me on what I've said in the past and what I believe.


http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_557231.html

[BlackVelvet04]

1. I think it's important to judge him by his actions or lack thereof...

20 years of supporting this church and this preacher being his mentor speaks much louder than Obama's words.

[jackson_dem]

4. Yup. If he truly believed in "unity" and "post-racial" politics he would have left long ago

[bigtree]

6. first response:

"I haven't seen the line."

Isn't that amazingly typical? Who believes that Obama's campaign team hadn't already gone over this minister's past statements and already worked out his responses with the candidate? Who believes he hadn't 'seen the line'? If he maintains that, he'll surpass any of the other blowups over remarks made during the campaign.

Thing is, the argument against Hillary Clinton has developed into a charge that Ferraro's comment's were coordinated with the campaign. How does Obama account for ignorance of the comments of this longtime mentor and friend who has been advocating for him from the pulpit? And, if the charge is going to be that these spontaneous statements from Clinton supporters were calculated and coordinated, then he should have to respond to the same questions of calculation and coordination with these endorsements from Wright from the pulpit.

[vireo]

2. But those are some plump cherries. nt

[UALRBSofL]

3. You know whether he denounces Wright or not

I don't think it will help. After sitting in the church for 20 years listening to this guy's sermons I really believe it has helped build the foundation of Obama's life.

[rodeodance]

7. Wright is on his AA leadership counsil. That will have to addressed==we will see

[displacedtexan]

8. Yes, they are. And here's Obama sitting next to Wright...

... in the church's infomercial video.

Am I supposed to believe that Wright has just now begun to say these things?

[jackson_dem]

5. He probably thinks the same thing about the guy he respectfully calls "Minister Farrakhan"

[durrrty libby]

9. This is good. He is too stupid or too indoctrinated to condemn the whole thing

Please continue writing your own obituary BO. As Martha would say

It is a good thing. heh