RSS Feed for This PostCurrent Article

Rev. Wright at Nat’l Press Club [Updated]

By SusanUnPC on April 28, 2008 at 10:32 AM in Barack Obama, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.

UPDATE: Drudge has a strange headline: Rev. Wright: If you’re elected, Obama, I’M COMING AFTER YOU… Developing… . [SEE NEW STORY for explanation of Drudge's tease.]

[ANYONE have a clue what that tease at Drudge refers to? (Or if it's meaningful at all, considering the source?) Related: I keep thinking about "Rev. Wright "On The Couch" ," my story and your highly insightful comments. I remain convinced that Wright's use of the term "politician" to describe Obama in the Friday night Bill Moyers Journal interview was expressly intended to demean and denigrate Obama, with whom Rev. Wright is deeply angry. Rev. Wright thinks poorly of the politician's game that Obama is playing.]
_________________

The Page‘s news summary:

Obama’s controversial former pastor speaks, answers questions at a National Press Club breakfast in Washington, D.C. as part of two-day symposium for black church leaders. Speech gets roadblocked cable coverage.

Defends his congregation for standing with the oppressed, while criticizing the government’s policies on Iraq, AIDS and more.

Also gives explanation for every one of his controversial comments he’s asked about, citing the Bible, literature, his own personal experiences. [...]

Obama strategist Axelrod speaks to MSNBC prior to speech, says campaign has no control over Wright and his media blitz. Admits this isn’t helpful to Obama.

I’ll add more here as I locate it. Share links / video links. Your insights would be the most interesting, to me.

  • Bud White

    I don’t believe Axelrod in the least.

    • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity

      Ditto. I think they are just trying to desensitize the public to this potty mouth.

      • Patrick Henry

        Susan…I heard the origional speech at 06:30…Pastor wrightsaid something to ther effect that if Obama gets elected Thwen He was going to be Part of th Oppressiove System too that Pastor Wright hates, and in that case, wright said he was ging after Obama too..

        Wright now has Nation of Islam body guards…I don’t know if the MSM should be giving him Free National Coverage to Spread his Propoganda..What other “Pastor” is given that kind of Free Air and Attention.??Where are all those who Disagree with Wights form of “Religious” Teaching..?? And his “Message”..

        He is Lying and he is Dangerous..IMO

        Look at his Body Languange..Pure Vanity..

    • beebop

      I do believe one thing: Wright is not helping Obama.

      • workingclass artist

        Shapin up to be a FINE WEEK for Sen. Clinton.

    • Donald from Hawaii

      That’s understandable. I also don’t believe Matt Drudge, just as a matter of principle, and would never tout what he says as gospel truth. He’s slime.

      • PMS

        Donald, we agree on something.

    • Catriley

      I don’t believe him either, since he is the one that arranged for the high-powered PR firm to work on the Trinity Church debacle, pro bono. The PR firm that specializes in damage-control. Of course Axelrod has his hand in this. Why else would Wright even be doing this? He’s got his mansion, he’s a rich man.. he’s “retired.”

      Unless Wright is such an egomaniac (which he is) that he is trying to cash in on this, like the women involved in sex scandals with famous men do, by hawking ugly jeans and posing naked.

  • Poor White

    We are voting for someone who will be the president of this great country .. leave alone a senator. I doubt if Obama could have gotten a senate seat if people in IL had known about this pastor and his remarks.

    • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity

      Well when you are running against a cockroach like Alan Keyes, it pretty much doesn’t matter what you do, you are still going to look better to the voters.

      • beebop

        that’s carpetbagger cockroach Keyes … let’s be totally honest!

        • Donald from Hawaii

          Make that a “Looney Tunes” carpetbagger cockroach, and you’ve got a deal.

    • scott

      He got his senate seat BECAUSE he went to that church. Have you not seen the congregation in those videos. The community Obama serves FUCKING LOVES IT.

      • workingclass artist

        Yes but the world is larger than Chicago….No ?

  • Kathryn

    Axelrove sounds like he’s about to cry in that phone call. Poor lil liar, all exposed. Barack’s inner circle of racists and militants and thieves is spllling out into the public. Next up, new Rezco dirt flowing out of the trial. No wonder he is afraid to debate Hillary.

    • workingclass artist

      AxelRove has severly marginalized his future client base…

      • beebop

        Yeah … he should have stuck with inanimate objects. The biggest problem with advertising a pizza is trying to make it look real … and appetizing … ;)

        • PMS

          If you know anything about food styling in advertising, then you know that the food pictured is almost NEVER edible and seldom REAL.

          Kinda’ like the Big O Waffle Axelrod has packaged for our consumption.

        • Catriley

          Yeah! a pizza never has to answer for itself, and DEFINITELY no debates!!

          It just sits there looking delicious! ;)

      • Andy

        It must why he is stuttering all the way through this interview; especially at the end…what a pair
        Obama emm, huh and Axelrod…

  • secularhumanizinevoluter

    I LOVE the sound of Rev Wright talkin bout obamalamadingdong in the mornin…it sounds like…VICTORY!

  • alibe

    I watched some questions of him at end of speech today. What a meglomaniac. But his reference to Obama, if you are elected, I am going after you… Just because Obama is President, doesn’t mean he escapes critcism if he needs it. He goes after policies of Presidents….blah, blah, blah.
    He is so cocky and obnoxious and so full of himself as to be comical. Is this how Obama’s judgement is displayed. Is Barack really as bright as people say he is? What intelligent Harvard lawyer could lidten to this drivel for 20 years??

    • workingclass artist

      It is easy for him to be egotistical….He has invented his own theology….

  • Kefa

    The genie is out….no getting him back.

  • Flineo

    Vanity

  • Kefa

    I think Wright feels used.

    • militarytracy

      Used by whom?

    • beebop

      I agree. BO came looking for lots of things. He got them and threw Wright and the church under the bus with gran and everyone else. It must never have ocurred to Rev Wright how well he taught Barack to use people.

  • http://www.villarrealsports.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=571#571 Paul F. Villarreal AKA “Universal” AKA “RokSki”

    (Click on my name for the link to poll info)

    Obama is only up 2, and that is BEFORE the Wright World Tour!!

    Damnit, we are going to win this thing!!!

    WOOO-HOOO!!!

  • militarytracy

    Whaaaaaaaaa, I’m Axelrod and I approve the message of this bawl. I don’t usually enjoy it when people chickens come home to roost but these chickens have been away from home for a very very long time ;)

    • scott

      I think Obamas chickens just got cooked.

      • militarytracy

        MSNBC is almost treating Clinton like she’s running for the Democratic nomination today or something.

        • simon, too

          Bwah!

          LOL…

        • Reverend Wrong

          I was just thinking about all the MSM people that hate Obama but are told to shill for him. When they are finally allowed to turn on him oh my god! And I’ll enjoy watching every minute of it. Obama knew he had the MSM on his side for false reasons.

        • miriam

          Afraid it’s temporary. Wait until primetime with Matthews and Olbermann. They’ll no doubt deify the Reverend Wright and instruct us as to why we are such dopes to think the pair of them (Obama and Wright) are disastrously divisive. I’ve heard about all of Wright that I can stand, especially his ignorant, self-serving statements about left-brain, right-brain learning. I would think blacks would be infuriated at the implications this kind of rhetoric leads to. “Separate but equal” anyone?

  • beachnan

    Will they now see, that is has been Obama’s campaign that has been divisive for the Democratice Party, and not Hillarys??? Thank God for Reverand Wright, the gift that keeps on giving.

    • beebop

      And on a Monday, not a Friday when the second string is working weekends and only Fox gives a shit.

  • Kefa

    Look….Obama sat there for that long acting like a true church member and when he got into a position of power as Wright and the crew has for so long wait for he bailed on them….he acted like a politician instead of acting like a true follower as we all know he has acted to be to Wright and to the church.

  • jd

    Well til a congressman/woman loses their job b/c of Rev Wrong, Pelosi will press on. You will hear soon that some SD are unmoved and blah blah blah…

  • Kefa

    Axelrox and Obama is in a pickle…..trying to balance people who are politicians and people who hate this country and don’t believe in playing “games.” Obama had to play a game with the speech in Philly. A true follower would not play a game…hard core believers wanted him to not cave in to the “system” that pissed Wright and others off.

  • OBSP

    Rev Wright is better than a live boy or a dead hooker in Babybo Bed.

  • http://divinedem.blogspot.com Mary Ellen

    When I was watching (and it was painful) the not so Reverend Wright when he gave his talk at the National Press Club, it made my stomach turn. This guy is all about himself…not Jesus, not Obama, and certainly not this country. He plans on putting himself smack dab in the middle of the White House if Obama is elected. He wants to continue to spread his hatred for whites in this country to be sure they get their “comeupins” for our history of slavery. Basically, he’s a black separatist and will set our country back 60 years. All that MLK has done, will be unraveled if this guy can use our media as his mouthpiece, which he can do as long as he is associated with Obama. So, if Obama wins, get used to hearing this stuff and expect that he will reap what he sows…hatred, bigotry, and tearing open the scab of racism in this country.

    When I think of all the Clinton’s have done to stop this division, through Obama, Wright will force this country to once again being divided on race. That’s not to say that racism doesn’t exist in America. I’m saddened that it does, but this isn’t the way to stop it, not through speeches where Wright makes fun of whites by making derogatory remarks about how they clap to music or calling Italians garlic nosed Italians or blaming them for killing the “black” Jesus just because he was “different”.

    He says that nothing he says has to do with politics. If that’s so, I wonder what the hell he was talking about on the pulpit when he said that Hillary has never been called a n**ger, or praising Obama and claiming how he is a victim of racism when in fact, he clearly is not.

    Just looking at him up there smirking and having a gay old time with the attention he was getting…it made me sick. I’m sure his words are going to energize the KKK to retaliate, too. This is NOT what our country needs and NOT what the Democratic party needs, to be associated with this kind of bigotry.

    • Reverend Wrong

      I love your comments.

      Racism will end when it ends in our hearts. I see that happening slowly but surely. Wright and those like him are fossils and won’t stop us from achieving equality.

      • llilytoo

        I love both your comments!
        Wright and those like him are fossils and won’t stop us from achieving equality

        I beileve that as well

    • jes

      I saw a portion of this speech question & answer as well a part of his speech that was televised last night.

      It seemed to be it was the same of victim mentality that the black leadership has been espousing for over forty years.

      In yesterday’s speech he said that black and white people used different sides of their brains to learn. This totally cuts into the argument that all human races are the same, just different pigment in the skin.

      Today he said that Farrakhan had not enslaved his people and put them in chains. The implication being that living whites had done so. Well, I think that’s impossible since all slave-owners are dead at this point.

      Same old, same old…

    • apishapa

      Nation of Islam is a political organization. When he embraces Nation of Islam, he is making a politcal statement. When he publishes the manifesto of a terrorist organization like Hamas, he is making a political statement. To say he is not political is an out and out lie, and preachers are not supposed to lie.

      • workingclass artist

        You are astute in your comment apishapa….I salute you….

      • Andy

        I am surprised the Hamas manifesto didn’t come up in the National Press club…especially with all of his BS about not “meddling ” in politics (yeah, right…)

  • Kefa

    Wright says criticism is attack on black church
    Associated Press
    Published: Monday April 28, 2008

    The Rev. Jeremiah Wright says criticism surrounding his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church.

    Barack Obama’s longtime pastor says he hopes the controversy will have a positive outcome and spark an honest dialogue about race in America. Wright says black church traditions are still “invisible” to many Americans, as they have been throughout the country’s history.

    Politico’s Mike Allen has more:

    The Rev. Jeremiah Wright said Monday that he will try to chance 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.

    • Catriley

      This could very well backfire against Obama. For an election that wasn’t supposed to be about race, it’s all anyone can talk about on the MSM and especially from Obama and his campaign.

      Voters are going to tire of this pretty quick. Most people, of all colors, are pretty focused right now on paying for food, gas, and housing. I think people will start to see that all Obama wants to do is talk talk talk.

    • jwrjr

      Everybody who wants National policy on race relations to be dictated by Jeremiah Wright should vote for Obama. Everybody else should vote for Clinton.

  • jocelyn

    I am a progressive black woman (how sad is it that I feel compelled to always preface my posts with that–this is what Rev. Right has done to us).

    Don’t get me wrong, Wrights statements are unacceptable. I cringe every time I hear him speak, and this left brain/ right brain thing is the very definition of racism. For the first time, I actually feel bad for Obama. Although he was dead wrong to sit in that church for 20 years, and this is what really gets me–to take his children there, he did try to avoid disowning both him as he said he could no more disown his white grandmother. Grandma didn’t fare so well in the days following when she called her “a typical white person.” In some sense, Obama put it on the line to protect Wright (while trying to distance himself from some of his sermons). And how is repaid? Wright refuses to do the one thing that could help his mentee: STFU. And impugns his integrity by saying Obama is only saying what he is because he is a politician. Awful stuff.

    Having said that, it only reinforces how poor Obama’s judgment really is. By his own admission Wright was his guiding light and the father he never had. Not only has this adopted father made vile comments he apparently (I can think of no other reason) wants to prevent Obama from gaining the white house. You cannot choose your parents, but you sure as hell can choose the “father” you adopt as an adult. I don’t see how Obama’s judgment could have been any worse, especially in light of these new developments.

    My father is an Episcopal priest and I was raised in an entirely black Episcopal church. I can tell you unequivocally that Wright does not represent my experience either in his hate or his apparent disdain for more quite forms of worship.

    • workingclass artist

      I agree with you Jocelyn. Wright is an affront to all AMERICANS who seek Social Justice. In my town we have an AA District Atty. who has been working to overturn the SOCIAL INJUSTICE within the Judicial system. In Wrights world because this man is working within the system to enact change….What would Wright call him….He and his family are also upper middle class and highly educated…What does Wrights theology say about that….There is no exscuse for PREJUDICE no matter who it is directed at….

    • Catriley

      Jocelyn,

      I am a progressive black woman (how sad is it that I feel compelled to always preface my posts with that–this is what Rev. Right has done to us).

      You’re so very right about that. The candidate that was supposed to transcend race, has done the opposite, I’m afraid.

      I was of the belief that Wright is doing this to fix up his image for Obama’s benefit, to make him more appealing to white voters in the upcoming states. Alexrod did arrange for that pro bono PR firm that specializes in damage-control, to work with Trinity and Wright. Could it be that the initial idea was to give Wright a less controversial image, but Wright just couldn’t resist.. well.. being himself? And Axelrod’s manipulations went terribly wrong?

      Perhaps it dawned on him that it was BS to have to disavow everything he’s stood for (wrong as it may be) all these years, just to get Obama elected. Maybe his pride kicked in and decided he wasn’t willing to throw away everything he’s done just to make Obama look saintly. How many films have we all seen where someone is trying to pass off a problematic relative, friend, boyfriend, to their family — and it all unravels spectacularly?

      It’s fascinating to watch… I’m curious to see what happens in the next few days with all of this. Maybe WRight isn’t willing to get under that bus for Obama.

      • workingclass artist

        Hmmm……Thought provoking to be sure….Appears to be a call to acton.
        Wright seems to be drawing a line in the sand….Hmmmmm

  • Pingback: Rev. Wright at Nat’l Press Club [Updated]

  • llilytoo

    For some reason the powers that be want to pull the plug on Bambie now and gave this egotisical ass, Wright all this media time. Did the GE start and no one told me?

  • JoeySky

    Alexrod sounded like he was about to cry.

  • Catriley

    I wonder if they can get their mansion back — Guess Obama didn’t give him enough money in the past few years to silence him completely. What is Wright holding out for? A golf cart? A jet ski?

  • ybnormal

    Having heard all the Rev Wright opinion for many weeks now, and then watching the Moyers interview as well as Wright’s recent public appearances, I’ve got a lot of opinions, many of them mixed, and most of them hard to summarize. But I’ll try anyway.

    First off, I don’t completely buy the racist divider accusation. While some of what he says may result in racially divisive feelings in some listeners, I think he sees himself instead as lighting a fire under butts to motivate action. So then, what’s he really doing? Is he walking the talk?

    http://www.tucc.org/ministries.htm lists well over 50 active ministries. While some like “Usher Board”, sound exaggerated in terms of ministry, it does look in general like there’s a lot going on that many churches would be proud of. Make no mistake, all churches exaggerate their numbers to the denomination. Every year they have a charge conference (kind of like a job performance review) where they have to justify the effectiveness of their ministry. The district will expect and forgive a certain amount of over-statement, in the name of enthusiasism, but they still look at the real numbers to see what real effective ministry there is. In this case, many much bigger churches would be happy with half as much.

    So why does Wright talk the way he does? Let’s get real. He’s an A-type personality who knows full well that he’s not going to motivate a congregation who’s asleep.

    Why all the public speeches all of a sudden? He’s retiring, and looking at his history, and is not willing to let his legacy be a casualty of the ’08 POTUS campaign.

    Is he racist? I’m sure like everyone else he has bias; and also like everyone else, some amount of it is beyond reality. If he looks around and sees a lot of people a lot like himself getting the short straw a lot of the time, why wouldn’t he have some bias? That doesn’t make him the new Hitler for Jesus. Anyone playing defense on a team for three quarters and still behind in the score, might get a desire to play offense in the fourth.

    Is he my idea of the ideal pastor? If he was, I’m sure I could have easily found someone similar. Somehow, calling on God to damn America or anyone else, just doesn’t sound like an effective Christian way to call people to ministry. It’s really hard to imagine Jesus calling on God to damn the Romans, Pharasees or even his own executioners. He asked instead to forgive them, as they knew not what they were doing. I’ve been to a number of churches, and on the thankfully few occassions where there were calls for damnation, my first visit became my last.

    Is he an Obama tool? While he does support Obama, this is one A-type personality minister who’s not about to be a tool for anyone. You could even say that Obama is actually an anemic imitation, who desparately wants to be as effective in a real way as Wright has actually done through action. It’s interesting how when Obama talks about Wright, he backtracks, makes excuses and otherwise distances himself for political convenience. Meanwhile, Wright faces it head-on, and doesn’t back down over his convictions. Kind of a no-quarter approach isn’t it?

  • llilytoo

    I think Wright believed he would rise with BO. No one told him BO hasn’t any coat tails. He’s ready to do his thing at any time. But why is the MSM giving him the air time? This would be over coverage if Jesus showed up on the mall in DC.

    • http://DeeLee deelee

      Maybe Wright didn’t get the message. I disavow and condemn, (wink-wink, NAFTA style speech, those dumb yokels will believe me I’m the messiah).

      Knowing how Obama has rissen in politics, anything he says or does can’t be trusted. Somehow, all these posturings by him (Fox)and Wright are some sort of scheme to desensitize us and justify their actions, again.

  • Reverend Wrong

    Does Wright think that only black people are oppressed and suffer discrimination? And he thinks it ok to say the things he has against gays, Italians, Jews etc.?

    Great plan to achieve equality for your people by oppressing other groups of people all of which have been oppressed.

    Wright is a fossil. And black people should reject him as I am sure most do since they understand what a dangerous counterproductive crackpot he is.

    • Reverend Wrong

      Obama sure has great taste in mentors.

  • american sawbuck

    How about Barry Obama quitting the race for the good of the party and his country. He is unelectable with this Wright ” rock ” around his neck…If it were Hillary with a Pastor like Wright she would be banished from the race and the party.
    Do the WRIGHT thing Barry.
    Quit while you are ahead.
    Let a true patriot run and win.

    • Reverend Wrong

      I think him quitting is in the works. I am thinking private discussions are happening now. He needs a parachute to bail out gently because of the mess he has made using race as one of his campaign’s underpinnings. The fear of riots propaganda has to be squelched.

      • sjc-tx

        These peoples’ egos will not let them quit. They will spin and spin and spin and with the continued MSM tripe and coverage, and ‘threats’… I truly doubt these scary people will go away. But the good news is that while MSM is obcessed on all this, Hillary is out there talking to the people who have yet to vote and without interference from the media idiots!

      • militarytracy

        After witnessing Howard Dean act like someone I recognize today I’m thinking that too.

  • no pasaran

    Denouncing Wright was never an option for Obama since it would be ineffective in neutralizing his 20 YEAR close relationship with Wright. So, the best next thing is for Wright to denounce Obama. And that seems to be happening. It might be a desperate maneuver (and a failure) but at this point it is perhaps the only way for the the Obama campaign to distance itself from Wright.