Hillary Cllinton, My hero!! Once again convinced me to vote for Barak Obama. After fabricating a blantant lie about sniper shots, she takes Barak Obama's comments about PA residents who are bitter, or anxious( choose your language) about their situations, completely out of context and make a big deal out of it. I am one of those bitter people who turned to my church for comfort after loosing my house and working many years without health insurance. So all the work she has been doing for so Many years didn't help me at all. Hillary, there is nothing attractive about being petty, and desperate. But then again it's Hillary..........................

In my humble opinion, I would like to commend Anderson Cooper 360 blog for identifying the significance of this occurrence and sharing it on the site. The mere fact that Lanny Davis, a Clinton supporter, is able to look past his political interests and allow the email from Jeh Johnson to inform on his better judgment, is testament that this movement truly transcends partisanship.
By "this movement" I am not referring to what some call ultra-liberalism, or conservatism for that matter, not to anything black or white, male or female; it is a movement of hope. I think the reason Barack Obama is so effective with permeating party walls is his message of hope that not only appeals but also appeases all people. It is one of our most basic needs as humans, and his genuinely principled campaign has it at the very core of all issues.

. . . .As a white person, I have to agree with the sentiments of Mike Huckabee who said it best: "A black Mike Huckabee would have been
much more angry than Jerimiah Wright." I'm sure that a black Lanny
Davis would have been more angry than Rev. Wright. Wouldn't we all?

I think that what the American people are concerned about is not so much the issue of his staying with the church that carries these negative views. I think what they are concern with is the fact that we have a Senator running for the highest office of the land, but who may have taken in these same views which in the long run may come out and affect this country in a negative way. He may not have shown this side of himself yet, because he is very guarded with his words. But there have been a few slips that have given the American public some questions as to how much his teachings from Rev. Wright have affected his views towards certain sections of our population in a negative way. These slips are like pieces of a puzzle that when put together have put some serious questions in the minds of the voters. And this will only be more profound in the general election. I myself can not get the statement of "typical white person" out of my mind. Now that these latest statements have come forward I feel that there is a reason to be concerned. If another candidate had said statements like this about another race, the voices claiming racism would have been loud and clear. I do not see that with the views he has, no matter if they were misspoken or not, that Barack Obama should be hired as our next President. They were misspoken because that is how he truly views things. I feel that he is carrying some of the Reverends views with him. Is this country ready to risk this?

You guys have a story up about why Obama's remarks about bitter is wrong. I have this to say:

I am involved in the media (albeit not in the US), but you people make me sick. What makes you think that people who have lost (and are loosing) their jobs, can't pay their bills, can't buy gas, can't take their families on an outing because of financial reasons; what makes you think that these people will be 'happy and optimistic'?

If I was going through what they are going through, I WOULD BE BITTER TOO.

The media, the politicians, and the wealthy do not seem to be listening. Clinton has no right to tell anybody about how the poor feels – she is stinking rich!

Senator Obama is the only one who is actually IN TOUCH with the voter's feelings. He is correct in his assessment of that demographic. I'll say again, you people make me sick.

Finally, someone has the balls to stand up and tell it like it is without fear of the politician's status quo bearing down on him.

Clinton looks like she is a Republican on this one. She is a hypocrite and willing to say and do ANYTHING to win the nomination with complete disregard to professionalism, integrity and party loyalty.

I am starting to understand why more and more people are hating the United States and I am starting to understand why Obama wants to reverse that trend. McCain and Clinton are doing everything in their power to keep it just the way it is.

Lanny,

I am glad you shared this with us. Mr. Johnson explained a lot more in his answer than just why Obama still went to Trinity church. His respectful and eloquent email is a wonderful example of the meaningful dialog we need to have with all Americans – to share with each other our experiences and reasoning so a chance for true understanding and appreciation exists. Once we can talk with each other the way Mr Johnson did in his email we may finally overcome the racism that divides us in this country.

It is rare that I find a piece of writing that moves me and that lingers with me long after I have read it. This is one I will remember for a long time. Thank you.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

In response to this blog I have to respectfully disagree with the theme and context of the open letter being delivered to Lanny Davis.

After hearing of Senator Obama's recent statements in San Francisco at a private fund raiser I have to question his honesty and credibility about his faith which he considers the cornerstone and foundation that defines his values. Below is a snip of his statements.

"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them," Obama said. "And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

“They cling to guns or religion�. Obama has been trying to finesse his position on guns to appeal precisely to gun owners and thus we start to see that his repositioning is cynical to the core. No rural Pennsylvanian clings to religion more than Obama himself, who for 20 years sat silent in the pews, while a hate-spewing minister damned his country and most everyone else. The question is not why Pennsylvanians “cling to their religion�, but why do the Obamas still cling to the Trinity Church that seems far more extreme than anything I’ve seen in rural America.

“Antipathy to people who aren't like them�—as in the case of Rev. Wright’s views of Jews, whites, Italians, or Americans in general? In short, Obama accuses rural Pennsylvanians of a racism that they haven’t expressed while contextualizing the racism that his own Rev. Wright has.

Let me get this straight: Obama goes to the Bay Area to an affluent liberal enclave to give a condescending take on the supposed poor fools that he is currently trying to court. This is not just hypocritical, but abjectly stupid. All of Pennsylvania surely is asking today what is so hip and sophisticated about the Trinity Church and Rev. Wright?

So here we have the essential Obama, a walking paradox between the postmodern hip-Ivy-Leaguer who sneers at middle-class America’s supposed prejudices and parochialism, while at the same time courting an anti-Enlightenment, prejudicial demagogue like Jeremiah Wright. For free trade or anti-free trade? For 2nd-amendment rights or not? Post-religious or pious and fundamentalist? For public campaign financing or not? A uniter of various groups or someone who sees America in terms of “they�? Straight-talking or someone who evokes "context" to explain away the inexplicable?

Again, we will see more and more of these condescending statements of the Michelle Obama strain, more and more of Revs. Wright, Meeks, Lee and others peddlers of division like them, and more and more clues to a long hostility to Israel—in what will eventually become the most disastrous chapter in recent Democratic history.

References:
James H (April 13, 2008)
Victor D. H. (April 11, 2008)

I watch CNN and find it's very informative, but what I don't feel is fair is when Clinton does something wrong ( lie about situations like gun fire during her trip, and the lady and baby who died and did not have insurance). CNN did not keep talking about it, but when you feel Obama has done something to damage his campaign it stays on the air about two weeks or more, why is that.

Carol
Las Vegas

Mr. Johnson's comments, while eloquent, don't stand up to common sense. He is using his own experiences from decades ago to explain Sen Obama's inclusion of Rev. Wright among his advisors TODAY. Hardly the same thing.

Chad
Silverdale, Washington

The issue of Rev. Wright underscores a deep level of frustration that has lingered in American society since the birth of our nation. Whether real or perceived, this frustration has serious consequences in the health and well-being of those who are affected. On a political realm, can government actually heal these wounds? If you look at the Presidential cabinets of the last two Presidents, Clinton and Bush, their cabinet members are multicultural and ethnically represent our nation's diversity although their ideology in both Presidential offices are different to one another. In the last 20 years, there has been a grown wealth base in minority groups which signifies positive economic potential and growth for those groups. It seems logical that most of the frustration is on a personal growth level and does not truly represent the mechanics of true economic opportunity. Many of my minority collegues including myself (a minority as well) has prospered academically as well as professionally and has provided opportunities for other minorities that have demonstrated high qualifications. Therefore the only role that government should play regarding the issue of race in America is to ensure that adopted policies do not infringe upon the constitutional rights of all Americans and that they do not impact the free social mobility of those individuals who work hard to acheive.

Unless Lanny davis has done three things he has no right commenting on Jerehmiah Write:

1. Viewed the complete videos in question
2. Studied the contributions of this man to his country and his community
3. Studied the words of one of my heroes, Martin Luther King, in relation to the war in Vietnam and his feelings about his country then. There was an incredibly interesting video that did the same thing to King's words on Anderson Cooper only once. I wish CNN has the courage to repeat it.

Thank you, Jeh Johnson...

Thank you Lanny, this election has opened up a lot of opportunity for Americans to reconcile their differences. I personally am shocked at the way campaigns and the media have painted Rev. Wright and even the way they twist Senator Obama’s truthful words. I recently mentioned in another blog that if a white politician makes a comment about the plight of ghetto America, or devastated Louisiana and tells it like it is saying that residents of Ghetto America are hurt, bitter and turn to either drugs, crime, alcohol or faith as a refuge, no one complains? But when a black politician truthfully explains the plight of Small Town Rural America, everybody’s huffing and puffing, calling him elitist. Is there such thing as a black American being elitist? My overseas family and friends are shocked at American politics and the pundits. America has a lot of maturing to do. I thank God for the boldness of Senator Obama for embarking on this campaign journey. I am convinced that his candidacy is God ordained for such a time as this. No matter what the other campaigns plan to do or not to do, when something is written in heaven it’s already done.

Good for Mr. Johnson, good for Lanny Davis. Thank you both for your analyses and excellent insights.
A Hillary Clinton supporter in Michigan.
Ernestine McGlynn

Good for Anderson Cooper, too.
Ernestine McGlynn
A Hillary supporter from Michigan

Senator Clinton should have thought seriously about stating that "He would not have been my pastor," Because in fact, Rev Wright (or someone very much like him) is the pastor of millions of African Americans. I waited for the other shoe to drop and it did, The Detroit Chapter of the NAACP quickly made the decision to invite Rev Wright to be the Keynote Speaker of the annual Fight for Freedom dinner where both Clintons and Obama have been speakers.

She will not win North Carolina because of her statements and Harold Ickes statements to superdelegates about Wright. If she becomes the nominee, the question in the black community to her will be "What is your position in Rev Wright?" Black radio listened for her statements in Memphis for the 40th anniversary of Dr.King's death and they were not adequate. She fails to realize that Rev Wright and Dr King run paralell on the issue of calling out American's ills as they are not as White America would like to believe they are. As a matter of FACT, Dr. King's last sermon was "Will America Go to Hell?"

I want to know why Mr Obama can say about his mother
Typical white woman

I want to know why he can say this and nobody in the media is asking him about this comment
The people are mis-appre...I think they're misunderstanding why the demographics in our, in this contest have broken out as they are. Because everybody just ascribes it to 'white working-class don't wanna work - don't wanna vote for the black guy.' That's...there were intimations of that in an article in the Sunday New York Times

If Anyone would say anything close to the typical black person they are bringing up the race card. If anyone said Mr Obama was getting the black vote because he is black they would be called racists.
Why can he say the typical white woman, Why can he say white working clas ton't wanna work– don't wanna vote for the black guy

Hillary Clinton, with her faults, shows more signs of being a normal patriotic American, unlike Barack Obama. It is becoming more and more clear that Barack Obama’s patriotism is questionable and that the views of the people around him, like his wife, and Pastor Wright undoubtedly are his real feelings about America and its people. A psychological profile of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would make it clear that Hillary Clinton would make a better President. Barack Obama has been psychologically scared by his issues with race. John McCain has been psychosocially scared by his service in the military. Hillary Clinton has her own psychological scares and most likely the most significant is the infidelity of her husband. But go figure, of the three candidates, whose psychological profile is best suited for the Presidency? If a profile like this had been used when considering George Bush and John Kerry – George Bush would never have been President of the United States.

Carl

Ogden, Utah

This is one of the most open, honest articles I have ever read. He sounds like a great person and role model. The sad thing is that with what he has admitted today, the American people would kick him to the curb if he ran for office.

Mr. Jeh Johnson, I am glad you can see the forest for the trees. I attend church which have blacks and whites. It is hard sometimes to attend church in view that some whites steal hold grudges and don't particular care for blacks. This is a big problem for this country. We live in the same neighbors now, attend school, and shop together. There is still some places that don't want blacks in their restaurants, but hopefully this will all go away. We need a President that is not afraid to air his beliefs and make this nation united. I think that Hillary is uneasy with blacks people because of her actions on the campaign trail. Obama seem to not be uneasy on the trail and embrace more whites than black, because to me black still seem as a distance to him. I hope that America will get over Mr. Wright and focus on the issues in this world.

As an African American I totally understand what Jeh Johnson is saying and hope that the American public will read this with an open heart. I've learned a long time ago if I decide something with an open heart I usually make the right decision.

Mr Davis, bravo to you! Please extend my thanks to Mr Jeh Johnson for letting you publish his letter, and again bravo to you for doing so! It is a lesson in honesty that some political candidates should study...

Two things.
One. The first words of Wright that I heard was. 'the reason people hate Barrack', which made me think he was defending BHO against real or perceived attacks.
Two. His comments, in my opinion, were irreligious and politically stupid and I hope they don't cause the downfall of the best candidate; but what bothers me the most is a lack of a public explanation and or apology from Wright. (It''s like the suspect who runs off.)
Unless he has a medical problem, he should stand up like a man and defend his comments, temper them with reason, or flat ou apologise. <<< His choice, but there should be no choice that he hides out.

Lanny...get a life! I'm a white woman and I happen to think the Rev Wright only said what a lot of people including Americans have thought from time to time. I've said "God Damm Canada" (meaning our Government) when I disagreed with some of their idiotic decisions. Going into Iraq was one of the times. I love my country and its people but I thank God I have the right to say and think what I like withour being persecuted for it. At least try to be honest, if Hillary was ahead in the polls and winning the nomination you wouldn't give a hoot. Perhaps the Rev just "mispoke" because he was tired, after all the man is an Octognerian, or are you only allowed to "mispeak" when desperately trying to regain your lead in the polls? Try not to be so transparent.

Wow! What a beautiful informative letter from Jeh Johnson. These are exactly the reasons we stay committed to our churches, our schools, our friends, our extented families, our communities and our government even though at times we don't agree with them. But we believe that, while we differ, we are committed to a common good, a common ideal to help make life better for ourselves and those around us. Thank you Lanny Davis for giving us Jeh Johnson's letter, and thank you, Jeh Johnson, for giving us such a wonderful understanding of part of the black experience in America. I want to hear more from Jeh Johnson. We need more people like him speaking out.

Here we go again,! None of these issues are at issue, Isn't this America and as American citizens we do have the right to express our opinions whether we are rich or poor govt or citizens . How come the war mongers in the middle get respect when it comes to the media and American Candidates gets dragged through the mud as if they are dumb. When are the media reports going to show this great country for the great things it does here in the U.S and not be compared to leaders of countries that have failed to maintain stability and peace in the own country. Why should the middle-east warring factions dominate the top stories? Stop adding fuel to the fire and maybe the flames of anti -American sentiment may go out.

Thenkyou Lanny, this was bighearted of you. I cannot vote in your country but I have taken a keen interest in the campaigning and I have always believed what Jeh Johnson has outlined and in the sincerity of Senator Obama. ( I am a white female by the way over 60). The hate in the blogs has made me feel ill on many an occasion. God bless you both.

White people died in the civil war. White people have been called traitors for defending civil rights. I know some Black leaders have gotten heat for supporting Clinton. Obama should have did a much better job separating himself Wright so, to me he is either a bigot or a coward. I've been called a n-lover and a racist because I try to stand neutral. When you are neutral you get hit from both sides. Obama should have taken a harder stance against Wright. I understand why Blacks were angry but things have changed because some people stood and stand for civility. Wright is not civil.

Lanny,

Thank you sooo much for posting this!! And please, send a thank you to Jeh for being so honest and open. He has made the most open and clear statement about why we relate so fondly to our black churches. I'm sending this to everyone I know right now!! Thank you again for posting!!

At least this article by CNN shows RESPECT – for all parties.
NOT Like the article by Bernstein Bears – totally trashing Hillary.
Do you think CNN shows Favoritism??????

Thank you for sharing this, Lanny. I hope many read it and stop the the hate that is being thrown at my candidate. I heard a local talk radio host explain the black church experience, how it came to be what it is, and how it is very different from a white church. I wanted white Americans to be able to hear it, too. You've done one better.

Your posting this changes my opinion of you. I've often seen you on CNN speaking praises of Hillary Clinton and doing what I felt was slamming Barack Obama. I thought you (like she and her husband are constantly doing) were narrow minded and willing to say anything to get Hillary the nomination and in turn damaging the party.

I was wrong about you and I thank you again.

Theresa Newago
Princeton, Minnesota

You know Anderson, I at one time watched your show ,not anymore, I believe you are too much like your friend Obama, a arrogant , wealthy snob, I have the hardest time with anyone who clearly supports this anti-american racist.....Someone needs to keep you honest!

I would like to think that Barack Obama has some of the same feelings and experiences as Jeh Johnson, but unfortunately Obama's words and actions do not allow me to believe that!

A word of advise to Sen. Obama. please move on. Do not keep talking about the issue. Follow Sen. Clinton on this. How she moved on after revelations that she lied on Bosnia issue and the hospital issue. He evasive demeanor on her tax returns and Columbia trade deal.
If you stop talking about, others will also.

We all knows that Sen. Clinton is a divisive opportunist and very shroud politician. She will sell her mother if it gets her to a better place

The real deal is Obama is leading Sen. Clinton and your trying to use anything against your fellow Democrat to convince the supperdelegates to choose her to back for the Nomination. As Sen. Clinton said, " words don't mean anything actions ." What about her actions pushing Nafta, and later stating, " it was good for America". Hillary Clinton has never owned up to that, she evades the question with, "I was always skeptical of Nafta". The truth is Sen. Clinton does give solutions and those solutions are the millions of Americans who lost their jobs because their job was shipped over sea's or replaced with illegal imigrants for cheaper labor. I've been following this election for several months now and I have never heard Hillary Clinton apologize for participation in passing Nafta and the effect it has on this country. It is well over due.

I am still upset about the whole rev. wright issue! i feel that the media was irresponsible about the facts and played into the whole lets report drama so we can get higher ratings!!! If one go back and listen to his WHOLE sermon you can easily see that EVERY media station has damaged this man's reputation.

1st sound bite: talked about how rev. wright said "god damning america", right?? the media wanted everyone to think that he wanted god to damn america because he didn't like america, but that not what the WHOLE sermon says, rev. wright was talking about how government changes but god doesn't. he then stated how the US government has failed its people... and it's true that the american government has failed her people go back and do the research.. (the american government has oppressed people from all ethnicities... black, japanese, hispanics, native americans, and whites..) look it up but to get back to the point rev. wright then stated that "if america continues to act as though she is god, then God damn america, not god bless america" and i don't see anything wrong with that... if you are a christian you should hold that has principle... Jesus came to heal the oppress

2nd sound bite: the media said that he said the infamous line of Malcolm x, uh ?? well the TRUTH is that he asked the church if they watched on Fox news how a "white" ambassador was telling fox news that american chicken has come home to roost...

But not one media station elaborated on the facts and tried to clear the inaccurate sound bites... it was very irresponsible and if i was rev. wright i would look into this this matter and take it to the court of law b/c he has all grounds to, the tv news stations have damaged his name for the rest of his life, he is getting death threats and all of this other nonsense... not ONE station was responsible enough to report on the facts... disappointing!

I thought Mr. Davis' article was specious. Also I was skeptical from the start that he didn't have the decency to admit he was B.Clinton's lawyer only H.Clinton's supporter.
Mr Obama responded honestly to the Rev. Wright fiasco. Mr. Davis wants to keep the issue alive to cast aspersions on the character of the opponent of his favored candidate.
He is following orders of the Clintons style of vicious and repugnant
campaingning. What was so great about the Clintons? He was a serial sex fiend, he destroyed a very young interns name and reputation while he covered himself as honorable. He has cheapened the image of the Presidency with his greed since leaving office.
She is an outright liar and runs a very sordid campaign. One illustration of her as Senator that gives an insight to the Clinton arrogance - anytime you called her office for assistance, you were treated with disdain and dismissed. It happened to me twice. I vowed then I would never vote for her whatever office she would seek.

I would like to think that Barack Obama has some of the same feelings and experiences as Jeh Johnson, but unfortunately Obama’s words and actions do not allow me to believe that!

Gag me, enough, who cares anymore? Obama has shown himself over time to be a racist elitist influenced by Rev. Wright and Black Theology. End of discussion. I don't care if his church made him feel better about himself. Booze and pills used to make me feel great about me, but eventually I realized they were going to kill me if I didn't stop. Not all things that make us feel good about ourselves are actually good for us or anyone else for that matter. I think this little relationship Obama has with his former pastor is case in point. Lanny Davis, you just wimped out on your previous article. I guess the CNN Obama machine got to you. So much for a free thinking press.

I would urge all to go to NPR and hear the Dan Shorr piece on Rev. Wright and his patriotism as compared to that of Bush, Chaney and, yes, Clinton. He did not seek to avoid or evade his duty during Vietnam. He accepted it and then re-enlisted to serve as a medical corpsman.

It is easy to cast stones and rant about pariotism, but what have the Bushes, Chaneys and Clintons of the world asked of us in this time of American angst in Iraq? The answer is simple – the only sacrifice required is from those who enlist (or are backdoor drafted through use of the Guard) and their families.

I see nothing in Hillary Clinton that will change this basic approach to governing. At least with Obama, I have some hope that it may change and that all Americans will be invited to the table to discuss the future that we should try to shape for all of us. It would be nice to see Bill donate his fees from Columbia dealings based on the influence of the sacred office he once held to feeding the poor of Darfur or even those Americans who live on the reformed welfare system he spawned.

Hyprocrisy comes in many shades and forms aand I for one am tired of it.

Lanny and Jeh: Thanks for sharing this. I do believe the key to understanding race as an issue is to acquire a better awareness of both the black and the white experience. Jeh Johnson's email has provided me that.

I'm glad that when all is said and done, you both agreed to disagree without bashing each other. And, you both are still willing to work together as a party. What a great example you two just set. Thanks for that. It's encouraging.

Jolene, St. Joseph, MI

Barack Obama does not even know how to pretend to be a loyal American or a God believing Christian he is so far left off the charts. Muslim training does not include much talk about democracy, Christianity, or honoring your country’s flag. As people wish for hope and change, be more specific in what your wishes are. You likely will regret what you get unless you have had his same Socialist/Marxist/secular brainwashing.
D.A.

It is so refreshing to hear voices of reason well apart from all the rhetoric of campaign sniping. Senator Obama is first and foremost a compassionate human being, evidenced by the fairness and honesty of his own campaign. Secondly, he is a true African American, having a Kenyan father and a mother from Arizona. Like so many African Americans he is of mixed race but that has no bearing on the character of the man, his wisdom, his patriotism, his determination to fight for the rights of ALL Americans. These virtues are the stimulus of his amazing appeal to such great numbers of Americans. Mr Obama has benefitted from a culturally diverse upbringing, from world travel, from exposure to all manner of prejudices and from first hand knowledge of community problems. He has seen the need for greater understanding in all aspects of our daily lives, the need for more honest government and greater diplomacy towards our friends and enemies. These are some of the underlying issues that he knows must be addressed as well as the policies for health care, the economy, foreign policy and the multitude of other considerations to satisfy the needs of all Americans and not just the wants of some.
In his rejection of the call to disown Pastor Wright he has shown faith in his Lord's pre-eminence in personal judgement and the dispensing of forgiveness, proving his true humility.
It is reprehensible that so many of his detractors find it acceptable to constantly question Barack Obama's sincerity despite his more than adequate response to the initial concerns over the pastor's remarks. Irrespective of the injustice and immorality of taking isolated excerpts from different recordings and editing them for the express purpose of incitement, it has been ignominious of so many media pundits to shame their profession with such blatant attempts to smear Barack Obama by association. This, despite obvious abhorrence by the majority of voters, only proves a certain childishness permeates the media, who appear ever more hungry for demeaning scandal while blaming the public for demanding blood.
Thankfully, Senator Obama has resisted any instinct towards ire or retaliation and has asked his campaign to follow his example, again showing the indomitability of this man and his worthiness of being the next President of the United States of America.

Lanny,

The Jeh Johnson comments are beautiful and helpful in elevating this discussion. I am a white male and I am surprised that you and others who have tried, and will continue to try, to make something different of the Rev. Wrights comments couldn't, or wouldn't understand without it being explained to you in this level of detail.

We should be very grateful to the black churches for the role they have played in the development and adjustment of our brothers and sisters.

Lanny I am proud of you as a Clinton supporter to open up your mind to this e-mail from Jeh. I always feel that when I see you on tv that you have a good heart. I was with you in support of the Clintons in the 90's but I am a Obama supporter and want to break from the past and want to believe that a new face can bring this Country back together with ourselves and the rest of the like thinking World.
I'll be glad when democrats can all rally together behind one candidate. I am hoping that this campaign has made our candidate stronger to face the Fall election.

Thanks Lanny for publishing this letter. When I read your article last week asking for Obama to answer why he did not leave the church. My first thought was that you did not want an answer, for he already answer that questions. You just want to re-harsh this story to influence the voters toward your candidate hillary. I have a few reason why I think Obama stayed at the church.

- Obama is not just a Church Goer, This man has a relationship with God and has proven it in the way he has handled all the controveries over the pass several months. He has never show ed any kind of anger or said any unkind words against anyone. I am sure you can attest to that.

- When he said that the Rev Wright conducted his wedding, baptized his children, encouraged him in his faith. That is HUGE, you and many others, with all due respect, may understand it that way. But sir I have deep faith in the Lord, I have deep faith in God and I am a Leader in my church. Those words alone from Mr. Obama tells me that his reason for going to church is not all about Rev Wright, it is About his relationsip with God. The Rev Wright is only a man, he is in the flesh he is going to make mistake, say the wrong things. But he is just one of the reason for going to church, he is not ALL.

I have been going to my church for 20 years. I love my pastors, he baptized me, it was a wonderful, uplifting experience. MY pastors said things that I don't agree with. I hate when he get to deep into politices and try to influence the congregation. However, would not leave the church for that. He is not the sole reason why I am there. I have made lasting friendship with member of the congregation. I teaches a Lifegroup etc., People has tides to the church just like to your work. It is hard for people who are not that engaged or involved to understand that but i hope as these dialogues continue people especialy in high places will come to know more about when goes on in churches (especailly the local onces) and have a better understanding of the commitment.

I am also sure that Obama was not at the church every Sunday. I would think he attends occasionaly. I also don't think Rev. Wright preach these contraversal cermony all the time. In the broader text as we see (Roland Martin), these sound bites are part of titled message that he preached. I hope you get some more understanding out of this. Thank you... bless you.....

Can we please get past this? I'm looking forward to hearing the issues that Hillary, McCain, or Obama have to say or stand for. I'm so worn out on hearing about other people involved with these front runners. Let’s hear or report about real news for a change.

I challenge CNN to step to the plate.

Please Lanny back off.... more you talks more ugly you look.......

Lanny, thank you for printing this great response you received from Mr. Johnson. Frankly, I had been rather annoyed by some of the things you said about Obama on CNN but I very much respect you for sharing Mr Johnson's thoughts with us.

Lanny,
If you really GOT, how fed up we are with you and BIllary, you'd break down and weep.

As with the current situation in which Obama's words displayed who he really is as a person, the press will push these elitist comments under the carpet as they did the Wright situation.

Obama is an elitist racist whose only reason that he is this far in the political arena because of CNN and the semi-color of his skin. Shame on CNN for continuing to twist this election.

I am a democrat who will NEVER vote for Obama.

Jeh Johnson's post should be read by every American. It explains fully why Obama has not denounced Wright.

I commend Mr Davis for posting this and perhaps taking off his Clinton rose colored glasses and at least trying to understand the racial divide in this country. I am the 62 yo white grandmother of a 6 foot tall, black, very gentle and polite grandson who I worry about everyday for things as simple as "driving while Black" or being in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting shot dozens of times because some scared police officer sees only his color or size.

Why do you have to make the distinction? Why do you have to hang on to the subculture of being an African American as if it is a life or death consequence of your daily life?

Growing up, I watched as blacks continued to separate themselves from everyone, white, Latino, middle eastern and oriental, who were all proud Americans. Somewhere the big blow came, when they called themselves African Americans. Suddenly it was socially unacceptable to call them blacks, and they would meanwhile call one another every derogative name in the book, teaching others that witnessed it, no matter what their race, that such names were acceptable under certain circumstances. I don't care how you defend it; I never noticed the difference until young spry African Americans pointed out the differences. I never heard derogatory names associated with The African American community until I heard them calling each other by those names.

Need I inform you that other aforementioned races come here and call themselves simply "Americans", and they do it proudly? African Americans do it with a sense of entitlement, which even Oprah has admitted puts her in a defensive stance when she wants to donate schools, money and other opportunities to her own community.

What makes you so special? I am the direct decedent of Irish immigrants who were persecuted when they came here and went through all sorts of pain to become respected members of the community. The only difference was that my ancestors back in Ireland did not sell my ancestors to greedy Europeans. Like it or not, this is the truth, and the people of Africa, whom you associate yourselves with so proudly, made a profit in that transaction as well.

Further, Africa has been well known for beating down and violating the rights of it's people for centuries, by any and every country that has ever owned interest in it. America is the only country that has attempted passionately to end that oppression here on our soil, yet "African" Americans continue to carry this torch as if America has not done anything. They continue to blame throw at the now shrinking white community (what will you do when that disappears?) without regard for what it does to future generations.

It just baffles me how you and individuals such as yourself and Wright not only hang on to and pass this torch, but you create this struggle for countless young generation whites and African Americans today, tomorrow and decades into the future. I think this, and the senator's patriotism, are what are in question by all Americans.

This testimony doesn't change the fact that white people are very insulted and afraid of the Black Liberation Movement Theology, or should be.

I am a 67 year old white woman who grew up in Minneapolis and attended a bi-racial pentecostal church where my white father was assistant pastor to a black pastor.

We were God fearing and peace loving and were warned about such churches preaching the gospel of hate toward whites. This theology is not new and hopefully will not prosper.

Barack Obama should separate himself from this doctrine if he really wants to create unity among all people in America.

The term elitism is also sometimes misused to denote situations in which a group of people claiming to possess high abilities or simply an in-group or cadre grant themselves extra privileges at the expense of others. This debased form of elitism may be described as discrimination

Somebody needs to post this letter on Obama's website... This hits the nail on the head.

Also, I admire the courage it took Mr. Jeh Johnson to write a letter like this. The Rev. Wright rhetoric really needs to stop now.

The Jerimiah Wright issue is probably going to be what hurts Obama the most. It is very large scaled and America is full of racism from both sides. I am concerned about what kind of attitudes will come out of the black and white communities if Obama does become nominated. I feel like there may be more violence in America.

Exactly. God bless you, Mr Johnson.

"Historically, the black church is the one place for blacks free of any white influence, something blacks can call all their own."

This sounds positively segregationist. He implies that "white influence" is bad, in which case the logical conclusion is that separation from that influence is the best option for blacks.

To be honest, all the pressure has been on whites to give up places they "can call their own," in the name of "social justice." Recall Ms. Obama's call for [whites] to come out of their "comfort zones." Everyone has their “comfort zone� – I guess some groups deserve it, and some don’t.

One wonders how much more one-sided this racial “dialogue� can get.

Thank You for that. What Jeh wrote is the truth.

Mr. Davis,
I agree with you about civil dialogue on this issue. It is timely and very important and thank you for this opening to further discussion.
I really appreciated Mr. Johnsons remarks although I cannot fully agree with some of his points. I have thought all along that Senator Obama's attachment to his church was essentially as Mr. Johnson's decription of his own search for a place and identity and full acceptance of his own place in the scheme of things. I feel that he must have felt a wonderful welcoming embrace, spiritually and culturally from the Trinity church.
And this shines through in everything Senator Obama says in speaking of his Church and his pastor.
But this still in the end cannot excuse his long time support of a man who does seem to hold very vocal and hateful and yes racist views. It would be equivalent to my sitting in a church and listening to a preacher rail against someone for being black, or Jewish or Muslim. This just is intolerent and unacceptable no matter how much I loved and revered them. To listen in silence, to financially support this church and pastor is absolutely unacceptable. And to bring up one's children in such an atmosphere is outrageous. And Senator Obama was fully aware of all of this even though he first claimed ignorance, and then admitted his knowledge.
So while I understand his attachment to the church which has embraced him all these years, I still don't understand why he did not have the judgement and the courage to detach himself from its bias.
This is a very unsettling issue for me.

why does everuone try to speak for Obama and sympathize with his gaffes? Can he not speak for himself? He is supposed to be the leader. instead, he is being babysat by his followers. Are you all going to make excuses for him during the entire 4 years? Is it just that he is unable to respond without a speechwriter? I would like to support democrats, but I cant run the country for him!

Thank you, Lanny, for posting this. I was totally angered by your first post, and was ready to rip into this second one, when I stopped to actually read what you, and Jeh Johnson, wrote. If we could all have the kind of open mind and dialog that you yourself have demonstrated here, we would all be better off, and could, perhaps, work together to affect change. Thanks for taking the first step, for showing us the way.

Excellent– i am a white man who seldom cries- i cried when i read this excellent article.............
A Pennsylvania rural American so called as the Clinton and McCain campaign would call a average middle class voter

Thank God that there is someone with enough clairity and ability to reach out to you Mr. Davis. Hopefully be able to get you or maybe anyone else to understand what its like to be in or at Church and get the WORD, but have enough sense to know what makes COMMON sense and weed out the rhetoric that's not condusive to what we need in our society to become one as a community.

There needs to be a lot less of POLITICS on this issue and more of an understanding of what its like for people who are not like you or from where you come from to deal with the everyday life that we go through. I make no excuses for Rev.Wright or any one that would say something that's not positive, but I know that this has and will happen throughout our life here on earth, We need to deal with this kind of thing in a meaningful way instead of parsing words for political gain and divisivness to get elected to the Presidency.

Why should it be that one group of people has a RIGHT to feel that their way is RIGHT and everyone else should just deal with how that group feels things should be. I think that's why we became a Country in the beginning, To be able to freely express how WE feel and not be ridiculed and taken to task.

Lanny Davis you are so irrelivant it isnt even funny. by the way get a life.

Great blog!!

Thank Lanny for the words of Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson just explained to you the Black Experience and I hope you stop your crusade against Rev. Wright and Sen. Obama. Please take this to your friends on Fox News, Sean Hannity, and Bill O'Rielly. It is time for this country to move beyond all this racial hatred and it can start with you putting this to rest and seeking an open dialog about race and it's affects on america in the 21st century.

Note: I know you are aware of the death threats to Rev. Wright and his Trinity family, this needs to stop or their injuries or death will be on yours and your friends Sean, Bill, and Karl Rove and the likes hands.

I totally agree, even though I'm a white man and have never attended a black church for more than one or two services. My wife is a Unity minister and I have learned much from her about compassion and forgiveness. We are living in a time where we pound out chests and scream about being "Christians" but have totally ignored what He tried to teach us. In our rush to jump on the next bandwagon like "What would Jesus Do?", we forget his message. He never discarded anyone for what they said or did. He would correct them in their anger and speak to them of forgiveness, but he would never cast them out, as so many "religious zealots" are screaming. Barack Obama is a good and decent man who calls us to the better angels of our nature. I pray we have the courage to understand what he's trying to teach us, or will we do what we did to Jesus, destroy him because we can't stand the message of truth.

Can't we please, please, please have more thoughtful insight and dialogue like this on who we are as a people in this precarious moment, and how we might yet achieve the noble aspirations we long to embody as inheritors of American ideals and citizenship? Can't we please do better by being better? If we can't do it, you and I, who ever can? If not now, when?

Interesting insight. Thank you.

As a white male northerner that went to school in the south during the late 50s, I witnessed with cultural shock segregated buses, lunchrooms, movie houses, bathrooms, etc. and "whites only" water fountains and help wanted signs . I can understand how Dr. Wright could harbor some bitterness which is expressed from time to time. If Mr. Johnson's letter opened the eyes of Mr. Davis and others and softened their elitism because they "never walked in the shoes" of a Dr. Wright, it served a valuable end.

Pure nonsense. Was this not the same Lanny Davis who told us that it was ok for Bill Clinton to have sex with his intern in the White House?

The Clinton campaign is full of hypocrites and that is why they are losing. They have completely misconstrued americans reaction to the Lewinsky scandal as though we are gullible.

Lanny, Thanks for allowing this gentleman's post to become part of your blog.

As white Americans, we have no understanding of this part of American culture. Thanks to the Obama campaign, many of us are listening and understanding for the first time.

I live in Hawaii where mixed race is the norm and caucasians are in the minority. Obama would have fit in here much better than his white grandparents. Locals and those with a Hawaiian roots (even a small percentage) can be bitter and frustrated, to use Obama's latest words, with caucasians. This would be part of Obama's formation.

But, Obama became a child of priviledge who went to the best schools and nurtured his ego and his dreams of power. When he decided to pursue office/politics he needed to find a church to complete his image. Unfortunately, he chose Trinity and Jeremiah Wright. JW fosters a spirit of anger, bitterness and frustration with the white race. This was another part of Obama's formation.

Obama's latest comments in San Francisco demonstrate what has become a part of him over the years. It obviousley surfaces without premeditation.

Obama is conflicted and needs to heal before he heads for the White House.

Hillary or Mccain 08!

I wish CNN would get to the issues instead of religion weather it be Obama or Clinton.. Lets get back to the basics of a real campaign.

Wow – an excellent presentation, Mr. Johnson, that really makes sense to me. My first reaction to Pastor Wright's comments was horror. Then I thought about WHY he was so angry. Here's what I came up with: I've blown up with anger and absolute disgust when someone I care deeply about betrays and abuses the morals and values and behavior that we've always shared. A stranger, who hadn't admired that person in the first place, couldn't care less. If Pastor Wright didn't care so much and expect so much from his country, he wouldn't be so violently angered by it's failures. Hopefully, he and others,who speak in public, can learn from Senator Obama that there is truly strength in speaking softly. God bless us all.

I appreciate Mr. Johnson's comments but I believe Mr. Obama had already articulated much of this in his speech. My question to Mr. Davis is why does he, and so many others in White America, need Black people to constantly explain and justify themselves. Why could you not have accepted Mr. Obama's comments after the whole Rev. Wright affair? Better yet, why couldn't you just try to LISTEN to Rev. Wright himself and get where he is coming from?

Suddenly the light bulb has gone off in your head and you now get it? Well I suppose it's better late than never.

I think it's good that people discuss things but -Duh Lanny! How did you live so long and never meet any black people? I mean seriously, you never knew or at least thought about the feelings expressed in Mr. Johnson's letter.Either that or your just another Clinton campaign worker trying to bolster the support Hillary enjoys with racis er' I mean people who will never vote for a Black person.Get real.

Thank you, Lanny, for posting this! What a very insightful reaction to your article, it was a pleasure and an enlightenment reading it…

Reverend Wright does not preach Black Liberation Theology at TUCC. To quote Father Pfleger, a white Catholic priest, "He preaches the same gospel that I preach- the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Thank you Anderson. I am an AA female who literally grew up in the black church.If you really think about it, all we have had as a people is the beauty shop, barber shop, funeral home and the church. I have been heartbroken at the way th media has described the black church. Thank you Mr Johnson for your thoughtful response to Mr Davis's op-ed.I thank him for stepping up to the plate and acknowledging his enlightment. I in no way blame Mr Obama for not leaving Trinity just as I will not leave my church even with its flaws.The church is not the pastor but the people who make up the congregati . Again, thank you Anderson.

I have been upset with Lanny Davis during this primary season for attacks on Barack Obama that I felt were untrue and unfair.

What Lanny did with this email was gracious. I thank him for that.

I wish this whole process could be raised to a higher level.