america is aracist country period…even on this blog they delete any post that is against whites and anything against blacks is posted…..this country massacared indians, lynched and burnt black people alive…and then invented HIV to wipe all of us black pople out…am so angry right now……..the only people who cares about us blacks are the alqaeda……most of us black people are so angry REV Wright was not even close to what we feel…but one thing for sure….we will revenge the killing of our grandparents….this time there will be no marting luther king, which means nothing will be peaceful, we’ll be blazing ourselves out…we dont really care about life, we were born dead already…yeah anderson….and racist CNN go a head and delete my blog

Mr. Wise, thank you for this article!
The media is notorious for taking issues out of context then feeding it to the vulnerable masses.
I applaud you for bringing these issues into context.
It’s time to stop the character assassination of Obama

It is about time the truth is told. Thank you.

Thank you for articulating how distorted media wordsmithing throws fuel on the fire of our country’s interracial wounds. Reflections like yours gives me hope that this can be a time of turning, a time of repentantace and reconciliation if we can open ourselves to this.

I am a fellow United Church of Christ minister and see truthful speech and just actions as the only real “Balm in Gilead.” I am thankful for Rev. Wright for trying to get some of the truth out in the open. By the way, I grew up in a working class and very prejudiced neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rev. Laura Rose, Alameda, CA

Wright seems to be the one Feeding Racial tension and Provoke much more.

There is no way of knowing if obama is serious about denouncing wright.

Since he lied to the public before over hearing wrights, comments in church.

They have been best friends for over 20 years, and obama said he bounced all his political decisons off of wright.

So It was pretty evident when wright said, Obama says what he has to as a politician and he as as pastor, that the friendship will not be broken.

Considering all that, Obama has a long way to go to prove what he says.

The reality and the truth won’t give the media the ratings they need. So the poke and twist and snippet 24/7. It’s the people that stupidly follow everything they say like it’s gospel that cause the most problems.

A very interesting post.

I agree that Americans, and specifically the media in the U.S., tend to mention race as an very important issue without really questioning or researching much at all. America is very divided, both by race and class, and this post brings to light the fact that both the media, and Americans as individuals, need to look at themselves and question why they believe what they do.

Assuming Obama wins the Dem. nomination, I don’t think it’s too far out there to predict rising racial tensions to explode this summer and into the fall. Especially as the U.S. economy continues to falter and the cost of everyday necessities rise, the recipe for anger is already starting to simmer…

“Liberation Theology” under the recent controversy with Rev. Wright, seems to link it to the Black Church. I wish you, Mr. Cooper, would talk about the history of this theology that was started in Latin America in the ’60s by the Catholic Church and it deals with the oppression of indians, mezstizos, black and especially the poor including whites. There are millions of poor people in this country and they are not all black.

Amen for this article it is 100% correct.

Only if media helps to uncover that reality, and encourage a real discussion about what it means, for all of us, will we likely make progress on the road to racial equity.

If you’re depending on the media to help us make progress on the road to racial equality, I’m sorry to tell you that the road is no doubt blocked and you’re probably going to have to double back and take a detour.

The media lives and dies by ratings, which are driven by conflict-oriented coverage, not honest discussions with context. If people truly want to see the coverage on their televisions change into something helpful, they’re going to have to vote with their remotes.

The April 29, 2008 article is the truth and right on point. Yes, America is in denial, and the American media is comprised of propaganda operatives that only report half truths and help to cover the truth. A good example of this is the events that led to our invasion of Iraq on lies promulgated by the American press in consort with the most oppressive regime that I ever have experienced in my 58 years.

The ploy that the media (in consort with the “Dirty Clintons” and promiscuous Clintons) to distract from the relevant issues. Why is it that Black men have to do so much explaining that is not required of others? Not only is the American government in denial of the facts, but so is its right arm (the American media). Bill Clinton was impeached for taking advantage of a young girl and lying about it to the entire world. Do you take the trash out at your house and then bring it back in. If the Democrats go as far to steal the nomination and “give it to” Hillary (ala changing the rules on Blacks including Obama as we go through the nomination process) my sole mission in life will be to discourage Black people from voting Democrat or from voting period since the elections are blatantly rigged, and now it appears as thought the nomination process is corrupt. If the Democrats insists on further discounting Black votes and further disrespect Obama more Blacks will certainly smell the coffee. I do.

Thank you Tim Wise. Thank you and Reverend Doctor Jeremiah Wright. John Wayne or George Bush were (and can never be) my hero, but, gentlemen you are my heroes.

Thanks again

last night anderson cooper was again addressing what obama should do about jeremiah wright and he was of the opinion that obama should get mad about wright’s remarks. as long as the media keeps giving coverage to wright, he will continue to spout off whatever he wants. when asked questions, he does his little sarcastic smile and dances around the question never giving any straight or direct answers. he is arragont old smart a__ b______ and just “full of himself”. he seems to be enjoying all the free publicity he is getting from the media. it is feeding his huge ego. the way to shut him down (although you never will shut him down completely) is to start ignoring him. he is old news and any future coverage is simply going to be wright dancing to the same old tune. he is trying to achieve something for himself out of this; an appointment? to what? what is his thinking? dump him. get him off the news.

All I have to say is: whomever wrote this article is on “point”. Thank you.

Oh! Tim Wise. Thank you

In America everything is a big deal. Media hypes & spices it up pretty good for marketing, people have no better business to do, read it & buy it. In this capitalistic society even doggy pooh is marketable let alone cow dung used as fuel & source of methane gas. When are we going to be sober, take things as they come naturally? We need to change.

Barack Obama has experienced what many Americans have in their church. We care for our religious leaders and believe in the need to respect them, but we do not agree always with what they say. For example, as a Catholic, I have heard many a priest denounce homosexuality and encourage those who love gay people to convince a loved one that his or her lifestyle is wrong and that will never change. I also have often been told that women are to obey their men. I certainly love my husband but I do not “obey” him. I do not believe that I should try to change the sexual preference of anyone. Does this mean I should leave my faith? And then, when Reverend Wright said “God…DAMN America,” all we have to do is listen to Pastor Wright’s inflection. I took it as meaning the condemnation of misguided actions aour country sometimes makes. We need to admire Senator Obama for feeling pain in having to part company with a friend who is wounded, albeit wrong, so that he can focus on the issues he wants to address in his campaign for a country in need of his visionary leadership.

Are you all kidding me? CNN last night took 70% of their 5 hour prime time coverage and discussed the Rev. Wright.

So I ask again, are you guys in the media gone loopy? Have you all lost your sense of purpose or integrity as newscasters?

Here’s a reality check… I am a single mother with NO health insurance and a daughter diagnosed with BPD (look it up, you may learn something) with one of her symptoms being bulimia. I am devastated and overwhelmed by the lack of information and assistance out there.

Now, walk in my shoes for a moment… do you really think facing what I do every single day, not knowing whether my child is going to live or die, would have the Rev Wright as my priority?

You guys in the media need to wake up and realize that we are real people out here facing real problems ! Why don’t you all get over the soap opera garbage and do some good by providing folks like me who NEED information, who NEED help with some substantial & informative reporting. Do some good for the people of this country instead of losing your souls, your integrity in the hunt for ratings.

By the way… don’t you all think Americans need to know what is happening in the rest of the world? After all. there’s a big wide world out there! What a tremendous disservice to the American people.

I find myself deeply saddened by the whole media circus surrounding the Reverend Jeremy Wright. While not an Obama supporter, I took great civic pride in knowing that my countrymen (and women) had risen to a cultural awakening where they could see beyond differences of both gender and skin color in choosing both a women and an African American male to be the prospective nominees of the Democratic party for President of the United States.

I was astonished to hear the hatred coming from Obama’s Pastor, that we are responsible for the bombing of New York by Al Queda, that the U.S. Government spread the aids virus to kill innocent black children, that Israel is a terrorist State, that white America are all racists, that our soldiers are no different than the Roman soldiers who crucified Christ, that blacks and whites have different brains and therefore need to be educated differently. I may have been able to turn the other cheek if these were statements made decades ago, but there was Reverend Wright on National Television saying them all over again this week. When Americans were, in the words of Barack Obama, obviously offended by these comments, the Reverend responded that the vocalized offense was not an attack on him or his statements, but an attack on all blacks, thus further dividing the races rather than unifying them.

The ramifications of such divisive oratory by Reverend Wright could be much greater than merely hurting Obama’s chances both in the Democratic Nomination and (should he receive the nomination) the General Election this fall. The tendency may be for other Black leaders to rally to Wrights defense (which is made more probable since Wright made it a black verse white issue). It would set back race relations in this country just when we all thought we were seeing the realization of decades of hard work to bring the racial divide to a close.

I therefore believe strongly that it is incumbent on both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to speak out now to address this situation in the clearest of terms. Not for the benefit of their own political fortunes but for the benefit of the citizenry at large. In order to be effective and truly understood as heartfelt, as opposed to pandering, I put forth that Hillary needs to speak to White America and Obama needs to speak to Black America.

Here’s a sample of what I believe they need to say:

Hillary Clinton:

Recent events have put the issue of race back in the forefront of the American Dialogue. I wish to make a statement to my fellow Americans who are not African American. I wish to make this statement loud enough that everyone in North Carolina and Indiana who will be voting next week can hear me. I wish to speak it loud enough that everyone throughout our nation and throughout the world can hear my statements as well. “If you plan on voting for me because of the color of my skin than yours is a wasted vote and I would rather you stay home and don’t vote at all”. The color of my skin will not help me one iota in being the best President of these United States. It will not make me better at addressing Health Care, the Economy nor make me a better Commander in Chief. I come before you to let you know that I believe I would make the best President because of what I am on the inside and not what I may be on the outside. We all, black and white, male and female need to realize that today in America we are farther along the path to racial and gender harmony than at anytime in our country’s history. We need to stand together to ensure that no one, black or white, male or female, can push us off this eternal path we are on together. We must celebrate our accomplishments in reducing discrimination, division, bigotry and inequality at the same time that we recognize that we are still on that path and have a ways to go before our dream is realized. If anyone tries to tell you that we are not on the path to racial and gender harmony then you should feel comfortable in telling them this: “Look at who the people of the Democratic Party have selected as their prospective nominees!!! A Woman and an African American. And on November 6th, we can tell the world, Look at who the American People have elected as their President and we will say it with great pride”!! Now let this woman get back to talking about the issues that face all of us regardless of our gender and regardless of our skin color…

Barack Obama.

[I admit this one is harder for me to write, because I have not truly been immersed in the black struggle. However, I do not feel Barack has any way out of the box his Pastor has created for him other than to take the tact I about to espouse. He cannot merely attack his Pastor since by definition Barack was a member of that Church for 20 years and so an attack now, would only look political. He also might offend his largest voting block (African Americans) and cannot afford to lose them now (in the beginning he split their vote with Hillary). On the flip side, he cannot say that he agrees with his Pastor without losing much of White America who will view him as an Angry Black man and people just can't be asked to vote for someone they feel hates or holds anger towards them. The only solution as I see it, is that Barack needs to formulate a speech to be given to the African American community itself.]

Let me address for the moment, my fellow Americans of African Heritage. Many of our ancestors and many here today have had to struggle through the worst of times. Through Slavery, Lynchings, Prejudice, Bigotry and all forms of inequality. There can be no one who could deny this as fact and therefore appreciate how such an overwhelming struggle would affect the black community and their prodigy. But today is not the day of slavery, it is not the day of segregation in restaurants, hotels, and residences. Something universally good has changed. It should not breed anger, but hope. It should not foster continued despair, but a new realization that today is brighter for us than yesterday and tomorrow looks better still. What has changed? Non-African Americans have changed and more then ever before can be seen across this great land of ours reaching out to us to build one family known as the American Community. I know that is hard for many of you to accept. It is often the case that the victim of discrimination is the last to shed the ties to such victimhood because of the distrust such discrimination has instilled on the minds of the victims themselves. While racial harmony is not yet perfect, it is moving in the right direction which my candidacy itself manifests the clearest evidence. And so my fellow Americans of African descent, if we are to find racial harmony in this great land, we must open ourselves to the reality of change here in our land and accept that it takes two to tango. Most non- African Americans are sending us an outstretched arm of hope and love. If we are going to find hope, unity and equality for ourselves, then we must find it within our being to meet them with our own outstretched arms of love and hope with an equal determination to come together. It is time to break our chains of victemhood and the poison of anger and distrust that it ferments and walk together with our fellow Americans towards a brighter future where race is a celebrated difference and no longer a measure of status or privilege.

Well that’s it, I have said my part and hope with an outstretched arm of love, that someone out there hears me.

What is questionable is that ” It took Sen.Obama twenty (20) years today April 29th 2008 to discover who Rev. Wright is and what he stands for while the American people took only three (3) public appearances to know who he is and what he stands for” . Is it because he’s contesting so he wants to distance himself from his Rev.? Super delegates and voters needs to be more careful in making decisions on who to select or else we might head for more problems after President Bush is gone.

well its about time someone in the news sees the way other news people cover this racism thing going on we are all amercans why cant all these polls show that insted of all the different catigores that we list but i geuss there is no devide listing it as just americans and definely no overblown news in that

In my opinion there is one candidate that decided to make race a central issue in this campaign (Hillary/Bill Clinton). She interjected race into the campaign. She decided to not openly portray herself as a victim by playing the gender card. Her strategy to undermine Obama’s campaign by sneaking in the issue has actually backfired in some way. If by any chance she does receive the nomination, I am not voting for her.

I would like to hear from Michele Obama, Does she denounce Wright?

I saw her give a speech and at the end she put her fist in the air several times. What did that represent? I was told it was for black power?

Excellent article and so true!

I watched Rev Wright’s interview with Bill Moyers and his speech at the NAACP. Both were excellent and informative. When he spoke at the National Press Club, he definitely was on the offensive and I don’t blame him one iota. The media hounds deserved a smackdown. However, they came out of it like crying children rather than apologetic for treating him so badly.

The media is to blame for this mess. It was shoddy journalism from the beginning and should be categorized as “entertainment” on the same level as the shock jocks.

What I find interesting is Rev Wright’s reference to “the chickens are coming home to roost” which means the very same thing as “blowback” that Chalmers Johnson has described in his books since 2000. I notice Mr. Johnson was not vilified for bringing to light the injustices that the US/CIA has perpetrated on other countries. Why is that do you suppose? [okay, I am being sarcastic here]

If I can get “it” being a 50-something white woman in the middle of redneck country, I am sure other people can too if they would just stop and think about how they are being manipulated by the press with these 60-second sound bytes and not getting the full story.

In the words of Bill Cosby, “Come On People!”

True!!!

Spin, distortion, sensationalism. Can I have a large helping of issues please? Today I put $50 of gas in my tank and it wasn’t even full. The issues matter. Sen. Obama is not resposible for the words that come out of any mouth but his own. Please stop this rabid chasing after ratings and let us enjoy some journalism for awhile. I miss Aaron Brown and his common sense.

Generationally speaking–most youth and young adults of today–are clearly not as race conscious as the author may presume.

The abject–refusal to accept that the recently viewed “sound bytes” of the Rev. Wright by many Americans of all races is a testament to the fact that Americans aren’t as racist as in past years.

Most are outraged–that a man of God–still hasn’t realized it yet!!

The Rev. Wright–is doing what earned him prestige among radical blacks in the past–and continues to fuel his gravy train. But he has no concept of what the current culture in America is–or he’d never have said the ridiculous things he has said.

Robert @;36pm: Do you walk upright and have opposable thumbs.

What do you mean by this:
Assuming Obama wins the Dem. nomination, I don’t think it’s too far out there to predict rising racial tensions to explode this summer and into the fall. Especially as the U.S. economy continues to falter and the cost of everyday necessities rise….

Are you insinuating that black s will somehow be embolded by Barrack’s nomination and riot!!! All races are being affected by the Bush White House, I don”t see anyone picketing the white house.

If Baracks the nomination and the white house the day after I will get up and go to work like any other.

I would hope that someone on this network would have the courage to exam Rev. Wright’s comments about the government infect Black people with AIDS in the context of what happened to the Haitian boat people on Guantanamo Bay back in the early 1980’s. I am Haitian-American, and most Haitian-Americans have known for a fact that the Haitian refugees referred to as “boat people” were experimented on during the Reagan Administration in Guantanamo Bay. The reports we received by the Haitian-American journalist stated that the men were experimented upon to the point where they were growing female like breasts.

It is a widespread and well respected belief in our community that it was during this period of experimentation that the refugees were infected with AIDS and then sent back to Haiti. If CNN has courage, not only would you post my comments, you would investigate this claim in the Haitian-American community, consult with some Human Rights watchdog organizations along with your governmental sources.

I have a question. I just recently learned of Pat Buchanan’s response to Barack Obama’s speech on race called “A Brief for Whitey” Why is there limited coverage of this? He wrote this on March 21, 2008 and no one has talked about it. However the Rev. Wright clips have been played over and over. Both the clips and Pat Buchanan’s article are damaging to the race relations in this country, yet one is basically excused. Why?

The mainstream media has always been an outlet for white thought and culture. Never that I have known the media either local or national to even consider the views of any other ethnic group but white people.
When I was growing up, all I ever saw on the national news was white men discussing the issues of the day. These men were like “all knowing fathers” who had the answers to all the questions Americans were thinking. Racist comments and attitudes were said with so much astuteness, I just reasoned that when one watches the news, one is watching the way the white people view the world.
I hope that through this election cycle in interest in different cultural perspectives, we can grow as a country. There are more views to this country than just the white view. If whites can accept that, we can handle more effeciently terrorist thoughts and ideals, because a lot of that is based in anti - European and anti- Anglo thought processes.

Let’s face it, ratings and revenue are the bottom line for the media. They want conflict and look everywhere to find a big breaking news full of brouhahas. Having said that, I do think race is a bigger issue than most of us want to admit. We need the media to bring us together to solve those issues, not stir up more intense anger. We are all Americans. Labeling us in compact groups, does nothing but show we all are individuals, who have our own agendas when we vote. Our life experiences shape our choices. If our lives are unequal, then we need to help each other overcome those hardships that tear us apart.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.

I am outraged that CNN would give Rev. Wright such publicity especially at this crucial time in the presidential campaign. The man is crazy. He should NOT have been given the attention he has gotten in the past few days. I feel sorry for Obama. He has run such a wonderful race and thanks to CNN, you very well could have ruined things for him just so you could make a story. It is Obama’s privilege to attend the church of his choosing and I can’t for the life of me figure out why you found airing Rev. Wright’s “homilies” (or whatever crap you want to call it) so necessary.

Just curious as to why there was no media up-roar over Falwell and Robertson when they said 9/11 was gods punishment on American citizens..oh yeah that’s right because BOTH Falwell and Robertson are white! These are the same people McCain said are his friends!

For what it’s worth, an “outsiders” (Canadian’s) view.

The so-called “Wright controversy”, in my view, represents all that’s wrong about American politics and the American media. Barack Obama is not his paster. Reverend Wright’s views are not Barack Obama’s. The media’s obsession with Wright is mere sensationalism. Choosing to report so heavily on Wright and stories like this for their mere “shock value” while paying scant attention to the real issues is, in my opinion, “shockingly” irresponsible. Even when the media chooses to deal with real issues, it does so only in the most facile, superficial way. Giving passing reference to economic issues or health care issues, or “the war in iraq”, simply naming issues and occasionally adding a rhetorical flourish giving expression to their seriousness is not really seriously discussing the issues. Finally, the predominantly white media’s obsession with Wright and it’s seeming determination to have Wright undermine Obama’s changes for nomination is a clear indication of the profound racism that still resides just below the surface of American society. Surely, Hilary Clinton’s Bosnia lie is a clearer indication of character than Barack Obama’s association with Reverend Wright.

CNN in the person of commentator Roland Martin have reached a new plateau in sanitizing the news. Yesterday immediately following the Reverand Wright debacle at the National press club Mr. Martin was full of understanding and did not report any problems with the rants of the rev. Now today he is replete with understanding of the Obama distancing from Rev. Wright. Is Mr. martin a commentator, reproter, or a supported of Reverend Wright.

the media spins all this stuff … sound bites…. comments taken out of context etc only for the ratings. What ever happened to journalistic integrity? Isn’t it time to focus on the issues, yes main stream media it’s boring but creating and sustaining issues when they don’t exist only harms the process and the ability for the American people to make an intelligent choice for the leadership and future of the country. Especially, and here I show my personal bias, you now have a unique individual that shows up as a candidate that brings something completly different to politics in the country. Honesty, intelligence, character and compassion for the real issues that affect people every day. But you focus instead on the poison, no wonder there is so much apathy, the media keeps it alive!!

The US election, from an outsiders view, is beginning to look, not only like a racial conflict, but a religious ‘war’ as well.
(At least now we know who Obama was talking about when he mentioned bitter people clinging to religion. aka Rev Wright)
Get this! The ministers that support McCain believe aids was God’s punishment. Wright believes 9/11 was the USA paying for its sins.
Now both or neither of these scenarios may or not be true, but it more than humoress that both sides will use ‘religious belief’ to prove their stance. If you can believe a god can punish gays with aids, how can you then disclaim that god could punish a country for having a history of slavery and terrible foreign affairs policies?
If one of these ideas is laughable, so is the other.
(I am not saying, and I do not know if god planned aids and 9/11 as punishment. Don’t misconstrue my observation that people do believe these issues, that I believe either or none.)

I beleive it took this long for Senator Obama to denounce Rev Wright because he has known this person for 20 years. This individual has helped him grow and developed so I am sure it was hard and sad to have this press conference today. I think he is going to be a great President but I am not sure if white American( especially the older ones) is ready for a Black President. However, he had to say something about Rev Wright, he could not just ingore it and I think it too this long because of their relationship and his membership with the church. it is hard to just reject/denounce someone that’s like family, good or bad.

First of all, I am white. It seems to matter for some reason. I think Rev Wright was dead on 100% accurate with his sermon and interviews. I think Obama should embrace these principles. I never thought he had the record to be president, as opposed to Clinton, but I would have voted for him out of principle just as I voted for Ralph Nader. As if it is not true that the US has commited terrorism around the world and that we have Imperialist values. This is the main reason I wanted Obama to win, I thought he realized these truths and stood ready to correct our horrible image that bush and cronies have made of us.

Racism,what a joke and overused word.If a person does not like blacks?,whites?,asians?whoever?, this makes them racists.NO IT DOESNT.I’am not comparing people to dogs,cats,food,or anything else, but common sense tells you that what we like or dislike is based upon our experiences in life.If during your life you have had bad experiences with Asains then you will not like Asains.If you have been ripped off by Asains a number of times you will not have much trust of them.This is not racism, its life experiences period.I dont have to like anybody, nor does anybody have to like me.That being said if you are of a different race than me and choose not to like me OK,BUT LET HAVE THE RIGHT TO NOT LIKE YOU WITHOUT IT BEING RACISM.Leave Obamas ex-preacher alone and let this crap die.You are only fueling the flames and giving this man his 15 minutes of fame and he’s running away with it.A bunch of crap for nothing.

For all the people who has already voted would they change their vote now if they knew what they know now about Obama. as a West Virginian we havent voted yet and i am from a big family of 342 and we are voting for Clinton

We Americans need to reflect on ourselves on why there are people like Rev Wright thinks that way. I am sure there are more people in the Middle East believe what Rev Wright said.

I think this last episode of Rev Wright is going to help Obama. Obama is a very decent human being and now everyone can see the difference. I wonder if Bil Clinton paid off Rev Wright or will pay him off in the future for doing this to Obama at the “perfect timing.! I believe anything from the Clintons. But now you can see how special Obama really is. I believe that he has just taken a hugh burden off his back and now he will rise to the top. Just watch.

The media coverage of the racism in this election is hurting the relationship between communities. The impact of their coverage of the race issue will have in the Americain society will be great and bad; a lot of people are bieng hurt and this election, which had a change to bring people together, is dividing America. I think, the media is playing with fire, in this age of religious extremism, racial divide can bring the fall of this great nation

I knew on Sunday while watchIng Rev. Wright that Barack Obama would again have to devend himself for words he himself had not spoken. Oh” how the Hillary camp must be enjoying this. However , I don’t think it’s going to stop Barack chances from winning. It has not changed my vote. NOTHING could make me vote for Hillary !!!

This article hit the nail on the head! Thank You Mr. Wise.

The media has let the American people down in this country. They try at every corner to try and divide us as a people and in particular in their coverage of this presidential primary. I am so saddened for Sen. Obama who I really believe can help this country come together and do a lot of good for us as a nation. I believe in you Mr. Obama keep on pressing forward in spite of the clowns who enjoy dividing us.

Angel Brito in Pennsylvania

CNN news is a source I have looked to for NEWS for several years. I am angry and disappointed by your continual coverage of Jeremiah Wright. It seems CNN’s only reason was for gossip and not news. I am disappointed that you feel Wright is news yet you have not concentrated on Hagee, Parlesy or any of the other nut jobs connected to presidential candidates. I guess I’ll now find a REAL source to get my news. I will not continue to support such a silly, divisive news organization.

hmmmm….

let’s see a super racist anti-black USA is ready to nominate and possibly eventually even elect a president of African heritage.

Keep in mind the black population is at or around +-20% and I don’t beleive any other predominantly white country has even come close to doing this.

Mr. Wright’s whining and complaining doesn’t add up, but is good fodder for a Sunday anti-whitey spectacular sermon.

kevin jetz - I am a Hasidic Jew and the Torah teaches us to look at human kind with our eyes that act as a window to our soul. We are to bring light to darkness. We were put on this earth to do kindess and make this World a drelling place for G-D. If you allow yourself to be this hateful, it would only consume you and not see the good this Country does. President Bush has increased the AID to South Africa and has helped more third world Countries than any other recent Presidents. Please keep in mind, that half of the Jewish population in the World was mudered just 60 years and we do not hate Germany, cause daily riots, or wish death to Germany and Poland. What America did 250 years ago was a terrible thing, but that was 250 years ago. Look at President Bush Cabinet. Sec of State is Black, Sec of eductation and the former Attorney General was Hispanic. Why would anyone blame todays population for the errors of 10 generations ago? Just ask yourself, are you better off in America or your own homeland?

I think Wright is an aggressive preacher. He is very smart, and he knows the Bible from all over in/out. I think his delivery is too harsh and although we have been through bad times, his “descriptive” ways are thought provoking and somewhat offensive. I do not think, Obama should be judge because of Wright. I do not think Wright should be attacked because his argument is skillful and many Master minds get a little crazy as their knowledge advances.

Watching this unfold, it is apparent to me the reason, Obama tread very lightly on Wright in the Philadelphia speech was that Obama realized that any attack of any sort would unlease the anger in this man. If Obama had not been such a rookie he would have left that church the day he decided to run for president. I seriously doubt that Obama has the spine to stand up for Americans and the judgement to call someone or a country when inappropriate actions ocurr.

I think there should be a debate between Rev. Wright and Pat Buchanan. This could be the beginning of a serious discussion about race relations in America. Right now, we’re only becoming more divisive.

His outrageous behavior is a bad case of “generational resentment� and he is spinning out of control. Ask any parent who feels that their kid just does not appreciate all that they have done for them. Obama is benefiting from civil rights advancements that were not available to Wright, even though Wright was a foot soldier in the movement. Consciously, or unconsciously, he is trying to sabotage Obama. I hope the Rev. comes to his senses.

I find it odd that white America is so quick to jump on The Rev. while their Catholic Priests are fondling little boys. They are still attending that church and giving money willingly. What’s up with that? Get your own house in order before you start putting down someone elses.

I think its very unfair on CNN’s part to air Wright’s speech, i think they teamed up with Hillary to Denounce a black man to stop him from getting nomination.

This guy is a clown looking for his 15 minutes. He obviously got more than that, but he is not satisfied. I have attended many churches and listened to many preachers in my life. Never seen anybody so angry, sarcastic and hungry for attention preaching in the name of God.

It’s got to be a new religion!

When it was being said about whites and the usa it’s how they talk in a black church. When it was about Obama it is rant.

I felt the speech given at the NAACP Convention was very good. It truly gave new insight to the fact that people are being different, but not deficient. However, the press conference was a bit dicey, in both the questions asked and the answers given.

Isn’t interesting that Barack Obama didn’t have any issues with the Rev Wright until now? Besides dropping poll numbers, what changed? I am sure that Barak’s children miss Uncle Jeremiah……..

Why should Obama be responsible for someone else’s comments? It’s called freedom of speech. He does not have any control over what someone says. Is Hilary Clinton the Senator of New York? What will she do to keep the peace between the outraged African American community and the police that was NOT GUILTY for firing 50 shots that killed a man. A life was taken. America is just trying to find something to keep a African American from being in office. I know there will not be a respond as usual.

Come on America… can you not see what Wright is doing. If we turn our backs on Barack Obama, then Rev. Wright wins. And I refuse to let him win. Don’t be fair weathered (when things are great we are for some one when things don’t look so good or the press is spinning all over the place we turn our backs? We are smarter people than that. Hillary has “tons” of baggage and so does McCain, so does that make it right to turn our back on Barack he is in the eye of a storm that Rev. Wright is knowingly putting him in. Where is our back bone and our fight for change. Wipe your eyes and brush away the smoke screen.

CNN should not give so much to this one topic “Rev. Wright” - by doing this, you are giving too much power to him. Rev. Wright is acting like a puppet for a distructive voice. The voice is against the direction this country needs to go in. As a country the people need to unite in a direction that’s good for the people. (not the politicians, and clergy). It’s about the people in this country! We the people…..

Thank you for your article Mr. Wise. The media is making a mockery of Rev. Wright and Senator Obama is only buying into this negative view by continuing to condemn Rev. Wright. In his quest to win over the white “working class,” Senator Obama will alienate the black voters that have been supporting him all along.

WE ARE ALL RACISTS! Get over it!

I’m white. If we had over 200 years of black presidents and this was the first year we had a viable white president, I’d vote for the white guy in a heartbeat.

Blacks are voting for Obama, because we’ve had over 200 years of white presidents. The icing on the cake is that Obama is a great candidate. Blacks should proudly vote for Obama. If blacks vote only based on skin color, then I completely respect your position.

But blacks should not automatically assume all whites are racists if we’re not as consumed by Obama.

I think you (Tim) should look at what you’re (the Obama campaign) are feeding the media and the people. This is becoming the election of fictitiously plausible ideas. You want me to believe that Rev. Wright wasn’t vetted in 21st Century American politics? Come on! Wright was a problem, they set up this divide, and the media is buying it. Why aren’t CNN reporters examining the “Divorce” speech closer? Because you’re (Tim) feeding them bs and they don’t want to question the “I didn’t vet my pastor” lies. This divide was perfectly scripted to put Barrack opposite Write. I couldn’t figure out why Write went so over-the-top at the National Press Club - now it’s clear, to give Obama a plausible divide from him. All for show. Again, does anyone believe Wright was ignored by the political strategists - Axelrod would have to be an idiot.

At best, Barrack has shown poor judgment and no leadership skills - the public actually had to lead him to the understanding of who his pastor is. Wow!

At worst, this is all a shame, and Barrack is lying through his teeth about the divide.

I continue to feel troubled by the slant that CNN and other news media have taken regarding race and the Obama campaign. For instance, the Governor of Pennsylvania, and admitted Hillary supporter, publicly announced that 18% of the residents of his state are so racist that they won’t vote for Obama because of his race. Then, after losing by only 10%, CNN and other news media feast on the story that he can’t close the deal with white working class males. Wait a minute! A simple statistical analysis appears to show that if the Governor actually knew anything about his population then Obama did an incredible job of cutting the devout racist numbers in half or gained enough cross-over or other votes to close that gap.

Now, it appears to me that the Governor of Pennsylvania has no problem with proclaiming to the world that almost one in five (20%) of his population are avowed racists (I will no longer purchase anything I know to be from the state of Pennsylvanis either!) which is a story unto itself, but the fact that CNN and others seemed to miss the point that Obama overcame quite a bit of that is amazing.

It is a sad state of affairs when the news deliberately focuses on the negative racism but fails to show that the American people can overcome the racist element within their population. I only hope the rest of the world can figure out that this isn’t 1956 in Selma, and that we have made some progress in this country.

CNN and the rest get an F in journalism. Sounds like Hillary’s folks are getting all of the racist press they hoped for and you morons are going along with the program.

This article completely misses the point: Barry Obama was not just a member of Wright’s congregation for many years, he was married by Wright, his children were baptized by Wright, he named his book after one of Wright’s sermons. If he didn’t know what Wright was all about for all those years as he claims then Obama is totally clueless. But in reality Obama is fudging the truth or outright lieing. Obama’s association with this guy matters because he was so closely associated with him. Words matter as Obama says over and over. Wright is completely relevant to this campaign. Wright is even MORE relevant because many americans, including blacks, are now abandoning Obama because of this association. so every time CNN claims it doesn’t matter they are completely wrong. Obama should do the right thing and withdraw from the race.

This was a good article. IMO

The American dream is based on the principal that our country is free of discrimination and full of prosperity. Liberty is the sole reason our society has experianced such progress. Lets not allow the words of the few to outweight the words of the many. America is on the verge of something great. Its our time to reach prosperity again, all we need now is the strenght to lose sight of the past, and to venture into the unknown. Obama is the only leader that can speak to both white and black americans, and help forged this country into its new found prosperity.

Even worse that racist, America is sexist.

The media and the Obama campaign have continuously pushed out the most sexist remarks against Hillary. Yet, the Obama and the media dared to claimed holy as thou.

If the media used the same sexist-style remarks about race on Obama, there would be an outrage and the NAACP would cry foul. Yet it’s completely okay to denegrate a woman!

Tell us (black america) something we don’t know. We already know this. It’s white america that is clueless. Except, of course, you Tim and a few others. At least you are honest about it, but you aren’t getting anytime on national television, are you? They aren’t breaking down your door with an invitation to speak.

Obama, Obama, Obama, we now know who your friends REALLY are and what they stand for. Know we KNOW who you REALLY are. It was a nice run. But, a racist president is NOT what this country needs. You’ve known this racist for 20 years. LOL and now all of a sudden, he becomes a ranting racist. I guess you were sleeping through his sermones, for 20 years. The Land of Lincoln must be proud..

I’d agree but lets be honest sexism is horrible in this country. In New Hampshire a man stood up and shouted to Hillary Clinton “Iron my shirt”, whats shocking about this is it hardly got any coverage. If someone said a racial remark it would be all over the news which should but at the same time sexism is more apparant in this campaign than racism.

I agree with Pat Nelson. I thought the speech Wright gave at the NAACP convention was thought-provoking, funny, and truthful without being hateful. Then Wright fuels the fire with his remarks about HIV and Farakhan at the Press Club, thus making people forget his powerful NAACP speech. I think Wright is enjoying his time in the limelight a little too much.

The question is, Could Obama have listened to this man spouting
such vitrol fro twenty years and none of it have rubbed off on him?

If if he didn’t agree with Wright for those 20 years, why did he stay
in that church?

I wonder why the media and the pundits continue to blame Obama for Wrights words and actions? Falwell, Robertson, Baker, Swaggart, and even Graham, all pastors and preachers, have at one time or other said and done things that their congregations or followers disagreed with.

They stayed in their churches and continued to support their churches.

The catholic church with all its sex scandals continues to receive gifts from their parishioners even though their money has been used to pay settlements. The parishioners continue to attend their churches. They do this because of their faith and beliefs and not because of their pastors.

Unfortunately, Wright is also being used by Clinton via Barbara REynolds. It’s the same old game of slavery, pit Blacks against one another. If they kill each other, we don’t have to kill them.

wow, really good article, nice points and concerns raised…thanks

The problem with Rev. Wright isn’t that he’s black. It’s that he’s mentally unstable. He’s not running for office. A much saner, more intelligent and less angry man is, and he’ll make a great leader!

The bottom line is, religion is to unite people of different look, life,and social status to salute to love, peace, and forgiveness. But all I see Mr. Wright doing is to spread hatred, division, and resentment. Religion fanatic is the Devil itself

What a win-win obama and jeremiah show. The pastor makes outlandish remarks to prepare the way for his book as well as give obama the pretext to show his disgusts over the remarks.

These two have the chutzpah to insult our intelligence.

Hello, I’m a brown brother who was lost, but now I’m found. I hope if Mr. Obama becomes president he will ask Gods, and Rev. Write’s forgiveness. And, host a real town meeting with many different brother, and sisters possible. Lets put racism to bed, once and for all.

Wonderful observation. In the past two months I’ve seen the power of the media to create something out of nothing and destroy a 20-year relationship between a man and his pastor. Only a black man would be asked to vet his pastor’s sermons in order to be President. Blacks have always been asked to prove who they are as if they were not born here, when at one point there were more blacks slaves in America than white colonists, during the initial building of the country.

I am saddened by the ever-increasing prospect that the presidential bid by Senator Obama is dead in the water. That his run for the presidency was torpedoed by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, makes it all the more difficult to accept.

Senator Obama was such an inspiration for young people from all walks of life. Black nationalists like Reverend Wright are such an interesting contrast. When the smoke clears and we look back at this whole episode we can lay Obama’s failed bid for president at the feet of those that would rather hold on to the hurtful past than embrace a hopeful future.

Rev. Wright is a racist clown and Barry Obama is the court jester. Obama is fatally flawed as a closet black militant and it is too late to pretend otherwise now. Obama should withdraw from the race and try to rehabilitate his image.

Funny how he’s just outraged now. This guys has been saying off the wall stuff for years and only NOW is Obama outraged. The guys a joke.

Wow. This article is so true. I even found out some things I dind’t know. Most of the media sickens me. As this article proves, they consider one race superior to all others. Things haven’t changed. All this stuff about Rev. Wright is ridiculous and shouldn’t be an issue. Especially since Barack has done his best to tell everyone these aren’t his views and that Wright doesn’t speak for him or his campaign. What more do people want from him? We need to get back to the issues that actually affect the American people. This is ridiculous. And unfortunately all this coverage of a Reverend who is NOT running for president is hurting the person who is running. Really sad.

So let me see if i have this right. Obama supporters claim its not fair to hold Barak Obama responsible for something said by one of his supporters, namely Rev. Wright. They dont seem to have the same fair-minded ideas when it comes to something said by one of Hillary’s supporters, namely Bill Clinton. I see two faced duplicity runs deep in the ranks of Obama supporters. As a white male blue collar voter I think the DNC better wake up and smell the coffee, Obama is done and is unelectable. I am a lifelong democratic voter and have never cast a vote for a republican, if the DNC chooses to run Obama that will change. All of my white male blue collar friends feel the same way. I would no more vote for Barak Obama for attending that church than i would vote for a David Duke for hanging around with who he hung around with. I keep hearing the Wright apologists claim that i cannot judge the man by just a few sound bites. Oh really? The Ku-klux-klan had bake sales for orphans and helped out widows but i damn sure can judge them for the other things they did. Maybe Obama supporters want to give the Nazis credit for making the trains run on time and forget all of that other nasty business. We judge people on the evil that they do and attending such a hateful church is evil, pure and simple.

There are a lot of good points that are made but what is missed is how plain hurtful and racist are so many of the comments of Wright and his supporters against America and Jews in particular.

Isn’t it obvious that it is an attempt to sabotage the strides made by a credible candidate (shades of Al Gore) This is an illustration of a sad state of affairs…

Very well stated, I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Anderson,

The problem is racism. It is real. It is huge. And it will decide this election. My own mother voted for Barack in the primary, but only because she thought Hillary would be a weaker candidate against her Republican favorite, who, mercifully, did not make the cut.

We have made great strides in this country against racism, but not enough, I fear, to propel Barack Obama, who is probably the smartest and most inspirational leader to risk a run for the presidency in 3 generations, a chance to serve. Even among Democrats, there are 40 or 45% of us who are too bound bythe racism of our fathers and mothers to break free.

Perhaps after I am dead (another 20 or 30 years, actuarilaly, we will finally overcome.

Tom Wyckoff
White in Wheaton, Illinois

if i see one more show on CNN in defense of Barack Obama i will no longer view CNN as a unbias up to the minute Election Central show…all of your correspondents and analysts are in the majority for Obama..how can i make a choice with your show only going one way…can your show become unbias…anytime soon or just name your shows CNN for Obama…

I am so sick and tired of the media and how they continue to spin this issue with Reverend Wright. Bill Clinton aired his dirty laundry for the world to see, and now his wife and daughter says that it is personal. We did not know Reverend Wright before Obama ran for president. Why is national news for the Clintons so off limit now and they get the opportunity to not ever comment. I agree with the very first blogger that America remains a racist country. The media as well as the Clintons and John McCain is showing the world what minorities have been facing for decades in this country. It is sad that at the highest level of government, this country the most powerful in the world is showing the world the hatred that exist among blacks and whites. Like the first blogger you may not post this comment either. I hope you do and if you don’t what gets polled is not a true indication of how many in this country feels. We are just fed up about the turmoil that Obama contiues to endure at the hands of you people in the media. I am quite sure that if you go back twenty years in the Clintons, and McCains background you would find much worse, but you dare not air such findings. Shame on you guys. I guess the media wants him to get angry so that they can say that is how all blacks act. WE ARE AWARE OF THE GAME BEING PLAYED NO MORE NOT NOW NOT EVER.

It saddens me to see the extent some will go to in order to devide a man and his pastor. I love Obama and I feel that Rev. Wright is a good and very wise man. I know that Obama is a smart man, I hope there will be no success in this evil. They say you reap what you sow. I pray that all those that are behind this evil will suffer instead. This just goes to show how vicious Hillary and Bill are. Aren’t we moving out of a vicious relationship with a president in this country who didn’t give a damn about anyone but himself? Why are we even talking about Rev. Wright? He’s not running for president. Why are we not talking about the gas prices, mortgage rates or some of the many, many other problems created during Bush term? I just know that George Bush is enjoying this distraction from the poor job that he did for nearly eight years. That’s right…put it on Obama.

This was truly a great article. I think you on point with everything you said.

nobo dy is calling for Hillary to leave the race now. when Jeremeiah responds tomorrow, Obama campaign collapses under weight of contradictions and no “speech” will save him.

Some of these comments are so intelligent and decent that I find myself printing them out to share with my students tomorrow. Keep them coming.

Why did it take 20yrs for Obama to condemn the preachings of Rev. Wright?!

Good evening Anderson!

Mr. Wise, Thank you for the excellent comments. I agree completey with everything you’ve said.

Those who continue to ask why Mr. Obama remained a member of the Trinity Church of Christ just don’t get it. They continue to ask why he sat there for twenty years and listened to that. One person does not make a Church. Mr. Wright was not the Church. The people make up the Church. Why would Mr. Obama leave his Christain family of over eight thousand members. The media and politcal analyst speak as if Mr. Wright had breakfast, lunch and dinner with him in his home.

Mr. Wright is only a human, not God!

Did millions of Catholics leave the Catholic Church in the wake of their priest’s sexual molestation of thousands of children over many years.
They may argue that only Mr. Obama is running for president. My response is: Remember Jenifer Flowers, Paula Jones and Whitewater…. for Bill Clinton?

nice job, Hillary - whatever u paid Rev Wright was clearly enough for him to sell Obama out and throw him out the bus…

It seems that everyone is just waiting for Obama to fail. This race is over, Clinton cannot over take Barack in pledged delegate’s and that is a fact. Yet, here we are in the final months trying to rip his campaigne apart and for what? The democratic party has a great leader in Obama, and a leader that will win the white house. Now stop jeopardizing the chances of a democrat from reaching the white house!!!!

It is obvious who you endorse. If Obama did not make a statement about Rev. Wright he would be wrong. He made a statement and he is still wrong. Why do you keep on talking about it. You are the ones that keeps it alive. I am sure if you wanted to you could find something on Hillary but you find her angelic. We all know the illegal and under hand things the Clinton’s have done and are still doing, but of course you don’t know about that. How about the money they supposedly raised in one night? We are going to boycott your channel because we are tired of you continually bringing Obama down. You have no other news it seems. Please give it a rest.

It would be really interesting to see how this row effects obamas support amoung the african americans not just in the remaining primaries but also in the general elections, cause it will most definitely be divisive not to mention being obamas strongest support center.
Secondly i think this is double trouble for obama since it already has and will cost him more white votes…since they ll be thinking wait first he didn’t denounce those views and now they ll be like wait ” he went to the church 20 years and was he that stupid that he didn’t realize that Pastor Right shared such controversial views.

Thanks for the insightful article. At least someone in the mainstream is carrying this discussion forward in a productive way.

We are better than that which divides us. That doesn’t mean we need to always agree, but respect each other and understand the context from which we come.

Obama ‘08

Every time I hear Barak Obama speak and/or respond to a campaign “crisis” I am more impressed. He tempers his responses with reasoned, thoughtful analysis and yet, he inspires us with his passion that looks beyond the narrow views that fuel sound-bites. He is the first person in this country to address race relations with forward-thinking notions since Martin Luther King.

The African American community is as diverse within itself as all of America is diverse. Not everyone will agree with Barak Obama, so it takes courage to do what he has done so far in this campaign. I am very proud of him and hope that we have the opportunity to vote for him in November.
Santa Cruz, CA

I am an American with African father and American mother just like Obama. I must confess it is appalling the amount of favorable positions that the media have taken when it comes to Obama. I stopped watching News because of all these subjective news coverage. I am black but detest black only church. I do not support having black college, TV, group or black anything. Obama knew his pastor visited Libya with Farakhan. His pastor’s speech is the view that most black churches share and that’s what keep the congregation together. It is wrong for Obama and the media to think all American are fools. I know there are some people that are gullible enough that believe the theory that Obama do not share his pastor’s view.

We talked about this situation in one of my college classes today. I agreed with my professor in that it’s clear the hype proves to be a test if the American people will believe in individual identity or collective identity. This country prides itself upon ideals of individuality but at present seems to think it’s ok to clump all black people together. If one speaks out, the one speaks for all. I would like to think our society is more progressive than to succumb themselves in believing in the hype.

Mr. wright is supposed to be Obama mentor and inspiration, his words are his words, and his actions are more than words, wright has done some good but that doesn’t excuse what he has done, he has to stand by everything, you cant do good and do evil and say well he has done good, evil and hate more than out weigh any good he has done, and as for Obama, he was the one to say he was his mentor and should be held accountable for that

It never even occurred to me that the “working class” vote didn’t include blacks. This is just another example of an incorrect assumption on your part Tim. I’ll leave it @ that because I wouldn’t want to be incorrectly analyzed by you or your friend Wright.

Come on, can you all not read between the lines? Obama clearly shares the same views as his Pastor or why would he continue the friendship for over 20 years and listen to his nonsense speeches. Of course Obama is outraged because he knows this could cost him the nomination. The media should have questioned this candidate long ago. His advisors have polished him to be someone he’s not just to get elected. Here in NC, many of us share the same views that Obama has been sketchy from the get go. He won’t wear the American flag or sallute it, has been shaped by the views and sermons of Rev. Wright and as for his dealings with the other terrorist guy. What in the world, if Obama is elected do you want him to invite this guy to the White House when he wants to bomb US buildings?? This election is all about race and always has been. Blacks are only voting for him because he’s black, they could care less what he says. He won’t bring the country together.

I certainly hope that Americans can see this for what it is, an attempt once again to flaw our judgement of the only canidate who can bring about the kind of change this country so desperately needs. I will not continue to watch CNN or ABC news cast because of the obvious negative biases that the networks have shown toward Barack Obama since he has gotten closer to becoming the actual nominee. Rev. Wright should have never been given the type of coverage that he received on this network, I guess ratings are more important than the real issues dealing with the economy, health insurance, and a no ending war. Besides, Hillary and John have much more baggage that comes from a personal attribute and not just an Association with someone. Change is never easy and if Americans can keep that in mind, Obama will be o.k.

excellent post!

america is tied in a dead heat over race!!!!

To all of you people who just can’t stop saying “He just needs to explain why he sat there for 20 years� Why don’t you ask the hispanic or white people who attended the church how they could sit there? Are you people just plain mad? You act like Obama was a pastor or that he even went to church every Sunday. How many of you go to church every Sunday. BE HONEST. This pastor did not preach like this every Sunday. Lets stay focus please. Why did no one speak up to Mitt Romney with the mormon view that to be black is the curse of Cain and if you touch a black person you will be curse. Do your homework people before you start saying “I just don’t understand� Why do we not get on Haggi or Farwell, oh I forget they are of another color. We get on Obama because he does not wear a flag pin and I have yet to see the others wear one, why is that? When Sen. Obama came to the faith he came for many reasons and the main one was what the church and the pastor did for people outside the church walls. We beat on him for his clinging comments when anyone with common sense knew what he meant but he was called an elitest. A black man! That is a hoot. I guess McCain having an affair with his current wife when she was 25 and rich is ok. I guess Clinton who came from surburia and went to the best schools and now has a combined income of over $109 million. I guess that is okay and they are just down home folks. You all are hypocrites and we will be judge for this believe me.

I am also sitting hear watching CNN and Anderson Cooper I am very disappointed in you. You have gone out of your way in trying to destroy this man. Why did he wait 24 hours to answer to who you? Maybe the man did not see it remember he is running for President and how do you know that the man might have been praying before he opened his mouth. God does say Be swift to hear and slow to wrath. Shame on you.

We did nothing about Clinton standing there lying over and over again about Bosnia without blinking and we moved on, but we are crucifying someone who has been about changing America.

I know how about this how about getting tapes of all Rev. Wrights sermons in Sen. Obama’s 20 years and listen to them first before you start running off at the mouth. That is what I am doing. Because unlike all of you, I am trying to be a good American.

All this attention to the Rev. Wright, the media is obsessed with trying to make Obama look bad. What about the court case against the Clintons in Calf? The Judge gave Hillary a pass, the media has given her a pass. this is borderline pathetic.

Rev. Wright represents the past and is trying to hold on to it. He has made a living on the hatred that blacks have about the way they have been treated.

Barack is trying to move us forward away from devisiness, racism, and separatism. He has a very, very, big challenge, because there are millions of dollars earned by people based on these issues.

Gabriela, I really like your comment. It should be about individual identity when it comes to Obama and Wright. I sure everyone on this site has disagreed with their parents at one time. People can be friends with a person and still disagree with them without ending the friendship.

What a sad day for Mr. Obama. I must say I feel duped. When the “roosting chickens” and “GD America” turmoil was going around, I didn’t know who Mr. Wright was or what he was about. So I listened to some of his sermons, the WHOLE sermons, on the web, and I was struck by how intelligent and compasionate he was, and how all of these people just hearing the soundbites were all over-reacting to the 10 second clips they were catching on the news. Now this weekend I hear the HIV comment and I was dumbstruck. What the heck was he thinking? I stood up to all of the people I know that accused him of hate and division, and now this? I feel suckered. I doubt Obama will recover from this. But I still hope.

After reading many (not all, many) of the positngs on this blog, I am amazed that this country has survived for as long as it has. And that it has prospered and judged as the greatest country under god. We are far from perfect, far. But if we cannot agree about the basic goodness of America and its people, we are doomed. And for those who don’t see it that way, leave and make room for the millons who live elsewhere and want desperately to come here. Some of you morons should really think - why do so many want to come here if we are so terrible? But I guess thinking is foreign to some of you.

Democrats our renowned race batters and promote class envy at every opportunity. Their obsession with race is destroying this country. Wake up people and put down the kool-aide. I can care less about Rev. Wright, it’s Obama’s tax and spend policies that I’m concerned about.

I could have a friend I’ve known for 20 years and never known he was a serial killer folks it happens. And if Barrack did know about his Pasteur that doesn’t make it his believes. I am black and have close friends and some family that don’t like white people. So my close friend and family members affect the way I feel. No they don’t one of my best friends is white. No one truly can speak on the situation better that Barrack. I mean people his mother is a white woman. I don’t think this man dislike or resent his own mother. This shouldn’t be an issue and I hate to say this but it’s only an issue because he’s a black canadate. He’s the only candate that the media has dugged and dugged until something was found. What even stupid after all these years Racism in all races still exist. It just now it’s not up in your face like the past. Most black people in the USA have dealt with racism. A white person will never truly know how that feels. That’s where the bitterness comes from regarding the Pasteur and his believes. The Clintons have been in plenty scandals I’m sure if the media dig as much as they do on Barrack they’ll find something. They won’t because that the way society is. If we as a country don’t look pass this blown out of proportion issue we will lose the best canadate for the job.

This is what Obama meant :

I did NOT have “relationship” with that pastor.

Come on. Give me a break. It’s 20 years, not just several minutes. “Outraged” ? Where is the judgement?

This is not about black or white. This is about a man who said that he does not “subscribe” to what Rev. Wright has to say, but attended his church for twenty years? I heard most of what Rev. Wright had to say these past couple of days had he makes no bones about what he has to say or what he believes. If Obama had a problem hearing his own pastor what makes us think he can hear what we have to say as Americans.

Obama is a hypocrite. Only now is he coming out and denouncing his mentor, Pastor and Spiritual Advisor on his campaign.

You mean to tell me in 20 plus years Obama never heard Mr. Wright unpatriotic views? Obama is doing and saying anything he can to get elected. Just another slick politician who is decieving the American public.

“Change We Can Believe in” Yeah right… We no longer believe you Obama.

How can we say that Obama has a good judgment to be the President of the United States when it takes him 20 years to “divorce� himself from his conspiracy theorist and controversial spiritual leader?

How can we say that Barak Obama has a good judgment to run this Country and the world when it takes him 20 years to find out and learn about his spiritual leader and his church that he is a proud member of?

If it takes him 20 years to learn about his church and his spiritual leader, how would he know what happens in the country and the world? What we are seeing is a Barak Obama has a clear lack of judgment.

Do we need a president with this judgment?

I sense that Rev. Wright is REALLY mad and insulted that Obama didn’t condone his viewpoints or come to his defense right away.
Now he is standing to make a lot of