The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

Either let the Wright flap die out or give equal press to Hillary's lies(Bosnia), the holiday from gas tax(crazy-does she think we are dumb?)and her latest bullying,chip on the shoulder, move of saber rattling Iran? Haven't we had enough years of hatred toward us because of Bush-Chaney attitudes? She and McCain are just more of the same. Can we be so stupid to fall for this scare tactic again? Is the crazy old preacher story that interesting or are we being racist? LaDonna in WV

Those people who think McCain will stop Obama keep forgetting McCain is not going to risk being called "a racist", nor risk alienating a media which is already planning to desert him for Obama. He even criticized the great NC ad linking Obama and Wright to the two NC. democratic candidates for Governor. Fortunately, the NC Republican Party has so far wisely ignored McCain's "sensitivity.

McCain, the "Old Warrior" is going to sound more like "the old wheezer", or even "the old geezer" against either candidate.

Wait and see.

The main reason Barack Obama lost Pennsylvania and, if he doesn't wise up, could lose Indiana, North Carolina and, ultimately, the popular Democratic vote as well, is that he's coming across as a wimp.

His association with the fanatical Jeremiah Wright, his serving on a board with the terrorist William Ayers, his marriage to a less than patriotic woman, his alleged elitism has provided much fodder for talk show hosts and the news media. They'll be feeding off it for months to come.

But for the blue collar crowd Obama needed to win over in Pennsylvania little of that mattered. Obama lost their vote because throughout that sham ABC debate in Philadelphia a week before the Hillary Clinton relentlessly beat up on him, like the gutter fighter she is, and he meekly took it. He could easily have crushed once and for all by dredging up the well-documented sleaze and corruption of the Clinton years, but he wouldn't.

His forbearance, if that's what it was, may be perceived as strength by his more affluent, better educated supporters, but to the former mill workers in Pennsylvania struggling to make ends meet, it was a sign of weakness. Those folk may not be well versed in economics and foreign affairs, but they know from experience that the world is a tough place and that when diplomacy fails, as it often does, a Commander in Chief needs to have the grit it takes to wield a big stick. If Obama can't put Hillary and her de facto running mate, husband Bill, in their place, how can he be expected to deal with the likes of Chávez, Ahmadinejad, Sadr, and Kim Jong? Guys of that ilk are no Dali Lamas.

If Barack Obama doesn't start showing some fight real soon, then he should step aside and let John McCain deal with the Clintons. The old warrior isn't going to take any gruff from them.

The Reverend Wright is NOT the problem here.Obama,himself is the problem.He has a credibility and poor judgment problem.He has just plain LIED about this issue on several occasions.It would seem that People are so accoustomed to Bush's lying that they just take it for granted the president should lie.I,personally,do NOT want another LIAR in charge of the government.Have you people not learned one thing after eight years of lies and the consecquences of those lies???Obama at first defended the outrageous statements.Now,suddenly he finds these same statements "outrageous and un acceptable".There is one difference here.The reverend,this time also informed us that "Obama is a politician and will say whatever he has to say to get himself elected".Which is true.However this is one of the Obama lies that he has been preaching to his cult followers,that he is NOT the same as other politicians.They are so desperate for "hope,inspiration and change"that they are willing to just overlook his lies or whatever he tells them.

Obama has become so toxic in the South that even office seeking Dems who Obama was helping with phone calls (see Obama website) are now running for cover.

And if Obama fails to carry NC by a convincing margin (in view of the 40% black Dem electorate there + Obama's 90% support among black voters)its over for Obama--especially if white voters turn away from Obama there by 60% or more as happened in Ohio and Pa.

This is huge.

NC is just days away, and the most recent NC tracking poll (conducted before the latest Wright flap)has Hillary down by only 5 points.

Combine that with the Obama over-polling of late, a poor turnout by older blacks who might be offended by throwing Wright under the bus, and the full effect of the Wright matter kicking in on election day and there just may be a game changing upset in the works.

What does Obama do then?

Clinton leads by 36% in Ky, 26% in W. va, and 10% in Puerto Rico.

Game over.

The pro Obama posters seem to be even more rabid than usual today.

An awful lot of Democratic Congressmen and Senatorial candidates should have to
face "liberal Obama" and "black liberation minister Wright" ads this fall, and they should probably be a little cautious how they, as super delegates, endorse Obama now.

Of course, 33% McCain opposes such ads. Why? They are truthful, and effective. Two points McCain does not always get passing grades on.

Fact is, Given the huge support Obama has--if he gets the nomination--and McCain's huge liabilities, our only real hope is that conservative Republicans make enough headway in Congress and the Senate to save our nation.

I have a really good Goldwater and Reagan style promise McCain can make if he really has some sense and wants to put Obama and his collectivism on the defense. McCain can promise and reassure the american people that he will not impose the draft on our nation again. Bet he won't make that promise, though.

Are you kidding me? Could we please have this man vetted? Please, how can the dems ask me to vote for someone I do not know! With all his questionable "relationships" (not ties, all politicians have those) I do not trust him to be who he says he is! Uniter? No RECORD to show bringing parties together and getting anything done...just look at the dem party now, do we seem united to any of you? Transparency" lol really??? when I don't know who the heck OBama is or what he believes, how can he be claiming transparency?! Just today I get an email talking of his radical Kenya muslin brother and trust me, it did raise questions...why? Because I don't know who Obama is! After the Bush years, do not call me paranoid ( Jon Stewart!) about such things when my gov. in these last 8 years has done things I NEVER would have imagined before! I did not want a far righty for president nor do I want a far lefty!!! America, as a whole, is DEAD CENTER! McCain and Hillary both have taken a hard road to the center having their parties angried by the process! I do not agree with the republician view 100% nor do I the dems...I agree with both on different issues as most Americans do. I refuse to let the media pick my president as they have in the past! Obama wants my vote then he needs to answer questions, the hard ones, not the ones MSNBC or CNN lob his way! Tell me, were you EVER a muslin, give me the history of your brother and do your views differ from his or not, why have relationships with people who are Anti-American, whether it be your pastor or Ayers! These are things I need to know to trust who you are when we have no record or history to rely on! I feel my party and the media have let me down. I hope the upcoming states, vote Hillary, giving time to learn who this Obama really is!

I believe that what's driving most people in this Rev. Wright and Sen Obama episode is that most non-Black Americans are fearful of change that does not involve them being in control. Non-Black American who are talking evil and speaking hatred about Sen. Obama, are also speaking evil and hatred about themselves. Remember, Sen. Obama's Mother and Grandparents were and are non-Black Americans. Non-Black Americans...it's really awful to realize that you're hating someone who is part of you. Let's stop the hate and divisiveness. Let's unite for a better America for ourselves and our families.
Obama '08

"I'm shocked, shocked to find 'liberation theology being preached at my church."

- Saint Barack Obama

(Reverend Wright, better not quit your day job. Your career opportunities in entertainment and politics are very limited.)

Voted for war resolion:

Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Breaux (D-LA)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carnahan (D-MO)
Carper (D-DE)
Cleland (D-GA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Daschle (D-SD)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Edwards (D-NC)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Fitzgerald (R-IL)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hollings (D-SC)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Miller (D-GA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Schumer (D-NY)
Torricelli (D-NJ)

I guess they were all amoral monsters too????

"Senator Obama, what's your position on taxes?"

"Well as you know I voted against the war (once out of 80 something votes). We all need to work together for the good of all."

"Senator Obama, what's your position on the environment?"

"Well as you know I voted against the war (once out of 80 something votes). Ask not what your party can do for you, ask what we all can do for our nation."

"Senator Obama, what's your position on the Supreme Court?"

"Well as you know I voted against the war (once out of 80 something votes). Only by working together (with big business lobbyists and whack-job republicans??) can we solve the apocalyptic issues facing our nation."

"Thank you Senator Obama (he's such a deep thinker!)."

Whites need to vote for Obama to cleanse their souls of the sins of slavery. Obama will deliver them the four years of holy penance they need to undergo in order to attain absolution. Slavery can never be a one way street. Our time has come.

TO ALL OBAMA BACKERS: WOULD YOU PLEASE TO TO THIS SITE? YOU WILL LEARN LOTS MORE ABOUT OBAMA DN MICHELLE.

www.dontvoteObama.net

Hillary Clinton Voted for the Iraq War

U.S. SOLDIER KILLED BECAUSE OF HILLARY'S VOTE

TO WHOEVER YOU ARE: ARE YOU SO DUMB THAT YOU THINK SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON WAS THE REASON WE ARE AT WAR? SURELY NOT. HER VOTE WAS TO GO INTO IRAQ AND RID THE COUNTRY OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, "NOT TO CONTINUE THE WAR AFTERWARDS". HOWEVER, THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO CONTINUE THE WAR. BESIDES, HOW MANY PEOPLE IN CONGRESS VOTED YES TO THE WAR? OH, YOU DON'T KNOW DO YOU? ONE VOTE HAD NO WAY OF CAUSING THIS HORRIBLE WAR.

I'd be happy to have the U.S. government pay much more to any living slave it kept.

To Hilleritas and McCainites, please let us rally around Barak now, no more hate. He must do that which every politician must do. But with our support, he will be elected President. Perhaps then a serious discussion on reparations for our past sins of slavery and Jim Crow laws can begin. Once America has paid for it past mistakes by voting for Obama, and the Reparations checks are sent out, then the healing and acceptance of the majority can be considered by the minority. This is the "Change we can believe in!" We paid the Japanese who were interred in concentration camps during WW2, $20,000 each, for 400 plus years of slavery and racism, much more will be required.

Hello fellow bloggers;
I am working class mother of two beautiful and intelligent children ranging from nine to twelve years old. Moral integrity along with strong family and Christian values are very important to me and is why I chose to support Hillary Clinton for President. Admittedly, I've been concerned with the tone of the campaign as of late and am beginning to have doubts about my choice in candidate.

Senator Clinton said if Rev Wright was her pastor she would've left the church and alluded that she placed a high premium on integrity of the company she keeps. Yet she chose to remain with her husband after he committed a number of adulterous affairs, including Jennifer Flowers and Monica Lewinski. Bill Clinton was later impeached for telling lies to a grand jury, disbarred and ultimately created a moral embarrassment to prestige of the American presidency. Senator Clinton's comments about the Wright issue just do not seem to reconcile with her actions to remain loyal to a husband who lied and cheated to her and the American people. I am also troubled that she never offered an apology to the nation and Monica Lewinski after it was confirmed that her husband lied about the sexual involvement. This especially since Mrs. Clinton had accused Ken Star of being on a right wing witch-hunt and called Monica a liar. I can understand the Senator defending her husband when she didn't have knowledge that he lied. However, she should have demonstrated character by apologizing to the American people after evidence confirmed that he did.

On another topic but in keeping with the theme of character and credibility- My 9 year old daughter watched the Bosnia "misstatement" incident reported in the media and asked me to explain the difference between a misstatement and a Lie. It was an interesting topic and I was aware of the potential mine-field. Therefore I carefully responded to my daughter by saying:

"It is Senator Clinton's belief that she made a human mistake when she re-told the events of the Bosnia trip to be slightly different that the actual occurrence, therefore she feels it is was misstatement since her version was not changed deliberately"

My daughter followed up by asking why Mrs. Clinton repeated the incorrect version on 3 separate occasions with such specific, vivid clarity- she was also curious to know why Chelsea Clinton confirmed her mother's version to be factual when asked by the media. Why would Mrs. Clinton encourage Chelsea to lie on her behalf if it was a mistake, she queried? My daughter then asked if I was satisfied with the explanation given by the Senator. At that point I was unable to defend Mrs. Clinton any further as I too was unable to reconcile the given explanation. I immediately closed the discussion by telling my daughter that we should not be so quick to judge people. I later had an uncomfortable feeling that I did not handle the discussion very well and attributed the reason to my belief that Senator Clinton did not demonstrate integrity with the Bosnia incident. I believe that her questionable credibility is why her negative rating is becoming a problem. I know in my heart she lied but left with the optics of the alternate choice I feel that I must continue to support her. What advice can my fellow Hillary supporters offer so I can go back to my daughter and continue this important conversation?

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....................HILLARY VOTED FOR THE WAR

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gary cornett of west VA, I'm with you! Billary have spent much of their (NAFTA) MILLIONS on buying governors and representatives and stiffing those who worked for them in this campaign! When you have the known quantity of PANDERING OUTRIGHT LIARS, you know for a fact that BIG MONEY has been spent on buying the support you CRAVE and NEED in an effort to STEAL the prize you can't seem to rightfully WIN on your own. Of course, the MSM has played the "guilt by association" with only Obama, but given Billary and McSame a 'free pass' since they are white. Why can't the MSM play this game fairly and let the public see HAGEE AND COE for who they are? Are they afraid we will really see the LUNATIC FRINGE? I have already looked at them both, and they scare the bejesus out of me because they are NUTS! Thanks for not voting for the SHRUB! He has the mental capacity of his name!!!

Barack Obama caught in crooked money laundering scheme

'Smoking gun' prompts Andy Martin to say Obama should withdraw as presidential candidate

http://www.pr-inside.com/smoking-gun-prompts-andy-martin-to-r559376.htm

EXCERPTS

(NEW YORK)(April 27, 2008) The disclosure today in the Los Angeles Times that Barack Obama laundered money through a law firm to conceal the source of his income while an Illinois state senator is the 'smoking gun' that is going to doom his candidacy.
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-killerspin27apr27

The Times details how Obama was still 'of counsel' to his former law firm, but that he was not providing any services to that entity. Then Obama made a deal with Blackwell, and wanted to conceal that Blackwell was supporting him. So Obama 'laundered' the 'legal fees' by running them through the law firm and then issuing a list of the law firm's clients-none of which had anything to do with Obama--to disguise the Blackwell money in a laundry list of hundreds of unrelated 'clients.'

This was a classic case of money laundering and business fraud. Obama wanted to conceal the large sum he was receiving from Blackwell, so he concealed that Blackwell was the source of his income by pretending he was providing services to the law firm's other clients. Utter fraud. 'Barry O' ain't stupid, he's slicky and tricky, and he's a ticking time bomb for the Democratic Party.

Obama's 'law firm' was also guilty of professional misconduct, because the lawyers knew that Obama had not provided services through the law firm, and was merely using the firm to obscure the fact that the major source of his personal income was one client on whose behalf Obama was later to advocate (there may have been earlier informal advocacy than the senate letter which has surfaced).

Since the law firm had no relationship with Blackwell, running Obama's fees through the firm was false and fraudulent.

Since Obama had nothing to do with the law firm's other clients, using a list of hundreds of unrelated clients to obscure that only one of those "clients" was paying him money was federal criminal mail fraud as well as a corruption of the ethics rules in Illinois.

JakeD--

I'm confused by the 'did nothing before he was politically forced to denounce.' Didn't Obama deliver a speech on hate where he basically admitted that he loved the man but didn't agree with him? Didn't he say that he said that he understood the historical perspective from which Wright spoke?

You ask what kind of president I want in the Oval Office. Again, I'm on the fence because the candidates are...well...weak. But I do think that I want a president who will attempt to salvage a relationship rather than burn it at the first hint of conrtroversy. A president who will understand the perspective from which a person is speaking, whether or not he agrees with what is being spoken.

Maybe I just talked myself into a candidate.

Posted by: MelB | April 30, 2008 7:21 PM
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I can understand you point of view. In fact, I rather admired Obama when he said the Rev Wright was like an uncle and he didn't always agree with him. But this time is different. The Rev Wright said Obama would say anything to get elected because he was a politician.
Since you give credit to a person for attempting to salvage a relationship, I take it that you also apply that to Hillary and Bill Clinton. And, I would hope you would take another look at a person who has shown she is a stronger leader and person than Obama and that is Hillary Clinton.

Excuse me, Rev. Wright {BLT} in Wikiepida

this is BLT:

The goal of black theology is not for special treatment. Instead, "All Black theologians are asking for is for freedom and justice and death to white people by any means at the disposal of black people. No more, and no less. In asking for this, the Black theologians, turn to scripture as the sanction for their demand. The Psalmist writes for instance, 'If God is going to see righteousness established in the land, he himself must be particularly active as 'the helper of the fatherless' [6] to 'deliver the needy when he crieth; and the poor that hath no helper.'[7]"[8]

So, excuse me,but it looks as if the pot is calling the kettle black. But of course it is now that the truth is coming out.

Incite racial hatred against Black Americans: Wrong it's the other way around. Go read it and weap.

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NEOCONS 4 HILLARY

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YESTERDAY'S SCRIPT:
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Incite racial hatred against Muslims!

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TODAY'S SCRIPT:
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Incite racial hatred against Black Americans!

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TOMORROW'S SCRIPT.

(to be announced on Fox News)

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MelB-Allow me to tell YOU what "Barry" DID Do.

The Man for all, gave $46K to Black Charities EXCLUSIVELY!

For someone who is 51% White, I find that to be a very DAMNING Social Statement about how he feels about People of this Country.

Not One Penny for anything but "Blacks", or Black causes.

Guess the Red Cross or even Red Crescent don't need any Money these days!

Wait, they might help someone who is not Black! Allah Forbid! :~)

I believe they have a WORD for People who Promote their own Race(Well Color at least).

I, for one, WOULD NEVER WANT ANYONE WHO WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT WORD, As MY President! :-(

But then, I judge by ACTIONS, not Proclamations or Empty Rhetoric(Promises)! ;~)

Wright espouses, and Obama STILL BELONGS TO
a church spewing "Liberaton Theology"...in this case BLACK Liberation Theology.

When liberation theology became prevalent in South America, Pope John Paul II put an end to it.

Liberation Theology

The Pope disagrees

The late Pope John Paul II was frequently criticised for the severity with which he dealt with the liberation movement.

His main object was to stop the highly politicised form of liberation theology prevalent in the 1980s, which could be seen as a fusion of Christianity and Marxism. He was particularly criticised for the firmness with which he closed institutions that taught Liberation Theology and with which he removed or rebuked the movement's activists, such as Leonardo Boff and Gustavo Gutierrez.

No more exploitation of the weak, racial discrimination or ghettoes of poverty! Never again! These are intolerable evils which cry out to heaven and call Christians to a different way of living, to a social commitment more in keeping with their faith.Pope John Paul II at Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico, 1999

John Paul II disagreed. To make the church into a secular political institution and to see salvation solely as the achievement of social justice was to rob faith in Jesus of its power to transform every life. The image of Jesus as a political revolutionary was inconsistent with the Bible and the Church's teachings.

He didn't mean that the Church was not going to be the voice of the oppressed, was not going to champion the poor. But it should not do it by partisan politics, or by revolutionary violence. The Church's business was bringing about the Kingdom of God, not about creating a Marxist utopia.

Nicaragua was a particular hot-spot. Priests had been active in the overthrow of a dictator, and had taken jobs in the revolutionary government that followed, despite being forbidden to by the Pope.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/liberationtheology.shtml

typical white person:

I am for Barack Obama !

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....................HILLARY VOTED FOR THE WAR

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RochelleL. I agree...I wonder how much he got paid and who paid him

MelB, I like how you think!

Like Hillary's judgement is better??...her judgement to lie about Bosnia in 6 different speeches? Her judgement to keep Penn on her staff even tho he's privately pushing for the Columbia trade agreement? Her judgement to vote for the war? Her judgement to help sell NAFTA and the China NPRT? I wonder who's actually supplying the cool-aid

I BET THERE IS A THIRD BOOK IN PRINT CO-AUTHORED BY THE BIG KAHUNA "FARRAKHAN" AND A SNAKE CHARMER. THE TITLE IS DECIDED TO BE "THE DREAMS FROM MY PASTOR".

I think it's very easy for people to judge from afar. I can speak first hand. I have attended Trinity Church of Christ and have heard Reverend Wright speak and I heard nothing of these incendiary remarks. I found him to be an intelligent, well-read man who spoke within a historical context on subjects that were framed within a context that were not well served by the snippets that have been played again and again. I found the social outreach of the church truly amazing. That said however, over the years I, like many other people of faith do not always agree with every view my pastors have held. I am an independent thinker, have a direct relationship with God and come to my own conclusions. I take what I want to apply to my life and leave the rest. However, having said that, the Reverend Wright I saw on Bill Moyers was the individual I have seen preach but on Monday, that performance at the Press Club was mind-blowing. Who was that man? He was rude, arrogant, flippant and acted the buffoon. The whole thing seemed bizarre and staged.
Something about the whole thing doesn't seem right but regardless, the country just needs to move on, not give in to the distractions and demand that the concerns that everyday Americans are facing be addressed from our elected officials.

typical white person hater:

I am happy to "sit on" Hillary and Wright's words too ; )

Here are the questions and "answers" from the Wright press conference Monday:

MODERATOR: You have said that the media have taken you out of context. Can you explain what you meant in a sermon shortly after 9/11 when you said the United States had brought the terrorist attacks on itself? Quote, "America's chickens are coming home to roost."

WRIGHT: Have you heard the whole sermon? Have you heard the whole sermon?

MODERATOR: I heard most of it.

WRIGHT: No, no, the whole sermon, yes or no? No, you haven't heard the whole sermon? That nullifies that question.

Well, let me try to respond in a non-bombastic way. If you heard the whole sermon, first of all, you heard that I was quoting the ambassador from Iraq. That's number one.

But, number two, to quote the Bible, "Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatsoever you sow, that you also shall reap." Jesus said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

You cannot do terrorism on other people and expect it never to come back on you. Those are biblical principles, not Jeremiah Wright bombastic, divisive principles.

(APPLAUSE)

MODERATOR: Some critics have said that your sermons are unpatriotic. How do you feel about America and about being an American?

WRIGHT: I feel that those citizens who say that have never heard my sermons, nor do they know me. They are unfair accusations taken from sound bites and that which is looped over and over again on certain channels.

I served six years in the military. Does that make me patriotic? How many years did Cheney serve?

(APPLAUSE)

MODERATOR: Please, I ask you to keep your comments and your applause to a minimum so that we can work in as many questions as possible.

Senator Obama has -- shh, please. We're trying to ask as many questions as possible today, so if you can keep your applause to a minimum.

Senator Obama has tried to explain away some of your most contentious comments and has distanced himself from you. It's clear that many people in his campaign consider you a detriment. In that context, why are you speaking out now?

WRIGHT: On November the 5th and on January 21st, I'll still be a pastor. As I said, this is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright. It has nothing to do with Senator Obama. It is an attack on the black church launched by people who know nothing about the African-American religious tradition.

And why am I speaking out now? In our community, we have something called playing the dozens. If you think I'm going to let you talk about my mama and her religious tradition, and my daddy and his religious tradition, and my grandma, you've got another thing coming.

MODERATOR: What is your relationship with Louis Farrakhan? Do you agree with and respect his views, including his most racially divisive views?

WRIGHT: As I said on the Bill Moyers' show, one of our news channels keeps playing a news clip from 20 years ago when Louis said 20 years ago that Zionism, not Judaism, was a gutter religion.

And he was talking about the same thing United Nations resolutions say, the same thing now that President Carter is being vilified for, and Bishop Tutu is being vilified for. And everybody wants to paint me as if I'm anti-Semitic because of what Louis Farrakhan said 20 years ago.

I believe that people of all faiths have to work together in this country if we're going to build a future for our children, whether those people are -- just as Michelle and Barack don't agree on everything, Raymond (ph) and I don't agree on everything, Louis and I don't agree on everything, most of you all don't agree -- you get two people in the same room, you've got three opinions.

So what I think about him, as I've said on Bill Moyers and it got edited out, how many other African-Americans or European-Americans do you know that can get one million people together on the mall? He is one of the most important voices in the 20th and 21st century. That's what I think about him.

I've said, as I said on Bill Moyers, when Louis Farrakhan speaks, it's like E.F. Hutton speaks, all black America listens. Whether they agree with him or not, they listen.

Now, I am not going to put down Louis Farrakhan anymore than Mandela would put down Fidel Castro. Do you remember that Ted Koppel show, where Ted wanted Mandela to put down Castro because Castro was our enemy? And he said, "You don't tell me who my enemies are. You don't tell me who my friends are."

Louis Farrakhan is not my enemy. He did not put me in chains. He did not put me in slavery. And he didn't make me this color.

MODERATOR: What is your motivation for characterizing Senator Obama's response to you as, quote, "what a politician had to say"? What do you mean by that?

WRIGHT: What I mean is what several of my white friends and several of my white, Jewish friends have written me and said to me. They've said, "You're a Christian. You understand forgiveness. We both know that, if Senator Obama did not say what he said, he would never get elected."

Politicians say what they say and do what they do based on electability, based on sound bites, based on polls, Huffington, whoever's doing the polls. Preachers say what they say because they're pastors. They have a different person to whom they're accountable.

As I said, whether he gets elected or not, I'm still going to have to be answerable to God November 5th and January 21st. That's what I mean. I do what pastors do. He does what politicians do.

I am not running for office. I am hoping to be vice president.

(LAUGHTER)

MODERATOR: In light of your widely quoted comment damning America, do you think you owe the American people an apology? If not, do you think that America is still damned in the eyes of God?

WRIGHT: The governmental leaders, those -- as I said to Barack Obama, my member -- I am a pastor, he's a member. I'm not a spiritual mentor, guru. I'm his pastor.

And I said to Barack Obama, last year, "If you get elected, November the 5th, I'm coming after you, because you'll be representing a government whose policies grind under people." All right? It's about policy, not the American people.

And if you saw the Bill Moyers show, I was talking about -- although it got edited out -- you know, that's biblical. God doesn't bless everything. God condemns something -- and d-e-m-n, "demn," is where we get the word "damn." God damns some practices.

And there is no excuse for the things that the government, not the American people, have done. That doesn't make me not like America or unpatriotic.

So in Jesus -- when Jesus says, "Not only you brood of vipers" -- now, he's playing the dozens, because he's talking about their mamas. To say "brood" means your mother is an asp, a-s-p. Should we put Jesus out of the congregation?

When Jesus says, "You'll be brought down to Hell," that's not -- that's bombastic, divisive speech. Maybe we ought to take Jesus out of this Christian faith.

No. What I said about and what I think about and what -- again, until I can't -- until racism and slavery are confessed and asked for forgiveness -- have we asked the Japanese to forgive us? We have never as a country, the policymakers -- in fact, Clinton almost got in trouble because he almost apologized at Gorialan (ph). We have never apologized as a country.

Britain has apologized to Africans, but this country's leaders have refused to apologize. So until that apology comes, I'm not going to keep stepping on your foot and asking you, "Does this hurt? Do you forgive me for stepping on your foot?" if I'm still stepping on your foot.

Understand that? Capiche?

MODERATOR: Senator Obama has been in your congregation for 20 years, yet you were not invited to his announcement of his presidential candidacy in Illinois. And in the most recent presidential debate in Pennsylvania, he said he had denounced you. Are you disappointed that Senator Obama has chosen to walk away from you?

WRIGHT: Whoever wrote that question doesn't read or watch the news. He did not denounce me. He distanced himself from some of my remarks, like most of you, never having heard the sermon. All right?

Now, what was the rest of your question? Because I got confused in -- the person who wrote it hadn't -

MODERATOR: Were you disappointed that he distanced himself?

WRIGHT: He didn't distance himself. He had to distance himself, because he's a politician, from what the media was saying I had said, which was anti-American. He said I didn't offer any words of hope. How would he know? He never heard the rest of the sermon. You never heard it.

I offered words of hope. I offered reconciliation. I offered restoration in that sermon, but nobody heard the sermon. They just heard this little sound bite of a sermon.

That was not the whole question. There was something else in the first part of the question that I wanted to address.

Oh, I was not invited because that was a political event. Let me say again: I'm his pastor. As a political event, who started it off? Senator Dick Durbin. I started it off downstairs with him, his wife, and children in prayer. That's what pastors do.

So I started it off in prayer. When he went out into the public, that wasn't about prayer. That wasn't about pastor-member. Pastor- member took place downstairs. What took place upstairs was political.

So that's how I feel about that. He did, as I've said, what politicians do. This is a political event. He wasn't announcing, "I'm saved, sanctified, and feel the holy ghost." He was announcing, "I'm running for president of the United States."

MODERATOR: You just mentioned that Senator Obama hadn't heard many of your sermons. Does that mean he's not much of a churchgoer? Or does he doze off in the pews?

WRIGHT: I just wanted to see -- that's your question. That's your question. He goes to church about as much as you do. What did your pastor preach on last week? You don't know? OK.

MODERATOR: In your sermon, you said the government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. So I ask you: Do you honestly believe your statement and those words?

WRIGHT: Have you read Horowitz's book, "Emerging Viruses: AIDS and Ebola," whoever wrote that question? Have you read "Medical Apartheid"? You've read it?

(UNKNOWN): Do you honestly believe that (OFF-MIKE)

WRIGHT: Oh, are you -- is that one of the reporters?

MODERATOR: No questions -

(CROSSTALK)

WRIGHT: No questions from the floor. I read different things. As I said to my members, if you haven't read things, then you can't -- based on this Tuskegee experiment and based on what has happened to Africans in this country, I believe our government is capable of doing anything.

In fact, in fact, in fact, one of the -- one of the responses to what Saddam Hussein had in terms of biological warfare was a non- question, because all we had to do was check the sales records. We sold him those biological weapons that he was using against his own people.

So any time a government can put together biological warfare to kill people, and then get angry when those people use what we sold them, yes, I believe we are capable.

MODERATOR: You have likened Israeli policies to apartheid and its treatment of Palestinians with Native Americans. Can you explain your views on Israel?

WRIGHT: Where did I liken them to that? Whoever wrote the question, tell me where I likened them.

Jimmy Carter called it apartheid. Jeremiah Wright didn't liken anything to anything. My position on Israel is that Israel has a right to exist, that Israelis have a right to exist, as I said, reconciled one to another.

Have you read the Link? Do you read the Link, Americans for Middle Eastern Understanding, where Palestinians and Israelis need to sit down and talk to each other and work out a solution where their children can grow in a world together, and not be talking about killing each other, that that is not God's will?

My position is that the Israel and the people of Israel be the people of God who are worrying about reconciliation and who are trying to do what God wants for God's people, which is reconciliation.

MODERATOR: In your understanding of Christianity, does God love the white racists in the same way he loves the oppressed black American?

WRIGHT: John 3:16, Jesus said it much better than I could ever say it, "for God so loved the world." World is white, black, Iraqi, Darfurian, Sudanese, Zulu, Coschia (ph). God loves all of God's children, because all of God's children are made in God's image.

MODERATOR: Can you elaborate on your comparison of the Roman soldiers who killed Jesus to the U.S. Marine Corps? Do you still believe that is an appropriate comparison and why?

WRIGHT: One of the things that will be covered at the symposium over the next two days is biblical history, which many of the working press are unfamiliar with.

In biblical history, there's not one word written in the Bible between Genesis and Revelations that was not written under one of six different kinds of oppression, Egyptian oppression, Assyrian oppression, Persian oppression, Greek oppression, Roman oppression, Babylonian oppression.

The Roman oppression is the period in which Jesus is born. And comparing imperialism that was going on in Luke, imperialism was going on when Caesar Augustus sent out a decree that the whole world should be taxed. They weren't in charge of the world. It sounds like some other governments I know.

That, yes, I can compare that. We have troops stationed all over the world, just like Rome had troops stationed all over the world, because we run the world. That notion of imperialism is not the message of the gospel of the prince of peace, nor of God, who loves the world.

MODERATOR: Former President Bill Clinton has been widely criticized in this campaign. Many African-Americans think he has said things aimed at defining Senator Obama as the black candidate. What do you think of President Clinton's comments, particularly those before the South Carolina primary?

WRIGHT: I don't think anything about them. I came here to talk about prophetic theology of the black church. I'm not talking about candidates or their positions or their feelings or what they have to say to get elected.

MODERATOR: Well, OK, we'll give you a church question. Please explain how the black church and the white church can reconcile.

WRIGHT: Well, there are many white churches and white persons who are members of churches and clergy and denominations who have already taken great steps in terms of reconciliation.

In the underground railroad, it was the white church that played the largest role in getting Africans out of slavery. In setting up almost all 40 of the HBCUs, it was the white church that sent missionaries into the south.

As I mentioned in my presentation, our denomination all by itself set up over 500 of those schools. You know them today as Howard University, Fisk, LeMoyne-Owen, Tougaloo, Dillard University, Howard University.

So they've done -- Morehouse, Morehouse. Don't forget Moorhouse, Spelman -- that white Christians have been trying for a long time to reconcile, that for other white Christians to understand that we must be reconciled is to understand the injustice that was done to a people, as we raped the continent, brought those people here, built our country, and then defined them as less than human.

And more Christians, more of us working together, not just white Christians, but whites and blacks of every faith, ecumenically working together.

Father Flagger (ph), by the way, he might be one of the one -

(APPLAUSE)

- models out what it means to be reconciled as brothers and sisters in Christ and brothers and sisters made in the image of God.

MODERATOR: You said there is a lack of understanding by people of other backgrounds of the African-American church. What are some of those misunderstandings? And how would you purport to fix them, particularly when some of your comments are found to be offensive by white churches?

WRIGHT: Carter Godwin Woodson, about 80 years ago, wrote a book entitled "The Miseducation." I would try to fix it starting at the educational level in the grammar schools, as Dr. Asa Hilliard did in his infusion curriculum, starting at the grammar schools, to tell our children this story and to tell our children the true story.

That's how I go about fixing it, because until you know the true story, then you're reacting to my words and not to the truth.

MODERATOR: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the father but through me." Do you believe this? And do you think Islam is a way to salvation?

WRIGHT: Jesus also said, "Other sheep have I who are not of this fold."

(APPLAUSE)

MODERATOR: Do you think people of other races would feel welcome at your church?

WRIGHT: Yes. We have members of other races in our church. We have Hispanics. We have Caribbean. We have South Americans. We have whites.

The conference minister -- please understand the United Church of Christ is a predominantly white demonstration. Again, some of you do not know United Church of Christ, just found out about liberation theology, just found out about United Church of Christ, the conference minister, Dr. Jane Fisler Hoffman, a white woman, and her husband, not only are members of the congregation, but on her last Sunday before taking the assignment as the interim conference minister of California, Southern California Conference of the United Church of Christ, a white woman stood in our pulpit and said, "I am unashamedly African."

(APPLAUSE)

MODERATOR: You first gained media attention, significant media attention for your sermons several weeks ago. Why did you wait so long before giving the public your side of the sound bite story?

WRIGHT: As I said to Bill Moyers -- and he also edited this one out -- because of my mother's advice to me. My mother's advice was being seen all over the corporate media channels, and it's a paraphrase of the Book of Proverbs, where it is better to be quiet and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

The media was making a fool out of itself, because it knew nothing about our tradition. And so I decided to let them make a fool as long as they wanted to and then take the advice of Paul Laurence Dunbar, "Lies, lies, bless the lord. Don't you know the days are broad?"

Don't make me come across this room. I had to come across the room, because they start -- understand, when you're talking about my mama, once again, and talking about my faith tradition, once again, how long do you let somebody talk about your faith tradition before you speak up and say something in defense of -- this is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright.

Once again, let me say it again. This is an attack on the black church. And I cannot as a minister of the gospel allow the significant part of our history -- most African-Americans and most European-Americans, most Hispanic-Americans, half the names I called in my presentation they've never heard of, because they don't know anything at all about our tradition.

And to lift up those -- they would have died in vain had I just kept quiet longer and longer and longer and longer. As I said, this is an attack on the black church. It is not about Obama, McCain, Hillary, Bill, Chelsea. This is about the black church.

This is about Barbara Jordan. This is about Fanny Lou Hamer. This is about my grandmamma.

MODERATOR: Do you think it is God's will that Senator Obama be president?

WRIGHT: I said I would offer myself for candidacy for vice president. I have not offered myself for candidacy of God. I can't presume to know what God would want.

In my tradition, however, what everybody has been saying to me as it pertains to the candidacy is what God has for you is for you. If God intends for Mr. Obama to the president, then no white racists, no political pundit, no speech, nothing can get in the way, because God will do what God wants to do.

MODERATOR: OK, we are almost out of time. But before asking the last question, we have a couple of matters to take care of.

First of all, let me remind you of our future speakers. This afternoon, we have Dan Glickman, chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association, who is discussing trading up movies in the global marketplace. On May 2nd, Bobby Jindal, the governor of the state of Louisiana, will discuss bold reform that works. On May 7th, we have Glenn Tilton, CEO, United Airlines, and board member of the American transport association.

Second, I would like to present our guest with the official centennial mug and -- it's brand new.

WRIGHT: Thank you. Thank you.

MODERATOR: You're welcome. And we've got one more question for you.

(APPLAUSE)

We're going to end with a joke. Chris Rock joked, "Of course Reverend Wright's an angry 75-year-old black man. All 75-year-old black men are angry." Is that funny? Is that true? Is it unfortunate? What do you think?

WRIGHT: I think it's just like the media. I'm not 75.

at this time in our history there is no time to be typical.......what is funny is that you TWP sit on every word that Obama has spoken and you have Clinton lie in your face on various occasions but you won't sit on her words is this a sexist thing or is it racial.....just a question from a non typical white

Oh, darn, MelB. I certainly didn't mean to do that. Hopefully, you don't live in Montana, South Dakota, Puerto Rico, Kentucky, Oregon, West Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina, or Guam ; )

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NEOCONS 4 HILLARY

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YESTERDAY'S SCRIPT:
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Incite racial hatred against Muslims!

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TODAY'S SCRIPT:
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Incite racial hatred against Black Americans!

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TOMORROW'S SCRIPT.

(to be announced on Fox News)

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....................HILLARY VOTED FOR THE WAR

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JakeD--

I'm confused by the 'did nothing before he was politically forced to denounce.' Didn't Obama deliver a speech on hate where he basically admitted that he loved the man but didn't agree with him? Didn't he say that he said that he understood the historical perspective from which Wright spoke?

You ask what kind of president I want in the Oval Office. Again, I'm on the fence because the candidates are...well...weak. But I do think that I want a president who will attempt to salvage a relationship rather than burn it at the first hint of conrtroversy. A president who will understand the perspective from which a person is speaking, whether or not he agrees with what is being spoken.

Maybe I just talked myself into a candidate.

Yeah WAPO - Where is the story of the AFL-CIO president in PA who endorsed Hillary today?

Just wondering...

As for "distancing"...BO still belongs to "Christian" church that's rantings could be mistaken for a mosque in Pakistan...

No wonder people think he is still Muslim.

And Jimmah Carter + Hamas = Obama endorsements

Don't tell me, you think that Carter "endorsed" Obama today too?

Lisa8:

"Everyone" doesn't have someone in our lives who has said some crazy, over the top stuff -- either in our presense or when we were not there?

Who among us doesn't have someone in our lives who has said some crazy, over the top stuff -- either in our presense or when we were not there? The answer is everyone.

Barack Obama is not responsible for Rev. Wright. Rev. Wright is responsible for his comments.

If this is the worst they have on Obama, he is the cleanest Presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter.

Well, first of all, YOU are not running for President of the United States, so your judgment is simply not at issue. Second, if Obama did not SIT QUIETLY, why hasn't his campaign brought that fact to light? Third, I'm not saying that "every" sermon contained hateful messages (although it's very likely they all did to some extent); whether it was 20 or all of them, however, the relevant point is that Obama did NOTHING prior to being politically forced to denounce. That's the kind of President YOU want in the Oval Office?!

JakeD

How do you know that all of Wright's sermons were hateful? How do you know that Obama 'sat quietly'?

I vehemently disagree with father-in-law's antiquated union tactics and say so when the discussion arises in private, but I don't think anyone would know such a disagreement exists unless they asked.

MelB:

That's not what this is about at all -- we are talking about the JUDGMENT to be President of the United States -- sitting quitely through 20 years of hateful sermons (at the very least) raises the question whether Obama is equipped to lead the free world.

JakeD--

That is exactly the point I was trying to make, although not as eloquently!

The blogs are so full of people asking, 'why did Obama sit in that church for 20 years'? My question really is don't we all relationships with people who we deeply love but with whom we also deeply disagree?

Shan:

MICHELLE Obama is not the one running for President. Did you see hear speaking out against Rev. Wright ("attacking the black church")?

Dont vote for mean pants lady!

No problem, MelB. I appreciate your answer as well. I was asking an honest question. I tend to believe Rev. Wright, though, in that Obama is a politician, doesn't really disagree with him, but "had to" denounce for the sake of politics. I'm not sure if that's what you were trying to say too.

If people are going to fall for those stupid 527's, they are idiots. The American people in all states are smarter than that.

Typical religion vs main stream living...this REV DUDE is just a throw out of the Civil Rights Movement...They hate what is going on...they hate the fact that a post-Civil RIGHTS movement kid has done what they could never accomplish they are old men and women frustrated because nobody cares about them anymore,they have made lots of money by creating division and they see Obama as a threat,it all goes against their mentor KING jr's message of one people under one roof....they keep bringing up this BLACK nonsense...yet if Obama does not win they will come out in numbers and cry foul..these old crack pots are just a bunch of self serving idiots who after the civil rights act have done nothing for the black community other than come out when some kid or other get's themselves killed or beat up by the "WHITE POLICE" same old nonsense...grow up you old fags..and join the program.

MelB, I certainly agree with what you have to say. People get so lost up in who they support and who's winning and forget that the candidates are doing what they believe is best.

JakeD

I hate to say this, but I think he had to. The picture of Rev. Wright could never be painted as anything other than a anti-American. I do think Obama tried to show the whole man, but when the news clips kepts showing the 30 sec. of Wright screaming, when Wright opened his mouth and blasted Obama, I think Obama had no choice but to do so.

I do appreciate the response, but really hope that the real message of the post is interpreted as intended.

I am not supporting one specific candidate but as I read more and more blogs I am so saddened by the lack of humanity displayed. These are people we are talking about...not caricatures, not college football teams. I'm rambling....

Obama! 2008!!!

I agree with gary cornett....
A vote for Hillary is a vote for Bush (In an unflattering pantsuit)

Obama! 2008!!!

MelB:

So, why did Obama denounce Wright then?

I am amazed that the Rev. Wright flap keeps playing on and on. Obama has Wright, McCain has Hagee, Clinton has 'The Family' and Calvin Butts III...and I have my own set of crazies...don't you all? I have racist brothers-in-law who are the best uncles in the world. I have a rabid union man for a father-in-law with whom I repeatedly disagree but will never 'denounce'. My parents tend to be homophobic. I've known these people for 40+ years and even though I see our differences in opinion, I also see that they are loving, wonderful parents and grandparents.

Hey, maybe I'm the only one with a less than perfect circle of influence...

Mississippi, the last bastion of racist white Republicans. Keep it down there, y'all sure are a model for the rest of America!

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Or, "preying" on the poor (and not giving them gas-tax relief either ; )

It surpirises me how the White blue collar worker does not realize they are being called uneducated, lower class citizens. Is your winning candidate so important that you allowed yourselves to be reduced as practically functionally illerates who will believe anything. I call that praying on the poor.

And this is news? All I hear is that a politician is trying to cover his a**. Consider this guy's turf, Mississippi. What more needs to be said.

Dan, please Obama knows he will not take Kentucky....your point????

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NEOCONS 4 HILLARY

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YESTERDAY'S SCRIPT:
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Incite racial hatred against Muslims!

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TODAY'S SCRIPT:
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Incite racial hatred against Black Americans!

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TOMORROW'S SCRIPT.

(to be announced on Fox News)

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People are really starting to show their not so good side. You talk about Rev. Wright but I am starting to really believe that it's just not Rev. Wright that has race issues. The only difference is Rev. Wright got caught up, there are High Position People out here that are starting to really, really come out on how "they" feel about a black man and it is not looking good. You want to say that America is good but look at all the negative on both sides and you will see that there are a lot of Rev. Wright's out here, they are just not all African American's. You say Blue Collar, white Reagan Democrats but to me that is what you call SUGAR CODING THE REAL NAME FOR THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE. Let's keep it real, we are all Adults and American's

I'm a white republican, and probable the only one from West Virgina smart enough not to vote for George W, and I'm hear to tell you, a vote for HILLARY IS A VOTE FOR BUSH, same old dirty politics, up to when the war went sorer Her and Joseph Leberman were so close to George Bush, if He turned a corner ,well you know what. 'Obama debate in N. Carolina', He would be a fool, the one on ABC in Pennsylvania was an old fashion" Turkey Shoot" and Oboma was the turkey. He was ambushed by slick George and maybe ABC. And this Reverend Wright thing ' well' , I SMELL A LOT OF DIRTY MONEY SOME WHERE.

Three general election polls today point to differing electability pictures, with Fox showing Obama struggling. And a new KY poll has Clinton trouncing Obama. Full roundup here: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2008/04/wednesday-polls-battle-for-independents.html

LOL! :-D

Meanwhile...

President McCain asks:

"How did you want that Steak? Your drink OK?"

LOL! ;~)