Video: the Reverend Jeremiah Wright

Much media attention has today been focused on the controversial preachings of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, a man whom Barack Obama has described as his mentor.

Watch clips from his sermons, then scroll down for a selection of comment from the web:

Stan Goff on the Huffington Post:

"Barack Obama is a member of the United Church of Christ... here in Raleigh that congregation has been on the front lines for as long as I've lived here to oppose war, oppose the exploitation and demonization of the poor, fight racism, xenophobia, sexism, ands homophobia, and provide the core cadre for the region's Peace Action. ....

"Here is the proverbial pachyderm of US politics, and an inconvenient one for the programmatic left who will cheer on Reverend Wright -- as I am, enthusiastically. The left has no popular base in US politics. The taboos associated with Dr. Wright's words are so powerfully entrenched in the American psyche (for now) that they are, for all practical purposes, impregnable."

Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com:

"White evangelical Ministers are free to advocate American wars based on Biblical mandates, rant hatefully against Islam, and argue that natural disasters occur because God hates gay people. They are still fit for good company, an important and cherished part of our mainstream American political system. The entire GOP establishment is permitted actively to lavish them with praise and court their support without the slightest backlash or controversy. Both George Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sent formal greetings to the 2006 gathering of Hagee's group.

"By contrast, black Muslim ministers like Farrakhan, or even black Christian ministers like Rev. Jeremiah Wright, are held with deep suspicion, even contempt. McCain is free to hug and praise the Rev. Hagees of the world, but Obama is required to prove over and over and over and over that he does not share the more extreme views of black Ministers."

Right on the Right:

"Barack Obama needs to step out, soon, and condemn the words of his own pastor. If Barack believes this deeply racist rhetoric, there's trouble, and this video makes it obvious that some of his followers are the ones pushing the issue of race on the campaign trail. Condemn Reverend Wright."

Mark Finkelstein on Newsbusters:

"At the end of a Good Morning America segment today about Barack Obama's pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., an Obama campaign representative complained that John McCain's pastor had not been similarly "vetted." If that's true, then ABC or some other media outlet surely should and will do so.

Let's imagine that upon vetting, McCain's pastor is found to have made statements that were the mirror-image of those that Rev. Wright has made. How long would McCain remain a viable candidate?"

(To put that last comment in context, read my story about the man John McCain recently described as his "spiritual guide" - the Reverend Rod Parsley.)

Comments

[JL Ronish]

This guy is a real hatemonger and when people see and hear his message it will not be helpful to Obama who was a church member for twenty years. Wright married Michele and Barack, christaned their children and was appointed to Obama's campaign as an advisor. The liberal press over here is trying as hard as it can to ignore or play this down but it is a real campaign killer potentially.

[charles]

there is nothing wrong for Obama pastor to make any remark, it all depends if Obama share those views and please know that Dr wright is not a politician. Since wright is not a politician he is free to share is ideals and wat he thinks in life.

[American voter]

I am not interested in whether or not Barack Hussein Obama 'distances' homself from the racist, bigotted, anti-American 'pastor' of his highly un-Christian 'church.' Obama has attended that hate-filled entity for 20 years, he has contributed $22,500 to it, 'Pastor' Wright is a 'former black Muslim' who, in the company of Louis Farrakhan, the notorious head of the Nation of Islam (anti-Jewish, anti-white Muslim organization) visited Gaddafi in Libya and it is this 'pastor' who is on Obama's Campaign Committee. No man who associates with such people should even be considered for the position of President. The time for 'distancing' himself from hatred should have been decades ago when he first heard it. Judging from his failure to do so, coupled with his wife's disparaging remarks about America, and Obama's own falsification or denial of the facts of his life, I would not vote for him. I now expect the Democratic Party to 'distance' itself from Obama or face losing yet another election.

[Dr Arthur Frederick Ide]

Both Obama and McCain counsel with and swear allegiance to ministers of hate: Obama with Jeremiah Wright, and McCain with Hager and others. This is an excellent lesson, and the reason Jefferson warned about religion in politics and urged a wall separating the state from the church. Religion has never been a friend of liberty, nor has anyone been free under its whip.

[Daphne Kenward]

McCain is saling close to the wind, and Rod Parsley knows more than the rest of America. Parsley knows the game is up. The Bible speaks about these days, these are the last days. America is in trouble, economically Politically, Morally. A Nation who has no example to set, and Britain is in the same mess, America & Britain is in Prophecy, because they sale too close to the wind too the economy is Bankrupt too. We have Kids being murdered for sex in Britain. Kids Killing their class mates. We are in trouble because we lost our values following America, their idea of no values no respect for life and no moral respect for life. You can not expect to be blessed by imoral behaviour. Even HIV AIDS did not stop American sexual imorality. Britain the same Russia the same Africa the same, till we adopt a more moral life style, we are doomed, for a start we will have no money, we will have less food the cost of food to the west will be so high due to the cost of oil, we will die, from imorality. Wheat price is high, and desease will wipe out the Wheat crops, the cost of transportation of food around the world will kill of the UN humanitarian help to the less fortunate. It is over more than we know, we don't run this world we can't control which way the wind blows, we can't even control our own sexuality, to prevent desease, STD's is rife, we are a sick generation of people bring back morality.

[James]

In contrast to Barack Obama, John McCain doesn't publically associate directly with a controversial pastor, doesn't have a book whose title is taken from his pastor's sermon, doesn't claim an all-white value system, but most of all, John McCain is not Barak Obama.

[jim johnson]

It is not just the comments of Rev. Wright that are just so concerning, it is how much of this type of philosophy has seeped into the mind of Sen. Obama, over the 10 plus years of attending this church, and listening to Wright's sermons? Remember: America is still an overwhelming White country, and most of us want to see a better brand of racial harmony, but not have past racial problems rubbed in our noses, (which most White Americans now living had nothing to do with, ie: not all Whites were slave owners as some radical Blacks would have people believe, nor did we participate in racial hate groups such as the KKK as other Blacks try to associate us with) which Rev. Wright seems to do, by the look of his recorded sermons, and Sen.Obama looks like he refutes,and wants to distance himself from. We can only wait and see.

[David Thomspon]

What the Pastor Wright said , many would agree with. Especialy his comments re 9 -11 . It is sad that Obama can not reflect before he just goes with the establishment. He is unlikely to be ever President as he is Black , but atleast raise the debate re terror and the propaganda machine that has been set up by the Right and Bishes follies - America is lsiding don a nasty slippery slope - where there is no serious debate !!

[Nathan]

That's just it: Obama isn't just pandering like McCain is; Obama has been attending that church, which Reverend Wright presided over until last month, for over 20 years. He referred to Wright as his spiritual mentor; had Wright preside over his wedding and administer the baptismal of his two daughters.

This is no mere pastor, but a close personal friend. For a man who professes to have such superior judgment that all you have to know about him is that he delivered a speech against Iraq in 2002, in an ultra-liberal, anti-war district running as a state senator (no need to know that his voting record on Iraq is the same as Clinton's), this reflects on his character.

Wright professes extreme, inflammatory views. And Obama chose to embrace those views by embracing Wright.

[jonah]

All this "squabbling" over political candidates... while DEVASTATION occurs in Lhasa (TIBET). 'My' heart goes out "to our neighbors Across The Pacific Ocean".

[ethan]

Barack Hussein Obama cannot fein ignorance on this one. He has not only attended this racist, whacked out "church" for nearly 20 years, he was married by this idiot, his children were babtized by this idiot, and sadly, he allowed his kids minds to be poisoned by this racism, revisionist history, negativity, etc. He must subscribe to at least most of these views. I stopped going to my last church because I felt uncomfortable with prayers for tidings. If I heard one sermon calling blacks "the devil" or any other racist, or political crap, I would get up, walk out, and never return. I feel so sorry for people to need a politician so bad that they would suspend all rational judgement, so they could vote for them.

[Bob Evans]

Would this be considered a racist church:

We are a congregation which is Unashamedly White and Unapologetically Christian... Our roots in the White religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are a European people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a White worship service and ministries which address the White Community.

The Pastor as well as the membership of the church is committed to A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO EUROPE.

A congregation committed to the HISTORICAL EDUCATION OF EUROPEAN PEOPLE.

Incidentally, this is the web site statement of principles and beliefs by the Trinity United Church of Christ, except in place of "White" and "Europe", it emphasizes "Black" and "Africa".

[prudence eely bond mcguire]

I AM TRULY SURPRISED, AT THE RELUCTANCE, OF OBAMA, TO CONDEMN OUTRIGHT, THE RANTINGS OF THIS MAN!
MAYBE, IT IS, BECAUSE, OBAMA SUFFERS WITH THE SAME 'HUBRIS' SYNDROME, THAT, FORMER UK FOREIGN SECRETARY DR. DAVID OWEN, SUGGESTS, EX UK PRIME MINISTER, TONY BLAIR, SUFFERS FROM?
LET US SINCERELY HOPE NOT!
HOWEVER, THE SIGNS ARE CLEARLY THERE, FOR ALL, TO SEE!

[Albert jackson]

Catholics where not held responsible for the Priest that molested young boys all over the world and rightfuly so, why should Obam be held responsible for what his wackey paster does when he condems it? More of the forces of evil trying to knee cap Senator Obama. It just goes to show that Clinton, Carvell, Fox news, Karl Rove and the right wing ganging up on Obam to stop change in American politics. The sad part is the stupid like Ohio and Texas and others across America by into this horse manure.

[R Keiper]

Mr Wright, looks white to me, Shame on you talking like this about your forefathers.

[SP Ward]

I think Barack Obama's own statement on this is acceptable, clear and unifying. Please watch it and decide for yourself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7piGy0u43c&feature=user

[Bookem Dano]

For Obama to remain viable he needs to find out who he is, very quickly. He needs to put forth, not what he is against, but what he stands for. Otherwise the vacuum will be filled and his electability will be damaged, perhaps fatally.

[Nancy]

I am disturbed by the comments made by Obama's minister. I don't care if he has recently denounced them (he only did so because of the pressure from some corners of the media). The fact that he's been a faithful member of Wright's congregation for 20-plus years is all I need to know.

I can no longer support this candidate. I love my country unconditionally, and I expect that those who want to lead it to feel the same way.

I would ask those who are reading this-----particularly Obama supporters----to ask yourself what I have already asked: What do we really know about Obama?

[Eusebio Beniquez]

Mr. Obama needs to come clean with the american people! about his twenty years of membership in Rev.Jeremiah Wrights church and the hatred sermons ,that he and his followers belive in.I have one thing to say to Mr.Obama, my grand mother was of african,Taino Indian from puerto rico and white from Europe, so as you can see I'm also of mix. race of people,my grandmother use to tell me ,when ever she saw me in bad company. Tell me who you hang around with and I'II tell you who you are, Mr.Obama, you can that to the bank.

[Dorje]

Obama lost my vote after seeing that his mentor barking at America
RD

[steven Bainbridge]

"John McCain recently described as his "spiritual guide" - the Reverend Rod Parsley"

He described him as "a spiritual guide" not his, besides that is just to win social conservatives, h's not been at his church for 20 years.

[Angry African]

Yes, it is Wright. It remind me of the Christian values that many in the Republican Party upholds so strongly when they go on the attack against others. I wonder how they are doing on keeping those Commandments. I had a look at those Commandments that focus on person-to-person relationships and are meant to guide interaction between people. Unfortunately, they tend to break them willfully day in and day out. Yes, theft, lies, adultery, want and murder.

[Akbar77]

Will Ted Kennedy be the "House Cracker" in an Obama administration?

[Marie]

May I just say that I'm rarely hesistant to criticize my dear country. The reality of America never seems to live up to the ideal, and yes it's cause for passionate uprising. This however is something else altogether. This "Christian" seems to favor living in the past and keeping lit all the hate and anger that works to divide us. What is the benefit of this, I ask? He's a ridiculous man wrongly allowed by his church to preach the wrong message. I've no use for such free speech. I'm only sorry he wasn't fired for his remarks instead of being allowed to comfortably retire. It's no surprise that Obama rejected these views outright. It must be hurtful to him to see this other side of a man he obviously admired.

[Ganpat Ram]

I actually have more doubts about Obama now that he has distanced himself from this ferocious bigot whom he has called his "spiritual mentior " for over two decades.

This is a flagrant case of political opportunism.

So much for Brack's vaunted "honesty".

And what was that about JUDGEMENT?

[Mark]

I believe Obama wants this issue to boil over now, instead of just before the election. Soon he will tell the liberal press what they want to hear. They are so disparate to get a Democrat in the White House they will treat him like a hero coming to the rescue, abating the fears of all Americans. Then, in a few months, the liberal press will claim this issue is old news, that has been settled, and not worthy of further discussion.

[David]

While the Clinton campaign did a good job by circulating these videos of the hate-monger Jeremiah Wright, their timing has not been good. The Tony Rezko trial has just begun, and this raacial back-and-forth is taking it out of the spotlight. The more relevant points against Obama are the cozy financial relationship with Rezko and Obama's willingness to push for earmarks as a quid pro quo for his wife's astronomical pay rise.

[Mat]

I am sincerely disappointed that such little effort has been made to contextualize this apparent problem - and quite evidently this comments board has become a forum for disillusioned anti-Obama voters who can obviously find little flaw in the man other than that he has often been in the company of someone with little in terms of grace.

From my experience of attending church in the United States the podium is frequently utilised as a means of preaching vitriol and skewed political views, why is this such a surprise?

I thought more of the Times than to run and endorse Fox news coverage which so transparently intends to slander Barack's name, forging half truths and blatant prejudice together to capture public attention.

This will be my final comment, and my last day on this website, which so evidently has adopted a pro-Hillary agenda in recent weeks. It seems I should not be so shocked with your spreading tainted Fox footage, you are one and the same in your bias.

[Melito]

One of the problems that White Americans have is that they are unilaterally self-absorbed with their fictional superiority, a characteristic that leads even the most humane of them to blindly follow authority. On the other hand, in their history as residents in this gulag, African Americans could not afford to do this, so when the mirror is turned on whites and demonstrates to them the kind of people they are, it is the messenger that is attacked, the same kind of political strategy that Hillary and Bill Clinton have used throughout their political careers.

Fortunately, Rev. Wright is a product of Prophetic Xnity, not the state-church type (Constantinian), but the kind that grew from the roots of the gospel OF Jesus, rather than Paul, which is a gospel ABOUT Jesus as Christ.

American slavery and the terror of White supremacy, both in the USA and in South Africa, only recently ended further helped to shape that gospel. Communicants of this gospel believe that Jesus, if he returned, would serve the least among us rather than the political elite and wealthy. That in itself in today's world is revolutionary.

Furthermore, nothing Rev. Wright said in these clips is untrue about the USA. It IS a nation that sponsors state terrorism. How can you cause the lives of more than an estimated 1.2 million people in Iraq because of your invasion and use of military force, use and outsource torture in defiance of international agreements against incarcerated prisoners, thumb your nose at every human rights violation committed by your government, establish death squads in every conflict in which your nation is involved, declare the right to exercise regime change at your pleasure, incarcerate 1 out 100 of your citizens to encourage privatization of the penal system, commit "crimes against humanity" everywhere your diplomatic service has operated, recruit other nations to share in your criminal activities and not be declared a terrorist nation?

The only way the USA or any nation gets away with this is because the world's political elites either stand as partners or cowards in this game of global capitalism or rather capital accumulation and consumption against the peoples of the world.

Former prime minister Olaf Palme of Sweden was a leader who spoke out against the actions of US state terrorist actions during the era of the invasion of Vietnam and paid for it with his life. Do you really believe that his death was not related to his political stance against the war and a subsequent right-wing attack against Sweden's mature social policy which stood in opposition to predatory capitalism? When that failed, of course, the next step was to try to undermine Europe's social security nets by lumping them all together within the EU. Hopefully, the citizens of France and Germany will remain a bulwark against this neoliberal stragegy.

The warnings signs have been visible for 50 years, it's courage of the world's leaders that is lacking in the same way that such courage was absent in opposition to another terrorist state that adopted fascism against its own citizens and then used it against its neighbors. It was Karl Marx who reported that G.W.F. Hegel remarked "somewhere that all great world-historic facts and personages appear, so to speak, twice. He forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce." Are we now at that stage?