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Thursday morning, Obama and his wife, Michelle, appeared on the "Today Show." In a joint interview with Meredith Vieira, they denounced Rev. Wright. Barack Obama said:I think that the sequence of events was the right one, because this is somebody who had married Michelle and I; who had baptized our children. When those first snippets came out, I thought it was important to give him the benefit of the doubt. If I had wanted to be politically expedient, I would have distanced myself and denounced him right away. Right? That would have been the easy thing to do.Michelle Obama added:
We hear time and time again that voters are tired of this. They don't want to hear about this division. They want to know what are we going to do to move beyond these issues. What made me so proud of Barack in this situation is that he is trying to move us as a nation beyond these conversations that divide us so deeply.Meanwhile, a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that 32 percent of respondents have "major problems" with Obama's ties to Rev. Wright.
Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a Hillary Clinton supporter, warns that if Obama is the nominee, Republicans will use those ties to "swift-boat" him. Bayh told the Washington Post:
You're running for president and people want to get a sense of who you are, and when you're new to the public stage you're a little more susceptible to having the canvas painted in by your political opponents.It may be too late for Obama to distance himself from the audacious Rev. Wright. Six weeks ago in his speech on race in Philadelphia, he said:
As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. ...I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community.Still, with polls showing him losing ground, Obama threw Wright under the bus.
Obama's
"You Said It!" on BV Members Rev. Wright
"After viewing his latest speaking engagements, I have to admit, I'm a slightly embarrassed but highly disappointed in fact that it appears as if he doesn't give a darn about Obama becoming America's FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT! His comments seem a bit hostile toward Obama, a man I thought he loved. His timing for speaking out seems 'out of season' and I have to question the TRUE motives of Rev. Wright at this point." - bettyboo2687
Getty
"What do you think is Rev. Wright's motive for speaking in the manner that he is speaking right now in public? To cause Obama harm!!!!" - MizzDelaney
Getty
"His comments are not hostile towards anyone and he does love Obama that is why he is speaking out the people who started this nonsense are the ones who don't give a darn about Obama. why people can't understand that I do not know why." - gilcrease11
Getty
"If you want to know what Wright meant you should ask him. Obama is not his top priority. His top priority is too God, himself and his flock. ( Yes I know that he has retired.)" - nsimone
Getty
"I know I am going to catch heck for this but so be it!!!! I think Wright wants to have his say and if I were in his shoes, I would also want to clear my name. However, Wright before this fiasco was an unknown( outside of Chicago) retiring minister. Now he is probably the most well known black minister in this country. He rarely made the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper now he's on the front page of most newspapers and covered in magazines. He will get paid speaking engagements and interviews." - pecanmermaid
Reuters
"Rev. Wright showed out for the cameras. People keep saying that he should speak out in his own defense but when you defend yourself, it should help you not hurt you more.He had a wonderful platform to defend himself and his legacy but he chose to act for the cameras." - addedtouchll
Reuters
Comments: (164)
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By: Dark Twain on 5/18/2008 10:18PM
Man I knew SHELLACKuhBAMMA was a slime, but I had no idea how deep in the brown stuff he really is. I guess by now it is his natural environment. I suppose he breathes it pretty effortlessly by now. He is a regular Deke O'Malley from Cotton Comes to Harlem. He needs the same treatment too. HMMN HHMMP. Don't look at me. I ain't gon clean that up. Flush it down the oBAMA.
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By: buenotc on 5/19/2008 4:48PM
go wright go wright tear down obama atta boy
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By: chas y on 5/30/2008 8:40AM
I have to wonder, if Mr. Obama felt so strongly against the Reverand Wrights 'hate-mongering'speech and it's the same tone as his sermons of the past why wait until now to denounce him? Is this the kind of leader we need? Someone that completely changes his life's course at the drop of public opinion? Are we seeing the real Obama or are we going to meet him after the inaugeration? This election is one of the most important in our history. First black, first woman canidates. One of them ARE going to be our next President. Unfortunately the 'war' for nomination has made both canidates less appealing then they should be. Had the republican party fielded a more mid-stream, acceptable canidate all this would be moot...because of the actions of the two Democratic contenders.Big promises made that even THEY know themselves that they will not be able to fulfill.Tell the voters what they want to hear. Something new about that? Perhaps both should strive to remember that as President they do NOT rule and do not lead alone. Remember the Senate and Congress? The President may put forth all of the health care,peace initiatives and whtever else they want. It still has to go through Congress and the Senate.
Same old,same old...the only thing groundbreaking is the race and gender, and that doesn't seem to be making much differance.The best to come from this election is that GW Bush will be gone! Thank God.
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By: Signey Charles on 5/31/2008 12:29PM
Every man come with a price. It is sad when a dollar can come between doing the right thing or doing the wrong thing. That is how Hillary Clinton's camp found a profound way to try to distort Obama's image. Yes, Hillary's camp paid Wright to become so Stupid.
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