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President Barack Obama's very colorful, very opinionated ex-pastor, Jeremiah Wright, is making headlines yet again, but this time it is in the form of the written word. The Associated Press came across an explosive, missive written by Wright that talks about the president in a very unflattering light.
Joseph Prischak, head of the Erie, Pa.-based aid group Africa 6000 International, told Wright in a February letter earlier this year that he was seeking the clergyman's help in reaching out to the U.S. Treasury Department.
Prischak asked Wright to assist with the lobbying efforts of U.S. authorities to permit $25 million British pounds in interest to be sent to faith-based groups for the children of Haiti.
In Wright's response, some pretty heated claims were made when referring to Obama, such as "he threw me under the bus" and the White House views him as "toxic." Wright told the humanitarian African relief group that his pleas to release frozen funds for use in earthquake-ravaged Haiti would likely be ignored.
Rev. Wright wrote:
"No one in the Obama administration will respond to me, listen to me, talk to me or read anything that I write to them. I am 'toxic' in terms of the Obama administration." Wright goes on to state that, "I am 'radioactive,' Sir. When Obama threw me under the bus, he threw me under the bus literally!" he wrote. "Any advice that I offer is going to be taken as something to be avoided. Please understand that!"
While the White House has not yet released a statement regarding the explosive comments, there were also several attempts made to contact the pastor at his Trinity United Church of Christ, but no return calls were received.
The Obama-Wright relationship ended back in 2008. After enjoying an intellectually and mutually gratifying relationship that spanned about 20 years, the two men fell out right about the time Obama declared his candidacy.
Controversy mounted around Wright when the media brought President Obama to task on a number of Wright's past sermons that were seen as racially divisive and incendiary to a predominantly white political world.
In response, Obama gave his well-received "A More Perfect Union" speech, but Wright continued to be relentless with his message, giving more controversial speeches even though President Obama was suffering, at the time, from an especially precarious relationship with much of white America.
The man who had performed Obama's marital vows, baptized his children and even dedicated his house was making headlines with his fiery black liberation theologic sermons that those in the Obama camp, and many in wider society, viewed as detrimental.
For the president, the last straw came when Wright gave a speech to the National Press Club in April 2008, in which he claimed that the U.S. government planted AIDS in the black community. He went on to then praise the ever-contentious Nation of Islam head Louis Farrakhan and even suggested that the damaged relationship he had with Obama was merely a PR move on Obama's part.
The pastor's out-of-control rantings prompted Obama to snip all ties. Really, Wright needs to take responsibility for the demise of his relationship with the president. You had to be living under a rock not to notice that the media -- and the right -- were on a witch hunt for anything they could use against then-presidential candidate Obama. The fact that Wright would not restrain himself during such a sensitive and significant time was highly unfortunate.
I remember wincing each time he was televised opening his mouth. And it wasn't that no one agreed with what Wright had to say -- many in the black community agreed or were at least familiar with his rhetoric -- it was that even though he was aware of the sensitive time Obama was in, he still insisted on continuing his media spectacles.
Wright should take responsibility for his dubious actions, rather than pointing the finger. For, in actuality, HE threw Obama under the bus--and everyone was watching.
Comments: (179)
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By: Marlene Franklin on 5/18/2010 12:26PM
Don't feel bad Jeremiah, he threw all black people under the bus. Now he and his black puppets are running to black colleges to get the young black votes for the upcoming elections so his white stealing dem-o-rats can remain in office.
He only got the idea from another puppet, re-poop-lican, Michael Steele.
This president is only black when he needs to be. He's aster's child running to the field negroes for help to keep master in power over us all.
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By: alie on 5/18/2010 1:34PM
Don't worry these students/ex students still yet to get jobs? give them more credit they know the deal!they better than the old folks who wait and wait they want to see what have you got for me know brother, tired of waiting my turn!
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By: Andrew on 5/19/2010 7:21AM
Excuse me i don't know what a lot of you my people is crying about. You act as if whatever the President wants that he can just snap his finger and magically grant your every wish, ever wonder that because he is Black that everything he does someone is trying to undermind him? As for his former Pastor some of his words were not always those that you would expect to hear from someone representing God's love
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By: Mimi on 5/19/2010 7:58AM
BULLSH-T!
I THOUGHT REV. WRIGHT'S 15 MINUTES WERE OVER WELL OVER A YEAR AGO. THE PEOPLE ELECTED PRESDIENT OBAMA NOT PRESIDENT OBAMA AND REV. WRIGHT.
REV. WRIGHT NEEDS TO GET OVER IT. HE NEEDS TO STOP BEING JEALOUS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA JUST LIKE ALL YOU REPUBLICANS ON HERE POSTING NEED TO STOP BEING JEALOUS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA.
2012 IS AROUND THE CORNER. ALL MY REAL BLACK PEOPLE...NOT THOSE OF YOU ON HERE WHO ARE WHITE REPUBLICANS...BUT ALL MY REAL BLACK PEOPLE. LET'S NOT FORGET THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT. THE REPUBLICANS ARE DESPERATE TO GET BACK INTO OFFICE AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO DO JUST THAT. EVEN IF IT MEANS PAYING OFF SOME SILLY BLACK PERSON SUCH AS REV. WRIGHT TO SAY THINGS TO CONVINCE THE DUMB AND WEAK BLACK PEOPLE THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR THEM.
THIS IS ONE OF THE STRATEGIES AMONG MANY THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE USING IN 2012.
THEY HAVE STOLE ELECTIONS BEFORE (BUSH BOTH TIMES) AND THEY WILL TRY TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. PERHAPS BY SAYING THINGS LIKE BLACK PEOPLE DIDN'T VOTE FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA IN 2012 LIKE THEY DID IN 2008.
THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL AS A BLACK PERSON I WOULD EVER VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN. THEY HAVE SHOWN THEIR TRUE COLORS.
I VOTED FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA TO HELP ALL AMERICANS NOT JUST BLACK AMERICANS.
MARLENE AND THE REST OF YOU NEED TO STOP THE STUPID BULLSH-T! YOU KNOW DARN WELL PRESIDENT OBAMA IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES....NOT THE PRESIDENT OF BLACK AMERICA SO STOP THE STUPID TRANSPARENT BULLSH-T!
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By: Bill Delaney on 5/19/2010 8:48AM
You need to get ego in check. As a black republican, I have my arguments with Steele, and Obama, but recognize that both situations require some insight. I support Dr. Wright, Farrakan, was involved during the 60s, and spend much of my life trying to offer a broad opinion to African American Youth. Read the Willie Lynch Story, and try to grow beyond your personal issues.
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By: Will on 5/19/2010 9:18AM
Wright threw his fuggN self under the bus when he continued to talk even after Obama forgave him for the first statements he made. The man was running for president and could no longer allow a loud mouth like Wright to damage his campaigne.
As for Pres. Obama....I refuse to say anything negative about him. His true colors will be reveiled soon, as he is approaching his third year. I hope it's all good
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By: Helen on 5/19/2010 10:45AM
Are you serious!!!!???? Was Bush only White when he needed it?
President Obama is who he is and I think that's a whole lot better than what we've had in the not so distant past.
Please, be careful what you say, people might just think you're ill.
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By: No1'sname on 5/19/2010 11:44AM
Smmfh @the negative comments about President Obama. Not once have I ever heard President Obama say that he is perfect but what he did say he will do his best to bring change. Remember he is not a miracle worker nor is he God. We as Blacks have fought decades & centuries to prove that we are equal to any other race besides our own & for Black people to say negative things about a Black man having the highest position in the United States of America is very disrespectful. It just proves the white man's theory that Blacks will turn on each other at a snap of a finger. Getting on here saying negative things about a person of your own color is nothing but a field & house n*gga. I was never impressed by the Rev. because all he wants is recognition on President's Obama's behave!
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By: CAHawk on 5/19/2010 1:31PM
@Marlene
There has been much said about your point of view sista. and while we see a lot of evidence to what you are saying I am hoping you are wrong. Obama has seemed to prescribe to the notion that he is only going to be 'Black' when it benefits him but call a 'foul' whenever someone Black calls him on it. I was having this discussion with some friends who are big Obama supporters. They were saying they were glad a Black Man finaly made it up there (as president),but I was saying who gives a damm what color he is if he cant or wont speak up for any policies to 'help' Blacks he could just as well had been any other whyte guy only WORST becuz at least someone whyte would not have to worry about being terrified to speak up on behalf of Blacks
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By: No1'sname on 5/19/2010 6:09PM
Marlene you're a Meth-head!
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