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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: Rickey Meekins on 5/19/2010 8:25AM
What is wrong with you folks? President Obama has been in office for nearly 18 months, he's not Jesus Christ, remember, Jesus could only do limited miracles in His own country because the people did not believe. Have you all so soon forgotten the trillion dollar plus deficit the President inherited, not to mention two wars, unemployment, the housing crisis and a myraid of problems that the Bush administration left for President Obama to clean up. Change does not happen overnite. Even President Obama said it would take more than 4 years to correct the economic course. The man has been on office less than 2 years and has received (and will continue) more death threats than any other president in the history of America. So instead of sitting around criticizing and pontificating on what the President isn't doing and what he ought to be doing for black people, how about getting on your knees and praying for him.
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By: dre on 5/19/2010 2:18PM
I couldn't agree with you more. As celebrated as his presidency is, the job is enormous and requires a unified front. As long as individuals are biting at his ankles, critical work that needs to be done isn't getting done fast enough. I join you in praying for the President.
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By: Mimi on 5/19/2010 10:53PM
I AGREE WITH YOU 100%
YOU MUST REMEMBER THERE ARE REPUBLCIANS AND TEA BAGGERS (THEY ARE ONE IN THE SAME) ON HERE POSTING.
THEY ARE PRETENDING TO BE BLACK AND SAYING NEGATIVE CRAP AGAINST PRESIDENT OBAMA.
WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY ARE REPUBLICANS WORKING SO HARD TO TRY TO CONVINCE US TO NOT VOTE FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA IN 2012?
DO THEY THINK WE ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR THEM IN 2012 AFTER THEY SHOWED THEIR NATURAL BORN RACIST AZZES LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR?
WHAT DRUGS ARE THE REPUBLICANS ON?
I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYS OR DOES AT THIS POINT AFTER HEARING ALL THE RACIST THINGS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID AND DONE.
THEY WILL NEVER GET MY VOTE FOR ANYTHING.
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By: JOAN on 5/19/2010 8:19AM
REV. WRIGHT PUT HIMSELF UNDER THE BUS WITH HIS ARROGANT STATEMENTS. HE HAD BEEN DUPING HIS CHURCH WITH A FALSE GOSPEL FOR SO LONG...IT FINALLY CAME TO AN END. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. THE DEVIL CAME OUT OF...REV. WRIGHT. NOW, HE CAN'T HANDLE BEING WITHOUT EVIL.
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By: Mike on 5/19/2010 8:29AM
No your ego and your big mouth threw you under the bus and the bus should have run you over,like some pastors you let your postion swell your heads,and you forget how to be humble.And you are surpose to be a vehicle of the word and a servant of God.You want to much of the spot light.
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By: toyna on 5/19/2010 8:46AM
What exactly do you people want from Obama? Maybe it's just me but i think he's doing the best he can for America under the circumstance, This man isn't a personal friend to anyone he's the president of the USA, How did he use BLACK OR WHITE PEOPLE TO GET WHERE HE IS? PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME, AND REMIND ME WHEN BUSH OR ANY OTHER PRESIDENT WERE YOUR CLOSE FRIEND AND LISTEN AT YOUR EVERY BECON OR INVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE?
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By: Marlene Franklin on 5/19/2010 9:08AM
When white racists get into office, they let it be known that they are for their people. God forbid that black voters who vote for black political leaders expect those leaders to have their best interest at heart first. I remember when racist Regan got in office, he let it be known that he was for his people, and his people only. He is still considered their most favorite and successful president! Under his admin, So-call black middle class lost jobs and benefits and slipped back into the status of being poor, and the poor got poorer. Our sons and daughters were tricked into enlisting in the military for financial security - fighting in America's wars to continue white supremecy and yet, no white person said that Regan is president for all America! He was president for them!
I was never fooled by Obama's invisible horns. I knew he was the white man's house slave. The man is related to them so how in the world is he going to represent blacks he's had no struggle releationship with in this country. He made that known during his campaigning, but blacks didn't listen. Our people saw brown skin and that's all it took. They forgot or never knew their history of the mixed breed slaves with white blood were considered above those darkies working in the fields. Obama, like many other races and politicians have benefited from our struggles, but leave us behind once they get what they want.
Until our people stop looking for a Messiah in all the wrong places, we will always look like the whore who has been used then thrown away.
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By: windycity624 on 5/19/2010 5:22PM
WOW, you are spot on with your comments!!! PREACH GIRL!
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By: Dianne on 5/19/2010 6:06PM
I wish to comment on your statement that he had no black relationships. Your distortion of the truth is very serious business (slandering the president for what he did or did not say). Through his grandfather, when Obama lived in Hawaii with his mother when he was about 12 years old, he was introduced to a close friend of his grandfather's named Frank Marshall who founded Black Newspapers in America. This man was part of the Chicago Renaissance following the Harlem Renaissance and was educated at the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. He was a union activist in Hawaii where he had moved with his wife and as I recall had three or four children. Obama refers to him as "Uncle Frank" in his pre-campaign autobiographical musings about his father (Dreams of my Father;?) I don't know what the heck you call his relationships to his father's black family of origin. He went there as a child following his father's death, interacting with the family as is; of note, in case you forgot, he spoke directly about his Grandfather under British colonialism in Kenya, at Selma on the anniversary of the crossing of the Bridge. He gave his speech in a church at Selma, during which he discussed the parallels of American slavery as a heritage in protest with that of African colonialism under the British.
Personally, I think our present Secry.of State, Hillary Clinton, should have been spanked for horning in when she realized that she did not have a special relationship with Black voter and dragged her husband, good old Bill, off to Selma in protest mind you and Obama gracefully accepted the situation but with a frown on his face though maybe the sun got in his eyes. He often gets that look but he has far more diplomacy than Hillary yet has although she is trying to get in step; and when you accuse him, you seem to forget that he told you from the get go that he was president of all who live in the United States. Therefore, I can only say you are just as deserving as Hillary and ought to similarly be spanked for being so thankless for what he has done for you.
Ps, his mom and grandmother brought him to Chicago as a little boy, aware of the racial context compared to Hawaii which is a multi-racial State in our Union, whereas Chicago was still largely segregated as to housing although my husband(born in Chicago, worked very hard under the Johnson administration and later to resolve housing inequities and provide community resources, politically.
As a result of his Chicago trip, Obama had the opportunity to decide where he would go to college at Occidental in California; later going on to Columbia University, which as you know is on the fringe, cheek and jowl so to speak with Spanish Harlem. Then he went to Harvard where Henry Louis Gates, jr. was on faculty having founded the African-American and African Studies program. I submitted a post on that earlier today but never received an e-mail in response about the Jeremiah Wright situation which i think is being most untruthfully treated in this "SPIN". I'd love to know where my comment ended up because I really worked on it to get out the facts because Wright is being unfairly represented in an effort by the loser-party to apply political pressure that will make you lose the advantages they don't want you have. Are you blind?
Last but not least, Obama returned to Chicago and taught there on the South Side for about ten years teaching Constitutional Law. His wife worked in "community outreach" at the university's hospital.
I am chagrined at your pettiness and that goes for you all.
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By: Mimi on 5/19/2010 11:07PM
MARLENE GIRL YOU SHOWED SAID A LOT.
YOU JUST REALLY REALLY SAID A LOT....ACTUALLY YOU SAID A LITTLE TOO MUCH. ENOUGH FOR ME TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY A REPUBLICAN MAYBE EVEN A TEA BAGGER.
YOU SAID A LOT OF KEY WORDS THAT INDICATE YOU ARE INDEED ONE OF THOSE REPUBLICAN FAKERS ON HERE PRETENDING TO BE BLACK.
NEXT TIME LIMIT WHAT YOU SAY AND MAYBE JUST MAYBE PEOPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO TELL THAT YOU ARE JUST A JEALOUS ENVIOUS HATEFUL REPUBLICAN.
AND SPEAKING OF HORNS SHOWING...THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWING THEIR HORNS ARE YOU JEALOUS OF OBAMA REPUBLICANS.
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