All Comments (169)

I think what really happened: Supporters of right-wing/reactionary causes captured a soundbite
that, having been taken entirely out of context,
could serve to distract the public from the depth of
the Bush administration's failures. Why report about the war(s), or the disastrous international impact of Bush economic policies, when you can fill air time with manufactured scandals?

I urge everyone to read, in whole, what Rev. Wright actually said.

Memo: Eboo Patel; 'On Faith' crew
April 29, 2008

Obama threw Wright under the campaign bus with his racist white granny. Wright is now persona-non-grata. Do not resuscitate. Please post accordingly.

Thank you,
B. Jones

Wright and Obama are Islamochristians.
The NOI is a sister religion.

A church "relevant" to the community; producing oceanographers. "That's what we're about." Makes one wonder who is the Creator and who is the creature in "Rev." Wright's religion. Is the church to serve God or to serve men?

Wright also talked about "black brains" and "white brains." If this isn't contributing to racism, then I don't know what racism is.

Wright is a race hustler who twists words so that black people will follow his lead and think of themselves as victims. They should follow leaders (of whatever race) that will lead them to success instead of to victimhood. Success means "middleclassness"--a simple American concept that Wright's church is trying to keep out of the hands of his black flock so that they will be poor.

P.S. Most people I know are of mixed race, so the whole concepts of pushing racism is even more despicable than it might seem at first glance.

Well this article is total hogwash. Reverand Wright has not changed his views, that was obvious from his last public speech. Wouldn't matter if Wright cured AIDs, since Mr. Obama is running for the presidency of the US, therefore if he attends a church for 20 years with a preacher that has blatantly anti american views, it is understandable that the american people will view this as a reflection of Obamas actual thoughts. This being opposed to the vague generalities such as "change" and "shared prosperity" which he continually belts out at political rallies, but contain little factual substance. In fact its becoming more and more apparant that Obama is an open marxist, this explains why the msm is desperately going all out to hoodwink the american people into voting him in.

Im not saying McCain is much better, the dems and repubs are two sides of the elite coin of absolute dominance overthe lives of the average american. While of course the elites want obama so they can realize their communist agenda more quickly, they would tolerate a more fabian slow but steady approach under a faux conservative leadership such as McCain.

Well this article is total hogwash. Reverand Wright has not changed his views, that was obvious from his last public speech. Wouldn't matter if Wright cured AIDs, since Mr. Obama is running for the presidency of the US, therefore if he attends a church for 20 years with a preacher that has blatantly anti american views, it is understandable that the american people will view this as a reflection of Obamas actual thoughts. This being opposed to the vague generalities such as "change" and "shared prosperity" which he continually belts out at political rallies, but contain little factual substance. In fact its becoming more and more apparant that Obama is an open marxist, this explains why the msm is desperately going all out to hoodwink the american people into voting him in.

Im not saying McCain is much better, the dems and repubs are two sides of the elite coin of absolute dominance overthe lives of the average american. While of course the elites want obama so they can realize their communist agenda more quickly, they would tolerate a more fabian slow but steady approach under a faux conservative leadership such as McCain.

Brother Potel,
Thanks for having the guts to go against the "grain". I would like to remind those who can trace their family back into American slavery, as can Rev. Wright, that it wasn't Politicians that ended slavery. As a matter of fact, one of the major influences to the end of slavery was a crazy, jack leg preacher, by the name of John Brown.

Its laughable to see White America (and some Black Americans) pretend as if the Rev. speaks as if from Mars.

lol... everyone in their heart knows the man is 100% right, its just that they want to make sure, his ideas dont become commonplace and acceptable.

Of course he is right, on every count, doesnt mean you people dont like his message, that makes him wrong.

If anything, the truth really hurts, and Sean Hannity, you should be ashamed of yourself, you are what really disgraces America with your jongoistic typecasting of America with you phoney lapel pin and hateful concieted beady eyes. You work for a special interest controlled by Zzionists and Faux News and the Evangelical bible thumpers who have disgraced America for the sake of Jews and are cowards who cannot face and confront the Zionists so they join them.

Hi Eboo,

I thank you for providing a different view of Rev. Wright from the negative one that Fox News Stations would have us believe. This Fox News coverage has been such a disservice to someone who has and is trying to change the Black Community and the Community at Large for the better. Please keep up the open minded view and together we all will be better for it.

Thanks
Greg Bias

Say whatever you want about Wright-his words do not reflect the presence of Christ. Jesus called His disciples to "preach the Gospel to all mankind". Wright has his own gospel and he's fallen into a ditch.

Say whatever you want about Wright-his words do not reflect the presence of Christ. Jesus called His disciples to "preach the Gospel to all mankind". Wright has his own gospel and he's fallen into a ditch.

Say whatever you want about Wright-his words do not reflect the presence of Christ. Jesus called His disciple to "preach the Gospel to all mankind". Wright has his own gospel and he's fallen into a ditch.

My heart is heavy because Reverend Wright has suffered from the sin of pride. WE have a chance to elect an incredible man in Barack Obama whose vision may be one of the best things that could happen in the United States in quite sometime. It troubles me that Reverend Wright instead of thinking, "here is one of my congregation running for president, a good man, a true visionary, a potentially great president. What is it that I do to help him? Instead of these thoughts I believe Reverend Wright has suffered from "the sin of pride." He has become more interested in defending himself rather than helping Senator Obama. By advancing his own personal cause rather than Senator Obama's he has perhaps prevented the Senator from advancing the ideals and the culture of trust that may have allowed some of the very real ideas the Reverend may have been able to give to our country. Instead, because of his ego, the reverend has all but consigned our country to a presidency under either Senator McCain or Clinton. It is shameful that the reverend has not kept his eyes on the prize. He has not understood the fact that one can find fault with our country but still love it.

Rev Wright is SO right-on ..... but people don't want to hear the truth... he said "governments change, lie, and fail" Look around ..... THAT is the truth in America.

To briefly quote Paul E. Little (author of "Know What You Believe"), "It doesn't matter what you think of Play-Doh, Napoleon, or Richard Nixon. It DOES matter what you think of Jesus Christ." Think what ever you want about Jeremiah Wright, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. At this moment, a week from next Wednesday, and in the end it won't really matter. It WILL matter what you think about Jesus Christ.

To briefly quote Paul E. Little (author of "Know What You Believe"), "It doesn't matter what you think of Play-Doh, Napoleon, or Richard Nixon. It DOES matter what you think of Jesus Christ." Think what ever you want about Jeremiah Wright, John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama. At this moment, a week from next Wednesday, and in the end it won't really matter. It WILL matter what you think about Jesus Christ.

I am trying to get in touch with the Rev. Wright. I would like to tell him to please "shut up!"

I know that he feels that he has to speak out on behalf of his congregation. But, please. He are going to cost one of the best men in our recent history the presidency because of his ego. STOP!

I am a practicing Roman Catholic. I understand that everything that my priests preach is not how I live. I could go through the differentiation of my live v. my priest. Just the same, I go to church and I am a Catholic.

Please, Rev. Wright. Please. Support Mr. Obama instead of let your ego stand in the way.

Kathleen from Oregon

Further message, to Jeremiah Wright because I can't find an email address for him. Sir, the repudiation of your words IS an attack on YOU, not an attack on the black church. Take it personally. It IS personal, directed at you, and all the words in the world aren't going to get you off the hook with the majority of the American people.

Wright cannot undo or justify what he said. He cannot vindicate himself. He has not been wronged. This is about Reverend Wright, not an attack on the black church.

How can an atonement of Christ be used to create guilt for people who believe when its purpose is to take away our guilt in the eyes of God?

Putting things in perspective for the Preachers Haynes and Wright:

1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was either the embellishment of the lives of three different men or a mythical character as was Moses, the "Tablet-Man" who talked to burning bushes and made much magic in Egypt.

1.5 million Conservative Jews and their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.
simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

2. Jesus was an illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter/simple preacher man who suffered from hallucinations and who has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth to a mamzer from Nazareth (Professor Bruce Chilton, in his book Rabbi Jesus). Analyses of Jesus’ life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists) via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian, Jewish and Pagan sects.

The 30% of the NT that is "authentic Jesus" like everything in life was borrowed/plagiarized and/or improved from those who came before. In Jesus' case, it was the ways and sayings of the Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, OT, John the Baptizer and possibly the ways and sayings of traveling Greek Cynics. earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html

For added "pizzazz", Catholic/Christian theologians divided god the singularity into three persons and invented atonement as an added guilt trip for the "pew people" to go along with this trinity of overseers. By doing so, they made god the padre into god the "filicider".

3. Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingie thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).

With these three points as gospel, Haynes, Wright, their fellow preachers and also priests and rabbis will be receiving their pink slips thereby there will be no more "pulpitfying" from these "mumbo jumboers" and we can get on with the political debate free at last from religion.

With respect to Eboo Patel, the following should be enough to also send him a pink slip:

Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/ plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the assassination of Bhutto, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino “koranics”.

It's nice to see that people on this comment line can voice an opinion against the Reverend but still be called a racist, so nothing has changed in this country other than the ability of the good Reverend to continue to call us all racists.

If Jesus of Nazareth were to walk into my city today and perform a couple of "miracles" I would still be somewhat skeptical, in much the same way Senator Obama has appeared with the chant "Change We Can Believe In."

I would truly like to believe in Senator Obama, however I've heard the "Change" line before. In fact, I heard that line back in 2000 out of the mouth of President Bush. (I didn't believe it back then either.)

Our system is broken, and it will more than someone who progressively chants "Change" in order to fix it. I personally would need to see some kind of proof through actions rather than word that what they say is what they are really looking to accomplish. In two years in the Senate, I haven't seen the votes of the Senator much differently than anyone else's vote.

So far what I've heard thus far is semi explanations about ties to Anthony Rezko, the Reverend Wright, and William Ayers, and until we get all the facts behind us, this election is a bit too important for our country to allow his candidacy to go beyond the convention. Especially in light of the possibility that many of the votes that Senator Obama received during the primaries were from Republican crossover.

Thanks for giving us another side of Rev. Wright. Perhaps one that is more becoming than those 12 words.

Nice try, but there is no way to justify the Rev. Wright's statements that American creatd HIV-aids to kill blacks, that the 9/11 attacks were America's fault, or "God damn America".

Moreover, if Thomas Jefferson was a close advisor to a presidential cantidate today, all we would need to know is that he defended slavery and it would be all over for the cantidate. And rightly so.

Thank you; nuff said.

Excellent article

"Show me a man who says one thing to one audience and another thing to a different audience, and I'll show you a man with a serious character flaw."

Bingo. That is precisely the problem with his interview with Moyers. He sang a different tune rather than have what he said before dealt with.

The sad part is alot of the sins he did mentioned the US committed were true, like slavery. He didn't need to invent conspiracy theories or play it is all fault of US card in each and every war to absurd lengths to make his point that if the US does not repent of its sins, God will judge it.

He is also wrong to try to compare himself to Jefferson. Jefferson had no problem saying God bless America. More, Jefferon did say that he trembled for this nation when he reflected that God is just over issue of slavery. He didn't say he is calling down on God to damned us over slavery, but feared God would show His wrath on America. There is no comparison between Wright and Jefferson.

The Rev. Wright 'issue', the flag pin, etc. are 'permission slips' for people who would never, ever, ever vote for Obama in the first place. Let them enjoy their righteous, manufactured outrage as we buckle down, work even harder, and elect Barack Obama President.

And another thing- once being in the military in the past does not mean one is patriotic now if one now say and do thing to demean one's own country, including many false things. Heck, Benedict Arnold once served in our military and did so longer than Wright did! Timothy McVeigh once served in the military, too.

It is their actions and their words that in the end tells us how patriotic they are.

Sorry, but the interview was a bogus attempt to make Wright look favorably. He never had to own up to his statements claiming the US government invented AIDs to kill blacks or distribute drugs to get blacks hooked. He never had to own up for his slurs of Italians with his garlic nose remarks when he talked about them as if they were Romans in regards to looking down on Galileeans, in regards to when Romans crucified Christ as his example of "rich white men" keeping "poor black man" down. Bad statement for multiple reasons. Romans back then were Latins and Estrucans. Italiasn today came from Germanic tribes that conquered the area of Italy from the Romans. So Wright was wrong there, and worse in being wrong, slurred the wrong ethnic group. Bad enough that he slurred, but doing it to the wrong group makes it worse. And if he wanted to turn the death of Christ according to the gospels as whites on black crime, had he not notice the Bible said those of Christ's own race (hence own color) turned Him over to the Romans? So should there be preaching on black on black crime? Doubtful he would do it since he was twisting text to make it about another case of white on black crime, to inflame blacks against whites. It is one thing to chide America for its racist past (and if he really truly wanted to do so, go to its leaders and rebuke them like any true prophet of Bible would, not preach to the choir). It is another to preach to the choir to inflame them with anger against another races, which he has done.

Or he never had to answer for his remarks about Israel painting it as terrorist, apartheid nation while he and his church supports terrorist groups like Hamas, which are known for suicide bombings and other extreme acts of terrorism even when Israel tried to offer peace and concessions, and passes around their hateful, antisemitic propaganda (that accuses Israel of conspiring to develop "race" bombs, with South Africa when the latter was apartheid).

Alot of his other "facts" are wrong, too. The founding fathers didn't plant slavery in America. It was there long before they were born. They inherited the problem, which became impossible to do away with given that there were some states that would divide the nation rather than accept that, thus sabotaging first any hopes of ratifying the Constitution and second present a constant threat of disunion from then on til the Civil War. He lumped all the founders as if they were pro-slavery, when in fact many of them worked at state level to end slavery in their respective states and many founded and joined abolitionist societies themselves. And many were successful in the Northern states where there was strong evangelical reaction against slavery. And he ignored many founders wanted to end the slave trade, but had to compromise with those of pro-slavery interest to postpone that til 1808.

And his sermon painting America is to blame in every war he mentions shows an unpredented naivete when it comes to understanding history. America, to be sure, was not perfect, and in some wars, like Mexican War and how it dealt with the Native Americans, it was mostly in the wrong. But when it comes to WW2 and Japan especially, it was trying to end the war and to get the nation that attacked it first to surrender and did not want to have loss of lives on its own end and also figured much more loss of lives in long run for Japanese than if it had dropped the A-bomb twice. Japan had chances to surrender those times. Basically, by his logic, every time a country goes to war even in response to being attacked, it is wrong to attack back. That is why his statements on blame America first in regards to different countries, be it imperialistic Japan during WW2, or be it with nations that do committ acts of terrorism and even in some cases genoicides, like the Sudan, Iraq, and Iran, his statements should be taken with a grain of salt. The US might not be innocent always in each and every war, but for him to picture alot of our enemies as innocent in these cases is beyond laughable.

Rashid a. memon:

First stright the record. Mr. Eboo Patel wrote more in favoer of Muslim here than anyone else. I have been following his Blog.

Now I am from Pakistan ORIGINALLY, you talked about the Hindu Killing Muslims..

WHY Dont you talk about Shai Killing Sunnis and Suni's Killing Shia EVERY day.

Why dont you talk about the Discrimintory Laws which EXIST in Paskistan against Ahamidis.

Don't be just a typical Pakistani.

hi - it's is readily apparent mr wright has been taken out of context - rev wright served 6 yrs us military & is a veteran -

I think the Reverend is right on. The Blacks have been and contine to be abused in America, only now in many more subtle ways than 50 years ago. By the way, I am white and a former bigot, but I have seen the error of my ways. Blacks are a helluva lot more American than I am, and they deserve better.

You being hindu and patel, did you ever raised the voice wehn muslims were killed like fliees in gujrat. Go back and talk to your prime minister who got elected again. Talk to all the patels who they killed and who destoryed all muslim monuments...............than creating interfaith when you don't have respect for some faiths

Pastor used wrong choice of words when he said, "God damn America" to define the nation that has come a long way like many other nations where racism, caste system, sexism and depriviation of economically poor population exists. Some people are never happy with the progress we are making, yet it is slow because we are a democracy. You can get a lot of fast progress in Communism.
Chinese do not allow more than one child.If we study all black population in the world and if every black couple had one child, the per capita income of the family would improve. My father had 9 children and two died. Now, there are 13 children among 7 of us. They are all having better education, food and clothing than when we grew up. Some relatives always blame they do not have enough and others are thankful to God that I came to America and heped others pull out of poverty. We are a Hindu faith based family. No alcohol, no violence, no gambling, no womanizing, no divorces, no physical or emotional or verbal abuse, no more than two children, just hardwork and be thankful everyday for what we have been given by Lord. Now, slavery is bad and it still exists and blaming all today's whites who themselves are not united to wipe out any race is the past baggage Pastor carries. Some young people may take the words he spoke as the words of God and hate their nation, their neighbors who are different, get depressed and angry, all of which hurts their self-esteem and inner motivation to make effort to succeed and go forward. How come people of India come here from large family, work hard and accept the similar social treatment and yet, a few years later, they are economically better and keep families together? The secret is that we don't dwell in the past and we accept and go forward with positive thinking. Pastor needs to focus more on self-improvement and fight for policy changes through NGOs, NAACP, and media and politics. OBAMA said there is no blue and red America, similarly, get rid off black and white America from your vocabulary. America is not perfect, yet, it gives hope to many countries as a charitable nation. I listened to Pastor's speech at NAACP and learned something about African culture. However, blacks who are raised here for last 3 generations are not raised in Africa. There is a clear difference among new Africans, old africans, new and old American blacks. OBAMA is raised here as an intellectual. OBAMA's wife still lives in the past and is less thankful for what she achieved and makes in America.

We are Americans First and that is where we need to stop. Pastor is playing race card and now black are calling Clintons racist and no one is saying 'sorry, please forgive me'. That to me is an arrogance. 'Bitter' comment should be addressed to blacks who are always reminded of their bitter past history. It is similar to Jews showing holocast movies again and again, and Pallestines/Hamas not letting it go. Instead, they should focus on the future families and their survival.

Pastor used wrong choice of words when he said, "God damn America" to define the nation that has come a long way like many other nations where racism, caste system, sexism and depriviation of economically poor population exists. Some people are never happy with the progress we are making, yet it is slow because we are a democracy. You can get a lot of fast progress in Communism.
Chinese do not allow more than one child.If we study all black population in the world and if every black couple had one child, the per capita income of the family would improve. My father had 9 children and two died. Now, there are 13 children among 7 of us. They are all having better education, food and clothing than when we grew up. Some relatives always blame they do not have enough and others are thankful to God that I came to America and heped others pull out of poverty. We are a Hindu faith based family. No alcohol, no violence, no gambling, no womanizing, no divorces, no physical or emotional or verbal abuse, no more than two children, just hardwork and be thankful everyday for what we have been given by Lord. Now, slavery is bad and it still exists and blaming all today's whites who themselves are not united to wipe out any race is the past baggage Pastor carries. Some young people may take the words he spoke as the words of God and hate their nation, their neighbors who are different, get depressed and angry, all of which hurts their self-esteem and inner motivation to make effort to succeed and go forward. How come people of India come here from large family, work hard and accept the similar social treatment and yet, a few years later, they are economically better and keep families together? The secret is that we don't dwell in the past and we accept and go forward with positive thinking. Pastor needs to focus more on self-improvement and fight for policy changes through NGOs, NAACP, and media and politics. OBAMA said there is no blue and red America, similarly, get rid off black and white America from your vocabulary. America is not perfect, yet, it gives hope to many countries as a charitable nation. I listened to Pastor's speech at NAACP and learned something about African culture. However, blacks who are raised here for last 3 generations are not raised in Africa. There is a clear difference among new Africans, old africans, new and old American blacks. OBAMA is raised here as an intellectual. OBAMA's wife still lives in the past and is less thankful for what she achieved and makes in America.

We are Americans First and that is where we need to stop. Pastor is playing race card and now black are calling Clintons racist and no one is saying 'sorry, please forgive me'. That to me is an arrogance. 'Bitter' comment should be addressed to blacks who are always reminded of their bitter past history. It is similar to Jews showing holocast movies again and again, and Pallestines/Hamas not letting it go. Instead, they should focus on the future families and their survival.

Thank you so much for providing more than just a "sound byte" of this great man.

Thank you so much for providing more than just a "sound byte" of this great man.

Rev. Wright has opened up a whole new world of understanding for me in race relations. I am 85 yrs,white,and Unitarian,(former Episcopalian)and 100% for Barack Obama. I have learned so much abour the deffernces of black and white preceptions of Christianity and how black people see God. What goes on in black churches most Sundays we whites are totally ignorant of. I am thankful to the Rev. for his desire to improve race relations and I really cannot halep but think in the end this will help Obama in his race for Pres. Ignorance is NOT bliss-wise up people, listen up people,jopen your eyes and ears and maybe we all can hope for a more unified country. Thankyou Rev. Wright for how you have helped me to be a better person.

I have listened to Rev. Wright many times through tapes, TV and visting Trinity United Church. Rev. Wright is a Pastor about the people he serves. His views are not different then many African American Pastor and men for that matter. Yes, he may voice it differently however, what he says is apart of the what is taught in our community. We are taught only US History in school but never the African American History so our parents, grandparents, Pastors and life experiences did the teaching. Now, I wonder why everybody is upset. I thought everyone knew what African American's believe and how they felt about racism. Martin Luther King Jr's death did not close the book on racism. It is still much alive and the pain is felt in the heart and life of every African Americans young and old. Rev. Wright and most Pastors (no matter their race) who ministry to the African American community teach and deal with it every day.

Obama has nothing to do with it. He only went to Church and disire a change, a better Anerica for all people.

I have listened to Rev. Wright many times through tapes, TV and visting Trinity United Church. Rev. Wright is a Pastor about the people he serves. His views are not different then many African American Pastor and men for that matter. Yes, he may voice it differently however, what he says is apart of the what is taught in our community. We are taught only US History in school but never the African American History so our parents, grandparents, Pastors and life experiences did the teaching. Now, I wonder why everybody is upset. I thought everyone knew what African American's believe and how they felt about racism. Martin Luther King Jr's death did not close the book on racism. It is still much alive and the pain is felt in the heart and life of every African Americans young and old. Rev. Wright and most Pastors (no matter their race) who ministry to the African American community teach and deal with it every day.

Obama has nothing to do with it. He only went to Church and disire a change, a better Anerica for all people.

It is my opinion that whatever Rev. Wright had to say about this country in which we all live, he was entitled to do just that. One of the things that this country is so quick to do is quote the constitution concerning freedom of speech until another views or ideas offend. It okay to say what you want along as you do not offend me. I do not believe that Reverend Wright said any untruths and for all who believes that there is no racism in America, you are lying to your self. Racism may not be int he hearts of all white America but it does exist and most of you would like to think that it has somehow gone away. You act as if African American are no longer the down trodden, but I beg to differ with you. Racism is alive and well, America. I believe that more African Americans should speak their minds and not be made to feel as if they have done something wrong by doing so. We spend a good deal of our incomes buying whatever that thing is that supports the American dream, we value the things that do not support our neighborhoods or will put stock in your children's educations. We through our lives away on trying to be like a people that still despise and thinks very little of us. We need to speak our minds more often, no matter how much it may hurt because it can only get better. Look at how many of you have come to talk about the things that Reverend Wright has said, whether you agree with him or not. Over the last several weeks, I have heard nothing else. If nothing else, the Obama campaign has brought racism once again to the forefront and people are talking about nothing else. Racism is usually something that people want to swipe under the rug and not mention in open forums. We all should be able to speak our minds on any subject in the Democratic society that we are always so busy trying to shove down other peoples and countries throats.
We often time find ourselves in the company of others that may or may not be all that we would have them to be, but then they would not be individuals. I am sorry that Mr. Obama felt that he had to denounce his pastor just because he said something that was not a favorite thing for all that heard him. I can think of a lot worse things that people do in this country. I do not alway agree with my pastor, but I also think about all of the good that he does, I do not have to feel or think as my pastor does. More of America and people should tell the truth or what they think is truth at least it open up dialog between us all to agree or disagree.

I have enjoyed reading all the comments responding to Mr. Patel's article. It is great to see engaged dialog at this time in our nation's history.

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright's blemished record is more than just "twelve words". He carefully chose to give an award to the head of The Nation of Islam, calling Farrakhan "one of the most esteemed Americans."

Let's not soft peddle the hard truth.

Even today, Wright stated some absurd views.

"You cannot do terrorism on other people and not expect it to come back to you," Wright said at the National Press Club when asked about a speech in which he asserted the Sept. 11 attacks were retaliation for U.S. foreign policy.

Asked about another sermon in which he suggested the U.S. government created the AIDS virus to kill black people, Wright also did not retreat.

"Based on what has happened to Africans in this country, I believe our government is capable of doing anything," he said.

There are people who will never vote for Obama with or without the J. Wright's hatchet job. So let's face it, that's the way it is now. Wright serves as a justification for some to vote for Obama or not to vote for him. Hate speech is not what Wright appears to be about at all. The hate came from those who chose to promote it by showing bits and pieces of his sermons. At the end of the day, this man is at peace with himself. Can those who are accusing him say the same about themselves? Now we know that he volunteered for the service where he spent 6 years for this country. He attended school and graduated. He took over a Church of 87 members and brought it to a 8000 membership. How many of his critics can show such deeds?
I am sure that if Obama's barber was involved in a car accident today, some will link Obama to it. As a people, we deserve better than a few sound bites and grainy Youtube videos.

There are people who will never vote for Obama with or without the J. Wright's hatchet job. So let's face it, that's the way it is now. Wright serves as a justification for some to vote for Obama or not to vote for him. Hate speech is not what Wright appears to be about at all. The hate came from those who chose to promote it by showing bits and pieces of his sermons. At the end of the day, this man is at peace with himself. Can those who are accusing him say the same about themselves? Now we know that he volunteered for the service where he spent 6 years for this country. He attended school and graduated. He took over a Church of 87 members and brought it to a 8000 membership. How many of his critics can show such deeds?
I am sure that if Obama's barber was involved in a car accident today, some will link Obama to it. As a people, we deserve better than a few sound bites and grainy Youtube videos.

I think those who listened to Rev. Wrights speech & his answers to the questions put to him were right on target. I am a white voter & democrat,and I I support Obama and the Rev. Wright. John Navin 495 S. 51 St. Unit 7,West Des Moines,Ia

Mr. Patel,

The problem is Rev. Wright undermines all the good things he talks about by mocking others and being very disrespectful. People seem to forget the "ridin dirty" comments and the Natalie Holloway references. One can make points without tearing down others. Rev. Wright doesn't seem to achieve this. And now again he has done this in the NAACP speech.

I can't imagine continuing to sit in a pew if I heard directly or indirectly that he had said such things. And Senator Obama was closer to him than just a guy sitting in the pews. So it's hard for him to distance himself in any way that seems believable.

The Washington Post are a bunch of slick bast*rds. First, you open the story with this lie:

"former pastor today defended the fiery sermons that have become a political liability for the Democratic presidential contender,"

Distorters -- AKA Washington Post: it was the "fiery" sound bite at the end of a well reasoned, media-ignored description of US government racism and violence that the pastor was reacting to.

Second, your lead photo was of the pastor shaking hands with a gleeful Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Moral pastor? Hint, hint.

The only defensible thing you can say is: "Well, we're better than cable."

Not by much.

The Washington Post are a bunch of slick bast*rds. First, you open the story with this lie:

"former pastor today defended the fiery sermons that have become a political liability for the Democratic presidential contender,"

Distorters -- AKA Washington Post: it was the "fiery" sound bite at the end of a well reasoned, media-ignored description of US government racism and violence that the pastor was reacting to.

Second, your lead photo was of the pastor shaking hands with a gleeful Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.

Moral pastor? Hint, hint.

The only defensible thing you can say is: "Well, we're better than cable."

Not by much.

Enjoyed reading your article, as I was looking
around for signs that Jeremiah Wright has
overcome the puntits talk about him and put
thoughtful people back into the proper frame
of mind to evaluate him as a person.
I was recently led by my minister to the
writings of Jim Wallis, because I asked him
why churches are not taking part in the dialogue
of this campaign. Certainly not the far right
who have previously spoken out on every possible
moral issue, but not the one of the division
in our country against those who are different
than ourselves.
I pray Christians everywhere will start to
spread the word that we are taught to do
unto others as we would have them do unto us
and to love all of our neighbors , even those
who are different.

A good persons whole image is destroyed if involved in a single bad deed, a bad persons good deeds are of no value.

Blaming the media or the Right will not amount to a hill of beans. What the Reverand said cannot be accepted in any context. People are sick and tired of "out of context" and thats why the results are favoring Hillary. Every word spoken has a context, listeners are smart enough to know THE context.

And I have a question for you. What if the ONLY thing you knew about Lee Harvey Oswald was that he murdered John F. Kennedy? I suppose the rest make him a good man overall? What if the only thing you knew about Aldoph Hitler was that he murdered Jews? The rest of his life was spent putting Germany together, so i suppose he was a good man overall?

Don't be silly regarding Reverend Wright. This man hates America and blames US for the problems in the world. Most of US do NOT blame ourselves for the problems in the world. Rather we are the SAVIOUR of the world despite some mistakes we make.

Rev. Wright is out of touch with mainstream American BY CHOICE. You know it. I know it. And Obama knows it.

Please don't try to make a case that Rev. Wright is just another poor understood minority American. This country affords opportunity to all. Rev. Wright is about to move into a million dollar home built in a White community. Let's get that grain of sand a many other grains as well in putting together the complete picture of this angry black man!

I think D. Rodriguez said it best: "I wish Jeremiah Wright, with his "afro-centric" bias would look at some of the black governed nations in Africa and see how wonderful and idyllic it is there! Let's see: Darfur, Zimbabwe, Congo, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Uganda... shall we go on and on and on??? Africans are SOO wonderful and good to their fellow Africans, aren't they? Rape, murder, starvation, SLAVERY, brutality, GENOCIDE! Why, where is the white man's hand in all of this? Where is the European culture which is causing all this misery and mayhem? Wake up, people. The "Africa" myth is just that. Africa, on the whole, is a place of misery and death. You can't blame everything on the white man and by the way, blacks have held other blacks in the chains of slavery LONG before white men ever did! I am REALLY really really getting tired of the rant."

Like my old boss used to say, One "Aw shoot" wipes out all those "Attaboy"s.

Fortunately Jefferson left a legacy detailed in his public writings to allow me to know more than that as a private man he was a slave holder.

I know nothing of Wright's private life, but as a public figure he uses his speach and selective biblical references to incite the masses of listeners to hold negative beliefs about their government. Today, he justified terrorist attacks against the US because the bible said "do unto others as they would do unto you". Yet Jesus said the most important comandment is "to love your neighbor as thyself".

I'm certain that Jefferson had the foresight to see the likes of Reverend Wright when his architecture for a new nation inluded a seperate church and state. He would know that the masses would look to God in difficult times and that they could be manipulated by those who claim to