Obama is in the hotseat, attempting to explain how he could be a long standing member of Trinity Church considering statements made in the past. Rev. Jeremiah Wright has stated "God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."
Obama has stated on numerous occasions that he considers Rev. Jeremiah Wright to be like an uncle to him. He also indicates that he has been a
long standing member of Trinity Church, having joined sometime in the early 90's.
Wright performed the marriage ceremony of Barack and Michelle, as well as presiding over the baptism's of his children.
With that being said, Obama is now trying indicating that had he never heard such statements as those recently revealed while he was attending any sermons at Trinity Church, and had he, he would not "have felt comfortable there".
So, what exactly did Reverend Wright say that is so distasteful you ask. Here are a few quotes that have recently come to light.....
In a sermon on the Sunday following the September 11th terrorist attacks, Rev. Wright had this to say:
"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Wright said. "We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."
Essentially blaming America for bringing on the terrorist attack.
In a 2003 sermon Wright said that blacks should condemn the United States.
"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America.' No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people. God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human. God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."
He also gave a sermon in December comparing Obama to Jesus Christ, promoting his candidacy and insulting Clinton.
"Barack knows what it means to be a black man to be living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people," Wright told a cheering congregation. "Hillary can never know that. Hillary ain't never been called a nigger."
Obama said that Wright's controversial statements first came to his attention at the beginning of his presidential campaign last year, and he condemned them at that time. However, because of his long and deep ties to the 6,000-member congregation church, Obama said he decided not to leave the controversial congregation.
"With Reverend Wright's retirement and the ascension of my new pastor, Rev. Otis Moss III, Michelle and I look forward to continuing a relationship with a church that has done so much good," he wrote.
Questions about Obama's religious beliefs have been a point of contention throughout his candidacy. He's had to fight against Internet rumors suggesting he's really a Muslim intent on destroying the United States, and now his pastor's words, which also speak out strongly against the USA, place Obama in a not so attractive light.
Obama wrote on the Huffington Post that he never heard Wright say any of the statements, but he acknowledged that they have raised legitimate questions about the nature of his relationship with the pastor and the church. He wrote that he joined Wright's church nearly 20 years ago, having been familiar with the pastor's background as a former Marine and respected biblical scholar who lectured at seminaries across the country.
So, what do you think? Is it possible that you could be a member of a Church for 20 years and have a reverend that you consider to be as close as an uncle to you, and have no idea whatsoever that the reverend thought this way or preached such sermons? You never, ever heard any of this, nor did any of the other members of the congregation approach you and question the statements being made by the head pastor?
Somehow, I am thinking no. He heard, He knew.
