PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Barack Obama unsparingly criticized his longtime pastor's words while strongly defending the man himself Tuesday in a politically risky speech that appealed to the country to overcome racism and the black anger and white resentment it spawns.
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(Photo: AP Images / Alex Brandon)Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks about race during a news conference in Philadelphia, Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Forming a more perfect union "requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams," said the Illinois senator running to be the first black president.
"This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected," he said.
In his most pointed speech of the campaign, Obama confronted the nation's legacy of racial division head on, tackling black grievance, white resentment and the uproar over his former pastor's incendiary statements. Drawing on his half-black, half-white roots as no other presidential hopeful could, Obama urged Americans to break "a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years.'"
"The anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races," he said in a speech at the National Constitution Center, not far from where the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
The speech was the most racially tinged during his campaign to become the first black president, covering divisions from slavery to the O.J. Simpson trial to the recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina, along with his own background. Obama rarely talks so openly about his race in such a prominent way, but he recognized it has been a major issue in the campaign that has taken a "particularly divisive turn" in the last few weeks as video of his longtime pastor spread on the Internet and on television.
Obama's advisers say the candidate decided on Saturday to make the speech and spent much of Sunday and Monday writing it, finishing shortly before he took the stage. They said Philadelphia was chosen not because it has the highest concentration of blacks in Pennsylvania, the next state to vote on April 22, but because of its historical significance.
Obama said sermons delivered by his longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, "rightly offend white and black alike." Those sermons from years ago suggested the United States brought the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on itself and say blacks continue to be mistreated by whites.
While Obama rejected what Wright said, he also embraced the man who inspired his Christian faith, officiated at his wedding, baptized his two daughters and has been his spiritual guide for nearly 20 years.
"I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community," Obama said, speaking in front of eight American flags. "I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother — a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."
Obama said he knew Wright to occasionally be a fierce critic of U.S. policy and that the pastor sometimes made controversially remarks in church that he disagreed with, but he said he never heard Wright talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms. The comments that have become a source of debate recently "were not only wrong but divisive" and have raised questions among voters, he said. Continue >>
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Feet,
not to change the subject, Joe, a dear brother in christ, yet by all appearances was someone who ate living babies until he died, yes was guilty of serial killing also,and though an anointed speaker obviously went to his grave guilty of repetitve unrepentant sin.
and that hopefully that christendom will finally come to the understanding that this is the same eventuality of all believers, but regardless,know they are and were covered by what christ did on the cross 2000 years ago.
Do you see how ridiculous this statement sounds when you put such extremes in? But why should one not be able to be a serial killer and still have Christ cover all of the repetitive sins a person commits? Is Christ not able to cover big sins? Certainly He is, and certainly a Christian cannot continue doing such things. Christ said we must repent, therefore, we must repent. Continuous repetitive sin literally means not repenting. Therefore, continuous, volitional, sinning = not a Christian.
If you say otherwise, you have to explain why the imaginary person Joe does not qualify. Also, under your proposition, why don't we just have everybody say a little prayer (whether they mean it or not, because you know Christ can cover our not meaning it too right?) and then they can go on living exactly as they were before! This is ridiculous, certainly works do not save, but a faith without works is dead. Dead faith equals no faith.
After 20 years of sitting under this guy's ministry and donating thousands of dollars to his ministry, Obama has finally seen the light??? C'mon, folks. Obama is running for President. If he wasn't he wouldn't be saying squat about Wright. This is political expendiency...nothing less. He got caught!!! Simple as that. Obama and his children sitting under the tutelage of this racist pastor. How much of Wright's teaching and theology have affected Obama over the years?? Hmmmm?? And this is the guy who claims to be the "answer" to our country and wants to "heal our souls?" I think not. Try Jesus...He's got the answer. The Cross of Christ and nothing less. A Risen Savior and nothing less.
REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND!!!
not to change the subject, falwell, a dear brother in christ, yet by all appearances was someone who ate himself to death and, yes was guilty of hatemongering,and though an anointed speaker obviously went to his grave guilty of repetitve unrepentant sin.
and that hopefully that christendom will finally come to the understanding that this is the same eventuality of all believers, but regardless,know they are and were covered by what christ did on the cross 2000 years ago.
seed "I did not hear Obama say that his pastor was wrong during his speech "
and I dont hear Christains condemn pat robertson and the late jerry falwell for their long history hate mongering.
some of this criticism sounds pharisetical.
an over zealous man at the pulpit expressing himself in one incident.
everything wright said was true. he had lived and witnessed a lifetime of hypocracy.
other blacks didnt criticize him because they understood his frustration having lived it with him.
has everyone already forgotten the images of katrina. there are whole lot of people who lived that and are still recovering from it mentally and emotionally.
and in the midst of the suffering the louisana troops had been given orders to deny access for and any and all attempts of assistance by concerned individuals.
when you are white those images come and go at a whim.................but if you are black it is tottally different scenario.
where is the brother to brother compassion?
Hume, is that your real name or are you giving yourself the title here in reference to David Hume?
While you seem to know so much about liberation theology, why don't you enlighten us all.
Personally I think that the title of this article, "Obama says Pastor Wrong and Divisive" is kind of missing the omission. I did not hear Obama say that his pastor was wrong during his speech in Penn. He more or less excused him while saying that he did not want to come across to his listeners that he was in fact excusing him.
While I agree that it is an integral aspect of reconciliation to be able to have a civilized discussion about divisive issues that lead to understanding and forgiveness, I don't think that is what came out in the expression, "God d___ America!" Anger and hate kind of shut down discussions that are intended to be meaningful. Perhaps after a cooling off time at least Christians will consider some of the deep issues that are lurking around our subconscious and begin to reach out across barriers of pain and rejection, leading to not only a stronger church but also a stronger America.
I think that the Promise Keepers and other reconciliatory actions that have been taking place within the church have yet to be seen in our communities. At the same time, this is what the church is all about, reconciliation. How can we walk in the light if we in fact hate our neighbor? I remember some years back to be proud of being a part of a denomination (Assemblies of God) for haven taken the initiative to hold a foot-washing service with our brothers of the Church of God in Christ. I still make mention of it. While I have never been prejudice, I do see how it has affected others.
HAWK49: Unbelievable. Instead of actually clicking on the link, you post an article from another right-wing rag peddling the same lie. This is reckless disregard for the truth. Or maybe you did click on the link, then posted anyway. Which would make you a liar, too.
Moreover, its notable that Ken Blackwell can't actually make any theological argument against Liberation theology, all he can do is attack with political smears.
Citizen;
I do believe your sources have misrepresented the truth.
Obama's preacher sanitizes website
Removes radical 'Black Value System' from church 'About Us' page
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Posted: March 16, 2008
10:56 pm Eastern
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
A black Chicago church attended by Democrat presidential frontrunner Barack Obama has removed from the "About Us" page of its website a section outlining a radical belief system for blacks, WND has learned.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=59169
You are correct about Hannity. Ken Blackwell has an excellent handle on Liberation Theology, however. http://www.frcaction.org/index.cfm?i=WX08C06&f=WA08C13
Marxist movements in cenral and south america as well as in africa are based on liberation theology.
Barack Obama unsparingly criticized his longtime pastor's words while strongly defending the man himself Tuesday in a politically risky speech that appealed to the country to overcome racism and the black anger and white resentment it spawns.
1st Corinthians 5:6-8
Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lumpm since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrified for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Simple? Yes. Dig further though. He claims to be a Christian. Since he claims to be a Christian, and follows the Christian way, he is seeking a place in which to be fed. We are all told to go to a church in which we will be fed. He should be doing just this.
Yes, however, there are false teachers among the people. By covetness they will exploit with deceptive words for a long time their judgement has not been idle and their destruction does not slumber.
Christians have been warned to look for false teaching; Beware the leaven of the Pharisees. A little leaven leavens the whole batch.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philisophyand empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic prinicples of the world, and not according to Christ.
to: Terry H.
I agree. I talk about that in my book.
see http://findingsoubrothers.com
HAWK49: I see you are preaching the gospel of Sean Hannity and Brit Hume. They lied about the "black value system" being purged from the website (you can find a link to it on the front page http://www.tucc.org/home.htm). Nor can you learn anything of value about Black Liberation Theology from them.
JC,
I do agree about the specific hate speeches the way you address this. However, the issue appears to me to be much deeper. The total underlying worldview from Wright is separtist Liberation Theology which appears to be the doctrinal basis for Trinity. The vision message of the church spelled this out on their website just until last week; it has been cleaned up since then. Obama was schooled in the organization of Saul Alinsky before he attended Trinity and Saul Alinksky's teaching are in-line with Liberation Theology. Class/race division is essential and animosity between the groups is necessary for change. Obama is comfortable within this whole Liberation Theology worldview as it is compatible with his worldview.
I do believe John MacArthur was right when last May he taught that he believes God has turned His back on America as He did with Israel and Judah.
From where I sit, I see only two possibilities:
1. Senator Obama agrees with these statements.
2. Senator Obama disagrees with these statements.
Simple? Yes. Dig further though. He claims to be a Christian. Since he claims to be a Christian, and follows the Christian way, he is seeking a place in which to be fed. We are all told to go to a church in which we will be fed. He should be doing just this.
Since these statements of hate were made awhile back, we can ascertain Senator Obama's position by asking one simple question - Is he still in attendance at this church?
If the answer is Yes, then he agrees with these statements. If the answer is No, then he doesn't and end of discussion.
Beloved, we are told that we will know them by their fruits. We see that one of the fruits of this pastor's preaching is one of hate and vengeance. If Senator Obama is a by-product of this fruit, and he wins the Presidency, then things are going to get real interesting, to say the least.
Whoever gets elected to President, I fear for America.
Obama and his pastor are devils. But many are falling for it.
Hey kpercy07,
I am with you on this. I am not buying any of it either. If this pastor still has anger and resentment it is because he hasn't forgiven and been healed. We must remember Jesus went through alot more than the African Americans ever did and he said forgive them for they not know what they do. He was persecuted and rejected throughout His life and forgave.He did not teach hatred and unforgiveness but that forgiveness leads to healing and when we are hurt and offended, persecuted even to death, forgive. For most of us this may difficult, possible but difficult. This man is a pastor held to a higher standard and his attitude is why divisions happen.
Here's an excellent review of Obama and his Eloquent Speech, Troubling Worldview By Ken Blackwell
Barack Obama just gave an eloquent speech, but one that does not address the underlying nature of Senator Obama's beliefs. Rev. Jeremiah Wright, like Mr. Obama, believes in a state-centered 21st century form of big-government socialism. This 21st century form of socialism is at the heart of the Liberation Theology Rev. Wright preaches from the pulpit. Today, Mr. Obama again made it clear, with all his eloquence, that he still embraces these beliefs that would require dismantling the free-market system that has made our country's economy the most prosperous in all of human history....
Go to the site and read the rest of how unbiblical Obama is.
http://www.frcaction.org/index.cfm?i=WX08C06&f=WA08C13
Obama cannot have it both ways. To sit under the teaching of such unbiblical pastoral teaching for 20 years & then to suddenly denounce such racist viewpoints for political expediency, is to point to Obama's poor judgment. How can one not be affected by such teaching after 20 years? Obama's explanation is not believable. I don't trust his reasoning & his close association wih Wright.
Let Obama speak in specifics not generalities. Let's hear point by point, the views that Obama denounces. To just merely give a blanket statement of disassociation is too convenient.
Sorry, but I'm not buying any of it. I go to a church with a white pastor whose congregation is 65% non-white, 3000-members-plus, and he didn't do it by saying "God d*** America." Preaching the Word of God means you're preaching solutions, not exacerbating problems. If you're walking out of church with your anger and hatred VALIDATED, what is the point of that church? Why not save your tithe and go to a mosque instead?
An opinion poll on the pastor issue.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Poll.aspx?ekfrm=71421
I believe his former pastor is doing him more harm than good. Black and white Christians ARE
coming together, right now, and he should probably "get with the program" (or more rightly,
get with what the Lord is doing in the church in this country on these issure. I believe he
should step out of his box and see things the way Obama does.