Democrat Barack Obama and his wife said Thursday the public is tired of hearing about incendiary remarks by their former pastor, as they sought to put the controversy that has rocked his presidential campaign to rest.
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(Photo: AP Images / Jae C. Hong)Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, rubs the back of his wife Michelle during a conversation with working families in Indianapolis, Ind., Wednesday, April 30, 2008.
"We hear time and time again voters are tired of this," Michelle Obama said in an interview the couple gave to NBC's "Today" show.
"They don't want to hear about this division, they want to know what are we going to do to move beyond these issues," she said. "And what made me feel proud of Barack in this situation is that he is trying to move us as a nation beyond these conversations that divide."
Barack Obama said he initially tried to give the Rev. Jeremiah Wright the benefit of the doubt when films clips first surfaced on the Internet of fiery sermons the pastor gave at their Chicago church — a series of haranguing declarations from the pulpit in which he damned the United States for racial oppression and accusing the government of deliberately spreading the HIV virus to harm black people.
"When the first snippets came out, I thought it was important to give him the benefit of the doubt because if I had wanted to be politically expedient I would have distanced myself and denounced him right away, right? That would have been the easy thing to do," said Obama. This week he denounced Wright's comments as "giving comfort to those who prey on hate."
In speeches and interviews over the past week, Wright has said that criticism surrounding his sermons is an attack on the black church. He dismissed Obama's widely-praised speech last month in Philadelphia — which sought to put Wright's sermons in the context of the black experience in the United States — as political posturing.
Wright had been Obama's pastor for more than 20 years. Wright brought Obama to Christianity, inspired the title of his book "The Audacity of Hope," officiated at his wedding and baptized his daughters.
Barack Obama acknowledged the Wright controversy, as well as his own remarks about voters clinging to guns and religion in economically-depressed Pennsylvania towns, have hurt his campaign and the damage is beginning to show in polls.
"I think it's pretty clear what has happened," he said. "We've had — what — two months now, or a month and a half, in which you've had the Reverend Wright controversy, you've had the issue of my comments in San Francisco that have been magnified pretty heavily — that's been a pretty full dose."
In a separate interview with CNN taped Wednesday, Michelle Obama said her husband's denunciation of Wright's comments was "a tough thing for him to do."
"Yes, it was painful. Yes, it's been difficult, but I think that the more difficult thing that this country is facing is trying to move politics into conversations around problems and problem-solving, and that's what we're going to be pretty determined to do," she said. "I think that this is about all I'm going to say on this issue, and I think we're going to close this chapter and move into the next phase of this election. With that, I'm hoping that we'll talk about something else."
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Wright's rantings are anti-Christian. His church is outside the realm of Bible-based teachings. But this should come as no surprise given the fact that he had an openly-gay choir director -Donlad Young - for more than a decade. However, Young was murdered in December 2007.
OBAMA IS INCORRECT!!! Bring it on...let's here more from the "Reverend" Wright!!! We need to hear what Obama listened to for 20 years and what he continued to give thousands of dollars to during this period of time!! We want to know what Obama internalized going to Wright's church, and what effect it has had on his inner goals and vision!!! As far as I can tell, Obama is so far out of touch with mainstream Americans, it's not funny!!!
OBAMA IS WRONG!!! Bring it on!!! How can we know more about the "Reverend" Wright and his commitment to Black Liberation Theology, and why Obama signed on to it!!! C'mon, Obama, and Mrs. Obama...get real.. We want to know who you both really are!!! So we can vote you out of the galaxy!!!
REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND!!!!
Mike
well, for 8 years people are tired of bush lies, greed, scandals & failed policies. a pastor who exposed the sins of america is continually labeled for political reason.
like the pharisees, they throw insults & threaten the very people that they are suppose to bring to god. but their position & title made them arrogant & self righteous that they are a hindrance to the gospel.
You are trippin. The only thing that was exposed was a man's hate for his country and white people.
What lies, greed and failed policies are you refering too?
Tough OBAMA! You are a self-professed baby Killer. You are an abortionist promoter and God will judge severely those who hurt God's little ones. May God have mercy on you and on our country if he gets elected. YUCK!!!
With not much to choose from, I guess GO MCCAIN GO! It's hard to cheer for a guy I'm not that fired up about, but he is the best of the the two other evil choices.
"Messages that contain personal attacks may be edited of REMOVED from the forum & access to the forum may be terminated.'
what is the difference about personal attacks on wright who said 'god curse america' & pat robertson saying 'ariel sharon was smite by god bec he divided israel.'
what is the difference bet exposing a sin & personal attacks. maybe it depends on the eye of the beholder.
well, for 8 years people are tired of bush lies, greed, scandals & failed policies. a pastor who exposed the sins of america is continually labeled for political reason.
like the pharisees, they throw insults & threaten the very people that they are suppose to bring to god. but their position & title made them arrogant & self righteous that they are a hindrance to the gospel.
yeah yeah they probably play golf and have lunch every week too........ what a show