Oh, for God's sake, MIke Dorning, will you just let this go. Your patent interest here is not in reporting news, but rather in tryng to stir up such an old controversy- that has finally settled down and been put in its proper perspective. Get over it and tell us something IMPORTANT.

Mike will never let this go. He has nothing better to report on.

Thanks for your continued information on this subject. Forwarned is forarmed.

Funny - the Trib won't post anonymous comments to this news item which is based solely on anonymous sources.

I believe the part about Orpah leaving Wright's church was brought up in the media several weeks ago.

I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect minster, pastor, etc. I don't like certain things about the church my family attends. I have always let my pastor know and have taken action in certain circumstances. The only thing I would like to know at this point is simply did Obama tell Wright that some of his sermons were wrong in message or attitude. I think any leader should take action to disagree rather than leave a church. Being a member let's you bring out change. Leaving does not. I expect Obama should stand up to his pastor when he's wrong.

Beyond that, I wish the media would spend as much time probing Obama's other close associates. I read that David Axelrod stumps for the Chicago Children's Museum being located in Grant Park, as well as for certain utility companies (like electric and telecommunications). Axelrod's positions seem to me to be in opposition to what most citizens want. I've also read that Obama is Emil Jones' protege to some extent. I'm not thrilled with Jones. I wish the Tribune and other media would dig further into these Obama cohorts to see if Obama agrees with his associates' positions. Knowing this helps determine what kind of people he would appoint to his administration.

No surprise here. While I once supported Obama, he has proven himself to be a complete fraud with major identity issues. Buddying up with a known racist and anti-Semite is cowardly. I hope something really bad happens to Obama.

Rev. Wright was quoting Ambassador Peck even back then?

I've been waiting to hear from Oprah about her ties to Wright's church. So, I don't see this article as "stirring up an old controversy". Interesting that Oprah was smart enough to distance herself from Wright much sooner than Obama.

Yes, please. Just stop pushing the issue. For Christ's sake, what the hell does Oprah have to do with being president!!

gotta agree, unless Wright is running for office, I could care less who left his church and why.

People are not sick about hearing about Jeremiah Wright. I think they're stick of hearing Jeremiah Wright.

No this is not over--- obama needs to get out of the way and let Hillarty run for president. he will nevor be president of this country. He needs to go back to his church!

I for one wondered why Ophra left that church and I still question whether Obama has really left Wright. I watched Michelle and Obama being interviewed by Meredith and she asked Michelle a questioned about Wright and all Michelle wanted to do was change the subject and not answer it so to me they are playing that they politics game and I just don't believe Obama anymore. Thank You

I for one wondered why Ophra left that church and I still question whether Obama has really left Wright. I watched Michelle and Obama being interviewed by Meredith and she asked Michelle a questioned about Wright and all Michelle wanted to do was change the subject and not answer it so to me they are playing that they politics game and I just don't believe Obama anymore. Thank You

Wright was a father figure. Growing up without one is like growing up without a compass. Like Bill Clinton, do you really want someone who is searching for his identity to be the Leader of the Free World?

One could conclude that Oprah's much smarter then Obama, perhaps Oprah should be running. She has accomplished much, can't make that claim for Obama.

Why is it so difficult for America to accept the fact that Obama is both white and black? A child born of two races must not be confined to one race.

Obama is both balck and white and that is why the issue of race does not arise. he is the bridge between old thinking and new thinking that founding fathers had envisioned when they included in the constitution that all (wo)men were created equal. As long as we continue to look at Obama and any child born from two races as one or the other instead of both, we would be perpetuating the ignorance that a civilized nation as ours must flee from at top speed!

Of course church goers who are mainstream and looking for a positive, uplifting message from church are going to flee from the anger, conspiracy-filled, anti-U.S. message from Reverend Wright. It is appalling to know that Obama pretended people would not care or it would not be an issue with voters. According to Obama, "I don't find my pastor to be particularly controversial." He has since spun many a political tale about his crazy uncle, the same speech being looped endless on TV (on YouTube there are more than 24 hate speeches by the Reverend) and now that apparently the Reverend has evidently lost his marbles in the past week and become a completely different person. Obama knew the dirty little secret years ago about his pastor but inexperience and misjudgement were exposed. Now he has to answer to voters for choosing to associate for decades with his "crazy uncle."

Yeah. Stop being another GOP Tokyo Rose. Wright (USN and USMC), despite O'riles calling him, "America Hater", is a true American hero. I served in 3 deployments to Vietnam with my black brothers who were overreprsented (55% soldier draftees killed were black). I would rather Dorning told me where Bill Clinton, GWB, Lott, Hastert, Delay, Boehner, Reid (LDS), Bishop Mitt, Cheney, Frist, etc., got their NAM sanctuaries. Rather strange. I served in the USN for 23 years and never met an LDS member at all. Is the LDS doctrines in conflict with the U.S. Constitution?

Mike your job is to report, evaluate and get the word out and it should not be whether or not I personally am in favor of that peson or not.

Personally I thought Obama was "IT" and a very intelligent man when I first saw him give the democratic convention speech.

Since then I have come to see that he is more coniving then intelligent as he uses the "lets keep the peace" or just move on, or I am putting it behind me and you the people and all the challenges of the people are more important... and he is right to a certain extent ...but STOP....

I said the same thing about George Bush and will say it again, The USA president is not running for Mr.America... or a popularity or personality contest.

The president should be a pereson that can answer a question not dismiss it as he does with just about everything unless it pertains to him personally.

He is sleazy at best as I see him and uses his campaign and others to bad mouth Hillary. He does not get his hands dirty like a mafia king but he does give the order to get rid of the person or destroy them.

Obama is all talk and no substance and twists things to his advantage or tells half truths.

Good examples is putting Hillary down for the Holiday tax cut. He supported it years ago when the gas was $1.52 or so a gallon and now when it is $4.00 and Hillary supports it he thinks it is for her political gain.

He learned really good from Wright how to manipulate people to his advantage.

Keep on reporting what needs to be said but do it in a fair way to both candidates or whatever the issue or person.

Thanks.
Elly

Perhaps Oprah's move was a POLITICAL one, intended to assuage her audience constituency. Perhaps Obama is more honest, in dismissing the words and not the man, until, at the end, they both became one and Obama had to dismiss both but re-assert his dedication to his church. Catholics are still going to their church and having priests marry and baptize them, despite years of child sexual abuse and other priest sexual affairs. Get over it and move on!

Oprah is not running for president, Obama is and this story is beating around the bush. Can we move on past the story that has beenr reported and cut up in many ways? Let's focus on the more important issues this election will bring: the economy and war.

Seriously. Enough already. Obama is a fine person and candidate for president. This issue is old news, and bringing it up repeatedly is counterproductive to constructive debate.

Oprah knows which side her bread is buttered on !!

Oh Puhleeze! Oprah only abandons those people and institutions from which she cannot profit. What does the Big O's preference of churches have to do with anything? Even though I am a Senator Clinton supporter, please drop all this silliness surrounding Rev Wright. Senator Obama may have some shortcomings (as does Senator Clinton) but his past association with this preacher should not be one of them. One would think Jeremiah Wright is running for president. Let's get back on track with real issues.

Not a single source is named here, except for Newsweek, who it seems also does not name any sources.

Hey Mike, Did you work up a sweat beating that dead horse?

I beg to differ, it is hardly an old controversy - it speaks to the heart of who Barack Obama really is and what he stands for - either he is a liar or a panderer, or both, hardly your "new kind of politician" and what a shame.

The sad part is that the media was so slow to pick this up as they were blinded by the stars in their eyes. Could have been a very different primary race.

Obama will lose november. Superdelegates are dumb enough to vote for Obama.

White votes do not vote for Obama. Oprah campaigns for Obama. Obama's preacher is a hatemonger.

Obama will lose november. Superdelegates are dumb enough to vote for Obama.

White votes do not vote for Obama. Oprah campaigns for Obama. Obama's preacher is a hatemonger.

Keep digging Mike, black racism is alive and well and needs to be exposed for what it is. Smart move by Oprah!

And where's your story about all the right-wing nutjobs backing McCain?

Just what we need...An insecure President still searching for his identity...One would suppose that by the time he had reached his late 20's he would not have needed help knowing who he was....Even Oprah recognized the depth of negativity that could possibly filter down to her thru the media if she continued attending this radical Wright led Church..Obama will never be President because he lacks the fundamental attribute of being able to select appropriate associations..His seperation from Wright is nothing more than theatrics that the two dreamed up to furthur Obama's career..Too little , too late....We are not fooled that easy........Had the media vetted Obama at the onset we would not be in this position as Democrats. Pull out and let HRC beat McCain....

Oprah didn't need Wright for political reasons (i.e., votes) so she got away from him fast. With Oprah realizing a problem and extricating herself, this just points that Obama either didn't find fault with the highly divisive rhetoric or simply hung around because he needed the votes of those that agree with Wright. Either way, Obama's attempt to be buddies with everybody is burning him again.

Oh, for God's sake, MIke Dorning, will you just let this go. Your patent interest here is not in reporting news, but rather in tryng to stir up such an old controversy- that has finally settled down and been put in its proper perspective. Get over it and tell us something IMPORTANT.
Posted by: tony | May 4, 2008 11:40 AM

Oh c'mon Mike don't let this go!

Sorry tony, but this isn't going to go away. And BTW, no it hasn't "settled down" and yes it is important... Obama's decision to deem Wright his Spiritual mentor; his decision to remain with this congregation for 20 years in spite of the hateful lies coming from the pulpit speaks volumes about the candidate. About his lack of a moral compass. About his poor judgement.

Youd better get used to hearing the name Jeremiah Wright.

No Oprah at Trinity?

Rev Wright's chickens are not coming home to roost. They've flown the coop...

The idea that Barack Obama didn't leave a radical church that other prominent black leaders did leave is IMPORTANT. It shows that he has a lack of judgement in picking advisors and thinking through how these decisions will be viewed by all Americans. If he can't pick a reasonable, non-hate-filled spiritual advisor to marry him and baptize his kids, how can you trust him to pick good advisors in a Presidential Cabinet?

I agree with the comment above. I believe that alot of borderline racists (i.e. Mike Dorning) keep riding on this Reverend Wright thing in hopes that other white people will find their inner racist and stop voting for Obama so that Clinton can win. Get over yourself, no American is dumb enough to let this slander that Obama DID NOT EVEN SAY HIMSELF get in the way of the white house this time. Find something new to do with your time, racist Dorning.

It sounds like Oprah would make a better candidate. At least she has better judgment than Obama.

I disagree. I heard about Oprah when she endorsed Obama, but never afterward. I glad to heard things that support and do not support the various candidates.

Oprah left Rev Wright's Church!!??? You don't say!!!! As Shakespeare used to say "What a revoltin development that is." So for the next 2 weeks we will be treated to all the ins and outs of that fantastic story from all the highly paid political hotshots. Such news helps us all get a better grasp of what is happening to the economy and how the future looks for college grads this year.

Agreed, Tony! gah, what a waste of news space...

maybe Newsweek should have watched Meet the Press today instead of talking to 2 unnamed sources. The senator stated rather clearly that he attends Trinity UCC because of its stand on good works. He said, "My commitment is to the values of my church and my commitment is to Christ".

There is 'real news' that needs to be reported. The Rev. Wright cow has been milked dry.

I think that we need to consider Michelle's role in Barrack's continuing to attend Trinity. Read her final dissertation for her BA at Princeton and compare it to Wright's vision. Two of a kind.

Why quote an "unidentified campaign advisor" instead of Obama, himself?? Have you read his books? Have you actually listened to anything he has said on this matter?

Obama has done nothing but lay his life out in print for everyone, yet still the media want to do an end-run around him.

OPRAH left the church for business reasons....where's the backlash against HER?

America created the angry person of color. But America is afraid of that person. They do not want to hear him speak. They want the smiling faces of Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey.

If any segment of America is rightfully angry and is afraid to express that anger because of the response of the majority then what real progress have we made?

Oprah seems to be smarter than the man she supports.

I'd like to thank you for reporting this valuable information. I hope all will wake up and see these truths.

This is very important.

Thank you Tony; I agree ,let's get over this trist and move on. Are we going to let this incident rob us of the one person is this presidential race who truly does offer us a chance to change the way things are going in America. Clinton and McCain, no mattter what they say, are both so engrained in the system and it's lobbyists; that they in truth offer nothing new and no real chances for change. Don't let Clinton's lies about her experiences in Kosovo and and her other stretches of reality sway us from the person that led us to this hope for CHANGE in the first place. It was Barack who first called for change and who made that his banner in this election. It is those that fear that his ability to move on his ideas would upset the status quo, who are trying so hard, thru lies and deception to upend him. I beg those who really desire a new diorection to give this man a chance. Don't let the lies and fears you see on the news and TV talk shows disuade you. We have 2 choices here, Real Change or status quo combined with gimmickery and false promises.

Score one for Oprah for having common sense that Rev. Wright would hurt her reputation. Score one against Obama for lacking this common sense. Score nil for both as Oprah has lent her support to Obama with full knowledge that Obama is lacking in good judgement. Score final for Hillary Clinton who will win the Democratic nomination as Super Delegates will fear that if they choose Obama, John McCain will win the presidency.

Obama joined this church because it would be very helpful make that necessary if he was to be elected to a national office.
That was the same reason he joined Rezko and his corrupt political pals 15 years ago to get elected so he could help them make millions of dollars and in return they would funnel some of the money back to him both in campaign funds and in other kick backs disguised as legal fees.
I am sure his wife's salary was raised from $100,000 to $300,000 for a do nothing job with a hospital had nothing to do with Obama's being elected a senator that could earmark federal funds to the hospital.
The $300,000 contribution by Rezko's wife to the new Obama $1.65 million dollar home could not have been a payoff for Obama's help in arranging with the State Department to allow the billionare crook to come to Chicago. Hmm

Anyone who wastes an hour each day to watch Oprah does not deserve the right to vote for president.

Unlike some here, I actually attended church (non black)today. And guess what, the priest said "damnation."

What's "damnation," Mr. News Reporter?

Does it mean everyone in the U.S. is going to heaven and that the political shennanigans of the U.S. government are "blessed" by God?

Guess again, little Tommy.

And that, children, is all that Rev. Wright was ever saying.

Tony, I agree with you 100%. Let's get over this trist and move on to what is really important to America. Don't let the Media hype and the lies of the Clinton's and Limbaughs and other naysayers rob us of this opportunity to Change the course of things in America. Let us not forget that it was Barack, who first brought us the idea for "Change" and made that his banner in this election. Don't let those that fear they will lose control of the current course we have been on, scare you with their falsehoods, lies, and deceptions about Mr. Obama. He is our only real chance for change. We have 2 options in this race. Lies and deception about ability and experience or a real opportunity to try to change things in America. If you are happy with lies, deception, lobbyists, and hunger for power then vote for Clinton or McCain. If you really believe that America-The people-really deserve a change of course-fairness and equity then give Barack his chance. He is the only candidate that really offers us this Hope.

Let's put this into perspective. Let's say John McCain was a member for 20 years to a church whose pastor preached white supremacy and blamed blacks for AIDS and demonstrated hatred toward America. Where do you think the media would be regarding this? Where do you think John McCain would be? Obama cannot detach himself from Rev. Wright anymore than McCain or Hillary could if they were in the same postion. If Rev. Wright smells bad to voters, they'll demonstrate it in November. The double standard is always termed as racism in this country and most people are sick of it. Making excuses for Obama and blaming the media is only reinforcing people's belief that he is not Presidential material. Voters aren't stupid and this issue will never go away. The "oh come on" crowd sounds like parents who say "my child isn't using drugs or in a gang". People aren't buying it.

Obama's associations do matter. Unfortnately, Obama has not demonstrated sound or mainstream judgement in his deliberate (political or insecurity-motivated) to wed himself at the hip to Reverend Wright. Obama has twisted his tales to try and rationalize his personal, spiritual and political advisor and confident for more than 20 years. If McCain clung to a white racist, it would matter to voters and it should continue to be an issue. Obama associates with hate-filled preachers, domestic terrorists and convicted felons (Tony Rezko) and then continually tries to spin a new tale of rationalization. The last thing our country needs is a leader who is anti-American serving as Vice President or in the cabinet or as an ambassador. Despite Reverend Wrigtht and Obama supporters declaring everyone a racist, I greatly appreciate media and reporters with BACKBONE willing to hold Obama to task for his highly questionable associations with radicals.

My sister, my brother, be aware; the coconut hates and despises you! Of all the forces that constrict him, he denies and focuses his animosity and hatred on YOU! Take another look at the coconut. Look closely!

is it true that oprah's ratings have suffered due to her endorsement of obama? oprah probably will never endorse another politician since obama has been such a dissappiontment as a person and as a candidate.oprah is partly responsible for this mess since she pushed this man on the rest of us. if we started the election over obama would not even win a single contest. it is over obama. please get out so that democrats up and down the ballet will have a chance.

I don't understand why everyone is focusing on Wright and Obama. When McCain and Bush I, II have really crazy religious people in their past and present as well?

It would be nice to get to the issues but is this not an issue as well? When you put it all together, Michelle's comments, Wrights mentoring relationship with Obama and length of time, it *is* disconcerting. It wont matter because, he has sold America with his great oratory skills. I for one do not believe that Obama did not know where Wright was coming from. I am African American and as much as I would love to see a Black president, I fear we are making a woeful mistake.

People, please--don't be such idiots. Do your homework and learn to think critically. Stop being lemmings.

John McCain DOES have ties to a "controversial" minister, but it seems this totally one-sided brouhaha has overshadowed that (as well as the outright LIE Ms. Clinton told us--I guess we're as stupid as she took us to be...).

Oh, and for those of you who claim "associations are *very* important, go look up the questionable laundry list of 'shady characters' associated with the Bush administration. Amnesia? Apathy? Hmmm. I didn't think you could provide an answer.

McCain and HIS controversial ministerial association that we don't hear about. And by all means, treat yourself to the youtube video that goes along with the article.

We've got to stop with the horrible double-standards.

Why don't we stop pretending like we're so "colorblind," critical and objective. We are SO not. The inability of many of you to think critically is really saddening and embarrassing.

so obama has judgement issues is clear.

Everyone forgets that Obama touted his judgement as more important to being president than his 20 months senate experience prior to running. Now we see how he exercised his judgement choosing a racist pastor and a bomb-throwing terrorist from the 1960s. Add his decision to meet with the leaders of Iran (supplying weapons to kill Americans in Iraq), North Korea, and Syria in his first 100 days as judgement-savvy president. Great judgement! He's got my vote. Who needs experience.

I would love to hear Obamabots explain how they can vote for someone who has less courage and smarts than Oprah. You can not sit in a church for 20 years listening to Wright and then just claim you do not agree with him. Well if it bothered you that much you would have left the church. Oprah was outraged at the the things Wright said so she quit like ANY HUMAN IN THE WORLD would if they were really outraged. Faking outrage after it becomes a political liablity is not going to cut it. Obama had 25 years to show outrage but he never did. Sadly for Obama supporters he will not be elected president now. The GOP are rubbing their hands together just preying that he wins. He will be destroyed in Nov. If they coulod make Kerry look like a coward and lose to an immensly unpopul;ar president imagine what they can do to Obama with all his bagage. Say hello to President McCain.

Actions speak much louder than words. Obama has been not only appeasing Wright, and his views for 20 years...but, he has also let the Chicago machine continue its nearly 80 year run. Obama represents status quo here in Chicago...not change
www.chicagoagainstobama.com

Obama would still be going to this church if he was not running for president.

Wright wouldn't have been so public if Obama wasn't running for president.

To try to say "let's put this behind us" is asinine. This man had and still has a great amount of influence over Obama and to ignore that would be folly. Obama might one day run this country (god forbid).

Would you want someone who has spent 20+ years being influenced by his spiritual leader in ways that have been shown to be anti-American and racist? Do you think people can just turn off this type of long term influence?

Put it in perspective: Do you turn your back on all that you were taught through the years?

The problem here is a double standard that exists in this world. If the white man had a church that preached about the inequalities of the world including Affirmative Action and others. We would be persecuted by the press and "storefront reverends" of the world. Here is my question, Why does Wright need to live in a million dollar mansion financed by the congregation? It's all the bling......

Why must anyone running for public office display his or her belief system? Whatever adult imaginary friend a candidate has been brainwashed about since childhood has no effect on that person's ability to run the government. This issue should never have been news what with all the real problems facing this country.

"...our civil rights have no dependence on our religious opinions, any more than our opinions in physics or geometry"--Thomas Jefferson, _Statute_for_Religious_Freedom_, 1779

I am so tired of people spouting about what they know nothing about. All your information comes from other sources. You only think you know what goes on at Trinity. Well you don't. I go there and if it were what you people think I nor my family would attend. Rev. Wright may have his issues, just like everyone else, but our church is not racist nor are there hate sermons preached their. I have read more hate on these blogs over the past month than I ever heard in the church. Please stop judging us on what you think you know. People stay and leave churches every day. Oprah is only one of many who have come and gone. But there are over 6,000 that have stayed, and every Sunday more join. You are doing exactly what you accused Rev. Wright. You are critizing only what you deem to be the negative side of our church. Hate does not have to be preached we experience it every day. The message is and always has been is look beyond the hate and love they neighbor even if they do not love you.
You are all welcome to come to the church and experience the truth. The sermon today said Love is the answer. In the book of John 1 it says" How can you love God who you do not see but hate your brother whom you do see. If you hate your brother then you do not love God."
That is what is preached and taught at Trinity.

With Michelle we'll get then first First Lady who hates the USA. And Barry used Wright until he no longer was useful and was forced to discard him.

The Republicans have probably got more abominable racist hatred on tape & maybe Obambi in the audience watching Jeremiah spew his vicious ethnic slurs & hate-whitey rants.

Even Soros & his umpty millions won't get Barry out of this jam.

Re: Oprah and Wright--Hillary and Wright trumps it:

From: Head of State

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/05/hillary-says-that-regarding-rev-wright.html

"Sunday, May 04, 2008

Hillary Says That Regarding Rev. Wright, "We Should Move On"

Today, during a Town Hall meeting presented by "This Week with George Stephanopoulos", an extremely poised and articulate Indianapolis voter, Michelle Skinner, a Republican, posed a beautifully targeted question to Clinton:

"Sen. Clinton, my question is: Do you think the discourse, the controversy going on with Rev. Wright, do you think this is relevant to Obama and his policy? Do you think this has accomplished anything or should we drop it, should we move on?"

Clinton: (trapped): "Well, we should definitely move on."

In this case--let's take her at her word.

Cite:

Head of State

http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/05/hillary-says-that-regarding-rev-wright.html

Please for the love of everything holy, give this a rest. THIS guy is only news because political writers that don't like to leave the newsroom and do actual work like to make it news.
I think people are more concerned about the rash of gang violence in Chicago, which should be played up on the homepage of the Tribune's Web site a bit more than the Obama-heavy items.

Read Obamas books. He knew the Church was racist. He only stayed to get support from liberal black racists. Mission Accomplished. He is now connected to a racist, anti-american, and anti-White pastor. Now America knows that he is not fit to lead.

Good bye Mr Hussein Obama. We have had enough.

Please exit stage left.

I would like to know more about Michelle's comments to a group of middle class women who were having a hard time trying to make ends meet. The rumore is Michelle stated something to the effect "I know what it is like to make ends meet. I had a hard time trying to get $10,000 for my daughters ballet and riding lessons last year. Any truth to this rumor? or should I forget about it. This conversation was to have taken place in a small hometown city in Western Ohio.

dave

oprah is OBVIOUSLY absent.
=did she find out something along the way that made her sick to the stomach about obama?

=wouldnt she be around during his most crucial time?

=she found time to pull TOM CRUISE's approval level back up by doing a show on him, but none on obama?

=maybe she knows for a fact that obama was the day that she also heard things that made her sick to the stomach and she hear him denying it, so her conscience backed her off?

= you know, if it is found that OPRAH has dropped him, he's in a heap of HURT!

It's understandable that Oprah would want to prevent the Pastor Wright controversy from reaching her doorstep. So she's clearly using proxies to leak and whisper to the press. Fair enough. But really, they need to do a better job. For them to basically say that she bailed out of TUCC simply because she was worried about losing her white audience, makes her look like a mercenary. The unspoken message is that Oprah in her heart agreed with Pastor Wright's venom, but had to keep up appearances for The Man. That may play well at 47th and King Drive, but is that the message Oprah wants out there to the broader audience?

There's a good lesson here. I myself tend to be somewhat hard nosed, unforgiving, and intolerant at times. I see the things our government has
done and the misery we have caused in the lives of others around the world and I agree that a lot of the problems we now face have been brought on us by our own arrogance and shortsightedness.

However my daughter Sarah who has been raised and influenced by me is remarkably fair minded, infinitely patient and nearly always willing to consider both sides of any argument.

And because she comes from a modest financial background she appreciates that people have to work HARD for very little money most of the time. And she has the ability (which I consider rare among teenagers) to see thing s as the ARE rather than how others would have her see them.

So my point is this: If my daughter Sarah developed into this extremely well balanced young woman with amazing reasoning and articulation skills, and who seems devoid of the petty bias and prejudices she's surrounded and inundated with on an almost constant basis, isn't it just possible that Barack Obama did too?

People are raised by their parents, teachers, mentors and role models, to espouse certain viewpoints and ideals (This is what collectively evolves into the individuals value system).

But on occasion certain individuals learn only the best of their influences and pick up little if any of the negatives. It may sound far fetched but I have seen it in my own child (and I have no doubt that she will one day become a great asset to the human race).

And this is the type of individual I believe Barack Obama to be. Reverend Wright, to his shame has be willing to risk costing his young student and maybe even the entire country a change in leadership that we all desperately need right now.

I suspect that Reverend Wright has been paid to carry on this rant by the Clinton's (since they ARE the ones who gain the most by havng it ongoing, and the whole affair absolutely REEKS of their political style), and certainly the "Fifteen minutes of fame" aspect as well as the additional income from the paid appearances are a substantial inducement as well.

So he has sold out one of his flock, for his own personal gain, But it is Barack Obama who now is crucified for his pastors sin and I just don't see that as fair. I know those of you who want to hold him responsible for what someone else says publicly will make your case and plead it relentlessly. But that's only because for whatever personal reasons you have chosen you just don't like the man to begin with, and NOTHING will ever change your minds.

I personally don't like Hillary Clinton, and I believe my reasons are sound. she has hurt my family in the past with her health care plans (my wife is a licensed health care professional), and the long list of crimes perjuries and treasons she and her husband have committed don't exactly endear her to me either. But my dislike is based on her own actions and statements, not those of her friends, associates, or political cronies.

So those of you who are so adamantly AGAINST Barack Obama. Just take a moment to ask yourself (and answer TRUTHFULLY) just what the REAL reason is you do not like him. Then take a minute to write it in this blog.

The difference between Obama, Clinton, and McCain is who they are going to do favors for in return for the money given to them during this campaign.

no matter what comes out of obama's mouth the CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER is enough of a turnoff. He might continue to fool some, but speaking for myself, all these little "coincidences" paint a definite CONSISTENCY..........CONSISTENCY FORMS A PATTERN...........A PATTERN IS WHO A PERSON REALLY IS, DESPITE WHAT COMES OUT OF THEIR MOUTH.

*  "These days, [Obama] says, he attends the 11 a.m. Sunday service at Trinity .  .  . every week. .  .  . His pastor, Wright, has become a close confidant." (Chicago Sun-Times, April 5, 2004)

*  " 'Senator Obama is proud of his pastor and his church.' " (Obama campaign statement reported in the New York Times, April 30, 2007)

*  "[Wright] is like an old uncle who sometimes will say things I don't agree with." (February 25, 2008)

*  "I don't think that my church is actually particularly controversial." (March 2, 2008)

*  "I can no more disown [Wright] than I can disown the black community." (March 18, 2008)

*  "I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened over the spectacle that we saw yesterday. .  .  . The person I saw yesterday was not the person that I met 20 years ago." (April 29, 2008)

Check this out! Six DegreesI thought this was pretty funny...hits the whole situation right on.

That Senator Obama did not distance himself from someone he may not have entirely agreed with just because of how his association would look makes me respect him more. That shows character in my eyes. Furthermore, I am tired of anti conspiracy theorists. I have seen enough with my own eyes to know that Rev Wright is not so far off the mark even if I don't agree with every single thing he says.

Af far as Oprah goes, I love her but she IS a business woman first and foremost. How else could she keep feeding up weight obsession to the American public when it is so harmful to our psyches!!!

This is really disgusting. Reading most of the news and other comments, I can only see how some people are ignorant and full of hatred not only towards Obama but perhaps the entire black community. Unless someone out there can convince me of the media objectivity in this matter, I can only feel sad in realizing how much racial divide is omnipresent in America.Hillary's Bosnian tale to me is more of a problem than one's association with a controversial pastor. Thanks god some people out there (hope most people) still show judgment and elevation. Poor media...

The fact that Obama did not have good judgement for 20 years really alarms me. He says he has good judgement but he sure didn't show it when he became good friends with Bill Ayers. No Obama

claims he "heard" Wright gave a performance...
does obama want us to believe the pastor was carried live, all news, talk shows but he didnt read the transcript until four days later?

u obama followers really buy into that? (honestly, folks).

Once again, people, why don't *you* stop being the biased, prejudiced lemmings that Jeremiah Wright talks about.

Why is it that you're *really* so anti-Jeremiah Wright??? Are not many of the things he says true? What assumptions, biases and stereotypes do you heap on people of color (Black, Hispanic, etc.) regularly? Haven't you been biased or discriminatory??? Riiiiiiight.

And, How many of you losers still attend the Catholic churches where your children have been raped and abused??? What about all of you who wailed and cried like babies when Pope Benedict (with his Nazi affiliation, mind you) was here??? Any of you know about Bush's history with the Bin Laden family??? Clinton (the male) sought "spiritual guidance" from Wright after the Monica Lewinsky scandal--seen the photo??? Didn't think so.

How many of you throwing stones at Jeremiah Wright DON'T have skeletons of ANY kind in your closets? All of you wife beaters, alcoholics, druggies, child molesters, biggots, and the list goes on.

For crying out loud, take a look at this piece and think again about the stupid conclusions you're drawing: Six Degrees of Barack Obama.

But, of course, I'm sure this all falls on deaf ears...and dumb.

Such vitriol on this message board. You Obama haters you really do need to get over yourselves.Obama '08

Why must anyone running for public office display his or her belief system?
==============
when it DEFINES them, it is paramount. a person using the Oval Office to further a particular doctine of hatred is paramount.

what history WAS is not what IS today.

the pastor and Obama should be building on what we have. HISTORY IS JUST THAT, HISTORY.

visit it in a book from time to time but move on.

if you continue jumping on horseback as a means to get downtown you will never learn how to drive a car..........

WRIGHT IS DANGEROUSLY WRONG.
has anyone missed the implications that Wright has given comfort to young minds already headed in the wrong direction?

this man is at an age to be the solution, not the problem.
I dont see Sidney Poiter with his kind of anger, or Colin Powell.

Can you imagine Tiger woods giving the kind of Q& A session he gave at the Press Conference, or Condaleeza Wright leaning back and forth and answering in a spiteful childish way to a Press Conference?
when are you going to say this man is wrong, and obama is wrong to have been suporting htis for so long, and NO, there was no complete METAMORPHOSIS.... obama did not SUDDENLY BECOME OUTRAGED........ANYONE BUYING THAT IS LYING TO THEMSELVES TO SAVE THEIR OWN PRIDE.

MAY 4, 2008 - MEET THE PRESS:::WITH TIM RUSSERT.

you heard it out of barack hussein obama's mouth folks:::
HE INTENDS TO S-T-A-Y in A CHURCH WITH A DOCTRINE BASED ON WHITE HATRED.
do you want it defined more clearly than that?

cant wait to hear what the polygamist wives(obama followers)have to say about that one.

I'm glad Obama is running for office. I really needed to know just how far America has come and progressed pass race and hatred. I have my answer, although I'm not happy with its findings. But it's real and it hurts. Being a 23 year old college graduate is not different from a blue collar worker. Except I have a progressive view towards improving life for all of God's children. Yet so many Americans feel for themselves and their white counterparts. America isn't ready and probably never be ready for a president who hasn't sold them out before taking office. People of Indiana and those others states will get what you want once again. But don't start complaining when you get the same results.

Here's McCain's big supporter talking about the Catholics; (Makes Rev. Wright sound pretty normal.)
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uViQ0hVV57Q
-
Here's a good editorial re. the above.
-
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/opinion/04rich.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

Have we Americans gone on a trivial pursuit quest?
We all have heard and we all seem to agree with the statement "united we stand, divided we fall" Yet, it appears to me that even though we would publicly say "Amen" to that sentiment, why then do we still relish in trivial pursuits that divide us? Is it possibly because we have become so numb and cynical about any real hope in addressing the real issues that should really matter, or could it be that we just don't care anymore - or does caring require way too much effort? Therefore, we just casually go about our daily lives in a daze welcoming without thinking rationally, questioning or researching whatever the media spoon feeds us. The days of Walter Cronkite professional journalism are long gone. We are mow plagued with these 24/7 viral cable news programs that are more so “Entertainment Tonight” than real substantive news. This is probably the most defining moment in our American history since our hard fought Independence from British rule. We have a high moral responsibility and a choice to make America in this presidential 2008 election year in doing the right thing. It is indeed a defining moment in changing the face of our politics in a unified way to change things for the better and accomplish great things for all Americans and for generations to come, if we so choose. Or, we can decide to continue on the same old, same old path, while hoping for a different and better result. The choices we make and the consequences of those choices are up to us. As the legend Bob Marley proudly sung..."open your eyes and look within - are you satisfied with the life you're living?" More than 80 percent of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction - the highest such number since the early 1990s, according to a new survey. The CBS News-New York Times poll released in April, 2008 showed 81 percent of respondents said they believed "things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track." That was up from 69 percent a year ago, and 35 percent in early 2002. If you’re so fortunate enough to be a lucky member of the 20 percent whom think otherwise, then no need to continue on reading. However, if you’re like most that crave for positive change, it does take some effort; because any change that's worthwhile starts first with you (“The man / woman in the mirror”). These are serious challenging times in our American history. We're in an economic recession, higher than high gas prices, the price of food is increasing at an alarming rate making it much more difficult for Americans to feed their families, a broken health care system that desperately needs to be reformed, mortgage crisis, failing infrastructure, deterioration of the American family, sub-human senseless crimes on humanity, war in Iraq, war in Afghanistan, the possibility of starting a war with Iran, an over-extended military that's been poorly served and neglected for all of their unwavering and selfless service to this country, environment, education, foreign policy, a free trade system that's broke, immigration, and we have become a nation that's more divided than united. Think about it people - here we are in the year 2008 AD and this presidential election has been reduced to a divisive debate about race, ignorant F.E.A.R (False Expectations Appearing Real) mongering, and political self-serving partisan positioning in deciding who will be our next president - more so than discussing, debating, and solving all of the insurmountable and problematic issues that should really get our attention and matter. The entire world is intensely watching our 2008 presidential election – And, it's certainly not because of the first viable female presidential candidate of the "Clintonian" political machine – it’s clearly because of "Obama-mania". I wonder what the world must be thinking. The rallying and support for an Obama for America presidency will show the entire world that the words of our founding fathers hold true and are self-evident to our United States of America core beliefs, and that those words were not just words in the futile pursuit of achieving the American Dream for all Americans. It saddens me that we're moving backwards in time to a time that was so dark, shameful, and divisive in our history, more so than moving forward towards a brighter and hopeful future for the “United” States of America. Let’s hope and pray that I am wrong!

Why is everyone in such a rush to excuse Obama and "move on"? It seems to me that he has not yet come up with a good explanation as to why he tolerated 20 years of racism, hatred and bigotry, in church, of all places. I've noticed that politicians are never hestitant about touting the errors of others, but let the light be cast uncomfortably on their own mistakes, and there is an unseemly rush to "move on". This, to me, does not demonstrate genuine regret or atonement. Is this what the black community espouses? One standard for whites, but another for their own icons? Remember when Jesse Jackson was found to have fathered an illegitmate child in in adulterous affair? The REVEREND Jesse Jackson? Most churches would have removed him from "ministry" to allow time to repent and reflect, as dictated by the Bible. His church "disciplined" him for what -- 2 weeks? Brushed their hands together, said all done and "moved on". No fruits of repentance. The fact is, most black churches no longer follow Biblical teaching any more than Muslim terrorist schools follow the Koran. They just dress it up as religion to make it more palatable. But it's all essentially hatred and blame of others.

9/11, like Wright said, IS a result of American foreign policy. But let us not forget Hagee, Robertson, Graham, Falwell, Dobson, Roberts, Wildmon, and Sheldon, among the other racist, hate-spewing zealots. All have intimate ties to politicians, have been embraced by various tenants at the White House, have blamed some disaster as God's retribution to something shrill and stupid, and yet no one has said a single thing about these crazy white ministers. Why is a black preacher scarier or crazier than a white one? Apparently some of you want to live in a theocracy. You should move to Iran.

If Oprah and Obama were smart enough. She should have told him that the Rev. was going to be a problem to Obama. As Oprah now knows that Endorsing Obama was a mistake. Oprah's ratings have gone way down since.

The reason this IS an issue is because Obama consistently cites his good judgment as the reason we should overlook his lack of experience. If his decisions to stick with Rev. Wright for 20 years and befriend wonderful citizens such as Tony Rezko and William Ayers are reflective of that astute judgment, I'm voting for Hillary.

This should have been exposed when Obama ran for senator just like Hull and Ryan's personal life was,then Obama would be in the IL State Legislature with the rest of the clowns were he belongs.

Believe it or not all this input has a silver lining or two. It answers the question, "why can't we move on?". Because a majority of folks at gut level sense there are some major factors here that keep coming up in our country that haven't been dealt with. We sense that this time as we choose the next President, we really should be confronting these issues and we're not.

We're all in this together and we can choose to respect each other and treat one another with dignity. We can listen to these contacts for what they may reflect from thinking individuals who have a real stake in their community. We can allow Obama, Wright, and Oprah to be who they are God's sake. In the present situation (this article) Oprah is the successful business woman - that and she must be respected for that. Obama is a Politician - a strong candidate running for the highest and most powerful office in the world. Dr.Jeremiah Wright is a distinguished pastor in the Black Church which in turn has a long history in this nation of contributing many things to the diversity of religions one of which is the prophetic function. Please allow them to be who they are and try to begin again to think of the complexities our country is confronted with in this crucial moment and what we're going to do about them: The Iraq war, the race issue, the religious issue, and so forth. Thank you all for your consideration and input. I am hopeful we can move on in due time.