Political Punch

Why don't the Obama supporters ever criticize the bigoted and hateful comments of Wright, and why do they change the topic? Because, these virulent comments don't bother them in the least, and they don't bother BO. Who's side is he on? Apparently, the side of the hate mongers.

If Rev. Wright so openly spews anti-American incendiary rhetoric to thousands of people in a church sermon, is it not a logical line of inquiry to explore where the Church's contributions are going?? I'm incredulous the press hasn't grabbed on to this as an area that at least is important to investigate. We know church finances are exempt from most tax laws, but that makes the potential for illicit activity (i.e. funding ant-US organizations....TERRORISTS) even more likely in a cult like Rev Wrights.

Furthermore... you have also attempted to make his muslim roots more of an issue by bringing up a percentage of his blood relations and ancestry. Sorry man. You're claim is still illegitimate.

I understand you're bitter about your candidate not being put on a pedestal, but this notion of making my candidate seem illegitimate, based on the dross you're spewing, is just nonsense.

So, tell your friends, change is coming, and there's nothing you can do to trun back the clock; nothing you can do to stop it, and no way you can just sit back and pretend your prejudiced views are still acceptable, much less tangible.

I guess my question to you is...

How do you intend to Malign Senator Obama about the churches tax exempt status, while at the same time, keeping your church and others out of the public eye, when so many other churches have used their religious power to do what Rev. Wright has done?
The difference between them being that, most often, those churches attempt to call what they do positive for America... you know... like that freak group that goes to the funerals of soldiers and praises god for their deaths because of homosexuals? Or the religious nuts that bomb Abortion clinics, because it's "god's will".
Riiiiiight.

A little harder to point the finger now isn't it?

Obama as well, made no such decision to have a debate on race. He only accepted the reality that race would be a part of the debate whether it was relavent or not, and acted in a positive manner, and encouraged a genuine conversation rather than a superficial one.
Would Obama have been given a speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention if he was a white State Senator from Illinois? Sure. Why not? Democrats aren't known for either racism or sexism.
I like the slanted comments at the end as well. Spin, spin, spin. Sorry kids. I'm white, English is my first language, I do however speak Spanish fluently, and understand a lil German, Russian, Tagalog [filipino], and can tell you hello and ask how oyu are in five other languages. What does that have to do with anything? As far as the hypocracy bit... Riiiiiight.
Got proof?

@Kimberely Clark

Again, you presume much.

I completely agree that the church's tax exempt status should be revoked, and yes I would even go as far as you have and say that the church should be forced to pay taxes like everyone else for it's political statement against Mrs. Clinton. However, the scrubbing of the site IS the issue, at least in this instance, and that is what I am commenting on.
The issue of tax exempt status hasn't come up at all; so, I would suggest you lobby this and other news organizations to concentrate on that. As far as Ms. Ferraro, it wasn't Obama that threw her under a bus, nor was she thrown under a bus. She was called out for tokenizing his campaign as just due to his blackness, your race, my race, or anybody elses race aside, and as that somehow being a fortunate thing, and in doing so SHE reintroduced race as a factor, along with the initial reporter who brought up the implication that he may not be black enough, and Bill Clinton's comments on race, intended or not.
So, please, again, keep your straw man aguements to yourself. THIS issue HERE IS about the scrubbing of a website, otherwise it would have been titled something else. As well, I see no remarksby Mr. Tapper regarding the churches taz exempt status... that is something YOU have brought up.
As far as the idea that I would call you a racist for bringing in a valid, though, non-sequitor arguement, as it has nothing to do with THIS issue, that is completely false, and meant to paint me in the false light of looking for racism where it doesn't exist.
And that's sad. So, please stop arguing based on a double standard.

New poster here. If anyone is checking. Obama decided we needed a National Debate on Race AFTER Geraldine Ferraro was thrown under the bus for expressing an opinion. Hypocrisy. It is TAX FRAUD for a non-profit church to support a political candidate. I agree with much of what the good Rev. Wright said, but he can't say it on the tax payers dime. Would Obama have been given a speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention if he was a white State Senator from Illinois? Please. A debate means both sides get to talk. A sermon is when one person talks and everybody else listen. When a sermon becomes an endorsement the IRS should step in. New voice here. Obama is SOOO negative, he's just passive aggressive. Every time he says "the Clinton machine" there is the implication that there is no Obama machine yet he is taking in and spending twice the money. Is Michelle doing the books or maybe he has a STAFF. Another word for MACHINE. Is this clear enough for the ESL encourager? Hypocrisy = Fraud = Obama Machine.

Scrubbing the site isn't the big issue James, scrubbing the books is. It is tax fraud for a non-profit church to endorse a political candidate. Period. Their tax-exempt status should be revoked and we (taxpayers) should get back the millions of dollard the Christ Church saved. Obama can't be sooo inexperienced that he doesn't know this. Hillary hasn't gone "negative" on this one. Obama would rather begin a national debate on race by throwing Geraldine Ferraro under the bus for stating the obvious (shame on you Keith Olbermann) If he was a white state senator from Ill. would he have been given national air time at the 2004? A debate let's both sides discuss, a sermon is where one person talks and everyone else listens.
That becomes a felony when the person is endorsing a candidate at at 501C3 non-profit. You could call me a racist James, but you really don't know my race do you? Obama-zombies have so much zeal because they don't waste any energy on thinking for themselves.

Has anyone noticed that Senator's Clinton and McCain only answer legitimate questions when they are forced to do so. Seems rather evasive to me

I noticed too much credibility is being given to the idea of this scrubbing of the web site awhile ago. Seems like selective thinking to me.

Spinning of relatively harmless information about Senator Obama comes drip, drip, dripping out. Seems like much ado about nothing is getting too much air and web time to me.

Senator Clinton's/McCain's surrogates are trying to define Senator Obama's campaign as some sort of novelty act because they are trying to keep any sense of change and transcendence out of the public priority. Seems like politics as usual to me.

Senator Obama says something different from his surrogates because he disagrees with their tactics, does not condone their tactics, and most often fires them for their tactics, whether they continue to support his campaign or not. Sounds like clear thinking and good judgement to me.

Senator Clinton's/McCain's supporters want to elevate a one sided message, beyond it's credibility threshhold. Jake is an investigative reporter. He should spend more time to search out all the information instead of just scratch the surface. It would be a service to the American Public if others in the media would do the same. Thanks, Jake, but show a little more journalistic integrity next time by really digging deep and being more objective about these issues, instead of going to a website, seeing a few cursory changes, and jumping to the conclusion that there's some sort of cover-up going on.

Thanks.

Sorry Louise that's just you spinning again. No deception just clean, clear cut honesty. I know that's something that you aren't use to, but hey.

So what if we don't know who Barack Obama is? So what if he has numerous radical influences and associations? The media approve of him. It's only the presidency, what's the worst that could happen?

BRAINWASHED FOR OBAMA '08

Don't they have a new pastor now? Maybe you guys are seeing patterns in things that aren't there. I would expect there to be changes in any church, or any other organization's website if they get a new top guy.

Enough already.

Riiiiight I make sense and I'M spamming. Okay. Sorry you're offended by frankness and truth.

Has anyone noticed that Senator Obama only denounces something when he is forced to do so. Smells like deception to me.

I noticed the scrubbing of the web site awhile ago when a friend told me to check it out. Smells like deception to me.

Negative information about Senator Obama comes drip, drip, dripping out. Smells like deception to me.

Senator Obama's surrogates are trying to force Senator Clinton out because they are trying to keep anything else from coming out. Smells like deception to me.

Senator Obama says something different from his surrogates so he can look above it all. Smells like deception to me.

Senator Obama's supporters want to kill the messenger. Jake is an investigative reporter. He spends the time to search out information. It would be a service to the American Public if others in the media would do the same. Thanks, Jake.

Aside from that... I owe you nothing. I grant you only the good sense to make sure that what happened to your ancestors does not happen to your decendants.

Aside from that, you ask far more than your own personal suffering deserves. Your ancestors may have been slaves; you certainly never were.

Dear Cowbell,

Barak and Michelle were not CHOSEN to lead us; at least, not by any god. If they become the president and first lady it will be because we see nobility, and honesty and integrity in them, or that we are lead to believe that they have those qualities.

I am, as well, a 34 year old white man with absolutely no power. I do not believe a god exist or has ever existed, and I fear noone when I am facing them.

I fear ignorance though, and hatred, and bigotry, and racism, and sexism, etc., ad nauseum. Any person alive can be a racist. Anyone. With or without power, as racism is just one form of prejudice. It's important to note that.

I am a Barak Obama supporter because he does not claim the same thing you are. I am a Barak Obama supporter because he has not decided to blame the ills of this world on... a boys club, an amorphus blob of radical Islamic extremists, or whites in general. I support him because he does the people the service of distancing himself from people like that without having to be asked. I support him because I feel that when he says things he isn't blowing smoke up our butts, and I support him because he doesn't consider me evil. I support him because he would disagree with you that only white people can be racists because only, as you say, white people have the power.

That's just an easy way to not get to know me for me. It's far easier for you to know what you think you know based on some other white guy.

I'm sorry for what happened to your ancestors. And I have the blodd to prove it. It is not my fault, and I would denounce it in those times, if I was privy to the knowledge I have now.

Im not sure if oyu have, but I would highly suggest seeing the old black and white movie Uncle Tom's Cabin.

I saw it in Jr. High and it brought me to tears... of righteous fury.

And I do not believe a god exists.

Well Cowbell,

We both love our country and are willing to stay up late and post about it.

I understand you don't like Obama.
I don't like Bush or Cheney.

It's great to live in a country where we are allowed to say so.

sweet dreams, cowbell.

Addriene - Whether we agree or not, you sound like a really nice lady. going to get some sleep.

Cowbell,
Farrkahn did some good for the black community... he is not satan. But! Farrakhn has fallen far from the grace of God, and he has been anti semantic.
Obama did the correct thing when he both rejected and denouced Farrkahn.

As a politician Farrkahn has no place in Obama's world.

My former preacher Rev. Wright is a Christain and can find it in his heart to commend the good Farrkahn did while he also makes note of Farrakhns failings.

My own feelings... well, Farrakhan is a gifted violinist. He is an intellectual and complex man. He has a dark shadow but also a bright light. I'm not sure I like him.. but I can appreciate some aspects about him.

Thank you Jake!

Adrienne I know! I also know of other pastors who preach the same message without interjecting anti human bantering. There is no reason for anyone to interject hatred of another race, or culture. That is not a quote "Christian message" When you blame in the manner that this man and those like him present. That zero's in. We can sit and say all day the ills of America as well as the injustice to African Americans. Before we point at others, please let us take stock in ourselves first. So, I guess when we learn to love ourselves, we'll begin to love others. I am Hindus, and vegan, I eat no life....I've learned to coexist without hatred that anger is a sore slowing being picked at and never having the opportunity to heal...

Well sweetie have a good life looking for someone to give you something. I had more respect for the Black Panthers than I do for Farrakhan. All of it is nothing more than brainwashing tactics. Building soldiers! Yeah I know about Farrakhan and his soldiers. All those innocent young people being eaten alive with hatred. People like Rev. Wright are the reason I'm NOT a Christian anymore haven't been in years. And before you start yes, I do believe in something other than myself. Just not Christianity. I don't see Obama being the second coming of Christ....Please! I could care less what color God/Jesus is. It is irrelevant. What is the point? Just silliness. I knew from the moment I saw Michelle that she was racist. I'm black we've all painted fake smiles on our faces, so of course I could read hers.

mgck59,

If you know about Rev. Wright then you know he never preached to frighten people into submission.
The whole message of his sermons were based on self empowerment. He was very hard on black male youth. He preached about how they needed to get educated, get a job, stay with thier women and raise their children. Family values and being self sufficient was the main stay of his sermons. He preached against the welfar mind set. It spoke about how it weakend the black community. Wright spoke about how it has given men an out to not provide for their own children. He spoke about how children need fathers that provide for the family and who are involved in thier childrens lifes.
It was all about self empowerment so that you can become a valuable member of the community.

Cowbell get what? What do you want tell me. What would it take to erase oppression from our minds, from our behaviors. What? $100, $1000, a trillion dollars what? That changes nothing. It doesn't change the past, and it doesn't change the future. Because even if you put a value to it. It would never be enough. Then it would be something else. I have a Masters Degree in History we as Africa Americans have made great strides. Most of the time we are the ones that taint it as well. My history begins in New Orleans where my roots are Africa American, Native American, and French. So, I embrace every part of me, and I am proud of my heritage. There is so much that I don't hear you say that is positive. You sound like an occult sorry but, that's just what this sounds like and occult brainwashing. Anyone who could give Farrakhan homage...true Muslims don't even recognize Farrakhan as Muslim. The Nation of Islam...give me a break! How do I know that have been to the Middle East several times. While everyone is talking how many of you have been in the Middle East. How many of you know more than what Rev. Wright has told you.

Adrienne were you like Obama not their those days. I'm over 50 and I have heard this man several times through the years. Heard him in the 80's and the 90's. I didn't say all Pastors liked him either, I just said I know several who fly to see him. I also know quite a few that think his message is too political. God and politics don't mesh. The church is not the arena for that kind of discussion. I've heard him as well chastise the black community on their parenting skills, drug dealings, and black on black crime. I've heard that before but, I have also heard similar services relative to what the clips expose as well. Instead of everyone trying to paint this image, accept it for what it is. Rev. Wright has never had a problem telling you how he felt so why, is everyone trying to present this man as anything other than who he is.

Cowbell is that what you want reparations? Oh my goodness! My black people always think somebody owes them something. Reparations now I've heard it all. Is that why all of my people are voting for Obama. If that is the case God bless you. That is such a waste of time. No growth, nothing positive the same old garbage that I've heard for most of my 50 years on this earth. What a waste of life. This anger has got to stop. You will never be vindicated. Never! Hatred from any race is the same thing hatred. No rights, no wrongs, just the same waste of energy.

Well Adrianne Scott I'm a black woman and I have known of Pastor Wright for years. He has been around along time spewing the same kind of message, in the same kind of format. I also have known of is controversial sermons. Several Pastors I know personally fly to Chicago often to hear his sermons. I've heard numerous tapes. Did I find him enlightening not particularly. I don't believe in people being frightened into submission. So, I know of Pastor Wright too.

Of course they have to hide their hatred believes because it's having a negative effect. If it wasn't hatred then why change the content of a web site that Obama and the church goers feel so proud about? Quit Obama, the lies, hate, flip flopping, arrogance, deceiving game is gonna catch up to you eventually.

Okay!!!!

sigh.. typo

proving America is better than many of us thought it was.

I'm a white woman who went to the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago for two years in 1989 and 1990. I never heard Wright say anti-american things when preaching. He did speak of the humanitarian injustice done to blacks but would always seem to follow it up with blacks needing to take responsibility for themselves. Get educated, work and take care of their children. Jesus Christ was the answer not drugs or crime. Rev. Wright was wonderful and filled the church full. I never felt so much love in a church before. I was shocked to see those clips where he was so angry and spoke so harshly about America. I sat it the church for two years and never heard him go off like that before. That was not the norm. I remember that Wright once said that anger was the cover emotion to pain. That anger in the clips.. that's really pain. It does not make it right.. but it does make it less scary if you understand the true emotion behind the words.
I pray for the church.

I see no problem with the new Rev. putting his own influence on the church web site. It's his Church now. The world is evolving.

amen.

I feel so proud of america. the hillary and Obama race is proving america is better than many of us thought we was.
there are a few ugly and very ignorant post on here... but there is also a beautiful showing of open minds and christian love and forgiveness for Rev. Wright. He made a mistake and spoke with too much pain and anger.. but those few clips do not make the man. He gave 3 sermons a week for 20 years.
Every sermon I heard Rev. Wright give spoke of the love of Jesus christ and the self empowerment found from it.
Through the grace of god and Jesus Christ we can find the power to achieve our goals of a wholesome and accomplished
life.

The pastor is a martyr. He has the courage and audacity to live amongst the white enemy in a million dollar mansion that the church is building for him. The man is courageous!

David I usually don't judge. But, I will judge Obama. I will judge him as strictly as I possible can. For one he is running for PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES. Which means not only does he have your fate in is hands but, he also has mine. That fact alone gives me the right to judge... Because if what he does effects what happens to ME, gives me the right to judge him. I don't need ANYONE to come into a position such as the President of the United States with hidden agendas. Oh and don't you believe he doesn't have them. His claim to fame is "Uniting the people" if that were the case we wouldn't be divided now. Now if I should ever run for the President of the United States you can judge me too.

I like you Jerry.

I know all the people in these comments have something hiding from your parents and have lived with them for more then 20 years.

dont judge others judge yourself

Jim I don't think this story has anything to do with racism on the editors part. I call it an unbias opinion by the reporter to bring you all aspects of situation. In this case Obama and his illustrious church. I will say it again Obama is running for President of the United States he should be scrutinized, he should be exposed from all angles. That is what they are doing to Hillary, and that is what they are doing to McCain. Obama is no better than any of the others. Everyone else has and will have their personal lives rehashed, and rehashed again before this is all over. I commend the article it is giving you a clearer view of Obama and those that surround him.

The founding fathers had it right when they said that the church and the state should be separate. If we keep it that way, this is not relevant.

All I hear is what about Jerry Falwell or John Hagee,I think your missing the point no other candidate goes to Falwell or Hagees church let alone for 20 years,but Obama went to this fools church for 20 years and has no excuse for doing so.Obama just recently regained his hearing after 20 years and now he says if pastor Wright hadnt retired hed have left the church,he shovels manure big piles of it

I have to say that this is interesting. It reminds me of Barack Obama's comments about Iraq (stating that he's not that far away from the positions of George Bush, and statements saying that he didn't know how he would vote if he had been a U.S. Senator), both of which were "scrubbed" from his web site once the comments started getting traction among voters.

Obama's strategy seems to be: get rid of it and it'll be just like it never existed. The problem with this, though, is that the attitudes still exist...

I just googled Trinity United Church of Christ AND they DID SCRUB it!!!!!! when you do it hit CACHED at the bottom of the listing it will bring you to a description of the Black values system very different from the one presently ( buried on the website...It used to be on the first page. Why are they hiding it?

Actually if you Google Trinity United Church Of Christ and hit Cached at the bottom of the listing you can access all the stuff they took off.

I won't focus on the sensationalism of this "journalism". I will just point out that, like others have said, the "Black Values System" part of the website is available from a link directly from the "Home Page". Seems to me that is not an effort to hide anything. If anything you could draw the exact opposite connotation. And certainly that is not being scrubbed.

Obama has too many unsavory connections to be the president. It's simply out of the question to let someone like this of a very dubious background have control of the military. I don't care if he's a smooth talker and puts his audiences into trances. I know there there is an African American out there who isn't a compulsive liar or a racist that will be President one day.

Keith, simple minds are easy to satisfy.

I won't focus on the sensationalism of this "journalism". I will just point out that, like others have said, the "Black Values System" part of the website is available from a link directly from the "Home Page". Seems to me that is not an effort to hide anything. If anything you could draw the exact opposite connotation. And certainly that is not being scrubbed.

This is such a non-story. ABC's senior national correspondent is on this? Get over it and move on.

And if ABC does think this a story, how about some equal time for John Mccain and Jerry 'the chickens have come home to roost' Falwell. Falwell had a much bigger audience on the 700 Club than Wright did in his church shortly after September 11, 2001.

At the time Falwell said to a national TV audience "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'"

What a hate filled and misinformed screed.

Pandering for Republican support on Meet the Press, McCain recently retracted comments he had made in the past calling Falwell an 'agent of intolerance.' How could McCain flip-flop on the insane and dangerous ramblings of madman Jerry Falwell? McCain also recently hired a key Falwell staffer, Brett O'Donnell, to advise him on communications strategy.

ABC - why aren't you investigating this one?

One result of media agitators like abc keeping the Rev. Wright issue alive is that it is bringing to light the extent to which racism is still a serious problem in America. When you look past the rationalization content of some posts here that voice outrage at Rev. Wright you feel distinctly a seething passion that is simply racism. And this can be easily perceived at many news sites around the web. Racism is going to be hard to root out of ourselves and media agitation like this is far from being an ethical attempt to help the situation. Those of you who are so angry at Rev. Wright, look at yourselves.

Has anybody taken into account all of the bigoted comments that the Rev. John Hagge has made about Catholics (Calling them the "Great Whore"), and his denunciation of all Muslims. A how God is destroying the US because it defends the Palestinians (Last Look the US is actually defending Israel. Yet John McCain has embraced warmly, his endorsement and not rejected it as Obama has done Rev. Wright. What a double standard. Also Mccain visited Bob Jones University in the 2000 primary right along with George Dubya and no one has criticized that!!

Let the veil be lifted. Obama the fraud continues to be exposed with everyday.

His charm is fake, and his arrogance is much too obvious. He only wants to be president because of himself, not because it would be right for America.

Just ask his wife how proud she was until he started winning the nomination.

Wright is only the tip of a very large iceberg. Rezko and Bill Ayers will be household names by November and John McCain will be finally be our president.

Do not be fooled by eloquence.

Obama the fraud.

Trinity United Church of Christ needs to hide the truth about the church and its members. Obama's candidacy depends on it.

Maybe they changed the page because they have a new pastor now with a different view. There wasn't anything objectionable on the old about me page anyway so what is your point? OK, so you are a white guy who is ignorant about the black church in America, just admit your ignorance and do some research before you say any more. To keep rabble rousing about something that you don't understand in this case seems like one simple thing, racism.

ANYONE who is black and has heard the story of how they came about to be in this Country HAS THE RIGHT to get angry-on the spot. It is an ugly truth what happened, but what makes it more ugly is when we still try to masque the depth of what went on, for a long time. So if it is "surprising", for ANYONE in America who knows the history of the black man in America, then you too have been affected by the slaveholder's mentality. Trust me, that Pastor is not the only one preaching freedom from the white man! Have any of you stopped to wonder WHY he would even have such sermons? Perhaps watching his entire ancestry be ruined by wicked people because of their race has something to do with it?!
Now, I am not condoning the persecution or slaundering of any man, but I am sick of what History has done to us as a nation. It is not about pointing the finger, it is about cleaning up the mess. Its not how we fell, its how we're gonna get up, as a nation United.Yes, for a long time black people have needed to hear the word due to their circumstances, but hopefully when Obama sets in Office this place truly wll start to make some sense of itself.

ANYONE who is black and has heard the story of how they came about to be in this Country HAS THE RIGHT to get angry-on the spot. It is an ugly truth what happened, but what makes it more ugly is when we still try to masque the depth of what went on, for a long time. So if it is "surprising", for ANYONE in America who knows the history of the black man in America, then you too have been affected by the slaveholder's mentality. Trust me, that Pastor is not the only one preaching freedom from the white man! Have any of you stopped to wonder WHY he would even have such sermons? Perhaps watching his entire ancestry be ruined by wicked people because of their race has something to do with it?!
Now, I am not condoning the persecution or slaundering of any man, but I am sick of what History has done to us as a nation. It is not about pointing the finger, it is about cleaning up the mess. Its not how we fell, its how we're gonna get up, as a nation United.Yes, for a long time black people have needed to hear the word due to their circumstances, but hopefully when Obama sets in Office this place truly wll start to make some sense of itself.

To Jev who wanted to know where he can get an Obama '08 sticker. You cant get one. You have to steal one. In keeping with Obama's campaign.

Does anyone know where I can get an Obama 08 sticker?

Anyone know where I can get a bumper sticker "Anyone but Obama!"...I love that.

Jake, Thank you so much for keeping this story alive. With the rest of the media falling all over Barack, it is refreshing to read your unbiased articles.

Truth is already out. Can't put the Genie back in the bottle.

Please don't let this story die.

Trintiy Unitied church of Christ is a racist fellowship, that a serious contender for the office of President of the United States belongs to.

This is news, and a bit frieghtning, made even more so but the attempts to brush it aside.

For this campagin it is the proveribial rhino in the living room, that nobody is supposed to talk about.

Has everyone lost their memory on voters being the boss? In Texas, the emptyshirted one walked off a 47% to 51% loser and this week they say he won a majority of the delegates because he won 7 of 9 superdelegates. What a piece of horse pucky that amounts to.....the voters will???????

If Obama wins the nomination, and loses at least 28% of Clinton supporters to McCain in the process, can he win the general election with just the progressive and black vote? I think he's said and done enough at this point to turn off the supposed Obamalicans.

Jackson wrote/lied on: Apr 1, 2008 9:46:10 AM
The 2 Atom bombs dropped were NOT necessary and this has been proven.
===============================
Here are the facts:

1.) The Axis Powers started WW II, not the U.S. or anyone else. The U.S. entered the war after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor.

2.) Hundreds of cities, with civilians, were bombed with conventional bombs during the course of WW II, with many nearly destroyed. Japan bombed cities in China, Australia, Philippines, Korea, Malaysia and much of Asia. Germany bombed cites in England, Russia, Poland, France, Netherlands, Belgium and else ware in Europe. And of course the Allies bombed many cities in Germany, Japan and Italy.

3.) Japanese War Crimes - the Japanese military murdered from nearly 3,000,000 to over 10,000,000 people, most probably 6,000,000 Chinese, Indonesians, Koreans, Filipinos, and Indochinese, among others, including Western prisoners of war. This democide was due to a morally bankrupt political and military strategy, military expediency and custom, and national culture.

4.) Two weeks prior to using the Atomic bombs the Allies issue the Potsdam Declaration that gave Japan the choice of surrender or destruction. Japan never responded.

5.) The decision to drop the Atomic bombs saved countless lives, both American and Japanese. Estimated United States casualties rose to over a million while unknown for Japan if amphibious assaults were launched. If you compare that statistic to the one hundred ten thousand killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you would probably say that the casualties in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were just a small fraction of what the real casualties would have been if an amphibious assault was carried out. If it were not for the atomic bomb, waves of American amphibious attacks would have been initiated on Japan. In addition, the outcome of the war in the Pacific would have been unknown with a land invasion.

6.) Supporters also point to an order given by the Japanese War Ministry on August 1, 1944, ordering the disposal and execution of all Allied POWs, numbering over 100,000, if an invasion of the Japanese mainland took place.

7.) Supporters of the bombing also argue that waiting for the Japanese to surrender was not a cost-free option. "For China alone, depending upon what number one chooses for overall Chinese casualties, in each of the ninety-seven months between July 1937 and August 1945, somewhere between 100,000 and 200,000 persons perished, the vast majority of them noncombatants. For the other Asians alone, the average probably ranged in the tens of thousands per month, but the actual numbers were almost certainly greater in 1945, notably due to the mass death in a famine in Vietnam. Each month that the war continued in 1945 would have produced the deaths of 'upwards of 250,000 people, mostly Asian but some Westerners.

8.) Japan also had an Atomic Program during WW II. The U.S. knew of its existence but not how far along it was. US intelligence took the possibility very seriously. Japan's nuclear program was indeed verified after the war.

No reasonable person will ever dispute that Germany or Japan would have bombed U.S. cities with either conventional or nuclear weapons if they had the capabilities, resources and opportunity. Fortunately America's Greatest Generation and Heroes prevented this from happening.

They took down all the copies of the sermons on tape that were for sale on the site also. Why? Barack keeps saying what was shown was only a 30 second loop out of a 35 yr career. So why take all the services down? People should be concerned, though they and the mainstream press, want to act like this is nothing. The brand of Liberation Theology followed at Trinity is scary stuff. If Obama subscribes to any of it, he should not be holding the highest office representing all of the people.

John,

The last I checked, Hillary is still referring to herself as a Democrat--and she wants to count the Florida votes, now that the primary all candidates deemed shouldn't have happened wound up in her favor. And neither of the Democratic candidates would enjoy W's benefits of having a gubernatorial Florida sibling.

Keep up the self-pleasing work on those "Barry" Obama questions! If you can't entertain yourself, how can you expect to entertain anyone else--right?

He is running for Predident of the U.S.

Of course he needs to defend his friends and pastor. These are relationships of choice.....he had no say in who his cousin is.

You can't tell me that you go to a church for 20 yrs and not agree with the pastor!!!

I'm satisfied if Obama can defend his own policies and statements. He doesn't need to defend his pastor, his wife, his children, cousins, classmates, teammates, friends or co-workers. Obama will be the name on the ballot and that's who I'm voting for.

"The only way for Hillary to win is to ignore all the votes and have superdelegates over-turn the will of the voters in the same way that it was over-turned when Bush stole it from Gore."

At least in 2000 the Bush team wanted the votes of Florida voters to count - the Gore folks didn't. Hmmm! It must be a Democratic Party thing - this not wanting Florida votes to count!

The only way for Hillary to win is to ignore all the votes and have superdelegates over-turn the will of the voters in the same way that it was over-turned when Bush stole it from Gore. Love Hillary all you want, but she lost. Get over it.

More Questions for Barry Obama:

8. When you/those on your campaign cancelled Reverend Wright’s delivery of the invocation when you formally announced your run for the presidency in February 2007, what were the grounds for the cancellation? What did you know about Wright then that moved you to cancel his appearance?

dddpwoman: you sound like a very nice and sincere person. I myself have tried to judge people by whats inside and I teach my 4 kids to do the same.. If you are a member of the Rv Wright's church than at the very least you are insensitive to the hurt this hate has on white americans...for years we have heard that from the African American community but the African American community can't seem to comprehend the concept when its reversed

You mean the " the super-secret, super-conservative, cult-like 'Fellowship'," the one that holds the National Prayer Breakfast every year which is attended by the President of the United States, the one that invited Bono as a guest speaker in 2006? That one? Come on, you can do better than that. Louis Farrakhan is a real prize and he's all Obama's. No need to deflect attention from the truth. Even Oprah and Powell couldn't stomach Wright and they left "the fold." Open your eyes.

"I am glad the Clintos are just like the Republicans. They racebait and scare white people just like the Republicans."

Unlike Barry Obama's personal spiritual mentor, the Rev. Jerry Wright?

More Questions for Barry Obama:

4. Did you ever, even once, have a conversation with Reverend Wright in which you expressed your concern about his rhetoric and worldview? If not, do you now wish you had? What ought to have triggered that conversation with Wright?