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Sharpton on Obama on Wright

April 29, 2008 11:47 PM

ABC News' Brinda Adhikari reports: Reacting to Sen. Barack Obama's comments today about his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright's inflammatory remarks at the National Press Club on Monday, the Rev. Al Sharpton told ABCNEWS that it took "a lot of courage for [Sen. Obama] to say some unequivocal statements against someone that has been dear to him, his pastor."

Calling Rev. Wright's comments "appalling" and "outrageous," Sen. Obama denounced the words of his former pastor.

When asked how the African-American community at large would respond to Sen. Obama's denunciation, Sharpton said that "some are going to agree, and some are going to disagree."

He quickly added: "But none of that is going to change my vote. There's no difference between what Barack Obama said he believes in today than when we first heard him four years ago at the 2004 convention."

And what of his fellow African-American clergymen, who might be in somewhat of an uncomfortable position over their loyalties to the black church versus the possibility of electing the first African-American president?

"I think that this is a very painful, and troubling issue particularly for those of us in the black church," responds Sharpton. "I think some would want to try and tell [Obama] what would be the right thing to do."

Ultimately, Sharpton said, "Barack Obama's not running against Jeremiah Wright. He's running against Mrs. Clinton and later, hopefully, John McCain. And when we choose between him and them, even if we disagree on the Rev. Wright controversy, I don't think it changes our vote on whether we think he'd be better for all Americans than his opponents."

-- Brinda Adhikari

April 29, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (116)

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First of all Rev. Wright isn't running for President, Obama is!

If the American people fall for this right wing plot to destroy Americas' chance of redeeming its worldly apperance, then we deserve another 8years and eventually a full blown recession. Alot of things Rev. Wright said are true about AMERICA that's why so many people are upset. By far America is still one of the most racist places in the world and it's on public display for the world to see us at our true form. What example are we setting to countries that view America as a breakthrough nation.

Posted by: Seneca C | Apr 30, 2008 1:56:19 PM

The democrats are in a mess. The RNC has purchased half-million dollars worth of ads so far against democrats around the county featuring Rev Wright. Rev. Wright could be the biggest disaster the democrats have ever had.

Posted by: Tina D | Apr 30, 2008 12:55:34 PM

Love how the big "uniter" is doing so much uniting these days. Heard Sharpton got in his face yesterday about the NY trial. Sharpton said Obama was "grandstanding for the white perople". Lovely.

Posted by: Eric | Apr 30, 2008 12:40:35 PM

bho's supporters vile, self righteous, hateful rantings are what will keep hillary's supporters from every campaigning or voting bho. my family, friends and associates will all vote mccain if bho is the nominee...congradulate yourselves, it will not be wright who is bho demise, it will be you.

Posted by: pp | Apr 30, 2008 11:08:19 AM

Good for Obama. He is the only candidate running who has any ethics or guts. All Clinton has left to jab him with is a flag pin and a tired old 3 am phone. Meanwhile, US deaths in Iraq are surging again-- the highest number of deaths in 7 months: don't we owe it to our men and women in harms way to talk about real issues? How about our children? Do we not owe it to them to have an honest discussion about the state of our economy and environment?

Posted by: mel | Apr 30, 2008 10:51:36 AM

Hillary -- listen!

The fat lady is beginning her song.

Posted by: A | Apr 30, 2008 10:50:12 AM

I would say good...

After a horrible weekend and eventually week for the Obama campaign he's leading by 8 in the Rasmuseen poll

Leading by Hillary by double digits in NC

and tied in IN

Hillary should be leading by double digits after this past weekend

Posted by: Vanessa | Apr 30, 2008 10:42:06 AM

Obama (aka Soetoro) has the numbers.


Resistance is futile!

Posted by: A | Apr 30, 2008 10:41:21 AM

During Obama's much praised speech the media did not criticize him for not denouncing Rev. Wright. He had a chance to denounce him then and there but no instead he denounced his white grandmother and threw her under the bus for his friend and mentor! Obama knew that Wright was a problem when he disinvited him to his presidential announcement,yet he put him on his campaign as a religious advisor! He and others say they never heard Wright make such controversial statements like the ones that were shown of his sermons. Who is going to beleive that this man did not say anything like that except when Obama was not there, and that all of a sudden he has turned into the man we saw this week. Obama supporters said that he was taken out of context and that he was being potrayed unfairly now they and Obama are forced to face reality and say that this man is the same man we saw on those videos! Rev. Wright gave an interview to Bill Moyers on Friday night where he said essentially the same things he had said in the past. What did Obama say? Nothing! He gave a speech to the NAACP and he said the same thing! What did Obama say? Nothing! He gave the same performance at the National Press Culb on Monday and what did Obama say? Nothing till late Tuesday when they saw his poll numbers crashing! So what Mr. Obama has done hear is what Rev Wright said that he would do and that is denounce him because he is a politician and that is what politicians do to get elected! Is this the way Mr. Obama will deal with threats from our enemies like Iran, they threaten us on Friday and he responds on late Tuesday? No this should not give anyone confidance that Mr. Obama is up to the task of being POTUS. If he can not respond and take on his friends in a timely and forceful manner how could he ever take on the enemies of the U.S.

This whole affair has shown that Obama is not ready to be president of the U.S. and he is not the best canidate to take on McCain this fall! That is why Hillay is rising and Obama is falling,if Hillary gets the nomination then we have a chance if not then we will lose working class voters and the GE!

Rise Hillary Rise!!!

Posted by: russell | Apr 30, 2008 10:30:37 AM

Well...

Americans shouldn't have to speculate if their "president" is a murderer... or fraud or if her husband is a rapist

Do you agree?

Posted by: Vanessa | Apr 30, 2008 10:29:43 AM

Brandy:

If you want to know where Obama stands on the issues, I suggest that you check out his website, where he lays out all his proposals.

Posted by: AkaDad | Apr 30, 2008 10:27:56 AM

He is my spiritual advisor... he's not my spiritual advisor. I can't disown him... I can disown him. Disowning him is the same as disowning the black community... he isn't the black community.

He is going to pay a terrible but deserved price for going along with the angry black minister and the angry black wife all these years. Even if we take him at his word that it didn't poison him, he let his children be steeped in this environment. Oprah left the same church over disagreements with Wright. Why didn't he?

Posted by: commonsensenj | Apr 30, 2008 10:22:56 AM

I'm a democrat and know that neither Hillary or Obama can beat McCain.

And having this distraction of Wright is not helping our party. Obama supported everything Wright said until he realized it was seriously going to hurt his changes at the nomination. We can't trust this man. And his speeches and tone and manner make me sick. He just doesn't appeal to the common man.

Posted by: demmie | Apr 30, 2008 10:22:07 AM


FACE IT CLINTON FANS

You'll loose to the left wing of your new party. Obama has too many delegates in the bag -- he cannot be stopped.

You can thank the likes of Soros and moveon.org and Huffington. They win and you and the party lose.

Posted by: A | Apr 30, 2008 10:19:26 AM

Why I point out SDs is... neither candidate can wrap up the nomination without them...

The night of PA, pundits were mocking Obama

Obama can't do thiS...Obama can't do that

Stating there would be a pause in the SD fight

Guess not

Obama needs 288 delegates to wrap up the nomination

Hillary needs 427

This included SDs

and at this rate... Obama gaining twice the amount of superdelegates

Obama will reach 2025

Posted by: Vanessa | Apr 30, 2008 10:12:30 AM

Dear Bishop. I am in total agreement on another debate like we have had. However one with out a moderator would actually be good for the country to see, and for this reason: ONe where the issues will come up and actually put before the public for the first time And give HBO a chnace to give us solutions , so we will finally know where he stands.

Posted by: Brandy | Apr 30, 2008 10:11:58 AM

Super delegates are free to support who they want but the supers support does not make a candidate will any election, so why keep dancing around with this idea look how many supers Obama has.

Yeah great he has all these supers and he is losing the people's vote, right he an win I get you.

Posted by: SJ | Apr 30, 2008 10:01:45 AM

Can anyone say what it was in this speech by Wright that was so different from what we all heard before?

So this new found awareness by Obama is a load of crap, he did this show for political expediency and nothing more.

Posted by: SJ | Apr 30, 2008 9:57:48 AM

If the poll is not average in RCP it's not an accurate poll or an actually poll

Polls to watch are Gallup, Rasmussen, or Newsweek

online polls are not accurate poll

Obama gains a John Edward SD from Iowa

Since PA

Obama: 8 Clinton:4

Who won PA???

Posted by: Vanessa | Apr 30, 2008 9:45:31 AM

Jason,

I agree with you last post, this is historic no matter who wins. Have a good day, it was nice to speak to you.

Posted by: Kardasia_Prime | Apr 30, 2008 9:45:25 AM

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