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Clinton Campaign Statement on Father Pfleger Comments

May 29, 2008 8:28 PM

The Clinton campaign's communications director, Howard Wolfson, clearly thinks Obama's rejection of Father Pfleger's sermon was lacking.

Wolfson says: "Divisive and hateful language like that is totally counterproductive in our efforts to bring our party together and have no place at the pulpit or in our politics.  We are disappointed that Senator Obama didn't specifically reject Father's Pflegler's despicable comments about Senator Clinton, and assume he will do so."

- jpt

May 29, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (221)

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Disgusting behavior by this Pastor and the patrons of Trinity Church were equally appalling. I can't believe Obama spent 20 years there and lets his kids listen to this garbage. I will never trust Obama.
The story of how Obama won the election in Chicago is shameful. He forced everyone off the ballot on technicalities so his name would only appear. He claims he played by the rules. Well sometimes rules are wrong and you have to be "stand up" and do the right thing. The rules use to say that blacks and women couldn't vote. Some rules were just plain WRONG. Disenfranchising voters is just plain WRONG.

A "NEW" KIND OF POLITICS-INDEED!

If Obama is elected there will be a stampede of democrats leaving the Democratic Party.

Posted by: maria zimmerman | May 31, 2008 1:55:12 AM

It is so funny to me to hear the response of the Clinton campaign to these comments! Talk about babyish hypersensitivity...Sen. Clinton, how in the world do you expect to deal with 4 years of being president if you can't deal with this guy's comments?
And maybe the reason why you don't like what he's saying is that it's too close to the truth...you have always felt entitled, as if being Queen of the United States..Oops! I meant "President of the United States" was supposed to be your royal right. Sez who? Do you really think you deserve the White House simply because of the embarrassment you had to endure at the hands of Former President Clinton?
Your campaign makes noises like this preacher was hitting you "below the belt"...kinda sounds like the way you and the former president character-attacked Sen. Obama in S.C. to me....
Grow up, or get out of the race.

Posted by: David Leggett | May 30, 2008 7:45:45 PM

Well at least they have stopped saying he is a Muslim.

Posted by: Are you really a Clinton Supporters. | May 30, 2008 6:17:11 PM

Senator Clinto says that: "We are disappointed that Senator Obama didn't specifically reject Father's Pflegler's despicable comments about Senator Clinton, and assume he will do so."

Well, I and others remain disappointed that Clinton did not apologize to Obama for Clinton's despicable and not-so-subtle allusion to the possibility of an Obama assassination. We still assume she will do so.

Posted by: Liz | May 30, 2008 5:59:25 PM

If you want to see divisive and hateful language look no further than Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Posted by: Doug | May 30, 2008 2:38:57 PM

What kind of church is trinity? I cannot even imagine the Lord or His apostles preaching such hate and vitriol as Wright or Pfleger. Be assured, you are known by the company you keep. Your chioice of friends reflects yopur judgement and discernment. Obama is sorely lacking in both areas. He is NOT qualified to be my President.

Posted by: Lawrence | May 30, 2008 1:43:55 PM

Disgraceful.

People can have whatever opinions they want. But for a Priest to use the pulpit to mock and ridicule a person, based on race (and gender) is astonishly inappropriate.

And this isn't some fringe Obama follower, this is another of his spiritual advisors of over 20 years.

Posted by: clbrune | May 30, 2008 1:39:28 PM

Why the HELL isn't this church paying taxes???? This is a violation of Federal law!!! Sic the IRS on Obama's church & Pfleger's church!

And "Rev." Pfleger, psssst---you're not black. Hate to tell you...

So now I know the Catholic church tolerates both pedophilia and misogyny.

Why would I EVER vote for Obama if this is the caliber of his supporters?

Posted by: MJ | May 30, 2008 1:20:26 PM

I'm amazed at the "so what?" responses on this board.

I'm a laid back kinda person who says live and let live. This Father Pfleger situation is...is....shocking. If you folks don't think Mr. Obama has this same conviction as this church after 20 years...20 years of intimate attendance (marriage, baptism, etc..) running through his veins then I've got some land 30 minutes west of Malibu I'd like to sell.

If……Hagee (sic) had stated Obama by name and insulted the entire black race in reverse here, would be unforgivable and if you didn’t think so the MSM would make sure you knew. You know and I know it.

We are looking for character, values and principles in our next president not a race war.

Healing America? More like extracting your gums because of a tooth cavity.

You are who you hang with so Mr. Obama; you have just lost my vote.

W. A.

Posted by: W. A. | May 30, 2008 1:05:24 PM

This is the worst sort of politics with the worst sort of candidate. It is just insanity that the Democratic party is supporting Obama. They need to put up Clinton or wait potentially another eight years for another serious run at it.

Posted by: Stamford | May 30, 2008 12:40:55 PM

This is the worst sort of politics with the worst sort of candidate. It is just insanity that the Democratic party is supporting Obama. They need to put up Clinton or wait potentially another eight years for another serious run at it.

Posted by: Stamford | May 30, 2008 12:39:00 PM

When it is time to vote in November, many will put country before party in choosing the POTUS.

Obama is not the nominee yet and now old news is breaking into the MSM...

Posted by: country before party | May 30, 2008 12:15:03 PM

What a GREAT CHURCH!!!
What a GREAT RELIGION Obama has!!!

Posted by: Eddie Bryan | May 30, 2008 12:14:21 PM

There is a reason why 17 million Hillary supporters are behind her nomination and will not vote for Obama, yesterdays release of the Pfleger's vidio is one of the reasons. Obama can't win in November, the DNC better read the 'Tealeafts'

Posted by: mel7 | May 30, 2008 11:27:34 AM

Senator Hillary Clinton was right - what a difference 3 months can make!

After yet another scandal regarding Senator Obama not simply coming from the State of Illinois, not simply the City of Chicago, but right from his church's own pulpit, Obama's fellow citizens celebrate the race card.

A white catholic priest, Fr. Pfleger, known as very powerful in the Chicago African-American community, spoke last Sunday from Rev. Wright's pulpit (Obama's church for 20 years) and mocked Hillary for (a) running for office with her sole deficit being that she is white; (b) mocking that old Jim Crow tune of "entitlement" because she is white; (c) and that Obama is winning because he is black.

If House Majority Leader Pelosi and Senate Leader Harry Reid think they are going to throw Senator Hillary Clinton under the wheels to unify the democrat party, they are losing their minds.

Obama and friends have made race the issue of this year's election.

Throw Senator Obama back to Chicago with his friends. They can hoot and holler all they want.

We want someone whose focus is putting food on our tables; Americans back to work; and bringing the Iraqi war to a just, swift conclusion.

That person is Hillary Clinton.

Posted by: Jim | May 30, 2008 10:25:48 AM

Obama did not make the comments and to anyone's knowledge did not write the sermon and was not in the audience. On the other hand, Hillary Clinton did state that the reason she was staying in was that Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June. Hillary Clinton did, in fact, practically endorse John McCain. So despite everything that is written here to the contrary, Obama is more presidential and more deserving of the position of president. Also, I agree with Rupert Murdoch, Obama will win by a landslide in November.

Posted by: Sixth | May 30, 2008 10:22:49 AM

Last night on CNN, Anderson Cooper gave us some insights of what Obama is really like. A dishonest, un-american, anti democratic, sexist, vile, corrupt individual.
There is no place for Hussein Obama in government.
To the SD I suggest to think reallyhard before voting for him. The Democrats will lose in November, and who ever is up for re-election, will follow Obama, Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy in primis.

Posted by: Joe | May 30, 2008 9:29:04 AM

I am so sick of Obama and his spiritual advisers...Do they even believe in God?...do they ever preach the word? DISGUSTING! Just like Obama, DISGUSTING!

Posted by: 30yrdem | May 30, 2008 9:26:22 AM

DISGRACE!!!!!
IF Hillary or McCains church pastor ranted these RACIST comments about obama - there would be riots!!! To see the people Cheering - this is what they expect to see/hear in church - SHOCKING!WHY does obama attend this racist church - he must know and believe the message - WE all know the message now and obama cannot SPIN it again. How Sad! obama has divided our party beyond repair and set race issues back 200 years - so much for our new guy of "Unity". I will NEVER vote for obama - I now see who he is thru his "friends" - associates and church.

Posted by: Molly | May 30, 2008 9:05:10 AM

That's really a good one. Someone from the CLINTON camp crying divisive behavior from an Obama supporter.

I guess the "hard working...WHITE hard working American" statement wasn't meant to be divisive...I guess the less educated Americans wasn't meant to say he is elite...I guess the Kennedy assassination comment was meant to UNITE this country.


Posted by: Pot and Kettle | May 30, 2008 9:02:45 AM

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