Obama Takes Ebenezer Church Pulpit

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Obama Takes Ebenezer Church Pulpit

January 20, 2008 3:12 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addressed the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia from a pulpit that he said was not just meaningful to the African American community, but to the entire world.

Obama, who is seeking his party's presidential nomination, addressed the congregation of the famous church where Martin Luther King Sr. and Jr. were once pastors, while Christie King Farris, the King’s sister, listened in the second pew.

One day before Martin Luther King Day, and 40 years since his death, Obama was introduced by Pastor Warnock, with a linkage to their "martyr, "This is Ebenezer, giants have stood here, so we don’t take this pulpit lightly. We invited this brother because he’s committed and brilliant….All of you be proud that this brother can run. Because of Dr. Martin Luther King."

The Pastor had to quiet down female shrills in the back of the church. "Listen you’re in church," he shushed his congregation in a jokingly manner, "I understand, but don’t get it twisted, we’re in church."

Obama took the dais admittedly humbled, and described the environment and struggle that the legacy of Dr. King was born under, pinpointing that his legacy was not all rhetoric.

"He led with words, but he also led with deeds. He also led by example. He led by marching and going to jail and suffering threats and beatings, and being away from his family," said Obama who would be the nation's first black president. "He led by taking a stand against a war, knowing full well that it would diminish his popularity. He led by challenging our economic structures, understanding that it would cause discomfort. Dr. King understood that unity cannot be won on the cheap; that we would have to earn it through great effort and determination."

Speaking to the predominately African American community, Obama, son of a Kenyan man and a Kansas woman, said those struggles still exist in some measure today, "One in the African-American community have been at the receiving end of man’s inhumanity to man…. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community. We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants only as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity."

Obama, who seemed to try to stay away from a blatant politics on a Sunday in church, couldn’t help wandering into the political weeds, and addressed the role race has played in the election, in exchanges on the campaign trail between him and Senator Clinton.

"Everyday, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions; across gender and party….And last week, it even crept into the campaign for President, with charges and counter-charges that served to obscure the issues instead of illuminating the critical choices we face as a nation. None of our hands are clean. We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late."

Obama was referencing the dust up between him and Sen. Hillary Clinton over the MLK/LBJ comments, a discussion that has lasted from the New Hampshire primary to the Nevada caucus.

And he repeated the comment to the congregation within his remarks, "I don’t believe in false hopes," Obama said, playing off a remark that Clinton criticized him with, "Imagine if JFK looked up at the moon and said that’s too far, false hopes we cant go there, imagine if MLK stood at the Lincoln memorial and said ya’ll go home."

Obama said that hope is what has allowed him to overcome his struggles, "When I got in trouble when I was a teenager I did some things that folks now like to talk about. I needed some hope to get here," an obvious reference to his past drug use of marijuana and cocaine as a teenager, an act that has plagued him in his presidential run.

Obama and members of the church linked arms and sang, "We Shall Overcome," as the service winded down. "Brother Obama is under heavy security but god is around him." Pastor Warnock said.

Along with members of the King family, Obama laid a wreath on the tomb of Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. Tomorrow, on MLK Jr. day, Obama will speak at the "King Day at the Dome," event at Zion Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

January 20, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (66)

User Comments

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Obama calling for unity?? what unity are blacks suffering in America, do they not have the same opportunity as others. If they don't how come he has reached where he has? How come we have black governors, senators, what is Condi or Powell white people? Cant blacks go to college like everyone else? What is all this talk about MLK and marching to stop oppression, or alluding to the bringing down the walls of Jericho. What happen to Obama he feels everyone is stupid and not notice the play he is making, he it trying to divide not unity that is all he is doing. Telling blacks indirectly because he is black he is not getting a fair shake, with talk like that he is fueling the fires that is all he is doing and it should stop.

Posted by: Mac | Jan 20, 2008 5:49:28 PM

Mac,

Obama is calling for american people to stand up against corporatism! And that's why he is talking about Unity!

Corporatism uses divide and conquer ideology to divide us, and once we are divided, Politicians would care less to work for their people!

Politicians use divide and conquer ideology to get reelected!

Politicians should deliver healthcare, education if they want to be relected and so on! But as long as they are still able to continue manupilating brainwashed people such as you, they will not feel any need to deliver anything!

Do you get it?!?!

Posted by: eddie | Jan 20, 2008 6:05:15 PM

I THINK YOU HIT A NEW LOW WHEN YOU PANDER FOR VOTES AT A CHURCH AND WHEN PEOPLE CLAIM TO KNOW WHO IS ANNOINTED BY GOD. I AM ROMAN CATHOLIC AND FIND THIS HIGHLY OFFENSIVE AND SACRILIGIOUS!

Posted by: M&Ms | Jan 20, 2008 6:09:55 PM

I know this is not PC but I would
very much like to know what
religion the Obama family is.
The media seems to shy away from
this topic.

Posted by: Bob | Jan 20, 2008 6:10:44 PM

I find it interesting here, to see that Obama supporters are more rationals that Clinton's!

Maybe these trolls are die-hard republicans who want Hillary to be the nominee and get defeated in the general election????

We should be told!

Posted by: eddie | Jan 20, 2008 6:15:50 PM

Hey Eddie does Obama know there is a separation between church and state. Obama talking to a black crowd telling them to rise up and march, shake things up as he calls it, is dangerous talk that is fueling a fire. We shall overcome is a famous song for blacks against oppression, was very popular in the days of black integration, Obama is playing smart with foolishness and is pushing the racial buttons to cause strive in this election that is all he is doing.

Posted by: Mac | Jan 20, 2008 6:17:58 PM

Pls will the hillary campaign staffers allow REAL people to post their comments instead of spewing poison and telling outrageous lies? The clintons have the worst type of campign i have in a long time. keep on deluding your selves we al know that

Posted by: Bindex | Jan 20, 2008 6:20:10 PM

I didn't think the post could get any more stupid then the post I read today. There was NOTHING wrong with Obama speech. For gooodness sakes, the man was in a church. Politicans in a chuch? Goodness gracious! Never seen that before! Get over yourselves. I would just like to compliment Bill-ary 08! I have been very impressed with Bill helping Hillary with her two wins. SHE would be NOTHING without him. Congrats. Bill-ary 08! Wooo Hooo!

Posted by: McCainWILLWIN! | Jan 20, 2008 6:24:46 PM

I was frankly pretty shocked to read some of the smarmy comments on here. And worst yet, by our own people. The cynicism is palpable. What I wonder is, why spend time rationalizing why you don't want to vote for the guy. Just vote for Hillary (or whomever) and keep your head up. Do you really think it demonstrates how savvy or smart you are by saying it? It seems a little more like there is some sort of fear involved. If you asked him, I would bet that Barack doesn't want black people to vote for him because he's black, but because he's trying to be a part of something that might help us more than Bill/Hillary's proposals might by themselves. Don't lie to yourself, make your choice without the reverse engineering.

Posted by: William B | Jan 20, 2008 6:27:05 PM

What is a lie am saying Obama is dealing in dangerous talk, pushing the race card big and bold, he should deal with the issue that is what he needs to do. If he does keep that talk up some of his follower are going to end up taking things too far, forget the race talk those days are over. America has opened its doors to so many colored people over the years does Obama not know that, black and white get married now its not like MLK days, but for some reason he is trying to tell blacks it is still that way and that is very wrong.

Posted by: Mac | Jan 20, 2008 6:27:46 PM

What a hate-filled series of comments!

If anything argues for the need to have leadership that heals us, it's all the extreme and self-destructive language that shows up in blogs whenever race, religion, or sexuality enter the picture.

We shall and must overcome.

Posted by: Teacher | Jan 20, 2008 6:36:06 PM

Mac,

You are truly confused about the separtion of church and state!

Obama is celebrating MLK's Birthday and what this day is all about!

You don't have any critical thinking, do you?

Posted by: eddie | Jan 20, 2008 6:39:47 PM

Mac,

Obama is calling for american people to stand up against corporatism! And that's why he is talking about Unity!

Corporatism uses divide and conquer ideology to divide us, and once we are divided, Politicians would care less to work for their people!

Politicians use divide and conquer ideology to get reelected!

Do you get it?!?!

Posted by: eddie | Jan 20, 2008 6:49:08 PM

Mac,

Obama is calling for Unity in his speech, not only Blacks, and Whites, but Gays, Jews and Immigrants!

What do you mean that he is talking about the race card?

Obama 2008

Posted by: eddie | Jan 20, 2008 6:53:08 PM

Mac,

Barack Obama called Sunday for unity to overcome the country's problems and acknowledged that "none of our hands are clean" when it comes to healing divisions.

Please, tell me where is the race card?

Obama 2008

Posted by: eddie | Jan 20, 2008 6:55:26 PM

I think AMERICANS need to look and do their best to bring together a solution for the best for the country.America is losing power,respect and lidership. Dem need to be like a fox for good and not divide the party with race and gender. They need to be proud to have a black and a woman for candidate, but Democrats need to see beyong words,speechs. They need to tell solutions for Americans and what they will do for the country and for the people. Look forward for the best candidate and their solutions for the country. What happened with the economy. If the country has a good economy then you'll have health care,education, social programs, etc. without economy, you cannot have it. Think hard and vote with mind and heart. GB

Posted by: Gloria B. | Jan 20, 2008 7:09:09 PM

Mac,

Obama is trying to bring ALL People together. Not divided into groups... black, white, latino, men, women, asian...ALL PEOPLE...ALL PARTIES...for the common good. A UNITED AMERICA. The Clintons are dividing and turning Latinos against Blacks, Women against Men...ENOUGH!

Posted by: eddie | Jan 20, 2008 7:23:56 PM

Posted by: eddie | Jan 20, 2008 7:39:39 PM

Obama must have thought that running for the Presidency was going to be a cake walk where no one would call him out on his platform or hurt his feelings. Well he needs to think again, because if he gets the nomination just how nice does he think the GOP is going to be? The Republicans are waiting for him just like they are waiting for Hillary, and they will eat his lunch! Obama now sounds like a big, whinning baby and does not deserve to run the country. I'm a black man and I'm supporting the best possible candidate. GO HILLARY! HILLARY 08!!!

Posted by: brandon | Jan 20, 2008 7:45:31 PM

I am very concerned about the upcoming Presidential election. How can ANYONE support a candidate who does not salute the American flag & who belongs to a church whose congregation has a non-negotiable commitment to Africa? Please check Barack Hussein Obama's history. Perhaps you don’t know all there is to know about the man who may become our Commander-in Chief. God, help us if Obama wins this election!

Posted by: Dorothy | Jan 20, 2008 7:54:01 PM

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