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Durbin 'Misspoke' Doing Obama Damage Control

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March 17, 2008 8:08 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Jacqueline Klingebiel report: Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., sought to downplay controversial statements made by Sen. Barack Obama's, D-Ill., controversial former pastor of 20 years, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, on Monday by incorrectly claiming that many of the incendiary remarks were made before Obama joined Wright's church.

“I can say, No. 1, many of the quotes that had been disclosed publicly were made by Rev. Wright at a time before Barack Obama became a part of his congregation and in places where Barack Obama was not even present," said Durbin on an Obama campaign conference call with reporters.

Durbin made his claim, even though some of Wright's most controversial statements -- such as his contention that the United States is to blame for 9/11, as well as his "God damn America" sermon -- were made a decade or more after Obama had joined his church. 

Obama first heard Wright speak in 1987 and joined his Chicago South Side church, Trinity United Church of Christ, in 1991.

"The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing 'God Bless America,'" said Wright in 2003. "No, no, no, God damn America, that's in the Bible for killing innocent people.

"God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human," he added. "God damn America for as long as she acts like she is God and she is supreme."

As previously reported by ABC News' Brian Ross, in addition to damning America, Wright told his congregation on the Sunday after Sept. 11, 2001, that the United States had brought on al Qaeda's attacks because of its own terrorism. To watch Ross' report and read his story, click here.

"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye," Wright said in a sermon on Sept. 16, 2001.

Asked to explain Durbin's claim that "many" of Wright's incendiary remarks were made before Obama joined his congregation, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor told ABC News, "Sen. Durbin misspoke."

On Tuesday in Philadelphia, Obama is set to deliver what his campaign is calling "a major address" on race and politics.

March 17, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (32)

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Oh pulleezze... Another politician lying trying to do damage control?

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 17, 2008 8:13:45 PM

"I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish; where no public official either requests or accept instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source; where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials, and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all. " - John F. Kennedy

Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 17, 2008 8:14:50 PM

Rezco, Farakkhan, Wright... these
are not all unfortunate coincidences... Use some
common sense America!

Posted by: bob | Mar 17, 2008 8:21:32 PM

Couldn't someone have briefed the briefer? That's embarrassing.

If it was an attempt at misinformation, even worse.

Posted by: OhioNative | Mar 17, 2008 8:42:18 PM

it's so upsetting that the dems flocked like silly little lemmings to obambi's side. this is what clinton meant by vetted. the repubs are not going to let this go. he will get the nod, but he is minced meat.

Posted by: tony | Mar 17, 2008 8:48:09 PM

I wonder how he is going to blame Hillary for all of this? Obama will never recover from this. He needs to let Hillary bring peace to the world, he clearly has been missleading his followers as a goodie to shoe. I think your mentor is calling for you Obama, time to pray.

Posted by: D | Mar 17, 2008 8:49:13 PM

hey d. yeah, i can always smell through a narcissist. obambi is clearly narcissistic. he had people floating in the clouds. when's the last time you heard the "yes we can" chant? doesnt sound that thrilling after your adored one has crashed and burned.

Posted by: tony | Mar 17, 2008 9:00:48 PM

Truth is; Rev. Wright's sermons aren't much different from sermons you'd hear in any all black church in America. Welcome to a new world view- America isn't perfect. It's time we deal with some of these racial problems. I hope Obama can rise above this. I don't share the same views as my pastor.

Posted by: Judy | Mar 17, 2008 9:19:24 PM

Truth is; Rev. Wright's sermons aren't much different from sermons you'd hear in any all black church in America. Welcome to a new world view- America isn't perfect. It's time we deal with some of these racial problems. I hope Obama can rise above this. I don't share the same views as my pastor.

Posted by: Judy | Mar 17, 2008 9:19:29 PM

There are hundreds of churches in Chicago. If you disagree with your pastor's religious/political views[because he was espousing BOTH], then you can choose to attend a different church. Obama is a fraud, and thank God we discovered this sooner rather than later!!!

Posted by: susan | Mar 17, 2008 9:33:28 PM

Obama didn't say any of these things. How can you call it a scandal when Obama didn't do anything. I'm so tired of this constant Obama bashing by republicans and the news media. If you can't beat him fair and square, go after the people around. It's not going to work though.

Posted by: dem in chicago | Mar 17, 2008 9:34:07 PM

It's been interesting to read several comments on various boards alluding to the existence of many preachers like Wright, saying that this is a traditional type of preaching in black churches. Well, I guess now we can understand why Michelle has been ashamed to be an American. We can also understand why the blacks as a group (and don't yell at me for that--the democrats have treated them like a subgroup for decades and asked them for their votes every 2-4 years without ever doing anything they promised they would for them)....anyway, as I was saying, now we can understand why the blacks as a group have not aspired to movin' on up to the eastside, except in a sit com. If they have been listening to this kind of garbage Sunday after Sunday since 1963, it's no wonder they think the rest of us are horrible people. I wonder if they would be disappointed or baffled to learn that most of us white folk are just about our business, taking care of our families, paying our bills, looking forward to vacation and (this is the part that might throw them off kilter a bit)....not sitting around thinking bad thoughts about them or wishing them ill. This is your official invitation if you've been in one of those violent-preachin' churches (from a Christian Danish-American--and I'm only 2nd generation....so I will claim the hyphenation for this post only--feels too silly and ostentatious to take seriously)...anyway...here's your invite: (1) please feel free to leave that violent-preachin church; (2) please make yourself at home in America, and look forward to making more money next year than you did this year; and, (3) realize that when I see you on the streets of our small town, my notice of you will consist of "hi" with a smile, as I walk by. Geez, you people really need to relax. Just because you have had racist preachers yelling at you for 33 years DOESN'T MAKE IT SO.

Posted by: Ann | Mar 17, 2008 9:36:15 PM

over lots of different blogs i see people saying this is just what black churches are like and we white people just don't understand. they are simultaneously calling us insensitive racists AND insulting black churches.

Posted by: so saddened | Mar 17, 2008 9:40:18 PM

SENATOR OBAMA is entitled to participate in a religion that is preaches hellfire and damnation for those that are opposed to black people, doesn't bother me in the least. I've personally heard the N word used in a Southern Baptist church by a Sunday School teacher. He can be President and have participated in this church. For me, the real test is does he separate church and state. To apply this test I have to look at the way he manages his campaign. If he places such incendiary theologians onto his campaign I would argue that he doesn't make such a separation. If he places such on his campaign and waits one year, and only after there is an outcry, to take action to remove such from his campaign, he has failed in JUDGEMENT and in EXECUTIVE CAPACITY. SENATOR OBAMA has indeed failed along these lines. I really don't care what anybody else says about this, the case is clear to me and can now be closed.

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 17, 2008 9:43:20 PM

Yeah, the whole "That's what black churches are like" is a lie. It's just being done to cover up Obamas choice in message. Yes, our Churches get emotional, loud and filled with the Holy Spirit. That means filled with grace and goodness, not hate and anger. We did feel it during Katrina, but not as much in hateful way as in a hurt and let down way. However, it was very encouraging to see that the entire nation was on our side of that argument. In fact, a lot of White people made me cry with their goodness and compassion. Damn it, I hate what Obama has done. He's worse than Bush. Bush united us against his callous stupidity and Obama created an angry racial wedge.

Posted by: Irma | Mar 17, 2008 9:54:53 PM

Obama is just going to say he did not know his pastor said all those things, before fox news put them out.

Then give a talk on his mother being white his dad being black, that he is the best to unite the nation. so make me president.

Mr Obama has lied so many times already.

Why did you not have your pastor speak at your announcement of your candidacy?

Will Obama make available all his speeches in there entirety of all the churches he spoke at on his campaign trail.

Posted by: seah | Mar 17, 2008 9:56:49 PM

Wright is an honorable man. Yes, his statements were angry, but they were not all that wrong either.

The Mainstream Media has done a hit and run job on this man, a former US Marine and man of god!

The MSM tone about Wright is fundamentally prejudiced. We have white pundits gets all huffy and scared because a popwerful black preacher is angry at American arrogance and racism. I note that the MSM doesn't invite any black commentators to give THEIR view. It's only the white perspective. (And of course, conveniently, white fire-and-brimstone preachers get a pass -- why? because of the white comfort level) The response to this is totally irrational. Wright is proudly black and indignant about Americas failings. BO aside, I think the MSM is, to borrow a phrase, truly engaging in a "high tech lynching" here.

As an aside, the WaPo columnist Colby King, a black man, said he has heard preachers like Wright many times before. He said it is a way for the black community to vent their frustrations. And he pointed out that the most segregated day of the week is Sunday morning. Apart from him, I haven't seen anyone ask a black person for their perspective on this. Just whites talking about white's feelings.

Wright's view is not uncommon among black America.

"Don't let anybody make you think God chose America as his divine messianic force to be a sort of policeman of the whole world. God has a way of standing before the nations with justice and it seems I can hear God saying to America "you are too arrogant, and if you don't change your ways, I will rise up and break the backbone of your power, and I will place it in the hands of a nation that doesn't even know my name. Be still and know that I'm God. Men will beat their swords into plowshafts and their spears into pruning hooks, and nations shall not rise up against nations, neither shall they study war anymore." I don't know about you, I ain't going to study war anymore."

Martin Luther King Jr.
Address to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (1967-08-16)


Posted by: James | Mar 17, 2008 10:37:26 PM

The fact that the Democrats, and the Media, constantly roll over and pander to the rightwing is the problem.

Here's how it works:

1. GOP smear artists dream up next scurrilous attack.

2. Rush Limbaugh and Drudge push it.

3. FoxNews picks it up and plays it again and again.

4. CNN and MSNBC copy them.

5. Pretty soon the NYTimes and WaPo start talking about it.

6. Mission Accomplished -- Rightwing spin becomes news.

I think the MSM and Dems have to stop being so cowardly and panicky about the GOP smears. Start fighting back for a change.


Posted by: Kelly | Mar 17, 2008 10:38:02 PM

I thing Reverend Wright's speeches are angry, disturbing and with regards to foreign policy, not all that different from what Ron Paul,a US Congressman from Texas and presidential candidate said. Also, I understand black people have a different perspective from whites and have cause for anger. However, Obama is being tested. Media coverage is not always fair and one has to persevere. Let's see how he does.

Posted by: erizin | Mar 17, 2008 10:43:13 PM


This is McCarthyism and Lynching rolled into one.

America is being lead like lemmings by the Rightwing smear machine.

Wright is old and a bit fruity, but hardly a "racist". His church has white and black members. You are unfair and wrong to judge him by a 15 sec. ABC/FoxNews video splice job.

This is wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

SHAME ON YOU!

Does America have any decency left?

Posted by: Bobby | Mar 17, 2008 10:46:35 PM

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