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Obama, in Indiana, Denounces 'Forces of Division'

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March 15, 2008 4:51 PM

During a town hall in Plainfield, Ind., Barack Obama brought up controversial statements made by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, weaving the storyline into the history of race in America, perhaps another attempt at distancing himself from his pastor’s commentary.

“You heard some statements from my former pastor that were incendiary and that I completely reject, although I knew him and know him as somebody in my church who talked to me about Jesus and family and friendships,” Obama said.

If all I knew was those statements that I saw on television, I would be shocked," he said. "And it just, it reminds me that, you know, we've got a tragic history when it comes to race in this country.”

He used the comments as an example of the divisions that are still present in society.

“The forces of division have started to raise their ugly heads again, and I’m not here to cast blame or point fingers because everybody senses the shift,” he said, referencing recent reporting and commentary by supporters of different candidates.

Obama, who said he has “little pieces of America” in him, said there is still a lot of pent-up anger, bitterness and misunderstanding, but that if the country wants something different they’ve got to move beyond divisions.

He then summoned words from Bobby Kennedy’s speech in Indianapolis on April 4, 1968, upon receiving news of Martin Luther King’s assassination.

“When people say things like my former pastor said, you have to speak out forcefully against them," Obama said. "But what you have to also do though is remember what Bobby Kennedy said, that it is within our power to join together to truly make a United States of America.”

Obama's town hall in highly Republican Plainfield followed a night of cable appearances by the senator explaining the extent of his relationship with Wright and repudiating the preacher's controversial comments that moved into the media spotlight this week.

March 15, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (610)

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Still waiting for someone to state the racist comments Wright made...

Posted by: Janice | Mar 15, 2008 5:38:52 PM

If Obama's pastor himself, isn't a huge source of division, I don't know what is. Why is Obama trying to blame everyone else, for the obvious screw-up he made by embracing Rev Wright? It's the media's fault? Clinton's? BS......he has no one else to blame for this, except himself.

Posted by: KDH55 | Mar 15, 2008 5:38:56 PM

I forgot to say that i am a former Obama supporter...he should have told us that his church, and obviously as a supporter of this pastor for 20 years; that he believed we deserved 9-1-1 in this country....too late to denounce Wright now; he has been close to him for 20 years....did you see the congregation clapping for this pastor and his racist remarks...Obama is telling us that he does not like nasty politics and his pastor is at the pulpit saying what he did about Bill and Hillary Clinton..Bill riding Monica..did that really have any place in a church sermon....Obama almost fooled all of us.....patriotism is what this country is about....he now scares me...he is going to remain a member of this congregation who clapped and roared over what their pastor was saying..Wow!!

Posted by: Margie | Mar 15, 2008 5:39:43 PM

Rev wright called america the U S (KKK) of A.

I have seen the video 100 times now.

Whoever says this guy ISNT racist would have to be utterly racist themselves.

Posted by: tomdavie | Mar 15, 2008 5:40:29 PM

I'm voting for Hillary

Posted by: J.Murphy, CA. | Mar 15, 2008 5:40:55 PM

Who cares what this preacher says? Is he representative of his entire religion? Of course not. This is silly.

Posted by: Jerry | Mar 15, 2008 5:41:00 PM

Did the good reverend go bad overnight? I don't think so. Did Obama just join this church and begin his association with this reverend? Of course not. What does that leave us with? I am troubled greatly that this association has lasted many years. I am even more troubled that the Office of the President of the United States of America may be taken too lightly during this election year.

Posted by: benvictor | Mar 15, 2008 5:41:16 PM

You have seen it 100 times but you still cannot tell me what he said that was racist. Just give me one quote. Just one. You saw it 100 times and you cannot tell me. What is the problem?

Posted by: Jim B | Mar 15, 2008 5:42:15 PM

Are there really any words that can be said I think it is pretty hopeless in this country.

Posted by: Bishop | Mar 15, 2008 5:43:11 PM

Barak Obama must not just distance himself from Rev. Wright, but leave this church for me to vote for him. Go and look at Rev. Wright's past sermons- you don't need Sean Hannity to do this- the man is a racist, antisemite, anti-Catholic, and a prounounced sexist (Hillary Clinton may not have ever been called "the n-word," but how about the b-word, and "monster")! I don't buy Obama's "not knowing" what Wright has been preaching for over 35 years- he knew. The new pastor at his church was hand picked by Wright and is cut from the same cloth. I remember Wright's generation of black activist very clearly, they believed a woman's place in the civil rights movement was "prone." Further, I will not vote for any candidate that dies not make a very clear distinction between church & state. Have we not had enough of religion in government & politics from Bush? Obama is not the candidate I believed him to be (which is sad). And I did not form this opinion from just what the press has presented about Rev. Wright & Obama- I did my own research. If Obama is the Democratic nominee, I will write-in a candidate for president. I don't want to void my entire ballot, so I will do this and vote for the other candidates I support for other offices.

Posted by: sgmdemocrat | Mar 15, 2008 5:44:05 PM

Obama can denounce all he wants. HIS ACTIONS speak louder...This Pastor was Obama's spiritual ADVISOR, his mentor, for 20 years...WAKE UP AMERICA before it's too late...THERE is NO excuse that can justify this dispicable support!!!I can assure you more is to come!!!
AMERICAN'S should be outraged

Posted by: chris | Mar 15, 2008 5:44:32 PM

Come on you guys. Cannot one of you come up with one statement? Just one. You all seem to know so much about this. What did he say? I am waiting. Let me know.

Posted by: Jim B | Mar 15, 2008 5:45:12 PM

I get a kick out of this guy. At first his pastor's statements were "provocative". Then when he knew he was losing votes, they became "incendiary". Now that he is losing more votes, he "denounces and rejects" this pastor, who he has stated his respect for and closeness to in his own book and on other occasions. Let's here some straight talk Obama, your church is filled with race baiting bigots who hate white America, yet you send your wife and children there weekly. Now you expect us to believe that your pastor's views and statements are all new to you and you have thrown him under the bus. No serious political person would align himself with this type of deplorable garbage. Most would run from it as fast as they could.

Posted by: Jim | Mar 15, 2008 5:45:29 PM

Reject forces of division?Sure, he should have rejected his pastor,WHOSE CHURCH HE HAS ATTENDED FOR 20YEARS,FRIEND/UNCLE,SPIRTUAL ADVISOR,MENTOR,WHO MARRIED HIM,BAPTIZED HIM,WAS A SPIRITUAL ADVISOR FOR HIS CAMPAIGN UNTIL A DAY AGO.To claim that you knew nothing about his inflammatory speeches and never sat through any of them is simply blatant lies.Does he view the American voter as totally stupid?Barack,I thought you as a fantastic VP nominee for Hillary,the very next leader and President,but, you have let me and all other independents who plan to vote D this time down by associating with this radical priest.Now you have convinced me to vote McCain,thumbing my nose and oppose Hillary if she ever selects you as her running mate.

Posted by: VPNathan3 | Mar 15, 2008 5:46:20 PM

The Obama followers are in shock right now. They think they can 'spin' this away. They think the media will bury it for him. They think that Obama can tap dance it away.

Think about this. 2 weeks from now. 2 months from now.

There is no 'worming' out of it. Obama went to the church for TWENTY YEARS.

He never resigned. He never did anything to distance himeself from this until it might HURT him politically.

Its total MISTRUST. You cant wish it away. There is no way in a general election people can vote for this guy outside the far left .

He is finished.

Posted by: tomdavie | Mar 15, 2008 5:47:12 PM

Normally, I would agree with Obama (I am not fan of Obama)about the coverage, but in this case, all I can say is that if you lie with dogs with fleas, you get fleas. He could have denounced what his pastor said and leave it at that; there would not have been a need to respond with "forces of division." That just shreds even more credabiity from this man.

Posted by: Adam Smith | Mar 15, 2008 5:47:23 PM

This is BHO's uncle by choice not by blood. Choice is the direct result of judgment - the suit he claimed to have been born in and far superior to any other remaining candidates'.

Posted by: esvida | Mar 15, 2008 5:47:40 PM

Obama's true colors are coming out, and the color is not about "black". It is the color of "green". He is too green. He claims that he is the one who can bring people together, yet, his own people take every opportunity to charge their opponents with playing the race card. There is vile, hate, sexism, and distortion at every turn to label their opponents. When they cannot win on the issues, they avidly look for any little wedge to gain sympathy. Now the wheel has turned for more people to see the hatred and racism on Obama's side. Geraldine Ferraro was not racist, because she was giving an historical analogy of this campaign. The Clintons were not racist in the South Carolina primary. He wants to have it both ways. This preacher episode just further reveals his lack of experience, lack of judgement, and lack of honesty. Whether it is Rezko, Patrick's "words" speech, NAFTA, or his 20-year minister and friend, he is a complete double-talker.

Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice (or thrice, or fouth, etc.), shame on me!

Posted by: georgia | Mar 15, 2008 5:48:53 PM

I don't believe Obama. As someone said above, actions speak louder than words. Twenty years of action

Posted by: dissertator08 | Mar 15, 2008 5:49:08 PM

You obama folks have NOT looked at all the video. There is HOURS of it.

Going back to 9/11. This is no 'speech or two' . Its on and on and on........

Give your head a shake.

Obama is unelectable.

Posted by: tomdavie | Mar 15, 2008 5:49:13 PM

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