Hillary Clinton: Wright Remarks 'Offensive and Outrageous'

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Hillary Clinton: Wright Remarks 'Offensive and Outrageous'

April 30, 2008 2:46 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper Reports: In an "O'Reilly Factor" exclusive, Hillary Clinton rebuked Rev. Jeremiah Wright in her strongest language to-date.

Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y., speaking exclusively to FOX News, called Wright's comments "offensive and outrageous," telling conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly that she going to leave the controversy "up to voters to decide."

Here's the full exchange between O'Reilly and Clinton, as released by FOX News:

O'Reilly: "Can you believe this Rev. Wright guy? Can you believe this guy?"
Clinton: "Well, I'm going to leave it up to voters to decide."
O'Reilly: "Well, what do you think as an American?"
Clinton: "Well, what I said when I was asked directly is that I would not have stayed in the church.
O'Reilly: "You're an American citizen, I'm an American citizen, He's an American citizen, Rev. Wright. What do you think when you hear a fellow American citizen say that kind of stuff about America."
Clinton: "Well, I take offense. I think it's offensive and outrageous. I'm going to express my opinion, others can express theirs. It is part of just, you know, an atmosphere we're in today."

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.

In an ABC News debate earlier this month, Clinton repeated the assertion she had made on the campaign trail that, if in Obama's position, Rev. Wright would not have been her choice in pastor.

"One's choice of church and pastor is rooted in what one believes is what you're seeking in church and what kind of, you know, fellowship you find in church," Clinton told moderators Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos.

"But I have to say," she continued, "for Pastor Wright to have given his first sermon after 9/11 and to have blamed the United States for the attack, which happened in my city of New York, would have been just intolerable for me. And, therefore, I would have not been able to stay in the church."

You get to choose your pastor. You don't choose your family, but you get to choose your pastor. And when asked a direct question, I said I would not have stayed in the church," Clinton concluded, later adding she considered the issue "legitimate" in the minds of voters.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., strongly condemned recent comments made by his former pastor at a press conference on Tuesday.

Reacting to what he called the "spectacle" of his former pastor at the National Press Club, Obama, D-Ill., denounced Wright saying, "What Rev. Wright said (on Monday) directly contradicts everything I have ever done or said in my life."

"Whatever relationship I had with Rev Wright has changed as a result of this," Obama said.

Speaking the National Press Club in Washington on Monday, Rev. Wright called the recent criticism surrounding his sermons "an attack on the black church".

"This is not about Obama, McCain, Hillary, Bill or Chelsea, this is about the black church," Wright said, speaking before an enthusiastic audience of black church leaders at the onset of a two-day symposium.

Throughout his speech and a subsequent question and answer session, Wright defiantly argued that many of his critics had not heard his whole sermons and that the media had twisted his words.

Wright vigorously defended himself against accusations he is unpatriotic but in Washington, he went on to compare U.S. troops to the Roman legions that killed Christ, to praise Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farakhan, and to suggest that the AIDS epidemic was a racist plot.

The Reverend also said he was quoting a previous U.S. Ambassador to Iraq when he said African Americans should sing "God damn America" not "God Bless America" in his first sermon following the 9/11 attacks.

"You cannot do terrorism on other people and not expect it to come back on you," Wright said on Monday. "Those are Biblical principles, not Jeremiah Wright 'bombastic' principles."

Obama came out forcefully on Tuesday, insisting he was "disappointed" by Wright, and rejecting his one-time pastor's assertion that the controversy was an attack on the black church.

The candidate went considerably further than he has in the past in distancing himself from Wright, accusing him of "insensitivity and outrageousness" in his Monday appearance at the National Press Club in Washington.

"The person I saw yesterday was not the person I met 20 years ago," Obama said.

Wright has been Obama's pastor since the Illinois Democrat joined the church. He performed Obama's marriage ceremony and baptized the candidate's two daughters.

April 30, 2008 in Bush, George W., Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (432)

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I'm glad Hillary is on O'Reilly, and I'm glad that she has taken a stance against Wright for his comments. Hillary has been where Obama is now, being skewered by who she thought was friends. I admire her, for her perserverance, determination, and leadership in this race. I hope she wins the nomination. I feel she is the best for the United States of America!

Posted by: david from texas | Apr 30, 2008 3:03:09 PM

Hillary is acting like the little spoiled girl who isnt getting her war. She is more and more Veruka Salt each day.

Posted by: Brothers Johnson | Apr 30, 2008 3:04:13 PM

I reject and denounce Hillary, or any Democrat, who panders to Bill O'Reilley's followers.

I really want to like you Hillary. I do. But you make it soooo difficult.

Posted by: Jill | Apr 30, 2008 3:04:41 PM

Should Hillary now be associating with Bill O'Reilly? and FOX news? Weren't they part of the "Vast right wing conspiracy" that she herself denounced? Is she switching sides or cuddling up?Do you detect a note of irony here? Now she loves FOX when she can use them. Give me a break

Posted by: ked | Apr 30, 2008 3:04:42 PM

How many Obama supporters have picked at every little association Clinton has had ?

Yet Obama spends 20 years of his PERSONAL LIFE listening to Wright. Calling him friend and MENTOR. Baptising his kids and marrying him and his wife.

You Obama lovers think that Wright is some kind of DISTANT association or something.

Multi Millions of americans go to church every sunday. Their pastor means a LOT to them personally.

They will NEVER buy the fact Obama sat there for 20 years if he didnt agree with where Wright was coming from.

Everyone can plainly see that Obama only distanced himself when political TROUBLE came about.

He had him on his campaign right up until the tapes were revealed.

There is no exuse for that.Its ridiculous.

Posted by: tomdavie | Apr 30, 2008 3:04:45 PM

OK OK OK! Gas is becoming a luxury item, the country is in a recession, food cost are high and we keep loosing soldiers, MOVE ON, this is getting old. No on agrees with Rev Wright, white black, green orange. America needs to be fixed, lets hurry up and get Bush out and someone in that is going to fix this mess!

Posted by: Courtney | Apr 30, 2008 3:05:19 PM

Hillary is offensive and outrageous!

She lies! Will do anything for a vote! And shows bad judgement!

Posted by: naiima8 | Apr 30, 2008 3:05:50 PM

when someone makes these evil statements...and you do nothing...you are a collaborator.

evil thrives when people don't take a stand

obama is a swell guy but this whole incident shows, he is a weak guy.

the thugs of the world will roll him like dough

we need a tough leader: either Hillary or McCain

Posted by: rev mr ron | Apr 30, 2008 3:06:05 PM

When Wright's vicious sermons first aired, the Obama camp screamed that his words were taken out of context, and that we should just "move on." Now, Wright has confirmed his anti-American sentiments at the National Press Club, and Obama has delivered another vacant and emotionless speech about how disappointed he is with Wright. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. Wright is still a hate-monger, and Obama still hasn't left the church. Still, the Obama camp chants "move on."

Posted by: Emily | Apr 30, 2008 3:06:11 PM

It's one thing for Obama (and the black community to condemn Reverend Wright), but it's whole other thing for Senator Clinton to do it and on O'Reilly no less. If she somehow gets this nomination through a backroom deal with super delegates, she will NOT win enough of the black vote to win this election. All this attention on white working class voters during the primary will be meaningless during the national b/c even if she get's a 10% increase from that group, a 10% loss among African Americans will still be a loss in the election.

Posted by: Dawn | Apr 30, 2008 3:06:22 PM

Uh Hil WHY was Bill inviting "the deplorable Rev. Wright" to his prayer breakfasts in 1998? When you needed him back then, he was there. Is he still there for you to help destroy Obama in '08? Hmmmn.... Forget the French chick, Hilliary Clinton: Best Actress of 2008.

Posted by: Zdnet | Apr 30, 2008 3:06:32 PM

I'm sooooo tired of her! Please America DON"T elect her! Sure, the comedians of the world will see a huge windfall of material if she's elected, but it's you and me that will suffer having to see and hear her for 4 years. Hillary supporters please see the light!! What can I offer you? You name it...just don't vote for her! PLEASE!

Posted by: Nate | Apr 30, 2008 3:06:39 PM

To those who are saying move on: Yes we will move on - once you agree that Obama has lost his credibility, shown his real character and does not have good judgement.
Obama has totally lost his credibility. Mr. Wright did not say anything new on Monday that he had not said in the past. Obama was defending the same statements until the interview on Fox Sunday as people are talking about sound bites that are out of context. What made Obama to display such a stark contrast 'NOW'? Obama is mad at Mr. Wright ONLY because Mr. Wright EXPOSED Obama’s credibility which can cost him the election.
This proves Mr. Wright's point about Obama's (lack of) credibility that as a POLITICIAN Obama will say anything to get elected - which CONTRADICTS Obama's claim that he is not a typical politician.

Posted by: Chiman | Apr 30, 2008 3:07:40 PM

Obama should drop out over all this.
He is not fit to be president of this great country. But his sheep followers want to forget about it.

Posted by: KURT | Apr 30, 2008 3:07:42 PM

I think it proved she had guts to go on O'Reilly.

Posted by: Sandra | Apr 30, 2008 3:08:14 PM

It was never just about the pastor. It was about Obama's character and judgment to sit in the church with his innocent daughters for 20 years listening to the rants that are full of filth, racism and anti-American hatred. This isn’t about people being bitter or angry. It is about Obama’s Marxist belief that people ‘cling’ to religion and guns out of bitterness.

Obama is a divider as in order to save himself from the pastor controversy he tried to DIVIDE us on ‘race’. Now with his ‘bitter small-townies’ controversy, he is trying to DIVIDE us on ‘economic inequalities’.

Posted by: Chiman | Apr 30, 2008 3:08:30 PM

It's only old when you're backing Sen. Obama is it enough. This is going to cost us the election! There is more to this. Obama is playing a chinese water torture game. Let things out drip by drip... He knew this would come out. He was betting that he'd be getting ready for the general election by now. How does he carry (FL, MI, PA, OH, MO) What about the re-drawing of the political map? That's all dead and gone at this point.

All of you keep trying to portray Obama as a victim. He knew what he was doing in th west and the south. It was a well conceived and executed strategy. Now that part of the team has committed an act of mutiny, many of you are asking for compassion when you and Obama have never given any.

Many of you have spoken up for Dr. Wright. Now, you like Obama, have thrown him under that tired old bus with grandma and Geraldine Ferraro.

Isn't that special!!!!

Posted by: Justice | Apr 30, 2008 3:08:39 PM

Choosing president of the United State is not a joke. It is a serious task. Therefore, we have to vet everything about the applicants. Rev. Wright has a strong influent on Sen. Obama mindset. That is why American need to talk and weight this issue until coming to the poll.

Posted by: SEAN | Apr 30, 2008 3:08:40 PM

Honestly ask yourselves, if Obama can't even handle his pastor how is he going to stare down Iran, Hamas, North Korea, etc.?
I'm really looking for an answer here. What on Earth was this man thinking of running for President with so little experience and understanding of how the world and how politics work?

Posted by: JA | Apr 30, 2008 3:09:06 PM

Obama is such a phony!

What did Rev. Wright say on Monday that Obama and the rest of the country had not heard on the previous tapes? Oh he called Obama a politician. That is why he now denounces him?

Posted by: Joe | Apr 30, 2008 3:09:22 PM

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