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Obama: Rev. Wright's Response 'To Be Expected'

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April 25, 2008 2:43 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Following brief remarks outlining his plan to relieve gas prices, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama answered press questions overcoming weakness with white, blue-collar Democrats, the return of his former pastor, his next moves in race to the Democratic nomination and the New York City cops' acquittal in the shooting death of Sean Bell.

Obama disputed that a weakness with white working class voters would be an issue in the general election match up against the presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain.

"There have been concerns in Ohio and Pennsylvania, but in both those states, if you look at the polling, those Democrats are more than likely to vote for me in a general election," Obama said.

Speaking from Joe's Junction, a Phillips 66 gas station in Indianapolis where regular gas was $3.55, Obama said "I don't think that there's a huge difference between black working class, white working class, suburban, urban, rural, I think people want to see the country make progress and so what I'm going to continue to do is to present those issues that affect people’s bottom lines."

Following back-to-back losses in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Obama pushed back on the idea he's stuck in a rut, referencing wins in Wyoming and Mississippi.

"I think there's no doubt that a campaign has to continually fine tune itself," Obama said. "This has been a long campaign and so what worked well three months ago, if you're doing the exact same thing, it might not work as well."

As for the return of his controversial former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright who gave a recent interview to Bill Moyers and said Obama played politics in his response to the controversy, Obama said Wright's response was "to be expected".

"He is obviously free to express his opinions on these issues. I've expressed mine very clearly. I think that what he said in several instances were objectionable and I understand why the American people took offense and, you know, and as I indicated before, I took offense."

Responding to the Rep. Jim Clyburn's comment to the New York Times that there might be an irreparable breach between former President Bill Clinton and the African American community, Obama said "I never believe in irreparable breaches" and said the party would be unified come August convention.

"This has been a fierce contest," Obama said,  "I've said repeatedly that come August, there are gonna be a whole bunch of people standing on the stage with a lot of balloons and stuff, confetti raining down on the head of the Democratic nominee and people will be excited about taking on John McCain in November."

April 25, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (44)

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No one has done more for the African American's than Bill Clinton. It's sad to see the lack of loyalty and racism now present in the African American community through this election.

90 percent of African Americans vote for Obama. This is obvious racism and based on color. The Clintons have been supporters of black communities their whole lives. Bill even located his office in Harlem!

Clyburn should shut his mouth. He doesn't know what he's talking about.

Posted by: Nick | Apr 25, 2008 3:00:01 PM

For those who think Obama and Rev. Wright are close, I hope you have taken notice.

Rev Wright is an egomania like Jerry Farwell, Hagee and Pat Robertson. It is about them and no body else. Rev. Wright is mad because Obama denounced his stupid sermon and has decided to go on a tour to hurt Obama in this primary.

Posted by: mdiogu | Apr 25, 2008 3:03:23 PM

Nick, 90% of African American voted for Bill Clinton too and supported him during his impeachments battle. Bill Clinton showed his true color in this election.

On the other hand Clinton allowed over 500,000 people to be massacred in Rwanda. He did not do anything for the people of Darfur.

He was just using black people by throwing them some crumbs for his own political gains.

Posted by: mdiogu | Apr 25, 2008 3:08:18 PM

Then Obama is a liar, they are very close.

Goodness that man lies to much.

He said Wright was his best friend,mento, someone he bounces all his political decisions off of. He married him, he baptized his daughters.

He sat in his church listening to the anti American hate for over 20 years.

Tell Obama Ohio people will not vote for him. Neither will Pa people.

After what wright and clyburn said today
you are lucky they will look on your name on the ballot.

Posted by: seah | Apr 25, 2008 3:10:58 PM

The Audacity of Hope - Obama's Book - named after a Jeremiah Wright sermon. Obama supporters: The Audacity of Hypocrisy! Please leave the race Obama, you are tearing America apart!

Posted by: calli | Apr 25, 2008 3:14:25 PM


Since the blacks all want to vote for Obama, Let's all of us whites stick behind Hillary Clinton if that's what
Clyburn want. He is messing things up
trying to say Bill Clinton was raicist.
He know that is an lie. He should have kept is mouth closed. Because we are the majority. WE will all vote for Hillary. DNC you better not start nothing trying to over look Hillary.

Posted by: mcarr | Apr 25, 2008 3:20:20 PM

Goodness gracious! There's so much ignorance amongst you people. It's obvious you're spouting nonsense and not facts because you're not interested in facts. Obama is a good man. Obama will get the nomination. Obama will be our next president. The alternative is too scary to think about. If you cared at all what was best for our country you'd do your research on the candidates with an open mind but maybe the problem is you can't read and have no minds?

Posted by: counting crows | Apr 25, 2008 3:20:48 PM

Go ahead and defend the hate monger. The article from Hamas in the church newsletter, the anti-semitic rantings every week in the church bulletins, saying that AA's were infected with AIDS by white people, there is no defending this kind of hate speech. Obama did not speak out against it, he did not get up and leave, and even worse, Obama's JUDGEMENT IS SO POOR that he doesn't even understand that belonging to this hate church is poison to his presidential bid! Obama is so far out left and liberal he doesn't understand what is WRIGHT and WRONG! Obama needs to leave the race before he completely destroys what is left of the democratic party.

Posted by: calli | Apr 25, 2008 3:22:56 PM

So I guess we are supposed to just let Bill Clinton and his wife discount the votes of black Americans because they have chosen not to support a Clinton this primary season.

Where is it written that Congressman Clyburn can not speak his mind. I think that both he and the Speaker have shown remarkable restraint in not speaking up in a more forceful way against what the Clintons have done and continue to do.

I predict that they will again try to discount Obama's win in NC in the same manner they did South Carolina.

Also, has anyone here actually listened to Reverend Wright's sermons from start to finish? I have with several of them and I find nothing to disagree with -- now, take stuff out of context and it is easy to paint him a radical. The whole "20 years of anti-American hate" is a lot of bull. Wright was a Marine who fought in Vietnam and worked at the White House. Not the profile of someone who is anti-American.

He is a old 60s civil rights guy, and silly white people/Republicans want to take us back there again with their rhetoric. Just like John McCain wants to be fighting the war in Vietnam all over again.

Posted by: Keith | Apr 25, 2008 3:25:18 PM

Obama said "I think that what he said in several instances were objectionable and I understand why the American people took offense and, you know, and as I indicated before, I took offense."

1) What exactly does he find objectionable? or "rough"? Obama has never said specifically.

2) He never said he took offense.

More lies and distortions

Posted by: geevill | Apr 25, 2008 3:30:13 PM

Hey, here I am in my great city of Indianapolis. We are getting very excited about the election. The gang is all here. As for BO he is just another politician that appears to talk out of both sides of his mouth. When he gets caught he changes with the wind. He hangs granny & the rest out to dry. No respect for BO. Just talking about change doesn't change a thing. Playing basketball with the lunch bucket people doesn't make him one of them. After last Wednesday's debate he lost a lot of cred here! So, we are working hard for Hillary!!

Hoosiers for Hillary!

Posted by: rockthebleachers | Apr 25, 2008 3:30:43 PM

James Clyburn agreed to stay neutral in this race in order to have the SC primary moved up. MI and FL were punished for violating the rules, SC should be punished because Clyburn has violated the rules by not staying neutral as he promised. But that is to be expected in Obama world - broken promises, excuses, point the finger, give the finger, tell the girl to give up.

Posted by: calli | Apr 25, 2008 3:32:13 PM

How did the Clinton's affect Obama's association with racists and revolutionaries? Still, some of you defend Obama's actions based on the actions of the Clinton's. The two are completely unrelated. Obama did what he did all by himself!

Posted by: Aston | Apr 25, 2008 3:34:52 PM

Tears of joy!

Posted by: rockthebleachers | Apr 25, 2008 3:40:37 PM

WestCoastMessanger, Nick, geevil et al the HillLovers, nobody has supported Bill more than the black people during his 8 years of scandals. There is only one thing the Clintons expect from the black folks that is to -go on their knees for them-, remain forever in the plantations because you do not know how to govern and how to manage. That is the classic patronizing of black people. Nobody is babying Obama, but when Bill and Hill are playing race card against Obama, and working with the Republicans (McCain, ABC, Fox News, George and Hannity) to bring him down despite his successful campaign and gains, then somewhere somebody has to say enough is enough.God bless America and God bless Obama.OBAMA08.

Posted by: BKMC | Apr 25, 2008 3:43:03 PM

What about Clinton's close association with adulterers liars, and con men, not to mention racists and revolutionaries?

Posted by: Louis | Apr 25, 2008 3:46:02 PM

Great post, Bill Fan!

Hillary, yes, we WILL!

Posted by: Emily | Apr 25, 2008 3:59:58 PM

The black community having "an irreparable breach" with Bill Clinton after he has been a powerful champion of their interests is very troubling. It says more about the black community than about Bill Clinton, as far as I'm concerned. It's also a warning to others that "no good deed goes unpunished" if you happen to be the political rival of an African-American candidate.

Posted by: hopesprings52 | Apr 25, 2008 4:04:15 PM

BKMC,

Shame on you for slamming Bill! Next time a Katrina hits & wipes out a predominantly black city we will tell him not to bother wasting his time raising all that money to help them because they don't care!Pathetic!

Posted by: Terri | Apr 25, 2008 4:04:24 PM

Who the heck is Jim Clyburn to me? I'm a black American, descendant of slaves, and a proud of it. And I am not supporting Obama and disgusted at the way his campaign released memos painting the Clintons as racists.

Clyburn does not speak for black people. Black people by and large prefer Obama, of course, but it is utter nonsense that we hate the Clintons. And if Hillary somehow ends up the nominee, she will have the support of the vast majority of black community, for sure.

This is just one more attempt by the media to divide the Democrats. It won't work. We know who the Clintons are, and we're not turning our back on them just because Jim Clyburn said so. Fat chance.

Posted by: DJK | Apr 25, 2008 4:04:33 PM

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