"What Rev. Wright said yesterday directly contradicts everything that I have done during my life.

[Coexist]

It contradicts how I was raised and the setting in which I was raised. It contradicts my decisions to pursue a career of public service. It contradicts the issues that I have worked on politically. It contradicts what I've said in my books, it contradicts what I said in my convention speech of 2004. it contradicts what I've try to say on this campaign trail. What I tried to do in Philadelphia was provide a context or the contradictions and complexities of race in America, of which Rev. Wright is a part, and we're all a part. But there wasn't anything constructive out of yesterday. All it was, was a bunch of rants that aren't grounded in truth. And I can't construct something positive out of that."

"it was a show of disrespect to me and what we have tried to do in this campaign."


Well. That put that to bed.

Oh, and yes, Michelle is pissed at Rev. Wright, too (why was that question even asked?)

** Reaction from the press **

Andrew Sullivan

That was a very impressive, clear and constructive re-framing of the core message of his candidacy; and a moment given to him by Wright. No one will ever be able to say that Obama threw his father-figure and pastor under the bus. We all know that the reverse happened. We also know that this clear repudiation of Wright's toxic, indeed "ridiculous" views on AIDS, 9/11 and permanent immiseration of people of color could not have happened unless Wright had made it necessary. Skeptics may wonder whether Wright actually deliberately did Obama a favor. I doubt it. But a favor it unintentionally is.

Maybe God does bring good out of bad. Maybe these racial and cultural divides can help us understand how better to move beyond them. Cynics may scoff - and certainly will. They will parse every nuance and try to paint Obama as another cynical, positioning pol. I don't believe it. He has more sincerity and integrity than the vast majority of politicians, more honesty, and more resilience in a very tough spot.

And today, we found that he can fight back, and take a stand, without calculation and in what is clearly a great amount of personal difficulty and political pain. It's what anyone should want in a president. It makes me want to see him succeed more than ever. It's why this country needs to see him succeed more than ever.

Marc Ambinder

Barack Obama is holding a remarkable press conference right now about Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Obama is angry. Wright's "rants," he said, were "a show of disrespect to me," and have created a "spectacle."

"I felt as if there was a complete disregard for what the American people are going through and the need for them to rally together to solve these problems. It not is the time for us not to get distracted, now is the time for us to pull together."

[gabeana]

1. not with the haters and race baiter's

in both the McCain and Hill camps

[jasmine621]

2. It is what it is. A politically necessary statement.

Throw Wright under the but (just as he did to you).
Throw Jimmy Carter under the bus also because it is politically expedient to do so.

[cali]

13. In no way did Obama ever throw Carter under the bus

he said he disagreed with his meeting with Hamas. And Carter has made it quite clear that he admires Obama and that he voted for him, even if he hasn't endorsed him. Disgusting to simply pull crap out of your rear and pretend it's fact. Grab a clue.

[Window]

19. What Cali said.

:thumbsup:

[Coexist]

29. well put

Obama supporters are in a fine, fighting spirit today!

[roguevalley]

23. no. you don't have to agree with everything a person says. Wright

has a lot of good things to say that I agree with but some of it is fucked up shit. I don't agree with him on everything and would be pissed if he saw himself as a spokesman for me. A lot of black pastors don't agree with him too. Blind agreement is republican. Thinking for yourself is Democratic and Obama is a democrat.

[On the Road]

3. That's a Great Statement

Obama always seems to choose the right words.

[leftstreet]

4. Anyone know what Wright's church members think of all this?

:shrug:

I never see any interviews or commentary from Trinity church members.

[DJ13]

5. Oh, and yes, Michelle is pissed at Rev. Wright, too (why was that question even asked?)

Because there were rumors that Obama had been defending Wright in the past because Michelle liked Wright.

[Radical Activist]

6. Who is the quote from?

[Coexist]

7. Barack Obama at presser re: Wright

[MNDemNY]

8. He's been saying such stuff for 30 years.

Was Obama asleep in the pews? Did he never read church bulletins? Did he never talk to fellow congregants? And what of the "tapes" of the good reverend "brought him to Christianity? His stammering explanations today have done little to quell this.

[Window]

24. Do you really believe the church bulletins and every service over

the past 20 years were all tinged with some controversy or another??? Unreal or just plain ignorant.

"His stammering explanations today have done little to quell this."

Well, I suppose he could just cackle like Hillary when asked about her lying...it seems to work for her.

[MNDemNY]

26. Do you really think he was unaware of the statements?

That is just ignorant. Obama lied, hoping it wouldn't come out. Poor judgment.

[Window]

30. Yeah, whatever.

[MNDemNY]

31. Nothing to say when your guy is exposed for the liar with poor judgment that he is?

[Window]

33. No. I just don't feel like playing tit-for-tat with you right now.

I don't agree with you, you don't agree with me. What the hell else is there to say? You think Sen. Obama is a liar and lacks good judgment, I think Hillary is a big fat liar and has terrible judgment. Now leave me the fuck alone. Now, are you happy.

[EFerrari]

9. I'd be interested to know how Wright's message of reconciliation

contradicts Obama's message of . . . reconciliation. :crazy:

Well, he had to do it, I guess.

It's a sad day for this country when you realize that "the mainstream" has become so narrow and rigid that Obama has to publicly disown someone who has clearly said he is not part of the campaign and who will not comment on the race.

[TheDoorbellRang]

15. Actually, if you listened to what he said, he did not disown Wright

He disowned everything that was said by Wright yesterday. I thought it was interesting that no one in the Q&A picked up on that.

[Coexist]

16. yeah, it was all about yesterday

he said it several times.

[EFerrari]

20. Well, he did look pretty pissed when he mentioned the series

of public appearances.

In any case, this should be helpful for Obama.

[sandnsea]

27. I agree

The really sad part is that so many Democrats don't realize what a sad day this is. We're never going to grow up in this country, not ever. *sigh*

[SeaLyons]

10. It's exactly like the "race" speech he so eloquently had to give....

it's all POLITICAL. He throws Wright under the bus because he's about to lose the race. All self-serving moves.

I don't think anything has been put to bed.

[death to the DLC]

11. well of course you don't

your sliver of hope just became smaller

[Brundle_Fly]

12. touché

:D

[knixphan]

22. LOL!

[notfullofit]

25. Don't you think

that all depends on what Rev. Wright's response will be?

[Qutzupalotl]

14. I knew he would handle this well.

[Coexist]

17. I had faith

[Window]

18. LOL! Sullivan should take a stroll through DU.

No one will ever be able to say that Obama threw his father-figure and pastor under the bus. We all know that the reverse happened.

Makes no difference to the simpering idiots posting numerous threads about how "Obama threw Wright under the bus."

[Coexist]

21. people see what they want to see.

and the carnage under public transportation this primary has been historic if you read DU!

[Window]

32. LOL! That's for sure.

[Bensthename]

28. I bet Hillary will pull a crying moment to counter this..

[Kolesar]

34. YUCK. Who are you quoting? What are you saying? What did Wright say?

Who was raised...where?

Do you wish I cared?

[SeaLyons]

35. Obama's statement yesterday was yet again...

another politically motivated statement. It does not change anything. Words - that's all it is. He cannot erase the 20 year relationship and say Wright is not the same person he met 20 years ago. We all know that is NOT true. Wright has not changed. It is Obama who is having to change, and finds himself having to throw Wright under the bus for his political life.

All boils down to judgment on Obama's part, and that is how this whole nightmare will be viewed by the majority of voters.

I support Hillary, but will admit, it's very disappointing that Wright jumped out on the scene in such a ridiculous manner - embarrassing Obama and forcing his hand. I'm afraid he will jump out again and again. It's terrible. He should not have done that to Obama.