McCaskill defends Obama, suggests context for pastor’s remarks
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., contended Monday that colleague Barack Obama — her choice for president — is being unfairly maligned for remarks made by his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Chicago.
“To saddle Senator Obama with every comment that his pastor has made is unfair,” McCaskill said in an interview Monday, as she mingled with elderly visitors at a South Side senior center. “His pastor is not running for president.”
“I think there are many many Americans who have heard men of God say things they disagree with,” she added.
McCaskill also observed, though, that some of Wright’s statements are being taken out of context.
Such comments “reflect the bitterness and divide that’s out there” among some African-Americans, she said. McCaskill said that Wright may well have been trying to capture the attention of his audience in the pews, before then contrasting that bitterness with the love of Jesus.
In any event, Obama, she said, “is working to get (the nation) past that bitterness…to lift us over that big chasm.”
The focus on Wright, she said, is part of an effort by Obama’s political opponents “to drag down the person who’s winning.”
“I think we’ll get through it,” she said, adding that she was “glad we’re dealing with it now.”
The controversy now gives Obama time to put the issue to rest before the fall general election, McCaskill said.
Obama is to give a major speech on the matter Tuesday in Pennsylvania.
Clair,
I’m conservative and have often voted split ticket. I like you. Don’t go down with the Obama ship.
A couple of questions for Claire, or any dem who chooses to answer:
Was Geraldine Ferraro’s statement that BMN is where he is because he is black a racist statement?
Was Jeremiah Wright’s comments referring to the US as the United States of KKK America a racist statement?
Claire- don’t candy-coat this abhorrent tirade of Wright. There is no way around it or justifying it. So just put it to rest. Let the pieces fly and fall as they may.
I am appalled at how many black talking heads on TV tonight are talking about Wrights comments being “taken out of context,” like Clair is saying. “Out of context?” How can the remark that the government invented HIV as part of a genocide against blacks, be “out of context?” They are also saying that we have to understand that it is “just part of the black experience,” or “the black culture.”
There you have it; racist remarks are just fine, as long as it is just part of YOUR culture.
Clair, I would have loved for you in your re-election bid until this statement.
If you knew something was not right in a MO state office as Auditor and you did not act, that would be wrong, correct? OB sat in that church hearing that message for 20 years (just like Oprah) and did not stand up and say that it was wrong.
Aside from that, OB said Wright was his spiritual advisor. The person he consulted on such matters. That is a very serious mis-judgement, and a huge percentage of American’s want to understand exactly what his church is preaching and what other black churches are preaching.
Sen. Claire has the good common sense that so many others lack.
Nothing the Rev. said was racist.
We who want change will not allow self righteous inflicted ones such as the Rush Limbaugh’s, Sean Hannity’s, Bill O’Reilly’s, Pat Buchanan’s of America or these types to drive this situation in the destructive direction they are all dying to take this.
Happy Pants and Star20 is just going to drive themselves crazy trying to however.
Hell, all Presidents have close associates who have said outlandish and off based non-factual things, including things that were outright offensive. The only moral thing anyone can do is rebuke what was said and separate one’ self from that belief or statement.
Do we throw our pastor away by the way side because of outlandish statements that were not grave sins? No, only if the pastor committed some grave sin or crime that is a deadly sin, or if he lead his flock into grave sin would it be neccessary to kick to the curb your pastor and church. Sorry, to break it to you all, but Rev. Wright did not commit any grave and deadly sin or lead his flock into any such sin that would require any Christian to walk away from him and the church.
Unknowing people should keep quiet about things of spiritual nature and matters when they do not know what the Holy Scriptures teach on the subject they are giving others advice about.
Anything concerning that pastor and that church are of spiritual matters and are to be dealt with biblically, not in a worldly fashion.
Si Vi,
Isn’t it true that the KKK is an American terrorist organization? It most certainly is Sir. That statement isn’t racist, it’s true. And if you were Rev. Wright in age and color, you would also know first hand how true that was. Thank God, people are wanting change, maybe not you guys Si Viu, Happy Pants, and Star20, but enough of us really want to see change and to overcome our racist and corrupt unjust past and present. It would be a blessing if Rev. Wright can finally witness this type of genuine change in America.
Rev. Wright’s statements regarding HIV, blacks and the government are outlandish, to say the least. Apparently, however, that is a common belief in the AA community. Based on history, you can hardly blame them …
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/16/MNOUVHQVB.DTL&type=health
The infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study, a government experiment that charted the effects of the untreated disease on mostly poor and uneducated black men, was conducted for 40 years before it was exposed and ended in 1972 amid widespread condemnation.
A number of participants in the study died of the disease, which the men spread to women and to children at birth.
Lisa12 - I’m black and I have never heard anyone say that the government introduced AIDS to the black community. I will admit there are many blacks as there are many whites who do not trust the government.
D. Walker - I hate to disagree with you, but any decent person is not going to sit in a church and listen to a minister spewing profanity and racial slurs. For those that would, than that is something they have to live with, but I have always chosen not to deal with those types of people. We are who we are based on our life experience.
My life experience is that of watching my grandfatther, a black minister who started two churches in west Tennessee, give sermons every Sunday. My grandfather was my role model for how ministers are supposed to conduct themselves. My grandfather preached on the very same issues that Wright has preached on, but never did he use profanity and racial slurs to make a point. His message and delivery was strong enough to make his point without hateful rhetoric.
I also attended a predominantly white Southern Baptist church in North County. Even though the sermons bored me because they were not delivered like my grandfather’s, I never heard anything like what Wright said in those video clips. I don’t care if the words were just a part of his sermon which may have made good points. I just have never heard nor do I expect to hear ministers talk like that on any day during the week. That is based on my life experience, so I will have to respectfully disagree with you and others on this issue.
I had been waiting for the Senator McCaskill to comment on her endorsement of Obama and now I wish she had just stayed silent. That way I could have imagined her saying the right thing.
Wright is entitled to say what he want to say in his church. Obama, the private citizen can attend the church and nod in agreement if he chooses to do so. I do not have a problem with his attendance at the church because it does not affect me or my family. However, I do have a problem with Obama, the presidential candidate, attending the church and listening to Wright for over 20 years. To continue to sit there and listen to Wright is a judgment call by Obama and one I seriously have problems with. Therefore, if I do not like Obama’s judgment as a private citizen. I definitely cannot support his judgment as a candidate because if he win’s the presidency, he will have an impact on my life and those I care about. That would not be intelligent on my part.
http://www.unfilteredopinion.com
According to Obama, this man is his spiritual advisor. Would you trust the judgement of someone who fosters these beliefs? Obama claims he never heard these remarks when he was present, and if he had, he’d have voiced his objection. Are we to assume the Reverend never said these things in the 20 years Obama was present? For the life of me, I can’t understand what people see in this man. Yes, he’s charismatic, but he’s an empty suit. Check his Congressional record. What bills has he sponsored? Among his fellow Senators, his absentee rate is one of the worst, even before he began his quest for President. And I might add, since being elected, the only thing he’s done is run for President.
Tuskegee study was funded and started under a Democratic President & Congress. Jim Crow laws and voting laws were started by Democrats. The Klan flurished under Democrats in the South. The Fourteenth Amendment was made by Republicans. The 1964 Civil Rights acts were voted in after a Southern Filibuster lead by Al Gore’ father and a senator from Arkansas who was Bill Clinton’s mentor, that filibuster was broken thanks to Republican senators. As to this Racist preacher, if he is a “true Christian”, we would have heard actual Bibical quotes pertaining to his rants from the pulpit. One of the Ten Commandments is not to curse God. GD is cursing God. Mr. Obama will try to skate around this person and deny everything. He was his “mentor” and “spiritual leader”. If you watch the audience both the choir and in the congregation there are many that are sitting there stunned by his comments. I am sure we find that Mr. Obama was at some of these hateful sermons. Also there are many blacks who are serving this country both civilian and military that not cursing America. This is not a “true Christian”. Also the poor excuse that the church is serving the community, so did Adolph Hitler give free beer and food during many of his speeches in Munich. Missouri’s junior Senator knows nothing about the Junior Senator from Illinois. We are facing such serious challenges from many bad people and Mr. Obama wants to have dialog with them. So did Neville Chamberlain want dialog rather than confrontation. Look what that got us World War II !