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.
Dan(19): They only allowed it to go untreated on blacks because normally the blacks would not seek treatment anyhow.
Wow. What can I say that won’t result in my getting banned? ::rolls eyes:: and ::bites tongue::
unfiltered: Lisa12 - I’m black and I have never heard anyone say that the government introduced AIDS to the black community.
I am not black, but a black person had stated that on another message board. Thus, my use of “apparently”, but if I am wrong, then I stand corrected. I am curious, who would do you prefer between Obama, Clinton and McCain?
Why doesn’t this blog have an edit feature? “who would do you prefer” should be “who do you prefer”.
tsquare how this statement from the Obama speech throwing Wright “under the bus”?
“I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community,” Obama said. “I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother — a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.”
It’s things like this that simply amaze me. Obama said he would never disown Wright, he even went on to say “Some will see this as an attempt to justify or excuse comments that are simply inexcusable. I can assure you it is not. I suppose the politically safe thing would be to move on from this episode and just hope that it fades into the woodwork.”
and some people on the right claim that Obama throws Wright under the bus? I guess it’s called perspectives.
We all have people that we love and respect that we sometimes disagree with. Yet we or at least most of us still love them. We don’t have to embrace their positions to respect them. Life’s funny that way
#19 Dan:
I pray that God will bless you. It took me a while before I could respond to what you stated concerning the Tuckegee Study. The only thing that I was lead to do that God would approve of was to pray for you and all others with this same heart condition.
May sound corney, but you should think about what you have stated and if you do not still understand the seriousness of the condition of your soul (heart), pray to God to shine His light on all that is wrong with your thinking. He will begin His work in you if you are genuine.
#8, unfilteredsportsbiz,
May God bless your grandfather for his service and the good impression that he leaves on you, his grandson. However, it is really unfortunate that you measure every minister to your grandfather. Your grandfather is one individual and every other minister are individuals with their own issues and short comings. They all do have short comings, just as the rest of us.
As a Christian and the grandson of a Christian minister, you know that you have no business getting caught up in judging one of God’s own by the standards of the secular world as is happening in this situation.
Let’s not be so judgmental and try not to be so self righteous. We all are at times guilty of that also, we all do it, but let’s all try to recognize it in ourselves when we are doing it.
It is unjust to attempt to define Rev. Wright by the sound bytes that we are hearing over and over again. It is utterly behaving as immaturely as little children.
In fact, Brite Divinity College is honoring him with an award for his great ministry on social justice and humanity . This is a predominately White Theological College.
Don’t fall into the trap of not seriously checking out everything that is said and placing them in their proper context. Don’t allow that duty to be drowned out by the sound bytes of others and the media.
Also, God has blessed ministers with unique gifts and different ministries and different ministry styles.
(God gave each of us our experiences to use to glorify Him. God never waste a hurt). Quote from my pastor a few weeks ago in his teaching on Rick Warren’s, “Purpose Driven Life”.
It is just plain wrong for any Christian to join in with the secular world in this way against this man of God.
One who truly want to get a more truthful insight of who Rev. Wright is go to the web-site below:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/03/for-the-record.html
Welcome to the D. Walker’s Ministry Hour!
Walker, do you subscribe to Wright’s teachings?
Shame on you and St. Louis.
CLAIRE MCCASKILL,
WHAT ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH ARE YOU THINKING? IN MY HOUSEHOLD WE SAY “GOD BLESS AMERICA”, ——NOT—–GOD DAMN AMERICA. HOW DO YOU TAKE THAT OUT OF CONTEXT?
BECAUSE OF YOU, I SUPPORTED OBAMA. I HAVE DROPPED MY SUPPORT. I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE SUPPORTED AL-QAIDA, AFTER ALL - THEY WANT TO DAMN AMERICA TO.
AFTER OBAMA’S WIFE’S COMMENTS, THE DAMNING OF AMERICA, NOT TO MENTION - THE HIV STATEMENT, IF YOU WANT RE-ELECTION, I SUGGEST YOU IMMEDIATELY DISASSOCIATE YOURSELF FROM OBAMA.
I HAVE SEEN THE FOOTAGE OF YOU AT EVENTS WITH OBAMA AND HOW YOU GAZE AT HIM, ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH THIS MAN, IT IS SO OBVIOUS. DO WHAT YOU WERE ELECTED FOR AND REPRESENT THE PEOPE AND STOP WASTING OUR TAX PAYER FUNDED SENATE SALARY TO CAMPAIGN FOR A MAN WHO HAS LISTENED TO THE PASTOR FOR TWENTY YEARS.
I DONT KNOW WHAT OBAMA HAS PROMISED YOU IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR SUPPORT, BUT REMEMBER WHO PUT YOU IN OFFICE.
Claire McCaskill,
What on God’s Green Earth are you thinking?
In my household, we say “God Bless America”, —– NOT—– God Damn America. I supported Obama because of you, I am pulling my support. I might have as well just given my support to Al-Qaida. After his wife’s comments, not to mention the ignorant stupid, HIV statement.
I ask that you do what you were elected to do and stop taking time away from your fidiciuary duties to spend time and our tax paid salary on working on Obama’s campaign. It is quite noticeable how you gaze at Obama while campainging with him, are you in love with this man? If so, don’t let it blind you.
If you want my vote in your re-election bid, I suggest you dissassociate yourself from Obama immediately.