Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., June 03, 2008 Iyyar 29, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:12 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama (AP)
Last update - 09:10 01/06/2008
Obama quits his church over pastor's racially charged views
By Reuters
Tags: Barack Obama 

Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama said on Saturday he quit his Chicago church in the aftermath of inflammatory sermons that could become a lightning rod in the November election.

Obama's resignation from Trinity United Church of Christ, which he has attended for 16 years, was an attempt to put the nagging issue behind him as he closes in on the Democratic nomination to run against Republican John McCain for the White House.

"This is not a decision I come to lightly and frankly it's one I make with some sadness," Obama told reporters during a stop in South Dakota. "Trinity was where I found Jesus Christ, where we were married, where our children were baptized."
Advertisement
The Illinois senator, who would be the first black U.S. president, cut ties last month with Trinity's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, who angered many with anti-American and racially charged sermons.

Just as controversy over Wright had died down, a Roman Catholic priest mocked Obama's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton during a guest appearance at Trinity United.

In his sermon, the priest, Michael Pfleger, screamed and imitated Clinton and accused her of espousing "white entitlement." Pfleger later apologized for his comments and was condemned by Obama and the archbishop of Chicago.

"It's clear that now that I'm a candidate for president, every time something is said in the church by anyone associated with Trinity, including guest pastors, the remarks will be imputed to me even if they totally conflict with my long-held views, statements and principles," Obama said.

His campaign released a copy of a letter Obama and his wife, Michelle, sent to the church announcing their decision.

"Our relations with Trinity have been strained by the divisive statements of Rev. Wright, which sharply conflict with our own views," the letter said.

The decision to quit the church appeared to be a sign that Obama wants to put the issue behind him before the general election.

Obama said he and his family would find another church, although he said they would not likely settle on one until early next year. Whoever wins in November will be inaugurated in January to succeed President George W. Bush.

In an effort to quell the controversy over Wright, Obama gave a widely praised speech in March calling for racial healing and offering a nuanced view of Wright, denouncing the pastor's remarks but declining to disown him.

But then Wright made a series of public appearances and stood by his inflammatory comments. He has blamed the U.S. government for the spread of the AIDS virus, declared "God damn America" and blasted the country's history of racism.

Obama was reportedly furious and finally cut ties with Wright last month. He condemned the minister's comments as "outrageous" and "appalling."

Wright's comments posed problems for Obama because they contradicted one of his campaign's central messages - that he can transcend past divisions such as those involving race.

Obama, the son of a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya, has attracted strong support in some heavily white states such as Wyoming, Iowa and Wisconsin. But he has struggled to win the votes of white, working-class voters in states like Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Political analysts have questioned whether Obama's links to Wright might hurt him in the general election.

U.S. Democrats compromise on Florida and Michigan

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party backed a compromise to seat the disputed Michigan and Florida delegations at reduced strength on Saturday, sparking anger from Clinton's presidential campaign and threats to press the issue at the August nominating convention.

At a raucous meeting of the party's rules committee, frequently interrupted by cheers and jeers from Clinton's backers, the panel agreed to seat the delegations from both states but cut their voting power in half.

The decision was a victory for front-runner Obama, removing one of the last stumbling blocks on his march to the party's presidential nomination.

The vote moved the magic number to clinch the nomination to 2,118 delegates, leaving Obama about 70 short as he heads into Tuesday, when Montana and South Dakota hold the last votes in the lengthy Democratic presidential nominating fight.

Related articles:
  • Obama asked to explain after his minister 'damns' America
  • Obama promises 'unshakable commitment' to Israel if elected
  • Does Barack Obama really have a Jewish problem?
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Slamming Obama
    McCain uses speech to AIPAC to criticize Obama for willingness to meet U.S. foes.
    Soldier kidnapping
    Three Israeli Arabs charged with planning to kidnap, kill soldier.
      1.   BETTER LATE THAN NEVER 09:22  |  PATRICK WARNER 01/06/08
      2.   Okay! 09:30  |  Yosemite 01/06/08
      3.   Obama Leaves His Church: Praise About His Choice of Worship 09:46  |  CHGODMK 01/06/08
      4.   A lot of conspiracy "chatter" with regard to Obama/Wright..... 10:00  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/06/08
      5.   Has Wright just suddenly started talking like this? 10:20  |  PETER SM 01/06/08
      6.   HILLARY 10:37  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 01/06/08
      7.   what difference does it make 10:42  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 01/06/08
      8.   this would be president waits 20 years to leave ? 10:50  |  victor hardman 01/06/08
      9.   Unnecessary move! 12:02  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      10.   The public image assessment office, find a nice church for me 12:24  |  Alain 01/06/08
      11.   Mohammed Obama ben Abdullah ! has no PRINCIPALS in LIFE 12:24  |  YITZAK BEN SHLOMO 01/06/08
      12.   Mabuta.Barak is the Democratic front runner in the USA 12:25  |  PETER SM 01/06/08
      13.   #12Peter SM 13:39  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      14.   Wont matter most Clinton supporters will vote for McCain. 13:41  |  petra 01/06/08
      15.   Why Obama will not be President and when another Black will be 14:06  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/06/08
      16.   MABUTA G.d Curse America is not a great assosciation to make 14:07  |  PETER SM 01/06/08
      17.   Rev.Wrong loves Farrakahn, hates Jews, Obama had no choice! 14:10  |  Michelle 01/06/08
      18.   How pathetic 14:45  |  JR 01/06/08
      19.   #16Peter SM 14:48  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      20.   He will not win the general election 14:54  |  Jon 01/06/08
      21.   #16Peter SM 14:57  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      22.   # 4 Swiss....racists are disgusting people 15:09  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      23.   Peter SM, Mabuta boy is crazy, believes in fairy tales 15:14  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/06/08
      24.   How is it that only now Barack (derived from the Arabic Bareke) 15:17  |  Yosi Brenner 01/06/08
      25.   # 9 Kapule David Mabuta 15:18  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      26.   # 19 Mabuta....Obama was raised by his 15:27  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      27.   Mabuta....the issue is not about race 15:37  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      28.   # 17 Michelle...Kyoto 15:39  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      29.   #24 lynn 15:44  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      30.   MABUTA "origins of AIDS being the USA"?tell us all about it 15:49  |  PETER SM 01/06/08
      31.   26#Lynn 15:53  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      32.   HE DOESN`T NEED CHURCH, CHURCH NEEDS HIM 16:00  |  indrajaya 01/06/08
      33.   27#Lynn 16:04  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      34.   30#Peter SM 16:15  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      35.   Obama will win and we will get what we deserve. 16:21  |  The Equalizer 01/06/08
      36.   # 29 Mabuta.... All I am trying to say 16:24  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      37.   # 33 Mabuta...please tell me where there is any 16:32  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      38.   #36Lynn 16:44  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      39.   37#Lynn 16:55  |  Kapule David Mabuta 01/06/08
      40.   Under the bus the Church goes... 16:56  |  Aphemia 01/06/08
      41.   Lynn, are you warming up to Obama? 16:57  |  Aphemia 01/06/08
      42.   # 38 Mabuta....I was not implying anything 17:43  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      43.   # 39 Mabuta...every country has their dark times 17:51  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      44.   Lynn, #42 - and yet you are against... 17:57  |  Greg 01/06/08
      45.   # 41 Aphemia....Not so much warming up 17:59  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      46.   Obama, everyone has your number , it`s too late 18:08  |  Shepherd 01/06/08
      47.   Its sad that a US citizen 18:08  |  AJ 01/06/08
      48.   # 41, LYNN 18:08  |  indrajaya 01/06/08
      49.   Lefty Jews will spin, spin, spin this 18:15  |  Repo Man 01/06/08
      50.   Reminiscent of as Great Secene from Casablanca 19:00  |  Tod Zuckerman 01/06/08
      51.   Indy...you have to admit one thing 19:53  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      52.   # 44 Grag... I don`t deny some may be racially motivated 20:01  |  Lynn 01/06/08
      53.   Too little, too political, too late 20:42  |  Baruch 01/06/08
      54.   Why has Obama (Barake Hussein that is) quits his church only now 21:15  |  Deb 01/06/08
      55.   re #3 `Obama leaves his church.` 22:29  |  Colin Wright 01/06/08
      56.   only one lesson really 22:40  |  hollingsworth 01/06/08
      57.   A big, brave and painfull move by Barack Obama 22:42  |  Mark B. 01/06/08
      58.   to Greg #44 22:45  |  Colin Wright 01/06/08
      59.   re #9 `Unecessary move!` 22:55  |  Colin Wright 01/06/08
      60.   Colin Wright, #58 23:54  |  Greg 01/06/08
      61.   hossein nyugo tayohlo god blessU 23:58  |  gougou lbamatyo 01/06/08
      62.   Lynn, #52 23:58  |  Greg 01/06/08
      63.   # 22 Lynn 00:03  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/06/08
      64.   59#Collin Wright 02:12  |  Kapule David Mabuta 02/06/08
      65.   Obama`s church is probably mild when you consider 03:20  |  American in NY 02/06/08
      66.   Friends in Australia 05:33  |  Joe 02/06/08
      67.   I wonder why each time I attempt to discuss Obama`s name and its 09:53  |  Ami 02/06/08
      68.   #67Ami 14:45  |  Kapule David Mabuta 02/06/08
      69.   #53 Baruch 18:15  |  kathy 02/06/08
      70.   #14 No Petra, only ignorant ones like you.